Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Analysis Of Hester Prynne s The Scarlet Letter

Chapters 2-3 When Hester Prynne is first introduced in the novel, she comes off as a young woman who has lost all control of her life due to her adultery conviction. In the beginning, Hester appears as one of the stronger characters in the story, as seen by her bravery on the platform in which she is sentenced to stand on for three hours in front of the town. She is described as a woman whose beauty shone out, and made a halo of the misfortune and ignominy in which she was enveloped† (46) and throughout the second and third chapters, readers soon realize the only bad things about Hester are the choices she has made. Consequently, her decisions and her crimes result in her being condemned by her fellow Puritan citizens. The people of her town view Hester’s initial punishment as a festivity and soon enough a judgemental and subjective crowd accumulates around the platform, all shaming her for cheating on her husband. In addition to Hawthorne s description of Hester Prynne, he also makes vivid connections between her character and her child’s character in the first few chapters. For example, in chapter two, Hawthorne compares Hester and her child as both being outcasts in their town because adultery is an unforgivable crime which results in eternal shame, and her babe is a child of sin who will â€Å"seek a heavenly Father,† and â€Å"never know an earthly one† (58) which is out of the norm for the children of this time. Chapters 4-5 The conversation between hester and her husband isShow MoreRelatedIs the Scarlet Letter a Proto Feminist Novel1510 Words   |  7 Pages21, 2012 Is The Scarlet Letter a Proto Feminist Novel? â€Å"Is The Scarlet Letter a Proto Feminist Novel?† The Scarlet Letter is a very well-known novel, between the scandals and lies. It starts off with a woman named Hester Prynne. Hester decides to leave her husband behind to migrate to Boston. A couple years later, Hester gives birth to a baby girl named Pearl in prison. Hester refused to reveal the father of Pearl. The town then forces Hester to wear a scarlet letter A upon her dressRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne1397 Words   |  6 Pages John Graves Professor Connie Caskey English 251: American Literature I 8 February 2016 The Scarlet Letter was written by Nathaniel Hawthorne in 1850 which is based on the time frame of the Puritans, a religious group who arrived in Massachusetts in the 1630’s. The Puritans were in a religious period that was known for the strict social norms in which lead to the intolerance of different lifestyles. Nathaniel Hawthorne uses the puritan’s strict lifestyles to relate to the universal issues amongRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter, By Nathaniel Hawthorne1389 Words   |  6 PagesIf we look at the setting in The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, it is a 1600s puritan settlement in New England. This particular place is the Massachusetts Bay Colony, where, as depicted in The Scarlet Letter, is bound by the strict rules of the Puritans. We can see that internal struggle is planted in people’s minds because of their punishment, and specifically, Hester Prynne. We can see that Hester’s punishment, however, has helped her internally to become a better , independant personRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne1184 Words   |  5 PagesThe Scarlet Letter Cue Card Title: The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne Date the Book was Published: 1850 Plot: A young woman named Hester Prynne is found of adultery. She had an illegitimate child and now has to wear the letter A on her chest to represent adulterer. She has been sentences to three hours of scolded punishment and a lifetime of being branded. Reverend Wilson and reverend Dimmesdale question Hester about the child s father. She refuses to give up the name. Her old husbandRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne1359 Words   |  6 PagesIn Nathaniel Hawthorne s book The Scarlet Letter he exhibits how committing sin can entirely consume a person through the three characters Chillingworth, Dimmesdale, and Hester and how they change from the sin. In the beginning Chillingworth is painted as a man â€Å"well stricken in years, a pale, [and] thin† (6) man that slithers into the market place. After finding out that his wife, Prynne, has committed adultery he blames himself by saying he â€Å"betrayed [Hester’s] budding youth into false and unnaturalRead MoreAnalysis Of The From The Scarlet Letter 959 Words   |  4 PagesComposition: Analysis – Chapter Nine, â€Å"The Leech† from the Scarlet Letter The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is one of the most iconic books in history; its storyline, theme and literal characters have made an impact on the world of literature for hundreds of years. What stands out the most in the book is the use of archaic diction and figurative language, which serve to paint vivid, descriptive pictures of each character, specifically, Roger Chillingworth. In chapter nine of The Scarlet Letter, ‘TheRead MoreRomanticism And Nathaniel Hawthorne s The Scarlet Letter1461 Words   |  6 PagesRomanticism and Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter Literary Romanticism was a literary movement that started in Europe toward the late 1700’s and reached America in the early 19th century just in time for its peak years. Originally sparked by the Industrial Revolution, it was a response to the political and social conditions of the time as well as a challenge to the new type of scientific exploration and rationalization of everyday life. Writing that was grand and inspired great feeling andRead MoreMan Can Not Live Without God1186 Words   |  5 PagesHowever through a careful analysis of The Scarlet Letter and Ravi Zacharias’ book Can Man Live Without God a definitive answer can be concluded. The depiction of God’s role in The Scarlet Letter, the antitheistic worldview described in Can Man Live Without God, and a look into how God affects life today will provide more than satisfactory information to conclude that man cannot live without God. The Scarlet Letter is a brilliant novel depicting the life of Hester Prynne after having an affairRead MoreSymbolism, Use Of Color, And Themes Of Nathaniel Hawthorne s The Scarlet Letter1657 Words   |  7 Pages and Themes in The Scarlet Letter The Scarlet Letter is regarded as the first symbolic novel in American Literature for Nathaniel Hawthorne s skillful use of symbolism and allegory. The novel is also said to be the greatest accomplishment of American short story and is viewed as the first American psychological novel, which makes Hawthorne win an incomparable position in American Literature. Hawthorne’s â€Å"unique gift† for using this kind of skills taps into the roots of man s moral nature and givesRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter Socratic Seminar Questions2549 Words   |  11 Pagesdoes the novel reflect Puritan society? English Protestants created a large group of people in the 16th and 17th centuries called the Puritans. These people advocated strict religious discipline along with a strong beliefs and worshipping. The Scarlet Letter reflected on Puritan Society in several ways, from religion to discipline and punishment. Religion seemed to control everyone, the reverend was the person that everyone looked up to, and the community, as a whole, believed in fate and destiny

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Lais of Marie de France - 1940 Words

Throughout the Lais of Marie de France there are several themes presented as central to the various stories. Some of these themes are present in all of the lais. One such example is that of courtly love and its implications. Courtly love being one of the more prominent themes in all of medieval literature, it is fittingly manifested in all of the lais as well. Another theme present in two of the lais is isolation. The theme of isolation plays a large role in the stories of Guigemar and Lanval. In each of these lais we see isolation as a factor in determining the fates of the central figures. Within each lai isolation is represented on several different occasions, each time having a direct impact on the outcome. These instances of†¦show more content†¦The prison is described as being of incomparable beauty and being decorated with poetic images. The walls of the chamber were covered in paintings in which Venus, the goddess of love, was skillfully depicted together wit h the nature and obligations of love; how it should be served with loyalty and good service. (p.46) The lady was indeed alone, isolated from all except for her servant and the lord, upon his command. No one, man or woman, could have gained access to this spot, or escaped from this walled enclosure. (p.46) Thus far Guigemars isolation as well as the ladys isolation may be seen as vehicles for their introduction to one another. In the lai of Guigemar we are presented with isolation as a physical removal from others. Whether it be Guigemar alone in the woods or the lady alone in her prison home, the isolation is always physical and forced, even if it be a force of magic such as the curse of the magical animal on Guigemar which draws him to the magic ship. In the case of Lanval this is often times not the case. With Lanval we often see isolation as a more psychological event. In the storys opening we see Lanval as being isolated from the very court and king he serves. He apportio ned wives and lands to all, save to one who had served him: this was Lanval, whom he did not remember, and for whom no one put in a good word. (p.73) Immediately we seeShow MoreRelatedThe Lais Of Marie De France865 Words   |  4 PagesThe extent to which the Lais of Marie de France can be categorized as fairy tales is dependent on the definition of â€Å"fairy tale.† Using various scholars’ definitions of â€Å"fairy tale† and conceptions of the fairy tale genre, criteria for â€Å"fairy tales† arises. Then, close-readings of three lais, â€Å"Guigemar†, â€Å"Lanval† and â€Å"Yonec†, are used as a mechanism for meeting or failing the criteria. This methodology is then evaluated and problematized. The criterion for fairy tales includes origin, form, contentRead MoreEssay on Lais of Marie de France1046 Words   |  5 PagesKnights of Old and Harry Potter October 7, 2012 Love and Marie de France According to American mythologist, Joseph Campbell, â€Å"The greatest love was during the Medieval Ages, when noble hearts produced a romantic love that transcended lust† (Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth with Bill Moyers [2001]). The Lais of Marie de France are primarily concerned with this idea of love--specifically, courtly love--between a man and a woman. Courtly love, a union modeled after the feudal relationshipRead More Lais Of Marie De France Essay examples1939 Words   |  8 Pages Throughout the Lais of Marie de France there are several themes presented as central to the various stories. Some of these themes are present in all of the lais. One such example is that of courtly love and it’s implications. Courtly love being one of the more prominent themes in all of medieval literature, it is fittingly manifested in all of the lais as well. Another theme present in two of the lais is isolation. The theme of isolation plays a large role in the stories of Guigemar and LanvalRead MoreThe Lais of Marie de France and Quickly-Budding Love Essay670 Words   |  3 Pagesexample of a wild love story portrays the love tales told in the book The Lais of Marie de France, where many lovers are quickly overtaken with the love and passion from a secret lover. The Lais of Marie de France is a book that inquires one to question the reasoning of exaggerated love stories from the middle ages with their immediate love situations, disastrous consequences, and happiness of lov e. In The Lais of Marie de France, the lovers are quickly stricken with a sense of love whether it is byRead MoreLovers From The Lais Of Marie De France As A Children s Book1533 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"Chevrefoil† Adapted Imagine a story of lovers from The Lais of Marie de France as a children’s book. It would show the events true love can overcome, and inevitably end in a happy ending. The stories would have to be adapted in such a way to where all the details were appropriate for a child. It must be wrote to where the story would not be over their head, so they could fully understand the story. My adaption of â€Å"Chevrefoil† from The Lais of Marie de France into a children’s book would essentially fall intoRead MoreThe Lais Of Marie De France And The Wolf Hunt988 Words   |  4 Pagesbeliefs tend to lead to the inaccurate portrayal of the past. The two books, The Lais of Marie de France, by Marie de France and The Wolf Hunt by Gillian Bradshaw are prime examples of how our modern beliefs cause this distortion. The modern version of the novel, which is The Wolf Hunt, portrays the story differently than the Medieval novel, The Lais of Marie de France. The Wolf Hunt has modern themes in it, while the Lais has genuinely medieval themes. These stories are quite similar because they bothRead MoreEmpowering Women through Courtly Love Essay1153 Words   |  5 Pagesdeeds, and become obedient to her in hopes of winning her affection. In The Lais of Marie de France, specifically Chevrefoil and Yonec, the author does not follow all of the rules of courtly love, yet she does illustrate to the reader the relationship between the man and his woman. She describes the beauty, intelligence, and wisdom of her female characters, giving them power over the men who love them. While Marie de France often confines women to the oppressive realities of the Middle Ages, she allowsRead More We have Decided Essay2066 Words   |  9 Pagesmorally wrong. Marriage, on the other hand, has been thought of as a sacred institution shared by most of the people and religions of the world. In the â€Å"Lais† written by Marie de France, we are given insight into the inner workings of five adulterous affairs, six pre-marital sexual encounte rs, and one instance of impure thoughts. Although Marie de France does not seem to condone adultery, she writes in a manner that allows the reader to feel possible sympathy with it, depending upon the situation. InRead MoreAnimal Symbology in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and the Lais785 Words   |  4 PagesIn Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and the Lais of Marie de France, the authors use animals as metaphors for human actions, and as characters. By analyzing the use of these animals, we are able to explore the meaning the authors were trying to communicate through specific scenes. The Book of Beasts, a translation by T.H. White (1984 ed.), provides a medieval standpoint when analyzing the use of animals in the Lais and in Gawain. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, there is specific use of threeRead MoreEssay on Lanval and Yonec1687 Words   |  7 Pagesa certain motif of the story, or symbolize the author’s or society’s mindset. The representation of the body becomes significant for the story. In the representation of their body in the works of Marie de France’s lais â€Å"Lanval† and â€Å"Yonec,† the body is represented in opposing views. In â€Å"Lanval,† France clearly emphasizes the pure beauty of the body and the power the ideal beauty holds, which Lanval’s Fairy Queen portrays. In France’s â€Å"Yonec,† she diverts the reader’s attention from the image of the

Monday, December 9, 2019

Year-Round School free essay sample

Year-Round School In America, most children spend all year wishing that it was summer, so that they do not have to be in school. They could probably never imagine not having those three months to do as they please. Wicked they be able to survive without it? As It turns out, TV. 0 million of the nations children already do. An extended year-round school calendar would immensely improve the problem areas in the education system, Including summer learning loss, the wide range of academic capableness of students, and providing costly summer care. Jennie Jacques, an eleven year old who tends year round school, said the following when interviewed by Time for Kids: I thinks longer school year Is better for many reasons. During the long summer vacation, many kids waste time watching TV. They forget what they learned in school. I am always ready for the new school year because I only have one month off. It takes time to learn everything you need to know In order to go to college. In my opinion, If more schools replace vacation time with learning time, it will make a big difference for their students. (CTD. N Should) In his thesis paper about the beneficial aspects of a year-round school calendar, Bruce Jean explains that the traditional nine-month school calendar was developed more than two centuries ago when it was necessary for children to help their families on the farm during the summer (2). That Is no longer the case In this day and age. The economy is no longer driven primarily by agriculture. With advances in modern technology, times have changed. The majorities of people today live in urban areas, as well as have fewer children. Along with the times, schools need to change as well. We cannot continue using the current school calendar for the sole reason that it has always been this way. Many beliefs that people had about the school calendar hundreds of years ago have been disproved. People used to believe that too much schooling would have a negative effect on students and teachers alike (Hess). We now know that that is not true. Constant stimulation is Just fine. They also thought that summer was a time of disease and thought that keeping kids at home was a better option. When the current school calendar was put into place, academics did not matter as much to the average person as they do today (Hess). In this day and age, academics are of the greatest Importance. Another change from the past is the dual working family. In the 1 sass, more than 60% of families had a stay-at-home mother. Today, only about 30% of kids are cared for by a parent in the summer. If a family must use daycare for a summer, It typically costs eight percent of their total yearly income (Hess). This is a huge expense and can potentially be a burden to families who must have multiple children in daycare throughout the entire summer. While some children are In daycare, some are sent off to summer camps, which can also be costly. While all of this money is spent on summer childcare, expensive school alluding, technology, and transportation are all unused. Taxpayers provide the money for all of these things. It seems wasteful to not use them to their full potential. Other kids are left at home to fend for themselves all day long. This situation especially, is not in a childs best interest. And amusement parks are all fun summer activities that financially depend on a summer break from school. However, these types of attractions do run all year in the warmer parts of the country, thus proving that they can still operate while co-existing with schools. In parts of the country where these attractions only run during warmer months, students could still attend these attractions on weekends and during the long breaks. Some of these large companies support laws that do not allow some schools to diverge from the traditional school calendar. According to Frederick Hess in his article featured in the Washington Post, State officials should strike down [these] laws, (Hess). Some parents oppose year-round school because they enjoy spending the summer with their children. This is still possible. Year round school calendars give shorter breaks, but more frequently than standard calendars do. With Hess smaller breaks, vacations and family time is still possible. There is a gap in the summer learning between the upper and lower classes during the summer. Upper class children are more likely to spend their summers with parents, in a good daycare program, or a summer camp program. All of these activities are supervised. They also have the potential to be enriching for the child involved. Upper class children are also more likely to read during the summer than their lower class peers. On the other hand, lower class children are more likely to be in a non-enriching daycare program or left at home alone all summer. Parents must find ways to occupy their childrens time and to monitor their socializing and web use from work, (Hess). This can make summer vacation more of a problem than anything else for these families. Sally Holland studied some of the schools in the United States that that currently use an extended school calendar and concluded that learning loss is the top reason most teachers and educators give for wanting year- round school. Summer learning loss is described as children getting to a certain place academically by June, but when they come back in September they have taken step backwards. This meaner that more time must be spent assessing students and playing catch-up when they come back (Holland). Schools would be much more productive if they did not have to backtrack each year. Students would be able to pick up right where they left off. Most Americans are concerned, at least to some degree, about other countries outperforming American children academically. News and standardized tests are constantly telling Americans that their children, as a whole, are not performing to the standards that they should. Frederick Hess has said, Most industrialized nations offer no more than seven consecutive weeks of vacation, [to their students] (Hess). In order to keep up, America needs to adjust its calendar to resemble the international model. Each day it grows more and more important for children in America to keep up with children in Europe, India, and China. In the near future, people will be forced to compete for Jobs with people from those countries. If schools do not prepare children now, they will lose out on many opportunities (Hess). In the long run this could have severe consequences for the United States as a whole. Year-round school s the only way to keep up with these other countries. So, does year round school really work? Test scores point to yes. A study done by W. L. Winters in 1994 of nineteen cases, says that year-round students outscored in Jean). Eighty three percent is a huge gain over traditional schools. In San Diego, eight years of year-round school has had incredible results. Eighty-one percent of their students maintained or improved their scores each year, while only fifty-nine percent of children in traditional schools did the same dean 4-5). In Hawaii, results were tracked for four years. They did not find as significant of an increase each year, but their students maintained their scores exceptionally well compared to the traditional students dean 5-6). Standardized tests are extremely important. They determine how much funding a school receives, ranks schools and kids against their peers both nationally and internationally, and helps show how competent a teacher is. In an article published in Time for Kids that interviewed students, parents, and teachers who are familiar with an extended school year, parents believe that it is working because they can see the difference in their children (CTD. Should). Year-round school is not only about test scores. It can also contribute to the overall development of a child (Should). By adding classroom time, teachers can plan more detailed lessons. There is also more time for art, athletic activities, and music. Unfortunately, these programs have been cut from many schools curriculums. They contribute to an overall, well-rounded education, not Just an academic one. Because teachers see students throughout the whole year, they do not need to wait until summer to help the kids who are struggling (Should). This would even out the playing lied and bridge the wide gap between students academic levels. There are benefits for teachers as well. It could become a full time position for them, providing a higher income. They would no longer have the frustrations of children being on such vastly different levels academically (Hess). As stated before, there is a gap between the classes partially because of the summer activities that they partake in. Teachers could construct more in-depth lesson and worry less about time restraints (Hess). It would enable students, as well as teachers, to feel more nonevent in the classroom. Year-round school is the crucial step in education that the United States needs to take. Having a summer break is no longer a necessity, and it has also been proven that students do not need a break from learning at all. This break negatively impacts students. Summer learning loss is a significant problem that must be overcome each and every fall as long as the traditional school calendar is used. If the switch to a year-round school calendar was made, summer learning loss could be considerably decreased, if not eliminated altogether. Summer vacation as evolved into a problem for some people and an industry for others; neither of which is in the best interest of the children. Other countries are far outpacing the United States academically. It should be a top priority to ensure that the next generation can compete with their international peers and exceed expectations. The future success of the country may potentially depend on it. Meier-round schools have the potential to maximize student learning dean 4). Hess, Frederick M. Summer Vacation of Our Discontent. Washingtons. Com. The Washington post, 12 July 2006. Web. 21 March 2012.

Monday, December 2, 2019

Napoleon Essays - France, French Emperors, House Of Bonaparte

Napoleon From 1800-1815 one man held the center of the European stage. Coming to the head of affairs in a France stirred to its depths by tremendous upheaval of the Revolution, Napolean Bonaparte was able for fifteen years to direct France back to its feet. For about ten years he met with continual success and displayed combinations of military and adminisrative which has probably never been equalled. In the end he was destroyed by the same force that had brought him into his high power (the force of national patriotism), that from 1800-1808 made the armies of France unstoppable, but from 1808-1815 raised up, first in Spain, then in Austria, Russia, and finally in Germany. Napolean was the first Consul of France. The Constitution of the Year 1800 provided for three consuls and a tribunate and legislative body designated by the Senate from the general election list. The first Consul ran the administrative and foreign policies, was in charge of the army, and proposed all the laws. This Consul was the real power. Napoleon was this Consul. Napoleon immediately gave all his attention to the foreign problem of the Second Coalition. Napoleon got Russia to withdraw and revive an Armed Neutrality against Great Britain. Napolean's win at Marengo in Italy and Moreau's win at Hohenlinden in Germany forced Austria to sue for peace. The Treaty of Luneville in 1801 strengthened Campo Formio. Even though Great Britain had won the Battle of the Nile in 1798 and had broken up the Amed Neutrality in 1801, she couldn't conquer France, so she signed the Treaty of Amiens in 1801, which was really only a truce. With the foreign problems settled for now, Napoleon turned his attention to internal reforms. The reforms under the Consulate are the most permanent of all Napoleon's contributions. Napoleon guarenteed equal rights, equal justice, equal opportunity, and the continued abolition of privilege. It was only in the political sphere that Napoleon dinied liberty. The government was completely centralized with its division of departments, arrondissements, and prefects making its officials directly responsible to the central government at Paris.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Kombucha Fungus Essays - Chinese Tea, Mycology, Blended Tea

Kombucha Fungus Essays - Chinese Tea, Mycology, Blended Tea Kombucha fungus This article from the World Wide Web is about the Kombucha fungus, what some call the miracle mushroom. This widely hyped ailment-for-anything are also known as Manchurian mushrooms and Indo- Japanese tea fungus. There is so much information about Kombucha that when I did a web search on it over 100 web sites were devoted to this strange fungus I had never heard of. I decided to look further as see what all this hype is about. Kombucha is a yeast culture supposedly possessing an natural antibiotic effect and an extreme amount of glucuronic acid, a liver detoxifier that flushes poisons out of the body. How does this all happen? First the Kombucha yeast (It is not officially a mushroom) is ground up and most commonly taken into the body in the liquid form of tea. This tea is supposed to taste somewhat like the famous Japanese green tea. If it ferments for a long time the tea tastes like a hot apple cider with a hint of vinegar. The main reason people drink this tea is not for the taste, but for the relief of endless physical ailments. Besides Kombucha?s antibiotic and anti-toxin effects, some of the other aspects of well being it helps are: acting as a laxative, relieves pains of arthritis, helps with digestion, relieves stomach cramps and bronchitis, regulates appetite, clears acne, relieves headaches, strengthens hair and nails, stops diarrhea, improves eyesight, and most of all "vitalizes" the physical body. Think that list was long? Those are just a few things on the list that this miracle fungus can help with. Could all this be true? For some reasons the United States hasn?t done scientific or clinical studies on Kombucha. However, many other countries throughout the world including Russia, Germany, and Sweden, have been doing studies on this miracle tea for nearly 100 years and have found medical benefits within the Manchurian yeast. Perhaps there is no way to be sure if all this is true, and since there have been no negative effects of drinking Kombucha tea, I would recommend to try some yourself and find out.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Electronegativity and Chemical Bonding

Electronegativity and Chemical Bonding What Is Electronegativity? Electronegativity is a measure of the attraction of an atom for the electrons in a chemical bond. The higher the electronegativity of an atom, the greater its attraction for bonding electrons. Ionization Energy Electronegativity is related to ionization energy. Electrons with low ionization energies have low electronegativities because their nuclei do not exert a strong attractive force on electrons. Elements with high ionization energies have high electronegativities due to the strong pull exerted on electrons by the nucleus. Periodic Table Trends In an element group, the electronegativity decreases as atomic number increases, as a result of increased distance between the valence electron and nucleus (greater atomic radius). An example of an electropositive (i.e., low electronegativity) element is cesium; an example of a highly electronegative element is fluorine. Moving left to right across the periodic table, electronegativity increases.Moving top to bottom down the periodic table, electronegativity decreases.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

McDonalds Growth on the European Market Case Study

McDonalds Growth on the European Market - Case Study Example In order for Macdonald to compete in the European market, it should focus on the quality of the products. With the increasing awareness on the risks associated with obesity, customers are avoiding fatty foods. Therefore, the company should ensure that its products meet the required standards and are healthy. On the other hand, in order to retain the customers, the firm need to shift its focus towards customer relationship management. Currently, there are many competitors in the market. As a result, customers easily be swayed away from the products. As a result, it is significant for the company to work towards satisfying the tastes and preferences of the target market (Prasad, 2010). This will be significant in increasing its market share and improving its competitive advantage. In order for the company to address the growth issues, it needs to conduct an intensive market research. This is to identify factors that have made the customers to change their consumption behavior and what changes are necessary to reposition the company in the market. In addition, the research should also identify the effective advertising channel and the best advertising message to use in order to attract the customers towards its products. This is to ensure that the adverts are compatible with the local

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

394 case study #2 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

394 #2 - Case Study Example For instance, where workers are supposed to lift heavy construction materials, contractors are required to make sure the material is in good position for easy handling; provide lifters like cranes to reduce the vertical distance and level of bending. However, since it is completely impossible to eliminate risks especially in areas where activities involve dealing with dangerous components like inflammable components, deep mines, and sharp objects, the involved company must ensure that every worker has the knowledge on how to reasonably mitigate the hazard should it arise. Facilities that are essential in removing such risks must be placed in a strategic position and be functional at all times to enable quick response to problems. All organizations need to use a holistic approach to safety management in that safety procedures, use of experienced and disciplined employees, maximum supervision and maintenance of equipments is at par. However, it is important for employees to be aware an d take responsibility in ensuring their own safety and that of others without necessarily relying on the management. Defining what safe work place is is something almost impossible because even if there are measures in place, things can always go out of control. As evident in the case studies, the involved companies had methods of mitigating risks in place but in one way or the other, it was difficult to watch over everything. Therefore, a safe work place is that which ensures quick response and restoring of problems to normalcy. Choi, S., Davis., Veltri, A., & Wang, Q. (2012). ‘Translating Academic Research on Manual Lifting Tasks Observations into Construction Workplace â€Å"Good Practices.†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ Journal of Safety, Health & Environmental Research, 8(1), 1-32. Roux Willem Le. (2010). ‘When is a Workplace Safe or Unsafe?: The Safety Criterion in Terms of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Mine Health and Safety Act,’ The Journal of The

Sunday, November 17, 2019

The Lemon Tree Dilemma Essay Example for Free

The Lemon Tree Dilemma Essay The website EEOC.gov should be a bookmarked site for any individual who is working as or plans to work as a manager in a business with more than one (i.e., the owner) employee. This website contains the information that the federal government expects companies and businesses to use and follow with respect to hiring, firing, and disciplining its employees. It explains disabilities, how to handle them, and when to use them in making hiring decisions. It also provides information about protected classes, in which people must be a member before they can claim discrimination. You should plan to visit the EEOC website during this week to help work through this ethical dilemma faced by Paul and Mary, two managers in the company in The Lemon Tree. Read through the fictional dilemma, and then choose the subject of discrimination discussed therein, planning to debate the ramifications of that with your classmates and your instructor. Some of this seems obvious, but others aren’t as easy to determine as they seem. Your instructor will bring in new and different â€Å"twists and turns† as we go along. Read the dilemma, and then lets discuss. (The dilemma is found on the left tree, entitled The Lemon Tree Dilemma. ) 1. What is one aspect of Title VII that has been violated by the company? 2. Which actions by the two employees that call their credibility into question are you allowed, as an employer, to consider? Or, what types of actions are you not allowed to use and why? Are there any you wish you could use? Remember to support your answers to the questions above with a law or business reason. 1. Be sure to cover the different types of discrimination in this thread – all categories are possible areas for assessment on the Final Exam. 2. Next week, while the espionage case is under investigation, Paul opens hiring for Peter Puffs position and Mary opens hiring for Jackies position. Paul hires the first qualified white male who applies.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Modern Marvels :: Technology

As vainglorious as it may seem, there are actually a few people out there who think they are the picture of perfection. I definitely excluded myself from that group when I was born, on October 29, 1991, with 3284932273 flaws. Although the list of my short-comings is extremely extensive there is one that is leading to my inevitable downfall, my dependency of technology is extremely high! If my memory serves me correct, when I was younger I had an excellent memory. I was able to recall almost any information within the blink of an eye. Whether it was a telephone number or an address I knew it. It took one piece of technology to change this virtue, that device was a cell phone. When I was 12 years old, I obtained my first cell phone for my birthday. Prior to that day there wasn?t a thing in the world I thought I needed more. I stored phone numbers and other important information that at one point in time I remembered unmistakably. Now it?s as if I suffer from a mild case of amnesia. If I can barely keep in mind school deadlines, how can I retain a phone number from the lost portion of my brain? When I have my ?senior moments? and I can?t remember a thing, I am in total distress. I suffer mentally and physically, my headaches are unbearable at times. My computer has made just as much of a contribution to my demise as my cell phone, over the years it as accomplished myriad milestones. The internet is better than it has ever been, information can be quickly retrieved, and entertainment is around nearly every corner. Although the computer conveniences millions of people it hurts them just as much. I don?t know a person in the world (familiar with technology) who doesn?t like technological advancements, but it encourages laziness. There are a lot of people in the world who sit around and use the computer for every aspect of life. They basically live their life through a computer screen, they schedule, pay bills, organize financial information, shop, and a slew of other activities. Not looking on the brighter side of things, this lifestyle can lead to ghastly consequences such as obesity and many other health problems. Many people take for granted the technology that we abuse and habitually overuse in our daily lives.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Causes of increasing alimentation prices

The divertive utilization of rice alignments to biofuels production is considered a result of the soaring food prices of our recent age. The resultant utilization of alimentations, more so rice hulls in many countries is highly preferred for use in biofuels production. Bio-extraction of ethanol from plants is considered as environmentally friendly as some analysts say it contributes to curbing the issue of global warming by reducing the concentrations of green house gases in the atmosphere. Because the waste product of rice becomes commercialized, it makes rice of any type or species to be valuable and consequently makes its price increase.(Saha et al, 2004) Unfair trade agreements imposed by rich nations that try to undermine poor nations making them unable to determine their policies of food production have also contributed to a higher localized supply in rice. A good example can be cited by Shah (2008) where she reveals that the Doha World Trade Organization meeting intended to as certain poor nations’ profitability in global trade did not materialize due to the developed nations view that the undeveloped nations would not ensure the end part of their bargain in the talks.The technology of genetic modification has also fuelled the high prices in foods in comparison of organic foods and genetically modified ones due to the cheap prices of the later in terms of competition. However, research by environmentalists has shown that the genetically modified (GM) foods have negative attributes to the ecological set up and consequently the human health system.The prevalence of the GM foods in the developed nations has seen demand of the higher priced organic foods increase in time due to the health effects associated with the former. The increasing population has seen the demand of food increase causing its consequential higher production. Rice being a staple meal in Asia has seen its exports being restricted to ensure that people specifically in the Asian natio ns of India and Chain can sustain their people with enough food. China with a population of about 1.3 billion people is the highest populated nation in the world followed by India. The government’s priority to feed the people comes first and thus has seen the exportation control of agricultural produce to other nations causing a shortage of food in the global market which by laws of economics dictates increase in commodity prices when supply is low. The exorbitant costs of inorganic fertilizer and other farm inputs for agricultural practices have also contributed to the increasing food prices.This is because the costs of production are also reflected in the end price of the agricultural produce, therefore if the price of one input increases, it will inevitable cause a rise in the end product as the farmer can not take up that cost for the benefit of the consumers since it will be tantamount to losses in business. In the UK, farmers are facing a 15% hike in fertilizer prices t hat is hurting the agricultural sector. This surge in prices is cited to have arisen from anti dumping taxes on nitrogenous fertilizers in the UK from some nations since 2000 that has seen a monopoly in the supply of fertilizer.(Walker, 2007) From the beginning of 2003 when the Iranian invasion began, oil prices have been going up exponentially that indirectly instituted high price of food. This was and is being attributed to low production levels of crude oil, thus diminishing supply due to the increasing preference of biofuels. The link between the soaring food prices and the high energy prices is that food needs to be transported to one part of land to another more specifically in relation to our globalized world that increases distances of destination.The modes of transportation used are mostly powered by by-products of fossil fuels that are expensive as could be seen by the highest recorded price of over a hundred dollars per barrel at the beginning of 2008. (Shenk 2008) As a c onsequence, the cost of energy is passed down to the end user making the commodity price higher than usual. This is a global problem since the crude oil prices are the same all over because of their sole control by the Oil Producing and Exporting Countries (OPEC) arrangements.The new problem of climate change is also predicted to cause further increases in food prices. The variations in climate across nations that solely depend of agriculture for their growth is expected to fall drastically as unpredictable weather patterns take charge causing situations of extreme drought and floods in different places. These alterations in climate will reduce agricultural productivity and food shortage will become imminent across the affected nations. It is now being observed that Australia, one of the largest wheat producing countries is in its third year of drought.Its respect as the world producer of wheat is now in jeopardy as its silos are becoming empty will the wheat prices are increasing. (Stancich, 2009) The problem of attacks from crop pests and weeds is also associated in the ever increasing food prices. In Central as well as the Southern parts of the Vietnam nation, according to a recent study Zeigler (2009), rice crops have been attacked by the tungro crop virus originating from the brown plant hopper insect. And furthermore, its spread is being predicted into China together with Thailand and Columbia.Pricing of rice is obviously expected to increase as the supply would have been greatly diminished while demand keeps growing. The continuing undervaluation of the US dollar which is used as a bench mark for trading in many nations is also attributed to the increasing food prices. Globalized nations are feeling the pinch of the current economic crisis of the US and business has gone down meaning that many sectors of the economy are being hurt more specifically in the agricultural sector.Farmers in the developed nations have cope better with the high prices of this global recession compared to their counterparts in the developing nations where production has reduced. A low supply with a high demand implies that food prices would increase in the developing nations unlike in developed nations where it would remain relatively stable. In India -one of the major rice producers- the effect of the global financial crunch in many sectors of the economy such as the agricultural industry has seen its 2008 GDP drop to 7% while further reduction is expected for 2009 at 5%. (World Bank Group, 2009: 2)Sporadic economic growth in different nations all over the world has been identified as a contributor to the increase in commodity prices. As the economy of a nation increases so as the living standards of the citizens. This makes purchasing power go a notch higher due to demand for better goods and services. This causes incompatibilities between demand and supply arising that sees the increase in prices. This is exhibited in the case with China that has been marked by speedy economic development that has exacerbated this global crisis that is catalyzed by its enormous population.(Zu H. & Khan, 1997) Effects of alimentation price increases As an effect, the high food prices could be succeeded by civil unrest especially among the poor nations which can be exemplified by the riots emanating from exorbitantly high food prices in Burkina Faso as well as Cameroon where its was compounded by the expensive fuel costs. The country of Indonesia has also been characterized by such frustrations when there was recent scarcity in Soya beans. Rise in inflation is a notable effect of increased food prices more especially in developing nations.Most developing nations operate on deficits and a down turn from increased food prices puts strains on the government’s functionality due to limited financial resources. This sees the issue of relief coming in from developed nations to help the affected. Increase in poverty becomes evident due to high food prices as people reduce their consumption so as to sustain themselves in future days. On an optimistic view, the soaring food prices have also the effect of causing governments to intervene by pushing for increased production of food in their countries to cushion the poor from hunger.(FAO, 2009) Conclusion Though there has been tremendous growth in food production all over the world, the predictions of the future are still pessimistic as demand continues growing high. This is in reference to the stagnated supply that can not reach equilibrium with the demand; hence the future is determined by new sources of supply to cope with the vacuum in supply that would ensure price stability. Therefore, foreign alimentations such as bananas, mangoes, pineapples, and exotic fish among others will not fetch the same price as today due to these imbalances in supply and demand.To mitigate this, an in depth intervention through social protection for the short and long period requirements in conjunc tion with initiatives on alimentations for the poor should be implemented. Research into new agricultural opportunities should be intensified so as to achieve equilibrium in supply and demand of alimentations. This will go far in guarantying steady prices of food in the global market. And resultantly, agricultural trade regulations that burr efficient production in the developing nations should be renegotiated with rich nations that discourage them so that a healthy and productive world can be achieved.(OECD, 2007) References: FAO, (2009). Bumper rice harvest could bring down consumer prices. Planete Urgence. Retrieved on April 20th 2009. From http://www. infosdelaplanete. org/5123/bumper-rice-harvest-could-bring-down-consumer-prices. html? L=EN Hu Z. & Mohsin S. Khan (1997). Why Is China Growing So Fast? ECONOMIC ISSUES NO. 8 International Monitoring Fund (IMF). Washington D. C. Yan Z. (2008). China seeks a balance between food security and the urbanization. Retrieved on April 20th 2009. From http://www. china-embassy. org/eng/zt/t516240. htm Walker D. (2007).Fuel and Fertilizer Situation. John Wiley and Sons, Inc Stancich R. (2009). Climate change and food prices. Climatechangecorp. Retrieved on April 20th 2009. From http://www. climatechangecorp. com/content. asp? ContentID=5252 OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) (2007). Agricultural Policies in OECD Countries: Monitoring and Evaluation. Paris: OECD. Saha, B. C. , Iten, L. B. , Cotta, M. A. , Wu, Y. (2004). Fuel ethanol production from rice hull [abstract]. American Chemical Society. Paper No. BI0T 101. Retrieved on 20th April 2009. Fromhttp://www. ars. usda. gov/research/publications/Publications. htm? seq_no_115=156041 Shenk M. (2008) . Oil Climbs Above $126 to Record as Dollar Weakens Against Euro. EU News, Havensworks. com http://www. havenworks. com/world/eu/ World Bank Group, (2009). Impact of Global Financial Crisis on South Asia. Retrieved on April 20th 2009. From http://7 4. 125. 47. 132/search? q=cache:y57oApfcEXgJ:siteresources. worldbank. org/SOUTHASIAEXT/Resources/223546-1171488994713/3455847-1232124140958/gfcsouthasiafeb172009. pdf+global+financial+crisis%2Bfood+prices&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk

Sunday, November 10, 2019

How Does Shakespeare Present the Theme of Love and Marriage?

The influences of nature and nurture are ambiguous (unclear), how far do you agree with this statement as far as childhood is concerned? In this essay I am going to be arguing how far I agree that the influences of nature and nurture are ambiguous. To help develop my argument I am going to use the likes of Heathcliff, Cathy, Isabella and the Linton’s. I agree strongly with the statement that the influences of nature and nurture are ambiguous; my reasoning for this is that the novel is not focusing on this aspect and therefore doesn’t get fully explored. The theme of childhood, voiced by the elder Cathy on her deathbed, is continued in the main action of the second half of the book [.. .] in one way or another childhood is in fact the central theme of Emily Bronte's writing'. ‘ This time in Catherine's life, which is unquestionably associated with Heathcliff's appearance in her house and the strong feelings the boy then arouses in her, is, indeed, described at leng th by the narrator Nelly, as it will determine the following events in the novel.Catherine's dreams of happiness are associated with childhood all through her life, and even on her death-bed she still looks like a child in Nelly's eyes: ‘She drew a sigh, and stretched herself, like a child reviving, and sinking again to sleep and five minutes after I felt one little pulse at her heart, and nothing more! †. Finally it is the ghost of a child that visits Lockwood, the newcomer and second narrator in the novel. Until she dies at the age of nineteen, Catherine clings in a passionate way to her childhood memories.The most revealing passage is the scene which takes place after Heathcliff has returned from a long absence and has just quarrelled with Catherine's husband, Edgar Linton. This scene, in which she raves, is significant as it echoes the childhood scenes in which she suffered from being separated from Heathcliff. Her memories have actually never stopped cropping up in an insistent way and she now cannot help lamenting about ‘what has kept recurring and recurring till I feared for my reason. ^ The past years even end up overlapping the present situation and the adult in Catherine totally identifies with the child. The year she has spent with Edgar then seems to vanish at once. Her physical sensations as she lies in her bed at Thrushcross Grange release images from the past and she sees herself lying in her bed years earlier at Wuthering Heights. She yearned to transcend death and to recover the freedom she used to share with Heathcliff when she was a child: ‘Their mutual destruction by tooth and nail in an effort, through death, to get back to the lost state of gypsy freedom in childhood'.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Blackboy essays

Blackboy essays Black Boy: The Meaning of American Hunger When a person thinks about hunger, food comes to mind. We never think of hunger as anything else. In Richard Wright's book titled Black Boy (American Hunger), a young boy faces many different types of hunger. He refers to the phrase American Hunger throughout his book. I feel that the American Hunger which he is referring to is the hunger to be considered an American and be treated as an equal. Throughout his life he was treated as if he were from another planet. He was always considered to be different, an outcast and a loser. He felt the need to be a part of the so-called American Culture. He wanted to be able to do what the white children did. He wanted to be able to go to school, to learn, to read, have friends, have a job; but because he was an African American he could not. This is what I will be discussing in this paper his intellectual hunger. Richard was so eager to learn that he kept constantly asking questions, and if his questions were left unanswered he would let his imagination take over.. He would try to find work in which he would be able to read some of the books. His family and relatives refused to let him learn. There is one incident in which his schoolteacher read to him. His grandmother got angry and said that reading was devils work. Through out his childhood he heard many terms and phrases. He never understood what they meant but once they were said he knew if they were good or bad. For example, when Richard was taking a bath and his grandmother came in to scrub his backside, Richard replied with, "When you get through, kiss back there." This is just one of the many phrases he said in which he did not know the meaning. Through his eagerness to learn he began to understand himself, other blacks, and whites better. He continues to learn and to play dumb for his own survival. His self education began when a co -worker lent Richard his library card to read Mencken's essa...

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

10 Writers Block Memes to Keep Your Book Afloat

10 Writers Block Memes to Keep Your Book Afloat 10 Writer's Block Memes to Keep Your Book Afloat If you’re a writer, you’re 99% guaranteed to agree that writer’s block is not a lot of fun. Whilst we can offer tips and help you try and overcome writer’s block  and writing strategies, we can also reassure you that you are not suffering alone.The fact that you’re here - possibly having searched for ‘writer’s block memes’ - suggests you’re in need of a little light relief. This post will hopefully provide you with some confirmation that you’re not the only one who’s struggling and remind you that, all in all, writer’s block is a strange and funny thing.1. Your first experience of writer’s block went something like this: What's your favorite writer's block meme? Tell us in the comments and we'll be happy to add it to our list!

Sunday, November 3, 2019

GLOBAL CHALLENGES FOR BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP Essay - 2

GLOBAL CHALLENGES FOR BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP - Essay Example On the other hand management can also refer to the person or to different people who perform the various acts of management. There are a number of approaches to management but the competitive values framework is the framework which comprehensively covers a number of management approaches. The Competing Values Framework for various cultural assessments was developed and well defined by Quinn and Rorbaugh in 1983 from the analysis of Campbell's longer list of efficiency as well as effectiveness dimensions into two major dimensional patterns. The horizontal dimension basically defines the degree to which any organization generally focuses inwards as well as outwards. Towards left, attention is basically inwards, within the organization, in order to know what is happening in the organization. An internal focus is valid as well as an important source in any environment where the competition or the customer focus is not the main thing and it is also not the most important thing, but on the other hand in the competitive climates or where the external stakeholders hold sway, then this kind of challenge must met directly and effectively. Vertical: Stability or Flexibility The vertical axis basically determines that who actually makes decisions. At the lower end, control is also with the management whilst at the upper most end; it is also devolved to those employees who have been directly empowered in order to decide for themselves and for their organization or for their company. Stability is a valid form and source whenever the business is stable and the degree of reliability and efficiency is at the peak level, but when the environmental forces or the factors develop a need in order to have a change, then at that particular time flexibility becomes much more important. (Boddy, 2001, pp. 200-226) The Competing Values Map The four hierarchies as mentioned in the above diagram are to some extent historical in their respective development and are also presented in this order which is mentioned below. Hierarchy The hierarchy has basically a traditional approach towards the structure and control that generally flows from a strict chain of various command as mentioned in the Max Weber's view of the bureaucracy. For numerous years, this was also considered as the only effective and an efficient way in order to organize and is still considered as a basic element for many organizations. Hierarchies have full respect for the power as well as for the position. They also have well-defined processes, policies and well maintained procedures. Market The Market oriented organization also seeks to control but they do so by looking outward, and by taking notes of the transaction cost. Market organization is not the one which always focus just on the marketing level, they also keep this in mind that what are the main and the basic transactions, where are all these transactions, whether internal and the external

Friday, November 1, 2019

Business Website and Children Clothing Research Paper

Business Website and Children Clothing - Research Paper Example The paper will also deal with issues related to the questions of how to buy a domain, how to trademark and protect logo. Step 1 Identify the problem that needs to be solved or opportunity that needs to be developed Essentially, any new business venture is mainly aimed at recognizing and creating an opportunity in the market (Nieman, 2003. In this case, the internet has brought about an opportunity that can makes it possible to market any product since it is a widely used channel of communication during the contemporary period given that it can reach a lot of people from different geographical locations. In terms of clothing, it can be seen that there are no large chain stores in different regions that specialize in selling baby/kids/children clothes. These products can be found in large conventional clothing shops that also sell clothes for adults. Therefore, it can be seen that there is a gap which exists in the market in terms of marketing and selling children’s clothes sinc e some of the consumer needs that are not adequately satisfied. In order to solve this problem, it is wise to start an e-business website that specializes in selling children’s clothes. This strategy is likely to be very effective in filling the gap that has been identified in this case. In other words, this business venture is likely to add value in the market if the following factors are carefully taken into consideration. Product identified and clearly defined- an assortment of children’s clothing would be sold online. The new e-business venture will specialize in selling these products to different customers in different areas. All business can be carried through the use of the internet and the products purchased can be delivered to the customers. Reason for product- there is a gap in the market where it can be seen that there are few actors in this sector who specialize in selling products that are specifically meant for children. Children’s clothes are oft en found in conventional clothing shops and this business is likely to be very convenient to many shoppers since they can get exactly what they would be looking for. STEP 2: Select a general topic area related to the problem or opportunity to research The general topic related to the problem or opportunity identified is concerned about the aspect of how to start a business. In this case, an opportunity has arisen and it can be seen that starting an online business to sell children’s clothes can be the best solution to address this issue. According to the Wall Street Journal (2012), there are different steps that ought to be taken into consideration when starting up a business. Starting a new business venture requires proper preparation and an entrepreneur should first decide if he or she is suitable to run that kind of business. This is very important since starting a business venture is not an overnight event. Entrepreneurship is about identifying opportunities that exist in the market and then measure are put in place in order to utilize the opportunity that exists at that particular moment in the market. The other important element to consider is about how to register a trademark for a company name. This element is very important since it helps to distinguish one company from the other. Whilst there are many companies that specialize in offering different products, they must be distinguished. According to the Wall Street Journal, this process can be done online and the company can also get the legal

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Final RFP Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Final RFP - Essay Example This Request For Proposals (RFP) document sets out the requirements to be met by the Enterprise Resource Planning ERP package Enterprise Architecture EA design to be selected to implement these business goals within the operations and management functions of Gadget, Inc. The overall strategic results to be met by the package and design selected as part of the responses to this RFP will include : no more lost orders, eliminating the numerous errors currently made and the accompanying inconsistencies. In terms of applicable Quality Assurance (QA) activities, there will be a series of procedural reviews carried out by the personnel partially involved in the acquisition and implementation process of the ERP packages and EA design and approval The risk management requirements to be met will include a process where the Vendor’s executives identify, analyze and rank every risk noted. Proactive risk identification measures will be put in place. In order to achieve the successful integration of the ERP application and EA design in order to meet the business process improvement requirements set out above, the following requirements will need to be satisfied by the selected Vendor. Gadget Inc., although it accepts that it is relatively small enterprise, expects that each Vendor will draw up an EA design that reflects Gadget Inc.’s business requirements as expressed by the Board of Directors. Gadget Inc. will not accept duplications of previous enterprise architectures drawn up by a given Vendor for one or more different clients. This requirement will be made clear to each Vendor at the Bid Evaluation stage. Gadget Inc. has no specific preferences regarding the ERP application presented by each Vendor bidding for the Contract. Gadget Inc. initially expects that each Vendor will present the ‘standard’ version of

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Fordist And Taylorist Production Systems Cultural Studies Essay

Fordist And Taylorist Production Systems Cultural Studies Essay Fordism, named after the Henry Ford from US, who refers to a variety of communal theories about production, assembling and related socio-economic phenomena  [1]  . Although Henry Ford was not the inventor of the automobile but he developed extraordinary methods of production and marketing that allowed the automobile to become reachable to the American working class. Ford always wanted to make cars that his team workers could afford easily. So, the mass production began in Detroit in 1914, when Ford discovered that a moving assembly line using interchangeable parts which could completely reduce the cost of making motor cars. After that he created the Ford Motor Company, which was one of a dozen small automobile manufacturers that emerged in the early 20th century. Mass production was really an unpleasant work, with high turnover because new production system must be oriented towards multi-skilling and rapid re-skilling workers; in order to hold the search for shifting a newly form ing market in a post mass production (cf. Piore, M. and Sabel, C., 1984). Just to retain his unskilled workforce, Ford doubled their wages to $5 per day justified by higher productivity  [2]  . After three years of production, he introduced the Model T, which was simple and light yet sturdy enough to drive on the countrys very elementary road system. He sold 18m Model T Fords, transforming to America into the first car-owning democracy, at a low price that dropped from $600 to $250 over 15 years. Henry Fords success and revolutionary techniques of production were then termed Fordism  [3]  . The scale of mass production is hard to understand. Fords River Rouge plant in Detroit, completed in 1928, he extended for a mile along a tributary of the Detroit River and employed 100,000 men workers. Raw materials like iron ore and rubber were unloaded at one end, and finished cars emerged from the other end, 72 hours later. But Fords system proved less efficient than GM  [4]  , which produced a range of models for different pocketbooks. Labour relations were troubled, sit-down strike, at the big automakers in the 1930s with layoffs and speed-ups, the end of organized capitalism has a tendency to become dis-organized in that the labour-employer relationships are fracturing (cf. Lash, S. and Urry, J. 1987) . GM was the first company forced to recognize the UAW  [5]  union after a sit-down strike closed its plants in Flint, Michigan in 1937. After more battles, the workers won higher wages and benefits, sharing in the American Dream. Unions also negotiated rigid work rules to protect workers from exploitation by foremen. Ford was even more determined to oppose unions than GM, and Henry Ford employed 3,000 service department personnel to prevent them taking hold. In 1937 they beat up key UAW union organizers attempting to hand out leaflets near the River Rouge factory. But in 1941, even Ford was forced to yield to union power, to ensure industrial peace during wartime. But the legacy of bitter industrial relations e ndured. The decline of mass production is due to Post Fordism; small scale batch production in small medium plants not mass production in large plant, only customized not standardized products, using multi-skilled workers with flexible work roles not fixed job descriptions, robots and computerized work teams instead of moving assembly lines (cf. Murray, R. 1989). Car manufacture ceased with the outbreak of World War II, but the auto manufacturers made good profits helping with the war effort, producing everything from jeeps to aircraft engines. The mass production helped the Allies win the war, and led to further consolidation in the industry. The war also brought new social groups, like women and black people, into the auto industry, but also increased social tensions in Detroit. Unemployment disappeared, and the UAWs power grew. The end of the war released an enormous surge of pent-up demand, especially for cars and houses, and Detroit boomed as never before. Car workers wages soared and many became homeowners. The Big three car companies dominated production as never before. In 1955 GM became the first company to make $1bn profit. Big cars predominated, promoted by sexy adverts  [6]  . The first signs that all was not well with Detroit was the 1973 oil crisis, when Middle East producers declared a boycott. Queues formed at petrol stations, and consumers for the first time switched in large numbers to smaller, more economical cars-often made by the Japanese; which they found more reliable. The Detroit-made cars had more defects, and Detroits attempts to build a successful small car failed. The auto industry now is much better prepared to withstand the effects of an oil crisis and meet consumer demand for highly fuel-efficient vehicles than it was during the Middle East oil crisis of the 1970s, Ford Motor Company Chairman Harold A. Poling said  [7]  . Imports of Japanese cars soared in the 1980s as consumers gradually grew to prefer the smaller, more reliable cars. The unions and the US companies reacted to the threat by trying to get the US government to block imports, and by the mid-1980s had succeeded in getting Japan to agree intended export chains (cf. Womack, J., P., Jones, J.T., Roos, D., 1990). But the move backfired as Japanese firms became more profitable and moved up market, launching cars like the Lexus. The US companies determined that they could make more money by selling sports utility vehicles, built on a truck chassis. In the 1990s sales of SUVs  [8]  and minivans soared. Imported SUVs attracted a higher tariff rate, blocking Japanese rivals. They were not very fuel-efficient, but with oil prices at $18 a barrel, no one seemed to mind. As imports flooded in, the car market became increasingly dominated by foreign producers, who imported millions of cars from overseas factories. Companies also increasingly relo cated production to Canada and Mexico after the Nafta free trade agreement. GM, Ford and Chrysler thought that the Japanese had an unfair advantage due to an undervalued (low) currency. They also believed that oil prices would return to lower levels. Lean production, Japanese manufacturers like Toyota and Nissan were also building more factories within the US to escape import controls, threat from Japan,(cf. Womack, J., P., Jones, J.T., Roos, D., 1990) in the response to eliminate waste by introducing this method. These factories were based on a new and more efficient production system, and they also allowed the transplants to develop new models more quickly. They also developed closer relationships with suppliers, using just-in-time methods. Soon they were competing across the whole range of vehicles, from trucks to compact cars. Green cars, in the last year many Americans have accepted the reality of global warming, and the demand for green vehicles has grown. Toyota sells 100,000 Prius hybrids a year and is rolling the hybrid technology out across its entire range. Both Ford and GM exposed electric-powered concept cars at the 2007 Detroit Motor Show, but they may be years away from mass production. Taylorism, a system of production devised by F. W. Taylor (1911), and characterized by the division of factory work into the smallest and simplest jobs while closely co-ordinating the sequence of tasks in order to achieve maximum efficiency, as, for example, on a production line. As a result, skilled managers and technicians oversee semi-skilled or unskilled workers who are engaged in simple, repetitive chores. This system of production has had profound spatial implications, as large firms often allocate skilled and unskilled jobs to different locations, creating a division of labour  [9]  . Taylorism is often mentioned along with Fordism, because it was closely associated with mass production methods in manufacturing factories. Taylors own name for his approach was scientific management  [10]  . Applications of scientific management sometimes fail to account for two inherent difficulties: Individuals are different from each other: the most efficient way of working for one person may be inefficient for another. The economic interests of workers and management are rarely identical, so that both the measurement processes and the retraining required by Taylors methods are frequently resented and sometimes sabotaged by the workforce. Both difficulties were recognized by Taylor, but are generally not fully addressed by managers who only see the potential improvements to efficiency. Taylor believed that scientific management cannot work unless the worker benefits. In his view management should arrange the work in such a way that one is able to produce more and get paid more, by teaching and implementing more efficient procedures for producing a product. Although Taylor did not compare workers with machines, some of his critics use this image to explain how his approach makes work more efficient by removing unnecessary or wasted effort (cf. Parker M. and Slaughter, J., 1988). However, some would say that this approach ignores the complications introduced because workers are necessarily human: personal needs, interpersonal difficulties and the very real difficulties introduced by making jobs so efficient that workers have no time to relax. As a result, workers worked harder, but became dissatisfied with the work environment. Some have argued that this discounting of worker personalities led to the rise of labour unions. It can also be said that the rise in labor unions is leading to a push on the part of industry to accelerate the process of automation, a process that is undergoing a renaissance with the invention of a host of new technologies starting with the computer and the Internet. This shift in production to machines was clearly one of the goals of Taylorism (cf. Berggren, C., 1989), and represents a victory for his theories. It may not be adaptive to changing scenarios; it overemphasizes routine procedures, i.e. strictly following a given set of rules and regulations, work procedures, production centeredness etc. However, tactfully choosing to ignore the still controversial process of automating human work is also politically expedient, so many still say that practical problems caused by Taylorism led to its replacement by the human relations school of management in 1930. Others (cf. Braverman, H., 1974) insisted that human relations did not replace Taylorism but that both approaches are rather opposite: Taylorism determining the actual organization of the work process and human relations helping to adapt the workers to the new procedures. However, Taylors theories were clearly at the roots of a global revival in theories of scientific management in the last two decades of the 20th century, under the moniker of corporate reengineering or business process re-engineering (cf. Milkman, R., 1997). As such, Taylors ideas can be seen as the root of a very influential series of developments in the workplace, with the goal being the eventual elimination of industrys need for unskilled, and later perhaps, even most skilled labor in any form, directly following Taylors recipe for deconstructing a process. This has come to be known as commoditization, and no skilled profession, even medicine, has proven to be immune from the efforts of Taylors followers, the re-engineers, who are often called derogatory names such as bean counters. A complex division of labour  [11]  and the expansion of economic interdependence accompanied the emergence of industrial capitalism. The division of labour reached its logical conclusion in the emergence of Taylorism and its mass production partner, Fordism. These had their weaknesses including high start-up costs and a relatively rigid production process. Such low-trust systems can be contrasted with high-trust systems, where workers operate with greater autonomy and cooperation. A whole series of techniques and initiatives are described by the term post-Fordism including group production and mass customization. These are epitomized by the Quality Circle, a concept alien to Taylorist assumptions that workers need to be stripped of opportunities for creative input. Such systems tend to be marked by high skill levels and rapid turnover of product designs. The decline of manufacturing industry as an employer can be explained both by competition from the Far East and the increasing rate of technological change. Global production systems have also contributed to the movement of industry around the world. These processes have led to a steady decline in trade union membership since the 1970s. The separation of home and work contributed to the marginalization of women from paid employment, a pattern gradually reversed during the twentieth century. Within the economy women remain concentrated in poorly paid routine occupations  [12]  . Either work becomes recreated as womens work, or heartlands of female employment slowly have their status eroded over time. Labour-force participation is higher among childless women, though many more females now return to their full-time jobs after childbirth than they did a decade ago. Women dominate part-time employment, though their reasons for remaining in such jobs remain the source of controversy  [13]  . The most notable change in working life in developed countries has been the expansion of female participation in the paid labour market and resulting erosion of the male breadwinner model within families. Among men, the trend has been away from manual work and currently also away from routine non-manual labour. These trends have levelled off in recent years, with women remaining over-represented in routine white-collar jobs and men over-represented in skilled manual work. Despite womens advances across the economy, the top posts remain the preserve of men. Women in the most recent generation have benefited from the legislation passed in the 1970s, but the pay divide remains substantial over a lifetime. Debates on skills in the workplace have tended to become polarized between those, (cf. Braverman, H., 1974), who see capitalism as continually deskilling the workforce as new machines and technologies replace crafts and creativity; who argue that it is not technology but the way this i s used that is most important  [14]  . Unemployment has a long history and has ebbed and flowed throughout the twentieth century. There are significant effects for individuals, communities and the wider society. These are disproportionately borne by the young and ethnic minorities. A key task for individuals will be to find ways of forging long-term life plans in a society that privileges the short-term. In 1990s the the new industrial relations associated with the introduction of HRM, also seeks to create an atmosphere and a framework for union-management collaboration (cf. Guest, D., 1989, Storey, J., 1992). From the above it is possible to deduce some conclusions. First of all, there are changes in the way by which work is done and controlled. The Fordism model is dictatorial, with rigid discipline, technical and specific personnel training, taking man as a simple addition of the machine and separating the intellectual from the manual work. Classical management control is performed by rigid supervision procedures. The number of problem with general post-Fordist paradigm has implication for the potential embedding (cf. Kelly, J., 1998) The post-Fordist model presents flexible authority and control systems by which conformism and passivity open spaces for dynamism and creativity (according to the management model established earlier). However, when this analysis is centred on the objects and ideology that guide the productive process, one can conclude that no evolution has occurred. Management, yesterday and today, aims toward maximum rationalization of the production system, greater increase in productivity, profitability and competition, maintaining together the older way of production (cf. Sparrow, P. and Marchington, M., 1998). When that concentration is measured in employment terms, aggregate data for the mid-70s to the mid-80s show that larger firms in all three societies have been shedding labour, even though disproportionately. This fact must be analysed also by the quality of employment, the quality of life and the security of economic recovery, and not just from the point of view of job creation in terms of head-counts. The de-centralization of decision-making and flattening of managerial hierarchies in post-Fordist has led to a de-centralization of managerial control, or whether Fordist centralized management control is being maintained, even in spatially decentralized units, through the development of new control technologies (cf. Lane, C., 1995). In fact, there is not, in either model, a proposal that guarantee the autonomy of the worker. In both, Taylor and Ford, task obligations are reached through rigid control and supervision concerning the worker. In the post-Fordism model, task obligations occur by way of a rigid management scheme. Direct supervisory control is inhibited, assuming either the form of auto-control or control by complex technological procedures; nevertheless, it continues to exist. Beyond the work strengthening and capital concentration, the post-Fordism model maintains the division of work, although on more ample bases. If in Taylorism-Fordism the tasks were broken down into simple and routine movements, in post-Fordism the division into fractions of work happens with the attribution of responsibility to the groups that fulfil a set of specific tasks (activities). There is widespread agreement in the literature that due to the need for more flexible and speedier reaction to changing market demands, de-centralization of decision-making and flattening of managerial hierarchies has occurred (cf. Lane, C., 1995). However, there is little systematic evidence as to what form that de-centralization has taken and which hierarchical levels have been affected. To the post-Fordism is like Fordism as well as post-modernism is like modernism. Postmodernism is another version of that historical amnesia characteristic of American culture the tyranny of the new. According to the Green (cf. Green, A., 1997), postmodernism should be seen not as a development beyond modernism but rather as a continuation of a certain idealist current within it. One can make the same statement about Fordism and post-Fordism. Finally, it seems opportune to repeat the words of Ford from back in the 40s (cf. Ford, H., 1991): We are not living in a machine age; we are living in the power age. This power age of ours has great possibilities, depending upon how we use it. Of course it can be mistreated. But, it can also be used greatly to benefit mankind. If this sentence were true during that period of time, today it seems even more adequate. References

Friday, October 25, 2019

Industrial Change in Britain :: European Europe History

Industrial Change in Britain Industrial Change in Britain:'There was frequent and widespread discontent' How accurate is this statement? The Industrial Revolution is a term describing the many changes that transformed Great Britain from approximately 1760 and 1830. The main feature was the change to the factory system that depended on power driven machinery instead of manpower and the rapid growth of the cotton industry. The Industrial Revolution occurred because the scientists and inventors used their imaginations to develop new products and to exploit the opportunities of booming markets. Examples of this occurred in the textile, pottery and iron industries. The development of mining, particularly of the widespread use of coal, road improvements due to the road tolls, the building of canals, the growth of coastal shipping and the later rise of the railways were all crucial in the Industrial Revolution. The Industrial Revolution in Great Britain meant that the country could import cotton, woollen goods, iron and steel, machinery, hardware and coal on a huge scale. Other countries were not so industrialised therefore Great Britain had a strong advantage over them. Factory owners were able to move their products around the country more quickly, more cheaply and with greater safety than previously. For example, Britain's main fuel was coal. As the towns grew they needed more coal. The coal was heavy and difficult to transport by road. During this time many canals were built and soon a canal network made transporting coal, merchandise and communicating a lot easier. During the Industrial Revolution, the cotton industry rapidly increased with the invention of an improved spinning wheel powered by water. These machines were quickly mass-produced for factory use. Factories could be built in the towns and employ many workers. The cotton industry saw rapid growth and needed many workers to keep it going. The increase in factories and employment meant that there was a huge amount of work to do. Many children obtained work in the factories instead of attending school. Before the Industrial Revolution, families worked hard but could also rest when they could not work. In the factories, children and adults alike were expected to work very long hours and hardly ever had free time at home. In some cases, children worked from 3am to 10pm. Children could easily be trained to work in the textile industries because it was made up of simple tasks. Sunday was a day of rest, yet in some factories, the children had to turn up for work to clean the machinery.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

An Analysis of the Choice Essay

This study analyzes the difference of the operation model of HSBC and ICBC are operating in the UK at present, and examines the advantages and disadvantages of both separated and mixed operation for ICBC (London). Furthermore, it proposes the realistic choice of operation model for ICBC (London) under the existing Chinese financial system and the market condition of UK. This paper argues that the separated operation model of ICBC and investment banks in the short term will not change. The internally integrated operation model in terms of mixed operation which through restructuring to concurrently operate investment bank business within the ICBC (London), should be the realistic choice. The operating advantages in terms of low risk and high efficiency of the Group Banking form will be the development orientation for ICBC (London). Chapter 1 1. Introduction 1. 1 Background to the Research November 4, 1999 the U. S. Senate and House passed the â€Å"Financial Services modernization Act† to repeal the â€Å"Glass-Steagall Act† enacted in 1933(Wen, 2009). It ends the separated operation and separate supervision to the banking, securities and insurance, and opened a new era in the financial industry to mixed operation. Also it marks the mixed operation model occupied the dominant position in the international financial community. Under the role of market forces, the United Kingdom, Japan, Canada and other western countries have also given up the major sub-sector financial management system, and re-established the mixed financial system. The establishment of British Financial Services Authority (FSA) has been practiced for ten years. It has shown that the implementation of mixed operation and mixed supervision of the reform is successful for UK financial industry (Ojo, 2005). The integration of commercial banking and investment banking business became the global financial industry trends (Xu, 2002). ICBC is a market leader in the China in many business areas of commercial banking. It occupies the biggest market share among the big-four state-owned commercial banks in terms of capitalization, profitability and the volumes of deposit and loan. It operates through 16,232 outlets across China, 162 overseas subsidiaries and a global network of more than 1,504 correspondent banks as well as Internet Banking, Telephone Banking and self-service banking (www. icbc. com. cn). ICBC (London) was established in 2003, and grew dramatically on total capitalization and the scope of the business. However, under the Chinese Financial Law, it still uses the separated operation model in UK. 1. 2 Significance of the Problem The operation and supervision model of China’s financial banking are different from any of other countries’. Recalling the journey of China’s financial business operations, in 1993, the operation model of Chinese financial industry had changed from mixed operation to separated operation. Prior to 1993, China adopted a mixed operation, and commercial banks were one of the main participants at the beginning of China’s stock market established. Banks were playing a significant role in the securities market formation process which gave the support on capital, technology, personnel and organizational management. The main form of commercial banks to participate in the securities business was built on equity securities company wholly or securities department of trust and Investment Company. Their principal business was the issuance of corporate securities and agency trading. Because of the lack of capacity of self-regulatory and constraints, there was an accumulation of risks inherent in mixed operation. In the late 1992, as investment of real estate and securities were prevailing, numerous of credit funds through bank lending into the stock market result in leading to financial chaos. Therefore in July 1993, there was a great effort to rectify the financial order. Banking industry and securities industry had to adopt separate operation management model. Chinese government proposed separated operation and separated supervision model for financial industry. In 1995, â€Å"Commercial Bank Law† and â€Å"Insurance Law† followed the â€Å"separated operation, separated supervision† principle to regulate the financial industry. From that point, the separated operation model continues to today. However, due to the effects of the practice of mixed operation model by the U. S. , ICBC is trialing the mixed operation model progressively in China since 2008 (ICBC Annual Report 2009). Unfortunately, ICBC (London) is still operating as separated operation model. 1. 3 Statement of Purpose In recent years, the pace of world economic development slowed down and interest rates of countries continued generally low, result in facing a serious test of effectiveness for banks whose profitability based on the main source of loan interest rate differentials.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Business Environment Essay

Business environment refers to the conditions prevailing in a society in which a business is to be operated. It is defined as the total of all things external to business firms and industries, which effect their organization and operation. The number and scope of environmental factors, which effect business, is broad. There should be included all aspects of our social, scientific, economic, political and cultural life which have some bearing upon business. Relationship of Environment to Business To understand fully the nature of business, its structure, its organization and its behavior, one must look not only at the business properly, but also at the environment within which business operates. More specifically, this means that business exists in surroundings external to its direct or operating components of firms and industries. The significant elements of environment for a business house comprise persons, physical resources and climate, economic and market conditions, altitudes and laws of the land. These elements effect the course of action of the company. Business and its environment interact. In our business-oriented society, business has influenced environmental conditions probably as much as or even more than environmental forces have shaped business. The firm depends upon its environmental conditions for the resources and opportunities necessary for its existence. The environment determines the limits of the firms’ activities. The environment contributes valuable resources to the business firm only if the firm provides the desired goods or services to the environment. A firm must look to public needs and attitudes remain sensitive to human values and alert to the social set up. Good businesses, therefore, are always responsive to the total environment in which they operate. Economic Environment Business is greatly influenced by the economy of the country. Its operational success depends upon an adjustment and meeting the requirements of the economy. The important factors that are to be looked into and effectively handled are: 1. Desires, Customers and Markets The purpose of business is to anticipate desires of people and purpose goods and services accordingly to satisfy them. Let these goods and services so produced be carried effectively to the place of customers. But it is not possible unless businessman produces them at proper time and makes them available to customers at reasonable price. Hence, timing of production and reasonable price. Hence, timing of production and reasonable price of products are important considerations. Further, the intensity of competition existing in the market and the degree of marketing strategies to be adopted also are important points to be considered by a business entrepreneur. 2. Availability Businessmen must assess the source or sources of capital as well as the cost at which it is available. For a developing country like ours, obtaining capital is not so easy. It is definitely a problem as its availability depends upon will and capacity of people to save and invest, existence of good capital and money market, and economic and financial policy of the government etc. 3. Availability of Labour Operational efficiency of a business enterprise greatly depends upon the availability of labour at a reasonable price. If such manpower in the shape of skilled and unskilled workers is sufficiently available to a business according to its requirement and within reasonable wage rate, it can carry on its activities and expect profit. But to get workers at right time and at right price is not so easy. There are many factors that influence their availability. 4. Level of Productivity Productivity at a reasonable level depends upon how the activities are planned, organized, directed and controlled. The use of the latest production techniques, machines, manpower, and motivation and techniques of people to work sincerely and devotedly are some of the requirements to achieve the desired level of productivity. 5. Imaginative Entrepreneurship The success of an entrepreneur depends upon the quality of his imagination and skill. More he is intelligent, imaginative, and farsighted, more he is effective in grabbing the opportunity and playing his role in the economic growth and betterment of people. 6. Qualified and Capable Manager The competent role of managers has greatly improved the efficiency of work operation, reduced cost and enhanced capability to face challenge of competition. The science of management is undergoing a fast improvement in the light of research, study, experiences and observation. Every business enterprise is struggling to avail the benefit of intelligent, qualified, and competent managers. 7. Market Size Market size of a business depends upon its production policy and programme. If its production target is limited, it will have a small market. On the other hand, if it has a large-scale production programme, it has to expand its market. Such business enterprises even go to international markets. Desire to expand the size of market causes them to adopt new marketing strategies and planned efforts to go as deep to different places as possible and create as many customers as it could be. 8. Price Levels and Inflation In case if price level is changing fast, it becomes difficult for a business enterprise to plan its activities that would ensure a reasonable gain. Changing price, levels make the cost of capital, production, distribution, and profit unpredictable and uncertain. But still then we find entrepreneurs coming up with fair guess and estimation to make their business operate with better results and survive the vagaries of changing price levels and inflation. 9. Government Fiscal and Monetary Policy Government collects revenue through taxes, duties, fees etc, and spends the same on administration, public utilities like roads, bridges, canals, buildings, hospitals etc. Greater burden of taxes imposed by the government on people may reduce their ability to save and could affect investment climate. Similarly, monetary policy, which influences supply of money within the country, does also have its impacts on business activities. Central Bank of the country as controller of credit plays its role to regulate money supply together with the government. Social and Cultural Environment Businesses produce goods and services for people who dwell in the society. Thus the number of people, their age and educational composition has great significance for business. What a person buys or the service he consumes is a reflection of his religious and cultural constraints. Thus the cultural religious and ethnic pressures have a vital bearing on the affairs of the business. 1. Population Growth for a businessman, population growth presents both opportunities and problems. Opportunities arise from the fact that there are continually more consumers to buy business output and more workers to produce and sell it. Problems are caused by the fact that as more people want and need jobs, businesses must make them available otherwise the society will have to face the menace of unemployment. 2. Population Composition (a) Age-Wise Composition Different age groups have different demands. Young people are interested in automobiles, musical instruments, sport equipments etc. Older people may be interest in medical care and health, food etc. (b) Education Standard An illiterate population can be easily deceived. Gone are the days of the sellers society. The society where consumers are educated is the buyers society. People can well judge between good and bad and reap the economies of modern technology. (c) Economic Standards Higher income people can afford to satisfy tastes that people of lower incomes cannot. Thus when the medium family income increases, the market for business products and services also expands. (d) Changing Job Opportunities With increased investment in human resources, the opportunities to improve labour productivity are enhanced. The occupational shifts have been towards professional, technical, managerial jobs and in service industries. The opportunities for farm workers, craftsmen, machine operators etc, is declining substantially. 3. Social Attitudes and Beliefs Businesses have to take into account the attitudes, desires, beliefs, tastes, problems and customs of the consumers. These aspects vary in individuals, groups and even nations. Americans hold attitudes like respect for all individuals, strong regard for education, faith in science and technology, belief in innovation, belief in competition, belief in an environment cleansed of air and water pollution, lovable communities with decent housing, safe streets, efficient transportation, educational and cultural opportunities. Such social beliefs have a considerable impact on business climate. 4. Pluralism The society is broken down into many kinds of groups’ consumers, investors, labour organizations, managers, government’s bureaucrats and politicians, religious groups, racial groups etc. In everything that business managers do, they must be alert to this pluralistic feature of the society. While the existence of so many interest groups tends to complicate business operations, they constitute a major safeguard against dominance of the society by any single interest group. Technological Environment There has always been a strong link between business and technology. Any business that wishes to survive in a changing world must be aware of the modern technological changes and also use technology to develop and modernize its products or services, to meet cost competition and to improve marketing. The alert businessman must not only be aware o technological changes affecting his operations and his customs, he needs to forecast the state of the art so that he will have time to use it successfully before he finds his products or processes obsolete. This he must also do so that he is the first one to put up a new product at the suitable time in the market and not lag behind which will be a degrading position in the world of competition. Political Environment Political environment has a great impact on the establishment, operation, growth and expansion of business. Stable political climate makes things more certain and predictable. Businessman fined themselves in a better position to estimate future and plan their business. In other worlds, greater is the political stability, better may be the opportunity for successful business. That is the reason why we often witness flight of capital from the country where there is political instability or where policy of government frequently changes. Legal Environment Every business is encircled by the laws, regulations, and court decisions of the land. Almost each and every decision made by a businessman should be within the permissible limits of laws and regulations of the country. He should know that his action or decision might be subjected to a challenge in the court of law. Thus all decisions and steps should be within the framework of the law of the land. This success depends upon how he meets all legal requirements. We know that in certain cases rules and regulations may be burdensome. But they all aim at creating an atmosphere that is best suited to good conduct of business and protect the interests of customers and workers as well. Social Responsibility in Business A large part of an organization’s response to its environment is called SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. â€Å"Social Responsibility has been defined as the organization’s obligation to take actions that protect and improve the welfare of the society as a whole, along with advancing its own interests.† Basically business is said to possess this responsibility because of its extreme power to influence societal conditions.