Innovation in Construction Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Gambia and the Movie Industry

List of chapters The Globalizing of Films and Introduction of Film Industries into Developing Countries 3 The Globalizing of Films and Introduction of Film Industries into Developing Countries and the Affect on the Business Environment 8 The Globalizing of Films and Introduction of Film Industries into Developing Countries and the Affect on the Business Environment, Case Study: The Gambia 13 Bibliography18The Globalizing of Films and Introduction of Film Industries into Developing Countries Movies, films, film, the 10,000 foot view; these are terms used to depict an industry that has caught the brains and creative mind of billions of individuals all through the world. Furthermore, what a development procedure this industry has experienced. Video recording has been around since the late 1800’s, and back them the recordings appeared to be more similar to Claymation strategy than everything else. The recordings were grainy, halted a ton, and had no solid. Obviously through time u pgrades have been made. As the twentieth century pushed ahead, so did the film industry.Videos became more clear and more, thus individuals chose to shoot motion pictures and charge individuals cash to see said films. The mid ones obviously had no solid and needed to utilize signal cards, however as time advanced did as well innovation. In only a couple of brief years not exclusively was sound added to the movies, yet additionally shading, and even 3d innovation. So what comes next for this billion-dollar industry? The business is currently taking its business all through the world; to nations that one would not anticipate that the film business should set up camp because of the expansion in innovation and diminishing of mechanical costs.The film industry is likewise getting less limited, in that the motion pictures that are being created in any of these nations are not just made for the nearby crowd, but instead are made for a worldwide crowd. Obviously, nearly everybody on the pla net thinks about Hollywood, and Bollywood is greater than Hollywood regarding motion pictures delivered, however may not be also known on the planet. Nollywood is an entrenched film creating powerhouse. Previously, when Hollywood was the primary film delivering powerhouse, Nigeria was most likely probably the least spot specialists in the business thought would take start creating movies.Now, Nollywood is a fundamental staple in film creations every year. It seems like these â€Å"woods† are starting to spring up everywhere throughout the world. Nations, locales, urban areas, are for the most part starting to see the advantage to having their own film delivering area. What is causing this pattern of territories needing to set up their own film creating areas? The fundamental viewpoint that is driving the route for this expansion of â€Å"woods† all through the world is the way that motion pictures are presently being made in a less confined design. There are not such a large number of motion pictures created that are made explicitly for a certain region.A film maker is done heading out to support a film that will just well in the nation that it is made in. No, makers need to get the most cash-flow on the movies, and that implies relating the movies to a worldwide crowd. Nigeria can be taken a gander at for instance. Nigeria has an OK estimated populace, however what number of individuals of that populace would pay cash to see a film. Relatively few, there are numerous different issues that should be fixed before heading out to see a film. So why produce motion pictures in Nigeria for a populace that would not support the business? It is on the grounds that the creation costs have gone down so drastically.It no longer takes $50 million to make a film. Nollywood blossoms with its numerous makers giving little funding to a wide range of film ventures (Haynes). The old motion pictures that were made in, for absence of a superior word, creating nation s have consistently been mediocre compared to those made by the US, England, and France. The detail, embellishments, ensembles, etc were always unable to contend with the powerhouse nations (Callimanopulos). Presently, in any case, with the lower cost of these procedures, these less blessed nations can utilize a similar strategy, or possibly those of equivalent quality.Sure, these nations will be unable to utilize the most current of recording innovation, (for example, 3d or Imax), anyway these upgrades give these nations a more prominent edge in the market. Actually, the normal expense of a Bollywood film is $1. 3 million, while the normal expense of a Hollywood film is $13. 6 million (Factoids). Never again are nations following Hollywood’s style of delivering blockbuster after blockbuster. Nigerian makers understood that by isolating capital among a wide range of activities, the pay from each undertaking may not be as incredible, anyway the absolute income from the consoli dated tasks is bounty to continue Nollywood.That is the reason Nollywood has become the third biggest film creating zone on the planet. A similar case can be made for Bollywood. India was a developing business sector where film makers accepted an open door to create numerous motion pictures at a less expensive expense, and the impact was the equivalent. This style of film creating is what is permitting these creating nations to, essentially, assume control over the market. A couple of decades prior the US was creating 5% of the motion pictures on the planet, anyway these US films involved half of the screen time on the planet (Callimanopulos).While these numbers have not changed radically, they are as yet taking another structure. The world is creating more motion pictures when all is said in done, and the US motion pictures are involving somewhat less screen time than previously. This abatement, be that as it may, is the cutting edge to what is relied upon to be a more prominent ch ange as time advances on. Truth be told, what's going on is that the significant studios are start to perceive how fruitful these â€Å"guerilla† film making strategies is, that they are starting to need to get into the market also. For instance, Warner Brothers is presently financing French movies and Fox is financing Latin American movies (Toward).This just adds to why the film business is globalizing so rapidly, and why it is starting to arrive at these creating nations. As these huge organizations persistently put more cash into these not exactly lucky nations, at that point the film creators will have the option to utilize the most current gear to improve specialized movies, guaranteeing their spot in the worldwide film industry. These film makers, chiefs, and scholars are currently understanding that even with this expansion of lower spending films being created, they have to ensure that the motion pictures delivered are made for a worldwide crowd, as opposed to just a neighborhood audience.France is really encountering the negative side of low spending film creation. The quantity of French movies delivered is well more than 200 per year now, anyway with such a significant number of these low spending films being created, the crowd is starting to see less movies due to the redundant idea of the movies (Hayes). What French movie producers neglected to do was to look forward at the 10,000 foot view. Rather than composing contents and support films that the French society will just comprehend, they ought to have been delivering films that a worldwide crowd can appreciate. By proceeding to deliver films that must be pertinent in France, the crowd gets bored.If these motion pictures were all the more universally cordial, at that point there is to a lesser extent an opportunity of the crowd getting â€Å"bored† with the equivalent unsurprising motion pictures. It is this idea of less restricted more globalized filmmaking that has made the way for new territories of film. For instance, 20 years prior China and Korea films were unbelievable. The films that they made there were made explicitly for those nations. Presently, it is exceptionally regular to see Chinese or Korean movies in theaters around the globe (Toward). The film enterprises inside these nations understood that essentially delivering motion pictures for their citizen’s alone isn't enough.In request to remain significant they would need to start to create motion pictures that the worldwide crowd can appreciate. In particular, South Korea has taken this disposition and gone for it. 10 years prior, South Korea was barely in the film scene. The present arrangement of confining the movies was imperfect. Rather, the film business started delivering motion pictures with less patriotism in order to speak to the worldwide crowd. Therefore, the nation delivered The Host, the best film in South Korean history, prevailing over overall renowned motion pictures like T itanic (Lee).The reason this film did so well is that it didn't concentrate on issues just identified with South Korea. It was a contemporary gander at a beast assaulting a city. Before this film was created, most South Korean movies portrayed the way of life of issues confronting South Korean residents. By taking on a film that interests to the worldwide crowd, they had the option to arrive at a bigger number of individuals, bringing about a considerably more effective film. This idea of creating less limited motion pictures is permitting these littler film ventures to contend with any semblance of Hollywood and Bollywood.If these littler countries were to just deliver films that engaged their own nation, there would not be sufficient interest to continue it. There are many individuals on the planet, and by connecting and associating with that crowd, the littler film industry countries can flourish as productively as the main film ventures. The Globalizing of Films and Introduction of Film Industries into Developing Countries and the Affect on the Business Environment This move in the creation of movies influences the business from numerous points of view. Being such an enormous industry, a multibillion-dollar industry. This industry is likewise very versatile.It doesn't take a ton to have the business self-destruct one year and ricochet back with record numbers the next year. Since the film business is so enormous an effects such a large number of individuals, this flexibility can radically influence the business that is done in the whole nation. This may not be valid in the United States since there is so a lot different business that completes in the nation, anyway simply consider the effect it could

Style and Citation Guides Whats the Big Deal

Style and Citation Guides What’s the Big Deal Style and Citation Guides: What’s the Big Deal? Style and Citation Guides: What’s the Big Deal? Using a citation and writing style guide can be tedious and time consuming. Any university student can tell you how frustrating it is to spend an extra hour (at least) on each essay to make sure that it meets all of the tiny, meticulous rules of the required style. MLA, APA, Chicago: they all seem to have such precise, yet completely different rules. So why is using a style guide or citation style so important to quality writing anyway? Well, the simplest explanation is that it ensures consistency. A Business 2 Community article noted that the three most important reasons for using a style guide (in school and in business) are to streamline the writing process and to save time, to enhance professionalism, and to serve as a training tool. But you’re probably wondering, how does this apply to me? Well, as much as you might cringe when your professor asks for ten sources, all cited in MLA style and referenced in a Works Cited page, there are plenty of reasons why it’s important. Reference: You might think that it’s tedious to put these sources together, but having everything consistently organized in one place makes everything easier, for everyone. When studying at the end of term, you’ll be able to look back on the work you completed and the research you did, without scrambling through your search history. Your professor will be able to quantify your sources much easier, and therefore they’ll be able to mark your paper faster (and you’ll get a better mark!). Consistency: Consistency is the key to academic and professional writing. If you write USA in one place and U.S.A in another, your reader will notice and you will lose credibility. Style and citation guides ensure that your usage is the same across the board. Future Applicability: Learning style guides like MLA, APA, and Chicago will give you an edge as you move into your career. If your intention is to work in a professional setting, there will be guidelines set for you in terms of your workflow and daily routine. Style guides are notoriously complex, so if you can master a style manual, the corporate world will be a breeze! Concrete rules for citation and usage styles are not set down as torture devices for your professors to use at will. They are tools that, if used correctly, can increase the professionalism and quality of your writing exponentially. Consider a writing style guide as a map to success: learning to follow it correctly will surely get you there faster. But hey, if you’re still having a tough time understanding why APA style asks for a title page and MLA does not, we’re here to help. One of our experienced writers can help you with academic writing help and custom essay writing. Reach out to us to find out more! We’re passionate writers who know the ins and outs of academic writing, and we’re happy to help! References: Yuille, Brigitte (2011, July 16) Three Reasons for A Writing Style Guide at Work Business 2 Community. Retrieved August 24th, 2015 from three-reasons-for-a-writing-style-guide-at-work-044226 Style and Citation Guides What’s the Big Deal Style and Citation Guides: What’s the Big Deal? Style and Citation Guides: What’s the Big Deal? Using a citation and writing style guide can be tedious and time consuming. Any university student can tell you how frustrating it is to spend an extra hour (at least) on each essay to make sure that it meets all of the tiny, meticulous rules of the required style. MLA, APA, Chicago: they all seem to have such precise, yet completely different rules. So why is using a style guide or citation style so important to quality writing anyway? Well, the simplest explanation is that it ensures consistency. A Business 2 Community article noted that the three most important reasons for using a style guide (in school and in business) are to streamline the writing process and to save time, to enhance professionalism, and to serve as a training tool. But you’re probably wondering, how does this apply to me? Well, as much as you might cringe when your professor asks for ten sources, all cited in MLA style and referenced in a Works Cited page, there are plenty of reasons why it’s important. Reference: You might think that it’s tedious to put these sources together, but having everything consistently organized in one place makes everything easier, for everyone. When studying at the end of term, you’ll be able to look back on the work you completed and the research you did, without scrambling through your search history. Your professor will be able to quantify your sources much easier, and therefore they’ll be able to mark your paper faster (and you’ll get a better mark!). Consistency: Consistency is the key to academic and professional writing. If you write USA in one place and U.S.A in another, your reader will notice and you will lose credibility. Style and citation guides ensure that your usage is the same across the board. Future Applicability: Learning style guides like MLA, APA, and Chicago will give you an edge as you move into your career. If your intention is to work in a professional setting, there will be guidelines set for you in terms of your workflow and daily routine. Style guides are notoriously complex, so if you can master a style manual, the corporate world will be a breeze! Concrete rules for citation and usage styles are not set down as torture devices for your professors to use at will. They are tools that, if used correctly, can increase the professionalism and quality of your writing exponentially. Consider a writing style guide as a map to success: learning to follow it correctly will surely get you there faster. But hey, if you’re still having a tough time understanding why APA style asks for a title page and MLA does not, we’re here to help. One of our experienced writers can help you with academic writing help and custom essay writing. Reach out to us to find out more! We’re passionate writers who know the ins and outs of academic writing, and we’re happy to help! References: Yuille, Brigitte (2011, July 16) Three Reasons for A Writing Style Guide at Work Business 2 Community. Retrieved August 24th, 2015 from three-reasons-for-a-writing-style-guide-at-work-044226 Style and Citation Guides What’s the Big Deal Style and Citation Guides: What’s the Big Deal?

Comparison Apocalypse Now and the Heart of Darkness Free Essay Example, 1500 words

The charges are unjustified. Willard has also been exposed to the view of some individuals like a photojournalist who feel that Kurtz is some kind of hero: The man s enlarged my mind. He s a poet warrior in the classic sense. (Apocalypse Now). Like Marlow, Willard also experiences the sense of growing threat as they move deeper into Vietnamese territory up the Nung river towards Kurtz s camp. It s as if the further they move away from civilization and towards the Vietnamese, the more bestial they become. The soldiers on Willard s boat exterminate a boat full of Vietnamese civilians and Willard himself kills an unarmed girl. Firchow highlights Conrad s perceptions of Africa from the existing Western viewpoint during that time, which led to misconceptions and misrepresentations of Africa and Africans as a result of which Marlow s journey into Africa became an analog for the exploration of the hidden, dark regions of their inner selves. (Firchow 20). As Marlow re-traces Kurtz s p ath into the jungle, he must face the question of who is really civilized? He is forced into the realization that while the white man proclaims his entry into the jungle for the high moral purpose of civilizing the natives, the actual purpose is quite simply out of their greed for the wealth of the jungle resources. We will write a custom essay sample on Comparison Apocalypse Now and the Heart of Darkness or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/page It wasn t just insanity and murder, there was enough of that to go around for everyone. (Apocalypse Now).

The Dangers Of Alcohol Abuse - 1436 Words

Many are unaware of the dangers alcohol causes because it is sold and distributed legally in the United States, when in reality alcohol kills many people every year. Alcohol is ranked the third highest reasoning of early teenage death, beating out high blood pressure, illegal drugs, and unsafe water (â€Å"2.5 Million Alcohol-Related Deaths†). The sensation of euphoria is a haze while on alcohol, which many try to achieve, unaware of the effects that may haunt them long after that feeling is gone. The number of people that consume alcohol on a weekly basis is astounding, 66% of people say that they consume over four drinks a week. Twelve percent of the people asked say they consumed over eight drinks in the past week (â€Å"Majority in U.S. Drink†). On average there is 1.4 million people arrested a year for drunk driving. As people are under the influence of alcohol, they are 40% more likely to be apart of a violent act (Alcohol Abuse Stats†). In the United State s, approximately 15 million people are dependent on alcohol (â€Å"Alcoholism Statistics†). In 2013, about 8.4 million people live in New York City, almost half of how many people have a dependency on alcohol (â€Å"New York QuickFacts†) . The Central Nervous System consist of the spinal cord and brain, which controls a majority of things that happen throughout our bodies. Alcohol, and several other drugs including Amytal, Nembutal, and Phenobarbital, are called depressants (Dasgupta 11). They slow down the CNS causing slurredShow MoreRelatedThe Influence Of Little Timmy On Children Essay1443 Words   |  6 Pagesto become even more interesting as he began his exploration of alcohol. The kids at school would never believe what an amazing night he was going to have. In multiple countries throughout the world the legal drinking age is eighteen years old, however, in the United States, the legal drinking age is twenty-one. Despite eighteen years old being the age of a legal adult in the United States, citizens are unable to legally drink alcohol until the age of twenty-one. At the age of eighteen a United StatesRead MoreSubstance Abuse And Binge Drinking Essay1206 Words   |  5 PagesEnglish 1301 December 1, 2016 Substance Abuse and Binge Drinking in Bryan College Station Substance abuse is a major problem that takes place on college campuses across the nation in today’s society. According to The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse half of all full-time college students binge drink, abuse prescription drugs and/ or abuse illegal drugs. This amounts to 3.8 million students. This research essay will be focusing on substance abuse in the Bryan College Station area amongRead MoreAlcohol Abuse : The Unfriendly Substance1213 Words   |  5 Pages Alcohol Abuse: The Unfriendly Substance Madison Fulp North Carolina AT State University Ms. Platt BIOL 100- Section 8 10/3/2015 (Fall) Is alcohol abuse real? This is the question many Americans ask themselves when alcohol intake is in effect. â€Å"Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant that is rapidly absorbed from the stomach and small intestine into the bloodstream† (â€Å"Alcohol†, 2014, para.1). While alcohol abuse is a diagnosis of alcohol use disorder characterized by a maladaptiveRead MoreAlcohol: â€Å"How Far Will Consumption Go?† Essay866 Words   |  4 PagesAlcohol can be an addictive substance if abused on a daily basis or consumed in large quantities. Alcohol is technically defined as, â€Å"a colorless flammable liquid that has the active principle of intoxicating drinks† (HarperCollins Publishers 2009). One of the leading causes of death in the United States is deaths induced by alcohol. There are many types of alcohol that are produced and distributed throughout the country. Common alcoholic beverages that are sold regularly are vodka, beer, rum, wineRead MoreAn alysis: Alcoholism as a Root of Most Illnesses and Social Evils647 Words   |  3 PagesGoal Reduce diseases caused by too much consumption of alcohol and accidents across the United States Overview Statistically, the overall consumption of alcohol in the United States has increased abruptly. Its approximated that 51% of adult aged between 18 years and above is regular drinkers and 25% are said to be heavy drinkers. This makes abuse of alcohol as one of the most causes of death in the United States (Sondik, 2010). Alcohol abuse causes the following diseases: -Liver cancer -LiverRead MoreThe Effects Of Alcohol Abuse On Alcohol882 Words   |  4 Pages When I step into a college party, the first thing I see around me is alcohol. I often notice underage adolescents drinking and I also distinguish how they become different people when intoxicated by alcohol. They begin to walk funny and they tend to slur their words, making it hard to comprehend anything they are saying. I have watched family members who were so inebriated that they could not even spell their own name or even pinpoint who they were. The questions I always ask myself when I see theseRead MoreMany People Drink Alcohol For Different Reasons911 Words   |  4 PagesMany people drink alcohol for different reasons. Then, there are those who abuse the substance of drinking it every opportunity that they get. Many of them having the same outcome each time, they continue drinking. They get drunk unaware of the danger they are getting into. People don’t realize the affect that alcohol can actually have on them not just affecting their lives, but the lives that are around them. Anyone who has gotten drunk can give their story of being hung over the next day. TheyRead MoreThe Effects Of Alcohol And Teen Drinking1069 Words   |  5 Pagesthat it is acceptable. But, teenagers’ bodies are still developing. They fail to realize that consuming alcohol places them in danger  for numerous issues.   Consuming alcohol is more widespread among teenagers than most realize. Alcohol and Teen Drinking (1) reports that three-fourths of seniors,  a little over two-thirds of Sophomores, and two out of five 8th graders have experimented with alcohol. With rising statistical information available on teenage drinking escalating, the signs and symptomsRead MoreSubstance Abuse with Drugs and Alcohol1013 Words   |  4 Pagesare many types of drugs and alcohol. With them there are very mant effects and dangers. Starting with alcohol your will read about what the substance can do to you physically and mentally. Hopefully if you are having trouble with substance abu se this paper will change your mind. Substance abuse is overindulgence in or dependence on an addictive substance, especailly alcohol or drugs. Most people drink because they are depressed or upset because of a loss. They drink alcohol to make themselves feel betterRead MorePrescription Drug Abuse Essay1136 Words   |  5 PagesDavid was going through a very hard transition in his life from the elementary levels of school to high school. Along the way, he started hanging out with the wrong crowd and doing all sorts of drugs like smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol. In his senior year he realized he wanted to do something different with his life and he joined the boxing team and quit drugs, but one Saturday night that all ended. David was offered a patch that was supposed to make him feel an extremely good feeling. He

Critique of What I’ve Learned from Men Free Essays

In Barbara Ehrenreich’s article â€Å"What I’ve Learned from Men† she discusses that women can learn a lot from men. How the lack of toughness in a woman’s personality can negatively affect their progression and position in life. The author also discusses how some of the â€Å"ladylike† qualities can prove to be hindering to progress. We will write a custom essay sample on Critique of What I’ve Learned from Men or any similar topic only for you Order Now Barbara’s article is persuasive because the writing style was appealing, the evidence was logical, and the article was well structured and easy to follow. The article’s extreme sarcastic and humorous tone helps transmits the wanted concept, unlike most feminist articles which consists of redundant repetition of needed freedoms, mistakes and needs. A great example of this humorous approach is how the writer avoided falling into the â€Å"ladylike† category by saying, â€Å"We’re still too ladylike. Let me try this again- We’re still too damn ladylike† (Ehrenreich, 2005, p. 308), using a swear word (damn) to break the existing female stereotype. The sarcasms was emphasized in the introduction, where countless differences between the genders have been listed, such a light hearted start give a sense of acceptance of what is to come. On a more serious note, the article discusses, with evidence, important issues. How women think it is their responsibility to â€Å"niceness† attitude in a conversation, and how this alleged responsibility negatively affected the author first hand. Another issue is sexual harassment; the writer speaks from personal experience as she explains the story of the professor that sexually harassed her over the course of a 20 minute conversation; where she did not react as she was maintaining â€Å"nice† environment (Ehrenreich, 2005, p. 308). Such a story appeals to logic, one may wonder, â€Å"How can highly educated prestigious professor react in such an unethical manner? † Examples like this indicate that change must take place to avoid these predicaments. This short example also appeals to the emotional side of thinks, as one can sympathize with her position. Finally, the essay was well structured and easy to follow, which made the transmission of the writer’s ideas simple. The writer hooks the reader and establishes her agenda in the first couple of paragraphs (through both humorous and direct language). The author then lists her evidence, and also stats her recommendations of â€Å"cutting back on the small acts of deference that†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Ehrenreich, 2005, p.  308). Lastly, the writer was able to formulate a successful conclusion; she put her recommendation to action by reliving the scenario that took place with the â€Å"prestigious† professor, stating what she would have done differently, how she would take control from the very start by moving her chair away from the professor, reacting negatively to his hollowness and ending it with a confident exit. It is an essential to think about why women are usually sexually harassed. Maybe the answer is for women to toughen up, and step forward to take praise as the writer Barbara suggested. Imagine a male dominated world where sexual harassment is extremely common. Would you like to raise a daughter in such a world? How to cite Critique of What I’ve Learned from Men, Papers

Learning Knowledge for Effective Performance free essay sample

It instills organizations with new ideas and information which is a essential component of learning organization. Peter Senge’s 5 disciplines are essential for a learning organization. Systems Thinking is the crucial discipline which brings all the other factors together into a balanced theory and practice. Figure 1: The 5 Basic disciplines of a learning Figure 2: â€Å"The Fifth Discipline† by Peter organization Senge It allows organizations to see the big picture and differentiate learning patterns within the organization. Using this principles, organizations can work with a system to create solutions to challenging problems in every field as Senge believes that current problems are results of solutions that were applied in the past. Systems thinking involve learning to distinguish general behaviours and create new ones to familiarize with special terms and tools that aid decision making and also allow employees to participate in decision making. It also helps managers to detect repetitive patterns such as common ways of solving problems, present goals and policies that restricts the growth of the organization. We will write a custom essay sample on Learning Knowledge for Effective Performance or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It is similar to single-loop learning. Although it takes time to be implemented, it promises a wide range of benefits to companies and improve overall achievement (Delio, 1998). Toyota For example, TPS (Toyota Production System) is an approach created by the founder of Toyota, his son and his engineer that manages logistics, manufacturing and interactions between customer and supplier. TPS was created to bring consistency to the system and enable an effective production process, which eliminates waste. As a result, TPS worked well and has increased production and improved quality of cars. The system has made what Toyota is today: a leader in the automotive manufacturing and production industry.   Personal mastery is the discipline that describes personal growth and learning. Individuals who have a high degree of personal mastery are continuously seeking learning opportunities because they â€Å"are acutely aware of their ignorance, their incompetence and their growth areas† (Senge, 1990). Their self-improvement and self-discovery abilities motivate a learning organization as they are self confident and have great commitment and responsibility towards work. Personal mastery allows one to distinguish what is important and picture the real world more clearly. Therefore, managers must help to create the environment to change by creating an atmosphere that promotes personal mastery within organization where employees should feel comfortable to create personal visions. Managers who are serious in delivering personal growth will send a powerful message to his or her employees. Disney At Disney, successful films are not made only from the ideas of managers. In fact, the top management attends an event called ‘Gong Show’ three times a year where an employee at any level is encouraged to throw ideas and story lines. Employees at Disney feel comfortable to create their personal vision. Managers then respond immediately and reward the employee. The results would be an extraordinary concept of animated film.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"Mental models are deeply held internal images of how the world works, images that limit us to familiar ways of thinking and acting† (Senge, 1990). Mental models are the way how one sees things, learn and react to situations on a daily basis. Generally, people do not do what they say but they behave according to their mental models. Mental models are very important in an organization because it is relates to consequences that occur. It is rather difficult to develop systems thinking if mental model is fixed in past experiences. For example, a manager will find it difficult to handle with interpersonal problem in the organization if he or she has a different perception on an employee. Many organizational learning fail when managers ignore the power of mental models. When managers in an organization develop the ability to work with mental models, it will be necessary for employees to learn new skills and orientations. Both systems thinking and mental models fit together as systems thinking concentrates on how to modify assumptions in order to show causes of problems and mental models look at revealing our hidden assumptions (Taggart. J, 2009). Therefore, it is worthless for managers to engage in systems thinking until their mental models change. Apple Japan Apple introduced the concept of learning organization into their workplace. Apple was advised to embark upon the Five Disciplines which are important to a learning organization. Each employee had a mental model of the way the organization operates. The learning process was more efficient when each employee’s mental model was brought in-line with the rest. Managers at Apple also encouraged Personal Mastery to staffs to place reasonable goals. The essential discipline was Systems Thinking, where it facilitated each employee to make decisions, taking the whole system into account, instead of analyzing specifically on their own problems. All the 5 disciplines were implemented through a program of education and it marked improvement in sales and growth. (Adapted from: Case Studies of the Learning Organization, n. d. ) SHARED VISION Senge’s (1990) shared vision is not an idea but a deeply embedded belief shared by many that provides focus and is a vital part of generative learning. Shared vision is derived from personal vision. Therefore, managers should encourage employees to develop personal vision so that organization’s vision succeeds as both vision are engaged. It provides the focus and energy for learning making it an important component of a learning organization. Shared visions encourage new ideas and concepts within organization while encouraging experimentation. Senge claims that managers should understand that their high position in an organization does not mean that their personal vision is also the organization’s vision. Although visions are mostly visualized by top management, it is not consider a shared vision until others in the organization connect it with their personal vision. General Motors In General Motors (GM), a group of executives decided to implement a new approach in automobile manufacturing as well as a new friendly working environment. Pfeffer and Sutton (2000), discuss creating an organizational learning environment with a shared vision in a case study based on Saturn. The Saturn employees were labeled as risk takers. Later, these staffs sought and embraced a systemic change in Total Quality Management . As a result, Saturn developed into a successful car company due to its shared vision among employees. TEAM LEARNING Team learning is where a group of people work together to create results that they truly desire. Team learning is built on the discipline of personal mastery and shared visions but these alone are not enough to act wholly. Team learning involves two primary ways of communication among members which are dialogue and conflict. These are essential ingredient for learning. Dialogue among members in a team creates a language that helps deal with difficult situations and focus on structural issues. It helps members to learn how to recognize the patterns of interaction which provides an opportunity for members to interact with one another and discover possibilities. Conflicts is a norm in team and teams must know how to deal with disagreements well. A well handled conflict is important in a team as t often leads to effective brainstorming and problem solving matters. According to Senge, 1990 â€Å"the difference between great teams and mediocre teams lies in how they face conflict and deal with the defensiveness that invariably surrounds conflict. † General Electrics An example here is Jack Welch, CEO of General Electrics ( GE) came up with a solution call the Work-Out program to ‘clean upâ€℠¢ GE and improve productivity. It got every employee to get involved in challenges and problems. It has adapted a learning culture among employees which make GE a learning organization. As a result, GE increased its market share from $13 billion in 1981 to $500 billion in 2000. Figure 3: The Work-Out program implemented in 1981 increased Market capitalization by $487 billion.   Figure 4: Kolb’s Cycle of Experiential LearningDEFINITION Concrete experienceConcerned with something that has happened to you or that you have done. Concerned with adopting your new ideas into practice. Reflective ObservationConcerned with reviewing the event or experience in your mind or exploring what you did and how you, and others feel about it. Abstract ConceptualizationConcerned with developing an understanding of what happened by seeking more information and forming new ideas about ways of doing things in future. Active ExperimentationConcerned with trying out the new ideas as a result of the learning from earlier experience. Table1: Brief definitions of Kolb’s cycle of Experiential Learning. Figure 4 and Table 1 adapted from ‘Reflection on and in the workplace by L Allin and C Turnock, 2007. One may begin at any stage, but must follow each other in the sequence: †¢concrete experience (or â€Å"DO†) †¢reflective observation (or â€Å"OBSERVE†) †¢abstract conceptualization (or â€Å"THINK†) active experimentation (or â€Å"PLAN†) Kolb, an American educational theorist explains how experience is translated through reflection into concepts, which is then used as a guide for current and new experimentation. This can be applied in the several forms of informal and formal learning in the organization where learning becomes more effective as employees gets hands on experience on the knowledge they have gained. It also improves performance at workplace and influences the behavior of the learner and as such employees can enhance their performance as they are able to understand and learn better. Learning increases ability to contribute to the organization’s success. It also contributes to a better understanding, increases communication, improves quality of decision making within organization. Organizational learning is essential for innovation ( Laundry, 1992). Innovation is vital for organizations to survive in the competitive world today. Organizations are required to think out of the box and practice continuous learning to remain top in the market. Organizational learning has affected performance of individuals as well as organization as a whole in a positive way. Most firms these days are categorized as learning systems. Organizations such as Fiat, Toyota, Motorola and a few others have improved tremendously after learning took place. They had both formal and informal ways of knowledge acquisition, sharing and implementation of knowledge and skills. Motorolo today is a well developed organization because of its learning processes and culture where employees are fully committed to total quality management. Organizational learning fosters a great opportunity for meeting goals, visions and values. Here, a manager plays a huge role not only as a charismatic leader but also as a motivator that guides employees towards change, shapes the design and structures of the organization and overall creates a positive impact on the organization. The factors that add to effective performance through organizational learning are the skills developed by employees, resources that are available in helping them learn, reward system given by employers, environment and culture. Competitive advantage is a strength a company has over their rival firms. It is an bility to operate at minimum cost, produce quality goods, and invest in Research and Development. Through organizational learning, a firm can develop the necessary knowledge that is vital for effective performance. Intrinsic knowledge can also be applied in organizational learning. Intrinsic knowledge is the knowledge which resides within the organization in terms of work relationships, attitudes and behavior. They are difficult to transfer f rom one to another. Employees in a company which has developed strong intrinsic knowledge will be able to use them in the operations and gain productive performance. It will help them to show a higher proactive personality together with commitment. It becomes a competitive advantage to the firm as it will be hard for competitors to follow. Federal Express’s efforts and approach of investing heavily on team learning among employees has enhanced quality and gained success. It is the ability of the firm to practice continuous learning that made it what it has become today. Although learning is a slow process, once initiated, it feeds on itself and will continue to grow and improve efficiency of employees. Today, more organizations are realizing the importance of learning to be successful in their respective markets. Knowledge within learning organizations must be discovered and shared among employees so they can work in a team to enhance problem solving, decision making and response to challenges. Therefore, managers in organizations should take the necessary steps to shift from organizational learning to a learning organization. Organizations such as Totoya, GE, Disney and others are clear examples of how learning efforts have helped these firms to achieve high performance and compete against competitors in the 21st century.