Saturday, December 28, 2019

Buddhism Vs Christianity Essay example - 1051 Words

Religion is a fundamental element of human society. It is what binds a country, society or group of individuals together. However, in some instances it destroys unity amoungst these. Religion is a belief in a superhuman entity(s) which control(s) the universe. Every religion has its differences but most strive for a just life and the right morals. The three major groups are the primal regions which consist of African, Aboriginal and Native American religions, Asian which consist of South Eastern Asian religions and Abrahamic religions which consist of Middle Eastern religions. The foci of this essay are the differences between the Abrahamic religion, Christianity, and the Asian region Buddhism as well as making reference to the Islamic†¦show more content†¦In this way Christians must strive to imitate the Heavenly Father by following the example of Jesus the Son of God. God gives the individual one life to prove that they are worthy of eternal life. In contrast, the Buddhist religion, life is relived over and over as it is only the separation of the mind from its body. one life ends and another begins p.92 Therefore in contrast to Buddhism, Christianity does not accept the notion of reincarnation which provides the evidence that there are fundamental ideological differences between the two religions. Founders of a religion are usually the most important figure heads of a religion. The Christian faith begun when Christ began his public ministry at the age of 33, chose his disciples and preached the good news. One might argue that the institution of the Eucharist on the night of the last super heralded the formal beginning of the Church and yet others believe it was the first Corinthians in 55 A.D who actually took part of the breaking of the bread. Although this may be a tradition, it is a fundamental belief which is accepted as absolutely pivotal to the Christian faith that Jesus is mystically present in a physical form in the Eucharist known as the Blessed Sacrament. This belief or act of faith isShow MoreRelatedBuddhism : Buddhism Vs. Christianity1247 Words   |  5 PagesRUNNING HEAD: Journey 3 Buddhism vs. Christianity Brianna M. Stutheit George Fox University We can define rituals as repeated actions that provides us with meaning and significance. Symbols are a small unit of a ritual. Both rituals and symbols play an active role in religion. According to Clifford Geertz, religion can be defined as â€Å"a system of symbols which acts to establish powerful, pervasive and long lasting moods and motivations in both men and women by formulating conceptions of generalRead MoreChristianity vs. Buddhism1258 Words   |  6 PagesGabriel Tajimaroa Donavan Ingram Eng 1A April 3 2010 Research Essay Christianity vs. Buddhism There are many religions and sacred texts that have shaped complete civilizations and cultures. They have varied in their theories of creation and how man should live and act towards each other and nature. The more I study religions and sacred text the more I see that for the most part they are alike. Most of them share a view of love and peace towards all things living. What varies between themRead MoreChristianity vs Buddhism923 Words   |  4 Pagestruths,† said by Muhammad Ali. Religion is the belief and reverence for a supernatural power and powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe (2003). The religions I’ve chose to compare and contrast would be non denomination/ Christianity and Buddhism. Each religion would be broken down by their religious belief, religious ritual, and religious experience. The definition of these religious things are: religious belief is a statement to which members of a particular religion adhere, religiousRead MoreChristianit y And Buddhism Vs. Buddhism948 Words   |  4 PagesMany, especially in New Mexico, are familiar with the teaching and conditions of Christianity, beginning the creation of the Heaven and Earth, and coming to an end with the death of Jesus, these teachings are taught weekly through Mass. Buddhism is not a commonly know, again, especially in New Mexico. Buddhism teaches on a more personal level, leaving more supernatural beings to Christianity. However, there are similarities to be discussed. Some include, the decisions as to what is right and whatRead MoreThe Distinguishment Of Religions : Christianity Vs. Buddhism1389 Words   |  6 Pages The Distinguishment of Religions: Christianity vs. Buddhism It is evident that religion is considerably a controversial topic across the globe that seems to bring up futile disputes between people. From the many religious extremist groups that have been the world, such as the Crusaders, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS), Al Qaeda, the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS); it is apparent that this certain topic evokes controversial views from enthusiasts. So why is this topic so controversialRead MoreThe Conflict Of War And Peace1614 Words   |  7 Pagesmessage across it to use violence and others might want total power, in order to get this they must use violence. An example of someone who wanted total power was Hitler. Others might be able to get their message across using peace. Comparison -war vs Pacifism War is a big destruction on peoples lives, as many will die from it and only few will survive, but those who do survive will have to live the rest of their days remembering the pain and loss they were put through. But war in not all bad asRead MoreBarrows Vs. Shaku And Dharmapal An Argumentative Analysis1469 Words   |  6 PagesBarrows vs. Shaku and Dharmapala: an argumentative analysis John Henry Barrows and Soyen Shaku represent more than just two religious luminaries having a good-hearted debate. Their deliberation at the late 19th century Parliament of Religions represents the East versus the West, modernity versus tradition and rhetoric versus logic. It’s difficult to take a side on which religion is superior indefinitely because Barrow’s full argument is not in the passage and Shaku is helped a little by AngarikaRead MoreThe Religion Of Islam And Islam1544 Words   |  7 Pagestime, the view of religion is changing, certainly, all religions are different in many aspects, but respect the opposing religious groups. Examples of these religions are Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity that originated from different regions and cultures. While Buddhism comes from a different background, Islam and Christianity come from the same source, and have spread in similar ways throughout history, however, the three religions have differences in their philosophies and practices. These threeRead MoreUnderstanding The Distributions Of Religions942 Words   |  4 PagesAtheism is the belief that there is no God and Agnosticism is the belief that the fact that there is a God or no God cannot be proven. Christianity is a universalizing religion. It is the dominant religion in North America, South America, Europe, and Australia. Countries with a Christian majority exist in Africa and Asia as well. There are three major branches of Christianity–Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, and Orthodoxy. In Europe, Roman Catholicism is the dominant branch in the southwest and east, ProtestantismRead MoreEvaluate the Changes and Continuities in the Role of Religion in Chinese Society from 600 to 1450.1043 Words   |  5 Pagescertain religions while repressing others. While Buddhism flourished during the Sui and Tang dynasty, it faced opposition from the government during the Song dynasty. Confucianism lost government endorsement during the Sui and Tang but gained momentum during the Song as Neo-Confucianism. Yuan dynasty promoted Islam and Tibet Buddhism but ignored Confucianism. Different rulers sponsored and protected different religions but Confucianism and some form of Buddhism have a lways been alive in Chinese society

Friday, December 20, 2019

Nervous Condition When Things Fall Apart - 1940 Words

Sarah Albanawi Dr. Kristin Sovis English 205 June 22th 2016 Nervous Condition When Things Fall Apart African traditions, values and customs have been slowly influenced by colonization and eventual globalization that has turned the world into a global village. The novel, Things fall apart, is a reflection of the extent to which Africans were tied to their beliefs and customs, as a violation of those customs was regarded as being disrespectful to the gods. The new values and beliefs brought by the missionaries are resisted since the communities regard them as inclined on disrupting the norms that hold the community together. The novel Nervous Conditions is a reflection of colonization effects on Africans’ identity and their state of mind; Dangarembga speaks the voice of an oppressed female from postcolonial Africa, and in male dominated society. Achebe’s regains the voice of Africans and defends their humanity despite their nervous conditions of living in a dual world that can ruin one s self-identity and state of mind. Things Fall Apart is an example encompasses the life, nature, and traditional culture of Africans. Chinua uses Okonkwo, a fierce and champion fighter, to show how Africans led their life with regards to the way they observed traditions, lived in harmony with each other and worked hard to provide food for their families. For instance, when the gods desire the life of Ikemefuna, the village boy whom the Umuofia village had been given in a debt settlementShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Chinua Achebe s The Flies 1483 Words   |  6 Pagesbeing, Dangarembga depicts the father figure’s unimpeachable authority as an oppressive element for both Tambu and her cousin Nyasha. Thus, Dangarembga adheres to the template by including its plot, but enters into dialogue with its politics. Nervous Conditions accepts the existence of a unified pre-colonial culture, it also depicts a shift from this culture to a post colonial setting of the mission school. Again, Dangarembga’s novel differs in its politics from Achebe’s in its conclusions of bothRead MoreEssay on Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga1256 Words   |  6 PagesZimbabwean girls and women. Dangarembga drew inspiration for her title from the quote â€Å"the condition of the nation is a nervous one†, from Frantz Franon’s book Wretched of the Earth. The reader sees this idea of nervousness displayed within the female main characters of this novel. â€Å" Its bad enough, when a country gets colonised but when the people do as well! That’s the end, really, that’s the end. (Nervous Conditions,150). This quote stated by Nyasha addresses how colonialism and imperialism are not justRead MoreHow Drugs Can Affect Person s Mental State843 Words   |  4 Pageshas a physiological effect when ingested or otherwise introduced into the body Drugs are substances that change a person s physical or mental state. The vast majority of drugs are used to treat medical conditions, both ph ysical and mental. Some, however, are used outside the medical setting for their effects on the mind.’’ These are referred to as recreational drugs, and many of them are illegal in all fifty states’’(Quain). There are several different kinds of drugs. When a doctor prescribe you aRead MoreChristianism And Colonialism1978 Words   |  8 Pagesthe lives of the people of Africa and brought about a cultural shift that is present in post-colonial times. Examples of this are demonstrated in the novels, Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe and Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga in which the authors use the texts as a way to showcase the cultural shift. In the novel, Things Fall Apart, the author showcases the Igbo society prior to colonialism as being a society with a pre-established complex culture. The author then goes on to showcase theRead More Oppression of Women in Chopins Story of an Hour and Gilmans Yellow Wallpaper 1246 Words   |  5 Pagesby exploring the relationships between the characters in each story. In the Story of an Hour, we are told that Louise has a bad heart condition. A friend of the family has discovered that there was a bad accident at her husband?s job and he is on the deceased list. Louise?s sister carefully tells her this distressing news; however, instead of falling apart, Louise finds herself feeling as if she has a new lease on life because she will finally be able to live for herself. Suddenly, her husbandRead MoreWomen During The 18th Century1247 Words   |  5 Pagescentury women were mainly defined by their family and household roles. The woman did not really have legal identity apart from their husbands. Women were look at as slaves because all they did was be at the house and satisfy their husbands in what they wanted. Men would have total control over his wife’s property. The woman also did not have the right to vote unlike men. Some things that women did not have the right of was to vote, own property, could not sit in a jury trial, and could not be a partRead MoreAnalysis of A Catcher In the Ryes Holden Caulfield: Enemy of Himself1686 Words   |  7 Pagesadulthood through the way he becomes infatuated with the stagnancy of some of his surroundings. Various times throughout the text Holden thinks about certain things enviously because he desires the ability they have to resist change. There are various times in the novel where Holden finds a double meaning in stagnant, inanimate objects. This happens when Holden is visiting a museum he has been to many times before as younger child. While observing a glass display case of eskimoes that are arranged in theRead More Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Essay1672 Words   |  7 PagesFetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) refers to a group of physical and mental birth defects resulting from a women’s drinking alcohol heavily or at crucial stages during pregnancy. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome was first named and treated in the late 1960s. This condition results from the toxic effect of alcohol and i ts chemical factors on the developing fetus. FAS is the leading cause of mental retardation occurring in 1 out of every 750 births. The frequency of FAS occurs about 1.9 times out of every 1000 birthsRead MoreWhy We Behave And Act The Way We Do1580 Words   |  7 Pagespre-eminence and focused on methodology (112, bailey). As an early functionalist, he employed the organismic analogy using scientific methods in an attempt to better understand how the society worked. An analogy is a way of comparison between one thing and another typically for the purpose of explanation or clarification (oxford dictionary). With this, Durkheim regards the society as a whole, with individual structures adhering to specific developments and operations in order to maintain its existence-Read MoreThe Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald1789 Words   |  7 Pagesthis dream. During the Roaring Twenties when the ideal American lifestyle was being portrayed and everything was at an all time high. After the end of the First World War, moral and social values diminished and portrayed the Jazz age in which moral degradation and the recklessness of the 1920s. As a result, loneliness, disillusionment and loss were being portrayed throughout this period. In the Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald, Gatsby is an average man who falls in love with an unattainable society

Thursday, December 12, 2019

Corporate Success Through Innovation and Adaptation free essay sample

In this paper we look at how different innovation and adaptation initiatives by the corporations have translated into their growth and success and how interactive management control systems have influenced the same. We have identified 6 different levels or elements (from strategy to operation, internal and the external forces affecting the companies) at which an organization can introduce innovation. There on, for each element we have identified a company from the top 25 most innovative companies (as per the SP/Business week survey) and have explained how that specific organization has translated innovation into corporate success. ? Introduction In the present situation of fast economic growth and accelerated corporate expansion, innovation is the fuel of new business development. New products, processes, ideas, and services are the backbone of sustained increases in both revenue and profitability of any business. As more companies see to exploit the emerging opportunities and provide similar services targeted on new markets, innovation is a key differentiator. Even in the challenging times of recession, cost reductions, budget cuts, growth subsidies, innovation no longer remains an option to add value and deliver extra competitive advantage but it becomes the core means for survival and that is when it becomes the real case of â€Å"innovate or die†!! Innovation influences the financial non financial performance of an organization also the industry as a whole. A successful innovation is when the organization acquires a creative culture and there is a motivated work force and also attracts the best talents to join. A successful innovation has a very positive impact on the customers, suppliers, subcontractors and on the industry as a whole. Innovation success within a firm encourages more innovation outside. The other companies in that industry starts to â€Å"adapt† to the environment of innovation by spinning out new ventures ,relocation of partner or supplier operations . Today no longer a firm can remain shackled with traditional asset based economies, it has to adapt to the ever changing environment by exploiting its intellectual property across multiple streams ,collaboratively working across networks, matching its equity to brand value and thus introduce a continuous stream of evolving new products and services. Evolution of innovation capability Since past 20 years there have been three main waves of innovations and new approaches that have occurred across industry in each phase there was a specific focus. Today we are in the middle of fourth wave of innovation capability development and that is the leading edge. Companies that are developing and refining the new techniques for innovation success are today at the fore front of innovation practice. They are â€Å"innovating at the edge†. 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 Use of management control systems in innovation and performance Innovation is considered to be one of the major determinants of long-term organizational performance in contemporary environments . Many empirical studies (e. g. Capon, Farley, Lehmann Hulbert, 1992) have shown a positive relationship between innovation and corporate performance. Control systems have been used by organizations to support both innovation and performance. Simons (1991, 1995) defines two different styles i. e. Diagnostic and Interactive styles of use of MCS which include budget systems, balanced scorecards and project management systems for innovation and corporate performance 1. Diagnostic style: In this, MCS are employed for setting pre-established standards and monitoring and correcting deviations, and attract the managers’ attention only on an exception basis. 2. Interactive style: In this, MCS focus on strategic uncertainties and become a recurring forum and agenda for a continuous and challenging debate in which top managers are involved. As per the results of Simons’ framework, corporate performance through innovation is influenced by the extent to which there is an interactive use of MCS in the organization. Bisbe Otley, in press). This framework has been validated by Hartmann and Moers (1999) and Irwin and McClelland. Interactive Use of MCS Innovation Performance Figure 1: Conceptual framework Innovation Adaptation from MCS point of view Innovation is understood from an output perspective and is defined as the development and launching of products services that are in some respect unique and distinctive from existing products. The me asure of product innovation is done on following †¢Rate of introduction of new products. Tendency of firms to pioneer. Part of the product portfolio corresponding to recently launched products.. Performance from MCS point of view The construct performance was defined as the degree of goal attainment along several dimensions, including both financial and non-financial aspects (GuptaGovindarajan, 1984; Venkatraman Ramanujam, 1986; Kaplan Norton, 1996; Chenhall Langfield-Smith, 1998, Otley). The financial aspects cover †¢sales growth rate †¢revenue growth rate, †¢return on investment †¢profit/sales ratio Non financial aspects are the customer perspectives which include †¢customer satisfaction customer retention †¢customer acquisition †¢increase in market share Areas of Innovation The MCS perspective described above has an impact on all aspects of firms, starting from strategy to its operations. We have identified six individual elements (considering the usage of MCS) across which adaptation and innovation practices have occurred and cont inue to occur. 1. Strategic impetus: the corporate theme that has driven innovation 2. Market focus: how innovations have been presented to customers 3. Product attribute: the differentiating feature of a new products and services 4. Development process activity effectiveness: how new products and services have been delivered 5. Enabling organization-the structure of the group delivering innovation 6. External alliances: how firms work with partners to realize innovation We have identified one company for each of these elements and analyzed how innovation initiatives across these elements have translated into their performance and growth. The companies that are selected are amongst the top 25 most innovative companies as per the SP /Business week innovative index survey of 2008(Appendix 1). 1. Strategic impetus for innovation in Apple: Strategic innovation occurs when a company identifies gaps (either new or emerging markets/customer needs/ways of producing) in the industry positioning map, decides to fill them, and the gaps grow to become the new mass market. Apple is literally an iconic company. Some of the power of its brand comes from the extraordinary story of a computer company rescued from near-collapse by its co-founder, Steve Jobs, who returned to Apple in 1997 after years of exile, reinvented it as a consumer-electronics firm and is now taking it into the billion-unit-a-year mobile-phone industry. But mostly Apples zest comes from its reputation for inventiveness. In polls of the worlds most innovative firms it consistently ranks first. From its first computer in 1977 to the mouse-driven Macintosh in 1984, the iPod music-player in 2001 and now the iPhone, which goes on sale in America this month, Apple has prospered by keeping just ahead of the times. (The Economist, June 7th 2007) Strategic Exploration This part of the framework basically looks for sources and fields which have scope for innovation. The study to know, what business do we want to be in? Like the product, the customer segment, the supply chain, processes, distribution and networking, etc. Effective Management of Effective Phases This model talks about the different phases of innovation: Idea is the search of strategic innovation; concept is breading the business plan and experiments, Selections/launches are the market experiments, growth is continuous improvement and implementation and finally profit is to execute according to the plan, to maximize profit. Change in Modus Operandi This aspect talks about the change in old procedures for maximizing the performance, like providing freedom and space to the employees and management, inviting informal, aspiring ideas. Apple is a great example probably the best of a company that keeps one step ahead of everyone. While other companies rush to copy the current product line, Apple is already about to release the next â€Å"big thing. † It not only releases a new product, but it kills off the older lines -the ones the others are copying. For example while companies were trying to copy the iPod Mini, Apple brings out the Nano. The Mini was the most successful MP3 player of all time. And Apple killed it off. Now, while others are trying to emulate the iPod Classic, it brings out the iPod Touch. One of the companies desperately trying to play catch up is Microsoft, with its Zune player. It has just released a new version of the player a scant few weeks after Apple leapfrogs once more. We bet that within the next 18 months Apple will kill off one of its current iPod lines and release something that is again revolutionary and which will catch competitors off guard. 2. Market focus innovation at Honda The escalating growth of the market place, more exacting customer demands, increasing competition and the corresponding need to develop more new products led many companies to identify new requirements for their organization. Many of the early adopters of this approach were larger organizations, of these; one of the most successful lead initiators was the Japanese manufacturer Honda. The Honda Motor Company established in 1948 is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of automobiles and the largest producer of motorcycles. The rapid rise in gas prices has caused many consumers to shift from buying large gas-guzzling SUVs to more fuel-efficient small cars. And this shift in the marketplace has forced the auto industry to drastic changes in realigning their model mix, reallocating production capacity, and adjusting future model plans. While consumers want instant relief to the economic challenges they face, the auto industry is grappling with production cycles measured in years, not months. Honda surprised many at the Tokyo Motor Show with the announcement that they will be putting a hydrogen fuel cell car into production next year for general sale. And though it makes perfect sense that Honda, over anyone else, would be the one to hit the production line first with this technology, most didn’t see this move coming for another five to seven years. Hydrogen is generally regarded as the long-term vision for eco-friendly alternative fuels. \ Honda wanted to expand input, sought to integrate input to ensure that it exceeded current standards in five key areas as in fig. As soaring gasoline prices boost demand for more fuel-efficient vehicles, the global auto giants are battling to define the next generation of automobiles with a blitz of eco-friendly vehicle launches, new technologies and campaigns to show off their green credentials. And Honda is among the first ones to adapt to the changing demand and situation. That’s the kind of forward thinking that seems to be leading Honda to make this major push in the first place. 3. Product attribute driven innovation in Nokia Nokia has travelled a long way in becoming to what it is today. It started off with a multitude of products ranging from rubber boots, toilet paper to radio technology and televisions and then moved on to mobile and radio technology, with additional network technologies, like switches, routers and modems, and standardized software platforms. In this process Nokia has reinvented itself so many times that it has become difficult to predict what its core competency would be ten years down the line. It defines its core competencies as †¢mobile handsets †¢network technology †¢middleware The basic innovation strategy involved is that if the new product is a part of the core competency to Nokia, i. . in the three domains mentioned above, it will be produced in house (internally) without collaborating or outsourcing. Products outside Nokia’s core competency are outsourced. It usually buys from its allies like Flextronics Finland, Texus Instruments etc. Nokia follows want is better known as the open innovation model in development of new products and services. Open innovation model has been defined as ‘Open innovation systems’ (Chesbrough, 2003) are characterized by the flexible way a firm co-ordinates a large number of innovation projects and assess their value. The system is open, because some projects come from outside and some internal projects go outside. The following diagram shows a framework of the open innovation model at Nokia 4. Innovation in development process activity effectiveness at Toyota To overcome the difficulties caused by the deteriorating business environment and to accomplish continuous improvement, Toyota has employed various strategies to improve productivity at its plants and business units. In 2003, in response to the need to further implement these activities throughout the whole company, Toyota announced a policy of introducing the Toyota Production System (TPS) as an extensive company-wide activity. Toyota established the following three points as its manufacturing policy. 1) Customer-focus: Manufacturing Products that provides value to the customer 2) The importance of customer values needs, quality, delivery, and price. 3) High value-added manufacturing that utilizes Fujitsu’s strengths. Development Process This system creates a mechanism that eliminates product stagnation, repeats operations so they become actions that create a flow, and visualizes conditions (distinguishes between normal and abnormal conditions) so that the problem points can be actualized. Furthermore, the search for and solution to the root cause of a problem and the complete elimination of waste create a perpetual cycle. This system is designed for producing what is needed in only the required quantity when it is needed. This system creates a mechanism that eliminates product stagnation, repeats operations so they become actions that create a flow, and visualizes conditions (distinguishes between normal and abnormal conditions) so that the problem points can be actualized. Furthermore, the search for and solution to the root cause of a problem and the complete elimination of waste create a perpetual cycle. This system places an emphasis on doing things thoroughly, and we came to understand that a revolution in consciousness is the most important factor for its execution. Complete elimination of waste: A revolution in consciousness is essential. Visualization: Actualization of problem points by distinguishing between normal and abnormal. Create a flow: Eliminate stagnation and make actions repetitive . Effective Implementation The main activities that we implemented prior to the introduction of outside consultants were as follows: 1) Consciousness-raising and education of employees using videos and texts 2) Instruction using displays such as personal targets, posters, activities news, and action item charts 3) Awards for excellent small-group activities ) Company-wide 2S activities: Sort and Straighten 5) Activities to minimize the surplus spaces between processes Even with these types of activities, the review of the procedures used to date and the participation of all the employees led to impressive results from two plants as described below. †¢At one plant, after one year of activities there was a 50% increase in productivity per person, a 45% reduction in space as a result of reducing the use of external warehouses and so forth, and a 50% reduction in the manufacturing lead time. At another plant, after six months there was a 60% increase in productivity per person and a 75% reduction in the manufacturing lead time on the model line. Enabling Organization Structures for innovation Organizational structure is one of the most important requirements for companies to innovate consistently. Companies have delved deep to develop structures which would support their business model and strategies which could ultimately support there. Following are the organizational structures/models of some successful organizations: †¢Ambidextrous Organizations Venture Boards †¢Innovation Councils †¢Cross Group Solutions Team †¢Thought Leader Resource Networks †¢Open Innovation Models †¢Innovation Communities of Practice †¢Shared Services Organizations Ambidextrous Organizations: The main objective of ambidextrous organizations is to monitor the core business of the organization but also to support and protect any new venture growing in the organization. Ambidextrous organizations have separate organizational units which have their own processes, cultures and structures that are specifically designed t o support innovation. These units not only have a separate innovation team and are a part of the large organization but are also set up to support new business launch. Venture Boards Organizations these days concentrate on pulling together the best thinking from both inside and outside the firm unlike the traditional advisory panel that provides insights into the current industry and market conditions. Venture boards are designed with the objective of discovering, evaluating and implementing new ideas identified both within and outside organization. The internal members define selection criteria for choosing the external members, define the portfolio of opportunities to review, and make final go/no-go decisions on strategic investments Innovation Councils Innovation Councils ensure that innovation-related activities in various parts of the organization are strategically aligned and coordinated, and are supported by appropriate processes and resources. An Innovation Council is a small, cross-functional governance body of senior managers that enables cross-business / function / geography decision making and coordination. Cross Group Solutions Teams Cross Group Solutions Teams are self-directed teams of individuals chosen from selected business units. They develop new opportunities by combining the competencies and capabilities of different businesses. Thought Leader Resource Networks A Thought Leader Resource Network is an external network of expert practitioners and thinkers that can accessed for identifying solutions to the defined problems. This network is formed by Thought Leaders of different companies, universities, consulting firms, research institutions, contract manufacturers, think tanks, and other organizations. These leaders are all internally connected to their own knowledge networks; which ultimately become part of the bigger external final networks. 6. Innovating with the External Alliances at PG All international countries these days have a target of 4-5% organic growth which translates into generating business of few billion dollars. Traditionally, when the competition wasn’t fierce, companies tried to innovated better by improving the collaboration between RD and marketing teams, tightening go-to market criteria, strengthening product portfolio management ,innovation outsourcing etc. They hired the best brains, built best research facilities, supported their RD by acquiring new licenses etc. PG a $ 25 billion company in 2000 also followed the above mentioned practices but by the end of 2002 their innovation budget had sky rocketed and their innovation success rated had stagnated at 25%. PG realized that their existing innovation model was not able to support the required organic growth rate. Today PG’s innovation success rate has more than doubled while the cost of innovation has reduced . PG has successfully launched 100 new products with the help of ideas from both inside and outside the organization. This turnaround was brought about by A. G. Lafley’s new innovation model called â€Å"Connect and Develop†. Connect and Develop: The three main criterions based on which the Connect and develop works is †¢Customer Needs †¢PG’s capabilities †¢External Proven Ideas The steps involved in CD are †¢Define the problem: Define the problem which needs to be solved and circulate it throughout the global networks of individuals and institutions to see if anyone has a readymade solution. Discover: Discovering a readymade problem by leveraging the global networks. †¢Evaluate: Evaluating the discovered solution and matching with the required product description. This also involves matching the capabilities available and capabilities required to develop the product in-house. †¢Launch: Launching the product as it is and measuring the success of the launch. †¢Co-create: Creating products with better features and launching of the same. †¢Collaborate: Collaborating with the inventor of the product for any future developments of new products. Conclusion Globalization, market variation, faster product introduction, faster product and service delivery are major factors forcing firms to use innovation as a core element. And companies have done this in different ways. These areas of control can be from strategic planning, product design, market focus, operational processes, organizational structure to working with external alliances. Apart from this companies which have specifically identified their area of expertise and core competency in innovation and additionally have found an optimum balance in the interactive use of management control systems have excelled.

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Analysis of the UTS Hospital

Question: The report discusses the data and analysis of the same for UTS Hospital which is a public hospital located in Australia in New South Wales. An extensive analysis is done on the AR-DRGs E69A/B/C which is the code for Bronchitis and Asthma. Answer: Chronic Asthmatic Bronchitis - Health Library. (2016). Sw.org. Retrieved 23 May 2016. AR-DRG Australian Refined Diagnosis Related Groups (AR-DRGs) is a classification system that puts forward a clinical mechanism to relate the patients that are treated in a particular hospital with the resources that are utilized by the hospital. These groupings have been done on the basis of the similarities found in the clinical status and the required hospital service for the same. ("Australian refined diagnosis-related groups (AR-DRG) data cubes (AIHW)", 2016). Code Description 00 Unassignable to MDC 01 Diseases Disorders of the Nervous System B01Z-B81B 02 Diseases Disorders of the Eye C01Z-C63B 03 Diseases Disorders of the Ear, Nose, Mouth Throat D01Z-D67Z 04 Diseases Disorders of the Respiratory System E01A-E75C 05 Diseases Disorders of the Circulatory System F01Z-F75C 06 Diseases Disorders of the Digestive System G01A-G70B 07 Diseases Disorders of the Hepatobiliary System Pancreas H01A-H64B 08 Diseases Disorders of the Musculoskeletal System Connective Tissue I01Z-I76C 09 Diseases Disorders of the Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue Breast J01Z-J67B 10 Endocrine, Nutritional Metabolic Diseases Disorders K01Z-K64B 11 Diseases Disorders of the Kidney Urinary Tract L01A-L67C 12 Diseases Disorders of the Male Reproductive System M01Z-M64Z 13 Diseases Disorders of the Female Reproductive System N01Z-N62B 14 Pregnancy, Childbirth the Puerperium O01A-O65B 15 Newborns Other Neonates P01Z-P67D 16 Diseases Disorders of Blood, Blood Forming Organs, Immunological Disorders Q01Z-Q62B 17 Neoplastic Disorders (Haematological Solid Neoplasms) R01A-R64Z 18 Infectious Parasitic Diseases, Systemic or Unspecified Sites S60Z-T64B 19 Mental Diseases Disorders U40Z-U68Z 20 Alcohol/Drug Use Alcohol/Drug Induced Organic Mental Disorders V60Z-V64Z 21 Injuries, Poisonings Toxic Effects of Drugs W01Z-X64B 22 Burns Y01Z-Y62B 23 Factors Influencing Health Status Other Contacts with Health Services Z01A-Z65Z E69A/B/C DGR E69A/B/C belongs to the MDC 04 which stands for Diseases Disorders of the Respiratory System. This DRG belongs to the disease Bronchitis and Asthma. Bronchitis is a respiratory malady in which the bodily fluid layer in the lungs' bronchial sections gets to be kindled. As the bothered layer swells and develops thicker, it contracts or stops the minor aviation routes in the lungs, bringing about hacking spells that might be joined by mucus and shortness of breath. The malady comes in two structures: intense (enduring from one to three weeks) and endless (enduring no less than 3 months of the year for a long time in succession).Asthma is a constant sickness including the aviation routes in the lungs. These aviation routes, or bronchial tubes, permit air to come all through the lungs. Prevalence Incidence of Admissions to Acute Hospitals Acute care is a branch of health care that is secondary in nature. Under this care, a patient receives active and immediate but short-term treatment. The treatment is provided for long illness, severe injury or an urgent medical condition. It is entirely opposite from the long-term or chronic care ("Acute hospitals and integrated care", 2015). AMO specialty that is seen more commonly is general medicine and the discharge intention is overnight as compared to the same day discharge. J45.9 is the most frequent diagnosis code and 95550-03 is the major procedure code. Prevent Hospitalization and Reduce LOS for E69A/B/C There is no cure for asthma, yet side effects can be controlled with compelling asthma treatment and administration. This includes taking the medicines as guided and figuring out how to keep away from triggers that bring about asthma side effects. Ordinary treatment for intense bronchitis may comprise of straightforward measures, for example, getting a lot of rest, drinking loads of liquids, staying away from smoke and exhaust, and potentially getting a medicine for a breathed in bronchodilator and/or hack syrup. Now and again of incessant bronchitis, oral steroids to decrease aggravation and/or supplemental oxygen might be important. Over-the-counter non-steroidal mitigating drugs (NSAIDS, for example, headache medicine, ibuprofen and naproxen may relieve your sore throat. Humidifiers make dampness noticeable all around you relax. This can release bodily fluid in your nasal sections and mid-section, making it simpler to relax. Drinking a lot of fluids, for example, water or tea, can disperse bodily fluid. This makes it less demanding to hack it up or clean out it out through your nose. Data Analysis Strategy and Plan The selected plan for analyzing the data for the patients of UTS Hospital diagnosed and treated with the DRG E69A/E69B/E69C is: Sort the information for each of the DGR as E69A, E69B and E69C. Compare the data collected with the overall data of the patients Identify the commonly occurring diagnostic information and procedure information on the Bronchitis and Asthma patients Analyze the data and infer the patterns out of the data such as the age group that is affected the most, gender than is affected the most and likewise Look through the discharge information and the period of stay of the patients in the hospital Combine all of the information in the form of tables, figures and charts Profile of patients in AR-DRGs E69A/E69B/E69C The data set that has been chosen for this study consists of 34624 records and the proportion covered by AR-DRG E69A/B/C is 413 records which accounts for 1.192% of the entire dataset with 0.037% patients treated for E69A, 0.26% treated for E69B and 0.895% for E69C. DRG41 Gender Age Marital Status LOS Discharge Intention ICU Hours Principal Diagnosis Diagnosis 2 E69A Female 75 Married 20 Overnight 0 J45.9 B44.9 E69A Female 83 Widowed 5 Overnight 0 J20.8 B96.5 E69A Female 53 Married 22 Overnight 0 J46 G72.2 E69A Female 64 Married 3 Overnight 0 J20.9 F10.2 E69A Female 86 Widowed 6 Overnight 0 J45.1 F03 E69A Male 77 Married 8 Overnight 0 J45.9 J69.0 E69A Female 78 Widowed 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 I50.0 E69A Male 75 Married 9 Overnight 0 J45.9 D50.9 E69A Female 72 Unknown 16 Overnight 0 J45.9 E87.7 E69A Male 85 Unknown 3 Overnight 0 J40 J18.9 E69A Male 62 Married 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 I48 E69A Female 66 Widowed 4 Overnight 0 J45.9 B96.39 E69A Female 63 Married 1 Overnight 2 J20.8 B96.5 Profile of Patients DRG41 Gender Age Marital Status LOS ICU Hours Principal Diagnosis Diagnosis 2 E69B Male 37 Married 13 0 J46 B96.39 E69B Female 30 Married 4 16 J46 A49.2 E69B Female 58 Married 3 0 J45.9 Z72.0 E69B Male 55 Single 5 0 J45.9 J06.9 E69B Female 40 Married 26 0 J45.9 J14 E69B Male 6 Single 1 0 J45.9 G80.9 E69B Female 3 Single 1 0 J45.9 A09 E69B Female 70 Divorced 6 0 J45.9 J22 E69B Female 81 Widowed 7 0 J45.9 E11.9 E69B Female 51 Married 1 0 J45.9 E69B Male 76 Married 1 0 J45.1 E69B Female 77 Married 6 0 J20.9 E11.9 E69B Male 66 Unknown 2 27 J46 Z86.43 E69B Female 45 Married 3 0 J45.9 D50.9 E69B Female 0 Single 1 0 J45.9 J05.0 E69B Male 16 Single 3 44 J45.9 J93.9 E69B Male 66 Unknown 1 0 J45.9 E69B Female 28 Single 1 0 J45.9 I47.1 E69B Male 8 Single 11 0 J45.9 G80.9 E69B Male 53 Single 6 0 J45.9 E69B Female 57 Married 2 0 J45.9 Z86.43 E69B Female 1 Single 2 0 J45.9 J18.9 E69B Male 52 Married 3 0 J45.9 Z72.0 Pivot Table: Profile of Patients for E69B DRG41 Gender Age Marital Status LOS Discharge Intention ICU Hours Principal Diagnosis Diagnosis 2 E69C Female 7 Single 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 E69C Male 1 Single 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 E69C Female 17 Single 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 E69C Male 5 Single 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 E69C Male 32 Married 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 E69C Male 12 Single 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 E69C Male 32 Single 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 E69C Female 15 Single 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 Z72.0 E69C Male 2 Single 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 E69C Male 41 Married 1 Overnight 0 J20.9 L50.0 E69C Female 35 Single 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 Z72.0 E69C Male 4 Single 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 E69C Female 1 Single 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 E69C Male 29 Married 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 Z72.0 E69C Male 2 Single 2 Overnight 0 J45.9 E69C Female 14 Single 2 Overnight 0 J45.9 J06.9 E69C Male 47 Single 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 Z86.43 E69C Male 31 Single 1 Overnight 22 J46 J06.9 E69C Male 1 Single 2 Overnight 0 J45.9 E69C Female 18 Single 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 E69C Female 6 Single 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 E86 E69C Female 20 Single 3 Overnight 0 J46 Z72.0 E69C Female 33 Single 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 E69C Male 47 Single 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 E69C Female 49 Unknown 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 E69C Male 1 Single 2 Overnight 0 J46 E69C Male 2 Single 5 Overnight 0 J46 J06.9 E69C Female 20 Single 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 E69C Female 35 Single 3 Overnight 0 J45.9 J06.9 E69C Male 4 Single 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 E69C Female 1 Single 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 E69C Female 35 Single 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 Z72.0 E69C Male 21 Single 2 Overnight 0 J45.9 E69C Female 17 Single 2 Overnight 0 J45.9 J06.9 E69C Female 19 Single 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 E69C Male 17 Unknown 1 Overnight 0 J40 Z72.0 E69C Male 3 Single 2 Overnight 0 J45.9 E69C Female 17 Single 3 Overnight 0 J45.9 E69C Male 3 Single 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 J06.9 E69C Male 7 Single 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 E69C Male 30 Married 2 Overnight 20 J45.9 Z72.0 E69C Female 35 Married 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 J06.9 E69C Male 4 Single 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 J22 E69C Female 1 Single 2 Overnight 0 J45.9 J06.9 E69C Male 48 Married 2 Overnight 0 J45.9 Z86.43 E69C Male 2 Single 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 E69C Female 17 Single 2 Overnight 38 J46 E69C Male 1 Single 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 E69C Male 12 Single 2 Overnight 0 J45.9 E69C Male 1 Single 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 L30.9 E69C Female 15 Single 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 J06.9 E69C Male 0 Single 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 L30.9 E69C Male 38 Unknown 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 E69C Male 1 Single 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 J22 E69C Male 1 Single 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 E69C Female 32 Married 2 Overnight 0 J45.1 E69C Male 6 Single 2 Overnight 0 J45.9 E69C Male 8 Single 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 J06.9 E69C Male 15 Single 1 Overnight 0 J40 E69C Male 25 Single 4 Overnight 0 J45.1 E69C Male 20 Unknown 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 E69C Male 2 Single 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 E69C Male 7 Single 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 E69C Male 2 Single 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 E69C Male 1 Single 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 E69C Female 1 Single 2 Overnight 0 J45.9 J06.9 E69C Male 2 Single 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 E69C Female 31 Married 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 E69C Male 1 Single 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 E69C Female 8 Single 1 Overnight 0 J45.9 J06.9 Comparison and Analysis DRG Number of Patients Average Age Number of Females Number of Males Overnight Discharge Same Day Discharge Maximum ICU Hours E69A/B/C 410 22.6 years 190 223 409 4 46 Others 34214 39.27 20010 14201 27390 6525 2695 Comparison of Patients in AR-DRG with E69A/B/C with all the patients The comparative analysis between the patients of E69A/B/C and other DRGs show the following trends and results: More number of males have been diagnosed with E69A/B/C whereas more females are diagnosed for other DRGs Overnight discharges occur more than the same day discharges for all the DRGs Maximum ICU hours in case of Bronchitis and Asthma is 46 but it went as high as up to 2695 hours in other DRGs The average age recorded for Asthma and Bronchitis is 22.6 years and is 39.27 for the rest of them. DRG Most Common Principal Diagnosis Most Common Secondary Diagnosis E69A J45.9 B96.5 E69B J45.9 J18.9 E69C J45.9 J06.9 Most Common Diagnosis Codes DRG Most Common Principal Procedure Code Most Common Secondary Principal Procedure E69A 95550-01 and 95550-03 95550-03 E69B 95550-03 95550-01, 95550-02 and 95550-03 E69C 95550-03 34524-00 Most Common Procedure Codes DRG Maximum Length of Stay E69A 2 E69B 44 E69C 46 Same MCDs 743 Maximum Length of Stay Important Points from the Analysis Principal diagnosis most commonly seen: J45.9 Most common Procedure codes: 95550-03 Overnight discharges happen more than same day discharges More males diagnosed with Bronchitis and Asthma Prevention for Asthma and Bronchitis Intake of proper medications as per the recommendations by the doctor or caregiver. Avoid the harm causing factors such as pollen grains, smoke and likewise. Increased use of electrostatic air cleaner to be free from dust Increased consumption of water on a daily basis and especially in the mornings Bring exercise and workout in the routine schedule Get rid of the pets is animal dander is one of the causes of Asthma Be well aware of the medical condition Maintain wellness Seek medical care if the problems increase ("Chronic Asthmatic Bronchitis - Health Library", 2016) Conclusions Bronchitis and Asthma are the diseases that are primarily treated in the Acute Care facility and can be chronic as well as non-chronic in nature. A detailed analysis on the profile of the patients is done in a record of 34624 patients. There are 413 patients belonging to E69A/B/C DRG and the principal diagnosis and procedure codes seen are J45.9 and 95550-03. References Acute hospitals and integrated care. (2015). The King's Fund. Retrieved 23 May 2016. An Inpatient Prospective Payment System Refresher: MS-DRGs. (2016). Health-information.advanceweb.com. Retrieved 23 May 2016. Australian refined diagnosis-related groups (AR-DRG) data cubes (AIHW). (2016). Aihw.gov.au.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

What Makes a Good Short Story free essay sample

Short story writers see by the light of the flash; theirs is the art of the only thing we can be sure of – the present moment. ’ This is a quote from short story writer Nadine Gordimer; referring to how the art of short story writing is to get straight to the point and write everything as it is. This is an art and those who cannot perfect it should admire it instead. Edgar Allan Poe – ‘In the whole composition there should be no word written of which the tendency, direct or indirect, is not to the pre-established design; and by such means, with such skill and care, a picture is at length painted which leaves in the mind of him who contemplates it†¦ a sense of the fullest satisfaction. ’ Edgar Allan Poe is saying that no time should be wasted at the start of the short story and that the reader should be taken directly into the action, wasting no time in describing the layout, but leaving that to be unrevealed later on in the story. We will write a custom essay sample on What Makes a Good Short Story or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page A short story doesn’t necessarily have to be a short read. A short story is a snippet of a person’s life that goes into great depth of detail and grasps the reader’s attention and imagination from the very first word. A great example of earning the reader’s attention in the first sentence come from R. K. Narayan’s ‘A Hero’, where the first sentence is ‘For Swami events took an unexpected turn. ’ Because of this you know there is going to be a twist in the story, but you don’t know when and this sets up the whole story as throughout it the reader is thinking about what is going to happen next and they can’t be sure how the story is going to end. This is a great way to keep the reader interested throughout the story and makes a change to those predictable stories, where you can guess the ending before you’re even in the last paragraph. Unlike a novel writer the writer of a short has the freedom to take time to describe and create a clear picture of the scene he’s trying to set. This therefore means that the use of adjectives and colours are essential tools for the writer, helping to describe each and every smallest detail of the scene creating a world, in which the reader can join in and see with their imagination. When reading ‘A Hero’ we can just picture the second sentence where ‘Father looked over the newspaper he was reading under the hall lamp’. This is because of the description of where he was and father like most fathers is sitting there with his arms outspread reading the newspaper, and most people would be able to relate this to a member of their family or someone they know, making this sentence easier to picture. This sentence also suggests to the reader that the father is quite overbearing, checking up on his son, even when reading the newspaper. This is easily relatable to the reader as most people have an overbearing sibling or parent in their life, and can therefore picture the character and scene with little effort. The nature in which the story is written can have a great effect on setting the mood for the story. The short story itself should bring out all the emotions of the reader, using humour and other techniques. The emotions should be changed quickly from one to another, thus giving a short story its gripping effect. R. K. Narayan perfectly uses the reader’s emotions and changes them in an instant, from scared and sad to happy using humour. He does this in lines 102 to 106 in ‘A Hero’, with the text ‘He realised that the devil would presently pull him out and tear him, and so why should he wait? As it came nearer he crawled out from under the bench, hugged it with all his might, and used his teeth on it like a mortal weapon†¦ ‘Aiyo! Something has bitten me. ’’ This is describing the moment when Swami was scared for his life as he thought the devil had come into where he was sleeping, to kill him, but it was actually a burglar. With the burglar screaming ‘Aiyo! ’ it brings a smile to the reader’s face when at first it showed concern. This is an example of changing the reader’s emotions in a matter of a few seconds and it has a positive effect on the feelings towards the story. The story has to have a fast pace to it, meaning that there are no slow starts or moments of the book where the reader can put it down. This means that there should be something humourous, exciting or out of the ordinary that will keep the reader gripping the book and hoping that the story will never end. R. K. Narayan uses irony cleverly in his short story to keep up the fast pace and to keep the reader smiling. The best example of irony R. K. Narayan uses is the actual title of his short story, ‘A Hero’. This is due to the fact that throughout the story there are two examples of boys who are not heroes, but are quite hilariously the opposite: cowards. At the start of the story Swami’s father reads to him an article from his newspaper, reading ‘News is to hand of the bravery of a village lad who, while returning home by the jungle path, came face to face with a tiger’ and then the article goes on to describe the fight the boy endured with the tiger and his flight up a tree, where he stayed for half a day till some people came that way and killed the tiger. This boy was by no means a hero, but a coward who just survived his encounter with a tiger by climbing up a tree and with luck some people came along, who managed to kill the tiger. The second example of his not-so-much ‘a hero’ was Swami himself, where in the extract used earlier he was forced by his father to sleep in his office, away from Swami’s grandmother. Whilst being petrified in his father’s office a figure came into the room, who Swami was convinced was the devil, coming to kill him. As it came nearer he crawled out from under the bench, hugged it with all his might, and used his teeth on it like a mortal weapon†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ This figure cried out in his hysterical screech of ‘Aiyo! ’ and was then caught by Swami’s father, cook and servant who dived on the intruder. ‘Congratulations were showered on Swami next day. His classmates looked at him with respect, and his teacher patted his back. ’ He was treated as such ‘a hero’ as the intruder he had bitten into the flesh of was ‘one of the most notorious house-breakers of the district’. This is ironic, because although it is true that he had helped to catch ‘one of the most notorious house-breakers of the district’, he had acted out of fright rather than out of heroism. This effective title which uses irony is very clever and is very good in giving the reader positive feelings towards the short story. The characters in the short story are an essential key to its success and the message or story that the writer is trying to get across. The reader wants to know everything about these characters; their characteristics, what hey look like, what they’re like as a person and how they can change the story in some way thus helping to keep the writer’s options open. Although the characters need to be interesting and keep the reader hooked by their imagination they have to also be realistic and in some ways relatable to the reader. This will help the reader to picture the character and hopefully they can relate them to a real life person they know, thus giving them someone to compare the character to and maybe picture them as. A character is usually shown through the dialogue and in the way the character behaves and what he does. An example of one of R. K. Narayan’s great characterizations is of the Grandmother of Swami. R. K. Narayan characterizes the Granny very well in ‘A Hero’. He does this by making her easily relatable to the reader, as he does with most if not all characters. He portrays the granny as the grandmother who loves her grandson very much and loves to treat him, but is also unintentionally embarrassing and occasionally annoying. He gives the reader a picture of what the granny is like in some of his sentences from lines 39 to 52; ‘Granny was sitting up in her bed, and remarked, ‘Boy, are you already feeling sleepy? Don’t you want a story? ’’, and this shows that she is very caring for him, like most grandmothers are. Another passage which helps us to picture her is ‘Swami threw himself on his bed and pulled the blanket over his face. Granny said, ‘Don’t cover your face. Are you really very sleepy? ’ Swami leant over and whispered, ‘Please, please, shut up, granny. Don’t talk to me, and don’t let anyone call me even if the house is on fire. ’ This shows how the granny’s persistence is annoying Swami as he doesn’t want to speak to her and this is relatable to the reader, as there have been times in everyone’s lives when they just don’t want to talk to anyone and there is always that person who keep s trying to talk to you. The book should always keep the reader’s mind at work, never letting them have time to think about anything but the setting, the scene, the characters and what they think is going to happen next and this brings it perfectly on to the most important part of short story writing. Don’t let the reader know what is going to happen next. Make them expect the unexpected. Keep them hooked at every word and every sentence from the very first word to the very final letter, because that is the key to a successful short story. To do this there must be a twist, something totally unexpected that the reader wouldn’t have ever guessed would happen. The twist could be humourous, there could be a moment of suspense building up to it, it could have been sad, but whatever the twist is the reader must not know how the story is going to end. The placement of the twist is absolutely vital to the story. There may be more than one twist during the course of the story, but your final or only twist should come in the dying pages or paragraphs of your gripping and well constructed short story, which uses so many techniques to keep the reader indulged until they realise that they’ve lost track of time and are late for a meeting or to take the dinner out of the oven. That is what I believe makes a good short story. In ‘A Hero’ the twist, in the story, is also very humourous as well as being unexpected. The night after Swami’s ‘heroic’ act of biting the notorious intruder the reader, as well as Swami’s father believes that Swami will become a grown up boy and will from then on sleep by himself and no longer with his grandmother, but the is what the conversation between his mother and father reads: ‘Where is the boy? ’ ‘He is asleep. ’ ‘Already! ’ ‘He didn’t have a wink of sleep the whole of last night,’ said his mother. Where is he sleeping? ’ ‘In his usual place. ’ By his grandmother’s side we can only assume and this is the humourous twist to the story, and it is not the most hilarious bit of writing known to man but it’s enough to amuse the reader and a great way to finish off the story, leaving the reader with a positive mood. R. K. Narayan as well as being a v ery powerful writer, bringing out all the emotions of the reader, has the ability to write from Swami’s voice, making the story very believable and very realistic. He really captures the reader’s imagination and he makes it as if Swami has written it himself. R. K. Narayan also uses the technique of placing a story within a story, which is very clever and quite hard to do, to make it fit in with the storyline. He does this at the start of the whole short story, where the father talks to Swami about the article he read in the newspaper, about the boy who survived coming face to face with a tiger. This technique also brings the reader further into the story, making their imagination wander and work almost twice as hard to picture it. It is a very powerful way of engaging the reader into the short story. R. K. Narayan really perfects the art of short story writing. His precision and detail whilst writing are what every writer dreams of mastering. ‘A Hero’ is semi-autobiographical, as the main character Swami, a 10 year old, cricket loving boy, who finds comfort sleeping by his grandmother’s side, is based on the child R. K. Narayan was when he was 10 years old. His success I believe comes from him writing about his own experiences. This helps him to picture the scene he is setting and describe it to every single tiny detail. A short story of his which I have studied is ‘A Hero’, a part of his series of books ‘Malgudi Days’. This is a series that he has written from his own experience about the life in India, changing the names of certain locations and people. In his short story ‘A Hero’ R. K. Narayan is very successful in portraying his main character of Swami. He is successful in portraying Swami as he writes from something he knows very well and that is himself. Writing from own experiences and things you know about well give you a great advantage in short story writing. R. K. Narayan is able to write about what Swami would say and how he would act so well, because it is infact based on himself when he was younger and this makes his portrayal of Swami so successful.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Wild Strawberries

Wild Strawberries Diverse people/cultures constitute this world and such diversity is reflected via the cinematic experience. Film emanates the entire infrastructure of a people’s culture (gender, age, creed, race, personal impressions, ideas, emotions, prejudices and religious/political/ economic/educational institutions, etc.).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Wild Strawberries specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More At the height of the 20th century, many countries witnessed a rise in cinematic prominence and Sweden was no exception. Gustaf Molander, Alf Sjà ¶berg, Victor Sjà ¶strà ¶m, Mauritz Stiller and most recently Lasse Hallstrà ¶m  as well as Lukas Moodysson brought prominence and popularity to Swedish film. Among this distinguished cadre of Swedish filmmakers is the accomplished and prolific Ingmar Bergman. A repertoire comprised of over sixty documentaries and films (television and cinema) as well as one hundred and se venty theatrical plays, Bergman’s work featured a typical element of Swedish film – slow pacing and austere landscapes. His distinctive style/attribute and contribution, however, was exploration of human emotions and its vast landscape with death, illness, betrayal, and insanity as the focus. Bergman’s 1957 film, Wild Strawberries, is superbly characteristic his style. Wild Strawberries was written and directed by Bergman and has an acclaimed cast of Swedish actors, among them Max von Sydow. Deemed a classic and one of Bergman’s best films, thought-provoking themes such self acceptance and discovery as well as human existence constitute the thematic core of the film. Bergman wrote the screenplay while hospitalized and such experience served as an impetus. Wild Strawberries is character and plot driven in that the two intertwined bring the fundamental themes to the surface and explain them. The film chronicles the emotional voyage of an elderly physician n amed Eberhard Isak Borg (Victor Sjà ¶strà ¶m). This emotional journey filled with self introspection/re-evaluation is introduced at the onset of the film with Borg’s opening statement – â€Å"In our relations with other people, we mainly discuss and evaluate their character and behaviour. That is why I have withdrawn from nearly all so-called relations (Wild Strawberries). At seventy years old, Borg appears to have come to a point in which evaluation of his behaviour and character is of primary concern rather than others. The journey unfolds as he travels to receive an honorary degree/award at Lund University. Such accolade, however, has no value and does not bring him happiness for he comments prior to his trip â€Å"Honorary Doctor! They might as well appoint me Honorary Idiot (Wild Strawberries).†Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More During the 400 mile sojourn from Stockholm to Lund, in which he is accompanied by his daughter-in law Mariaane (Ingrid Thulin), Borg seventy eight years old, undergoes a life assessment or revaluation process. The various people he meets along the way force him to confront various personas about himself (aloofness, loneliness, etc.), his past and relationships (mother, son, etc.) that contributed to his behaviour. Self examination also comes in the form of nightmares and daydreams throughout the film. At the conclusion, Borg comes to terms with himself (past, present, self acceptance) and immanent death which in the beginning he greatly feared. Smultronstllet is the original Swedish title for the film and translated literally means wild strawberry patch. Idiomatically the title refers to something underrated or devalued yet possesses sentimental or personal value. Self awareness, value, acceptance, and even love appear to be the sentimental and personal emotions at the core of Bergman’s f ocus/message and for this reason Ingmar Bergman Wild Strawberries’ impact will remain indelible. Work Cited Wild Strawberries (1957). Web.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Argumentative essay Roman Fever By Edith Wharton

Moral Issues Related To Seven Deadly Sins - Essay Example The book is very comprehensive from the foreword to the content and yet, it appears that many people are still oblivious about these. Sin is elucidated in the forward and the sins to be tackled were likewise discussed beforehand. The stories and the beginning of the ideas behind seven deadly sins can be traced back to St. Gregory as well as his identification of the normal dangers of the soul while taking into consideration Mahatma Gandhi. It also examines the classifications and perils represented by the seven deadly sins one by one. The plot of Wharton’s short story can be compared to a house of cards. Each card has significant support to the entire structure that if one is taken out, it will lose its essence. The commencing scene where daughters, Barbara and Jenny, run off to meet young provokes Mrs. Slade’s memories of her as well as Mrs. Ansley’s romantic adventures in Rome, 25 years prior to the present scene. She tried to share how Ansley has changed physically. Her observation establishes the concealed rancor she feels towards her companion and predicts every so implicitly the incongruous ending. Edith Wharton defies the thought of knowledge as well as understanding, even a person’s private experiences. The employment of Jackie Royster’s scenic analysis to Wharton’s Roman fever represents the idea that any person just because of envy and competition never achieve an awareness of the reality of human life as well as existence. This can be seen in the story when â€Å"She wished that Jenny falls in love- with the wrong man, even; that she might have to be watched, outmaneuvered, rescued† (Wharton, p.50). This is already evidence of how evil can manipulate and poison one’s mind just because of envy.