Monday, April 27, 2020
Stakeholder Analysis The Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA)
Table of Contents Abstract Introduction Identification of Stakeholders Perspectives of Stakeholders Principles of Stakeholder Management Conclusion References Abstract The Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) is the largest energy company in the MENA region which mission is to provide the water desalination and the power generation along with the gas and oil exploration within the region. The companyââ¬â¢s stakeholder management can be discussed with references to Freemanââ¬â¢s Stakeholder Theory which focuses on the role of stakeholders in the organisationââ¬â¢s development.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Stakeholder Analysis: The Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It is necessary to concentrate on TAQAââ¬â¢s primary stakeholders who are shareholders and customers and on the local communities as the companyââ¬â¢s significant secondary stakeholder. T hese stakeholders are associated with different stakeholdersââ¬â¢ perspectives. The relations between managers and stakeholders are regulated according to principles of stakeholder management. The purpose of the report is to analyse the stakeholders of TAQA in relation to Freemanââ¬â¢s Stakeholder Theory. Introduction The Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) is the largest company within the energy industry in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region which was founded in 2005. The company is controlled by the government which owns more than 72% of TAQA. The company specialises in power generation and water desalination. Thus, the companyââ¬â¢s basic functions and operations are the oil and gas exploration and their further production (TAQA, 2012). It is necessary to focus on examining the company in relation to its stakeholders. To provide the stakeholder analysis, it is important to refer to Freemanââ¬â¢s Stakeholder Theory according to which the company can b e examined as the group of stakeholders which is influenced and can affect the outside participants or stakeholders. From this point, a stakeholder is the person or a group which can be involved in the process of the companyââ¬â¢s development and be affected by this process that is why the organisation should orient in its development to the stakeholdersââ¬â¢ interests (Mellahi, Morrell, Wood, 2010). Thus, the purpose of the report is to determine and explore the stakeholders of the Abu Dhabi National Energy Company in relation to Freemanââ¬â¢s Stakeholder Theory and with references to their perspectives and principles of stakeholder management. Identification of Stakeholders Being the largest ââ¬Å"owner of power generation and water desalination assets in the United Arab Emiratesâ⬠, TAQAââ¬â¢s progress depends on many stakeholders who can contribute to the companyââ¬â¢s development or be influenced by the organisationââ¬â¢s strategies (TAQA, 2012). TAQA op erates not only in the MENA region, the company also has the developed partnership with the companies in the North America and Europe. It is possible to determine ten major stakeholders whose role is significant for the companyââ¬â¢s development: Shareholders Employees Customers Business partners Suppliers and distributors Local communities Research institutions Competitors (the other influential energy companies within the industry) Financiers Public authorities Stakeholders can be divided into primary and secondary ones. Primary stakeholders are those ones who can be directly affected by the companyââ¬â¢s development along with influencing the organizationââ¬â¢s progress with their own activities. Secondary stakeholders are usually indirectly involved in the companyââ¬â¢s development because they are not connected with the industry itself (Mellahi, Morrell, Wood, 2010).Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Thus, two TAQAââ¬â¢s primary stakeholders are not only associated with the power generation and energy industry but also with the companyââ¬â¢s activities. It is necessary to analyse such TAQAââ¬â¢s primary stakeholders as shareholders and customers. The secondary stakeholder for the analysis is the local communities. TAQAââ¬â¢s main shareholder is the ADWEA (Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority) with a 51% shareholding, the Farm Ownersââ¬â¢ Fund has a 21.1% shareholding, and 27.5% are privately owned. Thus, the distribution of shareholding is significant for the companyââ¬â¢s being the governmentally controlled but independent organisation and the largest energy company within the region (TAQA, 2012). TAQAââ¬â¢s shareholders are primary stakeholders because they control all the spheres of the companyââ¬â¢s development within the industry and in relation to the international operations. It is necessary to not e that TAQAââ¬â¢s customers can be analysed not only in relation to the MENA region, but the customers can be also identified in such countries as the USA, the Netherlands, and Canada because of the companyââ¬â¢s developed international relations (TAQA, 2012). The customers play the important role in TAQAââ¬â¢s progress because their needs affect the strategies worked out in the company and annual plans for realising the gas and oil exploration and further provision for the customers. The rates of the companyââ¬â¢s growth are directly associated with the customersââ¬â¢ demands that is why customers should be discussed as the primary stakeholders. Local communities are also affected by TAQAââ¬â¢s activities. The company follows the principle of working together with the community to help to ââ¬Å"build a sustainable business that benefits everyoneâ⬠, and moreover, ââ¬Å"this pledge to support economic and social development, and protect the environment is cor e to the way we behave as a business ââ¬â whether as an employee, an operator, or a local partnerâ⬠(TAQA, 2012). Thus, the issues of the environmental protection and local employment in the region can be discussed with references to TAQA. However, local communities are only the secondary stakeholders because they are external and have no direct economic relations with the company.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Stakeholder Analysis: The Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Perspectives of Stakeholders It is important to pay attention to three perspectives of stakeholders. These perspectives are the descriptive, instrumental, and normative ones. According to Freeman, the descriptive perspective is the orientation to the actual roles and functions performed by stakeholders and the companyââ¬â¢s managers in relation to stakeholders. The accents are made on the res ponse to the stakeholdersââ¬â¢ interests (Mellahi, Morrell, Wood, 2010). From this point, the descriptive perspective is characterised for shareholders as the main stakeholders. The companyââ¬â¢s strategy and the managersââ¬â¢ actions directly depend on the shareholdersââ¬â¢ interest in the companyââ¬â¢s development. For instance, the fact of TAQAââ¬â¢s basing on the government as the main shareholder determines the perspectives of the companyââ¬â¢s development and business relations within the industry (TAQA, 2012). The instrumental perspective can be explained as the orientation to the further progress. The accents are made on the managersââ¬â¢ actions to satisfy the stakeholdersââ¬â¢ needs and to contribute to gaining more benefits in the future. According to the instrumental perspective, it is important to maximise the profits and contribute to the companyââ¬â¢s success. It is important to concentrate on stakeholders while determining and achieving the goals for the companyââ¬â¢s strategic development in relation to the instrumental perspective (Mellahi, Morrell, Wood, 2010). That is why, the instrumental perspective should be also discussed with references to shareholders because they are the most influential stakeholders among the mentioned ones. For example, TAQA main shareholders are ADWEA (51.0%), the Financial Support Fund of the Farmers of Abu Dhabi (21.1%), thus, ââ¬Å"both shareholders are 100% owned by Abu Dhabi Governmentâ⬠(TAQA Global, 2012). As a result, it is impossible to ignore the strategies developed by ADWEA for the next year while developing the strategic plan for TAQA, and the activities of the companyââ¬â¢s managers are affected by the Abu Dhabi Governmentââ¬â¢s vision of the industryââ¬â¢s progress. That is why, the interests of TAQAââ¬â¢s shareholders become important from the point of the instrumental perspective. The normative perspective depends on the definite ethical princip les in relations between the managers and stakeholders. Thus, different ethical, philosophical, and moral aspects are also important for regulating the relations between the managers and stakeholders because following the ethical principles, it is possible to build the cooperative and positive relations which result in some positive effects.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More On the contrary, the ignorance of the ethical aspects can lead to the difficulties in building the partnership and other kinds of relations within the industry and in the other spheres. According to the normative concept, the company has definite responsibilities in relation to its stakeholders (Mellahi, Morrell, Wood, 2010). That is why, the normative perspective is directly associated with customers as primary stakeholders and indirectly connected with local communities as secondary stakeholders. It is important to focus on the companyââ¬â¢s relations with customers. It is stated in TAQAââ¬â¢s ethical standards and principles that ââ¬Å"we will strive to create mutual advantage by understanding the needs of our customers, contractors, suppliers and other business partners and conducting ourselves honestly, responsibly and fairly, with the highest level of integrityâ⬠(TAQA: Code of business ethics manual, n.d.). Moreover, ââ¬Å"no one should take unfair advantage of others through manipulation, concealment, disparagement, abuse of privileged information, misrepresentation of material facts or any other unfair dealing practiceâ⬠in relation to customers (TAQA: Code of business ethics manual, n.d.). The stated principles are important for developing the productive relations between the company and such stakeholders as customers. Principles of Stakeholder Management It was determined that the company has the definite responsibilities in relation to such stakeholders as shareholders, customers, employees, business partners, and local communities. These responsibilities are closely connected with seven principles of stakeholder management. It is possible to pay attention to three principles which can be discussed as influential for TAQA because of its direct orientation to following these principles. The first principle stresses the role of managers in acknowledging and managing the stakeholdersââ¬â¢ interests and in responding to these inte rests and definite concerns. It is stated in the principle that these interests and concerns should be taken into consideration when managers develop strategies or they are involved in the decision-making process (Mellahi, Morrell, Wood, 2010). TAQA follows this principle directly because there are many primary and secondary stakeholders within the industry which affect the companyââ¬â¢s development and can be affected significantly by the progress of the largest energy company in the MENA region. Thus, the companyââ¬â¢s operations directly depend on the activities of employees, customers, suppliers, and business partners. The ignorance of any customer, supplier, or partner can lead to breaking the whole chain of the companyââ¬â¢s activities. That is why, to provide the effective cooperation, it is necessary to meet stakeholdersââ¬â¢ needs and respond to their interests. The next important principle for TAQA is the third principle. According to this principle, the manag ers should develop the definite behaviours in relation to the stakeholdersââ¬â¢ constituency (Mellahi, Morrell, Wood, 2010). From this point, the third principle is connected with the first principle, and there are explanations according to the managersââ¬â¢ behaviours directed toward the stakeholders. For instance, the process of working out the strategies in TAQA and definite management processes for the next year are based on Abu Dhabi Governmentââ¬â¢s perspectives in relation to the energy industry because TAQA can be discussed the governmentally controlled company (TAQA, 2012). The seventh principle explains the ways to avoid the conflict between the interests of managers as stakeholders and the necessity to meet the interests of the other companyââ¬â¢s stakeholders. The issues of legal and ethical responsibilities should be resolved with references to such methods as reports, communication, and meetings (Mellahi, Morrell, Wood, 2010). This principle should be dis cussed in relation to TAQA because the company has the reputation of the organization in which much attention is paid to building the positive relations between the stakeholders and managers. For instance, TAQAââ¬â¢s activities are based on satisfying the interests of managers as stakeholders and on providing the open dialogue between the company and such stakeholders as local communities. It is stated in TAQAââ¬â¢s principles, ââ¬Å"we are also guided by our responsibility to give back to the communities in which we operate. We primarily do this by generating wealth, creating employment and developing skills in the communities in which we operateâ⬠(TAQA, 2012). Conclusion The Abu Dhabi National Energy Company known as TAQA develops its policy in relation to stakeholders according to the principles of stakeholder management. As a result, the company succeeds within the industry, meeting the interests and responding to the concerns of all the organizationââ¬â¢s stakeh olders. It is possible to determine such primary stakeholders as shareholders (with references to Abu Dhabi Government) and customers and such a secondary significant stakeholder as the local community because the company concentrates on the environmental and communitiesââ¬â¢ issues, including the communities of all those countries in which TAQA operates. References Mellahi, K., Morrell, K., Wood, G. (2010). The ethical business: Challenges and controversies. UK: Palgrave Macmillan. TAQA. (2012). Retrieved from https://www.taqaglobal.com/ TAQA: Code of business ethics manual. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://secure.ethicspoint.com/domain/media/en/gui/23320/TAQA_Code_of_Business_Ethics.pdf TAQA Global. (2012). Retrieved from https://www.taqaglobal.com/ This report on Stakeholder Analysis: The Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) was written and submitted by user W1ll to help you with your own studies. 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Thursday, March 19, 2020
Hanging Fire by Audre Lorde Essays
Hanging Fire by Audre Lorde Essays Hanging Fire by Audre Lorde Paper Hanging Fire by Audre Lorde Paper Teenagers do not always long to grow up. The term hanging fire refers to a firearm with its trigger pulled but is delayed in igniting. In this case, of the poem ââ¬Å"Hanging Fireâ⬠by Audre Lorde, it represents the girl being hesitant and insecure about her future, therefore is neglected in going on, as in the bullet that is supposed to fire. Lordeââ¬â¢s focus is on several issues that confront the teenager within the poem and affect teenagers in the extended world: the preoccupation with death, the problem of living in a sexist society, and the fear of isolation within the home that will be the recurring problem which ultimately causes the young girl to be traumatized. Lorde uses short sentences to present the complex idea that resonates with women all over the world ââ¬â the stereotype of nagging is used as an excuse for problems to be ignored. In ââ¬Å"Hanging Fire,â⬠the speaker talks about that time in a girlââ¬â¢s life when she is not yet a woman, but she is not just a girl either. The feeling of growing into oneââ¬â¢s own skin is not comfortable for anyone, but this speaker puts this agonizing process into clear concise words. This speaker explores both the physical and the emotional aspects of puberty. The speaker, who is fourteen, speaks of her skin, her room, her braces, her boyfriend, her grades, and her clothes in a tone of despair. She talks about these things in such a desperate manner that the audience can picture their own experience vividly. She talks about how she feels ignored by her mother. Though tragic, many women can relate to this experience of self-wallowing and uncomfortable changes. That desperation and frustration cause her to think about her fear of death. Throughout the entire poem, the teenager is preoccupied with death and dying. In the first stanza, she frets, ââ¬Å"what if I die / before morningâ⬠(8-9). In the second stanza, she worries, ââ¬Å"suppose I die before graduationâ⬠(15). In the final stanza she is trou :
Monday, March 2, 2020
The Distance Between Me And My Readers - A Bob Mayer Interview
The Distance Between Me And My Readers - A Bob Mayer Interview ââ¬Å"The distance between me and my readers is the internetâ⬠An interview with Bob Mayer How can indie authors use eBooks to their full advantage, creatively exploiting their potential to be adapted over time and linked to an authorââ¬â¢s whole output?Bob Mayer is a New York Times Bestselling Author who is not afraid to explore the incredible new opportunities available to authors. With 60 books published - both traditionally published and indie-published - Bob has sold over four million books. He and is also a leadership speaker and consultant, coaching authors on many aspects of writing and publishing. He is also CEO of Cool Gus Publishing and his latest book Time Patrol has just come out. On top of all that, he is the only West Point Graduate and Former Green Beret weââ¬â¢ve ever had the pleasure of interviewing! We talk about his work as a hybrid author, his marketing techniques, and Italian book coversâ⬠¦ Itââ¬â¢s really great to be interviewing Bob this afternoon - a New York Times bestselling author, writing coach, who also writes a lot about publishing and self-publishing. Firstly Bob, itââ¬â¢d be great to start with your writing course Write on the River, how is it going?Iââ¬â¢ve been doing writing workshops for a number of years - I used to hold small intimate workshops and various bed and breakfasts. After my wife and I moved to the Tennessee River, we got a nice big house, so a couple of times a year we bring four writers into the weekend, working with them on their books. The weekend after thisà Iââ¬â¢ve got four people coming down.So you work with them on all sorts of things, structure and character development, that type of thing?I change it for every group because every group is a little different. Iââ¬â¢ve had number one New York Times bestsellers here - usually itââ¬â¢s published authors with some experience, but occasionally Iââ¬â¢ve had a new auth or. We usually spend a lot of time on the ââ¬Ëidea and conflict lockââ¬â¢ and a lot of time talking about the business, because so many things are up in flux right now.Many authors - even established authors - are wondering right now, ââ¬Å"should I become a hybrid author?â⬠, ââ¬Å"should I keep traditionally publishing?â⬠, ââ¬Å"should I self-publish?â⬠One of our authors came down here for the weekend and sheââ¬â¢s publishing with Cool Gus, so sheââ¬â¢s become a hybrid author.You are a hybrid author who has published a number of different ways, could you tell us a bit more about that?I was published in New York for 42 books - Random House, St Martins - many big houses. Then I went self-publishing as I had a huge backlist to which I owned the rights and formed my own publishing company Cool Gus.I knew from the very beginning what I wanted was to sign with 47 North, Amazonââ¬â¢s Science Fiction imprint. The main reason I did that was because of their marketing capabilities. They have tremendous power to market you on their site. So Iââ¬â¢ve got a book weââ¬â¢re going to publish May 5th. Iââ¬â¢ve got a book coming back from 47 North thatââ¬â¢s due out in August, so I alternate writing science-fiction for amazon and thrillers for my own company.What is it specifically about their marketing that interested you?They have reach: they call it ââ¬Ëmerchandisingââ¬â¢. They really know who the readers are and have huge databases. They know everyone who has bought one of their previous books and send them an email. They also do pricing - in the UK they have a ââ¬Ëbook for a poundââ¬â¢ - they pick a number of titles and promote those. There is a huge difference sales-wise when you use any of these platforms - whether Amazon, Apple or Audible ACX - they give you some ââ¬Ëmerchandisingââ¬â¢ and your sales can skyrocket.Yes, weââ¬â¢ve found with many authors that email lists are really helpful, because you ar e talking to an engaged audience, and that itââ¬â¢s worth slowly building them upYes, we donââ¬â¢t send many newsletters out because we feel many people are bombarded by them, but we are focusing on building our list this year. The other thing we have is a private Facebook group called ââ¬ËThe A-teamââ¬â¢: weââ¬â¢ve got about 30 people in there. These are people who really like my books. Itââ¬â¢s a small intimate group where we chat about what Iââ¬â¢m writing. If you can get a core of about 40-50 readers who talk about you and promote you, thatââ¬â¢s huge. The book - Time Patrol (Area 51: The Nightstalkers Book 4) - just came out yesterday and Iââ¬â¢ve already got a handful of reviews, mainly because of those types of people.I like the idea of nurturing a small but dedicated small fan group. They are the oneââ¬â¢s you can have a personal connection to.The most important thing is readers. Iââ¬â¢ve got a huge Twitter following, but I donââ¬â¢t reall y think it sells books; I donââ¬â¢t think a huge Facebook following sells books - although these things arenââ¬â¢t bad of course. The distance between me and my readers is the internet. I can communicate with them and respond to every email I get or every mention on Twitter. I think thatââ¬â¢s key.Thereââ¬â¢s lot of resistance in the publishing industry to change - I think thatââ¬â¢s because so much of it doesnââ¬â¢t change: itââ¬â¢s always going to be about great content and writing. But, of course, things are changing: are there any new developments that are interesting to you?Subscription is big. A lot of people are complaining about Kindle Unlimited for sales dropping, but Kindle Unlimited occurred at the same time as the content flood hit the eBook market - thereââ¬â¢s just so much content out there and thatââ¬â¢s not going away.We donââ¬â¢t fight those things. Yesterday we got a cheque from Draft2Digital and the Scribd subscription service. We use those things; we use Kindle Unlimited. I broke one of my non-fiction books into 15 shorts, dedicated totally to Kindle Unlimited. I think writers waste a lot of time tilting at windmills they canââ¬â¢t change. They need to look at the publishing landscape and use everything out there to the best of their abilities.Yes, and I think they could anticipate change a lot more than they actually do.Ha! Yea, although I donââ¬â¢t think anyone could tell you where weââ¬â¢re going to be a year from now. It does always come back to good content though. The good thing is that I think if you write a good book, thatââ¬â¢s a big part of it and then you do have to get out there and reach the readers. The readers have to know the book exists.Youââ¬â¢ve said in the past that this is the moment in publishing you are most excited to be a part of because the author has control.Absolutely! What Iââ¬â¢m doing right now didnââ¬â¢t exist ten years ago. Ten years ago I would hold the rig ht to 50 books and be able to do absolutely nothing with them. I wouldnââ¬â¢t be able to sell them to anybody - I couldnââ¬â¢t get them in the bookstore. Now, they are in virtual bookstores, I can sell them to readers. One of our saying is ââ¬Å"If you havenââ¬â¢t read it, itââ¬â¢s not backlistâ⬠. I was reading my first book from 1991 and I realised to someone reading it now, itââ¬â¢s a brand new book.One of the interesting things right now is how publishing is relating to other media. People talk about how it is conflicting of complementing other media - cable TV, movies, games, etc - but do you think also that a lot of writers could learn about how they market these media?I see writers say ââ¬Å"go kill your TVâ⬠, but my wife and I watch a lot of TV and the writing is fantastic. Marketing-wise, if you look at what Netflix did with the Kevin Spacey show, where they released it all on the same day, I think thatââ¬â¢s something to think about.People want instant gratification now. It used to be that in traditional publishing, I have to give a book a year, but I had to write under three pen names because they would not allow me to publish more than a book a year. Now, you cannot publish fast enough, or write fast enough to keep up with demand from readers!Yes, maybe you could experiment publishing lots at once, gaining a core reader group, then change your strategy, slow down or create anticipation.Yes one thing weââ¬â¢re doing is weââ¬â¢re putting out a book every three months this year and what Iââ¬â¢m doing personally is Iââ¬â¢m racking my books together. I just had a book come out yesterday that loops back to my early Atlantic series, so what Iââ¬â¢m doing is connecting the dots over 25 years of books.At the end of the book, I say ââ¬Å"if you want to know more about this character, go to this seriesâ⬠, ââ¬Å"if you want to know more about this world, go to this seriesâ⬠. I think that gives readers mor e options to go through the back story.Now your books are always out there - they donââ¬â¢t grow old, so you can create these links in ways which werenââ¬â¢t previously possible.One thing I often talk about in my business is that an eBook is not like a print book: itââ¬â¢s very, very different. Itââ¬â¢s organic. Itââ¬â¢s changing. We have so many titles that when we bring out a new one, we have to go into the back and change all the links in it, we have to change the metadata.Yesterday my new book came out and is called Time Patrol and I asked my business partner, ââ¬Å"by the way, do these books have another subgenre on Amazon of ââ¬Ëtime travelââ¬â¢, because this is actually another best seller list!â⬠and sheââ¬â¢d already taken care of that. So itââ¬â¢s just constant change, and I think itââ¬â¢s caught traditional publishers a little by surprise, because they are used to the ââ¬Ëfire and forgetââ¬â¢ method. They published a book and itâ â¬â¢s out there, itââ¬â¢s never going to change. An eBook changes constantly. Iââ¬â¢m not talking the content - although you can do that - Iââ¬â¢m talking all the things around it: the cover the endman, the metadata, so itââ¬â¢s a constant churning of things.Have you experimented with changing covers?Oh yea! Weââ¬â¢ve changed covers. Actually, you often have to change covers, like on Amazon, where there are certain promotional things you canââ¬â¢t get into if you have things like a gun on the cover. I totally understand, because people complain, but you have to change the image and remove the gun, simply to get in these marketing programs!I think itââ¬â¢s endlessly fascinating how in different countries, different covers just work and different ones just donââ¬â¢t work. I think you can learn a lot about individual countries by the book covers they like!I was in a book store in Italy where it was always a scantily-clad woman on the cover with an atomic blast in the background and there was no woman in a bikini in the book! They just stick it there because thatââ¬â¢s what sells.So much of indie publishing seems to require a certain kind of author: entrepreneurial and someone who can effectively manage their own business. Do you think that may change? Do you think it could incorporate other types of writers who are perhaps not entrepreneurial, but who still want control and the best of indie-publishing?Well, thatââ¬â¢s a little what we do at Cool Gus. A handful of authors we work with just want to write, yet they want the freedom, so we take care of all the things for them, but we give them final say. So they donââ¬â¢t have to get caught up in the actual doing of it, but weââ¬â¢ll say, ââ¬Å"What do you want on your cover?â⬠- and they get the final say on that, cover copy, everything! So I think thatââ¬â¢s a different business model.And so that they have a team to help themYes, I think itââ¬â¢s really hard to do it all well. There are people that do it, but itââ¬â¢s much easier to send someone an email and say ââ¬Å"Please take care of thisâ⬠.Where do you think agents may fit in the future?I think agents are evolving. Kristen Nelson who works with Hugh Howey is an example of an agent thatââ¬â¢s really changed the way she looks at things. And I actually think traditional publishing is not going to die: itââ¬â¢s evolving and they are learning, changing and adapting. Iââ¬â¢m querying agents right now because I need help with foreign rights. I canââ¬â¢t really travel to the London Book Fair, for example, so I need an agent to take care of those things for me.I think the reason publishing is so interesting is because it is a very complex industry and there are so many different things to be doing. What are you thinking about experimenting with in the next couple of years?Itââ¬â¢s more about the creative part. Iââ¬â¢ve been doing it so long, that what I realise is that I can produce better books faster and the market is there for it. I have so many series going, and at the same time I put a few experimental things out there. And I donââ¬â¢t have to sit there and worry, will my agent like it, will my editor like it, will my publisher like it, will the sales force think they can sell it? All Iââ¬â¢ve got to care about is ââ¬Ëwill the readers like it?ââ¬â¢ I donââ¬â¢t think thatââ¬â¢s going to change: that I like. I can directly reach my readers and either they can hit that buy button or not, and that tells me if itââ¬â¢s working or not.Thatââ¬â¢s a really great message to send to our readers. Thanks so much for your time Bob!Follow @Bob_Mayer and @ReedsyHQ on TwitterDo you think too many authors waste time fighting things they canââ¬â¢t change? Where do you see agents fitting in in the future? Leave us your thoughts, or any question you have for Bob, in the comments below!
Saturday, February 15, 2020
Globalization, Education, and Cultural Identity Assignment
Globalization, Education, and Cultural Identity - Assignment Example As the essay declares in recent decades, the push towards globalization had been unrelenting. Seen mainly as a means by which countries could improve its competitiveness in the global market for goods and services, nations of the world embarked on an all-out race to adopt the international (read: Western) manner of speaking, dressing, and acquiring a taste for music on the MTV, products sold on eBay, or movie stars on HBO. Children are especially vulnerable, because their minds are much like a blank book for anyone to write in, so unguarded are they in discerning right from wrong. It is therefore a valid concern for policy makers to determine whether educational stress on globalization benefits a country economically at the expense of its unique cultural heritage. Answering this would provide direction for institutionalized education on how to deal with unfolding developments in this area. As the paper discusses Christoph Wulf, professor of general and comparative educational sciences in Freie University in Germany, outlined some crucial points in the transmission and learning of intangible heritage. Focusing, for example, on the cultural element of rituals and practices, Wulf is of the view that what makes rituals and other practices socially and culturally effective is the performative character of the body. Rituals are valuable social functions. They help to organize the transition from one social status to another, at socially and existentially central moments such as marriage, birth and death.
Sunday, February 2, 2020
Research paper on Europeans in America Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words
On Europeans in America - Research Paper Example In around 1000 A.D., Leif Eriksson is said to have discovered North America (Ingstad, 2000, p.1). The early European explorers were trying to identify sea routes, which would lead them to Asia. The first officially known explorer of these routes was Christopher Columbus who undertook his sailing by order of the monarch of Spain in 1492. He made three expeditions before his death in 1506 and was able to identify the Caribbean Islands in the Bahamas. After his death, the Spanish continued the further explorations of new lands. In 1499, Italian navigators Amerigo Vespucci and Alonso de Ojeda sailed to the northern coast of South America and referred to the newly found land as a new continent. The European mapmakers named the new continent America in honor of Amerigo and Alonso de Ojeda. In 1513, a Spanish explorer Vans co Nunez de Balboa crossed the Isthmus of Panama and became the first European explorer to see the Pacific Ocean. In the same year, Juan Ponce de Leon explored the Bahama s and Florida in search of the Fountain of Youth (Space and Warren, 2011 p.4). In 1497, John Cabot, a navigator from England, traveled to the new world. French explorers Giovanni da Verrazano and Jacques Cartier explored the Atlantic coast of the present US in 1524 and 1534. As European explorers continued to look for the shortest sea routes to Asia, they also thought of colonizing the newly found land. As a result, Spain by hands of Hernan Cortes invaded Mexico in 1519 and Francisco Pizarro invaded Peru in 1532. The Early Settlement in America-New Spain Of all the European nations, Spain was the pioneering one to the colonization of America. Cortes invaded Mexico and defeated the Aztec Empire in the period 1519-1521. By 1533, Pizarro had conquered the Incas of Peru. The Spanish in their search for rumored piles of gold and silver in America sent expeditions to Kansas and Colorado under Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, Hernando de Soto and Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca. These early explo rers were searching for cities made of gold and silver, but they did not find them. Instead, in 1545 they discovered silver at Potosi, in what is presently Bolivia, as well as in Mexico in the same year. The new American gold and silver mines remained a powerful base for Spainââ¬â¢s wealth and power for a century. After the Spanish conquest in the new world, the Spanish Jesuits attempted to convert the Native Americans to Christianity. Mission centers were established in the new empire, in Florida, in New Mexico and in Virginia. After defeating the Native Americans, the Spanish established a system of forced labor known as ecomienda which was later abandoned after the Spanish religious and government authorities witnessed the brutality of the system. The Spaniards, therefore, started establishing large estates of land known as haciendas. In the beginning of the 17 century, the Dutch, Swedish, French and English colonists started arriving in the New World. By then, the Spanish col onies in New Granada (Colombia), Caribbean, New Spain (Mexico) were a century old. The colonies were a major source of power for Spain and became the main source of jealously from other European nations. French Settlement in New World By the year 1530, the French explorers had navigated the coast of America from newly found lands to Carolinas; a French explorer Samuel de Champlain had build a foundation of what came to be known as French Canada (New France) in
Saturday, January 25, 2020
Tragic Flaws Of Othello Essay -- essays research papers
Jealousy and Gullibility: The Devastating Flaws of Othello ââ¬Å"The tragic flaw is the most important part of the hero and the events that occur in the work is a reflection of that flaw.â⬠ââ¬â Aristotle The plot of William Shakespeare's Othello is a tale of love, jealousy, and betrayal; however, the characters, themes, and attitudes of the works are different, with Shakespeare's play being a more involved study of human nature and psychology. Othello is considered to be a prime example of Aristotelian drama. It focuses upon a very small cast of characters, one of the smallest used in Shakespeare. Also, it has few distractions from the main plot, and concentrates on just a few themes, like jealousy. In Shakespeare's Othello, Othello is an excellent example of an Aristotelian tragic hero. His gullibility and jealousy are the main reason of his downfall. Othello deals with love lost because of gullibility and jealousy. The main character, Othello, is a classical example of a tragic hero, and he has the basic elements that match him up to be a true hero defined by Aristotle. His stature, that of a tall, dark, African Moor, combined with his personal magnetism, assist him in gaining the respect and allegiance of the Venetian people and senators. Othello, being a soldier all his life, is seen as a very honorable man. His title alone, governor-general, presents an air of nobility, confidence, and strength. The title defines someone who is held in tremendously high esteem by the people of Venice. An example would be when the Duke and a few Senators are discussing issues around a table when Othello enters the room. It's clear that Othello is held in high esteem when, as he enters, one of the senators states ââ¬Å"Here comes Brabantio and the valiant Moorâ⬠(3:1:33: 55). Othello's confidence in himself, another of his positive attributes, is clearly portrayed as he defends himself and his recent marr iage to Desdemona, the daughter of the Venetian Senator Brabantio. In his defense, he associates himself with one of the ââ¬Å"great onesâ⬠of the world. He also demonstrates confidence in himself and his actions when Brabantio, Desdemona's outraged father, accuses the Moor of witchcraft. Dignity, courage, a strong belief in religion, self-control and sound judgment is a few of Othello's other positive attributes portrayed in the play. His confidence in himself and his courage are... ...baseness as jealous ones are, it were enough to put them to ill thinking."(3:4:153:26-29) She judged Othello opposite to what he really was. She did not suspect that Othello would suspect her for an affair. In reality, Othello is a gullible person who is drawn into jealousy and falseness by Iago. Othello accomplished his plan of killing his wife and destroying a marriage that had no reason to be torn apart. In conclusion, because of Othelloââ¬â¢s gullibility and jealousy, and Iagoââ¬â¢s skills and intelligence, lives are ruined, and bad mistakes are made, which leads to Othelloââ¬â¢s downfall, and death. Even though Othello was well respected, and very confident, because of his tragic flaw he was unstable, and led him to believe lies by Iago. His trusting nature, overwhelmed him, because he decided to trust and believe Iago over Desdemona, which eventually led him to kill her in the end. In Shakespeareââ¬â¢s Othello, jealousy and gullibility, are flaws of the main character, Othello. His flaws completely put him in a different frame of mind, and cause him to make poor decisions. So, be careful of jealousy and gullibility. It is mysterious and can do harmful things to people it takes over. Tragic Flaws Of Othello Essay -- essays research papers Jealousy and Gullibility: The Devastating Flaws of Othello ââ¬Å"The tragic flaw is the most important part of the hero and the events that occur in the work is a reflection of that flaw.â⬠ââ¬â Aristotle The plot of William Shakespeare's Othello is a tale of love, jealousy, and betrayal; however, the characters, themes, and attitudes of the works are different, with Shakespeare's play being a more involved study of human nature and psychology. Othello is considered to be a prime example of Aristotelian drama. It focuses upon a very small cast of characters, one of the smallest used in Shakespeare. Also, it has few distractions from the main plot, and concentrates on just a few themes, like jealousy. In Shakespeare's Othello, Othello is an excellent example of an Aristotelian tragic hero. His gullibility and jealousy are the main reason of his downfall. Othello deals with love lost because of gullibility and jealousy. The main character, Othello, is a classical example of a tragic hero, and he has the basic elements that match him up to be a true hero defined by Aristotle. His stature, that of a tall, dark, African Moor, combined with his personal magnetism, assist him in gaining the respect and allegiance of the Venetian people and senators. Othello, being a soldier all his life, is seen as a very honorable man. His title alone, governor-general, presents an air of nobility, confidence, and strength. The title defines someone who is held in tremendously high esteem by the people of Venice. An example would be when the Duke and a few Senators are discussing issues around a table when Othello enters the room. It's clear that Othello is held in high esteem when, as he enters, one of the senators states ââ¬Å"Here comes Brabantio and the valiant Moorâ⬠(3:1:33: 55). Othello's confidence in himself, another of his positive attributes, is clearly portrayed as he defends himself and his recent marr iage to Desdemona, the daughter of the Venetian Senator Brabantio. In his defense, he associates himself with one of the ââ¬Å"great onesâ⬠of the world. He also demonstrates confidence in himself and his actions when Brabantio, Desdemona's outraged father, accuses the Moor of witchcraft. Dignity, courage, a strong belief in religion, self-control and sound judgment is a few of Othello's other positive attributes portrayed in the play. His confidence in himself and his courage are... ...baseness as jealous ones are, it were enough to put them to ill thinking."(3:4:153:26-29) She judged Othello opposite to what he really was. She did not suspect that Othello would suspect her for an affair. In reality, Othello is a gullible person who is drawn into jealousy and falseness by Iago. Othello accomplished his plan of killing his wife and destroying a marriage that had no reason to be torn apart. In conclusion, because of Othelloââ¬â¢s gullibility and jealousy, and Iagoââ¬â¢s skills and intelligence, lives are ruined, and bad mistakes are made, which leads to Othelloââ¬â¢s downfall, and death. Even though Othello was well respected, and very confident, because of his tragic flaw he was unstable, and led him to believe lies by Iago. His trusting nature, overwhelmed him, because he decided to trust and believe Iago over Desdemona, which eventually led him to kill her in the end. In Shakespeareââ¬â¢s Othello, jealousy and gullibility, are flaws of the main character, Othello. His flaws completely put him in a different frame of mind, and cause him to make poor decisions. So, be careful of jealousy and gullibility. It is mysterious and can do harmful things to people it takes over.
Friday, January 17, 2020
A Farewell to Arms: a Classic Display of Literature Essay
Ernest Hemmingwayââ¬â¢s â⬠A Farewell To Armsâ⬠is a classic display of literature. The way he develops his characters is ingenious. In the beginning of the story I did not like the way it was going. As I read deeper into the book, ââ¬Å"A Farewell To Armsâ⬠I discovered the complexity of the characters themselves. I discovered that Frederic Henry was a rather complex character as well. When you are finally given the full picture of Frederic Henry, you realize that he can be described in several different ways. First, Frederic Henry is a round and very dynamic character. You also realize that because Mr. Henryââ¬â¢s mannerisms are so easily recognizable, he is a stock character as well. The point of view in the story is written in first person. The first person point of view is that of Frederic Henry. The stories underlying theme is identity. Throughout the whole story Frederic Henry is revealing himself to the audience and discovering himself at the same time. A secondary theme in the story is that Catherine, Fredericââ¬â¢s love interest, is slightly crazy. Throughout the story, I was intrigued by the things that Frederic Henry revealed to the audience. While reading the story it was as if you were right there with Frederic, going through the same things he did, and knowing every intimate detail. The aspects that Frederic Henry display are the aspects of a well developed character and a true war hero. The first aspect I would like to touch on is that Frederic Henry is a well-rounded character. As the story progresses we learn more and more about the character Frederic Henry. Though it may seem like a small point, a good example of how we learn more about Frederic as the story progresses is the fact that he is nameless in the first four chapters. Throughout the first four chapters, Frederic Henry is referred to as ââ¬Å"lieutenantâ⬠by his peers and ââ¬Å"babyâ⬠by his girlfriend. Its not until chapter five that he is referred to as ââ¬Å"Mr. Henryâ⬠. Then we learn his full name, Frederic Henry, in chapter thirteen. Another example of Frederic Henry being a round character is that he is closely involved in just about every part of the story. Of course he would have to be involved in the majority of the story because itââ¬â¢s basically the confession of his life. The entire story we learn about Mr. Henry, and we watch him grow to become a good man. Even when Frederic is not involved in the seen, he is still involved in many aspects of the scene. As other characters converse we still learn more about Frederic Henry and his relationship with each character. The second aspect of Frederic Henry as a character that I would like to display is the fact that he is a very dynamic character. Throughout the entire story Frederic Henry grows and changes. In the beginning Frederic is part of a group of soldiers. But as the story progresses and he and Catherine fall more into love Frederic begins to isolate he and Catherine from the group. Instead of saying ââ¬Å"weâ⬠in accordance to his group of friends he uses ââ¬Å"weâ⬠to represent him and Catherine. Aside from isolating himself from his group of friends Frederic Henry changes from a rather self-centered person to a caring person. Instead of planning for his future and living to fulfill his needs he begins involving Catherine in the picture as well. Not only does he change in respect to Catherine but he changes in respect to other characters as well. Mr. Henry begins to look out for others needs, particularly in the battles he is involved with. A great example of this is when Frederic gets injured badly he insists that the other soldiers be treated first. (Lewis, 46) There are countless other times when Frederic tries to help other soldiers, showing complete selflessness, but unfortunately fails. Though he failed to save Catherine, he showed major change from the way he was at the beginning of the story when he did all he could to save her. As the story progresses Frederic grows more and more familiar to the audience and his personality becomes more audience friendly. The third aspect of Frederic Henryââ¬â¢s character is that he is a stock character. A stock character is a character that is easily identifiable by the way they behave. Frederic Henry is very easy to identify. First off he almost always speaks in the plural form. For example, when he buys himself a gun he turns to Catherine and says, â⬠now we are fully armedâ⬠, as if she too is armed. (Monteiro, 71) Another characteristic that Frederic Henry has, is that he is always trying to help other people. Throughout the entire story there are examples of he and his men out on the battlefield, and Frederic coming to someoneââ¬â¢s aid. Since this behavior takes place so many times you automatically know that it is Frederic Henry who is coming to the rescue. The event that is most memorable is when Frederic and his men are captured and Frederic manages to help all his men escape. Upon the escape Frederic rows he and his crew for over twenty miles to safety, in Switzerland. (Gellens, 45) The point of view in ââ¬Å"A Farewell To Armsâ⬠, is a first person point of view. The interesting thing is that even though itââ¬â¢s a first person point of view, itââ¬â¢s a first person point of view that is expressed in a plural sense. All threw the story Frederic Henry uses the phrase ââ¬Å"weâ⬠to refer to himself and his group of friends. Another interesting thing is that later into the story Fredericââ¬â¢s usage of the word ââ¬Å"weâ⬠changes from referring to his group of friends to his relationship with Catherine. The story is also a confession in a way. Itââ¬â¢s a confession because as he tells the story he admits to his shortcomings early on. Not only does he admit his shortcomings but itââ¬â¢s as if he needed to expresses his regret for the people he was not able save. (Lewis, 46) The entire story is told from Frederic Henryââ¬â¢s perspective. You see things as they happen through his eyes only. While telling the story Frederic Henry sounds almost apologetic, and when he retells his adventures, he uses a negative tone. The theme in the story is identity. The whole point of the story is Frederic Henry revealing himself to the audience and essentially explaining who he is. Time after time Frederic lets the audience in on intimate details. By explaining himself and his actions it is easier for the audience to identify with Frederic and put themselves in his place. By putting the audience member in his place, he forces you to participate in every adventure he goes through. A secondary theme is presented as well. The secondary theme is one that portrays Catherine. Some skeptics think that Catherineââ¬â¢s central theme is craziness. (Lewis, 46) throughout the storyt she is called crazy and is referred to as the crazy one. Catherine even refers to herself as being crazy. An example of when Catherine refers to herself as crazy is when she says, ââ¬Å"I havenââ¬â¢t been happy for a long time, and when I met you perhaps I was a nearly crazy. â⬠She questions her sanity again when Frederic says â⬠I donââ¬â¢t want you to get Scotch and crazy tonightâ⬠and the Catherine replies ââ¬Å"I am Scotch and crazyâ⬠. (Lewis, 102) Some interesting points about Frederic Henryââ¬â¢s character is that he is actually the antagonist as opposed to the protagonist. (Lewis, 46) The evidence for such an argument is all throughout the story. Time after time Frederic tries to save people, but fails almost every time. Such a quality brings hope into the eyes of the audience but then lets them down time and time again. Though there were several successful escapes and rescues the failures still outweighed the successes. In the beginning of the story Fredericââ¬â¢s self-centeredness is rather annoying and makes you dislike him. Self-centeredness is the quality of an antagonist. Ernest Hemmingwayââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"A Farewell To Armsâ⬠was all in all a good story. It displayed the trials and tribulations of an American soldier during wartime. The character Frederic Henry is a well-rounded and dynamic character. The fact that Frederic Henry was a stock character made him easy to recognize and therefore made the story easier to follow. Though the story was told through a first person point of view Ernest Hemmingway kept the story interesting by telling it through a plural first person. The underlying theme of the story was identity. Frederic spent the whole story explaining who he was to the audience. The way Frederic told the story, he made it easy for the audience member to identify with him, therefore making it easier for the audience member to put themselves in his place. An interesting secondary theme is the theme that implies Catherine is crazy. Because of things Catherine says and does the crazy theme seems to fit her personality. Throughout the story there is plenty of evidence of all these things and these aspects made the story even better and much more fun to read. Gellens, Jay. Twentieth Century Interpretations of A Farewell To Arms. Englewood Cliffs, N. J. 1970. Lewis, Robert. A Farewell To Arms (A War With Words). New York, 1992. Monteiro, George. Critical Essays On: Ernest Hemmingwayââ¬â¢s A Farewell To Arms. New York, 1994.
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