Lessons to Sick Leave Essay

NOTE: This material is also available as a role-play (Exercise 29, Sick Leave). Instructors are advised to use either the role-play or the case, but not both because they overlap considerably. Choosing whether to use the role-play or case materials depends on your goals for the class and the level of sophistication and cross-cultural experience of the students. For homogeneous classes with little previous cross-cultural experience, one option is to use the case to teach the cross-cultural nuances of American-Japanese negotiations and to follow this with Exercise 28 (500 English Sentences), a role-play with many similar lessons to Sick Leave. Objectives This case is written from the perspective of Kelly, a 22 year old Canadian Assistant English teacher working in Japan. The root of the conflict in this case is a deep cross-cultural misunderstanding that has transformed into a much larger incident involving important intangible factors such as saving face and maintaining principles. Specific learning objectives include: 1. To understand how two parties have framed a conflict very differently in a cross-cultural setting. 2. To explore the differences between positions and interests in a cross-cultural negotiation. 3. To understand a conflict where the intangible factors are much more important than the tangible factors. Changes from 4th Edition There are no substantive changes from the Fourth Edition. Operational Needs Time Required 45-60 minutes for the case discussion. Special Materials None. Recommended Reading Assignments to Accompany This Case Reader: 5.1 (Brett), 5.2 (Salacuse), 5.3 (Senger), 5.4 (Koh). Text: Chapter 16 Case Overview On the surface, this case is very straightforward. Kelly, a 22 year old Canadian working as an Assistant English teacher in Japan, is sick with the flu, misses 2 days of work, and wants to claim these as legitimate sick days as described in her contract. Her supervisor, Mr. Higashi, insists that she take these days as part of her paid vacation days because that is the Japanese way. The sick leave conflict is symptomatic, however, of a much deeper conflict that Kelly and the other Assistant English teachers have with Mr. Higashi and the other Japanese English teachers. Dynamics underlying this conflict include face saving, adapting to a different culture, the meaning of contracts in different cultures, and the influence of reference groups on behavior. Background Preparation Students and the instructor should be familiar with cultural and business differences between Japan and North America. Dated, yet still appropriate, is Howard Van Zandt’s How to Negotiate in Japan, from the Harvard Business Review of Nov/Dec 1970, more current is Smart Bargaining by John Graham and Yoshihiro Sano, The Influence of Japanese Culture on Business Relationships and Negotiations by Naoko Oikawa and John Tanner Jr., International Dimensions of Organizational Behavior, chapter on Negotiating with Foreigners by Nancy J. Adler, and Cultural Approaches to Negotiations: Understanding the Japanese by Brian Hawrysh and Judith Zaichkowsky. Teaching Strategy Kelly frames this negotiation as a right to have the sick leave, which is written into her contract. Mr. Higashi frames this negotiation much broader and wants Kelly to â€Å"fit in† at work and to be treated the same as Japanese workers. This situation is very representative of the types of conflict that occur in cross-cultural negotiations between Americans (rights based, contract as enforceable) and Japanese (relationship based, contract as beginning). On the surface, this is a very straightforward situation: will Kelly get her contractually guaranteed sick leave benefits or not? The cultural differences, however, make this a high stakes negotiation for both parties, in which the importance of the intangible factors far outweighs that of the tangible factors. Proceed by using the following questions to discuss the case: 1. What should Kelly do? Should she call CLAIR, or discuss this further with Mr. Higashi? 2. What is this dispute about for Kelly? For Mr. Higashi? In these types of conflicts is a compromise possible? 3. What are the tangible factors in this situation? What are the intangible factors in the negotiation? Is saving face more important to Kelly or Mr. Higashi? Why? Which are more important, the tangible or intangible factors? Is this true for both Kelly and Mr. Higashi? The discussion should conclude with a good summary about Japanese and North American negotiation styles and culture. When negotiating in Japan it is often important to give in for the sake of peace and harmony, or relationships may be harmed beyond repair. Deciding how to negotiate cross-culturally remains a challenge for every negotiator that negotiates across a border. One of the best pieces discussing this was written by Stephen Weiss (â€Å"Negotiating With ‘Romans’: A Range of Culturally-Responsive Strategies,† Sloan Management Review, 35, No. 1, pp. 51-61; No. 2, pp. 1-16) and a summary of this work makes a nice conclusion to the class. Final Note Although this exercise has been modified somewhat it is based on an actual situation that occurred in Japan (names and location have been changed). In the actual incident, â€Å"Kelly† received her sick leave but the relationship was seriously harmed and work became more and more uncomfortable. Kelly decided not to renew her contract, and left Japan at the end of the school year.

Current Marketing Trends of Adidas Essay

Abstract Adidas is among the renowned producer, dealer and the retailer of highest quality sports products. Adidas is a brand which is not only famous around the world because of its fashionable and stylish sports products but also for several soccer teams, players and tournaments. In the past, the company uses only traditional ways of advertising and was successful. Nowadays, the changing environment of advance technologies forces the organization to improve their marketing strategies. The use of mobile devices and digital media marketing trends are the better opportunity for the Adidas to enlarge their market share by capturing their target market easily and to produce more effective marketing strategies. Internet is also a great option for Adidas to promote its products worldwide. This is not only modern way of advertising but also cost effective. Introduction and Marketing Trends Adidas is among the renowned producer, dealer and the retailer of highest quality sports products. Adidas is a brand which is not only famous around the world because of its fashionable and stylish sports products but also for several soccer teams, players and tournaments. In the past, the company uses only traditional ways of advertising and was successful. Nowadays, the changing environment of advance technologies forces the organization to improve their marketing strategies. Mobile technologies are becoming very common among the people around the world. Innovative technologies and the Digital media are presenting improved means for Adidas to get easy access to their target market. In order to compete in technological and more competitive environment in which Adidas has to face strict competition from its rivals like Nike, the company must move from traditional sources to mobile and digital media marketing in order to meet the demand of customers and to cope up with future consumption trends. The marketing trends are changing day by day. The use of mobile devices and digital media marketing trends are the better opportunity for the Adidas to enlarge their market share by capturing their target market easily and to produce more effective marketing strategies. SWOT Analysis Strengths Global incidence in more than 200 countries Extensive product line Focused on technological development and performance improvement Sponsorship to numerous worldwide supports events like streetball, soccer, football and tennis etc Strong brand image and reputation in products related to sports performance Large market share in US and European sports markets Weaknesses Lack of promotion and advertising schemes as compared to its major competitors like Nike Lack of proper customer service in some areas Limited budget for promotional and advertisement schemes Unable to responds quickly to changing fashion environment Opportunities Able to extend its international market through ecommerce and retail outlets Market share can be improved through efficient advertisement schemes Usage of advance technology can help Adidas to reach consumers effectively and more quickly Opportunity to advertise and enter new products in Europe before bringing in US market Threats Numbers of competitors are increasing continuously Competitors are trying to dominate market share of Adidas High risk is associated if company shifts from traditional marketing strategies to the digital marketing campaigns Worldwide financial crisis Branding, Brand Identity, USP, Target Market and Customer Expectations Brands are created to convey a compound message rapidly to its intended customers. Brands have the ability to convey the message emotionally and have the capability to get customer’s attention. According to the American Marketing Association â€Å"Brand is a term, symbol, contrive and the special characteristics of a product which differentiate the products and services of one supplier from the products and services of another supplier†. According to the Kotler (2003) â€Å"Brand is a sign, name, symbol, term, design or the mixture of all these and is aimed to recognize the products and services of one supplier or the group of suppliers with the products and services of another supplier of the group of suppliers†. Adidas is maintaining its brand on three grounds which are target market, sports products and its retail stores. The company always struggle hard to maintain perfection in its products, distinguished quality and the achievement of large market share. In order to provide memorable experience of sports products Adidas hired trained employers to deliver the unforgettable customer experience. Adidas believes that unique and innovative design of its sports products, improved environment of its retail outlets and enhanced customer service retentive helps the company to gain positive brand image (Kotler and Armstrong, 2004). Brand Identity People are wondered that how Adidas administer their operations to establish powerful brand identity. The major reason of this success is the distinctiveness and the simplicity of Adidas which makes it among the most renowned brand logos around the world. Adidas achieved this success by continuously describe its logo with the help of its numerous sponsorships, ad campaigns celebrity endorsements and different sports events. It is very important for any business to establish strong brand identity because it maintain and enhance ROI (Return on Investment). Strong brand identity leads the organization towards better business opportunities and by maintaining and enhancing strong brand identity Adidas is competent to endeavor into sports equipment and sports apparel. Adidas increase its target market with the help of co-branding its brand identity by some other renowned brand names at the time of entering in a business project with Stella McCartney in order to design and produce sports clothes for women named by â€Å"Adidas by Stella McCartney†. Unique elements of brand help the business to attain enhanced brand perception and the stable depiction of strong brand identity helps the Adidas to become among the most desirable brands of the world that has been grown from a shoes business into a main sports brand business around the world ((Kotler and Armstrong, 2004). Unique Selling Point Every business wants to distinguish itself from its competitors available in the target market. USP (Unique Selling Point/Proposition) is the real thing that’s helps your business to distinguish itself from its competitors and is the thing which is considered as unique and different. Adidas through â€Å"Impossible is Nothing† helping its target market to easily achieve their sports goals. Adidas presence in more than 200 countries with its retail outlets provides easy access to sports products. In all 200 countries these retail outlets are located near to its target market. Customers can easily go to store and can buy the product of their choice easily. Target Market and Customer Expectations Adidas preferred target market is males and females of ages between 12 to 24 years old. Although it has customers from all the ages as it’s easy and comfortable footwear’s are liked and used among the people belonging to all ages. Its customers are fashionable. The consumers of Adidas products expect from the brand to be affordable and hold superior quality. People desire to buy a brand which is generally sporty, cool, acceptable and urban. Customers desire for numerous options of interaction and customization. Colors and unique styles are vital elements of Adidas brand image which lots of customers are searching for and the customers wants long term and positive relation with the brand. Marketing Mix Product Adidas introduced a wide range of technologically modern and highest quality sports products especially footwear to its customers. The major reason behind this is to satisfy sports teams and the champion athletes who trust only on Adidas and considers that it helps them to achieve superior performance while playing. The major benefits of sports products are that it satisfies customer’s needs and demands. In order to survive successfully in the competitive market Adidas always try to accommodate customer’s wants and needs at priority basis. As a result, for sports apparels this brand has ascertained itself as most leading provider. The company is struggling hard to maintain its brand image and brand loyalty through constant improvement and up gradation of unique features of its products (Czinkota et. al., 1997). Price Adidas always try to maintain its unique style of introducing and delivering innovative, highest quality and stylish sports products by charging best and economic pricing to its customers. In start, Adidas earns its brand view of being expensive by offering high prices for its sports products but now Adidas is holding affordable and inexpensive price strategies for its sports products. Through its cost effective pricing strategies, Adidas is becoming cheaper and more demanded as compared to its competitors. This helps the company to gain more market share. For some products Adidas utilize the market skimming strategy for example for T-mac shoes Adidas charge high price for white color than other colors of similar product version (Kotler, 2003). Place The beginning of an enjoyable shopping is if the product is available at the right place. In the beginning, Adidas focused its concentration to a single country only but now it has its incidence in more than 200 countries around the world. In these countries Adidas is distributing its sports product in its retail outlets. The environment of these retail stores is inspiring, interactive and simple to shop. This is the uniqueness of Adidas that all of its retail outlets are located at best places and are easily accessibly for its target market. Adidas also provides online shopping facility for its customers. People have the facility to visit Adidas website and place the orders of their choice product from all over the world (Kotler and Armstrong, 2004). Promotion Adidas focus on many promotional strategies in an effort to imprison its desired target market. The basic reason behind the promotional and advertisement strategies is to enhance their business image as well as to become the number one brand of the sports world. Commonly, Adidas advertise its products with the help of mass media. Point of sale and â€Å"Impossible is Nothing† campaign is renowned promotional strategy of Adidas. The business is now increasingly using internet as a major tool of advertisement. Internet, mobile and digital media marketing helps the Adidas to gain a move from traditional promotional strategies to new and successful promotional strategies (Thomson et al., 2006). Ethical Policies and the Corporate Social Responsibility In today’s competitive environment if the business wants to be socially successful and acceptable they need to do some ethical and social acts which must be beneficial for the society. Adidas is among those companies who are the supporters of many charity events and foundations around the world. Adidas foundations are deeply involved in events related to sports. For example â€Å"Turns a new leaf† is an Adidas project and the amount earned though this project was given to those poor people of different countries who are unable to purchase a shoe. This was very triumphant marketing of Adidas brand around the world and it provides the customers with additional benefit as they get new shoes at the same time they donate to poor people. In terms of environment â€Å"Cotton from Sustainable Sources† is one more ethical and moral policy. Thus these kinds of acts by Adidas are not only making it socially acceptable and favorite but also helping the Adidas to get more market share because these policies not only helping the society but also a great tool of marketing for Adidas around the world (businessethics, Business Ethics, [Online]). Conclusion and Recommendations Adidas is a business that is providing its target market with sports related products at competitive and original price. No doubt Adidas is facing strict competition as there are also some sports companies offering innovative sports products. Hence the Adidas has the ability to extend its market share and to become the dominant company of the sports world by creating new support programs with sports teams and professional athletes worldwide. Adidas should avail opportunities for effective advertisement of its product to hold more market share. Adidas can take advantages of mobile and digital media marketing for the promotion and advertisement of its sports product and it will help Adidas to gain increased hold on its target market. In order to compete with its competitors i.e. Nike, Adidas should introduce new line of products like footwear and basket ball apparel. As the Adidas is renowned for its soccer products and has the great chance to raise attentiveness among its customers about the basketball products to occupy the major share of sports market. It would be very useful for Adidas to sign an athlete to increase its market value and to gain market share in the market segment of basketball. As the current marketing trends are going away from traditional marketing strategies so it would beneficial for Adidas to adopt modern strategies of advertisement like mobile and digital media marketing. Internet is also a great option for Adidas to promote its products worldwide. This is not only modern way of advertising but also cost effective. References Czinkota, M., Kotabe, M., & Mercer, D. (1997). Marketing Management: Text and Cases. Massachusetts: Blackwell Business Gobà ©, M. (2001). Emotional branding the new paradigm for connecting brands to people. New York: Allworth Press. Kotler, P. (2003). Marketing management. 11. edn. Upper Saddle River, N. J.: Prentice Hall. Kotler, P., & Armstrong, G. (2004). Principles of Marketing (10th ed.). New Jersey: Prentice Hall. Sheth, J.N., Gardner, D.M. and Garrett, D.E. (1988) Marketing Theory: Evolution and Evaluation. New York: John Wiley. Thompson, C., Rindfleisch, A. & Arsel, Z. (2006). Emotional Branding and the Strategic Value of the Doppelgà ¤nger Brand Image. Journal of Marketing, 70(1), pp. 50-64. http://www.businessethics.ca/definitions/business-ethics.html

My real friend Nature Essay

My real friend Nature I grew up in a flourishing metropolis sprawling over a number of cement constructions . I never stepped out of this cement forest since I was born. In my childhood, toys and high-technological machines were my best friends because they accompanied me and entertained me for a long period of time. Compared to countryside children, I was very deluded that I was brought up in a city and I could own every latest objects that I wanted. However, until I experienced an unforgettable filed trip of Mt. Madonna Park with my environmental science classmates and instructor miss Tracy, not only did I find my real friend nature but also I obtained more misteries and acquaintance relating to nature through my instruction’s introduction and personal experience. Getting along with nature during the field trip, I determined that nature is truly my real friend who was able to † interact † with me in the most pure and sincere way. Nature is the friend who assist me to overcome all initial difficulties of living on the earth. Specifically, she gave me guarantee of surviving by devoting herself to constantly offering life-living resources to me. I did not have any feeling of her strong and indivisible love until miss Tracy introduced red wood forest to us. Miss Tracy briefly demonstrated that there are three kinds of trees namely red wood trees, oak trees and Tanoak trees in Mt. Madonna Park. Red wood trees, which are souls of forests, trap the most moisture in their advanced root systems.They are such big sponges for circulating water in biosphere. In addition, combing with water, sunlight and air, these three kinds of trees consume carbon dioxide and breath out oxygen through natural photosynthesis. How great they are! While I was walking through the park,the wind blew moisture steam from leaves and then stayed and instilled my thirsty skin. When it came to the green plants, they coordinated their breath rhyth ms to breathe out an abundance of oxygen to the cool air in order to please me. It was the first time that I had felt that nature was really existed in my life. Keeping me living steadily and nurturing me with her soundless love, she never tries to ditch me but instead defends me. I appreciated that she understood what I needed for my life and gave me a wonderful new life every day. Nature is  the friend who can use his romantic voice to heal my mental hurt and rinse my sufferings. It was interesting that nature has his own voice to express himself. She is not cold blooded but has multiple emotions. In order to capture the most spontaneous voice, we stepped slowly and silently on the grass. Miss Tracy was so delighted to tell us how to distinguish different birds’ different voice. Listen! Ravens crows and marble murat, soaring at the top of the Tanoak trees, were showing their warm greeting to me. Their voice just liked a clutter of sunshine brighter my inner heart. Hearing the sound of a babbling brook, it peacefully calmed me down and brought my stres s away. When I settle down my heart and listen carefully to his voice, I can understand what he is trying to say to me.To Keep away from crowded city and stop hearing annoying hook and yelling, I was so glad that nature gave me a spontaneous healing pill to refresh my life. Nature is the friend who can teach me how to live sturdily and remind me of cherishing my priceless life. Nature is a large caring family for numberless creatures. Different creatures have different techniques to survive and protect themselves from attacking by enemies. During the field trip, one of the funny and meaningful part was touching banana slug. Miss Tracy passed around the banana slugs to each of us. The majority of us were so scared of their soft and bright yellow bodies even though they seemed to be extremely vulnerable because of their appearance. However, as a matter of a fact that they were so defended and cautious when they encountered crisis. When it came to my turn, I put it on my palm, it moved slowly o n my hands and used its largest pair of tentacles to detect light and movements. Then he spread another pair of tentacles straight out of his breathing holes to spy on everything. After checking the surroundings, it kept moving but started to produce slime which implied that it was threated to protect itself. In order to seek a survival exist, he never gave up moving. What a tough life! I believe that its intense surviving desire is the best witness of nature’s magnificent vitality.Thanks to nature’s sublime lives, they made me think of my life. Unlike creatures vigorous lives, my majority of life frittered away on entertainment and meaningless events. I spent time in playing computer games without taking any care of my health and became dispirited towards my daily work. But fortunately I obtained an alarming advise from my dear friend nature. He directed me to a bright side of the life and pull me back  to a right track of a meaningful life. All in all, as a result of this wonderful filed trip, nature who I eventually recognized as my real friend never leave me alone since I was born. He has defended me by serving me essential life-living material and comforted me in his striking communication ways for ages. Sometimes she has had been an adviser telling me to have esteem for every forms of life on earth. She has done the same thing not only for me but for everybody in this world. As to this skyrocketing society, we are drowning ourselves into too much concentration of unreal and illusory things. Losing our initial trait of being passionate towards nature, we split up with nature and even betrayed him. Have you ever noticed that she was crying and depressed to us ? Please! Do not prevent our friend from keeping close relationship to us. Take your time to sit down and talk with our dear friend for a couple of minutes. You will see her unconditional love explicitly.

Art Business - Is Contemporary Art a safe investment Dissertation

Art Business - Is Contemporary Art a safe investment - Dissertation Example The study "Art Business - Is Contemporary Art a safe investment" explores the contemporary art market and the method of investment in the art market and discusses whether it is safe to invest in the contemporary art market, also taking into consideration the traditional investment products. The international art market is particularly focused on providing the right values to art and antiques. The government has a significant role to play in this regard that supports the retailers involved in the system making it difficult to access. Although parts of the system are supported by the government, but such supports are highly effective. The art market is mainly dominated by two companies – Sotheby’s and Christie’s. However there is no duopoly in the system and hence no effect on the consumers nor is there any cartel for fixing of prices. While the contemporary art market has emerged as a type of investment for individuals, there are the traditional types of investmen ts still prevailing effectively in the markets. Financial markets are existent since traditional times offering several means of investments. Financial markets are normally differentiated depending upon the types of investments, their maturities, the investments being made by the types of borrowers and the ones who are lending, market locations, and the means and ways of conducting the transactions. The financial markets are varied with the most essential being the money markets, capital markets, debt markets, equity markets, primary markets., secondary markets, derivative markets, stock markets, and over-the-counter markets. These markets not only provide with investment measures but are also competitive with each other (Besley and Brigham 2008). The most common types of traditional investments include stocks, bonds, mutual funds, along with alternative investments such as Options, Futures, FOREX, Gold, Real Estate, and others (Investing 101: Types of Investments 2013). Over the la st ten years, there have been significant changes in the industry of investment management. Several new methods of investment and investment products have been developed along with alternative methods of investments attracting more and more number of investors. Such changes have taken place owing to the need to manage the changes occurring in the financial regulations information technology, and demands and preferences of the investors (Crowder, Schneeweis and Kazemi 2012). However, although there are several new methods of investment and products available for customers, the traditional investment methods are still popular and most people tend to use the conventional methods for making investments, of which stocks, bonds, and mutual funds are the

Edith Stern Attacks the Domestic Bondage of Women and 27-2, Vance Essay

Edith Stern Attacks the Domestic Bondage of Women and 27-2, Vance Packard Analyzes the Age of Affluence - Essay Example They cook, clean and take care of children with no law whatsoever protecting them, unlike how there are labor unions and legislation governing the wage of workers in industries and factories. This fact means that they can go unpaid for the whole time they work at home. They will have no grounds on which they can demand a salary from either their husbands or children.1 Another objection to the house bondage of women is the fact that there is no compensation in case of an accident. Houses are usually dangerous places to work. This hazardous condition comes from the fact that environmental and health workers are not allowed into homes. As such, poor ventilation, electrical wiring, plumbing, and fumigation are not top of class services offered by governments. They are individual works that are sometimes done wrongly. Any accident that occurs in the house from these and more hazards receives no compensation, unlike an accident that occurs in a factory. In plants, accidents led to the monetary compensation of workers and their families. In the American homes after the 1950s, accidents in the house follow the norm that was there during slavery. Every worker looked after themselves, and so do the housewives. The lack of regular rest periods in the housewife’s schedule exhausts her more than the ordinary factory worker. She gets to work for more than fourteen hours a day and rest for less than eight hours. The lack of rest is due to the ever-present activities to accomplish within the regular routine of a home. They have to prepare meals all for the day, clean dishes, and trim flowers and do the laundry work. These activities are repeated each and every day, and are treated as regular routine. She gets lesser resting hours than the men working in factories. This work makes her home more than just a place to rest. It is viewed as a place of bondage and limited freedom, with extreme working conditions and long working hours. The women in the self-implied

A Major Health Problem in British Society and Improving Medical Essay

A Major Health Problem in British Society and Improving Medical Service - Essay Example After World War II, population growth within the British society was very limited. Apart from war casualties of war, an outbreak of diseases and poor medical facilities were the major factor contributing towards widespread loss of life in the UK. Currently, dementia is recognised as a common disease in older people, particularly due to its widespread prevalence across the world. Historically, due to the lack of awareness in the past century, most of the people were unable to determine the consequences and symptoms of dementia disease. For that reason, most of the people suffered from unknown psychological and behavioural problems. In the 18th century, people were more focused on civilianization. During the era of civilianization, every governmental policy offered urban people of with numerous advantages while most of the rural people were ignored. The gradual shift was witnessed in British society which was reflected by the increasing concern of the policy makers towards promoting th e health of the citizens. In this regard, numerous policies were set towards ensuring the community engagement and promoting good health of the people within the country. The healthcare professionals, government and non-government bodies, and healthcare institutions have a huge role and responsibilities to implement health policy among British society. To improve the health conditions of each human being social agents, actors and institutions of society have to implement policies, which can easily improve the sustainability of human being.

Financial analysis of bSKYb 2012(only profitability ratio analysis Essay

Financial analysis of bSKYb 2012(only profitability ratio analysis part see instruction) - Essay Example U.K: Intellect Books 10 1.0 Executive summary This present paper is a report that has been prepared from the standpoint of financial analysts working for a Merchant Bank. In the report, the financial analysts provide advice to the pension fund managers in regards to whether it is a viable or a good strategic business decision to make a considerable investment in BSkyB Corporation. The size of the investment is still a matter of discussion but if the report recommends for the investment in BSkyB then the pension fund managers will seek to purchase up to a maximum of 3% of the total issued share capital of the corporation that are listed at the London Stock Exchange. The report will include historical data of the BSkyB Corporation and it will focus on the future prospects for the company. Other details that will be contained in the report include a brief description of the company, the company’s mission, and strategic direction, the balance of skills and experience of the Board of Directors, and the SWOT analysis of the company. 2.0 BSkyB Corporation According to Horsman (1997), The British Sky Broadcasting Group plc (BSkyB), which is commonly referred to as Sky is a British corporation that mainly deals in satellite broadcasting, broadband, and telephone services. The company was originally formed in the year 1990 after the merger between the British Satellite Broadcasting and Sky Television, which were at that time facing financial constraints because of the increased competition between them and other rival television companies (Horsman, 1998). Presently, the company, which has its headquarters located at London, operates in both the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom. By operating in these two markets, the company has been able to have 10,742,000 customers of which majority of them are TV customers. Other significant customers are the Sky HD customers, the Sky Talk customers, and the Sky broadband customers. It is of essence to note that beside s the residential customer base, the company operates other businesses that target a different consumer segments, these businesses include Sky Business, Sky Media, Sky Betting & Gaming, and Sky Sports Digital Media. This wide customer base has propelled the company to be largest pay-TV broadcaster in both the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom (BSkyB Corporate, 2013). 2.1 BSkyB Corporation’s mission and strategic direction BSkyB mission is to offer the best to the customers, and other stakeholders, and even to positively contribute to the lives of people both in the Republic of Ireland and in the UK. Secondly, the company also aims at creating value for their shareholders whilst achieving lasting success by focusing on long-term sustainability. The company’s strategic direction is based on the idea of always seeking to improve on their offerings to their customers, and this involves coming up with new innovative products for satellite broadcasting, and improvin g the quality of broadband and telephone services. 3.0 Balance of skills and experience of the board of directors The BSkyB Corporation’s board of directors is made up of fourteen members of whom the Chairman is Mr. Nicholas Ferguson who is a non-executive director of the company. Mr. Ferguson brings into the board exceptional

Inquiring Minds want to know Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Inquiring Minds want to know - Assignment Example The data was further about a single population, readers of publications. Even though many types of longitudinal surveys exist, trend study best identifies the used survey. This survey type identifies a target population from which a sample, at each trial, is selected and analysis conducted at the different times to determine and explain possible difference. The type of study can be conducted over any time gap and may use different participants as well as different researchers (Copper and Schindler, n.d.). Many issues exist to validity and reliability of the applied survey type. Core to the concerns is the flexible scope of trend studies longitudinal surveys that allows for difference in researchers and research participants. Such a difference offers a biased basis for comparing results because of difference in research environments across the research times. The study, for example, sought to determine effectiveness of publication advertising in generating leads and difference in consumers’ response approach to advertisements based on technology changes may offer a biased platform for comparing effectiveness of publication advertising across the considered time points. This means that identified effectiveness of publication advertising in the year 1997 could have been underestimated because of responses by other means other than the considered cards. Availability of free toll lines for customers’ enquiries and availability of web sites from which consumers could make inq uiries and orders, in the year 2007, are examples of changes in the study that undermined reliability and validity of longitudinal survey (The University of Texas, n.d.; Copper and Schindler, n.d.). The survey method is also demanding in terms of resources. It requires time because data collection must consider data from at least two different periods. This further identifies the need for comparison and higher expenses on requirements

BOP Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

BOP - Essay Example It is also one of the few multinationals that combines innovation with sustainability to create a long-term blueprint to facilitate growth in all its divisions. The company has been regularly cited as one of the most admired corporations in the world, as well as one of the best companies to work for. In spite of these positives, the future of Google is not certain because it is unclear what the company’s future plans are. This creates an uncertain situation for potential investors and partners who would like to have some degree of assurance before they put their money or time in the company. A STEEPLE analysis is the best tool to provide a comprehensive outlook of the company so that potential investors and partners have a good idea of what they face and how they can manage their objectives to get the most from their plans. The analysis also provides a way for the company to self-appraise itself to determine where it stands socially, economically, politically, ethically, techn ologically, environmentally and legally. Between 2004 and 2010, Google experienced steady and rapid growth as it embarked on an expansion campaign and improved its products and services. The company launched various innovative products, expanded its advertising platform, and targeted more young and middle-aged customers to drive its growth forward. Products such as Gmail and Google Chat increased the company’s popularity and appeal as an investment option. However, the period between 2010 and 2014 saw a slowdown in growth as the company stabilized its operations in foreign countries, especially in emerging markets. The company also launched more operations and used a significant amount of resources to make its expansion a success. From this outlook, it is clear why a STEEPLE analysis is ideal at this time. It will provide a detailed report on Google’s future and the dynamics that will shape that future. Political stability is a core component of

Blood wedding (after seeing the play) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Blood wedding (after seeing the play) - Essay Example desires, the moon’s movements, in contrast is rather limited and passive, and it makes the bride seem to represent the woman who finally refuses to be oppressed by a traditional marriage, while the moon seems to represent a woman who is stuck in the usual suppressed life dictated by the traditional norms of a typical wife.This essay will attempt to elaborate upon this contrast in these two characters and how these were exemplified through the spatial dynamics. First, from the contrast in the extent of movement around the stage, the bride seems to represent a free woman who pursues what she wants, while the moon is still a suppressed woman. The bride’s movement around the stage seems to be free, fast and strong. Specifically, her distance from the bridegroom and Leonardo are contrasted intentionally. In the beginning of the play, the bride tries to accept her fate marrying the bridegroom and tries to be away from Leonardo. However, as the play proceeds, the bride desires to follow her heart start dominating and she chooses Leonardo. The state of the bride’s mind was strongly reflected in the differet distances she maintains from the two men in her life. Whenever she tries to keep away from either of the men, she quickly runs away as the man approaches and even aggressively shakes off their physical contact and keeps distance at times. For instance, in the beginning of the wedding the bride tries to control her true desire and thus maintains a significant distance from Leonardo but although her true feelins are revealed in the glances she throws at him as well as often spaced out thinking of him throughout wedding. Eventually, by the end of her wedding reception, she chooses to follow her heart and runs away with Leonardo. In contrast to the Brides dynamism, the moon, which appears in the woods scene has very static and limited body movement and further, uses only so much of the stage-space. The fact that the role of the Moon is played by the same actor who

Christmas card making Essay Example for Free

Christmas card making Essay What I would like to achieve by making Christmas cards with a group of 3-4 children at a time, is to see how and what they think Christmas is all about, their creative side and if the can write their own names at the bottom of their card. The learning intentions for each child are to either write their own name without help or copy it from another piece of paper. Again in this activity the children will have to learn to share the equipment. Fridrich Frebel believed and emphasised that creative play was important part of a Childs worlds and growing up, he also thought physical play, song and rhymes was a symbolism, and best developed though play. Aim: To get all the children who do a card to try to write their name inside. What the children will learn: The children today will learn how to write their name correctly, I dont think they will remember all of how to do it but next time they need to write it they will find it easier. What I will learn: I should learn to help and supervise children properly and to help understand what they should and shouldnt being doing at this age and weather or not they understand the way I am asking them to do an activity for me. What happened? I choose three random children who were wondering around not doing any other activity. I choose two girls and a boy, to come sit at a table, first of all their put on aprons the table already had glue and card on it with scissors and glitter pens the children did not understand straight away what I wanted them to do I sat down and tried to explain luckily I had bring in one that I had did at home with my brother who is their age. The two girls KL and CW knew what I wanted them to try and do I even said can you do your name inside when you have finished. This time I didnt have an early years practitioner with me but one of them came over to see if I was okay. The Stephanie Jewell 3rd January 2005 boy I had asked to do a card didnt want to he found some thing else he anted to do, so one of the early years practitioner gave me another boy DK as he needs help with his name. I gave them red card and folded it KL wanted hers folded twice so I did as it was her Christmas card. The children took their time at making the outside of the card about 20 minutes later I said is anyone nearly finished? they all stopped their work and said Yes but they was not, so I told them to carry on then a couple minutes later DK finished the front so I wrote the inside for him and asked if he can do his name e but he was very aliment that he could not do it so I wrote it on a bit of paper to copy and he tried really hard but we only got half of it done as he got a little upset because he didnt want to do it. The two girls finished as well as are older they started to write letters inside but they didnt make any words but I thought that was really good bas they were trying. They both wrote their names and kisses, the children letters were back to front or upside but you can tell what their name was. Evaluation: The activity of making cards with the children went better then I excepted as the children didnt argue with each other and wanted to speak to me one after another instead of shouting and screaming. I thought I explained what to do well as the two girls that I choose to do this got on with the work straight away and didnt really need my help until the end with the writing of their names. The child who didnt want to do card making made me feel as if I was doing some thing wrong but he didnt take in ant activities that day. The children left their cards to dry and the next day we put them into envelopes and they took them home. I would like to carry it out again if possible as I enjoyed myself as I was helping and watching them does it. If you were to carry out this activity then I would say have no more then two children at a time that way you can give them almost your full attention and this way the children tend not to want to talk over each other as there are only two of them sitting on a table. The children did learn how to do their names correctly even though DK got upset as he didnt want to write his even though I kept encouraging him to Stephanie Jewell 3rd January 2005 try. I think I should have spoke more about Christmas and how a time for giving and why we give out cards to people. I put down a mat on the table as the children was working with glue, and glitter what make a lot of mess in the hands of 3, 4 year olds. The children put on aprons to protect their clothing which was a good idea, they did make a lot of mess with the glitter pens and didnt know when to stop putting on to the card I had to keep telling them it was enough but they some times didnt listen. The cutting of paper made mess around the table. But all of the mess made was easily cleared up within minutes and all the children had to do is wash their hands. I didnt realise the children would take as long as they did to make the cards and even writing their name took longer then expected, I gave myself half and hour when I should have allowed an hour to do this kind of activity. When the children sit down they took a little while to get started. The planning I did for both the activities were helpful I did follow both the plans I think the planning is good to have but on the day it all depends on the children weather or not they want to do it or if they are going to muck about for you, the best part about the planning is to see if you can complete the learning intentions you set for the children and knowing what equipment ids needed before hand in case its any thing that they wouldnt have usually.

Movie One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest Essay Example for Free

Movie One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest Essay Nurse Ratched: Thats okay, Nurse Pilbo. If Mr. McMurphy does not want to take his medicine, we will just have to arrange for him to have it some other way, although I dont think hed like it very much. In the movie, although most of the patients are not chronics (committed forcibly), nobody ever leaves to establish their autonomy. Nurse Ratched, under the guise of a counselor interested in helping them to overcome their problems and establish independence, actually uses implicit and explicit measures to oppress them and keep them captive in a de facto dictatorship. One of the ways to keep the patients docile and puerile is exemplified in the foregoing dialogue. The ingestion of pills indicates an oral fixation and an inability to progress to the proper phallic stage. Even if the pills are not the catalyst of the arrested development, and their neuroses are the result of arrested development that preceded their admission to the hospital, the pills preclude any possibility of ameliorating their problems. McMurphy, who is the quintessential representation of democracy and rugged individualism, has no such problems. However, in an attempt to control him, Ratched threatens to forcibly insert the pill into his body rectally. Such an action, if completed, would symbolize a regress to the anal stage,  successfully removing him from the world writ large and the Law of the Father. Luckily, McMurphy feigns swallowing the pill to appease her, and then spits in out. Two incidents that support psychoanalytic reading Billy Bibbitt is a stuttering, virginal, thirty-year old boy child. His inability to establish solidarity with anyone, especially of the opposite sex, and his profound difficulty articulating himself, show an inability to successfully enter the Symbolic realm and establish a name for himself. He is strikingly similar, in many ways, to the monster in Frankenstein. However, towards the end of the movie, he is wheeled in a wheelchair into an isolated room, where he has sex with a strumpet. As he sits in the wheelchair, he is ill, malignant to society, a cancer who has been successfully removed.However, after coitus, he becomes confident, holding his head high, laughing, and most importantly, he does not stutter. Nurse Ratched asks him if he is ashamed of what he did. He says, No, Im not as articulately as an ambassador. Unfortunately, Ratched threatens to tell his mother, which once again removes him from the Symbolic realm, forcing him to stutter again, losing the linguistic facility h e required. It is too much for him to bear. He kills himself. Charlie Cheswick, an insecure neurotic, becomes enraged, overtly challenging Nurse Ratched when she hides his cigarettes. Inspired by McMurphy and his democratic, paternalistic ideals, he begins to see the cigarettes as a phallic symbol, his absent father, desperately attempting to return to the imaginary stage so that he can accept his fathers dominance, disabuse himself of an overwhelming need for his mother, and enter the Symbolic realm, thereby gaining his autonomy. Unfortunately, Ratched and the sadistic orderlies put an end to his fustian ranting, and he is led away, crying, to receive electro-shock therapy. L Interpretation of one character using psychoanalysis Martini, played by Danny Devito, not only has a childlike physicality, but  has a puerile affect as well. He does not speak throughout the entire film, except for non-sequiturs and sibilant and monosyllabic utterances in response to McMurphys remarks and always has an innocent smile on his face, oblivious to the meaning of language (he cannot understand McMurphys explanations of how to play cards). This shows an inability to escape the imaginary realm, as he is not able to successfully construct meaning with others. However, towards the end of the movie, after all of the patients reveled in bacchanalian bliss, Nurse Ratched asks him to pick up her soiled cap, which lay on the floor. He understands her and, smiling, carries out her order. He may not be able to understand the Law of the Father, but he can understand Ratcheds language (the signifier) and the thing that it signifies (oppression that relegates him to eternal childhood). Themes and Issues ** McMurphy (Law of the Father) versus Ratched (the maternal thing and object a which the patients are seeking, but can never recover. However, the faà §ade of possibly grasping it Ratched strings them along- keeps them hostage). ** Taciturnity versus fluency Symbols ** Cigarettes are symbolic of the phallus ** Pornographic playing cards, which can possibly be symbolic of a mother figure, are here used (I believe) to stimulate sexual desire in an attempt to draw the patients towards the Symbolic realm). ** Pills are symbolic of an oral fixation. ** Wheelchair is symbolic of paralysis (stifled by Ratcheds dictates), but when Billy Bibbitt falls out of the wheelchair, into the arms of a woman, Ratcheds control is vitiated. Why I believe in this reading Because mental illness, or the perception of mental illness, is the focus of the movie, psychoanalytic criticism is perhaps the best critical theory to analyze the themes and characters. The aberrant behavior manifested by the patients can easily be explained using the imaginary and symbolic realms, and metaphoric connections can be drawn, as the heading symbols shows. This is not only an easy and productive theory to use for this movie, but one which yields (I believe) truthful explanations. Reader Response Textual Passage But Doc, she was fifteen years old, going on thirty-five, Doc, and, uh, she told me she was eighteen and she was, uh, very willing, you know what I meanI practically had to take to sewin my pants shut. But, uh between you and me, uh, she might have been fifteen, but when you get that little red beaver right up there in front of ya, I dont think its crazy at all now and I dont think you do eitherNo man alive could resist that, and thats why I got into jail to begin with. And now theyre telling me Im crazy over here because I dont sit there like a goddamn vegetable. Dont make a bit of sense to me. If thats whats bein crazy is, then Im senseless, out of it, gone-down-the-road, wacko. But no more, no less, thats it. In the foregoing passage, McMurphy defends his sanity with an apology that would be difficult for anyone in society to disagree with. He portrays the female as the lascivious one, so interested in satisfying her sexual desires that she prevaricates about her age to copulate with the unsuspecting McMurphy. He portrays himself as the all-American male, respectful of women, yet having a strong libido, ready, willing, and able to cleave the beaver at a moments notice. J He becomes the victim when he ascertains her true age, and derides the system for questioning his mental health for acting as any other man would in his situation. He concludes his defense with verbal  irony, acerbically vociferating that if such behavior is abnormal, then he is indeed the king of craziness. Two incidents that support reader-response McMurphy knows that the others are not crazy, and although he may not be able to articulate it, knows that they are all being governed by an autocrat with no interest but self-interest. In an effort to overcome the totalitarian regime, he knows he must win the other patients over to his side. To become victorious over Nurse Ratched, he feigns watching the World Series, creating his own game, a game which is a foundation of democratic ideals, as American as apple-pie. Nurse Ratched looks on in disbelief and rage as the patients, usually reticent and phlegmatic, become excited and happy, buying into McMurphys ideals. She immediately importunes them to stop, but as the scene ends, they continue their revelry. It appears that McMurphy has the upper- hand. The movie takes place in the 1960s, when racism was still prevalent. It is important to note that all of the patients are white, yet powerless, and all of the orderlies, a menial job, are black, yet dominate the patients throughout the movie. Not only do they physically control the patients, but also are mentally and emotionally healthier, and they have more freedom (they listen to the World Series, while the patients cannot). Perhaps even implicitly, the director is advocating equal rights for African Americans, or perhaps even insinuating that blacks are superior to whites. However, since they must answer to those in charge (who are also white) the latter theory does not seem plausible. The director most likely wants to show how powerless the mentally ill truly are, to be controlled by people who were subjugated and kept in bondage for hundreds of years. They are truly the dregs of society. Interpretation of one character using reader-response Although Chief Bromden seems to be more powerless than McMurphy throughout most of the film, it is he who survives and escapes into the world writ  large at the movies end. Bromden has intrinsic strength, but is unable to find it throughout most of the movie because it is concealed by a hatred for the world (fostered by his fathers alcoholism). However, he buys into McMurphys democratic ideals, his vision of freedom, and desires to break free from the bondage and begin a life full of promise. Unfortunately, he is forced to do it alone because McMurphy, who appears to be so powerful throughout the entire film, is only affecting interest in freedom. He knows that he is a pariah, and desires to be incarcerated to escape the pain of the world. He lies to himself and to others when he spreads his vision of autonomy. He has several chances to escape to freedom during the movie, but forsakes them in favor of wild antics. However, intractability and totalitarianism do not mix. His obstreperous antics and unwillingness to escape from his subjugation cause his demise. After he is lobotomized, and Bromden understands McMurphy will never be free, he knows that he can never be free unless he escapes from the institution. Hanging on to the ideals of democracy, which he now firmly believes in, he knows he must be strong enough to accomplish the dream that McMurphy could not fulfill. He suffocates McMurphy so that he can enjoy freedom after all, and then uses brute strength to experience a freedom of his own as he throws the fountain, which McMurphy could not lift, through the window). It appears that Bromden is the stronger of the two after all, and McMurphys strength was always artificial. He was not able to change any of the other patients with his worldview, but it appears verisimilitude can have posit ive effects after all. Where is Chief Bromden now, I wonder? Themes/Issues ** Democracy versus totalitarianism **Perception versus reality ** Black versus white ** Femininity versus masculinity **Criminality versus insanity ** Nature versus nurture ** Social constructs and identity formation Symbols ** Music symbolizes regimentation and control ** Sex symbolizes freedom ** Race, affect, cognitive development, gender, and mental stability symbolize stratification. ** Mental facility symbolizes a microcosm with the macrocosm, which is directly antithetical to the ideals the macrocosm embraces rationing of personal effects, bedtimes, facilitated and monitored conversations, etc. ** Choice symbolizes the taboo. Why I believe in this reading Without reader response, subjectivity cannot exist. When myriad ways of looking at the world do not exist, provincialism ensues, and eventually a maniac like Nurse Ratched may govern us all. J To preclude myopia and societal malignancies (racism, classism, chauvinism, and other biases), it is necessary to view texts, and by texts I mean everything society that can be analyzed, as objectively as possibly, analyzing them from many perspectives. I am grateful to have the ability to use my mind to attempt to develop solutions to the ills of the world, because some people live in worlds that preclude them from using their minds to seek justice for themselves and others. Nurse Ratcheds must be thwarted before they establish power! Feminist Approach Textual Passage Nurse Ratched: Why did you ask that girl to marry you Billy? Billy: I, I, I, loved her Nurse Ratched. Nurse Ratched: Why didnt you tell your mother about it? Your mother told me you didnt tell her. Billy Bibbitt: ( He is silent and hangs his head in shame). Charlie Cheswick: (Fearfully and hesitantly) Nurse Ratched, let me ask you a question. Nurse Ratched: (Angered, with fire in her eyes, affecting concern) Go ahead, Mr. Cheswick. Charlie Cheswick: Nurse Ratched, cant you see hes uncomfortable. I mean, if he doesnt want to talk, cant we just go on to some new business. Nurse Ratched: ( Impatiently and caustically, verging on a diatribe) The business of this meeting, Mr. Cheswick, is therapy! While it might appear that Nurse Ratched is genuinely concerned about Billy at first glance, after further examination it is apparent, from this discourse and other interlocution throughout the movie, that she has deep seated sexual problems and loathes men, hatred that may be the product of inequalities or abuse that she has experienced at the hands of men. While adult men should not have to apprise their parents of relationships with the opposite sex, Nurse Ratched thinks it is imperative. She is remembering promises of fidelity from sweet-talking Lotharios, men who proposed marriage, but did so clandestinely, all in an effort to use her for sexual pleasure! She loves Billys inability to articulate himself, because he  cannot flatter women with lies, and break their hearts, as men broke hers. She values men who are close to their mothers because such relationships are built on trust and innocence. Those who keep secrets can conspire to hurt others for their own selfish gain. Mothers hate that! When she attempts to counsel Billy, she does so from a personal bias, even if she does not see it. In an effort to assuage her own pain, and the oppression of all women in society, she destroys Billys self-image, emasculating him, making him as powerless as she is. Interpretation of Mildred Ratched using feminist criticism Mildred Ratched shows a desire, a compulsion really, to completely control every man on the ward throughout the entire movie. She knows she cannot establish such power with completely healthy men, so she cherishes her time at the ward (if one is on the qui vive during the movie, it is apparent that she comes when the sun just rises and leaves when it is dark shes a fanatic!). She is attempting to create her own world, one where she is completely in charge, and the oppressive ideologies of a patriarchal society become a de facto fiction. Almost all of the men are taciturn, or when they do speak, the language is fragmented and uncertain. Her language is omnipresent and omnipotent, superseding and threatening to completely obliterate the language of the outside world. When McMurphy, an intractable democratic ideologue with glib on his tongue and subversion on his mind comes to the facility, her own suppression becomes a reality once again, and she knows she must fight until she tames t his wild beast. Although McMurphy proves to be a formidable foe, she defeats him in the end, proving that a womans language can defeat the oppressive language of men when the two collide, and that others will still accept it after the battle is over. It is interesting that a male, Chief Bromden, who is thoroughly emasculated throughout the entire movie, has to generate the strength to escape from feminine language to enter the masculine language of the world writ large. It is NO LONGER the world writ large. Nurse Ratcheds world has turned into the macrocosm, and everywhere else is just a microcosm, only tangentially connected to reality proper, a reality that the virtuous Nurse Ratched creates. Two incidents that support this kind of reading I have already covered a lot, so I will give two brief examples. Randall McMurphy says: Theyve been giving me ten-thousand volts a day and I/ hot to trot. The next woman to take me ons gonna light up like a pinball machine and pay off in silver dollars. Nurse Ratched shows anger at first, and then affects amusement before changing the subject. She in sickened by his objectification of women, but then understands that she has him under her control. He wont be gettin any nookie if she can help it! J Earlier in the film, she hides the patients cigarettes as punishment for gambling. The cigarettes represent phalluses, which she has complete control of. She emasculates them, and will only give their members back if they are good boys and follow her rules.

Emancipation Proclamation Slaves

Emancipation Proclamation Slaves Emancipation Proclamation Slaves What events shaped the writing of the Emancipation Proclamation? Emancipation was not a new idea in the world. Many countries had freed the slaves earlier in the 1800s even going into the 1830s for the British slaves. This may have caused a fear on the parts of the proslavery people. Because of this, the slave owners in the south wanted a ban on slaves coming from the West Indies and other places where slaves were being freed. The Emancipation Proclamation did not come easy to President Lincoln. The President took over two years to come to the decision that there was even a need for such a document. In that time there was pressure coming from both sides of the issue at President Lincoln. Many events led to the proclamation. What drove Lincoln to finally write it? Did he feel an obligation to free the slaves? Was it a stance to take to keep the Union engaged in the war? Was it pressure from his generals and political figures? Some might be astonished that Abraham Lincoln wrote the Emancipation Proclamation based on his non-action on the slavery is sue. John H. Franklin noted in his book on the Emancipation Proclamation, In his inaugural address President Lincoln declared that he had no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with slavery where it exists. Due to federalist principles, Lincoln did not feel that it was his place, as president; to intervene with an issue that he felt was a state matter. Lincoln did question slavery in the territories. You can trace this back to the Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858. Suppose, he queried, the people of a territory should vote slavery down? The Supreme Court in the Dred Scott decision had decreed that they could not. Who would prevail, the Court of or the people? We know from history that slave states did not want to be outnumbered by free states. No matter how the Supreme Court ruled, Douglas argued, slavery would stay down if the people voted it down. This is supported by the many of the abolitionists of the day. President Lincoln felt pressure for emancipation from a few avenues. Early in 1861, Senator Lyman Trumbull, from Illinois, brought pressure with the introduction of the Confiscation Act. Trumbull stated, contrabands would no longer be slaves if and only if they had been employed by the Confederate armed services. Congress felt that the slaves could be used as a tool against the Confederacy, due to their dependency on them and the view that slaves are property. After the publishing of the first Confiscation Act, pressure escalated even more for emancipation. Lincolns Secretary of War, Simon Cameron, believed it to be in the best interest of the North to, emancipate the slaves, and arm them. This caused a widespread debate because Cameron did not issue this report to the president; he circulated it to the postmasters. Lincoln was not pleased with this, which was a contributing factor to Camerons replacement with Edwin M. Stanton. Believing that the war with the South would be over rather quickly, Lincoln did not feel a need to deal with the slavery issue, thinking the Union would reunite as status quo. Cameron would not be the only person Lincoln had to replace. General John Charles Fremont sought to end Missouris neutrality. Fremont issued martial law, and declared that all slaves should be set free in Missouri. This put Lincoln in the position of asking Fremont to modify his proclamation to conform to the Confiscation Act. Fremont refused to do so and the President made it an order. Fremont was ultimately relieved of command due to the conflict. This may have expanded the thoughts of emancipation in Lincolns mind, but more pressure would emerge from Congressman Thaddeus Stevens. Stevens introduced a bill, asking Lincoln to emancipate all slaves who leave their masters, or who shall aid in the quelling the rebellion. If this action was followed through, it could be looked upon at as Congress attempting to take the emancipation question out of the hands of Lincoln. This did not sway Lincoln; he just reminded them that they must answer for their actions. Lincoln did grant, freedom to all fugitive slaves in Union Army camps and acknowledged that the government would be responsible for their welfare. This provided a split avenue for Lincoln to pursue; he did not give outright emancipation to all, but granted freedom to slaves that were adding the Union, and allowed them to remain free. Lincoln still had paths he could choose from, keeping his options open, Lincoln vowed at the end of his annual message to employ all indispensable means including emancipation- to preserve the union. Preserving the union, again, was his ultimate goal, and we would be shown that Lin coln would consider all avenues to attain it. After the emancipation attempt by Stevens, Senator Turnbull introduced a second confiscation act. More intense than the first, it was adamant in seizing and confiscating anything the Union Army could obtain when defeating the Confederacy. Not only did it stick it to the South, but allowed an influx of freed slaves as troops into the Union army. Before Union officers could return runaway slaves to their owners, court hearings were held to determine the loyalties of the slave owners. The bill also provided cash to establish colonies for the freed slaves, outside of the United States, to keep from disrupting white society. The act proposed that the confiscation be taken legally, in addition to whatever items the federal armies deemed of value on their raids of the rebels. By establishing freed slave colonies outside of the United States, Northerners who feared freed slaves were set at ease. This act was very important in the building of the road to emancipation, setting the precedence t hat freed slaves could be inducted into Union Armies, and employing the use of colonies that Lincoln would ask for, and be granted by Congress. In Lincolns view, gradual emancipation would be best for the country, allowing citizens to become slowly introduced to the idea. Lincoln thought that slavery was the disease of the entire nation and all must share in the suffering of its removal. Lincoln also thought that gradual emancipation would allow the border states a way out of the war, which would then shorten the war because the confederates would have very few men and supplies with out the supply rich states of Virginia. Lincoln had another Union general attempt to force his hand on the issue emancipation from General David Hunter. A strong supporter of infusing blacks into the army, he issued a proclamation, General Order 11, emancipating all slaves in the states of South Carolina, Florida, and Georgia. He did not clear his decision with the president, and consequently the President was furious. The president refused to allow any military official to usurp his authority on emancipation. Lincoln was set on establishing that emancipation was an executive decision, to be made by the president, not Union generals or anyone else. Military losses began to pressure Lincoln as well. The Union forces abandoned the Peninsula Campaign as a costly failure, and Lincoln temporarily abandoned McClellan as commander of the Army of the Potomac-though Lees army had suffered some twenty thousand casualties to McClellans ten thousand. The Confederate army would win several more battles, putting more pressure on Lincoln, who still wanted a gradual emancipation; knew it was time to act, if for any reason, to replenish lost forces. The Union setbacks in Virginia had persuaded Lincoln to take the first tentative step toward emancipation. Things had gone form bad to worse, Lincoln later recalled, until I felt that we had reached the end of our rope on the plan of operations we had been pursuing; that we had about played our last card, and must change tactics, or lose the game. This was Lincoln endorsing an approach to a new military strategy, after so many previous setbacks. Lincoln wanted a statement, possibly a large victory f or the Union, to launch the emancipation. Lincoln would look to Antietam, a draw more than a victory. Bloody Antietam was also the long-awaited victory that Lincoln need for launching his Emancipation Proclamation. Antietam served as the needed emancipation springboard. The halting of Lees offensive was just enough of a victory to justify Lincolns issuing, on September 23, 1862, the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. Lincoln felt that this was the right time to issue it, with the Confederate army retreating to Virginia. One of Lincolns hopes, in issuing the Preliminary Proclamation was to deprive the South of its slave labor force, thus undermining the military effectiveness of the Confederacy. If slaves left their southern plantations, many farmers would not be able to harvest their crops; fighting southern men would worry about family back home, possibly deserting the Confederate army to go home and protect what is left. The final proclamation was issued on January 1, 1863. Note that in the final declaration, there is no mention of colonization or compensation. Due to Congress controlling all aspects of the budget, Lincoln may have felt that he could not get those two resolutions through the legislative branch. In the document itself, Lincoln is admitting that he freed the slaves to help him militarily, not on principle. Although he may have felt morally that it was the right thing to do, his main reason was a military need, in the final paragraph of the proclamation that the measure was warranted by the Constitution upon military necessity. In one-way or another all of these events influenced the Emancipation Proclamation. Ultimately, it was a military need that led to its execution. Lincoln, influenced by Cameron, or Turnbells confiscation acts, may have not though to free slaves for the Union army profit of taking on the rebels. With out edicts from Fremont and Hunter, the president would not have taken as strong a stand as he did, not even making the proclamation a military order, or a military necessity. Though all of these are great factors that contributed, Lincoln was influenced most by the military need to emancipate slaves. Recruitment troubles dictated it to be so, and allowing black soldiers into the Union army eased recruitment. A great document granting freedom and born of military necessity, the Emancipation Proclamation also shows the compassion of President Lincoln. Bibliography Bailey, Thomas A., Cohen, Lizabeth, Kennedy, David M. 2006 The American Pageant: A History of the Republic, 13th Edition, Volume I To 1877. Houghton Mifflin Company Franklin, John H. 1965. The Emancipation Proclamation; the Dramatic story of Abraham Lincolns Greatest Document and its Significance in American History. New York: Doubleday Klingaman, William K. Abraham Lincoln and the Road to Emancipation. Viking publishers, New York Road McPherson, James M. 1988. Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era. Oxford University Press. Miller, Steven F. 2006. Chronology of Emancipation during the Civil War. http://www.history.umd.edu/Freedmen/chronol.htm (accessed August 24-30, 2008)

Mahatma Gandhi vs. Mao Essay -- Compare Contrast, Comparison

Gandhi vs. Mao Mao and Gandhi became key leaders in each of their countries, India and China. Although they both wanted very similar things to happen to their countries, they used very different tactics. The main points in their rules where economical, political and social. And all points affected their people in many ways. First, to make each of their countries stronger economically Ghandi and Mao changed laws and broke rules. During the British rule in India there was a salt tax, which made it very hard for the people of china to buy salt, but it was illegal for them to make their own salt. Because Ghandi did not think this tax was righteous, on. In 1930, March 12th, he and eighty other people walked in the "salt march." The salt march was a walk of approximately 240 miles to the Arabian see where they could make salt, illegally. Many people found the "salt march" meaning full. And Ghandi became a larger economic leader. Another way that Gandhi made India more powerful economically was spinning and wearing the traditional clothing of India. By doing this all people of India did not purchase and western clothes, which knocked a chunk out of the British economy thus adding to end of British rule in India, and making the country of India wealthier because they were not buying western clothes owned, buy B ritish shopkeepers. On the other hand Mao did not have a government to battle against to make china more powerfully economically. When Mao and his followers where on the long march they would go through small villages and towns taking the land away from the land owners and give the land to the peasants who worked on the land, who had been kept in poverty by the landowners for many years. This made Mao well known through out c... ...estern and made a student army that killed and destroyed anything western. Mao and Gandhi made a great impact on their countries socially by getting rid of things like the caste system. But Gandhi has been looked up to by other people and has passed on what he did to make the world a better place. But Mao brought death when he thought that his country was getting out of control and that is not something to look up to. Both Mao and Gandhi made their countries what they are today socially, economically, and politically. Both by taking the same things and using them in different ways. Gandhi on one hand was more peaceful and did not believe in war. And wanted the whole of the country to unite as one. Mao on the other hand, was more military induced and used war to sometimes get what he wanted. China and India could not be what they are today with out Mao and Gandhi.

American Dream in Edward Albees Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf Essay

In the final act of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Honey apologetically and drunkenly explains that she has peeled the label off her brandy bottle. To this, George replies, "We all peel labels, sweetie: and when you get through the skin, all three layers, through the muscle, slosh aside the organs, and get down to bone, you still haven't got all the way, yet. There's something inside the bone†¦ the marrow†¦ and that's what you gotta get at." In a play blending realism and absurdism, Edward Albee peels off the institutions and values that Americans held and hold dear, such as family, beauty, marriage, success, religion, and education. With blackly humorous ridicule and through critical analysis, Albee suggests that these institutions, traditionally comprising the "American dream," have been desperately created to escape reality. Ultimately, however, he shows us that reality continues to pervasively lurk not far beneath the surface that we have slapped over it, almost as if threatening to eat up the very thing with which we suppress it. Even before an analysis of Albee's dramatic action, the location itself sets the scene for a study of American society. Albee sets his play in the fictitious New England town of New Carthage, alluding to the ancient civilization of Carthage, which for thousands of years flourished, but was permanently conquered by the Romans. The name is not coincidental, as George refers to New Carthage as "Penguin Island," a mythical island destroyed by capitalism in a novel by Anatole France, and as "Gomorrah," the city in the Bible that was destroyed, along with Sodom, for its wickedness. (40) The allusion invites parallels to our own country, which, at the time facing the threat of communism, not only face... ...an philosopher. "And the west, encumbered by crippling alliances, and burdened with a morality too rigid to accommodate itself to the swing of events, must†¦ eventually†¦ fall." (174) Albee suggests that, behind the faà §ade of the American dream, behind the pretense of American ideals, behind the false front of the tranquility of American society in the early 60's, America's internal corruption and emptiness threatened, and perhaps continue to threaten, the country with a similar fall.    Work Cited Albee, Edward. Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Rev. ed. New York: Dramatists Play Service, 2005. Print. Works Consulted Clurman, Harold. "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" Edward Albee: A Collection of Critical Essays. Ed. C.W.E. Bigsby. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall 1975. 76-79 Hirsch, Foster. Who's Afraid of Edward Albee? Berkeley: Creative Arts, 1978. American Dream in Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf Essay In the final act of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Honey apologetically and drunkenly explains that she has peeled the label off her brandy bottle. To this, George replies, "We all peel labels, sweetie: and when you get through the skin, all three layers, through the muscle, slosh aside the organs, and get down to bone, you still haven't got all the way, yet. There's something inside the bone†¦ the marrow†¦ and that's what you gotta get at." In a play blending realism and absurdism, Edward Albee peels off the institutions and values that Americans held and hold dear, such as family, beauty, marriage, success, religion, and education. With blackly humorous ridicule and through critical analysis, Albee suggests that these institutions, traditionally comprising the "American dream," have been desperately created to escape reality. Ultimately, however, he shows us that reality continues to pervasively lurk not far beneath the surface that we have slapped over it, almost as if threatening to eat up the very thing with which we suppress it. Even before an analysis of Albee's dramatic action, the location itself sets the scene for a study of American society. Albee sets his play in the fictitious New England town of New Carthage, alluding to the ancient civilization of Carthage, which for thousands of years flourished, but was permanently conquered by the Romans. The name is not coincidental, as George refers to New Carthage as "Penguin Island," a mythical island destroyed by capitalism in a novel by Anatole France, and as "Gomorrah," the city in the Bible that was destroyed, along with Sodom, for its wickedness. (40) The allusion invites parallels to our own country, which, at the time facing the threat of communism, not only face... ...an philosopher. "And the west, encumbered by crippling alliances, and burdened with a morality too rigid to accommodate itself to the swing of events, must†¦ eventually†¦ fall." (174) Albee suggests that, behind the faà §ade of the American dream, behind the pretense of American ideals, behind the false front of the tranquility of American society in the early 60's, America's internal corruption and emptiness threatened, and perhaps continue to threaten, the country with a similar fall.    Work Cited Albee, Edward. Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Rev. ed. New York: Dramatists Play Service, 2005. Print. Works Consulted Clurman, Harold. "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" Edward Albee: A Collection of Critical Essays. Ed. C.W.E. Bigsby. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall 1975. 76-79 Hirsch, Foster. Who's Afraid of Edward Albee? Berkeley: Creative Arts, 1978.

Native americans :: essays research papers

Take a look what do you see? Heaven? Birds? Planes? Have you ever thought that possibly there is another world above us? Well the native Americans did. They came up with preposterous myths like these witch are written about in the two stories, â€Å"Earth on a turtles back†and â€Å"when Grizzlies walked upright†. Your probably thinking to your self where do they come up with these absurd ideas and stories. However im sure if you lived in that time period did with no formsof entertainment and had to sit around looking at trees 24/7 , you would most likely be coming up with some bizarre stories like these two. In both stories creation begins with a woman that is curios and creation is an accident. In both of the stories animals are highly looked at,and constantly helping or causing issues. Personification is also use to describe the animals acting humanly and other things such as the wind†entering†. Although these twostories are alike in many ways they have several differences, The two stories are both how curtiosity caused creation but there are many unique things that twist the stories to make them different, staring with the whole in the â€Å"skyland† in the first story the hole is created by a uprooted tree and is already exsisting in the second. The next thing that happens is that the pregnate women falls through the hole and is saved by animals and leads to the animalshelping to create an earth on a turtles back. While in the second story the girl rolls down a hill and mates with a grizzely bear an the grizzley bear is cursed to walk on all 4’s.there was no land in the first story and there has already nature and land below the sky world in the 2nd story. The stories both end differently the seeds that the woman happen to get when she fell were planted on the turtles back and that created nature. In the second it ended with the grizzley being cursed.even thouth these examples from these storiesa are a bit out landish they were clever,an d creature enough to make it into a high school lit book.

Black man and white women Essay

Black man and white women in dark green row boat The story â€Å"Black Man and White Women in Dark Green Rowboat†, written by Russell Banks, is about an interracial relationship on the brink of disaster. The story opens up on an extremely hot day in August at a trailer park that is right next to a lake with a variety of people who live there. I was not immediately aware that the black man and the white woman were the focus of the story, but those characters gradually emerged and that’s when things started to get interesting. It becomes very obvious that white women want to control everything in the relationship and doesn’t iew the black man as an equal partner. Before they meet at the beach, the white women walks up in her bikini holding her towel, fashion magazine, and tanning lotion with her blonde hair swinging side to side. I automatically start to view her as an egotistical person. When the white women encounters the black man at the beach, she helps him push the boat to the water, but instead of helping him push the boat all the way from shore, she hops in it before her feet had even got wet. He was left to not only push the boat himself, rolling his pant legs up, but also pushing her in it as well. While he is rowing the boat he realizes he didn’t bring a hat and he is sweating. He wraps his shirt around his head and she explains to him that he looks like a sheik and a galley slave. To me this shows how she thinks of him as her own romanticized slave that she can control. She even reassures him that she was not kidding by saying â€Å"no really. Honestly’. (68). The man continues to row and she says she’s starting to put on weight and then she tells the man that she told her mother about them and their situation, but she never looked at him when she was talking to him. Her eyes were closed and directed oward the sun. She isn’t treating him like she cares; she is Just caring on with her sun bathing. Then she tells him that she is going to have an abortion that afternoon. She does this without even asking the man if that’s what he wants to do. Even after he expresses hatred towards the situation and basically tells her he wants her to keep the baby she doesn’t listen. She Just insists that everything will return to normal when it’s done. He asks her what happened and she brushes the question off and explains her mother is 0k with him. You can tell he cares about her mother’s opinion f him as he wants the reassurance that her mother actually likes him. The woman explains her mother Just thinks she is fragile from depression. Honestly I feel like the women had had other abortions and Just didn’t want to be honest with the man. After some time had passed, the woman asks him how long he was going to fish. He tells her about an hour and offers to row her to a swimming spot if she would rather swim. She turns down the offer and makes appoint to mention the fact that she has to be back in time to make it to her abortion later that afternoon; again aking it known she is making this decision on ner own. The women sta rts looking through her magazine while the man continued for a few more casts then he finally gave up and said, â€Å"No sense fishing when the fish ain’t feeding. The whole point is catching fish, right? † (71). This is the man’s turning point. I think he realized that the relationship he was in was kind of like fishing, there was no point in him being with her if she didn’t want to move on to the next level. Before rowing back into shore, he said he wished he could Just leave here there. She gets very nervous when he said hat and tells him they have to go back. That’s when the man decided that it was time to move on with his life and he said, â€Å"You mean, you have to go back. † (71). He rows back and all the people are carrying on like they were before except now things are changing for them. The White woman goes with her towel and magazine to have her abortion and back to living with her mother, while the Black man goes on his own separate way while watching the women leave.

Comitatus: Anglo Saxon

The phrase comitatus is exceedingly important in Anglo-Saxon culture, and is demonstrated profoundly in Anglo-Saxon texts. Comitatus means fellowship, particularly an allegiance between a chieftain and his men. This phrase refers to a very important tradition during the times of the Anglo-Saxons. It was so important because these men were constantly protecting their people from outside attacks and invasions and the comitatus was the bond that held these men together and that is what they lived for. Specific Anglo-Saxon texts where comitatus is eminently portrayed is Beowulf, The Wanderer, and The Seafarer. Beowulf is an Old-English written epic, during the Anglo-Saxon period in which a hero, Beowulf, is shown battling three different agons throughout his life. Comitatus is tremendously present throughout this entire story. For example Beowulf sails to Denmark with fourteen warriors to defeat Grendel, out of respect and to protect their allies, the Danes. This shows Comitatus because Beowulf is not only trusting of his men, but also risking his life for good riddance with King Hrothgar of Denmark. The reason to why Beowulf must defeat the Grendel is because of comitatus as well, because the Danes night in and night out were strengthening their friendship in the mead-hall, Heorot, and Grendel became jealous of this â€Å"fellowship. † Another example of comitatus in Beowulf is when Beowulf is fighting the dragon and Wiglaf comes in and helps Beowulf win out of respect for his leader and his accomplishments. Comitatus is presented numerously throughout Beowulf and represents the ideals and way of life of the Anglo-Saxons. The Wanderer is an Anglo-Saxon poem in which a warrior longs for old times, as he nostalgically ponders when he served his lord as well as feasted with his friends. The wanderer in the story has lost his fellow warriors and lord in battle, and now walks alone in exile. This poem shows the wanderer remembering times of comitatus and wishing those times were once again subsisting. He recalls his comrades and the costly hall gifts of his gracious gold friend, which he gave him in youth. † (ln. 34-35) The wanderer dreams of seeing his lord, kissing him and experiencing pleasure of doing him favors. At the end of the poem the man talks of the present times and his soul becoming sick and dark, because comitatus is no longer a value in his life. In the Anglo-Saxon poem The Seafarer, it is much like The Wanderer in which the speaker of the poem dreams of times with fellow ship or comitatus. The man in the poem is out at sea, as days go by and he sits in the freezing cold jealous of men blessed with happy land-life. â€Å"The swan’s blare my seldom amusement; for men’s laughter there was curlew call, there were the cries of gannets, for mead-drinking the music of the gull. † (ln. 23-26) The seafarer wants to be with his people drinking mead and listening to music and stories, otherwise known as comitatus. He speaks of his despairing mind and how there is no friend or brother or around to share his thoughts with. He also says that no man is likely to guess how he has wasted whole winters, cut off from kind. The Seafarer truly displays the sorrow of the speaker and really portrays the importance of comitatus in one’s life, because without it he is devastated. Anglo-Saxons based their entire lives and worthiness off of comitatus, as well as making a name for themselves. These values feed off one another because while making a name for yourself you want to have others to share it with in order to make it worthy. Comitatus is evident in many Anglo-Saxon texts and is validated in Beowulf, The Wanderer, and The Seafarer. In Beowulf comitatus is constantly shown on a regular basis and is present many times throughout the story. In The Wanderer, and The Seafarer, comitatus is not present, but rather the men of these stories wish that it was in their lives at the time. The constant display of this value as well as the desire to have comitatus in one’s life shows just how important it is in the life of an Anglo-Saxon.

Leadership Audit Analysis Essay

This set of audits focus on the handwork and skills that a leader needs to possess. â€Å"A skill is the ability to use one’s knowledge to do something well. † These audits are important because a leader can have the right character, but not be competent enough to be a success in a specific position. In this second analysis Aubrey Malphurs in his book Being Leaders gives the reader seven audits to determine if they have the skill set that a Christian leader needs to be effective in the ministry. â€Å"Psalm 78:72 says that David led his people not only with ‘integrity of heart’ but also with ‘skillful hands. ’† Malphurs separates the skill audit into relational and task skills. â€Å"Relational skills are based on the Great Commandment (Matt. 22:36-39). † If leaders cannot effectively get along with people then they will severely hinder their ability to reach those in need. Malphurs says â€Å"task skills are based on the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20). † These are the abilities used in conveying the message the leader is trying to communicate. For a leader to succeed they must effectively learn to communicate to people in the proper manner. This set of audits also deals with the importance of knowing one’s leadership style and core values. A leader must know their own mindset and abilities to determine whether or not they will be a good fit in a leadership position at a certain locale. Although it is God who places leaders in a position; the prepared leader is the one with the potential to be most successful. A Relational Skills Audit Relational skills are of utmost importance for anyone in a leadership position especially for a pastor. If a leader is going to be effective they are going to have to learn to deal with people and work through people. The work of God is too great for one person to be able to handle it alone. People have said, â€Å"I like the ministry; it is just the people I do not like. † Ministry is more than just a job and it is more than handling materials. True ministry is all about reaching people and watching God work in and through them. While no one likes to discipline another person it is a necessary task a leader must take on. To be an effective disciplinarian a person needs at least two qualities. The first is a love for the truth and for what is right. If a person does not have a genuine love for what is right, they will be more apt to allow bad behavior to slide. As a leader I am passionate that there is a correct way and an incorrect way to behave based upon the Word of God. Secondly, there must be an authentic love for people. If a leader loves the people he is going to want what is best for their lives even if it involves confronting them about their problems. God has given me a love for both of these aspects as I deal with faculty and students every day in the position God has placed us in. I thoroughly enjoy empowering and encouraging other people whom I work with. I take great pleasure in trying to get other people to reach their full potential and to give them the materials to succeed. Many times I will purposely put someone in a position where they have to get out of their comfort zone so that they might be encouraged to see their potential for God. The biggest weakness in this audit would probably be networking. I am a person who likes to be given a job and left alone to do it. I do not always take the time to seek out others who can help me accomplish it. I am also a person who is somewhat an introvert so I feel like I am a bother to ask someone to help. I am sure they would help if I only took the time and effort to ask. The Task Skills Audit To be able to competently fulfill a task is a must for anyone who desires longevity in a leadership position. While God is not looking for ability but availability, he does expect the people he calls to perfect the talents they do possess. Jesus brought this point out so vividly in the Parable of the Talents in Matthew chapter twenty-five. The person who is perfecting their talent is a person whom people will notice. Solomon said, â€Å"Seest thou a man diligent in his business? e shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men† (Proverbs 22:29; KJV). The art of preaching is a task that I have worked hard on. When God first called me to preach I was so nervous that I would dry-heave when I got behind the pulpit. I struggled putting together an outline of more than one point. I have, with the help of the Lord, conquered my fear of standing before people and ministering passio nately, authoritatively, and illustratively. Recently I conducted a survey among students of the good qualities of preachers they listen to on a regular basis. One of my top qualities they pointed out was my preparedness. Time management is another one of my strong points. I have learned to reject the good in order to pursue the great. I work a full time job, take two college courses, and preach on Sunday nights; therefore, I have had to learn to prioritize my time to be as effective as I can in all areas. I have also learned how to schedule in relaxation time, lest I fall apart. Advertising is one of my weaker areas. I am not one to impose on someone else, so I have a hard time trying to push a product on anyone. I have learned in past business ventures that I am not a natural salesman. I need to start speaking up more for a â€Å"product† I believe in instead of just portraying it by my example and use of it. The Leadership Style Audit Leaders are the ones in front directing how an organization is being run. The fact is â€Å"that leaders are doers and what they do is influence. † â€Å"Every leader has a style of influence that has an impact on people, so it’s important that leaders correctly perceive how they influence their followers. † When I took this audit I found that I have an Analytical-Director leadership style. I have a desire for God’s work to be done in a quality way. When God created the world he stepped back and looked at it, and saw that it was very good (Gen. 1:31). I believe that Christians ought to have the best materials available and they should produce the best materials possible. As a leader I am also self-disciplined and a self-starter. I am one who sees a job that needs to be done and jumps in and sees that it is accomplished. My weakness would be that I do not enjoy someone looking over my shoulder. If I need help I will gladly seek someone out who has the ability to help me. I would also have to say that there are times when I am â€Å"cool, distant, and reserved. † My other strength is being a director. I not only like to challenge myself to do the best I can, but I enjoy challenging those around me to step up their efforts and do more for God. I am not afraid to change a policy or procedure if there is a better way to achieve something. I have learned not to make hasty decisions. In order to receive the best outcome I chart the best course to accomplish the task. There are times when I can be bossy, especially when I am stressed over a mountain of problems that are piling up at once. The Structure Audit Sensing the need of when to take on responsibility has always been a strength of mine. I am a person who likes to have a plan to see that tasks are finished. That plan will include a way to get the job done with plenty of time to spare. I do not enjoy work piling up and trying to complete a responsibility at the last moment. I know how to put a plan in place and delegate it out so that it is accomplished. When an organization has a combination of a centralized and a decentralized ministry structure it functions the best. I believe in having the best and brightest leaders at the top of the ministry organization. I do feel they should make the most of the decisions. I believe though that those who are closer to the situation are on the first line of defense. I think they should report to those in charge with major problems and what they feel is the best solution on key tasks. There should not be a lot of â€Å"red tape. † I believe they should work together to see that the task is accomplished in the best way with the leader on top making the final decision. I feel that power is best served when it is shared. If a leader has the right people around them then their span of control does not have to be as great. There should be teamwork on the top tiers of leadership where everyone is responsible for a certain portion of the work so that no one is bogged down by too many details and responsibilities. When a team member is bogged down they can become easily worn down. I do not feel that any certain person has ownership of a certain work. I do believe that there needs to be a strong sense of stewardship in the hearts of the leaders. They need to realize that they have a grave responsibility before God for his work. They also have a great accountability to the people who they serve to see that God’s work is carried out efficiently and effectively in the right manner. The Leader’s Core Value Audit The Leader’s Core Value Audit is important because a leader will only rise as high as his foundation will allow him. The taller the building; the deeper and stronger the foundation needs to be. It is my desire as a leader to have a solid core that God can use and build upon. The principle of fairness is very important to me. I grew up in a dysfunctional home and have witnessed firsthand what mistreatment consists of. I have seen the negative impact on a person and the suffering they have went through to serve God. I try to make sure that everyone feels welcomed and that they know that their part of the ministry is making an impact on the bigger picture. As a Christian leader I feel it is extremely important to know the Bible. It is the only book that is alive and changes the reader. It is the sword that God has given us to take the battle to the enemy and to defend the faith that has been delivered to the saints (Eph. 6; Jude 1). It is a command in the Word of God that for a minister to be approved he must know how to study and interpret the Word of God effectively (II Tim. 2:15). A person’s relationship with the Lord should be the number one priority in life; after that, it should be the leader’s family. Paul told Timothy in his search for leaders, â€Å"For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God? † (I Tim. 3:5). If a leader fails in the mission of taking care of their family, which should be closest to their heart, why should the church trust them to have their best interest in mind? Cultural relevance is an area I can improve upon. I am effective in ministering to those I am familiar with and share a common background. I need to spend more time studying the cultures of other groups to devise ways to better communicate the gospel with them. The Ideal Circumstances Audit God has a certain place in the ministry for everyone. That is why he gave the church different gifts so it might be healthy and profitable. It is only when leaders find their God-given place that they can be used and profitable to their fullest extent. God has made each person with different preferences and the Ideal Circumstances Audit can help a person narrow their focus to a position where they can fit in more easily. My ideal setting would be in a church that is growing. I am passionate about growth. I do not enjoy being around ministries that are declining. It is my passion to see churches come alive in their outreach vision as well as in the spirituality of their services. When people come to church they should be able to have an anticipation that they are going to get fed from the Word of God. They should be excited about coming because there is going to be an atmosphere where the presence of God is going to be in the midst. I would like to pastor a medium size church that is about middle-aged. A church of this magnitude is big enough to make a noticeable impact on a community. It is also small enough where the pastor can have a personal relationship with his congregation. I would like to pastor a church where there is a combination of all ages. A good mixture of ages makes for a healthy church, because each has their own gifts. Children put smiles on people’s faces. Young people add life and energy to the services and outreach of a church. The middle-aged group provides the majority of the workers in the church. The older adults provide the stability and maturity that a church needs. It does not matter to me what the ethnicity of the members are. I do prefer a church located in the suburbs. This location allows a church to have outreaches in both the inner city and rural areas. The Pastor-Organization Fit Audit The Pastor-Organization Audit helps a pastor determine how close their views match the views of a congregation. The work of the ministry can be difficult under the best situations; therefore, it is important that a perspective leader know what they are getting themselves into before they commit to a position. While it is God who sends leaders to fulfill positions this audit serves to help the leader prepare a plan for success. In my current position the church’s doctrinal beliefs and mine correspond. This is an absolute must for any position I take in the ministry. It is hard to stay on the same page if there are doctrinal differences because you are looking through two different types of glasses. Malphurs points out that â€Å"it would be wise to explore the nonessentials of both the leader and the church. † The more the leader and the congregation know about each other the less chance there will be for conflict. I believe that it is important that the leader have the capabilities that the church is lacking. It can be very frustrating for a leader to feel like they are not contributing to the overall success of an organization. It is hard for a leader to put their whole self into something when they feel like someone else can do just as good of a job and that they are just one of many. There are times when there does not appear to be a perfect fit when it is still God’s will for a leader to be there. A church might have plateaued and grown comfortable and God desires for a certain type of leader to come in and infuse fresh vision and direction. I have also seen churches going through troubles where God sent the right leader there to correct the problem. In both of these situations there was not a perfect fit at first and some people resisted the change. In the end God had his way and the churches prospered. The best thing for a leader to do is make sure they know the voice and plan of God. Conclusion This set of leadership audit analysis has been eye-opening. I found out that my leadership style is analytical-director. This has clued me in on my strong areas that I can continue to shore up and my weak areas that I need to be more mindful of. I have received a greater desire to pass on the burdens of my heart and ministry into others. I want to see strong leadership become apparent in the lives of my students; however, I will not see this to the extent that I want unless I â€Å"sell† it to them with the same passion that the importance of leadership has on me. In order for me to see excellent leadership produced I ust be in front to show what proper leadership is by example. Children are produced by parents and portray their parent’s values and personalities. I want my students to produce what I have lived and help propel them to even greater heights. I have not always found myself in the ideal circumstances to be able to enforce what I thought was the best solution to a task at hand, but a good director is able to take a deep breath and submit to the final authority. If there have been repercussions in the outcome of that situation, I have learned to not act smug but help pick up the pieces. When I have been in the final authority position, I have been able to look back and learn from those times when I was a team member and keep those tragedies from reoccurring. I am trying harder learned to fit into the organization that I am presently in and be the team member I need to be to help the organization to run efficiently even when I disagree with certain decisions. I am learning to a greater degree when and how to address issues and when to remain silent when things are not handled properly. It is my desire to reach to be more, do more, and learn more so that I can be as complete of a leader as I can be.