Nature Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Nature - Essay Example Such is the case for the two stories examined here. As it is well known in literary circles, not everything that the writer intends to tell is told directly. Some messages are indirectly conveyed. Such is the case with these two stories – Stephen Crane’s â€Å"Maggie: A Girl of the Streets† and â€Å"The Open Boat.† Before one starts to make any point about these two stories, it must be emphasized that there is really no story which nature is not inherent. No matter where the physical setting of any story is, it would also be within the confines of nature. Hence, one must mention that one of the most significant scenes in â€Å"Maggie: A Girl of the Streets† is set by the edge of a river. This is where the â€Å"huge fat man† Maggie eventually takes her. The scene is important because it is where Maggie is believed to have lost her life (Crane 36). Similarly, the setting of â€Å"The Open Boat† is a ship on the seas. Like in â€Å"Mag gie: A Girl of the Streets†, the setting again has something to do with water (nature) (Crane 189). The only difference is that this time, water is not only a symbol; it may also be interpreted to directly affect the lives of the human race. One gets to learn that in life, we all undergo certain issues from time to time, and we, not others, are the best to help ourselves out. Nature would remain fair to all. Whenever one discovers the level to which some persons lack the milk of human kindness, one is often amazed. This most time makes one to just re-examine one’s life and the ethos which one has imbued over time. For instance in â€Å"Maggie: A Girl of the Streets†, one cannot but wonder why it seems that characters like Jimmie and Blue Billie just seem to be so bellicose that they desire to be in a brawl at the slightest provocation (Crane 13). At such times when the bellicosity of these characters is at its peak, one also wonders if they ever had elderly ones to direct them. It is very obvious that Jimmie had someone who is in the place to put him through the best way to behave in the society. But from the look of things, it is either that they were never taught or that he rejected what they were taught. From what one discovers in the story, what may turn out to be third possibility is very unlikely. This third possibility is that the parents themselves do not possess strong moral standings to be able to teach their children the ethos which they need to know. The same thing applies to â€Å"The Open Boat.† Everyone is supposed to have been brought up in such a way that would be able discern when a person is seriously in need of their help or not. In the case of the people whom the shipwrecked men appeal to come for their help, they were simply unable to discern when people seriously need their help and when they don’t. Besides the fact that one, as a reader, is taught indirectly to learn from the bad examples of some charac ters, one is to learn not to tow their way. While readers learn from the flaws of some of these characters, some emotions are evoked in them. In the long run, these are the emotions that would come to play in stopping from taking the wrong decisions in life. One other feature which one learns from the two stories is that, no matter how much one tries to cover up the truth, it would eventually come out. One also discovers that one’s true characters only come to the fore when facing some trying times. For example, in â€Å"

Environmental Issues Journal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Environmental Issues Journal - Essay Example the temperature on earth continues to rise, the water cycle is further driven to evaporation, which allows water to be more available for storm formation but less accessible for some land masses. This increases the risk for flooding in the usual storm-afflicted areas, and the likelihood of drought in locations that get relatively less precipitation. The change in temperature also makes the storm tracks vary, making the weather less predictable. More importantly for humans, increasing temperature will lead to heat-related health incidents, air-quality respiratory illnesses, and low crop yields (Environment Protection Agency). The naturally-occurring gases contribute to climate change because the mechanisms that regulate their amounts in the atmosphere become less efficient. Although the temperature in earth started increasing since the 1800, the most rapid increase has been observed in the recent decades, most possibly due to human activity (Environmental Protection Agency). In the case of carbon dioxide, it is regulated by the carbon cycle. However, its increasing level in the atmosphere is partly attributed to industrialization that started 150 years ago, which emit the gas by burning fossil fuels to power the machineries. Currently, electricity generation and transportation add into the carbon dioxide emission. Methane from landfills, coal mines, oil and gas operations, and agriculture also add to the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. As well, the continuing deforestation depletes the plant population that absorbs carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (National Energy Information Center, 2004). Unfortunately, we cannot prevent the earth from heating up. This is because many greenhouse gases take a long time to be degraded, and the cycling of the heat from the ocean to the atmosphere is relatively slow. What we can do is to slow it down. When the problem of increasing levels of greenhouse gas continues, the rate at which temperature of the Earth’s surface rise

Bioinspired liquid repellent surfaces Literature review

Bioinspired liquid repellent surfaces - Literature review Example Such cases are not only seen on daily basis, like car windshields fogging, bathroom taps calcification and utensils and cooking pans non sticky properties, but also are experienced in industrial applications, infrastructures damage such as metallic machines corrosion and sewer blockage and fouling by fats (Martin et al.2003). In order for such problems to be resolved, there is need of super hydrophobic surfaces creation and it has been studied extensively for the past few decades (Martin et al.2003). For the super-hydrophobicity properties to be achieved there is need of the introduction of roughness to the surface and most of the solid –water surfaces is never oriented parallel to the substrate (Martin et al.2003). Scientists have been inspired by nature in solving sophisticated challenges in the field of biom imetics. Nature is considered to be based on designs that are effective. In this case, the application of previous resources is optimized and it is something that has been considered to inspire engineers worldwide (Bhushan etal.2006). A deeper understanding of nature could result to bio-inspired products which could save money, lives and time. There are various examples which include Shark skin inspired the boat hulls (low drag); low adhesion and super hydrophobic lotus leaf inspired the antifouling medical devices and self cleaning windows (Bhushan etal.2006). There has been resolution to several engineering challenges in nature that include antifouling and fluid drag reduction which are obstacles to several industries. Nature has a clue to these challenges and it includes the butterfly wings and rice leaves unique surfaces characteristics. These combine the lotus leaf effect as well as the shark skin effect to generate what is referred to as rice butterfly wing effect. Several fauna and flora has been majorly focused on by researchers with a lot of emphasis on the structures of the nature, surfaces as well

Stakeholder Comparative Study Case Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Stakeholder Comparative - Case Study Example The companies of interest in this analysis do belong to industries which are very different in nature and which therefore carry different potential and impacts on the regarded interest of the stakeholder they represent. The environment in which they operate in, their industry, the state of their local economy, the overall sizes of their respective industries, their global impacts, their related risks, their economic values are all aspects that are determined in part by the composition of their respective stakeholders and the type of value they are able to offer those from a social, political, and economic perspective. British Land Company plc is the largest property investment company in Britain, with a current portfolio of  £14.6 billion. The Company’s portfolio focuses on areas where the principles of supply and demand have shown to remain strong in the long term. About 41% is invested in large town retail properties, such as Meadowhall Shopping Centre in Sheffield, 88 sup ermarkets and 66 retail warehouses (BL 2007). Another main area of focus of the company is on office properties in central London, with a comparable rate attaining 33% of the company’s overall property portfolio, with notable offices such as the Broadgate Estate, Liverpool Street Station, and Regent’s Place. The Group employs 186 staff members at its headquarters in the London office. Their activities are focused on the integrated core disciplines of strategic property investment, management, development, and financing.  ... The Group outsources the day-to-day operational management of its portfolio, and other non-core disciplines to third party members. The British Land Company's primary objective is to produce superior, sustained and secured long-term shareholder returns via the development, management and financing of chosen real estate activities. The company recognizes that environmental and social considerations should be integrated with everyday working practices and they are embedded into its corporate values. The structure of British Land's corporate responsibility (CR) committee ensures that CR is integrated at every level. The committee consists of the head of each department. Each member has responsibility for a different aspect of CR ( for example, employee volunteering) and reports back to the COO on that area. Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) (SPDC) of Nigeria is a subsidiary of the Royal Dutch/Shell group of companies. SPDC is 100% Shell owned, but it operates a joint venture on behalf of the Nigerian government, to explore and produce crude oil and natural gas. In this joint venture, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), a state-owned company, has a 55% stake and SPDC has a 30% stake (10% belongs to France's Total and 5% to Italy's Agip). The joint venture is the largest producer of crude oil in Nigeria, with around 1 million barrels of oil per day, accounting for about 40% of the country's oil production (SPDC 2007). SPDC employees almost 5000 staff directly (95% Nigerians). However, another 20.000 people are employed indirectly, because there are many day-to-day activities carried out by sub-contractors (e.g. exploration surveys, drilling for oil, construction of facilities etc.). The mission of SPDC is

Position Paper on The Applicability of the KouzesPosner Model of Essay

Position Paper on The Applicability of the KouzesPosner Model of Leadership - Essay Example While this may be true, it is often in an extreme crisis situation that leadership is ultimately tested. They have developed a framework identifying five specific practices critical to effective leadership in organizations. These include the following: Includes actions like seeking challenging opportunities for themselves and employees in pursuit of company goals, pushing new approaches inside the company, looking for ways to improve, experimenting and taking appropriate risks, creating a learning environment inside the work units, exercising initiative to overcome obstacles. The search for opportunity begins when leaders take on meaningful challenges, and thus experience conditions that test their capabilities. Leaders should be able to assess and take risks. From those experiences, they can learn to lead a team to accomplish extraordinary achievements (Kouzes and Posner 2002). The CEO of Dell Michael Dell challenged the processes used to sell computers to consumers Michael Dell definitely broke the rules and continues to do so. He was able to bring others into accepting his vision of a better way to sell computers. He was the first to sell directly to the end-user and he was the first to use the Internet so effectively to sell his computers. Focuses on talking about future trends, c... He was able to bring others into accepting his vision of a better way to sell computers. He was the first to sell directly to the end-user and he was the first to use the Internet so effectively to sell his computers. b) Inspiring a Shared Vision Focuses on talking about future trends, communicating a positive view of the future, appealing to others to share in their vision of the future, demonstrating to others how future interests can be reached through the company, being enthusiastic and positive about the future, speaking with positive conviction about the meaning of work. To enlist the support of a team for a common purpose, leaders must effectively convey their own vision. Furthermore, leaders need to cultivate a shared sense of ownership of that vision; only then will team members mobilize for the greater good of the team and its common goal (Kouzes and Posner 2002) ExampleA good example of this is Milton Stewart now represents Davis Wright Tremaine, LLP as the director of business development. Along with managing over 400 attorneys, his responsibilities in the firm include forecasting, planning and communication with his clients. Milton has been able to inspire a shared vision by being consistent and staying on message. He truly believes that you can win at business ethically thus this is one of the visions he shares with his employees, and thus wants them to be ethical in their dealings. Milton hates to leave things unfinished, never leaving the ball in his court. Milton responds to every email, letter, or phone call, exemplifying his belief that who you are and what you do, are one in the same. Mr. Stewart another vision which he shares with his

Merketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Merketing - Essay Example A traditional philosophy of marketing, known as the production philosophy, believes that a good product will sell itself (Sandhusen, 2000, p. 13). By the beginning of the 20th century this had evolved into a sales oriented system. The sales based philosophy worked on the belief that a good salesman could sell anything to anyone. It relied on advertising and customer manipulation (Sandhusen, 2000, p. 13). These philosophies evolved throughout its history and most modern theorists now contend that all business is customer driven and successful marketing is getting the customer what they want at a price they are willing to pay (Lancaster & Reynolds, 1999, p. 78). Marketing has been described as "[...] the process of planning and executing the conception, pricing, promotion and distribution of ideas, goods, and services to create exchanges that satisfy individual and organisational objectives" (Lancaster & Reynolds, 1999, p. 1). It is not so much a single task as it is a concept of visualising your customer through their eyes, and creating a profit by understanding and satisfying their needs by providing something of value (Forsyth, 1999, p.124). In its basic form, marketing matches the companys capability to supply the customer with a customers need for goods. This process is often analysed through the use of the 4Ps/4Cs model. The producer controls product, price, promotion, and place. The customer controls their 4C counterparts of customer solution, cost, communication, and convenience. In general, though price incentives can be utilised on a limited basis at some cost to profitability, marketing can only control the promotion and the place in the short term. The customer controls the cost they are willing to pay, acceptance as a solution, convenience, and communication with the producer. Except by manipulation, the company is limited to only researching the aspects that are controlled by the

Consultancy Report Essay Example for Free

Consultancy Report Essay As a subsidiary of one of the largest cosmetics organizations in the world, you are in a position to dramatically increase your potential and further capitalize on your brands recognition. My hope is that you will establish and maintain a broader, more diverse customer base and increase your overall profitability. Based on an in-depth analysis and research conducted on your organizations behalf, I have identified several problematic areas in need of immediate attention. The following document will serve to provide valuable information to address these issues accordingly. One such issue and perhaps one of the most crucial is that of the organization’s brand awareness levels in the United Kingdom. This is due in part to the fact that Mary Kay U.K. is not as widely recognized in the United Kingdom as it is in the Americas. I recommend increasing your presence to reach potential customers who would otherwise be unaware of your organization. We will seek to address the significant growth of new potential competitors while developing a means of competing effectively against already established competitors. You will learn of new methods in which to remain relevant and a viable global contender in the cosmetics industry. New products will serve to provide your organization with a competitive edge and differentiate your organization from all its competitors. New policies and changes in the organization’s infrastructure will increase employee satisfaction an important factor for employee retention. These enhancements to the organization’s current dealings can ultimately increase profitability, improve customer satisfaction levels, and increase employee productivity. As Mary Kay U.K. adopts these changes and once in effect, there will be a need to take on additional employees to tend to the day-to-day operations and supplementary qualified/experienced executive-level professionals, allowing for a more focused approach on the management aspects of the organization. Effective documentation of the organization’s financials will allow for more educated and informed decision-making procedures. Adequate fiscal records serve as effective management tool for predicting future success, identify problem areas and to make decisions that will assist in the organization’s overall effectiveness. In addition to significantly changing the inner workings of the organization in the United Kingdom, substantial changes to the organizations image and frontend interfaces may be required to assist with the issue of brand awareness. The organization must become a well-oiled machine internally as well as an aesthetically pleasing entity for potential customers, future investors and for those considering strategic business alliances. Creating a more convivial atmosphere with which your organization would then be associated will give these interested parties a respectable first impression. It is apparent that lacking presentation and unfocused management gives rise to the decrease or stagnation of profitability and employee retention. Changes to policy, organizational image, and infrastructure will not only prove beneficial but may in fact be necessary for the success of the organization and its future viability within the United Kingdom. In addition, there must be changes in customer behavior to increase the probability of the organization’s adoption. The organization needs to appeal to a broader customer base after shifting consumer views of cosmetics to match that of American consumers. Thus, by implementing novel, eye-catching, and feeling invoking imagery or advertisements, people will in turn be more inclined to purchase Mary Kay products. In order to be more successful, I recommend the transformation of current marketing strategies. Implementation of a marketing plan that encompasses the arguably successful word-of-mouth strategy in addition to overt and persistent adverts by way of social media will benefit the organization’s image. Because a constant stream of information pertaining to the actual products will allow the consumer to easily recall the information and develop a need for the product as presented by the advertisement. In addition, there must be a vested interest in appealing to the variety of potential consumers within the United Kingdom. Mary Kay U.K. would be wise to capitalize on United Kingdom’s ever-growing and diverse population, via the translation and representation of the multitude of languages spoken within the target areas of operation. This will allow for a more comfortable customer experience and personalized identification with the Mary Kay brand. Brand Awareness is at an all-time low as target populations fail to recognize the Mary Kay Brand. The organization must increase its visibility in the growing cosmetics market in the United Kingdom. This is possible with improved advertising and re-imagined brand association. Increased brand recognition will assist with declining profits. The proposals presented in this consultancy report, should Mary Kay U.K. opt to adopt them will serve to promote the organization’s business aptitude and increase overall profitability and effectiveness. My hope is that this educated and informed counsel will effectively navigate the organization into a state of increased viability and the optimization and growth of Mary Kay U.K. business operations and clientele. INTRODUCTION This consultancy report will serve to provide the Mary Kay U.K. Ltd. Subsidiary of Mary Kay Cosmetics with informed suggestions to increase the organization’s revenues and improving the day-to-day dealings of the organization from a management perspective. Following extensive research of the organization’s operations, I have prepared a comprehensive examination of the organization in its entirety. This research has been comprised of a thorough analysis of the organization’s fiscal and promotion facets. This report also takes into account the consumer aspect of the organization, and the organizations image as viewed by the public. In addition, it will serve to demonstrate the manner in which the target audience does or fails to accept this image. Crucial organizational issues have been identified and addressed accordingly, supplemented with recommendations for minimizing or eliminating potentially negative effects. These suggestions may prove insightful for the achievement of further profitability and consumer satisfaction should the organization choose to implement any or all of the changes proposed in this report. The information provided in this report comes via thorough research and analytical dismantling of data and industry trends and its reassembling in the form of a well-formulated business plan. Suggestions provided will seek to address Mary Kay U.K.’s organizational structure, the organization’s inclination to incorporate a corporate social responsibility element, consumer satisfaction, employee turn-over rates, decreasing or non-existent profits, brand recognition and awareness among target consumers and product quality, to name the most imperative of organization’s issues. In all, if implemented, these changes could ensure a significant turnaround for the Mary Kay U.K. entity. Numbers will rise to the status of or potentially rival those of its American contemporary. The organization would hold a strong position before its global competitors and open the door for future business strategic affiliations. The organizational redesign will prove beneficial for Mary Kay’s United Kingdom division as an organization, for the consumers now receiving increased quality services, and for the leveling of the cosmetics industry in the United Kingdom. ANALYSIS OF CLIENT BUSINESS Company Description and History Mary Kay Inc. is one of the largest cosmetics companies in the world to date. Headquartered in Addison, Texas at 16251 Dallas Parkway Addison, TX 75001 in the United States, it has manufacturing plants located in Dallas, Texas, Hangzhou, China and La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland for its European market. Mary Kay Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Mary Kay Holding Corporation. Founded by Mary Kay Ash in 1963 and based on personally established values that guided her everyday life she sought to help women live the life of their dreams. Company values include integrity, honesty and a belief in the Golden Rule; â€Å"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.† The mission, to assist and provide the vehicle that would allow prospective independent beauty consultants to have their respective dreams come true via the distribution, promotion, and retailing of a handful of products. Mary Kay Inc. identifies itself as a â€Å"Generation Everything† organization, meaning it serves everyone from all walks of life and of all ages. The organization recently posted that its revenues are up to 3 billion due to sales in its 35 + markets globally. All made possible by its 25 million global independent sales force.