HR Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

HR - Essay Example The company’s structure is clearly shown in the diagram below. The chief executive is at the top of the hierarchy and is in charge of all the operations in the company. Below him in the hierarchy is the management board and the customer and operations executive (British airways Plc.). In the daily operations of the company the chief executive is assisted by the chief financial officer and the leadership team. The members of the leadership include the commercial director, the chief information officer, the director of engineering, director of people and organizational effectiveness, general counsel and director of investments and alliances (British airways Plc.). The company’s SWOT analysis is used to show the company’s strategic positioning in the market and its strengths and weaknesses. The company boasts of having a wide range of strengths making it a market leader in the airline industry in the UK and the global scene. To begin with, the company has a strong brand image that makes it stand out in the market. Secondly, the opensky agreement supports its operations (British airways Plc.). Thirdly, the company has an expansive fleet which translates to a huge customer base. Fourthly, the company has a highly skilled work force that ensures delivery of quality customer service. Finally, the company benefits from economies of scale due to its level of operations and vast market base. On the other hand, the company is faced by various weaknesses including competition in cost as compared to ‘low fare’ airlines (British airways Plc.). Increasing costs of managing operations in various parts of the world, huge debt burdens and unfunded employee post retirement benefits. Other weaknesses include a high number of labor strikes and a powerful labor union. The company can exploit opportunities in various areas. These include emerging markets in Asia Pacific and other parts of the world (British airways Plc.). British Airways faces

Public school education vs. Private school education Essay - 1

Public school education vs. Private school education - Essay Example Moreover, political instability, polarization of labor market, increased competition due to admission of minority and underprivileged students has decreased popularity of public schools (Pedro, 392- 395). This paper presents an overall view of the conflict between public schools and private schools in US, along with advantages and shortcomings of each. The paper also attempts to peek into the future course of this conflict. Public schools possess the reputation of not practicing discrimination among students regarding fees and other formalities (Porter, 2). These schools consider education as a social right and ensure proper functioning of democracy by imparting proper educations. This goes in line with government policies of development and mass higher education (Pedro, 394). As government has refused to fund public schools like previous times, the schools have undertaken the course of eliminating educational programs. Courses and supportive programs like music, foreign languages, a thletics, library facilities, medical and healthcare facilities, psychologists are curtailed (Pedro, 239). Thus, students from these schools are less likely to success in a competitive environment. On top of this, public schools are â€Å"fraught with politics, tangled in bureaucracy and fragmented† (Simon). Private schools believe in the system of constant evaluation and control. Tests held on a regular basis do not allow the students to get defocused. Intensified discipline and schoolwork make students a better citizen of tomorrow. Private schools constantly inspire their students for better performance by means of â€Å"grade promotion, graduation and scholarship† programs. Due to a wide variety of curriculums, students excel in other skills also apart from formal education. Thus, it becomes easier for them to perform during their professional lives (Testing, Privatization, and the Future of Public Schooling).

Internal and External Business Environments Research Paper

Internal and External Business Environments - Research Paper Example Answer of Question 1 The main five segments of the of the general business environment that tend to have significant effect on an industry and all the companies belonging to an industry (irrespective of the size and revenue) happens to be macro environmental forces in the form of political, economic, social, technological, legal and environmental or better known as PESTLE. Although it is needless to say that all the factors are of great significance but as per the requirement of the study economic and social factors have been chosen as the two most significant forces to reckon with. The main reason for such choice is the fact that these two factors only affects the businesses & the industry but also have a close interrelation with the other forces and corresponding affect on the businesses and the industry (Porter, 1980). Economic factors The retail industry in U.S. happens to be second largest industry in the country. The industry is responsible for 12% of the overall employment of the country. Majority of the retail industry is dominated by the organized retail chains. The country has the presence of some f the major global retailers in the form of Wal-Mart (the largest in the world) followed by Kroger, Target, Best Buy, the Home Depot, etc. However, like many other industries the retail industry is also looking to combat the wrath of the 2008 economic downturns. The economic downturn coupled the high level of competition has meant that the growth rate of the industry is going to be slow as the economy is still going through a stage of downturn. The economic downturn has also increased the unemployment rate and reduced the disposable income which most certainly will continue be a reason for the slow growth rate. It is needless to say that Wal-Mart has been affected by the economic conditions just like any other retailers. However, there have been certain opportunities that have been available to the industry such as the free trade zone. Also in the year 2009, the retailer awarded benefits worth $2 billion that included bonuses, contributions, profit sharing and attractive merchandise discounts. Here it is to be noted that this was a move that was respected by the employees and the government also most of the retailers were looking to cut down on costs and employee benefits during that period of time. But from the perspective of growth it is to be said that the company needs to focus a lot more on the operations in the emerging economies. Simply because, the economy of Germany, UK, USA is matured in nature and provide very little opportunity for growth; On the contrary the emerging economies like India and china have a relatively un-taped market and hence would provide would provide a lot more opportunity for growth than some of the matured economies. Social Factors Off late the retail industry in the country has witnessed a paradigm of shift in the domain of consumer behavior. This actually has been an affect multiple factors. Due to th e environmental concern regarding global warming the customers have become a lot more environmental conscious and like to consume green products. Consumers have also become a lot of health conscious too. Also, as mentioned above the due to the economic downturn there has been a rise in the unemployment rate and dip in the disposable income of the people. Unlike earlier due the hectic and complex schedules and high fuel costs the people prefer to

A Report on Tsings Friction Essay Example for Free

A Report on Tsings Friction Essay Anna Lowenhaupt Tsings book Friction: An Ethnography of Global Connection begins with a rough overview of the global patterns and schemes in communication through a critical exploration of the more general premise of global connections present everywhere. As the author claims that the book is not a history of philosophy but rather an ethnography of global connection (Tsing, 2004, p. 1), there appears a strong concern for the presumably existing ties between the minor and major aspects of the society. As Thomas Yarrow notes, the books main concern is to capture the dynamic through which different kinds of knowledge and culture come into contact with one another (Yarrow, 2006, p. 291) which is a logical and obvious contention behind the book. The first part of Tsings book delves into the concept of prosperity by looking into the various sides of capitalism and an exploration of its causes and effects from a larger perspective. As the first part lays down the vital notions needed to better understand the foundations and contemporary manifestations of capitalism, it also raises several issues revolving around the intricate connections around the world. It opens up the entry point upon which the author will weave continuously the discussion surrounding the global environment of politics that surround the rest of Indonesia as well as the local communities residing in the country. Considering the fact that Indonesias population grew significantly from 1980 to 2001to a little less than 50% (Indonesia: Environmental Issues, 2004), the book makes it clear that the rise in the population has conversely resulted to a sharp imbalance in the environment. The book makes it a point that capitalism has also shared a huge role in this imbalance, heightened in no small way by the population boom in the past as well as in the present times. As Tsing notes, proliferation, too, is a key principle of capitalist expansion (Tsing, 2004, p. 27) which brings the idea that the population expansion with the combination of capitalist expansion are evidences of proliferation. And this proliferation in turn creates the environment of frontiers which are not just edges but particular kinds of edges where the expansive nature of extraction comes into its own (Tsing, 2004, p. 27). In essence, the opening parts of the book, including the first chapter, are primarily divided into two sections. While the first section deals with the concept of frontier and the resources which comprise it founded on the ethnographic observations during the middle parts of the 1990s, the second section deals with aftermath of the crisis during 1997 when frontier-making spiraled out of control (Tsing, 2004, p. 28). The second chapter of the book delves into the concept of Natural Universals in the global context. For establishing the connection between God and Nature, the book inevitably draws the parallels between universality of a supreme being which is God and the universality of nature through the environment. While the chapter probes into the universality of capital-N Nature which is the awe-inspiring, lawlike systematicity of the cosmos of and of life on earth (Tsing, 2004, p. 88), the book also inevitably draws the essential link between Nature and the rest of the world. Further, the second chapter attempts to establish the presumption that through the realization of an existing generality among things can one begin to act on the idea of thinking globally. That is, the realization of the commonality among the various elements and entities in the world through their predominant generalities helps us overcome the barriers that hinder us from thinking on a large scale and attain the end of global connections. Tsing firmly makes this point by stating that as long as facts are apples and oranges, one cannot generalize across them; one must first see them as fruit to make general claims (Tsing, 2004, p. 89). This makes the book even more mind rousing as it nears its middle part. While it exposes certain critical observations such as the inability or failure of individuals to realize the common general thread which holds people together as one, the book in turn brings into consciousness the probable ways in which to achieve the challenge of realizing the more general claims. The book also observes that generalization is where small details support great visions and the universal is discovered in particularities (Tsing, 2004, p. 89). This presupposes the notion that generalization to the universal requires a large space of compatibility among disparate particular facts and observations (Tsing, 2004, p. 89). It also translates into the idea that tentative and contingent collaborations among incongruent seekers of knowledge as well as their incongruent forms of knowledge can create compatible facts and observations from incongruent ones (Tsing, 2004, p. 89). These observations discussed in the book brings us face to face with the core of what the author is presupposing: the idea that mere generalizations are just as they are without getting hold of the particulars that comprise them. And these particularities, when tied altogether, comprise the larger whole where the rest of Nature and of the world operate as a single entity. Further, the book reminds us that cultural analysis thrives on the description of specificity since it is the best method upon which we are able to acquire a critical distance from the common-sense platitudes and everyday assumptions of our lives and the powerful ideologies that keep us in their thrall (Tsing, 2004, p. 122). It reaffirms the claim that missing the knowledge about the particulars disarms one with the capacity to approach and comprehend the more obvious reality behind our common-sense understanding of the world. The section of the book entitled Nature Loving further concretizes and reinforces the belief that the various interactions involving various types of knowledge and culture are solid approaches in studying universal claims. Taking the rainforests of Indonesia as a concrete illustration, the book reiterates the belief that people have always been in contact with nature. One example to this is the fact that there are nature lovers who are devoted to outdoor activities such as camping, mountain climbing, rafting, and scuba diving (Tsing, 2004, p. 122) and that these people only comprise a small portion of the larger population whose daily lives involve contact with Nature such as those people living in Indonesia. In essence, the book also attempts to bring into light the observation that Nature and the cultural processes have been commonly attributed with various disjunctions and differences as well as with the heterogeneous factors which intertwine along the way. The book reveals these things as part of what people commonly refer to as globalization. The book further concretizes this observation in the chapter A History of Weediness where the author explores the interdependence of species by reflecting on the beasts and flowers, not just as symbols and resources, but as co-residents and collaborators (Tsing, 2004, p. 172). It entails the belief that there should be respect with the way in which people treat the environment. There appears to be a hint of the presumption that the patterns upon which the societies have changed over time have also led to the significant alteration in Nature. The book penetrates deep into the analysis by juxtaposing the observations of the poet Kristiandi Tanumihardja into the observations of people from the scientific community to the masses of the society. In particular, the cornerstone of these observations from the book relates the idea that nature has its own way of communication which is evidently unique in its own mysterious ways. While the book discusses the human attempts to unveil the mysteries behind the way Nature communicates not only by the scientific community but also by the world of literature, it also hopes that even with such limited understanding the attempts might bring us closer to knowing how to live in a multispecies world (Tsing, 2004, p. 172). The last chapter of the book entitled Freedom begins with the idea that travel changes the way we imagine our home places (Tsing, 2004, p. 213). This brings the reader to the presumption that there ought to be movement in order to arrive at a better and more fulfilling comprehension and appreciation of ones own environment. Only through such movement can there be a broader understanding of the global connections existing. And these movements can be further juxtaposed with the various social movements and upheavals in the past, including the social movements not only confined within the community of civilians but also with the environment. In The Forest of Collaborations which is the last chapter of the book, the author expounds on the subject of the types of collaborations where political gains and compromises can be assessed through constant attention to these kinds of collaborations and their effects (Tsing, 2004, p. 268). It sums up the general contention of the book in studying global interconnections and the many particularities involved in comprising the larger whole. With a special emphasis on the environmental status of Indonesia, the book reports facts about the predominant themes in analyzing the ethnography of global connections as well as the discoveries in previous years and contemporary times which establish what one can perceive as the indicators of globalization. References Indonesia: Environmental Issues. (2004). Retrieved November 2, 2007, from http://www. eia. doe. gov/emeu/cabs/indoe. html Tsing, A. L. (2004). Friction: An Ethnography of Global Connection. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. Yarrow, T. (2006). Book Review: riction: An Ethnography of Global Connection By Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing. Political and Legal Anthropology Review, 29(2), 291-296.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee :: essays research papers

"To Kill A Mockingbird" by Harper Lee is a book that i would reccomend for anyone to read. This book talks about the issues of prejidice and how it affects the community. When he was nearly thirteen, my brother Jem broke his arm badley at the elbow. When it healed, and Jems's fears of never being able to play football were assuaged, he was seldom self-conscious about his injury. His left arm was somewhat shorter than his right; when he stood or walked, the back of his hand was at right angles to his body, his thumb parallel to his thigh. He couldn't have cared less as long as he could pass and punt. When enogh years had gone by to enable us to look back on them, we sometimes discussed the events leading to his accident. I maintain that the Ewell's started ti all, but Jem , who was four years my senior, said it atarted long before that. He said it began the summer Dill came to us, when Dill first gave us the idea of making Boo RAdley come out. this book sucks dick i just wish that there were some kind of site that poor people could go to, u know to find essays that they might need help on. But no everyone is trying to get a little green out of things. Well you know what i am going to find a site and than rub it in ya'll faces. Ya you bot that right! Well my name is Marcia Bryant and i hope some one reads this shit and relizes that i don't have a damn credit card. I'm sixteen fucking years old, What am i going to do wit a credit card. I mean come on. You people should know that the majority of people looking for essays r students. fi hope that all the people running these essay web site burn in hell, it is only common sense here not rocket science.haluioueowijkfdsoufiudokfjkmniidlm foidom oifms oidmfkjoia flioaidj,dm foidm,fl lkfm,d ndwp04 rlksm,mkjsfj f8u9kjkjfksjlojslkjslja;lsj;ljsljkasjl;fkjslajljfljfljsdlkjfldksjflkjsaljdlksjljdlfjksdlfjskljfljsdfkljsdlkfjlsdkjflksdjflsjflkjsalkjljalkjdflaj;ldkfjlasjfljsdlfkjdkslfj s;fk jdlkf lkdj f df df dslkf ;kjds fjk ;saklf df f d flkjd;lkf aklj fjlka lk;f dlkf kla;j;fjaf;iuweopruiweuroiwuri wriwjfsdpuifpsiodu[fosudfipousdpoivfu po u ofu [psdufu po udfp[ ouf o opusdfp[uaod[puapou opfua[pouf poudfpousafopuasdpofupodsaufpoudspofupodsufpousd jfijsdlkhf;ljkshdflkjlkfj kjdfl;j d jsklfj;lskfjkldsfj;lksljf;jdkjf;dsjf;ds jsdlfkjds klfjsldkjflk;dsfjlk;jdsljflkjdlkfjklsd flkj kljdspfiuaisufpdsuifoupovupoczxupvoupjspkfj;suv;pc vefduopuivgop ergupioufcjg fsdgj fpufp p ou9opuf u o9u pou fopsdu fojdspofias ofuods ofipodu fpodsuifo ipodsuifp odsu fopudsfoids;lkfo ofd p fudfopuauspofus o o pofduspofusp9ofgksjf uodofus aasfoiaou sfdskjfdsopufduspfo f "To Kill A Mockingbird" by Harper Lee is a book that i would reccomend for anyone to read.

Hemingway: The Relevance of Biography to Interpretation Essay

Even a cursory examination of the literature addressing Hemingway’s writing and his life can seem overwhelming. The purpose of this paper, however, is to demonstrate that some of Hemingway’s writing can be best understood through reference to his own life experiences. This is not meant to suggest that the text does not at times provide some internal textual evidence regarding the meaning of the piece as a whole, for it most certainly does, but that external biographical evidence must also be considered and weighed when interpreting Hemingway’s work. In this paper it will be suggested that an examination of the external evidence, as it relates to Hemingway’s own life experiences, is particularly relevant to any interpretation of Ten Indians or Hills like White Elephants and that in these short stories a reconciliation of the external biographical evidence with the internal textual evidence may better aid in understanding the stories themselves. Significant Biographical Characteristics: Machismo and Gender Relations In order to better understand Hemingway’s writing it is necessary to know about the man himself and some of the major events and experiences which shaped his thought process. With reference to the short stories specifically addressed in this paper there are two biographical characteristics which seem to aid in efforts to interpret meaning or to otherwise try to make sense of the text. The first biographical characteristic is often referred to as Hemingway’s extremely masculine lifestyle or what some scholars have referred to as his macho orientation. It is well-established among scholars and historians, for instance, that Hemingway thoroughly enjoyed rigorous physical activities and pursuits; it has been noted that Hemingway was known for his â€Å"highly developed skills in such ‘manly’ fields as hunting, fishing, boxing and sailing. ( Harry Sylvester, who used to box with Hemingway frequently, once told me that Hemingway was the strongest man he had ever known. )† (McCaffery 12). He was, in short, an independent-minded writer whom enjoyed physical exertion, challenging himself through a variety of pursuits, and outdoor activities. While some scholars, such as McCaffery, have viewed Hemingway’s manliness in a positive light there are some whom have viewed him in a less flattering light; indeed, as a leading Hemingway scholar has pointed out â€Å"Others view his masculinity as negative machismo. They consider him the worst example of a sexist, racist, homophobic man, and often refuse to read or teach Hemingway, or make apologies when they do. † (Moddelmog 2). Whether loved or hated, therefore, scholars seem to agree on his manliness and his abrasively macho view of life. For purposes of interpretation, this informs us that though a gifted writer, and an artist, Hemingway was not the sort of intellectual that was confined to a library or a desk at home; quite the contrary, unlike many other writers, he actually did live in many respects the very type of life which he wrote about. His were not speculative musings, or romantic idealizations, but reflections and comments on situations and characters with which he was intimately familiar. Any attempt to understand or interpret his written work, therefore, must to some extant take note of Hemingway’s own life experiences and philosophical mind-set.. The second biographical characteristic which can aid in the interpretation of Hemingway’s text more specifically, with respect to Ten Indians and Hills like White Elephants, involves his personal experiences with women and how he dealt with gender issues such as relationships and fatherhood in his writings. Hemingway, to put it mildly, experienced the company of many women and seemed almost forever to have troublesome or difficult relations with the opposite sex. He loved women and yet he seemed to struggle to understand them in reference to his own lifestyle and psychology. Referring to Hills like White Elephants, one researcher has observed that â€Å"the subtle and dramatic dialogue in ‘Hills Like White Elephants’ reveals a clear, sensitive portrait of two strong personalities caught in a pattern of miscommunication due to gender-linked language patterns† (Smiley 92); another researcher, referring to Hemingway’s writing more generally, has argued that he must be understood as a human being whom was never quite comfortable about â€Å"his own failed or failing marital and/or extramarital relations. † (Spilka 299). Gender communication or the lack thereof, particularly that dealing with romantic relationships, is pervasive in Hemingway’s writing and can to some degree be related to his own life. In sum, external biographical evidence is extraordinarily relevant when attempting to interpret Hemingway’s writing and it must be considered alongside the internal textual evidence of each written piece of work. Ten Indians An initial and superficial reading of Hemingway’s Ten Indians suggests a rather common plot in which a young boy falls in love, in which he is subsequently betrayed, and in which innocence is lost or diminished in the process. In the instant story, the protagonist is Nick Adams and he falls in love with a young Indian girl whom he apparently adores and whom he trusts feels the same as he does; the twist is that she has been spotted with another boy and that Nick is forced to confront the betrayal. The betrayal, however, is not easily predicted; it is not easily predicted because Hemingway creates a pleasant setting and a happy family atmosphere within which to develop his more depressing plot. Indeed, the protagonist Nick Adams returns home to his father after spending a happy Fourth of July with his friends the Garners. Over a late meal of cold chicken and huckleberry pie the father, who â€Å"made a big shadow on the kitchen wall,† informs Nick that his Indian girlfriend Prudence Mitchell spent her Fourth of July â€Å"threshing around† in the woods with one Frank Washburn (Carter 103) Everyone had seemed quite happy. The Fourth of July is a joyous occasion for friends and family, and young Nick Adams is in love. Although scholars have debated Hemingway’s intentions, because of different conclusions discovered in preliminary and final drafts of the manuscript, it is true that â€Å"In the final part of the published story, Nick goes into his room after the conversation with his father, gets undressed, and climbs into bed, lying with his face in the pillow and thinking, ‘My heart’s broken†¦. If I feel this way my heart must be broken'† (Nolan n. p. ). Thus, the story would appear to be a familiar one of trust, betrayal, and heartache. Further and more careful readings of the text, however, suggest deeper and, possibly, more metaphorical intentions by Hemingway. If from a superficial point of view the story appears to characterize the fallen world of young love then from a more careful examination of the text, reference to the aforementioned biographical characteristics and the relevant scholarly literature the story may also be said to characterize the fallen world of a man’s sense of orderly nature itself. This notion of metaphor, that the text sets forth a young boy’s broken heart to represent a larger type of destruction, is persuasive given the context in which Hemingway set the story and given the way in which the destruction of the wilderness is simultaneously presented in the text. As an initial matter, it is important to understand that Ten Indians was one of many short stories written by Hemingway which detailed and explored the coming of age of Nick Adams. Some scholars have suggested that the protagonist, Nick Adams, was in many ways a personal reflection of Hemingway’s own coming of age story and that he was an autobiographical figure for Hemingway in certain respects. Indeed, there are several interesting connections between Hemingway’s personal history and the people and places created in the short story, Ten Indians. First, although Hemingway was born in Illinois, it is commonly understood that he considered his spiritual home to be in Michigan. This area served as the setting for this particular short story. Second, he relied upon the local Indians of the region to create some of his important characters; in fact, he drew upon his real life observations of the Ottawa and Ojibwa Indian tribes. Indeed, the Indians and their country had a profound effect on Hemingway’s imagination. From his first attempts at fiction and in his later Nick Adams stories, he would draw upon his experiences at Walloon Lake, using Indian characters and wilderness settings. (Nagel 108) Together, these real life experiences helped Hemingway to create both the setting and many of the main characters for his short stories. In addition to providing inspiration for his setting and characters, there was a deeper conflict which Hemingway’s real-life experiences contributed to his writing design in Ten Indians; more specifically, drawing upon Indian tribes whose lives had become fundamentally changed through close contact and interaction with a different American culture, Hemingway was able to cleverly depict a metaphorical illustration of innocence lost through the betrayal of Nick Adams by the Indian girl. Nick’s innocence, it can be argued, has been destroyed in much the same way as the Indian wilderness. Hemingway lamented the modernization which infringed on the forests of northern Michigan and the parallels between the destruction of the wilderness and the destruction of Nick Adams’ heart are striking. These parallels have been noted by one scholar whom has suggested that: Hemingway shows the wilderness being destroyed and, with the loss of the trees, the end of the Indian way of life. This fallen world is the setting of â€Å"Ten Indians,† a story that centers on the adolescent Nick Adams’s first disappointment in love as he learns that his Indian girlfriend, Prudence Mitchell, has been unfaithful (Nagel 108-109) When examining the text of Ten Indians, therefore, it is important to note these important parallels, Hemingway’s love of nature and his view of man’s place in nature. Literally speaking, Hemingway drew on a familiar and beloved setting and populated much of the story with the type of Indian characters that were well-known to him. Figuratively speaking, or metaphorically speaking, Hemingway managed to link the fallen world of the pristine natural wilderness with the fallen world of a young man’s broken heart. It is against this contextual framework that any analysis of Ten Indians must proceed. This is not meant to suggest that either fallen world was the predominant theme; to be sure, both the text and the scholarly literature would seem to demonstrate that Hemingway found both the destruction of the wilderness and the destruction of a first love as betrayals that would inevitable shatter an individual’s innocence and mark another stage in the coming of age of young boys. A young boy, reconciling the external evidence with the internal evidence, might be better advised enjoying the beauty of the forests than the beauty of insincere wiles of young girls. Hills like White Elephants Although a comparatively short story, Hemingway’s Hills like White Elephants is full of tension and moral dilemma; more specifically, the text appears to suggest that the man and the woman are debating whether the woman should have an abortion and what the implications will be depending on whether the abortion is done or not done. What is most striking, from a textual analysis, is the contrast between the rather relaxed atmosphere or setting and the deeply personal nature of the discussion. On the one hand, for instance, the man and the woman are relaxing at a train station, drinking alcohol, and waiting for a train. This would seem to imply a happy couple, an anticipated journey, and a relationship that will endure at least until the train arrives. These contextual clues, however, are sharply betrayed by the underlying discussion regarding whether the woman, Jig, will undergo an operation to have an abortion. One might anticipate some form of closure, some final decision arrived at by the main characters, but instead Hemingway leaves the reader grasping for answers as the story comes to a conclusion. He leaves them grasping for answers because rather than stating what decision has been made, and whether the American and Jig will actually ever see each other again, Hemingway finishes his story without a definitive declaration in either respect. With respect to the operation for the abortion, the woman states that she is willing to have the operation; the American man, however, doubts her sincerity. The reader is therefore forced to wonder, as the American wonders, whether the woman is agreeing or temporarily attempting to placate her partner and lover. With respect to the relationship itself, the reader desiring a firm and resolute statement is left grasping for straws. This is because, rather than departing on the train to Madrid together as planned, the American places their bags or luggage at different positions on the platform before rejoining Jig. The story then finishes up with the man being suspicious of the woman’s true motives and convictions and with the placement of the bags providing a possible clue that the relationship is doomed. The couple is together and yet the bags are separate; this is where Hemingway leaves his readers and scholars themselves have grappled with both the meaning of the story and the likely outcomes. The scholarly analysis of Hills like White Elephants has traditionally tended to focus upon the use of internal textual clues to determine whether Jig intended to have the operation and the fate of the relationship between Jig and the America; more recently, however, some scholars have begun to analyze whether and to what extant the short story may have been influenced or otherwise inspired by Hemingway’s own life. This bifurcated focus has been summed up, analyzed, and synthesized by one leading Hemingway scholar whom has stated the scholarly emphasis thusly: â€Å"Two recurring themes in analyses of Ernest Hemingway’s ‘Hills Like White Elephants’ are the debate over whether or not Jig will carry her pregnancy to term and the search for biographical experiences that may have inspired and influenced the story. † (Wyche n. p). This section will examine each of these scholarly inquiries in turn. The traditional scholarly interest has involved an examination of the text for clues in order to determine whether an abortion was actually pursued and the fate of the couple. A review of the literature reveals at least four possibilities: Three different scenarios have been seriously considered: the girl will have the abortion (albeit reluctantly) and stay with the man; the girl will have the abortion and leave the man; or, the girl will not have the abortion, having won the man over to her point of view. However, there is strong support in the narrative for a fourth outcome that fits in, with the dark overall prognosis presented in other scholarly interpretations: the girl will indeed have the abortion, expecting in this way to stay on with the man, but after the operation has been performed, he will abandon her. Various verbal and non-verbal indications found in the story support this interpretation of the narrative, as does the very symbolism of the title itself. (Hashmi n. p. ) Although an extended analysis of each scenario is beyond the scope of this paper, a rationale for selecting the most plausible outcome based upon the text is not. The most persuasive outcome would appear to be the fourth; more specifically, a superficial reading of the text suggests that Jig will indeed have an abortion and that the American will abandon her despite her attempt to maintain the relationship. First, the American places their bags in different parts of the platform. Analyzed literally, this seems to suggest that he doubts her sincerity regarding the abortion and that he is preparing for a separation. Second, they stand together and Jig tells the American that despite the strain of the abortion decision she remains fine. The man has made the decision to separate the bags whereas Jig would appear to believe that things will work out in such a way as to maintain the relationship. The man’s actions represent separation whereas Jig’s actions and words represent togetherness. It is therefore plausible to argue that she will pursue togetherness by having the abortion and that the man will pursue separation by encouraging the abortion and then abandoning or otherwise terminating the relationship. Although never explicitly stating such a conclusion, the fourth scenario is supported by the aforementioned textual clues. Other scholars have instead focused on Hemingway’s own life in order to understand the story; in this way, the abortion issue is treated figuratively rather than literally. As one scholar pursuing this biographically-oriented type of analysis explains â€Å"While the figurative abortion in ‘Hills Like White Elephants’ can be understood on the basis of internal evidence, the concept of abortion as metaphor invites consideration of a number of biographical influences on the story,† (Wyche n.  p. ). While such an analysis requires a reconciling of certain parts of the text with information known about Hemingway’s personal life there are interesting parallels. One illustration involves the fact that Hemingway has been reported to have said that the birth of his first child led to the dissolution of his first marriage, that he was at the time too young to have become a father, and that â€Å"the author’s ambivalence toward fatherhood is well-documented† (Wyche, n. p. ). Against this larger framework, comparing the author’s real life with his written work, it may become plausible to argue that the scholarship dealing with the outcomes regarding the abortion and the relationship are in actuality tangential or irrelevant concerns insofar as the author was concerned; more precisely, it might be argued that Hemingway was merely incorporating difficult moments from his own coming of age experience without intending to offer concrete conclusions. In the final analysis, while it is both challenging and interesting to explore what Hemingway may have intended as a conclusion, it is perhaps more enlightening to view Hills like White Elephants as a writer’s reflections about his own past in which firm and absolute conclusions were never intended. Hemingway was placing the reader in his own shoes and asking what the reader might do, what the reader ought to do, in similar circumstances. Such an interpretation is consistent with the biographical data known about Hemingway and makes the story more powerful and personal by forcing the reader to draw his or her own conclusions rather than being force-fed a set of conclusions by the author. Conclusion In conclusion, what makes Hemingway so alluring is that he actually lived the type of life that he wrote about. It is therefore impossible to completely separate his own life from his writing as one might be able to do with other writers. As a consequence, interpretation must necessarily involve a balancing act in which external biographical evidence is weighed and considered alongside the internal textual evidence. It is this interplay, between real life and fiction, that perhaps makes Hemingway appear larger than life.

External and Internal Environmental Analysis Essay

An external and internal environment scan is necessary in developing a strategic plan for an organization. Longmont Housing Authority (LHA) needs to assess their internal and external environment to see a full view of their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats, and trends. In this paper, an internal and external competitive environmental scan for Longmont Housing Authority will be performed. An analysis of the most important external environmental factor in the remote, industry, and external operating environments is included. The most important internal strengths and weaknesses of the organization will be identified. It includes an assessment of the organization’s resources. Finally, the organization’s competitive position and possibilities will be assessed. External Environment Scan The strategic management model shows the external environment as three interactive segments: the remote, industry, and operating environments (Pearce & Robinson, 2011, p. 13). Economic, social, political, technological, ecological, and international environments affect how LHA formulates their strategic plans. In the economic environment, the company is affected by inflation, interest rates, population, and so on. The threat of depressed economy is always a factor in the success of Longmont Housing Authority. Their processes and strategies can be modified to fit the changes in the economy. Due to the changes in social factors such as beliefs, opinions, lifestyle, and preferences, the company can see the underlying trends, threats, and opportunities. An increase in population in Boulder County increases the demand for affordable housing. This is an opportunity that is open for LHA as they continue to do grow and development their organization. The increased threat of a growing population and lack of  affordable housing is an opportunity for the organization to find potential funding sources to expand their portfolio. Their new project is due to break ground next month. This is a 62 unit affordable housing for seniors. Flood victims will have priority on the waitlist for this property, due to the fact that the majority of the funding for this project came from a state flood recovery program. The increasing population is also a good opportunity for the organization because they will be able to justify the need for future housing projects that will be desperately needed in the future. Factors that more directly influence a firm’s prospects originate in the environment of its industry, including entry barriers, competitor rivalry, the availability of substitutes, and the bargaining power of buyers and suppliers (Pearce & Robinson, 2011, p. 110). However, LHA does not have to face tough competition in the housing industry. They are threatened by the threats of funding being pulled by Housing of Urban Development (HUD) or other private investors, who may find affordable housing an investment risk. Internal Environment Scan The organization has been gaining competitive advantages since their launch in 2014 of bringing the property management in house, opposed to hiring a 3rd party to handle the property management. These changes have improved staff development, improved agency financial stability, has streamlined processes, and as a result, they have developed effective policies. Because there is such a demand for affordable housing and very few investors wanting to get involved in this industry there is not much competition. LHA has been able to develop good working partnership with other Longmont agencies, to include the senior center, the police department, city council, Mental Health Partners, and other non-profits that assist the homeless and low income population. LHA’s Competitive Position and Possibilities Longmont Housing Authority is in a good competitive position due to the mentioned strengths and opportunities in the internal and external environment scan. It is highly possible that they will continue to lead in the affordable housing industry because of the focus they are providing to research and development. They can also avoid the threats and eliminate  competition by having experienced staff, and focusing on employee development. Conclusion Longmont Housing Authority is affected by the external and internal environment factors. Their strengths include their property portfolio (product) and processes. They are investing in development and they have a couple major housing projects in the works. They are threatened in the industry because of the threat of lack of funding and strict government regulations. If they will continue to push their initiative in discovering new ways to fund their projects, they can maintain or even improve their current performance. References Pearce, J. A., II, & Robinson, R. B. (2011). Strategic management: Formulation, implementation, and control (12th ed.). Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. The Longmont Housing Authority. (2014). Retrieved from http://longmontha.com/