Monday, January 27, 2020

The Malaysian Egovernment Msc Flagship Application

The Malaysian Egovernment Msc Flagship Application My E.G Services Berhad is a concessionaire for the Malaysian E-Government MSC Flagship Application and plays the role as services provider for the E-Services component essentially provides the electronic link between the Government and citizens/businesses. Visit the MyEg (http://www.myeg.com.my/) web site and discuss on the plus and minus point of the website. Suggest your opinion on how to overcome the minus point that you have mention in question 1 to improve the MyEg services Table of content Introduction Governments in the region of the world are implementation electronic government. In every area of the world from upward countries to developed ones state and local governments are putting critical information online, automating once unwieldy processes and interacting electronically with their citizens. E-Government shortly known for electronic government, also known as e-gov, digital government, online government, or connected government is digital contact between a government and citizens (G2C), government and businesses/commerce/ecommerce (G2B), and between government agencies (G2G), Government-to-Religious Movements/Church (G2R), Government-to-Households (G2H). There digital communication consists of governance, information and communication technology (ICT), business process re-engineering (BPR), and e-citizen at all levels of government city, state/Provence, national, and international For question 1 it as is talk about My E.G Services Berhad is a concessionaire for the Malaysian E-Government MSC Flagship Application and plays the role as services provider for the E-Services component essentially provides the electronic link between the Government and citizens/businesses. It said to Visit the MyEg (http://www.myeg.com.my/) web site to find on the plus and minus point of the website. Furthermore question is discussed about how to overcome the minus point to mention in the question 1 to improve the MyEg services. Question 1 My E.G Services Berhad is a concessionaire for the Malaysian E-Government MSC Flagship Application and plays the role as services provider for the E-Services component essentially provides the electronic link between the Government and citizens/businesses. Visit the MyEg (http://www.myeg.com.my/) web site and discuss on the plus and minus point of the website. Explanation of question1 My E.G. Services Berhad My E.G. Services Berhad is a concessionaire for the Malaysian E-Government MSC Flagship Application. The task as a Service Provider for the E-Services factor basically provides the electronic link between the Government and citizens/businesses. Through the portal, it offers the Malaysian public a single point of contact between the Government and the citizens it serves. This portal enable Malaysians to energetically cooperate with various agencies within the Federal, State and the Local Government machinery providing services range from information searches to licence applications. To make available the services which involve physical incidence/interaction, MyEG has set up Approved Test Taking Sites located throughout the country. We believe that through this approach, we can develop the relationship and quality of interaction between the Government of Malaysia and its citizen. E Government Overview The Electronic Government scheme was launched to direct the country into the Information Age. It will improve how the government progress internally, as well as how it delivers services to the citizens of Malaysia. It seeks to develop the convenience, accessibility and value of relations within citizens and businesses. Furthermore, it makes develop information flows and processes within government to recover the speed and quality of policy development, organization and enforcement. To increase speed the objectives of Vision 2020, a pathway has already been defined through seven modern Flagship Applications. These applications are engineered to start the MSC scheme and create a multimedia heaven for inventive producers and users of multimedia technology. For local and foreign companies work with several government agencies to increase the socio-economic development of Malaysia. The Multimedia Super Corridor offers a Malaysian scheme for the Information Age. The Flagship Applications are: Electronic Government Multipurpose Card Smart School Telehealth RD Clusters E-Business Technopreneur Development E Government The visualization of Electronic Government is an idea for government, businesses and community working together for the advantage of Malaysia and all of its society. The visualization focuses on in effect and professionally delivering services from the government to the citizens of Malaysia enable the government to develop into more reactive to the needs of its citizens. The 7 pilot projects of the Electronic Government Flagship Application are as follows; Project Monitoring System (SPP II) Human Resource Management Information System (HRMIS) Generic Office Environment (GOE) Electronic Procurement (EP) Electronic Services (E-Services) Electronic Labour Exchange (ELX) E-Syariah Plus and minus point of the E Government website The My E.G. Services Berhad wants to give enhanced government service at less cost so it can be a better place to live and do business. Electronic government (e-government) is a great, forward-thinking way for business to do this. By using e-government, citizens and companies can more easily do business with My Government and get what they need to make smart, conversant decisions. A website does not reach the full population, but only the part of it that has access to the web. It is specially a difficulty in increasing countries, where access to the internet is still often limited to a very small part of the population. Websites should thus be consider as substitute means of communication, and traditional methods of exchanging information should also be offered and maintain, at least until they become unnecessary as was recently the case with the telegraph. To citizens More Convenience Every person expects more military services online. If don ´t want to wait in a online for an hour to expend five minutes at a counter. We can save the time and power by putting those service on the Internet. It don ´t have to ignore work to do during business government hours and can do business anytime have we want, anywhere. Better Customer Service The rarely require help with usual transactions. E-government lets agencies  focus on things that usually require help with. These include: Explaining complex policies   Translating English for people who don ´t speak it well Providing assistance for disabled or otherwise challenged people Providing up-to-date news. More Information Access Not all decision matter is made between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. during a weekday. If it is looking for a house, we may want information about an area during a weekend. E-government gives 24-hour access to this and other information. By using the Internet also makes decision the information easier. By using a usual look and feel, it can know where to find particular types of information on a Web page, such as contact information.   If have a question and you don ´t know which agency to ask, use the new and enhanced search function.   The search function will find state Web pages that have information about the question. It can look throughout just those Web sites to get the answers. To business Lower Costs E-government saves companies money. Whenever the human resources must drive to a government office or wait in a line, it loses dynamic time from them. Lost productivity is washed-out money. If the staffs need more than one trip, then each trip is spent money. Having services on the Internet gets relieve of the driving time and time spent waiting in a line.   To the state Decreased Cost State Web sites will be managed by a substance executive tool.   This tool will make easier to make changes on the agency Web pages.   It is in revolve, reduces the time and energy required to keep agency Web pages up-to-date. E-Government series also upgraded hardware and software required to create and update state Web sites.   It decrease licensing fees and increases the facility of the state to continue the Web sites.   Furthermore, E-Government series is providing a great Web tool to part the most universal agency.   It means that agencies no longer have to find their own answers to their online needs.   Improvement be done once when it is available to all agencies.   It reduces costs for the state and for the taxpayer. Agencies could have extra requirements to be meeting by the platform.  It provides the information and skills to generate applications.   An application is developed for one agency others will be able to use. It allocation reduces costs for the state and for the taxpayer. Increased Efficiency Online transactions are more rapidly than face-to-face transactions. Paper handing out is automatic, reducing time and the risk of religious errors. It allow state agencies to focus on provide better service for the customer. (http://www.das.state.or.us/DAS/EISPD/EGOV/benefits.shtml) Question 2 2. Suggest your opinion on how to overcome the minus point that you have mention in question 1 to improve the MyEg services Explanation of question 2 To overcome the minus point that have mention in question 1 to improve the MyEg services is refer to many different plus and minus point things of the website. Therefore, be sure to found a obvious idea for My Eg services. The reason of government is to more the shared goals of a people. Consequently, commence the setting up of progression by establishing a broad vision of e-government that is shared by all stakeholders (citizens, businesses, officials, civil society groups and others). The wide idea should flow from the large goals or concerns of a people. Here are too many probable reasons and goals for e-government. However, there are wide categories of goals that are generally pursued by societies, including for example: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ improving services to citizens; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ improving the productivity (and efficiency) of government agencies; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ strengthening the legal system and law enforcement; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ promoting priority economic sectors; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ improving the quality of life for disadvantaged communities; and à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ strengthening good governance and broadening public participation. Contained by each sort, different objectives might appear. It known this, each societys visualization is supposed to also be accompanied by a short list of main concern areas for the e-government program..A different people, however, strength focus its objective on increasing itself into the business hub in its county. Its e-government idea might then highlight facilitating commerce and services for businesses online. Possibly improving the investment regime or tax system could be priority sectors in this container How should plan and manage E-government. Efficient organization is essential for the success of e-government, as it is for all government or business operations. Individual able to distribute a project on time and within budget, manage effectively among government agencies and oversee private segment partners all depends on able management. Before moving forward with an e-government project, set up management mechanisms at both the national/state level and the project level. Consider establishing e-government teams within government. MyEg services initiatives classically involve large commitments of resources, planning and personnel. There are very complicated to control without defined teams to manage the e-government process from start to finish. For example, e-government activities within a area should be institutionalized to make sure long-term strength and support of the new standard. Such as teams must be provided enough budget, human resources and administrative support to carry out their duties. Ensure the project management team has sufficient authority. Without authority from political leaders, the officials responsible for e-government completion cannot ensure plans are carried out. Formal legal authority to oversee e-government implementation is also needed. Consider creating a central e-government agency within a ministry or as an independent body. Create teams responsible for project success at both the political level and project management level. Conclusion As a conclusion, first question on the assignment can be consider as easy to do and give us a lot of understanding because by finding about a concessionaire for the Malaysian E-Government MSC Flagship Application and discuss about the role of service provider for the E-Services and although it talk about to visit the MyEg website link to discuss on the plus and minus point of the website. The first question and second question provides many acknowledgements to the students because by doing the question, student is learning about that allows the user to login to the MyEg website to know more about this website like driving license renewal, auto insurance renewal, road tax renewal, road tax delivery status, LDL application, PDRM summon alert, TOPUP prepaid account, maid permit renewal and road tax receipt. By doing the assignment, students can realize E-government played an important role in technology world. For those that always support and help us in this assignment, we want to say thank you very much. (http://www1.worldbank.org/publicsector/egov/) (http://www.itu.int/wsis/docs/background/themes/egov/pacific_council.pdf)

Saturday, January 18, 2020

Contemporary Approaches Essay

Explain how the four contemporary approaches to management are different from one another. Define â€Å"open systems† and describe the internal, competitive, and macro environments of an organization. Lastly, indicate whether the four contemporary approaches to management are relevant in these three environments and why or why not. You may research external sources to support your answer. Cite any external sources used. Sociotechnical Theory suggests that organizations are effective when their employees have the right tools, training, and knowledge to make products and services that are valued by customers. Sociotechnical promotes the use of teamwork and semiautonomous work groups as important factors for creating efficient production systems. They believed that workers should be given the chance to correct problems at an early stage of production rather than wait until products were finished creating waste. Quantitative Management helps a manager make a decision by developing mathematical models of the problem. Computers facilitated the development of specific quantitative methods. It included techniques such as: statistical decision theory, linear programming, queuing theory, simulation, forecasting, inventory modeling, network modeling, and break even analysis. Despite having all these methods, many managers will use results that are consistent with their experience,  institution, and judgment. Many managers have not been trained to use these techniques. Organizational Behavior studies and identifies management activities that promote employee effectiveness through an understanding of the complex nature of individual, group, and organizational processes. Organizational behavior draws from a variety of disciplines, including psychology and sociology, to explain the behavior of people on the job. Systems Theory organizations are open systems, dependent on inputs from the outside world, such as raw materials, human resources, and capital. They transform these inputs into outputs that meet the market’s needs for goods and services. The environment reacts to the outputs through a feedback loop; this feedback provides input for the next cycle of the system. System Theory also emphasizes that an organization is one system in a series of subsystems. â€Å"Open Systems†/ organizations are open systems meaning they are affected by and in turn affect their external environments. They use inputs like goods and services from their environment to create goods and services that are outputs to their environment. Open System is a system that interacts with its environment by exchanging energy, materials, and information with an aim of system renewal and growth. A feature of an open system is negative entropy, where the open system continues to import energy, information and resources to function while becoming more heterogeneous and complex.- http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/open-system-in-management-definition-example-quiz.html#lesson. Internal Environment is the conditions, entities, events, and factors within an organization that influence its activities and choices, particularly the behavior of the employees. Factors that are frequently considered part of the internal environment include the organization’s mission statement, leadership styles, and its organizational culture.   Competitive Environment is the immediate environment surrounding a firm; includes suppliers, customers, rival and the like. This includes the consisting of rivalry among existing competitors and the threat of new entrants, the threat of substitute and complementary products, and the bargaining power of suppliers and buyers. Macro environment is the general environment that includes governments, economic conditions, and other

Friday, January 10, 2020

The Worlds Population Is Increasing

The World’s Population is increasing, but not evenly all over the world Aim: To find how the average line of latitude for the world’s largest cities has changed since 1950. Hypothesis: In the earlier years, the cities with the highest populations will be in HICs because these countries would have been the most developed, and these countries would have also been in the ‘rich north’. Introduction: As the world continues to develop, populations continue to increase as well. However, the populations of each country do not grow at the same rate.Some populations are rapidly increasing, whereas some country’s populations are barely increasing. The point of this investigation was to collect data for the top 10 most populated cities in 1950, 2000 and 2012. After this was done, the data could then be plotted onto a map, and trend lines could be drawn which then allowed us to discover patterns. Method: 1. Collect data (preferably from the same source) of the to p ten biggest cities in 1950, 2000 and 2012. 2. Plot all of this data onto a map. Make sure all of the data for each country is plotted in a different color. . Write the rank and the population under each city, and make sure you round the population to one decimal place. 4. Once all of the data has been plotted, using the same color for each year, plot a line of best fit between all of the points. Your line should be horizontal, and completely straight. 5. After you have plotted 3 lines, examine all patterns, and record them. Analysis: After analyzing the data, some patterns were discovered. In 1950, the top ten most populated cities were as an average, in the rich north. There were wo cities in North America, and 4 cities in Europe. Most of these cities were in High Income Countries. The most populated city with 12. 5 million people was New York City. In 2000, most of the cities were in the ‘poor south’. There were only 2 cities (both in the USA) that weren’t in the south. All of the other cities were in LICs and MICs. In 2012, New York (which is the 4th most populated city) is the only city in the North. All of the other cities are in India, and East Asia. However, Mexico City, Sao Paulo and New York city are the only exceptions.Most of these cities are in LIC and MICs. Conclusion: After completing our investigation, it can be concluded that in 1950, almost all of the cities were in the rich north and were in MICs and HICs. Buenos Aires, Calcutta, Shanghai and Tokyo were the only cities that were in the ‘poor south’. In this period, these countries were beginning to start developing. In 2000, the average line where most of the cities were was a little north of Cuba. Most of the cities could be found in East Asia and South America, most of them in MICs and LIC’s.In 2012 the average line then moved north again, bisecting South Carolina. 7 of the 10 cities were in the Eastern Hemisphere in the poor South. Only Mexico City , Sao Paulo and New York City were in the eastern hemisphere. Most of the cities with the highest populations are in MIC’s or LIC’s. This could be because many people work in these cities, for example in Tokyo, however a more realistic answer would have to do with the rate of development. These cities that these countries are in are rapidly developing, and more and more people are migrating into the city to work.Evaluation: We could have altered this investigation to make our data, and maps more organized and presentable. For example we should have had all of the populations on one point, with the year and the population next to it. This would have saved a lot of space on our map, and made it more organized. All of our data should have been collected from the same website. All of the data were only estimates. Therefore, we should have used the same people who made the estimates for 1950 and 2000, however it was very hard to find this.

Thursday, January 2, 2020

How Did Jackie Robinson Make History

On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson made history when he stepped onto the Brooklyn Dodgers Ebbets Field as the first African American to play in a Major League Baseball game. The controversial decision to put a black man on a major league team prompted a barrage of criticism and initially led to Robinsons mistreatment by fans and fellow players alike. Robinson endured that discrimination and rose above it, going on to win Rookie of the Year in 1947 as well as the National League MVP Award in 1949. Hailed as a civil rights pioneer, Robinson was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Robinson was also the first African-American inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Dates: January 31, 1919 - October 24, 1972 Also Known As: Jack Roosevelt Robinson Childhood in Georgia Jackie Robinson was the fifth child born to sharecropper parents Jerry Robinson and Mallie McGriff Robinson in Cairo, Georgia. His ancestors had worked as slaves on the same property that Jackies parents farmed. Jerry left the family to look for work in Texas when Jackie was six months old with the promise that he would send for his family once he was settled... but Jerry Robinson never returned. In 1921, Mallie received word that Jerry had died, but could never substantiate that rumor. After struggling to keep the farm going by herself, Mallie realized it was impossible. She needed to find another way to support her family, but also felt it was no longer safe to stay in Georgia. Violent racial riots and lynchings of black people were on the rise in the summer of 1919, especially in the southeastern states. Seeking a more tolerant environment, Mallie and several of her relatives pooled their money together to buy train tickets. In May 1920, when Jackie was 16 months old, they all boarded a train for Los Angeles. The Robinsons Move to California Mallie and her children moved into an apartment in Pasadena, California with her brother and his family. She found work cleaning houses and eventually earned enough money to buy her house in a mostly-white neighborhood. The Robinsons soon learned that discrimination did not limit itself to the South. Neighbors shouted racial insults at the family and circulated a petition demanding that they leave. More alarming still, the Robinsons looked out one day and saw a cross burning in their yard. Mallie stood firm, refusing to leave the house she had worked so hard to earn. With their mother away at work all day, the Robinson children learned to take care of themselves from an early age. Jackies sister Willa Mae, three years older, fed him, bathed him, and took him to school with her. Three-year-old Jackie played in the school sandbox for most of the day while his sister peered out the window at intervals to check on him. Taking pity on the family, school authorities reluctantly allowed this unorthodox arrangement to continue until Jackie was old enough to enroll in school at the age of five. Young Jackie Robinson managed to get himself into trouble on more than one occasion as a member of the Pepper Street Gang. This neighborhood clique, made up of poor boys from minority groups, committed petty crimes and minor acts of vandalism. Robinson later credited a local minister with helping to get him off the streets and involved in more wholesome activities. A Gifted Athlete As early as first grade, Jackie became known for his athletic skills, with classmates even paying him with snacks and pocket change to play on their teams. Jackie welcomed the extra food, as the Robinsons never seemed to have quite enough to eat. He dutifully gave the money to his mother. His athleticism became even more evident when Jackie reached middle school. A natural athlete, Jackie Robinson excelled at whatever sport he took up including football, basketball, baseball, and track, later earning letters in all four sports while in high school. Jackies siblings helped instill in him a fierce sense of competition. Brother Frank gave Jackie a lot of encouragement and attended all of his sporting events. Willa Mae, also a talented athlete, excelled in the few sports that were available to girls in the 1930s. Mack, the third eldest, was a great inspiration to Jackie. A world-class sprinter, Mack Robinson competed in the Berlin Olympics in 1936 and came home with a silver medal in the 200-meter dash. (He had come in a close second to sports legend and teammate Jesse Owens.) College Achievements Upon graduation from high school in 1937, Jackie Robinson was sorely disappointed that he hadnt received a college scholarship despite his astounding athletic ability. He enrolled at Pasadena Junior College where he distinguished himself not only as star quarterback but also as a high scorer in basketball and a record-breaking long-jumper. Boasting a batting average of .417, Robinson was named Southern Californias Most Valuable Junior College Player in 1938. Several universities finally took notice of Jackie Robinson, now willing to offer him a full scholarship for completing his last two years of college. Robinson decided upon the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) mainly because he wanted to stay near his family. Unfortunately, the Robinson family suffered a devastating loss in May 1939 when Frank Robinson died from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. Jackie Robinson was crushed by the loss of his big brother and his greatest fan. To cope with his grief, he poured all of his energy into doing well at school. Robinson was as successful at UCLA as he had been in junior college. He was the first UCLA student to earn letters in all four sports that he played —football, basketball, baseball, and track and field—a feat he accomplished after only one year. At the beginning of his second year, Robinson met Rachel Isum who soon became his girlfriend. Still, Robinson was not satisfied with college life. He worried that despite getting a college education, he would have few opportunities to advance himself in a profession since he was black. Even with his tremendous athletic talent, Robinson also saw little chance for a career as a professional athlete because of his race. In March 1941, only months before he was to graduate, Robinson dropped out of UCLA. Concerned about his familys financial welfare, Robinson found a temporary job as an assistant athletic director at a camp in Atascadero, California. He later had a brief stint playing on an integrated football team in Honolulu, Hawaii. Robinson returned home from Hawaii just two days before the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Facing Racism in the Army Drafted into the U.S. Army in 1942, Robinson was sent to Fort Riley, Kansas, where he applied to Officers Candidate School (OCS). Neither he nor any of his fellow black soldiers were allowed into the program. With the help of world heavyweight champion boxer Joe Louis, also stationed at Fort Riley, Robinson petitioned for and won the right to attend OCS. Louis fame and popularity no doubt helped the cause. Robinson was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1943. Known for his talent on the baseball field, Robinson was approached to play on Fort Rileys baseball team. The team policy was to accommodate any of the other teams who refused to play with a black player on the field. Robinson would have beeen expected to sit those games out. Unwilling to accept that condition, Robinson refused to play even one game. Robinson was transferred to Fort Hood, Texas, where he faced more discrimination. Riding on an Army bus one evening, he was ordered to go to the back of the bus. Fully aware that the Army had recently outlawed segregation on any of its vehicles, Robinson refused. He was arrested and tried in a military court of law for insubordination, among other charges. The Army dropped its charges when no evidence could be found of any wrongdoing. Robinson was granted an honorable discharge in 1944. Back in California, Robinson became engaged to Rachel Isum, who agreed to marry him once she completed nursing school. Playing in the Negro Leagues In 1945, Robinson was hired as a shortstop for the Kansas City Monarchs, a baseball team in the Negro Leagues. Playing major league professional baseball was not an option for black people at that time, although it hadnt always been that way. Blacks and whites had played together in the early days of baseball in the mid-nineteenth century until Jim Crow laws, which required segregation, were passed in the late 1800s. The Negro Leagues came into being in the early 20th century to accommodate the many talented black players who were shut out of Major League Baseball. The Monarchs had a hectic schedule, sometimes traveling hundreds of miles by bus in a day. Racism followed the men wherever they went, as players were turned away from hotels, restaurants, and rest rooms simply because they were black. At one service station, the owner refused to let the men use the rest room when they stopped to get gas. A furious Jackie Robinson told the proprietor they would not buy his gas if he didnt allow them to use the rest room, persuading the man to change his mind. Following that incident, the team would not buy gas from anyone who refused to let them use the facilities. Robinson had a successful year with the Monarchs, leading the team in batting and earning a spot in the Negro Leagues all-star game. Intent upon playing his best game, Robinson was unaware that he was closely watched by baseball scouts from the Brooklyn Dodgers. Branch Rickey and the Great Experiment Dodgers president Branch Rickey, determined to break the color barrier in Major League Baseball, was looking for the ideal candidate to prove that blacks had a place in the majors. Rickey saw Robinson as that man, for Robinson was talented, educated, never drank alcohol, and had played alongside white people in college. Rickey was relieved to hear that Robinson had Rachel in his life; he cautioned the ballplayer that he would need her support to get through the upcoming ordeal. Meeting with Robinson in August 1945, Rickey prepared the player for the kind of abuse he would face as the lone black man in the league. He would be subjected to verbal insults, unfair calls by umpires, pitches intentionally thrown to hit him, and more. Off the field as well, Robinson could expect hate mail and death threats. Rickey posed the question: could Robinson deal with such adversity without retaliating, even verbally, for three solid years? Robinson, who had always stood up for his rights, found it difficult to imagine not responding to such abuse, but he realized how important it was to advancing the cause of civil rights. He agreed to do it. Like most new players in the major leagues, Robinson started out on a minor league team. As the first black player in the minors, he signed with the Dodgers top farm team, the Montreal Royals, in October 1945. Before the start of spring training, Jackie Robinson and Rachel Isum were married in February 1946 and headed to Florida for training camp two weeks after their wedding. Enduring vicious verbal abuse at games—from those in the stands and the dugout—Robinson nonetheless proved himself especially skilled at hitting and at stealing bases and helped lead his team to victory at the Minor League Championship Series in 1946. Jackie Robinson ended the season as Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the International League. Topping off Robinsons stellar year, Rachel gave birth to Jack Robinson Jr. on November 18, 1946. Robinson Makes History On April 9, 1947, five days before the start of baseball season, Branch Rickey made the announcement that 28-year-old Jackie Robinson would play for the Brooklyn Dodgers. The announcement came on the heels of a difficult spring training. Several of Robinsons new teammates had banded together and signed a petition insisting that they would rather be traded off the team than play with a black man. Dodgers manager Leo Durocher chastised the men, pointing out that a player as good as Robinson could very well lead the team to the World Series. Robinson started out as first baseman; later he moved to second base, a position he held for the rest of his career. Fellow players were slow to accept Robinson as a member of their team. Some were openly hostile while others refused to speak to him or even sit near him. It didnt help that Robinson began his season in a slump, unable to make a hit in the first five games. His teammates finally rallied to Robinsons defense after witnessing several incidents in which opponents verbally and physically assaulted Robinson. One player from the St. Louis Cardinals intentionally spiked Robinsons thigh so badly that he left a large gash, prompting outrage from Robinsons teammates. In another instance, players on the Philadelphia Phillies, knowing that Robinson had received death threats, held their bats up as if they were guns and pointed them at him. As unsettling as these incidents were, they served to unify the Dodgers as a cohesive team. Robinson overcame his slump and the Dodgers went on to win the National League pennant. They lost the World Series to the Yankees, but Robinson performed well enough to be named Rookie of the Year. A Career With the Dodgers By the start of the 1949 season, Robinson was no longer obligated to keep his opinions to himself—he was free to express himself, just as the other players were. Robinson now responded to the taunts of opponents, which initially shocked a public who had seen him as quiet and docile. Nonetheless, Robinsons popularity grew as did his annual salary, which, at $35,000 a year, was more than any of his teammates were paid. Rachel and Jackie Robinson moved to a house in Flatbush, Brooklyn, where several neighbors in this mostly-white neighborhood were thrilled to be living near a baseball star. The Robinsons welcomed daughter Sharon into the family in January 1950 and son David was born in 1952. The family later bought a house in Stamford, Connecticut. Robinson used his prominent position to promote racial equality. When the Dodgers went on the road, hotels in many cities refused to allow black players to stay in the same hotel as their white teammates. Robinson threatened that none of the players would stay at the hotel if all of them were not welcome, a tactic that often worked. In 1955, the Dodgers once again faced the Yankees in the World Series. They had lost to them many times, but this year would be different. Thanks in part to Robinsons brazen base-stealing, the Dodgers won the World Series. During the 1956 season, Robinson, now 37 years old, spent more time on the bench than on the field. When the announcement came that the Dodgers would be moving to Los Angeles in 1957, it came as no surprise that Jackie Robinson had decided it was time to retire. In the nine years since he had played his first game for the Dodgers, several more teams had signed on black players; by 1959, all of the Major League Baseball teams were integrated. Life After Baseball Robinson stayed busy after his retirement, accepting a position in community relations for the Chock Full O Nuts company. He became a successful fundraiser for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Robinson also helped to raise money to found the Freedom National Bank, a bank that primarily served minority populations, extending loans to people who might not otherwise have received them. In July 1962, Robinson became the first African-American to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. He thanked those who had helped him earn that achievement—his mother, his wife, and Branch Rickey. Robinsons son, Jackie Jr., was deeply traumatized after fighting in Vietnam and became a drug addict upon his return to the United States. He successfully fought his addiction, but was tragically killed in a car accident in 1971. The loss took a toll on Robinson, who was already battling the effects of diabetes and appeared much older than a man in his fifties. On October 24, 1972, Jackie Robinson died of a heart attack at the age of 53. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously in 1986 by President Reagan. Robinsons jersey number, 42, was retired by both the National League and the American League in 1997, the 50th anniversary of Robinsons historic major league debut.