Hektor essays

Hektor essays Hektor, son of Priam and brother of Alexandros, is the greatest warrior of the Trojans. He is the Trojan whom the Achaians fear the most and more so since Zeus assists him in all his exploits. Zeus grants him his arstesia or honor almost thorough out the course of the war until Achilleus returns to avenge Patroklos death While all the Trojans are running inside the gates of Troy to escape the Achaians, Hektor stays back to fight against Achilleus. Though his father and mother beg him to come in and not fight alone he stays out because he feels that hed lose his honor if he went inside (XXII 99 110). But it is interesting to observe that his courage fails him as Achilleus draws near and he runs around Troy trying to escape him but then later turns around to face him. The relation between Hektor and his wife, Andromache, is of a very special type not portrayed in any other relationships in the Iliad. Most mortal women in the Iliad are described as the objects of men with no deep relationship between the male and the female. But between Hektor and Andromache there exists a deep affection. There is strong philos or love between them that is portrayed in book VI 405- 493. Helen also throws light to Hektors kind and loyal character in book XXIV 767-775. His mother, Hekabe, describes him as of all my sons the dearest by far to my spirit (XXIV 748). He was admired by many of the gods including Zeus (XXIV 66-76). Hektor plays a very important part in the Iliad and Homer describes him as a person who commanded a great deal of respect and admiration from his peers as well as the Gods. His death was inevitable since Troy had to fall but he died honorably and like a true soldier fighting Achilleus. ...

Shouldice Hospital Case Report Essays

Shouldice Hospital Case Report Essays Shouldice Hospital Case Report Essay Shouldice Hospital Case Report Essay Subject: Problems and Plans Operational Assessment of the Shouldice Hospital Thank you for the opportunity to consult on your Shouldice Hospital operational assessment. I understand that you have implemented a well developed focus strategy (market focus and internal focus) successfully and Shouldice achieves outstanding results by maximizing the difference between perceived quality and value to the patient on one hand and the cost of supplying services on the other. The nurses and doctors treat their patients with care and understanding and treat them more like family members. This has led to the high level of praise for this hospital and its treatment. The rising number of satisfied patients and word of mouth referral has led to demand for the facilities services which outstrip the facility’s current capacity. I understand that you are looking for guidance on specific actions in order to increase the hospital’s capacity while at the same time maintaining control over the quality of the service delivered, and the hospital management. I have identified the problems and offered a list of alternate courses of action. Problem Definition: The problem is that Shouldice is facing a paradox of change. Shouldice is operating at its â€Å"best operating level† for a service company with limited flexibility in its facility, a specialized work force but are failing to meet all the demand for its chosen market niche. Adding additional capacity to meet the unmet market need may upset the existing work force and lower service quality. Failing to meet the market demand may invite competition that could eventually cause Shouldice to lose market share and end up with excess capacity. Problem Justification: It is assumed that they are operating at the â€Å"best operating level† because the way the case describes how efficiently the hospital is ran and how the patients appear to be pleased with their treatment. Capacity is nearly 100% full if they do 30 operations a day and the patients stay 3-4 days. This would fill up 89 beds for a 5 day work week. They also have 15% (14 hostel rooms) additional capacity for peak times. This also works out to be about 70% capacity of their full time potential of 7 days. 70% of maximum capacity is the best operating point. To increase it rate of service utilization will decrease the service quality. For capacity analysis, refer to Appendix-B. To increase their output and maintain their quality they would need to increase the size of the hospital. This involves large capital investments and considerable time. Construction would also cause a disruption to the quality and country club atmosphere of the hospital. Due to shift restrictions the current operating rooms are completely un-utilized for 2 days of the week as well as 15. 5 hours of each weekday. Kitchen and common area are designed to accommodate one hundred patients and it is important that these facilities be kept up to ensure patients still receive the high level of satisfaction with the experience at Shouldice. The staff also has limited flexibility. Surgeons and surgeons’ assistants are specialized fields that have limited desire to be cross trained. It is assumed that the staff is happy with the existing work schedule and do not want a change. Increasing the days worked would cause more aggressive scheduling of the operating rooms and may make it hard to maintain the same kind of working relationships and attitudes. Alternative Courses of Action: Alternative courses of action are based on the assumption that the reason for their desired expansion is to meet an unmet market demand. i) They could add an additional day by operating on Saturday. ii) They could do nothing different and continue to do as they are currently doing. iii) They can add a new floor (i. e. 45 i. e. 50% more hospital beds). iv) They can meet the unmet market demand with external capacity (establish a new facility). v) They can utilize the current facilities during some of its present idle time. Evaluate alternatives and make decisions: i) Adding an additional operating day on Saturday is a valid consideration. It would utilize ideal hospital capacity. It could increase the number of patients served by 9% or 800 patient a year. Would this be a sufficient number of patients served to keep competition from entering the same market is unknown. Adding a Saturday is also assumed to have a negative impact on the work force that drive down the quality that gives Shouldice a competitive advantage. It would increase rate of service utilization beyond 70%. This could be offset by hiring addition staff. But one should consider the time it takes the new staff to come up the efficiency curve. For capacity analysis and financial details refer to Appendix-C. ii) Doing nothing is a valid consideration. Their existing system and reputation sets them apart as a market leader and it is assumed to be a profitable setup. If it is working do not try to fix it. We assume that the existing set up is acceptable to management as far as profit and other operating measures. The assumed risk is if they do not do anything then competition will enter the market place and could eventually take patients away from Shouldice. There is insufficient data presented to truly analyze this risk. iii) Increasing the number of bed by 50% would not be advisable unless they added more doctors and surgery rooms because the existing plant capacity and number of doctors could not fill an addition 45 beds. They would be operating the surgery rooms at over capacity. The construction requires large capital investment, time, and would disrupt the country club atmosphere. For capacity analysis and financial details refer to Appendix-D. iv) Meeting the unmet market demand with external demand is a valid consideration. It could be done in several different ways. They could look to other facilities that are similar and team with their doctors to train them in the Shouldice processes and share in the profits. This would help keep the competition out of the market and could be done as a silent partner until the service quality reaches a level that Shouldice would want to associate their name with the other facility. Another option would be to establish a new facility for Hernia. Another option would be to subcontract or franchise the operation. For merits and demerits refer to Appendix-E. v) Relieve the operating room bottleneck by utilizing the current facilities during some of its present idle time. Addition of weekend or evening surgeries will increase throughput without any capital investment. Expand the facility’s kitchen and social area’s to accommodate the increased patient throughput and continue to provide a high quality patient experience for its customers. Recommendations: I would recommend a combination of doing nothing with the existing staff and plant as to maintain the country club atmosphere and gregarious nursing staff that gives it its competitive advantage and meet the unmet market demand with external sources of capacity to keep the competition from entering the market. I would be happy to elaborate on my recommendations in future correspondence. Sincerely, An MBA Student Appendix-A Cost comparison – Shouldice vs. Other Hospitals: Cost Items| Shouldice| Other Hospitals| Remarks| Costs of typical operations| $954*| $2000-4000| * Without general anaesthetic| Transportation(round-trip fares for travel to/from Toronto)| $200-600| $200-600 **| **No data available. Considered the same as Shouldice. | Time Lost from work in Hospital| 04 days| 05 days| | Time lost from work while recovering| 05 days| 10 days| | Value of time lost (ranging from $50 to 500 per day)| $450-4500| $750-7500| | Total before Allowancefor recurrence| $1604-6054| $2950-12100| | Probability of Recurrence| 0. 80%| 10. 00%| | Expected Cost of Recurrence| $13-48| $295-1210| | Total cost to patient, employee and insurer| $1,617-6,102| $3,245-13,310| | Profitability of Shouldice Hospital Clinic: Hospital: Items| Shouldice Hospital| Remarks| Revenues per year(4 days X $111/day x 6,850 patients/year)| $3,041,400| Charges for hospital stay = $111/day. Operations per year = 6,850 (in 1982)| Cost per year| $2,800,000| | | | | Profit per year (A)| $241,400| | Clinic: Items| Shouldice Clinic| Remarks| Revenues per year(($450 + 60 + 75 X 0. 20) X6,850)| $3,596,250| Surgical fee=$450/operation. Fee for the assistant surgeon=$60. Fee for a general anaesthetic =$75. Operations per year=6,850 (in 1982)| Cost per year| $2,000,000| | | | | Profit per year (B)| $1,596,250| | Total (Hospital + Clinic) Profit per year (A+B)| $1,837,650| | Total Depreciated Assets = $5 million Return on Asset = $1,837,650/$5 million = 0. 36753 i. e. 37% Appendix-B Current Capacity Analysis Current Throughput: * 6,850 Operations/50 weeks = average 137 operations/week with a peak of 165/week in September. Capacity Analysis: * Examination Rooms: (6 rooms x 3 hrs (1-4 PM) x 5 days x 60 min/hr) / (20 min / exam) = 270 patients /week = 54 patients/day. * Admitting Procedure: (2 people x 4 hrs (1-5 PM) x 5 days/week x 60 min/hr) / (10min/patient) = 240 patients/week = 48 patients/day. * Nursing Station: (2 stations x 4 hrs (1-5 PM) x 5 days/week x 60min/hr)/ (10 min/patient) =240 patients /week = = 48 patients/day. * Operating Rooms: (5 rooms x 8. 5 hrs/room/day x 5 days/week)/ (1. 1 hrs/patient) = 187 patients /week = 37 patients/day. Average operation time = (82% x 45 min + 18% x 90 min) + 15 min file time = 68. 1 min/operation. * Surgeons: 12 surgeons x 3. 5 operations/day x 5 days = 210 patients/week = 42 patients/day. * Hospital rooms: 89 rooms = 147 patients per week (assuming 3. 5 days average stay, 3 days recovery and Monday – Wednesday admittance, No procedures on Saturday or Sunday only recovery and admittance) – 29 patients/day. 103 rooms (incld. 14 hostel rooms) = 161 patients (assuming 3. 5 days average stay, 3 days recovery and Monday – Wednesday admittance, No procedures on Saturday or Sunday only recovery and admittance and use of 14 â€Å"hostel† rooms for two nights each week) – 32 patients/day. Current: Check-in day| Beds Required| | Monday| Tuesday| Wednesday| Thursday| Friday| Saturday| Sunday| Monday| 30| 30| 30| 0| 0| 0| 0|. Tuesday| 0| 29| 29| 29| 0| 0| 0| Wednesday| 0| 0| 29| 29| 29| 0| 0| Thursday| 0| 0| 0| 29| 29| 29| 0| Friday| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0| Saturday| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0| Sunday| 30| 30| 0| 0| 0| 0| 30| | | | | | | | | Total Number in Hospital| 60| 89| 88| 87| 58| 29| 30| Total number of patients per week| 147| Appendix-C Adding an additional operating day on Saturday Use current 89 beds + 14 hostel rooms. Consider 3. 5 days average stay. Total number of patients per week = 180. Current throughput = 137 operations/week (refer to Appendix-B). Theoretical throughput = 161 patients/week (refer to Appendix-B). So, new throughput = (137/161)*180 = 153 patients/week. Therefore, additional patients per week = 153 – 137 = 16 Additional patients per year = 16*50 = 800 Additional revenue = 800*(450+75*0. 20) = $372,000 Total cost = $124,250 Therefore, Net increase in profit = $372,000 $124,250 = $247,750 for no additional investment. Demerits of this alternate action: * Require to schedule 23-25 operations on Saturday. * Six surgeons and a supervising surgeon have to work on Saturdays. * Additional other personnel (an anesthetic, nurses). * Violates the implied contract that Shouldice has with its surgeons, strong opposition by the senior doctors. * Operating close to the theoretical capacity of the facility. Merits of this alternate action: * No investment is needed. * Can still maintain quality service. Appendix-D Increasing the number of bed by 50% Current number of beds: 89 Add in a new floor (expand the capacity by 50%) at the cost of $2 million: 45 beds Total beds = 89+45 = 134 Total number of patents per week = 210 Current throughput = 137 operations/week (refer to Appendix-B). Theoretical throughput = 161 patients/week (refer to Appendix-B). So, new throughput = (137/161)*210 = 179 patients/week. Therefore, additional patients per week = 179 – 137 = 42 Additional patients per year = 42*50 = 2100 Additional revenue = 2100*(450+75*0. 20) = $ 976,500 Total cost = $176,500 Profit = $ 976,500 $176,500 = $ 800,000 Therefore, Return on investment (ROI) = $800,000/$2,000,000 = 40% Demerits of this alternate action: * Require to schedule doctors to the full capacity of five days per week * Increase work load on admissions, kitchen, laundry, housekeeping and accounting * Further staggering of meal hours for patients (100 seat dining room) * Disruption during construction. * Expensive Merits of this alternate action: * Easy to control and maintain quality * Retain the culture and environment Addition of 45 beds: Check-in day| Bed Required| | Monday| Tuesday| Wednesday| Thursday| Friday| Saturday| Sunday| Monday| 42| 42| 42| 0| 0| 0| 0| Tuesday| 0| 42| 42| 42| 0| 0| 0| Wednesday| 0| 0| 42| 42| 42| 0| 0| Thursday| 0| 0| 0| 42| 42| 42| 0| Friday| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0| Saturday| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0| Sunday| 42| 42| 0| 0| 0| 0| 42| | | | | | | | | Total Number in Hospital| 84| 126| 126| 126| 84| 42| 42| Total number of patients per week| 210| Appendix-E. Meeting the unmet market demand with external demand – Establish a new facility Merits of establishing a new facility: * New location close to current setup, say a major city (New York) in USA * Improve its competitive position and increase its profits * Operate in a less restrictive environment * New Opportunities for existing personnel * Transfer of knowledge and expertise to the new facility. Demerits of establishing a new facility: * Requires a significant investment and time * Difficult to maintain Quality control * Difficult to create the same culture and atmosphere * Potential competition with the existing facility.

Green Building and Sustainable construction Essay

Green Building and Sustainable construction - Essay Example Some of the methods used to address the environmental sustainability of a structure involve recycle and reuse of materials, ensuring the building uses renewable energy source or employs energy and water saving methods. Besides the accessibility of the building, can make be used to gauge whether the building is environmental friendly? Buildings, which are far away from transport network, can be considered less environmental friendly. Sustainable construction involves use of environmental friendly materials for construction. Use of wood from trees, which have been certified by the United States Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is one way of promoting sustainable construction. FSC ensures the trees which are used for construction purpose are replaced and the existing biodiversity is not affected by cutting down of a particular tree. Sustainable construction also involves the use of renewable materials which can be recycled or reused. While promoting sustainable construction additional materials, which may not be renewable in nature, are used. The purpose of using such materials is to improve the overall performance of the building. A good example is use of plastic to insulate buildings; here plastic is used because of its availability and energy saving nature. Use of locally available materials is an economical way of saving on cost and reducing pollution of the environment. Transporting materials from another place would require use of means e.g. trains; heavy trucks which would definitely pollute the environment. When a building use available energy effectively, it is economically and environmentally sustainable. Measures to ensure such state is achieved included use of insulate which prevents loss of heat, use of glass windows on most part of the building to promote natural light penetration thus save on lighting and heating. Ensuring the lighting and appliances within the building are

The Bookshop Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Bookshop - Essay Example The Bookshop, a novel by Penelope Fitzgerald got published in the year 1978. The novel primarily deals with a small English town in the late 50s, where the parochial attitude and approach towards things and issues bring to test the very grit and resilience of the ordinary people trying to achieve ordinary goals in a somewhat extraordinary way. The Bookshop attempts a realistic approach towards a moral and ethical map making of this small English town that is not only marvelously piercing in its force, but is also rather imbued with a wry and ironically comical animation (Wolfe 30). The Bookshop is a novel whose true strength does not lie in the unfolding action. Nor is this book peculiarly marked by an intensely exciting plot. Rather the books conjures up the reader’s interest and participation by its evocative delineation and chronicling of the prosaically ordinary times, and how the very ordinary people try to come to terms with and succeed against the limitations and constr aints imposed by these times (Janik & Jankik 125). The Bookshop is primarily about the extraordinary persistence and will required by the ordinary people to fulfill their seemingly simple and readily accessible goals. It celebrates the courage mustered by the ordinary people against the stifling narrow mindedness, starkly limiting regimentation, and the blatant injustices imposed by the financial and social inequalities in the ordinary day to day life (Lewis 27).

Online Integrated Marketing Communication Essay Example for Free

Online Integrated Marketing Communication Essay Integrated marketing communication – the evolution of a concept The IMC approach has received almost instant recognition at the end of the 1990s, as a result of the existing trends to reduce the budget allocated to mass advertising campaigns and to concentrate on segmented or personalised communication with final consumers. The increased fragmentation of media and customers, as well as the revolution introduced in mass communication by the new communication channels – internet and mobile communication technologies – has created the need for a new approach to marketing communication, that can insure centralised management and a consistency of corporate messages sent towards various audiences. The concept of IMC was defined in many different, often contradictory, ways: Pickton and Broderick (2001) claim that synergy is the principal benefit of bringing together the various facets of marketing communications in a mutually supportive way. Definition proposed by Keegan et al. (1992, p. 631): Integrated marketing communications is the strategic co-ordination of all messages and media used by an organisation to collectively influence its perceived brand value. At the heart of this definition is the assumption that the credibility and value of both the company and its brand(s) will increase, when messages transmitted to various audiences become consistent across time and targets. Another definition proposed by Duncan (2002, p. 8) demonstrates the current conceptual perception of IMC: A cross-functional process for creating and nourishing profitable relationships with customers and other stakeholders by strategically controlling or influencing all messages sent to these groups and encouraging data-driven, purposeful dialogue with them. The notion of stakeholders implies the shift in the IMC concept from customer target audiences to the inclusion of key stakeholder groups such as employees, investors, suppliers, distributors, media and the social community. The most significant organisation barriers for the implementation of the IMC concept: * lack of horizontal communication; * functional specialisation; * decentralisation; * lack of IMC planning and expertise; * lack of budget; * lack of database technology; * corporate culture; and * fear of change. The impact of the internet technology on marketing communication: The rapid development of the internet in the last ten years has changed the classical communication procedures (Blattberg and Deighton, 1991; Holtz, 1999), because of three specific and co-existent characteristics that differentiate it from any other communication channel: * Interactivity. The internet offers multiple possibilities of interactive communication, acting not only as an interface, but also as a communication agent (allowing a direct interaction between individuals and software applications). The traditional communication channel was uni-directional, Even when communication was considered a two-way process, the institutions had the resources to send information to audiences through a very wide pipeline, while the audiences had only a minuscule pipeline for communicating back. Now, the communication channel is a network, not a pipeline. Communicators have grasped and even embraced this new proximity, fact demonstrated by the vast number of web sites which display â€Å"Contact Us† buttons and links. However, in most of the cases, these new facilities are not fully used. * Transparency. The information published online can be accessed and viewed by any internet user, unless this information is specifically protected. * Memory. The web is a channel not only for transmitting information, but also for storing information – in other words, information published on the web remains in the memory of the network until it is erased. The new realities of how audiences get and use information: * The audience is connected to the organisations * The audience is connected to one another * The audience has access to other information * Audiences pull information (info has to be available where audiences can find it, and it must be customizable) { Today, we get messages from multiple media channels: email, voice mail, faxes, pagers, cell phones, interoffice memos, overnight courier packages, television (with hundreds of channels), radio, internet radio, etc. As a result, the media that used to provide an efficient channel of communication for practitioners have become now only noise that most of the audiences have learned to filter out} Different definitions of IMC: Some retail organisations track the interaction between the online user and their web site: â€Å"the time spent by a client on a specific web page can represent an indication of his/her present interest†. â€Å"We use the results provided by our online behaviour tracking system to create personalised promotions targeted to individual customers†. The meaning is not simply transmitted, but has to be negotiated separately with each online audience. The message needs to be adapted to the specific level of understanding and interpretation of each public, but, on the other hand, has to express the same core organisational values, in order to display a coherent organisational image If the company attempts to reach foreign audiences, the message needs to be adapted to the cultural specificity of the overseas public. This raises important questions regarding the possibility of integrated online marketing communication in the global context: â€Å"we often communicate with customers from various cultural and economic backgrounds. In these conditions we must apply a clear segmentation and positioning strategy, in order to match the needs of every cultural group with our marketing messages.† The specific characteristics of the internet therefore create two conflicting tendencies: (1) the fragmentation of audiences and communication contexts requires the customisation of online marketing messages; but (2) the interactivity, transparency and memory of the web necessitates the consistency of communication and the coherence of the transmitted meaning Below figure presents the place of integrated online marketing communication in the online CRM process of the firm. The customer data/feed-back collected online is used directly to better design and implement the online integrated marketing communication, which are then targeting selected online audiences. Correctly implemented, the IMC program is a continuous cycle of gathering data and implementing response-generating marketing communication which is based on previously gathered consumer data. the specific characteristics of the internet are making the implementation of integrated online marketing communication both inevitable and efficient for an online organisation. The transparency, interactivity and memory of the internet force the organisation to adopt a proactive-reactive attitude in online communication, and to combine consistency and continuity with flexibility and customisation. These characteristics can be integrated by designing and implementing a specific model of integrated online marketing communication. The use of advanced online applications to collect customer data and feed-back information is paramount for the success of the online communication campaign (O’Malley and Mitussis, 2002). Because of the high interactivity of the internet, the communication process has become a real-time dialogue. Important issues relevant for the implementation of integrated online marketing communication have not been addressed because of space and methodology limitations. These areas can represent the subject of future research projects investigating: the management process of integrated online marketing communication; the criteria used for selecting and combing various channels in the online communication mix; the relation between the organisation and web advertising agencies; or the challenges raised by the general integration and co-ordination of online and offline (traditional) communication.

War Changes Henry in Stephen Cranes The Red Badge of Courage :: Red Badge Courage Essays

War Changes Henry in Stephen Crane's The Red Badge of Courage There have been many great war stories; one is The Red Badge of Courage (1895) written by Stephen Crane. This book is circled around Henry Fleming, a young man who wants to join the Union Army during the Civil War. The Civil War has been a great subject for many books, as it was a great changing point in American History that lasted for 4 years. The story is written about Henry Fleming, who wanted to join the Union Army for a long time, but his mother didn't want him to. The story lasts over a period of a few days, probably two. He grew up on a farm, in a rural area, where he was secluded from large areas, like many other soldiers who fought in the Civil War. He is usually a good farmer boy, who follows what his mother says. With no mention of his father in the story, he is most likely dead or he ran away. This makes Stephen Crane's writing look like many families today, where there is only one parent to care for them. He eventually signs up with the Union Army, without his mother's full support. On his way there, he is greeted by many others who say how he is so great for joining the army. He gets to the Army camp eventually, and everyone there is waiting in anxiety for a battle. Here he meets other soldiers, such as the "Loud soldier," and the "Tall Soldier." They talk about battles, and soldiers who run from war, comparing them to children and anything but men. This makes him think if he, if the battle gets too violent, will run. Eventually the first battle comes, and the first rush with it. He defends his position, and doesn't run away. But the second wave of attacks came, and he ran away as fast as he could. He meets up with a group of injured soldiers, when he remembers that he ran from battle. This made him ashamed of himself, even more when he has to lie about being injured. This shows how the writer likes to use emotions on the character effect the reader, some people might be mad he ran a way, others might be disappointed in him for it. Overtime, Henry has many bad experiences since he ran from the battle. He was injured when a bullet grazes the backside of his head, and he also suffers from extreme dehydration, but is saved by a military camp he came to.

Personality Development Case Essay

Success in business and personal life is determined by one’s ability to communicate effectively with others. â€Å"Social intelligence,† or the ability to interact, converse, negotiate with, and persuade others, is the most highly paid and respected form of skill one can have, and this can be developed. Students participating in this program will experience a drastic transformation in terms of personality, communication skills, confidence level and the way of looking at life. The entire program is based on the concept of learning and acquiring skills most effectively when one is not under any pressure. The whole process of acquiring skills is like a game – entertaining and exciting. It is similar to the way a child learns to communicate and acquire skills, but with greater awareness. Basic Personality Development Workshop A wholistic workshop focused on the person’s appearance, social graces, and personality. This workshop will help the participants to project themselves in a corporate setting thru social graces and etiquette. Presence, Polish, and Power Workshop This workshop aims to help participants project a confident, professional and polished image. The Art of Business Dining This is a comprehensive session on everything one needs to know about fine dining: from use of basic tools to engaging in table talk. The objective of this course is to help the individual create a positive impression with others and enhance the image of the company he or she represents. Wellness in the Workplace This workshop was designed for leaders and persons who will eventually manage teams. Stress affects productivity and teamwork. It’s therefore important for a leader to address actual and potential stressors in the office and at home. Creating Lasting Connections This workshop serves as an introduction to the science of social intelligence – it will help you gain insights on human relations; how to better â€Å"read† people, situations and react accordingly. Key Topics * Personality Development * Confidence Building * Business Etiquette * Corporate Grooming * International Etiquette * Social Etiquette * Dining Etiquette / Table Manners * Gentlemen Etiquette * Ladies Etiquette * English Voice / Accent * Dress Code * Presentation Skills * Personal Counseling

Dramatic Tension in “The Royal Hunt of the Sun” Essay

How does Shaffer create and use dramatic tension in â€Å"The Royal Hunt of the Sun† and to what effect? The Royal Hunt of the Sun is a gripping play about the journey of the Spanish army sent to conquer Peru, and the unlikely friendships that are formed. Shaffer creates dramatic tension with a number of techniques such as the use of Martin to narrate the story to the audience, a unique and powerful use of sounds, and the use of symbolic props and duologue scenes that create dramatic irony. He also employs a number of methods to show the contrasts and similarities of religion, culture and philosophy between the Inca and Spanish armies. Shaffer initially uses Martin’s narration to foreshadow the ensuing disastrous events. Old Martin generates the audience’s attention at the very start of the play by saying â€Å"This story is about ruin.† This creates dramatic irony and suggests a treacherous and threatening atmosphere. In â€Å"The Mime of the Great Ascent† Old Martin speaks about the tribulation the army faced â€Å"†¦we crept forward like blind men, the sweat freezing on our faces† in order to gain the sympathy of the audience. Old Martin’s emotions are showed in different ways throughout the play, â€Å"Look at the warrior where he struts†¦ salvation in his new spurs. One of the knights at last.† Here Shaffer uses Old Martin’s cynicism and bitterness to exaggerate the loss of Young Martin’s innocence and childhood and gain the empathy of the audience. As the story unfolds, the reason for Old Martin’s pessimism becomes clear to the audience, â€Å"I went out into the night†¦ and dropped my first tears as a man†¦ Devotion never came again.† Here Shaffer uses Old Martin’s reflection on his past as a window through which the audience can see how Martin’s broken youth shaped him as a man, and uses realism to involve then in the action onstage, creating suspense. Shaffer makes use of stage directions, which play a big part in revealing the symbolism of the performance, and creating dramatic tension. The use of â€Å"Tropical bid cries† throughout the play creates a dangerous and threatening atmosphere, and hints at the power Atahuallpa has over Peru and the Spanish army. During the climb of the Spanish Army to reach the city, Shaffer uses  Ã¢â‚¬Å"an eerie, cold music made from the thin whine of huge saws.† This creates an unnerving atmosphere, putting the audience on edge. Symbolic props also play a large part in creating contrasting moods throughout the performance. â€Å"Four black crucifixes, sharpened to resemble swords† are placed on the back wall, criticizing the hypocrisy of the church, and the use of religion as a pretext for killing whilst representing the conflicted and violent theme. During the course of the play, Shaffer uses the imagery of the â€Å"golden sun† which is placed at the back of the stage. â€Å"Diego†¦ drives his halberd into a slot in one of the rays.† This symbolizes the destruction of the Inca empire, and once again sound is used to create tension when â€Å"The sun gives a deep groan, like the sound of a great animal being wounded.† Here the personification of the sun creates sympathy and compassion amongst the audience. Peter Shaffer uses scenes of duologue between the main characters to give the audience an insight into the relationships between them, and create dramatic irony. During the play there are moments where Pizarro is alone with Young Martin, and speaks to him in confidence; here the audience is encouraged to sympathize with the characters’ predicaments and anxieties. When Pizarro warns Young Martin that the Army is â€Å"Nothing but years of Us against Them† the audience becomes aware of the extreme differences in their opinions and views, which creates great tension and unrest between the characters. Shaffer enables Pizarro to freely suggest the extent of is own greed and betrayal during his duologue scenes with Martin, â€Å"if the time ever came for you to harry me, I’d rip you too, easy as look at you.† Here Shaffer creates more tension, causing the audience to question Pizarro’s loyalty to Martin, whilst hinting at the slightly more malevolent and spiteful side to Pizarro. The duologue scenes between Pizarro and Atahuallpa allow the audience to see the fragile and personal characteristics of the otherwise powerful, dominant male figures. At first Atahuallpa shows his lack of distrust in Pizarro when proclaiming him dishonest â€Å"you have no swear to give†. Atahuallpa takes a leap of faith and trusts his captor, to the surprise of the audience, creating an uneasy and nervous atmosphere. â€Å"You make me laugh! (In sudden wonder) You make me laugh!† It is at this point in the play that Pizarro realizes he has formed a genuine friendship  with Atahuallpa, and the audience feels the tension rise once again as Pizarro is forced to decide the fate of Atahuallpa. A main theme of the play is the contrast between the Inca and Spanish cultures. Atahuallpa is nearly always shown sitting high up in front of the golden sun, showing his power and authority, whereas the Spaniards wore heavy, clumsy clothing, which symbolizes their awkwardness in the foreign land, and their ignorance of other cultures. Domingo says â€Å"God-dammed place. I’m starting to rust.† This could indicate of the immorality and true objectives of their journey. The Spanish consider Atahuallpa to be â€Å"just one savage† when in fact he is the core of the Inca society, this is shown throughout the play. Atahuallpa finds it difficult to understand the Spanish way of life as the Incan religion and society was built on concepts and simplicity rather than material wealth and gain, creating tension. Despite many differences, both religions believe in a supreme being who would rise from the dead. Until Pizarro met Atahuallpa, he had lost faith in all conventional religion, and exclaimed, â€Å"I’m going to die! And the thought of that dark has rotted everything for me.† Atahuallpa gave him a new sense of belonging and introduced him to the Inca religion, â€Å"Believe in me. I will give a word and fill you with joy.† Pizarro found this concept very attractive and was instantly fascinated by Atahuallpa. This creates tension and increases the audience’s interest in the story. The great contrasts between the two cultures and the similarities between the two men create a sense of mystery and rising tension as the story continues, this is greatened by the audience’s knowledge that Pizarro will have to kill Atahuallpa. Shaffer uses stages directions, imagery, sound and narration to create an ongoing sense of tension throughout the play, it is extremely effective. I particularly enjoy his use of duologue scenes to create tension and allow the audience to gain an insight into the story.

Poes Burial Motifs.

Poes Burial Motifs. Poe is a very complicated author. His literary works are perplexed, disturbing, and even grotesque. His frequent illnesses may have provoked his engrossment in such things. In 1842 Dr. John W. Francis diagnosed Poe with sympathetic heart trouble as well as brain congestion. He also noted Poe's inability to withstand stimulants such as drugs and alcohol (Phillips 1508). These factors may have motivated him to write "The Tell-Tale-Heart", "The Cask of Amontillado", and "The Black Cat". All of these stories are written in or around 1843, shortly after Poe became afflicted. His writing helped him to cope with his troubles and explore new territory in literature. Poe's interest in the supernatural, retribution, and perverse cause them to be included in his burial motifs; therefore sustaining his interest. There is a common thread laced through each subject, but there is variation in degrees of the impact.Edgar Allan PoeThe supernatural is the phenomena of the unexplained. With this comes an aura of mystery and arousal of fear. Death in itself is the supreme mystery. No living human being can be certain of what happens to the soul when one dies. It is because of this uncertainty that death is feared by many. These types of perplexing questions cause a reader to come to a point of indifference within one of Poe's burial motifs. One is uncertain of how the events can unfold, because a greater force dictates them.Reincarnation in "The Black Cat" is a supernatural force at work. There is some sort of orthodox witchcraft-taking place. The whole story revolves around the cat, Pluto, coming back to avenge its death. One can not be sure how Pluto's rebirth takes place, but it is certain that something of a greater force has taken hold. The...

Understanding Quantitative Analysis in Chemistry

Understanding Quantitative Analysis in Chemistry Quantitative analysis refers to the determination of how much of a given component is present in a sample. The quantity may be expressed in terms of mass, concentration, or relative abundance of one or all components of a sample. Here are a few sample results of quantitative analysis: Ore contains 42.88% silver by mass.The chemical reaction yielded 3.22 moles of product.The solution is 0.102 M NaCl. Quantitative Versus Qualitative Analysis Qualitative analysis tells what is in a sample, while quantitative analysis is used to tell how much is in a sample. The two types of analysis are often used together and are considered examples of analytical chemistry. Methods Used in Quantitative Analysis Several methods are used to quantify a sample. These may be broadly classified as either physical  or chemical methods. Physical methods measure a physical property, such as adsorption of light, density, and magnetic susceptibility. Examples of physical methods include: Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (AES)Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS)trace element analysisx-ray fluorescence spectroscopyICP-AESICP-MS Chemical methods involve chemical reactions, such as oxidation, precipitation, or neutralization to form a new chemical compound. Examples of chemical methods include: Titration (volumetric analysis)Gravimetric analysisVarious wet chemistry testsCombustion analysisInert gas fusion Often physical and chemical methods overlap. In addition, mathematics is used in quantitative analysis. Statistics are particularly useful for analyzing data. The primary tool for quantitative analysis is the analytical balance or scale, which is used to measure mass precisely. Glassware, such as the volumetric flask, is also important. For analytical chemistry, a typical balance measures mass to 0.1 of a milligram. A sensitivity of about a thousand times is needed for microanalytical work. Why Quantitative Analysis Is Important Its important to know the quantity of all or part of a sample for several reasons. If youre performing a chemical reaction, quantitative analysis helps you predict how much product to expect and to determine your actual yield. Some reactions take place when the concentration of one component reaches a critical level. For example, an analysis of radioactive material might indicate there is enough of a key component for the specimen to undergo spontaneous fission! Quantitative analysis is crucial to the formulation and testing of food and drugs, as it is used to measure nutrient levels and provide an accurate accounting of dosage. It is also  critical in determining the level of contaminants or the impurity of a sample. While qualitative analysis might be able to determine the presence of lead in the paint on a toy, for example, quantitative analysis detects how much concentration exists. Medical tests rely on quantitative analysis for information about a patients health. For example, quantitative analysis techniques can determine blood cholesterol levels or the ratio of lipoproteins in plasma or the amount of protein excreted in urine. Here again, quantitative analysis complements qualitative analysis, since the latter identifies the nature of a chemical while the former tells you how much there is. Quantitative tests of a mineral may be used to determine whether its practical to mine it for a specific element or compound. Quantitative tests are used to verify that products meet manufacturer or regulatory specifications.

Security for Credit Card Fraud in E-commerce Essay

Security for Credit Card Fraud in E-commerce - Essay Example It has provided the world with innovative modes of communication from one end of the globe to the other [7]. Another area which has witnessed ground-breaking revolution is the conception of e-commerce; an idea which would have seemed unattainable for a man in the past. E-commerce encapsulates the concept of buying and selling products online, which involves money transactions from around the world. Since these transactions are usually done through credit cards, therefore this raises a need to authenticate and verify the customers who are involved in purchasing goods online. Their location, personal information, and account information need to be verified so that the chances of fraud can be minimized [2]. There are over 1.2 billion internet users all over the world [14]; Cheskin Research & Studio Archetype/Sapient concludes some internet users pose threats and some pose opportunities [3]. One of the major threats prevailing in the modern age is the validity of the transactions that take place online [16]. This mistrust in business owners is the product of the thousands of fraud cases witnessed in the past and this has led the companies to deploy extreme security measures to tackle this threat [4]. The goal of e-commerce sites is as follows; one is to reduce the degree of fraudulent activities, try to lower the number of rejections for legitimate orders as much as possible and minimize the number of manual reviews of transactions which prove to be costly for the company [5]. From these three objectives, it can be seen that fraud is their topmost concern and due to this they spend a large part of their resources in overcoming this challenge. The mode of payment in e-commerce transactions is through ‘credit cards’; which have established more opportunities for businessmen but at the same time introduced new problems in the whole process of selling goods [10].  

Evaluation of the Pending Merger of American Airlines and US Airways Research Paper

Evaluation of the Pending Merger of American Airlines and US Airways - Research Paper Example The Pending Merger of American Airlines and US Airways U.S. Airways and American Airlines are set to merge so as to form the largest airline across the entire globe. There is a proposal to settle the matter with Justice Department over an antitrust lawsuit on their merger which is projected to cost US$17 billion (Johanson, 2013). Assent of the plan to merge the two airlines is seen as a potential for resolving competition issues while at the same time contribute to creation of the largest global airline. An in-depth evaluation of the planned merger indicates that there are certain things which are pertinent in case a settlement of the matter happens. One of the prospected outcomes from the pending merger of the two airlines is that more slots for airports will be experienced for cheaper carriers in the American airline market. The two airlines will have to separate slots and facilities relative to airline costs to realize improved competitive advantage in airline industry (Feldman, 2 013). This implies that the merger will lead to co-ordination that will see it control at least 80 per cent of American commercial market in airline business network. The merger of the two US airlines will also gain slots for cheaper carriers across the US. ... g for ease bearers at key US airstrips, this settlement guarantees air transport travelers that they will see more rivalry on persistent and interfacing tracks all around the nation. Therefore, there will be increased competition in American airline industry which will then benefit millions of airline customers following improved airline travelling options and reduced travelling costs in the airline industry. Other airline players such as JetBlue and Southwest Airlines will have an opportunity to gain in the airline industry (Portillo, 2013). This is because American and US Airways will leave out some slots as well as facilities in various airports. This will at the same time increase competition in the American airline business market. Settlement of the merger is also deemed to bring disruption in the mutual relationships that have always existed among legacy carriers. Furthermore, it will increase accessibility to major airports which have previously had cases of congestion. There will also be provision for varied choices to the airline consumers while also enhancing airline fares accruing from increased competition in the airline industry on all national flights in the US (Feldman, 2013). Some of the already existing airlines will win big from the Justice Department on divestiture settlement process since they presently operate on leasing out of slots from American Airlines. Other airlines also stand chances to have their shares in the American airline market rising. The pending merger will see the New American airline becoming the largest global carrier. It will actually be the leading carrier in the world with regards to offering more comprehensive networks across the globe (Johanson, 2013). The same will be true with their services in terms of business excellence