Case Study of Marks and Spencer Essay

Introduction Marks and Spencer is one amongst the main retailers in kingdom managing over 600 stores and handling many workers. At present, the corporate is that the leading supplier of women’s wear and nightclothes within the UK. Within the space of different attire, these have incurred a substantial quantity of growth. The corporate additionally provides for food retail. This report has been based on strategic planning of Marks and Spencer. TASK 1: 1.1. Explain the importance of external factor affecting an organization to begin your report describe how you should use SWOT and STEEP analysis to explain the current context of an organization in your chosen case study. SWOT Analysis: SWOT analysis is that the analysis that helps organization to search out the position of their whole and also the image of product within the current market they’re in operation this analysis helps to search out the subsequent points of the organization within the market (Henry, 2008): Strength Weaknesses Opportunities Threat If we tend to do a similar analysis in Marks and Spencer than following would be the results of the analysis in keeping with the on top of strategic examples: Opportunities: Below are the opportunities for Marks and Spencer on which it can capitalize its strengths: Enter in new market with the prevailing product however with glorious worth. Marks and Spencer can enter in emerging markets such as India and China to avail the opportunities of growth in these markets. Become a preferred fashion supplier with inexperienced thinking till 2012. Fashion industry has potential of growth in future. Marks and Spencer can avail this opportunity by expanding its store networks. Threat: Below are the threats available to M&S: Change in fashion merchandise and clothes by competitors frequently can impact the market share of Marks and Spencer. Change in polices of government in terms of financial policies that might impact the borrowing power of M&S. Increasing competition in the market has forced the company to be competitive in cost. Because of intense market competition, Marks and Spencer can face decrease in its market share. Because of increase in inflation, buying power of customers is decreasing. This can impact the market share of company at large scale. Political Analysis The government of kingdom encourages commerce in its territory. This can be primarily seen within the varied corporations that originate from completely different components of kingdom. It’s sometimes standard that any variety of trade is authorized within the aforementioned region on condition that it’s not contrary to public policy, public order, or any existing laws applicable in kingdom. This can be inspired with the membership of kingdom in commerce blocs just like the Common Market and international trade organizations like the globe Trade Organization (Daft, 2010). Economic Analysis The UK is among the centres of commerce in Europe as an entire. Shoppers aren’t restricted to the native voters as a considerable amount of travellers congregate on the streets of its urban areas on a continual basis. This can be correspondingly correct within the context of the retail  business, specifically within the neck of the woods of classy articles like fashion and attire (Collier, 2004). The client base has the propensity to involve many sorts of wear betting on the prevailing variety of weather of the realm. Technological Analysis A lot of people in United Kingdom are capable of accessing within the net. This intimates that variety of the businesses square measure able to maximize of their operations and broaden by using e-commerce initiatives. This is often primarily seen in foremost retail organizations like Tesco. Hence, on-line promoting and buys created within the course of cyberspace is popping intent on be one amongst the competitive blessings no inheritable by the leading retail organizations in UK. 1.2. Describe how the need and expectation of stake holder here influenced the strategic decision of the business selected in the case study Stakeholders have different expectations from the organizations. Future strategic plans of the company can impact the expectations of its stakeholders and vice versa. Following are the expectations of stakeholders of Marks and Spencer regarding strategic decisions of business: Shareholders: They are the individuals who have invested in the company. The shareholders of Marks and Spencer expect high return on investment from the strategic decisions taken by management. Employees: The employees of Marks and Spencer expect job security and high salaries. In addition to this, the employees of Marks and Spencer also expect assurance of a developing working environment through strategic decisions. Customers: They are very important stakeholder of Marks and Spencer. They demand that strategic decisions of company offer hem quality product and services at their convenience while maintaining price at affordable range. Community: The community is also an important stakeholder of Marks and Spencer. It demands that the Marks and Spencer must contribute towards it through its strategic decisions in terms of sustainable practices. 1.3. Explain the changes in the external environment in the case study example that have happened so far. The STEEP analysis of Marks and Spencer is effective to analyse the external environment of the company. The STEEP analysis of Marks and Spencer is as follows: Political Factors: Within the case of Marks and Spencer, one amongst the additional worrying political elementary parts that they need to modify is that the issue of labour regime  and preservation of commercial relationship. Years ago, the event makes an attempt sought-after by the organization are restricted by many encroachments of worker rights that primarily are against labour laws not solely within their operations in the domestic level however additionally in their international endeavours (Marr, 2006). This can be significantly correct in their French operations whereas the organization was charged of grave abuse and breaking of celebrated labour laws. Economic Factors: Increasing inflation has impacted the market share of the company. The analysis of economic factors has shown that the buying power of customers is decreasing because of increasing inflation. In addition to this, increasing competition and slow growth of the industry has impacted the market share of company. In the last 25 years, market share of Marks and Spencer has declined from 14.8% to 10.8% (Zoe, 2012) Social Factors: In the framework of social and cultural aspects of the setting, the regular United Kingdom has the tendency to be extremely loyal to a selected whole. The quality of quality of the merchandise is imperative in each deal however may effortlessly be defeated by a fairly competitive valuation strategy from an opposing whole. Current observations equally indicate that predilection on trendy designs over the classics looks to indicate among the United Kingdom shoppers. Technological Factors: Increasing technological advancement in the industry has impacted the efficiency of the processes. Decrease in cost can be achieved through effect ive use of technology. The industry analysis shows that Marks and Spencer has not been efficient to respond to technological advancements. TASK 2: 2.1. Explain the effects of its current business plans on your organization. The Vision and Mission of Marks and Spencer The company seeks to grow into a world category distributor. Marks and Spencer intends to attain this by specializing in 5 key growth areas: A. the corporate seeks to still invest in and grow its core retail business by introducing new merchandise and services B. the corporate seeks to strengthen its property portfolio. C. the corporate seeks to boost on its M&S Direct business D. the corporate seeks to expand on their international business E. the  corporate seeks to integrate â€Å"green† operations in doing business by incorporating their â€Å"Plan A.† The current business portfolio of Marks and Spencer can be accessed through BCG Matrix. BCG Matrix suggests that it is good in terms of clothing and has position of stars on the BCG matrix. However, in food market, the position of Marks and Spencer is at question mark. This is because market share of Marks and Spencer in food market is very low. The industry growth in fashion market of United Kingdom is also show which suggests that the position of Marks and Spencer is moving towards dogs. With substantial inflow of capital and differentiation of products and services, Marks and Spencer can take position of stars on BCG Matrix. 2.2. Review the organization present position on the market place, and consider especially its customer base, and more generally its rivals. Marks and Spencer have robust weapon in trade: very robust name. This implies that their whole is related to factors like category and quality. Another department that the corporate hold is seen in its prosperous history in mercantilism. At some stage in the years of its functions, it’s obtained an honest range of amenities that function moneymaking institutions for Marks and Spencer. Alongside this history is that the continuation of established partners and alliances that has been obtained by means that of over a century of business. Among the most flaws of the corporate square measure 1st and foremost perceptible in its management. Specially, a match involving the arrangement of the corporate, the character of its trade, and therefore the authentic management approaches has nonetheless to be established. Moreover, being a performing artist within the competitive business of retail, an organization should own active promoting talents (Michael, 2009). However, it seems that Marks and Spencer has been insulation in terms of selling enhancements like loyalty cards and operation of customer-focused functions. The market share of Marks and Spencer has been declining in the market of United Kingdom. In the past year i.e.2011, the market share of Marks and Spencer has decreased from 10.9% to 10.4% because of intense competition and shortage of purchases (Zoe, 2012). In 1989, the market share of Marks and Spencer was 14.8% in the United Kingdom which has decreased in the 25 years because of increasing competition in the market (Zoe, 2012). The strategic plans of Marks and Spencer have played important role in this regard. The strategic plans of the competitors have worked effectively and  increased their market share. For instance, the market share of Next (competitor of Marks and Spencer) has risen from 1.5% to 7.5% in the same period (Zoe, 2012). Therefore, the biggest reason behind decline in market share of Marks and Spencer is its strategic plans (Zoe, 2012). 2.3. Evaluate the competitive strength and weakness of your organization current business strategies. Strengths: Reputation: Marks and Spencer is the famous brand in the United Kingdom. Strong image of brand is the major strength of the company that attracts customers. Online Shopping: Marks and Spencer allows customers to purchase through internet. Online shopping allows convenience to customers and contributes in strong position of the company. Weaknesses: Slow to change: Marks and Spencer is slow in its response towards changes in customer trends and preferences. The competitors of Marks and Spencer can take advantage of this weakness of the company by responding quickly to market changes. Lack of newness: the products and services of Marks and Spencer are not innovative and creative. Competitive worth: Low creativity, innovativeness and response to changes in environment have reduced the competitive worth of Marks and Spencer. Shortage of Suppliers: Marks and Spencer does not have wide choices of suppliers. In this way, the company is weak in its buying power. Task 3: 3.1. Suggest strategic option for M&S The strategic options for Marks and Spencer can be determined through effective analysis of industry and competitor moves. The ANSOFF Matrix can be effective tool for suggesting strategic options for Marks and Spencer. The ANSOFF Matrix for Marks and Spencer is as follows: Market penetration: This is the strategy through which existing products are pushed in the existing market. Market Development: This is the strategy through which new markets are searched for the existing products of the company. Product Development: This is the strategy through which new products are developed for the existing markets of the company Diversification: This is the strategy through which new products can be developed for new markets of Marks and Spencer. Marks and Spencer can implement this strategy by adding  differentiation factor in its products and pushing new products in new markets. The above strategies are effective for the Marks and Spencer to increase its market share in the United Kingdom. The company has strong capabilities which can be incorporated in the strategic plans of the company in an effective way to achieve its aims and objectives. 3.2. Describe the activity of business rivals which compete with your organizations and assess the impact of such an activity on it. The competitors of M&S are identified as departmental stores, small local retailers and supermarkets. In more specific form, the competitors of M&S are Debenhams, House of Fraser and BHS. Moreover, Tesco and Sainsbury have also been giving competition to it to some extent. The competitors of M&S are using model of shop within a shop. They have been focussing on the expansion of their businesses across United Kingdom. Tesco has adopted a policy of offering huge price cuts to customers for increasing its sales volume. In 2012, it has showered customers with price cut offers. These extensive discounts offered by Tesco (Wallop, 2012) may impact the business of M&S because customers tend to buy the products that are priced low. In this way a substantial customer population of M&S may shift towards Tesco. This may result in decrease in market share of M&S. 3.3. Returning to your suggestions (3.1) for strategic option, how would you develop them further in light of this competition? In relation to the competition, expansion strategy can be very effective for Marks and Spencer. As competitors are expanding business across the geographical boundaries in order to increase their market shares, Marks and Spencer can also excel in the market by adoption investment strategies. In real terms, this can be done by saving cost through cost leadership strategy. By adopting cost leadership strategy, Marks and Spencer can save cost and invest it for expanding its operations. Cost Leadership Strategy Cost leadership strategy may be a strategy during which company offers low price with prime quality to the shoppers. Company will sale its product at average costs of trade so as to realize high profits. The second chance is that company sells its product at lower costs than the trade costs. The concept behind this idea is to draw in higher market share. By getting price advantage firms will get competitive advantage within the market. Price leadership strategy will be adopted by raising the processes of business so  inefficiencies will be aloof from the business (Pearson, 2009). Differentiation Strategy Differentiation may be a strategy that enables firms to supply distinctive merchandise or services that have price to the shoppers. The distinctiveness in merchandise or services should not be offered by the competitors. All the promoting methods aim to induce differentiation. Differentiation is that the prime supply of competitive advantage for firms (Porter, 1980). The differentiation strategy permits firms to draw in customers at higher costs. Differentiation strategy permits firms to charge high costs to the shoppers so as to supply distinctive merchandise and services to them. Promoting methods are designed so as to draw in customers and to supply individuality to the shoppers. Focus group strategy This dimension is not a separate strategy in and of it, but describes the scope over that the company need to contend supported worth leadership or differentiation. The firm can worth additional extremely to contend at intervals the mass market (like Wal-Mart) with a broad scope, or in focused market section with a slim scope. In either case, the concept of competition will still be either cost leadership or differentiation (Michael, 2005). Market Development This strategy involves investment in different markets and innovation. It is only the difficult times when businesses get a chance to alter and revise their current strategies and implement new ones. Apart from this, most companies may lack proper resources to implement a proper business strategy or they might just make temporary changes in their market structure and less attention to product innovation. This reduces the chances of an investment strategy to be successful. TASK 4: 4.1. Now shape these suggestions into a coherent business plan, and indicate how the structure of the plan needs to be developed with participation of relevant stakeholder. Suppliers  Suppliers are called key stake holder of any organization. Particularly in Marks and Spencer they need an excellent influence and that they hold the  talk’s power that’s why any new strategic policy might have an effect on them, thus once M&S have new strategy or changes within the organization they need to recognize and discuss its connected contents with their suppliers (Smit, 2003). The suppliers of the company can be involved in the strategic plans by developing partnerships with them so that consistent supply of quality materials can be ensured with cost effective buying. Customers: Customer are key stake holder of any organization as a result of they hold the money within the stores of any company and have the facility to spend it wherever ever they require, that the policies of the corporate ought to be kind within the means that defend the interest of consumers (Burns, 2009). The new strategic plans of the company must involve customers through effective marketing strategies. Employees: In any organization particularly if we tend to took an example of M&S they need managers with the expertise of six to seven years and that they are perpetually operating in a very same setting with loyalty and progressing with the nice name, thus it’s important to require additional care of workers whereas doing strategic planning for organization. The higher than division of stake holders with their level of interest and power shows the result they may create within the strategic planning. 4.2. Describe appropriate criteria for reviewing potential options for the proposed strategic plan. The criteria selected for the evaluation and monitoring of proposed plan is as follows: Suitability: This factors refers that whether the overall project is worthwhile and rational or not. The proposed plan for Marks and Spencer will be evaluated that whether the strategy addresses the mission of the company or not. Moreover, this factor also assesses the effectiveness of the proposed plan of the Marks and Spencer from economic point of view. SWOT analysis of the company is conducted to address this factor. Feasibility: This factor refers to the idea that whether the company has enough economic resources for achieving the aims of proposed plan. The resources included in this regard are market access, people capital and expertise. Through cash flow, forecasting, resource deployment analysis and break even analysis will be used for evaluating the worthiness  of the proposed plan. Acceptability: This refers to the idea that stakeholders of the company have agreed with the strategic aims of the proposed plan. The financial and nonfinancial outcomes of the proposed plan of Marks and Spencer are accessed through this factor. The employees would have concern about the nonfinancial outcomes of the proposed plan such as about working conditions. 4.3. Describe how the plan includes an assessment of the resources required to implement the plan. The strategic plan of any organization needs to be reviewed on regular basis so that its results can be measured against set objectives. In order to implement the strategic plan, resources are required (Marr, 2006). Marks and Spencer needs to assess its following resources for effective implementation of strategies plan: Financial resources: Marks and Spencer has strong financial resources in the form of capital and store networks. It is a listed company having plenty of funds available for expanding its operations and improving current business practices. Human resources: In more than 300 stores of Marks and Spencer, huge workforce is present which is qualified and efficient and has potential for achieving financial returns for the company. TASK 5: 5.1. Compare the core values of the organizational against its current business objectives. The core values of M&S include quality, innovation, customer values and commitment. In addition, M&S believes that it is a trusted retailer and has a strong heritage of highly qualified and efficient employees. Moreover, engagement and involvement of employees in the business objectives is also preferred by the M&S. The objectives of the M&S include providing quality products with high innovation. Moreover, the organization also has aim to provide customer each time a new product. In this regard, the core values i.e. innovation and quality provision are highly related with the organizational values. In order to produce innovation in the product, the employees are encouraged and involved in the organizational processes and designs. In this way, it is said that the organizational values and objectives of M&S are aligned with each other. 5.2. Develop these values into a vision of the organization and suggest a mission statement that expresses these values. The core values of Marks and Spencer are stated in following vision: â€Å"To be the best brand against which all other competitors are measured† The mission statement of the Marks and  Spencer is as follow: â€Å"To provide quality products to customers while increasing market share† 5.3. Describe how this vision can combine with the business objectives of the strategic plan, so that an inspiring vision of the future of the business can involve all relevant stakeholders. The vision of the organization is to provide the best brand to customers in comparison with the competitor’s products and brands. On the other hand, the organizational objectives include providing high quality innovative products and services to customers. The inspiring vision of providing high quality and innovative products has been effectively distributed and transformed into organizational objectives. The employees at the lower end are aware of the organization vision because they are given appropriate environment to produce innovations and creativity in the products. In the strategic plan, the organizational objectives and vision is combined to produce high quality and innovative products. In future, the strategic plan will provide highly effective because it has involved the all relevant stakeholders of the organization. The employees are involved in the strategic plan to produce creativity and innovation in the products. The customers are involved in a sense that they are provided high quality and new product products. Through innovation and quality in products, the sales and market share of the company may increase. This may result in high profitability of the organization which will ultimately contribute positively to the shareholders of the M&S. 5.4. Develop measure for evaluating your strategic plan. In order to evaluate the strategic plan, following measures are developed: Ongoing monitoring: The objectives of the strategic plans are continuously monitored on the basis of the objectives. The ongoing and completed objectives will be monitored that whether the strategic plan is implanted effectively or not. For the ongoing objectives, suggestions or appropriate actions will be taken to lead the overall strategic plan to appropriate accomplishment. The achievements of the plan objectives will be measured on regular basis. Qualitative and quantitative measures will be adopted for evaluating the strategic plan. TASK 6: 6.1. Develop a schedule for implementing a strategy plan in an organization. Formulating a timetable permits the corporate to possess a close map of the  strategy. Within the case of Marks and Spencer, the creation of a timetable permits them to understand the vision of the corporate by specifically pinpointing actions required to for its implementation. A timetable permits the corporate to possess a transparent cut and elaborate define of the events. This is often additionally an honest tool to live whether or not or not the corporate is moving forward or not. The schedule for the implementation of plan is as follows: First Year: The research and development activities will be effectively developed to introduce the innovation and creativity in the organization. The customer traffic will be improved through offering innovative and quality products. Second Year: The market share will be improved through offering long term benefits to customers. The customer loyalty cards will be used for building customer loyalty for the organization. Third Year: Finally, in the third year the company will tend to expand its market to areas where it has not shown its presence. New stores will be opened by the organization. 6.2. Describe system of information dissemination most likely to inspire stakeholder’s commitment to the plan. Communication regarding strategic plans can be of two types (John, 2010): Proactive communication Reactive communication In this particular case, proactive communication mechanism needs to be implemented. Before implementing plan, all stakeholders must be communicated for getting their suggestions regarding strategic plan. This will not only build trust among stakeholders but also enhances chances of effective implementation of strategic plan. Through continuous reporting and meetings, shareholders will be informed about the strategic plans of the company. The shareholders of the company will be involved as active part of the company so that they can get satisfaction regarding policies of management. The suppliers and customers will also be kept informed through reporting. The customers will be informed about the new offers of company through advertisements and marketing tactics. In this way, Marks and Spencer will be using both types of communication strategies in Marks and Spencer. Before the implementation of plans, the shareholders and employees will be taken into confidence. On the other hand, after significant achievements, they will be informed through reactive communication strategy. 6.3. Describe  system that will continually monitor and evaluate how your strategic plan is implemented, one that anticipates future opportunities as well potential problem. The system for evaluation and monitoring of the strategic plan must include wide range of data. The company needs to collect data from several resources regarding the progress of the plan. After data collection, results must be measured against SMART objectives designed for the plan. In order to counter with potential problems, Marks and Spencer needs to implement a culture of innovation. Management by Objective tool will be used by Marks and Spencer for the monitoring of proposed strategic plan. Management by Objective is the way through which objectives will be defined by the management and employees of Marks and Spencer in accordance with the strategic objectives of the organization (Daft, 2010). Employees will be given clear understanding of the aims and objectives of the company. Through following way, this plan will be implemented in the company: Setting Objectives: In the first step, objectives are set by engaging supervisors and employees in a coordinated way Developing plans: In the next step, plans are developed for the achievement of strategic objectives of Marks and Spencer. Periodic Reviews: On periodic basis, evaluation will be made regarding achievement of strategic objectives. The performance of all objectives will be assessed through effective implementation of plans. Performance Appraisal: Lastly, the performance of employees will be appraised against the set objectives. This step will be effective for granting rewards and promotions to employees. Effective appraisal system will help the management of Marks and Spencer to motivate its employees in an effective way. References Michael A. Hitt, R. Duane Ireland, Robert E. Hoskisson, 2009, Strategic Management: Competitiveness and Globalization : Cases, Daft, J. Murphy, H. Willmott, 2010. Organization theory and design, 10th Ed. Porter, M.E., 1980, â€Å"Competitive Strategy: Techniques for analyzing industries and competitors† New York: The Free Press Smit, E. and Morgan, N. I. 2003. Contemporary Issues in Strategic Management. Kagisho Publishers: Cape Town Collier, N. 2004. Marks and Spencer. Cranfield School of Management Marr, B. 2006. Strategic Performance Management: Leveraging and Measuring your Intangible Value Drivers. Elsevier Burns, B. 2009. Managing Change. 5th Edition, Prentice Hall Marr, B. 2006. Strategic Performance Management: Leveraging and Measuring your Intangible Value Drivers. Elsevier Pearson, G. 1999, Strategy in Action, Prentice Hall Financial Times. Zoe, 2012. M&S loses further ground in battle for vital womenswear market, The Guardian. Available at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/jun/08/marksspencer-retail Daft, 2010. Management International. Illustrated. Cengage Learning EMEA John, 2010. Management. Ed. 11th . John Wiley & Sons Wallop. (2012). Tesco sales improve as discounts draw in shoppers. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/9121175/Tesco-sales-improve-as-discounts-draw-in-shoppers.html Retrieved on: 20th May, 2013

How to be a true friend Essay

Life can be a lonely thing without companionship. People always talk about the true value of friendship but people do not know the friendship actually what it stands for and how to be a true friend. True friend is the one, in which the individuals do not have to maintain formalities with each other. A true friend you are talking about is counted as your family member. The relation you share with him/her reaches a stage that even if you do not correspond for sometime, your friendship remains unscathed. But Acquaintances are easy to come by but true friends are a whole other story. So I will talk about how to build friendships and three right ways to be a true friend. â€Å"If you’re absent during my struggle, don’t expect to be present during my success.† Will Smith said. People all have bad days, or weeks, or even months. People all feel overwhelmed at times. A true friend should be present for their highs and lows. It’s easy to be there for our friends when they ask you out for fun things like drinks at the bar, dancing in the club, or laughs at the theater. But are you willing to be there for the hard times that are the opposite of fun? You might not feel comfortable while spending time with an emotionally fragile person on the verge of tears, but true friends are readily available when they’re needed the most. When the other person is in trouble, a true friend comes to know that merely by listening to their â€Å"Hello† over the phone. A true friend does not desert each other when one is facing trouble. They would face it together and support each other, even if it is against the interests of the other person. So to be a true friend is to help your friend whatever you can do. Second, people should be more truthful and vulnerable. Ironing out conflicts with friends is more difficult than with family members. Most pe ople make the mistake of assuming that friends can help easily sort through conflict, but it’s the opposite. People often have different allowances for emotional expression. For example, I have learned that the hard way. Months after  befriending a now former friend, I learned that the person was speaking badly about my privacy to another friends. Because the person knew personal information about me, what he said was more convincing and harder to overcome. In many ways, you have to be much more strategic about choosing friends. When a conflict arises, pick up the phone to discuss with your friend, rather than using email. But even that can be awkward if there’s been a behind-the-back controversy. So if you can’t accept a person as they are, you will never know the feeling of true friendship. All best friends are friends, but not all friends can be best friends. In this world of cynics and back stabbers, there are still some people who are worth being friends with. They have to be recognized and respected for being best friends for the lifetime. Full disclosure will strengthen your friendship and make you both feel at ease in each other’s company. Finally, true friends will adv ice you with the constructive criticisms. A true friend is not scared to tell you what you’re doing wrong. They’re not scared to seriously intervene if they see that something is seriously bad for you or if you’re going down the wrong path. But they always support their criticism with advice that can help you improve. â€Å"The truth is rarely pure and never simple†, Oscar Wilde said. Confronting a person about an inconvenient truth isn’t easy, but sometimes it needs to be done. If you have something to say and can’t find the nerves to do it, ask yourself, â€Å"How would I feel if it was me making a very bad decision and my friend said nothing about it?† While speaking out doesn’t guarantee you’ll change their mind, staying silent does guarantee you’ll regret not speaking up sooner. In my conclusion, a true friend will sacrifice their own comfort or happiness and put you first. A true friend is not a fair-weather friend. They are there for you in good times and in bad times. A true friend is someone who is honesty and can rel y on. Best friends support even each other, even if the whole world opposes them. It is not easy getting true friends for the lifetime. If you have even one true friend, consider yourself blessed.

A Farewell to Arms Essays - Literature, English-language Films

A Farewell to Arms In this novel A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway, Hemingway brings about the evolution of Frederick Henry being converted into a code hero in realistic ways. Frederick Henry achieved the six code hero characteristics by the end of the novel with the help of Catherine, a code hero herself. All the characteristics seem to follow the path of a manly person who is continuously striving to live his/her life to the fullest. Throughout this novel, Frederick Henry's behavior matures to the code hero in which Hemingway desires to be. In the start of the novel, Frederick Henry was into over- sensual pleasures and could not control himself until he had spent much time with Catherine and learned how to discipline himself. Henry "had drunk much wine" and roamed from whore house to whore house near the beginning of the novel. He had no control over himself nor could hold his liquor or contain himself from easy women during this time. Henry finally disciplined himself near the end of his stay at the Ospidale Maggoire. The nada concept had been a part of Henry's life from the beginning. Henry stood up nights because the night is a representation of evil and death to him. If he is not asleep, he can avoid having to deal with it. Henry also is accompanied by Catherine during nights at the Ospidale Maggoire. To Henry there "was almost no difference in the night except that is was an even better time" with Catherine. Catherine, who is already a code hero, has values which transcend onto Henry at the Hospital. During the day, Henry sleeps but Catherine has to work, so she stops coming to him on nights. Henry is left to stay up, alone on nights. Also, he does not ask Catherine to come stay with him thus controlling his desires to make love to her. From this point in the book, Henry disciplines himself. During those nights together, they made love and talked. When he first saw Catherine, he was after sexual pleasures from her instead of the prostitutes in Gorizia. He never realized that he was in love untill some time later. Also, when he is in the course of a battle with Manera, Gavuzi and Passini, he began to eat food. Henry enjoys the food he eats, the love he makes and the wine he drinks whenever he pleases to, as a code hero does. Henry showed his loyalty to the individuals and small groups in his life, and near the end of the novel he showed grace under pressure. He is loyal to people similar to the group of ambulance drivers he was driving with on their retreat or people similar to the Count. During his desertion, he jumped into a river to avoid being shot and killed by the Carabinieri. The Carabinieri began to shoot every officer who showed up late in the retreat. The Italian army seemed to Henry to be unfit for him and unorganized. To avoid being killed he jumped into the Tagliamento river. Henry once began to believe he "would drown" and so "fought and thrashed through the water" to save his life from the turbulent waters of the Tagliamento. He never showed the reader his feelings of bravery during this feat. In the final pages of book IV, Henry strove to cross the Switzerland border and seek refuge from the Italian police. When he arrived there with Catherine, he was questioned by the border police and told them he and his wife were looking for winter sport in Switzerland. He lied under questioning by the custom agents in order to save himself from his army and did not show any frustrations or nervousness in the process. With Catherine on his side, he proved to the reader that he was able to show grace under difficult circumstances. Henry never once talked about his beliefs or feelings throughout the novel. He does not talk about his hatred for the Carabinieri or his feelings when he is cheerful or dismal. He showed no signs of remorse for deserting the Italian army or about the time when he shot and wounded the Sergeant deserter. In the end of the novel, Henry is faced with his love's death. Henry told God "please, please, dear God, don't let her die" the moment before he entered the door where Catherine finally passed away due to a hemorrhage. Minutes later Henry is offered some company on the way back to his home but he declines.

Homelessness in San Francisco Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Homelessness in San Francisco - Research Paper Example In some worst-case scenarios, the homeless persons opt to seek accommodation in extra ordination places that include abandoned cars and buildings, along streets, in movie theaters, and other places of the kind (Todd, 2006). Moreover, people who are housed by others for a short while, and are bond to leave after sometimes are also considered homeless. Therefore, homeless veterans in San Francisco are people who do not have adequate nighttime accommodation; thus, they do seek accommodation in irregular inhuman places. Homelessness is not a problem of a particular sex or age, but is a plague that affects the entire humankind. Notably, children, adults, the elderly, girls, and women alike are facing the plague of homelessness (Baumohl, 1996). Generally, the most common phenomena that lead to homelessness include domestic violence, mental illnesses, addiction disorder, acute poverty, civil wars, and child abandonment. However, the war veterans in San Francisco who fall victims of homelessness usually find themselves in such situations due to mental illness, physical injuries, and other related aftermaths of war. Their lives on streets subject them to extra ordinary environment with numerous life threatening plagues. Most of the homeless war veterans, in San Francisco, are also subjected to unsafe, precarious, and dangerous environments. They never get access to healthy food, quality healthcare (if get any), secure housing; thus, they are often subjected to deteriorated emotions and abuse of human ri ghts (Burt et Al. 2006). Sometimes Well-wisher or some societies often give these homeless war veterans some material supports. However, these supports are periodic; thus, they are never enough. Therefore, it would be proper if the war veterans who are suffering homelessness are initially identified and supported beyond what is currently being provided to them by the society and well-wishers (Baumohl, 1996). However, it is worth

Arab-Israeli Conflict and its impacts on International relations Research Paper

Arab-Israeli Conflict and its impacts on International relations - Research Paper Example That action immediately led to the first military conflict between Israel and few Arab countries, followed by a series of major Wars as well as minor conflicts between them throughout the second part of the 20th century. Among these conflicts, the Suez Crisis and the Six Day War were considered to be the important wars, because those wars not only impacted the geographical ‘make-up’ of the area but also impacted the international relations of various countries. That is, the international relations of the involved Arab states, Israel as well as then superpowers, United States and Soviet Union underwent changes, with alignments and realignments happening. USA and Soviet Union played ‘major’ roles in impacting or even ‘dictating’ many countries’ international relations in that period. Because of that role, equations between them, as well as their relations with the Arab states and Israel evolved maximally due to the Arab-Israeli conflicts impacting the International relations from 1945. Although, during the First Arab-Israeli conflict, USA and Soviet Union sided with Israel, realignment started happening before the Suez crisis and during the Six Day War, wit h Soviet Union siding with the Arab states, while USA supported Israel and also tried its best to maintain its neutral stance. This paper will discuss how Arab-Israeli conflicts reached the crescendo during the Suez Crisis and the Six Day War impacting the international relations of not only the involved countries but also other major countries. Genesis of the Conflict Before the World War I (1914-1918), the present day territories of Israel and Palestine were under the control of the Turkish Ottoman Empire.1 However, with the Arabs feeling discriminated under Turkish control, they fought and drove out the Ottomans with the aid of the British, who were against the Ottomans for their support of Germany. British elicited the support of the Arabs to fight against the Ottomans by promising to give them, the conquered land. In 1916, the British Commissioner in Egypt, Sir Henry McMahon gave a promise to the Arab leadership that in the aftermath of the war, former Ottoman provinces can be given to them. â€Å"I am empowered in the name of the Government of Great Britain to give the following assurances†¦Great Britain is prepared to recognise and support the independence of the Arabs in all the regions within the limits demanded by the Sherif of Mecca.†2 However, in 1917, the British Foreign Minister Arthur Balfour gave another commitment to the leading Zionist leader, Lord Rothschild that Britain is committed to â€Å"the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people†, which came to be referred as the as the Balfour Declaration. 3 When the British got the territories through the League of Nations in the aftermath of the First World War, they minimally allocated the territories to the Arabs, and kept Palestine under their control.4 This mixed stance of the British continued for years to come. During these years, there was heightened inflow of the Jews into these territories. The Jewish Immigration to the Holy Land, which was go ing on since the 1880s

Homelesssness in uk Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Homelesssness in uk - Essay Example Thus, the given paper will provide the analysis of the causes of homelessness and the current situation in the UK. The laws of the United Kingdom put homeless people in very difficult situation. Due to the fact that since 1990s, housing policy in the UK has been a devolved matter, thus, homeless has not receive According to the research, millions of people are ‘hidden homeless’. This term can be applied to the families, which have to live with relatives or other families, because they have no money to pay for their separate residence, and ‘sofa surfers’ who had to spend night in their friends’ apartment. In 2013 the number of such amounted to 2,414 –37% more than in 2010. However, not all the cases are included in statistics and the real number of â€Å"sofa surfers† can be much higher (Patrick Butler 2015) Investigations show that the issue is becoming more and more complicated, thus it needs urgent resolution. The measures should be taken in practice and pure theoretical research is not enough. Homelessness occurs because of person’s life circumstances and the conditions created by the government. The reforms directed on the standard of level increase are the best way out (Patrick Butler 2015). Recent reforms such as benefits cuts contributed to the growth of number of homeless. 2. Structural reasons Structural consequences of homelessness affect the economy of the state and the standard of living in the society, moreover, they are very difficult to be monitored. The growth of unemployment rate and poverty are the main causes of homelessness The majority of homeless people do not consider themselves guilty in being homeless. They accuse their relatives, spouses, friends or other circumstances. The homeless consider welfare reforms to be the best way to struggle with the problem. Homelessness prevents people from living normal life. They appear to be isolated from the society, because they are homeless. Very often they remain uneducated, have

Evaluate the potential motives behind Ho Chi Minhs triumph in Essay

Evaluate the potential motives behind Ho Chi Minhs triumph in liberating Vietnam from two great western powers between 1941 1965. To what does he owe his suc - Essay Example Considered ‘part Gandhi and part Lenin and all Vietnamese’, Ho Chi Minh’s use of communication methodologies peculiar to Vietnamese had been unknown to the western world. America too had joined French to help contain Vietnamese Revolution with its own justification. But for these interventions, Vietnamese would have unseated French by revolution themselves as dictated by communist ideologies they had embraced. Ho Chi Minh was more than any single man of the twentieth century. He had completely reflected the aspirations of the Vietnamese people to whom he was ‘Uncle Ho’ and to the French, he was ‘communist agitatator’. His rhetorical discourse motivated Vietnamese to unite together and rally behind him which helped him end the 87 year old French Colonial rule, once in 1945 and again in 1954 subsequent to French reoccupation in 1946 and the American invasion which came to an in 1974. No leader of twentieth century had the capability of HO C hi Minh to unite the divided people. Main reason for the debacle of the U.S. was due to its lack of understanding of the Vietnamese politics reinforced by Ho Chi Minh’s leadership. (DeCaro, 2003, p 1-3) Ho Chi Minh had been formerly known as Nguyen Ai Quoc until 1942. He was in Chinese prison throughout 1942 and in January 1943 when he came into contact with a Chinese revolutionary Chang Fakwei and joined his organization on release under the name of Ho Chi Minh mainly to travel in China secretly as a blind peasant (Sainteny, 1972 p 34-35) Ho Chi Minh was a ruthless to any one whether a friend or foe if he felt he was opposed to his cause. He would have that person assassinated or jailed. He also made a lot of political blunders prior to 1945 and when he negotiated with French and the United States in 1945-46. (De Caro, 2003 p7) Ho was born in 1890 in the family of scholars and mandarins. His father was born to a concubine and hence did not have respect in his society. He however managed to

Monster Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Monster - Assignment Example Battleground mentality monster explains that leaders engage in battleground images during business operations; for instance, aggressive marketing campaigns to completely eliminate competitors. Functional atheism illustrates that leaders assume that they possess ultimate or final responsibility in all decisions or operations of the organization. The fear monster of the leaders emphasizes bureaucracy instead of innovation and creativity. Organization stakeholders operate strictly within established procedures and rules. Denying death monster allows the leaders to ignore negative organization issues like the collapse of a project. The evil monster illustrates the inner darkness of the leader; for instance, the fear of delegating responsibilities to junior staffs. This is because the junior staffs may outperform the leader (Craig, 2015). The monster that produces most harm in the organization is the functional atheism. The leader believes that he/she is responsible for all significant decisions. This limits the ability of employees to participate in the organizational decision making process. At the workplace, this monster is recognized through the inability of the leader to delegate responsibility tasks and authority to the immediate subordinates. The effect of this monster can be minimized through encouraging employees and managers to work in the same team or task forces. Teamwork encourages sharing of ideas and hence improves overall organizational

Whatever you see fits Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Whatever you see fits - Essay Example The significance of the Electoral College is imminent in the elections but it is control by the power of the voter. The popular vote on the other hand does not affect the outcome of the presidential elections whatsoever. A presidential candidate may gunner the highest popular vote but trail in the electoral votes; this means they do not have success in the whole election process (Sabato, 34). The popular vote may only be used to examine if or not the United States citizens feel content with the outcome of a particular election. According to Chang the popular vote only has significance in the states where it determines the direction of the electoral votes (122). The Romney Ryan campaign will remain as one of the most strategic and expensive campaign the republicans have ever conducted. This particular campaign clinched the obvious republican states satisfactorily. The campaign failed when it came to the voting in the swing states. Ever presidential candidate has the ability of clinching all the electoral votes in the swing states if they use the correct strategy. In the Romney Ryan campaign the difference was made by the opinion of the republicans on social policies like gay marriages, abortion and issue regarding to women. The democrats won the people’s votes by being sensitive on these issues. If the Romney Ryan campaign was sensitive to these issues, the victory would be theirs for the taking. The Obama Biden campaign on the other hand won because it focused more on populous regions across the nation. Additionally, the campaign focused on satisfying the needs of the minority. The campaign was sensitive to the Hispanics, women and gay couples. This played a major role in ensuring the campaign clinched the majority of the votes in the swing states. With the obvious democrats’ states already in the bag, this move ensured the democrats remained superior also in the swing states.

HRM Practice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

HRM Practice - Essay Example This kind of behavior not only posed a threat to the reputation of the company but the unregulated stream of affairs also affected the children in a negative way. Motivation theories state that different factors affect why people go to work and their performance and efficiency is determined by these factors. These could be fulfillment of physiological, security, relationship, self esteem or self actualization needs according to Abraham Maslows hierarchy of needs. Other motivational factors would include Expectancy, Instrumentality and Valence according to Victor Vrooms theory of motivation. Absence of these factors of motivation could easily lead to low performance and efficiency. Absenteeism would have been a problem if employees were assigned fixed days but since the job demanded a fixed number of hours therefore employees preferred to report to the institution but work with a lax attitude. The low performance levels at social service could also be directly linked to the job characteristic model. Workers should be enthusiastic about the job they perform. They should have a certain level of intrinsic motivation which is related to the skill variety, task identity and task significance. Feedback from a job and consequences and results of workers activity also result in work effectiveness. Absence of these would decrease performance. It could be clearly observed that most of the motivational factors were absent from the job. The workers or the employees were not receiving any direct monetary compensation from the job and were ignorant about its true purpose; the betterment of the society. Thus they could not relate to the real intention of the job. There was a pressure to attend but there was no regulator of the quality of work. There was absolutely no job related instrumentality of social work as there were no identifiable outcomes in form of promotions or

Prison Term Policy Recommendation Essay Example for Free

Prison Term Policy Recommendation Essay The legal definition of armed robbery, according to The Free Dictionary by Farlex is The taking of money or goods in the possession of another, from his or her person or immediate presence, by force or intimidation. (Free Dictionary, 2009) This is not to be confused with larceny. An armed robbery is defined when a person is made to feel fear or harm and then has personal property stolen. Larceny is a person who hasIt is the responsibility for members of the state legislature to thoroughly research whether a bill to double the maximum prison term for any person convicted of armed robbery will be an effective deterrent to future crimes. The data compiled will present the positive and negative aspects of the proposed bill. Therefore, the criminologist advisor will compile a study of the current laws, consequences, and data necessary to make a recommendation. This author will be the criminologist advisor for the New Jersey state legislature member. As the states advisor, this author will present the prison term policy as it stands for armed robbery and the authors recommendation for the change; included will be the incorporation of the Three-Strikes Law to aid in the punishment stage. In the state of New Jersey, the sentence for first degree armed robbery is 25 years in prison. Each armed robbery conviction carries maximum statutory prison sentence of 25 years. (2006) Pursuant to state law, the convict must serve a minimum of 85 percent of their sentence. For a 25 year sentence, this would be 21.25 years. This author feels that if the convicted criminal has no regard for their victim, they should serve their term behind bars. In reality, if a person the age of 40 was sentenced to a term of 25 years, they would be 65 when they were released, if made to serve the entire term. However, if the same 40 year old person was sentenced to a term that had been doubled to 50 years, they would be 90 years old upon release, if they lived to that age. This would mean that tax payers would be forced to pay for this person to be in an already overcrowded prison for the remainder of their life. Most people are not going to want to do this, unless of course the crime led to a death in which case the criminal deserves to be in jail for the remainder of  their life. There is another point of view to consider when thinking about this type of crime. That would be the people who support a change in the laws to double the sentence of a convicted armed robber. If the sentence is 40 years normally and then doubled, it is safe to assume that the person will never see freedom again. In that case, there will be one less dangerous person on the streets who will be able to go out and commit another robbery, and possibly worse. Three Strikes LawThe Three Strikes Law was originally passed in 1993. In the state of New Jersey, the bill was approved May 13, 1994. In fact, the bill was approved in a 35 0 vote. They were slightly behind on passing this bill but it is a good protection for citizens to have. The crimes the bill covers are murder, manslaughter, aggravated assault, kidnapping, sexual assault, robbery and possession of a firearm, explosive or destructive device for an unlawful purpose. (New York Time, 1994) The definition is life in prison for committing three violent crimes, such as murder, manslaughter or robbery. (Three strikes case, 2007) This is a great idea to keep repeat offenders locked up and off the streets. It is a shame though, that a person has to keep committing crimes in order to be locked up permanently. In the case of someone committing armed robbery, there should not be a question of the punishment they deserve to get. When it is proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the person absolutely committed the crime they are accused of, they need to be punished accordingly. Then of course, when that said person gets released and goes out and commits more crimes, they do not deserve a break. When they go into a residence or business with a weapon, whether it is a gun, knife, pepper spray or something else, it is their intention to use force to get what they want. They intentionally want to scare the person or people they are going to rob, and if necessary, they will use physical force which can result in severe injury or even death. This author is a supporter of the Three Strikes Law. She believes that people who do not want to follow the laws and try to make up their own deserve to be punished. She feels that each person has a right to feel safe in their  own home or place of business and when someone comes in and tries to take away that feeling of safety, it can affect that persons life. In the beginning of this paper, it was mentioned that there will be people who do not agree that they should be responsible to pay for a criminal to spend the rest of their life behind bars. The criminal will get a warm place to sleep, three meals a day, exercise, television, education and possibly work duty. The possibility of armed robbers getting double the amount of time to spend in prison is good, but it may not always be a deterrent to other people who are thinking of committing that same crime, or who are currently career criminals. If a person is homeless and is robbing people by force to survive, it is quite possible that they know if they are caught, they will have a place to sleep out of the cold and rain or any other extreme weather. They will also know that they will get meals, which they may not get while living on the streets. It is the opinion of this author that while this law may deter some people from committing crimes, it will not deter everyone. Many criminals have the mindset that they are good at what they do and they will not get caught. Those are famous last words. No matter how good the person is at their crime, they will almost always be caught, regardless of the time line that passes between when they started their career and when they are finally brought to ju stice. Some other issues that had been mentioned when New Jersey was first trying to pass the Three Strikes Law was the cost involved not only with repeat offenders going through a trial and then being jailed again, but also the cost of actually keeping them in prison. The other issue mentioned was the fact that the prisons are already bursting at the seams with inmates so the former Governor Christine T. Whitman wanted to make sure this bill would only apply to the most violent of crimes. (New York Times, 1994) The New Jersey Department of Corrections (NJDOC) houses approximately inmates in minimum, medium and maximum state prisons. The annual cost to house each inmate in 2006 was approximately $38,700 per year. This is more than many people make in a year. There were about 14,000 people incarcerated into the NJDOC in 2006 and that number was expected to rise by 1180 in 2007. In 2006, 14,000 inmates were released and it was expected that 1,180 would be  released each month in 2007. The median term for NJDOC inmates is five years. Fifty percent of all NJDOC inmates are serving terms of one-to-five years; 16 percent are serving terms of six-to-nine years; and 34 percent are serving maximum sentences of 10 years or more. (Department of Corrections)After a thorough review of all the information given in this paper, it is the recommendation of this author that the laws surrounding the violent crime of armed robbery be changed to doubling when convicted of the offense. A statement needs to be made to criminals that the State of New Jersey will not condone violent criminal offenders and will punish them to the fullest extent of the law. These offenders should know that no matter where they go or what they do, their crimes will not go unnoticed and they will be caught and prosecuted. In closing, it is the hope of the author that all members of the State of New Jersey legislation will regard the seriousness of the crime of armed robbery and will take into consideration the information that has been presented and vote in favor of passing this law along side of the passing of the bill of the Three Strikes Law. References Career Criminal Bank Robber Gets 90 Years in Federal Prison (2006) retrieved on March 22, 2009 from http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/press/files/giub1002_r.htmThe Free Dictionary by Farlex (2009) retrieved on March 22, 2009 from http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/armed+robberyCoscarelli, K. (25 October, 2007) NJ top court to decide three strikes case retrieved on March 22, 2009 from http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2007/10/nj_top_court_to_decide_three_s.htmlGray, J. (Ed.). (1994). New Jersey Senate Approves Bill To Jail 3-Time Criminals for Life. New York: The New York Times. Retrieved March 23, 2009, from http://www.nytimes.com/1994/05/13/us/new-jersey-senate-approves-bill-to-jail-3-time-criminals-for-life.html?sec=spon=pagewanted=1New Jersey Department of Corrections (1999 2009) retrieved on March 23, 2009 from http://www.nj.gov/corrections/freqntlyasked.html

An inspector calls Essay Example for Free

An inspector calls Essay After reading an Inspector calls, I am certain it is obvious to any one who reads it that the inspector is not what he appears to be at all. At first you have no suspicions of the Inspector, but as the play moves on it slowly dawns on you that the Inspector might be an impostor. The inspector also has major impacts on some of the characters. He is Priestleys vehicle for his views on social responsibility. He represents social conscience. He has moral dimension. The Inspectors name, Goole, has noteworthy significance. Ghoul has the same sound and its meaning has a great bearing on the play. A Ghoul is an evil spirit To Birling, and his upper class peers; this is an exact analysis of the Inspector. The thought of the Inspector being something extraordinary seems to be briefly confronted by Sheila but it is dismissed just as quickly. Another theory might be that the Inspector represents truth and is not a real person at all but just a representative of justice. I think that this is a very plausible idea and probably Priestleys own thought. He could be a spirit representing the future, the Birlings chance of repent, although only Eric and Sheila recognize this. They are the only ones to realise that they have ruined this girls life and it could be their doings that sent her to this horrible end. The Inspector could also be as real as all the other characters in body and can eat and drink and is solid. I think that the inspector may have gone back in time or there might have been a time slip of some sort to make sure that these people new what they had done. I think there is a possibility that the Inspector could be Eva Smith and just goes back to haunt them. This maybe quite far fetched by I would not rule it out completely, because if it were true then it would explain everything. The main role of the inspector is his forcing role, which he uses to overpower the other characters to admit to their secrets. He appears to the characters to be very rude at times, but this rudeness only adds to the factor at which he can interrogate the characters, and also provokes them admit to their wrongdoings, I know. I had her turned out of a job. I started it. Some characters take longer to acknowledge their secrets than others. They try to hide, but cannot escape from the inspector. For example Mr. Birling, a very stubborn man, who, even when he confesses to his  concealment, believes that it has nothing to do with the death, and believes that he has nothing to do with it at all. Other characters like Sheila and Eric admit and dont try to hide it, and know that they had added to the tragic death of Eva Smith. They know that the inspector is right, and if they hadnt done what they did, then Eva Smith would still be alive. Sheila in particular is very guilty and gets very emotional. The inspector has trouble with getting them all to admit themselves, Inspector, Ive told you before, I dont like your tone.I dont propose to give you much more rope however he knows they had something to do with it, and he knew exactly what that was as well. This may have helped him. The inspector makes his views on social responsibility clear. He believes that we are all responsible for one another and should act together as a community, helping those of us who are less fortunate. Ironically, Mr Birling has the opposite view to the inspector. When the inspector arrives he is discussing business with Gerald and says that he thinks you are responsible for yourself and your family only. Mr Birling is absolutely against the idea of communism. Priestley expresses his views on communism through the inspector demonstrating to the reader how important it is to care for others in your community. In conclusion I think that the Inspector is as real as every one else in the play but I think that he represents justice or truth and is a form of angel or something along those lines. The play can only be understood after it is closely reviewed. I am sure that there will always be a sense of mystery about this play; who was the inspector? What was the Inspector? Will we ever know? His role in the play is forcing to discover the characters terrible secrets and leave them with a lasting impression as well as a lot to think about. Priestley has very strong views on social responsibility which are expressed through the inspector.

Capital Punishment | Should Capital Punishment be Abolished?

Capital Punishment | Should Capital Punishment be Abolished? Death sentence being one of the harshest punishments known to man has taken a gradual humanized change over the years. Being a mode of punishment prominently followed in most parts of the world has now been abolished in many countries because of a wave of abolishment initiated a few decades back. India seems to be stuck between the global trend to end death penalty and the nations that is still follow. It has taken a very safe ground by giving a minimal provision and leaving it to the discretion of the judiciary to award the punishment in special circumstances. The aim of this paper is to analyze whether capital punishment should be banned or not? While considering the historical as well as present scenario of capital punishment and comparing with other countries where it has been abolished. Introduction Capital punishment is the practice of executing someone as punishment for a specific crime after a proper legal trial. It is usually only used as a punishment for particularly serious types of murder, but in some countries treason, types of fraud, adultery and rape are capital crimes.  [1]  In Indian the traditional way of awarding this punishment is handing by the neck till the death of the criminal. In other countries, shooting, electric chair, etc,are the various devices used for the purpose. The term capital originates from capitalis, literally regarding the head (Latin caput). Hence, a capital crime was originally one punished by the severing of the head.  [2]   Amongst democratic countries today, it is rare to find capital punishment being practiced. In fact, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and the U.S. are the only ones who still have the death penalty. However, it is mainly found in poor, undemocratic and authoritarian states that the death penalty is still being used, and usually as a means of political oppression. The European Union and the Council of Europe refuses its member states to practice the death penalty, or at least desire them to show that they no longer actively practice it (i.e. a moratorium). Although the United States had suspended executions in 1973, they resumed them in 1977. However, not all the states perform capital punishment, with at least 12 of them having banned it at the time of writing? Most of the countries except China, a few countries in South Africa and Belarus in Europe, have moved towards abolishing death penalty  [3]  . Though being a member of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which is adopted by the United Nations and stands to bring countries to abolish death penalty, India has not taken this important step to abolish such a grave punishment. Capital punishment is nothing but judicial murder, it is said, especially when an innocent life is destroyed. Besides this, capital punishment, as is generally supposed, is not deterrent. Murders and other heinous crimes have continued unabated, in spite of it. The result of such views has been that in recent years there has been an increasing tendency in western countries to award life imprisonment instead of capital punishment. Muslims countries, to be more serve in this respect. Despite frequent demands from all society Indian has not so far abolished capital punishment. But even in India there has been a decline in the frequency of such punishment. It is now awarded only in cases of hardened criminals and only when it is established that the murder was not the result of a momentary impulse, the result of serious provocation, but well-planned and cold-blooded. In such cases, it is felt that nothing else than capital punishment would be executed for that crime. Those who indulge in anti-social and sternest possible measures should be taken against them, specially when they are habitual offenders. India has not so far abolished capital punishment but used it more judiciously. Sociologists are of the view that capital punishment serves no useful purpose. By sending the criminals to gallows, we in no way help or provide relief to the family of the murdered. The sociologists, therefore, suggest that the murderer should be sentenced for life to work and support the family of murdered person as well as his own. In this way, innocent women and children would be saved from much suffering, hunger and starvation.  [4]   Philosophers view on capital punishment According, to Kants view no state can exist if there is no law and if there is no law then there is no society and no state. Therefore legislation of law is necessary. Therefore by Kants view if a person has violated such laws by doing a crime then a person who has violated such law must be punished. According to Kant punishment is a legal act that definitely has a certain basis. This basis is a crime. If there is no crime there must be no punishment. Punishment of innocent people is a result of a worthless legislation; this means that the legal system is unable to establish guilt and make a differentiation between innocent people and criminals.  [5]  Kants opinion towards death penalty is justified only if there is a murder. According to him if there is a murder then he must die. Theory of punishment:- by both H.L.A Hart and (1959) in England and John Rawls (1955) in the United States. Defining the concept of punishment must be kept distinct from justifying punishment. A definition of punishment is, or ought to be, value-neutral, at least to the extent of not incorporating any norms or principles that surreptitiously tend to justify whatever falls under the definition itself. To put this another way, punishment is not supposed to be justified, or even partly justified, by packing its definition in a manner that virtually guarantees that whatever counts as punishment is automatically justified. (Conversely, its definition ought not to preclude its justification.)  [6]   Historical Background Capital punishment is regarded as one of the severest form of punishment in the history of mankind. During the medieval era, capital punishment was sentenced even for extremely trivial and inconsequential matter or in other words we can say that they were executed for minor crimes such as stealing, cheating or even trespassing. Also, the methods of administering death penalty were immensely harsh and gruesome. Most historical records and various primitive tribal practices indicate that the death penalty was a part of their justice system. This was the only method for them to provide justice for every crime done by a person. However, during medieval times the capital punishment was rather insensitive. The punishment which was given to the accused cant be compare to the act which has been done by accused. One of the oldest methods of practicing capital punishment was hanging. This method was originated from Persia and was restricted only for male criminals. The method was considered to be comparatively less harsh as it was relatively simpler with no involvement of blood. This form of punishment is prevalent to date in countries such as Singapore, Japan, India, Pakistan and three states in US.  [7]   In the earlier time death penalty laws can be found in the Code of King Hammaurabi of Babylon (18th century BCE), in which death penalty was given for different crimes. But in the Draconian Code of Athens (7th century BCE), times where every crime was punishable by death and was the most extreme capital systems in ancient times. Later on under Roman law in the 5th century BCE, a person could even be sentenced to death for simply writing an insulting song  [8]  . The Romans also used it for a wide range of offenses, though citizens were exempted for a short time during the republic. It also has been sanctioned at one time or another by most of the worlds major religions. In medieval and early modern Europe the death penalty was largely used as a generalized form of punishment, and often accompanied by torture. Similarly, in medieval and early modern Europe, before the development of modern prison systems, the death penalty was also used as a generalised form of punishment. For example, in 1700s Britain there were 222 crimes which were punishable by death, including crimes such as cutting down a tree or stealing an animal.  [9]  Thanks to the notorious Bloody Code, 18th century (and early 19th century) Britain was a hazardous place to live. For example, Michael Hammond and his sister, Ann, whose ages were given as 7 and 11, were reportedly hanged at Kings Lynn on Wednesday, September 28, 1708 for theft. The local press did not, however, consider the executions of two children newsworthy.  [10]   Present scenario But the time has changed now, the judiciary in most countries has adopted a more civilized attitude towards this punishment and death penalty is reserved for extremely heinous crimes. Three quarters of executions worldwide occur in Asia. 95% of Asians live in jurisdictions that carry out capital punishment. China alone accounts for 90% of all executions in Asia. The country executed approximately 5000 people in 2008. Thats a rate per capita dozens of times higher than in the U.S., and yet its a steep drop for the numbers of some decades earlier. India is also retentionist (meaning the opposite of abolitionist) but only executed one person in the first decade of the new millennium. Singapore used to kill a similar proportion of its citizens as China, but the rate has dropped recently. Japan, on the contrary, is executing more and more people. Saudi Arabia is known for its particularly gruesome methods  [11]   We can see from the above graph there is lot of change in figures earlier only death penalty was sentenced as compared to medieval times. Pakistan , U.S. and China are at the highest peak. Pakistan and china are the main contributors in increasing the percentage of death penalty in Asia. The most recent executions in South Korea took place in December 1997, when 23 people were executed at short notice on the same day. Similarly, nineteen executions occurred in 1995 and 15 in 1994, in each instance occurring all on the same day. No executions have occurred since 1998, but this de facto suspension has not been reinforced by law. Since 1999, lawmakers have thrice endorsed a bill favoring life imprisonment without parole in place of the death penalty, but each time the proposal has stalled and failed to move forward. The need remains to develop a culturally appropriate pro-abolition argument that could persuade the Korean public that the death penalty is unworkable and wrong. On 21 January 2007, in the Inhyeokdang case, the Korean Court acquitted 8 persons who had been executed 32 years earlier. The hope is that, in light of strong arguments based on the risk to innocent persons and the irreversibility of capital punishment, Korea will effectively transition from de fact o to formal abolition. Capital Punishment should be banned or not? Most of the people now feel that punishment for crimes like murders should not be death but some re formative or deterrent sentence. Death sentence cannot reform a criminal since once dead he cannot be reformed. The governments, which have abolished death sentence, find that there is no increase in the number of murders in the countries after the abolition. Some social reformers still feel that life imprisonment is a more severe kind of punishment. However, capital punishment puts an end to the criminals life, life imprisonment forces him to spend his whole life within the boundaries of a prison. Over 37 countries have already abolished the death sentence and the after-effects of it have not been harmful. India, which is the birthplace of great luminaries, should also abolish death sentence and replace it with some other kind of punishment, which aims to abolish crime, not merely kill criminals.  [12]   In India, capital punishment is granted for different crimes, counting murder, initiating a childs suicide, instigating war against the government, acts of terrorism, or a second evidence for drug trafficking. Death penalty is officially permitted though it should be used in the rarest of rare cases as per the judgement of Supreme Court of India. Amongst the retentionist countries around the world, India has the lowest execution rate with just 55 people executed since independence in 1947.  [13]   In the case of Bachan Singh v State of Punjab  [14]  , wherein a Constitutional Bench with a 4:1 majority upheld the constitutional validity of death penalty and the scope of the provision which enabled the imposition of death penalty. Justice Bhagwati took a dissenting opinion and held that the death sentence is unconstitutional and violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India. laws which are to be used to avoid and prevent people from committing such offences and not to take the life a person using the same laws. The State has no right to take the life of a person. India according to me should abolish death sentence. Article 14 and 21 of the Indian Constitution provides for Right to equality before law and protection of life and personal liberty respectively. Article 14 states, The state shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India  [15]  . And Article 21 states, No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law  [16]  . If a procedure of law itself takes a life of a person, who is to be blamed, and who should be punished for it? Is it fair to kill a person? If not, what is the difference between a murderer and the society who takes the life of a murderer by sentencing him to death? In a landmark case of Bachan Singh vs. State of Punjab  [17]  , a panel of four judges of the Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of death penalty but Justice Bhagwati differed in his opinion. The four judge panel led by Chief Justice Y.V. Chandrachud suggested a set of guidelines for determining the aggravating circumstances which would warrant the imposition of death penalty and other mitigating circumstances for awarding the lesser punishment of imprisonment for life. Further, the Supreme Court held that the aggravating circumstances which result in special reasons as per the Criminal Procedure Code must be considered to be sentenced to death. And finally held that death sentence should be imposed only in Rarest of Rare cases. The death sentence as a punishment can also have a deterrent effect against the potential murderers. But J. Bhagwati argues that death sentence will have a greater deterrent effect as opposed to the life sentence. J. Bhagwati enriches the court with various scholars over the world who would agree with his opinion and this very opinion has favored the abolition of death penalty in their countries. He says it is not a rational conviction but merely an unreasoned belief which is entertained by some people including a few penologists, judges, jurists and legislators that death penalty has a uniquely deterrent effect  [18]  . Reference was also made to the Fifty Fourth Law Commission report  [19]  which also took a view that death sentence acts as a deterrent. It says that every human being dreads death suggesting that death sentence had a greater deterrent effect than other punishments. As the punishment is more deterrent than others it becomes arbitrary and unreasonable and viol ates article 14 ad 21 of the Constitution. Therefore it should be not be completely abolished. Hence, it should be executed only in rarest of rare cases. Conclusion Death penalty is the harshest of punishments provided in the IPC, which involves the judicial killing or taking the life of the accused as a form of punishment  [20]  . It is a mode of punishment which extinguishes the life of an accused. In India, death sentence has gone through a number of changes but still remains as the harshest punishment. It is the punishment for murdering another human being. It is true that killing someone is cruel, but it is also not reasonable for a society to kill someone. The only difference between these is that the accused in a murder case is punished by the society but there is no one to punish the society. The rule of law is set up to protect and regulate both the society as well as the people in the society. In conclusion, I feel that death penalty should be completely abolished. Though I am also morally against death penalty this analysis has made my views even stronger. But it should be executed only in the rarest of rare case like there is nothing else left instead of capital punishment for giving justice to someone. The views suggested by philosophers also suggest the same meaning that it should be executed only in the case of murder or we can say that in the rarest of rare cases.

Loss of Innocence in Frankenstein :: Frankenstein essays

Loss of Innocence in Frankenstein In the novel "Frankenstein," Victor Frankenstein is the creator of a "monster." Because of his thirst for knowledge, he goes too far and creates a huge monster, which he immediately rejects. This rejection plays a major part in the monster's hatred for humans. The author, Mary Shelley, supports the theme, loss of innocence, through plot, setting and characterization. This paper will explain the many ways that the characters lost their innocence throughout the novel. The plot deals with the conflict that is inside Victor Frankenstein, who produces a monstrous creature. Victor is disgusted at the site of the creature he has created. "I had gazed on him while unfinished; he was ugly then, but when those muscles and joints were rendered capable of motion, it became a thing such as even Dante could not have conceived"(43). After Victor rejects the monster, he meets a family that brings out his sensitive side. When these people reject him, the creature destroys everything in sight. "I was like a wild beast that had broken the toils, destroying the objects that obstructed me and ranging through the wood with a staglike swiftness"(121). The innocent Justine is accused of a murder, committed by the creature, and dies, therefore increasing Victor's feelings of guilt and his need for revenge. Victor makes it his mission to destroy the monster, who has been ruining his life. The monster threatens to be there with Victor on his wedding night. Vic tor interprets this as a threat against his own life, but instead finds his wife, Elizabeth, murdered. "She was there, lifeless and inanimate, thrown across the bed, her head hanging down and her pale and distorted features half covered by her hair"(179). The next paragraph discusses how loss of innocence was portrayed through setting. When Victor is seventeen, he leaves for the University of Ingolstadt, where he spends six years. He creates the monster in an old deserted house in this city. It is when he rejects the monster that he begins to lose innocence. "I did not dare return to the apartment which I inhabited, but felt impelled to hurry on, although drenched by the rain which poured from a black and comfortless sky"(44).

Societal Needs:Diversity and Equity Essay -- essays papers

Societal Needs:Diversity and Equity The purpose of this paper is to examine diversity and equity issues regarding education. More specifically, this research paper will take an in-depth view of affirmative action and its policies. A non biased view was enacted to present the pros, cons, and hotly debated issues regarding affirmative action at the university level. Additionally, the paper will examine the validity and possible biases in alternatives to affirmative action that have recently been issued. Simply stated, affirmative action is an active commitment to enhance employment and educational opportunities for minorities and women. Affirmative action’s origins stem back to the 1960s when the government began to progressively take steps in redressing decades of racial discrimination against blacks (â€Å"affirmative action†). Women and minorities, mostly Hispanic and Native Americans, subsequently were covered in this new remedy. Affirmative action forced private as well as public institutions of higher education to alter their traditional ways regarding the recruitment and admission of students (Lowe 13). Colleges and universities developed organized methods to help attract black students. Increased representation of black students on campus now became a commitment at all schools. Admission and financial aid were altered to help eliminate existing barriers to access. As a result, numerous minorities who previously may not have been admitted to institutions of higher learning were now being accepted in increasing numbers (Fullinwider). This new commitment and responsibility of institutions, however, was not welcomed by everyone. At what cost would universities go to wh... ... â€Å"Universities Need to Take A Stand and Defend Affirmative Action.† Black Issues in Higher Education 17.4 (2000): p42 Lowe, Edward, Jr. (1999). Promise and Dilemma. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. McClafferty, K. â€Å"Challenges of the New Sociology of Urban Education.† Albany: State University of New York Press, 2000. 3-15 Pg. 9 Miller, Geralda. â€Å"Study: Racial Prejudice is Reason For Affirmative Action Resistance† Black Issues in Higher Education 17.2 (2000): p14. Plous, S. (2003). Ten Myths about Affirmative Action. In S. Plous (Ed.), Understanding Prejudice and Discrimination (pp.206-212). New York: McGraw-Hill. Symonds, William C. â€Å"College Admissions: The Real Barrier Is Class.† Business Week 3828 (2003): p66. Zwick, Rebecca. â€Å"Eliminating Standardized Tests in College Admissions.† Phi Delta Kappan (1999): 320-325.

The 2008 Beijing Olympics: China Pushes Towards Modernization Essays

The 2008 Beijing Olympics: China Pushes Towards Modernization The Olympics are always used as a way for the host city to put on a display of its culture and show the world its myriad social and economical triumphs. The host country can, in just a couple weeks, show the world what a wonderful place it is. The Olympics have in the past been able to prompt a world awareness of the host country and create a lingering legacy. Beijing will attempt to do all these things, but the stakes will be much higher. China is the most populous country in the world and at the center of many global issues. With its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001, China made a big step in accepting the challenge from other world powers to open up its markets, address human rights, and transform itself from a developing country to a modern world power. With its official Olympic Action Plan, Beijing has made it its mission to directly address these issues with its emphasis on the concepts of â€Å"Green Olympics, High-tech Olympics, and Peopleâ€℠¢s Olympics.† Indeed, Beijing is maneuvering itself into position to use its fifteen minutes at the center of the world stage to put on quite a show. At the same time, Beijing can use the opportunity of putting on the Games to better its economic position in the world. China’s economic growth has been strong due to foreign investment in Chinese manufacturing. The trend will continue. Foreign investment for the Games will stimulate growth while Chinese manufacturers will be able to exploit the new export market for Olympic goods. At the same time, China hopes to boost its position in making its own high tech developments to go along with its already strong manufacturing sector. While change in C... ...ent Strategy: Issues and Prospects. Japan: Institute of Developing Economies, 2001. Phillips, Richard. â€Å"Big Business Demands a Corporate Olympics.† 16 March 1999. World Socialist Web Site. 1 June 2003 . Studwell, Joe. The China Dream: The Elusive Quest for the Greatest Untapped Market on Earth. London: Profile Books , 2002. Tseng, Wanda, and Markus Rodlauer, eds. China: Competing in the Global Economy. Washington D.C. : Interational Monetary Fund, 2003. US Commerical Service. â€Å"Beijing 2008 Olympics.† 2003. 1 June 2003 . â€Å"US textile quota plan critized.† Xinhua Economic News Service [Beijing] 25 April 2003. Webber, Michael, Mark Wang, and Zhu Ying, eds. China’s Transition to a Global Economy. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2002.

Health Care Delivery Systems Essay

Healthcare delivery systems refer to the organization of resources, institutions, and people intended to provide healthcare services to particular populations. Health systems vary substantially across the world. In fact, the organizational structures and history is unique in each country. Some states have distributed health system planning amongst market stakeholders. On the contrary, other countries have concentrated energy among religious organizations, governments, trade unions and other united institutions to provide organized health care services customized to target populations. The objective of this essay is comparing similarities and differences between various international health care systems across the globe. One of the major health care delivery programs in the United States includes group health insurance plans. The health system emerged during World War II. The employers began offering employee benefits in the form of affordable healthcare services to attract the limite d labor supply. Since then, many healthcare reforms implemented in the United States from the 1970s has enhanced this philosophy (Yih, 2010). Currently, US has over 1200 insurance companies that give group health insurance programs. The objective of group insurance plans is providing employees with affordable, high quality and efficient healthcare services (Cooper & Taylor, 1994). The Medicare program is another healthcare delivery system intended for retirees above sixty-five years. The service differs from group health insurance plan in that the beneficiaries are unemployed, and the government pays for the individuals’ treatment cost. For younger and poorer American citizens below sixty-five years, the government has established Medicaid healthcare delivery system to offer free medical services. Eligible candidates for the Medicaid program include poor individuals that cannot afford the service and  non-beneficiaries of subsidized healthcare systems such as the group insurance (Cooper & Taylor, 1994). In addition to these methods, the US has a variety of other healthcare systems intended for the uninsured. The p rograms include the Veterans Administration, military and Native Americans among others. These programs are extremely complex since they have varied the reimbursement, underwriting, benefit and eligibility (McCarthy & Schafermeyer, 2007). Canada uses a healthcare delivery program called â€Å"Single payer system.† The intention of establishing the system is ensuring healthcare equality among all the citizens. The coverage of the plan is universal and comprehensive. The provincial governments provide funds for the compulsory medical care using tax money (McCarthy & Schafermeyer, 2007). However, the federal government contributes and controls some of the money the provincial administrations contribute to the citizens’ healthcare plans. Patients are independent to choose their preferred healthcare provider. Majority of the physicians in Canada have private practices that they charge a fee based on services they provide. Many hospitals are not-for-profit institutions that are managed by trustee boards. The modern healthcare delivery system in Canada began in Sa skatchewan in the 1950s and then spread to the entire nation by 1966 (Baribault & Cloyd, 1999). Japan provides medical services to every citizen using employer-financed insurance plan. The aim of using employer-based program is controlling the cost of healthcare expenses. The result of the plan is a substantially healthy nation at one of the most affordable healthcare cost in the world (Yih, 2010). The country has a variety of insurance programs that are funded using various obligatory deductions, patient co-payments, and taxes. Patients have the liberty of choosing their preferred healthcare providers (McCarthy & Schafermeyer, 2007). On the other hand, healthcare delivery providers are compensated using a national rate and formula negotiated by a panel composed of citizens, insurers, and providers. The government has set a price limit to control price increase of policies at a given time. The main benefit of the restricted policy price is equitable access and affordable healthcare program (Baribault & Cloyd, 1999). Japan established its present healthcare program in 1922 as the government believed that a healthy nation was necessary to maintain the nation productive and affluent. Initially, Japan intended the program to serve manual laborers, but the country amended its  constitution after World War II to make the program compulsory to everyone (Cooper & Taylor, 1994). American healthcare delivery system differs from that in Canada and Japan in that the government has not set healthcare systems’ price limit. As a result, the healthcare cost varies from one provider to the other. The economic law of demand and supply also determines the cost of healthcare services, which makes American medical care programs among the most expensive in the world. In the United States, several doctors are directly employed in public hospitals while many healthcare professionals in Canada have private practices (Baribault & Cloyd, 1999). On the contrary, health care delivery systems in Japan, Canada, and the USA have similarities such as liberty to choose from several healthcare providers. In addition, insurance programs play an essential role in providing affordable healthcare plans to every citizen. Each country also offers fully sponsored or subsidized healthcare services to the extremely poor, army veterans and other specialized group that may not afford to make regular contributions towards the healthcare services (Baribault & Cloyd, 1999). Employers are supposed to deduct some cash from their employees’ salary, and provide either a hundred or two hundred percent match to the deduction, to pay for healthcare insurance (Cooper & Taylor, 1994). In my view, I would recommend sickness fund healthcare system as it has proven functional in countries such as Germany. Germany’s trade guilds established the initial health system in 1883 that the government applied as a model to create the country’s â€Å"sickness funds†. The objective of the system is financing, paying and providing healthcare services. It integrates decision-making and decentralized power with efficient bargaining power that occurs at local, federal and state levels. Germans have solidarity and believe that everyone is entitled to access quality medical services irrespective of their capability to pay, income or employment. Similarly, if other countries in the world can adopt such a healthcare system, everybody would have access to q uality healthcare services. Patients covered by the program can access affordable health care services universally (Cooper & Taylor, 1994). Some of the services that sickness fund covers include drugs and dental care services. It also provides young mothers’ grants, money for purchasing eyeglasses and compensation wages when individuals are sick. Since sickness funds do not offer healthcare coverage for some issues,  individuals can purchase health insurance plans for the uncovered services. Everybody in Germany is supposed to be a member of a sickness fund, except the wealthy persons that can afford private health insurance. I believe the world’s population would have access to quality health care services required for maintaining healthy nations (Baribault & Cloyd, 1999). References Cooper E. & Taylor L. (1994). Comparing Health Care Systems: What makes sense for the US? Context Institute. Web, retrieved on January 18, 2015 from http://www.context.org/iclib/ic39/cooptalr/ Baribault, M. & Cloyd, C. (1999). Health Care Systems: Three International Comparisons. Ethics of Development in Global Environment. McCarthy, R. L., & Schafermeyer, K. W. (2007). Introduction to health care delivery: A primer for pharmacists. Sudbury, Mass: Jones and Bartlett. Yih, Y. (2010). Handbook of Healthcare Delivery Systems. CRC Press.