Symbolism in William Golding’s ‘Lord of the Flies’

Symbolism in William Golding’s ‘Lord of the Flies’ Definition: A symbol is something that is itself as well as something else. In literature it means literal or objective sense coupled with abstract meaning. Symbolism refers to serious and extensive use of symbols in a work of literature. Symbolism in Lord of the Flies: The novel is rich in symbolism. A host of different interpretations of the novel’s symbolism – political, psychological and religious – exists. We will look at some of the prominent symbols employed by Golding and try harmonizing the different interpretations. Since symbolism is an evocative device to communicate the theme of a literary piece, we must first agree on the theme of Lord of the Flies. Theme: Evil inherent in man seems to be the central idea of the novel. It may recall the Christian notion of the ‘original sin’ or the idea of the failure of civilization as seen during the Nazi Holocaust or a general pessimistic view of human nature. It may be all the three combined. A group of boys aged 6 to 12 find themselves alone on an island, without adult supervision. At first they try to organize themselves on the pattern of the civilized world they have known. The attempt fails and most of them regress into savagery and animal existence. The novel was deliberately patterned on the children’s classic ‘The Coral Island’ by R. M. Ballantyne. Only, it turns Ballantyne’s theme on its head. Whereas Ballantyne made the children’s isolation on the island a pleasant interlude in a continued life of civilized existence, Golding shows how thin the veneer of civilization really is and how the animal nature of man breaks through in just a few weeks. It is not so much moral judgment as recognition of the essential tragedy of mankind – its intellectual and spiritual nature losing out to its animal nature again and again. Important Symbols: 1. The Scar: The novel starts with the mention of a scar in the jungle. We learn (or rather, surmise) later that it is a swath cut by the falling ‘passenger tube’ in which the children were travelling. The word scar appears in the text without this preliminary information and serves to create atmosphere. The metaphor prepares us for the horrible things to come. In itself it is also the symbol of man’s disruptive influence on his world. 2. The Conch: It makes its appearance as an accidental find of Ralph and Piggy on the beach. It soon assumes importance as Ralph, on Piggy’s advice, blows it to gather the survivors. Ralph is elected leader of the group mainly because he was the one in possession of the conch. From here onwards the conch becomes a symbol of law and order. At meetings the speaker has to hold it in his hands. It gives him the privilege of being heard uninterrupted. Order starts breaking down in the fifth chapter when Jack speaks without holding it. Later, breakdown of order is signalled by Jack snatching it from Ralph in the eighth chapter. In the tenth chapter Jack raids the shelter occupied by Ralph and Piggy to rob Piggy of his glasses. But he does not bother to take the conch away. It is no longer important. In the eleventh chapter the conch is destroyed, symbolizing the complete rout of order at the hands of chaos. 3. The Man with the Megaphone (Grown-ups): When Piggy meets Ralph, his first question is, â€Å"Where is the man with the megaphone? A few pages later the question is repeated by Jack, â€Å"Where is the man with the trumpet? † This, we can assume, was the man in charge of the boys in the aeroplane He stands for authority and control which has suddenly been removed by the crash. A grown-up appears again only at the end in the form of the naval officer who saves the life of Ralph without realizing the fact and brings an e nd to the chaos. But conversely, the adult is the cause of the boys being there in the first place. The war raging outside is nothing but the conflict on the island on a much grander scale. The appearance of the naval officer at close suggests that civilization has been given another chance, despite the bleak outlook. 4. Beast from Air: In the sixth chapter another adult appears on the scene – a dead parachutist. He has apparently evacuated himself from a warplane that has been hit. The man crashes to his death at the top of the hill on the island. He, with his parachute, is taken to be a mysterious supernatural beast by the boys among whom the talk of a snake-like beast of the jungle is already rampant. The dead parachutist is not, however, just an extension of the ghost metaphor. He also represents the historical past intruding on the scene and influencing it in a profound manner. For the boys the historical past is the war they left behind. For humanity it would be the past of man as an insidious influence in his present. 5. The Beast – Lord of the Flies: The title of the novel is itself symbolic. The phrase is a literal translation of the Hebrew ‘Beelzebub’, one of the demons named after a philistine god. Later the term was often used in Christianity as a name for the Devil. The metaphor is one of regression (in its original sense of paganism) and evil (in its later meaning of the Devil). In the novel one of the younger boys, who is referred to as ‘the boy with the birthmark on his face’, tells the others about having seen a snake-like beast on the trees. Though Ralph tries to allay their fears as unfounded, the belief in the beast persists. It is strengthened by the unexplained disappearance of the boy with the birthmark. It is reinforced by the ‘beast from air’ mentioned above, so mush so that even Ralph and Piggy start entertaining the possibility of a beast. Jack, half believing himself, uses the fear cleverly to keep his followers under control. He makes the ritual sacrifice of a wild sow to the beast and lets the head of the animal hang on a stick, ostensibly to appease the beast. Only Simon does not believe in the existence of a beast. In his wanderings in the forest he comes across the head of the sow and the entrails of the animal which have attracted a lot of flies by now. He has a hallucination in which the head appears to him as lord of the flies and speaks to him. The symbolism of the beast is also stated in this imaginary conversation in so many words, as follows: â€Å"You knew, didn’t you? I am part of you?†¦ I am the reason why it’s no go? Why things are what they are? † The beast is within man, not without. It is the darkness in men’s hearts. It is their primitive nature, hidden behind a thin layer of civilization. 6. The Signal Fire and the Shelters on the Beach: The signal fire and the shelters symbolize ordered society, civilization and hope. They are contrasted with the barbaric and blood-thirsty hunts. The signal fire is Ralph’s idea. He believes that the children will be rescued soon and therefore there should be a smoke signal going all the time for a passing ship to spot. Piggy, who is more of a realist, realizes that those who were expected to know about the children are all dead and it may be a long time before rescue comes. So he suggests the building of shelters. Though both symbols together stand for civilization against barbarism, there is this subtle difference between them, arising as they do from their originators’ differing perceptions of the situation. 7. The Hunts and Mock Hunts: Together with painted faces and long hair the hunts and mock hunts symbolize regression into primitive savagery. The hunters not only seem to have lost all hope of returning to civilization, but they seem to actually enjoy the prospect and neglect to keep the signal fire burning. The hunts can be interpreted as symbolizing the boys' primal urges or even anarchy. Soon after the hunts start, they cease to be a necessary activity aimed at gathering food. The lust for blood becomes more important. Ceremonies and chants invented by the hunters similarly denote regression. The mock hunts of Chapters 4 and 7 are manifestations of regression too. The mock hunts serve another purpose. In Chapter 4 the mock hunt is a mild affair, performed largely for fun. In the seventh chapter it turns into a violent affair in which the boy playing the hunted animal suffers injuries. Thus the mock hunts define the regression of the hunters as civilized humans. The scene in Chapter 7 also shows the good and sensible Ralph feeling the excitement of the mock hunt, thus showing how evil can take hold of any human, unless resisted. 8. Painted Faces and Long Hair: This is the heading of Chapter 4. The degeneration of the boys' way of life is symbolized by clay-and- charcoal masks and long hair. When concealed by masks, the hunters, especially Ralph, seem to have new personalities as they forget the taboos of society that once restrained them from giving in to their natural urges. When Jack first paints his face to his satisfaction, he suddenly becomes a new, savage person. â€Å"He began to dance and his laughter became a bloodthirsty snarling. He capered toward Bill, and the mask was a thing of its own, behind which Jack hid, liberated from shame and self-consciousness†. The feeling of liberation that results from wearing the masks allows many of the boys to participate in the barbaric pig hunts, the savage ceremonies and the mock hunts. 9. The Island: Those who incline towards a religious interpretation of the novel’s symbolism maintain that the island is the symbol for the Garden of Eden, which is touched by original sin on contact with the human race. This interpretation may have some merit. But the symbolism can be equally validly interpreted as the state of nature to which the civilized children have been returned. It provides the setting for the opening up of their fundamental urges. 10. The Characters: The principal characters – Ralph, Piggy, Simon, Jack and Roger – symbolize certain attitudes and qualities. Ralph and Piggy are on the side pf law and order. Jack and Roger represent primitive urges and tyranny. Simon is a mystic who has clearer view of reality than the intellectual Piggy, the sensible Jack or the manipulative Jack. But we have to be careful not to over-emphasize the point. Otherwise the realistic and believable quality of the characters will be compromised. The symbolism lies more in how the characters grow or regress rather than in their basic make-up. Jack’s character is the most significant from this point of view. From the leader of a choir group he regresses into the leader of a violent and primitive group which calls itself a ‘tribe’. The above list of symbols is by no means exhaustive. The novel is replete with metaphors and symbols. Lord of the Flies is called a twentieth century allegory. It is also one of the most carefully crafted novels of the century. In consequence the careful reader can find a symbol on almost every page. s

Policy Process

Policy Process CJA 580: Public Policy Issues University of Phoenix Dr. Matthew Geyer, Faculty May 15, 2010 Policy Process Society relies on the criminal justice system to maintain order within communities and to maintain a safe environment for community members. Society expects the criminal justice system to provide justice by separating the guilty from the innocent, to incapacitate dangerous individuals, to promote deterrence to law-breaking individuals, and to rehabilitate offenders. An important expectation of the criminal justice system is to provide fair and just consequences to criminal offenders and assist the offenders with reintegrating into society. Some of the expectations of the criminal justice system are not met therefore; the purpose of this analysis is to describe methods for improving the criminal justice system to meet the expectations of society. This analysis will also provide the necessary procedures the criminal justice system could take to make these suggestions an actual policy. The current criminal justice policies are inclined to punish offenders as a method of crime control and crime prevention (American Bar Association Criminal Justice System Improvements. , n. d. ). Although punishment is necessary for many criminal offenses and criminal offenders, a punishment is not a necessity for all crimes. In many cases in which narcotic transfers are involved, the punishment of incarceration for an extended length of time is cruel and unusual. Narcotic transfers are typically considered non-violent crimes and subsequent to incarceration, the offender is continually punished because their ability to reintegrate back into society and become law-abiding, contributing members of society is hindered (American Bar Association Criminal Justice System Improvements. , n. d. ). Incarceration is not an efficient method to deter offenders from reoffending since, following incarceration, they are unable to gain successful employment because of their criminal history. Gaining successful employment s not unrealistic however; employers tend not to disregard the offender’s history therefore influencing the offender’s decision to reoffend. Many narcotic offenders do not desire to break laws; their main concern is monetary gain. Alternatives policies in regard to narcotic offenders should be implemented to assist them with reintegration, rehabilitation, and to actually deter them from reoffending. A possible policy to implement to avoid incarcerating non-violent offenders is implementing a program that assists offenders with education and seeking employment. A program of this magnitude will give offenders the opportunity to remain connected with society and will give them the opportunity to become successful members of society. The program may provide job training skills, education courses, and employers who are willing to employ individuals with a criminal history. Not only will this program benefit ex-offenders, it will also benefit the companies that hire them. The Work Opportunity Tax Credit is a federal tax credit given to companies to reduce the federal tax liability of employers to be used as an incentive for employing ex-offenders (Tax Credits, n. . ). The main objective of the policy is to provide crime control and crime prevention oppose to punishing offenders only for them to reoffend. Implementing this policy may become a challenge because of the procedures necessary to implement the policy. The first step and most important step of starting this policy is compiling a list of employers willing to hire ex-offenders. For more t han one reason, employers may believe hiring an ex-offender would be detrimental to their company. However, one of the goals of this program is to provide the skills and abilities to satisfy the employers, preventing recidivism. The second step of starting this policy is proposing the policy to policy makers. The policy will need the support of the community and the overall criminal justice system to be a success. The program can be a success providing it has the necessary resources. Profiling is an issue within the criminal justice system. Profiling, as it refers to criminal justice, includes using gender, sex, and most commonly, race to identify an individual as a suspect or possible suspect of a crime. Oftentimes, the individual is not a suspect or possible suspect and a crime may not have even been committed however, they are judged based on the above. The issue of profiling, mainly racial profiling, is because of the criminal justice system’s inability to address racial disparities. A fair criminal justice system is an expectation of society. The influence of bias and different treatment in the system should be protected against and evaluated for prosecution. Many instances occur in which an individual has been racially profiled and as a result the individual has been physically, mentally, or emotionally harmed by the incident. Disparities in processing have been seen most prominently in the area of law enforcement, with documentation of widespread racial profiling in recent years. Disparities in the criminal justice system are in part a function of the interrelationship between race and class, and reflect the disadvantages faced by low-income defendants (Mauer, n. d. ). à ¢â‚¬  Providing a mixed criminal justice system may provide society a sense of comfort if they believe the system consists of individuals similar to them. . A policy should be implemented to employ an equal number of races within the criminal justice system. There is no absolute way to ensure employing an equal number of races will decrease racial disparities however, employing different races may decrease racial profiling in communities. The policy should also include the intent to prosecute individuals if it is proven that he or she profiled resulting in some form of harm from the incident. This policy will be a challenge to implement considering there may not be any proof of any wrongdoings however, if the incident is reviewed and evaluated, prosecutors may take the necessary steps to prosecute the individual. The most important step to implement this policy would be to involve the community and policy makers. Policy makers would have to agree to approach legislation with the policy to implement a law that would decrease racial profiling. The community’s involvement is also important. Society members can assist in ensuring individuals are prosecuted for wrongdoings by reporting mistreatment to them or reporting mistreatment of others. The current criminal justice system has issues that can be addressed by implementing different policies. The two policies described above can assist in improving the operation of the criminal justice system. Implementing a policy that will allow offenders to reintegrate back into society, rehabilitate, and to deter them from reoffending will decrease the amount of individuals incarcerated and as a result possibly decrease the amount of taxes paid by taxpayers. The policy will also provide crime control and crime prevention oppose to punishing offenders only for them to reoffend. Implementing a policy that punishes criminal justice employees for profiling is another method that can assist in improving the operation of the criminal justice system. The goal of this policy is to decrease profiling by employing different races thus decreasing the possibility of profiling. References American Bar Association. (n. d. ). American Bar Association Criminal Justice System Improvements. Retrieved from American Bar Association http://www. abanet. org/poladv/transition/2008dec_crimjustice. pdf Mauer, M. (n. d). Racial Disparities and Criminal Justice. Fdch Congressional Testimony, Retrieved From Masterfile Premier Database. National H. I. R. E Network. (n. d. ). Tax Credits. Retrieved from National H. I. R. E Network http://www. hirenetwork. org/admin/clearinghouse. php? state_id=NC

Cheapest way to Setup your Tech Start-up

Cheapest way to Setup your Tech Start-up With the boom in the start-up economy, the entrepreneur stride has flooded the market space. Many young aspiring entrepreneurs want to try their hands at a tech-based business. Being tech native, every newly minted MBA wants to try their luck on a mobile app or a cloud-based service or a social media platform. But setting up a tech start-up from starch is far from easy. Further, the situation gets worse if you are not a software developer or a network architect. Let’s face it, starting from scratch is not easy, you have to master the art of managing with shoestring budgets. The basic question in pipeline remains as to where to start from. Commercial real estates are out of reach. Finding an affordable office space becomes tedious. From a practical standpoint, know the cheapest way to kick-start your tech start-up: Get The Right Structure There are many forms of business entities which are available to initiate your start-up, keeping in mind various criteria’s like the tax structure, minimum investment, number of people, legal obligations etc. the most convenient structure opts. You have the following options: Private limited company Limited liability partnership One person company Sole proprietorship The cheapest of the lot is a sole proprietorship. But in case you wish to look out for investors, you need to opt for private limited where you can lend your equity. Once the type of entity is selected, select a business name and register your domain name. Hire Fire Smart Keep the team small, crisp and precise. Too many minds won’t do any good rather will end up making a hole in your bleak finances. Instead of going for an expensive source, you can always hire from a talented pool of interns or campus placements. While recruiting, be a true hacker. Apart from focusing on the core competency, lay due importance on soft skills and the vigour to learn and grow. The quickly you hire, even more quickly should you fire. Never delay or hold back the weak links in your start-ups. It’s any day better to fire before your next hire as it adds no pressure to hit the financial milestone. For the ones who prove themselves, offer them equity to make them motivated and committed. Opt for Co-working spaces On the basis of your team size, evaluate your space needs and the budget. Co-working spaces which are apparently blooming in every hook and corner have provided a cost-effective way to procure premises without getting into the expensive real estate. Determine a suitable location in line with your customer base and accessibility. Once the location is specified, you need to select a suitable co-working space in line with the following: The cultural differences in the coworking space Work environment, is it still traditional? Essential Amenities Work Quality: Good lighting, Air Quality, Comfort and Impressiveness. Networking Opportunities Marketing aided facilities. Starting a business can be risky especially when the finances are less. But with three points you can surely put yourself on the path to entrepreneurship.

Christians' Role in the Community Research Paper

Christians' Role in the Community - Research Paper Example The sharing of a personal testimony builds a spiritual bond between the sharer and the recipient of the testimony of Christ. This witness creates a special relationship that is built on the foundation of spiritual witnessing by the Spirit of God. The true testimony of a believer and the recipient of the testimony feel the promptings and workings of the Spirit because the message is true. In this way, personal testimonies build a web, or community of believers based on the personal testimonies of believers. This community of believers is largely held together by the workings of the Spirit in their hearts. Personal testimonies are the best way to show that you have gained knowledge, through the Spirit, of Jesus Christ. The sharing of testimony has the unique ability to shape and influence the testimony of others. Personal testimony can be more powerful that critical study of scripture and more formal preaching because of the intimate nature of personal knowledge gained through the Spir it of God. Personal testimonies are shared in intimate and informal settings; they have the ability to mold the character of a community one person at a time. Personal testimonies meld together into a sort of communal testimony that enlightens, inspires and guides the entire community. The hallmark of a Christian is the living of a Christian life. This is a statement that has been disputed by many over the years. The real test of Christians is whether the light of Christ is seen in their countenances and in the deed of their everyday life. A misunderstanding of doctrine leads some Christians to believe that once they are saved, then all is done. This runs counter to many of the teachings of Christ and the apostles. We are told to be more than hearer’s of the word. We must always be doers. Many Christians for fear that one will think they can work their way into heaven downplay this thought. It is clear that this is not possible. Christ is the only source of salvation, and his salvation is enough for all to partake. But this salvation does not remove the responsibility for Christians to live a godly life, emulating the Savior himself. The necessity for a Christ centered life full of His goodness is manifest several ways. One reason we must live a godly life is to set a good example for those around us that are not believers. If Christians are to have influence in the community at large, then they must live the teachings of Him we call Savior. If a person that has not known the goodness of Christ sees a person that claims Salvation acting in a manner that is untoward or reprehensible, then the investigator of the Gospel will see nothing more than hypocrisy on the part of the believer. We all know that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, but there are certain standards of conduct that are expected of all in a community. When a supposed believer acts against the good will of the community and excuses their conduct by claiming salvation, th en a very poor example of Christianity has been set and the Christian will be held accountable for this at the last day. Surely their salvation is intact, but their folly will not be overlooked at the judgment bar. Another reason the Christian needs to live a Christ centered life is because Jesus instructed us to do this. He understood more than anyone the soul-destroying influences the world would have

Financial and Economic environment of South Africa Term Paper

Financial and Economic environment of South Africa - Term Paper Example They also have security and safety implications and have effects on the transfer payments. Most ideas, principles and legal concepts used in international transactions often find expression in the legislative acts and policies of nation states. Although many forces besides economic factors help shape world trade, it cannot be denied that the economic component of international relations is the most significant and that generally, a prosperous and stable international business environment. Aspects of returns and risks From the website www.cia.gov, it evident that there are a number of aspects that affect the countries return and risk on investment to a business, some of this include; Ratio analysis used to obtain the company’s financial performance in many key areas. The ratios include the liquidity ratios that point out the easiness of turning assets into cash and they include current ratio which measures the financial power, the quick ratio which concentrates mainly on liquid assets whose value is sure, and working capital which is more of cash flow measure than a ratio. The leverage ratio shows the degree to which the business is dependent on debt financing. The gross margin ratio is the proportion of sales dollar left following the subtraction from the net sales the cost of goods sold. The net profit margin ratio which is the proportion of sales dollars left after subtracting the cost of goods sold and every expense excluding income taxes. Inventory turnover ratio which discloses how well the inventory is being controlled. Accounts receivable turnover ratio which shows how well collection of accounts receivable is being done, if receivables are slow in being transferred to cash liquidity could be damaged (fxTrade, 6). The return on assets ratio which indicates how well profits are being created from the assets employed. The return on investment ratio which is the proportion of return on owner’s funds invested in the business, it also indicates whether the effort put into the business in worthwhile. Information technology is used to process and analyze accounting transaction. The input devices regularly linked with the accounting information systems comprise the typical personal computers or running applications workstations, running applications, devices for scanning, standardized data entry scanning devices, electronic data interchange for electronic communication devices and e-commerce. The basic processing is realized through computer systems variety from individual personal computers to large scale enterprise servers; however the fundamental processing model is the double entry accounting system (Pomeranz & Topik 82). The output content may include any type of financial reports from tax reports to budgets. The use of also management information system which offers human/machine interactive that supports decision making for users both out and in the organization boundaries. This system support daily operated activities of the organization, future and current tactical decisions, and on the complete strategic direction. The financial applications make up the management information system which commonly implemented modules include, the payables, general ledger, receivables, procumbent, inventory, projects, assets and

Write a paper of approximately 1500 words examining a topic of your Essay

Write a paper of approximately 1500 words examining a topic of your choice - Essay Example However, smoking is rapidly becoming unpopular in the society today. Sensitization campaigns have been lodged and bills pushed by legislators to bring to end the laws that legalize smoking, especially cigarette. Smoking in many regions can be associated with social classes and people smoke to feel a part of a given social class. Smoking brings a â€Å"feel good† sensation that is associated with less stress. This paper seeks to examine in details the social and health effects of smoking. Smoking is dangerous to almost all body organs and puts a person at a greater health risks. Female smokers have reduced chances of conceiving compared to their non smoking counterparts. In the case of pregnant women, smoking affects the health of their babies, whether before or after birth. Such cases as early deliveries (premature birth), babies dying before they are born, babies weighing less at birth, sudden death syndrome in infants have been reported from smokers. In men, smoking reduces the sperm counts, which may lead to infertility, miscarriage or birth defect risks. Banning smoking can boost fertility and healthy children and parents free from smoke related complications (Anderson, 2004). If the waxy substance forms inside the arteries that take blood to the limbs and organs, a condition known as Peripheral Arterial Disease will arise. This will affect the kidneys and the stomach. It is also a major cause of stroke (Anderson, 2004). There is a chance that many people suffering from pain and numbness in the legs and death of the tissues have Peripheral Heart Disease. If the kidney is affected its role of purifying the blood will not be done well and one can end up with impure blood. Severe kidney problems lead to kidney failure, which will lead to either kidney dialysis or a kidney transplant. Smoking has adverse consequences on immunity as well as inflammation. Women who have reached menopause but smoke are more likely to experience bone breakage due to their

Business Essay about Mergers Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Business about Mergers - Essay Example It is vital to note that federal and state laws are controlling systems for mergers. This occurs for notable reasons. To begin with, the government regulates such arrangements because of the elimination to competition (Halibozek & Kovacich, 2005). Competition is beneficial for the government because it drives entrepreneurship. Large firms motivate smaller firms to strive to their levels. In the event of the same, the smaller firms expand to generate substantial revenues for the governments (Truitt, 2004). In addition, such firms expand their marketing scope by improving on aspects such as advertising. This means that there is an interrelation, of firms, that create mutual benefits among the same. In turn, industries provide employment to population and accord social benefits to particular countries. In the sense of mergers, the same minimizes competition between the bigger and small firm. It is vital to note that mergers benefit the bigger firms in terms of pushing the same towards m aintaining their market capture. On the other hand, it is vital to note that mergers could result controlled market power. This relates to the power of monopolies. In this aspect, monopolies could exploit the market in two notable ways. To begin with, they would minimize on their output. This results into deficient products for consumers. In addition, monopolies would constrain output and raise prices. This reduces on the relative income of consumers because their previous income affords fewer goods. The monopolies ensure interaction of these two aspects in order that they generate super normal profits. The reason why the same is exploitation relates to the idea that consumers pay for products at a value that exceeds the production costs of the same. It is vital to note that consumer welfare demands production at a level whereby production costs equal prices. Production costs relates to marginal costs in economics (Mankiw, 2006). Mergers cause monopolies that may create other econom ical dangers. This relates to the idea that they could prevent growth of other firms. Monopolies acquire expansion advantages in the form of economies of scale. In this sense, other firms experience a difficulty in reaching the minimum efficient scale. It is vital to note that the minimum efficient scale refers to the state of production where a firm acquires maximum benefits out of the same (Mankiw, 2006). It is the most prominent level of production. This means that the merged firms would become the sole operators in the market. In the end, smaller firms would strive to rise and extinguish sooner. In case of an industry’s decision towards self-expansion, there would be notable obstacle to the same. This relates to the idea that such a firm would expand by use of capital projects. The benefits of self-expansion relates to the idea of self-dependence. In this sense, an industry faces limited obstacle form actions of other firms. It is vital to note that self-expansion leads t o maximum benefits because a firm enjoys all its revenues (Truitt, 2004). However, the aspect, of capital projects, constrains the same in the quest for independent expansion. To begin with, capital projects consume significant resources in the same. This poses notable dangers. For instance, the industry would require huge amounts of capital for expansion. In case it utilizes its own capital, it will constrain the advancement of

Bellingham City budget cut Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Bellingham City budget cut - Research Paper Example the services and duties carried out in the Bellingham City Police department and then determine which of these services and staff should be let go in order for the department to operate within its budgetary allocation without collapsing. I will also look at some of the duties that can be merged or reassigned so as to reduce financial constraints in the department. Law enforcement in cases of robbery, burglary and murder is one of the normal operations of a police department. Police duties also include maintaining order. Order maintenance is normally done during police patrols in different areas of jurisdiction. Police services are also part of the standard police operations in the US. These services range from giving first aid to creating safety awareness among people. All these operations are supposed to contribute to the security and other needs of the community (Dempsey and Forst, 2009). Different officers carry out different tasks in the police departments depending on their level of competence. These officers are normally trained in police training academies, most of which are run by police departments. Different areas have different security and police service needs. Therefore, one police department cannot be completely similar to another in terms of operations. For instance, burglary prevention may be a priority in one police department and drug trafficking may be a priority in another department. The staffing and budgetary allocation needed for these departments will therefore differ, depending on the security needs of a particular area (Talaga and Tucci, 2008). There are some services that are redundant and can be removed in order to streamline the police department’s budget. These are the services that do not contribute much to the major interests of a particular police department (McKenna and Evans, 1994). Some of these services have been discussed below, outlining their pros and cons, as well as why the cons outweigh the pros. Police departments

Transactional Leadership Principle Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Transactional Leadership Principle - Essay Example s and Emma Walton Hamilton, David Baldacci, Sandra Brown, Stephen Colbert, Chris Colfer, Michael Connelly, Jeffery Deaver, Nelson DeMille, Tina Fey, Malcolm Gladwell, Chelsea Handler, Harper Lee, John Maxwell, Brad Meltzer, Joyce Meyer, Stephenie Meyer, J.R. Moehringer, Joel Osteen, James Patterson, Randy Pausch, Jerry Pinkney, Keith Richards, JK Rowling, J.D. Salinger, David Sedaris, Lemony Snicket/Daniel Handler, Nicholas Sparks, Jon Stewart, Scott Turow, David Foster Wallace, Brent Weeks, and Tom Wolfe. D. Forrester Research Inc. contrasted that, on the one hand, physical book sales in the U.S. are expected to decline to $19.5 billion this year from $26 billion in 2010, while, on the other hand, e-book sales are anticipated to multiply eight times to $8.7 billion (Lee, Satariano, & Hymowitz, 2014). B. Hachette negotiates tangible, extrinsic exchanges by resisting the increase in power of Amazon in controlling e-book prices because it wants to ensure that it is the one profiting more and the one in power over strategic pricing. Gillette, F. (2014, June 6). Layoffs make Hachette easier prey for Amazon. Businessweek.com. BloombergBusinesweek. Retrieved from http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-06-06/layoffs-make-hachette-easier-prey-for-amazon Lee, E., Satariano, A., & Hymowitz, C. (2014, June 6). Amazon feud with publishers to escalate as contracts end. BloombergBusinesweek. Retrieved from

English Castle Essay Example for Free

English Castle Essay Castles are fortifications made to protect resources and lives as well. It is also the main structure of defense. Walls made of large well-defined heavy stones that are stacked to perfection. The castle has a stable, storehouse, bakeries, kitchens, cottages and quarters for soldiers. Usually a city a situated in a castle where a city is surrounded by walls and the only entrance is a single huge gate. This gate is where the merchants and entrepreneurs trade goods for the city market. It was the Norman conquerors who made the castle building an art. They built castles primarily as a defense outpost. They situate a castle in a high ground wherein it will be surrounded by water or a deep ditch. It was supposed to be high because it will delay intruders from attacking also it will be very susceptible for archers to snipe down intruders. Castle acts as keeps or strongholds that no one can penetrate. A castle is governed by a king, the highest rule. In the English setting, castles were built in Medieval era, wherein castles were made out of stone. This is a linear representation of what has transpired back then. In the Stone age, Causewayed Camps and Stonehenge was discovered. The Bronze age produced the Hillforts of England and the Maiden Castle, which is considered to be the biggest castle. In the Iron Age and the Romans Hillforts of England was reinforced since the English were under siege. The English people put up Hadrian’s Wall and the Roman Forts as a line of defense. After the Romans have fallen, the English people were restless with war and were attacked by Scotts, the Welch and the Anglo-Saxons. These invaders were also accompanied by the sudden attacks of the Vikings. By that time Alfred the great thought of defense mechanism to make England less susceptible for attacks. Alfred the great made the not a formation of walls instead made a strategic positioning of fortified towns that was called â€Å"Burhs†. Logically, if there are many fortified towns reinforcing each other then there will less attacks made because the chances of survival will be small. This happened in the reign of the Anglo-Saxon which is also known as the Dark Ages. But the root of all the prestigious castles made were from the Medieval Period spearheaded by the Norman Invasion in which they introduced the Motte and Bailey castle which is made from stone and wood. At this time, the Medieval Kings have devised a plan to erect Windsor and Warwick Castle. Then King Edward I conquered the Wales. He established the massive fortifications called Concentric Castles. Examples of these Concentric Castles are the Cowny, Harlech and the Caernarvon Castle. Concentric Castles were also called Edwardian Castles. They have no basic points of concentration. Their defense is the wall rings built around them and the entrance is a single gate that serves as bridge and also served as the gate. They lower the gates in the morning and closes at night. Castles in general are mainly for protection and also for economic purposes. There are estimated to be seventy-two English Castles and here are some of them: Alnwick, Lindisfarne, Warwick, Carisbrooke, Pevensey, Tintagel, Stafford, Pendennis, Lancaster, Herstmonceux, Saint Mawes, Grimsthorpe, Calshot, Rochester, Ludlow, Kenilworth, Richmond, Carlisle, Yarmouth, Bodiam and Scotney Castle. Among those numbers of Castle, a few stand-out such as Pontefract, Bodiam, Caister, Allington, Hever, Tower of London, Windsor, Warwick and Leeds Castle. Pontefract Castle was King Charles last fortress in the Civil War. Bodiam Castle was erected by a soldier in the time of King Edward III named Sir John Dalyngrudge. He believed that fortifying the castle would make it hard for intruders to penetrate. Caister Castle was built by Sir John Fastolfe, who fought in the French Wars. In the Allington Castle, Sir Thomas Wyatt was born. This castle was his sanctuary for writing the prose and verse of his poems. Hever Castle has a beautiful garden always been associated with Queen Anne Boleyn which is the concubine of King Henry VIII. The Tower of London is considered to be the royal residence of the King. It also means that it was the center of power. Tower of London is not a single tower but it consists of other different tower as defense structures. It thwarted the attacks of the Vikings. Beheading and tortures are also done here to show disillusion the people from the strength the government has and also to promote fear to their enemies. Windsor Castle is longest standing castle with its nine hundred years of its glorious existence. The Windsor Castle is comprised of three wards namely: Saint George’s Chapel as the lower ward, royal apartments and grad state rooms as the upper ward and middle ward is an amphitheater. The Warwick Castle follows a Motte and Bailey style that is made of wood but since the William the conqueror was in-charge the he changed the wooden part of the castle into stone by exploiting the Anglo-Saxon labor force. Lastly, the Leeds Castle, which lies on the River of Len and is strategically engineered between to adjacent islands. The name Leeds came from King Ethelbert IV called Ledian. Whatever the advantages of Motte and Bailey and Concetric designs, for being cheap and crude or tough and expensive, it sure made the history of England very meaningful. Acquisitions of land here and there entailed that there was a decentralized rule of power and due to it colonizers took advantage of it and waged war. The Norman conquerors should be proud on what they have achieved. Today, castles are just remnants of what has transpired back then. All of which is written in history, engraved in our memory. The hardships and sufferings of those who are tortured are screaming in the air where the castle stood. Ghosts of the dead haunt these sacred places, a place rich with tradition and full of honor and dignity. Castles are not just fortifications for protection but a shelter for the weak and oppressed, a symbol of bravery and diplomacy and above all a symbol of life in its borrowed existence. The English Castles are rich with memories of the executed and the times of triumph. For what of it remains is what is ours to preserve. Its existence can never be replaced, its value, its worth, and its beauty. Lastly, castles are not built by stone, wood or clay, it is made of the people’s blood, sweat and tears. People visit English castles because of awe and amazement that it brings to them. Its structure reminds them of how people have lived and it also depicts the events that have transpired back then. Since wars are the predominantly remembered association with castles, rumors and stories about the existence of ghosts emerged. The existence of ghosts is attributed to the executions done inside a castle and also to the prisoners kept in the dungeon. Though there is no material evidence to show that there are ghosts within these castles, people still insists its existence. The intricate designs and ornamentation around the castle adds up to the mysticism it brings to the visitors. The main attraction in visiting castles is the place where the throne is situated since in represents royalty and dominance over a large scale of people. But there is also an equal attracting part of the castle in contrast to the throne is the dungeon or lair. This is where prisoners of war are kept. In this place, it is believed that prisoners are being tortured to death to extract information from their army. Since, loyalty is valued, these prisoners are executed and their screams fill the air like a resonating sound of a ghost. Death is considered to be the ending of their torment. In sum, castles are visited based on their history and to what historical events have happened there. Castles best explain how the pre-existing people have lived their lives and also it show how technology have transcended to what it is right now. The scientific engineering and planning of creating a good castle is logically thought of. Every detail of a castle has a rational purpose. It was distinctively modified upon the needs of the people living in it. Lastly, the long-lasting castles are the evidences of the great historical events for the English people.

Nissan Change Implementation

Nissan Change Implementation In todays rapidly challenging business environment, it is readily acknowledged that it is necessary for organisation to make changes in order to stay competitive. Change management is vital in an organisation as it act as a way to ensure that business is moving in the right decision which indeed requires proper handling as it relates to human involvement. Many researchers argued that implementation is not solely the end point of a process of formulation but rather the interaction of many interactive and discontinuous factors i.e. management decision processes, environmental and business sector characteristics (Wilson, 1992:49). Before implementing a change, a lot of planning is required to ensure all the aspects of a particular problem are properly identified to avoid uncertainties and ambiguities. Thus, in order for management to have positive consequences, it is vital to identify and analyse the overall impact of the change programme i.e. organisation structure, employees attitude, beliefs and behaviours. The aim of this report is to discuss and evaluate the factors affecting the implementation of change in Nissan Motor Company (Nissan). Background of Nissan Due to huge debt, Nissan built alliances with Renault S.A. (Renault) to ensure the survival of the business. The said alliances benefited both parties in terms of market penetration and capabilities. As a result from the said alliance, Renault obtained an equity stake of over 36% in Nissan and its leader, Carlos Ghosn was appointed as the key person in charge for the implementation of the change. During the transition change, Ghosn met will all the employees from different departments to discuss on the current state of Nissan and the way to move forward. Thereafter, a radical or transformational change plan was implemented in order to ensure the success of the business in terms of profitability. Based on Beers model of effective change strategies, Nissan adopted the combined strategy of Theory Economic (E) and Organisation Development (OD) (Beer and Nohria, 2000). This is supported by Eriksson and Sundgren (2005) conclusion that both theory E and OD should coexist as the success for a change relies in the interface between the two strategies. In Nissan, the application of the E strategy is seen from the implementation of aggressive cost-cutting plan through downsizing, lay-offs and restructuring that is related to the its performance while in terms of OD, it involves the change in having English as the medium of communication in the organisation, setting up of the nine cross-functional teams for generation of ideas and culture change within the organisation which mainly touched on the Human Resource practices that overall leads in creating the capability to sustain competitive advantage. With the said changes in place, Nissan has managed to revive its business to compete in the market and at the present moment is one of the leading automakers in the industry. The implementation of change in Nissan Much literate suggest that implementing change is not an easy process. Although the change is foresee as an advantage to the organisation, there will always be mental rejection from the humans included in the process. Therefore, implementation of change needs to be handled sensitively with a structured approach to ensure the success transition from current to future state. In terms of Nissans implementation, it is classified under the blue print change (Hayes, 2010:427) as the final result is known i.e. Nissan to be profitability and be one of the top auto producers in the industry which Ghosn was able to formulate a clear plan of action in achieving the said vision. Factors affecting the implementation of change in Nissan Organisations readiness for change Readiness for change is believed as one of the key factors leading to a successful implementation of change. It was noted that one half of all unsuccessful organisation change efforts failed due to lack of readiness for change (Kotter, 2007). Refreeze Move Unfreeze Figure 1: Lewins three step change process Drawing on Lewins three step stage model of change, it clearly explains the importance of successful implementation of change by unfreezing the current situation followed by adaptation of the current changes which leads to new behaviour and norm (Hayes, 2010:29). The unfreezing stage creates a situation for readiness for change through motivation in terms of the companys clear vision which is seen attainable in the future that consequently increase the employees level of confidence in accepting to the need for change. Once the alliance took place, Nissan minimises barriers to change by maximising the opportunities of a change effort which are accentuated in the unfreezing process. All changes have been well planned in a short span of time. Meanwhile in the moving stage, change has been recognised and acceptance of change has taken place in the workforce. As everyone in Nissan is aware on the urgency for a change, it has automatically built a powerful coalition between management and employees. Beer et al. (1990) highlights the importance of coordination and teamwork especially for companies acting the change process in relation to cost, quality and product development opportunities. Self and Schraeder (2008) conclude that positive perception to a change is due to the visibility of support and commitment while the negative perception is due to visible lack of support or inconsistent behaviours of the management. Due to the positive acceptance in Nissan, Ghosn has managed to restore and reinforce th e new changes in the company in the refreezing step. Based on Kotters 8 step change model, the success of the transformational effort depends on the right action at each stage. Establishing a sense of urgency is very important step as it defines the current state of the company. It was argued that the need for change will only occur until a clear and present danger is recognise which need something to be done in ensuring the viability of the company (Self and Schraeder, 2008). Not only management demonstrate the need for change but must also provide indication that the requirement of a change is the right decision made for the company (Self and Schraeder, 2008). Readiness of change is a key to ensure a successful implementation process of change as when the level of readiness is high, employees are likely to initiate change with greater effort by displaying more cooperative behaviour that will result to more effective implementation. Nissan was in bad shape before the alliance exercise due to its financial position and needed a solid strategy to ensure the viability of the business. Hence, the sense of urgency has been established at the highest priority with the support from the management. Kotter (2007) indicate that to ensure the success of the change, it is important to obtain 75% of the companys management in supporting the change effort or otherwise the transformation process could not succeed and the long term future of the company is in jeopardy. As there is a sense of urgency for change, a leader must promote change by creating vision (Kavanagh and Ashkanasy, 2006). Kotter (2007) highlights the importance of a clear vision as it is needed in guiding people through a major change which leads to a reduction of error rate that determine the success or failure of the implementation. It is argued that vision is not based on originality but on how well it serve the interest of important constituencies such as employees and stakeholder (Kotter, 2001). Therefore, a vision needs to be clearly defined with development of strategies in order to direct the change effort. The said vision will assist employees to understand the reason for the change. According to Kotter (2001), aligning people to a shared vision by communicating the new direction will help in creating coalitions which consequently draw the importance of the vision by committing to achievement. Kotter (2007) indicate that by not having a sensible vision, it will dissolve t he transformation effort as it creates confusion that leads the company moving in a wrong direction. This is supported by Kotters (2007) finding that most companies have sense of direction but it is to complication to be useful and consequently result to a failure in managing change. For Nissan, the main vision for the alliance exercise is to turnaround the company from a loss to profitable business while maintaining the companys identity and self esteem of its employees (Ghosn, 2002). The vision is clearly stated which is align with Kotters (2007) suggestion on the important of a vision. Organisation culture Many researchers highlight that culture is one of the important key aspects to be considered for the implementation of change. According to Smith (2003), culture in an organisation is not only related on how things are done but the set of values, beliefs, customs and systems that are build uniquely in the organisation which differentiate one with another. To change the culture in an organisation is not an easy tasks as usually employees are comfortable with the job and organisation and as a result they are resistant to change. Burnes (1992:291) suggests that in approaching cultural change, a more considered and organisation specific approach should be adopted. For a company to implement a change, comparison between strategic significance (the importance of the companys future) of the cultural resistance needed to be analyse to ensure the success of the implementation change process (Schwartz and Davis, 1981). The process relies heavily on managerial judgment as decision are made with degree of certainty whether to ignore, manage and maintain the existing culture to fit he change environment. Hence, steps are taken to identify the degree of cultural risk involved in the change process that overall has an impact to the companys culture and vice versa. Nissan is a company based in Japan with strong build culture in the organisation. It was difficult for the employees to accept the changes particularly in reward and progression system i.e. from seniority to performance based. It is the culture of Nissan to ensure that all employees have a lifelong career in the company which certainly create the culture of complacency that impacted Nissans competitiveness. Meanwhile, another culture problem faced was the organisations inability to accept responsibilities of which having a culture of blame. Ghosn has observed that all the said factors have contributed to Nissans performance which requires a radical change process. It is noted that Nissan adopted Schwartz and Davis suggestion as mention above wherein the companys culture was change ultimately to ensure the success of the change implementation. During the change process, employees were given a period of one year to change their attitude and to adapt to the changes accordingly. The chan ges implemented have affected the employees work orientation in terms of resistance to change as it was foresee that their particular job was at risk. The impact of resistance to change has been aversely discussed and many researchers highlight that it is the most significant threat to the success of implementation to change (Lines, 2004; Self and Schraeder, 2009). The expectancy theory clearly indicates that individual consciously choose course of action based upon perceptions, attitudes and belief which result to desires in enhancing pleasure and avoiding pain (Hayes, 2010:195). In order to avoid this to happen, awareness for changes need to be communicated to the employees through a clear vision and well defined strategy to ensure the effectiveness of the implementation process. Kavanagh and Ashkanasy (2006) suggest that particularly for culture change, active engagement of the top management is required to ensure the effectiveness of the change. Management plays a vital role in supporting the change as they set as a leader whereby employees will adhere to the changes faster. This can be effectively done by showing the implication of the change to the organisation in terms of profits, productivity or quality work life. For the case of Nissan, a clear focus on the companys priorities and plan and successfully executed accordingly with the backup of a good leader. Transparency was built as a new culture in the organisation as it allows others to provide ideas rather than only top management. This as a result leads to a consistency between how the organisation operates in thinking and doing its daily operations. Level of communication Another important aspect in implementation change is communication as it has an important impact to the success or failure of a change programme. It plays a vital role in the change process as it allows leaders to create a shared sense of direction, establish priorities, reduce disorder and uncertainty as well as facilitating learning (Hayes, 2010:177). In having a good communication, leaders need to ensure that all communication channels will provide information sharing that allows accurate absorption of relevant information by employees. Employees need to be constantly aware on the changes as they contribute to the success of the implementation of change. Meanwhile leaders on the other hand should continuously collect feedback by interacting with employees as well. As a result, organisation will look forward for a successful outcome in the change implementation. Clampitt et al. (2000) indicate that communication strategy has a huge impact on how events will be remembered which in turn shapes employees response. The environment for communication should be open and supportive to enable employees in sharing their concerns, frustration and need without fear of revenge which will lead in building the credibility of the company for a better implementation process (Self and Schraeder, 2008). Meanwhile Abrahamson (2000) suggest that dynamic stability plays a vital role in communicating change implementation as it suggest carrying change by involving elements within an organisation by engaging employees gradually. It aligns the overall concept of change as employees are aware on the proposed changes while management collects feedback by interacting with employees. The application of dynamic stability will allow organisation for a successful outcome in change implementation. When the change process took place, Nissan adopted underscore and explore communication strategy wherein the message was conveyed to all level of employees all across the company in order to get employees aligned with companys goals. This is supported by Clampitt (2000) findings which indicate underscore and explore is the most effective communication wherein it combines two strategies together i.e. tell and sell strategy; and identify and reply that allows managers to shape the change outline and allow reaction from the concerns of employees. Ghosn reiterate that the success of the company relies on the employees and as a team all employees should work hard in aiming to achieve the targeted goals. Despite pouring all the information, Nissan listens to the employees concerns and in fact created a new way of communicating through email. The said method reduces ambiguity and provides a clear picture on how the change will develop a better future for Nissan. Employees are likely to acce pt the pain of change if it clearly shows how their contribution affects the future gains. It is a norm that people expect something in return for the sacrifices made in the foreseeable future. Moreover, Kotter (2007) points out the effect of communication both in words and behaviour are the most powerful form which nothing undermines change more than behaviour by individuals that in consistent with their words. Role of leadership Kotter (2007) indicate that by definition, change requires creating a new system which sequentially always demands leadership. The role of leadership in change management includes creating a vision, aligning relationship around the vision and inspiring others to achieve the vision (Hayes, 2009: 117). In implementing change, a leader plays a key role in shaping the success of the change process which is in line with Beer et al. (1990) suggestion on the role of a leader in mobilising the initial commitment as a step to begin for the change process. Evidence from literature indicates leaders role in the change process wherein it have an impact to the success of change through the linkage between both leader and follower behaviour (Higgs and Rowland, 2005). Ghosn is considered as a transformational leader as he brought changes in the company and the effect of the changes is sustained under his leadership style. Studies have indicated that transformational leaders are able to realign the employees values and norms by promoting both personal and organisational changes which indeed enhance employees ability to accept change (Kavanagh and Ashkanasy, 2006). Ghosn leadership is not based on the Japanese style but rather applying the multicultural experience that enables him to embrace culture differences and building on them. This is considered one best way to manage change as studies have found that a flexible, loosely applied culture based on some diversity and possibly involving the existence of number of subcultures is prove more effective (Kavanagh and Ashkanasy, 2006). For a change to take place, leaders need to convince people on the necessary of the change which usually need a strong leadership and visible support from the management. Kotter (2007) indicate that managing the change is not enough, as leaders have to lead the direction in ensuring the implementation of the change. One of the changes made from the alliance exercise was the implementation of a new management style by setting up a nine cross functional team which the main objective is to achieve the goal for Nissan Revival Plan and business commitments. With the new management style, teams are given three months to review their operations and come up with recommendations for profitability and growth. As a result, it brought employees into a new organisation context through new roles and responsibilities that consequently create a situation that forces new attitudes and behaviour on employees in accepting the need for change which is supported by Beer et al. (1990) as the most efficient way in changing behaviour. Based on findings, it is noted that most successful cases in change relies on powerful coalition in the company (Kotter, 2007) as it is influence by the nature of work environment and organisational culture of which leaders could affect the employees attitudes in working towards change and motivation (Kavanagh and Ashkanasy, 2006). The new functional team have allowed employees to think in a different perspective which leads to the mechanism in explaining the necessity for change across the entire company. Ghosn as a leader incorporate the values of team work in Nissan to ensure all employees are dedicated to the shared vision in building urgency and momentum around the need for change. The requirement of more coordination and teamwork between functions and business units is identified as one of the key factors in implementing a change which is supported by research findings where there is linkage between leadership behaviours to the activities involved in implementing change (Higgs and Rowland, 2005). Proper planning and coordination for the change Literature indicates that successful implementation of change is a difficult goal (Higgs and Rowland, 2005) and often flounders because of improperly framed by management. Finding from a survey with organisations indicate that 66% has agreed that one contributing factor for the implementation problems is ineffective coordination of implementation activities (Alexander, 1985). Leaders have a very important role in the selection and planning of a suitable management approaches as proper planning needs to be carefully identified to ensure a strong foundation which leads to an easier process of implementing change. Goodman and Rousseau (2004) indicate that time is key factor in organisational change but it is always neglected due to performance driven results. It takes time for ensuring a success of change as rushing and expecting too many outcomes will lead to failure. It is agreed that organisation is more effective when components such as structure, technology, systems and people are aligned with each other and when there is a good fit between the organisation and the environment (Hayes, 2010:305). In implementing change, action taken for the change should be identified to determine the flow of changes to ensure the outcome of the change process. Goodman and Rousseau (2004) suggest that it will help organisation to understand the lag between change and results by paying attention to feedback cycles which allows identification on mistakes as well as recommendation action for improvement. Planning should not only include the aspect of the results but to also determine the obstacles for the change to materialise. Goodman and Rousseau (2004) suggest that change intervention allows the increase of knowledge sharing for a better result performance where it reduces time for a given engagement that will result to faster outcome on the result. It is noted that knowledge system is widely used due to its beneficial functions such as positive feedback on a change as it improves in performance. However, it is argued that knowledge exist in the organisation but is not properly used that affects the coordination of the implementation process. For Nissan, the company has indentified the main problem of the company and tried to apply a new set of actions in a different manner which in line with the double loop learning process. Argyris (2002) indicate that double loop learning take place when errors are corrected through exploring the possibility in doing things differently. Information sharing will increase the knowledge of the employees which can be adapted through a learning process that allows a collective ability to act more effectively in an organisation (Hayes:2010: 322). Moreover, creating a new learning experience will allow companies to build its competencies as it is related to detection and correction of errors (Argyris, 2002) which is associated with continuous improvement. Hayes (2010:308) indicated that most literature in organisational learning focuses on the acquisition of knowledge, the recognition of its potential and its application to improve organisational performance. Based on Nissan case, it is summarise that the key to implementing change is a continuous improvement built in terms of information between people and processes, combination both business and human dimension towards shared objectives. Despite identifying the need of organisational learning, it is feasible for companies to plan a systematic training approach within the organisation as change is related to individual change. Change will need employees to think and behave in a different way and it is vital for organisation to provide the knowledge and skills to ensure the success of the change. Hayes (2010:350) indicates that training and development enables company to align between competencies of the employees and leaders as well as the task and structure of the system. Conclusion Managing change successfully has never been an easy task and can neither be problem free. Buchanan et al. (2005) summarised the related factors influencing the nature and outcome of change are such as individual, group, organisational, social and political. Therefore before any change takes place, it is important for a leader to properly analyse the implementation of the organisational change in order to determine the extent for the change that will benefit both organisational performance and employees. From the Nissan case, it was observed that one of the main lessons learn from the implementation of change process is the clear focus set by Ghosn wherein a clear plan is executed based on priorities. Ghosn brought in clear vision by altering the core organisational process with the nine cross functional team. Moreover, factors such as having a high urgency level for the need to change and a strong guiding and powerful coalition has managed Nissan to motivate the employees while creating an environment that accept change and subsequently sustaining the companys competitiveness. Based on the Nissan performance after the alliance exercise, it is concluded that the company is able to sustain its change due to these aspects of organisational readiness; fit with the competitive strategy, managerial values and internal power distribution and the values and power of key stakeholders (Buchanan et al., 2005).

Social prejudice in schools Essay -- essays papers

Social prejudice in schools Children from middle-class families generally are more successful in public schools than children from low-income families. Is the school system responsible for this problem, or is lower performance among low-income children a result of their home environment? The home environment has a big role in a child’s education and if it is not supportive of the school environment, the student will not be as successful in school as the child whose home environment is supportive of the school’s learning environment will. The typical public school teacher is a middle-class white female. The typical curricula, tests, and learning tools used in public schools were created by middle-class educators and are geared toward the needs of middle-class children. The middle-class teacher may not be able to communicate as well with the lower-class student as she could with a middle class student. A poor minority student may have trouble understanding English if English is not his/her first language or if English is not spoken in his/her home, and the teacher may have trouble understanding his/her broken English. Different social classes also use different slang and voice inflections, and have ways of speaking that contain â€Å"hidden meanings†. So the â€Å"language† a lower-class student uses at home may cause him to have trouble communicating with his middle-class teacher and classmates. In his book, Ain’t No Makin’ It, Jay MacLeod tells how a group of poor students in a particu lar school were able to relate to a teacher (Jimmy Sullivan) who spoke their â€Å"language.† â€Å" ‘It was cool, cuz like you walk in there†¦you talk to Jimmy, and you know Jimmy’s real cool,’ † said one of his students. Related to this â€Å"language barrier† that exists between low and middle social classes are behavior differences which affect teachers’ perceptions and expectations of students. Poor and minority students are more likely to be placed in low tracks (Oakes, 64) than middle-class children, probably because teachers misinterpret certain students’ abilities. J. Oakes suggests that one of the reasons this happens is because of the existence of a â€Å"hidden curriculum†, one in which teachers’ expectations and judgments are based on subtle behavior traits that are a part of each student’s home life and are brought to the classroom. Many students in lower tracks are plac... ...ols cannot change is the fact the every family has a unique set of values, beliefs, traditions, and ways of rearing children. Ultimately, the home environment has a greater impact on children than any other social institution, and if the culture being taught in schools is different than the culture that is being taught in the home, children’s education will suffer. Bibliography: Resources: Elvin. H.L. Education In Contemporary Society. London: C.A. Watts and Co. 1968. Fischer, Louis and Donald R. Thomas. Social Foundations of Educational Decisions. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Co., 1965. Goldman, Shelley V. and Ray McDermott. â€Å"The Culture of Competition in American Schools.† Education and Cultural Progress. Prospect Heights, Ill.: Waveland Press, 1987. Kottak, Conrad. Mirror for Humanity. New York: McGraw-Hill Inc., 1996. MacLeod, Jay. Ain’t No Makin’ It. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1995. Oakes, J. â€Å"The Distribution of Knowledge.† Keeping Track: How Schools Structure Inequality. Yale University Press, 1985. Orenstein, Peggy. Schoolgirls. NY: Doubleday, 1994. Spring, Joel. American Education. NY: McGraw-Hill Co., 1994.

American History :: History of America

The Space Race The goal of Apollo 11 was to send men to the moon, this goal was set by jfk in the year 1961. they landed on the July 20th 1969. The men who were aboard the ship were Neil Armstrong, Edwin Aldrin and Michael Collins. These men were (other than Collins) the first people to ever to walk on the moon. The event was televised to millions of American homes. There were also three backup crew members who didn’t go into space: James Lovell, Fred Haise, and William Anders. The crew conducted many science experiments as well as leaving an american flag on the moon. The flag has since been bleached white by the suns unrelenting power. The first man on the moon is so important to the history of America because it solidified the country as a superpower. If Russia had beaten America to the moon, they would been the country to reach that pinnacle of space science. It also would have crushed the hopes and dreams of Americans young and old alike. With the US and Russia locked in the cold war, the American people needed a confidence boost, and they got it when they won the space race. 1st Black President In election of 2008, the candidates running were Barack Obama and John McCain. Obama won, making him the first African American President in American history. Throughout history African Americans were treated as lesser to whites and Obama overcame those stereotypes and became president. There was some speculation that Obama wasn’t actually from America, but these were put to rest when he released his birth certificate. Some issues during the election were the war in Iraq, economic downturn, and LGBT issues. American history is full of examples of minorities such as blacks being kept down. Slavery was a huge black mark on the nation’s history. It is one of the main factors for racism toward African Americans in our culture. Blacks were often seen and treated as lesser people, and having a president who is part of this minority is huge step forward in racial equality. since Obama was elected there have been more black candidates running for office. Nuclear bombs The conception of the nuclear bomb began when Albert Einstein wrote FDR a letter concerning the weapons and how powerful they had the potential to be. On July 1945 The first bomb was tested, and the scientists were pleased with the result of the test.

Sound on the Web :: Websites Internet Technology Computers Essays

Sound on the Web Transcript Using sound on the internet can greatly benefit and enhance a webpage (Teachernet). Sounds, rather they be background, core content, or music, create mood, theme, and help define the usefulness of the site (Farkas 94). Sounds can serve as core content. Sound can be used to introduce a site; either by music or a narrated welcome (Farkas 95). Narration can also serve as the content, like this site, or to help the viewer navigate the site and help the user make choices once viewing the site (Teachernet). Sounds can also be background noises. Rather these sounds be music, sound effects, or narration, background noise can help the user by reinforcing the website’s content (Teachernet). Narration is a very common way of adding sound to a webpage. As stated before, it can be used to welcome or introduce users to the website and can also give directions about how to use the website or inform or teach (Teachernet). But beware, using narration can be tricky. When using narration, one must be aware of the quality of sound that is being produced. As Farkas and Farkas state, â€Å"There are great differences in voice quality.† Some people may have a good speaking voice, but when recorded, it may not be clear, sound correct, or even be audible. Farkas and Farkas suggest that when using narration find a â€Å"trained† narrator, a drama, or communications student to narrate. Typically, these people have been coached on how to speak clearly and how to use techniques to record content well (Farkas 95). However, in some situations this may not be the case. If you or a certain person is required to do the narration, be sure to practice and work on the content to fit your or their particular speaking and recording style (Farkas 95). Supplemented sounds are typically background noises. These noises can be used to reinforce ideas, reward users, provide context or help explain ideas (Teachernet). By providing sound to accompany graphics, the user is able link a graphic with the context it is presented in. Using sound in this manner would either help explain the graphic or the function of the graphic within the website (Teachernet). If sound is used in a navigational sense, the sound could alert the user as to where to go on the page or what they have already chosen to do. Also, sounds can help explain ideas or teach concepts (Teachernet).

Rebecca Notes Essay

– Gothic: terror, mystery, supernatural, ghosts, haunted houses and Gothic architecture, castles, darkness, death, decay, doubles, madness, secrets and hereditary curses. – Physiological thriller: characters are reliant on their mental resources, whether it is by battling wits with a formidable opponent or by battling of equilibrium in the character’s own mind. – Subversion of romance: sets up the conventions of a romantic genre then slowly subvert or undercut/demolishes our expectations. – Crime: crimes, their detection, criminals, and their motives. The novel is written first person by the narrator, who is never named within the book, and can be considered an ‘unreliable narrator,’ because everything is shown through her ‘unreliable narrative’ ? ‘she’ is persecuted, ‘she’ is inadequate, ‘she’ has an inferiority complex and ‘she’ is haunted by Rebecca. The narrator dreams twice, once in the beginning and once in the end, which conveys the truth that her conscious mind cannot. In the beginning of the novel the most evident genres are Gothic and anti-romance, but as the novel progresses the genres crime and physiological thriller appear more often. There is the continuity of reference back to gothic, but in the last 7 chapters, it is it dominated by more of the crime genre. Rebecca is dominated by the Gothic genre throughout the whole novel because of the continuous presence of Rebecca and the overshadowing Manderley. Even in the end, seems to have risen from the dead to have her final revenge ? through Mrs Danvers and the burning of Manderley. †¢In the very beginning of the book, the narrator introduces us to Manderley as an empty â€Å"inviolate, untouched†, cold â€Å"no smoke came from the chimney†, mysterious place â€Å"desolate shell, soulless at last, unhaunted† †¢Whenever Rebecca’s name is mentioned Maxim de Winter seems to become excessively emotional †¢The rhododendrons, â€Å"blood-red and luscious† – symbolic of Rebecca †¢Mrs. Danvers seems very mysterious, â€Å"deathly cold,† â€Å"skeleton† and â€Å"lifeless† †¢The constant references back to Rebecca â€Å"I was sitting in Rebecca’s chair, I was leaning against Rebecca’s cushion. Even though the Gothic genre is the most dominant genre there are also the secondary genres: Physiological thriller – mystery and ‘crime of the death of Rebecca, the continuous haunting of Rebecca on the narrators mind, also the continuous irony of how right after the Manderley dress ball Rebecca’s body is found Crime – the formal inquest is held and Maxim’s committed murder and his motives are shown †¢The past in opening chapters is itself a mystery – why is Manderley a ruin? †¢Unclear as yet but Rebecca’s death a mystery, which seems to affect everyone at Manderley†¦ who was she? †¢Narrator feels like she doesn’t belong â€Å"This was their routine†¦long custom† ? caught in an alien world of tradition. †¢Rebecca’s presence in the household still evident ? makes the narrator feel like an intruder †¢Keeping alive the spirit of Rebecca â€Å"the room was filled with them† ? people keep putting more flowers into the room like Rebecca used to †¢The irony of how Rebecca who had died a year ago is discovered again right after the Manderley ball â€Å"Rebecca, whom they describes as beautiful, talented†¦ having drowned a year ago, and then Maxim marrying again the following spring, bringing is bride straight to Manderley and giving a big fancy dress ball in her honour.. the following morning the body of his first wife being found trapped in the cabin of her sailing boat, at the bottom of the bay. † â€Å"Both papers used the same word, ‘ironic’ . Yes, I suppose it was ironic. It made a good story. † Subversion of romance – the narrator expects to be whisked away to a grand big house ‘Manderley’ and be loved and grow old with Maxim for the rest of her life, but everything doesn’t go as she expected or what we expected. †¢She expects to grow old and live happily with Maxim for the rest of her life and she will always be loved by Maxim â€Å"We should grow old here together, we should sit like this to our tea as old people, Maxim and I, with other dogs† †¢She thinks Maxim asked her to marry her because he loved her, but in fact he just need a ‘companion’ and Mrs Van Hopper seems to know exactly what would happen â€Å"you know why he is marrying you, don’t you? You haven’t flattered yourself he’s in love with you? † Themes: The themes are ambiguous but some can be identified Marriage – the 1st marriage was fake ? controlled ? ‘arragont’ – the 2nd marriage was submissive ? better then the 1st Obssesion of Rebecca †¢Narrator †¢Maxim †¢Mrs Danvers †¢Favell Control/insecurity Death – the effect on the living and the consequences of causing death.

Stefan’s Diaries: Origins Chapter 27

I ran out onto the lawn. Fire was everywhere, and I noticed that the servants' quarters had burst into flames. Right now, the main house looked safe, but who knew how long that would last? I saw glimpses of flames in the woods, and a large group converged around the police wagon. But all I cared about was finding Damon. Finally, I spotted a figure wearing a blue coat, sprinting toward the pond. I turned on my heel and followed him through the field. â€Å"Stefan!† I heard my name and stopped, looking about wildly. â€Å"Over here!† I turned and saw Jonathan Gilbert, his eyes wild, standing at the edge of the forest, a bow and arrow in one hand, his compass in the other. Jonathan looked down at his invention almost in disbelief. â€Å"There's a vampire in the forest. My compass is pointing, but I need help with a lookout.† â€Å"Jonathan!† I yelled, panting. â€Å"I can't †¦ I have to find †¦Ã¢â‚¬  Suddenly, I saw a flash of white from the forest. Jonathan turned and raised his bow to his shoulder. â€Å"Who goes there?† he called, his voice ringing like a clarion bell. Instantly, he released the arrow. I saw the beginning of its arc as it flung into the darkness. Then we heard a scream, followed by a thud. Jonathan ran into the forest, and I heard a long, low moan. â€Å"Jonathan!† I called wildly, then stopped short. I saw Jonathan kneeling over a prone figure. He turned up to me, his eyes shining with tears. â€Å"It's Pearl,† he said dully. There was an arrow stuck under her shoulder. She moaned, and her eyes fluttered under her lids. â€Å"Pearl!† Jonathan said, angrily this time, as he roughly yanked out the arrow. I turned in horror, not wanting to watch. Instead, I ran with all my might toward the pond, hoping against hope that Damon was still there. â€Å"Damon?† I called tentatively, as I picked my way around tree roots. My eyes took a moment to adjust to the wooded darkness and relative quiet of the forest. I saw a figure perched on a felled tree branch. â€Å"Damon?† I called quietly. The figure turned around, and I gasped. Damon's face was white, and his dark hair was sticking to his forehead. The gash at his temple was bordered by crusted blood, and the whites of his eyes were cloudy. â€Å"Y coward,† he hissed, drawing his knife ou from his pocket. â€Å"No.† I held my hands up and took a step back. â€Å"Don't hurt me.† â€Å"Don't hurt me!† he mocked in a high-pitched voice. â€Å"I knew you'd tell Father eventually. I just don't know why Katherine trusted you with her secret. Why she believed you wouldn't turn her in. Why she loved you.† His voice broke on the word love, and he dropped the knife. His face crumpled in anguish, and he didn't look dangerous or hateful. He looked broken. â€Å"Damon, no. No. No.† I kept repeating the word as my mind whirled. Had Katherine loved me? I remembered the moments she'd stare at me, her hands on my shoulders. You must love me, Stefan. Tell me we'll be together forever. You have my heart. I'd always felt the same woozy, heady sensation running through my limbs and up to my brain, wanting to do anything for her. But now, when I thought of her true nature, all I could do was shudder. â€Å"She didn't love me,† I said finally. She'd compelled me, and she made me hurt everyone I loved. I felt hatred rise up from the depth of my soul, and I wanted to lead the charge against Katherine. Until I looked at my brother. Damon rested his head in his hands, staring at the ground. It was then that I realized: Damon loved Katherine. He loved her despite, or maybe because of, her dark side. When I'd seen Katherine lying bound on the floor, foaming at the mouth, I'd felt a stomach-turning revulsion. But Damon's love for Katherine transcended her current state. Damon loved Katherine so much that he'd accept the vampire side of her, instead of pretending it didn't exist. And in order to be truly happy, Damon needed to be with her. Now I understood. I needed to save Katherine to save Damon. In the distance, wails and cries filled the gunpowder-scented air. â€Å"Damon. Damon.† I repeated his name, each time with an increasing urgency. He looked up, and I saw tears in his eyes, threatening to spill out. Not since Mother died had I seen Damon cry. â€Å"I'll help you save her. I know you love her. I will help.† I kept repeating the word help, as if it were some sort of charm. Please, I pleaded in my mind as I looked at Damon's eyes. There was a moment of silence. Finally, Damon offered an almost imperceptible nod. â€Å"Okay,† he said in a ragged voice, clasping my wrist and dragging me to the edge of the forest.

Indian Socks Essay

Trivial though usually looked upon, ‘Socks’ is definitely an important part of a person’s wardrobe. Still, since long the segment is not taken to be vital. Attributing towards negligence from policy makers and business developers for the sector kept unattended or least valued, Mr Rohit Pal, MD- Renfro India speaking exclusively for News team at fibre2fashion describes â€Å"This segment within clothing has never got its due respect for many years, but I think that outlook has to be changed, and to an extent it is changing now.† â€Å"Socks may not be playing major part as economy driver, but still if the segment is taken seriously it can earn good profits for players,† opines Mr Vineet Bhatia, Properitor of V K Knitting Industries. Mr Raj Kumar Jain, MD – Bonjour, bringing out the importance of sector, comments â€Å"Socks is a requirement of common men for everyday needs. It is estimated to be having over 3000 manufacturing units out of which 85% is in and around Delhi and its national capital regions. And out of this, over 95% business is unorganized and fragmented. I estimate it to be around Rs. 3000crs. Business.† According to Mr Pal’s estimates, Indian knitwear market size is more than Rs. 25000crs, and socks in region would be between around Rs. 600 to 700crs at both organized and unorganized retail end excluding wholesale. He accentuates, â€Å"I think that socks would turn as part of what I call accessorization and accessories adds as a vital sector under garmenting. I estimate it’s been of importance in growing at a very rapid pace around 10 to 25% annually. If it has not got its due importance in the past, it has now got a pace today and it is likely to grow.† Analyzing the impediments in the growth of this category, Mr Bhatia draws attention to lack of good technology in India on this front. He highlights, â€Å"I am interacting with many customers internationally. Overall, our line of players lags behind international competitors in technology. Otherwise, we have better opportunity in international market than in India. Export from India is not much as far as socks is concerned. But domestic market is good.† Mr Jain also notes that for the socks industry there is no training college which will help socks industry get groomed in India. Not a single institution is established to give any training on skills honing in this line. Even for operating machines both- hand operated and automated, training is essential in his view. Mr Ajit Lakra, president of Chamber of Knitwear and Textile Associations of Ludhiana, sees a very big scope for domestic consumption and exports of knitwear. He points up, â€Å"I believe knitwear sector has a big role to play and what is required to have is more good institutes for improving the skills at all levels.† 10% excise duty is a detrimental aspect for Socks sector too. Mr Bhatia expresses, â€Å"Socks is a low cost product and bearing 10% excise duty is justsinking our product. Already cotton prices in the entire year have increased too much and above that excise duty that too 10% is just a suicidal kind of a thing† â€Å"It is either you pay 10% on wholesale or you pay 6% on MRP whatever higher,† mentions Mr Pal.

Is cooperation better than competition?

Our society forging ahead, the significance of both cooperation and competition, methodologies by which humanity cope with awkward social encounters, tends to be acceleratingly pivotal to all walks of life. However, whether the effectiveness of cooperation override that of competition has sparked off spirited debate. I personally advocate the belief that, at the status quo, more weight should be attached to the sense of collaboration, the effervescence instilled into a wide spectrum of communities and the spirit profoundly immersed in success. â€Å"The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.† By which I mean, by no means can the sum of all individual efforts, regardless of how marvelous they might be, prevail over the integrity in terms of stability and rigidity, effectiveness and efficiency. The unity of spider’s net can tie up a lion, albeit fragile a single thread seems to be; a bundle of matches can hardly be broken, albeit brittle a single stick seems to be; cascades of water coalescing together can forge a sea, albeit futile a single drop seems to be. â€Å"Great discoveries invariably involve the cooperation of many minds.† Could you appoint a single scientist to invent a brand-new, cutting-edge devise without others’ assistance? Certainly not! Apparently, there is not a scintilla of possibility that merely one scientist, regardless of how world-renown he is and how ineffable works he has accomplished, can flawlessly combat all hindrances attached to such explorations. Moreover, cooperation is the catalyst for strengthening social rapports. There is no denying that accompanying the process in which we pay concerted efforts for the sake of obtaining the ultimate goal, mutual fidelity and faith play an paramount role, both of which, therefore, will have been bolstered eventually. Furthermore, the arduous but rewarding process during which people have collaborated will consistently echo in everyone’s mind. The partnership, therefore, will certainly be strengthened once those unforgettable experiences are recalled. Admittedly, there exist some benefits brought about by competition that cannot be neglected, whereas its more apparent adverse effects tend to be rendered the friction for social burgeoning. Here comes a compelling example: A couple of waves out of phase tend to be cancelled out, whereas a couple in phase can reinforce each other. What is more, competition may also abstract leaders from focusing on the genuine target, thus distort the value of ultimate outputs. To illustrate, two political parties of a country may give their best shot on how to defeat each other, other than devoting themselves to serving the society. Consequently, who will suffer are the innocent citizens who were promised the idyllic living ambience that are jeopardized by the â€Å"political war†. Competition being the developing stumbling block to some extents, the superiority of cooperation will suffice to be reinforced. Having critically and objectively analyzed all the arguments relating to this dilemma, although some minuscule benefits of competition can not be masked, I will consistently held in high regard the belief that the sense cooperation must be dominant over the sense of competition.

The role of the CIA in the government of Cheddi Jagan (1950-1960) Essay

The role of the CIA in the government of Cheddi Jagan (1950-1960) - Essay Example nt review whereby the area of specialization has widened as a result of the passing of various acts as well as creation of more powerful offices within its administrative structure thereby making it one of the most important security organs in the US. In its history, the agency has been noted to have interfered with several democratic processes in foreign countries such as British Guiana, Chile etc (Weiner 2007 p 51). This essay is a critical evaluation of the CIA’s role in the government of Cheddi Jagan between the years 1950 and 1960. Cheddi Jagan is a renowned politician in the history of the former British Guyana, which later changed its name to Guiana. He is remembered for driving his country to independence through a long struggle, which took him with the support of his wife, American born Janet Jagan both of whom acquired the seat of the president in the country, approximately 28 years to accomplish (Mars 2004 p 16). Born on March 22, 1918, Cheddi Jagan grew up to be a well educated man and ventured into the career of dental medicine after which he transformed into a champion for human rights especially after joining and taking over as the leader of the sugar, rice and wood worker’s union after which he was elected to the national assembly. This gave him the opportunity to address the issues which he felt were against the welfare of the common man and in order to be in a better position to express his views as well as to serve his people he and his wife formed the People’s Progressive Party in 1947 (Mars 2004 p 22). This enabled him to bargain for higher positions in the government and in 1950 he was appointed to the cabinet as chief minister. Even though he had his people’s interests at heart, Cheddi Jagan had a sour relationship with the US due to the fact that he seemed to be more bent towards Marxism and Leninism way of thinking (Rabe 2005 p 47). His coming back to power after a six months imprisonment saw him acquire the portfolio of prime

Business Continuity Planning in a Large Retail Supply Chain Research Paper

Business Continuity Planning in a Large Retail Supply Chain - Research Paper Example Because of my current position problems with the supply chain can directly affect my work load and I want to know more about a retail supply chain and how the supply chain connections can be protected. This paper will be geared towards professionals in both business continuity and retail management. I would like the people in these professions to be able to learn from my paper the need for a better BCP for protecting a company’s supply chain. Opening Statement: Business continuity planning in large retail supply chains is not thorough enough. Large retailers that depend on outsourced supply chains are not managing their supplier risks. The Marsh Supply Chain Survey results show that no one is managing their supply chain risks very well. In fact only about 33% of them are even managing their risks moderately effectively (Hiles, 2011). According to Hiles (2011), supply chain is an all inclusive term that constitutes the management of both downstream and upstream relations with c lients and suppliers. This is desirable because it allows for timely delivery of superior client value at a lesser cost. Certainly, this is sustainable because both parties benefit optimally and are able to sustain their wellbeing through time. In order to protect this process, businesses have to look at the end-to-end supply chain process and build a Business Continuity Plan (BCP) that covers all parts of it. ... leaner business, businesses can â€Å"enhance their operational effectiveness, which essentially improves firm performance and competitiveness† (Liu, Lin, Hayes, 2010, p222). However if a business fails to manage the risks associated with running leaner than they will lose all of these benefits. By not managing their supply chain risks, large retail companies are leaving themselves vulnerable to possible business failure. Hypothesis: This research is informed and guided by distinct assumptions. To begin with, the study presumes that both upstream suppliers and downstream, consumers directly affect the continuity of the retail supply chain. Large retailers should therefore clearly analyze their contribution to business failure or success and make necessary and timely interventions. The study is also based on the assumption that current large retailers are faced with complex risks that stem from the relationships that they establish and maintain at various levels. Further, it pr esumes that inability to manage the risks effectively not only reduces efficiency but also increases the susceptibility of retailers to failure. Finally, this study presumes that relevant interventions can only be identified addressed in a timely manner through continued monitoring. From this point of view, business continuity plans are therefore vitally important. Discussion of Findings: As indicated earlier, retail supply chains are increasingly becoming more and more complex. These can be attributed to the increasing complexity of the relative relationships. Globalization trends have compelled businesses to explore various options in a bid to maintain a competitive edge. In his study, Hotchkiss (2010) found out that the complexity of the business environment has diversified the risks that