Boiled Frog Phenomenon

Boiled Frog Phenomenon Strategic management is very important for success in the increasingly changing global economy. Easily said than done, many organizations fail to plan appropriately leading to failure of major corporations (Dess Lumpkin, 2009, p. 23).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Boiled Frog Phenomenon specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Apart from failure in planning, some business failures have resulted from slow decisions and inactions. â€Å"Boiling frog phenomenon† is one of the explanations that can be offered to many business failure cases in the last two decades. A widespread phrase, â€Å"boiling frog phenomenon† is an important consideration in strategic management. The allegory of â€Å"boiled frog† has a widespread usage in history. If a frog is immersed in a pot containing hot water, it would definitely jump out and save its life. However, a frog submerged in a pot containing cold water and temperat ure raised gradually may fail to notice the rising temperatures ending up being boiled alive. Though there is no barrier preventing the frog from jumping out of the pot, it fails to take the necessary action since change in temperature seems to be very minimal (Polynice, 2008, par 2). Culturally the story is used to warn people who fail to notice or take action to gradual change in their lives. Unable to notice the gradual changes, such people may find themselves in great trouble later on. The â€Å"boiled frog phenomenon† is relevant in many areas of life. In business, the phenomenon is used to warn of the need to notice and take actions to gradual changes. Like the â€Å"boiled frog†, an organization that fails to respond to gradual changes in its area may find itself in great trouble. An organization must be able to notice gradual changes in its market, human resources, technological or legal environment to be successful (Burke, Trahant Koonce, 1999, p. 17). In str ategic management the phenomenon is also used to refer to a strategy for implementing changes in an organization. Implementing changes gradually helps minimize resistance to change. A fair example of â€Å"boiled frog phenomenon† in United States is the failure of Enron. Formed in 1985, Enron developed to be a major player in energy industry in North America. Enron management, led by Kenneth Lay, was obsessed with success. They wanted the organization appear to be doing well despite of various failed projects.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The main concern for the management was maintaining a positive image to stakeholders and the public, and ensuring positive trend of the company’s share prices in the stock market. Instead of addressing the causes of declining performance, the management opted for manipulating books of account in order to portray t he organization to be profitable. After years of unethical accounting practice, the gap in the books of account was too large to conceal (Mclean Elkind, 2004, p. 132). Between 1990 and 2000, the organization registered consistent increase in its share prices. Enron management did not notice the water they were in boiling. By December 2000, Enron’s share price in the stock market was about $83 per share. The share prices however fell as low as $0.63 per share after the scandal was revealed later in 2001. â€Å"Boiling frog phenomenon† is relevant in business as in other areas. To be successful an organization has to strategically deal with gradual changes affecting it. It is prudent not only to notice the changes but also take the necessary action. Collapse of Enron illustrates the risk of â€Å"boiling frog syndrome†. To the organization’s management, manipulating books of account was a prudent thing to do at the beginning but this got out of control. Re ference List Burke, W., Trahant, W. Koonce, R. (1999). Business climate shifts: profiles of change makers. New York: Butterworth-Hernemann. Dess, G., Lumpkin, G. (2009). Strategic Management: Creating Competitive Advantage.New York: MaGraw-Hill.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Boiled Frog Phenomenon specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Mclean, B. Elkind, P. (2004). The Smartest Guys in the Room: the amazing rise and scandalous fall of Enron. New York: Penguin. Polynice, D. (2008). The â€Å"Boiled Frog Phenomenon. Retrieved from https://ezinearticles.com/?The-Boiled-Frog-Phenomenonid=932310

The Borgia Codex, Precolombian Treasure

The Borgia Codex, Precolombian Treasure The Borgia Codex: The Borgia Codex is an ancient book, created in Mexico in the age before the arrival of the Spanish. It consists of 39 double-sided pages, each of which contains pictures and drawings. It was most likely used by native priests to predict cycles of time and fate. The Borgia Codex is considered one of the most important surviving pre-Hispanic documents, both historically and artistically. The Creators of the Codex: The Borgia Codex was created by one of many pre-Hispanic cultures of Central Mexico, likely in the region of southern Puebla or northeastern Oaxaca. These cultures would eventually become vassal states of what we know as the Aztec Empire. Like the Maya far to the south, they had a writing system based on images: an image would represent a longer history, which was known to the reader, generally a member of the priest class. History of the Borgia Codex: The codex was created sometime between the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries. Although the codex is partly a calendar, it contains no exact date of creation. The first known documentation of it is in Italy: how it arrived there from Mexico is unknown. It was acquired by Cardinal Stefano Borgia (1731-1804) who left it, along with many other possessions, to the church. The codex bears his name to this day. The original is currently in the Vatican Library in Rome. Characteristics of the Codex: The Borgia Codex, like many other Mesoamerican codices, is not actually a â€Å"book† as we know it, where pages are flipped as they are read. Rather, it is one long piece folded up accordion-style. When completely opened, the Borgia Codex is about 10.34 meters long (34 feet). It is folded into 39 sections which are roughly square (27x26.5cm or 10.6 inches square). All of the sections are painted on both sides, with the exception of the two end pages: there are therefore a total of 76 separate â€Å"pages.† The codex is painted onto a deer skin that was carefully tanned and prepared, then covered with a thin layer of stucco which better holds the paint. The codex is in pretty good shape: only the first and lest section have any major damage. Studies of the Borgia Codex: The content of the codex was a baffling mystery for many years. Serious study began in the late 1700’s, but it wasn’t until the exhaustive work of Eduard Seler in the early 1900’s that any real progress was made. Many others have since contributed to our limited knowledge of the meaning behind the vivid images. Today, good facsimile copies are easy to find, and all of the images are online, providing access for modern researchers. Content of the Borgia Codex: Experts who have studied the codex believe it to be a tonalmatl, or almanac of destiny. It is a book of predictions and auguries, used to search for good or bad omens and precedents for a variety of human activities. For example, the codex might be used by priests to predict good and bad times for agricultural activities such as planting or harvesting. It is based around the tonalpohualli, or 260-day religious calendar. It also contains the cycles of the planet Venus, medical prescriptions and information about sacred places and the nine Lords of the Night. Importance of the Borgia Codex: Most of the ancient Mesoamerican books were burned by zealous priests during the colonial era: very few survive today. All of these ancient codices are greatly prized by historians, and the Borgia Codex is particularly valuable because of its content, artwork and the fact that it’s in relatively good shape. The Borgia Codex has allowed modern historians a rare insight into lost Mesoamerican cultures. The Borgia Codex is also greatly valued because of its beautiful artwork. Source: Noguez, Xavier. Cà ³dice Borgia. Arqueologà ­a Mexicana Edicià ³n Especial: Cà ³dices prehispnicas y coloniales tempranos. August, 2009.