Exploration of Ethics and the Environment

Exploration of Ethics and the Environment Human attitude to this life, this world, and its challenges may be criticized in a number of different ways, and, what is important, it is not actually easy to say that this attitude is correct and appropriate. Many people get used to take all things from this life for granted: they are able to hear, see, and feel just because they are human and have to have all these feelings; they can study, analyze, and earn money because it is an integral part of this life. Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Exploration of Ethics and the Environment specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The only thing that people cannot accept and wait with impatience because it just should happen is death. However, in fact, the only thing all people really deserve after they are born is death. Of course, it may sound strange, provocative, and unfair but still death is the only â€Å"thing† that does not choose people in accordance with some crit eria or skills. The theme of death is evaluated in numerous literary and art works, and Don DeLillo’s White Noise is one of the brightest examples of how people are afraid of death, want to postpone it, and, in fact, can do nothing to avoid it. People are always eager to take as much as possible from this life without taking into consideration the necessity to be grateful for all this. However, they usually forget that nature has its own rules and demands, and people should consider its whims. To comprehend better the idea offered by Don DeLillo, it is possible to make use of Aldo Leopold’s The Land Ethics and to comprehend that this story is about survival and respect to nature that provides people with a variety of opportunities to be used, about love that has to be demonstrated in some particular cases, about fear people should have but not be guided by, and about emotions that are inherent to humans and have to be used for good, for safe, and for happiness of our future generations. White Noise as an Attempt to Fight Against the Fear of Death This life is too complicated to comprehend its peculiarities, challenges, and aspects within a short period. Many people try to spend the vast majority of their lives in order to realize what the essence of life is and why there are so many contradictions in this life. White Noise written by Don DeLillo is one of such possibilities to define the main aspects of life by means of evaluation of death as the major life counterpoise. At first, it is possible to see that the author wants to introduce one of the most important elements of human worth and salvation – to fight against the fear of death and to believe that â€Å"there is no death as we know it† (DeLillo 6). However, DeLillo contradicts himself with time and represents a character who cannot imagine this life without this fear and comes to one concrete conclusion: â€Å"What if death is nothing but sound? Electrical noise. You hea r it forever. Sound all around. How awful. Uniform, white† (DeLillo 196). Such attitude proves that people are lost by their nature; they cannot divide the world of madness, confusion, and consumerism from the reality they have the right to live. Advertising Looking for essay on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In one of his interviews, DeLillo admits: â€Å"I didn’t have illusion and reality in mind†¦ I’m interested in the way the play forms a kind of unending circular structure – it bends back on itself† (DeLillo and DePietro 23). However, it seems to be a bit difficult to comprehend a true meaning of white noise and its close connection to human life, to nature, and to the functions each part of this world has to perform. This is why it is possible to make use of some additional material that aims at describing main aspects of life and the peculiarities i nherent to it. The work by Aldo Leopold, The Land on Ethics is one of the powerful sources where the evaluation of people’s duties and lives is given from a number of educative perspectives. The Land Ethic and Leopold’s Exploration of Ethics The Land of Ethic is a unique opportunity to define the role of people in respect to nature and its rule. The author is not afraid to underline the supreme power of nature and its possibility to enslave people: he explains that â€Å"land ethic changes the role of Homo sapiens from conqueror of the land-community to plain member and citizen of it. It implies respect for his fellow-members, and also respect for the community as such† (Leopold 533). He underlines the importance of such ethic because its absence or, to be more exact, its lack has a number of negative outcomes. People have a kind of wrong attitude to land and its riches. First, it is necessary to admit that land resources are not eternal, and one day, all these sources may disappear. And when people demonstrate their egocentric nature just in the way of how Jack Gladney did in White Noise, these people may be under a terrible threat to conquer the land and enjoy its resources. But still people are only the consumers who have to follow particular rules, orders, and complete necessary functions. Jack Gladney fails to complete his functions, as it has to be, this is why he become available for challenges, fears, and discontents of this life. â€Å"As people jolted out of reality, we were released from the need to distinguish† (DeLillo 127). People become weak in order to distinguish their fears of dreams and reality, their duties and demands, their weak and strong sides. The main point that scares a lot is that people are blind to distinguish everything in the necessary way, and such work like White Noise is a kind of sarcastic way to explain people their mistakes and help to avoid them in future. Things that Influence Ethic Ethic i n White Noise and ethic in The Land Ethic have a number of similarities: first, the idea of consumerism may be properly explained by means of Leopold’s philosophy, second, the technological progress makes endless duplication possible, third, the role of mass media is crucial indeed for humans and the ways of how people receive and understand information, and finally, the process of industrialization that increases the number of threats people are afraid of but still feel a burning necessity for.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Exploration of Ethics and the Environment specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In his work, DeLillo represents American consumerism as a utopia people create for themselves to be enslaved and to be imprisoned. Without even realizing the idea of being caught by personal fears, people deprive themselves of the opportunity for consolation and escape from this nightmare. People truly believe th at the use of technology can help them change this life and immunize them against fears, sufferings, and death. This is probably the most terrible failure because technology is regarded as human fate and a fear to lose the control over personal lives, words, and thoughts that are worsened by empty promises of technological progress. In addition to the technological influence, the impact of mass media has to be mentioned. â€Å"At breakfast, Babette read all our horoscopes aloud, using her storytelling voice† (DeLillo 16). The attention to this fact helps to comprehend that the vast majority of people are under the influence of media and trust it completely to get some kind of assurance about the next several hours. However, at the same time, they blindly trust the idea of industrialization and the possibility to prolong their lives, avoid death, and be ready to numerous challenges around. The result of this dream is dramatic: possible duplication of events, memories, and de tails promotes the idea to repeat everyone day by day so that people lose the idea of reality and cannot define where their life begins and industrialization stops. People overuse the possibilities offered by nature and create unbelievable harm to themselves without even knowing it. This fact is scary, terrible, but true. Conclusion In general, the idea to unite human life and technology is dangerous indeed: people are not always sure about the possibility to control the situation, and, what is worse, people are weak to recognize their disabilities and lack of knowledge. White Noise by Don DeLillo helps to realize that death is not the most terrible and unpredictable event to be afraid of, and The Land Ethic by Aldo Leopold proves that human disrespect to nature and its gifts may be more dangerous for people. Due to their self-confidence and disabilities to define their own mistakes in time, people become the victims of their own achievements and creations. And sometimes it is bett er to think whether death is really so terrible or it is a gift given by nature to save people from themselves. DeLillo, Don. White Noise. New York: Penguin Group, 1986.Advertising Looking for essay on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More DeLillo, Don and DePierto, Thomas. Conversations with Don DeLillo. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 2005. Print. Leopard, Aldo. â€Å"The Land Ethic.† Open Questions: Readings for Critical Thinking and Writing. Ed. Chris Anderson and Lex Runciman. Boston:    Bedford/St. Martain, 2005: 531-546. Print.

Marketing Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 6

Marketing Management - Essay Example Exchange relationships are commonly utilised as marketing strategies with the aim of ensuring that a business establishes viable links and contacts with customers, rather than focusing on making on-the-spot sale. The use of this form of relations in marketing commonly results in relationship marketing as a business strategy, whose success is based on the fulfilment of the promises made to customers. A business must maintain commitment to the promises made to customers as a way of satisfying their needs, while still keeping their promises. The role of customer service representatives in this marketing strategy is critical to its successful application. A business must maintain a continuous relationship with the client as a way of retaining the customers by gaining their trust. Organisations commonly focus on delivering value to customers as a way of nurturing the existing relationship between them and the business. This approach of marketing is basically focused on attracting retaining and extending good and services to the desired customers. Marketing metrics refer to elements that can be used to measure the effectiveness of the marketing strategies employed by an organization in achieving desired marketing objectives. A sales manager might consider reporting the following two metrics to ABC Services; This can be defined as the cost incurred in convincing a customer to purchase services and products from a company. The costs considered include the product costs and the various costs involved in research and marketing before reaching the customer. This metric could be relevant to the company as it can be able to determine the markets in which to venture. While the market analysis might be critical, other factors like the value of customers to the company can also be established. This is essential in determining the amount of resources that a business can use to gain customers. This is a metric

Selective Dialkylation of a Doubly Linked Dicyclopentadiene Ligand and Research Paper

Selective Dialkylation of a Doubly Linked Dicyclopentadiene Ligand and the Ensuing Ruthenium Complexes - Research Paper Example The authors state the motivation behind such an approach as â€Å"While Ru3(CO)12 is an ideal starting material with regard to the cis to trans isomeric ratio formed around the doubly linked dicyclopentadienyl ligand, the CO ligand usually requires high heat or photolytic conditions and laborious chemicalsteps to remove it from the metal center. These chemical steps reduce the synthetic versatility of the resulting ruthenium complexes that contain a CO ligand† (Fier, et al., 2011). The paper concludes with a structure refinement of the obtained diruthenium complex which has the structural representation: Synthesis Route The reaction begins with the hydroxyl bromination of 4,4,8,8-tetramethyl-1,4,7,8-tetrahydro-s-indacene (1a; C2v symmetry) and 4,4,8,8-tetramethyl-1,4,5,8-tetrahydro-s-indacene (1b; C2h symmetry) by N-bromosuccinimide (NBS), NH4OAc and H2O/ Acetone. The dehydration of the resulting compound was done under anaerobic conditions in the presence of p-TsOH.H2O to yie ld the compounds 2 a,b. Reaction of 2a,b with MeMgBr in the presence of Ni-(dppf)Br2 (dppf = 1,1?-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene) gave (C5H3Me)2(CMe2)2 (3a,b) in 31% yield. However, it was found that this compound 3 a,b did not react very well with RuCl3.3H20. Adding a bulkier alkyl group could lead to a specific 2,6 bonding making advantage of stearic repulsion with the methyl groups in the 4,8 position. Thus, the first reaction was modified to yield: Reaction of 4a,b with RuCl3 ·3H2O in MeOH (140  °C,15 min) gives a green-black heterogeneous mixture, with filtration of the mixture yielding a dark purple-black solid which was found to be diamagnetic. A subsequent X-ray crystallographic study of the new compound showed it to be the half-sandwich complex cis-{(?5-C5H2-(t-Bu))2(CMe2)2}Ru2(?-Cl)2Cl2 (5), containing RuII / RuII metal centers. The preferred way to synthesize 5 is to bypass the filtration and isolation step of the purple intermediate and to just remove the MeOH solve nt from the crude reactionmixture, add CHCl3, and heat to 80  °C for 15 min to give 5 in 28% yield (Scheme 2). The Structure of 5 shows a Ru?Ru single bond with a bond length of 2.7057(3) A, which would explain the diamagnetic nature of 5. Evidence for the RuII/RuII core is provided by the dissolution of the purple solid in MeCN to form cis-[{(?5-C5H2(t-Bu))2(CMe2)2}Ru2(MeCN)4(?-Cl)]+ (6), Complex 6 can also be synthesized by the reduction of 5 using Zn dust in MeCN and isolated in 62% yield (Scheme 3) The authors have successfully alkylated the 2,6-positions of the doubly linked dicyclopentadiene ligand 1a,b with either Me or tertbutylgroups. When the alkyl groups are tert-butyl groups, the resulting ligand reacts with RuCl3 ·3H2O to yield 5, the doubly linked analogue of [CpRuCl2]2 and [Cp*RuCl2]2. 5 can be reduced with Zn in MeCN to yield 6, an acetonitrile complex with a bridging chloro ligand. The bridging chloro ligand in 6 can be removed by the addition of AgOTf to yield 7, a ruthenium complex containing only the doubly linked dicyclopentadienyland acetonitrile ligands. Chin, R. M., Simonson, A., Mauldin, J., & Criswell, J. (2010). Organometallics , 29 (17), 3868?3875. Fier, P.

Profiling Human Hair with FTIR Spectroscopy and Chemometrics

Profiling Human Hair with FTIR Spectroscopy and Chemometrics ABSTRACT Profiling of Human Hairs using FTIR Spectroscopy and Chemometrics Technique Aufa Madihah Binti Mohamad Anwar 1122204 Hair is any of the fine threadlike strands growing from the skin of humans can be found in crime scene due to interaction between victim, perpetrator and/or witness as explained in Locard’s Principle. This papers aim is to compare, categorize and identify human hair fiber using FTIR spectrometer and Chemometrics techniques. Hair samples will be collected from 200 subjects (Malay Women) of different ages groups. 50 samples will be collected from age group of people (20-30, 31-40, 41-50, >60). FTIR spectra will be obtained from each samples. The spectra of FTIR reflect the chemical and physical nature of a hair which can be classified in different group using Chemometrics techniques such as PCA (Principal Component Analysis). Keyword: FTIR, Chemometrics, Locard’s Principle, PCA Research Methodology 6.1 Materials Material uses in this experiment will be human hair. 50 strands will be collected for each group of age and the total hair strand obtained will be 200 strands: 6.2 Methods 6.2.1 Human Hair sample collection Human hair will be collected according to their age group (50 strands from each group of age). The hair fibers taken will be from telogen (fall naturally) phase and anagen (the root was cut) phase of the hair growth cycle. The hair fibers will be placed in a plastic bag and labeled accordingly. 6.3 Analysis 6.3.1 Revised IAEA Method for Cleaning Hair Fibers The cleaning process is needed to preserved hair samples for the elemental analysis. (Cargnello et al., 1995) The hair fibers will undergo ultrasonic vibration (sonicating) in each solutions for 10 minutes or less. This procedure will be done to minimize the damage of the cuticle surface. First, the hair fibers will be transferred to a small glass vial and will be covered with high purity acetone. The vial was then will be placed in Ultrasonic Disintegrator (Figure 6). The hair fibers will be sonicate of at 20 kHz for 10 minutes at the least. The acetone will be poured out and the hair will be rinsed with HPLC-grade water. These steps will be repeated again and for the last steps, the hair fibers will be rinsed and sonicated in de-ionized water inside the glass vial for 10 minutes. After all the cleaning process ended, the hair fiber will be dried under vacuum for two days before being analyzed. Figure 6 : Ultrasonic Disintegrator – Sonicater for the hair fibers 6.3.2 FTIR Spectroscopy A FTIR Spectrometer with Diamond ATR Smart Accessory (Figure 7) will be used in this procedure. The spectra of hair fibers will be recorded using the spectrometer. Figure 7: FTIR Spectrometer with Diamond Smart Accessory The parameters of FTIR-ATR for the analysis (Table 2): Before analyzing and collecting the spectrum from the hair samples, a background spectrum will be recorded. The hair fibers will then going through spectral sampling process : The fibers will be placed across the diamond crystal and will be pressed (to obtain a good contact) using the pressure tower. Spectrum will be recorded. The collected data will be saved on the Spectral Software Program (as .SPC files). Spectral Processing The recorded spectral will be saved as .SPC files and are imported into the spectral software package for spectral processing as .SPA files. First of all, the baseline of the spectra will be corrected and the offset will be set to zero. Then, the spectra will be trimmed so that it will be in the range of ÃŽ ±-keratin absorption bands which is 1759-785 cm-1 range (major characteristic of ÃŽ ±-keratin). The trimmed spectral will then be transferred to an Excel spreadsheet and saved as an .XLS file. Raw Data Matrix and Chemometric Analysis Pre-processing of data is defined as â€Å"mathematical manipulation of a data is used due to primary analysis†. (Arnberg R. et al., 1998).This step helps in eliminating or decreasing unrelated sources (systematic or random errors). Variance Scaling Scaling steps will be done prior to the fact that the treatment considers both the measurement unit of the values and the origin of scale. (Meloun M. et al., 1992) Scaling is needed to include: Cartesian system’s shift of the origin, Axes’ contraction or expansion. Double Centring Double string will be obtained by subtracting the mean of each row x (x-mean centring) and row y (y-mean centring). This procedure reduces the effect of the variance component reflected by PCI of the un-pretreated data set and removes common spectral features. (Kokot S. et al., 1997) Equation 1 and Equation 2 (Meloun M. et al., 1992) described the process above: Yim = xim – x.mEquation 1 Continued by; zim = yim yi Equation 2 Where; yim = column centred datum xim = datum in row I and column m before centring x.m = mean of column m = xim / I zim = double centred datum Standardization The standardization procedure is included to equalize the variance of each variable and to remove the weighting that is artificially imposed by the scale of the variables. (Arnberg R. et al., 1998) Standardization process can be described in the equation 3 and 4 below: yim = xim / sm Equation 3 Where; sm = (xim – x.m)2  ½ Equation 4 I – 1 = the estimate of the standard deviation of the variable, xm, about its mean. Albano et al. state that â€Å"standardization of each subset separately gives better resolution in latent variable modeling of subsets†. (Albano et al., 1981) Auto-scaling Combination of column centring and standardization is known auto-scaling. It can be represented by Equation 5 (Meloun M. et al., 1992): zim = (yim – yi) / sm Equation 5 Chemometric Analysis The doubled centred matrices will be imported into the software that cans multivariate analysis and experimental design. The processed matrices will produce the resultant PCA scores plots, loading plots and fuzzy clustering tables. Multi-criteria Decision Making (MCDM) The multivariate analysis method (PROMETHEE and GAIA) will find the relationships between the objects and variables severally. The matrix data will then undergoes packaging for decision making. Chemometrics Chemometrics helps in analysis of spectral data by solving the calibration problem. It uses statistical and mathematical methods to correlate quality parameters to analytical instrument data. The data will be observed and recorded. Then, patterns in data will be brought out and modeled. The modeled patterns will be used for data analysis in future. (Einax J.W. et al., 1997) 6.3.5.1 Principal Component Analysis (PCA) PCA is a well-known pattern recognition method for pertaining to any procedure involving multivariate (two or more variables) data analysis problems. Identification and discrimination of the objects can be obtained with the help of PCA whereby it is a data reduction technique. Data reduction technique is when the information is sorted into a data matrix using selected variables that define the columns and rows which was designated with sample measurements. PCjk = aj1xk1 + aj2xk2 + †¦ ajnxkn Equation 6 Where; PCjk = value for object k and principal component j aj1 = variable 1 on object k value xk1 = variable 1 on component j measurement n = original variables total number 6.3.5.2 SIMCA (Soft Independent Modeling of Class Analogy) Classification is defines as the process of categorizing something according to same qualities or characteristics. SIMCA is supervised method for classification of data. The method requires a training (test) data set consisting of samples where their origins are known. PCA is used to develop a model of each class within the test set. The users will select the members of a set. A model can be representing by the equation (Chatfield C., 1980): Xki = Xi + + ajiujk + eki Equation 7 Where; p = number of the principal components in the class model eki = residual value of object k on variable i Gant Chart for Research Timeline Expected Results The research regarding human scalp hair resulted in new database on human hair according to their age group for woman, Malay. With the help of chemometrics method the human hair database can be created. The data obtained from Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy which was then analyze and modeled through chemometrics and the new database is set. In the database, the human hair was classified according to their age group and the composition that differs the age. Through the research, it shows that in human hair the amount of amino acid (protein) differs. As the age increase, the amounts of amino acid (protein) decrease and as the age lower the amino acid (protein) higher. 9.0 Conclusion This study is proposed to help creating a new database besides furthering investigation on human hair as physical evidence. Theory of physical evidence can be quoted from Locard’s Principal which stated that â€Å"every contact leaves a trace. Physical evidence cannot be faulty; it can’t perjure itself, and it always present. Only human failure to study, explore and understand it can diminish its worth†. Furthermore, fibers evidence is often found at the crime scene. Thus, in creating this new database it can aids in forensic process. The human hair samples that was obtained from different age group (20-30, 31-40, 41-50, >60) but same gender and race undergoes FTIR spectroscopy to detect the amount of amino acid (protein). The data was then was analyze using chemometrics. In short, it can be concluded that the amount of amino acid (protein) is inversely proportional to the age group.

The Lottery: Litterary Response

The Lottery, by Shirley Jackson, is a compelling story about the human race and how it is affected by its surrounding traditions. When the 27th of June arrives, a village is overtaken by a two hour lottery, which includes the picking of stones, a black box and ends in a fight for the â€Å"winners† life. One of the prominent themes in this story is human hypocrisy. Although most of the characters are shown through their words and actions, one particular person stands out: Mrs â€Å"Tessie† Hutchinson.At the beginning of the story, Tessie heads towards the town square, stating that she â€Å"forgot what day it was† to her neighbour Mrs. Delacroix as they both chuckled softly. Soon enough, phrases are shared between Tessie and her soon to be rivals: Thought we were going to have to get on without you, Tessie†, (Mr. Summers), â€Å"Your in time, though†, (Mrs. Delacroix). Throughout the story, Mrs. Hutchinson doesn’t seem to mind the fact that so meone, close to her or not, will be stoned to death.Her attitude at the start of the lottery is calm and cheerful; Tessie is unaffecyed by what the outcome of the lottery might be, since she thinks that she wouldn't be in that situation. When it is her family's turn to pick up their lottery ticket and finds out that her husband got the â€Å"winning paper†, her character completely changes. Mrs. Hutchinson starts to lash out at Mr. Summers, the lottery director, saying that â€Å"you didn't give him time enough to take any paper he wanted. I saw you. It wasn't fair! â€Å".Tessie's character evolves by a simple change in the lottery: her family becoming the center of it all. She tries to find ways of getting out of this situation, like including her eldest daughter Eva and her husband Don, in her family, but, little does she know that â€Å"daughters draw with their husbands' family†. Tessie continues to state that â€Å"it isn't fair† and I think we ought to start over. I tell you it wasn't fair†. When each member of her family takes turns to pick out their papers, Tessie becomes hesitant as her turn arrives.Her time is up as she is revealed as the â€Å"winning ticket† holder. She becomes upset and desperately tries to change everyones mind by saying her most famous last words: â€Å"It isn't fair† Tessie now realizes that she is in the once ignored position that all the other unlucky winners ahve been in the past and, soon enough, her â€Å"luck† comes to an end as she is stoned to death. Hypocrisy is a very big part of our society; everyday, someone is saying or creating false assumptions of an appearance of virtue or religion.They might indicate that it's wrong to practice a certain religion when they do it themselves . Even if hypocrites are a part of this world, we can learn that not everyone is as they seem. The second prominent theme is sacrifices. This village is run by a very old tradition which incl udes the sacrifice of a human being to please the gods, who will send down fresh food and crops to them. Everyone in the village, including the children, take part in this sacrifice, wether or not they fully understand why thay are doing this.Little Davey is handed a stone at the end of the story so that his mom can be stoned. He is a little boy, so he doesn’t understand what’s going on. Since he has been brought up in this society, he might start to accept that fact that at least he will have plenty of food on the table every day, even if the total number of people has gone down. This story shows us that the traditions we practice are still being questioned as a part of our society today. Such as imitating fath , going to church every Sunday because everyone else does.What happened in The Lottery was a necessary sacrifice in their struggle for the meaning of this ritual. If this sacrifice didn’t hurt or kill the person it was being done to, there wouldn’ t be any meaning to it. The villagers woulnd’t have sacrificed many innocent beings to please such gods. This all turns toward us: our inability as human beings to question such monstrosity is still an unanswered question above our heads. Shirley Jackson is trying to tell us that sacrifices have been around for centuries and aren’t uncommon, but our thoughts about them are common.A young child might ask,†What gods are we pleasing? †,and, â€Å"Are you sure we are doing the right thing? †, but they would still get the same answer: â€Å"because the bible said so† or , â€Å" We’ve been doing this for centuries†. The Lottery illustrates that we are living in a world where you are ostracised for believing in nothing at all and being brainwashed into believing in another. The first technique present in this story is symbolism. Two items are used during the lottery: a black box and stones. In a way, the black box holds each and every persons destiny and fate.The fact that it is black is a symbol of what they ahve witnessed every year: death. Every year, the lottery is taken place and, at the same time, death makes its mark. It comes back to take whoever’s been left behind. Like the old saying â€Å"It is always darkest before dawn†, death hangs over them until they have pleased the gods; until they have a lifetime supply of crops. This story brings us into the darker side of the lottery. The side where not everything is as it seems. If it weren’t for the color of the box, it would have been harder to interpret where the story was heading off to.The second items where the stones: â€Å"the young boys begin to gather their stones and make a pile in the corner, guarding them like their most prized weapon†. The stones symbolize the beating of a person, in this case. Someone is going to get beaten to death by these stones, which is an important part of the lottery. At least in the eyes of twisted beings. The second technique present is foreshadowing. Foreshadowing is found at the beginning of the story, where we are being introduced to a somewhat pleasant event that is about to take place.The fact that the lottery in this village takes less than two hours and, in others, two days, gives us an indication that this lottery is bigger than it seems; it isn’t some regular event, but a sinister one. While reading this story, a novel that shares one of the themes comes to mind. â€Å"Nothing†, a book by Janne Teller, tells the tale of a boy named Pierre Anthon who has known, for a long time, that nothing matters, just realized that nothing is worth doing and decides to leave his classroom, climb a plum tree and stay there. His friends and classmates try, with every attempt, to get him down but he won’t budge.So to prove to Pirre Anthon that there is a meaning to life, they set out to build a heap of meaning in an abandoned sawmill. Their plans slowly st art to take a defferent turn when their heap of meaning includes the scarification of a beloved neighbourly dog, Cinderella. They give up all their special belongings to find out what the meaning of life really is until it gets out of hand; they get upset towards Pierre Anthon for making them go through great lengths to discover the meaning, that they lash out and end up killing him.There is a primary connection between both stories: the sacrifice of a human or animal to obtain food or to re-discover the meaning of life. Globally, sacrifices and traditions have been around for entiries. They’ve shaped the cultures that are present in this generation, such as one ancient tribe of our civilization: the Hurons. Many decades ago, they used to have a special way of thanking the gods for the food they received. Every year, the leader of the tribe would dress in elaborate, colourful clothing and lead a family up a sacred mountain.There, the leader would dress the middle child, a gir l, between the ages of six and nine, in clothing similar to his. If the middle child was a boy, he wouldn’t be sacrificed; the family would wait until they gave birth to a girl. The family of the child would then sit in a circle around a large fire as the leader recites prayers to the gods. The child is then laid on the wood of fire and burnt alive. To this day, you can still hear the cries of the little girls, but those cries are memoirs of their lives. Memoirs on the sinister sacrifices that took place

Strategic Intent Essay

This article serves a purpose to illustrate some of the flaws that are currently used by western organizations in regards to strategic planning. In this article we see are shown the detriment of the methods in practice at the time of the article, and examples of alternative strategic approaches in use by Japanese firms which have allowed them to have sustained success. Strategic Intent and Characteristics As indicated in the article, Japanese companies â€Å"began with ambitions that were out of all proportion to their resources and capabilities†, but â€Å"created an obsession with winning at all levels of the organization and then sustained that obsession over the 10- to 20-year quest for global leadership†. Inspired by this obsession, the concept of â€Å"strategic intent† is introduced to the world of strategy. Strategic intent captures the essence of winning, is stable over time, and sets target that deserves personal effort and commitment. It comes with an ambition in the pursuit of global leadership that used to be outside the range of traditional strategic planning. By implementing strategic intent, a company can create long term objectives despite of considerable resources, whereas thinking in a traditional way, decisions should be made on the degree of fit between existing resources and current opportunities. Description The key points to this article refer to the differences in strategic approach that the Japanese firms use, in contrast to the approaches used by western organizations. Japanese firms use four main techniques when constructing their strategy: Building layers of advantage Searching for â€Å"loose bricks† Changing the terms of engagement Competing through collaboration Applications Strategic Intent is a breakthrough concept in the field of Strategic Management. It has strongly influenced how strategy is defined, and is  responsible for main changes in the functioning style of many organizations. Key ideas brought together with â€Å"strategic intent† such as â€Å"core competence† and â€Å"stretch†, have been introduced to every company. With the same amount of resources and capacity, many companies have become much more successful than they were before under the inspiration of this strategy. One example that emerges from the article is when Canon changed the terms of engagement in an effort to compete against Xerox. Xerox had created many advantages where other competing firms (most notably Kodak and IBM) were not able to directly compete against Xerox. Canon changed the terms of engagement by: standardizing their components, distributing through office supply stores instead of their own sales force, sold instead of leased, and appealed to secretaries and administrative positions within companies. All of these factors helped Canon change the terms of engagement, and not directly compete against Xerox who already held a sizable advantage. Questions and concerns In the article Making Strategic Planning Work there is reference that ineffective planning may be a result of failure to develop clear policies, where those policies would guide decision making. However, in Strategic Intent, a global executive describes how they look for competitors who operate on a portfolio system (where businesses may be sold if a certain market share is reached). Therefore, could having a strategic policy hurt decision making? Connection to Prior Thoughts In Making Strategic Planning Work, the author talks about some requisites for strategic planning. Strategic intent share the same way. It requires the management to conduct internal self-appraisal and future environment assessment to ensure the strategy is on the right track. The main reason for failure could be the same – lack of commitment for planning. In Crafting Strategy, it mentions how detecting the subtle discontinuities that may undermine a business in the future is crucial. This opinion is also shared in Strategic Intent, where it references the problem how managers operating on a 3-5 year window can cause damage as they are not looking out for the long term interest for the company. While both articles share the same  thoughts, why aren’t more companies willing to pay for those managers with several years’ experience—instead of hiring outside the company?

American Speeches as Literary Texts