Fool Chapter 23

TWENTY-THREE DEEP IN THE DUNGEON â€Å"My fool,† said Lear, as the guards dragged me into the dungeon. â€Å"Bring him here, and unhand him.† The old man looked stronger, more alert, aware. Barking orders again. But with the command he commenced a coughing fit that ended with a spot of blood on his white beard. Drool held a water skin for the old man while he drank. â€Å"We've a beating to deliver, first,† said one of the guards. â€Å"Then you'll have your fool, well striped as well as checkered.† â€Å"Not if you want any of these buns and ale,† said Bubble. She'd come down another stairway and was carrying a basket covered with cloth and steaming the most delectable aroma of freshly baked bread. A flask of ale was slung over her shoulder and a bundle of clothes tucked under her free arm. â€Å"Or we'll beat the fool and take your buns as well,† said the younger of the two guards, one of Edmund's men and obviously not aware of the pecking order at the White Tower. Bugger God, St. George, and the white-bearded king if you must, but woe unto you if you crossed the cantankerous cook called Bubble, for there'd be grit and grubs baked into all you'd ever eat until the poison finally took you. â€Å"You'll not want to press that bargain, mate,† said I. â€Å"The fool's wearing the kit of one of my servers,† said Bubble, â€Å"and the boy's shivering naked in my kitchen.† Bubble threw a bundle of black clothing through the bars into the cell with Drool and Lear. â€Å"Here's the fool's motley. Now strip, you rascal, and let me get back to my business.† The guards were laughing now. â€Å"Well, go on, little one, get your kit off,† said the older guard. â€Å"We've hot buns and ale waiting.† I undressed in front of the lot of them, old Lear protesting from time to time, like anyone gave a hot bootful of piss what he had to say anymore. When I was radiant naked, the guards unlocked the door and I crept over to the bundle. Yes! My knives where there, secreted in with the rest. With a bit of sleight o' hand and a distraction from Bubble handing out buns and ale, I was able to secure them inside my jerkin when I dressed. Two other guards joined the two outside of our cell and shared the bread and ale. Bubble waddled back up the stairs, shooting me a wink as she went. â€Å"The king are melancholy, Pocket,† said Drool. â€Å"We should sing him a song and cheer him up.† â€Å"Sod the sodding king,† said I, looking directly into Lear's hawk eye. â€Å"Watch yourself, boy,† said Lear. â€Å"Or what? You'll hold my mother down while she's raped, then throw her in the river? Have my father killed later, then? Oh, wait. Those threats are no longer valid, are they, uncle? You've carried them out already.† â€Å"What are you on about, boy?† The old man looked fearsome, as if he'd forgotten he'd been treated like so much chattel and thrown in a cage full of clowns, but instead faced a fresh affront. â€Å"You. Lear. Do you remember? A stone bridge in Yorkshire, some twenty-seven years ago? You called a farm girl up from the riverbank, a pretty little thing, and held her down while you commanded your brother to rape her. Do you remember, Lear, or have you done so much evil that it all blends into a great black swath in your memory?† His eyes went wide then, I could tell he remembered. â€Å"Canus – â€Å" â€Å"Aye, your poxy brother sired me then, Lear. And when no one would believe my mother that her son was the bastard of a prince, she drowned herself in that same river where you threw her that day. All this time I have called you nuncle – who would have thought it true?† â€Å"It is not true,† he said, his voice quivering. â€Å"It is true! And you know it, you decrepit old poke[44] of bones. A warp of villainy and a woof of greed are all that hold you together, thou desiccated dragon.† The four guards had gathered at the bars and peered in as if they were the ones who were imprisoned. â€Å"Blimey,† said one of the guards. â€Å"Cheeky little tosser,† said another. â€Å"No song, then?† asked Drool. Lear shook his finger at me then, so angry was he that I could see blood moving in the veins of his forehead. â€Å"You shall not speak to me in this way. You are less than nothing. I plucked you from the gutter, and your blood will run in the gutter on my word before sundown.† â€Å"Will it, nuncle? My blood may run but it will not be on your word. On your word your brother may have died. On your word your father may have died. On your word your queens may have died. But not this princely bastard, Lear. Your word is but wind to me.† â€Å"My daughters will – â€Å" â€Å"Your daughters are upstairs, fighting over the bones of your kingdom. They are your captors, you ancient nutter.† â€Å"No, they – â€Å" â€Å"You sealed this cell when you killed their mother. They've both just told me as much.† â€Å"You've seen them?† He seemed strangely hopeful, as if I might have forgotten to bring the good news from his traitorous daughters. â€Å"Seen them? I've shagged them.† Silly, really, that it should matter, after all his dark deeds, all his slights and cruelties, that a fool should shag his daughters, but it did matter, and it was a way to unleash a little of the fury I felt toward him. â€Å"You have not,† said Lear. â€Å"You have?† asked one of the guards. I stood then, and strutted a bit for my audience, plus it was a better position for grinding my heel into Lear's soul. All I could see was the water closing over my mother's head, all I could hear was her screams as Lear held her. â€Å"I shagged them both, repeatedly, and with relish. Until they screamed, and begged and whimpered. I shagged them on the parapets overlooking the Thames, in the towers, under the table in the great hall, and once, I shagged Regan on a platter of pork in front of Muslims. I shagged Goneril in your own bed, in the chapel, and on your throne – which was her idea, by the way. I shagged them while servants watched and in case you were wondering, because they asked, and as any princess should be shagged, for the pure sweet nasty of it. And they – they did it because they hate you.† Lear had been wailing while I ranted, trying to drown me out. Now he growled, â€Å"They do not. They love me all. They have said.† â€Å"You murdered their mother, you decrepit loony! They've put you in a cell in your own dungeon. What do you need, a written decree? I tried to shag the hate out of them, nuncle, but some cures lie beyond a jester's talents.† â€Å"I wanted a son. Their mother would give me none.† â€Å"I'm sure if they had known that they wouldn't have despised you so deeply and done me so well.† â€Å"My daughters wouldn't have you. You didn't have them.† â€Å"Oh, I did, on my black heart's blood, I did. And when it first started, each of them would shout Father when she came. I wonder why. Oh yes, nuncle, I did indeed. And they wanted you to know – that's why they accused me before you. Oh yes, I bonked them both.† â€Å"No,† wailed Lear. â€Å"Me, too,† said Drool, with a great juicy grin. â€Å"Beggin' your pardon,† he quickly added. â€Å"But not today?† asked one of the guards. â€Å"Right?† â€Å"No, not today, you bloody nitwit. Today I killed them.† The French marched overland from the southeast and sailed ships up the Thames from the east. The lords of Surrey on the south showed no resistance and since Dover lay in the County of Kent, the forces of the banished earl not only offered no resistance, but joined the French in the assault on London. They'd marched and sailed across England without firing a single bolt or losing a single man. From the White Tower the guards could see the fires of the French drawing a great orange crescent in the night that illuminated the sky to the east and south. When the captain made the call to arms at the castle, one of Lear's old knights or squires, under the command of Captain Curan, put a blade to the throat of any of Edmund's or Regan's men, demanding they yield or die. The personal guard forces within the castle had all been drugged by the kitchen staff with some mysterious non-lethal poison that mimicked the symptoms of death. Captain Curan sent a message to the Duke of Albany from the French queen that if he stood down, in fact, stood with her, that he could return to Albany with his forces, his lands, and his title intact. Goneril's forces from Cornwall, and Edmund's from Gloucester, camped on the west side of the Tower, found they were flanked on the south and east by the French, and on the north by Albany. Archers and crossbowmen were dispatched to the Tower walls above the Cornwall army and a herald fought his way through the panicked forces to a commander, carrying the message that the forces of Cornwall were to lay down their weapons on the spot or death would rain down upon them such as they could not imagine. No one was willing to die for the cause of Edmund, bastard of Gloucester, or the dead Duke of Cornwall. They laid down their weapons and marched three leagues to the west as instructed. In two hours it was all over. Out of nearly thirty thousand men who took the field at the White Tower, barely a dozen were killed – all of those, Edmund's castle guards who refused to yield. The four guards lay spread about the dungeon in various awkward positions, looking quite dead. â€Å"Dodgy sodding poison,† said I. â€Å"Drool, see if you can reach the one with the keys.† The Natural stretched through the bars, but the guard was too far away. â€Å"I hope Curan knows we're down here.† Lear looked around wild-eyed again, as if his madness had returned. â€Å"What is this? Captain Curan is here? My knights?† â€Å"Of course Curan is here. From the sound of the trumpets I'd say he's taken the castle, as was the plan.† â€Å"All your theater was misdirection, then?† said the king. â€Å"You're not angry?† â€Å"Burning, you old twat, but I was growing weary with keeping the tirade up while the bloody poison took hold. You're no less a turd in the milk of human kindness than I have said.† â€Å"No,† said the old man, as if my anger actually mattered to him. He began coughing again and caught a handful of blood for his effort. Drool propped him up and wiped his face. â€Å"I am king. I will not be judged by you, fool.† â€Å"Not just a fool, nuncle. Your brother's son. Did you have Kent murder him? The only decent bloke in your service and you turned him into an assassin, eh?† â€Å"No, not Kent. It was another, not even a knight. A cutpurse who had come before the magistrate. It was he who Kent killed. I sent Kent after the assassin.† â€Å"He is vexed by it still, Lear. Did you have a cutpurse kill your father as well?† â€Å"My father was a leper and necromancer. I could not bear his misshapen form ruling Britain.† â€Å"In your place, you mean?† â€Å"Yes, in my place. Yes. But I did not send an assassin. He was in a cell at the temple at Bath. Out of the way, where no one might ever see him. But I could not take the throne until his death. I did not kill him, though. The priests there simply walled him up. Was time that killed my father.† â€Å"You walled him up? Alive?† I was shaking now, I thought I might have forgiven the old man, seeing him suffer, but now I could hear my blood in my ears. The sound of boots on stone echoed in the dungeon and I looked up to see the bastard Edmund walk into the torchlight. He kicked one of the unconscious guards and looked at them like he'd just discovered monkey come in his Weetabix.[45] â€Å"Well, that's a spot of bother, isn't it?† he said. â€Å"I suppose I'll have to kill you myself, then.† He stooped and took a crossbow from one of the guards' back, fit his foot in the stirrup, and cocked the string. INTERMISSION (Backstage with the Players) â€Å"Pocket, you rascal, you've trapped me in a comedy.† â€Å"Well, for some, it is, yes.† â€Å"When I saw the ghost I thought tragedy was assured.† â€Å"Aye, there's always a bloody ghost in a tragedy.† â€Å"But the mistaken identity, the vulgarity, the lightness of theme and paucity of ideas, surely it's a comedy. I'm not dressed for comedy, I'm all in black.† â€Å"As am I, yet here we are.† â€Å"So it is a comedy.† â€Å"A black comedy – â€Å" â€Å"I knew it.† â€Å"For me, anyway.† â€Å"Tragedy, then?† â€Å"Bloody ghost is foreshadowing, innit?† â€Å"But all the gratuitous shagging and tossing?† â€Å"Brilliant misdirection.† â€Å"You're having me on.† â€Å"Sorry, no, it's pikeman's surprise for you in the next scene.† â€Å"I'm slain then?† â€Å"To the great satisfaction of the audience.† â€Å"Oh bugger!† â€Å"But there's good news, too.† â€Å"Yes?† â€Å"It remains a comedy for me.† â€Å"God, you're an annoying little git.† â€Å"Hate the play, not the player, mate. Here, let me hold the curtain for you. Do you have any plans for that silver dagger? After you're gone, I mean.† â€Å"A bloody comedy – â€Å" â€Å"Tragedies always end with tragedy, Edmund, but life goes on, doesn't it? The winter of our discontent turns inevitably to the spring of a new adventure. Again, not for you.† â€Å"I've never killed a king,† said Edmund. â€Å"Do you think I'll be famous because of it?† â€Å"You'll not garner favor with your duchesses by killing their father,† said I. â€Å"Oh, those two. Like these guards, quite dead, I'm afraid. They were sharing some wine over maps as they planned strategy for the battle and fell down foaming. Pity.† â€Å"These guards aren't dead. Merely drugged. They'll come around in a day or so.† He lowered the crossbow. â€Å"Then my ladies are only sleeping?† â€Å"Oh no, they're quite dead. I gave them each two vials. One with poison, the other with brandy. Bubble used the knockout poison on the guards, so brandy was our non-lethal substitute. If either of them had decided to show mercy for the other, at least one would be alive. But, as you said, pity.† â€Å"Oh, well played, fool. But, that said, I'll have to throw myself on Queen Cordelia's mercy, let her know that I was brought into this horrid conspiracy against my will. Perhaps I'll retain the Gloucester title and lands.† â€Å"My daughters? Dead?† said Lear. â€Å"Oh shut up, old man,† said Edmund. â€Å"They was fit,† said Drool sadly. â€Å"But when Cordelia hears of what you've really done?† I asked. â€Å"Which brings us to our apex, doesn't it? You won't be able to tell Cordelia what has transpired.† â€Å"Cordelia, my one true daughter,† wailed Lear. â€Å"Shut the fuck up,† said Edmund. He raised the crossbow, sighted through the bars at Lear, then stepped back and seemed to lose his aim, as one of my throwing daggers sprouted out of his chest with a thud. He lowered the crossbow and looked at the hilt of the knife. â€Å"But you said pikeman's surprise?† â€Å"Surprise,† said I. â€Å"Bastard!† snarled the bastard. He pulled the crossbow up to fire, this time at me, and I sent the second dagger into his right eye. The crossbow twanged and the heavy bolt rattled off the stone ceiling as Edmund spun and fell onto the pile of guards. â€Å"That were smashing,† said Drool. â€Å"You'll be rewarded, fool,† said Lear, his voice rattling with blood. He coughed. â€Å"Nothing, Lear,† said I. â€Å"Nothing.† Then there was a woman's voice in the chamber: â€Å"Ravens cry pork from the battlements, there's dead Edmund on the wind and bird beaks water at his scoundrel scent!† The ghost. She stood over Edmund's body outside our cell, rather more ethereal and less solid than she'd been when last I'd seen her. She looked up from the dead bastard and grinned. Drool whimpered and tried to hide his head behind Lear's white mane. Lear tried to wave her away, but the ghost floated to the bars in front of him. â€Å"Ah, Lear, walled up your father, did you? And?† â€Å"Go away, spirit, do not vex me.† â€Å"Walled up your daughter's mother, didn't you?† said the ghost. â€Å"She was unfaithful!† cried the old man. â€Å"No,† said the ghost. â€Å"She was not.† I sat down on the cell floor, feeling light-headed now. Killing Edmund had made me queasy, but this. â€Å"The anchoress at Dog Snogging was your queen?† I asked, my voice sounding faraway in my own ears. â€Å"She was a sorceress,† said Lear. â€Å"And she consorted with my brother. I did not kill her. I could not bear it. I had her imprisoned at the abbey in Yorkshire.† â€Å"Well you damn well killed her when you had her walled up!† I shouted. Lear cowered at my veracity. â€Å"She was unfaithful, having dalliance with one of the local boys. I could not bear the thought of her with another.† â€Å"So you ordered her walled up.† â€Å"Yes! Yes! And the boy was hanged. Yes!† â€Å"You heinous monster!† â€Å"She did not give me a son, either. I wanted a son.† â€Å"She gave you Cordelia, your favorite.† â€Å"And she was true to you,† said the ghost. â€Å"Up to the time you sent her away.† â€Å"No!† The old king tried to wave the ghost away again. â€Å"Oh yes. And you had your son, Lear. For years you had your son.† â€Å"I had no son.† â€Å"Another farm girl you took near another battlefield, this one in Iberia.† â€Å"A bastard? I have a bastard son?† I saw hope rise in Lear's cold hawk eye and I wanted to strike it out the way that Regan had taken Gloucester's. I unsheathed the last of my throwing daggers. â€Å"Yes,† said the ghost. â€Å"You had a son, these many years, and you lie in his arms now.† â€Å"What?† â€Å"The Natural is your son,† said the ghost. â€Å"Drool?† said I. â€Å"Drool?† said Lear. â€Å"Drool,† said the ghost. â€Å"Da!† said Drool. And he gave his newfound father a great, arm-rippling hug. â€Å"Oh Da!† There was a cracking of bones and the sickly sound of air escaping wet, crushed lungs. Lear's eyes bulged out of his head and his parchment-dry skin began to go blue as Drool gave him a lifetime of son's love all in a moment. When the whistling sounds stopped coming out of the old man I went to Drool and pried his arms off, then lowered Lear's head to the floor. â€Å"Let loose, lad. Let him go.† â€Å"Da?† said Drool. I closed the old man's crystal-blue eyes. â€Å"He's dead, Drool.† â€Å"Tosser!† said the ghost. She spat, a tiny gob of ghost spit that came out as a moth and fluttered away. I stood then and spun on the ghost. â€Å"Who are you? What injustice has been done that can be undone so your spirit may rest, or will at least make you go away, thou ether-limbed irritation?† â€Å"The injustice has been undone,† said the ghost. â€Å"At last.† â€Å"Who are you?† â€Å"Who am I? Who am I? Your answer is in a knock, good Pocket. Knock upon your coxcomb, and ask that trifling machine of thought wherefrom comes his art. Knock upon your cod, and ask the small occupant who wakes him in the night. Knock upon your heart, and ask the spirit there who woke it to the warmth of its home fire – ask that tender ghost who is this ghost before you.† â€Å"Thalia,† said I, for I could, at last see her. I fell to my knees before her. â€Å"Aye, lad. Aye.† She put her hand on my head. â€Å"Arise, Sir Pocket of Dog Snogging.† â€Å"But, why? Why did you never say you were a queen? Why?† â€Å"He had my daughter, my sweet Cordelia.† â€Å"And you always knew of my mother?† â€Å"I heard stories, but I didn't know who your father was, not while I lived.† â€Å"Why didn't you tell me of my mother?† â€Å"You were a little boy. That's not the sort of story for a little boy.† â€Å"Not so little you wouldn't have me off through an arrow loop.† â€Å"That was later. I was going to tell you, but he had me walled up.† â€Å"Because we were caught?† The ghost nodded. â€Å"He always had a problem with the purity of others. Never his own.† â€Å"Was it horrible?† I had tried not to think of her, alone in the dark, dying of hunger and thirst. â€Å"It was lonely. I was always lonely, except for you, Pocket.† â€Å"I'm sorry.† â€Å"You're a love, Pocket. Good-bye.† She reached through the bars and touched my cheek, like the slightest brush of silk it was. â€Å"Care for her.† â€Å"What?† She started to float toward the far wall where the body of Edmund lay. She said: â€Å"After grave offense to daughters three, Soon the king a fool shall be.† â€Å"Nooooooo,† wailed Drool. â€Å"My old da is dead.† â€Å"No he isn't,† said Thalia. â€Å"Lear wasn't your father. I was having you on.† She faded away and I started to laugh and she was gone. â€Å"Don't laugh, Pocket,† said Drool. â€Å"I are an orphan.† â€Å"And she didn't even hand us the bloody keys,† said I. Heavy footsteps fell on the stairs and Captain Curan appeared in the passage with two knights. â€Å"Pocket! We've been looking for you. The day is ours and Queen Cordelia approaches from the south. What of the king?† â€Å"Dead,† said I. â€Å"The king is dead.†

Night

In the fascinating memoir Night by Elie Wiesel, he deals with the struggle of surviving, which was devastating since it was during the holocaust. In the memoir Night, Wiesel uses Symbolism, Simile, and Irony in order to illustrate the events during the holocaust. Wiesel’s use of Symbolism helped the reader understand the captivity of the Jews in the concentration camps. †Father, I said â€Å"If that is true then I don’t want to wait.I’ll run into the electrified barbed wire. That would be easier than a slow death in the flames. †(33). Wiesel uses his symbolism when he said â€Å"the electrified barbed wire. † It’s being used to show the reader that this is how the atmosphere was during the holocaust. Elie Wiesel, in his autobiography Night, his use of Simile helps the reader to understand the brutal atmosphere of the German Police. There are 80 of you in the car, the German Officer added,† if any of you are missing, you will be sh ot like dogs. †(24). He uses his simile language when the train (that the Jews were on) stopped and was guarded by two German police officers. It’s being used to portray the atmosphere of the brutal officers of the Germans.In Elie Wiesel’s Night, Wiesel uses Irony in order to help the reader understand the atmosphere on the train which the Jews were on. â€Å"Fire! I see a fire! I see a fire! (24). Wiesel uses the Irony figurative language when the Jews were on the train to the concentration camps. It was being used to illustrate the savage atmosphere of humans being killed in a huge fire! So Wiesel’s use of Symbolism, Simile, and Irony were in fact helped the reader understand all the events that he wrote about during the holocaust. His point view of the holocaust was very graphic! Even though we never knew about this this is a very historical event on this planet. Night In the fascinating memoir Night by Elie Wiesel, he deals with the struggle of surviving, which was devastating since it was during the holocaust. In the memoir Night, Wiesel uses Symbolism, Simile, and Irony in order to illustrate the events during the holocaust. Wiesel’s use of Symbolism helped the reader understand the captivity of the Jews in the concentration camps. †Father, I said â€Å"If that is true then I don’t want to wait.I’ll run into the electrified barbed wire. That would be easier than a slow death in the flames. †(33). Wiesel uses his symbolism when he said â€Å"the electrified barbed wire. † It’s being used to show the reader that this is how the atmosphere was during the holocaust. Elie Wiesel, in his autobiography Night, his use of Simile helps the reader to understand the brutal atmosphere of the German Police. There are 80 of you in the car, the German Officer added,† if any of you are missing, you will be sh ot like dogs. †(24). He uses his simile language when the train (that the Jews were on) stopped and was guarded by two German police officers. It’s being used to portray the atmosphere of the brutal officers of the Germans.In Elie Wiesel’s Night, Wiesel uses Irony in order to help the reader understand the atmosphere on the train which the Jews were on. â€Å"Fire! I see a fire! I see a fire! (24). Wiesel uses the Irony figurative language when the Jews were on the train to the concentration camps. It was being used to illustrate the savage atmosphere of humans being killed in a huge fire! So Wiesel’s use of Symbolism, Simile, and Irony were in fact helped the reader understand all the events that he wrote about during the holocaust. His point view of the holocaust was very graphic! Even though we never knew about this this is a very historical event on this planet. Night In the fascinating memoir Night by Elie Wiesel, he deals with the struggle of surviving, which was devastating since it was during the holocaust. In the memoir Night, Wiesel uses Symbolism, Simile, and Irony in order to illustrate the events during the holocaust. Wiesel’s use of Symbolism helped the reader understand the captivity of the Jews in the concentration camps. †Father, I said â€Å"If that is true then I don’t want to wait.I’ll run into the electrified barbed wire. That would be easier than a slow death in the flames. †(33). Wiesel uses his symbolism when he said â€Å"the electrified barbed wire. † It’s being used to show the reader that this is how the atmosphere was during the holocaust. Elie Wiesel, in his autobiography Night, his use of Simile helps the reader to understand the brutal atmosphere of the German Police. There are 80 of you in the car, the German Officer added,† if any of you are missing, you will be sh ot like dogs. †(24). He uses his simile language when the train (that the Jews were on) stopped and was guarded by two German police officers. It’s being used to portray the atmosphere of the brutal officers of the Germans.In Elie Wiesel’s Night, Wiesel uses Irony in order to help the reader understand the atmosphere on the train which the Jews were on. â€Å"Fire! I see a fire! I see a fire! (24). Wiesel uses the Irony figurative language when the Jews were on the train to the concentration camps. It was being used to illustrate the savage atmosphere of humans being killed in a huge fire! So Wiesel’s use of Symbolism, Simile, and Irony were in fact helped the reader understand all the events that he wrote about during the holocaust. His point view of the holocaust was very graphic! Even though we never knew about this this is a very historical event on this planet.

Personal and Professional Development Essay

1-Abstract In essence, this report will comprise three parts: first we shall be making an evaluation of current approaches to self- managed learning, second we shall be detailing in which ways lifelong learning both personal and professional might be promoted and encouraged and finally we shall be making an evaluation of the potential benefits of self-managed learning to organisations and their members but for this case with specific reference to Teagasc. 2- Introduction Every single person had one day some experience about self-managed learning in their life, or many people are having this experience at the moment in somewhere learning something by themselves. Stop for a moment and back to the past and try to remember if you have learned something that you had initiative by yourself. Did you remember something? I am sure you did, do you know why? It`s because there`s so many reasons which push ourselves to learn something and that`s why the term self-managed learning is more popular when compared with the traditional way to learn, for example going to the school every day. 3-Approaches to self managed learning Individual could learn through the research which they will be doing that could be either been issued by the university or college even at work place, people could learn different techniques used in doing the research. Formal education and schooling remain highly valued in most societies, and many educators, employers, policy-makers, and average citizens find it difficult to place high value on what is learned on your own or outside the formal system. However, some adult educators have shown how non-traditional programs, distance education, and self-directed learning efforts can meet many challenges associated with keeping current on constantly changing knowledge. Several things are known about self-managed learning and also others terms as S-DL (Self-direct learning), S-PL, LS-D, S-RL, Autonomy, learning projects, open learning etc. However there are some differences between these terms: * Knowles, (1975) describe Self- directed learning- is a process in which individuals take the initiatives, with or without the help of others * Autonomous learning – autonomy often is associated with independence of thought, individualized decision-making, and critical intelligence. Gibbs (1979) * Self-planned learning and learning projects – Tough’s (1979) research on people engaged in learning projects involved obtaining information on â€Å"a series of related episodes, adding up to at least seven hours† where â€Å"more than half of the person’s total motivation is to gain and retain certain fairly clear knowledge and skill, or to produce some other lasting change† . * Open learning – individualized study often is associated with external degree, open learning, or non traditional programs where most learning takes place outside formal classrooms- Ruvinsky (1986) * Self-regulated learning is a process that assists students in manag ing their thoughts, behaviours, and emotions in order to successfully navigate their learning experiences (Pintrich & Zusho, 2002) * Learner self-direction- is taking primary responsibility for personal learning (Brockett & Hiemstra, 1991) . But in general all this terms are related to Self-managed learning what is a way which people or individual find different ways in learning things, which could be in the society where they are living or at work that is a diversified environment, Candy(1991). In other words is about individual managing their own learning. This included people taking responsibility for decisions about: * What they learn * How they learn * When they learn * Where they lean * Why they learn (the most fundamentally ) Self-managed learning also is about setting out the goals for the learning by evaluating the purpose for learning and ways to achieve such goals -Brookfield (1981).People learn new things for example the culture of different people, behaviour, personality, perceptions etc. 4-Advantages and disadvantages of Self- managed learning Some advantages and disadvantages of self-managed learning: 4.1-Advantages: * Improved the attitudes toward learning * The learners become more confident * Also they are taking greater responsibility for their own learning than during more traditional classroom activities * Create a repertoire of skills * Learn to tolerate ambiguity in expectation of themselves * Development of higher order thinking, problem solving, collaborating skills * Exploring a variety of learning styles or approaches to learning 4.2-Disadvantages: * The learner my find difficult to evaluate one`s own progress * The learner may not identify the learning needs according to his/her academic level * Some learners may not find appropriate resources for learning * Unable to get peer feedback 5-Ways in which lifelong learning in both personal and professional contexts could be encouraged The idea of lifelong education was first fully articulated in this century by Basil Yeaxlee (1929). He along with Eduard Lindeman (1926) provided an intellectual basis for a comprehensive understanding of education as a continuing aspect of everyday life. However to encourage lifelong learning is necessary Motivation, determination, managing time which is extremely important to self-managed learning. Lifelong learning is all about continuous learning personally that could contribute to the professional context. Individual could have personal assessment as means of lifelong learning by evaluating their strengths, weaknesses, opportunity and threats. For example, in the workplace employees with busy schedules can learn necessary skills at their own convenience through self-study. Some technical staff in organizations who must constantly upgrade their knowledge can access new information through an individualized resource centre. For example learning by Self-reflective learning could help employees learn new skills at work place also developing their personal skills through having work task and responsibility assigned to them. While self-reflective learning reviews things, continuing professional development, combines approaches, ideas and techniques that help to develop the personal learning. Self-reflective learning is about trying to review some opinions, judgements, personal understanding and actions that you are willing to take in a proper way and be honest about it. another example for a organization to encourage the employee taking initiative of learning something new could be giving to them a opportunity for a presentation skills where the individuals learn how to make a presentation which gives the chance to express the knowledge of what they have learnt from particular topic also give them confidence to talk in front of others, which become an advantage to the organisation when been given a task to do that need to be presented to the manager and other directors from the same company of different company. 6- Evaluation the benefits of self-managed learning to the organizations and their members In a world where there is growing pressure for increased results from fewer people, Organisations have no option but to invest heavily in learning and development. The problem is that there is not always a correlation between expenditure on training and development and pay-off for individuals and Organisations. Also individual learning may not integrate with organisational needs. Yet it is essential that individual should be helped to take on greater responsibility for their own development and growth. The key requirement, then, seems to be to create a situation where learning: * Is owned by the individual * Is properly supported And at the same time * Is closely integrated with organisations needs This what self- managed learning provides Knowles, (1975) Self-managed learning is about people taking their own initiatives in managing their learning, but the benefits of self-managing learning to the individual as well as the organisation are positive. For Teagasc and their members will be extremely important the benefits of self-managed learning. The employees will approach their learning in a way that is most compatible with their own learning style and strategy. In approaching pre-designed, structured training modules, employees can seek out those most congruent with their learning styles. Where the employee designs his/her own learning experience, they would opt for those with which they are most comfortable. There others several distinct benefits of SDL for the organization and their members: * SDL can help identify an â€Å"Organization`s â€Å"A† players- SDL requires initiative. Individuals who show initiative in undertaking their own SDL program are motivated, confident self-starters. Certainly they would evidence motivation, interest and behaviours in their jobs similar to â€Å"A† players. * SDL can be implemented with minimal expense – Many learning projects will cost nothing. Relatively speaking, project costs will be minimal. * SDL minimizes the issue of transfer of learning. 7- Conclusion After done this research in self-managed learning I could say that people are taking more responsibility when they are learning by their own initiative. Self-managed learning is not something easy, though some people tend to passive that managing their own learning through self-managing learning is an old fashion way of learning. The fact is that it’s not true, the basic requirement needed to set out the goals and meeting them is hard approach to learning. Individuals need to understand the stages for the professional development plan for the purpose of having a clear objective of what they would like to achieve from self-managing learning.

Conclusion part Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Conclusion part - Essay Example the factors which have an impact on the overall consumer choices with special reference to online purchases. The rise of social media has further added to the choices of the purchasers and literature clearly suggest that reviews and word of mouth spread on the online media can further help consumers to gain more information. Three important constructs were tested in this research including understanding perceptions and purchase decisions of Thai consumers, barriers to online purchase and how they have an impact on the overall purchase decisions made as well as how the ad promotion can actually help to improve the overall perceptions of the consumers over the period of time. In order to complete this research, mixed research methods were used include collecting data through questionnaires and arranging a focus group. The quantitative data and methodology was used along with SPSS to analyze the data and calculate the descriptive statistics. A total sample of 320 respondents, with 45% males and 55% females, was taken and who responded to two-part questionnaire and results were analysed through SPS. Data was collected through fieldwork performed in the shopping malls where based upon the random sampling method, respondents were requested to participate in the research. Focus group technique is a theoretical valid technique in research in social sciences therefore focus groups were conducted to further probe into the overall consumer preferences and how they make decisions and collect information while making purchase decisions. This research was performed at one point in time and assessed the overall attitude of Thai Y generation consumers at a given point in time. This study was cross-sectional and was performed in a given period however; it has not taken into consideration as to how the preferences and choices of the consumers might change over the

Give an account of the main rules of statutory interpretation and Essay

Give an account of the main rules of statutory interpretation and illustrate their operation by reference to decide cases. do these rules provide a helpful guid - Essay Example When comparing legislation with common law, statutes can change the set norms of common law but the common law can not overturn or change statutes; it can be modified by a later statute. There is a common belief that law is straightforward; actually it is not so. There are three rules being practiced by judges to interpret statutes (UK Law Online). The golden rule – when literal interpretation leads to silliness, it is improvised to a less obvious meaning. Otherwise also, there could be policy implications arising out of literal interpretations. The mischief rule – It defines the issue the Act was meant to resolve and decides on the interpretation which best suites the issue. Law Commission reports and Hansard – the journal of debates in Parliament – can also be consulted to decide the problem before the Act. Smith v Hughes (1871) LR 6 QB 597 is an example of the mischief rule (UK Law Online). The literal approach is the default position that honours Parliamentary Sovereignty. It demands that judges enforce law and not make it. The purposive approach, based on the golden rule, is preferred in Europe and the ECJ while the literal approach of statutory interpretations is the preferred choice throughout in the UK (legal Easy, 2006). In certain particular social policy implementations, the like of outlawing of sex discrimination, judges need to be flexible by using a more purposive approach (the golden or mischief rules) There is the case example of Pickstone v Freeman [1988] 2 All ER 803. The above approaches have wider applications. There are certain other rules of interpretation, which come under two sub categories (UK Law Online). Rules of Language – The â€Å"eiusdem generic† rule – a Latin phrase, which means of the same kind: It states that normal words follow particular examples for getting meanings, and are not that general or ordinary after

Auto-ethnography Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Auto-ethnography - Essay Example This was the exact description of my childhood days. No limits to govern me and no color to choose from all the children were my friends and I really boasted to have them. Going back home from school one afternoon, my friend and I were waiting for the usual train at the station. When the train arrived and we were rushing to get in one young man shouted at my friend, ‘hey, negro get in fast’. At the moment that did not click in my mind that it was a racial attack and as I tried to calm my really offended friend I embarked to know what was wrong with it. My friend is black and this was the first outright racial abuse that I had seen directed at her. As the days progressed I learnt much about racial discrimination and the selection by race that is so much engrossed in our society. I had been brought up from a background that had no racial bias and when I joined college I found that some students really discriminated others and even went ahead to choose their friends from the filtered group of friends from the ‘favored race’. This is why I decided I had to start a campaign against racism. Race should not be a factor to measure so meone’s ability or determine her strengths. Today I am glad for the step I took some years back to sensitize my friends against racism. We have a group of multiracial students and we are doing great in the field. Our first step is to fight individualism. Tocqueville defines individualism as ‘calm and considered feeling which disposes each citizen to isolate himself from the mass of his fellows and withdraw into the circle of family and friends, with this little society formed to his task; he gladly leaves the greater society to look after itself’ (39). With this understanding we have to take the initiative and impact change on the society as it is solely our mandate to ensure that

Risks and Complications of Abortion Procedures Essay

Risks and Complications of Abortion Procedures - Essay Example The typical risks and complication of the surgical abortion include excessive bleeding, injury to the uterus and cervix, and infection of the uterus and the fallopian tubes (State of Alaska). Medical abortion involves the use of specific drugs to kill the unborn child. The commonly used drugs include mifepristone, methotrexate, prostaglandins, and salt poisoning. Mifepristone is an inhibitor of the progesterone hormone, and disrupts the lining of the uterus. The disruption deprives the fetus nutrition, as well as protection, and eventually the unborn child dies (American Life League). Methotrexate affects the growing cells of the fetus and other support systems. Injection of the salt to the amniotic fluid renders the child lifeless through dehydration, bleeding, and convulsion (American Life League). The possible complications of the medical abortion include hemorrhage, infection, and severe pain (State of Alaska). Chemical abortion procedures entail the use of drugs that disrupt the implantation of the baby. The method causes the death of the fetus. The common methods of chemical abortion comprise of Ortho-Evra, NuvaRing, Depo-Provera Contraceptive Injection, and Plan B. Ortho-Evra and NuvaRing suppress the gonadotropins, and make the implantation of formed baby impossible by disrupting the uterus lining (American Life League). Similarly, Plan B and Depo-Provera Contraceptive Injection cause thinning of the endometrium. The potential risks and complications consist of headaches, drug reactions, inability to conceive, vomiting, and nausea (State of

Marriage Bachelor Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Marriage Bachelor - Essay Example However, at the same time, the Bible teaches to forgive and give a second chance to the person who has done a mistake but repents. The concept of marriage is based on mutual understanding and respect, love and sexual relations, and adultery destroys the ties between two married people. Therefore, what exactly does Bible say about adultery in marriage At the times of Old Testament, the rule of not committing adultery has applied only to men who had sex with somebody's wife. The married man could have sexual relations with the single woman, while married women were considered the property of their husbands. Girls married at the age of 14, died at the age of 30 and marriage as the social unit has been important in terms of childbirth. Because women were considered the property, adultery was like the violation of the men's property rights. Adultery has been a sin for women, while polygamy when could have many wives were acceptable. For example, Solomon has 1000 wives and God rebuked him not for polygamy but for the fact that many of his wives were not Hebrew. Similar to Solomon, David had 24 wives but has been accused in adultery for having sex with the married woman. The teachings of New Testament are different - the man is supposed to have one wife. As Apostle Paul has taught Timothy, the men have to be husbands of one wife (1 Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:6). According to Biblical writings, when the man has sex with the woman who is not his wife, he has sinned. The sinfulness of female adultery is not as easy to trace in Bible. For example, if the married woman had sexual intercourse with the man who was not her husband, she has sinned against her husband. If the single woman committed the adultery, she has sinned against her father. The punishment for adultery was very severe - the woman caught in adultery was stoned to death. What is adultery From Christian perspective, adultery is the willful and harmful violation of the honesty of the marriage. The Emperor Constantine who lived in 300 AD and was one of the most important converts to Christianity has introduced the concept of sinful sex. He believed and taught others that sex was sinful even within the marriage unless the purpose was a conception. This rule can be explained in terms of high infancy mortality rate and the need for more children. If the person has sinned he had to come to the Church for repentance and make a donation as the demonstration of his faith. A lot has changed since those times but adultery has remained a sin. It is not an easy task to advise what should be done if the spouse has committed an adultery. The family can be preserved; however, the spiritual unity will be lost. Probably, the divorce is the most appropriate solution if the adultery has been committed. Human sexuality is considered the natural gift from God. The sex becomes the sin if the parties involved are not functioning within Christian love and marriage guidelines. This is what Jesus has told about adultery in Matthew 5:27-30: "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I

Entrepreneur Interview & Personal Analysis Essay

Entrepreneur Interview & Personal Analysis - Essay Example ries have been put forward including psychological theories which try to explain the mental perceptions of entrepreneurs as helping to explain why and how they do business. Most of these theories have majored in personal traits and perceive entrepreneurs as having some unique traits from those of the non-entrepreneurs, while other think of someone’s background as being a significant contributor to doing business (Locke, 2000, pp.23-34). Others have looked at it from the locus of control point of view. An entrepreneur is also perceived to be a risk taker because from these risks, he or she reaps benefits that come with opportunities taken (Shane, 2000, pp.448 – 469). Researches carried out in the recent past have mainly addressed issues to do with macro-level environmental forces when it comes to entrepreneurship. The individual decision-making processes of entrepreneurs and how they have internally perceived what they do on a micro-level has not received much attention. What most scholars concur with is the fact that good economic conditions do encourage successful entrepreneurship and should thus be promoted if growth of businesses taking up various opportunities need to be realized. These issues will be addressed in the paper based on the information gathered from Jane Norvak as the entrepreneur in this case study or interview. 2.0 Evaluation of the entrepreneur Jane indicated that she has been in business for three years now and she started it while she was 23 years of age. This actually falls within the most active group of youths. The business is Norvak Beauty and Parlour where she deals with many customers who come for the beauty services and cosmetics. She also said that her family members are not in business since they are employed in various professions.... Jane indicated that she has been in business for three years now and she started it while she was 23 years of age. This actually falls within the most active group of youths. The business is Norvak Beauty and Parlour where she deals with many customers who come for the beauty services and cosmetics. She also said that her family members are not in business since they are employed in various professions. This puts to question whether family background determines if one becomes an entrepreneur or not (Norvak, 2011). When asked why she chose to set up a business instead of looking for employment in the white collar job sector, she said that she preferred doing business because this gave her a sense of independence and control over her affairs. She talked of being an outgoing person who loves life and would not want to be pressured for what she has not done or what she has to do (Norvak, 2011). This seems to be in line with the argument that most entrepreneurs are motivated by the need for independence and achievement of personal goals in life. The statement also is in line with the theory of locus of control whereby an entrepreneur holds a belief in the personal abilities to start and finish things through individual actions without being supervised. She said that the business gives her personal satisfaction and she thus loves what she is doing (Collins, et al., 2000).

Organizational Profile Using Secondary Research Assignment Paper

Organizational Profile Using Secondary Assignment - Research Paper Example In 1871, the company was known as Nokia Ab. Nokia entered the telecommunication industry in 1981, with its very first mobile service named Nordic Mobile Telephone service (NMT). Nokia was the pioneer in introducing the first car phone to the telecommunication network. Mobira 450 car phones were introduced in 1982 and portable phone in 1986. To meet with the changing need of the customers in the era of innovation, Nokia came up with 3G (third generation) mobile in 2002. In 2007, the company was recognized as 5th most valued brand worldwide. This enhanced the goodwill of the company and its brand recognition to a large extent (Nokia, 2011). The very recognition provides the company with the stronger grip into the market. The mission of the company is simply â€Å"connecting people†. The company deals with mobiles and cell phones and enjoys market share of 31% internationally. The company also has an excellent team of skilful manpower. The HRD department of Nokia is very well dev eloped (Nokia, 2011). 2.0. Industry Analysis The frequent changes experienced in the wireless telecommunication market have resulted in both challenges and opportunities for the companies operating in this sector. After an exceptional growth for over a decade, the telecom sector has witnessed many ups and downs. The innovation of technology in this industry makes the competition fiercer in which the initiator accumulates maximum benefits (Jayashree & Et. Al., 2010). Currently, the global telecommunication industry has expanded itself to nearly double since its commencement in the early 1980s. Competition experienced in this industry is intense in nature and emergence of several factors is enabling certain drastic changes within the organisational management trends executed by telecommunication companies. Internet and wireless technologies have been bringing in dramatic changes in the preferences of customers, disrupting traditional communication systems despite decreasing the prices . Telecommunication industry includes several technology related business segments such as wireless communications, internet, local and long distance telephone services among others (Ingres insight, 2008). 3.0. Organizational Analysis In order to gain competency, Nokia tends to inculcate the cultural social aspects that in turn is effective in rewarding the company with greater brand equity in its market (de Wit B & Meyer, 2004). Nokia is enhancing its competency in emerging markets through the adoption of latest technology. Nokia had experienced losses in terms of its market share due to the ineffective strategies implemented by the company in relation to market trends and customer demands of the targeted market. But the market also offers huge prospective opportunities to Nokia such as operation in developing countries like China and Japan. Telecommunication market is increasing vigorously providing more opportunity for Nokia to operate in the market. Planning and developing appro aches are both of use. Resource based strategies and market strategies both played quite important roles in the development of Nokia (BBC New, 2007). 4.0. Prominent characteristics of Nokia 4.1. Strengths Largely varied product range User friendly and update technology usage in the products The resale values of Nokia mobiles are comparatively high attracting price concerned customers Continuous product innovation Considerable percentage of market share internationally Has a persuasive branding image towards its customers as well as

Architecture history exam Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Architecture history exam - Essay Example One of the reasons for these differences was religion, in which the Athenians had pagan religions that were not prohibitive on gender relations. Therefore, architects were not held to religious standards during construction and saw exposure of men and women nude even in their private quarters as a sign of civilization, unlike Islamic cities in which architects had to adhere to strict religious requirements on gender segregation and privacy. In Islamic cities, the creation of turf for men and women was one of the most important elements during design and construction. Rather than these turfs establishing distinctive regions of physicality; however, they were meant to insulate the genders by increasing line-of-sight distance (Abu-Lughod 162). This necessitated the height of nearby buildings and window placement in such a way that protected the visual privacy of neighbors. This was meant to prevent men from seeing women in their privacy, although it did not prevent women from seeing men in their privacy. The architecture of Islamic cities in this way was different to that in Athens. For example, the Parthenon in Athens contained various open floors that contained many offices in which both genders could attend, as well as a spacious hall designed for transactions with the public without any form of overt gender segregation. While there was some segregation, this was only physical in nature and not visual. In addition, the use of columns, rather than solid walls ensured that both genders could see one another in their privacy (Tournikiotis 43). In addition, the agora that was located at the top of the hill was mainly made of terracing that allowed citizens to sit and watch presentations but did not limit the line-of-sight in any way, being visible from all part of the city. Away from public spaces, the dwelling areas in Islamic cities were also segregated into private and public space. This was meant to ensure that men could move around the residential area without interfering with women’s activities and movements. For example, most houses had wings for men on the first floor that accessed the garden and balconies on the ground floor and these wings contained the sleeping quarters for the house-head and sitting rooms (Abu-Lughod 163). However, the women were housed on the 2nd and 3rd floors for receiving guests and living quarters. In Athens, women were also confined to the interior parts of the house. However, when it came to a space like the Parthenon, the democratic spaces were created to be viewed from all parts of the city, while the agora was designed in a way that exposed voting individuals to everyone. The main difference between these spaces in Athens and Islamic cities was that men were allowed to walk naked in Athens, although, just as in Islamic cities, women were expected to be clothed with dignity (Tournikiotis 33). Walking naked for Athenian men in their houses, which were exposed, was meant to be a way of affirming thei r masculinity and showing them, as good lovers. Another obvious sign of sexual segregation in Islamic cities was the public bath sign that indicates the day ladies’ are meant to take a bath. Other signs show subtler governance of space and time. In addition, women from poor families who could not afford top duplicate space were protected from

Developmental Apraxia Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments Essay Example for Free

Developmental Apraxia Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments Essay Apraxia of speech is a neurological condition in which a person finds it impossible to move their mouth or tongue to speak (Apraxia, 2005). There are two main types of apraxia; they are acquired apraxia of speech and developmental apraxia of speech (Apraxia of Speech, 2002). This paper is about Developmental Apraxia of Speech, its symptoms, causes, and appropriate treatments. Developmental apraxia of speech is also called childhood apraxia of speech, because it is present from birth (2002). There are many symptoms of developmental apraxia, and each child may have different symptoms (Childhood, 1997). Some symptoms of very young children include problems eating, not cooing as an infant, late first words, problems combining sounds, and deleting difficult sounds and replacing them with easier ones more often than normal children (1997). In older children, symptoms can include making inconsistent sound errors, understanding of language better than their ability to talk, difficulty imitating speech, difficulty saying long phrases or words clearly, difficulty for others to understand their speech, and speech which sounds choppy or monotonous (1997). Other symptoms may include delayed language development, word order confusion, word recall issues, difficult fine motor development and coordination, over sensitivity or under sensitivity of the mouth, and trouble reading, writing, and spelling (1997). Because there are so many possible symptoms of developmental apraxia, it is important to have children evaluated by a professional to rule out other causes of speech problems (1997). Developmental apraxia is believed by many researchers to be a neurologically based speech-motor disorder, but exact causes have not been isolated (Causes of Apraxia, 2010). Researcher’s studies have not shown a difference or abnormalities in the brains of children with developmental apraxia (2002). Children with developmental apraxia often have family members with learning disabilities or communication disorders (2002). Researchers continue to conduct studies to find any brain abnormalities and genetic factors which may cause developmental apraxia (2005). Speech language therapy is used for treating developmental apraxia. Intensive intervention which begins early is best for children with this disorder (Lederman, 2012). In the beginning, children should have treatment 3-5 times per week (1997). Children diagnosed with developmental apraxia show improvement more quickly when they receive treatment individually (1997). Speech language therapy for children with developmental apraxia differs from the therapy of children with other language disorders (2012). Treatment is based on the principles of motor learning, including repetition to establish and develop motor plans, practice opportunities to maintain learned patterns, use of relevant words and phrases, increased sensory feedback, and work on sound and word sequences (2012). There are still many things to learn about developmental apraxia, and studies regarding causes and treatments are still ongoing (2002). There is also research being done to find more specific criteria to identify and diagnose developmental apraxia and to distinguish it from other communication disorders (2002). References American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Childhood Apraxia of Speech (1997). www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/childhoodapraxia.htm Lederman, D. (2012). Speech Language Therapy for Childhood Apraxia of Speech. www.donnalederman.com/disorder-types/apraxia-of-speech.php National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Apraxia of Speech (2002). www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/voice/pages/apraxia.aspx University of Rochester Medical Center. Causes of Apraxia (2010). www.urmc.rochester. edu/speech-pathology/speech-language-disorders/apraxia/causes-apraxia.cfm Web MD. Apraxia: Symptoms, Causes, Tests, Treatments (2005). www.webmd.com/ Brain/apraxia-symptoms-causes-tests-treatments

Barriers to Sustainable Construction Contractors

Barriers to Sustainable Construction Contractors Abstract: This research aims to investigate Sustainable Construction barriers implementation to SMEs (Small and Medium sized Enterprises) in the UK. The undertaken investigation mostly emphasises the Production/Construction phase, referred to as the RIBA Plan of Work Stage K. Research shows that barriers to the implementation of Sustainable Construction were most prominent during this stage. Through an extensive literature review the main barriers presenting themselves to SMEs have been identified at the beginning of this stage of investigation. Later, these barriers will be questioned through the investigation of the literature acquired and the most noteworthy will be scrutinized in greater detail. There were found to be six key barriers to be considered while implementing Sustainable Construction Techniques in the Production/Construction phase of a project, these are as follows: Cost Time People Technology Market Legal Even though progress in the UK construction industry as a whole is showing great potential and is showing a steady line of progression (however still lagging behind other European countries such as France, Germany and Spain), implementation by SME construction firms is limited and poor. This is mainly due to the fact that sustainable construction is considered to be expensive, complicated and time-consuming. It needs greater support from every party involved including clients, suppliers, sub-contractors, government and local authorities to achieve the goal of satisfactory implantation. Introduction As the construction industry is such a main contributor to the economy of the UK, contributing 10% of UK GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and employs 1.5 million people, the environmental impact of the industry is extraordinary; contributing 70 million tonnes of waste to landfills and a huge 50% of energy produced is used by this sector. (Addis, B. Talbot, R., 2001: 21) It is estimated that UK SMEs are responsible for as much as 60% of carbon dioxide emissions. (Marshall Report, 1998) It is also estimated that 60% of commercial waste and 8 out of 10 pollution accidents are caused by this sector. (Environment Agency, 2003 Environment Agency, Business survey reveals lack of environmental awareness, Environment Action (2003) (37).Environment Agency, 2003) Studies have found that SMEs tend to have low levels of engagement with environmental agendas. (Hillary, 2000a) Most of the literature available focuses on the larger construction companies (LEs or Large Enterprises), which is why the author hopes to undertake a study of SMEs, particularly general contractors with less than 50 employees. In 2004 the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) conducted a survey showing that there were 170,000 construction contractors working in the UK and that 93% of this figure employed less than 8 people. Initiatives by the construction SMEs indicate that this group is often ignored and hence, they are under-performed compared to larger construction companies. (Sexton, M.G. Barrett, P.S., 2003a) It is anticipated that the result of this enquiry will help the construction industry to support more medium and small construction firms in the implementation of sustainable techniques and principles suggested by the UK government. This exploration is limited to SMEs which employ 50 people or less, and also to the construction site (known as Stage K, the production/construction phase of a project). Aims and Objectives Aim: How to get SMEs to implement sustainable techniques through managing time, teams and possibly new methods of construction to maximise profit without having to police each individual contractor? Objectives: To discover the most relevant procedures to sustainable construction practices at production and construction phase. To recognize exactly the current level of understanding and implementation, of sustainable construction at the production and construction phase of a project. To identify the main barriers in incorporating sustainable construction and embracing new techniques involved in the construction process to SMEs. Facility executives building green for the first time may find that the process requires as much unlearning of old ways as it does learning of new ones. The process of building green forces facility executives to think about the design and construction process in non-traditional ways. From integrated design to commissioning, almost every step of the green building process is heavily focused on how building elements fit together to optimize efficiency and sustainability. The catch is that the process, at least the first time, is more time and cost. While the strategies used may be similar to justifying expenditures in equipment upgrades, justifying processes may be a bit more difficult. Its more difficult to pinpoint specific costs for more hours of design time. There are a few simple sustainable ways of management for a contractor to utilise, and these cost saving measures help to maximise profit, here are some suggestions: Make use of grants or funding available for sustainable construction. Contact your Local Authority or Regional Development Agency about local projects and grants. Employers registered with CITB-Construction Skills can claim Training Plan or Short Duration grant to support sustainability training. Use recycled or sustainable materials whenever possible. Give preference to locally produced products. Crushed concrete and brick can be used to replace primary aggregates and avoid Aggregates Tax. Use timber only from sustainably managed woodland ask for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) timber. Only order the materials you need and store them safely. Plan ahead when ordering materials. Work with suppliers/manufacturers to minimise and return packaging and pallets. Store materials in a secure and protected area and keep liquids/sands away from drains. Minimise road journeys to and from the site. Use local suppliers wherever possible. Plan deliveries to site: during the day time in residential areas and at night and in city centres. If you have a van, ensure it can carry a variety of small materials to prevent unnecessary trips to suppliers. Separate and recycle waste then dispose of the remainder legally. Separate different types of waste and mark containers clearly. Recycle as much as possible. Use registered waste carriers and keep the paperwork. Avoid causing pollution to land, water or air. Stop uncontrolled water entering or leaving excavations, especially run-off from earth works. Avoid spillages on site and clean up if accidents happen. Dont burn waste materials recycle or dispose of them responsibly. The UK government has urged industries to take on environmental measures on their own accord on the basis that it will be good for business, a qualitative study investigating the environmental procedures of small and medium-sized construction firms found that the views of owner-managers had little resonance with this win-win approach. Respondents might not be aware of the financial returns to be obtained from eco-efficiency processes to be substantial enough to warrant the short-term investment in time and resources required to engage in them. In addition, the market was not indicating that product value could be raised or that clientele could be won by implementing environmental best practice. Respondents consistently highlighted that the enormous competitive pressures on small firms made cost and speed of build the number one priorities whilst environmental management remained a peripheral concern. At the top of the supply chain, architects claimed that whilst lip service was paid to sustainability issues within the industry, there was currently little in the way of environmental design occurring in the UK, and sustainability tended to be a peripheral issue in their own work. Although it was acknowledged that architects should be at the forefront of sustainability, most respondents felt that it was difficult to push an environmental agenda forward because clients tended to be driven by commercial rather than environmental or social concerns. Most architects thus did not promote environmental issues for fear of alienating clients, and environmental designs were only explored if it was expressly asked of them. Overall the builder cannot become environmentally friendly because the client does not want to specify certain techniques to the architect because they think itll cost too much, theyre more interested in the economic side and the architect doesnt want to specify sustainable techniques in case of maybe excluding some clients. These market dynamics were clearly having a knock-on effect down the supply chain as builders perceived a low demand for sustainable buildings and construction methods, and therefore were not incentivised to improve their environmental performance or to differentiate themselves on environmental credentials. Suppliers wont stock things that arent being sought after and that arent being specified. How can the SMEs get these sustainable products then, without maybe having to travel to a specific supplier and look themselves, making it time consuming and not cost effective. Respondents claimed that the usual criteria for choosing products was price, as buying the cheapest equivalent product was one way for builders to squeeze a profit out of tight budgets. Some builders confess that they rarely considered the environmental impacts of materials, and beyond the use of timber from sustainable sources, most were not even aware of which materials might be greener than others. Information about environmental impacts was thought to be difficult and time-consuming to obtain, and many respondents highlighted that building suppliers could do much more to encourage the use of green materials in construction, such as eco-labelling schemes to differentiate products with lower environmental impacts. The key issue for firms in this study was that customers invariably focused on value for money at the expense of environmental concerns. Many architects were of the opinion that there was not much of a business case for sustainable design to present to clients, who were unwilling to pay the premium for a more sustainable building. Respondents highlighted that there was little financial incentive to save energy on site as the mains electricity used was paid for by the client. Some felt that energy efficiency was more of an issue for designers than builders as it was in the end-use of a building that most energy savings could be made. However, most claimed that little was reused (apart from the odd expensive item such as certain slates and metals), because the cost of keeping material was often more than buying it new, once storage and labour costs had been factored in. Also, the used material was usually not quite to the specification required for the next job, so many builders felt that it was just easier and cheaper to throw it away. Recycling was similarly dismissed because of the management and labour time involved in ensuring proper waste separation procedures: It takes too long. It affects the labour. I mean if Ive got 10 labourers on site, Im not going to bring another labourer in just to make sure that copper is over there and plasterboards there and metals over there (Builder 4, 85 staff) Because small firms are typically more concerned with short-term survival than the long-term environmental impacts of their business, eco-efficiency measures may thus be rejected if the pay-back is not perceived to be immediate. Objective 1: To Discover the Most Relevant Procedures to Sustainable Construction Practices at Production and Construction Phase. Following the Egan Report the Government of the UK published Building a Better Quality of Life in 2000. Inside this publication it has been suggested a few key topics for which can be used in the construction industry: The re-use of existing building assets Designing for minimum waste Aiming for lean construction The minimisation of energy in construction Not to pollute Enhance and preserve biodiversity The conservation of water Respect people and the local environment Monitor and report in order to set benchmarks In 2005 the Government published Sustainable Development Strategy, Securing the Future which was a substitute to Building a Better Quality of Life. This proposed the following four key terms: Sustainable communities Natural resources protection and environmental enhancement Climate change and energy Sustainable consumption and production Environmental Impacts: The Environmental Agency tells us that the construction industry is responsible for: Using over 420 million tonnes of material resources Converting 6,500 hectares of land from rural to urban use per annum 13% of all materials delivered to site go into the skip without ever being used. 90 million tonnes of construction and demolition waste (three more waste than all households in the UK combined) Responsible for 21% of UKs hazardous waste 10% of the UKs energy consumption is used in the transport and production of construction products and materials Due to building on flood plains 185,000 commercial properties and 1.85 million residential homes are at risk of flooding and this figure looks set to rise Waste Management: Waste Segregation: Separating recyclable materials such as timber, plastic, plasterboard, hard-core, cardboard and general waste.Also materials such as concrete, bricks and blocks, stones and slates can be used as filling for roads, footpaths etc. Recycling: Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) claims that 30% of materials used on site can be recycled elsewhere at no extra cost.Recycled timber (off cuts) can be used in stud partition walling and can also be used in flower plant bedding. Purchasing Policy with Suppliers: Packaging waste and unused materials can be returned to the builders merchant and used several times over. Energy Consumption Reduction: Simple steps like using energy efficient heating equipment and lighting, supervising the usage of mains electricity according to equipment requirements. Water Conservation: Where practical the use of low-flow water fixtures, rain water harvesting and recycling of grey water where hygiene is not a priority. Material Selection: The focus for this section is to identify products with a relatively high sustainability score at no significant increase in capital cost over a traditional material option. Many modern building materials are now being linked with environmental and health concerns. Alternatives do exist which eliminate many of these potential impacts and risks to end users, constructors, developers and investors. Timber or Aluminium instead of PVC where possible. Formaldehyde free MDF Insulation: Recycled cellulose insulation, Rockwool, Foamed glass.Solid Concrete with primary aggregate Permeable pavements Concrete with recycled aggregate (RCA) or glass Window Frames:uPVC Durable timber framed windows, renewable source without health impacts from disposal of PVC. Double glazed units with low emissive coatings (Argon filled). Flooring:Ground Flooring: Solid concrete, hollow concrete elements with reclaimed aggregate/limestone. Hollow concrete uses less material. Solid Walls:Clay brick: recycled Bricks (recycled content 15-100%)/Reclaimed Bricks. Reclaimed bricks can also aid in character requirements of refurbishments. Partitions: Can be built from recycled wood used in construction.Timber quicker to erect and saves material costs. Pitched Roof Plywood from non FSC MDF chipboard (low Construction: formaldehyde), reduces carcinogens from standard chipboard Construction: Pitched Roof Reclaimed slates, tiles/Sedum (turf)/Fibre cement tiles. Covering: Turf can reduce urban water run off.Green roofs typically last 3x long as standard roof. Plasterwork:Lime mortar re-absorbs some of the CO2 given off during the firing process when it sets. Sewers:Clay pipe can be recycled to make new pipe, brick and roof tiles. Paving:Concrete slabs with recycled content e.g. recycled glass. Reclaimed slabs and stone can be sourced free often paying only haulage costs. Semi Hard Paving:Paving Gravel, Wood chippings/Recycled glass, sand. Wood chippings can be derived from off cuts in construction. Local Sourcing of Materials and Labour: Obtaining construction material from local outlets or from the existing site; The use of locally sourced materials should be promoted when issues involve cost, embodied energy and meeting local character requirements are considered. A local sourcing policy costs nothing to implement and requires no specialist expertise. Locally sourced materials minimise the impact of fuel transport costs/emissions and support the local economy. Stone, earth and timber (assuming it comes from a sustainable source). Salvaged materials from existing construction or demolition such as steel can also be used. This previous abstract demonstrates that significant improvements in building sustainability performance can be achieved at very little additional cost. These minimal cost increases also provide added value elsewhere. For example, in the case of sustainable buildings, in-use cost savings of fuel for heating can be generated over the life of the building. With increased uncertainty over future energy costs, a very short pay back period of a sustainable approach can be realised. Necessities, Not Luxuries Key to justifying some of these ostensible add-ons is not to view them as add-ons in the first place. Commissioning, for instance, is a critical step in the green building process and a requirement for facility executives planning to certify their buildings with LEED, an internationally recognized green building certification system. On traditional construction projects, commissioning may be considered a luxury. But, according to a study by the National Institute of Building Sciences, commissioning a building can mean it will cost 8 to 20 percent less to operate than a non-commissioned building. Objective 2:To Recognize Exactly the Current Level of Understanding and Implementation, of Sustainable Construction at the Production and Construction Phase of a Project. The incentive to innovate among construction SMEs often starts with having an awareness to seize an opportunity or a need to response to market, development or client conditions. Her are a three motivational needs as described below: Survival: Project based innovation focuses more on survival of a company due to the type of market operated in by contractors. Stability: When survival has been established firms will look then towards stabilizing and consolidating their position to ensure prosperous conditions over the medium term. Development: Once this stability has been attained the motivation necessary to exploit this becomes apparent and the firm will begin to develop and grow. When SMEs find themselves in survival posture firms do not tend to take as much risks and are more aware of outgoing costs. Not all firms are want to grow in size indefinitely, companies want to stabilize at a certain that is compatible with the aspirations of the owner. Innovation activities can be grouped into two areas, improving the effectiveness and the efficiency of the company, meaning making sure the company is doing the right activities and doing them well. Adoption of new Innovations: This is dependant on several key capabilities and motivations which are time, financial, companys structure and people. Time and Financial: The dominant role of the contractor allows for quick decision making if need be which means that in an ever changing market modernizations in sustainability can always be updated. Due to a contractors own resources a contractor will only bid on work according to their own capabilities in terms of types of work and size. Most would also prefer to work directly with clients as main contractors rather than just sub-contractors, this tends to limit risks and costs and is typical of a survival posture. Companys Structure: SMEs cannot afford to do as LEs do and have numerous departments assigned to carry out various roles and tasks. It is the job of many directors and owners to obtain information and knowledge for innovation and also to gain business contacts. Many directors find it hard to manage time for all of this, which could include attending trainings and workshops. External Supports and Motivations: These largely come from government policies but are mainly appropriate for large companies and have to be altered to suit the small and medium sized enterprise. Market Network: Rapidly shifting client demands and market conditions requires construction SMEs to involve themselves in a number of businesss of varying complexity in order to provide knowledge and expertise to their own enterprise. Access to these companies is achieved through supply and client interactions, research institutions, professional associations and government bodies. Access to Technology: Technology can be exploited to increase competitiveness among SMEs but this can only be effective when the knowledge characteristics of the technology can be transferred easily. SMEs tend to use technologies which can contribute to the growth of a company, financially, quickly and easily, dovetailing into capabilities already possessed by the firm. Technology that is out of that league and that requires more effort to invest risk, time, effort and money are generally shifted out swiftly and intuitively. Objective 1:To Identify the Main Barriers in Incorporating Sustainable Construction and Embracing New Techniques involved in the Construction Process to SMEs. Key Barriers to Sustainable Construction: Facility executives building green for the first time may find that the process requires as much unlearning of old ways as it does learning of new ones. The processes of building green forces facility executives to think about the design and construction process in non-traditional ways. From integrated design to commissioning, almost every step of the green building process is heavily focused on how building elements fit together to optimize efficiency and sustainability. The catch is that the process, at least for the first time, is more time and cost. While the strategies used may be similar to justifying expenditures in equipment upgrades, justifying processes may be a bit more difficult. Its more difficult to pinpoint specific costs for more hours of design time. The Barriers to Sustainable Construction have been classified under six key headings: Cost Time People Technology Market Legal These subsequent barriers will be challenged and validated in the following chapter. Cost: Increased Construction Costs: There has been a perception by many construction companies that sustainable construction practices may incur additional or perhaps higher capital cost (Cameron, R., 2003; KDG, 2006) The added cost is normally related with additional labour hours necessary to perform activities such as recycling and separation of waste on site. There is also the argument that sustainable materials bring upon higher search costs; this is the time spent searching for these illusive materials, and other connected costs like driving, phone calls etc. All of these increase the total cost of a development and eat into a seemingly already tight budget for the contractor and therefore are looked upon as an unnecessary and irrelevant expense. Many construction companies are forced to submit a low bid for a particular project, and this comes about by reducing construction costs rather than increasing the value gained by building sustainably. This is also on the increase in the areas of project partnership, where a fixed price tender means priority will be given to the lowest price rather than value for money. Time: Time is crucial in any phase of any type of project, most particular in construction projects. As the phrase goes, time is money, and construction developments are often under tight time constraints. Slow advancement towards a change in attitude: Because this industry is such a large and dynamic market it involves so many individual players, which means that it becomes so much harder to get everyone concerned to get into the same frame of mind and not to be just concerned with just profit. There is a feeling that there is too much effort involved and learning new initiatives become too difficult in comparison to just continuing with the tried and trusted methods of known construction techniques already in practice throughout all construction sites in the UK at this present moment. There is also the point that there is inadequate information on sustainable materials easily available, which means that getting access to manufacturers who supply such materials becomes more intricate and making them prepared within the time constraint of a project becomes too arduous to make the endeavour for. Training: Larger construction companies (LEs) usually have their own Research and Development departments but as for SMEs, they are more inclined to rely on directors to research new innovations. Directors also are relied upon to transfer this knowledge and information to staff. Due to their already hectic workload, directors may find it difficult to set time aside for training programmes, seminars, and workshops involved in development initiatives. Likewise because of limited staff in small and medium enterprises, it is frequently difficult to attend such time-consuming activities, or to attend such trainings. Without these regular meetings contractors may find it extremely difficult to establish business contacts. Emphasis is more on short term performance and speed of construction: As construction companies are pushed on deadlines and short term maximisation of profit they are mostly interested in traditional construction as they know from experience how long a particular project will take and do not want to be taking risks on new innovations and techniques which could run on longer than previously thought. The temporary nature of a development, along with short term dealings with people means that the sharing and transfer of information between teams can lead to be strenuous and extremely difficult. (Sexton. M.G. and Barrett, P.S., 2003a; CPN, 1997) People: Lack of Knowledge and Skills: Most small companies do not have the resources to gain access to information and acquire the knowledge and the skills necessary to partake in such developments, or in some circumstances to investigate and research new alternatives and the benefits involved in such construction. Lack of motivation: New legislations and technologies can be seen as off-putting or even as a threat to SMEs who may not be willing to change with known traditions without substantial financial gain. Poor Integration with New Procedure: Failure of communication between contractors, sub-contractors, architects and clients may result in difficulty of implementation throughout a project. Down to the littlest details like the separation of recyclable material and where to dispense certain products may cause disruption further down the line. Short Term Interest: Given the nature of the construction business speed is of the essence, trying to get a building taken off of a contractors hands as quickly as possible is key and therefore, as many developments have to be taken place within certain time limits and contracts are written up to enforce this, the contractor may have more pressing interests nearing the end of a job. Technology: Complicated: Sustainable design may involve MMC (Modern Methods of Construction), which means that the making up of major house elements in factories including panels (including ready-made walls, floors and roofs. Panels may also have wiring and plumbing already inside, making construction even faster) and modules (ready-made rooms, which can then be pieced together to make a whole house or flat but are used most frequently for bathrooms or kitchens, where all the fittings are added in the factory; known as pods). Both of these products require skilled workers to install them, cranes and may require supplementary tools and machines to operate and fix these prefabricated structures into position. There is also a lack of familiarity with these new technologies. Where the clients and the architects specify such methods but contractors do not get the opportunity to try out these new systems. Market: It is widely felt that there is a lack of demand within the supply chain, this is generally due to the unfamiliarity associated with the costs and benefits. Lack of Marketing for Sustainable Materials: Sustainable materials are secondary materials; recycle, reclaim and re-use materials, and there are currently no marketing advertisements or such information on these resources. Waste materials are usually perceived to be risky and a cheap solution to a problem and are thought to not perform to as high a standard as primary materials. These may also incur greater search costs as they have a more dispersed location. Dominance by Larger Suppliers: If a supplier is larger than the contractor then the supplier has more power and is able to dictate to the supplier how the processes involved should be carried out. And as is with the case of most SMEs this is almost always the case. If the supplier does not have a particular product which a small contractor requests then, more often than not, the supplier doesnt feel the need to oblige the contractor as the supplier is more interested with the Les, meaning that the SMEs are often overlooked. Legal: These aspects include government legislation, policies, and planning procedures. Limited Enforcement: Standard of inspections has repelled many companies who may have been interested in building sustainably. The companies themselves would have to push for higher

Business Strategies Of Mc Donalds Marketing Essay

Business Strategies Of Mc Donalds Marketing Essay The main objective of a business strategy is to provide superior value, differentiation, and core competencies for a company that has clear missions, goals and objectives that are important and necessary to the strategic formulation of a company. The mission is a quality definition of who the company is and what it expects to accomplish, further defined by goals and objectives. Goals are directly linked with the mission and are general statements of desirable outcomes. Objectives are goals or purpose with specific targets and time periods. We will further discuss in detail of how these missions, goals and objectives are so important in the formulation of Business strategy. Strategic management The way in which employees are managed to maximize the potential of achieving business objectives is called Strategic Management. It has a very positive impact on a business and can significantly improve its growth only if Strategic management is effectively used. It is all about formulating strategies and the key to making it work for the business. McDonalds McDonalds is the leading global foodservice retailer with more than 31,000 local restaurants serving more than 58 million people in 118 countries each day. More than 75% of McDonalds restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by independent local men and women primarily selling the world some of its favorite foods World Famous Fries, Hamburgers (Big Mac, Quarter Pounder, etc), Chicken McNuggets, Egg McMuffin, milkshakes, hot drinks, desserts and most recently also offer salads and fruits. Their rich history began with our founder, Ray Kroc. The strong foundation that he built continues today with McDonalds vision and the commitment of our talented executives to keep the shine on McDonalds Arches for years to come. The History of McDonalds The McDonalds restaurant chain of today began its humble beginnings in a renovated barbecue car-hop restaurant in San Bernardino, California by two brothers, Richard and Maurice McDonald. Dick and Mac left their Manchester, New Hampshire home and headed to California for work after graduating from high school. Mac and Dick borrowed $5000.00 and opened a barbecue drive-in close to a high school in 1940. They hired attractive carhops and offered a menu of 29 items. Business boomed. Families came for the low prices and teens came to check out the carhops. By 1947, the restaurant was losing business. Families were getting more concerned about their finances and the teens seemed to be more interested in hanging out than in purchasing food. Dick and Mac took notice of these changes in clientele and noticed hamburgers made up 80% of all food sales. They decided to close the restaurant and reorganize. The restaurant was reopened in mid December of 1948 as the first self-service, assembly line, and drive-in offering 15 cent hamburgers, 19 cent cheeseburgers, 20 cent malts and 10 cent fries. By 1952 the business was booming. The brothers had purchased 8 mixers for their milkshake production and ordered two more. This purchase caught the attention of the owner of the Multi-mixer, Ray Kroc and changed the history of McDonalds. Ray noticed that this hamburger stand continued purchasing from him and he decided to go check it out. Ray was very impressed with the McDonald brothers self service concept and their booming business that now included a few franchises. He made a proposal to expand their business across the country with himself supplying the Multi-mixers. The brothers were not interested in becoming so large but did agree to give him exclusive rights to the McDonald system. Kroc opened his first franchise in Des Plaines, Chicago in 1955 and subsequently sold 18 more in the first year. He collected 1.9% of gross sales and turned in 0.5% of that to the McDonald brothers. He was barely breaking even in this arrangement, until he met Harry Sonnenborne, who encouraged him to lease or purchase the property for all future McDonald franchises. The operators would pay him either a monthly rent or percentage of their gross sales, whichever was greater. Kroc created a 75 page manual outlining the specifics of running a McDonalds to ensure all restaurants had the same cleanliness standards, the same amount of meat in each hamburger, the specifics for cutting and preparing French fries. The McDonald brothers resisted these changes and many arguments ensued. In 1960, Ray Kroc convinced Dick and Mac McDonald to sell the legal rights to him for 2.7 million dollars. At the time of this transaction, the chain had more than 200 restaurants. In 1990, after public outcry concerning cholesterol, McDonalds switched from beef tallow to pure vegetable oil in their french-fries. In 2006, McDonalds began a design Forever Young in all their restaurants using the traditional yellow and red colors and adding olive and sage, using more brick and wood with less plastic. With the vision of two brothers and the marketing strategy of one high school drop out, McDonald Corporation has grown to be the favorite fast food restaurant to millions of customers in more than 100 countries around the world. Business Goals, Objectives and Mission McDonalds S.M.A.R.T objectives Market share objectives Market share can be achieved within a specified period of time if objectives are set accurately Increasing profits objective is to increase profits or percentage of sales for a certain period of time. Survive Current/present hard times the business is in. Growth Business objectives may state growth by 15% year on year for the next 5 years ahead. Increasing brand awareness over a certain period of time. Mission Statement A mission statement is a brief and to point representation of a company or organizations purpose for existence. It is a formal document that states the objectives of a company or organization addressing concept like moral/ethical position of the company, public image, target market, etc. McDonalds Aims and Objectives Having great concerns bout the organizations customers. Being socially responsible for the companys welfare. Serving high standard and quality food with quick and outstanding service all along with great value for money. Maintain a good and friendly environment. McDonalds vision is to be the worlds best quick service restaurant experience. Being the best means providing outstanding quality, service, cleanliness, and value, so that we make every customer in every restaurant smile. McDonalds is known through out the world for their commitment to inclusion and diversity not only with their employees but with their franchises and suppliers. Core Objectives of McDonalds The core objective and mission of McDonalds is to be the worlds premier consumer product organization mainly focusing on convenient fast foods. They practice producing financial rewards to their investors hence providing opportunities for growth and enrichment for their employees, business partners and for the communities in which they operate. They strive for Honesty, Fairness and integrity in everything they do. McDonalds responsibility is to continually improve all aspects of the world in which they operate   environment, social, economic   creating a better tomorrow than today. Their main vision is put into action by a series of programs focusing on environmental stewardship, activities to benefit society and their commitment to building shareholder value by making McDonalds a truly sustainable company. Values and Principles of McDonalds. Core value is customer experience McDonalds is alive because of their customers and they demonstrate their appreciation by providing them with high quality products and services in a clean and welcoming environment, with great value for their money. Commitment to their people the key to their continuous success is them providing opportunity, nurture talent, developing leaders and reward achievement. Through their experience they believe that a team of well trained individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences, working together in an environment that fosters respect and drives high levels of engagement. Believing in the McDonalds system their foundation is based on their business model depicted by the three-legged stool of owner/operators, suppliers and the employees and their balance of interest among the three group is key. Operation of business ethically At McDonalds, business is run to high standards of fairness, honesty and integrity, individually being accountable and collectively responsible. Giving back to their communities They help their customers build better communities, support Ronald McDonald House Charities, scope and resources to help make the world a better place. Growing the business profitably As McDonalds is a publicly traded company, they work continuously to provide sustained profitable growth for their shareholders. Continuously striving to improve Through constant evolution and innovation, McDonalds aims to anticipate and respond to changing customer, employee and system needs. Stakeholder Analysis It is a technique adopted by organizations, used to identify and assess the importance of key people, groups of people, or institutions that may significantly influence the success of their activities or projects. This technique can either be used alone or with team members involved. Significance of a Stakeholder Analysis.