The Internal Business Process Perspective SLP Essay

The Internal Business Process Perspective SLP - Essay Example In a bid to move towards attaining its vision of being the leading world class financial institution, Octawise Inc. has put in place quality standards that ought to guide its internal operations. This in turn leads to lower complaints and dissonances by the customers, increased satisfaction, growth of the company in the long run and increased return on investment. As spelt out in its strategy, its attainment of market leadership position within business areas, and focus on excellence is enhanced by its efforts to put in place quality standards and measures. (B) Internal Communication Lines: Internal communication structures and processes are of critical importance in the success of any organization. Open communication lines enhance faster permeation of communication, ideas and opinions. Open communication structures also result in little distortion and misinterpretation of communication. Any organization that takes customers to be the center for its success ensures that communication lines and structures support quicker permeation of information through open communication structures, which also support innovation within an organization. Octawise Inc. encourages open communication throughout the company. This portrays Octawise Inc. as receptive to customers’ ideas and easy to work with Organization. Organizations with complex and closed communication lines are perceived by customers as bureaucratic and less receptive to ideas and to a greater extent hinder innovation due to likely blockage of ideas. (C) Employment and Recruitment Processes: It means little to have excellent communication lines and standards and yet have a leaking employment and recruitment process and structures which results in having wrong people in the organization. Whitwood (2011) identifies the significance of indirect processes (recruitment and placement processes) in supporting direct operations performance. Octawise Inc. has all its stages of

Hand Made Music Boxes Essay Example for Free

Hand Made Music Boxes Essay In a market where monopolistic competition exists, businesses operate in a manner wherein producers sell differentiated products from one another, yet similar. This means that the product is not homogenous. Firms can still market their products by the highlighting the slight differences in their output. The various producers in this type of market are selling their products, in this case handmade music boxes, which act as substitutes. Firms are able to control the prices in some degree within a narrow range of prices. They enter the market if the profits are attractive wherein they can maximize their profit and are left with excess production capacity. In a market where there is monopolistic competition, there are many firms, which each firm has a small market share and operates independently from each other. (Salvatore, 2007) Enterprise, natural, labor and capital are considered as the factors of production in the economy. Given a firm that operates a business in hand made music boxes, these factors of production are important as to gain profit and be able to be competitive in the market. In a monopolistic competitive market, it is assumed that all these factors of production are mobile, in which if these are not being used efficiently, they will move instantly to where they can be maximized. (Harvey Jowsey, 2007) In an enterprise, entrepreneurial skills are needed to manage and direct the other three factors of production to enable a production of goods or services in the market. Operating a hand made music box needs skills from people that have managerial experiences that can lead the firm into a competitive advantage through effective planning and execution in producing the goods needed in the market. This will help in giving the business a competitive advantage wherein the characteristics of the hand made music box of a certain firm is made with quality than that of other firms in the market. (Case Fair, 2007) No business can operate without natural or land as part of its factors of production. Land is where the business is being done. It can be a factory, building, agricultural land or office, but this should have a location for it to be established. An access to land is needed in setting up firms. (Case Fair, 2007) Hand made music box business needs a factory for the assembly of parts and for storing. Moreover, this business needs a shop for the goods to be displayed so that the goods can be seen by the consumers that will buy the product. Access to land and property can raise the standard of production as well as be more competent in the market. (American Journal of Economics and Sociology, 2002) Businesses manage to exist because of its labor force. Firms do need people who can do hours of work for them. In making hand made music boxes, there can be a composition of various assembly lines. These assembly lines are made up of people that will do specific parts in making the hand made music boxes of the firm. Skilled workers help the firm in having competitive advantage in the market. In a competitive market, skills of workers are important to produce high quality goods that can be sold to consumers. This will result in a high advantage of a certain firm that employs highly skilled workers over those firms that employ lesser skilled people. (Harvey Jowsey, 2007) In every business setting, capital should be present. Capital refers to equipments used by firms to produce goods. The workers of a hand made music box business need equipments for the production of the goods. These equipments will help the production be more effective and efficient. In a competitive market where different firms compete for products being sold to consumers, a firm needs capital that will increase the quality of the product. This will make the firm more advantageous in terms of output and quality in the market. (Harvey Jowsey, 2007) Given that the situated market is in a monopolistic competition scenario, a firm’s demand curve will intersect the industry’s demand curve at the firm’s equilibrium level of output and price. (Weins, 1999) This explains why the demand curve is relatively elastic and downward sloping, which can be associated to a flat, but not horizontal demand curve. Firms in this type of market will have less control over price to charge their output. A firm that makes profit in the short-run will break even eventually because of a decrease in demand in the long-run, which in this case will result in a zero economic profit. (Duffy, 1993) Considering the law of supply, monopolistic competitive markets might not produce large quantities as a response to higher prices. The hindrance to the positive-quantity supply relation is the market control and downward sloping demand curve among monopolistic competitive markets. Monopolistic competitive firms are considered to be price-searchers rather than price-takers because â€Å"prices will change by the comparison of marginal revenue with marginal cost in every possible price along with the market demand curve. † Prices are not placed equal to marginal revenue; furthermore, it is not equal to marginal cost and price. Thus, as a result, firms do not essentially supply more quantities of goods at lower prices. (Harvey Jowsey, 2007) In the short-run, individual firms behave like a monopoly thus they can raise their prices leaving the consumers options to buy similar goods from other firms. As for the long-run, there is a free entry condition where firms continue to occur in the market leaving the demand curve to continually shift leftward until the time when each of the firm earns a zero economic profit. Firms earn economic profit or loss in the short run, but eventually, new entrants will be attracted to profits thus would result to losses until these firms earn zero economic profit. The hand made music box firms will compete in the market for the available consumers that will purchase the goods.

Boxing with My Father Essay -- Personal Narrative Writing

Boxing with My Father My father was 30 years old when I was born. The fact meant nothing to me for most of my young life, but took on a special meaning one day when I was fourteen. It was the day he decided to teach me to box. You might think that transmitting this skill was evidence my father and I had a close relationship, but our bond was distant, ephemeral, and bound together by a single if resilient thread. My parents had divorced when I was a kid, and my father had â€Å"visitation rights.† He’d show up at our front door every other Sunday and take me out with him. Our destination might be the zoo, a park, a baseball game or, more usually, his house in Far Rockaway, a half-hour drive from my mother’s place in Brooklyn. But it wasn’t where we ended up that elated me. It was getting there that made it a thrill. He wasn’t like the resident fathers of my neighborhood friends. Some seemed accepting and resigned that they had lost their youthful vigor. They worked in banks or delivered the mail. Others tried to maintain a certain urban toughness, but their deportment brought the image of discomfiting coarseness to my mind. I wasn’t too fond of either variety. On weekdays, around six, I’d see all of them amble home toward my apartment building, shoulders hung low, a folded copy of the Daily News pinched between thumb and forefinger. My father’s energy was of an entirely different nature. He was quick, strong, and lean, with sloping shoulders and a narrow waist. He had a certain grace of movement that made me feel secure, even pleasurable. Sometimes he’d visit after coming off work at the Brillo Soap Pad factory where he was employed as a machinist, and he seemed to be revved up enough to do a second shift. The way he talke... ...aying a Puerto Rican father trying to raise a son. Seeing the famous actor in person—without the intermediary of the camera—gave him a different demeanor. He moved about the stage in quick yet graceful strides. Suddenly I had a eureka moment. DeNiro on stage was just like my father: same movement, same stature, same speech. I turned to my mother whose eyes were focused on the performance. â€Å"Mother,† I said. â€Å"Doesn’t he remind you of my father?† My mother looked at me, then to the stage to render her opinion. â€Å"Yes,† she said. â€Å"He does. Like your father.† It felt good to feel my father’s presence once again, even if it was second-hand. Of course, it would have been much more fulfilling to have had that conversation with him, the one where he’d tell me what it was like in the old days. But, like so many people both today and back then, I take what I can get.

National Constituent Assembly Essay -- essays research papers

To what extent did the reforms of the Constituent Assembly create discontent? The National Constituent Assembly solved some of Frances short term problems, but caused significant discontent due to its inability to resolve long term problems, that had been destroying France economically, politically and socially. There were some groups of society that were quite content with the reforms of the Constituent Assembly, such as a majority of the bourgeoisie, peasants who gained from the abolition of the Feudal system, and some members of the first and second Estate. However, many other people and groups, such as King Louis XVI, Nobles who had become emigres after losing their land, clergy who had refused to swear allegiance to the new state, loyal Catholics, the Sans Culottes and a rapidly growing republican movement, that were unhappy with the Constituent Assembly. It was in these later groups that the brewing discontent lay, but none shared a common discontent, and few shared a common goal. It would be the most radical of these reactionary groups, who seized leade rship of the French people, in the nation's time of need. The National Constituent Assembly originated from the National Assembly, and its purpose was to write a constitution that would create a new France, one that was based on equality, liberty and fraternity - a nation governed by the people, and for the people - where men are born and remain equal in rights. It was essentially dominated by members of the Bourgeoisie, as well as some Nobles and Clergymen, but it did not effectively represent the whole of France. The National Constituent Assembly set up a militia type force, called the National Guard, to protect themselves and their ideas, from those who were counter-revolutionary. It was led by Marquis De LaFayatte, a member of the second Estate, who was also an influential voice in the Constituent Assembly. The Assembly did not want to create a Republic, it wanted to create a Constitutional Monarchy. It still wanted the King as Head of State, but wanted the people's rights and values outlined in a constitution, rather than decided by th e King. In 1789 the Constituent Assembly began developing a Constitution, because it was what the French people wanted - but their moods quickly changed and the proposed constitution became a calamity. Some reforms made by the National Constituent Assembly we... ...ring the situation. The Assignats that the State had introduced were rapidly deflating, and some store owners would not even accept them. Despite reforms that stabilised Frances economy periodically, the Constituent Assembly had not solved the long term economic problems that still surrounded the nation. Most of these peasants were also loyal Catholics, and resented the loss of power of the Church, and were hungry for political change. By October 1791, the National Constituent Assembly believed that it had fulfilled its goal of creating a new Constitution, and dissolved itself. It set up a new Government called the Legislative Assembly, to enforce the new Constitution, which only lasted a further six months. Hence, the National Constituent Assembly had established important reforms but it had failed to solve the economic crisis that began the original revolt of the French people. The varying discontent it had created amongst different groups of society, far overshadowed those who were satisfied with the changes. Much discontent, amongst many people, is dangerous when there is no common destination. So many demands, with so few answers, meant the revolution had to continue.

Identify Market Oppurtunities Task 2 Essay

Executive Summary : BBQfun was established in 2009 by current CEO, Pat Mifsud. BBQfun offers an extensive product range, incorporating both local and imported goods. Since 2010, the increasingly competitive retail environment, technological change, changes in consumer buying patterns and consumer confidence has led to disappointing sales. However, BBQfun intends to return to healthy sales of $11 million in 2012 through building on its organisational strengths, through targeted marketing strategies aimed at key segments and through exploiting marketing opportunities. Currently, BBQfun operates two stores, one in Brisbane (Kenmore), and one on the Gold Coast. BBQfun is seeking business and marketing opportunities that could lead to interstate or national expansion if viable and scalable. Mission ââ€"  To provide our customers with great value outdoor lifestyle products and second-to-none customer service. Vision ââ€"  To be, within five years, south east Queensland’s leading outdoor lifestyle retailer. Values ââ€"  Quality ââ€"  Customer value ââ€"  People: Active encouragement of safety, teamwork, diversity, excellence, innovation and continuous improvement. Strategic directions The strategic context in which BBQfun will achieve its mission and vision is through: ââ€"  engaging with customers through promotion and market research ââ€"  building reputation for quality products and quality customer service ââ€"  supporting people to perform via training and performance management ââ€"  controlling costs. ââ€"  increasing sales revenue and profitability. Analysis Analyse 3 Opportunities and which of these fit with organisational goal Objectives | Opportunities | Engaging with customers through promotion & market research. | E-commerce | Reduce direct & indirect cost of the operations. | Own brand, Bargain market | Building reputation for quality products and quality customer service | E-commerce | New marketing opportunities impact | Own brand | E-commerce | Bargain market | Sales volume (units) | BBQ: 7200 | BBQ: 12600 | BBQ: 10000 | Sales volume (units) | Furniture: 3120 | Furniture: 5040 | Furniture: 5000 | Sales volume (units) | Accessories: 40320 | Accessories: 63360 | Accessories: 52500 | | Own brand | E-commerce | Bargain market | Price | BBQ: $600 | BBQ: $620 | BBQ: $500 | Price | Furniture: $850 | Furniture: $880 | Furniture: $650 | Price | Accessories: $50 | Accessories: $55 | Accessories: $40 | Unit contribution margin | BBQ: $500 | BBQ: $300 | BBQ: $200 | Unit contribution margin | Furniture: $600 | Furniture: $420 | Furniture: $220 | Unit contribution margin | Accessories: $40 | Accessories: $20 | Accessories: $10 | Total revenue | 8988000 | 15732000 | 10350000 | Total gross profit 2012/13 | 7084800 | 164000 | 3625000 | Additional fixed costs | Add lease $1000000 Add labour $500000 Add plant (depreciation): $500000 | Add training: $50000 Add online store development: $100000 Add new plant and equipment (depreciation): $150000 Add labour: $250000 Add reconfiguartion of warehouse/office: $50000 | See approved budget (no change in fixed costs) | Total net profit 2012/13 | 200086 | 1679286 | 1259714 | External factors Before implementing 3 new changes what are the legislation and standards need to be analysed Import & Export standards for both the countries Legislation regarding taxes maybe different in both countries Expensive labour cost Risk analysis Risk | Impact | Likelihood | Mitigation | Web server down | High | Likely | Back up server, Back up of data | Failure to adequately train employees | High | Unlikely | Adherence to performance management policy, Time to time training sessions | Not having confidence in Own brand | High | Unlikely | Serious marketing, Customer awareness programs, 24/7 customer service | Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) Action | Cost | Benefit | Risk | F or MF or NF | Own brand | $6884714 | More profit | Not having confidence in Own brand | F | E-commerce | $5484714 | Less Cost | Web server down | F | Bargain market | $4884714 | More business | Failure to adequately train employees | MF | Return on investment Return on investment (Income-Cost) Cost Own Brand: $8988000 – $6884714 / $6884714 = 0.3055 E-commerce: $15732000 – $5484714 / $5484714 = 1.868 Bargain market: $10350000 – $4884714 / $4884714 = 1.118 Rank new opportunities Rank 3 opportunities based on its benefit. Rank One – Own Brand Rank two – E-Commerce Rank Three – Bargain Market Cost & Resources Brief cost & resources required to implement each new oppurtunity. Resources | Costs | | Additional staff | $25000 year average | Additional staff costs: $250000 | Plant & equipment depriciation | Delivery trucks ($20000 each) Forklifts ($10000 each) | Plant & equipment costs :- $120000 & $30000 | Promotional Costs | $500000 | Website developers | Contractors ($2000/ a day) | Website development cost: $100000 | Staff training | $ Online customer service training $3000 per staff member | Staff training cost $24000 | Management change leadership training for store managers and team leaders | $3000 each | Management & leadership costs: $42000 | Warehouse and office reconfiguration | Re-configuration cost :- $50000 | Total | $6016000 |

Essay on The Case of Wilson County SchoolsEssay Writing Service

Essay on The Case of Wilson County SchoolsEssay Writing Service Essay on The Case of Wilson County Schools Essay on The Case of Wilson County SchoolsSYSTEM PROFILEThe Wilson County School System is located in Lebanon, Tennessee and serves approximately 15,000 students at 21 sites.Wilson County strives to obtain the best teachers and administrators possible, knowing that this will directly affect the success of their students. Of the 991 people employed in positions that require state certification, approximately 48 percent, have attained an educational degree at the masters level or higher. It has about 8 percent who have achieved career ladder status of two or three. The system has also lowered pupils A variety of real classrooms from across the country is shown in every PD 360 program so that teachers can actually see how to implement best-practices in their own classroom teaching.Research-Based Best Practices The best-practices shown in PD 360 are always research-based and classroom-proven, dealing with nearly every education initiative of the past two decades.Tracking Features Wilson County teachers follow their own growth curve by using the tracking tools and reflection questions at the end of each segment while administrators use PD 360’s integrated tracking, reporting, and follow-up to ensure that teacher professional development happens consistently.Recognized Education Experts Wilson County teachers have easy access to over 100 top education experts at their fingertips without waiting for conferences or paying the high costs associated with them.Superintendent Bing realizes that the success of PD360 will be dependent on the quality of professional development.   He calls in his instructional technology director (you) and asks that you provide him a two –three page summary of a professional development proposal that will effectively implement PD360.  The professional development proposalshould include the following:GoalsStrategiesTimelineEvaluationA conclusion as to what Superintendent Bing should expect in 6 months and 1 year.You may selec t the format for the proposal that is most comfortable to you (narrative, table, PPT etc.)The Michigan Professional Development rubrics are included as a guide for technology enhanced professional development.   Also included are North Carolina’s Technology Facilitator standards, which are aligned to the National Educational Technology Plan.   They are not specific to the assignment itself; they provide guidance for high quality technology proposals.

Biology Word Dissections - Understanding Science Terms

Biology Word Dissections - Understanding Science Terms Pneumono-ultramicroscopic-silicovolcano-coniosis.Yes, this is an actual word. What does it mean? Biology can be filled with words that sometimes seem incomprehensible. Similar to how many biology students will dissect a frog, by dissecting these words into discrete units, even the most complex terms can be understood. To demonstrate this concept, lets begin by performing a biology word dissection  on the word above. Well take this long, seemingly impossible to understand word and break it down into its affix components to make it much easier for us to understand. To perform our  word dissection, well need to proceed carefully. First, we come to the prefix (pneu-), or (pneumo-) which means lung. Next, is ultra, meaning extreme, and microscopic, meaning small. Now we come to (silico-), which refers to silicon, and (volcano-) which refers to the mineral particles that make up a volcano. Then we have (coni-), a derivative of the Greek word konis meaning dust. Finally, we have the suffix (-osis) which means affected with. Now lets rebuild what we have dissected: Considering the prefix (pneumo-) and the suffix (-osis), we can determine that the lungs are affected with something. But what? Breaking down the rest of the terms we get extremely small (ultramicroscopic) silicon (silico-) and volcanic (volcano-) dust (coni-) particles. Thus, pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis is a disease of the lungs resulting from the inhalation of very fine silicate or quartz dust. That wasnt so difficult, now was it? Key Takeaways Similar to how many biology students will dissect an animal, by performing a biology word dissection, even the most complex terms can be understood.Once you understand the common prefixes and suffixes used in biology, obtuse words are much easier to understand.For example, a large word like: pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis can be broken down into its constituent parts. After parsing, we realize that it is a disease of the lungs resulting from the inhalation of very fine silicate or quartz dust. Biology Terms Now that weve honed our dissection skills, lets try some frequently used biology terms. For instance: Arthritis(Arth-) refers to joints and (-itis) means inflammation. Arthritis is the inflammation of a joint(s). Bacteriostasis(Bacterio-) refers to bacteria and (-stasis) means a slowing or stoppage of motion or activity. Bacteriostasis is the slowing down of bacterial growth. Dactylogram(Dactyl-)  refers to a digit such as a finger or toe and (-gram) refers to a written record. A dactylogram is another name for a fingerprint. Epicardium(Epi-)  means upper or outermost and  (-cardium)  refers to the heart. Epicardium  is the outer layer of the heart wall. It is also known as visceral pericardium as it forms the inner layer of the pericardium. Erythrocyte(Erythro-) means red and (-cyte) means cell. Erythrocytes are red blood cells. Okay, lets move on to more difficult words. For instance: ElectroencephalogramDissecting, we have (electro-), pertaining to electricity, (encephal-) meaning brain, and (-gram) meaning record. Together we have an electric brain record or EEG. Thus, we have a record of brain wave activity using electrical contacts. Hemangioma(Hem-) refers to blood, (angio-) means vessel, and (-oma) refers to an abnormal growth, cyst, or tumor. Hemangioma is a type of cancer consisting primarily of newly formed blood vessels. SchizophreniaIndividuals with this disorder suffer from delusions and hallucinations. (Schis-) means split and (phren-) means mind. ThermoacidophilesThese are Archaeans that live in extremely hot and acidic environments. (Therm-) means heat, next you have (-acid), and finally (phil-) means love. Together we have heat and acid lovers. Additional Terms Using our new found skills, we should have no trouble with the following biology related terms. Angiomyogenesis (angio - myo - genesis): This is a medical term that refers to the regeneration of heart (myocardial) tissue. Angiostenosis (angio - stenosis): This term refers to the narrowing of a vessel, typically a blood vessel. Angiostimulatory (angio - stimulatory): Angiostimulatory refers to the stimulation and growth of blood vessels. Biotroph (bio - troph): Biotrophs are parasites. They do not kill their hosts as they establish a long-term infection as they get their energy from living cells. Bradytroph (brady - troph): This term refers to an organism that experiences very slow growth without the presence of a particular substance. Necrotroph (necro - troph): Unlike biotrophs, necrotrophs are parasites that kill their host and survive on the dead remains. Oxalotrophy (oxalo - trophy): This term refers to the metabolism of oxalates or oxalic acid by organisms. Once you understand the commonly used prefixes and suffixes, obtuse words are a piece of cake! Now that you know how to apply the word dissection technique, Im sure youll be able to determine the meaning of the word thigmotropism (thigmo - tropism).

Hamlet Study Guide

Hamlet Study Guide The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark is one of William Shakespeare’s best-known works and one of the most widely-read plays in the English language. Estimated to have been written between 1599 and 1602, Hamlet was one of Shakespeare’s most popular plays at the time of its release, and has remained hugely influential since its creation. Fast Facts: Hamlet Full Title: The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of DenmarkAuthor: William ShakespeareYear Published: Between 1599 and 1602Genre: TragedyType of Work: PlayOriginal Language: EnglishThemes: Appearance vs. Reality; Revenge and Action vs. Inaction; Death, Guilt, and the AfterlifeMajor Characters: Hamlet, Claudius, Polonius, Ophelia, Laertes, Gertrude, Fortinbras, Horatio, The Ghost, Rosencrantz GuildensternFun Fact: Shakespeare’s son, who died at age 11, was named Hamnet; he may have been an inspiration for the tragic character Hamlet. Plot Summary Hamlet is the story of the events that take place after the king of Denmark is found dead. His son, Hamlet, is visited by the kings ghost, who tells him that Hamlet’s uncle Claudius was the murderer. Hamlet resolves to kill Claudius and avenge his fathers death, but he struggles with the morality of his decision and finds himself unable to act. To fool Claudius into thinking he knows nothing about the murder, Hamlet pretends to be insane; however, Hamlet’s actual mental state becomes less and less certain throughout the play. Meanwhile, when Claudius begins to realize Hamlet knows more than he lets on, he plots to kill him. Hamlet, though, is smart; much of the play depicts his brilliant wordplay and cunning outmaneuvers of the king’s courtiers- until, of course, the play’s tragic ending, which sees most of the royal family killed. Major Characters Hamlet. The protagonist of the story, Hamlet is the prince of Denmark and the son of the murdered king. Possessing a melancholy and depressive disposition, he struggles throughout the play with his inability to act on his desire for revenge. Claudius. The current king of Denmark and the brother of the king, Hamlets late father. Claudius murdered the former king and married his wife Gertrude, stealing Hamlet’s right to succeed his father. Polonius. The father of Ophelia and Laertes and advisor to the king. Obsequious, pedantic, and scheming, Polonius is killed by Hamlet. Ophelia. Hamlet’s love interest and Polonius’s daughter. She aims to please her father and is deeply troubled by Hamlet’s madness, but goes mad herself by the end of the play. Laertes. Polonius’s son. He is a man of action, in direct contrast to Hamlet, and is ready to take his revenge as soon as he discovers Hamlet’s hand in the destruction of his father and sister. Gertrude. The queen of Denmark, Hamlet’s mother, and Claudius’s wife. She was married to the old king, but was unfaithful to him with Claudius. Fortinbras. The prince of Norway, who eventually becomes king of Denmark after Hamlets death. Horatio. Hamlet’s best friend from university, who serves as a foil to Hamlet. The Ghost. Hamlet’s dead father, the former king of Denmark. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Hamlet’s childhood friends, whom Hamlet outwits at every turn. Major Themes Appearance vs. Reality. Is the ghost really Hamlet’s dead father? Is Claudius lying? Hamlet must continually grapple with his inability to trust his own interpretation of events, which keeps him in a state of inaction. Death, Guilt, and the Afterlife. Hamlet frequently wonders about the mystery of death. Tied to these thoughts is always the question of guilt, and whether or not his soul- or the soul of another, like Claudius- will wind up in heaven or hell. Revenge and Action vs. Inaction. Although the play is about revenge, Hamlet continually delays the act. Connected to this theme is the question of the afterlife, doubts about which seem to stay Hamlet’s hand. Literary Style Hamlet has had remarkable literary significance from its first performance, which is estimated to have taken place between 1599 and 1602, influencing writers as varied as John Milton, Johann Wilhelm von Goethe, George Eliot, and David Foster Wallace.  It is a tragedy, a genre with roots in classical Greek theatre; however, Shakespeare ignores Aristotle’s injunction for a play to focus primarily on action, not character. Instead, the play follows the twists and turns of Hamlet’s moral struggle much more through soliloquies than plot. The play was written during the reign of Elizabeth I. There are numerous early versions of the play still in existence; each, however, has different lines, so it is the job of the editor to decide which version to publish, and accounts for the many explanatory notes in editions of Shakespeare. About the Author William Shakespeare is arguably the highest-regarded writer in the English language. Although his exact date of birth is unknown, he was baptized in Stratford-Upon-Avon in 1564 and married Anne Hathaway at age 18. Sometime between the ages of 20 and 30, Shakespeare moved to London to start his career in theatre. He worked as an actor and a writer, as well as a part-time owner of the theatre troupe the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, later known as the King’s Men. Since little information about commoners was retained at the time, not much is known about Shakespeare, leading to ongoing questions about his life, his inspiration, and the authorship of his plays.

The American Journalist Robert Kaplan stated that anyone who Essay

The American Journalist Robert Kaplan stated that anyone who disbelieves Hobbes' state of nature argument has never visited Co - Essay Example One of the most famous journalists from America, Robert Kaplan has attributed such a term to the society of Cote da’Ivoire, also called in English has the Ivory Coast. To make a statement of such magnitude, there must be some sense going behind it. And indeed, when one sees the current crisis in the Ivory Coast on both the social and political fronts, one is ought to come to the conclusion that Hobbes description of ‘state of nature’ is still prevalent. (Volkov 2011) The troubled lands of West Africa saw an unusual development in political and societal fronts through the land of Ivory Coast. After its independence from the French in 1960, there was a line of hope within the minds of people of this country to stand tall amongst other nations. But, it all came down when the first political crisis rose in Abidjan in 2002. Irrespective of the presence of the French troupes in the country, deployed primarily to seize any such rebellions against the government, the poli tical scenario was split into two with the rebels occupying the entire northern half of the country. When the United Nations came into picture, a deal was struck wherein the rebels, the Ivorians and the ruling government would combine together to form a united governance.

Macro11C Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Macro11C - Essay Example The higher the RR, the lower the amount of money lent by banks and vice versa. 3) Federal funds rate (FFR): The FFR refers to the rate at which banks lend each other money overnight in order to maintain the reserve requirement. If the FFR is high, banks would be unwilling to lend beyond the reserve requirement and vice versa. 4) Discount rate (DR): The DR refers to the rate that the federal reserve charges the bank if it wants to borrow money from it in case when the money is not available to be borrowed from other banks. The DR is usually higher than the FFR. The open market operations are the most widely used tool for controlling the money supply in the market. The decisions for these open market operations are made during the Federal Open Market Committee meetings which since 1981 have been held 8 times at regularly scheduled times each year. These open market operations change the money supply without impact the money multiplier. The most powerful tool that the Fed has to control the monetary policy is the Reserve Requirement. Changing the RR not only impacts the money supply but also the money multiplier as it directly influences the bank lending. ... Easy money policy: To fight recessions, the Fed can use its monetary policy tools to increase the growth of money and credit, which tends to lower interest rates and spur growth of the economy. This monetary policy is said to be easy or expansionary. Tight money policy: To restrain inflation, the Fed can use its monetary policy tools to reduce the growth of money and credit, which tends to raise interest rates and slow the growth of the economy. This monetary policy is said to be tight or contractionary. For the easy money policy, first the MS increases which causes the interest rate to decrease which causes the amount of investment to increase. This causes AD to increase leading to a higher real GDP and a little inflation. The implementation in reality is done by the Fed by buying securities from banks and/or reducing the reserve ratio for banks, the FFR and the DR. For the tight monetary policy, first the MS decreases which causes the interest rate to increase which causes the amou nt of investment to decrease. This causes AD to decrease leading to a lower real GDP and a decrease in price levels. The implementation in reality is done by the Fed by selling securities from banks and/or increasing the reserve ratio for banks, the FFR and the DR. Q3: Comment on the theory underlying the use of a monetary rule by the Federal Reserve. Does the use of such a rule seem appropriate under current economic conditions? Explain. The theory underlying the ue of monetary policy by the Federal Reserve is also known as the Taylor Rule. It is an interest rate forecasting model invented by John Taylor in 1992 and described in his 1993 study called â€Å"Discretion Vs. Policy Rules in Practice". In general, the Taylor rule mean that for a 1% increase in

The Life of Christ Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

The Life of Christ - Research Paper Example In the verse of evangelist we are not told that the angelic songs were heard by any other group except the shepherd that was grazing that night. The saviors’ ancestress, Ruth was in the same field where the same shepherds were guarding their flock from wild animals, she was sick at heart among the foreign corn (Farrar 1). David, the youngest son of a large family had followed the sheep and suddenly hears of the great news about the Christ Jesus being born amongst the irrelevance of a world lifeless of its liberation there was angel’s assembly of heavenly host praising God and saying Glory to God and there be peace on earth among men of good will. It might have been expected that Christian goodness could protect the rude grotto of shepherds in the minds of the church but instead the chapel of the herald angel is a â€Å"mere rude tomb† (Farrar 2). The poverty of chapel matches well with the humble toil of those whose happy vision is intended to remember. In the te mple, only four of our lords beginning are narrated by gospel, the circumcision, and the presentation in the temple, the visit of magicians and the flight into the Egypt. Fist two occurs in St. Mathew and no single particular can be pointed out in which the two narratives are necessary contradictory. Its only since in the dawn of Christian children are surrounded with romance. The exact order of the eighth day after the birth of (Luke i.59; 21) the purification was thirty-three days after the circumcision (Lev xii 4) The narrative of the visit of magician recorded in the second chapter of St. Mathew is of the deepest interest in the history of Christianity. The facts of the gospel are brought together with Jewish believes. This furnishes us with the new confirmation of our faith. After the wise had offered their gifts they would naturally have returned to Herod but being warned they returned to their own land another way. We don’t find further traces of their existence but th eir visit led to very memorable events (Farrar 5). Physical geographical of Palestine is perhaps more distinctly marked than that of any other country in the world the country character from north to south may be represented by four parallel bands, the Sea-board, the Hill country, the Jordan valley, and the Trans-Jordanian range. The country hill, which thus occupies the space between the low maritime plain and the deep Jordan valley, falls into two great masses, the continuity of the low mountain-range being broken by the plain of Jezreel (Farrar 6). Even as there is one hemisphere of the lunar surface on which, in its entirety, no human eye has ever gazed, while at the same time the moon's freedoms enable us the estimation of its general character and appearance. This is therefore is one large portion of our the Lord's life of which there is no full record; yet such suggestions are, as it were, given to us of its outer edge, and from this, we are able to understand the nature of t he whole. Again, when the moon is in arched, a few bright points are visible through the telescope upon its illuminated part; those bright points are mountain peaks, so lofty that they catch the sunlight. One such point of glory and majesty is revealed to us in the otherwise unknown region of Christ's youthful years, and it is sufficient to provide us with a real vision into that entire portion of His life. In modern language we should call it a story of the Savior's confirmation (Farrar

Poverty and Pollution Case Study Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Poverty and Pollution Case Study - Term Paper Example In later part of 20th century, the industrialization process was still young in the developing world, and so they were not in a position to change gear and switch to environmentally friendly technology. Many developing countries are still not able to tackle the problem of environmental pollution because it is not economically feasible for them to invest in environmental friendly technology. The issue of environmental pollution will be discussed in the paper with regards to developing countries. A global plan for pollution control will also be laid down in the end of the paper. Third world countries are more prone to environmental pollution than the developed countries because businesses in the third-world countries pay little heed towards environmental concern (Taylor, 2002). The moral repercussions of environmental pollution in the third-world countries are substantial. When businesses pollute the oceans, rivers, lands, and atmosphere of third world countries, they indirectly affect the health of the inhabitants of those countries. This is why the act of pollution can never be ethically justified. Environmental pollution in the third-world countries can also not be justified through argument of economic progress. There is no doubt that industries and businesses offer employment opportunities to local people which is instrumental in improving their living standards. But this opportunity comes at the price of their health and this cannot be ethical. Basic ethics demands that every person is given employment opportunity without compromising his health or the health of others. When businesses pollute the environment of a third-world country, they endanger the health of the people of that country. This is why there is not sound ethical justification for doing so. Businesses in the third-world countries have many reasons to ignore pollution control. The cost of investing in environmentally friendly equipment is extremely

Management 3000 Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Management 3000 - Term Paper Example However, achieving effective interpersonal skills is a process. The initial stage in the process of efficient interpersonal skills involves an individual’s understanding of self. It is common knowledge that, an individual cannot seek to understand others before effectively understanding self. After the individual has effectively understood self, the next stage involves understanding other individuals they work with. The next step involves understanding the team and its dynamics. Once an individual accomplishes these stages effectively, they are ready to manage and lead others in a workplace organization. In effect, the stages eventually lead to successful management and consequent productivity in the workplace. The journey to effectively achieving interpersonal skills starts with an individual developing self-awareness. Through self-awareness, an individual develops the ability to understand their own feelings, the reason for those feelings, and the impact of the feelings on their behavior (De Janasz, Dowd and Schneider 5). It is crucial to note that, feelings are crucial in guiding an individual to exhibit some reactions when they are in a situation. Case in point, in the movie Twelve Angry Men, one juror’s feelings about slum people as drunks and liars who fought all the time made him consider the suspect guilty since he was from the slum. In this case, the feeling about slum people this juror had, circumstantially led him to passing a guilty verdict without carrying out an effective and rational assessment of the evidence available. In a management career, self-realization and awareness are crucial and a manager should follow certain steps in order to achieve realization. The fundamental step towards the self-awareness process is creating a list of an individual’s strength. In effect, the individual should analyze and utilize these strengths in guiding their career

Poverty and Pollution Case Study Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Poverty and Pollution Case Study - Term Paper Example In later part of 20th century, the industrialization process was still young in the developing world, and so they were not in a position to change gear and switch to environmentally friendly technology. Many developing countries are still not able to tackle the problem of environmental pollution because it is not economically feasible for them to invest in environmental friendly technology. The issue of environmental pollution will be discussed in the paper with regards to developing countries. A global plan for pollution control will also be laid down in the end of the paper. Third world countries are more prone to environmental pollution than the developed countries because businesses in the third-world countries pay little heed towards environmental concern (Taylor, 2002). The moral repercussions of environmental pollution in the third-world countries are substantial. When businesses pollute the oceans, rivers, lands, and atmosphere of third world countries, they indirectly affect the health of the inhabitants of those countries. This is why the act of pollution can never be ethically justified. Environmental pollution in the third-world countries can also not be justified through argument of economic progress. There is no doubt that industries and businesses offer employment opportunities to local people which is instrumental in improving their living standards. But this opportunity comes at the price of their health and this cannot be ethical. Basic ethics demands that every person is given employment opportunity without compromising his health or the health of others. When businesses pollute the environment of a third-world country, they endanger the health of the people of that country. This is why there is not sound ethical justification for doing so. Businesses in the third-world countries have many reasons to ignore pollution control. The cost of investing in environmentally friendly equipment is extremely

Film Music Appreciation Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Film Music Appreciation - Term Paper Example Film scores before the 1930s were not sophisticated enough compared to what is being experienced now. The technology at that time limited music in film, motion pictures were soundless. In theaters, to enhance the experience of plays, producers included playing piano and other musical instruments to match up the scenes in the play. The development of music score started in the 1930s, at this time classical music was commonly included in the film. The following decade, 1940s, saw the inclusion of music score in films to improve the characters and plots in the film. During the half part of 20th century, 1950s, music score became symphonic. Music composers were intrigued with including different genres of music in film and Jazz was one of them since it was cheap to compose. In the 1960s, more advancement in the field of film score was witnessed in the form of including rock music in a movie as a sound track. In the 1970s, composers of film music focused on perfecting the techniques of fi lm score in movies. From the 1980s, through the 1990s on to the 21st century, tremendous developments have been achieved. In particular, composing of music has taken a new dimension. Currently composing of film score is not only limited to orchestras, but synthesized sounds have become a common inclusion in films. It has become cheap and faster to compose film scores since through technology one person is capable of producing music with various instrumental sounds at a shorter time (Wierzbicki 36). The film director is highly instrumental when it comes to the time of defining the function of a film score in a particular film. The main function of a film score is providing the movie with music. The music is necessary in that it helps in the exemplification of a scene. Source music is included in the film with the objective of making the characters react to it. The reaction is through a character playing music or in a different case the characters hearing

Bsn vs Associate Degree in Nursing Essay Example for Free

Bsn vs Associate Degree in Nursing Essay Nursing is a knowledge based discipline, which focuses on the wholeness of human being. (Faucett, 1933. ) As per definition nurses are playing great role in modern medicine, either with an associate degree or as bachelor of nursing degree. Both, with the same licensure, the Registered Nurse. Nurse. The Associate dDegree nNurse(ADN) takes a shorter path of two years where the BSN takes longer one with 4 years of education to complete the degree. When we compare the data collected by various groups of nursing professionals, it is evident that the mortality rate, medication errors and patient outcomes are largely improved with high number of BSN onboard. The ADNAssociate degree nurse program was introduced to minimize the nursing shortage during post, second world warSecond World War. Even though The Goldmark report in 1923 recommended that the entry level of education for professional practice as a registered nurse should be a bachelorBachelor of Science in nursing (BSN), the new Associate degree nurse programs, gained much popularity among health care settings, and continuesprograms, gained much popularity among health care settings, and continue even today. Associate degree nursing programs are more to task oriented, where BSN program is based on theory and research. The needs of patients are changing on a daily basis, the need for higher education for nurses is in great demand.. Nurses are advocates of patient population, so be prepared to have the knowledge to help them, in preventive medicine, risk reduction, disease management, public health and over all provide a safe environment as per Nightingales theory of environment. When you compare work of an associate degree nurse with a BSN on a daily basis you could see the differences of approaches between associate degree nurse and a BSN. In this author’s experience, an associate degree nurse is well oriented to practical side of nursing, which is well evidenced. When comes to a patient with MRSA infection of an amputated limp site, the Associate degree nurse, is quick to get the patient pain meds, help with positioning, dressing changes, and maintains a clean environment, maintains contact isolation and provided emotional support. Whereas the BSN is there to teach the patient and family about prevention of infection, promotion of healing by correct diet choices, increasing activity and maintain the previous activity level, and prevent progression of infection and further loss. Also coordinated the care with dietary, physical therapy, occupational therapy, social services and case management services etc, thus provided the patient a smooth transition to the new life as a right above knee amputee. The BSN did investigate about the support groups, prosthesis options, family dynamics, and so on. In this situation one could clearly see the different ways of an associate nurse in their scope of practice vsvs. BSN performed through evidence based nursing practices. The expectation to the future of nursing is that, nurse should be capable of maintaining a patient’s over all well being, mentally, physically, socially and emotionally. One could obtain those qualities through proper education and adapting multiple ways of thinking. The ability of clinical reasoning is very important. The clinical picture of patient is changing, always ask yourself, why, what and how. Why the clinical picture is changing, what are the causes, and how can we correct that. For this we have to understand the metaparadigm of nursing, explained by the founders of nursing. A nurse also should have the clinical imagination, scientific and creative reasoning. The new age of nursing is characterized by a synthesis of facts and ideas that generate principles and theories. (Rogers,1994) . One could only achieve that by advancing one’s education to a higher level. Once you reach that level, the horizon is wide; you could further advance your studies to masters programs, nurse practitioner in various disciplines, go for doctorate programs etc. etc. In a study report from International Jjournal of nursingof Nursing sStudies, June 2009, headed by Dr. Kkoen Van den Heede found a major link between the number of BSN on cardiac care units and hospital mortality. Data analyzed from different countries including Canada, Belgium, Netherlands and USA. The result showed there were 4. 9 percentages fewer deaths per 1000 patients on intensive care units with higher number of nurses with BSN degree. Linda Aiken and her associates, in their Landmark study in 2003 showed a strong connection between the educational level of registered nurses and patient outcomes. Substantial survival advantage noted specially in surgical patient population. , Even as little as 10% increase in the BSN degree holders make a difference in patient death and failure to rescue by 5%. A highly educated nursing work force is essential to the future of nursing. In short, the medial world is changing, so as the patient. So it is imperative that, the nursing work force should change to meet the needs of future health care. So here the transition from associate degree nurse to BSN is much more appreciated and welcomed. Reference: -The reference page is a separate page. This is not APA format. Creating a more highly qualified nursing workforce (fact Sheet) Retrieved from http//www. aacn. nche. edu/media/factsheets/nursingwrkf. htm: Retrieved on 01/06/2012 from Creasia Friberge, The Bridge to Professional Practice, Conceptual foundations 5th edition.

Importance of Stakeholders

Importance of Stakeholders Project management is the discipline of supervising all the different resources and aspects of the project in such a way so that the resources will deliver all the output that is required to complete the project within the defined scope, time, and cost constraints (Lewis A. , 2010). It is the application of skill, knowledge, tools and techniques to project activities to achieve project requirements. It can be accomplished through the application of initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling and closing (Lewis, 2007). This is mainly done in order to meet the exceeding needs and expectations of the stakeholders (Introduction to Project Management Principles, 2003). The call for project management was determined by the various businesses that realised the benefits of organising, communicating and co-ordinating work across the various departments and professions. This helps in coordinating the various resources of a project durning the project initiation stage so that by the time the project has begun its work all stakeholders and team members will have a clear cut understanding and acceptance of the process, methodology and expected outcomes of the project. (Lewis A. , 2010) Stakeholders refers to those individuals or a group who has vested interest in the outcome or the results of the body of a work in an organisation. (Johnson, Scholes, Whittington, 2008) defined stakeholders as the people or small groups who depend on the organisation to fulfill their own goals and on whom, in turn, the organisation depends. They may be actively involved in the project and may have an interest on the total performance or completion of the project. They have the power to exert positive or negative influence over the project, its deliverables and its team members.(Bourne, 2009). Hence stakeholders can be called as the key people involved in a project. They have an interest in the execution of the project, getting the approvals and resources, and they also have a stake in the project outcome. Although they may not have an official role on the project, these are the people who will ultimately estimate the success or failure of a project (Koning, 2009). IMPORTANCE OF STAKEHOLDERS All projects, in spite of its size, needs to have a clear cut idea and agreement about: who will decide the requirements of the project, the budget, resources, standards and in case of any change in the project, who will do the authorization of the changes and so on. Although a project manager could independently decide all these factors, unless and until the key stakeholders agree to the decision made, the project will not be able to progress and will have no scope for success (Koning, 2009). STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT The term stakeholder engagement is budding as a means of describing a broader, more inclusive, and continuous process. It takes place between the company and the potentially impacted stakeholders that encompasses a range of activities, approaches and, the entire span of a project. The change that is likely to occur reflects the broader change in the business and financial worlds. It increasingly recognizes the business and reputational risks that may occur as a result of poor stakeholder relations. It also places a growing emphasis on corporate social responsibility, transparency and reporting (Corporation, 2007) . Stakeholder engagement can therefore be defined as the process of effectively eliciting the stakeholders views on their relationship with the organization (Friedman Miles, 2006). Stakeholder engagement is increasingly becoming a part of mainstream business and is being used to improve communications, obtain wider community support or buy-in for projects, gather useful data and ideas, enhance public sector or corporate reputation and encourages more sustainable decision making (Gray, 2002). Without proper engagement of the stakeholders, it is impossible to have a common abiding agreement, ownership and support for a particular project. Any company or an organisation is likely to benefit if it takes care of the environment in which it is operating and aiming to meet the needs of its stakeholders (Gray, 2002). Stakeholder engagement gives the impression of corporate responsibility. It appears evident that if an organisation shows commitment, through policy and practice, to stakeholder involvement it is acting responsibly towards these stakeholders: the more an organisation engages with its stakeholders, the more accountable and responsible that organisation is t owards these stakeholders (Greenwood, 2007). It is traditionally seen as a corporate responsibility in action. The impetus behind the use of the term engagement in corporate social responsibility (CSR) is the need to emphasize that, for firms merely to interact with stakeholders is no longer sufficient and the interaction with stakeholders is a logically necessary activity of business (Noland Phillips, 2010). WHY ENGAGE WITH STAKEHOLDERS IS NECESSARY? Effective stakeholder engagement relies on a commitment to engage and communicate openly and honestly with stakeholders. The benefits an organization gets from stakeholder engagement activities are cooperation on operations/activities and at times on policy development as well. It enhances the community confidence and creates a more user-friendly, community/industry targeted service. Future costs can be reduced: for example, times spend in managing the crises with regard to the confidence level of the stakeholders can be avoided. It also helps in improving the access to emerging issues and communities, and helps in gaining the capacity to handle them before they develop a negative vibe in the community. This will include avoiding negative press releases. In the case of changes and benefits that can take place inside the organisation are as follows: It increases the organisational effectiveness which will result in more effective and efficient practice and high quality policy input within the organisation It enhances the two-way communication skills and better understanding on both sides and thereby bridges the cultural gaps. It develops a culture of innovation and learning, for example by building the knowledge into our decisions and practices. Simplifies the conflict resolution through building trust, and a clearer articulation of what cannot be resolved. STAKEHOLDERS ENGAGEMENT PLANNING Often the importance of stakeholder engagement is overlooked. It allows you to identify strengths and weaknesses and ultimately develop strategies to engage effectively. The stakeholder engagement is a critical element to the success of the project and it may be useful to develop a stakeholder engagement plan. For this, various sources, conventional and unconventional is used such as the media, online, literature or even word of mouth. As a part of the analysis, it is important to examine existing, current and past relationships, available resources and constraints and the desirable outcomes it looks forward to. For this purpose, the different desired outcomes of the stakeholders as well as the stakeholders engagement processes is analysed and studied. DESIRED OUTCOMES Desired outcomes are nothing but the overall aims of the engagement process. The desired outcomes for undertaking stakeholder engagement process would be Improved personal or working relationships Changed attitudes Improved communication channels Promotion of expansive circle of responsibility for actions and decisions Identification of key issues, conflicts and benefits Creation of new ideas Establishment of new orderly partnerships Improved services for society Change in policy Cost savings to long term Betterment of individual and organisational learning Local support and hostility supported for a new initiative Increased community union and strengthened shared identity (Gray, 2002) STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT PROCESSES Stakeholder is an umbrella term which incorporates range of activities and interactions over the project life cycle. These activities can be divided into following components (Corporation, 2007): Stakeholder Identification and Analysis Information Disclosure Stakeholder Consultation Negotiation and Partnerships Stakeholder Involvement in Project Monitoring Reporting to Stakeholders (Appendix 2) STAKEHOLDER IDENTIFICATION AND ANALYSIS When it comes to identifying the key stakeholders, the project sponsor works along with the project manager to identify the stakeholders. Stakeholders may comprise of a wide range of people that come from different areas of business. It may be people from senior management, human resources, finance, marketing and IT departments. They typically have a particular business stream and their interest in the project is focused on the needs of their particular area. Some stakeholders will have more interest and involvement than the others. (Koning, 2009) When identifying stakeholders, it may be helpful to first determine the most relevant dimensions: organisational unit, process, function, job role, geographic area and so on. It is more important to consider the external stakeholders including partners, suppliers, customers, customers cutomers, consumers and those who would wish they were not stakeholders, such as victims of crimes etc (Bradley, 2006). It is quite important to note that stakeholders are selected with a verification process. It is necessary to ensure that all relevant parties are represented and those participants indicate the interests of those they claim to speak on behalf of (Friedman Miles, 2006). Once the identificationis completed, the group of stakeholders are analysised. It is important to understand the interests and opinions of every stakeholder as they may affect the project work. All the stakeholders may not share the same opinion and may have a unified opinion or priorities. Hence conducting a stakeholder analysis has become so important because of its increased interconnected nature of the world (Ketti, 2002). Hence, finding out what the problemis and what is the right solutions might be taken as a way to overcome this problem. This will also help in identifying the stakeholders who are a part of this crucial aspect of problem solving (Bardach, 1998). Stakeholder Analyses mainly helps in better organisational performance and fulfilling its mission. Fulfilling the mission should arise from producing fundamental decisions and actions that shape and guide what the organisation is, what it does and why it does it (Bryson, 1995). Hence it is quite important to study and f ind out the key players amongst the stakeholders itself for the successful completion of the project. Again as said above, the success of the project, not only depends on being able to deliver customers demand but also in being able to met all the stakeholder expectations as well.. The selected stakeholders play a primary task in making the important decisions during the time of initiation, planning and execution of the project. The five primary project stakeholders that are present in most of the projects are: the project manager, the project team, the functional management, the sponsor, and the customer.ÂÂ   In a larger sense, anyone who participates in the project or is impacted by its results is a stakeholder. Each stakeholder has an essential contribution to make and they need to meet their expectations. Contribution made by different people to the project is the principal criteria for identifying stakeholders (Project Stakeholders, their Roles and Contribution, 2006) (Appendix 1) COMMUNICATION IN STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT The core of all relationships is communication and stakeholder engagement is essentially a complex relationship. Negotiation occurs when two or more people are prepared to bargain to achieve a mutually acceptable solution. It is important to acknowledge the effects it might have on the relationship with the organization. Communication also involves being open and honest about the objectives and planned activities. The stakeholders should be communicated in the loop as much as possible, whether it is through email trails, phone calls or face to face engagement. The latter is often the most effective form of stakeholder engagement as it gives the relationship a more human element. A well-informed stakeholder can prevent a project from continuing on a path that will fail to deliver the required benefits, by highlighting issues and concerns as soon as they arise. (Koning, 2009) STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVEMENT IN THE PROJECT MONITORING Stakeholders involvement in any project improves the progression of the project and as project monitoring consists of collection of the data and reporting information according to the project plans, budget and requirements, stakeholder involvement and interaction is needed (Tammer, 2009). The assessment and reporting technique should depend on the size and complicatedness of the project and stakeholder position. If the stakeholders are lacking the required skills in monitoring, then adequate training need to be provided to them for fostering the participatory monitoring. The participation of the project affected stakeholders in monitoring the social and environmental affects is a good practice. External monitoring can lead to the development of trust between the project and the primary stakeholders. CONCLUSION The stakeholder engagement always provides opportunities to further align business practices with community needs and expectations aiding to drive long term sustainability and shareholder value. Stakeholder engagement must take place if the organisation truly needs the inputs from the people involved in the business for decision making. The stakeholder engagement planning should be done in such a manner that it remains beneficial to the organisation. Stakeholder engagement assists any organisation to compete with its rivals in a complex and changing business climates. Works Cited Bardach, E. (1998). Getting Agencies to Work Together. Washington: Brookings Institution Press. Bourne, L. (2009, September 22). Who is a Stakeholder? Retrieved March 20, 2011, from Project Management Institute: http://blogs.pmi.org/blog/voices_on_project_management/2009/09/who-is-a-stakeholder.html Bradley, G. (2006). Benefit Realisation Management. A Practical Guide to Achieving Benefits through change . Bryson, J. (1995). Strategic Planning for Public and Nonprofit Organization. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Corporation, I. F. (2007). Stakeholder Engagement: A Good Practice Handbook for Companies Doing Business in Emerging Markets. Washington: International Finance corporation. Friedman, A. L., Miles, S. (2006). Stakeholders: Theory and Practice. New York: Oxford University Press. Gray, R. (2002). The Social Accounting Project and Accounting Organizations and Society (Vol. 27). Accounting Organizations and Society. Greenwood, M. (2007). Stakeholder Engagement: Beyond the Myth of Corporate Responsibility. Journal of Business Ethics , 74, 315-327. Introduction to Project Management Principles. (2003). Retrieved March 20, 2011, from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada: http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/hip/lld/olt/resources/toolkit/project_management/project_management_intro.shtml Johnson, G., Scholes, K., Whittington, R. (2008). Exploring corporate strategy: text and cases. Peason Education. Ketti, D. (2002). TheTransformation of Governance: Public Adminitration Twenty-First Century America. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. Koning, L. (2009, May 1). Project Stakeholders. Retrieved March 22, 2011, from Insightful Writers: http://www.suite101.com/content/project-stakeholders-a114023 Lewis, A. (2010). Introduction to Project Management. Retrieved March 20, 2011, from Project Smart: http://www.projectsmart.co.uk/introduction-project-management.html Lewis, J. P. (2007). Fundamentals of Project Management. New York: AMACOM, American Management Assciation. Noland, J., Phillips, R. (2010). Stakeholder Engagement, Discourse Ethics and Strategic Management. International Journal of Management Reviews , 39-49. Project Stakeholders, their Roles and Contribution. (2006). Retrieved March 28, 2011, from Business e-coaching: http://www.1000ventures.com/business_guide/crosscuttings/project_stakeholders.html Stakeholders Engagement. (2010, October 25). Retrieved March 28, 2011, from Continuous Developer: http://continuousdevelopment.wordpress.com/2010/10/25/stakeholder-engagement/ Tammer, M. D. (2009). Early stakeholder involvement in projects. PM World Today , 9 (4). Bibliography Bardach, E. (1998). Getting Agencies to Work Together. Washington: Brookings Institution Press. Bourne, L. (2009, September 22). Who is a Stakeholder? Retrieved March 20, 2011, from Project Management Institute: http://blogs.pmi.org/blog/voices_on_project_management/2009/09/who-is-a-stakeholder.html Bradley, G. (2006). Benefit Realisation Management. A Practical Guide to Achieving Benefits through change . Bryson, J. (1995). Strategic Planning for Public and Nonprofit Organization. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Carroll, A. B., Buccholtz, A. K. (2008). Business and Society: Ethics and Stakeholder. Management. Mason: Cengage Learning. Condrey, S. E. (2005). Handbook of Human Resource Management in Government. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Corporation, I. F. (2007). Stakeholder Engagement: A Good Practice Handbook for Companies Doing Business in Emerging Markets. Washington: International Finance corporation. Friedman, A. L., Miles, S. (2006). Stakeholders: Theory and Practice. New York: Oxford University Press. Gray, R. (2002). The Social Accounting Project and Accounting Organizations and Society (Vol. 27). Accounting Organizations and Society. Greenwood, M. (2007). Stakeholder Engagement: Beyond the Myth of Corporate Responsibility. Journal of Business Ethics , 74, 315-327. Introduction to Project Management Principles. (2003). Retrieved March 20, 2011, from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada: http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/hip/lld/olt/resources/toolkit/project_management/project_management_intro.shtml Johnson, G., Scholes, K., Whittington, R. (2008). Exploring corporate strategy: text and cases. Peason Education. Ketti, D. (2002). TheTransformation of Governance: Public Adminitration Twenty-First Century America. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. Koning, L. (2009, May 1). Project Stakeholders. Retrieved March 22, 2011, from Insightful Writers: http://www.suite101.com/content/project-stakeholders-a114023 Lewis, A. (2010). Introduction to Project Management. Retrieved March 20, 2011, from Project Smart: http://www.projectsmart.co.uk/introduction-project-management.html Lewis, J. P. (2007). Fundamentals of Project Management. New York: AMACOM, American Management Assciation. Noland, J., Phillips, R. (2010). Stakeholder Engagement, Discourse Ethics and Strategic Management. International Journal of Management Reviews , 39-49. Phillips, R. (1997). Stakeholder Theory and a Principle of Fairness. Business Ethics Quarterly , 7, 51-66. Project Stakeholders, their Roles and Contribution. (2006). Retrieved March 28, 2011, from Business e-coaching: http://www.1000ventures.com/business_guide/crosscuttings/project_stakeholders.html Stakeholders Engagement. (2010, October 25). Retrieved March 28, 2011, from Continuous Developer: http://continuousdevelopment.wordpress.com/2010/10/25/stakeholder-engagement/ Tammer, M. D. (2009). Early stakeholder involvement in projects. PM World Today , 9 (4). APPENDIX APPENDIX 1 KEY STAKEHOLDER IN A PROJECT Internal Stakeholder External Stakeholders Project sponsor Customers Functional Department Government Corporate Leadership Competitors Other Project Teams Joint Venture Partners Employees Vendors Unions Investors/ Shareholders

The Great Gatsby -The Valley of Ashes versus Toms House :: essays research papers

F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby is, at first sight, a novel about wealth, idealism, and social class. However it soon reveals its author’s true intensions and ideals. F. Scott Fitzgerald uses symbolism to produce immense emotion. He not only uses it on the characters but on the places and even objects found in the novel. Two example of symbolism and what they truly represent are, The Valley of Ashes and Tom and Daisy’s house. The Valley of Ashes was first introduced in Chapter II, its located between West Egg and New York City, it consists of a long stretch of desolate land created by the dumping of industrial ashes. It represents the moral and social decay that results from being part of the lower class, as the rich only worry for their pleasures. The Valley of Ashes also symbolizes the unfortunate conditions of the lower class, like George and Myrtle Wilson, who live among the dirty ashes and lose their durability as a result. In other words, The Valley of ashes can also be referred to as â€Å"the symbol of failure of the American dream†. Tom and Daisy’s house is a fairly large and well elaborated colonial mansion, located on East Egg, the rich and prestigious side where only the people who are â€Å"truly rich† live, not the ones that have made their fortunes themselves. Tom and Daisy’s house is spacious, just like their marriage, but it has nice furniture and antiques so that it appears to be comfortable and old fashioned, and anyone would assume that a happy family lives in it. Tom and Daisy, like the house, are not really happy, or in love, but they have all the right properties and conveniences to cover up the real situation, their huge marital problems. Fitzgerald’s description of Tom Buchanan’s huge house not only symbolizes his marriage but Tom and his values. The red and white colors in the mansion represent his personality. Red in this case is an example of impurity and boldness, while white represents Tom’s superiority towards others. This huge house represents nothing but Tom and Daisy’s marital problems and Tom’s arrogant attitude. This two places and its inhabitants at first glance appear to be very

Hamlets Sanity Essay -- Shakespeare Hamlet

Hamlet's Sanity Throughout Shakespeare?s play, Hamlet, the main character, young Hamlet, is faced with the responsibility of attaining vengeance for his father?s murder. He decides to feign madness as part of his plan to gain the opportunity to kill Claudius. As the play progresses, his depiction of a madman becomes increasingly believable, and the characters around him react accordingly. However, through his inner thoughts and the apparent reasons for his actions, it is clear that he is not really mad and is simply an actor simulating insanity in order to fulfill his duty to his father. Hamlet only claims madness because it allows him to say and perform actions he otherwise would be prohibited from, while keeping people from taking his actions seriously. This seems to be part of his initial plan that is first mentioned when he asks Horatio and Marcellus not to make any remarks in relation to his ?antic disposition (1.5.192).? Hamlet?s madness allows him to talk to Claudius, Gertrude, Ophelia, and Polonius in a manner unsuitable for a prince. He is often disrespectful and insulting in his remarks. Although his acting backfires during his speech to Gertrude, Hamlet is able to severely criticize her for her actions because she thinks he is insane. During the play he also makes many sexual innuendos and even blatantly sexual remarks towards Ophelia such as ?That?s a fair thought to lie between maids? legs (3.2.125).? His convincing insanity act gives him the chance to vent his anger towards Ophelia for her abandonment. Similarly, in another scene, he is able to tell Polonius his true feelings through his guise. Upon Polonius deciding to ?take leave? of Hamlet, Hamlet replies, ?You cannot, take from me anything that I will more willingly part withal (2.2.233).? Furthermore, Hamlet uses his madness as almost an excuse, and definitely part of his apology, towards Laertes for his murdering of Polonious. Would a madman be able realize he was mad and call his actions uncontrollable? Were it not for his ?madness? he would have been reprimanded rather than feared, pitied, or ignored. Hamlet?s madness redirects attention away from what he is thinking about his father?s death, and puts it on why he has gone insane. This allows only himself to know what he is truly thinking, does not require him to answer any questions as to why he might be acting strange, a... ...th him in case he is biased. A madman would not have had the foresight, reason, or possibly even care, to think in this very organized fashion. Even when questioning whether ?to be or not to be (3.1.64)? Hamlet is sane in his thinking. He measures the ?pros and cons? of his situation, and although at this point he appears mad to most everyone, he is most definitely sane in thought. Hamlet can be considered no worse than an eccentric, determined, and possibly single-minded man, who was made so by his father?s murder and his request for revenge. His feigned madness is maintained because it allows him to continue with his plans. This madness is not, however, sustained when guard is unnecessary. Maybe Hamlet thought too much, but he thought as a sane man would. He commits no actions without reason, and he is far too astute and organized to be proclaimed mentally unstable. Hamlet?s portrayal of a madman is also very complex because it allows not only his points to be made, but in a believably insane way, which contrasts greatly with the expected ramblings of a truly insane person. Bibliography: Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Ed. Cyrus Hoy. 2nd ed. New York: Norton, 1992.

Google Brand Strategy Essay

This paper will give you an inside look as to how Google Inc. has evolved into a multi-billion dollar empire since it was first developed in 1996 by two Stanford University graduates working out of a garage. The paper will also compare Google to its strongest competitors in the search engine, web advertising and mobile phone industries. The paper will also reveal what the key elements to success are in those industries. The paper will also detail the resources and key competencies that Google has to make them the leading internet search engine with over 60 percent of market shares. The paper will also discuss the business model and strategies used by Google to help them become one of the fastest growing companies in history. The paper will also touch briefly on some of the threats and weaknesses they face in the marketplace. The paper will also include a recommendation to Google’s top management to help them sustain its competitive edge and financial success in the industry. Background History and Company Growth In 1996, Stanford students Larry Page and Sergey Brin teamed up to develop a new search engine they named BackRub. They chose this name because of the engines ability to rate websites in relevancy based on metatags and keywords. Backrub was quickly gaining popularity and in 1998 Yahoo’s cofounder, David Filo talked Brin and Page into leaving school to put their focus making Backrub a major part of Yahoo. Backrub was later named Google, which was taken from the word googol. Googol is mathematical term for a number represented by the numeral 1 followed by 100 zeros. The founder of Sun Microsystems was the first person to invest in Google with $100,000 in August of 1998 which raised $1 million by the end of September. Google was named â€Å"Top 100 Web Sites and Search Engines for 1998† by PC Magazine and was recorded successes at record pace. Google saw potential for profits in other segments of the market and made innovative ideas to gain market share. In 2000, their innovations included wireless search technologies, search capabilities in ten languages, and Google Toolbar browser. Google expanded its product line again in 2004 with the launch of Google News, Google Product search, Google Scholar and Google Local. Google’s index of web pages also grew to more than 8 billion and increased its country domain to more than 15. Google then entered the mobile phone market in 2004 when they created a feature allowing users to text a search request and Google would provide results to the search. Google Earth was created in 2005, which was later enhanced in 2010 when it included an Earth View mode allowing users to view 3D images of various locations at ground level. Between 2005 and 2010, Google also added Book Search, Music Search and Video Search. Google created features for its website to include Gmail software, web-based calendar, web-based documents, spreadsheet applications and language translations to accommodate 51 languages. Discuss competition in the search industry. Which of the five competitive forces seems strongest? Weakest? What is your assessment of overall industry attractiveness? Google has been able to sustain its competitive advantage because of the strong relationships they have built with Internet users, advertisers and websites. In 2010, Google was the most visited website with more than 147 million internet users visiting their site on a monthly basis to search for information. Google’s management believes its strongest rivals are Microsoft and Yahoo, although market share rankings from June 2006, June 2009 and May 2010 showed Google has more than twice their competitors combined. Yahoo was first founded in 1994 and in 2010 held the top third position for most visited search engine site. Almost any information available on the web can be viewed through Yahoo’s portal. Yahoo has many of the same features as Google such as, personal calendar, email, news, weather, television listing and online photo albums. Yahoo has also partnered with mobile phones allows users to search from their mobile devices just as Google has done and the searches performed through Yahoo accounted for 35 percent of the market in 2010. Yahoo’s many features and services have generated revenues from many sources. Yahoo’s relationship with Google goes back to 2000 and has at times been cooperative and other times adversarial. In fact, Yahoo was one of Google’s first customers, but in 2002 they parted ways when Yahoo purchased other companies to develop search engines and since then they have been considered rival companies. Another of Google’s top competitors is Microsoft whose revenues in 2009 were approximately $58.4 billion, with $14.6 billion net income. They were able to make these impressive profits through sales of computer software, consulting services, video games hardware and online services. Microsoft’s computer software Windows 7 and Microsoft office raked in half the company’s revenues in 2009 and most of its operating profits. Their online sales of $3.1 billion showed a loss of $2.3 billion during 2009. The online services generated income came from banner ads on the company’s MSN web site and other affiliated sites, as well as search-based ads displayed with Bing results. Microsoft entered the search engine industry during 2004 in an effort to compete with Google. This happened because Microsoft noticed job postings for Google were nearly identical to Microsoft specifications. Microsoft believed Google was attempting to design software applications that compared to Microsoft office such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Google is well aware of the competitive pressures created by its rival and they fully understand what it takes to hold the competitive edge. They created a strategy that would allow themselves to hold their own against its rivals. In their mind, if the competition could do it, so could they. Competition stems from all sorts of directions for Google. They must compete against their rivals like Yahoo and Microsoft in the search engine industry, new entrants to this industry, the product innovations of their rivals, as well as the bargaining powers their rivals may have that they do not. One of the biggest forces of competition is website traffic. If Google can get more internet users to visit their site over MSN or Yahoo, they will have more bargaining power with advertising sales. Google must also obtain qualified employees with the capabilities to compete with the new and innovative products that Microsoft continues to create. Because the search engine sites are so alike, this causes the rivalry between competitors to increase because the products are less differentiated. What are the key factors that define success in the industry? What are the key competencies, and resources of successful search engine companies? Success in the search industry can be defined by looking at several different factors. One of the most obvious signs of success is revenue growth. Google’s revenues from its websites have grown from $792,063 in 2003 to $15,722,486 in 2009 as stated on its 10-k reports. Revenues from licensing have grown from $45,271 in 2003 to $761,759 in 2009. However the value of their stock reached the high point in 2008 at just over $700 per share and has dropped to below $300 in 2008, gained a little in 2009 and dropped again in 2010 to around $450. Some analysts believe Google’s recent decline in revenue and earnings stemmed from their decisions to increase stock prices in order to achieve revenue and growth earnings that pushed the boundaries of their corporate philosophy of making money without doing evil. In order to be successful, Google must continue to develop innovative products at features to better meet the needs of its customers. They need to offer these products at lower prices than their competitors as well. Have Google’s business model and strategy proven to be successful? Should investors be impressed with the company’s financial performance? How does the company’s financial performance compare to that of Microsoft and Yahoo? Google’s innovative products and business acquisitions have all played a part into their strategy directed at increasing the company’s market share in internet advertising. The addition of these products has increased traffic to Google’s website, and therefore, has given them more opportunities to advertise to Internet users. The strategy to dominate the internet advertising market was designed to be worldwide. China was a market that they were particularly interested in taking over since they have more than 300 million users. Unfortunately for Google, China was not as interested in this and they were faced with challenges from their local search provider, Baidu and the Chinese government. As of 2009, only 31 percent of China’s internet users searched using Google and 64 percent used Baidu. Google’s business strategy included creating new products and features for the mobile phone industry. In 2010, 234 million people owned mobile phones, with 30 percent having internet access from their devices. Google first introduced its Android operating system in 2008 free of charge to any phone manufacturer marketing mobile phones with internet capability. The applications included the operating system had Wi-Fi capability, email, web-based calendar, Google Earth maps, and GPS. T-Mobile was the first to use Google’s Android operating system with the launch of G1 in September 2008. The G1 had many of the same features as Apple’s iPhone, but much less expensive. The Android operating system was extremely successful with its market share, increasing from zero in 2008 to 13 percent in May of 2010. Another area of Google’s business strategy focused on computer software programs used by businesses. Senior management believed the programs would move from local hard drives to the Internet. These is referred to as cloud computing. The market was believed to grow to as much as $95 million by 2013. The move would offer many benefits to corporate users such as lower software acquisition costs, lower computer support costs, and easier collaboration amongst employees in different locations. Google first launched its beta version of free word processing and spreadsheet in 2006 and later relaunched in 2008 to compete with Microsoft’s Office products. In 2008, Google launched its Chrome Browser and Chrome operating system, specifically to accommodate cloud commuting applications. The Chrome browser was created with a multiprocessor design that allowed users to operate spreadsheets, word processing, video editing and other applications simultaneously. Each tab opened a new window so if one crashed the other applications running would not be affected. Also in 2009, Google made agreements with Acer, Hewlett-Packard and Lenovo to start production of netbooks that used Chrome OS and Chrome browser to access cloud-based Google apps software. Google’s business strategy also included expanding into the television market. In 2010, Google teamed up with Intel, Sony, Logitech, Best Buy, DISH Network, and Adobe to develop Google TV. Google TV was built on the Android platform, running the Chrome browser to search live networks and cable programming that streamed videos from providers such as Netflix, Amazon on demand videos, and YouTube. Google TV users would be able to use their televisions to browse the web and run cloud based applications. Google’s business strategy also focused on the addition of targeted advertising placed alongside search results on its website. Google Adwords increased annual revenues from $220,000 in 1999 to more than $86 million in 2001. These ads were prices using an auction system, where uses bid on keywords that described their product or service. What are the company’s key resources and competitive capabilities? What competitive liabilities and resource weaknesses does it have? What opportunities exist? What threats to its continued success are present? In order for Google to have continued success in the search engine industry, they need to have resources and capabilities to create competitive advantage over its rivals. Many of theses resources needed for success are intangibles. They included human assets and intellectual capital. This means having employees with experience, education, creativity and innovation to develop new products and features to compete with its rivals. Another important resource is their company image. Google’s 10 principles’ of Corporate philosophy includes â€Å"You can make money without doing evil†. Their image is different from many other businesses. Google believes in conducting business in unconventional ways. They believe their work should be challenging, but fun. The company puts emphasis on team achievement and individual accomplishments that contribute to the company’s overall success. They work in a place where there is great communication and camaraderie in order to have the tools necessary to produced Google users with the information they are seeking. Google also believes being great will not make them successful. They must anticipate the future needs of its user and develop innovate product and services in order to be successful in the search engine industry. Building relationships or alliances with suppliers is another key component of success. These relationships can help to reduce costs and enhance product quality and performance. A perfect example of this relationship is Google offering its Android operating free of charge to mobile phone providers or its collaboration with Sony, Logitech, Best Buy and DISH network to develop Google TV. Some of the tangible resources needed for success include financial assets, technological assets and organizational resources. Google must have cash and marketable securities in order to finance new products and investments as well as pay dividends to its stock holders. Some technological assets are its copyrights and production technology. Production technology refers to the processes used to develop new products to compete with its competitors. Organizational resources included the company’s workstations and servers used in developing these products. Some of the threats that Google faces in the industry include new entrants in the market and product innovations from its competitors. Overall, Google has done a relatively good job in competing with the development of competitors products. They created the Android operating system in order to enter the mobile phone industry and they are developing new applications for cloud commuting to compete with Microsoft office software. They need not worry too much about the entrance of new businesses as they have developed a brand and corporate image that has already earned loyalty from many consumers. What recommendations would you make to Google’s top management team to sustain its competitive advantage in the search industry? How should it best capitalize on its strategic initiatives in mobile phones, cloud computing, emerging markets, and other venues? Because Google’s rivals are competing with relatively the same products, I would suggest to Goggle’s top management to focus in conducting business in an ethical manner that conforms with the business philosophy. They have received much criticism recently because of their impressive revenues growth during the recession. They need to focus on building their brand image that consumers are appealed by. I would also suggest finding ways to offer products and services at a lower price to its consumers in order to dominate the market. With products being so comparable and easily substituted they need to compete on price. It would be in Google’s best interest to focus on the markets in the United States and Canada , rather than in China. China does not want them competing there and they are spending too much time and money trying to get in when there is plenty of opportunity here. The only thing they are gaining from this is bad publicity. It would be in the best interest of the company to put much of their focus on the thing they do best and that is the search engine. Google should stay with the industries they have performed well in, such as search engine and mobile phones. Their biggest competitor, Microsoft, is the leader in innovative products and they will most likely be more successful than Google in the cloud commuting market because businesses are familiar with their products and have already created a following where Google has not. They should focus on the areas they do well in and leave the other markets to competitors. Management needs to add features to make their current products more appealing to consumer rather than looking for new markets to enter. References Thompson, A., Peteraf, M., Gamble, J., & Strickland III, A. J. (2012). Crafting and executing strategy. (18 Edition ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Thompson, A. A., Peteraf, M. A., Gamble, J. E., & Strickland, A. J. (2012). Cases m for crafting and executing strategy. (19 ed., Vol. 1). The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

A 20th Century Leader

‘Robert Kennedy: His Life’ is the autobiography of Robert F. Kennedy (popularly referred to as RFK). It was written by Evan Thomas, a former senior editor of Newsweek in Washington.He was the first biographer to have access to Kennedy’s personal papers as attorney general. Thought the book contains no shocking revelations, there is a lot of fresh information gathered from Robert’s surviving colleagues, files and other sources. In the book, Thomas gives an elucidation of the man’s strengths as well as failures, and discloses the complex web of relationships in the Kennedy family.Depicting RFK as a man whose ‘house had a lot of mansions’, Thomas refers to him as ‘the lucky one’. Throughout the book, Thomas brings out the many phases of Kennedy’s personality. He was a very rich individual who could act like a spoiled child one day, and show sympathy to the minorities the next. Though the book honors a man whose potential was cut short too soon, Thomas’ book focuses on a man, a family and an era about whom Americans will never fully understand.Robert was the younger brother of U.S. President John F. Kennedy (JFK). Born on November 20, 1925, he was the seventh born of Rose Fitzgerald and Joseph P. Kennedy. After living in Brookline, Massachusetts for two years, Robert and his family moved severally to mansions located in different parts of New York such as Riversdale and Bronxville.Robert schooled at Riversdale and Bronxville elementary schools till 5th grade, and then moved to Riverdale Country School for 6th grade. In 1938 when 12 years old, Robert took his first trip abroad with his family to England, where his father was serving as an American envoy. After finishing high school in 1943, Robert was drafted into the U.S. Naval Reserve as a trainee seaman.Robert Kennedy’s involvement in politicsAccording to Brian (1996), when World War II broke out, Robert took a break from studies at Harvard and joined the U.S. Navy. After the war, he went on to complete his studies and graduated with a law degree from University of Virginia. In the 1950s, he served as a counsel to a US Senate committee probing labor unions, leading to his open feud with the Teamsters leader Jimmy Hoffa.Robert’s political career is more closely associated with his brother, JFK. He oversaw JFK’s successful campaigns for the US Senate in 1952 and the presidency in 1960, and then was appointed as Attorney General in John’s administration.He was at the forefront of enforcing civil rights measures in the South and became the president’s closest adviser on all issues, for example foreign policy matters such as the Cuban missile crisis. After his brother’s assassination in 1963, Robert continued to serve in the Lyndon Johnson government as Attorney General and was unhappy that Johnson overlooked him for vice-presidency in 1964.Robert ran successfully for senator of Ne w York. As senator, he was loved by African Americans and other minorities such as immigrant groups and Native Americans. He spoke convincingly in favor of the excluded, disaffected and impoverished, hence getting the support of social justice campaigners and leaders of the civil rights struggle.He backed President Johnson on domestic matters, particularly civil rights and the war on poverty, but did agree with him over the war in Vietnam. By 1968, he was one of the most vocal advocates against the American policy on Vietnam. On domestic policy however, he became more and more liberal and developed a soft spot for the dispossessed and the minorities.Robert declared his candidacy for the US presidency in early 1968. He was assassinated on June, 5, 1968 at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles just after delivering a speech to his supporters upon capturing the California primary. He was pronounced dead the following morning.Attitudes and ApproachAccording to Brian (1996), Robert as a ch ild was frequently the target of his father’s domineering temperament. However as he got older, he won the admiration of his father and brothers through his competitiveness. During his brother’s campaigns, Robert was more tenacious, passionate and involved than the candidate himself, aggressively tackling every detail and fighting every battle.