Appeasement Essay -- History European Historical Essays

Appeasement The task of explaining why appeasement, has been continuously addressed by historians over the years. To date, there is still no single cause identified. Nonetheless there is however a general consensus amongst historians that the frightful events of world war one, distilled a sense of fear and regret amongst British society, and consequently Britain strived to prevent any future war, through whatever means necessary. In the aftermath of World War 1, lay a mutual understanding between the British government and society that never again should a catastrophe such as World War 1 occur, it was described as the "war to end all wars" reinforcing the view that it was a cataclysmic event which should never be re-enacted upon society. British public became disillusioned with the use of force in international relations and as a result sought an approach consisting of an effective system of collective security. In post war society anti-war books, films and poems all became increasingly well lik ed and several pacifist pressure groups were formed with the sole aim of achieving peaceful solutions to international problems. These groups were known as The Peace Pledge Union, The Peace Society and the No More War Movement. World War 1 essentially left Britain in a state of mourning, and accordingly thousands of war monuments were erected, and an annual day of mourning and remembrance was established, known as Remembrance Sunday. This was an attempt to pay tribute to those heroes lost in the war and to act as a subtle reminder of the devastation caused by the war in a bid to prevent any future conflict. As a result of the desolation a common consensus was becoming apparent amid the general public, which was that, there were no clear societal gains from the war and the obvious economic, and political decline of the country showed no gains in that sector either. Hence the reduction of arms and peace became vote winners in elections. Appeasement can be defined as " a disposition to avoid conflict by judicious concession and negotiation". Neville Chamberlain noted that the British public would not wish nor accept another war. Therefore the British government sought to follow a policy of appeasement. However, everyone did not share the acceptance of the policy of appeasement. Looking on with hindsight many historians have condemned the actions of Chamberlai... ...nland. There are mixed opinions towards this policy, and the question why historians have debated appeasement continuously over the passing decades. Many believe that Chamberlains policy of appeasement was fuled by a desire to do everything in his power possible to avoid war, and his belief that all European powers shared the dame feeling. The catastrophic events of World War one set in a deep fear and hatred of war among many. It is also felt that Chamberlain followed the policy of appeasement as a means to buy some time as he realised that British defences were hopelessly inadequate, as British military strength had been greatly reduced due to the commitment of disarmament. Even at the time of the Anschluss Britain was declared unprepared for war. Therefore to conclude, whatever the reasons for the continual policy of appeasement, it can be said that appeasement with the sole aim of preventing war did not succeed, however what it was seen to do was prolong the inevitable. Many strongly feel that the continual demands of Hitler were flared by the lack of opposition, and his continual greed for expansion, his demands were rarely attacked, simply given into with little hesitancy.

Homlessness in the US

In the two studies I reviewed, both pertained to school aged homeless children. Both studies were conducted to determine the need for a better education for these children. The first study I reviewed was called, Sheltered homeless children: Their eligibility and unmet need for special education evaluations. This study focused on the exploration of unmet need of special education evaluations for homeless children in Los Angeles, California. The second of my studies was called, Cognitive and academic functioning of homeless children compared to housed children. The analyzation focused on the effects of being homeless to a child's cognitive and academic functioning. Both of the above studies brought about the same basic issue of homeless children having the right to a better education. In both studies it was determined that homeless children, when tested, perform rather poorly in the area of academics. In the first study (Sheltered Homeless Children: Their Eligibility and Unmet Need for Special Education evaluations) homeless shelters were selected randomly and from these families were selected that consisted of one child aged 6 to 12 years. Testing was performed in a quiet place. There were 118 parents and 169 children involved in the study. The parents were asked questions pertaining to the how and why of homelessness. The homeless children were tested with questions from the RAND Course of Homelessness Study 3. 9, a Behavior Checklist, the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, the National Health Service, and the Woodcock-Johnson Language Proficiency Battery Assessment Test. The Peabody Vocabulary picture test was also used in the second study. In the second study (Cognitive and Academic Functioning of Homeless Children compared with Housed Children) the homeless children and their mothers selected for the study were from the Bronx in NY. There were 102 homeless children in the study. They were between the ages of 6-11, around the same age group as the first study; they were sought out of public schools. The housed children were selected randomly for the study. The mothers were asked how and why they became homeless and how long they had been homeless, and if they had a job, as in the study before. The children were all tested with numerous tests pertaining to their academic and cognitive functioning skills. The Raven's Test, the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, the Wide-range Achievement Test, a Child Depression Inventory test, and A maternal Anxiety test were issued to the children. Both of the studies focused on the same issue, that homeless children were not being assessed for their need of assistance with their academics. The first study did not involve children who were not homeless but the second study used them as a control. The second study also focused more on the effects of being homeless leading to anxiety and depression. Both of the studies had determined that homeless children have poorer scores compared to those that are non-homeless, and that they are more developmentally delayed. Both the studies also found that they have a higher rate of learning disabilities. There is also a higher need to assess children who might be eligible for special education services. The findings of the first study imply that there is a high level of unmet need for special education evaluations for homeless children. There should be more procedures conducted to determine one's eligibility for special education services for the homeless. Also, interventions should be provided for school-aged homeless children from special education professionals, general health care providers, and housing services. The second study suggests that there needs to be more of an effort to educate those that are homeless by academic professors. There needs to be more assessment of special education for these children. The study also touched on the fact that these children are often depressed and have a high rate of anxiety, this should be assessed through counseling services. In both of the studies, society needs to take an interest in helping get these children off the streets in the first place. The main purpose for both of the studies was to examine the impact homelessness has on a child's academic functional level. In both of the studies it was found that homeless children between the ages of 6-12 scored lower on achievement tests. They also had a higher level of depression and anxiety. Furthermore, they also had an increased rate of learning disabilities and the need for special education evaluations. Society needs to put more of an effort in getting these children off the streets and into a proper home so they can grow more academically and to develop at a typical rate. Academic professionals need to assess their need of assistance with their work and assess a higher need of special education evaluations. Professionals need to understand that these children have a harder time concentrating on their academic material because they are faced with issues like where they are going to sleep tonight instead of 4+3.

Health Disparities American-Indians and Diabetes

Health Disparities: American Indians and Diabetes Introduction Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is the most common form of diabetes (American Diabetes Association, 2012). T2D is so prevalent that it is estimated to be the fifth most common cause of death worldwide (Yates, Jarvis, Troughton, and JaneDavies, 2009, p. 1). T2D manifests when the body is unable to metabolize glucose properly, resulting in elevated blood sugar, debilitating fatigue, and other serious complications such as distal limb amputations, kidney failure, and blindness. The generally accepted causes of T2D include diet, sedentary lifestyle, and obesity. The environment therefore plays a significant role in T2D etiology and efforts to control its prevalence tend to focus on lifestyle changes (Yates, Jarvis, Troughton, and JaneDavies, 2009, p. 1-2). For example, improved diet and exercise programs have been shown to reduce the risk of disease by 50% to 90%. Since the environment plays a dominant role in determining disease prevalence, other factors such as cultural differences, socioeconomic status, and educational achievement would also tend to influence diabetes incidence. This essay will review the contributing factors that determine the prevalence of T2D in the American Indian population, a demographic with shockingly high rates. Epidemiology Between 1994 and 2004, the rate of diabetes mellitus among American Indians (AI) below the age of 35 doubled, from 8.5 to 17.1 diagnoses per 1,000 individuals,Show MoreRelatedAmerican-Indians and the United States Health System1556 Words   |  6 Pages American Indians and the United States Health System Introduction Though American Indians are enjoying an independent public health system with above $3 billion funds provided by Congress annually for delivering healthcare services to them, still figure and facts on health status of American Indians reveal that they are facing many difficulties and have to suffer from diverse type of illness and disease at a misappropriate level. Since long it was identified by medical communities that thereRead MoreHealth Disparities Of Indigenous Populations885 Words   |  4 PagesHealth Disparities in Indigenous Populations Around the globe in countries from Australia and New Zealand to South American and North America there is a disparity in the quality of healthcare and life that indigenous people receive compared to their non-indigenous counterparts (Ring Brown, 2003). Life expectancy for Aboriginals, the indigenous people of Australia is 19-21 years less than non-indigenous life expectancy; 5-7 years for the Maori population in New Zealand; and 5-7 years less forRead MoreRacial and Ethnic Disparities in Health1371 Words   |  6 PagesRacial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Large disparities exist between minorities and the rest of Americans in major areas of health. Even though the overall health of the nation is improving, minorities suffer from certain diseases up to five times more than the rest of the nation. President Clinton has committed the nation to eliminating the disparities in six areas of health by the Year 2010, and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will be jumping in on this huge battleRead MoreThe United States And The Universal Declaration Of Human Rights Essay1421 Words   |  6 Pagesof this Declaration states Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services. One would think that a country in favor for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights would abide by it, but in the case of Article 25 the United States does not. The state of health of the Indigenous people living i n America is far below the average standard of living comparedRead MoreHealth Promotion Among Diverse Population1142 Words   |  5 PagesHealth Promotion Among Diverse Populations Shahla Tehrani Grand Canyon University Family-Centered Health Promotion NRS-429V Dana McKay May 1, 2015 Health Promotion Among Diverse Populations With the advancement of medical technology and increasing self awareness of both mental and physical well being, the health of most Americans has increasingly improved. However, the same cannot be said of the health of American Indians and Alaskan Natives. Health improvements for American Indians andRead MoreCultural Group Characteristics And Demographics1541 Words   |  7 PagesAmerica) and who maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment† are considered American Indian or Alaska Natives (AIAN) (Norris, Vines, Hoeffel, 2012). There are 565 Federally Recognized Tribes as well as many other tribes and bands, more than 100, that are not federally recognized. There are various differences in culture between each tribe. Geographically, the majority (largest proportion) of the American Indian and Alaska Native population lives in the West, with the second largest proportionRead MoreHealth Promotion Among Diverse Populations1340 Words   |  6 PagesHealth Promotion Among Diverse Populations Marcia Maris Grand Canyon University NRS-429v November 14, 2015 The purpose of this paper is to discuss the health status of the American Indian/ Alaskan Native (AI/AN). A comparison and contrast of AI/ANs with the national average regarding the health status such as heart disease and strokes will be presented. Multifactorial barriers limiting health, and the overall factors affecting health within this population are identified. 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The objectives are to understand what is a disparity, to determine if in fact there are health disparities, to learn who are the target of disparities, to recognize how does a disparity affect the target, and most importantly to assess how can a disparity be eliminated. In addition, this paper will narrow its research to a specific minority:Read MoreNative American Wom Health Disparity1337 Words   |  6 Pages Native American Woman: Health Disparity Kevin Villa Ramirez California State University, Sacramento As with many races and ethnicities, Native Americans have had the front row seat in social injustices related to gender and race from the social institutions in the United States. Native Americans faced much discrimination along with other groups when it came to educational institutions and businesses. In education, many young children had lower math and writing skills leading

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Emily Grierson’s Need For Control in Faulkner’s A Rose...

Faulkner’s â€Å"A Rose for Emily,† illustrates the evolution of a small, post-Civil War community, as the new generation of inhabitants replaces the pre-Civil War ideals with more modern ideas. At the center of the town is Emily Grierson, the only remaining remnant of the upper class Grierson family, a â€Å"Southern gentlewoman unable to understand how much the world has changed around her.† (Kazin, 2). This essay will focus on Emily Grierson and her attempts to control change after her father’s death. Emily’s need to control change is first evidenced through her relationship with her father. Their bond, based on a high-class aristocratic ideal system, lasted until the death of her father. A mental image of Mr. Grierson’s†¦show more content†¦After the death of Mr. Grierson, Emily initially refused to have her father’s body buried, and â€Å"she went out very little.† The initial refusal to bury her father demonstrates Emily’s inability to accept the death of her father. She wanted to keep him inside the house to â€Å"live† with her. â€Å"†¦the house was all that was left to her†¦.† and so, when Mr. Grierson died, â€Å"Miss† Grierson died too. After his death, Emily was left unable to love, since her only love was now dead. The unusual and immoral love shared by â€Å"Miss Emily† and her father led to more tribulations later in Emily’s life, including her first and final att empt at attaining a husband. The second change evident in the story is seen through Emily’s relationship with Homer Barron. The narrator often refers to her as â€Å"Miss Emily† throughout the story. Even the narrator’s last reference to Emily in the tale, right before the discovery of Homer’s corpse, refers to her as â€Å"Miss Emily.† The use of the title â€Å"Miss† instead of â€Å"Ms.† or â€Å"Mrs.† indicates that the community members respect her as a Grierson, but not as a person, thus she gets the respect the townspeople deem she deserves. J. F. Kobler presents the argument that â€Å"†¦by calling her ‘Miss Emily’ [the townspeople] give her theShow MoreRelated The Role of the Watch in William Faulkners A Rose for Emily1199 Words   |  5 PagesThe Role of the Watch in William Faulkners A Rose for Emily Even the casual reader of William Faulkner will recognize the element of time as a crucial one in much of the writers work, and the critical attention given to the subject of time in Faulkner most certainly fills many pages of criticism. A goodly number of those pages of criticism deal with the well-known short story, A Rose for Emily. Several scholars, most notably Paul McGlynn, have worked to untangle the confusing chronologyRead MoreSetting, Change, and Resistance in Faulkners A Rose for Emily1610 Words   |  6 PagesSetting, Change and Resistance in Faulkners A Rose for Emily The years following the Civil War brought about a change in Southern life. Many of the wealthy white families who owned plantations, slaves and vast material wealthy had been all but destroyed by the war. And with the dismantling of slavery, many aspects of the Souths longstanding socioeconomic arrangement began to slip away. For many of the demographics that enjoyed the racially-driven hierarchy, the changes that carried over intoRead MoreKarl Marx And Friedrich Engels’ The Manifesto Of The Communist1465 Words   |  6 Pagesbe applied to William Faulkner’s â€Å"A Rose for Emily.† This short story examines an aging icon in the town of Jefferson, Mississippi, and her reputation among the townspeople. There is a gap formed between Emily Grierson and the new, younger generation of Jefferson. The ideals and beliefs differ, and this causes the gap between the two. Through Marx and Engels’ examination of this theory, the causes and effects of socio-economic r elations and how they appear in â€Å"A Rose for Emily† will determine the motivationsRead MoreThe Importance Of Time In A Rose For Emily By William Faulkner917 Words   |  4 PagesWilliam Faulkner’s use of time can be recognized as an important element in the majority of his stories, and the amount of attention given to the element of time has been studied for an enormous amount of years. One of his most famous short stories, â€Å"A Rose for Emily,† is one his works that time is a crucial element. Several scholars have worked to understand the confusing chronology of this work, while others have given many reasons for Emily Grierson’s refusal to acknowledge the passage of timeRead More Emily Grierson? Need for Control in William Faulkners A Rose for Emily927 Words   |  4 PagesEmily Griersons Need for Control in A Rose For Emily In William Faulkners A Rose For Emily, Emily Grierson is a woman who is   used to being controlled by her father.   When her father dies, she believes that she has control over him.   Forced to lay her father to rest, Emily turns to her fathers equivalent:   Homer Barron.   Emily soon finds that Homer does not plan on staying, so she decides to kill him.   By killing Homer, Emily believes that she can keep him and control him forever.   EmilyRead MoreBarn Burning vs a Rose for Emily1083 Words   |  5 PagesBurning, and A Rose for Emily William Faulkner creates two characters that are strikingly similar. Abner Snopes is loud and obnoxious. Because of this, most people tend to avoid him at all costs. On the contrary, Emily Grierson, a very intriguing woman from Jefferson, Mississipi, is an important figure in the town, despite spending most of her life alone. If these characters were judged purely on their reputation and physical appearance, it would be clear that Abne r Snopes and Emily Grierson areRead MoreA Rose For Emily By William Faulkner938 Words   |  4 PagesWilliam Faulkner’s â€Å"A Rose for Emily† is about an aristocratic spinster who is found dead by the townsfolk of Jefferson, Mississippi. They soon discover a warped secret while clearing out her house. The story is laid out into five parts, spread throughout a few decades involving Emily Grierson’s life. The authors purposefully shifted and manipulated time in the story for a reason; to learn about Emily’s life through a series of flashbacks. By moving backwards and forward in time from Emily’s funeralRead MoreA Psychological Reading of A Rose for Emily Essay2883 Words   |  12 PagesFreud and Faulkner A psychoanalytic Reading of â€Å"A Rose for Emily† Abstract Undoubtedly Sigmund Freud is the father of psychoanalysis. He was an influential thinker of the early twentieth century who elaborated the theory that the mind is a complex energy-system and the structural investigation of which is the proper province of psychology. Freud articulated and refined the concepts of the unconscious, infantile sexuality and repression and he proposed tripartiteRead MoreANALIZ TEXT INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS28843 Words   |  116 Pagesexposition may be accomplished in a single sentence or paragraph, or, in the case of some novels, occupy an entire chapter or more. Some plots require more exposition than others. A historical novel set in a foreign country several centuries ago obviously needs to provide the reader with more background information than a novel with a contemporary setting. COMPLICATION: The complication which is sometimes referred to as the rising action, breaks the existing equilibrium and introduces the characters and

Example Fo a Descriptive Essay Eng 101 Free Essays

Week 4 Assignment: Descriptive Essay John Barkle IV ENG 121 English Composition I Instructor: Antoinette Oesterlein 11/24/12 It is a very merry Christmas. It’s my favorite time of year. For some people, Christmas lasts one day. We will write a custom essay sample on Example Fo a Descriptive Essay Eng 101 or any similar topic only for you Order Now For me it starts the week before Thanksgiving and last the whole month long. I have been celebrating month long Christmases since I was a little boy. My family owns 5 Christmas tree lots, and I have the pleasure of working on our main lot; Deejohn’s Christmas Trees in San Mateo. This paper w ill discuss the sites, sounds, and smells of the Christmas tree lot, and how there is no place that says Christmas like a real Christmas tree lot. (Thesis) The first thing you notice is the lights. Most every Christmas tree lot uses the same types of lights. The temporary lighting system uses evenly spaced bare light bulbs strung methodically above each row of trees. This creates an unmistakeable pattern of lights that screams Christmas tree lot. Maybe it is just because I am so attuned to the business, but I can recognize a Christmas tree lot from a mile away because the way the lights look from a distance is so distinct. Most people probably do not think about it, but next time you are out during the season, keep an eye off into the distance while you drive down the street. I am sure you will understand what I am talking about once you start to look for it. Of course the most distinctive feature of a Christmas tree lot is the trees. We display our trees all in a row,side by side, and sorted by height. As you walk on the lot you notice the trees all grouped together like a little green forest amongst the urban background. Something about the way the trees are arranged in even straight rows, make the little ones want to play hide and seek. Almost every kid who comes on the lot ends up hiding in the trees. Of course every one decorates the place with bright red, green, gold, and silver Christmas ornaments. We have a 5 foot tall inflatable Santa. Standing next to Santa are two 3 feet tall elves, all dress in holiday green and red, with their pointy green elf shoes and red jingle bell hats. The most famous reindeer of all Rudolph the Red Nose reindeer stands with Santa and his elves. One thing that is unmistakable about a real Christmas tree lot is the smell of fresh cut fir trees. One thing you can not get away from on our Christmas tree lot is the music. As I sit and write this essay, I am listening to Bing Crosby singing I’ll be home for Christmas over the loud speakers outside the trailer. On our tree lot there is always Christmas music playing. From Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, to The Little Drummer Boy, Christmas music is playing from open to close. To be honest, we all get a little tired of it near the end of the season, but for our customers, it would just not be the same experience with out hot apple cider and Christmas Carols. I can not count the number of times I caught myself humming I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas In July. Another sound you hear on the lot all the time is the sound of laughter. Children dart between the rows(even though we tell them to walk for their safety) and giggle when they get â€Å"found† by their siblings and parents. For the most part, a Christmas Tree lot is the happiest place on Earth. There is something about the experience that just lends itself to good cheer. This is the one time of year Mom gets to be as picky as she wants, while Dad just sits back and says â€Å"Yes dear it is a beautiful tree, I think the your mother is going to love it. † Of course Dad always glances at me, rolls his eyes and shrugs as if to say: â€Å"What can I do? It’s Christmas! † Almost everyone who comes on the tree lot comments on the fresh smell of pine, and how wonderful it is. What most people realize is there is no pine on our tree lot. All of our trees are Firs. We have Noble Fir, Douglas Fir, and Grand Fir and each has a distinctive smell. The noble fir smells like a traditional Christmas tree. The Noble fir smell is the smell most people relate to Christmas trees. The smell of our Douglas Firs is overpowered by the Noble and Grand firs on the lot, but when you take them home they can really perk up your lace with the smell of Christmas. My favorite tree for smell is the Grand Firs. The Grand fir has a vibrant green needle with a silver gray back. The grand fir has a powerful and pungent oil, and it has a vibrant smell that is unmatched by any other live tree I have experienced. Just rubbing a branch on your skin or clothes can leaving you smelling festive for hours. Working on a Christmas tree lot is a dirty business, but I have come home from many another job smelling much worse than I do at the end of a long day on the lot. The sights and smells of Christmas come and go, but the music stays with me the whole year round. Christmas is one time of year that brings families separated by states and nations back together; even if only for a short time, and the Christmas Tree Lot seems to be one experience they all seem to agree is positive and fun. From the delicious cinnamon spiced hot apple cider, the pungent aroma of fresh cut fir trees, and the joyous laughter of a game of hide and seek in the trees, a visit to the tree lot is loved and remembered by all. Come visit us, and I bet you will find yourself humming Jingle Bells or Joy to the World all the way home. Whatever you do, don’t forget to grab a red and white stripped peppermint candy cane on your way out. How to cite Example Fo a Descriptive Essay Eng 101, Essays

Tools and Techniques of Systems Thinking-Free-Samples for Students

Question: Define Systems thinking and Classify the tools and techniques related Systems thinking. Answer: Systems thinking refers to understanding a system by scrutinizing the linkages and interactions between the various components that form a major part of the system. Systems thinking is concerned with making authentic inferences about systems by developing a deep understanding of the underlying structure (Haines 2016). The oil and gas industry are one of the most complicated businesses as the outputs of such businesses affect the entire world. The oil and gas companies are required to keep themselves updated in terms of technology and make critical adjustments from time to time, which makes decision-making difficult. Therefore, the systems thinking offers a structured process for decision-making that deals with changes and the adaptations (Kunze, Wulfhorst and Minner 2016). Systems thinking is one of the way in which the problems are approached that considers the various elements in a system that influence each other. System thinking involves knowing the root cause of a problem and understanding the relationship between the various causes. One of the systems thinking model that is useful in understanding the issues is iceberg model. The iceberg model defines various levels of thinking that includes event level, pattern level, structure level and the mental model level (Girault and Valk 2013). The event level is the level where the problem arises. The model states that it is not necessary that all the problems can be solved at the event level. The pattern level analyses the current problem on the basis of any similar kind of problems that had occurred in the past. Observing the patterns assist in forecasting and understanding the problems. The structure level emphasizes on the cause of the issue. The structure level includes the physical things, organiza tions, policies and rituals that become the cause of a problem. The mental model comprises of the beliefs, attitudes, values and expectations that assist in the functioning of the structures. Systems engineering is the approach that enables the complete system life cycle that includes formulation of problems, development of solution and sustainable use of the operations (Adams et al. 2014). The Systems Engineering Body of knowledge (SEBoK) provides knowledge sources and references of the organized systems engineering. Systems engineering includes the fundamentals and models of foundational system sciences. The systems engineering is applied with the help of the application of various systems engineering processes (Garvey, Book and Covert 2016). It is applied within a managed lyfe cycle working with engineering, management and specialist disciplines. It can also be applied to enterprise systems and service systems. SEBoK is often compared to Wikipedia but it is built on SEBoK articles and the Editorial Board reviews the recommendations before they are included in SEBok Wiki (Kaiser, El Arbi and Ahlemann 2015). The issues in the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill were management problems and poor risk management. Various reports showed that the safety board investigator and the rig operator did not test the blowout preventers individual safety systems. Only the device as a whole was tested while the various components were neglected. The preventers manufacturers had suggested individual tests but the company followed its own standard set (Gutierrez-Miravete 2013). Portfolio alignment is a weak element in a good Project Portfolio Management practice. An alignment directs the decisions related to resource allocation in an organization and helps the project manager in the prioritization of the project list. Alignment helps in translation of strategies into actionable plans (Patanakul 2015). Alignment makes a project more adaptable to changes by enabling rapid response to the changes. Portfolio alignment helps in making better decisions that is supported by business intelligence. It also helps in reducing the deviations in the budgets and improving the accuracy in the forecasting of the financial aspect. The portfolio alignment of BP Deepwater Horizon was poor as the company had initially underestimated the problem and had overestimated its capability of handling the issue. Due to improper project management, the company did not take any initial actions as crisis management (Martinsuo 2013). It was after two days of the occurrence of the disaster that the company took steps by mobilizing vessels and aircrafts. The company was even unable to ascertain the actual amount of leakages caused. The improper project management and risk management caused further delays in finding solutions to the issue. BP had lost approximately 55% of shareholder value after the oil spill incident as the share prices fell from $59.48 to $27. The share prices gradually recovered but could not reach the before oil spill level. The company had to spend huge amounts for the relief well drilling and for settling other claims (Turner 2014). The following diagram shows the portfolio management process cycle: Portfolio management process cycle is the process that an investor follows in order to meet his investment objectives. It involves expressing the objectives of the BP, in trying to complete the Macondo well took various shortcuts that resulted in the disastrous oil spills. The major cause of the oil spill was considered to be the failure of the cement at the base of 18000 feet deep well that was considered to have oil and gas within its bore. The technical and human errors led to the tremendous pressure of natural gas formed to shoot onto the drilling platform that caused an explosion causing death of 11 crew members. Later on, it was found that the cause of the accident was poor risk management, sudden changes in plans, ignorance of critical indicators, lack of well control response and lack of emergency bridge response training by the companies. Ultimately, BP was help responsible for the disaster along with the chief contractors of BP who were responsible for operations of the dri lling rig and the cementing operations (Heagney 2016). The other factors considered were the violations of the federal regulations. It was considered that BP and its contractors violated the laws related to the safety and protection of health and environment. It failed to conduct reliable tests of the pressures of the wells and did not notify the federal regulators about the changes in the drilling plans of the company. However, the cement failure remained the major cause of the disaster. Earlier BP comprised of various levels of management that was formed in a matrix structure, which made it difficult for anyone to make decisions quickly. Later on, the decision-making responsibilities were extended to the employees along with the other levels in the organization. The decision-making authority relating to meeting the performance targets was no longer limited to the regional operating companies of BP instead, the authority was extended to the asset managers present onsite. The BPs asset managers were responsible for the meeting of the performance targets which was extended to the employees on the site. The compensation of the employees was now dependent upon the performance of the employees as well as the overall performance of the site. This model was known as Asset Federation and it laid emphasis on compensation of employees according to their performance (Mello et al. 2017). The site managers managed the assets autonomously and there was some incentive of sharing be st practices on risk management among the various exploration sites of BP. Due to high prices of crude oil and various improvements in the technology, drilling in deep water became feasible. However, these operations were complex and more expensive than oil drilling in shallow water. The deepwater horizon rig was associated with various maintenance issues. The safety audit conducted by BP indicated 390 repairs demanding immediate attention but the Deepwater Horizon did not stop working and continued its operations. The maintenance issues on the rig and several setbacks resulted in the project becoming over budgeted however, BP was confident that it had found oil. Project management has a deep relationship with the systems thinking approach especially in case of systems engineering. Operations research, project management and systems engineering is very important when it comes to managing any large research and development projects. Project management evolved when technologies employed by the scientists and engineers were complex and uncertain in the development of weapon systems. It was during this time that the matrix organization came into existence in order to overcome the disadvantages of staff organizations in the efficient management of the project (Chunpir, Ludwig and Badewi 2014). This led to the development of separate bodies of knowledge known as PMBOK and SEBoK. The project management and the systems engineering share many concepts in common such as life cycle approach for conceptualizing, designing and implementing systems and projects. The project management is more people centric as it deals with the management of personnel, tea m structure and design, motivation, performance, stakeholder management, leadership, negotiation and management of the flow of communication. The systems thinking is more concerned with the product, technology, people and processes. The management of complex projects involves understanding the application of systems thinking in solving the complexities of the project. Systems are usually open as they can interact with the outside environment. They are organized by hierarchy and exhibit emergence. The hierarchy is more related to the vitality and survivability while the emergence describes the system as the dynamic interactions between its parts. The project managers use systems thinking while dealing with complex projects when everything seems to be getting out of control. The systems thinking helps the project managers in settling the complex projects at a state of equilibrium (Walker, Steinfort and Maqsood 2014). As the project completion time comes near, it creates immense pressure on the project managers and staff that results in high turnover of employees. The increase in the employee turnover contributes to excessive reworks due to absence of skill base. The delays in the system increases and results in the development of crisis. The systems thinking helps in finding the best solution to the complex issues that arise during the project management. The soft systems methodology is used to clarify the advantages that the stakeholders might get from the implementation of the project. This model deals with the problems related to the ill-structures that could not be handled by the technological approach of systems engineering. The soft systems approach works with the reality and facilitates a systematic learning process that involves examination and discussion of the different viewpoints hence, leading to purposeful actions in terms of improvements. The soft systems methodology uses various tools and concepts such as rich pictures and root definition that the project managers may use in order to clarify the projects purpose (Reader and OConnor 2014). Rich picture is an informal drawing that expresses the feelings of an individual regarding a situation. The aim is richness of personal expression that is unrestrained by the social conventions and unconstrained by the predetermined frameworks. The drawing tools and conventions for the representation of the technological problems is discouraged. The rich picture identifies the problems and the processes in the problem situation. It helps in using the mental models with the situation. Rich pictures helps in understanding the goals that motivate stakeholders at the very beginning of the project. Therefore, it can be concluded that the conventional tools of systems thinking help in dealing with some wicked problems that often arise in the projects that are not capable of being handled handled by the standard tools and techniques. The systems thinking tools and techniques help in managing the projects that involve continuous cycle of cause and effect. Systems thinking helps in understanding the issues that involve understanding of people, coordination of thinking and behavioral processes. Systems engineering is the approach that enables the complete system life cycle that includes formulation of problems, development of solution and sustainable use of the operations. The issues in the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill were management problems and poor risk management, which could be solved by implementing a strong systems thinking approach as the systems thinking involves the various conventional tools of systems thinking that help in dealing with these issues as not capable of b eing handled handled by the standard tools and techniques. The soft systems approach can help in solving the issues as it works with the reality and facilitates a systematic learning process that involves examination and discussion of the different viewpoints References: Adams, K.M., Hester, P.T., Bradley, J.M., Meyers, T.J. and Keating, C.B., 2014. Systems theory as the foundation for understanding systems.Systems Engineering,17(1), pp.112-123. Chunpir, H.I., Ludwig, T. and Badewi, A.A., 2014, June. Using soft systems methodology (SSM) in understanding current user-support scenario in the climate science domain of cyber-infrastructures. 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