Leadership Approach

Leadership Approach for Team Members University of Phoenix March 4, 2013 Leadership Approach for Team Members Mr. Peck, my team is comprised of four members. After taking the Jungian’s 16-Type Personality Self-Assessment, each member has identified their personality and possible career choices and has shared it among the group. Each member’s classification is discussed in this paragraph. Team member 1, scored ENTP. Under the analysis and interpretation each member’s classification with this type of personality describes one who is innovative, individualistic, versatile, and entrepreneurial.Team member 2, scored ENTJ. This personality is identifies a person who is outgoing, a visionary, argumentative, have a low tolerance for incompetence, and often seen as a natural leader. Team member 3 scored ISFP which means they have a personality of warmth, sensitive, unassuming and artistic. The 4th member of the team scored ISFJ which states they are loyal, amiable, and wi lling to make sacrifices for the greater good. Each score depicts the uniqueness of each personality. According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary (n. d. ) â€Å"diversity is defined as an instance of being composed of differing elements or qualities. Each member carries a different personality trait. Not only are there uniqueness among the group, we are diverse in our own rights. Leadership Theories In Chapter 17 of Management the topic of â€Å"Managers as Leaders†; we learned about the five leadership trait theories. â€Å"These early leadership theories focused on the leader (leadership trait theory) and how the leader interacted with his group members (leadership behavior theories. )† Other trait theories include the contingency trait theory, and leadership member exchange theory. (Robbins.S. P & Culter, 2012). I will assign a leadership approach for each team member based on the theories of leadership. Evaluate the Situation In Terms Of Urgency In terms of urgency, w hen entering a new market several things come to mine. A strategic plan needs to be developed. This plan will lay out the goals and objectives for the new department. It would also be good to conduct a SWOT analysis to identify the strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats of entering into the new market and lastly a good marketing plan would be essential.The marketing will assist you in answering important questing such as is this new product or an existing product? What are the internal and external factors affecting the success of your new product line? What is the overall goal? These are just a few of the questions you would ask in developing a market plan. Determine Leadership Approaches Each team member comes with differentiating gifts, talents, strengths, weaknesses and personalities. For this reason alone their individual leadership approach will differ. In Chapter 17 of Management the topic of â€Å"Managers as Leaders†; we learned about the six leadership trait theories. These early leadership theories focused on the leader (leadership trait theory) and how the leader interacted with his group members (leadership behavior theories. )† Other trait theories include the contingency trait theory, and leadership member exchange theory. (Robbins. S. P & Culter, 2012). Reference Diversity. (n. d. ). In Merriam-Webster dictionary. Retrieved from http://www. merriam- webster. com/dictionary Robbins. S. P & Coulter, M. (2012). Management (11th ed. ). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall

SWOT Analysis of Nestle Australia Ltd Essay

Executive Summary This SWOT (strength, weakness, opportunity, threat) report examines those four areas of a new Nestle product in the market. This product has a new and unique mixture that has never been in the local market shelves ever before. Although this report is mainly about the new product, it also looks at the history of Nestle and goes into depth about the SWOT of the company. Introduction and background: This area provides a brief overview of the company’s products that has already been in the market, its current market, and relevant history of the breakfast products of Nestle. SWOT table: A one page table that state the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of this product. Findings: A one page explanation of the points listed in the SWOT table, and ranking it from the most important to the least. Recommendations: A two page description of the new product, and justification of the choice made by choosing this product using at least one of the four analysis points. Introduction Nestle is the world’s leading food company. Nestle was found in 1866 by Henri Nestle and became one of the biggest food and beverage company. Nestle started at providing babies food with high quality. However, in recent years, Nestle has focused on nutrition, health and wellbeing. Since establishment until now, Nestle has been through 6 stages: 1866 – 1918: Food products for babies and Powder milk; 1918 – 1944: Chocolate, Coffee and Fresh milk; 1944 – 1975: Fast food Maggi; 1975 – 1981: Fast food products; 1981 – 1996: Yogurt and Butter; 1966 – Present: Ice cream. Nestle develops its company by the way of acquisition; they acquire other international companies to expand their market. However, it also faces the risk of controlling their business with a large market from different locations. Many companies enter into the food industry which has increased the number of competitors in this market. Nestle has focused on finding and  developing new products that concentrate on health and how to maintain customer’s health. The main competitors of Nestle are Unilever, PepsiCo Inc., Kraft Foods Group Inc., and Groupe Danone S.A. Through five years, the profit of Nestle Australia was decrease because of the competition of other companies; in 2012 it profit was 248,505 million. Table 1: Financial of Nestle in the last 5 years This report will recognize some strengths, weakness, opportunity and threat for Nestle. The below section has taken a brief overview of SWOT analysis. In the discussion section, the key of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and weaknesses are analyzed in more particular. Finally, the suggestion for the company is made. SWOT Analysis Strength Weakness 1. World’s largest beverage and food company ($7 billion in revenue). 2. Affordable product price 3. Wide range of product catalogue 4. Research & Development capabilities (food and nutrition research) 5. Distribution channels and geographic presence 6. Competency in mergers and acquisitions 1. Inability to provide consistent quality in food products 2. Employees’ safety failure 3. Customer fears to try the unique mixture product of nestle 4. High Spending on advertising 5. Weak implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility Opportunities Threat 1. Brand image (advertising and promoting targeting children) 2. Increasing demand for healthier food products 3. Establishing new joint ventures 4. Uses many type of marketing to promote their product 1. Competition 2. Substitute goods 3. Food contamination 4. Rising of raw material price 5. Trend towards healthy eating Discussion Strengths As Nestlà © is a world renowned brand it has certain key core competencies. One would be the unmatched product and brand portfolio. The business offers one of the widest portfolios of food and brewery products in its sector. It also operates 29 brands that earn more than $1 billion in annual revenues. With more than 8,000 products it is hard for any other corporate to compete against Nestlà ©. Second would be the company’s ability to grow with research and development. Nestlà © invested more than $2 billion in research and development in 2011. It’s introducing new and redesigned products every year, strengthening firm’s competitive advantage. Third would be the distribution channels and geographic presence. Nestlà © runs in more than 100 countries and has extensive distribution channel all over the world, which supports its operations globally. Fourth is the core competency in mergers and acquisitions. Over the years Nestlà © has been forming successful partnerships and acquiring other companies in order to grow and maintain its leadership in the market. Lastly the brand reputation valued at $7 billion. Nestlà © is known almost everywhere and has a reputable brand for its products that are used by millions every day. Weaknesses Nestlà © has its weaknesses however it is very minimal in comparison to other companies. One would be its Inability to provide consistent quality in food products. Nestlà © has been recalling many products from trade due to food contamination or poor quality supplies. This does not only hurt firm’s sales but its image as well as the business is unable to control quality of the products. Another would be its weak implementation of corporate social responsibility. The company has announced and is involved in many programs that aim to make company more eco-friendly and improving the working  conditions of its suppliers. Still, Nestlà © receives a lot criticism over the effectiveness of its programs. Opportunities Every individual company is seeking to maximise their opportunities, However, when taken into consideration few key areas can be taken into account. First is the increasing demand for healthier food products. The trend of buying and consuming only healthy food products is a major shift in consumer tastes and opens up an immense market for companies. Currently, Nestlà © tries to introduce more healthy food products in response to the trend. Another is acquiring start-ups specializing in producing well-being products. Many new start-ups are forming and introducing new products for well-being or revolutionizing the ways those products are made. Start-ups are cheap and can easily be acquired. Nestlà © is focusing on providing more well-being products and this is a great opportunity to expand its portfolio. Another good opportunity for Nestlà © would be establishing new joint ventures. Nestle is already involved in many successful partnerships with major world companies like The Coca-C ola Company and Android. Threats Majority of the companies in businesses face threats on daily basis however, it the actions that need to be taken in order to minimise future threats. One major factor is Food contamination. Although it is Nestlà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s responsibility to run thorough quality checks of its products, the company had been reportedly providing contaminated food or other products to the market. Such actions hurt company’s reputation and result in losses. Second would be the trend towards healthy eating. Nestlà © is a major supplier of chocolate and chocolate drinks that have high level of calories and due to changing customer habits, will experience decline in demand. As the Growth of private labels is rapidly increasing, this may have a long term effect on Nestlà ©. The growing number of supermarkets and other retailers are introducing their own label products that cost less and can easily compete with Nestlà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s product portfolio. Lastly, rising raw food prices which generates a ma ssive impact for all businesses. With an overall growth of world economy and population, the demand for raw food will rise. The result of that will be higher material costs and squeezed margin for Nestlà ©. Recommendations The Entourage’s new idea is a novel, unique and inspired product whose immense popularity will see it flying off store shelves and is surely going to be a new step forward for the Nestle Company. The product in question is a new type of cereal, which may seem dull and boring at first glance, but the appeal of the product lies more in its enhanced practicality. The product is a range of new cereal flavours consisting of wheat flakes, dried fruit and flavouring (chocolate, vanilla etc.). The wheat flakes will be in the shape of triangles, to achieve a brand image and for consumers to relate a simple/everyday object with our cereal, so that they are constantly reminded of it. The cereal is sold inside bottles/cans. When consumers buy the product, they will simply need to pour milk into the container and the result is an instant cereal fix, whether at home, at work, on the bus or anywhere else. The bottle/can also come with a resealable lid, which can be opened and closed at will to avoid spilling the cereal. Other cereal products force the consumer to sit and eat, despite the fact that they may be running late and other on the go products are liquefied sugar that merely provides a mild energy boost, whereas our product combines the best of both worlds. Not only does the consumer get a filling, wholesome and tasty breakfast, but they also receive these benefits without sacrificing time, an important resource in the morning. Strategy Profiles: Competition (Threat)/Brand Recognition Worldwide (Strength) – A day to day problem for firms is the constant competition from other businesses, whether minor or major. When attempting to launch a product and/or maintain its life on store shelves, there will always be demand for a competitor’s product. However, with smart advertising and a big name like Nestle, we can work to ensure that our product is what people are constantly talking about. Products are high in sugar and fat (Weakness)/Further research into nutrition (Opportunity) – Our product may not be the most fattening item on store shelves, but a high sugar content isn’t usually the best image for a product. But with research into health and nutrition, the product can  change. By constantly tinkering with and changing the recipe, we will be able to achieve a product that is not only nutritious, but retains that delicious flavour that the product is famous for. Customer fears to try the product (Weakness)/Affordable product price (Strength) – Consumers will always prefer to buy products that they are familiar with, instead of trying new items and because of this, it can be very difficult to introduce a new product into the market. While it can be difficult to persuade the consumer, making a price that is not only fair, but less than your competitors, can have an impact in how your product is perceived. Having a cheaper price may not be a substantial selling point, but it would succeed in gaining new customers and little bonuses like these can add up to be a major benefit. References Navi, G 2009, Nestle, Scribd, viewed 18th September 2013, http://www.scribd.com/doc/21544545/Introduction-Nestle-Was-Founded-in-1866-by-Henri-Nestle-And Nestle 2013, Nutrition, Health & Wellness – New Product Development at Nestlà ©, Business Case Studies, viewed 18 September 2013, http://businesscasestudies.co.uk/nestle/nutrition-health-wellness-new-product-development-at-nestle/introduction.html#axzz2f1LLXlr9 Nestle Group Limited 2011, The World’s leading Health, Wellness and Nutrition Company: Annual Report 2011, Nestle Group Limited, viewed 18 September 2013, Nestle 2013, About Us, Nestle, viewed 18 September 2013, Interbrand 2013, Nestle, viewed 18 September 2013, retrieved from Interbrand database Overview of the Nestlà © Oceania region 2013, Nestle, viewed 13 September 2013,

Men and Mice

Literature Criticism Essay In essence, Of Mice and Men is a novella about dreams and aspirations. John Steinbeck sets the novel linked to the American Dream during the 1930s Great Depression, when high unemployment made plenty of poor drifters struggle in California with a naive assumption of starting a new life by owning a small piece of land. The two mostly represented characters under that background, George and Lennie, who are itinerant workers from California searching for work on ranches in Soledad, share an innocent dream of â€Å"live off the fatta the Ian† (14). Hence, dreams re integrated with hope, reality, and fate.Firstly, as a true reflection of the 1930s Great Depression in American, the story suggests that the nature of human dreams is a hope to escape from grim reality with the integral point of being independent and living happily. By creating dreams, the life is infused with a driving motive of ambition; while, without dreams and aspirations, life would lack direction and meaning, which is possible to make human sinking into despair. To George and Lennie, the dream of having a small acreage farm means Joys of self dependence, ecurity, and being their own boss, like: â€Å"we'll have a big vegetable patch and a rabbit hutch and chickens.And when it rains in the winter, we ‘II Just say the hell with goin to work, and we'll build up a fire in the stove and set around it an' listen to the rain comin' down on the roof†Nuts! † (14-15) Through the comparison to other ranch hands, George recognizes that he cannot simply accept such a meaningless life with the grind and poverty of working on ranch, as George described in the book: â€Å"Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don ‘t belong no place†¦They ain't got nothing to look ahead to. â€Å"(13-14) This makes George believe that Lennie and him are in a unique situation, because they share a â€Å"sym biotic relationship† ( Halyersmcq) by depending each other to provide a sense of yearning for a small land to dwell in happiness, after their enduring hardship on ranch. So, this is why George claims that â€Å"With us it ain't like that. We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us. † (14) Secondly, through Lennie ‘s killing of Curleys wife which eventually results in their dream lost,Steinbeck shows his audience that Just simply having and sharing a dream is not enough to bring it to reality, due to the unavoidable obstacles. Each person must be aware that obstacles against their dream tend to be difficult but not insurmountable, as long as they work hard and focus entirely on the eventual objective; otherwise, the dream would be never within reach, or even crushed by the cruel world. The intellectual handicap of Lennie limits the possibility of achieving their dream, which makes George feel that it is always hard to keep Lennie out of trouble and keep them on track for dream.As a result, Lennie's innocent preoccupation with touching soft objects becomes the undoing of their dream in the end. In the story, when Lennie strokes the hair of Curley's wife by irritating herself, he tries to make her calm with yelling that â€Å"Oh! Please don't do none of that, George gonna say I done a bad thing. He ain't gonna let me tend no rabbits. â€Å"(91), but finally Lennie unintentionally kills her of did that. George'll be mad. â€Å"(92) At this point, it is the seeming desire of Lennie to keep dream safe but actually his fixation on the hair of Curley ‘s wife that destroys heir dream eventually.Therefore, this irony also confirms the ultra negative assertion from Crooks, who is a black stable-hand in the novel, that it is as impossible for ranch hands to get as a piece of land. â€Å"l seen hundreds of men come by on the road an' that same damn thing in their heads. Hundreds of them. They come, an' they quit an' go on; an' every damn one of 'em's got a little piece of land in his head. An' never a God damn one of 'em ever gets it. Just like heaven. Ever'body wants a little piece of Ian'. I read a plenty of books out here. Nobody never gets to heaven, and nobody gets no land. It's Just in their head.The're all the time talkin' about it, but it's Jus' in their head. â€Å"(74) Thirdly, the idea that dream is to a large extent reigned over by the philosophy of fate is reinforced in the story. Steinbeck hints to the reader that â€Å"fate keeps you set where you are, and no matter what you do, fate will keep you controlled by what is available to you in your life style. â€Å"(Haylersmcq) In the story, because George and Lennie are unable to enjoy their position in the ranch all the ime, they desire to own a piece of land and start a new life; but yet fate is against them and breaks their dream, when the goal seems Just within their grasp.Then, George and Lennie are â€Å"once again stuck w here they had started, with nothing. † (Haylersmcq) Perhaps, this ending makes George to some extent perceive that their dream is bound to be a failure regardless how much effort they make, due to the uncontrolled fate. So, this is why he says softly to Candy at the end of story that â€Å"†l think I knowed from the very first. I think I knowed we'd never do her. He usta like o hear about it so much I got to thinking maybe we would. (94) However, another main character, Slim, who is known as â€Å"the prince of the ranch† (33), seems different from George and Lennie in the story, because he is not enslaved by dreams; instead, he shows his happiness and satisfaction on working as a mule skinner in the ranch. Steinbeck's depiction on Slim makes him a bit of a perfectionist with charismatic personality and excellent skills, as: â€Å"†¦ capable of driving ten, sixteen, even twenty mules with a single line to the leaders. He was capable of killing a fly on the heeler's butt with a bull whip without touching the mule.There was a gravity in his manner and a quiet so profound that all talk stopped when he spoke. His authority was so great that his word was taken on my subject, be it politics or love. This was Slim, the Jerkline skinner. † (33) It allows us to see that Slim is one of those odd and rare individuals who are able to find and accept their position in the work and life, instead of to challenge the fate, because the nature of this acceptance is a kind of inner peace which could let people have a clear vision of what they want to get (Mwestwood).To conclude, in Of Mice and Men, dreams are integrated with hope, reality, and fate. The nature of dreams is a hope but there are still obstacles to overcome in reality. In addition, dreams are controlled by the fate, which is always so irresistible and unchallenged that to accept your position in the world is more important than to have a dream. Reference List 1 . Steinbeck, John. Of Mice and Men. New York: Penguim, 1993. 2. Hylersmcq. Characters dreams for a better life within mice and men? Web. Jan 28, 2012. 3. Mwestwood. Why doesn ‘t Slim share other men ‘s dreams in Of Mice and Men?

Critically analyse the role of the board of directors and senior Essay

Critically analyse the role of the board of directors and senior management in managing enterprise risk in an energy company - Essay Example Energy and Resources companies have come increasingly under the regulatory purview. Due to brisk changes in the industry, they face stiffening regulatory requirements, ever-increasing cyber issues and rapidly changing technology. Such compliances and risks have a strong impact on the company’s operations and business strategies that makes it utterly imperative for the management to adopt approaches to manage and mitigate risks and cope up with regulations. Risk Management in the Energy Sector A good progress has been made in the past in developing comprehensive enterprise risk management (ERM) programs. ERM is set to become an industry standard for management of risk because it is probably the most effective way to manage risk internal or external to the organization (Accenture Global Risk Management, 2011). The key risk areas that have been identified for energy and resources sector can be listed as follows: 1. High competition in the industry participants: Energy industry pa rticipants have a very unique competitiveness. Each player has a different advantage within the industry. One firm may have a good resource support while the other might be a technologically strong firm and a third would have a huge market. Nowadays, competition is shifting and each firm is trying to develop on every frontier. International firms are thus facing challenges by national players reducing their market size. 2. Limited sources of alternative energy: Despite the fact that there are alternatives to limited source of non renewable energy, energy companies still haven’t been able to progress much on developing much on alternative sources. Alternate sources have an irreplaceable demand, but on the supply side, they face a lot of constraints. There hydrocarbon content on earth is enough to last a century, but the problem lies in lack of knowledge on its development and usage. These sources are limited by limitations in scale, feasibility and fitness (Holmes, 2004). 3. G overnment Interventions: Most of government regulations in the energy industry are directed towards regulating supply. Operational policies, regulations on carbon emissions and energy security norms affect both the demand as well as the supply side of energy business. Role of Board of Directors and Senior Management Post recession, the scene for energy companies has not only been tough but also challenging in terms of greater project undertakings and complex compliances. Companies have also had to venture in remotest regions simply to manage demand and supply side challenges. Management has to focus on strategy, production, enterprise risk along with operational excellence. With the advent of regulators, management has started to recognise the need for risk management to enhance business performance. With time, a lot of change has come in managing enterprise risk. New tools, better techniques and risk measuring methodologies have come up. One can only predict how enterprise risk man agement shall evolve in the coming times. As Energy sector risk officers, senior managers and the board of directors need to be have the capability to comprehend what possible risks could potentially arise in the near future and how exactly to take preventive measures that will help in combat. With such approach, all downsides that

Why are you considering The Ohio State University Essay - 1

Why are you considering The Ohio State University - Essay Example The University’s customized approach to serving the needs of all students regardless of their social, economic and cultural differences is congruent with my values. Ohio State University research equipment and knowledge provision will lay a strong professional foundation that is necessary for my career path. I am intelligent, empathetic, tenacious and highly motivated. In addition, nothing deters me from accomplishing my goals due to my courage, determination and a strict focus on my priorities. I am outgoing and a team player and take pride in what I do. I believe that by joining Ohio State University I will be able to exploit my potential in both academics and other extracurricular activities. Through constructive interactions, my background as an international student will provide an innovative perspective in the University’s search for knowledge. As an Ohio State University student, I will gain relevant professional knowledge to solve complex challenges and also the ability to analyze biomedical issues through different perspectives. I will conduct my studies in accordance with the ethical principles of the University and change lives through the management and leadership qualities I acquire. Ohio State University is an esteemed institution matched by none that will give me a foundation to advance my career in Biomedical Engineering. My first- hand experience as an ALP student at the University has indicated a host of resources that will help me realize my Biomedical Engineering dream. Through the five months as an ALP student, I have acquired written and spoken English skills in a greater way than in my previous studies. Thanks to this experience, I now realize that Ohio State University is a University like no other, and it is my University of choice. An opportunity to further my studies at the University will provide unprecedented skill sets in Biomedical

Graduate School Admission's Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Graduate School Admission's - Essay Example rsity Kampala, Uganda, where I made an attempt and succeeded in getting Bachelors in Business Administration/Accounting (2002-2005), I have been accumulating my experience in accounting. This was a long and a fruitful period of my life. During those times I developed my analytical and problem solving skills. Thus, I clearly realize how to make right decisions. I would like to talk a little bit about my professional experience. I am currently employed by Nile Cargo Carrier Inc Newton, MA (2006-2011) as an accounting assistant. I have been performing various actions and completing different tasks, such as management of accounts payable and receivable for the company, administration online banking functions on behalf of the company, keep records of company’s expenses, prepared annual company accounts and reports etc. Therefore, I develop my skills with the help of Internet and computer technologies, which is of crucial importance nowadays. Moreover, while keeping records of company’s expenses, I have been developing my attention to details, thus contributing to my self-organization. In the result of my accounting and technical skills development, I designed and implemented a database for the company’s new Payment Management System. This database system is a perfect means for a record keeping improvement. During this period (2009-2011) I have been also employed by Bridgewell Lynnfield, MA as a direct support professional. My function was to take care of people with mental and physical disabilities helping them in accessing resources and recreational facilities in the community. Every day I am pleased to perform a function worthy of respect, I think. I am not boasting. I just want to make an appeal for you, Dear Members of Committee, and my future classmates that performing humane functions and helping people remains the most important task for every citizen. Still, this personal and professional experience is only a top of an iceberg. During 2005-2006 I worked

Ethical dilemmas that a social worker working in child protection Essay

Ethical dilemmas that a social worker working in child protection would encounter. (australia) - Essay Example Studies show that such ethical concerns reduce the scope of child protection social works since those issues prevent social workers from obtaining grip over various underlying causes of child maltreatment. This paper will analyze major ethical dilemmas a social worker would commonly experience while engaging in child protection works. The paper will also identify ethical issues in indigenous contexts separately and discuss core ethical principles of social work and community welfare practices. Social workers cannot meet desired objectives of child protection unless they can separate the child from harmful parents and move it to monitoring and surveillance facilities. However, it is not so easy for a social worker to separate the child from his parents even though they are maltreating it. The Australian federal government allows its citizens to exercise various decision rights over their children regarding religion, schooling, medical treatment, and where their child lives etc (Government of South Australia, 2010). When a child is separated from his parent, the parent cannot exercise his legal rights over his child. In addition, a parent has the fundamental right to take ultimate decisions on his child’s matters as long as the child is a minor. Therefore, separation of the child from his parents is the most ethical dilemma involved in the child protection social work. As Kumar (2004, p.34) points out, child protection social workers’ role is often coercive even though they may possess adequate skills and capabilities to work supportively. They are expected to take potential decisions to save children from abuse and negligence, and therefore social workers’ acts are considered unavoidable even though they use some brutal intervention tactics to address the problem. Hence, many of the people believe that social workers have been given the choice to behave oppressively. Such

Film Franchises Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Film Franchises - Essay Example The Harry Potter (#5,7,11,14) film franchise, meanwhile, is a pentalogy while the Star Wars series (8,17,20) is an octology (IMDb. All-Time Worldwide Box Office). It is worthwhile to mention that the James Bond film franchise, which consists of a series of 23 films ranks first The hereinabove data is a potent proof of the reality that in the movies, moviegoers would rather prefer to patronize movies which they are familiar with in terms of the characters and the story lines and which they know beforehand that there is a high possibility of them enjoying the movies to the hilt. They would rather not risk their money and time with films which they are not so sure whether the quality, the acting and the direction and the story would be to their liking. Like in books, comic strips, TV serials, one good thing must lead to another. are a ready, hard-core audience, a marketing hook and a possibility of generating new fanatics by simply improving the visual quality of the succeeding serials through the taking advantage of advances in cinematic technology especially the special effects phase of film making. Sadly though, many movie producers fail to sustain the movie going public's interest in their purported movie franchises, inevitably run out of steam and end up only in the sequel stage. Others run short of ideas and need the most opportune time to stage another reboot or even a prequel to continue the movie franchise undertaking. An example of this is The Chronicles of Narnia which had already netted more than $1.168 billion but is at the moment stymied in its production of a third serial, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, due to a finalisation of a more convincing and appealing screenplay (Sammons 2004, p.48). The most crucial challenge to all though, would be how to vigorously maintain the franchise's commerc ial appeal and potential and yet make it firmly self-contained as a narrative so that it will not end up churning a "series that outstays its welcome" (Thompson 2008, p.7). History of Film Franchises The movie world took a while to discover the magic and the marketing power of film franchises. Since the birth of cinema on December 28, 1895 when French

Talent leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Talent leadership - Essay Example gh performance talent leadership is attained by using the critical roles in talent leadership aiming at success, and in this part experience matters a lot. Members are skilled with the following attributes; good relations with other team members, able to compel clear vision and goals well coordinated roles and relationship, with good accountability. The team tends to have a positive atmosphere, effective methods of communications, good in making the decision, and leaders participate fully. The graph below represents the leadership performance on the y-axis and the leadership potential on the x-axis. Combination of both axis helps in explaining the high performance in an organization when following the leadership talents to maintain his performance. High performance model in an organization is talent leadership. They are much effective where the members have a set goal and knowing their purpose. Leadership talents form the basis of the high performance in an organization or a business . On the other hand, experience contributes a lot in maintaining the performance. In this model, it is a proper to state that, the level of talent leadership in the organization is high, and skills to this are also highly considered since the organization need to prosper and maintain the highest performance from its competitors. In my model, there are more skilled executives from the lower grounds as compared to other models. For instance, a model may only consider Performance of talent leadership in high levels and put less regard on the lower part of it.

Uses of coal Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Uses of coal - Research Paper Example Coal is a fossil fuel and is the altered remains of prehistoric vegetation that originally accumulated in swamps and peat bogs. The energy we get from coal today comes from the energy that plants absorbed from the sun millions of years ago. All living plants store solar energy through a process known as photosynthesis. When plants die, this energy is usually released as the plants decay. Under conditions favorable to coal formation, the decaying process is interrupted, preventing the release of the stored solar energy. The energy is locked into the coal. Coal formation began during the Carboniferous Period - known as the first coal age - which spanned 360 million to 290 million years ago. The build-up of silt and other sediments, together with movements in the earth's crust - known as tectonic movements - buried swamps and peat bogs, often to great depths. With burial, the plant material was subjected to high temperatures and pressures. This caused physical and chemical changes in th e vegetation, transforming it into peat and then into coal. (World Coal Association) Coalification The quality of each coal deposit is determined by: varying types of vegetation from which the coal originated depths of burial temperatures and pressures at those depths length of time the coal has been forming in the deposit The degree of change undergone by a coal as it matures from peat to anthracite is known as coalification. Coalification has an important manner on coal's physical and chemical properties and is referred to as the 'rank' of the coal. Ranking is determined by the degree of transformation of the original plant solid to carbon. The ranks of coals, from those with the least carbon to those with the most carbon, are lignite, sub-bituminous, bituminous and anthracite. Initially the peat is transformed into lignite or 'brown coal' - these are coal-types with low organic maturity. In contrast to other coals, lignite is quite soft and its color can array from dark black to various shades of brown. Over many more millions of years, the continuing effects of temperature and pressure produces further change in the lignite, progressively increasing its organic maturity and transforming it into the range known as 'sub-bituminous' coals. (World Coal Association) Further chemical and physical changes occur until these coals became harder and blacker, forming the 'bituminous' or 'hard coals'. Under the right conditions, the progressive increase in the organic maturity can continue, finally forming anthracite. (World Coal Association) In addition to carbon, coals contain hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and varying amounts of sulphur. High-rank coals are high in carbon and therefore heat value, but low in hydrogen and oxygen. Low-rank coals are low in carbon but high in hydrogen and oxygen content. Coal is one of the world’s most important sources of energy, fuelling almost 40% of electricity worldwide. In many countries this figure is much higher: Poland rel ies on coal for over 94% of its electricity; South Africa for 92%; China for 77%; and Australia for 76%. Coal has been the world’s fastest growing energy source in recent years – faster than gas, oil, nuclear, hydro and renewables (The Coal Resource). Coal has a very long and varied history. Some historians believe that coal was first used commercially in China. There are reports that a mine in northeastern China provided coal for smelting copper and for casting coins around 1000 BC. One of the earliest known references to coal was made by the Greek philosopher and scientist Aristotle, who referred to a charcoal like rock. Coal cinders found among Roman ruins in England indicate that the Romans used energy from coal before AD 400. Chronicles from the Middle Ages provide the first evidence of coal mining in Europe and even of an international trade as sea coal from exposed coal seams on the English coast was gathered and exported to Belgium. (The Coal Resource). Coal ha s played this significant role for centuries –

Economic Recovery Was the Main Reason for the Survival of the Nazi State Essay Example for Free

Economic Recovery Was the Main Reason for the Survival of the Nazi State Essay Hitler’s appointment as Chancellor in 1933 brought about the beginning of the end to a brief democratic government in Germany. He worked hard to return to the old Totalitarian rule with himself as dictator, and also for ‘Machtergreifung’ – the seizure of power. Hitler had no intention of sharing power and his aim was to achieve complete control over Germany and to build a German Empire through the Nazi Party. His personality and manifesto were extremely convincing to people of all age groups and people believed Hitler had the power to restore Germany to past greatness. Promises such as the decrease in unemployment levels were also coming true and his totalitarian rule had suppressed all other opposition. Dr. Goebels also played a large part in covering up the horrific truth behind Hitler’s ideology. The propaganda convinced the German people that the violence used, such as the action of the SS, was beneficial to the maintenance of the state. The Nazi’s also began to victimize certain stereotypes so that they would gain more support and shift the blame for any problems onto groups such as the Jews. This also inevitably installed a fear in most Germans. Propaganda was a core method that Hitler used to gain control and support within Germany. The emotion, romanticism and passion behind his speeches and most importantly his rallies at Nuremburg were able to convince the German people about Hitler’s ideology, which some historians would argue is the most important factor when securing the political stability of the Nazi Party. Goebel’s gained the title of ‘Minister of Propaganda’ under Hitler’s government in 1933. As Reichsminister for Propaganda and National Enlightenment, Goebbels was given complete control over radio, press, cinema, and theatre; later he also regimented all German culture. Goebbels placed his undeniable intelligence and his brilliant insight into mass psychology entirely at the service of his party. His most potent propaganda was against the Jews (used as a scapegoat to absorb any problems Germany had). As a hypnotic orator he was second only to Hitler, and in his staging of mass meetings and parades he was unsurpassed. The power that Goebels propaganda had over the German showed just how significant a political figure he was. Persuasive leadership such as this is a large reason why the Nazis managed to stay in power for so long. However it was not only Goebels that had a huge influence over the German people. When taking in to account the strength of the Nazi leadership the personality of Hitler himself should not be forgotten. His charismatic and recognizable personality was the driving force behind the rise of the Nazi’s and even as the reality behind his proposals came out, the supporters were not only backed up by the fulfilment of the economic promises Hitler had made but by the influence of his character. Heinrich Himmler, commander of the SS installed fear into the people of Germany using violence. Hitler has constructed a perfect group of leaders, and their unquestionable authority was key in maintaining the Nazi state. The SS were Hitler’s soldiers in the sense that they swore complete loyalty. We vow to you and the superiors appointed by you obedience unto death. So help us God. † This was the oath taken by SS soldiers directed at Hitler. The SS state induced a fear into the people of Germany through incidents such as the ‘Night of the Long Knives’ in which the SS rounded up and shot around 400 victims, all of which were posing some sort of threat to Hitler. This made it especially clear to Germany the type of response someone Opposing the would get, therefore no one dared to start an uprising, leaving the Nazi’s to thrive on the power they had accumulated. Hitler’s absolute dictatorship gave him the power to introduce extremities of Anti Semitism. The Jews became a scapegoat for Germany’s problems: the defeat in WWI, the problems faced due to the Treaty of Versailles, the increasing communist support, the failure of the Weimar Government and the economic problems. Schoolchildren were being taught how to prejudice against Jews with changes to the curriculum, and racial purity was greatly encouraged. Hitler provided substance behind the anti Semitism making it popular amongst many Germans who were jealous of the Jew’s economic success. The humiliation of the Jews steadily increased and events such as Kristallnacht – in which Jewish homes, businesses and synagogues were looted reiterated all fear felt towards the Nazi’s. Providing a prejudice upon which the Germans could vent their anger took all of the problems away from the Nazi’s, leaving them to be seen as completely positive for the rebuilding of Germany. This was also greatly enhanced by the suppression of all opposition by the Nazi party. Hitler was slowly making Germany into a totalitarian state in hich he was the only person with power. Gleichschaltung was introduced to make Nazism a part of everyday life. It is the complete co-ordination of everything to do with the Nazi regime. Nazi groups were being set up for all works of life including youth groups, secretarial groups, doctor groups and in 1936 a Nazi approved church was founded. Hitler was making Nazism unavoidable and these groups all encouraged Nazi support and ideology. Children were even encouraged to tell on their parents if there was any suspicion that they opposed the policies of the party. Hindenburg’s death in 1934 gave Hitler complete chancellorship and he gave himself the title of Fuhrer. â€Å"Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Fuhrer† this motto was passed around Germany to indicate how Germany was being brought together under one absolute leader with no opposition. However Hitler had to work to gain such unquestioned authority. In 1933 the Burning of the Reichstag led Hitler to claim emergency powers from President Hindenburg giving him unopposed power to make enabling acts. These acts gave Hitler the ability to pass laws without consulting the Reichstag; the second step, after the Reichstag Fire Decree which gave Hitler plenary powers and helped him on the way to a dictatorship. The night of the long knives, as previously mentioned, also eliminated opposition. Ernst Rohm was leader of the SA, and after showing loyalty to Hitler by helping him attain chancellorship, he and his Stormtroopers wanted some sort of reward. Hitler showed how any resistance at all would be treated by killing Rohm and all other SA leaders. Hitler also abolished all trade unions so that there was no possibility of a workers revolution against him. The elimination of opposition had made the Nazis the sole party in Germany making it extremely difficult to get rid of such a prominent part of everyday life. Hitler also wanted to please the people and fulfil his promises so that he would still have popular support. The KDF organisation was introduced to please the working class. It gave them cheap or free holidays and evening classes. The Nazis also avoided heavy taxation and a reduction in consumer goods. This pleased the people and most were thought to be fairly happy with the Nazi’s performance in government. The Unemployment figures fell rapidly from 6% of the population out of work to 0. 04% in 1939. This was being done through labour camps, public works programme such as the innovative Auto-Bahn and the Nazi Party under the Gleichschaltung regime created many jobs. A main policy for Hitler was the self sufficiency of Germany called Autarky. This was a postitive thing for agricultural workers as the prices of goods were fixed. Germany’s GNP rose by 102% and it seemed as if everyone was pleased with the results that the Nazi party was producing, so there was no real reason to want to start a revolution. The economic recovery of Germany in the period whilst the Nazis were in power was very important to ensuring that the people were pleased and still supported the party. However with the removal of all opposition in reality the German people had little choice but to be governed by Hitler, and if they were opposing him; many were to scared to act. The leadership of Hitler himself and main political figures stabilised the Government and sorted out many of the problems resulting from WWI and the weak Weimar Government causing the people of Germany to trust Hitler. All of these factors contribute to show why the Nazi’s stayed in power, despite the horrific truths behind the policies. Many Germans just saw Hitler and the Nazi Party as an answer to the problems that Germany had long been searching to solve.

Hydraulic Fracturing Essay Example for Free

Hydraulic Fracturing Essay Thousands of feet below the Earth’s surface, flows vast reservoirs of one of our planets most sought after commodities. In ancient Babylon there are writings of a dark elixir oozing from the lands surface, even then the people understood how precious this material was. Oil, along with Natural gas, are exceptionally rich sources of energy. A gallon of oil surpasses the output of five kg of coal, ten kg of wood, and over fifty times the amount of energy that fifty humans can produce. The richest oil can actually provide one hundred more times the energy, than the resources used to extract it from the ground. Currently the US is entering one of the largest modern oil booms the world has ever seen. Unfortunately unlike in ancient Babylon, oil today does not simply ooze out of the ground and into our cars. New advances in science and visualization technology have given us a process known as hydraulic fracturing. Also known as horizontal drilling, or fracking, these new techniques have caused a great controversy and sparked a public debate over the potential risks â€Å"fracking† could ensue on our environment. Despite the negative pictures environmental lobbyists have painted, hydraulic fracturing is essential for the future of America’s economy. Its main purpose is to create jobs, a stable market, and advance the future of clean energy in the United States. Currently, there has been a focused attention on the negative environmental impacts fracking could potentially carry with it especially in the water supply. There are hundreds of on-going investigations taking place to ensure the protection of the environment as well the health of citizens who currently populate near sites that are using a horizontal drilling method. Most of the negative impacts on the environment, associated with fracking, are poorly understood by the general public. The water supply has been one of the main concerns voiced by lobbyists and various media outlets. Currently the United States government has issued extensive research on the matter through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA has focused much of its attention on the sustainability of the water supply and soil surrounding current and former drilling sites. The EPA recently released on their main website a statement  confirming the following: The EPA currently is working closely with indus try partners to identify locations and develop research activities for prospective case studies. In prospective case studies, research at the site begins before hydraulic fracturing occurs, and then continues during and after hydraulic fracturing activities. The studies to date have shown no correlation to contaminated water supplies before or after the process of hydraulic fracturing. According to the New York Times, â€Å"Shale gas is accessed at depths of thousands of feet while drinking water is extracted from depths of only hundreds of feet. Nowhere in the state have fracking compounds injected at depth been shown to contaminate drinking water.† It is important to understand the process at which the gas is extracted to understand where the areas of risk occur. â€Å"Each well contains multiple layers of steel casing and cementing to effectively protect groundwater.† (API 1) This is essential to the protection of our water supply. It is important to understand the access large oil companies have to advanced equipment and the most brilliant minds. Each year bill ions of dollars are spent on research towards the extraction and containment of natural gas as well how to dampen the carbon footprint left after drilling. Many natural gas operators have chosen to disclose the ingredients of their cocktails to the website FracFocus.org, it is operated by the Groundwater Protection Council. This website includes a public record that can be examined by drill site or well location, individuals can effortlessly view the components used to fracture detailed wells. â€Å"As of early 2012, nearly one hundred companies have already provided information about approximately ten thousand wells and that number increases every day.† (API) Companies in our modern society understand the importance of transparency. Access to websites and detailed logs have given the public the ability to make their own judgments on the safety of individual operators. This makes large and independent companies held to higher standards than ever before. While there are greenhouse gases released during the extraction process they are significantly less than our current coal-fired plants. â€Å"Shale gas emits half the carbon diox ide per unit of energy as does coal, and coal burning also emits metals such as mercury into the atmosphere that eventually settle back into our soils and waters.† (New York Times) This is of great importance to understand especially as one of the oldest and largest coal-fired plant operates in  west Texas. Advocacy groups such as the Sierra Club are fighting to shut down these highly destructive plants. â€Å"Coal and gas-fired power plants emit more than 2.3 billion metric tons per year of carbon pollution, approximately 40% of total U.S. energy-related carbon pollution.†(SierraClub.Org) Because of intense restrictions any emissions from oil and gas wells must stay within agreed state and federal restrictions to guarantee the health and well-being of residents. â€Å"Natural gas is considered a clean burning fuel because of its comparatively low emissions of carbon dioxide, sulfur oxides, and nitrogen oxides.†(API 1) According to the Environmental Protection Agency, natural gas-fired electricity generates half the carbon dioxide of coal-fired production. As a country we have gained a dependency on energy and as we grow new techniques will have to be discovered to maintain our consumption rate. Hydraulic Fracturing brings us closer to clean energy while having an instanta neous benefit to our atmosphere and environment by making dangerous coal-fired plants obsolete. The oil and natural gas industry resources are considerably valuable to the United States ‘economy as one of the country’s major employers and buyers of imports. Maintaining its growth through a struggling economy, Americas oil and natural gas operators carry on to deliver well-paying employment, returns to administrations and share growth for millions of Americans. â€Å"With increased access to U.S. oil and gas resources we can create 1 million new jobs in the next ten years alone.†(Green 1) That means if the nation could regulate the practice of fracking, while protecting the environment, it in return would create one million American jobs. That would not only raise our unemployment rate exponentially, but would insert millions of tax dollars back into the economy for improved infrastructure or education. â€Å"Expansion of oil and natural gas shale assets sustained more than 2.1 million jobs in 2012.†(API 1) Affordable, native natural gas is vital to refreshing the chemical, manufacturing, and steel industries. These great industries have supported our nation in the past and will continue into the future. The American Chemis try Council determined: A 25 percent increase in the supply of ethane (the liquid derived from shale gas) could add over 400,000 jobs across the economy, provide over $4.4 billion annually in federal, state, and local tax revenue, and spur $16.2 billion in capital investment by the chemical industry That added boost to  the job market is a gift long overdue to our struggling economy. Similarly, the National Association of Manufacturers estimated that high recovery of shale gas and lower natural gas prices will help U.S. manufacturers employ 1,000,000 workers by 2025. This will directly stimulate small town communities by offering technical job positions with life-long benefits. As well the added income will help to slowly relieve the burden of debt many families are suffering from. An IHS report, America’s New Energy Future: The Unconventional Oil and Gas Revolution and the US Economy, estimates that: â€Å"Mainly due to lower energy prices, average disposable income per household increased by more than $1,200 in 2012.†(IHS 4) This has continuously been omitted from the main stream media. Numerous industry sponsored reports are connecting gushing oil and natural gas production brought on by fracking is lifting the United States economy by dropping energy costs for clients and producers. It has a direct correlation as we produce more on shore energy our costs and high import taxes decrease. This in affect has a trickle-down policy when oil costs less to extract, ship, and use then household energy bills go down. President Obama’s 2012 State of the Union address the President claimed recognition for governing the leading decline in oil imports in current times and for accomplishing the lowest use of need on oil imports in sixteen years. He accredited that notable outcome somewhat to improved oil production in North and South Dakota but mainly to the substantial surge in gas production that has directly stemmed from hydraulic fracturing. There is a clear indication that the risks of fracking are reducing day by day as the benefits continue to increase. The crash of 2008 brought our economy to a grinding halt. There is currently no other market that could stimulate the economy as much as the energy sector. The United States Economy will progress substantially over the next ten years due to the shale boom. Hydraulic fracturing will reduce the cost of energy while raising manufacturing. Most importantly it will reassure chemical and technology companies will receive higher endowments givin g us an edge over our competitors. Fracking will also reduce the cost of transportation by fueling our vehicles with clean natural gas. By performing quality due diligence we can omit the fears associated with hydraulic fracturing once and for all. Joint cooperation from the US Department of Energy and the International Energy Agency will contribute access to up to date reports on the environment and public safety. Hydraulic fracturing offers us hundreds of years producing clean, dependable, sustainable energy. It will directly affect the following generations while having a positive effect on our current economy. â€Å"Hydraulic fracturing is the future without it, we would lose 45 percent of domestic natural gas production and 17 percent of our oil production within 5 years.†(API 1) Some view hydraulic fracturing in an undesirable context. I am confident in hydraulic fracturing and see it as a window of opportunity for America that will help boost the economy while giving an immediate reduction in greenhouse gases. The benefits and rewards of hydraulic fracturing simply outweighs the risks. Works Cited Brantley, Susan L., and Anna Meyendorff. The Facts on Fracking. Nytimes.com. New York Times, 13 Mar. 2013. Web. 4 Mar. 2014. Efstathiou, Jim, Jr. Bloomberg. Bloomberg.com. Bloomberg, 3 Sept. 2013. Web. 03 Mar. 2014. . Green, Mark. Energy Tomorrow Home. Energy Tomorrow Home. API.ORG, 28 Feb. 2014. Web. 04 Mar. 2014. Hassett, Kevin A., and Aparna Mathur. American Enterprise Institute. AEI. Aei.org, 4 Apr. 2013. Web. 04 Mar. 2014. Larson, John W., and Richard Fullenbaum. Americas New Energy Future. Rep. no. Vol. 3. IHS.com, Sept. 2013. Web. 4 Mar. 2014. . Pierce, Richard J., Jr. Scholarly Commons. Site. Gwu.edu, 2013. Web. 04 Mar. 2014. . Sierra Club Home Page: Explore, Enjoy and Protect the Planet. Sierra Club Home Page: Explore, Enjoy and Protect the Planet. Sierraclub.org, 2012. Web. 04 Mar. 2014. United States. Environmental Protection Agency. Department of the Enviroment. Progress Report Webinar. Epa.gov, 28 Feb. 2014. Web. 2 Mar. 2014. . Zobak, Mark. American Petroleum Institute. American Petroleum Institute. API.ORG, Sept. 2013. Web. 02 Mar. 2014.

PCR and Southern Blotting: Applications in Medicine

PCR and Southern Blotting: Applications in Medicine Introduction The 1970s introduced an inspirational technique in which a specific sequence could be determined from a sample of DNA via the process of Southern blotting. This method, named after Edwin Southern, provided the basis for a range of common laboratory techniques such as western blotting, eastern blotting and northern blotting [1]. Shortly after, in 1983, a revolutionary method was invented by Kary Mullis, called the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) [2]. This procedure was originally used to amplify and identify DNA sequences in the human genome. Its use in genetic analysis was immediately recognised, as one of the first publications of its use was of prenatal diagnosis of sickle-cell anaemia [3]. Since then it has been manipulated and a whole array of techniques have been derived from this invention. Both PCR and Southern blotting have been used widely in understanding and identifying microbes which in turn assists the diagnosis and management of patients suffering from infectious diseases. PCR Procedure The sample of DNA is heated up to 90Â °C to separate the two strands of DNA thereby exposing the nucleotide bases on each strand. A primer is then annealed to each strand from the 5 region at around 60Â °C and the temperature is increased once more. The thermostable DNA polymerase enzyme, Taq, prevents contamination by binding free complementary base pairs to the original strand of DNA at temperatures up to 70Â °C. The strands are then cooled and double the amount of DNA is synthesised, and the cycle restarts until a sufficient amount of DNA is produced. Reverse-transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) is used when the original sample of RNA is transcribed so that DNA is the product of amplification. The sensitivity of PCR is great, as detection is from a single nucleotide base whilst its quantitative ability is derived from the proportional expansion of amplified DNA from its original size [5]. Southern Blot Procedure Southern blotting begins with a sample of DNA which is first broken up by a restriction endonuclease into smaller, varying fragments. The DNA is then placed into wells to undergo agarose gel electrophoresis where the fragments diffuse across a polarised field according to their size. The DNA is denatured by sodium hydroxide and transferred to a sheet of nitrocellulose or nylon and incubated with a hybridisation probe of single-stranded DNA. This radiolabelled probe binds to the exposed complementary base pairs and can be detected by autoradiography [6]. Southern Blotting Applications in Medical Microbiology Southern blotting is primarily used for DNA fingerprinting, gene sequencing and genetic engineering. It has been used in the identification of strains in microbes such as concluding the type of human papillomavirus extracted from a condyloma. However in this case it provided to be unreliable as it produced false-negatives, as PCR and in-situ hybridisation were deemed to be more efficient [7]. Another use of Southern blotting was in the detection of a strain of Listeria monocytogenes. In this study it was deemed an important technique in verifying species identification and in the characterisation of epidemic strains [8]. This method can be used to DNA fingerprint most microbes and determine a diagnosis and treatment for a patient suffering from their pathogenicity. However it is found to be too laborious, time consuming and requires large amounts of high quality DNA for most routine laboratories yet variations of this technique are still widely performed. The western blot, which uses antibodies as the probe to detect proteins instead of DNA, is a confirmatory test in the diagnosis of a human immune-deficiency virus(HIV) infection [9]. Since the established use of PCR there has become a decreased need for these laborious techniques in DNA sequencing [10]. PCR Applications in Medical Microbiology PCR can be used in detecting the genetic sequence of all microbes. It is useful in detecting organisms in early cultures where organisms are otherwise difficult to isolate, for example in enteroviruses RT-PCR is more sensitive than culture and the gold standard is detection of the this genome in cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) by PCR [11]. PCR is also used in detecting genes encoding antibiotic resistance such as in Helicobacter pylori and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. However its use is currently unsuitable for the diagnosis of H. pylori as clinical samples may contain inhibitors which can generate false-negatives10. PCR is used in quantifying the viral load of HIV within an infected person therefore determining the effectiveness of their treatment. The problem occurs when the genome sequence of the HIV changes therefore the PCR method needs to be altered and the current test would prove useless9. Currently immunoassays are used in the diagnosis of a HIV infection, however early in infection there is a variable period of time until anti-HIV antibodies can be detected and this provides a potential area of identification of the HIV by PCR [12]. Pitfalls of PCR include that the sample must be kept cold during storage and transport to the laboratory, the expertise required for analysing and interpreting results as well as standardising between different laboratories and finally the expensive cost of the procedure compared to available techniques9. Conclusion The applications for PCR and Southern blotting are enormous however they have limitations which prevent it from being routinely used in the diagnostic laboratory. With the advance of technology both are being developed, especially PCR, and have endless applications in medical microbiology.

Comparing Glycemic Responses to Low-Carbohydrate and High-Carbohydrate

Comparing Glycemic Responses to Low-Carbohydrate and High-Carbohydrate Energy Bars The Atkins Advantage Bar and the Power Bar are two energy bars containing differing amounts of carbohydrate. Both bars were studied in order to compare their effects on glycemia in the body. Steven R. Hertzler and Yeonsoo Kim investigated these bars in comparison with two controls, chicken breast and white bread, because these two foods also have divergent carbohydrate contents. To perform their study, the researchers recorded plasma glucose responses to 60-gram portions of all of these test foods. This study demonstrates the correlation between the carbohydrate composition of the Atkins Advantage Bar and the Power Bar, and the effects that this has on glycemia. The Atkins Advantage Bar is a low-carbohydrate energy bar that is part of the Atkins Diet plan. This snack food fits into the low-carbohydrate, high-protein weight loss program. Its purpose is to replenish the energy lost when one removes carbohydrates from his/ her diet in attempts to lose weight. In this particular study, the Atkins Advantage Bar served as the low-carbohydrate bar, which had the closest macronutrient composition to the chicken breast control (zero carbohydrates). One serving of this energy bar contains 2.6 grams or less of carbohydrates. Participants of this study who were fed the 60-gram portions of the Atkins Advantage energy bar experienced predictable glycemic responses, as a result of the low amount of carbohydrate that this bar contains. These participants produced the lowest glycemic responses in the study. Consumption of his energy bar reduced glycemia by 71%, as compared with the white bread control. The results of this study did not surprise Hertzler an. .. ...trated that energy bars that contain divergent amounts of carbohydrate produce different results. The low-carbohydrate energy bar, the Atkins Advantage Bar, produced the lowest glycemic responses, thus reducing glycemia. On the end of the spectrum, the high-carbohydrate Power Bar produced the highest glycemic responses, which increased glycemia. The differing glycemic responses of these two energy bars make sense because each bar has been developed to fulfill a different purpose. The Atkins Advantage Bar is a snack food that fits into a low-carbohydrate diet; therefore, its goal is to promote weight loss. On the other hand, the Power Bar is an energy bar that mainly fits into an exercise plan; and its goal is to replenish glycogen in the muscles. These two energy bars affect the body’s glycemic levels differently because they were formulated for different purposes.

Beowulf :: Epic of Beowulf Essays

Beowulf is a well-known Anglo-Saxon poem that has been in English classes around the United States for almost as long as there have been schools around. Beowulf is not an actual picture of historic Denmark, Geatland, or Sweden around 500 A.D., yet it is on a general view, a self-consistent picture, a construction bearing clearly the marks of design and thought. Beowulf to us can only truly be enjoyed if one reads it in the old English version. The effects of the poem are not the same, although the sense of the heroic beast is very true. The story of Beowulf is still relevant to today’s society and relates to problems faced in current everyday life. In our society we face simple problems and difficult problems and all problems have a good and bad about them. It all depends on the person’s outlook for the course of action that they will take.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Beowulf strikes peculiar reactions among scholars, historians, and professors. The increase in the amount of confusion is caused by new twists to old theories and by new theories. Beowulf was composed for an audience that would take into account the struggles that the main character took, and the audience would see the poem in its own way. Though few can clearly understand the value of the poem, we must realize that judging the poem from a twentieth century point of view would be unjust to the author or authors of Beowulf.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One of the most pleasing trends in recent old English studies has been the increasing awareness of the truth and importance of this simple observation. It is one which often has been overlooked by scholars and the ever growing critics. These people prefer to regard Beowulf as a source book for historians. Some people tend to overlook the meanings of Beowulf and perceive them in a wrong manner. In a profound lecture given by J.R.R.Tolkien in 1963, he tried to do what many people were trying to do, make sense of Beowulf. He gave an amusing and persuasive summary of the variety of theories of Beowulf’s poet’s ideas and aims.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Tolkien said, â€Å"Beowulf is a half baked native epic which was killed by Latin learning, it is feeble and incompetent as a narrative.†(Crossley.9-17). Tolkien also said much more on behalf of Beowulf’s poet. It is not the fault of the poet but the result of our ignorance of the conventions in which Anglo-Saxon poems were written.

Prayer in Schools :: Religion Faith Beliefs Essays

Prayer in Schools Recently the U.S. Supreme Court announced that it would not hear the appeals of a case banning the traditional dinner prayer before the meal at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI). The court decided not to hear this appeal mainly due to procedural rules regarding the retirement of the school’s former superintendent before the case, but two of the justices, Rehnquist and Scalia, felt that the case needed to be tried in order to make a determination regarding prayer in universities, especially those with military affiliation (Biskupic 3A). Unfortunately, they did not have the required number of justices to carry the case to the court, but those outside of the court system do not have such restrictions upon their decision regarding organized prayer in universities. They can make their own decisions on what to believe. One must change the general opinion of the people in order to find resolution of this issue so they in turn can prompt a revision to the Constitut ion. This may be the only true solution to clarify this problem and this revision will need the support of the public in order to succeed. Prayers and other religious elements in government will be the focus of this revision. Those who would act to ban these prayers have made the mistake of misinterpreting the original intent of the framers of the Constitution regarding the First Amendment, they have misunderstood what it means to rank among those who call themselves an adult American, and have failed to comprehend the complexities of military training. The Constitution fails to ban prayer in government run areas with conscientious Americans under the special circumstances involved with military affiliated educational institutions. The people in favor of the ban on organized prayer in colleges make the claim that the 1st Amendment makes it unconstitutional. In order to make this claim, one must analyze the text of the amendment and the history behind the original intent of the Constitutions framers. The text of the amendment contains the following concerning religion, â€Å"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Constitution). This amendment should rightfully be interpreted as meaning that Congress does not have the power to regulate the religious institutions or prevent anyone from practicing their own religion.

Devil’s man Essay

This scene is also very captivating as there are so many different storylines and agendas going on in it, on the surface you have Elizabeth Proctor lying for her husband which results in them having a dire consequence, and Hales dramatic change of opinion. Underneath you have Abigail pushing Mary to join her by getting herself and her ‘tools’ (other girls from Salem) to act as if they are being possessed by Mary and Mary has transfigured herself into a yellow bird â€Å"Oh Mary this is a black art to change your shape.† Abigail knows she has to win Mary over to her side so all are ganged up against John Proctor as he has started violently accusing Abigail â€Å"Give me a whip, I’ll stop it† and Abigail realises these accusations have to stop. Abigail knows it will not take long for Mary to cave in, and this is what makes Abigail such an alluring character, as in this scene I cannot help but quite like her as she is so over the top and melodramatic, from a modern day reader of the play the ridiculousness but intelligence of her ideas provide a lot of the appealing aspects of the play and especially this scene. It would be a mistake to say Abigail is totally evil as in the same way it would be a mistake to say Proctor is totally good as although in the end of the play he dies a ‘martyr’ as he refuses to confess to witch-craft we cannot forget he did commit adultery and has had more than a few feuds with other members of Salem (most notably Parris). Abigail also witnessed her parent’s deaths and therefore was bought up with no family around her. She also is totally in love with John Proctor and would do anything to wed him and by accusing Elizabeth of witchcraft all she is doing is trying to get closer to John. Another engaging aspect of this scene is the fact that the audience watching the play experiences so many emotions. There is the anxiety and suspense felt when Elizabeth has to say if her husband was a lecher, and then there is the tragic, saddened emotion when you realise what is going to happen to John Proctor as Elizabeth said he had had no affair. There is the excitement when Abigail fakes Mary’s possession of her, and also the shock of Hales remarkable change in character. I believe what makes this play so popular, and what is particularly represented in this scene is all the characters are so human, their personalities so deep and structured. I feel this is for many reasons although predominately because Miller wrote the characters from ‘The Crucible’ from historic evidence in Salem town records- many of the characters names appear in the records and even Proctors affair is recorded. Also what makes these characters so realistic is there are no characters who are purely ‘good’ or purely ‘bad’ and what makes them so enthralling is they all have their little faults for example (Proctor to Elizabeth) â€Å"You ought to bring some flowers in the house. Oh I forgot! I will tomorrow.† This shows us Elizabeth can at times be forgetful which makes the audience able to relate to her and the rest of the characters as everyone has their own imperfections. John Proctor is an extremely enchanting character, however at times personally I felt he became a little tiresome especially during the end when he keeps on at Elizabeth whether she will forgive him if he confesses to witchcraft – and lies to God â€Å"I would have your forgiveness, Elizabeth.† In this scene though Proctor has an unnerving desperation about him pleading for his wife’s and his own lives. It only hit me when I had just finished the book the similarities between John Proctor and Arthur Miller himself as they were both persecuted and punished for things out of their control (Miller for not being anti-communist) and John Proctor (for being accused of trafficking with the Devil). They also both refused to confess as neither of them felt they were guilty of a crime and therefore were in effect Martyrs although Miller did not die. Principally, however the main reason I like this scene so much is from a dramatic point of view. It would be fantastic to perform as there is so much going on and the characters are so well formed by Miller. There is also a vast contrast of characters to play in the scene. What also makes it appealing from a theatrical aspect is the ‘roller coaster’ of emotions and changes of emotions, which happen so quickly. This passage is also a prime example of why Miller wrote the play, which is a further reason I admire the scene so much. This scene shows not only the persecution of a man who is innocent like the persecution of the communists, but also shows the power of religion, and how when the majority of people in a community believe something so passionately in this instance God and Christianity, arguing against it will do far more harm than good. It shows the dangers of living in a theocratic society where everything is kept behind closed doors, and when it is exposed the consequences can be literally in Salem in the seventeenth century, fatal. This scene is strengthened by the 17th century language, which adds a certain harsh quality to the way the line sounds. The ending of the scene is my favourite part of the passage, this is because the is when Mary sees Danforth is believing Abigail more and more and she knows that she will be hanged if she does not join Abigail. Therefore she admits to speaking with the Devil, but says to the court â€Å"(Mary pointing at Proctor) You are the Devil’s man!† This surprises everyone probably even Mary herself as she didn’t think she was strong enough to do it, but she realises fighting against Abigail was fighting a losing battle. Throughout the play there are many interesting and dramatic scenes, which captivated my imagination, however this scene stood out above all others largely because of the acting potential and the tremendous depth to the characters although the reasons above also played a part in why I enjoyed the scene. Recently Arthur miller was stated saying, â€Å"At least the play is still living† I believe it certainly is.

Movie Review of Secret (2007 Taiwanese Film) Essay

Casts: * Jay Chou as Ye Xianglun – A music student majoring in piano and lives with his father * Kwai Lun-mei as Lu Xiaoyu – A music student who lives with her mother * Anthony Wong Chau-sang as Xianglun’s father – Xianglun’s father and the discipline teacher at his school * Alice Tzeng as Qing Yi – Xianglun’s classmate who is in love with him * Yuhao Zhan as Yu Hao – A music student and talented piano player, nicknamed â€Å"Prince of the piano†, he had a â€Å"piano battle† with Xianglun Secret is an amazing movie to look at and to listen to. The film tells a â€Å"simple but very beautiful† love story which is tied between past and present. The story, the music, the talent – you’ll really be amazed and be in love with it when you see it yourself. You can’t imagine that it would be magical. It’s a unique story, unpredictable and interesting. What’s more interesting is there is more to it than what meets the eye. Careful attention must be paid to all scenes, or else the story won’t click and the end won’t be as good. Here’s the spoil. Ye Xianglun is a budding musical genius whose way with piano keys makes him a hit with the ladies, and even the guys, who recognize talent when they see it. Ye arrives at Tanjiang Art School and already he’s being watched, but his eyes and heart are immediately stolen by Lu Xiaoyu, an elegant, charming flirt who first happens upon Ye in the school’s aged piano r oom. The two begin a cute, casual romance that’s defined by secrets. Basically, Lu keeps them, starting with her name, then extending them to other things like where she goes, what she does, and why she’s always absent from class. Since she’s so effervescent and attractive, Ye is immediately smitten. Ye has a secret too, but I’ll give it away: his dad is a teacher at the school, and he’s played by Anthony Wong in an amusing performance that’s vintage Wong. Ye also has some friends at school who aren’t as amusing, and even qualify as annoying and bothersome. Some of these characters are played by Chou’s Taiwanese pop music pals. Since this is a Jay Chou (Ye Xianglun) production (besides starring and directing, he penned the original story and contributed the music), it’s only understandable that Chou make room for some of his buddies  as well as his pet obsessions, especially music. Ye becomes the class celebrity when he kicks ass in a â€Å"piano battle†, which is as entertaining as it i s patently manufactured. Basically, Ye outfoxes his opponent on the ivory keys, winning the hearts of the girls and the guys, while still remaining cool and sheepish in that inimitable Ye Xianglun way. Chief among his admirers is the pretty Qing Yi, who starts to crush on Ye big time. But Ye only has eyes for Lu. Or does he? Despite getting along swimmingly with Ye, Lu soon gets the idea that Ye is two-timing her with Qing. This is due to your standard crossed wires and mistaken circumstances, but the misinterpreted event is enough to throw a massive crush-killing wrench into their puppy love. That would probably be a terrible thing to behold if not for the fact that the relationship up until then was hardly inspiring. Ye Xianglun and Lu Xiaoyu have decent chemistry, but the relationship between their characters never seems that deep. There’s a manufactured quality to the dialogue that makes their supposed love a bit unconvincing, and without more acute emotions the film begins to drag. Sadly, part of this is the fault of Ye Xianglun, the actor. Ye possesses a certain likable charm, but his presence hardly screams â€Å"passion.† His demeanor is just too remote; Ye tr ies hard, but he can’t convey a complete range of emotions. Shoring things up, however, is Lu Xiaoyu. When she initially appears, she acts too much like an idealized good girl flirt to be real; it’s like she’s some manufactured idea of what perfect high school romance should be. However, as it turns out, there’s a reason for her bizarre flirtatious behavior, and as the film divulges more of the how’s and why’s, Lu is given a chance to convey emotions that prove heartbreaking. Her screen presence is refreshing and her emotion’s genuinely moving; if Secret manages to affect, Lu Xiaoyu is a large reason why. The revelation of the film’s eponymous secret is what gives Lu the chance to really affect the audience – and yet it’s also when the movie starts to lose its credibility. The mechanism behind the film’s secret is never known, but the logic of how it works is explained explicitly, such that every incident and action in the film needs to fit a set of rules explained by the characters and depicted by the events thems elves. But the film ultimately doesn’t adhere to its convictions, eventually twisting events to fit desired emotions and skirting around the rules that they’ve laid out for us. The film gives us a denouement, but it’s  only touching because it fits some sort of predetermined audience expectation, and not because it surprises or really affects. Some people may be happy with how Secret ends. But does the film earn its ending? I don’t think that it does. At least Secret is a very pretty ride. On artifice alone, the film is aces, serving up beautiful art direction, cinematography and music. Ye Xianglun (Jay Chou) really knows how to compose a tune; the film’s original music is genuinely stirring, and preexisting pieces are well-chosen and evocative of the film’s innocent romantic mood. Secret serves the senses exceptionally well – so much so, that it’s almost tragic when it ultimately throws logic out the window. Ye Xianglun and company have created a nice little valentine, but their desire to give the film more weight eventually leaves it adrift. The film barrels towards its intended goal with little regard for common sense, leaving the audience with nothing besides the pretty pictures and people to shore it up. Amazingly, that gambit is more successful than not, and Lu Xiaoyu (Kwai Lun-mei) practically drags the film across the finish line herself. Without her the film would probably sink beneath its own self-importance, as its manufactured sheen and occasionally miscalculated choices render the film little more than a superficially gorgeous pure love diversion for teen girls and the boys they drag to the cinema along with them. That’ll probably do just fine for most, since â€Å"manufactured diversion† seems to be a standard expectation for many modern moviegoers. Secret will probably score well with its intended teen audience, especially if they take in the film as a single, one-off experience. Further viewings would only reveal the film’s holes to be gaping and perhaps intolerable, but upon first glance, Secret is pretty and polished enough to charm. You should watch it too!

The contribution of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to Shell Nigeria’s Corporate Strategy

Introduction Apart from profitability, the primary objective of business also includes sustenance of operations into the long term, receiving repeat business and thereby achieve the satisfaction of the needs of its shareholders. This necessitates the examination of operations with a view to advance objectives such as sustainability which entails being ethical and observing social responsibility. To many businesses operating in the modern competitive global economy, however, being ethical or socially responsible in the conduct of business presents an ongoing challenge (Wheeler et al., 2010). With a focus on Shell Nigeria, this report critically evaluates the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) assessing its contribution to the company’s corporate strategy. It begins by assessing the industry background of the oil sector in which Shell operates bringing forth the issues that impact the company and its stakeholders in their engagement. The report then looks at the concept of CSR, assessing its theoretical basis and the actual pursuits undertaken by the company. This culminates in the evaluation of the contribution of these initiatives to the company’s corporate strategy. Shell Nigeria Shell Nigeria is an arm of the multinational oil corporation Shell Corporation operating under the entities Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) Nigeria Limited, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO), and Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG). It has had a presence in Nigeria since its foundation by Royal Dutch/Shell Group in 1936 and has been involved in onshore and offshore exploration and production of oil and natural gas (Shell, 2011). The company’s operations spread out within the Niger Delta (Nigeria) and constituting the Group’s international supply chain comprise 6000km of flow pipeline networks and stations, oil fields and producing wells, gas plants, and two major export terminals (Royal Dutch Shell, 2012a; OPEC, 2011). The parent company, Shell Corporation, is one among major entities participating in the exploration, production, distribution and sale of oil and gas across the globe. The company manages multinational subsidiary petrochemical and energy companies operating in over 80 countries (OPEC, 2011). Exploration and extraction operations of crude oil and gas in Nigeria form an essential component of Shell Corporations upstream supply chain. Its downstream supply chain is engaged in refinery and distribution of oil and gas, as well as trade and shipping of crude worldwide. The company is also involved in the manufacture and marketing of a range of products including petrochemicals for its industrial customers. Its daily volume of production entails 3.2 million barrels of oil and gas (at 48% this output) delivering refined fuel oil to consumers through its 43,000 Shell service stations across the globe (OPEC, 2011). Nigeria is important for Shell accounting for about a quarter of its worldwide production with an estimated contributed share in profit averaging $1.8 billion annually. This represents 10.4% of upstream operational profits and 7.3% of total profit (Shell, 2011). Given its importance to the Group’s upstream operations, any challenge on this front adversely affects global operations of the multinational corporation (Royal Dutch Shell, 2012a; Emesh, 2009). Several challenges beset multinational oil corporations operating particularly in developing countries as explored below. The dilemma of oil companies operating in developing countries Significant oil and gas reserves are found in developing countries of Africa (OPEC, 2011). These countries often lack the resource capability both in terms of financial capacity and infrastructure to conduct exploration and extraction operations of oil and gas. This explains the presence of multinational oil corporations such as Shell in these countries and in regions such as the Niger Delta of Nigeria which holds significant oil reserves deemed to be among the largest in Africa (Wheeler et al., 2010). Operations of oil multinationals in these developing countries are however fraught with huge challenges brought about by the political and social situations which characterise them. Due to their structural and institutional weaknesses, these countries are often prone to recurring conflict and political instability which portends violence and risks to investments (Wheeler et al., 2010; Idemudia, 2009). However, with much to gain from the exploration and exploitation of oil and in spite of the risks and attendant challenges, the multinational oil corporations value the acquisition of market share (Emesh, 2009). It is also noteworthy that profits accrued from the exploitation of the oil resource have historically been misappropriated, benefitting a few influential people in the local and national governments while the host communities and citizenry at large suffer poverty. With an abundance of oil revenue, a corrupt leadership forego accountability to constituents and undermine political and economic institutions while focus on oil wealth stifles diversification of the economy into other essential sectors (Emesh, 2009; Olowu, 2011). This scenario has often exacerbated the political and social situation, increasing the occurrences of conflicts and violence and threatening sustainability of business and integrity of the supply chain (Wheeler et al., 2010). The discontent of host communities and stakeholders at the local level has led to acts of vandalism, sabotage and disruption, as well as outright insurgency which not only threaten operations but also impact the prices of crude oil internationally fomenting unnecessary fluctuations (Olowu, 2011). This alongside the adverse environmental impact of the extractive industry in general and impacts on human rights has often injured the reputations particularly of oil multinationals such as Shell Nigeria. They have promoted the perception that such companies are merely profit-oriented and care less about the impacts of their operations (Idemudia, 2009). Such global concern over these issues has hitherto led to threats of and actual boycotts of Shell products, costly lawsuits and liabilities, and in addition to attendant inefficiencies and security of assets and resources, these challenges have not only impacted Shell’s local operations in Nigeria but have hindered the potential of the entire multinational corporation internationally (Olowu, 2011). Companies such as Shell, therefore, continually need to evaluate political and social risks assessing probable effects on their business and the investment climate, as well as the impact on their profit forecasts and sustenance of operations (Olowu, 2011; Fombrun, 2001). This scenario has illustrated that adverse effects can have dire consequences for the entire business beyond its local operational environment. In order to sustain their business and even achieve growth and expansion, it is imperative for companies to enhance their relations with society ensuring that they are strong and mutually beneficial. Beyond the profit objective, multinational corporations are increasingly demanded of to engage with host countries and communities and CSR has become one of the strategies towards this endeavour (Haigh and Jones, 2006). In response to this demand and in the attempt to shore up its reputation and to build goodwill with local communities, Shell has developed policies and programs aimed at taking on social responsibilities. These programs focus on poverty alleviation, dealing with challenging human rights issues, and the pursuit of sustainable development, seeking to lower the negative environmental impact of their activities (Shell, 2011; Olowu, 2011). These practices are generally referred to as corporate social responsibility (CSR). They can serve as a channel through which to nurture relations with society and stakeholders in general so as to address this dilemma that companies face in the modern business environment (Driver, 2006; Haigh and Jones, 2006). In this regard, it can act dually as an avenue for ethical and social responsibility and as well a worthwhile and essential business strategy. However, finding the right approach and the right initiatives to undertake is challenging for many entities as expectations are very high and diverse particularly in developing countries. As well, in most cases, the development initiatives anticipated should ideally be the prerogative and duty of respective governments and authorities. Their pursuit enables these public agencies to disregard their duties and to forgo accountability to their constituents, a free hand to misappropriate what would otherwise be spent on development (Frynas, 2005). Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) CSR is a fast-growing concept in which organizations consider the interests of various stakeholders including society, the environment, and the community in which they are established, taking responsibility for the impact of their activities. It refers to activities that a corporate entity engages with and which are aimed at investment into better and stronger relations with stakeholders and society (Bourne, 2009). This commitment is a voluntary endeavour to improve quality of life for local communities and society at large and extends beyond the basic requirement to comply with regulations or legislation (Boyd et al., 2007). Though historically consider to encompass corporate philanthropy, the concept can now be summarized conveniently in the phrase†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"doing well by doing good† which is inherent in a firm’s accountability and which underlies its social contract with society (Driver, 2006). It encompasses concepts such as corporate accountability, corporate citizenship, business ethics, sustainability, as well as social responsibility in investment and community involvement (Fombrun, 2001). CSR is thus not the sole responsibility of the multinational corporation, but it also concerns the host communities and countries that can engage in planning and in the push for implementation of activities. This, however, gives the pursuit an arbitrariness that makes assessment of success and effectiveness quite challenging. Success in business and sustainability of operations significantly depends on an organization’s capacity to maximize benefits accrued from its resources such as financial and human resources, physical assets, as well as intangible resources such as goodwill from stakeholders and society in general (Werbach, 2009). This is quite evident in challenges that have beset Shell’s supply chain stemming from challenges in its operations in the Niger Delta. Even with the right mix of financial and human resources, as well as an adequate asset base, the lack of goodwill leading to discontent locally and globally and acts of reprisals has in the past led to disruption of operations and loss of potential which have had widespread implications, including adverse effects on profitability, the company’s reputation, as well as the prices of crude oil in the international market. In this regard CSR has become a significant component of Shell Nigeria’s corporate strategy in its quest for mutually beneficial engagement with stakeholders and achievement of requisite goodwill (Shell, 2011; Olowu, 2011). Through the proactive pursuit of CSR, companies can take responsibility for the impact of their operations and welfare of host societies, as well as stakeholders in general. Though perceived as an outlay that is difficult to recoup, there is evidence of potential reciprocal effect and business sense in CSR investments attributed to its creation of value and enhancement of stakeholder relations (Driver, 2006;). Due to the general lack of infrastructure and development projects provided by respective governments in developing countries, the need for CSR covering broader roles such as poverty alleviation, good governance and development is prominent. Multinational corporations such as Shell come under heightened expectations to fill in the gap providing the requisite development (Wheeler et al., 2010). The initiatives undertaken by Shell towards CSR are explored. Critics bemoan this reality in the expectation for intervention by such business entities on matters outside their primary objective. They posit that this demand influences and affects the conduct of business in the increasingly competitive business environment posing a challenge to strategists in the choice between meeting business objectives and shareholder satisfaction on the one hand, and the needs of the wider stakeholder base on the other (Frynas, 2005). This further complicates the development of corporate strategy given the need to focus on a number of extraneous issues often with private entities arrogating themselves duties that ought to be performed by the state or local councils. Such realities hinder the effectiveness of CSR initiatives and particularly its contribution to the company’s corporate strategy. CSR initiatives of Shell Nigeria are thus evaluated in the following section. CSR initiatives of Shell Nigeria Numerous activities that Shell engages in its pursuit of social responsibility are herein evaluated to assess their effectiveness and therefore contribution to the company’s corporate strategy. Initiatives undertaken by Shell Nigeria in its CSR pursuit cover external aspects such as environmental protection, community relations and human rights, as well as internal aspects such as principles and codes of practice, product stewardship, stakeholder and employee rights, and transparency (Shell, 2011; Idemudia, 2009). Shell Nigeria and the entire Group takes up an active leadership role in the development of codes of conduct and practice governing workplaces and their engagement with facets of society (Royal Dutch Shell, 2012b; UN, 2011). The company has also supported development through programs in education, health, construction, commerce, agriculture, transport, etc. benefiting local communities (Olowu, 2011). Additionally, the company alongside others in the oil industry command leadership in programs promoting CSR internationally on various fronts. This has been facilitated by Shell’s new and sophisticated approach they refer to as Community Development (CD), offering a paradigm shift to environmental responsibility, social welfare, human rights, and political responsibility, among other issues of CSR (UN, 2011). This approach entails greater stakeholder engagement bringing together many entities including NGOs, state and local governments, and community leaders in identifying and implementing projects, ensuring increased local ownership, transparency and accountability (Idemudia, 2009). Numerous projects have been successfully undertaken through this approach over the years especially benefiting areas in which the company’s infrastructure is located and/or flow lines traverse (Royal Dutch Shell, 2012b; Olowu, 2011). Goodwill generated from such â€Å"investments† in CSR has ensured integrity of assets that were hitherto under threat which is fundamental to successful operations. Various initiatives undertaken such as the community Health Insurance Schemes, enterprise development schemes, water supply and electricity supply, among others offer worthwhile lessons through which the success can be replicated elsewhere (UN, 2011; Idemudia, 2009). This way, the company has benefited from consistency afforded enabling it to meet tight lead times and to better align supply and demand through greater efficiency. Success of development initiatives has enhanced well-being and economic empowerment of communities thereby reducing dependency for regional development which had burdened the company (Shell, 2011; Emesh, 2009). Additionally, initiatives undertaken in partnership with numerous players aimed at enhancement of the conservation of biodiversity through the minimization of the negative impact of activities have enabled reduction of environmental impact due to gas flaring and oil spills. The diversification into the production of natural gas has benefited the company significantly, becoming a worthwhile revenue stream (Royal Dutch Shell, 2012a). Through a variety of indices assessing social and environmental performance of entities such as Shell, its CSR initiatives have earned it recognition globally as a leader in responsibility and a CSR champion. These indices include: the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC)- 2010; Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DSI)- 2010; Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index – 2011, the FTSE4Good and Goldman Sachs Sustain ESG (environmental, social and governance) – 2010 (UN, 2011; Shell, 2011; OPEC, 2011). Good ratings attained in these indices are evidence of the impact that it has had in its CSR pursuit. The recognition has been beneficial in shoring the company’s reputation across the globe enhancing its corporate value and standing of its brand. However, oil multinationals (including Shell) remain at variance with local communities regarding the success and effectiveness of these CSR initiatives with the latter still not content. This represents the major challenge with CSR pursuits, particularly in cases such as this where expectations are quite high (Frynas, 2005). The actual success of Shell Nigeria’s CSR is evaluated to assess its contribution to its corporate strategy and bottom line. Contribution of CSR to Shell Nigeria’s corporate strategy Corporate strategy focuses on the organization’s overall scope with an aim to sustain growth and to achieve strategic positioning. The maximization of profits and minimization of costs is a primary goal of any business venture. This not only necessitates continuous improvement along the supply chain towards the enhancement of efficiency and effectiveness, but also entails an important aspect in the modern competitive business environment, value creation (Werbach, 2009; Kazem and Richard, 2008). Competitive advantage entails the capability a business to provide superior products, services, or value differentiating itself from its competitors. Price/cost advantage, delivery, quality and flexibility are identified as among the components of the value advantage which enhance competitive capability. To be able to sustain its competitive advantage, a company or organization has to exploit such available capabilities which are as important as resources such as physical assets, financial resources, and human resources (Werbach, 2009). However, the oil industry is characterized by minimal capacity for value addition to products and services, exploitation of a price advantage, or physical resource capabilities (Wheeler et al., 2010). It is therefore crucial for players in the industry to focus on value advantage deriving from delivery efficiency, quality, flexibility, as well as intangible aspects such as corporate value and reputation. The pursuit of corporate value and goodwill thr ough CSR is therefore crucial for an entity to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage given the intense competition and capabilities (Fombrun, 2001). According to Sachs et al., (2009) and Driver (2006), the CSR idea†¦ â€Å"ties up with the drive for sustainability which is to develop solutions for business in such a way as to meet the requirements of the current generation without compromising the ability to provide the needs of future generations in bounty and diversity.† This is the basis for Shell’s renewed and revitalised pursuit of CSR which has enabled it to assume leadership on the responsibility front, a model for corporate citizenship (Shell, 2011). Despite the challenge in defining actual benefit and achievement in sustainability initiatives, the pursuit of CSR has granted Shell an important edge in the intensely competitive environment, enhancing the company’s corporate value. Corporations invest in CSR motivated by the view on business ethics which holds that shareholders and stakeholders desire a financially stable and responsible corporation adhering to values of ethical conduct and environmental sustainability. A worthwhile brand image and reputation is thus central to strategy (Sachs et al., 2009; Haigh and Jones, 2006). This is the primary thesis of this report and which is shown to guide Shell Nigeria’s corporate strategy, as well as that of the entire Group. Benefiting from reduced civil tension, as well as oil theft and sabotage, Shell has, in recent years, managed to increase production from new ventures such as offshore deep water explorations, as well as enhanced supply chain efficiencies – achieving increases in production averaging 31% year-on-year. Diversification into Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) production has enabled the company to enhance its revenue and to develop a new market (both locally and for export). Its economic potential has generated incentive and economic impetus to enhance the capture of natural gas associated with oil reserves that would otherwise be flared (Royal Dutch Shell, 2012a; Shell, 2011; Fombrun, 2001). Reduced flaring and the clean-up of oil spills have had a positive effect on the company’s risk and reputation management warding off potential lawsuits and liabilities (Shell, 2011; Dyer and Chu, 2003). Turbulence in the political and social environment and the resultant uncertainty in supply and demand, as well as concerns over bad repute negatively affect investor decisions and therefore share prices (Fombrun, 2008). A firm that wishes to attain success in the modern business environment must keenly assess these fundamental flags and their associated costs , as well as future value or potential which significantly influence investor decisions. These may influence the company’s access to capital and to new markets and cannot be ignored (Sachs et al., 2009; Dyer and Chu, 2003). These factors can be adequately addressed through the focus on enhancement of goodwill and efficiency through social responsibility pursuits. It is evident therefore that Shell’s CSR initiatives have contributed significantly to the company’s corporate strategy enhancing its capacity to sustain its operations and to thrive despite the challenges in the extractive sector and developing countries hosting it. Conclusion Through the pursuit of CSR, oil multinationals such as Shell can gain valuable goodwill enabling success of their operations and the enhancement of their overall image and perception as a corporate citizen both locally and internationally. Shell Nigeria’s proactive community development initiatives have in the most part significantly reduced conflict resultant from discontent and grievance of local communities and global concern impacting the corporate reputation of the entire Group internationally. 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