Stylistic analysis of a short story “Laura” Essay

The story under analysis is titled â€Å"Laura†. It is written by British author, master of the short story Hector Hugh Munro, better known by the pen name Saki. The very story belongs to fiction genre with a unique touch of mystery, psychological themes, as it concerned with two main heroines’ (Laura and Amanda) emotional states. The tone of the story is full of irony and even sarcasm, especially in the dialogues and closing lines. The mysterious ideas and incredible circumstances provide the suspense and makes the text rather gripping and thought-provoking. The story is told from the third person, who involves the reader in Amanda’s inner world. It is shown by the indirect method of characterization, as the characters are revealed through their speech, actions and behaviors. The main heroines are Laura, a hasty, unadvised person, who possesses some eccentric ideas and her friend Amanda, more material and serious lady. The reader is merely introduced to them, so it is meant to find out about their personalities through the speech. Amanda is very concerned about Laura’s condition, because she was only given a couple of days to live. In spite of those dramatic perspectives, Laura is not afraid to die, because of her belief in reincarnation. She admits, that she has never been a nice person, so she is ready to become an animal in the next life, and than, may be, a little Nubian boy. From this point on, the complex and dynamic personalities with some vivid qualities are shown. The biggest role in the text belongs to the dialogues. They help to create the settings of the story and reveal information about characters’ lives, beliefs and states. From the first setting it is possible to imagine a kind of a country town, as one of the minor characters (Egbert, Amanda’s husband) runs a farm. The atmosphere of the text is quite changeable, so in the end of the story the secondary setting of the Nile Valley is depicted. From the very beginning of the story the reader finds some foreshadowing. It gives special hints to what will happen in the future. The plot includes some complications which lead right up to the climax of the text. After Laura’s death Amanda believes her friend to be reincarnated as an otter. Eventually, she learns that the animal has been killed. The fact, that a witness noticed â€Å"such a human look  in its eyes† brings Amanda an attack of nervous prostration. At the very end of the story the reader finds another climax and new unsolved conflict: a Nubian boy had thrown all Egbert’s clean shirts into the bath. All this presents an external conflict; an internal conflict is revealed through struggling doubts about what happens after death. Obviously, the text has an open ending. This short story is extremely interesting from the stylistic point of view. The writer had a very specific way of applying stylistic devices in the text. Comic nature of the situation is expressed by a lot of formal lexis and play upon polysemous words and idioms (â€Å"dying by inches†). The use of certain stylistic means is closely related to the portrayal of heroine’s personalities and conditions. The author is often ironic showing Laura’s mood and ideas. It also creates a strong humorous effect. The repetition of the word â€Å"circumstances† serves to make the reader see what type of a person Laura is, to understand her attitude towards other people. There are examples of parallel constructions in the text: â€Å"My best flower bed and my best fowls singled out for destructions†. The reader meets cases of hyperbole, like in: â€Å"he needn’t have gone on about it for the entire evening†, â€Å"maddest kind of idea†, â€Å" beast† (about the otter). The examples of litotes are met in Sir Lulworth’s speech about Laura. Instead of saying that she is out of her mind he uses the words â€Å"unaccountable† and â€Å"inconsiderate†. Metaphors are mostly used for the portrayal of Amanda’s husband: â€Å"wearing an air of bereavement† and â€Å"hurricane of shouted curses†. The main idea of the story is to show the reader how it is necessary for a person to let the dead go, though it can be so emotionally hard and painful. It won’t do to imagine them still alive in other different forms, because all these feelings and experience may lead to nervous breakdown. The connection between the story and its title turns out to be rather striking, as the only character, Amanda by name, is followed throughout the whole text, while her friend Laura’s swift death is depicted in one short sentence. But still, her presence is strongly felt all the way.

The Road Essay – Cormac Mccarthy

The Road by: Cormac McCarthy Described the novel as a â€Å"gripping, heart-rending story, which explores the depths of despair and savagery beside the heights of love, tenderness and self-sacrifice. † Destruction, survival, isolation, and death are prominent themes in The Road. Most life has been wiped out by some unnamed catastrophic event. Cities are destroyed; plant life is gone; animals have disappeared. Civilization has broken down, and chaos reigns in its place. No matter where the man and the boy go, houses have no roofs and are rotting from the rain and wind. The natural cycle of seasons has been destroyed: it seems to be perpetually winter. Even the stability of the earth is off-kilter, for an earthquake shakes the ground on the East Coast. In a storytelling style that is stripped as bare as the novel’s setting, McCarthy recounts the journey of an unnamed man and boy, in an undefined location, who search among the debris in the aftermath of some cataclysmic event for morsels of food and warmth. Though their lungs are tortured by the thick ash that discolors and taints the air, and their unshod feet are blistered and almost frozen, they trudge forever forward, always hoping for something better, something similar to the past. They rarely find it. And they dare not linger, because other wanderers, likewise cold and hungry, will inevitably come upon them, fighting for the tidbits that the man and boy have found. In stark contrast to the devastated surroundings stands the man and boy’s unshaken devotion to one another. In a landscape where nothing blooms, their love flourishes and grows deeper, even as they wonder all the while which one of them will die first. They keep three things in mind as they move south toward a dream of warmth: they must find food, they must find clean water, and they must continually hide. bib: D. Dona Le, author of ClassicNote. Completed on July 24, 2009, copyright held by GradeSaver. Updated and revised by Adam Kissel September 19, 2009. Copyright held by GradeSaver. McCarthy, Cormac. The Road. London: Picador, 2006. McCarthy, Cormac. No Country for Old Men. London: Picador, 2007. White, J. M. â€Å"The Road (Book Review). Appalachian Heritage. 2006-12-01. 2009-07-20. . Whitmer, Benjamin. â€Å"The Road (Book Review). † The Modern Word. 2006-10-23. 2009-07-18. . Woodward, Richard B. â€Å"Cormac McCarthy’s Venomous Fiction. † The New York Times. 1992-04-19. 2009-07-14. . Kollin, Susan. â€Å"Genre and the Geographies of Violence: Cormac McCarthy an d the Contemporary Western. † Contemporary Literature 42:3 (Autumn 2001): 557-588. JSTOR. TCD Libraries, Dublin, Ireland. 18 July 2009. . Ellis, Jay. â€Å"‘What Happens to Country’ in Blood Meridian. † Rocky Mountain Review of Language and Literature 60:1 (2006): 85-97. JSTOR. TCD Libraries, Dublin, Ireland. 18 July 2009. .

A Review Of Tom Shadyacs Movie Patch Adams

A Review Of Tom Shadyac's Movie Patch Adams Hunter â€Å"Patch† Adams is a doctor who, among other things, founded the Gesundheit Institute to try and change the medical profession. After attempting suicide, he finds himself and realizes that he wants to help people. He can do this directly by becoming a doctor, but when he notices medicine is a cold, unfeeling process he wants to change, he attempts to do just that. Over the course of the movie, he faces several injustices in the face of his righteous quest, but does not give up and is where he is now because of this. The circle of faith in action model is defined as â€Å"awareness, analysis, and action†. In his fight to make medicine more friendly to the people it helps, he takes these three steps and achieves his goal. His own awareness begins to take shape while he is in the mental institution after his suicide attempt. Despite being a rehabilitation facility, none of the faculty seem to really care about the patients and only do what they do for a paycheck. The dismissive attitude of the hospitals main people and the orderlies shows this quite well. This starts Patch on his quest to change things, but not before he enters medical school and sees the injustice in an even worse form there. Students are not allowed to see the patients until their 3rd year, and even then in a purely educational sense. The strict Dean Walcott makes sure of this, and Patch is disciplined and threatened with expulsion several times for â€Å"aggravating patients† and â€Å"embarassing the community† when in reality hes only trying to make it more fun for everyone-doctors, students, and most importantly patients. After analysis of this situation, he decides that medicine must be changed. Patch then buys an old ranch farmhouse and converts it into a small clinic. With his friends he is able to run it well. However, this clinic isnt just an ordinary clinic. No one there is labelled as a â€Å"doctor†, or more clearly, everyone is. Whether the people there seek treatment or give it, everyone has a job. This goes from actually administering treatment to cleaning up after others, or (most critically in Patchs operation) entertaining patients with any means necessary. After Patch graduates, he creates the Gesundheit Institute, a medical facility using alternative cheap methods to treat patients and employing entertainment to eliminate the cold atmosphere many hospitals have. The whole reason Patch does what he does in the first place is the somewhat inhumane treatment by hospitals to their patients. He disagrees with the ridiculous costs of healthcare. Even today, simple visits can cost upwards of thousands of dollars. To Patch, this cannot stand, as he believes humans deserve their right to be treated. On a more personable level, he dislikes the social treatment given to patients. To him, most doctors see their patients not as human beings with a right to be medically treated but as a â€Å"job† or a â€Å"number†. To him, most are only concerned about the money they get from the treatment and not about whether the patient is actually okay. This has a real world basis, as the sterile, boring, darkness of hospitals can contribute to depression and in turn make medical issues even worse as your will to fight slips away. Patch doesnt just try to change the system, he does. While hes in school he promotes fair treatment of patients and visits them (cancer-stricken children foremost) even though he isnt allowed. He convinces his roommate (who detests Patchs attempts to change) that his cause is worth it. Even Dean Walcott and the school board is convinced of his talent by the time Patch finally graduates. More importantly, they accept his unorthodox methods as legitimate, and begin to move their education tactics and treatment methods to a more personal, fun type. Patch knew what he wanted to do, and he did. Even today you can see hospitals with decorations, entertainment, easier treatment, and many other new things that set them apart from the treatment of many years ago. And it would be unfair to say Patch and his Gesundheit institute didnt have a hand in that. The first Catholic Social Teaching theme is respect of the life and dignity of the human person- and this is what Patch, and the entire movie are all about. The real Patchs life is dedicated to fair treatment of patients and to an extent, everyone. He also says death should be treated with dignity and respects that one day, everyone has to go. Patch starts medicine towards more humane treatment and his work has had an effect today. Patch believes medicine should be a community, so everyone- doctors and patients should unite for good treatment. In his first clinic everyone has a job, not just those who are administering the treatment to the patients. He promotes family values and makes sure every voice is heard. Patchs responsibility as a doctor is to help his patient. He must respect their rights and do everything in his power to respect a patient and carry out their wishes. He must make sure they survive as long as they can, but respects their right to die. However, Patch takes his minimum responsibilities as a doctor and takes it much further- he becomes a helper. He makes his patients feel good not just bodily, but in their minds as well. Patch believes healthcare should be low-cost or even free, because every human deserves medical care. His first clinic and his full hospital today are both non profit and rely on volunteers, patient assistance and tireless work from those involved to keep them running. No one is turned away, especially the vulnerable who really need the help. Patch is a natural helper and will do anything he can if someone is in need of his help. Patch respects dignity. Those who assist him in his medical work do it not out of a desire for money but out of the goodness of their hearts. They are treated just as fairly as the patients. To Patch, medicine isnt just about the patient. Its about the doctor as well, and they have rights. To Patch, we must all stand together as a community. In his perfect world, medicine and any other kind of help is always given for free. Humans are naturally good and he took what was in him and revolutionized a huge part of society. Even after hes gone, the protocol he put into practice will remain and Patch will only truly die when medicine regresses back to the almost robotic way it was years ago. Doctor and patient must stand as one unit for the good of themselves. Solidarity is key in Patchs world, and you must stand up for what you believe in. Even after the death of his girlfriend, his expulsion, his suicide attempt, and the several other obstacles in his way Patch never gave up, and this attitude spread to his close friends. As a doctor, caring for Gods creation is Patchs job. He works with humans, but he would surely help an animal or plant in need if he knew how. Patch respects and cares for the planet. As his influence spreads, many others do as well. His organizations are non-profit to make sure no one is turned away, and Patch continues to work with his patients to this day. Patch Adamss influence on medicine was critical to the field. Today, every medical institution is more humanized and treats its patients with the respect they deserve as human beings. Because of him, patients feel better and will heal faster because of it. This is a huge step in the right direction and its insane that it took that long for the medical profession to realize.

European Sovereign-debt Crisis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

European Sovereign-debt Crisis - Research Paper Example Attempts by international monetary fund (IMF) to avail 750 billion Euros to financially support countries with high debt situation did not mitigate the situation. The paper will, therefore, explore on the causes and evolution of the debt crisis, its impact on the US market, and some interventions undertaken by the US to mitigate the impact. Causes of the Crisis Many factors can be attributed to the crisis that has seen the credit ratings of countries decline and caused shock in the global financial markets. The European Union has been accused of failing to take timely actions and of lingering until the situation ran out of hand. The crisis resulted from a mixture of several complex factors like the globalization of finance, international imbalances in trade, housing bubbles, ease credit conditions between 2002 and 2008 that resulted into high risk lending, and the slow economic growth in the year 2008 (Frangakis, 2006). The factors are elaborated below. a) Increased debt level EU mem bers signed a Maastricht treaty in 1992 where members promised to limit their deficit spending and debt amounts. However, the member countries like Greece and Italy failed to adhere to the agreements of the treaty and instead used complex currency and credit derivatives to increase their debt levels. From the data, the debt levels rose because of the large bailout given to financial sector in the late 2000s and the 2008 economic recession. In 2007, the percentage of fiscal deficit was 0.6 before it rose to 7% during the crisis (Frangakis, 2006). The government debt simultaneously rose to 84% from 66% of the GDP. The crisis can thus be attributed to the inappropriate fiscal policy choices and the actions by the governments to bail out troubled banks. The variations in how different countries used borrowed funds resulted in different effects. Ireland banks, for example, increased their lending to property developers, which later led to the housing bubble. Greece, on the other hand, in creased its pledge to the government workers of salary increment and pension rise. These actions increased the government level of debt, which later made it difficult for the states to meet their obligations as they became due. b) Trade imbalances The crisis grew because of the increasing trade imbalances. An increase in the amounts of trade deficits increases the levels of debt hence increasing the debt crisis. Before the commencement of the debt crisis, the trade deficit of Italy, France, and Greece increased, while that of Germany recorded trade surplus. However, Greece position has improved because of the decline in the imports and increment for exports. c) Loss of confidence Immediately after the crisis developed, it became clear that the bonds of weaker economies like Greece were risky. Because of this loss of confidence, sovereign CDS prices rose to match the market expectation of the increased debt. Investors also doubted the ability of the countries to contain the crisis be cause EU countries have few monetary policy choices. d) Monetary Policy Inflexibility Monetary policy inflexibility of all member states of EU established a common monetary policy and used one currency. Countries were, therefore, unable to print money in order to devalue their currency to stimulate exports and reduce the debt level through trade surpluses. Greece and other member states, therefore, lacked

Motivational Issues In Modern Management Term Paper

Motivational Issues In Modern Management - Term Paper Example Having an open door policy in an organization makes all employees feel at ease. When management encourages staff to feel at ease in the office, it creates an atmosphere that is conducive to work in. Communicating in an informal basis to the juniors helps them feel that you are part of their team thus encourages them to involve the management more in their work. Building employee confidence is crucial as this finally trickles down to the kind of results they produce. Offering feedback and information on a project, or encouragement to employees instills confidence in them. Meeting employee’s needs in areas such as, good working conditions, offering reasonable salaries, and job security all help in job satisfaction. Most employees have targets which they have set for themselves, getting to know employee’s better helps the managers establish the type of targets to give to a person, as well as identify their strengths and weaknesses. Laming (2004) argues that motivation can be done by setting targets that are achievable to an individual. However, this does not mean that a more experienced staff should be given a task that they are sure to meet easily since it does not help them in personal growth. For a more experienced staff, a more challenging task they have never encountered before drives them into being more creative and innovative, hence helps boost their confidence too. Therefore, the tasks given have to be realistic, specific, and tangible. This helps them into putting more effort to the task at hand. It enhances job satisfaction and offers opportunities for job advancements and promotions (Laming, 2004). Targets equally help employees know exactly what is expected of them. Therefore, empowering employees is very important as it helps them advance and improve their quality of life. Management should concentrate on making work more interesting to their staff. Job enrichment cuts back on workers feeling dissatisfied with their jobs. This improves the atmosphere of the workplace and employees tend to be more responsible (Donald, 2004). However, this means that the company has to incur expenses in training the staff members who lack the proper skills. Nevertheless, the training is beneficial to both the employee and employer, as the staff can be given more responsibilities as they already have acquired training. Job rotation should highly be considered as it helps an employee gain more knowledge of the processes of the company. This means that at any given time, there is always someone on standby able to do the job in case a member of staff is unavailable. However, this means that some employees have to be taken away from their usual tasks so as to acquire more training on more duties and responsibilities. Appraisals are a good way of assessing and improving employee’s performance. The appraisals work in identifying the strengths and weaknesses of employees, therefore, investing more time on their strengths. Companies l ike Apple motivate their staff by giving them time to work on a creation of their choice once a week (Reeve, 2009). In return, new innovations are often created. This gives the employees ownership of the creation, and encourages them create more innovations. Praising employees during public events is a good way to boost their motivation and self esteem. This shows that management values the work one is

Video games are the latest expression of the 'control society' Essay

Video games are the latest expression of the 'control society' (Deleuze 1992) Discuss this claim in relation to ideas of con - Essay Example The children who learn a sort of behaviour from these video games usually affect their own health, their social life and start lacking in physical activity games (Anderson & Bushman, 2001). This essay has explained the Deleuze’s concept of controlled society and how the video games can be, or, are being used in control and improvising of the control society. Evolution of Video Games Video Games have evolved over the past two decades. There was once a time when 16-bit and 32-bit gaming consoles were extremely popular around the world. These games were usually two-dimensional in nature and were relatively clean in terms of violence, nudity, expletives and sexual content (Gottfried, 2005). However, gaming has evolved rapidly with the passage of time and today, three- dimensional games are widely available. These games boast the most detailed and crisp high definition graphics and an addictive game play. Unfortunately, with advances in gaming technology, the level of inappropriate and unsuitable content in games has also increased to an alarming level (Gottfried, 2005). Advancements in Technology and the modern emergence of video games With the rapid growth and development of the society, the modernization of the technology is an important aspect that cannot be neglected. While the advancements continue to pave their path through the society, the concept of a control society, in terms of expressions, is an important phenomenon that has been introduced by Deleuze. The world’s leading producers of electronic games do their best to ensure that they stamp their game CDs with a prominent ESRB rating that gives the potential purchaser of the CD a general idea of the type of content that they might stumble across in the game. The ESRB rating is ideally meant to discourage younger audiences from purchasing games that have an 18+ or similar rating (Vorderer& Bryant, 2012). But is this enough to stop ardent gaming enthusiasts from playing their favourite games? No, it isn’t. Younger addicts of games are regularly exposed to inappropriate content as they are unable to control the strong urge to play the latest games and this usually means that they shun ESRB ratings. The games being developed these days are rich in graphical content and it is common for gamers to control a gung-ho protagonist and go on a killing spree as they match around the city shooting enemies in the head and spilling their blood all over the place (Vorderer& Bryant, 2012). Apart from this, there are also games where blade-swinging heroes swing their swords to cut off limbs and chop off heads. Such content is hardly considered to be appropriate for children under the age of 18. An example taken here is of â€Å"Hercules† and â€Å"mortal combat†. Unfortunately these games are the most common among younger children who have been addicted to them. Concept of Improvisation In testing and complex circumstances performing authorities improvise with a pa rticular deciding objective to pass on request from the holds of turmoil. Highsmith (2002) recommends this as a "choric" practice. Undoubtedly, in a gathering condition, there may be battling depictions for encounters, occasions and issues, however legitimately, translations help accord, that is, equifinality. This has been noted to happen all around crises where gifted people and conglomerations improvise life-sparing happens out of disarray. Deleuze’

Task 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Task 2 - Essay Example The Other will always be lesser, not as good, and below the members of the group at large. This is not a new phenomenon. It is something we have seen play itself out throughout history and it is reflected in many works of literature as well. To some extent, the concept of the Other is a means of social control. It is a method of separating out into groups those who think as we do and those who do not. If someone does not think as we do, then they must be lesser than we are. They must also be ‘against’ us. Thus, caution should be exercised when dealing with a person who is an Other. In Melissa Algranati’s essay, â€Å"Being an Other,† otherness is presented as a state of being wherein you have no peer group or cohort, outside of your own family. â€Å"I learned at a young age that there are not too many Puerto Rican, Egyptian Jews out there† (Algranati, 1996, p.135). For Algranati, the realization that you are a one-of-a-kind is startling. It forces a separateness from other people. She could not simply choose one group to identify with. She explains: â€Å"For most of my life I’ve been living in two worlds, and at the same time I’ve been living in neither† (135). Algranati finds her state of being an Other most disconcerting when she is asked to choose identification for herself on the PSAT. She talks about her confusion at even being asked to select only one group with whom to identify, since choosing one means leaving out the other, which is, as she put it, â€Å"leav[ing] out so much† (135). Our identity is i n part shaped by how other people perceive us. â€Å"But when the criteria for ascribing a certain identity include things over which you have no control –as is the case with gender, race, and sexual orientation—then whether you identify with that identity†¦is not only up to you† (Appiah, 2005, p. 70). For Algranati, both parents have spent their lives as Others as well. Her father’s family was displaced—first

Assignment 1- Accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Assignment 1- Accounting - Essay Example In a balance sheet, the sum of all the liabilities and the equity of an organization should be equal to the assets; as all the assets would either be financed through taking up liabilities or providing equity to the stockholders. Therefore, Assets are the economic resources that are owned by an organization. They may be tangible in nature such as building, inventory, cash, accounts receivable etc., or intangible in nature such as good will. Broadly speaking, there are two kinds of assets; Fixed and Current Assets. Currents assets are assets which can be easily converted into cash such as inventory and accounts receivable. Assets which cannot be easily converted into cash such as real estate, buildings are known as fixed assets. Liabilities are debt that is held by an organization. An organization may have taken up debt from its suppliers, or banks, or vendors and creditors. This section shows all the money that an organization has to pay off, in the short term or in the long terms. The third section, Equity, is another method of raising money, where shares are given to stockholders and money is taken from them for the purpose of the business. Shares help the stockholders become part owners of the organization. Balance sheet provides information regarding the trends that are present related to an organization regarding the elements of the balance sheet. A comparative analysis of balance sheet items such as accounts receivable, accounts payable would help identify trends over the years regarding these assets and liabilities. Or are the cash reserves declining over the years; the investors might then look deeply into the matter to see the reason behind it. In short, it provides the changing scenario of the organization over the years; in a profit and loss statement, the information is pertaining to that certain year only. Fixed Assets are a part of the Assets; they are those assets of the organization which cannot be easily converted into

Machiavellianism Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Machiavellianism - Dissertation Example 2.Machiavelli notes that huge-spending by political leaders has a significant influence, power and domination over the economical administrators. The application is still widely relevant in the contemporary setting especially during the general election campaigns. Retired leaders for example George Bush, Bill Clinton and the current leader, President Obama; rose to their presidential thrown due to their huge economic muscle they had during their presidential campaigns. Obama used multiple fundraisers and donations from well wishers which exceeded the then presidential hopeful, Mr. McCain’s financial power. Mr. Obama’s vast financial power enabled him to mobilize multiple people and initiatives, which propelled him to win the elections. 3.(a)Based on Machiavelli the Prince applies Morality to balance the sociopolitical interests where people are accustomed to. Morality is essential for the structuring of the political system. He further noted that moral corruption assist s in the realization of social benefits like security and stability.(b) Machiavelli asserted that Private Morality and Public Morality must be evaluated differently in order for the Prince to rule effectively. The Prince should not only care about his reputation but also act immorally when the need arises. As a result, Morality should constitute force in order to achieve political stability in legal and structural institutions. 4. Machiavelli displays an autocratic attitude towards the role of Religion and its importance to the government.

Organisations - Contrast the Assumptions of Mainstream and Critical Approaches to studying Organisations Essay Example for Free

Organisations Contrast the Assumptions of Mainstream and Critical Approaches to studying Organisations Essay An organisation is a group of people intentionally organised to accomplish an overall, common goal or set of goals. Business organisations can range in size from two people to tens of thousands. Organisations are complex phenomena and understanding them – either from the point of view of academic analysis or as a basis for practical attempts to change them – is also complex. It is obvious that organisations vary in a number of key ways, for example structures, cultures, personnel systems, and so on. There are several important aspects to consider about the goal of the business organisation. These features are explicit (deliberate and recognised) or implicit (operating unrecognised, behind the scenes). Ideally, these features are carefully considered and established, usually during the strategic planning process. Vision Members of an organisation often have some image in their minds about how the organisation should be working, how it should appear when things are going well. Mission An organisation operates according to an overall purpose, or mission. Values All organisations operate according to overall values, or priorities in the nature of how they carry out their activities. These values are the personality, or culture, of the organisation. Strategic Goals Organisations members often work to achieve several overall accomplishments, or goals, as they work toward their mission. Strategies Organisations usually follow several overall general approaches to reach their goals. Systems and Processes that (hopefully) are aligned with achieving the Goals Organisations have major subsystems, such as departments, programmes, divisions, teams, etc. Each of these subsystems has a way of doing things to, along with other subsystems; achieve the overall goals of the organisation. Often, these systems and processes are defined by plans, policies and procedures. How you interpret each of the above major parts of an organisation depends very much on your values and your nature. People can view organisations as machines, organisms, families, groups, etc. The study of organisations draws on a number of disciplines: Economics Classical economics viewed the firm as a single decision-unit engaged in maximising profits. It ignored the possibility of conflict between owners, managers and employees. The obsession with competition failed to take into account the other goals which may take precedence in organisations. Organisation theory partly owes its existence to a reaction against such simplistic ideas. It became necessary to understand behaviour which seemed in classical terms to be irrational. Psychology Psychology is a wide-ranging subject. Early psychologists provided an insight into individual behaviour within organisations particularly on aspects of motivation and leadership. The Hawthorne studies led to a realisation of the importance of social phenomena, such as the informal groups, group norms and conformity. Valuable as these micro-level studies were, they only compounded to the issue by making it difficult understand the link between the behaviour of individuals and the structure of the organisation in which they worked. Sociology Organisational sociologists took a wider perspective, setting the organisation within its environmental framework specifically in relation to society and its institutions. Some sociologists have examined formal organisational structures, particularly in relation to technology. Dating from Webers early work on bureaucracy, sociologists have taken a particular interest in non-profit making organisations. Organisations as Systems (Systems or Mainstream Theory) Mainstream Organisational theory thinks of organisations as systems. Simply put, a system is an organised collection of parts that are highly integrated in order to accomplish an overall goal. The system has various inputs which are processed to produce certain outputs, which together, accomplish the overall goal desired by the organisation. There is ongoing feedback among these various parts to ensure they remain aligned to accomplish the overall goal of the organisation. There are several classes of systems, ranging from very simple frameworks all the way to social systems, which are the most complex. Organisations are, of course, social systems. Systems have inputs, processes, outputs and outcomes. To explain, inputs to the system include resources such as raw materials, money, technologies and people. These inputs go through a process where theyre aligned, moved along and carefully coordinated, ultimately to achieve the goals set for the system. Outputs are tangible results produced by processes in the system, such as products or services for consumers. Another kind of result is outcomes, or benefits for consumers, e. g. , jobs for workers, enhanced quality of life for customers, etc. Systems can be the entire organisation, or its departments, groups, processes, etc. Feedback comes from, e. g. , employees who carry out processes in the organisation, customers/clients using the products and services, etc. Feedback also comes from the larger environment of the organisation, e. g. , influences from government, society, economics, and technologies. Each organisation has numerous subsystems, as well. Each subsystem has its own boundaries of sorts, and includes various inputs, processes, outputs and outcomes geared to accomplish an overall goal for the subsystem. Common examples of subsystems are departments, programs, projects, teams, processes to produce products or services, etc. Organisations are made up of people who are also systems of systems of systems and on it goes. Subsystems are organised in a hierarchy needed to accomplish the overall goal of the overall system. The organisational system is defined by, e. g. , its legal documents (articles of incorporation, by laws, roles of officers, etc. , mission, goals and strategies, policies and procedures, operating manuals, etc. The organisation is depicted by its organisational charts, job descriptions, marketing materials, etc. The organisational system is also maintained or controlled by policies and procedures, budgets, information management systems, quality management systems, performance review systems, etc. One of the most common ways at present is to look at organisations is as organisational systems. This view is becoming more common among professionals who study, teach and write about organisations. Practitioners who work with organisational management to improve organisations also tend to view organisations as systems so it has been termed the mainstream approach. Note that machines, organisms, persons, groups, families, family dynasties are all systems, too. Probably everyone in the workplace has their own conception of what organisation means. As with most highly complex terms, everyone is right and everyone is wrong. The concept of organisational culture is much like an organisational personality. Organisations, like people, have life cycles. Many people view organisational learning much like we view organisms to be learning. Organisations can accumulate and manage knowledge as well. There are a variety of books that describe other traits of organisations much like traits of people, e. g. , depressed organisations, addictive organisations, etc. David Needle makes two important points about the dynamics and determinants of organisational structure and functioning: organisations are not simple unitary, consensual entities where everyone agrees on and focuses on shared organisational goals but where sectional, group interests and viewpoints exist and flourish. And although in many ways organisations are the most rational entities ever created where managers and employees strive to make sensible decisions about purposes and to design organisations and processes that efficiently achieve these purposes, in reality irrational forces also play a major role (Salaman, 2001). Setting organisational goals is a complex process whereby both external factors and internal politics need to be taken into consideration. As such, the system is highly dynamic and changes in the goals will occur with changes in the external environment, such as market demand, technology and government policy, as well as changes that take place between interest groups within the organisation e. g. , sales and production departments. A number of goals may operate at any one time. These may conflict, but in general the goals of a business follow closely those of the dominant coalition (Needle, D; Salaman 2001). A change in ownership or top management is likely to lead to a shift in emphasis of the firms operations too. The culture of an organisation refers to those factors which enable us to distinguish one organisation from another and are the product of its history, management, operating environment, technology, goals and so on. More recently the notion of organisational culture has been used in a more positive way and a set of principles have been developed which mark out the culture of a successful company from that of an unsuccessful one (Needle, D: Salaman, 2001). The goals, structure, patterns of ownership and size of an organisation both reflect and are reflected in its culture. The importance of the organisational culture is that it sets the scene for the determination of strategy and hence the operational aspects of organisational life. Mainstream organisation theory has attracted critical attention. Thompson and McHugh (Salaman, 2001), for example, have argued that there is a tendency for a narrow management plus psychology perspective which has little to do with real-life enterprises. In an attempt to produce a science of organisations, the main focus has been on identifying generalisations about behaviour in work situations and applying them to all organisations, regardless of their nature. In particular, theorists have paid scant attention to the differences between organisations which are subject to market forces and those which are not. Thompson and McHugh contend that it is not meaningful to treat organisations as diverse as scout troops and transnational companies within the same analytical framework and using the same domain assumptions (Salaman, 2001). This has been termed the critical approach. Let’s look into the critical approach a little more.

Stryker Corporation Business Analysis

Stryker Corporation Business Analysis Introduction The purpose of this project is to analyze an established company. The report will provide brief background of the company and its culture, critical analysis of a venture and its key people, core business model and business opportunities. The reader will be able to see the analysis of the most recent entrepreneurial thing that company did and major issues within the organization. In conclusion there will be a methodical critic from an entrepreneurial prospective provided that leads to the possible solutions for future. Company Description Stryker Corporation is a medical technology business that develops and manufactures medical implants, surgical technologies, emergency medical and patient handling equipment as well as execution beds of the death penalized people. They make their best effort by cooperating with their customers to run effective healthcare method and bring healthy lives back to the patients. They do not just make a product, but they also provide service to help people. Stryker is broadly based all round the world and is divided into numerous decentralized operational units, each performing as a detached entity: Stryker Biotech, Stryker Canada, Stryker Communications, Stryker Craniomaxillofacial, Stryker Development, Stryker Endoscopy, Stryker Imaging, Stryker Japan, Stryker Latin America, Stryker MedSurg, Stryker Orthopaedics and Stryker Spine. Venture is built on sustainability, creating a long-term contribution in responsible manner to patients, suppliers and buyers, communities, corporate governance and stakeholders. Its products, locations and service contributions are diverse; hence there are different types of motions within medical business that fully outline their social responsible behavior. Stryker was founded by Dr. Homer Stryker in 1941, an orthopedic doctor that investigated and designed new mechanisms. His inventions led Stryker to slowly integrate into the business and starting to gain capital Stryker was at the level of a small but well-built company. One invention after another and Stryker capitalized more assets that gave a lift to expansion and in 1964 the name of the company was changed to Stryker Corporation. Characteristics of the business opportunities In the middle of 19th century it was relatively easy to enter medical industry due to minimal amount of competition, thus nowadays analyzing Five Forces Approach it is barely impossible to do so, regarding the fact that rivalry among existing firms is too high. Company started operating in 1940s, before the beginning of World War 2, in their pre-mature stage of development Stryker has had a big boom in their demand. Dr. Homer Stryker was in the right place, at the right time. Concerning ventures clearly defined opportunity, it can be stated that Stryker was never eager to gain a pot, he was interested in improving peoples lives, thus taking risks. It can be clearly seen from a quote made by Ronda Stryker, Dr.Homers granddaughter: My grandpa was innovative and took risks. He was always trying to improve what he had and cared more about helping people than he cared about the money he made (Stryker, 2009). In the last century it was a great opportunity to start medical business that was weakly developed and unexamined, taking into consideration the fact that you would be willing to spend a lot of your capital on Research and development to progress. Core business model Next part describes Strykers core business model by using the business model canvas which clearly states the main points which should be included in a Business Model. Key Partners: The main partners of Stryker Corp. are mainly the employees since they are the ones selling the products. The company attaches a major importance to the close relationship between employees and clients. The main objectives for the employees is to understand the clients needs and to provide them with what they want, but also since the employee is so closely related to the guest he is also the one being innovative by suggesting new ideas in order to totally fulfill clients demand. The clients represent key partners as well. They are mainly independent hospitals and surgery centers. Stryker Corp. works with these healthcare centers in order for them to help patients in the most efficient way. Competitors are also among the key partners. There are major and smaller competitors. Of course Stryker Corp. has an advantage since it was one of the first movers in this industry and it is always focusing on improving quality, service and innovation. Stryker Corp. has very strong established network with its suppliers. Company pays a lot of attention on maintaining these relationships in order to ensure smooth running of business. Key Activities: The main activity of Stryker Corp. is sales of medical equipment such as hospital beds, operating room devices and medical devices. The company has a very strong sales force since their employees work on commission, which highly motivates them to perform better. Stryker Corp. states that their sales approach is focusing on personal relationships with individual decision makers. The company also attaches an importance on marketing and Research and development activities, since the main aim of the business is to always be innovative and to come up with new products and communicate those products effectively to their customers. In order to do so, Stryker has participated in advertisement campaigns over the past few years. Company also provides its customers with a very detailed website. Another key activity is maintaining close relationship between the employee and the customer that helps them retain most of these customers and make sure that the world of healthcare is aware of what Stryker Corp. is providing. Key resources: Here, once again, the main resource of the company is its employees. For Stryker Corp. it is important to hire people who share the same vision as to improve patients lives as well as clinical efficiency and effectiveness. The company makes sure to provide them with a safe working environment, strong benefits, services compensation and personal growth opportunities. Stryker has received the Gallup workplace Award which ranks them at the top working places on the world (Stryker, 2009). Another key resource for the company is its knowledge and innovation. Over the past year Stryker Corp. has spent a considerable amount into research and development in order to always come up with the latest technology and the most performing products. Other key resources are assets of the company, its technology, products and capital resources. One of the most important resources is the brand of the venture. All of the resources are required to deliver the value proposition to the target group. Value Proposition: Stryker Corp. focuses on having the highest quality standards in order to offer the best products to its customers. The following are the factors that Stryker relies on: product quality, performance criteria and price. Company wants to offer the top products in the and also the service that goes with it. In order to do so, employees receive special training programs that help them understand clients needs and demands and how to be able to fulfill them is the most efficient way. The design of products has to be made to reduce risks, enhance health and safety, but also to able the doctors to work faster and be more efficient. As mentioned above for Stryker Corp. value of its product is one of the main factors they focus on. Customer Relationship: Compared to other companies, Stryker Corp. has a very close relationship with their customers. This is done to understand them better and to be able to offer them what they are looking for. By having such a close relation clients feel special and they become loyal to the company. As the CEO, Mr. Macmillan mentioned, We dont just make products, we make products and we provide services that help people (Stryker, 2009). In this industry the relation between customers and business is of a high importance, since together they can create more advanced products which will contribute in healthy lives of millions of people worldwide. Customer Segments: Stryker Corp.s target market is known to be the medical professionals and healthcare providers that represent a very high scale demand. That is why the company is operating all around the world to stay the number one provider of medical and healthcare devices. Channels: Stryker operates through twelve manufacturing and distributions divisions with over 15,000 employees in 120 countries. Stryker has a decentralized system, with its headquarters in the U.S. and several offices around the world, which allows the company to make faster decisions about products and strategies. There is a direct communication between the company, suppliers and customers to make sure to provide them with fast and efficient services. Revenue Streams: Stryker Corp.s main revenues are from its sales of medical devices. As mentioned before, the company is divided into several departments the one with the highest revenue being orthopedics. The company itself had sales of 6.7 billion dollars in 2008, with an annual sales growth of 21%. Stryker is traded on the NYSE, it is one of the fortune 400 companies in the world and top 50 Company in the Business Week. Cost Structure: The main costs of Stryker Corp. are mainly allocated in the Research and development segment. Company decided to invest mainly in this segment since it always wants to be the leading healthcare provider and it is highly important to keep up with the technology and to always try to improve the healthcare system. Innovation, risk-taking and pro-activity of the venture and its key people Stryker Corp. is committed to the product quality and highly values innovation. Innovation is the essence of companys dedication to their clients. Research and development teams are working closely with the customers in order to understand their needs better and improve the products. The important part of innovation process is the feedback from people that is conducted periodically. The Stryker Global Technology Center is a core division that is working to boost the innovation to reduce costs while increasing quality. The key person in this area is Ray Umber, Ph.D., business development manager at Stryker. He came up with several innovative ideas that led Stryker to the top place in certain industry segments and now he giving others an opportunity to learn from his experience through training and practice (Stryker , 2009). From the time when the company was established it is obvious that risk-taking is a big part of all operations. Initial risks are connected directly to the risky nature of the industry. One of the most recent examples of risk-taking was the decision to change the vision of the company after many years of operating. There are also risks associated with decisions of expanding the business through acquisitions, joint ventures and partnerships. Over the time line of Stryker Corp. it is evident how pro-active the venture is. Acquisitions play a big role in companys expansion. Stryker Corp. strategically grows into related industries to increase its products offering and get access to new resources and technologies. Over last year company acquired numerous ventures that are important investments for future success. This is also a high risk, since acquisitions require big amount of capital expenditures. Based on the financial situation in the world due to the 2008 crisis, such decisions can be seen as risky. However, Stryker orients on long-term strategy where these acquisitions are important. Proactive programs are also taking place on the smaller level inside the company. Last year, Stryker Corp. presented the program Proactive Distributor Selling that gives managers the opportunity and capacity to better develop, manage, and coach distributor relationships to maximize sales training results (n.a., 2009). Proactive approach is seen throughout all divisions of the company, from supply chains, manufacturing to sales. Company is adapting changes all the time with a goal of improving operations and value of the business. The present CEO of Stryker Corp., Stephen MacMillan is a perfect example of a proactive leader. He leads the company through a change time, explains the reasons and future moves, motivates people to adapt and react to these changes. Traits and characteristics associated of the companys key people There are three key people throughout the history of Stryker Corp.: three CEOs who led the company to the success and who had different traits and characteristics, which makes them successful entrepreneurs. First person who deserves an acknowledgement is the first CEO, Dr. Homer Stryker. He was the one who started the company being driven by his passion and interest in improving patients care. He was a very innovative person, many of his ideas became standards in the industry of medical equipment nowadays. During his work as a surgeon he encountered few problems and difficulties that he saw as opportunities for improvement. One of the main reasons of his success and success of his product was the fact that he was doing what he liked, what he was passionate about. He believed that his inventions will change the medical practice in a better way. He knew how to look at his business from customers perspective, therefore his products were always a match of their needs. Due to his achievements Stryker Corp. grew and became an international producer of medical equipment and surgical products. Second remarkable person is John Brown. His time as the CEO of a company was notable by quite different achievements than his predecessor. John Brown was a risk-taker, he made decisions to decentralize the company after many years being centralized. He saw big future for Stryker Corp. and this step was necessary at the time. He was a good planner who knew how to motivate people by giving them empowerment and responsibilities. Under his management members of the sales team got possibilities to get involved into creation of innovative products due to their good knowledge of customers. His 20% forever rule led the company to the new heights. John Brown built up the competitive advantage for Stryker Corp. that still serves the company. He had an ability to foresee, to manage company wisely, he kept the company going towards success. One of the key people in the company today and the example of successful entrepreneur is Stephen MacMillan, the present CEO of Stryker Corp. He wants to move the company further and expand its operating field. He is passionate about raising the level and often exceeds his own ambitious goals. As well as John Brown he took a risky decision of changing the vision of the company. This is a fundamental change that takes a lot of hard work to ensure success. For Stephen MacMillan, its all about coaching his team to stay ahead of the pack (Much, 2006). He has a great ability to motivate people, to manage companys resources wisely, plan everything one step ahead. He creates a positive image for Stryker Corp., gets involved in companys affairs and builds solid reputation for himself and company as a whole. Companys culture, values, vision and mission Stryker Corp. is the global leader in medical technology industry with the long history of success and strongly established culture. Success of the venture lays in discipline, stamina, ability to recognize the opportunities in the market, move quickly and adapt to current changes. Furthermore, culture differs from company to company and it is usually established naturally. Every time when people come together with the shared purpose culture is created. Stryker Corp.s culture was changing throughout the past, different set of values and incentives were created for employees, with aim to increase the overall financial performance of the company and bring back the benefits to patients, shareholders, community and its employees. Today they are focused on innovation, improving the quality of the products in order to build up trust and integrity. According to their mission statement: What matters most to us and to our customers is quality innovation and cost. Those are three areas how we are delivering for today and investing in future (Stryker, 2009). Companys strong financial and leadership position put the expectation for its products even higher and according to that company has to find the way to exceed customer expectations. Moreover, one of the core values and components in the Stryker Corp.s culture is sustainability. Organization believes in making differences by partnering with their customers and providing them effective healthcare system in order to improve health of their patients. It has built up strong believes and attitudes with their employees that present the essence for their future expansion. According to Striker Corp. they do not just make products our technologies, solutions and services are focused on improving the peoples life (Stryker, 2009). They strive to develop and manufacture products that could sustain the environment and its resou rces. With being sustainable in such a demanding and vigilant industry where the space to make mistake is highly minimized, companys sustainable commitment and responsibility is placed on the highest level. One of the key values is being Social Responsible Corporation in everything what business does. Venture acts as corporate citizen with strong commitment to the patient care by producing the safe products, high quality instrumentation and implants, seeking to minimize the negative effect on the environment, supporting the humanitarian missions and improving quality of life for patients. Building up the trust with customers and patients is everything what social responsibility is. Moreover, vision statement that presents the power tool to retain people with constant shared values was changing in the past with Stryker Corp. as well. Today Stryker Corp. emphasizes on ethics and their vision is: producing products which improve the lives of patients, providing employees with a challenging and rewarding work environment, supporting the communities in which we operate, and generating exceptional returns for our shareholders (Stryker , 2009). Stryker Corp. is not just profit oriented as it used to be before. Now the essential part of its success is the fact that company became more efficient and sociable responsible. Stryker is everything what entrepreneurship is. It was found by Dr. Homer Stryker and his innovative idea that enabled Stryker to be become what it is today, the leader in medical technology. Stryker Corp. involves sense of innovation and constant risk taking that is associated on the daily basis since it is operating in a very sensible environment. Evaluation of failures Stryker Corp. is a strong believer in ethics and bringing the special spirit within its people to compete, make changes and win over the long term. Because of their strong reputation in such sensitive industry, where one mistake or product defect could leave undesired consequences on their image and brand, failures are not tolerated. Taking the case of Surgical Navigation System, where there was a reasonable probability that a product could cause health problems or even create consequences leading to death, Stryker Corp. recalled the product and stopped its usage. This gave the company bad publicity, but it responded fast by pulling out all products from the market and arranging repair for all of them. Very important fact is that in this case Stryker Corp. assumed its responsibility and closely cooperated with public, special control agencies and auditors. After this company became even more cautious and increased safety and security measurements in order to minimize the risks and pr event negative impacts that can decrease their performance in a demanding and competitive market. Recent entrepreneurial thing Apart from the fundamental change of the companys vision that was discussed earlier, one of the main changes, which happened within Stryker Corp. in 2009, was that the Stryker legend, John W. Brown, retired from the board of directors. As mentioned previously he was one of the biggest influences towards the growth of the company. With his retirement the company decided to hire two more directors to replace his position in the board. One of the new members, Mr. Howard Lance is a former chairman, President and CEO of Harris Corporation, which based its operations mainly on telecommunications. The reason for this recruitment was to use his experience and knowledge within the Hong Kong market, where he has lived and worked since Strykers 2010 goal was to expand in the Chinese market. The second gentleman, Mr. Srikant Datar is a former professor of Harvard Business School, who already brings new perspectives towards the team, especially towards the emerging markets. However, mainly his responsibility will lie in bringing new entrepreneurial ideas towards the bio-tech field of the company. The reason this recruitment is the most entrepreneurial thing the company did in the past year is because it will bring a new perspective and help the company grow stronger in the years ahead. Since the company is currently facing consequences of the economic crisis something entrepreneurial had to be organized in order for the company to differentiate from the competition and persuade to their goal of being number one in the medical industry. Idea of hiring a former telecommunication CEO might not seem much related to the medical industry, but from an entrepreneurial side of view it brings new ideas and risks, which will lead the company towards growth. Major problem in the venture The major problem area not for Stryker Corp. only, but also for majority of organizations around the world, is the crisis. Looking at previous years, Stryker has always had a significant growth rate, even in 2007 and 2008. In 2009, however, it changed. Stryker only managed a growth rate of 0.1% in sales and 4% in earnings per share. As Mr. MacMillan states in the 2009 annual report, Clearly, this is not the kind of revenue and earnings growth our shareholders have historically expected from us, and we will never be satisfied with delivering results like these (Stryker, 2009), indicating that these numbers are not up to the satisfaction level in order to meet their goals. On the other hand he also states that 2009 felt more like a boxing match. We went toe-to-toe with a volatile global economy, rolled with some marketplace punches, moved quickly and battled back (Stryker, 2009). Here he is describing how tough the year was for the company in terms of keeping it up to the level expecte d by the shareholders. The crisis itself is the major problem. But within the crisis, sub-problems are found such as the fact that it leaves the market place in an unstable condition, where customers are afraid to buy products. The most common solution is to produce more effectively and lower the costs. Stryker Corp. did just that. The problem was that the quality decreased. The FDA (Food Drug Administration) has through the years become stricter in regulating the medical industry and this affected Stryker Corp. by receiving three warning letters upon their quality on products. The complaints mainly address their biotech and hip implant sector. Company was also accused for falsified hospital documentation, which is not just a quality problem, but becomes a PR problem. Competition is also a major indicator in the problem of reducing your costs. The medical industry is highly competitive industry, especially when it comes to innovations that increase quality and safety. Innovations, on the other hand, requi re big capital expenditures. To stay competitive Stryker Corp. had to further invest in this sector. The last problem in the year 2009 is that Stryker Corp. has some elements of a decentralized company (recent organization is hybrid between centralized and decentralized structure), which makes it difficult to carry out the same plan towards fighting the crisis in all operating countries. Possible solution and evaluation The next step in the problem analysis is to identify possible solutions towards the problem in order to achieve better results in 2010. The suggestions are listed below: Keep the operations as they are, since the market will grow by itself in 2010. Increase expenses on improving the quality Decrease production costs in order to decrease price Fully centralize the company Invest more in innovations to improve competitive advantage Hire a consultant, who can ensure the quality of the products being produced Increase PR spending to increase the companys image In order to find best-match solution, all of them need to be evaluated. The first point can be good, if their market analyst is correct. On the other hand, the market is unpredictable in most cases, therefore, the company would undertake a risk by following this statement of growth. Thus, first option is not a valid solution to the problem. Second possible solution based on the fact that quality was the major sub-problem that arose from the crisis and it is vital to ensure both PR and customer loyalty. Therefore, this option should be considered. Next alternative outlines a theory that is a must do to any companys future success. Decreasing production cost should always be a big part in order to achieve economies of scale, but decreasing that should not be a reason for decreasing the price, because once the recession will come to an end, the company will benefit more from not having changed the price. Solution number 4 is an absolute no-go solution. A major change such a centralizing the company in the times of crisis will just bring more trouble and confusion then there is already. In addition, if the communication is strong, the decision making towards changes in the market will be perceived much faster in a decentralized company or hybrid. Alternative number 5 is probably not the best solution in this case. In the times of crisis there is no need to further increase spending on innovations and most likely that competitors will not do it either since every company is trying to manage their expenses wisely. However, it does not mean that innovation segment must be neglected since it is one of the key elements in this industry. The most reasonable solution is number 6 in terms of sustaining the quality of the products produced and redistributed. It is always helpful to have someone from outside the company to give opinions upon the products and basic operations. Last alternative would also not contribute towards the major challenge of fighting the crisis, since it would mean more expenditure, which indirectly contributes to growth. To finalize upon the options analyzed above, the recommendation for Stryker Corp. would be to hire a consultant and continuously try to decrease costs. The consultant would ensure higher quality and ultimately increase in companys image since fewer customers would have complaints upon the products. In addition, with consultants help, reduced number or no warning letters from the FDA can be achieved. In order to come back to the growth expected by shareholders, our recommendation is to continuously decrease costs and thereby achieve economies of scale. Conclusion Stryker Corp. is a major company in the worlds medical device industry and not an individual business anymore, as it is seen from entrepreneurial perspective. However, its key people and their activities are remarkable from this point of view. This venture has an organized structure, clear goals and objectives that drive company towards continuous growth. Based on evaluation of core business model and major problems that Stryker Corp. has today, there are still many business opportunities that can be undertaken and recommendations provided will contribute in the future success.

Technology in the Mathematics Classroom Essay -- Math Mathematics Tech

Technology in the Mathematics Classroom In today’s society, technology is advancing at such a rate that on can hardly stay ahead. Technology surrounds every person in civilization. To not use the technology that is readily available would be absurd. The same idea applies to technology in the classroom. Calculators, in particular, are becoming more readily available in the classroom, but technology should not stop there. Many inspiring computers programs, such as Geometer’s Sketchpad, Math Success, Fathom, Maple, and Minitab greatly enhance the mathematical teaching and learning that can take place in a classroom. With these types of programs, teachers can cover required more in-depth, and addition material more closely related to the students’ lives. In agreement with Bert K. Waits of Ohio State University, I believe technology, specifically â€Å"calculators[,] in conjunction with mental, paper-and-pencil, and estimation skills when appropriate, comprise the tools to help students work through the computations and manipulations necessary for solving problems† (p. 8). Many people are skeptical about 2 using quality technology in the classroom because they believe it decreases the student’s ability to complete mathematics problems without the technology. In my opinion, in agreement with the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Principles and Standards for School Mathematics, â€Å"technology is essential in teaching and learning mathematics† (p. 24). Even though many people are apprehensive about using technology in the classroom, I feel confident that students can and will use the provided technology wisely and greatly appreciate the ideas and concepts that can be discovered by using technol... ...lassroom, I want all of my students to have access to a handheld calculator and a computer with mathematical software. I plan to encourage my future students to embrace technology and all of its advances. 7 Works Cited â€Å"Handheld Graphing Technology at the Secondary Level: Research Findings and Implications for Classroom Practice† 25 August 2003. gsecondary2.html>. National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Principles and Standards for School Mathematics. Reston: The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Inc., 2000. â€Å"Recommendations for Technology in Teacher Preparation† MAA. 24 August 2003. m>. Waits, Bert. â€Å"The Role of Calculators in Math Education.† 25 August 2003. .html>.

COP 3530, Discrete Data Structures and Algorithms, Summer 1999, Homework 7 :: UFL Florida Computer Programming Homework

Class Notes: Data Structures and Algorithms Summer-C Semester 1999 - M WRF 2nd Period CSE/E119, Section 7344 Homework #7 -- Due Wed 21 July 1999 : 09.30am (Revised Date) In class, we discussed minimum spanning trees (MSTs) and the algorithms that derive MSTs from a graph specification. Using your class notes as a guide, answer the following questions. Note: The graph specifications from Homework #5 have been used with slight modifications, to make the data structures more familiar for you. Comments in response to student questions are in red typeface. * Question 1. Write pseudocode (not Java code) for Prim's algorithm that we discussed in class. Beside each step, write the number of external I/O, memory I/O, incrementation, comparison, and other types of operations employed. Note in the above description that Prim's algorithm (for MST) is to be used, not Dijkstra's (for Shortest Path). The use of Dijkstra's was a typo...my apologies... Then, construct a work budget for each type of operation, together with a Big-Oh estimate of complexity for each of the following graph representations: (a) adjacency matrix, (b) edge list, and (c) adjacency list. * Question 2. Repeat Question 1 for Kruskal's algorithm that we discussed in class. * Question 3. Given the following graph specification (assume directed edges only) for G = (V,E), write out the order of edges with which Prim's algorithm constructs the MST, starting at vertex a. (The third value (integer) in each edge triple is its weight.) (1 point each): (a) V = {a,b,c,d,e,f}, E = {(a,b,1), (b,c,3), (a,c,2), (c,d,4), (c,e,5), (e,f,2),(b,f,3)}. (b) V = {a,b,c,d,e,f}, E = {(d,a,2), (b,c,4), (a,b,2), (e,b,3), (c,e,1), (b,d,1)}. (c) Analyze the complexity of each case ((a) and (b), above) by constructing a work budget similar to Question 1, but for the adjacency list representation only, followed by a Big-Oh estimate. (2 points total) * Question 4. Repeat Question 3 with b as the start vertex. * Question 5. Repeat Question 3 for Kruskal's instead of Prim's, without regard to the start vertex. * Question 6. Repeat Question 3 for Kruskal's instead of Prim's, using the following graph specifications, without regard to the start vertex:

Powerful Theme and Allusions to Sex in Andersons Womanhood :: Anderson Womanhood Essays

Powerful Theme and Allusions to Sex in Anderson's Womanhood    Catherine Anderson's poem "Womanhood" tells about a young girl and her transition to womanhood.   In this intricately woven poem the reader will learn very little about the girl.   Neither she nor her mother are ever named, and no information is given about them or their family life.   What the reader does discover is what lies ahead for her as she begins her first day sewing rugs.   The poem begins a few moments before she enters the gates of the sweatshop that symbolizes her entry into womanhood.   Anderson uses metaphor within this poem to dramatize the difference in what lies ahead for her.   She should be looking forward to a bright and cheerful future, instead, she is faced with the drudgery of a life working in a sweatshop sewing rugs.   Anderson has woven this poem together so there is a link created between the first and second stanzas of the poem.   Each line in the first stanza, describing the carefree attitude of the young girl correlates with a line in th e second stanza illustrating how her life will be far different after she enters the gates of the factory and womanhood.     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Within this poem there are many references or allusions to sex.   Most women are considered to have entered womanhood when they have their first sexual experience with a man.   Anderson plays up this aspect of becoming a woman in the poem to symbolize the girl's losing her innocence and youth to work in the sweatshop.   In essence, she is losing her virginity to that same sweatshop.   The first of these allusions to sex is in the opening lines of the poem; "she slides over/the hot upholstery" (1,2).   The young girl is described as sliding over hot upholstery, like girls sometimes do to snuggle up next to their boyfriends when driving a car.   This verse can also be seen as a metaphor for the hot young skin of a beautiful young girl.   Another example of these references is when Anderson describes the girl   as "loves humming & swaying to the music" (5).   This can be seen as the act of sexual intercourse itself.   The rhythmic swaying of bodies can be seen as little else especially when paired with line 25, "rocking back and forth"(25).   This is further emphasized by Anderson by her use of the ampersand signs (&) which she only uses in these two lines.

Comparison of Frankenstein Essay

We see that it is not their fault that they want to spread all over the world and get released out of the cage of an island they are in now, it is not their fault that they are being so cruelly treated, they want freedom and so they must escape for it, this leads to the destruction of the park and ironically with the park John Hammond himself, it is ironic how Hammond is destroyed by his own creatures, and not the big T-rex but the small velociraptors, that bring an end to his life. We see the velociraptors as birds, which are sublime, which makes it even more ironic. But its not the destruction of the park or the destruction of Hammond which we are upset about, but it is the dying of the creatures that we are upset about, because we build a feeling of them being just innocent subjects of a cruel experiment, and we want them to survive and Hammond to die. But in the end it is justified that everything is destroyed, creator, creations and habitat. It signals an end to a disaster, which was long predicted by Ian Malcolm who is the hero of the show at the end. In Frankenstein similar views are created in the readers mind about the creations of Victor, at first we see him as an outcast in community, and we see him as an inhumane figure just because he does not look like a human. In reality he is bigger than human, he is greater, he is actually very intelligent and physically very big, actually ironically, he is bigger and better than his miniscule creator and most around him. Victor’s creation receives a lot of sympathy from the readers, at first in the beginning he is seen as an ugly creature whom everyone abhors but as soon as he starts to talk we understand him inside and why he does what he does, after killing victors family he talk to us but we understand him and see what is going on. We feel very sympathetic towards him. It is in the end just a tragedy that the creature has to dies, but it is also justified that Victor must dies with him. As we can see that both stories end in the same way, with both creators, creation and habitat all being destroyed, this is what we learn from the playing of god and how wrong it is and why we shouldn’t do it. The incidents, which lead up to the climax in each story, are systematically and cleverly put there to build up the reader’s thoughts for the end of the book. The final scene in Jurassic Park is the destruction of the Park and in Frankenstein it is the Final Confrontation between Victor and his creation. Either way they lead up to dramatic scenes. In Jurassic Park, at the beginning there are scenes to inform us of the dinosaurs these include sightings of the dinosaurs and how they bite a young girl and how a mauled down by a Raptor. Reading these scenes makes you think that there will be dangerous animals I the book and that it will be full of violence. Afterwards when it is clear to the reader that a park has been built for the dinosaurs and the awareness of the dinosaurs becomes apparent, the death scenes get more violent and destructive and frequent. As the scenes get more brutal we seem to think that the dinosaurs are getting way to out of control but later we realise that this is the way that dinosaurs behave and it is inhumane and not possible to make them act another way, so then we feel sorry for them. In the end this stupid ness to think that the dinosaurs could be manipulated to act in a way that they will not cause destructiveness is foolishness and because nothing is done about it, it is inevitable that in the need the dinosaurs just over rule the park and destroy everything and everyone and ironically their own creator in the process. As the death scenes get more frequent, they just keep on growing in frequency and eventually the dinosaur’s crack and all the dinosaurs attack at once and the park is destroyed. Only a few people get away, one of these is Ian Malcolm the theorist who beloved none of this was possible and how right he was, everyone thinks he is genius for this. In Frankenstein there are many deaths too until the final confrontation, but these deaths are al the same, except one which is the death of Justine Moritz. This death is different because she gets hanged for a murder which she did not commit, and which Victor’s creation committed. This fires up a lot of tension, and show that the creation is a evil person and also creates a bigger gap between Victor and his creation. We now see the monster as an evil man, but later on when we hear from him, we see that he is not actually what we think of him, he is quite the opposite, we hear that he thinks he is a clever man and is not accepted in society which is an effective method of making us feel sorry for him. In the end we can see that the book is not climaxed like in Jurassic park with the build of scenes of violence and destruction but with the points of view of both men and finally a confrontation. Either way in both books the climax is not what is ideal. It is a lesson that both writers are trying to convey, it is a message that playing god will eventually lead to deaths, and overall destruction. I n the end both characters in each book are as we can see victims of their own ideas, creations. They both fail because they act selfishly and do not listen to the advice of others. Both men assume the place of god, not just in the act of â€Å"playing god† but in the way they view their control their creatures as if they possessed God’s powers. They lack God’s love; neither Frankenstein, nor Hammond proves capable of loving and respecting his â€Å"offspring. † English/Literature GCSE Course Wider Reading Unit Comparison of â€Å"Frankenstein† (Pre-1900) and â€Å"Jurassic Park† (Pro-1900) Page 2 By Sheryar Majid Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Mary Shelley section.

Lab 2: Microscopy and the Metric System

Microscopy and the Metric System Margaret E. Vorndam, M. S. Version 42-0090-00-01 Lab Report Assistant This document is not meant to be a substitute for a formal laboratory report. The Lab Report Assistant is simply a summary of the experiment’s questions, diagrams if needed, and data tables that should be addressed in a formal lab report. The intent is to facilitate students’ writing of lab reports by providing this information in an editable file which can be sent to an instructor. Exercise 1: Measuring Length, Weight, Volume, and Temperature Try the following conversions for practice. 40,000 ng =0. 24mg =0. 00024g50 cm =500 mm =0. 5m Procedure 1. Length: A metric ruler is useful for measuring items of length. The ruler below measures in mm, indicated by the small mm near 0. a. How many mm are there in 1 cm? 10, in a meter (m)? 1000 (Ruler is not to scale. See ruler in dissection kit. ) b. Locate a measurable object to use for this exercise. If the object is long, obt ain a yardstick that includes a cm scale; they can be found in local hardware stores. c. Record the length of the object below and do the conversions: Name of object: ID card . 5 cm=85mm=0. 085m Volume: Always pour an approximate volume of liquid into a clean beaker and then from the beaker into the volumetric flask or graduated cylinder. This will minimize contamination of the parent liquid source. Dispose properly of any leftover liquid. Do NOT pour it back into the original container. Why? This is so the original liquid does not get contaminated. When using a pipet or dropper to measure liquid, pour an aliquot into a clean beaker and then draw up the liquid from the beaker into the pipet. NEVER try to draw up chemicals by mouth.Why? Chemicals could go into your mouth, which is potentially dangerous and should never be done no matter if they deemed â€Å"safe† or not. Weight: Use the pen scale from the lab kit to measure out exactly three grams of sugar. Make sure to tare t he bag before adding the sugar. Why must the bag be tared before adding the sugar? This is done so the weight of the bag is not counted with the weight of the sugar. You must think about the weight of the bag when weighing out the three grams of sugar. How is the weight of the bag accounted for when the sugar is weighed?The bag is weighed first and then the 3 g of sugar is added on top of that weight so at the end the weight is more than 3g total due to the bag. Temperature: Practice converting the following with this conversion formula: 45 °F = 7. 2  °C 62 °F =16. 7  °C 98. 6 °F =37 °C Use a Celsius thermometer to measure the  °C temperature of several different aliquots of cold and warm tap water. Make sure to allow the thermometer to remain until the temperature is stable and no longer changes. Record the temperatures: Cold-15 °C Warm – 29 °C Hot- 48 °C Questions A. What laboratory equipment would be used to measure the following items? g flour| Beaker and scale| 36 mL water| Graduated cylinder| The length of a frog’s leg| ruler| 36 g water| Beaker/balance| 38? C| thermometer| Volume of a turtle*| Water displacement| 125? F| thermometer| Volume of blood| Graduated cylinder| Weight of a plant| Bag and scale| Weight of blood| Beaker and scale| Temperature of a fish’s body| thermometer| Temperature of blood| thermometer| *This answer may require some creativity. How could it be done? B. Provide the calculation steps, including the conversion factor that would be needed to convert the following measurements, and the final answers.Use U. S. and liquid units where appropriate. 248 g| = 248,000 mg| 145,000 ? L| = 145mL| 536 mL| = 536 cc| 0. 372 kg| = 372 g| 0. 75 L| = 750,000 ? L| 20. 39 cm| = . 2039 m| 145,000? L*(10^-6L /1? L)*(1000mL/1L)=145mL .372kg*(1000g/1kg)=372g 20. 39cm*(1m/100cm)=. 2039m 145,000? L*(10^-6L /1? L)*(1000mL/1L)=145mL .372kg*(1000g/1kg)=372g 20. 39cm*(1m/100cm)=. 2039m 248g*(1000mg/1g)=248,000mg 536mL *(1cc/1mL)=536cc 0. 75L*(1? L/10^-6L)=750000 ? L 248g*(1000mg/1g)=248,000mg 536mL*(1cc/1mL)=536cc 0. 75L*(1? L/10^-6L)=750000 ? L C.Provide the calculation steps, including the conversion factor that would be needed to convert the following measurements, and the final answers. Use US and liquid units where appropriate. 3 cups= . 711 L7,893 mg = . 0174 lb 2. 25 oz= 66. 53 cc36? C= 96. 8 ? F 7893mg*(1lb/453592mg)=0. 0174lb 36? C*(9/5)+32=96. 8? F (96? F-32)*(5/9)=35. 56? C 7893mg*(1lb/453592mg)=0. 0174lb 36? C*(9/5)+32=96. 8? F (96? F-32)*(5/9)=35. 56? C 3 cups*(. 237L/1cup)=. 711L 2. 25oz*(29. 57cc/1oz)=66. 53cc 145,000uL*(1tsp/4928. 92uL)= 29. 42tsp 3 cups*(. 237L/1cup)=. 711L 2. 25oz*(29. 57cc/1oz)=66. 53cc 145,000uL*(1tsp/4928. 92uL)= 29. 42tsp 45,000 uL = 29. 42 tsp96? F= 35. 56 ? C D. What advantages does the metric system have over the English method of measurement? What are the disadvantages? The metric system is advantageous because it has a base of ten, making measurements e asier to take, read, understand, and convert. The prefixes are also standard so they transfer between all measurements. Also, more countries use the metric system whereas basically only the US uses the English method. The main disadvantage of the metric system is that Americans have not grown up with these measurements so they are harder to picture and understand what distance, weight, etc. ach measurement is. For example, it is much easier for most Americans to understand the distance of a mile than to try and picture how long a kilometer is. E. Outline the steps necessary to accurately weigh 3. 5 g of starch. This depends on the scale used, but with the pen scale included in the labpaq, tare a bag or other container that can be used. Then add in the starch until the weight on the scale reads the weight of the container plus 3. 5 g. F. Outline the steps necessary to accurately pipet 5 mL of distilled water. Pour an aliquot of distilled water into a clean beaker.Put a little more th an 5mL of distilled water in a beaker. Pipet 5mL from the beaker, and check to see if the bottom of the meniscus lines up with the 5mL line. Exercise 2: Microscopy The compound light microscope effectively magnifies in the range of 40x to 2000x. If an object under view is 10 nm in length without any magnification, what will be its viewing size at 40x? 400nm at 2000x? 20 ? m What is the equivalent size at these magnifications, in inches? Show your calculations. 400nm*(1cm/10^7nm)*(1in/2. 54cm)= 1. 57*10^-5 in. 20? m*(1cm/10^4? m)*(1in/2. 54cm)= 7. 87*10^-4 in.The scanning electron microscope (SEM) employs electron bombardment to image very small specimens. Electron microscopes are used to image specimens that range from 1 nm to 100  µm in size. What is the equivalent in inches? . Show your calculations. 1nm*(1cm/10^7nm)*(1in/2. 54cm)= 3. 94*10^-8 in. 100 ? m*(1cm/10^4? m)*(1in/2. 54cm)= 0. 0039 in. Procedure 1. Parts of the Compound Light Microscope: Refer to a microscope as this s ection is read. Label the microscope diagram that follows as the examination of the microscope proceeds. a. Eyepiece (Ocular Lens): The magnification power is stamped on the outside of the lens.What is the power of the ocular lens? Microscopes may have interchangeable ocular lenses of different magnification. 15x b. Body Tube: Holds the ocular and objective lenses at the correct focal distance. c. Arm: Used to transport microscope and hold the body tube. d. Nosepiece: The revolving device that holds the objective lenses. May also be referred to as the turret. e. Objective Lenses: Consists of one or more lenses: i. The scanning power objective lens is the shortest of the lenses. What is its power? 4x ii. The low-power objective is slightly longer than the scanning objective. What is its power? 10x iii.The high-power objective is longer than the low-power objective. What is its power? 40x Label this microscope diagram with the appropriate part names and their functions: Eye piece- len s that you look through Body tube- Piece that leaves distance between lenses Course adjustment knob- adjusts focus Nosepiece- turns the lenses Objective lenses- magnify objects Stage- holds slides Mirror- reflects light so you can see what’s on the slides Base- bottom of microscope allowing stability Arm- Supports the tube and connects everything Eye piece- lens that you look through Body tube- Piece that leaves distance between lensesCourse adjustment knob- adjusts focus Nosepiece- turns the lenses Objective lenses- magnify objects Stage- holds slides Mirror- reflects light so you can see what’s on the slides Base- bottom of microscope allowing stability Arm- Supports the tube and connects everything a b c d e f g h i Parts not included in microscope are: Light source Source: Sharma, Abhishake. Labeled Microscope Drawing. N. d. Buzzle. com. 2. Focusing the Microscope: If the microscope includes an oil immersion lens, place a drop of immersion oil on the slide cover sl ip before rotating the lens into place.The function of the oil is to minimize light diffraction through the slide and subject so that greater detail can be seen. After using the oil immersion lens, clean excess oil off of the lens and the slide with a lens cloth. Never tilt a microscope when using oil or if viewing a wet slide. Why? The liquid could come off of the slide and get into a place in the microscope that isn’t good for it, and it will be messy also. 3. Operating the Microscope: a. Obtain a clean slide and cover slip from the slide box. Place the slide and cover slip separately on a paper towel or other soft surface to reduce the possibility of scratching them. . With scissors, cut a letter â€Å"e† from an old magazine or newspaper. c. Place the letter in the center of the slide. d. Follow the instructions in Section 6 below to make a wet mount of the letter. e. Following the directions outlined above under Handling and Focusing the Microscope, place the prep ared slide on the microscope stage. Leave the scanning lens in place and focus so that the letter is clearly viewable. Make drawings of the letter in the boxes below as instructed. Side of the slide furthest away from student| Look from the side of the microscope, viewand then draw the letter here, as it appears onthe slide on the stage. | e e Draw the letter here as it appears when viewing it through the microscope. | Side of the slide closest to student| f. What is observed? Microscopes invert the image on the slide. This means that the subject will appear to be 180 ° rotated and reversed from the actual image viewed on the slide. g. While viewing the letter through the lenses, move the slide slightly. What do you observe about the movement of the letter and slide when viewed through the lenses? When I move the slide up, what I’m viewing moves down. When I move the slide to the left, the image moves right. . Use the directions above to view the letter at the higher object ive powers. On the drawing made above, circle the portion of the letter that is viewable as successively higher power observations are made. What is your conclusion about what happens when higher power objectives are used? Only a piece of the top part is viewable. Higher power objectives magnify the image more. 4. Total Magnification Calculation: Typically, the ocular lens of a microscope will be 10x, but it may be higher or lower. The power is recorded on the side of the lens. a.What is the ocular lens power of the microscope that you are using? It may be 10x or 15x. Record it in Table 1. b. The objective lenses also have the magnification power recorded on their sides. What powers do the objective lenses on the microscope have? Record them in Table 1. c. Now, calculate the total magnification of the viewing area by multiplying the power of the ocular lens with that of the objective lens in use. For instance, if a microscope has a 10x magnification ocular lens and a 4x objective le ns in place for viewing, the total magnification will be 40x (10x multiplied by 4x).What other view magnifications are possible with the microscope? Calculate the total magnification for each set of lenses in Table 1. Table 1: Calculating Magnification Ocular Lens Magnification x| Objective LensesMagnification =| Total Magnification| 15x| 4x| 60x| | 10x| 150x| | 40x| 600x| 5. Diameter of Field: a. With the low-power objective in viewing position, place a short transparent metric ruler on the stage. b. While viewing the ruler through the lenses, measure the low-power diameter of field of view in mm. Convert this measurement to ? m and record in Table 2. c.Switch to the other higher power objectives, noting the diameter, in mm, for each in Table 2. Convert measurements to ? m. How might this information be useful when viewing microscopic subjects? Micrometers are smaller, so it is useful for very small objects when mm would be a very small number that wouldn’t be very understan dable. Table 2: Diameter of a Viewing Field | Magnification(ocular x objective lens’powers)| mm diameterof field of view| ? m diameter *of field of view| Scanning Lens| 60x| 2mm| 2000 ? m| Low Power Lens| 150x| 1mm| 1000 ? m| High Power Lens| 600x| Can’t tell,

Compare and contrast the treatment of dogs in ‘To Flush my Dog’ and the RSPCA leaflet

â€Å"To Flush, My Dog† written by Elizabeth Barrett Browning and the RSPCA leaflet â€Å" Just ï ¼â€ž3 a month will help rescue more animals like Trio† are two documents exploring the same topic – treatment of dogs. Both documents depict how the owners treat their dogs differently showing the love and bond between dogs and humans. In â€Å"To Flush, My Dog†, Elizabeth appraises her dog in a very elaborated manner, while RSPCA documents look at animals from another perspective. Though the theme is the same, the aim of writing is very different. Elizabeth’s love for her dog is contrasted with the maltreatment by some owners whose dogs are subsequently rescued by RSPCA. Similarities, differences and impacts of such treatments will be discussed.â€Å"Nevermore, to pat thee!† (Stanza 16, line 6) Elizabeth uses archaic words like â€Å"thee and ‘thy’ to emphasize the importance of Flush to her. Their intimate relationship is shown t hrough physical affection like patting and stroking. However, there is not any physical affection between Trio and its owner. Trio was physically abused. It was squeezed and grabbed in the belly. The wound is so serious that ‘the owner has been ‘prosecuted and is banned from keeping animals for five years’. Readers can be easily moved by such violent scenes.Elizabeth provides Flush with a cozy home. She takes good care of it, feeds it with sugared milk and gives it some pretty collars to wear. Similarly, the staff in RSPCA treated the terribly injured and physically abused dogs with devoted care around the clock, hoping that they would recover as soon as possible. This shows the provision of love and care by dog lovers beyond basic necessities such as food and shelter. However, Poppy and Trio are not as fortunate as Flush. ‘As she swept along the drain pipe’, saved it from certain death’ (Poppy’s story, line 10) elaborates the miserable fate of Poppy or other unfortunate dogs. Poppy is not even provided with a proper home. It was rescued by the owner’s neighbor when she swept along the drain pipe.In â€Å"To Flush, My Dog†, readers are bewildered to see such a beautiful and loving dog which understands its owner. â€Å"Fawning, fondling, breathing fast† (stanza 11, line 4) is an alliteration used to describe that Flush is a caring and affectionate dog. This creates a drumming effect to attract reader’s attention on how pleasing and attentive Flush is. ‘No man break thy purple cup’ (stanza 17, line 5) is a metaphor used to show how loyal Flush is to its owner. ‘Purple’ is the colour of loyalty. ‘No man’ is used to describe the indispensable role of Flush.Nobody can replace his role. It alludes Flush is very loyal to its owner and it is the best companion to her. Repetition of the word ‘benediction’, which means blessing, is used in the p assage to emphasize that Elizabeth feels very blessed to have such a loving friend. This is reinforced by ‘Mock I thee, in wishing weal?’ which reiterates that Flush is a true blessing to her.This makes a big contrast to the treatment of Trio reported in the RSPCA leaflet, where its irresponsible owner smashed it against a cupboard with full force just because it made a mess in the bedroom. The first paragraph in Trio’s Story successfully grasps readers’ interest on why Trio’s owner ‘saw red’.The reaction of the dogs in these two passages was also very different. Flush is a caring and loyal dog. It sits beside the writer when she is sick. Rather than playing with other dogs, it stays with its owner. Flush is considerate and thoughtful that it comforts the owner when she cries. It trusts its owner. This alludes again the mutual love and affection between Flush and Elizabeth. On the contrary, Trio crawled away from its owner and hid under a cot after his owner smashed him against a cupboard. This suggests how ruthless the owner is and how sick their relation is.The purpose of writing these two documents is very different. â€Å"To Flush, My Dog† is written to show appreciation to dogs and it shows that Flush is a true blessing to her. However, the RSPCA leaflet is written to appeal for donation provided with two convincing and touching stories. This is done by the inspector’s candid attempt to convey the message. â€Å"Dear Friend† (first line in the letter) is what the inspector addresses the potential donors and  general public. This successfully triggers emotions and thoughts from the readers since someone they don’t know is directly addressed in a friendly manner.The structures of the two poems are very different. â€Å"To Flush, My Dog† is a poem with rhyming words in the first two lines and 4th, 5th lines in every stanza. There are a total of 20 stanzas with six lines each. Examples of rhymes are plenty, like ‘brown, breast, rest’ in the second stanza and ‘height, delight’, ‘line and thine’ in the last stanza. In the RSPCA leaflet, there are two touching stories of physically tortured dogs-Trio and Poppy and a letter from the inspector of RSPCA with an aim to appeal donation for helping the poor animals. The structure is modern English.Both documents use a lot of emotive and convincing language. â€Å"In just one year we rescued 6982 abused and neglected animals†. The use of figures and emotive languages â€Å"neglected†, â€Å"abused† successfully are deployed to arouse reader’s attention and sympathy. It also allows readers to realize the seriousness of the situation. Other words like ‘struggle, neglected, abused, terribly injured’ are also used to emphasize the suffering of the dogs like Trio and Poppy, and thus appeal for help, support and donation for the RSPCA.In the poem ‘To Flush, My Dog’, Elizabeth describes her dog as ‘pretty, supportive and benediction’, to suggest the mutual love between Flush and Elizabeth. The first stanza – â€Å"Gentle fellow –creature† is echoed at the end of the poem when it proclaims â€Å" Loving fellow – creature!† showing the rapport towards her ‘fellow’.Both â€Å"To Flush, My Dog† and the RSPCA leaflet articulate the love and bond between human and dogs, which is shown by Elizabeth and inspector respectively. Elizabeth’s close relationship with Flush is contrasted by the ruthless ones of Trio’s and Poppy’s. The structure and the style of these two documents differs to a great extent but the use of language shows some similarities. The greatest similarities are the writers’ excellent ways of articulating their ideas and to influence the readers.