Human Resources Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Human Resources Development - Essay Example The oil spill proved to be a violation of the water act, migratory bird act and related acts on the conservation of natural resources (Graythen, 2013). The reader also gets an overview of the five-month oil disaster and a detailed background on how the leakage resulted. Moreover, the author narrates how the explosion occurred and outlines the government response to the incident. As expected, the spill affected the American energy policy something that the author also gave attention. In addition, the article mentions the efforts that taken to bring the exploded well back into control and the setbacks hindering rescue by the team charged with that responsibility. The article also mentions the probable recovery after the disaster. This article relates the saddening truth about the mine disaster in 2010 that left 29 dead in West Virginia. The author describes the desperation evident in the families of the victims concerning the loss. In addition, the author emphasizes on the long hours taken by the rescue teams in their effort to uncover the debris in the collapsed mine and unearths the bodies. Moreover, the moving story mentions that the tragedy resulted because of the mines negligence to abide by the stringent safety rules in place to protect the welfare of workers in the risky mines. It becomes clear from the story that the rescue task was difficult because of the state of the collapsed mine (Urbina, 2010). The West Virginia mine disaster highlights the surging problem in many mines and that concerns safety of the workers. Occupational safety in the mining industry deserves a priority in any mine because risk assessment reports have shown that the workers are always at a great risk. This explains the stringency of the rules and regulation that govern mining. However, the West Virginia case just highlights the reluctance with

Construction and Environment Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Construction and Environment - Research Paper Example He also stated that in the formulation of their proposal for performance improvement, they studied what had been happening and gained insight on the transformations that they had undergone in the recent years. Due to the concerns raised facing the need to meet clients expectations and to the fact that it is underachieving, the Deputy prime Minister set up the Construction Task Force. In UK’s domestic economy, the construction industry provides a substantial value to the Gross domestic product and therefore, it needs to be safeguarded and allowed to continue growing. The industry measures well with the others in the world due to its flexibility, the nature of the willing labour in adapting to the harsh working conditions. To improve efficiency the task force has to refer to several guidelines which were outlined as; quantification of scope for the improvement of efficiency in construction, examination of practices currently in the improvement of innovations in processes and pro ducts, identification of good practices and projects which would help in the demonstrations and also the advisory of the Deputy Prime Minister to improve efficient building of houses of quality (Lock, 2007). Modernisation is a key factor that affects profitability rate. To sustain development in a healthy way, the Task force need to be well catered for because if not addresses the margins would be very low. There is need for training a proportion of the workforce to help solve the problem of skill shortage improve career structure and develop management and supervisory grades (Berkun, 2008). As a result of under-achievement, the clients are not satisfied both in the public and private sector. This under achievement can be attributed to poor investment, unpredictability, competition in terms of price but not considering quality, poor performers not restricted from entering the market. This has led to difficulty in identification of quality brands for investors. The construction indus try in UK is already fragmented with several small construction companies with less than eight employees. This has led to the prevention of continual teams that work efficiently. This has the only advantage of providing flexibility in dealing with workloads that are highly variable. Still, the cycle of the economy has to a great extent affected the industry to an extent that it maximises on how to survive rather than future investment (Sir.John, 2007). There is an encouragement by the construction company to continue developing to the government sponsors and clients. Improvements are recently being initiated with the main agenda as Change. Improvement focuses on the components of construction and materials, this includes pre-assembly and standardization and with the three dimensional modelling and positioning globally. Tools are being put in place to deal with the problems of fragmentation such as creation of partnerships, increasing the techniques and tools for efficiency and quali ty improvement, benchmarking, encouraging team works and integrated Total Quality management (Lock, 2003). As stated by Burke, identification of stakeholders and their respective roles is important in mitigating the problems identified. Management of scope helps a great deal in completion of tasks on time and quantification of task. Work breakdown and structure of the project connecting tasks

Conservation of the environment Essay Example for Free

Conservation of the environment Essay Protection of the environment is very important as the world moves into a new era. This new era also seems to be presenting us with many major environmental issues. Some of these problems are: pollution, rapid industrialization, over population, deforestation and loss of important animal and plant species. The best way to protect the environment is to conserve and protect it by being more conscious of our impact on the planet. Conservation is the philosophy and policy of managing the environment to assure adequate supplies of natural resources for future as well as present generations. One way to be more environmentally responsible would be to cut down on undesirable C02 emissions and to put good things back into the atmosphere. One of the best ways to do this is by planting trees. Trees play a critical role in keeping our air clean, both by releasing oxygen into the air and by trapping carbon. The more trees we have, the better our air quality, and thats why planting trees is an excellent step to take toward saving the environment. While youre at it, plant a tree in a spot that will give your house shade, as that will help reduce your need to crank up your air conditioning in the summer months and be esthetically leasing. Its also important to take a stand against deforestation. Losing large swaths of forest, such as the rainforest, to development or industry means that were losing millions of trees that would otherwise be purifying the air for us. Protesting deforestation, both through activism and by refusing to buy products that are created at the expense of the worlds forests, can help slow and even halt deforestation. Renewable energy is another great way to heal the environment. It significantly cuts down on greenhouse gases, air pollution and the amount of carbon emitted into the air. In the USA around 71% of electricity is produced by burning fossil fuels. Burning coal or other fuels emits greenhouse gases and pollution in the environment. An average home powered by a coal utility will burn twelve thousand pounds of coal a year and will cause about the same amount of pollution as two cars. By using renewable energy as the primary power source, the reduction of pollution per household would be equivalent to that of planting four hundred trees. We can each play a part in improving the amount of trash we throw away by reducing our waste. Buy fewer items and reduce the overall consumption of goods. If less is onsumed, then less energy is used and less waste is produced. Regardless of how consumption is limited, people are bound to produce some waste. We can buy in bulk to reduce the amount of packaging thrown away, but to make a difference, we also have to focus on recycling and repurposing the items that are consumed. Simple changes can be made, like shopping with reusable bags and keeping food and other items in reusable containers, rather than defaulting to plastic bags and disposable containers. Recycling refers to buying recycled products and sorting waste into the appropriate categories: aluminum cans, glass, plastic, paper and cardboard. However, the definition of recycling can be expanded to encompass donating items you no longer need or want to Goodwill or the Salvation Army so others can reuse them. Many cities have freecycle e-mail lists that fill a similar role. If you cant reduce your consumption or tind a way to reuse a product, recycling is a better choice than simply throwing something into the trash. Gandhi wisely said, You must be the change you wish to see in the world. Thats certainly true when it comes to saving the environment, and each of us has an individual responsibility to make the changes and decisions that will benefit the natural world around us. Even our most concerted efforts will have a minimal impact if were the only ones making them, or even if were part of a small group making such environmental choices. The power in the steps on this list comes from getting everyone to take them together. After doing all the other things mentioned here cutting energy consumption, conserving water, driving less and everything else the most important thing is to be bold and vocal about encouraging others to do the same. The environment wont be saved by a handful of activists or even by a collection of powerful world leaders. It will be saved by the collective action of mankind.

Using The Macro External Environment Analysis

Using The Macro External Environment Analysis Macro external environment here includes the factors such as issues related to politics, economical reforms and achievements, social behaviour, technological enhancements and inventions, environmental changes and environmental concerns and legislation and legislative changes. All these factors bear a significant effect on any industry and business. A business has take into consideration all such effects and then formulate its strategies and policies to work along with them and prosper. PESTEL analysis tool helps in determining the effect of all such factors on an industry and businesses. With the help of PESTEL analysis we will be seeing the affects of such factors on Indian Bakery and Dairy Industry. PESTEL analysis is a technique for identifying and listing the political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal factors in the general environment most relevant to an organisation. (Boddy, D (2005). Management An Intoduction. 3rd ed. UK: Pearson Education. 88.) Type of Factors Effecting Factors Political Economical Social Technological Environmental Legal Exemption on Customs on Sugar Raw Material Import Shortage of Milk Need for Healthy Eating Habits Cloning of Livestock Change in the Climatic Conditions Raising the Norms for the Probiotic Food VAT on Biscuits Rise in Sugar Production and Duty Free Sugar Imports Problems with Cloned Livestock New Age Packaging Removal of Import Duty on Dairy Products Globalization Incentives to Build Cold Storage Facilities Requirement for Logistics Political Exemption on Customs Duty on Sugar Raw Material Import Due to the shortage in the production of sugar the deadline for the exemption on customs duty on raw sugar imports has been extended by the government to April 1, 2011 (Dey, A Jha, Dilip K (2010) Duty-free sugar imports extended till April 2011, Business Standard). Since sugar is a major input in the bakery, the price of sugar highly influences the price of inputs of the bakery industry. Exemption on customs duty will help in purchasing sugar at lower cost, which in turn will control the cost of production. VAT on Biscuits The VAT of 12.5% on Biscuits, being the only processed food item to attract such high VAT rates, will affect the pricing of the product (Bhushan, R (2009) Biscuit prices to rise by 10%, The Economic Times). Price of the biscuits might need to be increased due to the high VAT rates which may result in switch of brands due to the highly competitive market. Removal of Import Duty on Dairy Products The whole-sale price based inflation indicates that the milk prices have moved up by 14.73% over the last year. Worried about the rising prices government announced the removal of duty on Skimmed Milk Powder (SMP) and other dairy products (Govt removes import duty on dairy products (2010), Business Standard). The imports at cheaper rate would help in reduce the cost factor for dairy products. Incentives to Build Cold Storage Facilities Wastage of food items due to lack of cold storage facilities lead to a loss of Rs. 500 billion every year. The government announces schemes and incentives to attract investments in cold storage warehousing (Union Budget 2010: Cold-storage incentives to attract fresh funds (2010), The Economic Times). Increase in the number of cold storage facilities would help in preserving products better and reduce the wastage cost. Economical Shortage of Milk Even though the milk production has risen by 4.6% compound annual average growth rate, it still cannot match up with the increasing demand. The demand for milk has been growing at a faster rate than the growth rate of milk production resulting in the shortage of milk supply (Milk output would stagnate (2010) The Economic Times). India cannot meet its expected demand if the demand and supply rise at the same rate. For the same the reason, the milk prices are on a constant rise. Price of milk increased by 12.6% to 13.6% (Goyal, K (2010) Indias Food-Price Inflation Holds Near 11-Year High- Business Week). This can cause an increase in the input cost for the dairy products and which in turn can lead to hike in price or lower profit margins. If the company increases the price of its products, it may affect the sales as it might lose on consumers. Rise in Sugar Production and Duty Free Sugar Imports The total sugar production in the first six months ending September 2010 is expected to be 22% more than the output in the unchanged phase last season, the total production expected is at 16.7 million (Press Trust India (PTI) (2010) Sugar output rises 22% in first half of 2009-10, Business Standard). Due to the shortage in the production of sugar the deadline for the exemption on customs duty on raw sugar imports has been extended by the government to April 1, 2011 (Dey, A Jha, Dilip K (2010) Duty-free sugar imports extended till April 2011, Business Standard). The increase in sugar production and the duty exemption on raw sugar can help in purchasing sugar at lower prices and this in turn can help in producing goods at lower prices. Globalization Globalization a universal phenomenon is affecting each and every industry. The world is coming closer, the communication gap is closing and the businesses are going global. This can serve as an opportunity to expand the business to a global level but on the other hand there is a threat of new entrants from international market. Requirements for Logistics Logistics in India suffer due to the poor infrastructure and other limitations. There is a high demand for sophisticated third party logistics so the domestic logistics service providers are trying to improve their service. International participation is also expected in the logistics industry (Pandey, S Basu, A (2010) Logistics cos ramp up supply chain to meet rising demand, The Economic Times). Sophiscticated logistics system will help in proper supply chain management and on time delivery of goods, which help in maintaining the shelf life of goods on meeting the demand on time. Social Need for Healthy Eating Habits Studies say that Indians are more prone to Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), which is the major independent risk factor causing Cardiovascular diseases, due to the smaller calibred arteries found in Indians (Isalkar, U (2009) Indians more prone to heart disease, The Times of India). This suggests that Indians should move towards more healthy food and diet. This could be a new area to explore for Britannia with its new health associated products like Nuti-Choice biscuits and Actimind flavoured milk. Problems with Cloned Livestock Cloned animals are supposed to be suffering from large-offspring syndrome. The mother cows face a problem in giving birth to the cloned animals as they are larger than normal. Also these cloned animals suffer from health issues (Gogoi, P (2007) The case against cloning, BusinessWeek). It is morally wrong to clone animals as they cause problems to the mother during the birth and moreover the cloned livestock suffer from health issues which might make unsafe to consume the produce from them. Technological Cloning of Livestock India, a late entrant in cloning research, is now moving with a great pace in cloning technology. Hand guided cloning technique, a technique very different from the conservative cloning practice has been a successful venture (Mahalakshmi, BV Chowdhary, S (2009) Cloning Glory, The Financial Express). New Age Packaging The new packaging systems help in protecting food from micro-organisms by creating shelter layer. It uses new technologies like oxygen scavenging function, atmosphere control, biodegrability etc. and is low cost (Han, J Packaging Innovations, Bakers Journal). The packaging technology helps in preserving food for longer by protecting them from micro-organisms with the help of new technologies, thus resulting in longer shelf life of the food. The advantage of low cost packing and longer shelf life could be very beneficial for the company in increasing its profit margin. Environmental Change in the Climatic Conditions Climate plays an important role in the agriculture process. The change in the rainfall pattern has been a matter of concern now in India. The agriculture sector in areas which are monsoon dependent suffered badly due to the change in the rainfall pattern. The sector suffered a huge loss in terms of total output (Bhosale, J (2009) Farmers worried over climate disturbances, The Economic Times). The loss in crop will affect the input supply and this might delay or cause problems in the production. So the industry might not be able to meet the demands resulting in the loss of customers. Legal Raising the Norms for the Probiotic Food There is a need for setting the standards for probiotic food. Clinical tests should be conducted on the probiotic foods before they could reach the market for sale. The Indian Council of Medical and Research has submitted the proposal for the same to the government (Das, S (2009) Probiotic food likely to come under clinical trial ambit, The Financial Express). Strict norms will help in raising the quality standards but on the other hand the cost and time of production might subsequently increase. Micro External Environment Analysis Factors that influence the micro external environment are Competitor Rivalry, Threat of New Entrants, Threat of Substitutes, Buyers Power and Suppliers Power. These factors play a vital role in determining the current situation of the business and to plan strategies accordingly. With the help Porters Five Forces we will be analysing these factors and their immediate effect on the company. Five forces analysis is a technique for identifying and listing those aspects of the five forces most relevant to the profitability of an organisation at that time. (Boddy, D (2005). Management An Intoduction. 3rd ed. UK: Pearson Education. 83.) Competitor Rivalry: BIL has a market share of 38% and has been growing at 27%, compared to the industry growth rate of 20% (Saxena, R (2007) Battle-scarred Britannia on expansion spree, Business Standard) and has many competitors based on the nature of product. Parle and ITC (Sunfeast) pose a great competition to BIL (Biscuit Industry: India (2010), Market Research India). BIL earning major of its income from the biscuits (Britannia Annual Report 2007-08 (2008)), and Parle and ITC are the other major players in biscuit market. BIL is also into the production of dairy products, where the two major players in market are Amul and Nestle. Amul is the leader in the dairy industry. There is also a high level of competition from the unorganised baking sector. Overall rivalry is high. Threat of New Entrants: The entry on a small scale dairy industry and in the unorganised baking sector is easy. But on the other hand to enter the large scale dairy industry and organised baking sector a huge amount of investment is required in terms acquiring assets and to establish supply and distribution chains. Government regulations pertaining to food norms and others may also seem to be unattractive. Looking at the latest trends, the bakery industry is expected to earn huge revenues which might attract new entrants (Vijay, N (2008) Indian Bakery sector foresees high growth and increasing interest in product offering, FnBNews.com). So the threat of new entrants is moderate. Threat of Substitutes: Savoury snacks, crisps, cereals, fruits and other fast food can be substituted for biscuits. Dairy products are dubious to be replacing with other products as they key ingredients of majority of peoples diet. So the threat is a very moderate threat of substitutes. Buyers Power: The buyers of these products could be a retailer or the consumer. Both the dairy and bakery industry are price sensitive, so a little increase in price might lead the consumer to shift other brand or product. So the buyers power is calculated to be very strong. Suppliers Power: The major supplies for a bakery industry include wheat, sugar and other agriculture products. And the major supplies for dairy product is milk. Its difficult to bargain with the suppliers of the above mentioned inputs as the price of these inputs is majorly influenced by the production of these inputs. The prices tend to be high as the demand for these products is rising at much faster rate than supply. The secondary supplies include the packaging material. The secondary supplies can be easily substituted with the low-cost ones to save on cost. Overall the suppliers power is assessed to be moderate. Conclusion of Five Forces Analysis: There is an existence of major players in the market with a moderate level of threat of new entrants and substitutes. The suppliers power is moderate but the buyers power is measured to be strong. So the rivalry is suggested to be high. Stakeholders and Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) Freedman (1984) defines a stakeholder as any individual or group who can affect, or is affected by, the achievement of the organisations objectives. Further in addition to that, Clarkson (1995), stated that the government and the other communities that effect the working of the business and the market also form as a part of stakeholders. Stakeholders, except the employees, have a high power over the strategic change ideas (Hayes, J (2007). The Theory and Practice of Change Management. 2nd ed. UK: Palgrave Macmillan. 153). Internal Stakeholders The internal stakeholders are the ones associated with the company internally. For BIL its internal stakeholders would be: The Shareholders The Board of Directors, and The Employees Currently, nearly 51% of shares are held by Corporate Bodies and the rest 49% is held by the public (Statement showing shareholding pattern (2009), Britannia Industries Limited). The board consists of 11 members (Company Overview, Britannia Industries Limited) and employees nearly 2000 people (Britannia Industries Ltd. Overview, MarketLine). External Stakeholders The external stakeholders are the ones who are not immediately associated with company but influence the decision making of the company. To BIL the external stakeholders are as follows: Customers Suppliers Contractors Government Regulatory Agenices (like Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, etc.), and Society Britannia being the leader in the baker industry of India has a huge amount of customers to cater. Britannia has to keep up the tastes and quality preferences of its customers. The government plays an important in influencing the market by creating and changing the policies. BIL has to adhere to the rules and regulations formulated by the regulatory agencies. The suppliers and contractors form an important part of a business. Britannia completely relies on its suppliers and contractors for its raw materials. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) For years corporate entities followed the practice of providing goods and services and maximizing wealth. But the trends have changed over the period of years. The companies are now expected to be more socially responsible. The company now has to be responsible to the stakeholders, society and environment. They are expected to pay back to the environment and society for all the affects that are caused due to its operations (Idowu, S Filho, W (2009) Global Practices of Corporate Social Responsibility. Berlin: Springer. 1-2). BIL believes in working with the society and the culture. It gives a premier importance to the nation and its policies. It believes in being a good corporate citizen by not just adhering to the rules and regulations but also by helping the community to improve the quality of life. BIL involves itself in initiating and providing support to community health and family welfare, water management, vocational training, educating people and encouraging the application of modern techniques and technologies. BIL believes in ethical behaviour.

The Flat Tax :: Essays Papers

The Flat Tax TITLE: THE WRONG WAY TO SELL A NEW IDEA Many people would like you to believe that flat tax is so named because it will flatten your finances. That at the least is the intended conclusion. By eliminating personal deductions like mortgagee interest payments, the study claims, the flat tax would reduce housing values in this country by upwards of 10 percent. The study's methodology is shaky at best, and the jury on housing values is still o ut. Despite the forces allied against the flat tax, tax reform has grown steadily because the current tax system is so unpopular and the alternatives promise so much. But in addition to the possibility of lower housing values, the flat tax poses several other serious problems too easily dismissed by its advocates.

Timothy Leary as a Hero Essay -- essays research papers fc

The term â€Å"hero† brings to mind many ideas, many events, and many people. However, one face it generally fails to conjure is that of Timothy Leary. Dr. Leary managed to create a level of infamy few Americans have achieved since this country’s inception; he is the poster-child of the mind-altering hallucinogen LSD and has been labeled by many as the subversive leader of the counter-culture movement of the sixties. Not many people appreciate this great man’s long string of accomplishments, his devotion to scientific progress, or his cheery, irrepressible personality. It is a small circle of people indeed who would label this man a hero, but the truth is that Dr. Leary embodied the principles of courage, discovery, and benevolence, which none can deny are heroic trademarks. No man has shown more courage in the face of adversity than Timothy Leary. One great example of his valor comes from his early years as a cadet at West Point during the 1940’s. After indulging in a quantity of alcohol with some upperclassmen after a football game one evening, Leary found himself before the Cadet Honor Committee of West Point awaiting punishment. The committee decreed that he must avoid social contact of any kind, despite the fact that during his court-martial the charges brought upon him were hastily dropped. For nine months he survived this involuntary solitude, until finally the school asked him to resign because of â€Å"moral problems† that his punishment was causing. Leary agreed on the condition that his innocence would be announced in the mess hall. Two days later, he left West Point. Long afterward, after earning a doctorate in psychology and serving several professorships at prestigious institutions as Berkley and Harvard, Dr. Timothy Leary dev eloped an interest in what he would later become famous for: psychedelics. Originally his studies were sponsored by Harvard, but after drug abuse became a major target of the mass media and politicians, a national frenzy took place and LSD became a Schedule One controlled substance. Leary, intrigued by the success of previous experimentation with the chemical and undeterred by lack of mainstream support, continued his studies privately. This eventually led to conflict between him and the DEA, the Narcotics Bureau, and the CIA. As Nixon fueled propaganda against â€Å"acid† and the counter-culture movement, Timothy Leary championed LSD ... ...n to certain concepts has never wavered. I have relentlessly and faithfully pursued self-exploration, evolution, and innovation as the antidotes to terminal adulthood." No document has recorded an instance of Timothy Leary running into a burning building to save a baby. He never fought a war for his country, discovered a cure for cancer, or negotiated a treaty between two countries. But he was a hero his own right. Dr. Leary led a resistance to the tyrrany of Richard Nixon, Spiro Agnew, G. Gordon Liddy, and J. Edgar Hoover during a time when America was torn with inner conflict. His career was devoted to helping people mentally, whether they were psychiatrically ill or just in need of psychedelic inspiration. And he stood as a beacon representative of hope, freedom, and peace. Timothy Leary may not fit the conventional definition of â€Å"hero† as found in Webster’s, but to many of his and future eras, he was everything for which that four-letter word stands. BIBLIOGRAPHY: Jones, Bonsey. The Biography Project: Timothy Leary. The Biography Project. 8 Sept. 04 . Leary, Timothy; Quick Biography. Leary.com. 8 Sept. 04 . Timothy Leary Biography. American Buddha.com. 8 Sept. 04 .

Greatest Soldier of all time: A Look into the life of Alexander the Great

Ancient Greece became the foundation of Western Civilization. It served as the breeding ground for the development of ideas of political liberty and democratic government. Appreciation and observation of certain standards for art, science, literature and philosophy were actually rooted in ancient Greece (Cawthorne, 23). The backdrop of this very influential Greek civilization was not always a colourful hue. It was also beset by conflicts between Greek City-States, causing them to be at war with one another.How these Greek City States evolved into an empire is attributable to one man——–a person possessing nearly deity qualities——— Alexander the Great (Gergel 40). The Makings of a Great Warrior Indeed, the result of Alexander’s conquests was no small feat. It is one of history’s most treasured accounts of a military leader, unrivalled in military skills and brilliance. But Alexander’s seemingly innate qualities were not dev eloped overnight. He laboured hard in becoming who he was in history (Roisman 45).Alexander the Great honed his skills and enriched his intellect through the guidance of a respected great thinker in the name of Aristotle. He thought Alexander to develop a scientific curiosity for things. He moulded him to better understand and appreciate the Greek culture, which is evident in Alexander’s love for the arts (Roisman 45). Through Aristotle’s supervision, Alexander devoted a part of his life to acquiring knowledge and skills. He nourished his mind and spirit through various works of art and literature.He inculcated the philosophy and ideas derive from the written word and he dreamed of one day matching the skills of the heroes depicted in Iliad and Odyssey. Alexander loved heroic tales, a reason enough to appreciate why he ruled historical pages during his time. Establishment of a Great Empire Alexander of Macedon was born in 356 BC. Following the assassination of his fath er, Philip in 336 BC, Alexander became the ruler. This, undoubtedly, was the start of the rise of one of the greatest leader in history (Howe and Harrer 79).Alexander of Macedon was only twenty years old when he acquired the responsibility of governing his father’s land and army. Unknown to many, Alexander is set to accomplish things beyond the wildest imagination of many. Ancient Greek is destined to become recognized around the world through the efforts of a man, they call ruler (Lonsdale 52). A true heir to his father’s throne, Alexander shared the same vision for Greece, as his father did. He acquired exceptional military skill, leadership ability and an unsurpassed desire to conquer the Persian Empire.Alexander the Great made his mark in history as the greatest military leader ever to live. His unrivalled popularity was always the source of, at times controversy, more often, inspiration. He possessed unparalleled brilliance, which earned him the reputation of a da ring and intelligent ruler. This however, did not stop him from doing more. In 334 BC, he braved to cross Hellespont and freed the Greek colonies in Asia Minor. This resulted in a domino effect of empires falling one after another. He eyed Phoenicia, and then Egypt, where he founded Alexandria.His success came one after another. In 331 BC, he was triumphant in conquering Mesopotamia, which surrendered and submitted under his rule (Baldry 83). Alexander’s military prowess was remarkable. After defeating the king of Persia in battle, Alexander pushed on to North Western India. He continued his invasion of empires and evidently, he achieved desired results. Between 334BC and 326 BC, Alexander, together with his exceptional army, conquered the lands from Egypt to India, without ever losing a single battle (De Santis 61; Lonsdale 54).Death of Alexander the Great: An Empire Falls Apart Alexander the Great died of a fever in 323 BC. He was almost 33 years of age when he passed away. His death had a tremendous impact on his empire. The brief period of unity that brought Greece and the Near East together had ended abruptly. As a result, his general s were unable to control the vast empire that Alexander built. This resulted to the separation of Alexander’s empire into three kingdoms. Noteworthy is the fact that one of his generals, Ptolemy, ruled Egypt, while others settled in Asia and Macedonia.Alexander’s Life and Contributions: an Analysis Alexander the Great started early on a life destined for greatness. His brilliance exuded more than an extraordinary military skill. It depicted him as a historical figure, worthy of adulation. But his life was never smooth sailing. Once, his right to inherit the throne of King Philip was questioned, following King Philips’ marriage to Cleopatra of Macedonia. This however, did not bar him from fulfilling his destiny. As soon as he reconciled with his father, he assumed the role of a rightful heir to the throne of King Philip.It was proven when King Philip die and Alexander managed to rule over his father’s loyal subjects and lead them to conquests that later on brought them glory and honour. Alexander earned for them a reputation that is tantamount to priceless. Gaining recognition as a superior army, backed by a ruler whose brilliance is well-known, they conquered land, empires and expanded their power and influence. Alexander established his empire and manifested his power and influence throughout history. His desire to conquer Persia was no small feat. It enabled him to make his mark as a magnificent military leader and a brave one at that (Baldry 76).As a ruler, Alexander the Great made various decisions and policies that merited recognition, while some solicited controversy. An example would be the cultural influence of proskynensis. This is a Persian culture, where it is strongly encouraged to kiss the hands of people regarded as social superiors. The Greeks abhorred this practice, thinking that it is only meant for gods and goddesses, and by implementing it, Alexander was stepping up to the level of deities (Renault 34). Indeed, Alexander the Great has raised his status as a ruler.By attaining what his father Philip failed to achieve, Alexander the Great created an image of himself that is nothing short of spectacular. By strategically conquering one empire after another, he has expanded his sovereignty, and made both enemies and allies alike acknowledge the fact that he is a superb military leader who bows down to no one. The importance of Alexander the Great can be deeply felt long after he was gone. Although his empire broke apart, putting his efforts of unification to waste, his conquests had a lasting effect. This is attributable to the fact that Alexander the Great was an agent of change.Indeed, he has espoused ideals and beliefs that influenced the Greek’s culture whether or not it was to their liking (Renault 34). Regarded as a m agnificent military leader, Alexander the great was always one step ahead, in many respects. He encouraged the Greek soldiers, merchants and even government officials to settle in the conquered lands. This became the reason for the proliferation of the Greek culture long after his death. Through settling in the conquered land, the Greeks, by having contacts between the peoples of the Near East, became agents of spreading the Greek culture.Ultimately, Greek culture influenced the conquered lands’ inhabitants and soon, the transfer and absorption of the Greek culture followed. The Greek language became widely used in the Mediterranean world. People belonging to the upper-class of the society learned and adapted the Greek literature, appreciation for the arts, ideas and customs. This can be considered one of Alexander’s finest works. To be able to spread the Greek culture and assimilate it into the daily lives of the people living in the conquered lands of Alexander the G reat.This symbolizes the unending tale of his heroic acts and the legacy he so desired to leave. During his conquests, Alexander the Great acquired great deal of knowledge. His travels gave him an opportunity to learn about plants, animals, geography, astronomy and philosophy. Many of the philosophers and scientists that accompanied him saw opportunities for a learning experience. Alexander advocated educating one’s self through discovery of principles and gathering knowledge (Green 27). It is more evident when he founded Alexandria. Outstanding scientists and scholars were invited to work at the library of Alexandria.Many of the discoveries made still influence modern science. Alexander the Great looked into the future and linked it to the past. This is exactly what he did when he encouraged the spread of the Greek culture. It marked the opening of a new stage of civilization, more prominently termed the Hellenistic Age. The Hellenistic age provided for the avenue to lessen the discrimination between Greeks and Non-Greeks, evident in the Hellenic age. This is where the recognition of Greek culture in the Mediterranean world stemmed from (Mercer 60).The conquests of Alexander the Great proved fruitful and spawned a lot of changes in Greek civilization. The widespread acceptance of Greek culture by conquered lands elevated Alexander the Great as a ruler, a military leader and a brilliant king (Mercer 60). References: Baldry, H. C. Ancient Greek Literature in its living Context. Thames and Hudson Ltd. , 1968. Cawthorne, Nigel. Alexander the Great. Haus Publishers Ltd. 2004 De Santis, Marc G. â€Å"At The Crossroads of Conquest. † Military Heritage. December 2001. Volume 3, No. 3: Gergel, Tania. Alexander the Great.Penguin Group, London, 2004 Green, P. Alexander of Macedon, 356-323 B. C. Berkeley, University of California Press, 1991. Howe, George and Harrer, Gustave (editor) Greek Literature in Translation. Harper and Brothers Publisher, 1924. Lons dale, David. Alexander the Great. New York, Routledge, 2006. Mercer, Charles, The way of Alexander the Great. I Books, October 5, 2004. Renault, Mary. The Nature of Alexander. Pantheon Books, 1975. Roisman, Joseph (ed. ) Brill's Companion to Alexander the Great. 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