ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
In her article “The Difficult Miracle of Black Poetry in America”, June Jordan discusses Phillis Wheatley as one of the most famous African-American poets of the eighteenth century. Jordan focuses on portraying the aspects of the young Black poet’s life while naming Wheatley the “miracle” and explaining why the life of the Black poet can be associated with the idea of a “difficult miracle”. At the beginning of the article, Jordan notes that it is a challenging task for a Black slave to become a poet in the United States. Thus, the author states, “A poet is African in Africa, or Irish in Ireland, or French on the left bank of Paris, or white in Wisconsin… A poet is somebody free. A poet is someone at home” (Jordan 162). However, it was not a path typical for an African slave in America, and Wheatley, as a poet, was a miracle in this context. In comparison with the other poets, who were living in their native countries and who were free, Wheatley was totally the opposite. Being a black slave, Wheatley was sold in America and educated by her white slave-owners. Jordan states that Wheatley was a miracle because she became the first Black poet and the second female poet whose works were published in the United States. Phillis Wheatley published her first poem “To the University of Cambridge” at the age of fourteen. Jordan states that, in course of time, Wheatley’s poems became more mature and revealed the poet’s “intrinsic ardor” (Jordan 165). When she was eighteen or nineteen years old, Wheatley published her first book of poetry, Poems on Various Subjects Religious and Moral . In her article, Jordan notes that in spite of the poet’s age, her poems were always unique and personal. Jordan emphasizes that Wheatley, as “the first Black poet in America, had dared to redefine herself from house slave to, possibly, an angel of the Almighty” (Jordan 165). Jordan claims that Wheatley created herself as the unique poet with the great revolutionary potential in spite of all challenges typical for being a Black poet in the American society. Continuing the discussion of Wheatley’s life events, Jordan focuses on the period when the poet was twenty-one years old. Suzannah Wheatley, the white ‘mother’ of the young girl, died. Wheatley seemed to lose her connection with whites, and she realized her nature of the Black poet in America. In spite of changes in the life and marriage, Wheatley continued writing poems and dreamed about publishing the poetry; but the poet died at the age of thirty-one. Having represented these facts, Jordan focuses on the fact that Wheatley was unique as a young poet, as a Black poet, and as a female poet. At the end of the article, Jordan concentrates on differences of white and black poets. Thus, Jordan states, “as lon
The political and military tension between the United States of America and the Soviet Union soon after the end of the Second World War made it necessary for the United States to spread its influence in Europe. Most of the European countries in both the Allied and Axis forces had been devastated by the war, and their economies were crippled. The United States was concerned that in the event of another major war, most of the nations that were capable of giving it the necessary support would either be too weak to fight or join the new enemy, the Soviet Union. As such, the government, under the leadership of President Harry Truman needed a plan that would help strengthen its allies in Europe. The plan also had to ensure that these nations would support the United States in case it went to war with the Soviet Union. After a wide consultation among the top government officials and other technocrats, a plan was hatched. It was proposed that the government should come up with an economic relief plan to help its allies in Europe to develop their economies that had been destroyed during the war. The plan was taken to the Congress, which was dominated by Republicans at that time, as Economic Corporation Bill. 1 The government, led by the Democrats, had to convince the Congress that the plan would have direct benefits to the country and its strategic allies in Europe. It was passed by both houses and later renamed Marshall Plan in reference to George Marshall, who was then the Secretary of State. The Marshall Plan outlined a number of benefits that were to be granted to nations around the world, which were adversely affected by the Second World War. Given that the world was still gripped by fear of the possibility of another major war, the United States did not want to create tension by Balkanizing the world using this plan. As such, the plan stated that all the nations that were affected by the war would receive some form of financial aid to help them in their economic recovery. The government of the United States invited the Soviet Union- the other superpower and its archenemy- to participate in this economic recovery plan. The government knew very well that the Soviet Union would reject the plan because of a number of fundamental reasons. The Soviet Union, unlike the United States, was affected adversely by the war, just like many other European nations. It emerged as a world power militarily, but economically it was struggling. Accepting the invitation to participate in the recovery plan would require it to make financial contributions equivalent to that of the United States to have equal bargaining power. It lacked this capacity. The Soviet Union was also not comfortable being part of a plan that had been developed by the United States. As was expected by the United States, the Soviet Union rejected the plan. However, the United States was determined to proceed with the economic stimulus plan with or without the support and approval of the Soviet Union. 2 In this plan, the United States set aside $1
Introduction The movie The Shawshank Redemption tells a story of prison life. It shows the many troubles and tribulations that are associated with life in general. It also highlights emancipation through hope. The story told in the film focuses on the experiences of Andy Dufresne. Dufresne comes meets Red in prison. His new friend brings a lot of changes to his life. Red is regarded as a prison entrepreneur. As a result of hardships in prison and Dufresne’s escape, Red becomes a new man. He had initially lost hope in life and had become used to prison life ( The Shawshank Redemption ). He changes into an optimistic person with a purpose in life. He undergoes his form of Shawshank emancipation. The film contains several themes. They include hope, comradeship, and loyalty. Hope appears to be the only thing that cannot be taken away from an individual by another. Another major theme in the movie is entrepreneurship. In this paper, an analysis of three characters portraying entrepreneurial traits is conducted. Ellis Boyd “Red”: The Penitentiary Entrepreneur Red can be regarded as a prison entrepreneur. He possesses the three characteristics of comradeship, trust, and hope ( The Shawshank Redemption ). These traits help him a lot in his business. He is the persona in this fascinating tale of escape. He is telling his story to Andy. He introduces Andy to the business of making chess pieces within the prison. He later promotes him (Andy) and offers him a more influential position. He is a man with a very strong personality. He finds hope where there is none. Due to his business skills, he finds a new ally in Andy. He influences his friend’s views towards life and shows him that he can make a living behind prison walls by engaging in business. Andy Dufresne: The Converted Entrepreneur Dufresne is a complex character in the movie. He is introduced to prison entrepreneurship by Red. His personality changes significantly throughout the movie as he engages in business. He becomes optimistic and learns how to improve his life. His contact with Red restored his faith, which helped him later in life. Despite his busy business schedule, he gets time to interact with his colleagues. He narrates to them the story of how he was falsely accused of killing. Even though Andy Dufresne is the main character in the movie, his personality is brought out by his interactions with other inmates. For example, his entrepreneurial skills shine through when he comes into contact with Red. Warden Samuel No
Introduction Leadership, organizational structure, and culture play a central role in the success of any organization. Huge companies have crumbled while others have maintained a consistent and steady growth. Considering the case of Circuit City and Apple Inc., Circuit City dictated the big-box electronics sector for over six decades. Its shareholders enjoyed impressive returns from their innovative business strategy. Nonetheless, Circuit City became a victim of its own accomplishments that forced it to substitute its long-term goals with interim goals in response to the capriciously adjusting and competitive market. Its efforts failed. Conversely, Apple Inc. has been a success story. Formed by two college dropouts, it has grown to become one of the world wealthiest and most innovative technology companies in the current generation. The analysis in this paper focuses on the two companies, Apple Inc. and Circuit City. It addresses the success of one and the failure of the other comparatively. The fall of Circuit City Established in 1949 by Samuel Wurtzel, Circuit City became the first electronic retail in the US. It dominated the industry for many years up to 2004. Before its liquidation, the company stated that the mission of the employees was to work in unity in accordance with its values to achieve the goals of the firm. Contritely, one of the main reasons that caused its liquidation was poor management. In the first decade after the company was established, the store recorded annual sales of $ 1 million. It witnessed a quick expansion rate. The profit gained from its lucrative sales helped to open other chain stores across the US and hence the witnessed increased profits (Campbell, 2014). Furthermore, the high gains enabled it to offer lower price for quality products as a plan to outwit its competitors. Customers were the epicenter of all its goals and strategies. This situation attracted more and more clients. The company had made over $ 120 million sales by the end of 1979. It quickly rose to the extent of surpassing the $1 billion point by the end of 1987 (Perry, 2009). According to Campbell (2014), the growth was impressive until the company began feeling the heat of other competitors such as Best Buy Inc. Circuit City was compelled to introduce new business strategies in the effort to hold its market share. Although Circuit City sold products that were similar to other superstores such as Best Buy, its mode of operation was different. Circuit City had a high environment that was supervised by salespeople who would be paid on commission (Romero, 2013). On the hand, Best Buy Inc. had informed staff members who would only assist their clients where necessary because it operated like a self-service store. Despite the then ongoing competition, the company was stuck to its goal. It intended to obtain a principal market share in every area that it operated. This determination would help in increasing sales and gains. In essence, this move meant that Circuit City would establish a chain of store
Introduction Operations risk management is an area that has a significant impact on the strategic values of a healthcare service provider. The study engaged a qualitative research approach to investigate, for the purpose of better service delivery, how to manage operational risks that arise due to the outsourcing of IT services, and why such risks happen. It was established that healthcare service providers use different models to identify and plan for the best strategies to address operational risks. In the context of managing operational risks, the outstanding risks that were identified include service level agreements, changes in pricing, changes in the relationship with the vendor, hardware and software changes, and management issues. Often, it emerged that healthcare service providers need to develop an appropriate model for selecting the right vendor to minimize risks. These risks include those that arise due to poor vendor selection that often leads to higher costs and poor service delivery. The recommended operations risk management steps include risk planning, identification, qualitative and quantitative risk analysis, developing a risk response plan, and putting in place a risk monitoring and control plan. The strategies identified as appropriate for risk management include accepting risks, putting methods in place to avoid the risks, exploiting opportunities for risk avoidance, transferring the risks, sharing the risks, and mitigating the risks to effectively manage them. Significance of the Study The study is critical because it provides healthcare service providers with the right approaches to use in selecting the right vendor for outsourcing non-core functions. The goal is to effectively achieve the strategic objectives of cost savings, technology optimization, and the use of professional expertise in specific domains by focusing on core functions. In addition, managing operational risks when outsourcing IT services is critical for a properly functioning healthcare service provider to lower the costs associated with outsourcing risks. Conceptual discussion The study was conceptualized in terms of non-core functions of healthcare services that were outsourced and focused on core functions to lower operating costs, increase productivity and performance, and provide better quality services to increase trust among consumers. By outsourcing non-core functions, operational risks associated with outsourcing key IT services, such as service level agreements, data privacy and security, hidden costs, and data entry errors, arise as shown in figure 1. Review of the Literature Outsourcing in health care A research study by Heeks which investigated outsourcing of healthcare services among 12 service providers, using a methodology that accurately reflected the research problem, showed that the practice is an emerging global trend that most companies are adopting (129). Heeks notes that healthcare service delivery is driven by industry players, such as insurance companies, hospitals, and pharmaceutical companies (129). Insurance companies are finding it difficult to address the increasing number of
Introduction Literature is one of the most powerful tools that can be used by people to attract attention to certain problems or present their thoughts and ideas. It has always been the main and the most effective way to communicate with society and discuss topical issues. That is why it has passed a long way as it has been evolving along with the world to be able to reflect the current ideas, values, and problems. Today, in many cases literature revolves around aspects people face. These might include ethical issues, hesitations and choice, the questions about the further evolution of society, and the environment. Authors try to reconsider traditional ideas and pose questions about how people should live and act. That is why their contemporary literature acquires multiple specific features that differentiate it from works of previous epochs. For instance, the problem of the environment and people’s attitude to nature becomes a significant topic (Franklin 13). In the novel Tourist Season by Carl Hiaasen, a similar question is touched upon as Florida, and its environment becomes one of the fundamental elements of the work. Summary The whole story rests on the idea of harm done to the natural habitat of Florida by tourists. The main characters belong to the eco-terrorist organization which pursues the goal of minimizing the negative impact of incomers via a set of cruel and threatening actions that would make tourism impossible (Hiaasen 10). However, the plot is not so simple as it might seem because of multiple problems touched upon by the author. These might include the idea of choice, ethical issues related to the interaction with nature and ways to protect it, tourism, individual’s role in the world, and how they should behave to defend their values. Additionally, the book is notable because of the unusual character the location plays in it. Being based in Florida, the given story considers nature as one of the central characters that are given significant attention and discussed from different angles to show readers the importance of the problem and the necessity of actions. Themes In such a way, there are two central themes of the story which contribute to the increased level of readers’ interest and help the author to show his ideas and attitudes. First of all, it is the mystery of a man who wants to preserve the nature of Miami and area, save it from being destroyed by tourists and other people who disrespect it (Hiaasen 8). From the very first lines, Hiaasen states that “They were determined to love Florida” (7) emphasizing the unique beauty of the environment and attracting attention to the idea that this location will become one of the central char
Introduction In the fields of sales and retailing, brand equity is an important indicator that determines the success of a business and creates a sustainable financial background. Tesco is a British corporation that has been operating in the market for a long time and has a wide range of regular customers. The implementation of appropriate marketing communication tools is a mechanism to increase sales and brand value. Importance of Branding for Organisations and Consumers From the standpoint of value to organisations, branding is an important aspect that builds market recognition and a sustainable customer base. The example of Tesco proves that an authentic selling principle that the corporation promotes is a convenient marketing practice attracting potential buyers (Barnes, 2017). In addition, creating the image of a multinational company that provides services globally increases confidence in a particular brand. From a consumer perspective, branding policies are also significant. Al-Hajla et al . (2018) provide an example of Islamic-oriented sales, which Tesco adheres to as a strategy to engage an individual category of the population. This allows the target audience to purchase the necessary goods and, at the same time, serves as an additional incentive for trusting this brand. As a result, effective branding is beneficial for both sellers and buyers and contributes to building successful interaction mechanisms. How Marketing Communication Tools Enhance Brand Equity By using the example of the Tesco corporation, one can determine the possibility of increasing the brand equity through marketing communication tools. For instance, Moravcikova and Kliestikova (2017) argue that advertising services via social media and selling food due to digital applications increase the number of customers, thereby enhancing brand recognition. Taiminen (2016) confirms the importance of digital marketing and states that the channels of interaction with the target audience expand, which makes it possible to serve a larger number of consumers. According to the assessment of academic sources, many researchers focus on online marketing as an advanced and popular mechanism for engaging the target audience (Garczarek-Bąk, 2016; Štrach, 2018). Štrach (2018) notes that delivering messages to buyers via the Internet helps personalise purchasers and increase brand recognition due to an individual approach to each client. Thus, marketing communication tools enhance confidence in a particular brand and contribute to customer retention. Justification for Sector/Choice of Brands The choice of Tesco as a target organisation is determined by the brand equity of this corporation and its successful approaches to increasing consumer recognition. For instance, while comparing this company with those in the clothing industry, Morgan, Tallontire and Foxon (2017) note more sustainable green production principles due to customer’s daily food consumption. According to Hökelekli, Lamey and Verboven (2017), compared with discounters, Tesco provides better products of good quality, thereby increasing client rec
Generating Value A. When discussing the Nissan case study, it is important to mention that the company placed emphasis on diversity, with offices including employees of numerous cultures and nationalities and extensive experiences in the overseas operations. Moreover, Nissan implemented a build-to-order and build-to-stock approach in order to streamline the processes and simplify the products manufactured. According to the beliefs of the management, the adoption of the build-to-stock and order strategy made a positive influence on the increase in sales. Compared to key competitors, Nissan introduced a simplified line of products with a view to compliment the key strategies (Schmidt & Simchi-Levi, 2013). Therefore, this allowed the company to overcome unpredictable challenges and change the way Nissan usually responded to emergencies and risks. Nissan also focused on the importance of the supply chains within the context of increased globalization of the automotive industry. Importantly, Nissan leveraged a decentralized structure of supply chains and later imposed central control and coordination in cases of crises (Schmidt & Simchi-Levi, 2013). Apart from contributing to the developing of the corporate culture, the flexible organization of the supply chain was efficient in the process of management of the major global operations through the valuing of the executive team. One of the critical components of operations management functions is the production of vehicles that are of high quality but reasonably priced. In addition, it enables the company to ensure the rewarding customer experience by furnishing considerate customer care and manufacturing reliable and environmentally friendly cars that correspond with client’s needs (Schmidt & Simchi-Levi, 2013). Moreover, the enterprise cherishes and promotes the diversity. The multi-nationality that characterizes its workforce allows meeting the requirements of the diverse markets in which Nissan functions.  1. Trying to become more competitive in the automotive market that offers very vast competitive opportunities is hard for many companies. According to the research conducted by Toma and Marinescu (2013), Nissan used 13 cross-functional areas that represent the core of the company’s functional spheres. Following the logic of the cross-functional areas, Nissan focused on the global strategy that accounts for the quick expansion of the process of globalization. Therefore, Nissan has to be a proactive multinational and transnational company that has considerable resources (Toma & Marinescu, 2013) for sustaining a competitive advantage in the automotive industry where every manufacturer is faced with great struggle and thus the requirement to implement global strategies for competitive advantage to at least survive.  2. Service operations and manufacturing operations have both similarities and differences. The main distinction lies in the tangibility of the output. In the first case, the output is intangible (for instance, purchasing a vehicle fr