Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Organisational Culture of McDonalds

Meaning of Organisational Culture To ensure that all stakeholders of an organisation focus on common goals and objectives, it is important for them to have to a common way of thinking and interacting, values, and norms (Goldman, Santos Tully, 2008, Para. 3). Organisational culture elements form some basic assumptions that when adopted and observed by all stakeholders of an organisation, especially the diverse workforce, can aid in enhancing the success of the organisation. McDonalds’ organisational culture emphasises the importance of employees and customers (McDonalds, 2012, Para.1) as the source of organisational success. Organisational Culture assumptions for McDonalds When the company’s stakeholders tie together and fix the common differences between employees to act as strength as opposed to an organisational weakness, the assumption for the company is that it can attain its objectives, goals, and mission. Another assumption is that McDonalds can gain a competi tive edge by providing better customer services in relation to its rivals through the effort of all employees. Therefore, customer service is assumed as an incredible tool for differentiation of McDonalds. By doing things in the rights way and putting in place efforts to improve efficiency of the organisation, it is assumed that McDonalds can succeed in the market place. Employees are important elements for the achievement of the above two assumptions. Hence, they are important to McDonalds (McDonalds, 2012, Para.2). Another assumption is that, without goods customer service, it is incredibly hard for McDonalds to have a repeated sale. The company also assumes customers as the source of organisational growth. Sources of the assumptions People employed by McDonalds come from different backgrounds The organisational culture’s assumption deployed by McDonalds originates from the large number of people it employs from different nations. The company serves about 52 million peopl e in more than 30,000 restaurants and franchises located in more than 100 countries (Goldman, Santos Tully, 2008, Para. 1). From the perspective of the company’s mission of being a leading fast-food dealer not only with the regions from which the company first opened its doors but also in the international fronts (McDonalds, 2012, Para.1), the company plans to identify the risk factors to achievement of its mission. Risks alleviation mechanisms are included in the organisational culture. This strategy ensures that all the workforce of the company remains observant besides always ensuring that they do not fall into a pothole that would compromise the position of the company in the future by allowing their individual characteristics including their personalities to affect the manner in which they work. McDonalds plans to combine all diversities of the employees into one culture. Employees as the source of organisational success Using the culture of approaching employees as t he most important resource the company has for its success ensures that the employees remain motivated in their work (McDonalds, 2012, Para.2). Permitting McDonalds’ employees to communicate freely with other employees at the work places highlights the significance of the assumption that McDonalds needs to tie together the differences between the employees to attain organisational success (Goldman, Santos Tully, 2008, Para. 5). This strategy involves a breakdown of management structures so that they are less centralised. Decentralisation helps to ease the employees’ fear of the supervisors and other managerial staff, which might make the employees less motivated. Motivation is an essential tool in the development of the McDonalds’ organisation culture’s assumptions since the company considers less motivated employees as likely also to offer poor services to customers. Reference List Goldman, E., Santos, T., Tully, S. (2008). Observation of leadership a nd organisational behaviour at McDonalds. Retrieved from https://www.ericgoldman.name/en/2008/observation-of-leadership-and-organizational-behavior-at-mcdonalds/Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Organisational Culture of McDonalds specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More McDonalds. (2012). Mission and Value Statement. Retrieved from https://corporate.mcdonalds.com/corpmcd/about-us/our-values.html This assessment on Organisational Culture of McDonalds was written and submitted by user Evelynn Z. 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.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

The eNotes Blog A Promising Payday, a PetulantPenguin

A Promising Payday, a PetulantPenguin Lena Dunham scores with Random House while Penguin seeks repayment on book deals gone sour. If youve evaded living under a rock this past week, youve probably also heard about the bidding war over Lena Dunhams forthcoming book of essays that resulted in a $3.5m payout for the author (slash director, slash actress). Yes, now aspiring young authors can join the ranks of aspiring young film makers made green with envy by the talented Miss Dunham. But all we can think of is that, for her sake, it better be good, given the example that Penguin set in court last month. At the end of September the Penguin Group New York filed lawsuits to recoup losses made on advances to several of its authors who never delivered. With the filing of these suits, the details of these authors paydays have become public knowledge. Though none are as hefty as Dunhams, the size of a few of these advances may surprise you: The largest advance of the list went to Ana Marie Cox, who founded the political blog  Wonkette. In 2006 she signed a contract that totaled $325,000 to write a humorous examination of the next generation of political activists. Now, because she didnt deliver, Penguin is suing to reclaim the $81,250 advance it paid her, plus  $50,000 in interest. Hopefully her correspondent jobs at GQ and The Guardian compensate her as handsomely (were guessing that they probably do). A controversial plaintiff in this series of cases is Holocaust survivor  Herman Rosenblat. In 1996, Rosenblat and his wife appeared on Oprah to tell the miraculous story of their meeting and falling in love. Per the story, Herman survived his imprisonment as a child in the concentration camp Buchenwald thanks to a young Roma, his future wife, who threw apples to him from the other side of the fence. Years later, the two met again in New York on a blind date and fell in love. Unfortunately, their tale is as implausible as it sounds. When news of the faked story broke, Rosenblat was due to release a memoir through Berkley Books, an imprint of Penguin. The publishing house then cancelled the release of the book and now aims to collect the would-be memoirists advance of $30,000, with an additional $10,000 in interest. Penguin is also seeking repayments from Elizabeth Wurtzel, author of Prozac Nation, for a teen book on depression that she never produced; New Yorker journalist Rebecca Mead for a $50,000 deal she agreed to in 2003, and never fulfilled; and Conrad Tillard for the $85,000 paid to him for the memoir of  his epic journey from the Ivy League to the Nation of Islam, also never completed. The Smoking Gun has more on those. Heres hoping Lena Dunham never ends up in the same hot water, given the massive amount shed be held accountable for. Were pretty sure shes doing just fine, though. On another note, um Penguin, how bout sending advancements some other writers ways? I know several whod fulfill their contracts for you. Just sayin. Thoughts on advances, the repayment of advances, and celebrity book deals in general? Sound off below!

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Strategic Management and Planning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Strategic Management and Planning - Essay Example The four functions of management include â€Å"planning, organizing, leading as well as accomplishing tasks or controlling†. These are significant in the development and implementation of a strategic plan. Planning entails lying down the final organizational goal, organizing and undertaking it in an expedient manner. It is the level at which the managers determine the right person to undertake the tasks depending on knowledge and skills. Nolan, Goodstein and Goodstein (2008) further observe that planning gives an answer to the questions of the current position of the business, where the managers want it to be in future, as well as the way to get there. Organizing is an important activity that that is concerned with putting the carefully planned objectives in to a comprehensive system whereby each task is allocated to the right person as well as the actions that managers need to take in order for the operations to run smoothly. In other words, it is involved in setting strategies for coordination of activities. The managers set the steps to be followed in order to accomplish the business goals. Leadership is important for any business to thrive and achieve the capability of coping with competition in the market. It involves generating enthusiasm amongst the employees in order for them to be productive. It involves creating awareness amongst them in order to ensure that they understand the organizational goals and the procedures that need to be adhered to facilitate their accomplishment.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Health Care Demand Scenario Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Health Care Demand Scenario - Essay Example It will specifically cater for the people who have attained that age and have bodily disabilities that are permanent. Their offering of these facilities will help them in improving the health standards even for the people who live below the poverty line. Medi-Insurance will cover for almost 80% of the total costs incurred in getting medical attention. The adjunct plan will be established by a private indemnity health company. This health scheme is designed to be used by only people who are over sixty five years and have been citizens of the nation for a period of more than ten years. The beneficiaries of this scheme must have been paying taxes for a period of not less than ten years. They must also be recipients of disability gains from the boards dealing with retirement or the community security boards. These benefits are delivered to patients experiencing terminal diseases that affect the kidney and other vital body organs (Colamery, 2003). The people suffering from physical disabi lities will continue receiving the benefits of Medi-Insurance even when they stop receiving benefits from their community boards. The customers of this service will find quality when they are provided with indemnity covers for their stay in hospitals. They will encounter quality medical cover for the medication they receive from these institutions (Matthews and Berman, 2011). The customers will receive services that are worth more than the total amount they have paid the authorities in taxes. The receivers of the service will also find quality in the clearance of their medical bills and their reception of expert medical attention. 2. Define the Demand The customers of this service will be the people who are aged sixty five years and above. They should be citizens of the nation for a period of at least ten years and must have been paying their dues to the relevant authorities. The beneficiaries of this program might also be old people who have disabilities in their physical condition s (Matthews and Berman, 2011). The beneficiaries must also be able to pay the minimum monthly premiums for the services they receive in future. The people who benefit from the scheme will be found in hospitals and the homes for the aged. This is because the scheme has a limitation on the minimum age of their beneficiaries. The plan will differ in terms of the medications they offer and the costs they charge. The plan will cover for the homeless people living on the streets even if they do not pay the premiums (Colamery, 2003). These costs will be catered for by well wishers and other sponsors. There are several consumer traits that will influence the demand for the service. The service will only be dispensed to people who have attained the minimum required age of sixty five years. It will only cover the citizens who have been paying their taxes for the last ten years they have been in the country (Moon, 2006). Citizens who are below this age will not be legible for enrolment in the program and will not receive its benefits. The people who cannot afford to pay the required monthly premiums will also enjoy the benefits of the scheme. Their consumers will not be highly sensitive to the prices they are charged for the services. This is because the scheme will be offering diverse benefits to different groups of people. The benefit’s one receives will correspond to the amount of his contributions towards the

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Motoreays of the sea improve access to markets throughout Europe Essay

Motoreays of the sea improve access to markets throughout Europe - Essay Example The term â€Å"motorways of the sea† was first used on a new White Paper of Transport â€Å"European Transport policy 2010: Time to decide†. In its initial stages the â€Å"motorways of the sea† concept was considered to be a measure for revitalizing short sea shipping (Great Britain 2004, p. 101). This paper aims at discussing how Motorways of the sea improve access to markets throughout Europe. There are a number of reasons that can be given for the claim that Motorways of the sea improve access to markets throughout Europe. One of the reasons is that it leads to the enlargement of the European Union through the introduction of Malta, Slovenia, and Cyprus. With these measures, it is clear that the introduction of the new countries will definitely lead to introduction of the potential market. Given the fact that there is string nodal points in the Mediterranean, the countries in the European Union will be able to access new markets in the new entrant countries (Cole 2005, p. 167). This means that the ease of transport between these countries will also make it easier for there to be trade between these countries. The new entrants can also have a market for their products in the rest of Europe. As a result of the implementation of â€Å"motorways of the sea†, there will be a significant development in the shipping industry. With the growth in the shipping industry, business organizations will find it easier to transport their finished product from one country to another. This does not imply that this was impossible before the implementation of the â€Å"motorways of the sea†. However, it simply means that the shipping industry will become more efficient and reliable. As a result producers will be able to get products to various parts of Europe with minimal restriction (Forte &Grimaldi 2013, p. 199). The economies of some of the countries that are affected by â€Å"motorways of the sea† depend on the shipping industry. These countries include

Friday, November 15, 2019

Pride of the Anthropocentric World vs. the Theocentric World

Pride of the Anthropocentric World vs. the Theocentric World Verna Drieas Throughout The Iliad and the Tanakh, pride becomes an apparent theme, which frames characters and their worldview of humanity as a whole. Within the Tanakh, the Jews look down upon pride or admiring oneself, because they associate all their gain   to God. Yet, pride for the Greeks was about more than just one thinking highly of themselves, it was about being respected and honored by men now and those to come. The reason for this being that the Greeks live in an anthropocentric world, whereas the Jews live in a theocentric world. Living in an anthropocentric world means that the human is the main focus, so the Greeks felt that their Gods held no glory which they had to humble themselves before. Leading the Greeks to act as Gods themselves, therefore taking the glory away from the Gods of Olympus. For the Jews, God is the central element of their lives, so they associate [1]their prosperity to the glory of God, who they believe allowed them to have such blessings. Consequently, the Jews push aside their pride to acknowledge that they are nothing without God and ensure that God remains with them. Coming from different worldviews, causes the Greeks to put their pride above all others because humanity to them is greater than any divine, whereas the Jews associate[2] pride with sin, because they believe that all their gifts come from God so it is wrong to take credit for such blessings.[3][4] When David returned from war with the Philistines, the people chanted his name and praised him for his bravery. Saul, hearing this, became angry and sought out to kill David as he saw that David was a favorite among the people and feared that he would go after his crown. Fortunately, Sauls son, Jonathan, told David of his fathers plan, so David escaped from Saul and fled from one place to another to hide from the wrath of Saul. As David was hiding in the cave of En-gedi, Saul came in to relieve himself, so David went and cut off a piece of his cloak. David then felt guilty for doing so to Saul, The Lord forbid I should do such a thing to my lord- the Lords anointed- that I should raise my hand against him; for he is the Lords anointed (I Samuel 24. 7). Rather than killing Saul, he spares him because he is the Messiah, he was chosen by God. David feels as if he can not bring harm to Saul because then he would upset the Lord. Even though Saul insults David and continuously threatens h is life, David puts his pride aside and does not kill Saul for the sake of God. In contrast when Achilles was asked to put aside his pride for the sake of his comrades he was not willing to do so, for Agamemnon stole his war prize, Briseis and claimed her as his own. This was an attack towards Achilles as Agamemnon not only took away his trophy but his timà ª,   also known as honor. This humiliated Achilles, as Agamemnon continued to insult him and discredit his war efforts, Achilles then questioned Should he draw the long sharp sword slung at his hip, thrust through the ranks and kill Agamemnon now? (The Iliad I. 224-225). If Athena had not come down from Olympus to calm the fury in the heart of Achilles, he would have killed Agamemnon. To Achilles, his pride was far greater than the life of Agamemnon, as he was willing to kill him regardless of his position. Although both David and Achilles were faced with an inner-conflict of whether or not they should kill their king, they deal with it in different ways. David puts aside his pride and stops himself from committing such a violent act, and even feels remorse for simply cutting off a piece of Sauls cloak, because he is Gods chosen one. He fears God and is not willing to put his pride ahead, because he comes from a world where mans focal point in life is pleasing God. On the other hand, Achilles wants to kill Agamemnon for dishonoring him, he doesnt try to stop himself, rather it is Athena who stops him. Achilles does not care about Agamemnon nor does he fear him, as he would rather Agamemnon be dead than his pride be aggrieved. Being that they come from different worlds, Achilles and David handle the situation differently. David fears God because his whole world focuses on God and pleasing the Lord. Whereas Achilles does not need to fear the Gods, since they hold no true holiness, and in his world, human beings hold the greatest significance, so Achilles cares more about what man will say about him and his honor, rather than what the Gods will say or do to him. So the different worldviews affect the way in which characters value their pride. After Nathan had come to talk to David about Gods wishes, of building him a temple and relayed the Lords covenant to David, David said to God, What am I, O Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me thus far?You are great indeed, O Lord God! There is none like you and there is no other God but you (II Samuel 7. 18, 22). David reflects on all that he has gained over the time and he realizes that he has prospered immensely. Yet, he does not boast, rather he takes the time to thank God for all that he has given him and even vows to build the Lord a place for public worship. He does not become prideful and blame all his success on himself, instead he acknowledges that he is nothing without the Lord who blessed him with such riches. When it comes to the Greeks, they however are not the same. As Patroclus goes to war, in the place of Achilles, he kills one man after the other, with Zeus watching over him. Until Hector faces him and stabs him in the guts and mocks him, but Patroclus answers right back saying, Even if twenty Hectors had charged against me-theyd all have died here, laid low by my spear. No deathly fate in league with Apollo killed me (The Iliad XVI. 991-993). Patroclus shows no thanks to the Gods, rather he takes pride in all his success thus far in the war. He says that he could have taken any man, as he was able to face Gods who could not kill him. Patroclus boasts in himself, because he sees himself as a man who is greater than even the Gods and could defeat even twenty Hectors. Though both characters are blessed with gifts and talents, David connects his success to   the glory of the Lord, whereas Patroclus claims that all his talents and his ability to kill so many men was his doing alone. Patroclus is able to do so because he comes from a world where humans are held at a higher value than other beings, even divine beings, however he does not acknowledge that his gifts are given by the Gods. Instead he takes the glory of the Gods for himself and indulges in his own success, and forgets the Gods when he is able to gain such defeat over the Trojan warriors. In contrast, David thanks God for all that he has acquired, he knows that he was given all these blessings through the Lord. Unlike Patroclus, when David is faced with great prosperity, he humbles himself and questions the Lord saying Who am I to receive all these gifts from you. He does not claim all his success for himself, as he sees that he could not have done any of that without Gods doing. Si nce David does come from a theocentric world, his whole life revolves around God, so he does not take pride in himself, but rather he takes pride in the Lord being great towards him. In conclusion, pride within the two texts is different in that the characters from the novels come from different worlds, so their pride reflects upon what their focus is. Being that the Greeks come from a world that focuses on man, they are not afraid to admire themselves as all they truly care about is their pride and honor because that is what is carried on through history, and what men will be talking about even when they are dead. However, the Jews fear the Lord far more than man, so they are willing to put their pride aside in order to please the Lord above all. When faced with similar situations the characters from The Iliad and the Tanakh, go about the situation differently, because their central focuses in life are different from one another.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Management Style Essay

O'Neal I define management as someone who directs their workers, or in some cases their supervisors on what needs to be done by the workers. Management is the person who should lead by example and be a positive role model for the company so that everyone else under will follow. Management must be familiar with the work of his/her employee(s). The most important thing for management to know how to do more than being familiar with the work knows how to manage the workers and be a read lead for the company.Good qualities of a manager is that they are able to lead the employees that they manage. Having good leadership skills is really essential. Good leadership skills consist of having self assurance, emotional stability and enthusiasm. A good manager has good communication skills, planning and organizing skills as well as good problem-solving skills. In my opinion good management skills also consist of taking care of problems head on and not allowing them to escalate.Building a good am and once a month having one on one meeting as well as group meetings to find out where an individual need to grow within self better company and where everyone as a team need to grow to better the company Good management requires nothing but positivist in his/her organization or company (smelliness's. Churn. Com). Poor qualities of a manager would be poor communication, problem solving and leadership skills. A manager that does not know how to lead by example rather just tell others what to do.Have favorites, do not deal with issues head on, and be dude to employees, one sided and intimidate and bully staff is all poor qualities for a manager. Also poor management is one who does not practice positivist within the company (smelliness's. Churn. Com). I feel that these qualities should be the same no matter the situation. Whether at home, social, or work can use these same qualities something that should be in the person and if it is in the person will not only come out in certain sit uations but overall. M okay with my test results due to tested in between so it makes me ware that have k management skills but just need some improvement based off the Way that I answered the questions. It provides constructed criticism in which love so I can do better in certain areas and I am okay with that. I enjoyed taking this quiz because it shows you where you are so you can get better if need to. In my opinion no matter how good of a manager you are there is always room for improvement no matter what and a good manager should never feel like there is no room for growth. Management Style Essay If there are problems between staff, I am the one who needs to find a way for the problem to be worked out so that the staff can go back to doing their job to the best of their ability. I need to be able to fire/let someone go if they are not working well for the position and I am the one that gets the biggest stress from work. Live that being a manager means you have good time management, are a good judge of character can handle problem situations in a timely professional manner and be able to make staff understand that we are all working together for the best outcome of the company/place of employment. A few bad qualities a manager can have are temper problems, a complex where they believe they are better than co-workers and staff alike, someone only wants to do their paperwork job and ignoring staff.This means that you can't just do the paper work and hiring, you have to know what the main goals are but if everyone sees their manager as a bad manager because nothing is getting bet ter then you should rethink your priorities as a manager. Qualities of a person, management or staff, can change based off of different situations in their lives but that is when a positive attitude can come into play. If a family member has passed away you may not want to work but sometimes you have to set things aside and do your best while working.All aspects of being a manager do not change; you have to take care of everything that is needed for your position and just take it one day at a time. Team Work While taking my Management Quiz, it all seemed like common sense. My results showed that I am doing great in the team work area, meaning that I know how to get staff on the same page about all goals and plans that need done. It stated that I know how to delegate and how to make sure that results are what want them to do be. As a team that can be hard but do realize that everyone is different and it takes different managing methods for some.One person I may have to show how to do something while another only have to tell them what was wrong. Managing People My people managing skills on the quiz showed that I know how to manage people in general. That would include being able to hire the right person for the job, giving feedback as often as possible and to address any issues in a way that the person/people will understand and be able to do better with their work. I believe that talking to a person one-on-one can help them understand what it is they are doing great and what they need to improve on thou yelling or always being negative.It takes a positive attitude to have others show a positive attitude even if everything that is being done is not correct. Managing You resell The quiz stated that I am doing a great job in managing myself. This includes time management, using my authority in a way that isn't abusing my position and understanding my role as a manager. I do know that being manager doesn't mean get my way, it means that I am working with others to do what needs to be done for the company so that all staff works well together and hat everything is run smoothly.As a manager the biggest responsibility is on me. Have to be the one that makes sure everyone is doing their best and that am letting them know where their faults are and to do my best to help them fix any issues that they may be having. I am the one that staff comes to when there is a problem and I need to be the one to find ways to fix any issue in a way that no more issues come from the original problem. Conclusion My management quiz showed that am doing great on all aspects of the quiz ND I agree but also know that I can get better with time and knowledge.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Japan Staffing Approach

What is the crime rate of the country you have chosen? Use outside references. In past classes the crime rate question doesnt get enough attention, so spend some time on this. How does your country's crime stats compare to the U. S.? According to the travel. state. gov Japan has low rate of crime.Security issue in Japan, Crime levels are low. It is generally safe to walk about at night and to travel on public transport, but you should maintain the same level of vigilance as you would at home and take sensible precautions. Safety scale of Japan is 80. 98 (Numbeo, 2013). Japanese government authorities cannot rule out the threat of terrorism in Japan. As a counter-terrorism precaution, the Japanese government has, since July 2005, implemented heightened security measures at key facilities including on public transport and at ports of entry. Recent changes inJapan's security policies have been interpreted by the media as representing a scrapping of the countrys pacifist restrictions, le ading it toward becoming a â€Å"normal† nation and acquiring a more assertive military. These changes include permitting the right to exercise collective self-defense, creating a National Security Council, relaxing a ban on exporting defense-related equipment and procuring new military assets. The changes are significant, but they do not represent a fundamental shift. Instead, they represent a pragmatic evolution in response to Japan's increasingly dangerous eighborhood.If possible, avoid carrying credit cards or large amounts of cash to parties, bars, clubs or entertainment districts. Do not leave your drink unattended. Think about your personal safety, take appropriate precautions and refer to our intormation tor travellers partying overseas tor turtner advice. Sporadic incidents ot bag snatching and pickpocketing of foreigners in crowded shopping areas, on trains and at airports have occurred. Credit card and ATM fraud can occur in Japan. If you are suspicious of any item s that are stuck to ATMs or look unusual, do not use the machine. Exercise normal safety precautions and take care with your valuables.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Human Cloning2 essays

Human Cloning2 essays I have observed in my nineteen years of living that almost everyone in this society strives to be the same or like the popular culture. The average person is very materialistic, and strives for an appealing physical appearance. Artificiality is common in the popular culture. For example, dying of hair color, inserting color contacts, getting lyposuction, implants or removal of flaws on the body is prevalent. I strongly oppose human cloning primarily because I believe that humans already try to replicate themselves enough and having the same genes is not necessary. Plus, just because there may be two identical beings doesnt mean that they will behave the same. In this essay will explain how cloning is achieved, the benefits and dangers of human cloning, address my views on genetic discrimination, policies that I suggest to prevent abuses of genetic engineering, and why an exact clone an never be carried out. First, I will discuss how cloning is made possible. After several attempts, Professor Ian Wilmat and his partners successfully cloned "Dolly". Cloning is a very intricate process and it requires special equipment and modern technology. To begin, a cell is removed from the organism that is going to be replicated, also known as the donor. The cell is extracted by an incision in the skin, a sample of blood or even a piece of the actual skin. Next, the second reproductive cell is taken from the female organism. The entire deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is removed from the nucleus. (DNA contains all the information of heredity.) A small a mount of DNA is also removed from the donors cell nucleus. At this time, the donors DNA is forced into the second cells nucleus. This allows the two cells to be synonymous in terms of genes and DNA. Fussion is used to combine the two cells. At this point the carrier must be found, if it is not already present. The carrier is the female that wishes or is willing to give birth to the cloned baby....

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Apply the Post-Modernist concepts of intertextuality and pastiche to Shaun of the Dead. The WritePass Journal

Apply the Post-Modernist concepts of intertextuality and pastiche to Shaun of the Dead. Introduction Apply the Post-Modernist concepts of intertextuality and pastiche to Shaun of the Dead. IntroductionREFERENCES:Related Introduction This essay is going to investigate the concepts of intertextuality and pastiche of Shaun of the Dead. To do this, the two concepts will be briefly explained and how, although the film is completely made up of references to different films, it is still wholly original because of this. â€Å"Intertextuality is the shaping of texts meanings by other texts. It can refer to an author’s borrowing and transformation of a prior text or to a reader’s referencing of one text in reading another. The term â€Å"intertextuality† has, itself, been borrowed and transformed many times since it was coined by poststructuralist Julia Kristeva in 1966. As critic William Irwin says, the term â€Å"has come to have almost as many meanings as users, from those faithful to Kristeva’s original vision to those who simply use it as a stylish way of talking about allusion and influence† (Irwin, 228).† â€Å"The literary term pastiche is used in two slightly different ways, and the concept can be found in other arts, not just literature, ranging from architecture to film. In the first sense, a pastiche is a form of homage which is accomplished through imitation. In the second definition, a pastiche is a medley of items which are imitative in origin. The term can be used in a derogatory or complimentary way, depending on the work under discussion. The origins of the word lie in an Italian word meaning medley, a reference to a type of cake or pie which is made from a broad mixture of items. The idea behind either form of pastiche is that it integrates themes, ideas, concepts, and characters which have already been seen and used before. These items are integrated in a new work because the author finds them interesting, compelling, or useful; a pastiche is not plagiarism or outright imitation, but a more complex literary concept.† (Smith, 2011). Shawn of the Dead was a 2004 film written by Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright. It was billed as a ‘British romantic zombie comedy’. The main plot of the film is that a man (Shawn) decides to turn his life around by winning his girlfriend back and fixing the relationship with his mother. Unfortunately he also has to deal with the whole community coming back from the dead to eat the living. Shawn of the dead is jammed packed with references to other films, most of which can be found in the following part of this essay. Firstly, in the opening credits, during the company logo, ‘figment’ by S. Park is playing. This is the same music that was playing during the airport scene in Dawn of the Dead. (Shawn of the Dead is obviously paying homage to Dead of the Dead in the similar film title reference as well). In Day of the Dead a zombie staggers into the screen shot and as a nod to this Shawn of the Dead has a shot of Shawn staggering across the floor after waking up. Pete, Shawn’s flatmate answers his mobile phone with the line, â€Å"Hi Dom.† Peter Serafinowicz (who portrayed Pete in the film) was also in BBC series Spaced (starring Simon Pegg) where he frequently used the same line. As Shaun walks to the corner store, he passes a road sweeper. On the operator’s radio, you can hear a report of how a space probe named Omega 6 entered the atmosphere several days early over the southwest of England and broke apart over a heavily populated area. This ties in with Night of the Living Dead, in which a space probe breaks up in the atmosphere and causes the dead to return to life. Throughout the film we see multiple references to a made up pizza chain called ‘Bub’s Pizza’. This is a reference to the smarter than average zombie Bub from Day of the Dead. One of the stars of Dawn of the Dead (1978), Ken Foree, is referenced in the place where Shawn works: Foree Electric. Shawn walks past a sign for Weston Park. This sign is in Crouch End in London. It is the same place that the BBC series Spaced was set and was also where Simon Pegg resided in 2004. They pay tribute to Ashley J. Williams, who played Bruce Campbell. hero from the Evil Dead Trilogy. This is during the scene when Shawn calls a staff meeting. He mentions that the manager and ‘Ash’ have both phoned in sick. There is an exclusive seafood restaurant called Fulci’s in the film at which Shawn tries to make a reservation for. This is a nod to Lucio Fulci, the famed Italian horror director. Ed, Shawn’s best friend, is known for his hilarious impression of Clyde, the orang-utan from Every Which Way But Loose with Clint Eastwood. The zombie in Shawns back garden, Mary, worked at Landis Supermarket. This is a reference to John Landis who is the director of the horror film An American Werewolf in London. As Shawn and Ed are watching news reports on the television they come across a reporter who speaks the same lines as the reporter in the Night of the Living Dead (1968) There is a poster of a bleeding cartoon schoolgirl in the background of the scene where Shawn and Ed get attacked by the one armed zombie. This is a stylized recreation of a scene from Battle Royale, a Japanese film. At one point, Ed warns Shawns mum over the phone, â€Å"Were coming to get you, Barbara.† This line is a reference to a line from the beginning of George Romeros seminal zombie movie Night of the Living Dead (1968). We hear ‘Zombi’ by Goblin, in the scene where Shawn and Ed try to work out how to rescue Liz and Barbara. This music was featured in Dawn of the Dead. When Shawn and Ed get to the idea of seeking refuge in the Winchester pub, a delighted Ed exclaims, ‘Yeah, boy!’ this is a reference to Public Enemy rapper Flavor Flay. As they are making their way to the Winchester, Shawns mum falls behind and gets attacked by a zombie. She screams for help and Shawn rushes to help her jumping on a small trampoline and using it to propel him through the air. This is the same shot that was used near the end of Sam Raimi’s film, Army of Darkness. It was also a popular mode of transport in the computer game ‘Zombies ate my neighbours’ in which you have to bounce from back garden to back garden in order to kill the suburban zombies. On the way to the Winchester, there is a brief reunion of characters from the television series The Office, when Shaun’s group encounters Yvonne’s group. Lucy Davis (Dianne) and Martin Freeman (Declan) played Dawn and Tim on the popular BBC series, and their relationship was a central plot of the show. Noel calls Ed on the phone and refers to him as Noodle. This is the name of one of the teenagers on Spaced. The Mexican standoff at the Winchester pub is straight out of Reservoir Dogs, with the characters holding broken bottles and corkscrew rather than guns, (with the exception of David who is holding a rifle). Shawn exclaims, ‘Stop pointing that gun at my mum!’ in Reservoir Dogs Chris Penn yells, ‘Stop pointing that gun at my Dad!’ Liz’s friend David’s death scene is almost identical to that of Captain Rhodes in Day of the Dead. In the scene where Shawn and Liz escape from the Winchester’s pub cellar via an elevator platform is a direct tribute to Day of the Dead which also heavily features an elevator platform. The way in which Shawn drops the ‘hand box’ after activating the elevator is done in exactly the same manner used by Bill McDermott (Played by the actor Jarlart Conroy) in the Day of thr Dead. The choreographed pool-cue beating of the zombie in the Winchester pub, which was synchronized to the Queen soundtrack, is a carefully referenced homage to the balletic assault on the homeless man in A Clockwork Orange, (1971) The line. ‘get behind me’,   when they were fighting off the zombies in the pub is a direct take of Han Solos line in Star Wars (1977) Shaun berates Ed for calling the creatures zombies (which they are, of course). This may be referring to the fact that many zombie movies (including Night of the Living Dead (1968) and Resident Evil (2002) never mention the word zombie at all. More likely this is a reference to Danny Boyle director of 28 Days Later (2002) and his insistence that it isnt a zombie movie. When Shaun finds his zombie house mate in the shower he utters the words Join us in a half whispered tone. This is a reference to the first two Evil Dead films where the zombies are always asking Ash (also mentioned in the department store) to join us. The scene in which Shaun and Liz leave the basement via the lift through the hatch into smoke and orange light, turning as they do so, is a direct reference to a scene in Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back (1980) when Lando leaves the Millennium Falcon to rescue Luke. Towards the end of the movie when the soldiers arrive to save Shawn and Liz the logo on the side of their trucks read ‘Biohazard’ This is the same name that the Japanese use for the uber popular zombie video game Resident Evil, which is also very heavily featured in Simon Peggs BBC series, Spaced. Liz flicks through the channels and we hear a report refuting the news that the zombie attacks may have been caused by rage infected monkeys. This is a direct reference to the Danny Boyle film 28 days later. When Shawn and Liz are watching television after the zombie attack they come across a zombie game show called ‘fun dead’. In the background the shopping centre music from the Dawn of the Dead can be heard. Finally, the end credits of the film features the song ‘The Gonk’ by H. Chappell. This again is the shopping mall music for the Dawn of the Dead but remixed by Kid Koala. There are many more references of intextuality and pastiche in this film and as Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright have said in interviews that the film has many levels that you have to see to understand. â€Å"Shaun of the Dead.   Like Dawn of the Dead, this film follows what happens in the event of a zombie epidemic.   However, Shaun of the Dead is done in a more light-hearted and comical way.   That raises the question as to whether it is parody or pastiche.   Shaun of the Dead has all the elements of the zombie invasion film.   However, it is handled in a very different way, with comedy.   Shaun of  the  Dead is a classic example  of parody, given Jameson’s definition, â€Å"Now parody capitalizes on the uniqueness of these styles and seizes on their idiosyncrasies and eccentricities to produce an imitation which mocks the original† (1963).   Shaun of  the Dead takes those things  that are specific to almost every zombie film and makes light of it.   The film could be thought of as pastiche, as Jameson writes, â€Å"Pastiche is blank parody, parody that has lost its sense of  humor† (1963).   Since Shaun of the Dead is meant to b e humorous, it cannot be a pastiche.† REFERENCES: Irwin, William. Against Intertextuality. Philosophy and Literature, v28, Number 2, October 2004, pp.  227-242. S.E. Smith. (06 April 2011). In Literature, What is Pastiche?. Available: wisegeek.com/in-literature-what-is-pastiche.htm. Last accessed 13th April 2011. Anon. (2004). Shaun of the Dead Pop Culture References. Available: shaunofthedead.com/plot/pop-culture/. Last accessed 18th April 2011 B, Nick. (2007). What was once for theory is now used for postmodernism. Available: http://ryancallander.wordpress.com/2007/05/03/group-project/. Last accessed 5th April 2011. Apply the post-modernist concepts of intertextuality and pastiche to shaun of the dead. REFERENCES: Apply the post-modernist concepts of intertextuality and pastiche to shaun of the dead. Introduction This essay is going to investigate the concepts of intertextuality and pastiche of Shaun of the Dead. To do this, the two concepts will be briefly explained and how, although the film is completely made up of references to different films, it is still wholly original because of this. â€Å"Intertextuality is the shaping of texts meanings by other texts. It can refer to an author’s borrowing and transformation of a prior text or to a reader’s referencing of one text in reading another. The term â€Å"intertextuality† has, itself, been borrowed and transformed many times since it was coined by poststructuralist Julia Kristeva in 1966. As critic William Irwin says, the term â€Å"has come to have almost as many meanings as users, from those faithful to Kristeva’s original vision to those who simply use it as a stylish way of talking about allusion and influence† (Irwin, 228).† â€Å"The literary term pastiche is used in two slightly different ways, and the concept can be found in other arts, not just literature, ranging from architecture to film. In the first sense, a pastiche is a form of homage which is accomplished through imitation. In the second definition, a pastiche is a medley of items which are imitative in origin. The term can be used in a derogatory or complimentary way, depending on the work under discussion. The origins of the word lie in an Italian word meaning medley, a reference to a type of cake or pie which is made from a broad mixture of items. The idea behind either form of pastiche is that it integrates themes, ideas, concepts, and characters which have already been seen and used before. These items are integrated in a new work because the author finds them interesting, compelling, or useful; a pastiche is not plagiarism or outright imitation, but a more complex literary concept.† (Smith, 2011). Shawn of the Dead was a 2004 film written by Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright. It was billed as a ‘British romantic zombie comedy’. The main plot of the film is that a man (Shawn) decides to turn his life around by winning his girlfriend back and fixing the relationship with his mother. Unfortunately he also has to deal with the whole community coming back from the dead to eat the living. Shawn of the dead is jammed packed with references to other films, most of which can be found in the following part of this essay. Firstly, in the opening credits, during the company logo, ‘figment’ by S. Park is playing. This is the same music that was playing during the airport scene in Dawn of the Dead. (Shawn of the Dead is obviously paying homage to Dead of the Dead in the similar film title reference as well). In Day of the Dead a zombie staggers into the screen shot and as a nod to this Shawn of the Dead has a shot of Shawn staggering across the floor after waking up. Pete, Shawn’s flatmate answers his mobile phone with the line, â€Å"Hi Dom.† Peter Serafinowicz (who portrayed Pete in the film) was also in BBC series Spaced (starring Simon Pegg) where he frequently used the same line. As Shaun walks to the corner store, he passes a road sweeper. On the operator’s radio, you can hear a report of how a space probe named Omega 6 entered the atmosphere several days early over the southwest of England and broke apart over a heavily populated area. This ties in with Night of the Living Dead, in which a space probe breaks up in the atmosphere and causes the dead to return to life. Throughout the film we see multiple references to a made up pizza chain called ‘Bub’s Pizza’. This is a reference to the smarter than average zombie Bub from Day of the Dead. One of the stars of Dawn of the Dead (1978), Ken Foree, is referenced in the place where Shawn works: Foree Electric. Shawn walks past a sign for Weston Park. This sign is in Crouch End in London. It is the same place that the BBC series Spaced was set and was also where Simon Pegg resided in 2004. They pay tribute to Ashley J. Williams, who played Bruce Campbell. hero from the Evil Dead Trilogy. This is during the scene when Shawn calls a staff meeting. He mentions that the manager and ‘Ash’ have both phoned in sick. There is an exclusive seafood restaurant called Fulci’s in the film at which Shawn tries to make a reservation for. This is a nod to Lucio Fulci, the famed Italian horror director. Ed, Shawn’s best friend, is known for his hilarious impression of Clyde, the orang-utan from Every Which Way But Loose with Clint Eastwood. The zombie in Shawns back garden, Mary, worked at Landis Supermarket. This is a reference to John Landis who is the director of the horror film An American Werewolf in London. As Shawn and Ed are watching news reports on the television they come across a reporter who speaks the same lines as the reporter in the Night of the Living Dead (1968) There is a poster of a bleeding cartoon schoolgirl in the background of the scene where Shawn and Ed get attacked by the one armed zombie. This is a stylized recreation of a scene from Battle Royale, a Japanese film. At one point, Ed warns Shawns mum over the phone, â€Å"Were coming to get you, Barbara.† This line is a reference to a line from the beginning of George Romeros seminal zombie movie Night of the Living Dead (1968). We hear ‘Zombi’ by Goblin, in the scene where Shawn and Ed try to work out how to rescue Liz and Barbara. This music was featured in Dawn of the Dead. When Shawn and Ed get to the idea of seeking refuge in the Winchester pub, a delighted Ed exclaims, ‘Yeah, boy!’ this is a reference to Public Enemy rapper Flavor Flay. As they are making their way to the Winchester, Shawns mum falls behind and gets attacked by a zombie. She screams for help and Shawn rushes to help her jumping on a small trampoline and using it to propel him through the air. This is the same shot that was used near the end of Sam Raimi’s film, Army of Darkness. It was also a popular mode of transport in the computer game ‘Zombies ate my neighbours’ in which you have to bounce from back garden to back garden in order to kill the suburban zombies. On the way to the Winchester, there is a brief reunion of characters from the television series The Office, when Shaun’s group encounters Yvonne’s group. Lucy Davis (Dianne) and Martin Freeman (Declan) played Dawn and Tim on the popular BBC series, and their relationship was a central plot of the show. Noel calls Ed on the phone and refers to him as Noodle. This is the name of one of the teenagers on Spaced. The Mexican standoff at the Winchester pub is straight out of Reservoir Dogs, with the characters holding broken bottles and corkscrew rather than guns, (with the exception of David who is holding a rifle). Shawn exclaims, ‘Stop pointing that gun at my mum!’ in Reservoir Dogs Chris Penn yells, ‘Stop pointing that gun at my Dad!’ Liz’s friend David’s death scene is almost identical to that of Captain Rhodes in Day of the Dead. In the scene where Shawn and Liz escape from the Winchester’s pub cellar via an elevator platform is a direct tribute to Day of the Dead which also heavily features an elevator platform. The way in which Shawn drops the ‘hand box’ after activating the elevator is done in exactly the same manner used by Bill McDermott (Played by the actor Jarlart Conroy) in the Day of thr Dead. The choreographed pool-cue beating of the zombie in the Winchester pub, which was synchronized to the Queen soundtrack, is a carefully referenced homage to the balletic assault on the homeless man in A Clockwork Orange, (1971) The line. ‘get behind me’,   when they were fighting off the zombies in the pub is a direct take of Han Solos line in Star Wars (1977) Shaun berates Ed for calling the creatures zombies (which they are, of course). This may be referring to the fact that many zombie movies (including Night of the Living Dead (1968) and Resident Evil (2002) never mention the word zombie at all. More likely this is a reference to Danny Boyle director of 28 Days Later (2002) and his insistence that it isnt a zombie movie. When Shaun finds his zombie house mate in the shower he utters the words Join us in a half whispered tone. This is a reference to the first two Evil Dead films where the zombies are always asking Ash (also mentioned in the department store) to join us. The scene in which Shaun and Liz leave the basement via the lift through the hatch into smoke and orange light, turning as they do so, is a direct reference to a scene in Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back (1980) when Lando leaves the Millennium Falcon to rescue Luke. Towards the end of the movie when the soldiers arrive to save Shawn and Liz the logo on the side of their trucks read ‘Biohazard’ This is the same name that the Japanese use for the uber popular zombie video game Resident Evil, which is also very heavily featured in Simon Peggs BBC series, Spaced. Liz flicks through the channels and we hear a report refuting the news that the zombie attacks may have been caused by rage infected monkeys. This is a direct reference to the Danny Boyle film 28 days later. When Shawn and Liz are watching television after the zombie attack they come across a zombie game show called ‘fun dead’. In the background the shopping centre music from the Dawn of the Dead can be heard. Finally, the end credits of the film features the song ‘The Gonk’ by H. Chappell. This again is the shopping mall music for the Dawn of the Dead but remixed by Kid Koala. There are many more references of intextuality and pastiche in this film and as Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright have said in interviews that the film has many levels that you have to see to understand. â€Å"Shaun of the Dead.   Like Dawn of the Dead, this film follows what happens in the event of a zombie epidemic.   However, Shaun of the Dead is done in a more light-hearted and comical way.   That raises the question as to whether it is parody or pastiche.   Shaun of the Dead has all the elements of the zombie invasion film.   However, it is handled in a very different way, with comedy.   Shaun of  the  Dead is a classic example  of parody, given Jameson’s definition, â€Å"Now parody capitalizes on the uniqueness of these styles and seizes on their idiosyncrasies and eccentricities to produce an imitation which mocks the original† (1963).   Shaun of  the Dead takes those things  that are specific to almost every zombie film and makes light of it.   The film could be thought of as pastiche, as Jameson writes, â€Å"Pastiche is blank parody, parody that has lost its sense of  humor† (1963).   Since Shaun of the Dead is meant to b e humorous, it cannot be a pastiche.† REFERENCES: Irwin, William. Against Intertextuality. Philosophy and Literature, v28, Number 2, October 2004, pp.  227-242. S.E. Smith. (06 April 2011). In Literature, What is Pastiche?. Available: wisegeek.com/in-literature-what-is-pastiche.htm. Last accessed 13th April 2011. Anon. (2004). Shaun of the Dead Pop Culture References. Available: shaunofthedead.com/plot/pop-culture/. Last accessed 18th April 2011 B, Nick. (2007). What was once for theory is now used for postmodernism. Available: http://ryancallander.wordpress.com/2007/05/03/group-project/. Last accessed 5th April 2011.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

The Arab Gulf States Domestic Stability Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

The Arab Gulf States Domestic Stability - Essay Example The above quote, while lengthy, is pertinent to the focus of this study. It very accurately explains the degree to which the security and political structure of the Arabian Gulf is changing and draws attention to the potential for further change. The Gulf states, as indicated, are living a volatile period wherein changes tend towards the revolutionary, as opposed to the evolutionary. If anything, this highlights the vulnerabilities to which these states are currently exposed and underscores the imperatives of adopting measures which are designed to minimize the threats emanating from these vulnerabilities or, at least, manage their potential for inducing domestic stability within Gulf states and across the Gulf regime. Instability within the Arabian Gulf has far-reaching consequences. ... Besides oil, the Gulf region also has sizeable reserves (2,509 trillion cubic feet - Tcf) of natural gas, accounting for 41 percent of total proven world gas reserves".4 Ensuring the free and stable flow of the oil from the region to the world at large is the primary goal of the western states. Instability in the region or the collapse of any of the Gulf regimes would detrimentally impact upon the global economy and the consequences would not, under any circumstances, be confined to the region. Instead, western economies would totter on the brink of disaster and governments would flounder. The security of the Gulf, therefore, is of primary concern to Western nations and, indeed, as former U.S. President Jimmy Carter once said, is integral to the national security of Western nations, chief amongst which is the United States.5 For the Gulf states, however, having a healthy relationship without any mistrust among regional states, is the primary objective. Mistrust "Trust means to believe that someone is honest and will not harm you, cheat you etc."6 Unfortunately, however, mistrust was injected into the relationship between the Arab Gulf States members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)7 and Iran, after the Islamic Revolution of 1979. The said mistrust significantly increased in the wake of the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s. While the majority of GCC member states stood with Iraq against Iran in that war, it is believed that this stance contributed to the generation of mistrust between both sides until today. The aforementioned, alongside Iran's historic regional ambitions, combined with the improvement in the relationship between the Arabs and the West, especially the United States of America, only compounded the mistrust. The fact that

Friday, November 1, 2019

Intro to research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Intro to research - Essay Example Regardless of the varying requirements, it is an accurate assertion that change in the organization is inevitable. For this reason, the role of the manager should be developed to suit the requirements of change. The approach to change is not limited to one department of area of strategy. In an argument by Burke organizational change is an overall strategy in the workplace (287). The effort to implement change should be equal at the top and lower levels of the organization. This allows for the equal organization transformation at all departments. For instance, an organization may have the need to implement digital system for its operations. For the need to be effectively addressed, the digital platforms should be placed in all departments. The decision may allow for operational synchronization from the top level to the lower level departments (Myers, Hulks & Wiggins 49) In addition to the selection of a placement strategy, change requires proper selection of the needs of the organization. Myers, Hulks & Wiggins is of the assumption that the decision to create change should be placed at the responsibility of the executive members (263). The authors further point out that the decision, however, is reached after an effective scrutiny of the organizational performance (Myers, Hulks & Wiggins 263). The performance of the organization is measured against its set targets, goals and mission. In this approach to change, the executive analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of the organization based on its performance. The market perception of the organization also influences the decision to influence change. The changing market and consumer trends are the major factors of influencing the decision to implement change in the organization (Myers, Hulks & Wiggins 22). The process of change implementation provides the most challenging task in organizational change. The task is provided to the executive. In an argument by Burke implementing