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Showing posts from August, 2014

How Management Knowledge Improves Military Adaptability

Military training is focused on learning specific skills to create a well-oiled machine designed to be stable under organizational pressure. A paper by Petrufova (2014) discusses many of the strengths and weaknesses of modern military education. In particular, the paper elaborates on how technical ability is strong but broader management knowledge is lacking for adapting to change.  Adaptable military styles require a broader framework for understanding crisis situations and countering long-term threats. The military relies heavily on technical training to teach soldiers how to complete their day-to-day job functions. Awareness of how their function contributes to the whole and can be adjusted when situations change is lacking. Management skills are needed for officers that control a number of functions simultaneously that require more complex interaction. The process of promotion from within helps to maintain morale and retain knowledge but doesn’t often afford the

GDP Rises and Consumer Confidence Recovers

The Bureau of Economic Analysis released optimistic data showing a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increase of 4.2% in the output of goods and services. The new numbers are a windfall compared to the previous 2.1% decline in the first quarter of 2014. The new release of information uses more accurate numbers than previous measurements which help the business community make investment decisions. The new numbers show an increase in nonresidential fixed investments with smaller numbers in private inventory investment. Other factors influencing the higher numbers were exports, personal consumption expenditures, local government spending, and residential fixed investments. Confidence in the economy may be encouraging purchasing behaviors, state spending, and business investments. Consumer confidence and consumer spending are associated in economic theory (Ludvigson, 2004). As consumers become more confident about their employment prospects and ability to earn a living wage they wi

Wearing the Right Shoes for Your Outdoor Adventure

J-41 Adventure On sells comfortable and stylish shoes for the outdoor enthusiast. The Argo and Sea-Breeze styles are a combination of a sandal and a shoe thereby making them a practical choice for multi-terrain use. Designed with recyclable rubber insoles and a non-slip grip you don’t have to worry about taking a poor step that twists your ankle. Using high quality and environmentally friendly materials they offer comfortable shoes with a mission.  You are an outdoor adventurer and don’t know if you will be walking for miles, forced to jump a creek or engaged in the climbing of obstacles. Finding sandals that are comfortable, functional in the water, and durable is a problem. J-41 put their outdoor experience to good use by developing a multi-terrain shoe that supports and protects your feet in a variety of terrains.  I have tested this shoe and was pleasantly surprised by the comfort. When wearing sandals on long hikes the constant rubbing against bare feet can cause bl

Encouraging San Diego Creativity to Solve Business and Scientific Problems

Creativity isn’t just the domain of the artistic types and has practical applications for businesses. Without new ideas, ways of accomplishing goals, and unique solutions businesses fail to develop and grow. A paper by Deepa and Gopal (2011) delves into a model of creativity and how it can be used to foster business growth. The model focuses on four main stages of creative development that pushes a unique idea to a practical solution. San Diego has an abundance of creative people and artists from all walks of life that can contribute to economic growth. Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote, “ Art is a jealous mistress, and, if a man have a genius for painting, poetry, music, architecture, or philosophy, he makes a bad husband, and an ill provider, and should be wise in season, and not fetter himself with duties which will embitter his day .”   The problem with artists is not the art itself but the practical use of the creative mind to solve real problems. With a little training