The Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst Essay - 1691 Words

Have your parents ever told you that you needed to improve at something? It could be a sport, activities, or even how well you do in school. This is a vile thing for parents to do to their children. Sometimes parents just need to back up a few steps and let you be yourself. The same can happen with an older sibling! That is the case in The Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst. The narrator of this story has a younger brother called Doodle, who has some health issues. Big brother pushes little brother to be better than he is. In The Scarlet Ibis, Doodle strives for the goals that his brother sets for him for many reasons, which reflects the conflict in the story. To begin, in The Scarlet Ibis, Doodle strives for these goals because he wants†¦show more content†¦The brother’s criteria for being normal is very precise, as Doodle is expected to be indomitable. This creates conflict between Doodle and society, which is external conflict. Finally, in The Scarlet Ibis, Doodle strives for these objectives because he is dependent on his brother. Perhaps he is even scared that if he doesn’t do what his brother asks, then he will no longer have help from him. This is supported when they are in the loft and the narrator says, â€Å"And before I’ll help you down from the loft, you’re going to have to touch it.† (Page 387). He is threatening to leave Doodle up in the loft, all alone, until he touches the mahogany box which was to be his coffin. Doodle becomes very frightened by this intimidation, which is probably the cause of his fear later in the story. This causes conflict between Doodle and his older sibling because Doodle basically cannot do anything without his brother, and if he is left, he becomes panicked. Obviously, in The Scarlet Ibis, Doodle has many reasons to strive for the targets set by his brother, even though he does not have a competitive nature. One reason is that he wants to make his brother proud, which causes internal conflict for the narrator. Also, he wants to be an ordinary boy and fit in, which creates a fray between Doodle and humanity. Lastly, he is dependent on his brother and fears that he might beShow MoreRelatedThe Scarlet Ibis By James Hurst967 Words   |  4 PagesThe story of a miracle unfolding and a brother motivating is one named,† The scarlet Ibis.† This story is written by James Hurst. In â€Å"The Scarlet Ibis†, one will find, two brothers; one with the desire to run and play, named Doodle, and the other with the desire to have someone to run and play with, the narrator. Doodle had a desire to be a normal child but was born handicapped. He was a child who no one thought would live more than 2 days. However, he lived longer than that and it was soon discoveredRead More The Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst Essay711 Words   |  3 PagesThe Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst Foreshadowing, symbolism, and image are all elements which compose style.   All are very important; foreshadowing adds suspense, and symbolism contributes to interpretation.   Image contributes visual aids which, also, aid interpretation.   In this classic short story, The Scarlet Ibis, by James Hurst, foreshadowing, symbolism, and image combine to create a true literary masterpiece. Foreshadowing is one of the elements of style which make The ScarletRead MoreCharacters And Themes In Scarlet Ibis By James Hurst955 Words   |  4 Pagesbeing an older brother and isn’t quite liking him since he has a disability and tried to make him normal just so he can make himself feel better but the story ended with doodle the little boy dying and his brother feeling guilt. In the story Scarlet Ibis, james Hurst expresses that we shouldn’t try to change others through indirect characterization, symbolism, and the dark and sad tone. The characterization of the main character analyzes how cruel and rude he is the to his brother. When doodleRead MoreThe Theme Of Love In The Scarlet Ibis By James Hurst1123 Words   |  5 Pages Each and every individual is given the ability to love, however not all have the strength and courage to embrace it. Love is the most important aspect of life, but not all can accept an individuals differences. James Hurst expresses this hardship in his story â€Å"The Scarlet Ibis†. Hurst displays the importance of acceptance between two brothers, Brother and Doodle. Doodle is born with a disability that sets him apart from other children his age. Brother cannot accept the fact that his little brotherRead MoreThe Themes Of A Brother In The Scarlet Ibis By James Hurst958 Words   |  4 PagesThe short story I am basing of is the â€Å"Scarlet Ibis†. The book was written by James Hurst and is tragedy. The brother I am choosing is going to be the unnamed brother from â⠂¬Å"Scarlet Ibis†. The story is about a boy who wants a brother to play with but when he gets a brother, he is challenged physically and in the beginning they thought he was mentally challenged to. The brother in the story cares about his brother but his tolerance of his disabilities throughout the story dwindles. I think that theRead MoreStriving to Achieve Goals in The Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst Essays620 Words   |  3 Pagesus because they make us want to get something done. In the short story, â€Å"The Scarlet Ibis† by James Hurst, Doodle strives for the goals that the narrator sets because his brother pushes him to and because he wants to do something no one thinks he can do, also the goals reflect the conflict that the narrator feels about Doodle because Doodle is crippled. First, in the short story, â€Å"The Scarlet Ibis† by James Hurst, Doodle strives for the goals that the narrator sets because his brother pushesRead MoreEssay on Love Kills in The Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst584 Words   |  3 Pagescharacters until they feel as if they know them personally. Readers of the story find very specific details about the story and make many very clever connections between the strangest of things in the story but they make perfect sense. In the story, The Scarlet Ibis, many extremely surprising facts about the story were linked in a very macabre way and they were rather interesting. Many of these connections have been dissected and discussed very thoroughly, but many more challenges and connections can stillRead MoreThe Scarlet Ibis Analysis1415 Words   |  6 Pagesdreaded because there is an unpredictable world of adulthood waiting with no guarantees. James Hurst demonstrates the journey of growing up through life experiences everyone goes th rough in the short story, â€Å"The Scarlet Ibis†. Throughout his use of mood, setting, and symbolism, Hurst shows that maturing requires reflecting on past experiences and losing innocence, which then can transform one’s outlook on life. Hurst uses the mood of the story to convey the characters’ feelings and tells the audienceRead MoreThe Scarlet Ibis Analysis1001 Words   |  5 PagesJames Hurst is the author of the heart breaking short story entitled â€Å"The Scarlet Ibis†. â€Å"The Scarlet Ibis† is a short story about two brothers; one brother is healthy, while the other is physically handicapped. The short story is centered on the idea that the older, healthier brother’s selfishness and pride ultimately led to the death of his younger brother, Doodle. Numerous quotes throughout the story demonstrate Hurst’s use of symbolism and foreshadowing to portray and predict Doodle’s untimelyRead MoreThemes Of Symbolism In The Scarlet Ibis844 Words   |  4 Pagesoften used in literature to bring a deeper meaning to a story or work. These meanings can emphasize or intensify feelings of anything from love and hope, to danger and sadness. James Hurst uses symbolism in his work, â €Å"The Scarlet Ibis†, to convey and emphasize some of these feelings and ideas in his story. â€Å"The Scarlet Ibis† centers around the lives of Brother, a very driven and determined child, and his younger brother, Doodle, an innocent and naive individual with a heart condition that causes doctors

Sarbanes-Oxley Whistleblower Free Essays

Catherine Zulfer, a former employee of playboy filed a suit against them alleging that Playboy Enterprises violated provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The former employee reports that playboy retaliated against her for refusing to participate in fraudulent activity against Playboy’s shareholders (Katz, Marshall Banks, LLP, 2013). Without receiving permission from the board of directors, Christopher Pachler, Chief Financial Officer, instructed Zulfer to gather one million dollars in bonuses for various corporate officers of the company. We will write a custom essay sample on Sarbanes-Oxley Whistleblower or any similar topic only for you Order Now At that time Zulfer felt that Pachler was attempting to embezzle the money from the company, therefore she denied the request until it was approved by the board. Zulfer then informed Playboys General Counsel and the Securities and Exchange Commission of the request that was made by Pachler. Soon after Zulfer made the report, she claims that retaliation against her began. She was excluded from company meetings and discussions, crucial information to her position was withheld from her, and her accounting staff was diminishing (Katz, Marshall Banks, LLP, 2013). On December 31, 2011 Zulfer was terminated, although Playboy describes it as a layoff. Issue: Did Playboy violate the whistleblower-protection provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (â€Å"SOX†)? Rule: The Playboy Company retaliated against Zulter for refusing to participate in fraud regarding the playboy shareholders. Under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, (SOX) one rule prohibits any employer from retaliation against and employee. Another rule is that under this law employees are protected when they speak of a wrongdoing within the workplace. â€Å"Under SOX, employers are strictly prohibited from retaliating against employees who report illegal or unethical conduct. Employees are also protected when making disclosures about shareholder fraud or violations of SEC rules and regulations. † (Halunen, p. 1, Para. 1) Analysis: Append reflection Zulter dismissal was retaliation against her by the playboy company, because she reported and activity of fraud with the playboy shareholders. In this case, Zulter was continually excluded from meetings and discussions, withholding crucial information she needed to carry out her corporate accounting responsibilities, and eliminating corporate accounting staff. Conclusion: In the end, the courts dismissed playboy’s argument reaffirming that under the bylaws of (SOX) employees are protected from employees from retaliation for reporting violations of â€Å"any rule of regulation of the SEC. Zulfer was protected under the SOX Act, whistle-blower‘s of publicly traded companies are protected. Employers are not supposed to retaliate or discriminate against employees in the terms and conditions of their employment. The plaintiff provided information regarding violations the company was participating in; the violations that can be of a federal fraud statute, a rule or regulation of the SEC, or a provision of Federal law relating to fraud against shareholders. The team agrees that Zulfer was protected under the Act and that the Act is there to bring forth more white collar crimes that would not otherwise be disclosed if the was not there to protect and compensate. SOX promotes honesty without fear, the whistle-blower provisions of the SOX Act provides a general framework for ensuring that employees (including attorneys and auditors) disclose information which may harm investors. How to cite Sarbanes-Oxley Whistleblower, Papers Sarbanes-Oxley Whistleblower Free Essays Catherine Zulfer, a former employee of playboy filed a suit against them alleging that Playboy Enterprises violated provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The former employee reports that playboy retaliated against her for refusing to participate in fraudulent activity against Playboy’s shareholders (Katz, Marshall Banks, LLP, 2013). Without receiving permission from the board of directors, Christopher Pachler, Chief Financial Officer, instructed Zulfer to gather one million dollars in bonuses for various corporate officers of the company. We will write a custom essay sample on Sarbanes-Oxley Whistleblower or any similar topic only for you Order Now At that time Zulfer felt that Pachler was attempting to embezzle the money from the company, therefore she denied the request until it was approved by the board. Zulfer then informed Playboys General Counsel and the Securities and Exchange Commission of the request that was made by Pachler. Soon after Zulfer made the report, she claims that retaliation against her began. She was excluded from company meetings and discussions, crucial information to her position was withheld from her, and her accounting staff was diminishing (Katz, Marshall Banks, LLP, 2013). On December 31, 2011 Zulfer was terminated, although Playboy describes it as a layoff. Issue: Did Playboy violate the whistleblower-protection provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (â€Å"SOX†)? Rule: The Playboy Company retaliated against Zulter for refusing to participate in fraud regarding the playboy shareholders. Under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, (SOX) one rule prohibits any employer from retaliation against and employee. Another rule is that under this law employees are protected when they speak of a wrongdoing within the workplace. â€Å"Under SOX, employers are strictly prohibited from retaliating against employees who report illegal or unethical conduct. Employees are also protected when making disclosures about shareholder fraud or violations of SEC rules and regulations. † (Halunen, p. 1, Para. 1) Analysis: Append reflection Zulter dismissal was retaliation against her by the playboy company, because she reported and activity of fraud with the playboy shareholders. In this case, Zulter was continually excluded from meetings and discussions, withholding crucial information she needed to carry out her corporate accounting responsibilities, and eliminating corporate accounting staff. Conclusion: In the end, the courts dismissed playboy’s argument reaffirming that under the bylaws of (SOX) employees are protected from employees from retaliation for reporting violations of â€Å"any rule of regulation of the SEC. Zulfer was protected under the SOX Act, whistle-blower‘s of publicly traded companies are protected. Employers are not supposed to retaliate or discriminate against employees in the terms and conditions of their employment. The plaintiff provided information regarding violations the company was participating in; the violations that can be of a federal fraud statute, a rule or regulation of the SEC, or a provision of Federal law relating to fraud against shareholders. The team agrees that Zulfer was protected under the Act and that the Act is there to bring forth more white collar crimes that would not otherwise be disclosed if the was not there to protect and compensate. SOX promotes honesty without fear, the whistle-blower provisions of the SOX Act provides a general framework for ensuring that employees (including attorneys and auditors) disclose information which may harm investors. How to cite Sarbanes-Oxley Whistleblower, Papers

Henry Lee Lucas free essay sample

Henry Lee Lucas On July 11th 1983, a drifter named Henry Lee Lucas was arrested for illegal possession of a fire arm by a felon. Lucas was not at all happy about being locked up, because they were supposedly depriving him of cigarettes and coffee. After being locked up for 4 days, he admitted to one of the jailers that he had â€Å"done some bad things†. He told that he had killed for the last 10 years. He was already a suspect in 2 murders, and the offices were sure that they would soon have enough information to close these 2 cases. Lucas admitted that he had killed Kate Rich and Becky Powell. While in court for these murders, he admitted that he’d had sex with the body, cut it into pieces and burned it in a wood stove. He also said that he had killed at least a hundred more. Police started questioning Lucas about other unsolved murders all over the country. We will write a custom essay sample on Henry Lee Lucas or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page He would admit to them and tell them some details about the crime that would link him to it. Over a period of time, he started offering more information about murders that he had not even been questioned about. He said that he usually picked up hitchhikers then he would quickly kill them and have sex with the body because he preferred sexual contact with a corpse. He generally used a knife or strangulation, but said that he liked to try different methods so that he didn’t leave a pattern for the police to follow. Lucas also later confessed to killing his mother. He said that she was an alcoholic and was mean to him. Some claims say that she supported the family by bootlegging and prostitution. Lucas claimed that his mother made him watch her entertain her clients. He claims that after walking out of the room one time because he was disgusted with her actions, she found him and hit him in the head with a wooden board. He said that after that, he had dizzy spells and headaches. On January 11, 1960, Lucas and his mother got into an argument and Lucas grabbed a knife and plunged it into her neck. He was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 20 years. He served 10. Another claim that he made was that of one of his mother’s clients. He said that this man turned him on to bestiality by showing him how to have sex with the corpse of a dog or sheep. He said that he first killed someone just before he turned 15. He said that the reason was so that he could see what it felt like to have sex with a human. Lucas had a traveling companion/lover named Odis Toole. Toole supposedly assisted Lucas in these heinous crimes. Toole’s niece, Becky Powell, began to travel with them. Lucas began to fall in love with her. He decided to take Becky for himself, so he and Becky left Toole and went to TX. Toole was not happy about them leaving. He had lost his longtime lover and his niece. He supposedly killed several people over a 6 month period of time. He also confessed to kidnapping and killing a small boy named, Adam Walsh. Adam’s father was inspired after the killing of his son, to start the popular show, America’s Most Wanted. After living in TX for a while, Becky wanted to come home. Lucas resisted, but later told her to gather her things. They began to hitchhike. He continued trying to get her to change her mind. She did not. At one point, they got into an argument and she slapped him. He took his knife and stabbed her in the heart. He drug her off over and embankment and had sex with her corpse. He cut her up into 9 pieces and spread them over a field. He later returned and gathered the pieces and buried them under a tree. He then returned to where they were living in TX, and to a lady named Kate Rich. He wanted to kill again. He asked Kate if she wanted to help him look for Becky (knowing that she was dead). She agreed and went with him. He drove to the end of a dirt road and stabbed Kate in the side, puncturing her heart. He was immediately aroused. He dragged her from the car and had sex with her body. He cut her up, also, and took her back to where they were living in TX and put her in a stove to burn her remains. After much investigation, and examination of the times and places that some of the murders took place that Lucas had admitted to , police began to question whether or not he was telling the truth. They later figured out that he was lying about several of the instances, because some of them were even committed when he was locked up for other crimes that he had committed. It was also found that he was known to be in a different place when he claimed to have killed in another state many miles away. Lucas claimed to have committed over 360 murders. It was eventually claimed that the police were so interested in closing some of their open murder cases that they would show Lucas the case files to â€Å"refresh his memory†. He in turn used it to his benefit by tying himself to the murders by telling evidence that was never released to the public. The police actually cleared around 213 cases through Lucas’ confessions. He was convicted of only 11 homicides; although some criminologist say that he was responsible for between 40-50 murders. In 1998, Gov. George W. Bush of TX commuted the death penalty that Lucas was handed, to a sentence of life.

Toyotas Culture and Leadership Strategy

Theoretical Background Efficient leadership is seen as one of the crucial factors affecting the company’s performance. Researchers, as well as practitioners, stress that leadership strategy should be consistent with the organisational strategy as well as the culture of the company (Witcher Chau 2010).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Toyota’s Culture and Leadership Strategy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Bersin (2012) claims that a high-profile top manager can be unable to run a company if he/she chooses the wrong leadership strategy or worse has no leadership strategy at all. Toyota has been one of the examples of an organisation with the strong leadership consistent with the company’s organisational strategy. It is possible to evaluate the leadership strategy employed to get an idea of the way effective leadership strategy is linked to the organisational strategy. The evaluation of the co mpany’s leadership strategy should be considered in terms of the theoretical framework. The transformational theory has been regarded as the most efficient leadership approach for decades (Witcher Chau 2010). In terms of this paradigm, the leader inspires team members and implements the change. At that, the change should be ongoing as the business world is constantly transforming. Notably, such frameworks as lean leadership and servant leadership have been developed within the transformational theory. These leadership styles are based on the concept of collaboration, effective communication, guidance and mentoring. The styles will be discussed in more detail based on the particular example of Toyota. Toyota’s Background First, it is necessary to provide some background information about the company in question. Toyota was founded in 1937 when it produced its first automobiles. Importantly, one family runs the company throughout its entire history. This contributes to the creation of a particular culture and vision in the organisation. In 1958, the company penetrated the US market (Company history 2015). This was the start of the company’s global growth. Now, it is a high-performing company with a significant market share. It has also developed rapidly, and it had 9.7% of the global market share in 1998 while it achieved 13% market share in 2008 (Cole 2011). Schwagerman and Ulmer (2013) emphasise that the company has grown steadily for 40 years though other carmakers’ sales decreased. The financial crisis of 2008 had a significant adverse impact on the development of the company and led to some reduction in production. However, the company managed to overcome the difficulties and was even more successful than its primary competitors who faced more substantial losses.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More At that, the quake-tsunami that took place in 2011 was a significant impact the company is still trying to recover from. The natural disaster disrupted the supply chain that was highly efficient but unprepared for such a large-scale crisis (Agence France-Presse 2013). It is noteworthy that Toyota has been an illustration or even a symbol of performance excellence and high quality. Piotrowski and Guyette (2010, p. 90) note that the organisation has been â€Å"touted as the pinnacle of automotive excellence† by such rating agencies as Consumer Reports. Nonetheless, there have been a number of constraints associated with poor quality, and the company had to recall millions of cars in the 2000s. For instance, the scandal associated with car mats took place in 2009 (Cole 2011). Another serious quality crisis took place in 2010 when the company lost more than $2 billion as repair costs (Piotrowski Guyette 2010). Such crises had a significant adverse effect on the company’s performance and image. It is clear that some changes should be implemented. Thus, Mark Hogan who is American and has not moved through the ranks of the company was appointed (Agence France-Presse 2013). Some other international professionals are also promoted to top management positions to link the company’s leadership to the global market trends and peculiarities. Toyota’s Leadership Toyota’s Leadership and Culture Irrespective of numerous difficulties, the company is still one of the leaders of the industry. It is necessary to evaluate the strengths of the leadership strategy used in the company to come up with methods to improve it. Liker and Convis (2011) provide a detailed analysis of the company’s approach to leadership and note that lean leadership employed has proved to be effective and consistent with the organisational strategy and culture. Toyota is regarded as the creator of the lean leadership strategy, which is based on the principles introduced by Henry Ford (Shang 2014). Importantly, the lean approach has proved to be inefficient when it is not linked to the corporate culture of the organisation (Al-Najem, Dhakal Bennett 2012). To understand the essence of the lean leadership, it is crucial to consider some peculiarities of the company’s culture. Toyota’s culture is characterised by the so-called 4P model that consists of such major elements as philosophy, process, people/partners and problem solving (Liker Hoseus 2008).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Toyota’s Culture and Leadership Strategy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Characteristic features of this culture are the emphasis on open communication, development and training as well as building trust. Liker and Hoseus (2008) highlight two primary parts within Toyota’s culture. The external part starts with the organisation’s customers while the internal part concentrates on employee s and their involvement in the culture. Importantly, the basic principle of the company (and the core of its culture) is ‘go and see’ (Daft Samson 2014). The case when Kiichiro Toyoda found one of his workers standing in front of his machine trying to understand why it was not working. The founder of the company literally rolled up his sleeves and looked into the machine’s pan. He found a lot of sludge there, which was the reason for the malfunction. This case has become one of the major concepts for the organisation’s employees (executives, managers, workers and so on) who have been trained that to understand the core of the problem it is essential to dig into it. The Role of the Leader The role of the leader is clearly defined and incorporated into the organisational culture. Hence, the leader is an observer who spends a lot of time with employees and is an empathetic listener (Wilson 2013). The leader is a lifelong learner who is ready to acquire knowl edge or to be trained. The leader is an initiator who develops, communicates and implements the plan. This is the person who is able to take risks as well. The leader is a lifelong teacher who is eager to find and realise new teaching opportunities. The leader is a role model who inspires employees. Finally, the leader is a supporter who encourages, guides employees and who has the necessary skills of the so-called servant leadership. Servant leadership presupposes prioritising employees at the top while placing the leader at the bottom of the pyramid (Shang 2014). Such leaders have three primary responsibilities. First, they support the operations, which implies guidance and mentoring. Secondly, they promote the system, which presupposes effective articulation of the vision and mission as well as development of the healthy atmosphere in the company. Finally, they lead the change through mentoring, encouragement and employment of various tools. Importantly, the servant leadership al so involves the concept of value-adding work, which is the process of doing tasks in the environment where all members add value.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Lean Leadership Since Toyota’s culture is described, it is possible to define lean leadership and evaluate its effectiveness. The concept of the lean leadership has developed from the lean manufacture. The primary concern of the latter is eliminating wastes. The concept transcended other areas, and now lean leaders focus on eliminating any wastes in production, quality, provision of services, communication, and so on. The central goal of the lean approach is to change the culture of the organisation from â€Å"passive and defensive to open and pro-active† (Al-Najem, Dhakal Bennett 2012, p. 125). The company with lean leadership ensures that customers are the major priority, and the customers should also feel that. This type of leadership presupposes elimination of barriers between senior management and employees. Another characteristic feature of the lean approach is standardisation (Chandra 2013). Mann (2009) stresses that lean leadership can be effective when senior management adopts it and sets an example, which leads to the development of the corresponding mind-set. As has been mentioned above, the leadership strategy has to be closely linked to the company’s culture, and this is the case with Toyota. The company’s corporate culture is based on the principle of empowerment of employees who are trained and committed to the culture. Leaders have to go and see what is really happening on the site. Prior to obtaining the right to make decisions, they have to be at â€Å"gemba†, which is the place where â€Å"the value-creating work happens† (Ahmed 2013, p. 32). There are no barriers between senior management and employees. Cooperation and open communication are the basis of the decision-making process. Finally, both Toyota’s culture and leadership strategy are based on the principle of empowerment. All employees are adding value, which is especially crucial when it comes to quality. Improvements to Be Made None theless, it is clear that the company, which has always been a symbol of high quality, has been involved in a number of quality scandals. This shows inefficiency of the leadership practices. Senior managers seem to forget about the ‘go and see’ principle or worse they chose to conceal some issues, which later led to significant impairment of the quality of products and services provided (Rajasekera 2013). Hence, it is essential to make sure that senior managers are committed to the culture as the lean leadership starts with top management. At that, these leaders should also be aware of major trends existing in the global market to be ready to address various issues that can occur (Agence France-Presse 2013). It seems that the principle of reporting about problems and malfunctions rather than concealing them was abandoned in the late 2000s (Piotrowski Guyette 2010). The organisation is lacking for transparency when it comes to operations, as well as communication among employees. These impairments in the leadership practice can be removed through the implementation of the change. Employees should be trained and mentored to become more committed to the corporate culture of the organisation. Apart from that, it is clear that the leadership failed in the period of crisis. The quake-tsunami in Japan and the flood in Thailand in the 2010s impaired the supply chain of the company, and it was unprepared to act in the time of crisis. Heineman (2014) stresses that crisis management should be incorporated into the leadership strategy utilised. The focus on quality should remain but executives should pay more attention to possible threats and crisis situations. The practice based on the ‘go and see’ principle should be facilitated by practices based on the principle ‘evaluate and foresee’. Employees should constantly question decisions made and make sure that the slightest issues are tackled properly. Finally, the organisation has t o be more transparent when it comes to internal as well as external communication. Rajasekera (2013) argues that Toyota’s inability to employ social networking has led to a significant damage of the company’s reputation. At that, modern customers are heavy users of such kind of technologies. More so, public opinion is often constructed through social networks. Therefore, it is crucial to utilise this platform as a way to increase the organisation’s openness. The focus should be made on the quality. Conclusion On balance, it is necessary to note that Toyota has long been a symbol of quality in business operations and leadership. The company has developed and successfully utilised the lean leadership. This paradigm consists in the elimination of all possible ‘waste’ in operations, manufacture, communication, leadership and so on. It presupposes elimination of barriers between senior managers and the rest of the employees. It is also based on the princ iple ‘go and see’ where all employees are active contributors adding the value. The leadership strategy is closely connected with the organisational culture, which makes it so efficient. However, the company has had certain difficulties associated with impaired quality lately. At that, the situation can be improved if Toyota returns to the core values and practices. The major focus should be made on such aspects as decision-making, transparency, and crisis management. Reference List Agence France-Presse 2013, ‘Toyota leadership changes signal new direction, analysts say‘, Industry Week. Web. Ahmed, M. H. 2013, ‘Lean transformation guidance: why organisations fail to achieve and sustain excellence through lean empowerment’, International Journal of Lean Thinking, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 31-40. Al-Najem, M., Dhakal, H. N. Bennett, N. 2012, ‘The role of culture and leadership in lean transformation: a review and assessment model’, Internat ional Journal of Lean Thinking, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 119-138. Bersin, J. 2012, ‘It’s not the CEO, it’s the leadership strategy that matters‘, Forbes. Web. Chandra, P. V. 2013, ‘Approach to lean leadership through creating a lean culture’, International Journal of Engineering Science and Innovative Technology, vol. 2, no. 4, pp. 35-40. Cole, R. E. 2011, ‘What really happened to Toyota?’, MITSloan Management Review, vol. 52, no. 4, pp. 28-35. Company history, 2015. Web. Daft, R. L. Samson, D. 2014, Fundamentals of management: Asia Pacific edition, Cengage Learning Australia, South Melbourne. Heineman, B. W. 2014, ‘The crisis management lesson from Toyota and GM: â€Å"It’s our problem the moment we hear about it†Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ, Harvard Business Review. Web. Liker, J. Convis, G. L. 2011, The Toyota way to lean leadership: achieving and sustaining excellence through leadership development, McGraw-Hill Professional, New Yor k. Liker, J. Hoseus, M. 2008, Toyota culture: the heart and soul of the Toyota way, McGraw-Hill Professional, New York. Mann, D. 2009, ‘The missing link: lean leadership’, Frontiers of Health Services Management, vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 15-26. Piotrowski, C. Guyette, R. W. 2010, ‘Toyota recall crisis: public attitudes on leadership and ethics’, Organization Development Journal, vol. 28, no. 2, pp. 89-97. Rajasekera, J. 2013, ‘Challenges to Toyota caused by recall problems, social networks and digitisation’, Asian Academy of Management Journal, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 1-17. Schwagerman, W. C. Ulmer, J. M. 2013, ‘The A3 lean management and leadership thought process’, The Journal of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering, vol. 29, no. 4, pp. 2-10. Shang, G. 2014, ‘Toyota way lean leadership: some preliminary findings from the Chinese construction industry’, in Proceedings of IGLC22, Oslo, pp. 1145-1156. Wilson, L. 20 13, ‘Six qualities of lean leadership’, Industry Week. Web. Witcher, B. J. Chau, V. S. 2010, Strategic management: principles and practice, Cengage Learning EMEA, Hampshire. This essay on Toyota’s Culture and Leadership Strategy was written and submitted by user Otto Skinner to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

The Inevitable Collapse of The Roman Republic essays

The Inevitable Collapse of The Roman Republic essays The Roman Empire began in 509 B.C. and lasted till the 6 B.C. The Romans who were highly inspired by the Greeks adapted their governing system. But instead of just limiting their government to city-states, they brought new ideas into their government. They established a ruling senate which was the basis's of their ruling power. The Senate was composed of large landowning aristocrats that composed laws that they could benefit from. The plebeians "poor people" demanded equal representation in the Senate. This battle was won and they were awarded the Plebian Assembly. But as history passed, the senate would no longer need the assembly's approval and this would start the deterioration of the Roman Republic and many other variables. Rome was the epicenter of the Hellenistic period, they gradually grew to occupy all of the Mediterranean. With these conquered lands they enslaved all of the people except for their close neighbors. These slaves were sold to all people of Rome. They took over the workforce. Aristocrats would buy hundreds of slaves and use them for their benefit in their huge plantations "Latifundias." Since the small farmers were the backbone of Rome, they were forced to sell their lands because of shady politics and overtaxing. Thus they would move to the city to find jobs. But since all the jobs were occupied by slaves there was no work for the poor people "the proletariat." This struggle for jobs gradually ruined the economy of Rome and forced the poor people to become even poorer and the rich people even richer. With the slave industrialization, Rome also did a lot of importing instead of exporting which hurt their economy as well. Rome because of its brutal warfare tactics hurt their image as a peaceful empire. Their war with the Carthage, the Punic Wars, brought another side to Rome's growing personality. During these wars, Rome was on the brink of capture when Hannibal almost walked into the walls of Rome. But the R...

10 Ways to Maximize Research at the Courthouse or Archives

10 Ways to Maximize Research at the Courthouse or Archives The process of researching your family tree will eventually lead you to a courthouse, library, archives or other repository of original documents and published sources. The day-to-day joys and hardships of your ancestors’ lives can often be found documented among the numerous original records of the local court, while the library may contain a wealth of information on their community, neighbors and friends. Marriage certificates, family histories, land grants, military rosters and a wealth of other genealogical clues are tucked away in folders, boxes, and books just waiting to be discovered. Before heading for the courthouse or library, however, it helps to prepare. Try these 10 tips for planning your visit and maximizing your results. 1. Scout the Location The first, and most important, step in onsite genealogy research is learning which government most likely had jurisdiction over the area in which your ancestors lived during the time they lived there. In many places, especially in the United States, this is the county or county equivalent (e.g. parish, shire). In other areas, the records may be found housed in town halls, probate districts or other jurisdictional authorities. Youll also have to bone up on changing political and geographical boundaries to know who actually had jurisdiction over the area where your ancestor lived for the time period youre researching, and who has current possession of those records. If your ancestors lived near the county line, you may find them documented among the records of the adjoining county. While a bit uncommon, I actually have an ancestor whose land straddled the county lines of three counties, making it necessary for me to routinely check the records of all three counties (and their parent co unties!) when researching that particular family. 2. Who Has the Records? Many of the records youll need, from vital records to land transactions, are likely to be found at the local courthouse. In some cases, however, the older records may have been transferred to a state archives, local historical society, or other repository. Check with members of the local genealogical society, at the local library, or online through resources such as the Family History Research Wiki or GenWeb  to learn where the records for your location and time period of interest might be found. Even within the courthouse, different offices usually hold different types of records, and may maintain different hours and even be located in different buildings. Some records may also be available in multiple locations, as well, in microfilm or printed form. For U.S. research, The Handybook for Genealogists or Red Book: American State, County and Town Sources, both include state-by-state and county-by-county lists of which offices hold which records. You may also want to explore WPA Hist orical Records Survey inventories, if available for your locality, to identify other potential records. 3. Are the Records Available? You dont want to plan a trip halfway across the country only to find that the records you seek were destroyed in a courthouse fire in 1865. Or that the office stores the marriage records in an offsite location, and they need to be requested in advance of your visit. Or that some of the county record books are being repaired, microfilmed, or are otherwise temporarily unavailable. Once youve determined the repository and records you plan to research, it is definitely worth the time to call to make sure the records are available for research. If the original record you seek is no longer extant, check the Family History Library Catalog to see if the record is available on microfilm. When I was told by a North Carolina county deed office that Deed Book A had been missing for some time, I was still able to access a microfilmed copy of the book through my local Family History Center. 4. Create a Research Plan As you enter the doors of a courthouse or library, its tempting to want to jump into everything at once. There usually arent enough hours in the day, however, to research all records for all of your ancestors in one short trip. Plan your research before you go, and youll be less tempted by distractions and less likely to miss important details. Create a checklist with names, dates and details for each record you plan to research in advance of your visit, and then check them off as you go. By focusing your search on just a few ancestors or a few record types, youll be more likely to achieve your research goals. 5. Time Your Trip Before you visit, you should always contact the courthouse, library or archives to see if there are any access restrictions or closures which may affect your visit. Even if their website includes operating hours and holiday closures, it is still best to confirm this in person. Ask if there are any limits on the number of researchers, if you have to sign up in advance for microfilm readers, or if any courthouse offices or special library collections maintain separate hours. It also helps to ask if there are certain times which are less busy than others. Next 5 More Tips for Your Courthouse Visit Research Tips 1-5 6. Learn the Lay of the Land Each genealogical repository you visit is going to be slightly different - whether its a different layout or setup, different policies and procedures, different equipment, or a different organizational system. Check the facilitys website, or with other genealogists who utilize the facility, and familiarize yourself with the research process and procedures before you go. Check the card catalog online, if it is available, and compile a list of the records you want to research, along with their call numbers. Ask if there is a reference librarian who specializes in your specific area of interest, and learn what hours he/she will be working. If records youll be researching use a certain type of index system, such as the Russell Index, then it helps to familiarize yourself with it before you go. 7. Prepare for Your Visit Courthouse offices are often small and cramped, so it is best to keep your belongings to a minimum. Pack a single bag with a notepad, pencils, coins for the photocopier and parking, your research plan and checklist, a brief summary of what you already know about the family, and a camera (if allowed). If you plan to take a laptop computer, make sure that you have a charged battery, because many repositories do not provide electrical access (some do not allow laptops). Wear comfortable, flat shoes, as many courthouses don’t offer tables and chairs, and you may spend a lot of time on your feet. 8. Be Courteous Respectful Staff members at archives, courthouses and libraries are generally very helpful, friendly people, but they are also very busy trying to do their job. Respect their time and avoid pestering them with questions not specifically related to research in the facility or hold them hostage with tales about your ancestors. If you have a genealogy how-to question or trouble reading a particular word that just cant wait, it is usually better to ask another researcher (just dont pester them with multiple questions either). Archivists also greatly appreciate researchers who refrain from requesting records or copies just before closing time! 9. Take Good Notes Make Plenty of Copies While you may take the time to reach a few on-site conclusions about the records you find, it is usually best to take everything home with you where you have more time to examine it thoroughly for every last detail. Make photocopies of everything, if possible. If copies arent an option, then take the time to make a transcription or abstract, including misspellings. On each photocopy, make note of the complete source for the document. If you have time, and money for copies, it can also be helpful to make copies of the complete index for your surname(s) of interest for certain records, such as marriages or deeds. One of them may later make an appearance in your research 10. Concentrate on the Unique Unless the facility is one you can easily access on a regular basis, it is often beneficial to begin your research with the parts of its collection that arent easily available elsewhere. Concentrate on original records that havent been microfilmed, family papers, photograph collections, and other unique resources. At the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, for example, many researchers begin with the books as they are generally not available on loan, while the microfilms can be borrowed through your local Family History Center, or sometimes viewed online. Sources Eichholz, Alice (Editor). Red Book: American State, County Town Sources. 3rd Revised edition, Ancestry Publishing, June 1, 2004. Hansen, Holly (Editor). The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America. 11th Edition, Revised edition, Everton Pub, February 28, 2006.

The Leader as Communicator Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The Leader as Communicator - Assignment Example Intellectuals have pinpointed some core competencies that are essential for the leaders (Leading Concepts, 2012). An effective leader should have an ability to express information or convey his/her message explicitly and appropriately. He/she should understand the significances of good oral communication with colleagues, managers and other executive class office members. A leaders communication style should be efficient enough to grab listeners’ attention and encourage them to fulfill the assigned task effectively (Leading Concepts, 2012). However, it has noticed that mass communication is more effective than the individual communication because in mass communication messages are designed more strategically that directly hit cognition of large audience and uniform passive perception that help all members to work with unity (Harris, 2009). For developing good communication skills it is very important for leaders to develop good listening habit at first place. Then develop an ability to make eye contact during communication process (Barker, 2010). Moreover, it is important to always design messages in mind before triggering them to the audience and most importantly never send mixed messages. It is because mixed messages can reduce the effectiveness of the communication process and might contribute to weaken the accomplishment of desired aims (Barker,