Why does knowledge of different generic approaches to strategy matter Essay - 1

Why does knowledge of different generic approaches to strategy matter What implications does this have for our understanding of the shrm field - Essay Example e understood the strategic role that the human resources can undertake in equipping firms with competitive advantage and therefore contributing to the improvements in performance. As Lengnick – Hall et al. (2009) indicate, SHRM has been highly emphasized within the context of integrating strategic initiatives on the Human Resources with the strategic posture of firms. This paper focuses on two fundamental constructs; the first one is the establishment of the positive relationship between knowledge of generic strategies and understanding the strategic initiatives and the second one is the link between generic approaches to strategies and SHRM. Conceptualizing and evaluating business and organizational strategies is a common perspective that scholars and practitioners undertake in their attempt to understand the competitive position of the firms as well as the forces that interact in the strategy decision making and formulation (†¦..). Whittington (2001) argues that it is imperative to have certain knowledge on strategies as it enables the better understanding of the strategic choices that organizations often make. O’ Farrell et al. (2006) further claim that knowledge on strategies actually influences organizational performance for three reasons; first, understanding strategies implies understanding of the context in which strategizing can take place, second, understanding strategies suggests that management has a clear view of the different forces that can have an impact on the strategic level of firms and third, understanding strategies increases the capabilities and skills of management towards strategic dec ision making. The Generic approaches to strategy are viewed by Whittington (2001) as four fundamental ‘movements’ which reflect different schools of thought regarding the strategic design, implementation and execution on the part of firms. The author distinguishes the generic approaches to the following perspectives: the classical, the evolutionary,

Impact of Stress on Health and Well-being of the Individual

Impact of Stress on Health and Well-being of the Individual The objective of this assignment is to define holistic and define stress, and discuss the impact of stress on the health and wellbeing of an individual. Firstly the writer will look at holistic approaches and define stress. The writer will also look at how stress effects the individually biologically, psychologically and sociologically. Finally the writer will discuss approaches to managing stress. The term â€Å"Holistic or Holism† derives from the Greek word meaning entire, whole, total. The Oxford Dictionary of Nursing (2014) defines â€Å"Holistic† as an approach to patient care in which the psychological, physiological and social factors of the patient’s condition are taken into account, rather than just the diagnosed disease. Holistic medicine is not a separate medical or treatment method, but it is an alternative philosophy regarding the approach to health. This holistic nursing approach originated in the United States of America and was formally introduced to the United Kingdom in 1977 and was seen as an alternative approach nursing rather than the traditional orientated task approach. Florence Nightingale herself encouraged holistic care; she recognised how important the environment and a multi directional approach was, rather than a one- dimensional therapy process. According to Dossey (2008) Health is a multifaceted complex concept, it relates to an individual’s well-being in a given environment, and is defined by pathology and the traditional biomedical health approach, holistic care looks at treating the underlying causes and not just the superficial ones. Barker (2004) also states the holistic model of care is widely accepted in the field of nursing, it favours a comprehensive in-depth assessment of entirety rather than the medical approach which just studies the disease in the patient. The holistic care approach takes into consideration all the persons individual psychological, sociological and mental health needs. Every man, women and child consists of a body and mind, and any changes in a person’s life will eventually cause changes in their existence. Aggleton and Chalmers (2000) describe holism as the fundamental wholeness of human beings. Hogston and Simpson (1999) define the holistic nursing process as a systematic problem solving framework that enables the nurse to plan care accordingly targeting the specific needs of the individual. The holistic approach has two focal factors. The first factor treats the individual as a separate entity, secondly the holistic approach analyses the psychosomatic approach of a disease and magnifies it by putting the patient in a specific time, along with their needs and quality of life. Alfaro-LeFevre (1998) described the holistic nursing process as a five stage framework comprising of: Assessment: to collect data regarding health status and monitor for evidence of health problems. Diagnosis: to identify actual and potential health issues. Planning: to determine therapeutic interventions and achievable goals. Implementation: to put plans into action and observe response. Evaluation: to assess the outcomes, to check if goals have been achieved or whether changes need to be made. A holistic approach to health makes prevention vitally important as finding a cure, this continuous model of care can extend over an individual’s life. The holistic approach drives to manipulate fundamental determinants of health that occur and this offers an upstream attack on threats to health. This may be the best approach and outcome in coping with the unhealthy lifestyles and the ageing and longevity of life in the population in the 21st century. These determinants contribute to a rise in stress, which can contribute to a rise in other diseases such as heart disease, cancer, stroke and other long standing mental health problems. The Oxford Dictionary of Nursing defines stress as â€Å"any factor that threatens the health of the body or has an adverse effect on its functioning, such as injury, disease, overwork, or worry. Constant stress brings about changes in the balance of hormones in the body. Selye (1976) describes stress as a unifying concept; it is a non-specific r esponse to a huge variety of stimuli. According to Edwards and Cooper (1988) stress should be discussed in terms of stimuli, responses and the relationship between them. Stress is actually part of modern life; at times it may become a useful tool and serve a purpose. Stress can motivate you for promotion at work, or push you to run that last mile of a marathon. Nevertheless if you lose control and dont get to grips with your stress, it can become a long-term problem and it can have a severe detrimental effect and interfere with your job, family life, and health. The causes of stress differ for every individual. Everyone has different stress triggers; we are open to various amounts of different stimuli. Beckwith (1996) states defining stress, its causes and symptoms are just as complicated. It is often characterized as a reaction to modern and social factors, stress is a disruption in an individual’s physiological and psychological homeostasis that force them to deviate from u sual functioning in interaction with their jobs and work environment. Stress is defined by Auerbach (1996) as a three way relationship between demands on a person, that person’s feelings about those demands and their ability to cope with those demands. Stress can effectively destroy the quality of life for the individual, his or her family and for society as a whole, it has become as dangerous as pollution to modern society Srivastava (1999). Some people thrive in the pressure cooker of life. Stress is a personalized experience and can vary extensively even in the same identical situation for different reasons. Some individuals can perform and complete many duties at the same time and have a list of things to do that would stretch and overpower most of us. Every individual has different stress triggers. How person A copes to how person B copes is completely different. A simple example of a daily stressor is the journey to work, college or school. Person A who is sitting in th e traffic, will sit and become very angry at the long delay, but Person B sitting in the next car accepts that there is lots of traffic and copes with the situation. The same stressor or stimuli, but two completely different reactions to the same situation. Stress level will differ based on your personality and how you respond to situations. The same situation can arise in any individuals life, whether it be moving to a new home, a heavy workload, too much responsibility, working long hours, studying for exams or simply leaving the house. Snyder, Lefcourt and Herbert (2001) state, Stress resides neither in the situation nor in the person, it depends on a transaction between the two. Barlow (2000) states suffering from stress, anxiety or phobias can disrupt daily routines, limit work efficiency, reduce self-esteem, and place a strain on relationships. Individuals will do whatever they can to avoid the uncomfortable and often-terrifying feelings of anxiety. Bourne (2011) supports Barl ow by stating people with specific phobias, or strong irrational fear reactions, work hard to avoid common places, situations, or objects even though they know theres no threat or danger. The fear may not make any sense, but they feel powerless to stop it. Specific phobias according to Sylver, Lilienfeld and Laprairie (2011) can cause stress, the threat of a terrorist attack, global warming, dogs, cats, bees, wasps, spiders, germs, heights, driving, public transport, flying, dental or medical procedures, and even elevators. People with phobias realize that their fear is irrational, and even thinking about it can often cause extreme anxiety. According to Beidel Turner (1998) while some phobias develop in childhood, most seem to arise unexpectedly, usually during adolescence or early adulthood. Their onset is usually sudden; you have no control over these events and they may occur in situations that previously did not cause any discomfort or anxiety. All of these factors can lead to stress. Stress is a worrisome illness. Stress has numerous faces, and sidles into our lives from many directions. No matter what the causes are, stress can put the body and mind under extreme pressure. Constant or chronic stress can have real physical effect on the body. It weakens the immune system, increasing the individual’s vulnerability. Stress engulfs the body and saturates it with stress hormones. The heart thumps, muscles tense, breathing quickens and the stomach churns. 1

The Year that Changed My Perspective of School :: Expressive Essay

The Year that Changed My Perspective of School It all started a week before the new school year. The year of the sneezing, coughing and nonstop runny nose was preparing its over throw of summer. I wasn't too excited about it. In fact I dreaded it. Advertisements came flying through the mail. Every one of them had printed boldly "Back To School" and "Back to School" again. It made me sick to my stomach. I threw every ad in the garbage. I never knew it but this school year was to change my view of school and the people in it completely. The first hour of school was a disaster. Mainly because of Mrs. Laurel my new history teacher. At the sound of the bell she carried a pile (2ft. high it seemed) of papers from her desk to all the students. "Welcome to the wonderful world of history," she announced, "My name is Mrs. Laurel and these here few papers are the requirements and rules of my class." She passed out what amounted to be forty papers for each student. Then she smiled and said, "We will start with you." She pointed directly at me. "You start reading for us and then we'll circle all around the room so everyone can get their chance." My face flushed red, my heart pounded through my chest. I was sitting way in the back but some how or another she picked me. She noticed me. This was the worst first day of school in my life. Well, I read. I read and I read and I read. I read the whole entire thirty minutes because Mrs. Laurel never stopped me and I was too afraid to stop. So I jumbled and mumbled over words. My face turned oven red and my voice sounded hoarser and hoarser. Some of the students began to giggle. I felt terrible. It was the bell that saved me. "Young lady!" Mrs. Laurel called to me as the class shuffled out the door. "You will start on the 'Student Expectations' paragraph tomorrow okay!" "Yes Mrs. Laurel," I said quietly. Then I ran quickly out the door. The next morning I didn't go to class. I hid in the bathroom stall.

Money Over Power Beyond its Fate Essay

Money is the root of all evil. It is the most powerful thing in the world besides love. Sometimes money can ruin love in a friendship, relationship, or even worse family. Money can even decide the fate of a human’s life. â€Å"There is so much about my fate that I cannot control, but other things do fall under the jurisdiction. I can decide how I spend my time, whom I interact with, whom I share my body and life and money and energy with. I can select what I can read and eat and study. I can choose how I’m going to regard unfortunate circumstances in my life-whether I will see them as curses or opportunities. I can choose my words and the tone of voice in which I speak to others. And most of all, I can choose my thoughts.† (Elizabeth Gilbert). In the movie, â€Å"No Country for Old Men,† A character by the name of, Llewelyn Moss, is caught in the cross fires of money, his actions, his thoughts, and most of all his own fate. Throughout the movie he is in a constant rat race with a man who goes by the name of, Anton Chigurh, who is a hit man that was hired to get the money that moss had stumbled upon and taken. Ofcourse Moss did not have to take this money and if he didn’t he wouldn’t be dealing with money, power, or the very predetermined fate of himself throughout the movie. Chigur also acts an officer of fate making up his own rules as he sees fit. Although Moss’s character may represent free will he also represents the fate that people make on their life after making one poor decision. Not only does this money ruin the fate of moss but it always toys with the fate of Moss’s wife, the owner of the gas station, and the children who were paid off to keep quiet. Some may say that it is not money that is the root of all evil but it is power. So does money and power go hand in hand? With money you have the power to control whatever you want, and with the most power you gain fear in others as well as continue to gain money from those who fear you. In â€Å"No Country for Old men† there is a constant battle between the power money holds on oneself as well as the fate of a life through money. The first time money determines a person’s fate is  during the coin flip at the gas station. When Chigurh realizes that the man working at the counter knows where he is from, he now becomes a witness of who Chigurh is and where he may be from. Maybe if the man would have just been quiet in the first place instead of trying to use the small talk and be friendly Chigurh would have never even have to have the thought of killing the man in the first place. But because the man is the person he is and just wanted to help â€Å"time pass† it pulled a spark and brought the whole conversation in another direction. Chigurh then begins to question the man. What time do you close? Do you stay out back? What time do you go to sleep? The Owner knew he was in some type of trouble and quickly tries to hurry the man out of his store so that he can reach some type of safe zone between him and Chigurh. The conversation continues and that’s when it starts to get a little interesting. Chigurh finds out that the man was married into the business. He didn’t want it nor did he save his earnings but fate brought him to that gas station and Fate would determine his life in a coin toss. â€Å"It is interesting, however, to note the way Chigurh and the Proprietor discuss the stakes of the game. The Proprietor is no doubt aware of the danger he’s in, but is carefully trying to determine the nature of the danger. They both avoid talking about the stakes of the game directly — the Proprietor, because if he says it, it might happen; Chigurh, because he considers himself an agent of Fate. Discussing it directly would make him responsible, and he’s not; the evil swirling through the film is bigger than this one man† (goodreasonblog.blogspot.com). Fate had played a life saving role in this man’s life but so did money. The flip the coin would determine his fate and that is when we right back on the subject of how which played a bigger role? The coin had all the power, although it was an instrument of the fate the man would determine on his own it still had the power. So can we really say that his fate was the reason this man is still alive? In the owners good graces he won the coin coin flip and his life was spared. But what if he had lost that coin flip? Do you really think Chigurgh would have killed an innocent man just because he noticed where he was from? Well that question could have been answered at the end of the movie when Chigurgh shows up at Moss’s wife, Carla Jean’s, house. Carla Jean finds herself seated across from the emotionless Chigurh. Chigurh had promised Moss that he would allow Carla Jean to live if the money was returned to Chigurh. He  assures Moss that it is the best deal he has to offer. Moss would have died either way but Chigurh promises Moss that he would not harm his wife as long as Moss listened to him. But of course determining the fate of himself and his wife Moss chooses not to listen to Chigurhs orders. It is really heartbreaking at this point in the movie because we all know Carla Jean is going to die. The power money has on a person is quite disgusting in this movie because we see that Moss truly chose his money over his wife. Chigurh tells Carla Jean that Moss could have saved her but the power of money had taken over Moss’s mind and moss made a decision for them both to suffer. â€Å"You don’t have to do this† Carla jean tells Chigurh. Chigurh then chooses to offer her the same coin flip option that he had previously offered the lucky old man at the gas station. Unlike the old man, Carla Jean refuses to call it when asked, even after the coin had been flipped and was just waiting to be called â€Å"The coin don’t have no say in it – it’s just you.† Chigurh again points out that he â€Å"got here the same way as the coin did.† Fate brought him to her house because of her husband and the power of money is what would kill Carl Jean in the end. Not only doe Chigurh try determining the fate of others, He also tries to determine the fate of himself. At the end of the movie when Chigurh is hit he pays a boy to keep quiet and act like nothing ever happened. Why would Chigurh do this? He is using his money to determine his fate. Chigurh knows that the lower his profile the less chances he will have of getting caught and going to prison for the illegal activity he has had going on. All in all none of these people had to do what they did. These were the choices they made and because of that, fate had a new twist on their life. Moss did not have to steal the money but he knew with more money came the happiness him and his wife had been working for. Maybe he did it out of love or maybe he was just being greedy we will never really know. Even Chigurh had the choice to not kill all those people because of Moss. All of those people who had died was a predetermined fate that was out of their control. Fate, in this movie, obviously came in more than one sub category. The money meant power and the power controlled ones fate. â€Å"Every moment in your life is a turning and every one a choosing. Somewhere you made a choice. All followed to this. The accounting is scrupulous. The shape is drawn. No line  can be erased. I had no belief in your ability to move a coin to your bidding. How could you? A person’s path through the world seldom changes and even more seldom will it change abruptly. And the shape of your path was visible from the beginning.† (coen 259) http://goodreasonblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/no-country-for-old-men-coin-toss-scene.html http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/fate

A Farewell to Arms †Existentialism Essay

Ernest Hemingway’s ‘A Farewell to Arms’ explores notions surrounding both love and war. However it is not a love story, and nor is it a war story. It is a combination of both that allows for Hemingway to discuss what he is truly interested in: Existentialism. Existentialism is a philosophy that developed from the concept that there is no inherent meaning in life. However, we can create meaning. A Farewell to Arms is an exploration of this, but more than that, it’s an exploration of the reality of this in that; meaning in life doesn’t last forever, and when it’s gone, it leaves us with no logic and no hope, just nothingness. Hemingway uses his protagonist Frederic Henry to support his existentialist views. He does this, firstly by creating meaning in Frederic’s life. Hemingway creates Catherine for him. Their love is only a game at first, Frederic admits â€Å"God knows [he] had not wanted to fall in love with anyone. † However, it becomes so much more than that. Towards the end of the novel, if Catherine isn’t with him he â€Å"[hasn’t] a thing in the world†. Hemingway makes a point of foreshadowing this inevitable fact early on, when we are privy to Frederick’s thoughts as he contemplates that â€Å"It was a long time since [he] had written to the States and [he] knew [he] should write but [he] had let it go so long that it was almost impossible to write now. † Throughout the book, the people he associates with; Rinaldi, the men in his regiment, everyone, they all disappear. Finally, he’s left with Catherine, and their unborn baby. Other than them, he has no one. If they were to leave, he would be left alienated. Hemingway was not interested in the love story, or the war story. He was merely interested in communicating his views on the world to his readers. Predominantly, he was interested in communicating his views on existentialism. He was interested in what he considered to be reality. In reality, people die. In reality, our loved ones leave us, and in reality, when that happens there is no meaning, no logic and no hope. Hemingway demonstrates this through the climactic, yet painfully dismal ending to his piece. In bringing about the possibility that Catherine, Frederic’s only meaning in life, could die, he creates a springboard for discussing his philosophical views through Frederic. This forces us, as an audience, to contemplate upon his contention; â€Å"That was what you did. You died. You did not know what it was about. You never had time to learn. They threw you in and told you the rules and the first time they caught you off base they killed you†¦ they killed you in the end. You could count on that. † Hemingway uses his protagonist to establish this, and through Frederic’s reaction to Catherine’s death, he reveals to us the truth within his philosophy. It’s a point that is slowly built up to within A Farewell to Arms, but it’s one that hits Hemingway’s audience with a sounding resonance. The last line to his novel conveys the perfect, dismal imagery of a man with nothing left; a man who has â€Å"left the hospital and walked back to the hotel in the rain†. Throughout the whole novel ‘rain’ has symbolised loss and grief. It leaves a strong impression, making it the final last word of the novel, Frederic having now lost the last thing that made his life worthwhile. Hemingway’s entire novel is a lead up to this one point on existentialism. The world has no inherent meaning. We can create meaning within it, and any meaning that is within it has been created by us. However on the flip side of that, when the meaning that we have created is gone, there is nothing left for us to fall back on. When that meaning is gone, we’re left staring into an abyss. A Farewell to Arms is not a love story, and it’s not a war story either. It’s a comment upon the actuality of, and the nature of, existentialism as a prevailing philosophy. By creating Frederic and the characters around him, Hemingway demonstrates the logic of this theory, and he shows how when a man loses everything that he has created himself, in his life, in the end there is no more meaning, there is no logic, no hope. In the end, there is really nothing left, but the rain. Kaitlin Cushing.

Why a Career in Logistics Might Be Right for You

Why a Career in Logistics Might Be Right for You Doctor. Lawyer. Accountant. Teacher. These are a few of the professions which may first come to mind when contemplating potential career paths. However, there are plenty of other lesser known options with equal or greater potential for everything from compensation to job satisfaction. At the top of that list? Logistics. Let’s take a closer look at this quickly growing field, along with why a career in logistics may be right for you. What is Logistics?According to Logistics World, â€Å"Logistics means having the right thing, at the right place, at the right time.† While this definition may be a simplification, it encapsulates the field of logistics in its most basic sense. In the business sense, logistics applies to the supply chain of goods and services between the point of origin and the point of consumption. The ultimate goal of workers in this field? To meet customer needs in the most efficient, effective way.According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, â€Å"logis ticians analyze and coordinate an organization’s supply chain – the system that moves a product from supplier to consumer.† This comprises the entire life cycle of a product - including everything from developing business relationships with suppliers to directing the allocation of materials to comprehending customer needs. Ultimately, logisticians seek to minimize cost, time and risk when it comes to safely moving goods from one point to another.Beyond LogisticiansNot all people who work in logistics are logisticians, however. The field also has jobs for people across a wide range of academic backgrounds and experiences - from truck drivers and forklift operators to upper level logistics executives.Because of the variety of opportunities, there is also significant opportunity for career advancement for hardworking individuals. In fact, many logistics company prefer to train and promote from within rather than pursuing external hires.If you aspire toward a caree r in international business, meanwhile, logistics is a great starting point. Many workers in this field use entry-level skills and experience to transition to mid- and upper-level positions in other countries.The Many Benefits of a Career in LogisticsJob opportunities for logisticians are projected to grow by a whopping 22 percent between 2012 and 2022. This is significantly faster than the average rate for all other occupations. With this growth comes job security, along with the possibility of increased compensation due to the in demand status of professionals in this field. While the median annual wage for logisticians is $72,780, top earners can make upwards of $112,000.Why is logistics expanding so quickly? The field’s exponential growth largely relates to the expansion of the global economy. As geographic borders continue to break down, new opportunities are constantly developing. Logisticians will assume responsibility for exploring these opportunities, pushing current boundaries, and conquering the rising challenges along the way.No matter where you live, a career in logistics is within your reach. Nearly every company that offers a product or service requires people to handle logistics. While some areas, such as Chicago and Los Angeles, are logistics activity hubs, every industrialized region of the world has companies in need of logistics experts.If you’re looking for career fulfillment, logistics offers the potential of great satisfaction. The work is constantly changing, and logistics environments - from the warehouse to the boardroom - bustle with activity and innovation. This fast-paced work ensure that you’ll never be bored.There’s a reason why logisticians earned the sixth spot on U.S. News and World Report’s list of â€Å"Best Business Jobs.† If you like to solve problems, work collaboratively with others, and value not only job security, but also the promise of quick career advancement, a career in logistics can help you realize these goals while also enjoying rare professional fulfillment.

Free Essays on Describing Marlows Character In The Heart Of Darkness

Pg: 10. "When I grow up I will go there." Pg: 31. "You have no idea how effective such a ... a ... faculty can be." Pg: 39. "You know I hate, detest, and can't bear a lie, not because I am straighter than the rest of us, but simply because it appals me." Pg: 93. "I did not know how truly I spoke." Pg: 108. "Perhaps it was an impulse of unconscious loyalty..." Marlow is seen as a traditional hero in this novel. He is portrayed as tough, honest, independent and capable. To the reader he is seen as human because we can identify with him throughout, for ex. when his helmsman is killed, he gets so afraid, anxious and scared, that he takes his shoes off and throws them overboard. Throughout the book Kurtz is mostly seen as an object, whereas Marlow is the one you grow an emotional bond with. What drew me to the first quote I used? Marlow was already a grown-up when he said this. Traveling, for me personally, enlightens and gives one a bigger perspective on other cultures etc. I think Marlow feels the need to grow on that level, and therefore uses this phrase. It shows the reader that he sees himself as someone who is still learning and growing, mentally. It might even be true of Conrad himself. It is ironic that Marlow would say that he "detests" a lie. The way he is characterized is of an honest man, one with integrity. And then he tells a lie. Marlow was a younger man when he went to Africa and now he is a sadder, wiser man sitting aboard the Nellie posed like Buddha because he realizes his failure to tell the truth and is seeking to live uprightly. It actually shows Marlow's honesty. It is mentioned a few times that Europeans in that time went on "Expeditions" to discover new places of meaning. They wanted to leave a legacy behind and feel important. I think Marlow wants to be seen by his peers as someone who has presence. The fact that he thinks it is "powerful" if you can walk in to a room and make people feel "uneasy.... Free Essays on Describing Marlow's Character In The Heart Of Darkness Free Essays on Describing Marlow's Character In The Heart Of Darkness Pg: 10. "When I grow up I will go there." Pg: 31. "You have no idea how effective such a ... a ... faculty can be." Pg: 39. "You know I hate, detest, and can't bear a lie, not because I am straighter than the rest of us, but simply because it appals me." Pg: 93. "I did not know how truly I spoke." Pg: 108. "Perhaps it was an impulse of unconscious loyalty..." Marlow is seen as a traditional hero in this novel. He is portrayed as tough, honest, independent and capable. To the reader he is seen as human because we can identify with him throughout, for ex. when his helmsman is killed, he gets so afraid, anxious and scared, that he takes his shoes off and throws them overboard. Throughout the book Kurtz is mostly seen as an object, whereas Marlow is the one you grow an emotional bond with. What drew me to the first quote I used? Marlow was already a grown-up when he said this. Traveling, for me personally, enlightens and gives one a bigger perspective on other cultures etc. I think Marlow feels the need to grow on that level, and therefore uses this phrase. It shows the reader that he sees himself as someone who is still learning and growing, mentally. It might even be true of Conrad himself. It is ironic that Marlow would say that he "detests" a lie. The way he is characterized is of an honest man, one with integrity. And then he tells a lie. Marlow was a younger man when he went to Africa and now he is a sadder, wiser man sitting aboard the Nellie posed like Buddha because he realizes his failure to tell the truth and is seeking to live uprightly. It actually shows Marlow's honesty. It is mentioned a few times that Europeans in that time went on "Expeditions" to discover new places of meaning. They wanted to leave a legacy behind and feel important. I think Marlow wants to be seen by his peers as someone who has presence. The fact that he thinks it is "powerful" if you can walk in to a room and make people feel "uneasy....