The Defense Finance and Accounting Service Strategic Plan free essay sample

To be competitive in a turbulent and rapidly changing economy, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) must continually strive to improve business practices within each of our major business lines (Accounting Services, Military and Civilian Pay Services, Commercial Pay Services) and within corporate support services (e. g. , Resource Management, Human Resources, Information Technology). This Strategic Plan describes how we will leverage our people and technology, not only to meet and exceed expectations, but also to excel as the world’s largest finance and accounting firm. In October 2000, we set forth a plan to streamline our operations and improve customer service by restructuring the organization. The DFAS Business Evolution, or DBE, outlined steps to strengthen customer relationships and improve business processes as we deliver â€Å"best value† services to our soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and Defense civilians. It redefined internal DFAS executive responsibilities and relationships to better focus on customer needs and more clearly identified access to and accountability for each DFAS service. We will write a custom essay sample on The Defense Finance and Accounting Service Strategic Plan or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The DBE set the stage for the creation of an environment for innovation and professional growth for every DFAS employee. Prior to the implementation of the DBE Plan, DFAS was organized by geographic location, providing finance and accounting services to military and civilian personnel across the world. Over the past year, we shifted from a geographical structure to a business line and client executive matrixed organization to better serve customers and to improve operational efficiency. This change was designed to benefit customers by focusing DFAS on our individual customer’s needs, identifying clear accountability for each DFAS business service, and improving the â€Å"value† of business services provided. Business lines were established. Client Executives were designated. Feedback was encouraged. A commitment to service was reinforced. DFAS is committed to becoming a world-class provider of finance and accounting services for its customers. To do so, we have further developed a strategy that will be supported by performance metrics to measure the impact of strategic goals. In the last several months, we developed a Balanced Scorecard that will allow everyone in the organization to understand the linkages of performance, help illuminate the importance of a strong strategy, and demonstrate the indicators of success across the business lines and throughout the organization. This current Strategic Plan takes our approach with the organization, through the DBE, to the next level by highlighting the principle priorities we will undertake in the coming years to realize our strategic goals. Thomas R. Bloom Page 3 of 16 DFAS Strategic Plan Your Financial Partner @ Work II. Introduction In developing strategy, DFAS analyzed its current state, articulated its desired future state, and identified the case for change. Last year, DFAS reorganized to build on strengths and to create new synergies to advance the desire to be more customer focused. Throughout the past year, the DFAS Leadership Council has met monthly to monitor key initiatives that have begun to transform the organization. The landscape is changing and the direction of DFAS remains clearly focused. Strategic initiatives concentrate on opportunities to make DFAS outstanding in customer service. DFAS is well on its way and the strategic planning process is becoming firmly imbedded in the organizational culture. A key initiative that DFAS embraced, the Balanced Scorecard process, was designed and implemented in Fiscal Year 2001. The Balanced Scorecard provides a consistent view of organizational performance and enables DFAS to measure the most pertinent areas supporting the mission and vision of DFAS. The first step in designing and rolling out the Balanced Scorecard was to understand and identify the four broad areas, or perspectives, to be measured: Customer, Financial, Internal Business Processes, and Growth and Learning. At the same time, feedback mechanisms were established to ensure progress in these areas and alignment to DFAS strategy. In addition to the Balanced Scorecard, DFAS advanced strategy through other key initiatives. The new Client Executive (CE) role was established to serve DFAS customers. The CE serves as an attentive steward for customers, helping them find solutions for their needs. DFAS conducted needs analysis and customer surveys within business lines to better understand the critical areas needing improvement. Additionally, DFAS conducted endto-end process analysis, or Activity Based Costing analysis, on major processes in order to improve quality and lower costs. As always, DFAS continues to strive toward meeting 100% of Agency Performance Contract commitments as well as the goals that are outlined in the Financial Management Improvement Plan. DFAS understands that in order to implement the goals outlined in our Strategic Plan, each DFAS employee must acquire and develop additional skills. DFAS is committed to steering that charge by helping all employees equip themselves with the competencies they need to provide extraordinary service. To that end, DFAS is committed to spending five percent (5%) of the labor budget on training. Work is also underway to identify and develop core competencies necessary for workforce and mission success. The Strategic Plan is an integral part of what is done at DFAS everyday. With the strategy clearly in mind and present at every operational level, DFAS continues to strengthen customer partnerships, improve quality, and reduce costs. DFAS will look for innovative solutions to maximize the potential of technology to meet customers’ needs. DFAS strives to be a world-class Page 4 of 16 DFAS Strategic Plan Your Financial Partner @ Work organization by measuring itself against others in the industry. It is through the continued commitment to strong partnerships, highest quality, operational effectiveness and a skilled workforce that DFAS will achieve its vision and provide world-class, costeffective services for its customers. DFAS believes that the right structure is in place to implement the Strategic Plan. A clear roadmap is defined. Page 5 of 16 DFAS Strategic Plan Your Financial Partner @ Work III. Strategic Planning Approach The DFAS mission and vision reflects a conscious decision by DFAS to become more customer-focused. The DFAS Strategic Plan focuses on goals and objectives to advance the DFAS mission and to attain the vision. Through the Balanced Scorecard process, individual units participated in developing goals and objectives, linking all DFAS organizational initiatives together. Additionally, DFAS strives to be world-class in the finance and accounting industry. DFAS utilizes other world-class organizations and best practices as gauges to measure performance. The Strategic Plan is the product of DFAS internal expertise, external benchmarking, legal and regulatory guidance and industry consultation. DFAS firmly believes that strategic plans and processes only work when embraced by all the employees in the organization and integrated into their day-to-day events. This Strategic Plan will be communicated in a way that enhances employees’ and managers’ understanding of our strategy, calling them to action. Various methods of communication including face-to-face interactions as well as electronic and print media will be employed. In addition, and most importantly, communication will be leadership driven. The Strategic Plan is the framework that all employees and managers will use for creating their business planning processes. This plan will be monitored monthly, reviewed annually and updated every five years. DFAS Board of Advisors DFAS Strategic Plan Congress Administration DoD Industry Best Practices DFAS Internal Knowledge Page 6 of 16 DFAS Strategic Plan Your Financial Partner @ Work IV. Core Values DFAS is engaged in an intensive process of strategy development, implementation and renewal. DFAS Strategy is comprised of mission, vision and goals. The goals are supported and will be achieved through their respective Balanced Scorecard objectives. All of these areas are guided and supported by a set of core values. DFAS strategy is designed to deliver the best value to the customer. Throughout the process of defining DFAS’s direction, leadership has continually relied on the following core values when making decisions. Integrity Integrity is doing what is right. Uphold the laws and regulations ? Demonstrate accountability ? Communicate openly and honestly ? Treat everyone with fairness and respect ? Follow through on our commitments Service We are committed to be the Department’s trusted financial partner. ? Partner with our customers ? Leverage technology and resources ? Strive for excellence ? Train and develop our employees ? Recognize and reward e xemplary performance ? Bottom line—we exist to serve America’s best! Innovation We embrace change and aggressively seek new ways to do business. ? Encourage best business practices ? Invest in leading-edge technology ? Reduce cost and improve quality through leadership and teamwork Page 7 of 16 DFAS Strategic Plan Your Financial Partner @ Work V. Situation Assessment The DFAS current state, or situation assessment, reflects an organization making strides and continuing to address needed improvements. The following success stories highlight milestones achieved along the way, while challenges accentuate the issues DFAS continues to address. Both are mapped to the DFAS vision statement to ensure a linkage to the desired future state of DFAS. A. Success Stories Best Value to Customer ? Increased our clients spending power ? Reduced the number of overaged invoices ? Increased the use of electronic commerce FY 2002 bill to our customers is $140 million less than in FY 2001; our cost structure is $120 million below budget for last two years ? World-class Provider of Finance and Accounting Services ? Met client needs for more timely and accurate financial information ? Delivered to SOCOM a system solution for better management information ? Reduced problem disbursements by 85% Expanded web based capabilities ? Self service electronic pay statements ? DFAS strategy is comprised of: A. Mission Provide responsive, professional finance and accounting services for the people who defend America. B. Vision Best Value to Customer ? World-class Provider of Finance and Accounting Services ? One Organization, One Identity ? Trusted, Innovative Financial Partner ? Employer of Choice, Providing a Progressive and Professional Work Environment C. Goals Goals are the critical success enablers for DFAS to accomplish its mission and achieve its vision. The goals are directly linked to the vision of DFAS as follows: World-class Provider of Finance and Accounting Services Goal: Fully satisfy customer requirements and aggressively resolve problems to deliver best value services Goal: Use performance metrics to drive best business practices and achieve high quality results Goal: Optimize the mix of our military, civilian, and contractor workforce to achieve competitive advantage Trusted, Innovative Financial Partner Goal: Establish consultative relationships with leaders Goal: Deliver business intelligence to drive better decisions Page 10 of 16 DFAS Strategic Plan Your Financial Partner @ Work One Organization, One Identity Goal: Ensure everyone is working toward the same vision and can connect what they are doing to make the vision a reality Employer of Choice, Providing a Progressive and Professional Work Environment Goal: Embrace continuous learning for our workforce to ensure critical, high quality skill sets Goal: Develop the next generation of DFAS leadership. Page 11 of 16 DFAS Strategic Plan Your Financial Partner @ Work VII. Strategy and Performance Measurement Linkages: DFAS employs the Balanced Scorecard methodology to measure organizational performance and track progress in achieving its strategic goals. The various DFAS organizational units embarked on the development of individual scorecards, consistent with the goals articulated by the leadership. These individual scorecards were analyzed and a crosscutting â€Å"corporate view† scorecard was developed. This process was an iterative one that involved participants throughout the entire organization at all levels. The goals embodied in the strategy are divided into a four-perspective view of organizational performance. The perspectives are: ? ? ? Customer o Focuses on organizational performance as perceived by the customer Financial o Measures the traditional fiscal health associated with organizational performance Internal Business Processes o Measures internal business practices and system processes for efficiency and effectiveness Growth and Learning o Measures progress towards achievin g the attraction, development and retention of DFAS employees Each perspective contains unique objectives. Objectives are the means whereby DFAS will achieve its strategic goals. The DFAS corporate scorecard will be continuously monitored and revised based on identified priorities. The corporate scorecard will be used as the basis for other unit scorecards to cascade performance measures and track action plans throughout the entire agency. Page 12 of 16 DFAS Strategic Plan Your Financial Partner @ Work A. Objectives Linked to Goals DFAS will measure progress toward achieving goals through the Balanced Scorecard objectives. The goals provide linkages from the DFAS vision to objectives, and the goals are crosslinked to the objectives at the corporate level. Mission: Provide responsive, professional finance and accounting services for the people who defend.

Opinon Essay on Iraqi War-Global Studies

Opinon Essay on Iraqi War-Global Studies John MillerGlobal Studies3-6-05Iraqi War EssayOn March 3, 2004, the United States military invaded Iraq for the following reasons, an imminent threat brought on by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the tyrannical leadership of Saddam Hussein, Iraq's "homicidal dictator" and his threat of Weapons of Mass Destruction. The reasons for the occupancy of Iraq have been something that have been debated over again and again, and too often people are not properly informed to be debating on the topic, due to the bias media. However, the nation was still prepared to enter the costly "quagmire" of a conflict.A country can go to war for several reasons. One may be simply because one country has been physically attacked by an other. Another is because another country is causing disturbance or bloodshed in that country. Or the country is being forced into submission by another by means of colonization.Carlos Cardoen meets with Iraqi Leader Saddam Huss...These are the only justifiable and moral reasons for going to war with another country. Iraqi's were not the one's who committed the terrorist acts against America; it is a known fact that Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden were hated enemies. Iraq caused no bloodshed in our country, and they caused no trouble in our country at all. If one looks at this in a broad spectrum, they might say the United States is the "bad guy" in the situation. They might also consider if the United States was interested in gaining control of Iraq's oil business, the largest in the world. However, the main reason as of now is to bring democracy to a country filled with chaos and anarchy, also created by the United States.In a 9th grade Global class at Glens Falls High School, a survey was done to...

Knowledge Sharing Networks and Strategic Alliances Essay

Knowledge Sharing Networks and Strategic Alliances - Essay Example The fruits of this research are going to be reaped by many firms in the future when they decide to form a Strategic Alliance and Networks with another firm. Strategic Alliances can be defined as voluntary agreements between firms for exchanging, sharing, and codevelopment of products. A strategic network may also be formed for the purpose of information sharing and using the knowledge learned from one part of the world by one firm, and then applying this learned knowledge to another part of the world through a different company. In the past research was also done to determine the behavior and performance of firms as a consequence of these alliances and partnerships. However, the major focus of the past research was the proclivity of firms or motivation behind entering into the partnerships and what variables were used by these firms for choosing their strategic partners. One important factor that was unearthed by this paper that gives firms motive to form strategic partnership is the use of information. As the paradigm of knowledge has shifted and firms rely on quick and fast information transfer and usage to increase their profitability, information has a premium attached to it. Many firms form strategic alliance and networks to get hold of this information and use it in their businesses for better profitability and performance of the organization. Hence, strategic networks and alliances have become increasingly important in the sphere of businesses today. (Gulati, Alliances and Networks, 1998) There are various factors that have to be considered before a firm makes a decision about the type of strategy that it is going to implement. Historically, businesses or focal firms can either take hold of other firms through investment, joint ventures or acquisition. However, as the time has elapsed it has become increasingly difficult to predict what kind of strategy, the focal or a firm in need of partnership is going to follow. In a study done on 87 firms and 9276 d eal announcements, it found that a lot of factors play an important role in strategic partnership decisions. These factors range from economics to other important fields in a business context. They include transaction costs, R & D benefits internalization view and the level of technological stage of the targeted firm. It was also worth noting that other conventional theories also hold importance in the decision made by the firms to form Strategic Alliances and Networks. Agency Theory, for example, provides grounds for Strategic Alliances and Networks to materialize. Agency theory states that agents act on the behalf of the principle. The finding in the paper says that one firm agrees to act on the behalf of the other and chooses to forego its own business and resources. it becomes fairly easy to form Strategic Alliances and Network. (Belen & McGahan, 2005) Many other important factors play a very important role in the formation of Strategic Alliances and Networks. A study done on Ne twork and Alliances show that profitability of a firm is likely to increases if there is some sort of connection between the industry participants. This is one major reason why firms operating in an Oligopoly collude and form cartels. Hence, forming strategic alliances and networks increase the

Effectiveness and Extent of the Convergence between Public and Private Research Paper

Effectiveness and Extent of the Convergence between Public and Private Security over the Next Decade - Research Paper Example es helping private firms and individuals to identify crime and other insecurity problems and report them to the government officials for law enforcement. Private security officers offer private risk management consultancies, implement security approaches to protect private property against theft and fire, and also investigate frauds in private companies. There are various private security companies which carry out those security functions mentioned above. The public and private securities have recently been seen to converge as they help each other to combat insecurity issues in the society. The success of community security can be achieved through partnership building between the private and public security. Convergence of private and public security enhances identification of opportunities for collaboration in the security sector in order to encourage innovation in problem-solving and decision making; hence making it easier for security personnel to deal with security issues and meet the needs of the society in terms of security. Collaboration between private and public security opens doors for effective problem-solving through technology and innovation. This convergence between the public and private security also enhances advanced community policing and achievement of mutual goals in the private and public sector. Therefore, the convergence between the public and private security is expected to expand and become effective over the next decade due to its benefits to the society. The convergence between private and public and private security is a contemporary issue in security studies which has become common in many countries worldwide. The convergence between private and public security refers to the collaboration and partnership building between the public and private security personnel. It involves bringing together the activities of private and public security personnel in order to encourage innovation and technological advancement in the security sector.

Health Care Reform and Nursing Profession Term Paper

Health Care Reform and Nursing Profession - Term Paper Example A study conducted by the World Health Organization (1999) revealed that the health care system in United States ranked 37th in overall performance and 72nd in overall level of health among 191 nations reviewed in the study. Again, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (2012), the number of people without health insurance coverage rose from 49.0 million in 2009 to 49.9 million in 2010. A recent study also revealed that more than 44,800 excess deaths occur annually in U.S. due to lack of insurance (Wilper, Woolhandler, Lasser, McCormick, Bor, & Himmelstein, 2009). These were the major driving factors that led to the release of the health care reform act, also called the patient protection and affordable care act or the PPACA. The U.S. Health care reform act extends healthcare coverage to nearly 32 million people by providing subsidies for people who cannot afford insurance on their own, developing consumer-friendly rules clamped on insurers, offering tax breaks and developing marketplace s to shop for insurance plans (Frellick, 2010). This act gives new opportunities to nurses to deliver care and play a vital role in leading change. It challenges nurses to do more to prevent diseases, provide chronic care management especially to the growing geriatric population and offer end-of-life care that focus on comfort and compassion. Following are some of the provisions in the healthcare reform that affect nurses: Reauthorization of Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs The new healthcare reform reauthorized some of the major workforce development grant programs like advanced education nursing, workforce diversity grants, nursing education, practice and retention grants and nursing student and nurse faculty loan programs (Health Resources and Services Administration, n.d.). In 2010, $243 million was allocated towards Nursing Workforce Development Programs (Wood, 2011). These programs have been made available to promote nursing education through loan repayment an d scholarship programs and ensure that there are enough nurses to care for the growing healthcare needs in the future. These grant programs under the Public Health Service Act are the chief source of federal funding for nursing education (Frellick, 2010). Nurse-Managed Health Clinics The passage of the U.S. 2010 Health care reform act has resulted in the authorization of nurse-managed health clinics (NMHCs) which are nurse practice arrangements where advanced practice nurses serve as primary care providers, managers and administrators (Esperat, Hanson-Turton, Richardson, Debisette, & Rupinta, 2012). NMHCs provide health care services ranging from basic health promotion and disease prevention approaches to full service primary care including chronic disease management programs to the underserved populations and is associated with a school, college, university or department of nursing, federally qualified health center or an independent non-profit health or social service agency (Espe rat et al., 2012). These NMHCs provide a ‘safety net’ for medically underserved populations in crucial health care access points in areas where primary care physicians are in short supply (Frellick, 2010). In 2010, the Human Resources and Services Administration released $14.8 million in prevention fund dollars to support grants to 10 NHMCs, but this funding was not renewed in

Machiavelli And Friedrich | A comparison

Machiavelli And Friedrich | A comparison It is interesting to note that Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527) and Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) share a great deal of similarity, so that in fact, both have at one time been referred by the clergy of their times as the herald of the antichrist. Nevertheless, the similarity that exists between the two is mainly underpinned by their philosophical standpoints, given that Machiavellis and Nietzsches philosophical postulations were characterized by their antithetical standpoints towards Christian values, ethics and doctrines. Particularly, a case in point is Machiavellis maxim that the end justifies the means. In his II Principe, Machiavelli sees man as a political animal, but not because of mans gregarious tendencies as seen by Aristotle. To Machiavelli, man is a political animal in that in the quest for power, he has to act swiftly and be very cunning. Therefore, this brings in the concepts of competition which ensures that only those who are really determined and enthusiastic on whatever they are doing are able to keep up with the stiff competition. The divergence between Machiavelli and Christianity is further widened when he maintains that to seize and consolidate political power, it is necessary for the prince to move faster than his real and perceived enemies and crush them. The rationale behind this standpoint is that the person who moves fast and first emerges the victor, whereas the slow paced are victims (Machiavelli, 175). The similarity between the above standpoint and Nietzsches ideas is that both advocate against Christian ethics such as modesty and justice. Similarly, both disagree with the very fundamentals of Christian ethic as they both see man as an animal, whereas Christianity sees man as the most important being, with this importance being underpinned by rationality and morality. Therefore, the concept of seeing human being an important being they are regarded as civilized and are not intended to act like animals such as being not thoughtful. The main difference between human beings and animals is that human beings have conscious and are able to think and reason out in whatever they do unlike animals. Nevertheless, Nietzsches animal instincts of man is covertly mentioned, as he only refers to it, by critiquing Christianity for shutting its doors on pleasure, self, the natural and appetitive elements of man. In so assuming their controversial standpoints, both Machiavelli and Nietzsche postulate that the need to act towards self preservation, self actualization and self aggrandizement is paramount. This relegates man into likeness with the animal kingdom, given that the animal kingdom is merely driven by the need for self preservation, through instincts. As it were, the place for rationality in lieu of pure pleasure and self seeking is not given a big berth by both Nietzsche and Machiavelli. This is well proven by the fact that Machiavelli casts aspersion on the importance of values such as trust and mutual respect or agreement. Machiavelli argues that after fatally closing in on political enemies, the Prince must later on turn to his friends and eliminate them, since friends as confidants will have accrued a lot of political and administrative secrets adequate to turn against the Prince. However, it is important to take note of the fact that Nietzsche and Machiavelli had somewhat different reasons for assuming their controversial standpoints. While Nietzsche maintained his standpoint on the account that he saw Christianity a curse and God as being dead [non-existent] as the basis of his standpoint, Machiavellis concern was not concerned with atheism, theism or the concern over the existence of a deity. Machiavelli did not write his radical standpoint for the sake of dethroning Christianity, unlike Nietzsche. In respect to the above development, as a matter of fact, by conjoining ethics to Christianity, and criticizing Christianity for its moralist stands and its shunning of pleasure, debauchery and self seeking, Nietzsche basically made a dereliction on the importance of ethics and morality as important constructs that hold the society together. It is at the same time, this juncture that Machiavelli and Nietzsche part ways, as far as their philosophical standpoints are concerned. Despite his radical political standpoints Machiavelli sees the need for tampering political administration and rule with some elements of ethics. This standpoint is seen explicitly when Machiavelli urges the Prince to always make sure that he did not amass wealth and affluence by rapine. Similarly, Machiavelli argued that in order that the Prince realizes a peaceful and stable administration, it is important that he stayed away from mens women and wives. To Machiavelli, the failure to steer clear of mens wives and the failure to shun the temptation of wealth acquisition through larceny are the very factors that would drive men into vengeful tendencies and thereby sparking off a political resistance, and subsequently, instability. To any one analyst or careful reader, this is indeed a moralist standpoint. So moralist it is that many a world leader has not been able to keep. This is not the case with Nietzsche. In almost the same vein, Machiavelli does not see religion as being retrogressive or disposable to the domains under the Prince. As a matter of fact, Machiavelli reiterates to the need by the Prince, to desist from interfering with the Church and religious matters. To Machiavelli, the failure to do so would warrant the loathing by the masses. As a corollary to this standpoint, Machiavelli advised the Prince on the need to acquaint himself with the clergy, so as to be able to rule effectively. However, it must be remembered that Machiavelli advised the Prince on the need to ensure that the Church remained under the control of the state, since the Church existed under the auspices of his domains, and the Prince ought to know the developments taking place within his jurisdiction. On the other hand, Nietzsche in his condescending criticism against the Christian religion or faith, becomes blinded to the point of disposing off, any need for morality, ethics and self restraint. To him, the fact that God is dead has given man the liberty to indulge himself. This is the fatal mistake of Nietzsches works (Nietzsche and Mencken, 139). Conclusion There is no civilization that can exist in the absolute absence of ethics. In the same vein, it is not tenable, the idea of governance and administration of a people who have a totally laissez faire condition to do as they please. The veracity of this concept is well established by the law which seeks to control and ward off the excesses of man. Nietzsche fails to realize that removing the concept of absolute authority to which all are accountable is to issue a blank check on mans actions. On the other hand, handing man absolute rights will make life intractable, given that in seeking to exercise these absolute rights, the rights of others and the authority of the state to exercise its powers will have been compromised. In summation, it is important to realize that the main difference that lay in Machiavellis and Nietzsches works was that of purpose. While Machiavelli only sought to advise the Prince on the technicalities of politics, Nietzsche mainly sought to produce an atheistic t reatise.

My Grandparent’s House Essays -- Personal Narrative

My Grandparent’s House It was another summer at my grandparent’s house that I woke up to one sunny Saturday morning. The smell of eggs, bacon, and tortillas was a greeting to the home-cooked breakfast I could sense as I lie in the bedroom still lightly dreaming. I could hear my grandpa in the distance, chopping wood for the stove my grandma was cooking with. Very old fashioned my grandparents were, convincing me to become more independent, I always enjoyed their company. It was a summer where I would be taught the value of wisdom and of the people I love. Though the past summer at my grandparent’s place was pretty much the same, I didn’t understand the words and talks my grandparents would have with me. At such a young age I wasn’t able to account for everything they had said or appreciate what they had to say, but this particular summer was different. My cousins were about the same age I was and had only live half a mile away from my grandparents. As I quickly did my chores, I could see three of my cousins walking down an old dirt road form their house. When they reached the porch I was just about finished packing my water bottle along with my peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I opened the door finding my cousins outside replying â€Å"Hey Kev! How are you?† As we started our walk towards the creek behind my grandparent’s house, I looked back and saw my grandmother frowning, knowing that we were going to use the rest of the day to our own content. Becoming full of excitement, one of my cousins yelled â€Å"last one to the creek is a rotten egg!† as everyone dashed towards the wash. As midsummer approached, our rendezvous at the creek became an even more popular event for more of relatives to join in on. At certain times, there were as many as 15 of us down at the creek laughing, running around, and splashing each other with the cold refreshing water containing a sweet scent from the near by willows. I still remember my grandma’s dogs barking and running after the little kids. I could feel the squishy sand between my toes and hear the trickling of the water brushing against the grass. We followed the creek and it led through a small pond where we swam in. We were having so much fun that we didn’t see that it was getting late as the sun sat gleaming, sinking beneath the horizon, giving one last wave bef... ... the time spent with people you love and those who love you because life isn’t very long for anyone to not regret spending time with your loved ones. Here's one of my favorite songs by the Smashing Pumpkins: {rotten apples} dirty your face with longing and grace, God-given suffer her heart, and love her when your love goes unrequited Where the cool winds blow, I must surely go For my love calls me lo, drag her from the depths of my soul When will I see her again? The other side of friends The darkened clouds of death The empty-breathed desire Dirty your face with longing and grace, God-given Suffer her heart, and love her when your love goes unrequited Restless in my speech And ruthless in my teach So vacant in my breach, I drive the dirt of her garden Sorrow She'll never listen again No other lovers to bend Just rotten apples to eat Slathered yellow distant scorn Dirty your face with longing and grace, God-given Suffer her heart and love her when your love goes unrequited Life just fades away Purity just begs Dust to dust we're wired into Sadness

Comparative analysis of prayer and pastoral counseling

Educes Humdinger believes that one of the key essentials to the Persephone of pastoral caregiver is kinfolk. When we dedicate ourselves to a Christian life, kayoing is the essential element of our Christianity, because It combines our fellowship, community and communion with God and with others. Van Educes Humdinger states the kayoing is the tells as well as the indispensable means of all true pastoral care. Van Educes Hunger, Pl) If we are experiencing kayoing in our spiritual life, kayoing will be made up of the ultrasonically element that encompasses not only the vertical dimension (our relationship with God), but also the horizontal dimension (our relationship with each other). It starts with ourselves and opening the communication line with God through our prayer life. As we begin to experience the fellowship, community and communion with God, we develop that vertical dimension. Our living out the vertical dimension is witness by others around us.It Is at this point we begin to realize the horizontal dimension of fellowship, community and communion with others is established. (van Educes Humdinger, up) When the vertical and the horizontal have been established, we achieve a common ground based on humbling ourselves before God and others. In this setting trust and fellowship are established, and ministering and pastoral care between one another can begin. In reading Pastoral Counseling The Basics, Ditties believes that one of the essentials to the Persephone of the pastoral caregiver is kayoing as well.Ditties is more subtle in his approach to kayoing, than van Educes Hunger. Ditties states that â€Å"The pastoral counselor does not pretend to possess godlike powers but Is a humble servant†. Deletes, pop) The multidimensional element of our relationships with God and others is essential to Ditties as well. Ditties also suggests that as we enter into a relationship with others, we enter that relationship with neither a Judgment of perfection or imperf ection on the part of the counselor and counseled. Ditties, pop) We once again enter Into a relationship not just vertically and horizontally, but inwardly to self, outwardly to others and upwardly toward God. (van Educes Humdinger 9) (Ditties, IPPP) 2 In the process of examining Pray without Ceasing by Deborah van Educes and Pastoral Counseling The Basics by James E Ditties, I found that the area of pastoral ministry and counseling were virtually the same. While their methodology and terminology appear to be different, the end result is the same. So I have to ask, Do these two authors really differ?Deletes says that we should be nonchalant, even benign and to empty ourselves to have no preconceived ideas, or so as not to be judgmental. Does this really differ from van Educes Humdinger, who said that our prayer life Is the integral part of our relationship? If I have take the time to empty yeses, Is this really different It I take the time to pray a prayer of petition for myself and for others? 1 OFF placing God in the center is the key if I am to be effective in ministry. Every facet, level or element is relational.That is to say that all our actions have to be God fed and Spirit led. The first way which I feel that van Educes Humdinger differs from Ditties, but yet they are still alike is in their views about pastoral ministry on the subject of relationship. Van Educes Humdinger's view is that relationship is the key to pastoral ministry and pastoral counseling. If one is to be effective in pastoral ministry and counseling we must first have a relationship with God. Then we can cultivate a relationship with others. An Educes Humdinger further states that the relationship will consist of a vertical dimension, relationship with God and a horizontal dimension, relationship with each other. This gives the counselor and counseled common ground in which they can experience a relationship of fellowship, community and communion with each other and God. This is a rel ationship that is entered into emptied of any preconceived idea of the counseled. This way we enter n a basis of honesty, with each other and with God which is non-judgmental and leads to developing openness and trust. Van Educes Humdinger, p 2) Ditties begins his view of relationship with the concept that we should be nonchalant in entering the relationship of pastoral ministry and counseling; that is to state further that we should empty ourselves and renounce the relationship factor and even be benign. This may sound harsh, but Ditties is getting to the same point that van Educes Humdinger is making that we must be the humble servant and create an open, non- judgmental atmosphere. Ditties p 89) Ditties view of the relationship is not vertical or horizontal; his view is inward, outward and upward.The relationship is inward to view self, outward to view other and upward to include God in the center of the relationship. (Ditties p 153) 3 While the two views may appear to differ, the y are, in reality, the same with Just a difference of methodology and terminology. The second way which I feel that van Educes Humdinger differs from Ditties but yet is still alike, is in their views about pastoral ministry. Is it pastoral care or pastoral counseling or Just counseling? Van Educes Humdinger view is that spiritual fellowship or kayoing is the basis for pastoral ministry to be possible.When kayoing flourishes so does pastoral care. The never ending constant follow of love, hope and grace from God is the building block for pastoral ministry. (van Educes Humdinger, p 3) Ditties tells us in the chapter on Counseling as God's Call, that the nagging questions are, Is it pastoral? Is it in keeping with one's call into ministry? Or is it distraction from the call? (Ditties p 145) I believe the Ditties offers these questions to make us consider all the facets of ministry and to concentrate on the area of pastoral ministry and counseling to make sure the we have involved God i n the center of all areas of ministry.While on the surface this appears to be a radical difference from van Educes Humdinger's view, it has not been completely obscured by the nagging questions. (Ditties, p 145) Ditties goes on to state â€Å"The pastoral counselor affirms, above all, that this is God's world and that the counselor and counseled are both in God's care. † This does not contradict what van Educes Humdinger has stated it confirms it. That is to say that we re to empty ourselves in order to be fulfilled and to fulfill the work of Christ in the the center of the issue from the very beginning by establishing an open communication line with God through an active prayer life.Then she moves through the areas involved in self, God and others and then brings us full circle to conclude with prayer. This is more in keeping with my faith life and work in ministry. This however does not diminish Ditties book at all. Ditties chose to take a more human approach first, to allo w us to view ourselves in our own human condition, so e could relate to others on a deeper level, but reminding us subtlety that God's involvement is needed at all levels of ministry. Ditties concludes his book with a bold reminder that God is the world and we are merely his servant to God and one another. When looking at Ditties book Pastoral Counseling the Basics, and comparing the significance that the â€Å"four Levels or Facets of Human Development have on the book as a whole, I began by looking at the four facets individually. While listing these levels or facets initially as Context, to Self-Regard, to Traits and Habits, to Coping and injunction, Ditties begins the break down for the levels or facets in reverse order. This order is a very effective way of presenting this information so as not to go to the first step and think we have accomplished the levels entirely.The first level that is addressed is Coping and Functioning. This level as Ditties explains is a realm of ever yday behavior in which I count my successes and failures. This level is the driving force in our lives. It encompasses how we handle all of the everyday events of our lives. We can either approach these as successes or failure, adversaries or allies. We as counselor and counseled may consider the list of successes and failures as Just the problem. Ditties warns us, that while offering advice on such practical matters may be extremely useful. UT this is not the realm of pastoral counseling. (Ditties pop, 30) This level is not Just for the counseled, but also for the counselor as well. If we are to provide pastoral counseling, we must first have an understanding of how we handle the areas in our own life within the level of Coping and Functioning first, before we can attempt to work with the counseled. I believe that Ditties uses this level to teach us that we cannot cope and function in the realm of everyday life without the involvement of God and others.We must first look inwardly a t ourselves and then seek God for upwardly involvement, before we can attempt to look outwardly to others to counsel and be counseled. (Ditties 153) I believe van Educes Humdinger would agree that this level is an integral part of our development, but this would not be the initial step. In Praying without Ceasing, van Educes Humdinger points out that the vertical dimension, that relationship with God through our active pray life with God must be established and maintained in order for us to be able to converse and interact with others. Van Educes Humdinger UP, 79) The second level that Ditties address is Traits and Habits-personal characteristics. The traits and talents are those things that evolve into habits, both good and bad, productive and destructive that makes up the character of who we are. These traits and talents are not machinery, but are organically grown out of our interaction with 5 It is important to know these traits, talents or habits that make up who we are, so tha t e can be an effective counselor and to know the make-up of who we are counseling.By understanding these traits, talents and habits of ourselves and others we can use this information to establish how we deal with governing the first level of coping and functioning. By having these two levels working in and through our lives we can find the common ground with others from which to can work together. (Ditties, p 31) I believe this is also an underlying theme throughout Ditties book, because knowing the traits, talents and habits of ourselves and others, is one of the essential elements of he experience for the counseling for the counseled, as in regarding the â€Å"As Is and As Though†.This gives the counselor and counseled a level playing field from which to know each other more deeply, so that both can learn to trust, not Judge and begin to develop fellowship, relationship and community. (Ditties, p 81) I believe the van Educes Humdinger would agree with Ditties, that knowin g the Traits, Talents and habits of ourselves and others is an essential element for Listening to ourselves, listening to others and Listening to God. I believe that this too is a building block community and spiritual formation with others.The third level that Ditties describes for us is the level of Self-Regard. The way we regard ourselves is a strong indicator of what kind of personality we possess. The way we were brought up and the environment in which we lived or live can signal how we perceive ourselves and also how we perceive others. Self-Regard is the combination of the other two levels of Coping and Functioning as well as Traits and Habits. (Ditties pop) Taking into consideration how we cope and function with our own traits and habits, we get an image of how we regard ourselves and how we will regard other.This action could be both good and bad. This level also opens the door to offer grace and to receive it as well. If we are willing to receive and offer grace to one ano ther, we once again open the door to fellowship and community. (Ditties pop) I believe the van Educes Humdinger would agree with this level as well, because our self-image and how we regard who we are can lead us to knowing ourselves, other and God at a much deep and open level of understanding. This engages our prayer life into a continuous circle of prayers to God, for others and for ourselves.This action strengthens the nods of fellowship and community, which is the basis of pastoral care. (van Educes Humdinger IPPP) 6 The fourth and final level is Context. Ditties' comment that â€Å"We all live evicted from the Garden which was created Just for us†¦ , The self can survive and thrive only when it can trust and outside the garden, trust is Jaded†. (Ditties pop, 35) When we come to the realization know who's we are, who we are, where we come from and what we are made up of, we have Context. This is the starting point from which we can accept ourselves with all our wart s and scars and know that we are not fighting this battleContext lays the ground work to know how we regard ourselves, knowing what our traits and habits are and finally how we can cope and function within ourselves and with others, while allowing Christ to intercede for us and keep God in the center of everything. Ditties and van Educes Humdinger both have given me the frame work from which I can come to an understanding of knowing the make-up of all the levels and elements of who I am as a child of God, knowing fellowship, community, and communion with God through prayer and finally helping others to know themselves and God as well.

The Coca Cola Company Struggles with Ethical Issues Essay Essay Example

The Coca Cola Company Struggles with Ethical Issues Essay Essay Example The Coca Cola Company Struggles with Ethical Issues Essay Paper The Coca Cola Company Struggles with Ethical Issues Essay Paper 1 ) . What function does corporation repute drama within organisational public presentation and societal duty? Develop a list of factors or features that different stakeholders may utilize in measuring corporate repute. Are these factors consistent across stakeholders? Why or why non? Corporate repute plays a really built-in portion within organisational public presentation and societal duty. Either one important incident or several incidents can act upon the perceptual experience of a company’s image and repute held by its stakeholders and clients. This may hold a permanent consequence for many. many old ages. Coca-Cola’s ( Coke ) repute has been tarnished because of the legion allegations of unethical behaviour and deficiency of societal duty chiefly in the international market. In 2000. Coke failed to put in Fortune’s top 10 â€Å"America’s Most Admired Companies† . The undermentioned twelvemonth it vanished from the â€Å"100 Best Corporate Citizens† as honored by Business Ethics magazine ( p. 409 ) . Along with losing its good standing in the corporate universe. Coke has besides experienced some instability in its fiscal public presentation. While in the early portion of 2000 Coke maintained a sound balance sheet ( p. 416 ) . its growing proved to be a small more dead by 2009 with portions fluctuating between $ 59 and $ 37 per portion ( p. 410 ) . This slow growing was speculated as a consequence of the assorted allegations of unethical behaviour and illegal patterns. The increased turnover in direction and the going of cardinal investors ( p. 410 ) may besides hold contributed to the job. Until the company rebuilds its repute. Coke may go on to see dead growing. Assorted factors are involved when mensurating corporate repute. These factors are based on an individual’s degree of engagement. A customer’s primary concerns may include merchandise safety and quality. degree of client service. and the selling schemes used to actuate them to purchase. Customers may no longer esteem a company known to systematically maltreat its employees. fails to follow up on client service issues. or is involvedwith unethical selling patterns. A company’s intervention of its employees is observed at all degrees including degree of preparation. safety in the work topographic point. age favoritism. racial favoritism. sex favoritism. every bit good as rewards and benefits that are offered. Investors are chiefly concerned with a company’s repute. fiscal position. degree of profitableness. every bit good as its degree of societal duty and concern moralss. Whether the investor agrees or disagrees with the company’s concern patterns refering employees. clients. and stakeholders. it will impact the investor’s determination to ab initio put or stay invested in a company. 2 ) Assume you have merely become CEO at Coca Cola. Sketch the strategic stairss you would take to rectify the concerns emanating from the company’s board of managers. consumers. employees. and concern spouses ; authoritiess ; and the media. What elements of societal duty would you pull from in reacting to these stakeholder issues? The first measure would be to set up an ethics commission in each subdivision location. Based on the information given. it is ill-defined if the allegations of misconduct resulted from mundane concern patterns or if certain employees chose to ignore the company’s mission statement. Following. finishing a societal and moralss audit to develop a precedence list of actions to be action. The 3rd measure would be to end and prosecute any employee who cognizing violated Coke’s policies and end anyone who refuses or fails to honour company policies traveling frontward. Another measure includes uninterrupted developing on moralss and cultural consciousness preparation. This instruction will greatly better Coke’s place with the international market. And eventually. making a commission devoted to societal duty and find of new and advanced ways for Coke to come on in this country and turn out to the critics its degree of committedness towards societal duty. 3 ) What do you believe of Coca-Cola’s environmental enterprises? Are they merely window dressing. or does the company seem to be sincere in its attempts?As presented in this instance survey. it is apparent that Coke has made great paces in its attempts towards societal duty both internally and externally. While the company critics believe it has non done sufficiency and that the attempts made are a agencies of concealing the corruptness ( p. 416 ) . I partly agree with the critics. I am troubled with the deficiency of taking duty for any incorrect making. This leads me to believe Coke is concerned with covering up the corruptness alternatively of taking ownership of the errors made. Equally far as has Coke done plenty. I steadfastly believe the company is on the right path. The company has been accused of consuming and polluting the groundwater in India. In response. 320 rainwater-harvesting installations were built to regenerate and return all groundwater ( p. 414 ) . Recycling and climatic alteration are other enterprises Coca-Cola has embraced. The PlantBottle developed by Coca-Cola truly has a positive impact on the environment. Not merely is it partly made from plant-based stuff. it is to the full reclaimable and reduces the usage of unrenewable resources and C emanations ( p. 415 ) . However. I feel the company’s resources can be better spent other ways to cut down emanations. unrenewable resources. energy ingestion. etc. alternatively of establishing a vesture line made from recycled plastic bottles that finally will stop up in the landfills. Based on the information provided in the instance survey. I believe Coca-Cola is sincere in its attempt to broaden its societal duty. I besides feel that some of its determinations are non in the company’s or the environment’s best involvement. 4 ) . In what other ways does this instance relate to the constructs that we have learned in the chapters so far? The instance survey reveals allegations of corruptness. unethical behaviour. and deficiency of societal duty that have plagued Coca-Cola for the past two decennaries. This instance survey besides reveals some of the unethical selling tactics used by the company. The most unethical tactics were its deceptive advertisement that sodium carbonate was healthy for kids and that its Vitamin Water was besides healthy when in fact it contained high degrees of sugar ( p. 413 ) . The instance survey besides discusses happenings of accounting fraud by channel stuffing which resulted in increased grosss and basically inflated its fiscal statement net incomes ( p. 411 ) . The instance survey exposes misdemeanors of antimonopoly Torahs with the most noteworthy being Coca-Cola offering discounts and vouchers to cut down shelf infinite available to the competition ( p. 410 ) . Finally. th e instance survey uncovers several incidents of unethical employment patterns including unequal wage and racial favoritism.

UnitsDimentions Measures and calabration Essays - Systems Of Units

UnitsDimentions Measures and calabration Essays - Systems Of Units Units,Dimentions, Measures and calabration. CHEMTUTOR Measurement is the most useful form of description in science. Often the most useful measurements are those that have a number and a unit, such as 12.7 inches.' Here '12.7' is the number and 'inches' is the unit. This unit of inches in the example is one of the common units in the dimension of length. A number, then, is an expression in numerals. A unit is a recognized way to divide the essence of a dimension for measurement, and a dimension is a measurable physical idea. Here is a bit of advice you can overlook only at your peril: To become fluent in the subject you should memorize the basic background of information. The following units, dimensions, and measures are so basic to the study of Chemistry that you could always help yourself by memorizing these. The real test of whether you know this well enough is to recognize the dimensions of any measurement and know its symbol and magnitude from the unit alone. DIMENSIONS, UNITS, AND SYMBOLS Notice the symbols of the dimensions as they would be used in formulas. The basic metric symbol or the symbol of the most used metric unit is listed after the metric units. DIMENSIONSYMBOLMETRIC UNITSSYMBOLENGLISH UNITS LENGTHS, l, d, rmeter (+m.p.)mFt, in,Yd, mi, etc. AREAAsq.meter, etc,hectarem2sq.Ft, etc., acre VOLUMEVcu.meter, etc., literm3, Lcu.Ft,cu.in,etc.,gal,Floz. TIMEtsec (+m.p.) sec,min,hr,day,yr,etc.(both metric & English) MASSmKilogram (+ m.p.), AMUkg(slug, rarely used) FORCE (weight)F, FwNewton (+ m.p.)NPound (#), Oz, etc. VELOCITYvmeter/sec,KPH,etcm/secFt/sec, MPH, etc. ACCELERATIONameter/sec.sq., etc.m/sec2.Ft/sec sq., etc. PRESSUREPN/sq.m, atm.,Paatm,Pa*#/sq.in (PSI), inHg, etc. DENSITYDg/cc, Kg/liter, etc.g/cc#/cu.Ft, #/gal, etc. TEMPERATURETCelsius or KelvinCFahrenheit or Rankine ENERGYEJoule (+ m.p.)Jfoot-pound HEATQcalorie (+ m.p.)calBTU (British Thermal Unit) CONCENTRATIONC**gram/L, mol/L, MolarM(#/gal or #/cu.ft, rare) Abbreviations: Ft = foot, in = inch, AMU = atomic mass unit, KPH = kilometers per hour, MPH = miles per hour, gal = gallon, PSI = pounds per square inch, cc = cubic centimeter, inHg = inches of mercury, Pa = Pascal m.p. = metric prefixes, cu. = cubic, sq. = square, atm = atmosphere. *The unit Pa, for Pascal, is a unit of pressure that is the standard unit for the SI system, the MKS system in the metric measurements. The unit of Pascal, however, is rarely used in chemistry. Instead, the unit "atm," for "atmosphere," is still most used in chemistry. **The symbol "B" is now the official symbol for concentration in the SI, but there are still chemistry texts using the "C" as is shown here." The table above lists almost all the dimensions you will need in this course, the symbol for each dimension as it will be used in common formulas, and the units of each dimension. Notice Chemtutor has two systems of measurement displayed that you should know. There are really two commonly used metric subsystems. Most chemistry texts will use the MKS system (meter, kilogram, second) rather than the less-used CGS (centimeter, gram, second) system. A system is defined by its basic measure of distance, mass, and time.We will use the MKS system, also called the S.I., or International System. The symbol for only the basic unit of each dimension in the metric system is on the list. METRIC SYSTEM vs. "ENGLISH SYSTEM" The metric system typically uses only one root word for any basic dimension such as for length, the meter. All the metric units of length use the root word 'meter' with the metric prefixes in the next table. Our common system in the United States is not really a system, but is a thrown-together mess of measurements with no overriding order. Chemtutor, as does most of the United States, calls this group of measurements the English system. While calling it that is a considerable slander on the English people, the United States and Liberia are the only nations on earth to still cling to it. Chemtutor thinks that the English system makes a fine learning tool, along with being wonderfully poetic. You will want to know how to relate the English System to the metric system. Particularly notice the large number of units of length in the English system. This is only a small number of the common ones. We regularly use fathoms to measure depth in water and furlongs to measure distance in horse racing. There are many little-used English length units such as the barleycorn (one third of an inch) that may

REPORT ON HIGHER EDUCATION IN QATAR4 (Part in green) Research Paper

REPORT ON HIGHER EDUCATION IN QATAR4 (Part in green) - Research Paper Example tion which comprise of schools, second is known as secondary education level which includes all colleges in country and top level is higher education that is known as tertiary education in which universities are placed. The Council was founded by Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani along with his wife, SheikhaMozahbintNaseer Al-Missnad. All education related matters are handled by this Council and has even directing and controlling power to make decision from primary level to higher education level. It recently initiated Education for a New Era Reform with the aim of restructuring education system of the country (Supreme Education Council, 2012). However, education controlling power is shared in between Supreme Education Council and Ministry of Education; since funding to the Ministry is reduced to a greater extent, majority of schools, colleges and universities are under the control of the Council. The main aim of this Council is to offer its assistance to citizens so that they are encouraged and motivated to acquire higher education. Similarly, private institutions and foreign universities are being attracted to increase education level and offer varying degrees of programs to students that are compatible with job demands in the market (Coughlan, 2012). It has been given complete responsibility for designing of educational polices and also oversee its reforms; the Evaluation Institute has power of undertaking student assessment on periodical basis to provide details about performance of schools and the Education Institute assists in development of Independent Schools that are new and design curriculum standards that enhance education quality. In order to have access to information about the Council, the most effective way is to either call on their telephone lines, post a letter on P.  O Box 35111, Doha, Qatar, Communication Office, Phone:   Hot line 155 - 44044564 - 44044567- 44044371 - 4044370, fax on their number 44044571 - 44044572  or email to concerned

Architects And Styles In The Late 1900s In USA Thesis

Architects And Styles In The Late 1900s In USA - Thesis Example The architecture styles before the 1900s were New Romanesque, Victorian and Gothic with huge thick walls, tall columns and ornate carvings. One of the famous architects in the late 1900s was Henry Hobson Richardson who had studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. The École des Beaux- style is evident in the New Romanesque style he developed.   He created a number of buildings in the USA from 1880 to 1900. The style he developed was also called as Neo Romanesque and it was a revival of the ancient Roman and Spanish styles but mixed with some modern elements. Some of the structures that belonged to this genre include Trinity Church in Boston; Buffalo State Asylum in New York and other structures. Some other architects that practiced the Neo Romanesque style included Cleveland Cady who built the   American Museum of Natural History building. Other structures that came up included the Williams Free Library in Wisconsin designed by Walter Holbrook, Fogg Memorial Building at Maine designed by George A. Clough; Durand Art Institute in Illinois by Henry Ives Cobb and many others. Cement concrete had not been invented in the 1890s and the main material used was stone and mortar. The style was called Neo Romanesque since these structures used the heavy and short column with extensive brick work and ornamented by ornate arches. The style puts the focus on clear arches that have a strong picturesque massing with a typical round-headed "Romanesque" arches. The arches emerged from groups of short squat columns.