The Marketing Audit - Download Ppt †Presentation Transcript

More†¦ The Marketing Audit - Download PPT — Presentation Transcript †¢ 1. The Marketing Audit and the Marketing Plan Systematically takes stock of an organisation’s marketing health and plans the direction and scope of marketing activities †¢ 2. Definition â€Å" the means by which a company can understand how it relates to the environment in which it operates... ..the means by which a company can identify it’s own strengths and weaknesses as they relate to opportunities and threats† The marketing plan serves as a roadmap that guides the context and scope of marketing activities McDonald 1989 †¢ 3. Marketing audit issues Internal audit (Portfolio analysis, PLC) Macro-environment (PEST) Task environment (Competition, channels, customers) Markets†¦show more content†¦Scores on Key Success Factors of Competitors 1 = very weak, 5 = very strong Characteristics Competitor A Competitor B Competitor C Group of small competitors Customer satisfacti on 4 4 3 2 Strong brand image 5 4 2 1 Sales promotion 4 3 3 1 Product Quality 4 3 3 3 Finance 5 3 3 2 †¢ 22. †¢ 23. Defining our position in the market †¢ 24. †¢ 25. Competitive Benchmarking Origin8 Delicafe Pret a Manger Starbucks Coffee †¢ 26. Customers, segmentation, positioning How are markets segmented? Macro (demographics: age, income, gender) And micro segmentation variables (lifestyle, usage, personality) †¢ 27. Task environment: Behavioural segmentation †¢ 28. Usage segmentation †¢ 29. Demographic segmentation †¢ 30. Psycho-demographic segmentation †¢ 31. Psychographic segmentation †¢ 32. Psychographic segmentation Lifestyle typologies eg â€Å"slob† = â€Å"I do not consider my diet to be healthy† †¢ 33. Internal analysis: Marketing mix Products Prices Promotional activities Distribution New product development Customer service †¢ 34. Product strategy What products at what prices for what custom er segments? Market share of each product or line? Stages in PLC of each product? Which products account for largest proportion of sales andShow MoreRelatedFormula One24819 Words   |  100 Pagesbrand awareness. Thereby exploring the possible connection between Formula One sponsorships and brand equity. The dissertation offers an extensive literature review connecting sport sponsorship, in particular Formula One sponsorship, to important marketing topics, such as brand equity and buyer behaviour. The primary research process involved the conduction of a survey carried out on 37 Formula One sponsors. The research was of a phenomenological nature exploring the Formula One phenomenon and the

Little Miss Oversexualized Free Essays

Little Miss Over Sexualized The way that media portrays children today is just plain disgusting. Not only is it inappropriate, it also severely damages the self-esteem of children all over the world. When companies like Vogue put out advertisements of children as young as 10 years old dressed in skimpy clothes, full make-up, and posed very provocatively what does that say to every day children? This is how you need to look to be â€Å"beautiful† or this is how they need to dress and act to be one of the â€Å"cool kids†? The media, whether it is television, magazines, or newspaper are causing huge problems to the self-esteem of children today, especially young girls by putting out advertisements that over sexualize them. We will write a custom essay sample on Little Miss Oversexualized or any similar topic only for you Order Now Established in 1892 and begun printing advertisements in 1909 Vogue Magazine has been the authority on high class fashion for the past one hundred plus years. (History of 1)In January 2011 edition of French Vogue published a full 15 page spread featuring Thylane Loubry Blondeau a 10 year child model in full make-up, dressed in stimulating clothing, and posed very provocatively. Needless to say this caused a big controversy about over sexualizing children, not only in France but around the world. â€Å"In Britain, Labor Parliament Member Helen Goodman called the photos ‘disgraceful and totally irresponsible†¦Vogue has descended into the gutter by doing this’ (10-year-old 1). Although most of these ads are not aimed directly at small children and pre-teens, they are viewed by them and the effect it is having on them is devastating. Children are developing several different emotional, psychological and physical issues. These issues include but are not limited to: inability to relate to peers, eating disorders, depression and even promiscuity. In her article â€Å"Sex images in media harming kids’ mental health† Janelle Miles, a long time journalist for the Australian news publication â€Å"The Courier-Mail† writes: â€Å"Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists president Louise Newman said ‘evidence was emerging that childhood exposure to developmentally inappropriate sexualized images and messages was associated with low self-esteem, depression and eating disorders’. Professor Newman said child psychiatrists were seeing an increasing number of younger children presenting with negative self-esteem and body image issues. Exposure to sexualizing messages contributes to girls defining their self-worth and popularity in terms of sexual attractiveness, with negative impact on self-esteem,’ Prof. Newman said. ‘Excessive focus on appearance and a narrow definition of attractiveness has been found to contribute to the development of abnormal eating behaviors and a lack of positive body image. What’s particularly concerning is some primary school-aged children, and even preschoolers, are presenting with some of these concerns. ‘I’ve seen children as young as four telling me . . . they’re ugly’. That’s appalling. Children are very receptive and influenced by what’s in the world around them† (Miles 1). Although children are being exposed to a barrage of over sexualized print ads, the media does not stop there. Over the last twenty years television shows and commercials have begun to over sexualize young children and teens at an alarming rate. In 1995 the â€Å"Parent Television Counsel was founded to ensure that children are not constantly assaulted by sex, violence and profanity on television and in other media. This national grassroots organization has more than 1. 3 million members across the United States, and works with television producers, broadcasters, networks and sponsors in an effort to stem the flow of harmful and negative messages targeted to children. The PTC also works with elected and appointed government officials to enforce broadcast decency standards. Most importantly, the PTC produces critical research and publications documenting the dramatic increase in sex, violence and profanity in entertainment† (PTC Study 1) Increasingly alarming are the Television shows such as â€Å"Toddlers in Tiaras† and â€Å"Little Miss Perfect† showing parents pushing children as young as 2 years old to compete in beauty pageants. The parents scream and yell at these young children and sometimes guilting them into participating in these pageants. These kids are put into frilly dresses, make-up caked on their little faces, and they are told â€Å"if they don’t win mommy will be disappointed. What kind of message does this send to children who are in the middle of developing their identity? Interestingly in December 2010 the PTC completed a study called â€Å"Tinsel town’s New Target: A study of Teen Female Sexualization on Primetime TV. The content of this report was based on the most popular prime time shows among 12-17 year olds during the 2009-2010 television seasons. The following are some alarming facts produced from that report: Underage female characters are shown participating in a higher percentage of sexual depictions compared to adults (47% and 29% respectively). Only 5% of the underage female characters communicated any form of dislike for being sexualized (excluding scenes depicting healthy sexuality). Out of all the sexualized female characters depicted in the underage and young adult category for the entire database, 86% were presented as only being of high school age. Seventy-five percent of shows that included sexualized underage female characters were shows that did not have an â€Å"S† descriptor to warn parents about the sexual content. Based upon a definition established by the American Psychological Association of â€Å"healthy† vs. â€Å"unhealthy† sexuality, the study findings show that 93% of the sexual incidents involving underage female characters occurred within a context that qualified as â€Å"unhealthy. † The data revealed that 98% of the sexual incidents involving underage female characters occurred outside of any form of a committed relationship. The data show that 73% of the underage sexualized incidents were presented in a humorous manner or as a punch line to a joke. PTC Study 1) Tim Winters the President of the PTC said â€Å"The results from this report show Tinsel town’s eagerness to not only objectify and fetishize young girls, but to sexualize them in such a way that real teens are led to believe their sole value comes from their sexuality. This report is less about the shocking numbers that detail the sickness of early sexualization in our entertainment culture and more about the generation of young girls who are being told how society expects them to behave†( PTC Study1). Contrary to the belief in this country, children of today’s society are not stupid. It has long been said by many different expert that children’s brains process and absorb information twice as fast as an adult. Benjamin Barber a renowned political scientist who earned his Ph. D. from Harvard University in 1966 writes in his 1993 article â€Å"America Skips School. †: â€Å"The young, with their keen noses for hypocrisy, are in fact adept readers-but not of books. They are society-smart rather than school-smart, and what they read so acutely are the social signals emanating from the world in which they will have to make a living. Their teachers in that world, the nation’s true pedagogues, are television, advertising, movies, politics, and the celebrity domains they define. We prattle about deficient schools and the gullible youngsters they turn out, so vulnerable to the siren song of drugs, but think nothing of letting the advertisers into the classroom to fashion what an Advertising Age essay calls ‘brand and product loyalties through classroom-centered, peer powered lifestyle patterning’†(116). In conclusion advertisements that over sexualize children are not going to stop. The government needs to listen to the hundreds of studies that have been completed to show that these advertisements have a huge psychological and sometimes physical impact on children, and they need to put a stop to it. Parents, start teaching your children that they do not have to be a super model to be a good person, just be themselves. Works Cited Barber, Benjamin R. â€Å"America Skips School. † Writing On The River. 3RD ed. Chattanooga: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2012. 116. Print. Graff, Amy. â€Å"10-year-old Fashion Model Sparks Debate | The Mommy Files | an SFGate. om Blog. † The Mommy Files | an SFGate. com Blog. SFGate, 9 Aug. 2011. Web. 06 Nov. 2012. â€Å"History of Vogue Magazine. † History of Vogue Magazine. Vouge Magazine, n. d. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. Miles, Janelle. â€Å"Sex Images in Media Harming Kids’ Mental Health. † CourierMail. Couriermail. com. au, 17 Mar. 2010. Web. 06 Nov. 2012. â€Å"PTC Study: Sexualized Teen Girls Are Tinselto wn’s New Target. † PTC Study: Sexualized Teen Girls Are Tinseltown’s New Target. Parent Television Council, 25 Dec. 2010. Web. 06 Nov. 2012. . How to cite Little Miss Oversexualized, Essay examples

Challenges Facing International Human Resource Management-Sample

Question: Discuss about the Challenges Facing International Human Resource Management. Answer: Introduction As the pace of technological advancement rises and most firms develop a deeper international focus, effective management of the human resources to adapt to the changes becomes inevitable. However, effective management of the human resources is arguably one of the most challenging tasks to an organization. Changing economic and political landscape coupled with globalization mean that what effective management of human resources comprised of initially is constantly and increasingly changing thus requiring an international orientation. Globalization has turned the world into a global village with most companies expanding to overseas markets with an aim to widen their market base. However, management of human resources in the foreign countries has posed a hydra-headed dilemma to the management. The reason being IHRM (International Human Resource Management) deals with complex issues the main one being the development of management techniques in the host countries where different cultures , economic systems, and different legal systems exist. Sweeping demographic changes coupled with the millions of women pouring in the global workforces imply that multinational companies face an ever increasing pressure to innovate creative ideas aimed at integrating and retaining the diverse global workforce. Oracle Corporation: A brief background Oracle Corporation is an American transnational firm specializing in computer technology with its head offices in Redwood Shores, California. The company owes to the sedulous work of Bob Miner, Ed Oates, and Ellison who founded the company in 1977 under the name SDL (Software development laboratories) (Rachel, 2013). The company fundamentally specializes in the development of Cloud engineered systems and database software. Since its foundation, the company has undergone various milestones that have seen it develop more product and services such as Oracle Beehive Corporation software. Further, the company offers other complementary services such as consultancy, financing, and training services. During the late 1990s, Oracle Corporation faced one of the most serious human resource crisis which saw the company lay off about 10% of its workforce as a result of accounting errors. The crisis resulted from the companys adoption of the up-front marketing strategy which ushered in accounting scandals in the company. Although IBM served as the leading firm in the technology field, it failed to provide databases on window operating system. Consequently, Oracle sought to exploit this market gap which have seen it rise to its prominence today. Rachel (2013) states that the companys total assets amounts to $ 112.18 billion, while its revenues for the year ended December 2015 amounts to over $ 38 billion. Oracle Corporation employs more than 137,000 employees in its different branches and subsidiaries across the world. With the company having branches in several parts of the world, Africa offers a rich market base for the company to exploit given the technological advancement experienced in Africa. The company must, however, be prepared to navigate the jerky waters of the dynamic and complex global workforce especially in Africa because of the huge influx of women in the global workforce. According to a survey conducted by Sam (2013), management of the human resources serves as the most substantial ch allenge facing multinational companies seeking to exploit the African market. The fact does not, however, mean that no solution exist to solve the dilemma of international human resource management. Challenges that Oracle would face in the management of its human resources in Ivory Coast, Africa Staffing policies Staffing refers to the process through which an organization selects and trains individuals to take specific job functions where the management charges them with responsibilities associated with the job function. Given the fact that there exist key areas of departure between domestic and international businesses, human resource managers must choose the appropriate staffing policies as dictated by organizational needs. Lee and Wu (2010) notes that success of international human resources rests on the ability of the HR managers to choose the most appropriate staffing policy. The main type of approaches to staffing policy in IHRM are ethnocentric staffing, polycentric staffing, and geocentric staffing. The ethnocentric policy approach advocates for the recruitment of home country nationals to occupy top positions in the firm such as Executive positions (Robert et.al, 1998). Such a policy ensures that the management of the company has substantial experience in the business environment. Contrary to the ethnocentric policy, the polycentric approach advocates for the assignment of the home country staffs to executive positions in the head offices and assignment of overseas workers to the middle-level management position (Ulrich et.al, 2009). The policy enables the organization to learn about local markets from the overseas workers. Finally, the geocentric approach advocates for the allocation of the executive position to the best person suited for the position regardless of the nationality of the employee, culture or background. Challenges/issues in staffing policy in IHRM Development of an effective staffing policy poses a significant challenge for IHRM (International Human Resource Management). The ability of a firm to attract, recruit, and maintain qualified, skilled, and committed workforce handles the success of any company (Prahalad, 1983). One of the primary challenges is the geographical barrier between the head offices and the overseas branches which make it practically hard to implement a day-to-day relationship (Dave, 1996). Several other factors affect the staffing policy in IHRM as summarized below Political factors Kapoor, (2011) argues that certain political risk factors in the overseas countries serve to create an air of uncertainty and an environment of suspicion in IHRM. As such human resource managers live with the fear of unknown; consequently, the fail to make strategic decision owing to their long-term nature for fear of what will transpire. Legal factors Undoubtedly, the host countrys legal system serves as the main determinant of the staffing policy to be adopted by an organization (Silzer and Dowell, 2010). As such, most international firms face a challenge where the host country sets the minimum representation of the local employees in the multinational firms. Economic factors Several economic factors such as the economic development and position concerning the investment made by the MNCs have a huge impact on the staffing policy adopted by multinational firms. Schuler et al. (1993) argue that the international human resource managers must take into account the differing purchasing as well as prosperity powers. For instance, escalating costs in many developing countries have forced MNCs to replace the expatriates with the local managers. Moreover, as a result of the scarcity of managerial talent in most developing countries MNCs have experienced huge transaction costs as they import managerial staffs from other countries. Socio-cultural factors Cultural distance serves as one of the main determinants of the staffing philosophy and impacts immensely on IHRM. Lather (2010) argues that among the most complex challenges facing international human resource managers is cross-culture communication. Culture refers to a software of the mind that directs the pattern of thinking and behavior thus influencing how a particular people live and how they associate with others (Adler and Graham, 2009). Cultural differences inarguably handle the performance of the company. Some cultures may support particular types of organization and reject others. Demographic diversity Most countries in the developing countries in Africa are characterized by a dwindling youth population and high unemployment rates. Consequently, such countries experience a severe skilled labor shortage given the fact that most of the youths have limited skills. Research have established that more than half of Africas population comprise of youths below the age of 25 years most of whom are still students. Currently, the only solution to solve the problem of a limited skilled workforce is by the company filling the gap with older skilled workers and bringing more women into the workforce (Theodor, 2006). Recommendations to solve the challenge of international staffing Given the fact that human resource managers face an array of challenges when deciding on the appropriate staffing policy, the following solutions would assist in solving the problems associated with international staffing Effective cross-cultural management As Barrera (2010) notes, irrespective of the good will that might exist in any firm, miscommunication will more often than not occur owing to the differences in culture between the communicators. However, cross-cultural management serves as the leading solution to cross-cultural conflicts. Multicultural companies can adopt several strategies to overcome the blocks of behavior, emotions, culture, and race. Such strategies include the transfer and dissemination of knowledge and bicultural skills. Short-term international assignments Collins et al. (2007) argue that short-term assignments serve as the most appropriate form of the non-standard tasks. Such assignments involve a temporary/short-term (less than a year) transfer of the staffs/employees to a foreign subsidiary. Such assignment would assist the firm to solve the challenge associated with talent shortage in the host country and managerial development. Short-term assignments also come with additional benefits which include increased effectiveness, flexibility, and simplicity. Commuter and rotational assignments Such an assignment involves an employee working in one country for a week or two and then transferring to another workstation in another country and so on. Such an arrangement enables to solve the challenge of cross-culture communication and increased flexibility. Training and development International human resource managers face a range of challenges in their efforts to create and develop a high-caliber workforce (Gregersen and Stroh, 1997). An important point to note in training and development is that the HR manager should not only focus a lot of attention on quality training but must also make sure that the training is effective and engaging. The following are the challenges faced in training and development. Inconsistent training Given the fact that multinational firms have areas of operations in different location coupled with the fact that there are multiple trainers, it becomes hard to standardize the training hence the inconsistency in training. The reason rests on the fact that the level of knowledge, teaching style, and emphasis may differ from one trainer to the next. Mobile and flexible workforce The corporate world has witnessed a huge increase in part-time workers, shift working, home working, teleconferencing, and videoconferencing, and field working. As such, HR managers face a serious challenge on how to train employees especially those in homeworking and shift working as they spend minimal time in the firm (Barrera , 2010). Difference in the primary language A significant challenge IHRM faces in training and development which is associated with global expansion is the primary areas of departure between the employees primary languages. No one specific language can be understood by all the employees (Kapoor, 2011). As such, the employees might misunderstand some instructions and directives such as compliance and safety directives posing a serious challenge. Stipulated timelines Given the dynamic nature of the corporate world, the quicker the company trains and develops its workforce, the higher the opportunity to achieve a competitive advantage. However, given the travels, human resource managers have to make across borders, and the rise of shift and part-time working, training, and development may take an extended period. High training costs Training and development require substantial investment given the nature of workers coupled with other challenges such as a difference in the primary language. Recommendations Invention of a reusable content HR managers should design/develop the training content in such a way that they can use the same content (with minimal changes and updates) for multiple/different training situations to reduce the training costs. Leaving it to the experts Given the challenge of high training cost coupled with inconsistent training, HR managers should engage training experts to ensure effectiveness in the utilization of the available resources. Pfeffer, (1994) notes that development of e-learning courseware is an intensive and technical task which requires the services of an expert; otherwise, the company will incur huge costs. Leveraging technologies Such technologies assist the HR managers in delivering flexible training courses especially to shift and part-time workers. Given the fact that the employees can take the courses at their convenience, it increases flexibility. However, the HR manager should monitor the trainees progress. Development of standardized curriculums Standardized curriculum serves to enhance a standardized and consistent training thus solving the challenge associated with inconsistent in training. Translating the training content into different languages that suits all the employees would assist in solving the dilemma associated with different primary languages. Performance appraisal A study conducted by Clark (2011) noted that among all the talent management processes implemented by most human resource managers in international business, performance appraisal faces the most disdain. The most serious challenges faced by international human resource managers are as discussed below. Infrequent feedbacks The primary goals of any performance appraisal are the identification and resolution of performance issues. However, Cao (2004) notes that execution of annual performance appraisal appears silly and illogical since an error might have occurred at the beginning of the year and will only be noted at the year end. Lack of effective metrics The primary goals of a performance appraisal are the recognition of results, provision of feedback to address weaknesses, and determination of training needs. Unfortunately, there exist no perfect metric to serve as the basis for performance appraisal (Prahalad, 1983). Most HR managers use the percentage of work completed as the basis for performance appraisal. Moreover, the metrics for performance evaluation differ in different countries posing a more serious challenge to IHRM. Minimal legal support Performance appraisal may turn out to be the worst enemy to the international human resource manager in legal proceedings. Also, some employees might object to the disciplinary actions such as bonus and salary reduction and seek legal protection. Given the difference in the legal systems in different countries international human resource managers face the challenge of designing the right reward and disciplinary metrics to avoid confrontation with the legal bodies. Entitlement mentality Biver (2007) argues that according to some cultural backgrounds in different countries some employees feel they are entitled to a benefit, either a promotion or a pay raise, irrespective of their performance. Such a mentality arises from the fact some organizations provides for annual bonus and salary increment which is not tied to performance. As such, the system does not differentiate between top and poor performance. It proves practically hard to change such a mentality due to cultural and societal values. Recommendations Given the fact that performance appraisal serves as a vital instrument in training and development, IHR managers must develop ways to solve the challenges associated with performance appraisal. Regular feedback: Quarterly performance appraisal Daniel (2003) recommends that HR managers should conduct performance appraisal in real time. At the minimum, performance appraisal needs to be conducted quarterly. Workers would fell motivated and appreciated even where the managers give an informal sign of appreciation such as congratulations for your hard work (Adler, 1997). If the HR manager finds it hard to conduct quarterly performance appraisal, he should develop approaches to tracking performance throughout the year. Establishing the right metrics Different performance appraisal bases should be developed to evaluate performance in different countries and cultures. Such metrics should be measurable and linked to the strategic mission/objective of the organization (Cornelius, 2004). For example, IHRMs should create an appraisal system that distinctly distinguishes between the poor. Average, and top performers. As such, the human resources manager should limit the number of ratings. Training the human resource managers The HR managers should be fully trained to understand the impact of different cultures on performance appraisal and how to conduct performance appraisal in different work environments Bennis and Nanus (2005). The managers should further learn how to use the performance appraisal system consistently to minimize employee disengagement and mistrust. Compensation benefits IHRM face a serious challenge in designing a compensation system suitable to effectively and sufficiently attract and retain culturally and technically qualified/skilled professionals to occupy various job positions. Harsh tax policies in different countries The tax systems in different countries have huge implications on the compensation system. The income tax rates, taxation of pension contribution, employees bonus and allowances taxation all serve to determine the level of compensation rate. In a country where the taxation rate is high, the employees must be a substantial pay to compensate them for the amount paid in taxes. As such, the staffs occupying similar position but in different countries might get a different gross salary. High taxation rates in most of the African countries pose a dilemma to IHRM. Government policies such as minimum wage rate and labor union influences In most developing countries, the government usually sets the minimum wage rate pay to prevent exploitation of the citizens. International businesses are forced to adhere to these rules even in the circumstance where the skills and the level of education and experience of the employees do not match the minimum wage rate. Moreover, Marri (2015) notes that labor unions play an indispensable role in the determination of the minimum wage rate. In countries with strong labor unions such as Australia, MNC must face the challenge of offering huge minimum wage rates. Insurance cover for employees and workplace safety. In almost all parts of the world, insurance cover for employees is a mandatory requirement. However, the challenge comes in as a result of different economic and political risks inherent in different countries which make insurance covers for employees unaffordable to most MNCs. Workforce demographics Aging workforce and increasing health issues among the employees such as obesity and cancer have raised a serious concern in International human resource management. Even more challenging is the fact that the young population does not participate in the workforce the way they used to Punnett (1993). Their productivity has decreased; consequently, it becomes hard to design a compensation system that will serve to motivate them. Cost of living in different countries Given the difference in economic conditions and economic growth in different countries, international human resource managers face a challenge in designing the appropriate system to take care of this difference. Inarguably, the high cost of living will impact on the repatriations allowances, housing and overseas allowances, and bonuses based on performance. Recommendations Balancing the compensation programs with the firms objectives The MNCs HR managers should ensure that a balance exists between the basic salary, cost-of-living, allowances, taxes, and the objectives of the organization. Such a move would ensure that the firm compensates its employees fairly to keep them motivated. On the other hand, it ensures that the organization does not incur huge costs (Tsui, 2007). Performance appraisal IHRM should adopt comprehensive and effective performance appraisal system to serve as the basis for determining the compensation system. Such a system will ensure that the company does not incur more than it should (Nagar, 2011). Although there are inherent risks and challenges associated with management appraisal systems, effective appraisal systems would solve the challenge associated with the compensation system Establishing a common pension and insurance scheme Given the fact that economic conditions and tax laws in different countries impact adversely on the compensation systems, MNCs should set up a common pension and insurance schemes for all its staffs in various countries. Such a scheme would enable the firm in minimizing the cost associated with risks in different countries (Theodor, 2006). Conclusion The interconnection of local and global economies as a result of globalization has significantly impacted on international human resource management. As firms seek to exploit international markets, HR practices and strategies are increasingly becoming crucial given the fact that they act as the mechanism for coordination and control of international operations. As such, International Human resource departments must transform as the modern corporate world experience an array of complex challenges. Any company/firm seeking to exploit global market must at all cost navigate the jerky waters of the dynamic and complex corporate economy if it has to benefit from international operations. References Adler, N.J. (1997) International Dimensions of Organizational Behavior, 3rd edition. Cincinnati: South-Western College Publishing. Adler, N. J. and Graham, J. G. (2009). Cross-cultural interaction: the international comparison Fallacy?. Journal of International Business Studies, 20 (3), 515-537. Barrera, J., (2010). An examination of cross cultural competence in international business: The Case of the subsidiaries. International Business Economics Research Journal, 9(1), 41-54. Bennis, C., and Nanus, O. (2005). Cross-cultural value applications. Bangkok: Fatrosmman Press. Biver, C., (2010). Implications of the oral/literate continuum for cross-cultural communication. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press. Bross, A., and Wise, G., (1999). Sustaining the Relocated Employee with an International EAP, Canadian HR Reporter (November): pp. 18-21. Cao, S. (2004). Ultimate competitive edge- the application theory and cases of cultural strategy [M] Shanghai: Wenhui Press. Clark, D.M. (2011). Intercommunication among nations and peoples. New York: Harper Row Cornelius, F.A. (2004). Cross-cultural and intercultural communication. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Dave, U., (1996) Human Resource Champions-The next agenda for adding value and delivering Results. Boston, Mass.: Harvard Business School Press. Gregersen, H., and Stroh, L., (1997). Coming Home to the Arctic Cold: Antecedents to Finnish Expatriate and Spouse Repatriation Adjustment, Personnel Psychology 50 (7), p. 651. Kapoor, B. (2011). Impact of globalization on human resource management. Journal of International Management Studies, 6(1), 1-8. Lather, A.S. (2010). Cross cultural conflict resolution styles: An extensive literature review. Asian Journal of Management Research, 4(2), 130-146. Lee, Y., and Wu, C., (2010). Factors affecting knowledge transfer and absorptive capacity in Multinational Corporations. Journal of International Management Studies, 5(2), 118-126. Nagar. L, (2011). Cross Cultural Challenges While Doing Business in India. Journal of Research in Commerce Management, 2(9), 108-115. Marri, D. (2015). Challenges Facing Human Resource Directors Today in Global Companies EPRA International Journal of Economics and Business Review 3 (9): 20-23 Pfeffer, J. (1994) Competitive Advantage Through People Boston Mass.: Harvard Business School Press Prahalad, K. (1983) Developing Strategic Capability: An Agenda for Top Management, Human Resource Management Journal, 22 (4): 237-54 Rachel, K., (2013). "Oracle Exalytics in-memory machine updated to analyze larger data sets". [Online] Accessed September 30, 2015 Roberts, K., Kossek, E., and Ozeki, E., (1998). Managing the Global Workforce: Challenges And Strategies, Academy of Management Executive 12(4): pp. 93106. Silzer, R., and Dowell, E. (Eds.). (2010). Strategy-driven talent management: A leadership Imperative. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. Theodor, L. (2006). Inference of attitudes from nonverbal communication in two channels. Journal of Consulting Psychology. 31:248-252. Tung, L., and Punnett, J., (1993). The Relationship of Staffing Practices to Organizational Level Measures of Performance. Personnel Psychology, 46: 27-48 Tsui, A.S, (2007). Cross-national, cross-cultural organizational behavior research: advances, Gaps, and recommendations. Journal of Management, 33(12), 426-478. Ulrich, D., Allen, J., Brockbank, W., Younger, J., and Nyman, M. (2009). HR transformation: Building human resources from the outside in. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

The Secret History Essay Example

The Secret History Paper When it was published in 1992 The Secret History was acclaimed as the most hyped novel of all time. It sold in vast numbers and despite being marketed as The Thinking Persons Thriller it included elements of many other genres. It has been stated by some critics that much of its success comes from the depth provided by the first person narrative along with the autobiographical detail from Tartt herself. The narrative in The Secret History is provided by Richard Papen, who fulfils the role of an outsider; looking in upon the classics group and gradually becoming assimilated within them. Through the use of the first person narrative the reader only sees Richards perception of events, along with the inaccuracy of his observations; an example of this is his reference to the heavy sweet smell of apples rotting on the ground being both the thing he hated about Plano and one of the things that made Hampden so appealing to him. Richard also states that one of his skills is lying on my feet, something which hardly lends reliability to the narration. This effect is furthered by the separation of Richard the narrator and Richard the leading character. The narrative switches between the recall of events in the past tense and his feelings about these events in the present tense; through this use of a first person retrospective narrative the progression from the focaliser and past self to the narrator represented by the present self can be seen: I suppose at one time in my life I might have had any number of stories, but now there is no other. This is the only story I will ever be able to tell (Prologue) This creates a drama in which the protagonist attempts to make sense of his own self and place within society as the novel progresses. We will write a custom essay sample on The Secret History specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Secret History specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Secret History specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The narration is intra-diegetic and the expression of thought and feeling that this entails draws the reader into the plot very effectively; it has been said by some that it almost implicates the reader in the action themselves. Richard as a narrator drew a mixed response from the critical press; Lee Lescaze in the Wall Street Journal review accused Tartt of using this first person narration as a way of masking her substandard abilities of characterisation, whilst James Wood in the London Review of Books found Richard a fascinating invention and colluded to the fact that he drew the reader into the action. When Bunny is murdered the reader is sympathetic to the actions of the group because they see it only from the perspective of Richard, who by this stage perceives himself to be an integral member of the group. Later in the text he acknowledges his less important position in the whole thing: And it made me feel better in some obscure way: imagining myself a hero, rushing for the gun, instead of merely loitering in its path like the bystander I so essentially am. (Epilogue) In a similar vein, as the group begins to fall apart, and the realisation of the full implications of their actions sinks in, then the reader shares to a certain extent the revulsion and the shame experienced by Richard. As a result of the narration coming from an outsider, who himself is drawn into a group; the sense of involvement felt by the reader is heightened. As Richards is the only perspective provided on events the reader shares his surprise and dismay as initial preconceptions about other characters such as Charles and Camillas incestuous relationship are removed. Through the use of the first person narrative Tartt gains the ability to legitimately provide a biased view on events, as well as to give a much deeper insight into the workings of Richard as a character. His influences become clearer; his cultural reference points are revealed to be very different to those of the group whilst his suburban, west-coast, childhood is evident in his phrasing and language. This difference is one of the things picked on by Bunny; he chastises Richard for his use of the phrase totally weird. Richards thought process is that of the modern mind it bears many similarities with that of Judy Poovey and his tendency to digress at the critical moment leads him to remain an outsider and not fully comprehend the magnitude of events. An example of this is when he fails to understand that it was more than mere coincidence finding the flight details in Henrys flat; his ability to live without thinking something which Henry later admits to be jealous of means that he takes the most logical course of action and does not attempt to understand the background to events. His lack of understanding of the motives and actions of the group is undoubtedly a result of his inability to think in Greek and it is this separation that he never overcomes, something that adds intrigue and suspense to the narrative. These elements combine to create a more thrilling plot which it can be argued led to the commercial success of the novel. The narrative technique also gives Tartt scope to purge her own emotions through the feelings expressed by Richard himself in the novel; the potential for exploring autobiographical detail is vastly increased. This adds intrigue to the plot and is also of direct benefit to Tartt herself. It has been suggested by the critic Amanda Vaill of the Washington Post in particular that Tartt uses the novel to avenge her beloved T. S. Eliot; a critic of Eliot (Edmund Wilson) also went by the name of Bunny and it was implied that her vilification of Bunny was in a way a vengeful lash against him. The use of intra-diegetic narration does however limit Tartt in her exploration of other characters, something that has led to criticism of the novel for weak characterisation. Indeed, James Kaplan (writing in Vanity Fair) went as far as to say that he found it necessary to return to Richards initial description of the characters to even tell them apart. The style of the narration is fixed and does not vary; this can be somewhat tiresome in a novel of such length. The final limitation comes from the appeal of the book; readers like protagonists that they can identify with on a personal level and therefore to increase the potential readership of the book Tartt was required to use an everyman character as a narrator. This prevented her from making the book totally autobiographical. Tartts success in creating an everyman narrator is illustrated by Richards lack of outstanding characteristics that would vary the narrative; the two goals are irreconcilable for it is impossible to have an everyman narrator who has enough character traits and variations to be in themselves a point of interest throughout a novel as long as this. It is widely accepted that Tartt did succeed in creating an everyman narrator, something illustrated by the wide variety of critics who claimed that they could identify with Richard and indeed his lack of distinguishing characteristics. Tartts narrative technique bears a strong resemblance to that used by F. Scott Fitzgerald in The Great Gatsby, a novel that is made explicit reference to in the text. A split narrator/focaliser is used to a great and similar effect, something that is especially apparent in the opening passages; Chapter One of The Great Gatsby and the Prologue of The Secret History. The pervading sense is that of the experience having changed the narrator permanently; an experience that transcends all others within each of their lives. Richard says that This is the only story I will ever be able to tell and Nick Carraway describes the sense of hope he found within Gatsby as being something I have never found in any other person and which it is not likely I shall ever find again. This flatters the reader into believing they are to be told something of great magnitude and encourages them to read on. A feature of both novels is the jaded perception that the narrator has of other characters in the book, much of the plot being subsequently derived from watching their preconceptions fall apart. Tartt uses an interesting twist on this in relation to Richards perception of Charles and Camilla, his initial view of them as a couple is broken down, only to be reaffirmed much later: I thought they were boyfriend and girlfriend, until one day I saw them up close and realized they ad to be siblings. Later I learned they were twins. (Chapter 1) This tendency to is true of Richards views on almost of all of the characters and Nicks view of Gatsby and Jordan Baker in particular. When compared with other first person narratives, Tartt does not exploit the medium to its full potential; for example when compared to Brontes Wuthering Heights which employs a far more sophisticated narrative technique. The Secret History uses a diachronic narrative structure whereas Wuthering Heights begins the narrative in medias res and the plot is then built up in a synchronic manner. This adds a far greater level of depth, intrigue and suspense to the plot and launches the reader in the centre of the action in the opening chapter; in contrast in The Secret History the reader has to wade through a lengthy preamble that builds up the character of Richard before the action begins. It can however be argued that without this period of characterization first then the subsequent events would lose much of their resonance and the factors that make the narrative appealing such as the inaccuracy of the narration itself would be far less apparent. Whilst it cannot be argued that The Secret History begins in medias res the prologue does however provide an initial retrospective view of events and it is from this that much of the suspense in the first book is generated. The split between the narrator and focaliser is introduced, explaining the time gap between Richards description of events and his subsequent commentary on them: through once I thought that I had left that ravine forever on an April afternoon long ago, now I am not so sure. (Prologue) When interviewed by Kirsty Wark for the BBC, Tartt explained that she believed she was experimenting with the technique of in medias res by beginning her narrative after the conclusion of events and then using a diachronic narrative structure to build back up to that point once again. Her technique could perhaps be therefore described as in finis res. One way in which Tartt varies the narrative is through the limited use of letters, something that is also evident in Wuthering Heights. In Francis suicide letter to Richard the cultural reference points that Francis employs are evident as being different from those of Richard and this adds depth to his character. This is similar to the way in which Bronte uses the letter from Isabella to Ellen Dean to provide a different perspective on events. Henry is used to a limited extent in the narration as well; when Richard finds out about the events of the bacchanal it is Henry who describes them to him. Henrys aloof manner and detachment from society is emphasized in this passage. It can be said that the losses inherent with first person narration can be excused because of the benefits that vastly outweigh them. The commercial success of the book indeed points to that fact whilst in a literary sphere the intra-diegetic narrative technique gives the reader a much deeper insight into Richards emotions. The reader feels almost implicated in the actions of the group themselves as a result of this. However in contrast to this, the appeal of the book is limited by the need for readers to identify with the protagonist, Richard, and this in turn reduced Tartts scope for exploring in greater depth the psyche of other characters. As such it appears that first person narration gave the book much of its success and the author indeed gained more than she lost. It has been argued by many critics that The Secret History is largely autobiographical. When the content of the novel is compared to Donna Tartts life then there are indeed a number of similarities, but they are spread amongst the main characters rather than being embodied entirely by one. No one character follows the pattern of her life; therefore the novel cannot be strictly regarded as being autobiographical. Despite this, the way in which elements of her life are evident amongst most of the main characters does lend the novel certain autobiographical qualities; Tartt is relating experiences that actually happened to her, although it can be argued that by including elements of her own experiences within all the major characters she limits her scope for deeper characterization and more varied personalities. When Tartts life is compared to that of Richard then a number of similarities become apparent. She moved from Mississippi University to Bennington, a move that is replicated in Richards own from a small college in my home town to Hampden College. Although strenuously denied by Tartt in interviews, there are a vast number of similarities between Bennington and Hampden and it is accepted by many critics that Bennington was in fact used as a model for the setting of The Secret History. At Bennington Tartt was a member of a similar Classics clique around a tutor called Claude Fredericks who, in remarkable similarity to Julian, taught Greek and admitted very few students to his classes. A good friend of Tartts at Bennington was Paul McGloin who bears resemblance to Henry intellectually, sartorially and physically. In another similarity to Richard, Tartt used her own past as a disposable resource, creating a new existence for herself at college. Tartt makes this trait of Richards very clear to the reader: My years [in Plano] created for me an expendable past, disposable as a plastic cup. Which I suppose was a very great gift, in a way. (Chapter 1) Beyond these bare facts the similarities with Richard end and any further details emerge from analysis of the other leading characters and events. Tartt was the only female in the clique, drawing similarities with Camilla, and the eccentric and incongruous figure she cut at Mississippi is reminiscent of Richards impression of Henry. In her childhood Tartt spent much of her time bed-bound through illness, a time in which she claims to have increased her literary awareness through reading, again in much the same manner as Henry does. Events that replicate themselves in the narrative are evident in her past too, the drugged experience at the funeral may be in reference to her own long, drugged afternoons in bed whilst her family background of abnormal relationship structures as a result of absent parents is evident in the past of Charles and Camilla. Her sense of being left behind by her aloof mother is replicated by Henry and Francis. The use of a first person narrative does not lend credibility to the autobiographical nature of the novel because if this was the case then her life would be embodied by the experiences of Richard. Whilst there may be passing similarities it would be difficult to say that Richard is representative of her path through college, and as already discussed her experiences also manifest themselves in the other characters. The autobiographical elements are also evident in the setting of the novel. It would have been as easy for Tartt to explore these issues using a third person narrative and it can be argued that this would have enabled her to explore aspects of her past, such as being the only female in the clique as Camilla is, with greater ease. What Tartt gains in emotional detail with relation to Richards character could be autobiographical but due to her secretive nature and reluctance to reveal details about her own past then this cannot be proven. Indeed, her own Secret History is what makes the book so interesting because of the tantalizing glimpses into her past which the reader flatters themselves into believing that they are seeing. Autobiographies are in their very essence first person narratives and Tartts use of this technique does lend that implication to the plot but her previously stated reticence to divulge information on how her life related to The Secret History makes further discussion on the point little more than fatuitous speculation. In conclusion The Secret History is a modern literary classic at least in part as a result of the depth and intensity that comes as a result of the first person narrative. Tartt employs this technique to such an effect as to draw the reader into the text to such an extent that they themselves feel implicated in the crimes that occur. It is true that this intra-diegetic narrative limits the scope for characterization and leads to a lack of variety in the novel, something which drew criticism from some parties, but the losses incurred as a result of this do not outweigh the aforementioned gains. It is difficult to say that the use of a first person narrative lends much credibility to the autobiographical argument because of the manner in which such details are distributed amongst the main characters as opposed to being embodied in Richard. Whilst certain aspects of her life that bear similarity to Richards could have given her a deeper insight into his emotional state, not only are the instances too diverse to represent such a trend, but the lack of information divulged by Tartt makes further investigation almost impossible. The Secret History Essay Example The Secret History Essay The Secret History is a unique mystery novel in which the mystery is solved in the prologue (Bunny had been dead for several weeks, we hadnt intended to hide the body). It exudes confessional qualities, whereby our narrator Richard appears to be searching for closure; for him, its function is to cleanse and provide a catharsis (this is the only story I will ever be able to tell). For Donna Tartt herself, it is evident that her sources and influences (e.g. The Great Gatsby) are a vehicle for a display of her own literacy. As a result, it can be suggested that The Secret History is a showpiece; that is, an outlet for Donna Tartt to showcase her talents in order to create a commercial blockbuster. The enigmatic, elusive nature of the novel allows for a range of different ideas to be explored, including obvious Greek sources [Dim shrieks, and joy, and triumph-cries of death. And here was borne a severed arm, and there a hunters hooted foot Euripides, 485-406 BC The Bacchae: lines 1381-1 383, The Harvard Classics (1909-1914)].Primarily, Donna Tartts narrative methods are reinforced through her own personality: she presents herself as similarly enigmatic and elusive [porcelain exterior and sardonic asides Mick Brown]. Moreover, her writing appears to be influenced by her background to a great extent; for example, her upbringing resembles that of her student characters (she grew up in an old family mansion in Grenada, Mississippi) and at university, she studied alongside an elite group of bright, literary talents with picturesque and fictive qualities (outlandish clique Independent, May 2002).Tartts main Greek influence is The Bacchae: in Richards narration, Henry is the one who outlines the bacchanal, and the language used mirrors that of Euripides. The principles are extremely similar, and the language is a combination of joy and horror (all the air was loud with groans/ carnal element to the proceedings). The impression is given that Henry killed the farmer becau se of an apparent superhuman strength (I do not know how that happened). Yet, we are still well aware that Henry is capable of great strength because he was strong enough to break the rough Spike Romneys collar bone (broke Spikes collarbone and two of his ribs). Arguably, then, the ritual exaggerates normality, but it does not alter it.The prologue is a strong example exhibiting Tartts narrative methods. Uniquely, drama is imposed upon the reader in the first instant (Hed been dead for 10 days), and mystery is created at the same time as a mystery appears to be solved (Henrys modest plan). As a consequence, we find out tantalising details that there has been a murder; information is provided, whilst creating suspense at the same time. Furthermore, Richards repetitions (It is difficult to believe, though I remember) provide a chanting rhythm an incantation whereby patterns become inescapable, adding notably to his guilt. He also uses the lexis of fiction (now there is no other), so that we question, from the start, the reliability of our narrator: how truthful is he?In a similar fashion, the epilogue portrays narrative methods that serve the purpose of pulling together strands of the plot (Henry died, of course). Its second function is to blur the boundaries between fiction and reality once again (a dream I had a couple of weeks ago), thereby disrupting the readers expectations; the narrative really opens up imaginative play for a reader because it is deliberately open-ended. Henry is the main character within the dream, and he seems to be given the air of a mythical, sacrificial martyr (gaze was steady and impassive). While Richard watches Henrys back, he remains isolated and luminal, somewhere between a secret, private, subterranean ancient world and the modern world, which is in the process of being rebuilt, and where his status as outsider is confirmed (Tracey Hargreaves). It is therefore an ideal end to the narrative.Charles too ends up hiding in alcohol (working at the bar), attempting to distance himself from reality and effectively create an artificial world. Even our own [oikish parvenu Tracy Hargreaves] of a narrator Richard cannot resist placing himself within yet another fiction (using a mythical simile: like poor Orpheus turning for a last backwards glance), as if he wants to adopt another persona all the time. From this theme, it is clear that Tartt admires Thomas de Quincey (Confessions of an English Opium Eater), which focuses on a bizarre combination of stark reality and drug-induced hallucinations (i.e. a dream world).A connection can also be made between Donna Tartt exploring this concept, and her mentor, Willie Morris [I wish I could escape forever]. In addition, it is frustrating for the reader when we learn of the other characters views (do you mind if we could change the subject?); here, Camillas abrupt response is tantalising, because her words are masked by what could be numerous hidden meanings. Supremely, R ichard is not in control as a narrator (quite unlike an omniscient narrator): he only has one perspective to offer. Even within his dream, he has his limitations because it is restricted by Henry: that information is classified, Im afraid.The Great Gatsby provides a significant influence on Donna Tartts writing and her narrative methods: even Richard mentions it (I read The Great Gatsby. It is one of my favourite books). The Great Gatsby is a novel of selective incident. This approach to structure was first seen in Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert and later developed by Joseph Conrad and Henry James amongst others. Conrad believed that there should be no word or phrase used unless it contributes to the overall meaning of the work. This careful arranging of the structure of a novel included both intricate patterning of language and of narrative events. The narrator Nick Carraway is as unreliable as Richard in The Secret History: Nick reinforces through his language a contrast betwee n how Jay Gatsby wants to present himself, and how he really is (quality of eternal reassurance) much like Richards portrayal of his classmates like figures from an allegory and the way in which he puts Henry on a pedestal (deliberate and distinct). Even Julian can be seen as a Gatsby-type figure in both Richard and Henrys eyes (saying something of the gravest importance). At the same time, he fail[s] to see anything exceptcertain tragic similarities between Gatsby and [him]self.Furthermore, the character of Judy Poovey parallels Jordan Baker in The Great Gatsby (every one knew her name). Judy is used to provide another narrative perspective from outside the Greek elite (he was scarier than the other one). However, the major flaw is that she is so often on drugs (really drunk, and sort of slam-dancing), therefore a distorted perspective is given and we never really get to the truth.The first person narrative form has certain qualities and constraints which an author must successfull y balance in order to achieve a convincing narration that fulfils all the writers aims. Firstly, the need for the novel to be convincing means that the narrator must be both credible and trustworthy; without both of these qualities every aspect of the text could be doubted. The character of Richard as a narrator is therefore vital to Tartts narrative approach. The method through which Richard establishes his narrative voice is interesting; he admits he has a fault, a morbid longing for the picturesque at all costs, but it is as though he wants to transfer this quality onto somebody else throughout the novel. He attempts to distance himself and separate both reality and illusion a trait also found in Henry (Im only having a bit of trouble with my passport). Moreover, upon being introduced to Richard, he establishes himself as a tragic hero (fatal flaw): this admission places him alongside figures such as Macbeth, and Satan. A reader is immediately made aware that Richard is a self-i ndulgent and somewhat mechanical narrator, desperate to strike a deliberate pose.In addition, Richard makes numerous references to his childhood (disposable as a plastic cup), giving the impression that he never cared much for it. Significantly, the description of the floodlit castles of Disneyland again provides a fake, alternative way of living. By comparing his childhood to those of his Hampden counterparts (was said to be wealthy) and only stressing the positive elements of theirs Richard attempts to evoke sympathy from the reader by using this cheap narrative trick.The way in which Richard presents Camilla, in particular, can be questioned: he insists on likening her to a beautiful, tragic heroine (one hand shading her light-dazzled eyes), but she could also be seen as a grand manipulator (Camilla caught my arm and hastily pulled me back). Another interesting point to consider is that Henry isnt mentioned at all: except for the fact that he was a linguistic genius. As a resul t, it can be inferred that Henry was not allowed the innocence of childhood, thereby adding to the unreal (I watched his back receding down the long, gleaming hall) and mythical feeling evoked by his presence throughout the novel.Richards descriptions of the murder provide an interesting insight into his thoughts through the style of his narrative. For example, as his narrative progresses in a usual fashion, he interrupts it with a commentary (I would like to say I was driven to what I did by some overwhelming, tragic motive), almost in an attempt to justify the murder. Although the reader hasnt reached the murder in the novel yet, Richard still feels the need to take time out from the narrative, suggesting that what he has done is constantly playing on his mind. Furthermore, the word elusive is used to describe reasons for killing Bunny, which is interesting considering both the novel itself and Donna Tartt can be described as elusive. It is this passage in particular where we get the closest to the truth from Richard; for example, it is here we find out that trivial things led to the killing of Bunny (little things. Insults, innuendos, petty cruelties.) Ironically, the moment where Richard tells the truth, he is also highly unpleasant we lose our connection with him, thereby contradicting his desired effect. More profoundly, he then slips back into fictive mode when describing Bunnys death (silent-movie comedian slipping on a banana peel); however, choosing such an image is cruel because it makes Bunny a farce.The scene directly preceding the murder reads like a screen-play (there was a long pause), as though Tartt is imagining it happening in a scene from a film: regular dialogue is often interrupted by surroundings, described in gothic and dramatic language (there was a rustle, there was a gloomy silence). Henry appears to be unreal: he is presented as a stereotypical villain in a horror movie (step out of the shadows), and the effect of the last line in Book I is extremely clichà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½d (took a step towards him.) As a result, the narrative again distances us from Richard, because his descriptions make the murder seem unreal. After the murder, the idea of fiction is stressed because the group is forced to adopt different characters, which they are constantly in danger of revealing. Additionally, the murder happens in the blank pages between the books, leaving the event itself to the imagination of the reader.To conclude, Tartts narrative method is unique in that we never really get to the truth as far as Richard is concerned. Moreover, he is restricted to having purely one story to tell, which adds to the concept that he is searching for an end. Tartt also glorifies her enigmatic and elusive nature through adding such elements to the narrative; she uses The Secret History in order to investigate different ideas by means of a range of sources. Interestingly, Richards narrative is sometimes flawed (I am unable to recall; Even tod ay I do not fully understand). Owing to the fact that the failures are iterated frequently in the novel, an authenticity is added to the narrative because it exposes his imperfection. However, it also highlights human limitation, and the inability (discussed by Julian) to ever really know ourselves. The Secret History is therefore a useful tool in terms of revealing, through its narrative, what self-awareness is really about; that we are truly alone in our suffering.