Definition of Abortion Essay - 1372 Words

Abortion (noun): a. Termination of pregnancy and expulsion of an embryo or of a fetus that is incapable of survival. b. Any of various procedures that result in such termination and expulsion. Also called induced abortion. As stated above, abortion is the termination of a fetus. In other words, the fetus dies, whether by the mothers choice or by accident (such as a miscarriage or stillbirth.) Medically, all terminations of pregnancy not resulting in a live birth are defined as abortions. Each year throughout the world, 45million abortions are performed. Compare this to 128.6 million births per year and you get approximately 35% of fetuses each year that never get a chance to live. When discussing abortion, one aspect to†¦show more content†¦This is because the fathers want a male heir to carry on the family name and be the man of the house instead of a daughter who is thought to be weak and worthless. The two main types of induced abortions are chemical and surgical. With the chemical abortions, a woman can choose to take the Morning-After Pill the morning following rape, incest or sexual intercourse. This prevents the zygote from attaching to the wall inside of the uterus. The other form of chemical abortion can be done later on in the pregnancy. In this one, the doctor can administer the chemical RU-486. Some of these abortions (approximately 8%) need a surgical follow-up, usually by vacuum aspiration. There are a few types of surgical abortions but the most common forms are Manual Vacuum Aspiration abortion, which consists of removing the fetus or embryo by suction using a manual syringe. The Electric Vacuum Aspiration abortion method uses suction that is produced by an electric pump to remove the fetus or embryo. Neither of these procedures sounds enjoyable. Abortion should be illegal in the state of Michigan because it violates the right to life for that unborn child, there are too many risks associated with abortions, and because every child is a wanted child. Everyone, in Michigan and throughout the United States of American, has the right to life. It is included in our three unalienable rights (Right to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.) Even thoughShow MoreRelatedMoral Standing on Abortion1087 Words   |  5 PagesStanding on Abortion To say that a person has moral standing is to give consideration to his or her wellbeing. According to Robert M. Veatch’s The Basic of Bioethics, moral standing is believed to be â€Å"that humans (at least normal humans) have moral standing [as well as] other animals† (27). Moral standing is determined by the physical or mental capacities of self-awareness or rationality. However, controversy arises when determining when one actually has full moral standing. Abortion is a controversialRead MoreAbortion : The Only Medical Procedure1251 Words   |  6 PagesAbortion in Queensland is the only medical procedure that is still considered a criminal offence in the Criminal Code Act 1999 (Qld). Since the abortion laws were introduced societies attitudes, safe medical practices and women’s status in Australian society have changed. As a result the current laws do not reflect modern day’s society’s view and does not effectively protect stakeholder’s rights. Abortion should be decriminalised and made legal up to 17 weeks. However abortion past 17 weeks can onlyRead More Abortion is Not Murder Essay1202 Words   |  5 PagesAbortion is Not Murder Is abortion murder?   Murder is defined as illegal killing with malice aforethought. Abortion fails this definition for two reasons. First, abortion is not illegal, and second, there is no evidence to suggest that expecting mothers feel malice towards their own flesh and blood. Not all killing is murder, of course. Murder is actually a small subset of all killing, which includes accidental homicide, killing in self-defense, suicide, euthanasia, etc. When pro-lifeRead MoreAbortion Is Not A Free Card Away From Responsibility1379 Words   |  6 PagesMoore English 10 16 November 2015 Abortion Research Paper Every year, millions of innocent babies lose their lives due to abortion. This means that because their own mother did not want them, the children have been killed without even being able to blow out their first birthday candle. Abortion is not a free card away from responsibility. It is dangerous to the Mom mentally and is the murder of a child is why it must be stopped. A majority of abortions today are not due to health risk orRead MoreAbortion Should NOT Be Legal Essay examples909 Words   |  4 PagesAbortion not only ends the life of the child before it has a chance but has health-related issues such as sterility and premature births. Life begins at the moment of conception, and an innocent life shouldn’t be ended due to parent’s lack of financial stability. This problem can be fixed by outlawing abortion. Abortion by definition is the termination of a pregnancy after, accompanied by, resulting in, or closely followed by the death of the embryo or fetus. Abortion ends life, and causes many healthRead MoreShould Abortion Be Legal?1347 Words   |  6 Pagesunder much debate is whether or not women should have the right to an abortion. This is a constitutional right that all women must have in order for everyone to have true equal rights. The two sides of this debate argue whether or not the fetus is â€Å"alive,† wh ether abortion is ever necessary, and whether or not the procedure has negative consequences. While the â€Å"pro-life† side focuses mostly on the interpretation of the definition of life, â€Å"pro-choice† advocates stress the importance of women’s rightsRead MoreEssay on The Right to Life: Pro-Life 863 Words   |  4 Pageswith her own body. The biology versus medical definitions proclaim that an embryo is not yet a human life; as conception begins two to three weeks after implantation occurs, a heartbeat is heard, and a the embryo can sustain life outside of the womb. The laws vary from state to state and in our home state of Texas political parties clash so hard the state shakes with a jolt felt across the country. Arguments weigh in from all over the globe against abortion and none more prevalent that of churches allRead MoreThe Debate About Abortion And Abortion1709 Words   |  7 PagesThe practice of abortion is an issue that has sparked controversy fo r many years. One of the initial problems that lead to the debate about abortion is the fact that, the definition of the term abortion varies from one field to another. The controversy arises because the language used to describe abortion â€Å"is a reflection of the societal beliefs of the people in that area† (McFarlane Meier 65). Generally, the World Health Organization defines abortion as induced or spontaneous termination of pregnancyRead MorePregnancy And Its Effects On Children1444 Words   |  6 Pagesabortion annually (Negedu, 2011). pregnancies are either mistimed or unwanted among adolescents. Studies in the past have Indicated that, lack of adequate sexual and reproductive health knowledge may possibly represent a key factor preventing the complete elimination of unwanted pregnancies, and unsafe induced abortion among adolescent girls in Nigeria. According to Ipas(2005) unplanned pregnancies are the result of various factors, including lack of knowledge about menstruation and pregnancy,Read MoreAbortion Is Murder Essay1300 Words   |  6 Pages The topic of abortion is an extremely controversial issue in todays society, there are many separate views on the morality of it. Abortion is defined as the deliberate termination of a human pregnancy (â€Å"Abortion†). In other words, it is the murder of an unborn child. Throughout the past there has been several court cases related to abortion, in attempt to resolve the debate. For example, Roe v. Wade declared that unborn children are neither ‘persons’ nor are they entitled

I Had No Shortage Of Overweight People - 1479 Words

Growing up, I had no shortage of overweight people in my life. As a kid, I watched my dad hook up his sleep apnea machine every night before bed because being overweight had caused him such conditions. My uncle has had to walk with a cane because his knees can t bear the weight coming down on them. Since then, my father and his brother have managed their weight and are happy and healthy. However, the majority of people who find themselves in the obese category aren t able to regain their physical health. My family has been lucky enough to be surrounded by a strong support system and were able to beat obesity. I look back at my childhood and dissect some of the habits my parents had and what they showed me, and I realize how lucky I am†¦show more content†¦The United States is one of the most obese countries, ranking 12th in the world for percentage of population being obese. (Niddk) The countries in front of us are much smaller and less developed therefore leaving the United States as the outlier of the group. Fast food, soda, and other sweets are plastered on the corner of every busy street and a cheeseburger is cheaper than a salad. Our eating habits have only gotten worse over the years with the average American eating a substantial amount of calories in comparison to years past. Also, a major suspect in the obesity epidemic today, is sugar. Over the past three decades, our consumption of sugar has increased by 30% (CDC) This drastic increase can t possibly be spun in a positive way and could potentially be a major cause of the obesity epidemic we re currently facing in the United States today. 300,000 deaths a year are attributed to the obesity epidemic (Gibbons) and almost all 300,000 of those could be avoided if we made health conscience decisions and promoted healthier choices and helped everyone around us stay active. It hurts me to think about what could have happened to my family had they not helped each other get fit and live a healthier lifestyle. Unfortunately, not everyone can escape these habits and end up causing themselves, and everyone around them more harm than necessary. I believe as a society we can encourage those around usShow MoreRelatedAn Ethical Dilemma within the Army Essays1438 Words   |  6 Pagesprint these mottos on convenient credit card and identification tag reminders so that Soldiers can have them at all times. These values are what we expect our Soldiers to live by. The Army, as an organization, owes it to the Soldier and the American people to do the same. So often in the course of time, we fail to meet this obligation. A Shrinking Force More than 10 years of persistent conflict have presented a myriad of challenges to our Army. One of the most serious is simply finding the SoldiersRead MoreEssay about Idiot Nation886 Words   |  4 Pagesthree main reasons behind it: politicians’ ignorance, shortage of teachers, and the rise of Corporate America. Moore first points out how ignorant the President and politicians are by stating that the President cannot simply identify whether Africa is a nation or a continent. Next, Moore attributes the lack of funding in education to the fact that politicians prefer to build bomber than to improve our education system; this leads to shortage of resources, overpopulated classrooms, and decrease ofRead MoreThe Use of Physical Education Essay906 Words   |  4 Pagesstrength were key to mans ability to find food and survive. As time went on, other ancient civilizations such as China, Egypt, Greece, and Rome adopted this practice known as phsycal education. But, the Spartans and the Athenians were the first people to have any type of physical education programs. Physical Education (abbreviated PE) is definined as the process of education that develops the human body, specifically fitness and movement skills. PE helps you stay fit, healthy, and flexibleRead More Diabetes Mellitus Essay1538 Words   |  7 Pagescondition which afflicts millions of people around the world. It is related to the insulin hormone, which is secreted by cells in the pancreas, regulates the level of glucose in the bloodstream and supports the body with breaking down the glucose to be used as energy. In someone who has diabetes, the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or cells don’t respond to the insulin that is produced. There are three main types of diabetes, type 1, type 2, and gestational. I will be discussing type 1 and typeRead MoreDiabetes: The Silent Killer1254 Words   |  6 PagesAmericans have diabetes; it is called the â€Å"Silent Killer† because almost half of those 25 million have no idea that they even have the disease; i t can strike and kill without warning. I am interested in the disease because both my grandfather and my maternal great grandmother had diabetes. However, both of them had late onset diabetes, or Type II. Diabetes Mellitus is the cause of many serious health complications such as stroke, heart disease, renal failure, and blindness, among others. It canRead MoreThe Link Between Population Growth And World Health1329 Words   |  6 Pagesdeveloped world, the mortality from infectious diseases had been replaced by mortality from chronic illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, and stroke. In 2000, approximately 125 million Americans, or 45% of the population, had chronic conditions and 61 million, or 21% of the population, had multiple chronic conditions. According to a report in 2004, almost half of all Americans, or 133 million people, live with a chronic condition. People with chronic conditions account for 83 percent of healthRead More The Poverty and Obesity Epidemic Essay2832 Words   |  12 PagesIn the United States, as of 2001, 34% of the population was overweight. (Townsend) Overweight and obesity would seem to be problems associated with the United State’s wealth and more than sufficient food supply. Much attention in recent years has been paid to people becoming more physically fit and changing their diets to become healthier. Gastric bypass surgery has become a popular choice for people trying to overcome extreme obesity. The operation limits â€Å"food intake by creating a narrow passageRead MoreChildhood Obesity Epidemic1421 Words   |  6 Pagesproblems. These children will grow into adults predisposed to stroke, cancers, and osteoarthritis. It is because of these health effects and their fiscal repercussions that upon reviewing the Obese/Overweight Children vs. Fairville case THE following recommendations were made. III. RECOMMENDATIONS i. REVAMPING HEALTHY KIDS MEALS Children are very picky eaters. Not only that but they are easily enticed by vibrant colors and images. For that matter Healthy Kids should provide a quality mealRead MoreCounty Profile on Shasta, California Essay1866 Words   |  8 PagesIn this research paper, I will discuss about general demographics and socioeconomic status of Shasta County breaking down into age and ethnicities. In addition, I will also elaborate on the public health services and programs available to individuals in this county. Shasta County actively provides collaborative services to protect and improve their resident’s health needs. According to the United States Census Bureau in 2012, Shasta County estimated a total of 178,586 people, compared to the 38,041Read MoreThe Cuases of Childhood Obesity Essay2082 Words   |  9 Pages This also means that ten percent of children worldwide are overweight or obese (â€Å"Childhood Obesity† par. 33). According to the Centers for Disease Control being overweight is defined as, â€Å"having excess body weight for a particular height from fat, muscle, bone, water or a combination of these factors.† On the other hand, they define obesity as having excess body fat (â€Å"Child Obesity Facts† par.1). A child is determined as overweight or obese when total body weight is more than twenty-five percent

Feature Writing †Concert Review Free Essays

Review on Marilyn Manson’s Concert: Rock Am Ring Marilyn Manson is a band looked up upon by millions of teens in desperation and discontent across the world, a band that empathizes; it seems, to their avid fans. Pulling off extravagant pyrotechnic performances with a gothic overall outdo in his concert ‘Rock am Ring’, the band consists of Brian Hugh Warner, the lead vocalist, largely known a ‘Marilyn Manson’ on stage performances, with ever changing background guitarists, drummers, bassists and keyboardists. Manson grew up with never ending ordeals in his life. We will write a custom essay sample on Feature Writing – Concert Review or any similar topic only for you Order Now As a kid, he witnessed the sadomasochism sexual fetishes of his grandfather, forming traumatizing images of disturbance and disgust as he grew up. In his elementary Christian school years, he was taunted and constantly brought to the epitome of shame and embarrassment by people he called friends; this episode formed his mindset of the antichrist. Having dwelled in the darkest corners amidst growing up, the memories of Mason’s past left him deranged and helpless with fear; something he never grew out of. Set side by side American icons alike that of Marilyn Monroe and Charles Manson- ironically alike characters of life, it is a band that reveals the terrible and crude circumstances of life, and very much so, the pains of growing up and having grown up. Donned in heavy, gothic make up and apparel, Manson’s music genre consists mainly of heavy metal, shock rock, and industrial metal, containing subliminal messages of intoxication, hate, suicide and sexually explicit content like that of sadomasochism and all that alike. Marilyn Manson’s performance took place on 1st June 2012, in Nurburgring; Germany. Along with thousands of other avid fans on scene anxiously waiting at the entrance of the concert, I felt no less nervous on the impending performance that drew closer with each passing second. Marilyn Manson’s appearance, I knew then, would be no less majestic like I have imagined prior to the concert. True enough, it only took mere seconds before the outburst of cheers and roars throughout the crowd with Manson’s appearance n stage. Throwing forward the signature ‘rock and roll’ hand sign- the mass of audience followed suit, in heated ‘worship’ and fervor. The live performance was like no other and the stage display was nothing less than immaculate. On the main vocals was Marilyn Manson himself, having Twiggy Ramirez on the guitar, Fred Sablan on the bass and Jason Sutter on the drums. The first song â€Å"Hey Cruel World† kicked off and I felt th e immediate rush of excitement surge through my body. Alike the usual heavy rock concerts, the crowd started head banging to the music as the guitarist introduced the song, moshing in hype of their enjoyment, forming the ‘ring of death’ , a trademark where people run towards each other in an apparent attack through the slamming of bodies, eventually running in a circle. Crowd surfing was the run-of-the-mill in every concert, and Manson’s concert was no exception. The exhilaration of the atmosphere seeped right through me, and I couldn’t help but to throw my hands up, madly jumping to the beats. Delving in on the second song â€Å"Great Big White World† with his raspy voice, the song spoke of individualism opposing conformity in this chaotic age. As the crowd echoed after the lyrics of the song â€Å"But I’m not attached to your world and nothing heals and nothing grows†, I immediately felt the true connection from the crowd to his music. The props on stage used by the band helped the focus of the theme of the concert and Manson’s artistic visions displayed in the concert pushed the hype to its climax, stretching the limits of onstage music performances having a few songs sung even better than his studio recording. This was a definite media-grabbing show as Manson brought out the best in his music, proving his fans right of their loyalty. Personally, growing up was a process like that of torment, the various events and experiences I had gradually landed me in a severe depression – something that I never managed to pull myself out of. His lyrics in songs like ‘Coma White’ and ‘Tourniquet’ are two songs that outwardly describe the feelings I never found words to say. From â€Å"All the drugs in this world, won’t save her from herself† to â€Å"Take your hatred out on me, make your victim my head, you never ever believe in me, I am your tourniquet†, the former being lyrics in ‘Coma White’ and the latter from ‘Tourniquet’. Being one of the many fans of Marilyn Manson, I find correlation in his music to my life. These lyrics depict much of my aloneness and frustration, how my parents never took pride in me- something every child needs from their parents. Growing up for me was like an everyday battle, each day only getting tougher and harsher. Though the explicit content portrayed in Manson’s music can be considered a blasphemy for many religious masses, I believe the lyrics in the music of Manson’s concert are a correlation to the many lives of the 21st century, a melodramatic century where the oxymoron of peace and chaos coexist. Each singer and songwriter is only so in due to their emotions and feelings, their past experiences and their learning lessons in life. I believe that music in any form, are life’s most soulful expressions, one where dreams and life’s stories are penned and sung, where pain and happiness is held on to and let go of. Through this concert, I finally understood the true influence of music and its lyrics, how the lyrics of a song can be the correlation to life’s worst tragedies and most blessed moments. Thus, in weightage of the pros and cons of music and its influence, I end with the consensus, that any genre of music can bring out the deepest unsaid words and emotions of a person, either helping, defining, or ruining a person, all depending on how the written lyrics speak to each individual and how each individual chooses to bring it forward. This review article is intended for the Metal Hammer magazine, as I feel that it would probably be a good addition into the columns of concert reviews and interviews. (Word Count: 1029) How to cite Feature Writing – Concert Review, Papers

Alibaba free essay sample

He and his team have achieved many firsts in the area of Chinese Internet Trade. He founded the first internet commercial website in China, and created a 82B marketplace platform to all small and medium-sized enterprises in Asia and around the world. He promoted the Trust Pass plan on the website, which created the worlds first on-line credit platform for companies. Under Jack Mas leadership, the Alibaba 82B websites have attracted more than 17 million registered members in 220 countries globally, with daily postings exceeding 35 million, making Alibaba. om the most active Internet market place and 82B community worldwide. Since the inception of the company, more than 400 media have reported about Alibaba and Jack Ma, in dozens of languages. In addition to numerous awards presented to Alibaba. com, Jack Ma was lso selected by the World Economic Forum as one of the 100 Young Global Leaders in 2001; was named Business Leader of 2001 by Asia Commerce Association of USA; and was featured on the covers of Forbes Magazine, Nikkei Magazine, and Fortune (China) Magazine. In 2004, Jack Ma was honored as one of the Top 10 Economic Personas of the Year by CCTV. In 2005, Fortune Magazine ranked him one of the 25 Most Powerful Businesspeople in Asia and this year Business 2. 0 ranked him 1 5th among 50 Who Matter Now and Silicon. com ranked him 1 lth among its top 50 Agenda Setters 2006. company, Alibaba. om builds its business success and rapid growth on entrepreneurship, innovation, and service. Says Jack Ma: The company will remain a start-up no matter how long it has been in existence. What ever has been stable, I will disrupt that stability. The company needs to continue to innovate and grow. I want the employees to believe that we are a small company, no matter how big we get. I believe we can create a system and culture to perpetuate this culture of entrepreneurial and start-up spirit. To fuel the entrepreneurial and innovative spirit, along with a service attitude, Jack Ma is looking for people with the following characteristics: 1) People with a dream. Dont let your colleagues work for you. They need to work for their dreams! If people dont believe in the dream and Join the company purely for money, they wont stay long (refer to Appendix 2 for Alibabas vision, mission, and values). 2) People with shared values. The value system is very important at Alibaba. We are crazy for it! In China, we might be the only crazy company who so strongly maintains our value system. People who dont fit our values cannot survive in the company. (Alibabas six ore values are customer comes first, teamwork and cooperation, embracing change, integrity, passion, and honoring your Job). 3) People with a smile. When we hire people, we look for people who are naturally optimistic and happy. In the start-up process we will meet with difficulties and challenges. Optimistic and happy people can better deal with these challenges and succeed. Its hard to make a happy person unhappy, but its even harder to make an unhappy person happy. I am able to tell whether a person is on our staff by their smile. 4) People who enjoy work and can turn stress and challenges into innovation. Employees must be able to handle pressure and challenges, and turn them into positive energy for innovation, not negative energy for depression. 5) People who work together. We dont welcome people who think they are smart because they may think they are above others. This industry is so new that it really doesnt have any real talents. The people who are real talents probably dont know they are talents. Everyone has tremendous potential. We all use other peoples strengths to overcome our weaknesses We are all ordinary people, but our goals are extraordinary. While Alibaba seeks people with strong rofessional skills, these characteristics are even more important in deciding whether a person will Join, stay, and enjoy working in the company. 2 Alibabas Unique Value Proposition † a Smiling Community with a Dream While Alibaba is clear about what kind of talent they need for business success, the question is: how can the company attract, retain, and engage such talent, especially in the startup stage, when Alibaba had limited resources? The answer is a dream, a dream to make a difference in the way people do business, and a dream to create wealth together. During the start-up stage of Alibaba, Jack Ma often told those nterested in working for Alibaba, not of the great working conditions or the high pay, of what they could earn elsewhere. Alibaba also strives to provide a community, where employees can have fun to work together to pursue their dreams with minimal bureaucracy and politics. Ma recently painted a vivid image of his ideal work environment for his employees as follows: Blue Sky Processes, systems, and decisions need to be open and transparent. Theres nothing that should be hidden from employees. We should be transparent. Solid Ground Everything we do should be honest, ethical and contribute to the welfare of the ociety. The company should be on solid financial ground so employees wont worry about the financial future of the company. Free-flowing Ocean Talent must be allowed to rotate Jobs across subsidiaries and departments. Green Forest (R Conducive conditions for continued innovation. Harmonious Community Peers with shared values and simple interpersonal relationships. The ultimate objective of such a community is to offer employees a work environment to grow, contribute, and live out their dreams. Bureaucracy, secrecy, and stagnation are all attributes that inhibit employees, and the company must actively seek out these ehaviors and destroy them. Alibaba from the Eyes of Employees To what extent do employees at Alibaba experience what the company intends to offer? Why do they Join the company and how do they feel as employees working there? Our focus group discussion with employees in different functions and levels confirms that Alibaba is indeed a unique company to work with. The following themes and direct quotations capture their experiences and the feeling of working at Alibaba: A leader with charisma and credibility: Jack Ma is the magnet that draws people into the company and provides them with a credible dream. When I spoke with Jack Ma, I was impressed with his vision and business model. I had been in the internet business for a while but had not seen a successful model like the one Alibaba is employing. Tang Zhenrong, International Website Engineering Department, and one year with the company. Although the objectives for each year seem to be very high, somehow we have always managed to accomplish those objectives. With past success, we have built up confidence that were able to achieve the objectives no matter what they are. Lili Li, Sales Research Department, six years with the company. The passion of Alibaba is from within and radiates outward to others. We can see that they truly believe in the company and the culture of Alibaba is built from there, not by programs or processes. Echo Lu, Director of Organization and People Development. The company is true to its values at all levels. When Jack Ma talks to management about hiring, he told us that we must hire people With the same smell. Zhang Yu, Director of Marketing, Taobao. com Changes, challenges, and growth: People grow under tremendous pressure to change and grow. The speed of change is three to four times that of other organizations. The objectives are crazy, but when we reach and surpass the targets, we then have a profound sense of accomplishment. With the constant pressure and changes, were also forced to evaluate how we do our own Jobs and how we work as a team. Is it sufficient to accomplish the new objectives? Do we need to look at the challenge differently and try different things? Zhang Yu, Director of Marketing, Taobao. om 4 Communication and transparency Jack will meet with all new employees in a group setting, has meetings with management at least quarterly, and bi-annual staff meetings with all employees. On the intranet, theres a BBS that allows staff to post their thoughts and opinions. Jack often interacts with staff on the BBS in an open and casual way. Echo Lu, Director of Organization and People Development A company that cares about employees During the SARS crisis, because of one suspected case, Alibaba made the decision in one day to have all employees work from home and to pass the required isolation period. As a result of this quick action, we contained any possible outbreak, May. Employees continued to perform Jobs tremendously well at home. We encouraged each other through BBS, phone calls, and e-mails. Lili L, Sales Research Department The most positive thing to result from the SARS crisis was an enormous amount of pride for employees who went through this crisis together. They built a strong bond through experiencing this event together. Its still a much talked about event in the company. In fact, some employees have named the day that staff were sent home to contain the outbreak, Alibaba Day, to commemorate the event. The spirit of Alibaba came alive on that day. Echo Lu, Director of Organization and People Development Leadership and Management Practices that Create the Unique Value Proposition Leadership priority: As CEO, Jack Ma invests most of his time in three areas: vision/ mission/strategy, customers, and employees. By clearly articulating and constantly communicating the vision and mission of the company, he creates the most important foundation in attracting outstanding talent. Dont let your colleague work for you, but work for their dreams! Also, it is important to deeply understand customer needs, not competitors actions. Understanding customer needs can help Alibaba develop concrete business plans and focus on realizing its dream. Finally, it is also critical to realistically assess the competencies of employees. It will decide how fast, how far, and how the company can execute its business strategy and targets in the coming year and next three years. His attentiveness to talent is ref lected in two management practices. First, in the monthly senior management meeting, the first question he always asked is How is your team doing? instead of How many sales has your team made? Second, he always spends a lot of time alking around different business units and departments to smell how the people are doing there. If he smells something wrong, he will immediately talk to the unit head to identify problems and improve the situation. As a matter of fact, all senior executives at VP level and above must develop such smelling skills at Alibaba, to make sure that people are being managed properly. Value alignment: Strong shared values are essential in building a harmonious community where people feel comfortable working together and in ensuring that decisions and behaviors are aligned with company direction. Alibaba has gone the extra mile to make sure that people share the same values. When Alibaba hires people, they look for people with the same smell†people who are optimistic, happy, team oriented, ha rd working, and willing to invest their lives to achieve an ideal. When employees Join the company, they attend at least 10 days of orientation, focusing primarily on the companys vision, mission, and values. When the company assesses the performance of employees, 50% is tied to values and 50% is tied to business results. When employees demonstrate behaviors contrary to company core alues, they are asked to leave no matter how strong their business results are, or very important at Alibaba. People who dont fit into our values cannot survive in the company. Stretch opportunities and challenges: While Alibaba offers different training programs for different levels of employees in both technical and management areas, people grow rapidly by achieving impossible targets year after year. Although the objectives for each year seem high and unreasonable, somehow, we have always managed to accomplish those objectives. With past success we have built up the onfidence that we are able to achieve the objectives, no matter what they are, says Lili Li, of the Sales Research Department. At Alibaba I have been stretched and challenged. I have seen myself grow more than in my previous Jobs, says Zhang Yu from Taobao. com. Indeed, Jack Ma believes that all people have potential that can be unleashed in the right environment, allowing them to stretch and challenge themselves. Ma quoted one of his favorite examples, Several years ago when I looked at the current COO Li Qi, there was no way he looked like a COO. Nowadays, from all different angles, he really looks like a COO. Talent has tremendous potential to grow. However, in order for people to grow under challenges, three elements are important. First is teamwork. Alibaba uses teamwork to complement individual strengths and weaknesses to achieve extraordinary goals. Second are the right people, who enjoy challenges and have fun working. Third are line managers who are accountable for personal growth within their teams. Jack Ma remarked that all line managers at Alibaba are entrusted with two scarce resources (capital and talent) to create value for the company. In addition to ensuring good financial returns, they lso need to create value for their talent in terms of their growth and retention. Thats why Jack Ma also walks around the company to smell how people are being managed in different departments, and why he always asks business leaders how their teams are doing in the monthly CEO review. Wealth creation and sharing: All employees of Alibaba receive stock options, and in effect are owners of the organization. At Alibaba, stock options are not a tool for retention but for reward sharing. From five cents per share to five dollars per share in 6 years, many employees have not only shown tremendous pride in the company but also shared the fruits of their collective success for the well-being of both the society and themselves. Transparency and communication: Communication is an important practice within Alibaba that helps maintain a culture of transparency to all employees. Employees have easy access to all executives, including Jack Ma, through the use of email, BBS, and face-to-face meetings (monthly, quarterly or bi-annual staff meetings). Jack Ma sets a high standard for his executives to follow by regularly interacting with employees. All decisions are transparent, and people can see how they are made. This transparency is getting somewhat lost as we get bigger, but were still given a lot of information when possible. Our trust in the leaders has helped us to overcome this change in transparency. Communication is always good and strong from Sales Research Department. Advice to other CEOs When asked about what advice he would like to offer to other CEOs in China, Jack Ma suggested four: 1) Always believe people are the most important asset, and capital comes second. 2) It is not necessary to find the best talent but the talent that best fits your company. 3) Find and groom the talent inside our company rather than keep searching for talent from outside. The best talent is home-groomed people who fit our company culture. It always takes at least three years before people become fully immersed into our company culture 4) Believe in the potential of talent.