Are we obsessed with Celebrities in today(TM)s society?

â€Å"Dot, have you seen Stacey around?† Eastenders â€Å"I'm really enjoying it here in LA, but England will always be the best† David Beckham â€Å"I've kissed a lot of frogs, on my holidays† Sarah Harding (Girls Aloud) What is there left to watch? Celebrities? Haven't we got our own personal lives? Celebrities on the telly, in magazines, on the internet, even in schools girls, gossiping about â€Å"hot† celebs or their dress sense. They're even writing biographies and a large number of us go ahead and buy these biographies, because we're so interested in other people's lives. When out shopping, where ever you look there are posters of celebrities advertising objects of daily use. Aren't we too obsessed with celebrities in today's society? Six people, out of a family of eight, living in High Wycombe would prefer to watch a programme on Tom Cruises love life rather than read a book, about â€Å"How technology has improved through time?† Since the, 20th century majority of the worlds people would rather be famous than educated and endeavour to do something for the world. Despite there are talented celebrities which with no doubt help the world. For example, in 2004 a number of Israel's top celebrities women, gave a hand in helping out a foundation for Osteoporosis disease, yet aswell as this, donated a large amount of money, to these patients for their future lives. These Israeli women are much worthier of celebrity's status, than the usual that we worship. So, there are celebrities with talents, also which have been used as role models with qualities such as: being extremely helpful towards people and nature; educating people; having modesty even after being successful; and most of all respecting people who are a lower society than them. Paparazzi, from an Italian dialect word for a particularly noisy, buzzing, irritating mosquito. Paparazzo's are following celebrities everywhere, by contrast intruding into their personal lives. They want to find out what they eat? How they dress? Where they got their new haircut from? How many times in a week they have bath? Unfortunately, they even find this matter fascinating. Why should they be treated like this? It is like a juicy orange on floor, which is densely crowed by hundreds of ants who are trying to rapidly, trying to eat the orange in pleasure. Also, there is snapaparazzi, who is a journalist or passer-by, who witnesses an event and captures it on a video or digital picture using his or her mobile. Their whole life is captured on one photo like a letter, which could invite them to ruin their lives; on the other hand this gives people a source of entertainment and enjoyment. However, entertainment is designed to give pleasure and enjoyment to an audience, entertainment such as: concerts; radio; operas; films; new media; novels; theatre; sports. Entertainment is a part of life, which most of us extremely enjoy as they include celebrities. Without these aspects we would actually find ourselves purely bored, when we're not occupied to something. It is only when the obsession gets out of hand! Celebrity Worship Syndrome is a newly identified psychological condition. A typical sufferer is a person who is obsessed with a person in the public eye. This condition is sometimes referred to â€Å"Celebrity Obsession Syndrome† or â€Å"Mad icon disease† .In 2002, it was shockingly gathered that there are 781 males and 942 females who suffer from this disease in UK .These people watch all appearances of this celebrity and even start to religiously worship them. They buy things which this celebrity has touched, a piece of clothing they have worn, even if it costs a fortune. A number a people, buy things to copy celebrities because they think it looks fashionable or to attract various people in their society. For example, a number of girls would want to buy a Chloe handbag just, because Victoria Beckham has it even if it would cost them any thing. Various people have been bankrupted, not knowing that they have spent so much on things that would not come in their, use rather than spending on something which is useful. Being bankrupted, means some companies do not allow you to take a loan from them or work for them, these serious consequences could ruin their lives. Isn't this extreme? Turning on the TV, various programs like cribs, which invite people to see homes of celebrities, their garden to their garages, and their fridges to their wardrobes, are, shown on TV. Does it bother them? On the other hand, you open a magazine like ‘The Heat' which criticizes celebs and abuses their personal lives. Despite this fact, 75% teenagers enjoy reading magazines although being in the position of being criticized and abused on TV and magazines, they would find it highly offensive and would take some sort of action towards it. But their still is a variety of serious programmes and channels on the television, for example history channel or science ,channels which give people good knowledge and help the, towards the future. Also, educational and serious magazines can be found, which further our knowledge in a range of subjects. It is our decision to choose the decent magazines or TV programmes so we can't not blame celebrities on this aspect. Not only the younger society, but the older society, also suppose celebrities as perfect, the way they live, their hairstyles, their skin we don't assume but celebrities themselves, have many difficulties to doubt with, socially and personally. We think, when we see these people on TV, they must have such any easy life. They have magnificent houses, they get whatever they want whenever they want. As no one can ever be perfect you have to just enjoy your life, the way you want it, in any circumstances. Although, celebrities are harmless, it's just that, we people who are not famous overreact about things. We conduct things, which later on turns out to be a bit over the top, actually not realising it. In conclusion, people are obsessed with celebrities in today's society. It's mainly, not the celebrities fault they are just trying to give us a bit of entertainment and we take it out of hand ourselves. As a fact then, we are obsessed with celebrities; everything just needs to stay in the limits.

Riordan Supply Chain Evaluation Essay

The management team at Riordan has completed a high-level strategic business initiative to improve its supply chain as a competitive advantage to ensure customer satisfaction. After extensive market and financial analysis a decision to create a new line of plastic perfume bottles has been proposed. The following executive summary outlines the business model implementation plan needed to introduce the new product line. Customer Value Supply Chain Management is about the delivery of a product to a customer in a timely manner regardless of its location of the globe. Providing the right component, the correct quantity ordered, and at the right price is what customers value the most. To enhance customer value and satisfaction a customer relationship integration team should exist and bring together each facility, its services, and its employees into the CRM process. Integrating the available information of an organization allows employees to have immediate access that may be crucial to a customer’s delivery. Customers value the open visibility of their supplier to track any material that has been shipped. Strategic Goals, Core Competencies, and Competitive Advantage Riordan’s strategic goals and objectives are to leverage its successful supply chain to integrate easily the production and distribution of the new bottle line. Riordan has the relevant experience and the necessary resources to integrate successfully the new bottle line into our supply chain with the minimum of disruption. After the integration of the new bottle line is complete, the supply chain will be subject to continual monitoring and improvement. Riordan’s core competency is manufacturing quality plastic products. Riordan’s competitive advantage is the organizational focus solely on quality plastic products. The in-house R&D team means that Riordan possesses the ability to design and produce custom products with low turnaround times. Riordan’s Brand Reputation Riordan Manufacturing is wholly owned by Riordan Industries, a Fortune 1000 enterprise with revenues in excess of 1 billion dollars (Riordan Manufacturing, 2012). Riordan is a leading competitor in the polymer  materials industry. Its brand reputation includes plastic beverage containers, custom plastic parts, and plastic fan parts. Most of the customers served by Riordan are automotive parts manufacturers, aircraft manufacturers, the Department of Defense, beverage makers and bottlers, and appliance manufacturers. Riordan strives to exceed industry standards by maintaining rigorous quality controls, innovative solutions, and reasonable pricing. Supply Chain Strategy Riordan’s supply strategy is to strengthen the Riordan brands by adopting the next generation of bottling materials using innovative and environmentally friendly products in a effort to become the best global plastics manufacturer in the industry. Riordan also has plans to make their supply chain leaner incorporating ERP systems, TQM and other programs. Riordan has many reasons to strive for excellence in by implementing high-level standards accordingly while maintaining a lean supply chain. One way RMI could increase its visibility and control of quality standards could be to modify its quality inspection process to use source inspection. Source inspection is when the company has its own quality representatives at the source of supply rather than only locally. Possessing an inspector directly at the supplier, especially those used frequently, allows the company to have a hand in the final acceptance of material against its own quality standards while minimizing the bottleneck of a receiving inspection department at the facility. Supply Chain Value Configuration Riordan Manufacturing will create lean a lean value chain to produce and deliver the new plastic perfume bottles to customers. According to â€Å"TBM Consulting Group† (n.d.) â€Å"The purpose of a value chain is to get the required product or services to the consumer in the most efficient way, on time and with minimum inventory† (para. 2). Riordan will use the Albany, Georgia facility to manufacture the new bottles and continue to use Huffman trucking for the distribution of orders. The manufacturing plant will order and store material for production based on marketing forecasts. Inventory levels are determined by the supply planning team who will determine the  amount of safety stock to carry so the plant can cover orders although not carrying excess inventory. Alternate methods of delivery are employed for the perfume bottles, depending on the urgency of the orders. Orders will have express freight when critical on time shipment is required and bulk train freight if time permits for large noncritical orders. Supply Chain Proposal and Partnerships To set up the manufacturing process, Team ‘A’ recommends that Riordan leadership create a team to develop the manufacturing process in the Albany plant. The team will consist of members from Riordan’s Research and Development (R&D) department, marketing and sales department, both the Pontiac and Albany plants, and suppliers. With R&D’s design plans and the Pontiac plant’s knowledge of custom plastic fabrication, those members will provide the technical knowledge in ensuring that the manufacturing process is effectively set up to meet design requirements. Albany plant team members will understand how to efficiently set up the manufacturing process at the Albany plant and integrate those processes with existing bottle manufacturing processes (University of Phoenix, 2012). Team members from the marketing and sales departments can provide forecasted demand information to help the Albany plant determine cycle time requirements. Cycle time will be set based on demand customer demand requirements using takt time. Takt time is the maximum cycle time allowed to produce a product in order to meet demand. Takt time sets the pace for production lines in manufacturing and is calculated by dividing available work time per shift by customer demand rate per shift (Breyfogle, 2008). Creating a team to implement the manufacturing design will enable the Albany plant to efficiently meet customer demand with high quality custom designed bottles. The new manufacturing process will significantly contribute to Riordan’s overall supply chain efficiency to deliver the new bottles to its customers on time and at the right value. Distribution Channel Riordan’s strategy is to target customers who may benefit from using their products designs and services by branding its own abilities. Statements such as these are Riordan’s method of delivering its value to its customers. Riordan must convince the customer Riordan’s products and services will add  value to the customer’s product. Riordan Manufacturing is resolute to be the industry leader using polymer materials as a method to solve customer’s issues and goals. The CRM function would enable individual customer requirements to be visible although their flexibility provides added value as well. . Conclusion Aligning supplier involvement during the initial development stages of the project is Riordans’ objective. The supplier ability to assign personnel to work with Riordan personnel will enable Riordan and the supplier to collaborate on the design, specifications, and type of material that will provide the customer value. It will also enable the supplier to support Riordan objectives as the personnel develop an effective relationship. References Breyfogle III, F. W. (2008). Integrated Enterprise Excellence (3rd ed.). Austin, TX: Bridgeway Books. Simchi-Levi, D., Kaminski, P., & Simchi-Levi, E. (2008). Designing and managing the supply chain: Concepts, strategies, and case studies (3rd ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. TBM Consulting Group. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.tbmcg.com/consulting-service/lean-value-chain.html University of Phoenix, (2012). Riordan Manufacturing. Retrieved from: https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/secure/aapd/cist/vop/Business/Riordan/Marketing/MIS.asp Words: 1217 Pages: 5 Highlight Text Print Paper Save Paper Report this Essay Similar Documents Riordan Manufacturing Supply Chain Evaluation Riordan Manufacturing Supply Chain Commonalities And Differences Between Service And Manufacturing Supply Chains: Combining Operations Management Studies With Supply Chain Management Supply Chain Strategy Research Methodologies In Supply Chain Management Dynamics Of Supply Chain Management Supply Chain Management Supply Chain Management Assignment Dell’s Supply Chain Supply Chain Analyst Evaluating The Value Of Information Sharing In a Supply Chain Discuss The Key Difference Between The Supply Chain For a Service And Manufacturing Organizations. Riordan Manufacturing Gap Analysis: Riordan Manufacturing Riordan Manufacturing Business Systems Riordan Manufacturing – Outsourcing Plan Production Plan For Riordan Manufacturing Team Project Riordan Manufacturing Business Systems Virtual Organization e-Business: Riordan Manufacturing Supply Chain Management Comments There are no comments for this essay yet. Be the first to post one Add Comment Grade: 1 2 3 4 5 Heading Comment Privacy & Terms actionjack23 My Account Help Logout RSS  ©2013 TermPaperWarehouse.com Privacy Policy Terms of Service Copyright Information Contact Us Help Advertise With Us

Internship Report on Beau-Rivage Palace Hotel Essay

Internship Report on Beau-Rivage Palace Hotel - Essay Example Her knowledge of hotel management presented a challenging, yet focused beginning for my internship program. At the end, i would like to acknowledge all the staff members in the administration and management department who took the time to cater to my informational needs. Without their input, my internship program and experience would not have been possible. The following report is based on my internship program at the Beau-Rivage Palace, which lasted for two months. My objective of study was to look at different tasks that come under the administration and management department and top of all to know the problems or complaints faced by the customers at this Hotel. My purpose was to have a look at these issues and use my decision making skills to resolve these issues. It was overall a great experience. I got to meet people from different parts of the world. I got to learn a number of ethical issues that would always help me in my career life. My training course took place in the main Administration and Management department of the Beau-Rivage Palace in Lausanne, specifically at the front-desk and being under the manager's supervision. My Internship lasted for two months. I was given the task of finding out the Issues that the guests were having while staying at the hotel. How to bring in the changes according to the demands of the customers and how to plan out the Implementation was my basic task. I was asked to bring such Issues under the manager's knowledge and help him out with the changes. I got to practice decision making and entertaining the customers when problems aroused. During my free hours I would roam around the hotel's territories In search of guests who may be having problems and would help them out in resolving. Once a female parent was holding her toddler in her hands while making a phone call. The baby was cranky due to flu, and that customer looked In some urgency while on the phone and had no time to call In someone from the day care services as Its was off duty time. I went up to her and asked her to let me take care of her baby while she would continue with her call. It took her almost half an hour to return, but when she came back and saw how her baby was laughing and playing with me she gave me a huge tip and left. Two days later I found that that very same lady had praised our hotel in the suggestion box and specifically stated about my services and promised to come back to Beau-Rivage whenever she would next come to Switzerland. This helped my hotel in bringing in a loyal customer to their list. The management was very happy with my services and I was offered a job that very Instant. Internship helped me

Secure Computer Systems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Secure Computer Systems - Essay Example The press release from OCABR made it amply clear that the new amendments are to be applicable to all the big and small businesses that possess or have licensed personal information of any resident of Massachusetts (Mondaq Business Briefing, 2009). The primary purpose of these amendments is to upgrade the existing data security standards, while taking into cognizance the emerging risks to data, to bring them in consonance with the Federal Trade Commission's Safeguard Rule (Mondaq Business Briefing, 2009). This risk-based approach to data security takes into consideration the overall size and potential of a business, resources accessible to a business, the nature and the magnitude of data collected by or in the possession of a business and an appraisal of the requisite security needs to implement a worthy information security program (Mondaq Business Review, 2009). As per the OCABR, the compliance to security standards to any business is not to be standardized, but is to be accessed on the basis of the data risks inherent in a business (Mondaq Business Review, 2009). The hallmark of these statutory regulations is that they do acknowledge that the choice or application of any data security and privacy program cannot be standardized for each business (Kairab, 2004). Hence, the lawmakers are aware of the glaring reality that every business is unique so far as its needs for consumer information and data is concerned and thus the businesses should be left free to decide as to what kind of data security program and guidelines they need to put in place. Even if the governments do not interfere into the arena of data security, the consumers today are more then concerned about the sanctity of their personal data. Thus, the purpose of any statutory arrangements should be more in the nature of the guidelines and awareness drives, whose purpose should be to sensitize the individuals and businesses as to the possible threats to data and the consequences and repercussions of any instance of data theft or loss (Matsura, 2001). The thrust of any government activism ought to be on the corporate and consumer education and not regulation. Aware corporations will certainly take the appropriate steps to retain competitiveness, while well-informed consumers will naturally gravitate towards businesses that they can trust with their personal information and data. A state policing of the corporate compliance to data security is not only pragmatically impossible, but also oblivious of the essential principles governing free markets. Total Words: 525Works Cited Kairab, Sudhanshu (2004). A Practical Guide to Security Assessments. NewYork: Auerbach Publications. "Privacy and Security Alert: Analysis of Amendments to Massachusetts DataSecurity Regulations". Mondaq Business Briefing. Mondaq Ltd. 2009.Retrieved Sept. 20, 2009, from HighBeam Research: http://www .highbeam.com Matsura (2001). Security, Rights, and Liabilities in E-Commerce. Toronto: Artech House Publishers.

Managing People in Context Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Managing People in Context - Essay Example This report is based on the Human Resource Management issues that the firm is facing and it aims to look into the problem thoroughly and on the basis of the analysis, it will recommend a certain course of actions that could be taken in order to guide top-level management into making the most efficient and wise decision. Â  The report considers that all possible means of data collection that could be taken from the staff reports and feedback from the workers. It then aims to use various theoretical frameworks that are used in the management in order to arrive and recommend certain actions that could solve the problem that the firm is facing. First of all, the overall human resource policy that we are following is very outdated. This policy is based on the slow and gradual progression of employees who move from the lowest grade to the highest. However, this policy is not appreciated by employees anymore who want rapid changes in the fast-moving world. The researcher would have to info rm that sticking to policy would mean that we will not be able to hire the best possible talent that is available in the market and it will also make the retention of existing pool of skilled employees difficult. In the long-run, as a result of this, we will lag behind our competitors if we do not look at our policy and revise it according to the changing needs of the time. The second important issue that there was a little representation of females in our top-hierarchy and similarly, there is an even lesser representation of minority groups.... By not giving the representation to females and minorities on our top-level panels, we are not letting some new and ground-breaking ideas pass through and hence in the future, we might face scarcity of new ideas that could harm the firm's ability to compete with other firms in the same field. (Heery and Simms, 2009) Furthermore, equally perilous issue is the fact that our workforce is facing a lot of stress and little drive towards work due to the way our compensation and reward system has been derived. There are many people who have complained about the fact that their hard performance goes wasted as there are ineffective promotions and motivation policies that our firm has employed. Furthermore, many of our worker are close to joining a trade union. So, we should try solving their grievances now, in order to form a blockade against the union's entry into the industry. Conclusion: I would like to conclude my report by saying that the human resource system that we are following is faulty and outdated. We cannot stick to it as by clinging onto it, I can see various problems approaching the firm which could be very threatening and in the future the firm may have to spend a lot more in order to correct the situation. Recommendations: Immediate revamping of the current human resource policy and changing it with the modern human resource policy that will help the firm in retention and attraction of new talent who will take the firm to new heights. This can be making the current human resource policy more flexible and hiring people at all levels in the hierarchy and not just at the lowest grade. They further enhance the performance of workers by providing them training as

Human Trafficking-Sheila Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Human Trafficking-Sheila - Essay Example It is clear that pornography has been on ascending in the recent past, and the profits generated by the industry are such an exorbitant amount especially the child pornography (Rafferty, 2013). The young generation is therefore in danger of the crime. The offenders see the market gap and recruit more children into the vice (Hardy, Compton, & McPhatter, 2013). The child human trafficking hence finds valid reasons to transport them across the world. The recruited individuals are forcefully made to participate in the acts that are used to distribute across the mother earth. According to a study by Troung, (2013) more than half of the child trafficking occurs due to demand of domestic workers. Other studies indicate similar trends to continue, and the transportation of the child human trafficking is bound to persist. Various families have shown aspiration to have domestic workers within their ranks. Due to increased poverty, the children are easily lured into the crime (Masten, 2014). Their employers in turn mistreat them while the offenders of the child human trafficking go on with the recruitment of more children. It is a primary concern that motivates the child human trafficking. Children are seen as a source of labor in the society. The traffickers recruit them and make them work for no compensation or little income that does not resemble their output (Rafferty, 2013). They make more profits and get the urge to hire more to sustain their production. The children are made to works tirelessly under no protection that is a violation of their rights while conscription is kept across the globe (Brayley & Cockbain, 2014). Contemporary studies have indicated that not only in the past was the children recruited as soldiers but in the modern era as well. Various war groups, particularly in the Middle East, have shown the trend to recruit young personnel in their ranks to defend and carry out

Business Process Change Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Business Process Change - Research Paper Example Four Winds Hospital is a medium health organization that specializes in psychiatric care. The core mission of the hospital is to offer extemporary services to patients with mental illness. Like other health organizations, the hospital is often faced with the need to balance its business objectives and social responsibilities. Q#2 From your research of the organization, identify a single Business Process Change that the organization will need to contemplate and undertake in the coming year. These changes can result from new technologies, economic issues, or changes in the marketplace. According to J. Burke (2010), organizations need to ensure that their business operations are in line with the current changes in technology. In the wake of the modern technological innovations, many organizations have sought to refurbish their systems and structures by adopting technological mechanisms in their operations. Technology has been widely accepted as a system enabler and an element that would contribute to better results, efficient operations, and other positive aspects associated with any productive culture (Ogus, 2007). In particular, introduction of Electronic Medical Records is expected to bring about significant changes in the operational changes of the organization (Kalb, 2005). ... Burke, 2010). The EMR system is also expected to contribute to employee’s satisfaction through increased efficiency and accuracy (Sharfstein, Dickerson, & Oldham, 2009). In addition, the EMR system is expected to revitalize the hospital’s influence on the market. Changes in organization are expected to solve logistical challenges that have slowed administrative and clinical processes at the Winds Psychiatric Hospital. The organizational change at the hospital should be viewed within the framework of total quality management. Q#3 Utilizing the Capability Maturity Model (CMM) outline briefly what changes need to be undertaken at each of the 5-stages (pages xxxiii-xxxiv). The capability maturity model (CMM) will be helpful in refining the organization’s growth and strategies. This will be achieved through effective strategies and software design. Four Winds Hospital needs to implement changes in its management, technology and market approach. Using CMM, the business managers will be able to measure the effectiveness of each of the business approaches or changes (Macmillan, 2007). The system will also enable the hospital to track its changes and developments in relation to EMR application (Luo, 2006). Firstly, the organization needs to adopt a communication system that facilitates efficiency and consistency. The EMR system will enhance effectiveness of communication within the organization and communication between the organization and its business associates. Data appertaining to clients will be handled in a more organized and efficient way that would help solve the challenges of logistics and delays that have been occasioned by the manual systems of information management (Ball, Weaver, & Kiel, 2004). Although face-to-face

Business Economies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Business Economies - Essay Example 2. Differentiation. 3. Focus. An analysis of both Production and Cost theory of a product is vital. So agricultural and food marketing is taken as an example of this. Agricultural product is occupying a major role in food marketing management. Raw material, land, labor, capital and other factors are required for undertaking production. Consider the example, manufacturer of the product who developed an improved marketing plan. Company profit objectives were tied to exploiting volume markets through mass marketing. Product development policy covers compatibility, market potential and financial objectives. Three types of innovation is important for food manufacturers.1. new marketing methods and techniques to increase the operational efficiency, 2. new products or services to add more value to its products, 3.new business organization,ie cooperative food processor, joint ventures between firms or marketing channels. Concentration should be given to the product by reducing the volume of production and the product sh ould be stored and transported; and an adequate reduction in the marketing cost. As an analytical tool, the growth share matrix has the advantage of being simple and quantifiable in nature. Production is dependent on technology, mixture of factors of production and price as well as the marginal productivity. â€Å"In economics, an effort to explain the principles by which a business firm decides how much of each commodity that it sells (its â€Å"outputs† or â€Å"products†) it will produce, and how much of each kind of labor, raw material, fixed capital good, etc., that it employs (its â€Å"inputs† or â€Å"factors of Production†) it will use. The theory involves some of the most fundamental principles of economics.† (Theory of Production, 2007). Production means conversion of inputs in to outputs. Mainly there are three aspects to the production process- Many factors may contribute to the failure of a new product, but the main cause

Siebel Forced-Ranking System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Siebel Forced-Ranking System - Essay Example In a sense, force ranking is a more truthful way of implementing performance management. Managers are forced to differentiate talent and the process of forced ranking also forces managers to spot and champion talent. Since the forced-ranking system requires that criteria for ranking need to be set first and foremost, the system also provides information that conventional performance appraisal systems cannot. The deliberations among managers in determining criteria help them define and understand what are important for success of the organization. Subsequently, knowing the criteria that managers use to appraise performance increases the probability that employees will adjust their behavior in order to succeed. A forced-ranking system can also provide an independent verification of performance appraisal data. Significant variations in the talent data provided by the performance appraisal system and the data provided by the forced ranking process should be worth delving into. Better performing employees may be motivated by a forced-ranking system because they feel appreciated and not treated in the same way as underperformers. In terms of teamwork and collaboration, forced-ranking may also have a positive effect, because those who do not want to cooperate with the team or in a collaborative effort are eliminated. Organiz Organizations implementing forced-ranking may be attractive to high-quality job applicants who would see such a system as one where their contributions would be recognized and rewarded and would therefore be eager to work for the organization, thereby improving the overall quality of the applicant pool. Company investors may view a forced ranking system as management's commitment to accountability and to operations efficiency. Cons May be unfair to people performing at an acceptable level, with attendant legal repercussions in terms of human rights. May create an unhealthy star-cult culture. It may not possible to continually improve the overall potential of a workforce by removing the bottom dwellers and replacing them with better employees. As standards are raised, it would be more difficult to find applicants to replace those that have been removed. A job applicant who is aware that an employer uses a forced ranking system may feel that such a culture would be stressful or risky, and not consider the organization, causing the loss of high-potential applicants. Shareholders might not agree with a forced ranking system because of potential lawsuits or other negative consequences. Some companies using forced ranking have become embroiled in discrimination lawsuits brought by employees upset over dismissal or lower pay (Levinson, 2003). The system may create a dysfunctional, hypercompetitive work environment where employees refused to collaborate with one another, such as hoarding knowledge or hoarding customers,

Endangered and Threatened Species of Wyoming Essay

Endangered and Threatened Species of Wyoming - Essay Example All grizzly bears have thick fur that shields them from cold and moisture (Potts, 1997, pp. 7-8). Figure 1. The grizzly bear has fur that has grayish tips. From â€Å"Grizzly Bear,† by J. Eastcott and Y. Momatiuk, n.d., http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/grizzly-bear/. Copyright by J. Eastcott and Y. Momatiuk. Reprinted with permission. The adult grizzly bear has an average height of three to five feet when it is on all fours and six to 10 feet when standing. An adult grizzly may weigh from 600 pounds (Potts, 1997, p.4) to 800 pounds (â€Å"Grizzly Bear,† 2011), and even 1,400 pounds. When it comes to the physical description of the grizzly, it has flat feet and a muscular shoulder hump that powers the forelimbs for digging. Its head is round â€Å"with a concave facial profile† (â€Å"Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis)†, 2011). According to the National Geographic, grizzly bears are â€Å"top-of-the-food-chain predators†. Alt hough they eat animals, surprisingly, grizzly bears are fond of fruits, berries, leaves and roots (â€Å"Grizzly Bear,† 2011). Potts (1997) reported that there are 40,000 to 50,000 grizzly bears living in the mountains and forests of Canada and Alaska. In the United States, particularly in the states of Montana, Washington, Wyoming and Idaho, the number of grizzlies is from 600 to 800 (p.5). In Wyoming, grizzly bears are recognized as threatened. Whitaker & Hamilton (1998) define threatened as the likelihood that a species become endangered in the future whereas an endangered species is in the danger of extinction throughout a part of its range (p.549). Due to burgeoning population, people occupy the territories of grizzly bears, driving them away from their home. When this happens, the food supply of these bears becomes limited; thus, grizzly bears go after the farm animals of the settlers. In turn, these settlers hunted the bears until they were almost extinct (Potts, 1997, p.13). Primarily, it was the dwindling number of existing grizzly bears that prompted their being threatened. In an article, it says that human activities that occur in the habitat of grizzlies also deprive these animals of territory and food supply. These activities include timber cutting, grazing, private land development and so on (Delvin, 1999). These grizzly bears have been recognized as threatened since 1967. Not surprisingly, humans bear greater responsibility in managing grizzly bears. It is the humans who pushed grizzly bears out of their territories. Due to growing population, some people settled in areas that are natural habitat to grizzly bears. Moreover, human influence has changed the bears’ natural ecosystems through the many activities such as timber cutting. Human contact has also led to some bears being hunted. For the past years, there were some debates whether grizzly bears should be delisted as threatened. Some experts disapproved, saying that bears are not ready yet to be delisted. However, there are some suggestions to improve the situation of grizzlies. First, there must be a law or policy that strictly prohibits the killing of bears. It is noteworthy that grizzlies were included in the threatened creatures list because of their dwindling number. Thus, for grizzlies to completely recover, humans must not kill them. Second, the government must provide a habitat with sufficient area where the bears are secured and have no way of venturing to where humans live. This is in relation to the fact that bears ventured out of Yellowstone that might â€Å"bring them into dangerous contact with humans† (Eilperin, 2005). Finally, the habitat of the grizzlies must be

The Link Between Greek And Western Civilization Essay Example for Free

The Link Between Greek And Western Civilization Essay The Greek civilization is recognized to have been one of the foremost contributors to Western Civilization. The culture, politics, science, and educational systems of the ancient Greeks are said to have impacted the development of early Western Civilization and are thus the foundations upon which our present society is based. Many different historians, experts, and writers have tried to provide a comprehensive understanding of ancient Greek and its impact on modern society. Bruce Thornton is one of these experts and he shows in his book that the Greeks did, in fact, contribute a great deal to our civilization. When we talk about the Greek civilization, the conversation invariably goes into a discussion of their achievements. Greek philosophers were known for their use of reason and logic. The speech forms of rhetoric and dialogue were developed and perfected by the Greeks in large agoras or public spaces where they were wont to hold numerous public discussions about intellectual matters. The political system of democracy developed in ancient Greece and is considered by many to be their most important contribution to modern society. The literature of the time continues to regale modern audiences. The Greek epics The Odyssey and The Iliad are still capable of inspiring modern works. The writings of Plato are still the favored topics of discussion by scholars. The impact of Greek science on Western civilization is equally great. In the field of medicine, for example, one will not be considered a doctor without first taking the Hippocratic Oath. Greek art has influenced present society by being the forerunners of aesthetics. Even architectural works like the Parthenon have had a great impact on the way Western Civilization continues today. By simply looking at the works of the ancient Greeks and comparing present-day Western society, it is clear that the Greeks were able to contribute to all aspects of Western life today. But Bruce Thornton asserts that there is a deeper and more primal contribution by the Greeks. The entirety of what other writers and scholars have talked about as the contributions of Greek civilization to Western Civilization can be summed up as a contribution of critical consciousness. What the Greeks truly gave Western civilization was the ability to analyze, to think critically about the self and everything outside of the self. It is perhaps the case that all the greatest accomplishments of the Greeks were born out of this practiced ability to be critical. Democracy, rhetoric, even logic all come from a critical consciousness. The Greeks, above everything else they did, gave Western civilization a model and the ways by which one could develop a critical consciousness. This contribution is larger than the more concrete, more talked about works of the Greeks. Because the Greek civilization shared the legacy of critical consciousness with the Western civilization, the latter has been able to think on its own. Because of critical consciousness, we have been able to give birth to equal rights, free speech, public education. The Greeks did not espouse the same ideas regarding the three concepts but because we have critical minds of our own, because we have immersed ourselves in the legacy of the Greeks, we are able to decide on our own what would be best for our society. We are not reliant on the processes, philosophies, and hierarchies practiced by a previous civilization. Because the Greeks gave us critical consciousness, we are able to take what they had and make it into something much better, much more appropriate for our civilization, for the times we live in now.

Concepts of Masculine and Feminine Sexuality

Concepts of Masculine and Feminine Sexuality The Issue of â€Å"The Unspeakable† In The Theoretical and Fictive Representation of Sexuality Khalil Jetha The unspeakable in the theoretical and fictive representation of sexuality traditionally refers to the weakening of masculinity and the empowerment of feminine sexuality. From a theoretical standpoint, the â€Å"unspeakable† is the bending of gender lines, the empowerment of women and the abatement of male dominance. The unspeakable in the fictive representation of sexuality is the destabilization of masculine sexuality and the introduction of femininity in a male psyche. This includes literary methods such as the metaphorical connection of male psyches with the Oedipal Complex, homosexual inclinations and subservience to female characters. Books such as Michel Foucault’s The History of Sexuality examine the theoretical representation of male and female heterosexuality’s innate connection to homosexuality as the â€Å"unspeakable†. The fictive representation of sexuality demonstrates the unspeakable as the switching of traditional gender roles and the appl ication of sexual foils to personalities as present in Nella Larsen’s Quicksand. Aspects of the unspeakable also translate to racial representation as shown in Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye; in order to understand the difference in sexuality’s representation in both theoretical and fictive media, one cannot dismiss race as inherently connected to sexuality. Michel Foucault (1926-1984) widely criticized the traditional, Judeo-Christian perception of sexuality as outdated and inaccurate, widely neglecting several aspects of sexuality. The greatest unspeakable in European society was the notion that sexuality existed outside of a procreative dimension. As society evolved, Foucault argued, it was not the proletariat, lower class traditionally viewed as immoral that wrought the several facets of sexuality on the world. Rather, it was society’s â€Å"bourgeois or aristocratic† families who discovered â€Å"the sexuality of children and adolescents was first problematized [sic], and feminine sexuality medicalized [sic]† (Foucault 1978, p. 120). The changing perception of sexuality in Europe’s upper echelons revealed an unspeakable aspect; namely, that women and children exuded sexual identities independent of the accepted norm of domestication and procreation. The presence of sexuality in women and children lessened the degree of male dominance, hence the â€Å"unspeakable† attribute. The male fear of a loss of influence in society was most pronounced in the upper class, the primary reason high society’s families were â€Å"the first to be alerted to the potential pathology of sex, the urgent need to keep it under close watch and to devise a rational technology of correction†; â€Å"it was this family that first became a locus for the psychiatrization [sic] of sex† (Foucault 1978, p. 120). Patriarchal society’s destabilization was the reason sexuality’s existence in anyone than adult males was so widely reviled. The bourgeois considered sex to be frail, something that ought to be relegated within their society. The bourgeois fear of sexuality outside the male persona branched out, giving way to every unspeakable; more specifically, the unspeakable aspects of sexuality represented theoretically and fictively were based on any threatening idea that would compromise tradition. In what appeared to be a â€Å"struggle against sexuality,† society evolved a strategy to take advantage of the sexualities of â€Å"women, children, and men† by gearing them toward the familial unit most accepted. Female sexuality, though disturbing the procreative process, was given a voice that aimed sexuality and desire for men to coincide with the nuclear family unit. Juvenile sexuality was exploited, encouraged to blossom because its final realization would be the familial, patriarchal household unit (Foucault 1978, p. 105). In History of Sexuality, Foucault asserts that sexuality â€Å"must not be thought of as a kind of natural given which power tries to hold in check, or as an obscure domain which knowledge tries gradually to uncover† (Foucault 1978, p. 105). Sexuality develops independent of society, and each individual’s sexuality will evolve differently. Sexuality, Foucault argues, â€Å"is the name that can be given to an historical construct: not a furtive reality that is difficult to grasp, but a great surface network in which the stimulation of bodies, the intensification of pleasures, the incitement to discourse, the formation of special knowledge, the strengthening of controls and resistances, are linked to one another, in accordance with a few major strategies of knowledge and power† (Foucault 1978, p. 105-106). From a modern theoretical standpoint such as that of Foucault, sexuality is represented primarily as a revolutionary social entity. The traditions of a Judeo-Chr istian ethic system would view sexuality as a divisive manifestation, an animal instinct that should be controlled in men and eliminated from women and children. The unspeakable, from a theoretical standpoint, was its mere existence in women and children; any deviance from accepted models resulted in a compromise of male superiority. There were two primary threats: one was the existence of sexuality that deviated from traditional male sexuality, and the second was the existence of empowering sexuality outside of the male contingent of society. Precedence was always given to procreation; sex was meant only to create life, not to be used for pleasure. The threats to male dominance were clear, even in the queering of sexuality. Change is the most prevalent in the realm of the unspeakable, represented in theoretical sexuality as anything deviant from tradition. Despite the spectre caused by multiple future changes to society, Foucault noted that it was â€Å"worth remembering that the first figure to be invested by the deployment of sexuality, one of the first to be ‘sexualized’ was the ‘idle’ woman† (Foucault 1978, p. 121). The â€Å"idle woman† was one given precedence and favour over her counterparts. She retained the domestic role of her predecessors, and was the accepted female figure within society. In her foil emerged the â€Å"nervous woman,† the woman afflicted with â€Å"vapours†; in this figure, the hysterization of woman found its anchorage point (Foucault 1978, p. 121). Theoretically, the unspeakable in female sexuality was that which strayed from the accepted patriarchal model. The â€Å"nervous woman† was actually the sexually empowered phenomenon of the alpha female. The problem with a sexually empowered female was the psychological impotence of a man who would fal l under her influence. This psychological rendering is roughly equivalent to the metaphoric neutering of man and society. Contrary to the traditional view previously stated, Foucault agrees that the neutering of the genders is potentially dangerous. However, Foucault recognizes the presence of sex in both genders, and also does not hesitate to divide the two into a gender-based dichotomy. He claims that if society failed to recognize the difference in gendered sexualities, it would create â€Å"sexuality without sex,† which effectively amounted to â€Å"castration once again† (Foucault 1978, p. 151). He aims to show how â€Å"deployments of power are directly connected to the body—to bodies, functions, physiological processes, sensations, and pleasures† (Foucault 1978, p.152). The representation of the unspeakable here is countered by Foucault’s assertion that the unspeakable is a necessary part of society. In response to the historical construct of sexuality detailing the â€Å"hysterization [sic]† of women, Foucault defines the unspeakable of sexuality in thre e ways: â€Å"as that which belongs, par excellence, to men, and hence is lacking in women† but â€Å"at the same time, as that which by itself constitutes a woman’s body, ordering it wholly in terms of the functions of reproduction and keeping it in constant agitation through the effects of that very function† (Foucault 1978, p. 153). Representations of the unspeakable in fictive sexuality can also be attributed to race and gender, as evidenced by Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye as well as Nella Larsen’s Quicksand. The Bluest Eye’s protagonists’ encounter with Maureen Peal, a light-skinned black girl whose birth defects were ignored in favour of her fair complexion, demonstrates the phenomena of social racial aesthetics (Morrison 63). Most evident is Maureen’s denigration of the girls Claudia, Frieda and Pecola; Maureen subconsciously defends her birth defects as beauty because she is â€Å"cute [and they are] black and ugly† (Morrison 73). The unspeakable component here is the empowerment of white over black, but upon closer inspection it becomes the sexually empowered girl versus the sexually unwanted others. Maureen’s birth defects would erstwhile render her unwanted by men and therefore a member of the weaker contingent of society. However, the social standard me rits fair complexion over dark, empowering Maureen over Claudia, Frieda, and Pecola. Despite the fact that Maureen is technically a black girl, her proximity to the white race earns her the contempt of girls whose deep desires to be wanted by society represent the unspeakable. Maureen, though vilified in The Bluest Eye, is the least sexually threatening and exudes the least unspeakable characteristics. It is Claudia, Frieda, and Pecola, who in their desire to be pale and possess â€Å"the bluest eye† aspire to have the power that Maureen flouts in front of them. The white race equates with power and masculinity, while the black race is the powerless neuter in the world Toni Morrison portrays. Similarly, Nella Larsen’s Quicksand presents the unspeakable in sexuality with the racial and sexual dilemma of Helga Crane. Aâ€Å" despised mulatto† reviled because she could not be confined to a comfortable social norm, Helga embodies the unspeakable ambiguity traditiona l society feared (Larsen 1994, p. 5). Helga represents the same power standard as the white and black races portrayed by Morrison. If power can be ascribed to sexuality and the standard of male strength over female weakness, then Helga therefore presents to society not just a mulatto, but also a woman on the verge of becoming powerful. Larsen establishes this standard, describing such instances as shocking Helga. Helga, for example, â€Å"[shudders] a little as she recalled some of the statements made by that holy white man of God to the black folk sitting [respectfully] before him† (Larsen 1994, p. 2). Helga’s description in Quicksand is sexually favourable, suggesting the duality of a black woman becoming sexually desirable, crossing the borders established by society. Helga’s attractiveness is described in several colour references, the first description made by the narrator evoking the sentiment that â€Å"an observer would have thought her well fitted to that framing of light and shade† (Larsen 1994, p. 2). Helga is a manifestation of the disconcertment of a woman in a patriarchal society, as she â€Å"could neither conform, nor be happy in her unconformity† (Larsen 1994, p. 7). Not only is Helga unable to accept any stance on her race, she is also hard pressed to find acceptance for her sexual power. The same â€Å"parts of her that she couldn’t be proud of† ironically â€Å"visualized the discomfort of James Vayle† in her â€Å"maladjustment†; she â€Å"had a faint notion that it was behind his ready assent to her sugge stion anent a longer engagement than, originally, they had planned† (Larsen 1994, p. 7). Despite Vayle’s family and their intolerance of Helga’s familial and racial ambiguity, Helga’s fiancà © represents Helga’s exertion of power over a man. With such odds mounted against his union to Helga, the logical assumption would be his abandonment of a relationship. However, Helga’s identity as a black woman with white features empowers her to be desired by him; James cannot let go as he is dominated and has little choice in the matter. Larsen shows James’ powerlessness, describing him as â€Å"liked and approved of† in the town of Naxos, but â€Å"[loathing] the idea that the girl he was to marry couldn’t manage to win liking and approval also† (Larsen 1994, p. 7). Even Helga is cognizant of James’ helplessness, as she knew â€Å"that a something held [James], a something against which he was powerless† (Lar sen 1994, pp. 7-8). The unspeakable factor in sexuality is multi-faceted. While all types of sexuality are different, they are all unspeakable in their common root as threats to heterosexual, male dominance. Theoretical presentation of the unspeakable is largely based on the existence of non-conventional sexualities, while fictive presentations manifest themselves in different media as shown in Morrison and Larsen’s works. Though the scope of so-called sexual deviance is large, the general premise remains the same. BIBLIOGRAPHY Foucault, Michel. (1978) The History of Sexuality: An Introduction. New York: RandomHouse Books. Larsen, Nella and Deborah E. McDowell (ed). (1994) Quicksand and Passing. NewBrunswick: Rutgers U P. Morrison, Toni. The Bluest Eye. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2000.

Marketing Needs And Challenges Of Small Businesses Marketing Essay

Marketing Needs And Challenges Of Small Businesses Marketing Essay Introduction This essay deals with the marketing needs and challenges of small businesses, with particular regard to the differences in these areas between small and big firms. Small businesses are steadily increasing their contribution to the economies of the developed nations. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) currently provide employment to more than 33% of the UK labour force and account for just about less than 50% of the countrys total private sector business turnover (Longenecker, et al, 2005). The small sector is for all practical purposes driven by the energy, motivation, and drive of entrepreneurial owners, rather than by the abilities and skills of appropriately educated and trained professional managers (Odaka Sawai, 1999). Small business owners are driven to establish their organisations by reasons like entrepreneurial zeal, the desire for independence in working and decision making, craving for wealth, and the need to exploit original and innovative ideas and concepts for products and services (Odaka Sawai, 1999). Such entrepreneurs play vital roles in the economies of their nations, assume various operational and financial risks, and face difficult business challenges in their quest for business success (Odaka Sawai, 1999). One of their most important challenges lies in the area of marketing. All businesses need to successfully sell their products and services to customers in order to achieve business success and competitive advantage, and small businesses are no exception to this rule (Pelham Clayson, 1998). Whilst marketing success is imperative for the operational and financial success and growth of small and entrepreneurial firms, such organisations face numerous complex and difficult challenges in the pursuit of such objective (Pelham Clayson, 1998). The marketing environments and challenges of small firms are significantly different from those of larger organisations. Such differences arise on account of various reasons like product range, geographical distribution, pricing considerations, customer segmentation, and availability of funds (Pelham Clayson, 1998). Much of the success of the owners of small enterprises stems from their ability to recognise and overcome such challenges and formulate appropriate and effective marketing plans and strategies for their products and services (Pelham Clayson, 1998). This essay examines the important differences between the marketing challenges and options of small and big firms, the various dimensions of the marketing environments of small firms and the various challenges they are likely to encounter in the course of their business. The study also investigates the ways and means that can be used by small organisations to effectively market their products and services, and attempts to recommend the best ways and means for small entrepreneurs and business owners to improve the effectiveness of their marketing efforts and enhance their competitive advantage. The Importance of Marketing for Small Businesses The establishment and growth of small businesses is driven by the zeal and enthusiasm of individual entrepreneurs (Odaka Sawai, 1999). These individuals wish to develop and build independent enterprises and often feel that they have product or service with unique and specific attributes that will appeal to customers (Odaka Sawai, 1999). Such entrepreneurs are characterised by their optimism, enthusiasm and belief and conviction in their ideas, as also by their confidence in their ability to achieve their objectives. They however operate with numerous constraints that stem from factors like scarcity of physical and financial resources, limited workforce, absence of experienced and specialist executives, and lack of established markets (Casson, et al, 2006). Few, if any of these entrepreneurs establish new organisations with firm and ready customers. Even operating small businesses work in similarly difficult and challenged circumstances (Casson, et al, 2006). Whilst it is undoubtedly appreciated by all small business owners that the ultimate operational and financial successes of their enterprises, as also the maintenance and enhancement of competitive advantage, is significantly dependent upon their marketing sales performance, very few of such business people are able to effectively locate, focus upon, and exploit market opportunities through the formulation and execution of appropriate marketing strategies (Sadler-Smith, et al, 2003). The intentions and plans of small entrepreneurs and business owners to enhance their marketing effectiveness and sales performance are constrained by numerous challenges and obstacles, some of which occur because of internal weaknesses and others on account of environmental circumstances (Sadler-Smith, et al, 2003). Small and large businesses differ in numerous ways. Large businesses, even if they are recently established, are supported with strong financial resources from individual stockholders and financial institutions (Voss, et al, 2002). Other established and older large businesses furthermore have numerous organisational strengths that stem from extensive and developed production facilities, high quality organisational talent, research and development abilities and expertise, access to specialist advisers and consultants, extensive product range, established working processes for maintenance and improvement of quality, economies of scale, greater market reach, operations in different geographic locations, established market name and image, and well known brands (Voss, et al, 2002). Whilst all large organisations may not possess all these strengths and attributes, it is difficult to conceive many of them would have achieved significant growth in size and scale and still continue to be without many of these features (Welsch, 2003). Such strengths and attributes combine to provide large organisations with exceptional marketing advantages in terms of existing customer base, strong customer relationships, greater range of products and services, good product quality, attractive pricing, geographical reach, and brand recall (Welsch, 2003). Small businesses are comparably disadvantaged on many fronts (Weinrauch, et al, 1991). Most of them have restricted product ranges and whilst their operational costs are lower than those of larger businesses, they are unable to access economies of scale and sustain prices that are truly competitive and attractive (Weinrauch, et al, 1991). Such businesses also suffer from lack of uniform and appropriately designed working processes and quality control procedures, which often result in the generation of products and services of variable and occasionally doubtful quality (Weinrauch, et al, 1991). The absence of skilled management talent compels the owners of such businesses to personally supervise numerous and varied operations and makes it difficult for them to truly focus on marketing requirements, strategies and plans (Weinrauch, et al, 1991). This often results in ad hoc or inappropriately formulated and implemented marketing initiatives (Welsch, 2003). The lack of financial resourc es on the other hand constrains such businesses from engaging in expensive advertising and brand building strategies (Welsch, 2003). Such constraints, singly and jointly, make it extremely challenging for small firms to compete effectively in the market place, not just with larger competitors, but also with the many small firms that clutter most business sectors that do not ask for substantial investment of capital, technology or other resources (Welsch, 2003). Whilst small businesses, when compared to large businesses, do suffer from numerous internal and external disadvantages, which in turn challenge their marketing and sales efforts, they also have certain attributes that can, if effectively used, help them in the market place (Casson, et al, 2006). With small businesses largely being owner driven and having short chains of command, their decision making processes are often significantly faster than those of large businesses (Casson, et al, 2006). This enables them to be much more nimble in the market place and enables them to respond swiftly to marketing and customer needs (Casson, et al, 2006). The major strength of small businesses emanate from their owner managers, the majority of whom are entrepreneurial in nature and possess a number of traits that can help their organisations in various ways in the market place. Douglas Griest, (2010), found in the course of a review of 23 studies on comparisons of large organisation managers wit h small company entrepreneurs that such entrepreneurs were more likely to be creative, innovative, and open to new ideas than managers of larger organisations (Griest, 2010). Griest also found that entrepreneurs were expected to be more confident, tough, demanding, driven by needs for achievement and recognition, and aggressive in the market place. Entrepreneurs are also more likely to engage in environmental scanning for location of opportunities, develop strategies for the exploitation of opportunities and adapt to change, operate with flat management structures and make use of informal networks than large company managers (Griest, 2010). Many of them also have creative minds and are able to develop truly innovative and need fulfilling products and services (Griest, 2010). It is apparent from the preceding discussion that the marketing challenges and environments of small firms are significantly different from those of large firms. Whilst the market competitiveness of small firms is seriously affected by the lack of different types of organisational resources, skills and strengths, they have the advantages of low operational costs, swift decision making abilities and the inclinations and tendencies to move with agility in the market place in response to customer needs. Suggestions for Marketing Strategies for Small Firms Owner entrepreneurs, as well as managements of small companies must essentially understand the importance of marketing for the performance, growth and competitive advantage of their organisations. Small business owners, as stated earlier, are often challenged by various responsibilities and the need to oversee different operational functions like production, finance and accounts (Wolff Pett, 2006). They also have to regularly cope with the compliance needs of various legal and regulatory authorities. These pressures thus lead to a dissipation of effort, dilution of focus from important activities and confusion over prioritisation of managerial tasks (Wolff Pett, 2006). Emergent issues in areas of production, HR and environmental management often consume substantial chunks of available managerial time (Wolff Pett, 2006). It is, in these circumstances, essentially imperative for managements to realise that marketing constitutes one of the most important of organisational areas, especially so in smaller organisations that have to constantly face competition from various small and large organisations in their business sectors and are otherwise constrained by a range of internal and external issues (Voss, et al, 2002). The managements of small firms must realise that effective marketing is important for increase of consumer demand, better consumer relationship management, improved organisational image, development of organisational and product brands, enhancement of sales and growth of profits (Voss, et al, 2002). Lack of attention to the marketing function can prove to be devastated to such organisations and result in reduction of consumer base, lack of consumer awareness, reduction in sales, profits and cash flows, lessening of competitive advantage and finally even to organisational decline and demise (Voss, et al, 2002). It is thus critical for small company owners to understand the importance of marketing for organisational health and wellbeing and prioritise their activities accordingly (Voss, et al, 2002). It is thereafter important to focus on marketing and develop appropriate marketing plans that address the immediate and midterm strategic and marketing objectives of individual organisations (Welsch, 2003). Marketing plans are complex exercises that entail critical evaluation of external environmental conditions, competitive evaluation and analysis, market analysis and customer segmentation with the use of various tools like Porters Five Forces analysis, examination of organisational strengths and weaknesses and finally the development of appropriate marketing mix and marketing budgets (Welsch, 2003). Owners of many small organisations feel such exercises to be too detailed, elaborate and essentially suited for large organisations (Welsch, 2003). Such attitudes are however fundamentally erroneous and lead to the development of organisational and marketing strategies and action plans that are often impulsive and heuristic in nature and taken without information and analysis of importa nt environmental and organisational factors that could strongly impact the working of such organisations (Welsch, 2003). It is important for small organisations to engage in marketing analysis and develop marketing plans, even if they are conducted with lesser detail and greater simplicity than in large organisations (Pelham Clayson, 1998). Such an analysis will help managements to understand the different environmental variables that can affect their business, the strengths and weaknesses of their competitors, their own strengths and weaknesses and available opportunities and potential threats (Pelham Clayson, 1998). Such analysis will enable them to ensure that their marketing strategies do not run counter to environmental forces and that they can use their strengths to exploit market opportunities (Pelham Clayson, 1998). The development of an appropriate marketing mix is one of the most important objectives and outcomes of a properly executed marketing plan (Longenecker, et al, 2005). The marketing mix essentially details organisational strategies in areas of product placement, pricing, distribution and promotion (Longenecker, et al, 2005). The development of a marketing plan will help small business owners to focus on these individual elements and take appropriate decisions after consideration of the actions of their competitors, environmental conditions, consumer needs and available resources (Longenecker, et al, 2005). Many small organisations again feel the development of a marketing plan to be superfluous and irrelevant and engage in decisions that are primarily based upon hunches, perceptions and attitudes (Maritz, 2008). Such attitudes are, as stated before fundamentally erroneous and can lead to the overlooking of important issues and lead to adverse operational, marketing and organisational outcomes (Maritz, 2008). Greater stress on pricing and lesser emphasis on distribution and advertising is a common mistake of most small business owners who work on the assumption that the offering of cheap prices is the most important marketing strategy (Maritz, 2008). Such an attitude could however lead to lack of awareness about the product or service and its unavailability to customers who are willing to try them out (Maritz, 2008). The development of a marketing plan also may compels small business owners, not only to realise and understand a range of marketing issues but also builds an appreciation of the differences between small and large organisations in different operational and marketing areas. Small entrepreneurs and business owners must realise the completely different marketing challenges that face large and small organisations and adopt appropriate marketing mixes that are customised for their individual circumstances and organisations (Pelham Clayson, 1998). Small business owners must focus individually on each separate element of the product mix. The first element of the marketing mix concerns product positioning and placement (Pelham Clayson, 1998). Michael Porter in his theory of generic strategies states that business firms essentially need to decide between following a strategy of low cost or of product differentiation (Porter, 1998). Whilst Porters theory of generic strategies has been critiqued extensively with experts showing that it is possible for organisations in certain situations to differentiate their products as well as offer attractive prices, its tenets by and large hold good for small companies (Porter, 1998). Owners of small companies often feel th at they can achieve competitive advantage because of their lower overheads. Such a concept is however fundamentally fallacious because it is difficult for such companies to truly achieve the scale economies that are possessed by larger organisations (Odaka Sawai, 1999). Increased focus on reduction of costs thus leads to corner cutting and ultimately to lower product quality. It is thus eminently advisable for small business owners to position their products differently from those of their competitors through the adoption of appropriate product differentiation strategies that could stem out of unique product features or specific quality attributes (Odaka Sawai, 1999). Marketing experts feel that small businesses are ideally placed for the development of small marketing niches that allow them to focus on one specific segment (Van Der Hope, 2008). Niche marketing is primarily an extension of the differentiation strategy advanced by Michael Porter. It is ideal for small companies because it allows them to concentrate their organisational, operational and marketing resources on one specific market segment and develop a product that is different from others and services the needs of a specific segment (Van Der Hope, 2008). Whilst niche marketing is particularly suitable for small companies, it does have the risks of small market size (Van Der Hope, 2008). Demand in such circumstances is sustained by loyal customers rather than growing target segments, it is also not very conducive to achievement of scale economies (Van Der Hope, 2008). Small businesses, apart from focusing on the positioning of their products and services must also formulate strategies for distribution and promotion (Hills, et al, 2008). Both distribution and promotion are expensive operations and concern numerous external agencies like distributors, retailers and advertising agencies (Hills, et al, 2008). Small businesses must carefully look at the implications and costs of various distribution and promotional strategies to ensure optimisation of organisational spends and efforts (Hills, et al, 2008). Many small organisations refuse to face these problems squarely and end up operating within very small local areas and without any effective promotional activities (Hills, et al, 2008). Whilst such constraints were undoubtedly true to some extent in the past, the advent of the internet and its progressive proliferation across the world has changed the distribution and promotion opportunities of small firms beyond recognition (Mohan-Neill, 2006). Online marketing provides various opportunities to small organisations to distribute and promote their products (Mohan-Neill, 2006). Numerous small organisations across the world provide a range of services in different areas of life that are delivered online across the internet to different areas of the world (Mohan-Neill, 2006). Many organisations that do not have products that can be distributed online use the internet to take orders and payments and thereafter deliver products and services through physical means like mail and courier (Mohan-Neill, 2006). The internet has also opened up numerous promotional avenues, not only through optimisation of website traffic through use of search engines but also through the use of numerous social networking alternative like facebook, my space, twitter and YouTube (Maritz, 2008). Owners of small businesses should carefully formulate, develop and implement distribution and promotion plans in order to take maximum advantage of the various physical and online options that are available in the contemporary age (Maritz, 2008). Marketing plans should be integrated, make use of different marketing communication options like advertising, physical promotions and PR and most importantly make substantial use of online facilities (Maritz, 2008). Conclusions This essay deals with the marketing challenges of small businesses, the ways in which these challenges are different from those faced by large organisations and the ways in which small businesses can optimise their marketing strategies and efforts. Small businesses are challenged by a number of marketing and environmental factors and are constrained by the various limitations of size and resources. Such factors are significantly different from those influencing the options and alternatives of larger organisations and need to be comprehensively examined and analysed for formulation and development of appropriate strategies for achievement of business success, organisational growth and competitive advantage. Whilst small businesses do face numerous constrains and difficulties in marketing their goods and services, numerous opportunities have developed in recent years in areas of niche marketing and in distribution and promotion of their products with the use of online channels. It is important for owners of small businesses to carefully assess their environmental and organisational circumstances, identify businesses opportunities and make the best possible use of modern facilities for marketing their products, reaching customers and building strong customer relationships. Recent years have witnessed the phenomenal growth of small business start ups in the online domain. Whilst small business owners do face numerous difficulties and challenges thoughtful analysis of marketing conditions, prioritisation of work and effective use of available facilities can certainly help them in growing their business and achieving organisational success.

Romeo And Juliet- Emotions :: essays research papers

Images of Emotions in "Romeo and Juliet" One of William Shakespeare's most famous plays is "Romeo and Juliet." I believe the reason for this is its sense of reality and idealism. This paper will present images of human emotions in "Romeo and Juliet," which make this tragedy so believable. Youth and family play a big role in this tragic story. "Shakespeare delineates the hold of the patriarchal family on its children" (Kahn 18). This statement is true both then and now. Parents and elders will always have a hold on the children, but only to a certain extent. The two "noble" families of the play feel control and protection over both Juliet and Romeo; yet in the end, the only effect they have on the two lovers is that they have pushed them to the drastic measure of self-slaughter. Others say that the relation between the two time periods is in the children's disobeying of and misunderstanding of rules set before them. The youth of society tend to question and then possibly disregard the rules that are important to their parents if they do not have a good reason to believe in these rules. The rebellious actions of youth can eventually cause their own untimely destruction. (Justin K.) Although some feel that way, others say that idea is incorrect because teenagers who have been either purposely forcefully kept out of society tend to fear society rather than their own families (Bradbrook 99). I agree with Kahn, parents do have a certain magnitude of authority over the youth of society, but it will only have a limited effect. Just as the aged people of today eventually gained or were allowed their ability to make their own decisions and others, so must the younger generation be able to do. This opportunity was one never given to Romeo or Juliet they were left in a position of the second type of connection, where their only option was to go against the rules and concepts set before them. Two of the many other emotions used in this piece are prejudice and hate. They are intertwined and effect each other in ways so noticeable to us that we tend to forget that they even exist at times. "From examining 'Romeo and Juliet,' it is evident that the play shows how prejudice leads to escalating violence" (Justin K.). This, to most people, is common knowledge especially in society today, where many actions are based on racism or sexism.

Where Will They Burry Your Heart :: essays research papers

Where Will They Bury Your Heart? I have always found profound inspiration in the stories of men and women who lived and died for Christ. In fact, their incredible level of commitment is a measuring stick for my life; their undying courage is a source of my encouragement; and their burning passion is the light to my personal mission. Where would I be without the stories of these seemingly ordinary people who behaved extraordinarily against impossible odds? My faith is lifted each time I recall these true heroes. For me, one of the most moving is the powerful story of David Livingstone and the sacrifices he made to open the great continent of Africa to Christianity. When I first heard this story, I was already very familiar with the hardships that missionaries regularly endure. But the day I heard Livingstone’s story, I was finally able to embrace the extreme price one man paid. Travel with me to the year 1857. David Livingstone had already lived in the land of, â€Å"the thousand villages where no missionary has ever been† for sixteen years. He is now back in England, ready to address Cambridge university students. The custom of the time is for the students to heckle the speaker—all in fun. This day is no exception. The students have peashooters and noisemakers of every description. They’re ready for whoever this man might be. Then David Livingstone slowly walks to the podium with the step of a man who has walked 11,000 miles. His left arm hangs dead at his side, having been nearly ripped from his body by a lion, his shoulder crushed into splinters. His skin is a dark, leathery brown from sixteen years in the African sun. His face is furrowed with innumerable lines from bouts with African fever, which have also racked and emaciated his body. His physical being is wasted. He is half deaf from rheumatic fever and half blind from a tree branch that whipped him in the eyes while traveling through the jungle. The students are staring. They know this is not just another guest speaker. Before them is a man to be taken seriously. This is a life that was literally being burned out for God. As he begins to speak they learn that Livingstone’s journey began as a young man in Scotland. It was there that he prayed, â€Å"Lord, send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me.

Baldwin and the Nation of Islam Essay examples -- James Baldwin

Baldwin and the Nation of Islam The Nation of Islam impacted many African American people during its time. This Black Muslim nation not only requested, but demanded and required basic teachings which included racial separation, white devilry, and the coming Armageddon. None of these basic teachings supported James Baldwin’s perceptions. It was Baldwin’s view of pitying the white man for their lack of not being able to see through the color line and to embrace differences that whites and blacks held together to create a better, inexorable, and supreme nation. The Nation of Islam felt no pity for the whites or, as they would call them, devils. Neither would the Muslims embrace their differences from other races, but actually want to keep them divided. Although Baldwin is not confident as to where or to whom he belongs to, Baldwin is certain that a black nation separated from all other races will only separate blacks from the future of a better nation and keep them from further developing as a community. Born in Georgia, the leader of the Nation of Islam was a man named Elijah Muhammad. He has often been portrayed as a saint by his peers, but during World War II, Elijah Muhammad expressed support for Japan, on the basis of its being a nonwhite country, and was jailed for sedition. On August 24, 1946 Muhammad was released from prison in Milan, Michigan. According to the journal named The Black Scholar by Claude Clegg, Muhammad’s time at Milan had done more for him than ever before and after his release, Muhammad had unquestionably become â€Å"the premier martyr of the Muslims† (Clegg 49). From his speeches on the radio and in newspapers, Muhammad was also thought of by many people as a fierce man, one of thes... ...munity can arise. Baldwin believes that our own separate houses are burning and asks himself: â€Å"do I really want to be integrated into a burning house?† (Baldwin 340). It has since been time that we all move into the anticipating house down the street, and together we can help make its future grow into a bigger and brighter one. Works Cited Kihss, Peter. â€Å"In Return for Years of Slavery, Four or Five States.† New York Times 23 Apr 1961: 1. Baldwin, James. â€Å"Notes of a Native Son.† 1955 James Baldwin: Collected Essays. Ed. Toni Morrison. New York: Library of America, 1998. 63-84. Kihss, Peter. â€Å"Negro Extremist Groups Step Up Nationalist Drive.† New York Times 1 March 1961: 2. Clegg, Claude Andrew. â€Å"Rebuilding the Nation: The Life and Work of Elijah Muhammad.† 1996 The Black Scholar. Vol. 26 Issue  ¾, 49-59. Baldwin and the Nation of Islam Essay examples -- James Baldwin Baldwin and the Nation of Islam The Nation of Islam impacted many African American people during its time. This Black Muslim nation not only requested, but demanded and required basic teachings which included racial separation, white devilry, and the coming Armageddon. None of these basic teachings supported James Baldwin’s perceptions. It was Baldwin’s view of pitying the white man for their lack of not being able to see through the color line and to embrace differences that whites and blacks held together to create a better, inexorable, and supreme nation. The Nation of Islam felt no pity for the whites or, as they would call them, devils. Neither would the Muslims embrace their differences from other races, but actually want to keep them divided. Although Baldwin is not confident as to where or to whom he belongs to, Baldwin is certain that a black nation separated from all other races will only separate blacks from the future of a better nation and keep them from further developing as a community. Born in Georgia, the leader of the Nation of Islam was a man named Elijah Muhammad. He has often been portrayed as a saint by his peers, but during World War II, Elijah Muhammad expressed support for Japan, on the basis of its being a nonwhite country, and was jailed for sedition. On August 24, 1946 Muhammad was released from prison in Milan, Michigan. According to the journal named The Black Scholar by Claude Clegg, Muhammad’s time at Milan had done more for him than ever before and after his release, Muhammad had unquestionably become â€Å"the premier martyr of the Muslims† (Clegg 49). From his speeches on the radio and in newspapers, Muhammad was also thought of by many people as a fierce man, one of thes... ...munity can arise. Baldwin believes that our own separate houses are burning and asks himself: â€Å"do I really want to be integrated into a burning house?† (Baldwin 340). It has since been time that we all move into the anticipating house down the street, and together we can help make its future grow into a bigger and brighter one. Works Cited Kihss, Peter. â€Å"In Return for Years of Slavery, Four or Five States.† New York Times 23 Apr 1961: 1. Baldwin, James. â€Å"Notes of a Native Son.† 1955 James Baldwin: Collected Essays. Ed. Toni Morrison. New York: Library of America, 1998. 63-84. Kihss, Peter. â€Å"Negro Extremist Groups Step Up Nationalist Drive.† New York Times 1 March 1961: 2. Clegg, Claude Andrew. â€Å"Rebuilding the Nation: The Life and Work of Elijah Muhammad.† 1996 The Black Scholar. Vol. 26 Issue  ¾, 49-59.

Lynching: Black People and New York Essay

The titles of the works are â€Å"The Lynching†, â€Å"Bitter Fruit of the Tree†, and â€Å"Song for a Dark Girl†. These poems were written by Claude McKay, Sterling Brown and Langston Hughes. The genres for these works are horror, realistic fiction, and poetry. â€Å"The Lynching† was published in 1920, â€Å"Bitter Fruit of the Tree† was published in 1939, and â€Å"Song for A Dark Girl† was published in 1927. These poems are all relevant to the essay because they are about lynching and their experience on it. Each poem describes the horrors of lynching and how each of the characters’ beliefs and perspective comes into play. The word â€Å"lynching† roughly means to falsely execute an individual in a mob. It is a terrible crime that happened during the 19th century in southern states. They did these heinous crimes to African Americans because they wanted to have white supremacy over them. They performed many different kinds of execution all in public to strike fear in hearts of blacks. But they did not only murder African Americans, they also lynched some specific white people too. The most likely killed whites that sympathized with the black community. The police didn’t little to nothing to prevent or stop the unjust killings. In fact most of the time, the officers participated in them. Enforcing lynching laws was nearly impossible, and so people didn’t dare to try and stop them in fear of becoming victims themselves. Because of these outbreaks of unreasonable murders, many people was killed and many loved ones were lost. These poems are a few examples of how each of the authors viewed, experienced, and approached lynching. Claude McKay, Sterling Brown and Langston Hughes all have their own experience and thoughts about lynching; as they express them in their literature. All three of them write about a different perspective on the matter. In general, they all thought the same about lynching as evil, but there are significant differences on how they showed and themed lynching. In McKay’s work, â€Å"The Lynching†, McKay tells a story of a black man that was burned to death by a mob, and how the women and children dance and celebrated for their accomplishment. The theme of the poem is human corruption. He views these people as a diseased population that might one day affect the well-being of society. Any logically person would think how anyone could celebrate after committing a hideous sin. Because of this McKay believed that these crimes of the ignorant society will corrupt the children, and turn them into future murderers. He saw how corrupted they already were when the â€Å"little lads, lynchers that were to be, Danced round the dreadful thing in fiendish glee. † This means that the kids will think something like is natural or right because their parents. If nothing was done, lynching would be intergraded into their culture. At this point they don’t know the difference from right and wrong. They don’t understand the cruelty and disturbing act that was committed right in front of them. This supports the fact that McKay believes lynching can be infectious to society especially to the children. He believes that because of how the children were acting around the dead body. McKay can predict what will become of them in the future. Sterling Brown had a different approach to lynching for he believes that white people are arrogant. They are so arrogant that it doesn’t matter if they killed African Americans because to them blacks are dispensable. They use lynching as a tool to control the black community with fear. White supremacy was so extreme that they believe it was right to kill blacks and treat them like animals. According to the poem, it is a story about his family and all the hardship that they had to endure. Two of his grandmother’s sons were taken away from her, his grandfather was beaten to near death when he tried to escape, and his father’s was used to do hard labor without any type or reward or pay. It’s like telling them that there is no reason to get mad because everything is rightfully theirs and if you tried to stop them, there will be consequences. The white supremacy believed that â€Å"lynching was seen as the most effective means of control†. They used that fear of death or beatings to control the future generation. Because of that, they believe that they can do anything they want to them like. For example, the father that was being used for all his hard work planting the crops didn’t get anything in return. He didn’t dare stand up to them in fear of being beaten or killed like his father was. This evidence supports the idea of the white supremacy thinks that they are better than blacks and can control them by using fear tactics. Because of that, they think they can do whatever they please without consequences. Langston Hughes also had a different opinion about lynching. Hughes believes that lynching mainly occurs in the southern states, and that the white supremacy will Unjustly execute anyone who they despise and hate. He also believes that no one was willing to help the victims because they don’t to become victims themselves. In Hughes’ poem, â€Å"Song for a Dark Girl†, the girl’s lover is badly beaten and hanged right in front of her. The theme in this poem is helplessness to do anything and just observe. Hughes is â€Å"less concerned with wrong and right than with circumstance and effect†. He already knows that lynching is evil, but he is more concerned about how the other people would react and what they would do. It had a great effect on the girl because now she questions and doubt her faith. The girl couldn’t have done anything for him, and instead pray to white Jesus. At last, it was in vain because her lover was hung naked on a tree. He was killed for no good reason, and no one tried to stop it. While watching the event, she â€Å"asked the white Lord Jesus, what was the use of prayer? † The lover’s body symbolizes Jesus and how he died for the sins of others. This proof shows Hughes thought process. He focused on the girl’s reaction and feelings instead of the actual lynching. The girl could only watch as her lover was being lynched and feeling of helplessness broke her heart. She could only describe the horrible scene that she witness. She lost faith in the white Jesus that she used to believe in. All of these poems describe the horrors of lynching and how the authors felt, thought, and believed about the topic. McKay believed that lynching will corrupt the children and future traditions. Brown knew that the white supremacy used lynching as a tool to control people with fear. Hughes focused on the effects and consequences of lynching than the action of doing it. Even though all their ideas, views, and beliefs were a bit different, they are all connected to one another. The White supremacy used lynching to control people, which in turn make the children want to imitate their parents. When that happens, it will become a tradition and spread like an infection. What would you do if you witness lynching during this time period and how would you feel? Would you try to stand up to the wrong doers knowing that you’re putting yourself in danger? Citations Baym, Nina, ed. The Norton Anthology of American Literature, Packet II. 7th ed. New York: Norton, 2007. McKay, Claude. â€Å"The Lynching. † The Norton Anthology of American Literature, Packet II. Baym, Nina, 7th ed. New York: Norton, 2007. Brown, Sterling. â€Å"Bitter Fruit of the Tree. † The Norton Anthology of American Literature, Packet II. Baym, Nina, 7th ed. New York: Norton, 2007. Hughes, Langston. â€Å"The Lynching. † The Norton Anthology of American Literature, Packet II. Baym, Nina, 7th ed. New York: Norton, 2007. Crutchfield, Victoria. â€Å"The Broken Heart: Community in Langston Hughes â€Å"Song for a Dark Girl†Ã¢â‚¬ isites. harvard. edu. Expose, n. d. Web. 2006-2007 â€Å"The Negro Holocaust: Lynching and Race Riots in the United States, 1880-1950† yale. edu. Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute, n. d. Web. 2012 Tidwell, John. â€Å"Sterling A. Brown’s Life and Career† english. illinois. edu. Modern American Poetry , n. d. Web. 1997 United States. YungJames88. â€Å"BBC’s Racism: History- A lynching in Texas in 1916† YouTube. YouTube, Web. 5 Oct. 2011.

George Bush Essay

Leadership is a quality that Americans always look for in a president. United States Presidents have an extreme amount of responsibility. Americans look for someone that can help our country grow. We look for someone who has charisma, strength and intelligence. George W. Bush had a very interesting presidency. It was filled with joy, turmoil and disaster, all which were times where a leader could either succeed or fail. George W. Bush was the 43rd President of the United States. He had all of the qualification of a great president. He came from a political family. He was the son of former President George H.W. Bush. He had a great educational and military background. He graduated from Yale University and then Harvard Business School. He was a pilot for the Air National Guard for six years. He worked in the oil industry after college where he was known for his smart business decisions. He served in Texas’ House of Representatives and then Governor of Texas. Most American’s would probably believe that all of these qualifications would make him a great candidate for President and in 2000 he was elected President, defeating Al Gore by only small margin. (Bush 3) Choosing George W. Bush I chose to research and analyze President Bush because he was president during the biggest attack on American’s during my lifetime. He had to step up and become the great leader that our nation needed during and after the terrorist attack on September 11th, 2001. President Bush is still being blamed for some of the problems that America is having now. President Obama blames him for the economy and many American’s have blamed him for our continued presence in the Middle East. I wanted to research his leadership abilities and understand why he went from being a so-so President to a great president to a president that is being blamed for everything. I also see President Bush as a normal person with strengths and weaknesses. I see him as someone similar to myself. I want to better understand him and learn from his achievements and his mistakes. President Bush was not a born leader. Even though President Bush had the resume that American’s thought would make him a great leader, at the beginning of his presidency, he was lacking some of the key qualities of a  good leader. He did not show confidence in his decisions and he lacked the understanding of international affairs. (Domin 3) After the tragedy of September 11th, he really stepped up and took on his leadership role. He was able to show America that he was the leader that they thought that they would be getting in an American President. President Bush was able to bring his followers together in a time of tragedy, uniting them for a common goal. He was able to leave all of the criticism that he had gotten behind him and become a new leader that everyone respected. In addition, I wanted to research President Bush because many of the international problems that America faced during President Bush’s terms are still lingering today. American lives are still at risk because of terrorist groups. It was only a couple of months ago that the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi was attacked by terrorist killing the US Ambassador and three others. I question the effectiveness of our current administration and their ability to keep America safe. (Kirkpatrick, and Myers) Abilities and Skills Even though President Bush was not a great leader from the beginning, I believe that he was able to step up and become the great leader that we needed him to be. He embraced the necessary abilities and skills that America needed in a leader after a crisis. The first and most important characteristic that he possessed after September 11th was emotional intelligence. He understood the severity of the situation and was able to address the public in a way that helped us come together as a country. Woodward made this comment about how President Bush addressed the public in front of Ground Zero. â€Å"Bush’s spontaneity allowed him to connect at a visceral level with his audience: acting simultaneously as their leader and expressing their feelings in the highly charged atmosphere of the time.† (Roper 5) I believe that President Bush also encompasses the four characteristics that describe a creative leader. President Bush faced one of the biggest obstacles of any President and he had the self-confidence to lead. (Nahavandi 115) Thousands of innocent Americans had been killed through a terrorist attack. He knew that America was entering a time of war. Even though many of his advisors were unsure of the decisions to attack Afghanistan, he was strong about his beliefs and he gave reassurance to his advisors. A reporter who was present during the National Security Council meeting before the initial attacks in Afghanistan noticed the tension in the room before President Bush was present but said that, â€Å"the tension suddenly drained from the room.† (Roper 5)