Burberry Strategy Essay

INTRODUCTION It is important for every business to clearly understand how resources and capabilities affect firm performance. As Grant (2005) defined, resources are the productive assets owned by the firm and capabilities are what the firm can do. In fact, companies that have sustainable competitive advances have been developed and exploited based on their internal resources and capabilities. Furthermore, they have successfully exploited external environment. In this essay, I will explore the topic area of ‘Resources & Capabilities’ with regards to a UK’s fashion group; the prominent designer label, Burberry GRP. In particular, the research will focus on the Strategic Business Unit of Burberry; understanding and explaining how they utilize the resources and competencies to achieve a competitive advantage. In order to do this, this paper will address on theory based from work in the areas of the ‘Resource-Based View’ and ‘Resources and Capabilities’ as well as using theoretical frameworks to give a holistic view of the strategic issues Burberry. After their reform, Burberry recovered rapidly, after the crisis of September, 2008. With 500 stores in over 50 countries, total revenues grew from 27% to  £1,501 million which is more than double its nearest rival, Chanel (with total revenues of  £ 651, 3). Retails revenues reached  £ 962 million and wholesale achieved  £ 441 million (Burberry’s a and Chanel financial report, 2012). As a result, Burberry has substantial surplus resources and is therefore able to withstand and compete in the hypercompetitive fashion market sector. Thus, Burberry achieved brand value up to more than  £ 2, 5 billion in 2012. Gucci, Prada and Chanel gained approximately of  £ 5.8,  £ 4.95, and  £ 4.2 billion respect ively. BODY The Resource-Based View In 1990s, the role of resources and capabilities become known as the basic for firms strategy and the primary source of profitability coalesced has become the resource-based view. Resources and capabilities are an important component of strategy to archive the competitive advantage. According to the  resource based view (RBV), assets and capabilities create value for the firm that leads to a sustainable competitive advantage (Hall, 1993). Burberry, Chanel and Gucci all compete in the same environment, yet Burberry is superior in performance. A Resource-Based View argues that Burberry is distinguished not by the environment, but by their internal resources. Peteraf (1993) adds to this view by arguing resources have to be heterogeneous and not perfectly mobile in order to transform a short run competitive advantage into sustained competitive advantage. Based on Grant’s model, through VRIN frame work, this research will now find out how Burberry use their resources to initiate their organizational capabilities and competences and ultimately achieve their strategic Capability. As displayed in Grant’s model showed above, in order to maintain operations, companies must have tangible, intangible, and human resource. â€Å"Tangible resources are known to be the easiest way to identify and evaluate† (Grant, 2005), however, this author assert that intangible resources contribute to total asset value much more tangible. Also, Hall (1992) mentions, intangible assets like the â€Å"feedstock† of capabilities are essential for a sustainable competitive advantage. They are assets without specific physical forms; such as intellectual property rights, trademarks, copyrights, technical know-how, brand name, reputation and so on. Core Competencies Prahalad & Hamel (1990) move away from the RBV and coined the term ‘Core Competencies’ to distinguish those capabilities fundamental to a firm’s performance and strategy. These are the organizational capabilities that are achieved through the effective deployment of a firm’s resources. Core competencies are distinctive and differentiating competencies that lie at the heart of an organization. This includes not just the products and services a company sells but also ‘soft’ areas of a company’s activities, such as branding, organizational innovation and service† (Hamel and Prahalad, 1994). Frà ©ry (2006) adds to this view and describes core competencies as the basic building blocks for a firm’s corporate strategy. Burberry have two key core competencies in Brand Name and Digital Innovation. Brand Name With a luxury fashion brand such as Burberry, brand name and reputation are extremely important. Burberry has gone through many ups and downs on the path of development and it has many competitors that include: Coach, Polo, Armani, Chanel and Gucci and so on. While Gucci focuses on luxury accessories, Coach concentrate mainly on the production of bags ( as does Chanel) and also produces accessories that range from watches and shoes to scarves and dog collars, and Chanel focus on bags. Armani’s and Polo’s marketing positioning is more focused on clothing. Burberry has succeeded in penetrating both the accessory and luxury goods. Moreover, Burberry’s resources include its high brand equity, its popular trench coat product and its signature check design. It is has a long history serving with the soldiers of World War I and it has been well received by the Royals; once by Queen Elizabeth II and once by Prince Charles. This means that customers now acknowledge them as the supplier of products to the royal family (Instyle, 2012). Referring to Burberry, customers immediately think of a luxury, high quality, and diverse fashion. However, in 1997, the new Burberry management knew that they could not rely on this benefit anymore. They realized that over the years, trends and customers change and become more diverse. From that issue, the new management believed that the problem with Burberry was undermined by a poor image and was now overly dependent on a narrow customer base comprising of middle aged, ‘fashion-conservative’ men (Fletcher, 2003). Their new strategy sought to change the position the brand of Burberry defined by ‘Britishness’, authentic outerwear heritage, historic icons, democratic luxury positioning, innovation and intuition (Burberry’s b annual report, 2011) which was aimed at the younger generation, while still retaining the traditional customer base. Recent advertisement of Burberry has brought all the characteristics of the England, â€Å"from a British landscape with aristocratic looking models to edger advertisement with models in bikinis.† (Jacobson), They also make their mark on pop culture by using iconic British representative, such as model Kate Moss and the up and coming actress Emma Watson. Their use of reputable fashion photographers is also to be noted. Considering these factors, Burberry is targeted towards different segments of the population with one common theme, luxury. With the advantage of the supplier of the royal, all of which attach a strong sense  of ‘Britishness’ with the Burberry’s brand. In November, 2011 Burberry was again included in Interbrand’s Top 100 Global Brands; was awarded the 2010 British Graduate 100 Award for ‘Where Fashion Graduates Want to Work’; and was recognized as the 13th most innovative company in the world by Fast Company magazine, as well as receiving the Inaugural Innovation Award at the 2010 British Fashion Awards (Burberry’s c annual report, 2011). This means, Burberry has a strong and sustainable competitive advantage that hard to beat. Digital Innovation Competition has always seen as a great source for innovation, while other brands focus on decors the boring store, Burberry opened up a new era of shopping by digital. Its business is driven by: Digital focus and integration (Burberry’s d annual report, 2011). In danger of being consigned to history a decade ago, Burberry has undergone a creative and digital revolution under the direction of chief creative officer Christopher Bailey, who joined the company in 2001. (Clark, 2012). The news follows the launch of the brand’s ‘Runway to Reality’ strategy, which allows VIP consumers to buy items from its runway collections immediately, via an iPad app. Also ‘Burberry Retail Theatre‘ was broadcast the brand’s Spring Summer 2011 women swear show live stream directly into 25 flagship stores worldwide, creating live simultaneous virtual trunk show events on 21 September 2010. Customers in store will explore the collection through iPads where they will be able to buy immediately through a custom-built Burberry app following a private viewing of the show on high definition screens spanning 3Ãâ€"3 meters. Burberry has been developing and testing over several months custom-designed, digitally charged in-store ‘Retail Theatre’ environments with enhanced acoustics and state of the art visual technology, creating the ultimate experience for modern luxury consumers. ‘Burberry Retail Theatre’ is at the heart of our retail growth strategy. This investment in cutting edge technology in partnership with Verizon enables us to more closely connect the Burberry brand with our consumers worldwide. This interactive retail investment will enable long term sustainable growth well beyond these  exciting global digital events.’ (Alexander, 2010) Moreover, the photo sharing website, which give consumers as well as fashion photographers a chance to try on iconic Burberry trench coat by online, allowing consumers to place immediate orders from the collection with a seven-week delivery. Burberry continued its digital democratisation of fashion with its Tweetwalk, partnering with Twitter to post backstage Twitpics of every look before they were sent down the runway, meaning the brand’s Twitter followers saw its runway looks in advance of fashonistas in the front row. During the Tweetwalk the brand’s Instagram account was taken over by Mike Kus, the most-followed Instagram user in the UK (Burberry’s e annual report, 2011). With digital innovation, Burberry has to prove to the fashion industry all over the world that the fashion industry needs to keep with the new shopping generation with lively images rather than images on the magazine and yet the luxury customers now very knowledgeable and they quickly make purchase decisions. Grab their attention in the digital boom trend is also the best way to Burberry became the first brand to appear in the consumer’s mind, rather than a different brand. Sustained Competitive Advantage Here have been many academics that have critiqued the Sustained Competitive Advantage over the years. According to Barney (1991) â€Å"to have sustained competitive advantage when it is implementing a value creating strategy not simultaneously being implemented by any current or potential competitors and when these other firms are unable to duplicate the benefits of this strategy†. Some other authors have suggested that a sustained competitive advantage is simply a competitive advantage that lasts a long period of calendar time (Jacobsen, 1988; Porter, 1985). In relation to Burberry, they have high negotiating powers with suppliers because they can offer unique products with the sophistication, elegance, a sense of pride to customers because they wearing what the Royal family do. Their resource is rare and it is this uniqueness that offers them value with regard to suppliers and customers. Their core competences allowed them to create the exceptional customer value assets that set it apart from its competitors. (Hamel and Prahalad, 1994). CONCLUSION It is important for every business to clearly understand how resources and capabilities affect firm performance. In fact, companies having sustainable competitive advance have been develop and exploit based on their internal resources and capabilities. This paper has illustrated how Burberry has maintained its competitive advantage in the face of exhaustive efforts from its competitors by using its resources and capabilities such as brand name and shopping through digital technology. In fashion industry, a usual strategy is brand name, and Burberry is no exception. This strategy aims to through more coordinated use of brand assets and greater integration of its global organization, Burberry has more opportunity to enhance consumer responsiveness and operate more efficiently and effectively. Furthermore, the company has also expanded its customer base with introduction a new aspect of the brand is defined by ‘Britishness’, authentic outerwear heritage, historic icons, democratic luxury positioning, innovation and intuition (Burberry’s f annual report). As brand name strategy is rather common among fashion, Burberry has attempted to bring in some differentiation to stay ahead. A breakthrough in the transition from conventional shopping to shopping combined with enjoys the overwhelmed digital features and sound. â€Å"Fashion is supposed to be about making things relevant. Yes, it is luxury. Yes, it is aspiration. Yes it is supposed to be inspiring. But I think there is nothing more inspiring than talking digitally because you can get attitude, you can get music, you can get sound, and you can get video and movement. You can actually articulate so much of your brand using this medium,† (Vogue Chanel, 2011). Innovation of digital technology has a breakthrough in the fashion industry in general and in particular luxury fashion and Burberry is leader. It also allows Burberry to create the exceptional customer value assets that set it apart from its competitors (Hamel and Prahalad, 1994). It has created brand awareness, as well as establishes and reinforces a luxury positioning of Burberry. REFERENCES Alexander, E. (2010) [online] Available from: http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2010/09/08/burberry-retail-theatre-launch [Accessed 6 December 2012] Barney, J.B. (1991). Firm Resources & Sustained Competitive Advantage. Journal of Management, 17(1). pp 99-120. Burberry’s a annual report (2011) [online] Available from: http://201011.annualreport.burberry.com [Accessed 1 December 2012] Burberry’s b annual report (2011) [online] Available from: http://201011.annualreport.burberry.com [Accessed 3 December 2012] Burberry’s c annual report (2011) [online] Available from: http://201011.annualreport.burberry.com [Accessed 3 December 2012] Burberry’s d annual report (2011) [online] Available from: http://201011.annualreport.burberry.com [Accessed 4 December 2012] Burberry’s e annual report (2011) [online] Available from: http://201011.annualreport.burberry.com [Accessed 4 December 2012] Burberry’s f annual report (2011) [online] Available from: http://201011.annualreport.burberry.com [Accessed 4 December 2012] Channel’s annual report (2011) [online] Available form: http://annualreport.channel4.com/assets/downloads/hi-res/c4_annual_report_2011_financials.pdf [Accessed 1 December 2012] Clark, N. (2012) Burberry boosts digital approach with interactive campaign. Marketingmagazine, 29th May,p. 5. Fletcher, R. (2003), Brava, bravo!, The Sunday Telegraph, 5th October. Grant, R.M. (2005). Contemporary strategy analysis. 5th Edition. Oxford: Blackwell Ldt Hall, R. (1992). The strategic analysis of intangible resources. Strategic Management Journal, Vol 13, (2), pp. 135-144. Hall, R. (1993). A framework linking intangible resources and capabilities to sustainable competitive advantage. Strategic Management Journal. Vol 14 (11), pp. 607-618. Hamel, G & Prahalad, C.K. (1994). Competing for the Future. Harvard University Press : Harvard University Press. Instyle. (2012) Burberry [online] Available from: http://www.instyle.com/instyle/fashiondesigners/keymoments/0,,20226013_burberry_20236334,00.html [Accessed 6 December 2012] Jacobsen, R. (1988). The persistence of abnormal returns. Strategic Management Journal, 9. pp. 41-58 Jacobson, L. Burberry case studies. Weblog [online] Available from: http://laurenmjacobson.wordpress.com/case-studies/burberry-case-study [Accessed 6 December 2012 Peteraf, M.A. (1993). The Cornerstones of competitive advantage: A Resource-Based View. Strategic Management Journal, 14(3). pp 179-191. Prahalad, C.K. & Hamel, G. (1990). The Core Competence of the Corporation. Harvard Business Review, 68(3). pp 79-91. Porter, M. (1985). Competitive advantage. New York: Free Press Vogue festival Christopher Bailey (2012) Video. Vogue Chanel [online] Available from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWSwtfAtDyA [Accessed 9 December 2012]

Sociological Analytical Theories

SOCIOLOGICAL ANALYTICAL THEORIES Name:Stanley Mutagurwa Professor: Arlis Barclay Course:SOC291 Date:October 17th 2012 Sociological analytical theories are ideologies based on observation and empirical analysis of societies and their behavior. We have come to learn more about societies and their behavior through the use of different sociological analytical theories. However, some theories have lost favor from people due to changes in both time and space while others have widely been accepted by the public sphere as a whole as they stand upon values well supported by people at large.The theories have contributed to increased knowledge on the society status and the social behaviour tremendously. In this review, I have analyzed the social status of New York regarding their view on homosexuality, and how it has affected the behavior of the society members using a press release on the suspension of a Blue Jay shortstop, Yunel Escobar. The suspension is as a result of the slur eye black he had on his face before the game commenced. The slur gave an impression of indifference to the gay people all around North America. The eye-black sticker reduces the sun’s glare hence it’s worn under the eyes.The purpose of this article will be to outline a sociological analytical theory approach to the study on the understanding of homosexuality in New York, and the influence homosexuality has brought to the members of New York. In the course of this study, the presentation of the assumptions and concepts of the social theories will resurface clearly. The article will focus mainly on Five sociological theories recognized and analyzed. The sociological theories are; Functional, critical, symbolic interactionism, postmodernism and feminism theories.In the newspaper, Blue Jays shortstop Yunel Escobar comes into the Toronto playground wearing a homophobic slur under his eyes. The slur, written in Spanish, results in a three-game suspension for Yunel Escobar from playing. T he words â€Å"TU ERE MARICON† are the words inscribed on the sticker worn by Escobar which is a homophobic slur in Spanish. This press release reveals the functionality of the team officials. The functional theory brings about aspects of order and stability of a society, and this leads to a consensus on what deems expedient and worthwhile.It embraces the ideology of evaluation and ranking of a society according to performance. Functional theory depends on a stratification method in which a society can be ranked in a social system depending on the existing common value system. The best successful performer in terms of productivity and development, receives high ranking and legible to rewards and accordance of prestige as a form of gratitude due to personification of the societal common values. In the Newspaper, a meeting between team officials emerges meant to discuss the actions of Escobar in relation to his sticker on homophobia.The General Manager, Alex Anthopoulos and man ager John Farrell flank Escobar, resulting to his public apology. This reveals transparency and a call on integrity. The managers are committed to providing improved moral values in the community. Thus, players will learn from the punishment of Escobar, outlining the officials as responsible leaders. Every society has its own common values which, if followed to the point, support the survival and operation of a society efficiently. This entails proper allocation of roles to each respectively, training them and reminiscent satisfaction through effective provision of their daily needs.Social stratification is one of the mechanisms emergent from the article done by assigning roles to respective people, that is, a general manager and a manager, and the disciplinary committee which handled the case of Escobar. This gives confidence to the people on their team leaders against any verbal abuse from any member of the community. The team officials decide to assign the Escobar’s forfei ted salary to the ‘you can play and the Gay & Lesbian Allegiance Against defamation, a great sign of concern for the gay community.In the article, postmodernism highly outlines the technological development of the state. Postmodernism produces new social and political theories, refers to several and different economic, political, social and cultural transformations. Postmodern social transformation can be brought about by technologies such as media, computers, and change in socioeconomic system and innovated forms of knowledge. It involves higher stages of capitalism, which produces increased fragmentation of the culture, new mode of experience and different traditions.The use of media to present the general conference held by the officials, and the public apology of Escobar to Newyork is a clear impression of an improved technology in New York. The Baseball commissioner Bud Selig observes that the Major Baseball League officials embrace postmodernism in terms of adopting new ideologies and social responsibility. This also comes out through the innovation of new ideologies, educating and training the people on the rules of Major Baseball League to avoid mistakes based on illiteracy. Escobar proofs to be in the era of Modernism by pleading guilty based on his lack of knowledge on social responsibility.There are only men involved in this article as it evolves around men. Male dominancy in sports is emergent from the article study. The slur under Escobar’s eyelids simply brings out an effeminate ideology. Female sport leader’s appear nowhere in the article. The Feminist theory is an outstanding contemporary sociological theory, which studies the male and female social status in a given society, purposely, to better the lives of women. It strengthens and empowers women by outlining how they have contributed to the society. The newspaper outdoes feminism by supporting homosexuality.Men tend to survive and work alone in the community without assi stance from women. Homosexuality has not been adopted by everyone. Culturally, homosexuality erodes, debases and degrades moral values traditionally. Symbolic interactionism is a perspective that depends on the symbolic impression that people develop from the process of social interaction. The Major Baseball League officials express their feelings in an open stage conference, whereas the Baseball commissioner Bud Selig complements the judgement taken on Escobar.The judgement gives an impression of a situation handled appropriately and promptly, says Bud Selig, the Baseball commissioner. Integrity, humility and emotion control are some of the moral standards evident from the article. Escobar apologizes publicly and says that his statements are illiterate and ignorant. Escobar tries to remain harmlessly composed and humble before the National Television thus giving a confusing impression to the public regarding his former statements.Critical theory aimed at critiquing a society, chang es the way of thinking of the society, based on the whole societal changes towards creating more dynamic ideologies. The theory entails studies that go beyond the surface of social relations and reveals the conclusions that hinder us from getting the true understanding of how the society operates. Through the newspaper, we come to a better understanding of how North America supports homosexuality. The reactions on the sticker with a slur reveals that there are many people in North America supporting homosexuality as the story forms the wallpaper of the Newspapers in Toronto.In conclusion, the theoretical study of this article brings out NewYork as a homosexual supporting state, against homophobia. The punishment from the officials brings out the transparency required in leadership. Escobar’s public apology reveals a high standard of integrity and humility which gives a lesson to the society in cases of conflict resolution. Feminism is to be encouraged ans supported, thus wome n should be brought aboard in sports leadership as they can bring an influence to the sports industry through leadership.

Analysis of Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost

Analysis of Robert Frost Stopping at the snow covered night It stops at the night covered in the snow It is a poem that works at many levels. This poem uses various literary tools to convey the deeper meaning. Instruments such as fables and images are used in a very simple way so as not to confuse the reader, but they also have a deeper meaning. For these reasons and beyond, I think that stopping Woods on a snowy night is an eternal classic, I think it is my favorite poem. One thing that Robert Frost was among all his poems was that he wrote in a way that he did not work so hard for the readers. The aim of this paper is to analyze Robert Frost's poem Stop the forest at night covered with snow from a stylistic analysis point of view. Analysis was done in graph mode, grammar mode, syntax mode and phonological mode. I also discovered the metaphor and solution that existed in this poem. This article will help you analyze Robert Frost's poetry structure and style, his theme, perspective a nd nature handling. Style is a word derived from the Latin elocution, which means Greek style and vocabulary. Style is a wider term. There are several meanings inside and outside of sentences. The specific procedure for achieving something in a certain way or method is style. In a broad sense, everything is style. The style of things and lifestyle is also a style. Style is also related to person's personality. The style reflects the idea of ​​my mind. It explains how to write and read people Robert Frost's poetry is lyrics. In the forest I stopped on a snowy night to concentrate on where there is time and draw a feeling. Many lines represent discomfort, and when he needs to go home he dislikes being pulled to the end. Frost used Murray to strengthen this uneasiness. Peace and peace are also portrayed in this poem. In addition, the lyrics usually concentrate on one thing, Robert Frost's poetry concentrates in the forest. The story poem conveys a story that includes the beginning, the middle, and the end, not focusing on a moment like lyrics. The role of Robert Frost (an unnamed person) was stopped by Woods when it stopped in the woods and was shocked by the beauty of the winter night. Robert Frost and Edward Thomas' s Chalk Pit and Stop at Snowy Night poems communicate meanings in a sense. Sense of location. The forest stopped on a night covered with snow is for the narrator to stop outside the forest covered with snow and admire the scenery and the horse. The narrator does not stay for a long time because he promises to defend. White crater involves two people talking about a nearby choke pit. - Investigate the factors that affect the pendulum pendulum - Our goal is to investigate whether the pendulum pendulum variables affect speed. Preliminary Work To find variables that affect the swing of the pendulum, I need to test all available variables. Analysis of Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost Analysis of Robert Frost Stopping at the snow covered night It stops at the night covered in the snow It is a poem that works at many levels. This poem uses various literary tools to convey the deeper meaning. Instruments such as fables and images are used in a very simple way so as not to confuse the reader, but they also have a deeper meaning. For these reasons and beyond, I think that stopping Woods on a snowy night is an eternal classic, I think it is my favorite poem. One thing that Robert Frost was among all his poems was that he wrote in a way that he did not work so hard for the readers. The aim of this paper is to analyze Robert Frost's poem Stop the forest at night covered with snow from a stylistic analysis point of view. Analysis was done in graph mode, grammar mode, syntax mode and phonological mode. I also discovered the metaphor and solution that existed in this poem. This article will help you analyze Robert Frost's poetry structure and style, his theme, perspective a nd nature handling. Style is a word derived from the Latin elocution, which means Greek style and vocabulary. Style is a wider term. There are several meanings inside and outside of sentences. The specific procedure for achieving something in a certain way or method is style. In a broad sense, everything is style. The style of things and lifestyle is also a style. Style is also related to person's personality. The style reflects the idea of ​​my mind. It explains how to write and read people Robert Frost's poetry is lyrics. In the forest I stopped on a snowy night to concentrate on where there is time and draw a feeling. Many lines represent discomfort, and when he needs to go home he dislikes being pulled to the end. Frost used Murray to strengthen this uneasiness. Peace and peace are also portrayed in this poem. In addition, the lyrics usually concentrate on one thing, Robert Frost's poetry concentrates in the forest. The story poem conveys a story that includes the beginning, the middle, and the end, not focusing on a moment like lyrics. The role of Robert Frost (an unnamed person) was stopped by Woods when it stopped in the woods and was shocked by the beauty of the winter night. Robert Frost and Edward Thomas' s Chalk Pit and Stop at Snowy Night poems communicate meanings in a sense. Sense of location. The forest stopped on a night covered with snow is for the narrator to stop outside the forest covered with snow and admire the scenery and the horse. The narrator does not stay for a long time because he promises to defend. White crater involves two people talking about a nearby choke pit. - Investigate the factors that affect the pendulum pendulum - Our goal is to investigate whether the pendulum pendulum variables affect speed. Preliminary Work To find variables that affect the swing of the pendulum, I need to test all available variables.

Martin Luther King's speech 'I see the promised land' discuss the Essay

Martin Luther King's speech 'I see the promised land' discuss the impact of rhetoric in political communication - Essay Example The art of rhetoric in communication has been a powerful tool used by people to acquire their goal. History has many famous examples where rhetoric has been used in communication by leaders and activists in the struggle to attain success in a political or social cause. The most famous example is of Martin Luther King whose speeches and writings were rhetorical. He is said to have had excellent powers of oration. Through his powers of verbal, oral and written communication, he was successful in attaining civil rights for his people living in America and who were the citizens of America. Thus, he introduced a society free from color and racial differences where each and every citizen was respected and had equal civil rights. Understanding the Correct Meaning of Rhetoric Rhetoric has many definitions. Along with a positive meaning, the term is sometimes also taken in a negative sense in the current era. Shortly and precisely, it is a â€Å"skill in the effective use of speech.† ( Merriam Webster). In cases where rhetoric is being used to communicate insincerely with the presence of false exaggeration and promises and there is a lot of diplomacy, the negative meaning becomes prevalent which is the â€Å"insincere and grandiloquent mode of language or speech.† (Merriam Webster). Here, the positive and actual meaning of rhetoric is being considered. According to Burton, rhetoric is â€Å"the study of effective speaking and writing, and the art of influencing.† (2011). In his short article, ‘What is rhetoric?’, Burton says that the word has had a variety of meanings. He says that rhetoric focuses on the how of the language, the methods and means of communication rather than the content of what is being communicated. It studies the emotional impact of language and its effectiveness. It breaks communication into content and form. (2011). Relation between Communication Models and Rhetoric McQuail and Windhl (1993) wrote a book titled â₠¬Å"Communication Models for the Study of Mass Communications† in which they gave the main communication ideas or models for the mass communication procedures and vital concepts pertinent throughout graphical and oral concepts and models. Topics that they discuss under the communication models include: 1. Global or International or Cross-border Communications. 2. Procedures of Mass Media and its influence on the Individuals Culture and Society. 3. Premeditated Communication. 4. Audience-Centered Models. 5. New Media and the Information Society. (Holborn Books Review, 2010). Communication models tell us how effective communication should be carried out. Hence, the study of use rhetoric in language can be associated with them. Such models describe how an audience can be effectively conveyed a message so that there can be a social or political (or any other change) through mass correspondence and support. Taking an example of a communication model which is called â€Å"two- way a symmetric model†, this model is also called the persuasion model. In this model, there is two- way communication between the speaker and the public. In this way, the speaker understands the public he is addressing by getting their feedback on issues and then can plan a way to convey his message to receive a positive response keeping in mind what the public wants. (McQuail and Windhl, 1993). Use of behavioral and social sciences helped in the development of this model. Scientific study of human mind and psychology and its application in effective communi

How the battle of Brandywine was a successful win for the British, but Research Paper

How the battle of Brandywine was a successful win for the British, but a tactical win for the US - Research Paper Example The Brandywine battle was a truly decisive war between the "Great Britain and its thirteen North American colonies". This battle saw the Great Britain emerging the successful winner while the United States had a tactical win.1 During the battle, the US forces were under the command of George Washington while the British forces were under the command of William Howe. At the time Washington was getting into this battle, he had just suffered a serious defeat in New York, which meant that a win in the Brandywine battle was highly essential in order to revive American strength and morale. On the other hand, Howe was highly inspired 1by the Philadelphia Campaign, which was mainly a British objective to capture Philadelphia during the American Revolutionary War. Howe and Washington were both significant and prestigious men in determining the outcomes of the American Revolution.1 The Battle of Brandywine The battle began in an early morning after the British, 2and the Hessian soldiers depart ed from Kennett Square. Their departure followed a walk along the Brandywine Creek with an aim to enclose the American soldiers across Jeffries’ ford. This emanated from the need to capture Philadelphia. ... The other squad of Howe’s men, which was made of the majority, was to march north of Wistar’s Ford, then cross the river at a location unknown to Washington. Having superior tactics and good knowledge of the battle ground enabled the British troops to defeat Washington and his troops on their own battle ground.2 In 1777, the British launched an attempt to wipe out the flickering revolt in its North American colonies. Its main objective was to split the colonies with converging expeditions focused upon the Hudson valley. During this period, General Howe refused to take part in the Saratoga battle and instead, moved into Pennsylvania where he defeated Washington in the battle of Brandywine. In Brandywine, Howe took over Philadelphia and defeated Washington’s attack on Germantown. American’s win in the battle of Saratoga came along with diplomatic assistance from France and other European nations. At some point, the battle at the Middle Atlantic region had co me into a standstill, but later foreign aid came to save the situation. The Battle of Saratoga motivated France to get into an alliance with the United States whereby Franklin and the French foreign minister of that time signed a treaty. Later, Spain got into war against Great Britain in 1779. However, the assistance given by the Spanish to the Americans was not of much help to the United States. On the other hand, the French offered immense assistance in terms of soldiers, sailors, supplies, and money, which were highly crucial for America’s success in the Saratoga battle. The 3Americans continued to fight valiantly, but, unfortunately, the British troops had outwitted them on the rolling hills in the Brandywine. The win did not stop the British troops from arriving at the battle ground, but

Mandated Curriculum vs. Developmentally Appropriate Practices Essay

Mandated Curriculum vs. Developmentally Appropriate Practices - Essay Example While DAP allows children to solve their own problems as they are encouraged to engage themselves, it also helps in reducing learning gaps (Gestwicki 32). The processing capabilities of the children’s minds are also improved because they are encouraged to engage in the areas that they are most comfortable with thus improving creativity (Shipley). For the level of kindergarten, I feel that using textbook-based curriculum is not necessary. This is because textbook-based curriculum is restricted on the topics and areas that should be learnt. This therefore limits the scope of learning denying the children an opportunity to experiment, which is very important especially during the developmental stage. In addition, this mode does not favor the literacy skills of the gifted children because they are steered to a different direction away from their areas of expertise. As a recommendation, the mode of learning that encourages literacy development is the eclectic homeschooling (Bess). A schooling environment that provides an opportunity to teach is very important since the parent gets to pick the approaches to use when teaching the child. Bess, Beth W. "What Kind of Curriculum Should You Use? | Home Educators Association of Virginia." Home Educators Association of Virginia. n.d. Web. 10 Aug. 2014. http://heav.org/basic-info/gifted/what-kind-of-curriculum-should-you-use/ "Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP)† National Association for the Education of Young Children NAEYC. n.d. Web. 08 Aug. 2014. http://www.naeyc.org/DAP Shipley, Tisha. "Early Childhood Education: Implementing Developmentally Appropriate Practices into Literacy Instruction - Whole Child Education." Whole Child Education. 22 Jan 2014. Web. 10 Aug. 2014.

The Scarlet Letter High School Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Scarlet Letter High School - Essay Example Socially outcast, Hester raises her child Pearl, all by herself within her limited means, but Pearl grows into a defiant and difficult one-parent child. However, in spite of all her trials and tribulations, Hester refuses to reveal the identity of her co-partner in crime, the Reverend Dummesdale. Part and parcel of the tribunal that convicted Hester in the first instance, Dummesdale is secretly relieved by Hester's refusal, "Wondrous strength and generosity of a woman's heart! She will not speak!" (Chapter 3). The Reverend's silence and complicity also allows Roger Chillingworth, Hester's husband who had been presumed dead, to gain moral ascendancy over her. Chillingworth holds no grudge against Hester, as he feels that he too has wronged Hester by marrying her in spite of his infirmities, but wants to seek justice and revenge. Chillingworth succeeds in his endeavors resulting in the psychological ruin and ultimate demise of the Reverend. The entire plot of the Scarlet letter revolves around Reverend Dummesdale's non--confession at the time that Hester Prynne was first tried. It is the Reverend's silence that confers on Chillingworth the power over both Hester and the Reverend himself. Had the Reverend confessed in the first instance, the very foundation on which the narrative is based ceases to exist.

The applied significance of teambuilding Research Paper

The applied significance of teambuilding - Research Paper Example The paper tells that the new century has offered a myriad of challenges to managers from all over the world. The impact of globalization and the technological advances that have basically shaped the way businesses are conducted are very real and pressing concerns for business today. Moreover, these developments have paved the way for the emergence of a new breed of workers. These people have been able to almost literally transcend time and space since they are basically prized for their intellectual capabilities and special technical skills. These people are known as knowledge workers. It is very important that managers recognize the existence of these knowledge workers and be able to utilize them to their full potential. Moreover, with the many challenges hounding companies today, teams have been very much relied upon in order to be able to get thru difficult challenges as well as to succeed in many endeavours. However, it is very important for the teams to be composed properly and be able to choose the members well. Furthermore, it is important to have a clear definition and be able to set the expectations of team members as well. Hence, it is very crucial also to be able to set the roles of each team members so that they may work harmoniously towards the achievements of the predetermined goals and objectives. Clearly, these are people that are central to the team building process. Thus, as the functional area primarily concerned with manpower, the human resources department must play a central role in the team building efforts of companies. This will ensure the proper implementation of necessary guidelines so that the team building process will be successful. Hence, Hackman (1993) has put forward excellent examples in order to get these things done whereby the flight trainings that involve flight crews have different functions interdependent in order to bring the group’s goal into fruition. Timing events and the various developments are also necessary . In building teams, it is also important for the members to have a clear understanding when to step up and take the helm for the group. It is important for the different members to take turns at the spotlight and indeed the team members must be ready when the time comes for them to be the one to move forward for the sake of the team (Gersick, 1988). Teambuilding There have been many challenges affecting businesses today among which are the pressing forces of globalization and technological innovations that have enabled companies to utilize various automation processes in place of manual labor. However, despite the many changes that has strongly shaped and continuously form the business landscape, manpower has continuously been the force that companies have continuously relied upon. Though there are automation options, certain processes still require human touch in order to be able to get things done. Consequently, these automation processes usually lessens the labor employed but th ese machines still require human elements to make them function. Thus, manpower continues to be a key enabler for companies to go about their businesses and be able to bring about the realization of their strategies and to bring into fruition the target successes that are being talked about in the boardrooms. Hence, there is the all too important learning and growth perspective in the Balanced Scorecard (BSC). The BSC has four perspectives namely the financial perspective, customer perspective, internal business process perspective and the aforementioned learning and growth perspective. In its most basic sense, the strategic activities illustrated in the BSC seem to have its roots from the learning and growth perspective. Of course there are variations to the model but still, the learning and growth illustrates the need to capture the all too important elements of a company’s manpower which continues to be a crucial enabler in the success of a company’

Consumption and convergence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Consumption and convergence - Essay Example Consequently the concept now commands preponderance over format. The ensuing fusion of till now estranged media has finally made way for the virtual world that is far more interesting and tangible as compared to the utterly scattered version of reality offered by the analogous media. Murdock celebrates the advent of digitization by declaring that, â€Å"This age of analogue communications is now coming to an end. It is giving way to a new media landscape based on digital technologies (2008: 35).† Convergence is a natural and direct outcome of the homogenization of format made possible by digitization. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines ‘convergence’ as, â€Å"the merging of distinct technologies, industries or devices into a unified whole (2009).† Hitherto the concept of convergence had certain negative connotations associated with it because of the fear of a possible concentration of power and the annihilation of diversity. Yet, the fact is that convergence is a direct response to the needs and preferences of the contemporary consumer who thrives in a scenario where the line between work and entertainment is very think and the enhanced access facilitated by the compatibility of variegated portals is in high demand. It will get really feasible to grasp this idea by pragmatically comparing two recent instances of media convergence i.e. PS3 and Nintendo WII videogame consoles. On November 11, 2006, Sony Entertainment officially released its much anticipated Play Station 3 (PS3) video console in Japan. This was followed by a US release on November 17, 2006 and then in Europe on March 23, 2007. The PS3 was not being marketed as just a video game console but as a home multimedia system. This is because the PS3 is packed with various technologies that can readily be consumed through other platforms. The PS3 console is manufactured with an inbuilt BLUE RAY disc

OI wk 5 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

OI wk 5 - Essay Example The company also targets schools and universities as a market for their products. Despite being a leader in soft drinks industry, the PepsiCo Company has been faced by stiff competition from other firms such as the Coca Cola Company. This has made it necessary for PepsiCo to adopt innovative strategies to ensure that their products continue to reach the desired market. This stems from the realization that it is important for the company to come up with innovative ways to reach the target market in a highly competitive market. The success of PepsiCo can be attributed to their ability to target new markets. PepsiCo has been known for its niche marketing. Market niche innovation refers to the ability of the company to open up new markets using the existing technology (Von Stamm, 2003). In earlier years the company targeted the black community as a market for their products. The company also targeted different communities and came up with strategies to reach this target markets. As a result of their innovative marketing, PepsiCo was able to raise sales in the targeted communities. At present the company continues to come up with more innovative ways to reach the desired market. These include a redesigning of the Pepsi cans to have a design that included more than 30 different backgrounds for each can. This is an example of the innovation that is carried out by PepsiCo to help in achieving growth and success. The PepsiCo Company is driven by the market share in reaching it niche market. This has made it easier for the Company to identify the proper channels of distributions for their products. To enable the Company to attain a larger market share, the company has developed distribution channels that allow it to reach its entire target market. The company has also expanded the distribution channels through globalization. In addition, the PepsiCo Company has reached to a wider market through the use of proper and targeted promotions. The company has also been able to

Plagiarism Essay Essay Example for Free

Plagiarism Essay Essay Academic Plagiarism 1. 0 Defining academic plagiarism 2. 0 What are different types of academic plagiarism? 3. 0 Is academic plagiarism a problem for the non-native speakers only? 4. 0 What are the penalties of academic plagiarism? 5. 0 How can one avoid academic plagiarism? 6. 0 How should the culprits of academic plagiarism be punished? Academic Plagiarism 1. 0 Defining academic plagiarism The practice of stealing another person’s academic work and presenting it as your own is defined as academic plagiarism. This is a growing vice among students in our institutions of higher learning today. Most students in our local universities steal other persons’ writings or related academic materials and present such works as their original work. Academic plagiarism is when a person steals another person’s works and passes it on as his or her original work (Gibaldi, 1998). 2. 0 What are different types of academic plagiarism? There are several types of academic plagiarism. According to Loveleena Rajeev (2012), there are six types of academic plagiarism. The first is partial plagiarism. This happens when a person steals and puts together data from two or three different sources. The second is source plagiarism. This takes place when due credit is not given to the author one has gathered information from. The third is minimalistic plagiarism. This happens when one summarizes the same content using different flows. This could happen by changing the order and sentence of the original work. The fourth is source citation. This takes place when a person presents a complete source of information which lacks quotes. The fifth is mosaic plagiarism. This type of plagiarism takes place when one changes the sentence construction but not the original wording. Finally, the sixth is full-proof plagiarism. It occurs when all the sources used have citations but the entire text is a paraphrased version of the original. 3. 0 Is academic plagiarism a problem for the non-native speakers only? In my view, academic plagiarism is a problem for both the native and non- native speakers. Academic plagiarism by students is influenced by a variety of factors. Some of the factors that influence plagiarism are of human nature regardless of whether one is a native or a non-native speaker. For example laziness is recognized as a factor that may influence one to plagiarize whether they are native or non-native speakers. Another common factor among the native and non-native speakers that may influence plagiarism is lack of confidence in one’s own work. The temptation to plagiarise may occur when one has high regards of what is written by someone else. However, non-native speakers may be faced with exceptional challenges that may influence them to plagiarize. For example a non-native speaker may be faced with the challenge of correlating ideas and grammar. This may lead to plagiarism. According to Sheryl Holt (2013), non-native speakers prefer quoting their ‘masters’ as the most reliable source without critical thinking. 4. 0 What are the penalties of academic plagiarism? The penalties of academic plagiarism include suspensions and probations of the culprits from schools or institutions they are in, redoing the assignment and lowering of the students’ course grades. Attorney Standler (2010) states that anyone who plagiarizes copy righted material can be sued in federal court by the owner of the copyright. He also describes how unsympathetic the courts can be toward college students who have been disciplined for plagiarism and seek relief via lawsuit. 5. 0 How can one avoid academic plagiarism? Generally, it is the responsibility of everyone to avoid plagiarism. Plagiarism should be understood as a collective responsibility among all the stakeholders meaning that it is also the responsibility of teachers to assist the students un dealing with it (Council of Writing Program Administration 2003 p. 3) . Loveleena (2003) states that plagiarism is an offensive act that leads to infraction of originality and can be avoided by using proper citation of reference on the work done and also by reading and researching widely on the topic under research. Sheryl Holt (2011) on the other hand says that there is need for a person to be a suspicious reader with a keen eye of identifying and addressing plagiarism. She advises that once plagiarism is identified, there is need to have a one on one chart on what constitute plagiarism with a culprit and provide an opportunity to the culprit to rewrite the paper. 6. 0 How should the culprits of academic plagiarism be punished? In conclusion, some of the reasons that lead students to practice plagiarism are laziness, ignorance and lack of exposure or experience on the subject under discussion. Plagiarism does not affect students only but also the institution and nation at large because it increases lack of originality among individuals. Therefore, measures on how to curb plagiarism should be taken and there should be consequences in place for culprits who are performing it. In my view, students who involve in the acts of plagiarism should redo the assignment, be suspended and in extreme cases be expelled. Authors who are involved in academic plagiarism should also be punished by having their works banned from their societies. References Council of Writing Program Administrators. (2003). Defining and Avoiding Plagiarism: The WPA Statement on Best Practices. Retrieved from http://www. wpacouncil. org Gibaldi, J. (1998). MLA Style manual and guide to scholarly publishing. (2nd Ed). Modern Language Association of America. Jones, L. (2011), Academic Integrity Academic Dishonesty: A Handbook about Cheating Plagiarism Florida: Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne. Loveleena Rajeev (2012). Different types of Plagiarism. Retrieved from (Buzzle: http://www. buzzle. com/articles/different-types-of-plagiarism. html), Murdoch University Academic Integrity (2011), Retrieved from http://www. murdoch. edu. au/teach/plagiarism/ Ronald B Standler, (2010), Plagiarism in Colleges in USA retrieved from http://www. rbs2. com/plag. pdf. Sheryl Holt (2013), Success with Graduate and Scholarly Writing: A Guide for Non-native Writers of English.

A Rainy Day Essay Example for Free

A Rainy Day Essay Benjamin alighted from the bus and made a clumsy half skip from the last step of the bus to the bus stop. â€Å"Why does it have to rain now?† he thought as he looked up at the gloomy sky. Rainwater lashed down as lightning flashed and thunder roared. It had been bright and sunny the whole day, the sudden downpour half an hour ago caught Benjamin off guard because he had left his umbrella at home. How was he going to get home in the rain? Benjamin stood waiting at the bus stop for ten minutes. The rain did not look like it was stopping. Instead, it seemed to be getting even heavier! To make matter worse, the wind had started to blow. Just then, a gust of chilly wind blew the raindrops into the bus stop, Benjamin could feel that his hands were as frozen as ice. Benjamin was getting wet even under the shelter of the bus stop. He had to squat on the seat of the bus stop to keep his leg dry. He glanced at his watch, another fifteen minutes before his favourite programme ‘Mystery Mission’ came on the television. He particularly did not want to miss the episode that day as it was featuring Pro-bot, his favourite robot. Glancing at his watch yet again, Benjamin made up his mind. He held his bag over his head, took a deep breath and ran out of the bus stop into the rain. The heavy rain drenched Benjamin the moment he stepped out of the bus stop. Feeling cold, Benjamin started shivering. â€Å"I’ll just run to the nearest void deck,† he thought as he tried to race along, splashing puddles on the way. Unfortunately, the path that Benjamin was running along was wet and slippery that he slipped and fell with a loud thud. â€Å"Ouch!† yelled Benjamin as he lay on the path. His bag had fallen from his grasp and his books were scattered about, getting wet in the rain. He sat up slowly trying to ignore the pelting rain and examined himself. Luckily, he only suffered minor cuts and bruises. He picked himself up and hurriedly stuffed his books and pencil case into his bag before limping to the nearest void deck. There, Benjamin called his mother from a public phone. Benjamin’s mother, carrying an umbrella, hurried to the void deck at once. An hour later, after a hot shower and a change of clothes, Benjamin felt much better. He mother had tendered his wound too. He sighed as he looked at his wet books which had been spread out on the table to dry. â€Å"Ahhahhahchoo!† Benjamin suddenly gave a loud sneeze. Oh no, was he coming down with a cold?

Historical background of the company Milkpak

Historical background of the company Milkpak Milkpak was part of a family group of businesses, known as the Ali Group, which also operated businesses in textile industry, had major holdings in the vegetable and soap industries among others. One of the Ali Groups leading companies was called Packages Limited, established in Lahore in 1956. This company supplied packaging materials to a variety of industries and also provided technical assistance to packaging plants overseas. In 1976 a review of Packages Ltd showed that one of its machines, the Tetra Laminator, was very under utilized. This machine was designed for making packaging material for long-life milk or UHT milk. Milk packaged in this way had a shelf life of up to three months without refrigeration. Thus, following this review, Milkpak was established to create a market for the packaging materials produced by Packages Ltd. The company then found one milk plant in Pakistan which was suited to produce sterilized milk. It leased the plant and launched a pilot project, which turned out to be a success. Milkpak was therefore incorporated in January 1979 and began commercial production in November 1981. In 1984 Milkpak started marketing the Frost line of fruit juices which had been introduced a few years earlier by Packages Ltd. Soon after, Milkpak bought the Frost brand name from Packages and in 1986 it accounted for 9% of Milkpaks total sales. In 1985 the company launched its own butter, and in 1986 it launched a sterilized cream product called balai and also a cooking oil called Desi Ghee. These products were sold under the brand name of Milkpak. Situation Analysis The environment in which businesses operate is dynamic, never static, that is it keeps changing. It is increasingly turbulent due to the era of change and uncertainty in which we live and is never stable. The pace of these changes is accelerating, which requires continual response from the business organization. In this section we will discuss some of the external factors and internal factors that influenced Milk Pak operations: Vision Statement of Milkpak The strategic priorities of Nestle Milkpak are focused on delivering shareholder value through the achievement of sustainable, capital efficient and profitable long term growth. Improvements in profitability will be achieved while respecting quality and safety standards. In line with this objective, Nestle Milkpak envisions to grow in the shortest possible time into the number one food company in Pakistan with the unique ability to meet the needs of consumers of every age group from infancy to old age, for nutrition and pleasure, through development of a large variety of food categories of the highest quality. Nestle Milkpak envisions the company to develop an extremely motivated and professionally trained work force, which would drive growth through innovation and renovation. It aspires, as a respected corporate citizen, to continue playing a significant role in the social and environmental sectors of the country. SWOT Analysis When making decisions it is very important for the business to consider the external environment as well as the firms existing resources. The SWOT analysis helps the management to set objectives and make plans to build up on the strengths, rectify the weaknesses, avail the opportunities and counter the threats. Strengths Milkpak had a high market share. Milkpak Ltd product line included diversified products. The strength of Milkpak is its identity. Extensive and continuous supply of milk from different sources. Milkpak distribution network grew rapidly between 1981- 1986. Within few years of its establishment it had sales offices in major cities of Pakistan. Milkpak had a reputation for consistent high quality for both consumers and the trade. Milkpak limited was owned by one of the leading industrialist of Pakistan i.e. Ali Group. Milkpak had a shell life of up to 3 months and did not require refrigeration. Milkpak also catered to low income consumers. Milkpak taught it suppliers scientific methods of livestock care and breeding. This made it milk supplies more reliable and of high quality. Weaknesses The total processing cost was around 25% of the total product cost. Packaging material which were heavily taxed by the government lead for another 26%of Milkpak production cost. Milkpak limited lacked required technical knowledge and expertise to expand the business. New brick pak was introduced in 1986, this required extra packaging material and therefore lead to an increase in Milkpak cost. Opportunities Government fostered the UHT milk industry by removing duties on import of machinery for dairy products. An opportunity of a joint venture with a foreign company. Training of Milkpak employees if Milkpak had a joint venture with Nestle or Friesland. Threats Government sanctioned a number of additional plants which lead to the possibility of substantial overcapacity in the market. Chaudhri Industries entered the market in 1986 with a competitive advantage i.e. brick packaging. Because the industry risked facing overcapacity, it was important for Milkpak to increase its market share. If it did not, its competitors could have dominated the market. Many companies were planning to enter the dairy industry. Between 1960- 1970, 23 dairy processing plants were establish out of which at least 15 plants closed due to lack of poor management and infrastructure, lack of milk supply and extensive refrigeration requirement. A joint venture with a large multinational might dominate Strategy of Milkpack In Pakistan, one of the major problems facing all milk producers and distributors was the discrepancy between the demand and supply of milk. There was a marked seasonal demand for milk, which peaked during the summer and slowed during the winter months. In contrast, the production of milk was highest during the winter months i.e. December to May, also known as the flush season and was lowest during the lean season, i.e. from May to August. To alleviate the problems brought about by the seasonal mismatch between supply and demand for milk during summer, the Pakistani government adopted liberal policies toward the import of milk products. This meant that Milkpak now had to compete with foreign markets alongside local milkmen who supplied raw milk. Milk powder became a popular import and by 1986 was making up 30% of all milk supplies in Karachi. The problem of seasonality meant that during the lean season Milkpak faced a shortage in demand, and during the flush season the company had to refuse milk supplies. The company needed to gain some knowledge and insight regarding how to operate in an environment where demand and supply were so seasonal. Furthermore, Milkpak marketing managers were reluctant to promote Milkpak heavily during the flush season for fear of creating demand in the lean season which they would not be able to satisfy. Although they were committed to increasing UHT milk sales, the UHT business was a very high volume and low margin business, where the technology for manufacturing UHT milk was considered very expensive. To counter the problem of milk shortages during the lean season it was possible to add milk powder to increase overall output volume. However, since the milk powder itself would be imported, this was an expensive option which also resulted in providing competitors with business. Milkpak also encountered some difficulties in marketing its product. A major challenge which the company faced was in positioning the milk. It was difficult to introduce the idea of long-life milk to their target market, especially since this milk did not require any refrigeration. At that time the market was mainly accustomed to buying small amounts of raw milk on a frequent basis, which needed to be stored in cool conditions. Another concern which consumers had was that the Milkpak brand contained preservatives, or were perhaps not genuine because it contained no cream. Milkpaks success with UHT milk encouraged a number of other competitors to enter the market. Some of these competitors were short lived and left the market soon after facing financial difficulties. Others were more sustained, such as Milko, Pakistan Dairies and Chaudhuri Dairies. All these competitors had some advantages over Milkpak, either in terms of more experience, better distribution networks, or more convenient packaging. Furthermore, the government was now encouraging companies to enter the market by making exemptions on the import of machinery for dairy plants and by providing low cost financing by several government agencies. The government had also sanctioned a number of additional plants which would be in working condition soon. The concern now was that the UHT milk industry would be facing a substantial overcapacity. It was thus decided that finding an appropriate joint venture partner would be a viable solution to the problem of growth for Milkpak. As it would provide Milkpak with the opportunity to obtain new capacity, expertise and technological knowledge which was very much required. And also that Joint venture with any of the competing firms would possibly wipe off the competition from the market. In assessing Nestle as a joint venture partner, there were many advantages to both Milkpak and to the Pakistani industry as a whole. However, the company still faced certain drawbacks. Both companies were likely to be concerned about management control of the operation. Another point which needed to be settled was what products were to be manufactured and where they would be produced. Mission statement Nestlà ©s mission is to provide the best food to people throughout the world. Objectives and core values Lead a dynamic motivated and professional workforce proud of its heritage and bullish about the future.  · Meet the nutritional needs of consumers of all age groups from infancy to old age, from nutrition to pleasure, through an innovative portfolio of branded food and beverage products of the highest quality.  · Deliver shareholder value through profitable long-term growth, while continuing to play a significant and responsible role in the social, economic and environmental sectors of the country. Development of strategy There are many models for the development of strategy i.e. Potters generic strategies. There are 3 generic strategies of potter Cost leadership Differentiation Focus Anssoff Matrix Provides the basis for an organizations objective setting and sets the foundation of directional policy for its future (Bennett, 1994). The best selection for Milk pack is cost leadership. For this purpose Milk pack needs to outsource it non core activities. The major risk of outsourcing is that you may not be building the value of your company in terms of personnel, in-house knowledge, and infrastructure. In this case, the value of an outsourcing agreement with a provider will be less effective than an internal department. Implementation plan for strategy Strategy making needs person with vision whereas strategy implementation needs a person with administrative ability The implementation plan can be divided into many parts Project Implementation requires the management to have a firm grasp of the strategy to be implemented. Project management involves recognition of critical success path. With all the activities lying in the critical success path will then be given significant importance. If a project needs to be implemented in time, then all the activities lying on the critical success of must be performed on time. Procedural Implementation means that milk pack has to bring change in its value chain. The value chain describes all the core activities of the business. After all the core activities of the business have been recognized, support activities can be removed or restructured. Resource Allocation is the most important part of the strategy. If proper allocation of the resources is not made the strategy might not be implemented. Before choosing a strategy for implementation the company carefully analyses all its resources and then allocates some resources for implementation of the strategy. For the strategy of outsourcing to work it is necessary that Milkpak is able to find a suitable company to outsource. This requires a lot of time and effort, appropriate resources and time allocation needs to be made. Structural Implementation is necessary if the company requires a change in structure to support the strategy. Without the proper structure for the strategy, the strategy is bound to fail. Functional Implementation means the division of objectives of strategy into functional achievable and goals i.e. budgets. This is the implementation of the strategy at grass root level. Behavioral Implementation suggests a change in the culture of the organization. The people of the organization need to accept the change in strategy. If the people are working hard to implement the strategy then there is a good chance that the strategy will be successfull Conclusion This case study shows how a relatively small company in a developing country made an error by choosing a wrong strategy and powerful and aggressive joint venture partner. Milkpak wanted to retain control and majority ownership of the joint venture but Nestle, although having an initial stake of only 49%, managed to increase it by forcing new technologies and acquisitions into the partnership. The Ali Group could not keep up with these expenses and Nestle thus raised its participation to 67%, relegating the Ali family to the role of spectators. Friesland would have been a much better partner due to its smaller size. They efficiently co-operate with local companies in many countries, letting them to conduct the operations without trying to take over their partner. Unfortunately, they committed some important mistakes during the negotiations, like not allowing the Milkpak management to see their milk powder factory, thus leading Milkpak to believe that they were trying to hide technolog y from them. On the other hand, Nestle swiftly sent one of its vice presidents to Pakistan, showing respect for Milkpak. This senior executive proved to be very familiar with this kind of operations and he flattered Milkpak, admiring the quality of their products. Thanks to this smart negotiation, both emphasizing their experience in operating milk powder factories in Asia and showing deference to Milkpak, Nestle won the deal. This shows how much it is important to know the culture of the persons you are negotiating with, in order to be able to adapt. Failure to do so may lead to an unfortunate outcome.

Trends in Family Formation: A Look at Same-Sex Marriage Essay example -

Introduction Family and marriage are social and divine institutions that are facing constant challenges due to the rapidly changing trends in society. In the past, the problems that families and marriages experienced were polygamy, early marriages, and family planning, but the current society experiences extra problems such as high rates of divorce, delayed marriages, single parenthood, cohabitation, and emergence of same sex marriages among other pertinent issues. The emergence of same-sex marriages complicated conventional and religious teachings for these teachings view same sex marriage as an immoral issue in the society that should never happen at all. Despite the denial and renunciation of the same sex marriage in the society, gays and lesbians continue to exist in the society while their numbers are increasing alarmingly. High rates of divorce and marriage abuses have left many young people wondering and questioning whether marriage is of any significance in life with regard to happiness and achievement. Glen argues that, â€Å"young adults delay getting married, not out of cynicism or apathy so much, but because of a near crippling anxiety over whether they will fail at marriage like so many of their parents did† (2012, np). Such and many other fears compel young people to get involved in aberrant sexual behaviors as gay and lesbianism in order to avoid problems associated with heterosexual marriages. Therefore, what are the trends, causes, and solutions regarding the issue same-sex marriage? Trends of Same-Sex Marriage Same-sex marriage is an emerging social and religious issue that is gradually finding its way in the legal system as constitutions of many countries recognize heterosexual marriage only. Conventional and ... ..., & Bynner, J. (2002). Learning, Family Formation and Dissolution. Centre For Research on the Wider Benefits of Learning, 4, 1-42. Glen, T. (2012). Family Formation Trends and Analysis: United States Overview. Focus on the Family. Web http://www.focusonthefamily.com/about_us/focus-findings/family-formation-trends/regnerus-family-structures-study.aspx Jost, K. (2003). Gay Marriage. The Congressional Quarterly Research, 13(30), 723-747. Marshall, W., & Sawhill, I. (2002). Progressive Family Policy in the 21st Century. Marriage and Legislation Journal, 1-49 Murphy, M. (2001). Marriage in the Modern World. Family and Society Studies, 1-17 Smith, R. (2006). Sexual Orientation in Children. Childhood Growth and Development, 26-39. Somerville, M. (2003). The Case against ‘Same-Sex Marriage’. The Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, 1-11.

American Literature and Society :: essays research papers fc

Literature is a very powerful tool that is used to make a huge impact on society or in someone’s perspective. Literature comes in different forms and each literature form fits in a certain category or role to help understand the true meaning of it. From playwrights to short stories, each one has moral lesson, a message or a reflection of the author. I have witnessed the power of literature several times. Literature has moved teens to better being; it has motivated unfortunate people to fame, used as an educational process of teaching and most of all, entertainment. Back in the day, plays were on of the most famous forms of entertainment. Without television and radio present, plays served as a substitute to entertain certain groups of people like the royal family or just for the whole public. This was one way of making money by the actors and the authors that wrote the play. Also present during those times were the poem recitals. This is similar to a play but fewer people are present in the stage or sometimes solo performance. Today, Literature is still being used as a form of entertainment and educational intentions. Hollywood made a lot of money by revising the great masterpieces of famous authors such as â€Å"Rome and Juliet† by William Shakespeare. Also, they made movies out of hundreds of literary works for educational purposes and better understanding of the literature piece. Each form of literature has its own style. The style determines how it influences the audience to absorb the true meaning and moral of the story or poem. William Shakespeare and Benjamin Franklin were truly persuasive while Washington Irving and Edgar Allan Poe mixed mystery and adventure to their works. The style touches the readers which really makes a good relationship from the reader to the author’s literary masterpieces. Being a foreigner to this country, I have viewed American Society in a different way. There are a lot of factors that changed my perspective to the American society and of them is the literature I have studied during the process of having English as on of my major subjects. I can strongly say that American society is very much different than the environment I used to live. There may be similarities but there are few. American society tends to change a lot of times, its culture slowly evolves the American society to a whole different level.

Bernard Shaw :: essays research papers

George Bernard Shaw is known by many as the most significant English playwright since the seventeenth century. He wrote fifty-seven plays in his lifetime, and a vast majority of them were revolutionary in their themes. On July 26, 1856, George Bernard Shaw was born in Dublin, Ireland. Shaw was the first son of his parents, George and Lucille, but had two sisters upon his arrival. Although they lived in Ireland, the Shaws were Protestants and George Bernard was baptized in the Church of England; however, he was never very religious and never enjoyed attending church. He also did not care much for his formal education, even though he attended many different schools. He started his schooling at the Wesleyan Connexional School and ended his fifteenth year at the Dublin English Scientific and Commercial Day School. Overall, Shaw’s childhood was an unhappy one. By the age of fifteen, his parents had split up. His mom deserted her husband and left for England to live with her two daughters. In order to support himself, Shaw left school and got a job working as a clerk and cashier for a firm of land agents for nearly found and a half years. During this time, George Bernard took it upon himself to read and visit the theatre as much as possible. At the age of nineteen, Shaw’s sister Agnes died from food poisoning. Saddened by her death, Shaw left London to live with his mother and sister Lucy in hope of becoming a musician or painter. Being the shy young man that he was, he could not find a place in the arts community there. At the age of twenty-four, Shaw decided to establish himself as a writer. When newspapers and magazines repeatedly rejected his articles, he then decided to become a novelist. Although all publishers rejected his first novel, Shaw continued to write and produced four more novels between 1880 and 1883; he found no publisher for any of them. Finally, in 1886, Shaw’s first novel, Cashel Byron’s Profession was published. This novel was very popular, but after publishing his second novel, An Unsocial Socialist, his novel writing career came to an end.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Shaw finally found his specialty around 1885 when William Archer suggested that he became a playwright. The play he is most well known for is Pygmalion. It is a classic play that comes from an ancient myth in which a statue is made of an ideal woman, and by prayer to the gods she is brought to life.

Philosophy Unit Essay

A thought or notion that cannot be true or false | God, Dog, Evil | Proposition | A statement which is either right/wrong | â€Å"God is pink† | Knowledge | Expressed in propositions that are formed by joining concepts, state something that is true or false | â€Å"The dog is Yellow† | Three Types of Knowledge | – Propositional- â€Å"Know that† – Knowledge by Acquaintance – â€Å"Know of† – capacity/Ability – â€Å"Know how† | | A Priori | Propositional knowledge that we know is right before (sense) experience | â€Å"2+2=4 â€Å" | A Posteriori | Propositional knowledge that we know is right only after (sense) experience | â€Å"The sky is blue† | Synthetic | Not true by definition – Tells us something substantial about the world | â€Å"Snow is white† | Analytic | True by definition | â€Å"All Bachelors are unmarried men† | Necessary | Had to be true, true in all possible worlds | Maths – 2+2=4 | Contingent | Could be otherwise | â€Å"Obama was elected President† | Induction | Reasoning that draws conclusions from a finite collection of specific observations. | 1). The sun has always risen 2). The sun will always rise | Deduction | Reasoning in which the conclusion must follow the premises | 1). Man is mortal 2). Socrates is man 3). Socrates is mortal | Innate | Knowledge that is present in the mind at birth | Conceptual Schemes – Kant | Intuitive | propositions that we know are right through pure thought | â€Å"I think therefore I exist† – Descartes | Empiricism | Argues that you can only have analytic a priori knowledge | â€Å"All Widows were once Married† (Analytic a priori) | Rationalism | Argues that you can have analytic and synthetic a priori knowledge (Not Plato) | â€Å"God Exists† – Descartes (Synthetic a priori) | All Ideas Come From Experience: Empiricism John Locke | David Hume | The mind is a Tabula Rasa – Blank Slate Sensation + Reflection Simple, complex, and abstract ideas Simple ideas come from sensation Complex + Abstract come from reflection | Sensation creates impressions in our minds Ideas are ‘faint impressions’ of sensations which are ‘vivid and forceful’ All thoughts are combinations of ideas e. g. Golden Mountain | Counter Arguments: Not all simple ideas come from experience Missing shade of blue – Hume | Complex/Abstract ideas are not from experience general idea is required to form the abstract idea – Curruthers | Some ideas are innate Ideas of God/Infinity – Descartes Veined Marble – Leibniz All knowledge is innate in the soul, just needs to be recalled – Plato | Knowledge about what exists must be justified by sense experience: John Lock | 2 Fountains of Knowledge – Sensation + Reflection All ideas are from these – So all propositions must be as well | BUT | David Hume | Hume’s Fork Relations of Ideas – Analytic a priori knowledge Matters of Fact – Synthetic a posteriori knowledge Anything is ‘Empty Metaphysical Speculation† and should be ‘cast to the flames’ e. g. God | Hume’s Fork itself is ’empty metaphysical speculation’ – contradicts itself | Alfred Jules Ayer | Verification Principle Analytic or Empirically Verifiable (can be proven by experience) Anything else is meaningless e. g. Infinity | | John Stewart Mill | No a priori knowledge All knowledge is a posteriori and learnt through induction, including logic and mathematics | What about analytic a priori knowledge? â€Å"A bachelor is not married† | Strengths: Sets clear limits on appropriate objects of knowledge – Allows us to learn without being distracted by ‘Empty Metaphysical Speculation’ The view reflects our experience of learning – It explains why we learn like we do Counter Arguments: Sense experience is never certain – Leads to scepticism Senses, Dreams, Deceiving Demon – Descartes Cave Analogy – Plato | Some knowledge about what exists is known a priori Self/God/EW – Descartes Forms – Plato Causation, self, space – Kant | Knowledge of relations of ideas is a priori Don’t get more certain – True in all possible worlds – Russell | Experience alone is unintelligible Needs to be mediated through a conceptual scheme – Kant, Saphir/Whorf | Mind contains innate knowledge: Plato | All knowledge is innate Slave Boy Analogy No education but still recognises the proof Learning as recollecting/remembering prompted by questioning Reason recognises truth not the senses | BUT Boy is prompted through questions | Leibniz | Veined Marble Mind not passive – contains ‘natural inclinations and dispositions, habits or potentialities’ | | Kant | Conceptual Schemes are innate Categories are innate e. g. Space, Time, Self | The conceptual scheme is innate capacity/ability knowledge, not propositional knowledge | Counter arguments: This knowledge can be explained through intuition and deduction Reason discovers the knowledge – Descartes | Innate knowledge is absurd – There is no universal assent Children and idiots don’t know the simplest truths – Locke | Innate knowledge is a ‘near contradiction’ – Impossible to know but not know that you know – Locke | Doctrine of Innate Ideas: Descartes | Ideas are either: Adventitious – From experience Factitious – Made up by us Innate – In the mind at birth | ‘God’, ‘Infinity’, and ‘supreme perfection’ are not experienced or made up They must therefore be innate (Trademark Argument – We know of God, but do not experience God – He left his mark on us – This is innate) | Innate ideas provide the materials for reason to think develop knowledge without needing experience | Counter Arguments: John Locke | The mind as a Tubula Rasa (slank slate) at birth There is no innate knowledge only a posteriori knowledge We have of positive idea of infinity Infinity is defined in the negative ‘never ending’, only ever experience being able to add more on | David Hume | All ideas are formed from experience E. g. Golden Mountain – God is just qualities in man joined together and ‘augmented without limit’ | Knowledge Through Intuition + Deduction Key Terms | Intuition | Self evident truths – Reached through pure thought | Deduction | Conclusion reached by following same premises e. g. Sudoku – Original numbers are self evident, other numbers discovered through reason. Answer is certain | Descartes | Intuition | Self as a thinking thing exists (The Cogito) | Deduction | God Exists ; External world exists (Ontological Argument) | Counter Arguments: Descartes’ intuitions and deduction don’t work Existence of self not known through reason – Cogito only proves only the existence of thought, not a thinker e. g. BFG (Big Friendly Giant) Ontological Argument fails to prove the existence of God – Only proves hypothetical existence – Hume Proof for existence of external world depends on existence of a good God | Hume’s Fork Reason limited to tautologies/relations of ideas | No a priori knowledge – Mill | Is certainty confined to introspection and the tautological? Key Terms | Introspection – Looking inwards i. e. Internal experiences Tautology – Saying the same thing twice E. g. Reverse Backwards (i. e. Analytic) | David Hume | Hume’s Fork Reason is limited to the meaning of words | Descartes | Experience is limited to immediate awareness We can never be sure that the external world corresponds to out experiences (we might be dreaming/demon) | Conclusions: David Hume | Yes | Hume’s Fork Only relations of ideas can be certain, all matters of fact are open to doubt | Descartes | No | Reason can discover certain knowledge of the world through intuition and deduction e. g. God exists | Kant | No | We can have certain synthetic a priori knowledge of our conceptual scheme e. g. We will perceive the world in space, time, causation | Yes | We can never know of the world of the noumena | Experience is intelligible due to a conceptual scheme: Kant | Mind is active – Organises experience into categories e. g. Filing Cabinet Ordered into Space/ time/causal relations/unity Conceptual scheme > Universal, a priori, necessary | Implications | Synthetic a priori knowledge of the categories is possible e. g. Cookie cutter analogy – Cutter is set (conceptual scheme), What it is cutting can change, but still get the same shape Only know the phenomena, never the noumena Fishing Net/Blue Spectacles Analogy | Saphir/Whorf | Experience is ordered due to the language that we use Linguistic relativism – Societies organise experience by defining thing with words e. g. Inuit + Snow, and Hopi + Time Conceptual Scheme > A posteriori, relative contingent | Implications | World as it is is still unknowable No innate scheme, rather a range of different schemes |

Consuming Salt Assignment

Salt is made up of 40 percent sodium and 60 percent of chloride, is a very important part of daily lives as it helps maintain your blood’s water content, balances acids and bases in your blood, and it helps in the movement of electrical charges which are in your nerves throughout your muscles. A human being should consume about 2400 mg of salt daily. On average, humans tend to go over the recommended amount. The food industry adds 75 percent of the sodium that we humans consume. The following additives resemble plenty of sodium: color developer, which assists in the colour development in meats.Fermentation controller, which does the organic check in cheeses and baked goods. Binder, which helps to hold the meat together when being cooked. Texture aid, allows dough to expand and prevents from tearing apart. Salt is a part of the food processing. Only way to reduce your intake on dietary salt is to purchase low salt processed foods and switch from processed foods to fresh foods. Look for sodium free, very low sodium, reduced sodium or unsalted terms on the food labels of the food your purchase. You could also try avoiding food items which contain more than 180 milligrams of sodium.Another strategy to avoid dietary salt intake is look out for these food products. Example, bacon, cheese, canned vegetables, anchovies, cooking sauces, gravy, salad dressings, hot dogs, ham, sea salt, soy sauce etc. These edibles contain high amounts of sodium in them and humans should try avoiding them as much as possible. However, manufacturers have tend to lower the amount of sodium inside these edibles, so there is a possibility of finding these food products in low salt form. Always make sure to check the food label when buying any food product so that way you are aware of what you are consuming.There is also another way to approach food when it comes down to lowering your salt intake. For instance, you could go on a low sodium diet. Instead of avoiding high sodium foods you can make few adjustments. You could cook herbs, spices, fruit juices, and vinegars for flavour rather than salt. Eat fresh vegetables, use less salt than the recipe calls for, and choose low salt frozen dinners. When eating outside, ask for your food to be prepared with only a little salt. There are five unique and healthy ways alternatives to salt.It is important to know how much salt you’re consuming because consuming too much could lead to high blood pressure and other serious health issues. Sesame is an alternative to salt and it could be added in your food because of the taste similarity to salt. It is a natural product and could be used on your bread, salad, chicken and vegetables. You should choose sesame over salt because it is made naturally and it adds a lot of flavour to your food without having to worry about the health risks. Another alternative is garlic.This is very beneficial to your health and is said to be an antioxidant if eaten in small amounts and can he lp get rid of colds and congestion. It is mostly added to chicken, salad, bread, and fish to give good flavour. It is also good for your heart and body. It is recommended that you pick fresh garlic over the powder form because the health benefits are stronger in the fresh garlic. Cumin is also a very beneficial alternative to salt because it resembles a lot of properties of antioxidants and it helps maintain a healthier immune system. Cumin has a similar taste to salt but the smell and the texture are very much different.

Arthur Conan Doyle reveals Holmes Essay

Examine how Arthur Conan Doyle reveals Holmes character and his relationship with the police. Sherlock Holmes was created by Conan-Doyle in 1887. When Arthur Conan-Doyle’s character, Sherlock Holmes surfaced, London in the era of Queen Victoria was an intriguing place to live. At this time, Victorian people feared crime greatly due to the prostitution, drug abuse but mainly an infamous murderer, Jack the ripper. This brutal murderer was loose on the streets of London attacking vulnerable women savagely with a sharp, long-bladed weapon, this panicked many women due to the fact that the police’s methods were seen as inefficient; therefore would rarely solve the cases by catching the ruthless villains. Many Victorians had little if no faith for the police in London, as they did not appear to be protecting the public. On the other hand, Holmes, who is an excellent detective, is well known for his use of logic and observational understanding to unravel complicated cases. He described himself as a ‘consulting detective’ an expert who is brought in to cases that have proven too difficult for other investigators; we are told that he is often able to solve a problem without leaving his home. This is prodigious as Holmes was actually an amateur detective, not a member of the London police force. The purpose of this essay is therefore to show Holmes character and his relationship with the police. In some cases Holmes breaks the law, in others he does not. One example of when he doesn’t is in Silver Blaze; Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson pay a visit to their old friends the Baskervilles and find themselves in the middle of a mystery involving a missing horse and its dead trainer. Doyle reveals through his writing that Holmes’s character is very egotistical. This is shown many times throughout the story:† I follow my own methods and tell as much or as little as I choose. † Here, Holmes is being very demanding showing that he does not have much respect for other people; this is very shocking as Watson is not only a companion but most importantly a friend too. I think Doyle does this to ensure Holmes is referred to as a very dominant character in addition to being arrogant and making people feel small and unimportant. Doyle through his use of language creates Holmes’s character to have a greater intelligence over the police. Doyle uses sarcasm to show this: â€Å"Inspector Gregory, to whom the case has been committed, is a very competent officer, were he but gifted with the imagination he might rise to great heights during his profession. † This also shows that Holmes has no faith in the inspector in solving the case as Doyle uses the word ‘might’ to show the sarcasm therefore implying that he has no hope for the police in cracking the mystery. This same egotistical behavior towards the police is also repeated later on when Holme’s says â€Å"See the value of imagination; it is the one quality which Gregory lacks. † As this is repeated in his writing it reveals that Doyle is trying to emphasize Holmes’s views of the police as being incompetent. Furthermore, Holmes relationship with the police is very argumentative. Holmes is always mocking the police by acting witty. This is shown when Holmes says† The inspector here has done all that he could possibly be suggested; but I wish to leave no stone unturned in trying to avenge poor Straker, and in recovering my horse. † Doyle uses this sarcastic language to reveal Holmes true disrespectful manner and arrogance towards the police. In addition to that Holmes finds great pleasure in finding the clues way before the police are anywhere near. When the inspector says â€Å"I cannot think how I came to overlook it,† Holmes replies â€Å"I only saw it because I was looking for it! † Doyle, with the use of that language implies that Holmes was actually observing the murder scene, whereas the inspector did not think to do that. To Holmes, using his logic and observational understanding is general common sense, this is one of the reasons how Holmes makes the detectives feel incapable of their job in which they specialize in.

Compare and contrast Ralph and Jack as leaders Essay

Ralph and Jack signify different themes and ideas throughout ‘The Lord of the Flies’. They both have different personalities but in some aspects they are similar. For example, they both want to be leaders, but they want to lead in different ways. The two boys are from typical English public schools so their background is similar yet their personalities contrast. Ralph is calm and fair; he represents order, leadership and civilisation. On the other hand Jack is very authoritative and represents unbridled savagery and desire for power. As the book progresses we see these traits becoming even stronger in Jack, as if he were a dictator like Hitler from the Second World War, which was when the ‘Lord of the Flies’ was set. When Ralph first finds himself stranded on the island, it is as if he couldn’t care less as to how he got there. The fact that he has just survived a plane crash, in which many adults have died in, does not seem to bother him at all. The first thing he does is rip off all his clothes and swim in the lagoon. This is quite childish behaviour and the fact that he is ripping off all his clothes shows that he is already starting to stray away from civilisation. It is not until Piggy finds him and starts asking intellectual questions as to how they got there and whether there is anyone else on the island that he starts to vaguely consider the situation. As the book progresses Jack emerges with his choir. It is obvious that he is in control, ‘he shouted an order and they halted’. This shows he is an authoritative figure and the impression is given that he is controlling an army. Even though the two boys have not met, it is immediately clear that there are differences between them. Ralph is calmer and quite happy to take everything in his stride, whereas Jack remains in his choir uniform and still acts with a large sense of responsibility despite the fact he is hundreds of miles away from civilisation. Ralph is democratic and more thoughtful. For example, before anything happens about being rescued he says ‘we ought to have a chief to decide things.’ Jack shows his arrogance emerges when he replies, ‘I ought to be chief’, as if he was a dictator without any care for other people’s opinions. In reply Ralph uses his democratic approach and decides, ‘Let’s have a vote’. Ralph’s decision to have a vote shows how fair he is and his approach to become a leader is democratic. On the other hand, it is clear that Jack is very self-centred and is prepared to push for the position of leader even if it happens in a manner not popular with the other boys. The situation of the Second World War is being reflected in the two boys’ contrasting personalities. As the time that is spent on the island advances, Jack’s savage traits start to emerge. For example, when he goes hunting he lets the boys go off swimming whilst he continues. Unfortunately he catches nothing and goes back to camp. He describes the situation to Ralph, ‘I went on. I thought, by myself’ †¦ ‘the madness came into his eyes again’ †¦ ‘I thought I might kill’. Jack’s true traits are starting to emerge. His savage instinct is starting to become apparent; he is described as having madness in his eyes. He is starting to have a ‘compulsion’ to hunt and kill that was not apparent before because society and civilisation keeps people in control but when they are set free from this their natural or basic instincts start to emerge. However this is not true of everyone, Ralph has continued to remain calm and civilised;, building huts on the beach with Piggy, his advisor. His natural instincts are not savage but to try to find a means of remaining safe and being rescued. Throughout the book Ralph relies on Piggy to help him with many decisions. The idea to blow the conch so that other boys would emerge from the island was Piggy’s idea as well as the idea to use his glasses to start the fire on the mountain. Piggy’s pragmatic and intellectual approach to the situation they are in helps Ralph yet sometimes the boys do not listen to him, especially Jack. Jack has a very autocratic approach and feels he can make the correct decisions himself. His decline into savagery becomes apparent due to this and results in him punching Piggy and eventually killing him. For example after Piggy notices there is no smoke he tells Ralph but there is not much they can do, as the boys who were supposed to be watching the fire had gone hunting. Soon enough they notice a large group of figures coming down the beach chanting, ‘Kill the pig, Cut her throat. Spill her blood’. Jack is part of this group and it is apparent that the other boys have also acquired a lust for killing and hunting. However, Piggy drives Jack to violence by saying, ‘You didn’t ought to have let that fire out, you said you’d keep the smoke going’. After this Jack hits Piggy; Jack has lost the self control that was in place before he was held back from violence due to the moral trappings of society. Later on in the book, Jack’s leadership starts to become more appealing to the boys. The lifestyle he is offering them with meat and protection from the beast is compelling for them in some aspects, ‘To-night we’re having a feast. We’ve killed a pig and we’ve got meat. You can come and eat with us if you like’. Eventually all the boys start to switch to Jack as their leader. The boys have lost sight of what being civilise means and just want to follow a leader who offers a simple way of life; hunting, food and safety in the tribe. Ralph starts to give up hope, ‘So we can’t have a signal fire †¦ We’re beaten’. The two boys’ contrasting opinions and aims are in competition and at the beginning of the book when society and civilisation was still in the minds of many of the boys they were prepared to have Ralph as their leader. However, as time has passed and their sense of civilisation has gradually disappeared the longer they are away from it, they have resorted to Jack for fun and a preferred lifestyle. In some aspects Ralph and Jack are alike as leaders because they both want to get their own way. However their aims are different, Jack wants to hunt and Ralph wants to be rescued. Jack is the autocratic, less caring leader whereas Ralph is democratic and tries to do what is best for all the boys. In the end it turns out that the boys would prefer to be led by Jack. Golding is suggesting that it doesn’t matter who you are, even if you are from a privileged public school background, without the influences of society we will decline into savagery and our true natural instincts will emerge.