Senior project- CanGo free essay sample

The purpose of this report is to provide CanGo Corporation with guidance and recommendations based on a thorough analysis conducted by Team BEHS Consulting Specialist (Team BEHS). Team BEHS analyzed CanGo’s business processes, financial standing and future expansion plans. CanGo will be the one of the principal online entertainment and gaming companies within this thriving industry, with a rapidly developing consumer brand and growing customer base. The company is already renowned for their online wholesale book selling operation. The company has expanded its operations to include CDs, DVDs, audio and video tapes. After a move to larger and newly renovated office space in the historic section of Kingston, the companys latest venture is manufacturing customized MP3 players. CanGo has now set its sights on becoming a major player within the online gaming industry. With the assistance of BEHS, CanGo will re-invent the online shopping and gaming experience for individuals and families. We will write a custom essay sample on Senior project- CanGo or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page CanGo’s launch into the new and exciting market will be benchmarked by the vision to provide high quality, innovative products and services at a reasonable price, designing a tasteful family oriented and intuitive online shopping and gaming experience. In order to grow at a rate consistent with our objectives, and following the successful release of its first stock offering, CanGo purchased Webjouster, a company whose specialty is online gaming. With the acquisition of Webjouster, CanGo is quickly garnering a major position in entertainment e-commerce. Company CEO Liz Bennet said, â€Å" the move is a natural progression for the company. †. Business Strategy Analysis During this critical evolution it is vitally important to remember that planning by participation with key members creates a common focus, commitment and ownership, clarifies operational challenges, determines priorities and sets benchmarks for milestones, along with providing a pathway to success. (Maloney, Boulay, 1998) This is a fundamental element of becoming a successful business. Many decisions must be made that will shape a business’ future and structure the way it operates. This is especially true when developing the Mission, Vision and Values statement. This is just one part of the Strategic Management Process. The Strategic Management Process is a three tiered process consisting of the Formulation, Implementation and Evaluation approach to promote successful organizational performance. Team BEHS and key CanGo leadership personnel have evaluated CanGo’s strategic plans for short, medium and long-term success. We have discovered that the strategic planning process has been conducted in a haphazard and emergent fashion. Using Team BEH’s proven track record and solid strategic planning processes, we have developed clear and concise implementation plans to support CanGo’s goals for business success. This will set a course of action that will guide CanGo’s short-term objectives and long-term goals. Managerial Assessment CanGo is an organization filled with skilled employees and dedicated management personnel. These components are the foundation of quality when used to maximum effectiveness. Successful companies also have clear identification of the organizational structure. A companys organizational structure determines how business decisions are made and implemented when this is indistinct or missing chaos can ensue. This is a major managerial dilemma our analysis of CanGo has discovered. Today’s most successful companies understand the importance of quality leadership and standardized processes. Team BEHS uses time proven framework and philosophies when engaging our clients regarding quality management and leadership. Processes such as Total Quality Management (TQM), International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9000 and Deming’s Approach to Continuous Improvement are all part of our collaborative managerial assessment process. Employee empowerment, teamwork, process control, continuous improvement, customer focused management, and statistical methods and techniques are instrumental in successfully implementing total quality management (TQM) (Evans, Lindsay, 2007). These concepts as well as many others such as; Deming’s 14 Points and Theory of Profound Knowledge are key components to the BEHS training symposiums. BEHS symposiums are designed to meet the needs of corporations such as CanGo that may require assistance with understanding quality leadership and customer focus. We also work with management regarding techniques to mitigate employee conflict, improve leader-/subordinate relationships and increase employee motivation through implementation of a sound appraisal and reward system. Finally, we will look at your organizational structure and company make up. Based on a thorough assessment of organizational structure, control and governance, and strategy and structure growth patterns Team BEHS will work with and the CanGo management team towill develop a comprehensive plan that to best guide growth and profit is the number one priroity. Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats (SWOT) Analysis A SWOT Analysis is a valuable business tool used to evaluate a company’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats involved in a project or in a business venture. It involves specifying the objective of the business venture or project and identifying the internal and external factors that are favorable and unfavorable to achieve that objective. Team BEHS conducted an internal analysis (strengths and weaknesses) of costs, finances, market share and resources available based on the financial data provided by CanGo. Thorough evaluation was performed to determine if the organization can has the resources to move into new markets and provide a justification by an operational cost analysis. Coordination with the operational, accounting and financial management teams was leveraged in order to build a unified consensus for implementing a strategy for moving into the online gaming market or perhaps some other market less risky. Further analysis was able to identify significant Threats (risks) and discuss the best courses of action to mitigate them. An external analysis (opportunities and threats) was also performed on the online gaming market. According to a leading market research company, a recent report has stated that online gaming participation has increased 10 percent since 2009, and the number of digital downloads for games has increased 20 percent. Every year there is significant growth. CanGo’s marketing ideas have valid merit and present an excellent opportunity for future company expansion. A brief synopsis of Team BEHS’ SWOT analysis can be found below in Table 1. Based on these findings we have come up with several business proposals that can be found in the Recommendations section of this document. Table 1: SWOT Analysis StrengthsWeaknesses †¢Existing online market share is booming †¢CanGo witnessed exponential growth in the book, CD and DVD video business †¢Continued fast growth is forecast †¢Smart employees†¢Limited investment capitol †¢Communication is non-existent †¢Limited facilities †¢Organization is dysfunctional †¢Leadership is lacking †¢Strategic Plans are non-existent OpportunitiesThreats †¢IPO will open up much needed cash for new market investments †¢Expand product line †¢Enter online gaming market †¢Implement hardware/software sales and MP3/CD/DVD downloads for individuals †¢Possibility for global expansion †¢Work simultaneously with another gaming network†¢Large companies in the same market may have a competitive advantage †¢Fierce lower cost competitors †¢Economy †¢Internet security and bandwidth †¢Newer and changing technology †¢International piracy Market Analysis America’s entertainment software industry creates a wide array of computer and video games to meet the demands and tastes of audiences as diverse as our nation’s population. Today’s gamers include millions of Americans of all ages and backgrounds. In fact, more than two-thirds of all American households play games. This vast audience is fueling the growth of this multi-billion dollar industry and bringing jobs to communities across the nation (Horston, 2010). The U. S. Video Gaming Market recorded a record $5. 53 Billion in the month of December 2009. Meanwhile, the online gaming market has emerged as the most dynamic and transforming segment of the overall gaming industry in China. It has been witnessing a series of developments driven by increasing Internet and broadband penetration, double-digit growth in the number of online gaming users, rapid product development and commercialization. (RNCOS, 2009) Research was also conducted with online gaming hardware and the statistics state that 85% of users prefer the PC. Among non-PC systems, the Xbox 360 dominated for the third year in a row as the top system for online gaming with 48% of the market. Interestingly, the Wii and the PS3 are in a near tie, with about 30 percent of online gamers reporting that they use both systems. However, it is important to point out that the PS3 increased 10 percentage points since last year. The average hours per week breakdown with the top three systems are the Xbox 360 (7. 3 hrs), PC (6. 6 hrs) and PS3 (5. 8 hrs) (Riley, 2010). â€Å"The number of online gaming paid subscribers, which totaled 19. 4 million at the end of last year, and will more than double to 44. 5 million by the end of 2014. The increase in usage will be driven by the rise in digital distribution of online games as opposed to retail boxed sales, along with an increase in broadband adoption† (Sachoff, 2010). Competitive Analysis Competition in this industry will be fierce as there are numerous companies providing online gaming services. With an estimated $5 billion in revenue in game subscription by 2015, the return on investment will be very profitable and a further testimony to the large market for online gaming (Sachoff, 2010). Online gaming service providers offer game downloads, free online game play, online gamer community chat rooms, club memberships, prizes for playing, games, and links to the other popular online games. To be competitive, CanGo should provide these services as a basic subscription package. Technology is about progression, and online gaming technology is no exception. Our research has indicated that a 3D gaming platform will outperform the conventional 2D platforms currently being used by the industry. 3D technology provides users the capability to view images in dimensional realism. 2D gaming only allows the consumer to view the image of an object in one view with a flat surface. Throughout the history of 3D rendering technology, you will notice that the 3d render has more ability to create higher quality rendered models, shadows, and light than the real time render used in 3d game industry. The main reason is that the real time render depends on the computer display card capabilities (www. graphicmania. net). With today’s technology, computer display hardware allows creating higher quality 3D games with semi-real objects and scenes. In our assessment CanGo would be prudent to implement the 3D gaming system. There are technological requirements that must be considered such as bandwidth allocation and network and physical security measures. The cost of a high quality 3D gaming system will far exceed those of the standard 2D gaming system. BEHS evaluated the associated risks and added cost of a 3D gaming platform and consider them as solid returns on investment. A 3D online gaming system is a concrete opportunity for CanGo’s expansion efforts to carve out a point of difference in the marketplace. CanGo’s mission is to create a market that will not only meet but exceed customer expectations, as such CanGo must carry out as the top online gaming company and one in which customers will use for service. We developed an extensive analysis of alternatives (AoA) (four different options), then selected the one that best meets the desired goals of CanGo, based on variety of input factors. The baseline used was predicated on the services offered by the main competitors in the industry; with the intended resolution being CanGo providing its customer base with unique and exciting gaming experience. Team BEHS reviewed industry standards and conducted surveys of avid online gaming participants and developed a combination of the latest technologies as seen in Table 2. Our Analysis showed Sony to be the only competitor with Cross-game Voice Chat, while no other company provided â€Å"iChat-like† video Capabilities. Cross-game Voice Chat allows users to chat with their opponents from their gaming console’s internet connection while playing the online game. Mind you, this is strictly a voice capability. What will set CanGo apart from the competition is the use of iChat-like video conferencing and chat tool (much like Oovoo or Skype) for Windows, loaded with useful, powerful tools that make it a viable alternative for small work groups using conference calls and screen-sharing applications. (Rosenblatt, 2008) Our research has shown this technology is now mature enough to make the transition into the video gaming arena. This service can make CanGo the leader in the market because others currently do not have this feature available. This alone should generate enough revenue for CanGo to be prosperous for many years. Table 2: Capabilities Assessment Financial Analysis CanGo announced October sales are expected to increase 500% and addressed needs to immediately find ways to accommodate more personnel, trucks, warehouse space, shipping receiving and implementing truck satellite tracking technology. More resources and finances are required from CanGo, which will affect the online gaming effort. The IPO is expected to bring in $130,000,000 in revenue. This funding can propel CanGo to a new echelon. CanGo’s financial pricing objectives should strategically aim to achieve  profitability by the second year of introducing the gaming products. According to entertainment media industry analyst Wanda Meloni, â€Å"previous console development has been between $3 5 million per platform. She estimates that the average cost of making one game for one platform is $10 million while multiplatform releases clock in at $18 $28 million. † (Glasser, 2010) An important aspect for CanGo to consider in entering the gaming market is developing games for Facebook, the iPhone and other social media or mobile gaming platforms because it is far cheaper thanks to lower production costs. The cost of developing social media/casual games is estimated at $30,000 $300,000 in a six month development cycle and mobile/iPhone games at $5,000 $20,000 thousand with four months of development. (Glasser, 2010) More developers are expected to streamline development, and switch up distribution models for ways to include micro-transactions. The key word for CanGo is to focus on Return-On- Investment (ROI). CanGo should consider web driven flash games that takes 3 to 5 developers approximately 6 weeks to roll out a new game at a cost of about $25-50K. Leasing server bandwidth costs approximately $3. 50 to $5. 50 per Gigabit of throughput depending on the vendor and traffic location. Strategic Planning The Team BEHS strategic plan acts as the basis for programmatic investments and resource allocations. The strategic plan is the roadmap for allocating resources, both financial and non-financial, to ensure we are focusing our efforts pertaining toon activities that strategically enable CanGo to achieve its mission. Our strategic planning is guided by four principles: †¢Educational Needs Are Primary- Supporting and valuing a culture of learning in the workplace is important because ongoing education learning is essential toneeded to survive in a time of increasing competition. The work-place is the key area site infor the developmingent of generic skills such as; communication, problem-solving, teamwork, information technology and customer service skills (GaziI Mahabubul Alam, 2009) †¢. Growth Through Focus- The engines of growth are narrowing your current focus, Team BEHS recommends lessfewer brands, smallerfewer categories, and fewer markets for newly expanding businesses such as CanGo. Simplicity, commonsimple vision, simplified execution, and straightforwardsimpler organizational designs are key ingredients to driving profitable expansion. †¢Shared Governance- Ppartnership, equity, accountability, and ownership are all critical elements of shared decision making every employee feel like he or she is â€Å"part manager† with a personal stake in the success of the organization. †¢Organizational Development- Our proven process is carefully planned and implemented to benefit any organization deliveringpaying particular attention to Profitability, productivity, morale and quality of work life for all employees. Practicing our four basic principles of strategic planning guarantees that your strategic direction is preserved, stakeholders will have ownership in the plan’s success, and that CanGo’s decision making body is held accountable for achieving its desired mission through an annual assessment and audit process. Through continual communications, and transparency successful operations are achieved.

The I.R.A

The I.R.A The IRA is a military organization formed in 1919 that has been destined to unite the country of Ireland with Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom. The Irish Republican Army was known by many names: the Irish Republican Brotherhood, the Provos, Volunteers, Republicans, and most important is the title Fenians. The lack of recognition from British parliament over Irish consensus left Irish sympathizers and nationalist groups such as Sinn Fein and the Fenians with but only few options.In this essay I plan to give a brief history and timeline of the organization known as the IRA. Being very interested in this topic I have determined that I will look at both sides of an argument by asking myself one question. Is the IRA's use of violence justified in order for them to overcome an oppressive British Rule? In this essay I plan to answer this question from both viewpoints without discrimination.IRA Flag IrelandThe Easter Rising of 1916 brought about the Proclamation of the R epublic, it was issued as the founding document of the IRA. This declared an independent republic and promised that Republicans would have equal rights and equal opportunities for all the Irish people. Unfortunately the Easter Rising was destroyed within a week with the British government executing sixteen of it's leaders. In 1918 elections took place electing members of the Sein Fein, the Irish revolution list party into seats of the British parliament. Instead of taking their seats they seat up an independent Irish Parliament named the Dail Eireann and proclaimed Ireland independence from Brittain.In 1919 the IRA started their form of guerilla warfare to fight for their independence from the British, and more so to defend themselves from the British who tried to eliminate this new parliament. With tactics such as raids and...

Professionalism in context Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Professionalism in context - Essay Example Transgression of these boundaries has meant that society has greatly suffered. In view of this information, this paper will explore professionalism based on a news article as well as some of the laws that have been passed to ensure that professionalism is adhered to. Background Information According to a news article in the Guardian by Joe Curtis, Mr. Patel who worked in a Magistrates Court in Britain made a promise that he would influence the results of a court case. He said would only do this if the victim in the case was willing to pay for the favour. The sum to be paid was put at ?500 (Curtis 2011). He was a clerk in the administrative department of the court. After the fraud was discovered, he was arrested and faced several charges in court for obstruction of justice as well as corruption. If convicted, Mr. Patel faces a maximum jail term of ten years. The man will be prosecuted under the new Bribery Act which came into effect in June 2011 (James 2011). Among other things, this laws places strict laws and penalties for civil servants who engage in bribery activities and also companies which offer bribes to other institutions in order to gain favour from the institutions (Curtis 2011). This is a major step in the reduction of corruption charges in the country as it will keep people on their toes when it comes to corrupt practices. Professionalism and Ethics Professionalism is the ability of a person to perform his duties as required by law and guidelines of the career. Professionalism has been thought to be a complimentary feature of ethics and thus people are expected to be ethical at all times while practicing their professions. Debate has centred on whether ethics and professionalism are part of the same process or one can be implemented separately from the other (Kultgen 1988). Ethics is a major part of society and involves identification of conflicting choices. For a choice to be termed as ethical, it must bring out the greatest good fro the greatest n umber of people. A simpler definition of ethics is the choice between what is considered wrong by society and what is termed right (Driver 2006). All ethical decisions are reasonably acceptable by the majority. However, there are some issues that may bring conflicts as decisions made in such cases seem to be continuously controversial with no specific group of people rooting for or opposing such decisions. There are different codes of ethics depending on the profession. One of the best known ethical guideline is the oath taken by doctors. These codes play a major role in the development of an organization as well as to the development of the career for a person (Shah, Farooq, Munir, Mahmood, & Saeed, 2011). Despite the differences in the codes of ethics in most careers, the goal of all organization is to achieve the best output for the organization and for the consumers. Failure to adhere to such codes of ethics can lead to disastrous outcomes for the organization such as the collap se of various organizations in the world (Ferrell & Ferrell, 2011). The employees of an organization have the responsibility of ensuring that they adhere to such codes so as to promote professionalism in the company. The leaders of the institution should play a leading role in the development of an ethical culture in the organization. The UK, upon realizing the importance of professionalism in its controlled interests, developed a law that would enable it to fight

Potential Employees' use of Google and Facebook to Assess Applicants Assignment

Potential Employees' use of Google and Facebook to Assess Applicants - Assignment Example Technology which has remained indispensable to most organizations today is undoubtedly changing and advancing their internal operations. The work of human resource departments specifically has been made easier with the advent of technology especially social networks, because they can easily evaluate the integrity and moral life of the applicant outside the professional field. Most firms would wish their employees to uphold high level of integrity within and without job settings because everywhere they are they represent the organizations image. (Zeidner,2007) This paper will try to evaluate the legal and professional implications of applying the utilitarian approach of ethics which is purely meant to ensure employers full satisfaction with a least harm to the affected i.e. customers, employees, shareholders, community and the environment. The investigation will offer more information on the legal implications of invading applicant’s privacy and also the need for the applicants to enhance their privacy settings besides minding what they post to the public. The key question that this paper will address is on whether employers should invade the applicant’s privacy during recruiting processIn order to complete this research work successfully, there are different aspects of methodology which were used. One of them was the sampling of participants who included employers, employees and job seekers in the proportion of 5, 7, and 8 respectively. They were emailed structured questionnaire which was later received and the information collected was presented. The questionnaires were mainly used to collect primary data but there are also other ways through which data was collected such as interviews. Information was also collected from secondary sources of which mainly included books, academic articles and journals. The information collected in the secondary sources as presented earlier on makes it possible to compare what has been written and the information which was collected first hand through the questionnaires. Findings Throughout the data collected and analyzed and presented, there were a number of findings which were established. The most outstanding view was that applicants especially students be very careful with the posts they make because it could give poor judgment and career limiting effects. They believed that currently there is no proper legal framework regarding posts on face book. One employer stated that they found a provocative picture and content related to drugs abuse on face book page of the potential applicants’ wall which made him to lose the job. Applicants had the view that it is unethical for most employers to view their face book profiles. The findings sated that most students tended to drew a line between the

Thesis sample Essay Example for Free

Thesis sample Essay Introduction The town of San Antonio is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Nueva Ecija. It is located in between Jaen,Zaragosa, Cabiao and Concepcion. San Antonio is devided into 16 barangays. San Antonio is just an unfrequented place in Nueva Ecija; businesses are well introduced to the public. And since the town starts to compete in the market, varieties of products are opened like services and high quality products. In search for a business to engage at, the researchers considered the continous need of merchandise to be sold. Hardware supplies are items continously needed in search for knowledge and to earn living. The system of management of his business is simple as buying and reselling the items to prospective consumers. But due to present market condition where management is becoming complex due to the emergence of scientific methods of management tries to out-do each other, a need for a â€Å"evaluation study† as a means of preparation and planning is of outmost importance of this study. Venturing into business is the only alternative income and at the same time provide employment even just to a few. Statement of the Problem This research work is aimed to look into the viability of establishing a hardware supplies business in San Antonio, Nueva Ecija. Specifically this study sought answers to the following: 1. Who is the target market of the pruposed business? What are the marketing strategies and programs of this proposed business? 2. What are the technical and production processes needed in the operation of the proposed business? 3. What type of organization is necessary for the proposed business? 4. How much initial capital is (needed) to establish this kind of business? How long did the initial capital paybacked? 5. What are the potential problems that may arise during the operation of the proposed business? What possible solution to these problems? Significance of the study This research work provides the following significance: 1. To The Researchers – It will help the researcher to find if their study will be succesful in the future. 2. To The Students – It will be the guide to the students if they will do their own research. 3. To The Future Investors – It will be their referrence if they will invest to this business or not. Scope And Limitation The E. B De Guzman Enterprises in San Antonio, Nueva Ecija is a family business that engage with hardware products. The scope includes the evaluation of the business in terms of Marketing and Financial Aspect. Marketing Aspect : This study will discuss how the business run. It includes their marketing strategies that made their hardware expanded. Financial Aspect : This study will discuss the profitability of the business. It will present information about the current project income, project cash, project sales and project expenses. Definition of Terms For purpose of being clear and understandable of the terms used in this feasibility study. The following definitions are given:

Groves and the Atomic Bomb :: Essays Papers

Groves and the Atomic Bomb â€Å"Desire is the key to motivation, but it’s determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal - a commitment to excellence - that will enable you to attain the success you seek,† said Mario Andretti, a famous racecar driver (FamousQuotes.com). When taking on a project or job, people must have a strong mind and heart to achieve their goal. People may face many obstacles, but leaders can find ways to rise above them with determination. In the end, those dedicated will succeed and accomplish their goals. With determination, General Groves managed to greatly aid the development of the atomic bomb. Leslie R. Groves was in charge of the Manhattan Project and authorized sites to be found for the production of the atomic bomb, which had to match his criteria. A site had to reach certain criteria in order for it to be made into a facility in helping to produce the atomic bomb. Part of Groves’ criteria was that a site had to be twenty miles from any town made up of a thousand people or more (Goldberg, Atomic 50). The reason a site had to be away from a large town was in case of an accident at the facility. Groves also said, â€Å"No main highway or railroad should be closer than 10 miles to the nearest pile or separation plant† (Groves 71). This criterion was important because no one should be able to get close to the site and wonder why it was being built. Altogether, specific criteria had to be met to protect the security of the atomic bomb project and to protect the people that lived around the area. Even though finding a perfect location site seemed dif ficult, Groves knew that it was possible to find a site that matched the specifications for an atomic bomb production site. Groves and his administration found land in Tennessee that matched the specific criteria. Groves acquired Oak Ridge, â€Å"59000 acres of Appalachian semiwilderness along the Clinch River in eastern Tennessee [†¦] for the Manhattan Engineer District as one of his first official acts† (Rhodes 486). This land was large enough to house a facility and was an acceptable distance away from other towns.

The Lost Symbol Chapter 117-118

CHAPTER 117 Langdon felt his stomach drop as the CIA helicopter leaped off the lawn, banked hard, and accelerated faster than he ever imagined a helicopter could move. Katherine had stayed behind to recuperate with Bellamy while one of the CIA agents searched the mansion and waited for a backup team. Before Langdon left, she had kissed him on the cheek and whispered, â€Å"Be safe, Robert.† Now Langdon was holding on for dear life as the military helicopter finally leveled out and raced toward the House of the Temple. Seated beside him, Sato was yelling up to the pilot. â€Å"Head for Dupont Circle!† she shouted over the deafening noise. â€Å"We'll set down there!† Startled, Langdon turned to her. â€Å"Dupont?! That's blocks from the House of the Temple! We can land in the Temple parking lot!† Sato shook her head. â€Å"We need to enter the building quietly. If our target hears us coming–â€Å" â€Å"We don't have time!† Langdon argued. â€Å"This lunatic is about to murder Peter! Maybe the sound of the helicopter will scare him and make him stop!† Sato stared at him with ice-cold eyes. â€Å"As I have told you, Peter Solomon's safety is not my primary objective. I believe I've made that clear.† Langdon was in no mood for another national-security lecture. â€Å"Look, I'm the only one on board who knows his way through that building–â€Å" â€Å"Careful, Professor,† the director warned. â€Å"You are here as a member of my team, and I will have your complete cooperation.† She paused a moment and then added, â€Å"In fact, it might be wise if I now apprised you fully of the severity of our crisis tonight.† Sato reached under her seat and pulled out a sleek titanium briefcase, which she opened to reveal an unusually complicated-looking computer. When she turned it on, a CIA logo materialized along with a log-in prompt. As Sato logged in, she asked, â€Å"Professor, do you remember the blond hairpiece we found in the man's home?† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"Well, hidden within that wig was a tiny fiber-optic camera . . . concealed in the bangs.† â€Å"A hidden camera? I don't understand.† Sato looked grim. â€Å"You will.† She launched a file on the laptop. ONE MOMENT PLEASE . . . DECRYPTING FILE . . . A video window popped up, filling the entire screen. Sato lifted the briefcase and set it on Langdon's thighs, giving him a front-row seat. An unusual image materialized on the screen. Langdon recoiled in surprise. What the hell?! Murky and dark, the video was of a blindfolded man. He was dressed in the garb of a medieval heretic being led to the gallows–noose around his neck, left pant leg rolled up to the knee, right sleeve rolled up to the elbow, and his shirt gaping open to reveal his bare chest. Langdon stared in disbelief. He had read enough about Masonic rituals to recognize exactly what he was looking at. A Masonic initiate . . . preparing to enter the first degree. The man was very muscular and tall, with a familiar blond hairpiece and deeply tanned skin. Langdon recognized his features at once. The man's tattoos had obviously been concealed beneath bronzing makeup. He was standing before a full-length mirror videotaping his reflection through the camera concealed in his wig. But . . . why? The screen faded to black. New footage appeared. A small, dimly lit, rectangular chamber. A dramatic chessboard floor of black-and-white tile. A low wooden altar, flanked on three sides by pillars, atop which burned flickering candles. Langdon felt a sudden apprehension. Oh my God. Filming in the erratic style of an amateur home video, the camera now panned up to the periphery of the room to reveal a small group of men observing the initiate. The men were dressed in ritual Masonic regalia. In the darkness, Langdon could not make out their faces, but he had no doubt where this ritual was taking place. The traditional layout of this Lodge Room could have been anywhere in the world, but the powder-blue triangular pediment above the master's chair revealed it as the oldest Masonic lodge in D.C.–Potomac Lodge No. 5–home of George Washington and the Masonic forefathers who laid the cornerstone for the White House and the Capitol Building. The lodge was still active today. Peter Solomon, in addition to overseeing the House of the Temple, was the master of his local lodge. And it was at lodges like this one that a Masonic initiate's journey always began . . . where he underwent the first three degrees of Freemasonry. â€Å"Brethren,† Peter's familiar voice declared, â€Å"in the name of the Great Architect of the Universe, I open this lodge for the practice of Masonry in the first degree!† A gavel rapped loudly. Langdon watched in utter disbelief as the video progressed through a quick series of dissolves featuring Peter Solomon performing some of the ritual's starker moments. Pressing a shining dagger to the initiate's bare chest . . . threatening impalement should the initiate â€Å"inappropriately reveal the Mysteries of Masonry† . . . describing the black-and-white floor as representing â€Å"the living and the dead† . . . outlining punishments that included â€Å"having one's throat cut across, one's tongue torn out by its roots, and one's body buried in the rough sands of the sea . . .† Langdon stared. Am I really witnessing this? Masonic initiation rites had remained shrouded in secrecy for centuries. The only descriptions that had ever been leaked were written by a handful of estranged brothers. Langdon had read those accounts, of course, and yet to see an initiation with his own eyes . . . this was a much different story. Especially edited this way. Langdon could already tell that the video was an unfair piece of propaganda, omitting all the noblest aspects of the initiation and highlighting only the most disconcerting. If this video were released, Langdon knew it would become an Internet sensation over night. The anti-Masonic conspiracy theorists would feed on this like sharks. The Masonic organization, and especially Peter Solomon, would find themselves embroiled in a firestorm of controversy and a desperate effort at damage control . . . even though the ritual was innocuous and purely symbolic. Eerily, the video included a biblical reference to human sacrifice . . . â€Å"the submission of Abraham to the Supreme Being by proffering Isaac, his firstborn son.† Langdon thought of Peter and willed the helicopter to fly faster. The video footage shifted now. Same room. Different night. A larger group of Masons looking on. Peter Solomon was observing from the master's chair. This was the second degree. More intense now. Kneeling at the altar . . . vowing to â€Å"forever conceal the enigmas existing within Freemasonry† . . . consenting to the penalty of â€Å"having one's chest cavity ripped open and pulsing heart cast upon the surface of the earth as offal for the ravenous beasts† . . . Langdon's own heart was pulsing wildly now as the video shifted yet again. Another night. A much larger crowd. A coffin-shaped â€Å"tracing board† on the floor. The third degree. This was the death ritual–the most rigorous of all the degrees–the moment in which the initiate was forced â€Å"to face the final challenge of personal extinction.† This grueling interrogation was in fact the source of the common phrase to give someone the third degree. And although Langdon was very familiar with academic accounts of it, he was in no way prepared for what he now saw. The murder. In violent, rapid intercuts, the video displayed a chilling, victim's point-of-view account of the initiate's brutal murder. There were simulated blows to his head, including one with a Mason's stone maul. All the while, a deacon mournfully told the story of â€Å"the widow's son†Ã¢â‚¬â€œHiram Abiff–the master Architect of King Solomon's temple, who chose to die rather than reveal the secret wisdom he possessed. The attack was mimed, of course, and yet its effect on camera was bloodcurdling. After the deathblow, the initiate–now â€Å"dead to his former self†Ã¢â‚¬â€œwas lowered into his symbolic coffin, where his eyes were shut and his arms were crossed like those of a corpse. The Masonic brothers rose and mournfully circled his dead body while a pipe organ played a march of the dead. The macabre scene was deeply disturbing. And it only got worse. As the men gathered around their slain brother, the hidden camera clearly displayed their faces. Langdon now realized that Solomon was not the only famous man in the room. One of the men peering down at the initiate in his coffin was on television almost daily. A prominent U.S. senator. Oh God . . . The scene changed yet again. Outside now . . . nighttime . . . the same jumpy video footage . . . the man was walking down a city street . . . strands of blond hair blowing in front of the camera . . . turning a corner . . .the camera angle lowering to something in the man's hand . . . a dollar bill . . . a close-up focusing on the Great Seal . . . the all-seeing eye . . . the unfinished pyramid . . . and then, abruptly, pulling away to reveal a similar shape in the distance . . . a massive pyramidical building . . . with sloping sides rising to a truncated top. The House of the Temple. A soul-deep dread swelled within him. The video kept moving . . . the man hurrying toward the building now . . . up the multitiered staircase . . . toward the giant bronze doors . . . between the two seventeen-ton sphinx guardians. A neophyte entering the pyramid of initiation. Darkness now. A powerful pipe organ played in the distance . . . and a new image materialized. The Temple Room. Langdon swallowed hard. On-screen, the cavernous space was alive with electricity. Beneath the oculus, the black marble altar shone in the moonlight. Assembled around it, seated on hand-tooled pigskin chairs, awaited a somber council of distinguished thirty-third-degree Masons, present to bear witness. The video now panned across their faces with slow and deliberate intention. Langdon stared in horror. Although he had not seen this coming, what he was looking at made perfect sense. A gathering of the most decorated and accomplished Masons in the most powerful city on earth would logically include many influential and well-known individuals. Sure enough, seated around the altar, adorned in their long silk gloves, Masonic aprons, and glistening jewels, were some of the country's most powerful men. Two Supreme Court justices . . . The secretary of defense . . . The speaker of the House . . . Langdon felt ill as the video continued panning across the faces of those in attendance. Three prominent senators . . . including the majority leader . . . The secretary of homeland security . . . And . . . The director of the CIA . . . Langdon wanted only to look away, but he could not. The scene was utterly mesmerizing, alarming even to him. In an instant, he had come to understand the source of Sato's anxiety and concern. Now, on-screen, the shot dissolved into a single shocking image. A human skull . . . filled with dark crimson liquid. The famed caput mortuum was being offered forth to the initiate by the slender hands of Peter Solomon, whose gold Masonic ring glinted in the candlelight. The red liquid was wine . . . and yet it shimmered like blood. The visual effect was frightful. The Fifth Libation, Langdon realized, having read firsthand accounts of this sacrament in John Quincy Adams's Letters on the Masonic Institution. Even so, to see it happen . . . to see it calmly witnessed by America's most powerful men . . . this was as arresting an image as any Langdon had ever seen. The initiate took the skull in his hands . . . his face reflected in the calm surface of the wine. â€Å"May this wine I now drink become a deadly poison to me,† he declared, â€Å"should I ever knowingly or willfully violate my oath.† Obviously, this initiate had intended to violate his oath beyond all imagination. Langdon could barely get his mind around what would happen if this video were made public. No one would understand. The government would be thrown into upheaval. The airwaves would be filled with the voices of anti-Masonic groups, fundamentalists, and conspiracy theorists spewing hatred and fear, launching a Puritan witch hunt all over again. The truth will be twisted, Langdon knew. As it always is with the Masons. The truth was that the brotherhood's focus on death was in fact a bold celebration of life. Masonic ritual was designed to awaken the slumbering man inside, lifting him from his dark coffin of ignorance, raising him into the light, and giving him eyes to see. Only through the death experience could man fully understand his life experience. Only through the realization that his days on earth were finite could he grasp the importance of living those days with honor, integrity, and service to his fellow man. Masonic initiations were startling because they were meant to be transformative. Masonic vows were unforgiving because they were meant to be reminders that man's honor and his â€Å"word† were all he could take from this world. Masonic teachings were arcane because they were meant to be universal . . . taught through a common language of symbols and metaphors that transcended religions, cultures, and races . . . creating a unified â€Å"worldwide consciousness† of brotherly love. For a brief instant, Langdon felt a glimmer of hope. He tried to assure himself that if this video were to leak out, the public would be open-minded and tolerant, realizing that all spiritual rituals included aspects that would seem frightening if taken out of context–crucifixion reenactments, Jewish circumcision rites, Mormon baptisms of the dead, Catholic exorcisms, Islamic niqab, shamanic trance healing, the Jewish Kaparot ceremony, even the eating of the figurative body and blood of Christ. I'm dreaming, Langdon knew. This video will create chaos. He could imagine what would happen if the prominent leaders of Russia or the Islamic world were seen in a video, pressing knives to bare chests, swearing violent oaths, performing mock murders, lying in symbolic coffins, and drinking wine from a human skull. The global outcry would be instantaneous and overwhelming. God help us . . . On-screen now, the initiate was raising the skull to his lips. He tipped it backward . . . draining the blood-red wine . . . sealing his oath. Then he lowered the skull and gazed out at the assembly around him. America's most powerful and trusted men gave contented nods of acceptance. â€Å"Welcome, brother,† Peter Solomon said. As the image faded to black, Langdon realized he had stopped breathing. Without a word, Sato reached over, closed the briefcase, and lifted it off his lap. Langdon turned to her trying to speak, but he could find no words. It didn't matter. Understanding was written all over his face. Sato was right. Tonight was a national-security crisis . . . of unimaginable proportions. CHAPTER 118 Dressed in his loincloth, Mal'akh padded back and forth in front of Peter Solomon's wheelchair. â€Å"Peter,† he whispered, enjoying every moment of his captive's horror, â€Å"you forgot you have a second family . . . your Masonic brothers. And I will destroy them, too . . . unless you help me.† Solomon looked almost catatonic in the glow of the laptop sitting atop his thighs. â€Å"Please,† he finally stammered, glancing up. â€Å"If this video gets out . . .† â€Å"If?† Mal'akh laughed. â€Å"If it gets out?† He motioned to the small cellular modem plugged into the side of his laptop. â€Å"I'm connected to the world.† â€Å"You wouldn't . . .† I will, Mal'akh thought, enjoying Solomon's horror. â€Å"You have the power to stop me,† he said. â€Å"And to save your sister. But you have to tell me what I want to know. The Lost Word is hidden somewhere, Peter, and I know this grid reveals exactly where to find it.† Peter glanced at the grid of symbols again, his eyes revealing nothing. â€Å"Perhaps this will help to inspire you.† Mal'akh reached over Peter's shoulders and hit a few keys on the laptop. An e-mail program launched on the screen, and Peter stiffened visibly. The screen now displayed an e-mail that Mal'akh had cued earlier tonight–a video file addressed to a long list of major media networks. Mal'akh smiled. â€Å"I think it's time we share, don't you?† â€Å"Don't!† Mal'akh reached down and clicked the send button on the program. Peter jerked against his bonds, trying unsuccessfully to knock the laptop to the floor. â€Å"Relax, Peter,† Mal'akh whispered. â€Å"It's a massive file. It will take a few minutes to go out.† He pointed to the progress bar: SENDING MESSAGE: 2% COMPLETE â€Å"If you tell me what I want to know, I'll stop the e-mail, and nobody will ever see this.† Peter was ashen as the task bar inched forward. SENDING MESSAGE: 4% COMPLETE Mal'akh now lifted the computer from Peter's lap and set it on one of the nearby pigskin chairs, turning the screen so the other man could watch the progress. Then he returned to Peter's side and laid the page of symbols in his lap. â€Å"The legends say the Masonic Pyramid will unveil the Lost Word. This is the pyramid's final code. I believe you know how to read it.† Mal'akh glanced over at the laptop. SENDING MESSAGE: 8% COMPLETE Mal'akh returned his eyes to Peter. Solomon was staring at him, his gray eyes blazing now with hatred. Hate me, Mal'akh thought. The greater the emotion, the more potent the energy that will be released when the ritual is completed. At Langley, Nola Kaye pressed the phone to her ear, barely able to hear Sato over the noise of the helicopter. â€Å"They said it's impossible to stop the file transfer!† Nola shouted. â€Å"To shut down local ISPs would take at least an hour, and if he's got access to a wireless provider, killing the ground-based Internet won't stop him from sending it anyway.† Nowadays, stopping the flow of digital information had become nearly impossible. There were too many access routes to the Internet. Between hard lines, Wi-Fi hot spots, cellular modems, SAT phones, superphones, and e-mail-equipped PDAs, the only way to isolate a potential data leak was by destroying the source machine. â€Å"I pulled the spec sheet on the UH-60 you're flying,† Nola said, â€Å"and it looks like you're equipped with EMP.† Electromagnetic-pulse or EMP guns were now commonplace among law enforcement agencies, which used them primarily to stop car chases from a safe distance. By firing a highly concentrated pulse of electromagnetic radiation, an EMP gun could effectively fry the electronics of any device it targeted–cars, cell phones, computers. According to Nola's spec sheet, the UH- 60 had a chassis-mounted, laser-sighted, six-gigahertz magnetron with a fifty-dB-gain horn that yielded a ten-gigawatt pulse. Discharged directly at a laptop, the pulse would fry the computer's motherboard and instantly erase the hard drive. â€Å"EMP will be useless,† Sato yelled back. â€Å"Target is inside a stone building. No sight lines and thick EM shielding. Do you have any indication yet if the video has gone out?† Nola glanced at a second monitor, which was running a continuous search for breaking news stories about the Masons. â€Å"Not yet, ma'am. But if it goes public, we'll know within seconds.† â€Å"Keep me posted.† Sato signed off. Langdon held his breath as the helicopter dropped from the sky toward Dupont Circle. A handful of pedestrians scattered as the aircraft descended through an opening in the trees and landed hard on the lawn just south of the famous two-tiered fountain designed by the same two men who created the Lincoln Memorial. Thirty seconds later, Langdon was riding shotgun in a commandeered Lexus SUV, tearing up New Hampshire Avenue toward the House of the Temple. Peter Solomon was desperately trying to figure out what to do. All he could see in his mind were the images of Katherine bleeding in the basement . . . and of the video he had just witnessed. He turned his head slowly toward the laptop on the pigskin chair several yards away. The progress bar was almost a third of the way filled. SENDING MESSAGE: 29% COMPLETE The tattooed man was now walking slow circles around the square altar, swinging a lit censer and chanting to himself. Thick puffs of white smoke swirled up toward the skylight. The man's eyes were wide now, and he seemed to be in a demonic trance. Peter turned his gaze to the ancient knife that sat waiting on the white silk cloth spread across the altar. Peter Solomon had no doubt that he would die in this temple tonight. The question was how to die. Would he find a way to save his sister and his brotherhood . . . or would his death be entirely in vain? He glanced down at the grid of symbols. When he had first laid eyes on the grid, the shock of the moment had blinded him . . . preventing his vision from piercing the veil of chaos . . . to glimpse the startling truth. Now, however, the real significance of these symbols had become crystal clear to him. He had seen the grid in an entirely new light. Peter Solomon knew exactly what he needed to do. Taking a deep breath, he gazed up at the moon through the oculus above. Then he began to speak. All great truths are simple. Mal'akh had learned that long ago. The solution that Peter Solomon was now explaining was so graceful and pure that Mal'akh was sure that it could only be true. Incredibly, the solution to the pyramid's final code was far simpler than he had ever imagined. The Lost Word was right before my eyes. In an instant, a bright ray of light pierced the murkiness of the history and myth surrounding the Lost Word. As promised, the Lost Word was indeed written in an ancient language and bore mystical power in every philosophy, religion, and science ever known to man. Alchemy, astrology, Kabbalah, Christianity, Buddhism, Rosicrucianism, Freemasonry, astronomy, physics, Noetics . . . Standing now in this initiation chamber atop the great pyramid of Heredom, Mal'akh gazed upon the treasure he had sought all these years, and he knew he could not have prepared himself more perfectly. Soon I am complete. The Lost Word is found. In Kalorama Heights, a lone CIA agent stood amid a sea of garbage that he had dumped out of the trash bins that had been found in the garage. â€Å"Ms. Kaye?† he said, speaking to Sato's analyst on the phone. â€Å"Good thinking to search his garbage. I think I just found something.† Inside the house, Katherine Solomon was feeling stronger with every passing moment. The infusion of lactated Ringer's solution had successfully raised her blood pressure and quelled her throbbing headache. She was resting now, seated in the dining room, with explicit instructions to remain still. Her nerves felt frayed, and she was increasingly anxious for news about her brother. Where is everybody? The CIA's forensics team had not yet arrived, and the agent who had stayed behind was still off searching the premises. Bellamy had been sitting with her in the dining room, still wrapped in a foil blanket, but he, too, had wandered off to look for any information that might help the CIA save Peter. Unable to sit idly, Katherine pulled herself to her feet, teetered, and then inched slowly toward the living room. She found Bellamy in the study. The Architect was standing at an open drawer, his back to her, apparently too engrossed in its contents to hear her enter. She walked up behind him. â€Å"Warren?† The old man lurched and turned, quickly shutting the drawer with his hip. His face was lined with shock and grief, his cheeks streaked with tears. â€Å"What's wrong?!† She glanced down at the drawer. â€Å"What is it?† Bellamy seemed unable to speak. He had the look of a man who had just seen something he deeply wished he had not. â€Å"What's in the drawer?† she demanded. Bellamy's tear-filled eyes held hers for a long, sorrowful moment. Finally he spoke. â€Å"You and I wondered why . . . why this man seemed to hate your family.† Katherine's brow furrowed. â€Å"Yes?† â€Å"Well . . .† Bellamy's voice caught. â€Å"I just found the answer.†