The sustainability strategy

The sustainability strategy EXECUTIVE SUMMARY With globalization, technological changes, economic drivers, and social and environmental mandates, the global business environment is less predictable and more challenging than it was even a decade ago. Customers, stakeholders, and society expect and demand superior products, services, and operations with less waste, reduced impacts on health, safety, and the environment, and enhanced corporate responsibilities for the decisions, technologies, products, processes, and activities of every facet of the business enterprise. In the words of Rainey (2006) Today, businesses must thoroughly analyze the global business environment to gain a firm understanding of the opportunities and challenges it presents, and develop aggressive strategies for improving every aspect of their enterprises. To do this, corporations must have in place a comprehensive and integrated strategic management framework for formulating and implementing business strategies, programs, and actions based on considerations that include the entire business environment. Such a framework requires the capability to integrate both internal systems and processes and those of external business entities, including customers, stakeholders, and supply networks. According to Siemens Corporate Social Responsibility Report 2002, Berlin and Munich: Siemens AG, 2002 Sustainable success is our number one priority. Our activities focus on meeting the needs of customers and creating value for our shareholders and employees. Our innovations generated through our own laboratories and in cooperation with customers, business partners and universities are our greatest strengths. Woolworths Limited is an Australian public corporation with annual sales of over 38 billion. The company is recognized as one of the top five retail companies in the world. The company is committed to wards improvement of its environment footprint through a proper sustainability strategy. The sustainability strategy of the company addresses many of the significant issues related with environment, public, staff, and economic responsibilities of business. This sustainability strategy of Woolworths has been discussed in detail along with its benefits and limitations in the report. INTRODUCTION The retail industry connects with every person in some way. To remain competitive and profitable the industry is constantly required to adapt to changing nature of local as well as that of global marketplace. Sustainability is not an easy task as it involves a great deal of complexity related with the issues involved. It is important to have an effective management system for managing environmental, social and economic performance as it is fundamental for a sustainable development of any company or industry as a whole. Further, identifying, measuring, and reporting social and environmental impacts cannot begin until the board of directors and CEO are committed to improved sustainability management. Often it is through a mission statement or the development and articulation of a corporate sustainability strategy that the board and CEO set the tone at the top. It is then necessary to drive this commitment through the organization by implementing the various systems for identifying and measuring impacts, stakeholder engagement, product design, product costing, capital budgeting, information management, and performance evaluation. Epstein, Mark J. (2008) argued that effective and consistent leadership provides an alignment between environmentally and socially responsive activities and corporate goals and provides internal credibility to promote progress toward improved social and environmental management within business units and organizational functions. Woolworths CEO Simon Susman says, We know that sustainable growth can only be achieved through paying greater attention to the world around us than has been the case in the past. The links between economic growth, transformation, social development, the environment and climate change must create a better world for everyone. Purpose and Scope The report aims at making a critical analysis of Woolworths Sustainability Strategy. The strategy is analyzed on the basis of business responsibility towards social, economic and environmental issues. The report will present a view of Woolworths sustainability along with the key introductions in companys new plan of sustainability which was released recently. Woolworth was praised for its sustainability strategy but recently it has also been criticized of working against its own strategy. This aspect is also discussed in the report. Methodology The case study analysis is undertaken to form an opinion about the issue. Secondary source of information is mainly used to analyze the sustainability strategy of Woolworths and its effect of society, environment and economic areas. The data has been collected from various journals, newspapers and website of Woolworths. Various concepts and theories will be applied to the available data in order to present a clear picture of the companys strategy. BACKGROUND Woolworths Limited stretches across food and grocery, liquor, petrol, general merchandise and consumer electronics. The company is a major investor in Australia and New Zealand communities. Woolsworth is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange and employ more than 191,000 people with approximately 380,000 shareholders. The company claims of being conscious of its responsibilities towards it stakeholders as its operations impact its own people, customers, communities, shareholders, supply chain and the environment. Woolworths is well known as the fresh food people in Australia and was established in 1924. It was the second largest employer in Australia and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) was an integral part of its corporate agenda. Recently Woolworths announced its new sustainability strategy. Under such strategy Woolsworth also opened its first Green Store in 2007 in Sydney. In this store innovative technologies are used to minimize the use of energy and water, and reduce waste generation. Through these stores Woolsworth aims at reducing the environmental impact caused by the companys retail operations. According to Simon Susman (Chief Executive, Woolworths) We have used the phrase the Good business journey because this truly is a journey and there are no easy solutions. We are committed to meeting the 5 year targets we have set and to do this, we will be exploring new ways of doing things in many areas. Reaching these destinations will require significant behavioural and cultural change. If we can take our customers and suppliers along with us, this journey will have an even more meaningful impact on the wide range of transformational, social and environmental challenges that face South Africa, Models and Frameworks The objective of sustainability is the maintenance or restoration of a desired state that has already existed. The promotion of sustainability is an active process of engaging society. Firms need to become involved in this process because, collectively, they are now so powerful that communities and governments often do not act sufficiently strongly to achieve sustainability if there is active or perceived opposition from the private sector. So sustainability-promoting firms need to go beyond simply reducing their own negative environmental, social or economic impacts. They need to produce products that help society to become sustainable and they also need to use their influence to encourage society-wide action to achieve sustainability. This approach will be taken as the basis of our analysis of Woolworths sustainability strategy. Capabilities Framework According to Turner and Crawford (1998) To maximize organizational success, in both the short and the long term, firms need the capabilities to deliver results effectively. They also need to be able to identify viable and desirable future directions. And in the face of the enthusiasm for the new, they still need to retain valuable attributes and resources (within the firm and in society/ the environment). To achieve these three goals firms need special capabilities. Turner and Crawford gave a framework of such capabilities which is depicted in Figure 1 and will be considered while discussing the strategy of Woolswoths. Sustainability Implementation Framework Another framework to be used in the study is the Sustainability Implementation Framework suggested by Diesendorf (1998) that comprises of following three levels: Level 0, comprising the broad ethical principles Level 1, comprising broad goals arising from these principles Level 2, comprising measurable objectives or indicators The above two models will be used to analyze the sustainability strategy of Woolworths. ANALYSIS OF SUSTANABILITY STRATEGY OF WOOLSWORTHS Woolworths is aware of its responsibility towards stakeholders and thus employed corporate social responsibility at the core of its business strategy. Business of the company has social, economic and environmental impacts and thus Woolworths decided to take a range of initiatives to provide a quality of life to its customers, the workforce and the society at large. Along with such social initiatives Woolworths took up several initiatives to be a responsible retailer as well. Woolworths made sure that its initiative related with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) must comprise of initiates towards the betterment of environment, employees, shareholders, supply networks and customers. Some important components in relation to sustainability strategy of Woolworths are discussed as follows: Accelerating Transformation Driving Social Development Enhancing the Environmental focus Addressing Climate Change Providing Quality and Innovation in products and Services Accelerating Transformation Woolworths aims at accelerating transformation of its products, stores and processes. The company is committed to transformation across the business and has embarked upon a company-wide program so as to make sure that transformation becomes an entrenched way of doing business all over the company. Under this approach company will transform the way of doing business across all aspects and also will work in partnership with its suppliers, public sector, and franchise partners. Woolworths will accelerate its retail skills and for achieving this target various straining initiatives have been undertaken by the company. These initiatives include accreditation of Woolworths courses and the establishment of provincial Woolworths learning centers. Such training initiatives will prepare a pipeline of skilled employees which can be harnesses in case of any shortage at senior leadership levels in the organization. Under the sustainability strategy Woolworths is also aimed at meeting employment e quity targets. Also Woolworths aim at focusing at groups such as madumbi farmers of KwaZulu-Natal and the Beaufort West Hydroponics Project to increase the number of core products sourced from BEE supplier partners. According to the website of company In addition to our own broad BEE Employee Share Ownership Scheme, we will focus on advancing skills development and pushing our South Africa first approach even harder. Woolworths also recognized its economic responsibility and have taken initiatives to refine its brand position with significant investment in price, merchandise range, and quality. This investment will continue to deliver gains to shareholders of the company. Driving Social Development Under its sustainable strategy Woolworths is committed towards social development and its first focus is on South Africa in this context. As stated on companys website-Well work harder to drive social development by expanding the existing initiatives of the Woolworths Trust such as EduPlant and MySchool, and by introducing a programme through our stores to improve the plight of orphans and other vulnerable children. Woolworths also plans an effective role in providing employment and giving the community opportunities to expand and grow. The company employs nearly 191,000 people in its retail business. The company claims of employing people based upon their skills, qualifications and aptitude with irrespective of gender, race, religion, marital status or ethnic origin. Also, it employs women in business and provides them flexible working patterns and training opportunities. Health and Safety policy is also undertaken and is well communicated to managers in the organization along with an efficient system of managing and reporting of such a health and safety culture. Woolworths is continuously making a difference in South African Schools. According to the financial results of the company for a period of July 2007 to June 2008, Woolworths has announced a R18 million contribution to MySchool, including MyPlanet and MyVillage in South Africa. The company aims at increasing it social contributions to more than R300m per year. Woolworths also entered into partnerships with charity groups and undertook franchising programs. It supported charities like Foodbank, Salvation Army, Canteen, Beyond Blue, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, etc. Woolworths also started many initiatives to raise awareness about the plight of farming families hit by drought of Australia. The introduction of reusable bags by the company supported new enterprises that were required to produce fabric bags for the company. Enhancing Environmental Focus Another key component of Woolworths Sustainability Strategy is giving full importance to environmental issues. Environmental sustainability was a key aspect of Woolworths CSR approach. Woolworths is in retail business and its operations affect the environment in many ways such as waste production, high energy and fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Woolworths implemented a long term strategy to combat issues concerning the impact of the companys operations on the environment. Woolworths concentrated on refrigeration, lighting and temperature control to reduce the amount of energy consumption in its operations. Installation of automated after-hours blinds on open refrigeration cabinets, lighting and air conditioning made operations more energy efficient. Woolworths have decided to make all of its new stores Green Stores and adopt energy efficient guidelines in all such stores. Through these initiatives company will be able to reduce the emission of Carbon-di-oxide. In the strategy company aims at reducing the use of harmful pesticides and chemicals and increasing organic food and cloth offering. Also, company introduced a new packaging scheme to develop reusable bags which an effort towards saving scarce natural resources. The company targets at reducing the amount of plastic and cardboard in the general waste to less than 1 percent by weight by year 2010. Susman said Water is one of South Africas scarcest natural resources and Woolworths is targeting a 30% reduction in water consumption and will develop a programme to encourage our suppliers to do the same. Woolworths also took several initiatives to save water in it stores. It plans to save at least 200 million liters of water by year 2010. Also, as a fuel saving initiative, Woolworths discarded vehicles that consumed more fuel. It outsourced the disposal of worn-out tires and batteries to third party experts and used grease traps at its truck cleaning centers to prevent oil and fuel waste from entering waste water system. Addressing Climate Change Woolworths planned to use B20 (20 percent bio fuel mix) bio-diesel for its entire fleet of trucks. This move was expected to reduce carbon emission by 11,500 tones per year. Also, company decided to use large number of small cars with LPG fuel across its car fleet. The carbon emission from the companys fleet of 3100 cars is to be reduced by 30 percent by 2010 and that of trucks by 25 percent by the end of 2012 as compared to 2006. In addition to this initiative the company aims at cutting its electricity usage by 30% and removing conventional light bulbs from its shelves. Chief Executive, Woolworths, Simon Susman stated Woolworths will support carbon offsetting in as much as greening reduces carbon excess. Well do this by planting more trees at our MySchool schools, our Eduplant schools and our extensive Midrand campus grounds. Providing Quality and Innovation The very first component which formed the base of sustainability strategy was innovation. Woolworths aims at providing innovation in products, services and facilities provided by the company. The company views innovation as the base to introduce any product or service in market, finding more efficient and cheaper sources of supply, new store formats and process improvement to gain a reduction in cost. In this context while considering environment responsibility Woolworths concentrated on adopting a Green Stores strategy where all the new stores of companys would adopt energy efficient guidelines. At the same time Woolworths implemented several water saving initiatives at its stores. While choosing new sites for stores the company special consideration have been given to investigate how a store will fit in the state and local government area. Sufficient market research is being done before opening up any store. An example of innovative practice is a number of modifications being made in store design to address the community interest in Mullumbimby in New South Wales. Company has moved the loading dock away from the car parking area to improve safety for shoppers and making changes to the faà §ade so that the store will fit in better with the streetscape. Woolworths introduced a health kids program named Fresh Food Kids. This program helps in increasing the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables in kids. An interactive and educational website has also been launched under this step. There are many successful applicants to the program who have regarded it a success in developing and encouraging eating health and fresh food among kids. Woolworths aims at undertaking innovation through efficiency and enhancing quality in its business processes. It has made a substantial commitment to its Project Refresh which refers to a framework in order to improve business performance and business restructuring programs through end-to end supply chain improvement. APPLYING VARIOUS FRAMEWORKS TO SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY OF WOOLWORTHS Now we will apply the models discussed in section 2 to analyze the performance Woolworths sustainability strategy. Capabilities Framework Path-finding Path-finding refers to developing, crystallizing and articulating new directions, strategies, purposes and values for the organization. Woolworths studied the environment in which the company is operating. It gave due importance to the areas and people affected by its operations and business. Through a continuous study the company realized that it is important to act responsibly towards the stakeholders of the company. So, it designed and developed a strategy committed towards benefit of customers, shareholders, environment, climate and communities. Then company placed the Corporate Social Responsibility at the base of the project so that there is no divergence from this basic objective through the implementation of the strategy of sustainable growth. The directions decided to achieve the objectives of this strategy was guided by the principles of innovation, quality, transformation, environment and climate focus and social improvement. Engagement Getting people throughout the organization informed, committed and motivated to act to achieve the organizations purpose and future direction refers to engagement. Woolworths strategy involved people of the organization to achieve the desired target. The strategy at each step emphasizes on training of employees and workforce of the company so as to understand the need of new initiatives and learn to perform under new objectives. Woolworths has launched an Employee Matching Award (EMA) to support issues that are of particular, personal concern to its staff members and encourage the workforce of the company to help make a positive contribution to worthy causes. However, there is no involvement of customers and other stakeholders in strategy making process. No feedback or suggestions are taken while designing a policy which can impact the lives of general public. Development Woolworths have been engaged in developing its resources whether physical, technological or personnel. Redesigning of stores has been initiated as a strategic move to reduce waste and make them energy efficient. Personnel at all levels are being provided training to perform well in changed environments and with new standards. Also, company has changed its fleet of trucks and cars to reduce emission and fuel consumption. Performance Management There is no set well established management system to assess the performance at each step of implementation of the strategy. In such a strategy where so many changes and new operations have been introduced there is a need of a detailed and efficient performance management system also. Identification Woolworths strategy does not give a clear view of which of the organizations or societys current attributes, strategies will be retained and which will be changed under the plan of sustainability. Marketing and Selling The sustainability strategy of Woolworths lacks a detailed marketing plan. Although, understanding the market and innovating products as per the needs and expectations of customers is surely present in the plan but the strategy to enter new markets and tap existing untapped markets does not find any place in the sustainability of the company. Sustainability Implementation Strategy Applying the Sustainability Implementation Frameworks as suggested by Diesendorf the strategy of Woolworths is now explained. There are three levels discussed in this framework of sustainability development. These levels along with their presence in the sustainability strategy of Woolworths are discussed as follows: Level 0 In this level the broad principles considered are generally ethical requirements. By ethics, we mean pertaining to questions of right or wrong, or good or bad. In the past, consideration of values and ethics was not popular in the business world. The ethical principles described under this framework are respect nature, respect humans and be generous in our respect. According to Diesendorf (2000) Those who are uncomfortable with starting from an ethical position might consider that the above ethical principles are essential for the long term viability of the economy and society. Therefore, they could be seen as enlightened self-interest on the part of individuals and corporations planning for a long term future. In the strategy of Woolworths all the three principles are very well taken care off. There is perfect consideration for nature in the strategy and also humans whether employees, customers or shareholders all are respected and given due consideration while taking any step towards achievement of strategic goals. Level 1 At Level 1, the broad goals to conserve or enhance inter- and intragenerational equity, human well-being, biodiversity and ecological integrity are widely supported. Diesendorf added the conservation of cultural diversity here as a social analogue to the conservation of biodiversity. According to Diesendorf The goal of inter-generational equity is the basic thrust of the Brundtland definition of sustainable development. If we accept this goal, then it can be argued that we must also accept the need for intra-generational (that is, social) equity. It should be recalled that, in this chapter, equity does not mean equality, but rather equal opportunity. This goal is very well taken care of in Woolworths strategy. The company ensures of employing people in the organization irrespective of their cast, race, gender, cultural background and strictly on the basis of their educational qualification and experience. The conservation of natural capital, widely used in some models of sustainability, has been replaced here by the conservation of critical capital, because the former overlaps strongly with conservation of biodiversity and ecological integrity and, even where it does not, there are vast quantities of some forms of natural capital (for example, sand) which are not in urgent need of conservation. Critical capital facilitates a focus on those forms of natural and human-made capital which are threatened with damage, destruction or dispersion (for example, phosphorus, archaeological sites). This feature does lack in the strategy of Woolworths. Conservation of atmosphere and climate is not normally included as a sustainability goal. However, in view of the seriousness of the present threat and the fact that the potential effects of climate change impact on biodiversity, ecological integrity and human health, it has been listed explicitly here alongside critical capital. This goal have been given an important place in sustainability strategy of Woolworths as the retail giant aims at reducing the emission of carbon from its fleet of trucks and cars. Also, introduction of reusable bags in place of plastic bags proves that the company is committed to environmental and climate safety. Level 2 This stage defines the standard criteria for sustainability indicators. This stage explains that such criteria should be measurable, relevant, simple to use and understand, reliable, reproducible, and timely for decision making. Hart (1998) states Several authors suggest that sustainability indicators should, in addition, reflect something fundamental to the environmental, economic and social/cultural health of a community over generations. The sustainability strategy of Woolworths does include set targets which are represents in figures but there is no set measurable standards to judge and measure the achievements of the strategy. RECOMMENDATIONS From the analysis of sustainability strategy of Woolworths it is evident that despite of being a successful strategy with corporate social responsibility as the basis of its operations there are certain key areas where the process is lacking. For the improvement of the strategic program certain recommendations have been discussed as follows: There should be a performance measurement and control system embedded in the strategy of sustainable growth. A proper assessment of performance at various stages and the regular feedback on the performance will help in removing any gaps in the level and efficiency decided for meeting objectives and actual achievement of such objectives. A system of feedback and suggestions from stakeholders should be designed. Such a feedback will help in improving the strategy and making the required changes as per the perception of general public about the initiatives taken by the company. It will ensure a fast and proper acceptance of the strategy by the stakeholders which is an essential element for the success of any strategy. There should be a proper system of informing stakeholders about the strategy. In the present plan no emphasis is given to communication of plans within and outside the organization. If the plans of the management are properly and efficiently communicated they are easily grasped by the concerned parties and makes it easier for the workforce to contribute towards the achievement of desired organizational objectives. Woolworths is also expected to introduce innovation in its products. There have been several innovative steps taken by the company to improve its processes and service to public. The company operates in a highly competitive environment of retail industry where the needs, demands and preferences of consumer changes very fast. To sustain in such an environment it is necessary to introduce innovative products also. Conclusion In the words of Simon Susman The Good business journey is a business imperative for Woolworths. Many aspects of it are linked together to generate a multiplier effect: reducing product miles by encouraging greater local sourcing we will open up opportunities for enterprise development and preferential procurement; reducing packaging will result in energy and paper savings thereby reducing the Woolworths carbon footprint. Corporate responsibility or Sustainability is fundamental to any companys responsibilities. At the same time it is also an opportunity for the company to establish its good image in front of its customers and shareholders. Thus, an integrated sustainability program as that of Woolworths is an important and successful method of managing environmental, economic as well as social risks. Moreover, such a strategy helps in identification of new opportunities, services, new products and new markets for expansion of business. Woolworths program of sustainability is strongly influenced by the strategies of international retailers such as Wal-Mart, and Marks Spencer. However unique to this approach is the placement of South African perspective on the issues related with Social responsibility along with a strong focus on transformation initiatives and environmental safeguard. REFERENCES Brown, Christopher Stephen (2005), The Sustainable Enterprise: Profiting From Best Practice, Kogan Page Bleischwitz, Raimund and Hennicke, Peter (2004), Eco-Friendly, Regulation and Sustainable Business: Towards a Governance Structure for Sustainable Development, Edward Elgar Publishing. Cocks, G.J. (2003), Bringing Life to Organizational Strategy, Mt Eliza Business Review, Winter/Spring, pp. 45-49 Dunphy, Dexter Benveniste, Jodie (2000) Sustainability: The Corporate Challenge of the 21st Century, Allen Unwin. Egelhofff, W.G. (1993), Great Strategy or Great Strategy Implementation-Two ways of Competing in Global Markets, Sloan Management Review, Winter/Spring, pp. 37-50 Epstein, Mark J. (2008), Making Sustainability Work: Best Practices in Managing and Measuring Corporate Social, Environmental and Economic Impacts, Berrett-Koehler Publishers. Edwards, Andres (2005), The Sustainability Revolution, New Society Publishers. Woolworths Limites (2007), Action Plan-2007-2010, National Packaging Convenant Rainey, David L. (2006), Sustainable Business Development: Inventing the Future Through Strategy, Innovation, and Leadership, Cambridge University Press. Stead, W. Edward Stead, Jean Garner (2004), Suatainable Strategic Management, M.E. Sharpe, Inc. Savitz, Andrew W. Weber, Karl (2006), The Triple Bottom Line: How Todays Best -Run Companies are Achieveing Economic, Social and Environmental Success and How You Can Too, Jossey-Bass Werbach, Adam (2009), Strategy for Sustainability: A Business Manifesto, Harvard Business Press. Wirtenberg, Jeana Lipsky, David (2009), The Sustainable Enterprise Fieldbook: When it All Comes Together, AMACOM Internet Source http://www.woolworthslimited.com http://www.woolworthslimited.com.au http://crreport08.woolworthslimited.com.

Stefan’s Diaries: The Craving Chapter 29

Her name was the Mina M. She was a speedy ship and a thing of beauty, with sleek lines and white sails. Her wooden mast was oiled to a sheen, boasting smart red flags that snapped in the breeze. I stood at the prow and closed my eyes, imagining our journey. The stinging salt air and the bright yellow sun would whip my cheeks red as the Mina cut through waves, leaving white foam and spray in her wake. Little silver fish would glint in the water below in their hurry to get out of the way. On our travels we would see tiny skiffs cross the water loaded up with bananas and rum in the West Indies. We'd trade for spices in India. I'd finally see Italy, walk through the Sistine Chapel, marvel in front of the Duomo, and drink Chianti straight from the vineyard. Maybe†¦ maybe this would be a new way of life for me. Traveling at the speed of water rather than confining myself to the shadows. I'd never stay in one port for too long, outrunning death and my curse. Sailors usually had no friends but the men they crewed with – I would fit right in. But then I opened my eyes, my fantasy evaporating into the heavy midnight that surrounded me. A dense cloud cover obscured the sky and any stars embedded there failed to shine through. The Mina slipped silently out to sea, cutting the oily water with barely a hiss. This was the vampire's realm. Though my ring allowed me to walk in the daylight, my world existed in darkness. It was then, while the sun slumbered, that I hunted, evaded enemies, spewed curses, broke promises, and gave myself over to hate. We had escaped Klaus's minion, but we hadn't defeated him. He and his master were still out there, somewhere, planning on future torture and death for me and Damon. Lexi came up on deck behind me and touched my shoulder. â€Å"We're en route to San Francisco,† she said quietly. â€Å"I've not been there†¦ in a while. But you'll love the fog and dismal weather. Great for brooding.† She gave me a thin smile. â€Å"And I can tell you're going to be quite the brooder.† I leaned against the deck rail. I didn't have the heart to tell her that there would never be a place for me, that I would never fit. And I didn't deserve to, after all the lives I'd ended. The night wind tousled my thick brown hair and Lexi tucked it behind my ear. â€Å"He said an eye for an eye,† I began. â€Å"Yes. Well.† Lexi took a deep sigh and looked serious for a moment, eyes narrowing. â€Å"This is a fast ship and it will take him time to figure out our manifest. Besides the legal cargo of tea and coffee, there's a sizable shipment of opium they're planning to pick up in Frisco. The captain failed to register with the dock master, so it will be a while before anyone figures out where we turn tail to.† â€Å"No. I mean yes, that's good.† I rubbed a sudden spray of water from my eyes. â€Å"But I meant†¦ he killed the people that were supposed to be our wives, because his Katherine was killed.† Lexi nodded, shivering. â€Å"And then he grabbed you†¦ and was going to kill you and me, and probably Damon, in a church, just like Katherine was killed.† Lexi narrowed her eyes. â€Å"I'm not sure I understand where you're going with this.† â€Å"If he was being so particular about whom he killed and in what manner, why didn't he set the place on fire?† Lexi blinked. I saw her work through the logic. She stayed silent for a long time. I couldn't read her eyes, but still I felt embarrassed to be thinking of Katherine at a time like this. â€Å"Stefan,† she began. â€Å"Please listen to me. There are all levels of evil among our kind. From that old thing that commits great atrocities to†¦ minor, horrible little things that exist just for their own pleasure, regardless of whom it hurts. â€Å"Katherine wanted you to become a vampire. And look at the results. Do not weep overmuch for her, Stefan, or search for clues to her death or existence. Let her go. It is truly the best thing you can do.† I turned my head away from her and looked toward the only star bright enough to shine through the cloud cover – the North Star. Katherine was like that star: fixed in place, a silent specter hanging above me, a benchmark against which to measure my progress. No matter my feelings toward her, she had made me, and she would be with me always. â€Å"We're not all evil,† I said, putting my arm around her. â€Å"You're not.† â€Å"I'm a lot older than you,† she said gently. â€Å"And who I am now isn't who I've always been. You're not the only one with things to atone for, Stefan. But I've made a vow to myself to be different.† â€Å"Oh, ugh. Vows.† Damon stumbled onto deck loudly. â€Å"By Our Lord, haven't we made enough vows for a lifetime?† â€Å"The marriages were your idea, not mine,† I pointed out. â€Å"Waah, wahh, I'm a vampire, I had a really great wedding, great champagne, my brother rescued me, and I'm still tortured.† He bounced off the deck rails, palming the smooth wood and propelling himself back to the other side, port to starboard back and forth until he reached us. The untrained eye would have marked him as drunk, but there was a telltale crimson smear in the corner of his lips. He was drunk with our escape, with our rescue, with the lifeblood of some poor cabin boy – but not with drink. Not yet, at least. â€Å"Yes, and speaking of rescues, Margaret†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I prompted. Damon sighed. â€Å"When I confronted her about being able to withstand compulsion, Margaret admitted she was a witch and said she would help me.† â€Å"Just like that?† I asked skeptically. Damon rolled his eyes. â€Å"In return for us leaving New York and never coming back – in her lifetime, at least. And, this is the part that kills me, returning the dowries.† â€Å"Aw, Damon. I'm so sorry,† Lexi said, her sparkling eyes belying her serious tone. â€Å"Your plan to fleece the rich didn't work out. Better luck next time.† She punched him lightly in the shoulder. â€Å"We owe her our lives,† I said seriously. â€Å"She didn't have to help us at all. By all rights, she shouldn't have. The protection spell she cast around her and her husband – do you think it will really keep them safe?† â€Å"I have to believe. Either way, she's a better soul than you lot,† Lexi pronounced. â€Å"And speaking of better souls†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I said, barely suppressing a smile, â€Å"what made you come back and rescue me? I thought you were hell-bent on ‘never forgiving me' and ‘punishing me until the end of my days.'† Damon's blue eyes were veiled. â€Å"Yes. Well, I meant every word. I will never forgive you. I will torture your every living moment.† I shook my head, tamping down the stirring of black rage inside me that wanted to shout to Damon that he may have lost the love of his life, but I lost a life that I loved. And a father, and a home. And a brother. But as quickly as the rage flowed in, it ebbed back out again, leaving me hollow. How could I expect my brother to forgive me for turning him into a vampire when I couldn't forgive myself for it? He had once loved me, as I had once loved Katherine, but I would never, ever forgive her for making me what I was now. Damon took me by the shoulders. â€Å"Besides,† he added, the corners of his lips turning up, â€Å"if anyone is going to kill you, it's going to be me.† Then, without another word, he leaped with vampiric speed to the deck rail itself, balancing without moving a muscle as the boat dipped and rocked in the water, as though he were the ship's figurehead, carved in cold marble. He lifted his hand in salute. â€Å"I'll be seeing you, brother.† Then, before I could even utter his name, he stepped off the rail and plunged into the dark water below. I raced to the edge of the boat and looked at the churning water. But my brother didn't resurface. Lexi and I stood there for what felt like an eternity, until we were so far from shore and sky that it felt as though we were suspended in blackness. Then, when the sun finally peeked its red head over the watery horizon, we went inside the dimly lit cabin to face our future.

Psychology, The Scientific Study Of The Mind - 1476 Words

Psychology, defined as the scientific study of the mind, is a very broad field with many career opportunities. Psychology is a fairly new field and has many job opportunities available for anyone wanting to make a career with a degree. There are therapy related jobs along with jobs that are not therapy related. Most psychologists wanting a job that is therapy related need a master’s degree or doctoral, however ones who do not pursue a job with therapy obtain a bachelor’s or master’s. The average pay for psychologists ranges from around $70,000 to $100,000 annually. The amount of pay results from the location and the education one has acquired. Psychologists also have a range of tasks depending on the type of psychology one pursues. Throughout this research, a few careers in psychology will be explored and information will be provided about each of these careers. Sports psychology is a relatively new field of study in which a sports psychologist helps professional and amateur athletes. Sports psychologists are people who help amateur and professional athletes heighten performance, attain their goals and overcome their problems. An athlete who becomes anxious or loses focus during competition would consult a sports psychologist to conquer these issues. Athletes who also have trouble communicating with their teammates, finding motivation and controlling their anger could seek the help they need from this type of psychologist. Not only can they help athletes with these issues,Show MoreRelatedPsychology Is The Scientific Study Of The Mind And Behavior986 Words   |  4 PagesA Look into Psychology Psychology is known to be the scientific study of the human’s mind and behavior. Psychology is not the study of extraordinary mind activity like paranormal, extrasensory perception (ESP), astrology, nor phrenology. Psychology is theoretically constructed and uses a standard scientific process to discover evidences of that human’s behavior. Psychology also allows an individual to give special assistance to a specific group of children who could have a difficult time in schoolRead MorePsychology Is The Scientific Study Of The Mind And Behavior791 Words   |  4 Pagesinner most feelings. The field of psychology was created to understand human behavior to help make society a better place and people live much easier. Psychology is field with sub fields that differ but the underlining core values are the same. The path to becoming a psychologist is challenging and not easy but most people entering the field feel like it is their calling. I cannot pen point one exact language or a specif form of communication that makes the psychology field special because differentRead MorePsychology Is The Scientific Study Of The Mind And Behavior1589 Words   |  7 PagesWhat is Psychology? That is the first question before I took this class. I do not know what things I study from it. So is it useful for me and my life? Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior. Psychology is a multifaceted discipline and includes many sub-fields of study such areas as human development, sports, health, clinical, social behavior and cognitive processes. (Simply Psychology Website). But today I will introduce 4 parts from the introduction to Psychology. That isRead MoreModern Psychology : The Scientific Study Of Mind And Behaviour1637 Words   |  7 Pagesemergence of modern psychology, presently understood to be the â€Å"scientific study of mind and behaviour†. Philosophy and experimental physiology have been influentia l in creating a favourable zeitgeist that ultimately allowed for the transformation of an ancient discipline into the scientific study of the mind. It was 1879 before psychology officially became a science. Previously philosophers endeavoured to understand human nature and the links between the body and the mind - formerly referredRead MorePsychology Is The Scientific Study Of The Human Mind And Its Behaviors1625 Words   |  7 PagesBy definition, Psychology is â€Å"the scientific study of the human mind and its behaviours†. However, originally, Psychology did not begin as a science. The subject of Psychology began in 1879 when the first experimental laboratory was opened by Wilhelm Wundt. Since its establishment, Psychology has progressed into a world-renowned academic discipline with the formation of the first American experimental lab in 1883 and the first doctorate in 1886 which was presented to Joseph Jastrow, who became aRead MoreThe Philosophy Of Psychology Is Defined As The Scientific Study Of The Human Mind And Behavior1281 Words   |  6 PagesPsychology is defined as the scientific study of the human mind and behavior. It was established as a separate discipline during the late 1800s and can be taken back to the time of the ancient Greeks. From around 500BC to 322 BC, Greek philosophers suggested a theory of â€Å"psyche† that is where the word psychology comes from. This meaning the mind, soul and spirit. The Pythagoras, Hippocrates, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle were some of the most influential philosophers of their time. However, due toRead MoreHow Psychology Is The Human Mind And Behavior1513 Words   |  7 PagesPsychology is the science which helps to understand the human mind and behaviour. To understand properly, one needs to trust on scientific methods that would help in recognizing the aspects related to the behaviour and psychological processes going in the mind of an individual. Instead of just trusting on personal observations about the experiences that an individual faces, the process of scientific research is much more systematic as well as authentic while try ing to assess the details about theRead MorePsychology as a Science1163 Words   |  5 PagesPSYCHOLOGY AS A SCIENCE Psychology is the scientific study of the behavior of individuals and their mental processes. (Fuchs amp; Milar, 2002). But what makes it a scientific study? First of all, why not? Nowadays the idea of psychology as a science seems so natural to us, but it was not always like this. The late-eighteenth-century declaration that a true scientific study of the mind was not possible posed a challenge that was answered in the nineteenth century when the possibilityRead More The Development of Psychology Essay1156 Words   |  5 PagesThe Development of Psychology Psychology is defined as the scientific study of behavior and the mind. This definition implies three things. The first is that psychology is a science, a field that can be studied through objective methods of observation and experimentation. The second is that it is the study of behavior, animal activity that can be observed and measured. And the third is that it is the study of the mind, the conscious and unconscious mental states that cannot be seen but inferredRead MoreThe Study Of Psychology And Psychology984 Words   |  4 Pagesimportant to know what is meant by the term â€Å"science†, and then to establish whether psychology adheres to this. The Oxford English Dictionary defines science as â€Å"the study or knowledge of the physical world, based on observation and experiment†. This immediately raises issues about this debate as many areas of psychological research do not involve the observable. For example, the areas of Clinical and Counselling psychology rel y on a patient’s thoughts and feelings to help determine whether they suffer

Beowulf, The Hero And Title Character - 1177 Words

There are always two sides to every coin. Everything has an opposite left and right, up and down, good and evil. Every virtuous act has a sinful underbelly that exists. As human beings we know the difference in both are feelings and actions whether something is right or wrong, good or evil. Pride is a feeling of pure contentment or satisfaction resulting from ones own self-achievements. When a person accomplishes there goals pride comes as a very natural feeling. Pride is not an evil sensation but it can sometimes conflict or interfere in making the right choices. Throughout history human kind has proven many times that pride can take hold of you and every now and then bring you down. It’s only when pride leads to egoism that a person begins to develop an exaggerated arrogance about their individuality. In the epic poem Beowulf, the hero and title character Beowulf has so much pride he develops a god complex. Although Beowulf’s pride is impartial in the beginning of the story it quickly converts into a self-destructive motive by the end. Beowulf’s vanity consumes him mentally until it ultimately leads to his overall downfall. In Danes the legendary King Hrothgar oversees his kingdom and his mighty mead hall of Heorot where his people, the Danes, conduct their celebratory activities. However, recently his land has been under attack by the monster Grendel who scourges and gorges at night on the citizens of Heorot. Hrothgar tired of seeing his people be senselessly murdered byShow MoreRelatedBeowulf And Sir Gawain And The Green Knight897 Words   |  4 PagesAges, two poems, Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight embody heroic figures. Beowulf, who demonstrates all the characteristics of an ideal hero, is faced with physical and moral challenges that no other man could face during his existence. Beowulf was not only looking to become a hero, he wanted to reveal the importance of establishing identity. However, Beowulf was not the only hero during this time period. Sir Gawain also participates in challenges that define his character. Sir Gawain wasRead MoreBeowulf Monster Vs Hero Essay1557 Words   |  7 Pagesperson gain the title of â€Å"hero†? From acts of defeating monsters, to defending a distressed village against a powerful plague, many are then considered heroes, yet when someone considered a monster does something heroic, does that cancel out their villainy? And vice versa? While Beowulf exhibits a multitude of heroic attributes, his undermining beast like qualities are hard to miss, and essentially pose the question to the reader: What is the relationship between monster and hero, and is there anRead More Compare and contrast images of heroism in these two poems. Essay1421 Words   |  6 Pagesdefine what a hero is a myriad of answers emerge. This phenomenon is not unique to today’s society; the definition of a hero is something that is constantly under revision and debate. An example of this can be seen in two older pieces of English literature: Beowulf, written circa 750-900, and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, written circa 1375-1400. These stories both have a main character that possesses heroic qualities, many of which are very similar. Gawain’s identity as a hero is not clearlyRead MoreBeowulf: an Epic Hero983 Words   |  4 PagesNate Gauvain British Literature Beowulf Essay 9/22/04 Beowulf: An Epic Hero According to Abrams, the heroic poem is a long verse narrative on a serious subject, told in an elevated style, and centered on a heroic or quasi-divine figure on whose actions depends the fate of a tribe, a nation, or the human race. Beowulf fits Abrams description of an epic, exhibiting all of the characteristics listed throughout the book, thus defining Beowulf as a hero and making the book an epic through itsRead MoreBeowulf Archetypal Hero1431 Words   |  6 Pages2 11/12/12 Beowulf: The Man, the Legend, the Hero Beowulf is an epic poem whose earliest surviving copy was written in 1000 A.D. The story consists of three thousand one hundred and eighty two lines that follow the life of the title character. The original author of the epic poem is unknown mainly because it started as a verbal tale passed down orally through the ages. Finally someone wrote it down in a document now called the Nowell Codex. The epic tale is centered on Beowulf and his actionsRead MoreBeowulf Hero Analysis757 Words   |  4 Pages  Ã‚  Ã‚   To Joseph Campbell a hero is an individual who is able to depart from his or her ordinary life for the sake of helping others in an opposite world. Campbell portrays his idea of a hero by utilizing the title character in Beowulf. Beowulf demonstrates many of Campbells stages of a hero through his strategic actions, his love for justice, and most importantly through his extraordinary strength.   Ã‚  Ã‚   The hero Beowulf, is the â€Å"strongest of the Geats-greater/ And stronger than anyone anywhere in thisRead MoreAn Analysis of Beowulf1608 Words   |  6 PagesThe Old English epic Beowulf is built around the archetype of the journeying hero. Beowulf exemplifies a classical hero, one who is not immune from hubris, but who channels his strong will into judicious endeavors. Thus, Beowulf dies with the honor and glory befitting a king. His story is one of distinct binaries between good and evil. On the side opposite to Beowulfs goodness is the gruesome Grendel. Grendel is a monster, and the original epic poem does nothing to introduce moral ambiguity thatRead MoreIs Grendel Truley Evil? Essay1135 Words   |  5 PagesCircumstance? : How humanity has a tendency to put labels on people they don’t really understand. In the epic of Beowulf, one of the warrior’s biggest adversaries is a creature from the swamp named Grendel. Although the character of Grendel is present for only a short portion in the story of Beowulf, Grendel signifies one of the important messages in the text about humanity. In Beowulf, Grendel is called a ‘monster’. However, if observed closely, analyzing the meaning behind the story, it is easyRead MoreCivilizations and Heroism in the Epic Poems of Gilgamesh and Beowulf624 Words   |  3 Pages The literature of Mesopotamia and Western Europe is a prime example of this. Beowulf, an Anglo-Germanic tale and The Epic of Gilgamesh, of the Sumerians, demonstrate perfectly, the ability of civilizations to convey the values and customs of their society through their literature. The setting for Beowulf is Scandinavia, before the time Christianity had spread its course. Beowulf, the title character is the hero in this tale. He possesses many of the typical heroic traits such as strength,Read MoreThe Characteristics Of A Hero In The Epic Of Beowulf746 Words   |  3 PagesBeowulf Essay A hero in the modern world is hard to define and in some places even harder to find. Stories such as Beowulf are continually told in order to help define what a hero should / could be. Heroes in these stories possess traits such as bravery, great strength, or great cunning. However, while a true hero needs some of these traits they don’t define that person as a hero. What defines someone as a hero is daring to go and do what ordinary men wouldn’t in order to save innocent lives, knowing

The Disintegration Of The Soviet Union - 2069 Words

The disintegration of the Soviet Union in the winter of 1991 sparked various reactions among Soviet citizens, government officials, Western onlookers and the rest of the world. The Soviet Union was once one of the most powerful military empires in the world suddenly saw itself crumble to the ground. Mikhail Gorbachev, the dynamic leader at the helm of the Communist Party of the United Soviet Socialists Republic, (USSR), at the time, was a key contributor to its demise. Gorbachev, born into a poor family in an agricultural community, emerged through the rankings of Soviet leadership, finding himself at the top of the Communist Party. He established a new era and a new beginning of reform. Although former Soviet leaders left problems with the government that set the stage for a collapse, Mikhail Gorbachev was responsible for the final dissolution of the USSR, due to his reforms in foreign policy, domestic policy, society and the economy of Russia. Long before Mikhail Gorbachev was elected into power in 1985, his predecessors such as Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin formed a Communist regime that would later become a broken, unsustainable system. Both former Soviet leaders had policies of increasing repression on their own people, which led to problems within the political, economic and social systems of the empire. Born in 1870, Vladimir Lenin grew up to become a huge supporter of Marxism or communism, a radical idea fashioned by the revolutionary thinker named KarlShow MoreRelatedThe Fall of the Berlin Wall and the Disintegration of the Soviet Union964 Words   |  4 Pagesis supposed to be a society free of class ranking based on wealth, property, and political power. The Soviet Union was the first country to test these governmental strategies and it did not take long for the regime to collapse. The inevitable collapse of communism led to the fall of the Berlin Wall; this started the domino effect of freedom that ultimate ly led to the collapse of the Soviet Union. On Sunday, August 13th, in 1962 the Eastern German government began construction of the Berlin WallRead MoreThe Eurasian Economic Union : The Development Of The Eurasian Economic Union1498 Words   |  6 PagesThe development of the Eurasian Economic Union has been lengthy and a complicated process. The first evidence of the attempts to emulate the EU can be traced back to the post-Soviet Economic Union back in 1993. This project was driven by post-Soviet Russia, as an attempt to reengage with the CIS member-states as a reaction to criticism and growing domestic discontent with its role in the â€Å"near abroad†. Thus the 1993 treaty adopted an institutional framework similar the one of the EU, which gaveRead MoreLocated Between Russia And The West, East Central Europe1458 Words   |  6 Pagesthe fall of the Soviet Union this region has sought economic growth through democratization, market economies, and aligning with the West. However, this transition has been one with unique challenges given the fact that there is no detailed guide on how to bring about said transition. Looking back, East Central Europe’s unique history has sometimes seemed to be a catalyst for change within the region, in the sense that certain events (World War II, the Cold War, fall of the Soviet, etc.) seemed toRead MoreThe Revolution Of The United States939 Words   |  4 Pages Cold War the United States and the Soviet Union was not just Soviet Russia Russia (already disintegration) of one of the members of the US-Soviet Cold War, the US-led Western bloc ( NATO member states) and the Soviet-led Eastern bloc ( the Warsaw Treaty Organization between Member States) against the political and diplomatic. Cold War marked the beginning of March 1946 Churchill s Iron Curtain speech marked the end of the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991, marking the end of the ColdRead MoreEmergence of the Modern World1842 Words   |  7 Pagesof knowledge, skill, art and science. It was the time of grand investigation and discoveries, religious and political havocs, and astonishing literature. Europes overland trade routes to the East had been blocked by 14th century due to the disintegration of the Mongol empire and the expansion of the Ottoman Empire. Thus began the Age of Discovery with the search for new trade routes, the rise of merchant capitalism, and the desire to exploit the potential of a global economy (explorationRead MoreThe Soviet Union During The Cold War1702 Words   |  7 Pages In 1989, history in the West abruptly shifted course. The communist regimes in Eastern Europe fell, severing these nations’ ties to the Soviet Union and sparking unprecedented political and economic reforms. Two years later, the Soviet Union itself disintegrated. The Cold War ended along with it, a sharply defined historical era stretching back to 1914. The end of the Cold War renewed the commitment to democracy and capitalism in the West, accelerated the existing movement toward unification inRead MoreWhat Was The Fall Of The Soviet Union1089 Words   |  5 PagesFall of Soviet Union In December of 1991, the Soviet Union separated into fifteen distinctive countries. Its collapse was enthusiastically greeted by the west as a triumph for freedom. This is a victory of democracy over totalitarianism. The US celebrated as its dreadful enemy defeated, thereafter ending the Cold War, which had fought between two superpowers, America and Soviet Union, since the end of World War II. Cory Booker says, â€Å"If you look at great human civilizations, from the Roman EmpireRead MoreGorbachev s Impact On The Soviet Union941 Words   |  4 PagesCommunist Party, bringing with him a wave of reform. His reform appeared in the form of a dual program, â€Å"perestroika† (to restructure) and â€Å"glasnost†(openness), changing the Soviet Union’s domestic governmental policies, economic practices, and international relations- for Gorbachev felt that his goals to improve the Soviet Union’s economy couldn t be done without reforming the political and social structures as well. Gorbachev hoped that his reforms would reorganize and revive the USSR’s economyRead MoreThe Fall of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic1122 Words   |  4 Pages By the mid 1980’s, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics also known as the Soviet Union, or the USSR was weakening under pressure from many different sources. These sources collimated in 1989 with the fall of the Berlin Wall, the disintegration of the Warsaw Pact, and ultimately, the fall of the Soviet Union itself in 1991. With these events, the USSR saw its division into the Russian Federation, and the 13 independent republics that we see today. This time period was one of uncertainty, andRead MoreUkraine : Russia And Russia987 Words   |  4 Pagesbecause the Soviet Union, independents of Ukraine, and the war 2014. First, Ukraine and Russia relations started to get complicated after Russia overrun Ukraine. There were six big wars between Russia and Ukraine between 1658 and 1953. There were always because of the freedom of Ukraine. Ukraine and Russian never had calm relationships. Just one war was won by Ukraine, other ones were won by Russia and they leaders of those wars were killed. The Soviet Union is the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

Benefits of Hosting Olympics Free Essays

The Olympic Games first started at Olympia in Greece in 776 BC. At that time, the games held were organized into festivals. There was a peace agreement called the scared truce between the city-states of Elis and Pisa. We will write a custom essay sample on Benefits of Hosting Olympics or any similar topic only for you Order Now The reasons for hosting the Olympic Games at that time fall into three obvious aspects —— the honour of competing, the opportunity for trade and also, for peace. The reason why cities bid to hold the Olympics now are more complicated than in ancient time. But the main reasons remain the same. Cities may bid to host the Olympics to raise their International status by opening a door to the whole world, boost their economy, and enrich their culture and so on. All in all, cities want to promote the pace of their development by holding such a big event like the Olympics. Cities also have high expectations about the legacy benefits of the Games. Some of the main benefits will be identified later in this article. However, the benefits that are claimed in relation to hosting the Olympic Games are hard to measure. Those main benefits will be evaluated by taking the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games for instance. The legacy benefits of the Olympic Games can be indentified through four aspects —— political, economical, environmental and as the Olympic Games is a big sporting event, the last one should be sport. Politics had no place in the ancient games. The event was made possible in part by a truce that allowed visitors and competitors to travel to Olympia safely. During the truce there was no war, no executions, and no military action. However, although it is claimed that the modern Olympics have nothing to do with the political, many countries bid to host the Olympic Games for many political reasons under different circumstance. The best example to examine the relationship between sport and politics was the two German states during the cold war between 1945 and the early 1970s, in which period the two German states competed to host the Olympic Games in order to establish their own political authority. (Hughes, Owen, 2009). The 1972 Munich (Germany) Games was no doubt a good stage to show the rebuild Germany after the war. The Olympic Games are somehow a stage to relief the political conflicts and help the host cities change their International image. In terms of economy, it is the most important area when talking about the benefits of the Olympic Games. Cities always have high expectations to develop their economy after hosting the Olympics. Although the 1980 Moscow Olympics left a great amount of debt to the host city, the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic recovered people’s confidence. Matthewman (2009) indentified the legacy benefits of the Olympics’ economy benefits were included media exposure, employment and education training, infrastructure improving, increased trade, new investment and housing. However, the economic benefits of the Olympic Games are obviously much more than Matthewman described. There is a similar report printed by Price Waterhouse Coopers (2004) claimed that the long-term economy benefits would include: A. Improvement of city productivity (e. g. better transportation) B. Cultivate the city’s management ability to deal with International event. C. Olympic-related trade. D. Media exposure. E. New investment and more job opportunities. F. Training project. G. Tourism industry Another benefit of the Olympics could be the improvement of city environment. After the International Olympic Committee (IOC) make the environment the third strand in 1994, cities have made their efforts to deliver cleaner and greener Games. The eco-friendly event made the sustainable development theory spread all over the world. The Olympic Games make a good contribution to arousing the awareness of protecting our environment which could be beneficial to the whole human society. As the Olympic Games combined different sporting event, it is most closely related to sports in the host cities. Firstly, the sports infrastructure could be improved as cities want to hold the Olympics. This improvement can have a good impact on their athels’ training conditions, sports watching industries and provide their citizens of more sports sources. Secondly, a big sporting event can arouse people’s interest in sport. Additionally, it is good for promoting sport in the host cities as a guide to develop a health living style among its citizens. This is good for citizens’ health and their quality of life. To evaluate these benefits, the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games can be a good example. According to Cashman (2002), the Olympic Games would help the host cities acquire high international reputation in terms of politics. As Australia has a history of its nation conflicts between local residents and emigrations, the 2000 Sydney Olympic did not be supported by their citizens. However, the Olympic organisers came up with many ideas especially by designed a long-distance torch relay program in order to unit the people. This excellent torch relay project which included 11,000runners, successfully changed people’s attitude and built a conception that the 2000 Sydney Olympic is not just about Sydney, it is about Australia as a whole(Haynes, 2001). The economic benefits of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games are hardly measured because there are so many potential areas for long-term impact. However, a 2001 Price Waterhouse Coopers report showed that Sydney has benefited from the 2000 Olympic Games a large amount of profits, which included about $3 billion from new business, $7. billion was injected for infrastructure and promoting business of New South Wales, more than $6 billion from tourism and opening their door to attract International business projects. (Matthewman, 2009) In other words, the Sydney Games had not only gained more investments and improved the city’s infrastructure; it also developed the industry of tourism and gave the ability to manage large projects. The 2000 Sydney Olympi c Games was the first time the idea of the â€Å"Green Games† was adopted. Sydney had come up with five strategies before bidding to host the Olympic Games —— save energy, save water, reduce rubbish, prevent pollution and protect the natural environment (Cashman, 2002). As the benefits on environment are difficult to identify in a short period of time, it is not likely to attribute the environmental improvement to the â€Å"Green Olympic Game† only. However, the eco-friendly idea will surely make great contribute to the city’s environment. People’s awareness was established after the â€Å"Green Game†, and it was becoming more and more popular that individuals started to take environment their own responsibility. Sport itself has obviously benefited from the Games. Firstly, the Olympic Games appeared to contribute to the sports infrastructure. Sydney had built the high-level sport facilities which combined technology and art to host the events. These sports infrastructures would improve the athletes’ training conditions and provide large sports events among counties as well. Secondly, the Sydney Olympic Games tend to arouse local people’s interest in participating sports activities. The Sweeney Sport Report 2000/2001 showed there was a significant increasing trend of sports on TV viewing. According to Haynets’s (2001) report, it is claimed that this raised participation might also lead to some other benefits, such as heath and economic. However, it is hard to know whether the citizens’ interests can last for a long time. To conclude, cities bid to host the Olympic Games for their better developments. The Olympic Games have a great impact on many areas of the hosting cities, which obviously are not restricted to the four aspects above. The benefits of host cities can gain from the Games are quite different and difficult to measure. The 2000 Sydney Olympic Games are a good example because it has won a high reputation for its successes. However, as there are always diverse proposals in different cities toward hosting the Olympics, it is important to have a detailed plan before both bidding and hosting the Games and reasonable expectations. Reference list Jill Hatnes(2001) ‘Social –economic impact of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games’. International Chair in Olympic, Centre d’Estudies Olympics (UAB). 2001 from http://olympicstudies. uab. es/pdf/od013_eng. pdf Price Waterhouse Coopers (2004) ‘The economic impact of the Olympic Games’. European Economic Outlook, June, p. 18-19 Richard Cashman(2002) ‘Impact of the Games on Olympic host cities’. International Chair in Olympic, Centre d’Estudies Olympics (UAB). 2002 from http://olympicstudies. uab. es/lec/pdf/cashman. pdf Richard Matthewman(2009) ‘Economic impacts of Olympic Games’. July, 2009 from http://maasterpieces. com/Documents/Economic%20Impacts%20of%20Olympic%20Games. pdf R. Gerald Hughes, Rachel J. Owen (2009) ‘The Continuation of Politics by Other Means’: Britain, the Two Germanys and the Olympic Games, 1949–1972’. Contemporary European History, 18(4), pp. 443-474. How to cite Benefits of Hosting Olympics, Papers

Corporate Social Responsibility At Shipley Do-Nuts

Corporate Social Responsibility Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become a buzzword in the modern organizations. The reasons for focusing on it may be philanthropic, plain window dressing to avoid Governments interference or simply a public relations exercise. The author has tried to analyze how well Shipley Do-nuts, a Houston based company, has managed to fulfill its ethical and social obligations. The internal and external influence to its CSR strategy has been studied with the help of SWOT matrix. Based on the study, the author is of the opinion that the company should shift its approach from a philanthropic one to a community based one to achieve sustainable development. The author has suggested use of a community sports area for achieving the same. Founded in 1936 in Texas, Shipley Donuts has become a popular doughnut chain in the United States with over 220 stores spread throughout the southern states. Since its inception, Shipley Donuts has been actively involved within its community which adds a whole new dimension to its mission of making life delicious (Shipley Do-nuts, 2008). The founder of the company, Lawrence Shipley, Sr. founded the company near the end of the Great Depression. He had witnessed the horrors that people of his community had gone through during the Depression. Thus giving the community back that made him rich was one of his top priorities. Moreover, in a country which is fighting a battle against childhood obesity, the role of a fast-food chain like Shipley Do-nuts assumes significance especially its attitude towards ethical practices and social obligations. The following sections discuss how well Shipley Donuts has contributed towards its Corporate Social Responsibility. Shipley has adopted a philanthropic approach to CSR. In this approach, the organizations give monetary donations, aid or lend their names to the local communities for social causes. According to Wood (1991), this approach helps them to become vastly respected in their local community and protects their home market even during times of fierce competition. Shipley has been associated with many social causes from schools, churches to charity groups. For example, Shipley lent its name to annual fair dedicated to cancer survivors and veterans during last October (Lowman, 2009). Shipley also makes significant contribution towards promoting the US culture and tradition. Shipleys franchises have been known to donate a part of their earnings during Christmas to Angel Tree, a local organization that helps in buying gifts for poor children during the Christmas (Tribune Herald, 2009). Similarly, it gives away free doughnuts to its customers on June 5 every year in the memory of Chicago Salvation army which gave rise to the National Doughnut Day (Tribune Herald, 2009). Being a fast food chain, Shipley has also taken its obligation of making America healthy very seriously. Complete nutritional information of its products is displayed prominently at all its franchises and also at its website. Any customer can view the cleanliness of the kitchen area and the bakery techniques being used through its theater viewing windows. Moreover, to show its commitment towards health, it sponsors local sports teams like Houston Dynamos (professional soccer club in MLS) and Houston Astros (professional Major League Baseball team) (Shipley Do-nuts, 2008). Such has been Shipleys commitment to maintain quality that it has been reluctant to grow too fast (the chain has added only 220 stores in its 74 years of existence compared to thousands of stores opened by McDonalds or Pizza Hut in lesser time) which is reflected in its strict criteria for a franchise. SWOT Analysis A SWOT analysis is conducted on the ethical practices being employed by Shipley to evaluate their CSR strategies Strengths Active involvement in community: From donating a part of its earnings to local charity organizations to sponsoring local sports clubs, Shipley has been actively involved in the community development. Moreover, it invites local organizations to seek assistance through its web site. This approach shows its commitment towards community building and has helped it to carve a niche for itself in the Texas community. Ethical practices: Shipley not only makes nutritional information about its doughnuts public, but also lets its customers know the processes being used at the kitchen through an open window system. This ethical practice has found wide acceptance among the Texas community who flock to its franchises. Sticking to traditional bakery techniques: Despite the advent of modern automated bakery techniques, Shipley Do-nuts have stuck to the traditional bakery techniques to retain its soft and fresh aroma and taste. This requires it to employ a greater number of workers thus helping the local community in finding a job (Shipley Do-nuts, 2008). Weaknesses Working conditions: To keep the costs of labor down, the company has resorted to the use of cheap illegal immigrants from Mexico in the past. The immigrants have often complained to the use of abusive language and racial slurs by the owners (Houston Chronicle, 2009). This has harmed its image in the national consciousness. Less contribution to local skill development: A philanthropic approach to CSR doesnt contribute much to the skill development of the local people and thus doesnt lead to a sustainable development. Shipley has often been riled for not contributing to the local skill development. Secrecy of its donut mix: Although it is central to its competitive advantage, the secrecy about its donut mix, which makes the donuts great, is akin to hiding important nutritional factsfrom its customers. This has not gone down well with some consumer rights activists. Opportunities Increasing community based approach: A community based approach to CSR is more successful in connecting with the local community. This may involve partnering with a local school for education of the children. This will help the company in contributing to the local skill development and in achieving sustainable development. Healthy doughnuts: Shipley can add a few healthy doughnuts, which are low in calorie, to its product range. This may not necessarily sell much, but will credibility to its efforts towards building a healthy America. Threats Competition: With an increasing competition in the fast food space and the cost of serving a customer increasing, the fight for natural resources will increase. This may mean that CSR activities may have to take a backseat in Shipleys policy. Intervention by Government agencies: Due to its past record in employing illegal immigrants, the Government agencies may intervene in the organizational policies, for example, the Labor Department may carry out an inspection about its employees pay and basic working conditions. This may prove to be a threat to the companys image in the peoples eyes. Conclusion The present research about the CSR activities at Shipley Do-nuts indicates that the company is taking its CSR activities seriously. The company has contributed to various causes from cancer, fighting crime and celebrating Christmas to supporting sports activities. However, it was observed that currently Shipley views CSR as a method of giving back to the community which is separate from its corporate objective of making profits. It should look towards integratingits CSR strategy into its companys objectives so that it can be viewed as essential for sustainable development of the company. For example, Dunkin Donuts Centre has set up a centre in Providence, Island. It provides state of the art training facilities to the sports clubs in the regions. This centre has produced numerous stars and is an attraction for young sports enthusiasts in the region. This makes a stronger statement towards development of sports than just sponsoring an event or a sports club. Adding to its list of CSR activities, Shipley can sponsor a sports area in Houston which provides playing area for the young children in the Texas region. This sports area can have a basketball court or simply open spaces for playing soccer. Regular Shipley customers and their wards can get free access to the facilities. The regular customers can be given these passes at the Shipley franchise. This will help the company in Building customer network: Building on companys efforts towards connecting with its customers through Facebook, the company can keep track of its customers through this sports area Boost its sales: Since free passes will be given to the regular customers, it will help in boosting the sales and achieving higher customer loyalty Development of sports: It will help in development of sports in the community which will build on the companys efforts towards building a health America. So, this idea can prove to be a good one to follow for Shipley Do-nuts as part of its ethical and social obligations (CSR). The company can look to contribute to the skill development of the local community through this exercise. This will help the company to realize the importance of integrating its CSR activities with its corporate strategy.