The Shawshank Redemption Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Shawshank Redemption - Movie Review Example Despite Andy’s declaration of innocence he is retained in the prison guided by circumstantial evidence. The movie uses the character of Andy Dufrense to reflect the resilience of human spirit and how one can retain his humanity against all odds under penitence. Andy Dufresne in his late 40s has no reason to be apprehensive about life unless things changes a little too fast for him. The corpses of his wife and her previous lover are found strewn with bullets after Andy comes to know of his wife’s illicit relationship. The circumstance goes against him when he visits his house with whisky and bullets. Though he admits to these incidents, he declares his innocence but all he receives form the court of justice is to life sentences to serve and undergo the tough penitence of the jail at Shawshank which is known to be the most atrocious one in New England. When Eliss â€Å"Red† Redding befriends Andy, he foretells that the lanky and out of place Andy would not be able to sustain here for long. His prediction seems strong given that Andy is surrounded by hostile inmates and strong tough and aggressive head guard like Hadley and personalities like Warden Norton (enacted by Bob Grunton) who made their dominance clearly felt throughout. Later when Andy narrates his story to Red, he says, â€Å"Bad luck, I guess. It floats around. It's got to land on somebody. It was my turn, that's all. I was in the path of the tornado. I just didn't expect the storm would last as long as it has†. This is complemented by the harassment of the group of troublemakers and sexual assaulters named â€Å"The Sisters† under the leadership of Bogs. Despite being tormented Andy does not give in. This surrounding is ideal to prove the Prison to live up to its name and reputation of atrocity and violence and abrupt instances of abuse occur frequently. With brutality on one hand, corruption also prevails on the other. For instance, the Warden Norton uses Andy to as sist him in his operation of laundering money under the fake name of Randall Stevens. This opportunity comes when by his luck his discovers Hadley is in a problem related to tax on an inheritance and renders his fruitful advice on the same. He is then asked to look after the library and also renders financial counseling to the other guards. Hadley also beats up the group of ‘Sisters’ who refrains from bothering Andy henceforth. Things were comfortable for Andy since his talents are being exploited by the Warden who uses the inmates for supplying labor force instead of skilled labor for which he receives incentives. Andy knows his corruption but has little way out. He takes a big risk by playing The Marriage of Figago for his inmates to hear despite knowing that he would be confined to solitary cell for this offense of rendering one pleasant moment. He carries on his good work by expanding the library after several attempts and with the help of the warden. He dedicates t he library to Brookes the old librarian who commits suicide after being released on parole since he could not adjust to the outside world. The movie set over a wide space of two decades joins different strands of stories taking place in the prison. This shows how Andy retains

The war between US and Iraq Annotated Bibliography

The war between US and Iraq - Annotated Bibliography Example Through such process, the authors were able to focus on the elite-mass dynamic seen in setting forth foreign policy options. The authors also assessed public opinion on threat perception, support for the war, and the beliefs about the possibility of terrorist attacks if the US did not implement retaliatory actions against Iraq. This study helped me gather as much information as possible on the public opinion of the war. This article discussed how the Iraqi War has sent Iraq into a political chaos and how the United States had no justified reason for its presence in Iraq. The article also discussed the insurgencies seen in Iraq as a reaction to the actions of the US government. This article brings to a sharper focus the unsupported claims of the US against Iraq and how such unfounded claims have only created more disasters for Iraq, if not for the US. This article helped me evaluate the impact of the war on Iraq and how US actions continue to cause chaos on Iraq. This research reviewed the premise that conservative-liberal identity functions as a preparation to adopt beliefs and attitude about newly politicized issues coincide with the socially accepted meanings of conservatism-liberalism. Study 1 of this research assessed in 2000, had a crucial prospective effect on the support in the invasion of Iraq in 2002 and in 2004, in relation to controlling substantive ideology, party identity, and demographics. For Study 2, the research discussed the conservative and liberal identifiers adopted positions on farm subsidy policies based on different signs which ideological groups support. I chose this paper because it discussed the impact of political discourse on the organization of political ideology. It also provided a theoretical understanding of the issue The above article is a personal account and analysis by the author on the events which unfolded in Iraq since the US declared war against it. The US troops have largely made

Leading Strategic Program Management Essay Example for Free

Leading Strategic Program Management Essay Some people might say a good leaders is born that way. It is true that some individuals have a natural instinct to lead people, but they also have tools to help them in their success. In watching the movie Twelve O’clock High we see different types of leadership. Why is Colonel Keith Davenport’s leadership ineffective in comparison to General Frank Savage’s leadership? With all the men of the 918th Bomb Group loyal to Colonel Davenport, what steps does Gen Savage take to not only win their loyalty but make them an effective team? While working on a project is a lot different than fighting a war, we see how good leadership techniques, trust, good communication, developing leaders, and instilling a sense of pride can turn around the poorest of teams. If you have an ineffective leader, chances are the team will be ineffective. There were many deficiencies in Colonel Davenport’s leadership style. Colonel Davenport was more focused on each individual in his group than he was on the mission at hand. He had the loyalty of his men but failed to lead them. When one of his men failed to accomplish their mission or messed up, Colonel Davenport assumed responsibility and failed to discipline them. When Colonel Davenport received orders to push his men to the maximum potential, he wouldn’t, for fear of burning them out. While Colonel Davenport could not see his deficiencies in his leadership, it could be seen by the commanding General of the VIII Bomber Command, Eighth Air Force. General Pritchard brought Brigadier General Frank Savage in to see if he could fix not only the leadership problem but the productivity of the men in the 918th Bomb Group. When Brigadier Frank Savage arrived at the 918th Bomb Group he went right to work. One of the first items on his agenda was restoring the military standards that had become very laidback. We see this in a couple of scenes. He reprimands the gate guard for not checking his identification card upon entering the base. When he walks into his new office he catches Sergeant Mclllheny typing without his uniform top on. Brigadier General Savage immediately reduces him in rank and tells him why. Word soon travels around the base that they must adhere to the military standards and rules. Once Brigadier General Savage has made it clear that he will restore accountability and standards he calls a meeting to set his expectations clear. In this meeting Brigadier General Savage lets everyone know that they have a job to do and they need to stop feeling sorry for themselves. He tells everyone that from this point on they will be held accountable for their mistakes. Brigadier General Savage then informs everyone that since they are performing poorly, they will practice over and over again until they get it right. This infuriates the pilots and they immediately put in for a transfer. Once Brigadier General Savage has made his expectations clear, he begins gathering support from others. Major Stovall is the group Adjutant who works directly for Brigadier General Savage. Brigadier General Savage begins asking Major Stovall’s opinions on individuals in the unit. He takes the advice given to him by Major Stovall. Major Stovall begins to see that Brigadier General Savage is a great leader and he has a plan to get the 918th Bomb Group back on track. Major Stovall becomes a loyal hard working member of the 918th Bomb Group. He can see that Brigadier General Savage is committed to his job. A trust is built between the two men. â€Å"Trust is at the core of all meaningful relationships. Without trust there can be no giving, no bonding, no risk-taking† (Berkun, 2008, p. 242). He then begins to talk to the other men and gather support and trust for Brigadier General Savage. The next item on Brigadier General Savage’s agenda is to develop leaders in the 918th Bomb Group. When Brigadier General Savage is reviewing everyone’s personnel records he  notices that the second in charge is underperforming. Lt Colonel Ben Gately is immediately fired from his position and place in charge of a plane full of underachievers. He informs Lt Colonel Gately that he will receive every lazy nonperforming person who comes into the 918th Bomb Group. If Lt Colonel Gately wants to survive he needs to step up to the plate and become a good leader. The plane that Lt Colonel Gately is in charge of is called the Leper Colony. By doing this, Brigadier General Savage is giving Lt Colonel Gately a way to prove his leadership. This method of leadership works very well on Lt Colonel Gately, because he begins to perform exceptionally well. Lt Colonel Gately even flies with an injured spine. Brigadier General Savage can see the 918th Bomb Group is turning around into an effective unit. He then sets out to develop a sense of pride in the group. Savage praises them for their performance and what they have achieved as a group. He begins promoting excellence in everything they do. On days where there is no mission they practice to get it perfect. Individuals who show outstanding performance in the Leper Colony get promoted out and those who make mistakes move to the Leper Colony. Results from all their hard team work began to pay off. When the 918th Bomb Group goes on a dangerous mission they return with everyone. The whole unit is put in for a commendation. While Savage has turned the unit around he still has trouble communicating to his people. Communication is a major part of being an effective leader. While Savage has begun communicating very well with Major Stovall, he still had trouble communicating with his pilots and ground crew. Only when he finally sits down and communicates with a young pilot named Bishop, do the other pilots removed their request to be transferred to another unit. Savage was trying to keep his distance from his pilots. He felt that not becoming emotionally involved with his pilots would help create a barrier. Savage cared about every single person in his unit, but he kept his emotions inside which was the cause of his breakdown. Looking at a project manager or leader of a company, it is easy to see why you would want someone like Brigadier General Savage in charge. He arrived  at the 918th Bomb Group with a clear and direct sense of responsibility. He knew what he had to do and he knew it was not going to be a popularity contest. While Brigadier General Savage had trouble communicating to everyone, he understood his people, their motivations, and the emotions they were feeling. It is important when you are in charge of a project to know the people you will be working with. There needs to be trust between you and your employees. As the project manager when you say you will do something, you must ensure you follow through. Brigadier General Savage demanded that the members of the 918th Bomb Group give him loyalty, respect, integrity, and selfless service. He in turn not only gave the same right back, he gave them leadership, direction, and a sense of self-worth. By the time Brigadier General Savage left the 918th Bomb Group, they were able to continue their mission under any good leader who took over. As a leader, you have to take responsibility for the decisions you make. You must inspire your people and establish teamwork. Sometimes being a leader is not an easy job, but with the right set of tools you can be an effective leader. â€Å"Where there is no guidance the people fall, but in the abundance of counselors there is a victory† (Proverbs 11: 14). Reference Berkun, S. (2008). Making Things Happen. Sebastopol, CA: OReilly Media, Inc. New International Version. (1970). Thomas Nelson Inc.

Six Characters In Search Of An Author Analysis

Six Characters In Search Of An Author Analysis Father explains that as their author unjustly denied them stage-life and its immortality, they bring their drama to the company. The seductive Step-Daughter begins its elaboration: after what took place between her and Father, she cannot remain in society, and she cannot bear to witness her widowed Mothers anguish for her legitimate Son. Confused, the Manager asks for the situation and wonders how a Mother can be a widow if the Father is alive. The Step-Daughter explains that the Mothers lover-her, the Child, and Boys father-died two months ago. Father proper once had a clerk who befriended Mother. Seeing the mute appeal in their eyes, he sent her off with him and took her Son. As soon as the clerk died, the family fell into poverty and, unbeknownst to Father, returned to town. Step-Daughter became a prostitute for Madame Pace. The eternal moment of their drama shows the Step-Daughter surprising Father as her unsuspecting client. Father then gestures to the Son, whose cruel aloofness is the hinge of the action. The Mother will re-enter the house with the outside family. Because the son will make her family feel foreign to the household, the Child will die, the Boy will meet tragedy, and Step- Daughter will flee.The Manager takes interest. He gives the Actors a twenty-minute break and retires with the Characters to his office. After twenty minutes, the stage bell rings. The Step-Daughter emerges from the office with the Child and Boy. She laments the Childs death in the fountain and angrily forces Boy to show his revolver. If she had been in his place, she would have killed Father and Son, not herself. Everyone returns to the stage, and the Manager orders the set prepared for rehearsal. Confused, Father wonders why the Characters themselves should not go before the public. The Manager scoffs that actors act. The Manager suddenly notices that Pace is missing. Father asks the Actresses to hang their hats and mantles on the sets clothes pegs. Lured by the articles of her trade, Pace appears from the rear. The Leading Lady denounces this vulgar trick. Father wonders why the actors are so anxious to destroy the magic of the stage in the name of a commonplace sense of truth. Paces scene with Step-Daughter begins before Father finishes. When the actors urge them to speak more loudly, Step-Daughter replies that they cannot discuss such matters loudly-Father might overhear. Pace comes forward, saying, Yes indeed sir, I no wanta take advantage of her. The actors erupt in laughter. The Manager finds the comic relief of her accent magnificent. Father cautiously greets the young prostitute and gallantly offers her a new hat. Step-Daughter protests that she cannot wear one as she is in mourning. The Manager interrupts, and calls the Leading Man and Lady to play the same scene. Father protests, and Step-Daughter bursts out laughing. The Manager complains that he never could rehearse with the author present. He instructs the Father to continue. When Step-Daughter speaks of her grief, he must reply I understand.' Step-Daughter interrupts: Father actually asked her to remove her frock. She refuses to let them compose a romantic sentimental scene out of her disgrace. Acknowledging that tomorrow the actors will do the first act. The Manager approves and notes that the curtain will then fall. To his annoyance, the Machinist lets the curtain down in earnest.The curtain rises, revealing new scenery: a drop, a few trees, and the portion of a fountain basin. The Step-Daughter tells the exasperated Manager that the entire action cannot take place in the garden. The Manager protests that they cannot change scenes three or four times in an act. The Leading Lady remarks that it makes the illusion easier. Father bristles at the word illusion. Pausing, he approaches the Manager asks if he can tell him who he really is. A character can always pose this question to a man as he is always somebody while a man might be nobody. If man thinks of all his past illusions that now do not even seem to exist, perhaps his present reality is not fated to become an illusion tomorrow. The character is more real as his reality is immutable. The Manager commands Father to stop his philosophizing. He is but imitating the manner of an author he heartily detest The Manager prepares the scene. Step-Daughter leads Child to the fountain. Both at the same time the Manager commands. The Second Lady Lead and Juvenile Lead approach and study Mother and Son. The Son objects that it is impossible to live before a mirror that not only freezes us with the image of ourselves, but throws out likeness back at us with a horrible grimace. He also protests that there was no scene between he and Mother. When Mother went to his room to speak with him, he simply went into the garden. He then saw the drowning Child in the fountain, and the Boy standing stock still like a madman, watching her. A shot rings out from behind the trees where the Boy is hidden. Some cry that the Boy is dead; others that it is only make believe and pretence. Pretence? Reality? the Manager cries in frustration. To hell with it all. Never in my life has such a thing happened to me. Ive lost a whole day over these people, a whole day! ANNE PAOLUCCI ON PIRANDELLOS EXPLORATION OFTHEATER AS A MEDIUM When, in 1923, at the age of 56, Luigi Pirandello won European acclaim with the Pitoà «ff production of Six Characters in Search of an Author (the same play that had been booed and had caused a riot at its premiere in Rome two years earlier), the Italian writer had already published six of his seven novels, several scattered volumes of short stories, and four volumes of poetry. His reputation as a writer of fiction was already established when he turned to drama; and although he never gave up writing novels and short stories (and was to convert many of these into plays in the years that followed), Pirandello had clearly shifted his sights and direction by 1923. For the rest of his life his artistic priorities were to be focused on theater. As a playwright, however, Pirandello soon hit on a new and powerful theme, perhaps the inevitable result of focusing on the barren lives of people living in a barren place, where nature itself is hostile and the individual a victim without reprieve. His earliest plays as well as his novels and short stories examined the effect of such an existence in the most detailed way; but by 1921,with Six Characters, he turned with even greater fascination to exploring personality in its conscious and deliberate effort to come to terms with the environment. We see in Six Characters a new obsession translated powerfully into a stage language itself new and overwhelming. With Six Characters the focus shifts: the core story becomes a distant motif, an echo, a reminder that all experience must pass through the mirror of the self and must be evaluated in terms of that mirror image. The shift can surely be attributed to some extent to the demands of the stage, which-for Pirandello-was the ideal medium for bringing together the illusion of life and the reality of the self. In this play escape also becomes freedom from the predictable connection between intentions and deeds: freedom from stage conventions, dramatic action and resolution, familiar dialogue and internal communications. There is nothing uncertain about this first theater play; it too is a fully mature product, an incredible tour-de-force, an experiment that could not have been foreseen but would never be forgotten. It marks the beginning of the contemporary theater with all its fragmented attitudes, states of mind, contradictory emotions,Hamlet-like irrelevancies; but little of what follows i n other parts of the world will match the totality of the Pirandello experiment. Hamlet-like irrelevancies; but little of what follows in other parts of the world will match the totality of the Pirandello experiment. THE THEATER OF THE THEATER As noted in the Context, Pirandello retrospectively grouped Six Characters in a trilogy of the theater of the theater. These works generate their drama out of the theaters elements-in this case, through the conflict between actors, manager and characters, and the missing author. For Pirandello, the theater is itself theatrical-that is, it is itself implicated in the forms and dynamics of the stage. Beginning with a supposed daytime rehearsal, Six Characters puts the theater and its processes themselves on stage. Put otherwise, the play is an allegory for the theater. Thus it presents characters dubbed the Second Leading Lady and Property Man and it hinges on multiple frames of (self)-reference, staging the staging of a play within the play. Akin to a hall of mirrors, this device, the mise-en- abà ®me, is common to plays that would reflect on the properties of their own medium. Self-referentiality attains heights here. The plays act divisions, for example, mirror those of the Charact ers drama, a number of scenes show the Actors playing the doubles of the audience, and onward. Crucial to this project is a dismantling of the conventions of the well-made play that would render the plays workings visible to the spectator. Six Characters often appears improvisational, sketch-like, what the Manager calls a glorious failure. Note the aborted rehearsal, rejected and incompletely drawn characters, hastily assembled sets, and onward. To anticipate the Fathers confession, one could describe Pirandello as perhaps subject to the Demon of Experiment. THE AUTHOR FUNCTION In the rehearsal of another of Pirandellos plays within this one, the figure of Pirandello immediately appears as the maddening native playwright who plays the fool with everyone. Such fantasies of authorship are intrinsic to the literary work. The author is not only that which the characters search for; but as Pirandello laments in his preface to the play, the spectator as well. What does the author intend? wonders the audience. Though absent, the author haunts the stage. He will not assume body like the characters but become a function or mask that circulates among the players. Though in the preface Pirandello describes authorship through metaphors of divine and even the Immaculate Conception, speaking of miracles, and divine births, such identifications are covered over within the play. There the Father decidedly appears as the authors double. THE CHARACTERS REALITY Throughout the play, the Father insists on the reality of the Characters, a reality that, as the stage notes indicates, inheres in their forms and expressions. The Father offers his most explicit meditation on the Characters reality in Act II. Here he bristles at the Actors use of the word illusion as it relies on its vulgar opposition to reality. He approaches the Manager in a sort of face-off to challenge this opposition, one that underpins his identity. Convinced of his self-identity, the Manager readily responds that he is himself. The Father believes otherwise. While the Characters reality is real, the Actors is not; while the Character is somebody, man is nobody. Man is nobody because he is subject to time: his reality is fleeting, always ready to reveal itself as illusion, whereas the Characters reality remains fixed for eternity. Put otherwise, time enables an opposition between reality and illusion for man. Over time, man comes to identify realities as illusion, whereas the Character exists in the timeless reality of art. Works Sited Pirandello, Luigi, 1867-1936-Criticism and interpretation. I. Bloom, Harold. II. Series. Book Title: Characters and Authors in Luigi Pirandello. Contributors: Ann Hallamore Caesar author. Publisher: Clarendon Press. Place of Publication: Oxford. Publication Year: 1998. www.questia.com//characters-and-authors-in-luigi-pirandello-by-ann-hallamore-caesar.jsp

Analysis of Lord of the Flies by William Golding Essay -- Lord of the

Analysis of Lord of the Flies by William Golding William Golding’s Lord of the Flies is a sordid tale about a group of kids who are stranded on a deserted island after their plane crashes. The story is set during the Atomic War and plenty of references are made to the fact. However, the real key to the story lies in the role of Beelzebub, Lord of the Flies. Beelzebub has a central role in the story as he represents the Beast, or evil, that dwells within all humans. The Beast cannot be hunted and since it dwells within all humans, humans are all guilty because mankind is sick. The destruction of mankind is a point that Golding makes apparent often in this novel. He establishes early on that Beelzebub is a force within all humans that drives them to destroy and maim. In the story the central emblem of the story lies in the dead airman. The boys mistake him for Beelzebub and basically begin to worship him. In fact, the most effective portrayal of Beelzebub appears early in the novel in the form of the dead airman. The parachute carries him through the night to the top of the mountain, where his body is entangled in the trees. It is in the way in which he is hung that makes it appear as if he was sitting on a throne of some sort. Sam n Eric first come upon it and are scared to death at the mere sight of it. However, when the whole group returns to the site the horrific monstrosity bewilders them. In this quote from the book it clearly states the group’s actions. â€Å" Behind them the sliver of moon had drawn clear the horizon. Before them something like a great ape was sitting asleep with its head between his knees. Then, the wind roared in the forest, there was confusion in the darkness and the creation lifted its head, holding toward them a ruin of a face. â€Å" The experience alone accelerates the deterioration of the already weak civilization of the group. The experience brings young Jack to committing himself fully to the newfound dark religion. (Johnston, 126) Beelzebub was the cause for accelerating the destruction of the boys. He was not the outright cause. The Atomic War generated the novel; it was the sole reason that brought the boys to live on the island in the first place. It is in this sense that the boys only duplicated the adult society that had been crashing down around them while they were part of the civilized world. Golding uses the dead airman... ...the outside world, all humanity was lost. The boys were sick with power and evil, much like the world outside the island. War had corrupted their very souls and they had become savages in order to appease the devil that dwelled within. As humans we cannot escape evil. Beelzebub dwells within every human soul and it cannot be hunted or driven away. Mankind is sick and guilty for giving into these sins. However, mankind is not lost. Through the use of reason and civilized means we can escape the grasp of Beelzebub and its dark reign of anarchy. Beelzebub served as a means of destruction in the story. He accelerated the boys fall of grace. Although the boys failed that does not condemn mankind. Hope is offered through the story in the form of a young, epileptic name Simon. Simon stood for the weak that fought with the nature of reason rather than with a bloodthirsty rage. Mankind needs only to look at Simon’s example as a guide of how to do it. Reason and virtue will always conquer over rage and violence. Wars are not the answers to every global conflict. Every war we have, we have to pass on to our children. In the end mankind is saved by the nature of reason not the use of war.

US Election :: essays papers

US Election Overview of the American Economy The American economy has been skyrocketing during the past decade. Growth in fields such as output, price stability, consumer demand, labor markets, and productivity have been increasing at an alarming rate. This over flow of growth occurring within the country has brought a sense of safety to the American people and with increased spending based on the â€Å"wealth effect† the American economy looks to be evermore prosperous in the years to come. Al Gore- Democrats Al Gore, the leader for the Democrat party, supports many freewill movements and has a firm understanding of the country’s future development. Gore is an avid believer in expanding the United States to encompass a more world wide approach at economics, such as enabling NAFTA to extend southward. Strongly supports cutting taxes and putting money back into the system to encourage future profits enabling for the tax cuts. More money going into the system gives ore money back tot he government and without taxation making both the government and the people benefit. George Bush- Republicans George Bush, the leader for the Republican party, strongly believes in conservative views and the welfare of the people. Bush’s ideals are more traditional and are shaped towards the white, heterosexual, over 40 year old man, which holds the majority in the United States. Supports cutting taxes and taking the money the government has and increase spending in public affairs to benefit the people. Eliminating the debt and estate tax are important also but with no increase in governmental profit. 15 percent cut in tax rates, providing greatest benefit to the rich. Favors 50 percent reduction in capital gains tax. Supports $500 per child tax credit. No mention of Comprehensive health care guarantees. Supports allowing of workers to retain health insurance while shifting jobs, nothing for uninsured. Maintaining existing tax structure, with only minor changes, favoring the rich. Supports $500 per child tax credit, $1 500 tax credit for community college. Opposes any expansion of federal programs or guaranties of health care. Privatization of Medicare. Mainly good for the rich, elderly, and veterans. Abolishing of the Department of Education. Promotes private schools against public education. Better for richer families. Encourages school prayer and patriotism. Cuts in spending and more restrictions. Eliminate food stamps and school lunch program. Very difficult for welfare cases. Cutting of $1 trillion from federal programs, Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.

Knowledge Management – L. Prusak

The article â€Å"Where Did Knowledge Management Come From† by L. Prusak discusses different perspectives on development of knowledge management, analyzes impact of globalization on knowledge management and identifies disciplines which have shaped the field.   The article is retrieved from online database devoted to knowledge management and related issues.To find the article I had to refer to online search engines. Despite the fact that the paper is found in the Internet database, it is very scientific, opinionative and informative as the author provides examples and strong evidence to defend his positions, opinions and ideas. I think knowledge management plays crucial role nowadays in business world as it aims at fostering economic and financial development on both national and international levels.Prusak writes that nowadays knowledge management is widely known and practiced in many companies and organizations as it gives an excellent opportunity to look back, to admit fau lts and to work out new perspectives. Some analysts assert that knowledge management may replace declining revenues from the waning re-engineering movement, whereas others claims that knowledge management is able to enrich data and information management methods.Prusak says that â€Å"perhaps the majority of sceptics take the position—not an unnatural one—that every so-called new approach is, in reality, either old or wrong†. (Prusak 2001) It is necessary to note that Prusak defines knowledge management as system of thought and says that it is a combination of new ideas with old practices. He means that practitioners should be re-assured rather than unnerved.The author also discusses knowledge management in terms of globalization context. He says that globalization is the most obvious culprit. He argues that the volume of global trade is likely to be unprecedented. Today the number of global products is the highest compared to the previous years. Information tec hnologies are the primary contributor of speeding up expansion of global trade and the decline of centralized economies. It results in frenetic atmosphere within companies which are simply forced to bring new products as fast as possible.The central idea of the article is that knowledge can be hardly codified, digitized and distributed. The key components of knowledge are considered design, decisions, judgment, leadership, innovation, persuasiveness, and humor. They become more valuable than in the past years. Prusak claims that â€Å"a perhaps less evident but no less important trend is an emerging knowledge-centric view of the firm†. (Prusak 2001) He cites Sidney Winter who describes firms as â€Å"organizations that know how to do things†. (Prusak 2001)It is necessary to underline that economists define firm as a coordinated collection of capabilities and abilities based on experience, knowledge and history. Cognitive and social skills may limit firm’s effect iveness if not managed properly. Knowledge is claimed to the building block of the mentioned capabilities, especially knowledge which is the most specific to company’s objectives and operating areas.The next point to admit is that the author identifies primary disciplines which helped to shape the filed of knowledge management. The first is economics. Prusak assumes that if a company manages to coordinate the learning process it will be able to increase effectiveness and productivity. Otherwise, the company may fail to compete. Working out learning strategies is important issue in knowledge management.Secondly, sociology also contributes development of knowledge management on micro and macro levels. For example, at micro level â€Å"sociology’s strong research interest in the complex structures of internal networks and communities has obvious relevance to knowledge management†. (Prusak 2001) The author suggests that knowledge is growing as practitioners are stud ying networks and communities as the units of knowledge managements. Finally, philosophy and psychology contribute knowledge management as it aims at revealing implicit and explicit knowledge as well as exploring differences between ‘know how’ and ‘know what’.Further, Prusak distinguishes three practices which affect the content of knowledge managements. They are information management, human capital and the quality movement. Information management has been swiftly developing during the 70-80s. Usually, information technology is understood as â€Å"a subset of the larger information technology and information science world†. (Prusak 2001) Information forms a body of the thought focusing on how to manage information and how to manipulate it.Information management deals also with operational techniques, incentive schemes and governance. The quality movement is claimed to concentrate primarily on internal customers and transparent goals. However, knowle dge management hasn’t achieved the levels of measurable success. Despite that fact, the quality movement adapted the goals to different purposes of knowledge management. Finally, human capital is based on strong theoretical base. Human capital approach helps to identify financial advantage over other firms through training and professional education.The article discusses the origins of knowledge management, looks at past events and future development opportunities, and distinguishes key knowledge management components and practices. The article is directly related to the field of knowledge management as the author provides strong theoretical background of knowledge management, related disciplines and perspectives on future. The author tends to make people more aware of benefits offered by knowledge management.Works CitedPrusak, L. (2001). Where Did Knowledge Management Come From. Available at http://www.research.ibm.com/journal/sj/404/prusak.html Accessed March 5, 2008.