Railway Journey By Schivelbusch Essays - Landscape, Topography

Railway Journey By Schivelbusch The thesis for Schivelbusch's book The Railway Journey seems to be that the railroad altered the traveler's perceptions of space, time, distance, nature and the senses. Although the means of a quick and reliable mode of transport was and is an important part of industrialization, it denaturalized and desensualized the passengers (Schivelbusch 20). Shrinking and reshaping the world it touches with industrial fingers and alienating the riders to the world around them. With fast and reliable steam power engines replacing previously expensive and unreliable natural sources of energy such as water or animal man is released from the constraints of nature. These engines do not succumb to the whims of weather or exhaustion and are reliable enough to keep and daily regulated schedule despite wind or rain. Yet, by replacing the age-old use of the horse and carriage and through sheer speed they have made the world smaller and more accessible to the people. Where in the olden days people experienced every step of the way with their senses now all they have to do is step on a train and step out onto a different place. The railroad has annihilated the space and time, which were characterized by the old transport technology (36). To the perception of the people who had previously experienced every step of their journeys the world seemed to have shrunk. The detachment of man from nature and his perception of nature is finalized in the construction of the railways (20). Since the ideal railway is hard, level and straight, they were not laid out sympathetically to the landscape but instead cut and carve their way through in a straight line. Nothing gets in their way, not river mountain or canyon. The riders of these straight speeding bullets see nothing but a disorienting sight of the landscape shooting past to quickly for them to focus on. The train creates a barrier between themselves and the landscape making them detached viewers of an untouchable scene. This barrier is later enhanced by the telegraph poles that began to be widely used to regulate railway traffic. Now"the traveler perceived the landscape as it was filtered through the machine ensemble (24)" The use of railways to transport goods began to be felt in the very architecture of the time. With the use of availability of previously hard to acquire items, such as glass and steel, the "railroad reorganized space (45)". These new materials bent the contrast between light and shadow making it uniform and absent of contrast, a disorienting combination to people used to rock and wood. In the very beginning of the book, culture is described as having an organic quality, if so it is now an inorganic culture. This culture is now detached from the organic. As the railways expanded their reach they began to affect the "special presence (40)"of various commodities and towns which were once associated with a certain region. This desensualization of the regions is described as losing their ?auras' and so no longer have the special qualities that it once has. No longer do people have to travel long and rugged distances for a certain fruit or to visit a certain town, now they only have to hop on a train then hop off. Thus the perception of individuality is lost. The changes of perception that the railway caused are precursor of the denaturalization and desensualization that is abundant is modern industrial society. Schivelbusch's book gives interesting evidence to this thesis. By its manipulation of the world by the railways which altered the old world views of travel and nature it changes the definition of man's world view and the place man sees himself as being in the landscape around him.

An Examination of Figurative and Literal Debris in Concrete Island Essays

An Examination of Figurative and Literal Debris in Concrete Island Essays An Examination of Figurative and Literal Debris in Concrete Island Paper An Examination of Figurative and Literal Debris in Concrete Island Paper Essay Topic: Literature J. G. Ballard’s Concrete Island tells the story of a wealthy architect, Robert Maitland, who is forced to survive on a manmade island in the middle of a motorway intersection following a car crash. As Groes points out in his paper, Ballard’s Concrete Island examines the social and cultural trends in postwar London through an extreme situation experienced by the main character Robert Maitland (2011). It is argued that Ballard’s writing depicts how changes in urban spaces are reshaping social relationships (Groes, 2011). Notably, debris forms as a result of the people and places that have been leftover from rapid societal transformations. Ballard’s Concrete Island examines the importance of literal debris (the wasteland) and figurative debris (outsiders of society) in Maitland’s experiences on the island. Despite being an architect who contributes to architectural changes, Maitland struggles to survive on the island until his encounter with Jane and Proctor. These two characters are the figurative debris in this novel. To demonstrate, Proctor is described as an â€Å"aged defective† (Ballard, Concrete, 86), while Jane is said to resemble the â€Å"prototypal drop-out† (Ballard, Concrete, 82). In particular, the presence of Jane and Proctor prevents Maitland from dying and his interactions with them allow him to gain a better understanding of himself. Maitland thereupon becomes increasingly dissatisfied with his past life and uses the isolation of the island (the literal debris) to rebuild himself psychologically. Therefore, Concrete Island shows that figurative and literal debris are indispensible for Maitland to rebuild his life. The days on the island weakens Maitland physically. However, he survives because he is able to manipulate Jane and Proctor to complete tasks that would benefit him. The existence of these two characters allows Maitland to exercise dominance over them and in effect the whole island. At the beginning of the novel, Maitland uses self-pity to motivate survival. However, after encountering Proctor and Jane, his source of motivation shifts to the cruel exploitation of these two characters (Ballard, Concrete, 139). For example, Maitland’s mistreatment of Proctor is shown in the sentence, â€Å"Proctor gestured thickly, his face a planet of creases, like a hungry child unable to accept the reality of a bare cupboard† (Ballard, Concrete, 148). Here, simile is used to compare Proctor to a hungry child that is willing to accomplish almost any task in exchange for gifts. In particular, it provides evidence that Maitland’s manipulation of Jane and Proctor relies on his ability to identify and target the characters’ desires. Moreover, regarding Proctor, Maitland uses knowledge of his past experiences to conduct cruel physical treatments such as urinating on Proctor’s face (Ballard, Concrete, 135). In the case of Jane, Maitland plays with her feelings of guilt in order to weaken her emotionally (Ballard, Concrete, 138). The narrator’s diction choice indicates Jane and Proctor’s acceptance of Maitland’s control. For example, Maitland â€Å"steers† Proctor in order to move around on the island (Ballard, Concrete, 143). Furthermore, Proctor easily accepts this manipulation when he steers â€Å"himself with his scared hand† (Ballard, Concrete, 144). Lastly, Maitland’s frequent reinforcements that he would not survive without help of Jane and Proctor shows the importance of his dominance over them. To illustrate, Proctor is able to lead Maitland to the food source on the island (Ballard, Concrete, 126), while Jane is able to nurse him back to health (Ballard, Concrete, 96). In fact, Maitland specifically tells Jane â€Å"unless [she]’d come [he] would have died there†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Ballard, Concrete, 83). However, survival is only the initial step that contributes to the change observed in Maitland. The figurative debris also helps Maitland to realize his own flaws. As has been noted, Maitland exploits Jane and Proctor’s weaknesses in order to control them. However, through interacting with these two, he also gains better sense of his own weaknesses. An important characteristic of Maitland is his detachment from others. To emphasize this, he uses the phrase â€Å"emotionally loaded transactions† when describing his relationships with Helen, Catherin, and his mother (Ballard, Concrete, 83). The comparison between relationships and transactions is magnified through interacting with Jane and Proctor. For example, when Maitland first meets Jane, he hopes that money will help him escape from the island (Ballard, Concrete, 83). To elicit Proctor’s help, Maitland tells him that his arrival has â€Å"changed the whole economy of [Proctor’s] life (Ballard, Concrete, 149). In addition, Maitland wants Proctor to believe richness can buy Proctor the island (Ballard, Concrete, 158). However, the ineffectiveness of controlling Proctor and Jane through monetary means allows Maitland to understand his flaw in believing wealth is associated with unlimited power. Correspondingly, Jane brings attention to Maitland’s egocentrism by telling him â€Å"no one owes you anything, so stop all this want, want, want! † (Ballard, Concrete, 101). Moreover, Maitland’s direct confrontation with Jane reinforces what he thinks he knows about himself. For example, Jane also believes in the similarities that exist between Maitland and the island, telling him he was â€Å"on an island long before [he] crashed here† (Ballard, Concrete, 141). By the same token, Jane reinforces Maitland’s idea that he does not want to leave the island by reminding him â€Å"[he] could have got away† if he really tried at the beginning (Ballard, Concrete, 116). Not only do the figurative debris ensure Maitland’s survival, Jane and Proctor also give Maitland a better understanding of himself. It is only when Maitland gains a deeper view of himself through interactions with others, that he is able to use the isolation of the island to rebuild himself. The second form of debris is the literal kind, which is the island. This junk-space is indispensible for Maitland to rebuild his life as it serves two important functions: it allows an escape from obligations and acts as a blank space that he can use to finally start over. As suggested by Ballard in the introduction, many people in the modern world hope â€Å"to be marooned, to escape [their] families, lovers and responsibilities† (2). This idea can be applied to Maitland as well. At work, Maitland faces the natural responsibilities that come with his occupation in addition to countless meetings and conferences. Outside of work, Maitland faces the challenges of being in a relationship with two different women – Helen and Catherine. Ironically, junk-space would normally be overlooked or despised by an architect like Maitland. Yet, in this extreme situation, the island allows Maitland to escape from his countless obligations and come to terms with himself. In like manner, the analeptic view of his childhood provides insight into his desire for disconnecting from the world. For example, the narrator explains that Maitland’s happiest times were spent alone, and the picture of his younger self on his desk shows his desire to return to his carefree childhood (Ballard, Concrete, 27). Over the years, Maitland constantly remythologizes his childhood by picturing a young boy playing by himself in a â€Å"long suburban garden surrounded by a high fence† (Ballard, Concrete, 27). This acts as a prolepsis for Maitland’s reluctance to leave due to its similarities with the descriptions of the island. For example, later in the novel, Maitland mentions the existence of wires on the island much like the fence in his daydreams (Ballard, Concrete, 39). This island provides Maitland with the perfect opportunity to escape from the various constraints that prevent him from fulfilling his wish of seclusion. After gaining a better sense of self through interactions with the figurative debris in the novel, Maitland escapes his obligation using the isolation of the island. Finally, Maitland is ready to rebuild his life. The island can be seen as a blank space where Maitland can project himself onto and start over. In Colombino’s paper it is argued that the island is a blank space where imprints are possible (2006). Furthermore, the importance of this is explained by the architectural theory of urban interstices, which argues deserted places can become an experience (Colombino, 2006). Therefore, the isolation Maitland experiences on the island is crucial for his discovery of self. This idea is reinforced by Ballard in the introduction where he argues being marooned on a traffic island allows people to â€Å"test [their] strengths and weaknesses† and â€Å"come to terms with aspect of [their] characters to which [they] have always closed [their] eyes† (2). Of equal importance is the view of London as an entrapment (Colombino, 2006). As a result of the entrapment, Maitland is only sachieve the same level of isolation as earlier literary characters such as Robinson Crusoe when he becomes isolated in a junk-space (Colombino, 2006). Specifically, similes create images of the isolated island. For instance, to describe the view from the island, the narrator compares the sky to a large wall in the sentence â€Å"the white flank crosse[s] the sky like the wall of some immense aerial palace† (Ballard, Concrete, 149). In like manner, simile is also used to describe the emotional isolation Maitland experiences on the island. The narrator states, â€Å"[w]ith deliberate effort, he thought of his wife, his son and Helen Fairfax †¦ But they had become more and more remote, receding like the distant clouds†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (Ballard, Concrete, 145). By comparing the thoughts of those close to him with receding clouds, the narrator shows Maitland’s desire to let go his past life. More generally, he wants to let go of all unpleasant memories; this is supported when the narrator indicates â€Å"part of [Maitland’s] mind seem[s] to be detaching themselves from center of his consciousness† (Ballard, Concrete, 63). The physical and emotional isolation on the island provides him with the perfect opportunity to dissociate from the past. In addition, Maitland’s attachment to the island provides him with the comfort to reveal his true self and start the rebuilding process. Particularly, words associated with a sense of comfort such as â€Å"warm air† and â€Å"soothing† are used to describe his increased appreciation for the island (Ballard, Concrete, 156). Again, simile is used to reinforce his acceptance of the island by comparing simple structures to more pleasant forms of architecture. There is evidence that Maitland may actually enjoy the structures on the island when it is stated that â€Å"[t]he concrete junction of the two motorway routes [shine] in the sunlight like an elegant sculpture† (Ballard, Concrete, 143). Before Maitland can rebuild himself psychologically, there must be a gesture that confirms Maitland is ready. This is achieved when the various objects representative of his old life are spread around in Proctor’s chamber as if to celebrate the death of the man Maitland once was (Ballard, Concrete, 160). Moreover, it is evident that the description of Maitland rebuilding his life lacks verisimilitude because the re-assembling body parts represent the psychological rebuilding. For example, it is stated â€Å"bones were re-assembling themselves into a small, sharp face† (Ballard, Concrete, 145). Interestingly, these images of body parts and reassembling of bones are related to Maitland’s career as an architect. In particular, bones, much like ruined buildings, need to disassemble before they can be reconstructed. Finally, the rebuilding process is complete when Maitland’s â€Å"injured thigh and hip, his mouth and right temple, had all now healed as if this magical therapy had somehow worked and he had successfully left these wounded members at their designated points† (Ballard, Concrete, 156). In the final analysis, J. G. Ballard’s Concrete Island challenges the traditional ways of thinking and pushes the limits of readers’ imagination by telling the story of Maitland’s extreme situation. In a society that lusts for change, debris is constantly created. Through the novel’s examination of literal and figurative debris, awareness is raised for the people and places that have been leftover from the changes in society. In a time when countless factors can disrupt the path to a fulfilling life, Maitland’s experiences show that an appreciation for the unordinary is people’s only hope in discovering themselves.

Islam Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 3

Islam - Essay Example Being the youngest of world’s great few religions, Islam has gained huge significance and is followed by a very large population. People from very diverse backgrounds follow Islam. The day of Hajj when all these people irrespective of their identity, caste, creed, color, race, nationality, sect and ethnicity unite to recite Kalima, offer prayers and stand in one row shoulder to shoulder with each other. It is generally thought that Islam begins with the birth of Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H), which is not the case. Islam existed way before the birth of Holy soul. The Holy Quran testifies this fact with the following verse Anyone who opposes Gabriel should know that he has brought down this (the Quran) into your heart, in accordance with Gods will, confirming previous scriptures, and providing guidance and good news for the believers (Surah 2:97).(Origin of Islam—Quranic Revelation, 2002). There is not a distinct difference between the spiritual and luxurious factors of lifesty le in Islam; all factors of a Muslims lifestyle are to be focused to providing Allah. Islam extended almost instantly beyond its homeland in the Arabian Peninsula, and now has considerable impact in African-American, throughout Japan, European countries, and America. (Patheos Library, 2008). In the course of almost six hundreds of years, from VII to XIII AD, Islamic society has shown its visibility in a continuous conversation with other societies and societies. In the last example, this visibility was marketed by the soul of religious and social patience existing in the Oikumene of the Arab-Muslim Caliphate, which expanded from the Indus to Gibraltar. The Nearby knowledge and Ancient purpose became element areas of the Islamic religious lifestyle. In circumstances of political, legal and religious pluralism within the structure of Islam, the designers of the traditional lifestyle of the Arab-Muslim ancient were not only

Research PaperCultural Intersections Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Research PaperCultural Intersections - Essay Example Since the process if bettering oneself is just that - a choice, when the black sub group chooses to pursue another cultural path within the American culture, white America often shows little tolerance or understanding. For black America, the melting pot and land of opportunity images have never been allowed to become the cultural icons with which white American's co closely identify. The black experience of American culture did not begin with voluntary immigration in the pursuit of a better life. Black American's were forcibly taken from their homes and brought to America as slaves. Black American's, while no longer living as slaves, and living in a free country, still struggle to establish a distinctly American and successful identity. Their path was forced, not voluntary. Their emigration was from freedom to bondage, while white Americans, to a great extent, left religious and social bondage to establish freedom. From these two different paradigms, two different American cultures have emerged. At the seam where these cultures meet, friction and misunderstanding are the norm. As a result, a homogeneous America currently does not exist for either group, and both sub-cultures tend to carry a chip o n their shoulder, blaming the other as the source of the discord. For both of these cultures, the idea of choice should be taken into consideration so that the individuals can begin to move past their individual ideas of how America 'should' look. White Americans and black Americans each have made choices on how to perceive their country and culture. Each has come to an individual understanding based on their choices and personal experiences. Unfortunately, at the intersection of these two paradigms, the individuals often try to justify their perceptions as something bigger than choice. White America lifts up their own experience as 'how and what America is.' America is the melting pot, the land of opportunity, and any individual or people group that does not perceive it similarly is understood as attacking America. Black America similarly can understand the country as an oppressive culture, bent on taking from them their individuality and uniqueness as it tries to squeeze them into the white cultural mold. Working under this perception, black Ame ricans can easily turn aggressively hostile to the white paradigm, which leads to conflict, and disunity. Reike and Sillars, in their work on critical decision making (1993) address this phenomenon by accurately identifying it as the product of choice. They say that our individual belief systems are made up of two components, beliefs and values. Individuals settle on core values as both an individual and as a larger group. Often these values within a culture are similar, even though they are worked out in different ways. Americans as a group tend to hold the value of independence as a universal value. Individuality is also a shared cultural value. According to Reike and Sillars, built around these core values are individual belief systems which shape and affect our understandings of our values. Belief systems are most often learned behaviors. Belief systems are based on what is important to us, our values, but they also reflect our personal experiences, and our belief systems also shape our actions. We will rarely make decisions or choose a course of action which is in violation to our belief system, even if the belief system inaccurately reflects

Three questions to be answered with main opinion, source for each Assignment

Three questions to be answered with main opinion, source for each answer and give an assertion - Assignment Example Writings should also take into account not only the level its audience proficiency but also their cultural background . 3. This is a wrong mindset. A business staff should never be busy to attend to a customer and must always apologize to any inconvenience caused. Complaints and suggestions must be welcome by the company to help them identify their areas of improvement. Customer service must always be in mind of any business organization otherwise it will lose its customers and go out of business. Above all, apologizing and making customers feel important ensures that the business can still keep the customer despite the inconvenience caused. Business organizations must always bear in mind that they exist because of the customers and therefore, they should be mindful of the fact that â€Å"customer is always king† (Moreno) in their organization and therefore, they should not be busy to attend to the

Leadership in the Virgin Group

Leadership in the Virgin Group In the past 20 years Richard Branson had extended his Virgin brand from one business of a magazine called student to distinct businesses like airline, trains, mobile phone, broadband, cola, bridal wear, financial services, retail chain, jeans, cars, and books. Branson started with a magazine with name of Student when he was 16 years age in January 1968. He was successful in selling its 50,000 copies at that time. (virgin, 2011) Later he quite the study and make it a fulltime job. In 1970 he started a mail-order company with name of Virgin that was name which now grow today in a big business empire. Virgin now a day is fast expanding business in world in many sectors from airline to broadband services. It is considered as worlds most respected and leading brand. Sir Richard Branson started what started in 1970 it is now a success empire of multi-businesses. It is dealing with 300 brands, more than 50000 employees and 11.5 Billion Pounds business currently. (virgin, 2011) In this study we are going to see how things are being managed at leadership levels by Richard Branson and his team for virgin group and how it is leading towards success of business. This report focuses on finding such theories, models of leadership that can be learned from virgin to put these for success of other organizations we will also find how Sir Richard Branson is dealing his own way to this group and how he is making progress in his business. In this study we will see the progress made by Virgin and later we will make analysis of approach adopt by Virgin and other in same industry. We will also look at Sir Richard Branson leadership style and will try to find some suggestion of improvement for Virgin in future times at end of our study. Virgin Success Model Virgin under Sir Richard Branson claims that they are difference maker in the world. For that they are trying to innovation in their ways to get higher in competitive advantages and in their diversity. They introduce virgin as a brand that stands for quality, innovation, competitive challenge, fun and value for customers money. They have good research and analysis system that help them in starting anything new. They claim that they put same shoe of customers to walk on the street of purchasing and utilizing things before going into a start. (Bartholomeusz, 2011) They work as trend setter in the market rather than being just followers. They deeply focus on their competitors approach and then develop a strategy that comes with better results. They make sure they are adding some values to any brand. They focus on risk and rewards. They are very much selective and careful in appointing their staff and management team. They even for Human resources went into joint-ventures with other companies to get maximum inputs and knowledge from skilled market. They have diverse approach with diversity in their products and services with bunch of variety in it. They are very much concern about their market and ways into that market. All this is lead by Sir Richard Branson. The power of virgin is hiding with leadership style of Richard Branson who is good in his ways and style. His reputation, network, partners and management brought him to this level as it mentioned on their by company itself. They got rid of bureaucratic ways of management and replaced it with competent self motivated management that is capable of dealing with situation their selves most the times instead looking for directions upwards every time as it is in every bureaucratic structure. They work as team as family even within their businesses and within the group of this brand virgin. There are some time certain problems for that their system provides a solution based leadership and at the top is Richard himself working like a good skilled leader and manager. Everything t hey try is customer feedback based and makes right guidelines for them every time when they miss something. Here is list of business under this group (virgin, 2011) :- Virgin Atlantic Airways, hello Gorgeous Virgin Blue (airline with its name as Virgin Blue, Virgin America, V Australia) Virgin Holidays ( Virgin Holidays + Hip Hotels, Virgin Holidays Cruises, Virgin Limited Edition, Virgin Vacations, Blue Holidays) Lifestyle (Virgin Active UK) Virgin Wines (Australia) Virgin Active (Australia, Italia, Portugal, South Africa, Spain) Virgin Experience Days Virgin Racing Virgin Trophy Virgin Mobile (Australia, Canada, France, India, Qtels, South Africa, UK and USA) Virgin Media Virgin Produced Virgin Money ( UK, Australia, South Africa, Money Giving) Virgin Earth Challenge Virgin Green Fund Virgin Unite (NGO) Virgin Megastore (music and entertainment) Virgin Radio International Virgin Festivals We can see how diverse market virgin have to deal under leadership of Richard Branson. This kind of divers, spread and wide business required higher levels of leadership with commitments to deal with it effectively that Richard is doing over the years. Leadership in any Organization has some specific focal point on administrative leadership as whole in that organization and it tries to fill the gap of academic management theoretical study and its practical implication on bases of real life situations. Here we will find what kind of approaches, theories and models are in practice with in leadership concept in business world. There are numbers of models and theories in leadership study, here are some of these mentioned under (associates, 2011) :- Appreciative Inquiry Attributes of Management Excellence Attribution Theory Bases of Social Power Beyond Budgeting Centralization and Decentralization Change Approaches Change Behaviour Change Equation Change Management Change Phases Changing Organization Cultures Charismatic Leadership Coaching Competing Values Framework Contingency Theory Core Group Theory Crisis Management Cultural Dimensions Cultural Intelligence Culture Levels Dimensions of Change Dimensions of Relational Work Emotional Intelligence EPIC ADVISERS ERG Theory Expectancy Theory Five Disciplines Force Field Analysis Forget Borrow Learn Framing Functional Leadership Groupthink Growth Phases Hagberg Model of Personal Power Hierarchy of Needs Inspirational Leadership Instrumental Approach of Stakeholder Theory Intrinsic Stakeholder Commitment Leadership Continuum Leadership Pipeline Leadership Styles Leadership Styles Level 5 Leadership Leveraged Buy-out Levers of Control Management Buy-out Management by Objectives Managerial Grid Managing for Value Mentoring Moral Purpose Normative Approach of Stakeholder Theory OODA Loop Organizational Configurations Organization Chart PAEI management roles Parenting Advantage Parenting Styles Participative Leadership Path-Goal Performance Prism Portfolio Analysis POSDCORB Positive Deviance RACI (RASCI) Result Oriented Management Results-Based Leadership SECI model Servant-Leadership Seven Habits Seven Signs Of Ethical Collapse Seven Surprises Situational Leadership SMART Social Intelligence Spiral Dynamics Stakeholder Value Perspective Strategic Intent Strategic Stakeholder Management Hence we will look some good models and theories among all above for that we select three which are more comprehensive in their approach. Part One (a) 1: Theory of Needs by David McClelland The human motivation is comprises of three main needs: 1 need for achievement 2 need for power 3 need for affiliation. This theory of needs was given by American psychologist David McClelland based on work of Henry Murray that was done in 1938. In 1961 he stated that the motivation of an individual can result from three dominant needs: the Need for Achievement, Power and Affiliation. (Pattanayak, 2005) Every person wants to achieve certain goals in his or her life that are very important to that person in the life. Some time they look for success and positive feedback from others. They look to widen themselves and to avoid risks situations. They mostly try to avoid low-risk because they want to attained success easily. While in some high-risk projects all achievers look the outcome as chance not the as a result for their efforts. They love to work their selves alone or some time with some other person with high achievements. McClelland believes about these people that those are always the best leaders with some tendency of higher demands from their staff. They are result driven in their approach. They seek higher personal relations and look for acceptance from others. They also tend look same kind of norms from their work group. They struggle to create and maintain relationships with higher level of trust and good mutual understanding. They always prefer cooperation on competition. According to McClelland they perform in customer service and dealing clients very well. McClellands this concept is also take as Acquired Needs Theory, the Learned Needs Theory, and Three Needs Theory. 2: Management by Objectives: (SMART) by Drucker In this theory main focus is on defining main objectives for organisations employees and later directing their performance according to these objectives. Peter Drucker presents it in his work The practice of Management as Management by Objectives in 1954. (Hurd, 2008) Management by objectives relies on focusing and defining the objectives for every employee and making their performance according to these objectives. The major aim is to increase performance in the organization through matching organizations goals and employees goals. Employees are given main identity and acknowledgement in this system. Purpose is to involve evry one in the organisation rather than focusing and giving importance to top managers. This way all mangers start from their levels and they later contribute on top level in planning and implementations. Principles of MBO:- 1 flow of organizations goals and objectives 2 Specific objectives for every member 3 Participation in decision making 4 Explicit time period 5 timely performance evaluations with proper feedback. Management by Objectives is having a method for development called SMART method this SAMRT is taken from * Specific * Measurable * Achievable * Realistic And * Time-related. This method of checking MOB is effective to keep organisation and staff on right direction always. 3 Centralization and Decentralization By changing the ways of decision making at authority levels and by corresponding organizations structure effectively higher goals can be achieved. All organizations have to make many strategic and many of the operational decisions. The question is who makes these decisions and at what level. In normal bureaucratic structure decision are always made by top management. Thus this system holds the time and makes slow of process and sometimes delays the required decisions. This is called centralisation and in Decentralisations thing is decided at implementations level other than any change required in policy which is changed at top management levels this makes things done in swift way. (Pride, 2009)Thus Centralization is process of transferring and passing on decision making authority at higher levels of hierarchy in organization. In a centralized organization decision are made at higher levels. Most the knowledge and information about organisation lie at top levels and are shared according o need at lower level. Decentralization, is process of transferring and passing on decision making authority at levels of hierarchy in organisation. In a decentralized organization decision are made at lower levels and they are informed to higher levels for records. Most the knowledge and information about organisation lie at lower levels and are shared according to need at top level also direction are taken when those are required. Part one (b) Implementation of models at Virgin and others Branson believed in the best communication through setting an example by the leadership. Staffs need to have a role model whom they can follow. Branson being a reel from traditional management structure and systems adopted a diverse approach that compromising all three models mentioned in our study previously. We will look into these at virgin by Branson and at other businesses in same industry like Sir Terry Leahy ways in managing of Tesco and Keith Rupert Murdoch of sky group one by one. Theory of Needs As mentioned above this theory is based on three main needs of need for achievement, need for power and need for affiliation. Richard Branson as young man was searching for all these and thus he focused on achieving these targets as soon as possible. For that purpose he started his magazine student. With early sales he generated lots of business and set virgin company. Later years he expanded it in diverse business, looking for these set targets of needs. He also made his company according to this principal of human needs and set a trusted mechanism for every employee in virgin business. As mentioned by David McClelland he creates a higher level of the motivation for an individual in his organisation to bring results from the satisfaction of these three dominant needs: the Need for Achievement, Power and Affiliation. He knows well that every person wants to achieve certain goals in his or her life that those are very important to them. That also need support from organisation to give room to everyone to show capabilities and get rewards, thats what virgin follows as a strategy in their businesses. He like McClelland believes that people have great capabilities if they are given proper training and chance to put their efforts in it. That is resin virgin have this kind of set up that supports these basics. On other hand if we see the TESCO and Sky they have different approach their business than what Richard brought to Virgin. (Telegraph, 2011) They have more tight control over things their corporate ways are not fit into need based theory but they have adopted some other ways to groom their corporate business. That reason that TESCO and Sky look more tight business in their terms and they sometime re hit by losses. When staff dont feels part of being into teams and they feel just as working brains and hands unlike the people who work at Virgin who look the Virgin as their life part due to its benefits that it is giving to them. 2: Management by Objectives At virgin this model is followed completely as organisation focuses on its objectives and makes employees get their targets set accordingly. They have to adjust things both way first company tries to accommodate employees objective and makes such corporate strategy that helps staff in achievement of their objective s and policies are supportive to employees in their growth. While employees are also expected to go with the broader objective s of company and be loyal to the company objective. It is in many studies that virgin having higher level of such loyalty from staff. Virgin ensures that there is enough support for employees identity and acknowledgement in their system. Purpose is to involve everyone in the organisation rather than focusing and giving importance to top managers. This way all mangers start from their levels and they later contribute on top level in planning and implementations. Virgin follows all principles of MBO like flow of organizations goals and objectives at all levels is ensured, there is set of specific objectives for every member, there is higher level of participation in decision making by staff, There is certain time span for targets and everything is based on time and feedbacks. Virgin also makes policies and targets based on SMART approach. Making all targets and objectives Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-related. If we compare this with TESCO and Sky they also have this approach in their business and they try to keep them on this way of management by objectives. (mandmgloba, 2011) All three companies are doing well on it but it is fact that the way Virgin is following this rule is different from others two and they are doing remrably well in their performance compare to others two. Other two have huge investments supports but still if we compare the returns over investments Virgin is making ahead. While this approach of Management by objective is adopted by all these mega businesses in their strategy of dealing things in their business. 3 Centralization and Decentralization There is beautiful balance of centralisation and decentralisation at Virgins Group this was attained through by changing their ways of decision making at authority levels and by corresponding organizations structure effectively higher goals can be achieved. All decisions are made according to need and capacities. There is more freedom at lower levels in Virgin as Virgin leadership believes in human potential. Thus they avoid unnecessary delays in decision at implementation levels. On the other hand the concept of centralisation in TESCO (Hiscott, 2010) and at Sky is more tight than Virgin. Their decentralisation approach is some time affected by the ways of decentralisation for short times. They were failing to develop such kind of trust over their managers that the staffs of Virgin enjoy. The team building and degree of freedom for performance according to your skills is very high at Virgins comparing to TESCO and Sky. Both are facing good competition in their related product and se rvices with Virgins. As three of them are into media, mobile industry and service providing in different sectors. Part Two Sir Richard Branson leadership style. If we deeply study the style of Mr Branson he is a dynamic leader that always looks higher towards major goals in life. For that he adopts couple methods like Theory of needs, MOB and balanced centralisation and decentralisation. He more focuses on brand value of his company. He has very simple ways of living, he believes in enjoying life and sharing it with others. He is man of his own choices he choose what he liked instead of looking into his background on that business and he made success. He always bucking his team on different occasions as he wants them feels that he is with them in all matters. He has developed a culture at Virgins that cannot be found in many organisations. All employees of Virgin are invited to show and perform their capabilities. He is innovative person with many qualities of leadership in business that reason his company is expanding over the years. HE has invested his own rule for all this and put all his efforts as success that way. He is able to identify many hurdles and made much better than his compotators. He has given his employees great independence in work as he also welcomed them for fast promotions ov er the time. He has idea that anyone can took over the top in his company if they show such kind of commitments. Virgins all success in days of 1970s and 1980s is result of Bransons unusual way and management style that was corner stone on all this business and his corporate norms were different form the system that was existing at that time. He stopped wearing traditional businessmen suit and tie instead he use to wear a sweater and slacks. He uses technologies effectively compare to other and enjoy his holidays and dealing everything on phone, fax and internet. He gives his subordinates more freedom to work their tasks. He believes everyone wants to deal with top person so he provides his managers to deal with him directly. He gives his staff high performance incentives and he relies on his team. He also adopted a technique through which he have divided his company tasks into multi unit operations. His companies are connected with each other very well and some time supports each other. Most important is that he always encouraged to his employees go and do some innovation and take more risks instead of being in fear with failure risks. He is famous for his risk taking ability and habit. He normally emphasise on the importance that a service should bring for customers for the value of their money. He is skilled with troubleshooting and making new projects. His motto is to create such companies only in which he himself believes. Part Three Proposals for development Virgin group have their own ways of developing people it is the best way for them to carry things as Mr Branson himself was doing. As he can himself aware fully that every individual unlike his educational background have such capabilities that can make businesses grow remarkably. There should be a system of skill promotion based on theory of needs for the staff. It should more focus on hidden capabilities of people who are working in Virgin and those are trying to attain higher professional success though their hidden skills. There should be culture of responsibility in the company where people do feel their own responsibility instead of every time supervisors are making them to perform their duty. This thing can be brought when people feel trust by the supervisors to make decisions and do things on their own within certain limited that is secure. The group is already doing well by providing people innovative ways to show their skills while they are working with the company. There should be continue system of need based development and a balanced central and de-central approach. Things for Virgin unlike other business are very much bright as they have diversity if businesses. As Branson believed in aligning his company HR department with the values of company he is more conscious about his brand value. He also makes smart decisions when picking people for any task as if they have same bend of mind that is company value it would be easier for them to do best in their job. Virgin has a diverse approach so they dont have any set traits for any person to become employee at Virgins. However they use to select people who are ready to take responsibility in their own and can work hard. Main focus they always have is aligning with customers need and wants. Thus company has created its value in the business and market and made his brand as symbol of success and trust.

Essay on Homers Odyssey: Foreshadowing the Homecoming -- Homer Odysse

The Odyssey: Foreshadowing the Homecoming The majority of the Odyssey is an account of Odysseus’ adventures trying to reach his homeland of Ithaka. Several of these adventures are false homecomings, the most prominent of which is his imprisonment on Kalypso’s island. This false homecoming is strikingly different from what one would expect of Odysseus’ real homecoming, but similar enough for parallels to be drawn between the two. Homer uses this false homecoming to foreshadow Odysseus’ true homecoming. Throughout the Odyssey, Homer presents the reader with certain clues about what Odysseus feels his homecoming should (but not neccessarily will) be like. First of all, Odysseus wants to return to Ithaka. Homer goes as far as having Odysseus describe Ithaka: "There is a mountain there that stands tall, leaf-trembling Neritos, and there are islands settled around it, lying one very close to another. There is Doulichion and Same, wooded Zakynthos, but my island lies low and away, last of all on the water†¦" (Bk. 9, ln. 21-25). Kalypso lives on island, which may indeed resemble Ithaka. In this way, Homer begins to alert the reader that this scene may be a false homecoming. But, simply the fact that Kalypso lives on an island is not enough evidence to draw the conclusion that this may foreshadow Odysseus’s true homecoming. Other evidence is needed, and Homer provides it for us. Odysseus expects to return to his family and to the way of life which he is accustomed to. For the m ost part, Kalypso treats him as he is used to being treated—there is a certain sense of familiarity here. Returning from ten years of war with Troy and at least several years at sea, Odysseus wants to return to the comfort of home. Her cave has ... ...eople and customs that Odysseus expects to return home to, and Homer is only using Kalypso’s fake family and home to foreshadow this. When Odysseus finally reaches Ithaka, all that Homer has foreshadowed using Kalypso’s island as a false homecoming is realized, and subsequently all of Odysseus’s expectations are achieved. Odysseus returns to an island, but it is Ithaka. He is greeted with the inhospitality of the suitors (as Homer foreshadowed), but soon restores order and his own sense of civilization. Odysseus and Penelope (rather than Kalypso’s perfect image of a wife) are reunited. Recognized by his son, his wife, and his people, Odysseus’s homecoming is completely. No matter how desirable the world Kalypso created for Odysseus appeared, it was only a false homecoming used by Homer for it’s generalities to foreshadow the specifics of Odysseus’s true homecoming.