Blog Archive MBA News Harvard Business School Announces New Dean

Blog Archive MBA News Harvard Business School Announces New Dean Today, Harvard President Drew Faust announced that the school has chosen Professor Nitin Nohria as the  tenth Dean of Harvard Business School, effective July 1.   A scholar of leadership and organizational change, Professor Nohria joined HBS in 1988 and has served the school in a number of capacities:   as head of the organizational behavior unit, as senior associate dean for faculty development, and now as co-chair of the school’s leadership initiative.   Professor Nohria received his bachelor of technology degree in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, which awarded him its distinguished alumnus medal in 2007. He received his Ph.D. in management in 1988 from  MITs Sloan School of Management  where he earned the outstanding doctoral thesis award in behavioral and policy sciences. He is co-author or co-editor of 16 books, including “What Really Works: The 4+2 Formula for Sustained Business Success,” a systematic large-scale study of management p ractices that truly differentiate business winners. His most recent, Handbook of Leadership Theory and Practice, is a compendium dedicated to advancing research on leadership based on a colloquium he organized during HBS’s centennial celebrations. President Faust, in her announcement, praises Professor Nohria, saying that in his own teaching and research he exemplifies the school’s strong commitment to both academic rigor and relevance to practice, and he has a global outlook and an instinct for collaboration across traditional boundaries that promise to serve the Business School and the University well.   He is someone who not only studies leadership but embodies qualities of leadership in how he engages with people and ideas, how he thinks about organizational change, and how he sees the consequential challenges facing business schools and the business world more generally.   He is also someone with both a deep knowledge of HBS and its distinctive culture and a clear appetite for innovation and change in the service of sustaining HBS’s preeminence among business schools worldwide. Share ThisTweet Harvard University (Harvard Business School) News

The Pbs Frontline Interview, Digital Demands, By Sherry...

Two people walk down the street side by side, each looking down into his hands attentively. Both occasionally sneak glances upwards, so as not to run into anyone. They walk in silence until it is time for them to go their separate ways; they then mutter hasty goodbyes, and turn to face their pixelated companions once more. A seemingly morbid depiction, perhaps, but one that is increasingly more representative of our modern reality. In the PBS Frontline interview Digital Demands, Sherry Turkle, MIT professor and researcher, examines this new trend. Her sage advice to youth: tread carefully on the Data Highway, for its overages are far costlier than estimated. Turkle s thesis: a lack of precise deliberation in the use of technology†¦show more content†¦Erikson s theories were formulated, in part, on the back of his own adolescent experiences; growing up in fascist Germany as the child of a German father and Jewish mother, he agonized over his own cultural label in the face o f the Third Reich. At the age of 37, he voiced his self-affirmation by renaming himself Erik Homburger Erikson. Literally, he redefined himself as his son; metaphorically, he redesigned himself as the culmination of the experiences of the first four decades of his life. Torn between his own unsteady conscience and the strident, crippling strains of Nazi propaganda, Erikson struggled to identify with his own notion of himself. This same dichotomy - the notion of a struggle between the inner self that one conceives, and the self-thrust upon us by the world - is the very fight that Turkle argues is necessary for the emergence of a purposeful, mature self. Today s adolescents, she says, bombarded by the beeps, hums, and whirs of technology, have become co-dependent with the piece of metal of their choosing, unable to complete even the most basic human functions of prioritization, organization, and independent thought. Instead of enabling, technology effectively becomes a crutch -- an un witting maneuver to postpone, conceal, and disingenuously morph. The price of quick-and-easy, Turkle contends, has been a debilitating mental servitude. Creating technology is in the hands of the people, and

Understanding the Glow of Noctilucent Clouds

Each summer, people who live at high latitudes north and south of the equator are treated to a fantastically beautiful phenomenon called noctilucent clouds. These arent clouds in the normal way we understand them. The clouds were more familiar with are generally made of water droplets that have formed around particles of dust. Noctilucent clouds are generally made of ice crystals that formed around tiny dust particles in fairly cold temperatures. Unlike most clouds that float fairly close to the ground, they exist at heights up to 85 kilometers above the surface of our planet, high in the atmosphere that sustains life on Earth. They may look like thin cirrus that we can see throughout the day or night but are generally only visible when the Sun is no more than 16 degrees below the horizon. Clouds of the Night The term noctilucent means night-shining and it describes these clouds perfectly. They cant be seen during the day due to the brightness of the Sun. However, once the Sun sets, it illuminates these high-flying clouds from below. This explains why they can be seen in deep twilight. They typically have a bluish-white color and look very wispy. The History of Noctilucent Cloud Research Noctilucent clouds were first reported in 1885 and are sometimes linked with the eruption of the famous volcano, Krakatoa in 1883. However, its not clear that the eruption caused them — theres no scientific evidence to prove it one way or another. Their appearance may simply be coincidental. The idea that volcanic eruptions cause these clouds was heavily researched and eventually disproved in the 1920s. Since then, atmospheric scientists have studied noctilucent clouds using balloons, sounding rockets, and satellites. They seem to occur pretty frequently and are quite beautiful to observe. How Do Noctilucent Clouds Form? The ice particles that make up these shimmering clouds are quite small, only about 100 nm across. That many times smaller than the width of a human hair. They form when tiny particles of dust—possibly from bits of micro-meteors in the upper atmosphere—are coated with water vapor and frozen high in the atmosphere, in a region called the mesosphere. During local summer, that region of the atmosphere can be quite cold, and the crystals form at about -100 ° C. Noctilucent cloud formation seems to vary as the solar cycle does. In particular, as the Sun emits more ultraviolet radiation, it interacts with water molecules in the upper atmosphere and breaks them apart. That leaves less water to form the clouds during times of increased activity. Solar physicists and atmospheric scientists are tracking solar activity and noctilucent cloud formation to better understand the connection between the two phenomena. In particular, they are interested in learning why changes in these peculiar clouds dont show up until about a year after UV levels change. Interestingly, when NASAs space shuttles were flying, their exhaust plumes (which were nearly all water vapor) froze high in the atmosphere and created very short-lived mini noctilucent clouds. The same thing has happened with other launch vehicles since the shuttle era. However, launches are few and far between. The phenomenon of noctilucent clouds predates launches and aircraft. However, the short-lived noctilucent clouds from launch activities provide more data points about the atmospheric conditions that help them form. Noctilucent Clouds and Climate Change There may be a connection between the frequent formation of noctilucent clouds and climate change. NASA and other space agencies have been studying Earth for many decades and observing  the effects of global warming. However, the evidence is still being gathered, and the link between the clouds and warming remains a relatively controversial suggestion. Scientists are following up on all the evidence to see if there is a definite link. One possible theory is that methane (a greenhouse gas implicated in climate change) migrates to the area of the atmosphere where these clouds form. Greenhouse gases are thought to force temperature changes in the mesosphere, causing it to cool down. That cooling would contribute to the formation of ice crystals that make up the noctilucent clouds. An increase in water vapor (also due to human activities that produce greenhouse gases) would be part of the noctilucent cloud connection to climate change. Much work needs to be done to prove these connecti ons. Regardless of how these clouds form, they remain a favorite of sky watchers, particularly sunset-gazers and amateur observers. Just as some people chase eclipses or remain out late at night to see meteor showers, there are many who live in the high northern and southern latitudes and actively seek out the sight of noctilucent clouds. Theres no doubt of their magnificent beauty, but they are also an indicator of activities in our planets atmosphere.

After A Long Seven-Hour Day, Have You Ever Noticed A...

After a long seven-hour day, have you ever noticed a kindergartner who seems extremely exhausted? Their brains have been powered on all day and haven’t had the time to fully recharge. Are they sleep deprived, we wonder? Therefore, while researching many sources, a study was found which focused on four and five-year-old’s memory following a nap. According to Kurdziela, Duclosb, Spencer (2013), study results demonstrated that children had better memory recall following a nap than when they had been kept awake. Therefore, the study concluded that children functioned better when they received a nap during the day. Young children between the ages of five and six benefit emotionally, cognitively, socially, and physically after brief rest†¦show more content†¦Choice of Topic In 2012, my son attended Kindergarten; the school day started at 8:30 a.m. and school dismissed at 3:15 p.m. At pick up time, he displayed a tired look from his face and his body posture indicated that he was very tired. However, I understood why he was tired. He had attended school for seven hours and did not receive a nap or time to relax his brain. Although he did not receive a nap during the school day, he managed to get a nap before bedtime. Occasionally, the nap before bedtime caused other issues; he was not sleepy when it was time for bed. Therefore, on certain nights he did not receive more than 10 hours of sleep. The lack of sleep, my son suffered caused him to become moody throughout the day. Therefore, the mood swings lead to emotional and behavioral outbursts that lasted throughout the school day. However, I catered to his lack of sleep. At bedtime, he would say he was thirsty, so I would give him a glass of water. Five minutes later, he was back in the room with another excuse. Yet over the years, the excuse became more clever, but limitations had to be set. I searched many websites for answers on how to assist a Kindergartener who is transitioning from receiving a nap to receiving no nap at all. Research suggests I set an earlier bedtime, create a consistent wake up time and, if that did not work, my next step was

President Washington s Phenomenal Tactics And Confidence Essay Example For Students

President Washington s Phenomenal Tactics And Confidence Essay The United States would have never been established without General Washington’s phenomenal tactics and â€Å"confidence† in the Revolutionary War. According to http://www.dictionary.com/, â€Å"confidence†, â€Å"is full trust; belief in the powers, trustworthiness, or reliability of a person or thing,† and in fact, it is one of the hardest virtues people can attain (Dictionary.com). In life, we are aware of the many celebrities and successful people across multiple fields. We often ask the question why and how those people can reach the success, apart from the virtues, the qualities needed as hardworking, talented and flexible communication, or luck. To earn the same success as those people, we need to have a quality that is very important, â€Å"confidence†. Indeed, the word â€Å"confidence† helps people understand more about themselves, overcome life’s difficult situations, and easily archive their goals. Originally, â€Å"confidence† is the belief in ourselves, in our values or great qualities that exists within human beings. Moreover, self-confidence is something that cannot be taught. It is up to the individual to decide how much belief that they possess inside of themselves. Further, the more people believe in success and in the achievements that they have accomplished in the past, the more they can firmly embrace new challenges in the future. In contrast, â€Å"confidence† is opposite to some of people’s negative personalities such as cowardness, timidity, and it can lead them to be afraid to fail, or do not dare to pursue their dreams. Throughout life, â€Å"confidence† can be expressed from the smallest action as a student presenting or contributing ideas to the class lessons, or a scientist announcing his inventions, or even a writer publishing his books. . . iliar with their real-life children, more emphasis on psychological counseling adolescence, and future orientation for students. In summary, â€Å"confidence† is the key to know more about a person, to confront difficulties, and to easily success in life. So, everyone should practice it now to become a dynamic person, bravery in the society when there exists a strong belief in the thorns before life itself. â€Å"Confidence† also concerns people’s attitudes. Being calm and analyzing themselves leads people to know what their weaknesses and what is their strong points are. Psychological analysis always has an important influence on success, so â€Å"confidence† should make people being strong psychologically. The purpose of self-confidence is to maximize a person’s ability and future potential. Therefore, it has nothing to do with other people because it has to come from their own.

Is Racism the Result of Ignorance Essay Example

Is Racism the Result of Ignorance Paper The Oxford English Dictionary describes racism as the belief that all members of a racial group possess the characteristics, therefore rendering it possible to determine whether it is either inferior or superior to other races. Racism has been around since the dawn of mankind, and caused many genocides (most notably the Holocaust, however less well known was the Armenian Massacre during and after the First World War), apartheids (in South Africa and also in the USA) as well as making some people to ask the question What causes Racism and unhappiness between people of different ethnic backgrounds? Many believe the cause is in fact Ignorance and little understanding of other cultures, however, many believe it is much more complex, and there are more than one reasons. This essay shall attempt to ultimately answer the question Is Racism the Result of Ignorance? To understand what causes racism, one must know what the different types of racism are, as well as their effects. Unfortunately for the reader, there are many effects and types of racism that simply cannot be summarised completely, however we shall study the main types of racism, and what effect they have on certain if not all ethnic groups. We will write a custom essay sample on Is Racism the Result of Ignorance specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Is Racism the Result of Ignorance specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Is Racism the Result of Ignorance specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer One of the main types is Institutional or State Racism. This means that the government, the state, or perhaps even educational institutions cause racial discrimination on a large scale, with the ability to influence individuals, and cause them to act in a certain way, whether it be protesting against it, or also discriminating against others because they believe in the cause. For example, if a school only accepted white children, Asians and Latin Americans, but not Black students, this could be seen as a form of institutional racism. The effects are quite obvious in this case, the disallowed families would perhaps form a demonstration against the institution, with or in some cases without result. Another example which is much more famous is Britains monitoring of people from an Islamic background. The protests in this case would be much larger, as it would seem that the State generally believes that most Muslims are terrorists, or at least a large amount. This can be linked to the theme of Islamophobia (the belief that many, or all Muslims are in some kind of terrorist organisation. This word was coined after the 9/11 attacks on the Twin Towers in 2001. Although Muslim Extremists probably performed the attacks, the reaction was foolish. Many scholars see this as a result of ignorance, however we shall refer back to this in the conclusion). Another type of racism is racial or ethnic discrimination. This could also be on a large scale and often is, however this type tends not to be organised by a group. Rather, it is just showing prejudice against other ethnic groups, and treating them differently (not necessarily badly). The effects are a little more complex. Some may indeed also protest, however many others would simply do nothing. While in Institutional Racism, the aim of a protest is to mainly effect the view of a government and also influence individuals, anti-racial discrimination demonstrations are mainly aimed at changing the general view of the public, not as much the government. Another form of racism is Historical Economic Racism or Social Disparity. This means that some individuals are prejudiced towards other races as a consequence of historical events. For example some English believe Germans to still be Nazis, even after 65 years since the end of the Second World War. This is also linked to the idea that ignorance causes racism, and also Nationalism. This means that one group of people (in this case the English) believe they are superior to all other races. For example 69 years ago Hitler corrupted the minds of many, leading them to believe they were the Aryan race (the ultimate race). Many British dont know that the Nazis admired British because they saw them as strong, however this would do little to hinder their view on Germans. This is a brilliant example of ignorance causing racism. Many see racism as a result of ignorance, however personally, I believe it is much more complex, with more reasons. Racism has been present throughout our species history. The idea that anything different may indeed be a threat, is in our genetic code, and is present in all animals. For example, a dog protects its property from foxes, and is willing to attack them if they enter. However in modern society, this idea is known as Xenophobia. A prime example of this in popular use throughout the world (mainly the Western World) is Islamophobia. Many do act in a racist manner as a result of ignorance, however this arises a new question: What about the racists that were well educated? Another cause of racism is intolerance. Another is close-mindedness. As one can see, there are so many reasons, and so many different views that one certain definition of the cause is impossible to coin. It is truly up to the individual to make his or her own judgement.

Gun Control In America Essays - Gun Politics In The United States

Gun Control In America Essays - Gun Politics In The United States Gun Control In America Gun Control in America On March 24, 1998, firing from the woods overlooking their school, 13-year-old Andrew Golden and 11-year-old Mitchell Johnson shot and killed four middle school students and a teacher and injured ten other students in Jonesboro, Arkansas. The two boys had a semiautomatic M-1 carbine with a large ammunition magazine, two other rifles, seven handguns and more than 500 rounds of ammunition which they took from the home of one of the boys grandfather, who had a large arsenal of weapons left unsecured. Officers arrested the two boys as they ran through the wooded area near the school, and they were convicted on five counts of capital murder and ten counts of first-degree battery in September 1998. I want to inform people what I have learned about gun control in America. Firearms and their consequences are so pervasive in our society that they seem to be standard fare. Each day newspapers in major cities report injuries and deaths from guns and show photographs of their bereaved families. Movie advertisements scream titles that promise plenty of bloodshed, illustrated by guns and though characters who flaunt them. A casual flip through several television channels often reveals a succession of handguns, automatic riffles, and murders. Facts are much more sobering and dont reflect the justice weve grown accustomed to seeing on televisions and in movies. The fact is that 22,000 people die each year because of firearms. Annually 12,000 people commit suicide with handguns and another 1,000 die from unintentional fatal injuries. Every year, there are about 9,000 handgun homicides in this country. In addition, there are more than 200,000 injuries due to firearms annually (Anderson 26) . Handgun Control works to enact sensible gun control legislation in the United State but does not seek to ban guns. The Brady Bill, which was signed into law by President Clinton and took effect February 28, 1994, establishes a national five business day waiting period and requires local law enforcement to conduct background checks on handgun purchasers, but our nation's primary gun law is the 1968 Gun Control Act: MAJOR PROVISIONS: Established categories of prohibited firearms purchasers and possessors: Convicted felons, fugitives from justice, illegal drug users or addicts, minors, anyone adjudicated mentally defective or having been committed to a mental institution, anyone dishonorably discharged from the military, illegal aliens, anyone having renounced U.S. citizenship. Licenses and set standards for gun dealers: Establishes licensing fee schedule for manufacturers, importers, and dealers in firearms; sets record-keeping standards; requires licenses to be obtained from the Secretary of the Treasury; requires serial numbers on all guns. Prohibits the mail-order sales of all firearms and ammunition Prohibits the interstate sale of firearms: A handgun purchaser may only buy a gun in the state in which he/she resides; Sets age guidelines for firearms purchased through dealers: Handgun purchasers must be at least 21. Long gun purchasers must be at least 18. Prohibits the importation of non-sporting weapons: Sets penalties for carrying & using firearms in crimes of violence or drug trafficking. Prohibits importation of weapons covered in the National Firearms Act and extends NFA restrictions to machine gun frames and receivers and conversion kits (i.e., parts to make machine guns). Prohibits importation of foreign-made military surplus firearms. Prohibited the sale and manufacture of new fully automatic civilian machine guns: Prohibited the sale of parts or conversion kits - used to make semiautomatic firearms fully automatic. Classifies silencer parts and kits as weapons falling under the National Firearm Act. Over the past several years, a series of important studies have provided evidence of the efficacy of gun control; the paper by Colin Loftin etal. in the December 5, 1991 New England Journal of Medicine describes one such study. He found that there was a significant, sustained decline in gun related homicides and suicides in the District of Columbia after a law was adopted that banned the circulation, purchase, sale, transfer, and possession of handguns. There was no parallel increase in mortality from causes other than guns, suggesting that other lethal weapons were not being used as substitutes. Other data also suggest that suicide rates depend on the availability of handguns. In particular, states with relatively stringent handgun laws have lower