The importance of Ethics to Sustainable Growth in Engineering Essay

The importance of Ethics to Sustainable Growth in Engineering Enterprise - Essay Example In the instances where security measures are inadequate, the consequences are usually catastrophic. Although the threats are becoming more sophisticated, some organizations have managed to mitigate the impact by regularly reviewing their security capabilities and capacities so as to identify areas of vulnerability. In coming up with the cyber security measures to protect the information and the IT resources, organizations and individuals are required to understand the risks they face so that the right interventions can be put in place. This has therefore necessitated research on various malware programs like Trojan horse, spyware and worms from a scientific perspective. Empirical studies have also been carried out to help identify the relevant strategies that can be used to alleviate and eventually eradicate the threats originating from the cyber space. Based on the previous research, it had been anticipated that the future attacks and threats would be characterized by a combination malware with strong cartography. In the last couple of years, there has been the emergence of a new form of malware in the cyber spaces and it has put organizations at increased risk of suffering attacks. Ransomware has emerged to be a source of threat both to individuals and organizations. It has drawn the attenti on of almost all the IT system security specialists, practitioners and researchers. Empirical and evidence based studies continue to be carried to help understand the new emergent threats to allow organizations be prepared to mitigate its impacts. Teer, Kruck & Kruck (2007) notes that ransomware perpetrators are able to victimize the internet users and organizations by hijacking the files stored, encrypting them before demanding payment in exchange for the decryption key. The threat functions by exploring the system vulnerabilities and seizing control over the victim’s file and computer systems until the demanded payment is made. In the last two years alone, several

Starbucks in India Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Starbucks in India - Coursework Example India is said to have big land and therefore it is not a surprise that its major products are from the agricultural sector. Most of its exports are agricultural with the textile and leather industries the leading ones. In fact, the agricultural sector in India is said to contribute about 25% of the country’s GDP. Textile industry employs a lot of people both directly and indirectly. The other major industry in India is the chemical industry which is known to be among the oldest industries in India. The industry is known to produce about 70 000 commercial products. Food industry is also a common one in India. Starbucks is a company that deals with agricultural products it has a high probability of succeeding in India. It will add to the agricultural sector and this could have influenced it (Paunikar, 2004). Indian economy has grown significantly over the last one decade. The economy is actually showing promising trends that are attracting more and more investors to India. The economy of India has developed courtesy of agriculture and the decision of the state to eliminate socialism as well as the centralized bureaucracies which were high ineffective. Liberalization was a key factor to the growth of Indian economy since it opened the way for foreign investors and this is a factor that could have influenced Starbucks (Paunikar, 2004). India has improved in terms of infrastructure. The roads have opened to the rural areas and it is easy for farmers to transport their agricultural goods to the markets. Mumbai and New Delhi are two towns that have an efficient railway system that can also be used for transportation purposes (Paunikar, 2004). The accessibility of these towns might be one of the factors that Starbucks considered before opening operations there. Starbucks is planning to continue expanding its presence in India and Asia in general. By the end this

Divorce Problem Question Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Divorce Problem Question - Essay Example 105). Also, individualism, increased work pressures, and career aspirations have been cited as contributing factors to increasing rates of divorce. Numerous studies have shown that divorce can be very stressful and difficult as it not only affects the status of marriage but also have far-reaching implications on children and finances. Constitutions and legislations have made provisions for dissolution of marriage if there are sufficient grounds for that. In the United Kingdom (UK), the law on family, marriage, and divorce is covered under the Family Law Act 1996 (The National Archives). Based on this legislation and cases relevant to divorce, this essay will address a divorce problem facing Alsa in a bid to advise her on whether she would be successful in obtaining a divorce. Facts Bob and Alsa have been married for 10 years but have both been unhappy for the past four years. Bob works full time as an engineer and Alsa is a full time housewife. Alsa is becoming tired with Bob’ s lack of assistance in the house; he constantly begins projects and does not finish them. His last project was to fit a new bathroom suite but after removing the old suite, he did not find time to fit the new one. Alsa feels that she cannot cope with his unfinished projects any longer and has moved into the spare room. Although Bob and Alsa continue to eat meals together, they rarely communicate but Alsa has continued to do all of Bob’s washing. More recently Alsa has started to engage in an extra-marital relationship with Ted. Issue Whether Alsa would be successful in obtaining a divorce? Rules Under Family Law Act 1996, divorce and separation is provided for. There is one ground to initiate divorce proceedings: irretrievable breakdown of marriage. The law has provided for five grounds for divorce which the court can rely upon as evidence that the marriage has irretrievably broken down and thus should grant divorce. The five grounds are: desertion; five years’ separa tion without consent; unreasonable behaviour; adultery; and two years’ separation with consent. In addition, the law has set threshold that has to be met before a husband or wife file for divorce: meet specific rules regarding how long one has lived in the country; prove that the marriage has irretrievably broken down; have a marriage that is recognised, legally, in the UK; and have been married for a minimum of one year. Analysis Considering the increasing rates of divorce and how they occur after a very short duration after marriage, Bob and Alsa can be considered to be have sustained their marriage for a relatively longer period (10years). However, both of them have been unhappy in the marriage for the past four years; an indication that the marriage has been experiencing some problems within that period. From the facts gathered, it seems Bob and Alsa marriage does not experience â€Å"serious† problems compared to other marriages whose partners are seeking divorce. Alsa’s main concern is that Bob does not provide assistance in the house as he constantly begins projects and does not finish them. Comparatively, this issue can be considered â€Å"lesser† in marriage and that which can be solved using other avenues rather than the legal avenue. Since this issue does not touch entirely on the fundamentals of marriage, services of a counsellor, church priest, or a family friend can be sought to resolve it (Probert, 2007, p. 65). Besides,

Discuss the development of Eddie Carbones character Essay Example for Free

Discuss the development of Eddie Carbones character Essay ‘’A View From The Bridge’’ is a play written by Arthur Miller in the mid-1950’s. Set during the Great Depression in around 1940, the play sees main character Eddie Carbone lead a stable life with his wife and niece in a tightly-woven community in Brooklyn, New York. Due to his sincerity, he is respected by the local community and he has his destiny plotted out for him. However, as the tragic play unfolds, Eddie makes a series of mistakes which affect his relationship with others and ultimately result in a catastrophe. Eddie Carbone is a traditional Italian-American, who earns his living as a longshoreman. He leads an ordinary life with his wife (Beatrice) and his niece (Catherine). Beatrice loves Eddie, this is shown when Beatrice says ‘’You’re an angel! God’ll bless you.’’. The word ‘’angel’’ suggests that Beatrice loves Eddie as she is comparing him to an angel. Furthermore, this shows the audience that Beatrice is a traditional woman as she is praising (therefore supporting) her husband. In the era they lived in, men and women were expected to follow the traditional values of their communities. Men were authoritative in the house and usually the breadwinners whilst women were housewives; women were expected to support and obey their husbands. Another member of Eddie’s family includes his niece, Catherine; whom Eddie is protective over. This is shown when Eddie says to Catherine ‘’Listen, you been givin’ me the willies the way you walk down the street’’. The word ‘’willies’’ suggests that Eddie feels uncomfortable with the way Catherine walks down the street. He feels this way because he has a close relationship with Catherine who looks up to him as a father-like figure. An important aspect of Eddie’s character that is presented to the audience is his attitude towards snitching. He feels strongly against snitching, this is shown when he insults snitchers by calling them ‘’stool pigeons’’, using this word suggests that Eddie thinks lowly of people committing such acts. Furthermore, Eddie warns Catherine of snitches when he asks Beatrice to tell Catherine the story of Vinny Bolzano (a teenager who snitched on his uncle to the Immigration Bureau). When Rodolfo and Marco arrive; troubles start to brew up and Eddie’s behaviour changes significantly. Eddie becomes more aggravated, this is shown when in the stage directions it says ‘’He is sizing up Rodolfo’’. This shows that Eddie is trying to taunt Rodolfo by comparing their heights (height is a symbol of power). In addition, when Eddie says to Beatrice ‘’he sings’’ (referring to Rodolfo), Eddie is suggesting that it’s not normal for a man to sing, he is attempting to suggest Rodolfo is gay. Eddie is in a way trying to put him down because he is jealous of Rodolfo’s relationship with Catherine. Another example of his sudden metamorphosis is that he has become more obsessed with Catherine. For instance, when Catherine and Rodolfo return from the Brooklyn Paramount, Eddie says to Catherine ‘’I don’t see you no more’’. This quote suggests that Eddie is obsessed with Catherine because he claims that he doesn’t see Catherine. Beatrice’s relationship with Eddie also deteriorates. This is shown to the audience when Beatrice says ‘’Everything ain’t great with me. When am I gonna be a wife again, Eddie?’’. This quote shows that the physical side of their marriage is falling apart because Beatrice is feeling ignored (due to Eddie’s obsession with Catherine). Initially, Eddie considers Marco to be a real man. This is shown when he says ‘’Marco goes around like a man; nobody kids Marco.’’. However, as the play gradually progresses; so does Eddie’s relationship with Marco. For example, in the scene with Marco and the chair, in the stage directions it says ‘’Marco is face to face with Eddie, a strained tension gripping his eyes and jawthe chair raised like a weapon over Eddie’s headEddie’s grin vanishes as he absorbs his look’’. The word ‘’vanishes’’ suggests that the situation is threatening, as the tension is so large that Eddie’s grin vanishes. This event symbolises that the relationship between Marco and Eddie has broken, more importantly it symbolises the start of Eddie’s downfall. By the end of the play, Eddie has changed drastically; he has become a completely different man. He has become a snitch even though he despised snitching at the start of the play. His close relationship with Catherine has ended as Catherine does not look up to Eddie as a father-like figure anymore; in fact she loathes Eddie, this is proven when Catherine says ‘’He’s a rat! He belongs in the sewer!’’. Also, Eddie’s relationship with Marco has deteriorated to such an extent that Marco accuses him of murder and spits in Eddie’s face. We know this because Marco says ‘’He killed my children’’! When Marco spits in Eddie’s face the community become aware of Eddie snitching and they are disgusted. His friend Louis ignores Eddie, this is shown in the stage directions which says ‘’Louis barely turns’’. Therefore Eddie’s main concern now is to get his reputation back, this is proven when Eddie says ‘’I want my name’’. He wants his reputation back because he has been humiliated when Marco spat in his face. In the end, Eddie refuses to listen to Rodolfo’s pleas and demands an apology from Marco. When Marco refuses Eddie takes out a knife but he gets injured himself and dies in the arms of Beatrice. From a highly-respected member of the community, Eddie manages to relegate himself to a disgraced member. Even his most loyal friends ignore him; all because of one error. Eddie is a hero in a Greek Tragedy, he made an error of judgement and he has to suffer immensely for it. Ultimately, he loses the love and respect of his niece Catherine; which is what he was fighting for.

Flying vs. Driving Essay Example for Free

Flying vs. Driving Essay Flying vs. Driving Countless times a year, people wander from state to state and/or country to country for various reasons such as working, visiting loved ones, or maybe even searching for an escape from the norm. As obvious as this may sound, the complexity of traveling today has become quite the sight to behold. With the worlds revolutionary technology, commuting has been taken to a whole new level. Although there are many different forms of travel, the most popular are by boat, by train, by a plane thousands of feet in the air, and even the most common type, by automobile. These ypical methods all provide their own unique experiences for the traveler, and they all come with an ever Increasing label. Each of these travel methods has its own distinctive characteristics. Particularly, considering the two most common types, plane or automobile, people should consider their differences to have better travel experiences. Even though soaring through the air is less common than driving, flying is arguably the most effective means of getting from place to place. While travelers might run Into a couple familiar faces while flying, most likely they will be crowded nto small seats next to complete strangers. In some situations, they may end up securing a strong companionship with the person or people sitting next to them on the plane. This usually leads to having casual conversation for the duration of the flight. unfortunately, in other situations, a traveler may get stuck sitting next to the guy in a trench coat who he or she thought was a terrorist upon first glance at the airport! On the other hand, although driving may be a more time consuming process, this type of traveling provides time for more Interaction, as well as extra sights to see

The Organisational Challenges Faced By Debenhams Commerce Essay

The Organisational Challenges Faced By Debenhams Commerce Essay The following report looks at an organisation (Debenhams) the authors employer, its profile, culture and how the current economic climate has affected its profile and culture What is an organisation? Organisations are social arrangements for achieving controlled performance in pursuit of collective goals, Buchanan and Huczynski (1997). The collective goals at Debenhams are aimed at, identifying, creating and maintaining satisfying relationships with customers resulting in value for both the customer and the organisation. Profile Debenhams Plc is a public limited company. Founded in 1778 as Flint Clark, Debenhams operated as an independent company until its hostile takeover by the Burton Group in the late 1980s. In 1998 Debenhams regained its independence when it was demerged from the Burton Group, which subsequently changed its name to Arcadia Group plc. The Groups principal activity is selling of fashion clothing and accessories, cosmetics and products for use in the home. It retails womenswear, menswear, homewares, health and beauty, accessories, lingerie and childrenswear. The Group trades from department stores and small store formats .Brands include Designers and Debenhams, including third-party brands. The Group has 161 department stores including 10 Desire by Debenhams stores, across the United Kingdom and Ireland with approximately 11 million square feet of trading space and around 27,000 employees. The Group has a portfolio of more than 55 own brands such as Debut, Maine New England, Red Herring and Thomas Nash including 25 Designers of Debenhams brands. Company brands account for about 70% of sales. Debenhams also offers a wedding gift service, in-store restaurants and cafes. The company has 51-plus international franchise stores in 19 countries including, Bahrain, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Turkey and will soon be opening 8 in Denmark. Debenhams also extends its customer reach by making direct sales through its website. Debenhams is company that is registered and trades its shares on the London Stock Exchange (LSE). Its registered office is at: 1 Welbeck St London W1G 0AA United Kingdom The companys key people are the Chairman: John D. Lovering, CEO: Rob Templeman and Deputy CEO and Director: Michael Sharp. Structure An organisation structure according to Mintzberg (1979) is the sum total of the ways in which it divides its labour into distinct tasks and then achieves coordination between them An organisation structure determines task allocation, reporting lines, and formal coordination mechanisms and interaction patterns. According to Basset and Carr (1996) an organisations structure should emphasise flexibility of response to market and environmental forces, this is accomplished by appropriate variability in the leadership role to fit the circumstances. As a retail organisation, Debenhams emphasises its structure in response to market and environmental forces by identifying and developing new talents to suit whats happening in the market and the retail and business environment in general. Wright and Burns (1998) state that, organisation structures largely depend on what kind of business the organisation is e.g. primary (e.g. extraction of raw materials, secondary, (e.g. conversion of raw materials to finished goods) and tertiary (e.g. services). The structure of an organisation is also affected by ownership and number of employees in the business. Debenhams is a public owned company. Its functional organisation based on product/brand but has a flat organisational structure headed by a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and organises employees into different departments selling different products The functional structure groups employees together based upon the functions of specific jobs within the organization. Melissa Bushman (2007). The author belongs to the Home department where they deal in home wares including wedding gifts. Other departments include Mens wear and Womens wear. The dividing of employees according to departments in Debenhams allows managers to exert con trol on a smaller number of employees, making it easier to manage, be more efficient and allows for easy communication between employees and management. Culture The culture of an organisation refers to the unique configuration of norms, values, beliefs, ways of behaving and so on that characterize the manner in which groups and individuals combine to get things done, Eldridge Crombie (1974). At Debenhams they have a unique configuration of norms, values and beliefs that characterize the manner in which they work as a group to get things done. They have a way which sets them apart from others. Drennan (1992) defines culture as, how things are done around here. It is how things are done at Debenhams that makes them who they are. Its about their brand, their people and how they market themselves. Schein (1990) suggests a view of organisational culture based on distinguished three levels of culture, from the shallowest to the deepest artefacts and creations, values and basic assumptions. The Debenhams culture is about excellence, its about design and innovation. The culture at Debenhams goes with the times but its traditions remain intact and h ave been so for two centuries. Debenhams culture is based on being a premium department store retailer. A family friendly store who supply designer labels at affordable prices. The best statement to Debenhams culture is its people. Retail is a fast-moving, exciting business where teamwork really makes an impact. At Debenhams they think everyone can have an impact on their success. Wherever you go in Debenhams you will meet friendly, welcoming people who will care about your well being and support your development but also expect you to be a valuable member of the team. If you want to push your boundaries and take the initiative, they help you do it. Whether you are a sales advisor or merchandiser, Debenhams growth and breadth of opportunity and focus on personal development makes it the ideal place to develop your career. From the sales floor where people can influence customers to behind the scenes roles, every person can influence the performance of Debenhams. Our senior management team listens and acts on feedback. At Debenhams they want people who have a real passion for what they do, people who are self-motivated. People who will use their initiative to act on the freedom they are given and will drive their own development. Sutherland Canwell (1997) say if employees share the cultural values of the organisation then they will be more likely to be committed to it. At Debenhams employees are committed to the organisation as they believe and share in its culture and values. Certain organisations stress the importance of personal initiative and achievement; indeed they reward employees for personal performance. On the other hand, other organisations positively encourage competition between departments or sub-division of the organisation, Sutherland et al (1997). The Debenhams culture stresses personal initiative and achievement and at the same time positively encourages competition between departments of the organisation. Both individual and team initiative and growth are encouraged. The culture in Debenhams is one that is caring, daring, enabling and encourages sharing. According to Blanchard and Bowles (1998) and their Gung Ho culture, an organisation should aim to create a culture of committed employees who love what they do by adhering to the following three principles: Worthwhile work driven by goals and values- An organisation should focus on worthwhile work, use of case studies, review goal standards for individuals and team members. Putting workers in control of achieving the goal. Cheering each other on- the power of feedback, rewards and recognition and action planning. The Gung Ho process aims to address the following: Improve morale and productivity Reduce employee turnover Develop a sense of purpose Improve creativity and innovation Improve service to internal and external customers Empower individuals and teams The author feels Debenhams their employer, fulfils principles as described in the Gung Ho process by Blanchard et al (1998). This is so because the work is driven by goals and values. Good standards are maintained through regular training and review of individuals and team members. By setting reasonable and realistic targets workers are put in control and are able to achieve set goals and even outdo themselves by going beyond. The organisation recognises the power of feedback by holding regular meetings where everyone participates. It also recognises the importance of rewards and action planning. Rewards help boost morale and productivity while action planning and develop a sense of purpose. Current Economic Climate and how it might affect profile and Culture The past eighteen months has seen the economy of the UK and the rest of the world badly hit and seriously bruised by the credit crunch. The current economic climate could have great impact on the profile and culture of Debenhams as an organisation. These impacts could be Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental and Legal, shortened to PESTEL. PESTEL Analysis of Debenhams Political changes-E.g. a change in government or a change in government policy. Government plans to implement the scheduled VAT increase (back to 17.5 per cent) on New Years Day. To change every price in all of its 161 stores at that time would take 250,000 man hours. Debenhams has been encouraged by governments decision on Local Employment Partnership Scheme (LEP) to create employment and will create 1200 jobs between 2010 and 2011and receive government assistance in meeting its training needs. Economic changes-Relate to changes in the wider economy such as rises in living standards or the general level of demand, rises or falls in interest rates, etc. UK markets have been affected by economic concerns through the credit crunch. Lower available income will impact and strategic focus may need to change to lower priced basic products with less focus on higher priced brands suggesting a switch in price architecture. The economy is predicted to grow out of recession in the coming year. As the US economy, the worlds biggest has started growing the growth of exports to that country will create more jobs in the UK economy and as a consequence more consumers will buy the Debenhams brand. The continuous fall in the value of the Pound Sterling against the Euro is likely to bring in more tourists from the EU and beyond who will purchase Debenhams products at a competitive price. As most of the world recovers from the current economic crisis. Debenhams are likely to spearhead their expansion into the international market, introducing new customers to new brands in an exciting retail environment. Social changes-Relate to changes in wider society such as changes in lifestyles e.g. more women going out to work, changes in tastes and buying patterns. Debenhams has added customer ratings and reviews to its online shop to enhance its customers online shopping experience and drive sales. Debenhams customers dont just have to rely on a brands professional opinion they will also now be able to hear what fellow shoppers think. The group is also improving its web site, adding features such as social networking capability, video and catwalk/outfit projection, an online outlet that leads to current offers and promotions, a facility that allows customers to shop by size, as well as product reviews and surveys. The call for fair trade is also another thing that Debenhams has to observe. For example Debenhams restaurants now stock only Douwe Egberts Good Original Coffee. Every cup of Good Original Coffee can be traced back to the farm where it was grown and has been certified by Utz Kapeh, a global non-governmental organisation. This is ensuring we are helping farmers look after their workers, their families and the environment in which they live and work. Technological changes-Relate to the application of new inventions and ideas such as the development of the Internet and websites as business tools. New internet and television technology which use special effects in advertising will make Debenhams products known and attractive to more customers as more people are now making use of the internet. Debenhams has opened online stores due to advancement in technology of the internet and can now sell its products without using shop space. This will allow it to compete favourably in this harsh environment. Positive performance online is helping lift yearly profit at Debenhams, this is despite the harsh economic turmoil in the domestic and international market Environmental changes-Relates to what is happening with respect to the ecological and environmental aspects. Debenhams have also joined calls to reduce impact on global warming by driving a Store energy saving plan, reviewing timings for lights, escalators and air conditioning. Overnight shifts have been reduced with light focussed only in the areas its needed. As a result of these efforts the organisation has achieved the Energy Efficiency Accreditation awarded by the energy Institute. Debenhams is now contributing to a national fund which will help to develop specific WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) collection centres to ensure that more WEEE gets recycled. Debenhams offer a collection service on a like for like basis, for example if you buy a washing machine we can take away your old one. All the appliances we collect are then sent to be recycled. More eco friendly measures have to be implemented, for instance Debenhams have developed a more eco-friendly packaging for the bra collars on Lingerie, by using a new type of board and are now able to maintain the print quality, whilst introducing 20% recycled content. Legal changes-Relate to changes in legislation. This may impact employment, access to materials, quotas, resources, imports/exports, taxation etc. Debenhams has been affected by the WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) directive from the government and is doing its bit to help care for the environment. The directive states that as a retailer we are responsible for increasing the amount of WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic equipment) that is recycled in the UK. Debenhams reactions to the current economic climate Trigger events like the credit crunch affect organisations in many different ways. Towards the end of 2008, Debenhams struggled as customers were no longer buying much of their products as the economy slid into recession. The current economic climate is likely to impact on Debenhams profile and culture. The report by Graeme Wearden, in the Guardian of (21st October, 2008) gives a clear example of how the current economic climate has affected Debenhams. Debenhams has slashed its dividends after a sharp fall in sales during the past few weeks as the economy deteriorates, Debenhams is planning cost-cutting measures to reduce debt of  £994m, which it admitted was causing uncertainty over its future. It also plans to strip out  £15m of costs, and is cutting almost  £40m from its capital expenditure. The profile of the organisation might change as it could be more difficult to raise funds for new ventures or expansions and also might reduce the current size of the company as there could be downsizing. The negative trends in the economy also might affect the culture of Debenhams as its employees will be operating in a culture of uncertainty. However, the negative trends in the economy have had some positive effects on Debenhams as reported in the Waterford Today (6th January, 2009). On the day (6th January 2009) Debenhams released its interim management statement for the 18 weeks to the 3 January 2009, it also reported that sales of designer gear normally associated with boom times rather than bust, are back in vogue thanks to a new type of shopper, the recessionista. Spring/Summer 09 at Debenhams draws the latest influences from catwalks around the globe with a strong focus on wearability all with famous name designer influences but with high street price tags. ClickPress (14th January 2009)The retailer reported double digit sales growth across its Designer at Debenhams offer in the run up to Christmas, as well as seeing sales and profits increase and market share gains in all major clothing categories, while reducing its debt. The current economic climate has shaken Debenhams, but the Debenhams culture that encourages initiative has seen them shake off the initial fall in sales which shrunk the organisations profile and brought a culture of uncertainty as Debenhams struggled to survive. Whilst Debenhams is a premium department store retailer the external factors of banks going bust, rising unemployment adversely affected their operations. The public could no longer afford their products. The organisation strategized and came up with the idea of selling designer labels with famous name influences but sold at high street prices. Despite the credit crunch Debenhams has been able to maintain its culture of hard work and excellence through its people. The outgoing Chairmans words sum up the Debenhams culture. John Lovering said: I am proud of what Debenhams has achieved over the last six years whilst I have served as chairman.  We have set direction for a sound future. Debenhams is a well managed, properly financed company with a clear and successful strategy and a number of exciting development opportunities. I hope my successor enjoys the role as much as I have. Debenhams has taken advantage of the recession; its combination of quality, price and design in its products has continued to attract customers. Sky News (17 March, 2009). The companys profile will expand as in 2010 theyll open eight new stores bringing the total number to 161 stores across the UK and will employee 1200 new people. The culture of the organisation has altered slightly as the perceived credit crunch crisis initially shook the organisation and drastic measures had to be implemented, the crisis brought a culture of uncertainty across Debenhams. The measures implemented have seen the UKs second biggest department store chain continue to take market share from its competitors in all major product categories. Sky News (March, 2009). The culture change which has taken place at Debenhams is what Brown (1998) terms, specific evolution, which is the adaptation of particular organisational functions (such as research and development, data processing and marketing), to fit the environment. People at Debenhams had to adapt to the credit crunch and found working ways to rise above the crisis. The Debenhams culture has been sustained through new pattern- maintenance symbols, beliefs and structures. Debenhams has been able to weather the storms of the credit crunch because of proper planning and effectively managing todays business risks. Reuvid (2005) points out that organisations should spend time researching the possibility of a risk occurring and the probability of that risk occurring and interrupting businesss flow, then find ways to reduce and mitigate these risks. The organisation should continuously be evaluating the overall risk management infrastructure and investments necessary to look beyond financial statement, risk to enterprise and external risks should not be undervalued and cannot be underscored enough. The organisation needs to protect itself from excessive risk. This should be top priority for management and the audit team. They should understand the extent to which the company is exposed to financial, operational or strategic risks. Because of its preparedness and strategic use both of its financial, creative talent and its human capital Debenhams has survive d the worst recession in decades and remains standing strong.

Margaret Sanger and the Fight for Birth Control Essay -- Contraceptives

Margaret's quest began long before she was known by the public. It started when she was just a young girl. As with most children, her parents were a large influence on her life, but in a way different than perhaps many others. Margaret's father provided her with all the mental tools she would need to succeed. A free thinker and outspoken radical, her father, Michael Higgins, influenced his young daughter to act the same way; to question everything and to stand up for what she believed in. Though Margaret loved her mother, she conceded that definetly her father was the major influence in her early life. Her mother however also had a large influence, yet not in quite the same way. Anna Sanger bore ten children other than Margaret, causing her to be both constantly pregnant and constantly sick, leaving little time for her children. Thus Margaret and her siblings were constantly forced to care for themselves. Anna died at an early age to TB which Margaret attributed to her multiple pregn ancies. It was then that she decided to become a nurse and start helping pregnant women. Working as a nurse in the ghettos of New York, Sanger became all too familiar with some horrible sights. She saw many women die of very preventable deaths due to child labor, and horrible methods of self-induced abortion. After seeing one woman die from a horrific attempt to give herself an abortion Sanger had decided that she had seen enough. It was too late for her to help these women when they came to her as a nurse. She felt she must attack the source of the problem, birth control. She stated, "I went to bed, knowing that no matter what it might cost, I was finished with palliatives and superficial cures; I was resolved to seek out the root of evil, to do s... ...re apt to accept the concept of birth control, if not completely embracing the idea. Her actions challenged the traditional way of thought and introduced concepts that shifted the course of American society. Works Cited 1. Coigney, Virginia. Margaret Sanger New York: Doubleday, 1969. 2. Gray, Madeline. Margaret Sanger: A Biography Of The Champion of Birth Control. New York: Richard Marek Publishers, 1979. 3. Kennedy, David. Birth Control in America : The Career of Margaret Sanger Boston: Yale Universtiy Press, 1970. 4. Marshall, John M.D. Catholics, Marriage and Contraceptions New York: Heligon Press 1965. 5. Parrish, Michael. Anxious Decades. W. W. Norton: New York, 1992. 6. Sanger, Margaret. Margaret Sanger, An Auto-Biography New York: Dover Publications, 1971. 7. Sanger, Margaret. My Fight For Birth Control. Farrar & RineHart: New York, 1931.