Insurance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Insurance - Essay Example This insurance mostly targets young drivers because they are inexperienced and reduces their chances of getting into road accidents (Avery, 2011). In most cases, young people, both male and female, usually lack a sense of responsibility especially when they know that they have parents or guardians to take care of them. This is a moral hazard since these young people have a tendency of taking adverse risks because they know that they will not incur the cost of the damages they cause. Young men are known for engaging in risky behaviour such as drunk driving, overspeeding, and ignoring road signs. This puts them on the high premium section because they are high risk insurance buyers (Telematics insurance, 2012). Young women, on the other hand, are known to be more careful because they pay attension to the roads as they drive and are keen on observing road rules. This means that young female drivers are bound to benefit more from telematics insurance than their male counterparts. Conform ing to the provisions of telematic insurance policies gives the young female drivers an opportunity to enjoy low premiums thus lower insurance costs (Wright, 2012). However, being young, both men and women are bound to make the same mistakes that could cause accidents in which the car gets damaged or they damage other people’s property. They do all this because they know that their parents pay the car insurance and, therefore, they behave recklessly. However, there comes a time that they have to be responsible for their actions and this involves paying for their car insurance. This prompts for the selection of an insurance cover that takes care of their needs wholesomely. Telematic insurance promises rewards for its most careful drivers, and this could encourage careless young drivers to be more careful and abandon their moral hazard so as to increase their chances of getting rewards. Telematic insurance is known for its use of technology gadgets which are pricy especially to the young vehicle owners interested in buying insurance cover. Most of the information given to the buyer is about the use of up to date technology to recover lost vehicles and to help drivers avoid accidents. However, the user is not aware that these gadgets are expensive and contribute to the charges of the insurance cover. This is a case of adverse selection because one party is withholding information from the other. The fact that this cover contains rewards in its package only serves to attract clients and to prompt them to be careful while driving (Wright, 2013). When young people realize that their risky behaviour result in loses, they might opt to get an insurance cover thus research for an insurance cover. A standard insurance policy requires all those buying insurance to pay for a certain standard amount. This means that females, who are less likely to damage their vehicles have to pay more. In any case they might not even use the cover after all because chances of them g etting into an accident are very low. Male drivers, on the other hand, tend to get into accidents and the amount females pay may just subsidize that used by the younger males. In addition, insurers do not reduce the price of insurance cost for young female drivers just because they tend to use it less often. In fact, insurance costs keep going higher

Premier Hand Car Wash Analysis

Premier Hand Car Wash Analysis By researching and studying all these factors it can be shown to specific groups or individuals that acquire of facts that relate to the organisation or are willing to gain knowledge from for future success or studies. Background Premier Hand Car Wash is located on Level 1 entrance of Bathurst Street Liverpool Westfields shopping centre. The company employees for six (6) workers and the owner himself and has currently been running the business for over five (5) years. Premier Hand Car Wash has no true competitors that are trying to offer the same quality and service, most are try to compete on pricing alone. Premier Hand Car Wash main responsibility is to provide a high quality service, also besides washing provide immense customer service. Mission The mission of Premier Hand Car Wash is to provide top quality washing and detailing service for all vehicle owners in the western suburbs around Liverpool. The business will strive on keeping works satisfied in order to maintain a high level quality of cleaning at all times and leave customers blissful Develop marketing strategies SWOT analysis on Premier Hand Car Wash Strengths Location. Variety of Services. Customer demand. Weakness Pricing. Capacity (limited to certain amount of cars due to it being a car park and not enough room.) Rain. Winter. Opportunities Learn from other service and adjust and accept change to the organisation. Place a suggestion box for further ideas from customers on what they would like from services. Look for sponsors to assist the company with sprays and other clean utensils. Threats Local Competitors. Self clean carwashes. Automatic carwash. Market Segments The strategy used by Premier Hand Car Wash is to attract as many repeated customers as possible because it is easy to retain them but hard to build new ones, especially during the winter seasons. The location that the car wash is set is perfect for all types of customers that are going shopping for several hours and want to leave their car with our company to be cleaned and also be waiting for your arrival. Premier Hand Car Wash doesnt just target one specific age group; they target customers by the type of vehicle that they own. Premier Hand Car Wash believes that the type of car you have tells you a great deal about the service youre willing to purchase and to what standard/detail it requires. The following will explain customer profiles: New car owner: These customers are most likely to use a basic wash service; these customers bring their vehicle for a wash or detailing on a regular basis. The goal/aim with this customer is to keep their car looking as good as it did when it was purchased from the car lot. Sport car owner: These are usually the younger or middle aged group of men that try and retain the new look of their cars. This group will require at least once to two times a week of a basic wash, also occasional will request a deluxe wash or wax and polish. Older car owner: These people have owned a car for several years or are unable to clean it themselves. Either way they require their cars to look in the best possible shape they can. Dealerships : There are a few dealerships located within 10km from Premier Hand Car Wash therefore every so often they use a basic car wash service to detail their products before they are sold or put on sale. Trends in the Market Trends affecting business and Competitors/ Potential Competitors: Premier Hand Car Wash in the past one to two years has had an increase of 40% in competitors ranging from: Automatic carwashes Hand washes However these two areas of cleaning have taken a large sum of the consumers due to better pricing or certain discounts/additives on washes. The closest competitor is located at Orange Grove, were it has facilities to many take-away stores also availability to Harvey Norman; the other two are located further out on Hoxton park road and offer free coffee on every visit that you purchase a wash. Competitors Prices: Competitors Name Pricing Automatic Car Wash/ Do it yourself Automatic Which offers a Basic Wash (exterior only) priced at $33 Do it yourself Price at $1 dollar every 1minute for every machine Organ Grove Hand Car Wash Basic Wash $20, Deluxe Wash $33, Waxing Polishing $100 Hoxton park Road Car Wash #1 Basic Wash $23, Deluxe Wash $31, Waxing Polishing $115 Hoxton park Road Car Wash #2 Basic Wash $25, Deluxe Wash $32, Waxing Polishing $98 Even tho these competitors have taken a quit large sum of the customers, Premier Carwash still holds its name for the most quality wash in the local area of small business. The car wash is thinking of reducing prices up to 15% so that their prices, saving the consumers $5-$15 per wash*(includes only for: deluxe wash/waxing and polish) this is so it pushes more customers into purchasing the more expensive product increase funds and at the same time recovering lost customer and eliminating potential threats due to low pricing. Advantages/Disadvantages of choosing Premier Hand Car Wash over competitors: Advantage of Premier Hand Car Wash Disadvantage of Premier Hand Car Wash Greater Knowledge due to longer experience Higher quality rate Reputation Location that has a number of facilities to visit while waiting Insured encase of damage to vehicle Excellent customer service skills Safe sprays and cleaning products Highly priced No discounted rates No free coffee or tokens to offer Insufficient room More company promotion needed to advise individuals due to being underground in a parking lot. Ethical and Cultural marketing objectives Some appropriate marketing objectives are as follows: Gain 500 new customers with the first year of setting standards Clean at-least 30 cars minimum a day Expand in the number of car parking spots reserved to the car wash by 10% within 2years time Leave 95% of customers satisfied every day Marketing strategies to achieve Objectives The main strategy to achieve marketing objectives is the need for a professional detailer and has at-least a certificate 4 in car detailing and if one hasnt been found training for an individual must be paid for to do so. Reason for this is high end sports cars or luxury cars come in and ask for a detailed wash no one on site apart from the owner can work on the car. Marketing Mix Financial effects Sales 2006Â   2007 2008 Full Wash $26,080 $22,320 $44,616 Exterior Wash $15,654 $23,650 $41,574 Interior Clean $13,160 $9,009 $11,712 End User Detail $18,060 $20,985 $43,425 Business Fleet Washes $9,150 $7,225 $13,838 Car Dealership Details $35,580 $33,150 $77,040 Total Sales $117,684 $116,339 $232,204 The above diagram demonstrates the sales that Premier Hand Car Wash had over the years and indicates that the business had a good start with $117,684 which then down sided and earned $1,000 less than the year before it. Many things happen during this year which impacted the companies decline stage which was mentioned in the previous statements, the matters that affect it was low advertising, competitors grew by almost 40% threw automatic carwashes and other competitive hand carwashes. Once the company put strategies in place and decreased prices and maintain quality and increased advertising it had shown in 2008 their money doubled in that year. Volume Chart Volume Chart for One Month of Supplies The above graph shows that most of the companys profits come from interior and exterior services. Most of the extras and other service that have been purchased dont get much profit but there for dont have to be purchased for the next five to six months so in the long run sufficient amount of funding is produced from them. Product life cycle The above diagram demonstrates is the product life cycle. During the Launch of the product there were certain needs that organisation like car washes desired from the high end high pressured vacuum cleaners. Once the product had entered the introduction and growth phase it started to progress highly and reaching its highest points during maturity and saturation phase. Once there was an updated version of this the product it had become clear it was unfavourable and this is where possibly certain percentage of customers might have left to competition due to upgraded technology. Alternative Distribution Channels There is no need for alternative distribution channels because it is a direct service. But if there was a need for selling of car sprays and cleaning utensils the advantages of using an alternative distribution channel would be, it can provide intensive market sales and bigger profit margins than the original one, frat rates are cheaper, quicker delivery process. Levels of Customer Service By having certain customer promotional activities such as VIP card for regular customers, this is encourage them to stay with the company for longer periods, the card is only offered to regular customers which certain gifts are added (some gifts could involve: free coffee, movie tickets, free car wash every 3rd visit) or discounted prices from each visit, while normal pricing is offered to day to day customers. Customer Service Standards By setting the following into an everyday work activity it proven to improve quality let alone customer satisfaction, the following is an example of some standards that can be put in place: A checklist can be created detailing and recording the cars appearance before and after Premier Hand Car Wash as completed their service KPI measures for the minimum requirement of acceptable work. EG: Floor and seat cleaned spotless but stains that cant be taken off are left as they are Also a suggestion box is a good idea to be left for customer to evaluate team performance Once these activities have been completed to a successful rate alongside many more. Customers will start paying more for the service you put forward allowing the organisation to increase sales and gain more profit while the customer is left satisfied with a quality finish which benefits them. Promotional activities Internet forums Sunday Telegraph Due to the car wash not having one specific age group to target it makes it tough to plan what the customer is willing to see as an advertisement and also because they are a small business its roughly impossible to fund large amounts of money for television advertisements. This is why other forms of advertising must be arranged and they are as follows: Flyers Mail box drop offs Discount tokens Every 10th wash get one free Prizes -Chance to win your own home cleaning set Implement Strategies Recruiting Process Advertising Process to find employees: Premier Hand Car Wash The recruiting stage will be done by the owner this is due to the organisation being a small business and not having excess funding towards human resources to do advertising and inducting which might be a long process. The job advertising will be done within the centre; signage will be posted up on a window of the carwash building also on the entrance towards the staircase. If no worker has been found in between 2-3 days, then it will be posted on seek.com or carrerone.com website. The process Premier Hand Car Wash use saves a large amount of time due to so many people going past this signage and reading it and also saves the company plenty of money for not calling HR and paying them to recruit an individual. Experience and Educational needs for job: No previous education or experience is needed, all you have to bring to the job is a dedicated attitude and is highly self motivated and have good English speaking skills and have good customer communication skills. Recommended Training: When a new team member arrives to the carwash the owner introduces him to all the employees and asks the staff to teach him/her the skills that are needed. The training takes two days of learning the basics in each area of cleaning vehicles. Also while in training your pay is deducted in half because you cant perform as well. Working hours: The owner of this business will be calling the employees two to three hours before their shift starts this is because he offers only casual jobs and wants to know also who is serious about the job and who isnt by doing this tactic. The employees will be called only on the days that they are available, the longer the employee stays within the organisation the more stable his/her job becomes and a timetable of working hours is created instead of calling when they are needed. Action Plan Name of Duty Action Who is Responsible Time of Shift , Break and end shift Date Interior Cleaning Vacuuming Wipe down interior plastics Clean bad odour Fred Jacob Start Shift at 8am 20/11/10 30min Break at 12pm Finish work 5pm Wash Bay Rinses car Soaping it Using poisons to kill off stains and other markings Anthony John Start Shift at 8:30 am 20/11/10 20min Break at 1pm Finish work 5pm Wiping down Using cloth to wipe down car Tyre shine Double checking everything is clean Window cleaning Alex Milos Start Shift at 8am 20/11/10 30min Break at 11:30pm Finish work 5pm Driving cars and meeting dead lines Maintain schedule Drive cars in and out parking lot Communicate with customers Money handle Johnny Start Shift at 7am 20/11/10 30min Break at 12:30pm Finish work 6pm Promotional Activities over 1 year Advertisement Costing Flyers $800 Website $14069 Prizes $550 Sunday Telegraph $2100 Monitor and Improve Monitor Marketing Performance The monitoring of marketing performance will be done through these key performance indicators: The use of data bases to measure promotional methods Number of visits to internet forum/website Increased parking space becoming full Number of calls about products done through advertisement by flyers, mail box drop offs and posters Contingency plans The way the car wash will work on its contingency plan is by asking the consumer at the end of the cleaning producer how they took notice of the company. From this Premier Hand Car Wash has been given valuable information that they can record. This is because if they are posting adds on the internet and paying for the site to stay up and progress is not coming from that section they can spend less time and money on that section and more on flyers/mail box drop offs if that is where all their customers are finding out about their organisation.

Clarification of Payscales and Regional Differences Essays -- Engineer

Clarification of Payscales and Regional Differences A world without engineering would be a world without cities, highways, cars, or industry. Engineers play a very important role in our society. They are involved in virtually all fields of industry in one way or another, and create the products and solve the problems that make it possible for everyone to enjoy the day-to-day conveniences Americans take for granted. In America, approximately 2 million people are engineers (College of Engineering, 1998). There are various fields of engineering: aerospace, agricultural, ceramic, chemical, computer, construction, electrical, industrial, mechanical, metallurgical, and civil. Civil engineers are probably the most important field of engineering to the public. Encyclopedia Americana(Okay, we are in college now--no more using the encyclopedia or the dictionary as openings or definitions. Find stronger sources.) (1998) enlightens ones' knowledge of civil engineers: Civil engineering is one of the most diverse branches of engineering. The civil engineer plans, designs, constructs and maintains a large variety of structures and facilities for public, commercial, and industrial use. These structures include residential, office, and factory buildings; highways, railroads, airports, tunnels, bridges, harbors, channels, and pipelinesÉ as well as sewage and waste disposal systems that add to our convenience and safeguard our health. (p. 762) Civil engineering has been a part of our history since the beginning of civilization. The pyramids of Egypt and the ruins of ancient Rome and Greece are classic examples of early civil engineering. Civil M.D. Morris (1974) suggested that "Civil Engineers are creators; Innovators for the commonwealth... ... The civil engineering handbook. New York: CRC Press. College of Engineering. (1998). Civil engineering. ISU college of engineering online: [http://www.eng.iastate.edu/about/info/civil.html]. Available ISU online: Directory: The atlantic monthly online: Home page: Departments. Engineering. Tell me about the college of engineering. What do engineers do? Civil engineering. Engineering Career Services. (1998). Engineering career services: [http://www.eng.iastate.edu/ecs/employers/Spring201998%20Salary.html]. Available engineering career services online: Directory: Engineering career services: Home page. Services to students. Full-time employment. bachelors. Spring 1998. Morris, M. D. (1974). Civil engineers and the world around us. New York: American Society of Civil Engineers. Petroski, Henry. (1997). Remaking the world. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Clarification of Payscales and Regional Differences Essays -- Engineer Clarification of Payscales and Regional Differences A world without engineering would be a world without cities, highways, cars, or industry. Engineers play a very important role in our society. They are involved in virtually all fields of industry in one way or another, and create the products and solve the problems that make it possible for everyone to enjoy the day-to-day conveniences Americans take for granted. In America, approximately 2 million people are engineers (College of Engineering, 1998). There are various fields of engineering: aerospace, agricultural, ceramic, chemical, computer, construction, electrical, industrial, mechanical, metallurgical, and civil. Civil engineers are probably the most important field of engineering to the public. Encyclopedia Americana(Okay, we are in college now--no more using the encyclopedia or the dictionary as openings or definitions. Find stronger sources.) (1998) enlightens ones' knowledge of civil engineers: Civil engineering is one of the most diverse branches of engineering. The civil engineer plans, designs, constructs and maintains a large variety of structures and facilities for public, commercial, and industrial use. These structures include residential, office, and factory buildings; highways, railroads, airports, tunnels, bridges, harbors, channels, and pipelinesÉ as well as sewage and waste disposal systems that add to our convenience and safeguard our health. (p. 762) Civil engineering has been a part of our history since the beginning of civilization. The pyramids of Egypt and the ruins of ancient Rome and Greece are classic examples of early civil engineering. Civil M.D. Morris (1974) suggested that "Civil Engineers are creators; Innovators for the commonwealth... ... The civil engineering handbook. New York: CRC Press. College of Engineering. (1998). Civil engineering. ISU college of engineering online: [http://www.eng.iastate.edu/about/info/civil.html]. Available ISU online: Directory: The atlantic monthly online: Home page: Departments. Engineering. Tell me about the college of engineering. What do engineers do? Civil engineering. Engineering Career Services. (1998). Engineering career services: [http://www.eng.iastate.edu/ecs/employers/Spring201998%20Salary.html]. Available engineering career services online: Directory: Engineering career services: Home page. Services to students. Full-time employment. bachelors. Spring 1998. Morris, M. D. (1974). Civil engineers and the world around us. New York: American Society of Civil Engineers. Petroski, Henry. (1997). Remaking the world. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.

Reaction Paper: Children of Heaven

The movie â€Å"Children of Heaven† is about the life of All and Sahara, two children who come from an impoverished, Muslim family. All loses his sister's only pair of school shoes, and this story is of how the two keep it a secret from their parent's, and all the things they do to keep it hidden. To me, this shows how something that's insignificant to one person, can be a big deal to someone else. Take this situation, if I were to lose my shoes, or if they got worn out, I would simply buy another pair.For others though, if their one pair of shoes got destroyed, they would repair it until it was held together entirely by glue and thread. Throwing it away would be out of the question to them. This movie made me reevaluate my life, it made me wonder about the things I was ungrateful for, for all the things I take for granted: sleeping on a mattress instead of a floor, having more shoes than I need, and having money to spare on trivial things like ice cream and whatever else caug ht my fancy.The movie showed me to appreciate the life I was even, and to show sympathy to the less fortunate, to never turn a poor man away, because he may have faced the same problems those children faced. It also taught me the value of hard work. Right now, I don't have to lift a finger, my parent's pay for everything I have. One day though, I'm going to have to earn a living, and this movie showed me how some people do so much for so little. It taught me that I'm going to have to work hard to get what I need to survive alone in this world, much like how the father of All and Sahara had to garden to feed his family.

Visual Data Displays and Uses in Decision Making

Visual Data Displays and Uses in Decision Making Ronya Bentz, Lasondra Defreeze, Terri Dougherty, Grace Zhao HCS/438 September 24, 2012 Gerald Rintals Visual Data Displays and Uses in Decision Making Studying the measures of central tendency will help to verify if these measures of central tendency for the given data are correct. The information will assist in predicting specific health issues and interventions needed to improve health care. The measure of variation produces a conclusion through the Tele-care monitoring system.The types of central tendency conducted in this study were the mean and median. The description of data in this study uses the five-number summary. Variables were also used to predict key medical events and interventions, based on significance. According to Biddiss, Brownsell, Hawley (2009), â€Å"the data analysis was conducted using statistical software and logistic regression was used to predict the occurrence of key medical events/interventions taken from health care logs of health-care workers. Biddiss, Brownsell, Hawley 2009’s articles explain examples in the text are as follows: The 45 patients studied a total of 8576 alerts were generated. A total of 171 medical events which included the mean number of medical events for the year which was 3. 5, the median 2, and the quartile ranged between 1- 4. The mean average of key alerts per year was 49, with a median of 49, and an interquartile range of 47-51. The average percentage of total alerts that were medical events was 6. 4% with a median of 4 and an interquartile range of 1. 4-8 (p. 227-228).Because the focus of the study determined the average need for medical intervention in congestive heart failure, the use of the measure of central tendency is correct in this study. According to Bennett, Briggs, & Thiola, (2009), â€Å"variation is a measure of how much the data values are spread out. A distribution in which most data are clustered together has a low variation. † (p. 16). In the article, â€Å"predicting need for intervention in individuals with congestive heart failure using a home-based Tele-care monitoring system for 18 months† (Biddiss, Brownsell, & Hawley, 2009, p. 9); the authors monitored 45 elderly individuals with congestive heart failure who entered daily information, based of individual symptoms and health status. There are 14 variables to enter and generate the alert system. Systolic blood pressure| 2541| Heart rate| 1822| Daytime shortness of breath| 803| Need for extra pillows| 576| Night time shortness of breath| 480| Cough| 441| Weight gain| 422| Bloated stomach | 387| Dizziness| 339| Medication adherence| 327| Swollen ankles| 248| Angina| 191| Anxiety| 10| Urine excretion| Eight total alerts 8576| Biddiss, Brownsell, & Hawley, 2009, p. 29). As the data describes, the systolic blood pressure most triggered the alert system. It produced nearly 30% of the total alerts and the heart rate almost 9%. †¢Average of aler ts for 14 characteristics: 612 †¢Median: 405 †¢Distribution is right –skewed because the values are more spread to the right side. The graphing of a bell curve is the representation of the standard normal distribution. Also the table shows the mean value is zero and the standard deviation is one (Bennett, Briggs, & Triola, 2009).In Figure 2 of the study, the values are not depicted by normal distribution as they deviate greatly from the mean. This shows there is no symmetry in the values represented and displays too many variables. Because the study is measuring various variables not necessarily related to one another, it would follow that standard normal distribution would not apply in this study. The results of this study show factors of individuals who took part reported different symptoms and clinicians monitoring these concerns had determined if medical intervention was necessary.Heart rate, blood pressure, and weight were also considered and compared with the data reported by the participants. Because the study relied heavily on self-reporting by the participants, many of the variables were subject to embellishment. The clinical data supports reports of declining health, but in some cases may not correlate with information reported. The conclusions of the study are favorable, as increased monitoring of patients with chronic heart failure may result in occasional interventions that are not neccessary.This study provides an improvement in the knowledge of the patient’s condition and reaction to treatment. Reference Bennett. Briggs. , & Trola (2009). Statistical reasoning for everyday life, (3rd) Chapter 4: Describing Data. Retrieved from www. University of Phoenix. edu. Library database. Biddiss, E. , Brownsell, S. , & Hawley, M. S. (2009, March). Predicting need for intervention in individuals. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 15(5), 226-231. University of Phoenix Library Telecare; 2009, 15:226-231. Retrieved from www. Univers ity of Phoenix . edu. Library database.

Free Essays on Romanticism

During the nineteenth century there was a literary transformation going on in America that changed many writers’ approach and mind-set to writing. This transformation was known as know as Romanticism. William Cullen Bryant, Washington Irving, James Fenimore Copper and Edgar Allen Poe were major contributors to the Romantic Movement. Most of the romantic writings included emotions, imagination and â€Å"reveled in nature.† (220) One poet and poem that applies not only nature, but life and death to emphasize its message, is William Cullen Bryant and his renowned poem â€Å"Thanotopsis†. A theme that is used in nearly every literary piece is nature, which Romantic poets utilize to convey their overall message to their readers. Bryant is one of the first and most significant poets in America literature. He helps get the ball rolling for the Romantic period while acting as a standard for many aspiring poets for years to come. In his poem â€Å"Thanotopsis† Bryant writes about death, and how society should not fear it but rather embrace it. He refers to nature as a woman who seems more beautiful and perceptible when you are near your time. â€Å"To him who in the love of Nature holds communion with her visible forms, she speaks a various language; for his gayer hours she has a voice of gladness, and a smile and eloquence of beauty.†(1-4) Bryant describes the after world as place similar to nature that you â€Å"lie down with patriarchs of the infant world – with kings, the hills rock-ribbed and ancient as the sun- the vales stretching in pensive q uietness between, the venerable woods rivers that move, in majesty, and the meadows green; and poured and all.†(32-42) And though you have died and left this world, you still have an afterworld to look forward to, accentuating the romantic principle of man searching for a better world.... Free Essays on Romanticism Free Essays on Romanticism During the nineteenth century there was a literary transformation going on in America that changed many writers’ approach and mind-set to writing. This transformation was known as know as Romanticism. William Cullen Bryant, Washington Irving, James Fenimore Copper and Edgar Allen Poe were major contributors to the Romantic Movement. Most of the romantic writings included emotions, imagination and â€Å"reveled in nature.† (220) One poet and poem that applies not only nature, but life and death to emphasize its message, is William Cullen Bryant and his renowned poem â€Å"Thanotopsis†. A theme that is used in nearly every literary piece is nature, which Romantic poets utilize to convey their overall message to their readers. Bryant is one of the first and most significant poets in America literature. He helps get the ball rolling for the Romantic period while acting as a standard for many aspiring poets for years to come. In his poem â€Å"Thanotopsis† Bryant writes about death, and how society should not fear it but rather embrace it. He refers to nature as a woman who seems more beautiful and perceptible when you are near your time. â€Å"To him who in the love of Nature holds communion with her visible forms, she speaks a various language; for his gayer hours she has a voice of gladness, and a smile and eloquence of beauty.†(1-4) Bryant describes the after world as place similar to nature that you â€Å"lie down with patriarchs of the infant world – with kings, the hills rock-ribbed and ancient as the sun- the vales stretching in pensive q uietness between, the venerable woods rivers that move, in majesty, and the meadows green; and poured and all.†(32-42) And though you have died and left this world, you still have an afterworld to look forward to, accentuating the romantic principle of man searching for a better world.... Free Essays on Romanticism Romanticismo En los à ºltimos aà ±os del siglo XVIII y primeros del siglo XIX, ocurrieron revoluciones liberales en Europa originaron el triunfo y la consolidacià ³n de este estilo. Este es un movimiento espiritual que tiene su origen en los pensamientos del siglo XVIII, en este se proclame el individualismo a ultranza y el nacionalismo como dimensià ³n colectiva. Como consecuencia de este individualismo podemos ver: el sentimiento y la libertad, se proclama la libertad del artista y una reaccià ³n violenta contra la rigidez del academicismo neoclsico. Este era de aspecto sensible y religioso. La principal fuente inspiradora era la naturaleza. Ahora se prefiere la noche mas que el dà ­a ya que se considera donde esta el Alma del Universo, camino inevitable, para la ensoà ±acià ³n (el camino inevitable para alcanzar los paraà ­sos perdidos). Este estilo se apoya en las experiencias artà ­sticas del siglo anterior, pero sustituyendo la Antigà ¼edad Greco-romana por la Edad Media (principalmente por el gà ³tico). Tiene su gusto en los exà ³tico y en lo pintoresco para satisfacer las necesidades de huidas de la realidad que caracteriza esta à ©poca. Las comunicaciones las campaà ±as militares en Africa permitieron que aquellos lugares tan diferentes y raros, que junto con el Sur de Espaà ±a de sustrato rabe fueron muy visitadas por los artistas europeos. Poniendo muy de moda los paisajes y ambientes. Francia reemplazo a Italia durante este perà ­odo, dejando aparte la arquitectura ya que la pintura habà ­a ganando tanta popularidad. El gusto por lo medieval y por el Gà ³tico se paralizo para restaurar los edificios. La arquitectura romntica italiana supuso sin embargo una vuelta renacentista. Alemania se obsesiono con lo medieval y por su tradicià ³n gà ³tica se termina la catedral de Colonia se convirtià ³ en empeà ±o de carcter nacionalista. Espaà ±a se incorpora tarde al movimiento romntico que dura mucho tiempo en el r...

From Mozart to the second school of Vienna essays

From Mozart to the second school of Vienna essays At Dimitris Mitropoulos hall on the 3rd of February took place a part of the sere From Mozart to the second school of Vienna. Wolfang Amadeus Mozarts piano, violin, viola and violoncello quartet num.2 in E-major, K.493 and Arnold Schoenbergs Ode to Napoleon Buonaparte, Op. 41 for string, piano and voice quartet and after the break, Wolfang Amadeus Mozarts piano, oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoon quintet in E-major, K-452. The quartets and the quintet were played as written above. Firstly, K.493 which wasAccording to Mozart's own catalogue, the second quartet in E-flat major was completed on June 3, 1786, less than nine months after the letter to Hoffmeister about the advance. This time, Mozart had the piece printed by the rival publisher Artaria and that edition is the earliest version we possess. With the exception of a few drafts from the Finale, which are in the British Museum, no autograph score remains. Even if one feels the work to be a relief after its uncompromising counterpart in G minor, the later quartet cannot really be seen as an easier alternative. It is too elaborate for that. This time Mozart sets the piano against the string trio more, but this is not done purely for convenience. The strong polarity of tonic and subdominant in the first two movements creates a somber undercurrent which is emphasized by the instrumentation. The second theme of the first movement (a softer version of the pent-up energy of the beginning, introduced by the violin) is preceded by a contracted motif of two descending sixths which then persists throughout the whole movement as a kind "idee fixe". There are no less than 31 reputations of it in the development, where it serves as a harmonic "pivot" for a very bold series of modulations. The slow movement exudes warmth and thoughtfulness, twinned with chromatic "moments of doubt". Harmonically expansive answering phrases in ...

MEDIA COVERAGE FOR SELF-PUBLISHED WRITER

MEDIA COVERAGE FOR SELF-PUBLISHED WRITER Since newspapers generally have a policy of NOT reviewing self-published books its almost impossible to get a book review in any newspaper. Some papers go so far as to not review anything published A feature story about you is more credible and likely to generate interest than a review of your book. So look at your life and see what you have to offer newspapers readers. Do you collect Santa Claus dolls or trains? Have you turned your living room into a bird sanctuary where 50 birds fly free where your couch used to sit? Do you spend your weekends building tree houses for neighborhood kids? I wrote feature stories on all these people. When you can get a reporter interested in you running your 10th marathon, or heading up the drive to distribute sleeping bags to the homeless its very easy to work in, Oh, and I just published a book. If you have something in your life to pitch to a reporter OTHER than your book, youre almost guaranteed to be able to talk about writing the book in the article. Your self-published book may drive interest in something the public wants to know about. For instance, a parent who self-publishes a book on how to get through the diagnosis, treatment and outcome of her childs cancer to raise money for cancer research or her child, is likely to get a reporters attention. So is the coach who writes a book on how to introduce your child to sports. If you have a recognized expertise, most reporters will find a story in that. Have you written a book on the history of your town and had to go on some amazing road trips, or dig into old courthouse documents, or interview veterans in a near Are you related to someone famous who is mentioned in the book? You dont have to be Oprahs long lost sister, but if the towns local celebrity is related to you, then good for you! If youre a famous coach, teacher or political figure who self-publishes a book, chances are youll get the attention of any small town paper. Think holidays! If youve written a book on Thanksgiving traditions, or how to wrap Christmas gifts, or anything related to the big holidays- Veterans Day/Memorial Day, Thanksgiving or Christmas, Easter etc., MOST small to medium newspapers will write a story to tie the holiday to a local person. Dont stop at your daily paper. Almost all cities have alternative papers, and rural areas have weekly papers. If you live in a bedroom community then chances are you have a weekly paper whod love to write about your book. But read several issues of the paper FIRST, before you write the editor. Try to see if your book has relevance for the readership. There are all kinds of weekly papers for seniors, grandparents, sports enthusiasts, fishermen and parents. Try to find a paper (most are free and distributed at libraries, grocery stores and shopping centers) that caters to people who would be interested in your book. Dont try to get a grandparenting magazine to review your Sci-fi thriller. Do get a parenting magazine to look at your How I Learned to Get Offline and Love the Playground book on parenting in a high tech society. Dont forget bloggers! Many of the larger newspapers read local blogs and will pick up on any content that generates online buzz. The trick is to never stop marketing! You can do it!

Outline a framework for assessing the effectiveness of aid in Essay

Outline a framework for assessing the effectiveness of aid in promoting economic development in developing countries. Critically - Essay Example Thus, the difference between government enacted foreign aid programs and private, charitable, or volunteer groups donating money and services to development causes can be distinguished as two categories of international development aid: public policy and private charity. What is classified as â€Å"foreign aid† for example under public policy and is â€Å"given† to foreign States as part of a nation like Britain or America’s foreign policy might include military and economic aid together in a package that is intended to strengthen State structures of authority rather than indigenous community economic development. Private groups that seek to implement assistance programs independently of foreign States may have different obstacles and program criteria than the government aid assistance programs. Therefore, it is important to understand the difference between public and private development initiatives, and to analyze each on its own unique set of standards and req uirements relating to the way the issues are framed and the policies set into practice. Government aid programs to developing countries may be undertaken unilaterally, as many of the developed economic States such as Britain, the U.S., Japan, France, Finland, China, Denmark and other countries enact as part of their foreign policy. At the same time, these same countries may also engage in official assistance to international aid programs as part of the UN, EU, OAS, or NATO. This foreign aid is intended as economic assistance but donated in relation to the political goals of the nations involved. Historically, this would be considered the aid most easily lost to corruption, most likely to land in the Swiss bank accounts of despots, to be wasted, funneled into military and police repression tectics, and generally used to encourage a greater system of inequality in the foreign country by exacerbating the division of wealth in the society, or the inequality of capital distribution among its citizens. This type of foreign aid may lead to crony capitalism, dictatorships, banana republics, or proxy States that exist in opposition to their populations and actually deter economic and social development through the production of a corrupt and unequal society. These patterns typified foreign assistance aid to Africa in the 1970’s, Central and South America in the 1980’s, and Pakistan, Egypt, and other countries considered vital in the war on terror in the current paradigm. The characteristic of this type of aid is that it goes to a corrupt or undemocratic and non-transparent proxy State of the superpowers and the resources are used exclusively by the corrupt or crony class of insiders related to the local national party structure. This type of foreign development aid is generally the least effective and the least likely to actually â€Å"trickle down† to the communities represented by three billion of the world’s poorest, families who live on less than $1 per day, often lacking any type of clean water, sanitation, education, or electrical facilities. Yet, the government policy driven types of foreign development assistance may also take the form of â€Å"Peace Corps†

Early 20th century Shanghai Divergence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Early 20th century Shanghai Divergence - Essay Example The article starts off by attempting to place Shanghai in the context of other cities of the world like Amsterdam, Budapest and Houston that Baverstock et al have placed in the category of â€Å"gamma-global-cities†. What this means is that these cities have been given a separate place from the other cities of the world in terms of their tendency to what Wasserstrom calls â€Å"re-globalizing† nature i.e. the ability of the cities to re-integrate them with the global landscape. The author attempts’ to place Shanghai in context leave him bewildered considering the range of transformations that the city underwent in its existence and the fact that it is still a â€Å"work in progress†. The author reaches the view point that Shanghai is a city that is â€Å"good to think† which means that attempts to compare Shanghai with other cities have proved fruitless. And the article quotes Rudolf Wagner who suggests a moratorium in comparing Shanghai with other cities. Wasserstrom is not deterred by the academic community’s decision on de-linking comparisons of Shanghai with other cities. On the other hand, â€Å"While there is a strong case to be made for Wagner’s argument and the modification of it just described, this article argues that this is a good time for Shanghai specialists to enter the admittedly treacherous waters of far-flung comparison. And it will suggest a specific strategy for doing just this by proposing that we think of Shanghai as a reglobalizing When we use the term â€Å"re-globalize†, we effectively mean that there was a time when these cities were part of the global mainstream in terms of their relations with the rest of the world be it for trade or exchange of ideas. Shanghai has a particular significance in this respect as it was one of the cities in the East that had interacted with the West before the opium wars and the hundred years of treaty enforced port-period when it was a bustling port that served as a center for commerce and

Latin American Cinema (cuban, Strawberry and Chocolate) Essay

Latin American Cinema (cuban, Strawberry and Chocolate) - Essay Example Describing those days, the film under discussion qualifies as a Cuban cinema with certain typical traits. Mr. Gutierrez Alea, the maker of this film, has always been sensitive towards â€Å"Cubanness†. This Cubanness finds expression through a social commitment, which must also culminate at a social resonance. People must be able to identify themselves with the characters of the film, and further reflect on the subject and predicate of the presentation. Memories of Underdevelopment effectively portrayed the identity factor of the Cuban society and thus it accomplishes as a typical Cuban film. Mr. Gutierrez Alea was critical to the revolution but not destructive towards it. Hence, Memories of Underdevelopment can be defined as a portrait of the Cuban society created by a critical insider of the Cuban Revolution itself. The film covers the humanistic aspects of the revolutionary outlook through the heart and mind of a sensitive filmmaker. Hence, it becomes a descriptive monologue of the Cuban Revolution as a whole. The film has a radical expressionist approach towards the Cuban Revolution and the society. It particularly seeks to point out the stringency and confusion in the post revolutionary Cuba during the 1960s. The film is about an intellectual who strives to find out his place in the post-revolutionary social framework of Cuba. Thus, the director enters a world of inter-contradiction, where we find both revolutionary commitment and humanly hesitations in one go. In the process, the critique becomes pretty innovative. The film does not attack one’s humanly weaknesses. Rather, it portrays this factor of weakness sympathetically. The assertive masterpiece is meshed into the picturing of this sensitive feature of the human mind. The weakness or hesitation actually develops from the internal mind, where subconscious reasoning often takes control of a man’s

Why computer talents become computer hackers Article

Why computer talents become computer hackers - Article Example In addition, the lack of moral values plays a role in encouraging them to engage in destructive activities. Young people are rebellious in nature. For those with computer talents, hacking provides an effective channel for demonstrating their rebellion. However, an individual’s judgment determines if they will engage in hacking. Many students who have an inclination to use their computer skills for illegal activities tend to attack school systems. The failure of high schools and colleges to punish these activities appropriately misses a significant opportunity to correct this behavior (Xu, Hu & Zhang 69). As a result, the young men and women perceive themselves to be invisible. In conclusion, it is possible to prevent young people having computer skills from engaging in hacking. They are driven to the activity out of curiosity (Xu, Hu & Zhang 69). A few young hackers engage in the activity for material or financial gain. Consequently, any effort to combat the rise of hacking in the modern society must involve effective measures to channel the curiosity among young people into a productive

Percy Shelley, Robert Burns and William Blake Poem Analysis Examples Essay

Percy Shelley, Robert Burns and William Blake Poem Analysis Examples - Essay Example Percy Shelley, Robert Burns and William Blake who were contemporaries, were part of the glorious age of romanticism in English poetry. The three men, coming from very different backgrounds, however shared the common trait of non conformism, and shared a deep interest in the revolutions that rocked the political and social traditions of the time. Shelley was the son of a country squire, while Blake was the son of a draper. Burns, a Scotsman also known as the pastoral poet, was the son of tenant farmers. Shelley was expelled from school because of his atheist views, while people went so far as to consider Blake mad because of his radical views. The radical political views held by Burns were shared by both Blake and Shelley, and all three did not conform to the existing norms of a steady married life and a conventional family. All of them had at one time or another in their lives, a run in with the established church of the time. All this is reflected in their work but in different ways . The beauty of their poetry hides behind it the anger of the poet at a world that is at odds with the divine creation. Shelley’s Ode to the West Wind is an example of the terza rima that Dante used in his Divine Comedy. Each part of the Ode consists of four stanzas of three lines each, ending with a two line couplet. In each of the three lines of each stanza, the first line rhymes with the third and the word at end of the middle line is used as the rhyme for the first and third lines of the next stanza. The beauty of nature is shown in both its gentle and violent forms as Shelley calls the West Wind the â€Å"preserver and destroyer† (Shelley, Ode to the West Wind) showing it sweeping away the dead leaves of the autumn and carrying the seeds that will herald the birth of new foliage in the Spring. Shelley cleverly uses both simple similes as well as complicated metaphors in the poem as he meditates on the beauty of nature in her gentle form as well as in her fury. Consider how deftly he uses the simile to compare seeds that have been blown by a wild wind, to corpses that lie in their gr aves waiting for the same wind’s gentler form to awaken them to a new birth, and when he says â€Å"The winged seeds, where they lie cold and low, Each like a corpse within its grave until, Thine azure sister of the Spring shall blow Her clarion o'er the dreaming earth,† (Shelley, Ode to the West Wind) This stark scene of death is again contrasted with the riotous colors and scents of spring in his very next line â€Å"Driving sweet buds like flocks to feed in air)With living hues and odours† (Shelley, Ode to the West Wind) portraying nature in her varied moods. He seeks solace in his need from the same wind as â€Å"A heavy weight of hours has chained and bowed One too like thee: tameless, and swift, and proud.† and requests the wind to lift his spirits and give him renewed strength to face his woes, â€Å"As thus with thee in prayer in my sore need. Oh, lift me as a wave, a leaf, a cloud!†(Shelley, Ode to the West Wind) William Blake too uses sim iles and metaphors for comparison, but the etchings that accompany his

Career plan Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Career plan - Assignment Example Bob Bridges introduced him to the world of financial markets. Gardner was taken to major financial firms like Merrill Lynch, Paine Webber, E.F. Hutton, Dean Witter Reynolds and Smith Barney. The main factor attributable to his success is the immense passion he had for the career. Gradually he stopped attending his sales calls and spent more time in meeting and networking with managers. Even at this time he was at the height of personal problems including break off with live-in girl friend, homelessness, imprisonment for 12 days etc. He started as a trainee at E.F. Hutton. He quit his job and joined for a full time training program in stock broking. But due to some unfortunate incidents he could not be hired as a permanent employee. He then enrolled for a training program at Dean Witter Reynolds where he worked with dedication to make maximum sales calls for a very low stipend. After completion of the training he was hired as a full time employee in the company. He was later on recrui ted by Bear Stearns & Company. His success took another step when he established his brokerage firm, Gardner Rich & Company which was specialized in the trading of debt, equity and derivative products. Thereafter, there were no bounds in his life, both professionally and personally. My career path A well planned career path is essential for being successful in the desired career. The following career path will be the best option to be a successful stock market investor and trader. Keep track of current events: Being aware of the current events and the ability to assume the future based on it is the primary requirement to be successful in stock markets. This can be achieved only if we keep our eyes and ears open. At least 2 hours in a day should be spent on reading general and business newspapers, business magazines like ‘The Economist’ etc. Keeping track of the events this way will help us to feel the market and its complexities. The stock market is very sensitive to th e happenings around the world. The happenings can be business, social, environmental, political and so on. Watching business news every day is essential for this career. This step is not a process. This is an activity that has to be continued at every level of the career path. Enroll as a management trainee: Enrolling as a management trainee is the first step. At first, a good company should be chosen for pursuing the training. Considering that the company chooses the candidate as a management trainee, every next moment should be an investment for the future. As a management trainee one should be made to sit on the trading terminal. In other words management trainees should be considered as share traders. As share traders, one should not be confined to just punching the orders based on the customer requirements. Even as a trader, strategic thinking should begin. Effort should be made to analyze the market and scrip movements based on the knowledge of the market happenings. Spending at least one year as a share trader will give a good hands on experience on the markets. Acquire certifications and licenses: Acquiring certifications and licenses is very important for getting recognized in the system. While continuing as a trader, preparation should start for Series 7 exam. Series 7 is the primary exam to be given by a stock trader. This exam can be taken only through a firm sponsorship. The company where we are employed as trader will be the

Percy Shelley, Robert Burns and William Blake Poem Analysis Examples Essay

Percy Shelley, Robert Burns and William Blake Poem Analysis Examples - Essay Example Percy Shelley, Robert Burns and William Blake who were contemporaries, were part of the glorious age of romanticism in English poetry. The three men, coming from very different backgrounds, however shared the common trait of non conformism, and shared a deep interest in the revolutions that rocked the political and social traditions of the time. Shelley was the son of a country squire, while Blake was the son of a draper. Burns, a Scotsman also known as the pastoral poet, was the son of tenant farmers. Shelley was expelled from school because of his atheist views, while people went so far as to consider Blake mad because of his radical views. The radical political views held by Burns were shared by both Blake and Shelley, and all three did not conform to the existing norms of a steady married life and a conventional family. All of them had at one time or another in their lives, a run in with the established church of the time. All this is reflected in their work but in different ways . The beauty of their poetry hides behind it the anger of the poet at a world that is at odds with the divine creation. Shelley’s Ode to the West Wind is an example of the terza rima that Dante used in his Divine Comedy. Each part of the Ode consists of four stanzas of three lines each, ending with a two line couplet. In each of the three lines of each stanza, the first line rhymes with the third and the word at end of the middle line is used as the rhyme for the first and third lines of the next stanza. The beauty of nature is shown in both its gentle and violent forms as Shelley calls the West Wind the â€Å"preserver and destroyer† (Shelley, Ode to the West Wind) showing it sweeping away the dead leaves of the autumn and carrying the seeds that will herald the birth of new foliage in the Spring. Shelley cleverly uses both simple similes as well as complicated metaphors in the poem as he meditates on the beauty of nature in her gentle form as well as in her fury. Consider how deftly he uses the simile to compare seeds that have been blown by a wild wind, to corpses that lie in their gr aves waiting for the same wind’s gentler form to awaken them to a new birth, and when he says â€Å"The winged seeds, where they lie cold and low, Each like a corpse within its grave until, Thine azure sister of the Spring shall blow Her clarion o'er the dreaming earth,† (Shelley, Ode to the West Wind) This stark scene of death is again contrasted with the riotous colors and scents of spring in his very next line â€Å"Driving sweet buds like flocks to feed in air)With living hues and odours† (Shelley, Ode to the West Wind) portraying nature in her varied moods. He seeks solace in his need from the same wind as â€Å"A heavy weight of hours has chained and bowed One too like thee: tameless, and swift, and proud.† and requests the wind to lift his spirits and give him renewed strength to face his woes, â€Å"As thus with thee in prayer in my sore need. Oh, lift me as a wave, a leaf, a cloud!†(Shelley, Ode to the West Wind) William Blake too uses sim iles and metaphors for comparison, but the etchings that accompany his

Dissertation topic and proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Topic and proposal - Dissertation Example The highly accepted classification of SMEs in UK and EU attributes to â€Å"the number of employees or annual turnover, with small enterprises constituting of less than 50 employees and medium size enterprise at more than 50 and less than 249 employees† (BIS Department for Business and Innovation Skills, pp. 1-7, 2010). The nature of ownership in SMEs is either the individual entrepreneur or the family investments, which later on is inducted by directors on behalf of the majority shareholders. The SMEs sector in UK has jumped to an enormous boom in the last couple of years by increasing the net to 400,000 firms every year and even the micro businesses or self-employment has contributed a significant turnover for over ? 200 billion to the economy even in the severe economic turmoil of recession on inflation (Amble, pp. 20-29, 2004). The small and medium sized business has emerged as a powerful source in contributing to net revenue of the economy by intervening for almost 13 % i n financial and business intermediation, such as real estate and business operations. In addition, by contribution in 12% to agricultural and fishing business, wholesales and retails at 21% indicating to largest contribution to the private sector turnover (BIS Department for Business and Innovation Skills, pp. 1-6, 2010). The role of SMEs enterprises has played a significant part in the economic and social growth followed by the industrialization, income, and employment generation to the economy (OECD Conference for SMEs, pp. 1-3, 2004). Research Aim: The important element of enterprises is to induct the easy or smooth availability of the capital for their start up or growing business. The imperfect capital market and the economic turmoil have created barriers for insufficient external funding to the SMEs that has forced the government intervention in equity and debt market to provide funds and loans to their ventures (Graham, pp. 56-64, 2004). The main aim of the dissertation of th e proposal is to ‘Highlight and analyze the significance of the financing intervention within the small and medium sized enterprises and their attributes’. It also aims to analyze the following in order to bridge the gap between the finance providers and the small business. 1. Close analyses of the SMEs and their access to external finance. 2. The financial growth and government intervention in SMEs 3. The needs and supply capabilities between SMEs and financial intermediaries. Research Objectives: The objective of the dissertation includes the detail literature review and problems faced by SMEs deployment of financial funds. The purpose of this research is to recognize the factors influencing the financial decision making of SMEs and any other alternative option for funds. The study will also focus on critical factors discussed as below (Competition Commission, pp. 1-3, 2002): 1. Identify the policies and regulations for the provision of funds by the bank 2. Identify t he various sources of finance available to the SMEs and their significance. 3. Identify and deployment of options which are used to improve the burden of cost and accountability of revenue and profits for SMEs. Research Questions: Following are the questions that highlight the main reasons for the research dissertation: 1. What are the factors that are affecting the SMEs financial market and access

Analysis of Global Automobile Market

Analysis of Global Automobile Market EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The purpose of the report is to assess the recent strategies employed by global automobile organisations between 2007 and 2010 based on secondary data and published press. Organisations thereafter refer to global automobile organisations. This report explores the process of reconciling dichotomies at Honda Motors Corporations (HMC) in terms of its strategies and core competences. Several theoretical frameworks were derived from related literature as a guide to analyse and integrate relevant elements from business level and corporate level strategies application. The roles on mergers and acquisitions (MA) applied in the global automobile industry are then discussed. This section is structured as follows: part 1 reveals MA in relation to too much debts and risk of bankruptcy; part 2 describes MA as a strategy to explore potential for product synergy and part 3 illustrates MA as means to access to new technologies and emerging markets. This report examines the corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices initiated by the organisations and its impact on the financial and non-financial performance. The report ends at discussion the Western and Japanese leadership used by the global automobile organisations and their suitability. INTRODUCTION OVERVIEW OF GLOBAL AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY The automobile industry can be divided into three categories: auto parts vendors, automobile manufacturers and dealers. The global automobile market has been long dominated by Western manufacturers such as General Motors, Chrysler and Volkswagen in 1955 followed by eastern automobiles manufacturers Toyota, Honda and Nissan since 2005. In 2009, Toyota was the worlds leading car manufacturer with approximately 15.3 percent market share, Volkswagen 13.1 percent and Ford approximately 6.9 percent market share (Datamonitor 2009). Recently automobile manufacturers in developing countries such as Hyundai, Tata and Geely have increasingly become vital players in the automobile market, Hyundai is now one of the significant players in the United States market (Fetscherin and Toncar 2010) whereby Tata and Geely have begun to take aim at developed country automobile markets and intend to compete in the global automobile market (Fetscherin and Toncar 2010). The 2008 global financial downturn had negatively impacted the automobile industry into crisis thus many organisations were encountered losses and bankruptcy. Nevertheless, there were four outstanding organisations recorded remarkable profit during this turbulent period: Volkswagen, Honda, Hyundai and BMW (Appendix 1). Forecasts predict that the global car industry will be worth $1,611 billion by 2014 with the volume of 66.2 million units (Datamonitor, 2009). HONDA STRATEGY AND MANAGERIAL DICHOTOMIES HMC established in 1948. Honda develops, manufactures and markets small general purpose engines and scooters to specialty sports cars, had earn an outstanding reputation from customers worldwide. Honda has grown to become the worlds largest motorcycle manufacturer and one of the leading automobile manufacturers. There are seven business units in HMC (Figure 1). Figure 1 Honda SBU.jpg Honda business level strategy versus corporate level strategy in global context Business level strategy refers to the way HMC competes in an industry which it is located. Porter generic strategies framework had been employed to examine each Honda strategic business units (SBU) (Figure 2). Figure 2 Porter generic.jpg Honda sets out cost leadership strategy to produce an urban car with fuel efficient feature, Honda City, a successful model had reflected Hondas innovative and quick response to market demand on inexpensive and fuel efficient (Nonaka 2007). Honda enjoys the cost advantage to produce and market its Hero Honda motorcycle in India by preference to access to raw materials and efficiency of production capability (Ramarao 2009). Honda continuous seeks for cost reductions to competitive position. Differentiation involves offering a unique product with special characteristic however the selling price may not be low (Fitzroy and Hulbert 2005) Honda created Acura series to isolated its common automobile ranges. Acura is a higher range to compete with luxury category, i.e. Toyota Lexus. Honda Acura differentiates itself from product features and engine performance. Honda produces a series of scooter range from 50cc to 125cc to meets different demands for different markets (HMC 2009). Honda launched specialty engines GX160, GX200 and GX390 for better handling and durability suitable for long tail boats which are common water transportation in Asia (HMC 2009). Honda Insight, a hybrid vehicle that incorporated a compact and lightweight hybrid system to offer fuel economy while maintain the pleasure of driving (HMC 2009). Besides differentiation strategies, Honda performs well in its private jets, ATVs, watercrafts, outboard motors and jets. Honda differentiates focus on dual clutch transmission and water cooled engines in its FourTrax Rancher ATVs (HMC 2009). Honda started Hondajet since 2006, the private jet featured by HF120 compact turbofan engine for low emission where the first delivery is expected in 2011 (HMC 2009). Corporate strategy is the future organisations directions against resources possessed by the organisation (Lynch 2000). Corporate strategy links organisations internal resources and the social economic environment that it operates (Lynch 2000). HMCs sense of purpose is to striving to be a company society wants to exist (HMC 2009). In view of intense competition (threats) and strong demand (opportunities) from HMC operating environment (Figure 3), HMC had implemented some value added corporate strategies. Figure 3 Corporate strategy.jpg Product diversification concerns an expansion of product range that Honda supplies. Honda extended its product range from light truck to compact sedan cars. In North America, HMC introduces Pilot, Acura TSX and Acura TL to meet the different market requirements (HMC 2009). HMC broaden its range to launched Honda City in Asia outside Japan as the trend towards driving smaller cars accelerated along with the increase in fuel prices (HMC 2009). Vertical integration is an expansion of range of business related activities that HMC encompasses (Fitzroy and Hulbert 2005). Honda opens up financial services division to lease their automobiles and services centres for pre and after sales services to strengthen its branding position as one stop vehicle provider. Geographical diversification is an expansion to wider geographical areas mainly to create additional market share or obtaining competitive advantages. HMC has a global network of 396 subsidiaries and 105 affiliates in more than five regions and 160 countries recorded 3.5 million units automobiles sales in 2009 (HMC 2009). HMC established its manufacturing plants in various countries to support domestic demand rather than manufacture in Japan and export, this will help in shorten the delivery lead time and incentive in domestic assembly. Successful organisations must outgrow their initial scope of products and geographical areas (Fitzroy and Hulbert 2005). Horizontal integration refers a diversification into different industries. Besides automobile, HMC broadens its business into different industries i.e. aviation business, solar cell business and household cogeneration units (HMC 2009). Honda product-related core competencies versus process-related core capabilities In practice, HMCs capability is as the main drivers for its shareholder values. Honda started with motorcycle business had move on to engine business and the most successful automobiles consists of 77 percent of its revenue. HMCs success underlying its core competence in engines design allows HMC to develop more products i.e. lawn mowers, motorcycles, automobiles and private jets (McGee and Thomas 2007). Substantial increase in fuel price, new customer preferences and spending patterns are a significant momentum to the pricing model and value proposition changes whereby consumers emphasize on good price for reasonable quality (Giesen et. al. 2010). As part of corporate strategy, Honda enhances its Research and Development (RD) particularly in safety technologies to help reduction on the risk of injuries to passengers and pedestrians from car accidents and fuel efficient cars, i.e. Honda Freed and Honda City. Honda recognises the rational to develop non-pollutions product in the first place than to clean up later. The electric car demonstrates a technological solution for the air pollution caused by automobile emission (Bernabo et. al. 2009). However, due to the charging centre constraints and maturity of the power supply capacity for longer journey, HMC focuses on its hybrid car Insight to meet the demand. Lean management focuses on eliminating waste (non-value adding activities) throughout HMC production systems (Chen et. al. 2010). By selective sharing of design development, HMC can focus resources and competencies on a limited set of innovative ideas and reduce their direct costs for innovating many of the components in their products (Chen et. al. 2010). A safety-induced crisis causes obvious problems for a brand like Honda which pride itself on reliability and the promise to deliver the power of dream(Banks 2010). HMC need both vendors and dealers to complete the complicated fabrication processes and reaches end consumers. In contrast to many competitors, HMC realises the importance of turning vendors into partners, loop the vendors into product design and development to shorten both new product lead time and reduce overall cost concerning the inventory holding (Nguyen and Slater 2010). The vendor development programmes include joint improvement, information sharing an updates, offer assistance to lift up vendors technical capabilities (Nguyen and Slater 2010). i.e. HMC make use of its vendor network to expand low price components accessibility in Vietnam had considerable reduce HMC production cost thus selling price (Oh and Rhee 2010). HMC factory networks operate the same way so each is able to make any vehicle in the product range according to market demand. This gives the company tremendous flexibility, efficient logistics to enhanced its manufacturing (Economist 2003). HMC installed special data systems in each of its factories to monitor weather forecasts to allows manager to predict bad weather which may affect deliveries so they can decide the stock up level to prevent material shortage (Economist 2003). To enhance the dealers ability, HMC trains and develops its dealer networks with operating procedures and policies in setting up the showroom, merchandising and service management (Oh and Rhee 2010). Honda Vietnam strict controls over vendors to ensure stable and good quality supply (Oh and Rhee 2010). Conclusion The analysis shows the density of HMC in managing its global organisation. Business strategies and corporate strategies are in different dimension but intimately link to each other, HMC needs to understand the external context of business when develop business and corporate strategies. HMC strengthen its production efficiency, flexibility and sales capabilities in various business units to meet the demand for cost effective products at the same time improve its corporate structure towards more flexible and dynamic to meet customers demand, business environment a society as a whole. There is no single best strategy applied for all products, Honda had demonstrated adequate thinking in developing suitable strategies for its products in different geographical areas. THE ROLE OF MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS Mergers and acquisitions act as a strategic tool to obtain wider market share and create synergies-improvements in competitiveness, customer value or product innovation that can be achieved by integrating two entities (Gadiesh et. al. 2001, Thompson et. al. 2005). The global automobile business faces severe challenges with reduction in sales and intense competition and opportunities in emerging markets, such as China and India. Network-level strategies is useful in turbulent and growth markets yet an organisation had limitations access or unable to pursue that competition by on its own (Cools and Roos 2005). Boston Consulting Group (BCG) matrix was used to analyse global automobile organisations positions (Figure 4). Figure 4 BCG.jpg MA in relation to too much debts and risk of bankruptcy One of the most important factors in mergers and acquisitions is debt and bankruptcy during recession (Cappell 2010). Organisation fall in BCG Dog category (Figure 4), i.e. Volvo, General Motors and Ssangyong are forced look for suitable partner to sustain its limited market share. A research carried out by Ostermann and Neal (2009) reveals that there were 25 automobile vendors are in the high debt and bankruptcy risk (Figure 5). Figure 5 25 Bankruptcy.jpg If a business unit no longer generate positive returns on investment for the organisation without massive investment, some organisation opt trade off the business unit and exit the industry (Lynch 2000). Ford Motor sold Volvo to China Geely at US$1.8 billion as part of Fords strategy of exiting European luxury lines to focus on Fords brand (Starbiz 2010). In the scramble to swap gas guzzlers for smaller vehicles thus reduction in use vehicle residual value forcing General Motors finance arm into huge losses on cars returned after leased (The Economist 2009). Ssangyong, formerly controlled by Chinas SAIC Motor Corporations was under bankruptcy protection in early 2009 due to cash shortage crisis to be acquired by Indian largest sport utility vehicles manufacturer, Mahindra (Bloomberg 2010). Mahindra gives Ssangyong financial supports, engineering and sourcing synergies (Bloomberg 2010). MA as a strategy to explore potential for product synergy To response to the zero COÂÂ ² emission, BMW, Daimler and General Motors formed an alliance in 2005 to develop hybrid vehicle technology. The ultimate solution to zero carbon dioxide emission is electric cars (Bernabo et. al. 2009). Nissan sees future trends towards electric car however electric cars design is highly challenging thus Nissan joint venture with NEC Tokin for synergy where NEC Tokin focuses on cell technology and electrode manufacturing so Nissan can concentrate in mass production (Taylor III 2010). Automobile organisations are focused on potential partners technological ability than cost savings achievement (Cappell 2010). PSA Peugeot produces diesel engines with Ford Motor (Financial Times n.d.). Ford Motor and Fiat share a manufacturing plant in Tychy, Poland to produce Ford smaller car, Ka and Fiat 500 (Financial Time n.d.). Daimler announced strategic partnership with Renault and Nissan to build small cars, engines and van together (Financial Times n.d.). In addition, as pressure on developed country manufacturers increases to reduce costs, they might look to China as sources of inexpensive manufacturing and might increasingly manufacture their cars in China and export them to developed countries (Fetscherin and Toncar 2010). General Motors, Ford and Chrysler are currently producing cars in China in joint ventures with Chinese manufacturers (Fetscherin and Toncar 2010). Many family-owned organisations i.e. PSA, BMW and Fiat are reviewing their portfolio and seeking restructuring alliances to lower cost in part purchase and spreading research and development cost however subject to Europe Union competition ruling (Czinkota and Ronkainen 2001). MA as means to access to new technologies and emerging markets Many organisations have responded to globalisation by looking at joint ventures with international partners when they needed to bridge a technology gap (Czinkota and Ronkainen 2001). A survey carried by KPMG in 2009 shows 85 percent of the automotive senior executives presumed new technologies is an influencing issue in global automotive industry (Chappell 2010). PSA Peugeot Citroen joint ventures with Toyota to produce small cars in the Czech Republic for achieve economies of scale (Financial Times n.d.). Chrysler builds minivans for Volkswagen in Winsor, Ontario since 2008 (Financial Times n.d.). Traditional automobile markets are still expanding but more importantly the emerging markets in China, India and Korea are expanding rapidly likely to enter the US automobile market (Fetscherin and Toncar 2010). Network level strategy plays an important role to uplift the competitive advantage to compete in automobile industry, especially Chinese automotive manufacturers who follow the footsteps of the Western, Japanese and South Korean car manufacturers. China automobile manufacturers will aggressively enter the US market by either exporting or by building their own production sites in the USA (Fetscherin and Toncar 2010). The implication of MA is to reduce threat while simultaneously capitalising on emerging market growth (Gill 2008). Acquisition of Ssangyong by Mahindra gives Mahindra an access to distribution networks of 1,300 dealers outside South Korea and Russia automotive market where previously Ssangyong exports vehicles (Bloomberg 2010). Conclusion Mergers and acquisitions had been widely practised in automotive industry due to the automotive manufacturing investment for new entry is huge and need years of experiences and expertise. Many joint ventures were found among automobile organisations aim to lower their production costs to make the selling price more competition; some merger strategy had achieved synergy in product design and development. In the turbulent economic environment, mergers and acquisitions give automobile organisations a quick fix and direct access to a growing market for more market share. Mergers and acquisitions are mainly creating value for mutual benefits to both parties. 4.0 CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY INITIATIVES The conventional business goal is maximising shareholders returns (Bonini et. al. 2006, Whittington 2001). However organisations are perceived as being socially responsible may create valuable market opportunities and increase more satisfied customers (Bonini et. al. 2006, Crane and Matten 2007). Davis (1973) stated that corporate social responsibility (CSR) refers to organisations consideration on action that will accomplish environment social benefits and ethical responsibilities along with the financial gains which the organisation seeks (As cited in Hoffman 2007, Polonsky and Jevans 2009). CSR helps to improve employee engagement to strive for better management, declining in employee perceptions will leads to significant threats to engagement (Hall 2010). Organisations always have an implied contract to embraces a diverse range of stakeholders which may have different social interests (Bonini et. al. 2006, Polonsky and Jevons 2010). Organisations can opt to react, defence, accommodate and proactive towards CSR as part of global strategies. Being socially responsible important however organisations must make a conscious decision about the degree to which they then leverage their CSR activities, thus translating doing good into strategic benefit (Polonsky and Jevons 2009). The five global automobile organisations demonstrate adequate CSR initiatives to improve their brand standing in automobile industry (Appendix 2). The CSR actions had contributed both positive profits to Honda, Hyumdai, Toyota and Volkswagen, also a negative loss to Daimler even though Daimler pursing quite adequate CSR actions. Global automobile organisations are aiming to achieve the highest category of the CSR: Philanthropic responsibilities. The most common practices are social projects, donations and sponsorship (Hall 2010). CSR needs resources such as funds and employees participation. Organisations are facing dilemma to satisfy the stakeholders with different social interests (Polonsky and Jevons 2009). Some authors criticised that global automobile manufacturers who produce fuel guzzling SUVs for urban users at the same time promote fuel-efficient vehicles to public (Polonsky and Jevons 2009). CSR may not directly impact the organisations financial performance as revenue may be affected by other factors such as economic. However a significant observation from literature reviews that organisations are difficult to sustain or strengthen its market share standing if they are not socially responsible to the society, this may adversely affect their long term value, the brand, talent and relationship (Bonini et. al. 2006, Hall 2010, Piotrowski and Guyette 2010). WESTERN AND JAPANESE LEADERSHIP APPROACHES When automobile industry was leaded by Western countries, Western leadership by Frederick W. Taylor was widely applied in the automobile manufacturers such as General Motors and Ford (Darmody 2007). His idea of leadership was planning and decision making lies on management level while production workers only participate in predetermined executions to ensure efficiency (Almashaqba and Al-Qeed 2010, Darmody 2007). Western leadership was emphasised on efficiency to maximize profits. In Western leadership, the role and responsibilities, authority and accountability, procedures and practices between management and workers are formalized to avoid the conflict in the relationship (Almashaqba and Al-Qeed 2010). Japanese leadership deliberately stresses decentralized management structure, praises the achievements of individuals and gives rewards to outstanding performance (De Wit and Meyer 2004). Autonomy similar to trust in eastern countries, decentralization and rewards can improve employees morale thus productivity. Japanese leadership introduces lean strategy and just-in-time production techniques to achieve production flexibility without increasing indirect labor costs (Shadur and Bamber 1994). These provide automobile organisation to deliver what is expected by customers in just-in-time (Chen et. al. 2010). A research done by Abbggelen and Stalk (1985) shows that the United States automotive plants required 250 percent human resources compared to the Japanese plant to make similar vehicle (Shadur and Bamber 1994). Just-in-time approach is dependent on the balance between the vendors flexibility and users flexibility (Slack et. al. 2007). Parker and Slaughter (1988) comments that lean production is a intensifies the pace of work as the production is operated in closing to the breaking point without supporting buffers, organisation may face severe difficulty when there is a material shortage (As cited in Shadur and Bamber 1994). Some analysts see lean production techniques as merely a subtle form of management control (Mehri 2006, Shadur and Bamber 1994). Japanese leadership focuses on waste reduction and value-adding activities, these focuses are short-term benefits thus Japanese leadership may ignore long-term competitive advantages (Chen et. al. 2010). A recent qualitative research had lifted Japanese leaderships veil as limited potential for creativity and innovation, narrow professional skills, worker isolation and harassment, dangerous conditions on the production line, accident cover-ups, excessive overtime, and poor quality of life for workers (Mehri 2006). The Japanese and western leadership are different in process. There are pros and cons between Western and Japanese leadership and not single ultimate solution for automobile organisations in different geographical area, the leadership application is subject to the culture of the workforce, labour union and availability of resources i.e. logistic, material and expertise. Shadur and Bamber (1994) points out General Motors plants in Australia faces challenge when they started lean production due to the culture different from the labour union and employees who used to work in a team than individual. Although several criticisms of lean production were discussed, however it is concluded that Japanese leadership can potentially contribute to a substantial improvement in automobile manufacturing competitiveness. CONCLUSION Business strategy is about creating sharper scope focus on a business unit contrast with corporate strategy which concerned an overall portfolio of several business units a whole. HMC had strengthened both product-related core competencies and process-related capability to strive for excellence in HMC establishment as a responsible organisation. Mergers and acquisitions are very important to global automotive organisations for reduce the risk in bankruptcy, achieve cost reduction and production effectiveness and explore potential for new product and gives instant access to new technologies. Cost and stakeholders value is crucial consideration when organisations decide on the investment in CSR action plans since the financial returns are not easily measured. This report concluded that there are more advantages than disadvantages for CSR as strategic tool in global strategies. Both Western and Japanese leadership was develop in the different industrial time therefore some of the leadership element many not be suitable to automobile organisations such as mass production in low turnover season. There is no single definite answer to the best combination of leadership as application is based on culture, geographical and strong commitment from vendors to avoid production breakdown. LIST OF REFERENCES Almashaqba, Z. M. S. and Al-Qeed, M. A. N. (2010). The Classical Theory of Organisation and its Relevance. International Research Journal of Finance and Economics. Vol. 41. EuroJounals Publishing, Incorporated. Banks. T. (2010). Rescue remedies. Design Week. p.9. http://elib.segi.edu.my:2094/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=1hid=15sid=d7731cd4-b9d9-417c-b0d0-7caa46ceba42%40sessionmgr10 [Accessed on 31st August 2010]. 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Reflexivity and Modern Works of Anthropology Essay -- Ethnography Cult

Reflexivity and Modern Works of Anthropology The role of reflexivity in Anthropology has changed a great deal over time. The effects of doing ethnography on the ethnographer was not considered an important mode of inquiry in the past. While inevitably, going to far distant lands and living with a culture so different from your own will at least cause the ethnographer to reflect on personal issues but most likely will cause profound changes in the way he or she will view the world. But in the past these changes were not important. What was necessary for the ethnographer to do in the past was to document a culture break it down structurally and quantify the observations made. The reflexive nature of his or her experiences were of little or no importance to the anthropological community. But over the years this has changed tremendously and Anthropology concerns itself more and more with the interactions between the ethnographer and his or her informants and the changes that occur in both due to the research being conducted. The sc ope of this paper will be to show this transition and also why it occurred. The role of the Anthropologist in the past has been to document other cultures in order so the colonial authorities could better know how to rule them this is apparent in Bronislaw Malinowski's essay on the Trobriand islanders. He said, "The ethnographer has in the field, according to what has just been said, the duty before him of drawing up all the rules and regularities of tribal life; all that is permanent and fixed; of giving an anatomy of their culture, of depicting the constitution of their society. But these things, though crystallized and set, are nowhere formulated. There is no written or explicitly expressed code ... ... not to say that a "scientific" documentation of the structure of the culture being studied should be forgotten about. But rather instead of being the main point of concern (as with Malinowski) it should be used to strengthen the arguments expressed by the author. Also as done with many other forms reflexivity should be able to be expressed in more abstract ways instead of just simply stating how you were effected and vice versa. But overall I think reflexivity is a good thing for Anthropological writing. In conclusion, anthropology has come long way in the past few generations, at least in the sense of the writings produced by the students of this field. But perhaps this is due to the audience who reading the works and not the anthropologists doing the research. In any case reflexivity is definitely more openly expressed in the more modern works of Anthropology.

Deception in Hamlet :: essays research papers

Deception is a recurring theme in Hamlet. In a tale of murder, love, and politics, deception could have no more fitting place. The lies and pretensions interweave each other, and there is no character left out of this web. All the central characters have their secrets to hide and mistruths to spread, and this is central to the plot and its progression.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  King Claudius deceives all those around him with his mourning and celebrating demeanor, and his strange celebration and waking. He seems to grieve for the brother that he slew, and works to console all others that may or may not grieve for his brother’s death, such as his nephew and step-son Hamlet. His pretense is great, and forces Hamlet to investigate the truth of the ghost’s tale, unraveling the mystery of his father’s death and others’ involvement.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Prince Hamlet has perhaps the most devious series of deceptions in the tragedy. He feints madness, in order to soften up the minds of those he seeks to learn information from, by putting them off their guard. Hamlet also sets in motion a plan to discover his uncle’s guilt in the murder of his father through a play within a play within a play, aptly named â€Å"The Mousetrap.† His clever pretension also leads Polonius astray in his presumption as to the cause of Hamlet’s supposed strange manner and Ophelia to believe that his love for her has gone with his sanity.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ophelia is also key in the theme of deception in the play. However, she is more so privy to the intentions of others to deceive than to her own. Her lies are merely a sense of self-preservation in a world dominated by men. She deceives Hamlet on her feelings for him at the behest of her father, Polonius, in his scheme to determine the true cause of Hamlet’s strange behavior. Ophelia in turn is actually herself deceived by Hamlet’s scheme to feint madness. Essentially she is the channeling of Polonius’ plot of political investigation, and as used as she may be by all sides, she is not seriously affected by it towards the end of Act III, other than through the death of her oppressive father.