Monday, December 16, 2019

Mother Sauvage Free Essays

Being a wife and a mother is a significant role of a woman that cannot be paid by anyone. It was a purpose and a journey that needs entire love, patience, and kindness. These women make sure that their family will not get hurt and will be able to be loved and nurtured by them. We will write a custom essay sample on Mother Sauvage or any similar topic only for you Order Now However, there are certain situations that will test their limitations and patience. Most of the women say, â€Å"You can hurt me many times, but not any of my family.† Therefore, no matter how soft and loving heart a mother has, she will remain tough and strong for her family especially when it came to the point of hurting them. The story is about the life of being a mother despite of all the pains and how she gave justice to family that was killed by the people who went to her house and lived like her sons. It was very hard for Mother Sauvage to compose herself so that the Prussians would not think that she was the mother of the man they killed. Mother Sauvage thought that the death of her husband made her numb but when she knew that her son was killed, the same old feeling of loneliness, pain, and sorrow went through her nerves again – flowing like running water in the river. Mother Sauvage learned to love the four Prussians who went to her house and stayed but when she knew that they were the one who killed her son, she doesn’t know what to so but to accept them to her house and not to show her real feelings of sadness and anger. Regardless of all her fears and envy towards her boarders because of what they have done to her son, she remained calm and aware of her plans for the justice of her son and husband’s death. Mother Sauvage was not an ordinary mother. This story was not just a story of motherhood but also a story of womanhood. Even if mother Sauvage was very numb with her husband and son’s death, she continued to make herself relieved and think of the family of those four Prussians died in her house. It was a tragic but a realistic story because I can say that it can happen to any mother who experienced this kind of pain and maybe, not only this kind of things will happen to the killers, but more brutal than that especially when they were in your house. Seeing and serving the people who killed your family will bring you a catastrophic feeling that will lead to brutal killings just to give justice to you and your son and husband. According to Tannenhauser, the work of mothers does not offer â€Å"promotions, raises or any other tangible and ego-gratifying perks available in other professions† (Tannenhauser, 1996, p. 119) This magnificent responsibility of mothers cannot be compared to any other professions because it is a lifetime profession that cannot be quitted by mothers when they were tired. Mother Sauvage was like that. Even if her son left him and joined the military, she remained hopeful that one day, her son will go back into her arms like a child who used to run to his mother when he is tired. However, though it did not happen, she made her own decision of making her son and husband at peace in their death by obliging herself to make their own justice even if it will put her into death. A mother will always a mother and a wife will always be a wife unless you take away her son and husband away from her. Being a wife and a mother is played by women who choose to love and nurture their family instead of nurturing their selves. This major responsibility will put women to the top of the mountain and live as a queen when they perform their tasks as best as they could. This is when the members of their family are respectful, loving, and generous people. Works Cited De Maupassant, Guy. The Complete Short Stories of Guy de Maupassant. New York: Collier,   Ã‚   1903 Tannenhauser, Carol. Motherhood stress. In K. S. Bahr, A. Hawkins, S. Klein (Eds.),   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Readin How to cite Mother Sauvage, Essay examples

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Organizational Report Singapore Airlines Limited

Question: Discuss about the Organizational Report Singapore Airlines Limited. Answer: Introduction The corporate environment continues to grow in terms of competitiveness as days go by. There is an inevitable need for organizations to put in place the right and effective strategies which would ensure consistency in quality delivery and hence the overall organizational performance. Some basic management strategies which have a direct link with organizational performance include; the nature and structure of leadership, the communication strategies as well as the motivational approaches. With reference to the aspects above, this report analyses Singapore Airlines (SIA) by outlining its leadership structure, communication as well as motivational strategies. The objective of this report is highlight how effective these approaches have been in placing the organization in its current position in terms of corporate. Through review of literature and company reports, the report shall also examine if these leadership approaches have been effective in enhancing good worker involvement as well as efficient consumer relations. The report shall then be summarized with an outline of some of the successful strategies used by Singapore Airlines Limited which could be borrowed by other managers in a bid to enhance organizational performance (Andersen, 2001). Singapore Airlines Limited Singapore Airlines whose history began in 1947 is one of the air transport herbs in Singapore. Despite being owned by the government, the management of SIA has been solely delinked from the government operations and the responsibilities given to a board of directors instituted by the Ministry of finance. The leadership of the company is therefore spearheaded by the ownership of both the Singapore government as well as Temasek Holdings Company. Consequently, the SIA is managed and controlled through a dual leadership structure. SIA comprises 36 subsidiaries each of which have the responsibility to accomplish the companys mission, vision and goals (Binggeli and Pompeo, 2002). The companys vision is to remain an excellent organization which positively impacts the lives of the people it interacts with. The organizations mission is to ensure consistency in offering high quality services to the clients in a bid to make maximum returns which not only benefits the companys stakeholders but t he employees as well. One of the subsidiaries is the SIA Engineering Company which deals with repair and maintenance as well as overhaul procedures.. The other subsidiary is the Singapore Airlines Cargo which deals with freight and movement of passenger cargo. The Silkair subsidiary handles regional flights destined for secondary cities while the Tigerair and Scoot are the subsequent subsidiaries which deal with low cost flights both within and outside the country. Leadership Style The successful endeavors of the organization can be attributed to the stable leadership structures installed by the various stakeholders (Anita, 2010). Each of these subsidiaries is led by a manager who is helped by the various departmental heads who in turn handle the lower level of the human resource hierarchy. The system of leadership is characterized by a diversified approach where duties are shared despite the existence of specialization (Braisby and Gellatly, 2012). Despite the fact that decision making majorly involves the board which is the highest level of authority within the organization, Singapore Airlines has installed effective strategies of communication which ensure that the input of at least all the employees is adequately considering during the crucial process of decision making. The style of leadership is therefore keen on enhancing a conducive environment for free and effective communication within the various phases of the organization (Campbell, 2002). The effectiveness of the leadership style at Singapore Airlines can be outlined by the nature in which the company has consistently outsmarted its competitors. Despite the emergence of several other competitors offering the same services at relatively lower costs, SIA has maintained its core strategies in maintaining quality delivery and effective customer satisfaction. The company management led by the CEO has ensured that each of the 36 subsidiaries operate alongside the organizations key strategies which are basically aimed at making profits while offering the best services to clients (Costa, Harned and Lundquist, 2002). Through the integration of differentiation and cost leadership, the Singapore Airlines management has continued to lay emphasis on innovation, training and efficiency in operation. The organization executes frequent training of the staff and workers in various departments. This strategy is aimed at enhancing the employees skills and competitiveness in their areas of responsibility. With an informed workforce, the leadership style at SIA has successful ensured organizational success by empowering its human resource fraternity. In addition to employee empowerment through a dual leadership strategy, the Singapore Airlines continues to woe its clientele through the incorporation of cost effective approaches. The fact that each subsidiary is led by its own manager adequately diversifies roles and reduces the cost of executing the companys strategic plans especially if the leadership was centralized and dependent on a single management approach. In addition, the leadership style within the organization upholds the use of information technology in enhancing the quality of operations. For instance, through IT, the company has developed a user friendly website where customers can easily access and check the flight schedules (Daft and Armstrong, 2009). The platform is also essential as it enables the company to speedily pass important information on flight changes, changes in prices and introduction of new packages just to mention but few. In a nut shell, the SIA leadership style is made up of a rigorous service de sign which keeps each member of staff on toes not only to deliver but also ensure that the quality of this delivery is outstanding. Each of these approaches have remained effective in enhancing the companys competitive edge despite the demanding nature of the clients in terms of the quality of service delivery. In addition, the SIA leadership style is keen on staff empowerment, training and motivation. This approach goes a long way in ensuring that the members of staff are developed holistically (Dattilio and Freeman, 2007). With proper employee engagement and efficient customer satisfaction, the organizational performance of Singapore Airlines has improved and continues to improve as days go by. The table below shows the trends in performance improvement exhibited by SIA within a span of three years Year Positive Customer Feedback Statistics Change in Profitability 2014 60% 70% 2015 75% 80% 2016 85% 90% From the table, we can deduce that the change in customer feedbacks has a direct influence on the companys profitability. This therefore indicates that the strategies installed by the leadership play a crucial role in triggering positive customer feedbacks and a subsequent increase in returns on investment due to stable market (Glisson, 2008). The trend also indicates an annual improvement in profitability as registered by the company which reveals that the leadership style has been effective in enhancing effective organizational performance. The companys leadership strategy is summarized below. Motivation and Reward Aspects at Singapore Airlines According to the equity theory of motivation, the level of motivation accorded an employee is directly equal to the extent to which the employee satisfies the companys strategies and goals. This theory stipulates that when an employee is treated in a manner that enhances their confidence and sense of belonging, their engagement is greatly improved which in turn culminates in effective organizational performance (Collins and Wood, 2009). The SIA has put in place various strategies which all play a crucial role in enhancing the fair treatment of the employees. For instance, the company continuously carries out a facelift of the Singapore Girl, which is a crucial organ of the human resource fraternity especially with regards to flight related issues (Doganis, 2006). According to Herzberg's motivation-hygiene theory also known as the two factors or dual factor theory, there are specific aspects at the work place which enhance job satisfaction. The theory further stipulates that there are those factors which cause job dissatisfaction. An appropriate leadership structure and dissemination of responsibilities is one of the key strengths at SIA. The dual nature of leadership enhances sharing of roles which in turn causes job satisfaction. Additionally, the organization achieves job satisfaction through staff empowering. In a bid to trigger a positive response from the workers, the organization is keen on enhancing staff training and exposure through various exhibitions and conference (Dattilio Freeman, 2007). This strategy is not only aimed at uplifting their level of motivation but also ensuing that each individual in their area of responsibility remain competent. (Anita, 2010). The employees who indicate improvement in performance gauged by the am ount of returns and the nature of client feedbacks are then subjected to a reward scheme (Dobbin, 2012). The nature of reward is always such that it comes in a measure equal to the standards set by the company. For instance, the individuals who achieve certain stipulated targets in their lines of duty are rewarded based on this achievement. These strategies have not only contributed in enhancing motivational levels at SIA but also ensure adequate job satisfaction. According to the needs theory, the motivational strategies by a company can be designed such that the reward given to an individual remains solely dependent on the extent to which the worker caters for the companys needs (Heracles, 2009). This implies that when the employees adequately execute their responsibilities, their motivational needs are accorded in good measure (Daft Armstrong, 2009). As highlighted by Maslow, individuals have various needs which include physiological or material needs, need for safety, love, and esteem as well as the desire to achieve self-actualization. The Singapore Airlines have remained active when it comes to creating a conducive environment for its employees which ensures that they feel loved and safe at the place of work. This is not only achieved through an open communication system but through recognized company procedures. In these procedures, the consistent performers are recognized during specially organized company occasions. These reward stra tegies also enhance the workers esteem in addition to giving them a reason to offer their best in responsibilities due to the desire for this very recognition and hence the associated rewards. The organization has effectively aligned its reward aspects with the organizational targets. This idea initiates the desire for self-actualization in the employees which in this case is more or less linked to the extent to which the workers achieve the set targets. Reward and motivation at SIA is therefore based largely on the extent to which the companys objectives are achieved by the employees. The job characteristics model highlights the fact that individual responsibilities ought to be treated as the main source of motivation. This occurs when the job environment is made attractive through the introduction of efficient but non-confining policies. The theory further outlines that the nature of a job has a special way of influencing worker motivation. At SIA, the management has remained keen on ensuring that the employees enjoy their work and hence give their best. The company operates alongside the guidance of accommodative work policies. These approaches do not only ensure effectiveness in service delivery within the human resource but also establishes an organizational culture in which the workers are confident and free enough to exploit their talents (Lewin, 2006). It is therefore a crucial responsibility for an organizations management to ensure that the nature of the job environment enhances maximum worker engagement before other motivational strategies are installed. The big five personality traits offer a perfect model which managers can use to learn the different personalities of the employees and hence come up with work policies which effectively complement these personalities. Singapore Airlines believes emphasizes on the motivation of employees as a key strategy in ensuring that they are open to experience which is one of the traits in the five factor model. In line with this, the motivational schemes used by the company spread across all the subsidiaries. The employees are accorded an equal opportunity for recognition and reward. With the knowledge that each is eligible for rewards, each member of the human resource department operates self-discipline and a dutiful desire for excellence. This amounts to conscientiousness, one of the big five traits. This collectively enhances the general performance of the organization. To enhance the effectiveness of the recognition schemes, they are constantly revised and the necessary adjustments made. T he strategy encourages extraversion among the employees as the motivation aspects tend to increase their assertiveness and energy at work (Hinings, 2013). The good salaries have been fundamental in maintaining the composition of the human resource. Most of the employees within the current team have served in the organization for long periods of time. This could be attributed to the appropriate job environment established by the companys management which enhances agreeableness and cooperativeness. An effective environment created by an organization does not only retain the current workforce but also reduces neuroticism and serves a part in attracting new individuals in future. In a nut shell, the motivational strategies at SIA have remained effective due to the fact that they are holistic. This implies that the rewards schemes do not only target the workers but also the managers (Ostroff, 1993). The table below shows the correlation between worker motivation and profit outcomes for a span of three years. Year Percentage Level of Worker Motivation Change in Profitability 2014 60% 70% 2015 75% 80% 2016 85% 90% From the table, we can deduce a direction correlation between the level of worker motivation and the organizational performance. It therefore implies that a high level of motivation increases the workers engagement which in turn enhances the organizational performance. This can be reflected by the reported profit margins. The information can also be reflected using the pie chart below. Communication Strategy at Singapore Airlines Limited Open and Result Oriented Communication The communication strategy in Singapore Airlines is not only open but also result driven. With the aid of IT, the company has developed a complex infrastructure which aids in the movement information which is effectively packaged and transmitted with clarity. As one of its basic approaches to communication, SIA has developed an interactive website (Hickson, 2015). Through the user friendly platform, crucial information can be passed to the workers and clients in a simple and accessible manner. To enhance the quality of information passed, the messages are scrutinized by the organizations communication experts. This does not only enhance the message richness but also ensure that the basic objective to obtain a result from the communicaion is perfectly achieved. Formal and informal strategies The communication system at SIA involves a combination of both formal and informal approaches. Information is passed from a central source and passed through multi channels with the intention of reaching as many people as possible. For instance the website is mainly used for formal transmission of crucial information to workers and clients. The strategy here involves the establishment of small online formal groups to aid in the process of information transmission. Each subsidiary has its own formal group. This ensures that each individual receives only the information relevant to their area of service. On the other hand, the organization uses other informal tools like then social media which may include facebook pages and twitter handles. Both of these tools are used in communication depending on the nature of the information. This implies that formal information can be passed through the website while relatively informal ones are transmitted through the social media platforms (Langh am and Rezania, 2006). Mode of communication: Involves both oral and written messages By reviewing the history of the company, it is evident that the communication styles have transformed over the past years. The SIA management continues to work over time by bringing in newer strategies aimed at improving communication. In the past, the mode of communication mainly involved verbal and written approaches for instance using notice boards, circulars and related communication articles (Ostroff, 2009). However, with the emergence of technology, the organization mainly uses the internet and other online platforms like the websites and social media. In these avenues the mode of communication mainly involves writing. For instance, the information on flight schedules, changes in packages and any information intended for the employees and clients is always posted in written form on the companys website. The method of communication largely involves both vertical and horizontal transmission. This trend indicates the transformation which has taken place in the communication strate gies used at SIA. Channel Richness Strategies The Singapore Airlines mainly uses IT based approaches in communication. This strategy can be evaluated by reviewing the extent to which it has proved effective in enhancing organizational performance. To begin with, the strategy is cost effective since it only requires information to be placed in an accessible platform where the recipients can visit and retrieve. This replaces the cumbersome approach of having to send information to each members of the organization. Secondly, IT based communication strategies are time saving (Posey, 2012). For instance due to the fact that the website is user friendly, workers and clients can easily access the platform and gain the necessary updates. It therefore takes a shorter time for the intended message to reach the audience compared to other methods of communication. In addition, the communication strategies are efficient enough in ensuring that all the members of the organization are reached (Trevisani, 2016). This is because the SIA has a da tabase of its employees and clients stored in the online platform. This ensures that the message passed reaches as many people as possible. The organization also uses other back up methods which include follow up emails, messages, notices live speeches as well as formal reports. These strategies adequately support the companys business needs in addition to enhancing good consumer relations which culminates in effective organizational performance. Conclusion The Singapore Airlines Limited remains one of the most recognized corporate organizations in Singapore and the surrounding regions. This success could be attributed to a number of factors and strategies implemented by the company. The companys leadership style is adept at enhancing the organizational goals. The dual structure and cost leadership has proved fundamental in enhancing the companys level of operation. The motivational and reward strategies have played a crucial role in improving employee engagement, commitment and their general output. Furthermore, the communication strategies implemented within the organization have remained effective in ensuring free flow of information within the organization. Each of these approaches has been crucial in enhancing the performance of the organization which could be confirmed by the high profit margins achieved by the company especially in recent years. References Andersen T.J. (2001) Information technology, strategic decision making approaches and Organizational performance in different industrial settings. The Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 10(1), pp. 101-119. Anita, M. (2010) How Much Does Home Country Matter to Corporate Profitability? Journal of International Business Studies, 4(1), pp. 142165. Bernhard, H. and Ingolis, C. (2008) Six lessons for the corporate classroom. Harvard Business Review, 66(5), pp. 12-56. Binggeli, U. and Pompeo, L. (2002) Hyped hopes for Europes low-cost airlines. McKinsey Quarterly 4(1), pp. 8697. Braisby, A. and Gellatly, A. (2012) Cognitive Psychology. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Campbell, J. (2002) Personnel training and development. Annual Review of Psychology, 22(1), pp. 565602. Costa, P., Harned, D. and Lundquist, J. (2002) Rethinking the aviation industry. McKinsey Quarterly, 1(1), pp. 89100. Collings, D. and Wood, G. (2009) Human resource management. London: Routledge. Daft, R. and Armstrong, G. (2009) Organization Theory and Design. Toronto: Nelson. Dattilio, F. and Freeman, A. (2007) Cognitive-Behavioral Strategies in Crisis Intervention. New York: The Guilford Press Doganis, R. (2006) The Airline Business. Abingdon: Routledge. Dobbin, F. (2012) The Rise of Bureaucracy. Cambridge, MA: Havard University Press. Glisson, M. (2008) Productivity and Efficiency in Human Service Organizations as related to Structure, size and Age. The Academy of Management Journal, 23(1), pp. 21--37. Heracles, L. (2009) Flying High in a Competitive Industry: Secrets of the Worlds Leading Airline. Singapore: McGraw Hill. Heracles, L. (2009) Flying High in a Competitive Industry: Cost-effective Service Excellence at Singapore Airlines. Singapore: McGraw Hill Hickson, K. (2015) Mr. SIA Fly Past: Introducing the Life and Times of a Legend. World Scientific Journal. 1(1), pp. 12-15. Hinings, C. (2013) Returning to the Frontier of Contingency Theory of Organizational and Institutional Designs. The Academy of Management Annals, 7(1), pp. 393440. Lewin, M. (2006) Determining Organizational Effectiveness - another look, and an agenda for research. Management Science, 32 (5), pp. 514 --538. Lingham, T. and Rezania, D. (2006) An evaluation system for training programmes: a case study using a four phase approach. Career Development International, 11(4), pp.33451. Ostroff, S. (2009) Configurations of Organizational Effectiveness and Efficiency. The Academy of Management Journal, 36(6), pp. 13451361. Posey, R. (2012) Modern Organization Theory. Administrative Science Quarterly. 5 (4), pp. 609611. Trevisani, D. (2016) Communication for Leadership: Coaching Leadership Skills. Medialab Research, 34(1), pp. 23-34.

Saturday, November 30, 2019

Jefferson Had Destroyed Political Traditions. From His Essays

Jefferson had destroyed political traditions. From his contradictions and defecting his priciples, Jefferson destroyed the political precedent and is a exemplatory hypocrite, which can be seen throughout his administration. Jefferson was an admired statesman who was grappling unsuccessfully with the moral issue of slavery. Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence, opposed slavery his whole life, yet he never freed his own slaves. He championed Enlightenment principles, yet never freed himself of the prejudices of his soceity. Jefferson was extremely hypocritical in the issue of slavery. Jefferson was a plantation owner early in his life, and had slaves working for him throughout his life. Jefferson had tolerated while he didn't accept others who owned slaves. Jefferson denounced the slave owners, while he was owning and using slaves. Although Jefferson was supposedly a good slave owner, his hypocritical nature made him accuse others not to own slaves while he, himself was owning slaves. Another part of the hypocrisy was that Jefferson believed that the slaves were dependent upon the white man, while he, himself was dependent upon the slaves. Jefferson also was hypocritcal in his acquisition of the Loisiana territory. In Jeffersonian principles, large expansive governments were bad, and small was good. This was a antithesis of that principle. Jefferson knew that the acquisition of the Loisiana territory was beneficial to the welfare of the U.S. According to the constitution, nowhere in the constitution is the acquisition of land a right of the government, Jeffersons' predisposition was to strictly go by the constitution (as seen with the national bank controversy), this is another contradiction during his administration. Since the appropriation of the Lousiana territory was important for the expansion of the united states, he temporarily dismissed his principles, therefore destroying political traditions. Another hypocritical event during Jeffersons' administration was his acceptance of the National Bank. Early in Jefferson's political career, Jefferson had debated with Hamilton on whether to have the National Bank. When this government was first established, it was possible to have kept it going on true principles, but the contracted, English, half-lettured ideas of Hamilton destroyed that hope in the bud, We can pay off his debts in 15 years. Early in Jefferson's Administration, Jefferson had denounced the National Bank. At the end of his administration, Jefferson realized that the National Bank was important and this is hypocritical by disregarding his principles. The Burr conspiracy depicted Jefferson as a ruthless, and a individual who will do anything inorder to achieve his goal. Jefferson championed civil liberties and unalienable rights. Yet, Jefferson violated civil liberties by coercing witnesses, arrested with out habeus corpus and prosecuting in a court of his own. Jefferson and Jeffersonians are hypocrites from the start and they destroyed political tradition as seen during Jeffersons' administration. Jeffersonians show an immense amount of hypocritism in their policies. For example, Federalists had supported high tarriffs, inorder to protect national manufacturers and american industry. The tarriffs were a vital determinent, which kept the economy of the United States viable. The Jeffersonians, not the Federalists began the American system of protecting american industry which initially was a major constituent of the federalist platform.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

The Entrepreneurial Qualities of Richard Branson and Their Impact to Business in the Virgin Group

The Entrepreneurial Qualities of Richard Branson and Their Impact to Business in the Virgin Group Introduction It is evident that modern business firms operate in an increasingly complex and competitive environment. Many companies are dealing in the production of either similar products or services or close substitutes. Therefore, business leadership has become one of the most admired qualities in doing business.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Entrepreneurial Qualities of Richard Branson and Their Impact to Business in the Virgin Group specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Modern business leaders are called upon to be more proactive and more entrepreneurial so that that they can be able to drive the business companies that they are leading to success. Success here refers to leading the company to make profits and attain a strong competitive edge over other companies. There are many Chief Executive Officers leading several companies in the world today. However, all of these CEOs cannot be termed as having the qual ity of entrepreneurship (Clark, 2009). According to Fletcher, 2002, entrepreneurial Chief Executive officers are those who are able to seek and build opportunities for the company using well informed business strategies. In the context of business leadership and management, an entrepreneur can be defines as a person who is able to lead the business to mold a business from scratch to greater heights. The entrepreneur develops unique qualities that steers the business through different business environment situation and ensures that the business attains success. An entrepreneur is the main defender of the business and the source of all the growth and success of the business. In other words, the success of the company lies on the shoulders of the entrepreneurial chief executive officer (Shaw, n. d).This paper is thus is going to discuss Richard Branson as one of the entrepreneurial chief executive officers in the world. The paper will discuss the personal and business qualities that de fine Branson as an entrepreneurial Chief Executive Officer. These qualities will be contextualized in order to clearly link Branson to the growth and business success of the Virgin Group. It is going to be argued in this essay that as an entrepreneurial CEO, Branson has become a main pillar of the Virgin Group. Therefore, without Branson, the company can hardly maintain the levels of achievement it has attained today. Brief history of Branson and entrepreneurship Grant, 2005 ascertains that Branson began showing his entrepreneurial qualities in the year 1967 when he quitted schools to launch a magazine. By then, he was only 16 years old. He believed in himself and in the idea that his magazine was going to help young activists in raising their voice. As is with many businesses, the magazine business had a lot of challenges. The business was not fetching money as had been expected.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your fir st paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, as a young entrepreneur, Branson did not give up in business. He quickly resorted to the business of selling records via the mail. He sold the records at highly discounted prices. He integrated the magazine business with the record selling business by running advertisements of the mail orders. Therefore, the magazine business was enhanced in that the adverts on the record mails attracted more people into buying the magazines. It is through this that Branson managed to rent a shop above a store that sold shoes where he opened a store that sold discount records. This store was dubbed ‘Virgin’ because it was a unique store in an area where such business has not taken place ever. Also the name ‘Virgin’ resonated from the fact that all the people involved in starting this business were brand new entrepreneurs who had not engaged in business before (Grant, 2005). As the store picked up, Branson faced many more hurdles one of them being an arrest for evading taxes. He was released on condition that he was going to pay taxes. Branson learnt from this experience. He began to formalize his business by introducing accounting and bookkeeping functions to help in monitoring and managing revenues. He continues in sourcing for opportunities and expanding his business. By the year 1983, the virgin business had grown to comprise approximately 50 companies with more prospects of growth. The business had diversified into different ventures. This is what Branson sought to achieve. Branson was also motivated by his spirit of anxiety which propelled him into wanting to do new and challenging things. Branson dared to do many things that seemed challenging and impossible according to his friends. However, his motivation and hardened spirit led him to achieving even in the most daring business activities. One of the most daring activities which Branson engaged in was the idea of launching an airline co mpany. This was also one of his biggest challenges (Grant, 2005). Overview of entrepreneurship qualities of an entrepreneurial chief executive officer It is important to understand the qualities that help CEOs to run firms to success. Chief executive officers are main strategists of companies. This means that they are the major determinants of the success of a business firm that they are leading. Therefore, a great chief executive officer is the one who crafts the vision of the firm and sets effective strategies that will help the organization to realize the vision. The CEO should be able to set a healthy environment which encourages creativity from the top managers of the company. The CEO sets and determines the business direction to be taken by the company. The CEO helps the firm in identifying the best market that the firm can enter and the best business opportunities for the company to venture into. The chief executive officer studies the market and the competitors and identifie s the best line of products that can bets suit in the market and bear profits for the company (Fletcher, 2002).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Entrepreneurial Qualities of Richard Branson and Their Impact to Business in the Virgin Group specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The other important role that has to be played by the CEO is the identification of differentiation and diversification strategies for the company. These are the major competitive strategies that help the company to gain a strong position in the market. All these lead to the establishment of strong brands for the company which results in great business achievements. Entrepreneurs go beyond the expectations as they do not peg on the statistics or common views about business but believe in making attempts in every venture. They do not rely on the interpretation of statistics but believe in risking to invent new ideas and moves in business (Fletcher, 2002). Richard Branson and the Virgin Group of Companies – initiating and controlling business growth Borowiec, 2008, argues that successful business leadership starts with entrepreneurial minds. Talking of entrepreneurial minds, Richard Branson had an elaborate entrepreneurial mind which led him to starting the Virgin Business. Richard Branson is undoubtedly one of the best known entrepreneurs not only in the United Kingdom but also the entire global scene. Branson is the brainchild behind the virgin business. He has propelled the Virgin business to what is today. He is argued to be the man behind all the products and services that bears ‘virgin’ as a brand name. Richard Branson has played a lifelong role in the success of the Virgin business making it tom produce brands that are now recognizable globally like the Virgin Airways. Branson has transformed a single business into a conglomerate of businesses under the Virgin banner. These businesses are now sprout all over the globe and are performing well. This is one of the most competitive brands in the world’s airlines industry which challenges even the oldest airline companies that began their yeas way longer before the commencement of the Virgin business. One of the greatest challenges of a business is to venture and succeed in a business field that is dominated by well-known world-class firms. The Virgin Group has panoply of business which range from wedding gowns to condoms, airlines and even financial services. Both of these businesses offing by the Virgin Company have proved competitive in that they are wrestling a market share from companies that produces similar or complement goods. The giant companies are feeling a pinch from the market competition generated by Virgin Group products. Branson has grown into a flamboyant business leader who commands enormous publicity for the Virgin Group. He is an admired entrepreneur and business leader in the entire world. He has been the base on which the Virgin Group business has expanded its reach and luster in the global business (Borowiec, 2008).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Branson and his tenure of management at the Virgin Group: a combination of entrepreneurial and leadership skills As mentioned earlier, the name Richard Branson cannot be separated from the Virgin Group of companies. Burns, 2008, supports the observation that Branson began this business and has been a major contributor in each and every development that takes place in the company. As it is now, the Virgin group is now comprised of over four hundred firms which have come courtesy of Richard Branson. Branson has ascertained that cultivating entrepreneurial spirit in the company is not a simple exercise. It needs hard work and commitment all of which he has put in the company. To sustain the running of the four hundred companies, Branson came up with a very brilliant strategy which has sustained good running of individual companies making up the Virgin Group (Mills, 2007). As the president and the chief executive officer of the Virgin Group, Branson sought to ensure that all the compani es making up the groups are run well. To achieve this, Branson realized the need to have motivated directors to run these companies. He crafted a strategy which ensured that each of the individual directors has a certain percentage of shares in the company which he or she is managing. This is a motivator of performance in the companies. The directors ruin the companies with passions knowing that the outcomes are beneficial not only to the companies but also themselves. This has really boosted the performance outcomes of the individual firms of the Virgin group. Branson ensures that the directors are well guided on how to drive business in the companies that they are running. Therefore, he does not just expect outcomes but he ensures that he sets necessary business steps to help in getting positive outcomes. Being entrepreneurial means that one is always busy with coming up with thinking and rethinking strategies of improving performance. One must be ready to fully commit him or hers elf to the business as he also embraces the aspect of delegating duties (Burns, 2008). As an entrepreneur, one must ensure that all the staffs of the company get to understand the vision and objectives of the company. It is easy to work on course especially so when all the employees and organizational leaders are aware of the course that they are working for. The chief executive officer in any company is the vision holder of the company. Branson ensures that all the employees of the company are on course by organizing for transformational seminars. In these seminars, they get to discuss the progress of business. They identify the hitches of doing business and the remedies possible to beat the hitches. He uses these meetings to challenge the staffs on how to work towards attaining the goals of the company. Transformational meetings and seminars have proved to be effective for the Virgin Group. They portray the business as it is and lays down the possibilities of changing or adjusting the course of working (Howard, 2010). Brands and branding is an important tenet of business more so in this competitive era. One of the most important roles of an entrepreneur is to brand the company as this is what will position the company in the competitive global market. If there is any are in which Branson has been successful both as a chief executive office and an entrepreneur, then it is his ability to brand the Virgin Group. First of all, Branson has ensured that he is the ‘first’ brand of the company. Branson has patented himself to the company and carries the company on his shoulders. Whenever he appears anymore, he is not just as a CEO or president. He is seen in terms of the company itself. This has helped in easing marketing and the conducting of public relations for the company (Kapferer, 2008). Branson has this character of pulling the media to the company and thus publicizing the company and its products. This resonates from his personal characteristics which he tailor makes to work in favor of the business. While many other companies spend a lot of resources in creating an image for their products and services, Branson only dedicates time to public relation thereby highly saving on business expenses (Borowiec, 2008). Branson is argued to spend a quarter of his time in conducting both direct and indirect public relations. He does this with vigor such that he fully attracts the media thence the public and by effecting attracting free advertisement of the Virgin Group and its products. This is contrary to many other Chief Executive Officers who dedicate huge sums of money for advertising and public relations. Branson is creative and innovative and always devices means of attracting the attention of the public without spending financial resources. The Virgin Groups has found an easy way of marketing and public relations which is its CEO (Dearlove, 2007). Branson has driven the company into fully discharging corporate social activitie s. In the recent years, Branson has been setting aside huge sums of money to help in fighting the effects of climate change and other corporate social activities. Corporate social responsibility has come to be an important parameter on which companies are judged by the public. Full participation and discharge of corporate social duties work to the advantage of the company (Dearlove, 2010). Branson has instilled the principle of time management in the Virgin business. He emphasizes a lot on the skill of good management of time in order to achieve the objectives of the business. Branson spends most of his time; about a third troubleshooting, a third on developing and enforcing charitable work and the remaining third on inventing new business projects for the company. He has fully put the company at the center of his plans with the company taking the highest priority (Brook-Hart, 2008). Rifkin, n. d, observes that Branson loves challenges in business and takes them as opportunities for growth. This is a rare phenomenon as most Chief Executive officers view challenges as obstacles to business which have to be fully fought using organizational resources. He is a daring business leader who approaches and confronts challenges head on. He is courageous and daring. This quality enabled him to initiate the Virgin Airlines which according to many was considered to be an overambitious and unattainable business for the Virgin Company. As of today, the Virgin Airlines is one of the most outstanding Airlines in the world’s aviation industry with big shares in the US, UK and Europe. He is guided by the motto of being the bets in each of the business which the company ventures into. He works on a conclusive assumption that significant profits prevails in even the smallest potions of the expansive business in the market. The success of Branson can also be associated with his ability to attract customers by taking their points of view and personalizing them. This makes it easy for him to introduce and implement these viewpoints (Haig and Haig, 2011). According to Mitchel who wrote in the British management journal, the winning formula used by Branson is found in the clashing business values of the 1960’s. These are money versus morality, company versus consumers, profit versus people, formal versus informal and big business versus the small consumers. Others are conventionality versus novelty, planning versus spontaneity, secrecy versus openness and hierarchy versus egalitarianism. Branson has always chosen the humanistic path and has managed in turning to the Virgin business. These values are synthesized in the five basic criteria of the Virgin products. These include high quality, innovation, good value for money, challenging to the prevailing alternatives and lastly is that the products must have a sense of fun. This has driven the venturing into several businesses with success being attained in every business that is ventured into. Busine ss Implications to the Virgin Group if Branson Leaves the Company Well, there are no prospects of Branson leaving the company. However, many people argue that the Virgin Group can suffer from major business shocks if Richard Branson was to leave the company today. Their argument is that the virgin business has so much been centered on Richard Branson to an extent that no other person is known who can publicize the company in the Absence of Branson. This according to marketing and branding experts was is one of the major shortcomings of Branson. Building the business around his name alone an overshadowing all other people in the company thereby making the now and the future of the company to revolve around him. This has risked the future of the business. There are a number of serious implications is at all Richard Branson was to step down as the CEO of the Virgin Group of Companies (Kapferer, 2008). The first significant effect will be a drop in business due to the shock and the effo rt to choose a person to replace him who may not match even a half of his impact. Therefore, the confidence of customers in the company will significantly drop followed by lapses in the share prices of the company products on stock exchanges. This can be equated to the case of Apple Incorporated and the death of Steve Jobs, its long serving ad most trusted CEO. The company shares dropped significantly as it struggled to cope with the reality of the demise of Jobs (Lynch, 2012). The other serious business implication will be a significant loss of publicity for the Virgin Group business. A lot of public relations duties are accomplished by Branson. Therefore, finding another person to conduct publicity the way Branson did can be quite challenging. Branson is known to be the main representative of the Virgin Business in the public domain. The Virgin Group may also be forced to pump huge sums of money in advertising the brands of the company; an activity that was easily accomplished by Branson at very minimal costs. The cost of running the business will thus shoot up resulting in the reduction of profits that are made by the company. This will also be combines with other disorientations in the company leading to a period of underperformance. The company can take a long time to learn to deal with the situation. However, the major supportive thing for the company to peg on will be the strong brands that have been developed by Branson. This was the case in Apple where the strong brands of products developed under Jobs helped the company to pick upon the demise of Jobs (Lynch, 2012). Conclusion The entrepreneurial qualities of CEOs are essential in business growth of any company. Richard Branson is among the most outstanding entrepreneurial CEOs. Branson started the Virgin business and through a powerful combination of leadership and entrepreneurial qualities has managed to develop ecstatic brands which cut across business borders globally. The Virgin Group can suffer from major business shocks if Branson leaves the company. Reference List Borowiec, A 2008, Facets model based on an entrepreneur Richard Branson. Web. Brook-Hart, G 2008, Business benchmark: Students book, Cambridge Univ. Press. Cambridge [u.a. Burns, P 2008, Corporate entrepreneurship: building the entrepreneurial organization, Palgrave Macmillan, New York. Clark, T 2009, Demystifying Business Celebrity: Leaders and Gurus. New York, Routledge Publishers Dearlove, D., 2007, Business the Richard Branson way: 10 secrets of the worlds greatest brand builder. John Wiley Sons, Hoboken, NJ: Dearlove, D., 2010, The unauthorized guide to doing business the Richard Branson way: 10 secrets of the worlds greatest brand builder, Capstone, Chichester. Fletcher, H 2002, Entrepreneur to CEO: The difficult transition, Harvard Business Review. Grant, R, M., 2005, Richard Branson and the Virgin Group of Companies in 2004, Case Fifteen. Web. Haig, M and Haig, M 2011, Brand success how the worlds top 100 brands thrive and survive, Kogan Page. London. Howard, C., 2010, Instant wealth, wake up rich!: Discover the secret of the new entrepreneurial mind, Wiley, Hoboken, N.J. Kapferer, J N, 2008, The new strategic brand management: Creating and sustaining brand equity long term, Kogan Page, London. Lynch, G 2012, Apple lacking quality control after Steve Jobs death, says ex-employee. Web. Mills, A. J 2007, Organizational behaviour in a global context, Broadview Press, Peterborough. Rifkin, G n. d., How Richard Branson Works Magic. Web. Shaw, B G, 2012, Entrepreneurs and enterprise. Web.

Friday, November 22, 2019

Liberal Arguments Against the Death Penalty

Liberal Arguments Against the Death Penalty The problem with the death penalty was on stark display last week in Arizona. No one disputes that Joseph R. Wood III committed a horrific crime when he killed his ex-girlfriend and her father in 1989. The problem is that Woods execution, 25 years after the crime, went horribly wrong as he gasped, choked, snored, and in other ways resisted the lethal injection that was supposed to kill him quickly but dragged on for nearly two hours. In an unprecedented move, Woods attorneys even appealed to a Supreme Court justice during the execution, hoping for a federal order that would mandate that the prison administer life-saving measures.Woods extended execution has many criticizing the protocol Arizona used to execute him, especially whether it is right or wrong to use untested drug cocktails in executions.  His execution now joins those of Dennis McGuire in Ohio and Clayton D. Lockett in Oklahoma as questionable applications of the death penalty. In each of these cases, the condemned men appeared to experience prolonged suffering during their executions.   A Brief History of the Death Penalty in America For liberals the larger issue is not how inhumane the method of execution is, but whether the death penalty itself is cruel and unusual. To liberals, the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution is clear. It reads, Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. What is not clear, however, is what cruel and unusual means. Throughout history, Americans and, more specifically, the Supreme Court have gone back and forth on whether the death penalty is cruel. The Supreme Court effectively found the death penalty unconstitutional in 1972 when it ruled in Furman v. Georgia that the death penalty was often too arbitrarily applied. Justice Potter Stewart said that the random way that states decided on the death penalty was comparable to the randomness of being struck by lightning. But the Court seemingly reversed itself in 1976, and state-sponsored executions resumed. What Liberals Believe To liberals, the death penalty is itself an affront to the principles of liberalism. These are the specific arguments liberals use against the death penalty, including a commitment to humanism and equality. Liberals agree that one of the fundamental underpinnings of a just society is the right to due process, and the death penalty compromises that. Too many factors, such as race, economic status, and access to adequate legal representation, prevent the judicial process from guaranteeing that each of the accused receives due process. Liberals agree with the American Civil Liberties Union, which states, The death penalty system in the U.S. is applied in an unfair and unjust manner against people, largely dependent on how much money they have, the skill of their attorneys, race of the victim and where the crime took place. People of color are far more likely to be executed than white people, especially if the victim is white.Liberals believe that death is both a cruel and unusual punishment.  Unlike conservatives, who follow the biblical eye for an eye doctrine, liberals argue that the death penalty is merely state-sponsored murder that violates the human right to life. They agree with t he U.S. Catholic Conference that we cannot teach that killing is wrong by killing. Liberals argue that the death penalty does not reduce the prevalence of violent crimes.  Again, according to the ACLU, The vast majority of law enforcement professionals surveyed agree that capital punishment does not deter violent crime; a survey of police chiefs nationwide found they rank the death penalty lowest among ways to reduce violent crime...The FBI has found the states with the death penalty have the highest murder rates. The recent death penalty executions have graphically illustrated all of these concerns. Heinous crimes must be met with firm punishment. Liberals do not question the need to punish those who commit such crimes, both in order to affirm that bad behavior has consequences but also to provide justice for victims of those crimes. Rather, liberals question whether the death penalty upholds American ideals or violates them. To most liberals, state-sponsored executions are an example of a state that has embraced barbarism rather than humanism.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Codes of Conduct for Lawyers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Codes of Conduct for Lawyers - Essay Example sts a future use of the ABA Model for, â€Å"†¦may be consulted for guidance in interpreting and applying the Nevada rules† (Comparison of Rules p.1 2007). The additions and subtractions of the ABA Model by Nevada might be construed as nominal in numbers but the changes are constant throughout the â€Å"Nevada Rules†¦Ã¢â‚¬  and are strikingly unique’ in more than one instance. (2) To prevent the client from committing a criminal or fraudulent act in furtherance of which the client has used or is using the lawyer’s services, but the lawyer shall, where practicable, first make reasonable effort to persuade the client to take suitable action (ABA Model vis-avis NRPC 2007) (c) A lawyer shall reveal information relating to the representation of a client to the extent the lawyer reasonably believes necessary to prevent a criminal act that the lawyer believes is likely to result in reasonably certain death or substantial bodily harm. (NRPC 2007) By comparison, the operative words are, â€Å"A lawyer may reveal information†¦Ã¢â‚¬  in the case of the ABA Model and â€Å"A lawyer shall reveal information†¦Ã¢â‚¬  in the case of the Nevada Code of Conduct. The difference is clear: Nevada puts the responsibility directly on counsel’s shoulders, under an order â€Å"shall†, for responsibility directly related to ineffective action or inaction from counsel when counsel has knowledge that results in the prescribed outcomes of a client’s representation found in paragraph (c ). The ABA makes no demonstrative statement to counsel’s responsibility but infers a passionate and ethical response by counsel â€Å"may† without providing for possible responsibility of ineffective action or inaction of client

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Information Systems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Information Systems - Essay Example The payroll information system will have information on the name, monthly salaries and hourly rates of employees. Hourly rates will also be required to facilitate the payment of overtime wages. Additional information such as location, department, employee identification number, and the date of employment would also be added to the system. This system would be updated with information received from the human resources department relating to recruitment of staff at Recruit 4 U three locations as well as separation of staff due to retirement, resignation, redundancies and involuntary termination. The payroll system would be set up to calculate taxes for each employee and would be paid over to the government on their behalf. At the end of each pay period the necessary information would be collected from various locations and this along with the information from head office will be used to run the payroll. Pay slips will be generated for each employee, indicating their gross pay, deductio ns – statutory and otherwise, and their net pay at the end of each pay period. Cheques consisting of the net pay would either be drawn for each employee or sent to their respective bank accounts if feasible. Additionally, a cheque would be drawn for the government in relation to total tax deducted from the employees pay for the period. The relevant entry from this module of the accounting information system would be used to make an entry into the financial accounts of Recruit 4 U.