Utilitarianism and Business Ethics

Utilitarianism and Business Ethics Deception, greed, and extreme pressure led to the demise of Enron (Beenen and Pinto, 2009). Employees need the ability to disengage ethical issues from these complications of self-interest and provide clear definition; employees need to distinguish between negligible issues typical of work life and critical issues that threaten a companys ethical environment. Ethical issues come with temptations and threats. By understanding threats to personnel interests, alternatives will arise to implement correction. Going along with the crowd can endorse immediate career interests whereas resiting can put status, career and family well-being at risk. By accepting ethical theory, this can act as a guideline for a human resource (HR) manager to identify and handle the issues of self-interest. DeGeorge (2010) defines utilitarianism as an act of moral significance established by its involvement to create the most amount of good for the most number of people. This is based on the ability to foresee the consequences of an action as the choice that succumbs to the greatest benefit, to the majority of people, is the choice that is ethically correct. Beenen and Pinto (2009) identify that corrupt organisations, such as Enron, act unethically by decisions, that are usually, made by a group of senior employees to benefit the organisation. Decisions made by Jeff Skilling (senior manager) to cook the accounting books may have been, in his opinion, as an ethically correct way to benefit the shareholders and stakeholders, by portraying a strong financial image. However, the consequences of this action didnt create the most amount of good for the most amount of people. Instead self-interest influenced unethical behaviour by means of greed and pressure from Wall Street to benefit, not the organisation as a whole but, Jeff Skilling and management, personally, for financial gain. Rational self-interest is good however greed is eventually detrimental (DeGeorge, 2010). While the theory of utilitarianism will always argue to benefit the majority, it can also neglect the minority (DeGeorge, 2010). Sherron Watkins ability to make judgment that Enrons accounting standards were immoral created a rule utilitarianism approach with regards to the law and the concern with fairness; seeking to benefit the majority of people. Therefore, added benefits of rule utilitarianism values justice and includes beneficence at the same time. In the eyes of a HR manager, by taking action the majority of the stakeholders would benefit from a moral organisation adhering to their code of conduct, conducting fairness in all of their business activities. However, an issue with this decision, while sherron was commended for doing the right thing, showed that her actions to neglect the corrupt senior management team (minority) for the stakeholders (majority) for a more ethical workplace started to inflicted damage to the entire business. Cable, News, Network (CNN) (2002) stated that Enron filed for liquidation, people lost their jobs, some committed suicide and many were jobless. Sherron may have been trying to do the right (and difficult) thing but it may not have been the best way to get ahead. Her self-interest was going to become a consequence for the majority and she was unable to predict the future so as to see how her decisions would affect people later on. A HR manager needs to take into consideration that there is no wa y of telling exactly what the costs of our behaviour will be, we just do what we think is right at that specific time (DeGeorge, 2010). After examining DeGeorge (2010) a utilitarian approach to this case study in handling self-interest is too impractical. This is because the practical application of the theory requires the ability to predict the long-term consequences of an action and, to predict those consequences with unfailing accuracy; past experience can, to some extent, guide future experience. However, there is never any guarantee that circumstances will turn out exactly the same (DeGeorge, 2010). This uncertainty can create unexpected results making the utilitarian approach look unethical, as the time the choice was made didnt benefit the majority for the greater good. A HR manager needs to identify that the flaw in utilitarianism theory has no consideration for the minority; however, kantian theory suggests that it doesnt neglect this issue i.e. allowing the minority to suffer for the benefit of the majority. According to DeGeorge (2010) Kants deontology theory is supported by the actions of an individual under consideration. A collective approach to an action suggests it can determine whether an action is moral as it allows one to portray the result of everyone universally contributing to this action. Immanuel Kants theory (DeGeorge, 2010) suggests that an individual must have the freedom to truly act in a moral way. In the case study, some employees understand the company is behaving unethically i.e. dodgy account standards for personal gain. A HR manager could identify that these people have a choice to voice their concern, leave the company or go along with the crowd; however self-interest and the ability to be disciplined may pose a threat to take any action. These people have physiological needs to support family and a moral decision to voice their concerns, in this respect, could pose an issue. By being immoral or turning a blind eye, to the situation, could be the easiest option. Employees do have a choice and the freedom to make a moral decision however self-interest can sometimes turn a moral idea into an immoral decision; without the discipline there is no freedom (Wood, 2008). A deeper analysis of Kants theory suggests that the concept of ethics is not based on desires or circumstances. Moral law is a definite necessity because it has no precursor; there is no but part in the command (DeGeorge, 2010). Sherron Watkins provided an example of how this theory works. Sherron adhered to Enrons ethical code of conduct when analysing the ethical dilemma of accounting irregularities that were present. By identifying this problem to her manager, Ken Lay, she fulfilled her obligations of responsibility. Upholding ones duty is whats considered ethically correct (Wood, 2008). Sherron had found the morality through rationale of her mind as she was not influenced by feelings (preference), but instead she was concerned with fixed statements of duty (I mustà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦). The theory suggests that an individual has no flexibility and no chance to consider ones own position (DeGeorge, 2010). Naturally, people seem to acknowledge that certain rules must have rational exceptions. For instance, with regards to Ken Lay his decision not to fire Sherron Watkins could have jeopardised Andy Fastows position and the companies indicating individuals may need to lie to protect others. So, could a HR manager be reasonable to assume that the same rules can be applied consistently in different circumstances? This makes Kantian ethics rigid because the consequence of an action is not necessarily separated from the action itself (DeGeorge, 2010). Unlike utilitarianism this theory is not based on social utility. It avoids the utilitarian flaw of allowing the minority to suffer for the benefit of the majority, based on free choice and similar to that of John Rawls theory of justice. As described by DeGeorge (2010) the egalitarian, John Rawls, devised a theoretical model that proposed an individual who, covered in a veil of ignorance, would recommend a just society without any understanding of their status in society. The individual would choose a system of justice that sufficiently provided for the lower end of society because the individual could end up being in that lower position so, avoids it by being just and fair. Enron executives paid above market bonuses and salaries, they awarded unethical behaviour and punished good behaviour. In a sense many employees would have tried to do the right thing i.e. perform what was asked of them in their relevant job role. While most of these activities were contributing to the overall unethical behaviour, an employee would reasonably obtain their wage and bonus if they performed in a satisfactory or above expected manner. Self-interest presents an underlying problem here. While the pay system of any organisation should be fair and just, greed and extreme pressure to perform presented self-interest drivers that awarded immoral behaviour. Rawls argued that regimented societies are uncommon due to the fact that what is just and unjust is usually in dispute (Rawls, 2003) Robert Nozicks libertarian theory of ethics is similar to Rawls in that they both believe utilitarianism is a flawed theory due to the importance on the consequences of policies and behaviour (Nozick, 1974 Rawls, 2003). Both indicate that since utilitarianism highlights utility or contentment, within society, it cannot justify an explanation of assertions such as assertions of right which people are free to make upon the actions of others. Consequently, each sets out to develop a political theoretical model which sufficiently suggests what Nozick depicts as, the fundamental Kantian principle that individuals are ends and not merely means (DeGeorge, 2010). Nozicks theory suggests that people have the right to possess entitlements such as remuneration as long as it doesnt worsen the position of anyone else (Nozick, 1974). But if these entitlements were obtained unethically, does this worsen the position of anyone else? In one hand people are morally trying to do the right thing but, in the case of Cassandra, they eventually get punished; she moved to another position being seen as a threat. On the other hand people knew their actions were contributing to immoral behaviour as self-interest (greed and pressure) clouded their decision to do what is right. So what are our rights in situations such as the above? The theory of rights can give a HR manager insight into how individuals are protected in an ethically correct way. According to DeGeorge (2010) rights are proposed by society which is protected and is given the uppermost precedence. Since society endorsees rights they are considered to be ethically correct and suitable. DeGeorge (2010) indicates that an individual must interpret what characteristics of rights are in society, as this can pose implications. The underlying issue in the case study is self-interest. Senior management is responsible to ensure that the integrity of the controls in the environment determines the effectiveness of any control system, including remuneration, leave entitlements and job opportunities. With reference to Enrons code of ethics (2000) dignity and mutual respect, for all employees, is a right that the company has promised to respect and uphold. Clearly, this right was not evident in this organisation. Individuals such as Sherron Watkins, Cassandra and Jeff McMahon were not given the right to be treated in a respectful manner as they were moved into different position disguised as promotions. The relevant rights in a business context to freedom of speech were noted by management, as they gave them a chance to express themselves however, this was quickly extinguished. Control systems (rules) may interfere with ones own self interest to succeed or avoid failure; controls are intended for exactly that purpose. Those who would respond to business pressures by evading controls will devise rationales and tactics to justify such an evasion for tactics of disinformation and deception that they may use (Donnelly, 2003). For rights theory to be practical it must be used in combination with another ethical theory, such as ethical relativism, that will consistently outline the objectives of society. Ethical relativism refers to the principle that there are no commonly valid or required moral standards as any two individuals with differences in culture, who have different ethical views, regarding an action, could simultaneously be correct (DeGeorge, 2010). Beenen and Pinto (2009) indicated that Jeff McMahon knew that Enrons accounting practices were unethical while Andy Fastows belief indicated his way was ethically correct i.e. for the greater good of the company. While both ethical views are different they are also both correct. The underlying similarity here indicates that self-interest for personal gain was the main driver relative to their different ethical opinions. DeGeorge (2010) suggests a clear understanding of this theory must be carefully dissected when compared with cultural relativism; as cultural relativism explains the way people actually behave, and ethical relativism recommends how people ought to behave. A HR manager should acknowledge that differences dont imply that there are no commonly valid moral standards. It teaches us that individuals may not always agree on what the principals are or should be. Relativism is a stronger claim as refutation that there are usually suitable moral standards. It is a theoretical claim about the existence of common moral standards, whether or not people believe in them (DeGeorge, 2010). Therefore, it must be verified or unproven by theoretical influences. In summary, ethical theories need to be examined and measured against one another to tackle the issue of self-interest. No one theory on its own is truly valid, rather a collaboration of all theories should be used in order to give a professional (HR manager) the necessary tools to create strategies and examine the likelihood of unethical behaviour. Enron ignored its ethical code of conduct, self-interest (greed and extreme pressure) influenced management in an unethical manner. For ethics to be adhered to companies need to go beyond the notion of simple legal compliance and adopt values based on organisational culture. Ethical reasoning is not natural its a skill that must be learned and practiced.

The Many Signs of Dance :: essays research papers

The many signs of Dance "To learn the language of dance, one must perform." That quote is taken from C. Nicholas Johnson, director of dance. In the following paper, I will review the Wichita Contemporary Dance Theater performance that took place April 8-9 at 7:30. I will be reviewing Friday nights performance. As C. Nicholas Johnson said, "In doing so, we hope to encourage personal growth beyond the art itself. Ever since I heard about the Spring Dance Concert, I was very excited to go and be part of that. For some reason that night I thought I was going to be seeing a Ballet concert. So when the first piece came on "Dear Me" choreographed by Cheyla Cabrales, I was in for a real shock. Soloist Stephanie Davis started the show out with a very modern dance, by doing all her moves by simply sitting in a chair. The audience was then surprised with a outburst of dancers right beside them. All over the room there were breaths that were taken at the same time and complete surround dancing. I enjoyed this piece not just for the uniqueness, but for the music and the openness affect it had on me and the audience. The second piece, "Warfaring" choreographed by Janice Garrett, was much more different from the first piece. It was much more brighter, the girls wore green dresses, and the music was fiddles and guitars. It involved 4 dancers, but it seemed like more because they were doing so much work throughout the movement. I liked this piece, it made me smile, because the girls had smiles on their faces as they were dancing. They looked as if they could have danced all day and be completely satisfied. The third piece "Inside Out" choreographed by Nick Johnson, was one of my favorites. "To all my female dance majors...I understand!" That was the quote that was under the piece's title. In my head I was thinking that this was probably going to be a slow emotional dance with soft music. But instead it was very humorous. Nick Johnson was half a women and half a man. The costume was perfect, it was literally haft women and half man. I thought of the act as a "dating" scene. The man being all nervous and wanting the women, but the women showing that she likes him, but making sure he knows that she is in charge.

An Analytical Essay on the Duality of Man in Hamlet :: The Tragedy of Hamlet Essays

An Analytical Essay on the Duality of Man in Hamlet    Day after day on television, in the movies, and even in some modern literature we see characters falling within those same old categories of "good guy" or "bad guy".   Life would be much easier to figure out if human beings were so definitely good or bad, but we're not.   Four hundred years ago William Shakespeare wrote a play that presented characters how human beings truly are, neither all good nor all bad.   Hamlet is a play twisting and turning so much in human emotion that at times it almost seems to come alive and give us an accurate depiction of inner-torment, death, and humanness. In such scenes as the one where we see Claudius praying for forgiveness for the murder he has committed, guilt is seen in who would be the easy-to-hate "villain" in other stories.   He is depicted as a human being with the capacity to be sorry for what he has done.   The good and bad qualities of characters in Hamlet makes it harder for the audience to know who is right or who they want to see succeed.   This duality is seen in many other Hamlet characters and it is most interesting to examine this mix of good and bad in Hamlet, because he is the play's supposed "good guy".   Since Claudius wronged Hamlet and his father the audience wants to sympathize with Hamlet and see him triumph over Claudius.   When his decency and moral appeal are seen as questionable Hamlet becomes a story immersed in the positive and negative qualities of character and the ambiguity of life. In the beginning of the play the audience sees Hamlet struggling with his father's death and his sincere mourning appeals to us; it is something that makes us feel for him.   After his encounter with the ghost we are given a Hamlet with a horrible mission, to murder.   Anyone can imagine how being faced with the truth of his father's death would anger Hamlet, but to murder in cold blood is something that wouldn't come easily to a young man.   The audience longs to see Hamlet find a way to make better what has happened, because he is innocent, young, and a man who lost someone he loved.   To deal with the murder of his own father and then being asked to murder are things that make us pity him and his confusing situation. An Analytical Essay on the Duality of Man in Hamlet :: The Tragedy of Hamlet Essays An Analytical Essay on the Duality of Man in Hamlet    Day after day on television, in the movies, and even in some modern literature we see characters falling within those same old categories of "good guy" or "bad guy".   Life would be much easier to figure out if human beings were so definitely good or bad, but we're not.   Four hundred years ago William Shakespeare wrote a play that presented characters how human beings truly are, neither all good nor all bad.   Hamlet is a play twisting and turning so much in human emotion that at times it almost seems to come alive and give us an accurate depiction of inner-torment, death, and humanness. In such scenes as the one where we see Claudius praying for forgiveness for the murder he has committed, guilt is seen in who would be the easy-to-hate "villain" in other stories.   He is depicted as a human being with the capacity to be sorry for what he has done.   The good and bad qualities of characters in Hamlet makes it harder for the audience to know who is right or who they want to see succeed.   This duality is seen in many other Hamlet characters and it is most interesting to examine this mix of good and bad in Hamlet, because he is the play's supposed "good guy".   Since Claudius wronged Hamlet and his father the audience wants to sympathize with Hamlet and see him triumph over Claudius.   When his decency and moral appeal are seen as questionable Hamlet becomes a story immersed in the positive and negative qualities of character and the ambiguity of life. In the beginning of the play the audience sees Hamlet struggling with his father's death and his sincere mourning appeals to us; it is something that makes us feel for him.   After his encounter with the ghost we are given a Hamlet with a horrible mission, to murder.   Anyone can imagine how being faced with the truth of his father's death would anger Hamlet, but to murder in cold blood is something that wouldn't come easily to a young man.   The audience longs to see Hamlet find a way to make better what has happened, because he is innocent, young, and a man who lost someone he loved.   To deal with the murder of his own father and then being asked to murder are things that make us pity him and his confusing situation.

Time Traveling Art Historian

Through my travels of time and space I’ve seen remarkable sights of the world that have made an impact on my many journeys through the centuries. One place I visited through my time travel was the Sistine Chapel and the exquisite works of art that are contained inside the building. The year is 1542, and I am exploring the town of Vatican City. I see that the Sistine Chapel has just added the new artwork of The Last Judgment no more than two months ago. This was one of the artist most famous visual art pieces. The artist Michelangelo Buonarroti was charged in performing a duty by Pope Clement in 1534, to create a fresco that would cover the entire wall behind the altar of the Sistine Chapel. It took Michelangelo four years to complete The Last Judgment, which was not until 1541. The artwork depicted the final judgment and the second coming of Christ. The style used in the painting reflects the Mannerist style. The painting lacked the sense of optimism and beauty that define Michelangelo’s work on the ceiling. His figures in the painting were no longer proportioned, but looked twisted and grotesque. The heads looked too small for the bodies Michelangelo had envisioned. As I scurried through the city streets of Venice City to see to the renowned piece of artwork, I can feel the excited just flowing through my body. When I finally gazed upon the beauty of the chapel, I was in awe by the magnificent work of the entire painting. The fresco appeared as the figures in the painting were in movement. The fascination with the immense blue sky and various colors that Michelangelo Buonarroti used like touches of reds and browns kept my eyes from focusing on one spot, but the entire painting. The Last Judgment was Michelangelo Buonarroti’s depiction was considered very controversial at this period in time because of his use of the naked body and the conservative society the artist lived in. Michelangelo was critiqued for integrating mythological creatures in the Biblical portrayal of his art. Even though, many individuals didn’t like the painting for various personal reasons, The Last Judgment soon became a masterpiece for the artist. Chapter Two: Egyptian Civilization The Great Temple of Aten After being in Italy for several days, I decided to taken in some of the beautiful and majestic architecture artwork in Egypt during the summer season in 1343 B. C. When I arrived in Egypt I made sure to get a guide to show me around the country. I traveled down the River Nile in a boat, taking in the scenery of the desert. For five days I traveled to Cairo, where my destination was to go to the city of el-Armarna. This is where the Great Temple of Aten is located. The city was a plain of desert land surrounded by many hills. Upon my arrival to the city, the boat docked by a platform on the east bank of the Nile River. Later I embarked on my journey of making my way towards the city of el-Armarna, Egypt. When I entered the city, I went looking for the Great Temple of Aten. I traveled north along Royal Road, in adjacent to the east bank of the river, which I road on a camel for several miles before arriving to the temple. When I came upon the Great Temple of Aten, I was surprised of how gorgeous the architectural structure was to me. The temple was for the worship of the god Aten during the reign of Akhenaten. It was dedicated for proper cult and worship of the sun-disk. With the association the city had with other gods, Akhenaten established a new city and capital at Amama (then called Akhetaten). Construction on the first architectural structure began in 1347 B. C. ; it was the chapel in the Great Temple. By 1343 B. C. the structure as completed and the temple was to be built. The temple has width of 300 yards and a length of 800 yards. Most of the temple was made of bricks because Akhenaten wanted to quicken the building process and using brick gave the workers more swiftness to finish the job. Timber was used in order to provide the architecture with support for the surroundings walls and towers. The temple also housed public building in the inside that was constructed out of stone, providing extra support. As I stepped through the entrance of the temple, I passed through a couple of towering pylons which I was led to a hallway lined with columns called the House of Rejoicing. As I kept walking, I came to a corridor known as the Gem-Aten. It didn’t have a roof, but only an opening that had shown the wide range of sky. The axis allows for the sun to be worshipped as it rises and sets everyday. The Gem-Aten consists of six courtyards. The first courtyard has a high alter containing small chapels. The second, third and fourth courts have rooms and altars for storing supplies; and for the usage for worship offerings. As I kept walking, I noticed that the fourth temple had chambers that were furnished for coverage in the shade. The last court is the High Alter where offering for Aten is done. The temple has a total of 365 altars. Each day of the solar year and the dividing of the altars on each side of the High Altar; it is representation of Upper and Lower Egypt. As I kept walking, I came upon the Sanctuary. This was the last structure of the temple that had statues of Akhenaten and his family. The entrance had an open courtyard that had three houses to lodge the priest who are on duty. With my mind still fascinated on the statues, I continued walk across the courtyard, I feel like I am seized by an army because they are various styles of statues of Akhenaten on both sides of me. This certain court that resembles the sixth court of Gem-Aten was utilized by the Royal family of Egypt. I decided it was time to go back to the main entrance of the temple, as I took on one more look around; I felt a greater respect for the architecture that has lasted through the centuries. It was wonderful to see firsthand the Egyptian cultures and how the society is devoted to their religion beliefs and culture. The temple is a reminder of a time Egyptian religion became monotheistic for a moment; and how the Atenism of religion has been viewed as an influence in creation of future monotheistic religions. While getting ready to transport myself to another place in time, I start to feel misery in knowing that every beautiful piece of architecture that I gazed upon will be back returned back into crumbling rubble, buried under the earth’s soil. In another perception, it’s good to know that the ruins will be rediscovered by future generations that will still be able to give distinct insight on the evolution of the Egyptian culture, civilization and architecture. Chapter Three: The Late Middle Ages Maesta Altarpiece On my last time traveling voyage, I decided to visit Siena, Italy for the unveiling of visual art of the Maesta Altarpiece in 1311. The creation is by artist, Duccio di Buoninsegnaa who was commissioned by the city to paint an altarpiece in the city of Siena’s cathedral. In 1314, the painting was completed. It was agony watching di Buoninsegnaa bond several panels of wood together so he could begin his creation. He had to paint the front and back of the panels with different types of paintings because the piece was to be located in the center of the cathedral where all the sides can be viewed. The altarpiece was painted using tempera and gold. Duccio possessed the confidence about his quality of work he created because of the medium that was chosen for the art project. Tempera is a medium used in paintings that is permanent, which dries quickly. It’s made by mixing a colored powder pigment and a water-soluble binding agent such as an egg yolk. Duccio used this technique to incorporate in his painting by using tempera and gliding produced colors, which was essential in preserving his masterpiece through time. While taking a long look throughout the cathedral, I think about how important the painting is to this era in time. I watched a parade of people making a pilgrimage to the cathedral through the city. It seems like a journey everyone was willing to take because of the religious significance it stands for. I decided to go out and follow the crowd, in which I observed that the procession of people consisted of priests and monks whom were praying, and then the citizens of Siena carried candles; followed by numerous other people. I noticed the journey was for the entire city to accompany the altarpiece to its final destination. It was an honor to be part of such a momentous and joyous event in history. Once the altarpiece made it to its destination, the procession showed an excitement that was overwhelming. The Maesta is then installed with the welcoming sound of bells coming from the cathedral. It was not too long before I was finally able to approach the altarpiece and examine the breathtaking art of Duccio Buoninsegnaa. On the front panel, the artist has managed to create a captivating painting that depicts the Mary (the Madonna) sitting on a throne cradling the baby Jesus in her arms. They are surrounded by saints and angels in colorful robes. While looking at the panels, I found myself studying the imagery of how real it seems. Even though it possess a new style of painting it has traditional aspects that Buoninsegnaa wanted to keep simple. It was a joy to experience the new style of painting created by Duccio Buoninsegnaa. He made his artwork look real with physique gestures. The painting is so captivating that I’m so sorry that I’m the only person that could time travel that could experience the artist masterpiece. It is wonderful to have a front row seat to something spectacular that the world won’t be able to recognize as a remarkable piece of art until centuries later. Though it took much time for the new style of Buoninsegnaa painting to evolve, it was good to know that it will be later embraced by the Italian Renaissance. My travels through the periods of history will always be an experience that I will treasure forever. The best thing about time traveling is that I can always go back in time and recreate any event in any period. Getting a firsthand lesson of the history of life-changing events is a gift within itself. I feel blessed and gifted to have traveled to these exotic cities and experience a beginning of history from the very start. I can’t wait to find out where my next adventure will take me. Until then, see you after my next big trip!

Examine Sheriff’s presentation of Stanhope in Act One in Journey’s End

In Act One of Sheriff’s ‘Journey’s End’ we see Captain Stanhope presented as a highly respected individual by all members of the rank, who has been affected immensely psychologically by the war.We see Stanhope being respected throughout Act One, which can be seen in the beginning of the play where we see Osborne reacting in a defensive and protective way of Stanhope, saying that â€Å"He’s a long way the best company commander we’ve got† to Hardy on page 4 where we learn of Stanhope’s excessive drinking which makes the audience unsure of Stanhope as a character as Sheriff introduces us to this problem before we have met him, which instantly gives us a poor first impression of Stanhope.Sheriff then builds Stanhope’s character and the audience begin to realise that the effect of war has taken its toll on Stanhope, who we learn is a hardworking, young commander who is struggling with the pressures of the war and uses whiskey to help him get through. It is evident that Stanhope is good at commanding the company, as Osborne states â€Å"You’ve done longer than any man in the battalion. It’s time you went away for a rest.It’s due to you† on page 27, depicting that Stanhope has worked extremely hard in the last three years and should be proud with his achievements instead of being ashamed of himself because of what he has turned into. Osborne is a trustworthy character who Stanhope relies on and is a true friend. We also see Stanhope respected by Raleigh, a young boy who knew Stanhope personally before the war. Stanhope was Raleigh’s inspiration to join the army, saying that he was â€Å"frightfully keen to get into Dennis’s regiment† to Osborne on page 12.He also describes his friend as â€Å"splendid† and describes them as â€Å"terrific pals. † Stanhope had such an effect on Raleigh when they were at school together, and Stanhope even admits that he is Raleigh’s â€Å"hero† to Osborne on page 26. We also see in this scene that Stanhope has realised even more so with Raleigh’s arrival his change and deterioration with his personality in the last three years since the war began, saying â€Å"as long as the hero’s a hero† which he no longer thinks of himself as due to this drastic change.We also see in this scene Stanhope confide in Osborne, explaining that Raleigh’s sister â€Å"doesn’t know. She thinks I’m a wonderful chap – commanding a company† portraying his disappointment in himself and how he feels as if he would let down his love if she knew the truth. He seems extremely passionate towards Raleigh’s sister as he explains that he â€Å"couldn’t bear to meet her, in case she realised† the person he has become and becomes annoyed with Raleigh as he calls him a â€Å"little prig† when he believes he will no longer be able to return to Raleigh’s sister once the war is over.Here we see a vulnerable and ashamed character, which is portrayed by Sheriff as he says â€Å"if I went up those steps into the front line – without being doped with whiskey – I’d go mad with fright. † This conveys the necessity for Stanhope to drink and that he would not be able to command the company as successfully as he does without having had whiskey.Osborne warns Raleigh on page 13, explaining to him â€Å"you mustn’t expect to find him – quite the same† and how the war â€Å"tells on a man – rather badly† portraying the psychological effects of war and how there has been a complete change in Stanhope since joining the war. Raleigh remembers his hero as someone who was anti-alcohol, which he was before the war saying â€Å"the roof nearly blew off† when he caught some boys at school with a bottle of whiskey.This shows the desperation on Stanhope†™s behalf to cope with the war and has turned to alcohol for comfort, something that appears he was against three years earlier. Sheriff presents Stanhope as an individual trying to cope with the pressure of the war in Act One, who appears to have changed drastically since the war began, helping the audience understand the psychological effects soldiers due to the war; an issue to which they could possibly relate to as the war was a big part of their lives. Examine Sheriff’s presentation of Stanhope in Act One in Journey’s End In Act One of Sheriff’s ‘Journey’s End’ we see Captain Stanhope presented as a highly respected individual by all members of the rank, who has been affected immensely psychologically by the war.We see Stanhope being respected throughout Act One, which can be seen in the beginning of the play where we see Osborne reacting in a defensive and protective way of Stanhope, saying that â€Å"He’s a long way the best company commander we’ve got† to Hardy on page 4 where we learn of Stanhope’s excessive drinking which makes the audience unsure of Stanhope as a character as Sheriff introduces us to this problem before we have met him, which instantly gives us a poor first impression of Stanhope.Sheriff then builds Stanhope’s character and the audience begin to realise that the effect of war has taken its toll on Stanhope, who we learn is a hardworking, young commander who is struggling with the pressures of the war and uses whiskey to help him get through. It is evident that Stanhope is good at commanding the company, as Osborne states â€Å"You’ve done longer than any man in the battalion. It’s time you went away for a rest.It’s due to you† on page 27, depicting that Stanhope has worked extremely hard in the last three years and should be proud with his achievements instead of being ashamed of himself because of what he has turned into. Osborne is a trustworthy character who Stanhope relies on and is a true friend. We also see Stanhope respected by Raleigh, a young boy who knew Stanhope personally before the war. Stanhope was Raleigh’s inspiration to join the army, saying that he was â€Å"frightfully keen to get into Dennis’s regiment† to Osborne on page 12.He also describes his friend as â€Å"splendid† and describes them as â€Å"terrific pals. † Stanhope had such an effect on Raleigh when they were at school together, and Stanhope even admits that he is Raleigh’s â€Å"hero† to Osborne on page 26. We also see in this scene that Stanhope has realised even more so with Raleigh’s arrival his change and deterioration with his personality in the last three years since the war began, saying â€Å"as long as the hero’s a hero† which he no longer thinks of himself as due to this drastic change.We also see in this scene Stanhope confide in Osborne, explaining that Raleigh’s sister â€Å"doesn’t know. She thinks I’m a wonderful chap – commanding a company† portraying his disappointment in himself and how he feels as if he would let down his love if she knew the truth. He seems extremely passionate towards Raleigh’s sister as he explains that he â€Å"couldn’t bear to meet her, in case she realised† the person he has become and becomes annoyed with Raleigh as he calls him a â€Å"little prig† when he believes he will no longer be able to return to Raleigh’s sister once the war is over.Here we see a vulnerable and ashamed character, which is portrayed by Sheriff as he says â€Å"if I went up those steps into the front line – without being doped with whiskey – I’d go mad with fright. † This conveys the necessity for Stanhope to drink and that he would not be able to command the company as successfully as he does without having had whiskey.Osborne warns Raleigh on page 13, explaining to him â€Å"you mustn’t expect to find him – quite the same† and how the war â€Å"tells on a man – rather badly† portraying the psychological effects of war and how there has been a complete change in Stanhope since joining the war. Raleigh remembers his hero as someone who was anti-alcohol, which he was before the war saying â€Å"the roof nearly blew off† when he caught some boys at school with a bottle of whiskey.This shows the desperation on Stanhope†™s behalf to cope with the war and has turned to alcohol for comfort, something that appears he was against three years earlier. Sheriff presents Stanhope as an individual trying to cope with the pressure of the war in Act One, who appears to have changed drastically since the war began, helping the audience understand the psychological effects soldiers due to the war; an issue to which they could possibly relate to as the war was a big part of their lives.

Analysis and ploicy Tom Ltd and Jerry Ltd

3.With reference to your ratio calculations, comment on the importance of identifying accounting policy choices when comparing ratios for entities, or when comparing ratios for a single entity over time? Return on Equity = Profit available to shareholders / Equity   Profit Margin = Net profit / Revenue Current Ratio = Current assets / current liabilities Assets Turnover = Net Sales / Total assets Debt Ratio = Total liabilities / total assets The performance of a company is measured by its profitability and efficiency ratios. The profitability ratios included in the above table are return on assets, return on equity and profit margin. Asset turnover is the efficiency ratio. Jerry Ltd has a higher profitability as compared to Tom ltd as all the profitability ratios for the company is higher. This is majorly because of one expense that is the depreciation expense which is higher for Tom Ltd. ad this expense has made all the difference. The net profit of Tom Ltd. is less. Jerry Ltd has a higher return on assets ratio because it has higher earnings before tax and expenses and also lower total assets. Tom Ltd has taken the fair value of the property, plant and equipment. This reflects a higher value of the non – current assets, thus increasing the total assets. Also the depreciation has been applied on this fair value of property, plant and equipment, thus giving higher depreciation expenses. Therefore, Tom Ltd has lower net profits and higher total assets leading to a low return on assets. Tom Ltd has a lower return on equity due to lower net profits available to its shareholders and also a higher value of the equity. This coupled effect has reduced the return on equity for Tom Ltd. whereas Jerry Ltd. has a higher return on equity due to higher net profits and a lower equity value. This means Jerry Ltd is providing higher returns to its shareholders. Jerry Ltd has a higher profit margin due to increased net profit. The revenue for both the companies is the same. As a result of difference in the net profit, the profit margin is different for both the companies. Jerry Ltd. gives higher returns on its sales. Jerry Ltd. has a better assets turnover ratio. This is because it has lower total assets. Jerry records its assets at the historical cost due to which the total assets appear lower on the balance sheet. For Tom Ltd. the assets are recorded at fair value which is higher than the historical cost, thus the total assets value appears higher for Tom Ltd. on the balance sheet. The revenue for both the companies is the same. A higher assets turnover ratio means that the company is able to utilize its assets efficiently in generating sales. With lower total assets, Jerry Ltd. is able to generate the same amount of revenue as Tom Ltd. thus indicating better utilization of assets to generate sales. Thus from the above analysis of the profitability and efficiency ratios, we see that Jerry Ltd. ahs a better performance in both the categories. The difference in the performance is solely based on the difference in the accounting policies of depreciation and recording of fixed assets in the balance sheet. The financial position of the company is measured through the liquidity and the solvency ratios. In the above table, current ratio is the liquidity ratio and debt ratio is the solvency ratio. The current ratio measures the short term liquidity of the company. It measures if the company has sufficient current assets to pay for its current obligations. Both the companies have the same current ratio. The current ratio of both companies is 3.7. This means the current assets are 3.7 times the current liabilities. This shows high liquidity of both the companies. Both companies have enough current assets to pay for their current liabilities, thus making them highly liquid. The ideal current ratio is 2. The debt ratio is a long term solvency ratio and measures the ability of a company to pay for its assets with its liabilities.(John, Subramanyam, Halsey, 2007) 3. Ratio analysis is majorly used by firms to analyse the performance and also for making financial performance comparisons between two companies. However, there are certain limitations of ratio analysis. One such limitation is on account of the use of different accounting policy being used by the two firms in question. Like in the above case, though both the firms are identical in all their revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities but the only difference lies in the accounting policy relating to measurement of fixed assets of plant property and equipment. The firm which records the fixed assets at the historical cost has recorded the asset at the lower value since the fair value of the asset is higher as per current market prices. Hence, the value of fixed assets of Tom Ltd. is higher than Ltd. This has affected the profit through depreciation charges. The depreciation is calculated on the carrying values of the plant and machinery. Tom Ltd. has higher depreciation charges becaus e of high value of the same assets as possessed by Jerry Ltd. therefore the profits of Tom Ltd. have been reduced by that amount. Also both the companies use different deprecation methods. Jerry Ltd uses diminishing value method of depreciation and Tom Ltd. uses straight line method. Under diminishing method of depreciation, higher depreciation charges are applied in the initial years and lower in the later years. Under straight line method, same percentage of depreciation is applied every year. Due to this difference in accounting policy, the depreciation charges differ for both the companies, and they have a direct impact on the profits. This affects the financial performance of the companies.(Alayemi, 2015) Even for a single firm, ratio analysis may yield misleading results for two years where accounting policy has been changed over the years. Let’s say if the company has changed its accounting policy on measuring the company’s plant and machinery from historical cost to the fair value. This will have two effects, first a change in the value of fixed assets appearing on the balance sheet and the change in the depreciation charge which will directly impact the profits. Thus both financial performance and the financial position ratio results will change for the same company. Thus ratio analysis cannot be applied for companies using different accounting policies as for the same revenue and profits, the performance results may vary. Alayemi, S.A., (2015), Choice of Accounting Policy: Effects on Analysis and Interpretation of Financial Statements, American Journal of Economics, Finance and Management, Vol.1, No.3 John, J.W., Subramanyam, K.R., Halsey, R., (2007), Financial Statement Analysis, 9 th edition, New Delhi, Tata McGraw- Hill Khan, M.Y., Jain, P.K., (2005), Basic Financial Management, second edition, New Delhi, Tata McGraw-Hill Looking for an answer 'who will do my essay for cheap',

Managing strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Managing strategy - Essay Example The second part of the report focuses on internal analysis of Netflix with VRIN framework adopted for conducting an analysis of company resources and capabilities. Based on the identified in the external and internal analysis, part three feature issues and challenges facing Netflix as it strives to remain competitive in the industry. Part four of the report analyses strategic options that will facilitate continued growth and development of Netflix with the ANSOFF Matrix being the analytical tool for identifying the options. Part five of the report evaluates the identified strategic growth options while part six focuses on the selected growth option before lastly making a brief conclusion and recommendation. Netflix operates in video renting and streaming industry with the company offering channels foe distribution of DVD rental by mail order, internet streaming of content through home devices such as PCs and internet TV. The company uses subscription-based services to customers who pay a monthly fee for both DVD rental and streaming services. The company had initially linked the two services, but has separated them in recent years meaning subscribers will no longer have access to both unlimited DVDs and unlimited online streaming in one subscription plan (Thompson, 2013). There are a number of political, economic, social, technological, legal and environmental factors with considerable impact on the operations of Netflix. Political and legal factors in the external market relates to laws and regulations regarding access and distribution of content by Netflix and and other vendors in existing in the industry. There is an increased concern about piracy with companies seeking to enhance their control regarding copyrights, patents, licensing and trademarks. While it is difficult for authorities to eradicate, piracy has a negative impact on revenues collected by vendors as it makes content