Black Thursday :: essays research papers

The book ‘Hard Times’ takes you back to the early 20th century. This book also talks about one of the hardest times in American history. Hard Times talks about the causes of the great depression. This book gives original testimonies of people who lived during these hard times. Studs Terkel, prize-winning author and radio broadcast personality was born Louis Terkel in New York on May 16, 1912. Terkel attended University of Chicago and received a law degree in 1934. He chose not to pursue a career in law. Terkel credits his knowledge of the world to the tenants who gathered in the lobby of the hotel and the people who congregated in nearby Bughouse Square, a meeting place for workers, labor organizers, dissidents, the unemployed, and religious fanatics of many persuasions. In the roaring 1920s, the United States bathed in previously unheard of prosperity. Industry and agriculture alike profited from the thriving economy. Average income grew steadily throughout the decade and production soared. Levels of investment grew to new heights. However, the economy began to slow down in 1928, and the trend continued in 1929. Agricultural prices slipped, a result of production surpluses and a downturn in business activity. Despite this and other warning signs, patterns of investment continued much as they had in the mid-20s, giving little recognition to the economic slowdown. The stage was set for a major market correction. On October 24, 1929, dubbed Black Thursday, the stock market crashed. Investing froze. As a result, the national economy fell into an unprecedented period of depression. National income slipped lower each year from 1929 to 1932, and did not return to pre-depression levels until World War II. Unemployment became arguably the foremost problem of the depression. Hard Times talks such a major part of American History and was reviewed by many. Stud Terkel did such an excellent job when describing the depression and his accounts were so accurate according to the New Times, which states â€Å"In Hard Times, Studs Terkel captures the Depression in all its vast complexity, assembling a mosaic of memories as told by those who faced destitution as well as those who stayed rich†. The Saturday Review says, â€Å"It vividly illustrates the Depression's effect on those who lived through it, and shows how bitter memories can transform into a surprising nostalgia. The book ultimately serves as "a huge anthem in praise of the American spirit".

Case Solution Electro Logic Essay

Ram Singam -Electro Logic writeup1. Motivational Strengths and Weaknesses of Electro Logic Strengths: Electro Logic (EL) employees are part of a highly dynamic industry and they are given the opportunity to make a difference in IT through great perfection of the VFVA system. Salaries and wage raises are offered based on performance, stimulating as such EL staff members will increase their efforts in supporting the organization reach its overall goals. On-campus-job training programs are motivating as the employees are able to learn from their colleagues in a familiar environment, maximizing the chances of future successes. The company is continually evolving, engaging as such its employees in a complex dynamic process, which maintains their motivation and reduces routine work EL creates opportunities for social interactions, which increase morale and employee collaboration. Weaknesses In Electro Logic the fact that major funding comes primarily from the government, the budget for this company was not fixed for a long term, employee benefits, Health insurance premiums can change any time, no job security for employees; thus employees levels of motivation, and consequently performance and Outcomes are negatively affected. The selection criteria for the newly appointed responsibilities were rather arbitrary and this could generate dissatisfaction. Advancement opportunities are unclear to employees as such fail to properly motivate the EL employees. The internal structure of EL organization is based on vertical hierarchy, with employees being given limited access to distinguish them. The more flat the organization the better the motivation and performance. Reinforcement is missing. The three locations of the Electro Logic separate buildings reduce the employee’s ability to concentrate and integrate as a team and also reduce their morale on High-Priority Actions. The micro management in some areas should be reduced in the main building. The Administrative department should be treated fairly as it is also part of the company. The appreciation and integrated team work is missing at the Electro Logic. This reduces the outcomes. Employee’s personal needs are not recognized by the managers thus reducing the satisfaction.

Fordism - 1526 Words

Fordism, it refers to the mass production of standardized goods using assembly line technology, involving few skills and repetitive work by employees. ‘Each company was composed of many different specialized departments, each producing components and parts that were eventually channeled towards the moving line for final assembly.’(Cohen amp; Kennedy 2007: 95 ) For instance, in 1900, there were 18 million horses, but only 8,000 cars in America. For local people, car just was a bulky and expensive â€Å"stupid bug†, after Henry Ford brought Fordism in manufacturing, the cars of Ford’s company had become a culture and can be seen at everywhere, such as movies and songs. This essay will describe the main characteristics and history of Fordism,†¦show more content†¦By 1929, over 15 million standard Model-T cars had been produced on assembly lines using mainly unskilled labour. Furthermore, Taylorism and Fordism are used synonymously, however, Fordism ca n be seen as an extension of Taylorism , they are related to each other, with Taylorism making up the central core within the much broader framework of Fordism . Although Fordism was successful, it had declined eventually. The regulation theory and the flexible specialization theory can be two main theories about the decline of Fordism, because it is the most influential and connect to industrial capitalism, alienation and skill. For regulation theory, Fordism is inherently alienating and inevitably involves deskilling, although workers could get higher wages, it discontented workers, this was reflected in increasing in accidents, absenteeism, defective products, and conflict at work. All of the negative features increased the scale of labour dissatisfaction and lead to declining productivity and higher costs of production, therefore, the profits decreased. So that, the demise of Fordism was due to a crisis labour process, end up by not being efficient. For flexible specialization theory, Fordism is too inflexible to respond to variable demand. For example, the mass market have been saturated, some consumers are likely to change preference in products which are more individualized and higher-quality. It is claimed that FordismShow MoreRelatedDifferences of Fordism and Post-Fordism1494 Words   |  6 PagesDiscuss Differences Between Fordism and Post-Fordism Work In 1913, Henry Ford had an assembly line built in his Detroit plant where T-Ford cars were manufactured. This marked the beginning of a new era in production called Fordism. It was a pattern of industrial organisation and employment policy that occurred in the early twentieth century. Its high point was the period after the Second World War. 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Named after American industrialist Henry Ford, Fordism is essentially a modern socio-economic system designed on the bases of industrial mass production in the 20th century. There are many aspects of Fordism in terms of its social and economic organisation, such as the relation to production line techniques, the nature and pattern of consumption, and overall state regulation. 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