A Journey into Self-Discovery in Araby by James Joyce and...

In â€Å"Araby†, author James Joyce presents a male adolescent who becomes infatuated with an idealized version of a schoolgirl, and explores the consequences which result from the disillusionment of his dreams. While living with his uncle and aunt, the main character acts a joyous presence in an otherwise depressing neighborhood. In Katherine Mansfield’s, The Garden Party, Mansfield’s depicts a young woman, Laura Sherridan, as she struggles through confusion, enlightenment, and the complication of class distinctions on her path to adulthood. Both James Joyce and Katherine Mansfield expertly use the literary elements of characterization to illustrate the journey of self-discovery while both main characters recognize that reality is not what†¦show more content†¦The short story begins as the Sherridan household, as they are preparing for an extravagant Garden-Party that will be held within the confines of their large estate. Laura’s personality is characterized early in the story, when she is instructed by her mother to tell the manual laborers where to put the marquee. Her adolescence is symbolized as she initially speaks to the men in a poor attempt at copying her mother’s voice, then immediately thereafter, feeling â€Å"ashamed, and stammering like a little girl† (Mansfield, 164). After dealing with the workers, as Laura watched one worker snuff the smell of lavender, which she never would have thought a man of a lower class cared to do. Laura yearns for a more mature man than the â€Å"silly boys she danced with and who came for Sunday night supper† (Mansfield, 165). This marks the beginning of the transition from her adolescence into young adulthood. Throughout the onset of the story, there are many instances of Laura tentatively arguing with herself in an internal struggle. Subsequently, when Laura and her older sister Jose are informed about the death of a lower class neighbor, Laura is shocked wh en Jose does not take the news seriously. When Laura tells her mother the same news, she is astonished that her mother reacted like Jose, as her mother tells Laura â€Å"people

The System Adoption Is Successful Or Failed - 1315 Words

1 Introduction PT. Pertamina (later named as Pertamina) is a state owned energy company in Indonesia where one of its main business activity is distribute fuel/gas to its retailers agents (later named as customers). These customers operate fuel/gas stations to provide fuel to end customers across the country. Pertamina has more than 5000 customers which in daily average do at least 13.000 order transactions which valued close to USD 60 Million per day (Pertamina, 2013; Cholidy, 2014). This paper’s objective is to analyse an information system (IS) implementation case whether the system adoption is successful or failed. Author select IS implementation case in Pertamina where the author works from 2007 until the time of this writing. During†¦show more content†¦2 Host to Host Sales Order System IS (includes its information technology components) plays major role in today’s business world. IS helps enterprises improve business processes, drives revenue growth, helps them achieve cost efficiency and more importantly, maintaining a competitive edge in the market place Through period of time Pertamina implements numbers of IS to address various corporate’s business activities. Instead of gaining cost efficiency, these numbers of IS actually require company to put more budget in order to operate and maintain the systems. At this point ERP system comes as solution to this problem. Such as ERP’s objective which is to integrate business processes across enterprise by using a single IS (Wagner and Monk, 2008; Laudon and Laudon, 2012), Pertamina also manage to integrate all its business IS into one main system using ERP. Since 2003 ERP systems is used as Pertamina’s core platform where other business applications developed on top of it. Regardless of the implementation of ERP system has been covered all business activities in the company, Pertamina’s sales order activity is still being served through limited point of sales. Pertamina’s point of sales spread throughout 7 regional offices across the country (Pertamina, 2013). This make sales activities less efficient, moreover it cannot meet customers’ expectations. To address this challenge, by using new information technology availability, Pertamina develop new IS

How to practise Ethical Decision Making In an Organization

Introduction The Decision making process has been an important criteria that has to be given due attention in case of the organizations. The complexity in the business processes and rapid enhancement across all the areas of the organization requires managers to not only make the sound decision, but also to make them at no time. The success of an organization to a larger extent depends upon the ability of its management to take good and effective decisions (Kinicki 2008, 249-50). In order to fulfill the complex needs of the customers on a timely basis, it has becomes essential that the management should try to adopt every possible means in order to satisfy such complex demands. The competition in the market has driven to all these changes and businesses are compelled to take quick decisions. In addition to this, there has been rapid enhancement in the field of technology that has also provided with various tools to the management in order to support their decisions. Such tools enable the managemen t to not only takes the sound decision, but also to comply with all the major requirements of the customers. In addition to this, the customers are also quite attentive in this complex modern era and they are more concerned with the decisions being undertaken by organizations. They are highly aware about the ethical aspects concerning the major decisions taken by the organizations and as such, it has also become necessary for the organization to consider the ethical aspects as well, while undertaking big decisions. It has been found that customers use to purchase the products of that organization, which is ethically sound enough in making its business decisions. Thus, in order to survive in this complex modern era, it becomes essential for the businesses to not only make the sound decisions, but also to ensure ethical aspect in their decisions as well (Ferrell, Ferrell and Fraedrich 2005, 40-42). Apart from all this factors, the cultural aspects also have a major role to play in the ethical decision making process. As the companies are globalizing their activities, they are facing a totally different culture, which also affects their ability to take ethical decisions (Srnka 2004, 1-32). This paper is basically concerned with a brief discussion on the decision making processes that are being followed in the organizations, in order to effectively meet out the complex demands of the modern customers. In addition to this, the paper will also include a brief discussion on the ways through which managers can transform these decisions into a more ethical one in the context of contemporary organizations. Finally, the paper concludes with a brief conclusion on the major findings from the analysis about the decision making processes in the given paper. Decision Making Processes Decision making is an important perspective that persists in case of almost all the organization whether it is big or small organization. It becomes essential for the managers to take decisions in order to conduct the activities of the organization in the most efficient manner. Managers in the organization are best referred to as the decision makers and as such, the success or the failure of the organization to a larger extent depends upon its decision makers. Good decision by managers would lead to overall success and a bad one would lead to the failure of the organization. This implies that decision making is quite crucial for the success of the business organization. Decision making is usually done in case of a complex changing environment which comprises of constantly changing factors. As a result, best managers of the successful companies sometimes make blunder while taking important decision for the entire organization. As the business environment is changing at a rapid pace, m anagers in organizations are dealing with a higher percentage of non programmed decisions. This implies that the complex decision making environment have increased the difficulties in the decision making process and as such, there is a need for a new decision making processes in the organization, for the purpose of ensuring effective decision making that leads to the overall success of the organization. However, the managers should adopt a rational decision making approach while dealing with the complex problem of the organization. This is because, the rational approach focus on the need for systematic analysis of a problem which is followed by a logical step by step sequence. A systematic procedure should be followed by the managers while taking important decisions. A deep understanding to the managers about the decision making process would help him in taking better decisions even there exists a lack of clear information (Lozano 2001, 126-128). The decision making processes that s hould be followed by managers in solving the complex problems of the organization is discussed as follows: 1. Monitoring the Decision Environment The first step in the effective decision making process is to monitor the decision environment. The manager should monitor the internal as well as the external information and should try to find out deviations in the planned and acceptable behavior (Daft 2009, 450-57). 2. Define the Decision Problem The next major step in the decision making process is to define the problem. The deviations as identified in the first step would help the managers in defining the decision problem in the most effective manner, as it will provide with the exact reason for such deviations. 3. Specifying Decision Objectives The objectives to be achieved from the decision should be specified by the managers. In simple words, it implies the aim that should be achieved from the entire decision making process. 4. Diagnose the Problem This implies the critical evaluation of the problem. A proper analysis should be conducted in order to identify the major reason for the occurrence of the problem. In order to facilitate the diagnosis, additional data should be collected if required. A proper understanding of the major reason for the problem would lead to a better solution of the entire problem and would help the managers in taking decisions in future in a more appropriate manner (Daft 2009, 450-57). 5. Develop Alternative Solutions Before moving towards a decisive action plan, the manager should have a clear understanding of various options that are available to him in the achievement of the desired objectives. In order to have a better understanding, the manager may seek ideas from the other people of the organization. 6. Evaluate Alternatives The alternatives as identified in the above mentioned step need to be evaluated for the purpose of making the best possible decision to the problem in hand. The ideas from different people in the organization would result into various solutions and as such, the best possible one has to be identified by making a critical evaluation of all such ideas (Daft 2009, 450-57). 7. Choosing the Best Alternatives The evaluation of all the alternatives would provide with the solution of the given problem with the best possible alternatives. Thus the alternatives that seem to be best among the others should be chosen, so that a better decision can be possible. 8. Implementation of the Chosen Alternatives The final step in the decision making process is the implementation of the chosen alternatives to achieve the desired objectives. The manager should use his skills and abilities in order to ensure that decision is carried out. This is the important step of the entire decision making processes as an improper implementation of the decision would result into a failed decision. The implementation of alternatives would be followed by a monitoring process (Daft 2009, 450-57). The first four stage of the entire decision making process can be regarded as the problem identification stage and the next four implies the problem solution stage of the decision making process. Ethical Transformation of Decisions One of the major area that needs attention in the current decision making process is the ethical decision making. The management of ethical behavior in the organization is one of the major problems as faced by managers in the organizations today. The decisions of the employees to behave in an ethical manner or not is highly influence by the situational factors. Decision history, personality and the managerial philosophy are the few factors through which the employees behavior can be changed towards the more ethical one (Stead, Edward and Stead 1990, 233-42). This implies that the managerial philosophy have a major role to play in transforming the decisions into an ethical one. In order to ensure ethical decision making by managers and individuals in organization, Thomas M Jones (1991) suggest an issue contingent models which contains a new set of variables known as moral intensity. Moral intensity can be defined as a construct that considers the extent of issue related moral imperative to a particular situation. The moral intensity is not concerned with traits of the moral decision makers or the organizational culture, rather its major emphasis is on the moral issue, so that ethical decision making and behavior can be ensured in the organization by focusing on the characteristics of moral issue (Jones 1991, 366-95). Linda Klebe Trevino (1986), have proposed an Interactionist model in order to ensure ethical decision making within the organization. There has been a huge attention being given to the ethical decision making in organization, particularly because of variety of reasons such as increasing public concern about the ethical behavior of the organizations, managers cynicism etc. The interactionist model of ethical decision making implies that the situational and the individual variables interact with the cognitive component in order to determine the ways in which the managers behave in response to an ethical dilemma. Such behaviors can be identified and necessary actions can be taken in order to transform the decisions of the managers towards a more ethical perspective (Trevino 1986, 601-17). The decisions of the managers in the organizations would affect by a numerous number of factors in future such as the social, environmental as well as the economic concerns as well. In order to effectively combat such complex situation and to take decision that are ethically acceptable, it becomes essential that the Decision Support System of the organization should embrace procedures that can effectively deal with such complexities and enables the managers in taking a more of ethical decisions (Courtney 2001, 17-38). Thus, all the above mentioned models as proposed by various scholars in the past can be made use of, in transforming the decision of managers towards more ethical oriented decisions. In addition to all these models, the decision making processes as discussed above, can also be made use of for encouraging managers to take ethical decisions. A study conducted by James W Dean and Mark P. Sharfman (1996) on the importance of decision making process implies that the decision making processes are related to the success of the decision. By following each and every steps of decision making processes, managers can ensure success of the entire decision making and ultimately the compliance of such decision with that of the ethical aspects as well (Dean and Sharfman 1996, 368-96). Conclusion A brief discussion on the decision making processes and the ethical aspects of the managerial decision provides a significant learning about its importance in the complex business environment. The decision making has been a crucial aspect that leads to the success as well as the failure of the organizations. As such, it should be taken with great care. A brief discussion on the various decision making processes implies that there are various stages in the entire decision making process and proper compliance of all such processes by the managers would enable the managers to take better decisions. In addition to this, there is an increasing pressure on the managers to ensure the compliance of ethical aspects in their decision making. The increasing awareness about the environmental concern among the public have been the major reason driving the managers to take ethical decisions. As such, it becomes essential that the decisions of the managers should be transformed towards a more ethic al decision and this could be possible with the help of various models as proposed by various scholars such as interactionist model, moral intensity, decision support systems etc. In addition to this, the decision making processes would also help in achieving success in the decision making process and ultimately in ensuring a more ethical decision as well.

Reputation Plays A Very Important Role In The Play Othello. The Charac

Reputation plays a very important role in the play Othello. The character of Iago uses his reputation as an honest man to deceive Othello and other characters in the play. To Cassio reputation meant everything. Othello's reputation played an important role in the play. Iago's reputation played a very key role in the play. Everyone thought of Iago as an honest man. " O, that's an honest fellow " , "You advise me well ........ goodnight honest Iago " - "........that's an honest fellow " " I know thou'rt full of love and honesty ". Iago has everyone fooled into believing that he is a noble honest man. Without this reputation of being honest he could never get Othello to believe that Desdemona was cheating on him. Othello would have probably killed him if he didn't have the reputation of being an honest man. Iago knew that an important man like Othello couldn't ignore the possibility that his wife was cheating on him. Nobody suspects that Iago is a deceitful man and would plot and plan t o destroy Othello, Cassio and Desdemona in such a cunning way. Iago used his reputation, and the insecurities of Othello being a Moor, to allow him to manipulate Othello. Othello had a reputation of being a military man, and a courageous leader. "Valiant Othello, We must straight employ you..." "Here comes Brabantio and the valiant Moor." Othello has been a soldier since he was seven years of age, and has experience on the battle field. Othello was chosen when they went to fight the Turkish fleet. Because of his reputation, it wasn't hard for other people to accept the relationship between him and Desdemona. As Iago started putting ideas in Othello's head about Cassio and Desdemona being together, another side of Othello's personality started to surface. Because Iago had the reputation of being an honest man, Othello couldn't ignore his insinuations about Desdemona. Othello wondered if Desdemona really loved him, or if she was just using him to rebel against her father. With Iago co nstantly putting these ideas in his head, Othello was convinced to kill his wife. Cassio was known to be a good soldier, and is proud of that reputation. After Iago gets him drunk, and he gets in a fight, he ruins his reputation with Othello. Othello demotes him because Othello will not tolerate that kind of behavior in his Lieutenant. Desdemona pleads his case to Othello, because she knows him to be a good man. Iago uses the fact that Desdemona is interceding on Cassio's behalf, to further convince Othello that Desdemona is cheating on him, with Cassio. He hopes this will remove Cassio and open up the way for him to become Lieutenant.. Othello could always wonder if Desdemona really loved him, or if she was just using him to rebel against her father. With Iago constantly putting these ideas in his head, Othello was convinced to kill his wife. Often, reputations and a person's true character are very different. People rely on their previous experiences or knowledge of others to make judgments about them. Iago used this to his advantage to manipulate everyone. He was a great deceiver.