The Aesthetic, the Postmodern and the Ugly: The Rustle of Language in William S. Burroughs’ The Soft Machine and The Ticket That Exploded :: Essays Papeers

The Aesthetic, the Postmodern and the Ugly: The Rustle of Language in William S. Burroughs’ The Soft Machine and The Ticket That Exploded Ugliness is everywhere. It is on the sidewalks—the black tar phlegm of old flattened bubblegum—squashed beneath the scraped soles of suited foot soldiers on salary. It is in the straddled stares of stubborn strangers. It is in the cancer-coated clouds that gloss the sweet-tooth sky of the Los Angeles Basin with bathtub scum sunsets rosier than any Homer finger-painted dawn. Like the treble yell of helpless children, ugliness is piercing, unavoidable, everywhere. Yet, some powerful pieces of literature, with the assistance of paroxysmal words juxtaposed against brutal vistas and bitter emotions, have transformed the ugly into the beautiful. Here are some obvious examples: the monomania of Ahab in Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick ; Rhoda’s descent towards suicide in Virginia Woolf’s The Waves ; Walt Whitman’s telling of the shipwreck of the San Francisco in â€Å"Song of Myself†Ã¢â‚¬â€in these works, the lilting power of lang uage, with its ability to moisten raw and tender flesh, exposes the friction between unsightly sores and the soaring majesty of the greatest art—the ability to transform the ugly into the beautiful. What I describe in the previous paragraph pertains to the literary realm of the aesthetic. George Levine frames the aesthetic scene as being composed mostly of moments when readers â€Å"have felt overwhelmed, perhaps on the verge of tears, the whole body thrillingly interested† (4). Geoffrey Galt Harpham describes it in the following terms: â€Å"[Precisely] as ‘theoretical confusion,’ as the undecidablitity between object and subject, freedom and the repressive law, critical and uncritical passages, grievous and necessary misreadings, even art and ideology† (135). Yet, in certain theoretical writings about postmodernism, there seems to be no confusion at all. Instead, what has been described appears as an-aesthetic: a style, or a poetics, that deadens and numbs a tendency towards the aesthetic in postmodern literature. Jean-Franà §ois Lyotard describes postmodern writing as putting â€Å"forward the unpresentable in presenatation itself; that which denies itself the solace of good forms† (81). Linda Hutcheon even suggests that postmodern poetics might, instead, be referred to as â€Å"a ‘problematics’† (224). In her book The Poetics of Postmodernism, Hutcheon focuses on an-aesthetic forms in the critical and literary writings on and within postmodernism without any consideration of the aesthetic.

John Adams †Harmonielehre Essay

By inventing the serial system of twelve tone music and atonalism, Schoenberg had created â€Å"the agony of modern music†. The minimalists had rebelled against the systematic, â€Å"aurally ugly† music of Schoenberg and the avant-garde beliefs of atonality being the â€Å"Promised Land†, choosing instead to return to traditional tonality. Adams partially agreed with the rebellion against Schoenbergian music, his works containing distinctly minimalist elements. Thus when he spoke about â€Å"freeing [him]self from the model Schoenberg represented†, he meant to reject serialism and atonality, as well as the process of composing which â€Å"demands rigorous systemization of structure†. However, Adams has also expressed his respect for Schoenberg. Kirchner, with whom Adams studied while at Harvard, had himself been a student of Schoenberg. Though the minimalists had already paved the way for departure from the Schoenbergian model, it was perhaps still a difficult decision for Adams to divert from such an influential figure. After all, Schoenberg pioneered serialism and atonality. In addition, having grown up listening to the popular music of his time, Adams was constantly struggling to find a balance between what he listened to (notably American jazz, popular music, gospel music and rock ‘n’ roll) and the music that he studied in university. Adams had upset two camps of thought with Harmonielehre’s 1985 premiere: â€Å"Minimalists thought it was a tribute to their No. 1 bogeyman while modernists saw it as a reactionary piece that took their hero’s name in  vain.† This essay thus seeks to discuss the main characteristics of Adams’s compositional style in particular reference to Harmonielehre, and hence attempt to determine if, as a result of Adams’s internal conflicts, the said work is more of a refreshing new departure or a return to tried and tested orchestral gestures. Adams’s derivation from atonality may be considered a return to tried and tested orchestral gestures. He was particularly taken with the expressiveness of tonality, appreciating its potential to affect emotions in the hands of masters like Wagner, whom he greatly admired. In contrast, he found atonality â€Å"severely limiting in both its expressive range as well as in its ability to maintain large formal structures.† Adams has re-embraced tonality in much of his music including Harmonielehre, containing long passages employing a single set of pitch classes usually encompassed by one diatonic set. His earlier pieces generally remain diatonic throughout. The first movement of Harmonielehre begins and ends with pounding E minor chords repeated in a typical minimalistic style, and the piece culminates with a tidal wave of brass and percussion over an E-flat major pedal point. However, Adams is not a complete traditionalist as his harmonic vocabulary does not remain limited to purely diatonic chords. Non-diatonic pcs are frequently introduced in his later pieces beginning with Harmonielehre. Pcs outside E minor are first introduced in b.19 of the first movement, in this case D, making the chord an Em7. Example 1. John Adams, Harmonielehre, mm. 17-21, orchestral reduction D reappears in b.31 and henceforth gains prominence. Here, it is featured in the piano, blurring the E minor centre. Example 2. John Adams, Harmonielehre, harmonic sketch The end of the last movement (Meister Eckhardt and Quackie), features more  chromatic harmonies, with a ‘vast harmonic struggle that breaks through into an emphatic release on E-flat major’. Unlike a traditional tonal piece with systematically planned harmonies and a conclusive modulatory sequence, Adams simply â€Å"place[s] the keys together, as if in a mixer, and let them battle it out†. Nevertheless, the chromaticism is built on a diatonic basis, evident from their association with diatonic passages and the secondary role of the non-diatonic pcs. Harmonielehre is thus largely a tonal work and parodies the book by the same title written by Schoenberg, in which he discusses the functions of tonal harmony only to completely renounce it. By the title of Harmonielere, Adams explores aspects of harmony within his own language. Adams’s subscription to minimalism may also be considered a return to tried and tested orchestral gestures since minimalism had been going on for some time before he came on scene. The principal minimalist features include â€Å"a continuous formal structure, an even rhythmic texture and bright tone, a simple harmonic palette, a lack of extended melodic lines, and repetitive patterns.† Some of Adams’s early piano works, notably Common tones in Simple Time (1979-80, rev. 1986), Light Over Water (1983), and Phrygian Gates (1978) fit the aforementioned criteria. This is also observed in the opening of Harmonielehre (Example 3). The minimalistic repetitions of the E minor chords result in the creation of a repetitive pulse. Example 3. John Adams, Harmonielehre, mm. 1-10, orchestral reduction A simple harmonic palette (as discussed earlier) is a feature of both the Minimalist and Tonal traditions. Slow harmonic changes are evident in the opening (Example 3) – the E minor chord lasts till b.19 when D is introduced in the flutes and oboes and only 26 bars later (b.45) is a C added. The harmony finally changes again at b.59.These simple harmonies and gradual harmonic movement further imply the influence of minimalism. Example 4. John Adams, Harmonielehre, harmonic sketch However, Adams expands these minimalist techniques rather than using the aesthetic and style common in Reich’s or Riley’s music. While most minimalists (with the notable exception of La Monte Young) shunned the minimalist label, Adams embraces it and feels that he has exceeded the label: â€Å"Minimalism really can be a bore – you get those Great Prairies of non-event – but that highly polished, perfectly resonant sound is wonderful.† His later works, while still bearing some minimalist characteristics, depart from the common aesthetic, and no attempt is made to achieve systematic purity. Adams formulates his melodies using an additive technique, which is common to Glass. However, unlike Glass, there is no obvious pattern as to where or when Adams chooses to add or subtract notes, and the resultant melody is unpredictable. This is seen in the second violins in the first movement (Example 5): Example 5. Adams, Harmonielehre, mm. 180-84, second violins Another example can be drawn from the opening, featuring the Minimalist repetition of E minor chords which do not recur in any regular rhythmic pattern. The sense of pulse is unclear and somewhat unpredictable as the chords move closer by increments and create a syncopated effect, compromising the Minimalist technique of even and continuous pulsation. Adams’s deviation from Minimalism is also evidenced by his remarks in relation to Harmonielehre: â€Å"I’m not the kind of composer who†¦ previsages the entire structure of a piece in advance†¦ in a certain sense, I feel the structure as I’m creating it.† Adams is not a â€Å"pure† Minimalist – while he utilizes Minimalist techniques, his simultaneous fondness of expressivity is unique. The combination of both traits is a refreshing departure from both extremities. In Adams’ words, â€Å"I don’t have the kind of refined, systematic language that [the minimalists]  have†¦ I rely a lot more on my intuitive sense of balance†¦ as far as I can tell, most nineteenth-century composers wrote on intuitive levels.† He found that the Minimalist aesthetic of non-teleology resulted in a ‘confined emotional bandwidth’ and threatened to limit Minimalist music. Thus in most of his works, he employs Minimalist techniques to explore its â€Å"expressive emotional potential – something the first generation [of Minimalists] generally eschewed.† Adams’ fondness for expressiveness is not only evidenced by his embracement of tonality, but also by other signature Romantic traits found in his works. This is especially true in Harmonielehre, which â€Å"verges on Minimalism, but touches almost as much on a melodic Romanticism†. The combination of minimalist techniques with Romantic expressivity is evidenced in the opening of the last movement. The flutes take the accompanying line, with repetitive patterns first on E and G, then on an E minor triad. A melody characterised by expressive leaps (taken by the strings) is heard over the shimmering waves of repetition. Such timbre further creates a warm, emotive sound. The same movement contains a passage beginning with pounding E minor chords. The harmony here is relatively simple, gradually shifting from one chord to the next through the addition or alteration of a note (a rather Minimalist characteristic). Minimalist harmony combines with the Romantic textures to culminate in the climax (Example 6), with the texture and sound continuously thickening and broadening. Example 6, Harmonic sketch, Meister Eckhardt and Quackie Another example can be seen in the first movement (mm. 254-300), which contains a broad singing melody first carried by the solo horn then cellos, and later the upper strings. The accompanying triple arpeggios (first harp and woodwinds) weld the section with the preceding passage of repetitive patterns and pulses. Along with the sustained brass chords, the music reaches a climax with the amalgamation of the two different styles, reminiscent of Romanticism with the broadening texture and warm sound. Example 7. Harmonielehre I (bar 257 – 267) Thus although these passages clearly exceed the Minimalist style in their melodic and harmonic construction, the Minimalist technique dominates the accompaniment in rhythm and texture, a distinct example of how the music is a ‘refreshing new departure’. â€Å"The shades of Mahler, Sibelius, Debussy, and the young Schoenberg are everywhere in this strange piece.† The second movement of Harmonielehre (The Anfortas Wound) alludes to Sibelius’ Fourth Symphony (1910 – 11), which Adams claims as the ‘primary generating model’ , evidenced by the long, melancholic melody played by muted cellos. This movement also bears a programmatic reference to Wagner’s Parsifal (1857 – 1882) featuring Anfortas , represented by the long, elegiac trumpet solo. Wrenching harmonies, constantly descending chords and regular meters contribute to ‘†¦the imagery of sickness and confinement, one day after another, just rolling on.’ The ending of the movement contains two giant climaxes, the second one a tribute to Mahler’s unfinished Ninth Symphony (1909 – 1919). The first movement bears a tribute to the late Romantics, including allusions to, ironically, Schoenberg’s Gurrelieder (1900 – 1911). The shimmering effect in the opening of the third movement even alludes to early Impressionism. These Romantic traits, along with the Minimalistic slow harmonic rhythms, again show the eclectic treatment of both styles. In conclusion, Harmonielehre is a combination of â€Å"the harmonic economy of Minimalism with the picturesque extravagance of late-Romantic orchestration.† Adams does not revolutionize music in the way that Schoenberg or the minimalists did by completely rejecting the previous popular approach to composition. His music could thus be considered a return to tried and tested orchestral gestures. However, by combining both romantic expressiveness and minimalist techniques, he has created a new level of balance between the two which is indubitably a refreshing departure from both styles. In his own words, Adams says that â€Å"[Many composers] want to rewrite history or something. I don’t.† Bibliography Books J. Adams, Hallelujah Junction: Composing an American Life (London, 2008) A. Schoenberg, Theory of Harmony (London, 1983) O. Karolyi, Modern American Music: from Charles Ives to minimalists (United States, 1996), 304 D. A. Lee, Masterworks of 20th-Century Music: The Modern Repertory of the Symphony Orchestra (New York, August 2002), 1-7 Watkins, 572. / 576-77 Articles J. Adams, Introductory Notes for Harmonielehre John Adams, quoted in Michael Steinberg, â€Å"Harmonium, by John Adams,† program notes for the San Francisco Symphony, Stagebill, 4, 6-7 Jan. 1987, 20B. Philip Clark, Programme Notes for the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, 28 Jan 2011 The discussion between Jonathan Cott and Adams concerning Harmonielehre in liner notes to Harmonielehre (Nonesuch 79115, 1985) T. A. Johnson, ‘Minimalism: Aesthetic, Style or Technique?’, The Music Quarterly, Vol. 78, No. 4 (Winter, 1994), 747-773 T. A. Johnson, ‘Harmonic Vocabulary in the Music of John Adams: A Hierarchical Approach’, Journal of Music Theory, Vol. 37, No. 1 (Spring, 1993), 117-156 T. May, ‘Interview: John Adams reflects on his career’, The John Adams Reader, ed. Thomas May (USA, 2006), 2-28 C. Pellegrino, ‘Aspects of Closure in the Music of John Adams’, Perspectives of New Music, Vol. 40, No. 1 (Winter, 2002), 147-175 A. Ross, ‘The Harmonist’, The John Adams Read er, ed. Thomas May (USA, 2006), 29-44 K. R. Schwarz, â€Å"Young Composers: John Adams,† Music and Musicians, Mar. 1985, 10. K. R. Schwarz, ‘Process vs. Intuition in the Recent Works of Steve Reich and John Adams’, American Music, Vol. 8, No. 3 (Autumn, 1990), 245-273 M. Steinberg, ‘Harmonielehre’, The John Adams Reader, ed. Thomas May (USA, 2006), 101-105 John Adams, quoted in Michael Steinberg, â€Å"Harmonium, by John Adams,† program notes for the San Francisco Symphony, Stagebill, 4, 6-7 Jan. 1987, 20B David Sterritt, â€Å"John Adams and His Nixon in China’: Could This Be Another ‘Porgy and Bess’?† Christian Science Monitor, 19 Oct. 1987, 21-22 John Adams, â€Å"From Nixon in China to Walt Whitman: An Interview with John Adams† interview by Edward Strickland, Fanfare, Jan-Feb. 1990, 46. Websites P. Gutmann, ‘John Adams – Popularity without Pondering’, Classical Notes (accessed 15 November 2011), http://www.classicalnotes.net/columns/adams.html#harmonielehre J. Kosman, ‘Harmonielehre, John Adams’, Chester Novello (accessed 15 November 2011), http://www.chesternovello.com/default.aspx?TabId=2432&State_3041=2&workId_3041=23704 D. Robertson, ‘Transcript of David Robertson: Conductor and music scholar discusses the importance of John Adams’ orchestral work â€Å"Harmonielehre† in helping us understand the way music can look back yet anticipate the new in musical sounds’, The Music Show (accessed 20 November 2011), http://www.abc.net.au/rn/music/mshow/s924166.htm C. Zeichner, ‘Minimalism maximized – John Adams’, Ariama (accessed 21 November 2011), http://www.ariama.com/features/minimalism-maximized-john-adams Discography J. Adams, Harmonielehre, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle (EMI Classics), 1994, CD B000002RU2 General Comments An excellent response to the question. You have used an admirable range of sources and, most importantly, identified critical material arising from the premiere of the piece. You have not only used music examples effectively, but made your own harmonic analyses where none others were available. Your writing style is clear and concise and citation accurate. Countermarker’s comment: agreed. An outstanding essay, well-done! ——————————————– [ 1 ]. J. Adams, Introductory Notes for Harmonielehre [ 2 ]. Loc. cit. [ 3 ]. J. Adams, Hallelujah Junction: Composing an American Life (London, 2008), p.107 [ 4 ]. K. R. Schwarz, ‘Process vs. Intuition in the Recent Works of Steve Reich and John Adams’, American Music, Vol. 8, No. 3 (Autumn, 1990), p.245-273 [ 5 ]. Philip Clark, Programme Notes for the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, 28 Jan 2011 [ 6 ]. Adams, Op. cit., 104 (Hallelujah Junction) [ 7 ]. Henceforth abbreviated as â€Å"pcs† [ 8 ]. T. A. Johnson, ‘Harmonic Vocabulary in the Music of John Adams: A Hierarchical Approach’, Journal of Music Theory, Vol. 37, No. 1 (Spring, 1993), 117-156 [ 9 ]. Examples: Harmonium (1980), Common Tones in Simple Tone (1979) and Shaker Loops (1978) [ 10 ]. T. A. Johnson, ‘Minimalism: Aesthetic, Style or Technique?’, The Music Quarterly, Vol. 78, No. 4 (Winter, 1994), 747-773 [ 11 ]. Johnson, Op. cit, 136 (Journal of Music Theory) [ 12 ]. Adams, Op. cit., 130 (Hallelujah Junction) [ 13 ]. M. Steinberg, ‘Harmonielehre’, The John Adams Reader, ed. Thomas May (USA, 2006), 101-105 [ 14 ]. T. A. Johnson, Op. cit, (Journal of Music Theory), 117-156 [ 15 ]. T. A. Johnson, Op. cit. (The Music Quarterly), 747-773 [ 16 ]. T. A. Johnson, Op. cit. (The Music Quarterly), 747-773 [ 17 ]. David Sterritt, â€Å"John Adams and His ‘Nixon in China’: Could This Be Another ‘Porgy and Bess’?† Christian Science Monitor, 19 Oct. 1987, 21-22 [ 18 ]. John Adams, quoted in Michael Steinberg, â€Å"Harmonium, by John Adams,† program notes for the San Francisco Symphony, Stagebill, 4, 6-7 Jan. 1987, 20B [ 19 ]. K. R. Schwarz, Op. Cit. (American Music) 245-273 [ 20 ]. T.A. Johnson, Op. Cit. (Journal of Music Theory), 117-156 [ 21 ]. From the discussion between Jonathan Cott and Adams concerning Harmonielehre in liner notes to Harmonielehre (Nonesuch 79115, 1985) [ 22 ]. John Adams, in an interview held in 1986 [ 23 ]. T. May, ‘Interview: John Adams reflects on his career’, The John Adams Reader, (USA, 2006), 2-28 [ 24 ]. K. Robert Schwarz, â€Å"Young American Composers: John Adams,† Music and Musicians, Mar. 1985, 10. [ 25 ]. Joseph Pehrson, New music Connoisseur, review for Harmonielehre [ 26 ]. T. A. Johnson, Op. Cit. (Journal of Music Theory),754 [ 27 ]. Adams, Op. Cit., Notes for Harmonielehre [ 28 ]. Steinberg, Op. Cit., 103 [ 29 ]. Based on C.G. Jung’s discussion of Anfortas, the king whose wounds could never be healed [ 30 ]. Steinberg, Op. Cit., 105

Experimental learning Essay

Making a change in ones career is not an easy task because the individual has to consider very many things. Decisions are an every day affair and they are inevitable. Hence, in an effort to make broad our experiences, change helps us to make better decisions in life. One should have had a variety of experiences that are different because they help an individual to look at life or at things from different perspectives (Wessels, 2006). However, individuals should be careful not to set expectations that are unrealistic. Making a decision usually involves three major steps; the first one is to recognize that there is a need to change which stems from a dissatisfaction from oneself. The second step is to make a decision to make the change. The last step is the implementation of the decision with a dedication that is conscious. Taking a course in nursing I could do pharmacy to become a pharmacist where I can seek tenders to supply medical drugs to the healthcentres so that I can still be related with my course. My career path right now is focused on working as a nurse but I want to venture into something else such as business, where I could be in a business but still offer medical services. I plan to take a course in business administration or accounts and I would do accounting courses. I want to be a financial analyst because I love investments and love to solve out financial issues. Some of the theories that can help in setting up of ones career path into identifying reasons for career change are discussed here. The Kurt Lewin change theory about change is described in three stages the first stage is that of becoming motivated to experience the change and this is referred to as unfreezing. This theory explains that human behaviour towards change is explained by observations and cultural influences in the past that help an individual to learn. However, this process to unfreeze has three sub processes; the first sub process is the disconfirmation where the conditions prevailing at the present are a cause to dissatisfaction, which result from not being in a position to meet personal goals. The second one is the belief from the anxiety to survive. The third sub- process is the learning of anxiety, which results to the individual being defensive and to be resistant. The second stage is getting to know what is to be changed or to be unfrozen so that it can be transformed into something new. This stage is effective by looking at role models and through the learning of trial and error. The third stage is that of making the change that is made permanent, and it is referred to as refreezing. The new behavior involves making it a habit. It becomes better when interpersonal relationships are formed. The other theory is the self-efficacy theory, which talks about the person having the ability to believe that they can change issues that are happening in their life. It says that the strategies that increase the efficacy of an individual acts as a very powerful tool in administering change. It however talks of four skills, which are modeling, mastering skills, persuasion with support of the society and the skill to clarify the meaning of the change. After looking at the two theories, I would settle for becoming a financial analyst. The model that would best work fro me would be the Kurt Lewin change theory. I would evaluate my choice of career using this theory because this theory would permanently effect the change. The disadvantages to this theory are that; before one decides to unfreeze, there are prevalent challenges of taking longer in school while studying another course. The other disadvantage would be having to look for a job because the business market is flooded and hence to establish a base for the clients will take some time. In becoming a pharmacist, I will not have deviated totally from the profession of having to deal with medicine. In a way I will find myself doing services related to nursing also, to acquire the experience and the capital to run a pharmacy, it would take a long if I find myself in a fix that doest guarantee me to a loan. The best thing about pharmacy is that I would make some good money compared to nursing. The advantage to the business course is that it earns a lot of money once someone gets to establish a base for clients. To evaluate my choice I would begin by setting an expectation while at the beginning, which can be overcome easily. To remind myself of the progress that I am supposed to have made upto the point I would have reached. I would then continue reviewing and revising my plan based on the experiences that I would have encountered on the journey to the change. I would also write a plan, which I would carry it with me so that I can remember always of the goals that I will have set (Wessels, 2006). REFERENCE Wessels, M. (2006). Experiential Learning. Wetton. Juta and Company Ltd.

phillip morris technology essays

phillip morris technology essays Philip Morris is an international company that has had to grow and deal with all of the technological advances in the world. Philip Morris is best known for their production and distribution of cigarettes. One of their most interesting technological advances is that they are known for accommodating customers with fire-safe cigarettes. Also, they are known with introducing Light and low-tar cigarettes. Another technological advance that has helped Philip Morris evolve is the integration of the computer management system, called SAP. The last technological advance has not been one in their favor, which is counterfeit cigarettes, and illegal distribution of their cigarettes on the Internet. When Philip Morris originally started their cigarette production and distribution, there was no knowledge of technology or expertise in cancer or things like fire-safe cigarettes. Cigarette-ignited fires are one of the leading causes of fire deaths in the United States. In 2000, two groundbreaking events occurred in New York State. They passed the nations first law requiring the establishment of a fire safety standard for cigarettes sod in the state, and Philip Morris began mass production of a commercial cigarette (Merit), that is less likely than conventional cigarettes to ignite a fire. Philip Morris PaperSelect technology uses speed bumps in the cigarettes paper, which causes an unattended cigarette to go out. The cigarettes reduced ignition propensity was confirmed in testing by the National Institute on Standards and Technology. Hundreds of years ago, when smoking was originally introduced, no one thought of the long-term effects it could do to a persons health and environment. After the U.S. Surgeon General concluded in 1964 that cigarette smoking causes lung cancer, tobacco companies recognized that health issues concerned millions of American smok ...

The Best MBA Programs in the World

The Best MBA Programs in the World The best MBA programs in the world equip their students with the skills and support necessary to launch and/or advance a business career. Each of the MBA programs on this list provides rigorous coursework, experienced professors, extensive career support, and a global perspective. Stanford Graduate School of Business Founded in 1925, Stanford Graduate School of Business is located in Stanford, California. The schools two-year full-time MBA program provides students with a world-class general management education. The curriculum encourages innovation and collaboration. Each student is also required to participate in a global experience. Some of the options that are available to students include Global Management Immersion Experience (GMIX), faculty-led Global Seminars, Global Study Trips and self-directed experiences, such as a global internship or an independent study course. London Business School Located in London in the United Kingdom, London Business School is widely believed to be the best non-U.S. business school. The MBA program is not only prestigious, it also offers flexibility that cant be found in every program. Students can choose customize the curriculum based on their desired career path and complete the program in 15, 18 or 21 months. London Business School also offers many unique opportunities, including a Global Business Experience and an Entrepreneurship Summer School. Harvard Business School Established in 1908, Harvard Business School is one of the most recognized names in business education. The full-time MBA program at Harvard Business School places a heavy emphasis on real world experience. Students learn through the case method, which allows them to evaluate real business scenarios and decide how they would respond to the types of problems and challenges facing todays businesses. They also participate in personal leadership activities and team-based projects. Harvard Business School is located in Boston, Massachusetts but has global research centers located all over the world. It takes two years of full-time study to complete the MBA program. INSEAD INSEAD is not as old as some of the other schools on this list (it was founded in 1957), but it is consistently ranked among the best business schools in the world. The school has campuses in Fontainebleau, France (Europe campus), the Buona Vista district of the city-state of Singapore (Asia campus), and Abu Dhabi (Middle East campus). Students choose their preferred campus at the time of application, but can choose to spend one of three periods studying at another campus. INSEAD offers an accelerated full-time MBA program that takes just 10 months to complete. The curriculum is rigorous and places an emphasis on management preparation. The Wharton School Along with Harvard Business School and the Stanford Graduate School of Business, the Wharton School is consistently ranked among the best U.S. business schools. The Wharton School was established in 1881 and is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The MBA program provides good preparation in general business and leadership, but it is known primarily as a finance school. It takes approximately 20 months to complete the Wharton MBA program. Students can choose from nearly 20 majors and customize their education by picking and choosing from more than 200 electives. Columbia Business School Established in 1916, Columbia Business School is located in New York City. It is one of just six Ivy League business schools in the world and is known for being highly selective. The Columbia Business School MBA program takes approximately two years of full-time study to complete. Courses teach business theory that is applicable to real-world business situations. Students are encouraged to learn from the faculty as well as their peers. The MBA program has a core curriculum, but students are allowed to choose a specialization so that they can graduate with knowledge in an area that matches their career goals. University of Chicago Booth School of Business Located in the Hyde Park area of Chicago, Illinois, the University of Chicago Booth School of Business was established in 1898. It is the second oldest business school in the United States. The University of Chicago Booth School of Business MBA program combines theory and experiential learning to teach students how to analyze problems and create solutions. The school offers above average preparation in economics. The school has produced more  Nobel Laureates in the Economic Sciences than any other business school. The University of Chicago Booth School of Business MBA program takes two years of full-time study to complete and consists of 20 classes and an experiential leadership development program. University of Cambridge Judge Business School Formerly known as the Judge Institute for Management Studies, the University of Cambridge Judge Business School was established in 1990 and is widely recognized as one of the best business schools in the world. The schools full-time MBA program, often called the Cambridge MBA, is a rigorous program that takes just one year to complete. The University of Cambridge Judge Business School seeks to prepare students to lead teams on a global scale. Students participate in a lot of class discussions and participate in a Global Consulting Project requires them to consult for client companies and make touch business decisions with real outcomes. University of California at Berkeley Haas School of Business Founded in 1898, the University of California at Berkeley Haas School of Business, also known as Berkeley Haas, is one of the oldest business schools in the world. The full-time MBA program at Berkeley Haas is  21-month program. The curriculum has a heavy focus on management and leadership fundamentals. Students take 12 required courses and then choose electives to tailor their education to their chosen career path.  They also get the opportunity to participate in team projects and leadership development opportunities. IESE Business School Founded in 1958, IESE Business School is the graduate  business school of the  University of Navarra. The school has campuses in Barcelona, Madrid, Munich, New York City and Sao Paulo. The IESE MBA program includes a core curriculum with a focus on business fundamentals, internship programs that are designed to enhance entrepreneurship skills and electives that allows students to tailor their education to their career goals. Students who enroll in the IESE MBA program can choose from a 15-month MBA program or an 18-month MBA program.   Yale School of Management Located in New Haven, Connecticut, the Yale School of Management (SOM) was established in 1976. Students who enroll in the Yale School of Management MBA program must complete an integrated core curriculum. Each course within the core curriculum teaches management fundamentals, problem solving and ethical thinking. The Yale School of Management calls this approach to business education a raw case because it is based on the needs of real world organizations in modern business. The MBA program takes approximately two years of full-time study to complete.   University of Oxford Said Business School Formerly known as the Centre for Management Studies, the University of Oxford Said Business School was established in 1965. The University of Oxford Said Business School MBA program, also known as the Oxford MBA, takes one year to complete. The program emphasizes responsible leadership and is known for offering solid preparation in entrepreneurship and global business. Students study within a dynamic research environment and are encouraged to learn how to think logically and lead with purpose. MIT Sloan School of Management Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the MIT Sloan School of Management was established in 1914. The MIT Sloan MBA program is designed to encourage innovation. The school calls this approach action learning. Students participate in subject-based labs that allow them to apply classroom learning to real world situations. Every MBA student participates in a on-semester core that includes coursework in economics, accounting, leadership communication, business statistics and organizational processes. Students then complete 144 units of electives. The MBA program takes approximately two years of full-time study to complete.   Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management Established in 1908, the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management is located in Evanston, Illinois. The MBA curriculum at Kellogg combines a core curriculum that focuses on general management with electives that allow students to customize their education. MBA students are also given the chance to participate in global experiential learning opportunities. Kellogg School of Management has 37 exchange programs across 20 countries. Student can choose from a one-year MBA program and a two-year MBA program.   China Europe International Business School Co-founded by the Chinese government and European Union (EU) in 1994, the China Europe International Business School  (CEIBS) is known for its academic rigor. It is located in Shanghai, China. Students who enroll in the CEIBS MBA program complete a core that focuses on managerial foundation skills, business fundamentals, and special topics in China management before choosing a concentration in general management, finance or marketing.  Students can choose from a one-year program or a two-year program. Cornell University's Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management Established in 1946, Cornell Universitys Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management, also known as Johnson, is an Ivy League business school located in Ithaca, New York. The school has a performance learning approach that combines classroom learning with practical experiences, such as  Kaizen projects.  Johnsons MBA program combines a core curriculum with flexible electives that allow for complete customization. Students can choose from a one-year program or a two-year program. Duke University Fuqua School of Business Established in 1969, Duke University Fuqua School of Business is located in Durham, North Carolina. The MBA program at Fuqua has fewer core courses than most business schools. This approach allows students to begin taking electives sooner than normal. MBA students can customize their education by choosing electives in 14 different concentrations. The Fuqua MBA program takes approximately two years of full-time study to complete. National University of Singapore Business School Established in 1965, the National University of Singapore Business School is located in Singapore and is widely recognized as one of the best business schools in the Asia Pacific region. The MBA program at National University of Singapore Business School focuses heavily on global business. It integrates Western business models and Asian leadership tenants. Students take core classes in management and then choose electives to tailor their education. National University of Singapore Business School MBA program takes 17 months of full-time study to complete. International Institute for Management Development Established in 1990, the International Institute for Management Development  (IMD)  is a Swiss business school known for providing top-ranked executive education. It is located in Lausanne, Switzerland. The IMD MBA program is designed to give students a global mindset through a combination of practical experience and thought leadership. While enrolled in the program, students take core courses and apply what they have learned through projects and labs. The IMD MBA program takes one year to complete. ESADE Business School Established in 1958, ESADE Business School is a global academic institution that is located in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. ESADE employs a flipped-learning methodology. This teaching method allows students to learn basic concepts prior to participating in face-to-face sessions. The ESADE MBA curriculum encourages students to think creatively, customize their education and participate in international experiences. Students can complete the ESADE MBA program in 15, 18 or 21 months.

Human Resources - High performance work Practices Essay

Human Resources - High performance work Practices - Essay Example â€Å"High performance work places or organisations (HPWOs) are organisations that are moving towards a flatter and less hierarchical structure, where people work in teams with greater autonomy.† (Tamkin, 2004). But, sometimes the organisation will not be able to provide High performance work places due to various factors. This will surely bring down the level of performance among the employees to bare minimum. The important aspect is, the performance levels of the employees have to be kept at optimal levels or high levels, so that the employees exhibit optimum productivity. So, this paper will look at how the employees’ performance can be heightened by optimizing the High performance work places, thereby aiding the employers as well as the employees, kind of win-win solution: benefiting both the employers and the employees Once a common, feasible and effective High performance work places is created, different employees can be focused on a single goal and thereby increasing their performance level. As any organisation will be a hotbed of human activity, it could give rise to groups and subgroups, which will eventually share enough experience to create subcultures based on occupational, national, and uniquely historic experiences. Once such differentiation has taken place, the organisation’s task is to find ways of coordinating, aligning, or integrating the different subcultures into common culture by making them work in a common organisational atmosphere. So, performance among the employees can be optimized at the outset itself, only if the leader or manager of the organisation provides the employees a favourable High performance work place with a common organisational culture, focusing on a single target. â€Å"Support culture, which include performance operations and people management proces ses, aligned to organisational objectives to build trust, enthusiasms and commitment.† (Tamkin, 2004). The trait of

Delegation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Delegation - Essay Example As the paper declares assignments that supposed to be delegated are those that will interest staff and make them content to be working on the assignment. Why do people like work? The respond is that the work one takes pleasure in involves learning new skills, is to some extent imperative and conceivably will obtain for staff members some credit and add to their status and future employability. This essay declares that to achieve those purposes, the human resources ought to be evaluated. Finding the right individual who will be thrilled about the assignment and advantage from it is crucial. A delegated assignment should intrinsically be a learning course for the individual accountable for it. On the other hand, the staff member chosen should have suitable acquaintance and skills to comprehend the nature and scope of the project. If the Elementary School Principal can sense an eagerness about the prospect, which is a hint that the correct staff member has been chosen for delegation of the assignment. As Fairfax County Public Schools uses delegation for development, evaluating and harmonizing the assignments to all human resources transforms increasingly significant. Giving development opportunities to only a few staff members will shortcut the Fairfax County Public Schools' capability to extend human resources with manifold skills and talents. Leaving some staff members out of the probability for development will also lead to turnover of otherwise excellent and productive human resources.