A Structured Comparison Of A Famous Speech And A Report By A CEO

1. Understanding the respective objectives of the two pieces and their intended target audiences

2. Critical thinking tools and methods used in structural comparison of the two pieces

3. Overall flow of paper, style, within word limits and appropriate use of external references

Analysis of Famous Speech

The content of a speech or a report my come with different interpretations depending on the point of view from which an individual chooses to make the analysis. The audience always has a varied field of view (Butler, 2012, p. 17). The speaker therefore seeks to ensure that these views do not necessarily change the quality of their original content. This paper entails the structured comparison of a famous speech and a report by a company CEO. The analysis shall seek to establish the possible similarities in schools of thought and the notable differences between the two items (Davies, 2016, p. 20). The chosen speech is “I Have a Dream” a famous speech issued by Martin Luther King in 1963 on 28^th August. Despite the fact that the very audience for this day were a group of blacks fighting for justice and freedom especially of the blacks in America, the speech had and has continued to have a varied number of audiences in different places across the world. On the other hand, the analysis shall involve an annual report by Satya Nadella, the Chief Executive Officer at Microsoft. The report was compiled and delivered on 16^th October 2017. The audience scope covers a wide variety of people ranging from the company’s clients, workers and targeted consumers in different portions of the world. In this report, the structured comparison of the items introduced above shall be compiled.

I Have a Dream by Martin Luther King. Speech made in August 1963

Martin Luther King’s speech has gone down in history as one of the most famous pieces of art. Its contents continue to flare in the hearts of many. Some have been fulfilled while the fight is still on to achieve others. It is interesting how the speaker introduces the whole item with a promise which has since come to pass. He was keen on promising the listeners that the meeting and words on that day would be a great demonstration of freedom.

The speakers digs his item from the annals of the past by identifying particular promises which were made and are yet to be fulfilled. A treaty had been signed, an agreement that promised freedom especially to the blacks. The speech comes at a time where the blacks had been largely segregated in America. At a moment when political tensions were at their peak and uncertainties heightened especially among the blacks, the speech wouldn’t have come at a better time.

Analysis of Statement by CEO of Microsoft

There are crucial components of the speech which deserve an address on this analysis. It is equally important at this stage to point out that the main theme of the speech is freedom.  He notes that the freedom is not only for the blacks as most people tend to view it but also for the whites. The speaker’s approach is a rallying call on number aspects to the audience. He seeks to remind the government and the relevant stakeholders of their apparent failure to execute their mandate of uniting the people of America (Hansen, 2013, p. 2). Despite the fact that they had made an agreement to seek unity, 100 years down the line, this had not been achieved. The speaker grieves at the current state of affairs where there are signs noting that particular spaces have only been reserved for the whites.

The promise as highlighted by the speaker can be symbolically compared to a mission, goal or objective which retains a timeline and needs to be achieved after a given period of time. The speech is a vivid revelation that this objective has not been achieved hence the need to keep pursuing the same goal. Martin Luther King renews the goal, this time, by making it a dream, a dream he hopes shall one day come true. He places a number of measuring tools to help monitor the progress of this course. For instance, a time when the black and white kids shall sit together in peaceful discussion is considered as a milestone to the achievement of this dream. The speaker considers the attainment of freedom and justice as the ultimate hallmark of the achievement of this dream.

It is also important to note that speaker’s second point of rallying to the audience. Despite the oppressions, violence and intimidation by police, the speaker reminds the audience to carry out their fight with diligence, dignity and discipline. He abhors violent reactions and instead suggests a more sober approach to the quest for a long lasting solution to the identified problem. These ideas can be compared to strategies especially in management that individuals can employ to curb existing challenges in their respective institutions. The speech is rich, informative, and educative and has been used as a major benchmarking tool by many motivational speakers due to the richness of its content.

Statement Issued on 16^th October, 2017 by Satya Nadella (CEO) in the Company’s Annual Report

Structural Comparison

In his speech, the CEO addresses the stakeholders, customer, partners as well as the employees of Microsoft Company. The speaker in this case is keen to identify the key place of technology in the world today. The fact that almost every industry has incorporated the use of technology is highlighted as one of the leading reasons behind the company’s immense success. Being an annual report, the speaker takes the audience back to the objectives set at the beginning of the year before outlining the level to which these goals have been attained over the past one year.

For every success, the CEO has a supporting statement indicating the driving forces behind the achievement. For instance, he notes the increased number of users of Microsoft related products and associates this to the unending efforts that the company has made in terms of innovation and product improvement. The progress and results section does a lot in giving the readers and in this case the audience a vivid picture of the current financial position of the company. From this, it is possible to project the possible future outcomes. The use of statistical data, tables, figures and expressions in analyzing the report gives the audience a wider array of options and hence the ability to better understand the contents as relayed by the speaker. For instance, the aspects which one may not be able to relate to in the speakers words are also presented in form of tables which are easier to interpret and comprehend.

It is a fact worth noting, that the CEO keeps reminding the readers of the company’s main vision and objectives. The highlighted achievements are there presented on the backdrop of the company’s mission. This allows an individual to easily establish and hence monitor the progress by comparing this report to the former ones. Based on the speaker’s assertions, it is clear that the company’s core goal is geared towards empowering people (Greene, 2017, p. 2). This the company achieves not only through the issuing of products but through corporate social responsibility strategies. For instance, there is a kitty set aside for philanthropic projects while the company also offers products to struggling individuals and companies to help them make a mark and stay independent.

In addition to outlining the company’s success so far, the CEO gives the audience a glimpse of what it expects to achieve in future. These could be treated as the company’s new set of objectives moving forward into the new fiscal year. They intend to build this vision from its current success by changing the paradigm of technology, modernizing the place of work in addition to installing more technological applications into the business. The report is perfectly summarized through the tabulated results effectively complementing the words.

Each of the items above have unique themes and the speakers have been keen on ensuring that these ideas adequately reach the audience. In both cases, the current details are being given based on objectives initially put in place. In the speech, the promise of justice and freedom 100 years ago can be treated as the objective. As at the moment when the speech was being delivered, this objective had not been achieved. On the other hand, the CEO’s report starts with a replay of the company’s main mandate which involves technologically empowering people. The reporting in this case however indicates a considerable achievement with respect to this objective hence indicating progress. Both the speech and the report answer the following questions, what did we want to achieve at the beginning? Have we achieved them? If yes why and if Not why?

The other notable aspect about the two items is the fact that the authors in both case proceed beyond the current to report to projecting their future expectations. In the case of the speech, the speaker puts the future expectations in form of dream. At the same time, he places marks which would serve as an indication that this expectation has been achieved. The marks are quite simply and clear, freedom and justice for all regardless of skin color would be his satisfaction. The same scenario can be deduced from the CEO’s report when in addition to giving details of the company’s achievements over the past one year; he goes ahead to outline what the company’s management is looking forward to. In a nut shell, it established that both the speech and the report have the authors referring to the past, using this to state the current achievements before stating the future expectations.

The second notable aspect in both the speech and the report is the fact that the theme in each case is pegged on people empowerment and the need to develop independence. Martin Luther is encouraging the audience especially the oppressed black race to put on a brave heart and push on in the quest for freedom. To help them achieve this, he suggests unity and cohesion among the people and also plants in them the seeds of discipline, dignity and diligence. He is keen on ensuring that the achievement of the objectives is enhanced using clean approaches backed up by integrity and purity at heart. On the other hand, the CEO outlines people empowerment as one of the company’s core objectives and goes ahead to provide statistical records indicating how this has been achieved so far. The tools which have been used to achieve this include variation of product specifications in a bid to fit different market levels, variation of product prices, transforming the workplace and donating to the needy. It is therefore evident that in both cases, despite the fact that different tools are employed, the main objective is to empower the people to enhance better placement in the society.

In each case, it is possible to deduce a strategic plan as revealed by the speakers. Each has a timeline. While Martin Luther is giving the report of what has happened after 100 years, the CEO is giving a report of what has happened over the past one year. They also project their future expectations hence revealing the existence of a plan anchored by different strategies all aimed at enhancing the achievement of the final goal. For the CEO the final goal would be to experience an increase in the financial position of Microsoft while for Martin Luther King, the achievement would be freedom and justice (Facione, 2010, p.12). In addition, there is the aspect of a call or plan for unity among the people. From the CEO’s report, the plan strategies are aimed at bringing the clients, stakeholders and workers together. At the same time, Martin Luther’s rallying call is all but geared towards breaking the barriers of racial backgrounds and ensuring the unity especially between the blacks and whites.

The two items however differ based on the mode of execution of leadership style. In the case of the speech, the speaker is the main man behind the revolution and the next team in the hierarchy is his followers. On the other hand, the CEO’s report reveals team work as all the achievements so far can be associated with the collective efforts of various members in the management team. The items however remain clear enough and the methods in which the concepts have been relayed remain comprehensible to the audience.

Conclusion

This work sought to identify and analyze the contents in both a speech and a report by a company CEO. The outlines above have outlined the thematic lines along which each of the items was built. The structural comparison revealed considerable similarities in certain aspects which could be drawn from either side. The concepts relayed by the speakers in both cases were clear and easy for the audience to relate with hence confirming the effectiveness of the items in achieving the initial objectives.

References

Butler, H. A. (2012). Halpern critical thinking assessment predicts real-world outcomes of critical thinking. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 26(5), pp. 721-729.

Davies, W. M. (2016). An infusion approach to critical thinking: Moore on the critical thinking debate. Higher Education Research and Development, 25(2), pp. 179-193.

Facione, N. C. (2010). Talking critical thinking. The Magazine of Higher Learning, 39(2), pp. 38-45.

Hansen, D, D. (2013). The Dream: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Speech that Inspired a Nation. New York, NY: Harper Collins.

Greene, J. (2017). "Microsoft to Streamline Smartphone Hardware Business". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved May 25, 2018.