Management And Business Context Essay †Free Samples for Student

Question: Discuss About The Management And Business Context Essay? Answer: Introducation The business environment is dynamic and changes are taking place at a very fast speed which affects the products and services offered. Innovations have resulted in a rise in the level of competition prevailing in the business environment. A shift has been analysed in the Bottled water industry towards the Flavoured water. There is a potential market available for this product. Plans have been formulated for starting a new company and name of the company will be Hardy Aqua which will offer flavoured water. Hardy aqua will be operating in the bottled water industry of Australia. For establishing Hardy Aqua in the market of Australia few strategies will be adopted. These strategies include competitive pricing strategy, seeking advice, product differentiation and marketing strategies (Cohan, 2012). Hardy Aqua will set the prices after analysing the prices of existing companies in the industry. This will help in attracting the customers. Advice will be taken from the experts so as to gain knowledge of the industry and support from the expert (Isaksson, 2015). It is vital to differentiate the products from the others in the industry. Effective marketing strategies will be selected for the promotion of the products offered. The promotion will be done of the products with the help of print media, advertising and social media platforms (DAvino, et. al., 2015). In this dynamic environment, people are more concern about their health. The vision of Hardy Aqua is to offer quality products for enhancing the health of the customers by ensuring safety. Flavoured water will be offered at a competitive price for meeting the needs of the customers. Hardy Aqua is planning to use advanced technology so as to provide quality products and covering the market. Hardy Aqua will operate at a medium level. Different organisational structures are available which can be used according to the need of the business. Hardy Aqua has analysed different organisational structures for analysing the advantages and disadvantages associated with the organisational structures. Hardy Aqua will adopt the functional organisational structure as it will offer a single product in different flavours. Different departments will be divided into different functions for executing the operations of the different functions in an effective manner (Morgeson, et. al., 2012). The functional organisational structure will provide specialisation and focus on the product in a better manner (Stare, 2011). Different departments will be specialised in the work assigned to them which will enhance the productivity of the company. Every department will have the idea of the job or of the roles and responsibilities which it has to perform (Lam, 2011). Hardy aqua will be offering flavoured water with different flavours which will improve the health of the people. Hardy Aqua needs to analyse the factors of the internal and external environment. There are various factors present in the internal and external environment of the business which creates an impact on the operations and performance of the business. Internal factors include mission and objectives of the company, availability of resources, communication, support from the internal stakeholders of the business and culture of the business (Dragni?, 2014). Missions and objectives of Hardy Aqua provide guidance to the operations of the business. Different resources are required for conducting operations of the business including human resource, financial resources and knowledge. Support from the internal stakeholders enhances the quality of the operations. Hardy Aqua needs to manage its employees in an effective manner for the attainment of the long term goals (Shiamwama, et. al., 2014). Employees will help in performing the different operations of the company in a better manner and will perform the roles and responsibilities by applying their skills and knowledge. Effective communication channels need to be developed which promotes the flow of information in an effective manner. A delegation of the tasks of operations of Hardy Aqua is required and healthy relations need to be maintained with the employees. Another crucial factor of the internal environment of business is culture. Hardy Aqua must ensure that safe workplace is maintained and policies and values are followed by the employees (Yu Zhang, 2010). External environmental factors of the business include suppliers, competitors, government policies, technological changes, economic conditions and cultural factors (Soriano, 2010). These external factors can affect the functioning of Hardy Aqua at large. Hardy Aqua needs to analyse these factors for coping with the changing needs and eliminating the impa ct of these factors on the functioning of the company. It is vital to analyse these factors and cope with them for gaining competitive advantage (Fereidouni, et. al., 2010). A newly started business may face various risks which can affect the operations and existence of the business. These risks must be analysed and dealt in an effective manner for ensuring that the operations are managed properly. Hardy Aqua is planning to launch the products offered by it in the market of Australia. Hardy Aqua may face certain risks which can lead to failure of the business. These risks which can affect the operations of Hardy Aqua include risk related to the product, risk related to finance, risk related to market, risk related to execution, risk related to the team, the risk of planning failure and strategic risk (Schick, et. al., 2010). Hardy Aqua is launching flavoured water which is launched with a motive to enhance the health condition of people and promote healthy habits among the people of Australia. Product selection has been made by analysing the risk related to product failure. Funds are required for the execution of the operations of business and lack of av ailability of funds can result in risk related to finance. Hardy Aqua must analyse the sources of finance for coping with this risk. Business must analyse the needs of the customers and trends of the market for avoiding risk related to the market. Management of different operations of the business by an individual can result in failure of the execution process. A team must be developed by Hardy Aqua as lack of proper techniques for team management can result in an increase in the chances of team risk. Planning failure and failure of a business plan can also act as a risk as these can affect the existence of the company (Parker Praag, 2010). Hardy Aqua needs to adopt business practices which will help in coping with the risks as well as enhancing the performance of the business. Various business practices and strategies can be followed by Hardy Aqua for improving its performance. These business practices include effective management of the resources, market research, use of forecasting tools, use of technological advancements and following a constant improvement approach. Hardy Aqua needs to utilise the available resources including human resource, financial resource and technology optimally (Richardson, 2014). This will contribute towards the chances of success of the business. Optimal utilisation of the resources results in generating the expected outcomes. Market research is an important aspect and Hardy Aqua must analyse the market trends and needs of the customers. This analysis will help in coping with the changing trend and meeting the expectations of the customers. Market research will help in dealing with the ri sing competition in the market (Soriano, 2010). Forecasts will help in deciding the future strategies and feasibility of these strategies for the future period. Constant improvements need to be made in the products for ensuring the satisfaction level of the customers. Technology plays a vital role as changes taking place in the business environment affects the operations of the business. Hardy Aqua must use technological advancement and innovations for improving the quality of its products (?alopa, et. al., 2014). Execution of the operations of the business is dependent on the functioning of different functions. These different functions can affect the performance of the organisation. These different functions of Hardy Aqua are research and development, production, marketing, sales, human resource, finance, customer service, distribution and administration function. All these functions must be managed properly for eliminating their impact on the performance. Research and development function can enhance the performance by using innovations and advanced technology (Hezam, 2015). Production function ensures that the demand for the product in the market is met. Shortage of products offered by the company in the market will affect its profitability and performance. The marketing function is responsible for the promotion and advertisement of the products so as to attract the customers towards the product. The sales function is responsible for developing a sales plan and maintaining records of sales. Malfunctioning of this function will affect the sales of the company. Human resource performs the operations of the company and support must be gained from the human resource for improving the performance of the business. Finance is required for funding the operations of the company. The shortfall of the financial resource will result in malfunctioning of the functioning of the company. Customer service function ensures that customers are satisfied with the products offered and analysis is done of needs of the customers. This help in meeting the needs of the customers and contributing to the overall performance of the company (Self, et. al., 2014). The distribution function is responsible for the distribution of the products offered by Hardy Aqua in Australia. This function ensures the supply of products at different locations in the right quantity. Administration function ensures that the management of different functions is taking place as per the plans formulated. Malfunctioning of these functions will directly create an impact on the performance of Hardy aqua. For ensuring that these functions are executed in an effective manner, Hardy Aqua needs to monitor the performance of every function and adopt use business practices and strategies (Hezam, 2015). References ?alopa, M. K., Horvat, J. Lali?, M. (2014). Analysis of Financial Sources for Start-up Companies. Management, 19, 2, 19-44. Cohan, P. S. (2012). Hungry Start-up Strategy. BK Connection. DAvino, M., Simone, V. D., Iannucci, M. Schiraldi, M. M. (2015). Guidelines for e-Startup Promotion Strategy. Journal of Management Innovation, 10 (1). Dragni?, D. (2014). Impact of Internal and External Factors on the Performance of Fast-Growing Small and Meduim Businesses. Management, 19 (1), 119-159. Fereidouni, H. G., Masron, T. A., Nikbin, D. Amiri, R. E. (2010). Consequences of External Environment on Entrepreneurial Motivation in Iran. Asian Academy of Management Journal, 15, 2, 175196. Hezam, A. (2015). What are the Three Basic Functions That Run the Business?. Linked In. Isaksson, F. (2015). Brand Building in New Ventures. University of Gothenburg. Lam, A. (2011). Innovative Organizations: Structure, Learning and Adaptation. Semantic scholar. Morgeson, F. P., DeRue, D. S. Karam, E. P. (2012). Leadership in Teams: A Functional Approach to Understanding Leadership Structures and Processes. Journal of Management, 36 (1), 5-39. Parker, S. C. Praag, C. M. V. (2010). The entrepreneur's mode of entry: Business takeover or new venture start?. Journal of Business Venturing. Richardson, F. W. (2014). Enhancing Strategies to Improve Workplace Performance. Walden University. Schick, H., Marxen, S. Freimann, J. (2010). Sustainability Issues for Start-up Entrepreneurs. Green Prof. Self, M. S. D. R., Jordan, M. H. Portis, R. (2014). The Functions of Management as Mechanisms for Fostering Interpersonal Trust. Advances in Business Research, 5, 50-62. Shiamwama, S. M., Ombayo, J. A. Mukolwe, M. S. (2014). Internal Factors Affecting the Performance of Businesses of Retirees in Kakamega Municipality. International Journal of Business, Humanities and Technology, 4 (2). Soriano, D. R. (2010). Management factors affecting the performance of technology firms. Journal of Business Research 63, 463470. Stare, A. (2011). The Impact of the Organisational Structure and Project Organisational Culture on Project Performance in Slovenian Enterprises. Management, 16 (2), 1-22 Yu, C. Zhang, T. (2010). Internal Factors Affecting the Organizational Internationalization Process: Evidence from Huawei Case Study. University of Halmstad.

Socialized Medicine Essays (1775 words) - Health Economics

Socialized Medicine Socialized medicine is a service owned by all citizens and is present in many countries. How does it work and what does it do for a nations economy? One of the biggest fears most people have is becoming sick or injured, and the problem for them is paying for it. Under socialized medicine people would receive health care, regardless of their ability to pay. Everyone would be taken care of without worry of how they would pay for their care. The World Health Organization, part of the United Nations, says that, "health care is a fundamental human right." The benefit of national health care would be potential for people to live longer lives. Costs would be driven down because doctors, nurses, and other health care providers would become civil servants. "Another benefit would be that malpractice suits would decline, because it is very difficult to take legal action against the government" (Carol 1994). Economics is the biggest factor in whether socialized medicine is good or bad for a nation's economy. The United States, to a point, has socialized medicine with Medicare, Medicaid, Veterans Administration Federal medicine, and health departments. The National Center for Public Policy Research said that, "In 1990 the government shared 42 percent of the health and gained over 50 percent of health care in 1992 as expenses begin to rise." In 1993 health care expenditures consumed 13.9 percent of the Gross Domestic Product and 15.6 percent in 1995 according to the Heritage Foundation. "Typically, people mistakenly blame rising costs on drug manufacturers, insurance companies, physicians, and hospitals. But the rapid growth in medical expenses is rising due to the rise in medical services needed" (Oatman 11-34). As the government attempts to establish health care, hospitals are being overburdened with minor and unnecessary uses of health care services. These have caused emergency rooms to be filled with treating common colds, headaches, and minor scrapes. Medicare is said to be useless by the year 2002, just 8 years before 77 million baby boomers begin to retire. "The only way that the country could continue is to raise taxes severely" (Oatman 40). The supporters of national health care are Canada, Great Britain, France and Germany. All are suffering from severe budget and service problems. They are all losing their best and brightest doctors to the free market systems of the United States. These health care systems have a two-class system. The rich in these systems use private hospitals with private insurance to receive the levels of health care that the average American receives (Peikoff 1994). In Canada, the national health care system is facing many problems. Many hospitals have been closed to cut costs, and proof of this is shown in the amount of Canadian health care workers in the United States. Robert Bourassa, former Premier of Quebec, after discovering that he had melanoma, flew to Washington D.C. for further consultation at the National Cancer Institute. Former Cabinet Minister, John Moore, in charge of British National Health Service, checked himself into a private hospital for treatment of pneumonia. "The British Royal Family has such faith in their health care system, that they are all treated in private hospitals. Socialized medicine is such a failure, even government officials admit to it by their actions" (Mc Cuen, 1988). When health care starts being a right, the medical profession will not be as wealthy, and the quality of medical care will be decreased. Under the traditional American health care system a person has the right to health care if one can afford it, if you earn it by your own actions and efforts. But no one has the right, just because they want or need it. Pierre says that one is born with a moral right to hair care and the government should provide that free of charge. As a result, people show up everyday for an expensive new styling, the government pays out more and more, and barbers love their new huge incomes. Would you even think that a hairstylist could possibly even come close to making as much money as a doctor or nurse? These are not quite the actual standings but close enough for concern. There are also free hair implants, eyebrow plucks, breast implants, nose

Promotional and Advertising Strategies †Automotive Industry

Promotional and Advertising Strategies – Automotive Industry Introduction This paper compares and contrasts the marketing and advertising strategies of Audi and BMW. Both companies are German-based and sell their products in the luxury car market. The two companies have a history of marketing and advertising rivalries that have manifested through public advertising wars (Kumar 9).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Promotional and Advertising Strategies – Automotive Industry specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The same rivalry has manifested through the development and application of new technologies. This paper explores different aspects of their marketing strategies and promotional campaigns. Comparison and Contrast of the two Marketing Strategies According to Kotler (5), a company’s marketing strategy consists of four distinctive areas product, place, promotion, and price. This section of the paper evaluates the marketing strategies of Audi and BMW based on this ma rketing framework. BMW For a long time, BMW has marketed itself as a luxury automobile brand (Klein 7). In line with this strategy, the company has continually targeted affluent people with a high disposable income because they can afford their cars (Johnson 9). BMW’s place strategy focuses on constructing different manufacturing plants in different markets (Johnson 9). Through this strategy, the company does not import its cars from Germany because it manufactures them in their host’s location. Comparatively, the company’s pricing strategy centers on charging their customers a premium for improved value. This value has emerged from improved technology, luxury and the infusion of advanced car features (value-based pricing) (Klein 7). Its promotion strategy has focused on positioning the BMW brand as a household name. To do so, the company has developed innovative advertisements (Johnson 6). In line with this strategy, the company has also sponsored high-profile events like the Olympics. Lastly, BMW’s product strategy has focused on developing cars (usually sedans) with sleek designs and high quality. Its products also have advanced technology, low gas mileage and a high performance (Klein 10). AUDI Similar to the BMW, Audi’s product strategy centers on providing its customers with high-tech, modern and quality vehicles (Kumar 5). In line with this strategy, the company strives to produce products with advanced technology. Its cars also have the latest features in automobile production. Audi’s slogan â€Å"truth of engineering† sums this product strategy.Advertising Looking for essay on advertising? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The company’s price strategy aims to make the company’s cars affordable to many people. In this regard, Audi cars retail at average prices compared to its rivals, such as Mercedes Benz and BMW (Bhasin 3). H owever, the company has made sure that this pricing strategy strikes a careful balance with quality. Stated differently, although Audi cars are affordable, they have a high quality. This is why Kumar (7) argues that although Audis may be relatively cheaper than its rivals, both brands observe the same level of quality in their car production processes. Audi’s promotion strategy has focused on presenting their cars as racing machines (Kumar 7). The company believes that this strategy would show that the company’s cars are faster and better than others are (Bhasin 3). Lastly, Audi’s placement strategy highlights the company’s quest to avail its cars in major showrooms. This way, its customers could inspect the cars in their respective countries. The table below compares the marketing strategies of both BMW and Audi Marketing Component BMW Audi Place Manufacturing cars in hosts’ locations Importing cars from Germany (its headquarters) Price Hig h Prices (value-based pricing) Average price Promotion Sponsoring high-profile events, such as the Olympics Sponsoring racing events Product Provides its customers with high-tech, modern and quality vehicles Provides its customers with high-tech, modern and quality vehicles Marketing Information In today’s fast-paced and competitive automotive market, carmakers need to gather useful marketing information that would set them apart from their competitors (Bhasin 3). In particular, Audi could use this advantage because its overall sales (globally) are lower than BMW’s (Kumar 7). Particularly, the company should use marketing information to get a broader understanding of the global automobile market and identify untapped opportunities it could exploit. Furthermore, with a proper marketing information system in place, Audi could easily track and improve independent operation processes in its production processes (Bhasin 3). This way, the company could easily establis h a broader perspective not only of the global automobile market, but also of its independent processes, thereby facilitating improvements, which would give it a competitive advantage over its rivals.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Promotional and Advertising Strategies – Automotive Industry specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Two uses for Consumer-Oriented promotions that could help one company in the short term and long term Consumer-oriented promotions are useful to carmakers, both in the short term and long-term because competition in the global market is higher than ever before (Johnson 9). Such promotions may include price reductions, tax rebates, coupons and other inducements. Audi could benefit from such promotions to improve its competitive position in the market. In the short-term, the company could retain more of its customers this way (Ray 4). For example, if it offers free after-sales service to it s customers, the company could retain more customers in the cutthroat automobile market because its customers would be more appreciative of the extent that the company is going to earn their business. In the long-term, consumer-oriented promotions could improve customer loyalty to the Audi brand (Ray 4). For example, when customers know that they could always get a good price for a high quality car (through rebates or sales); they are likely to develop a strong brand loyalty to the brand. Analyze the Strategic Manner in which the leading company in this product group has made its pricing decisions by using one or more of the four pricing objectives Some of the most common pricing objectives are increasing monetary sales, increasing returns on investment (ROI), maximizing long-run profit, maximizing short-term profit (Kotler 17). The key components of BMW’s pricing mix strive to meet two of the above-mentioned pricing objectives – increasing ROI and increasing monetary sales. The company achieves these goals by adopting a premium-pricing model. Indeed, as Klein (13) observes, targeting high-end customers allows the company to charge a higher price for its units, thereby allowing the company to enjoy higher margins than its competitors. This way, it increases its monetary sales and ROI. Suggest Two Actions that other Companies within the Same Product Group may take to differentiate themselves and gain a competitive Advantage In a competitive market, companies have to differentiate themselves by adopting unique marketing strategies that would earn them a competitive advantage (Kotler 3). Many automakers, such as BMW, Audi, and Mercedes Benz, saturate the global luxury automobile market. Mercedes Benz competes directly and indirectly with the two companies discussed in this paper. The company could differentiate itself by adopting a unique service model. According to Kobran (2), this strategy could help to show how Mercedes Benz is different from oth er luxury brand companies. The difference could emerge through a depiction of unique car manufacturing processes and its differences with other companies that operate in the same market segment.Advertising Looking for essay on advertising? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More To demonstrate how this advantage will differentiate Mercedes Benz from its competitors, Kobran says, â€Å"Companies that can demonstrate a more effective way to service their customers often gain a competitive advantage and a compelling way to differentiate† (3). Alternatively, Mercedes Benz could differentiate itself through technical expertise.  This differentiating factor does not mean that the company should differentiate itself through technology only. Instead, it could project itself as having a solution to a perennial problem among car buyers (Kobran 5). For example, it could present itself as the company that builds stable cars. Collectively, adopting unique car manufacturing processes and advancing its technical position in the automobile industry could help the company to gain a competitive advantage over its rivals such as BMW and Audi. Define the most Effective Advertising Medium for a Company in the Selected Product Category There are different types of adver tising media used by different companies to promote their brands. The most common types of advertising media include television, radio, print publications, internet, direct mail, and sponsorships. Although these advertising strategies have different advantages and disadvantages, some of them are more effective in the automotive industry than others are (Ray 6). The most effective advertising medium for promoting luxury car brands, such as BMW and Audi, is sponsorship. The justification for the advancement of this strategy is its focused nature (Kotler 15). For example, sponsoring motor events is likely to market a car brand among people who like cars. This way, car companies would be targeting specific and not general audiences. Ray calls this type of marketing strategy â€Å"marketing with the end in mind† (5). Furthermore, sponsoring a car event taps into the emotional appeal of such events among potential customers who are passionate about cars (Kotler 16). Similarly, it i s more relevant than other types of advertising, which marketers could use in the luxury automobile market, because it is relevant by reaching potential customers where they choose to be in. Sponsorship is also more effective than other types of advertising in the automobile market because it is interactive (Kotler 16). Stated differently, while other types of advertising, such as television and radio, are monologue, sponsorship is a dialogue between sellers and potential buyers. Therefore, luxury carmakers, such as BMW and Audi are bound to benefit from the continuation of sponsorship as their main promotional strategy. Conclusion This paper has shown that BMW and Audi are rivals in the luxury automobile sector. They have different marketing strategies that have propelled them to leadership positions in the global automobile market. Their marketing strategies converge based on their promotional and product strategies. However, they differ in terms of their place and pricing strateg ies. Since BMW has more sales numbers than Audi does, this paper proposes that the latter should exploit marketing data to gain a competitive advantage by gaining a broader perspective of its internal processes and identifying possible opportunities for improvement. This paper has also shown that other companies in the luxury brand segment could differentiate themselves in the market by adopting a unique service model and through improved technical expertise. To wade through the cutthroat automobile industry, this paper also proposes that leading automobile brands should pursue sponsorship as the main advertising strategy because it is more interactive and focused, compared to other available strategies. This advertising strategy is likely to increase their sales numbers and earn them a competitive advantage over their rivals. Bhasin, Hitesh. 8 Advantages of Marketing Information Systems. October. 2012. Web. August.  2015. marketing91.com/customer-profitablity-analysis-2/. Johnso n, Robbie. BMW AG: Marketing Plan. February. 2015. Web. August. 2015.  https://laurarusbarsky.files.wordpress.com/. Klein, Andreas. Marketing Plan: BMW 1-series in Germany, London, UK: GRIN Verlag, 2007.  Print. Kobran, Slade. How To Differentiate Yourself When Youre Not that Different. October. 2013.  Web. August. 2015. chiefoutsiders.com/blog/bid/99344/How-To-Differentiate-Yourself-When-You-re-Not-that-Different. Kotler, Philip. Kotler On Marketing, New York, NY: Simon and Schuster, 2012. Print. Kumar, Abhishek. Marketing Plan: Audi Company Overview. January. 2014. Web. August.  2015. slideshare.net/nikhilshockers/marketing-plan-30613933. Ray, Linda. The Long-Term Effects of Customer-Oriented Sales Promotions. December. 2014.  Web. August. 2015. http://smallbusiness.chron.com/longterm-effects-customeroriented-sales-promotions-21921.html.

Module C - Educating Rita - Moving Into The World Essay

Module C - Educating Rita - Moving Into The World - Essay Example â€Å"Everything I know--and you must listen to this--is that I know absolutely nothing† – Educating Rita This quote aptly sums up the experiences of those venturing into a new world as the very experience tends to challenge and at times question everything one knows including their values and beliefs. The experience of venturing into a new world often leads to encountering various challenges that detain attitudes and beliefs that ultimately define an individual’s psychological dispositions, however history bears testimony to the fact that such challenges or obstacles encountered by individuals are often short term and yield innumerable benefits in the long run. Willy Russel's Educating Rita offers an intriguing perspective on the manner in which Rita - a young and ambitious hairdresser from Liverpool, undergoes various trials and transformations in the pursuit of goals and manages to get various rewards in the forms of life changing qualities such as self-confid ence, independence and education which she so longed for. Her exhilarating journey is in many ways similar to that of the characters Ernesto Guevara and Alberto Granado, in the MotorCycle diaries. The transition into a new world is almost synonymous to encountering endless challenges which individuals are forced to fathom in the midst of their journey as they adapt to their new surroundings. The composer Willy Russell has creatively portrayed this in the opening scene in the play through various symbolic elements. Here â€Å"we see† Rita is presented struggling to open the door to Frank’s office. This gives â€Å"us† an insight on the very pinnacle of Rita’s character and the manifest challenges she is likely to face as she strives to ‘enter’ the ‘new world’. The stage directions used here emphasize the stark differences and the characterisations of the two – signifying, Rita’s seeming state of ignorance and lack of dexterity to manoeuvre her way into the world unknown to her. On being unable to open the door she exclaims â€Å"It's that stupid bleedin' handle on the door. You wanna get it fixed!† The use of slang and the tone of her voice shock not only Frank but take the reader by surprise, since Rita seems completely oblivious to the social conventions and the use of formal speech. Thus this enables â€Å"us† the audience to paint a more precise image of Rita’s boldness and her values. In addition the stage directions used in this instance that focus on Frank’s confused face further emphasizes her naivety and exposes the intricacies of her character and attitudes. The moving into a new world despite age or background is one that requires sacrifice. Defying dominant socio-cultural norms is an inevitable and inherent part of the struggles encountered by those venturing into a new world. In Educating Rita, the challenges faced by Rita are highlighted through the var ious dialogues between her and Frank in relation to the complications of her background, education and marital life. Rita is depicted inept to pursue her studies due to her husband’s disapproval of her ambitions and beliefs. These obstacles ultimately stand in the form societal pressure or the pressure to conform to dominant cultural expectations during her schooling years. This is highlighted in the text â€Å"See, if I'd started takin' school seriously I would've had to become different from me mates, an' that's not allowed† – this indicates the social pressure experienced by Rita forbidding her to defy the set social standards and

Hewlett Packard takes project management learning to a higher level Term Paper

Hewlett Packard takes project management learning to a higher level - Term Paper Example ency, productivity and profitability of their firm was being negatively impacted by the lack of direct training they provided to middle management; specifically project managers. Accordingly, the firm endeavored to change by providing a visionary and optimistic training program that proved to be the envy of many firms. As a means of understanding and appreciating the approach that Hewlett Packard engaged in, with respect to an overarching project management and training program, the following analysis will seek to draw inference with respect to the key inputs of the deliverables for the project in question, how some of the challenges to the project management process may be defined, and the opinion of this analysis with respect to the quality of the project management that was exhibited within the case in question and why. The key inputs that provided the mechanism for change with regard to the case in question are contingent upon the desire and wherewithal to change, investment in training, and promoting core concepts of interaction and business development. Within such a rubric, HP was focused on achieving a competitive advantage over their rivals by focusing on the quality of the training process and ensuring that the inputs – ability to change, investment in training, and promoting core concepts of interaction and business development – would serve as the platform through which a greater level of IT provision within the firm and a higher level of productivity. Of all the inputs, the investment in time and money that such a program required was immense. As such, many individuals outside HP would have been hesitant to commit such a high level of resources on a thus far unproven program that was intended to maximize future project organization and profitability within the firm. Another relevant input that must be discussed is with regard to the training that took place prior to the program being offered at all. Rather than bringing in outside

Loneliness in Of Mice and Men Essay Example for Free

Loneliness in Of Mice and Men Essay Explore the issues connected with loneliness in John Steinbecks Of Mice and Men. Loneliness is examined carefully in Of Mice and Men. In the world of itinerant ranch-hands, loneliness is an inescapable part of life and Steinbeck records this through the plot and characters in his novel. Being lonely is the lack of an emotional, mutual bond, which leads the characters to lose a sense of self-worth and dignity. This essay explores what Steinbeck discusses about loneliness in Of Mice and Men and how he uses the characters of Candy, Crooks, George, Lennie and Curleys wife to express these views. George and Lennie are the most interesting starting point for such an exploration since they are the only two characters in the novel who are defined by their companionship rather than loneliness. George proclaims proudly to Lennie in the early pages of the novel, that itinerant ranch-hands, typical of the economic Depression in the USA in the 1930s, are the loneliest guys in the world but with us [them] it aint like that. Both George and Lennie know that their friendship gives them a future and gives their life purpose and significance. They want to own a farm where they can live off the fatta the lan' and rear animals; where their feeling of self-worth will not stem from gambling and prostitutes, but from their camaraderie-their importance to each other. On the other hand, other wandering workers got no family and they dont belong no place. George and Lennie know that their companionship sets them apart-it makes them dignified enough to have a dream and think about putting down roots, a dream that most ranch-hands would have had at the time, but would never achieve. Other ranch-hands remained as islands, their lives cut off from anybody elses. The fact that the bond between George and Lennie would have been rare-it is the only instance of true friendship between men in the novel-shows that at the time of the Great Depression, every man was for himself. Indeed, a few characters are suspicious of their friendship, thinking it financially exploitative: You takin his pay away from him? Well, I never seen a guy take so much trouble for another guy. The only reason their friendship exists is because Lennie is so simple; his vulnerability and dependence on George make him loyal and trustworthy, unlike any other ranch-hand. Although George says, When I think of the swell time I could have without you, I go nuts, he knows that Lennies presence makes him feel more important and confident than an average itinerant worker like him would normally-being in charge with Lennie makes him feel in charge of his life. Tragically, however, by the end of the novel this is what George becomes-an average itinerant worker; he has to kill Lennie and after losing the only emotional human connection he had, Georges dream and dignity are both destroyed: He usta like to hear about it so much I got to thinking maybe we would [be able to have the farm.] The fact remains that such an honest friendship has a flawed foundation-Lennies mental debility, although making a friendship possible, also makes him too vulnerable to make prudent decisions. Loneliness is thus inevitable for George and all his fellow wanderers. In many ways, George and Lennies relationship is mirrored by that between Candy and his dog. Again, Candy is able to gain true loyalty and trust only from a dog-a one-dimensional, vulnerable being. When the thick-skinned Carlson asks, He aint no good to you Whynt you shoot him Candy? the only answer Candy can produce is that he had him so long. Over the years, Candy has developed a special bond of care, as opposed to simple utility, with his dog. To Carlson, who can only understand the value of a person in terms of their practical usefulness, due to his experience of the Great Depression, this bond is meaningless. After his dog is shot, Candy is reduced to a useless old cripple, also encapsulated in solitude. The dogs companionship had allowed Candy to cherish his past and be hopeful for his future, but now he has nothing to look forward to: When they can me here I wisht somebodyd shoot me I wont have no place to go an I cant get no more jobs. The dream farm tempts Candy, too, because he feels that owning a place will prevent him from becoming a lonely monument for passing ranch-hands to observe. His desperation for the farm is so intense that even after Lennies death he hopes George may work towards it, but to no avail-Candy too is destined to be alone, unknown and uncared for once he can no longer serve a practical purpose.

Symbols and Symbolism in Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter :: Scarlet Letter essays

Symbolism in The Scarlet Letter      Ã‚  Ã‚  Carl Jung believed that the source of symbols is universal. Symbols arise from the collective unconscious common to all humans everywhere. Joseph Campbell's research supports this theory; he traces universal archetypes through the stories, myths, and artwork of various cultures. While most work done with symbolism has focused on the universality of symbols, Nathaniel Hawthorn focuses on their personal, subjective meanings.    A universal symbol arises from the symbol's relationship to reality; thus, such a symbol remains the same across cultures and with different individuals. While symbols can be created, such created symbols are subjective and must be given meaning within their context and because the context is different among individuals and societies and can vary over time, the meanings of the symbols are, likewise, highly variable.    In The Scarlet Letter, the symbol of most importance is the letter A which Hester Prynne is condemned to wear, having been found guilty of adultery. Literally, the letter A is an arbitrary visual representation of particular sounds used in languages. Nothing in the shape of the letter A or any other aspect of its being represents adultery. This shape is agreed upon by people who use the Roman alphabet to begin the series of marks that visually signifies the word adultery. This is not a universally symbolic relationship. The letter A means nothing in itself until the Puritans agree to a meaning in order to mark Hester and this meaning is altered according to the mindset of those interpreting it. Hester with this "mark of shame upon her bosom" is meant to "be a living sermon against sin" (59) yet the residents of Boston "had begun to look upon the scarlet letter as the token, not of that one sin . . . but of her many good deeds since. . . . The scarlet letter had the effect of the cros s on a nun's bosom. It imparted to the wearer a kind of sacredness, which enabled her to walk securely amid all peril" (149). Some people begin saying that A stands for "able" (148).    Another example of the changeable symbolism of the letter A is the astronomical event witnessed by Arthur Dimmesdale and others on the night of Governor Winthrop's death. Dimmesdale as:    a man rendered morbidly self-contemplative . . . had extended his egoism over the whole expanse of nature. Symbols and Symbolism in Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter :: Scarlet Letter essays Symbolism in The Scarlet Letter      Ã‚  Ã‚  Carl Jung believed that the source of symbols is universal. Symbols arise from the collective unconscious common to all humans everywhere. Joseph Campbell's research supports this theory; he traces universal archetypes through the stories, myths, and artwork of various cultures. While most work done with symbolism has focused on the universality of symbols, Nathaniel Hawthorn focuses on their personal, subjective meanings.    A universal symbol arises from the symbol's relationship to reality; thus, such a symbol remains the same across cultures and with different individuals. While symbols can be created, such created symbols are subjective and must be given meaning within their context and because the context is different among individuals and societies and can vary over time, the meanings of the symbols are, likewise, highly variable.    In The Scarlet Letter, the symbol of most importance is the letter A which Hester Prynne is condemned to wear, having been found guilty of adultery. Literally, the letter A is an arbitrary visual representation of particular sounds used in languages. Nothing in the shape of the letter A or any other aspect of its being represents adultery. This shape is agreed upon by people who use the Roman alphabet to begin the series of marks that visually signifies the word adultery. This is not a universally symbolic relationship. The letter A means nothing in itself until the Puritans agree to a meaning in order to mark Hester and this meaning is altered according to the mindset of those interpreting it. Hester with this "mark of shame upon her bosom" is meant to "be a living sermon against sin" (59) yet the residents of Boston "had begun to look upon the scarlet letter as the token, not of that one sin . . . but of her many good deeds since. . . . The scarlet letter had the effect of the cros s on a nun's bosom. It imparted to the wearer a kind of sacredness, which enabled her to walk securely amid all peril" (149). Some people begin saying that A stands for "able" (148).    Another example of the changeable symbolism of the letter A is the astronomical event witnessed by Arthur Dimmesdale and others on the night of Governor Winthrop's death. Dimmesdale as:    a man rendered morbidly self-contemplative . . . had extended his egoism over the whole expanse of nature.