Strategy development at LEGO Essay Example for Free

Strategy development at LEGO Essay One of the initial strategy decisions was based upon the oil crisis in the 1980’s. The company reacted favourably by introducing new innovations and penetrating previously unexplored markets. Changes in the market environment in the 90’s also spurred on strategy development at LEGO. The advent of competitors and research contrary to what LEGO was basing its strategy on up to that point proved to be a focal point for the company. Objectives were set out and adopted and the company moved on. LEGO had difficulty in accessing and reading the market. Once this was highlighted, with the aid of a new COO, the company restructured and went on a cost cutting expedition – freeing up resources to assist with the long term objectives. LEGO suffered a sharp decline in the ‘most admired companies in Denmark’ poll. The external image of the company that which affected the general public’s opinion and the desirability of the LEGO Group as a prospective partner and employer suffered due to the fluctuations in sales and profits. Heavy financial losses resulted in a weaker capital structure and limited investment opportunities for the future. As a result the entire procurement process was re-analysed and restructured and cost reductions in all sectors of the business were significant. LEGO was fortunate enough to have a strong brand and awareness in the market. The market is more favourably inclined to ‘forgive’ companies that have taken the time to cultivate strong brand awareness. Even though LEGO clearly had bigger problems, they maintained and developed their relationship with their customers in order to better understand their needs and inculcate a higher standard of customer service within the company. Their focus remained strongly on the distribution in retail. The company suffered heavy financial losses and briefly discussed selling LEGO. However, this was clearly a last resort decision for the CEO. The family company and their dedication in making it succeed, worked for them. Had they given up the company, the LEGO brand would not have survived the climate it did. The company enjoyed strong financial backing. Instead of selling the company, it was decided that a loan would be taken. Give the heavy losses experienced, the climate and changes i n market share, LEGO still secured a loan. Clearly, someone else believed in them as much as they believed in themselves. The dedication of LEGO’s management and staff is one of their key advantages. Having staff dedicated to the vision, mission and strategy of the company is essential for the success of their long and short term objectives. LEGO’s bold approach to the global financial crisis in 2009 was part of their great success. This willingness and ability to act boldly saw them in good stead during a time of economic downturns. Another excellent use of resources is in the form of enthusiastic LEGO users for the development of products.

Ecosystems and Environmental Discourse :: Essays Papers

Ecosystems and Environmental Discourse What is an ecosystem? At first glance, this seems to be a straightforward question, one to be answered by environmental scientists. However, the concept of an ecosystem, or more specifically, the action that posits the existence of an ecosystem, raises a series of questions that challenge some basic assumptions about the environment. For instance, is an ecosystem a concrete object in the same way that a stone or a tree is? Or instead, is an ecosystem a set of interactions between such objects? While ecosystems do indeed exist, it is not without dramatic changes in our epistemology that we can speak of such objects without contradiction. Most importantly, we must acknowledge that the existence of ecosystems is contingent on human society. Environmental scientists certainly play an important role in describing ecosystems and in prescribing correct management of these systems, but we miss an important aspect of humanity’s role in the environment if we see ecosystems as discrete objects that exist independent of human society. Then what is an ecosystem? An ecosystem is a concept constructed by human society that aids us in perceiving an amazingly complex structure of interactions. This construction is rooted fundamentally in our language and the discourse that surrounds environmental issues. As such, the concept of discourse and the practice of discourse analysis are vital to understanding what an ecosystem might be. While there are advantages to seeing ecosystem as concrete objects, it is my intention in this section to describe an alternative view of ecosystems that is rooted in postpositivistic, postmodern analysis of reality. Hopefully, such analysis will also be useful in analyzing other concepts pertinent to environmental issues. To approach this alternative view, I will outline the concept of discourse as formulated by Michel Foucault, summarize the views and extension of post-Foucauldian discourse analytic theorists, and finally, apply these concepts to the question of ecosystems. Throughout, I will address the epistemological changes implicit in discourse analysis. A discourse is an institutionalized way of speaking that determines not only what we say and how we say it, but also what we do not say. Originating in the field of linguistics, the term discourse initially referred to whole units of speech (conversations) and the speech community in which these units were communicated. William Labov (1972) and other sociolinguists have used discourse analysis primarily as a descriptive tool, leaving epistemological and postmodern considerations aside.

Explore the implications of ‘homelessness’ with regards to Lennie Essay

‘Home’ in Of Mice and Men represents an ideal, one that all characters in this novella, including Lennie, appear to lack. Thus they are all ‘homeless’ in one sense or another. The subject of home and homelessness is one that is closely related to all the major themes of Of Mice and Men. Steinbeck effectively portrays his characters by their different aspirations towards ‘home’. In doing so he creates a hierarchy of this ideal. Thus the most humble and submissive dream of home pursued by Lennie and his companion George is shown to be the most compelling and greatest of all. Yet, will Lennie grasp the light flaming on the top of the Gabilan mountains-the light of heaven? Or are the providential forces of fate and destiny to render ‘Paradise Lost’ ? Of Mice and Men is about the plight of two American labourers, George and Lennie. George is a ‘smart little guy’ whereas Lennie is the exact opposite. The plot and structure of the story is very economical and the language used is in no way elaborate. Assisted by the simple time frame we are given the impression that the story is an uncomplicated one. Yet, within this seemingly unembellished novel are to be found a variety of themes, skilfully brought to light by the way in which the author handles his subject; George and Lennie. The two main themes of Of Mice and Men are that of dreams- the aspiration towards an ideal home, and that of loneliness. Lennie is a man of immense strength and size. However, in effect his mind is like that of a child’s. His home is neither with nature nor with man. Throughout the story, Steinbeck is constantly describing Lennie in animal terms. He says, regarding Lennie, â€Å"(h)e walked, heavily, dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws.† In many cases Lennie is likened to a dog. This image is furthered by Candy’s dog who plays a choral role as Lennie’s double. The description of Lennie as the ‘poor bastard’ also suggests that Lennie is not of the family of man. Lennie’s mind has never fully learnt how to control his body. He is thus not at home in the ranch where he and George are working as he is unable to cope with the complexities of ‘modern’ living. Also, living in the ranch for too long would inevitably lead to trouble, such as that which occurred in Weed. Therefore, even if one were to consider the ranch as being Lennie’s home, it can not be a permanent one. Through the subject of protest, Of Mice and Men provides us with a new dimension to homelessness. Negroes, cripples and misfits are all shunned by society. This is illustrated by the characters of Crooks, Candy and Lennie respectively. Lennie’s ill treatment is apparent at many times throughout the story. One such case being that when Curley decides to pick a fight with him. Even George, Lennie’s closest companion â€Å"used to play jokes on ‘im ’cause he was.. dumb.† Rejected by society Lennie is ‘homeless.’ However, one must add that although Lennie is treated badly at times, there are others where he is treated with kindness and sympathy. Yet, is sympathy enough to make him feel at ‘home’? In the first paragraph of the story we are introduced to the idea of nature as ‘home’. Yet, although Lennie is constantly portrayed as an animal, as with man, Lennie and nature are incompatible; one inevitably leading to the destruction of the other. Lennie, like a child, is fascinated with things that he can caress such as mice and pups. His love for them is undeniable, yet they all end up dead. One may say that he ‘loves them to death.’ Both Lennie and George know that Lennie is incapable of surviving in nature, thus with a sort of animal wit, Lennie plays on George’s feelings of guilt: â€Å"If you don’t want me†¦.I’ll go off in the hills†¦and live all by myself.† The idea of Lennie living alone in nature is a laughable one. This incompatibility is ominous- it is as if Steinbeck is saying that Lennie will either destroy nature or nature will destroy Lennie. Lennie’s home, the only one that may agree with his survival is one where ‘like a terrier who†¦..bring(s) a ball to it’s master’ he is always tethered to George, and constantly under his watchful eye. This is neither possible at the ranch nor where Lennie is alone in nature, he is therefore ‘homeless’ is in this sense. Yet it would be wrong to suggest that Lennie attempts to find home for the above reasons, for as George puts it, â€Å"(h)e was too dumb.† His motivation is that of fear; fear of loneliness, a concept that even Lennie is able to understand. His feeling of insecurity towards the one most important thing in his life-his relationship with Lennie is evident at certain times throughout the story. One such case being when cynical Crooks teases Lennie about what will happen if George does not return from town: † ‘He’ll come back to-night-‘ But the doubt was too much for him. ‘Don’t you think he will?’ † Lennie’s doubt makes Crooks’ double negative to be of great significance. Crooks’ says, â€Å"S’pose you didn’t have nobody.† Through this Steinbeck appears to be saying that George’s companionship is not one of substance. Their separation is indeed inevitable. For this reason Lennie de sires a home. Lennie’s dream of home is one in which he is in harmony with both man and nature. It is a humble dream, which is summed up by George, â€Å"Well its ten acres†¦got a kitchen, orchard, cherries†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Having a particular Western resonance in that it is related to the ‘great American dream’ in the time of the frontiers, the farm offers Lennie a sanctuary from his own innocence. He can be at one with nature that he so loves whilst being looked after by George. Yet cynical Crooks believes that this dream is impracticable: â€Å"Hundreds of them†¦an every damn one of ’em’s got a ..piece of land in his head†¦ Nobody never gets to heaven and nobody never gets no land.† Lennie’s tragic death is the final confirmation of this. Lennie’s life can be seen to be a trap. The only means of escaping the implications of homelessness and thus freeing himself is to dream. Crooks’ double negative (‘nobody never gets to heaven’) leads us to question whether Lennie actually ascertains his ideal home – paradise. Across the Salinas river lies the ‘golden foothill slopes’ that ‘curve up to the strong and rocky Gabilan mountains.’ The light flaming on the top of the Gabilan mountains is an image that recurs throughout the novella. At the end of the book Lennie stands facing the great mountains, all that lies between him and paradise is the Salinas river-the river of death. In death, Lennie has overcome this barrier. His ascending spirit is scaling the ‘golden foothill’-the path to heaven whilst his body shall soon receive the land for which it so yearned. Whether or not Steinbeck intended so literary an interpretation is unknown. However, the image gives us valuable insight to Steinbeck’s views on the subject of home. It is as though Steinbeck is saying that the actual apprehension of the dream is of little importance, what is of importance is the feelings and emotions that are generated by it.

Persuasive Essay On Euthanasia - 973 Words

Euthanasia, more commonly known as mercy killing, is the action of killing someone in order to end their suffering. This is a way for patients with terminal illnesses to die a peaceful death rather than a painful one; however, it is illegal throughout most of the United States. People have debated for many years whether or not Euthanasia in people should be legal. In the Bible, Exodus 20:13 states that â€Å"Thou shalt not kill.† This verse brings people to believe that mercy killing is an act of defiance against God. Most people have come to a conclusion that the Bible acts as the law of our country. This means that they could never bring themselves to go against the word of God. When something appears to go against someone’s religion, they†¦show more content†¦In these cases, patients are in an excruciating amount of pain, and often resort to the thought of mercy killing. In Michigan, there was a case where Dr. Jack Kevorkian administered a lethal injection t o Thomas Youk, a 52-year-old man that was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Mr. Youk had reached out to numerous doctors and specialists, yet no one was successful in relieving his pain. The doctor was able to end his patient’s endless suffering, which allowed Mr. Youk to die a painless death. Dr. Kevorkian did the same in four other cases, which all resulted in him being praised by the patients and their families. Additionally, it is considered humane and moral to end an animal’s suffering, yet it is deemed illegal to do the same for a human being. In addition, patients suffering from terminal illnesses are expected to pay a tremendous amount of money in order to receive palliative care and hospital stays, for Medicare and private insurance companies only pay a small portion of the bill. The majority of patients have to pay between tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars for treatments that may not work; therefore, euthanasia tends to be a po pular option out. However, in most places, this is not legal. In these cases, numerous patients are forced into debt, which adds to the tremendous burden on their lives. When these patients finally pass, after years of endless suffering, the burden of theseShow MoreRelatedEuthanasia Persuasive Essay1064 Words   |  5 PagesAn Avoidable Loss Death by choice or euthanasia is a very controversial subject that is typically one-sided. The very concept of death alone is somewhat a taboo, but controlling death itself is another monster. Death by choice or â€Å"euthanasia† should not be legalized because it promotes defeatism, may lead to the strict procedures to become more accessible to people with non-fatal illnesses, could legitimize murder, or pressure the elderly. When an unfortunate illness befalls, people have a tendencyRead MorePersuasive Essay Pro Euthanasia954 Words   |  4 PagesGrace (JiEun) Lee AP Language and composition Persuasive essay 6 October 2017 Euthanasia legalization The ultimate value of life depends upon awareness and the power of contemplation rather than upon mere survival. Aristotle Being one of the most fervid and controversial topic of all, euthanasia, also known as physician-assisted suicide, has initiated a very sensitive discussion on life and death under one’s ability to choose either side. Euthanasia is defined as a â€Å"the act or practice of killingRead MorePersuasive Essay on Euthanasia963 Words   |  4 PagesEuthanasia - The Right to Decide The definition of euthanasia from the Oxford Dictionary is: â€Å"The painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful disease or is in an incurable coma.† Consider the words â€Å"suffering,† â€Å"painful,† â€Å"irreversible† and â€Å"incurable.† These words describe a patients terrible conditions and prospects. Euthanasia is known as â€Å"mercy killing† for a reason, it is the most, humane, moral and logical form of treatment available to patients that have no hopeRead MorePersuasive Essay On Euthanasia811 Words   |  4 PagesEuthanasia In present society Euthanasia is a very controversial topic and must be addressed carefully and thoughtfully out of the respect of others. It is a topic that for those who are undecided on what side to pick really do not know which way to swing until it impacts their life. Euthanasia roughly translates into â€Å"a good death†, so for those who chose to end their life by their own decision, and without them having to deal with pain or the inevitable long incurable diseases, thenRead MorePersuasive Essay Euthanasia1446 Words   |  6 PagesEuthanasia: A Legal Murder According the Merriam-Webster dictionary, Euthanasia is â€Å"the act or practice of killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured individuals (such as persons or domestic animals) in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy. This procedure seems appealing to the many people around the world who suffer from terminal illnesses. In the minds of these people euthanasia or doctor-assisted suicide seems like the only escape. As stated in a journal, â€Å"My friendRead MorePersuasive Essay On Euthanasia1430 Words   |  6 Pageswould that answer change if you were suffering? Euthanasia, also known as â€Å"good death,† is the act of putting a living thing to death painlessly or allowing them to die by withholding extreme medical practices, such as withholding food. Then there is involuntary euthanasia: â€Å"a competent person’s life is brought to an end despite an explicit rejection of euthanasia† as stated by Robert Young, the author of Med ically Assisted Death. In the case of euthanasia, many people will argue that it is murder, butRead MorePersuasive Essay On Euthanasia737 Words   |  3 Pageswith no hope of ever leaving their hospital bed, death may seem like a blessing. Euthanasia is the practise of intentionally ending a life to relieve pain or suffering, a practise which is yet to be legalised in too many countries for being seen as illegal and immoral-which is ridiculous. A terminally ill patient or those suffering from deteriorating progressive conditions should always have the option of euthanasia. If possible, everyone would choose a quick and dignified death when the time comesRead MorePersuasive Essay On Euthanasia730 Words   |  3 Pages Euthanasia is sometimes referred to a â€Å"mercy killing.† This controversial topic has been debated for decades. Some argue that euthanasia causes more harm than good, and with modern medicine it is simply unnecessary. Others argue that it is an act of mercy sparing a suffering individual from days, weeks, or months of unnecessary pain and anguish. However, there are moral and ethical questions surrounding euthanasia. It could be argued that killing of any kind is murder. No matter the situation orRead MoreFor Euthanasia Persuasive Essay1663 Words   |  7 Pagespain and suffering. Euthanasia is a word that most people avoid because it is very controversial. But why? Euthanasia is a way of ending the prolonging of suffering, while leaving life in peace. Euthanasia is derived from the Greeks where Eu means good and Thanatos means death. When these phrases are combined the word euthanasia is created; meaning â€Å"good death† (6.) There are three types of euthana sia although only two are authentic forms. The first type is active euthanasia. It is described asRead MoreEuthanasia Persuasive Essay1577 Words   |  7 Pagespainful clutch. Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide are two ways to end the life of a person. Euthanasia is the act or practice of killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured individuals (as persons or domestic animals) in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy (Merriam-Webster), also defined by the Oxford dictionary as the painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful disease or in an irreversible coma. In places where euthanasia is allowed, it