U. S Postal Service

The United States Postal service is one of the most independent state corporations in the US and the only provider of postal services in the states. The organization is one of the few established institutions from the US constitution in 1775 by a decree of the 2nd continental congress (Ferrara, 1990, p. 11). Nonetheless, the state corporation has undergone structural and functional changes especially outlined by the Postal Reorganizational Act.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on U. S Postal Service specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Unique to this institution is its independence from federal funding because since the early eighties, the US postal service has not received state funding. Nonetheless, this fact stands true with the exception of subsidies the state corporation receives with regard to disabled persons and voters residing overseas. Another notable exception is its recent borrowing of funds from the treasury to cover its financial deficits (Herr, 2010). A major cause of its financial troubles has been the constant decline of mail volumes over the past few years because of information technology advancements, prompting the corporation to cut back on a few functional areas to maintain sound financial health. The corporation currently employs approximately 596,000 workers in the US which makes it the second largest employers of civilians after Wal-Mart, although it operates one of the largest fleet of civilian vehicles in the world; considering it has over 218,000 vehicles (Herr, 2010, p. 2). The US postal service currently has a duty to deliver packages to all Americans regardless of their locality and at uniform price; although some of its greatest competitors are private delivery companies. Considering the outstanding success as one of the few state organizations that barely rely on state funding, this study seeks to explore different aspects to this occurrence. More comprehen sively, this study notes that Organizational design and effective control processes in the U.S. Postal  Service have made it an extremely efficient organization since it is the only  government organization that operates on its own revenue, without government  funds. Governance and Organization The Board of governors of the US mail service act as the sole body that regulates rates, policies and procedures of the state corporation because their role is almost comparable to that of a corporate Board of Directors board. Eleven members sit at the board but nine of them are appointed by the president and approved by the senate; after which the nine members appoint the Post master General who operates as the corporation’s Chief Executive Officer and at the same time, acts as the tenth member of the board. When they are complete as ten members of the board, they appoint the eleventh member as the deputy post master general whose role is outlined by the position of the Chief op erating Officer (Herr, 2010).Advertising Looking for research paper on public administration? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Most often than not, the US mail service is often assumed to be a fully owned government corporation but from the above description, the corporation is an independent entity, although established by the executive wing of government. Government influence can therefore be defined through the presidential appointees who control the day to day operations of the corporation. The relation with the government as a quasi governmental agency gives the corporation unique powers because in its operation, it enjoys sovereign immunity, eminent domain powers, the power to strike agreements with several other corporations (overseas) and of course, the privilege of delivering 1st class and 3rd class mails (Herr, 2010, p. 5). To attest to the independence of the corporation, the US Supreme Court through a ruling in 2004 termed the corporation as a separate entity, free from government ownership. This was in reference to a lawsuit to be governed by the Sherman Antitrust Act but which didn’t go through because of the Supreme Court ruling. The Supreme Court also ruled that the corporation is the only organization that has the statutory monopoly of accessing letter boxes under the First Amendment freedom of speech which makes it illegal for persons other than agents of the US mail service to deliver mails to letter boxes marked the â€Å"US Mail service†. With regard to its corporate clients, the US mail service has a unique advisory body called the Mailers’ Technical Advisory Committee which assists the corporation meet the needs of its corporate clients (Herr, 2010). The structures above have greatly ensured efficiency is upheld in the corporation. Monopoly and Overseas Operations A great factor that contributes to the success of the US mail service is the granting of monopoly f or all mail service by the US federal government. According to Government policy, it is illegal to establish a parallel mail service regardless of whether it is public or private; thereby enforcing the monopoly the US Mail service has in America. Moreover, the federal government has given the state corporation powers to determine whether another entity is going to compete with it or not; however, the US mail service has established an exception for other mail service companies to deliver mails which are extremely urgent. In spite of the fact that the core mandate for the US mail service is to provide mail service to all Americans at affordable rates, the dimensions to these provisions are greatly undefined because part of its scope entails many aspects to mail service delivery such as geographical scope, quality of service, frequency of delivery among other dimensions. Despite other mail service companies providing a universal mail service, the US mail service still stands out becau se it provides the same service at very affordable rates.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on U. S Postal Service specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Proponents of the US postal service monopoly identify that since there is a need to justify the affordable rates the corporation gives Americans, the guaranteed monopoly by the state is in place to ensure it sustains its universal operations. This system has been in place for more than ten decades now. This monopoly can be analyzed in two perspectives because it contains the Private express statutes and the Mail box Access rule which also greatly increases the corporation’s potential in providing affordable universal mail service. If for example the Private Express mail service provision were to be done away with and the Universal mail service maintained, then the US mail service would need federal funding to the tune of billions of dollars of tax payersâ €™ money. However, since the universal operating service is quickly changing due to globalization pressures, there is an increasing pressure to change existing policies regarding operations of the Universal mail service. Nonetheless, many economists and professionals are of the opinion that rigid policies and regulations on universal mail service need to be relaxed or the entire service privatized altogether. However, there are still rigid objections to the privatization of mail service in America because many are of the opinion that privatizing the mail service would lock out rural Americans or those from lower classes. Sorting and Delivery Process The sorting and delivery process of the US Mail service is highly automated to increase the efficiency of the organization’s operations. These activities happen at the Process and distribution centers where over 275 such centers have been established countrywide and mails are sorted from a locality of about 200 mile radius (He rr, 2010). At the processing and distribution centers, the mails are usually emptied into hampers through automated techniques then later, a sorting process is initiated to separate large mails from small mails. The initial process had a lot of inconsistencies because it was done manually by stamping postage stamps; thereby missing many inappropriately placed stamps, but now, the corporation uses the Advanced Facer canceller system which is much more efficient (Herr, 2010, p. 20). The mails are therefore categorized into three categories including mails which are fixed by a bar code, mails which have a typed address and mails that have handwritten addresses. The US Mail service now uses machines which have the Optical character technique which is able to read the mails regardless of whether the addresses have been typed or hand written; after which it then sorts the mails into their respective zip codes. Mails which have been written in a hand written format therefore go through the Optical character reader which sorts the mails according to the zip code; later it prints a barcode which goes through the remote bar coding system to be sorted out into respective locations. This system continues into a series of automated processes that pass through the remote encoding centers, and later, fluorescent bar codes and delivery barcodes are imprinted on the mail envelopes before transportation to final destinations.Advertising Looking for research paper on public administration? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More From these processes, we can deduce the fact that the US postal service operations are highly automated to keep up with the demands of the current technological environment which emphasizes on efficiency. This has been one of the core reasons why the US postal service has been able to stay afloat in light of tremendous technological advancement. Keeping it Simple The US postal service has been able to maintain a fairly simple strategic forecast plan which greatly eases its operations into efficient structures of performance. This is in contrast to the opinions held by major organizations regarding multiple strategic objectives for success. Kent Smith, the General Manager (cited in Creelman, 2010) affirms that after factoring in the size of the corporation, putting up a few strategies was ideal for efficiency. He further affirms that â€Å"Simplicity has been vital as we have had to communicate performance to a large number of employees and millions of customers. This requires limit ing the number of top-level goals and metrics, which also provides clarity and focus† (Creelman, 2010, p. 3). As a result of the incorporation of simple strategies, the US mail service has been able to maintain a commendable scorecard regarding overnight delivery of mails. Its success has been compared to IBM Consulting services which was ranked on its 86% service delivery as compared to US mail’s 95% (under the same parameters). Benchmarking and Monitoring Performance The US Postal service has been able to categorize its performance into three portals which act as the criteria to awarding of performance points. Firstly, the organization awards itself points for meeting the organizational goals and secondly for transcending them. There is a third category through which no point allocation is made because it is a non-contributor category and people who fall in this category face disciplinary measures that are suited to their shortcomings. The point allocation is done out of a possible 100 points at three levels which encompass the national level, operational category and individual category (Creelman, 2010). According to the management, establishing such a control measure has been effective because everyday, new measures are proposed and this may cause confusion within the corporation. Smith further explains that: â€Å"To keep the scorecard simple and balanced, the general rule is that if something is added then something must be taken away†¦.this helps people focus on the real value of the measure compared to metrics we already have. This we find to be a much more useful discipline than just adding new measures on an ongoing basis as such complexity would lessen the effectiveness of the framework† (Creelman, 2010, p. 7). Nonetheless, the management confesses that weighting discipline and performance is not an easy task. Smith also explains that: â€Å"We have learnt that in the weighting, if a goal or metric falls below five per cent then people stop paying attention to it. So it’s a challenge to balance the metrics to a level that represents their contribution and ensures that they are seen as important† (Creelman, 2010, p. 7). Collectively, these measures have been able to assist the organization benchmark their performance and improve the overall profitability of the organization. Scorecard Devolution The US mail service has been able to achieve a balanced performance scorecard through its hierarchical managerial structure from the top management to supervisory levels. Key in this strategy has been to customize the process so that the needs of the typical consumer are reflected on the scorecard. For instance, from top managerial level expectations of â€Å"high standard service delivery†, the organization is able to apply the same standards for its overnight and daytime parcels respectively. More weight would therefore fall at the functional level because departmental and operational leve ls would be at the forefront in ensuring logistical strategies are operational, especially to weak areas of service delivery. The company’s management explains that â€Å"The scorecard is narrowly defined for a supervisor, and more expansive as it is applied up the organization through postmaster, district level manager, area manager or vice-president level† (Creelman, 2010, p. 8). Conclusion For more than two decades now, the US postal service has been able to finance its operations without the financial assistance of the federal government. This study identifies that the corporation has been able to achieve this high level of success because of its efficiency and control mechanisms that have ensured the operations of the corporation are up to speed with today’s dynamic business environment. Complimentarily, the corporation has been boosted by existing laws that ensure it receives minimal if any competition at all because of the policies that uphold monopoly. A t the same time, the company’s efforts to automate its operations have greatly improved its efficiency. Its benchmarking and monitoring efforts have also ensured the corporation is in a highly performing condition. These among other complimentary strategies affirm that organizational design and effective control processes in the U.S. Postal  Service have made it an extremely efficient organization to support its independence from federal funding. References Creelman, J. (2010). The United States Postal Service. Web. Ferrara, P. (1990). Free The Mail: Ending The Postal Monopoly. New York: Cato Institute. Herr, P. (2010). U. S. Postal Service: Strategies and Options to Facilitate Progress Toward Financial Viability. New York: DIANE Publishing. This research paper on U. S Postal Service was written and submitted by user Boomer to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Personality Assessment Inventory Essays

Personality Assessment Inventory Essays Personality Assessment Inventory Paper Personality Assessment Inventory Paper Psychological personality assessments have been performed and studied upon the human personality for many years. These theories assessments have been formed as to explain the development of the human personality. With the help of personality assessment instruments that have been designed, it helps to establish solid research as well as the validity of each personality theory. Assessments of personality are conducted through several means: questionnaires, observations, and projective tests. The science of management has had many studies prepared on the topic, however, now studies have been underway on leadership roles. The Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI(r)) can determine if certain personalities are better equipped to serve in a project leadership roll because of certain core set of traits or competencies (Gehring, 2007). MBTI tool sorts for preferences and does not take into account trait, ability, or character. MBTI is different from other psychological instruments and along with that different from other personality test (The Meyers Briggs Foundation, n. d. ). Assessment Inventory The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI(r)) measures an individuals choices for certain tasks. This theory was based off of psychologist Carl Jungs work on archetypes. His theory stated there are differences of temperament guide behavior on four dimensions. Myers-Briggs Type Indicators purpose is helping people understand psychological types. The core of this theory is that random behavior in people is actually very orderly and consistent, this is because of the critical differences people use their judgment and insight. Characteristics over the four dimensions are: Favorite World does the persons attention on the outer world or inner world? This is called Extraversion (E) or Introversion (I). Information does the person take in basic information or do they interpret it and more to it? This is called Sensing (S) or Intuition (N). Decisions does the person make decisions at first look on logic and consistency or at people and circumstances? This is called Thinking (T) or Feeling (F). Structure does the person dealing with the world outside like to get decisions made or like to keep an open mind that new information or special circumstances might appear? This is called Judging (J) or Perceiving (P) (The Meyers Briggs Foundation, n.d. ). The uses of MBTI in an engineering or project manager type of field can help determine what fields of engineering is most suitable for a person. MBTI has shown different work environments attract a certain type of engineer. MBTI has also shown when given to those specific people that those engineers that score high on Feeling and Perceiving are predisposed to leave consulting engineering earlier then those that scored high as a Thinker and Judger. Feeling and Perceiving personalities will join academia, public agencies, regulatory agencies, or research organizations. MBTI has shown individuals Feelings and Extraversion preferences in the engineering field within two years transfer to other fields outside engineering curricula (Culp Smith, 2009). By being able to administer MBTI can cut down on high turn over rates in a work place. It cost time and money to run ads for employment, job training, and paperwork. The purpose of choosing MBTI is individuals are geared differently at perceiving information and how they use the information they receive (Chae et. , al. ,2003). With keeping this in mind it takes certain type of personalities to work in the field of engineering and/or being a project manager. Assessing this information gives a better understanding of the person from whom you will be or might be hiring. Analyze Selected Assessment with Personality Theories Carl Rogers was a significant America psychologist and one of the originators of the concern for people method to psychology. Rogers used a nondirective method of helping the individual. He did not ask questions, he just listened to what the individual had to say. He accepted the individual for who he or she was (Kirschenbaum, 2004). Even though MBTI is a questionnaire there is no administrator asking the questions. Only an administrator who scores the questionnaire; the individual is accepted no matter the final scoring of the questionnaire. Carl Rogers approach and the MBTI both help individuals see who they are and possible areas of improvement. Research Findings The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI(r)) assessment is a science of psychological measurement questionnaire designed to measure preferences in how individuals perceive and make decisions. Myers and Briggs preferences were infer from Carl Gustav Jungs typological theories published in his 1921 book called Psychological Types (The Meyers Briggs Foundation, n. d. ). Myers and Briggs started constructing the indicator during World War II. It was Myers and Briggs belief, knowledge of personality preferences would help woman entering the industrial workforce for the first time. This assessment would indicate what type of job(s) women would feel most comfortable and successful in. This questionnaire grew into what is now known as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. The MBTI concentrates on standard populations and accentuates the significance of naturally taking place distinctions (The Meyers Briggs Foundation, n. d. ). This assessment performs greatly since it can be taken by any individual from any background and come up with a career field more in tune with the individuals personality style. It executes completely in terms of the personality assessment of target population. In regards to target population the MBTI it used frequently in areas of career counseling, team building, group dynamics, professional development, leadership training, engineering, and project management. As in project management, results clearly indicate that there is a set of leadership traits that, if the individual possesses there is greater probability for the project to be a success. Furthermore, MBTI has an instrument that can be used in selecting project leaders who naturally possess project leader traits (Gehring, 2007).

A Guide to Shanghainese

A Guide to Shanghainese Since Shanghai is in the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), the official language of the city is standard Mandarin Chinese, also known as  Putonghua. However, the traditional language of the Shanghai region is Shanghainese, which is a dialect of Wu Chinese which is not mutually intelligible with Mandarin Chinese. Shanghainese is spoken by about 14 million people. It has retained its cultural significance for the Shanghai region, despite the introduction of Mandarin Chinese as the official language in 1949. For many years, Shanghainese was banned from primary and secondary schools, with the result that many young residents of Shanghai do not speak the language. Recently, however, there has been a movement to protect the language and to reintroduce it into the education system. Shanghai Shanghai is the largest city in the PRC, with a population of more than 24 million people. It is a major cultural and financial center and an important port for container shipments. The Chinese characters for this city are ä ¸Å Ã¦ µ ·, which is pronounced ShnghÇŽi. The first character ä ¸Å  (shng) means on, and the second character æ µ · (hÇŽi) means ocean. The name ä ¸Å Ã¦ µ · (ShnghÇŽi) adequately describes the location of this city, since it is a port city on the mouth of the Yangtze River by the East China Sea. Mandarin vs Shanghainese Mandarin and Shanghainese are distinct languages which are mutually unintelligible. For example, there are 5 tones in Shanghainese versus only 4 tones in Mandarin. Voiced initials are used in Shanghainese, but not in Mandarin. Also, changing tones affects both words and phrases in Shanghainese, while it only affects words in Mandarin. Writing Chinese characters are used to write Shanghainese. The written language is one of the most important factors in unifying the various Chinese cultures, since it can be read by most Chinese, regardless of their spoken language or dialect. The primary exception to this is the split between traditional and simplified Chinese characters. Simplified Chinese characters were introduced by the PRC in the 1950s, and can differ greatly from the traditional Chinese characters still used in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and many overseas Chinese communities. Shanghai, as part of the PRC, uses simplified characters. Sometimes Chinese characters are used for their Mandarin sounds to write Shanghainese. This type of Shanghainese writing is seen on Internet blog posts and chat rooms as well as in some Shanghainese textbooks. Decline of Shanghainese From the early 1990s, the PRC banned Shanghainese from the education system, with the result that many of the young residents of Shanghai no longer speak the language fluently. Because the younger generation of Shanghai residents has been educated in Mandarin Chinese, the Shanghainese they speak is often mixed with Mandarin words and expressions. This type of Shanghainese is quite different from the language that older generations speak, which has created fears that real Shanghainese is a dying language. Modern Shanghainese In recent years, a movement has started to try to preserve the Shanghai language by promoting its cultural roots. The Shanghai government is sponsoring educational programs, and there is a movement to reintroduce Shanghainese language learning from kindergarten through to university. Interest in preserving Shanghainese is strong, and many young people, even though they speak a mixture of Mandarin and Shanghainese, see Shanghainese as a badge of distinction. Shanghai, as one of the most important cities of the PRC, has important cultural and financial ties with the rest of the world. The city is using those ties to promote Shanghai culture and the Shanghainese language.

Impacts of Information Technology Systems on Hotels Essay

Impacts of Information Technology Systems on Hotels - Essay Example ation technology systems enhance customer experience, increase revenues, differentiate brands, improve cost effectiveness and finally increase security. The recommendations include: embracing and implementing information technology systems that reflect the current trends in the global business environment and the need to have the staff in the industry compliment the information provided over the internet. The hotel industry, and in extension the entire hospitality industry, has significantly evolved over the years as it strives to meet the emerging customer needs in the modern digital era. This has been prompted by the emerging technological innovations that currently characterize daily life in almost all spheres. In recognition of these changes, the hotel industry has kept up the pace with modern times by embracing and integrating technology as a key component of hotel operations. Currently, hotels operate real-time service delivery through efficient websites, booking systems and fully automated management systems. Indeed, the Hotel Investment Conference convened in Durban identified technology as the driver of change and innovation in this broad industry (Reynard, 2012). The benefits of technology-based solutions not only accrue to the hotel operators, but also to the customers served by the industry. This paper seeks to answers the question: should a hotel invest in Smartphone-bas ed check-in and information systems? The major technological innovations that have changed the trends in the hotel industry are largely driven by the globalized business environment. As a result of globalization and increase in international trade, traveling and efficient international links are becoming an increasingly important aspect of the global hotel industry. This implies that the technology systems should offer global solutions so as to cater for the varied needs of customers in different locations. Secondly, the unprecedented growth and relevance of social media platforms has

Organization Theory and Its Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Organization Theory and Its Analysis - Essay Example In attempting to create a science study of organizations, the major focus has been placed on identifying general behaviours in work place situations and related them to all enterprises, despite their different nature. In particular proponents of this concept have paid little attention to differences among organization, those that are subjected to market forces and those that are not. (Hussey& Hussey, 1997, pp 5-45) The organization theory can determine the organization culture, which in turn determines the success or failure of an organization to achieve its stated mission and objectives. Culture of an organization defines an organization since it a collective beliefs and ideology shared by the employees working in an organization. Kotter (1992, pp 86-99) also clearly defines organizational culture as "the values, beliefs and norms expressed in actual practices and behaviours of the organization's members." To Kotter (1992, pp 86-99), culture is the main motivating force that ensures the success of an organization; culture also determines and represents organizational values. A paradigm offers a conceptual structure for considering and making good judgment about the social world. Burrell and Morgan (1979, pp 1-37), states that "to be located in a particular paradigm is to view the world in a particular way." The importance of paradigms is that they outline the way in which we view the world and at the same time reinforce the view of those around us. Philosophical assumptions and paradigms In organizational research the word paradigm includes three levels. The philosophical, which is fundamental beliefs concerning the world in which we live in, the social level, where guiding principle do exist as to how a social researcher should perform their activities and lastly, the technical level. This includes the processes and techniques ideally accepted when carrying out research. Burrell and Morgan (1979, pp 1-37), points out that at philosophical level, organizational theories differ in five sets of assumptions. These are 1. Subjectivist /objectivist dimension 2. Ontological, 3. Epistemological, 4. Axiological, 5. Methodological assumptions and also assumptions in relation to human nature These assumptions ooze through from top to lower levels and impact the research process. Burrell & Morgan paradigms Over the past two decades Burrell, G has made a several noteworthy contributions in regard to the development of a fundamental organization theory. As pertaining Sociological paradigms and also organizational analysis (co-authored with Morgan G in 1979) Burrell drafted a position for radical "structuralism and humanist" work which has provided legality for viewpoints critical of the "managerialist" direction of many organization theory. However times change, and so do theoretical modes change. "Pandemonium" is Burrell's most recent effort to create a drastic organization theory, in the outline of a "retro-organization theory". (Burrell and Morgan, 1979, pp 1-37) When looking at subjective-objective a dimension that is used to separate radical humanism and interpretive sociology and "radical structuralism and Functionalist sociology" Burrell and Morgan (1979, pp 1-37), outlines four philosophical aspects that distinguish objectivist from subjective studies. These aspects are 1. Ontology 2. Epistemology 3. Human nature 4. Methodology Ontology According to Burrell and

islam :: essays research papers

The Founder   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Muhammad was born in Mecca, Arabia, in AD 570. His father died before he was born and his mother died when he was only a child. He was first raised by his grandfather and later by his uncle Abu Talib. He lived with a desert tribe for a while and learned how to shepherd the flocks. At age 25, he began to serve a wealthy widow aged 40 by the name Khadija. They got married and had two sons and four daughters. The two sons died early. One of his daughters married his uncle Abu Talib’s son Ali.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Arabia at that time was under bloody civil wars, political corruptions, and oppression of the poor. Muhammad felt the cal of Allah to preach against the present system. He began preaching in AD 610 but faced resistance from his own people. They threatened to kill him. In AD 622, he moved north to Medina. He soon gained some followers. Those accepted Muhammad as the messenger of God were called Muslims which means â€Å"one who submits† to God. In AD 630 Muhammad and his followers came back to Mecca and took control of it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Today, the cities of Mecca and Medina are significant in the Islam religion. The year 622 which Muhammad moved from Mecca to Medina is also significant.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Muhammad died in AD 632. His elected successor, Abu Bakr, declared the jihad or holy war from Medina and Mecca to win the world from Spain to India. When they reached Europe, they were defeated by Charles Martel’s troops at the Battle of Pointiers or known as the Battle of Tours in 732. Faced with opposition in Europe, they turned eastward to Central Asia, India, and Indonesia. Today, Islam is the major religion in the Middle East, North Africa, Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, and Indonesia.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Although Muslims respect and honor Muhammad, they do not worship him. He is considered to be one of the prophets or messengers of God along with Moses, Abraham, and Jesus. The Teachings   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Islamic book is called the Koran which means the â€Å"recitation.† Parts of the Koran resembles the Bible especially, the Apocrypha and the Talmud. The book has many stories of the Old Testament prophets and Jesus whom was called the â€Å"Word of God.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Many tenets in Islam are identical to those of Christianity. The Koran teaches the absolute unity of the power of God. It teaches that God is merciful and just.

Second Foundation 13. Lady

Arcadia felt triumphant. How life had changed since Pelleas Anthor had stuck his silly face up against her window – and all because she had the vision and courage to do what needed to be done. Here she was on Kalgan. She had been to the great Central Theater – the largest in the Galaxy – and seen in person some of the singing stars who were famous even in the distant Foundation. She had shopped all on her own along the Flowered Path, fashion center of the gayest world in Space. And she had made her own selections because Homir just didn't know anything about it at all. The saleswomen raised no objections at all to long, shiny dresses with those vertical sweeps that made her look so tall – and Foundation money went a long, long way. Homir had given her a ten-credit bill and when she changed it to Kalganian â€Å"Kalganids,† it made a terribly thick sheaf. She had even had her hair redone – sort of half-short in back, with two glistening curls over each temple. And it was treated so that it looked goldier than ever; it just shone. But this, this was best of all. To be sure, the Palace of Lord Stettin wasn't as grand and lavish as the theaters, or as mysterious and historical as the old palace of the Mule – of which, so far they had only glimpsed the lonely towers in their air flight across the planet – but, imagine, a real Lord. She was rapt in the glory of it. And not only that. She was actually face to face with his Mistress. Arcadia capitalized the word in her mind, because she knew the role such women had played in history; knew their glamour and power. In fact, she had often thought of being an all-powerful and glittering creature, herself, but somehow mistresses weren't in fashion at the Foundation just then and besides, her father probably wouldn't let her, if it came to that. Of course, the Lady Callia didn't quite come up to Arcadia's notion of the part. For one thing, she was rather plump, and didn't look at all wicked and dangerous. just sort of faded and near-sighted. Her voice was high, too, instead of throaty, and- Callia said, â€Å"Would you like more tea, child?† â€Å"I'll have another cup, thank you, your grace,† – or was it your highness? Arcadia continued with a connoisseur's condescension, â€Å"Those are lovely pearls you are wearing, my lady.† (On the whole, â€Å"my lady† seemed best.) â€Å"Oh? Do you think so?† Callia seemed vaguely pleased. She removed them and let them swing milkily to and fro. â€Å"Would you like them? You can have them, if you like.† â€Å"Oh, my-You really mean-† She found them in her hand, then, repelling them mournfully, she said, â€Å"Father wouldn't like it.† â€Å"He wouldn't like the pearls? But they're quite nice pearls.† â€Å"He wouldn't like my taking them, I mean. You're not supposed to take expensive presents from other people, he says.† â€Å"You aren't? But†¦ I mean, this was a present to me from Poo†¦ from the First Citizen. Was that wrong, do you suppose?† Arcadia reddened. â€Å"I didn't mean-â€Å" But Callia had tired of the subject. She let the pearls slide to the ground and said, â€Å"You were going to tell me about the Foundation. Please do so right now.† And Arcadia was suddenly at a loss. What does one say about a world dull to tears. To her, the Foundation was a suburban town, a comfortable house, the annoying necessities of education, the uninteresting eternities of a quiet life. She said, uncertainly, â€Å"It's just like you view in the book-films, I suppose.† â€Å"Oh, do you view book-films? They give me such a headache when I try. But do you know I always love video stories about your Traders – such big, savage men. It's always so exciting. Is your friend, Mr. Munn, one of them? He doesn't seem nearly savage enough. Most of the Traders had beards and big bass voices, and were so domineering with women – don't you think so?† Arcadia smiled, glassily. â€Å"That's just part of history, my lady. I mean, when the Foundation was Young, the Traders were the pioneers pushing back the frontiers and bringing civilization to the rest of the Galaxy. We learned all about that in school. But that time has passed. We don't have Traders any more; just corporations and things.† â€Å"Really? What a shame. Then what does Mr. Munn do? I mean, if he's not a Trader.† â€Å"Uncle Homir's a librarian.† Callia put a hand to her lips and tittered. â€Å"You mean he takes care of book-films. Oh, my! It seems like such a silly thing for a grown man to do.† â€Å"He's a very good librarian, my lady. It is an occupation that is very highly regarded at the Foundation.† She put down the little, iridescent teacup upon the milky-metaled table surface. Her hostess was all concern. â€Å"But my dear child. I'm sure I didn't mean to offend you. He must be a very intelligent man. I could see it in his eyes as soon as I looked at him. They were so†¦ so intelligent. And he must be brave, too, to want to see the Mule's palace.† â€Å"Brave?† Arcadia's internal awareness twitched. This was what she was waiting for. Intrigue! Intrigue! With great indifference, she asked, staring idly at her thumbtip: â€Å"Why must one be brave to wish to see the Mule's palace?† â€Å"Didn't you know?† Her eyes were round, and her voice sank. â€Å"There's a curse on it. When he died, the Mule directed that no one ever enter it until the Empire of the Galaxy is established. Nobody on Kalgan would dare even to enter the grounds.† Arcadia absorbed that. â€Å"But that's superstition-â€Å" â€Å"Don't say that,† Callia was distressed. â€Å"Poochie always says that. He says it's useful to say it isn't though, in order to maintain his hold over the people. But I notice he's never gone in himself. And neither did Thallos, who was First Citizen before Poochie.† A thought struck her and she was all curiosity again: â€Å"But why does Mr. Munn want to see the Palace?† And it was here that Arcadia's careful plan could be put into action. She knew well from the books she had read that a ruler's mistress was the real power behind the throne, that she was the very well-spring of influence. Therefore, if Uncle Homir failed with Lord Stettin – and she was sure he would – she must retrieve that failure with Lady Callia. To be sure, Lady Callia was something of a puzzle. She didn't seem at all bright. But, well, all history proved- She said, â€Å"There's a reason, my lady – but will you keep it in confidence?† â€Å"Cross my heart,† said Callia, making the appropriate gesture on the soft, billowing whiteness of her breast. Arcadia's thoughts kept a sentence ahead of her words. â€Å"Uncle Homir is a great authority on the Mule, you know. He's written books and books about it, and he thinks that all of Galactic history has been changed since the Mule conquered the Foundation.† â€Å"Oh, my.† â€Å"He thinks the Seldon Plan-â€Å" Callia clapped her hands. â€Å"I know about the Seldon Plan. The videos about the Traders were always all about the Seldon Plan. It was supposed to arrange to have the Foundation win all the time. Science had something to do with it, though I could never quite see how. I always get so restless when I have to listen to explanations. But you go right ahead, my dear. It's different when you explain. You make everything seem so clear.† Arcadia continued, â€Å"Well, don't you see then that when the Foundation was defeated by the Mule, the Seldon Plan didn't work and it hasn't worked since. So who will form the Second Empire?† â€Å"The Second Empire?† â€Å"Yes, one must be formed some day, but how? That's the problem, you see. And there's the Second Foundation.† â€Å"The Second Foundation?† She was quite completely lost. ‘Yes, they're the planners of history that are following in the footsteps of Seldon. They stopped the Mule because he was premature, but now, they may be supporting Kalgan.† â€Å"Why?† â€Å"Because Kalgan may now offer the best chance of being the nucleus for a new Empire.† Dimly, Lady Callia seemed to grasp that. â€Å"You mean Poochie is going to make a new Empire.† â€Å"We can't tell for sure. Uncle Homir thinks so, but hell have to see the Mule's records to find out.† â€Å"It's all very complicated,† said Lady Callia, doubtfully. Arcadia gave up. She had done her best. *** Lord Stettin was in a more-or-less savage humor. The session with the milksop from the Foundation had been quite unrewarding. It had been worse; it had been embarrassing. To be absolute ruler of twenty-seven worlds, master of the Galaxy's greatest military machine, owner of the universe's most vaulting ambition – and left to argue nonsense with an antiquarian. Damnation! He was to violate the customs of Kalgan, was he? To allow the Mule's palace to be ransacked so that a fool could write another book? The cause of science! The sacredness of knowledge! Great Galaxy! Were these catchwords to be thrown in his face in all seriousness? Besides – and his flesh prickled slightly – there was the matter of the curse. He didn't believe in it; no intelligent man could. But if he was going to defy it, it would have to be for a better reason than any the fool had advanced. â€Å"What do you want?† he snapped, and Lady Callia cringed visibly in the doorway. â€Å"Are you busy?† â€Å"Yes. I am busy.† â€Å"But there's nobody here, Poochie. Couldn't I even speak to you for a minute?† â€Å"Oh, Galaxy! What do you want? Now hurry.† Her words stumbled. â€Å"The little girl told me they were going into the Mule's palace. I thought we could go with her. It must be gorgeous inside.† â€Å"She told you that, did she? Well, she isn't and we aren't. Now go tend your own business. I've had about enough of you.† â€Å"But, Poochie, why not? Aren't you going to let them? The little girl said that you were going to make an Empire!† â€Å"I don't care what she said- What was that?† He strode to Callia, and caught her firmly above the elbow, so that his fingers sank deeply into the soft flesh, â€Å"What did she tell you?† â€Å"You're hurting me. I can't remember what she said, if you're going to look at me like that.† He released her, and she stood there for a moment, rubbing vainly at the red marks. She whimpered, â€Å"The little girl made me promise not to tell.† â€Å"That's too bad. Tell me! Now!† â€Å"Well, she said the Seldon Plan was changed and that there was another Foundation somewheres that was arranging to have you make an Empire. That's all. She said Mr. Munn was a very important scientist and that the Mule's palace would have proof of all that. That's every bit of what she said. Are you angry?† But Stettin did not answer. He left the room, hurriedly, with Callia's cowlike eyes staring mournfully after him. Two orders were sent out over the official seal of the First Citizen before the hour was up. One had the effect of sending five hundred ships of the line into space on what were officially to be termed as â€Å"war games.† The other had the effect of throwing a single man into confusion. Homir Munn ceased his preparations to leave when that second order reached him. It was, of course, official permission to enter the palace of the Mule. He read and reread it with anything but joy. But Arcadia was delighted. She knew what had happened. Or, at any rate, she thought she did.