JC PENNYS FOCUS - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 3 Words: 1049 Downloads: 8 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Business Essay Type Analytical essay Level High school Did you like this example? JC Penney to Close 33 Stores, Cut 2,000 Jobs January 27 2014 Studentà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s Name Instructorà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s Name JC PENNYà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢S FOCUS J.C. Penney Company, Inc. also known as JC Penney or à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"The Companyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ is one of the leading retailers of US. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "JC PENNYS FOCUS" essay for you Create order It offers a variety of family apparel, jewelry, shoes, accessories and home furnishings through its department storesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ chain and e-commerce website, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“jcp.com.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ In 2010JC Penny failed to handle customer traffic through ecommerce. It also failed to translate its business model for an online shopping experience andwas struggling internally; slow to beat competition, inefficient return policy,poor customer relationship management, which resulted in significant financial problemsand lost brand identity.In November 2011, Ron Johnson was appointed as the new CEO for JC Penney to help regain the companyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s competitive edge. THE NEW STRATEGY LINKING IMC His strategy included Pricingfor Sales Promotions:In order to portray the company image as a higher-quality retailer like its competitors; Macyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s and Kohlà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s, JC Penney establishednew, three-tiered à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“fair and squareà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  pricing strategy; everyday prices,month-long values, and best prices. Everyday prices specified daily low prices (about 40 percent lower than previous ones), month-long values indicatedmonthly discounts on merchandise and the best prices stated the clearance prices established on every monthà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s first and third Fridays. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Happy Returnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  Policy:this new friendly policy to return any article, anytime and anywherewas established to regain the agitated customers.In the presence of receipt, the customer could exchange the product or get a full refund. However, in case of no receipt, the item could still be exchanged, or the customer could earn a full refund through a JC Pe nney gift card.Logo:The new, fresh and sleeker logo, designed to resemble the American flag in order to signify patriotism andemboss JC Penney as an American store.The logorepresented the new à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“fair and squareà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  pricing strategy. Store Layouts:in order to provide a patriotic American ambience, the large aisle passing through the middle of the store was named à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Main Street,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  and the old-fashioned central jewelry counters were replaced by a à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Town Square.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  Spokesperson:Ellen DeGeneres continued to be JC Pennyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s spokesperson. EFFECTIVENESS OF THE NEW STRATEGY The rebranding strategy by the CEO Ron Johnson had been ineffective as the communication flaws affected the company very badly; IdentityCrisis: Consumers are confused about the repositioning of JC Penny. Thecompany focusas a lower-end discounter and a higher-end department store has damaged the companyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s positioning as the retail spectrum where the company falls is no longer clear.Lost Customers, Sales and Profitability: The loyal customers preferred theJC Penney brandà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s system of coupons and seasonal sales. The new pricing created confusion over the quality and pricing of products. The new CEO, Ron Johnson focused on gaining new customersat the cost of abandoning its old customers.The result was dissatisfied customers who felt that the department stores became more expensive and less enjoyable. The middle-market lost its expected discounts. Employee Confusion About the new Internal Policies: As a CEO, Ron Johnson failed to communicate the strategy and plans to the employees which created more confusion and it made it hard for the employees to relate themselves to the policies. As a result, JC Penney had to rehire Myron Ullman in April 2013to replace Ron Johnsonfor JC Pennyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s survival. In January 2014, JC Penney Co. has planned to close down 33 stores and removearound 2,000 jobs to help save $65 million a year. LESSONS The lessons from CEOà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s ineffective communication strategy are as follows: Ineffective internal and external communication:While undergoing a radical brand transformation, the current direction needs to be effectively communicated to potential consumers. JC Penney failed to communicate the shift from the storeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s traditional model. Italso failed to effectively communicate and implement the new pricing system within the departments. This failure in effort to effectively communicate the transformation of brand image, identity and positioning resulted in the loss of traditional customers and is failure to attract new customers. This negatively impacted the companyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s revenue and profitability. This also led to customer ill will and customerunwillingness to shop at JC Penney. Ron Johnson lacked the art of directing the managers and employees to the new strategy and pricing system.As a result,managers and employees could not relate themsel ves to the stores. Inability to satisfy stakeholders: It is highly important for a CEO to safeguard interests of and satisfy the stakeholders but unfortunately it has not been the case here in Ron Johnsonà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s tenure. The shareholders desire to retain profits and improve portfolios, consumers are confused about different products and quality, price system, and poor discounts, and employees are worried about losing their jobs with stores closing down. RECOMMENDATIONS The recommendations for the new CEO are to design an advertising campaign that can explain to its customers how it has made a transformation to satisfy their shopping needs, improve the reward system to further encourage loyalty by offering more discounts to loyal customers, gain customer insight to refine the shopping experience by gaining customer feedback through surveys,maintain clear lines of communication so that employees are informed of policy and strategic changes, send à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Miss Youà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  letters to old customers and letters to current customers to explain to them JC Penney transformation, train employeesregularlybefore implementing changes to ensure employee awareness and understanding, enhance open communication in organization culture for effective information flow between managers and employees, and improve the ecommerce and communication through improvement in website. STRENGTHS Strong brand recognition Available in all sizes Partners with Davidà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s Bridal Sephora Affordable rates Sweepstakes Large number of stores nationwide WEAKNESSES Decline in sales Low popularity Confused brand identity and position Less coupons Moderately expensive pricing Poor advertising campaign OPPORTUNITIES Interacting through social media Sponsorships Appoint younger designers New spokesperson New product lines can be introduced Improve online sales THREATS More informed consumers can compare brands online Increasing competition High labor cost in US Same clothing lines as competitors means less differentiation REFERENCES Beltran, Joshua et al. JC PENNEY, INC: The impact of rebranding on internal and external communication. 2013. The Web https://classic.marshall.usc.edu Kitchens, Ashley et al. jcp. The Web. https://www.slideshare.net JC Penney to Close 33 Stores, Cut 2,000 Jobs. 2014. The Web https://adage.com/article/news JCPenney Strategic Communication Plan Book. The Web. https://eportfolios.ithaca.edu

Mary Of The United States - 886 Words

Mary sat at her desk, just like she always did. The desk’s varnish had been worn down to the raw wood, and it was covered in scratches made by her own clawing nails. Mary couldn’t remember when she had been locked in there, in the blanched room. The room was vacant except for the debased desk, a plastic chair, and a very shabby Mary. Mary trembled due to the caffeine racing through her veins. Mary was always afraid. She was afraid of not being good enough. She was afraid of not meeting her parent’s expectations. Being less than Coeus, her brother. But, these were not ungrounded fears as they were based on truth. From the day Mary was born it was pounded into her tiny little brain that she was not as good as Coeus. She remembered her parent looking down on her for not getting grades as high as Coeus. No matter how she tried she was not good enough. Coeus’s existence was the reason she was locked in this room. Mary’s earliest memories were of education in fact, these were her only memories. Her security blanket was a set of q-cards. Her pacifier, a dose of caffeine. Her story book, the McGraw-Hill math text book. When her parents looked down on Coeus with tenderness, and care she was subjected to looks of disgust, and loathing. Mary heard the rap of knuckles on the metal door, it was a warning sign. Mary hunched back over her desk despite her chronic back pain, and resumed her exam. She ignored the clipped British tones from a woman who was her progenitor, â€Å"I have broughtShow MoreRelatedMary Parker Follett : A Social Worker Of United State Of America Essay1207 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction about Mary Parker Follett: Mary Parker Follett was a social worker of United State of America. She also well knew as the management consultant, organisational theory and behaviour. People believe that Mary Parker Follett as a management guru in early days of management theory. 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How was Hitler helped into power Free Essays

Although it is true to say that Hitler gained power through the ‘back-door’, it is unfair to argue that Hitler had got into power purely by luck or chance. Certainly the situation in Germany made the atmosphere right for a Nazi takeover, however certain events must be recognised as being a direct result of Hitler’s perseverance and strengths as a leader. Perhaps most importantly for the Nazi party- if not conventional – was the appeal of the party’s agenda. We will write a custom essay sample on How was Hitler helped into power? or any similar topic only for you Order Now Not only was the party’s agenda masterminded by Hitler, it was he who projected the party’s ideologies to the people efficiently, and powerfully to the public. Not only was this from his oratorical dexterity, but also from his brilliant propaganda methods. Hitler’s dexterous methods of propaganda clearly won public support. How Hitler manipulated Horst Wessel’s death is on instance, in which Hitler blamed the KPD party for his murder, whereas his death was due to other motives. Not only does this instance shows Hitler’s deftness, but also gives us an indication as to whom Hitler targeted in his propaganda. However, it seems although Hitler used propaganda to good effect, much of his support would not have been gained but for the circumstances in which Germany were in. Anti-Semitism, horrific as it may seem, was in fact staunchly supported, particularly within the Bavarian region of Germany. Much of this hatred became more widespread, especially amongst middle classes. This was largely due to the fact that the majority of the instigators of urbanisation happened to be Jews. However, Hitler’s nationalist theory and brilliant propaganda skills made the spread of Anti-Semitism easier and faster. In fact, much of the ideologies of the time that were widespread, such as anti-communism, nationalism, volkenmeingeschaft etc. orresponded to Nazi ideology. Hitler, with his brilliant leadership skills, was able to get such views across via propaganda and his great oratory skills. Consequently, due to the fact that many agreed with much of his ideologies, Hitler was imminently going to gain support. One instance is the very important group, the liturgy, which had Lutheran roots and thus very connected to Germany, supported the Nazis primarily because of their Nationalistic philosophies. Furthermore, the strength of the Nazi Party was its ideologies appealed to many sections of German society. Although the working class on the whole remained loyal to the socialist party, the socialist element of the Nazis 25-points (which amounted to little more than vague promises of land reform and attack on profiteering), did win some working class support. Instances such as these clearly gave Hitler some sort of power base to which he could gain leadership from. Hitler also appeared to be a factor in gaining a persona in which the Nazi party could easily get support from the party. This could only be gained through conventional means (i. . through elections), as oppose to their putschist tactics and by having a strong fuhrer to which the public could relate. Hitler offered both of these to the party, (A â€Å"Hitler cult† developed by his justification that there was a need for strong leadership to save the party from the so-called Jewish-socialist conspiracy) the ramifications of which were very pleasing for the National Socialists. By 1929, the Nazis were the second largest party in Germany. The biggest factor into Hitler gaining power was the Weimar republics collapse. This was largely due to the fact that more economic problems within the Weimar constitution led to Chancellors such as Von Papen and Schleicher over-using Article 48 in the Reichstag. This imminently led to the demise of the Weimar as a democracy. However, this is not to say that the collapse of the Weimar on its own led to the Nazi party takeover. In fact, at the time of the near collapse of the Weimar, the Nazi party was the largest party in the Reichstag. Coupled with the fact that Von Papen was eager to return to the Reichstag, Hitler was able to become Chancellor. Nonetheless, this did not indicate a complete takeover, although it did become the start of one. Another factor into the demise of the Weimar and thus Hitler’s appointment as Chancellor was the underestimation of Hitler as a manipulator. In essence, Papen especially was foolish to believe that he could control Hitler. In conclusion, it is just to say that Hitler’s ‘help’ was a little more than help. In fact, it was a combination of both Hitler’s qualities as a leader and propagandist and events within Germany that allowed Hitler’s ominous rise to power. How to cite How was Hitler helped into power?, Papers

Masque of the Red Death free essay sample

Discuss with reference to â€Å"The Fall of the House of Usher†. We will write a custom essay sample on Masque of the Red Death or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page For one to indentify Edgar Allen Poe’s creation of an American Gothic sensibility in the short story â€Å"The Usher† relate one must examine closely some feature which are associated with the genre o f American Gothic literature. I have chosen two particular topics to examine, and these are the atmosphere of gloom and darkness crafted throughout the story, and also the idea of symbolism and allegorical meaning within that is, a sense of double meaning. The atmosphere created in the poem is typical not only to American gothic writings, but to European writings also, however the second point, that of the use of allegory, is siad to be more particularly American. I will also include reference to other techniques used in the story used to create this Gothic consciousness in this essay. An atmosphere of mystery and gloom is a central gothic element in the short story â€Å"The Fall of the House of Usher†. According to Anita Vickers in the book â€Å"A New Nation†, American gothic literature is laden with conventions such as â€Å"oppressive gloom, the underlying horror or dread of the protagonist of narrator† and a feeling of â€Å"uncertain doom† (Vickers, 2002, 163). Vickers goes on to say that these conventions are employed to create an atmosphere of â€Å"suspense, mystery, fearful apprehension and strangeness† (Ibid). These elements are most definitely present in â€Å"the Fall of the House of Usher†. A sense of gloom is potent from the outset of the story, with the initial introductory lines enshrouding the reader in a envelope of dreariness and uncertainty, â€Å"during the whole of a dull, dark, and soundless day in the autumn of the year, when the clouds hung oppressively low in the heavens, I had been passing alone, on horseback, through a singularly dreary tract of country† (Poe, ). The setting is, from the outset, conveyed as being mysterious and strange to the reader. In the first paragraph alone Poe makes countless references to the outright gloom and darkness which seem to haunt the setting of the tale. The references to â€Å"Melancholy†, â€Å"insufferable gloom† and â€Å"utter depression† (poe.. ) contribute to the gloomy and sinister atmosphere created for the reader in the opening of the story. Also relaying Vickers’ point about the atmosphere of American Gothic is Andrew-Lloyd Smith in his book â€Å"American Gothic Fiction: An introduction†. Smith compares American gothic literature to a gothic painting. He claims that the atmosphere in a gothic text or work of art is as important as the setting. He draws on the examination of a painting by the artist Piranesi, which Smith indicates, accomplishes effectively the portrayal of the atmosphere in American gothic texts and paintings. This successful gothic atmosphere created, he says, is one which induces a â€Å"sense of futility, despair and the loss of hope† (Smith, 2005, 7). Indeed in Poe’s â€Å"The Fall of the House of Usher† this sense of futility and despair is most evident, from the opening paragraph of the story, up until the last pages. In parts of the story Poe does not disguise this sense of foreboding within descriptive paragraphs, or hint at an atmosphere of dread through an account of the setting. Instead, Poe allows the narrator in the story to directly comment on the sense of doom and desolation that he feels on arrival to the house. The narrator articulates that on seeing the house, â€Å"a sense of insufferable gloom† (Poe.. ) saturated his spirit, and compares the feeling to â€Å"the after-dream of the reveller upon opium the bitter lapse into everyday life† (Poe ). This sense of darkness which he initially speaks of was intangible, however on further examination of the property, the narrator make the worrying ambience he has been describing corporeal, when he speaks of a sort of mist surrounding the area of the house. He describes an atmosphere which had no affinity with the air of heaven, but which had reeked up from the decayed trees, and the gray wall, and the silent tarn a pestilent and mystic vapour, dull, sluggish, faintly discernible, and leaden-hued. † (Poe ) As well as these indications of an eerie sense and feeling about the property of the Usher’s house, the narrator’s reflection on his attempts to cheer the spirit of Roderick Usher, also highlight an atmosphere of gloom directly associated with Usher himself. According to the narrator, encircling Mr. Usher was a â€Å"darkness, as if an inherent positive quality, poured forth upon all objects of the moral and physical universe, in one unceasing radiation of gloom. † (Poe ). All of these descriptions of a sense and atmosphere of doom and gloom are inextricably connected to the creation of a Gothic text. Poe’s inclusion of this atmosphere which the characters in the action of the story in the text highlights the particularly American gothic sensibility crafted in this text. Marita Nadal Blasco, in her essay on Poe’s American Gothic writing highlights that another element of the American gothic genre is the hint towards an allegorical meaning to the text. She writes â€Å"the gothic is most powerful, and most distinctly American, when is strains towards allegorical translucency† (Manuel, 2003, 355), that is that the author does not make a distinct connection to any specific part of American history or society, however critics have generated theories as to what some aspects of the story might be linked to, and if they have an allegorical meaning. Writing specifically about The Fall of the house of Usher Blasco makes reference to the â€Å"incomplete turn toward allegory† (ibid) in the text and goes on to say that the â€Å"allegorical signs generated are more important than the literal elements that constitute the text† (Ibid). An example of the allegorical and symbolic meaning that features of the story could have, is the inclusion and emphasis on the â€Å"House of Usher†. Blasco, in her essay draws on the work of Eric Savoy who â€Å"singles out the house as the most significant analogue and trope of American Gothic’s Allegorical turn† (Ibid) and also identifies a gothic house as being a structure which is haunted by the â€Å"return of the repressed† (Manuel, 2003, 356). The Usher house is said to be a link to a â€Å"traumatic history that can never be fully recovered† (Ibid). Poe, however, uses the symbol of the house, not only in the latter sense, but also as an indication towards the actual Usher family. This can be seen when the narrator suggests â€Å"House of Usher feature -an appellation which seemed to include, in the minds of the peasantry who used it, both the family and the family mansion. †, Poe here is hinting that the title of the story can also indicate the family as well as the physical dwelling place. The Usher family has only ever had one surviving member from each generation – indicated when the narrator explains that Madeline Usher’s death would leave Roderick as â€Å"the last of the ancient race of the Ushers.   (poe.. ). This too, support the idea that the family has had a disturbing, and one could be put in mind of a curse which haunts generations. In using Blasco’s words, Poe’s story indicates a â€Å"proliferation of signs without a clear reference† (Manuel, 2003, 356). As mentioned above, it is this â€Å"inconclusive and incomplete turn toward allegory† (Manuel, 2003, 355) which is significant in, and particular to, American Gothic writing. To briefly mention some other aspects of the short story that create an American Gothic sensibility in the text, one would refer to the focus on the interior and psychological within the story.

Questions Essay Example Essay Example

Questions Essay Example Paper Questions Essay Introduction Question 1. You are a recently appointed Sales Manager for a manufacturer of small engines. The company has grown rapidly over recent years, but its profit margins have been declining and this is one of the key issues that you have been hired to address.After three months on the job, you have become aware that the company’s nine salespeople are focused on closing as many deals as possible regardless of whether they provide good solutions for customers. In addition, salespeople are discounting so much that your company’s margins are continuing to decrease. Clearly, your position as Sales Manager may be in trouble if this continues, plus your personal bonus is based upon achieving profit margin objectives.When you have discussed this with the salespeople, they indicate that in the past they have been encouraged to focus on sales volume and not the profitability of deals.Some changes are required otherwise the profitability targets of the organisation and your personal bon us will not be achieved. What steps do you undertake to resolve the situation and why do you undertake those steps?It is important for the Sales people to be able to have clear goals so that they may correspondingly direct their behaviour towards the achievement of these targets. If they have been accustomed to believing that they will have maximum pay-offs in increasing their sales volume, then they will continue to act as if this strategy will yield them maximum benefit. The first step I will do is to hold a general assembly which will focus on this change of mindset. I will clarify with them that it is profitability and not merely sales volume that will give both them and the whole unit maximum yield. This is consistent with the essence of expectancy theory.Expectancy theory supports the contention that people choose the behaviour they believe will maximize their payoff. It states that people look at various actions and choose the one they believe is most likely to lead to the re wards they want the most. This theory has been tested extensively. It has been found that expectancy theory can do an excellent job of predicting occupational choice and job satisfaction and a moderately good job of predicting effort on the job. Expectancy theory implies that the anticipation of rewards is important as well as the perceived contingency between the behaviours desired by the organisation and the desired rewards. The theory also implies that since different people desire different rewards, organisations should try to match rewards with what employees want (Weathersby, 1998). In other words, if the sales people realise that they will have more reward if they focus on profitability, then they will work towards this changed goal. What is important is to be able to effectively clarify what the goal is, why it was changed, and why it is crucial to achieve it.This change in mindset among the sales people may also be perceived as a change in the vision and its clarification. It is important for me as a Sales Manager to have a clearly defined vision, both on the task and people sides of the business. This speaks of the effectiveness of their leadership, which is both people-oriented than task-oriented. All leaders have the capacity to create a compelling vision, one that takes people to a new place, and the ability to translate that vision into reality. Modern leadership literature frequently characterises the leader as the vision holder, the keeper of the dream, or the person who has a vision of the organisation’s purpose. If the Sales team is one in achieving a profitability target and they know the specific objectives that they have to hit to contribute to this overall goal, then I would be more confident that the overall goal of the team would be achieved.;Personal vision includes my personal aspirations for the organisation and acts as the impetus for the my actions that will link organisational and future vision. My vision needs to be shared by those who will be involved in its realization. Setting of a profitability target for the sales team is just one manifestation of visionary leadership, where a clear goal is identified – but I also have the responsibility to link this to more strategic organisational thrusts.;Question 2. You are the Sales Manager of an electrical goods distributor whose main customer base is electrical retailers. One of your most successful salespeople struggles to submit the weekly written reports that you require from all of your salespeople. This salesperson never submits the reports on time, you usually have to repeatedly request them and when they are submitted they don’t contain the customer information or sales activity information that you want. This also makes it difficult to keep these customer records up to date in the company’s CRM system and limits the ability of sales support staff to help manage these relationships. The rest of the salesforce submit these repor ts, in hard or soft copy, on time and without complaint.What do you do about this issue and why?The first thing I will do as a Sales Manager is to hold a performance discussion with my salesman because of this poor work habit of delayed report submission. During the discussion, I would clearly state why we are holding the session and its importance. I would then allow him to express concerns about why he is always not punctual in churning out his reports. I will try as much as possible to still maintain his self-esteem despite the correction, and also to listen attentively to his concerns. At the end of the session, we should have concurred on the best course of action to be able to resolve the problem. We will then set a work plan, specifying who will do what and by when.The clarity of a goal is important – it needs to be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time-bound. I should ensure that the goal of report submission comply with these criteria of well-defined g oals / objectives. Moreover, I should also be able to show the linkage of this positive behaviour of goal submission to reward. If no such linkage is made, the salesman may not be motivated in attaining the goal set out for him. According to goals setting theories, employees set goals and those organisations can influence work behaviour by influencing these goals. The major concepts in the theory are intentions, performance standards, goal acceptance, and the effort expended. These concepts are assumed to be the motivation. Participation in goal setting should increase commitment and acceptance. Individual goal setting should be more effective than group goals because it is the impact of goals on intentions that is important. In goal-setting theory the crucial factor is the goal. Tests of the theory show that using goals leads to higher performance than situations without goals, and that difficult goals lead to better performance than easy ones (Maczynski ; Koopman, 2000). Although participation in goal setting may increase satisfaction, it does not always lead to higher performance.Second, I will also ensure that continuous monitoring and feedback transpires after we hold the performance discussion. I will coach him further if necessary until he is able to correct his poor work habit. A feedback system can be a form of reinforcement system and a motivational factor for management in promoting positive behaviour among employees. Following Skinner’s =:///cbt-skinner-vs-psychotherapy-freud/ class=ilgen data-wpel-link=external rel=nofollow>reinforcement theory, I can use the feedback system as a form of motivational lever in shaping my salesman’s behaviour and in helping him aim for higher goals. I can also provide incentives for positive behaviour.;It is important to provide feedback to the salesman to assess his or her strengths and weaknesses so that further training can be implemented. Although this feedback and training should be an ongoing pro cess, the semi-annual evaluation might be the best time to formally discuss his performance, but performance coaching sessions across the performance period is encouraged.;Question 4. If you pay a sales person enough money you will have a well motivated sales person. Do you agree? Explain your reasons.While pay is an important consideration for most workers, there are more important considerations that affect an employees’ intention to stay with the organisation and to work optimally. My salesmen’s intrinsic motivation will cause them to exhibit organisational commitment even as he realizes that the pay offered by the company is not necessarily the most competitive. While this is the case, tt is important to ensure that their pay is equitable – while it is not the highest in the industry – since this is intricately related to the my salesmen’s sense of job satisfaction.I should also ensure that the rewards given to my sales people are equitably giv en. Equity theory suggests that motivated behaviour is a form of exchange in which individuals employ an internal balance sheet in determining what to do. It predicts that people will choose the alternative they perceive as fair. In other words, my sales people should find that those who contributed more to goal attainment are also rewarded as much. That is, reward is a function of performance or merit.I realise that motivating workers well in these times of change demands a balanced combination of emotional and intellectual levers. Any manager should learn to use and combine as many needs, factors, modes of reinforcement, and outputs into their message as may be necessary to motivate their employees (Legge, 2005). As Sales Manager, I can become a good motivator by knowing two things well: first, which tool or level of motivation will work for each and every employee, and second, how to motivate and communicate effectively with the use of positive reinforcement. On the part of my co mpany, management practices which can serve as effective reinforcers include self-esteem work shops, flexible work arrangements, customized benefits packages, individual and team performance-based reward systems, among others. Each employee is different thus their motivating factors vary from one and other. My task should be to locate motivational factors of each individual or group in order to develop a motivational environment. This will assist the me in creating a better working environment enhancing productivity and job satisfaction.;Leaders and managers like myself are the ones that provide motivation and vision to any organisational undertaking. I should posses the capabilities, abilities, and skills of a leader in order to create a motivating, working environment. Only in having such effective and motivational leadership can the organisation be assured of a healthy, sustainable, and committed workforce.Word Count: 402ReferencesLegge, K. (2005). Human resource management: Rhet orics and realities. Anniversary edition. Basingstoke: MacMillan.Maczynski, J. ; Koopman, P. (2000). Culture and leadership profiles in Europe: Some results from the GLOBE study. In Koslowsky, M. ; Stashevsky, S. (eds.), Work values and organisational behaviour toward the new millennium. London: Macmillan.Weathersby, G. B. (1998). Leadership at every level. Management Review, 87(6), 5. Questions Essay Thank you for reading this Sample!

The History and Geography of Iceland

The History and Geography of Iceland Population: 306,694 (July 2009 estimate)Capital: ReykjavikArea: 39,768 square miles (103,000 sq km)Coastline: 3,088 miles (4,970 km)Highest Point: Hvannadalshnukur at 6,922 feet (2,110 m)Iceland officially called the Republic of Iceland, is an island nation located in the North Atlantic Ocean, just south of the Arctic Circle. A large part of Iceland is covered with glaciers and snowfields and most of the countrys inhabitants live in the coastal areas because they are the most fertile regions on the island. They also have a milder climate than other areas. Iceland is highly active volcanically and has recently been in the news due to a volcanic eruption under a glacier in April 2010. The ash from the eruption caused disruptions all over the world. History of Iceland Iceland was first inhabited in the late 9th and 10th centuries. The main peoples to move to the island were the Norse and in 930 C.E., the governing body on Iceland created a constitution and an assembly. The assembly was called the Althingi.Following the creation of its constitution, Iceland was independent until 1262. In that year it signed a treaty which created a union between it and Norway. When Norway and Denmark created a union in the 14th century, Iceland became a part of Denmark.In 1874, Denmark gave Iceland some limited independent ruling powers, and in 1904 after a constitutional revision in 1903, this independence was expanded. In 1918, the Act of Union was signed with Denmark which officially made Iceland an autonomous nation that was united with Denmark under the same king.Germany then occupied Denmark during World War II and in 1940, communications between Iceland and Denmark ended and Iceland attempted to independently control all of its land. In May of 1940 though, B ritish forces entered Iceland and in 1941, the United States entered the island and took over defensive powers. Shortly thereafter a vote took place and Iceland became an independent republic on June 17, 1944.In 1946, Iceland and the U.S. decided to end U.S. responsibility for maintaining Icelands defense but the U.S. kept some military bases on the island. In 1949, Iceland joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and with the start of the Korean War in 1950, the U.S. again became responsible for defending Iceland militarily. Today, the U.S. is still Icelands main defensive partner but there are no military personnel stationed on the island and according to the U.S. Department of State, Iceland is the only member of NATO with no standing military. Government of Iceland Today Iceland is a constitutional republic with a unicameral parliament called the Althingi. Iceland also has an executive branch with a chief of state and head of government. The judicial branch consists of the Supreme Court called Haestirettur, which has justices who are appointed for life, and eight district courts for each of the countrys eight administrative divisions. Economics and Land Use in Iceland Iceland features a strong social-market economy typical of Scandinavian countries. This means its economy is both capitalistic with free-market principles but it also has a large welfare system for its citizens. Icelands main industries are fish processing, aluminum smelting, ferrosilicon production, geothermal power, and hydropower. Tourism is also a growing industry in the country and the associated service-sector jobs are growing. In addition, despite its high latitude, Iceland has a relatively mild climate due to the Gulf Stream which allows its people to practice agriculture in the fertile coastal regions. The largest agricultural industries in Iceland are potatoes and green vegetables. Mutton, chicken, pork, beef, dairy products, and fishing also contribute considerably to the economy.   Geography and Climate of Iceland Iceland has a varied topography but it is one of the most volcanic regions in the world. Because of this, Iceland has a rugged landscape dotted with hot springs, sulfur beds, geysers, lava fields, canyons, and waterfalls. There are approximately 200 volcanoes in Iceland and most of them are active. Iceland is a volcanic island primarily because of its location on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge which separates the North American and Eurasian Earth plates. This causes the island to be active geologically as the plates are constantly moving away from each other. In addition, Iceland lies on a hotspot (like Hawaii) called the Iceland Plume which formed the island millions of years ago. As a result in addition to earthquakes, Iceland is prone to volcanic eruptions and features the aforementioned geologic features such as hot springs and geysers. The interior portion of Iceland is mostly an elevated plateau with small areas of forest but little land suitable for agriculture. In the north, however, there are extensive grasslands which are used by grazing animals such as sheep and cattle. Most of Icelands agriculture is practiced along the coast.Icelands climate is temperate because of the Gulf Stream. Winters are usually mild and windy and summers are wet and cool. References Central Intelligence Agency. (2010, April 1). CIA - The World Factbook - Iceland. Retrieved from: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ic.htmlHelgason, Gudjonand Jill Lawless. (2010, April 14). Iceland Evacuates Hundreds as Volcano Erupts Again. Associated Press. Retrieved from: https://web.archive.org/web/20100609120832/infoplease.com/ipa/A0107624.html?Infoplease. (n.d.). Iceland: History, Geography Government, and Culture - Infoplease.com. Retrieved from: infoplease.com/ipa/A0107624.htmlUnited States Department of State. (2009, November). Iceland (11/09). Retrieved from: state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3396.htm Wikipedia. (2010, April 15). Geology of Iceland - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geology_of_Iceland

Methods in IR Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Methods in IR - Assignment Example minist methodology in international relations research have had low progress, in the past, its inclusion in international relations research was of plausible significance. Power relations are dependent on diverse perspectives including feminist research methods. Feminist methodologies are significant in determining the ontology and epistemology of critical social thinking. This research seeks to address the extent to which Selimovic et al (2012) applie the question of feminist methodology in their research. How does Selimovic et al (2012) use feminist methodology to depict the skills of critical social scientific reasoning in their research? Social research plays a vital and central role in improving the academic field of political science. Research is an academic investigation in a field of knowledge of a researcher’s interest. A research aims at creating a solution to the identified hypothesis. The validity of a hypothesis formulated in the field of international relations is verifiable using qualitative research. It involves a through, comprehensive and structured inquiry using qualitative research methods. The integration of the diverse research methods is of valuable importance in conducting social research. International relations topics are among the diverse social research topics in political research. A well-conducted research in international relations applies impartial reasoning skills, based on premises use research methods. Selimovic et al (2012) use valid qualitative research methods to address the role of women in instilling peace in countries and regions experiencing war and violence. The development of the academic discipline in international relations started notably after the Second World War. Most countries adopted initiatives to enhance the development of research  in international relations. America was among the countries that contributed highly in the development of research in international relations after the end of the war (Jackson

A book revew Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

A book revew - Essay Example The authors emphasize the necessity for running the government like a democracy and not a business, and opine that elected and appointed public servants worldwide are working on this principle. Their renewed commitment to public interest has helped them find enhanced value for their service and earn more dignity and respect for themselves. They have also realized how much they can accomplish by â€Å"listening to† and not â€Å"telling† the public and by â€Å"serving† and not â€Å"steering† the public. As a result, the public servants have inspired the public so much so that common problems are being addressed and resolved by the common public as well as the public servants through mutual cooperation. The authors call this new attitude and new involvement in public administration along with the renewed commitment towards public interest as the new revolution called the New Public Service. The book stresses the importance of societal value in the work of public servants, wherein lies the soul of public administration. Public servants are responsible for improving public health, maintaining pubic safety, enhancing environmental quality, etc. which ultimately amounts to enhancing and maintaining good, quality life for all. The traditional approach to public administration is referred to in this book as the Old Public Administration. The authors throw light on several approaches to the Old Public Administration. Woodrow Wilson’s approach to public administration was followed for more than half a century in America. This approach differentiated between politics and administration, which associated accountability to elected leaders and assured efficiency of the administrators. This also necessitated creating structures and strategies. In this context, the authors point out the difficulty in distinguishing between politics and administration in all settings. The creation of hierarchical structures was based on several schools of thought, mainly

Marks and Spencer Company Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Marks and Spencer Company - Case Study Example It can be summed up as: The company has a triangular top management structure; this triangular management structure consists of the three Board Committees that are the Audit Committee, the Remuneration Committee, and the Nomination Committee. All the three board committees supervise and exercise power on different aspects of the company's activities and operations. Also, these committees further consist of different members with specialised tasks. The Audit Committee consists of three members and manages the financial activities inside the company, such as supervising the company's periodic audits, coordinating with the external auditors conducting annual mandatory audits for the company, and superintending the process of annual statutory accounts formulation and furnishing it to the shareholders of the company. The Remuneration Committee undertakes the task to manage the remuneration related activities for the company's employees such as bonuses and increments etc. The Nomination Committee manages the activities concerning the appointment and designation of the company's directors and managers. Apart from the above-mentioned committees working as part of the board, the company's top management also consists of seven directors and one group secretary also acting as the head of Corporate Governance. The financial base consists of two Group Finance Directors, Ian Dyson and Alison Reed, who undertake the responsibility to control and regulate the financial matters in the company. MARKS AND SPENCER-THE COMPANY HISTORY Marks and Spencer plc has had centuries old history of expansion, augmentation and amplification. It started when a Jewish immigrant Michael Marks alone opened a store in the year 1884. He continued to run and manage the small business alone for a decade and after 1894 it was joined by another individual i.e., Thomas Spencer. The business continued to expand and grow under the management of these two legends. They both believed in expanding the scope of their business and therefore, by the end of the 19th century, they managed to open and run 24 stalls and 12 shops in England. Especially in the beginning of 20th century, they practically stepped into the corporate world by getting registered as a private company under the name of "Marks and Spencer Ltd". After adopting this name, the company continued to gain popularity and public acceptance all over the Great Britain with a strategy of selling the British-made products only. By this way, the company earned prestige and stabilised relationship with reputable manufacturers and suppliers in the Great Britain. The son of Michael Marks, Simon Marks, became the Chairman of the company in the year 1916 along with his brother in law Israel Sieff who with joint efforts turned the company into a retail chain store. In the year 1926, the company's shares were float ed in the stock exchange and thus Marks and Spencer continued its further expansion with a significant share of public in its capital and profits. In the mid of the 20th century, the company expanded the scope of its business operations

Gender inequality from a socological point of view

Gender inequality from a socological point of view In this essay I will discuss how gender inequality has been explained. In doing so I will explore three board approaches on gender differences and inequality. Which I will compare and contract with functionalist approach; who believe that gender roles fit the needs of the social system, and Feminist explanation; who argue women are unequal to men. First I will introduce the biological basis on behavioural difference between men and woman, supported by theorist Tiger and Fox (1972), Functionalist John Bowlby (1953), Jean Elshtain (1987). Next I will draw attention to theories placing central importance on socialisation and the learning of gender roles by looking at the works of Liberal Feminist Sue Sharp (1994) and Ann Oakley (1972). However while these theoretical approaches seek to explain the persistence of gender inequalities this essay will then go on to compare two opposing views, that of Functionalist and Marxist Feminist, in order to allow for greater depth in the analysis of these positions. I will do this by considering arguments made by functionalist theorist Talcott Parsons; forms of complementary roles (1942) and Murdock (1949) and furthermore Marxist theorist Friedrich Engels; ideas on capitalism (1902). Finally taking everything into account I will go on to critically assess the attempt of Radical Feminist to overcome gender inequality, where I will argue that radical feminist efforts to defeat gender inequalities has been less victorious then Liberal feminist, however there extreme views hold strong arguments on issues such as domestic violence. Sex can be seen as ambiguous term, which refers to the biological distinction between females and males (Macionis, Plummer, 2008:367). Many sociologists, who adopt the biological approach, propose that the functions of the brain and hormones to chromosomes are responsible for natural differences in behaviour between men and woman. They argue that men demonstrate biological based tendencies towards aggression that woman lack. This approach has been supported by theorist Tiger and Fox (1972), who agree that the natural selection has encouraged hormonal differences, which can explain gender differences such as senses, behaviour and emotions; they further claim that nature intended mothers and children to stay together. In contrast, this argument supports functionalist views on maternal deprivation as suggested by John Bowlby (1953) who wrote a psychological account of the ill effects of maternal deprivation on children. However feminist have argued that this has been misrepresented as a n ideological argument to keep women at home. In addition many researchers remain unconvinced by the biological approach, such as theorist Elshtain (1987) who suggested that the level of aggression varies for woman in different cultures, therefore the biological approach fails to take cultural factors to account. Furthermore critics point out that this theory is grounded upon data, animal behaviour rather than anthropological and historical data (Giddens, 2009:613). Gender refers to the social aspects of differences and hierarchies between male and females (Macionis, Plummer, 2008:367). Unlike the biological approach, many sociologists argue that there is nothing natural about gender inequality; rather it is socially constructed through socialisation of learning of gender roles. Liberal Feminist Anne Oakley (1972) claimed that gender roles are learnt through social agencies such as family; where manipulation and canalisation takes place, school; where boys are encouraged to take on sports, and the media; where women are portrayed as housewives in adverts for cleaning products. Ultimately children gradually internalize social norms and values that are expected from them which correspond with their sex. Consequently norms and values are culturally produced along with ideals of masculinity, femininity, which ultimately has led to the sexual division of labour. Oakley has disputed that the process of socialisation of gender roles is guided by manipu lation, for example in the home, boys and girls are encouraged to play with gender specific toys. The patriarchal ideology that is through claims that women are more suited to caring roles because of their maternal instinct supports functionalist views. Functionalists have used this ideology to argue that social agencies contribute to maintain social order by overseeing the smooth gender socialisation of new generations. However this has been sharply criticised by feminist who argue that this theory ignores the ability if individuals to reject certain norms and values projected by society. Theorist Connell (1987) stressed that empirical evidence on gender inequality is not simply a shapeless heap of data, but reveals the basis of an organised field of human practice and social relations through which woman are kept in subordinate positions to men (Connell, 1987). On a more optimistic note Connell suggested how females are seeking for change, for example school girls are taking interest in competitive sports, calling their own shots, which suggest gender inequality exploited within the family and state is being challenged, the means that have traditionally supported mens power is being weakened. However Despite the changes in society and the economy, such as the Thatcher era, which represented new female role models in power, did not seem to have had much impact on the girls attitudes as the study Just Like A Girl by Sue Sharp (1994) concluded, that girls still expected to undertake womens work, such as health work, teaching. Nevertheless the study did present some chan ge, such as greater stress on equality with men, which came with a sense of assertiveness and confidence. There was a greater importance of having a job, being able to support themselves, especially in the event of a divorce. Nonetheless the girls in Sharps findings indicated that the girls look forward to a future in which they are likely to end up juggling work and domestic life like their mothers before them. (Sharp, 1994). Functionalist see each aspect of society as interdependent and contributes to societys functioning as a whole, held together by social consensus, which produces order, stability, and productivity. Their sociological interest in gender is relatively recent, there theory proposes that gender differences contribute to social stability and integration and assume they fit the needs of individuals, the family and the social system. In contrast with the roles influenced by biology and learning of gender roles, through socialisation emphasise that the womans primary responsibility is the home. Anthropologist Murdock cross culture study (1949) emphasised the significance of motherhood and concluded that the mothers role and the family are universal, where womans main concern should be at the home, whereas mens main work should be outside the home. Furthermore a leading functionalist Parsons (1956) emphasised the important functions of the family, mainly as regards the stabilisation socialisat ion of children. The female taking on the expressive role providing care and security to children and offering them emotional support compared with the instrumental male role, where man take on the role of the bread winner in the family, these roles are seen as complementary which Parson believed helped integrate society. However the functionalist perspective neglects the inequalities in the distribution of labour and power, with the consequential exploitation of women in work and at home. Therefore theorist Oakley argued against Murdocks secondary data, by refuting his claim, that gender roles were universal, though she accepted that sexuality, reproduction and maternal care are influenced by biology. It can be heavily argued that the functionalist approach on gender neglect the negative functions of an event such as divorce. The fact that the approach justifies the status quo and complacency on the part of societys members, critics therefore have argued; even when such social change may benefit society functionalist fail to encourage people to take an active role in changing their social environment. Instead, functionalism sees active social change as a threat to society because the various parts of society will reimburse naturally for any problems that may occur. Unlike functionalist, the Marxist feminist approach does not focus on the positive aspects of society that contribute to its stability, but takes on a conflict perspective, which is inspired by Karl Marxs writings on class struggles. There approach draws main focus on the conflicted and changing nature of society. Whereas functionalists continue to avoid social change, however Marxist theorists challenge the status quo and encourage social change even when this means social revolution. Marxist feminist strongly believes gender inequality is down to capitalism, rich and powerful people who force social order on the poor and the weak. Engels (1902) noted that capitalism intensifies male domination, first capitalist create more wealth, which confers greater power on men as wage earners, expanding capitalist economy depends on defining people especially woman as customers and consumers and convincing them that personal fulfilment derives from owning and using products. (Macionis, Plummer , 2008:382), according to Engels this allowed men to work while society assigned woman the task of maintaining the home. The double exploitation of capitalism as Engels saw it paying low wages to male labour, and no wages to for female wok. (Macionis, Plummer, 2008:367). Marxist further suggests companies only employ woman when they really need them, making them more disposable, therefore they argue that women are a reserve army of labour. However critics see their theory as underestimating the particular shortcomings of women, and fail to explain gender inequality in socialist societies. More so, many argue that its overly negative view of society, ultimately attributes the efforts of positive aspects of society such as humanitarian, democracy, civil rights. There theory of reverse army of labour, critics argue it fails to explain why there are womens jobs and mens jobs. It is seems to overlook the fact that patriarchy can be influential by itself. The Marxist feminists seem to imply that once capitalism is abolished; gender inequality will disappear, which might not actually be the case. (Weineck, 2007). Many movements have been successful in their attempts of overcoming gender inequality however some have not been as victorious, yet hold strong arguments such as the Radical Feminist. They have sought to tackle gender inequality by extreme protesting of patriarchy, as they believe that men are responsible for the inequality of woman. Early Radical feminist Firestone (1971) argues that men control womans roles in reproduction and childrearing. Because women are biologically able to give birth to children, they become depended materially on men for protection and livelihood. (Giddens, 2009:617). She further suggests this biological inequality is socially organized in the nuclear family. Radical feminist have brought to light key arguments, such as free domestic labour, where men exploit woman by replying on the free labour woman provide in the home. Unlike Radical feminist, liberal feminist have conquered more in overcoming gender inequality. Liberal Feminist are moderate in their methods and aims, who seek to better womans rights through political and legal reform, they have gone on to achieve legislation such as the Equal Pay Act (1970) and the Sex Discrimination Act (1975). Though Radical feminist are seen to pursue a revolutionary agenda, however like liberal feminist, they stress practical political strategies. Nevertheless in contrast to liberal feminist frameworks, radical feminist is inclined to be suspicious of government intervention, perceiving the state itself as being intrinsically patriarchal, and also tends to focus on the politics of the private sphere, in particular sexuality, motherhood and bodies. (Beasley,1999:55). However Radical feminist have more in common with Marxist on terms of acknowledging that social life is embodied but as will shortly become evident, the inclination of the latter feminist approach is frequently to limit interest in embodiment to the laboring body of the paid. (Beasley, 1999:55). However they have criticized Marxist feminist on their view on capitalism, claiming that abolishing capitalism would not end patriarchy. Despite the fact that is can be heavily argued that radical feminist efforts have been less successful then liberal feminist, it is important to acknowledge their efforts of making society aware of the severity of domestic violence. There argument holds much relevance in todays society, as statistics show that woman as having a high rate of victimization, 1 in 4 women will be a victim of domestic violence in their lifetime. (Oxfam, 2011). The womans aid site stated that Between 10 and 69 per cent of women report abuse by their intimate partner in every country where reliable data exist. (Womans Aid, 2011). The efforts of radical feminist in overcoming this inequality has been successful in terms of providing shelters for abused woman, which did not exist in the 1970s. Furthermore there are now laws mandating the reporting of domestic violence of domestic due to the efforts made by the radical feminist. In conclusion, all the theories I have touched upon provide a variations of explanations on gender inequality, therefore it is clear to say there approaches are not cut from the same cloth. I feel the most convincing explanations are the aspects of socialisation of learning gender roles. I think this is important, as people sometimes without even realising it socialise boys and girls differently from an early age. The functionalist view on gender, I feel is outdated to some extent as social change is constantly taking place however it is important to look at all the argument made when exploring gender inequality. Though many feminist groups share conflicting views with one another such as radical feminist, liberal feminist and Marxist feminist, however it is important to appreciate their central aim of striving to help woman have the same equality as men.

Basics of Ghost Stories :: Ghost Story Stories Ghosts Essays

Basics of Ghost Stories INTRODUCTION The ghost story writer has to attract the reader's attention straight away. The way story begins is important and often links with the rest of the narrative. The opening of a short story must try to engage the reader quickly. I think all ghost stories should always have a lot of suspense in it, to create anticipation and excitement. Some symbolic object/place for example a knife, a key must play a major part in the narrative. The story should also have lots of detail to get the feeling as if the reader is there to create different types of atmospheres, such as horror, terror, and excitement. They should also have a mysterious end, to make the reader go away thinking about it. Most people are interested in ghost stories because of the thrill and horror that is in it. Ghost story's challenges us to see how much of the paranormal we can take onboard and because it is a story they can always back away from it if it gets too unnerving. I have read "Wish Master", in which a demon awakes from an ancient pot that is destroyed in a robbery in a museum. Then the demon goes around asking people for their wishes and he always does something opposite to fulfil the wish. Ghost stories always seem to be set in lonely or isolated places. The language writers use to describe settings in ghost stories are usually quite unpredictable because there is a lot of descriptive use of imagery to paint a specific kind of picture for the reader. Ghost stories gained prominence in the Victorian period and a lot of classic stories were written during this period. They were written to entertain and feed the imagination of the populace who were intrigued by stories of the supernatural. Atmosphere is mood the writer is trying to create in a story. It is important because it builds a good impression on the reader. It is created through the use of language tools: such as similes, metaphors and onomatopoeia. The atmosphere of the story is developed right from the beginning. It largely depends on the writers purpose/intentions. So you do expect different kind of atmosphere to be created in both of these stories because in the "The Signalman" Charles Dickens is trying to scare the reader and in "The Deadfall" Ted Hughes is trying to get a message across. Atmosphere is important in building tension in the story, which I believe is vital for a ghost story. In 'The Signalman' by Charles Dickens the narrator meets a lonely signalman. At first he seems to be scared of him.