Creating Corporate Advantage Essay Example for Free

Creating Corporate Advantage Essay Most executives focus on individual elements of their resources, business, and organization without integrating all the parts into a whole. First, it is important to understand what a good corporate strategy is. According to the authors, it is not a random collection of individual building blocks, rather a fully constructed system of interdependent parts. In order for the organization to thrive, executives must actively direct decisions about resources the corporation will develop, and the business in which it will compete. During this, the executives must make sure all elements are aligned with one another. By applying the triangle of corporate strategy, the strengths of all special assets, skills and capabilities will illustrate how each element quot;fits. quot; The Resource Continuum is another model that shows the basis for corporate advantage along a continuum. This model can be applied differently to different business, as one size does not fit all. Many companies choose to integrate other businesses based on products rather than resources, and end up with a quot;plain vanillaquot; infrastructure. By following this continuum it will constrain the set of businesses to compete in while limiting th There is no one best way to design a product, make a product, manage operations, or serve customers. The best way depends on a firms objectives, resources, competencies, and context (products and customers). Firms choose to compete in different ways. A firms strategy defines how it will compete in the marketplaceits own best way. Strategy formulation involves (1) defining the primary task, (2) assessing core competencies, (3) determining order winners and order qualifiers, and (4) positioning the firm. The secret to effective strategy? Excel on the order winners, meet the order qualifiers, capitalize on core competencies, and maintain focus. Corporate strategy drives functional strategy. Functional strategies must be consistent with and supportive of corporate strategy. Strategic decisions in the operations function involve products and services, processes and technology, capacity and facilities, human resources, quality, sourcing, and operating systems. Policy deployment is a planning system that helps align day-to-day operating decisions with the companys overall strategy.

A Comparison of Vengeance in Electra, The Bacchae and Frankenstein Essa

Vengeance in Electra, The Bacchae and Frankenstein      Ã‚   In today's world, vengeance is still in existence, bubbling below our calm facade, waiting for the catalyst it needs to break loose. Evidence can be seen right now in the reactions of the American people towards Bin Laden. He destroyed so many lives, and now, there is probably not one American that would not love to get their minute alone with him. The American people want to hurt him the way he and his followers hurt their fellow Americans, their family. This hunger for vengeance is completely Dionysian and is found in more than one written work.    Electra is saturated with the Dionysian quest for vengeance that prevails also in The Bacchae. It is found again in Frankenstein, a work bubbling over with vengeful deaths. This Dionysian pursuit for vengeance is carried out on family offenders, whether they are of the family in question or not. Dionysus, a member of Cadmus' family, causes the death of his cousin Pentheus. Pentheus commits a deadly mistake when he denies Dionysus as a god and attempts to capture him, thus invoking the wrath of Dionysus. This is the same type of vengeance found in Electra's family. In Electra's family, if one commits a family offense, an unending cycle of the Dionysian principle of vengeance ensues: vengeance takes precedent over family ties, thus forsaking them. With Victor Frankenstein and his monster, the principle is also at work, though it exists for each of them in response to the other.    This principle is born into Electra's family long before her own tragedies transpire. It begins with the sons of Pelops and all of the adultery and murder a la mode that occur in that branch of Electra's family history. However, this... ...al, is to strike out at those who seek or have harmed us, and to destroy them in any means possible. Rest assured that if any Americans are involved in the Bin Laden affair, that the thirst for vengeance on them will be overpowering. The Dionysian principle of vengeance is still very much alive, lurking below the surface, waiting for the justification it needs to break free.    Works Cited C.K. Williams,The Bacchae Of Euripides (New Version)New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2000 Sophocles Electra New York: Dover Publications Inc., 1995 Mary Shelley, Frankenstein New York: Dover Publications Inc., 1994 "Bush Speaks From Oval Office" http://multimedia.belointeractive.com/attack/news/text0911.html "Bin Laden Has Nowhere To Run - Nowhere To Hide", madblast.com The House of Atreus http://ancienthistory.about.com/library/weekly/aa110497.htm

The Author of “Facing It”

The way one speaks and acts coming out of war is traumatic not only to the human body but the mind as well. If we the reader didn't know that the author of â€Å"Facing It† Yusef Komunyakaa, was a war veteran, I would guarantee that after reading his poem you would have concluded that he was. What is striking about his work it that Yusef uses words that you wouldn't typical put together to make you understand what he, the writer is seeing and facing- hence the poem â€Å"Facing It†. By reading the poem in your head or even out loud you could tell that the author's tone of voice is very heartbroken, he feels this conflicting pain within himself, that could only be expressed through poetry. Yusef explains his feelings and what he's experiencing out side post-war. His work depicts a certain metaphor in which he talks about the Vietnam veteran memorial wall, as like a mirror in which he's not in or on. As a result of that, he writes them down as poems and comes up with beautiful analogies, that from a psychological critique, raises questions about what he is trying to convey throughout the war. Psychology is a way for humans to find the deeper meaning behind a person's word. As I break down Yusef's poem and try to find the deeper meaning, I will not only be talking about his internal struggle between his experience with war, but also the internal battle that Yusef faces between him and himself, and how he work to overcome it. The very first verse in Yusef poem â€Å"My black face fades, hiding inside the black granite, I said I wouldn't dammit: no tears I am stone I am flesh†.(lines 1-3) Starts off by not only talking about his race but psychologically his memory as well. According to Floyd, Pilar analyzed version of â€Å"Facing It† Yusef face fades into the granite of the memorial. He looks back upon his memories and sees them as black and white- as humans tend to do in dreams. He sees the white engraved names on the black granite. When relating the two together, he explains how he is hiding- he can not see himself in the black granite, not only because of his pigment but because he feels strongly and more guilty that his name isn't up on that wall unlike the rest of his fellow soldiers. â€Å"No tears I am stone I am flesh†(line 4) can only refer to the idea that he like the granite is stone. However because he is alive he remains this warm living flesh that is capable of crying even though he refers to himself as stone. Yusef uses metaphors and analogies as a way from hiding his true self. We wants to remain strong- stone, but alas he is struggling between to states he'd like to be in: life or death. Not only is this a battle for Yuself, we begin to see a battle that struggles between Yusef and himself when coming to terms with reality. â€Å"My clouded reflections eyes me†( line 5 ). Clouded meaning the tears that are progressing, or this idea that Yuself himself is clouded. When someone stands far away from a reflection, there image becomes clouded, as if it were disappearing, and in this case Yusef wanted to, but the granite was standing in his way, along with himself. As the reader I took this to mean he was accepting himself and the war, therefor backing away from it. When the statement eyes it â€Å"eyes me† meaning its looking back, can mean that his reflection is looking back at him or he is looking within himself. He realized and expected that its the granite thats not moving, its him who has to walk away but can not. Yuself is a victim of war † like a bird of prey†( line 7 )he is victimizing himself and the names on the granite are what's analyzing him. Emotional, everything becomes a reminder to a victim of war. According to Floyd, Pilar he's accepting that wherever he goes there will always be a reminder, it's not escaping him. Yusef is getting a sense of his surroundings. â€Å"I turn this way- the stone lets me go†( line 8 ) he turns the other way and there is the memorial again. As he tries to walk away, he is realizing there is no walking away, because he's always capable of turning in another direction and ending up back where he left off. From a psychological standpoint, I would say not only does he not want to be apart from the memorial but he is also accepting to the idea that is ok to turn around and not stare into it for a while. Just as he is about to walk away he comes rights back and realizes how many names are upon the memorial. â€Å"I go down 58,022 names half-expecting to find my own in letters like smoke†( line 15 ). There is a sense of guilt in this sentence, you can almost feel that he wants his name there but also he doesn't. I say this because Yusef uses the term smoke. Smoke meaning a hundred different reason, but in this case smoke can mean something clear. According to Floyd, Pilar she states that in this cause the word smoke means easily attainable and easy enough to disappear. Here you can see that Yusef is struggling with himself, he feels this sense of responsibility and guilt. As a living individuale, Yusef like smoke can vanish and reappear when he pleases, unlike those names on the wall that will that will never. With this it gives Yusef this reassurance that he is truly alive because his name cannot be found on that list. However he still is a victim and struggles everyday with this thought of violence and lose. To people like us it's a wall with names, to Yusef it's an important memory. Once again Yusef finds himself in a mental state, similar to the one in the beginning of the poem. Where he is considering the possibilities of life and death, the internal struggle between him and himself. Yusef sees a veteran come out of the wall and rush through him, as talked about in class this image that Yusef see's is similar to what could be a ghost. As stated in an analyzed version of â€Å"Facing It† Floyd, Pillars take on this statement she says that Yusef like the veteran with one arm has also lost something from the war, that being his piece of mind. I took this to mean that Yusef walks though life day by day struggling still because the difference between what we think is a ghost and Yusef himself, is that Yusef still lives. † In the black mirror a woman trying to erase names, no she is brushing a boys hair†( line 29) This was a very difficult analogy to break down, however as the reader, I read it to mean that Yusef is having a difficult time distinguishing the difference between memories from the war and memories of life. He wants to believe that everything is going to be ok and that nobody is hurt, but that's not the case. He wants to be like everyone else, but he can't. Why can't other be more like him? From here on end Yusef's every move, every statement, and every action will be an impact from his decisions and his actions from the war. He lives life trying to find the difference between fantasy and reality, the difference between life and death, and what he expresses in his last stanza is that nobody will understand and not many people care, unless they themselves are like Yusef. As a result Yusef faces with many psychological struggles, but like many they take time to comprehend and understand. Throughout the poem you see how Yusef fluctuates his emotions about what he sees and feels while looking at the memorial. Yusef faces many things, because the war in himself and in his head isn't over. He attempts to overcome the nightmares and grief he faces, but concludes that'll unlike many people, he has a privilege of understand the importance of this piece of granite, that many don't seem to appreciate. Each stanza of Yusef's poem is a way of expressing his internal battle. Each idea shows that Yusef is trying to overcome something in himself but looking at everything though different perspectives. At one point he's a bird looking at himself, next his image fades into the black granite. Yusef stands on this fine line between life and death and attempts to break down the difference between the two given his struggle. In learning that it's he who holds him back, Yusef learns to live with the way he looks and faces life. Getting back to the real world is just as difficult as being in war. Yusef seems to understand the meaning of everything but just doesn't understand why it has to be like that which is why he is internally struggling with himself.

Tips for Writing Effective Letters to Congress

People who think members of the U.S. Congress pay little or no attention to constituent mail are just plain wrong. Concise, well thought out personal letters are one of the most effective ways Americans have of influencing the lawmakers they elect.   Members of Congress get hundreds of letters and emails every day, so you will want your letter stand out. Whether you choose to use the U.S. Postal Service or email, here are some tips that will help you write a letter to Congress that has an impact. Letter or Email? Always send a traditional letter. While it is easier to send an email, and all Senators and Representatives now have email addresses, written letters get more attention and have more impact. The Senators and Representatives and their staffs get literally hundreds of emails every day. Emails from their constituents are mixed in with emails from fellow lawmakers and staff members and are thus easily overlooked or disregarded. In addition, taking the time to send a traditional, handwritten letter is the best way to show you â€Å"really care† about the issues you are addressing. Think Locally Its usually best to send letters to the representative from your local congressional district or the senators from your state. Your vote helps elect them—or not—and that fact alone carries a lot of weight. It also helps personalize your letter. Sending the same cookie-cutter message to every member of Congress may grab attention but rarely much consideration. Its also a good idea to think about the effectiveness of all of your communication options. For instance, a face-to-face meeting at an event, town hall, or the representatives local office can often leave the biggest impression. That is not always an option though. Your next best bet for expressing your opinion is a formal letter, then a phone call to their office. While email is convenient and quick, it may not have the same influence as the other, more traditional, routes. Finding Your Legislators Address There are a few ways that you can find the addresses of all of your representatives in Congress. The U.S. Senate is easy because each state has two Senators. Senate.gov has an easy to navigate directory of all current Senators. You will find links to their website, their email and phone number, as well as the address to their office in Washington D.C. The House of Representatives is a little trickier because you need to search for the person representing your particular district within the state. The easiest way to do so is to type in your zip code under Find Your Representative at House.gov. This will narrow down your options but you may need to refine it based on your physical address because zip codes and Congressional districts do not coincide. In both houses of Congress, the representatives official website will also have all the contact information you need. This includes the locations of their local offices. Keep Your Letter Simple Your letter will be more effective if you address a single topic or issue rather than a variety of issues you may feel passionate about. Typed, one-page letters are best. Many Political Action Committees (PACs)  recommend a three-paragraph letter structured like this: Say why you are writing and who you are. List your credentials and state that you are a constituent. It also doesnt hurt to mention if you voted for or donated to them. If you want a response, you must include your name and address, even when using email.Provide more detail. Be factual and not emotional. Provide specific rather than general information about how the topic affects you and others. If a certain bill is involved, cite the correct title or number whenever possible.Close by requesting the action you want to be taken. It might be a vote for or against a bill, a change in general policy, or some other action, but be specific. The best letters are courteous, to the point, and include specific supporting examples. Proofread Your Letter Always proofread your letter before mailing it. Read over it at least twice, checking for spelling, punctuation, and grammar errors. Make sure you have not repeated yourself, failed to make your points clearly, or left anything out. An error-free letter adds to your credibility.   Identifying Legislation Members of Congress have a lot of items on their agendas, so its best to be as specific as possible regarding your issue. When writing about a particular bill or piece of legislation, include the official number so they know exactly what youre referring to (it also helps your credibility). If you need help in finding the number of a bill, use the  Thomas Legislative Information System. Cite these  legislation  identifiers: House Bills:  H.R._____House Resolutions:  H.RES._____House Joint Resolutions:  H.J.RES._____Senate Bills:  S._____Senate Resolutions:  S.RES._____Senate Joint Resolutions:  S.J.RES._____ Addressing Members of Congress There is also a formal way to address members of Congress. Use these headers to begin your letter, filling in the appropriate name and addresses for your Congressperson. Also, its best to include the header in an email message. To Your Senator: The Honorable (full name)(room #) (name) Senate Office BuildingUnited States SenateWashington, DC 20510Dear Senator (last name): To Your Representative: The Honorable (full name)(room #) (name) House Office BuildingUnited States House of RepresentativesWashington, DC 20515Dear Representative (last name): Contact the U.S. Supreme Court The Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court do not have email addresses, but they do read letters from citizens. You can mail letters using the address found on the SupremeCourt.gov website. Key Things to Remember Here are some key things you should always and never do when writing to your elected representatives. Be courteous and respectful without gushing.Clearly and simply state the purpose of your letter. If its about a certain bill, identify it correctly.  Say who you are. Anonymous letters go nowhere. Even in email, include your correct name, address, phone number, and email address. If you dont include at least your name and address, you will not get a response.State any professional credentials or personal experience you may have, especially those pertaining to the subject of your letter.Keep your letter short—one page is best.Use specific examples or evidence to support your position.State what it is you want to be done or recommend a course of action.Thank the member for taking the time to read your letter. What Not to Do Just because they represent the voters does not mean that members of Congress are subject to abuse or belittlement. As impassioned as you may be about an issue, your letter will be more effective if its written from a calm, logical perspective. If youre angry about something, write your letter then edit the next day to ensure youre conveying a courteous, professional tone. Also, make sure to avoid these pitfalls. Do not use vulgarity, profanity, or threats. The first two are just plain rude and the third one can get you a visit from the Secret Service. Simply stated, dont let your passion get in the way of making your point. Do not fail to include your name and address, even in email letters. Many representatives prioritize comments from their constituents and a letter in the mail may be the only way you receive a response. Do not demand a response. You may not get one no matter what and demand is simply another rude gesture that does little for your case. Do not use boilerplate text. Many grassroots organizations will send out a prepared text to people interested in their issue, but try not to simply copy and paste this into your letter. Use it as a guide to help you make the point and write the letter in your own words with your personal perspective. Getting thousands of letters that say the exact same thing can diminish the impact.