Management 497 Assignment Week 2 Free Essays

Audit Exercise Paper Two Student Name MGT/497 – Strategic Technology Planning for Organizations Professor Name January 16, 2012 Introduction This paper will refer to two audit exercises from Chapter three and Chapter four of the textbook. The first one will refer to demand for product, competitive response, level of novelty of the innovation, factor that could block the good outcome of an innovation, and other factors. The second audit exercise will involve the assimilation of a checklist for innovation with respect to the considered organization. We will write a custom essay sample on Management 497 Assignment Week 2 or any similar topic only for you Order Now It will also determine the readiness of the organization to implement an innovation strategy. The company chosen for these audit exercises is Apple. Everyone has heard about this company and knows that the products of it are very important in our lives. According to Apple Inc. (2012), they mission statement says that they design Macs, the best personal computers in the world and they lead the digital music revolution with their iPods and iTunes online stores. The mission statement also says that the company has reinvented the mobile phone with their revolutionary iPhone and that they define the future of mobile media and computing devices with the iPad. The goal of this company is to make the best mobile product from their phone. Remember what Steve Jobs said when people asked him about the purpose of this company. He said that the company will try and offer with their mobile phone what the people need and not what they want. Audit Exercise Chapter 3 This audit exercise will address demand for the product or products of Apple, factors possible to block the success of an innovation, their standards, competitive response, the level of novelty of the innovation, as well as other factors. White and Bruton (2011) give the following factors to determine the value of an option: favorability of demand for products, factors to speed adoption, factors to block the success of an innovation, the chances of strong competitive response, the likelihood that the possible competitive advantages are sustained, factors inside the company that allow setting standards, the costs to commercialize, the resources available to commercialize, the level of novelty that is captured by the innovation, development costs, certain opportunities that could be advantageous, and possible areas where damage might occur. In dealing with all these factors, we will refer to the iPhone, the innovation that took Apple on its highest peaks of success. First we refer to the demand for this product. Ever since it was released to the public this product has been nothing but a success. The early prototype that went on sale in June, 2007 blew up the market. According to Vogelstein (2008), analyst were speculating that customers would snap up about three million units by the end of 2007, making from this phone, the fastest-selling smartphone in the history. It was the same story with the following generations of the smartphone and the demand was higher even though they had their first powerful competitor by the end of 2008 when Android came to life with they G1 smartphone. In order to speed up the adoption of this product the company needs to make sure that they keep their quality standards as they are now. Innovation could be blocked if Apple makes structural changes inside the company or if the key employees in this position want to leave the company. Apple has received a big hit when the heart of this company left us. Steve Jobs was the brain behind all the innovation at Apple and people will remember him a lot of years from now. Their direct competition is the Android operating systems with all the smartphone adopting it. Android is a powerful competitor which has gain a lot from the market of the smartphone and as it currently is, Google’s Android has a higher portion of the market in this area compared to Apple. To sustain a competitive advantage, Apple needs to keep innovate and offer quality to their dedicated customers. When it comes to costs of commercialization, the company does well enough because the prices of producing the product are small compared to the prices at which the product is sold in the market. It seems that Google with their Android OS is a little in front of Apple with respect to technological advancement; this is why Apple need to direct some of their costs to research and development to keep up or become better than their competitor. They could leverage opportunities by being able to maintain their devoted customers and offer to them discounts or special promotions for the products. This would attract other potential customers. The potential damage may occur if Apple is not able to stay in the competition or cannot innovate; they are threatened if Google’s Android is advancing faster and faster because people like to stay in touch with the technology and would choose the best product in the market. Audit Exercise Chapter 4 This audit exercise from the end of chapter four requires analyzing a figure which contains a checklist for innovative organizations to consider. The questions at hand refer to ways of using the checklist in determining a company’s readiness to implement a strategy that would be innovative. It requires identifying at least a major area to be examined and addressing important considerations from this area. Figure 4. 7 is divided into four categories. It talks about vision, leadership, processes, and resources. We would refer to all of them in consideration to the company Apple. This time the chosen product will be the iPad. The same way Apple was ingenious by bringing the iPhone to the world, the same way was the story about the Ipad. It was the same brain behind this product as well. The iPad was the first tablet pc in the world. People have seen the concept only in science fiction movies and they were very thrilled when the product came out to the market. It had the same success, the same higher demand as the iPhone did. Now, referring to the vision category and to the first question which asks whether or not the team (or the company here) has a clearly articulated vision, mission, or set of objectives, it has to be noted that Apple has it all clear up, even though things have declined a bit when Steve Jobs died. However, all the employees in the company need to share the same vision so that they could put all their efforts in continuously creating the same quality products as they did so far. However, not everyone participated in creating the vision because this would be a tough thing to do. The vision came from Steve Jobs and it was shared progressively with all the important players from this company. The vision was to offer the people what they need most and not what they want. This is attainable; however, it is attainable with a higher price because the company needs to invest time and resources in research and development to spot the necessities of the client and to try to satisfy them. When it comes to leadership, Steve Jobs is the name that perfectly connects to this term. According to Miami University (2007) leadership is the reciprocal process of mobilizing by individuals with specific values and motives, various politic, economic, and other resources in an environment of conflict and competition, to be able to realize goals independently or mutually held by both the followers and the leaders. It may be a complex definition, but it has the power to point out all the important aspects of this discipline. The textbook asks: â€Å"Is excellence of central importance to the team? † The answer in the context of Apple is â€Å"yes† because they are reaching their purposes through excellence, hard work, and a lot of skill. All the employees in this company are committed to fulfill the same vision and the present leader Tim Cook has the purpose of taking forward the words of Steve Jobs and encourage open idea exchanges. The next category from the checklist for innovation strategy is about processes. At Apple probably not all the employees participate in decision making because this would not be appropriate. Imagine how would be to give a worker in assembly the power to make decisions about marketing strategies for the company. It would surely not be appropriate. However, all the employees are welcome to share their ideas and make recommendations to improve processes or products. They are even rewarded if their propositions are efficient. There is a climate of trust inside this company and it is mportant to maintain it because without good relationships, without communication, there will be conflicts, which lead to inefficiency and to lower productivity. When it comes to resources, Apple has a good way of managing them. Not only they try to make their quality products with a lower consumption of resources and money, but they have the possibility to charge more for their products in comparison with ot her companies in the same sectors. They are successful; however, this may not be the best strategy on the long-term. They should considering lowering a bit the prices; this would most likely increases their sales. Conclusion Apple is a market leader and it represents a business model to other companies. Its position offers the company the ability to innovate, invest extensively in research and try to be better than it self. The company has been around for a while now, so they know how to do business efficiently. However, recent competition has absorbed some of its market. This should not be seen as a bad thing in the company but as a motive, as a spark to make the company constantly innovate and make the world a better place with their products. References Apple Inc. (2012). Apple Corporate Information. Retrieved from http://investor. apple. com/faq. cfm? FaqSetID=6 Miami University (2007). What is Leadership? Retrieved from http://www. units. muohio. edu/saf/leadership/students/whatisleadership. html Vogelstein, F. (2008). The Untold Story: How the iPhone Blew Up the Wireless Industry. Retrieved from http://www. wired. com/gadgets/wireless/magazine/16-02/ff_iphone? currentPage=all White, M. A, Bruton, G. D. (2011). The Management of Technology Innovation: A Strategic Approach (2nd Ed. ). Mason, OH: South-Western/Cengage Learning. How to cite Management 497 Assignment Week 2, Papers

American Jerk by Todd Schwartz Essay Example For Students

American Jerk by Todd Schwartz Essay In his article, American Jerk,  Todd Schwartz claims that Americans feign civility, but that society has limited civility to only speeches and books. Schwartzs claim is a fitting description of American society, but as much as his sentiment towards courtesy is appreciated, our problems as a society go much further than civility. Were too far from our food and energy sources.   Schwartz explains in paragraph 12 and he is right. Americans are so self-absorbed that we dont know where our food comes from. Wed rather mindlessly eat, than know how our food is processed and what ingredients are used. In high school, my chemistry teacher started class by explaining what really was in peanut butter. As most Americans dont know and companies want to keep that way, is that the FDA allows a small percentage of rat droppings in food. So while peanut butter has peanuts in it, it also has rat droppings. In another example of how (overly) apathetic weve become, Schwartz writes, Were all talking to someone all the time, but its even more rarely to the people we are actually with. Social networking sites, such as Instagram or Twitter, have supposedly provided us with all the followers   that we need who we deem as friends. These sites encourage cyberbullying, cheating, and pseudo offline relationships. Individuals can now sit behind a screen and spout off hurtful words they wouldnt even dare say in public. It emboldens and strokes egos because individuals feel that everyone who clicks the follow button is their best friend. People are so comfortable with that sort of companionship   that they dont take the time to talk to the person they are actually with. This person is usually a close friend). In older times, before Facebook existed, people would wish their friends a happy birthday in person. Nowadays, all people do is send over a virtual cake, text the words happy birthday, and feel that they have accomplished so much. I am guilty of this, too. We no longer give our full, undivided attention to our friends or our loved ones. Wed much rather play Candy Crush than listen to their sorrowful problems. If we continue like this, as Schwartz emphasizes, we will lose any empathy we have for other people who are going through tough times. Once we lose all our moral values, we will no longer be able to think for ourselves. We will be like putty in the hands of society easily influenced by popular culture which breeds materialism, violence, promiscuity, ignorance, arrogance, and self-hatred. There are even less appealing aspects of our society. We have lost touch with reality as Schwartz so accurately points out. Americans live their lives vicariously through high definition flat screen televisions and high speed internet connections without ever leaving the comfort of their couch. We no longer take adventures hiking or go camping in the Grand Canyon or sight-seeing at Niagara Falls to see what nature has created because documentaries have already been created illustrating the breathtaking scenery. We no longer take trips to the library to check out books because, after all, we have Nooks and Kindles on our smart phones or tablets for all our reading needs. As days and weeks and months and years pass we continue to rely more and more on technology rather than each other. Where I must disagree with Schwartz is his statement on political correctness. We have never been more concerned about the feelings of minority groups, the disabled, and the disadvantaged,   Schwartz writes in paragraph 3, but he could not be more wrong. We have not become a culture obsessed with being politically correct  , but rather we have become a society obsessed with our image. Society react with discomfort to an off-color joke about people of color   for fear of being seen as racist. Politicians only care about being politically correct in order for their image to stay untarnished for upcoming elections. .u2b1ae62c162cde051ab1ecf0ffb85749 , .u2b1ae62c162cde051ab1ecf0ffb85749 .postImageUrl , .u2b1ae62c162cde051ab1ecf0ffb85749 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u2b1ae62c162cde051ab1ecf0ffb85749 , .u2b1ae62c162cde051ab1ecf0ffb85749:hover , .u2b1ae62c162cde051ab1ecf0ffb85749:visited , .u2b1ae62c162cde051ab1ecf0ffb85749:active { border:0!important; } .u2b1ae62c162cde051ab1ecf0ffb85749 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u2b1ae62c162cde051ab1ecf0ffb85749 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u2b1ae62c162cde051ab1ecf0ffb85749:active , .u2b1ae62c162cde051ab1ecf0ffb85749:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u2b1ae62c162cde051ab1ecf0ffb85749 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u2b1ae62c162cde051ab1ecf0ffb85749 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u2b1ae62c162cde051ab1ecf0ffb85749 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u2b1ae62c162cde051ab1ecf0ffb85749 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u2b1ae62c162cde051ab1ecf0ffb85749:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u2b1ae62c162cde051ab1ecf0ffb85749 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u2b1ae62c162cde051ab1ecf0ffb85749 .u2b1ae62c162cde051ab1ecf0ffb85749-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u2b1ae62c162cde051ab1ecf0ffb85749:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Duke Ellington EssayPolitical correctness holds such sway over society because it has become a taboo for individuals not to be. Even though Schwartzs article bluntly highlights the major problems of society holding America back, he encourages us to take a step back to see what is wrong to try to fix it. However, at the end of it all, it is our freedom to decide which side we are on in the Great Civility War  . Schwartz isnt here to judge whether being civil and considerate is somehow better than being a mindless dill weed.   Just dont get in his way. Hes on his cell in the Escalade, and he cant be bothered.

The Assassin Essay Example For Students

The Assassin Essay The sky was scorched crimson as the obscurity of night overpowered the light of day. In the distance the picturesque profile of London was perceptible under the blanket of radiant silver stars. Beneath this unique declaration of splendour a solitary silhouette was projected against the wall of a dimly lit back alley. He had an unnaturally intense glare, his vision passionately focused on an excruciatingly striking cerise TVR Tuscan. It was almost time. Despite the evident risk he was undertaking his eyes portrayed obsession, infatuation and desire to realize his acutely elusive vocation. The moon shone through the bare branches of an old oak tree casting ghostly shadows on the transparent sheet of astonishingly delicate ice. As the unique complicity of crystallised snowflakes descended delicately from the sky, the searchlight of a police helicopter briefly illuminated the car park. He remained unruffled by this passing scare. As the faint sound of stiletto heels approached his patiently awaiting ears, he knew it was time. He obscured himself from view as she cautiously approached her car aware of the potential threat. The delicate roar of her car was an indication to follow. We will write a custom essay on The Assassin specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now The vicious velocity boost gave her an obvious advantage but he continued to follow her with cunning initiative. She indicated in the direction of the next slip road and continued to accelerate away from him. As she advanced towards her strikingly refined cottage he waited. After furtively making enquiries and analysing her every move for months he knew her like a lover. She slowly pulled into her gravel drive carefully avoiding the colossal wrought iron gates, the stones crunched and rolled beneath her almost reflective alloy wheels. As he had repeatedly scrutinized her he knew the pattern of events that would follow. She removed her perfectly petite leather gloves and positioned them painstakingly precisely on the dashboard. Checking her appearance in the rear view mirror she noticed an imperfection and re-applied a perilously dangerous shade of rich scarlet to her voluptuously full lips. She then complemented this with a sweep of blusher to each of her remarkably proportioned cheekbones. After delicately brushing her glossy golden hair she switched of her radio and stepped out of the car. As she struggled across the rock-strewn drive with immense precaution he prepared himself for the big finale. His timing had to be impeccable. She advanced towards the towering oak door and seductively flicked her ivory white menthol cigarette. As she gently inserted her key into the lock, he waited. She dropped her bag. He waited. Timing was one of the many vital qualities that he had learnt to have power over. He stood secreted from her line of vision and inaudibly removed a platinum plated PPK from the pocket of his trench coat. The gun was almost as striking as her its exterior beauty and expensive taste was unambiguously apparent to the naked eye. Only the best would suffice. He aligned the weapon towards his target and as her key clicked the brutally beautiful bullet pierced her heart. As the definition of perfection fell to her death the walls were left permanently stained by the ruby red blood that seeped out of her chest. As she drew in her final breath a shooting star fired across the jet-black sky symbolising the bullet that tragically stole her flawless life leaving her as nothing more than a memory. As he made his way back to the car he stopped. It was disturbing to see such a beautiful woman degradingly slumped across her own doorstep bleeding profusely. As he calmly closed the car door, a cynical grin infected his otherwise expressionless face like a virus. He knew his association was undetectable. After lighting a cigarette he expertly manoeuvred his way out of the crime scene oblivious to the prior assassination. No evidence of remorse or repentance was shown for the infringement and murder immorally committed.

11 Skills To Be Successful In A Content Marketing Career

11 Skills To Be Successful In A Content Marketing Career â€Å"What are you ever going to do with that?† That’s the usual response I’d get when people would ask what my college degree was in (it was art and art history). There would be a prolonged moment of silence and then that question. I don’t know if that prolonged moment of silence was in honor of the memory of what they thought was now-gone employability.  I can promise you that as I got older and there was more distance from my college graduation, I fretted less. Because in the ensuing years, I learned that the answer to that question was: quite a lot. Sometimes a skill is not just a skill. Thats what youll discover as you work toward a successful content marketing career. 11 Skills That Will Make You Successful In A Content #Marketing Career via @JulieNeidlinger Your Content Marketing Skills Add Up To A Lot Getting your art degree, it turns out, doesn’t only make you a prime candidate for being a professional artist, but it also spawns the ability to defend your work in front of a room of critics. You know the skill of B.S. (yes, it’s a real skill) and can create something out of nothing. As a content marketer, you're holding onto skill sets that go beyond â€Å"simply† being a content marketer. So, the next time someone asks you what you do as a content marketer, rest assured you have some solid answers. 1. You Write, Which Many People Cannot Do This skill is huge. Don’t ever undersell yourself as a content marketer, because your ability to write is paramount. Oddly,  writing  every day makes me forget that not everyone is a writer. I assume everyone is writing constantly and am shocked when I come across someone struggling with their writing. Reading long posts and comments on Facebook, for example, is stunning at times. I’m not interested in correcting grammar or making people feel embarrassed (many bizarre words and typo errors can be blamed on type assist on mobile devices), but I am genuinely surprised. In the past 5 years, the ability to write has noticeably declined among college students. #mindblownIn the past five years, the ability to write- which also includes vocabulary, grammar, and analysis- has noticeably declined among college students. 26% of college graduates  have deficient writing skills. That’s college graduates, we’re talking about. It’s easy to think writing great copy is just about stringing together the right words, but there is a huge analysis factor. Good writers have to be able to analyze their own ideas  and the ideas of others. Writing also involves communicating persuasively as well as clearly. Too often, good writing is seen as something that is clever rather than clear. Snappy and clever is fine, but not at the sake of clarity. And, of course, good writing is done in a way where you inform people while making every reader, no matter their skill and knowledge level, feel welcome. The fact that content marketers, out of necessity, are constantly writing means they are always in a state of practice. The sheer amount of times you put pen to paper (or word to screen) means that you are exercising your writing muscles and brain cells. Perhaps this is why I am surprised by the lack of writing skills I come across in others: They simply do not write every day. Your ability to write puts you at an extreme advantage in this world. Improve Your Skill: How To Write Content That Sells: The Anatomy In A 6-Figure Post How To Write Awesome Blog Posts With The Science Of Appeal How To Write For Your Intended Audience 2. You Create Under Pressure And With Others In a content marketing career, you're frequently at the mercy of the winds of trends, breaking news, and ever-changing technology. That means you get used to creating under some level of pressure. There’s no letting up, no break- because your audience is just one yawn away from leaving you (or so you think). You never know who will say what to you on social media, and you have to figure out a response in the moment that is both appropriate and genuine. Unless you’re a solo content marketer, you’re also pretty good at working with others. You delegate duties, plan timelines, and brainstorm. You have the ability to hit the ground running and think on your feet- with or without a team at any given moment. Improve Your Skill: How To Save Time Writing Blog Posts How To Rock A Content Development Process That Will Save You Tons Of Time 3. You Handle Criticism And Critique Criticism and critique are not the same thing.  Both can be valuable. As a content marketer, you know how to handle both criticism or critique, whether that means knowing how or when to respond, or if you should respond at all. You can identify what you should take seriously and which battles to fight. You know how to participate in amicable disagreement, or you knowing when to avoid it entirely.

5 Examples of How Hyphens Help

5 Examples of How Hyphens Help 5 Examples of How Hyphens Help 5 Examples of How Hyphens Help By Mark Nichol Confusion about whether or not to use a hyphen remains one of the most common mechanical problems in writing. Here are five sentences in which hyphens are erroneously omitted. 1. â€Å"The head on crash sent three people to the hospital.† This sentence creates the unfortunate impression that a human head is somehow responsible for a car accident: The phrasal adjective â€Å"head on† should be hyphenated before the noun it refers to (but, like all the other examples in this post, should left open when it follows the noun): â€Å"The head-on crash sent three people to the hospital.† 2. â€Å"It’s unfortunate that she didn’t make better informed decisions.† One could refer to informed decisions that are better, but that’s not quite what is meant here. The reference is to decisions that are better informed, so the phrasal adjective should be hyphenated: â€Å"It’s unfortunate that she didn’t make better-informed decisions.† 3. â€Å"His report suggested a less than careful analysis of the facts.† What kind of analysis being discussed? One that is less than careful. So this combination of words should be hyphenated: â€Å"His report suggested a less-than-careful analysis of the facts.† 4. â€Å"She showed excellent time management skills.† This sentence can be read only as intended, but because â€Å"time management† is not awarded status as a standing phrase by being honored with a dictionary entry, it should be treated like any other temporary phrasal adjective: â€Å"She showed excellent time-management skills.† 5. â€Å"By observing quality of care measures at that point, they could predict with 77 percent accuracy who would drop out of high school.† The issue is not care measures and their quality; it is measures of quality of care, or â€Å"quality-of-care measures†: â€Å"By observing quality-of-care measures at that point, they could predict with 77 percent accuracy who would drop out of high school.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Style category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:How Many Tenses in English?8 Types of Parenthetical PhrasesLetter Writing 101

Life of galileo lalilei Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Life of galileo lalilei - Research Paper Example His views that the Earth is not the center of the Universe therefore created more resentment and opposition than the work of any other scientist during that era. However, despite the opposition of the mighty, the ideas of Galileo prevailed and the world was able to develop a modern system of astronomy and physics which has evolved and culminated into the current model of science. Society has therefore benefited a lot from his work and how it really shaped the way science as a whole has evolved over the period of time. This paper will therefore argue that Galileo Galilie was a rebel scientist and his ideas and work has greatly changed the way is now progressing. The overall context of his work will also be presented. Galileo Galilie Born in 1564, Galileo became one of the most important scientists in the history of science who laid the foundations for the modern science. During his early life, he seriously considered to become a priest however, due to his father’s insistence he went on to study in the University of Pisa for a medical degree. However, he was not able to complete his degree and went on to study mathematics instead of medical sciences. It was during that era that his overall interests for the mathematics and other physical sciences started to develop. He was later appointed on different teaching assignments and his real contribution towards science started to emerge during the early part of the 17th century. At University of Padua he was able to develop different scientific theories and contributed not only towards the pure fundamental science but towards the applied science also. Galileo therefore is also famous for his contributions for inventing new technology and setting the foundations for technological innovations. (Hilliam) During that time he went on to make some of the most important discoveries and invented many equipment which allowed scientists to perform mathematical calculations relatively easily. It was also during that period that Galileo started to evolve as one of the most established scientists of his time. The conflict between the Galileo’s discoveries and scientific faith however, was believed to be in direct conflict with the established religious orthodox thought of that time. Over the period of time, Galileo through his hard work produced scientifically accurate theories however the unacceptability of his ideas despite the fact that Galileo was a religious person all through his life. It was also because of his religious beliefs that he could not take up his illegitimate daughters and asked them to spend most of their lives in church. (McNeese) He was accused of heresy and was later sent for inquisition which he survived only after retracting from his earlier position thus giving Church time to establish and re-establish its own authority. Scientists as Rebels It is argued that scientists always remained rebels as throughout the entire history of Science; scientists have uncovered or disc ussed issues that were considered as unacceptable as per the norms of the society. This tendency seems to continue till today where scientists, despite their innovation and creativity are still considered as agitators because what they discuss and achieve may take time to get the acceptance

Personal Statement for Masters Degree of Computational Finance Essay

Personal Statement for Masters Degree of Computational Finance - Essay Example As I walk down the crowded streets of downtown Chicago, I am always left wonderstruck at the high rising skyscrapers. I imagine the elegant office interiors and debonair lives of CEOs and Presidents of various affluent companies nested in these massive buildings. And then I stand there feeling totally elated because I know it is the wonderful field of Finance that has resulted in these modern wonders. From a singleton in a society to the society itself and consequently the world at large; everyone is affected by the variables of finance. And it is this very power and reaches that the field of finance possesses, inspires me every minute to master its various nuances. Whenever I retrospect my own life, I distinctly see the roller coaster ride that I have been through. I have faced innumerable challenges, including certain events so critical and stressful, that it could have ended my career in a miserable state, had I not managed them effectively. But I have carved my way out of every problem I faced, and today I strongly believe that I possess all the skills necessary to take up any challenge and surface to the solution successfully. Quite interestingly, on observation, it is evident that the most important causes for my success in all the challenges I have faced are my alacrity for finance, management, and mathematics. My decision to take up finance as my major for my under-graduation was not by chance, but rather by choice. Since the very beginning of my school days, I have been proficient in mathematics. I have always remained to be a topper of my class in all mathematics-related subjects. I have always wanted to enter and consolidate in a field that blends both mathematics and finance. At the outset, I must confess that my GPA does not fall in the very top percentage of my class. However, I strongly feel that my GPA does not truly reflect my knowledge in the domain. I have taken advanced courses during my under-graduation which justifies the fall in my final GPA.