Emergence Of The Digital Firm

Emergence Of The Digital Firm Introduction: The first rule of any technology used in a business is that automation applied to an efficient operation will magnify the efficiency. The second is that automation applied to an inefficient operation will magnify the inefficiency. -Bill Gates (http://www.saidwhat.co.uk/topicquote/technology) Over the past two decades Technology has come to become an inseparable part of business activities. The modern era of dynamic and discontinuous change requires continual reassessment of organizational routines to ensure that decision-making processes, keep pace with the dynamically changing business environment. The adoption of advanced technology, to maintain a digitally enhanced firm, is necessary, especially for small and medium sized companies, to ensure their viability in the future. With the onset of globalization, the wide presence of digitally equipped firms has intensified international competition, and digital capabilities also provide small and medium sized enterprises with new potential for participation in the international market. Inevitably, a structural change is brought about by all the technological equipment in the companies as the need for new skills are created, which are accompanied by the constant need for training and information sharing, and assessment of tec hnological issues by the management. Emergence of the Digital Firm: The first use of information systems in enterprises was in the form of card processing machines which were used in the accounting departments and focused on historical information reporting. The early 1960s, marked the onset of mainframe computers, which when compared to todays desk top computers and PDAs, were miniscule, in processing power. In the coming decades, the advancements in technology gained speed with management reporting, transaction processing, decision support and forecasting enabled by information technology. The presence of Information technology is now widely significant in every business activity of the modern enterprise. Most recently, information systems transcended departmental, divisional and organizational boundaries in order to link the firm electronically, often instantaneously, to its customers, suppliers, and distribution partners .(Ives, 2002) With the development of technology and internet, modern enterprises have embraced Information and communication technology (ICT) and several e-business applications that have provided many benefits across many intra- and inter-firm business processes and transactions. With the use of ICT applications, information and knowledge management inside the firm has considerably improved reducing transaction costs and increasing the speed and reliability of transactions for both B2B (business-to-business) and B2C (business-to-consumer) transactions. They have also proved to be effective tools for improving external communications and quality of services for established and new customers. (http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/6/9/31919255.pdf)Most small and medium sized enterprises use information and communication technologies. Research has shown that the use mainly of computers serves administrative and functional uses, such as the rendering of accounts, payroll, the drawing up of a budget, inventor y, and other similar functions (Bridge and Peel 1999). The basic condition that arises for the use of computers, but also for all technologies, old or new, electronic or not, is not only their acquisition by the SMEs, but also their correct and functional use (El Louadi, 1998). There are a large number of different ICTs, which makes identifying them and their functions difficult. Below is a classification of Information and communication technologies which includes the ICTs used by enterprises and comprises of five main categories, within which the technologies-systems comprising the category are distributed individually. Classification of ICTS: (Source: Papastathopoulos, Beneki (2009)) Intranet: Intranets are inexpensive, scalable to expand or contract as needs change, and accessible from most computing platforms. Whereas most large companies must support a number of computer platforms that cannot communicate with each other, intranets help to provide instant connectivity, uniting all computers into a single, seamless, network system. Electronic Commerce: Although most commercial transactions still takes place through conventional channels, rising number of consumers and businesses are using the Internet for electronic commerce Buyer Retailer Information Orders Service and support Manufacturers, Suppliers and Distributors Purchases Bids Banks -Credit checks -Payment authorization -Electronic payment transfer Illustration: Electronic Commerce Information Flows Business environment: The modern business environment is characterized by a dynamic continuous change. For the firms to thrive and benefit from ICTs, a healthy business environment is necessary. This includes a transparent, open and competitive business framework, clear independent rule of law for all firms, easy set up and dissolution of businesses, transparent, simple and accessible corporate regulation, and equal and stable legal treatment for national and cross-border transactions. (http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/6/9/31919255.pdf) Organizational Forms: The concept of organizational forms was quickly accepted and vouched for by management scholars who have already accepted concepts such as the `knowledge economy or the new information economy ( Halal 1998) and who had believed that the emergence of the Internet would change the way business transactions business functions are performed (Tapscott , 1999). shift to new forms: According to Drucker (1997), businesses of the new age have not only led to advancements in technology and provided an atmosphere of stiff competition, but have also contributed to the promotion of change in the organizational forms. This is why, New Organizational Forms that respond to the need to align strategy-structure- direction processes are influenced by the dynamic changes in the environment. New transaction management modes from new organizational forms. The following illustration gives a clear picture of the increase in the use of new organizational forms, where internet and e-commerce plays a significant role. (Illustration sourced from: http://www.labs-associados.org/docs/OCDE_TIC.PDF) Increase in the use of new organizational forms: With every passing year, more and more firms are adopting new organizational forms in an attempt to stay competitive in the market. The benefits of incorporating ICTs and other e-business activities are now widely recognized. In the research conducted by Christina Beneki on Organizational forms based on information and communication technology adoption (http://www.aabri.com/manuscripts/09362.pdf), an empirical study was carried out among 54 Greek SMEs to identify the emerging forms of organizations based on ICTs. Personal interviews were conducted with people recognized as being the most knowledgeable about the developments of ICTs within the firm. Hence, the interviewees ranged from director or owner-manager and IT personnel to general managers. The results of this study reveal that the SMEs journey towards ICT adoption-use can be classified into three levels: Level 1: Basic Use of ICT or ICT-beginners SMEs. On this level the ICTs used by SMEs support the monitoring of basic-elementary activities, transactions and communications of the enterprise Level 2: Advanced Use of ICT or ICT-based SMEs. On the second level the ICTs used by the SMEs serve specialized activities of the modern enterprise, such as programming operations, transaction monitoring, and decision making and auditing. Furthermore, they combine data and advanced analytical models or data analysis tools so as to support the making of semi structured decisions or unstructured decisions. Finally, they allow business and commercial digital transactions as well as the transmission of information with electronic means even to geographically remote places. Level 3: Superior use of ICT or ICT-Driven SMEs. The ICTs used by the SMEs on the third level contribute to the integration of the informational and business processes of the enterprise, and they support the long-term planning activities as well as the digital exchange of information, the carrying out of commercial transactions and collaborations with the external environment of the enterprise Figure: The Three Levels of ICT-Adoption Process The figure shows that a very small percentage of SMEs use basic ICTs (7%), about 22% percentage use ICTs serving specialized business activities, while for most of the SMEs (70%), technology does not constitute the basis but rather as a guide to their business activities. This clearly demonstrates the steep rise in the use of Internet communication technologies. Opportunities for the management in a digitally enabled firm: New organizational forms comprising of Information and communication technology (ICT) and e-business applications provide many benefits across a wide range of business processes and transactions. (http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/6/9/31919255.pdf) With the use of computer terminals, e-mail, internet and its applications, several types of businesses can improve information and knowledge management within the firm, leading to more efficient business processes and better firm performance. Transfer of information through shared electronic files and networked computers significantly improves the efficiency of business process like documentation, data processing and other functions like organizing incoming orders and preparing invoices. Business-to-Business and Business-to-Consumer transactions are now conducted with increased speed and reliability, using ICT applications. Sophisticated ICT applications like Decision Support System (DSS) helps firms to analyse large amounts of data in quick time, enabling swift decision making. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) helps to integrate various departments of a firm effectively. Internet and e-commerce have drastically reduced the cost of business transactions. Internet-based B2B interaction and real-time communication help to reduce information asymmetries between buyers and suppliers and build close relationships among trading partners. (Moodley, 2002) ICT applications also increase labour productivity and have a positive impact on firm performance. The following illustration helps to identify the positive effect of ICT applications in Canada. Sourced from : (http://www.labs-associados.org/docs/OCDE_TIC.PDF) Challenges faced by the management and organization in a digital firm: Requirement of internal ICT and managerial knowledge: Since SMEs focus on day to day operations, they are less aware of the benefits of new technologies and would tend to lack the human technological resources needed for a digital firm, when they decide to investment in advanced technologies. Even when they are aware of the potential benefits of adopting e-commerce, they would need qualified personnel to carry out the operations. The firms that adopt Internet and e-commerce are likely to have personnel within the firm who have a reasonable knowledge of the incorporated technology. A study of small ICT companies with 3-80 employees suggests that the Internet was adopted by firms with personnel who understand the technology used (Mehrtens, 2001). The study found that these were not necessarily ICT professionals, but simply people interested in technology. If firms have the resources to access or outsource skills, then scarcity of technologically skilled personnel would not be a hindrance. However, presence of internal technological capabi lities is still vital because adoption of internet communication technologies cannot succeed without an understanding of the e-business model. Without internal technological capabilities, dependence on outside support services for system maintenance can be dangerous because firms that conduct e-business activities have to bear the risk of occasional system failures and computer viruses. If ICT support services, especially in an emergency, are needed to minimise the loss from a system malfunction, the e-business system of the firm may be vulnerable if they are not immediately available. The existence of local ICT services is thus an important consideration for the management, especially for small offices in remote areas or emerging economies, where ICT services are scarce and expensive. Skills and understanding of e-business models is also vital for the managers. Successful integration of e-business requires many firms to restructure their business processes, to change organisational structures and to redefine their core competence and positions in the value chains. So, e-business tools cannot be successfully introduced and implemented without the visionary power and strategic decisions about how to apply ICT technologies for business processes. (http://www.aabri.com/manuscripts/09362.pdf) Cost of developing and maintaining e-business systems : For small and medium sized firms, sometimes, the cost of adopting e-business systems and their maintenance outweighs the benefits received from them. Budget constraints and uncertainty of return on investment may sway the managements decision to adopt e-business systems. Thus, gathering the capital for investing in sophisticated and expensive internet communication technologies is an issue that the management needs to counter. The management needs to decide, depending upon its size and capacity to bear the cost, how far they can extend their arms over the latest technologically advanced business systems. Some small businesses, especially micro-enterprises with 1-9 employees or the self-employed, may adopt a simple Web site without any e-commerce function if the cost of basic Internet use is well within their marketing budget. (http://www.aabri.com/manuscripts/09362.pdf) Viability of Business Models: The advancements in internet have changed the business models in a number of key industries including media, financial services, travel and automobile retailing. But although internet technology provides great prospects, not all Internet business models have been successful. Conducting business over the internet is not always cost effective and efficient. For some companies, resorting to traditional methods is more viable. Of course, retailers on the internet may not need to pay for attractive outlets and employees, but they would need to use a large proportion of their budget for web site maintenance, customer service call centres, supply chain management and customer acquisition. There are also challenges to be faced for firms that try to use the web for supplementing or enhancing traditional business models. Businesses that are unclear about their e-business strategy may end up wasting a lot of money in building and maintaining websites that fail to deliver results. Successful web sites may also incur high costs. For instance, Equipment Inc., popular seller of indoor gear, has large payroll expenditures to pay for skilled technical staff supporting the website and additional shipping expenses to ensure web orders are delivered on time. Thus, the management needs to consider the viability of e-business models for its firm before deciding to invest. Business Process Change Requirements: Even if a firm does have a viable business model, it can still fail due to bad management or poor execution of the business model. Many dot-com firms like Garden.com, Productopia.com, Pets.com, Chinese Books Cyberstore etc. have closed down. The implementation and working of an electronic business model requires successful management of a firms divisions, production sites, sales offices and also maintaining close relationships with customers, suppliers and business partners. All important business processes need to be restructured and closely integrated. Firms will need to have well designed policies and procedures for sharing data. There are also traditional boundaries existing between a firms divisions and departments, customers and suppliers which can be barriers to collaboration and relationship building. Thus, the management needs to ensure a complete transformation of the firm and the ways in which it conducts business. Channel Conflicts: A channel conflict is a competition between two or more different distribution chains used to sell products or services of the same company. ( Laudon Laudon, 2006)When a company uses the web for selling its products, it creates a channel conflict with the firms traditional methods of selling. This is especially true for products that are less information sensitive and require a physical intermediary. In such a case, a companys revenues may drop as customer make purchases directly from the web. Channel conflict is a major issue for business-to-business business models, where the consumer purchases directly from the manufacturer through the Web. Milacron Inc., a machine tools company with extensive websites, minimizes the negative impact of channel conflict by paying full commissions to reps making online sales in their territories, even if they do not work on the sale or meet the buyer. Other companies have devised solutions, such as offering only a portion of thei r product line on the web. Legal Uncertainities: Conflicting regulatory environments and legal uncertainties for cross-border transactions, especially B2C, may affect small and medium scale firms. There is no harmonised legal framework with rules pertaining to the determination of jurisdiction and applicable law nor are there mechanisms that ensure the cross-border enforcement of legal rulings. The internet is global and is used by numerous organizations in different countries. Suppose a product were offered on sale in China, but the purchaser lived in the United States, whose law would apply? (Laudon Laudon, 2006)Small businesses can risk being due to inconsistent laws. Trust, Security and Privacy: For e-commerce to flourish there needs to be an atmosphere of trust among buyers, sellers and other partners involved in the transactions. Consumers will be wary of the security and confidentiality of credit card details and other personal information supplied over the internet. Internet based systems are at a risk of being penetrated by outsiders, as the internet is open to everyone. Any information, including e-mail passes through many different systems before it reaches its destination. It can be monitored and hacked into at any of these points resulting in loss of confidential data. Valuable data such as sales contracts, marketing plans, product development and pricing strategies, etc. can be intercepted causing significant risk to the company. Thus, the management needs to be extremely cautious and maintain stringent security systems to safeguard their business models. (Laudon Laudon) Opportunities and Challenges for Employees in a digital firm The rapid shift in trends in the market is seeing more and more companies undertaking a full scale adoption of technology that has in turn created an array of opportunities for the employees. Some of them are: Better job prospects. The emergence of digital firms has opened up attractive avenues for IT employees all over the world. With advancements in every area springing up, those equipped with specific technological expertise are also gaining demand with attractive bonuses rewarded. According to the research methodology used by Ricardo Parez Garrido on New Organizational Forms for knowledge transfer (http://latienda.ie.edu/working_papers_economia/WP05-03.pdf), the company Alpha was founded with the idea of uniting the best programmers in Spain interested in the internet and e-business and create for them an environment where they could work freely. Alpha experienced a tremendous growth of 400% from 1998-1999. But the success had attracted another telecommunication giant in the country which offered better incentives for employees. As a result a majority of the Alpha taskforce moved to the competing firm. Employees empowered in decision- making. With the onset of the digital era, many firms are now approaching a change in work attitudes. The system of bureaucratic is now being replaced by independence for different roles in an organization. With more space for employees to work, an atmosphere of ownership of the company results, providing better results and incentive for staff to work. The case study on the Royal Bank of Scotland (Currie Willcocks, 1996) provides an insight into the new philosophies of work practice being adopted by the bank. Senior managers were aware that customers were intimidated by the bureaucratic image of the bank and felt a change was necessary. The traditional emphasis on geographical splits was done away with and a different structure was established with three inter-related businesses- Retail, Commercial and Corporate. This way, individual departments are given complete responsibility and independence to run their functions. Employees play a greater part in the company The information systems sector is now recognized as a chief part of any firm. The days of technological expertise playing an underdog are over. It is now realized that those equipped with the technology side of the firm are better positioned to understand their part and hence are now increasingly given more ownership and responsibilities. Despite the fact that modern advancements in e-business have created opportunities for employees, they have also had a negative impact on them. Some of the drawbacks are: Outsourcing of technological expertise. With the wide availability of IT skills and restructuring of organizations, most companies now prefer to outsource technical expertise which may be better suited in terms of cost and quality of technical skills. As a result the existing employees are difficult to accommodate because of the drastic changes brought about by adoption of advanced technology that renders their skills incompetent. This is especially true for companies do not primarily rely on technology for their core business functions. The case study of the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and their Business Process Re-engineering project (Currie Willcocks, 1996) shows how a complete restructuring of the banks activities resulted in many job losses. Also the technology unit was perceived by the business units as a support function, not therefore core to the business. Some senior managers were keen to outsource a major portion of the technical sector altogether. This also reflects a growing trend among organization seeking IT outsourcing as an alternative to in-house operating. Obsolescence of work. Because most companies are undergoing changes in their functioning process by incorporating advanced information systems that help to better integrate various departments within the organization, traditional forms of work are now losing a place. More and more employees are now faced with job losses because their work has been rendered useless with current business systems. The case study documenting the Columbus project undertaken by RBS (Currie Willcocks, 1996) gives evidence that due to the complete restructuring of the banks activities and how banking services were offered to customers, many manager were worried about a large staff redundancy. Communication problems Inevitably, communication problems between business units and technological units will tend to occur. Since technology department supplies the applications for various business functions, sometimes friction might arise over what is supplied and what is actually needed. Due to the complexities involved in business functions, the tactics and strategies used might change from time to time, causing the technological department to swiftly adapt to the changing conditions, which is not always simple. The case study documenting restructuring of RBS (Currie Willcocks, 1996) indicates the prevalence of communication problems. Business units complain that computers have been imposed on them with little relevance to the business context. However, the technology unit argued that business users change their mind regularly as to what is required from them. This miscommunication may lead to high costs, failure to meet delivery dates, loss of management control, low morale, etc. Conclusion: The emergence of new organizational forms according to the level of use of information communication technologies gives rise to new research opportunities in the sensitive sector of SMEs. In addition, the need for the emergence of new organizational forms stems also from the fact that technology no longer constitutes a mere link in the chain of businesses processes but rather the driving force behind this chain both in the internal and in the external business environment.

Deception Point Page 13

The President didn't blame them. His staff had worked grueling hours to support him in the upcoming election, and now, all of a sudden, it seemed the President was fumbling the ball. Soon they will understand, Herney told himself. Soon I'll be the hero again. He regretted having to keep his staff in the dark for so long, but secrecy was absolutely critical. And when it came to keeping secrets, the White House was known as the leakiest ship in Washington. Herney arrived in the waiting room outside the Oval Office and gave his secretary a cheery wave. â€Å"You look nice this morning, Dolores.† â€Å"You too, sir,† she said, eyeing his casual attire with unveiled disapproval. Herney lowered his voice. â€Å"I'd like you to organize a meeting for me.† â€Å"With whom, sir?† â€Å"The entire White House staff.† His secretary glanced up. â€Å"Your entire staff, sir? All 145 of them?† â€Å"Exactly.† She looked uneasy. â€Å"Okay. Shall I set it up in†¦ the Briefing Room?† Herney shook his head. â€Å"No. Let's set it up in my office.† Now she stared. â€Å"You want to see your entire staff inside the Oval Office?† â€Å"Exactly.† â€Å"All at once, sir?† â€Å"Why not? Set it up for four P.M.† The secretary nodded as though humoring a mental patient. â€Å"Very well, sir. And the meeting is regarding†¦?† â€Å"I have an important announcement to make to the American people tonight. I want my staff to hear it first.† A sudden dejected look swept across his secretary's face, almost as if she had secretly been dreading this moment. She lowered her voice. â€Å"Sir, are you pulling out of the race?† Herney burst out laughing. â€Å"Hell no, Dolores! I'm gearing up to fight!† She looked doubtful. The media reports had all been saying President Herney was throwing the election. He gave her a reassuring wink. â€Å"Dolores, you've done a terrific job for me these past few years, and you'll do a terrific job for me for another four. We're keeping the White House. I swear it.† His secretary looked like she wanted to believe it. â€Å"Very well, sir. I'll alert the staff. Four P.M.† As Zach Herney entered the Oval Office, he couldn't help but smile at the image of his entire staff crammed into the deceptively small chamber. Although this great office had enjoyed many nicknames over the years – the Loo, Dick's Den, the Clinton Bedroom-Herney's favorite was â€Å"the Lobster Trap.† It seemed most fitting. Each time a newcomer entered the Oval Office, disorientation set in immediately. The symmetry of the room, the gently curving walls, the discreetly disguised doorways in and out, all gave visitors the dizzying sense they'd been blindfolded and spun around. Often, after a meeting in the Oval Office, a visiting dignitary would stand up, shake hands with the President, and march straight into a storage closet. Depending on how the meeting had gone, Herney would either stop the guest in time or watch in amusement as the visitor embarrassed himself. Herney had always believed the most dominating aspect of the Oval Office was the colorful American eagle emblazoned on the room's oval carpet. The eagle's left talon clutched an olive branch and his right a bundle of arrows. Few outsiders knew that during times of peace, the eagle faced left-toward the olive branch. But in times of war, the eagle mysteriously faced right-toward the arrows. The mechanism behind this little parlor trick was the source of quiet speculation among White House staff because it was traditionally known only by the President and the head of housekeeping. The truth behind the enigmatic eagle, Herney had found to be disappointingly mundane. A storage room in the basement contained the second oval carpet, and housekeeping simply swapped the carpets in the dead of night. Now, as Herney gazed down at the peaceful, left-gazing eagle, he smiled to think that perhaps he should swap carpets in honor of the little war he was about to launch against Senator Sedgewick Sexton. 15 The U.S. Delta Force is the sole fighting squad whose actions are granted complete presidential immunity from the law. Presidential Decision Directive 25 (PDD 25) grants Delta Force soldiers â€Å"freedom from all legal accountability,† including exception from the 1876 Posse Comitatus Act, a statute imposing criminal penalties for anyone using the military for personal gain, domestic law enforcement, or unsanctioned covert operations. Delta Force members are handpicked from the Combat Applications Group (CAG), a classified organization within the Special Operations Command in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Delta Force soldiers are trained killers-experts in SWAT operations, rescuing hostages, surprise raids, and elimination of covert enemy forces. Because Delta Force missions usually involve high levels of secrecy, the traditional multitiered chain of command is often circumvented in favor of â€Å"monocaput† management-a single controller who holds authority to control the unit as he or she sees fit. The controller tends to be a military or government powerbroker with sufficient rank or influence to run the mission. Regardless of the identity of their controller, Delta Force missions are classified at the highest level, and once a mission is completed, Delta Force soldiers never speak of it again-not to one another, and not to their commanding officers within Special Ops. Fly. Fight. Forget. The Delta team currently stationed above the Eighty-second Parallel was doing no flying or fighting. They were simply watching. Delta-One had to admit that this had been a most unusual mission so far, but he had learned long ago never to be surprised by what he was asked to do. In the past five years he had been involved in Middle East hostage rescues, tracking and exterminating terrorist cells working inside the United States, and even the discreet elimination of several dangerous men and women around the globe. Just last month his Delta team had used a flying microbot to induce a lethal heart attack in a particularly malicious South American drug lord. Using a microbot equipped with a hairline titanium needle containing a potent vasoconstrictor, Delta-Two had flown the device into the man's house through an open second-story window, found the man's bedroom, and then pricked him on the shoulder while he was sleeping. The microbot was back out the window and â€Å"feet dry† before the man woke up with chest pain. The Delta team was already flying home by the time its victim's wife was calling the paramedics. No breaking and entering. Death by natural causes. It had been a thing of beauty. More recently, another microbot stationed inside a prominent senator's office to monitor his personal meetings had captured images of a lurid sexual encounter. The Delta team jokingly referred to that mission as â€Å"insertion behind enemy lines.† Now, after being trapped on surveillance duty inside this tent for the last ten days, Delta-One was ready for this mission to be over. Remain in hiding. Monitor the structure-inside and out. Report to your controller any unexpected developments. Delta-One had been trained never to feel any emotion regarding his assignments. This mission, however, had certainly raised his heart rate when he and his team were first briefed. The briefing had been â€Å"faceless†-every phase explained via secure electronic channels. Delta-One had never met the controller responsible for this mission. Delta-One was preparing a dehydrated protein meal when his watch beeped in unison with the others. Within seconds the CrypTalk communications device beside him blinked on alert. He stopped what he was doing and picked up the handheld communicator. The other two men watched in silence.

The Middle Passage

The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African, Written by Myself† Is a traumatic narrative of the horrors suffered by the Africans slaves of the 18th century, which has touched my heart. No human being should ever have to endure what the African slaves and their families endured during slavery and voyage through the â€Å"The Middle Passage†. The Middle Passage was called the route of the triangular trade through the AtlanticOcean in which millions of people from Africa were shipped to the New World as part of the Atlantic slave trade. The author starts by giving details of the terrible conditions that he encounters on board of a slave ship. An example of the terrible condition in which the slaves lived is narrated by Equiano (2013) as: â€Å"The stench of the hold while we were on the coast was so Intolerably loathsome, that it was dangerous to remain there for any time†¦ † (1388) â€Å"The closeness of the place, and the heat of the climate, added to the umber In the ship, which was so crowded that each had scarcely room to turn himself, almost suffocated us† (p. 388). The conditions the Africans slaves endured during the Middle Passage were horrific; no human being should be force to live in such deplorable conditions. The lack of freedom on the slave ships caused great distress to the enslaved Africans. They were treated as cargo, chained one with the other and had to perform their bodily functions while chained. They were also forced to sleep cramped together few of them barely escaped without their limbs atrophying. They rarely had enough to eat or drink, and would grow sick in drove, than many of them wanted to die instead of living a life full of cruelties.The slaves were so tired of the detrimental conditions In which they have been forced to live In slave ships, under the most abominable and hellish hyglenlc conditions that they preferred to die, as Olaudah Equiano (2013) write s, â€Å"two of my wearied countrymen who were chained together (l was near them at the time), preferring death to such a life of misery, somehow made through the ettings and Jumped into the sea; immediately another quite dejected fellow, who, on account of his illness, was suffered to be out of iron, also followed their example† (p. 388) Some slaves did everything in the power to end their life; some tried to throw themselves into the Atlantic Ocean, but many were prevented from doing so by the crew and then they were nearly beaten to death to serve as an example, to prevent other slaves from doing the same.Most of the slave encounter white men for the first time when they were brought to the ship, to them those white men with red faces and long loose hair where a strange creature speaking a language they could not understand. They were suddenly separated from their families and forced to live with strangers whose languages they could not understand. I cannot even imagine th e turmoil these families when through. For most of the Africans slaves the Middle Passage marked the beginning of their emise, a life of detrimental treatment, torture and horrible living conditions.For others the Journey thru the Atlantic Ocean marked the end of their lives. Those of them that survived, however, were faced with the agony of a long horrendous Journey to an unknown land where an unknown future awaited them. The Middle Passage The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African, Written by Myself† Is a traumatic narrative of the horrors suffered by the Africans slaves of the 18th century, which has touched my heart. No human being should ever have to endure what the African slaves and their families endured during slavery and voyage through the â€Å"The Middle Passage†. The Middle Passage was called the route of the triangular trade through the AtlanticOcean in which millions of people from Africa were shipped to the New World as part of the Atlantic slave trade. The author starts by giving details of the terrible conditions that he encounters on board of a slave ship. An example of the terrible condition in which the slaves lived is narrated by Equiano (2013) as: â€Å"The stench of the hold while we were on the coast was so Intolerably loathsome, that it was dangerous to remain there for any time†¦ † (1388) â€Å"The closeness of the place, and the heat of the climate, added to the umber In the ship, which was so crowded that each had scarcely room to turn himself, almost suffocated us† (p. 388). The conditions the Africans slaves endured during the Middle Passage were horrific; no human being should be force to live in such deplorable conditions. The lack of freedom on the slave ships caused great distress to the enslaved Africans. They were treated as cargo, chained one with the other and had to perform their bodily functions while chained. They were also forced to sleep cramped together few of them barely escaped without their limbs atrophying. They rarely had enough to eat or drink, and would grow sick in drove, than many of them wanted to die instead of living a life full of cruelties.The slaves were so tired of the detrimental conditions In which they have been forced to live In slave ships, under the most abominable and hellish hyglenlc conditions that they preferred to die, as Olaudah Equiano (2013) write s, â€Å"two of my wearied countrymen who were chained together (l was near them at the time), preferring death to such a life of misery, somehow made through the ettings and Jumped into the sea; immediately another quite dejected fellow, who, on account of his illness, was suffered to be out of iron, also followed their example† (p. 388) Some slaves did everything in the power to end their life; some tried to throw themselves into the Atlantic Ocean, but many were prevented from doing so by the crew and then they were nearly beaten to death to serve as an example, to prevent other slaves from doing the same.Most of the slave encounter white men for the first time when they were brought to the ship, to them those white men with red faces and long loose hair where a strange creature speaking a language they could not understand. They were suddenly separated from their families and forced to live with strangers whose languages they could not understand. I cannot even imagine th e turmoil these families when through. For most of the Africans slaves the Middle Passage marked the beginning of their emise, a life of detrimental treatment, torture and horrible living conditions.For others the Journey thru the Atlantic Ocean marked the end of their lives. Those of them that survived, however, were faced with the agony of a long horrendous Journey to an unknown land where an unknown future awaited them.

The Lottery Symbolism - 649 Words

In Shirley Jacksons short story The Lottery, one of the main characters is Mr. Summers. The lottery was conducted--as were the square dances, the teen club, the Halloween program--by Mr. Summers. Summers might be the busy body of the village, but he is not the protagonist of the story. Because he represents the status quo situation in the village, his presence in the story is one of the most significant symbols of The Lottery. Summers represents blind adherence to ritual, as he is in charge of the operation of the lottery. As part of his duties as lottery manager, Summers controls the black box where all the names are placed. The fact that Summers will have no heirs signifies the fact that he represents the antiquated ideas that the lottery symbolizes. Because of his personal life, because his bloodline is ending, and because his character represents blind adherence to ritual, Mr. Summers becomes the symbol of Shirley Jacksons The Lottery, Summers personal life and appearance suggest a lot about what he symbolizes in the short story. For one, Summerss name is symbolic because the lottery takes place in the season of summer, on June 27. Summers is described simply as a round-faced, jovial man. His face seems rather sunny, also in keeping with the symbolism of his name. Otherwise, his looks do not have a strong bearing on his character. However, the people were sorry for him because he had no children and his wife was a scold. It could also be that hisShow MoreRelatedThe Lottery : Symbolism And Symbolism973 Words   |  4 PagesAfter reading The Lottery you might think about what you are actually winning in a lottery type setting. In the story which is enriched with irony and symbolism. As a reader interpreting the uses of each of these is crucial on discovering the full story. The shabby black box represents both the tradition of the lottery and the illogic of the villagers’ loyalty to it. The black box is nearly falling apart, hardly even black anymore after years of use and storage, but the villagers are unwillingRead MoreSymbolism in the Lottery1391 Words   |  6 PagesShirley Jackson#8217;s, #8220;The Lottery#8221;, clearly expresses her feelings concerning traditional rituals through her story. It opens the eyes of readers to properly classify and question some of today#8217;s traditions as cruel, and allows room to foretell the outcome of these unusual traditions. #8220;The Lottery#8221; is a short story that records the annual sacrifice ceremony of a fictional small town. It is a detailed narrative of the selection of the person to be sacrificed, aRead MoreLottery Essay Symbolism1249 Words   |  5 PagesSymbolism Essay Symbolism is a sign that has been used by literary authors to represent a larger idea into another more specific concept or belief. Symbolism can be used to represent an action, an idea or a person’s archetype as well. The term symbolism is the practice of representing things by symbols, or of investing in things with a symbolic meaning or character (â€Å"Symbolism†). Examples of symbolism are: an eagle representing freedom, a dove representing peace, and the color green can symbolizeRead MoreSymbolism in The Lottery Essay802 Words   |  4 PagesTo a first time reader, Shirley Jacksons â€Å"The Lottery† seems simply as a curious tale with a shocking ending. After repetitive reading of Jacksons tale, it is clear that each sentence is written with a unique purpose often using symbolism. Her use of symbols not only foreshadow its surprise and disturbing ending but allows the reader to evaluate the communitys pervert traditional rituals. She may be commenting on the season of the year and the grass being â€Å"richly green† or the toying with theRead MoreThe Lottery Symbolism Essay992 Words   |  4 Pagesof The Lottery by Shirley Jackson is simply trying to understand what the symbols in the story mean. These symbols included the lottery, the tools used in the lottery and even the people of the town. Within the first few lines of Shirley Jackson described a picture of a clear, sunny, fresh and warm summer day. She continues this sense of comfort by adding small children playing after being released from school for the summer, and the townspeople gathering calmly for the annual â€Å"Lottery†. JacksonRead MoreThe Lottery Symbolism Essay804 Words   |  4 PagesThe Lottery by Shirley Jackson is a short story based on a fictional village that holds a macabre ritual. Although the regularity was not stated within the tale, the story speaks of a regular gathering of the village folk to conduct some form of lottery. In a disturbing twist of the tale, the winner of the lottery doesn’t get to receive a prize, but instead, suffer the indignity of being killed by getting stoned to death by friends, family, and neighbors. Mrs. Hutchinson is the unfortunate soul,Read MoreThe Lottery Symbolism Essay908 Words   |  4 PagesAll around the world today thousands of people die from murder and the numbers increase every year. Our world is filled with violence and tragedies that keep increasing, just like in, Shirley Jacksons story â€Å"The Lottery.† The characters in a small village choose someone to stone to death each year because of tradition. As this tradition continues, more and more people die as time passes. All of the towns folk grow more and more nervous, hoping not to get picked. They gather in the town square toRead MoreSymbolism In The Lottery, By Shirley Jackson869 Words   |  4 PagesSymbolism is used throughout The Lottery in the character names. Author, Shirley Jackson, uses the name of, Mr. Graves, to foreshadow the story and explain what â€Å"The Lottery† really is. Mr. Graves is the one who carries the three-legged stool which could indicate two things: the Trinity, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, or it could mean the past, present and future, saying that â€Å"The Lottery† will always be among the people of the vi llage. In addition, he is also the owner of the post office andRead MoreSymbolism Of The Lottery By Shirley Jackson1577 Words   |  7 PagesShirley Jackson s The Lottery , is a story that is filled with symbolism. The author uses symbolism to help her represent human nature as tainted, no matter how pure one thinks of himself or herself, or how pure their environment may seem to be. The story is very effective in raising many questions about the pointless nature of humanity regarding tradition and violence. The Lottery clearly expresses Jackson s feelings concerning mankind?s evil nature hiding behind traditions and ritualsRead MoreSymbolism Of The Lottery By Shirley Jackson926 Words   |  4 PagesWhen incorporated well, symbolism enhances a story’s overall impact. Shirley Jackson’s short story â€Å"The Lottery† contains symbolism to affect the readers’ feelings as well as add interest. The story begins with the villagers gathering at the square t o participate in the lottery. The villagers chat while waiting for the event to begin. After Mr. Summers comes with a black box, he stirs the pieces of paper in the box. The narrators describe the lottery as an old ritual that the community continues