Strategic Leadership in a Changing World Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Strategic Leadership in a Changing World - Essay Example This problem largely known as â€Å"hole in the middle† problem in the study and the theories provided by Garry Hamel and Michael Porter tries to explain this phenomena existing in the markets (Baker 2005). The approaches and perspective of the two strategic management strategy theorists enhanced the management diversifications in organizations. This mainly required the adoption of new techniques and new ways of thinking taking into consideration the changing marketing and the level of the competition in the various markets (Schindehutte 2008). Garry Hamel approach in regard to the paradox of markets is the adoption of the marketing management strategy that was more interactive and active. From this approach he asserts that in the management of competition in the markets as well as the maximum utilization of resources the aspect of strategic architecture and strategic intent must be introduced. This provided the importance of managers and organizational leaders in regard to co mpetence (song Cho 2000). The two concepts also gave and hint on how it can perform better in terms of competitive advantage in contrast with other companies the market. Michael porter in regard to the paradox of the market was the introduction of the various concepts notably the five forces analysis and the generic strategies (Kelly 1998). The detailed interaction process underlying this was that there was need for the organizational management and leaders to enhance the following. First is to enhance minimization of costs, focus on the market strategies where a company or organization operates and finally enhance product differentiation strategies (McGivern 1997). Michael Porter Approach on Market Paradox Michael porter approach on the market paradox in regard to the markets and resources is based entirely on the organizations or the firm’s competitive nature. He asserts that the dynamism and the change in the markets is increasingly becoming a major area of concern to the economic theorist, practitioners and policy makers (Baker 2005). Therefore Michael porter gives and explanation regarding this on a re source based perspective and the market process economics (McGivern 1997). The two porter’s perspective gives explanation on the similarities and the relations which is important in the evaluation of the dynamics and the changes on the market behavior (Kelly 1998). Porters approach is considered popular in regard to this because of its clarity, feasibility and the complementarities of the resource based perspective and the market process economics. This approach is generally convenient in the explanation of the markets changes in its competitiveness as well as its strategies (Porter 2000). The question in this context is how firms and companies compete in the various markets and what the strategies that leaders and managers adopt. Porter asserts that there is need for the firms and management teams to understand the individual competitiveness as it this facilitates the formulation of policies concerning competition (Hamel 2012). These policies and the underlying strategies are essential in providing necessary support in developing markets and effective utilizing of resources (Schindehutte 2008). Therefore is addressing the issue of market paradox Porter focuses mainly on the identification of the most successful strategies that a firm in a market can adopt.

Maximizing Shareholder Wealth Essay Example for Free

Maximizing Shareholder Wealth Essay The goal of a firm and a financial manager should involve maximizing the wealth of a firm’s shareholders through achieving the highest possible value for the firm (Block 13). It is a vital task to oversee properly as a financial manager, and while the manager cannot directly control the firm’s stock price, it can act consistently with the desires of the shareholder. Accounting, financial and other irregularities can erode consumer confidence that says the system will operate in the best interests of shareholders, taxpayers and other constituents (Hintzen 2003). Therefore, ethical practices must be upheld to convey confidence to your clients. Your clients care about two major topics when hiring you: what is their return going to be, and is it going to occur when promised. Current stock prices as well as future expectations of value are controlled by the economic environment, but are difficult to forecast. In addition, expectations of stockholders are constantly varying depending on the economic climate. For instance, during the economic boom of . com businesses, people had high expectations of their money spent because of similar stocks. However, many companies had very high stock prices, with no real earnings yet, which distorted to economic health of some companies (Block 14). As related to business firms, social responsibility concerns such things as protecting the consumer, paying fair wages to employees, maintaining fair hiring practices, supporting education, and becoming actively involved in environmental issues like clean air and water. Many people feel that a firm has no choice but to act in socially responsible ways; they argue that shareholder wealth and, perhaps, the corporations very existence depends upon its being socially responsible. However, the criteria for social responsibility are not clearly defined, making formulation of a consistent objective function difficult (Dent 2005). As Christians, our social responsibility is defined through the Bible, and through it we should have perspective on what is right and wrong. While our job is to make money for our company and client, we must do so according to our beliefs, and what we know in our heart to be right, which God shows us. Philippians 1:9-10 (ESV) says, it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.

Adverse Event Management in Chemotherapy Cancer Patients

Adverse Event Management in Chemotherapy Cancer Patients Results RESULTS In this prospective interventional study conducted at the KMCH hospital during a period of December 2013 to July 2014, a total of 63 cancer patients who received chemotherapy from the comprehensive cancer center of the hospital were included in the study. ASSESSMENT OF PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS The demographic details among the subjects revealed that most of the cancer cases fall in the age group of 40-59, having 52.38% patients in this age group followed by 34.92% patients in the age group of ≠¥ 60 years old [Table 2 Figure 1]. Out of this, the majority of patients receiving chemotherapy were females, 55.55% whereas males were only 44.44%. [Table 3 Figure 2] Evaluation of the subjects based on their education level revealed that out of the total population 66.66% falls in the category of educated while 33.33% were uneducated. [Table 4 Figure 3] On analysing the subjects based on their diagnosis, gastrointestinal (GI) cancers (33.33%) were found to be the most common diagnosis followed by breast cancer (17.46%). [Table 5 Figure 4] Assessment of comorbidities revealed hypertension (22.22%) as the most common comorbidity seen amongst our subjects, closely followed by diabetes mellitus (19.04%). [Table 6 Figure 5] Among the different types of adverse effects documented the predominant types consisted of fatigue (84.12%) and insomnia (68.25%). [Table 7 Figure 6] ASSESSMENT OF IMPROVEMENT IN PATIENT’S QoL Study population: 63 Analysis: Friedman’s Test This analysis was carried out for evaluating the change in QoL of the patients as part of the adverse event management given from pre-intervention assessment to first and second review of the patients. We found that adverse event management had a significant effect on the QoL of the patients with regard to global health status, functional scales, symptom scales and symptom and limitation scales (P Global Health Status/QoL: The global health status showed a significant change with improvement from 1.02 in the pre-intervention assessment to 2.04 and 2.94 in the first and second reviews respectively. This change was statistically significant with a P-value of 0.0001. Functional Scales: The assessment of functional scales showed that the physical functioning of the cancer patients improved with time. During the pre-intervention assessment, the mean rank was 1.24 which then increased to 2.29 2.48 over the next 2 reviews respectively. The improvement was significant with the P-value of 0.0003. The scale of role functioning also varied clearly with time, it improved from 1.34 during the initial assessment to 2.16 and 2.50 at follow-up visits. This change was statistically significant with the P-value of .0001. The emotional functioning scale increased from an initial value of 1.54 in the initial assessment to 2.07 and 2.39 at the subsequent visits respectively. This improvement was statistically significant with a P-value of 0.0002. Also, the social functioning showed a significant improvement in the score from an initial value of 1.41 at the initial assessment to 2.17 and 2.42 over the follow up period of first and second review respectively. This change was statistically significant with a P-value of 0.0001. Symptom Scales: On assessing the symptom scales, symptom in the form of fatigue decreased over the study period from an initial value of 2.86 at the initial assessment to 1.78 and 1.37 in the subsequent reviews. This change was statistically significant with a P-value of 0.0001. The symptom scale of nausea and vomiting also showed a significant improvement from 2.60 at pre-intervention assessment to 1.95 and 1.45 in the follow up period which was statistically significant with a P-value of 0.0003. The pain symptomatology decreased from a value of 2.52 in the initial assessment to 1.87 and 1.61 during the follow up period. This was a statistically significant improvement with a P-value of 0.0003. The symptom scale of dyspnoea also decreased from the initial value of 2.37 to 1.93 in the first review and 1.71 during the second review, which was a statistically significant change with a P-value of 0.0001. As far as symptomatology in the form of insomnia is concerned, it decreased from the initial value of 2.67 in the pre-intervention assessment to 1.83 and 1.49 in the subsequent reviews with a statistically significant change which gives a P-value of 0.0002. When symptom in the form of appetite loss was assessed, it showed a marked decrease from a mean rank of 2.52 at the initial assessment to 1.85 and 1.63 during the first and second reviews respectively. This improvement was statistically significant with the P-value 0.0001. The symptom scale of constipation improved over the study period from an initial mean of 2.37 to 1.88 and 1.75 in the subsequent follow ups of first and second review which was a statistically significant change with a P-value of 0.0001 while diarrhoea also decreased from a mean rank of 2.22 at initial assessment to 1.93 in the first review and 1.85 during the second review. This change was statistically significant with a P-value of 0.0002. Symptom and Limitation Scales: Limited normal eating or drinking habits of the patients also decreased from a mean rank of 2.72 in the pre-intervention assessment to a value of 1.94 and 1.33 in the successive assessments. This improvement was statistically significant with a P-value of 0.0003. The symptom in the form of sore mouth improved over the study period from an initial value of 2.17 to 1.95 and 1.87 in the next 2 consecutive reviews which was a statistically significant change with a P-value of 0.0004. Limitation in the activities due to adverse effects also showed a significant improvement from an initial value of 2.60 to 1.97 and 1.44 in the following 2 reviews respectively. This progress was statistically significant with a P-value of 0.0003. Knowledge about infection and its prevention showed a noteworthy improvement in the study period. The value decreased from 2.98 in the initial assessment to 1.72 and 1.30 in the subsequent reviews which was a statistically significant change with a P-value of 0.0002. Difficulty in managing symptoms also showed a drastic improvement from an initial value of 2.96 in the pre-intervention assessment to 1.73 and 1.31 in the next 2 reviews with a statistically significant change at a P-value of 0.0001. ASSESSMENT OF PATIENT’S QoL AGAINST AGE Study Population: 63 Analysis: One-way ANOVA The patient’s QoL against age was assessed in order to determine whether age has any influence on the adverse event management and we found that age has significant role in global health status, functional scales as well as on symptom scale and symptom and limitation scales (P Global Health Status: In our study, the global health status was found to have a significant improvement among the age group of 18-39 during reviews 1 (P=0.035) and 2 (P=0.003). Functional Scales: Physical functioning was at its higher side in the age group of 18-39 from the initial assessment (P=0.043) and the functioning was significantly improved and maintained during the successive reviews (P= 0.0001). Role functioning was found to be higher in the age group of 40-59 from the pre-intervention assessment (P=0.004) which was found to have improved during the first review (P=0.0001) and this improvement was sustained over the second review (P=0.0001) as well. At the same time, emotional functioning showed a significant improvement during the first review (P=0.0003) among this age group which was further maintained in the subsequent review. Social functioning also showed a significant change among the population above 59 years by the second review (P=0.0002). Symptom Scales: Symptom in the form of nausea and vomiting was seen mostly in the age group of 40-59 years. It showed a significant reduction from the initial assessment (P=0.023) to first review (P=0.011) and the improvement was upheld in the second review. The normal eating or drinking habits were also significantly reduced (P=0.018) highly among this group of patients which was considered to be secondary to the high level of nausea and vomiting experienced. The symptom was further improved during the subsequent follow ups but the change was not statistically significant. Fatigue was most commonly seen among the ≠¥ 60 age group and it showed a significant reduction from the initial assessment (P=0.026) to first review (P=0.039) and second review (P=0.0002). Symptom and Limitation Scales: Limitation in the activities due to adverse effects showed a significantly high reduction in the patients of 18-39 age group during their second review (P=0.026). And, in the knowledge regarding infection, its prevention and management, patients among the 40-59 age group also showed a statistically significant improvement during their second review (P=0.022). In addition, management of symptoms based on the instructions given had also shown a significant improvement among this group of patients from review 1 (P=0.047) to review 2 (P=0.004). ASSESSMENT OF PATIENT’S QoL AGAINST COMORBIDITIES Study Population: 63 Analysis: Independent t-test Among our study population, 25 patients presented with comorbidities. The purpose of this analysis was to check whether comorbidity plays any role in adherence management and we found that it only has a significant effect on the normal eating or drinking habits as well as on awareness about infection and management of symptoms (P Patients with comorbidities showed a significantly normal eating or drinking habits during the baseline assessment (P=0.002) and was improved further during the study period. In the knowledge regarding infection, its prevention and management, the patients without comorbidities showed a significant improvement during review 1 (P=0.009) which was sustained in review 2 (P=0.014) as well. Also, this category of patients showed a significant ability to manage the symptoms with the instructions given which was found to be improved during their first review (0.007). ASSESSMENT OF PATIENT’S QoL AGAINST EDUCATION Study Population: 63 Analysis: Independent t-test This analysis was performed to determine whether education has a role in the adverse event management and we found that patients with education shows significant improvement in physical functioning, role functioning, fatigue, appetite loss, limitation of activities and awareness about infection (P In educated patients, physical functioning was higher from the baseline assessment (P=0.015) which was further maintained throughout the first review (P=0.030) and second review. Role functioning was also higher and maintained among this group from the initial assessment (P=0.008). The symptom fatigue also shown a remarkable improvement by second review (P=0.006) alongside knowledge about infection (P=0.039). Appetite loss shown a reduction during first review (P=0.010) which was further improved and maintained throughout the follow up period while limitation in activities were considerably low from the baseline assessment (0.032) which was sustained throughout the study period. [Table 11] EVALUATION OF THE ADVERSE EVENT MANAGEMENT The evaluation is done using results of quality of life assessment as well as through patient interviews during their reviews. The patients were asked about the usefulness of the adverse event management and tools provided and they were also asked to report the tips they had used. Among our subjects, the symptom of nausea was found among 39 patients [Table 12] and vomiting was seen among 32 patients [Table 13]. They had shown a considerable improvement throughout the study period and most of them were able to report at least one tip they had used. The tip that had been reported by most patients were â€Å"If the smell of food bothers you, let the food cool down before you eat it† and also the patients started taking the anti-emetics prescribed even on days they were experiencing less severe nausea or vomiting. Out of the study population 48 were found to experience fatigue and the symptom was improved and the improvement was sustained throughout the study period. â€Å"Listen to your body, rest when you tired† and â€Å"do activities that are most important† were the tips used by most of the patients [Table 14]. Appetite loss was another symptom experienced by 32 of the subjects which further improved during the study period. â€Å"Drink soups that are easy to swallow† was the tip mostly reported, closely followed by â€Å"watch television while you eat†. [Table 15] About 24 of the patients experienced constipation [Table 16] while 15 had diarrhoea [Table 17]. The symptoms were improved during the follow up period and the patients were able to report the tips they had used and found beneficial. Most of the patients tried including more fruits and vegetables into the diet and also as instructed when the symptom was severe they consulted the physician and taken the medication. Among the study population 12 had mouth sores which improved over time and most of them had tried the mouth wash recipe and drinking through straw as per the tips provided to them [Table 18]. As far as the identification, prevention and management of infection was concerned, most of the study population was found to be lacking any knowledge in these, which then increased considerably during the study period with the information provided regarding the infection [Table 19].

Essay --

Emerging Technology and Graphic Design Research Paper Waianae High School Team Members: Shayna Costa Daisy Monderen Advisor: Michael O’connor Principal: Disa Hauge 85251 Farrington Highway Waianae, Hi 96792 1 Table of Contents Title Page†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 1 Executive Summary†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 2 Communicating Technology and the Targeting Groups†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 3 Emerging Technology Improving the reach of Graphic Design†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 4 Reaching Target Groups Through Media†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 5 References†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦6 2 Executive Summary The ambition that our research essay reaches is based on the emerging communication technology, and how graphic design is exceedingly reaching targeted groups through mobile media. The massive developing technology that has been brought up today increasingly develops and helps businesses expand their companies and careers. Social media is the most essential way to promote anything you want at anytime and anywhere, this is also the most common practice of how graphic designers implicitly publicise their business. By the mass mobile access of social media and advancing technology like cell phones, tablets and laptops is how graphic designers are able to create tenacious designs and share them throughout the global communication network. By sharing their designs throughout globe, it will serve as advertisement and recognition for the company and the designer. The designer can also evaluate most appreciated designs and receive feedback from viewers on to what designs work and what designs don’t for each targeted group. Through the increasing users of technology can graphic designers benefit, to showcase the company, themselves and their potential... ...dienc eWhenDesigningAGraphic Elle Smith (2014), â€Å"The Importance of Graphic Design in Social Media† http://smallbusiness.chron.com/importancegraphicdesignsocialmedia38942. html Justice Mitchell (2013), â€Å"Why Graphic Design is Still Important in Social Media† http://justicemitchell.com/justicemitchell/ 2013/1/7/whygraphicdesignisstillimportantinsocialmedia .html Statistic Brain (Dec. 2014) â€Å"Social Networking Statistics† http://www.statisticbrain.com/socialnetworkingstatistics/ U.S Bureau of Labor statistics (2014), â€Å"What Graphic Designers Do† http://www.bls.gov/ooh/artsanddesign/ graphicdesigners. htm Veerle Pieters (2014), â€Å"Feelancing Advice† https://www.graphicdesignblender.com/freelancingadvicefromsuccessfuldesigners 7 Web Designer Depot. (2011, December 27). Designing for your target audience. http://www.webdesignerdepot.com/2011/12/designingforyourtargetaudience/ 8

Research project would †Library System Essay

First and foremost I offer my sincerest gratitude to our professor Mr. Marlon M. Sumait who has supported me throughout my thesis with his patience and knowledge. In my daily work I have been blessed with a friendly and cheerful classmate and friends who helped me in the field of data collection and programming my system. Special thanks to my cousin Richard S. Pasuquin (Web developer at IT Easy software Solution at Quezon City Philippines) for the providence in my thesis in the field of codes and some encodings made. INTRODUCTION Schools set the various pedagogical changes to achieve the current level of education in other countries. Because of the growing numbers of computer users, this became an effective medium to demonstrate the knowledge and skills of the students. From the traditional searching process for the books in the libraries, the interactive usage of computers can be now addressed as part of the library system. Background and Problem Statement In the aim of the universities to supply the necessary materials to their students, the idea of library management system is introduces. This involves the utilization for processing, accessing and retrieving the information that can effectively support the process of student’s learning, decision- making and scholastically approaches. Because of the organized approach and systematic management of the information, the accessibility and retrieval in the library can be easy. TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER TITLE PAGE Title Page – i Acknowledgement – ii Table of Contents – iii Scope And Delimitation – iv I. Introduction – 1 1.1 Relevant Findings – 2 1.2 Statement of the Problem – 3 Objective (Significance of Study) 1.3 Methodology – 4 II. Structure of Thesis 1.4 Data Flow Diagram – 5 1.5 Case Study(Library System Codings)- 6 1.5.0 LOG IN FORM CODINGS – 7 1.5.1 MAIN FORM CODINGS – 8-9 1.5.2 BOOK LIST – 10-11 1.5.3 ADDING BOOKS – 12-13 1.5.4 CHOOSE STUDENT – 14-15 1.5.5 BORROWING BOOKS – 16-19 1.5.6 EDIT BOOKS – 20-21 1.5.7 RETURNED BOOKS – 22-23 1.5.7 ADDING USER’S – 22-23

Summery and context description of All the Kings Men Robert Penn Warren

Summery and context description of All the Kings Men Robert Penn Warren Robert Penn Warren was one of the twentieth century's outstanding men of letters. He found great success as a novelist, a poet, a critic, and a scholar, and enjoyed a career showered with acclaim. He won two Pulitzer Prizes, was Poet Laureate of the United States, and was presented with a Congressional Medal of Freedom. He founded the Southern Review and was an important contributor to the New Criticism of 1930s and '40s. Born in 1905, Warren showed his exceptional intelligence from an early age; he attended college at Vanderbilt University, where he befriended some of the most important contemporary figures in Southern literature, including Allan Tate and John Crowe Ransom, and where he won a Rhodes Scholarship to study at Oxford University in England.During a stay in Italy, Warren wrote a verse drama called Proud Flesh, which dealt with themes of political power and moral corruption. As a professor at Louisiana State University, Warren had observed the rise of Louisiana political b oss Huey Long, who embodied, in many ways, the ideas Warren tried to work into Proud Flesh.Signature of Robert Penn Warren from the Signed Li...Unsatisfied with the result, Warren began to rework his elaborate drama into a novel, set in the contemporary South, and based in part on the person of Huey Long. The result was All the King's Men, Warren's best and most acclaimed book. First published in 1946, All the King's Men is one of the best literary documents dealing with the American South during the Great Depression. The novel won the Pulitzer Prize, and was adapted into a movie that won an Academy Award in 1949.All the King's Men focuses on the lives of Willie Stark, an upstart farm boy who rises through sheer force of will to become Governor of an unnamed Southern state during the 1930s, and Jack Burden, the novel's narrator, a cynical scion of the state's political aristocracy who uses his abilities as a historical researcher to help Willie blackmail and control his enemies. The novel deals with the large question of the responsibility individuals bear for their actions within the turmoil of history, and it is perhaps appropriate that the impetus of the novel's story comes partly from real historical occurrences. Jack Burden is entirely a creation of Robert Penn Warren, but there are a number of important parallels between Willie Stark and Huey Long, who served Louisiana as both Governor and Senator from 1928 until his death in 1935.Like Huey Long, Willie Stark is an uneducated farm boy who passed the state bar exam; like Huey Long, he rises to political power in his state by instituting liberal reform designed to help the state's poor farmers. And like Huey Long, Willie is assassinated at the peak of his power by a doctorDr. Adam Stanton in Willie's case, Dr. Carl A. Weiss in Long's. (Unlike Willie, however, Long was assassinated after becoming a Senator, and was in fact in the middle of challenging Franklin D. Roosevelt for the Presidential nomination of the Democratic Party.)SummaryAll the King's Men is the story of the rise and fall of a political titan in the Deep South during the 1930s. Willie Stark rises from hardscrabble poverty to become governor of his state and its most powerful political figure; he blackmails and bullies his enemies into submission, and institutes a radical series of liberal reforms designed to tax the rich and ease the burden of the state's poor farmers. He is beset with enemiesmost notably Sam MacMurfee, a defeated former governor who constantly searches for ways to undermine Willie's powerand surrounded by a rough mix of political allies and hired thugs, from the bodyguard Sugar-Boy O'Sheean to the fat, obsequious Tiny Duffy.All the King's Men is also the story of Jack Burden, the scion of one of the state's aristocratic dynasties, who turns his back on his genteel upbringing and becomes Willie Stark's right-hand man. Jack uses his considerable talents as a historical researcher to dig up the unpleasan t secrets of Willie's enemies, which are then used for purposes of blackmail. Cynical and lacking in ambition, Jack has walked away from many of his past interestshe left his dissertation in American History unfinished, and never managed to marry his first love, Anne Stanton, the daughter of a former governor of the state.When Willie asks Jack to look for skeletons in the closet of Judge Irwin, a father figure from Jack's childhood, Jack is forced to confront his ideas concerning consequence, responsibility, and motivation. He discovers that Judge Irwin accepted a bribe, and that Governor Stanton covered it up; the resulting blackmail attempt leads to Judge Irwin's suicide. It also leads to Adam Stanton's decision to accept the position of director of the new hospital Willie is building, and leads Anne to begin an affair with Willie. When Adam learns of the affair, he murders Willie in a rage, and Jack leaves politics forever.Willie's death and the circumstances in which it occurs f orce Jack to rethink his desperate belief that no individual can ever be responsible for the consequences of any action within the chaos and tumult of history and time. Jack marries Anne Stanton and begins working on a book about Cass Mastern, the man whose papers he had once tried to use as the source for his failed dissertation in American History.