Sourav Ganguly

Sourav Chandidas Ganguly (About this sound pronunciation (help ·info); born 8 July 1972) is a former Indian cricketer, and captain of the Indian national team. Presently he is cricket commentator and President of Editorial Board with Wisden India[1]. Born into an affluent Brahmin family, Ganguly was introduced into the world of cricket by his elder brother Snehasish. He is regarded as one of India's most successful captains in modern times. [2] He started his career by playing in state and school teams.Currently, he is the 5th highest run scorer in One Day Internationals (ODIs) and was the 3rd person in history to cross the 10,000 run landmark, after Sachin Tendulkar and Inzamam Ul Haq. Wisden ranked him the sixth greatest one day international batsman of all time, next to Viv Richards, Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Dean Jones and Michael Bevan. [3] After a series of playing in different Indian domestic tournaments such as the Ranji and Duleep trophies, Ganguly got his big-break wh ile playing for India on their tour of England. He scored 131 runs and cemented his place in the Indian team.Ganguly's place in the team was assured after successful performances in series against Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Australia, winning the Man of the Match awards. In the 1999 Cricket World Cup, he was involved in a partnership of 318 runs with Rahul Dravid, which remains the highest overall partnership score in the World Cup tournament history. Due to the match-fixing scandals in 2000 by other players of the team, and for his poor health, Indian captain Sachin Tendulkar resigned his position, and Ganguly was made the captain of the Indian cricket team.He was soon the subject of media criticism after an unsuccessful stint for county side Durham and for taking off his shirt in the final of the 2002 Natwest Trophy. He led India into the 2003 World Cup final, where they were defeated by Australia. Due to a decrease in individual performance, he was dropped from the team in the follo wing year. Ganguly was awarded the Padma Shri in 2004, one of India's highest civilian awards. He returned to the National team in 2006, and made successful batting displays.Around this time, he became involved in a dispute with Indian team coach Greg Chappell over several misunderstandings. Ganguly was again dropped from the team, however he was selected to play in the 2007 Cricket World Cup. Ganguly joined the Kolkata Knight Riders team as captain for the Indian Premier League Twenty20 cricket tournament in 2008. The same year, after a home Test series against Australia, he announced his retirement from international cricket. He continued to play for the Bengal team and was appointed the chairman of the Cricket Association of Bengal's Cricket Development Committee.The left-handed Ganguly was a prolific One Day International (ODI) batsman, with over 11,000 ODI runs to his credit. He is one of the most successful Indian Test captains to date, winning 21 out of 49 test matches. Soura v Ganguly is the most successful Indian test captain in overseas with 11 wins. [4] An aggressive captain, Ganguly is credited with having nurtured the careers of many young players who played under him, and transforming the Indian team into an aggressive fighting unit.

Jack London †to his wife Essay

Once Charles Child Walcutt described Jack London as a steamer, which â€Å"was supposed to have more power than any man dared use, but it was also known to run out of steam halfway up a long hill; and everybody knows that it was a trial to start and a constant threat to explode†(Charles Child Walcutt. 1956. American Literary Naturalism: A Divided Stream. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, p. 87). Yet in 1906, when the book â€Å"White Fang† was published, the writer still demonstrated tremendous vigor in enchanting reader’s by the set of his ideas. Originally a companion volume to â€Å"The Call of the Wild† â€Å"White Fang† narrates about a wolf who is domesticated through circumstances by a man. London himself wrote of it: â€Å"Life is full of disgusting realism. I know men and women as they are – millions of them yet in the slime state. But I am an evolutionist, therefore a broad optimist, hence my love for the human (in the slime though he be) comes from my knowing him as he is and seeing the divine possibilities ahead of him. That’s the whole motive of my † White Fang . † Every atom of organic life is plastic. The finest specimens now in existence were once all pulpy infants capable of being molded this way or that. Let the pressure be one way and we have atavism – the reversion to the wild; the other the domestication, civilization (Book of Jack London, I, 384. In Walcutt 1956:92)†. In the quotation are acknowledged the bunch of motives – portraying the juxtaposition â€Å"man vs environment†, â€Å"wildness vs civilization†, and â€Å"naturalism vs romanticism†. This is the story about the challenges of growing alone and never experiencing the meaning of love, generosity and care, overcoming so many challenges endured. Driving off the author’s motivation in this very tapescript we’ll analyze the book’s infrastructure, as far as themes, text interpretation and narration techniques are concerned. The aim of the following part is to trace how Jack London’s depiction of White Fang’s life portrays the themes of naturalism, survival of the fittest, romanticism and parallels his own struggles. JACK LONDON MIRROWIMG IN WHITE FANG PAGE #2 DETAILED ANALYSES NATURALISTIC COBCEPTION This piece of work by London represents the evident case of endured naturalistic manner. Generally, naturalism refers to those who viewed life strictly from a scientific approach; in this case that translates to the view that man and other creatures were victims of their heredity and environment. The environmental theme is enrolled in the very first passage with a landscape description. It thrustingly combines â€Å"a foreboding animism with a sinister desolation (Brittany Nelson. http://www. gradesaver. com/ClassicNotes/Titles/white/fullsumm. html. October 29, 2000)†. – Dark spruce forest frowned on either side the frozen waterway. The trees had been stripped by a recent wind of their white covering of frost, and they seemed to lean toward each other, black and ominous, in the fading light. A vast silence reigned over the land. The land itself was a desolation, lifeless, without movement, so lone and cold that the spirit of it was not even that of sadness. There was a hint in it of laughter, but of a laughter more terrible than any sadness – a laughter that was mirthless as the smile of the Sphinx, a laughter cold as the frost and partaking of the grimness of infallibility. It was the masterful and incommunicable wisdom of eternity laughing at the futility of life and the effort of life. It was the Wild, the savage, frozen-hearted Northland Wild. (Jack London. White Fang. http://www. gradesaver. com/ClassicNotes/Titles/white/fullsumm. html. October 29, 2000) The mood is shown through the covetous gamma of colors, simile (â€Å"smile of the Sphinx†) and personification i. e. (prosopopoeia). Wild is ruled by the death principle: â€Å"Life is an offense to it, for life is movement: and the Wild aims always to destroy movement. It freezes the water to prevent it running to the sea: it drives the sap out of the trees till they are frozen to their mighty hearts; and most ferociously and terribly of all does the Wild harry and crush into submission man – man, who is the most restless of life, ever in revolt against the dictum that all movement must in the end come to the cessation of movement (WF)†. Sentences constructed by analogy roll JACK LONDON MIRROWIMG IN WHITE FANG PAGE #3 monotonically, dictating the rhythm. â€Å"Viewed from this bleak cosmic perspective (Brittany Nelson. http://www. gradesaver. com/ClassicNotes/Titles/white/fullsumm. html. October 29, 2000)†, lost for civilization, men are no more than â€Å"puny adventurers pitting themselves against the might of a world as remote and alien and pulseless as the abysses of space specks and motes, moving with weak cunning and little wisdom amidst the play and interplay of the great blind elements and forces (WF). † In London’s story, the terror at the environment is augmented by a number of fine touches. The dogs, for example, disappear silently, lured one by one to their deaths by the cunning of the she-wolf. And she is shown not like flesh-and-bone creature but like something ghostly: – Full into the firelight, with a stealthy, sidelong movement, glided a doglike animal. It moved with commingled mistrust and daring, cautiously observing the men, its attention fixed on the dogs. One Ear strained the full length of the stick toward the intruder and whined with eagerness. (WF) Bill not simply dies out off the scene, but disappears at the desperate sounds of three shots in the place, encircled by the wolf litter. The contrast of a man, Henry, sitting at the fire and darkness with glittering eyes of the beasts produce a breath-taking effect. With the environmental theme in mind, London wrote the novel with biological and social determinism. Donald Pizer in his â€Å"Realism and Naturalism in Nineteenth-Century American Literature† (1984. Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, p. 167) says: â€Å"The Call of the Wild and White Fang are companion allegories of the response of human nature to heredity and environment†. JACK LONDON MIRROWIMG IN WHITE FANG PAGE #4 SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST The problem of environment is tightly knotted to the process of â€Å"natural selection†, i. e. the benefit of only the strongest, brightest, and most adaptable elements of a species to survive. In this regard the writer follows H. Spencer: â€Å"I am a hopeless materialist. I see the soul as nothing else than the sum of the activities of the organism plus personal habits, memories, and experiences of the organism (L. S. Friedland. January 25, 1917. Jack London as Titan. Dial, LXII, p. 51)†. The Spencer’s theory was closely linked in London’s mind to Darwin: â€Å"The idea of life as a struggle for survival appealed to him tremendously. Concepts of strength and the purity of an unmixed breed evoke images of savage men who have survived through pure physical strength. London’s heroes are likely to evince this atavism when they are thrust into the struggle for survival under brutal frontier conditions. When such atavistic power surges up, nothing can safely oppose them, and they exult in the glory of it. (Walcutt 1956:90-91)†. This idea is embodied by the character, White Fang. â€Å"He was different from his brothers and sisters† (WF: ch. 3), â€Å"the fiercest of the litter†. Since the eye-openening days White Fang was the one to dare getting closer to the cave entrance. He was the only one of the litter to survive the famine. His strength and intelligence make him the most feared dog in the Indian camp. While defending Judge Scott, White Fang takes three bullets but is miraculously able to continue living. One element of the book, portraying White Fang’s ability to adapt to any new circumstances, is how he learns to fight and to love. â€Å"He had a method of accepting things, without questioning the why and wherefore. In reality, this was the act of classification. He was never disturbed over why a thing happened. How it happened was sufficient for him (WF:Part II, ch. 3). It is in the last section of Part II the homey narrative tone changes as White Fang learns more about the world where â€Å"dog eat dog† – literal and figurative: a hawk digs its sharp talons into the soft flesh of a ptarmigan while the frenzied bird screams in agony. White Fang’s biological heritage discussed in JACK LONDON MIRROWIMG IN WHITE FANG PAGE #5 the first chapters more than symbolic. When in the parts III and IV White Fang’s deepening estrangement from all living things is shown, a nihilistic world of violence and hate steps forward. White Fang becomes the personification of the masculine principle of the demonic wild: â€Å"The outcast† and â€Å"The Enemy of His Kind,† who is â€Å"hated by man and dog† and in turn hates them. Even his name suggests both the demonic white wilderness and the savage Darwinian world governed by the Law of the Meat, the Law of the Fang. – Before, he had hunted in play, for the sheer joyousness of it; now he hunted in deadly earnestness (WF:Part II, ch. 5). – â€Å"Savageness was a part of his make-up, but the savageness thus developed exceeded his make-up. He acquired a reputation for wickedness [†¦] Out of this pack-persecution he learned two important things: how to take care of himself in a mass-fight against him; and how, on a single dog, to inflict the greatest amount of damage in the briefest space of time. To keep one’s feet in the midst of the hostile mass meant life, and this he learned well. He became cat-like in his ability to stay on his feet † (WF:Part III, ch. 3). – â€Å"The months went by. White Fang grew stronger, heavier, and more compact, while his character was developing along the lines laid down by his heredity and his environment. His heredity was a life-stuff that may be likened to clay. It possessed many possibilities, was capable of being moulded into many different forms. Environment served to model the clay, to give it a particular form (WF:Part III:ch. 6)†. Through the usage of metaphor London proves the â€Å"first survivor† law at the example of White Fang, nut, at the same time implies irony, narrating how the creature surrenders himself to the strongest – e. g. to Gray Beaver (â€Å"for the â€Å"possession of flesh-and-blood good,† White Fang† JACK LONDON MIRROWIMG IN WHITE FANG PAGE #6 exchanged his own liberty (WF:Part III, ch. 3). † The wide scope of methods help to project natural laws at the canvas of fictional text. ROMANTICISM The depiction of romanticism in this novel is evident by White Fang’s trust, love and ultimately sacrifice for Weedon Scott and his children. White Fangs pays back. Part V reflects how love can tame natural behavior and instincts: â€Å"White Fang refused to growl. Instead, and after a wistful, searching look, he snuggled in, burrowing his head out of sight between the master’s arm and body (WF:Part V, ch. 1). As White Fang learns to love Weedon Scott, this love produces a desire in the dog to do anything to please his â€Å"love master. † This includes having Weedon’s children climb and play with him, and learning to leave chickens alone, although the taste was extremely pleasing to him. Just as White Fang was tamed by love, Jack London was tamed by love as he began staying away from the whorehouses in San Francisco and trying to overcome a severe drug habit, having been just married. And thus we came to our conclusive part: the parallel between the book and the reality of Jack London’s life. â€Å"†¦ interesting symbol in this novel is the oasis of the campfire (Chapter I) surrounded by the sinister darkness of the wild. This image is a microcosm of the larger landscape; the Northland wilderness as opposed to the grassy estate in the Santa Clara Valley – the â€Å"Southland of life,† in which â€Å"human kindness was like a sun. † Although very naturalistic in his approach to this novel, London received a great deal of criticism for the abrupt ending. When White Fang finally recovers from his injuries, he ventures out into the warm California sun and greats Collie and his new puppies. Instead of ending the novel in the same naturalistic vein he began, London ends White Fang with a distinctively romantic flare (June JACK LONDON MIRROWIMG IN WHITE FANG PAGE #i Howard. 1985. Form and History in American Literary Naturalism. Chapel Hill, NC:University of North Carolina Press, p. 170)†. CONCLUSIONS The novel demonstrates the effects of a change in environment on the creature. Dogs and men are portrayed in some kind as moral symbols, but derived from Jack’s own experience. â€Å"He never stopped fighting, and the struggle with life is no more important to his success than his struggle with ideas. One led to the other, and the battle of ideas dramatizes with extraordinary clarity the confusions and tensions which I have attributed to the divided stream. In the melee, blond beasts, ideas, and supermen drip with blood like White Fang himself (Walcutt 1956:88)†. As Jack was an illegitimate child, forever uncertain as to his father, unloved and hungry throughout his youth, he hoped to found something of a dynasty in his magnificent home called â€Å"Wolf House,† and so he longed for a male heir. â€Å"White Fang† was written during the courtship and marriage of London to Charmian Kittredge and a romantic theme is part of the novel. The man is tames – as well as his personage. In the book â€Å"White Fang was torn by conflicting feelings, impulses. It seemed he would fly to pieces, so terrible was the control he was exerting, holding together by an unwonted indecision the counter forces that struggled within him for mastery. † And so it was with Jack London. Then all went wrong. He only had daughters and these were estranged from him: his house burnt down just as his special ship had foundered; his friends drifted away. It is hard not to feel that those counter forces which harassed White Fang also undermined that prodigy of lonely energy, Jack London– or â€Å"Wolf† as he insisted his wife should call him. â€Å"He was able to flourish within and finally to rise above the hard conditions of his early life; and the fact that he gloried in the JACK LONDON MIRROWIMG IN WHITE FANG PAGE memory of his early adventures shows to some extent how he saw himself as embodying the bone-crushing vitality which he continually celebrated in his stories. He saw everything from farming through fighting to reading in heroic terms, and this side of his character is not without its ludicrous aspects: he could not help being self-conscious about his manliness (Susan M. Nuernberg ed. 1995. The Critical Response to Jack London. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, p. 89)†. LIST OF REFERENCES 1. Charles Child Walcutt. 1956. American Literary Naturalism: A Divided Stream. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press 2. Brittany Nelson.

Explain why it is both necessary and helpful to study the context of prior history Essay

Explain why it is both necessary and helpful to study the context of prior history, especially the experiences of participants in that history, in order to understand what is valued by these participants. Also, what resources will be most helpful to you as a student of history? Introduction: It has long been said that, â€Å"if we don’t know where we are coming from we will not know where we are going†. In other words knowledge of prior history allows us to avoid making past mistakes and serve as a guide to the future. In addition a well-rounded understanding of history can help us to make more informed present and future decisions. â€Å"History requires us to think outside of our own experiences in time and place, fostering empathetic thinking, appreciation of diversity, and understanding of the relationship between context and judgment† (The National History Center, 2013). Valuable and beneficial sources of history include Primary and Secondary sources. Primary sources as it relates to history are the â€Å"raw materials† gathered from the same time period of the topic/event, which forms the foundation of historical research and writing. Secondary sources are gathered from primary resources and have been analyzed then presented in the form of books or articles by historians. History can be thought of as never changing; but history, like memories actually is always changing. Though the dates and statistics may not change, how they are interpreted can vary. For example, historians are always at work re-evaluating the past, asking new questions, examining new sources and finding new meanings in old documents to highlight the perspective of new knowledge and experience for a better understanding of the past (McNeill, 2013). Knowledge of prior history allows for a better understanding of the â€Å"who, what, were, and when† at that particular time in history. We do not always learn from the mistakes that history has shown us; as observed in recent events with the war on terror where, the United states seem to have repeated  the same mistakes in Iraq as were made in Afghanistan. One can argue that if knowledge of the past has been collected and learned over the centuries, then poverty, injustice, immorality and war should not exist. For this reason it is important to recognize that knowledge of the past does not assure avoidance of its failures and mistakes, however understanding the past and its patterns improves one’s ability to analyze the present and make better predictions of future outcomes. As a student engaging in the study of history valuable sources as mentioned in the introduction are Primary sources which include personal diaries, journals, letters or videos from witnesses of the event. Secondary sources can be considered as arguments/interpretation of a primary source and include library databases, textbooks, journal articles and news articles. Conclusion It is both necessary and helpful to study the context of prior history as it creates a view of other people’s feelings and opinions, allowing people to place situations in an appropriate context in the present. Secondary sources of history are valuable. However to best understand the context of history and the values of the participants, nothing is as valuable as a primary resource which include the personal accounts of people having experienced the event. References: The National History Center. (2013). The history major and liberal education. Association of American Colleges and Universities, 95(2), Retrieved from http://www.aacu.org/liberaleducation/le-sp09/le-sp09_history.cfm McNeill, W. (2013). Why study history?. Retrieved from http://www.historians.org/about-aha-and-membership/aha-history-and-archives/archives/why-study-history-(1985

Personal Statement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 9

Personal Statement - Essay Example My purpose in life has been clarified when I began a battle in behalf of my little sister. She needed a cochlear implant but was refused medical treatment. I used my law background to my advantage as I fought with the Primary Care Trust for two years. I enjoined people in my fight for children’s right to good health and access to medical procedures should they need it. I was successful in soliciting help from Law Lords, baronesses MPs support groups to petition for my sister’s case. My persistence and determination paid off when PCT and NICE finally agreed to provide the medical operation my sister needed. She became a precedent and policies were adjusted to fund children under 18 years for a cochlear implant in my residential area. I was thankful for my legal research skills in helping me investigate legislation regarding children’s rights in the NHS as it won me the case against the PCT and NICE. What is more fulfilling is that my action was responsible in paving the way for more and more children in my area to gain access to the medical procedures they direly needed. Such an achievement inspired me to do more with my life in terms of ensuring the health and safety of people. This desire was further strengthened when I went on a trip to Bangladesh to encounter a grief-stricken woman whose young children died of Malaria. I realized that it could have been prevented with proper education on the disease. Lacking the knowledge and understanding of various preventable diseases myself, I felt devastated that I was unable to help. It became clear to me that my life’s purpose is to prevent disease, prolong life and promote good health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals. I am aware that I have the potentials to be successful in this since I have had first hand

Attendant Propelled Wheelchairs and the Forces on the Attendant whilst Essay

Attendant Propelled Wheelchairs and the Forces on the Attendant whilst Manoeuvring - Essay Example Temporarily used at home and commonly found in commercial medical facilities like hospitals and nursing homes, standard wheelchairs weighs approximately more than 18kg with limited Ð °djustÐ °bility in its components. Similar to the standard wheelchair, lightweight whÐ µÃ µlchÐ °irs are made with folding frames. Likewise, lightweight wheelchairs have many Ð °djuÃ'•tÐ °blÐ µ components and are Ð °vÐ °ilÐ °blÐ µ with many fÐ µÃ °turÐ µs. Since lightweight wheelchairs are mÐ °nufÐ °cturÐ µd using aluminum, its gross weight would range between 13 to 18kg. Therefore, the lightweight wheelchair is lighter than standard whÐ µÃ µlchÐ °irs.Ultra lightweight whÐ µÃ µlchÐ °irs have the best pÐ µrformÐ °ncÐ µ chÐ °rÐ °ctÐ µriÃ'•ticÃ'• of the thrÐ µÃ µ weight cÐ °tÐ µgoriÐ µs. Typically less than 13kg, ultra lightweight wheelchairs are the lightest-weight whÐ µÃ µlchÐ °irs bÐ µcÐ °usÐ µ it is mÐ °nufÐ °cturÐ µd using aluminum, high-pÐ µrformÐ °n cÐ µ stÐ µÃ µl, or titanium. Besides the weight, the key diffÐ µrÐ µncÐ µ bÐ µtwÐ µÃ µn lightweight and ultra lightweight whÐ µÃ µlchÐ °irs are that ultra lightweight has a Ð °djuÃ'•tÐ °blÐ µ rÐ µÃ °r whÐ µÃ µl axle. This option increases the mechanical efficiency of the wheelchair by making it Ð µÃ °Ã'•iÐ µr for the user to rÐ µÃ °ch the rÐ µÃ °r whÐ µÃ µls during propulsion. Thus, reducing stress and strain on the upper Ð µxtrÐ µmitiÐ µs. Basically, it is the horizontally Ð °djuÃ'•tÐ °blÐ µ rÐ µÃ °r whÐ µÃ µl that allows the end-users to enjoy the benefits of having an optimal plÐ °cÐ µmÐ µnt of the rÐ µÃ °r whÐ µÃ µl on the frame.

Why teachers salary should increase Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Why teachers salary should increase - Essay Example While education takes up most of the childhood and teenage years, it benefits the whole adult life of a person. While education could really, and actually, happen anywhere, formal education within school settings is what really provides an individual with ammunition later on in life. One cannot disregard the significance of education in life. In fact, in today’s world, an individual is disregarded if without education. Education is not only there to increase one’s knowledge, but also to shape one’s character. It develops the rational aspect of a human being. Now, when one talks about education, one cannot help but think about teachers. This is because education is a teacher-driven industry. Without teachers, education will not be possible (Vedder 17-8). The important status of the teaching profession is the main reason why teachers’ salary should be increased. A higher salary for teachers would mean that existing teachers would feel more inspired as they g o about their daily teaching routine (Mishel and Roy 69). It could also mean that the teaching industry will be more able to attract the best and the brightest minds (Cunningham and Sperry 38). It will also mean that more potential teachers will be inclined to give the career more consideration, which could decrease teaching shortage (Vedder 7). More Inspiration for Teachers Work is all about motivation. While many people will say that a career is based on what one wants to do, at the end of the day, one would hope that what one wants to do is also something that would put food on the table, roof over the heads, and clothes on the back. In addition, it is not asking too much to include a reliable car to make lives easier, along with extra funds to indulge into leisure moments occasionally. It is true that several teachers are able to afford all these things without problems, but one cannot really claim that these things are acquired without many problems (Mishel and Roy 71-2). The t eaching profession should be able to offer such a salary that could at least ensure noble teachers that they could provide education to individuals without enduring a profession that will make them sacrifice some of their personal needs and wants. It is a well-accepted fact that motivated workers are more productive in their jobs. While this is not to say that money is the only source of motivation, removing the barrier of money issues would certainly help a lot in alleviating the situation of people involved in such â€Å"thankless† jobs (Mishel and Roy 75-6). Attracting the Best and the Brightest Minds Everyone has heard a story somewhere of a teacher who has left the profession to enter the corporate world, and the biggest reason stated has always been better paychecks. This is especially true among highly effective and intelligent teachers in the industry. It is understandable that people who have a big potential to really make it big in the better-paying corporate world would be enticed to switch professions. This is coupled by the additional attraction that corporate jobs could be less stressful, where one does not have to take the work back home. If teachers feel that their efforts are being recognized in the paychecks, there would be lesser chances of job switch. Furthermore, it could lessen, if not remove, the connotation that teaching is a thankless career. To do so could attract more brilliant students into the teaching industry (Cunningham and Sperry 38-9). This is not to say, though, that only average people are attracted to get into teaching. However, one cannot disregard the possibility that many highly effective and brilliant individuals who want to get into teaching would settle for better-paying jobs instead, even though they want to teach (Cunningham and S

Adult Development and Life Assessment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Adult Development and Life Assessment - Essay Example Adjusting one’s self into all those different roles requires correct perception and cognitive calibration that comes through critical thinking skills. Self-analysis and improvement comes through critically analysing one’s own thought patterns and the resulting behaviours. Now the question arises, how to improve the skills that everyone possesses but only a handful of people seldom utilize it or hone it? I for one would start reading about my brain that how it operates. This will be my weapon in the arsenal that will give me the understanding that this is how my brain functions and this is how I can make it better. I have a love for mathematics and numbers, I am naturally a metrics driven person, that’s why I’d love to start my day with a daily dose of an analytical problem. This doesn’t have to arrive in my life, there are plenty of logics magazines out there that can help me achieve this. Once I start my day with the right critical mindset, I will be able to tackle almost every situation with a critical frame of mind. Another thing that comes to mind when enhancing the ‘critique muscle’ is to lower the emotional steam, the emotional haze that clouds the judgment of any situation. Whenever I’ll study, I’ll always try to collaborate with other students, because learning enhances critical thinking skills (Gokhale, 1995). Collaborating with other students or group studying encourages debates and arguments and that is the fuel of critical thinking. There are plenty of critical thinking blogs available online, I would love to join them, comment on their posts and would love to write a paper, observation, theory or anything along those lines to make sure that I am actively participating; passively listening to the lectures is not. 2. Self-Awareness: conscious awareness from internal and external perspectives that allow a person to understand their place within the environment

President Obama and Agenda for Possible Second Term Essay

President Obama and Agenda for Possible Second Term - Essay Example Over the years, through the development of broadcast technology, candidates are given an opportunity by the media to sell their policies through a public debate. This platform helps them to improve on their campaigns, and it assists the voters to evaluate also the candidates. The communication advisor is necessary during the campaign period because he advises the candidate and party on what strategies to use to ensure victory in the elections. As a communication advisor in the Barrack Obama campaign team in the current elections, I would suggest prioritization of some issues during the final weeks of the campaign. This essay will highlight the current trending issues in the country’s politics, and advice on some arguments and the positions that the team should emphasize on. During the final campaign weeks, some issues should not be emphasized on as shall be pointed out in the essay; moreover, the last weeks of campaigning are prominent in gathering the votes of the undecided v oters, and developing trust from the voters on the direction, which the country should take. Political structures are social structures in the society; therefore, the campaign teams need to consider the social dynamics in the society for their success. The key factor is that campaigns involve communication of messages to the public with an objective of getting their support during the elections. Therefore, it is necessary to design the message to appeal to the voters (White, 2010). In addition, the social judgment theory applies to every person because people hear a message then they compare it with another, and they make a judgment on where to place it in the different mental categories. Further, people develop some mental yardsticks (Latitudes) of acceptance, rejection and non-commitment to a message. Therefore, in the case of Obama’s campaign, one needs to know what and how to communicate messages to the public in order to persuade them towards the desired direction or vot ing. In Obama’s campaign, the use of persuasive social skills to influence voters is easier than in Romney’s team because Obama has excellent, persuasive skills through his speech. Persuasion and influence of people is necessary in all the social theories, and is essential to getting people to accept the party’s political ideologies and policies. In the current political campaign, the candidates are contesting in their campaigns on several issues. Some of them include foreign policies, energy, education, healthcare and the economy. In this presidential campaign, I would suggest that the issues to do with foreign policy and energy should not be focused on by the Obama Campaign team during the last weeks towards elections. This is because the policies and suggestions on these issues are not different to the ones used in the previous four years of the Obama Administration. Therefore, based on the consistency theory, people do not expect them to change so the campai gn should focus on other, different issues (Clarke, 2008). In the economic, education and healthcare issues, there are many differences in policies between the candidates and hence, the campaign should emphasize on them in order to develop proper social judgment from the voters.

Premise Alerts in 911 CAD Databases - Are special-needs citizens and Research Paper

Premise Alerts in 911 CAD Databases - Are special-needs citizens and officer safety at risk - Research Paper Example These individuals are people with rare or complex issues that need special kinds of handling and attention. This program aids the police to be able to identify an individual and at the same time will be equipped with the right amount of information that will allow him to personally identify the lost individual and therefore return him to persons concerned. (http://www.plumboro.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=176&Itemid=180) 2. Rationale 3. Objective In the Illinois Public Alert Program (PAP) Act provides a detailed enumeration f the objective of the PAP. According to the Act, the PAP ensures that there is a consistent ‘high level† of services with regards to public safety that is to be available to all members of the State (note the use of â€Å"members of State† rather than â€Å"citizens†). The core objective of the program is providing access services to individuals that may require extra consideration. (Source: P.A. 96?788, eff. 8?28?09. ) http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=3159&ChapterID=39 The PAP, aims to provide people with disabilities and individuals that require more attention access to public safety that is already provided to most citizens. ... n effective method of dealing with these predicaments and as proposed, practical measures are possible with an enhanced knowledge or information about these individuals. It is a condition that they are to divulge an extent of their identities, such as their specific needs, their educational facilities, and places of employment, residences or anything that will enhance identification. (Source: P.A. 96?788, eff. 8?28?09.) http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=3159&ChapterID=39 4. Statement and Significance of the Problem Along with technological advancements, a useful implementing arm of the PAP is the establishment of an online help center and one of such is smart911.com. Said website was designed to deliver vital and essential information of individuals and especially citizens that need special attention immediately to first responders in times of emergency. This secure website makes it easier for people to submit their information that will be accessed at times when t hey will be required. Said website registers information such as number of children, children and their disabilities, you can also provide their picture and medical records or any relevant information you deemed useful for immediate response of safety officers upon placement of call. http://www.wsmv.com/technology/24452754/detail.html. All of this information, which at a point may seem too dangerous to provide to third parties are essentials in order to provide not only abrupt public safety services but in order to make sure that it is the response is intelligent, educated and appropriate to the situation. In order to illustrate the points further, allow me to cite and example. An autistic child found was wandering and walking into flow of traffic. A citizen called 911 and advised

Strategic Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Strategic Management - Essay Example lated businesses, gaining administrative synergy in the process by utilizing their existing presence in wide geographical areas of Australia, and 3) using the Owner-Managed Branch (OMB) concept to attract investment capital and entrepreneurial commitment of experienced bank executives. 2. Bank of Queensland’s lending grew by 27 per cent and retail deposit by 33 per cent and these figures were 1.7 and 3.7 times ahead of overall growth of the Australian banking system. This market leadership has been maintained tin the last two years. It is obvious that the bank has scanned its environment correctly and has matched its resources and capabilities with the threats and opportunities in the external environment to generate such impressive results. These achievements prove that Bank of Queensland has applied sound strategic management principles and practices. In terms of functional strategy, its efforts to improve efficiency and a customer-centric approaches have yielded good rewards for the company. Its business strategy of opening Owner-Managed branches and expanding its branch networks has worked wonders for the bank in terms of deposits generated and volume of lending, as well as sound bottom lines. Finally, the banks corporate strategy of acquiring related businesses to complement "organic" expansion has proved a success as well. Unless the momentum falters, the future looks bright for Bank of Queensland. Bank of Queensland (BOQ) is Australias fastest growing full-service retail bank and has undertaken an aggressive expansion program in the last five years that has brought its rapidly growing network to 280 branches and 13 business banking offices throughout Australia. Its unique franchise-type Owner-Managed Branch model permits individuals, mainly former bank executives, to own and operate local branches backed by the product range and security of the bank. BOQ is listed in the Australian Stock Exchange since 1971 began its expansion thrust in 1985

A one page summary of a lawsuit Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

A one page summary of a lawsuit - Essay Example SAP vowed to install the required changes in their current system which to them, was operation was as a result of negligence in the operational insight of TomorrowNow. The defense in this case was that the fault had nothing to do with SAP employees. SAP is quoted as saying they consider illegal downloading as illegal and unacceptable and would never condone such actions. Two years later, a judge ruled that SAP must pay Oracle 1.3 billion in damages. The crime was copyright infringement. SAP went back to court to appeal over the ruling. SAP argued that the amount they were liable to pay was the money lost by Oracle due to the customers that moved to TommorowNow and not the amount suggested by Oracle. Several motions were filed with the judge in a bid to ensure that a fairer and just sum was charged. Over a year later, a judge overruled the judgment terming it as â€Å"grossly excessive†. SAP had previously argued that the damages paid were in excess and they should have paid only 40 million dollars in damages to Oracle to cover lost profits (Niccolai, p.1). The verdict was read in Oakland, California in a U.S District Court. The case, which has taken place over four years, will now open even more court cases as Oracle will definitely fight this overruling. This will, however, take place only if Oracle rejects the 217 million that the judge ruled should have been the original damages received by the company. My opinion is that the original ruling was too much as the damages imposed on Oracle could not have amounted to 1.3 billion. The case would have opened additional cases and set the pace for more court cases of the same nature to be developed, costing a lot of companies a lot of

The Effects of Lsd Essay Example for Free

The Effects of Lsd Essay LSD was first synthesized on November 16, 1938 by Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann at the Sandoz Laboratories in Basel, Switzerland as part of a large research program searching for medically useful ergot alkaloid derivatives. LSDs psychedelic properties were discovered 5 years later when Hofmann himself accidentally ingested an unknown quantity of the chemical. The first intentional ingestion of LSD occurred on April 19, 1943, when Hofmann ingested 250 mg of LSD. He said this would be a threshold dose based on the dosages of other ergot alkaloids. Hofmann found the effects to be much stronger than he anticipated. Sandoz Laboratories introduced LSD as a psychiatric drug in 1947. Beginning in the 1950s the US Central Intelligence Agency began a research program code named Project MKULTRA. Experiments included administering LSD to CIA employees, military personnel, doctors, other government agents, prostitutes, mentally ill patients, and members of the general public in order to study their reactions, usually without the subjects knowledge. The project was revealed in the US congressional Rockefeller Commission report in 1975. In 1963 the Sandoz patents expired on LSD. Also in 1963, the US Food and Drug Administration classified LSD as an Investigational New Drug, which meant new restrictions on medical and scientific use. [ Several figures, including Aldous Huxley, Timothy Leary, and Al Hubbard, began to advocate the consumption of LSD. LSD became central to the counterculture of the 1960s. On October 24, 1968, possession of LSD was made illegal in the United States. The last FDA approved study of LSD in patients ended in 1980, while a study in healthy volunteers was made in the late 1980s. Legally approved and regulated psychiatric use of LSD continued in Switzerland until 1993. Today, medical research is resuming around the world. Lysergic acid diethylamide, abbreviated LSD or LSD-25, also known as lysergide (INN) and colloquially as acid, is a semisynthetic psychedelic drug of the ergoline family, well known for its psychological effects which can include altered thinking processes, closed and open eye visuals, synesthesia, an altered sense of time and spiritual experiences, as well as for its key role in 1960s counterculture. It is used mainly as an entheogen, recreational drug, and as an agent in psychedelic therapy. LSD is non-addictive, is not known to cause brain damage, and has extremely low toxicity relative to dose. However, adverse psychiatric reactions such as anxiety, paranoia, and delusions are possible. LSD was first synthesized by Albert Hofmann in 1938 from ergotamine, a chemical derived by Arthur Stoll from ergot, a grain fungus that typically grows on rye. The short form LSD comes from its early code name LSD-25, which is an abbreviation for the German Lysergsaure-diethylamid followed by a sequential number. LSD is sensitive to oxygen, ultraviolet light, and chlorine, especially in solution, though its potency may last for years if it is stored away from light and moisture at low temperature. In pure form it is a colorless, odorless, tasteless solid. LSD is typically delivered orally, usually on a substrate such as absorbent blotter paper, a sugar cube, or gelatin. In its liquid form, it can also be administered by intramuscular or intravenous injection. LSD is very potent, with 20–30 Â µg (micrograms) being the threshold dose. New experiments with LSD have started in 2009 for the first time in 40 years. Introduced by Sandoz Laboratories, with trade-name Delysid, as a drug with various psychiatric uses in 1947, LSD quickly became a therapeutic agent that appeared to show great promise. In the 1950s, officials at the U. S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) thought the drug might be applicable to mind control and chemical warfare; the agencys MKULTRA research program propagated the drug among young servicemen and students. The subsequent recreational use of the drug by youth culture in the Western world during the 1960s led to a political firestorm that resulted in its prohibition. Currently, a number of organizations—including the Beckley Foundation, MAPS, Heffter Research Institute and the Albert Hofmann Foundation—exist to fund, encourage and coordinate research into the medicinal and spiritual uses of LSD and related psychedelics. LSD can cause pupil dilation, reduced or increased appetite, and wakefulness. Other physical reactions to LSD are highly variable and nonspecific, some of which may be secondary to the psychological effects of LSD. Among the reported symptoms are numbness, weakness, nausea, hypothermia or hyperthermia, elevated blood sugar, goose bumps, heart rate increase, jaw clenching, perspiration, saliva production, mucus production, sleeplessness, hyperreflexia, and tremors. Some users, including Albert Hofmann, report a strong metallic taste for the duration of the effects. LSD is not considered addictive by the medical community. Rapid tolerance build-up prevents regular use,[citation needed] and cross-tolerance has been demonstrated between LSD, mescaline[ and psilocybin. This tolerance diminishes after a few days after cessation of use and is probably caused by down regulation of 5-HT2A receptors in the brain. LSDs psychological effects (colloquially called a trip) vary greatly from person to person, depending on factors such as previous experiences, state of mind and environment, as well as dose strength. They also vary from one trip to another, and even as time pass during a single trip. An LSD trip can have long-term psych emotional effects; some users cite the LSD experience as causing significant changes in their personality and life perspective [citation needed]. Widely different effects emerge based on what Timothy Leary called set and setting; the set being the general mindset of the user, and the setting being the physical and social environment in which the drugs effects are experienced. Some psychological effects may include an experience of radiant colors, objects and surfaces appearing to ripple or breathe, colored patterns behind the closed eyelids (eidetic imagery), an altered sense of time (time seems to be stretching, repeating itself, changing speed or stopping), crawling geometric patterns overlaying walls and other objects, morphing objects, a sense that ones thoughts are spiraling into themselves, loss of a sense of identity or the ego (known as ego death), and other powerful psycho-physical reactions. Many users experience dissolution between themselves and the outside world. This unitive quality may play a role in the spiritual and religious aspects of LSD. The drug sometimes leads to disintegration or restructuring of the users historical personality and creates a mental state that some users report allows them to have more choice regarding the nature of their own personality. If the user is in a hostile or otherwise unsettling environment, or is not mentally prepared for the powerful distortions in perception and thought that the drug causes, effects are more likely to be unpleasant than if he or she is in a comfortable environment and has a relaxed, balanced and open mindset. LSD causes an altered sensory experience of senses, emotions, memories, time, and awareness for 6 to 14 hours, depending on dosage and tolerance. Generally beginning within thirty to ninety minutes after ingestion, the user may experience anything from subtle changes in perception to overwhelming cognitive shifts. Changes in auditory and visual perception are typical. Visual effects include the illusion of movement of static surfaces (walls breathing), after mage-like trails of moving objects (tracers), the appearance of moving colored geometric patterns (especially with closed eyes), an intensification of colors and brightness (sparkling), new textures on objects, blurred vision, and shape suggestibility. Users commonly report that the inanimate world appears to animate in an unexplainable way; for instance, objects that are static in three dimensions can seem to be moving relative to one or more additional spatial dimensions. Many of the basic visual effects resemble the phosphine seen after applying pressure to the eye and have also been studied under the name form constants. The auditory effects of LSD may include echo-like distortions of sounds, changes in ability to discern concurrent auditory stimuli, and a general intensification of the experience of music. Higher doses often cause intense and fundamental distortions of sensory perception such as synesthesia, the experience of additional spatial or temporal dimensions, and temporary dissociation. The potential uses of LSD end of life anxiety, alcoholism, pain, cluster headaches, spiritual, and creativity. These are the potential adverse effects: adverse drug interactions, mental disorders, and suggestibility and also psychosis.

Strategic planning used by tesco

Strategic planning used by tesco This study is focusing on a Strategic planning of chosen organization. And it is the main function that a company is having in the early of their business years. Every organization has its own strategic plan which is unique to the business they are connecting with. We are taking the Tesco PLC as the chosen organization for this study. So we can find out the plans that are set in the Tesco at the initiative stage. And here also it is important to know the Tescos Board of Directors set their strategic plan to accomplish the best organization and the best performing firm in the industry as well. Tesco Private Limited Company Tesco is the British largest wholesaler retailer by global sales and also in UK domestic market. And also it is considers as the worlds third giant. Tesco firstly established in 1919 by Mr. Jack Cohen. But it is firstly appeared as Tesco brand in 1924. Tescos first supermarket was opened in 1956 and it was the first price reduction super market for Tesco. Then the diversify strategies implemented by the Tesco started. And that was the success for Tesco in their business world. The main outcomes expecting of Tesco corporate strategy are as follows, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢To be the best retailer in the Domestic market. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Take necessary action to uplift the UK market. And use the UK market as the model for international business. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢To be the best in both foods and non food market in all over the world. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢To be the strongest in other alternative businesses as well such as Tesco Personal Finance, Telecoms and Tesco.com à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢To be the excellent corporate social responsible firm Understand the External environment affecting the Tesco Importance of the External Factors/ major changes in the Tesco and how those affect to the strategic Direction of the Tesco. Any business or organization does not run in an empty environment. Industries when it comes in a competitive market structure. So the organization or the business must act and react according to the environment inside and outside. So this is what we call the analysis of the environment. We have to understand the possible environment changes happening in the external world. It is depend on the degree of the competition. We have to understand the strength of the competitive alternative in the industry to find out the important of the external factors. Any way we have six main environmental factors happening in the external environment. And those factors are very important to examine and analysis when we try to understand the importance of the external factors. Social, major changes in Social factors can be the attitude changes due to alternative products. This will never happens so easily. Economic, this can be changes due to economic rescission or any other immediate down ward of economic factors. The taxation can be also affected the changes in business structure. Legal, if there is any policy changes happen in the structure of the Tesco it will affect the organizational structure as well. Political, the major changes can be happen in the Tesco political scenario. Any way this is very important to handle because the political authority is very important when it comes to the decision making in business. Ethical, this is important when it comes to the changes in moral and the motivation because the human rights or any other case. Technological, changes in technology will lead to the end of any company. Stakeholders of the Tesco PLC The importance of the business is stakeholders. They are the major partners in running the organization. And also they can be very crucial to make the profit of the organization. They will get the profit or loss both have to take in to consideration by the stakeholders. There are few stakeholders we can identify in the business as follows. Customer This is the most considerable stakeholder for any organization in the world. And without these customers there is no organization who can survive with. The customers are directly contributing to the profit and the turnover of the organization. Tesco has a unique blend of customers who can be different from any other people buying ordinary goods. Tesco is the lowest price holder in any part of the UK. So the customer base also is solid for the Tesco. Employees This stakeholder category is the back born of any organization in the world. Without employee satisfaction the organization is useless of making profit. And also we have to make the strategies to uplift the employees quality of life. And there they have to set the directions by consideration the employees as well. Tesco is dealing with the retail market and the services also related with people. So the employees are the most important factor on this regard. Tesco is having 586 retail shops all around in Great Britain. So the Employees factor is the most valuable factor for the Tesco PLC. Shareholders Tesco is there because of the Shareholders. The top they have achieve in the sector of their industry just because of the shareholders. This is the most important stakeholder group in financial purpose. They have the profit share and also the loss share as well. Competitors Food and no food retail industry is one of the biggest industries having in now days. So the complexity of the industry makes more competitors. We can have few competitors in domestic market like ASDA, Sainsbury, and Waitrose. And also the biggest international competitor for the Tesco is the Wall-Mart. So Tesco has more competitive advantages by the others. The UK Government In every successful and giant organization have some political influence. They sometimes have many policies over the firms. So this will make the loss in the organizations especially the organizations have more international relations as well as domestic powerful penetration. Review the Existing Business plans and Strategies of Tesco PLC 2.1 Current Position/ Strengths and Weaknesses The Tesco has many up and down times in their history. We can identify some important factors that will reflect the Tescos historical pathway to the success. And these are the main information that will indicate the todays position of Tescos. Very low population capacity of the Organization The inflation of the food price is so much low Well established and newly opened and fully structured supermarkets all over the country. It is so much hard to get the planning permissions for large Greenfields Three main well strong and powerful Competitors operating in the domestic market There are new store places for all the other well established organizations in the industry So the existing position is as above in the beginning. But the new situation or the position is the other side of the above facts and information. Soothe main strengths now is as follows, High capacity of customer base and the employee base with comparing the others The inflation has grown up the food price and the Tesco gets the advantage of that to grow themselves Fully structured and well established 586 retail stores under the capacity of Tesco They have so many Greenfields other than any other competitor. The Tesco is the No. 1 brand in the UK domestic market. And other competitors may have nothing to say on Tesco and they are sometimes unable to compete with Tesco. The Tesco has a large capacity and the power to handle the market structure some times. Tesco has the large number of stores and the well planned spaces in the food and non food industry in UK We can identify some of the weaknesses in the Tesco as follows, Lack of internal communication Present state is not communicated to the others. Promotion Process incomplete tension may create for the uniform and non uniform workers. Lack of physical fitness for the employees Public education is well needed and the attitudinal change is required. Need diversity training on sensitivity and all must have leadership development and the accountability 2.2 Current business Plans The business plan for the Tesco is very simple and the plan is given by the outcome oriented. So the business plan we can identify the strategic areas. The directional plans subcategories can be taken in to the business plan. The main focus or the objective is to maximise the sales of the Tesco. So to analyse the situation on this regard we have chosen the three main category that the Tesco is used to have in the pats. We can say the three areas that Tesco has followed is given below, Spend more to time and more money to the existing customers and the existing stores. Identify new customers in new channels Newly introduced geographies development But the growth strategies we explain in the above are having some problems and the profitable matters are not supported by the strategies used in the above tactics. So we have to switch the new strategic business plan to penetrate the market deeper. So they have thought the existing customers more and make some strategic business plan according to that. Now they have only focuses on the existing customers, like this, Existing Customers Product Service For the product they have made it two different parts that are segmented private labels and the expanded no-foods, and the services they have switch financial and telecommunication. These are the newly introduced services that Tesco Currently engaged in. Develop Options for Strategic Planning for Tesco PLC 3.1 Strategic Options for Tesco As we all know the Tesco is the worlds 3rd largest retail business organization. So the organization has many strategic options that they have to take in to consideration. Especially the financial side of the company they have to think many strategic options that will suite for the organization. We can identify there are some of the strategic options that Tesco may have and the important thing is that Tesco might have options that they can do anything they want just because they have the reputation and he monetary power. The high capacity of customer base is the biggest advantage they have right at the movement. Any way they may have following options if they want to switch in to any of the following options. Flexibility option we can magnitude the production or the manufacturing in to flexible operations. We can use the existing production and the other stuff in to flexible service and production. This will enhance the net present value of the organization. This can be done by the happening of massive fluctuations in the environmental changes. Growth Option we need to have a self evaluation and monitoring part if we want to find out there are any possibility that we can switch in to the growth option. Tesco need experience some of the stores in the UK although they have more than 1000 stores in the domestic market and the share of 33% of the total market they might need some of their businesses growth. Timing Option although the Tesco has giant improvements in their business they have some implementations to be commence in the time of the growth. So they may use the tactics that they will suddenly go in to some kind of projects that they will get more benefits. So they may use the option of going immediate projects by time to time. 3.2 Future strategic options and the suitable structure for all the stakeholders We can identify these two topics in one angle. The stakeholders are the most important of any business as we mention in the above. So we can use the most suitable structures that we can make the strategic options correctly. We can use the values that will give us the strategic option for all the stakeholders including. Market development this is the main strategic option they have on their hands. And this can be very crucial for all the stakeholders as well. The strategy Tesco use for market development is the joint development and the strategic alliance. Tesco is used t make alliances with the Asian international businesses. This will enhance the business strength of Tesco and it will make more profit share for the stakeholders as well. The other market development option they have is to switch in to the Latin American retail market, hey have already somewhat expanded this in to there. Product development this is the most important title to be discussed with the case of Tesco. They have the option of Diversification strategy. They have to use this strategy that they will get the best sales forever. And all the stakeholders will get the benefits and the employees will also have the chance to be innovative and more productive. Develop a Strategic Plan for the Organization Before developing the strategic plan for the organization of Tesco we have to consider the future goals that Tesco has. Any way the Tesco has the vision of be the global best retailer, it is easier for us to get an idea of how they need to be strategize. So there for we can have the following strategic planning steps that will suite for the organization. Review and develop the vision and the mission of the Tesco, We need to rethink the mission of the organization that how we can offer the best service and grab the higher part of the market share. This will indicate that we need to rethink the missions and the values and make the strategies according to those. Business and the environmental analysis We did this part in the above. We need to finds out the newly emerging trends that will affect for our business. And for that we need to create the strategies for overcome those threats. We can have a SWOT analysis of the Tesco and find out the threats and weaknesses that will affect the organizational future and overcome those. Establish strategic Objectives This step will show us the overall picture of the organization heading at. And we can do necessary actions to make the strategies that will suite for the direction of the Tesco. Resource allocation And we can allocate the resources we have according to the set objective strategies. And the allocation will take part of the newly introduced resources as well. We can find the wants and the needs of the stores and the employees to allocate the resources. Execution review This will be doing by the top level and the middle level management. And the monitoring part will need to maximize the production and the Discussion This study is mainly focused on the strategic planning of an organization. We have found and select the organization of Tesco PLC. Tesco is the worlds third biggest retailer in all the time on now days. Firstly we have analysed the organizational external environment and the facts that will affect the organizational changes. We have identified the existing business plans that they have to be the best organization in the world. So according to those plans thy have changed their organization by reviewing the past experiences and the success of the organization can be found in overcoming those obstacles. Then we have to consider the options that will affect to the organization we have found that the options we have is the values that we need to develop. And then we have to study the strategies that Tesco set for developing the marketing and the products. They have to be diversifying their products that they have to be the best of grabbing the market share. And finally we have come to the stage of making a strategic plan that will implement for the Tescos future development. Here we have considered the steps that we need to take according to develop a strategic plan.

Increasing Floorspace Construction Plan

Increasing Floorspace Construction Plan After the negotiation of the final contract, EID was given the authorization to begin the project.  But there was no formal notice to proceed and the duration of the project was not closely monitored or contractually specified. In the appointment of an owners representative during the design phase, to expedite owners decisions and approvals, Mr. Ian Leadbetter, a mechanical and software engineer, was appointed as the owner representative even though he lacked project management training and experience. Failures in submittal reviews Mr. Leadbetter was occupied with the software development and did not have a standardized process in place for the approval of submittals and other key project management owner processes. Design process failures There was no process that was in place to deal with the expansion of the production train. This change caused the software design work that was completed to be discarded resulting in Mr. Ledbetters need to focus on redesign of the software and not on his duties of facilitating and communicating information between all parties. Since there were no processes on order for submittal reviews and approvals, there was a significant delay in the delivery of the production train equipment. During the construction phase, there were numerous problems that resulted including inter-coordination of shop drawings to design causing the structure of the building to be designed five feet less than required for the production train, owner representatives conducting business with subcontractors without the contractor being present, and other problems with process and technical management. There was no communications plan in place for the project. Failures in completion schedule and getting occupancy permits There were delays due to a number of shortfalls in the project management system. The management failed to hold EID accountable for project completion and closeout causing delays in schedule.   EID did not provide the building occupation permit nor did they comply with scheduling requirements for utility tie-ins causing several weeks in lost production. b. The real objectives of Woody were as follows: Increase the production capacity by 25% Increase the flooring of the production plant Install air conditioning Install dust free painting and finishing shop Add additional compressor capacity Completely install a semi-automatic wood working production train Renovate the President and Vice-Presidents offices e. The projects success can be gauged by their adherence to cost, time, usage of resources and quality standards. Cost: Maximum cost allowed was $ 17 million. Having a control over the budget, without any deviations would be success criteria. Time: The maximum time allowed for the project was 18 months. Any deviation from this would reflect poorly. Quality: Adherence to both product and process quality would be important. Product quality can be determined by the Conditions of Satisfaction established by the customer, in this case the management board of Customs Wood Work. The second quality standard can be measured by the criterion set by the project team in order to obtain the final product. Process quality has to be developed at every stage. 2. Project Scope Set up in 1954, Custom Wood Works had diversified into the manufacturing of made-to-order kitchen and bathroom cabinets, furniture for wholesalers/retailers along with its traditional offering of customized furniture. The company had even taken up sub contract work supplying installing counter tops and cabinets for commercial constructions. With the mini-boom in the construction industry, Custom Wood Works was set to expand its manufacturing business. The company was looking to enter the field of manufacturing by computer controlled automation. To give a certain grandeur to this strategy, the offices of the President and the Vice-President were being refurbished. The scope of the project includes increasing the floor space available to the company with a focus on increasing the companys production capacity by 25%. It also includes setting up of a new semi-automatic wood working production train complete with air-conditioning facilities and a dust free painting shop. The project even includes renovation of the President and Vice-Presidents office. The additives to Woodys project plan should include Sales Assessment An assessment of committed sales contracts and projected contracts should be done to ensure that production can still be maintained during proposed construction and that customer demands for scheduling and delivery requirements are met. There should be a strategic planning session which includes administration, sales, and production to ensure a high standard for customer satisfaction during proposed construction process.  A detailed sales and marketing plan should be prepared and should have contingency planning in case the market falls in a certain sector.   Process and Recommended PMLC model A complete systems flow should be developed to include document, task and schedule accountability, and allow for the integrated coordination between the owner, design and construction teams, and governing agencies. A Woody 2000 project steering committee should be formed that includes the executive management team and key leaders of the project.   Strategic planning and focus groups A systematic strategic planning session with various groups in the organization should be organized. Sub focus group which includes finance, production and administration should be formed. All meetings would have very detailed meeting minutes to include new and old business, pending issues and accountability milestones.   A task-tracking log can be maintained in each of the key disciplines. Evaluate Design and Constructability Value engineering, systems analysis, interior and exterior specification selections, program requirements, and overall design development coordination should be included. Existing production output should be reviewed along with new technologies and the affect upgraded machinery would have on production. Existing production capability should be maintained in order to service existing clients.   Project sequencing and mobilization A complete interfacing of the Woody 2000 project program requirements with the existing operations to determine various solutions for construction mobilization should be included. Pre-construction schedule Woodys executive team should be included in the overall development of the pre-construction schedule with related tasks and accountability time lines. A mobilization plan must be completed in order to ensure that the existing production lines can be maintained without interruption. Financial Performa and feasibility Various alternatives to the proposed expansion including Financial Performa, implications of proposed construction, system for programming spaces, methodologies for hiring of design and construction teams, design development process, implementation process, cost controls, and quality control procedures, should be developed.   Contractor selection methodology A competitive bidding process for the selection of the General Contractor should be followed. A preconstruction conference would be held in which the construction documents would be handed out and the project parameters be discussed and established with contractors. b. Woodys plan in managing the project included the following: Appointing Spencer Moneysworth as the Project Lead Inviting Expert Industrial Developers to quote on the construction. A monthly cash flow was developed by Kim Cashman. Mr. Leadbetter was appointed to take over the day-to-day running of the project. Various vendors like Piecemeal Corporation etc. were appointed to supply the necessities for the impending construction. The installation of the mechanical equipment in the dust free paint shop was given to Amos Dent of Tinknockers Associates. The local inspection authority was asked to intervene and check for compliance with the regulatory policies. An additional line of project financing was opened up to meet the escalated costs, because of the delay in completion. An expensive marketing strategy was launched to win back the lost customers. For post project appraisal, project management consultant W. Easley Associates were retained. A new and improved project management plan should include the following: Programming guidelines 1.  Design review Review Architectural and Engineering Design Services Agreements and ensure that these agreements have definitive date constraints and design to budget parameters. 2.  Review Programming Objectives a. Confirm the Woody team overall desires, intentions, goals and objectives for their expansion and develop a complete needs assessment b. Confirm the long range facility strategies and the necessary sales and marketing strategies needed to keep the new production train generative for its proper production to payback ratio. 3. Review Programming Documents a. Confirm the assessment and audit of Owners existing facilities and determine specific needs to projected revenues.  Review existing operations to ensure that production is not affected by the construction process. b. Ensure the Owners facility needs are fully documented by the use of a program manual and needs assessment log. d. Coordinate with the executive team the overall requested program to decipher between needs and wants and obtain necessary approvals. 4. Review/Maintain Overall Project Budget (OPB) a. Confirm the Owners needs and constraints regarding overall project budget and develop concise budgeting throughout design development phase. b. Confirm coordination of the budget with the program to insure sufficient funds are set aside and that the sequencing of work is in line with projected cash flow. c. Determine cash flow requirements and projections for the duration of the master schedule and coordinate with the finance office. d. Prepare periodic reports to document the planned cash flow versus actual cash flow and report to the Woody 2000 executive steering committee. 5. Review/Maintain Overall Project Schedule (OPS) a. Validate the preliminary schedule and expand the final project schedule and identify major milestones and the critical path for project. b. Validate major team members needs, responsibilities and detailed scheduling of team members work including owner supplied equipment, subcontractors, and the entire project workforce. 6. Review Site Due Diligence 7. Zoning Surveys Coordinate and confirm approvals for proper permitting. a. Transportation Confirm the necessity of a traffic management plan to ensure that the 850 existing employees have ample parking and are not affected by the construction. b. Legal restrictions Confirm approvals for equipment and new paint shop area. c. Environmental reports Soils investigation Confirm that all soils reports are sufficient for the new building footers and structure. e. Existence and capacity of utilities and infrastructure Coordinate with the appropriate utility companies to confirm that all expanded utilities are scheduled properly and without delay. f. Determine applicable government and community agency requirements, approvals and permit. b.  Design Process 1.  Confirm Procurement Agreements Design Services a. Confirm list of consultants, contractors and vendors whose services may be required in the purchasing of design services. b. Monitor the development of agreements to be awarded to successful bidders, all required contracts must be based on hard numbers or guaranteed maximum pricing. 2.  Performance Compliance a. Coordinate the specification of materials with the Owners needs there should be careful consideration given to the production train equipment. b. With the design consultants, develop procedures for material testing and test reporting. 3.  Consultant Coordination a. Monitor the coordination of consultants and vendors in such areas as the production train equipment and other specialized equipment necessary for the expansion space. 4.  Program and Design Compatibility a. Confirm with the design consultants that the developing designs are compatible with the program, master schedule, master budget and quality expectations. b. Confirm with the design consultants that the design as developed is compatible with the Owners needs. 5.  Submittals a. Monitor design submittals and approvals. 6.  Insurance a. Confirm that design consultants have and maintain insurance in accordance with the Owners needs. 7.  Cost Control a. Manage procurement of conceptual estimates of construction costs. b. Assist with value engineering ideas. 8.  Financing a. Assist Owner with developing a process for managing use of the contingency fund. b. Make adjustments as necessary to project current and future cash flows. 4. Quality a. Maintaining quality in this case, includes Adherence to procedures and processes Enforcement of the processes Issuance of completion certificates   Procedures and processes Quality assurance of The Woody 2000 project can only be accomplished through proactive involvement of the management team, interaction with the Owner, and design personnel. The tools to accomplish the same include: Design reviews-Constructability reviews value analysis Submittal control and approval Pre-construction meetings for major building components Partnering Sessions at key intervals of the project to clarify project standards and goals Educating trade contractors in the QA/QC (Quality Assurance/Quality Control) requirements of the project. Quality assurance and control of the Construction Manager and subcontractors and in field operations should begin during the design phase to determine that the contract requirements are clearly understood by all parties.   Periodic inspections must be conducted to ensure that all items are in conformance, or that non-conforming items are corrected.   Enforcement A regular quality inspection process should be documented. If the quality program is not implemented properly, a notice should be given to the parties involved, calling for an immediate resolution. 3.  Review and issuing completion certificate As certain phases of the project are completed, a list of expected deliverables should be given to the contractors. The subcontractors are expected to cross check the expected deliverables with the actual deliverables and call in the quality team for a review. On successful completion fo the review, the completion certificate may be given to the contractor. b. Leadbetter didnt invoke the quality specifications as he had not been trained in project management experience and lacked the desired skills. The result of it were the following The specification of the production train was changed to increase capacity resulting in the rewriting of the software. This increased debugging at the start-up. Review and approval procedures for the various specifications and drawings were not taken, because of which there was a delay in getting the approval. Change in the production plans made it imperative to add another 5 feet to the length of the building. Delay in receiving and reviewing the catalogue descriptions and other specifications. Failure to meet the local environmental compliance standards, as set by the inspection authority. Building occupation certificate couldnt be obtained. Owners inspection and dry-run tests of the production train couldnt be performed. Customer delivery dates were missed and general contractors cancelled their orders. Depletion in the finished goods inventory and hence loss of face and sales opportunities. Resultant delay in the completion of the project, ensured that costs escalated and required an additional line of financing to be opened up. c. The importance of quality for such a project is because of the following reasons Ensures minimum re-work. Would ensure complete utilization of the resources The project would be under the stipulated budget. Proper quality would refer to compliance of standards and procedures. The project can be completed within the stipulated time. 8. Communication and People Management a. Organization Chart Project Chart b. Leadbetter when appointed to take care of the project lacked the knowledge which would have made him an indispensable part of the project. He lacked project management training and experience. He did not have any grounding in the understanding of the project life-cycle and control concepts. But Leadbetter had specialization in the understanding of the semi-automatic manufacturing machinery, which was the area of expansion of the organization. As such, with the start of the production run, this knowledge would have proven to be an asset ot the company. Hence, imparting training in project management and nurturing of his skills would have helped the company. c. Communication Plan The communication plan addresses crucial items which should include: Responsibility Matrix, Team Coordination, Master Schedule and Specific levels of reporting for different levels of individuals within the project design and construction team. Individual team members should receive specific types of reports such as: project team meeting minutes; monthly executive reports, schedule; etc.   Project goals are to be established and documented so each team member understands the common objectives. A Procedures Manual (PMP) should be completed which has all approved processes and procedures for the project.   Progress meetings: These meetings are important and should be conducted at least weekly, with trade contractors and key subcontractors, to discuss current progress and accomplished milestone objectives, forecast the weeks progress and goals, address problems encountered and actions required to correct any deficient work.   This entails two primary goals: To provide a series of tools for accurate monitoring of the progress of the project. To provide thorough, accurate records of the project to protect the owner from potential disputes or legal problems. Therefore, the following is tracked and recorded on each project: This can be achieved through rade Contractor Daily Reports, Construction Photos, Daily Logs, Testing/Inspection Services, Shop Drawings/Submittals, Document Management, Progress Meetings, Schedule Enforcement, Progress Reporting, Safety Inspections etc. Contract Administration and Field Coordination: The project manager should oversee the coordination of efforts between each contract, including issues such as accessibility to the site, maintenance of both pedestrian and vehicular traffic, eliminating disruption to on-going existing activities, tie-ins of utilities and roadways, compatibility of construction methods, construction phasing and utilization of construction forces. Information Management Systems: An Information Management System which implements, tracks and records all the various elements of Project management, planning, organization, meetings and reviews, site logistics, shop drawings, field orders, and document control, should be bought into place. Decision Tracking:   A decision tracking system can be designed to keep the project moving.   Whenever a critical issue is identified by the project team, the system would track the issue, its impact, its source, and the party responsible for the action on the issue.   As individuals take action on the issue, the system would track each action taken and identify the next responsible party in the process of reaching a decision on the issue.   As each issue is resolved, the decision tracking system would close the issue, but preserves the history of the decision process.   RFIs Requests for Information:   These forms can be used regularly to stimulate communication between all project team members, including the owner and architect.   These requests receive immediate attention and are invaluable in aiding the team members to anticipate conflicts before they become problems. d. Expected Communication during execution This should include Design Package Log:  Tracks drawings, specifications and key dates as needed. Pending C.O. Log:  This log tracks owner and designer wish list items and cost.   They allow for timely decisions while maintaining the project budget. Team Action List:  Tracks actions needed to accomplish schedule goals and facilitated those actions. Bi-Weekly Schedules and Meetings:  Meetings, facilitating communication and planning among team members.   These are directed mainly at trade contractors, but also need support from the owner and architect. Liaison Meeting:  Bi-Weekly meetings which includes owner representatives to facilitate major decisions and exchange valuable information.   Submittal Log:  Tracks all submittals by trade contractors requiring approval by the architect and engineers.   Daily Manpower Reports:  This report tracks trade contractors manpower.   This report is reviewed daily and weekly to monitor adequacy of work forces necessary to maintain schedule. CCA Status Reports:  Tracked changes (Contract Change Authorization) and the Owners contingencies available for changes.   Alternate/Value Engineering Log:  Tracks potential additive and deductive changes that the Owner may wish to implement.   Three-Month Calendar:  A three-month calendar with all upcoming meetings and major events can be included with all meeting minutes and updated weekly. 10. Cost Control a. Reasons for the initial high price of EID The initial bid of EID amounted to $ 20 million on a 18 month schedule. EID believed that Woodys would need considerable help with their project planning and had allowed for a number of uncertainties. EID allowed to undertake the work on a fully reimbursable contract. The counter offer EID made was to do the work on their cost but solicit fixed price quotations for all sub-trade work. Their position was reasonable because of 2 reasons: The hourly rate paid would cover all the direct wages/salaries, pay roll burden, head-office overhead and profit. This rate would apply to all engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning for which EID would employ another subcontractor for the building and design work The number of hours put in by EID can be monitored effectively by Woodys. b. 2 years after the project was first launched, there was no meaningful planning for completion. Owners acceptance, testing, dry-run and production start-up of the production train had not been carried out. Also the occupation certificate had not been availed. Due to late delivery of the production train, the tie-in of power and other utility connections scheduled for the annual 2 week maintenance shut-down could not take place. Customer delivery dates were missed and some general contractors cancelled their contracts and placed their orders for mill work elsewhere. Sales opportunities were lost too. All this put together resulted in the fact that, the project was only 85% complete because the delay in completion too was charged to Woodys account. c. Cost Control An experienced team of experts with knowledge of quantities and historical pricing, project management and field supervision, should provide the expertise on all elements relating to cost control, including budgeting, estimating, value engineering and the qualification of subcontractors.   The Woody 2000 project steering committee would receive formal reports weekly from Mr. Moneysworth and Mr. Cashman. The following cost control methods can be implemented throughout the pre-construction and construction phases of the project: Budget Planning In the budgeting phase of the project, the current projected costs of the project can be compared with the initial budget so that the cost doesnt escalate. It has to be ensured that the work involved meets the projected goals Estimating Definitive estimates should be made through schematic design, design development and construction documents stages of the project.  Work has to be done in conjunction with the various prime subcontractors in developing estimates that can be tracked in a similar format to simplify the reconciliation at each estimate phase. Conceptual Pricing: An in-house cost coding system can be developed, to expand into more detailed pricing as the design progresses.   A computer-aided quantity survey system would allow to accurately produce the basic quantities for the project. Cost Forecasting: Prior to the start of the construction phase, transfer the estimate into a cost forecasting format used by project management staff to track costs throughout the project to completion.   This estimating process built from each stage to a Guaranteed Maximum Price estimate, would check it against previous work. Cost Accounting/Tracking: Once the contract price is determined, the estimated labor, material and subcontractor costs can be allocated among standard cost accounts at a level of detail appropriate for tracking individual tasks against the project budget. Procurement and Labor: The procurement cycle begins as purchase orders, subcontracts and change orders are committed, then immediately documented and simultaneously recorded in the cost system.   Actual labor costs, together with work-in-progress, can be recorded on a weekly basis through the payroll system. Cost Reporting: Cost reports are comprehensive and responsive to the specific needs of the project.   Labor reports, printed at the job site weekly, can be used by project management to review progress and costs.   Vendor commitments and expenditures, sorted in various level of detail, can be monitored in several reports. Actual job cost detail can be reported on a limited date range, a group of cost accounts, or for the entire project to date.   Purchasing: A system must be followed that solicits competitive bids from subcontractors and suppliers based upon a set of defined bidding procedures.   In conjunction with the owner, this would identify qualified and capable subcontractors and suppliers taking into consideration their previous experience, workload, ability to perform, and financial capability.   Pre-bid meetings can be conducted for the purpose of assisting subcontractors in understanding the bid documents, design intent and project requirements Subcontractor Qualification: The subcontractor qualification process remains an important part of cost and project control.   However, subcontractors cannot be arbitrarily eliminated from the project unless warranted by serious business indicators.   The subcontractor qualification process is an important step in evaluating the apparent low bidders for capability to satisfactorily perform the scope of work.   Additionally, the evaluation can reveal early signs of weakness, which can be supported to ensure a quality performance. Pricing: Prices should be obtained from a minimum of three pre-qualified bidders for each category of work on the project.   The accuracy and dependability of subcontractor pricing should be directly related to the content of information furnished to the bidders.   d. Flow Chart for processing changes: Cost Forecasting Conceptual Pricing Estimating Budget Planning Purchasing Cost Reporting Procurement Labour Cost Tracking Sub Contracting 11. Risk Identification and Control b c. List of Woodys Actual Surprises: The allocated budget for the project was pegged at $17 million, with 18 months as the time frame for the construction. Mr.Moneysworth invited Expert Industrial Developers to quote on the planned expansion. The fixed price quotation which was given by the firm amounted to $ 20 million and an 18 month schedule. Mr. Ian Leadbetter was appointed for running the project, despite his lack of knowledge in project management training and experience. On suggestion of EID, that Woodys should take over the procurement of the production train directly, the entire production train specification had to be changed to increase the capacity and consequently the program codes too. Change in the production plan resulted in another 5 feet being added to the height of the building. Catalogue descriptions and specifications were not received until the foundations had been poured The surplus paint disposal method didnt meet the environmental standards as specified by the inspection authority Failure to obtain the building occupation certificate Failure of the tie-in of the power and other utility connections Response to the above: Costs arising from these changes, including the delay in the completion were charged tto Woodys account. To mitigate the effect of only 85% completion, Cashman was forced to scramble for an additional line of project financing at prime plus 2.5% interest. Liquid cash was spent at every such instance. A coordinated marketing effort was launched to regain the interest of the customer, which didnt have much effect. Possible Risk Management Plan: The implementers of the project could have followed a 4 prong Risk Management Plan: Risk Identification: Identify potential risks as a part of the project. Case specific potential risks can include securing permits and unfavorable weather conditions which may hamper the construction work. A 10% contingency can be accorded to the construction schedule. Care should be taken to ensure that schedule creep doesnt happen. There can be 4 categories of risk included as a part of the Risk Management Plan Technical Risk: This includes a review of the quality and performance goals of the project. Proper installation of the lag bolts, coordination with the drawing shops and the foundation contractor etc. come under this. Project Management Resources: This includes improper planning and allocation of resources and improper use of management disciplines. Coordination between the owners interface and the appropriate contractors can be a part of this. Organizational Risks: This should ensure that the there are enough human resources allocated to the project and that there are no conflicts between the project staff and the employees of the Custom Wood Working company. External Risk: These risks can be caused by external parties such as regulatory agencies, labor contracts and supplier restrictions. There should be proper coordination with utility companies and that all equipments and systems should be approved by the appropriate regulatory agencies. Risk Assessment This can be done by 2 methods: Static and Dynamic assessment. While static risk assessment is

God Promises to Abraham Essay -- Religion, Genesis, Child Sacrifices

After going through the pain of childbirth, naming their babies, seeing their children grow up, and dreaming of their futures, filicide is usually far from the minds of most parents. The emotional ties that parents share with their children are hard to sever, yet in Genesis the culture was accepting of child sacrifices. The fear of the gods was stronger in ancient times, when science was lacking appropriate explanations, and so gods were believed to cause natural events. If the God from Genesis, who was much more powerful than any man and exponentially more vengeful, told parents to sacrifice their child, for the sake of their family (and the rest of the population for that matter), then the pious parents would sacrifice that child—even if the intent was not to kill, but to test worshipers. Modern culture frowns upon the act of filicide, and parallels Greek society’s view that child sacrifice was not an option. Yet, even in that society, Medea commits filicide with hardly any involvement of a Greek god or a seer. Medea willfully chooses to execute her offspring with prideful malice in response to her unfaithful husband in a disapproving society, while Abraham in Genesis piously follows his God and the social norms of his time by offering up his beloved child—and is saved from his loss because of his great faith. The audience of Medea would be repulsed with her selfish motives while Abraham (whose wife was barren for many years) would be praised for his immovable trust in God’s promises. God promises Abraham that He will â€Å"make your [Abraham’s] offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore† (Genesis 22:17). Abraham is married to Sarah who â€Å"was barren; she had no children† (11: 30). Ch... ...r own children—that was written by Euripides. The chorus, who signifies the common people and the women of Corinth, pleads with Medea to reconsider her choice after they name her â€Å"most unholy woman† for considering this act. They have only heard of â€Å"just one other woman/who dared to attack, to hurt her own children† and so supports that child-killing was not the norm (1323-24). Medea’s hamartia would have been her intense hubris and stubbornness that caused her to kill her children. The audience would not have felt as much sympathy to Medea as they would have given Abraham, the pious follower. Medea’s power struggle was not something the average citizen would have to deal with and the culture would not have been supportive. Abraham, however, was justified in his culture and did what he believed to be right, and so was rewarded by the salvation of his first born.