Assignment on strategic business management and planning - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 15 Words: 4368 Downloads: 7 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Management Essay Type Analytical essay Did you like this example? These thee views are on the purpose and cooperate social responsibility (CSR) of an organization. What people expect an organization to achieve and what influence people can have over an organizations purpose. It is important to understand their expectations, how these might differ from each other and extend to which they likely to influence the organizations purpose and strategy. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Assignment on strategic business management and planning" essay for you Create order Collectively these people are called organizational stakeholders. Stakeholders, are those individuals or groups who depend on the organization to fulfill their own goals and on whom, in turn, the organization depends. Important external stakeholders would usually include shareholders, financial institutions, customers and suppliers. CSR involves a business identifying its stakeholder groups and incorporating their needs and values within the strategic and day-to-day decision-making process. First, Milton Friedman is in the view that the sole purpose of a business is to maximize profit. He believes that the only corporate social responsibility a company has is to increase profit. This is where an organization in the view that the only responsibility of business is the short-term interest of shareholders or private owners of small companies. It dismisses or only just meets the minimum obligations on internal aspects such as employee welfare, working conditions, and job satisfaction and eternal aspects like environment issues, human rights, community activities and markets also that the market will regulate itself without any need for externally induced controls. Purchase or sale of a product will be determined and/or regulated by the market in compliance with the free choice of individuals. Ideally, there would be no need for external ethical controls. This is especially evident in small private companies because they are only answerable to a limited stakeholder groups. The Second, stakeholder view by Charles Handy, is to achieve financials benefits to the shareholders or owners through profits but in contrast to the earlier view profits will not be the sole responsibility of an organization. He would not define business exclusively in terms of individualist self-interest of profit maximization but, rather, in terms of a behavioral efficiency of benefit to both individuals and society that is operates. The justification for social action is that of an organ izations reputation is important to its long-term financial growth. An effective CSR policy will infuse all aspects of operations. Its believed that actions businesses take today to incorporate CSR throughout the organization represent a real point of differentiation and competitive market advantage on which future success will be manifested. This takes the view that organizations not only have responsibility to their shareholders but also have a responsibility for well-balanced relationship with other stakeholders both internal and external. As the companies stakeholder interest gets wider organizations social responsibility gets wider. There is a direct relationship between clarity of purpose and integrity of purpose to be fully effective, staff must be happy and confident as well as clear about what they are asked to do. Customers must be happy that they are purchasing good quality products/services from an honest company. The community must be happy that it is supporting a princ ipled and sound organization. (Contemporary Strategic Management- R.Pettinger, page 317) The third view, Society and shareholders are becoming one and the same, Performance of an organization should be measured in a much more pluralistic way than just through its financial bottom line, the attitudes of these companies are more socially progressive than others. If the mangers concentrate on the success of their organization by undertaking unethical activities that damage the society that will not bring into line with the stakeholder expectations. Its in the best interest in the society if all the firms are behaving responsibly which results in success of the economic system as a whole. CSR covers all aspects of a business day-to-day operations. Everything an organization does in some way interacts with one or more of its stakeholder groups, and companies today need to build a sound brand with respect to all stakeholders. Whether as an employer, producer, buyer, supplier, or invest ment, the attractiveness and success of a company today is directly linked to the strength of its brand. CSR affects all aspects of all operations within a corporation because of the need to consider the needs of all constituent groups. Each area builds on all the others to create a composite of the corporation in the eyes of all stakeholder groups. Companies in this view retain uneconomical production in the aim of preserving jobs. As the stakeholder diversity of expectations get wider companies will adapt this approach. Organizations are often finding themselves in a dilemma where they need to be financially profitable to meet the shareholder demand and trying to protect and improve the interest in the society. They need to balance their own interests with that of their employee and communities. This includes considerations as to how the conflicting demand of different stakeholders will be reconciled. Also, we can view that wider the stakeholder interest expand the social respo nsibility get much more important to an organization. (Exploring Cooperate Strategy 7th Edition, G.Johnson, K.Scholes R.Whittington page 190) In general, the goal of any economic system should be to further the general social welfare. The purpose of business should extend beyond the maximization of efficiency and profit. Increasingly, society expects businesses to have an obligation to the society in which they are located, to the people they employ, and their customers, beyond their traditional bottom-line and narrow shareholder concerns What are the implications of these differing views for managers development of organizational strategy? Strategy is concerned with the long-term direction, the direction that the organization should be taking and the type of action required to achieve its objectives. Different views given on the Illustration 4.6 can have a fundamental effect on the purpose or the direction of an organization, which will result in a difference in strategies that are pursued. The expectations and the power of the stakeholders will influence the strategic decision-making. Additionally, companies adopting CSR is important to the development of organizations business strategy because, wherever possible, consumers want to buy products from companies they trust; suppliers want to form business partnerships with companies they can rely on; employees want to work for companies they respect; and NGOs, increasingly, want to work together with companies seeking feasible solutions and innovations in areas of common concern. Satisfying each of these stakeholder groups allows companies to maximize their commitment to another important stakeholder group, their investors, who benefit most when the needs of these other stakeholders are meet. Therefore, CSR policy adapted will a key issue in developing company strategy. At the macro environment level, the stakeholder expectation range from laissez-faire organization at one extreme to organizations as shapers of society at the other. The extend to which organization will exceed its minimum obligations to stakeholders and society at large will be a key issue that mangers have to understand in strategy creation. Company may looking at value maximizing by increasing profits will influence the strategic planners in developing its strategies by concentrating on overall cost reduction throughout the value chain, product or service differentiation, or concentrating on a Nish market focus. On the other hand companies following stakeholder theories will develop strategies trying to fulfill obligations to the society at large. At individual level, cu ltural aspect, behavior and actions of individuals within and organization is clearly important for the management of the organization. With the first view by Milton Friedman, Profit maximization does not accommodate individual beliefs; individual satisfaction who ever does one respond to a situation where there is a conflict between the personal beliefs and the company business decisions has no recourse but to resign. This will affect management that formulating strategy with there, own beliefs and values. Additionally, companies have to consider Internal factors such as the capability of the organization to follow the proposed plan strategy. Each of the above views will attract varied staff to the organization. Operational factors the technological production process and the method of production process will change the strategic decision out come on each of the above views taking to an example which technology will be affected. Is the company looking at only product outpu t or does it look at impact on job loss or environment letdowns. External factors this is about social, community, or outside pressure from interested parties such as employee federations on employee safety measures or trade unions on minimum wage. The result would be different stakeholder interests and there interactions heavily influence the strategic choice, the whole strategy making process is subject to constant review. The end result is ideally an organization strategy that is both effective and acceptable. (Contemporary Strategic Management- R. Pettinger page 317) Stakeholders represent more challenges than opportunities Appraise the conflicting needs, power, and influence of stakeholders. Different stakeholder groups varied expected needs and the power they have over the organizations would affect the purpose and choices that I will seek. Internal Influence is likely to occur only because individuals share expectations with others by being a part of a stakeholder group, which may be departments, geographical locations or different level of hierarchy. Individuals may belong to more than one stakeholder group and stakeholder groups will gather together differently depending on the issue in hand because inside an organization few individuals have sufficient power to determine and make a impact on their alone. External stakeholders from the market environment such as shareholders, suppliers, distributors, sometimes, external stakeholders may seek influence through their link with the internal stakeholders. For example sub-contacted distribution will pressure on the marketing and advertizing strategies. Stakeholders from the social/political environment like policy maker s, regulators, government agencies and the stakeholders in the technological environment such as owners of competitive technologies with conflicting expectations, each environment seeking different outcomes in different situations, sometimes different outcomes in one situation. For example new technological advancement that brings in competitor advantage clearly falls inline with the technological group whilst the non-bio degradable waste it generates contradicts to social and political stakeholder expectations resulting in massive outraged environmentalist and political pressure. Additionally, the ability of individuals or stakeholder groups to persuade an organization to follow a certain course of action will have influence over organizations purpose and strategic decisions. The individual or group, who holds the position or the hierarchy, carries the power with in the organization. For example the Managing Director uses his formal powers to participate and sponsor a local tenn is tournament for young teenagers tennis players. The type of relationship which organization might establish with the external stakeholders will determine the extent of power over the organization. Is the, organization accountable to one stakeholder, or group? Stakeholders are not usually homogeneous it contain a variety of subdivisions/groups with different level of power, too much subdivision makes decision-making challenging and confusing. The reliance on resources in terms of shareholders, lenders or heavy dependence on one supplier or customer will give them the power over the firm. Hence, company will have to prioritize or find a correct match to satisfying the entire stakeholder group. These raise some difficult issues for mangers in deciding and implementing strategic change due to high level of varied expectations and power of diverse stakeholder groups with conflicting thoughts. But usually managers are in a powerful position within organization to influence the expect ation of other stakeholders. They have access to information and channels of influence, which are not available to many other stakeholders. Even though stakeholder represents challengers to the manager who work on strategy, the real power behind the throne lies on the managers in constructing strategies to suit their own purpose and managing stakeholder expectations to ensure acceptance by the entire society. How can Organizations manage shareholder conflicts and handle issues of ethics, corporate governance and regulation? Conflicts of interests are more or else likely to arise between different groups in the governance chain (governance chain is where a typical reporting structure giving the flow of reports and actions from the beneficiaries of an organization to the mangers making the decisions) for individual managers or the owners (shareholders) or directors as they seek to balance these various interests. Directors and the managers have an obligation to fulfill their role in their capacity to the organization, but their own self-interests might be in expense of shareholder expectations. This is where the importance of both the role of the board and the disclosure of information to other stakeholders were developed, through corporate governance regulations. Directors responsibility to shareholders is a very important issue. The guiding principle in UK is that boards of directors are responsible to shareholders but must also be responsible for relationship with other stakeholders and take into acc ount their interests. Additionally, the way in which targets, budgets and rewards are structured has an influence the way in which managers and other people perform and, return will decide the extent to which the shareholder best interest being perused. In general governance chain challenges directors and managers to be knowledgeable about the expectations of the shareholders/owners, to constantly work towards achieving their needs and keep them informed, but self-interests of directors and managers might differ from the shareholder expectations, the power between the different players in the governance chain pursuing their own interests make it difficult, not only that very different levels of access to information make it even more difficult, on the contrary self interest need to be encouraged to achieve the interest of the beneficiaries as well. This is where the corporate governing bodies usually come in to play, through initially concerned on the internal financial contro ls and external disclosure of information later on broadening of internal control requirement beyond simply financial controls and looked at the role and effectiveness of non-executive directors. These implications by the government meant that director and mangers must be more proactive in addressing the interests of the beneficiaries requiring them to change there behavior of following self-interest, where large number of whom have focused in increasing their personal financial rewards often disregarding the consequences of their behavior on the final beneficiaries of the company performance. (Exploring Corporate Strategy 7th Edition-G.Johnson, K.Scholes R.Whittington Page 170-171) Critically analyze the contents and relevance of the mission statement for each of the three different organizations (page 165), with regards to their goals, values and objectives. Mission statement is an image that a business must have of its aims and goals translated into written form. It gives specific sight of the direction and purpose of an organization. For many corporate leaders it is a vital part of their attempt to motivate employees and to set priorities. (The economist Guide to management ideas and gurus- Tim Hindle). A clear, thoughtful mission provides employees with a shared sense of purpose, direction and opportunity. To define its mission, a company should address Druckers classic questions: What is our business? Who is our customer? What is of value to the customers? What will the business be? Successful companies continuously ask them and answer them thoughtfully and thoroughly. (Marketing Management P.Kotler, K.Keller, M.Brady M.Goodman Page 88) Some organizations use the term vision statement some even have both vision and mission statements (Tata Steel). A vision and a mission can be one and the same but the concepts through are not necessarily the same. Broadly vision refers to future intentions and mission delivering present ones. If there is substantial disagreement within the organization or with stakeholders as to its mission vision it may result in real problems in strategic direction of the organization. Mission statements are at their best when they reflect a vision, which provides a direction for the company. Mission statements help organizations to focus their strategy by defining boundaries within which each organization to operate. Tata Steel, for example, has said it is strive to strengthen Indias industrial base through effective utilization of staff and material by using high technology and productivity. It is not, evidently, going to enter the business with trend setting designs for European market or providing a safer India. The Metropolitan Police, for example needs to nurture and safe guard the sociality the goal should be to achieve A safer London its mission has said working together for a safer London shows the overall goal and the specific outcome it need to achieve. Villeroy Boch, for example, have a different goal a different objective from that of the earlier two, they are in a constantly changing market needing them to be innovative trend setting company which highlighted in there mission statement to be the leading European lifestyle brand with high competence and trend setting for high end design and living therefore, company mission statement helps to focus their strategy though emphasizing on goals and specific objectives it need to achieve. A recurring problem has been that managers and employees lower down the hierarchys lack of commitment, competencies, continues improvement, and unclear communication as to how day to day work contribute to the overall strategic direction may lead the mission statement to become a bland idealistic blur. Mission statement defines the scope along which an organizations performance is to be measured and judged. Other than, making profit. Tata Steel, for example, said that it considered itself successful through continue to improve the quality of life of there employees and the community they serve, upholding the spirit and values of Tatas towards national building. Organizations often acknowledge their responsibility to other stakeholders as well, mentioning their attitude to employees Villeroy Boch, for example, says in the long run a strong market position can only be achieved by having innovative and committed employees. Our priority task is to motivate them and cultivate their team spirit, encourage them to achieve personal and joint goals or to customers Metropolitan Police, for example, says we will have pride in delivering quality policing. There is no greater priority, we will build trust by listening and responding. Apart from the financial profits objective, others are difficult to quantify or express in measurable terms to revitalize the core business for a sustainable future is high ly relevant to Tata Steel and todays environment, but it may become absurd if it has to be expressed in some measurable way. Nonetheless its an important goal that Tata need to achieve. It suggests standards for individual ethical behavior. For example, Villeroy Boch had what it called Five values One philosophy. Among them were: Responsibility- we feel obligated not only to our employees, shareholders and customers, but also to the environment and society Metropolitan Police is a non-profit entity in the solely view to be socially responsible. Tata Steel, for example, points out to overall, the company seeks to scale the heights of excellence in all that it does in an atmosphere free from fear, and thereby reaffirms its faith in democratic values it shows that Tata is socially align with the Indian government and pressure groups in creating, developing and maintaining democratic social life style in India. Even though, ethical values are embedded in a organizations mission its not its core expectation or the most essential for the management to focus its attention, except for The Metropolitan Police, this will surface after meeting its number of priority requirements, for example, in the event of a choice between making a loss or closing down where people will lose jobs company will prioritize not to loose money. Goals are things companies intend to achieve. Objectives are the steps we take along the way toward achieving Goals. Tactics are elements of going about accomplishing Objectives. Strategy is the overarching plan to use our unique competitive advantages to achieve our stated Goals through the use of specific and measurable Objectives and Tactics in pursuit of mission. Business lays out a set of tactics and objectives to be achieved that move towards the achievement of the strategic goals. The strategic goals guide the choice of objectives and the tactics employed. They provide direction for the business. Evaluate theories for and against systematic development of mission statements, values and objectives and suggest how you would have improved on the mission statement of the three organizations with reference to their purpose, strategy, values and behavioral standards. One or more stakeholders may expect corporate values, vision, mission and objectives of the organizations. But in some instances these statements might be formal requirements of corporate governance. Illustration 4.5 is an example The Metropolitan Police of the Government of London. Regardless of the reason it must be highlighted that these statements may not be accurate reflection of the priorities within the organization. (Exploring Corporate Strategy Johnson, Scholes Whittington 7th Edition page 207-209) Development of mission statement, corporate values and objectives is a carefully articulated process where a managers setting a project team to survey throughout the organization to check validity and usefulness of a such goal, gathering of information from current stakeholders and their perception of the organization, recommendations for improvements and suggestions to amend and update through consultation with workforce and customers and communication throughout the comp any in a appropriate way. They answer the question What business are we in? or Why we exist? and reflect basic function in a society in terms of products and services (Mintzberg) it creates the core values the principles that guide an organizations actions for example We will build trust by listening and responding The Metropolitan Police, it describes the unique purpose and direction of an organization for example To be the leading European lifestyle brand Villeroy Boch, it helps to differentiate from its competition for example the company seeks to scale the heights of excellence in all that it does in an atmosphere free from fear, and thereby reaffirm its faith in democratic values Tata Steel, reflects benefits to customers and state key values to all stakeholders for example to continue to improve the quality of life of our employees and the communities we serve Tata Steel give value to its employees, Earning oriented growth, high and constant rates of return and appropria te dividends Villeroy Boch shows companies direction towards growth and profitability to its shareholders. Although, most companies operate with a wide range of goals and objectives the central goal of most organizations is to maximize shareholder returns, and to extend shareholder returns fully it requires being highly profitable and high growth. However, it is important that top managers not to overemphasize current profitability to detriment of long-term profitability and profit growth. The overzealous pursuit of current profitability to maximize short term performance can encourage much misguide managerial action cutting expenditure judged to be non essential in the short run for example, Research and development expenditure, marketing expenditure. Although cutting current expenditure increases current profit levels, the under investment will result in, lack of innovation and diminishing marketing can jeopardize long term profitability and profit growth. (Essential Strategic M anagement Hill, Jones Page 31) The organizations mission, and objectives guide this expenditure. The companys mission statement directs the pursuit of long-term goals and sustaining organizations competitive advantage and profitability over time. Therefore, a well thought out mission will identify all stakeholder groups and weight their relative rights and abilities to affect the firms success. (Formulation, implementation and control of competitive strategy Pearce, Robinson page 68-69) As mentioned above both vision and mission is inspirational, it talks about the future and present intentions of an organization. They try to motivate personal employees to seek and achieve the articulated vision. It tries to attract the future investment through its existing shareholders and perspective investors. However, if organizations demonstrably fail to live up or keep the statements to mere showpiece and doesnt put out in practice it will be a de-motivator for the work force as well as it will fail to impress stakeholders. For example if Tata Steel doesnt act to improve the quality of life of its employees what will happen to the workforce? Well it might result in high labor turnover or low productivity that will boil down to company failure. Same way if Villeroy Boch neglects its environmental obligations the long term growth and profitability might be affected. Therefore, organizations need to strike a balance. Additionally, mission statement need to be continuous in that they summarize an organizations purpose. The values and objectives need to be evaluated at different level of time and restated as ones are achieved. TATA STEEL Need to create a sense of pride, as employees need to be empowered that they are working for an Indias number one and currently a top global player in the industry. The company wants to effectively utilize its staff but it lacks in emphasizing and focusing its core resource fully. Further, Tata Steel has failed to define an overarching aim like what Valleroy Boch To be the leading European lifestyle brand it sets the company attitude and culture through a clear direction. THE METROPOLITAN PLOICE It describes its main activity, function in society, the unique purpose and scope of its operation for a safer London the mission statement works well for a purpose oriented establishment but I would have included the human rights responsibility to the community. To develop a balanced properly respected society. Further, to depart from racism and discrimination from the officers. As well as try to incorporate the objectives to reduce overall drug and crime rate and the fear of crime. VILLEROY BOCH The company has established clear future intentions with focusing on limited number of goals, excellent future stability, has pointed out companies major policies, value and culture. Villeroy Boch, have define its major competitive spheres by identifying its market segment, industry and competencies. The five values have provided reassurance to its shareholders, confidence to the society and customers, given a knockout punch by sending signals of strengths to its competitors and have created sense of pride and value for its employees. Only thing that I view is it not brief. Ideally a mission statement should be brief and flexible. If its too long and bulky it tends to loose its essence. The key is the prime purpose of a mission statement it is important for organizations to live up to the promises they declare.

The Snapshot Autobiography Is Having Student - 931 Words

The main topic of the snapshot autobiography is having student be able to think like a historian. Historians don’t include every major detail when telling a key event in time. They include what is the most important and leave certain events out without taking away from the entire story. When students are creating their own autobiography, they are learning decision making skills by having several events that make up their story, but also being able to narrow this key events down to only a few while still effective telling their story. In their inquiry lesson, the students are presented with multiple perspectives and point of views of all parties involved in the inquiry question asked. From there, they are refining their hypothesis and leaving in only the main attributes to effectively answer the inquiry question in their final thesis statement. By having an opportunity to have a master list up on the board where students are adding to their hypothesis. The class is more of a co mmunity by being able to openly share their ideas and thoughts with one another after each data set. In the seminar that the students are participating in, they are understanding the main purpose of a seminar and the attributes to have it be engaging. By giving the students the text in advanced, they are being familiar with the text and can have ideas and questions ready before the seminar begins. The goals for a snapshot autobiography, is to have students learn how to make decision making skills andShow MoreRelatedJack Kerouac s On The Road1793 Words   |  8 Pagesa typo-littered scroll that few people read and Kerouac immediately took to editing. Part autobiography, part travelogue, and part social commentary, the book has elements that will appeal to everyone, however, it can also be intensely daunting in its verbosity, poor editing, and lack of traditional plot. Referred to as the book that defined the Beat Generation, with the aforementioned scroll itself having become an ico nic piece of American History that, according to NPR, toured as recently as tenRead MoreHumanities11870 Words   |  48 PagesThis module provides an overview on the subject of art appreciation for those entirely new to the subject. This is a complex topic to deal with and it is impossible to have a truly comprehensive discussion on the topic in such a brief essay. The student is advised to consult more advanced texts to gain further understanding of how to appreciate art more fully. HUMANITIES: What is it? †¢ The term Humanities comes from the Latin word, â€Å"humanitas† †¢ It generally refers to art, literature, musicRead MoreMasculinity in the Philippines12625 Words   |  51 Pagesand insists on calling guys who fall in love inebriated weaklings. Marcos himself internalized this gendered duality to write, after the war, of sacrificing his manhood to defend a feminized nation he calls Filipinas. We cursed ourselves . . . for having given up our arms and with them our manhood. . ., Marcos wrote of their wartime surrender to Japan on Bataan. Filipinas had welcomed us in spite of the disgrace of our defeat in Bataan. But it seemed that although she had smiled at us through herRead MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 PagesDilemmas 86 SKILL PRACTICE 89 Exercises for Improving Self-Awareness Through Self-Disclosure 89 Through the Looking Glass 89 Diagnosing Managerial Characteristics 90 An Exercise for Identifying Aspects of Personal Culture: A Learning Plan and Autobiography 92 SKILL APPLICATION 95 Activities for Develop ing Self-Awareness 95 Suggested Assignments 95 Application Plan and Evaluation 95 SCORING KEYS AND COMPARISON DATA 97 Self-Awareness Assessment 97 Scoring Key 97 Comparison Data 97 Emotional IntelligenceRead MoreInnovators Dna84615 Words   |  339 Pagessheds new light on the once-mysterious art of innovation by showing that successful innovators exhibit common behavioral habits—habits that can boost anyone’s creative capacity.† author, e 7 Habits of Highly E ective People and e Leader in Me â€Å"Having worked with Clayton Christensen on innovation for over a decade, I can see that e Innovator’s DNA continues to stretch our thinking with insights that challenge convention and enable progress in the important cause of innovation . . . so critical

Yearning Friendship free essay sample

Yearning Friendship In the heart of every human, there is a longing for companionship. The novella Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck tells readers of the tragic tale between two males, George Milton and Lennie Small, who are trying to survive the cruel times of Americas Great Depression. George and Lennie are two ranch workers hopping from place to place in order to survive and fulfill their dreams. Even though the two men are complete opposites, they stick together to the end of the novella. Steinbeck illustrates the theme, the longing and human need for friendship, by constantly ushing many characters through the feeling of loneliness, the benefits of cooperation, and the power of companionship. The feeling of loneliness forces people to realize their need for friendship. For example, when Crooks tells Lennie, Books aint no good. A guy needs somebody†to be near him. A guy goes nuts if he aint got nobody. We will write a custom essay sample on Yearning Friendship or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Dont make no difference who the guy is, longs hes with you. I tell ya, a guy gets too lonely and he gets sick (73). This reveals the feeling of loneliness drives people mad. The feeling drives people remarkably mad that they learn to accept any company that they have, even if the ompany is bothersome. Furthermore, Curleys wife responds to Lennies stubbornness by stating, Why cant I talk to you? I never get to talk to nobody. I get awful lonely (86). This brings to light Curleys wifes actions of constantly annoying the males. Her loneliness causes her to bother people who normally push her away and ignore her†her heart longs for some sort of company, and it wont stop until she obtains one. Although the feeling of loneliness pushes the reader into realization of a longing for friendship, cooperation keeps a friendship lasting. Cooperation benefits a friendship between two people; it keeps the longing for friendship satisfied. For instance, Lennie remembers Georges words and beams, Because because I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you (14). This explains that two males depend on each other and leaning on each others shoulders when it is needed through their cooperation. The cooperation between the two keeps their friendship strong even though they are total opposites. In fact, even by the end of their tale, Lennie rejoicing, An I got you. We got each other, thats what, hat gives a hoot hell about us (104). This reveals that through their tough battles, they still stayed strong friends. Once again, their cooperation was shown through their dependence on each other. Due to the face that they have each other, Lennie suggests that that is the reason people give a hoot hell about them. He means that people know them or hear of them as a result of their friendship. The two cooperate, thus, making them known as a duo. The benefits of cooperation are not the only things that keep a friendship lasting; the power of companionship supports a lasting riendship as well. Companionship is a powerful element. For instance, when Carlson complains about Candys dogs revolting scent, Candy replies, Im so used to him, I had him from a pup (45). This reveals that companionship is powerful enough for a person to be familiarized with their friends appearance, attitude, and personality†a person is not annoyed witn certain characteristics ot their triend, even though the people around them are. In this case, Candys long time ownership of his his dog has enable him to no longer be bother by the dogs revolting smell. He doesnt mind it because it eminds him that he has a companion. The longing in his heart is well fed by the company of a dog; there is a chance that the longing will come back if his dog is gone. In addition, at the end of the tale, when George is speaking to Lennie about Lennie accidentally killing Curleys wife, George states, No Lennie. I aint mad. I never been mad, an I aint now. Thats the thing I want ya to know (106). This reveals that companionship is powerful enough for people to set aside their problems and stay calm in order to keep hold of a friend. Lennies idiotic actions often causes many eople to be angry with him, but George has been a companion of Lennie long enough to be habituated with Lennies actions. Georges longing for friendship is fulfilled, because he has Lennie. Companionship is a powerful thing that holds two friends together. Loneliness, cooperation, and companionship are three strings that intertwine, creating a braid that is called friendship. Separately, the strings are easily ripped apart; however, together, the braid is stronger, making it harder to rip. Steinbeck is trying to prove that friendship is an essential part of life. Friendship is important because without it, a person can be driven to madness and obtaining too much loneliness can kill a person. Any creature could be friend in Steinbecks point of view: a dead animal, a living animal, or a person. Whatever or whoever a character is comfortable around can be considered their friend and friends can be found in the smallest of things to biggest of things; a person Just needs to take time and search. He teaches the reader that no matter the case, somewhere in a persons heart, there is a yearning for friendship.

Peoples Psychological Atavism, as the Actual Cause of their Gender

When it comes down to discussing what prompts people to commit particularly despicable crimes, such as carrying out terrorist attacks, psychologists commonly approach the task that within the context of what they believe accounts for the particulars of these people’s mental inadequacy.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on People’s Psychological Atavism, as the Actual Cause of their Gender-Related Intolerance specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Nevertheless, there is plenty of evidence as to the fact that, contrary to the assumption that it is namely the concerned criminals’ mental impartment that leads them to indulge in a socially-inappropriate behavior, these criminals’ sharply defined violent-mindedness should not necessarily be referred to as being thoroughly pathological. After all, as practice indicates, despite the sheer horrendousness of their criminal acts, the interrogated perpetrato rs of these acts are often able to provide a logically sound rationale to what they have done. In their articles, Michael Kimmel and Kathleen Alcala discuss this idea at length. According to Kimmel, the commonly overlooked aspect of what motivated Muslim terrorists to fly passenger planes into both WTO towers is that these people’s life-experiences caused them to adopt clearly misogynist attitudes towards women. The author explains this by the fact that in today’s world, the traditional masculine virtues affect the essence of surrounding socio-political reality to the ever-lessened extent. This causes traditionally-minded men to perceive this reality as being thoroughly corrupted, â€Å"The events of September 11†¦ resulted from an increasingly common combination of factors – the massive male displacement that accompanies globalization, the spread of American consumerism, and the perceived corruption of local political elites† (157). In other words, one of the main motivations behind 9/11 attacks was the fact that those who perpetrated them strived to reaffirm the soundness of a traditional outlook on gender roles.Advertising Looking for essay on rhetoric? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In her article, Alcala explores primarily the same idea, in regards to what she believes caused Andrea Yates to drown her children, despite the fact that throughout the course of her life, she never exhibited any signs of mental impairment. According to the author, Andrea’s crime came because of her growing frustration with what she believed accounted for her inability to provide children with a proper upbringing, â€Å"She (Andrea) drowned her children to save them from eternal damnation. Because she had been a bad mother, Andrea reasoned, her children were also turning out to be bad† (1112). Therefore, just as it was the case with the Muslim terrorists’ motivation t o carry out 9/11 attacks, Andrea’s motivation to drown her children can be well discussed within the context of what was the essence of her deed-seated anxiety to perceive a surrounding reality and its place in it through the lenses of socially upheld gender-constructs. Thus, the ideological implications of both articles can be synthesized as follows: people’s preoccupation with trying to adjust their lives to the traditional gender-based existential virtues is being counter-productive, as it often causes them to act in a clearly anti-social manner. This suggestion, however, cannot be discussed as such that represents an undeniable truth-value. The reason for this is apparent – the innermost essence of how women and men have traditionally been relating to each other, in the social sense of this word, simply reflects the fact that biologically and psychologically speaking, the representatives of Homo Sapiens species are nothing but primates. Therefore, men and wo men’s adherence to the behavioral provisions of their gender affiliation cannot be referred to as the potential cause of destructive behavior, on their part; because such their adherence is being absolutely consistent with the laws of nature.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on People’s Psychological Atavism, as the Actual Cause of their Gender-Related Intolerance specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More After all, in the societies of primates, males dominate and females submit. In other words, the actual origins of the gender-minded people’s destructive behavior should be discussed in relation to the specifics of their religious beliefs. In their turn, the social implications of people’s religion-based worldviews cannot be assessed outside of the particulars of these people’s ethnocultural affiliation. In this paper, I will aim to substantiate the validity of the earlier suggestion at len gth. The reading of both earlier mentioned articles reveals the fact that the factor of religion played a crucial role in how 9/11 terrorists and Andrea Yates perceived the significance of relationships between the representatives of opposite genders. For example, according to Kimmel, â€Å"Terrorism is fueled by a fatal brew of antiglobalization politics, convoluted Islamic theology, and virulent misogyny† (6). After all, it does not represent much of a secret that it is specifically Muslim fundamentalists that find the sight of women wearing short skirts utterly offensive. Yates, on the other hand, has also been revealed as a deeply religious woman, who never doubted the validity of mutually contradictory Christian fables. Given the fact that, contrary to what is being assumed by the majority of Christians, Bible does endorse murder as the socially appropriate tool of dealing with ‘sinners’, there is nothing particularly odd about Andrea’s decision to dr own her children. Apparently, she did seriously believe that by doing it, she, in fact, helped them to maintain the ‘purity’ of their ‘eternal souls’, â€Å"Because she had been a bad mother, Andrea reasoned, her children were also turning out to be bad. Only by drowning them†¦ could she assure their eternal salvation† (Alcala 1112).Advertising Looking for essay on rhetoric? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Nevertheless, drawing parallels between the social implications of 9/11 terrorists’ fundamentalist sense of religiosity, on the one hand, and the social implications of the fundamentalist religiosity of Christian bible-thumpers, cannot be considered thoroughly appropriate. The reason for this is quite apparent – whereas, the majority of Christian fundamentalists consist of elderly people, quite incapable of perpetrating the acts of terror, the majority of Muslim fundamentalists consist of comparatively young individuals with plenty of testosterone in their blood. This is the actual reason why, whereas, the outbreaks of Christian fundamentalist violence in today’s world are comparatively rare, the same cannot be said about the outbreaks of Muslim fundamentalist violence. In its turn, this explains why, as of today, many Western affiliates of ‘traditional values’ experience particular envy towards those fundamentalist Muslims who actively resist the p rocess of Muslim societies becoming increasingly feminized. As one of the most prominent American White supremacists Rocky Suhayda had put it, â€Å"It’s a disgrace that in a population of at least 150 million White/Aryan Americans, we provide so few that are willing to do the same [as the terrorists]† (Kimmel 157). Apparently, it never occurred to Suhayda that unlike what it is being the case with the majority of highly secularized Whites (even those that are being formally affiliated with Christianity), the majority of non-Whites do not rationalize religion-based ‘traditional values’, but rather experience these ‘values’ as such that organically derive out of the genetically predetermined functioning of their psyche. In its turn, this explains a sharply defined inconsistency between what accounted for the particulars of 9/11 attackers’ upbringing (most of them came from rather well-off families), the subtleties of their educational ba ckground (most of them were highly educated), on the other hand, and these people’s willingness to kill innocent civilians, on the other. Apparently, the 9/11 terrorists’ affiliation with the values of a civilized living never ceased being purely artificial. Psychologically speaking, these people were more animals then the representatives of humanity – quite contrary the fact that they possessed Western university diplomas. This suggestion helps us to gain a better understanding of the very roots of the Muslim fundamentalists’ misogyny, mentioned in Kimmel’s article – because the particulars of these people’s biological constitution naturally causes their animalistic anxieties being especially acute, the Muslim fundamentalists’ strive to enforce ‘traditional values’ simply reflects their tendency to derive a sadistic pleasure out of humiliating women. After all, humiliating ape-females in just about every possible way is what dominant ape-males preoccupy themselves with most of the time. In its turn, this also explains why, despite the fact that Christianity is being just as intolerant towards women as Islam, the majority of even hard-core Christians do not refer to women in terms of a soulless commodity, as it happened to be the case with Muslims. Apparently, the lessened acuteness of Christian fundamentalists’ animalistic anxieties points out to the fact that, as compared to Muslims, they are being more evolutionary advanced – even if they do not realize it rationally. This argument also applies to the discussion of what prompted Andrea Yates to drown her children. Whereas, psychologically atavistic Muslims derive sadistic pleasure out of humiliating women, psychologically atavistic women derive a masochistic pleasure out of being humiliated – pure and simple. The fact that, in her mind, she had failed at raising children caused Andrea to experience the lack of a masoch istic satisfaction out of living up to the ideal of a traditional apron-wearing housewife. However, being an intellectually shallow and mentally unstable woman, she thought of her increasing inability to profess the traditional values of womanhood in terms of the ‘God’s punishment’, which in turn created objective preconditions for the tragedy to occur. In other words, it is not people’s adherence to the traditional notions of gender, which causes them to indulge in a socially-inappropriate behavior, but their psychologically predetermined tendency to refer to these notions, as the source of atavistically subliminal pleasures. After all, no soberly minded person may suggest that men are better than women at raising young children, or that women are better than men at addressing professional tasks, associated with heavy physical labor, for example. It is only when gender-based differentiation between men and women become discursively ‘fetishizedâ€⠄¢, as it often being the case in ‘traditional’ societies/secluded social groups, that the affected individuals suffer a great deal of the emotional damage, which in turn often prompts them to decide in favor of ‘fixing’ what they perceive as the ‘ungodly unnaturalness’ of gender egalitarianism. I believe that the deployed line of argumentation, in defense of the idea that the extent of people’s capacity to utilize violence, as the instrument of promoting their gender-related agenda, cannot be discussed in terms of a ‘thing in itself’ (regardless of the specifics of these people’s biological constitution), is being thoroughly consistent with the paper’s initial thesis. Boys will always be boys and girls will always be girls – to believe otherwise would contradict the very laws of nature. Yet, killing people for the sake of promoting this self-evident truth constitutes a much higher violation of the very same laws. Bibliography Alcala, Kathleen The Woman Who Loved Water. Kimmel, Michael 2002, Gender, Class, and Terrorism. Web. This essay on People’s Psychological Atavism, as the Actual Cause of their Gender-Related Intolerance was written and submitted by user Alia Merritt to help you with your own studies. 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