Essay on Character Analysis Stew - 1979 Words

Mary Gaitskill uses a third person perspective, along with crafty diction and insightful allusions to keep her reader’s in suspense through her piece of â€Å"Tiny, Smiling Daddy†. It is with these tools that Gaitskill is able to slowly change our perceptions of the narrator from likeable to confusion and ultimately ending in dislike. â€Å"Tiny, Smiling Daddy† is told in the third person limited point of view through the father, Stew. This point of view is vital to our understanding of events, in that the progression of the story evolves only through Stew’s recollection of memories giving a very limited perspective. Using this style of writing puts a lens, so to speak, on how the reader is going to read the story, there are no outside details†¦show more content†¦He cannot accept the fact that she is no longer that kitten anymore. The father’s name is Stew, but stew as a noun is a cooking technique in which you include many different ingredients into one pot and let it simmer, or stew, until all the ingredients meld together to get one product. Gaitskill writes her story a jumble of Stew’s memories to tell this story, but Stew’s memories are actually just a bunch of ingredients simmering slowly progressing themselves to a unified thought giving himself his self-realiza tion, the stew at the very end of the story. The magazine that the entire story is based off of is called Self, which Gaitskill uses to foreshadow Stew’s self-realization. On the very last page Gaitskill finally unveils the truth behind the relationship of Stew and his daughter; it is him. He was blaming Kitty throughout the whole story for her foul-ups as a daughter, but finally the story reveals it is actually Stew’s fault; it is his â€Å"self†, not the daughters that truly destroyed the relationship between them. The magazine serves as a bridge between â€Å"Stew’s† world and reality, these pages about him open up the repressed memories in him â€Å"self† the truth, of his â€Å"self†. By naming the magazine Self, it also gives the reader a hint to what the real cause of the dismembered relationship really is, acting as a witty foreshadow. These foreshadows help drive the story’s development. Gaitskill is very clever in how sheShow MoreRelatedAn Analysis of Moral i n Who Moved My Cheese972 Words   |  4 Pagesseveral old friends at a high school reunion told by one of the friends. The story centers around four characters who live in a Maze and the changes with which they must wrangle. The characters are two mice, Sniff and Scurry, and two so-called Littlepeople (creatures the size of mice but who look and act like people today) named Hem and Haw. The plot is pretty simple. The four characters find a large cache of cheese and can live their lives without much variation: get up, go to the cheese, eatRead MoreThe Relationship Between John Proctor and His Wife Is Not an Easy One1944 Words   |  8 Pagesâ€Å"The relationship between John proctor and his wife is not an easy one† Through close analysis of three scenes discuss Miller’s dramatic presentation of the relationship and how the audience respond to it. Draft Elizabeth and Johns relationship is certainly not an easy one. Although having been married with two children the intrusion of Abigail could not have come at a worse time. With Elizabeth ill and Abigail’s personality being such a contrast John felt it as an escape from his wife’s absenceRead MoreA Historical Analysis Of August Wilson1946 Words   |  8 Pagesthis assertion remains completely warranted as Wilson himself affirms that his writing is â€Å"entirely based on the ideas and attributes that come out of the blues.† (Goodstein, Rosenfeld) However, like the leftover food that wasn’t used for the next stew, the blues begin where American history has failed, with the blues serving many functions throughout Wilson’s plays as a historical response and as a literary device. Defining the Blues without engaging fully in the cultural, racial, and historicalRead MoreLiterary Analysis Of Cold Mountain 1298 Words   |  6 PagesLiterary Analysis Charles Frazier’s first novel, Cold Mountain, has earned him a great amount of notoriety. From having a film adaptation of his novel in 2003, to receiving a National Book Award in fiction in 1997. Cold Mountain opens with a quotation from a journal entry by Charles Darwin: â€Å"It is difficult to believe in the dreadful but quiet war of organic beings, going on in the peaceful woods and smiling fields.† And indeed, Frazier’s acclaimed novel describes a war of beings built of fleshRead MoreThe Literary Theory Known as Post-Colonialism1061 Words   |  4 PagesGriffins, and Tiffin state that the term â€Å"covers all the culture affected by the imperial process from the moment of colonization to the present day† (2). They focus on the territories colonized by Britain in Empire Writes Back but state that the analysis can apply to the former empires of France, Spain, and Portugal. This view falls in line with the issue brought up by Childs and Williams a bout after whose empire or whose colonization does it begin? The United States in the 1700s, the Latin AmericanRead MoreThe Hunger Games786 Words   |  3 Pages Insightful and based on morals and justice, The Hunger Games values the concern and compassion of characters like Katniss and Peeta, while finding fault in the inhuman and selfish ways of others. The novel focuses on Katniss Everdeen, the 16-year-old protagonist and tribute for The Hunger Games, pitted against twenty-three others in a gamble for her own life. Furthermore survival above all others is one of the most prevalent themes in The Hunger Games, providing a precarious feeling of one’s survivalRead MoreSocial, Political, And Family Issues On August Wilson s Fences1596 Words   |  7 Pagesof lamenting the issue, Wilson uses the characters as a weapon against the rampant racism of the time. In the same fashion, the relationship between Troy, Rose, and Cory demonstrates the shifting cultural and family dynamics of the decade. Likewise, Wilson’s depiction of Gabriel as a wounded veteran who is not fully supported by the government that sent him off to war offers a n enlightening commentary on the politics of the era. Wilson uses the characters in the play, the social climate of the timeRead MoreThe Unknown Citizen By. Auden1527 Words   |  7 PagesThe Unknown Citizen Analysis The Unknown Citizen, written by W.H. Auden, is a satirical poem declaring the petty accomplishments achieved by an unnamed citizen in a presumably American or industrialized society. Through several readings of the poem, many would not even consider the Unknown Citizen as a poem, but rather, a letter of recommendation or a speech for a political election. The only obvious characteristic of this piece resembling a poem is the rhyming scheme. Other than rhyming, thereRead MoreAnalysis Of Cry, The Beloved Country1324 Words   |  6 PagesAnalyzing the race relationships between characters in Not Either and Experimental Doll and Cry, the Beloved Country certainly brings the social culture of 1940s/50s South Africa to light. In Not Either an Experimental Doll, the push for a personal relationship between an African girl and white woman results in a clear division of social statuses. Cry, the Beloved Country, however, depicts a personal relationship between a black man and a white man that results in mutual respect and understandingRead MoreAnalysis On Historical Period Of Song Essay1523 Words   |  7 Pagespercent to be exact, according to US Statistic of Labor-an d this was just the beginning of a new era. Below is a better understanding as how the great depression took place in addition to how a simple song made broken Americans feel better. II- Analysis of Historical Period of Song: During this difficult time, many Americans tried to balance with the transition of all the changes happening caused by the great depression. Although for sure didn’t characterize or yet represented all the obstacles

Reflection On Interpersonal Communication - 1416 Words

Throughout this semester reading about different ways of interpersonal communication I came to the realization that there were many things I could work on to better myself as a person. Things I never thought about in depth until taking this class. Areas I have improved on throughout this semester are using I language more than the use of you language, what empathy was and how I choose to become better and lastly how I deal with conflict. First off one of my problems I had learned from was the fact I used more you language rather than I language to get my point across which would create more problems. I never really heard about what the differences were until reading about what happens when using you language as the way to get the point†¦show more content†¦For example, I have a friend where she likes to talk about things right when they happen to resolve whatever is going on versus myself at the time I was very upset and wanted to take time to relax and figure out why exactly I was so mad and what actually caused it. Another example is depending on my mood can also affect when or where conflicts may happen. If I am in a good mood it is very had to effect that even if someone is trying to argue rather than when I am in a bad mood I am easier to get upset. During class I learned there are certain steps to take to solve a conflict and I had tried using them with my friend and they worked perfectly. Even though I was thinking about them and it didn’t come nature with time it will eventually become natural. Some of the steps were to simply just breath. Breathing before I gave feedback made me have a few extra seconds to process what was going on. Another step was to avoid using personal attacks, name calling and emotional overstatement. Now whith that step I thought I never did this but after analyzing myself I had learned a new thing about myself that if I felt as if I was under attack I would lash out and find anything personal that I could potentially use against them to hurt how they felt I would. With arguments with family members it seemed to be the only way to have them stopShow MoreRelatedReflection On Interpersonal Communication1091 Words   |  5 Pages1. At the start of this course, I wasn’t familiar with the con cepts of interpersonal communication in an academic way. Now that I’ve been in the course, I realize that I was familiar with the concepts as they’ve occurred within my life, although these happenings didn’t have a name. Due to the fact that these concepts didn’t have a name, they weren’t fully acknowledged within my life. For example, I came into this course with a grasp of my conflicts and romantic relationship. I knew the necessitiesRead MoreReflection On Interpersonal Communication1724 Words   |  7 Pageswhen we talked about non-verbal communication, I realized that it is impossible to not communicate. There are many activities, other than the use of language, that allow us to draw meaning from something we observe. When my mother widens her eyes at me without stating a word, I understand she is telling me to think twice about the action I’m about to take. It has been great to be able to assign concepts and vocabulary to interpersonal relationships and communication activity that I have been experiencingRead MoreReflection On Interpersonal Communication875 Words   |  4 Pages Throughout the past few months Ive had the opportunity to improve my interpersonal relationship through the guidance of the interpersonal communication class. My three areas that I improved the most were strengenting my I-thou relationships, adapting to others, and properly solving conflicts. I thou relationships are hard to maintain when I begin to pile more responsibilities on my plate. My friend group is extremely close, and I noticed that one of my relationships in that group was dwindlingRead MoreCommunication Skills1212 Words   |  5 Pagesmodule interpersonal skills and therapeutic communication, we have been asked to write a reflective essay that examines our own communication and interpersonal skills developed to date. To do this I will research the theories behind interpersonal communication; during reflection I will identify areas of my own strengths and weaknesses, building my concept of self-awareness and acknowledging room for personal development. To do this I have decided to use a model based on ‘Stages of reflection’ (GibbsRead MoreReflection On The Business Management Module And Internship Experience By Designing Gibbs Reflective Cycle979 Words   |  4 PagesSelf-Reflection Student name Student numberâ€Æ' Self-reflection essay This essay has been written in order to provide self-reflections on the business management module and internship experience by incorporating Gibbs reflective cycle. Moreover, this essay also highlighted improvement in skills by getting enrolled in this module. With the intention to make the process of learning updated it is better to rely on the framework proposed by Gibbs (1998) which has mentioned below: Figure 1: Gibb sRead MoreInterpersonal Communication Is An Effective Communicator1624 Words   |  7 PagesVerderber, K, Verderber, R and Berryman-Fink, C. (2010), stated that interpersonal communication is, â€Å"The process through which people create and manage their relationships, exercising mutual responsibility in creating meaning.† (p. 5). To be an effective communicator, it is vital that the person possesses and practices effective interpersonal skills. Over this semester, important interpersonal skills have been developed through a series of six workshops and assessed in two pieces of assessmentRead More Communication Essay1438 Words   |  6 PagesCommunication embodies the ability for one to convey a message through the use of verbals (words) and non-verbals (behaviours) in a process to compare, transmit and interpret messages. Garside and Kleiner (2007) portrays communication as sharing thoughts and feelings with other people. For this process to be effective th e message should be transmitted with maximum accuracy and minimum effort (Garside and Kleiner 2007) with mindfulness (Burgoon, Bieger and Waldron 2002) from both parties. MindfulnessRead MoreEffective Communication Is Vital for Sucees in Professional, Corporate, and Academic Environments579 Words   |  3 PagesEffective communication skills are vital to success in professional, corporate, and academic environments. We are evaluated daily on our ability to communicate efficiently in interactions that take place at work, as well as in our personal lives. According to Faye and Jerry Wisner, communication is the process by which we verbally or nonverbally convey a message to another person or a group of people in a way that can be received and understood. The two types of communication found to be most effectiveRead MoreImportance of Interpersonal communications in Information Technology Career907 Words   |  4 PagesInterpersonal communications can be a very important part of a per son’s professional success. Information Technology is an industry that relies on certain areas of communication. Wendy, the person I interviewed, emphasized the importance that people in her industry must be up to date (educated) on the constant changes. Communication, gaining communication and interpersonal skills is again such an easier said than done skill for any profession. Communication is such an essential skill it couldRead MoreDescribe the Three Management Skills as Mentioned by Robert Katz678 Words   |  3 PagesThe three management skills that mentioned by Robert Katz are conceptual, interpersonal and technical skills. In order to be a successful manager, containing these three skills will give him a strong impact to his career and also the success of the organization. Conceptual skills are skills that utilize the ability of a human to form concepts. Such skills include thinking creatively, formulating abstractions, analyzing complex situations, and solving problems. A manager have such ability can understand

Analysis of The Merchant of Venice Free Essays

Analysis of The Merchant of Venice Short plot summary. The film is about the jewish businessman Shylock who lived during the 1500’s. The wealthy prince Antonio wants to borrow money with reason to help his friend Bassanio. We will write a custom essay sample on Analysis of The Merchant of Venice or any similar topic only for you Order Now Antonio invested all his money on merchant ship’s. But, Antonio’s plan failed – the merchant ship’s were wrecked and now he didn’t have the money to re-pay Shylock. When Shylock didn’t receive his money, he and Antonio both agreed that Shylock would receive a pound of flesh from Antonio’s body. The married couple Bassanio and Portia, are friends with Antonio and they realized they had to help him. Portia offered Shylock triple the amount of what the money was really worth. Shylock rejected the offer but Portia had a plan to solve the dilemma – Disguise as a male judge to save her friend and also be more extreme by making Shylock worthless. Analysis. In the movie there are several motives such as good vs. evil, kindness and cruelty, religion dilemmas (Christian vs. Jew), tragedy etc. These opposites are all common with Shakespeare’s writings. Among the main character’s, Antonio is the one who is unselfish because he wants to help his friend, he represents goodness. Shylock isn’t actually the â€Å"evil-one†, he’s more of a vindictive individual because he lives in a society full of anti-Semitism and with a daughter who left him for a Christian man. I think Shylock has full right to receive a pound of flesh from Antonio’s body because both parties signed a contract (they both agreed on this) The movie is also about destiny and power. Whatever happened to the merchant ships is nothing Antonio, or any other human, can do about it. When Antonio borrows money of Shylock, he gives the Jewish businessman all the power. During the final scene when they’re all gathered in court, Shakespeare clearly shows he wants to maintain the Christian morality and make Shylock â€Å"clean† by converting to Christianity. Because Shylock is a Jew, he’s featured as an evil person. From the film’s and Shakespeare’s perspective, there is only one religion that is acceptable. This could be a symbol for the fights between the two religions and the main characters. Revenge is one of the main parts in this movie. Shylock uses his work and abundance to pursue his revenge. If the loan never had occurred Shylock would never had been able to take the evenge to another level. Though Shylock never succeeded his revenge, his main goal was vengeance and never hesitated to stop his work. Tragedy occurs when Shylock looses everything in court and has to beg for mercy. He has to give all his abundance to his daughter, convert to Christianity. He didn’t do anything wrong, lived in a anti-semi tism society. Above all, he had a signed contract of the deal. But, Portia’s rhetorical skills turned the situation around when she argued that no blood, not more than the weight of a pound was allowed when cutting the flesh. This was impossible to accomplish. How to cite Analysis of The Merchant of Venice, Essay examples

Scorecard System Essay Example For Students

Scorecard System Essay When an organization implements any management control tool, the cost/benefit balance is vital. The decision to deploy a scorecard system requires the same analysis. The costs of implementing a new tool are relatively easy to appraise, but often, theres a lack of reliable information about the benefits. This article explores the extent to which organizations have realized significant benefits from using a scorecard system. (We use the term scorecard system to include both the scorecard as a control tool and the process, or technique, of integrating the scorecard system into the overall performance-achievement cycle of the firm.)Over 150 service, manufacturing, and government organizations have responded to an on-line scorecard survey sponsored by the AICPA, CAM-I, CMA Canada, IQPC, Targus Corporation, and Hyperion (http://graziadio.pepperdine.edu/shaps). This article is the first in a series focusing on key themes from our findings. Almost two-thirds of the survey respondents agreed that significant benefits had been realized from using a scorecard system. During the data analysis, respondents were divided into two groups: those that reported significant benefits from scorecard implementation (the significant benefits group, hereafter SBG) and those that reported no significant benefits (the no significant benefits group, hereafter NSBG). Organizations can maximize the benefit they receive from a scorecard implementation by following the recommendations provided below. These recommendations also provide a gauge by which to appraise existing scorecard systems. Impetus for ScorecardAligning employee behaviour with organizational goals and communicating strategy throughout the organization are important objectives of the scorecard system. The SBG unanimously set these reasons as a top priority, whereas only 39% of the NSBG cited these as objectives for implementing a scorecard system. A typical comment of the respondents was, Perhaps the best benefits have been a disciplined approach to agreeing on what is most important to the organization and developing consensus on how to measure it.Thus, a careful appraisal should be made of the reasons your organization is considering a scorecard system. Organizations that have had difficulty communicating strategy and aligning behaviour should realize significant benefits from a scorecard system assuming that a lack of focus on commonly accepted goals has had debilitating effects in the organization. A related observation is that employees in the SBG both accepted the scorecard system and used it as an effective management-control tool, whereas there was only minimal acceptance and use in the NSBG. Often, the benefits of a scorecard system are soft ones, but organizations in our survey also reported documented benefits such as a reduction in overheads of 25% in three years and significant improvement in employee satisfaction and the highest sales and profit ever. This result isnt unexpected: if communicating strategy and aligning employee behaviour with strategy arent top priorities of a scorecard system, employees wont see value in using the system. Compensation linksEmployees value whats measured but too often whats measured isnt of value to the organization. The study reveals a much stronger link between measures appearing on the scorecards and the compensation and reward system for the SBG than for the NSBG. As one company noted, Employees throughout the organization have become more aware of business plan goals and objectives and strive for higher performance due to scorecard implementation. Another company noted that the system resulted in a significant improvement in employee satisfaction. As almost all agree, measures motivate one way or another. While we recommend that you link scorecard measures to compensation and rewards, you should also exercise care in doing so. Taking a year or so to evaluate the validity and reliability of measures, as well as the cause-effect validity of the entire scorecard system, is a prudent policy. Strategic tiesA frequent observation of managers in the SBG is, (The scorecard system) has helped to better align operational improvements with the overall strategy of the organization.Ties to strategy can be formal or informal. Perhaps the strongest formal tie to strategy is to assign responsibility for strategic initiatives to people (teams, departments, etc.) and to place measures for these initiatives on related scorecards. Scorecards can also roll up to the next level in the organization, and measures and perspectives can be weighted to give priority to the most critical components of the company strategy. .ua0b51b2f7c7b916de78209ed23c20bc4 , .ua0b51b2f7c7b916de78209ed23c20bc4 .postImageUrl , .ua0b51b2f7c7b916de78209ed23c20bc4 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ua0b51b2f7c7b916de78209ed23c20bc4 , .ua0b51b2f7c7b916de78209ed23c20bc4:hover , .ua0b51b2f7c7b916de78209ed23c20bc4:visited , .ua0b51b2f7c7b916de78209ed23c20bc4:active { border:0!important; } .ua0b51b2f7c7b916de78209ed23c20bc4 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ua0b51b2f7c7b916de78209ed23c20bc4 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ua0b51b2f7c7b916de78209ed23c20bc4:active , .ua0b51b2f7c7b916de78209ed23c20bc4:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ua0b51b2f7c7b916de78209ed23c20bc4 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ua0b51b2f7c7b916de78209ed23c20bc4 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ua0b51b2f7c7b916de78209ed23c20bc4 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ua0b51b2f7c7b916de78209ed23c20bc4 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ua0b51b2f7c7b916de78209ed23c20bc4:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ua0b51b2f7c7b916de78209ed23c20bc4 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ua0b51b2f7c7b916de78209ed23c20bc4 .ua0b51b2f7c7b916de78209ed23c20bc4-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ua0b51b2f7c7b916de78209ed23c20bc4:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Difference between biosphere, ecosphere and gaia EssayEnlarge 200% Enlarge 400% Table 1 PROFILE OF AN ORGANIZATION REALIZING SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS

Mammals Essays (1444 words) - Animal Physiology, Therapsids

Mammals Mammals have existed for the past 200 million years. According to fossil evidence, they evolved from a mammal like reptile group. These reptile ancestors were small, active carnivores. They were equipped with several specialized types of teeth. Their limbs were positioned more directly under the trunk as opposed to spreading out to the sides. Both of these characteristics are prominent features of mammals. For the past 70 million years mammals have been the dominant animals in terrestrial ecosystems. Because they are warm-blooded, they have an advantage over their reptilian ancestors. Despite their size differences, the great blue whale and the pygmy shrew have something in common: they are both members of a warm-blooded, air-breathing class of vertebrate animals known as Mammalia, or mammals. In many ways mammals are the most highly developed of all creatures. The term mammal explains one important way in which creatures in this class are set apart from other animals. It comes from the Latin mamma, which means, breast. Every female mammal has special glands, mammae that secrete milk. The females of all but the most primitive mammalian species are viviparous. This means they bear their young alive. The young are then fed with milk until they have grown enough to get food for themselves. Hair is a typical mammalian feature. In many whales, however, it exists only in the fetal stages of development. Another basic trait of mammals is their highly developed brains--the most complex known. Particularly well developed is their cerebrum, the part of the brain that controls memory and learning. The mammalian brain enables the young to learn from the experience of their elders. Since the young mammal is dependent on its mother for nourishment, a period of learning is possible. This in turn has brought about a degree of behavioral adaptability unknown in any other group of organisms. Whales, seals, and dogs are among the most intelligent mammals, but monkeys, apes, and humans are the most intelligent of all. Warm-bloodedness makes them capable of longer terms of sustained activity than cold-blooded organisms can undertake. This allows them to exploit environments that would be inhospitable to cold-blooded animals. The term warm-blooded does not mean that a mammal's body temperature is consistently warmer than that of the environment. In the hot tropics, in fact, the opposite is true. Warm-blooded animals, or endotherms, have an inner climate-control system that is physiologically maintained. Mammals can sustain a constant body temperature that is ideal for their bodily functions under most weather conditions. This requires a high rate of metabolism, and many attributes of mammals are related to its maintenance. A high metabolic rate requires a great deal of fuel in the form of food and oxygen. By being highly active and having strong limbs, mammals are able to generate heat and obtain large amounts of food. Their respiratory, circulatory, and digestive systems also need to be highly efficient to transform fuel into heat energy. For example, mammals have a secondary palate, which permits breathing while chewing or sucking. This feature assists in the delivery of large amounts of oxygen to the body tissues, where it is used to metabolize food. Food must be mixed with oxygen, or oxidized, for conversion into energy. Unlike cold-blooded creatures, whose body temperatures are dependent on the weather, mammals must produce a lot of energy to heat themselves. Accordingly, they need large quantities of oxygen. Mammals have strong lungs and, unlike any other class of animals, they have a breathing muscle called the diaphragm to pump large amounts of air into the body and force out carbon dioxide wastes. The circulatory system of mammals is also very efficient. Their red blood cells can transport more oxygen than those of any other animals, except birds. The mammalian heart is a complex four-chambered organ designed to keep unoxygenated blood and oxygenated blood from mixing. To accommodate this blood separation, mammals have a dual circulatory system. Mammals have a number of traits designed to conserve heat energy. Most mammals have body hair, which insulates by trapping air. Instead of a hairy coat, water-dwelling mammals such as dolphins and whales have a thick, insulating layer of fat.. Hair also serves a defensive and tactile role in mammals. The hair of hedgehogs

The Caste System- Reaction Response Essays

The Caste System- Reaction Response Essays The Caste System- Reaction Response Paper The Caste System- Reaction Response Paper This division in Indian society has existed since time immemorial . This Verna System is the Caste System that is still prevalent n the country . It categorizes the work to be done by each This system is prevalent largely among Hindus , but exists among other religious communities in India as well . Brahmins are considered the highest caste . They are predominantly vegetarians , who are assigned role of priests , teachers or scholars . They enjoy many benefits . Children of these families are expected to Join family profession . Ashtrays were kings and warriors in olden times , presently they are In multifarious professions . Visas , remained traders from the beginning of this Verna dolls , and are soul Into trading . The fourth are the Shudders , who make the serving class In Indian society The Shudders are the fourth and most neglected caste in India . They are also known as Dalais (the down trodden ) and termed Harridans (people belonging to god ) by Mahatma Gandhi . They lead a difficult life , without education and are not allowed to change occupation . The work assigned to them is often unhygienic , contaminating and unhealthy . They are not allowed to enter temples and worship . Even basic amenities like collection of drinking water has to be from wells or taps which are not used by people from higher castes like Brahmins There re divisions in Dalai society too . The Ana (Barber , Dhobi (Washer man ) stand higher than Chamber (Cobbler ) or Bang (Sweeper . They are not allowed entry to places in the village where people of higher castes live . Thus they live a very hard and harsh life The Modern society lives with these differentiations and use special terms for these people . They are called Scheduled Castes (SC , Scheduled tribes (SST ) or Other Backward Classes (BBC . The SC is 16 of the population making it 160 million . SST is 8 at million and BBC is 52 with 3000 castes . The caste system has taken the present arm after the British took over the rule of India , in line with the class system of British society The caste system is some what relaxed in urban and metropolitan areas Inter-caste marriages are also common . In arranged marriages , caste of the bride and the groom are cross checked and taken into consideration It is due to influence of higher education that these areas are free of caste rigidity . But rural areas still reel under its effect Political parties and leaders often take caste as an issue , to make it sensitive to meet their ends . The BSP (Bauhaus Assam Party , Swampland Party , Kanata Deal are a few political parties that pampered the caste sentiments and succeeded In winning the elections . Reservations in education and politics have been made by these pollutants leading to wide spread protests and uproar . Amanda Commission recommended by ex-P . M . Mr. . V -P -Sings tried to Implement ten recommendations Ana Take wee spread Protests It NAS seen many educated boys and girls suffer at the hands of these reservation policies . India has witnessed and is still facing many caste related violence . So many have lost their lives in this violence . It has mainly been between upper castes like Thesaurus and Dalais of lower caste Indian Caste System has been under the scanner of criticism since history . The reformers of Indian society in the past have condemned the caste system . Nanas , Kabuki , Djakarta , Ramadan , Ramadan the saints of Backbit cult rejected caste discrimination . Later during Struggle for Freedom in early 19th century , Indian politicians spoke against caste distinctions . Religious leaders Swami Dandy , Swami Vegetarians , Sir Ramekins and politicians Mahatma Gandhi , B . R . Embarked stood against this discriminating system . They were open to people from all castes B . R . Embarked himself from a family of scheduled caste became the writer of Indian Constitution in Independent India The Indian Caste system exhibits a few strong points . It helped in retaining family business , art work and artisans who have been perusing an art for generations . It made the survival of certain forms of art possible . Yet the anomalies and disadvantages far out weigh the advantages . The need for caste system is gradually moving out . The young India , which is eager to get education and use technology for its prosperity , does not want to embrace sate differences . The educated class living in urban India strongly advocates doing away with caste barriers . But under educated and illiterate rural masses still hold on to the belief of division as a policy , which is beneficial to their interests . Perhaps education for the masses is what India needs today to shake off such old systems . It is never advisable that a part of the society be allowed to live a life that is grossly different from the lives of others on this globe Read more: Nightdresses. Com/essay/caste. System. Essay. 51655#txzz2PSk4zd8S

Historical Film Movement Film Noir as the Forerunner of the Present- Essay

Historical Film Movement Film Noir as the Forerunner of the Present-day Crime and Action Movies - Essay Example He presented a different kind of suspense thriller and was the first to attract attention from French film critics. His films presented the audience the flaws of the characters. He created the first psychological thrillers, one of them was Psycho, released in the 1960s. Psycho is based on the story of a serial killer named Ed Gein who was featured in a novel by Robert Bloch (1998). The term ‘psycho’ refers to the psychological state of a criminal, or someone who has committed or is about to commit a crime without consciously knowing it. Movies based on serial killing have been popular, but in the 60s, there were a few serial killings, one of these was perpetrated by the notorious Ed Gein (also one of the inspirations for the character of Hannibal Lector). Hitchcock bought the rights to the novel for $9,000.00. We can see at the start of the movie the use of shadows and windows. Marion and Sam peer out of the window through the blinds. Some other props used are stuffed birds’ shadows as they loom over Marion as she eats, and the perpetrator of the killing – the ‘mother’ – is seen in only shadows. Mirrors are used, reflecting the character Marion as she packs, later her face in the policeman’s sunglasses, and her hands as she counts out the money. Janet Leigh’s character Marion Crane is an effectively realized character, one who shares similarities with Norman Bates. Both are on the run – she, literally, from her past, and Norman from the present and future – and both have secrets. Marion’s secret has to do with the contents of her purse which contains a stack of bills that belong to her boss. Norman’s secret concerns the contents of his house, a spooky old hilltop mansion overlooking the Bates Motel in which Norman’s long-dead mother continues to reside, barking orders and hurling insults at her wayward son. One of the memorable scenes of Psycho is the shower scene which became controversial during Hitchcock’s time, but for which earned him the reputation as the maker of valuable film noirs.

HW 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

HW 1 - Essay Example In addition, globalization contributes to unfair employment practices and working conditions, which are mostly perpetrated by large organizations. Thirdly, globalization makes large organizations to exercise little accountability in the conduct of business (Norberg, 2011). I disagree with the statement about sweatshops because I believe that, rather than enhancing progress, they tend to derail it. The working conditions brought about by the idea of sweatshops are not impressive and they often lead to the victimization of employees. Sweatshops should not be tolerated since they demean humans and are an insult to human dignity. This idea subjects employees to poor wages; the work they do is not worth the income they are paid. From an economic point of view, sweatshops tend to perpetrate poverty rather than alleviate it. Modern technology has had a huge impact on globalization. The developments and advancements in technology have driven globalization and led to the spread of trade among nations. Most of the globalization processes have been facilitated by technology. For example, modern technology has enhanced the mass production of goods and services. In addition, communication technology has led to the exchange of information about business activities between nations (Norberg,

Midterm Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Midterm Paper - Essay Example Modern computers and technologically improved mobile phones have become close substitutes to television. However, it is very difficult for new players to enter the industry due to the high entry cost. 1b. According to Edwards, from a resource based view of the firm framework, it can be observed that the company nowadays increasingly focuses on sales of television sets, which provide standard features such as 3D displays. As part of this strategy, the company has recently announced an extensive reorganization of the unit. The company â€Å"has eliminated 30,000 jobs, entered into joint manufacturing ventures with rivals, and shed assets.† (Edwards, 2011). In addition, the company sold a number of its production plants. 1c. Referring to the structural characteristics of modern television manufacturing industry, the Sony’s strategy may fail in the long run. As discussed, television sets are being largely replaced by the modern computer and mobile phones. At this juncture, it is a cumbersome task for the company to survive the market competition by focusing only on the products’ standard features. 2a. In the words of Tracy, online retail industry is a rapidly growing market sector and this immense growth can be attributed to the industry’s ability to reach millions of potential customers at cheap cost. Market forecasts show that online retail industry would become one of the world’s most profitable industries by 2015. Nowadays, marketers are increasingly focusing on online shopping with intent to serve the interests of customers at a fairly low cost; and this situation is significantly intensifying the competition. Buyer power is higher in the online retail industry because of the stiff market competition whereas suppliers have a weak bargaining power over their clients. However, threat of substitutes is relatively high in the online retail industry although there are a

Help Fonterra Take Advantage Marketing Essay

Help Fonterra Take Advantage Marketing Essay The Report has been designed to identify the current organizational restructuring could be applied to help Fonterra take advantage of strategic opportunities in the global market. The first part deals with the consumers, suppliers and competitors operating environment and develop strategies that position the firm most favorably in relation to competition and influence industry structure in order to enhance industry attractiveness. (Robert M. Grant, 7th edition, p.64) The Second part covers Fonterras stated mission, vision, strategies, targets, goals and values, and structure and systems. The suitability of these strategies to the operating firm environment are then evaluated and the change of strategy development is recommended. (Robert et.al, p.12) The report also indulges with the macro and micro environmental scan, present evolution of Fonterra, key strategic issues. It also identifies some of the key risk and opportunities faced by Fonterra. Introduction Fonterra at glance Fonterra is a dairy company, which was formed in 2001, and since than it has excelled and enlarged the milk processing and became the fourth largest dairy company in the world. Fonterras annual turnover is NZ$19.9 billion. They have built powerful relation with other dairy companies globally and its partnerships extent the world. Fonterra believes in the interest of people so that they can increase their global market. (Fonterra Co-operative Group, 2010) Fonterra is the biggest diary exporter with 11,000 farmers and these farmers are only the shareholders of the company. All these members supply milk to the Fonterra Company for processing milk into the dairy products. 95% of dairy products made in New Zealand are exported to almost 140 countries in the globe. Principal hubs of Fonterra are located in Auckland, Melbourne, Chicago, Singapore, Amsterdam, Tokyo, Shangai and Sao Paulo. All the sales and marketing in controlled and managed by these principal hubs.14 billion litres of milk is collected every year. (Fonterra Co-operative group, 2011) Fonterras strategy is to lead in dairy. Following are product list which Fonterra produces: cheese, yoghurts, cultured foods, butter, liquid, powdered milks. Following are the brand list of Fonterra: ANCHOR, ANLENE, ANMUM, FRESH N FRUITY, MAINLAND, CAPITY, BROWNES, SOPROLE, WESTERN STAR, PERFECT ITALIANO, TIP TOP AND CHESDALE. (Fonterra Co-operative group, 2010) 1.2 Reports Structure and Objectives The report aimed at highlighting the main objectives, vision of the company and for developing a strategic plan. The Report has been designed to identify the current organizational restructuring could be applied to help Fonterra take advantage of strategic opportunities in the global market. Specifically, lowing the dependency on commodity markets and grasping knowledge as a means to pursue value added growth through Fonterras alliance and brands. The strategic foundation of the report is divided into two parts: a) The Industry Environment b) The Firm Environment The first part deals with the consumers, suppliers and competitors operating environment and develop strategies that position the firm most favorably in relation to competition and influence industry structure in order to enhance industry attractiveness. (Robert M. Grant, 7th edition, p.64) The Second part covers Fonterras stated mission, vision, strategies, targets, goals and values, and structure and systems. The suitability of these strategies to the operating firm environment are then evaluated and the change of strategy development is recommended.(Robert et.al,p.12) The report also indulges with the macro and micro environmental scan, present evolution of Fonterra, key strategic issues. It also identifies some of the key risk and opportunities faced by Fonterra. Strategic Foundations 2.1 The Industry Environment Dairy companies for years have been the important industry in New Zealand. In 1871 at Otago, the first dairy company was set up. By 1920, 85% of dairy factories were owned by co-operatives were as there were about 600 processing factories. By 1930s there were almost 500 co-operatives but it was after World War 2 there were improvements in these dairy factories such as transportation, technologies and working systems which led to a change of consolidation, where the dairy co-operatives started merging with the other factories or companies and since than became bigger and lesser in number. At the end of 1990s, there were four dairy companies: The Waikato (New Zealand Dairy Group) The Taranaki (Kiwi Co-operative Dairies) Westland Milk Products Tatua Co-operative Dairy Company With the merger of the two largest companies, New Zealand Dairy Group and Kiwi Co-operative Dairies, Fonterra was formed along with the New Zealand Dairy Board. Fonterra has the four sales channels which together sells around 2.3 million MT of product. Fonterra Global Trade It was the worlds first online trading centre and since then NZ$1 billion product was supplied. It indulged with lots of dairy commodities which include milk, powder, butter and cheese to reach the markets in the globe such as The Middle East and Africa, the Americas and Oceania and Asia. Fonterra Ingredients This channels sells specialized dairy ingredients for the manufacturers in the four countries such as US, Japan, Western Europe and Korea. Fonterra Brands Fonterra sells the branded products to the customers and consumers in more than 40 countries in the globe. The Anchor and the Tip Top brand is oldest brand of Fonterra. Fonterra Foodservices It provides dairy ingredients and dairy brands to the consumers or customers such as fast food chains, airline catering centers, hotels and restaurants. Strength: Access to efficiently produced, high quality milk. An integrated business model. Strong global reach. Established customer relationships. Strong consumer brand positions in selected markets. Strong, broad product portfolio. Efficient farms.( Fonterra Co-operative Group, 2012) Weakness: Leadership uncertainties affecting the moral of the organizations. Frequent changes among board members. Largest markets are under represented in strategic Association of Professionals (Apex) Business structure relating to redemption risk, farmer choice, and capital for growth. (Keith Woodford,2008) Opportunities: Global demand exceeds the supply. China and India will make up about 50% of growth in global demand for milk over the next 10 years so the share of the market opportunity will increase. Forecast global volume demand growth of atleast 100 billion litres by 2020. Value growth driven by customer and consumer needs in each geography. Investing in underdeveloped countries which are experiencing rapid growth globally.( Country wide and Fonterra co-operative Group,2012) Threats: Global demand exceeds the supply New Zealands market restrictions structure and relative low cost may attract the new entrants in the market. Threats from the increasing global competitors. Few organizations can rival the diverse skills found in the business.(Kate Askew, 2012) Global Reach, Local Touch Fonterra produces the products, they distribute and sell these ready to use products around the globe, the brands gives the consumers the combination of world strength and local knowledge. They aim to have a deep and close understanding of customers demand and there changes in lifestyles, taste, eating and needs which vary from one market to other market. For example what customers prefer in Asia may not be the choice of those living in East Africa. Hence to meet the customer needs there is a group of local teams knowing the local consumers preferences and habits. (Fonterra Co-operative Group, 2010) The suppliers of Fonterra (New or Existing): Growth Supply Contract Fonterra provides an offer of Growth Contract system to the suppliers. All milk from provided to the new entrants and additional surplus milk from existing Fonterra contract suppliers. Deposit for new supply The new suppliers need to give their 100% of shares purchased just before they start beginning the supply. Owning shares With a new initiative, the suppliers can also share the capital cost of growing supply with the sharemilker where they can hold their own share. Maximizing the earnings of the supplier Through specialty milks suppliers can achieve much more profit over the standard payment of milk. Conditions for new land For new dairy land the suppliers must contact area managers. 2.2 The Firm Environment Vision, Mission, Strategies, Goals and Structure: Fonterras vision is to be the natural source of dairy nutrition for everybody, everywhere, every day. Its strategy is to expand in large numbers globally, aim at high-value areas of dairy demand and make targets to achieve it quickly. Fonterra targets to build strong and long-term relationship with the partners and maintain the undertaking from the bottom level of the organization. (Fonterra cooperative Group, 2010) Its Group Strategy is to increase the volumes and create more and more value by focusing more on new markets, and new products that meet the consumer needs for dairy requirements. It should be firm and have a deep look at the strengths, social and economic changes for increasing demand or needs for the dairy products. Fonterra calls it as the three Vs: Volume Value Velocity. (Theo Spierings, 2012) The societies in which they are indulged are related to this vision and they aim to be a sustainable dairy business. They look into-depth to be socially responsible towards everyone which includes there employees, consumers and partners. They focus at accomplishing right means of employment to keep the customers safe and healthy, the minimizing the damage to the environment, by creating new and healthy products.(Fonterra Co-operative Group, 2010) The Fonterra currently have new strength to achieve its goals, where it deals over 100 separate and different projects many of them already have started making progress.   It includes: An extreme move on the rapidly growing well known markets of China, ASEAN and Latin America where Fonterra already has a strong influence. It believes the New Zealand milk business make better return on capital. Development by combining milk pools (secure, high-quality sources of milk integrated with Fonterras business) abroad to carry higher value returns back to New Zealand and protect New Zealand exports. Increasing volumes of higher value consumer branded and out-of-home nutrition. A firm focus on meeting the advanced nutrition wants of mothers and babies, as well as ageing populations supported by targeted innovation in these areas as well as out-of-home nutrition. (Fonterra Co-operative Group, 2010) Fonterras seven strategic paths: Optimize New Zealand milk Build and grow beyond our consumers position. Deliver on food service potentials. Grow our position in mobility. Develop selected leading positions in paediatrics and maternal. Selectively invest in milk pools Alignment of business and organization to enable strategy. ( Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd, 2012) Fonterras aim is to continue to do well in the globally traded market, while capturing the international growth opportunities in fresh dairy. Dairy demand through to 2019 is expected to be: India (highest) 45 million MT China 36 million MT rest of Asia 19 million MT Latin America 18 million MT Middle East/North Africa 13 million MT. With the exception of the trade-protected market of India, Fonterra has well-established positions in each of these markets. Fonterras strategy is to develop strong customer partnerships with leading companies in the food and nutrition industries to become their supplier of choice, and to continue to build its brands in growth markets within Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. With large international customers wanting the confidence of a year-round, global supply, Fonterra is increasingly complementing New Zealand-sourced milk with overseas supply, to provide and continue supporting the growth of fresh consumer dairy products. In 2010/11, Fonterra sourced 22 billion litres of milk globally, including 20 percent of Australias production and 24 percent of Chiles, both countries where Fonterra has well established consumer brand operations. In Latin America it sourced 2.6 billion litres of milk for its joint venture with Nestlà ©. New Zealand milk collection was 15.4 billion litres, representing around 89 percent of the countrys milk production. Growth in global sourcing will continue with Fonterra aiming to develop its own milk production capabilities within key growth markets. China is one example and there are feasibility studies currently underway involving opportunities in other markets such as India. Fonterra have always been extra ordinary at the simple nutrition of dairy. For years, its farmers work hard to give quality milk to number of people around the world. They have passed their farming expertise down through the generations, keeping alive the time-honoured traditions that have catapulted New Zealand to the forefront of the world dairy industry. (Fonterra Co-operative Group, 2010) 3 Environmental Scan 3.1 Macro environmental scan Globally the demand for the milk by the consumers will increase by more than 100 billion litres by 2020, as there is economic growth and increased population in markets which is pushing the growth demand, where as New Zealand is expected to contribute just 5 billion litres of additional milk supply by that time. With the overall increasing demand, Fonterra needs to increase their milk quantity to be on a safe position as a leading dairy exporter. At present, the demand for milk has increased especially among the young and the elderly which are getting more urgent and specific.(Theo Spierings, 2012) PESTEL Analysis: (Oxford University press,2007) Political: Trade protectionism and restrictions including trade marks, labeling, bio-diversity, free trade arrangements and quotas arguments, guide sustainable action in the dairy Economic: Fluctuations in foreign currency, increase in demand rather than supply globally, production of commodity and milk prices. Continued consolidation of suppliers and customers. Social: Rapid increase in needs of consumer markets, demand in healthy and nutritive dairy milk and products. Traditional differences with regards to the demand of milk. Growth in nutrition and bio markets. Technological: Increase manufacturing efficiency while bringing down operating costs is the challenge, technology for product streams which requires indirect heating and cooling by each other, to  continue in the same way developing innovative farm to factory practices, implementation of new innovative technology to achieve cost, time and waste savings across the whole business,need of technology for fewer trucks which are required to transport the same quantity of milk. Environmental factors: Frequent changes in New Zealand weather have a great impact on the environment, as the need for product changes from season to season, reducing impact of global greenhouse gases as it will improve the quality of New Zealands environment. They have effective and safe management of farm practices that protects the environment from the pollution. Legal: Legal challenges for the requirement of healthy and safe environment. Threats from new entrants coming into the markets, following the legal procedure and laws for the minimum wages and working hours. Fonterra must come up with education units for training and educating the farmers for teaching about how to manage farm effluent, how to improve the quality of water, how to reduce energy use and waste from site. Farmers should be provided by the time limit to ensure that they meet the deadlines according to the rules and regulations. Fonterra requires focusing at upcoming projects to expand its relation in terms of partnership so that they can give much better services such as can give more and higher-value products to the customers throughout the world. Fonterra has earned a lot in countries like Latin America, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Africa and Middle East but they should aim at profit buffer above the average return of the product, which is very important in times when there are commodity at lower price. There are two possible outcomes in the near future as the increase in demand can be divided into two parts, globally the overall demand for the dairy commodities in traded market is forecasted to increase by 1.2% where as the annual increase in dairy is forecasted to be 4%. Every year there is an increase in demand for dairy products by 2.7 %, where as in a decade time the demand is forecasted to be 147 billion litres. Level of competition has increased at very high level even though the Fonterra has maintained their global reach, this is Fonterras biggest strength as they know that lifestyles, taste and choices is different from place to place. To meet the particular demands of the customers the regional team is appointed to deal with requirement of the consumers as they will know the local demand. 3.2 Micro Environmental Scan Since the Fonterra was formed in 2001, it almost every year they had a market share in excess of 95% of all New Zealand milk product, but it had a fall at 90% in 2008- 2009, with further falls is still expected.(Keithwoodford,2008) The supply of milk by Fonterra has increased slightly, this is a big challenge for them as they aim at increasing the supply. In marketing sector the competition from the new entrants has increased rapidly this is one of the reason for Fonterra to redeem risk more than as it was in the past. It is a fact that at present they make it very easy for the new entrants to take interest in dairy farmer suppliers by keeping a high value share on the fair value share which is actually not related to the add value to the component of the milk price. (Keithwoodford,2008) As the redemption risk is high of their shares, Fonterra should have an optional business structure which will not only help in meeting their growth strategy, but also help in reducing their redemption risk of the shares as they can properly distribute returns to the suppliers or farmers. To meet the business strategies, objectives, goals and all legal procedures, Fonterra must emphasis on effective risk management. They should maintain the balance between the working of board and management and must have a healthy relation with the consumers, stakeholders, suppliers, shareholders, government and employees. Their should be a Formal strategy development which delivers substantial process and content dividends giving more strategic perspective, for setting priorities and making key decisions. Customers demand for the products keeps on changing, several customers demand much more better quality at same price. These changes in demand show that, the Fonterra can expect that in future their consumers will demand much better quality at same price. The new customers demand for those product or services which were never been created ever before, and old customers demand for the new services or product features. This creates a tensed situation as we need to focus on both current and new consumers. Whatever may be the choice, its difficult to manage this situation which can at arise at any time. (Bain Company, 2005) Fonterras deals with perishable products, so its very difficult to transport these fresh milk products economically at a long distance. Furthermore, it deals with very high trade barriers on dairy products. To deal with this trade barriers and transport issue they must establish strategic step to increase the efficiency in the working. (Gehlhar M.J,2009) Fonterra should use their research and development for establishing much more quality products, healthy products, those products which are naturally and ecologically are consistent. They must aim to establish their image in the minds of young customers as they are life-long customers. (Gehlhar, M.J,2009) Fonterra should convert on their capabilities as they can earn much more returns on the product rather than just being a branded manufacturer. Fonterra can maintain their leadership if they can differentiate their product features offerings from those of the competitors. To sustain as a leaders in the market it requires branding power and product innovation. (Gehlhar, M.J,2009) Fonterra should change its overhead expenses so that it can target on rapidly growing markets. Targets should be to exit unprofitable, uncompetitive and non-core categories and markets. Number of improve efficiency and effectiveness of corporate centers.(Fonterra Co-operative Group,2012) Fonterra supplies are secured through the co-operative structure but the threat exits if they can not make competitive milk payouts to the shareholders and suppliers. Competitors may respond to trade liberalization through increasingly global growth strategies. Evaluation Fonterra has changed their direction at higher value markets, they have greatly managed to maintain the same strategies of its firm which is at high volume and at low cost leadership. By an analysis macro and micro environment a number of issues have been highlighted. Fonterras ability to maintain the position is at risk and its structure limits its ability. Within the dairy industry there is a clear view that the current Fonterra capital restructuring proposals are not acceptable. They necessarily need 75 percent shareholder approval but at present it displays to be very low. The farmers at present are continuously rejecting the proposal but it does not mean that farmers are avoiding the change but they want to be sure with the dependency of the final outcome. (Allio, M.K,2005) Fonterra should have special capabilities inspite of being capable of differentiating their products. They should include physical input that should be used in food manufacturing so that the new products can be serve but can be differentiate from those of competitors. (Allio, M.K,2005) There is increase in healthy, convenient and environmentally friendly foods products in overall world food markets. There is a replacement of mass customization with mass production. So Fonterra should be practical for the changing present environment opportunities for branded food manufacturing by applying successful product differentiation strategies. To be at the same position, Fonterra should be capable in customer marketing, process innovation and product innovation. Differentiating a product may provide an organisation a competitive benefit as differentiated products have a unique or special attributes and there is a need for an organisation to develop unique capabilities which are not followed by competitors. Biology and science supports the dairy organisation not only in on-farm production but also in dairy product manufacturing. With the help of biotechnology, Fonterra can modify the workings along biological systems, either by using the natural resources or more advanced technological tools. (Datamonitor,2008) To develop some specific products, Fonterra must use a nutrition and health team that aims at specific health advantage. The team should be trained to target at world consumer health concerns such as: gastrointestinal health, immune health, dermatology, infant nutrition, sports health, bone health, therapeutics and animal health. Fonterras focus on the establishment of new products will definitely help to increase there demand in consumer products. (Datamonitor,2008) Fonterra should take a responsibility for educating the customers to promote some of the products. Guiding the market in their favour rather than allowing the market to guide the firm. They should use their particular capabilities to influence the new markets as to get hold on the new market. As said above they should provide consumer education as well and at the same time they must give more choices of products to their consumers. (Chris Bart, Nick Bontis,2003) At present there is rapid changes in the business environment, there are many so many unknowns and unpredictable situations arising in the business so there should always be an optional plan or strategy ready for these kind of situations. When industries can consolidate (or fragment) at breathtaking speed; when regulations can overnight either unleash or cripple marketplace participants; and when the price and availability of critical inputscan fluctuate wildly So the task of Fonterras strategy development must now be undertaken under conditions of extreme uncertainty.( David Calfee,2006) Winning strategies will therefore incorporate multiple scenarios for Fonterra to generate a range of feasible strategic solutions; they will also retain significant flexibility to allow rapid adjustments as industry or marketplace conditions change and alternative scenarios become more attractive. (Veit Etzold, Ted Buswick, 2008) Products come and products go in the business. Product life cycles that trace the rise and fall of a product. For example, the Walkman with the cassette enjoyed great popularity in the Eighties before it was displaced by the Discman. This was then displaced by the MP3 player, which in turn was displaced by the Apple iPod. And it is highly probable that the iPod will be displaced too one day by yet another product. So the firm should always have an altenative strategy . So demand can change with the time so Fonetrra must be flexible in meeting those demand within the time frame. (Veit Etzold, Ted Buswick,2008) However, if adequate changes are not made, or if made but its not sufficient to prevent the danger of financial risks, it should use the monetary policy as a secondary option for addressing those risks proceeding cautiously and always keeping in mind the inherent difficulties of that approach. (Tristan Nguyen,2011)

Comparig To Kill A Mocingbird And The Man Without A Face :: essays research papers

Courage is a valuable and rare attribute in people today. In Harper Lee's novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, courage is shown by a reclusive character named Arthur "Boo" Radley. In Mel Gibson's movie, The Man Without a Face, courage is shown by Justin McLoud. Due to the noble actions of others, one can discover the true meaning of courage. In To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Arthur Radley is a person who has not left his house for many years. Because of this, the townspeople have made up many rumors about him, most of which are not true. These rumors added to him not wanting to come out in public. His neighbors, Jem and Scout Finch, are the only ones who try to communicate with him, and he gives them gifts. Arthur Radley shows courage later on in the book, when the two children are attacked by Bob Ewell. Arthur Radley, a person who lived inside for years, ran outside with a kitchen knife to save his only friends. He proceeds to help Jem home, and in doing so reveals himself to even more people. If Jem and Scout had not been friendly to him, Arthur Radley probably would not have come out of his home. In The Man Without A Face directed by Mel Gibson, a hideously scarred former teacher named Justin McLoud lives in solitude on a large estate, like Arthur Radley. Also like Arthur, Justin has not made contact with anyone for seven years. One day, a struggling student named Charles Norstad come to Justin's house to be tutored. Over the summer, the two become friends. Because of Charles, Justin has the courage to teach again, and tries to clear his name of charges made against him. Like Arthur Radley, the friendship of a child gave Justin courage. Like Justin and Arthur, a child younger than me gave me help dealing with a problem. My younger sister was listening to me tell my older brother about a person older than me who was bothering me and my friends. She turned to me and said, â€Å"Well, why don’t you tell him to stop bothering you or he will get in trouble? But you gotta make it sound scary!† So, I told this person that if he didn’t stop bothering me, he will get in trouble with my brother.

How visual and/or verbal features showed you that this idea was important Essay

Freedom; a right all human beings cherish and strive for, banishing any ideas of captivity. It is powerful and even more so the ability to control it. â€Å"The Truman Show†, directed by Chrsitof expresses the control of freedom in a utopian society that contradicts the purpose of reality television. This is done through the setting, costume, dialogue and camera shots intertwined in the unique world of Truman Burbank. â€Å"Ladies first†, a common cliche used to emphasizes the polite nature of gentlemen. Yet one can wonder whether it is purely the position and routine application of authority that ensures the power and control of females. In the opening scene of chapter nine â€Å"there’s no place like home†, a three shot of: Truman’s grandmother, Truman and Meryl portrays the genuine hierarchy in Truman’s life. Truman is confined and contained in between these two feminine figures; he is immobile and unable to break free. The setting itself is a cage; surrounding Truman in a world where his freedom is absent. Prevented and restricted from going anywhere, it almost seems like a cruel form of torture. Because I never have†, he has never had the chance to explore the unknown to go anywhere beyond Seahaven. To some this is immoral and wrong, to others it is just â€Å"good† television. Humorous yet serious, a phrase filled with irony and contradiction: Reality television. Reality is defined as a resemblance of what is real, a presentation of the good and bad of life. However like most reality television shows the â€Å"Truman Show† is not reality at all and the entire show completely contradicts its â€Å"mission statement†. Christof has installed different ways of controlling Truman in order to keep him on Seahaven. â€Å"We’re just going to walk away from our financial obligations? † Christof uses Meryl and many other major characters in Truman’s life to influence and exercise power over him, preventing him from daydreaming about the unknown beyond Seahaven. The sea is Christof’s strongest hold over Truman. Filled with memories of loss and pain and afraid from experiencing anymore the sea is Truman’s final frontier. It was the place where his â€Å"dad died† and where his high school sweetheart was taken away from him. After a spontaneous burst of slight madness and insanity in an attempt to leave Seahaven, an overshot of Truman and Meryl in their car stationary at the bridge shows just how much control and manipulation that has stripped Truman of his freedom in order to make a television show. â€Å"It’s all true, it’s all real, nothing here is fake†¦ it’s merely controlled†, unfortunately the control takes away the aspect of reality. Life is not controlled and there is no way that we can control it, which is possibly why reality is so beautiful. The ironic sense of the â€Å"Truman Show† is widely broadcasted in its Utopian society. Utopia is a place everyone wishes to be in, a place of bliss and relaxation where everything is perfect. An establishing shot of Seahaven’s centre expresses the â€Å"utopian† society which confines Truman. Clean streets, perfectly built buildings, beautiful sunshine and impossibly clean mown grass are few of the many â€Å"utopian† aspects in Seahaven. The costume of Meryl also prevents the audience with a stereotypical 1950’s housewife; fair skin, glossy hair, perfect body structure and a beautiful face; all features of every man’s dream girl. Yet in â€Å"There’s no place like home† even beauty and utopia cannot keep us from our hearts desires. The wedding day; a day every single person looks forward to, â€Å"the happiest day of our lives†. However through a medium close up shot of Truman as Meryl says this reveals Truman grunting and rolling his eyes. In the same scene as Meryl and Truman’s grandmother are trying to evoke happy memories of his past, the cross cutting from photos to Truman shows a lack of interest from Truman about what is being discussed. Hidden from Meryl and Truman’s grandmother but wide open for the audience to watch and digest. Truman is not currently happy and satisfied with life because he wants what he has never had. It is a part of human nature to always long for the things we do not have, but Truman has never had the chance to attempt to fulfil his desires as he has been a slave to the world of reality television. Reality is life; it is never in control, never following a set plan because that is what makes reality; reality. â€Å"What you are doing is wrong and sick! † Taking away the freedom of an individual is certainly not a resemblance of reality. You cannot control life no matter how hard you try. It is supposed to be lived out of control in a place where there are no bounds. Though this might be why so many people succeeded in life; because they weren’t held back.

Average National SAT Scores for 2014

Average National SAT Scores for 2014 SAT Scores by StateSAT Score Frequently Asked Questions    In 2014,  1,672,395 of you high-schoolers out there registered  and took the SAT, which is the largest number of test-takers in recent history. And now that youve taken it, Id wager that youre interested in knowing what sorts of scores your fellow college applicants have earned. Am I  right? If youre anything like students before you (and probably those who will come after you, too), you want to know how you stack up!  Below, youll read several fun facts (and some shocking ones, too!) about the average national SAT scores for 2014. For some of you, youll be interested in knowing the average SAT scores for students entering the top public schools in the country, and others of you will be curious about scores for the top private schools. If youre just interested in SAT scores in general, then keep on reading, okay? Okay. Overall SAT Scores for 2014 Remember the math term, mean? Of course you do! Its just the average of a set of numbers. In this case, the mean is the average score of every student who took the SAT from the fall of 2013  through June of 2014. The overall score is down by just 1 point this year.   Here are the mean scores for all testers by section: Overall: 1497 Critical Reading: 497 Mathematics: 513 Writing: 487  (subscores: multiple-choice: 48.9  / essay: 7.0) SAT Scores for 2012 SAT Scores for 2013 SAT Scores By Gender Well, it looks like the boys have taken it again  this year in everything but the Writing section, ladies! Girls, you need to get it together! The boys are taking you to town on the Mathematics section! Critical Reading:Males: 499Females: 495 Mathematics:Males: 530Females: 499 Writing:Males: 481Females: 492 SAT Scores By Reported Annual Income It seems, kids, that if your parents are raking in the dough, then your odds of scoring higher on the SAT go up. Just check out the statistics. Now, be sure to use your best reasoning skills. This doesnt mean that kids with a little more cash are the smartest on the block. What else could those numbers imply? Perhaps parents with more wealth are more willing to purchase SAT prep? Perhaps they are more willing to shell out the moolah for retakes? I dont know. We could conjecture all day on this subject, but the stats do not lie; parents making more money produce kids with higher SAT scores. Look: $0 - $20,000Critical Reading: 436Math: 459 $20,000 - $40,000Critical Reading: 467Math: 481 $40,000 - $60,000Critical Reading: 489Math: 500 $60,000 - $80,000Critical Reading: 504Math: 512 $80,000 - $100,000Critical Reading: 516Math: 526 $100,000 - $120,000Critical Reading: 527Math: 539 $120,000 - $140,000Critical Reading: 531Math: 542 $140,000 - $160,000Critical Reading: 539Math: 552 $160,000 - $200,000Critical Reading: 544Math: 558 $200,000 and moreCritical Reading: 569Math: 588 SAT Scores By Ethnicity Although there is no causal relationship between ethnicity and scores, its interesting to take a peek at the differences among us when it comes to test-taking. Here are the mean overall scores by heritage. American Indian or Alaska Native: 1428 Asian, Asian-American or Pacific Islander: 1651 Black of African-American: 1278 Mexican or Mexican-American: 1354 Puerto Rican: 1349 Other Hispanic, Latino, or Latin-American: 1353 White: 1576 Other: 1504 No response: 1371    2014  SAT Scores Summary So, it would appear that if youd really like to knock the SAT out of the ballpark, youd better join a family who makes more than $200,000 per year, make sure to secure the male gender, and adopt the Asian ethnicity. If that doesnt work, you could always prepare regardless of your ethnic heritage or familial status. These statistics represent the mean, but do not, of course represent the individual - YOU. If you have nothing in common with the groups scoring the highest on the SAT, it does NOT mean that you cant secure a top-notch score. Start with some free SAT practice quizzes, grab some free SAT apps, and prepare yourself the best way you can. Good luck!

Pyramids Essays - Giza Plateau, Khafra, African Architecture

Pyramids Essays - Giza Plateau, Khafra, African Architecture Pyramids The Egyptians believed that their kings were gods. Even after they had died, the rulers continued to affect daily life through their supernatural powers. In his new life in the underworld, the king would need everything he needed while alive, and he needed his home to last for eternity. While alive, Egyptian kings lived in palace of mud-brick, wore linen roves, and slept in wooden beds. In their gentle climate, more substantial comforts were not needed. But eternity last a whole lot longer than life. So the tombs of the kings needed to be durable and well-supplied. The tombs also needed to protect the body and its supplies and gifts from thieves. They also were the focus of the Egyptian religion and so needed to be extremely visible. The massive stone pyramid met all these criteria. However, there was still the problem of supplying the king with essentials. Since entombing a never-ending supply of food and servants was not very practical, the Egyptians decided on the principal of "substitution by means of a representation." Since the dead king now existed in spirit, rather than physical form, he was not bound by physical limitations. A picture or word could feed him as well as a real slab of meat. Servants did not have to be killed and laid around his tomb; statues could take their place. Because the king was a god to his people, they needed to be able to come and worship him. But if his body were accessible to the whole nation, the king and his treasures would be too accessible to robbers. So, instead they built a statue resembling the king which they placed in a temple open to the public. His ka, or spirit could leave the tomb and come live in his statue for awhile. This way, the people's prayers and gifts could still be delivered while keeping him safe. 2 Herodotus, a Greek who wrote about the building of the pyramids long after they had been built, claimed that the Great Pyramid took tens of thousands of men and in just twenty years to make. But even if those figures are not accurate, the construction of the pyramids was an amazing feat. The Egyptians had not learned to use the wheel or the pulley and so lifted all of the stones using ramps. The cut stone was edged along the ramps on rollers, lubricated by only milk or water. We do not know how many people died as laborers for the pyramids, but we do know that most Egyptians would have been eager to participate in the building: because the king would become a god who could bless or curse their lives; they wanted to make sure he was comfortable and cared for and able to come back and help them. On the rocky plateau of Giza, ten miles southwest of the center of Cairo, stands the Great Pyramid, the most majestic and most mysterious monument ever erected by the hand of man (Adams). The Great Pyramid is the largest stone building on earth, and the last surviving wonder of the ancient world. Its base covers just over thirteen acres, and it is composed of some 2.3 million blocks of granite and limestone, weighing from 2.5 to seventy tons apiece, which rise in two hundred and three layers to the height of a forty- story building. The Pyramid was originally covered with twenty one acres of polished, marble-like casing stones, which, shining resplendently beneath the sun's rays, earned for it the ancient title "The Light." The Pyramid is an unrivaled feat of engineering and craftsmanship. It is aligned with the four cardinal points more accurately than any contemporary structure, including the Meridian Building at Greenwich Observatory in London. The three hundred and fifty foot long descending passage is so straight that it deviates from a central axis by less than a quarter of an inch from side to side and only one tenth of an inch up and down. The casing stones, some of which weighed over sixteen tons, are so perfectly shaped and 3 squared that the mortar-filled joint between them is just one fiftieth of an inch. Egyptologist Sir Flinders Petrie described such phenomenal precision as the "finest opticians work on a scale of acres"; work of this caliber is beyond the capabilities of modern technology. The casing stones show no tool marks and the corners are not even slightly chipped. The granite coffer in the King's Chamber is

Individual Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Individual - Case Study Example In terms of its operations strategy, Whole Foods is using a market-led strategy which manifested by its varying store size, layout and design that is largely dependent on the particular site and building configuration and the store’s target clientele. Recent developments and conditions in the natural and organic foods segment of the food retailing industry such as the USDA labeling standards for organic products and the post 2000 increased sales of natural and organic foods at conventional U.S. supermarkets than in the nation’s natural foods stores have increased industry competition. Whole Foods development of new stores and acquisition of others ensures the company continues to increase its market share which gives it muscle to better face the rising competition. Also, the company’s varying store design, size and product variety increases its market positioning among its target clientele. Whole Foods strategy is therefore well matched to meet these recent developments and conditions. John Mackey’s strategic vision is for Whole Foods to become a national brand and be regarded as the best food retailer in every community it served. This is a good strategic vision for two main reasons. Firstly, the trend towards organics is still in its infancy and as such to increase revenues and profitability the organization has to pursue market development. For market development across the United States to be effective Whole Foods would require national branding. Secondly, Whole Foods has to compete with large established retailers that have large distribution networks such as Wal-Mart and Costco that are increasingly attracted to the natural and organic food industry. With a growing market it is more prudent for Whole Foods to rapidly gain market share in order to compete against these â€Å"more-resourced† competitors. Core values

Marketing Plan Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Marketing Plan - Research Paper Example The qualitative approach will include the use of observations and focus of multinational corporations. The quantitative approach will involve the use journals, magazines, and online stuff from different websites. The marketing plan will further elaborate few key issues like will Windows 7 is able to conquer the market share from existing operating systems like XP, Vista, and Mac? What will be the strategic issues that may arise from the application of technology by other competitors? What marketing strategy must be adopted by Microsoft to release its new operating system in successful manner? Microsoft is a US based multinational and world’s largest organization in computer and software industries with its areas of operations in each and every country of the world. The organization is headquartered at Redmond, Washington and was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen on 4th April, 1975. Microsoft has earned a high level trusted reputation by conducting its business worldwide with integrity, innovation, and respect. The company has delivered hundreds of different software related brands at global scale. It also manufactures, licenses, and offers a wide range of products which are related to computer field. The company has $73.72 billion dollars revenue by the end of 2012 while its total assets are more than $121 billion dollars. More than 94,000 employees are working under Microsoft at global level (Microsoft Corporation Financial Statements, 2011). Microsoft has promoted a culture of progression and innovation. The company has invested a huge amount of money in its operating system sector to gain competitive advantage on product innovation. Millions of people across the globe today enjoy a wide range of operating systems offered by Microsoft in all segments of retail from operating systems of XP and Vista to other software and hardware tools. The most successful products that Microsoft has offered are its

Managerial Accounting and Organizational Controls Case Study

Managerial Accounting and Organizational Controls - Case Study Example This is done by standard reports that are generated at regular intervals. They may be generated monthly, quarterly, or annually and adhere to standard guidelines that are accepted by the accounting industry. The reports tell the amount of business, cost of sales, debt, and assets that a company has. The reports are used by creditors, bankers, investors, and shareholders to make financial decisions in regard to the company. Government agencies use these reports to calculate taxes and fees. These reports are routinely audited by outside parties to assure that proper accounting methods are being used and that the reports contain accurate information. This helps to safeguard investors and shareholders from financial loss and keeps investors and creditors apprised of the condition of the company's finances. Legal and ethical issues arise when external accounting is faulty and presents an incorrect view of the company's financial situation. If it is done intentionally, it is a grave legal issue as has been seen with some companies in the news recently. If it is done in error, or because of bad judgment, it is a serious violation of ethics and may also be criminal. The importance placed on these reports being correct cannot be overstated.

Persuasive Essay Example for Free

Persuasive Essay Obama Immigration Policy Illegal immigration has been a major issue in the United States (US), for those who leave their home countries for the American dream. These people are deported when found; completely up-rooted from lives they built. This affects illegal immigrants from men and women, which migrate illegally, to their children often, brought to the United States for a better chance at life. Furthermore, this piece will illustrate the issues illegal immigrants face along with a new policy, which has the potential to change lives for illegal immigrants with productive intentions. In June 2012, President Barrack Obama announced a new policy, which could delay illegal immigrants from experiencing deportation. The new policy is aimed at those who illegally came to this country as children, and who have generally stayed out of trouble since they got here (Simon, 2012). Under the administrations new plan, these immigrants would get a temporary, two-year waiver from deportation, and would also be eligible for a work permit (Simon, 2012). Those eligible can seek what amounts to a two-year deferment of any prosecution for being in this country illegally, a deferment, which is infinitely renewable (Fischer, 2012). Scott Horsley from the National Public Radio News (NPR) Stated, â€Å" the policy is aimed at people who came to the U. S. when they were under the age of 16, and whove lived here for at least five years. Those who have gone to school, finished school, gotten their GED, or served in the military, and who are not yet 30 years old. These are, if you will, the most innocent of illegal immigrants, those of whom Mr. Obama said they are Americans in every way but on paper. † This move could affect 800,000 to 1. million illegal immigrants. A few of my own family members could be affected by this. I have cousins, which came to the US illegally with their parents and have excelled since being here in the United States, but the threat of deportation is a constant reality. Some have been victims of crimes, and didn’t contact the authorities, for fear of being torn out of the lives they built. The new policy could be beneficial to my family as well as many other families who fear f amily members not coming home at the end of the day. This could be a temporary solution for the working class immigrants. A few arguments are that some think this back-door amnesty. Gov Jan Brewer stated, What he has done today is he is going to give documentation to nearly a million people that have arrived in our country illegally and not by the rule of law. † Another argument is that the Obama administration has decided to stop following laws already passed by Congress and act as if its preferred policies are law. More particularly, the DREAM Act, which failed to pass Congress. President Obama has used executive power to bring back parts of the DREAM Act, and is going along with policy rather than law. What President Obama has done is legal, but could set a regrettable precedent, where presidents in the future could refuse to follow laws because of disagreement with certain elements of those laws. Illegal immigrants are can apply for the two year waiver from deportation, but it is clear this is not a path to citizenship. Non-citizens will not be able to vote. These immigrants will also have to complete the same application process as all others do for work permits. Federal work permits will be given to those, which are granted prosecutorial deferment. I believe this new policy is a morally right decision. I personally have served in the armed forces with some of these immigrants, and a few have even defended the US better than some US citizens, for a country that does not want them. For example, one of my brothers in arms is a Philippine National, and while serving a deployment in Iraq his wife and newborn son were deported , which led to a long strenuous application process. To be blunt, it is a smack in the face to deport or prosecute veterans for immigration laws because they have served the US government and supported and defended the Constitution were to approve the new policy, immigration courts would be able to shift their focus to the illegal immigrants, which have bad intentions, criminal records, no tax record, or more blatantly put the individuals who should be prosecuted and deported. Some did not even know they were not citizens until they applied for drivers licenses, or college scholarships, etc. I just do not think it is right to deport or prosecute people who are not doing anything to hurt the United States, and if they show promise. So to recapitulate, the immigration policy was announced in June 2012. It has the potential to help, those brought to the US not by their own doing. Specifically, it helps anyone who was under the age of 16 upon illegal entry, has been in the US for five years, not more than 30 years old, veterans, and those with no criminal records.

Whitey’s: The Bar amidst the Prairies :: Free Descriptive Essay About A Place

Whitey’s: the Bar amidst the Prairies Before going to the legendary Whitey’s in East Grand Forks, MN, I had thought it was bar patroned by middle-aged people. There didn’t seem to be as many college students going there. When writing about this place, I positioned myself in a neutral ground. I am from Grand Forks, and lived there for ten years, but attend college at NDSU, not UND (NDSU’s rival). I came to see or know Whitey’s through my older sister and friends who frequented there and I actually went there for my sophomore year of homecoming with friends when it was a restaurant as well. It is strange to write about the bar now that both the bar and I have changed. What I found by visiting Whitey’s was some the joy of watching others. Listening to their conversations, hearing their whispers, feeling like a part of something in that bar was fulfilling. I came to find Whitey’s as being a place of fulfillment and satisfaction not only for the alumni of UND or the regulars, but for myself as an outsider as well. I felt comfortable at this local nostalgic bar. When coming into this place, I felt a sense of comradry and affection. It was UND’s homecoming weekend, and this was the place to be for the alumni. The first thing you see when you walk into Whitey’s is the bar to your left, the bar down the aisle, and the pool tables to your right and left, different from most bars I have been to with the dance floor being the first thing you see. There are neon signs hanging behind the bar to your left giving specials on $1.50 pints of beer. As I glided in I could feel the reunion amongst the alumni and it almost became cozy to an outsider such as myself. It happened to be very cold outside, and very warm inside, furthering the sense of coziness. I sat at the bar farthest back with friends and began to try to understand and learn about the people around me, without interfering. The first person who caught my eye was a young man, probably late 20’s. He reeked of alcohol and walked in surrounded by friends coming down that long aisle that lead to the bar.

Sugar Sweet :: Papers

Sugar Sweet The sugar pulsed through her blood. She took another bite. The smooth, sweet chocolate fused into her body removing the pain. She could feel their stares. Burning through her as she ate. She seized the remainder of the chocolate and walked out. It was intolerable. Every time she ate she could feel those around her wishing to throw up. She could feel their whispers of disgust. As she was leaving the food court she felt a tap on her shoulder. She spun around, preparing herself for another snide remark about her size. "What?" she snapped. "You forgot this" the girl replied, her tight jeans accentuating her flawless figure. The girl handed the leaflet to her. "Looks like you might need it" With a snort of laughter she left and returned to her friends. She ran through the rest of the shopping centre. Past the countless shops, pictures of stick figure models stuck to their windows. Sitting under the stairs on the station she extracted the remnants of a family block of chocolate from her bag. She flicked through the leaflet "Lose weight now". She had never seen it before. She began sobbing. The train pulled out of the station. She remained sitting hidden under the steps. Consumed by distress the tall figure that slid up next to her went unnoticed. He lit a cigarette causing her to jump. "What's the problem, babe?" he said offering her a cigarette. "No thanks I don't smoke" she muttered, wiping away the tears. Suddenly conscious of her size she folder her arms across her stomach. "Hey I've seen you before" she sniffed, "You're Dads apprentice" "Yeah, that's me. Look, do you want a lift somewhere?" Face flushed, crying, she unlocked the front door and ran upstairs to her bedroom. She shouldn't have done it. His sweet charm had left her trapped in a car while he tried to come closer. "Give it ago, come on I promise it won't hurt". He had thrust two pills into her mouth.

Human Resource Management in Brunei Essay

Rousseau (1990) defines culture as a set of common values and understandings obtained through socialization (Noe, Hollenbeck, Gerhart, & Wright, 2008). As such, the Islamic laws define the fundamental customs and lifestyle of Bruneians. Nevertheless, culture is an elusive behavior, which can be refined and redefined as the macro-environment changes. We explore how attitudes and perspective can be changed, in order to better adapt to technologies through laws and policies, without contradicting the essentials of Islamic culture thus improving their economy. The General Order in Brunei provides employees with high social security and benefits; they are entitled to ‘lifetime employment’ (Dore, 1973). Thus leading to insufficient supply of jobs for the younger generation who makes up the largest percentage of the unemployment rate. Additionally, paternalism is evident in Brunei; superiors act as a father figure in the organization and employees show utmost respect for their managers. Thus illustrating the relationship between cultural influences and organizational behavior. Foreign investments and tourism in Brunei have been severely impeded due to their inflexible Islamic culture, hence affecting Brunei’s integration with the world. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Pakistan, the importance of ‘liberation of visa regulations’ will ‘boost tourism and trade opportunities’ (Ying Chua, 2010). However in Brunei, regulations on foreign investments must comply with the standard of their Islamic laws, which hinder growth. Thus, exemplifying that culture affects its economy as it set the boundary of Brunei’s business environment. It is difficult for Brunei to fully integrate their economy with western countries due to very differing culture. Nonetheless, she can aim to be the capital for the Islamic world. For example, it can be the financial capital for the Middle Eastern countries, or even the world main supplier for Halal food in the world. This acts as a double-edge sword for Brunei because Brunei will not compromise their rich culture for economical gains. However before attaining such standards, Brunei has to examine their technological infrastructure and whether Bruneians are ready to adapt themselves for changes. Bruneians pride themselves on their rich Islamic culture hence they are less receptive to changes that appear to be in conflict. The sultanate laws never inculcated the use of technology until the mid 21st century, the government through its education system (Ganske & Hamidon, 2006). However the older generation, which the workforce mainly consists, is less responsive to such drastic changes. Firstly, it is against their culture to voice differing viewpoints to their superiors as it is considered disrespectful therefore, severely curtailing their initiative thus breeding complacency and conformity. Secondly, the lack of formalization (Chan, Foo, Nelson, Timbrell, & Othman, 2010) contradicted the implementation of new technologies; ‘the announcement to embark on e-government (a B$1 billion project) was made in 2000 but it was not until 2003 that the actual planning started (Kifle & Cheng, 2009)’, this 3 years gap have left many Bruneians confused about the process and pro gress. Language is part of a country’s culture. (Bakar, 2008). Therefore any language differences, will significantly hinder Bruneians’ adaptation to technology. Brunei’s national language is Malay while new technologies developed are instructed in English. This sudden change in the use language has adversely impeded on their adaptation. Nevertheless, this is only applicable to the older generation as Brunei government has enforced bilingualism in their current education system. A shift in their language culture from solely Malay to bilingualism will enhance their adaptation to new technology hence fulfilling Brunei’s vision of becoming an e-government whereby all traditional manual paperwork are electronically done. It is indisputable that Brunei will always be ruled by a strict set of Islamic laws, which forms the core principle of the country. Nonetheless, the problems faced by Brunei can be corrected through prudent laws and policies that can be inculcated as part of their culture. Culture shapes the fundamental of the legal and political system in Brunei. The Sultanate laws favour the Brunei Malays because of their shared values and customs while indigenous minorities are viewed inferior (Braighlinn, 1992). This partial treatment could potentially jeopardies Brunei’s economy by distancing relationships with developed countries because of very differing culture and customs and these developed countries have valuable resources, which Bruneians can acquire from. For example, skilled professionals from other countries will be hesitant to enter Brunei’s workforce because they have slower social advancement and benefits. This can be improved on without changing the core principles of Islamism. Furthermore, it is because of their traditional principle of ‘strict essence of conformity and consensus’ (Kramar & Syed, 2012) that has tremendously thwarted their country’s global integration. Brunei’s doctrine, ‘does not allow organization or individual to challenge the government and its policies’, has adversely stunts employees’ initiative. The Majesty criticized their work indifference, working ‘just like a robot with no direction, initiative or common sense’ (Low, Zain, & Ang, 2012). Such inflexible and flaccid work-attitude, would only curtail individual’s motivation at work and more drastically, leading to colossal losses to the organization. To a great extent culture sets the tone of how a country should be governed by defining the boundaries of their operations. However, we can no longer say that a country’s culture is a separate entity from its political system or from its economy or even their adaptation to technology. Culture orientates the parameters of one’s laws and policies, which in turn affects the growth of its economy. Likewise, a technologically cultured country brought about through good policies, could bring about many benefits to its economy. All these factors are intertwined and together they work as a whole system as to how a country, whether private or public companies, should be run. However there are certain strategies which the government can undertake to help individual adapt to the technology. The Government Employee Management System (GEMS) is a project, which aims in achieving an interactive and integrated public service. (Brunei Government Prime Minister’s Office 2010) Human Resource Management (HRM) consists of 2 main functions; the process of managing people in the organization in a structured and thorough manner, e.g. hiring people and retention of people. Secondly, the management of people within an organization e.g. managing relationship between management and employees. Critically, HRM requires the use of technology-based platforms to ensure efficiency and high-productivity of an organization. Thus, the importance of implementing GEMS and ensuring success to facilitate HRM better. Introduction of the use of technical system for HRM Government Employee Management System (GEMS) is a web-based system that enables, â€Å"efficient data input and greater transparency, which allows better management of HRM practices such as recruitment, compensation and benefit.† (Brunei Government Prime Minister’s Office 2010) To achieve greater effectiveness, GEMS will automate a significant number of tasks that were previously done manually. Employees’ information will now be kept in a database accessible to all departments, and it will be easily attainable. It would fasten decision-making because information would be readily available whenever required. Responses of Advancement of technology in HRM However, GEMS was not well received by employees. The Majority of the population belongs to the Malay community, thus finding it difficult to adapt to the English web-based system. Strategies that involve Human Resource enable individual employees to adjust themselves to technological changes Re-training of Employees GEMS was found as a complex system, training is thus, crucial to assist staff and officers to adapt and operate GEMS effectively. Training will greatly assist employees to better manage GEMS, as employees would be able to constructively operate the new system independently. Further mentoring is needed to ensure employees have fully comprehended the use of the system. At the same time creating a sense of achievement and often boost employee’s morale. However, there are several disadvantages and cost to re-train employees. Firstly, the large amount of people in an organization makes it difficult to schedule trainings (N Nayab 2010). Secondly, training requires a lot of time and ample resources, which could be economically disadvantageous in the short run. Hence, organization should thoroughly consider the pro et contra before sending employees for re-trainings. Motivating of employees Another key approach to assist staff and officers to adapt effectively to such changes is through motivation. Rewarding Employees A reward system can be created to encourage the use of technology. A good strategy to ensure adaptation for employees would be the use of monetary benefits. For example, HRM could implement an incentive plan by recognizing its employees for its efforts to adapt and use new technologies. It aims to acknowledge good performance and address the gap between the organization goals set for employees and the final outcomes. Increase job satisfaction of employee The more contented an employee is with its job, the higher possibility an employee would be adaptive to changes. (Richard W. Scholl 2003) Employers can consider satisfying employees’ job satisfaction, such as pay, working hours and job security. With job satisfaction, employees would be more adaptive to changes and the willingness to ensure effective operation of GEMS, which in result beneficial to the company in the long run. However, motivation is subjective. While it can empower employees and employers, its effect may be short term. Therefore, effort must be made consistently, for it will not be able to fulfil its long term effect of adaptation towards new organization goals. Strategies by Singapore Government A country’s adaptation towards technology is nurtured over time, and Singapore is a good example for Brunei to help individual adapt to technology. Singapore encourages technology development in its bid to become the next Silicon Valley (Gregory Gromov 1986). Singapore Government has created schemes and funding, which include cash grants, tax incentives and debt financing (AsianOne 2009). Brunei Government could also implement special schemes and grants dedicated to attract setup and ensure success, encouraging entry of foreign technology investors. This will subsequently, benefit Brunei as it helps risk reduction, in terms of investment in the long run. To further encourage the development of new innovations, SPRING Singapore has a special Technology Innovation Programme (TIP) for those who are able to develop new inventions or improve existing ones (SPRING Singapore 2012). Such programs and campaigns could be implemented in Brunei, encouraging Brunei to be exposed to the latest technology available, resulting in the increase of tech savvy consumers over the years. The above are just some strategies, which Brunei can adopt to help individual adapt to technological changes. There are many other strategies and prudent policies which Brunei can mirror, modeled by the western countries without compromising its core principle of Islamism. HRM is not culturally neutral. The nature of the scope is linked with local institutions, labour laws, corporate strategies and industrial relations vary greatly across national borders. Social Rights Bruneian adheres to the MIB ideology, a set of guiding values with the incorporation of the importance of Islam as a religion. This strict rule over the country means there are limitations to the freedom of speech, freedom of associations and collective bargaining (Kramar & Syed, 2012). However, despite the strict conformity, the government has adopted flexible and family-friendly policies (Kramar & Syed, 2012). For instance, General Order states that one should work no more than 8 hours and there are flexibilities when family responsibilities arise. America offers a much higher degree of freedom to its people. In the case of her stipulated law, â€Å"employees shall have the right to organize and to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing, and shall be free from the interference, restraint, or coercion of employers†¦. in the designation of such representatives.† (Stough, 1933). This leads to the formation of Labour Unions, which give the workers’ rights to negotiate terms with the management. The political system of the two countries sets them apart. In Brunei, HRM has to adhere to the country’s strict conformity, affecting multiple HRM issues such as appointments, discipline, work etiquette and appointments. Its people have little or no say over what is decided for them, unlike America. This social rights has seen the formation of Labour unions; an idea in which the government of Brunei will never tolerate. Sociocultural Individualism vs. Collectivism Brunei is more of a collectivist – the working environment culture is such that the people who work together are closely knitted, like a big family (Salleh & Clarke). Supervisors and officers are treated with respect like that of a parent (Kramar & Syed, 2012). Employees have no qualms sharing any problems and issues with their managers. Such informal relationship leads to total loyalty to their group; it gives the workers the sense of belonging and security. America, on the other hand, is represented by individualism (Gorrill, 2007). The need to develop personal relationships is less significant in comparison to Brunei. Individual performances are, instead, highly valued in American culture; managers are only approached for help in essential situations (Gorrill, 2007). The American corporations subscribe to formal corporate planning procedures and are generally viewed as unconcerned with promoting long-term loyalty to the organisation (Beechler, Najjar, Stucker, & Bird, 1996). Thus, a highly competitive work ethic is cultivated, leading to less job security Low vs. High Power Distance With a hierarchical relationship in place, Brunei is thought to possess a high power distance. However, it is not the case. The nurturance and care provided to the subordinates by their superiors imply that a paternalistic relationship is present (Aycan, et al., 2001). In return, the subordinate are loyal to their superior. The relationship positively impacts on the employee participation rates in decision making and problem solving. Evidently, it lowers the power distance between managers and their subordinates. Western cultures are, more than often, represented with a low power distance, thus a certain degree of informality is present. However, in America, an authoritative and organisational hierarchy is very much accepted and entrenched in its business culture (Dana, 2010). In other words, decisions are made from the top. The hierarchical chain of command often supersedes personal relationship and clear distinctions are made between work colleagues and friends (Gorrill, 2007). These leads to a significant power distance between managers and employees. Economy The economic context of a country is hardly predictable and stable, but it is most likely to have long-term consequences for HRM (Kramar & Syed, 2012). The supply and demand of labour forces vary accordingly to the country’s unemployment level. Supply and demand of labour force The benefits offered by the Brunei’s public sector, coupled with the family-style work culture, create a stable and secured work environment. As such, a job position will, almost, only be available when someone retires or resigns (Kramar & Syed, 2012). 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