Streams of living water

Streams of living water Gods various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate in Gods Spirit. Gods various ministries are carried out everywhere; but they all originate in Gods Spirit. Gods various expressions of power are in action everywhere; but God himself is behind it all. Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people! The variety is wonderful: . . . .All these gifts have a common origin, but are handed out one by one by the one Spirit of God. He decides who gets what, and when. 1Cor 12:1-11 The world is fractured, splintered, separated by race, gender, social class, wealth and lack of wealth. The body of Christ is likewise fractured, splintered and separated by denominationalism, polity, and tradition. God, however, is a God of unity through diversity and God desires that each persons unique gifting be brought to the table and used for His Glory and the common good of the body. Contemplating this concept the childrens story Stone Soup comes to mind. The legend says that during a time of great famine people hoarded their food and would not share. One day a stranger came to the village and was turned away because no one desired to share their food. He assured them that he had all that he needed and indicated that he was going to make stone soup. He pulled out a pot added water, brought it to a boil and dropped in a huge stone. The people of the village began to gather. The Stranger said some cabbage with stone soup would be hard to beat. Soon a man appeared with a cabbage. Then the stranger said, I remember once having stone soup with cabbage a little salt beef. Then another villager appeared with the beef. And so on the stranger went with potatoes, onion, carrots, until indeed he had made a wonderful delicious stone soup. In many ways the Body of Christ is like the village folk, having gifts or food, hoarding it and not sharing, isolated, alone, and hungry; desiring more. The body of Christ, just like the villagers is driven by selfishness and self preservation, but, it is so limiting, restraining, restrictive, and yes, even divisive. God desires so much more for the Body of Christ. He desires that the body share communally, our gifts, our food, our faith and even our traditions. As the body shares it becomes the better for it. God desires that the body partake of and participate in Streams of Living Water. Richard Fosters does a consummate job of examining what he determined is the six major traditions of spirituality in Christianity: contemplative (prayer-filled life), holiness (virtuous life), charismatic (Spirit-empowered life), social justice (the compassionate life), evangelical (Word-centered life), and incarnational (sacramental life). Each tradition like tributaries that flows to the great Mississippi River represents a stream that should flow into and feed the Body of Christ. The Contemplative Tradition The first stream is the contemplative tradition which highlights the prayer-filled life, yearning for a richer, fuller practice of the presence of God(25). This tradition focuses on ones prayer life drawing one away in solitude. This time of solitude is a time that should precedes public ministry. Before Jesus began his public ministry, before he called the twelve, before he did any miracles he spent time in solitude. Exemplars include; Antony of Egypt, John the apostle, and Frank Laubach. Perhaps, the best summary of the contemplative life is the steady gaze of the soul upon the God of love (49). As one gazes upon God, one becomes beautiful of soul (48). Beautiful of soul is one of the best descriptors of the contemplative tradition. The process to become beautiful of soul is through fire and love which produces these fundamental characteristics or movement; love for God, peace, delight, emptiness, flaming passion, wisdom and transformation. Becoming beautiful of soul produces four strengths in ones Christian walk. The first strength is drawing one back to their first love, it continually calls one back to the beginning. Secondly it demands more than a cerebral ascent, intellectualism will not suffice, and it demands surrender of ones soul. Next it stresses the centrality of prayer with silence it brings the understanding that pray is both essential and primary. Finally, it produces solitariness a consistent ceaseless turning to God and finally aloneness with God. The Holiness Tradition The contemplative life forms the foundation for one to walk in the holiness tradition. This tradition stresses the virtuous life and focuses upon the inward re-formation of the heart and the development of holy habits . . . . the erosion of moral fiber in contemporary society (61). At the core of the holiness tradition is being response-able, able to respond appropriately to the demands of life (82). Holiness is sustained attention to the heart (83). This attention to the heart forms and transforms the personality. It also affirms the sacredness in everything, goodness in the human body. Additionally, holiness is progress in purity. . . .loving unity with God (84). Phenomenons of the Holiness tradition are Phoebe Palmer, James the brother of Jesus, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Bonhoeffer as a modern-day example of this tradition gave the body of Christ Stations on the Road to Freedom (72). This poem provides four components of the spiritual life that will give one great freedom. Those components are discipline, action, suffering and death speak indicative of the Holiness Tradition. The Holiness Tradition is about a life that functions as it should. The major strength of this tradition is its emphases: personal transformation, purity of heart, character formation, and growth in grace. These emphases assist in the process of establishing holy habits. The Charismatic Tradition The Holiness Tradition and its holy habits helps the Charismatic Tradition to operate at its best when the two are in tandem. The charismatic tradition promotes the Spirit-empowered life, it focuses upon the empowering charisms or gifts of the Spirit and the nurturing fruit of the Spirit(99). The crux of the charismatic tradition is the fact that, a believer life is not lived under their own strength, but are empowered by the Holy Spirit. Its key representatives are Francis of Assisi, the apostle Paul, and William Seymour. Seymour as a contemporary representative is an insignia of this Tradition. Seymour embodied living his life under the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Seymour. . . .harnessed the power released in glossolalic worship to break racial, gender, and nationalistic barriers and offer the world a historic opportunity for genuine healing and reconciliation (113). According to Richard Foster, there are no noncharismatic Christian (125). There are four major strengths of the tradition. The first deals with and corrects the believers propensity to domesticate God (129). Secondly, it cuts to the chase weak, ineffective, powerless practices. Third it challenges the body to grow spiritually. Finally, it gives one a gifted, empowered life to witness for the Lord. The charismatic tradition is about a life immersed in, empowered by, and under the direction of the Spirit of God. Its important because through it we are empowered by God to do his work and to evidence his life upon this earth. The Social Justice Tradition As The Charismatic Traditions empowers the believer to do Gods work, The social Justice Tradition stresses the compassionate life that focuses upon justice and shalom in all human relationship and social structures and addresses the gospel imperative for equality and magnanimity among all peoples (137). The Social Justice Traditions embodies Matthew 22:37-40, the love of God and neighbor. This tradition removes barriers, of ethnicity, culture, and class. The Social Justice Tradition is where The Holiness Tradition is brought to bear. Foster chooses John Woolman, the prophet Amos, and Dorothy Day as examples of the Social Justice Movement. John Woolman, a Quaker, was instrumental in the abolition of slavery. Woolmans quest for social justice began early risking, personal wealth, comfort, and friendship. The effect of his message was lived out in his life and mirrored by his denomination. One of the most notable acts of social justice is personified by the North Carolina Friends Yearly Meeting became slave holders so that their members could disentangle themselves from the practice by donating the slaves to the Yearly Meeting. They used a loophole in the law of North Carolina to virtually free slaves who could not actually be free because of the numerous laws to protect the institution of slavery in the state. As an institution the Quakers freed itself from the horrors of slavery and supersede others by instituting reparation to its former slaves. As seen in the life of Woolman the struggle for social justice encroaches upon three areas; personal, social and institutional. The essence of this tradition is embodied in mishpat, hesed, and shalom (167). Justice, compassion, and peace, embody a sense of totality of the human existence. Justice, compassion, and peace are the framework that provides six strengths of the Social Justice traditions. Those strengths are right ordering of society, enhances ecclesiology, bridges personal and social ethics, makes Christian love relevant, provides a basis for ecological concerns, and holds before us the relevance of the impossible ideal (178) The Evangelical Tradition The Social Justice Tradition that allows one to manifest the love of God to hurting humanity presents that one with a unique opportunity to proclaim the word of God. Which segues into the Evangelical Tradition, which focuses on the word-centered life the proclamation of the evangel, the good news of the gospel and addressing the crying need for people to see the good news lived and hear the good news proclaimed (188). The primary thrusts of this tradition are: faithful proclamation of the Gospel, centrality of scripture, and confessional witness (219). The four major strengths of this movement is the call to conversion, discipleship of nations, commitment to biblical authority, and sound doctrine. Foster illustrators are Augustine of Hippo, the apostle Peter, and Billy Graham. Billy Graham is the consummate icon of the Evangelical tradition. Graham was the international organizer of Youth for Christ before emerging as a world evangelist. He preached over three hundred crusades. Graham brought integrity to the ministry of the itinerant evangelist via The Modesto Manifesto (212). Graham advocated cooperating ecumenically which is termed cooperative evangelism (213). Notably, Graham labored for the reconciliation of the races. Equally notable was his use of every form of media for the proclamation of the Gospel. According to Foster, Grahams greatest contribution to The Evangelical Tradition was the training of itinerant evangelist. The Incarnational Tradition The last tradition, the incarnational, stresses the sacramental life and focuses on making present and visible the realm of the invisible spirit, addressing the crying need to experience God as truly manifest and notoriously active in daily life (238) The Incarnational Tradition is practiced by invoking the manifest presence of God into the circumstances, establishing a sacredness of work, and a focus on family life. Its examples are Susanna Wesley, Jesus, Bezalel, and Dag Hammarskjold. Foster selected Susanna Wesley as the historical example because of her immersion in the details of daily life: finding God in the details and serving God through these same details (237). Susanna Wesley exemplified the Incarnational Tradition as mother and educator to nineteen children, most notably John and Charles Wesley. She demonstrated the tradition in the midst of the calamities of life in relationship to her husband, embarrassment of her daughter pregnancy, lost of home via fire, and lack because of her husbands lack financial management. Susanna Wesley in every way exemplifies the Incarnational Tradition. The Incarnational Tradition wrestles with the tension between spiritual and material. The tradition shows the complementary position of the spiritual to the material. There are seven strengths of this tradition. The first, the tradition shows that God is concerned and with the believer in the mundane of earthly living. Secondly, the incarnational tradition delivers the reader from a spirituality that would allow or cause one to divorce from the conundrum of daily living. Third, being incarnational makes daily work meaningful. Fourth, the tradition corrects the Gnostic belief that spiritual thing are wholly good and material things are wholly bad (266). Fifth, the sacramental life draws us God ward. Sixth, the believers becomes a portable sanctuary (267). Finally, the practice of the tradition deepens our stewardship of the earth. THE CONCLUSION The body of Christ is and should be the antithesis of the world. The world is splintered, separated, and divisive. However the body of Christ is called to unity, wholeness. Presently each of the great traditions operates independently, separately, and individually, as though their traditions operate in the totality of Christ. Foster introduces Streams of Living Water by saying the mighty flow of the Spirit is how sovereignly God is bringing together streams of life that have been isolated from one another for a very long time(xv). Foster suggests that each of the streams is the response to or a correction of a teaching or experience that has been neglected. Thus we have the various streams. Paul tells the Church at Ephesus that each individual is not an island unto himself, but that in community they would grow to maturity. Ephesians 4: 26 expresses this concept superbly: For because of Him the whole body (the church, in all its various parts), closely joined and firmly knit together by the joints and ligaments with which it is supplied, when each part [with power adapted to its need] is working properly [in all its functions], grows to full maturity, building itself up in love.(Amp) Just as Paul told the Church at Ephesus they were not islands unto themselves. Foster tells the body of Christ that the Traditions are not islands unto themselves. Foster introduces Streams of Living Water by saying the mighty flow of the Spirit is how sovereignly God is bringing together streams of life that have been isolated from one another for a very long time(xv). Foster suggests that each of the streams is the response to or a correction of a teaching or experience that has been neglected. Thus we have the various streams. However, just as the lakes turn in to tributaries, that run into rivers, that eventually run into the sea. So does the Tradition trace it way back to the three major branches of Christianity; Protestantism, Roman Catholicism, and Eastern Orthodoxy. The three major branches of Christianity finds its way back through Papal Ascendency, Ecumenical Councils, and the Birth of the Church to its fountain head, Jesus Christ. Each of the traditions is a stream that finds its life and meaning in Jesus Christ. However like the villagers in the childrens story Stone Soup each traditions live isolated, insolated, and anemic lives, because it refuses to flow in the fellowship of the spirit and allow each joint to supply. Each stream represents an aspect of the nature of Christ and the call of his body to be in the world while not of it. Every stream is traceable to its source, Jesus Christ the Righteous. Each stream has a contribution that is needed to make the satisfying, edifying Stone Soup of the Body Christ.

Warfare in Polygamy Essay -- Marriage Spouse

Warfare in Polygamy Introduction Marriage is a universal trait of human kinship and social organization. It probably developed very early in the course of human social history. In human society, several cultures have used marriage to carry out some widespread functions. Some people are married because of love or romance. Yet, others are married for economic security, economic contribution, heritage, or political reason. However, in spite of these general features, different cultures have developed different pattern of regulations and customs that determine prohibitions and preferences for marriage partners. These regulations and customs are also helped to shape expectations between spouses and in-laws Monogamy is the major form of marriage and is closely associated with most societies of Europe and Asia, while polygyny is found in traditional societies such as Africa. According to "The History of Human Marriage," monogamy, always the predominant form of marriage, has been more prevalent at the lowest stages of civilization than at somewhat higher stages; whilst, at a still higher stage, polygyny has again, to a great extent, yielded to monogamy" (Westermarck, 505). Yet, some polygyny can be found in more advanced societies such as Eurasia. Other regions that are associated with polygyny include Circum-Mediterranean, Insular Pacific, North America, and South America. However, the percentage of occurrence is very different in each society. Because polygyny in different society serves a different purpose, the causation for participation in collective fighting in polygyny of different society will be different. For instance, in Africa, plural marriage is far more general. According "the Factors of Polygamy in African... ...ly support that the causation for women to participate in collective fighting will differentiate across societies and countries. Reference DorJahn, V. "The Factors of Polygamy in African Demography." Continuity and Change in African Cultures.In Herskovits, M., and Bascom, W. (eds.), Chicago: 1959, p. 125-158. Goody, Jack. "Polygyny, Economy and the Role of Women." The Character Of Kinship.Cambridge University Press, London: 1973, p.175-189. Spencer, Paul. "Polygyny as a Measure of Social Differentiation in Africa." ASA Essay in Social Anthropology.Institute For the Study of Human Issues Publisher, Philadelphia: v.3, 1980, p.117-160. Westermarck, E. the History of Human Marriage.London, 1893. White, Douglas R. "Rethinking Polygyny" Current Anthropology.The Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research, The U.S., V 29, No 4, 1988, p. 529-571.

Abstract on Marketing Intelligence System for a Media Company

Marketing Intelligence Database Management at Manipal Media Network Limited A project by * Abhishek Gupta * Aishwarya Shetty * Nikhil Modi * Nikita Patel * Pritish Prabhu * Rahul Dara * Reshma R * Rishi Gupta * Sudip Ray * Vaibhav Goswami OVERVIEW OF MMNL Manipal Media Network Limited is a subsidiary of Manipal Group which specializes in printing and publications. Udayavani, the flagship publication of the MMNL is a leading daily Kannada newspaper. Its subscriptions reach most cities of Karnataka including Mangalore, Bangalore and Gulbarga.Its first issue was in 1971 and it continues to grow daily reaching more than 300,000 houses. BUSINESS STRATEGY MMNL has always tried to maintain the values of its shareholders and customers against its competition. MMNL strives to be a Multi-media Corporation, making its presence felt across several platforms including print, e-papers among others delivering local news and entertainment solutions. IT STRATEGY The strategy of the IT team of MMNL is consistently aligned with the overall strategy of the company.This is done by the higher management who believe that IT plays an integral part in proving a competitive advantage. The IT team has provided MMNL with various solutions ahead of its time such as iTunes’ first Kannada Application, the first Kannada News Android App and has entered into partnerships with media leaders such as Yahoo and Newshunt. The IT team has also ensured that MMNL is a leader in delivering news on online platforms such as Android, IOS and Web. Along with this, it has developed internal MIS systems and also worked hand in hand with companies like 4CPlus for successful ERP implementations in numerous areas.By implementing Market Intelligence Database System which will help us in storing the data in a structured format and providing management with quality information which will give them a better insight for efficient decision making. Strategic Alignment Model * Alignment of business and IT strate gy: * The overall business strategy of MMNL is to be a multi media corporation with presence across platforms delivering hyper local news and entertainment solutions. The IT team works in alignment with this overall strategy and strives to provide cutting edge technology solutions that are ahead in time, however keeping the cost aspect in perspective. Some of the results of their effort is – ITunes first Kannada App, First Kannada News App on Android, Partnership with global leaders like Yahoo and Newshunt. Since many readers today have access to internet and spend a lot of time on it, the industry feels that there might be a shift from traditional newspaper to online platforms. * However, this should take a decade's time or so. MMNL being a leader in coastal in Karnataka sees this as an opportunity to be leader on online platforms as well like Android, IOS, Web. Alignment of business and IT capabilities: * In order to align the business capabilities with IT capabilities, we have provided a suggestion to use IT capabilities in order to improve business processes and using IT tools to promote customer loyalty. The marketing intelligence system proposed by us is a step towards accomplishing this objective. * Alignment of business strategy and business capabilities: * In order to align the business strategy with business capabilities, social architecture tools can be formulated.The existing resources and capabilities should be fully utilized in order to implement the business strategy. * Training and motivating the workforce and incentivizing the workforce on successful completion of strategic objectives and goals are the means towards achieving it. * Alignment of IT strategy and IT capabilities: * When it comes to internal strategy, the IT team has developed internal MIS system and also engaged with an external agency for ERP implementation which has been done successfully in many areas.This proves that the current IT capabilities are quite robust and can be further utilized to drive business growth. * Alignment of IT strategy and capabilities can be achieved by having a cross-functional team of managers with expertise is IT knowledge and business knowledge so as to leverage the full potential of its IT capabilities. COMPETITION The major competitors to Udayavani are Prajavani, Vijay Karnataka, Kannada Prabha, Sanjevani among others. This leads to major emphasis being placed on gathering and use of market intelligence as the competition is cut throat.MARKET INTELLIGENCE Marketing Intelligence includes everyday information relevant to a company, collate and analyze the obtained information for subsequent decision making in determining market opportunities, risks and strategies. The system is to be designed for usage by the management of the company and can be viewed by all the employees of the company. This specifically enables the management to see current key performance factors in real time and analyze trends, rather than wait for analysts to deliver periodic reports.Market Intelligence is a subset of Business Intelligence which is a set of methodologies, processes, architectures, and technologies that transform raw data into meaningful and useful information. INFORMATION GATHERING Market related data reaches the company through various sources. The lower level of the organisation consists of executives and trainees who visit distributors on a daily basis. The sources of information could be by a company employees or special agents and the mode of information is mainly through phone calls, SMS, email or through other market sources.The bulk of the information is however gathered by these lower level executives from the distributors and hawkers usually during the early hours of the morning. The information consists of competitors strategies with respect to: * Advertising space, * Insertions of pamphlets, * Change of content in existing publications (page design) * Emergence of new newspapers (VRL publication) * Distributors margins * Expansion by competitors in new territories * Subscription rateManipal Institute of Communication conducts yearly market research on behalf of MMNL which gives them insight into the new trends and expectations from customers and distributors. STORAGE OF DATA MMNL presently maintains individual excel sheets for each of its competitors. The assistant managers are tasked with collating and compiling the data given to them by the executives. This data is maintained according to: * Date and division * Edition * Geographic area and edition * Source of information and context * Findings * Employee entering data and * Employee validating the dataThe data is validated through multiple sources in different regions and also through cross verification. Example: Data collected in Mangalore will be cross checked with similar repeating data from Udupi and Manipal. Due to such disparate sources, data comes in various formats, due to which collation of data is very difficul t. Also, it is difficult to comprehend this data and bringing it into a common platform may distort it. Since information is not properly structured, it may get distorted while sharing between various departments and its interpretation could be different by different people.PROBLEM The problem faced by MMNL is on three levels. 1. Lack of structure- Data reaching the company is unstructured and in fragmented form. It makes the data difficult to comprehend. Since data is of strategic importance, it could have high impact on company’s future strategy or decision. 2. Transfer of data – The data leakage during the transfer of data is the biggest problem faced by MMNL. The executives at the lower level who pass the data to the managerial level use their discretion and pass the data what they feel is important instead of all the data gathered.This leads to loss of data which may turn out to be important. 3. Accessibility – MMNL has data of the past 8-9 years which is s tored using excel sheets. A separate excel sheet is maintained for every company. Whenever the company has to check some data it has to go through all the files which is a cumbersome process. 4. Acceptance – When a new system is implemented people may not be ready to accept it. They may be anxious about what the change may lead to. RECOMMENDATIONS Few options that are present to address the issue of data leakage faced by MMNL are: 1.Toll-free number – The company can acquire a toll free number on which the executives will call and/or SMS the data which will be recorded through an automated system. If this is implemented the executives will not have to take extra efforts to pass on the data to their managers which in turn it will minimize any data leakage. The costs associated are: * BSNL – Cost is Rs. 1. 60/minute. * Initial Cost: Rs. 13000 (Rs. 10000 refundable) * Fixed monthly cost: Rs. 1000 * Tata – Cost is Rs. 2. 39/minute * Initial Cost: Rs. 30000 (R s. 25000 refundable) Fixed monthly cost: Rs. 3000 * Reliance – Cost is Rs. 2. 20/minute * Initial Cost: Rs 13000 (Rs. 10000 refundable) * Fixed monthly cost: Depends on usage 2. Incentives – Keeping the existing system of personally reporting the data to managers in place, incentives can be provided periodically based on quantity and quality of data. This will ensure that executives are encouraged to pass on every piece of available information. If the toll-free system is implemented by MMNL then it can provide incentives to executives who report the data.The problem of unreliable data will not arise as the data will be validated from sources in different regions. 3. Training and development – MMNL can perform training and development programs which are imperative to mould the staff in accordance with the company’s strategy. A company’s sales force is very crucial for the intelligence gathering activity as they can provide excellent data about the current trends in the market. They are also a very credible source for acquiring confidential data about competitors, consumers, suppliers etc.For sales force outside Manipal and Udupi, a trainer can be made to tour different parts of the country. 4. Network Externally – In order to keep a tab on its competitors, measures should be taken to track how competitors are performing. For this, purchasing the competitor's products, checking their advertising campaigns, the press media coverage, reading their published reports, etc can be done. This process is called Competitive intelligence which is the broader discipline of researching, analyzing and formulating data and information from the entire competitive environment of any organization. . Collect Competitive Intelligence through customer feedback – Customer feedback is an important aspect for any company as it is the customer who purchases the product. Online platforms like chat rooms, blogs, discussion forums, custome r review boards etc can be used to generate customer feedback. This enables the company to understand its customer’s view about the product. For this, a structured system can be applied by the company to obtain the relevant data. Manipal Institute of Communications does yearly surveys to find out changing customer perceptions regarding MMNL. . For the issue of accessibility MMNL can implement a database. * The centralised database will be in the following format: * The basic cost for a database system is around Rs. 1. 5 lakhs but depending on the different features needed by MMNL the cost can vary. * The database form can be opened at any time by the employees. A static link will be provided. * Our centralized database system will be decided into 2 main categories: * Internal Data * External Data * Internal Data * The employees can enter the intelligence acquired on internal matters in this section. The data entered here will be like delivery problems, supply chain problems e tc. * There will be a form asking them what are the issues and the department it relates to. * External Data * This section will again be divided into 2 parts: * Competitor data * Advertising Data * Competitor Data * In this form the employee will have to enter intelligence pertaining to: * Name of the company * News Acquired * Source of News * Advertising Data * In this form the employee will have to enter intelligence pertaining to: * Name of the company * News Acquired Source of News * The database will also have a verification code. * Every employee will be given a unique code which he has to enter before submitting the intelligence data. * This will secure the database and will also eliminate the possibility of anyone entering data wrongly under the name of any other person. * The problem of acceptance can be addressed in the following manner: a) Involvement of employees (i) Executives: Involving them in regards to the various incentives on offer will help reduce the anxiety to change; this will also help in building loyalty. ii) Employees: The employees can be involved through inputs about the functions needed by them in the database system. b) Workshops – MMNL can conduct workshops in the initial months after the implementation of the database system and the toll free number. * Representation through GRIDS QUICK WIN SUSTAINABILITY RISK IMPLEMENTATION RISK DUMB IDEA NEW SYSTEM at MMNL SIZE OF OPPORTUNITY ABILITY TO EXECUTE (PG. NO. 34, CHAPTER 1,CORPORATE INFORMATION & STRATEGY MANAGEMENT) MMNL has a very good track record in implementation of new technological systems.Whenever the company has implemented a new technology system the implementation took place glitch free. The company has implemented Kannada news app on android and also it has tie-ups with Yahoo and Newshunt. The company is also in the process of implementing an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. The implementation of this is going smoothly. This leads us to believe that abi lity to execute a new system will be high at MMNL and thus the new system will fall in sustainability risk. But, whenever a new IT system is implemented there is always an implementation risk ecause there might be social and technological problems. Social problems which can arise are that employees may be anxious about the new system. They may be anxious about the fact whether they will be able to use that system properly or not and if not then will they be fired from their jobs. Technological problems that may arise are compatibility problems with the legacy systems and maintenance problems. Thus, we say that the new system will be in the implementation risk of the strategic grid. PROBABLE IMPACT ON STRATEGY PROBABLE IMPACT ON BUSINESS OPERATIONSCurrent position Position after implementation (pg. no. 37,chapter 1,Corporate Information & Strategy Management) The marketing intelligence gathered from various sources is currently passed around in the office informally through Word of M outh and excel sheets. This leads to the data being fragmented, lost and getting distorted. As a result of this it is not accessible to everyone and does not provide the correct point of view. Due to this lack of accessibility, management is not able to take any timely strategic decisions.This also does not help the company much in its business operations. We can say that current system of MMNL is in the SUPPORT quadrant of the McFarlan’s Grid. This is because the system does not impact the business operations as well as its strategic decisions. After the Marketing Intelligence database system is implemented, the data will be stored in one centralized location. This will help in easy accessibility of the data. The company officials can then access this data at anytime and use it to take strategic decisions.Since the data is about competitors and the market which will help in taking important strategic decisions. The implementation of the system will not lead to any change in the business operations of the company. Thus, the system, once implemented should move from the current support position to the TURNAROUND quadrant of the McFarlan’s Grid. * BENEFITS FROM DATABASE Implementation of Market Intelligence Database System at MMNL will not lead to any tangible benefits as the decisions taken by management on the market intelligence acquired cannot be known at the moment.The implementation of the system at MMNL will only lead to intangible benefits. The benefits that arise will be: 1. The data will all be present in one place which will help the management to take better decisions. 2. The company employees will save a lot of time if the data is present in one place with options of search. 3. It will give company a competitive advantage as very few media networks have such a system present at the moment. 4. The storage of data will help the company in making a wide database which can be used for analytics in the future.

About the Artful Use of Stucco

Stucco is a mortar mixture that is commonly used as an exterior siding application on houses. Historically it has been used as a sculpting medium for architectural ornamentation. Stucco can be made by mixing sand and lime with water and various other ingredients, most often cement. Like frosting on a cracked layer cake, a good layer of stucco can enrich a once-shabby exterior. The plaster-like material, however, has many decorative uses and is found throughout the world. For centuries stucco has been used not only in Middle Eastern mosques, but also as ornate Rococo ornamentation in Bavarian pilgrimage churches. The Stucco Wall Stucco is more than a thin veneer but it is not a building material—a stucco wall is not structurally made of stucco. Stucco is the finish applied to the wall. Usually, wooden walls are covered with tar paper and chicken wire or galvanized metal screening called casing bead. Interior walls may have wooden laths. This framework is then covered with layers of stucco mixture. The first layer is called a scratch coat, and then a brown coat is applied to the dried scratch coat. The tinted finish coat is the surface everyone sees. For masonry walls, including damaged brick and concrete block that a homeowner wishes to hide, preparation is easier. A bonding agent is usually brushed on, and then the stucco mixture is applied directly to the power-washed and prepared masonry surface. How to repair stucco? Historic preservationists have written extensively on the topic in Preservation Brief 22. Definitions of Stucco Stucco is often defined by both how it is made and where (and how) it is applied. Historic preservationists in Great Britain describe a common stucco as a combination of lime, sand, and hair—with the hair long, strong, and free of dirt and grease, from the horse or ox. A 1976 Time-Life home repair book describes stucco as mortar containing hydrated lime and asbestos—probably not a recommended additive today. The 1980 Penguin Dictionary of Architecture simply describes stucco as Plasterwork usually rendered very smooth or modeled as in stucco ceilings. The Dictionary of Architecture and Construction covers all bases: stucco 1. An exterior finish, usually textured; composed of portland cement, lime, and sand, which are mixed with water. 2. A fine plaster used for decorative work or moldings. 3. Simulated stucco containing other materials, such as epoxy as a binder. 4. A partially or fully calcined gypsum that has not yet been processed into a finished product. Decorative Stucco Although stucco-sided homes became popular in twentieth-century America, the concept of using stucco mixtures in architecture goes back to ancient times. Wall frescoes by ancient Greeks and Romans were painted on fine-grained hard plaster surfaces made of gypsum, marble dust, and glue. This marble dust compound could be molded into decorative shapes, polished to a sheen, or painted. Artists like Giacomo Serpotta became stucco masters, incorporating figures into the architecture, like the male nude sitting on a window cornice in the Oratory of the Rosary in Saint Lorenzo in Sicily, Italy. Stucco techniques were elaborated by the Italians during the Renaissance and the artistry spread throughout Europe. German craftsmen like Dominikus Zimmermann took stucco designs to new artistic levels with elaborate church interiors, such as The Wieskirche in Bavaria. The exterior of this pilgrimage church is truly Zimmermanns Deception. The simplicity of the walls on the outside belies the extravagant interior ornamentation. About Synthetic Stucco Many homes built after the 1950s use a variety of synthetic materials that resemble stucco. Mock stucco siding is often composed of foam insulation board or cement panels secured to the walls. Although synthetic stucco may look authentic, real stucco tends to be heavier. Walls made of genuine stucco sound solid when tapped and will be less likely to suffer damage from a hard blow. Also, genuine stucco holds up well in wet conditions. Although it is porous and will absorb moisture, genuine stucco will dry easily, without damage to the structure—especially when it is installed with weep screeds. One type of synthetic stucco, known as EIFS (Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems), has long been associated with moisture problems. The underlying wood on EIFS-sided homes tended to suffer rot damage. A simple Web search for stucco lawsuit reveals plenty of problems up and down the East coast beginning in the 1990s. Experts say stucco can be done right, or it can be done quickly, reported Floridas 10NEWS-TV. And when builders are trying to put homes up as fast - or as cheap - as possible, they often choose the latter. Other types of synthetic stucco are durable, and the AIAs magazine, Architect, reports that building codes and commercial products have changed in the past few years. Its always wise to have a professional inspection before purchasing a stucco-sided home. Examples of Use Stucco siding is most often found on Mission Revival style and Spanish and Mediterranean style homes. When traveling to southern US environs, notice that concrete block is often used for sturdy, wind-resistant, energy-efficient homes and public buildings like schools and town halls. Many times these blocks are finished with only a hearty paint, but a coating of stucco is said to increase the value (and status) of these concrete block homes. Theres even an abbreviation for the practice—CBS for concrete block and stucco. When visiting the Art Deco buildings throughout Miami Beach, Florida, note that most are stucco over block. Weve been told that developers who insist on a stucco finish on wood frame structures end up having a heap of moisture problems. But not all stucco problems are the same. A wall made of straw bale will have different needs than concrete block or timber frame construction. Consulting a stucco restoration specialist who may know nothing about straw bale construction might be a mistake. Stucco recipes are not one size fits all. Mixtures are many. Having said all that, you can buy premixed and pre-formulated stucco. Both DAP and Quikrete sell bags and buckets of the mixture at big box stores and even on Amazon.com. Other companies, such as Liquitex, supply stucco mixtures for artists. Resources and Further Reading Revisiting EIFS, the Once-Maligned Cladding System that May Help Architects Meet New Energy Codes by Elizabeth Evitts Dickinson, Architect, August 5, 2013Floridas billion-dollar stucco problem by Noah Pransky, WTSP,  10NEWS-TV, June 24, 2015The Stucco Book: The Basics by Herb Nordmeyer, 2012Exterior Stucco by Ian Constantinides and Lynne Humphries, The Building Conservation Directory, 2003 at buildingconservation.com [accessed February 12, 2016]Time-Life books, Home Repair and Improvement, 1976, Masonry, Index/Glossary, p. 127The Penguin Dictionary of Architecture, John Fleming, Hugh Honour, Midolaus Pevner, 3rd edition, 1980, p. 313Dictionary of Architecture and Construction, Cyril M. Harris, ed., McGraw- Hill, 1975, pp. 482-483