https://www.scenariothinking.org/api.php?action=feedcontributions&user=81.58.58.178&feedformat=atomScenarioThinking - User contributions [en]2024-03-29T15:05:50ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.37.0https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=Proliferation_of_nuclear_weapons&diff=12426Proliferation of nuclear weapons2004-12-01T22:15:15Z<p>81.58.58.178: </p>
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<div>'''Description:'''<br />
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The number of states which have nuclear weapons or are known to be developping them is raising. The world system to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons is being rapidly eroded, threatening a "cascade of proliferation". <br />
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'''Enablers:'''<br />
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- Decreasing cost of the nuclear technology<br />
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- Change of worldwide military equilibrium<br />
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- Desire to have more political influence<br />
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'''Inhibitors:'''<br />
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- UN Threaty to regulamentate the development and use of nuclear weapons<br />
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- Development of a new technology able to inhibit nuclear weapons<br />
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- Regulamentation and control of the supply of fissile material<br />
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'''Paradigms:'''<br />
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-Before: Only the biggest military powers,with huge economic resources, had nuclears weapons<br />
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- Now: Small country, with limited economic resources, can aim to have nuclear weapons.<br />
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'''Experts:'''<br />
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'''Timing:'''<br />
- 1963 Four staes have nuclear weapons<br />
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- 2004 Eight states have nuclear weapons, some more are suspected to have, and 60 countries operate or are building nuclear reactors.<br />
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[edit]Experts:<br />
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Retrieved from "http://scenariothinking.org/wiki/index.php/Driving_Forces_Template"</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=McLuhan_Essay_-_Daniel_Hall&diff=1338McLuhan Essay - Daniel Hall2004-12-01T12:58:53Z<p>81.58.58.178: </p>
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<div>What changes do you expect in the information society in the next ten years? Write a essay what you expect to happen, and why - using a critical review of McLuhan's theories (i.e. basing it on his thinking, or basing it on a cirtique on his thinking).<br />
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==Introduction:==<br />
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It is possible to analyse the future developments of information within society over the next 10 years using the McLuhan framework, whether you agree or disagree with his theory. When using the McLuhan framework to base the analysis, it is necessary to take a ‘step back’ from the real world. You must do this because it is necessary to appreciate the whole picture. By this I mean it is necessary to analyse the world not on a Newtonian fragmented basis but rather on a basis that sees the world and the fabric of society as being interdependent and interconnected throughout. What happens in Los Angeles affects what happens in New York. What happens in nature affects technology. Everything and anything in this world is somehow related. According to McLuhan, it is only when you have an understanding of how the world works within this connectedness that it is possible to predict how the world will develop in the future. Support for the application of this argument indicates is that it is no coincidence that it was McLuhan that predicted the internet or “Information Superhighway” decades before it permeated into everyday life. If his theories can predict the creation of the internet, then his theories can predict the development of the internet, the demise of the internet and the extinction of the internet. As this paper is focussed only on the next ten years, I will argue that it is impossible to apply the McLuhan theory to the internet because the period of 10 years is too short to experience the full McLuhan theoretical circle of “Enhance-Obsolete-Retrieve-Reverse”. The next 10 years of the internet will predominately be concerned with the “enhance” aspect of McLuhan’s theory, with the possibility of, by 2015, witnessing the first signs of “Obsoletion”. I would predict that the stages of “Retrieval and Reversion” will only happen within the next 50-100 years – which incidentally seems like the same time spent doing an MBA at RSM.<br />
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==McLuhan’s Theory:==<br />
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To narrow the scope of this essay into a manageable form for the purposes of this assignment (i.e. 1-2 pages) I will restrict my definition of “information society” solely to mean the internet. Furthermore, for the reasons stated above, I will only focus on the “Enhancement” that the internet will provide society over a 10 year period (i.e. a relatively short period for the internet). So what has the internet enhanced?<br />
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The internet has primarily enhanced information. The ability to collect, collate, analyse or disseminate information has never been so advanced. A simple example illustrates the point. As an undergraduate student at University, I would often be given ‘meaningless’ essays to write. In order for me to write these ‘meaningless’ essays it was necessary for me to get my photo taken to be placed on a library card, fill out mountains of paperwork declaring my personal details, pay a fee to join the library, get the library card issued, visit the library on the day of the essay, look in an antiquated card filing system to discover the reference of the book I was after, understand the layout of the library so that I could connect the book reference with its location in the library, try to locate the correct floor of the library and then the correct section of that floor and then the isle of the section and then the shelf of the isle and then the correct section on the shelf…..to find that some basta@**d has beaten me to it!<br />
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With the internet, I type the book reference into a search engine, press ENTER and up pops the article that I am looking for. Then it is a simple procedure of “SELECT ALL / COPY / PASTE DOCUMENT” change the title of the author & article and, hey presto, I have one essay ready to hand in, meaning that as a student I then get more time to spend in the pub with my mates doing what students do best (this scenario assumes that I have not had my university education terminated due to blatent plagarism). The important point here is that the internet has facilitated the ease to research the essay and therefore enhanced both the quality of the essay, due to the wider spectrum of papers to research, and enhanced my life as I spend less time doing the meaningless ‘administrative’ actions prior to doing the necessary research I had to do as an undergraduate.<br />
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Another development that the internet has created is the possibility of people to be more connected with the world. This is whether we are more connected as people with other people or with world events, technology, commerce, financial markets etc etc. In short we are more connected with “everything”. This enhanced connection is interesting in a McLuhan context because it is precisely his theory that propagates that the world is not fragmented or compartmentalised, as modern society so often interprets it to be, but is actually connected, in totality, at some level. This phenomenon would support McLuhan’s theory. However, it is questionable that the internet supports McLuhan’s theories at other levels. One of the main arguments of McLuhan is that media is the message. I.e., it is the internet that IS the message. But how do we define the “media” of the internet necessary to decipher what the message is. Is the media the broadband cable or telephone line? Is it the monitor of the computer? Is it the web-site? Is it the contents of a page of the web-site? Without a clear definition of the “media” it is difficult to see how McLuhan’s theory can be applied because each type of media, according to McLuhan’s theory, will create a distinct type of message. Without a strict definition, the message of the internet media becomes blurred – and therefore loses its meaning. Furthermore, it could be argued that, especially for the internet, it is not the media that is the message but the CONTENT of the media that is the message. It is precisely the content of web-sites, and not the form of the media, that is the internet's strongest asset and reason for being. The content of any subject within the world is reduced and consolidated onto a web-site. Where a web-page itself is a distilled and pure piece of informational content. Reflecting on my own personal experience of using the internet, I can tell you now that there is a world of difference between the content of my favourite web-sites, such as www.hotandhorneylatinchics.com and websites I do not enjoy such as www.gardenersweekley.com. The media is the same in both cases but the content very different. Perhaps if McLuhan had been around long enough to appreciate www.hotandhorneylatinchics.com then he may have at least re-thought his theory. Without content the internet is nothing. The media of the internet only helps faciliate the content.<br />
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==Conclusion:==<br />
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I have assumed that the period of 10 years constitutes a short period in terms of the medium of the internet. The reason I have assumed this is because other ‘recent’ technological developments such as the television or the radio have existed for about 100 years and still continue to be developed. Likewise the ‘life’ of the internet is still in its infancy and it is anticipated that this, likewise, will also be around for 100+ years. However, I accept that as time passes and society develops, then technological developments themselves become more advanced and are developed quicker. This means that the ‘shelf-life’ of all innovations becomes shorter. What were once major innovations in the 20th Century, such as the television, will have a much longer life than major innovations of the 21st Century. This means that the McLuhan cycle from enhancement to obsoletion becomes that much shorter. <br />
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==The Future?:==<br />
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So where are we heading with all these informational media technological developments? Perhaps the ultimate answer lies with McLuhan. According to his Tribal Man Theory, the more time passes and technology develops, the more basic the existence of man-kind will eventually become. Who knows, by the year 2587 man-kind may be so ‘super-developed’ that we will all get together in our ‘caves’ and try to invent a way of keeping warm at night by “rubbing our sticks together” - now there's a thought!<br />
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Daniel Hall --[[User:81.58.58.178|81.58.58.178]] 05:58, 1 Dec 2004 (MST)</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=UK_House_Prices&diff=12522UK House Prices2004-12-01T12:58:04Z<p>81.58.58.178: </p>
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<div>==Description:==<br />
The UK housing market has witnessed exponential type price increases over the last 5 years. An average two bedroom property in London purchased in 1999 will now have doubled in value. It is necessary to understand the driving forces behind this trend to determine whether now is a good time to purchase property in the UK.<br />
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==Enablers:==<br />
*Interest rates in the UK have been at historically low levels.Strenghth of the RSM brand and positive ranking will induce potential students to apply to the RSM programme<br />
*State of the economy. If the economy is strong then incomes will be higher, people will be in more 'secure' employment and will have the feeling of being able to afford to buy a house.<br />
*There is an imbalance between the demand for housing and the supply of housing, with emand far exceeding supply.<br />
*The demographic increase in the UK has been pronounced over the last 5-10 years. This has partly been due to the influx of immigrants into the UK, especially into London.<br />
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==Inhibitors:==<br />
*The level of interest rates is a key determinant of the level of house prices. The higher the level of interest rates the less house prices will increase due to the increased cost of new borrowing and the increased cost of servicing existing debt.<br />
*Confidence. If the public do not have confidence in the underlying fundamentals driving house prices then this will negatively affect the performance of house prices.<br />
*The multiple of house prices to the level of earnings is at an historical high. This would indicate that a correction in prices is imminent.<br />
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==Paradigms:==<br />
*(Old)- House prices will continue to soar due to demographic factors. Due to the expanding population of the UK, and that of London in particular, it is argued that there is an imbalance between the demand for housing and the supply of housing. It is precisely this imbalance that is the root cause of the price increases.<br />
*(New) - The UK housing market is a market like any other. It is prone to bubbles and crashes and has recently experienced price increases that indicate a bubble is occurring. The market hinges on confidence and when this confidence diminishes then the market will collapse.<br />
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==Experts:==<br />
Please add any comments to the links below.<br />
See John Wrigglesworth of Nationwide for comments on the UK Housing market.<br />
Do not listen to estate agents. They are not experts. They are full of s*@t.<br />
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==Timing:==<br />
*As house prices are highly correlated to interest rates it is necessary to re-assess the housing market on a monthly basis as thi sis when the Bank of England meets to discuss and set interest rates for the next month. There will be a lagged effect on house prices of 2-3 months after the decision but the effect is nonetheless strong.<br />
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==Web Resources:==<br />
http://www.nationwide.co.uk<br />
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http://www.thisislondon.co.uk<br />
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http://www.ft.com<br />
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http://www.reuters.co.uk<br />
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http://www.halifax.co.uk<br />
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- Daniel Hall--[[User:81.58.58.178|81.58.58.178]] 05:58, 1 Dec 2004 (MST)</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=Future_Value_of_an_MBA&diff=12521Future Value of an MBA2004-12-01T12:57:26Z<p>81.58.58.178: </p>
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<div>==Description:==<br />
The MBA degree has witnessed an expolsive increase in the number of people now holding the degree. This has consequences for the individual holding the qualification in terms of future career development as well as consequences for society at large. The more eductaed the workforce, the higher the level of economic activity. Right? The driving force considered specifically focusses on the value of an MBA from the RSM.<br />
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==Enablers:==<br />
*Strenghth of the RSM brand and positive ranking will induce potential students to apply to the RSM programme<br />
*Weakness of the economy. There is a negative correlation between the economic cycle and the number of people studying at business school. The weaker the global economy, the more applications RSM will receive which means that it will have a larger pool of applications to select the best students. Obviously, the better the quality of students entering the programme, the better the ranking of RSM will become. To coin an over used MBA cliche: "Garbage in, Garbage Out".<br />
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==Inhibitors:==<br />
*The variety and quality of other MBA programmes offered by US and European business schools will have an inhibiting effect on the performance of the RSM ranking. The more competition there is in the post graduate educational market, the harder it will be for RSM to rise up in the rankings.<br />
*Negative Rankings. The recent poor performance of RSM in some of the more prestigious rankings (I do not count Intermedier as a prestigious ranking as it only selects Dutch schools for its population)undermines the qulaity of the MBA programme and sends a strong signal to potential MBA applicants. <br />
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==Paradigms:==<br />
*(Old)- The value of an MBA to society is high. It is an elitist qualification which can enable thoe holder of the degree to fast-track his/her career. People will be encouraged to undertake the degree at any institution, including RSM.<br />
*(New) - The market for MBA's is becoming saturated. An MBA will mean nothing as a qualification. The only thing that will matter is the institution that awarded the degree. People will be more reluctant to undertake the degree. RSM is underperforming in the rankings so less people will come here.<br />
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==Experts:==<br />
Please add any comments to the links below.<br />
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==Timing:==<br />
*There is s need to keep a constant eye on the business school rankings in order to follow the performance of RSM<br />
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==Web Resources:==<br />
http://www.rsm.nl<br />
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http://www.businessweek.com<br />
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http://www.ft.com<br />
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http://www.wsj.com<br />
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http://www.efinancialnews.com<br />
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- Daniel Hall--[[User:81.58.58.178|81.58.58.178]] 05:57, 1 Dec 2004 (MST)</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=Storytelling_assignments&diff=12441Storytelling assignments2004-12-01T12:56:54Z<p>81.58.58.178: </p>
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<div>Post your assignment for Barbara here:<br />
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ONE PAGE ASSIGNMENT <br />
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Contribute to the WIKI<br />
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1)please put all ‘felt sense questions on the wiki<br />
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2)where the notes have survived, please put the story illustrating these questions on the wiki<br />
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'''''GROUP Daan, JuanCarles, Katsuya, Lars and Ute'''''<br />
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* Felt sense questions<br />
Lars: Why are som many people in Denmark so scared of Denmark being or turning into a multicultural society?<br />
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Ute: Why do people in Germany think so negatively about the consequences of the economic downturn and why do they not believe in their own influencing power? <br />
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Daan: Why are people in the Netherlands increasingly collectively depressed after a disaster or accident that takes place in society?<br />
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JuanCarles:...<br />
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Katsuya: Why do people in Japan tend to consider world real pain as a virtual one or somebody else's problem?<br />
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* Story<br />
A Japanese travelling around the world. He first arrives in Denmark. What do the people say here?<br />
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The Japanese arrives in Denmark. Thrilled and enthused by the great countryside, the clean and small country, Lego, the little mermaid, and the beautiful cities, he turnes to a Danish person and asks: "I really enjoy your country and I would like to stay here permanently! Is that all right with you?". The Dane hesitates for a moment and then responds: "You know, I would really like to help, but I'm somewhat scared of you. You don't look like us, you don't talk like us, you don't have the same habbits and not even God knows what kind of damage you can cause in our country. It is probably better that you spend some time here as a tourist, take many photos and enjoy our hospitality. You are more than welcome to do that, but then you need to move on and leave again! Why don't you try our friends downs souht, the Germans. They are friendly to foreigners .... I think?<br />
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Then he decides to go to Germany. He assumes that everything will be in order there and he is looking forward. But unfortunately the economic downturn has influenced the people severely. Everyone is complaining about the difficulties to find and maintain a job, to have enough money and to secure the overall wealth. People fear the consequences of the downturn so much that they are all in a deep depression. <br />
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Then the Japanese traveler asks: “Where should I go next?” The German responds that he should go to the Netherlands, since that country is well known for its hospitality, tolerance and open-mindedness. The Dutch would definitely welcome him friendly and treat him in a good manner. The Japanese traveler thus takes the train to the Netherlands and sees from the window a flat and green landscape. And many cows. He gets off in Amsterdam and walks from the railway station towards the city center, the Dam. A couple of hundred meters later he gets stuck in a massive crowd, all cheering and making a lot of noise. Strange the traveler thinks, and he asks a person what is going on in the city. “Is there a party or something?” “No, to the contrary” the Dutchman says. “We are all protesting as someone was shot today because he spoke for what he thought (filmmaker Theo van Gogh was killed by a Muslim fundamentalist). Apparently, people don’t have the freedom of speech anymore in Holland. Therefore, we are angry!” The Japanese then asks: “Do you think it would be wise for me to stay here?” The Dutchman responds that in his opinion he should immediately leave as this country is not as tolerant as it used to be. Strange, the traveler thinks, a country with such a reputation in such depressed mood. <br />
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“So, where should I go next?” he asks. The Dutchman responds that he should go to South, Spain, since in that country the sun always shines and life is good. Thus the Japanese traveler takes the plain to Madrid to get some positive energy. No knowing what to expect and experience he met a spanish person during his visit to the coutry. The Spanish told him that he was pretty disapointed of the recent news he got from the newspaper. Some terrist attack was prepared some days ago, and as a consequence a person die. All the media attention was in this poor victim, and a lot of politicians were discussing on the last days what to do to improve the situtation and to finnish the activity of the terrorist group ETA. But the Spannish man was reflecting about the value of the life, because at the same time that this victim of the terrorism died, other hundreds of persons die on subdevelop countries as a counsequence of lack of basic medice and food, and they do not get any attention and any european politician is speaking about them. The Japanese understood that was not environment that he wanted for the furute.<br />
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Finally he goes back home to Japan. Life, it seemed to him, was very safe and secure in Japan. However, he has found that Cabinet Office survey was showing that 55.9% of Japanese thought that Japan was not a safe or secure country to live in anymore. For example, it is common knowledge among Japanese people that crime in Japan has been increased and drugs in Japan are fast becoming a social problem. Moreover, according to the Japanese government, if present population trends continue, by the end of the next millennium, Tokyo will be a ghost town, and Japan will be empty. The country's population will be just 500 by the year 3000, and just one by 3500. When that person dies, the Japanese nation will be no more - a mathematical CERTAINTY if Japanese women carry on having just 1.4 children each on average. He really wants to know what will happen in future Japan and in the future world. (to be continued in the scenario thinking)<br />
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'''''Group: Eser, Stian, Amedeo, Edo, Katsushi and Frederik'''''<br />
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'''Felt-sense questions:'''<br />
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Eser: What are the potential cultural and social risks that will be faced by small countries, as a result of their membership of large, highly developed and individualistic communities. <br />
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Edo: Why do people, even in the most developed communities, insist to vote for incapable administrators and governors?<br />
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Amedeo: Why can't people see incapability and selfish attitude of governors that affect the fate of huge populations?<br />
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Stian: Why are people so self-centered and unwilling to try to make other people's lives easier in the Netherlands, especially if they are actually working in service positions?<br />
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Katsushi: Why do people have severe security issues even in less developed countries like Papua New Guinea?<br />
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Frederik: Why do people in less developed countries/communities seem to have more respect than people in very developed societies? <br />
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'''STORY:'''<br />
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There was a young girl who has grown in a small village, living in a society where everyone knew each other. In this society they were not very rich, so things that happened to one person felt like it happened to all the people. Because of this, they all took great care of each other, and everyone was feeling safe and relaxed. Everyone was trying to help other people, and if you asked someone for help, they would never say no or tell people to do it themselves. <br />
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Her village was the nicest place on earth, with a nice and warm climate and a sky that always seemed to be blue, and the girl was very happy there. But she kept hearing stories about the amazing life in the big and developed city not too far away. Although she liked her life in the village, in the end she was so curious about the big city that she decided to move there to experience that magical life. However, starting a new life in the city was not as easy and comfortable as she expected. <br />
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She soon had to ask for help, and she went to the city hall, where all the administrators of the city resided. But when she asked them for help, she had the feeling that because her dialect was different, they did not want to help her, and all they said was "we do not do it like that", or "that is not my responsibility". This made her very sad, as she was used to people being considerate of each other, and she could not understand it. She heard so much nice things about the city, so why were they treating her like this? <br />
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After some time in the big city, she felt she could not take it anymore, and decided to go back to her small village. Happy to return to the safe environment she knew and loved, she started feeling a bit uncomfortable when she was getting near her village. There were so many loud noises, and it seemed people were more focused on their own benefits than they were when she left. It seemed some of the villagers that had also gone to the big city had become very wealthy, and some other villagers that had also gone to the city had become very poor. This caused grievances, and she was very afraid when she heard that some people had been attacked and robbed in the middle of the main street. That would never have happened before, she thought.<br />
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Being afraid of these things, she went to the village administration to talk to them and see what she could do to help. She entered the office of the counselor, but did not recognize any of the people there. So she asked a man passing by where she could find the counselor, but he just looked at her and said "I don't know" and went into another room. Surprised by this, she knocked on the door to the nearest office and approached the woman behind the desk. She said she was frightened about what had happened to the village and wanted to talk to someone about what she could do. The woman behind the desk asked her to fill out a form, but the girl said she just wanted to speak to someone. "Sorry", said the lady, "we don't do it that way. It's not my responsibility".<br />
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Discouraged and unhappy, the girl went outside. She felt it was getting chilly and pulled her coat tighter around her. As she huddled down the street, she felt raindrops hitting her head and running cold down her neck, and as she looked up at the now grey sky, she wondered if she would ever find her home again.<br />
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'''''Group: Claudie, Lucia, Luis, Kelly, Mari, Mike'''''<br />
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'''Felt-sense questions:'''<br />
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Claudie: Why do French people have a tendency to be pessimistic and complain about life even if they enjoy it?<br />
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Mike: How is it possible that in the US wealthy, educated and upwardly mobile people live literally accross the street from poor, uneducated people who have lost hope entirely and yet the two never interact and never really influence each other?<br />
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'''STORY:'''<br />
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Paul walks around Oasis Green, a suburb outside of Urbanville, in his Louis Vuitton Kevlar bubble. Paul and his girlfriend, Sally, always wear their bubbles since now there is the constant threat of being shot by terrorists or their unprivileged neighbors, not to mention the skin-eating acid rain and cancerous UV rays. Inside their designer bubbles, they throw “live for the moment” parties, complete with champagne and caviar. Since they never know when the end might be, they live for today and enjoy the moment. <br />
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Their political leader, Narciscos Machiavellius, encourages this fear of everything everywhere since his family owns the exclusive worldwide patent to Kevlar and is currently running the only factory in the world producing the in-demand Kevlar bubbles.<br />
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On the other side of Paul and Sally’s street, Division Street, lives Dishon Jones. Dishon does not wear a designer Kevlar bubble, but instead bought his bubble at the dollar store on the corner. Dishon and his friends are throwing back 40s of Colt 45 (malt liquor) in their own version of a “live for the moment” party. They cower in a corner on the sidewalk because they do not want to put their bubbles to the test -- everyone knows that bubbles from the dollar store are only about 5% Kevlar at best. It starts to rain, and Dishon pours Colt 45 on his burns from the acid rain that is eating through his $.99 blue-light special bubble….<br />
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'''Group : Kentaro, Ricardo, Miguel, Taro'''<br />
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'''Felt-sense questions:'''<br />
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Taro: Recently there are a lot of internet discussion board where any one can write as being anonymous. Anyone can put anything such as private information, confidential information of company, personal attacks, etc. The phenomena may change the country drasatically...<br />
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Ricardo: In Peru, it is difficult to understand why people fight each other not only across the different social classes (because of the wide gap between rich and poor people), but also within each social class (sometimes due to the envy, the need of money and create a differences –sub classes-)<br />
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Ken: I also think Internet changes the way world exists. Annonymous internet board is a kind of threat to not only individuals but also companies...<br />
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Miguel: In Venezula, government divided people in two groups with a certain political reason. Each group is fighting always, which creates social anziety in Venezuela. I do not know what is going on from now on...<br />
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'''Story'''<br />
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Now, people in anywhere in the world are separatng because of many reasons. In Japan, anonymous people in internet are attacking a specific individual or company in discussion board. Many rumors flows from the website, but no one knows the information in the website is true or not. Some famous professor in reputational university in Japan was forced to resign because his secret love affair with his student was disclosed in website. Some company lost its faith because some unsatisfied employees disclose secret information of the company on the internet. Because of anonymous attack on the internet, people are getting nervous and doubt gnaws at even colleagues working together. People are getting divided.<br />
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Even in another part in the world, people are getting divided. In Venezuela (like almost all countries in Latin America) the current president (a Dictator) is trying to get a new way to still divide the society and get the polarization needed for remaining in the government for many, many years. Since his past moves were detected by the society (and the opposition), this Dictator, once he knew about the Japanese website, traveled to Asia to have a meeting with two of the owners of this Japanese site and see the form to apply it to the Venezuelan reality.<br />
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'''Group : Arif, Ricardo, Carmel, Daniel'''<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Life at RSM'''<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Felt Sense Questions'''<br />
<br />
Arif:Why do people spend much of their life in jobs that they hate to do? Why do we put up with this and why do we all do little to change the direction of our life<br />
<br />
Carmel: Why are there so many tram conductors on the trams in Holland<br />
<br />
Ricardo: Why is the service in Holland so bad<br />
<br />
Daniel: Has the MBA fulfilled our expectations and will it help our future career paths? Was it all worth it?<br />
<br />
'''Story'''<br />
The story consisted of fictional character who was in a job that he hated and decided to do something about it. He decides to visit RSM to embark upon an MBA. The story describes his experiences at RSM, including the ups and downs, and ends with him finding another boring job at the end of the programme. The idea behind the story is that the person has experienced a loop and is no better off having completed his MBA.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
-----------<br />
<br />
<br />
ONE PAGE ASSIGNMENT FOR EVERYONE<br />
<br />
3)Look at all the sayings, unwritten laws, questions for the Oracle and your own group’s “felt sense” questions and story.<br />
<br />
4)What are the critical research questions you need to ask as you shape your scenario work?<br />
<br />
Please put your research questions here. [[Research questions]]<br />
<br />
----------------</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=Storytelling_assignments&diff=1155Storytelling assignments2004-12-01T12:55:34Z<p>81.58.58.178: </p>
<hr />
<div>Post your assignment for Barbara here:<br />
<br />
<br />
------------<br />
<br />
ONE PAGE ASSIGNMENT <br />
<br />
Contribute to the WIKI<br />
<br />
1)please put all ‘felt sense questions on the wiki<br />
<br />
2)where the notes have survived, please put the story illustrating these questions on the wiki<br />
<br />
<br />
------------<br />
<br />
<br />
'''''GROUP Daan, JuanCarles, Katsuya, Lars and Ute'''''<br />
<br />
* Felt sense questions<br />
Lars: Why are som many people in Denmark so scared of Denmark being or turning into a multicultural society?<br />
<br />
Ute: Why do people in Germany think so negatively about the consequences of the economic downturn and why do they not believe in their own influencing power? <br />
<br />
Daan: Why are people in the Netherlands increasingly collectively depressed after a disaster or accident that takes place in society?<br />
<br />
JuanCarles:...<br />
<br />
Katsuya: Why do people in Japan tend to consider world real pain as a virtual one or somebody else's problem?<br />
<br />
* Story<br />
A Japanese travelling around the world. He first arrives in Denmark. What do the people say here?<br />
<br />
The Japanese arrives in Denmark. Thrilled and enthused by the great countryside, the clean and small country, Lego, the little mermaid, and the beautiful cities, he turnes to a Danish person and asks: "I really enjoy your country and I would like to stay here permanently! Is that all right with you?". The Dane hesitates for a moment and then responds: "You know, I would really like to help, but I'm somewhat scared of you. You don't look like us, you don't talk like us, you don't have the same habbits and not even God knows what kind of damage you can cause in our country. It is probably better that you spend some time here as a tourist, take many photos and enjoy our hospitality. You are more than welcome to do that, but then you need to move on and leave again! Why don't you try our friends downs souht, the Germans. They are friendly to foreigners .... I think?<br />
<br />
Then he decides to go to Germany. He assumes that everything will be in order there and he is looking forward. But unfortunately the economic downturn has influenced the people severely. Everyone is complaining about the difficulties to find and maintain a job, to have enough money and to secure the overall wealth. People fear the consequences of the downturn so much that they are all in a deep depression. <br />
<br />
Then the Japanese traveler asks: “Where should I go next?” The German responds that he should go to the Netherlands, since that country is well known for its hospitality, tolerance and open-mindedness. The Dutch would definitely welcome him friendly and treat him in a good manner. The Japanese traveler thus takes the train to the Netherlands and sees from the window a flat and green landscape. And many cows. He gets off in Amsterdam and walks from the railway station towards the city center, the Dam. A couple of hundred meters later he gets stuck in a massive crowd, all cheering and making a lot of noise. Strange the traveler thinks, and he asks a person what is going on in the city. “Is there a party or something?” “No, to the contrary” the Dutchman says. “We are all protesting as someone was shot today because he spoke for what he thought (filmmaker Theo van Gogh was killed by a Muslim fundamentalist). Apparently, people don’t have the freedom of speech anymore in Holland. Therefore, we are angry!” The Japanese then asks: “Do you think it would be wise for me to stay here?” The Dutchman responds that in his opinion he should immediately leave as this country is not as tolerant as it used to be. Strange, the traveler thinks, a country with such a reputation in such depressed mood. <br />
<br />
“So, where should I go next?” he asks. The Dutchman responds that he should go to South, Spain, since in that country the sun always shines and life is good. Thus the Japanese traveler takes the plain to Madrid to get some positive energy. No knowing what to expect and experience he met a spanish person during his visit to the coutry. The Spanish told him that he was pretty disapointed of the recent news he got from the newspaper. Some terrist attack was prepared some days ago, and as a consequence a person die. All the media attention was in this poor victim, and a lot of politicians were discussing on the last days what to do to improve the situtation and to finnish the activity of the terrorist group ETA. But the Spannish man was reflecting about the value of the life, because at the same time that this victim of the terrorism died, other hundreds of persons die on subdevelop countries as a counsequence of lack of basic medice and food, and they do not get any attention and any european politician is speaking about them. The Japanese understood that was not environment that he wanted for the furute.<br />
<br />
Finally he goes back home to Japan. Life, it seemed to him, was very safe and secure in Japan. However, he has found that Cabinet Office survey was showing that 55.9% of Japanese thought that Japan was not a safe or secure country to live in anymore. For example, it is common knowledge among Japanese people that crime in Japan has been increased and drugs in Japan are fast becoming a social problem. Moreover, according to the Japanese government, if present population trends continue, by the end of the next millennium, Tokyo will be a ghost town, and Japan will be empty. The country's population will be just 500 by the year 3000, and just one by 3500. When that person dies, the Japanese nation will be no more - a mathematical CERTAINTY if Japanese women carry on having just 1.4 children each on average. He really wants to know what will happen in future Japan and in the future world. (to be continued in the scenario thinking)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''''Group: Eser, Stian, Amedeo, Edo, Katsushi and Frederik'''''<br />
<br />
'''Felt-sense questions:'''<br />
<br />
Eser: What are the potential cultural and social risks that will be faced by small countries, as a result of their membership of large, highly developed and individualistic communities. <br />
<br />
Edo: Why do people, even in the most developed communities, insist to vote for incapable administrators and governors?<br />
<br />
Amedeo: Why can't people see incapability and selfish attitude of governors that affect the fate of huge populations?<br />
<br />
Stian: Why are people so self-centered and unwilling to try to make other people's lives easier in the Netherlands, especially if they are actually working in service positions?<br />
<br />
Katsushi: Why do people have severe security issues even in less developed countries like Papua New Guinea?<br />
<br />
Frederik: Why do people in less developed countries/communities seem to have more respect than people in very developed societies? <br />
<br />
'''STORY:'''<br />
<br />
There was a young girl who has grown in a small village, living in a society where everyone knew each other. In this society they were not very rich, so things that happened to one person felt like it happened to all the people. Because of this, they all took great care of each other, and everyone was feeling safe and relaxed. Everyone was trying to help other people, and if you asked someone for help, they would never say no or tell people to do it themselves. <br />
<br />
Her village was the nicest place on earth, with a nice and warm climate and a sky that always seemed to be blue, and the girl was very happy there. But she kept hearing stories about the amazing life in the big and developed city not too far away. Although she liked her life in the village, in the end she was so curious about the big city that she decided to move there to experience that magical life. However, starting a new life in the city was not as easy and comfortable as she expected. <br />
<br />
She soon had to ask for help, and she went to the city hall, where all the administrators of the city resided. But when she asked them for help, she had the feeling that because her dialect was different, they did not want to help her, and all they said was "we do not do it like that", or "that is not my responsibility". This made her very sad, as she was used to people being considerate of each other, and she could not understand it. She heard so much nice things about the city, so why were they treating her like this? <br />
<br />
After some time in the big city, she felt she could not take it anymore, and decided to go back to her small village. Happy to return to the safe environment she knew and loved, she started feeling a bit uncomfortable when she was getting near her village. There were so many loud noises, and it seemed people were more focused on their own benefits than they were when she left. It seemed some of the villagers that had also gone to the big city had become very wealthy, and some other villagers that had also gone to the city had become very poor. This caused grievances, and she was very afraid when she heard that some people had been attacked and robbed in the middle of the main street. That would never have happened before, she thought.<br />
<br />
Being afraid of these things, she went to the village administration to talk to them and see what she could do to help. She entered the office of the counselor, but did not recognize any of the people there. So she asked a man passing by where she could find the counselor, but he just looked at her and said "I don't know" and went into another room. Surprised by this, she knocked on the door to the nearest office and approached the woman behind the desk. She said she was frightened about what had happened to the village and wanted to talk to someone about what she could do. The woman behind the desk asked her to fill out a form, but the girl said she just wanted to speak to someone. "Sorry", said the lady, "we don't do it that way. It's not my responsibility".<br />
<br />
Discouraged and unhappy, the girl went outside. She felt it was getting chilly and pulled her coat tighter around her. As she huddled down the street, she felt raindrops hitting her head and running cold down her neck, and as she looked up at the now grey sky, she wondered if she would ever find her home again.<br />
<br />
<br />
'''''Group: Claudie, Lucia, Luis, Kelly, Mari, Mike'''''<br />
<br />
'''Felt-sense questions:'''<br />
<br />
Claudie: Why do French people have a tendency to be pessimistic and complain about life even if they enjoy it?<br />
<br />
Mike: How is it possible that in the US wealthy, educated and upwardly mobile people live literally accross the street from poor, uneducated people who have lost hope entirely and yet the two never interact and never really influence each other?<br />
<br />
'''STORY:'''<br />
<br />
Paul walks around Oasis Green, a suburb outside of Urbanville, in his Louis Vuitton Kevlar bubble. Paul and his girlfriend, Sally, always wear their bubbles since now there is the constant threat of being shot by terrorists or their unprivileged neighbors, not to mention the skin-eating acid rain and cancerous UV rays. Inside their designer bubbles, they throw “live for the moment” parties, complete with champagne and caviar. Since they never know when the end might be, they live for today and enjoy the moment. <br />
<br />
Their political leader, Narciscos Machiavellius, encourages this fear of everything everywhere since his family owns the exclusive worldwide patent to Kevlar and is currently running the only factory in the world producing the in-demand Kevlar bubbles.<br />
<br />
On the other side of Paul and Sally’s street, Division Street, lives Dishon Jones. Dishon does not wear a designer Kevlar bubble, but instead bought his bubble at the dollar store on the corner. Dishon and his friends are throwing back 40s of Colt 45 (malt liquor) in their own version of a “live for the moment” party. They cower in a corner on the sidewalk because they do not want to put their bubbles to the test -- everyone knows that bubbles from the dollar store are only about 5% Kevlar at best. It starts to rain, and Dishon pours Colt 45 on his burns from the acid rain that is eating through his $.99 blue-light special bubble….<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Group : Kentaro, Ricardo, Miguel, Taro'''<br />
<br />
'''Felt-sense questions:'''<br />
<br />
Taro: Recently there are a lot of internet discussion board where any one can write as being anonymous. Anyone can put anything such as private information, confidential information of company, personal attacks, etc. The phenomena may change the country drasatically...<br />
<br />
Ricardo: In Peru, it is difficult to understand why people fight each other not only across the different social classes (because of the wide gap between rich and poor people), but also within each social class (sometimes due to the envy, the need of money and create a differences –sub classes-)<br />
<br />
Ken: I also think Internet changes the way world exists. Annonymous internet board is a kind of threat to not only individuals but also companies...<br />
<br />
Miguel: In Venezula, government divided people in two groups with a certain political reason. Each group is fighting always, which creates social anziety in Venezuela. I do not know what is going on from now on...<br />
<br />
'''Story'''<br />
<br />
Now, people in anywhere in the world are separatng because of many reasons. In Japan, anonymous people in internet are attacking a specific individual or company in discussion board. Many rumors flows from the website, but no one knows the information in the website is true or not. Some famous professor in reputational university in Japan was forced to resign because his secret love affair with his student was disclosed in website. Some company lost its faith because some unsatisfied employees disclose secret information of the company on the internet. Because of anonymous attack on the internet, people are getting nervous and doubt gnaws at even colleagues working together. People are getting divided.<br />
<br />
Even in another part in the world, people are getting divided. In Venezuela (like almost all countries in Latin America) the current president (a Dictator) is trying to get a new way to still divide the society and get the polarization needed for remaining in the government for many, many years. Since his past moves were detected by the society (and the opposition), this Dictator, once he knew about the Japanese website, traveled to Asia to have a meeting with two of the owners of this Japanese site and see the form to apply it to the Venezuelan reality.<br />
<br />
'''Group : Arif, Ricardo, Carmel, Daniel'''<br />
<br />
'''Life at RSM'''<br />
<br />
'''Felt Sense Questions'''<br />
<br />
Arif:Why do people spend much of their life in jobs that they hate to do? Why do we put up with this and why do we all do little to change the direction of our life<br />
<br />
Carmel: Why are there so many tram conductors on the trams in Holland<br />
<br />
Ricardo: Why is the service in Holland so bad<br />
<br />
Daniel: Has the MBA fulfilled our expectations and will it help our future career paths? Was it all worth it?<br />
<br />
'''Story'''<br />
The story consisted of fictional character who was in a job that he hated and decided to do something about it. He decides to visit RSM to embark upon an MBA. The story describes his experiences at RSM, including the ups and downs, and ends with him finding another boring job at the end of the programme. The idea behind the story is that the person has experienced a loop and is no better off having completed his MBA.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
-----------<br />
<br />
<br />
ONE PAGE ASSIGNMENT FOR EVERYONE<br />
<br />
3)Look at all the sayings, unwritten laws, questions for the Oracle and your own group’s “felt sense” questions and story.<br />
<br />
4)What are the critical research questions you need to ask as you shape your scenario work?<br />
<br />
Please put your research questions here. [[Research questions]]<br />
<br />
----------------</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=Liberalization_of_the_Dutch_health_care_system&diff=1141Liberalization of the Dutch health care system2004-12-01T10:40:20Z<p>81.58.58.178: /* Experts: */</p>
<hr />
<div>Here is a template to upload driving forces. <br />
<br />
==Description:==<br />
Number of MBA student applications to RSM<br />
<br />
==Enablers:==<br />
*Strenghth of the RSM brand and ranking<br />
*Weakness of the economy (MBA applications are counter-cyclical)<br />
<br />
==Inhibitors:==<br />
*Variety of other programmes offered by european business schools (competition)<br />
*Negative Rankings<br />
<br />
==Paradigms:==<br />
*(Old)- The value of an MBA to society is high. It is an elitist qualification which can enable thoe holder of the degree to fast-track his/her career. People will be encouraged to undertake the degree.<br />
*(New) - The market for MBA's is becoming saturated. An MBA will mean nothing as a qualification. The only thing that will matter is the institution that awarded the degree. People will be more reluctant to undertake the degree.<br />
<br />
==Experts:==<br />
Please add any comments to the links below.<br />
<br />
==Timing:==<br />
<br />
==Web Resources:==</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=Liberalization_of_the_Dutch_health_care_system&diff=1134Liberalization of the Dutch health care system2004-12-01T10:39:26Z<p>81.58.58.178: /* Paradigms: */</p>
<hr />
<div>Here is a template to upload driving forces. <br />
<br />
==Description:==<br />
Number of MBA student applications to RSM<br />
<br />
==Enablers:==<br />
*Strenghth of the RSM brand and ranking<br />
*Weakness of the economy (MBA applications are counter-cyclical)<br />
<br />
==Inhibitors:==<br />
*Variety of other programmes offered by european business schools (competition)<br />
*Negative Rankings<br />
<br />
==Paradigms:==<br />
*(Old)- The value of an MBA to society is high. It is an elitist qualification which can enable thoe holder of the degree to fast-track his/her career. People will be encouraged to undertake the degree.<br />
*(New) - The market for MBA's is becoming saturated. An MBA will mean nothing as a qualification. The only thing that will matter is the institution that awarded the degree. People will be more reluctant to undertake the degree.<br />
<br />
==Experts:==<br />
<br />
==Timing:==<br />
<br />
==Web Resources:==</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=Liberalization_of_the_Dutch_health_care_system&diff=1133Liberalization of the Dutch health care system2004-12-01T10:30:24Z<p>81.58.58.178: /* Inhibitors: */</p>
<hr />
<div>Here is a template to upload driving forces. <br />
<br />
==Description:==<br />
Number of MBA student applications to RSM<br />
<br />
==Enablers:==<br />
*Strenghth of the RSM brand and ranking<br />
*Weakness of the economy (MBA applications are counter-cyclical)<br />
<br />
==Inhibitors:==<br />
*Variety of other programmes offered by european business schools (competition)<br />
*Negative Rankings<br />
<br />
==Paradigms:==<br />
<br />
==Experts:==<br />
<br />
==Timing:==<br />
<br />
==Web Resources:==</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=Liberalization_of_the_Dutch_health_care_system&diff=1132Liberalization of the Dutch health care system2004-12-01T10:29:06Z<p>81.58.58.178: /* Enablers: */</p>
<hr />
<div>Here is a template to upload driving forces. <br />
<br />
==Description:==<br />
Number of MBA student applications to RSM<br />
<br />
==Enablers:==<br />
*Strenghth of the RSM brand and ranking<br />
*Weakness of the economy (MBA applications are counter-cyclical)<br />
<br />
==Inhibitors:==<br />
<br />
==Paradigms:==<br />
<br />
==Experts:==<br />
<br />
==Timing:==<br />
<br />
==Web Resources:==</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=Liberalization_of_the_Dutch_health_care_system&diff=1131Liberalization of the Dutch health care system2004-12-01T10:25:45Z<p>81.58.58.178: /* Description: */</p>
<hr />
<div>Here is a template to upload driving forces. <br />
<br />
==Description:==<br />
Number of MBA student applications to RSM<br />
<br />
==Enablers:==<br />
<br />
==Inhibitors:==<br />
<br />
==Paradigms:==<br />
<br />
==Experts:==<br />
<br />
==Timing:==<br />
<br />
==Web Resources:==</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=McLuhan_Essay_-_Daniel_Hall&diff=1145McLuhan Essay - Daniel Hall2004-12-01T01:48:00Z<p>81.58.58.178: </p>
<hr />
<div>What changes do you expect in the information society in the next ten years? Write a essay what you expect to happen, and why - using a critical review of McLuhan's theories (i.e. basing it on his thinking, or basing it on a cirtique on his thinking).<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Introduction<br />
<br />
It is possible to analyse the future developments of information within society over the next 10 years using the McLuhan framework, whether you agree or disagree with his theory. When using the McLuhan framework to base the analysis, it is necessary to take a ‘step back’ from the real world. You must do this because it is necessary to appreciate the whole picture. By this I mean it is necessary to analyse the world not on a Newtonian fragmented basis but rather on a basis that sees the world and the fabric of society as being interdependent and interconnected throughout. What happens in Los Angeles affects what happens in New York. What happens in nature affects technology. Everything and anything in this world is somehow related. According to McLuhan, it is only when you have an understanding of how the world works within this connectedness that it is possible to predict how the world will develop in the future. Support for the application of this argument indicates is that it is no coincidence that it was McLuhan that predicted the internet or “Information Superhighway” decades before it permeated into everyday life. If his theories can predict the creation of the internet, then his theories can predict the development of the internet, the demise of the internet and the extinction of the internet. As this paper is focussed only on the next ten years, I will argue that it is impossible to apply the McLuhan theory to the internet because the period of 10 years is too short to experience the full McLuhan theoretical circle of “Enhance-Obsolete-Retrieve-Reverse”. The next 10 years of the internet will predominately be concerned with the “enhance” aspect of McLuhan’s theory, with the possibility of, by 2015, witnessing the first signs of “Obsoletion”. I would predict that the stages of “Retrieval and Reversion” will only happen within the next 50-100 years – which incidentally seems like the same time spent doing an MBA at RSM.<br />
<br />
McLuhan’s Theory<br />
<br />
To narrow the scope of this essay into a manageable form for the purposes of this assignment (i.e. 1-2 pages) I will restrict my definition of “information society” solely to mean the internet. Furthermore, for the reasons stated above, I will only focus on the “Enhancement” that the internet will provide society over a 10 year period (i.e. a relatively short period for the internet). So what has the internet enhanced?<br />
<br />
The internet has primarily enhanced information. The ability to collect, collate, analyse or disseminate information has never been so advanced. A simple example illustrates the point. As an undergraduate student at University, I would often be given ‘meaningless’ essays to write. In order for me to write these ‘meaningless’ essays it was necessary for me to get my photo taken to be placed on a library card, fill out mountains of paperwork declaring my personal details, pay a fee to join the library, get the library card issued, visit the library on the day of the essay, look in an antiquated card filing system to discover the reference of the book I was after, understand the layout of the library so that I could connect the book reference with its location in the library, try to locate the correct floor of the library and then the correct section of that floor and then the isle of the section and then the shelf of the isle and then the correct section on the shelf…..to find that some basta@**d has beaten me to it!<br />
<br />
With the internet, I type the book reference into a search engine, press ENTER and up pops the article that I am looking for. Then it is a simple procedure of “SELECT ALL / COPY / PASTE DOCUMENT” change the title of the author & article and, hey presto, I have one essay ready to hand in, meaning that as a student I then get more time to spend in the pub with my mates doing what students do best (this scenario assumes that I have not had my university education terminated due to blatent plagarism). The important point here is that the internet has facilitated the ease to research the essay and therefore enhanced both the quality of the essay, due to the wider spectrum of papers to research, and enhanced my life as I spend less time doing the meaningless ‘administrative’ actions prior to doing the necessary research I had to do as an undergraduate.<br />
<br />
Another development that the internet has created is the possibility of people to be more connected with the world. This is whether we are more connected as people with other people or with world events, technology, commerce, financial markets etc etc. In short we are more connected with “everything”. This enhanced connection is interesting in a McLuhan context because it is precisely his theory that propagates that the world is not fragmented or compartmentalised, as modern society so often interprets it to be, but is actually connected, in totality, at some level. This phenomenon would support McLuhan’s theory. However, it is questionable that the internet supports McLuhan’s theories at other levels. One of the main arguments of McLuhan is that media is the message. I.e., it is the internet that IS the message. But how do we define the “media” of the internet necessary to decipher what the message is. Is the media the broadband cable or telephone line? Is it the monitor of the computer? Is it the web-site? Is it the contents of a page of the web-site? Without a clear definition of the “media” it is difficult to see how McLuhan’s theory can be applied because each type of media, according to McLuhan’s theory, will create a distinct type of message. Without a strict definition, the message of the internet media becomes blurred – and therefore loses its meaning. Furthermore, it could be argued that, especially for the internet, it is not the media that is the message but the CONTENT of the media that is the message. It is precisely the content of web-sites, and not the form of the media, that is the internet's strongest asset and reason for being. The content of any subject within the world is reduced and consolidated onto a web-site. Where a web-page itself is a distilled and pure piece of informational content. Reflecting on my own personal experience of using the internet, I can tell you now that there is a world of difference between the content of my favourite web-sites, such as www.hotandhorneylatinchics.com and websites I do not enjoy such as www.gardenersweekley.com. The media is the same in both cases but the content very different. Perhaps if McLuhan had been around long enough to appreciate www.hotandhorneylatinchics.com then he may have at least re-thought his theory. Without content the internet is nothing. The media of the internet only helps faciliate the content.<br />
<br />
Conclusion<br />
<br />
I have assumed that the period of 10 years constitutes a short period in terms of the medium of the internet. The reason I have assumed this is because other ‘recent’ technological developments such as the television or the radio have existed for about 100 years and still continue to be developed. Likewise the ‘life’ of the internet is still in its infancy and it is anticipated that this, likewise, will also be around for 100+ years. However, I accept that as time passes and society develops, then technological developments themselves become more advanced and are developed quicker. This means that the ‘shelf-life’ of all innovations becomes shorter. What were once major innovations in the 20th Century, such as the television, will have a much longer life than major innovations of the 21st Century. This means that the McLuhan cycle from enhancement to obsoletion becomes that much shorter. <br />
<br />
The Future?<br />
<br />
So where are we heading with all these informational media technological developments? Perhaps the ultimate answer lies with McLuhan. According to his Tribal Man Theory, the more time passes and technology develops, the more basic the existence of man-kind will eventually become. Who knows, by the year 2587 man-kind may be so ‘super-developed’ that we will all get together in our ‘caves’ and try to invent a way of keeping warm at night by “rubbing our sticks together” - now there's a thought!</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=McLuhan_Essay_-_Daniel_Hall&diff=1128McLuhan Essay - Daniel Hall2004-12-01T01:24:44Z<p>81.58.58.178: </p>
<hr />
<div>What changes do you expect in the information society in the next ten years? Write a essay what you expect to happen, and why - using a critical review of McLuhan's theories (i.e. basing it on his thinking, or basing it on a cirtique on his thinking).<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Introduction<br />
<br />
It is possible to analyse the future developments of information within society over the next 10 years using the McLuhan framework, whether you agree or disagree with his theory. When using the McLuhan framework to base the analysis, it is necessary to take a ‘step back’ from the real world. You must do this because it is necessary to appreciate the whole picture. By this I mean it is necessary to analyse the world not on a Newtonian fragmented basis but rather on a basis that sees the world and the fabric of society as being interdependent and interconnected throughout. What happens in Los Angeles affects what happens in New York. What happens in nature affects technology. Everything and anything in this world is somehow related. According to McLuhan, it is only when you have an understanding of how the world works within this connectedness that it is possible to predict how the world will develop in the future. Support for the application of this argument indicates is that it is no coincidence that it was McLuhan that predicted the internet or “Information Superhighway” decades before it permeated into everyday life. If his theories can predict the creation of the internet, then his theories can predict the development of the internet, the demise of the internet and the extinction of the internet. As this paper is focussed only on the next ten years, I will argue that it is impossible to apply the McLuhan theory to the internet because the period of 10 years is too short to experience the full McLuhan theoretical circle of “Enhance-Obsolete-Retrieve-Reverse”. The next 10 years of the internet will predominately be concerned with the “enhance” aspect of McLuhan’s theory, with the possibility of, by 2015, witnessing the first signs of “Obsoletion”. I would predict that the stages of “Retrieval and Reversion” will only happen within the next 50-100 years – which incidentally seems like the same time spent doing an MBA at RSM.<br />
<br />
McLuhan’s Theory<br />
<br />
To narrow the scope of this essay into a manageable form for the purposes of this assignment (i.e. 1-2 pages) I will restrict my definition of “information society” solely to mean the internet. Furthermore, for the reasons stated above, I will only focus on the “Enhancement” that the internet will provide society over a 10 year period (i.e. a relatively short period for the internet). So what has the internet enhanced?<br />
<br />
The internet has primarily enhanced information. The ability to collect, collate, analyse or disseminate information has never been so advanced. A simple example illustrates the point. As an undergraduate student at University, I would often be given ‘meaningless’ essays to write. In order for me to write these ‘meaningless’ essays it was necessary for me to get my photo taken to be placed on a library card, fill out mountains of paperwork declaring my personal details, pay a fee to join the library, get the library card issued, visit the library on the day of the essay, look in an antiquated card filing system to discover the reference of the book I was after, understand the layout of the library so that I could connect the book reference with its location in the library, try to locate the correct floor of the library and then the correct section of that floor and then the isle of the section and then the shelf of the isle and then the correct section on the shelf…..to find that some basta@**d has beaten me to it!<br />
<br />
With the internet, I type the book reference into a search engine, press ENTER and up pops the article that I am looking for. Then it is a simple procedure of “SELECT ALL / COPY / PASTE DOCUMENT” change the title of the author & article and, hey presto, I have one essay ready to hand in, meaning that as a student I then get more time to spend in the pub with my mates doing what students do best (this scenario assumes that I have not had my university education terminated due to blatent plagarism). The important point here is that the internet has facilitated the ease to research the essay and therefore enhanced both the quality of the essay, due to the wider spectrum of papers to research, and enhanced my life as I spend less time doing the meaningless ‘administrative’ actions prior to doing the necessary research I had to do as an undergraduate.<br />
<br />
Another development that the internet has created is the possibility of people to be more connected with the world. This is whether we are more connected as people with other people or with world events, technology, commerce, financial markets etc etc. In short we are more connected with “everything”. This enhanced connection is interesting in a McLuhan context because it is precisely his theory that propagates that the world is not fragmented or compartmentalised, as modern society so often interprets it to be, but is actually connected, in totality, at some level. This phenomenon would support McLuhan’s theory. However, it is questionable that the internet supports McLuhan’s theories at other levels. One of the main arguments of McLuhan is that media is the message. I.e., it is the internet that IS the message. But how do we define the “media” of the internet necessary to decipher what the message is. Is the media the broadband cable or telephone line? Is it the monitor of the computer? Is it the web-site? Is it the contents of a page of the web-site? Without a clear definition of the “media” it is difficult to see how McLuhan’s theory can be applied because each type of media, according to McLuhan’s theory, will create a distinct type of message. Without a strict definition, the message of the internet media becomes blurred – and therefore loses its meaning. Furthermore, it could be argued that, especially for the internet, it is not the media that is the message but the CONTENT of the media that is the message. It is precisely the content of web-sites, and not the form of the media, that is the internet's strongest asset and reason for being. The content of any subject within the world is reduced and consolidated onto a web-page. Where a web-page itself is a distilled and pure piece of informational content. Reflecting on my own personal experience of using the internet, I can tell you now that there is a world of difference between the content of my favourite web-sites, such as www.hotandhorneylatinchics.com and websites I do not enjoy such as www.gardenersweekley.com. The media is the same in both cases but the content very different. Perhaps if McLuhan had been around long enough to appreciate www.hotandhorneylatinchics.com then he may have at least re-thought his theory. Without content the internet is nothing. The media of the internet only helps faciliate the content.<br />
<br />
Conclusion<br />
<br />
I have assumed that the period of 10 years constitutes a short period in terms of the medium of the internet. The reason I have assumed this is because other ‘recent’ technological developments such as the television or the radio have existed for about 100 years and still continue to be developed. Likewise the ‘life’ of the internet is still in its infancy and it is anticipated that this, likewise, will also be around for 100+ years. However, I accept that as time passes and society develops, then technological developments themselves become more advanced and are developed quicker. This means that the ‘shelf-life’ of all innovations becomes shorter. What were once major innovations in the 20th Century, such as the television, will have a much longer life than major innovations of the 21st Century. This means that the McLuhan cycle from enhancement to obsoletion becomes that much shorter. <br />
<br />
The Future?<br />
<br />
So where are we heading with all these informational media technological developments? Perhaps the ultimate answer lies with McLuhan. According to his Tribal Man Theory, the more time passes and technology develops, the more basic the existence of man-kind will eventually become. Who knows, by the year 2587 man-kind may be so ‘super-developed’ that we will all get together in our ‘caves’ and try to invent a way of keeping warm at night by “rubbing our sticks together” - now there's a thought!</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=McLuhan_Essay_-_Daniel_Hall&diff=1127McLuhan Essay - Daniel Hall2004-12-01T01:23:44Z<p>81.58.58.178: </p>
<hr />
<div>What changes do you expect in the information society in the next ten years? Write a essay what you expect to happen, and why - using a critical review of McLuhan's theories (i.e. basing it on his thinking, or basing it on a cirtique on his thinking).<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Introduction<br />
<br />
It is possible to analyse the future developments of information within society over the next 10 years using the McLuhan framework, whether you agree or disagree with his theory. When using the McLuhan framework to base the analysis, it is necessary to take a ‘step back’ from the real world. You must do this because it is necessary to appreciate the whole picture. By this I mean it is necessary to analyse the world not on a Newtonian fragmented basis but rather on a basis that sees the world and the fabric of society as being interdependent and interconnected throughout. What happens in Los Angeles affects what happens in New York. What happens in nature affects technology. Everything and anything in this world is somehow related. According to McLuhan, it is only when you have an understanding of how the world works within this connectedness that it is possible to predict how the world will develop in the future. Support for the application of this argument indicates is that it is no coincidence that it was McLuhan that predicted the internet or “Information Superhighway” decades before it permeated into everyday life. If his theories can predict the creation of the internet, then his theories can predict the development of the internet, the demise of the internet and the extinction of the internet. As this paper is focussed only on the next ten years, I will argue that it is impossible to apply the McLuhan theory to the internet because the period of 10 years is too short to experience the full McLuhan theoretical circle of “Enhance-Obsolete-Retrieve-Reverse”. The next 10 years of the internet will predominately be concerned with the “enhance” aspect of McLuhan’s theory, with the possibility of, by 2015, witnessing the first signs of “Obsoletion”. I would predict that the stages of “Retrieval and Reversion” will only happen within the next 50-100 years – which incidentally seems like the same time spent doing an MBA at RSM.<br />
<br />
McLuhan’s Theory<br />
<br />
To narrow the scope of this essay into a manageable form for the purposes of this assignment (i.e. 1-2 pages) I will restrict my definition of “information society” solely to mean the internet. Furthermore, for the reasons stated above, I will only focus on the “Enhancement” that the internet will provide society over a 10 year period (i.e. a relatively short period for the internet). So what has the internet enhanced?<br />
<br />
The internet has primarily enhanced information. The ability to collect, collate, analyse or disseminate information has never been so advanced. A simple example illustrates the point. As an undergraduate student at University, I would often be given ‘meaningless’ essays to write. In order for me to write these ‘meaningless’ essays it was necessary for me to get my photo taken to be placed on a library card, fill out mountains of paperwork declaring my personal details, pay a fee to join the library, get the library card issued, visit the library on the day of the essay, look in an antiquated card filing system to discover the reference of the book I was after, understand the layout of the library so that I could connect the book reference with its location in the library, try to locate the correct floor of the library and then the correct section of that floor and then the isle of the section and then the shelf of the isle and then the correct section on the shelf…..to find that some basta@**d has beaten me to it!<br />
<br />
With the internet, I type the book reference into a search engine, press ENTER and up pops the article that I am looking for. Then it is a simple procedure of “SELECT ALL / COPY / PASTE DOCUMENT” change the title of the author & article and, hey presto, I have one essay ready to hand in, meaning that as a student I then get more time to spend in the pub with my mates doing what students do best (this scenario assumes that I have not had my university education terminated due to blatent plagarism). The important point here is that the internet has facilitated the ease to research the essay and therefore enhanced both the quality of the essay, due to the wider spectrum of papers to research, and enhanced my life as I spend less time doing the meaningless ‘administrative’ actions prior to doing the necessary research I had to do as an undergraduate.<br />
<br />
Another development that the internet has created is the possibility of people to be more connected with the world. This is whether we are more connected as people with other people or with world events, technology, commerce, financial markets etc etc. In short we are more connected with “everything”. This enhanced connection is interesting in a McLuhan context because it is precisely his theory that propagates that the world is not fragmented or compartmentalised, as modern society so often interprets it to be, but is actually connected, in totality, at some level. This phenomenon would support McLuhan’s theory. However, it is questionable that the internet supports McLuhan’s theories at other levels. One of the main arguments of McLuhan is that media is the message. I.e., it is the internet that IS the message. But how do we define the “media” of the internet necessary to decipher what the message is. Is the media the broadband cable or telephone line? Is it the monitor of the computer? Is it the web-site? Is it the contents of a page of the web-site? Without a clear definition of the “media” it is difficult to see how McLuhan’s theory can be applied because each type of media, according to McLuhan’s theory, will create a distinct type of message. Without a strict definition, the message of the internet media becomes blurred – and therefore loses its meaning. Furthermore, it could be argued that, especially for the internet, it is not the media that is the message but the CONTENT of the media that is the message. It is precisely the content of web-sites, and not the form of the media, that is the internet's strongest asset and reason for being. The content of any subject within the world is reduced and consolidated onto a web-page. Where a web-page itself is a distilled and pure piece of informational content. Reflecting on my own personal experience of using the internet, I can tell you now that there is a world of difference between the content of my favourite web-sites, such as www.hotandhorneylatinchics.com and websites I do not enjoy such as www.gardenersweekley.com. The media is the same in both cases but the content very different. Perhaps if McLuhan had been around long enough to appreciate www.hotandhorneylatinchics.com then he may have at least re-thought his theory. Without content the internet is nothing. The media of the internet only helps faciliate the content.<br />
<br />
Conclusion<br />
<br />
I have assumed that the period of 10 years constitutes a short period in terms of the medium of the internet. The reason I have assumed this is because other ‘recent’ technological developments such as the television or the radio have existed for about 100 years and still continue to be developed. Likewise the ‘life’ of the internet is still in its infancy and it is anticipated that this, likewise, will also be around for 100+ years. However, I accept that as time passes and society develops, then technological developments themselves become more advanced and are developed quicker. This means that the ‘shelf-life’ of all innovations becomes shorter. What were once major innovations in the 20th Century, such as the television, will have a much longer life than major innovations of the 21st Century. This means that the McLuhan cycle from enhancement to obsoletion becomes that much shorter. <br />
<br />
The Future?<br />
<br />
So where are we heading with all these informational media technological developments? Perhaps the ultimate answer lies with McLuhan. According to his Tribal Man Theory, the more time passes and technology develops, the more basic the existence of man-kind will eventually become. Who knows, by the year 2587 man-kind may be so ‘super-developed’ that we will all get together in our ‘caves’ and try to invent a way of keeping warm at night by “rubbing our sticks together”!</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=McLuhan_Essay_-_Daniel_Hall&diff=1126McLuhan Essay - Daniel Hall2004-12-01T01:23:17Z<p>81.58.58.178: </p>
<hr />
<div>What changes do you expect in the information society in the next ten years? Write a essay what you expect to happen, and why - using a critical review of McLuhan's theories (i.e. basing it on his thinking, or basing it on a cirtique on his thinking).<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Introduction<br />
<br />
It is possible to analyse the future developments of information within society over the next 10 years using the McLuhan framework, whether you agree or disagree with his theory. When using the McLuhan framework to base the analysis, it is necessary to take a ‘step back’ from the real world. You must do this because it is necessary to appreciate the whole picture. By this I mean it is necessary to analyse the world not on a Newtonian fragmented basis but rather on a basis that sees the world and the fabric of society as being interdependent and interconnected throughout. What happens in Los Angeles affects what happens in New York. What happens in nature affects technology. Everything and anything in this world is somehow related. According to McLuhan, it is only when you have an understanding of how the world works within this connectedness that it is possible to predict how the world will develop in the future. Support for the application of this argument indicates is that it is no coincidence that it was McLuhan that predicted the internet or “Information Superhighway” decades before it permeated into everyday life. If his theories can predict the creation of the internet, then his theories can predict the development of the internet, the demise of the internet and the extinction of the internet. As this paper is focussed only on the next ten years, I will argue that it is impossible to apply the McLuhan theory to the internet because the period of 10 years is too short to experience the full McLuhan theoretical circle of “Enhance-Obsolete-Retrieve-Reverse”. The next 10 years of the internet will predominately be concerned with the “enhance” aspect of McLuhan’s theory, with the possibility of, by 2015, witnessing the first signs of “Obsoletion”. I would predict that the stages of “Retrieval and Reversion” will only happen within the next 50-100 years – which incidentally seems like the same time spent doing an MBA at RSM.<br />
<br />
McLuhan’s Theory<br />
<br />
To narrow the scope of this essay into a manageable form for the purposes of this assignment (i.e. 1-2 pages) I will restrict my definition of “information society” solely to mean the internet. Furthermore, for the reasons stated above, I will only focus on the “Enhancement” that the internet will provide society over a 10 year period (i.e. a relatively short period for the internet). So what has the internet enhanced?<br />
<br />
The internet has primarily enhanced information. The ability to collect, collate, analyse or disseminate information has never been so advanced. A simple example illustrates the point. As an undergraduate student at University, I would often be given ‘meaningless’ essays to write. In order for me to write these ‘meaningless’ essays it was necessary for me to get my photo taken to be placed on a library card, fill out mountains of paperwork declaring my personal details, pay a fee to join the library, get the library card issued, visit the library on the day of the essay, look in an antiquated card filing system to discover the reference of the book I was after, understand the layout of the library so that I could connect the book reference with its location in the library, try to locate the correct floor of the library and then the correct section of that floor and then the isle of the section and then the shelf of the isle and then the correct section on the shelf…..to find that some basta@**d has beaten me to it!<br />
<br />
With the internet, I type the book reference into a search engine, press ENTER and up pops the article that I am looking for. Then it is a simple procedure of “SELECT ALL / COPY / PASTE DOCUMENT” change the title of the author & article and, hey presto, I have one essay ready to hand in, meaning that as a student I then get more time to spend in the pub with my mates doing what students do best (this scenario assumes that I have not had my university education terminated due to blatent plagarism). The important point here is that the internet has facilitated the ease to research the essay and therefore enhanced both the quality of the essay, due to the wider spectrum of papers to research, and enhanced my life as I spend less time doing the meaningless ‘administrative’ actions prior to doing the necessary research I had to do as an undergraduate.<br />
<br />
Another development that the internet has created is the possibility of people to be more connected with the world. This is whether we are more connected as people with other people or with world events, technology, commerce, financial markets etc etc. In short we are more connected with “everything”. This enhanced connection is interesting in a McLuhan context because it is precisely his theory that propagates that the world is not fragmented or compartmentalised, as modern society so often interprets it to be, but is actually connected, in totality, at some level. This phenomenon would support McLuhan’s theory. However, it is questionable that the internet supports McLuhan’s theories at other levels. One of the main arguments of McLuhan is that media is the message. I.e., it is the internet that IS the message. But how do we define the “media” of the internet necessary to decipher what the message is. Is the media the broadband cable or telephone line? Is it the monitor of the computer? Is it the web-site? Is it the contents of a page of the web-site? Without a clear definition of the “media” it is difficult to see how McLuhan’s theory can be applied because each type of media, according to McLuhan’s theory, will create a distinct type of message. Without a strict definition, the message of the internet media becomes blurred – and therefore loses its meaning. Furthermore, it could be argued that, especially for the internet, it is not the media that is the message but the CONTENT of the media that is the message. It is precisely the content of web-sites, and not the form of the media, that is the internet's strongest asset and reason for being. The content of any subject within the world is reduced and consolidated onto a web-page. Where a web-page itself is a distilled and pure piece of informational content. Reflecting on my own personal experience of using the internet, I can tell you now that there is a world of difference between the content of my favourite web-sites, such as www.hotandhorneylatinchics.com and websites I do not enjoy such as www.gardenersweekley.com. The media is the same in both cases but the content very different. Perhaps if McLuhan had been around long enough to appreciate www.hotandhorneylatinchics.com then he may have at least re-thought his theory. Without content the internet is nothing. The media of the internet only helps faciliate the content.<br />
<br />
Conclusion<br />
<br />
I have assumed that the period of 10 years constitutes a short period in terms of the medium of the internet. The reason I have assumed this is because other ‘recent’ technological developments such as the television or the radio have existed for about 100 years and still continue to be developed. Likewise the ‘life’ of the internet is still in its infancy and it is anticipated that this, likewise, will also be around for 100+ years. However, I accept that as time passes and society develops, then technological developments themselves become more advanced and are developed quicker. This means that the ‘shelf-life’ of all innovations becomes shorter. What were once major innovations in the 20th Century, such as the television, will have a much longer life than major innovations of the 21st Century. This means that the McLuhan cycle from enhancement to obsoletion becomes that much shorter. <br />
<br />
So where are we heading with all these informational media technological developments? Perhaps the ultimate answer lies with McLuhan. According to his Tribal Man Theory, the more time passes and technology develops, the more basic the existence of man-kind will eventually become. Who knows, by the year 2587 man-kind may be so ‘super-developed’ that we will all get together in our ‘caves’ and try to invent a way of keeping warm at night by “rubbing our sticks together”!</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=McLuhan_Essay_-_Daniel_Hall&diff=1125McLuhan Essay - Daniel Hall2004-12-01T01:22:38Z<p>81.58.58.178: </p>
<hr />
<div>What changes do you expect in the information society in the next ten years? Write a essay what you expect to happen, and why - using a critical review of McLuhan's theories (i.e. basing it on his thinking, or basing it on a cirtique on his thinking).<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Introduction<br />
<br />
It is possible to analyse the future developments of information within society over the next 10 years using the McLuhan framework, whether you agree or disagree with his theory. When using the McLuhan framework to base the analysis, it is necessary to take a ‘step back’ from the real world. You must do this because it is necessary to appreciate the whole picture. By this I mean it is necessary to analyse the world not on a Newtonian fragmented basis but rather on a basis that sees the world and the fabric of society as being interdependent and interconnected throughout. What happens in Los Angeles affects what happens in New York. What happens in nature affects technology. Everything and anything in this world is somehow related. According to McLuhan, it is only when you have an understanding of how the world works within this connectedness that it is possible to predict how the world will develop in the future. Support for the application of this argument indicates is that it is no coincidence that it was McLuhan that predicted the internet or “Information Superhighway” decades before it permeated into everyday life. If his theories can predict the creation of the internet, then his theories can predict the development of the internet, the demise of the internet and the extinction of the internet. As this paper is focussed only on the next ten years, I will argue that it is impossible to apply the McLuhan theory to the internet because the period of 10 years is too short to experience the full McLuhan theoretical circle of “Enhance-Obsolete-Retrieve-Reverse”. The next 10 years of the internet will predominately be concerned with the “enhance” aspect of McLuhan’s theory, with the possibility of, by 2015, witnessing the first signs of “Obsoletion”. I would predict that the stages of “Retrieval and Reversion” will only happen within the next 50-100 years – which incidentally seems like the same time spent doing an MBA at RSM.<br />
<br />
McLuhan’s Theory<br />
<br />
To narrow the scope of this essay into a manageable form for the purposes of this assignment (i.e. 1-2 pages) I will restrict my definition of “information society” solely to mean the internet. Furthermore, for the reasons stated above, I will only focus on the “Enhancement” that the internet will provide society over a 10 year period (i.e. a relatively short period for the internet). So what has the internet enhanced?<br />
<br />
The internet has primarily enhanced information. The ability to collect, collate, analyse or disseminate information has never been so advanced. A simple example illustrates the point. As an undergraduate student at University, I would often be given ‘meaningless’ essays to write. In order for me to write these ‘meaningless’ essays it was necessary for me to get my photo taken to be placed on a library card, fill out mountains of paperwork declaring my personal details, pay a fee to join the library, get the library card issued, visit the library on the day of the essay, look in an antiquated card filing system to discover the reference of the book I was after, understand the layout of the library so that I could connect the book reference with its location in the library, try to locate the correct floor of the library and then the correct section of that floor and then the isle of the section and then the shelf of the isle and then the correct section on the shelf…..to find that some basta@**d has beaten me to it!<br />
<br />
With the internet, I type the book reference into a search engine, press ENTER and up pops the article that I am looking for. Then it is a simple procedure of “SELECT ALL / COPY / PASTE DOCUMENT” change the title of the author & article and, hey presto, I have one essay ready to hand in, meaning that as a student I then get more time to spend in the pub with my mates doing what students do best (this scenario assumes that I have not had my university education terminated due to blatent plagarism). The important point here is that the internet has facilitated the ease to research the essay and therefore enhanced both the quality of the essay, due to the wider spectrum of papers to research, and enhanced my life as I spend less time doing the meaningless ‘administrative’ actions prior to doing the necessary research I had to do as an undergraduate.<br />
<br />
Another development that the internet has created is the possibility of people to be more connected with the world. This is whether we are more connected as people with other people or with world events, technology, commerce, financial markets etc etc. In short we are more connected with “everything”. This enhanced connection is interesting in a McLuhan context because it is precisely his theory that propagates that the world is not fragmented or compartmentalised, as modern society so often interprets it to be, but is actually connected, in totality, at some level. This phenomenon would support McLuhan’s theory. However, it is questionable that the internet supports McLuhan’s theories at other levels. One of the main arguments of McLuhan is that media is the message. I.e., it is the internet that IS the message. But how do we define the “media” of the internet necessary to decipher what the message is. Is the media the broadband cable or telephone line? Is it the monitor of the computer? Is it the web-site? Is it the contents of a page of the web-site? Without a clear definition of the “media” it is difficult to see how McLuhan’s theory can be applied because each type of media, according to McLuhan’s theory, will create a distinct type of message. Without a strict definition, the message of the internet media becomes blurred – and therefore loses its meaning. Furthermore, it could be argued that, especially for the internet, it is not the media that is the message but the CONTENT of the media that is the message. It is precisely the content of web-sites, and not the form of the media, that is the internet's strongest asset and reason for being. The content of any subject within the world is reduced and consolidated onto a web-page. Where a web-page itself is a distilled and pure piece of informational content. Reflecting on my own personal experience of using the internet, I can tell you now that there is a world of difference between the content of my favourite web-sites, such as www.hotandhorneylatinchics.com and websites I do not enjoy such as www.gardenersweekley.com. The media is the same in both cases but the content very different. Perhaps if McLuhan had been around long enough to appreciate www.hotandhorneylatinchics.com then he may have at least re-thought his theory. Without content the internet is nothing. The media of the internet only helps faciliate the content.<br />
<br />
Conclusion<br />
<br />
I have assumed that the period of 10 years constitutes a short period in terms of the medium of the internet. The reason I have assumed this is because other ‘recent’ technological developments such as the television or the radio have existed for about 100 years and still continue to be developed. Likewise the ‘life’ of the internet is still in its infancy and it is anticipated that this, likewise, will also be around for 100+ years. However, I accept that as time passes and society develops, then technological developments themselves become more advanced and are developed quicker. This means that the ‘shelf-life’ of all innovations becomes shorter. What were once major innovations in the 20th Century, such as the television, will have a much longer life than major innovations of the 21st Century. This means that the McLuhan cycle from enhancement to obsoletion becomes that much shorter. <br />
<br />
So where are we heading with all these informational media technological developments? Perhaps the ultimate answer lies with McLuhan. According to his Tribal Man Theory, the more time passes and technology develops, the more basic the existence of man-kind will become. Who knows, by the year 2587 man-kind may be so ‘super-developed’ that we will all get together in our ‘caves’ and try to invent a way of keeping warm at night by “rubbing our sticks together”!</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=McLuhan_Essay_-_Daniel_Hall&diff=1124McLuhan Essay - Daniel Hall2004-12-01T01:20:31Z<p>81.58.58.178: </p>
<hr />
<div>What changes do you expect in the information society in the next ten years? Write a essay what you expect to happen, and why - using a critical review of McLuhan's theories (i.e. basing it on his thinking, or basing it on a cirtique on his thinking).<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Introduction<br />
<br />
It is possible to analyse the future developments of information within society over the next 10 years using the McLuhan framework, whether you agree or disagree with his theory. When using the McLuhan framework to base the analysis, it is necessary to take a ‘step back’ from the real world. You must do this because it is necessary to appreciate the whole picture. By this I mean it is necessary to analyse the world not on a Newtonian fragmented basis but rather on a basis that sees the world and the fabric of society as being interdependent and interconnected throughout. What happens in Los Angeles affects what happens in New York. What happens in nature affects technology. Everything and anything in this world is somehow related. According to McLuhan, it is only when you have an understanding of how the world works within this connectedness that it is possible to predict how the world will develop in the future. Support for the application of this argument indicates is that it is no coincidence that it was McLuhan that predicted the internet or “Information Superhighway” decades before it permeated into everyday life. If his theories can predict the creation of the internet, then his theories can predict the development of the internet, the demise of the internet and the extinction of the internet. As this paper is focussed only on the next ten years, I will argue that it is impossible to apply the McLuhan theory to the internet because the period of 10 years is too short to experience the full McLuhan theoretical circle of “Enhance-Obsolete-Retrieve-Reverse”. The next 10 years of the internet will predominately be concerned with the “enhance” aspect of McLuhan’s theory, with the possibility of, by 2015, witnessing the first signs of “Obsoletion”. I would predict that the stages of “Retrieval and Reversion” will only happen within the next 50-100 years – which incidentally seems like the same time spent doing an MBA at RSM.<br />
<br />
McLuhan’s Theory<br />
<br />
To narrow the scope of this essay into a manageable form for the purposes of this assignment (i.e. 1-2 pages) I will restrict my definition of “information society” solely to mean the internet. Furthermore, for the reasons stated above, I will only focus on the “Enhancement” that the internet will provide society over a 10 year period (i.e. a relatively short period for the internet). So what has the internet enhanced?<br />
<br />
The internet has primarily enhanced information. The ability to collect, collate, analyse or disseminate information has never been so advanced. A simple example illustrates the point. As an undergraduate student at University, I would often be given ‘meaningless’ essays to write. In order for me to write these ‘meaningless’ essays it was necessary for me to get my photo taken to be placed on a library card, fill out mountains of paperwork declaring my personal details, pay a fee to join the library, get the library card issued, visit the library on the day of the essay, look in an antiquated card filing system to discover the reference of the book I was after, understand the layout of the library so that I could connect the book reference with its location in the library, try to locate the correct floor of the library and then the correct section of that floor and then the isle of the section and then the shelf of the isle and then the correct section on the shelf…..to find that some basta@**d has beaten me to it!<br />
<br />
With the internet, I type the book reference into a search engine, press ENTER and up pops the article that I am looking for. Then it is a simple procedure of “SELECT ALL / COPY / PASTE DOCUMENT” change the title of the author & article and, hey presto, I have one essay ready to hand in, meaning that as a student I then get more time to spend in the pub with my mates doing what students do best (this scenario assumes that I have not had my university education terminated due to blatent plagarism). The important point here is that the internet has facilitated the ease to research the essay and therefore enhanced both the quality of the essay, due to the wider spectrum of papers to research, and enhanced my life as I spend less time doing the meaningless ‘administrative’ actions prior to doing the necessary research I had to do as an undergraduate.<br />
<br />
Another development that the internet has created is the possibility of people to be more connected with the world. This is whether we are more connected as people with other people or with world events, technology, commerce, financial markets etc etc. In short we are more connected with “everything”. This enhanced connection is interesting in a McLuhan context because it is precisely his theory that propagates that the world is not fragmented or compartmentalised, as modern society so often interprets it to be, but is actually connected, in totality, at some level. This phenomenon would support McLuhan’s theory. However, it is questionable that the internet supports McLuhan’s theories at other levels. One of the main arguments of McLuhan is that media is the message. I.e., it is the internet that IS the message. But how do we define the “media” of the internet necessary to decipher what the message is. Is the media the broadband cable or telephone line? Is it the monitor of the computer? Is it the web-site? Is it the contents of a page of the web-site? Without a clear definition of the “media” it is difficult to see how McLuhan’s theory can be applied because each type of media, according to McLuhan’s theory, will create a distinct type of message. Without a strict definition, the message of the internet media becomes blurred – and therefore loses its meaning. Furthermore, it could be argued that, especially for the internet, it is not the media that is the message but the CONTENT of the media that is the message. It is precisely the content of web-sites, and not the form of the media, that is the internet's strongest asset and reason for being. The content of any subject within the world is reduced and consolidated onto a web-page. Where a web-page itself is a distilled and pure piece of informational content. Reflecting on my own personal experience of using the internet, I can tell you now that there is a world of difference between the content of my favourite web-sites, such as www.hotandhorneylatinchics.com and websites I do not enjoy such as www.gardenersweekley.com. The media is the same in both cases but the content very different. Perhaps if McLuhan had been around long enough to appreciate www.hotandhorneylatinchics.com then he may have at least re-thought his theory. Without content the internet is nothing. The media of the internet only helps faciliate the content.<br />
<br />
Conclusion<br />
<br />
I have assumed that the period of 10 years constitutes a short period in terms of the medium of the internet. The reason I have assumed this is because other ‘recent’ technological developments such as the television or the radio have existed for about 100 years and still continue to be developed. Likewise the ‘life’ of the internet is still in its infancy and it is anticipated that this, likewise, will also be around for 100+ years. However, I accept that as time passes and society develops, then technological developments themselves become more advanced and are developed quicker. This means that the ‘shelf-life’ of all innovations becomes shorter. What were once major innovations in the 20th Century, such as the television, will have a much longer life than major innovations of the 21st Century. This means that the McLuhan cycle from enhancement to obsoletion becomes that much shorter. <br />
<br />
Lastly, according to McLuhan’s Tribal Man theory, the more time passes and technology develops, the more basic the existence of man-kind will become. Who knows, by the year 2587 man-kind may be so ‘super-developed’ that we will all get together in our ‘caves’ and try to invent a way of keeping warm at night by “rubbing our sticks together”!</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=McLuhan_Essay_-_Daniel_Hall&diff=1123McLuhan Essay - Daniel Hall2004-12-01T01:19:24Z<p>81.58.58.178: </p>
<hr />
<div>What changes do you expect in the information society in the next ten years? Write a essay what you expect to happen, and why - using a critical review of McLuhan's theories (i.e. basing it on his thinking, or basing it on a cirtique on his thinking).<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Introduction<br />
<br />
It is possible to analyse the future developments of information within society over the next 10 years using the McLuhan framework, whether you agree or disagree with his theory. When using the McLuhan framework to base the analysis, it is necessary to take a ‘step back’ from the real world. You must do this because it is necessary to appreciate the whole picture. By this I mean it is necessary to analyse the world not on a Newtonian fragmented basis but rather on a basis that sees the world and the fabric of society as being interdependent and interconnected throughout. What happens in Los Angeles affects what happens in New York. What happens in nature affects technology. Everything and anything in this world is somehow related. According to McLuhan, it is only when you have an understanding of how the world works within this connectedness that it is possible to predict how the world will develop in the future. Support for the application of this argument indicates is that it is no coincidence that it was McLuhan that predicted the internet or “Information Superhighway” decades before it permeated into everyday life. If his theories can predict the creation of the internet, then his theories can predict the development of the internet, the demise of the internet and the extinction of the internet. As this paper is focussed only on the next ten years, I will argue that it is impossible to apply the McLuhan theory to the internet because the period of 10 years is too short to experience the full McLuhan theoretical circle of “Enhance-Obsolete-Retrieve-Reverse”. The next 10 years of the internet will predominately be concerned with the “enhance” aspect of McLuhan’s theory, with the possibility of, by 2015, witnessing the first signs of “Obsoletion”. I would predict that the stages of “Retrieval and Reversion” will only happen within the next 50-100 years – which incidentally seems like the same time spent doing an MBA at RSM.<br />
<br />
McLuhan’s Theory<br />
<br />
To narrow the scope of this essay into a manageable form for the purposes of this assignment (i.e. 1-2 pages) I will restrict my definition of “information society” solely to mean the internet. Furthermore, for the reasons stated above, I will only focus on the “Enhancement” that the internet will provide society over a 10 year period (i.e. a relatively short period for the internet). So what has the internet enhanced?<br />
<br />
The internet has primarily enhanced information. The ability to collect, collate, analyse or disseminate information has never been so advanced. A simple example illustrates the point. As an undergraduate student at University, I would often be given ‘meaningless’ essays to write. In order for me to write these ‘meaningless’ essays it was necessary for me to get my photo taken to be placed on a library card, fill out mountains of paperwork declaring my personal details, pay a fee to join the library, get the library card issued, visit the library on the day of the essay, look in an antiquated card filing system to discover the reference of the book I was after, understand the layout of the library so that I could connect the book reference with its location in the library, try to locate the correct floor of the library and then the correct section of that floor and then the isle of the section and then the shelf of the isle and then the correct section on the shelf…..to find that some basta@**d has beaten me to it!<br />
<br />
With the internet, I type the book reference into a search engine, press ENTER and up pops the article that I am looking for. Then it is a simple procedure of “SELECT ALL / COPY / PASTE DOCUMENT” change the title of the author & article and, hey presto, I have one essay ready to hand in, meaning that as a student I then get more time to spend in the pub with my mates doing what students do best (this scenario assumes that I have not had my university education terminated due to blatent plagarism). The important point here is that the internet has facilitated the ease to research the essay and therefore enhanced both the quality of the essay, due to the wider spectrum of papers to research, and enhanced my life as I spend less time doing the meaningless ‘administrative’ actions prior to doing the necessary research I had to do as an undergraduate.<br />
<br />
Another development that the internet has created is the possibility of people to be more connected with the world. This is whether we are more connected as people with other people or with world events, technology, commerce, financial markets etc etc. In short we are more connected with “everything”. This enhanced connection is interesting in a McLuhan context because it is precisely his theory that propagates that the world is not fragmented or compartmentalised, as modern society so often interprets it to be, but is actually connected, in totality, at some level. This phenomenon would support McLuhan’s theory. However, it is questionable that the internet supports McLuhan’s theories at other levels. One of the main arguments of McLuhan is that media is the message. I.e., it is the internet that IS the message. But how do we define the “media” of the internet necessary to decipher what the message is. Is the media the broadband cable or telephone line? Is it the monitor of the computer? Is it the web-site? Is it the contents of a page of the web-site? Without a clear definition of the “media” it is difficult to see how McLuhan’s theory can be applied because each type of media, according to McLuhan’s theory, will create a distinct type of message. Without a strict definition, the message of the internet media becomes blurred – and therefore loses its meaning. Furthermore, it could be argued that, especially for the internet, it is not the media that is the message but the CONTENT of the media that is the message. It is precisely the content of web-sites, and not the form of the media, that is the internet's strongest asset and reason for being. The content of any subject within the world is reduced and consolidated onto a web-page. Where a web-page itself is a distilled and pure piece of informational content. Reflecting on my own personal experience of using the internet, I can tell you now that there is a world of difference between the content of my favourite web-sites, such as www.hotandhorneylatinchics.com and websites I do not enjoy such as www.gardenersweekley.com. The media is the same in both cases but the content very different. Perhaps if McLuhan had been around long enough to appreciate www.hotandhorneylatinchics.com then he may have at least re-thought his theory. Without content the internet is nothing. The media of the internet only helps faciliate the content.<br />
<br />
Conclusion<br />
<br />
I have assumed that the period of 10 years constitutes a short period in terms of the medium of the internet. The reason I have assumed this is because other ‘recent’ technological developments such as the television or the radio have existed for about 100 years and still continue to be developed. Likewise the ‘life’ of the internet is still in its infancy and it is anticipated that this, likewise, will also be around for 100+ years. However, I accept that as time passes and society develops, then technological developments themselves become more advanced and are developed quicker. This means that the ‘shelf-life’ of all innovations becomes shorter. What were once major innovations in the 20th Century, such as the television, will have a much longer life than major innovations of the 21st Century. This means that the McLuhan cycle becomes much shorter. The cycle from enhancement to obsoletion becomes that much shorter. According to McLuhan’s Tribal Man theory, the more time passes and technology develops, the more basic the existence of man-kind will become. Who knows, by the year 2587 man-kind may be so ‘super-developed’ that we will all get together in our ‘caves’ and try to invent a way of keeping warm at night by “rubbing our sticks together”!</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=McLuhan_Essay_-_Daniel_Hall&diff=1122McLuhan Essay - Daniel Hall2004-12-01T01:06:47Z<p>81.58.58.178: </p>
<hr />
<div>What changes do you expect in the information society in the next ten years? Write a essay what you expect to happen, and why - using a critical review of McLuhan's theories (i.e. basing it on his thinking, or basing it on a cirtique on his thinking).<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Introduction<br />
<br />
It is possible to analyse the future developments of information within society over the next 10 years using the McLuhan framework, whether you agree or disagree with his theory. When using the McLuhan framework to base the analysis, it is necessary to take a ‘step back’ from the real world. You must do this because it is necessary to appreciate the whole picture. By this I mean it is necessary to analyse the world not on a Newtonian fragmented basis but rather on a basis that sees the world and the fabric of society as being interdependent and interconnected throughout. What happens in Los Angeles affects what happens in New York. What happens in nature affects technology. Everything and anything in this world is somehow related. According to McLuhan, it is only when you have an understanding of how the world works within this connectedness that it is possible to predict how the world will develop in the future. Support for the application of this argument indicates is that it is no coincidence that it was McLuhan that predicted the internet or “Information Superhighway” decades before it permeated into everyday life. If his theories can predict the creation of the internet, then his theories can predict the development of the internet, the demise of the internet and the extinction of the internet. As this paper is focussed only on the next ten years, I will argue that it is impossible to apply the McLuhan theory to the internet because the period of 10 years is too short to experience the full McLuhan theoretical circle of “Enhance-Obsolete-Retrieve-Reverse”. The next 10 years of the internet will predominately be concerned with the “enhance” aspect of McLuhan’s theory, with the possibility of, by 2015, witnessing the first signs of “Obsoletion”. I would predict that the stages of “Retrieval and Reversion” will only happen within the next 50-100 years – which incidentally seems like the same time spent doing an MBA at RSM.<br />
<br />
McLuhan’s Theory<br />
<br />
To narrow the scope of this essay into a manageable form for the purposes of this assignment (i.e. 1-2 pages) I will restrict my definition of “information society” solely to mean the internet. Furthermore, for the reasons stated above, I will only focus on the “Enhancement” that the internet will provide society over a 10 year period (i.e. a relatively short period for the internet). So what has the internet enhanced?<br />
<br />
The internet has primarily enhanced information. The ability to collect, collate, analyse or disseminate information has never been so advanced. A simple example illustrates the point. As an undergraduate student at University, I would often be given ‘meaningless’ essays to write. In order for me to write these ‘meaningless’ essays it was necessary for me to get my photo taken to be placed on a library card, fill out mountains of paperwork declaring my personal details, pay a fee to join the library, get the library card issued, visit the library on the day of the essay, look in an antiquated card filing system to discover the reference of the book I was after, understand the layout of the library so that I could connect the book reference with its location in the library, try to locate the correct floor of the library and then the correct section of that floor and then the isle of the section and then the shelf of the isle and then the correct section on the shelf…..to find that some basta@**d has beaten me to it!<br />
<br />
With the internet, I type the book reference into a search engine, press ENTER and up pops the article that I am looking for. Then it is a simple procedure of “SELECT ALL / COPY / PASTE DOCUMENT” change the title of the author & article and, hey presto, I have one essay ready to hand in, meaning that as a student I then get more time to spend in the pub with my mates doing what students do best (this scenario assumes that I have not had my university education terminated due to blatent plagarism). The important point here is that the internet has facilitated the ease to research the essay and therefore enhanced both the quality of the essay, due to the wider spectrum of papers to research, and enhanced my life as I spend less time doing the meaningless ‘administrative’ actions prior to doing the necessary research I had to do as an undergraduate.<br />
<br />
Another development that the internet has created is the possibility of people to be more connected with the world. This is whether we are more connected as people with other people or with world events, technology, commerce, financial markets etc etc. In short we are more connected with “everything”. This enhanced connection is interesting in a McLuhan context because it is precisely his theory that propagates that the world is not fragmented or compartmentalised, as modern society so often interprets it to be, but is actually connected, in totality, at some level. This phenomenon would support McLuhan’s theory. However, it is questionable that the internet supports McLuhan’s theories at other levels. One of the main arguments of McLuhan is that media is the message. I.e., it is the internet that IS the message. But how do we define the “media” of the internet necessary to decipher what the message is. Is the media the broadband cable or telephone line? Is it the monitor of the computer? Is it the web-site? Is it the contents of a page of the web-site? Without a clear definition of the “media” it is difficult to see how McLuhan’s theory can be applied because each type of media, according to McLuhan’s theory, will create a distinct type of message. Without a strict definition, the message of the internet media becomes blurred – and therefore loses its meaning. Furthermore, it could be argued that, especially for the internet, it is not the media that is the message but the CONTENT of the media that is the message. It is precisely the content of web-sites, and not the form of the media, that is the internet's strongest asset and reason for being. The content of any subject within the world is reduced and consolidated onto a web-page. Where a web-page itself is a distilled and pure piece of informational content. Reflecting on my own personal experience of using the internet, I can tell you now that there is a world of difference between the content of my favourite web-sites, such as www.hotandhorneylatinchics.com and websites I do not enjoy such as www.gardenersweekley.com. The media is the same in both cases but the content very different. Perhaps if McLuhan had been around long enough to appreciate www.hotandhorneylatinchics.com then he may have at least re-thought his theory. Without content the internet is nothing. The media of the internet only helps faciliate the content.<br />
<br />
Conclusion<br />
<br />
I have assumed that the period of 10 years constitutes a short period in terms of the medium of the internet. The reason I have assumed this is because other ‘recent’ technological developments such as the television or the radio have existed for about 100 years and still continue to be developed. Likewise the ‘life’ of the internet is still in its infancy and it is anticipated that this, likewise, will also be around for 100+ years. However, I accept that as time passes and society develops, then technological developments themselves become more advanced and are developed quicker. This means that the ‘shelf-life’ of all innovations becomes shorter. What were once major innovations in the 20th Century, such as the television, will have a much longer life than major innovations of the 21st Century. This means that the McLuhan cycle becomes much shorter. The cycle from enhancement to obsoletion will also become that much shorter. According to McLuhan’s Tribal Man theory, the more time passes and technology develops, the more basic the existence of man-kind will become. Who knows, by the year 2587 man-kind may be so ‘super-developed’ that we will all get together in our ‘caves’ and try to invent a way of keeping warm at night by “rubbing our sticks together”!</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=McLuhan_Essay_-_Daniel_Hall&diff=1121McLuhan Essay - Daniel Hall2004-12-01T00:22:35Z<p>81.58.58.178: </p>
<hr />
<div>What changes do you expect in the information society in the next ten years? Write a essay what you expect to happen, and why - using a critical review of McLuhan's theories (i.e. basing it on his thinking, or basing it on a cirtique on his thinking).<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Introduction<br />
<br />
It is possible to analyse the future developments of information within society over the next 10 years using the McLuhan framework, whether you agree or disagree with his theory. When using the McLuhan framework to base the analysis, it is necessary to take a ‘step back’ from the real world. You must do this because it is necessary to appreciate the whole picture. By this I mean it is necessary to analyse the world not on a Newtonian fragmented basis but rather on a basis that sees the world and the fabric of society as being interdependent and interconnected throughout. What happens in Los Angeles affects what happens in New York. What happens in nature affects technology. Everything and anything in this world is somehow related. According to McLuhan, it is only when you have an understanding of how the world works within this connectedness that it is possible to predict how the world will develop in the future. Support for the application of this argument indicates is that it is no coincidence that it was McLuhan that predicted the internet or “Information Superhighway” decades before it permeated into everyday life. If his theories can predict the creation of the internet, then his theories can predict the development of the internet, the demise of the internet and the extinction of the internet. As this paper is focussed only on the next ten years, I will argue that it is impossible to apply the McLuhan theory to the internet because the period of 10 years is too short to experience the full McLuhan theoretical circle of “Enhance-Obsolete-Retrieve-Reverse”. The next 10 years of the internet will predominately be concerned with the “enhance” aspect of McLuhan’s theory, with the possibility of, by 2015, witnessing the first signs of “Obsoletion”. I would predict that the stages of “Retrieval and Reversion” will only happen within the next 50-100 years – which incidentally seems like the same time spent doing an MBA at RSM.<br />
<br />
McLuhan’s Theory<br />
<br />
To narrow the scope of this essay into a manageable form for the purposes of this assignment (i.e. 1-2 pages) I will restrict my definition of “information society” solely to mean the internet. Furthermore, for the reasons stated above, I will only focus on the “Enhancement” that the internet will provide society over a 10 year period (i.e. a relatively short period for the internet). So what has the internet enhanced?<br />
<br />
The internet has primarily enhanced information. The ability to collect, collate, analyse or disseminate information has never been so advanced. A simple example illustrates the point. As an undergraduate student at University, I would often be given ‘meaningless’ essays to write. In order for me to write these ‘meaningless’ essays it was necessary for me to get my photo taken to be placed on a library card, fill out mountains of paperwork declaring my personal details, pay a fee to join the library, get the library card issued, visit the library on the day of the essay, look in an antiquated card filing system to discover the reference of the book I was after, understand the layout of the library so that I could connect the book reference with its location in the library, try to locate the correct floor of the library and then the correct section of that floor and then the isle of the section and then the shelf of the isle and then the correct section on the shelf…..to find that some basta@**d has beaten me to it!<br />
<br />
With the internet, I type the book reference into a search engine, press ENTER and up pops the article that I am looking for. Then it is a simple procedure of “SELECT ALL / COPY / PASTE DOCUMENT” change the title of the author & article and, hey presto, I have one essay ready to hand in, meaning that as a student I then get more time to spend in the pub with my mates doing what students do best (this scenario assumes that I have not had my university education terminated due to blatent plagarism). The important point here is that the internet has facilitated the ease to research the essay and therefore enhanced both the quality of the essay, due to the wider spectrum of papers to research, and enhanced my life as I spend less time doing the meaningless ‘administrative’ actions prior to doing the necessary research I had to do as an undergraduate.<br />
<br />
Another development that the internet has created is the possibility of people to be more connected with the world. This is whether we are more connected as people with other people or with world events, technology, commerce, financial markets etc etc. In short we are more connected with “everything”. This enhanced connection is interesting in a McLuhan context because it is precisely his theory that propagates that the world is not fragmented or compartmentalised, as modern society so often interprets it to be, but is actually connected, in totality, at some level. This phenomenon would support McLuhan’s theory. However, it is questionable that the internet supports McLuhan’s theories at other levels. One of the main arguments of McLuhan is that the media is the message. I.e., it is the internet that IS the message. But how do we define the “media” of the internet necessary to decipher what the message is. Is the media the broadband cable or telephone line? Is it the monitor of the computer? Is it the web-site? Is it the contents of a page of the web-site? Without a clear definition of the “media” it is difficult to see how McLuhan’s theory can be applied because each type of media, according to McLuhan’s theory, will create a distinct type of message. Without a strict definition, the message of the internet media becomes blurred – and therefore loses its meaning. Alternatively it could be strongly argued that, especially for the internet, it is not the media that is the message but the CONTENT of the media that is the message. And it is precisely the content of web-sites, and not the form of the media, that is the internet's strongest asset. Reflecting on my own personal experience of using the internet, I can tell you now that there is a world of difference between the content of my favourite web-sites, such as www.hotandhorneylatinchics.com and websites I do not enjoy such as www.gardenersweekley.com. The media is the same in both cases but the content very different. Perhaps if McLuhan had been around long enough to appreciate www.hotandhorneylatinchics.com then he may have at least re-thought his theory.<br />
<br />
Conclusion<br />
<br />
I have assumed that the period of 10 years constitutes a short period in terms of the medium of the internet. The reason I have assumed this is because other ‘recent’ technological developments such as the television or the radio have existed for about 100 years and still continue to be developed. Likewise the ‘life’ of the internet is still in its infancy and it is anticipated that this, likewise, will also be around for 100+ years. However, I accept that as time passes and society develops, then technological developments themselves become more advanced and are developed quicker. This means that the ‘shelf-life’ of all innovations becomes shorter. What were once major innovations in the 20th Century, such as the television, will have a much longer life than major innovations of the 21st Century. This means that the McLuhan cycle becomes that much shorter. The cycle from enhancement to obsoletion will be that much shorter. According to McLuhan’s tribal Man theory, the more time passes and technology develops, the more basic the existence of man-kind becomes. Who knows, by the year 2587 man-kind may be so ‘super-developed’ that we will all get together in our ‘caves’ and try to invent a way of keeping warm at night by “rubbing our sticks together”!</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=McLuhan_Essay_-_Daniel_Hall&diff=1113McLuhan Essay - Daniel Hall2004-12-01T00:09:06Z<p>81.58.58.178: </p>
<hr />
<div>What changes do you expect in the information society in the next ten years? Write a essay what you expect to happen, and why - using a critical review of McLuhan's theories (i.e. basing it on his thinking, or basing it on a cirtique on his thinking).<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Introduction<br />
<br />
It is possible to analyse the future developments of information within society over the next 10 years using the McLuhan framework, whether you agree or disagree with his theory. Using the McLuhan framework to base the analysis it is necessary to take a ‘step back’ from the real world. You must do this because it is necessary to appreciate the whole picture. By this I mean to analyse the world not on a Newtonian fragmented basis but rather on a basis that sees the world as being interdependent and connected throughout. What happens in Los Angeles affects what happens in New York, or what happens in nature affects technology. Everything and anything in this world is, somehow related. According to McLuhan, it is only when you have an understanding of how the world works within this connectedness that it is only then possible to predict how the world will develop in the future. Support for the application of this argument is that it is no coincidence that it was McLuhan himself that predicted the internet or “Information Superhighway” decades before it permeated into everyday life. If his theories could predict the creation of the internet, then his theories will also predict the development of the internet, the demise of the internet and the extinction of the internet. As this paper is focussed only on the next ten years, I will argue that it is impossible to apply the Mcluhan theory to the internet because the period of 10 years, when applied to the internet, is too short a period to experience the full McLuhan circle of “Enhance-Obsolete-Retrieve-Reverse”. The next 10 years of the internet will predominately be concerned with the “enhance” aspect of McLuhan’s theory, with the possibility of by 2015, witnessing the first signs of “Obsoletion”. I would predict that the stages of “Retrieval and Reversion” will only happen within the next 50-100 years – which incidentally seems like the same time spent doing an MBA at RSM.<br />
<br />
McLuhan’s Theory<br />
<br />
To narrow the scope of this essay into a manageable form for the purposes of this assignment (i.e. 1-2 pages) I will restrict my definition of “information society” solely to mean the internet. Furthermore, for the reasons stated above, I will only focus on the “Enhancement” that the internet has provided society as over a 10 year period (i.e. a relatively short period for the internet). So what has the internet enhanced?<br />
The internet has primarily enhanced information. The ability to collect, collate, analyse or disseminate information has never been so advanced. A simple example illustrates the point. As an undergraduate student at University, I would often be given ‘meaningless’ essays to write. In order for me to write these ‘meaningless’ essays it was necessary for me to get my photo taken to be placed on a library card, fill out mountains of paperwork declaring my personal details, pay a fee to join the library, get the library card issued, visit the library on the day of the essay, look in an antiquated card filing system to discover the reference of the book I was after, understand the layout of the library so that I could connect the book reference with its location in the library, try to locate the correct floor of the library and then the correct section of that floor and then the isle of the section and then the shelf of the isle and then the correct section on the shelf…..to find that some basta@**d has beaten me to it!<br />
<br />
With the internet, I type the book reference into a search engine, press ENTER and up pops the article that I am looking for. Then it is a simple procedure of “SELECT ALL / COPY / PASTE DOCUMENT” change the title of the article and, hey presto, I have one essay ready to hand in, meaning that as a student I then get more time to spend in the pub with my mates doing what students do best (this scenario assumes that I have not had my university education terminated due to blatent plagarism). The important point here is that the internet has facilitated the ease to research the essay and therefore enhanced both the quality of the essay due to the wider spectrum of papers to research and enhanced my life as I spend less time doing the meaningless ‘administrative’ actions prior to doing the necessary research I had to do as an undergraduate.<br />
<br />
Another development that the internet has created is the possibility of people to be more connected with the world. This is whether we are more connected as people with other people or with world events, technology, commerce, financial markets etc etc. In short we are more connected with “everything”. This enhanced connection is interesting in a McLuhan context because it is precisely his theory that propagates that the world is not fragmented or compartmentalised, as modern society so often interprets it to be, but is actually connected in totality at some level. This phenomenon would support McLuhan’s theory at some level. However, it is questionable that the internet supports McLuhan’s theories at another level. One of the main arguments of McLuhan is that the media is the message. I.e., it is the internet that IS the message. But how do we define the “media” of the internet necessary to decipher what the message is. Is the media the broadband cable or telephone line? Is it the monitor of the computer? Is it the web-site? Is it the contents of a page of the web-site? Without a clear definition of the “media” it is difficult to see how McLuhan’s theory can be applied because each type of media, according to McLuhan’s theory will create a distinct type of message. Without a strict definition the message of the internet media becomes blurred – and therefore loses its meaning. Alternatively it could be strongly argued that, for the internet, it is not the media that is the message but the content of the media that is the message. And it is precisely the content of web-sites, and not the form of the media, that is the internets strongest assets. Reflecting on my own personal experience of using the internet, I can tell you now that there is a world of difference between the content of web-sites I enjoy, such as www.hotandhorneylatinchics.com and websites I do not enjoy such as www.gardenersweekley.com. The media is the same in both cases but the content very different. Perhaps if McLuhan had been around long enough to appreciate www.hotandhorneylatinchics.com then he may have at least re-thought his theory.<br />
<br />
Conclusion<br />
<br />
I have assumed that the period of 10 years constitutes a short period in terms of the medium of the internet. The reason I have assumed this is because other ‘recent’ technological developments such as the television or the radio have existed for about 100 years and still continue to be developed. Likewise the ‘life’ of the internet is still in its infancy and it is anticipated that this, likewise, will also be around for 100+ years. However, I accept that as time passes and society develops, then technological developments themselves become more advanced and are developed quicker. This means that the ‘shelf-life’ of all innovations becomes shorter. What were once major innovations in the 20th Century, such as the television, will have a much longer life than major innovations of the 21st Century. This means that the McLuhan cycle becomes that much shorter. The cycle from enhancement to obsoletion will be that much shorter. According to McLuhan’s tribal Man theory, the more time passes and technology develops, the more basic the existence of man-kind becomes. Who knows, by the year 2587 man-kind may be so ‘super-developed’ that we will all get together in our ‘caves’ and try to invent a way of keeping warm at night by “rubbing our sticks together”!</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=Amedeo_Giacomantonio%27s_Essay:_A_world_of_actors&diff=1106Amedeo Giacomantonio's Essay: A world of actors2004-11-30T20:47:31Z<p>81.58.58.178: </p>
<hr />
<div>In order to have a look to a potential scenario of the information society, I would like to make use of the McLuhans'framework (Enhance,obsolete, retrieve, reverce).<br />
<br />
'''Enhance'''<br />
With the birth and development of the TV first, and internet after, information have become available everywhere, in real time, in the format and with the detail level we look for. For example, if we think back to the Gulf War, we can remember TV channels broadcasting in real time the attack of the American trups in Iraq. Or again, a person from the Netherlands can consult by internet the papers which are present in one of the Public Library of New York. This is amazing!!!<br />
<br />
Today, information are available in a text, in a sound or in a visual format. When speaking about the presidential elections of the United States, a person has a chance to read about them, to listen to the radio, or to watch the TV news.<br />
<br />
What will be the format of the information tommorrow???<br />
We can guess that 3D virtual images will exist, and that maybe we will be able to live the story of a murder in a 3D virtual format, or to be virtually closed to the American President during one of his speechs.<br />
<br />
An interesting trend is arising not only from the TV, the radio and the Internet worlds but also from the Video Games industry: "Interactivity".<br />
The media technology development is making possible the real time interaction with other people from all over the world. The TV spectator wants to become the main character of the Saturday night show. He wants to be the one to decide the destiny of the Big Brother's partecipants.<br />
<br />
'''Obsolete''' <br />
<br />
The development of the TV, and Internet will probably make obsolete:<br />
<br />
- books/newspaper. Today, this statement seems to be too strong, especially if we consider the emotional relationship that we can have with books. But if we consider that the next generations could study just on e-books, or read only e-news, everything can be seen in a more reasonable perspective;<br />
<br />
- need to move from one place to another in order to find some information. This is already a reality. Thanks to Internet we can have access to almost all the information we want in real time;<br />
<br />
- Internet/TV points. We can imagine a world in which we will be always and everywhere "on Line".<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Retrieve'''<br />
<br />
The big comunicational impact of images has already retrieved from the past the comunication of real stories true the use of actors.<br />
<br />
If we think about the American President or the Californian Governor, we can surely say that they are great actors and story tellers. This is the real secret of their political success.<br />
<br />
When looking at the future, I think that this characteristic will become more and more important. <br />
<br />
<br />
'''Reverce''' <br />
<br />
The current concept of TV has already reverced the "original story" in a new one. For example if we consider again the Gulf War, it is difficult to evaluate the real influence of the presence of the Media on the tactical decisions taken by the Americans. McLwan would say:"the medium is the message".<br />
<br />
This tendency will probably increase because of the interactive trend which is going on. The spectators will probably be more focused to create the stories in the future and they will lose the possibility to get the real, original information.</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=A_3-D_Virtual_Site&diff=12507A 3-D Virtual Site2004-11-30T18:49:15Z<p>81.58.58.178: </p>
<hr />
<div>A website, is by definition a site built on internet. A site which can be reached by everybody on the net, and which can performs many different functions for the users and for the builder/owner.<br />
<br />
Today, the way we interact with the web sites is a 2D reproduction of a real site, which belongs to a 3D world. As a consequence, all the experiences which we try to build on the web-sites are constrained by the 2D nature of the interface which is used: the display.<br />
<br />
Let's imagine for a moment what could be the experience that the user could live if the websites were designed in order to recreate trough the use of a 3D disposal a virtual 3D site.........</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=Future_Sites_of_the_Internet&diff=1046Future Sites of the Internet2004-11-30T18:36:27Z<p>81.58.58.178: </p>
<hr />
<div>Here we are posting sites that we believe gives us an indication of the future of the Internet<br />
<br />
[http://www.google.com Google] [[An example of simpler web sites]]<br />
<br />
[http://www.requiemforadream.com/ Requiem For A Dream] [[Best Movie Experience Website Ever!]]<br />
<br />
[http://www.absolut.com Absolut] An example of websites guiding viewers<br />
<br />
[[Future of the Internet]] A creative approach<br />
<br />
[http://www.horizoninteractiveawards.com/winners_showcase.htm]<br />
<br />
[http://www.lineage2.com/ Lineage, the online game] A giant online role playing game, participants will fight, form the groups named clan, communicate with chat system and so on.<br />
<br />
This is not the web site I have chosen. When you access this web page click on the link "Best of Category" in the column 2004. A new window will appear, select the link "Motiongraphx".<br />
If you have any problems of access, please let me know. Claudie<br />
<br />
[[Semantic Web---Hear the Online Future]]<br />
<br />
[[A 3-D Virtual Site]]</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=Arif_Essay&diff=1105Arif Essay2004-11-29T22:03:29Z<p>81.58.58.178: </p>
<hr />
<div><br />
The internet has an abundant amount of information. This is a fact. But, is it replacing actual human experience. I was in Italy last week and I was searching the net for information. I read about the size of the Coliseum in Rome and the canals in Venice. I started to think how McLuhan’s Law of Media could be used to address the situation.<br />
<br />
Enhance – the internet reduces the need to contact other about specific information about specific countries<br />
<br />
Obsolescence – Travel agents will not be needed any more because customers can purchase cheap tickets online and they can find the necessary information<br />
<br />
<br />
Reverse – I think that the internet provides too much information and details since it inoculates the experience itself. This may reduce the enjoyment of visiting the place since the websites had beautiful color pictures that provided al the details.</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=McLuhan_critical_review&diff=1004McLuhan critical review2004-11-29T22:03:13Z<p>81.58.58.178: </p>
<hr />
<div>What changes do you expect in the information society in the next ten years? Write a essay what you expect to happen, and why - using a critical review of [[McLuhan]]'s theories (i.e. basing it on his thinking, or basing it on a cirtique on his thinking). Use the material prodvided and the film to as supporting material. Post the essay below.<br />
<br />
[[Arif Essay]]</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=Uses_for_the_net&diff=12491Uses for the net2004-11-29T22:01:19Z<p>81.58.58.178: </p>
<hr />
<div>How can the internet make my life easier?<br />
<br />
I was thinking of what to get my girlfriend for here birthday. A few years ago, I would have had to take her sister to the mall. Now I just click on the internet to search for good ideas and read about other people's advice on the similar topic. <br />
<br />
<br />
Description <br />
<br />
I believe that the internet is a very powerful tool. That is all it is, a tool. Not more, not less. The important thing about tools is that they should make life easier than without that tool. Many people are using the web to speed up the information search and even making purchases online. This also reduces the need to physically go to a country to enjoy its unique offerings, such as Belgium chocolate or Indian spices.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Enablers<br />
<br />
- Companies making their websites very user friendly, especially available in different languages)<br />
<br />
- Comfort level – time is needed for the users to feel at ease at using internet to search for products<br />
<br />
- Financial institutions – banks and credit card companies are helping to facilitate the use of the net for purchases through various incentive programs, such as purchase protection insurance<br />
<br />
Inhibitors<br />
<br />
- Search engine convergence – companies can pay sites to have their own link show up when users enter certain search criteria, which has negative effects on the use of the web for purchases. Customers want the ability to search rather than being directed to a limited selection of sites, such as Amazon<br />
<br />
Paradigms<br />
The internet is an enabler of sharing information since users across the globe have similar experiences. It is a database of knowledge as long as the ability to sift to find desired information.<br />
<br />
Experts <br />
<br />
Byron Alley – Online Customers More Satisfied<br />
Judith Cumby & James Barnes – Establishing customer relationships on the internet Requires more than technology<br />
<br />
<br />
Timeline <br />
<br />
<br />
Annual revenues in Europe – business to customer sales<br />
2003 1.479 billion $USD<br />
2004 2.662 billion $USD<br />
2005 4.298 billion $USD<br />
<br />
Websites<br />
http://www.epaynews.com/statistics/purchases.html#30<br />
http://www.marketing.unsw.edu.au/AMJ/V10_1/Barnes_Cumby.pdf</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=Uses_for_the_net&diff=1002Uses for the net2004-11-29T22:00:47Z<p>81.58.58.178: </p>
<hr />
<div>How can the internet make my life easier?<br />
<br />
I was thinking of what to get my girlfriend for here birthday. A few years ago, I would have had to take her sister to the mall. Now I just click on the internet to search for good ideas and read about other people advice on the similar situation. <br />
<br />
<br />
Description <br />
<br />
I believe that the internet is a very powerful tool. That is all it is, a tool. Not more, not less. The important thing about tools is that they should make life easier than without that tool. Many people are using the web to speed up the information search and even making purchases online. This also reduces the need to physically go to a country to enjoy its unique offerings, such as Belgium chocolate or Indian spices.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Enablers<br />
<br />
- Companies making their websites very user friendly, especially available in different languages)<br />
<br />
- Comfort level – time is needed for the users to feel at ease at using internet to search for products<br />
<br />
- Financial institutions – banks and credit card companies are helping to facilitate the use of the net for purchases through various incentive programs, such as purchase protection insurance<br />
<br />
Inhibitors<br />
<br />
- Search engine convergence – companies can pay sites to have their own link show up when users enter certain search criteria, which has negative effects on the use of the web for purchases. Customers want the ability to search rather than being directed to a limited selection of sites, such as Amazon<br />
<br />
Paradigms<br />
The internet is an enabler of sharing information since users across the globe have similar experiences. It is a database of knowledge as long as the ability to sift to find desired information.<br />
<br />
Experts <br />
<br />
Byron Alley – Online Customers More Satisfied<br />
Judith Cumby & James Barnes – Establishing customer relationships on the internet Requires more than technology<br />
<br />
<br />
Timeline <br />
<br />
<br />
Annual revenues in Europe – business to customer sales<br />
2003 1.479 billion $USD<br />
2004 2.662 billion $USD<br />
2005 4.298 billion $USD<br />
<br />
Websites<br />
http://www.epaynews.com/statistics/purchases.html#30<br />
http://www.marketing.unsw.edu.au/AMJ/V10_1/Barnes_Cumby.pdf</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=Technological_Driving_Forces&diff=1026Technological Driving Forces2004-11-29T22:00:24Z<p>81.58.58.178: </p>
<hr />
<div>[[Disruptive Technology: Wireless Local Loop]]<br />
<br />
[[Security of Payments]]<br />
<br />
[[Voice-recognition system]]<br />
<br />
[[Development of 3G techonology]]<br />
<br />
[[Peer-to-Peer Technology]]<br />
<br />
[[Uses for the net]]<br />
<br />
[[Mobility]]<br />
<br />
[[Development of informatiion search technologies]]<br />
<br />
[[Widespread use of voice over IP (finally)]]<br />
<br />
[[Convergence of Telecommunication, Media & entertainment and Information technology, created by Tom Wang]]<br />
<br />
(Tom don't add your name to the name of the driving force, because it includes all the text in the database label for the name<br />
<br />
<br />
[http://scenariothinking.org/wiki/index.php/Driving_Forces?PHPSESSID=f452a4c7c27325dcd9f66460440d3a55 >>Back>>]</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=Societal_Driving_Forces&diff=1043Societal Driving Forces2004-11-29T15:15:36Z<p>81.58.58.178: </p>
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<div>[[Urbanization and Social Status]]<br />
<br />
[[Digital Literacy]]<br />
<br />
[[Growing privacy and security concerns]]<br />
<br />
[[My job is not the only thing in my life ANYMORE!!!!]] - Arif<br />
<br />
[[Access of Technology and IT applications in Developing countries]]<br />
<br />
[[Change of personal traits]]<br />
<br />
[[Aging population]]<br />
<br />
[[Worldwide and higher lifelong education]]- Claudie<br />
<br />
[[Pornography]]<br />
<br />
[[Medium for Dissidence]]<br />
<br />
[[Need for Information On Demand]]<br />
<br />
[http://scenariothinking.org/wiki/index.php/Driving_Forces?PHPSESSID=f452a4c7c27325dcd9f66460440d3a55 >>Back>>]</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=My_job_is_not_the_only_thing_in_my_life_ANYMORE!!!!&diff=12488My job is not the only thing in my life ANYMORE!!!!2004-11-29T15:14:37Z<p>81.58.58.178: </p>
<hr />
<div>I know that this may not be the way of thinking of most MBA, but it got me thinking.<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Description''' <br />
<br />
Many people are leaving the corporate world since they realize that money is most important things in life. Material possessions that come along with the high salaries and enormous stock options do not automatically lead to a sense of fulfillment. The long hours worked come at the expense of leisure time, family relationships and an individual’s health. This is based on an article by Jane Szita in the Holland Herald which states many executives are leaving the fast paced corporate world to pursue personal growth, which is termed “downshifters”.<br />
<br />
'''Enablers'''<br />
<br />
-Companies allowing employees to take pay cut to work less hours<br />
<br />
-Technology (remote log in)allow the employee to work from home<br />
<br />
-Changing lifestyle to live off less money or moving to location that has lower cost of living<br />
<br />
'''Inhibitors'''<br />
<br />
-Greed! This is a difficult transition since it requires foregoing many of the material pleasures that individual’s have become accustomed to (ex. Expensive vacations)<br />
<br />
-Labeling in society which associates a person based on the size of their pay cheque<br />
<br />
'''Paradigms'''<br />
<br />
Old: Money is main source of happiness. The more you have of it, the better off you are.<br />
<br />
New: Happiness comes from developing relationships with friends and family. Personal growth and a sense of accomplishment are more important then financial rewards. Money is needed to survive, but not as much as people think. <br />
<br />
'''Experts''' <br />
<br />
Judy Jones – Downshifting<br />
<br />
Adeline Iziren – Work Life – Want a balanced life? Try downshifting<br />
<br />
'''Timeline''' <br />
<br />
Number of European workers who have either decided to work less hours at same job or earn less at a more fulfilling job<br />
<br />
2003 – 12 million <br />
<br />
2007 – 16 million (estimated)<br />
<br />
'''Website'''<br />
<br />
http://resurgence.gn.apc.org/issues/jones201.htm<br />
<br />
http://www.icircle.com/html/CAREERS/Work_life_balance/ARTICLE/12805.html</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=My_job_is_not_the_only_thing_in_my_life_ANYMORE!!!!&diff=975My job is not the only thing in my life ANYMORE!!!!2004-11-29T15:14:20Z<p>81.58.58.178: </p>
<hr />
<div>I know that this may not be the way of thinking of most MBA, but it got me thinking.<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Description''' <br />
<br />
Many people are leaving the corporate world since they realize that money is most important things in life. Material possessions that come along with the high salaries and enormous stock options do not automatically lead to a sense of fulfillment. The long hours worked come at the expense of leisure time, family relationships and an individual’s health. This is based on an article by Jane Szita in the Holland Herald which states many executives are leaving the fast paced corporate world to pursue personal growth, which is termed “downshifters”.<br />
<br />
'''Enablers'''<br />
<br />
-Companies allowing employees to take pay cut to work less hours<br />
<br />
-Technology (remote log in)allow the employee to work from home<br />
<br />
-Changing lifestyle to live off less money or moving to location that has lower cost of living<br />
<br />
'''Inhibitors'''<br />
<br />
-Greed! This is a difficult transition since it requires foregoing many of the material pleasures that individual’s have become accustomed to (ex. Expensive vacations)<br />
<br />
-Labeling in society which associates a person based on the size of their pay cheque<br />
<br />
'''Paradigms'''<br />
<br />
Old: Money is main source of happiness. The more you have of it, the better off you are.<br />
<br />
New: Happiness comes from developing relationships with friends and family. Personal growth and a sense of accomplishment are more important then financial rewards. Money is needed to survive, but not as much as people think. <br />
<br />
'''Experts''' <br />
<br />
Judy Jones – Downshifting<br />
<br />
Adeline Iziren – Work Life – Want a balanced life? Try downshifting<br />
<br />
'''Timeline''' <br />
<br />
Number of European workers who have either decided to work less hours at same job or earn less at a more fulfilling job<br />
<br />
2003 – 12 million <br />
2007 – 16 million (estimated)<br />
<br />
'''Website'''<br />
<br />
http://resurgence.gn.apc.org/issues/jones201.htm<br />
<br />
http://www.icircle.com/html/CAREERS/Work_life_balance/ARTICLE/12805.html</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=My_job_is_not_the_only_thing_in_my_life_ANYMORE!!!!&diff=974My job is not the only thing in my life ANYMORE!!!!2004-11-29T15:13:51Z<p>81.58.58.178: </p>
<hr />
<div>I know that this may not be the way of thinking of most MBA, but it got me thinking.<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Description''' <br />
<br />
Many people are leaving the corporate world since they realize that money is most important things in life. Material possessions that come along with the high salaries and enormous stock options do not automatically lead to a sense of fulfillment. The long hours worked come at the expense of leisure time, family relationships and an individual’s health. This is based on an article by Jane Szita in the Holland Herald which states many executives are leaving the fast paced corporate world to pursue personal growth, which is termed “downshifters”.<br />
<br />
'''Enablers'''<br />
<br />
-Companies allowing employees to take pay cut to work less hours<br />
-Technology (remote log in)allow the employee to work from home<br />
-Changing lifestyle to live off less money or moving to location that has lower cost of living<br />
<br />
'''Inhibitors'''<br />
<br />
-Greed! This is a difficult transition since it requires foregoing many of the material pleasures that individual’s have become accustomed to (ex. Expensive vacations)<br />
-Labeling in society which associates a person based on the size of their pay cheque<br />
<br />
'''Paradigms'''<br />
<br />
Old: Money is main source of happiness. The more you have of it, the better off you are.<br />
<br />
New: Happiness comes from developing relationships with friends and family. Personal growth and a sense of accomplishment are more important then financial rewards. Money is needed to survive, but not as much as people think. <br />
<br />
'''Experts''' <br />
<br />
Judy Jones – Downshifting<br />
<br />
Adeline Iziren – Work Life – Want a balanced life? Try downshifting<br />
<br />
'''Timeline''' <br />
<br />
Number of European workers who have either decided to work less hours at same job or earn less at a more fulfilling job<br />
<br />
2003 – 12 million <br />
2007 – 16 million (estimated)<br />
<br />
'''Website'''<br />
<br />
http://resurgence.gn.apc.org/issues/jones201.htm<br />
<br />
http://www.icircle.com/html/CAREERS/Work_life_balance/ARTICLE/12805.html</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=My_job_is_not_the_only_thing_in_my_life_ANYMORE!!!!&diff=973My job is not the only thing in my life ANYMORE!!!!2004-11-29T15:13:16Z<p>81.58.58.178: </p>
<hr />
<div>I know that this may not be the way of thinking of most MBA, but it got me thinking.<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Description''' <br />
<br />
Many people are leaving the corporate world since they realize that money is most important things in life. Material possessions that come along with the high salaries and enormous stock options do not automatically lead to a sense of fulfillment. The long hours worked come at the expense of leisure time, family relationships and an individual’s health. This is based on an article by Jane Szita in the Holland Herald which states many executives are leaving the fast paced corporate world to pursue personal growth, which is termed “downshifters”.<br />
<br />
'''Enablers'''<br />
<br />
-Companies allowing employees to take pay cut to work less hours<br />
-Technology (remote log in)allow the employee to work from home<br />
-Changing lifestyle to live off less money or moving to location that has lower cost of living<br />
<br />
'''Inhibitors'''<br />
<br />
-Greed! This is a difficult transition since it requires foregoing many of the material pleasures that individual’s have become accustomed to (ex. Expensive vacations)<br />
-Labeling in society which associates a person based on the size of their pay cheque<br />
<br />
'''Paradigms'''<br />
<br />
Old: Money is main source of happiness. The more you have of it, the better off you are.<br />
<br />
New: Happiness comes from developing relationships with friends and family. Personal growth and a sense of accomplishment are more important then financial rewards. Money is needed to survive, but not as much as people think. <br />
<br />
'''Experts''' <br />
<br />
Judy Jones – Downshifting<br />
<br />
Adeline Iziren – Work Life – Want a balanced life? Try downshifting<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Timeline''' <br />
<br />
# of European workers who have either decided to work less hours at same job or earn less at a more fulfilling job<br />
<br />
2003 – 12 million <br />
2007 – 16 million (estimated)<br />
<br />
'''Website'''<br />
<br />
http://resurgence.gn.apc.org/issues/jones201.htm<br />
<br />
http://www.icircle.com/html/CAREERS/Work_life_balance/ARTICLE/12805.html</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=My_job_is_not_the_only_thing_in_my_life_ANYMORE!!!!&diff=972My job is not the only thing in my life ANYMORE!!!!2004-11-29T15:11:58Z<p>81.58.58.178: </p>
<hr />
<div>I know that this may not be the way of thinking of most MBA, but it got me thinking.<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Description''' <br />
<br />
Many people are leaving the corporate world since they realize that money is most important things in life. Material possessions that come along with the high salaries and enormous stock options do not automatically lead to a sense of fulfillment. The long hours worked come at the expense of leisure time, family relationships and an individual’s health. This is based on an article by Jane Szita in the Holland Herald which states many executives are leaving the fast paced corporate world to pursue personal growth, which is termed “downshifters”.<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Enablers'''<br />
<br />
-Companies allowing employees to take pay cut to work less hours<br />
-Technology (remote log in)allow the employee to work from home<br />
-Changing lifestyle to live off less money or moving to location that has lower cost of living<br />
<br />
'''Inhibitors'''<br />
<br />
-Greed! This is a difficult transition since it requires foregoing many of the material pleasures that individual’s have become accustomed to (ex. Expensive vacations)<br />
-Labeling in society which associates a person based on the size of their pay cheque<br />
<br />
'''Paradigms'''<br />
<br />
Old: Money is main source of happiness. The more you have of it, the better off you are.<br />
<br />
New: Happiness comes from developing relationships with friends and family. Personal growth and a sense of accomplishment are more important then financial rewards. Money is needed to survive, but not as much as people think. <br />
<br />
<br />
'''Experts''' <br />
<br />
Judy Jones – Downshifting<br />
Adeline Iziren – Work Life – Want a balanced life? Try downshifting<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Timeline''' <br />
<br />
# of European workers who have either decided to <br />
• work less hours at same job<br />
<br />
• earn less at working at a more fulfilling job<br />
<br />
2003 – 12 million <br />
2007 – 16 million (estimated)<br />
<br />
'''Website'''<br />
<br />
http://resurgence.gn.apc.org/issues/jones201.htm<br />
<br />
http://www.icircle.com/html/CAREERS/Work_life_balance/ARTICLE/12805.html</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=My_job_is_not_the_only_thing_in_my_life_ANYMORE!!!!&diff=971My job is not the only thing in my life ANYMORE!!!!2004-11-29T15:11:14Z<p>81.58.58.178: </p>
<hr />
<div>I know that this may not be the way of thinking of most MBA, but it got me thinking.<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Description''' <br />
<br />
Many people are leaving the corporate world since they realize that money is most important things in life. Material possessions that come along with the high salaries and enormous stock options do not automatically lead to a sense of fulfillment. The long hours worked come at the expense of leisure time, family relationships and an individual’s health. This is based on an article by Jane Szita in the Holland Herald which states many executives are leaving the fast paced corporate world to pursue personal growth, which is termed “downshifters”.<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Enablers'''<br />
<br />
-Companies allowing employees to take pay cut to work less hours<br />
-Technology (remote log in)allow the employee to work from home<br />
-Changing lifestyle to live off less money or moving to location that has lower cost of living<br />
<br />
'''Inhibitors'''<br />
<br />
-Greed! This is a difficult transition since it requires foregoing many of the material pleasures that individual’s have become accustomed to (ex. Expensive vacations)<br />
-Labeling in society which associates a person based on the size of their pay cheque<br />
<br />
'''Paradigms'''<br />
<br />
Old: Money is main source of happiness. The more you have of it, the better off you are.<br />
<br />
New: Happiness comes from developing relationships with friends and family. Personal growth and a sense of accomplishment are more important then financial rewards. Money is needed to survive, but not as much as people think. <br />
<br />
<br />
'''Experts''' <br />
<br />
Judy Jones – Downshifting<br />
Adeline Iziren – Work Life – Want a balanced life? Try downshifting<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Timeline''' <br />
<br />
# of European workers who have either decided to <br />
• work less hours at same job<br />
<br />
• earn less at working at a more fulfilling job<br />
<br />
2003 – 12 million <br />
2007 – 16 million (estimated)<br />
<br />
'''Website'''<br />
<br />
http://resurgence.gn.apc.org/issues/jones201.htm<br />
<br />
http://www.icircle.com/html/CAREERS/Work_life_balance/ARTICLE/12805.html</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=My_job_is_not_the_only_thing_in_my_life_ANYMORE!!!!&diff=970My job is not the only thing in my life ANYMORE!!!!2004-11-29T15:10:10Z<p>81.58.58.178: </p>
<hr />
<div>I know that this may not be the way of thinking of most MBA, but it got me thinking.<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Description''' <br />
<br />
Many people are leaving the corporate world since they realize that money is most important things in life. Material possessions that come along with the high salaries and enormous stock options do not automatically lead to a sense of fulfillment. The long hours worked come at the expense of leisure time, family relationships and an individual’s health. This is based on an article by Jane Szita in the Holland Herald which states many executives are leaving the fast paced corporate world to pursue personal growth, which is termed “downshifters”.<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Enablers'''<br />
-Companies allowing employees to take pay cut to work less hours<br />
-Technology (remote log in)allow the employee to work from home<br />
-Changing lifestyle to live off less money or moving to location that has lower cost of living<br />
<br />
'''Inhibitors'''<br />
-Greed! This is a difficult transition since it requires foregoing many of the material pleasures that individual’s have become accustomed to (ex. Expensive vacations)<br />
-Labeling in society which associates a person based on the size of their pay cheque<br />
<br />
'''Paradigms'''Old: Money is main source of happiness. The more you have of it, the better off you are.<br />
<br />
New: Happiness comes from developing relationships with friends and family. Personal growth and a sense of accomplishment are more important then financial rewards. Money is needed to survive, but not as much as people think. <br />
<br />
<br />
'''Experts''' <br />
Judy Jones – Downshifting<br />
Adeline Iziren – Work Life – Want a balanced life? Try downshifting<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Timeline''' <br />
# of European workers who have either decided to <br />
• work less hours at same job<br />
• earn less at working at a more fulfilling job<br />
<br />
2003 – 12 million <br />
2007 – 16 million (estimated)<br />
<br />
'''Website'''<br />
http://resurgence.gn.apc.org/issues/jones201.htm<br />
http://www.icircle.com/html/CAREERS/Work_life_balance/ARTICLE/12805.html</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=Societal_Driving_Forces&diff=976Societal Driving Forces2004-11-29T15:08:37Z<p>81.58.58.178: </p>
<hr />
<div>[[Urbanization and Social Status]]<br />
<br />
[[Digital Literacy]]<br />
<br />
[[Growing privacy and security concerns]]<br />
<br />
[[My job is not the only thing in my life ANYMORE!!!!]]<br />
<br />
[[Access of Technology and IT applications in Developing countries]]<br />
<br />
[[Change of personal traits]]<br />
<br />
[[Aging population]]<br />
<br />
[[Worldwide and higher lifelong education]]- Claudie<br />
<br />
[[Pornography]]<br />
<br />
[[Medium for Dissidence]]<br />
<br />
[[Need for Information On Demand]]<br />
<br />
[http://scenariothinking.org/wiki/index.php/Driving_Forces?PHPSESSID=f452a4c7c27325dcd9f66460440d3a55 >>Back>>]</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=Liberalization_of_the_Dutch_health_care_system&diff=1031Liberalization of the Dutch health care system2004-11-24T22:10:18Z<p>81.58.58.178: /* Inhibitors: */</p>
<hr />
<div>Here is a template to upload driving forces. <br />
<br />
==Description:==<br />
Low cost of internet connections. The relative low cost of internet connections has made it possible the worldwide diffusion of internet. The penetration rate is very high and it keeps growing.<br />
<br />
==Enablers:==<br />
- technology developments: The technology developments made it cheaper the flow of information through iternet;<br />
<br />
- Success of e-advertisements: Some of the services so far available on internet are free. Internet service providers, base most of their revenues on the advertisements which occur on internet.<br />
<br />
- Success of e-marketing: See above<br />
<br />
==Inhibitors:==<br />
- Increase of economics;<br />
- Increase of taxes;<br />
<br />
==Paradigms:==<br />
Everything that exists, exists in space. All bodies are joined by space. For humans the internet offers a new space that can connect us like normal space connects all things. This is a new space in which we can live, socialize, do business, love, communicate, build communities towns and cities, learn, and even get married. But beyond all this lies a new potential, something unseen, unknown even to the most savvy internet users. Cyber space can be used as a powerful instrument for healing, for spiritual growth, for mental and emotional expansion. With the internet, when used properly, we can actually expand our awareness as it amplifies certain aspects of our consciousness. <br />
<br />
<br />
From "Using the Internet as an Amplifier of <br />
Human Consciousness"<br />
<br />
==Experts:==<br />
Sources for additional information about this driving force. (if you have found people, put the links to them)<br />
==Timing:==<br />
Dates for key milestones in the development of the driving force.<br />
Year - Average cost, in South Africa, for a ISP connection in (R)<br />
1993 - 80,<br />
1994 - 80,<br />
1995 - 80,<br />
1996 - 80,<br />
1997 - 80,<br />
1998 - 80,<br />
1999 - 88,<br />
2000 - 89,<br />
2001 - 90,<br />
2002 - 94,<br />
2003 - 100.<br />
<br />
==Web Resources:==<br />
<br />
http://www.internet.org.za/costs.html</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=Liberalization_of_the_Dutch_health_care_system&diff=810Liberalization of the Dutch health care system2004-11-24T22:08:14Z<p>81.58.58.178: /* Web Resources: */</p>
<hr />
<div>Here is a template to upload driving forces. <br />
<br />
==Description:==<br />
Low cost of internet connections. The relative low cost of internet connections has made it possible the worldwide diffusion of internet. The penetration rate is very high and it keeps growing.<br />
<br />
==Enablers:==<br />
- technology developments: The technology developments made it cheaper the flow of information through iternet;<br />
<br />
- Success of e-advertisements: Some of the services so far available on internet are free. Internet service providers, base most of their revenues on the advertisements which occur on internet.<br />
<br />
- Success of e-marketing: See above<br />
<br />
==Inhibitors:==<br />
Factors which weaken this driving force. (these are actually other driving forces, and you can link to them in the wiki!)<br />
<br />
==Paradigms:==<br />
Everything that exists, exists in space. All bodies are joined by space. For humans the internet offers a new space that can connect us like normal space connects all things. This is a new space in which we can live, socialize, do business, love, communicate, build communities towns and cities, learn, and even get married. But beyond all this lies a new potential, something unseen, unknown even to the most savvy internet users. Cyber space can be used as a powerful instrument for healing, for spiritual growth, for mental and emotional expansion. With the internet, when used properly, we can actually expand our awareness as it amplifies certain aspects of our consciousness. <br />
<br />
<br />
From "Using the Internet as an Amplifier of <br />
Human Consciousness"<br />
<br />
==Experts:==<br />
Sources for additional information about this driving force. (if you have found people, put the links to them)<br />
==Timing:==<br />
Dates for key milestones in the development of the driving force.<br />
Year - Average cost, in South Africa, for a ISP connection in (R)<br />
1993 - 80,<br />
1994 - 80,<br />
1995 - 80,<br />
1996 - 80,<br />
1997 - 80,<br />
1998 - 80,<br />
1999 - 88,<br />
2000 - 89,<br />
2001 - 90,<br />
2002 - 94,<br />
2003 - 100.<br />
<br />
==Web Resources:==<br />
<br />
http://www.internet.org.za/costs.html</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=Liberalization_of_the_Dutch_health_care_system&diff=808Liberalization of the Dutch health care system2004-11-24T22:07:43Z<p>81.58.58.178: /* Timing: */</p>
<hr />
<div>Here is a template to upload driving forces. <br />
<br />
==Description:==<br />
Low cost of internet connections. The relative low cost of internet connections has made it possible the worldwide diffusion of internet. The penetration rate is very high and it keeps growing.<br />
<br />
==Enablers:==<br />
- technology developments: The technology developments made it cheaper the flow of information through iternet;<br />
<br />
- Success of e-advertisements: Some of the services so far available on internet are free. Internet service providers, base most of their revenues on the advertisements which occur on internet.<br />
<br />
- Success of e-marketing: See above<br />
<br />
==Inhibitors:==<br />
Factors which weaken this driving force. (these are actually other driving forces, and you can link to them in the wiki!)<br />
<br />
==Paradigms:==<br />
Everything that exists, exists in space. All bodies are joined by space. For humans the internet offers a new space that can connect us like normal space connects all things. This is a new space in which we can live, socialize, do business, love, communicate, build communities towns and cities, learn, and even get married. But beyond all this lies a new potential, something unseen, unknown even to the most savvy internet users. Cyber space can be used as a powerful instrument for healing, for spiritual growth, for mental and emotional expansion. With the internet, when used properly, we can actually expand our awareness as it amplifies certain aspects of our consciousness. <br />
<br />
<br />
From "Using the Internet as an Amplifier of <br />
Human Consciousness"<br />
<br />
==Experts:==<br />
Sources for additional information about this driving force. (if you have found people, put the links to them)<br />
==Timing:==<br />
Dates for key milestones in the development of the driving force.<br />
Year - Average cost, in South Africa, for a ISP connection in (R)<br />
1993 - 80,<br />
1994 - 80,<br />
1995 - 80,<br />
1996 - 80,<br />
1997 - 80,<br />
1998 - 80,<br />
1999 - 88,<br />
2000 - 89,<br />
2001 - 90,<br />
2002 - 94,<br />
2003 - 100.<br />
<br />
==Web Resources:==<br />
<br />
Year - Average cost, in South Africa, for a ISP connection in (R)<br />
1993 - 80,<br />
1994 - 80,<br />
1995 - 80,<br />
1996 - 80,<br />
1997 - 80,<br />
1998 - 80,<br />
1999 - 88,<br />
2000 - 89,<br />
2001 - 90,<br />
2002 - 94,<br />
2003 - 100.</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=Liberalization_of_the_Dutch_health_care_system&diff=807Liberalization of the Dutch health care system2004-11-24T22:06:59Z<p>81.58.58.178: /* Web Resources: */</p>
<hr />
<div>Here is a template to upload driving forces. <br />
<br />
==Description:==<br />
Low cost of internet connections. The relative low cost of internet connections has made it possible the worldwide diffusion of internet. The penetration rate is very high and it keeps growing.<br />
<br />
==Enablers:==<br />
- technology developments: The technology developments made it cheaper the flow of information through iternet;<br />
<br />
- Success of e-advertisements: Some of the services so far available on internet are free. Internet service providers, base most of their revenues on the advertisements which occur on internet.<br />
<br />
- Success of e-marketing: See above<br />
<br />
==Inhibitors:==<br />
Factors which weaken this driving force. (these are actually other driving forces, and you can link to them in the wiki!)<br />
<br />
==Paradigms:==<br />
Everything that exists, exists in space. All bodies are joined by space. For humans the internet offers a new space that can connect us like normal space connects all things. This is a new space in which we can live, socialize, do business, love, communicate, build communities towns and cities, learn, and even get married. But beyond all this lies a new potential, something unseen, unknown even to the most savvy internet users. Cyber space can be used as a powerful instrument for healing, for spiritual growth, for mental and emotional expansion. With the internet, when used properly, we can actually expand our awareness as it amplifies certain aspects of our consciousness. <br />
<br />
<br />
From "Using the Internet as an Amplifier of <br />
Human Consciousness"<br />
<br />
==Experts:==<br />
Sources for additional information about this driving force. (if you have found people, put the links to them)<br />
==Timing:==<br />
Dates for key milestones in the development of the driving force. <br />
==Web Resources:==<br />
<br />
Year - Average cost, in South Africa, for a ISP connection in (R)<br />
1993 - 80,<br />
1994 - 80,<br />
1995 - 80,<br />
1996 - 80,<br />
1997 - 80,<br />
1998 - 80,<br />
1999 - 88,<br />
2000 - 89,<br />
2001 - 90,<br />
2002 - 94,<br />
2003 - 100.</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=Liberalization_of_the_Dutch_health_care_system&diff=806Liberalization of the Dutch health care system2004-11-24T22:05:46Z<p>81.58.58.178: /* Web Resources: */</p>
<hr />
<div>Here is a template to upload driving forces. <br />
<br />
==Description:==<br />
Low cost of internet connections. The relative low cost of internet connections has made it possible the worldwide diffusion of internet. The penetration rate is very high and it keeps growing.<br />
<br />
==Enablers:==<br />
- technology developments: The technology developments made it cheaper the flow of information through iternet;<br />
<br />
- Success of e-advertisements: Some of the services so far available on internet are free. Internet service providers, base most of their revenues on the advertisements which occur on internet.<br />
<br />
- Success of e-marketing: See above<br />
<br />
==Inhibitors:==<br />
Factors which weaken this driving force. (these are actually other driving forces, and you can link to them in the wiki!)<br />
<br />
==Paradigms:==<br />
Everything that exists, exists in space. All bodies are joined by space. For humans the internet offers a new space that can connect us like normal space connects all things. This is a new space in which we can live, socialize, do business, love, communicate, build communities towns and cities, learn, and even get married. But beyond all this lies a new potential, something unseen, unknown even to the most savvy internet users. Cyber space can be used as a powerful instrument for healing, for spiritual growth, for mental and emotional expansion. With the internet, when used properly, we can actually expand our awareness as it amplifies certain aspects of our consciousness. <br />
<br />
<br />
From "Using the Internet as an Amplifier of <br />
Human Consciousness"<br />
<br />
==Experts:==<br />
Sources for additional information about this driving force. (if you have found people, put the links to them)<br />
==Timing:==<br />
Dates for key milestones in the development of the driving force. <br />
==Web Resources:==<br />
<br />
Year - Average cost, in South Africa, for a ISP connection in (R)<br />
1993 80<br />
1994 80<br />
1995 80<br />
1996 80<br />
1997 80<br />
1998 80<br />
1999 88<br />
2000 89<br />
2001 90<br />
2002 94<br />
2003 100</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=Liberalization_of_the_Dutch_health_care_system&diff=805Liberalization of the Dutch health care system2004-11-24T21:59:59Z<p>81.58.58.178: /* Description: */</p>
<hr />
<div>Here is a template to upload driving forces. <br />
<br />
==Description:==<br />
Low cost of internet connections. The relative low cost of internet connections has made it possible the worldwide diffusion of internet. The penetration rate is very high and it keeps growing.<br />
<br />
==Enablers:==<br />
- technology developments: The technology developments made it cheaper the flow of information through iternet;<br />
<br />
- Success of e-advertisements: Some of the services so far available on internet are free. Internet service providers, base most of their revenues on the advertisements which occur on internet.<br />
<br />
- Success of e-marketing: See above<br />
<br />
==Inhibitors:==<br />
Factors which weaken this driving force. (these are actually other driving forces, and you can link to them in the wiki!)<br />
<br />
==Paradigms:==<br />
Everything that exists, exists in space. All bodies are joined by space. For humans the internet offers a new space that can connect us like normal space connects all things. This is a new space in which we can live, socialize, do business, love, communicate, build communities towns and cities, learn, and even get married. But beyond all this lies a new potential, something unseen, unknown even to the most savvy internet users. Cyber space can be used as a powerful instrument for healing, for spiritual growth, for mental and emotional expansion. With the internet, when used properly, we can actually expand our awareness as it amplifies certain aspects of our consciousness. <br />
<br />
<br />
From "Using the Internet as an Amplifier of <br />
Human Consciousness"<br />
<br />
==Experts:==<br />
Sources for additional information about this driving force. (if you have found people, put the links to them)<br />
==Timing:==<br />
Dates for key milestones in the development of the driving force. <br />
==Web Resources:==</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=Liberalization_of_the_Dutch_health_care_system&diff=804Liberalization of the Dutch health care system2004-11-24T21:42:25Z<p>81.58.58.178: /* Paradigms: */</p>
<hr />
<div>Here is a template to upload driving forces. <br />
<br />
==Description:==<br />
Low cost of internet connections. The low cost of internet connections has made it possible the worldwide diffusion of internet. The penetration rate is very high and it keeps growing.<br />
<br />
==Enablers:==<br />
- technology developments: The technology developments made it cheaper the flow of information through iternet;<br />
<br />
- Success of e-advertisements: Some of the services so far available on internet are free. Internet service providers, base most of their revenues on the advertisements which occur on internet.<br />
<br />
- Success of e-marketing: See above<br />
<br />
==Inhibitors:==<br />
Factors which weaken this driving force. (these are actually other driving forces, and you can link to them in the wiki!)<br />
<br />
==Paradigms:==<br />
Everything that exists, exists in space. All bodies are joined by space. For humans the internet offers a new space that can connect us like normal space connects all things. This is a new space in which we can live, socialize, do business, love, communicate, build communities towns and cities, learn, and even get married. But beyond all this lies a new potential, something unseen, unknown even to the most savvy internet users. Cyber space can be used as a powerful instrument for healing, for spiritual growth, for mental and emotional expansion. With the internet, when used properly, we can actually expand our awareness as it amplifies certain aspects of our consciousness. <br />
<br />
<br />
From "Using the Internet as an Amplifier of <br />
Human Consciousness"<br />
<br />
==Experts:==<br />
Sources for additional information about this driving force. (if you have found people, put the links to them)<br />
==Timing:==<br />
Dates for key milestones in the development of the driving force. <br />
==Web Resources:==</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=Liberalization_of_the_Dutch_health_care_system&diff=803Liberalization of the Dutch health care system2004-11-24T21:38:26Z<p>81.58.58.178: /* Enablers: */</p>
<hr />
<div>Here is a template to upload driving forces. <br />
<br />
==Description:==<br />
Low cost of internet connections. The low cost of internet connections has made it possible the worldwide diffusion of internet. The penetration rate is very high and it keeps growing.<br />
<br />
==Enablers:==<br />
- technology developments: The technology developments made it cheaper the flow of information through iternet;<br />
<br />
- Success of e-advertisements: Some of the services so far available on internet are free. Internet service providers, base most of their revenues on the advertisements which occur on internet.<br />
<br />
- Success of e-marketing: See above<br />
<br />
==Inhibitors:==<br />
Factors which weaken this driving force. (these are actually other driving forces, and you can link to them in the wiki!)<br />
<br />
==Paradigms:==<br />
<br />
==Experts:==<br />
Sources for additional information about this driving force. (if you have found people, put the links to them)<br />
==Timing:==<br />
Dates for key milestones in the development of the driving force. <br />
==Web Resources:==</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=Liberalization_of_the_Dutch_health_care_system&diff=802Liberalization of the Dutch health care system2004-11-24T21:29:59Z<p>81.58.58.178: /* Description: */</p>
<hr />
<div>Here is a template to upload driving forces. <br />
<br />
==Description:==<br />
Low cost of internet connections. The low cost of internet connections has made it possible the worldwide diffusion of internet. The penetration rate is very high and it keeps growing.<br />
<br />
==Enablers:==<br />
<br />
==Inhibitors:==<br />
Factors which weaken this driving force. (these are actually other driving forces, and you can link to them in the wiki!)<br />
<br />
==Paradigms:==<br />
<br />
==Experts:==<br />
Sources for additional information about this driving force. (if you have found people, put the links to them)<br />
==Timing:==<br />
Dates for key milestones in the development of the driving force. <br />
==Web Resources:==</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=Arif%27s_Exchange_Log&diff=12361Arif's Exchange Log2004-11-18T21:37:07Z<p>81.58.58.178: </p>
<hr />
<div>Netherlands or Bust!!!!<br />
<br />
I was on the place to Europe, thinking about what to expect. Are people going to be nice? Are the courses going to be difficult? Will I feel fulfilled without 3 cases a day?<br />
<br />
I got off the plane at London Heathrow airport with 4 hours until my flight to Amsterdam, which was on a small discount airline. So I went to ask at the ticket counter, if they would put me on an earlier flight. The young guy in the blue vest said “No, that is not in our policy.” I guess he did not take a Marketing class that says the customer is always right!!! So, I decided to eat some lunch and read my book. After about an hour, I felt kind of tired. Naturally, I lied down across three plastic seats. I was having a nice, relaxing dream about school life outside Ivey. Suddenly, I woke up and started to run to my get only to realize that I missed my flight. The ironic thing is that I had to explain my situation to the same clerk that had refused to change my ticket four hours earlier. <br />
<br />
Anyways, this is what I have learned in the first few weeks of being on exchange:<br />
<br />
• People love to ride bikes, even if they are twenty years old.<br />
<br />
• Shops in the Red Light District do not accept Canadian currency.<br />
<br />
• There is at least one East Indian spice store in Netherlands. <br />
<br />
• In Paris, hold your breath on the train, it smells like a gym locker room.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Netherlands or Bust - Part II<br />
<br />
I am about half way through my exchange program. Time has flown by. What can I say about my Europe experience so far? Everyone drinks beer. The women are beautiful. Everything is expensive. <br />
<br />
Rotterdam is about the same size of London and is also a University town. The MBA program here is very intensive with many papers and lots of groupwork. The students are from all over the world (Germany, France, Japan, Norway, Australia, India, China, US). When we are not out drinking, the main past time is playing the boardgame Risk until the early hours of the morning (for those who have played it know what I mean).<br />
<br />
I have visited many places so far. <br />
My first trip was to Belgium, which I knew nothing about. Brussels is the capital and the location of the HQ of the European Union. It is Ok, it has some big churches. About an hour away, there is a small town called Bruges that is the most beautiful place I have ever seen. The buildings are very old and stunning, not to mention the cobblestone pathways and the river flowing around the town. But the best thing of the place is the chocolate, it is AWESOME!!! Milk chocolate, dark chocolate, crème-filled chocolate, chocolate with nuts….I don’t think I can go back to eating ordinary chocolate bars, such as Heresy’s or Dairymilk.<br />
<br />
My second trip was to Amsterdam. It was kinda cool seeing the Red Light district with the women in the window. They are not as beautiful as you think they would be. They look like Za Za Gabor in lace. The smell of marijuana is in the air, similar to the scent of the apartment hallways of London. I also had a chance to visit a coffee shop. Bad Experience. Don’t want to talk about it.<br />
<br />
Next stop Paris, the city of romance. Notre Dame is beautiful church with it domes and artistic glass windows. The food was very tasty, especially considering the food in Holland tastes like cardboard. The Eiffel tower is huge and I overwhelming at night when it was illuminated with flashing lights. I also visited the Louver. It was enormous and lots of fun.<br />
<br />
In early October, I went to Munich for Oktoberfest, which is supposed to the best place to party. My friend was feeling tired, so I had to drive his car. It was Toyota Starlet which is the midget version of the Tercel. The highways (Autobahn) in Germany do not have speed limits, except for certain areas with construction where the maximum is 130km/h. I was pushing about 170 when my eye started to twitch. Suddenly, my left contact lens fell out. I ended up driving for about 40 minutes on the narrow lanes with many trucks surrounding while squinting with one eye until I reached the next gas station. <br />
<br />
We finally arrived to the hotel about 7am since we had class the evening before. We checked in and went to sleep. After about 90 minutes, it was time to get up. We got dressed and took a cab to the beer gardens because we had to be there by 9 am. The next 12 hours were filled with drinking large mugs of beer, dancing on the tables with women in Bavarian outfits and eating large pretzels. It seemed like a constant drunken euphoria. <br />
<br />
Then next day after showering and changing out my beer soaked clothes. We went back to the party tents, but I did not want to see another beer again. So I went sight seeing. I visited the Olympic Stadium and the BMW museum (very cool). Then I went to the Deutsches Museum which is the world’s best science and technology museum. It was awesome. Exhibits included from airplanes, tunnel construction, railway, bridge construction, and much more. This is a must see, especially for the engineer types.<br />
<br />
This has been recap of my exchange in Netherlands. I must say that it has been an eye opening experience. I hope all is well at Ivey.<br />
<br />
<br />
Netherlands or Bust - Part III<br />
<br />
About a month ago, I went to play soccer with some of my classmates. I took my camera along to take some pictures. After playing, my friend, Meredith who is on exchange from UBC, came over for some dinner and wanted to see the pictures. As I was flipping through the images, there was one of a bare ass on my camera. I was so embarrassed since I could not explain how it got there. But later, I realized that someone must have taken the picture while I was playing. To identify the person, I created a poster with pictures of students that were at the scene. (See attached). No one messes with Arif.<br />
<br />
[[Image:WHO_IS_THIS.jpg]]<br />
<br />
A week later, the school took all the MBA students on a boat cruise around the harbor for dinner. This was very nice to see the other side of Rotterdam while downing many glasses of wine. <br />
<br />
My girlfriend, Salma, came from Calgary to visit me in October. A couple of her other friends joined her to travel of Europe also. First stop – Belgium. During the day we pigged out on the awesome chocolates. We ate dinner in Bruges, the small fairy tale like town. Mussels are the specialty in the region and they did not disappoint. <br />
<br />
Next stop – Paris. On our way to the hotel, Salma was carrying a bag that contained of chocolates, which she bought for her friends and coworkers worth about 25 Euros, and few Belgian ‘Monk’ beers of mine. She got tired so she gave the bag to me. Being the MBA student that can think ‘outside the box’, I hooked the bag on to my rolling luggage. About two minutes later when I stopped to take a break, my luggage fell backwards from the weight of the beer, which shattered within the bag. Damn Gravity!!! Let’s just say the first evening in Paris was not as romantic as I expected. <br />
<br />
The next day, I took Salma up the Eiffel tower. It was very nice and you can see all the sights of the city. One unusual thing I noticed was that in their donair kabob pitas they put a pile of fries, unlike those on Richmond Street after a night of binge drinking. The food was awesome and the wine was cheaper than bottled water, so I ended up getting tipsy often. French waiters are usually older men since it is considered a career versus just for young teens to earn money for school like in Canada. They are grumpy and very slow, which makes dinner usually take over 2 hours. <br />
<br />
Last stop – Amsterdam. We stayed at the Bulldog Hotel, a chain known for their famous ‘cafes’. Before we went out for the night, Salma went to take a shower and I left to grab some food. I strolled along the red light district and about 20 minutes later, I returned with a couple slices of pizza. As I approached the room, I noticed a pool of water built up in the hallway just outside my door. Salma let me in to room with the carpet absolutely soaked. She said that shower drain was plugged and it flowed into the bedroom. I tried to calm her down and gave her pizza to help distract her attention from the dilemma. The hotel manager said they did not have any other vacant rooms so they ended putting us up in an apartment that is used for clients who stay for long terms. This place was huge with nice living room and kitchen. I guess this was silver lining in the situation, but then Salma was feeling sick. Salma’s doctor told her to limit the cheese she eats at night. Of course, I forget this while I was standing in the puddle of water in the hotel room.<br />
<br />
After a couple of hours, we walked around went to a pub to get something to eat. The waitress said that they had a bobbing for apples for shots by the bar. This was a challenge I could not resist. It was not an easy task because the apple sinks as I tried to bite it. But after a few attempts, I succeeded. The next day, Salma left for home. <br />
<br />
In early November, I went to museum night in Amsterdam with Greg Worsnop, Meredith. For one price, we were able to visit any museum until 2am. We visited the Van Gogh museum and the Rijksmuseum, which the home of Rembrandt’s Watchman. Our last stop was the Anne Frank house, where a Jewish family hid in their attic for over two years to avoid the Nazi regime.<br />
<br />
Last week, I went to Spain. This is the best place in the world. Nice weather (18˚), tasty food, and beautiful women; what else do I need? In Barcelona, I went to the Picasso museum and the chocolate museum, which showed the history of this delicious sweet. I also went to an Aquarium where I saw sharks through a large glass tunnel and petted a sting ray.<br />
<br />
The next day, I went to Madrid. The Palais Real, which was huge palace with priceless artifacts and tapestries. I also went to oldest restaurant in the world, which was established in 1725 (according to Guinness World Book of Records). I ate a tasty half chicken casserole, which was baked in the original stone oven. Even though about eighty people were seated while I was there; at least 200 customers were turned away since them did not have reservations. For you are considering a trip to Europe, make sure that Spain is on the top of the list, Trust me.<br />
<br />
Only about a month left on my exchange. I am looking forward to coming back to Canada and getting some much needed rest. This Rotterdam program is very intensive with lot group work and assignments.</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=Arif%27s_Exchange_Log&diff=530Arif's Exchange Log2004-11-18T21:24:48Z<p>81.58.58.178: </p>
<hr />
<div>Netherlands or Bust!!!!<br />
<br />
I was on the place to Europe, thinking about what to expect. Are people going to be nice? Are the courses going to be difficult? Will I feel fulfilled without 3 cases a day?<br />
<br />
I got off the plane at London Heathrow airport with 4 hours until my flight to Amsterdam, which was on a small discount airline. So I went to ask at the ticket counter, if they would put me on an earlier flight. The young guy in the blue vest said “No, that is not in our policy.” I guess he did not take a Marketing class that says the customer is always right!!! So, I decided to eat some lunch and read my book. After about an hour, I felt kind of tired. Naturally, I lied down across three plastic seats. I was having a nice, relaxing dream about school life outside Ivey. Suddenly, I woke up and started to run to my get only to realize that I missed my flight. The ironic thing is that I had to explain my situation to the same clerk that had refused to change my ticket four hours earlier. <br />
<br />
Anyways, this is what I have learned in the first few weeks of being on exchange:<br />
<br />
• People love to ride bikes, even if they are twenty years old.<br />
<br />
• Shops in the Red Light District do not accept Canadian currency.<br />
<br />
• There is at least one East Indian spice store in Netherlands. <br />
<br />
• In Paris, hold your breath on the train, it smells like a gym locker room.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Netherlands or Bust - Part II<br />
<br />
I am about half way through my exchange program. Time has flown by. What can I say about my Europe experience so far? Everyone drinks beer. The women are beautiful. Everything is expensive. <br />
<br />
Rotterdam is about the same size of London and is also a University town. The MBA program here is very intensive with many papers and lots of groupwork. The students are from all over the world (Germany, France, Japan, Norway, Australia, India, China, US). When we are not out drinking, the main past time is playing the boardgame Risk until the early hours of the morning (for those who have played it know what I mean).<br />
<br />
I have visited many places so far. <br />
My first trip was to Belgium, which I knew nothing about. Brussels is the capital and the location of the HQ of the European Union. It is Ok, it has some big churches. About an hour away, there is a small town called Bruges that is the most beautiful place I have ever seen. The buildings are very old and stunning, not to mention the cobblestone pathways and the river flowing around the town. But the best thing of the place is the chocolate, it is AWESOME!!! Milk chocolate, dark chocolate, crème-filled chocolate, chocolate with nuts….I don’t think I can go back to eating ordinary chocolate bars, such as Heresy’s or Dairymilk.<br />
<br />
My second trip was to Amsterdam. It was kinda cool seeing the Red Light district with the women in the window. They are not as beautiful as you think they would be. They look like Za Za Gabor in lace. The smell of marijuana is in the air, similar to the scent of the apartment hallways of London. I also had a chance to visit a coffee shop. Bad Experience. Don’t want to talk about it.<br />
<br />
Next stop Paris, the city of romance. Notre Dame is beautiful church with it domes and artistic glass windows. The food was very tasty, especially considering the food in Holland tastes like cardboard. The Eiffel tower is huge and I overwhelming at night when it was illuminated with flashing lights. I also visited the Louver. It was enormous and lots of fun.<br />
<br />
In early October, I went to Munich for Oktoberfest, which is supposed to the best place to party. My friend was feeling tired, so I had to drive his car. It was Toyota Starlet which is the midget version of the Tercel. The highways (Autobahn) in Germany do not have speed limits, except for certain areas with construction where the maximum is 130km/h. I was pushing about 170 when my eye started to twitch. Suddenly, my left contact lens fell out. I ended up driving for about 40 minutes on the narrow lanes with many trucks surrounding while squinting with one eye until I reached the next gas station. <br />
<br />
We finally arrived to the hotel about 7am since we had class the evening before. We checked in and went to sleep. After about 90 minutes, it was time to get up. We got dressed and took a cab to the beer gardens because we had to be there by 9 am. The next 12 hours were filled with drinking large mugs of beer, dancing on the tables with women in Bavarian outfits and eating large pretzels. It seemed like a constant drunken euphoria. <br />
<br />
Then next day after showering and changing out my beer soaked clothes. We went back to the party tents, but I did not want to see another beer again. So I went sight seeing. I visited the Olympic Stadium and the BMW museum (very cool). Then I went to the Deutsches Museum which is the world’s best science and technology museum. It was awesome. Exhibits included from airplanes, tunnel construction, railway, bridge construction, and much more. This is a must see, especially for the engineer types.<br />
<br />
This has been recap of my exchange in Netherlands. I must say that it has been an eye opening experience. I hope all is well at Ivey.<br />
<br />
<br />
Netherlands or Bust - Part III<br />
<br />
About a month ago, I went to play soccer with some of my classmates. I took my camera along to take some pictures. After playing, my friend, Meredith who is on exchange from UBC, came over for some dinner and wanted to see the pictures. As I was flipping through the images, there was one of a bare ass on my camera. I was so embarrassed since I could not explain how it got there. But later, I realized that someone must have taken the picture while I was playing. To identify the person, I created a poster with pictures of students that were at the scene. (See attached). No one messes with Arif.<br />
<br />
A week later, the school took all the MBA students on a boat cruise around the harbor for dinner. This was very nice to see the other side of Rotterdam while downing many glasses of wine. <br />
<br />
My girlfriend, Salma, came from Calgary to visit me in October. A couple of her other friends joined her to travel of Europe also. First stop – Belgium. During the day we pigged out on the awesome chocolates. We ate dinner in Bruges, the small fairy tale like town. Mussels are the specialty in the region and they did not disappoint. <br />
<br />
Next stop – Paris. On our way to the hotel, Salma was carrying a bag that contained of chocolates, which she bought for her friends and coworkers worth about 25 Euros, and few Belgian ‘Monk’ beers of mine. She got tired so she gave the bag to me. Being the MBA student that can think ‘outside the box’, I hooked the bag on to my rolling luggage. About two minutes later when I stopped to take a break, my luggage fell backwards from the weight of the beer, which shattered within the bag. Damn Gravity!!! Let’s just say the first evening in Paris was not as romantic as I expected. <br />
<br />
The next day, I took Salma up the Eiffel tower. It was very nice and you can see all the sights of the city. One unusual thing I noticed was that in their donair kabob pitas they put a pile of fries, unlike those on Richmond Street after a night of binge drinking. The food was awesome and the wine was cheaper than bottled water, so I ended up getting tipsy often. French waiters are usually older men since it is considered a career versus just for young teens to earn money for school like in Canada. They are grumpy and very slow, which makes dinner usually take over 2 hours. <br />
<br />
Last stop – Amsterdam. We stayed at the Bulldog Hotel, a chain known for their famous ‘cafes’. Before we went out for the night, Salma went to take a shower and I left to grab some food. I strolled along the red light district and about 20 minutes later, I returned with a couple slices of pizza. As I approached the room, I noticed a pool of water built up in the hallway just outside my door. Salma let me in to room with the carpet absolutely soaked. She said that shower drain was plugged and it flowed into the bedroom. I tried to calm her down and gave her pizza to help distract her attention from the dilemma. The hotel manager said they did not have any other vacant rooms so they ended putting us up in an apartment that is used for clients who stay for long terms. This place was huge with nice living room and kitchen. I guess this was silver lining in the situation, but then Salma was feeling sick. Salma’s doctor told her to limit the cheese she eats at night. Of course, I forget this while I was standing in the puddle of water in the hotel room.<br />
<br />
After a couple of hours, we walked around went to a pub to get something to eat. The waitress said that they had a bobbing for apples for shots by the bar. This was a challenge I could not resist. It was not an easy task because the apple sinks as I tried to bite it. But after a few attempts, I succeeded. The next day, Salma left for home. <br />
<br />
In early November, I went to museum night in Amsterdam with Greg Worsnop, Meredith. For one price, we were able to visit any museum until 2am. We visited the Van Gogh museum and the Rijksmuseum, which the home of Rembrandt’s Watchman. Our last stop was the Anne Frank house, where a Jewish family hid in their attic for over two years to avoid the Nazi regime.<br />
<br />
Last week, I went to Spain. This is the best place in the world. Nice weather (18˚), tasty food, and beautiful women; what else do I need? In Barcelona, I went to the Picasso museum and the chocolate museum, which showed the history of this delicious sweet. I also went to an Aquarium where I saw sharks through a large glass tunnel and petted a sting ray.<br />
<br />
The next day, I went to Madrid. The Palais Real, which was huge palace with priceless artifacts and tapestries. I also went to oldest restaurant in the world, which was established in 1725 (according to Guinness World Book of Records). I ate a tasty half chicken casserole, which was baked in the original stone oven. Even though about eighty people were seated while I was there; at least 200 customers were turned away since them did not have reservations. For you are considering a trip to Europe, make sure that Spain is on the top of the list, Trust me.<br />
<br />
Only about a month left on my exchange. I am looking forward to coming back to Canada and getting some much needed rest. This Rotterdam program is very intensive with lot group work and assignments.</div>81.58.58.178https://www.scenariothinking.org/index.php?title=Arif%27s_Exchange_Log&diff=529Arif's Exchange Log2004-11-18T21:23:32Z<p>81.58.58.178: </p>
<hr />
<div>Netherlands or Bust!!!!<br />
<br />
I was on the place to Europe, thinking about what to expect. Are people going to be nice? Are the courses going to be difficult? Will I feel fulfilled without 3 cases a day?<br />
<br />
I got off the plane at London Heathrow airport with 4 hours until my flight to Amsterdam, which was on a small discount airline. So I went to ask at the ticket counter, if they would put me on an earlier flight. The young guy in the blue vest said “No, that is not in our policy.” I guess he did not take a Marketing class that says the customer is always right!!! So, I decided to eat some lunch and read my book. After about an hour, I felt kind of tired. Naturally, I lied down across three plastic seats. I was having a nice, relaxing dream about school life outside Ivey. Suddenly, I woke up and started to run to my get only to realize that I missed my flight. The ironic thing is that I had to explain my situation to the same clerk that had refused to change my ticket four hours earlier. <br />
<br />
Anyways, this is what I have learned in the first few weeks of being on exchange:<br />
<br />
• People love to ride bikes, even if they are twenty years old.<br />
<br />
• Shops in the Red Light District do not accept Canadian currency.<br />
<br />
• There is at least one East Indian spice store in Netherlands. <br />
<br />
• In Paris, hold your breath on the train, it smells like a gym locker room.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Netherlands or Bust - Part II<br />
<br />
I am about half way through my exchange program. Time has flown by. What can I say about my Europe experience so far? Everyone drinks beer. The women are beautiful. Everything is expensive. <br />
<br />
Rotterdam is about the same size of London and is also a University town. The MBA program here is very intensive with many papers and lots of groupwork. The students are from all over the world (Germany, France, Japan, Norway, Australia, India, China, US). When we are not out drinking, the main past time is playing the boardgame Risk until the early hours of the morning (for those who have played it know what I mean).<br />
<br />
I have visited many places so far. <br />
My first trip was to Belgium, which I knew nothing about. Brussels is the capital and the location of the HQ of the European Union. It is Ok, it has some big churches. About an hour away, there is a small town called Bruges that is the most beautiful place I have ever seen. The buildings are very old and stunning, not to mention the cobblestone pathways and the river flowing around the town. But the best thing of the place is the chocolate, it is AWESOME!!! Milk chocolate, dark chocolate, crème-filled chocolate, chocolate with nuts….I don’t think I can go back to eating ordinary chocolate bars, such as Heresy’s or Dairymilk.<br />
<br />
My second trip was to Amsterdam. It was kinda cool seeing the Red Light district with the women in the window. They are not as beautiful as you think they would be. They look like Za Za Gabor in lace. The smell of marijuana is in the air, similar to the scent of the apartment hallways of London. I also had a chance to visit a coffee shop. Bad Experience. Don’t want to talk about it.<br />
<br />
Next stop Paris, the city of romance. Notre Dame is beautiful church with it domes and artistic glass windows. The food was very tasty, especially considering the food in Holland tastes like cardboard. The Eiffel tower is huge and I overwhelming at night when it was illuminated with flashing lights. I also visited the Louver. It was enormous and lots of fun.<br />
<br />
In early October, I went to Munich for Oktoberfest, which is supposed to the best place to party. My friend was feeling tired, so I had to drive his car. It was Toyota Starlet which is the midget version of the Tercel. The highways (Autobahn) in Germany do not have speed limits, except for certain areas with construction where the maximum is 130km/h. I was pushing about 170 when my eye started to twitch. Suddenly, my left contact lens fell out. I ended up driving for about 40 minutes on the narrow lanes with many trucks surrounding while squinting with one eye until I reached the next gas station. <br />
<br />
We finally arrived to the hotel about 7am since we had class the evening before. We checked in and went to sleep. After about 90 minutes, it was time to get up. We got dressed and took a cab to the beer gardens because we had to be there by 9 am. The next 12 hours were filled with drinking large mugs of beer, dancing on the tables with women in Bavarian outfits and eating large pretzels. It seemed like a constant drunken euphoria. <br />
<br />
Then next day after showering and changing out my beer soaked clothes. We went back to the party tents, but I did not want to see another beer again. So I went sight seeing. I visited the Olympic Stadium and the BMW museum (very cool). Then I went to the Deutsches Museum which is the world’s best science and technology museum. It was awesome. Exhibits included from airplanes, tunnel construction, railway, bridge construction, and much more. This is a must see, especially for the engineer types.<br />
<br />
This has been recap of my exchange in Netherlands. I must say that it has been an eye opening experience. I hope all is well at Ivey.<br />
<br />
<br />
Netherlands or Bust - Part III<br />
<br />
About a month ago, I went to play soccer with some of my classmates. I took my camera along to take some pictures. After playing, my friend, Meredith who is on exchange from UBC, came over for some dinner and wanted to see the pictures. As I was flipping through the images, there was one of a bare ass on my camera. I was so embarrassed since I could not explain how it got there. But later, I realized that someone must have taken the picture while I was playing. To identify the person, I created a poster with pictures of students that were at the scene. (See attached). No one messes with Arif.<br />
<br />
A week later, the school took all the MBA students on a boat cruise around the harbor for dinner. This was very nice to see the other side of Rotterdam while downing many glasses of wine. <br />
<br />
My girlfriend, Salma, came from Calgary to visit me in October. A couple of her other friends joined her to travel of Europe also. First stop – Belgium. During the day we pigged out on the awesome chocolates. We ate dinner in Bruges, the small fairy tale like town. Mussels are the specialty in the region and they did not disappoint. <br />
<br />
Next stop – Paris. On our way to the hotel, Salma was carrying a bag that contained of chocolates, which she bought for her friends and coworkers worth about 25 Euros, and few Belgian ‘Monk’ beers of mine. She got tired so she gave the bag to me. Being the MBA student that can think ‘outside the box’, I hooked the bag on to my rolling luggage. About two minutes later when I stopped to take a break, my luggage fell backwards from the weight of the beer, which shattered within the bag. Damn Gravity!!! Let’s just say the first evening in Paris was not as romantic as I expected. <br />
<br />
The next day, I took Salma up the Eiffel tower. It was very nice and you can see all the sights of the city. One unusual thing I noticed was that in their donair kabob pitas they put a pile of fries, unlike those on Richmond Street after a night of binge drinking. The food was awesome and the wine was cheaper than bottled water, so I ended up getting tipsy often. French waiters are usually older men since it is considered a career versus just for young teens to earn money for school like in Canada. They are grumpy and very slow, which makes dinner usually take over 2 hours. <br />
<br />
Last stop – Amsterdam. We stayed at the Bulldog Hotel, a chain known for their famous ‘cafes’. Before we went out for the night, Salma went to take a shower and I left to grab some food. I strolled along the red light district and about 20 minutes later, I returned with a couple slices of pizza. As I approached the room, I noticed a pool of water built up in the hallway just outside my door. Salma let me in to room with the carpet absolutely soaked. She said that shower drain was plugged and it flowed into the bedroom. I tried to calm her down and gave her pizza to help distract her attention from the dilemma. The hotel manager said they did not have any other vacant rooms so they ended putting us up in an apartment that is used for clients who stay for long terms. This place was huge with nice living room and kitchen. I guess this was silver lining in the situation, but then Salma was feeling sick. Salma’s doctor told her to limit the cheese she eats at night. Of course, I forget this while I was standing in the puddle of water in the hotel room.<br />
<br />
After a couple of hours, we walked around went to a pub to get something to eat. The waitress said that they had a bobbing for apples for shots by the bar. This was a challenge I could not resist. It was not an easy task because the apple sinks as I tried to bite it. But after a few attempts, I succeeded. The next day, Salma left for home. <br />
<br />
In early November, I went to museum night in Amsterdam with Greg Worsnop, Meredith. For one price, we were able to visit any museum until 2am. We visited the Van Gogh museum and the Rijksmuseum, which the home of Rembrandt’s Watchman. Our last stop was the Anne Frank house, where a Jewish family hid in their attic for over two years to avoid the Nazi regime.<br />
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Last week, I went to Spain. This is the best place in the world. Nice weather (18˚), tasty food, and beautiful women; what else do I need? In Barcelona, I went to the Picasso museum and the chocolate museum, which showed the history of this delicious sweet. I also went to an Aquarium where I saw sharks through a large glass tunnel and petted a sting ray.<br />
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The next day, I went to Madrid. The Palais Real, which was huge palace with priceless artifacts and tapestries. I also went to oldest restaurant in the world, which was established in 1725 (according to Guinness World Book of Records). I ate a tasty half chicken casserole, which was baked in the original stone oven. Even though about eighty people were seated while I was there; at least 200 customers were turned away since them did not have reservations. For you are considering a trip to Europe, make sure that Spain is on the top of the list, Trust me.<br />
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Only about a month left on my exchange. I am looking forward to coming back to Canada and getting some much needed rest. This Rotterdam program is very intensive with lot group work and assignments.<br />
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