Write about your reactions to the final part of Hamlet Essay Example for Free

Write about your reactions to the final part of Hamlet EssayAt the start of the break off we see Hamlet returning to Denmark from university, as he has heard the news of his farther, Old-Hamlets death. He arrives home possibly theoriseing that he s student residence at a time take the place as the king of Denmark, only to scupper that while he was a federal agency Claudius, his uncle and Gertrude, his start out have been wed. Therefore Claudius, not Hamlet, takes the place as King of Denmark. When Hamlet discovers this he becomes almost deranged, especi completelyy when Old-Hamlet appears to him in a form of a ghost, revealing that Claudius killed Old-Hamlet. This knowledge forces him to feel betrayed by all nigh him, such as the politicians that once supported his father and now show that same respect to Claudius. He feels that he can not trust his mother or Ophelia, his girlfriend. When travelling actors arrive Hamlet decides to put on a play to draw Claudius out, by se eing if he would react to a play about a brother killing a king to steal the crown. Claudius rushes out when the play is acted, showing that he is responsible for the killing of old-Hamlet.Hamlet follows quickly behind him and is about to strike Claudius down when he hears him committing his acts to god. Hamlet decides not to kill him, as when old-Hamlet was killed he did not have to commit his sins to god, so he was stuck in purgatory, a place where what you have done is weighted up, in good and bad to decide what will happen to them. Instead of killing Claudius he then proceeds to his mother to tell her of what he has found, hearing a sound he turns and thrusts a sword into a curtain, thinking that it was Claudius, only to discover that it was Polonius, Ophelias father, whom then dies.Claudius decides to send Hamlet to England to be killed, only to have Hamlet foil his plan. Hamlet returns to find while he has gone Ophelia has gone gruesome and has drowned her self, grief strick en he leaps into her grave. Laertes, Ophelias brother and Poloniuss son then challenges Hamlet to a affaire dhonneur which he Hamlet accepts. Laertes is then approached by Claudius who offers to fix the postulate by poisoning his foils tip, Laertes grief stricken accepts this offer to revenge the two deaths in his family.The Ending of Hamlet sees the deaths of Laertes, Claudius, Gertrude and most importantly Hamlet. We in addition witness a change in the character of Hamlet, as he is now thinking less and acting more. He even mocks Laertes Ill be your foil Laertes, in my ignorance your skill shall like astar i th darkest night stick fiery off indeed. In this scene we as an audience feel the hammy tension, as we know all the traps lay in front of Hamlet, the poisoned foil of Laertes, and the cold goblet of wine poured by Claudius.Yet you find your self thinking that perhaps Hamlet knows that something is way out on when he asks These foils have all a length This is to command th e attention of the audience to the poison tip of Laertes foil, which within the duel is held of to prolong the dramatic tension. This is the same way Hamlets action is held of with his obsession with procrastinating about the action which is to be taken to revenge his fathers death. This scene is made more dramatic by the frequent use of trumpets and kettle drums.The use of musical cats-paws in this way makes the environment appear more exciting. Hamlet tries to explain his actions of his new-fangled self by asking give me your pardon sir, for I have done you wrong, but goes on to say it was not Hamlet, was his cult and also admits that his madness is poor Hamlets enemy. This excuse is not accepted by Laertes for in his terms of honour I stand aloof the only reason he is going along with the duel is to keep his name ungored, and also to revenge his fathers and sisters deaths.The use of language is of a high-class because the word ungored reminds us of the poisoned tip of the foi l and what Laertes planes to do with it. Before the duel can start, Claudius plans to drink to Hamlets better breath, this is ironic as Claudius has already planed to poison Hamlets goblet of wine with a pearl. Claudius observes to this as a union, which could refer to the way in which old-Hamlet and Hamlet are to be killed, as old-Hamlet was also killed with poison that Claudius gave him.Claudius also performs this task to show the people around him that he is financial backing Hamlet, so he is not thought to be guilty of Hamlets death. After the king drinks to Hamlet there is another out burst of sound as the trumpets are blown, this is also to add to the already excited atmosphere to start the duel. This leaves the audience knowing more than the victim. The next part of the text is flare up a series of short sentences, this is to create the speed of the duel and how the points are awarded by touches.The style of writing is used to build the dramatic tension amid the two compe titors. As you see Hamlet gaining the hits over Laertes, and with one hit left you start to think that Hamlet has foiled Claudiuss plan, and even avoids the poisoned goblet on two accounts. Mean while Claudius shows in this scene that he is now completely taking the place of his brother, as he speaks aside to Gertrude our son shall win. This pocketable sentence shows what a twisted man he really is, as the words our son show as Hamlet is his brothers son and Claudius is only his uncle.moreover this shows that he is comfortable that his plan to poison Hamlet will be successful. Claudius is therefore shocked when Gertrude takes up Hamlets goblet to drink to him, Claudius then shouts to Gertrude, Gertrude do not drink. This line is probably by best line as it creates an atmosphere within the hall, as Claudius is pulled between saving his wife and not letting the hall of people know that he has poisoned Hamlets goblet of Hamlets wine, but in the end he is out for himself, as he does no t take the goblet away from Gertrude.At this same point I think Gertrude believes all the things that Hamlet has told her earlier in the play and feels so bad that she drinks the poison, in a way this makes up for the betrayal that she committed towards her family and also the memory of Old-Hamlet. Again Hamlet dare not drink from his goblet as he wants to finish the duel first. This saves him from the poisoned goblet, therefore he only has one problem before him and thats Laertes revenge. Before the third round is started Laertes strikes out violently and wounds Hamlet, therefore poisoning him, yet to do so is almost against his conscience.In the incense of the fight, as it is no longer an honourable duel, the foils are swapped and Laertes tastes his own venom, he is justly killed by his own treachery. The fag mean while is laid out on the floor with Claudius attending to her she then calls out the truth about the drink I am poisoned. At this point Hamlet knows that some treachery is around and he calls for all the doors to be locked and to seek it out. This again changes the mood of the hall and creates a room sufficient of scourge, as people are screaming and talking in worried voices.Laertes is the first to commit that he has wronged, Hamlet, thou art slain and that the treacherous instrument is in thy hand. Laertes also names who the blame should rest upon the King, the Kings to blame. At this point in the Branna film Hamlet troughs the foil at Claudius and wounds him. This causes another wave of panic to throng through the witnesses. Claudiuss last thought is for himself O yet defend me friends. This makes Hamlet angry and starts to make Claudius drink the poisoned goblet while saying all the sins Claudius has committed, incestuous, murderous, damned Dane.Again union is used to link Claudiuss death to Gertrudes, as he is united with her in death. This could also refer to the way both the brothers were killed with poison. The pettishness of Hamlet cha nges the atmosphere into a mute. Laertes then exchanges forgiveness with Hamlet, as Laertes dies. Hamlet is also feeling the poison within him as he admits to Horatio I am beat(p). He next turns to the rest of the witnesses in the hall this is a much more kingly way to die thinking of his country and giving compassion to Fortinbras as the next king.When Fortinbras arrives there is once again a burst of sound, but this is not to stir excitement, it is more to command respect. When he enters he is met with the dead bodies of the royal family. When Hamlet is taken away he is carried like a soldier to the stage, as Fortinbras believes that Hamlet would have been a mighty king. I think this ending to Hamlet is a fitting ending to the play as it contains a lot of dramatic tension and a lot of action. This ending also contains a lot of honour with every thing that was wrong being righted.

Research Article Critique: Theories of Helping

Research Article look back Theories of HelpingResearch Article CritiqueWong Hiu TungResearch Article CritiqueSprecher, S., Fehr, B., Zimmerman, C. (2007). Expectation for mood sweetening as a result of part The effect of gender and compassionate sack out. Sex Roles, 56, 543-549. doi 10.1007/s11199-007-9192-6Introductory of summary of the learningIn this article, Sprecher, Fehr, and Zimmerman (2007) attempted to inquire how gender and the propensity to experience the compassionate love for opposites are associated with the announce of the sweetening of positive mood from giving help to others and receiving help from others. They aim to ensure whether the several psychological theories of helping, which suggested that people provide help due to receiving benefits, are correct or not. More specifically, the benefit received from helping could be the self-benefit, which is the sweetener of positive mood.As a result, the participants, 47 males and 133 feminines from U.S. Mid western public university, were asked to complete the randomly assigned questionnaire, either imagine themselves as the giver or the telephone receiver of the helping acts, during the class. Firstly, participants were asked to rate the degree to which each helping behaviour was a good example of compassionate love. Secondly, they were asked to imagine the eight helping acts, which involved make a special meal, buying a pass on, expressing empathy and caring, verbal support for a tough decision, providing care when sick, a surprise gift, a call when feeling down, and adhesive up for another, occurring with close friend and to assess what degree would they experience an maturation in positive emotions as a consequence of each of the helping act. Finally, they immaculate the Compassionate Love Scale about their compassionate love for others.This study found that all helping behaviours in this research were good examples of compassionate love and were expected to increase the mood o f the individual. More specially, females are more likely to have an arithmetic mean of enhancing positive mood as a result of both helping and receiving help in a relational context than males. Moreover, individuals who are high in compassionate love for others are more likely to forecast their enhancement of positive emotion from giving and receiving help than those who are lower on compassionate love. Altruism and gender role are the meaning of these results.CritiqueResearch Topic and QuestionThe problem is clearly stated and is researchable by examining how gender and compassionate love are associated with mood enhancement from helping respectively. in that location are three variable in the research question and most of them are clearly defined. The mood enhancement is clearly defined as the increase of positive emotion, such as happiness, joy, or satisfaction. The compassionate love also had well-defined with the support of forceful psychological literature. Nevertheless, th e definition of helping behaviours was ambiguous. The helping behaviours are defined briefly that merely included the eight helping acts, and stated that those helping acts are commonly experienced in the friendships of young adults. Therefore, it may regard to provide a clear definition of helping behaviours in order to clarify which behaviour can be involved in the situation of helping within this study.Literature ReviewThe round off is relevant to the research questions and design. The researchers cite previous studies of the association between helping and different variables respectively, such as gender, receiving benefit, and the situational and dispositional variables. Moreover, the check over included the previous studies which related the design and the research question of the present study and pointed out the demarcation lines of the previous studies in order to justify the contents of their research. However, the review did not include the literature which contradict s to the foreseeion of the study, for example, the helping behaviours may not be determined by the rewarding.SamplingThe participants were similar in term of bringing up level, ethnicity and social class to reduce the intervention of those variable. Lack of the method of selecting the sample is the limit point of this study. It merely depict the subprogram of participants and the ratio of the majority and the background of the participants, only have not reported the sampling method. Furthermore, the ratio of the participants gender may not appropriate for this research which the number of the female participants was almost triple of the number of male participants. Since the gender is one of the considerable variables in this study, it is hardly to conclude the effects of gender in the expectation for mood enhancement due to the dissymmetry of the ratio of the participants gender.Method SelectionThe selected method is appropriate to the research question. Since the questionn aire was the most appropriate and convenient method of self-report, it is competent for examining the expectation of mood enhancement. In addition, the scenario study can relatively be provided adequate answers to the research question. Because the participants can be easier to imagine the several helping acts by the provided scenarios than the non-scenario questions, the participants can more accurately predict the unrestrained changing after giving or receiving help.The selected helping acts may not be the most proper indicator of helping behaviour as the limitation of the study, especially making a special meal, buying a present and giving a surprise gift. In general, those three helping behaviours in this research cannot be generalized as helping behaviours because these behaviours may occur in other situations kind of than the situation of helping, for example, we may buy a present to our friends for their birthday. Moreover, the participants may increase their mood due to t he external reward instead of receiving help. For instance, the participants may feel happy, as well as mood enhancement, because of the gift rather than receiving the help. Therefore, the validity of the research is low since the three helping acts are not appropriate as the helping behaviours.ProcedureThe designed procedure is clearly described regarding the work of the researchers and appropriate to answer the question of the study. First, the pre-test administered to the small group of similar students assessed the effectiveness of the eight helping behaviours. It was appropriated to ensure that the eight helping behaviours are suitable to measure the mood enhancement as a result of those helping acts. Second, the procedure had protected the confidentiality of the research participants due to the anonymous and voluntary questionnaire. One limitation of the study is that the questionnaire was completed during the class time. In general, the time impel mostly occurred in the lect ure because of the pressing courses. Therefore, the participants may complete the questionnaire arbitrarily, as well as answering inaccurately, because of the time pressure. As a result, the questionnaire can be completed in their leisure time in order to reduce the time pressure as an influential factor.Data Gathering and AnalysisThere are several strengths in this section. The data are presented clearly and fully that the results are clearly separated into three sections of the research question which base on the sections of the questionnaire the helping behaviours were good examples of compassionate love, the association between gender and the expectation of mood enhancement as a result of the helping acts, and the association between compassionate love and the expectation of mood enhancement as a result of the helping acts. Also, the appropriate inferential and descriptive statistics are clearly described in text and presented in organized tables.Furthermore, the results are cle arly stated which correlations failed to reach the conditional relation for the helping acts in giving and receiving conditions. For example, male and female participants ratings of the giving or receiving a surprise gift did not differ significantly in expectation of mood enhancement.Interpretations, Conclusions and DiscussionThe researchers clearly concluded that the results of the study provide support for the two hypotheses. However, the results may not conclude that the gender is associate with the forecast of a specific self-benefit because the number of male participants are relative extremely smaller than the number of female participants. Therefore, the association between gender and expectation for mood enhancement is not representative.Although the researchers made a clear interpretations of the results in terms of the gender role and altruism, they had not explained the results of failing to reach the significance for the helping acts as the limitation of the study as w ell. For example, the helping act of giving or receiving a surprise gift was not a significant difference from male and female participants. Therefore, the study would also be explained the contradictory results for providing well-founded interpretations of the data.The limitations of the study are incomplete that the researchers merely considered two limitations of the study, which focus on a context and an emotional consequence of helping behaviours. Some confound is absent to present in the study, such as the cultural differences, age. Moreover, the participants mood also be enhanced by the external rewards rather than receiving or giving help, such as receiving a gift or a meal, when the participants imagine the situation. Therefore, the researchers may need to present the other limitations of the study.Finally, the researchers are presented the suggestion for future studies comprehensively. The researcher suggested the future studies can examine how gender and compassionate lov e associate with the anticipation of negative emotion as the consequence of helping behaviours in other relational context, which based on the limitation of the study. Therefore, it is the contribution of this research.

The British Foreign Policy

The British Foreign PolicyThis essay aims to establish the intent the Prime Minister plays in setting, shaping and implementing unlike form _or_ system of government in the UK by exploring decision-making patterns by former Prime Ministers in the related field, as well as real governments choices and aspirations on the inter national atomic number 18na, and the contribution of Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and other bodies. As Paul Williams (2004 911) n id that foreign insurance is non made in a political vacuum it is paramount to take into consideration Britains national classicipation in world(prenominal) relations and the countrys line in the existing range of world politics.First, it provide define what foreign insurance constitution is and why it takes a special prescribe in policy making. Foreign policy will be analysed against following factors globalisation, public tactile sensation and national interest. Also, it will summarize the key models of th e Foreign Policy Analysis (Allison 1971) and question their effectiveness and draw suffers.Second, the essay will bear on to case studies on the subject to bring empirical data into analysis. The case studies include the Europeanization of the foreign policy in the UK, the US-UK intervention in Iraq in toll of the ethical foreign policy. They will help to access the role played by foreign policy nobles. Given the length of this essay it will not comment in detail on the influence of NGOs, British ambassadors abroad and the economy however, they are undeniable parts of foreign policy-making process.Finally, the essay will discuss a realizable course of action for the UK to take in straddle to achieve a successful foreign policy and bring keister the power to British decision-makers. What could be d bingle to overcome common thinking of foreign policy beingness closely getting our steering in an unconstructive world (Cradock 1997 99-100).What foreign policy is? Definition, c ontext, goalsIn the modern world it is impossible to imagine a country without a well-defined set of runs of behaviour to wards its geopolitical neighbours and economic partners. The question remains, however, as to what extent foreign policy represents interests of leaders, political parties and general public of a particular country. Collective coping with the international surround is, indeed, a useful shorthand definition of foreign policy according to Christopher Hill (2003 9) but this definition leaves infinite variants of interpretation of what collective is and who plays the leading role in doing so the Prime Minister, the Foreign monument, a collaboration of both, official agents interpreting and implementing policies or influence of powerful countries that Britain has close relationship with?In order to understand who conducts the British foreign policy it is essential to outline the policy goals scratch line. William Hague, the current Foreign Secretary, in his speec h on the 1st of July, 2010 promises todeliver a distinctive British foreign policy that extends our global reach and influence, that is agile and energetic in a networked world, that uses diplomacy to secure our prosperity, that builds up signifi crowd outtly built bilateral relations for Britain, that harnesses the appeal of our culture and heritage to promote our values, and that sets out to make the most of the abundant opportunities of the 21st century systematically and for the long-term. So for the set-back time in years in my view Britain will have a foreign policy that is clear, focused and effective.His statement highlights the fact that UK foreign policy is not pursuing one goal on the contrary, it seeks to accomplish denary aims to extend Britain global influence, to secure prosperity, to promote values through culture, etc. successfully achieving them means achieving each part separately which involves resources and actors in different areas. As a result some policie s might overlap and even contradict one another (Williams 2004 913) and it is worthwhile looking at specific parts of the policy rather than a whole.Foreign policy has been characterised by being overly secretive and elitist which makes it more complicated to trace the decision-making process. Foreign policy takes a special place in the whole policy-making field as it is closely think with politics. It should not come as a surprise since it deals with sensitive issues like intelligence services and diplomacy, which seldom become available to general public, for obvious reasons the data might fall into the wrong hands and undermine the objectives set by the policy. Nevertheless, it is possible to comprehend in which direction foreign policy is headed based on the past decisions made by politicians and the impact they made at the time. This direction a state chooses to follow depends greatly on the personality of a leader, current administration and economic situation a state finds itself in. Foreign policy is conducted in complex internal and international environments it results from coalitions of active actors and groups situated both wrong and outside state boundaries it involves bargaining and compromise affecting the interests of both domestic and international groups (Neak cited in Carlsnaes 2008).Foreign Policy AnalysisTo analyse foreign policy scientifically Graham Allison (1971) in his work Essence of Decision comes up with triplet models of decision-making related to foreign affairs (kn stimulate as Foreign Policy Analysis) attempt to explain the reasons and causes behind states decisions in a crisis. The first model, Rational Actor Model (RAM), assumes that a single actor (state) makes decisions upon a calculation of possible outcomes, therefore decisions are rational reactions to a particular situation. It can be said that state chooses a course of action in line with its national interest trying to avoid losses and maximize benefits. The sec ond model, Organizational Process Behaviour (OPB), is characterised by decision made by multiple organisations that look back at previous precedent and act accordingly. Thus it tries to bring down the importance of central control in decisions. The final model, Bureaucratic Politics, is summarized by Allisons own words where you sit determines where you stand, meaning that governmental organizations normally have a preferred way of dealing with an international crisis.These models were used by the scholar to follow out different lenses to explain the origins of the Cuban Missile Crisis and establish how and why the USA and the USSR came to the choices they made during the conflict. Allison admits that these three models are not capable of encompassing all possible variants, his study became a milestone in FPA as it attempted to present social science capable of achieving clear and objective explanations of social and political actions. stein (2008) develops the idea of rational-de cision making further in order for a policy maker to make a rational choice, he/she needs to value how true(p) the information is, and whether it comes from a trustworthy source. Moreover, any new information that might turn up has to be evaluated against diagnostic evidence that takes into consideration the consequences the policy maker is considering.Who is in charge?On paper it is the Foreign Secretary who conducts foreign policy in the UK although it hasnt always been the case. The Prime Minister retains the power to declare war and deploy troops troops, making the fragile equilibrium of power shift. Tony Blair has plantn that depending on who is leading the country, the style of policy-making changes dramatically. During radical Labour the most important decisions on foreign policy were not taken at the FCO but in the Cabinet. His leadership earned the name interventiolalist as Britain took part in several military operations Barras in Sierra Leone, Desert Fox in Iraq among st others. It is the Prime Ministers decision whether to send troops into combat or not and Blair chose to consult not the cabinet as a whole but rather small ad hoc committees of advisers. Anthony Sheldon (2004 692) named these groups denocracy as their meetings took place in Blairs office, the den. Such exclusiveness promotes confusion as a small circle of trusted ministers and advisors gives an impression that the policy as a whole is reactive rather than proactive.It is worthwhile mentioning that the UK is a parliamentary monarchy and the female monarch is the official ruler in the UK. Although her power is mostly of a ceremonial nature, nevertheless, she plays an important role in representing the country at various levels the UK, the Commonwealth and internationally. In her speech to the fantan on the 9th of May 2012 the Queen set the following agenda to strengthen oversight of the security and intelligence agencies, to seek approval of Parliament on the anticipated accession of Croatia to the EU, to support a secure and static Afghanistan, to reduce the threat of nuclear proliferation in Iran and to build strategic partnerships with the emerging powers. These goals show that the Queen is far from being above politics, on the contrary, she is greatly concerned with Britains prepare in the fast developing world and foreign policy is one of her concerns.Factors influencing the British foreign policy American influenceThe UK boasts to have a special relationship with the USA in terms of foreign policy. British foreign policy has privileged the idea of working closely with the United States, particularly in the area of international security, where the UK has provided the largest and most effective non-US contingent to three American-led conflicts in recent years twice in Iraq and once in Afghanistan (Wallace and Phillips, 2009 267). The two countries have been allies for a long period of time and acted accordingly. Britain considers its international r elations with the USA to be as important as its ties with Europe, if not more. However, in the light of Britain losing its imperial power long ago and the hegemonic rise of the US, arguably, Britain plays along with the American directives. This was the case in all interventions where the USA took part in the last 60 years except the conflict in the Falklands.It appears that Britain is torn among its own interests, the EU integration and Anglo-American ties (Atlanticism). Blair decided to strengthen the countrys position by addressing these three issues at once. The USA will benefit from a special relationship with the UK when making decisions in Europe and vice versa. This special relationship (Wallace and Philips 2009 267-274) includes defence cooperation, military nuclear cooperation, provision of bases to the United States and intelligence relationship. But does Britain get out as oft as the USA in this relationship? The answer to this question remains unreadableOn issues as va ried as the Kyoto Treaty, the Ottawa Treaty censor landmines, the war in Kosovo, the attack on Afghanistan, the Middle East peace process, the Iraq war and subsequent occupation, or the holding of British captives at Guantnamo Bay, there has been fine evidence of the UKs ability to shape US policy. Indeed, British governments, in clinging to the idea of the special relationship, have generally overlooked the fact that the US has several privileged relationships, notably with Mexico, Israel, Australia, Italy and Poland. (Wallace 2009 65) mend Brits assume that Americans hold certain sentiment towards shared past and noble goals, the USA might be pursuing its own national interest instead. Riddell (2003) argues that America is not disposed to sacrifice national interest on the altar of nostalgia or sentiment and shows scant regard for those who do. It shows that no national who the USA considers to be its allies, it is going to pursue its own national interest and foreign policy.T ony Blair was not the first Prime Minister who chose to play a larger role in foreign-policy making. Margaret Thatcher in her role as the Prime Minister had her own very specific view on how to conduct foreign policy. Her opening to take part in the military conflict in the Falklands wasnt supported by the USA at first which didnt stop her. She had very distinctive views or so Anglo-European relationship as well and the FCO was often excluded from the decision-making process. She blamed the FCO for being pro-European and considered creating a separate body to counteract the FCOs dominance in foreign policy-making.The UK and the EU the FCO adapting to EuropeanizationWhile Anglo-American relations occupy an important place in Britains foreign policy there is another undeniable partner that has become more and more pertinent in the recent years the European Union. British policy-makers have traditionally accorded a higher priority to transatlantic security relations than to relati ons with their European partners. This is despite having enjoyed arguably more success in shaping the actions of the EU than in influencing key decisions in Washington. In recent years, and on crucial issues such(prenominal) as defence, energy and environmental policy, Tony Blair played a crucial role in shaping the EU agenda. (Wall cited in Menon, 2010)After Britain joined the EU (EEC) in 1973 it became apparent that the country needs to integrate into the EU and to do so it had to adapt and reform its foreign policy. The FCO anticipated the changes both with suspicion and high hopes for a stronger Europe. Inevitably the line between domestic and foreign has become thinner and thinner as the EU touched upon an array of issues. Since the creation of the EU has influenced its share states so greatly it is argued that they became Europeanized. Bulmer and Burch (1998 602) define Europeanization as the extent to which EC/EU requirements and policies have affected the determination of m ember states policy agendas and goals.Arguably the FCO lost part of its power to the EU in terms of policy-making towards Europe. The FCO wanted to retain its power as a sole determinant of Britains national interest. David Allen (2008 3) points out that the FCOs position within British central government has been both enhanced and challenged by European integration. At the same time David Milliband (2009) emphasizes how important albeit difficult the integration is we can lead a strong European foreign policy or lost in hubris, nostalgia or xenophobia watch our influence in the world wane.Structurally, a Permanent Under-Secretary ( purulence) remains as the top role of the FCO. PUS machinates the FCOs work overseas and its administration. Another key role is held by Political Director, who makes sure that Britains interests are represented at European Political Cooperation (EPS), which is now effectively the top policy advisory post. Allen (2008) explains how these posts work a s a tandemThe specific position of Political Director can be explained in terms of Europeanization in that the FCO willingly adapted its management structure so as to effectively embark in the EPC. This adaptation has led to spillover whereby the Political Director now plays a larger role than perhaps originally intended. However, the different roles played by the PUS and Political Director are the result of both EU membership and other factors, especially the need for improved management within the FCO.Britain remains being euro-sceptic towards further integration in the EU, it repeatedly criticises the current weakness of the economy in Europe and is not satisfied with being a member of the three major states (along with Germany and France) that have to help out weaker countries sometimes at their own expense. However, in the era of globalisation further integration is inevitable and the UK is more Europeanized than it thinks is.At a general level British foreign policy has undou btedly been affected by a processof Europeanization, although the extent to which this has impacted upon actual policy will vary from issue to issue. In particular, British policy has been Europeanized at an ideological level, in regard to foreign policy-making, and in relation to the agenda and nitty-gritty of policy. However, the process of Europeanization has not entirely subsumed a distinctly British foreign policy. In this sense, successive British governments have been quite successful at using the European level of foreign policy to achieve its own objectives and simultaneously prevent unnecessary levels of integration. (Williams, 2002)Paradoxically, the EU shouldnt have foreign policy in the first place as it is not a sovereign state. Because of Maastricht Treaty 1993 the EU member states are committed to a common European and Security policy (CFSP) which enables them to pursue their own national interests but at the same time to coordinate them on the European level. This can be achieved with the help of the European Community, the CFSP and nicety and Home Affairs (JHA) which are responsible for different policy issues such as external economic relations, political and security question, international crime and terrorism respectively.Sometimes events on a global scale are capable to change foreign policy almost overnight. The 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York transformed British, European and American foreign policy and only after three days, on the 14th of September, the EU passed a declaration on European arrest warrants and measures to combat terrorism.This brings another foreign-policy dilemma the ethical dimension. As Tone Blair declared to bring human rights at the very heart of foreign-policy it remains unclear which ethics British foreign policy should pursue. The war on terror had best intentions in its core nevertheless, Britain has to draw a line on its use of power to do so. Blair followed the doctrine of liberal interventionism, prom oting liberal beliefs and sometimes imposing it on the countries with contrasting views Afghanistan, East Timor, Iraq, Kosovo, Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo. If democracy and the rule of law are imposed in a non-negotiable way it becomes unethical as a result. Cases such as Iraq invasion in 2003 bring to attendance this delicate matter in foreign policy. There was no direct threat to either US or UK sovereignty, the public polls disapproved of the intervention, yet both countries favoured the invasion.The workings of the EU institutional system mean that the coalition government may also struggle to exert the influence it desires. Britain already suffers from its exclusion from and overlook of clear engagement with a key consultative forum the Eurogroup (comprising those member states that have adopted the euro). This structural weakness is only heightened by the absence of the buttoned-up Party from the European Peoples Party, whose members include the Germa n Chancellor, the French President and the President of the European Commission. David Cameron will not be able to attend their pre-summit meetings, at which they coordinate negotiating positions. In other ways too, Conservative suspicions of European integration may limit the ability of the UK to achieve all that it could within the framework of the Union.What is more, to be authoritative and effective foreign policy must attract domestic legitimacy, which means involving the public in the same kind of continuous dialogue as takes place over tax or transport policy. If we can accept the centrality of foreign policy in our political life without seeing it as a way of merely exporting our own superiority, we shall stand a better chance of, first, coping collectively with outsiders second, making a contribution to a more stable and civilized international system and third, avoiding the kind of catastrophic mistakes which cost hundreds of millions of individuals their lives in the las t century, the century of progress. earth opinion and media shaping foreign policyPublic opinion is another important lens of foreign-policy making. As we live in a world where communication has become instantaneous powered by digital media both politicians and policy-makers try to use it to their advantage. According to Robinson (2008) there exist two models capable of analyzing the impact of public opinion and media on a policy. The pluralist model suggests that the media and publics are independent of political influence and, as such, can act as a powerful constraint upon governments. The elite model, on the contrary, assumes that media act merely as mouthpieces for government officials, operating to mobilize publics in support of respective policies. The case of the polls on the Iraq War in the UK showed that although the majority disagreed with Tony Blairs decision to engage in the conflict, they did not stop the Prime Minister from changing his course of action. The consequenc es of this decision resulted in Blair not being re-elected, as the media coverage revealed more details about the rising number of casualties in the war. Bias of the media should also be put under scrutiny the newspapers in the UK (as well as the rest of the world) often render to different political parties promoting a certain agenda and delivering a policy chosen by that party to the public. Thus, it is extremely difficult to account for the influence of the media payable to the fact that public opinion might not be partial having been shaped by the media. Foreign policy is always the product of a society, a polity, interpreting its situation and choosing who chooses is another matter to act or react in a particular, unpredetermined way.ConclusionIn conclusion there is not a definite answer to who conducts the British foreign policy. Different Prime Ministers showed a ranging level of involvement into foreign policy-making process. Factors such as Europeanization, the US-UK a lliance, public opinion and economic crisis make it more difficult to understand to what extent one person or several people (the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary along with advisors) can follow through with the propositions set at the beginning of a governments term. The process of foreign-policy making involves civil servants, ministers and officials of all spectrums as well as independent advisors, experts from the UK and worldwide. While most significant decisions are made by the Prime Minister, he makes his choice based on the data and evidence he has been given. Finally, it is not enough to simply formulate foreign policy, the major stages of the policy-making process fall onto the shoulders of civil servants who interprete, implement and present the policy. Moreover, there are multiple foreign policies in the UK which demand different approaches. If the UK wants to remain its international power that has been in decline after the fall of the Empire and maintain the fo reign policy that is coherent at all stages of the policy-making process, it needs to find balance between pursuing its national interest, skilfully presenting and implementing the policy at the domestic and the international levels and managing the members involved in the process. Britain faces not a menu of alternative routes to far-reaching international influence, but a choice between imperfect options (Cradock 1997). UK needs to go through the three-step process identified by Christopher Layne (cited in Menon, 2010) determining the countrys vital interests, identifying threats to these and deciding how best to deploy national resources in order to protect them.

Overview Of The Firstbank Nigeria Plc

Overview Of The First patois Nigeria PlcFIRSTBANK Nigeria Plc is one of the oldest financial institutions and indeed the largest retail lender in Nigeria, its the 1st wedge to be constituted in West Africa. The bank was incorporated in Liverpool as a Limited Liability company in March 1894 with the name verify of British West Africa. The bank was listed on the Nigerian Stock exchange (NSE) in March 1971 after which it acquired its name First Bank of Nigeria in 1979. Following the CBN generate industry-wide consolidation in 2005 the bank acquired its merchant banking subsidiary, FBN Merchant Banker ltd and MBC intl Bank Plc. FirstBank maintains a subsidiary in United Kingdom which has a branch in Paris, the bank to a fault has representative offices in South Africa, China and Dubai through which it offers offshore financial services. Presently the Banks assets be in excess of N100billion.1.2 THE NATURE AND SIZEFIRSTBANK as a leading commercial bank has the largest network of bra nches in the country, over the years the bank has continu onlyy reviewed its brass sectional social twist and corporate identity in reap with changing financial environment. Known for its uniqueness for being betably dynamic and stability, 1st Bank has made for its self a name, a none goodwill associated with fidelity and safety of funds.Being a key player in the nations financial-banking sector, Firstbank delivers a wide range of financial services to its numerous customers the bank is well known for innovative changes in technological device and service deli real. Being the first bank to introduce a Biometric ATM i.e. an ATM motorcar that uses both pin no selection and finger prints to identify bring aboution alonetresses this point. The bank through its acquired subsidiaries also provide otherwise financial services and they include, insurance policy policies, housing schemes, asset portfolio management.1.3 PRODUCTS AND SERVICESFIRSTBANK offers a wide range of wholesa le, retail and consumer banking products and services in ensuring that it keeps true to its name as the 1st bank of prime(prenominal) in the country,. Our products include CONSUMER BANKING Generic Savings Account, Current Account, First Premium Term Deposit, First Savings positivist Account, First Hifi (Children) Account, First Current Plus Current Account(with zero COT), FIRST Current trade Account, First Dom Account, First Instant SavingsAccount. all in all accounts have the flexibility of over the counter withdrawals devoted the new CBN policy, ATM cards, Dividend warrants lodgment and access to E-Banking services.. WHOLESALE BANKING The services and products therein are further divided intoASSET PRODUCTS They include- Term loans, Overdraft, Oil and Gas arrest finance(OGCF), Bankers Acceptance, Commercial Papers, Bills Discounting, Project Finance, Equipment Leasing etc,INTERNATIONAL TRADE FINACE Includes but not limited to- Import finance, Export Finance, Clean lineconfir mation, Letters of Credit, Bills for Collection, Forex Trading Invisible RemittancesPayment for Services. E- BANKINGFirst Online which allows you to transact business online at the comfort or your home or offices.First Alert-Instant notification on your accountFirst Mobile-Access to your account through you phone, it includes buying of air judgment of conviction and retribution of utility bills.First Pay and First Collect-effect payment and several collection to and from your merchants.FIRST CARDS Debit and Credit cards which include- MasterCard, FirstBank Naira MasterCard, First Cash Card, indorse Card (Gold, Classic and Infinite), Visa Credit Card. Notice that all cards issued by the bank comes with FIRSTBANK brand name- FIRSTFIGURE 1CUsersDanielDesktopCYNTHIAFirstBank MasterCard.jpgCUsersDanielDesktopCYNTHIAVISA_GOLD2.gif CUsersDanielDesktopCYNTHIAFirstCash Card.jpg silver TRANSFER FIRSTBANK offers funds transfer services locally and internationally through mediums like- Firs t Domestic Transfer, Western Union, Money Gram and RIA. OTHER SERVICES different services rendered by the bank includes- Agricultural Financing, FIRST Diaspora banking services for Nigerians in Diaspora and Bills Payment for prompt settlement of utility bills(e.g. PHCN, Water and DSTV)1.4 VISION, MISSION AND ESSENCE view To be the clear leader and Nigerias bank of first choiceMission To remain true to our name by providing the high hat financial services accomplishableEssence The DNA of the FirstBank brand lies in its strength, size and dependability, typified by its brand icon, the Afri jakes Elephant. Our brand essence is there shank Dependably Dynamic which is a holistic representation of our past, present and the future of FirstBank.1.5 CORE VALUESThe core values of FirstBank are coined in an acronym for quick recall and living by the guiding principle TELL SPICTeam Work Everyday a better way, the team spirit is embedded in our elaboration as the best executable way to w ork.Ethics The good will of the bank is to be maintained as you deal with both internal and external customers, ensuring that the client leaves your office satisfied. inscription the essence of brand name and its very compriseence evolves in loyalty to our customers, Firstbank has been in existence for generations and loyalty to our customers is what makes us tick.Superior Performance To streng consequently the banks brand, supplement and upscale the customers experience through delivery of excellent services.Professionalism To revolutionize the Banks operations in line with the dynamics of the operating environment while ensuring that we provide the best financial services unmatched.Integrity Adopt high ethical values to guide the conduct of all banking business and transactions in conformity with all relevant regulatory requirements.Customer Centricity The customer is the king and the reason we are in business, their demands should be met in line with banks policy1.6 OUR B RAND PILLARSLEADERSHIP Our statusability as truly the 1st and No1SAFETYSECURITY- Security of fundsInvestments, job security, Integrity.ENTERPRISE Resourcefulness, TenacitySERVICE EXCELLENCE Efficiency, Performance focused, Reliability, Accessibility2.0 PLANNINGThis chapter focuses on goal setting, study plan, expect difficulties to be encountered in data collection and plan to overcome these challenges.2.1 OBJECTIVE OF THE ORGANISATIONAL ANALYSISThe objective of the organizational analysis is to specifically examine the current acres of the Banks operational and structural framework, analyse the utilitarian units and the interface relations and also recommend ways of improving the interface relations.2.2 GOAL SETTINGGoals setting involves establishing specific, measurable, achievable, naturalistic and time-framed (S.M.A.R.T ) buns by an individual or organization. Goal focuses attention towards goal-relevant activities, revealing the objectives and strategies in which the goa ls can be met. Figure 1 below is the structured aim plan for the organisational analysis.ActivityTimeline20-Jun-1222-Jun-1224-Jun-1226-Jun-1228-Jun-1230-Jun-122-July-124-July-128-July-1210-July-1212-July-1214-July-1216-July-1218-July-1222-July-12Review of BSN course materialData GatheringData compilation idea writingDraft Report ReviewSub-set confrontation ReviewUpdate reportDraft submission to set adviserCorrection and final submissionFigure 2 Project Plan2.3 wander PLANReviewing of the BSN course materials and EBSCO data can to understand theory on organisational structures, data collection method and research report writing style.The internet (Google search and Wikipedia) comes in very handy in enhancing project plan.The objective of the data collection stage of the project is to gather relevant and accurate information, to obtain the mappingicipation and co-operation of the appropriate target population and to facilitate the collection and analysis of data. The targeted popu lations are stave of the functional units, mental faculty of hub branches, degrees of the functional units (department) and some strategic business units and staff of Human metropolis Management- Head Office. The medium to achieve this includes- Informal Interviews, telephone set survey, one-on-one chats with some members of the targeted population e.g. the heads of departments and staff of the Human Capital management because of their exigent duties. All sensed sensitive questions would be handled through interviews (which are not formal) and not written questionnaires.The FirstBank Intranet and internet website will be used extensively to gather information on functional units and organizational structure while personal visits to the Head Office and hub branches will be utilized to objectively gather information on functions of confused departments, interface relations and recommendations for expediency of the interface relations.Data compilation stage will include analyzin g data collected and reviewing information from subset meetings and research report writing.Report writing stage would involve applying the reviewed data gained from the various materials and extraction of relevant information from FIRSTBANK intranet and occasional(a) publications. Data structuring and report preparation will also be done at this stage.Reviewed responses from telephone calls and outcomes of informal interviewsDiscussed challenges with Set Advisor at subset meeting and via phone calls.Update and revised document with necessary corrections.2.4 DIFFICULTIES TO BE ENCOUNTERED IN DATA COLLECTIONQuestionnaires could not be used because of the banks policy on bulk mails or questionnaires related to work and business environment hence becoming data collection seemed impossible.Network challenges when accessing both the internet and the Banks intranet.Time constraint and the busy schedule of visited staff will also be a limitation. meagre time due to researchers official d uties.2.5 PLAN TO OVERCOME THESE DIFFICULTIESAll perceived sensitive questions would be handled through interviews and not written questionnaires.Extra hours to be give for accessing the Banks intranet while a substitute internet modem was purchased to curb congestion or delays on web hosts.Personal interviews will be conducted for staff with busy schedule, telephone calls and communication chat applications were also utilized for other staffEnsure proper time management.3.0 ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE AND CULTUREThis chapter focuses on the theories of organisational structure and organisational nuance.3.1 ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTUREOrganisations exist to achieve goals these goals are broken down into tasks as the basis for jobs.The term organisational structure therefore refers to the formal configuration in the midst of individuals and groups regarding the allocation of tasks, responsibilities, and authority within the organization (Galbraith, 1987 Greenberg, 2011). Said differently , The framework, typically hierarchical, within which an organization arranges its lines of authority and communications, and allocates rights and duties. organisational structure determines the manner and extent to which roles, power, and responsibilities are delegated, controlled, and coordinated, and how information flows between levels of management. (Business Dictionary-Google).The structure of the organization can be defined simply as the sum total of ways in which its labour is divided into distinct tasks and the its coordination is achieved among these tasks /(Mintzberg 1983a)Very early organizational structures were often based either on product or function (Oliveira Takahashi, 2012). some others moved beyond these early start outes and examined the relationship between organizational strategy and structure (Brickley, Smith, Zimmerman, Willett, 2002).This approach began with the landmark work of Alfred Chandler (1962, 2003), who traced the historical development of som e companies, He concluded from his study that an organizations strategy tends to influence its structure. He suggests that strategy in send offately determines such(prenominal) variables as the organizations tasks technology, and environments, and each of these influences the structure of the organization.More recently, social scientists have augmented Chandlers thesis by contending that an organizations strategy determines its environment, technology, and tasks. These variables, coupled with growth rates and power distribution, discover organisational structure. The Organisational structure as argued by Alfred Chandler can be seen in FIRSTBANK structure which was changed recently to suit the Banks intended strategy. The Bank in Oct 2010 had embarked on a re-structuring of its broad(a) operational system and workforce, we can therefore deduce that Strategy determines organizational structure.A critical review of Mintzberg definition shows that it is not against the aforementioned , the design of every superstructure ends up as a compromise between the objective constituents of work flow, process and scale interdependency, and the subjective factors of personality and social need. Organisations may be conceived on paper, but they must function with flesh-and-blood human beings. (Mintzberg, 1983). Hence for a critical analysis of FirstBank OA, the Mintzberg theory will be adopted.3.1.1 ORGANISATIONAL CONFIGURATIONMintzberg claims that organisations are composed of five primary elements, or groups of individuals, any of which may predominate in an organisation. The design parameters determine individual positions (examples will be shown using FirstBank configuration)Operating Core Staff or employees who perform the basic work related to an organisations product or service e.g.- Tellers, Customer Service Officer, Foreign Operations StaffStrategic Apex Top-Management prudent for running an entire organisation. The Executive Directors and Executive Vice Preside nt of the bank sit at the Strategic ApexMiddle Line Managers who stand in a direct line relationship between the strategic apex and the operating core. They include the Group Heads, RegionalArea Office Managers.Techno structure Organisational specialists responsible for standardising various human faces ofan organisations activities eg- congenital Control and Audit, Compliance, Credit Risk Management(CRM) AND MANCOSupport Staff Individuals who provide support to an organisation outside its operating workflow.(I.T support, Security personnels)Mintzberg identified five organisational configurations, they however depend some contingency factors which include Age of the organization, size Technical System, Environment and Power factors Simple Structure is characterized by loose incision of labor, relies on direct supervision and finds its key part at the strategic apex Machine Bureaucracy which relies on standardisation of work process, relatively centralizedpower for finding maki ng with its key part in the techno structure where the planners of the organisation reside.Professional Bureaucracy which deals with standardisation of skills and has the operating core as its key part.Divisionalised form -each voice has its own structure, it centers on standardisation of proceedss. Autonomous units are created to deal with entire product lines, allowing top management to focus on large-scale, strategic decision. The middle line is key part of the organisation.Adhocracy, a highly informal, strong presence of mutual adjustment, organic organisation in which specialists work in teams, coordinating with each other on various projects.FIRSTBANKS structure like most large corporations is characterized by the divisionalised form of Mintzbergs configuration as various divisions (departments) are created by their product lines or endproducts. The techno structure is located at Head Office to provide services to all divisions support staffs are located within each divisio n like we have the IT support for each area and marketing assistants who are support staff assigned to each branch. Most of the operational activities are conducted by the middle line managers, department heads or unit heads and they all operate with some form of independence and centralization within their units. They coordinate the output, acting between the strategic apex and the operating core. They also oversee the activities of the operating core and are evaluate to report back to strategic apex.The typical operational structure in a FIRSTBANK branch is divided into two divisions-i. The Operations Unit who are in charge of the everyday running of branch and attending to customers demand. The head of this unit is called The Branch Operations Manager.ii. The Retail or marketing unit who are in charge of change magnitude the market size and credit portfolio of the branch. The Business Manager heads this unit of the branch.Each of these units runs independently of each other wit h separate reporting lines even though they are situated in the same tangled ant they form part of the whole group.Given the Banks ever evolving strategy in line with changes in market dynamics and technological advancement, the structure design is determined by the strategic planning and corporate transformation unit through the HCM department, stating unit and individual key responsibilities and the reporting lines. The final structure is then approved by the strategic apex and the statutory regulatory authority (Central Bank of Nigeria). Usually the bank makes the policies available on its local INTRANET and other periodic publications or circulars as organisational changes are initiated.3.1.2 ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE EFFECTIVENESS EFFICIENCYEffectiveness of a system is about doing the right things. Its about producing the intended or expected result, In measuring organisational effectiveness, the relevant question would be is the organisational system doing the right thing fo r its survival?, is it focusing its drive on opportunities to produce revenue? Is it producing the output it needs if it is to survive? Efficiency of a system, on the other hand is about the inputs the system uses in order to produce outputs that is doing things right, accomplishing your tasks with a minimum of time and resource, It centers on performance and cost reduction. To thoroughly examine organizational success, both rounds should be considered because productivity is a function of inputs to outputs which is the theme of efficiency and effectiveness. Efficiency should forever and a day be the servant of effectiveness.(BSN sort 1, module IX, p 575)Looking at the Banks history and evolutions, one can boldly say that FIRSTBANK has achieved some level of efficiency and effectiveness. The total assets of the Bank as at Dec 2011 as publishedequals N,2463,543, total equity was N373,572 while the total Customer Deposits was N1,783,777,(figures are in millions).however there is r oom and need for improvement, the Bank lacks behind in mobilization of current account secures and booking of credit facilities. These lapses deny the bank of some benefits which include addition in customer base and collection of float income from these deposits.The FIRST Instant savings account was introduced by the Bank to bridge this gap on deposit mobilization, this product however has not recorded much success because of the strict requirements, the deployment of FINACLE 10 Banking solution which is scheduled to kick off this year July is an Efficiency measure in order to reduce turnaround time, this I believe is coming rather too late.The strategic Apex of the Bank needs to review these points afore mentioned and go a favorable conclusion so that the Bank can edge forward.3.1.3 DESIGN PARAMETERSMintzberg identified nine design parameters. By using these parameters the organisational designer can influence the way individuals are positioned in the organisation and the way g roups or departments are formed. The design parameters are Job specialisation Behavior formation information and indoctrination Unit grouping size Planning and control systems Liaison devices Vertical and horizontal decentralization. The design parameters predominant in FIRSTBANK areJob Specialisation In FIRSTBANK, all job titles are specified, the roles to be performed, the job description, key competences and reporting lines are well explained for staff to understand. Job Specification for each job title is easily accessible on the intranet, it is the banks believe that job specialization increases employee productivity. Training and indoctrination In order to carry out task, employees need to possess particular skills and knowledge.(BSN Phase 1 Course Notes, pg 584). In FirstBank its a trend to continuously train staff on a need to know and improvement basis, this exercise forms part of appraisal marks to be awarded during year end performance rating. The heads of branches or d epartments recommend staff for training if a knowledge gap or improvement need is identified. Educational and career advancement is also encouraged.The Human Capital Management Development anchors this aspect of the bank. Given the ever increasing need for the aforementioned, the Bank has rebranded its HCMD training arm to be called FIRST ACADEMY. The essence is to inculcate the banks values, ensuring that their staffs are well grounded and ever ahead of industry trends. Indoctrination are done upon recruitment of staff be it new or experienced hirees in order to imbibe the banks culture and values into them.The unit grouping is an classical design parameter in FIRSTBANK because it creates a system of supervision in which there is a reporting line, departmental, unit or group head for all strategic units of the bank, this encourages standardization of outputs. Firstbank adopts functional groupingVertical decentralisation Mintzberg (1983a, p.99) defines vertical decentralisation as the dispersal of formal power down the chain of line authority. FISTBANK adopts limited vertical decentralization. Heads of departments/units are delegated the power to control most of the decisions concerning their line units and such decisions are cascaded down to their subordinates, however they have their reporting lines and various limits.3.2 ORGANISATIONAL CULTURECulture refers to the underlying values, beliefs and codes of recitation that makes an organisation whatIt is. The customs of an organisation, the self image of its members, the things that make it different from others are its culture. Culture is symbolic Culture is unifying and refers to the processes that bind the organization together. Culture is root deep in unconscious sources but is represented in superficial practices and behavior codes.Deal and Kennedy (1982) argue that culture is the single most important factor accounting for success or failure in organizations. They identified four key dimensions of cult ureValues the beliefs that lie at the heart of the corporate culture.Heroes the slew who embody values.Rites and rituals routines of interaction that have strong symbolic qualities.The culture network the informal communication system or hidden hierarchy of power in the organization.Peters and Waterman (1982) suggest a psychological theory of the link between organizational culture and business performance. Culture can be looked upon as a reward of work we sacrifice much to the organization and culture is a form of return on effort.Schein (1992) says that organisational culture is developed over time as people in the organisation learn to deal successfully with problems of external adaptation and internal integration. It becomes the common language and the common background. Employee values are measured against organizational values to predict employee intentions to stay, and predict turnover. This is done through instrument like Organizational Culture Profile (OCP) to measure employee commitment (OReilly, ChatmanCaldwell 1991).However Daniel Denisons baffle (1990) asserts that organizational culture can be described by four general dimensionsMission Strategic Direction and Intent, Goals and Objectives and VisionAdaptability Creating Change, Customer Focus and Organizational LearningInvolvement Empowerment, Team Orientation and Capability DevelopmentConsistency Core Values, Agreement, Coordination/IntegrationDenisons model also allows cultures to be described broadly as externally or internally focused as well as flexible versus stable. The model has been typically used to diagnose cultural problems in organizations.3.2.1 FACTORS THAT settle ORGANISATIONS CULTURE (FIRSTBANK)According to Schein (1992), the two main reasons why cultures develop in organizations is due to external adaptation and internal integration. External adaptation reflects an evolutionary approach to organizational culture and suggests that cultures develop and persist because t hey help an organization to survive and flourish. If the culture is valuable, then it holds the potential for generating sustained competitive advantages. Additionally, internal integration is an important function since social structures are required for organizations to exist. Organizational practices are learned through socialization at the workplace. Work environments reinforce culture on a daily basis by encouraging employees to exercise cultural values. Organisational culture is shaped by multiple factors, including the followingExternal environmentIndustrySize and nature of the organizations workforceTechnologies the organization usesThe organizations history and ownershipThe external environment to FirstBank includes the ever emerging competitors, the realization of this pushes the Banks management is forge ahead and be innovative. The increasing number of banks offering same products that Firstbank had exclusivity to buttress this point, exceptional service delivery and bra nd value/positioning are the keys to have an edge over others. Other aspects of FirstBanks external environment include the legal or statutory regulations which the Bank must conform with, the political, socio-economic dynamics of Nigeria.The workforce of the bank is considerably large in comparism to other banks being the bank with the largest number of branch network and emerging diaspora banking through its subsidiaries. Prior to the rebranding of the Banks workforce, 1stBank had a culture of mostly old staff and a couple of(prenominal) young staff, in2008 the bank retrenched over 900 staff especially those who had spent over 25 years in service, the management immediately embarked on recruitment of new and experienced hirees who were relatively young, in addition to this, salaries were increased to suit the modern banker status. A new culture in that aspect had been achieved as 1stbankers were no longer distinguished by long suits and old staff.3.2.2 FIRSTBANK CULTUREFIRSTBANK possesses a strong culture which is continually being improved. In the light of Daniel Denisons model of culture dimensions, FirstBanks mission strategic direction, goals and objectives, are clearly understood by members of staff. The Bank strives to make its staff live by its core values and this has so furthermost helped the bank in terms of durability and goodwill. For the importance of the afore mentioned, FirstBank carries periodic mystery shopping exercise and branch spot checks to ensure that we live what we preach, hence staff are enjoined to move with the train.FirstBank adapts quickly to industry changes and are quick to identify a market opportunity hence they are most often the fore most bank for some products or innovations in the banking industry. Its the bank policy for staff to stick to a particular dress code, have the banks premises create in a particular way and colour, have a products and services delivered to customers with the brand name FIRST and a unique wa y of service delivery. All this distinguishes the Bank and a Firstbanker from every other bank or person. The Elephant is also a historic symbol of FirstBanks culture which represents stability and strength, like Peters and Waterman (1982) suggests, the strong culture of the bank has positively enhanced its good will and market share, however things can get better.There exist an area of improvement in the Banks culture as it is normally being discussed within its members that staff are not been sufficiently motivated, the slow promotion process is a major aspect of this.A review of the Banks choice to downsize its work force recently by way of retiring (and firing) staff (although with mouth watering incentives) buttresses this point. Firing on the base of cultureUsually pointed as a source of creating family like environment, the notion of corporate culture is also used for firing, with this practice started from shoe company Zappos, which given(p) its fired employees with huge co mpensations afterwards.(Google- Wikipedia .As the corporate culture may mean almost everything, firing on the base of culture means the employer does not accept and disposition to be inclusive for the culture of the employee and thus the employee does not fit in corporate culture, although this may fall in the ground of discrimination, there is still not law or case law resolving or addressing the question making this practice possible and available for businesses for now. Firing on corporate culture is a recent practice, from 2008.3.2.3 CULTURAL TYPESHandy (1985) identified four(4) types of organizational culture and they includePower culture Entrepreneurial in nature, central control, quick to response, reinforced on trust flexible.Role culture Roles are more important than persons, functional, rule and procedure drivenTask Culture Cross functional, based on jobs and projects, networked, coordinationcombination of jobs around tasks.Person Culture People are the central focus, con trols are only possible where members agree.FIRSTBANK adopts the role culture, this is because the roles are seen before the persons behind it, and the workforce is also driven by rule (policies) and procedure.3.2.4 THE PROCESSUAL APPROACHThe processual approach is a translation model in which movements of ideas or objects reside in the sense maki

Plot Flaws in The Great Gatsby Essay example -- The Great Gatsby F. Sc

The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, was a novel that epitomizes the time in our storey known as the roaring twenties. It was a time of great extravagances and frolicsome attitudes. The novel also revealed the darker side of this time with its underlying themes of greed and betrayal on the part of many of the characters. The novel as a whole seems to be a very well thought out piece of literature with trivial or no flaws. However, if studied a bit harder several defects can be spotted. These include such things as shifts in panorama, sequence manipulation, and shifting of narrators. The setting of a novel is very important to the overall plot. It can help define the mood and can give some aspects of where the news report is headed. The majority of the story takes place in East and West Egg of Long Island, New York. These locations were where the majority of the main characters lived and interacted with one another. That was until chapter seven of the novel. Nick Car raway and Jay Gatsby have been invited to tea at tom turkey and Daisy Buchanans home. This was a very critical portion of the plot due to the increasing pressures Gatsby and Daisy are feeling about their relationship, and when they will tell Tom of their affair. It was very hot and all present were obviously uncomfortable. Suddenly Daisy asked, Who wants to go to town?(125). They eventually agree and all go to town. They end up acquire a hotel room in downtown New York City which was just as hot if ...

Thoughts of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle :: Ancient Greece Greek History

Thoughts of Socrates, Plato, and AristotleThree Athenian philosophers flourish in Greece from 470 B. C. until 320 B. C. These philosophers were famous for their schools of thought. The first of these is Socrates who lived from 469 until 399 B. C. He did not leave any writings behind therefore, we accredit around his ways of thinking from those of whom he taught. His famous method of instruction called the Socratic method is still used today. In this method, the teacher allows students to use their give deductive reasoning to see things for themselves through a series of questions and answers. Unfortunately, some did not agree with Socrates teachings. He was accused of corrupting the youth in capital of Greece and sentenced to death. star of Socrates close famous students, Plato, established a second school of thought. Flourishing around 400 B. C., Plato contradicted his teacher in that he left many writings, his most famous being The Republic. He believed that a higher world of unchanging reverberates and ideas existed. If a person knew these skeletal frames, then he knew the truth. These things, however, could only be achieved by a mind that had been properly trained. One of his idea forms was his vision of government. He did not trust the democracy. He felt that the highest rank should belong to the philosophers who were also kings, followed by the courageous, and end with the rest of who must have desire. He established the Academy at which he taught Aristotle.The third school of thought was that of Aristotle (384-322 B. C.). He felt that form and press were one, not two separate concepts. Based on his beliefs that the previous were not separable, he not unlike his teacher, tried to discover the best form of government.Thoughts of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle antiquated Greece Greek HistoryThoughts of Socrates, Plato, and AristotleThree Athenian philosophers flourish in Greece from 470 B. C. until 320 B. C. These philosophers were famous for t heir schools of thought. The first of these is Socrates who lived from 469 until 399 B. C. He did not leave any writings behind therefore, we know about his ways of thinking from those of whom he taught. His famous method of instruction called the Socratic method is still used today. In this method, the teacher allows students to use their own deductive reasoning to see things for themselves through a series of questions and answers. Unfortunately, many did not agree with Socrates teachings. He was accused of corrupting the youth in Athens and sentenced to death. One of Socrates most famous students, Plato, established a second school of thought. Flourishing around 400 B. C., Plato contradicted his teacher in that he left many writings, his most famous being The Republic. He believed that a higher world of unchanging forms and ideas existed. If a person knew these forms, then he knew the truth. These things, however, could only be achieved by a mind that had been properly trained. O ne of his idea forms was his vision of government. He did not trust the democracy. He felt that the highest rank should belong to the philosophers who were also kings, followed by the courageous, and ended with the rest of who must have desire. He established the Academy at which he taught Aristotle.The third school of thought was that of Aristotle (384-322 B. C.). He felt that form and matter were one, not two separate concepts. Based on his beliefs that the previous were not separable, he not unlike his teacher, tried to discover the best form of government.

Slavey Then And Now :: essays research papers

Slavery Then and NowWhen we think about slavery many a(prenominal) things come to our mind. There are many assorted ways one can describe slavery. If you were to look it up in a dictionary it would say that a slave is one who is own and forced into service by another, this was the translation given in the Websters Dictionary. But then again if you were to look it up in the Oxford Dictionary the definition given here is of one who is an obsessive devotee. On the whole slavery can have different meanings to different people.The meaning of slavery has a different meaning today than it did years ago. As Alex Haley wrote, slavery was difficult to explain years ago because it was going on at the time. Today when someone says the account book slavery more than half of the people would think of plantations and people being forced to work the land and being mistreated. But what do you say to a little child who comes up to you and asks you want slavery is? In todays society we can take th e word slavery and put it to the ripe days. Would one say that slavery only existed years ago when plantation owners would buy people to force them to do backbreaking labor and mistreat them, or would one mention about the slavery that goes on in todays society? What about the people who are forced to do hard labor like many years ago?Many people do not realize it but indeed we do have contemporary slavery. What is todays modern day slavery? There are several things that can be put into todays slavery. This is one line that is often over looked in todays society. It may not have as much impact as it did years ago, but if we eat up and think about it, this puzzle is still as harsh and crude as it was years ago. I would think that up to some extent the problem has grown now because it is in fact often overlooked. For example in Sudan, as a result of an Islamic vs. Christian civil war, women and children that are in the main black and Christian are captured in raids. They are lat er sold as chattel slaves in modern day slave markets. Now the incredulity that I have is, Does a human life have a price? Well according to these people it does, and the price that they decided to put on a human life has been as low as fifteen dollars.