Southwest Airlines Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 4

Southwest Airlines Strategy - Essay Example Under the circumstances, the case is primarily concerned with how SWA manages to keep its HR strategy in synchronization with the business strategy of maintaining the fastest turnaround when the external pressures change. Â  Southwest Airlines has fought challenges since its inception and it exists despite the regulated and protected markets (Pfeffer, 2005). Initially, competitors tried to ensure that SWA was not allowed to fly at all but since this effort failed, there were restrictions imposed on SWA to fly out of Dallas-Fort Worth international airport. SWA was restricted to fly out of the newly-constructed Love Field. They were allowed only short-haul, point-to-point flights to close-in airports. SWA was not a member of any of the big computerized reservation systems, used no unique process technology, and was essentially a low-cost no-frills airline. Despite all these constraints and restrictions, the airline attained success which is primarily due to its highly motivated and productive workforce. They have fewer employees per aircraft, fly fewer passengers per employee and have more available seat miles per employee. Because of the highly motivated workforce, its turnaround time is much less c ompared to competitors which also enhances its productivity in terms of equipment utilization. SWA has achieved the Triple Crown (best on-time performance, fewest lost bags, and fewest passenger complaints—in the same month) nine time, which is a rare feat.

Of Mice and Men Essay Example for Free

Of Mice and Men Essay John Steinbeck was born in 1902 in Salinas california. Steinbecks novels can be classified as social novels, dealing with the economic problems of rural labour in America in the 1920s and 30s. Of Mice and Men is set in the farmlands of the Salinas valley, the country side described in the opening chapter of the novel and the ranch itself, may have been familiar to Steinbeck as he grew up in the area where his father owned a farm. The two main themes in Of Mice and Men are loneliness and dreams. These themes are interwoven in that, people who are lonely have the most need of dreams to help them through life. The lonliness theme is evident in many of the characters, Candys long time companion is his dog , Had him since a pup. He said proudly. (pg 47) He cannot bring himself to shoot the old cripped dog, even though he knows its for the best, Whynt you shot him candy asks Carlson. No, I couldnt do that, I had im too long (pg 47) With his dog gone candy will have lost his long time companion. Crooks the nigger ranch hand lives in enforced solitude away from the other men. Here Steinbeck introduces the predudice black people encountered around the time in which the novel is set. I aint wanted in the bunk-house, and you aint wanted in my room Crooks tells Lennie. Although at first crooks is upset by Lennies apperance, he invites him into his room. [long as you wont get out and leave me alone, you might as well set down ] His lonliness is evident when he tells Lennie A guy needs somebody to be near him this is also evident when Candy enters the room Come on in if everybodys coming in you might as well it was difficult for Crooks to hide his pleasure. (pg 79) The theme continues when we meet Curlys wife. She is the only women on the ranch. She tries to befriend the men by hanging around the bunkhouse. When she talks with Lennie in the barn she tells Lennie I never get to talk to nobody, I gets awful lonely She has married a man she doesnt raelly love. We know this when again talking with Lennie she tells him Well I aint told this to nobody before, I dont like curly he aint a nice fella. George and Lennie are not lonely during the novel as they have each other. George will be lonely afterwards as he will not have Lennie by his side. Lennie, because his character has a childlike innocence about him he may not fear lonileness like the others. The only evidence we have to show Lennie has some concept of being alone is when he is with crooks and Crooks teases him that George is hurt and may not come back. George gonna come back Lennie reassured himself in a frightened voice (pg 77) The other theme the novel focuses on is the American dream Where many aspired to obtaining a better and more properous life. Many of the farm labourers during this time would have dreamt of buying their own land to work themseleves. The symbol throughout the novel for the dream is rabbits. 2 George and Lennie share a dream to own a little place of their own and live on it. We are introduced to this very early on in the novel when Lennie asks George tell me like you done before about the rabbits (pg 14) George tells Lennie some day we gonna have a little house and a couple of acres and lennie will have his rabbits. Throughtout the book whenever Lennie talks about their dream he always talks about the rabits george will get him. Candy joins them in the dream and could help make it a reality when he offer his savings as downpayment in return for being included. Crooks dreams of being equal to the others. He is skeptical at first you guys is just kiddin yourself. He tells Lennie and Candy But you wont get no land he tells them (pg 80) He rembers his childhood when his father owned a arm and he played with the white children and longs for a similar relashonship with white people again He is drawn into the dream when he hears Candy candy has some money to help buy the land. He asks if the guys would want a hand to work for nothing just his keep, why id come a lend a hand ( pg 81) Curlys wifes continues the theme, all be it a different dream. She has draems of leaving the farm and being in the movies She tells Lennie she met a guy that was gonna put her in the pitchers. The novel focuses on many contrasts. George and Lennie are contrastec on the way they look and behave. Lennie is decribed as a huge man, shapeless of face, with wide sloping shoulders walking heavily, we percieve him to be slow ( in mind and body). George in contrast is small and quick with sharpe features. The more able of the two. Lennie can also be compared to several animals a bear , immensly strong, he is innocent and helpless like the mouse and puppy. Candy can be compared to his dog, both of them old, both of them good workers in their youth, but now worn out and past their usefulness. The people on the ranch with power can also be contrasted. Slim who is respected for his wisdom and competence and Curly who only has power because he is the farm owners son not from respect. The Title of the book OF MICE AND MEN comes from a poem by Robert Burns. The best laid shem Jayne Stupple Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE John Steinbeck section.

The Genome Project and the Disruption of Evolution :: Genetics Darwin Science Essays

The Genome Project and the Disruption of Evolution The genome project was successfully completed in June 2001. As a result, many controversies have arisen regarding the ethics of altering a person's genetic makeup. These arguments will most certainly continue for generations to come. However, the real problem will involve how evolution itself will be dramatically altered if genetic manipulation is allowed. If every human being alters his genes to make offspring free of diseases and variations, then eventually the human population will be void of variation. Variation has always been the key to life. With even a slight modification in environment, the whole human population, if permitted to change nature's plan, could die out. Altering the genetic makeup of a human offspring is evolutionarily wrong. Admittedly, a perfect race seems like an ideal lifestyle. Since the beginning of time, humans have strived to have perfect bodies, clear complexions, and high IQs. Now with the completion of the genome project, they may have the opportunity to erase all defects and diseases. Although this sounds like the ideal situation for mankind, it is far from ideal. If every human altered the genetic makeup of his offspring, eventually the human population would have no allowances for variation and no way to combat sudden environmental challenges. Charles Darwin first proposed that variation was the key to life. Without it, natural selection could not occur. Because natural selection is the driving force of evolution, evolution is ultimately disrupted. Darwin stated in his Origin of Species, "The preservation of favorable variations, I call Natural Selection." (Raven and Johnson, 13) If the entire human population were altered so that each human were perfect in every way, then, as each reproduced, there would be no variation in one's offspring. (Gendron) The differences between individuals develop through minor mutations. Those harmful to an individual usually decrease the chance of survival. However, there are some that enhance the survival of that individual. These mutations spread throughout the population. Over time, this leads to the creation of new, "more fit" species. (Rine) Unfortunately, manipulation of the new offspring's genes would quickly prevent the normal genetic mutations from occu rring.

Lord Jim Essay

â€Å"The writers, I do believe, who get the best and most lasting response from the readers are the writers who offer a happy ending through moral development. By a happy ending, I do not mean mere fortunate events – a marriage or a last-minute rescue from death – but some kind of spiritual reassessment of moral reconciliation, even with the self, even at death. † In his literary masterpiece, Lord Jim, Joseph Conrad’s theme development is complex but mirrors Fay Weldon’s statement. Dealing with the paradox of whether a human being is capable of both good and evil the moral focus of the novel is the degree of the central characters guilt, his related attempts at self-justification, and in the end, whether or not good works can make up for one bad act. As will be supported in the following paragraphs, Lord Jim is a story of guilt, punishment, obsession to regain lost honor, and moral rescue. Within the opening pages of the novel, Conrad’s central character is presented as less than the romantic hero. Described as being â€Å"an inch, perhaps two, under six feet† (Conrad, p. 9) Jim, the young son of a minister, is drawn to the sea as a youth and has developed a romantic view of himself as one who will meet crisis with calmness and determination. Ultimately, he is not shaken in this belief by his failure to reach the cutter of his training ship. As the plot continues, due to an illness, Jim is left behind in Singapore when his ship returns to England. As a result, he decides to take berth on a local steamer, the Patna, which is involved in an accident. Faced with what he determines to be a hopeless situation, he jumps and deserts his ship when it appears that the Patna is going to sink with all 800 passengers onboard. When it becomes known that the passengers survived, Jim becomes a social outcast. Despite the fact that he was â€Å"one of us† (Conrad, p. 63) his jump â€Å"into a well-into an everlasting deep hole. . . .’ ‘(Conrad, p. 87) associates him with the other officers, known as troublemakers, who have deserted the Patna. His offense is one upon which the Court of Enquiry can have no mercy. Jim however, refuses to accept this association and does his utmost to distinguish himself from them as evidenced by the quote â€Å"They all got out of it in one way or another, but it wouldn’t do for me. † (Conrad, p. 64) He even goes to the extent of attempting to pardon himself as is evidenced when he reports to Marlow, â€Å"There was not the thickness of a sheet of paper between the right and wrong of this affair. † (Conrad, p. 100) Not entirely convincing however, his hope is that he can ultimately rehabilitate himself. As in his first failure in the training ship, he remains certain that he can still be prepared for any emergency and has only been betrayed by circumstances. He finds it impossible to accept his weakness and chooses not to stay in a place where men know his story. Therefore, he is driven farther and farther east in the search of a refuge where he can start over again by establishing himself as a trustworthy man and seeking escape from his feelings of guilt. In what seems to be a distinct second part of the book Lord Jim, Jim is able find relief from his guilt by settling in the remote village of Patusan. Acting as an agent for the trader Stein, it is here that he rises to be â€Å"Lord Jim,† where the â€Å"jump† is never questioned, and the natives become dependent on his strength and character. It finally seems that he has successfully isolated himself from his past, in a place where, â€Å"The stream of civilization, as if divided on a headland a hundred miles north of Patusan, branches east and south-west, leaving its pains and valleys, its old trees and its old mankind, neglected and isolated. † (Conrad, p170) Despite the fact that he has achieved â€Å"the conquest of love, honor, men’s’ confidence,† (Conrad, p. 169) his past comes in search of him. Gentleman Brown and his crew invade the â€Å"wall of forests† (Conrad, p. 307), which keeps Jim in his isolation. Physically, as determined by numbers, the people of Patusan are more that a match for Brown, but mentally Jim is helpless before this man who holds scorn for mankind and who â€Å"would rob a man as if only to demonstrate his poor opinion of the creature†. Conrad, p. 261) Brown opens the wound of Jim’s past when he asks whether he had â€Å"nothing fishy in his life to remember that he was so damnedly hard upon a man trying to get out of a deadly hole by the first means that came to hand-and so on and so on. And there ran through the rough talk a vein of subtle reference to their common blood, an assumption of common experience; a sickening suggestion of common guilt, of secret knowledge that was like a bond of their minds and of their hearts†. (Conrad, p. 86) Everything that Brown says recalls Jim’s past weaknesses and thusly undermines his certainty that he has placed his past cowardice behind him. As a result, Jim finds that his inner peace was just an illusion, that â€Å"his fate, revolted, was forcing his hand† (Conrad, p. 290), and that his ability to act decisively is paralyzed. He allows Brown and his followers to leave the country unharmed if they promise to take no life. They however break the pact by killing the chief’s son, Dain Waris. With solitude shattered, Jim sees the path of destiny before him because he guaranteed the lives of all the people against Brown and his men. He feels that he can only conquer his fatal destiny by suicide, so that â€Å"the dark powers should not rob him twice of his peace†. (Conrad, p. 302) Though given the opportunity, he does not try to escape with Jewel, but allows himself to be killed by Doramin. Upon reflection of the events of Jim’s life Marlow understands, with sad irony, that for Jim the sacrifice might seem ‘an extraordinary success† (Conrad, p. 07) for â€Å"that in the short moment of his last proud and unflinching glance, he had held the face of that opportunity which, like an Eastern bride, had come veiled to his side. † (Conrad, p. 307) Therefore, at last, Jim feels himself become a hero by finally being given the heroic chance he had been waiting for. Twice before (on the decks of the training ship and Patna) he had failed to act heroi cally when given the opportunity to act with honor and courage. At the end of the novel, by offering his own life to Doramin, Jim is able to face and pass the final test with bravery although it costs him his life. Thus, the novel ends on a positive note because Conrad’s central character triumphs when he finally receives moral redemption. It certainly may sound peculiar to say that the death of the hero provides a successful ending to the novel. Usually, such an ending would be considered to be unsuccessful and in fact, to be a tragedy. However, in Joseph Conrad’s Lord Jim, as the central character, Jim is plagued by guilt over an incident that occurred in his youth. It is this very incident that has dominated his life from the very beginning pages and despite Jim’s â€Å"conviction of innate blamelessness,† (Conrad, p. 4) he was to blame, and the rest of the book is taken up with his attempts to deal with his actions. He, in a sense, becomes obsessed with redemption and each choice he makes is controlled by this need. It is only in the end that he comes to the realization of the significance of his choices and to the fulfillment of his destiny. Cowardice in the fac e of the crucial test was contained in Jim’s destiny and only by realizing that he will never be able to run away from himself could he atone for his offense. In the end, as described by Marlow, Jim â€Å"passes away under a cloud â€Å"(Conrad, p. 307), as he had lived under a cloud. Marlow suggests the irony of his narrative by saying that â€Å"Not in the wildest days of his boyish visions could (Jim) have seen the alluring shape of such an extraordinary success! † (Conrad, p. 307) Thus, it is only through this last and final act that Conrad’s Lord Jim was finally able to reach success by bravely giving up his life for respect, honor, and redemption.

How is religion a human response in the search for meaning? Essay

Every culture has some kind of religion, and all faiths answer the question â€Å"What is the meaning of life?† Humanity’s search for an answer to this question is one of the main reasons that people are drawn to religion. The answers, although different from religion to religion, give people’s lives purpose, meaning, and hope. Religion is found in all ages and all cultures. Its principles and values have given motivation and guidance to every human society. The function of religion in a society is often to explain to people their primal origins, the nature of life, the function and aims of life and reasons for living. Religion is just one of many answers to the questions that most human beings spend their lives searching for. Maybe that’s why so many strongly religious people are so at peace with themselves and with the world. Everyone’s looking for meaning in life, from all kinds of different sources. It’s human nature to want connection, a sense of belonging to something greater than ourselves, and a sense of community. This is derived from the human characteristic of curiosity. We want connection to our pasts and our heritage. We want answers to the big questions: Where do we come from? What’s the meaning of life? Why do good people suffer? Why is evil often rewarded? Religion provides solutions to many of these questions, to those who believe, but it also provides many new questions. Religion is a human response to the search for meaning for some people, but ultimately all are looking for the answers. Whether their path is through religion, obsessive meditation, staring at crystals, running 47 kilometers a day or talking to walls, everyone has to come to their answers on their own terms. Some people use religion for this purpose. When trying to find answers to life’s mysteries, religious impulse begins. When the mystery is understood, you come to understand the religious life as more as a quest than a destination. Steve Tyler of Aerosmith once sang â€Å"Life’s a journey, not a destination†. Maybe life is a journey of the search for meaning, its not something that your trying to accomplish, more something that you work through and once you’ve reached it then its over, which seems so much more purposeful than simply spending each day killing time. The study of philosophy seeks to develop intellectual abilities important for life as a whole. Properly pursued, philosophy enhances analytical, critical and interpretive capacities that may be applied to any academic field. In a world where religion often plays a central role in political, social and even economic events, there is a vital need for an ongoing critical analysis, reflection and understanding of religious traditions, issues and ideas. Taken together, philosophy and religious studies develops how to critically examine, analyze and appreciate these traditions and ideas. Proverbs 4:7 says â€Å"Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.† To me this seems to state that to understand something, one must have knowledge and astuteness of the subject. Therefore maybe the philosophy of religion is the path to realisation†¦ Religion is a source of meaning because it provides a way of addressing such diverse foundational questions as those raised by the facts of life and death or the very existence of the universe. Even more importantly, in terms of the meaning of everyday life, all religions provide a value structure within which the quality of human life or human progress can be measured. Religion acknowledges the validity of the quest for human happiness and all religions claim to be able to offer a map that traces the path by which happiness can be attained. All religions provide a sense of personal identity within which human life  can be structured. They also provide a social context that allows us to understand ourselves as part of a community with rights and responsibilities to that community and ways of relating to other communities. Obviously it is possible to find alternative ways of shaping one’s personal and social identity. However, history suggests that there are few ways that can match religion in catering for this key requirement in the search for meaning.

How to Revise Your Paper for Clarity

How to Revise Your Paper for Clarity Writing and revising a paper is a time-consuming and messy process, and this is exactly why some people experience anxiety about writing long papers. It’s not a task that you can finish in a single sitting- that is, you can’t if you want to do a good job. Writing is a process that you do a little bit at a time. Once you come up with a good draft, it’s time to revise. Ask yourself the following questions as you go through the revision process. Does the Paper Fit the Assignment? Sometimes we can get so excited about something we find in our research that it sets us off in a new and different direction. It’s perfectly fine to veer off in a new direction, as long as the new course doesn’t lead us outside the bounds of the assignment. As you read over a draft of your paper, take a look at the directional words used in the original assignment. There is a difference between analyze, examine, and demonstrate, for example. Did you follow the directions? Does the Thesis Statement Still Fit the Paper? A good thesis statement is a vow to your readers. In one single sentence, you stake a claim and promise to prove your point with evidence. Very often, the evidence we gather doesn’t â€Å"prove† our original hypothesis, but it does lead to new discovery. Most writers have to re-work the original thesis statement so it accurately reflects the findings of our research. Is My Thesis Statement Specific and Focused Enough? â€Å"Narrow your focus!† You’re very likely to hear that many times as you progress through the gradesbut you shouldn’t get frustrated by hearing it time and again. All researchers have to work hard at zooming in on a narrow and specific thesis. It’s just part of the process. Most researchers revisit the thesis statement several times before they (and their readers) are satisfied. Are My Paragraphs Well-organized? You can think of your paragraphs as little mini-essays. Each one should tell its own little story, with a beginning (topic sentence), a middle (evidence), and an end (concluding statement and/or transition). Is My Paper Organized? While your individual paragraphs may be well-organized, they may not be well-positioned. Check to make sure that your paper flows from one logical point to another. Sometimes good revision starts with good old cut and paste. Does My Paper Flow? Once you make certain that your paragraphs are placed in a logical order, you will need to revisit your transition statements. Does one paragraph flow right into another? If you run into trouble with, you might want to review some transition words for inspiration. Did you Proofread for Confusing Words? There are several pairs of words that continue to vex the most accomplished writers. Examples of confusing words are except/accept, whose/who’s, and effect/affect. It’s easy and quick to proofread for confusing word errors, so don’t omit this step from your writing process. You can’t afford to lose points for something so avoidable!

Movie Review of Bullworth essays

Movie Review of Bullworth essays Movie Review of Bullworth Warren Beaty makes a heroic attempt to tell people what they need to hear in the dramatic comedy, Bullworth. As the director and star of the movie, he portrays a senator, in the midst of a suicidal breakdown, saying exactly what he thinks rather than what he is supposed to say. An unpredictable movie, Bullworth kept my attention until the very end. The casting was well done, with Mr. Beaty, Hally Barry and several other big stars appearing throughout the movie. And the idea for a senator to tell nothing but the truth and not politically correct is nothing less than phenomenal. But, while a great concept for a movie, it was over stereotyped and tastelessly vulgar in too many scenes. The movie begins with Senator Bullworths breakdown. Warren Beaty portrays the ideal senator with a warm, friendly smile, handsome face, with family values that are sure to get him re-elected in the primaries. This is the most believable character for Warren Beaty, especially after his publicity in the last presidential election as being a possible candidate for President. Shortly after the breakdown, however, Beatys persona flips around and suddenly he no longer plays the professional senator. With the new personality, comes a new character that now tells the citizens the truth about what politics is all about. After some exposure to a different lifestyle, Bullworth now uses rapping in his new campaign of truth. Hilarious at first, the rapping soon became painful to watch and listen to. It was way over used and was too well written to be as spontaneous as the movies writers wanted you to think. About the same time as the rapping is first introduced, Hally Barry, as Nina, becomes Bullworths love interest. Although already sounding stereotypical, this was a great opportunity for the story to part from the usual one race/age/cla...