Essay on A Never Ending Enlightenment - 1144 Words

Learning is a simple word for many, it is a simple process for many, and is easily accessible to anyone. For some, education has become less of a priority. Skipping school, dropping out, and failing a class is becoming more accepted in our society. While there are a few success stories of dropouts; Steve Jobs (creator of Apple Inc.), Coco Chanel (fashion designer), Mark Zuckerberg (chairman and CEO of Facebook), Bill Gates (creator of Microsoft Inc.), Walt Disney (founder of Disney), Oprah Winfrey (chairwoman and CEO of Harpo Productions and former talk show host), Ellen DeGenres (comedian and talk show host), and F. Scott Fitzgerald (novelist and poet), all had an education they strived for on their own. They had determination, stability,†¦show more content†¦High school education can give one responsibilities they never knew they would use in the real world. Assignments in high school that have deadlines can form good habits for one’s future, as life is full of dead lines; especially in a workplace and paying bills. High school teachers can be forgiving with your grades and late assignments, but in college that won’t slide. Forgetting to pay your bills, taxes, and mortgage on time can lead to hefty fees and getting a building a lousy credit score. Being punctual to every class can create a routine that is helpful for the rest of your life such as showing up to work on time or making a good impression being early to a job interview. Being late to work can result to being fired from your boss, and being late to a job interview gives the employer the idea that you don’t care about time management. Arriving to class prepared with the proper materials can build a custom for being qualified for anything, whether it be an employee, student, or even a parent. Coming to work without the tools necessary to complete tasks given to you can hurt your performance. Going to a college lecture without the ability to take notes can cause one to fai l their next test. One should not forget their child’s milk bottle or security blanket on a small trip to the grocery store! Education can help one find more about themselves, such as what they are good at and what they like. If oneShow MoreRelatedWho Are the Enlightened693 Words   |  3 Pagesduring what is known as the enlightened period asked the world, who are the enlightened? Better still, What is true enlightenment? Since Kant states that true enlightenment is ones courage to use your own reasoning without direction from another, the answer is simple; we who chose to be self-thinkers are already enlightened(Kant, 263). Kant explains that the issue of Enlightenment is not if you have the means to reason for yourself. Since we all have an inalienable right to be self-thinkers, theRead MoreSiddhartha by Herman Hesse875 Words   |  4 Pageshelps Siddhartha with his path toward enlightenment. The river serves as the instructor in Siddhartha’s journey when he a bandons his wealth and leaves the Samanas. The river is like life, it flows in a certain direction, depending on the journey you want to take. The function of the river is that it will give one answers depending on the direction it takes. Because of the philosophical meaning of the river, if one understands it, they will achieve enlightenment. Vasudeva’s philosophical beliefRead MoreGreat Philosophers Like Adam Smith, Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr.1589 Words   |  7 Pagesseries of important historical events have been presented with having a starting and ending point, like that of a line segment. However, great philosophers like Adam Smith, Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. and Sarkar have proven revolutions to be a buildup of cyclical events. Political, economic, and social events have a pattern that they follow and move as never ending cycles rather than having specific starting and ending points. Revolutions originate from a convergence of cyclical economic, political, andRead MoreThe Four Noble Truths Of Buddhism760 Words   |  4 Pagesbelieve that human beings are never truly satisfied. Most humans spend their whole lives trying to be successful but even when we do succeed there is still a void that we are trying to fill. Buddha believed that this â€Å"craving† comes from not knowing yourself. Buddha also believed that karma and rebirth are closely linked to the second noble truth. The third noble truth puts an end to the suffering through practices that Buddha taught. This is where humans stop the never ending cycle to reaching for satisfactionRead MoreThe Unprecedented Success Of Revolution1594 Words   |  7 Pagesdistribution of rights have often been the case in history when revolution is non-present. And only through revolutions such as the Enlightenment, Industrial, French, American, and Haitian Revolutions, has the world become as comfortable and fair as it is today. Though having its roots and stems in the Scientific Revolution and Italian Renaissance, the Enlightenment is undeniably an imperative revolution as it led the way for other major revolutions to take place through its sprawling intellectualRead MoreKantian Enlightenment through Kafkas Colony1461 Words   |  6 PagesOf the many intellectuals who have offered answers to questions of morality, freewill, and enlightenment, Immanuel Kant is one of the most challenging and intriguing. His writings have been used as the basis for analysis of contemporary writings of every age since first they were conceived and published. Benjamins views on law, the ethics of J. K. Rowling, race studies, and basic modern morality have all been discussed through the use of Kants philosophical framework. (Gray, Mack, Newton, Wolosky)Read MoreClosure in the Play Waiting for Godot845 Words   |  4 Pages Closure is a very important aspect of a narrative. Closure or the lack of it accomplishes the goal of a c reating a text which readers would want to continue reading to find out the ending, it helps to lead the reader on. The term â€Å"closure† according to Abott is â€Å"best understood as something we look for in narrative, as desire that authors understand and often expend art to satisfy or frustrate† (Abott, 57).In the play Waiting for Godot, the lack of closure is very evident through out it. This playRead MoreEssay on The Enlightenment1246 Words   |  5 PagesThe history of Western civilization cannot be neatly divided into precise linear sections. Instead, it must be viewed as a series of developing threads that combine, interact, and, at various intervals, take pervasive shifts. The Enlightenment of the eighteenth century was one of these paradigm historical shifts, challenging the traditional notions of authority by investing reason with the power to change the human condition for the better. This ecumenical emphasis on reason and independent thoughtRead MoreT he Self Impact Self Esteem And Self Image1148 Words   |  5 Pages23-24) This quote explains how the human soul, equivalent to the self, is eternal and cannot die, and because it cannot die, it is in an endless cycle of reincarnation, or samsara. The goal of Hinduism is free from this cycle of samsara and reach enlightenment, or moksha, to join Brahman. But to better understand atman, it is important to know that atman and Brahman are used interchangeably. Some believe that all atman is connected to Brahman (the dualistic view) and others believe that each individualRead MoreEssay on Buddhism916 Words   |  4 Pagesreality of life and universal suffering. At age twenty-nine, he left his kingdom and new-born son to lead a plain, reclusive life and determine a way to relieve this universal suffering. Siddhartha meditated under a bodhi tree for six years, but he was never fully satisfied. One day, however, he was offered a bowl of rice from a young girl and he accepted it. At that moment, he realized that physical harshness was not a means of achieving liberation. From then on, he encouraged people to follow a path

Gender Stratification in the Workplace - 1147 Words

Students Name Professors Name Course Title April 12, 2013 The Experience of Gender in Gender-Biased Professions Ruth Simpson interviewed 40 males working in the female-dominated professions of primary school teachers, flight attendants, nursing, and librarians to better understand their experiences. Of those interviewed, only two found their career choice unsatisfactory and had plans to leave (356). The rest were glad they chose or stumbled upon their current career. Simpson contrasted the experiences of male flight attendants, nurses, librarians, and primary school teachers with the theory that minority workers are generally penalized by increased performance expectations, isolation, and limited opportunities for promotion (352). Researchers have shown that women in a male-dominated workplace suffer from what has been called token status. A token female employees high visibility often increases the pressure to perform at levels above their male peers, their isolation as male employees exaggerate the differences between men and women, and stereotyping which tends to limit opportunities for advancement. By contrast, men seem to benefit on several levels by choosing a career in a female-dominated workplace (Simpson 356-364). Simpson found four main effects that were experienced by her interviewees and these were: (1) career effect, (2) assumed authority effect, (3), special consideration effect, and (4) zone of comfort effect. The career effect experience wasShow MoreRelatedAge Stratification1183 Words   |  5 PagesSocial stratification is not a new phenomenon; its roots extends far back into antiquity with some contending that archaeological evidence reveals that social stratification existed in Cro-Magnon society 10,000 or more years ago (Tattersall 1998:178). Social stratification may be based on many attributes; according to Arredondo Biological differences can produce, directly or indirectly, social stratification by factors such as age, gender, race, or socioeconomic status. Age stratification and ageismRead MoreWhat Does It Affect Job Stratification And Economic Placement?1 370 Words   |  6 Pagessystems unknowing of the challenges yet to come and the stratifications they will face. No matter which factors these babies may be born into, each and every one will face some sort of stratification and inequality based on their society, and the way they are raised within it. Sexual orientation is just one factor of inequality in our culture, and I will discuss here how it affects job stratification and economic placement. Social stratification can be viewed in one of three ways, first is structural-Read MoreGender Inequality863 Words   |  4 PagesFischer Gender Inequality in a Global Perspective What is Gender Inequality? Like others, a social problem that is widespread in American society is Gender inequality. It is a problem that has had a negative impact on American society. Gender inequality can be found in many sub-systems of America. It is important to understand what gender inequality is in order to identify and correct the problem. Two sub-systems that gender inequality can be found are in the family and in the workplace. GenderRead MoreGender Roles in the United States842 Words   |  3 PagesThroughout history, women have been regarded as of lesser value than men particularly in the public sphere. This is the result of gender stratification. Gender stratification refers to the issue of sexism, â€Å"or the belief that one sex is superior to the other† (Carl et al., 2012, p. 78). The theory that men are superior to women is essential to sexism. Sexism has always had negative consequences for women. It has caused some women to avoid pursuing successful careers typically described as â €Å"masculine†Ã¢â‚¬â€perhapsRead MoreThe Impact Of Social Stratification On Minorities1195 Words   |  5 Pagesdiscrimination, gender stratification, environmental damage, population growth, and urbanization are among the social problems and controversial issues that still exist in the United States. What is Social Stratification Social stratification is defined as a system by which society ranks categories of people in a hierarchy. For example, There are fundamental principles of stratification: slavery, caste, and class. The class system which is characterized by its social mobility social stratification is a characteristicRead MoreSocial Stratification And Gender Inequality Essay1486 Words   |  6 Pages History has seen multiple forms of social stratification whether it may be social class, caste, slavery, race or even gender. Social stratification places groups of people in a hierarchy depending on their social status which is respective to their economic income. This in turn determines their social position in society. With social stratification comes social mobility. These two terms are commonly found together when describing social stratification. Social mobility is simply â€Å"the change of socialRead MoreGender Stratification Of Family Responsibilities And The Division Of Labor922 Words   |  4 PagesDespite the increase of women entering the labor force in the last several decades, family responsibilities remain disproportionately part of the woman’s daily life on top of a full time job. This paper aims to explore the gender stratification of family responsibilities and the division of labor within families headed by a heterosexual couple, and asks why working women remain the primary caregiver in a nuclear family, and how this â€Å"second shift† impact family and society. I will discuss the breadwinner/caregiverRead MoreEssay about The Effects of Gender Stratification on Women1258 Words   |  6 PagesGender stratification is the cuts across all aspects of social life and social classes. It refers to the inequality distribution of wealth, power and privilege between men and women at the basis of their sex. The world has been divided and organized by gender, which are the behavioural differences between men and women that are culturally learnt (Appelbaum Chambliss, 1997:218). The society is in fact historically shaped by males and the issue regarding the fact has been publicly reverberating throughRead MoreGender Inequalities Of Workforce And Gender Inequality1594 Words   |  7 PagesSociology 101 February 1 2017 Gender Inequalities in Workforce Over the years it has become evident that women face far more significant barriers in the workforce than men do. A clear representation of this barrier is established by the gender pay gap, which is the difference in monetary amount received between a woman s and a man s average weekly earnings. The economy, as a social institution, is affected by gender and sex inequality. The idea of inequality in the workplace is central to explainingRead MoreGender Discrimination : Women s Rights Essay1387 Words   |  6 Pagesplace to protect women’s rights, there is still gender discrimination that continues to limit Americas progression towards a more equally gender right country (Morabito 2016). Women today still face many struggles because just by being a woman alone can come at a disadvantage in many cases so although America has addressed some gender inequality issues in our history, we should also focus on the discrimination that women face daily merely for their gender (Morabito 2016). Arlie Russell Hochschild

Company strategy and organisation evolution - MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Company strategy and organisation evolution. Answer: Introduction Volkswagen Group, a German multinational automotive manufacturing company has its headquarters in Germany. Its main operations include designing, manufacturing and distributing of passenger as well as commercial motorcycles, commercial vehicles, engines and turbo machinery. Its offers relate to various services like financing, leasing and fleet management (Oldenkamp, van Zelm and Huijbregts 2016). In 2016 and 2017, consecutively the company maintained its market position as one of the largest automakers in the globe with respect to the sales. In 2017, it was ranked sixth in the Fortune Global 500 list of the biggest companies in the world. The group sells a large number of cars like Bentley, Audi, Bugatti, Porsche, Skoda, Lamborghini and others. It sells various other vehicles also (Audi.com. 2018). The company has its operations in China as well; the company has been doing well in the country and has become one of the largest companies. The company was found in the year 1937 and that first car they manufactured was the Beetle. Over the years, the company has adopted various strategies, in order to explore the new markets and expand their particular business around the globe. They have been successful in doing this in various fields however; they have often received backslash from many critics for their management and skills. The given report aims to throw light on the company`s performance. The chosen company for the report is Audi. The report will be divided into various sections each of which will be elaborating upon a certain component. The first section illustrates the Strategic Position of the company; the next part throws light on the resource evaluation and value system of the country. An evaluation of the product/portfolio mix will be done using the BCG Matrix and the last section shall elaborate upon the future direction of the company. Certain recommendations based on the move, which needs to be taken by t he company in order to establish them in a better position, shall also be provided. Strategic position of the company Strategic Positioning can be described as the relative position of a company within the particular industry in which it operates. The choice made by a company and the kind of value the company wants to deliver is reflected in its strategic position. The strategic positioning of a company should primarily translate into lower costs for the company or its entrance into the premium price market (Barrett et al. 2015). Strategic positioning of a company presents the overall intended objectives of the company and the approach it takes with respect to a particular situation. Company Strategy Audi is one of the most successful strategic business units of the Volkswagen group. For more than 80 years, the company has been able to construct the most effective automobile brand for customers. In ordered to achieve this position, the company has combined all essential features of a luxurious car into the particular brand cars (Sheldrick 2015). In its advertising and marketing strategy, the four-ringed company has reflected the key aspects of four major automobile brands. Another strategy followed by Audi to establish its position is to not pick out at its advantages; Audi tries to concentrate on the stereotypes, which have been associated with the drivers of the other brands. For example, BMW is stereotyped with a driver who cuts off others and Mercedes owner is often portrayed as an old man (the Guardian. 2018). This kind of commercial helps Audi to connect with the audience and hint to them that its customers are the normal crowd. Hence, Audi has been popular as a brand against the mass population and has established itself as a progressively luxurious brand. An evaluation of the resources and value systems of the company Resource Management of Audi Audi has factories and locations in various countries around the globe. It gets financial resources help from its parent company but the company has been doing sufficiently, well for which it does not require that help very often. Audi tends to fulfill its responsibilities efficiently and uses natural resources in a sustainable manner. It has taken out an e-gas project along with various other environmental commitments, which tend to address every component of the company values. The company has its own environmental research foundation and it has planted various trees and other natural plants near its facilities (Blackwelder et al. 2016). The company has collaborated with Desertec Industrial Initiative, and international consortium to help them find a way to produce solar power in the desert regions of Africa and the Middle East. The company has just not made these big steps towards the conservation of the resources but also integrated the aspect in its minute details. When the Audi vehicles are developed, the engineers tend to focus on the environmental (Morschett, Schramm-Klein and Zentes 2015). This is to only in the case of its parts but the efficiency of the manufacturing process as well, supply of energy as well as water cycle and logistic work flows. The systems installed in their factories ensure conservation of resources and runs mostly on green power. It also produces fuel savings models, which are lightweight and tend to cause minimum damage to the environment at large. It also tends to compile life cycle assessments for its vehicles. Audi has been consistently working on its auto transmissions and modular efficiency platform. Audi has been planning to diversify its portfolio in future by making use of the specially designed engines and bio0fuels product. It will also be selling hybrid vehicles and electronic models. Value System of the Organization The executive team of Audi believes that the stakeholders have put in immense trust in the organization, which needs to be paid back to them (Volkswagenag.com. 2018). For this reason, the company has come out with efficient resources and a code of conduct which serves as the company`s value system (Bartels 2013). The value system has been explained below from the various points of view of the company: Responsibility for compliance The main purpose of the organization is to see to it that they are able to fulfill the vision of the organization and maintain the reputation of the brand. For this purpose, the company makes sure that it is sustainable in its operations and that it takes care of all the compliances while carryout the business activities. It is the belief of the company, that compliance to various rules and regulations is extremely important in order t sees to it that the organization has a good brand name legally. This helps to raise the share price of the company and thereby increase the return to the given set of investors. Responsibility as a member of society The next aspect of the company comes as its responsibility as a member of the society. The directors of the company believe that, as the company is a part of the organization at large it needs to think about the welfare of its people and see to it that the members of the society do not face any harm (Garibaldo and Bardi 2015). The various components are covered by the company`s value system in order to comply with the norms of a society: Human rights Equal opportunity and Equal treatment Product conformity and safety Environmental Protection Donations, sponsorship and charity Communication and Marketing Political Lobbying Responsibility as a business partner As a business unit does not function on its own there are various partners of Audi, who help it to accomplish the goals and objectives and to make sure that the business runs successfully. On the other hand, it can be described as the duty of the brand to make sure that it encompasses integrity, transparency and fairness into its system. There are various conflicts of interest that might take place in a business enterprise; however, it is the duty of the brand to see to it that these conflicts do not come in the way of its supplier relationships (Greca 2015). It conducts various events and functions here all its suppliers are invited and treated with utmost respect and care. The company has certain strict policies with respect to corruption and it is strictly prohibited. It follows a strict conduct for financial laundering and the is against money laundering and terrorist funding (Algesheimer, Dholakia and Herrmann 2015). Various components in this aspect include Export Control, Tax control, Procurement, and free as well as fair competition. Responsibility in the workplace As a responsible worker, the company sees to it that it is able to fulfill the duty of company with respect to its workers as well. It is the fundamental interest of the company to protect the safety as well as the health of the customers. It takes various measures with respect to the occupational safety and health of its customers, Data protection, protecting of knowledge houses and intellectual property and lastly its IT security as well as company assets. The company wants to make sure that these above-mentioned components have the ability to look after the needs the employees and is able to provide help to them and protect their needs. An evaluation product/portfolio mix Product Portfolio A product portfolio ix can be defined as a collection of all the services as well as products, which a company has to offer. The product analysis provides various details of the company with respect to the stock price, type, company growth prospect, income contributors, market leadership and the risk involved (Stead and Stead 2013). This kind of an information is extremely important for the investors and decision makers of the company. Product portfolio proves to be an essential part of the financial analysis as it provides context into the research and one can distinguish between long term and short-term growth plans (Laudon and Laudon 2014). The particular portfolio analysis allows a user to nail down the specific drivers of the performance of the company, which can then be used to make future plans. It is often believed that a mature company like that of Audi will have a diversified product portfolio. The company often makes acquisitions and development, which are a source of growth for the company. They even tend to have larger resource pool for the development. When a company is geographically dispersed, even then it will be able to have a large variety of products. The main purpose of diversification is to limit the growth potential while reducing the risk of an organization. The Products and services offered by Audi are given below: There is a variety of products offered by the company. The below figure provides the segment mix of the offerings made by Audi. Analysis of the Product Portfolio Mix with the help of BCG Matrix BCG Matrix The BCG Matrix also known as the Boston Consulting Group Matrix tends to provide an overview of the product portfolio mix of an enterprise. It helps the decision makers as well as the company to understand which group of product or portfolio is the most profitable one and which group is not (Hill, Jones and Schilling 2014). The matrix has two dimensions the market growth and the market share. It is believed the bigger the market share the better it is for the company. Stars These products represent the high growth as well as high market share products. They are usually the high return products, which have an equally high investment. Application to Audi The A5, A1, TT series and the Q5 series are the stars of the particular brand. The demand for these cars is extremely high and in the same way, they have huge investments as they face fierce competition from other manufacturers like the BMW and the Mercedes (Hill and Jones 2013). The Cash Cow The source of income is that component of the brand, which has a low growth but a high market share. In the particular segment, the cash generation is extremely high but as the growth does the segment is particularly low, the investment is not much in the segment, which means this segment does not utilize much cash. The profits are generally high. Application to Audi For Audi, the Q7, Q3 are its sources of income because they are unique and highly in demand. These products are famous for their unique qualities and the ability to attract the customers even without any customizations. Dogs Dogs are the worst products present under a brand portfolio. Under dogs, the products that are present have a low growth as well as low market share. These can be stated as the brands, which have not, being doing well. These products should be liquidated and minimized in the cost of products offered by the brand. Application to Audi The products of the brand, which have the following model umber -A3, A7, A8, are dogs. These have little or no cash generation and do not fit well with the other products offered by the company. They should be liquidated instead of implementing turn around plans. Component 4 The last component of the BCG Matrix is the Question mark. These are the products that belong to that group of products that require his investments and have extremely low growth chances. The products have high demands and low returns (BBC News. 2018). These products often absorb great amount of market share and become the dog of the company. They should be sold off or delivered in cash. Application to Audi The TT range of cars and the R8 are bringing question marks for the company. These products require extremely high investments and generate extremely low amount of cash. Implication of the BCG Matrix The Audi Company should not invest any more funds in the Dog component of the business matrix, which is the a3, a7 and a 8. These require huge turnaround plans but they often tend to fail. Instead, if possible they should invest in the Question mark component and in the star unit so that they become the sources of income and bring success to the business (Eden and Ackermann 2013). A critical analysis and evaluation of Key future directions for strategic growth Options available to the company and their adaptation From the various reports and analysis, it can easily be stated that the company has had a hard time in the previous YEAR. However, the company aims to remain determined, take a bold step in the future, and take up the present challenges (Slack 2015). The company aims to go ahead with its plan of strategic transformation. The company has made a variety of plans for the models, business operations as well as the technologies of the firm. They have been stated below: The company shall be rejuvenating their model portfolio and they plan to renew five existing core model series by the mid of 2018. They intend to expand their Q family by 3029 and even introduce new concepts of the Audi Q8 AND Q4. They intent to work more on their electric models. The company also plans to introduce its two models this year, which are A8 and A7. The products will be unveiled at an Audi Summit, which is a new concept; this shall help the company to gain popularity in the market. In future, the company also aims to systematize its synergies so that the relevant trending topics of the future can be applied in the business more efficiently. It has collaborated with Porsche for future architectural vehicles. This move by the brand shall result in costs savings of millions each year. Along with its traditional car, business the company aims to expand its digital services in the future. It aims to do this through My Audi, which provides a vast range o online services. It plans to extend this in more than 15 markets. The company aims to become the leading company in the Volkswagen group by implementing the autonomous driving. They also plan to finance its own resources in future and find robust solutions for the current problems. Analysis The current situation of the company was not good as it was faced by certain diesel crisis. However, as seen from the above analysis the company aims to change this in the future and become a global leader in automobiles. The plans and the path that the company has set out for itself is extremely logical and can be easily achieved with persistence and proper planning (Rothaermel 2015). One of the best paths available to the company is the rejuvenating of its existing portfolio and expanding the digital services. The existing portfolios need to be extended and the source of income products needs to be expanded in. The new move to strive towards the digital path is a extremely useful plan, which shall enable the company to access a new, sphere altogether which is potentially strong and profitable. Hence, it can be stated that these two options shall be best for the company. Recommendations After analyzing the case of Audi, the following recommendations can be made: Focus on emerging markets The company needs to focus its energy and resources into the new emerging markets. One of the primary emerging market is China. China has a great potential for manufacturing along with cheap labor and advanced technology options. Opening manufacturing houses in China will help the company to strengthen its position in the Asian Market and even save costs (Peteraf, Gamble and Thompson Jr 2014). The products that shall be manufactured in China can be exported to the other parts of the world. Hybrid and electric power train are priorities Audi should also consider and expand its offering on electric and hybrid cars. As witnessed from the analysis, Audi already has a range of hybrid and electric cars, which it should expand in order to make sure that it caters to the need of the current market ((Wheelen and Hunger 2017). Position itself as a pioneer in sustainable mobility and synthetic fuels The new mantra of the business is sustainability. Therefore, the company should take adequate actions to ensure sustainability in its operations. It should make sure that all the ethical norms and environmental laws are followed by the company. It should utilize minimum resources so that the future generation and their needs are adhered to. Conclusion Therefore, from the given analysis of the Audi company under the Volkswagen group it could be stated that the company has been doing extremely well in the professional as well as the ethical domain. The company needs to adopt newer strategies and determine its focus on new fuel saving and electric resources. Known for its image as a progressive brand, the company needs to alter its product offering and spend its resources strategically in order to ensure incorporation of sustainability and cost effectiveness in its operations along with providing satisfaction to the consumers. The company needs to prioritize its goals and concentrate on establishment of cars and parts, which conserve the environment. Once the company is able to do so it shall become a global leader in automobiles. The reason may be competitive advantage. The company needs to hold on to the present requirement, which requires cars with energy consumption. Once it is able to do that, it will receive appreciation from several environmentalists and can be able to receive various subsidies from the government. These subsidies will help the company in gaining more profits, which will ultimately help the company to give out better dividends. This will raise the value of the company in the eyes of the customers as well. The company has certain responsibilities towards the society as well which it needs to fulfill. References Algesheimer, R., Dholakia, U.M. and Herrmann, A., 2015. The social influence of brand community: Evidence from European car clubs.Journal of marketing,69(3), pp.19-34. Audi.com. ,2018.The World of Audi. [online] Available at: https://www.audi.com/en.html [Accessed 22 Jan. 2018]. Barrett, S.R., Speth, R.L., Eastham, S.D., Dedoussi, I.C., Ashok, A., Malina, R. and Keith, D.W., 2015. Impact of the Volkswagen emissions control defeat device on US public health.Environmental Research Letters,10(11), p.114005. Bartels, A., 2013, July. High Automated Driving Functions: Future challenges and research needs from the perspective of Volkswagen group research. InTRB Workshop on Road Vehicle Automation, Stanford(Vol. 16). BBC News. ,2018.Bumpy road ahead for scandal-hit VW. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-35605089 [Accessed 22 Jan. 2018]. Blackwelder, B., Coleman, K., Colunga-Santoyo, S., Harrison, J.S. and Wozniak, D., 2016. The Volkswagen Scandal. Eden, C. and Ackermann, F., 2013.Making strategy: The journey of strategic management. Sage. Garibaldo, F. and Bardi, A., 2015.Company strategies and organisational evolution in the automotive sector: a worldwide perspective(Vol. 32). Peter Lang Publishing. Greca, R., 2015. Audi and BMWsupplier strategies of two successful Car Producers.Company Strategies and Organizational Evolution in the Automotive Sector: A Worldwide Perspective. Peter Lang: Frankfurt am Main, pp.85-123. Hill, C.W. and Jones, G.R., 2013.Strategic management theory. South-Western/Cengage Learning. Hill, C.W., Jones, G.R. and Schilling, M.A., 2014.Strategic management: theory: an integrated approach. Cengage Learning. Laudon, K.C. and Laudon, J.P., 2014.Essentials of management information systems. Upper Saddle River: Pearson. Morschett, D., Schramm-Klein, H. and Zentes, J., 2015.Strategic international management. Springer. Oldenkamp, R., van Zelm, R. and Huijbregts, M.A., 2016. Valuing the human health damage caused by the fraud of Volkswagen.Environmental Pollution,212, pp.121-127. Peteraf, M., Gamble, J. and Thompson Jr, A., 2014.Essentials of strategic management: The quest for competitive advantage. McGraw-Hill Education. Rothaermel, F.T., 2015.Strategic management. McGraw-Hill Education. Sheldrick, G.M., 2015. SHELXTIntegrated space-group and crystal-structure determination.Acta Crystallographica Section A: Foundations and Advances,71(1), pp.3-8. Slack, N., 2015.Operations strategy. John Wiley Sons, Ltd. Stead, J.G. and Stead, W.E., 2013.Sustainable strategic management. ME Sharpe. the Guardian. ,2018.Volkswagen (VW) | Business | The Guardian. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/business/vw-volkswagen [Accessed 22 Jan. 2018]. Volkswagenag.com. ,2018.Volkswagen Group Homepage. [online] Available at: https://www.volkswagenag.com/content/vwcorp/content/en/homepage.html [Accessed 22 Jan. 2018]. Wheelen, T.L. and Hunger, J.D., 2017.Strategic management and business policy. pearson.

OF MICE AND MEN Essays (11137 words) - , Term Papers

OF MICE AND MEN KEY LITERARY ELEMENTS SETTING This book is set in two places. It starts beside a stream, close to the Salinas River, a few miles South of Soledad. It then moves to a ranch, where the major part of the story is set. At the end of the novel, the setting comes back to where it started. The stream introduces George and Lennie. They are on their way to a near-by ranch. The surrounding land is thick in vegetation and has its own wild life. Men frequent it, as there are ash piles made by many fires and the limbs of the sycamore tree have been smoothed by the many men who have sat on it. The ranch, where the major part of the story takes place, appears isolated and lonely. It includes a ranch house, a bunkhouse where the ranch workers live, a barn, and a harness-room off the barn. CHARACTERS Major Characters George - the protagonist and main character of the book. He is a caring, compassionate, and understanding human being who dreams of owning his own piece of land. Lennie - the obedient friend of George. He has a child's mind and a giant's body. It is these contrasting qualities that cause him problems. Old Candy - one of the lonely ranch workers. He is a cripple, working as a 'Swamper'. Crooks - a black ranch hand. He is sensible and neat, with a mind of his own. He is a lonely character, who is discriminated against, due to his race. Slim - a ranch worker with leadership qualities. He commands respect from all on the ranch. Curley - the boss's son who is a light weight boxer. He picks fights with everybody on the ranch. Curley's wife - the only woman on the ranch. She is very flirtatious. Minor Characters Carlson - a brutal man. He objects to Candy keeping his old dog. Whit - a ranch worker. He is sent to town to fetch the Sheriff after Curley's wife is murdered. The Boss - a 'mice fella' (in Candy's words). He is more concerned about his work on the ranch than anyone else. CONFLICT Protagonist: The protagonist of the story is George. He is the kind-hearted ranch hand who is concerned about his friend Lennie and watches out for him. Antagonist: The antagonist of the story is George's trying to care for the handicapped Lennie. Because he has a giant's body and a child's mind, Lennie accidentally kills Curley's wife; at the same time he kills the dream of owning a farm that has kept George and Lennie positive about the future Climax: The climax occurs when Lennie accidentally kills Curley's wife. George knows that he can no longer save Lennie, for Curley will want revenge. Outcome: Of Mice and Men ends in tragedy. George feels compelled to mercifully kill his friend and companion, Lennie, in order to save him from a brutal death. The death of Lennie also marks the death of the beautiful dream they have been nurturing. MOOD The dominant mood of the story is that of expectation. This mood is developed through the dreams of the major characters. The other mood that prevails is premonitory, of impending doom. There are also other moods evoked through the actions of the characters reflecting sorrow, pity, and brutality. The novel ends on a tragic note. The mood at the end is definitely one of depression and frustration. PLOT (Synopsis) One evening, two men, on their way to a ranch, stop at a stream near the Salinas River. George, who is short and dark, leads the way. The person following him is Lennie, a giant of a man with huge arms. During their conversation by the stream, George repeatedly asks Lennie to keep his mouth shut on the ranch, suggesting that Lennie has some kind of problem. After supper and before going to sleep, the two of them talk about their dream to own a piece of land. The next day, George and Lennie travel to the ranch to start work. They are given two beds in the bunkhouse. Then Old Candy introduces them to almost everybody on the ranch. They meet the boss and the boss's son Curley, who is quite rude. They also meet Curley's wife when she comes looking for her husband. She wears heavy make-up and possesses a flirtatious attitude. George warns Lennie to behave his best around Curley and his wife. He also suggests that they should meet by the pool if anything unfortunate happens to either