A Review of Of Mice and Men Essay Example for Free

A Review of Of Mice and Men Essay Of Mice and Men was written by John Steinbeck in 1939, during the Great American Depression. It tells the story of two men striving to understand their own unique place in the world. Traveling in search of work, George and his simple-minded friend Lennie have nothing in the world except each other and the dream they share: to one day settle down in a farm of their own and count out their days. Eventually they find work on a ranch, their hopes are doomed as Lennie becomes a victim of his own strength leaving their dream to be crushed. Much of Of Mice and Men is based upon Steinbecks life and experiences. He highlights many social issues which he experienced first hand. For example, the climatic changes in the West of America resulting in destruction of fertile land, this had supported the homesteaders represented in the novel by the promised joy dreamt of by the workers in the story. Another problem shown in the novel is the great financial collapse of 1929 which heralded the Depression that increased unemployment and poverty through the United States. Because of these problems intinerant American workers were exploited by farm owners on low pay and appalling conditions. They were only in demand for short periods of time causing them to have to save enough from seasonal work to support for the rest of the year and their extreme mobile lifestyles. Most of the characters in the book face many of these problems or are suffering from them especially the main characters, George and Lennie. George is a small, intelligent man. He is very strong-minded but also like most of the characters in the book very dreamy. He is very keen to change the monotomy of his present situation. Lennie, is a huge, lumbering, kind but child-like man. Although he has a terror of violence he is a man of great physical strength, something he is quite unaware of causing him to be clumsy. Lennie has an obsession with petting small animals that occurs throughout the book. He is very passive it is for this reason, in my opnion that George and Lennie are the incomplete halves of one whole person. George keeps Lennie by his side partly for comfort and friendship, but mainly as he is very strong and can work on a farm better than most people. Lennie is both an advantage and hindrance to George. George also supports Lennie, helps him and puts ideas in his head, wh ich keep him motivated but mainly acts as a fatherly figure. On arrival at the ranch one of the first characters George and Lennie meet is Candy, the oldest ranch worker who is coming to the end of his life. Candy is a very warm character in my opnion. He shares the dream that George and Lennie do, and therefore they become attractive friends to him. He is a gossip and tells the newcomers of the ranch workers and owners. He tells George and Lennie about Curley and his newly wed wife. Curley is a small man, because of his height disadvantage he dislikes tall men. He is continually agressive and always trying to show his masculanity. He is humilated by his wifes disastifaction and needs to boost his confidence. Curleys wifes name is never mentioned in the book it is for this reason she comes across as Curleys possession. She is portrayed in the book as a tarty, flirtatious woman, who is friendly to the men who work on the ranch. She claims not being understood in the book. Curleys wife has often been caught by other members of the ranch giving S lim and Carlson the eye. Slim is a friendly and gentle character compared to the others. He is a dignified master craftsman. Slim in my opnion is descibed by Steinbeck as an idealised character, however, his words and actions are quite realistic. Carlson is the more agressive character, we do not know that much about him but he usually appears in violent scenes. He is not a very sensative man. One of my favourite characters is Crooks. Crooks is a literate black cripple who tends horses. He interests me because his natural personality has been taken away from him by years of racism which I am very against. He is a very lonely character and has been automatically rejected in the novel by the other characters. My other favourite character is Lennie because of his unusual personality and need for a father figure despite being a fully grown man. In my opnion one cannot help but to feel sorry for Lennie. Within the story their are many themes, important ideas that run through the book. One of my favourites is dreams, each character has their own dream which is used throughout the book. The majority involve the American Dream, to be able to live off the fatta the lan. Curleys wifes dream revolves around Hollywood and being a moviestar but her dream she believes was ruined by her mother. She is also lonely just like many of the other characters, this is another theme in the book. Each of the workers is an induvidual and works for themselves. They all seek comfort in different things such as Candy in his dog. However, quite early on in the book Candys dog is killed, this is the first mention of violence. Throughout the book the world of the men is filled with unneccesary violence. The killing of the dog is quite similar to that of Lennie at the end of the book. Alot of authority is shown within the book aswell such as the condition of the workers living area and the Bosss clothes, black and severe. However I feel the book is centred on the idea of mutual dependence. Each of the main two characters depends on each other hugely. But this relationship, at the end of the book, is breached and George takes advantage of Lennie who trusts him, and kills him, so that his dream is secured. The book is written in an easy to read form, it is not in the country language they would of spoken, but in proper English the majority of the book. The story is out of date of course, but the actual language and style used in the book is quite modern. I really like the way that Steinbeck at the beginning of each chapter gives you a vivid description of the surrondings. It is for this reason that although there have been many films made of this book nothing can compare to the pictures the pages of this book generates inside your minds eye and as you turn the final page these pictures stay with you. At first glance the story was not very enthralling but as I got deeper into the plot I started to really enjoy it. As I got more into the book I started to think more about the themes and characters of the book which drew me in to it even more. It is the kind of book that is not only a story but also holds an interesting background behind it and applies to the history of America and the Great Depression. It is for this reason I feel it deserves its title as a classic and I would recommend it to any reader.

In this essay I will be discussing the playwrights ideas of :: English Literature

In this essay I will be discussing the playwright's ideas of Manliness, Hostility and Aggression in A View from the Bridge. 'A View from the Bridge' is a play set in Brooklyn in the 1940s. The protagonist is Eddie, an Italian immigrant and longshoreman living in Brooklyn. Eddie lives with his wife and niece, and the play starts with them waiting for the arrival of Beatrice's two cousins, Marco and Rodolpho. They are illegal immigrants looking for work in order to fund their families at home in Italy. Rodolpho and Catherine seem to like each other, which upsets Eddie, as he seems to love Catherine for more than just a daughter or niece. This ultimately leads to the downfall of Eddie. The ideas of manliness, hostility and aggression create conflict in the play as Eddie and Marco are both battling to be the man of the house. These ideas also create conflict between Eddie and Rodolpho because, in Eddie's eyes, Rodolpho does not live up to the expectations of what a man should be. Eddie is also jealous of him, because of Rodolpho's relationship with Catherine. "A view from the Bridge" deals with the 'American Dream'; this is that immigrants came from countries, such as Italy, in order to make a better life for themselves. Arthur Miller was concerned with this living through the Depression, which bankrupted his father, and he saw the effects on the ordinary people. The play can be described as a Greek tragedy set in America. The play is set in the 1940's and so reflects the attitudes and feelings of the time, this is why it may be a little difficult for a modern day audience to relate to. America was seen as the land of opportunity for many people, to start a new life, escape their past or just for a change .People believed America held the key. However, this was not the case, as immigrants often lived in the most run down parts of town and found themselves out of work and with little money to live on or send to their families at home. The qualities that Eddie considers to be manly are the stereotypical, traditional views of manly qualities. One of these qualities is to be strong. Eddie tries to intimidate Rodolpho by getting him to box with him. Eddie is a good boxer and has had many years practise, however Rodolpho has never boxed. He is reluctant to box with Eddie 'I don't want to hit you, Eddie'. Another quality that Eddie considers to be 'manly' is for a man to provide for his family.

Food Safety System

Food Safety Information Freezing and Food Safety oods in the freezer — are they safe? Every year, thousands of callers to the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline have questions about the safety of items stored in their home freezers. The confusion seems to be based on the fact that few people understand how freezing protects food. Here is some information on how to freeze food safely and how long to keep it. F What Can You Freeze? You can freeze almost any food. Some exceptions are canned food or eggs in shells. However, once the food (such as a ham) is out of the can, you may freeze it.Being able to freeze food and being pleased with the quality after thawing are two different things. Some foods simply don’t freeze well. Examples are mayonnaise, cream sauce, and lettuce. Raw meat and poultry maintain their quality longer than their cooked counterparts because moisture is lost during cooking. Is Frozen Food Safe? Food stored constantly at 0  °F or below will always be safe. Only the quality suffers with lengthy freezer storage. Freezing keeps food safe by slowing the movement of molecules, causing microbes to enter a dormant stage.Freezing preserves food for extended periods because it prevents the growth of microorganisms that cause both food spoilage and foodborne illness. Freezing to 0  °F or below inactivates any microbes — bacteria, yeasts, and molds — present in food. Once thawed, however, these microbes can again become active, multiplying under the right conditions to levels that can lead to foodborne illness. Since they will then grow at about the same rate as microorganisms on fresh food, you must handle thawed items as you would any perishable food. Trichina and other parasites can be destroyed by sub-zero freezing temperatures.However, very strict government-supervised conditions must be met. Home freezing cannot be relied upon to destroy trichina. Thorough cooking, however, will destroy all parasites. Does Freezing Destroy Bacteria and Parasites? Freshness and Quality Freshness and quality at the time of freezing affect the condition of frozen foods. If frozen at peak quality, thawed foods emerge tasting better than foods frozen near the end of their useful life. So freeze items you won’t use quickly sooner rather than later. Store all foods at 0  °F or below to retain vitamin content, color, flavor, and texture.The freezing process itself does not destroy nutrients. In meat and poultry products, there is little change in nutrient value during freezer storage. Nutrient Retention The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is the public health agency in the U. S. Department of Agriculture responsible for ensuring that the nation’s commercial supply of meat, poultry, and egg products is safe, wholesome, and correctly labeled and packaged. USDA Meat & Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) USDA Photo PhotoDisc Food Safety Whileand InspectionCamping & Boating Food Safety Hikin g, ServiceUnited States Department of Agriculture Freezing and Food Safety Enzymes Enzyme activity can lead to the deterioration of food quality. Enzymes present in animals, vegetables, and fruit promote chemical reactions before and after harvest, such as ripening. Freezing only slows the enzyme activity that takes place in foods. It does not halt them. Enzyme activity does not harm frozen meats or fish and is neutralized by the acids in frozen fruits. But most vegetables that freeze well are low acid and require brief, partial cooking to prevent deterioration. This is called â€Å"blanching. For successful freezing, blanch or partially cook vegetables in boiling water or in a microwave oven. Then rapidly chill the vegetables prior to freezing and storage. Consult a cookbook for timing. Packaging Proper packaging helps maintain quality and prevent freezer burn. It is safe to freeze meat or poultry directly in its original packaging, however this type of wrap is permeable to air an d quality may diminish over time. For prolonged storage, overwrap these packages as you would any food for long-term storage. It is not necessary to rinse meat and poultry.Freeze unopened vacuum packages as is. If you notice that a package has accidentally been torn or has opened while food is in the freezer, the food is still safe to use; merely overwrap or rewrap it. Freezer burn does not make food unsafe; merely dry in spots. It appears as grayish-brown, leathery spots and is caused by air coming in contact with the surface of the food. Cut freezer-burned portions away either before or after cooking the food. Heavily freezer-burned foods may have to be discarded for quality reasons. Color changes can occur in frozen foods.The bright red color of meat as purchased usually turns dark or pale brown depending on its variety. This may be due to lack of oxygen, freezer burn, or abnormally long storage. Freezing doesn’t usually cause color changes in poultry. However, the bones a nd the meat near them can become dark. Bone darkening results when pigment seeps through the porous bones of young poultry into the surrounding tissues when the poultry meat is frozen and thawed. The dulling of color in frozen vegetables and cooked foods is usually the result of excessive drying due to improper packaging or overlengthy storage.Freezer Burn Color Changes Freeze Rapidly Freeze food as fast as possible to maintain its quality. Rapid freezing prevents undesirable large ice crystals from forming throughout the product because the molecules don’t have time to form into the characteristic six-sided snowflake. Slow freezing creates large, disruptive ice crystals. During thawing, they damage the cells and dissolve emulsions. This causes meat to â€Å"drip† and lose juiciness. Emulsions such as mayonnaise or cream will separate and appear curdled. Ideally, a food 2-inches thick should freeze completely in about 2 hours.If your home freezer has a â€Å"quick-fre eze† shelf, use it. Never stack packages to be frozen. Instead, spread them out in one layer on various shelves, stacking them only after frozen solid. Freezer – Refrigerator Temperatures If a refrigerator freezing compartment can’t maintain 0  °F or below or if the door is opened frequently, use it for short-term food storage. Eat those foods as soon as possible for best quality. Use a free-standing freezer set at 0  °F or below for long-term storage of frozen foods. Keep an appliance thermometer in your freezing compartment or freezer to check the temperature.This is important if you experience a power outage or mechanical problems. The temperature in the refrigerator should be set at 40  °F or below. Check the refrigerator temperature with an appliance thermometer. Food Safety Information 2 Freezing and Food Safety Freezer Storage Times Because freezing keeps food safe indefinitely, recommended storage times are for quality only. Refer to the freezer sto rage chart at the end of this document, which lists optimum freezing times for best quality. If a food is not listed on the chart, you may determine its quality after thawing. First check the odor.Some foods will develop a rancid or off odor when frozen too long and should be discarded. Some may not look picture perfect or be of high enough quality to serve alone, but may be edible and can be used to make soups or stews. Safe Thawing Never thaw foods in a garage, basement, car, dishwasher, or plastic garbage bag, out on the kitchen counter, outdoors, or on the porch. These methods can leave your foods unsafe to eat. There are three safe ways to thaw food: in the refrigerator, in cold water, or in the microwave. The last two methods may be the fastest, however, the food must be cooked immediately after thawing. . It’s best to plan ahead for slow, safe thawing in the refrigerator. Small items may defrost overnight; most food requires a day or two to completely defrost. Large it ems like turkeys may take longer, approximately 1 day for each 5 pounds of weight. 2. For faster thawing, place food in a leak proof plastic bag and immerse it in cold water. (If the bag leaks, bacteria from the air or surrounding environment could be introduced into the food. Food may absorb water like a sponge, resulting in a watery product. ) Change the water every 30 minutes. After thawing, cook immediately. 3.When microwave-defrosting food, plan to cook it immediately after thawing because some areas of the food may become warm and begin to cook during microwaving. Refreezing Food thawed in the refrigerator is safe to refreeze without cooking, although there may be a loss of quality due to the moisture lost through thawing. After cooking, foods that were previously frozen are safe to refreeze. If previously cooked foods are thawed in the refrigerator, you may refreeze the unused portion. Freeze leftovers within 3-4 days. Do not refreeze any foods left outside the refrigerator l onger than 2 hours; 1 hour in temperatures above 90  °F.If you purchase previously frozen meat, poultry, or fish at a retail store, you can refreeze if it has been handled safely. Cooking Frozen Foods Raw or cooked meat, poultry, or casseroles can be cooked or reheated from the frozen state. However, it will take approximately one and a half times as long to cook. Remember to discard any wrapping or absorbent paper from meat or poultry. When cooking whole frozen poultry, remove the giblet pack from the cavity as soon as you can loosen it. Cook the giblets separately. Read the label on USDA-inspected frozen meat and poultry products.Some items, such as pre-stuffed whole birds, MUST be cooked from the frozen state to ensure a safely cooked product. LOOK FOR THE USDA OR STATE MARK OF INSPECTION The inspection mark on the packaging tells you the product was prepared in a USDA or State-inspected plant under controlled conditions. Follow the package directions for thawing, reheating, an d storing. Food Safety Information 3 Freezing and Food Safety Power Outage in Freezers If there is a power outage, the freezer fails, or if the freezer door has been left ajar by mistake, the food may still be safe to use if ice crystals remain.If the freezer has failed and a repairman is on the way, or it appears the power will be on soon, don’t open the freezer door. If the freezer door was left ajar and the freezer continued to keep the food cold, the food should stay safe. A freezer full of food will usually keep about 2 days if the door is kept shut; a half-full freezer will last about a day. The freezing compartment in a refrigerator may not keep foods frozen as long. If the freezer is not full, quickly group packages together so they will retain the cold more effectively. Separate meat and poultry items from ther foods so if they begin to thaw, their juices won’t drip onto other foods. When the power is off, you may want to put dry ice, block ice, or bags of ice in the freezer or transfer foods to a friend’s freezer until power is restored. Use an appliance thermometer to monitor the temperature. To determine the safety of foods when the power goes on, check their condition and temperature. If food is partly frozen, still has ice crystals, or is as cold as if it were in a refrigerator (40  °F or below), it is safe to refreeze or use. It’s not necessary to cook raw foods before refreezing.Discard foods that have been warmer than 40  °F for more than 2 hours. Discard any foods that have been contaminated by raw meat juices. Dispose of soft or melted ice cream for quality’s sake. When it is freezing outside and there is snow on the ground, the outdoors seems like a good place to keep food until the power comes on. However, frozen food can thaw if it is exposed to the sun’s rays even when the temperature is very cold. The outside temperature could vary hour by hour and the temperature outside will not protect re frigerated and frozen food. Food may become too warm and foodborne bacteria could grow.Additionally, perishable items could be exposed to unsanitary conditions or to animals. Animals may harbor bacteria or disease; never consume food that has come in contact with an animal. Frozen Cans Cans frozen accidentally, such as those left in a car or basement in subzero temperatures, can present health problems. If the cans are merely swollen — and you are sure the swelling was caused by freezing — the cans may still be usable. Let the can thaw in the refrigerator before opening. If the product doesn’t look and/or smell normal, throw it out. DO NOT TASTE IT!If the seams have rusted or burst, throw the cans out immediately. Wrap the burst can in plastic and dispose of the food where no one, including animals, can get it. Shell eggs should not be frozen. If an egg accidentally freezes and the shell cracked during freezing, discard the egg. Keep any uncracked eggs frozen un til needed; then thaw in the refrigerator. These can be hard cooked successfully, but other uses may be limited. That’s because freezing causes the yolk to become thick and syrupy, so it will not flow like an unfrozen yolk or blend very well with the egg white or other ingredients. Frozen EggsFood Safety Information 4 Freezing and Food Safety FREEZER STORAGE CHART (0  °F or below) Note: Freezer storage times are for quality only. Frozen foods remain safe indefinitely. Item Bacon and Sausage Casseroles Egg whites or egg substitutes Frozen Dinners and Entrees Gravy, meat, or poultry Ham, Hot dogs, and Luncheon Meats Meat, uncooked roasts Meat, uncooked steaks or chops Months 1 to 2 2 to 3 Unopened 12 3 to 4 2 to 3 1 to 2 Item Meat, uncooked ground Meat, cooked Poultry, uncooked whole Poultry, uncooked parts Poultry, uncooked giblets Poultry, cooked Months 3 to 4 2 to 3 12 9 3 to 4 4 2 to 3 to 12 4 to 12 Soups and Stews Wild game, uncooked 8 to 12 Food Safety Questions? Call t he USDA Meat & Poultry Hotline If you have a question about meat, poultry or egg products, call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline toll free at 1-888-MPHotline or 1-888-674-6854, TTY: 1-800-256-7072. The hotline is open year-round Monday through Friday from 10 a. m. to 4 p. m. EST (English or Spanish). Listen to timely recorded food safety messages at the same number 24 hours a day. Check out the FSIS Web site at www. sis. usda. gov. Ask Karen! FSIS’ automated response system can provide food safety information 24/7 and a live chat during Hotline hours. Send e-mail questions to MPHotline. [email  protected] gov FSIS encourages the reprint and distribution of this publication for food safety education purposes. However, USDA symbols or logos may not be used separately to imply endorsement of a commercial product or service. AskKaren. gov The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Revised May 2010

Csr 610 Q1937 Business Ethics And Culture - 1701 Words

10-2 Final Paper: Main Elements CSR-610-Q1937 Business Ethics and Culture Southern New Hampshire University Peter F. Hanna Introduction: Bertrand Piccard quotes, â€Å"In the 21st century, the heroes will be the people who will improve the quality of life, fight poverty and introduce more sustainability. This is a powerful message, it sums up the concepts discussed throughout the course. Additionally, the case studies such as the New Belgium Brewery, SC Johnson and The Kimberly Clarke organization have been proven to practice this philosophy. As society progresses in its efforts to provide a more sustainable future, there is a fundamental foundation of principles that must be followed to ensure success. Sustainable business development takes into account the application of business operations as it relates to the three pillars of sustainability, which is a dynamic yet integrative place to begin this journey. DesJardins, (2006) calls for a re-imagination of the future to create a vibrant sustainable model; which forms similar beliefs to Piccard. In addition, organizations are more inclined to create sust ainable practices based on consumer demand and the willingness of leadership to participate in sustainability programs. A Sustainable Business Approach: DesJardins, (2007) discusses that a new paradigm is needed to re-conceptualize how businesses practice. He further states that a large a large portion of the world lacks the basic rights of clean waters,

5 Easy Snow Ice Cream Recipes

There are actually a few different recipes for snow ice cream. Here are some of the most common recipes: Snow Ice Cream Without Eating Snow This first recipe uses snow and salt to freeze the ice cream (an example of freezing point depression), but this recipe doesnt involve actually eating the snow (the rest of the recipes do). This is a great recipe if you want to play with the snow, but dont consider it clean enough to eat. Fill a gallon freezer bag halfway full with snow or crushed ice.Add ~6 tablespoons of salt to the snow. This will lower the freezing point of the snow so you can freeze your ice cream.In a quart Ziploc bag, mix:1/2 cup half and half1 tablespoon sugar1/2 teaspoon vanilla extractZip up the quart bag, squeezing out any excess air and put it inside the gallon bag.Close up the gallon bag, again removing any excess air since it makes mixing difficult.Wear gloves or else put a dry kitchen towel between your hands and the snow/salt bag. Squish the bags with your hands until the ice cream is frozen.Remove the smaller bag and enjoy your frozen treat! Classic Snow Ice Cream Recipe This is a classic recipe that works really well because the sweetened condensed milk is thick and helps hold quickly melting snow together. 1 gallon or a big bowl of clean snow (if you like, you can put the bowl outdoors to collect it as it falls)1 14-oz can of sweetened condensed milk1 tsp vanilla extract Mix the ingredients together and eat the snow ice cream. Yummy! Easy Snow Ice Cream Recipe 1 gallon or a big bowl full of snow1 cup sugar1 tsp vanilla extract1 cup cream or milk Again, just mix the ingredients together. You get the idea. Chocolate Snow Ice Cream a big bowl of snow1 cup sugar1 cup chocolate milk Another Chocolate Snow Ice Cream Recipe a big bowl of snow1 14-oz can of sweetened condensed milkchocolate syrup or cocoa powder, to taste Other Snow Ice Cream Variations Some people like to substitute rum for the vanilla. You could add pureed fruit, such as strawberry or peaches. You may enjoy making a sort of snow ice cream float made by dropping a scoop of snow ice cream into your favorite soda. Snow ice cream does not re-freeze well, so mix the ice cream and eat it immediately. Enjoy!

The Anti Hypertensive Properties Of Doxazosin - 996 Words

Pharmacology Doxazocin is an â€Å"alpha-adrenoceptor blocking drug† and it is used in both hypertension and benign prostatic hyperplasia (Joint Formulary Committee, 2014). For the purpose of this essay, the main focus will be on the anti-hypertensive properties of Doxazosin. Selective ÃŽ ±1 antagonists work on the post-synaptic ÃŽ ±1 adrenoreceptors predominantly found in vascular smooth muscle. These receptors are normally bound by norepinephrine or epinephrine to mediate regulation of the cardiovascular system by the sympathetic nervous system. As can be seen in Figure 1, these receptors are bound to Gq-proteins which have two signal transduction pathways. One of the pathways forms IP3 (Inositol triphosphate) which then stimulates the release of Calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum in a cardiac monocyte (Klabunde, R.E., 2013). The release of calcium then stimulates contraction in the heart. By selectively inhibiting these adrenoceptors, vasodilation occurs which in turn causes a decrease in arterial pressure (Rang and Dale). With a mean half-life of 22 hours (Martindale, 2013), Doxazosin is considered to be a long acting hypertensive drug. This means that it can be administered once daily, rather than multiple times. With a good absorption when administered orally, the maximum plasma concentration happens two to three hours after a dose (Martindale, 2013). It also states that doxazosin is roughly â€Å"98.3%† bound to plasma, which means that it has an excellent distribution around

Human Resource Management & Business Strategy Of Apple Inc.

Question: Explore Apple's management of its supply chain and human resource management and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses in the company's approach. Answer: Introduction This report aims at analysing the internal factors that affect the various operations at Apple Inc., an international American organisation that produces cell phones, consumer electronic products, computer software and personal computers. The factors that have been analysed include Supply Chain Management (SCM), Human Resource Management (HRM) and the overall business approach adopted at Apple Inc. Are You Daunted by the Thought of Due Assignments? Avail Our Services and Receive Assignment Help from Experts. Strengths and Weaknesses of SCM of Apple Supply chain is a set of businesses or organisations taking part in the manufacturing of a particular product, from the first stage of production until the last stage (Croom et al 2010). Supply chain management can be defined as managing, supervising and controlling this chain of events to make sure that despite the employment of many manufacturers and suppliers, the end product is still making a net profit. An effective supply chain drives the productivity and profitability of a business (Hugos H, 2011). It is one of the vital aspects of any organisation or business and can prove to be the biggest weakness for any organisation when not taken care of appropriately (Prater et al, 2011). Today, Apple Inc. creates a large number of electronic products that gain immense popularity in a short span of time. As per AMR Research, Apple Inc.s supply chain management has been named the best around the world. The entire supply chain is appropriately optimised and augmented in terms of operatio ns, cost and logistics (Mollenkopf et al, 2010). There are a large number of supply managers at the organisation who report to the CEO, Tim Cook, rather than to the production or manufacturing department. However, it still has some weaknesses. The strengths and weaknesses of supply chain management at Apple are as follows: Strengths: The supply chain management of Apple is believed to be omnipotent by many researchers. The company purchases materials and components from various suppliers. The company has built a closed and secure ecosystem where it regulates approximately each piece of supply chain, from designing to retail store. This is how Apple has taken supply chain management and operational excellence to an all new level. Weaknesses: All of the companys production takes place overseas and so it is overly dependent upon foreign contractors to manufacture its products in time, and often face economic challenges at home. Majority of Apple Inc.s production is carried out in Asia. The main intent is to save costs so that the company could sell its products at lower prices in order to compete with its rivals like Microsoft, Samsung, etc. However, rigorous competition is forcing Apple to lower its price to an extent where they will not be able to gain profit. The supply chain of Apple is simple but it is not agile to overcome various challenges and obstructions in the supply chain. The company needs to come up with some process improvement strategies and hire experienced people for key positions to make its supply chain management effective. Strengths and weaknesses of HRM of Apple Human resources management or HRM includes recruitment, employee remuneration and benefits, and defining job roles (Dass et al, 2009). Human Resource Management entails a set of formal systems and processes carried out for the management of employees in an organisation. Factors relating to management of people vary within a company and across situations (Mathis et al, 2011). A large number of organisations in this competitive business world are being held back because of rising issues of human resources management or HRM (Lado et al, 2014). Many reports indicate that Apple has implemented best approaches for managing its employees. However, there still lie some weaknesses in the overall HRM system. The strengths and weaknesses of HRM of Apple are as follows: Strengths: The HRM at the company aims maximising the return on investment from Apples human capital and minimising financial risk. Strength is that the human resource managers at Apple conduct all their responsibilities in an effective, consistent, legal and fair manner. Factors related to HRM in Apple have been described below: Recruitment: Apple hires people by assessing computer based knowledge. The management hires the ones who fit well to the culture of the company irrespective of their experiences. Equal opportunity: The Company is an equal opportunity employer and promotes organisational diversity. Employee compensation: The Company offers a large number of benefits to all its employees and the compensation on offer is highly competitive. Recognition: The company created Apple fellows program in 1995 so as to recognise the most hardworking and successful employees. Weaknesses: Some of the poor HRM practices at Apple Inc. have raise many issues among the employees in the recent times. Many reports have suggested that the human capital at Apple often faces difficulties because of strict policies of human resource management that lack transparency. There is lack of clarity among the staff members about the business and personal objective. There is also lack of clarity about the strategies of the company. Also, good ideas sometimes get stolen and accredited to others in Apple Inc. The HRM policies at the organisation do not have sufficient provisions to recognise and give rewards to the one who actually presents the idea. This often weakens the morale and motivation levels of the personnel and prohibits the progress of proficient and deserving employees. This has often caused attrition at Apple. Strengths and weaknesses of business approach adopted by Apple A business strategy can be defined as the art and science of formulating and implementing important business decisions that enable a company to attain its long-term goals (Beer et al, 2010). It is very important for any company as it incorporates organisational and personal objectives into a competitive edge that ultimately increases the profitability and efficiency of the company. The strengths and inadequacies of the business strategy of Apple Inc. are as follows: Strengths:The biggest strengths of the business strategy of Apple Inc. which enable it to withstand all the threats and overcome weaknesses in its business environment include strong brand image, effective innovation process and high profit margins (Amit et al, 2012). Apple Inc. is among the strongest and most valuable brands around the world. It is capable of coming up with profitable innovative products and services by virtue of its powerful brand image. The company has maintained an exceptional pricing strategy that comes with high profit margins. This helps the company by creating flexibility to regulate and modify selling prices while ensuing substantial profits. In addition, Apple Inc. is renowned for rapid innovation that enables it to keep abreast with the technological changes for ensuring competitive edge and significant profits. Weaknesses: The business strategy of Apple Inc. involves high selling prices, limited distribution network, and sales limited primarily limited to the elite class or high-end market (Beer et al, 2010). The company has a limited network of distribution due to its exclusivity policy. For instance, Apple carefully picks up authorised sellers and suppliers of its products and services. This limits the market reach of the organisation. Another weakness is its premium pricing strategy. This further adds to another weakness for the company, the weakness of earning a major part of its sales revenue from the high end market. Therefore, the distribution, as well as pricing strategies impose weakness in Apples business. Conclusion This report has attempted to identify and assess the strengths and weaknesses of Supply Chain Management, Human Resource Management, and business strategy of Apple Inc. It can be concluded that Apple Inc. is an early adaptor and is usually the foremost company to engineer and design unique, innovative products. No doubt, the company enjoys a strong market position, as well as consumer loyalty, but it needs to be careful as far as various internal and external environment factors are concerned. The company must address the weaknesses of its SCM strategy, HRM policies, and business strategy in order to increase its productivity and profitability. In addition to this, Apple should also consider its strengths and use them appropriately to overcome all the weaknesses thereby advancing the companys mission. References Amit, R., Zott, C. (2012). Creating value through business model innovation.MIT Sloan Management Review,53(3), 41. Beer, M., Eisenstat, R. A. (2010). The silent killers of strategy implementation and learning.MIT Sloan Management Review,41(4), 29. Croom, S., Romano, P., Giannakis, M. (2010). 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