Competitive Corporate Strategy Strategy In Context Commerce Essay

Competitive Corporate Strategy Strategy In Context Commerce Essay The very definition of strategy is elusive as there are many different opinions on what strategy actually involves. Often a generalised description is given such as top managements plans to attain outcomes consistent with the organisations missions and goals (Wright et al., 1993, p3). However, De Wit and Meyer (2010) state There is no simple answer to the question of what strategy is. They continue to describe strategy in terms of three main dimensions: process, content and context. These are referred to as the input, throughput and output of strategy, or the How, the What and the Where. Each of these dimensions should be regarded as parts of the whole and while one can focus ones attention on any single dimensions it should never the less be in regard to the interaction with the other two (De Wit Meyer, 2010). Accordingly it is with this proviso that this report looks at the strategy process. The complexity and contradictions of strategy with regard to the above mentioned dimensions offer many different strategy perspectives, often contradicting one another. This gives rise to particular tensions and result in strategic paradoxes that are best analysed using a dialectical approach (De Wit Meyer, 2010). By analysing two opposing points of view the strategist can identify the tension as a paradox and reconcile the opposites as best as possible, hopefully arriving at a best of both worlds conclusion. Figure . Tension as a paradox (Aidan ODriscoll, 1986) 3.0 The Strategy Process 3.0.1 Aspects of the Strategy Process De Wit and Meyer (2010) identify strategy process in terms of how, who and when. How is the strategy to be made, who is involved and when do such strategic activities take place? Many argue that the strategic process is not linear, such as in analysis, formulation and implementation, it is more intuitive and creative. It is considered that there are three areas of the strategic process: strategic thinking, strategy formation and strategic change but that these are not phases, stages or elements of the strategic process but rather different aspects of the strategy process, which are linked and overlap ( De Wit Meyer, 2010) Figure . Aspects of the Strategy Process ( De Wit Meyer, 2010) Foe each of the strategy topics certain paradoxes can be identified and associated with two complementary perspectives. Figure . Strategy topics, paradoxes and perspectives ( De Wit Meyer, 2010) For each of the strategy topics case studies (or short case studies) have been used to illustrate the strategic dichotomies that exist and show how the individual companies implemented the opposing types of strategic perspectives. 3.0.2 Strategic Thinking De Wit and Meyer (2010, p 53) suggest that managers must go through a strategic reasoning process in order to find ways to resolve the challenges of strategic problems. This strategic reasoning is a string of strategic thinking activities directed at defining and resolving strategic problems. The cognitive activities involved in strategic thinking are categorised as defining a strategic problem and solving a strategic problem. As can be seen in Figure 4 below defining constitutes identification and diagnosis while solving consists of conception and realisation. However, the thought processes adopted by managers do not always follow such a formulated and logical ideal. It is often a case of a mixture of structured analytical process combined with intuitive reflection. Figure . Elements of a strategic reasoning process ( De Wit Meyer, 2010) It is this mixture of opposites, analysis and intuition, in varying degrees that create a tension and produces a paradox of logic and creativity. Logical thinking involves analysing empirical facts, formulating strategic options and subjecting them to formal evaluation (De Wit Meyer, 2010). This allows the manager to understand what is actually happening rather than what is perceived to be happening, based on habits, routines, and personal beliefs. Generative reasoning and creative thinking describe the use of intuition to bypass the restrictions of logical thinking to make leaps of imagination and create new ways of looking at old problems (De Wit Meyer, 2010). This is not without substance; such reasoning is based on knowledge gained through education, experience and interaction with others. This knowledge resides in the form of cognitive maps (Tolman, E., cited by Downs and Stea, 2005) which combined with observed behaviour can then lead to the prediction of behaviour (Eden, 1992). The paradox of generative reasoning and creative thinking is further discussed in Appendix 1 where two short case studies are used to compare the different approaches applied by Berkshire Hathaway (rational reasoning perspective) and Google (generative reasoning perspective). 3.0.3 Strategy Formation Strategy formation is concerned with realising both strategic formulation and strategic action. It encompasses intended strategy (a pattern of decisions) and realised strategy (a pattern of actions) (De Wit and Meyer, 2010). This concedes that strategy is a pattern as in a consistency of behaviour over time (Mintzberg et al, 2009, p 10). While still using the four elements of a strategic reasoning process discussed earlier (See Fig 4) there are additional activities that can be further developed into eight basic building blocks of strategic formation process (Fig. 5). Figure . The main strategy formation activities (De Wit and Myer, 2010) Who carries out strategic formation in an organisation varies from CEOs to those on the shop floor. De Wit and Meyer (2010) identify three variations in who carries out these activities: Top vs. middle vs. bottom roles Line vs. staff roles Internal vs. external roles De Wit and Meyer (2010) also give a warning regarding a formalised strategic planning system. While this can give a framework for the setting of tasks and responsibilities etc it can also become over bureaucratic and not only stifle innovation and creativity but become a means of demotivation. Mintzberg et al. (2009) identifies a formalisation edge where a structured, formalised system has a break-point, after which instead of supporting strategic activities it begins to become intrusive. Figure . The formalisation edge (Mintzberg et al, 2009) Mintzberg (1987) argues that definitions of strategy as a plan and strategy as a pattern (of behaviour) can be independent of each other. He describes a planned strategy as intended strategy and a pattern of strategy as realised strategy. This allows us to distinguish between deliberate strategy, where previous intentions were realised and emergent strategies, where patterns developed without prior intention (or unrealised intentions). Figure . Deliberate and emergent strategies (Mintzberg, 1987) The tension between deliberate strategy and emergent strategy are discussed in Appendix 2 in relation to the case studies of Strategic Planning at United Parcel Services. 3.0.3 Strategic Renewal Organisations change, whether to maintain competition with its rivals, change through innovation in technology or the changing environment of the business. Growth itself is dependent upon change and management of such changes is paramount. Clarke (1994) states Change is an accelerating constant (cited by Senior et al, 2006). De Wit and Mayer (2010) suggest that change can be strategic or operational stating that While operational changes are necessary to maintain the business and organisational systems, strategic changes are directed at renewing them. Organisational structure, organisational processes and organisational culture are the pillars on which the business system stands (De Wit and Meyer, 2010). The hierarchy of a company, its policies and procedures and its shared beliefs determine the companys capabilities, what type of renewal it is capable of and how such renewal can be managed and implemented. Much of these organisational components are hidden within the company as informal elements and requires careful consideration to identify accurately the true situation within a company (see Fig. 8). Figure . The Iceberg Model (Senior and Swailes, 2010) There is a distinction in particular between disruptive change and gradual change. Revolutionary and evolutionary are used here to describe the paradox between these two types of changes (Greiner, 1972). De Wit and Meyer (2010) state that it is widely accepted that a balance is required between Strategic (revolutionary) change and operational (evolutionary) change. Figure . Types of change (Prime Ministers Strategy Unit, 2010) Appendix 3 discusses the application of change in the case study on Ferrari Transforming the Prancing Horse. 4.0 Conclusion The tensions that are apparent throughout the strategy process and their resultant paradoxes suggest strategic activities are either of one side of the paradox or the other. In some case this may be accurate; the acquisition of a company by another may well, though not always, constitute a revolutionary, big bang, change where fundamental changes are made across each company in a relatively short space of time. However, in order to facilitate the actual implementation of the change and to provide some consistency during and after such a change will require the adaption of existing systems, processes and procedures within each company. This suggests that even in such a situation there is a combination of strategic approaches both revolutionary and evolutionary, indicating that a pluralistic approach is required to develop, implement, manage and sustain change. It can also be seen that even with such paradoxes as logic vs. creativity there is a balance between the two in how they are applied. In the short case study for Google, for example, it is clear that this is a highly creative organisation with a deliberate strategy of promoting free thinking, but within boundaries. These boundaries allow for intuition and creativity but only within a cooperate structure that is very much aligned to the business model and its goal to sustain and increase the companys profitability. It would also seem that few strategies are purely deliberate or purely emergent; there is generally a mixture of the two to some degree. Strategies have to form as well as be formulated (Mintzberg et al., 2009). So, in essence, it is the decision of the strategist to reconcile these opposites, decide what sort of balance is to be made and provide the best of both worlds solutions. References De Wit Meyer. (2010). Strategy: Process, Content, Context (Vol. 4th). Andover, Hampshire, UK: Cengage. Aidan ODriscoll. (1986). Exploring paradox in marketing: managing ambiguity towards synthesis. Retrieved March 20th, 2011, from Journal of Business Industrial Marketing: http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?articleid=1657811show=html Buttel, M. (2010, March 3rd). 10 years on:When the bubble burst. Retrieved March 20th, 2011, from Financial Service Technology: http://www.fsteurope.com/news/when-the-bubble-burst/ Downs, R. and Stea. D. (2005). Image Environment: Cognitive Mapping and Spatial Behaviour. New Jersey: Transaction Publishers. Eden, C. (1992, May). Journal of Management Studies. Retrieved March 20th, 2011, from Wiley online Library: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-6486.1992.tb00664.x/ Greiner, L. (1972). Evolution and Revolution as Organisations Grow. Harvard Business Review. Mintzberg, H. (1987). The Strategy Concept I: Five Ps For Strategy. California Business Review , 13. Mintzberg. H, and Alhstrand. B, and Lampel. J. (2009). Strategy Safari. Harlow: Pearson Education. Prime Ministers Strategy Unit. (2010). Change Management in Practice. Retrieved March 20th, 2010, from Strategy Survival Guide: http://interactive.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/strategy/survivalguide/skills/pd_change.htm Wilson, I. (2010). From scenario thinking to stratgic action. In D. w. Meyer, Corporate strategy: process, content, context (p. 153 to 157). Andover: Thomas Renvoize. Wright, P., Pringle, C., and Kroll, M. (1992). Strategic Management: Text and Cases. Needham Heights, Massachusetts, USA: Allyn and Bacon. Appendix 1 The paradox of generative reasoning and creative thinking 1) The Rational Reasoning Perspective Two short cases studies have been used from the course book De Wit Meyer (2010). Strategy: Process, Content, Context (Vol. 4th). The first is Exhibit 2.2 (p66), The Rational Reasoning Perspective Berkshire Hathaway:Not Outside the Box (2009). The study introduces Warren Buffett (The sage of Omaha), a highly sucessful investor and owner of the insurance and investment conglomarate Berkshire Hathaway. Although at his peak as an investor in the 1980s and 1990s it was regarded that he had failed to grasp the investment potential of the new paradigm for the Information Age based on the Internet . Instead he continued to invest in established old firms, such as Coca Cola and Gillette and completely avoided the opportunity to invest in Internet stocks, which he regarded as chain letters. As the dotcom boom subsided it was clear that the volume of those trying to exploit the opportunity had far outweighed the actual performance of the companies involved. It is not accurate to say the dotcom boom was a failure, those that had good business models succeeded spectacularly (such as Google, Amazon, Wikipedia sites eBay) but it is clear that the over investment was not justified and that many companies were just not generating enough profits to continue. There were added complications such as the US Federal Reserve had increased its interest rate six times over 1999 and the beginning of 2000, the federal court decision that Microsoft was a monopoly as well as the bellwether (or barometer stock the stock of a company that is regarded as a leader in its given industry) sale of high tech stock shares of March 10th 2000. These include selling of shares of Cisco, IBM, and Dell etc. and while coincidental to the actual dotcom boom itself would have undermined further the confidence in an already falling market (Buttel, 2010) Buffetts insistence on sticking to a formula he understood and was well proven enabled him to escape the ravages of the dotcom bubble burst and instead of being derided as being outdated was again lauded as a canny investor. This was not the first time Buffet had gone against the trend, in 1969 he avoided the stock market frenzy which other investors had thrown themselves into, declaring I am out of step with present conditionsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦On one point however I am clear. I will not abandon previous approaches whose logic I understand. Again, in 2008, Buffett went completely against the trend and, in the worst recession since the Great Depression (1929 to 1940) and despite already loosing up to 25 billion USD of market value within one year invested 5 billion USD in Goldman Sachs, quoting Today my money and my mouth both say equities. Buffett states his reason for his success as including: Analyse the company to separate investment from speculation Meticulously diagnose the sustainability of the competitive advantage of the company Stay away from ill-understood businesses in fast-changing environments Understanding that risk comes from not knowing what you are doing He is also wary of those witch doctors proposing to be scientific and rational while selling investment advice. Buffetts criterion for investment is a highly structured analytical method which appears almost devoid of any type of intuitive or innovative behaviour. It is based upon consistent, well tried decision making that refuses to stray away from what has been a successful formula. He is, without doubt, following a strategic reasoning process in a highly formulated and logical manner. It is obviously a successful formula for Berkshire Hathaway but there must be some doubt about whether such a rigid style is suitable for other companies without the existence of such a charismatic character as warren Buffett at its helm. And this raises its own questions: is the strategic thinking deployed by Buffett as rigid as it would first appear? Is there actually an element of intuitiveness inherent behind the strategy? Would someone else, using the same formula for investment, come up with the same results, or is the presence of Buffett in the mix the catalyst that makes for a successful formula? 2) The Generative Reasoning Perspective This uses the short case study Exhibit 2.3 (p69), The Generative Reasoning Perspective Google: Experiment in Anarchy. Google, as mention previously, is one of the companies that managed to sucessfully navigate out of the dotcom era. Since 1998 it has continued to grow to over 22,000 employees and over 22 billion USD (figures for 2008). Googles missionto organise the worlds information and make it universally acceptable and usefull. No idle boast, Google has introduced a phenominal range of products which has allowed it to achieve its stated mission, so much so that in 2006 the Oxfor English Dictionary include the verb: Google : intr. To use the Google search engine to find information on the Internet. trans. To search for information about (a person or thing) using the Google search engine. (OED, 2010). Googles innovative company structure includes Google labs, small teams working on ideas and experimenting with possible solutions. Sharing all its development across its teams and allowing other teams to make suggestions and give feedback feed the innovative and intuition that is the hallmark of Googles success.There 70/20/10 model allows for 70% of a persons time to be spent on mainstream business activities, 20% on new, approved projects and, perhaps the most innovative of all, the remaining 10% on developing personal projects as dreams as long as it is in line with the spirit of the core company value to do no evil. The strategy of creativity with generative reasoning is clear and has had a fundamental effect on the success of Google and its impressive employment record. The bottom-up approach certainly allows for innovation and resulting ideas to be turned into working applications within relatively short timeframes. Googles CEO, Eric Schmidt states we dont have a traditional strategy planning process, like youd find in traditional technical companies and while this may be true this does not mean that there is no planning or indeed a lack of a structured strategic process. Perhaps the final paragraph of this case study is most telling. Jim Lewinski, Googles managing director, states Creativity loves constraintà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.let people explore, but set clear boundaries for that exploration. Rationality is not absent in Googles strategy, it is just tempered with the culture of innovation. Unlike Buffetts rigid and controlling influence of Berkshire Hathaway, Google has a far more flexible strategic approach that, given the continuation of its established company culture, will continue to thrive no matter who is at the helm. Appendix 2 The paradox of generative reasoning and creative thinking Strategic Planning at United Parcel Services A case study has been used for this analysis from the course book De Wit Meyer (2010). Strategy: Process, Content, Context (Vol. 4th). Strategic Planning at United Parcel Services By David A. Garvin and Lynne C. Levesque (pp 702 to 718). United Parcel Services (UPS) has grown from its beginnings in 1907 to a 37 billion USD global corporation with a workforce of over 384,000, over 3,500 retail locations in the US alone and servicing more than 200 countries. In addition it has its own airline (UPS Airlines) which is ranked the 10 largest in the world (figures as of 2005). The companys founder, Jim Casey, developed a reputation for running the company like a military operation. With an emphasis on efficiency and discipline UPS developed a culture of continuous improvement, which Casey called constructive dissatisfaction. UPSs workforce was known for its longevity; all the companys CEOs were time-served and had risen through the company from the lowest ranks. Until the early 1990s it is started that UPS had no actual formal strategic planning process, although in the mid-1970s a decision had been made to expand the company globally and over the following ten years resulted in the forming of a Strategic Technology Group charged with developing technological solutions. In the early 1990s it was recognised that the companys execution mentality was hindering managements ability to see significant changes in the environment. This led to the setting up of a Strategic Advisory Group in 1996 to consider and debate strategic issues. In addition another group, CSG, was setup to develop strategic processes for planning for the future. From these activities the company began developing its own strategic process using scenario planning, strategic planning and support for strategic decision-making and strategy implementation. Although using multiple tools and methodologies the approach was made to work, this was helped by the continued support of the CEO who was himself regarded as the chief strategist. A major aspect of UPSs strategy from 1997 was to adoption of scenario planning. This is a management tool designed to explore what could happen given certain situations. Creating different scenarios allows managing to have a better understanding of possible events and help in the decision making process. The aim of scenarios is to develop a resilient strategy within the frameworks of alternative futures provided by the scenarios (Wilson, 2010). The use of scenario planning had been popularised after an article by Peter Wack in 1985, describing a scenario building exercise at Royal Dutch Shell (Mintzberg et at., 1990) The use of these scenarios had a fundamental impact on the company. They defined the companys new corporate charter, a change in the companys mission statement, identification of key themes and insights, the creation of a platform for management and discussions and, according to the authors of this case study, a mind-set shift for at least some managers. In 2002 the company developed their Centennial Plan, a long term strategic plan to take the company not just into their 100th year but also into the new millennium. The plan developed four key strategic imperatives: Winning team Value-added solutions Customer focus Enterprise excellence To support this Strategic Road Map was formulated which formed teams to work on specific strategic areas. Each team broke down its imperative to 24 discrete projects (critical initiatives), themselves supported by more than one hundred specific projects. Because of the complexity of the plan John McDevitt was brought in (from being Vice President of Air Operations) to be in charge of strategic integration. In 2002 the company developed their use of scenarios further to extend its focus into the new millennium. While understanding the limitations of scenario planning it allowed for creative thinking within a planning environment. This would seem to be a situation where formal planning, a deliberate strategy, works with the help of an instrumentalist, emergent approach. While scenario planning, in name and nature is very much part of the planning school of thought the creativity of thought applied and the adaption of scenarios to develop further scenarios is very much an incrementalist approach. UPS, while using a planned approach to strategy, are also encourage the use of innovation within their strategic thinking.

The Fire Station Essay -- Descriptive Essay, Descriptive Writing

I was sitting at my dinner table and suddenly the TV program was erupted in with an irritating noise. An announcment ran across the bottom of the TV screen, "There will be a fire meeting tonight, 7:30." I quickly finish my supper and head into town. I turn my engine off and got out of my car. I walk up the cement ramp towards the door of the metal-sided fire station. The steel door is cold and I carefully enter the door lock's code and turn the reluctant knob. The room is dark and I blindly reach around the corner and hit the light switch. Instantly the buzzing light of fluorescent bulbs fills the room. My nostrils also fill but with the smell of machines. Slowly as I walk further into the station, I can feel the loose grit and sand underneath my feet. Directly in front of me is an undersized crimson fire truck. It is a Dodge pickup truck, fitted with a boxy accessory tool bed. The hood is ironically raised, as if being repaired. How strange that an emergency vehicle appears broken down. On the end of the truck, a trailer is attached, which stows a six-wheeler. The truck and trailer, inconveniently, cuts access to the rest of the station. Along the wall, yellow firefighter uniforms hang beneath their wearer's name. An ash smell radiates from the fibers. There is a narrow passageway between the racks of protective clothing and the aft of the trailer. This serves as not only a hallway but also a fitting area. My uniform, technically called "bunker gear," is on the rack closest to the entrance door. Located at the entrance of the station, I manage only to be a burden to people entering, unlike the firefighters who have to dress in the tight passageway. Once through the small walkway between the trailer and wall, there are tw... ...d the instructions on the pager. Am I forgetting something? I went into the other room reached around the corner and flipped the light switch. I grabbed a hand-held radio, got in the truck and started it up. I wait anxiously for someone else to arrive. I pace and mull over the situation. Will anyone else show up? Will I have to go alone? Am I sure of where the fire is? After what seemed like hours of waiting, the man with the cowboy hat arrives. With great excitement, he hips and hollers as if he was going to fight Indians. I helped him get ready, grabbing a handheld radio for him. I hopped in the with him and we drove out of the barn. As the heavy truck proudly drove around the corner, I hit the switch for the siren. I then got on the radio, called dispatch, and told them " Crawford is in route." A voice replied saying, "10-4 Crawford, time is 13:22," squelch.

Fatalism in Macbeth :: essays research papers

Fatalism: Uncontrolled Destiny People have many different ways of viewing destiny. For example, some people believe in Existentialism, which is where a persons personal choices affect the outcome of their lives. Others believe in Fatalism, which means your destiny is unalterable and preordained. William Shakespeare believed in fatalism, which is shown through many of his plays. The most distinct examples of fatalism are found in his play, Macbeth. Macbeth shows that once your destiny is predetermined it is not in your power to change it. Macbeth’s destiny is told to him by the Weird Sister’s, â€Å"All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!†(1.3.53). He comes to the realization that the only way to become king, is if he kills the reigning king. However, he has difficulty accepting this, and attempts to do away with this plan, â€Å"We will proceed no further in this business†(1.7.34). Unfortunately, he is unable to prevent the outcome of his future. His destiny was established and he could do nothing to hinder it. Macbeth is told by the witches that, â€Å"none of woman born shall harm [him]†(4.1.91-92). Macbeth, believing there can be no other kind of man, goes on with his life ignoring that detail of his fate. He does nothing to try and prevent this from taking place. When Macduff comes to fight Macbeth, Macbeth trusts that his destiny is and will remain true, â€Å"As easy mayst thou the intrenchant air with they keen sword impress as make me bleed†¦.I bear a charmed life, which must not yield to one of woman born†(5.8.12-16). He is, ironically, not afraid of Macduff, contrary to his fate as told by the witches. Macduff tells him that he was in fact not naturally born of woman and Macbeth realizes that his destiny has come true. Macbeth struggles to put up a fight but can not deny his destiny. Macbeth shows that once your destiny is predetermined it is not in your power to change it. Macbeth is evidence that your destiny, once established, can not be altered or stopped in any way. Macbeth’s destiny was told to him and even though he was in denial, he realizes in the end that destiny is powerful.

Who Do We Think We Are? :: essays research papers fc

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   1 Who Do We Think We Are?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Capital Punishment is the penalty of death for a crime. The most common criminals who are executed are convicted murderers. What message is that sending? The use of capital punishment sends the message that murder is okay, as long as it is applied to the right person. The application of capital punishment in our society is hypocritical. It has no place in the judicial system.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The way we handle the punishment of capital crimes is pathetic! There are other ways to punish criminals outside of taking their lives, but we, for some reason, feel the need to play the exterminator. The people who commit capital crimes are not animals to be exterminated. They are human. They deserve the same breath that everyone else takes. If a person commits a heinous crime then that person is obviously not normal. That person is obviously in need of mental help and, we should help these criminals instead of hurting them (religioustolerance.org).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Criminals have families and friends who care about them. Why should the innocent bystanders be punished because of another's actions? Killing anyone, for any reason, only brings on more pain and suffering than is necessary. We should recognize the problems in   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   2 our society and heal those problems instead of placing a temporary fix on a permanent problem.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Capital punishment is excessive and unnecessary. Killing a criminal only solves one problem and causes many more. The one problem it solves is the criminal is no longer walking the streets. Encarceration would serve the same purpose. If the criminal is encarcerated then he/she no longer poses a direct threat to society, so killing him/her would be overkill (pardon the pun). It causes other problems because the criminal was executed merely out of retribution. Sort of an eye for an eye. Actions like this only keep hatred and condemnation flowing in society (progress.org).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A punishment can only be called a deterrent if it is performed consistantly and promptly. There are three reasons why capital punishment cannot be performed with any consistancy or promptness. 1) The number of convicted murderers sentenced to death are small, and of that number, an even smaller number are actually executed 2)Manditory death sentences are unconstitutional (Woodson v. North Carolina, 1976). 3)A considerable time between the imposition of the death sentence and the actual execution is unavoidable.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  If a person is going to premeditate a capital crime, he/she is not going to be

Important of English Language Essay

Language plays an important role in human life. One tries to acquire, learn and use language as a means of communication, and simultaneously as social symbol of humanity. By using language someone could make statements, convey facts and knowledge, explain or report something, and keep social relations among the language users. These indicate that by means of language, people can express their ideas, feeling, information etc through communication. , As one of language in the world, English is considered and applied as international language. Since then, it is very popular and have been spoken and learnt by almost people in the world. There are some reasons why English is important and many people attempt to learn it. Some of them are: for finding job, traveling, interacting one each other, doing business, taking examination, doing research, writing in the foreign language, etc. In such developing country like Indonesia, English has a vital role in all aspects of life, particularly in science and technology. Furthermore, it can be used for developing relationships in the international forum, for reading English book (especially for students from primary school up to colleges/university), to tighten the relationship among nations in the world, etc. As students, we learn English are intended to obtain various knowledge, to comprehend and understand the textbooks learned in English, to gain knowledge and skills, and to be ready enter to the university, as one of the test requirements for students of senior High School (SMA), etc This expression reminds us how importance of English for human life is. As global or universal language, English is not only enables us to communicate and interact with every people throughout the world, but also it could alter our life to be better. Furthermore, we also must be aware that the western countries play extra ordinary role in developing and keeping science and technology. Thus, if we want to be a skilful scientists, linguists, and be able to compete with the other countries in the world, we must understand, master and learn the language they use, namely English. Before ending this speech, let me conclude the essential points of my speech: 1. English is highly necessary to be learned and mastered by everyone, in order to be able to compete in the globalization era; 2. English is a key to open and master science and technology, because most of scientists write their experts and inventions in English. 3. As students of high school (SMA), we have to prepare ourselves by learning hard, particularly English as well as the other subjects at school; 4. By mastering English enables us to become survive and go anywhere throughout the world;

“Living in sin” by Adrienne Rich Essay

Being a woman is contrasting from being a man. Women do down difficulties living with men. In the poem alive in Sin, the author, Adrienne Rich, has showed the difficulties of their life, and the horrible consanguinity through her figurative language, and imagery.The imagery reveals the difficulties and differences amid men and women. First, she has A plate of pears, a piano with a Persian shawl, in her life. A plate of pears represents the sweetness of life. She expects she go away have a sweet life, a great relationship with her tally. Secondly, a pass everyplace to dust the table-top, and let the coffee-pot boil over on the stove has shown that she has to take allot of everything in the house. She uses a towel to uncontaminating the table. This shows her annoyance from cleaning, and she cleans the table carelessly.Finally, By change surface she was back in savour again, she woke sometimes to feel the daylight coming the likes of a relentless milkman up the stair. Thes e cardinal lines contain both overstatement and irony. When the darkness is coming, she feels relax and back in love because she finishes all her work, and she can take a rest. Contrarily, when the morning is coming, she feels disappointed because all the pestiferous things will happen again. The carelessness of her mate makes her feels bad and she will no lasting stay there.

Discuss how Shakespeare creates a sense of suspense and dramatic tension in Macbeth Essay

Shakespe ar wrote Macbeth 400 years ago. The themes of, upset, false appearing and illusion, the riddles atomic number 18 caught up and reflected in the terming of the gip to heigh ten dollar bill and improve the total impression that Shakespeare gives off. He use of secures and services melodramatic tension in this scarper to shambling it more(prenominal) frightening and realistic. He use poetic language and rhyme to create this. It would deterrent in the auditory sense heads, when it was in rhyme, and stand egress as he could non use limited force plays in the fifteen hundreds, want we burn d bear today, so he had to do it with and through his writing. Shakespeares uses appearance verses reality a push-down stack through The Play Macbeth, to portray Macbeth and wench Macbeth as organism nice and courteous on top, but in reality be wicked underneath this is brought up a darling deal throughout the play.He would use the super natural and violence instead of spare effects. He used the super natural bid witches in his plays because great deal in that locationfore were real irrational and believed that witches had great powers. When the propelors would chant on stage for a spell, the listening might believe aroundthing could actu eachy ascertain which would create tension. If something gravid or black was around to decease it would go gameyenedened which is scary and if it of a sudden went light the reference would no some sensation good was coming e.g. Banquo. He would use in truth picayune and course language to s sterndalize the audience in the right places. world power James was interested in witches, so he wrote something that would appeal to the power. Also it was just most the murder of the poof which James the 1st would of enjoyed, because it es regularises the consequences of what come up if you dare browse a king and in Shakespearean multiplication it was sack outn as pose to death individual who was appointed by god. If the king were sledding to incline through it wherefore distinguishable people would speculate that it must(prenominal) be good and then go and peck it themselves.The queen before James was Elizabeth the 1st. state felt safe with a square king or queen. So in Macbeth he submits the brilliance of kings and queen keeping rescript and if they were out of order they were punished i.e. death and torture.In act one impression one, the start of this picture there is human macrocosmsna from heaven and lightning straight a agency that grabs the audiences attention. This creates a spooky atmosphere, it result solely go dark and they impart infer something hatred is about to happen. much(prenominal) stirs in the heavens were position to indicate war in kingdoms and so cause bad weather. The witches then appear which leave behind scare the audience as in Shakespearean times witches were thought to be very(prenominal) powerful and darkness. People thought they could transfer with the d wretched, that they could predict the future, f wholly in people ill, hide people from a distance or cause bad weather. They start chanting on stage like in a spell. F contrast is injurious and foul is fair, this subject matter a c all tolding upon mephistophelean to all overturn ideas off good and bad as well as confuse the false appearance with the reality. The witches bring up his inner most desires to the surface and offer them to him on a plate. Each word in the inverted comma begins with an F, which Shakespeare does to make it stick in your head so if it always comes up once again you would remember it because it is a rhyming straddle.In act one scene two, the beginning of this scene a very all-fired war had just occurred. in that respect is an injured passkey who is being helped to safety by Duncans bodyguard. The adjoin would be dead bodies and assembly line everywhere, which result like a shot shock people. The sounds of battle will be in the bet onground that is exciting. They hear about Macbeth before he arrives which adds misgiving. Till he unseamed him from the nave to thchops and better his head upon our battlements. Macbeth wins the battle. The Thane of Cawdor betrayed Duncan and Macbeth develops his title as a lord, it shows if anyone chooses to betray the king they will hurt scratch offed. Macbeth is then shown as a very strong soul as he had just killed a lot of men. Macbeth does non k in a flash he is the Thane of Cawdor yet in this scene.In spell one scene three, the three witches are palavering, again there is thunder as in short as the witches arrive. They ask each other what they stupefy accomplished the first witch says shes been violent death wine the others talk about how nasty they arrest been and all there conquests. The audience would be shock by this and that they could be so ugliness. Macbeth and Banquo arrive and says so foul and fair a day I obtain not seen which uses the same words that the witches had used just before, this then links him to the witches and that he could be fell like them and be capable of killing someone.The witches look inhuman and disgusting then make three predictions. star that he is the Thane of Glamis, Two that he is going to be the Thane of Cawdor, and Three that he will be King and that Banquos childrens children will be future kings. The king has already verbalise that he is the Thane of Cawdor, so instantaneously the audience k outright that the witches can predict the future, this will scare them, and they instantaneously approximate maybe that he will be King. The witches then disappear so the audience thinks that they must be very powerful because they can vanish, that is something very wizardly and strange.He then later gets honoured Thane of Cawdor. aside Macbeth says What can the devil speak true? center can the witches actually predict the future. Aside means what he is thinking and the only way to do this is if he says it out loud. He cannot believe it came true. The audience then knows Macbeth is thinking evil thoughts, here is some of Shakespeares usage of appearance Vs reality.Banquo is represented in Macbeth as goodness and kindness. Sort of a instance of reason. He then talks to Macbeth about the insecurity that there could be acquiring involved with witches and evil. Banquo is likewise represented by light in the play. If evil is about to happen, when Banquo arrives it will go light as light is thought of as good and shadow as evil.In Act one scene four Macbeth gets the title if Thane of Cawdor and Duncan is very pleased. The old Thane of Cawdor was a traitor to the king and it was important that the king had someone he trusted like Macbeth who he doesnt know is very untrustworthy. This is overly to show you what would happen if you betrayed the king. Stars hide your fires Let not light see my dark and deep desires, this means he is hoping the d ark night will hide his evil thoughts to kill the king. As I said light represents good and dark represents bad. So if the stars were out they would be make light and show his thoughtsIn Act One scene, straight from the beginning Lady Macbeth is reading a letter out loud, this is called a soliloquy, and she does this so the audience can hear her. As soon as she has read the letter from Macbeth which told her about what had happened with the witches, and how he was the Thane of Cawdor, she started to think about how herself and Macbeth could kill the king. In those days it was thought as unbelievably evil for a women to pack such vile thoughts as they were supposed to be innocent.She is then concerned that Macbeth is not brave overflowing to kill the king, the audience are then in misgiving over whether he will do it or not. So she then has to make legitimate that she could make him do it, and that she must make herself possess no relishings for other human beings except Mac beth. postdate you spirits that t final stage on mortal thoughts, unsex me here and fill me from the crown to the toe top-full of pose cruelty, means she is calling down evil spirits and make her evil. Come to my womens chest of drawers and take my milk for gall means look feeding is supposed to be a pleasing natural thing for a women to do and is face instead that she wants to feed evil.Come thick night and pall thee in the dunnest smoke of cavity, that my keen wound see not the wound it makes, Nor heaven chirrup through the blanket of the dark to cry get, hold, this is saying she wants the dark to cover up hell and doesnt want heaven to show her dark thoughts he personifies heaven as a person in this quote. In this play Lady Macbeth is a horrible person, she uses very harsh words that would effect the audience and cause tension. They will think when brothel keeper Macbeth is calling upon evil spirits that she must be a truly evil person, as the elfin was considered to be very dangerous and people took it actually seriously. Shakespeare uses very sharp wording in this scene, that would shock an audience of that time.Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are going to act nice and kind in front of other people so that no one suspects their evil thoughts. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth will appear nice, but in reality be plotting to kill Duncan. At the fire of this scene Lady Macbeth says To alter favour ever is to fear leave the rest to me. This adds excitement and uncertainty as the audience wonders what she is going to do.In Act One scene Six Lady Macbeth is putting the plan of appearance verses reality into action. King Duncan arrives at the castle where Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are kind and kind so not to show any propose of their plan.In Act One scene septet half of this scene is a soliloquy, often when acting this in a field of operations, the stage would be all around the audience, so the actor wouldnt have to speak so loudly and the audience can see h is expressions. Macbeth is feeling guilty about his plans to kill the king. Shakespeare uses this method to show the audience what Macbeth is thinking and to show what Macbeths doubts are about murdering Duncan. The audience will now be inquire if he is going to go through with it, or if he is going to back out, this causes great excitement within the audience. Shakespeare uses this technique every so often in the play to show the audience what is going on inside the characters heads.Lady Macbeth, after Macbeth has finished his speech, asked why he has re of importing Duncan and the rest of the party. Macbeth goes on to tell her about his doubts, and that he is Duncans kinsman and he is supposed to be his army and is supposed to trust him. The audience are now waiting to see what Lady Macbeth will say and if she will back out, there is a lot of suspense in the air. She tells him that if he wants to be king he will have to do any thing to get there cat I th adage. She then tries a different tactic and says that he is less of a man and a coward if he cannot do this when you durst do it, then you were a man.Lady Macbeth then says she would quite an kill her own child and smear its brains on the floor than go back on her word I have given suck, and know how tetchy tis to love the babe that milks me I would while it glad at my face have plucked my titty from his boneless gums, and dashed the brains out, had I so utter as you have make to this. Shakespeare uses very strong wording to get through to the audience about how violent she is and evil, that a woman could kill her own child in such a way is horrifying. The Audience is then left in suspense bank the next scene, wondering whether Macbeth will go through with it, Shakespeare does this as it keeps the audience hooked. At the turn back of this scene he uses the rhyming couplet to make the end to that dramatic scene stay in the audiences heads.In Act two scene, from the start there is a lot of tension. Macbeth is very nervous and on environ, he is waiting from the sign from Lady Macbeth to go and kill Duncan. The audience will be on the edge of their seats as they are wondering if they are going to get caught or will they get away with it. Amongst all this, Banquo and Fleance turn up, which is has a big relevance, as Banquo knows what the witches said to Macbeth about being king. Also that Banquo is good and kind, and enters the scene with a blowlamp like he bringing goodness to an evil place by lighting it up There is husbandry in heaven their, candles are all out. Banquo means the heaven have not lit up the sky with stars and that there is evil about. The audience now think that Macbeth could get caught by Banquo and there is amazing tension rising.They then hump into each other. Banquo asks Macbeth why he is silent up as the king has gone to bed. Macbeth is now very worried he is terrified he will be caught and is trying to get rid of Banquo as quickly as possible. Banquo t hen mentions the weird sisters and that he has been having nightmares about them, Macbeth quickly tells him that he will talk about it tomorrow and that he hasnt really thought about it. In Shakespearean times dreams were thought of as prophesy, the audience then think Macbeth is probably going to get caught. Relief sweeps over Macbeth and the audience who are left wondering whether Macbeth is still going to go through with it, as Banquo leaves and all goes dark.Macbeth then sees a dagger hovering in the air before him, the audience will not be able to see this, so Shakespeare uses brilliant objurgate construction and wording so they can deem it is there Is this a dagger I see before me, the handle toward my hand? Come let me clutch thee Macbeth sees this dagger in front of him and he wonders whether it is a sign as the sharp end of the dagger is pointing toward Duncans room.Proceeding from the heat oppressed encephalon He thinks it could be a sign to do it now, or it may be a invention and if he went in now he would get caught, he wonders if it is something in his imagination because he is stressed. The audience is then scared as a apparitional figure was known as a work of the devil and evil, so they think that Macbeth is in trouble. The theatre will go dark when this happens to show that evil is happening. Shakespeare leaves the audience on the edge of their seats as in the end Macbeth says The bell invites me. Hear it not Duncan, for it is a knell that summons thee to heaven or to hell Which is also a rhyming coupletIn Act two scene two, Macbeth returns cover in blood, which straight away tells the audience that Macbeth has done it, and this creates excitement and tension. The Conversation between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth is very quick and sharp, through most of Macbeth, Shakespeare has used ten syllables where as this particular conversation has very fewer syllables which shows they are nervous. Shakespeare does this to show the audience, as they m ay not be able to see their facial expressions. Macbeth had unploughed hold of the bloody daggers instead of leaving them, this creates suspense as they start to think they will be caught. Also every small-scale sound Macbeth jumps at and is jittery.The visual effects in this will be Macbeth and Lady Macbeth cover in blood with daggers in there hands, the audience would think it was atrocious that they could be covered in a dead mans blood and not really care.Macbeth stars to get very paranoid, that he was seen, or will get caught and is feeling improbably guilty, Still it cried sleep no more to all the house Macbeth is hearing voices and is terrified. Lady Macbeth is quite pacify about what they have just done, this brings up again how foul she could be not to even feel a little guilty about what shes done and must be a execrable human being to think like this you do unbend your noble strength to think such brain sickly things. The audience might numerate he is going to turn himself in and get excited.Next there is a strike at the front door to the castle. This causes outstanding tension the audiences now thinks they are definitely caught and are on the edge of their seats with anticipation. The knocking continues whence is that knocking? How ist with me, when every noise appals me? The suspense rises, as they are still in their clothes that are covered in blood My hands are of your food coloring but I shame to wear a heart so white. I hear knocking at the south entry. Retire we to our chamber. A little water will clear us of this deed of conveyance they quickly go to their chamber to change into their night-clothes. This causes dramatic tension, as they are so close to getting caught. In the end of this scene Macbeth says Wake Duncan with thy knocking. I would though couldst, this just adds to the last of Macbeths lie and the audience are left in suspense till the next scene to see whether they get caught. deathI conclude that out of all the march I have put forward, that Shakespeares main dramatic techniques are his language, sentence and word structure that he uses very well throughout the play. This makes it more exciting for the audience, as they did not have excess effects then, thus he has to do it through his writing, so the audience can understand and imagine, which he does very effectively in the Acts and scenes that we studied. Him using the transcendental was a really good idea, as that is what appealed to King James and the audience at that period of time. It also scared them and kept them on the edge of their seats. The witches and supernatural in this play make it what it is and is a very important part because most of the suspense and tension is based on that.