If Overestimation of Performance is Common, Management Attempts to Assignment - 1

If Overestimation of Performance is Common, Management Attempts to Introduce Benchmarking Procedures are Likely to Meet with Employee Resistance - Assignment Example Perceived weakness in performance would, therefore, be an important motivator for staff to support activities, such as benchmarking, that is geared towards improving their performance. Furthermore, when we analyze the statement, management attempt to introduce benchmarking procedures what comes to mind is that the organization in its current state lacks these procedures. This essentially implies that management will be engaging in a change effort. Change efforts are done under many banners. The basic goal of introducing benchmarking procedures is to make fundamental changes in how the business is conducted in order to help it cope with new, more challenging market environments. Kotter’s statement confirms this to be a change effort. For this reason, we find the need to discuss this question from two viewpoints: firstly as a Lake Wobegon effect challenge and secondly as a change effort challenge. As the Lake Wobegon effect challenge, this problem is a double whammy. For starters, management is faced with the challenge of transforming employee perception on the organization and secondly, the tool that they think is most appropriate for bringing a solution faces the resistance of adoption because of the very perception that they seek to reign in. This is the dilemma. Let us try to break down the problem into more comprehensible parts. First, employees perceive that their performance is better than it is in reality. This means that they will not see the reason to implement any new performance enhancing procedure such as benchmarking. Second, management has identified that there is indeed a problem that has to begin with changing employee perception. Management believes benchmarking is the way to go and would like to implement it. Third, employees – in our deduced scenario – resist managements push to implement benchmarking since they are convinced that what they ar e currently doing is already better than their peers.

JD Power Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

JD Power - Essay Example Now, how does one define the specific market segments of JD Power consumers? Basically, the company provides pertinent market research to its clients spanning a myriad of different industries, including automotives, real estate, insurance, and telecommunications. If it is to be broken down, the company has two main target markets – everyday consumers and corporate business entities. Everyday consumers utilize the customer satisfaction ratings and market research studies of the company in order to make better- informed decisions regarding their purchases and transactions, using the culled consumer information data as a reference point. They make use of the service by simply going to the company’s consumer website, where they can look for the specific industry that concerns them at the moment. From there, the market research data and research surveys would be readily available for instant viewing. Consumers in all likelihood use the product every time they are in need of a figure-backed opinion concerning an upcoming purchase. They could compare how the product or service stacked up in the court of public opinion, and could use it as an additional tool towards making an informed and well-researched decision. Corporations and businesses make up the other major market segment of the company. They seek the consumer data culled by JD Power for their own internal use. The companies buy the comprehensive research provided by JD Power and utilize it in accordance with their own business interests.2 This is a process that occurs every time a new product or service is launched; the companies would want to know how it is received in the marketplace. Armed with this information , these client companies would be well-informed as to what their succeeding strategies would be. Now, why did JD Power and Associates choose to concentrate on these two main target markets? Obviously the consumers do not pay anything for the research that is

Innovation systems in tourism

Innovation systems in tourism Abstract This paper will talk about innovation system in tourism development by introducing an innovation model to attract tourism to destination. The model called attractor-based innovation system that is included different parts such as attractor, scene, scene-maker, scene-taker and the arrangement between tourist and other firms. The aim of the study is to scrutinize how the innovation system in tourism can promote tourism firms and extend an attractor-based tourism innovation system in the destination. The paper will examine implementation of such an innovation system in two examples of destinations around the world. The connection between scene-maker and scene-taker will investigate to realize the creation of local networks. The tourist development could depend on the connection between tourism and attractor-based innovation system in the region. Introduction Tourism industry is growing faster and faster every day and innovation system plays an important role in tourism development. In this paper, I introduce a model that called attractor-based innovation system that is included different parts such as attractor, scene, scene-maker, scene-taker and the arrangement between tourist and other firms. The innovation system focus on service products, market change, customer behavior and changing the processes, for instance replace new goods, services, organizations etc. The concept of innovation may focus on the process change although process will be connected to innovation systems. Innovation refers to the process of bringing any new, problem solving idea into use. Ideas for reorganizing, cutting cost, putting in new budgetary systems, improving communication or assembling products in teams are also innovations. Innovation is the generation, acceptance and implementation of new ideas, processes, products or services Acceptance and implementation is central to this definition; it involves the capacity to change and adapt (Hjalager cited in Kanter, cited from Hall Williams Hall and Williams, 2008 C.M. Hall and A.M. Williams, Tourism and innovation, Routledge, London (2008). ,2008, p 5). It has been investigated that innovation hypothesis promoted in connection with manufacturing segment can be implemented to service segment for instance tourism. Service innovations are seldom RD (Research and Development) based, but running by applied experiences. Innovation in services is incremental which means services and processes are rarely changed. Usually, the process of innovation for service firm is lesser than manufacturing firm because of smaller standard size. I will investigate that scene-taker as an organization and entrepreneur make an essential role in innovation systems in developing the scene. The purpose of the research is how the tourism innovation system may promote the development of tourism firms. Literature review It has been discussed that innovation hypothesis developed in connection with industrialized sector might be utilize in service sector for instance tourism industry (Gallouj, 2002; Vermeulen, 2002). There are some general features for service innovation in tourism, which depends on type of innovation in manufacturing sector (Boden and Miles, 2000). Innovation in services is coming to flexible aspects of innovation rather than practical manufacturing innovation. For instance, organizational and natural innovation is focusing on social issues rather than technological innovation in industries (Tether, 2005; Gallouj, 2002). However, innovation may depend on organizational change that related to association between complexes of firms, it also needs support from stakeholders (Sundbo et al., 2001). However, services and manufacturing have similarities in their basic structure for innovation system, for instance, innovation in product and process are more incorporated in services and service firms are structuring the innovation activities that mean they develop research and development sector. Service innovations are more focusing on developing Information Technology (IT) for service firms (Miles, 1993). I need to give clear definition of tourism in this part. Tourism comprises the activities of persons travelling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business or other purposes. (Mattsson, Jan , Sundbo, Jon and Fussing-Jensen, Christjan cited in WTO, 1991) I need to clarify the meaning of tourism firms. According to Leiper (1999) The tourist industry consists of all those firms, organizations and facilities which are intended to serve the specific needs and wants of tourists. Developing research for tourism innovation has been limited. Hjalager (1997, 2002) has investigated innovation development in tourism sector and he has concluded that innovation policies must focus on other sectors, which are supporting sustainability concept. Poon (1990, 1993) has investigated diffusion of innovation in tourism sector and he examined the development of small firms in tourism. Sunbo (1998) and Jensen (2001) have studied the possibility of using network for small firms in tourism sector and they concluded that small firms in tourism part are less innovative than small firms in other sectors. Product and process innovation related to change in the product or process chain, which represent new products to customer or new service in specific destination or enterprise. In customer purchase decision, product and process innovations might play a significant role in tourism sector (Hjalager, 2010). Process innovations refer typically to backstage initiatives that aim at growing efficiency, production and flow. Technology investments are the anchor of typical process innovation, occasionally in mixture with reengineered layouts for manual work operations. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has been the base of many process innovations in current decades, and it has involved a major strand of research interest with its own agendas and institutions (Buhalis Law, 2008). For instance, process innovation can be established permeating into visitor attractions for the targets of crowd organize. Process innovations which address energy consumption and climate impacts are on the future program for many types of tourism enterprise and not least transportation (Peeters, Gà ¶ssling, Becken, 2006). Experts have considered science and technology as driving forces for innovation, but they recognize environmental factors such as market changes and political issues as contributors. It has concluded that market demand is a major point-de-fix in typical tourism research, and is clearly considered the single most significant driving force for innovation ([Buhalis, 2000] and [Hall and Williams, 2008]). Process innovations occur broadly in tourism. With an example from winter sports that scrutinize how ski lift capacity is a serious factor in process efficiency and that selection of technology for that reason is critical. Airports implement a variety of technologies that guarantee the mobility of people, baggage, goods and information, in order to improve the challenges of transportation. During recent years, and for a number of purposes, new types of technology have entered airports, for instance, iris-recognition and X-raying ([Cydesdale , 2007] and [Sheller Urry, 2006]). According to Pine Gilmore (1999), Experiences are a fourth economic offering, as distinct from services as services are from goods, but one that has until now gone largely unrecognized. Goods are tangible products that companies standardize and then inventory and services are intangible activities performed for particular client. (Pine Gilmore, 1999, P: 2-9) The concept of innovation system emphasizes the innovation and learning features of the systems. Usually, a system engaged in a type of cluster, special firms, public institutions and other actors that are participate in an interaction system (Porter, 1990; Maskell, 2001). In this system, knowledge is diffused and association recognized, in cooperation enhancing the innovation activities of the firms involved. The innovation system might be considered as a learning system ( Maskell, 2001). The common notion of an innovation system as performed to the tourism segment suggests a system that is more insecurely coupled than in industrialized and other services (Jensen, 2001; Jensen et al., 2001; Hjalager, 2002) and might more properly be termed a network. However, the notion of an attractor-based innovation system in tourism sector that I will recommend in this paper is different from the common innovation system approach performed to tourism. It is more precise since it identifies an obvious originator of the innovation system for instance the attractor and the scene-maker and it introduce development process in the model for instance a scene-taker taking over from the scene-maker and making local networks. Accordingly, an attractor-based tourism model is one example of the common innovation system in tourism sector. After reviewing literature related to innovation system in tourism, the aim of the study will be to expand an innovation model in tourism that has been called attractor- based innovation system. It will continue by investigating two case studies around the world. I have chosen them since I could easily find out the attractor in the cases. I will carry on by introducing different mechanism of the model. The study will focus on investigating the operation of such an innovation model in the long term according to economic and social aspects. I propose to make a comparative analysis between the cases and investigating the operation of the model in different situation and in variety of destination. Introducing an attractor-based innovation system model The tourism development, which is, growth in proceeds and revenue and qualitative regeneration, needs innovations. The tourism development in a region may not exactly belong to innovation by a particular tourism firm. Somewhat, it can be dependent on other surrounding factors in the particular area. This geographical area may not, be seen absolutely as a special destination. However, the purpose of the study has not been to investigate destinations features, but in the tourism innovation systems such as the attractor based innovation system must not be limited to just one destination. According to destinations meaning, the system can be physically dispersed to comprise several destinations or only a part of a destination. In order to investigate the model I need to focus on both innovation and entrepreneurship. The entrepreneurs develop the innovative courage and the essential structures, procure the knowledge and maybe project capital. Therefore, entrepreneurship is the main requirement for innovation. A community entrepreneur could be defining as a social leader who is constructing networks in the best way. According to figure 1, the model of attractor-based tourism innovation system is constructed: attractor, scene, scene-maker, scene-taker and cooperative networks between the scene-taker and tourism firms. I will focus on one purpose of the model that called scene-taker, who plays an important role to maintain the system. Nevertheless, I will carry on by explaining components of the model. The attractor is defined as an event, movement, association or the like that absorbs people to the destination. Attractors generate attention; it is not necessary for them to have special connection with tourism. For instance, the head offices of a famous business or a famous sporting event like (Mattsson, Jan, Sundbo, Jon and Fussing-Jensen, Christjan, 2005) The Olympic Games generate large numbers of visitations. Another example could be a music festival in special destination in limited time that we call it cultural or entertainment event. The attractor transformation happens when it is connected to a situation, what I have called a scene. It includes giving the attractor a clear place and identity in the destination. The main framework for the whole experience of visitors may happen when the attractor is transfigured into a scene. Therefore, the scene is a symbol for the way the attractor integrated with its surrounding situation and conceptualized. The scene-maker is the person who is creating the scene and he investigates the possibilities of applying the attractor for improved visitation. Since the scene-maker establish and conceptualizes the scene, he can be an innovator. He could be an entrepreneur, he may not maintain the scene and he may not be part of tourism section or he may not profit from the generated scene individually. The scene-maker can be an individual, or an organization, a personal firm or a community. A scene-taker is a part of models function, which can be an individual, a personal firm or a community that is capable to take over and continue from that of the scene-maker. The scene-taker has entrepreneurial personality no matter even if it is a person or an organization. The scene-taker is determined and efforts to maintain the scene. The Scene-takers operations may make profit for personal tourism firm by becoming component of a collaborative network rising on the scene. Propositions connected to model of attractor-based tourism innovation system listed below: All components of the model must be present to ensure economic and social viability. The scene-taker is the most crucial function. A scene must have been created before the transition from the scene-maker to the scene-taker can take place. If a scene-taker is present, tourism firms get more business if they make an active effort to utilize the scene. Successful utilization of the attractor (positive effects economically or socially) requires innovation in the tourism firms. Successful utilization of the attractor (positive effects economically or socially) requires a collaborative network between the tourism firms. Conservatism of tourism firms in relating to local firms in other sectors impedes attractor utilization. (Mattsson, Jan, Sundbo, Jon and Fussing-Jensen, Christjan, 2005) Case studies I have chosen two case studies which are called James bond island in Thailand and the Book town Hay-on-Wye in United Kingdom. I will explain two cases to understand function of the innovation system and relation between scene-making and scene taking parts. The main reason for case selection was the attractor entity. In the case of Hay-on-Wye, an entrepreneur develops his idea to become a traditional trader. Accidentally he became an owner of the big book collection. Therefore, he started to sell second-hand books and he made the city like book town. He became a major book trader and he promoted the proposal of book towns worldwide. In the James Bond Island case, a local tour operator got used the name of James bond as a trade name for boat trips to this island in Thailand. He used the reality that a scene in one James Bond film had produced in this island. The following data according to cases and respondents opinion has been collected. According to table 1, we understand how the model according to proposition dealing with economic and social condition. Data collected according to interviewing respondents and they were asking to talk about specific incidents relevant to different parts of model. Respondents must have experiments about events that they were asking about that. The focus was on the connection between events, attractor and other parts of model. For instance, events on how the scene-maker produced the scene from the attractor and relevant to the events situation shifting from scene-maker to scene-taker. Examining the prepositions According to preposition 1, an attractor-based model has had positive result in both cases that means attractor as the main part of the model has made business improved. According to preposition 2, the model has had positive effect. The scene-taker can be an individual or organization that in both cases has been an entrepreneur. Relevant to preposition 3, which is focusing on shifting from scene creation to a scene-taker has been successful in both cases. Therefore, in James Bond Island and Hay-on-Wye a scene has been created. According to preposition 4, the positive activity of the firms has not relied. Regarding proposition 5, for the case of James Bond Island, the innovation actions of tourism firms has been positive and in the case of Hay-on-Wye there is no innovation action. About preposition 6, in both cases there is shared association between tourism firms but no connection between tourism firms and other firms. In conclusion, the preposition 7 which in conservatism within tou rism firms and other parts have been positive in both cases. Therefore, the scene-taker has a significant effect in innovation system. Innovation depended on positive effect of the attractor in the model. Conclusion Bibliography Boden, M. and Miles, I. (Eds) (2000) Services and the Knowledge-Based Economy (London: Continuum). Buhalis, D. (2000). The tourism phenomenon: the new tourist and consumer. In C. Wahab, C. Cooper (Eds.), Tourism in the age of globalization (pp. 69-96). London: Routledge. Buhalis, D., Law, R. (2008). Progress in information technology and tourism management: 20 years on and 10 year after the Internet the state of the eTourism research. Tourism Management, 29(4), 609-623. Clydesdale, G. (2007). Ski development and strategy. Tourism and Hospitality Planning Development., 4(1), 1-23. Gallouj, F. (2002) Innovation in the Service Economy (Cheltenham: Elgar). Hall, C. M., Williams, A. M. (2008). Tourism and innovation. London: Routledge. Hjalager, A. (1997) Innovation patterns in sustainable tourism-an analytical typology, Tourism Management, 1, pp. 35-41 Hjalager, A. (2002) Repairing innovation defectiveness in tourism, Tourism Management, 5, pp. 465-474. Hjalager, A.-M. (2010). A review of innovation research in tourism. Tourism Management, 31(1), 1-12. Jensen, C. F. (2001) Den innovative adfà ¦rd i oplevelsesintensive virksomheder. Et strategisk perspektiv i turisme [Innovative behaviour in experience intensive firms. A strategic perspective in tourism]. Report 01:2 (Roskilde: Roskilde University, Centre of Service Studies). Jensen, C. F. et al. (2001) Innovation stendenser i dansk turisme [Innovation tendencies in Danish tourism]. Report 01:1 (Roskilde: Roskilde University, Centre of Service Studies). Leiper, N. (1999) Are destinations the heart of tourism?, Current Issues in Tourism, 4, pp. 390ff. Poon, A. (1990) Flexible specialization and small size-the case of Caribbean tourism, World Development, 1, pp. 109-123. Maskell, P. (2001) Towards a knowledge-based theory of the geographical cluster, Industrial and Corporate Change, 4, pp. 921-943. Mattsson, Jan , Sundbo, Jon andFussing-Jensen, Christjan(2005) Innovation Systems in Tourism: The Roles of Attractors and Scene-Takers, Industry Innovation, 12: 3, 357 381. Miles, I. (1993) Services in the new industrial economy, Futures, 4, pp. 653-672. Peeters, P., Go ¨ ssling, S., Becken, S. (2006). Innovation towards tourism sustainability: climate change and aviation. International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development, 1(3), 184-200. Planning A, 38, 207-226. Pine, B.J. Gilmore, J. H (1999) Experience Economy Harvard Business School Publishing (ISBN 9780875848198). Poon, A. (1993) Tourism, Technology and Competitive Strategies (Wallingford: CAB). Sheller, M., Urry, J. (2006). The new mobilities paradigm. Environment and Porter, M. (1990) The Competitive Advantage of Nations (London: Macmillan). Sundbo, J. (1998) The Organization of Innovation in Services (Copenhagen: Roskilde University Press). Sundbo, J. et al. (2001) Innovation in service internationalisation: the crucial role of the frantrepreneur, Entrepreneurship and Regional Development, 13, pp. 247-267. Tether, B. S. (2005) Do services innovate (differently), Industry and Innovation, 12(2), pp. 153-184. Vermeulen, P. (2002) Organizing Product Innovation in Financial Services (Nijmegen: Nijmegen University Press). WTO (1991) Recommendations of Tourism Statistics (Madrid: WTO).

Macroeconomic Case Studies :: essays papers

Macroeconomic Case Studies The article titled ‘Fed Unlikely to Alter Course’ by John M. Berry of the Washington Post takes an interesting look at actions that Alan Greenspan his colleges of the Federal Reserve have been taking over the last 9 months to slow the economic growth of United States. The astonishing growth rate of 7.3% is fueled by an economy that is in the midst of a â€Å"high tech revolution†. The article also explores the contrasting view of other economists that say that the Fed has increased interest rates too much in its attempts to slow the economy. The means by which Alan Greenspan and the Federal Reserve have chose to slow the economy is through a monetary policy, or more specifically, an increase in the national interest rate. The article states that the Fed officials have come to a â€Å"broad agreement that they will keep raising the rates until growth slows to a more sustainable pace to make sure inflation stays under control.† Because of the booming economy and the investment in the stock market the exchange of money has increased for goods and services, which in turn increases the price level or the quantity of money demanded. By increasing the interest rates the Fed commits itself to adjusting the supply of money in the United States to meet that rate at a point of equilibrium. If the interest rate is increased, less goods and services are demanded, and therefore will slow down the economy and reduce the rate of inflation. The article points out that as â€Å"stock prices have risen over the last couple of ye ars, so have American household wealth and consumer spending.† This is precisely the cycle that Fed officials want to interrupt to slow growth before it fuels more inflation. At the time this article was written the stock market prices had fallen sharply especially in the technology sector. But the Fed continued on the path to raise interest rates further noting that the index that they closely follow and contains a broader rage of public traded US stocks, the Wilshire 5000, is up for the year. Even though they began raising rates gradually 9 months ago, it takes almost a year for the economy to feel the full effects. In this case the results of the interest rates increased could be felt as last as the second half of 2000.

Example of Interpersonal Communication

Concept Application Paper Aside from food, water, oxygen and other practical needs, communication with the people around us has proven to be essential for our own well-being. The different types and styles of communication allow ourselves the opportunity to create and build relationships with the people around us. It is also the basis on how we define ourselves through self-image and self-esteem. Through social, inflated, and deflated comparison we shape ourselves into the image in which we feel would satisfy the people around us; how we think others want to see us.In more cases it is a negative thing as the true soul inside a person is usually too ashamed or scared to reveal themselves to the public. We then force ourselves to shape into an image we feel will please the people around us. Evolved from our life experiences, we set an imaginary guideline in our mind for people to be considered ‘normal’ based on our perception of how society should behave. We automatically isolate anyone who deviates from these â€Å"guidelines†; they might include a person from a different culture or someone who simply wants to express themself.It was our responsibility to investigate how society reacts to an adjustment in the social norm. In this experiment I wore a tank top, board-shorts, and flip-flops in which I enacted in unordinary verbal and non-verbal communication with the people around me. As a male in the American culture, I dress myself according to what I suppose is ‘trendy’ in my sub-culture. By observing a person’s patterns in the way they dress and how they act, it is possible to discover a person’s personality. An identity is created through our manners, appearance, and the environment we associate ourselves around.We pick and choose how we want others to see us in different situations, so of course no one would ever think of dressing out of their usual pattern for no apparent reason. However, the purpose of the expe riment is not to continue to carry on with daily procedures, but to deviate and record reactions and changes in behavior of bystanders. I devised a theory that I would be able to observe two sets of reactions, one from the people whom I share relationships with and random students whom I have never met before.People who have knowledge about my existence would be able to detect a change in behavior while a stranger would just consider their encounter simply as something out of the ordinary. I chose to wear clothing not typically suited for the weather; Corvallis was reaching mid 40os and I had decided to be dressed in clothes one would wear to the beach. I felt this was an appropriate change in behavior because it would not be following the usual guidelines of the social norm. Everyone had one or two jackets and long pants, setting the basic social code to follow.However, since I was not abiding to this ‘system’, I was considered an outcast or placed in an out-group of t he current social culture. Even if I were not doing an experiment and intentionally dressing this specific way, I would be relaying non-verbal codes to whoever saw me which in their opinion would be interpreted much different than what I may have meant them to be. It would all be a matter of opinion or relational communication between me and the people in the environment. The channels of communication would be through non-verbal/ non-vocal communication.Other channels would be invalid because I would not be communicating through other means including spoken or written words. However, fewer available channels did not result in any less interaction. In the experiment, it was interesting as the deviation from the social norm sparked two reactions in people whom either allowed this contact to prohibit them from verbally communicating with me or on the contrary, the change actually was a catalyst and started verbal communication as the main topic of discussion.This occurred in both group s of people whom I was acquaintances with and people I did not know. A friend who had happened to see me first as I left my room was slightly shocked and warned me about the weather. Although their tone wasn’t hostile, more trying to help, the message that I interpreted was â€Å"If you’re not going to change clothes you’re going to look really weird wearing that type of clothing and secondly, you’ll be cold for the rest of the time until you decide to change your mind. My reaction to this conversation was close to emotionless because I would have reacted the same and produced similar responses because we interpret any change in behavior as ‘not normal’. Walking to a dining hall outside in public, my first observation was receiving numerous stares from the people passing me. Through my analysis this was a form of intrapersonal communication because I decoded their body language with a certain meaning and message.By simple gestures of staring and changes in body language, it encoded a message of ‘out casting’ to the receiver solely based on the type of clothing I wore. I am thankful that I was not dramatically influenced by any of the responses and reactions I observed between my friends and the public. My analysis is these responses were forms of communication which easily could have been affected by culture and perception. People’s different interpretations would eventually lead to the shaping and defining of one’s identity through their behavior and appearance based on how they want others to see themselves.Although it apparent that media has a large influence on choosing how we present our public self, it may seem that the people around us also have a large influence as well. They might include significant others or just ordinary people whom we compare ourselves to in social comparison. This experiment was a great understanding of how some people automatically separate someone just by expr essing themselves. Society defines certain things such as fashion or behavior attached with the message, â€Å"follow the same guidelines or beware of being put in an out-group. Majority of people will be high-self monitors and follow the norm. Personally, I feel I am this way because of the need to feel belonging to a particular group or something. I learned that it is much harder to express one-self based on our own intuition of being ‘judged’ for what we do. By investigating how society reacted to an adjustment in the social norm, it was evident when I wore different clothing; the results when engaged were rather un-warming incidents of unordinary verbal and non-verbal communication.

Fishing from heaven

The frost clung to the surroundings as I made my way down the old crooked path. It was early morning and the sun was attempting to wedge its way through the clouds: it remained ice cold. There was little life to be seen – most animals were hidden away from the dangers and cruelty of winter. They had collected their food and were snuggled away ready to sleep the months through. At that moment I wished I could join them. Why couldn’t I run away and hide until I was ready to face life again? As I trod over the cold granite with the fellow mourners I could see nothing of happiness. Everything hung in dismay as if even nature knew this was a wretched and lonely place. I imagined the gloomy individuals walking this route over the decades. It was a path that had to be travelled but very few were ready or willing to face its destination. Instead we all hoped something would suddenly change and that our fate would be reversed. The daunting doors appeared ahead and I made my way inside along with the others – all of us coated in black. I shivered, no longer because of the temperature but rather fear, as I made my way inside the thick stone walls. The mighty roof towered over me shadowy and oppressive. I found my pew and sat down alone to wait. The tranquilising smell of burning incense combined with my tired state almost lulled me to unconsciousness but a stern voice suddenly called for the beginning of the service and I turned to face the altar. It was covered in a white cloth which hung loosely over the sides clearly too big. A cross made up the centrepiece and a candle stood on either side. I’d never been to a church before but I knew granddad had. I imagined him looking at this cross and, like me, wondering why life had to happen the way it did. The music sounded and they began to enter – the robed man and the six friends of my grandfather. I only knew one of them. They had gone to school together and granddad would always tell stories of their misbehaving – tricking the teacher and missing classes. I saw his friend dim with dread no longer a schoolboy with a future of brightness ahead. His head hung low as he made his way down the aisle. The lid of the coffin was lifted and his face tightened as he saw his friend for the last time. Granddad’s face was withered and frail, his lips rose pink and dry. They had dressed him in his favourite suit especially for the occasion. His body lay stiff, fragile and delicate – but strangely imposing. This was not how I remembered him. Vulnerability and helplessness had overcome him. His intelligent being was hidden – deposed by death. * * * It was a spring morning and the lake glistened in the sun. Not a ripple disturbed the perfect reflections. The smell of freshly painted wood hung in the air as the boat entered the water. Its green body caused it to appear like a lily-pad against the still expanse. I was trembling with excitement: I had never been on a boat before. We lived in the town where buildings filled the landscape. It was only when I came here on holiday that I got to see the amazing aspects of nature so forgotten in cities where cars and buses have taken over. First grandfather gave me a rod. He smiled as I looked at this alien object with uncertain eyes. He loaded the reel, explained how to make a blot knot, stuck on the tiny squirming pinkie and cast into the distance. He stressed the importance of doing this properly so as to avoid whipping your neighbour or startling the surrounding fish. Looking at granddad I stared intently at the thick folds throughout his face, his hunched over body and the shadows b eneath his eyes. As he cautiously scanned the horizon he noticed my attention had wavered and stared right into my soul seemingly extracting my thoughts. â€Å"Ethan, old age is nothing to fear but something to grasp with open arms and imagine the life past and still to come. You must remember that. This moment will pass but the memory remains forever and that’s what we hold on to even when death arrives.† I turned away not sure what he meant and focused back on my fishing. My line went taut and I was pulled back to the present. The fish wriggled desperately trying to free itself from the cruel spike threatening its life. It was helpless against my strong grasp. My determination to impress granddad and the weak power of the fish enabled me to reel the rod all the way in. I had caught a fish – a trout! It was avocado green speckled pink. I knew little of the types of fish but granddad told me it was a Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout native to this area. He smiled proud of what I had gained. * * * I wept bitter with regret as the pastor began to talk of grandfather’s life in such a dispassionate way. He knew nothing of the love I felt for him, of the kindness grandfather showed or of the suffering he endured in his last years. I wished I could have stood up and conjured up something which may have done him justice rather than this monatomic drone of weddings, birthdays and jobs. This was not all that my grandfather was. He was more than this. The room silenced as the pastor took to his seat. The roof of the coffin was replaced and the congregation bowed their heads remembering the man in their own way. I saw, not the cold lifeless face that had been laid before me this morning but the bright and warm-hearted glow from that fishing day. I saw him in his heaven with doves fluttering above a crystal ocean full of the most beautiful creatures.