Literary Allusions in Eliots The Hollow Men :: Eliot The Hollow Men Essays

Literary Allusions in Eliot's The Hollow Men      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Scholars have long endeavored to identify the sources of various images in T. S. Eliot's work, so densely layered with literary allusions. As Eliot himself noted in his essay "Philip Massinger" (1920),    One of the surest of tests is the way in which a poet borrows. Immature poets imitate, mature poets steal; bad poets deface what they take, and good poets make it into something better, or at least something different.    In Eliot's poem "The Hollow Men," several sources have been posited for the "hollow men . . . the stuffed men / leaning together . . . filled with straw" (lines 1-2). B. C. Southam notes three: that the "hollow . . . stuffed men" are reminiscent of the effigies burned in celebration of Guy Fawkes Day; that "according to Valerie Eliot, the poet had in mind the marionette in Stravinsky's Petrouchka"; and finally, that the "straw-stuffed effigies are associated with harvest rituals celebrating the death of the fertility god or Fisher King."(n1)    In 1963, some years before Southam's summary, John Vickery had proffered an interpretation similar to the third point mentioned. He noted that "the opening lines of `The Hollow Men' with their image of straw-filled creatures, recalls The Golden Bough's account of the straw-man who represents the dead spirit of fertility that revives in the spring when the apple trees begin to blossom."(n2) Whereas Eliot may well have had any or all of these ideas in mind, I suggest that there is yet another connection to be made, namely between Eliot's "hollow . . . stuffed men" and the Roman ritual of the Argei.    In 1922, a few years before Eliot wrote "The Hollow Men," W. Warde Fowler described the particulars of this ritual, which was to him a "fascinating puzzle" and "the first curiosity that enticed" him "into the study of Roman religion," in his book Roman Religious Experience.(n3) The rite according to Fowler occurs    each year on the ides of May, which is in my view rather magical than religious, though the ancients themselves looked upon it as a kind of purification, [namely] the casting into the Tiber from the Pons Sublicius of twenty-four or twenty-seven straw puppets by the Vestal Virgins in the presence of the magistrates and pontifices. Recently an attempt has been made by Wissowa to prove that this strange ceremony was not primitive, but simply a case of substitution of puppets for real human victims as late as the age of the Punic wars.

In Cold Blood

Truman Capote was born in New Orleans in 1925, a harsh time in America. He was brought up in an amalgamation of places in the South of America, moving among New Orleans, Alabama and New Georgia. He began writing stories at the age of fourteen, depending on the seasonal changes. He later went on to work for the New Yorker after having left school at fifteen. He soon became renowned as the author of the celebrated Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Finally, he published his masterpiece, In Cold Blood, which is most certainly a work of art that changed the nature of writing for all time to come. The novel is filled with contrasting themes, ranging between moments of sombreness and cheeriness, invoking various emotions when reading the non-fictional novel. The novel revolves around the lives of the infamous murderers, Richard Eugene Hickock and Perry Edward Smith and the story of how they murdered four innocent people, known as the Clutter family. This essay will explore the relationship between character and theme presented in In Cold Blood, referring specifically to the characters of Dick Hickock and Perry Smith, assessing the question about whether the characters are portrayed empathetically or as ruthless murderers, the theme of light versus dark being represented in each of these two characters. The contrast drawn between Dick and Perry and the Clutter family will be shown with reference to minor characters that influence the reader’s perceptions of the characters, as well as the effect of narrative scope on the novel. Firstly, Perry was born, â€Å"Perry Edward Smith Oct. 27 1928 in Huntington, Elko County, Nevada, which is situated way out in the boon docks, so to speak†¦ in 1929 [his] family had ventured to Juneau, Alaska† (Capote 274). He had not had a normal upbringing. His mother left his father at a young age and moved around the country without real love, friends or a proper grounding. Perry lived in a nunnery at one stage of his childhood where he was severely beaten to the stage of near death from drowning incidents caused by a certain nun. Therefore, it is no wonder that he felt as though the world was against him. Moreover, â€Å"Sitting, [Perry] seemed a more than normal-sized man, a powerful man, with the shoulders, the arms, the thick, crouching torso of a weight-lifter† but he was disproportionately structured, â€Å"when he stood up he was no taller than a 12-year-old child† (Capote 27). It is this that is ominously foreboding of his personality. At a first glance he seems to be grotesquely large and well-built, but further inspection allows one realise that he is merely, â€Å"overblown and muscle bound† (Capote 27). The same thought process is attached to his inner qualities; he seems at first, with his boyishly good-looks, to be soft and sweet, a part Indian and a part Irishmen to be a placid romantic. One would never assume at first that Perry is a cold-blooded killer. Instead, one would think the opposite with him being so caring of animals such a squirrels, enjoying the company of children and being an excellent artist and skilled guitar player – â€Å"With the aid of his guitar, Perry had [often] hung himself into a happy humour. He knew the lyrics of some two hundred hymns and ballads – a repertoire ranging [endlessly]† (Capote 59) But, through further analysis one finds that, â€Å"In some ways old Perry was â€Å"spooky as hell†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ He could slide into a fury†¦ â€Å"He might be ready to kill you, but you’d never know it, not to look at or listen to. †Ã¢â‚¬  (Capote 116) What was really going on with Perry, whether he was anxious or nervous, scared or ireful – even with his anxiety causing his blood to bubble, it was almost assured that he would remain cool, calm and collected on the outside, â€Å"with eyes serene and slightly sleepy† (Capote 116). Therefore, Perry had a,  Ã¢â‚¬Å"doom against which virtue was no defense† (Capote 185). He â€Å"had such a rotten life† (Capote 306). In many ways Perry is portrayed in an array of varying degrees of passivity and iniquity. It is then true to state that, â€Å"‘the path of the righteous man is beset on all sides with the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men† (Jackson). He was in no doubt destined to the awful vengeance that was incurred upon him – death by hanging from the neck. In contrast to this, Dick Hickock lived a much better life than what Perry did; he lived a somewhat average middle-class lifestyle. As a child he eceived much love from his parents and at one stage received a bicycle for his birthday, which he was indeed very proud of. He partook in most sports and achieved highly even being given a scholarship to go to college (which he did not accept). Instead, he started working and married a young but pretty girl who was above his standards, and even though this was the case, they had children together. Furthermor e, Dick honestly thought of himself as, â€Å"a normal. And Dick meant what he said. He thought of himself as balanced, as sane as anyone – maybe a bit smarter than the average fellow†¦ (Capote 116) He too, at first, seems to be kind hearted as he tends to smile somewhat and make jokes. But with his harmless jokes come harmful ones too, such as in the closing moments of the court case where both Dick and Perry laughed loudly at Dick’s comment of, â€Å"No chicken-hearted jurors, they†! (Capote 307) Moreover, Dick’s truly evil side is portrayed when he speaks of his lust for young adolescents and his paedophiliac propensities. He openly claims that he, â€Å"never [gave] any thought to whether it is right or wrong† (Capote 278). This act in itself is worthy of maximum penalty and coupled with assisted murder of first degree on four counts it is no doubt that he too be destined to the ultimate punishment – death by hanging from the neck. One of the reasons why the novel is so appealing is the nature of its impartiality; in the partnership of Dick and Perry they are both portrayed empathetically as well as like ruthless killers. Throughout the novel there are minor characters that ensure that one feels empathy at times toward the dire-stricken duo and at other times one will feel detestation and abhorrence toward the cowardly couple. With regards to Perry one feels compassion for him when he explains the horrors of his childhood, the way in which he was so often mistreated and misguided and lost out on so many important aspects of growing up that would normally lead to living a normal life. Perry Smith wanted to go to college and receive a proper education and was most jealous of former in-mate Lowell Lee Andrews who had what he desired, despising him for it. One might feel sorry for him insofar that he suffers from pain in his legs as a result of a motorcycle accident and resultantly became an addict of aspirin. One might even be envious of him for he is full of wisdom, being opposed to conventionalism for, â€Å"there is considerable hypocrisy in conventionalism† (Capote 150) and for being so artistically and musically inclined. It is Perry’s father, Tex John Smith, and his friends, Donald Cullivan and Willie-Jay? On the other hand, though it need not be mentioned why, one feels utter distaste towards such a felon for his heinous crimes are unspeakable and his lack of remorse is most certainly worthy of hatred and the label of ‘a cold-blooded killer’. Perry’s cold-bloodedness is most clearly portrayed when he openly exclaims, â€Å"[he] didn’t want to harm [Herb Clutter]. [He] thought he was a very nice gentleman. Soft-spoken. [He] thought so right up to the moment [he] cut his throat. † (Capote, 246). With regards to Dick, one would also be inclined to think kindly of him because he is a clever and quirky man, always â€Å"quick with a joke, or to light up [one’s] smoke† (Joel). He would hardly be seen without a smile and to be quite charming. The people in his life, which cared for him most, would be his parents, Mr. nd Mrs. Hickock – who never spoke badly of their son and always had hope and faith in him, even up until the last moment. It is precisely this aspect which makes one feel compassion for Dick. However, one finds his actions inexcusable and sees him as a cold blooded killer insofar as he was the main instigator for the ‘score’ of the Clutter household. He was the ringleader and the mastermind of the whole operation and he perpetually insisted that him and Perry leave no witnesses standing. It is thus that he is rightfully named a ‘cold-blooded killer’. Furthermore, there is a great contrast with regards to the theme of light and dark pertaining to Dick and Perry and the Clutter family, for even though Dick and Perry initially seem to be somewhat gentle or not as malevolent as they are after what one eventually learns about them, they most certainly are laced with evil streaks. Conversely, the Clutter family, each and every one of them was of pure goodness, not just in appearance or facades but in their minds and hearts too. Their souls were comprised of untainted decency. They were a tightly knit unit that worked coherently to enrich others’ ives. Similarly, Dick and Perry also worked together, a team but conversely yet again, their aim was to impoverish other peoples’ lives. Moreover, the narrative scope is from two varying viewpoints: that of the Clutter  family  who were innocently murdered, and that of the two cold-blooded killers, Dick and Perry. The different points of view allow one to relive both sides of the story; Capote presents them without foregone conclusions hence, each standpoint is one of impartiality. Capote works wizardry with the use of the third person omniscient perspective to communicate the two points of view. Emphasis is laid on some important scenes in the novel because of the way it is not written in complete chronological order. Finally, by closely analysing various aspects of the novel such as character and theme, whether or not Dick and Perry are portrayed empathetically or as cold-blooded killers, and how the theme of dark versus light is portrayed in the two main characters in accordance with the Clutter family and the effect of narrative scope we can fully understand what a wonderful masterpiece Truman Capote has fashioned. Word Count: 1794 Bibliography Capote, Truman. In Cold Blood. New York: Penguin Books, 1965. Joel, Bille. â€Å"Pianoman. † Piano Man. cond. M Stewart. By Billie Joel. Los Angeles, 1973. Pulp Fiction. Dir. Quentin Tarantino. Perf. Samuel L. Jackson. 1994. In Cold Blood Truman Capote was born in New Orleans in 1925, a harsh time in America. He was brought up in an amalgamation of places in the South of America, moving among New Orleans, Alabama and New Georgia. He began writing stories at the age of fourteen, depending on the seasonal changes. He later went on to work for the New Yorker after having left school at fifteen. He soon became renowned as the author of the celebrated Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Finally, he published his masterpiece, In Cold Blood, which is most certainly a work of art that changed the nature of writing for all time to come. The novel is filled with contrasting themes, ranging between moments of sombreness and cheeriness, invoking various emotions when reading the non-fictional novel. The novel revolves around the lives of the infamous murderers, Richard Eugene Hickock and Perry Edward Smith and the story of how they murdered four innocent people, known as the Clutter family. This essay will explore the relationship between character and theme presented in In Cold Blood, referring specifically to the characters of Dick Hickock and Perry Smith, assessing the question about whether the characters are portrayed empathetically or as ruthless murderers, the theme of light versus dark being represented in each of these two characters. The contrast drawn between Dick and Perry and the Clutter family will be shown with reference to minor characters that influence the reader’s perceptions of the characters, as well as the effect of narrative scope on the novel. Firstly, Perry was born, â€Å"Perry Edward Smith Oct. 27 1928 in Huntington, Elko County, Nevada, which is situated way out in the boon docks, so to speak†¦ in 1929 [his] family had ventured to Juneau, Alaska† (Capote 274). He had not had a normal upbringing. His mother left his father at a young age and moved around the country without real love, friends or a proper grounding. Perry lived in a nunnery at one stage of his childhood where he was severely beaten to the stage of near death from drowning incidents caused by a certain nun. Therefore, it is no wonder that he felt as though the world was against him. Moreover, â€Å"Sitting, [Perry] seemed a more than normal-sized man, a powerful man, with the shoulders, the arms, the thick, crouching torso of a weight-lifter† but he was disproportionately structured, â€Å"when he stood up he was no taller than a 12-year-old child† (Capote 27). It is this that is ominously foreboding of his personality. At a first glance he seems to be grotesquely large and well-built, but further inspection allows one realise that he is merely, â€Å"overblown and muscle bound† (Capote 27). The same thought process is attached to his inner qualities; he seems at first, with his boyishly good-looks, to be soft and sweet, a part Indian and a part Irishmen to be a placid romantic. One would never assume at first that Perry is a cold-blooded killer. Instead, one would think the opposite with him being so caring of animals such a squirrels, enjoying the company of children and being an excellent artist and skilled guitar player – â€Å"With the aid of his guitar, Perry had [often] hung himself into a happy humour. He knew the lyrics of some two hundred hymns and ballads – a repertoire ranging [endlessly]† (Capote 59) But, through further analysis one finds that, â€Å"In some ways old Perry was â€Å"spooky as hell†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ He could slide into a fury†¦ â€Å"He might be ready to kill you, but you’d never know it, not to look at or listen to. †Ã¢â‚¬  (Capote 116) What was really going on with Perry, whether he was anxious or nervous, scared or ireful – even with his anxiety causing his blood to bubble, it was almost assured that he would remain cool, calm and collected on the outside, â€Å"with eyes serene and slightly sleepy† (Capote 116). Therefore, Perry had a,  Ã¢â‚¬Å"doom against which virtue was no defense† (Capote 185). He â€Å"had such a rotten life† (Capote 306). In many ways Perry is portrayed in an array of varying degrees of passivity and iniquity. It is then true to state that, â€Å"‘the path of the righteous man is beset on all sides with the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men† (Jackson). He was in no doubt destined to the awful vengeance that was incurred upon him – death by hanging from the neck. In contrast to this, Dick Hickock lived a much better life than what Perry did; he lived a somewhat average middle-class lifestyle. As a child he eceived much love from his parents and at one stage received a bicycle for his birthday, which he was indeed very proud of. He partook in most sports and achieved highly even being given a scholarship to go to college (which he did not accept). Instead, he started working and married a young but pretty girl who was above his standards, and even though this was the case, they had children together. Furthermor e, Dick honestly thought of himself as, â€Å"a normal. And Dick meant what he said. He thought of himself as balanced, as sane as anyone – maybe a bit smarter than the average fellow†¦ (Capote 116) He too, at first, seems to be kind hearted as he tends to smile somewhat and make jokes. But with his harmless jokes come harmful ones too, such as in the closing moments of the court case where both Dick and Perry laughed loudly at Dick’s comment of, â€Å"No chicken-hearted jurors, they†! (Capote 307) Moreover, Dick’s truly evil side is portrayed when he speaks of his lust for young adolescents and his paedophiliac propensities. He openly claims that he, â€Å"never [gave] any thought to whether it is right or wrong† (Capote 278). This act in itself is worthy of maximum penalty and coupled with assisted murder of first degree on four counts it is no doubt that he too be destined to the ultimate punishment – death by hanging from the neck. One of the reasons why the novel is so appealing is the nature of its impartiality; in the partnership of Dick and Perry they are both portrayed empathetically as well as like ruthless killers. Throughout the novel there are minor characters that ensure that one feels empathy at times toward the dire-stricken duo and at other times one will feel detestation and abhorrence toward the cowardly couple. With regards to Perry one feels compassion for him when he explains the horrors of his childhood, the way in which he was so often mistreated and misguided and lost out on so many important aspects of growing up that would normally lead to living a normal life. Perry Smith wanted to go to college and receive a proper education and was most jealous of former in-mate Lowell Lee Andrews who had what he desired, despising him for it. One might feel sorry for him insofar that he suffers from pain in his legs as a result of a motorcycle accident and resultantly became an addict of aspirin. One might even be envious of him for he is full of wisdom, being opposed to conventionalism for, â€Å"there is considerable hypocrisy in conventionalism† (Capote 150) and for being so artistically and musically inclined. It is Perry’s father, Tex John Smith, and his friends, Donald Cullivan and Willie-Jay? On the other hand, though it need not be mentioned why, one feels utter distaste towards such a felon for his heinous crimes are unspeakable and his lack of remorse is most certainly worthy of hatred and the label of ‘a cold-blooded killer’. Perry’s cold-bloodedness is most clearly portrayed when he openly exclaims, â€Å"[he] didn’t want to harm [Herb Clutter]. [He] thought he was a very nice gentleman. Soft-spoken. [He] thought so right up to the moment [he] cut his throat. † (Capote, 246). With regards to Dick, one would also be inclined to think kindly of him because he is a clever and quirky man, always â€Å"quick with a joke, or to light up [one’s] smoke† (Joel). He would hardly be seen without a smile and to be quite charming. The people in his life, which cared for him most, would be his parents, Mr. nd Mrs. Hickock – who never spoke badly of their son and always had hope and faith in him, even up until the last moment. It is precisely this aspect which makes one feel compassion for Dick. However, one finds his actions inexcusable and sees him as a cold blooded killer insofar as he was the main instigator for the ‘score’ of the Clutter household. He was the ringleader and the mastermind of the whole operation and he perpetually insisted that him and Perry leave no witnesses standing. It is thus that he is rightfully named a ‘cold-blooded killer’. Furthermore, there is a great contrast with regards to the theme of light and dark pertaining to Dick and Perry and the Clutter family, for even though Dick and Perry initially seem to be somewhat gentle or not as malevolent as they are after what one eventually learns about them, they most certainly are laced with evil streaks. Conversely, the Clutter family, each and every one of them was of pure goodness, not just in appearance or facades but in their minds and hearts too. Their souls were comprised of untainted decency. They were a tightly knit unit that worked coherently to enrich others’ ives. Similarly, Dick and Perry also worked together, a team but conversely yet again, their aim was to impoverish other peoples’ lives. Moreover, the narrative scope is from two varying viewpoints: that of the Clutter  family  who were innocently murdered, and that of the two cold-blooded killers, Dick and Perry. The different points of view allow one to relive both sides of the story; Capote presents them without foregone conclusions hence, each standpoint is one of impartiality. Capote works wizardry with the use of the third person omniscient perspective to communicate the two points of view. Emphasis is laid on some important scenes in the novel because of the way it is not written in complete chronological order. Finally, by closely analysing various aspects of the novel such as character and theme, whether or not Dick and Perry are portrayed empathetically or as cold-blooded killers, and how the theme of dark versus light is portrayed in the two main characters in accordance with the Clutter family and the effect of narrative scope we can fully understand what a wonderful masterpiece Truman Capote has fashioned. Word Count: 1794 Bibliography Capote, Truman. In Cold Blood. New York: Penguin Books, 1965. Joel, Bille. â€Å"Pianoman. † Piano Man. cond. M Stewart. By Billie Joel. Los Angeles, 1973. Pulp Fiction. Dir. Quentin Tarantino. Perf. Samuel L. Jackson. 1994.

First time in a barber shop Essay

If you’ve never been to a barber shop before, the experience can be quite different from a hair salon or a discount haircut chain. Unlike more upscale hair salons, most barber shops offer quality haircuts at affordable prices; usually, you can plan to pay somewhere around $10-$15 for a haircut (give or take a few dollars, depending on the locale). While most salons and haircut chains do not offer facial shaves, many barber shops routinely offer shaves, often including warm lather and sometimes a hot face towel. A few barber shops may request that you make an appointment before you visit, but most shops operate on a â€Å"first-come, first-served† basis. When you enter a first-come, first-served shop, take note of who was already waiting ahead of you, and keep a mental note of your place in the order as new people enter, so you’ll know when it is your turn. (Newer shops may use sign-in lists to minimize confusion. ) It is customary when you’ve entered an unfamiliar shop to take the next available barber when your turn has come up. However, once you have established a relationship with a particular barber in a shop, it is perfectly acceptable to wait for that barber when your turn comes up. For example, if it is your turn to get a cut, but your favorite barber, Sam, is still cutting another guy’s hair, you can simply say, â€Å"I’m going to wait for Sam. † Unless someone else who was ahead of you is also waiting for Sam, you’ll be next in his chair. Once seated in his or her chair, your barber will ask a few questions about how you would like your hair cut, at least until getting to know your preferences and style. He or she may ask when your last haircut was, whether you wish to simply trim the style you currently have, whether you would like a blocked or tapered neckline (details below), if you would like your sideburns trimmed, if you would like a part in your hair, if you want your neck shaved, if you would like your beard trimmed, if you’d like a full shave, and so on. If you request a very short cut, your barber may ask if you know the clipper blade number that you prefer. Keep in mind that different clipper manufacturers may use slightly different numbering systems for their blades and attachments (more on clippers below). If you have a specific, traditional style in mind (such as a crew cut or a butch), feel free to request it, but understand that these styles can be interpreted slightly differently from barber to barber. It may be wise to describe specific details you are looking for until you and your barber become more familiar with one another. Unless your hair is very dirty, most barbers will not shampoo your hair before cutting. Depending on the preference of the barber, he or she may use clippers or shears (haircutting scissors) to cut your hair; one is not necessarily better than the other, as they are both means to an end. Your barber may use warm lather and a straight razor to clean up the outlines of your cut around the ears and neck. Payment is usually given directly to the barber who cut your hair at the end of the cut, and tipping is customary (between 15-20% is appropriate for most areas of the country).

Rock Music

Rock Music In this essay, I'm going to introduce to the reader a topic not touched a lot because of its complexity and its avoidance by conservative adults. This topic is, of course, Rock Music. During one week, I looked for information in the library and at my house, and from the information I gathered and my one knowledge about the topic, I'm going to lead the reader to a better understanding of Rock n' Roll. I chose to do Rock music because I can identify myself with it. Rock music is very complex. In fact 'It's stylistic scope is to broad to be encompassed by any single definition' ('Rock Music', Groliers, p.1). The nearest definition suggests a kind of music that represents and speaks for the teenage society. This music is characterized by using a heavy beat. In this essay, I'm going to divide Rock music into four sections: Rock of the 50‚Â ´s, of the 60‚Â ´s, of the 70‚Â ´s and of the 80‚Â ´s.example of a riff of traditional heavy metalHeavy metal gets very little air play on radio stations there is an average of only one radio station per listening air. Fans often depend on word of mouth, the internet, and attending clubs to find out about new bands and songs.Alternative rock is considered to be popular music. It does not have as many loyal fans as hard rock but does get as much radio play as rap rock. Alternative rock is soft-core in comparison to heavy metal and rap rock. It does contain cursing but the topics of songs usually deal with life and love. It is not loud and the lead singer is not usually screaming into the microphone.Rock music has many more sub categorize than the ones listed here. It is important to be open to the many types of music around you.

Strategic performance management The WritePass Journal

Strategic performance management Introduction: Strategic performance management Introduction:1.Putting performance targets to achieve Strategic objectives of Tesco:1.1 The link between team performance and strategic objectives of Tesco:1.2 Objectives of the organization:1.3 Requirements for Workforce to achieve objective of Tesco:1.4 Tools and techniques available to set team performance targets:1.5 Processes that deliver outcomes based on organizational goals and aims:1.6 Appropriate methods for evaluating performance:1.7 Review capacity and capability of current workforce:2. Agreeing team performance targets to meet strategic objectives:2.1 Performance targets required within teams against current performance:2.2 The skills, knowledge and experience required to undertake current organizational activities:2.3 Systems for collecting and assessing information on the overall performance:3. Motivating team performance to achieve organizational objectives:3.1 Context of delegation, mentoring and coaching to achieve organizational objectives:3.2 Monitor activities to improve team performance:3.3 Monitoring team performance:3.4 Evaluation of team performance against agreed objectives:4. Contribution of influence and persuasion to team dynamics:4.1 Methodologies to gain commitment to action:4.2 Impact of individual dynamic on securing commitment to action:5. Conclusion:ReferencesRelated Introduction: With the rapid changes occurring in the business world due to tough global competition, product proliferation, customer relations, the preferences and working of organizations has also changed and enhanced. However the success and permanence of organizations relies the way the organizations perform. This could be further explained as the way organizations carry out their strategies and achieve its objectives to be effective. For this purpose it is necessary that are noses are pointed in the same direction, means as every employee contributes to the organization through his/ her activities towards the attainment of objectives f the organization. However it is the responsibility of the manger to keep a proper tract about the performance of the employees through performance measurement as the performance and success of the organization heavily relies on the performance of its people. As Bititci., et al (1997) said: â€Å"The need for an integrated set of performance measures which supp orts rather than contradicts business objectives is clearly established†. Similarlyteams are the most important force within an organization to derive it, enhance the performance and achieve the strategic objectives f the organization. A team may be a functional team, project team or a team of managers; it is believed people get most done when they are working together in an effective way. However if the team or the members of the team are not working accurately or in an effective manner this may hinder the performance and productivity of the company. The current report aims at measuring the performance and strategic objectives of Tesco. 1.Putting performance targets to achieve Strategic objectives of Tesco: The most obvious strategic objectives of any organization are directed towards the maximizing and generating higher profits and returns for the owners, others are aimed at customers and society at large (Dess., et al 2005). However the setting of strategic objectives is a challenging task for an organization as the failure and success of the organizations depends a lot on the objectives the organization is setting. Strategic objectives are set for a longer time. Tesco is one of the famous and UK based supermarket. The company was founded way back in 1919 and its founder was Jack Cohen. The company is using mix tools for performance management. Tesco is using score card methodology which has been tailored and named as â€Å"Steering Wheel†. However the steering wheel is extension of Kaplan and Norton (1996) and contains the element of community at its heart (Talking Tesco, 2009). However the company has developed the steering wheel on the basis of cooperate strategy and is empl oyed by the executives of the company to achieve the core objective of the company. The wheel comprises of four different dimensions and each dimension underpins its own set of objectives. However Tesco measure its objectives by different coding colors such as green, amber and red. The green color depicts that the objectives of the company by its employees are met, amber depicts the tasks that needs attention and red color depicts failure of the task or objective by the employees. For instance it could be explained as the target set for waste in one of the store was set at 5% of the revenue generated by the store, however if the percentage is below 4 it is depicted as green color on the steering wheel, and above 5 percent the wheel shows red color.  Ã‚   However this does not have a visionary purpose. Witcher., et al (2008) argued to this and said the purpose of Tesco in doing so is not to achieve a new position but it aims at measuring the values which are in line with the purpos e or objectives of the company. However the main aim of having steering wheel is enable and relate the personal objective of the employees with the values of the business in order to provide the staff to stabilize the vales efficiently in managing the daily work. The wheel consists of the four Kaplan and Norton perspectives with an addition of community perspective added in 2006 (Tesco, 2008). The wheel helps Tesco to achieve all its objectives by the way of performance targets. Source: Tesco .com 1.1 The link between team performance and strategic objectives of Tesco: The colors on the steering wheels reveals the performance of the any of the store of Tesco, however if the wheel shows green color it means the team performance is in accordance to the objectives of the company and more the company is successful in attaining the objectives set by it through the performance of its employees in form of teams on the contrary the red color on the wheel reveals the team has failed to perform in order to achieve the objectives of the company. The more green the wheel will be the more objectives set by the company will be achieved. However this principle is employed at strategic level of the company (Tesco, 2009). 1.2 Objectives of the organization: The strategic objectives of the company are: As being one of the leading retail store in Britain, consisting of 519 stores in England, Scotland and Wales. However there are 105 stores in France and 44 in Hungary. As being a global operator Tesco aims at providing best value of product for the money they pay at competitive price. Tesco aims to meet the needs of its customers by taking into account the demands and preferences of its customer and moreover by considering the views of customers regarding any innovative product and more over enhances the quality of the product by keeping the choices and changing preferences of the customers. Tesco aims at improving its services and store facilities in order to provide the shareholders with better returns by maximizing the profits of the company. Tesco aims at employing latest technology develop the skills of its employees by the way of implement sound management strategies and by the way of training and development program. Moreover Tesco aims at providing its employees with equal opportunities and provide them with rewards in order to build long term relationship. Furthermore Tesco   aims at adhering to strict price and quality of products standard   in order to participate and formulate national food industry policies on the issues of nutrition, health, hygiene and this also includes the safety of animals, supporting well being and protecting the environment (Tesco, 2010). 1.3 Requirements for Workforce to achieve objective of Tesco: In order to meet the objectives of the company, Tesco employs classical hierarchical management for their stores however keeping in mind the size of the store the hierarchy is dived into six segments such as: Front end (check outs), Produce and fresh, Merchandising, Stock control, Administration, Personnel Ambient Each section consist of operational staff who is under the supervision of team leader, who has to report to the sectional manager , and the sectional manager is entitled to report to store manger. This store manager has to provide a detailed report to area manger. However the employees are trained to enhance their skills as the company is undertaking new markets such as finance and property and for this the need for capability and expertise is increasing. 1.4 Tools and techniques available to set team performance targets: The team performance targets are achieved by the website of Tesco or by the Witcher., et al (2008). However the performance of operational staff on the wheel’s objectives is measured quarterly and a summary report is presented to 2000 managers to cascade the staff. As the steering wheel is customer based and undertakes performance based approach and moreover it allows to measure performance on daily basis that is used for long term strategic objectives. However the performance targets of employees are reviewed at a regular basis. It is imperative to make sure the objectives remain suitable and vigorous measures of performance I the company. However the purpose, vision and the steering wheel go hand in hand and complement each other in managing the corporate performance. This requires the understanding of Tesco ‘purpose’ statement when employing ‘Steering Wheel’. Tesco’s core objective is to create value for customers to earn their lifetime loya lty. 1.5 Processes that deliver outcomes based on organizational goals and aims: The company has employed balanced score card methodology to measure the operations as the card has been modified as per the needs of the department   and the performances are measured during team meetings and the waste is argued at strategic level. 1.6 Appropriate methods for evaluating performance: The methods adopted by Tesco to evaluate the performance of the staff includes a PDP personal development planning folder , as it contains the detail of performance appraisals, needs of any training, training that is given, and the departmental performance data. However the colors of the steering wheel helps measure the performance of all the departments. 1.7 Review capacity and capability of current workforce: Using the current work force Tesco has become the largest retailer and employer in UK private sector. Despite the tough construction laws imposed, Tesco is still expanding by leaps and bounds. The UK market has enough labor to cater for the recruitment at UK level. However, for  international operations, the capability to recruit from UK diminishes; the recruitment is carried out at local countries. With the current workforce of 280,000 people in UK alone Tesco is more than capable to sustain itself against any future expansion plans. 2. Agreeing team performance targets to meet strategic objectives: This section highlights the team performance targets in order to meet the strategic gains at store level. 2.1 Performance targets required within teams against current performance: In order to measure the current performance of the team against performance targets Tesco has employed an internal communication channel called team 5 which the staff has to sign once in a week which undertakes whether the performance target has been achieved or not. Moreover the local stores are required to engage in community and find out about shopping references. The staff is required to be polite, helpful and cordial to the customers. Each store has set seasonal, weekly and occasional targets which are compared with the year on year targets. 2.2 The skills, knowledge and experience required to undertake current organizational activities: At operational level not much high skills are required but going above the hierarchy of management the enhanced skills are required. For instance the sectional  Ã‚   managers need to have the abilities of management, project orientation and awareness of financial matters. The PDP folder helps to access the training needs for the staff, due to rapid technological changes Tesco has invested in training of XML, Macros and other systems such as self help check outs monitoring and online reporting. This allows the staff to mange their own profile online. However this requires efficient communication among the staff and proper training. 2.3 Systems for collecting and assessing information on the overall performance: Tesco utilizes digital ways to collect and assess information. However it has engaged with the community by the way of leaflets, and surveys but it engages through CSR (corporate social responsibly) at strategic level. Tesco needs to invest in greener and fair products. The data stored at front end allows analyze and compare sales for the overall performance. Moreover the loyalty club cards enable Tesco to understand the buying and shopping patterns of the customers and to allocate new target markets. 3. Motivating team performance to achieve organizational objectives: In order to achieve the objectives of the company Tesco employs motivational techniques such as rewards, employee of the month, appreciation and encouragement to motivate its employees and get the best out of their performance. 3.1 Context of delegation, mentoring and coaching to achieve organizational objectives: At Tesco mentoring is provided to the employees during the graduate training program and moreover a mentor is provided for a year. Moreover coaching is provided to the operational staff during the training. At grass root level delegation is not much involved but operational teams do the job which they are required to perform with few job rotations. 3.2 Monitor activities to improve team performance: In order to improve the team performance of the staff f Tesco needs to adopt a top to bottom approach as communication is very vital for implementing the strategy in any organization. Moreover if the top management does not have communication with the lower staff it gets difficult to assess and monitor strategic objectives and processes going on in the company (Mabey 2002). For this Tesco needs to develop various channels to have a smooth flow of communication to transfer information and to have a better check on the performance of the employees. The higher management needs to keep a healthy relation with the employees to assess them accurately against PDP folder. Moreover identification of the work objectives, key dates and support materials should be provided by the management and also at their daily and weekly staff meetings so that staff can measure their contribution to the steering wheel. Moreover the steering wheel should be monitored strictly against the performance of the em ployees as it enables the company to strengthen its objectives and attain competitive advantage through workforce efficient performance (Prahalad and Hamel, 1990). 3.3 Monitoring team performance: On the basis of balance score card methodology Witcher., et al   (2008) proposed an strategic model for the company. However it incorporates the regular strategic controls of the company and enables it to monitor them as follows: Source: Witcher et al, 2008 3.4 Evaluation of team performance against agreed objectives: At Tesco the team performance is evaluated by the way of feedbacks, team briefings and by implementing Deming’s PDC approach. However the areas which are improving are shown by color code that is communicated by team 5 exercise among the staff (Deming, 1986). 4. Contribution of influence and persuasion to team dynamics: With evolution of different management theories, the modern business uses a mix of these theories in order to get the maximum benefit. However for the purpose of employee motivation extrinsic or monetary rewards has been a great motivational factor to enhance the performance of the employees. These motivational factors re discussed in this section (Tesco 2010). . 4.1 Methodologies to gain commitment to action: At Tesco the top management is employing   a combination of Taylorism and Maslow theory of need as it enables to enrich the job satisfaction of the employees by involving the staff in the process of decision making and allowing the staff to become a part of the organization. Further the company also provides extrinsic rewards in the shape of bonuses, pay increments in order to motivate the employees. However it has been proven techniques of gaining highly motivated staff with high commitments to the organization. However there are   more than 260,000 employees working in Tesco and in order to motivate them and encourage they are asked to participate in staff question time sessions which provides the upper management an insight of the valuable opinions of the staff about the working conditions going on in the stores (Talking Tesco, 2009). Moreover this exercise is focused at just not taking feed back of the employees but also asks to provide useful suggestions from employees in or der to enhance the services of the company and quality of the products delivered. Some of the other ways of building healthy relationships among staff members is by communicating through channels exercised between Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) and Tesco.   This partnership is of great importance for both the companies as it provides the biggest trade union agreement which observes the biggest staff forums in private sector. The meeting in held three times a year and exchanges important feed backs from both the sides. Moreover the training and development held during the meeting provides the staff to enrich their skills and experience by working with Usdaw. According to Tesco’s website (2009) the company made an investment of   over 2,000 new management and 4,500 team Leader roles to continue to provide their ‘Every Little Helps’ to their customers. Moreover the company tends to motivate its employees through profit sharing and ownersh ip sharing through subsidized share schemes for employees such as ‘Save as You Earn’ and ‘Buy as You Earn’. In addition to the above Tesco pays double amount to employees for their contribution which enable the company to retain and regard highly performing and loyal employees. 4.2 Impact of individual dynamic on securing commitment to action: The impact of ex-chief executive on the maintaining and securing the commitment of its staff is magnificent. For any strategic action has to be channeled through effective top level management. The Tesco’s former boss earned the industry along with the respect of its employees by achieving many rewards and taking the company to the success of highest level. Mr. Terry Leahy joined the company way back in 1979 and implemented many strategic moves in the company such as introducing and devising the club card (loyalty card) scheme. He was a figure who captured every employee’s imagination as he originated from the humble beginnings within the Tesco. He started working with Tesco as marketing executives and rose to high ranks. He earned a great respect in the Britain Business industry. He was selected as ‘Business Leader of the Year’ in 2003 (Manchester, 2009).   In the famous newspaper guardian he was declared the most influential non-elected person in Britai n in 2007.he is considered as a visionary leader among his fellow colleagues which could be evident by the performance management methodologies implemented by him in the company (Tesco, 2009b). One of the most significant decisions ever made by Terry has been the introduction of  loyalty card and loyalty schemes. Before this, Tesco used to trail behind Sainsbury and Marks and Spencer (Tesco, 2009).However since 1997, under the leadership of Mr. Leahy Tesco has expanded into non food, telecoms, and financials and remains the leading supermarket in UK. These efforts were duly recognized by CMI (Chartered Management Institute), which awarded gold medal for the futurist and pragmatic leadership of Sir Terry Leahy. Jo Causon, director, marketing and corporate affair sat the Chartered Management Institute says: â€Å"The pace of change and the drive to build global brands has had a major impact on the nature of management and leadership.   Sir Terry Leahy’s vision and determin ation to maintain high service levels for customers the world over is indicative of his energy for business and a real commitment to deliver effective results.† (CIM, 2009) 5. Conclusion: From the above it could be concluded that team performance plays a major role in attaining the strategic objectives of the company and in order to enhance the performance of the employees the company should motivate the employees by intrinsic and extrinsic rewards moreover their should be a proper system of check and balance o monitoring of the staff whether the staff is performing according to the objectives of the company. Apart from this a motivational pragmatic and enthusiastic leader or mentor is required who takes the team along with it to meet the strategic objectives of the company. References Dess, Gregory, G., G.T. Lumpkin and Marilyn L. Taylor. Strategic Management. 2 ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Irwin, 2005. Deming, W.E. (1986), Out of the Crisis: Quality, Productivity and Competitive Position. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge Lebas, M.J. (1995), Performance measurement and performance management, HEC School of  Management, F-78351 Jouy en Josas Cedex, France. Published by Elsevier B.V. Mabey, C. (2002). Mapping management development practice, Journal of Management Studies, 39(8): 1139 1160. Kaplan R.S., Norton D.P. 1996. The Balanced Scorecard: Translating Strategy into Action. Harvard Business School Press: Boston, MA. Teece D.C., Pisano G. and Shuen A. 1997. Dynamic capabilities and strategic management. Strategic Management Journal 18: 509–533. Tesco, (2009), Tesco: Annual Report and Summary Financial Statement 2007. Tesco plc, Hertfordshire. Available at: www.tescocorporate.com. Talking Tesco, (2009), Talking Tesco, A Report. Available at: tesco.com/talkingtesco/p/inc/TalkingTesco.pdf, Accessed on 13/05/2011. Witcher., B.J and Chau, V.S. (2008), Contrasting uses of balanced scorecards: case studies at two UK companies. Strat. Change 17: 101–114 available at www.interscience.wiley.com. CMI (Chartered Management Institute), 2009. Sir Terry Leahy Honored for Leadership Excellence. Available atmanagers.org.uk/listing_media_1.aspx?id=10:965id=10:538id=10:347id=10:138id=10:11doc=10:1094id=10:965id=10:538id=10:347id=10:138id=10:11doc=10:1094, Accessed on 13/05/2011.

Comment Etiquette

Comment Etiquette Comment Etiquette Comment Etiquette By Maeve Maddox Paul Krugman, in his capacity of Op-Ed columnist for the New York Times, recently felt the need to remind his readers to stay on topic when commenting on his posts. The admonition to stay on topic is found in every article on the subject of web comment etiquette. etiquette: the customary code of polite behavior in society; good manners. â€Å"Stay on topic† is one of the five basic rules offered by the editors at WordPress.com: 1. Be specific. 2. Don’t leave a link. 3. Stay on topic. 4. Be nice. 5. Keep it brief. In Online Community Management for Dummies, Deborah Ng offers a longer list of rules; â€Å"stay on topic† is in there, as are these two useful recommendations: Practice respectful disagreement, not personal attacks. Be brief and don’t turn every comment into your own personal blog post. In her article â€Å"Are You a Blog Hog?†, blogging coach Molly Greene gives this definition of a â€Å"blog hog†: You might be a blog hog if you hijack someone else’s blog and use your comment to toot your own horn, discuss your accomplishments ad infinitum without being asked, hog the thread, dominate the conversation vs. join it, or take it upon yourself to jump in and reply to every question or comment other visitors make. She follows this definition with specific remedies for bloghogitis. Two of her recommendations are to tailor comment length to the type of post being responded to, and to avoid turning the comment into a lengthy rewrite of what the author of the blog has already written. Although the term â€Å"blog hog† isn’t used, Leigh Alexander seems to be describing one in an article about the kinds of comment people leave: The Person Who Wants To Talk About Something Else Entirely. This individual typically devotes several paragraphs to a personal anecdote tangentially related to a sentence or two in the article. They seem oblivious to the fact that they are spiraling off into their own universe. Readers’ comments are a valuable addition to a blog. The most appreciated comments are the good-natured ones that focus on the post topic. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the General category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:50 Idioms About Legs, Feet, and ToesTelling a Good Poem from a Bad One13 Theatrical Terms in Popular Usage

Music in Brazil Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Music in Brazil - Essay Example The French Revolution also had a significant impact on Brazilian music. Similarly, mines are another major influence in the evolution of Brazilian music. The music of Brazil appeared very limited as only very few compositions could be found in their original tradition. The authors were: Francisco Gomes da Rocha (1754-1808), Manuel Dias de Oliveira (1735-1813), Jose Joaquim Emerico Lobo de Mesquita (1746-1805) and Joao de Deus de Castro Lobo (1794-1830). The first reference to Brazilian music pertains to 1578 and is titled â€Å"Viagem a Terra do Brazil,† or the journey to the land of Brazil, composed by Jean De Lery. A major trend in the Brazilian music scenario was the prevalence of discrimination on the basis of religion, gender and socio-economic status. This trend also reflected on music education in the country and only a few children had studied music in Brazil. Thus, formal education in this fine art remained limited. Thus, most of the music derived from the informal le arning background and through traditions. The musical practices in Brazil developed into two distinct categories in the states of Para and Marahao. In the Brazilian tradition, children also enjoyed music as adult and they had songs on a wide variety of themes, during the Orphenonic movement in the 1940s. The songs, which were usually heard during many of the traditional celebrations, were sung by illiterate people from all the communities, thus adding up to the history of Brazilian music. The Principle Characteristics of Brazilian Music The history of music in Brazil began with the arrival of Portuguese and the Jesuits used choir groups in the church. As a result, music became more popular among common people. During those days, slavery was prevalent in the country and the children of slaves did not have the privilege of schooling. Hence, a wide gap came into existence between the musical practices of the rich and poor people in the earlier times. Music appeared to be a major discip line in Brazilian culture. Researchers from various places developed an interest in the musical practices by different communities, as well as the traditional institutions. Many educational institutions began publishing the material on music, which brought music practices by different communities in Brazil to the limelight. An irrefutable element in the Brazilian music is the strong influence of the Portuguese language. Besides, many African and native words also found their way into Brazilian music which contributed to the forging of an African rhythm, which rendered to the Brazilian music a more sensual and romantic style in its transformation. Brazilian music deploys a wide array of musical instruments in its composition. In the early days the composers mainly relied on drums and percussion, which was similar to the African Diaspora. Another significant influence was the Atabaques, which are narrowed drums of Africa, with their top covered by calf skin. These drums came in differ ent sizes, which were prominently used in the rituals in Brazil. Other instruments included bamboo, which is in the category of surdos, which meant deaf drums; Alfaias (rope-drums); Zabumbas which had a low sound with two heads; repiniques which were a high pitched drum; Pandeiros which were a single headed hand drums, and so many others. â€Å"In contrast to the economic inequality that historically pervaded Brazilian society,