Hybrid Education Model

Analysis of the Hybrid Education Model Introduction The rapid advancements in technology have seen it find application in almost every aspect of life. The education sector has not been left behind either in the hype of technology. The internet platform has especially played a big role in changing approaches to education delivery. The internet has been utilized to provide online education to international citizens (Bonk Graham, 2005).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Hybrid Education Model specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Online education is quickly taking root and even in many cases replacing the ordinary face-to-face education delivery. The dynamic aspect of technology has seen different applications flood the market day in and out (Ausburn, 2004). This has effectively availed more user friendly applications to the consumer at an affordable price. This paper will compare and evaluate the online educatio n delivery models that have made it more popular among students than the traditional classroom mode. As a result of the increased online student enrollment, most universities opt for hybrid system in order to be in touch with the course of technology (Bonk Graham, 2005). The paper brings out an analysis of the hybrid system as a model of education delivery, technological tools used and how it has helped the university to remain competitive in terms of managing student, faculty and administration. Problem Definition The hybrid system of education delivery is where a faculty integrates both in-class learning activities with online learning. The online learning in this case takes the bulk of the learning activities as the face-to-face learning activities are reduced. The recent years have seen an increase in population of students seeking higher education. The increase has been in the inverse proportion with the physical facilities and infrastructure in the university. This effectivel y limits the number of students that can be admitted to a given course program at any given time because of limited sitting capacity as well as learning and teaching resources (Ausburn, 2004). Distance was also identified as a hindrance to most students achieving their desired educational goals. The ordinary classroom education requires that a student as a teacher travel to a fixed place for educational interaction (Cameron, 2003).Advertising Looking for research paper on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More With the hybrid system, the travelling is highly minimized, with the online platform; a student can be able to attend classes in the university of choice from the comfort of the house and in any part of the world. The hybrid system also reduces the cost of education quiet substantially as compared to the traditional model. The university has been on course to solve this problem by considering a learning mode that can as much as possible bring on board many students without limitations pegged on seating capacity or teaching and learning resources. Another objective that motivated the university to design the hybrid course modules is the need to reach as many students from all over the world as possible (Cameron, 2003). The hybrid system has been identified as a flexible program that will allow students learn at their own pace and within their own planning. Rationale The problem of limited physical infrastructure limiting the number of students that can be admitted in any program in a university are real in the wake of the rapidly population growth. Universities admit students based on factors such as; bed capacity, size of lecture halls, the number of teaching resources as well as the number of lecturers available to train the students. Bonk Graham (2005) points out the case of Nigeria where the first generation public universities are so competitive. Every student aspires to join at least one of the first generation universities for higher education. The swelling number of students has outgrown the available physical infrastructure as well as the teaching resources. The increasing number of students qualifying for university education has led to establishment of more universities to cater for the student population. Countries have been pressed by the need for technological and human resource development. In some cases, public middle level colleges have been converted or awarded university status to offer degrees as a result reducing learning opportunities for students qualifying for diploma courses. The hybrid system invention offers a reliable solution to this problem as it decentralizes educational access to those seeking learning opportunities (Carroll, 2003).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Hybrid Education Model specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The hybrid system will be used to increase equal to access of education between various communities of the world. There is a major gap in educational access by communities that are marginalized in terms of development. Few women especially in developing countries learn up to high school education. The reason attributed to this is poverty, lack of information and culture. In the Michigan state for example Carroll (2003) points out that the minority groups who includes; blacks and the Hispanics hardly attain a degree level in academics. Such disparities are on the increase especially in developing nations. Cost implication is a major impediment to educational access. The hybrid education system can reduce expenses by cutting down the amount of time that one would spend in college. This translates into less expense in terms of traveling expenses, accommodation and subsistence. Traditional classroom learning is more expensive in terms of printing costs as notes and other learning materials would normally be given out to student s to make copies (Carroll, 2003). In the hybrid system arrangement, students access learning material in soft copies online and are not under obligation to make copies. The number of part time students is on an increase as individuals look to combine work with educational advancement. Such students require a flexible learning program such as the hybrid system. Part time students learning under the traditional classroom arrangements schedule their classes either in the evenings, during holidays or over weekends (Carroll, 2003). The hybrid system provides students who would like to pursue academics and work a flexible learning situation, they can be able to plan for their time and effectively juggle between academics and work. It is as a result of this that the university has experienced a significant shift of student enrollment from the face-to-face learning model to the hybrid system. Special Terms Associated with the problem Face-to-face: to be directly present. Model : a set of t eaching and learning methods Integrate: to mix Impact: the changes either positive or negative as a result of learning Retention rates: the number of students who start and finish an education program Enrollment: number of students registered for a particular program Hybrid education: a mix of online and traditional classroom learning Problem Statement The advent of distance learning to solve the problem of space as a hindrance to educational access has led to the invention of the hybrid education system. The hybrid system integrates both ordinary face-to-face learning with distance learning (Christensen, 2003). The internet provides a platform through which students and lecturers interact.Advertising Looking for research paper on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The main problem with the hybrid system is that the model proves difficult for instructors and education administrators to evaluate. Most higher learning institutions are motivated to adoption of hybrid education due to its high demand. The institutions are looking at the issue more to a business angle than learning. Majority of students at the universities satellite locations are part-time and face the problem of coping with the hectic schedules between work and school. The non-traditional students have different learning needs as full-time students (Christensen, 2003). They also have limited time to attend to their studies due to work as well as constraints of family responsibilities. These constraints affect students’ performance in exams. The hybrid model has become so popular especially among the non-traditional students because of its flexibility. Non-traditional students can be able to manage academic pursuit together with other life responsibilities under the hybrid s ystem with ease than the traditional face-to-face learning (Stein, 2004). Problem Statement There is an increase in enrollment of non-traditional students who demand flexibility in their academic program. Non-traditional students require flexibility so as to combine education with life issues and responsibilities (Christensen, 2003). The growing popularity of online education programs across the educational divide makes it a requirement that the program is integrated in education. Teachers must be prepared for a future of online education as the shift has started and there are indications of the program growing in popularity to take over from traditional classroom education (Frazee, 2003). Teacher education programs should focus more on training in relevant technological areas than outdated systems. The modern world is too dynamic in every life aspect; we need to be on the look out to embrace the changes in order to remain relevant within the changes (Stein, 2004). Literature Review The hybrid education system is formed by combining the â€Å"best practices of both ordinary education system and online education† (Cameron, 2003). Students and teachers are not restricted to regular visit to school for learning and teaching. In order to shift from the traditional face-to-face education to online model, instructors must prepare learning materials to a form that is compatible with online teaching. Online learning materials are more effective than what instructors provide in the normal lecture hall scenario (Frazee, 2003). This is because online teaching methods are more interactive. Teaching methods relevant to online teaching include; case studies or tutorials over the internet. Frazee (2003) points out that hybrid education is growing in popularity and being embraced by learning institution because of the decentralization aspect. It reduces the number of students flocking to campus for learning as they can interact with teachers and fellow students through interactive online platforms (Rheingold, 2002). The system plays an important role in developing students own computer skills as well as self discipline. Online education research exposes the student to intensive computer use, expanding their skills and knowledge in computer use (Garrison Kanuta, 2004). Students learning under the hybrid system have to learn how to manage time and adjust to various changes in schedule on their own. The program further provides students an opportunity to learn under limited supervision (Garrison Kanuta, 2004). This helps built the character of the students fit for job occupation. Employers are happy working with employees who apart from having relevant skills for work can work on their own with minimum supervision. Garrison Kanuta (2004) observes that the hybrid system requires students to do more on individual basis, translating into active learning. Active learning gives a student an opportunity to master the content learnt through individual r esearch work. Students learning under this program have the opportunity to engage fellow students and lecturers through online discussion fora on various topics (Rheingold, 2002). Online discussion fora have especially been found to generate meaningful ideas from students’ more than face-to-face discussion (Graff, 2003). The reason is that most of the student who would shy off from open discussion can freely present ideas in writing rather than speaking in a physical gathering (Graff, 2003). Since the hybrid system combines the best practices of both classroom based learning and online learning it is more superior learning model. The hybrid system as Graff (2003) concludes, provide an increased access to education by expanding learning opportunities. Students can register for a program in a college of choice and attain a degree without making several trips to the campus. Learning from the comfort of the home environment has given chance to many aspiring students to acquire va rious university academic credentials Hiltz Goldman (2005) observes that the system has helped in overcoming the challenge of limited lecture hall space, library space as well as reducing the cost of printing. From the environmental view, the hybrid system plays an important role in mitigating environmental degradation. In an era that environmental matters are being become a world concern, every sector is encouraged to adopt working modalities that are less harmful to the environment (Hiltz Goldman, 2005). Printing several pages for student handouts, assignments, and exams contribute to destruction of forests and indiscriminate dumping of waste papers that pollute the environment. Implementation Implementation of this program as has been for many other universities, both public and private is not an easy task. Public universities struggle to get funds to invest in technological tools that support online learning. The federal government has dragged its feet in allocating funds to t his program in public universities (Johnson, 2002). Private universities have been leading the line in implementing the program but mostly focus more on the business aspect of it than academic excellence. There has been resistance to adoption of the changes brought by the hybrid education system. Lecturers are used to the normal face-to-face learning and would not change easily to the new teaching method. Students also find it hard to adopt the new roles bestowed to them by the new learning methodology. In the ordinary learning scenario, students wait for the instructor to lead the way and give them information (Johnson, 2002). The hybrid system subjects the student to research work and at the same time give them freedom to work on their own. Both instructors and students must shift their mindset from the comfortable teaching and learning methodologies to the new more demanding one for the program to succeed. More time has to be committed to the design of learning materials for the online program. More emphasis in the design of the learning materials should be committed to the practical aspect (Meyer, 2003). The material should focus more on learner activities such as; case studies, online discussions, online tests and assignments (Johnson, 2002). Instructors should probably be compensated for the extra time they put in to prepare the online content in order to be more committed to the work. The design of the learning material should as much as possible be relate online learning methodologies to ordinary classroom learning. The technology used in developing the course materials should be simple as to be understood by the students. Leh (2002) observes that most students taking online classes prefer attending to academic activities from home. The developed technology should therefore be one that can be accessed from the home environment without the need for high end equipment that would be out of reach in terms of cost for the students. Often students have a mis conception that the system is less strenuous than the ordinary classroom program because of the less classroom meetings. This is not true for the program as students are expected to do more on their own; instructors should guide the learners and inform them of what is required before the program starts (Leh, 2002). Developing useful program entails collaboration efforts by various stakeholders and experts. Brainstorming is the best strategy for developing an all rounded education program. Different ideas and approaches to the same aspect brought together can generate a more concrete idea and program for learning (Leh, 2002). Summary This section was focused on the definition of the hybrid or blended system of education, the problem statement of the research, rationale and implementation. The research was carried out to establish how integration of online education and face-to-face learning to form a blended system has helped achieve success among students, lecturers and administrati on in the university. It has been observed that the hybrid education is becoming more popular among students because of its flexible nature. Part-time students who combine work and education can have an opportunity to attend classes with an adjustable schedule thanks to the hybrid system. Students are also given chance to study at their own pace as long as they adhere to the rules set out by the institution. When developing learning materials, care should be observed to ensure the technology is to the level of students and does not require high-end equipment. Methodology Introduction This section discus the methodologies used in this research as well as the research findings. The setting of the research as well as the sample for the research will also be discussed. Mixed Method Research Design and Approach Martyn (2003) points out three important aspects of an effective hybrid education system. First is the integration of ordinary face-to-face learning with online education. Enough time should be committed to developing a relevant learning program, bearing in mind the changes that should be incorporated. The program should focus more on the student; it should offer more activities for the student so as to improve their performance. This research is designed to use the mixed method of research to investigate the aspects of the hybrid education system. The method comprises of both qualitative and quantitative approaches in data analysis (Martyn, 2003). The main concern of this work is to find out information and data that express confidence in hybrid system of education. The confidence level lies in the quality as well as the impact that this type of education has on the students. Rates of enrollment of non-traditional students at the college will also be used to gauge the popularity of the system. The experimental research design will also be useful in this case as the study aims at making a comparison between the traditional face-to-face education and online e ducation. The study will also seek to investigate the relationship between the two types of education in terms of in terms of their effectiveness and quality. The experimental research will be based on education students pursuing a degree either by; face-to-face, online or hybrid education system. The case of investigation will be finding out how much the hybrid system affects their enrollment at the college. The qualitative method of study will also be used in the study to establish the impact that the hybrid education model has on course delivery. This will be based on data formulated from interviews and questionnaires. The research also aims at formulating a hybrid education model curriculum based on the literature review that is an integral part of this study. The data collected and formulated from interviews and questionnaires will be used to justify the use of both qualitative and quantitative research design. Setting and Sample The target students for this study will be the a dult education students enrolled at the college. Instructors as well as college administrators will also make part of the study samples. The study will seek to find out the feelings of the students instructors and administrators about the program in terms of quality, convenience and preference over other learning models. In order to effectively determine the sample for the research, the study will use the common scientific sampling methods. Martyn, (2003) points out that the sampling method used has to be in line with the research being conducted. The random sampling technique will be used in this case to determine the research sample. Random sampling reduces chances of biasness in choosing the sample for the purpose of the study (Meyer, 2003). The process will involve giving numerical symbols to each member of the study. The study sample will then be selected from the whole population at random based on the numerical symbols. The numerical symbols will then be matched to the specif ic cases or variables designed in the study. Istrumentation and Materials The main instruments of information collection that will be used in this study will be; questionnaires and interviews. Questionnaires and interviews will help in collection of qualitative data from the sample population. Data collection The data collected for this study will be analyzed both from the qualitative and quantitative approach. Coded qualitative data will be analyzed by descriptive statistics where as quantitative data will be analyzed by use of statistical software-SPSS. The analyzed data will be interpreted to inform whether the hybrid education system has any positive link with the ordinary face-to-face education. The Pearson correlation coefficient will be used to determine the degree of relationship between the two variables. Variance and standard deviation will be used to measure variability in the data collected. The nominal variables of the research will be the learning mode, flexibility of learning program, quality of learning, age, suitability of the learning method, and level of student interaction. Assumptions, Limitations, Scope and Delimitations The main assumption associated with online and distance learning is that it is likely to influence the students learning outcomes. This variable will be evaluated by comparing the learner outcome for hybrid system and ordinary face-to-face learning. Limitations experienced in the study include; that respondents must be connected to the internet, this is limiting as some respondents may not have a reliable connection to the internet. Since interaction between the researcher and the respondent was not on a face-to-face basis, it was not possible to seek clarification. The other limitation is that the study was not able get information from part-time students. Data collection will be carried out by examining how the hybrid education program is organized and delivered to the students. To establish this information, the study will focus on implementation and analysis procedure for the program. Formative experiment and system analysis will also be utilized in data analysis. In formative experiment, the main focus will be on instruction process, roles played by students and instructors as well as type and effectiveness of the technology platform used. Limitations of Evaluations There exist a number of limitations concerning data evaluation in existing data and information about hybrid education system. There is lack of accurate data to evaluating the program, current information and data are based on approximations which do not reveal the actual picture of the model. Ethical Issues and Concerns The main ethical consideration observed in this research was the issue of confidentiality and privacy of information given to the researcher by respondents. Information collected from students including test scores, age, name and perception of the course were all coded to hide the identity of the respondents. Findin gs The research indicates that the hybrid education model is a major modern invention in education. The model has helped improve student performance and developed interactive learning through online interactive communities. Reference List Ausburn, L.J. (2004). Course design elements most valued by adult learners in blended online education environments: An American perspective. Educational Media International, 41(4), 327-337. Bonk, C. Graham, C. (2005). Handbook of blended learning: Global perspectives, local designs. San Francisco, CA: Pfeiffer Publishing. Cameron, B. (2003). The effectiveness of simulation in a hybrid and online networking course. TechTrends, 47(5), 18-21. Carroll, B. (2003). Going hybrid: Online course components increase flexibility of on- campus courses. Online Classroom, p. 4, 7. Christensen, T.K. (2003). Finding the balance: Constructivist pedagogy in a blended course. Quarterly Review of Distance Education, 4(3), 235-243. Frazee, R.V. (2003). Using relevanc e to facilitate online participation in a hybrid course. Educause Quarterly, No. 4, 67-69. Garrison, D.R Kanuta, H. (2004). Blended learning: Uncovering its transformative potential in higher education. The Internet and Higher Education. 7(2), 95-105. Graff, M. (2003, October). Individual differences in sense of classroom community in a blended learning environment. Journal of Educational Media, 28(2-3), 203-210. Hiltz, S.R. Goldman, R. (2005). Learning Together Online: Research on Asynchronous Learning Networks. New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Johnson, J. (2002, March). Reflections on teaching a large enrollment course using a hybrid format. Teaching with Technology Today, 8(6). Leh, S.C. (2002). Action research on hybrid courses and their online communities. Education Media International, 39(1), 31-37. Martyn, M. (2003). The Hybrid Online Model: Good Practice. Educause Quarterly, 1, 18- 23. Meyer, K. (2003). Face-to-face versus threaded discussions: The role of time and higher-order thinking. Journal of Asynchronous Networks, 7(3), 55-65. Rheingold, H. (2002). Smart mobs: The next social revolution. Cambridge, MA: Perseus Books. Stein, D. (2004). Course structure: Most important factor in student satisfaction. Distance Education Report, 8(3), 4. This research paper on Hybrid Education Model was written and submitted by user Alissa P. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Free Essays on The Effective Of A Positive Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Identity On Depression In Homosexual College Students

In psychology, depression can be defined as: a psychiatric disorder characterized by an inability to concentrate, insomnia, loss of appetite, feelings of extreme sadness, guilt, hopelessness, and thoughts of death. Depression grows more and more common each and every day. Anti-depressant sales continue to rise, and psychologists’ rates are following right along with them. The demand for these â€Å"fixes† to depression is rising because of the newfound freeness to experience and embrace one’s own emotions. In the 1950s and 60s, it was much more common to see a housewife hiding her feelings and doing everything in her power to make her husband believe she could not be happier. Now, however, disturbing childhood memories, divorce, low self-esteem, paranoia, anxiety, and so on all are encouraged to be talked about and dealt with. America’s youth is currently at highest risk for depression. Societal rules, school, peer pressure, parental pressure, it all takes its toll in the forms of stress, anxiety, insomnia, and some more dangerous forms such as rage, drug use, and others. One particularly highly depressed age group is first year college students. The separation of student from his immediate family can sometimes cause the onset of serious depression and/or anxiety because of the loneliness and absence of the comfort that family brings. This, on the other hand, is a time full of changes because of the absence of constant parental scrutiny as well. For example, most people try their first drug, have sex for the first time, and even have sex with the same sex for the first time. This last â€Å"first experience† is one of particular interest in this case because depression in homosexuals of this age bracket tends to exist in fairly high numbers. In general, the correlation between homosexu als and depression is much stronger than heterosexuals and depression during the college years. It appears that homosexuals, especiall... Free Essays on The Effective Of A Positive Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Identity On Depression In Homosexual College Students Free Essays on The Effective Of A Positive Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Identity On Depression In Homosexual College Students In psychology, depression can be defined as: a psychiatric disorder characterized by an inability to concentrate, insomnia, loss of appetite, feelings of extreme sadness, guilt, hopelessness, and thoughts of death. Depression grows more and more common each and every day. Anti-depressant sales continue to rise, and psychologists’ rates are following right along with them. The demand for these â€Å"fixes† to depression is rising because of the newfound freeness to experience and embrace one’s own emotions. In the 1950s and 60s, it was much more common to see a housewife hiding her feelings and doing everything in her power to make her husband believe she could not be happier. Now, however, disturbing childhood memories, divorce, low self-esteem, paranoia, anxiety, and so on all are encouraged to be talked about and dealt with. America’s youth is currently at highest risk for depression. Societal rules, school, peer pressure, parental pressure, it all takes its toll in the forms of stress, anxiety, insomnia, and some more dangerous forms such as rage, drug use, and others. One particularly highly depressed age group is first year college students. The separation of student from his immediate family can sometimes cause the onset of serious depression and/or anxiety because of the loneliness and absence of the comfort that family brings. This, on the other hand, is a time full of changes because of the absence of constant parental scrutiny as well. For example, most people try their first drug, have sex for the first time, and even have sex with the same sex for the first time. This last â€Å"first experience† is one of particular interest in this case because depression in homosexuals of this age bracket tends to exist in fairly high numbers. In general, the correlation between homosexu als and depression is much stronger than heterosexuals and depression during the college years. It appears that homosexuals, especiall...

Case Study - Small Business Management Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

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Utopian Socialism Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Utopian Socialism - Research Paper Example Utopian Socialism Utopian socialism emphasizes that, three things that would happen if all people would adhere to socialist ethics exist. It looks forward for the oppressed to have a better future and improve their life standards; it emphasizes how socialism is very ethical and gives a clear and full meaning to the aims of socialism. Utopia describes collective ownership of property to eliminate greed, promote personal growth, democracy, and cultural enrichment. This paper provides a discussion on utopian socialism. The utopian socialists differ from the other socialists because of the way they carry out their issues. Utopian socialism is more dogmatic and moral. They provoked both ridicule and inspiration in the people. Saint Simon, one of the founders of the utopian socialism viewed suffering as resulting from individualism, which was as a result of breaking of order and hierarchy. He did not see the importance of individuals whose main objective was to pursue personal interests. He did not also bel ieve in free markets, as they were points of oppressing poor people in the society. In the modern times, socialism is seen as a failure. A group of socialists argues that socialism should have extent to which it stops. They argue that such things as major decisions for the whole society cannot be done by anyone. Major societal decisions are seen as important; hence need to be done by people with leadership skills.Utopia is now being used to refer to unrealistic ideas suggested by people. Contrarily, a group of socialists argues that, the capitalists control political issues and leave no other means of getting equality, but only through violent revolutions (Lipow, 1982). However, utopian socialism has its disadvantages. It does not give guidelines on how to achieve its objectives. It only highlights its vision, and no action is taken towards the goals. The opposite of utopia is dystopia. Dystopian vision is to give warning about dangers in the society. It is viewed as a good ideologi cal weapon. In modern times, there is increasing distrust of progress, and this makes utopia unconvincing to most people in the modern society (Guarneri, 1991). Utopian socialism had a number of impacts to communities in the 19th century it was one of the main impacts in the wave of the feminist movement. This resulted from the issue about equality in the society (Taylor, 1982). Feminist movements sprung up fighting for economic equality and power equality between men and women. Many organizations also came up to fight against gender based violence and discrimination. Laws regarding percentages of women in leadership positions started to be formed. Women were now to be represented at least by a third in most of the parliaments and organizations (Lipow, 1982). In the industrial revolution, utopian socialism improved women’s thinking in terms of work and leadership. Women began to go to work and make their own money. By mid-19th century, many women were working in factories and even some were leaders who were overseeing their male workers (Lipow, 1982). At the same time, utopian socialism encouraged the existence of trade unions for workers. Workers had their rights and cold lounge complains if at all there were any. Cooperative stores and societies also came up in large numbers to deal to help individuals set up firms and businesses. This was due to the belief that all people were entitled to equal rights; the

Linebacker I and Linebacker II on the Outcome of the War

Linebacker I and Linebacker II on the Outcome of the War A paper submitted to the Faculty of the Naval War College in partial satisfaction of the requirements of the Department of Strategy and Policy based on the following assigned topic: Question #7: In light of how the Paris Peace Accords were reached in 1972-1973, what effect did Linebacker I and Linebacker II have on the outcome of the war? The contents of this paper reflect my own personal views and are not necessarily endorsed by the Naval War College or the Department of the Navy. Signature: _____________________ December 15, 2016 Seminar 20 Moderators: CDR John Sheehan Professor Michelle Getchell To quickly end the Vietnam War and withdraw American troops in an honorable fashion, the Nixon Administration engaged in a strategy of diplomacy and cocurrent military pressure. The focus of the diplomatic track was to negotiate a formal agreement between belligerents. This diplomatic track ultimately resulted in the accord known as the Paris Peace Accords. The military track endeavored to persuade the North to come to the negotiating table in by destroying its will to resist and war-making capabilities through a demonstration of Americas superior air power and unwavering commitment to a free and independent South Vietnam. The series of air raids conducted in support of this goal are known as LINEBACKER I and LINEBACKER II. Both LINEBACKER I and LINEBACKER II had an effect on the war, but both had different results. LINEBACKER I disproved the theory of victory for the North due to their misinterpretation of timing in switching from Phase II to Phase III of Maos strategy, and understa nding of the level of support President Nixon would have from key North Vietnam allies. LINEBACKER II was ultimately successful in bringing all belligerents to the negotiating table, the North by deteriorating the will to fight and further degrading North Vietnamese Warfighting capabilities, and the South due to the waning support of the new U.S. Congress for the war. In early 1972, the North began to shift military tactics from Phase II guerrilla warfare to a much more conventional Phase III form of according to Maos three phase strategy.1 This change is seen in the Easter Offensive that launched on March 30 which was brought about by the success the North enjoyed in Lam Son 719. Because of the Souths need for security and poor military execution, and communication, Operation Lam Son 719 collapsed when faced with resistance from the Northern commanders. The campaign was a disasterous for the South, demostrating their deficiencies and proving that the best units of the South could be defeated by the North.2 North Vietnam conducted the Easter Offensive to take the initiative and weaken Americas commitment to South Vietnam with a significant impact on negotiations producing more favorable terms for them at negotiations. The general feeling was that once troop reduction had reached a certain level the U.S. would have insignificant influence to affect the strategic situation.3 Prior to this the North Vietnamese were on Stage II of Maos three-stage plan for war. The decision to initiate the strategic counter-offensive in the Easter Offensive was premature. The South Vietnamese and U.S. still held a position of greater military power and changing phases at that point was counter to the Maos theories.4 In this second stage, enemy troop morale should continue to deteriorate, which it was in the case of the U.S. Due to American support. The position of North Vietnam in contrast to South Vietnam had not progressed far enough to give an advantage that would support Phase III, and international support should also have grown for the North Vietnamese. Due to the Easter Offensive and lack of willingness to negotiate on the part of the North Vietnamese the International support was not there. Having fulfilled only two of the three requirements to change phase, it was not the proper time, and the North Vietnamese hurt their war efforts. As a result of early North Vietnamese action, President Nixon announced the negotiations between North Vietnam and the United States taking place in Paris as well as the concessions the South Vietnamese and United States were willing to conceed to. Failure of these negotiations allowed the President to put the blame on North Vietnam for refusing to negotiate a peaceful end to the war. This address would do several things, first put diplomatic pressure on North Vietnam by announcing the negotiations in progress and placing North Vietnam in the position of the faithless party. Second, the speech demonstrated that America had exhausted all diplomatic options, which had already been initiated, and set the stage for military action if North Vietnam continued to insist on continuing inflexibility. Hanoi rejected the peace terms offered which gave Nixon the legitimacy he needed to turn to military pressure, the very thing that the North had discounted in their calculations.4 Another problem facing the North at this time is the increasing warmth of relations between the U.S. and the Norths patrons Russia and China. While China was using the U.S. to balance against Russia they were forced to realign forces and took support from North Vietnam. Concurrnetly, Russia was stepping up dà ©tente and viewed China as an enemy.5 This increasing cooperation with Northern allies isolated the North and presented an opportunity for a series of painful military strikes against the North Vietnamese that would decimate entire infantry units and nearly all of the Norths armored vehicles.5 With waning support from their key allies aquiring replacement equipment was difficult and outright victory in a conventional campaign was al but imposssible. President Nixon stated that the U.S. was going to continue fighting until the Communists agreed to negotiate a fair and honorable peace or until the South Vietnamese were able to defend themselves on their own whichever came first. 5 Immediately prior to the 1972 elections, peace talks between Hanoi, Saigon, and Washington began to deteriorate. As a result, President Nixon authorized a follow on air campaign against North Vietnam that would be called LINEBACKER II. The objective of LINEBACKER II differed from LINEBACKER I in that it was intended to destroy Hanois will to fight, and demonstrate Americas commitment to South Vietnams independence after the withdrawal of American troops. Many of the LINEBACKER I targets were attacked again during LINEBACKER II. However; LINEBACKER II had a purpose other than interdicting Northern forces. Military commanders wanted the bombers to cause distress to the civilian population in an effort to disuade them from committing to the fighting on the side of the North while avoinding civilian casualties. To degrade North Vietnamese will to fight, U.S. leadership wanted the people of Hanoi to hear the bombs.6 The ability of a nation to fight is military force and the will of the pe ople. In the case of North Vietnam the millitary force had been signifigantly reduced and that left the will of the people to force settlement. With congressional support waning, North Vietnam adjusted its actions to delay negotiations until after the newly elected Congress was sworn in, believing that support to continue the war in Vietnam would wane. Nixon thought the only way to break the Norths inflexibility and bring them back to the negotiating table was to raise the cost of their reluctance in negotiation. The President commented, We have now reached the point where only the strongest action would have any effect in convincing Hanoi that negotiating a fair settlement with us was a better option for them than continuing the war.7 The strongest show of force in this case was the use of the B-52 Stratofortress. This decision was the optimal choice for attacking the will of the populace. President Ninxon and his advisers desired to inflict maximum psychological impact on the North Vietnamese, supporting the South and reducing the cost to the U.S. in american lives.8 The B-52 could carry a massive conventional payload, was capable of carrying nuclear weapons which sent a message in itself, and had all-weather capabilities making it a perfect tool to deliver a psychological blow to the enemy. The B-52 could attack at altitudes of over 30,000 feet, rendering it impossible to be seen or heard by North Vietnamese troops on the ground allowing for attacks that happened without warning. The suddenness of the attacks along with their intensity had a telling effect. Recalling personal experience with LINEBACKER IIs bombing campaign one Viet Cong member said, The first four times I experienced a B-52 attack it seemed, as I strained to press myself into the bunker floor, that I had been caught in the Apocalypse. The terror was complete. One lost control of bodily functions as the mind screams incomprehensible orders to get out.9 During the LINEBACKER II operation, military leaders had authority to use air power to end the war effectively and the results were apparent. The Norths transportation network was decimated. Aircraft attacked and destroyed storage warehouses, electric power generating facilities cutting their capacity by three-quarters, and petroleum facilities reducing that capability by one-fourth.10 LINEBACKER II inflicted significant damage to North Vietnams war-making capability, but more importantly accomplished its primary purpose of unsettling the civilian population. As a result of LINEBACKER II, the belligerents came back to the bargaining table after eleven days of intensive bombing. The scale and success of the operation persuaded the North to accept terms that included some of Thieus newly added provisions. Congressional outcry over the scale of LINEBACKER II caused the South to realize that support for the war might be running out, making this an opportune time to accept peace and retai n as much as possible ensuring survival.11 Linebacker I was politically and practically a remarkable success. Asa result of the bombs dropped during the campaign, the Northhad a shift in thought. For the first time in the war the U.S. had used air power in a way that influenced the will of the North to continue the fight. The North had been convinced that the warwas becoming too costly for them. Some would argue that the North Vietnamese theory of victory was not disproven and they were not forced to go to the negotiating table. Their theory of victory was only put on hold by the actions of LINEBACKER and the U.S. was never in a position to win. The results LINEBACKER II did not force the North to the negotiating table but enabled them to transition back to Phase II, along with the withdrawl of U.S. forces and lack of support to the South ultimately enabled them to succeed in their bid to unite the Vietnamese people. The LINEBACKER I operation had left the Norths conventional forces decimated.10 The North had unsuccessfully tried persecuting the war by conventional means but U.S. air power had proven its worth and destroyed the majority of Northern troops and armored vehicles.11 Though costly to the North, the theory of victory through conventional means was not disproven, only delayed. To the conventional adversary this would have led to a cessation of hostilities due to lack of ability to continue the fight, but one of the strengths of the North was was in followingd the theories of Mao. These theories garnered the support from the local populace. The North Vietnamese forces understood that Vietnamese pesants had endured hundreds of years of oppression and rule.12 The Souths treatment of the pesants was similar to outside forces which had oppressed them with little attempt to understand them. In contrast the North Vietnamese forces dutifully followed Maos teachings, politely asking for supply a nd helping work for their repayment as well as proclaiming their belief in land reform, equality and governmental reform.13 The South by contrast was rife with corruption, inefficiency, and greed often setting themselves above the peasantry stealing supply and food. In this way the South Vietnamese were their own worst enemy. Their lack of support to the peasants drove them to the side of the North for protection against the unjust rule of the state. This led to not the hills menacing the villages, hills were the villages.13 The Cause of the North had become an ideal that the pesantry had bought in to and they had become the insurgents sho would continue to fight for their cause, overthrow of the local elites, good treatment and increased living standards enjoyed by the pesants through the efforts of the North. This dynamic created a situation in which it was difficult to tell who was the enemy and who was the villager. The U.S. was never in the position to win a lasting peace in this situation for several reasons. We lacked an understanding of the people and what they desired.14 Without the proper understanding of the desires of the people the U.S. could try to secure villages, give out aid and try to reinforce the government, but the government was a primary reason for the insurgency. More importantly, the U.S. was viewed as an unwanted foreign presence. Since the Vietnamese had fought against and suffered foreign opression for so long there was initial distrust and with our self imposed lack of cultur al awareness we would not be able to destroy the idea that was the root cause of the war. LINEBACKER II did not force the belligerents to the nogotiating table, it just provided the North with the opportunity to regroup revert to Phase II and wait for the U.S. to withdraw its forces leaving the North in a more advantageous position from which to rebuild for the next Phase III and the reunification of the Vietnamese people that they desired. The misinterpretation of their success in Lam Son 719 led the north to the Easter Offensive and as a result cost them a good deal of men and equipment. The only thing that they had left was the pesant population which it enjoyed great support from.14 Realizing their tenuous position the North signaled that it wished to resume peace negotiations and as a result the LINEBACKER II raids immediately ceased. In the absence of these continued the attacks the North would secure a political victory at the peace table by keeping Northern forces in the South.15 During this time they would be able to rebuild and strengthen their forces and would, in time, translate this into a full-scale military conquest of South Vietnam upon their transition back to Phase III. Not long after the end of Linebacker II, the U.S. withdrew its forces from the war in Southeast Asia and returned home. Two years later the North, knowing that it no longer faced any realistic threat of another Linebacker II, invaded South Vietnam across a broad front.16 The Communist forces of the North entered Saigon on April 30, 1975, and unified the two Vietnams under one government. A full application of airpower in a Linebacker could have achieved military victory, prevented the long and costly U.S. involvement and saved South Vietnam as a nation. While the North had went to the table to negotiate, it was to buy time and gain an advantageous position, not in good faith. 1 Sun Tzu. The Art of War. Translated by Samuel B. Griffith. Oxford: Oxford University Press, (1980), III 5. 2 Carl von Clausewitz. On War: Edited and translated by Michael Howard and Peter Paret. Princeton. Princeton University Press, (1976), 618. 3 Ibid., 186. 4 Kevin McCranie. The War at Sea.(presentation, Strategy and War Course, Naval War College, Newport, RI, 14 December 2016). 5 Paul M Kennedy. The Rise and Fall of British Naval Mastery. New York. Humanity Books, (1976), 242. 6 Ibid. 245 7 Kevin McCranie. The War at Sea.(presentation, Strategy and War Course, Naval War College, Newport, RI, 14 December 2016). 8 Paul M Kennedy. The Rise and Fall of British Naval Mastery. New York. Humanity Books, (1976), 245 . 9 Ibid. 248 10 Kevin McCranie. The War at Sea.(presentation, Strategy and War Course, Naval War College, Newport, RI, 14 December 2016).), 147. 1 Elliot A. Cohen and John Gooch. Military Misfortunes: The Anatomy of Failure in War.New York. Free Press, (1990), 134. 12 Ibid. 134. 3 Carl von Clausewitz. On War: Edited and translated by Michael Howard and Peter Paret. Princeton. Princeton University Press, (1976), 177. 4 Elliot A. Cohen and John Gooch. Military Misfortunes: The Anatomy of Failure in War.New York. Free Press, (1990), 136. 5 Admiral von Holtzendorf. German History in Documents and Images. Selected Readings. Naval War College, Newport, RI, (2016), 2.       6 Ibid. 3. 7 Ibid. 4.

Product Life Cycle Essay

â€Å"The international product life cycle (PLC) theory of trade states that the location of production of certain kinds of products shifts as they go through their life cycles, which consist of four stages—introduction, growth, maturity, and decline. † There are many ins and outs when a company is putting a product into production and distribution. You must be able to assess the the impact that it is going to gain for your company, for instance when Blackberry makes new phones they have to decide what is going to be a draw for consumers from the operating system, he abilities that come with the phone from wifi connectivity, gps, instant messaging, camera capabilities, battery power and many other options that the consumer is going to inquire about in the competitive market of cell phones and cell phones manufactures, and the distribution and profitability is going to be the marker of success of the product. This is a decision that concept teams and designers must deal with when making a product; we are going to look at the company Audi a German car manufactures that has had great success with their automobile and the history s impeccable and with the impact we are going to look at the life cycle in what goes into making this car company, one of the best car makers and manufactured vehicles in the world today. â€Å"Arrival of the product’s maturity stage is evident when competitors to begin to leave the market, sales velocity is dramatically reduced, and sales volume reaches a steady state. At this point in time, mostly loyal customers purchase the product. â€Å"The Audi A4 has reached a stage of maturity that doesn’t have the onslaught of new buyers, the Audi lineup has diversified itself ith select products that offer a more entry level product that is better on gas, and has more of the financial impact with new design concepts, with wagons, coupes, smaller engines that are preserving the manufacturer’s competitive edge in the automobile industry. The A4 is still an important cog in the Audi machine, but the popularity of the A3 and, latterly, the A1 have eased the burden of expectation quite considerably. Perhaps that makes it a little easier for Audi to finesse this latest generation A4 without too much in the way of compromise. † â€Å"In the wake of the global financial and economic crisis, the drastic slump on stock arkets worldwide initially continued unabated at the start of 2009. Thanks to the many state rescue packages for the financial sector and supporting measures by leading central banks, the situation on the capital markets then stabilized towards the end of the first quarter. † So with the banks of the home country are helping to lend the finances need to invest in Audi’s financial growth and the supplement of income, generates the opportunity for the company to continue their worldwide success, of exporting one of the leading German automobiles in the world. Europe has proven to be a happy hunting ground for Audi and it now has both Mercedes and BMW looking over their shoulders. For the six-month period under review, total European sales grew 13. 5 per cent to about 382,850 cars with its SUV sales up 23. 5 per cent over the ame period last year. † So the overall positioning and product sales are being generated for the company in their home country and is having great success from the sale from their entire lineup and with the generated revenue from the public sector, the company’s growth financially is leading to the verall success of the car manufacturer. As the year progressed, the increasingly positive business indictors and initial signs of recovery in the global economy fueled sharp gains on major international stock markets. A resurgence in confidence in stock markets among market players resulted in many indices finishing the year well up. † With the public stimulation in the stock of the company they are being rewarded for the great innovation, stability and creativity they have when they are entering foreign markets and their market as well. With the financial backing the company is oing to grow and with the company growing around %24 from the previous year their products will continue to have a great international impact. â€Å"Trading groups, whether bilateral or regional, are an important influence on MNEs’ strategies. Such groups can define the size of the regional market and the rules under which companies must operate. Companies in the initial stages of foreign expansion must be aware of the regional economic groups that encompass countries with good manufacturing locations or market opportunities. For instance when you have a company that assesses the needs of their roduct in a foreign market, there is cost associated with the export of their product and with the agreements that the company has that is protected by trade agreements the company will save monies in the long run and withstand the impact of their product being sold in other markets, by sometimes having that price reduction of tax, shipping cost when building that relationship, to progress the growth in their company and in both markets of goods exported and sold. One of the factors behind the success of the brand in Jamaica, Stewart believes, is its affordability despite it being a premier brand. With the brand being sold well in the Jamaican market the bilateral agreement will have success because of the impact that the affordability in this market will have great growth for the company and Jamaica’s market as well. â€Å"In China, mobility is happening top-down. That society’s elite has long been driving full-size cars; the new, affluent middle class is now discovering smaller premium vehicles. In India, mobility is taking shape in the lower segments; the premium markets for larger vehicles is now growing continuously. † With the multilateral movement as well the company is growing in many foreign markets with nd aiding the backing of the Audi brand, that has shown great impact financially for the company and benefits in operating in these markets, reflect the %24 growth. European companies taking advantage of free trade in the Caribbean Single Market Economy (CSME) by establishing trade offices in Jamaica or distribution agreements with Jamaican companies with a view to providing your goods or services to the Caribbean Single Market Economy. † The free trade agreement offers the company to enter the Jamaican market and gain financial traction from the public, buying their cars at a affordable price, the ilateral agreement helps in terms of sales and distribution in allowing the flexibility, opportunity and growth needed for the company and as well as stimulating the Jamaican market. â€Å"Many more people in Jamaica are buying Audi motor vehicles because the brand is cool and its drivers have no class pretensions. They generally tend to be professional, well read and discerning. † â€Å"Audi will launch diesel engine options for the A8, A6, and Q5 in the U. S. within the next 24 to 30 months, according to an announcement made today by Johan de Nysschen, he president of Audi’s American division. † If you are an American you know what it means to fill up at the gas station and know that you won’t last that long on the road, until the next time that you are going to need more gas. One approach that Audi has take is going forward with producing electrical and diesel based engines so that the longevity and affordability of these vehicles will extend the product life cycle. It has been show that these to engine styles extend the life of the vehicle and with that the investment of the vehicle is more bang for the dollar to he average consumer that is looking for a quality investment, and not a stockpile of metal that will need to be resold to the dealership when the miles get high, and will take a finances will take a sharp turn because of this factor. So with that vehicles in America and worldwide not mattering if you’re talking Europe, the Caribbean Islands, China, Canada or Mexico the car maker is looking out for the investor in their vehicles and with the innovation for extended life to their products, safety and creativity in design, and luxury the auto brand maker will continue the company’s rapid growth in all markets they penetrate. Sustainable, superior financial strength is underpinned in particular by continuously optimizing process and structures, realizing reduced costs and ensuring systematic investment management. A high level of self-financing safeguards investments, preserving the ability of Audi AG to innovate and act. The aim is continue financing investment from self generated cash flow. † This will be the backbone of the company for progression and distancing itself from competitors by being able to provide luxury, innovation, and creativity for the consumer in a locations of the world that the company serves.

Of mice and men: a pessimistic story Essay

The story is set during the Great Depression, a time of poverty, homelessness and pain in the United States. With impending war in the air, a job would have been a prized thing. Each character in the story lives a life that is full of hopes and dreams, which are coupled with the knowledge that they can never be realised; George’s ‘Holy Grail’ is to his own farm, which he knows he can never have as long as Lennie is present to hinder his successes. Right at the beginning of the story, we learn that George and Lennie have already had to flee from their previous job in a town called Weed since Lennie would not let go of a girl’s dress. George has to look after Lennie as though he were an infant or a pet; Lennie almost has obliviousness to the world around him. Thus George, like a mother who is bound to her child, has no prospects apart from his devotion to Lennie even though he constantly hinders George with his unending string of ‘bad things’ Similarly Curley’s wife also had a dream, she wanted to be in the movies but had that chance taken from her by her mother. Curley’s wife has been forced to exchanges a life of glitz, glamour and fame for one of poverty, constraint, anonymity and a marriage in which she is unhappy. Curley’s wife still fantasises about the possibility of being in a movie, even though that moment has long gone. Crooks wishes he had the same respect his father had when he was a landowner, when he is talking to Lennie he says: â€Å"If I say something, why it’s just a nigger sayin’ it. â€Å"; Crooks craves his voice to be heard, for people to recognise him as a person and not just a ‘nigger’. To Crooks, it must have seemed like his one dream would never materialize. Moreover, the story portrays each character as the ‘Common Man’ who will always be relatively anonymous and powerless, even though dreams are made and plans are prepared, Steinbeck sets each characters position and makes sure that I t never does and never can change. A lonely and antisocial air haunts all of the characters all appear suspicious of George and Lennie’s friendship and none of them appear to have a good relationship with their ‘fellow man’. Even the name of the place in which the story is set, Soledad, is Spanish meaning loneliness or lonely place. Curley does not have a good relationship with his wife: â€Å"I don’ like Curley, he ain’t a nice fella'†, she continually wanders about the ranch, seeking some kind of familiarity; Curley himself is always one step behind whenever he is searching for her. It seems as though no one is safe from the solitude that engulfs them all, not even in the institute of marriage. Crooks is underlined as an outsider because of the segregation that exists in the bunkhouses, his anti social actions are fuelled by his seemingly utter contempt and hatred of friendships and people behaving amicably toward each other. He avoids contact with other people and will even go as far as to avoid it. He has effectively stated, ‘this is my space, keep out of it’ Crooks emphasises his will for solitude by tormenting Lennie and asking him what he would do if George left him. Crooks revels in his torment by frightening Lennie onto the threshold of isolation, something for which, George and Lennie have unique resilience. Even George eventually succumbs to the atmosphere of loneliness and frequently plays Solitaire whenever Lennie isn’t around. Also, no one in the story seems to be allowed the human comfort of his own possessions, except Crooks, who substitutes friends for his belongings. Candy is denied his dog, his only true companion, Curley deprived of his wife and George who is continually refused ‘the good life’ of a more fixed home and continuity in life. Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE John Steinbeck section.