Business Communications Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Business Communications - Essay Example RasGas offers a broad range of benefits to the potential applicants that include but are not limited to attractive salary package, free accommodation, and different kinds of insurances. EMAAR introduces itself as a company that exposes its multinational employees belonging to 43 different nationalities (â€Å"Careers†) to new challenges that serve to enhance their own skills and facilitate their professional growth. EMAAR emphasizes upon recruiting only the very best employees from all over the world, as the company’s performance fundamentally relies upon the skills and competencies of its workforce. EMAAR presents its employees as individuals with exceptional skills and customer service abilities. EMAAR offers its employees training and development opportunities. From the comparison of the two companies, it can be concluded that both companies encourage diversity in the workforce and provide them with training and development opportunities. However, RasGas expresses the benefits it offers its employees more overtly and explicitly as compared to EMAAR. One also gets to see the pictures of the employees of RasGas which are not available on the website of EMAAR. Overall, RasGas offers a clearer insight into the company for the potential applicants than

I know why the caged bird sings (Author- Maya Angelou) Essay

I know why the caged bird sings (Author- Maya Angelou) - Essay Example Maya related whiteness to beauty since in the society she lived; white people were perceived as beautiful and gorgeous (Angelou, 14). Similarly, in the real world, many black skinned individuals go for the option of using bleaching chemicals to make their skins white believing that they would look good. In chapter 1, Maya describes her stay in the south as putting a razor to one’s throat because of being a black girl. She went through hard times since racism was rampant at the time (Angelou, 10). Many issues are brought out in because of racism such as frustration, embarrassment, and disillusionment. She felt that black people were not seen as full Americans, and her alienation with her people made her feel displaced and unwanted. In relating to the real world scenario, racism still exists, and many black Americans feel that they are displaced in their own country (Angelou, 3). For this reason, black Americans and other minor races living in America, are discriminated; hence, do not share the country’s resources equally. In chapter 7, Momma was scared of speaking rudely and harshly to the white people. She could only do this while generically referring to the whites as ‘they’. Maya further refers Momma as a realist rather than a coward in the society for this reason (Angelou, 18). Relating to the scenario to real world it is true that some black Americans are oppressed and forced to believe that whites are superior in the society. They believe that high ranks in the government are only for

A Bridge to Wisemans Cove Essay Example for Free

A Bridge to Wisemans Cove Essay ‘With it’s sight restored at last, the bird jerked it’s head sideways to look at Carl and then Joy, as though it was asking, is it true? Am I free?’ James Moloney uses the image of the osprey in several ways throughout the novel. The main technique in which it is represented, is the emotion of the characters finally feeling free in there own way. The first use of the image of the osprey is shown when Carl’s mother Kerry would always leave to go on one of her ‘holiday’s’. I believe that she went on these holidays to make herself feel free. To go away for a few days and leave her real life. But in fact she was never really free. Even on her holidays she always knew that she would eventually have to come back to reality, to her children. It’s not that she didn’t love her kids, she did. Perhaps she just couldn’t handle the stress of having to raise three children as a single parent or maybe just having them around was holding her back. During the prelude of the novel an unknown women gets on board a bus. She waits out of sight and sneaks on the bus when the driver is pre-occupied. She does not have a ticket and no one knows who she is. ‘The driver gunned the engine, commanding its throaty roar and the bus pulled away from the roadhouse into the sea of darkness. Only then did the women sit up and permit herself a smile’ At the end of the novel we find out that this women was Kerry. She was on her way back to her children when the bus she was on drowned into the ocean. In the moment that Kerry died, came the realization that she knew she was finally free. Sarah, Carl’s sister also finds the courage to leave and set herself free. Free from living her own life. Since Sarah was old enough to remember she would always have to depend on herself not her mother. When her mother would leave she would have to look after Carl and Harley as though they were her own. She states in the book ‘I’m only nineteen years old. I’ve got my own life. By the time Harley’s old enough to take care of himself, I’ll be thirty.’ Although I don’t agree with the way Sarah went about just dropping Harley and Carl off at their Aunt Beryl’s, I agree that she has her own life to live and she needed to escape. Consequently, setting herself free. The image of the osprey is shown in a major way within Carl. In many ways the osprey is a mirror image of Carl, in its appearance, pain, suffering, recovery and how it is set free. The image of the osprey is remarkably similar to that of Carl’s. It was a, ‘large bird, brown and grey, its head covered by a canvas hood.’ The description of the osprey matches some aspects of Carl’s body and personality. Carl was a large boy, miserable like the colour grey and he was shy like a hood covering his head. This was because he did not want to see what people responded to his body. He was ashamed of himself and the name his family had. Although by the end of the book Carl realizes that he finally has new friends and a new family. He finds that people like him and that they ignore that he is a Matt. ‘My name is Carl Matt. M-A-T-T.’ Carl screams his name out to the world, he doesn’t care anymore. Carl was free. Free of his worries, free of his fears. He is free from the curse that everyone says he and his family has. He could let go of his sorrowful past and be alive just like how the osprey let go of its painful past and began to fly once again. The way the osprey spread it’s wings and took its first beat against the wind symbolizes the emotions rushing through Carl when he finds out his mum truly did love him and Harley. The journey of the osprey mirrored Carl’s personal life. The osprey was set free in a way that makes Carl feel alive. The image of the osprey is used to represent the characters feeling free. It mainly symbolizes as a metaphor for Carl’s life. The osprey is free from being injured by people by being nurtured from Justine and Joy. Carl was also getting injured by people. Throughout his whole life people were hurting him. Kerry, his mother, Beryl, his aunt, his older sister Sarah and kids calling him names about him weight. When he met Justine and Joy, they saved him. They made him feel alive. They set him free.

The Strategic Planning Of British Airways

The Strategic Planning Of British Airways The purpose of making this report is to provide British Airways (BA) with a strategic plan for future improvement. In the airline sector British Airways known to be the UK market leader, but for the last decade British Airways has been challenged by other competitors, resulting in wearing down in their market share. The report in detail analyzes the overall environment of British Airways. This report also describes the organizational structure and other important aspects of the organization. In this report through strategic assessment, recommendation has been given to British Airways to concentrate on their primary qualities like service delivery in order to re-establish their competitive advantage. There are two strategies which British Airways will have to implement, one is related with the HR development strategy and the other is to concentrate on technological improvement. In the UK British Airways Plc (BA) is the biggest international scheduled airline. It flies to more than three hundreds destinations and carries more than thirty three million passengers. According to British Airways annual report 2008 approx  £8.7 billion of revenue was earned and according to (Data monitor, 2008) total numbers of employees as of march 2008 stays at 42,377. Along with the passenger flights British Airways engaged in the operation of domestic and international carriage of mail and shipment. Regardless of the global economic downturn, British Airways future seems promising. According to latest yearly report (British Airways, 2008) which stated that British Airways objective is to become worlds most dependable airline. Strategic Corporate Development History: British Airways came into picture after the merger of the British European Airways and British Overseas Airways Corporation. After the merger, British Airways had faced numerous problems and issues such as the cultural difference. British Airways was facing noticeable problems in cross national operations and acquisitions. According to Lubatkin Calori it was the different organizational culture and organizational culture entrenched in different national culture which was coming together (Very, Lubatkin Calori, 1996). Problem arose when employees from different organization, different background and culture had to interact with each other and when one culture had to adopt the practices of the other culture (Schneider and DeMeyer, 1991). The main reason of the problem was the mind-set of employees, different employees would think in different ways. So, coming on the same page was little difficult for the employees. Another difficulty or problem faced by British Airways is in terms of its obligatory management system. British airways have compliance with its strict policies and regulation like status difference in an organization due to various dress codes. Too much rule oriented in the management is creating problem among staff. Along with those problem another problem was arose by the new management, they were unable to identify the proper need and want of the customer. Because company has given importance on its internal management approach and focus on holding its diverse routes which resulted on unsatisfied customers. Effects of Conflicts: These problems and conflicts between management had a bad and harmful effect on the new company. British Airways has been considered as the most disreputable company because of its poor service. In addition, the organizations operation has been pretentious and in 1980 the company had been regard to have the worst timekeeping record all over European carriers flying from UK and named as the airline to circumvent. This resulted in the extensive loss for the company. Management Change at the British Airways: After being named as the airline to avoid, British Airways had to look for some changes within the organization. As a result they considered vital management changes, called change management. Some big changes were made by John King who was appointed as the chairman of British Airways by British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in 1981. The new appointed chairman had made some changes like closing many routes, selling off the freight system and aircraft, along with these actions he also lay off approximate twenty thousand employees. According to Carlopio change may be called as the implementation of an innovation, it can be done through an adaptation of practices in which improvement will be seen in the output (Carlopio, 1998). British Airways has recognized the need for change in order to gain competitive advantage. Colin Marshall took charge as the Chief Executive Officer of British Airways in 1982. In this period British Airways was making its first surplus, but this was happening in the effect of the changes made by John King in which he tried to cut the cost. Colin Marshall wants to know about the staff and what they deliver to the customers, so he hired consultant. Later Marshall found out that there is a huge gap between what the employees are delivering and what the customer actually need. For this reason, Marshall took initiative in changing the system from staff oriented to customer oriented company through the formation of customer is king policy culture within the British Airways. This approach of satisfying customer continued until the late 1990s and to keep the employee motivated, Marshall introduced Award for Excellence in 1987. The main objective of this strategy is to appraise high performers and motivate employees to efficiently do well in satisfying customers and fulfil customers needs. Another good change made by Marshall for employees was to work with Lancaster University to provide MBA course for British Airways employees. Additionally, the organizational structure of British Airways also changed to a much flatter and smartest structure. Five sectors of the company are directly reporting to the CEO and eleven profit hubs were formed. These structural changes aimed to boost the staff assimilation and communication within British Airways. Extra pay scheme and appraisal system was also introduced by the management on the basis of satisfying customers and being consistent at work. It included key investments in planes, ground facilities and Information Technology in order to stick to the needs of its customers. All the major changes were happened after privatization of BA in 1987 and took over British Caledonian Airways in 1988. Changes Helped the Organization: The main goal of all the changes which are imposed by British Airways is to make the industry sustain its position in the marketplace and become competitive in the airline sector. The result of the changes were positive, the company had become more customer oriented by giving excellent services. All the hard work and dedication of the management paid off when British Airways was nominated to receive the worlds best Airline award in 1989. It was a prestigious award for British Airways and it helped the organization to be efficient and productive. Without HR effective strategies, it is difficult to be strong and competitive in the market, so in this case Human Resource Management strategies were the key elements to help the company achieved competitive advantage and the prestigious award. Problems Due to Management Change: Like in any other organization whenever there is a change in the management; problems and issues arises, same case with British Airways during and after the management change, it faced different problems. At one side these changes were able to give British Airways the position it deserved in the market and on the other hands this management change was causing some problem. The problem wasnt related with the employee performance or its achievement, this problem tends to be associated with the employee. The problems were recognized was the behaviour of a number of employees which causes internal problems to the operation of the company. Response of the British Airways to Problems: British Airways was outstanding in 1999; in that year it faced so many problems and conflicts and used effective approaches to solve such issues. British Airways introduces e-commerce strategy to increase online sales. (BA) was also offering flat beds, laptop, and for business class passenger they offered email, phone and fax facility to provide full satisfaction to its on board customers. British Airways focuses on having good employee relationship and customer relationship, so it brought back its policy of putting People First. By doing this they had satisfied millions of customers and employees as well. This strategy of putting People First had made a great impact on the mind of their customers in a positive way. Current Strategic Situation: Corporate Level Structure: At a corporate level, BA has a good quality structure. There is a fresh Acting Customer Director on a provisional basis, Silla Maizey (British Airways, 2008). She has initiated a fresh customer service squad working with Heathrow Customer Services, intended to put client first. Utilizing the present structure in order to apply recommended strategy, it is suggested that an enduring director must be hired. In reference to technological strategy, no adjustments in the present structure are needed because current system of BA is accordance with the technological aspects. Business Level Structure: At a business level all division are bound to make such policies which will implement strategy effectively and efficiently, all the staff should be bound to follow strategic rule accordingly. Every division should also adapt the corporate level goals specifically to its own aims. This will assist to make value for brand, perk up its client relationship and help to accomplish the settled goals. Functional Level Structure: Each function should be harmonized with each other to achieve organizational objective effectively in a synchronized manner. All the strategies and functional objective should be aligned as well it will help each function to determine whether these functional departments are in lined with the corporate department. Adequate instruction on the fresh involved technology will be needed on continue basis to make certain that workers are completely know to that service. Organisation and Stakeholder Power It is significant to assess the expectations of diverse stakeholders and the degree to which they are likely to influence over BAs strategies. Followings have interest power on company; Charity Organizations Government/Regulators Customers Creditors Workers Rivals Suppliers Financial Associations Shareholders Stakeholder Map: INTEREST LOW HIGH POWER HIGH LOW Charity Organizations BA give cash to some of listed aid organizations in UK (British Airways, 2008) smallest impact on the strategies. Government/Regulators Fresh legislation (if initiated) will have a large impact on the company. Customers Customers give the entire sale but show less curiosity in how the corporation is administered. But they have a large impact therefore; the basic objective is to create more customer satisfaction. Creditors Should be kept knowledgeable due to cash yet to be paid though this will not impact on the options implemented at BA as they have an excellent credit ranking (Financial Analysis). Workers Are the important parts of BA, likeness workers having the power to satisfy customers. Workers have a vested awareness as BA gives their financial safety. The personnels at BA are deeply unionised, this add to the power of the workers. Rivals BAs key competitors within their strategic group have a large interest and power in manipulating BAs strategy. The oligopolistic character of the marketplace will have an effect on the choices BA takes. Suppliers Two airline suppliers, Boeing and Airbus. Both have a high interest and power upon BA, as BA is a giant source of earnings for both suppliers and BA also rely upon them for supply. In short suppliers are more focused toward BA strategies. Financial Associations Monetary support perhaps will be required from Financial associations to finance these strategies and yet despite the fact that BA has lesser its gearing ratio and enlarged its liquidity. In the present circumstances the associations have large power over BA and can reject monetary assistance. Shareholders Shareholders have a large interest as to gain financial profits. They have large input in choosing board members and approving fresh strategies. The shareholders have to be well educated about the threat of new strategy and expected profitability about the firm. PESTEL Analysis Internal Analysis: It is now necessary to examine the internal environment in order to devise appropriate strategies. Value Chain Analysis (VCA): SUPPORT ACTIVITIES FIRM INFRASTRUCTURE Structured hierarchy let BA to utilize multitude of expert knowledge in order to achieve competitive advantage over downsized companies. HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Spend in the advancement of customer service training in 2007 drawing attention of the most excellent workers. Speak Up view surveys give confidence workers to give opinions (British Airways, 2008). TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT BA has supplemented value in this category over minor corporations, due to relaxed resources that can improve the presentation of service (e.g. LCD screens). PROCUREMENT Due to the volume and past business dealings and coalitions, BA was capable to influence suppliers and by economies of scale create efficiencies where rivals might loss. PRIMARY ACTIVITIES INBOUND LOGISTICS Stock handling Far above the ground quality training credited by City Guilds (British Airways, 2008). On-going association with suppliers (e.g. Gate Gourmet.) OPERATIONS Baggage security has been increased. Rapid check-in services and safe online bookings with capability to pre-book added services. OUTBOUND LOGISTICS Customer Service Huge database of airport slots allow travellers to access the bulk of destinations from favoured airport. MARKETING SALES Marketing conversation to all stakeholders. Brand permitting for large budget to be used up in this field. POST SALE SERVICE Allegiance club card. Update conversation on other services BA has tried to organize the system additionally by forward and backward alleviation. Through handling numerous component supplies in-house, BA boosted their reach in the value system to the supplier and channel value chains. Resource Based View (RBV): It is considered that corporation competitive advantage and greater performance is resulted from its distinguishing capabilities (Johnson et al., 2008 p95). The resource based view highlight BAs resources and competencies as below: RESOURCES COMPETENCIES THRESHOLD CAPABILITIES Threshold Resources Tangible 245 aircraft flying over 550 different places (British Airways, 2008). Supplementary services (e.g. BA Holidays The London Eye Company (Datamonitor, 2008)). Intangible Worldwide Customer Database. Joint ventures coalition with one world (incl. American Airlines), code share/franchise partners, and subsidiaries. Threshold Competencies Training of ground school, flight simulators, and cabin security training (BAFT, 2009). Economies of Scale from suppliers. Capability to fly passengers securely to various routes and handle passengers (Davies, 2000). CAPABILITIES FOR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE Exclusive Resources Tangible Sole access to London Heathrow Terminal five (BBC News, 2008). Intangible Highly regarded brand image. BA is familiar worldwide as a good reputation brand, toughened by its long-standing survival within the business. Core Competencies Open Skies subsidiarys aircraft never have above than 64 travellers per flight, with 1 assistant per 12 customers (British Airways, 2008). Initial UK airline known as a training centre by the City Guilds, qualifying all cabin crew with NVQ Level 2 (British Airways, 2008). SWOT Analysis: It is significant that strategic formulation is reflective of BAs strengths and weaknesses comparative to competitors and the opportunities and threats presented by its outside environment (Pitts Lei, 2003). Internal Strengths: Brand likeness Joint ventures coalitions Financial volume and steadiness Internal Weaknesses: Bad worker relations history Dependability and trust Modernization modification External Opportunities: SkyTrax Quality structure Rivals forced exit Rivals deteriorating on delivering dependability Appearance of new markets External Threats: Open Skies accord Environmental consciousness Worldwide economic crisis Lesser cost competition Different Aspects of Proposed Strategies: PESTEL Worldwide economic crisis. High regulatory requirements. Growing environmental consciousness. Turn down in consumer expenditures. Greater than before utilization of the internet by consumers. Centre their attention on technological and environmental matters. Customer Analysis Consumer tendency in far above the ground expediency and elevated expectations of service. Make certain changing customer needs should be tackled and fulfilled Strategic Group Analysis Strong rivalry within strategic group and tendency for consolidation. The major other intimidation comes from low cost airlines. Though low cost airlines are the major threat to BA, stirring into low cost market is not believed suitable based on earlier unsuccessful attempts. Airline Quality Review BA = bad baggage managing poor on flight amusement and low customer contentment. Service excellence requires to be enhanced to achieve a competitive advantage The Value Chain BA adds value; financial volume and steadiness, brand likeness, business expertise, and joint ventures and coalitions. BA loses value to rivalry; worker relations and performance, marketing delivery, dependability, and slow modernization. BA requires addressing the areas where worth is being missing to avoid offensive rivals strategies. Resource Based View Tough resources including sole access to hub inside largest UK Airport. Tough training competencies. Make use of BA core competences to get competitive advantage. Financial Analysis Greater than before profits and lower operational costs. Lesser gearing ratios and elevated liquidity. Option of a loss in 2009 as a result of the economic recession. Investment resources on hand greater than before inspection on strategic projects for risk evaluation. Strategic Direction for the Future TOWs Matrix A range of strategic options will now be formulated using the TOWs matrix to resolve the strategic issues highlighted from the analysis. External Opportunities Threats Skytrax- star structure of excellence Rivals forced exit Rivals deteriorating on delivering dependability Appearance of new markets Open skies accord Environmental consciousness (Climate change bill) worldwide Economic Crisis lesser cost rivalry Internal Strengths Brand likeness Joint ventures and coalition Financial volume steadiness Terminal 5 Strategies for strengths to meet opportunities: Division focus. Supply chain migration. Introduction of admiring services. Present Broader service Strategies for Strengths to defend threats: Reformation of brand likeness. Expand into other transport markets. Weaknesses Deprived worker relations history Current negative attention on dependability conviction Rapid modernization and modification Strategies for opportunities to overcome weaknesses: Enhanced people processes. Technological improvement Strategies for Weaknesses not to expose threats: Enhanced environmental position Ansoffs Matrix: Strategy Linked to Ansoff Strategic Options Explanation 1. Market Infiltration 1. Enhancement to people processes Decrease present tension from harmful worker and customer relations. 2. Enhanced environmental position. Go over and beyond the present environmental needs. 3. Reformation of brand likeness. Reformation and modernization of brand likeness in an effort to gain market share. 4. Division focus Giving centre of attention on business class consumers as the most Lucrative segment of the business. 2. Product Growth 5. Technological improvement. Opening of internet access on flights to perk up the overall excellence of service. 6. Introduction of admiring services. Presenting of admiring services such as car rental or hotels. 3. Market Expansion 7. Present broader service Add to number of places BA fly to, put centre of attention on places of growth Such as India and China. 4. Diversification 8. Expand into other transport markets. Broaden your horizons into substitute services such as rail, in an effort to preserve competitive advantage. 9. Supply Chain integration. Vertical integration in the supply chain. I.e. Gate Gourmet or Boeing. Strategy No.1: People Processes Aim: Enhanced stakeholder brand likeness productivity Objectives: Make use of databases. Perk up service delivery effectiveness. Develop internal communication. Put into practice efficient review monitoring. Performance Measures: Income margin add up to of 2 3%. Amplified repeat purchasing by 25%. Enlarged consumer recommendation from 58% (2007/08) to 69%. Improve worker survey rate from 34% (2007/08) to 79% Strategy No.2: Technological Advancement: Aim: Customer Loyalty Market Share Objectives: Following progression with test internet execution, roll out internet and on-board internet facility. A suitable pricing strategy involving admiring service for first class whilst targeting business class as the main lucrative market. Constant market research to make certain that this is an appreciated service and seek chances for further growth Performance Measures: Put in equipment on 244 aircraft which were left. Amplify business class market share by 11%. 79% of business class consumers buying internet usage. Pursuing RD put into practice 1 new technological service. Future of British Airways: The corporation is still in front of great problems in spite of its plans and modification imposed. In this case, the Gate Gourmet increases up in the cause of the troubles in terms of the BAs brand likeness. Such argument has shaped up a concept that the business practices imposed by British Airways is not pertinent to what it demonstrate in its company images. With this, the administration is now trying to look for some strategies and methods to resolve these troubles with different strategy and along with these marketing communications will be utilized as well. In addition, the present administration also understands that the lack of leadership and entrepreneurial capability have been the root cause of all the troubles faced by the corporation. Recommendations: It appears that the main reason of the troubles faced by British Airways is due to the unplanned management transformation imposed. Additionally, the troubles also occurred because of the insufficient awareness about the strategic management system and along with the other administrative system. Strategic management is the course of identifying an organisations intentions, creating policies and plans to attain these intentions, and assigning resources, so as to execute the plans. It gives overall track to pursue to the whole enterprise (Abell, 1999). It can be sighted as a set of theories, frameworks intended to give details of the issues underlying the performance of corporation and to help managers in viewing, planning and acting tactically (Campbell, Evans Stonehouse, 2002). Conclusion: As the main objective of this assignment was to study Longitudinal Strategic Development of company for that reason one of the best airline of UK has been selected, as per requirement different analysis has been made with reference of the British Airways which includes Strategic Corporate Development History, Current Strategic Situation and Proposed Strategic Direction for the Future. Different methods were used to analyse and review British Airways current strategic situation for instance SWOT Analysis, Resource Based View (RBV), Value Chain Analysis (VCA), PESTEL Analysis, and Stakeholder Map. For Proposing Strategic Direction for the future, TOWs matrix to resolve the strategic issues highlighted from the analysis. As an outcome of the external and internal examining a number of strategic options were given. It was stated that a collective strategy method to perk up service quality was considered most appropriate. Due to the present business climate the most appropriate strategy is to consolidate BAs status as market leader. Due to lack of primary research and limited access to corporation information there might be some lacking in findings and proposed strategies, if the general direction of recommended strategic intent will lead BA to victory.

Pike Ted Hughes Essay -- English Literature

Pike Ted Hughes Choose a poem you studied recently which challenges the reader to view something familiar in a new and thought provoking way. Pike Ted Hughes Stanzas one to four of the poem are there to describe the Pike, its nature, what it looks like and it’s destiny in nature as a predator. The poet, Ted Hughes, in writing this poem challenges the reader to view nature in a totally new perspective by exploring the power and violence in it by using one animal in river life, the Pike, since the Pike is the supreme species of fish in river life he uses it to full extend to show the power and violence of nature. Hughes starts the poem with â€Å"Pike, three inches long, perfect† using this as a start to describing the Pike, he begins to build up the Pike’s image as a predator, always being a predator with no change required through evolution therefore using â€Å"perfect† as another way of saying that the pike was designed perfectly as a predator and will never need to change as it will always remain supreme in its habitat. â€Å"Pike in all parts, green tigering the gold† the use of the word â€Å"tigering† giving a comparison of the Pike to the Tiger, completely different creatures but in their own worlds they are just as deadly as each other, the Tiger being supreme in the jungle just as the Pike is supreme in the river. â€Å"Killers from the egg† using this Hughes re-enforces his point of the Pike being born to killer, always meant to be a predator. â€Å"The malevolent aged grin† the poet strongly uses â€Å"malevolent† to catch the reader and fully describe the evil that the Pike is designed for, even since the moment of birth the Pike’s features have already been aged with the evil, menacing look, to show its potential fo... ...move, the still splashes on he dark pond†. Assuming that the poet was on a small boat â€Å"owls hushing the floating woods† he hears the owls in the woods that seems to float as he sits on this boat, â€Å"frail on my ear against the dream† just managing to hear the owls as the only noise - almost as if the owls â€Å"hushing† the rest of the woods to be silent, adding more fear to this trip – just keeping him aware of this world that seems so much like a dream. â€Å"Darkness beneath night’s darkness had freed† this meaning the darkness of the water beneath the night’s darkness and also the darkness of the Pike, as darkness is associated with evil, now moving â€Å"freed† under him, â€Å"that rose slowly towards me, watching.† The pike, the evil slowly rising towards him watching his every move, he makes it as if the pike seeing him as prey, slowly approaching him, ready to strike.

Thinking Our Anger :: Philosophy Religion Papers

Thinking Our Anger The events of September 11th have occasioned a wide variety of responses, ranging from calls to turn the other cheek, to calls to nuke half the Middle East – and every imaginable shade of opinion in between. At a time when emotions run high, how should we go about deciding on a morally appropriate response? Should we allow ourselves to be guided by our anger, or should we put our anger aside and make an unemotional decision? D. H. Lawrence once wrote: My great religion is a belief in the blood, the flesh, as being wiser than the intellect. We can go wrong in our minds. But what our blood feels and believes and says, is always true. The intellect is only a bit and a bridle. What do I care about knowledge? All I want is to answer to my blood, direct, without fribbling intervention of mind or moral, or what not. At the other extreme, the Roman philosopher Seneca argued that we should never make a decision on the basis of anger – or any other emotion, for that matter. In his treatise On Anger, Seneca maintained that if anger leads us to make the decision we would have made anyway on the basis of cool reason, then anger is superfluous; and if anger leads us to make a different decision from the one we would have made on the basis of cool reason, then anger is pernicious. This disagreement between Lawrence and Seneca conceals an underlying agreement: both writers are assuming an opposition between reason and emotion. The idea of such a bifurcation is challenged by Aristotle. For Aristotle, emotions are part of reason; the rational part of the soul is further divided into the intellectual or commanding part, and the emotional or responsive part. Both parts are rational; and both parts are needed to give us a proper sensitivity to the moral nuances of the situations that confront us. Hence the wise person will be both intellectually rational and emotionally rational. Emotional people whose intellectual side is weak tend to be reluctant to accept reasonable constraints on their behaviour; they are too aggressive and self-assertive for civilized society – too "Celtic," Aristotle thinks. They answer directly to their blood, without fribbling intervention of mind or moral, and much hewing and smiting ensues. But intellectual people whose emotional si de is weak are often too willing

Citibank: Performance Evaluation Essay

The California Division of Citibank has introduced a new performance scorecard to highlight the importance of a diverse set of measures in achieving the strategic goals of the division. Among the new measures introduced was a customer satisfaction indicator. Unfortunately, James McGaran, the manager of the most important branch and who consistently delivers impressive financial results scored â€Å"below par† on customer satisfaction. Frits Seeger, President of Citibank California and Lisa Johnson, area manager supervising James, are pondering what overall performance rating are they going to give to James. Areas of ConsiderationCitibank’s strategy in California was to build a profitable franchise providing relationship banking combined with ah high level of service to its customers. Financial measures had dominated Citibank’s performance in the past but management felt that these measures were poor vehicles to communicate the high service strategy of the bank. Other areas to consider in this case are: †¢To reflect the importance of non-financial measures as leading indicators of strategy implementation, the California Division developed a Performance Scorecard which complemented existing financial measures with new measures reflecting important competitive dimensions in the bank’s strategy. †¢James’ customers in his branch are sophisticated- they require high service quality and knowledgeable employees who could satisfy their financial needs and his performance exceeded expectations every single year by delivering impressive financial results for four years in a row. †¢But when the division expanded its performance indicators to include non-financial measures, it became apparent that his branch’s customer satisfaction ratings are not as good as his financial performance. His customer satisfaction was â€Å"below par† for 2 consecutive quarters. †¢James discussed concerns regarding the (in)adequacy of the survey: customers rated not only their branch but also other Citibank’s services such as ATMs that were out of the control of branch managers. †¢Even so, he worked hard to improve the customer satisfaction rating by designating a staff to greet customers and held meetings and coached branch employees to focus their attention on improving customer satisfaction. †¢James felt very disappointed when for two quarters, his rating had been only par. He thought that his efforts deserved an above par rating considering that he’s able to successfully run the hardest branch in the division. †¢Frits is considering to give James an â€Å"above par† rating given his excellent performance in other dimensions, but if the performance evaluation team gave James an â€Å"above par,† the other managers could think that the division was not serious about its non-financial measures. Alternate Courses of Action†¢Set aside the performance evaluation guidelines and give James an overall â€Å"above par† rating thus entitling him to as much as 30% bonus. †¢Observe and uphold the performance guidelines and give James an overall â€Å"par† rating and get a bonus of up to 15% of basic salary. RecommendationsI recommend that the evaluating team follow the guidelines they set forth and give James the following ratings: †¢Financials – Above par†¢Strategy implementation – Above par†¢Customer satisfaction – Below par†¢Control – Above par †¢People – Above par †¢Standards – Above ParJames’ average in customer satisfaction for the four quarters was a dismal 64.75 – a far cry from the required market average of 77 to get â€Å"above par† and about 10 points shy from the 74-79 score to get a â€Å"par† rating. Based on the guidelines, with a â€Å"below par† rating, James is no longer qualified to get an overall â€Å"above par† rating and thus settle for a â€Å"par† rating. This is to give credibility to the intent of the management in implementing a balanced scorecard and in giving other factors equal weight and importance as that of financials. Having said that, some important issues need to be addressed in Citibank’ performance evaluation. First, Lisa should have provided support to James as  early as the 2nd quarter when his customer satisfaction scores began to slip from 66 to 63 (then further down to 54 during the 3rd quarter). Performance evaluation should not be a static document- it should be a reference for the employee and superior to identify deficiencies and gaps during the rating period. It should be revisited regularly, identify areas of improvement and see how management can intervene and improve the performance of the manager. A regular performance feedback is crucial so that the managers can align their activities with what is expected of them. Second, it would be worthwhile for Frits and Lisa to review the scores of the other managers focusing on customer satisfaction- this is to find out how all the managers are faring with the new performance indicator and to determine James’ performance vis-à  -vis his colleagues. If the general results of the customer satisfaction are similar with that of James, then his concerns are not unfounded- it may be that while the branches are doing their best in extending excellent customer service, the centralized services might be the one that’s pulling down everyone’s performance. Third, it would be excellent if Frits can benchmark their performance evaluation with the rest of the industry and see if their parameters in especially on customer satisfaction are within industry standards. Fourth, a reorientation or training on the proper administration and use of the performance evaluation is in order. Based on the scores and comments that Lisa gives to James, it appears that she is lenient with him. She overemphasizes James’ financial achievements but mentions too little on his deficiency on customer satisfaction. There also seems to be a halo error in the way Lisa evaluates James- where his financial prowess seems to unduly influence the other evaluation dimensions. Imons, R. Citibank: Performance Evaluation. 1997. Harvard Business School