Divergent Thinking Vs. Creative Thinking Essay - 1061 Words

Robinson states that divergent thinking is â€Å"not the same thing as creative thinking but that it is an essential capacity for creativity.Milena Segal Many believe that people are born with an innate level of creativity that is later on influenced by the environment in which they are raised. Schools are one of the most influential environments in which people spend an average of eight hours a day. Whether it be a public, private, or home school environment, these early surroundings that children are exposed to shape their creativity. As students, parents, and even teachers we dont realize the effects that the education system can have on ones creativity. The public education system is defined by two main ideas, what are the most†¦show more content†¦We can define creativity as the act of producing novel ideas that are perceived to be unique and useful in society. However because of our technological advancements our society undergoes vast and rapid changes. Oana DÄÆ'u-GaÅŸpar in her article â€Å"The Teacher’s Creative Attitudes – An Influence Factor Of The Students’ Creative Attitudes† stat es that because of these unavoidable problems â€Å" one needs a well-developed capacity to adapt to new situations and to find new ways to do things. In this context, creativity proves to be a very important resource that might help individuals to deal in a better way with social and technological changes†. So, why is it that our education system throws aside the development of the creative aspects of students? Many believe that creativity can be one of both things, a genius trait or a trade off. As Picasso stated before â€Å"we are all born with an innate ability for creativity, it is a matter of defining it†. Through a variety of research DÄÆ'u-GaÅŸpar states â€Å"that although some people have extreme levels of talent, everyone with normal human capacities is capable of producing creative work under the right circumstances†. The notion of trade-off comes from the idea of being able to excel in one area and diverge in another. However â€Å"there is no trade-off between creativity and productivity, efficiency, or work quality† ( Oana DÄÆ'u-GaÅŸpar, The Teacher’s Creative Attitudes). One does not correlate with the other, or take away onesShow MoreRelatedConvergent Vs Divergent Thinking1502 Words   |  7 Pagesway we solve problems, generate ideas, and process information; these two strategies are called convergent and divergent thinking. Our education system is mainly defined by a convergent style of thinking, which focuses on typical intelligence. â€Å"Convergent thinking is the practice of solving a problem quickly and efficiently, by choosing the single best solution from many. Divergent thinking, is taking a problem or â€Å"challenge,† and attempting to indicate all possible solutions, listing all of the waysRead MoreBusiness Results And The Laws Of Global Competition1671 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å" Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something,they feel a little guilty because they did note rally do it,they just saw something.It seemed obvious to them after a while†- Steve Jobs. Several study does indicate close links between business results and creativity.It is also observed that several companies that do spend on creative thinking do usually defeat their rivals in growth. Due to the compatible was in today s businesses,the demand for creativityRead MoreUnmasking Theatre Design By Lynne Porter1714 Words   |  7 PagesPorter (Review) Every staging of a play is irreplaceably different and tackled in unique ways by creatives involved. Unmasking Theatre Design by Lynne Porter aims through exploration of various approaches to the creatives processes to decipher the key steps an aspiring designer can follow to create work which reaches its maximum potential. Through detailed analysis of every aspect of the design and creative processes, Porter creates a blueprint to understanding the theory behind this work and investigatesRead MoreThe Theories Of Maslow s Theory5216 Words   |  21 Pagesindustrial infrastructure has created a society that instills educators to simply drive in factual knowledge and test the efficiency of all students. However, many educators agree that this kind of testing leaves little room for engaging students in creative and innovative methodology, and also creates a fast-paced environment where the prescribed curriculum must be met within a short time frame. Most educational systems, such as in structional simulators, have little to no creativity outlet for novelRead MoreRole Of Play On Early Childhood Education2754 Words   |  12 Pagestension, and the relationship between the materials and successful design to achieve balance, stability and even aesthetic sensibility.† Psychologists recognize two major types of problems: Convergent problems have only one correct solution and divergent problems have many solutions. Because kids can put together blocks in a variety of ways, block play helps child development in the following domains: †¢ Cognitive Skills – This helps children develop math skills such as counting, comparison of lengthRead MoreMan3240 Exam 2 Study Guide4273 Words   |  18 PagesCreativity in Decision making Creativity: ability to produce novel and useful ideas Creative potential – we all have it, we just need to learn how to unleash it 3 component model of creativity: the proposition that individual creativity requires expertise, creative thinking skills and the intrinsic task motivation * Expertise – the foundation for all creative work. Inspirations. * Creative thinking skills – encompasses personality characteristics associated with creativity, the abilityRead MoreCreation vs. Evolution Essay2251 Words   |  10 PagesCreation vs. Evolution There has always been a conflict between the religious world and the scientific world. Whether it be when science first challenged that the earth was not the center of the universe as dictated by the Church, or when it was discovered that the earth was round rather than flat. Both these theories today are widely accepted and the rest of society generally ridicules any persons that believe the earth is the center of the universe or that the worldRead MoreThe Mind of a Marketing Manager26114 Words   |  105 PagesThinking: The mind of a marketing genius Thinking: The mind of a marketing genius * Where are the best opportunities for your business today? How do you stand out in crowded markets? How do you deliver the best solutions for customers, and the best returns to shareholders? * Where should you focus amidst this complexity? What is your competitive advantage? Which markets, brands, products and customers should you prioritize in order to maximize value creation? Read MoreKnowledge Management And Artificial Intelligence4675 Words   |  19 PagesContents Abstract 3 Introduction 4 Key Components of Knowledge Management 4 Components of Knowledge Management 5 a. Knowledge 5 b. People 5 c. Processes 6 d. Technology 7 How Artificial Intelligence improves Knowledge Management 8 Knowledge Management vs. Intelligence/Collaboration Tools 11 Organizational Knowledge 12 Filtering of Information by Artificial Intelligence 14 Using Knowledge Resource in Improving the Economic Performance of a Corporation 15 KM Techniques Strategies 17 Impacts of KM withRead MoreHr Model6858 Words   |  28 Pagestransactional work so can’t do the strategic element or they are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of initiatives coming out of the Centre who fail to prioritise effectively. Splitting HR into three parts can create boundary disputes, a lack of joined up thinking and communication gaps. At best there is duplication, things fall through the gaps or there is a lack of coordination. At worst it can even result in open warfare between people in different parts of the model destroying the credibility of the whole

Questions On Pascal s Wager - 1878 Words

I am arguing that Pascal’s Wager is significantly stronger of a rationale when more social factors are taken into consideration. In his time, Blaise Pascal formed the foundation of the Pascal’s Wager we know of today, posthumously in the form of ‘Infinirien’. Though this is more easily defensible then Pascal’ Wager, the modified version has garnered enough popularity and has enough similar that it is the target of most criticisms. Pascal came up with a theory of understanding the consequences of not believing in God versus those that came with believing in him. From his calculations he determined that since believing in God had the same result as not believing when God didn’t exist. When God did exist however, the consequences of not believing were dire and the reward for believing was infinite. Pascal tried to explain that believing in God was the rational decision when such infinite rewards of heaven and such punishment of hell are possibili ties. Social implications are crucial to understanding how Pascal’s Wager might apply today and in countries of all different cultures. I will discuss three of the most common objections toward Pascal’s Wager and illustrate how considering just a few social factors make the decision to believe in God more rational then not. Then, I will explain how though there’s not enough evidence toward believing unswervingly, there is still enough positive implications that can warrant accepting your socially acceptable faith. Pascal’s Wager hasShow MoreRelatedQuestions On Pascal s Wager1833 Words   |  8 PagesPascal’s Wager is often considered one of philosophies weakest religious arguments to date. Pascal invents a wager to persuade the one who questions God into attending church, following the Ten Commandments, and following any other traditions in the Catholic Church. The wager is, if a person is a believer and after departing from this earth they find t hat they are correct, then their rewards are infinite. They will receive eternal life and a relationship with God in heaven. On the other hand if aRead MoreSummary Of Blaise Pascal s The Wager 1286 Words   |  6 PagesBlaise Pascal’s famous work, â€Å"the Wager,† utilizes about the concept of pragmatic justification in the terms of deciding whether or not to believe in God. In response to this, William Clifford publishes â€Å"The Ethics of Belief† countering Pascal’s view. Neither Pascal or Clifford’s views are perfect, but they are both worth examining. Clifford s universal rejection of pragmatic justification is ultimately too harsh on Pascal’s Wager. Pascal utilizes reason to come to the conclusion whether or notRead MorePascal s The Wager, By Simon Blackburn s Vs. An Assessment883 Words   |  4 Pagesworks of Blaise Pascal’s, â€Å"The Wager†, Simon Blackburn’s â€Å"Pascal’s Wager†, and Linda Zagzebski’s â€Å"Pascal’s Wager: An Assessment†. I will be comparing Pascal’s beliefs with the beliefs of Blackburn and Zagzebski as they discuss different ways to believe in God and if believing in God is a gamble on ones after-life, or simply just religious preference. I will discuss the works of these three philosophers and explain how their works may correlate and differ. The question presented in Pascal’s work isRead MoreWilliam James s Will For Believe1171 Words   |  5 PagesWilliam James’s Will to Believe. There are three elements to observe when dealing with a hypothesis. Jame s noted we must ask is our hypothesis dead or living, forced or avoidable, momentous. What the Will to Believe is advocating is one can morally or rationally believe in God or something, even if there is not sufficient intellectual evidence for such a belief. We answer the questions which are outlined on page 292 over the three points on the grounds of our â€Å"passional nature.† Passional natureRead MoreThe Roman Catholic Church Responded Treatment1645 Words   |  7 Pagesknowledge and truth, this created a kind of dualism. Blaise Pascal, 1623-1662, he was French mathematician and philosopher. Pascal was the first to use probability theory, developed the fundamentals of calculus, challenged whether human reason could really address life’s greatest questions, and was deeply Christian thinker. Pensees, compilation of Pascal’s reflections on Christian truth, compiled after his death, most well literary work. Pascal’s wager, used a mathematical analogy to explain his faith inRead MoreThe Ideas Of Kierkegaard And Pascal2571 Words   |  11 PagesThere are some questions in the religious domain that reason cannot answer because there are situations in every religion that cannot logically be explained. Religions are not rational; therefore, reason alone is not adequate enough to validate religious truths. In this paper, I will demonstrate how reason and faith aren’t separate entities and how both are needed in order to explain all religious truths by examining the ideas of Kierkegaard and Pascal. I will also give a detailed explanation ofRead MoreThe Ethics Of Belief By Clifford. Pascal1776 Words   |  8 Pagesarrive at beliefs. William James, however, disapproves Clifford. Pascal has a different view on belief formation where he argues that reasons for believing and failing to believe in God are indecisive. The three philosophers have varied views on how beliefs are formed. This essay discusses the reasons why Clifford made the above conclusion, the position taken by James in his opposition and how the argument relates to Pascal’s Wager. In Clifford’s first section of his essay, he narrates two storiesRead MoreGod Is No Proof That God Exists?953 Words   |  4 Pagesa cost benefit analysis. A Pascalian wager is made with the notion that God may or may not exist. If one believes in God and God exists, then one will go to Heaven. If one believes in God and God does not exist, there will not be much to lose. However, if one does not believe in God and God does exist, an eternity of damnation will be faced. On this basis, it is rational to believe in God (Clark, 1994). We are literally betting with our lives. Critics of Pascal argue that there are too many religionsRead MoreMathematical Theory Of Mathematics And Mathematics1410 Words   |  6 Pagesused to build the pyramids. Probability’s beginning happened because of recreational circumstances. A gambler s dispute in 1654 led to the creation of the mathematical theory of probability by two famous French mathematicians, Blaise Pascal and Pierre de Fermat. Antoine Gombaud, Chevalier de Mà ©rà ©, a French nobleman with an interest in gaming and gambling questions, called Pascal s attention to an apparent contradiction concerning a popular dice game. The game consisted in throwing a pair of diceRead MoreNotes On Blaise Pascal s Theory Of The Classical Problem Of Modern Economics, Social Science, And Pascal2312 Words   |  10 PagesBlaise Pascal was born on June 19, 1623, in Clermont-Ferrand, France to Etienne and Antoinette Pascal. He was the only son having two sisters, Jacqueline and Gilberte. Blaise Pascal was a person of many hats as he had different traits and talents that he acquired. Not only was he an important mathematician, but also a philosopher, physicist, inventor, scientist, and the ological writer. Pascal made numerous contributions to a wide variety of studies that are still appreciated today including a powerful

GAP Analysis Define Project Management

Question: Discuss about theGAP Analysisfor Define Project Management. Answer: Introduction To achieve the Gap analysis against the current position and to decide steps against the continuation of project the following Gap Analysis steps are followed ("What is gap analysis? - Definition from WhatIs.com", 2016). The Gap Analysis follows below listed three steps ("Gap Analysis: Identifying What Needs to be Done in a Project", 2016): Identify Your Future State Analyze Your Current Situation Identify How You'll Bridge the Gap A clear description is mentioned below: Identify Your Future State Objectives Develop a project network (Larson, Gray, Gray, n.d.). Follow the rules while implementing the Project network. Work in a systematic order. Ensure monitoring the progress (Kerzner, 2001). Analyse the plan. Implement a better strategy. Accomplish success in the market share. Take steps for a better launch of the product. Speeding up the project in an effectively implemented approach. Dont delay the launch of the product in the market (Larson, Gray, Gray, n.d.). Present Situation Actions to be Taken Future State High competition More Pressure Work as a team. Implement a better working strategy. Speeding up the project. Work on the product launching. To gain new business opportunities. To take the product to its final state from the conceptual state. Analyze Your Current Situation Current Situation There is high competition at the moment. For the new remote monitoring systems and their use in hospitals, IntensCare has invested huge amount of $20.5 million. Valerie Merz, Marketing Manager of IntensCare had more pressure for the product development team. No time was scheduled for resolving the modular design that could harm the success and the long term success in the market. Valerie Merz, was sure that without this modularity, the product will probably lose the market share. Jack Fogel, the senior Product Manager, dint take steps to resolve the modularity issue. Jack focused more on the details of the product, neglected is focus on the business issues and the impending launch. Cross-functional expertise and high performance was believed to be sufficient for the product development. But, the higher authority was not ok with Merz's analysis and future visualization. Objectives Schedule time to discuss and resolve the modularity issue ("Define Project Management", 2016) Work as a team to accomplish the task (Larson, Gray, Gray, n.d.). Present State Actions to be Taken Future State High competition More Pressure Modularity Issue is unresolved. Organize and define a project with a best feasible strategy. Ensure the scheduling of resources and costs. Monitor progress. Manage the risks effectively. Resolve the Modularity Issue. Have a check on the Project closure. Modularity issues is resolved. Pressure is lowered. High competition is provided to the opponents. Identify How You'll Bridge the Gap Current Situation Though, Beaumount knew about the impact and the complication of the project, he dint want to pressurise and shout on his team to give their best efforts. Higher authority is not understanding Merzs future visualization. There is a communication gap between the project manager and his subordinates. There was a serious problem related to the final products delivery on May 1. But, the software had major engineering issues related to the displaying the data and battery units as per the customer size specs marketing. They higher authorities failed to inform the serious issues related to the engineering problem and the delivery date issues. O'Brien, the lead engineer was aware, that due to the splitting of the two engineering based on the recession in the company, it was difficult to meet the delivery date and he was aware that it will be a challenging task for his team to meet the aggressive deadlines. The software became a complicated task based on the integration of the software, due to reduction of the staffs. Dipesh and the lead engineer were busy with the complexity of the project and the delay of the delivery date. This made them to hardly spend some time with their team to discuss the software integration issue and bring this issue to their teams notice. The software had various problems related to the medical diagnostic field, but this problem was not at all considered by Mukerjee. Objectives Production work must be started soon with the change. Product design must be changed to a better one. Proper report and evaluation must be presented (Larson, Gray, Gray, n.d.). Strong Leadership qualities are required to manage the team work and their efforts ("Understanding the Differences: Leadership vs. Management - HR Information for BC Tourism Employers - go2HR", 2016). Present State Actions to be Taken Future State Higher authority is not understanding Merzs future visualization. The current design requires some change. Software has many problems. Make a proper analysis to show the future impact of the current project. Speed up the process. Change the design of the product in a short duration. Leader should be confident about his team and proceed the work. Software problems must be resolved. Discuss the software integration problem with the team. The higher authority must understand the future visualization and task immediate steps. Project will be delayed due to the required changes in the design. This is a biggest drawback (Larson, Gray, Gray, n.d.). Conclusion The conclusion of this Gap analysis provides a bridge to overcome the current situations and helps in achieving the future state. The problem is that the higher authority is not understanding Merzs future visualization based on the impact on the market shares. According to Merz, the product design requires some major changes, and any kind of change at this state can delay the production. The delay in production is a huge loss to the organization. The important fact is that, Beaumount knew the complication of the issue but, still he dint take any action. This is understood by the actions to be taken in order to meet the future state. To overcome all the drawbacks, it requires more time and effective time management and speed in the working performance, if not it can have a huge impact on the market share and the reputation of the company and on the launch of the product. The software had many problems, which were not considered. The software integration issues was not discussed with t he team. It was difficult to meet the delivery date. Therefore, it is recommended to discontinue this project and save the reputation and the investment of the company. References Define Project Management. (2016).Mastering-project-management.com. Retrieved 18 October 2016, from https://www.mastering-project-management.com/define-project-management.html Gap Analysis: Identifying What Needs to be Done in a Project. (2016).Mindtools.com. Retrieved 18 October 2016, from https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/gap-analysis.htm Kerzner, H. (2001).Project management. New York: John Wiley. Larson, E., Gray, C., Gray, C.Project management. Understanding the Differences: Leadership vs. Management - HR Information for BC Tourism Employers - go2HR. (2016).Go2hr.ca. Retrieved 18 October 2016, from https://www.go2hr.ca/articles/understanding-differences-leadership-vs-management What is gap analysis? - Definition from WhatIs.com. (2016).SearchCIO. Retrieved 18 October 2016, from https://searchcio.techtarget.com/definition/gap-analysis

Partnership for Lebanon and Cisco Systems free essay sample

The â€Å"Partnership for Lebanon and Cisco Systems† case study discusses a project developed after the war in Lebanon in July of 2006. After the war, President George W. Bush urged 5 U. S. based companies to partner together to help with the reconstruction efforts in Lebanon, including Cisco systems (led by John Chambers), Intel corp. (led by Craig Barrett), Ghafari Inc. (led by Yousif Ghafari), Occidental Petroleum (led by Dr. Ray Irani), and Microsoft (led by Steve Balmer). The partnership of these 5 successful U. S. companies formed the Partnership for Lebanon, or the PFL, for which a woman named Salam Yamout was appointed as project manager (Jimali, 2011). Upon the formation of the PFL in 2006, the leaders met at the Paris III donor conference with Fuad Seniora, the Lebanese prime Minister, to discuss and develop the key goals that would need to be achieved in the Lebanese reconstruction efforts, and to map out the main initiatives of the PFL (Jimali, 2011). We will write a custom essay sample on Partnership for Lebanon and Cisco Systems or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page With a primary focus on efficient and productive communities and advancement opportunities for the Lebanese people, they developed the following 5 key objectives for which they made significant progress over the next three years: 1. Emergency Relief and Response: The first of the 5 key objectives, emergency relief and response, was essential to establishing a sense of security among the Lebanese people following the war. From 2006 through 2009, the PFL helped more than 1000 families to rebuild their homes, and helped many communities to resettle. This was a first step toward rebuilding the infrastructure and public society needed for economic and workforce growth (Jimali, 2011). The PFL also rebuilt 10 youth and IT centers, complete with computer labs and Internet technology, providing a training center for over 1400 young people in Lebanon and rehabilitated the schools that stood in the areas most affected by the war, focusing on school safety, quality of student life, and Information Communication Technology (ICT) training (Jimali, 2011). Finally, in order to reduce continued casualties, the PFL trained and certified two dogs to detect landmines, a $65,000 effort that likely saved lives and increased the mobility of the Lebanese people. 2. Job Creation/Private Sector renewal: The next key objective of the PFL was to increase the number of available jobs in Lebanon, particularly in the private sector. Much of the focus on this initiative was suggested by Cisco leader John Chambers, who, in a visit to the American University of Beirut, was affected by the number of highly educated, multi-lingual Lebanese young people who would look for employment opportunities outside of Lebanon immediately following graduation. Noting the emigration of the most capable young workers as a significant obstacle to the future prosperity of the Lebanese people, Chambers suggested the job creation be made a top priority. As a top global leader in the Information Communication Technology industry, Cisco took the lead by developing a $1 million grant program called the â€Å"CREDIT† program, which they used to deliver 133 loans to businesses specializing in ICT (Jimali, 2011). Furthermore, in order to provide learning opportunities for Lebanese businesses, the PFL developed the Executive Mentorship Program, which matched successful U. S. businesses with leaders of Lebanese businesses. 3. Developing ICT infrastructure: As part of the PFL’s job creation efforts, Cisco also took the lead in developing a sustainable Information Communication Technology infrastructure. The first step toward this was to expand broadband service to all rural and urban areas. By partnering with the Lebanese Telecommunications Regulatory Agency (TRA), the PFL developed a long-term strategy for expanding broadband service, which began with the development of several new Internet exchange points and an International Internet gateway. 4. Workforce Training ICT education: Finally in workforce development, the PFL set out to create private sector job opportunities for the uneducated Lebanese population. By creating professional training programs and ICT education, a basic infrastructure targeted at building a middle-class could be developed. The PFL made several achievements in this area, including using high-speed broadband connections to connect 50 public schools to the Ministry of Education, providing online learning materials, sponsoring and ICT/life skills youth summer camp program, placing interns in Lebanese businesses, and helping to integrate ICT programs in Lebanese schools (Jimali, 2011). 5. Developing connected communities and connected governments: The final PFL objective sought to develop connected communities throughout Lebanon. A major stride in this objective involved developing ICT centers where people without broadband capabilities could go to stay connected through variety of Medias. In addition to developing 10 of these ICT centers, the PFL also enabled 5 full-service community access points that were affected by the war (Jimali, 2011). CSR Lessons There are several key strategic lessons that the PFL learned throughout their efforts in Lebanon concerning the creation and implementation of development programs, particularly those that would be able to be adopted by any senior manager. Perhaps the most important strategic lesson was that a targeted, overall objective must be developed in order to maintain the highest likelihood of success. Instead of developing a wide spectrum of initiatives to help rebuild Lebanon, Cisco and the other PFL partners focused on ICT as a means for rebuilding infrastructure and developing economic and educational opportunities for the Lebanese people. By developing this focused mission, Cisco avoided wasting time and resources or putting a great deal of input into unrelated initiatives that may or may not have had beneficial results. Furthermore, by developing a single mission that was within their expertise, Cisco was able to make valuable contributions in a vital area and thus maximize their impact. The PFL recognized that it could not solve all of Lebanon’s problems, but by developing a set of initiatives that Cisco and partnering companies felt well equipped to address, they were able to develop a plan within the ICT industry where it could make a measurable impact (Jimali, 2011). Another key strategic lesson learned by the PFL was that a thorough situational analysis is essential to developing an effective restructuring campaign. This is a lesson that is relevant to any rebuilding efforts, whether it is for a nation, a corporation, or a nonprofit organization. By conducting a detailed situational analysis, Cisco as able to analyze which objectives would create opportunities in Lebanon and how Lebanese government organizations, businesses, and communities would utilize various initiatives. Cisco’s thorough analysis allowed them to develop an effective methodology for implementing various programs, as well as to gain government cooperation and support throughout the process. This analysis also provided Cisco with insight regarding which support and resources they would need to ensure success and therefore allowed them to gather the support they needed before beginning the process in order to produce the fastest and more effective results. John Chambers, Cisco CEO, said, â€Å"In September, we visited Lebanon and we saw a country that can achieve many of the goals itself, but with the proper assistance can achieve them at a much faster pace and rebuild the country for the future, not just rebuild back to where they were before. † (Cisco CSR Report, 2009). Lastly, an essential strategic lesson learned by the PFL concerning the implementation and running of development programs was that a change process must be developed in carefully planned incremental steps, beginning with the development of the infrastructure needed to prepare for the next step. This is especially important for ensuring that the strategy can be adopted by any senior manager, because it allows for a step-by-step map of development that allows managers to build upon previous initiatives. Cisco, Corporate Sponsors, and PFL Because of its expertise in this area and its long-time commitment to investing in community sustainability, Cisco was an effective leader in the PFL’s objectives, providing valuable insight on how to encourage job creation that would continue to evolve over time. Cisco is a leading organization in global networking and communications technology, and was the creator of the multi-protocol router, which revolutionized Internet communications. A company worth $550 billion in 2000, Cisco’s success has been attributed to a focus on customer need that was so targeted that they did not commit to any specific technology and were willing to change in whatever way they needed in order to meet their customers need. It was this willingness to adapt as well as Cisco’s commitment to community and economic investments that made Cisco the right leader for the PFL’s goals. Cisco’s CSR initiatives had always been designed in a way that sought to add value to the organization through strategically planned initiatives and to leverage the company’s core competence and sustainability levels in a way that provided clear and measurable outputs. Cisco also took a lead in the PFL’s educational and professional training programs, which provided crucial career opportunities for the Lebanese people. The Challenge of Sustainability Despite the successful implementation of the PFL initiatives from 2006 through 2009, in September of 2009, PLF project manager Salam Yamout expressed concern to her manager, George Akiki regarding the long-term sustainability of the PLF initiatives. She said, â€Å"The PFL has undoubtedly been successful across the 5 work streams, and has infused much needed resources, support and hope in a context of post-war devastation, but the key question haunting me now is how to sustain this impact into the future. † (Jimali, 2011). Akiki agreed, and thus the question of how Lebanon could sustain the development initiated by the PLF without the generous management and resource contributions of Cisco and PLF partners. While the sustainability challenges faced by the PLF may seem daunting, the educational and job training programs developed by the program can be designed to be self-supporting, these programs, if continued and managed by competent leaders, can allow Lebanon’s ICT related programs to continue to prepare Lebanese people for good jobs. The first step to maintaining these programs is to gather investors from both within Lebanon and from the International community, particularly those who benefit from the increased educational and professional opportunities in the Middle East. Moreover, if the Lebanese government is able to recognize the benefit hat a more vibrant ICT community can offer to the economy, a system of public funding can be developed. Furthermore, if individuals who are trained through these programs can be offered incentives to remain within the program as educators, the programs can become self-sustaining through generations. Conclusion Cisco and the partners that formed the PLF provide an example of an efficient program for utilizing the specific expertise and resources of one industry to enact positive change on a community in desperate need of rebuilding. Their thorough analysis, clear-cut mission, and careful planning in an area that they were well resources in, allowed for an extremely effective rebuilding process. Moreover, Cisco provided a valuable framework for how with productive partnerships and effective leadership, successful organizations can help to address societal problems in a way that adds value to both the community involved and the partnering organizations. Too often, today’s conversation regarding CSR presents in if/or debate, as if companies must choose between economic value and ethical value. The economic argument suggests that corporations are obligated only to shareholders, and that investments made in activities that do not directly maximize profits are irresponsible, while the ethical argument suggests that because corporations benefit from the people and infrastructure of communities, they are obligated to make investments in those communities (Bansal, 2005). However, a modern view of CSR suggests that there is a middle ground where economics and ethics can converge to create longer term sustainable value. Cisco’s participation in the PLF program is an example of this middle ground. In its participation in the PLF program, Cisco expanded its influence in a part of the world where they previously had little reach, thus creating added value to their organization while addressing significant societal problems.