Sonys Business Strategy In The Global Environment Commerce Essay

Since 1946, Masaru Ibuka and Akio Morita founded Sony as Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Corp in Tokyo. The company commenced researching with 20 employees with a budget lower than 200,000 hankerings. The company was fabricating telecommunication and measurement equipment. Within a twelvemonth, the first merchandise was launched, a power megaphone. In 1950, the Japan ‘s first tape recording equipment was distributed to a market. When Sony eyes on conveying their wares to the international market in the mid-1950s, it seemed to be a virgin name, at the interim, because the initials TTK were antecedently selected. The company combined its name from the Latin word for sound, â€Å" sonus, † and the American word â€Å" sonny † . Regard to a trade taging grounds, the company desired to hold a word that will non be found in any linguistic communication. Many inquiries came up from an internal harmonizing to the alteration because of the clip spent on implementing its former trade name known globally, but in 1958, the name was officially changed to Sony Corp. In 1960, Sony started out its U.S. subdivision, called SONAM ( Sony Corporation of America ) , known as SCA, and the first subdivision in the United Kingdom in eight old ages subsequently. First, the subdivision was named as Sony ( U.K. ) Ltd and was changed subsequently into Sony United Kingdom Ltd. The company spreads out into Spain and France in 1973 every bit good as in German in 1986. Sony has a long history of presenting engineerings. Sony novices, in 1950, the Japan ‘s first transistor wireless, the TR-55. In a piece, the company released a minor transistor wireless. For a decennary, Sony released the universe ‘s first direct-view portable Television, the TV8-301. The company persisted in developing the Television and in a twosome of old ages manufactured the tiniest all-transistor Television. In 1989, Sony released the Handycam, a portable, easy-to-use, 8 millimeter camcorder. Six old ages ago, the company brought the universe ‘s first Blu-ray phonograph record participant into the amusement market. In 2005, Sony upgrades the Handycam to the High Definition Handycam, making the universe ‘s smallest picture camera. The Walkman is the leader merchandise from Sony forcing the SONY trade name to the top. The first version was launched in 1979. The little, lightweight portable tape participant revolutionized the manner people listened to music. It besides allowed persons to do music truly personal by utilizing earphones. In 1984, Sony released the Discman, the company ‘s first portable Cadmium participant. Since March 2009, Sony employed more than 171,300 people. The one-year gross of company in 2009 was about $ 8 billion, with about $ 1.5 billion in net income. They remain headquartered in Tokyo and have about 100 attached companies outside Japan.Particular Critical Incident of SonySony has got assorted retail mercantile establishments around the World which ensures a uninterrupted supply of merchandises to the clients. However, from these retail mercantile establishments there are a batch of rivals such as Motorola which produce similar merchandises and use the same mercantile establishments to do the merchandises reach the consumers. Due to this there is a demand for Sony to come up with schemes which can do them win over their rivals merchandises. For illustration in the late 1990 ‘s Sony lost its leading place in most of its markets merely because of improper schemes. There are assorted grounds which led to this failure and they are farther discussed and supported by assorte d schools here under ;Mintzberg SchoolsHarmonizing to Mintzberg et Al ( 1998 ) there are 10 schemes which when divided into three groups can be applicable in transporting out strategic direction procedure. The three groups are ; normative, Descriptive and Configuration. Prescriptive describes how schemes should be made instead than how schemes are formulated ; descriptive describes assorted procedures involved in the formation of scheme and constellation includes description of both descriptive and constellation. For a company ‘s scheme to work best in a given concern environment, it has to place and utilize a mix of schemes. As referred to the instance survey, the failure of Sony to take in most of its market would hold been solved by looking as to whether the scheme behind the company was working or non. The company taking place in the market would hold worked on the longer footings by placing three Mintzberg schemes of entrepreneurial, cognitive every bit good as Power schools. The entrepreneurial school focal points on cognition and intuition which directors need to be cognizant of, in the procedure of transporting out their managerial activities ( Betz, 2002 ) . The success of any scheme is chiefly based on director ‘s vision, personal intuition, judgements, experience and wisdom. As referred to the instance survey, one of the ways which seemed to be solution to resuscitate Sony was to replace the bing Chief executive officer at that clip and Howard Stringer took over the company as a new Chief executive officer in 2005. Stringer was able to resuscitate the company through efficiency and reorganisation which made different section collaborating together to accomplish a common end. Another feature of scheme which needs to be seen at Sony Company is the cognitive schools which focus on strategian head. Harmonizing to Ginder at Al. 2002, scheme depends on single ‘s apprehension and how that single manages the information used to develop the scheme. The doomed of Sony ‘s leading place was due to failures of strategians to acknowledge the growing of new engineerings. This means the strategians did non hold adequate information related to market environment. This information would hold been obtained through SWOT analysis and could assist directors explicate the company ‘s schemes efficaciously. Power School as another Mintzberg scheme focuses on power relationships of where the scheme is created. The power school requires of import characters in the organisation to dicker persuade and comfort each other in the procedure of scheme preparation. ( Betz, 2002 ) commented on his survey that scheme can be used as a tool of doing partnerships. Having a new CEO, Howard Stringer Sony reported a loss which was caused by failure of the company to convey up advanced merchandises. The new CEO and directors of the company fail to look into alterations go oning in the competitory concern environment, and hence the alterations brought loss to the company sometimes subsequently.WhittingtonWhittington ‘s theory of scheme focal points on four schools of classical, evolutionary, processual and systemic. The school which relate to Sony Company is evolutionary theory. Harmonizing to Doty et Al ( 1993 ) the evolutionary school focal points on the environment as the chief factor instead than rational attack suggested by other schools. The Evolutionary attack believes that organisational environment is the biggest factor in the preparation of concern scheme therefore the preparation of scheme must be reflected to the environment since it is unpredictable and mutable. In add-on to that the theory supports on emphasizing that net income maximization is determined by markets and non directors. Whittington concludes that rational attacks can non find the endurance of houses in the selling environment but it is development which determines it. In development, competition is overcome by the battle and endurance of the house from which the rule of natural choice is translated into the scheme for the best public presentation. Sony failure to be a leader in the planetary market can be linked to the evolutionary school due to miss of market information. Bing a leader in the market, top direction was supposed to be cognizant of the conditions predominating in the market including invention and technological promotion which could assist the company keep its leading place. On the other manus, when the new CEO, Mr. Stringer took over the company he seemed to be less concern with the environment alternatively he focused on reorganisation. The sections in the company functioned independently and made the CEO to see it as a chief cause of the company ‘s failure to globalise. The Chief executive officer was supposed to look at what the company is bring forthing and do comparing with the merchandises available in the selling environment to keep the leading place of the company. Successful organisations are those that most efficaciously interact with their environments ( Hambrick 1982, Pfeffer and Salancik 1978 ) . Organizational Performance is dependent on the organisation ‘s ability to aline or fit its schemes, constructions, and processes to its environment. Alignment depends on the organisation ‘s ability to obtain relevant information about its current and future environment. Environmental scanning is the procedure by which an organisation collects environmental information, which is utilized in its strategic direction procedure. Therefore to be a leader and go success in its planetary markets it was suppose to scan its environment and any information obtained should be incorporated into the company ‘s scheme every bit good as constructions and procedures within the company. While making that, the top direction has to do certain that information is shared among assorted members of the company chiefly between the sections. Corporate CEO is a individual whose determinations take the company in the coveted way. Most of the CEOS are leaders in the environmental motion. It is clip to acknowledge that their committedness is critical to success. The universe economic system is now propelled by venture capital and proficient invention. Barney ‘s ( 1991 ) says that organisational resources are said to be embedded in the organisation, squad based, and capable to causal ambiguity. Such capablenesss are besides really much in line with the â€Å" modus operandis † . Here we focus on managerial accomplishments at running the concern or a portion of the concern. The success of the Sony, at the beggary was good known but later on the company experienced losingss merely because of its hapless organisational construction in which sections ‘ maps independently from each other. The results indicated that segmented and isolated work to team-based operations is important to organisational market leading. Organizations operations should be carried out in line with undertaking forces for short-run job resolution exercisings, and with cross-functional and cross-hierarchical squads to accomplish longer-term aims and specific undertakings of an ongoing nature. Moss Kanter ( 1983 ) argues that such squad mechanisms promote the circulation of resources, information and support. The tendency, hence, has been off from segmented and isolated constructions with small communicating and interaction between countries and different degrees, to a state of affairs where interaction and integrating are seen as being indispensable to operations. No longer do functional countries concentrate merely on their ain undertakings. Now they are made cognizant of the work of other countries and how they can be of aid to them. Interaction through squads and webs ensures that the wider image of the organisation is understood. Team-based work ensures a more flexible and adaptable attack to work makes possible the wider exercising of liberty and duty, gives rise to increased interaction, communicating and information flows, and makes work more gratifying for those involved.Strategic DecisionsGlobally, SONY is perceived as the trade name whose merchandises are of high quality, with the presence of rivals the company has to do certain that it has a tool of competitory advantage in or der to get the better of the approaching rivals and get larger market portion. In order to accomplish the planetary aspirations the company has to see the following cardinal strategic determination ; Harmonizing to Gupta and Govidarajan ( 2001 ) , any company wishing to function its markets globally will hold to do four nucleus determinations refering ; The markets the company wishes to run The merchandises to vie in the planetary market The manner of come ining the market Time/speed of entryPlague analysisOn the other manus SONY Company has to utilize PEST analysis to obtain the necessary information which helps the company to analyse and measure the competition it is confronting. PEST analysis involves ; Political forces such as Government policies and statute law Political stableness Public involvement groups ( consumer watchdogs ) Economic forces such as Exchange rates Inflation Social forces such as Changes in life style ( faster gait of life taking to a demand in products/services which enable people to make things more rapidly and handily ) Manner and tendencies Technological forces such as Fast gait of technological alteration Research and development ( a demand for increased budgets to maintain measure with the gait of technological alteration ) Opportunities for invention The cost of engineering ( reducing/increasing ) Increased ordinance ( wellness and safety facets of new merchandises )SWOT analysisBesides Sony ‘s SWOT analysis is one of the schemes which the company will hold to do in order to achieve its planetary aspirations. SWOT analysis will assist the company to fit its strength and failings against chances and menaces available in the environment in which the company operates. Strengths for illustration skilled work force, good systems and strong trade name Failings for illustration unequal resources, high cost base and decelerate internal determinations. Opportunities for illustration dining economic system and stylish merchandise Menaces for illustration – Global competition and industry repute.Porter ‘s five forcesIn add-on to that the SONY Company has to utilize Porter ‘s five forces analysis as a competitory scheme which postulates the impact that other organisations pose on the company. Porter ‘s five forces include ; New entrants, Sony ‘s planetary aspirations and High cost of entry to organize a barrier to entry rivals. Features of replacement merchandises as to whether they are, Cheaper, Different and better Existing participants chiefly competition within the industry such as Apple and Samsung. Suppliers ; Supplier concentration, Bargaining power, Supplier extension every bit good as Fixed/variable cost. Customers ; Buyer concentration, Customer trueness, Switch overing costs and Buyer motivations.Porter ‘s DiamondIn order Sony to accomplish its planetary aspirations, it must be prepared to get the better of strong competition in the planetary electronics concern market. Porter ‘s diamond theory concludes that the state in which the organisation is based can strongly impact the organisation. Harmonizing to Johnson et Al. 2006, the state in which the organisation is based can assist in making a tool of competitory advantage by supplying factors from which the organisation can explicate the advantages. The factors include factor conditions, demand conditions, house ‘s scheme, construction and competition and related and back uping industries. Beginning: hypertext transfer protocol: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File: The_Porter_Diamond.svgThe Porter ‘s DiamondOrganization ‘s can derive competitiveness utilizing four factors presented in the Porter ‘s diamond scheme ( Matsuyama and Vanderbrink, 2003 ) . The conditions bing in the local environment clime and policies can be tracked utilizing the house ‘s scheme, construction every bit good as competition. Information about competition and local market influence can be collected utilizing demand conditions. If related to Sony Company, the lone factor conditions, which will assist to make competitory advantage, are invention and engineering betterments. Having produced assortments of electronics merchandises, invention will do the company to come up with new, good differentiated merchandises and quality merchandises. In order to accomplish its planetary aspirations Sony Company can utilize merchandise development scheme to ease its advanced patterns.Merchandise developmentNew merchandises in current markets – this may intend perfectly new merchandises or loops of other merchandises to do them more suited to the known market. The benefit to the administration is ; if the new merchandises are successful, the cost of marketing a broader scope of merchandises to the market is less in relation to the larger grosss generated. The hazard involved here is that new merchandises can hold a high failure rate.Execution Challenges in the Global MarketMichael, J. ( 1999 ) International relation of production mediated either by the market through internal minutess of the transnational corporation ( MNCs ) , are distributing quickly to the most parts of the universe. Porter, E ( 1998 ) Trade liberalisation has brought competition among enterprisers in the universe, as consequence ; invention remained the cardinal arm for concern to last within a market. However, alteration within an organisation is a measure frontward toward to acknowledgment of a concern menace. Menace of concern can be internal or external, whichever manner, Koontz and O'Donnell ( 1984 ) Contributed on the issue of direction within an organisation † Five countries were identified which makes directors to be proactive in their public presentations an compulsion with reactivity of clients, invention in all countries of the house, partnership – means sharing across stakeholders and derive connexion with all people around organisation † Harmonizing to the academic school, the Kurt lewin alteration was assumed to be a necessary within the organisation if at all a company mean to convey alteration. However, Howard Stringer ( CEO ) of Sony Company has made some necessary alterations into Sony Company, which lead to some sensible alterationThe jobFrom The company expert analyst major job for Sony was a awkwardness of oversing its merchandise. This job was associated with company civilization which prevented sharing information among other section. When main executive of Sony Company came to gain the job, new scheme was implemented to decide a job. The jobs were solved, but the major 1 was to reconstitute the whole administration. February 2009, in one of ( CEO ) his critical addresss he said â€Å" There is still a batch of the old Sony, and non plenty of the new which constraints our fight † . Haward Stringer said Mintzberg et Al ( 1998 ) the school theoretical account scheme prognosis to do certain that internal and external capableness are step. This means a scheme should be planed diligently from the top to the underside of the administration, by specifying the major obstruction to impede alteration. Otherwise, alteration starts inside, where member of the administration, their mentality should be influenced to get by with the alteration required. Kurt lewin theoretical account argued that alteration has a procedure ; this procedure starts to, dissolving ; traveling and refreezing Cummingss and Worley, ( 2002 ) . However other theoretical account described lewin theoretical account gaining the importance of whole people ( members ) of the administration to back up alteration.it is good thought to act upon bulk get downing from top side of the direction construction to the underside by explicating why alteration was necessary for the administration. This may cut down the impact of opposition for alteration. Ivancevich and Matteson ( 2002 ) There different types of alteration, but alteration of behavior and height and values are the most major which in bend consequences to travel the administration at different degree of production. Harmonizing to the proclamation made by CEO of Sony Company early 2009, foremost and foremost alteration was for organizational civilization, beliefs come from the perceptual experience and consequence it is fruit itself. If the company managed to alter staff beliefs, turn negative height to positive height the consequence is to do alteration happen. Harmonizing to Maslow ‘s Hierarchy of demands, as director should understand the complexness of human demands. If this was instance, â€Å" the inquiry which is raised that, how an employee can run into the organizational demands ( Objectives ) if the company director has non fulfilled an employee demands? † Maslow ‘s theoretical accounts recognised that, nevertheless a basic demands should be fulfilled at least so every bit far as you meet an employee demand from bottom to exceed of the hierarch, perceptual experience of many employees is security. Refreezing degree this is the degree whereby a company a company is looking to brace the alteration in a new manner, confidence to staff is made and they feel unafraid therefore they will be able to present the quality as required by the administration. Example is where by a company will come in into the market chest frontward with a merchandise which meets â€Å" beyond clients the outlook † such as laptops by Sony ‘s merchandise. Very little and easy to maintain into a little pocketbook in fact person with piece in head has to come up with this invention etc. Therefore motive is most of import if truly alterations are planned. The meet a end has been defined, a company will specify how far is looking to make in the market! This inquiry automatically will be answered by the SWOT ANALYSIS discussed in the text above. â€Å" Every civilization has their say! † Swahili linguistic communication acknowledges the usage of the word â€Å" the caput is a moist † significance every determination should be pass foremost to the caput of the administration. Kurt Lewin supported that by back uping to seek support from the caput of the administration.MentionsBurnes, B ( 2004 ) ‘Managing Change ‘ 4th edition, England: Prentice Hall. Cumming, T. G and Worley, C. G ( 2001 ) ‘Organization development and alteration ‘ United statess: South-Western College. Govindarajan, V. and Gupta, A. K. ( 2001 ) ‘Mastering Global Business ‘ Hrsg: Fiscal Time, Great Britain, p.98. Harris, N. ( 2000 ) ‘Business Economicss: Theory and Application ‘ Oxford: UK, p.132 Ivancevich, J. and Matteson, T. ( 2002 ) ‘Organizational Behaviour and Management ‘ 6th edition, North Amarica: McGraw-Hill. Karlof, B. and Gilderson, A. J. ( 1993 ) ‘Business Concept: A Concise Guide ‘ USA: Routledge, p.190.Mark Kennan ( 2010 ) ‘Sony Corporation History & A ; Background ‘ [ Online ] Available from: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.ehow.com/about_5176244_sony-corporation-history-background.html ( Accessed: 3 April 2010 )Michie, Jonathan and Grieve Smith, John ( 1999 ) ‘Global instability: the political economic system of the universe economic administration ‘ London: Ruthledge, p.112. Mintzberg, H. ( 1994 ) ‘The rise and autumn of strategic be aftering ‘ London: FT Prentice Hall. Mintzberg, H. et Al ( 1998 ) ‘Strategy Safari: The complete usher through the natural states of strategic direction ‘ New York: Prentice Hall. Mullins, L. J. ( 2002 ) ‘Management and organisational behavior ‘ 6th edition, England: Prentice Hall. Raynor, M. E. ( 2007 ) ‘The Strategy Paradox ‘ New York: Doubleday Business. Smartbrief.com ( 2010 ) ‘Sony Corporation ‘ [ Online ] Available from: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.smartbrief.com/news/cea/companyData.jsp? companyId=3938 ( Accessed: 4 April 2010 ) Sony Global ( 2010 ) ‘Sony Corp. Info ‘ [ Online ] Available from: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.sony.net/ SonyInfo/CorporateInfo/ ( Accessed: 2 April 2010 ) Sony UK ( 2010 ) ‘The History of the Sony Corporation ‘ [ Online ] Available from: hypertext transfer protocol: // www.sony.co.uk/article/id/1060176719725 ( Accessed: 2 April 2010 ) Usb4ever.com ( 2007 ) ‘The History of Sony Corporation ‘ [ Online ] Available from: hypertext transfer protocol: // www.usb4ever.com/Sony/sony-corporation.html ( Accessed: 4 April 2010 ) Whittington, R ( 2001 ) ‘What is scheme, and does it count? ‘ 2nd edition, London: Thomson.

How foragers and horticulturalists allocate land and labor Essay

Let’s start with a basic question whose answer may come as a surprise. What is culture and when did it begin? Culture is the multi-generational hard-drive of memory, change, and innovation. Culture transforms a record of the past into a prediction of the future; it transforms memory into tradition—into rules of how to proceed. And culture is profoundly social. It exists not just in one mind, but binds together mobs of minds in a common enterprise. When did culture first appear in this 13.7 billion-year-old universe? The answers are surprising. Most evolutionary experts say that human culture kicked off 45,000 to 35,000 years ago. Paleontologists studying pre-historic Europe call this period The Cultural Explosion. 45,000 to 35,000 years ago, men and women began to perforate, grind, polish, and drill bone, ivory, antler, shell and stone into harpoons, fish hooks, buttons, ornaments, sewing needles, and awls. Frosting the cake, humans invented musical instruments, calendars marked on pieces of antler, and paintings on the walls of caves. Then there’s the un-standard answer about culture’s beginnings, a rebel timeline of human culture that a relatively new pale anthropological school is fighting for. This new scientific movement has made its digs in Africa, not Europe, and has come up with radically different dates. Culture, says this upstart school, started approximately 280,000 years ago when humans invented the makeup industry, then followed that up with the invention of jewelry, beads, and trade. Culture is transmitted from one generation to generation and is learned mainly in childhood and during maturation. We learn not only our behavior but also our attitudes and values. The ability to acquire culture in this way makes humans highly adaptable to different cultural environments. We has humans are born with potential to learn whatever knowledge and skills are practices in are communities. When did another ingredient of culture— social memory, a memory that gives a foundation of knowledge, perception, and direction to an entire society—first arise? A firm answer is more elusive than you might think. Why? For the first 300,000 years after the Big Bang, the cosmos was host to a massive social dance. Particle gangs moved at super speed, colliding with each other like bullets smashing head to head, then bouncing away with ferocious velocity. Astonishingly, the particles involved—particularly the protons—came out of each crash with all their mass and form intact. Was this act of identity-retention a primitive form of memory? Was it tradition arisen before its time? The study examines decision of middle class of U.S. and highland Mayan parents regarding sleeping arrangements during the first two years the infants sleep with their mother up until there a toddler. But in the U.S. infants only sleep in the bed with their mother every now and then. This is how Mayan explains the closeness of their infants. When we put infant in a room by themselves then this making them impendent to be able to sleep on there on. Mayan families use there bedtimes as a routines and objects to facilitate transition to sleep. Rites of passage are a category of rituals that mark the passage of a person through the life cycle, from one stage to another over time, from one role or social position to another, integrating the human and cultural experiences with biological destiny: birth, reproduction, and death. These ceremonies make the basic distinctions, observed in all groups, between young and old, male and female, living and dead. The interplay of biology and culture is at the heart of all rites of passage, and the struggle between these two spheres asserts the essential paradox of our mortal heritage. As humans, we dwell in an equivocal world, for we belong to both nature and Reference page Cultural Anthropology (Bonvillain) Cultural Variation in Infants’ sleeping Arrangements Development Psychology 1992 Vol 4 604-613

Stefan’s Diaries: Origins Chapter 10

September 4, 1864 Midnight. Too late to fall asleep, too early to be awake. A candle burns on my nightstand, the flickering shadows foreboding. I am haunted already. Will I ever forgive myself for not finding Rosalyn until it was too late? And why is she –the one I vowed to forget–still on my mind? My head is pounding. Cordelia is always at the door, offering drinks, lozenges, powdered herbs. I take them, like a recuperating child. Father and Damon glance at me when they think I'm asleep. Do they know of the nightmares? I thought marriage was a fate worse than death. I was wrong. I was wrong about so many things, too many things, and all I can do is pray for forgiveness and hope that somehow, somewhere, I can summon strength from the depths of my existence to step firmly onto the path of the right again. I will do it. I must. For Rosalyn. And for her. Now I will blow out the candle and hope for sleep–like that of the dead –to engulf me quickly†¦. â€Å"Stefan! Time to get up!† my father called, slamming my bedroom door. â€Å"What?† I struggled to sit, not sure what hour it was, or what day it was, or how much time had passed since Rosalyn's death. Day faded into night, and I could never really sleep, only doze into terrifying dreams. I wouldn't have eaten anything, except that Cordelia continued to come into my room with her concoctions, spoon-feeding them to me to ensure that they were eaten. She'd make fried chicken and okra and a thick mash of what she called sufferer stew which she said would , make me feel better. She'd left another one, a drink this time, on my nightstand. I drank it quickly. â€Å"Get ready. Alfred will help you prepare,† my father said. â€Å"Get ready for what?† I asked, swinging my legs onto the floor. I hobbled to the mirror. I had stubble over my chin, and my tawny hair stood up on all ends. My eyes were red, and my nightshirt was hanging off my shoulders. I looked awful. Father stood behind me, appraising my reflection. â€Å"Y ou'll pull yourself together. Today is Rosalyn's funeral, and it's important to me and the Cartwrights that we are there. We want to show everyone that we must band together against the evil that's scourging our town.† While Father prattled on about demons, I thought about facing the Cartwrights for the first time. I still felt horribly guilty. I couldn't help thinking that the attack wouldn't have happened if I'd been waiting for Rosalyn on the porch, instead of lingering in the study with Katherine. If I'd been outside, waiting for Rosalyn, I would have seen her walking from the fields in her pink dress. Maybe I could have faced death with her, too, and she wouldn't have had to confront that nightmarish animal alone. I may not have loved Rosalyn, but I couldn't forgive myself for not being there to save her. â€Å"Well, come on,† Father said impatiently as Alfred walked in, holding a white linen shirt and a double-breasted black suit. I blanched. It was the suit I'd have worn at my wedding–and the church where we were mourning Rosalyn was to have been the site of the ceremony establishing our union. Still, I managed to change into the suit, allowed Alfred to help me shave, since my hands allowed Alfred to help me shave, since my hands were so shaky, and emerged an hour later ready to do what I had to do. I kept my eyes down as I followed Father and Damon to the carriage. Father sat up front, next to Alfred, while Damon sat in the back with me. â€Å"How are you, brother?† Damon asked above the familiar clip-clop of Duke's and Jake's hooves down Willow Creek Road. â€Å"Not very well,† I said formally, a stiff lump in my throat. Damon put a hand on my shoulder. The magpies chattered, the bees buzzed, and the sun cast a golden glow on the trees. The entire coach smelled like ginger, and I felt my stomach heave. It was the smell of guilt over lusting after a woman who was never to be–could never be–my wife. â€Å"Your first death, the first one you witness, changes you,† Damon said finally, as the coach pulled up to the white clapboard church. The church bells were ringing, and every business in town was closed for the day. â€Å"But perhaps it can change you for the better.† â€Å"Maybe,† I said as I descended from the coach. But I didn't see how. We reached the door as Dr. Janes hobbled into the church, his cane in one hand and a flask of whiskey in another. Pearl and Anna were sitting together, and Jonathan Gilbert sat behind them, his elbows perched on the edge of Pearl's pew, just inches from her shoulder. Sheriff Forbes was in his usual place in the second pew, glaring at the cluster of rouged women from the tavern who had come to pay their respects. At the edge of their circle was Alice, the barmaid, cooling herself with a silk fan. Calvin Bailey, the organist, was playing an adaptation of Mozart's Requiem, but he seemed to hit a sour note every few chords. In the front pew, Mr. Cartwright stared straight ahead, while Mrs. Cartwright sobbed and occasionally blew her nose into a lace handkerchief. At the front of the church, a closed oak casket was covered with flowers. Wordlessly, I walked to the casket and knelt down in front of it. â€Å"I'm so sorry,† I whispered, touching the casket, which felt cold and hard. Unbidden, images of my betrothed popped up in my mind: Rosalyn giggling over her new puppy, giddily discussing flower combinations for our wedding, risking the wrath of her maid by planting a covert kiss on my cheek at the end of one visit. I moved my hands off the casket and put them together, as if in prayer. â€Å"I hope that you and Penny have found each other in Heaven.† I leaned down, letting my lips graze the casket. I wanted her to know, wherever she was, that I would have learned to love her. â€Å"Good-bye.† I turned to take my seat and stopped short. Right behind me was Katherine. She was wearing a dark-blue cotton dress that stood out in the sea a dark-blue cotton dress that stood out in the sea of black crepe that filled the pews. â€Å"I'm so sorry for your loss,† Katherine said, touching my arm. I flinched and drew my arm back. How dare she touch me so familiarly in public? Didn't she realize that if we hadn't been carrying on at the barbecue in the first place, the tragedy might never have happened? Concern registered in her dark eyes. â€Å"I know how hard this must be for you,† she said. â€Å"Please let me know if you need anything.† I immediately felt a wave of guilt for assuming she was doing anything other than showing sympathy. After all, her parents had died. She was just a young girl, reaching out to offer her support. She looked so sad that for one wild second, I was tempted to cross the aisle and comfort her. â€Å"Thank you,† I said instead, sucking in my stale breath and walking back to the pew. I slid next to Damon, who had his hands crossed piously over a Bible. I noticed his eyes flick up as Katherine briefly knelt down by the coffin. I followed his gaze, noticing the way several curls had escaped from beneath her hat and were curling around the ornate clasp on her blue necklace. A few minutes later, the Requiem ended, and Pastor Collins strode up to the pulpit. â€Å"We're here to celebrate a life cut far too short. There is evil among us, and we will mourn this death, but we will also draw strength from this death †¦,† he intoned. I covertly glanced across the aisle at Katherine. Her servant, Emily, was sitting next to her on one side and Pearl on the other. Katherine's hands were folded as if in prayer. She turned slightly, as if to look at me. I forced myself to look away before our eyes could meet. I would not dishonor Rosalyn by thinking of Katherine. I gazed up at the unfinished, steepled beams of the church. I'm sorry, I thought, sending the message upward and hoping that Rosalyn, wherever she was, heard it.

Illegal immigration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Illegal immigration - Essay Example Border Patrol agents from the Casa Grande station apprehended a group of 13 illegal aliens west of Sells, Arizona. All 13 subjects were taken to the Nogales Processing Center where their fingerprints were entered into the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS), for comparison with the FBI fingerprint database. One of the convicts, Jose Luis Castaneda-Cardenas, a 23-year-old Mexican National, was identified as having an outstanding felony warrant for "Felony Murder" and "Misdemeanor Criminal Possession of a Weapon," in New York City. The New York City Police Department crosschecked the warrant, and confirmed extradition of Castaneda. The Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS), enables Border Patrol agents to search fingerprint databases simultaneously using the Automated Biometric Identification System (IDENT) and the FBI fingerprint database. This hi-tech technology provides rapid identification of individuals with outstanding criminal warrants by electronically comparing a live-scanned fingerprint with a nationwide database of biometrically indexed fingerprints. Fingerprinting was introduced in 2003 for people who were applying for British visas in a dozen countries associated with high nu

SEA Statement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

SEA Statement - Essay Example Although the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 (the Act) has now come into force, the first preparatory act of the Draft Strategy was undertaken prior to commencement of the Act, and therefore the SEA has been undertaken in accordance with the Regulations and not the Act. Strategic Environmental Assessment, "a systematic method for considering the likely environmental effects of plans, programmes and strategies, during their development" (Walker, May 2007, p.1), aims decision-making after integrating environmental factors, environmental protection improving plans and participation of common people. Moreover, a formal consultation concerning SEA process is being undertaken. The utmost criteria of the SEA process: "[s]coping Report sent to Consultation Authorities in October 2006 and Final Strategy and Post adoption SEA Statement" (The Scottish Government, 2008). The Dublin City Council made a study in quest of available scopes for developing a new major water source for the Greater Dublin Area in 2005 and the council adopted the findings found by the SEA after considering ER and stakeholder issues. SEA Directive was transposed in England to carry out strategic environmental assessment for transport plans and programmes in England following requirements set by SEA which integrates the Directive's requirements with existing transport appraisal processes. Basically the objective of the SEA Directive is described by Article 1: "the SEA Directive is to provide for a high level of protection of the environment and to contribute to the integration of environmental considerations into the preparation and adoption of plans ... with a view to promoting sustainable development." (TAG, December 2004) Guidance thus can be mentioned that SEA has been securing new plans for transportation which will include the transport plans, and now, centralised to local plan implementation for transplantation. Again, the guidance is not willing to be used as a law rather provides a "basis for understanding SEA, but is no substitute for giving

Describe the strategic development of Toyota. In doing so relate the Essay

Describe the strategic development of Toyota. In doing so relate the development and strategies of the organisation to the relevent business tradition in which it has developed - Essay Example Toyotas logo was established in 1936. (History of Toyota) The current Toyota Company has started as a division of Toyoda Automatic Loom Works devoted in 1933 to the production of automobiles under the direction of Kiichiro Toyoda. The name, Toyota, has taken instead of Toyoda in order to separate the exact name of the founder from the company name. Moreover Toyota is easy to pronounce than Toyoda and also it takes eight strokes to write in Japanese, is considered to be luckier than Toyoda. (Toyota corporate history) It has started with A1 passenger cars and later shifted to G1 trucks in 1935, because of the initial failures in car manufacturing. Toyota Motor Co. was established as an independent and separate company in 1937. The initial history of the company was not much encouraging. The US cars were dominated in automobile industry till the initial stages of 1970s. The 1973 oil crisis has served as a blessing to Toyota as more and more customers concentrated on the small car industry to save fuel. The Americans were interested in big luxury cars till the oil crisis while Toyota concentrated more on fuel economy cars. They have researched a lot in manufacturing fuel economy small cars while the American car manufacturers like General Motors concentrated more on bigger expensive ones. When the oil crisis has started in 1973, Toyota had already the technology readily available for them to develop economic cars while the Americans forced to develop new technologies to manufacture economic small cars. Thus from 1973 onwards Toyota, slowly started to capture the world market. â€Å"By 1955, Toyota was making 8,400 cars per year; by 1965, 600,000 cars per year. Toyota set up a headquarters in Hollywood in 1957; the first Toyota car registered in the United States was a 1958 Toyopet, sold in 1958†. (Toyota history: corporate and automotive) â€Å"In 1959, the company opened its first plant outside Japan - in Brazil.† (Toyota history:

Learning to critique by critiquing critiques Essay

Learning to critique by critiquing critiques - Essay Example This author brings out her illustrations through a destruction, which took place at the Murrah Federal Building. It is after this devastating event that several developments taka place in the architectural field in the city. Krinke employs significant use of symbols for the purpose of communicating some of her ideas. For instance, she elaborates the elements that are associated with a sacred space. There is a lot of symbolism, which is applied for the purpose of bringing to light what the elements represent. The stone is the first element that is used. The stone elements in the city are tailored to serve as permanent markers for a given phenomenon. This is majorly due to the durability, which is associated with them. For example, on the concrete floor of the Murrah Building there are names of those individuals who survived the ordeal. Near the epicenter of the pool, there has been a development of a reflective pool. The changes that take place in the atmosphere are noted or brought out by the water. This also represents the changes, which took place at the city after the blast. The trees represent the ability of an entity to remain unscathed in the course of its existence. The tree, which stands out in the city, is the Survivor Tree. This tree is a representation of the survival and endurance, which has characterized the city together with its inhabitants through the years since the explosion. Krinkle significantly applies the approach, which entails imagery and symbolism. This elaborates the significant developments, which have been taking place. The imagery and symbols also point out that the explosion seems to have had a significant effect on the residents of the town. The approach, which is taken by Melcher in her article, is one, which is rather critical of the happenings in the city. For example, she points out that the names, which are embossed on the wall, may not be significant to a person

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Systems (UAVs) Thesis Proposal

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Systems (UAVs) - Thesis Proposal Example This paper will examine the controversy at hand and examine the validity of these arguments regarding the concerns of not only private citizens and international organizations, but also the military and federal law. This research paper will investigate â€Å"How the development of technology in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Systems (UAVs) has improved the governments objective of minimizing, preventing and anticipating terrorist attacks inside and outside the United States, in spite of controversies affecting citizens privacy regarding constitutional rights.† The use of drones or UAVs to target alleged terrorists networks within the Afghanistan war zone and other foreign regions of conflict has expanded despite of the controversies regarding drone strikes and the collateral damage of killed or injured innocent civilian casualties. The military brass and the government tend to consider these instances, many times as a necessary cost of war therefore an acceptable loss or cost. Regardless of controversies, it appears that the use of weaponized UAVs or drones is here to stay and will only expand in the scope and use of such technologies in the future not only in foreign conflicts but domestically also. Many opponents of the use of drones for conflicts argue that this so called â€Å"drone war† is a symptom of the failure of U.S. ground wars in Afghanistan and they caution against the overuse of such unmanned technologies. Drone strikes have already been reported in Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia and even in Iraq where the ground war is ove r and in Afghanistan is dwindling down. The use UAVs will probably become more commonplace since the fight against terrorists will become more decentralized and technologically driven. Clinton Watts, a senior fellow at The George Washington Universitys Homeland Security Policy Institute, argues† I Think this is the future†...It is the most effective tool we have in a counter terrorism

Disaster Plan Assignment Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Disaster Plan Assignment - Research Paper Example The stress test examines the stability of the system on while handling many simultaneous functions and processes. Stress testing is far beyond normal operations as it can be categorized in to application stress testing and hardware stress testing. The strict security measures, both in terms of physical and software security. Biometric identification system and encryption techniques can be implemented to minimize database security. Moreover, the third step would be to replicate the core services that are running on a specific server or workstation. This will facilitate the employees to entertain the patients, whenever a primary server goes down. Plans and Changes In order to minimize system failure for future, risk analysis is required that will identify all the critical systems on the network. It will also demonstrate the factors that may disrupt the critical system on the network. Moreover, it also includes the implementation of adequate controls in order to prevent system failures. Daily backups are required on daily basis and a mechanism is required that will check the integrity of the backup at the same time, if the backup is corrupt, new backup can be requested at the same time. It is essential to prevent the backup database also by applying adequate security measures, as database contents are highly classified. In case of a natural disaster, data must be relocated on a separate data center situated far away geographically. Furthermore, to eliminate power issues, ‘PoE’ can be implemented to minimize electric outage as it contains its own separate electric channel for the workstation and network devices. Root Cause Analysis The major impact that contributed to the system failure problem is the instability of Tech Med system as well as the application that creates database backup. However, primary source of power was restored instantly and replaced by the secondary link. The impact of Tech Med system resulted in halting all the operations associ ated with Jones Regional Medical Center (JRMC). Moreover, the impact of corrupt database backup resulted in a major halt in system operations of the medical center. Manual entries were conducted, as full database recovery is required from journal articles to transactions. Likewise, when the system is not operational, the staff at the medical center has noted all the operational processes manually so that they can be entered, when the system becomes operational. Disaster Recovery Plan The disaster recovery plan covering all the issues and counter measures is demonstrated below (Sandhu, 2002): Threats Counter Measures Power Failure Alternate power distribution link Database Failure Backing up data on 3 different locations at the same time by disk mirroring, ciphering, DLT or manual backup on daily basis. System Failure Alternate system to replace the affected system Theft Lock Cabinets IP cameras, biometric fingerprint identification, Vandalism Hard steel box for Servers and Databases Flood Relocating or replicating the network room Create a duplicate or replica of crucial data servers that are geographically located away Fire water sprinklers, Fire extinguishers Earthquake Relocating data with data centers that are geographically located away Determining the Amount The initial step is to identity the information assets on the network along with the services associated with it. The next

Provide a comprehensive report that will describe the development of Essay

Provide a comprehensive report that will describe the development of design from appraisal to completion and illustrate the prop - Essay Example All of these tasks are encapsulated in the design procedure. Different organizations describe these procedures with different names. Irrespective of individual task names, the principal elements of the design procedure consists of four key elements (architype.net n.d.); programming, schematic design, design development, and construction documents. Figure 1 exhibits the above-mentioned concept. The diagram in figure 1 shows that design procedure does not present a sum of several activities Figure 1. Principal elements of design procedure (architype.net n.d.) that flow in one direction. The activities are iterative, which is one of the paramount concepts of an Architectural design procedure. Iterative flow provides the opportunity for design modification. In the design procedure, modification plays a pivotal role since the process is cognitive. That is why tasks or activities of design phases move back and forth allowing develop more elaborate designs to control and modify the overall design. Each of the principal elements of the design procedures shown in figure 1 is divided into multiple tasks. Many recommendations are available about how to subdivide each principal process into multiple tasks. This report follows recommendations provided by the Royal Institute of British Architecture (RIBA). RIBA (architecture.com n.d ) outlines work process to manage and design architectural projects Scope and limitation of this report The report is structured using words and visual forms of presentation. Scope of this report is to describe architectural design phases thru general idea without tying to any specific project. Phases that are described hereafter present design procedure of any kind of building construction from appraisal to completion. Sketches and illustrations are used from general constructions for visual representation of different phases. The step-by-step procedures described in words and sketches exhibit work from appraisal to completion of practical const ructions. RIBA Stage A and B: Project Appraisal Phase The program of discovery begins with the appraisal phase. Design procedure starts with the determination of scope of work, and that is why this phase is also known as programming phase. This phase includes discussions, thoughts, and explorations. All participants must understand and agree on the program at the start. This phase establishes scope, objectives, limitations and criteria of the future project. For a residential housing project, the program would include information about types of amenities the client wants in the house, number of rooms, square footage requirement of rooms, and construction stages. For a bigger building project, such as a school, a program is complex and would include numbers of rooms, type and their functions, interior and exterior design, finishes, electrical, mechanical, and water supply system, playgrounds, different science laboratories, etc. For a highly complex task; a program starts with the de velopment of a master program document, which is then split into smaller individual programs of different buildings. Project appraisal phase is also called as pre-design phase. RIBA characterizes it as briefing stage. To develop the

Information Technology in Criminal Justice Systems Research Paper

Information Technology in Criminal Justice Systems - Research Paper Example On law enforcement, such information systems have helped in crime prevention and criminal justice program network, technical cooperation activities, and the development of the criminal justice information aimed at maintaining institutional capacities to respond to requests from member states as well as the general public. Future activities in the Information technology require more funding, planning, and coordination within the crime prevention and criminal justice programs in the realm of criminal justice information and computerization (Dana Spiegel 2009, pg 113). There are potential benefits that will come about with the use of wireless technologies in the criminal justice systems, which will mainly be realized in prosecutions, courts, and the correctional parts of the criminal justice systems. The prosecution will undoubtedly see an improved case output through the computer-based systems to assist with the cases' recording, in detail, and to track progress on each case, thereby triggering reminders when actions fall due. It will also bring about better use of clerical and professional resources as a result of easier recording and collating of information pertaining to different cases.

Industrial Revolution Essay Example for Free

Industrial Revolution Essay Industrial Revolution is regarded as a very important period in human development which occurred in the period towards the end of the 18th century stretching to the 19th century. Industrial revolution is said to have begun in the United Kingdom and later spread to other parts of the world including the rest of Europe, North America amongst other parts of the world. During this period there were major transformations in the agricultural sector, transportation, and manufacturing among other spheres of life. These changes were to have profound impacts on the social, economic, and cultural life of the people in Britain which was the cradle of the revolution. This paper shall examine the central ways in which the Industrial Revolution changed the western societies. Impacts of the Industrial Revolution The inception of the Revolution is regarded as a crucial turning point in the history of mankind as it led to alterations in virtually every aspect of life. The Revolution started towards the end of the 18th century when there was mechanization of the textile industry, emergence of new iron making skills, and an increase in the utilization of polished coal. There were improvements in the transport network which facilitated exchange of goods and services. Generally, a growth in various industries was witnessed and manual labor was replaced by mechanization which led to increased production . The textile industry was among the first to feel the impacts of the industrial revolution. The invention of the cotton gin in 1794 brought efficiency in separating of cotton seeds from fiber. The discovery of the sewing machine in 1846 further revolutionized the textile industry as the making of clothes moved from homes to industries. Apart from the impacts of the industrialization on the domestic industries, the revolution led to increased productivity in the farms due to mechanization of agriculture. With increased productivity in the farms, industries cropped up and individuals clustered in particular regions working in the industries or engaged in trade. This eventually led to the development of towns and cities . Advancement in technology during this period led to the growth of capitalism as the owners of the means of production grew richer. There was an increase in the economic growth which was due to the new technologies of the industrial revolution as seen in the doubling of the UK’s purchasing power and a rise in the total national income during the 19th to 20th century . The revolution also brought about changes in the country’s political structures in Britain as capitalists begun replacing the land owners of the agrarian period to become influential in the country’s economic and power structure. There were also alterations in the working conditions as factories provided the workers with poor working conditions. These included poor ventilations, overcrowding, child labor was on the rise, and individuals were poorly paid and worked under dangerous and unsafe environments . The laborers were paid less wages that led to development of slums since they could hardly afford decent housing. The workers were generally working under extreme conditions which forced the government of the day to pass legislations that would govern the interests of the workers. The workers also initiated efforts that resulted in the creation of trade unions which agitated for their interests . The Industrial Revolution also led to developments in the transport and communication sector. Several inventions led to the efficiency in this sector as road networks were improved, water transport boosted through the invention of steam engines, and communication made easier especially with the discovery of telegraphic machines. Railway transport was also developed and this eased the transport of bulk goods, products, and raw materials to the industries . Conclusion There is no doubt that industrial revolution was a defining moment in human history. There were great advancements and innovations that were aimed at making life more efficient at the same time increasing production. Though the revolution came up with its challenges, it remains to be a crucial part of human history as it totally revolutionized the world into a new order.

The Timeless Theme Of Luther John Osborne

The Timeless Theme Of Luther John Osborne John Osbornes Luther, which debuted in London in 1961, is a drama with a historical setting and a timeless theme. As Osborne told an interviewer in 1961 (as quoted in Alan Carters John Osborne), I wanted to write a play about religious experience and various other things, and this happened to be the almost incidental. The play focuses on Martin Luther, the sixteenth-century monk who publicly spoke out against age-old practices and beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church, thus beginning the Protestant Reformation. Osborne, however, focuses on Martin Luthers intensely personal reaction to his religion, his faith, and his God; the transformations he wrought in Europe exist more as an aside in this drama. As he did in earlier works, such as his groundbreaking Look Back in Anger, Osborne profiles an individual in conflict with authority, which in Martin Luthers case is the vast authority of the Roman Catholic Church. In posting his 95 theses, Luther risked inevitable excommunication and brought the wrath of the highest church leaders, including Pope Leo X, upon him. He did this despite his uncertainty about what would come next, for, as he tells Cajetan at the Diet of Worms (a city in Germany) about the Roman Catholic Church, A withered arm is best amputated, an infected place is best s coured out, and so you pray for healthy tissue and something sturdy and clean that was crumbling and full of filth. Osborne dramatically depicts how Martin Luther followed his convictions in the face of great doubts, and so transformed Christianity forever. Plot overview Act 1 Luther is set in Germany during the 1500s and follows several important events in the life of Martin Luther, the religious reformer, instigator of the Protestant Reformation, and founder of the Lutheran faith. Act 1 opens at the convent of the Augustinian Order of Eremites in Erfurt, Germany, in 1506. In the presence of the other members of the convent and his disapproving father, Luther is received into the order. After the oath has been sworn, Luthers father, Hans, complains of his sons choice. Later, after his father has left, the monks gather for their meal; Luther has the job of waiting on the others. A reader lectures the men on their duties to God, doing His good works, and the rules they must follow. The men then make their confessions, but while most of the monks confess to trifling sins, Luther continually castigates himself harshly, calling himself a worm, and sharing visions that are filled with images of sex and violence. At the end, Luther has a fit and has to be dragged away by two other monks. Scene 2 takes place one year later as Luther is about to perform his first mass. Beforehand, he talks with Brother Weinand about his doubts, revealing that he still feels envy and impatience, and that he believes that God hates him. Weinand says it is not God who is angry with Luther but Luther who is angry with Him. Scene 3 focuses on the meeting between Luther and his father, Hans, following Luthers mass. Hans still cannot understand why Luther would give up earthly pleasures such as fortune and family life to become a monk. Hans suggests that Luther only became a monk through fear, the result of a promise made during a thunderstorm. Act 2 Act 2 opens at the marketplace in JÃ »terbog in 1517, where John Tetzel is selling indulgences. Scene 1 is Tetzels monologue exhorting people to buy the indulgences and ensure their swift assent to heaven. Scene 2 shifts to the Eremite Cloister in Wittenberg, where Luther talks with his mentor, Johann Von Staupitz. Through the conversation, Luthers scholarly success (he has earned a doctorate in theology) is revealed, as are his continuing doubts and discontent. Luther has become obsessed with the rules of his order, according to Von Staupitz, because it protects him from admitting that he cannot submit to anyones authority but his own. Stauptiz points out that Luther demands from himself an impossible standard of perfection and notes that he has been unable to keep all his vows but that God should still grant him salvation because of his love of Christ. Von Staupitz also talks about the Dukes annoyance with Luthers sermons against indulgences. Scene 3 shows Luther arriving with his 95 theses at the Castle Church in Wittenberg. In a monologue, he gives a sermon to the crowds, telling the common people there is no security in the purchase of indulgences and repudiating the idea that doing good works leads to personal salvation. The works are just if the man is just, he says. If a man doesnt believe in Christ, not only are his sins mortal, but his good works. Scene 4 takes place at the Fugger Palace in Augsburg in October 1518 as Cajetan, a church leader, confronts Luther about his actions. Cajetan explains to Luther the popes three demands: he must retract his sermons, not spread his ideas in the future, and stop causing disturbances among the church. Despite Cajetan telling Luther that his actions threaten the unity of Christendom, Luther will not retract. Cajetan has no choice but to refer this difficult matter to the pope. Scene 5 takes place in a hunting lodge in northern Italy in 1519. Pope Leo X reads a letter he has received from Luther in which Luther says he will not retract his theses. The pope sends a letter to Cajetan that excommunicates Luther and banishes him from Germany. Scene 6 takes place at the Elster Gate in Wittenberg in 1520. In this brief monologue, Luther reveals that he has been served excommunication papers. He burns this paper, called the papal bull. Act 3 Act 3 opens on April 18, 1521, at the Diet of Worms, where Germanys Christian princes have called Luther to ask if he will retract the beliefs he espouses in his books dissenting with church doctrine. Luther explains that his writings fall into three categories: the first deal with certain values of faith and morality that both his supporters and his enemies agree are harmless; the second group attack the power that has tyrannized Germany; the third criticizes the enemies of his religion, even if they are holy individuals, and defends the teaching of Christ. Luther declares that he cannot retract any of these works, for to retract the first group would be to condemn the things that those in favor and those against Luther agree upon; to retract the second group would be to invite more tyranny on Germany; to retract the third group would be to allow such situations to continue. Luther asks if anyone can expose his errors through Scripture; if this can be done, he will retract his books . Von Eck refuses his proposal. Do reasons have to be given to anyone who cares to ask a question? he asks. Why, if anyone who questioned the common understanding of the church on any matter he liked to raise, and had to be answered irrefutably from the Scriptures, there would be nothing certain or decided in Christendom. Von Eck further points out that Luthers disobedience threatens the stability of the church by casting doubt upon it, yet Luther refuses to recant. Scene 2 takes place in Wittenberg in 1525. Luther and the Knight speak of the Peasants Movement, a revolt which had begun the previous year and which was quickly suppressed. The peasants had been encouraged by Luthers ideas of independence, but the Knights speech reveals that Luther opposed the peasants. The Knight tells Luther that he could have brought freedom and order if he had stood on their side, but Luther explains his lack of involvement because [T]heres no such thing as an orderly revolution. The Knight accuses Luther of siding with the princes and killing the spirit of independence he had helped foster. Luther, growing angry, says that the peasants deserved to die because they ignored authority. At end of the scene, with the Knight watching, Luther marries former nun Katherine Von Bora. Scene 3, the final scene of the play, returns to the Eremite Cloister, twenty-four years after Luther joined the order. It is no longer a monastery but Luthers home, where he lives with his wife and six children. Von Staupitz joins them for a meal, and the two men discuss all that has happened since Luther posted his theses: the development of Germany and the German language, and the accessibility of Christianity to the common people. After hearing Luthers repudiation of the Peasants War, Von Staupitz asks Luther not to believe that he is the only one who is ever right. Von Staupitz departs, and Katherine enters the room, carrying their young son, Hans, and Luther takes him from her. THEMES Themes Loss of Faith Martin Luthers religious crisis-and the resulting Protestant Reformation-stemmed from his loss of faith in the teachings and practices of the church. Osborne does not analyze the social, political, and economic causes of the religious reformation that swept Europe in the 1500s; instead, he focuses on Luthers personal struggle. Luther takes action, posting the 95 theses, that makes him the first protestant, but even before this, his doubt is evident. The man who joins the monastery is prone to despair, histrionics, and self-castigation. His anxiety arises from his uncertainty about the vows that he upholds. Eventually, Luthers doubts about Roman Catholic doctrine, as well as his disgust for the moral laxity of church leaders, lead him to reject both. Yet, even when doing so, Luther is not certain of his actions. As he reveals to Von Staupitz decades later, he waited a day to answer the questions posed at the Diet of Worms because he was not sure: I listened for Gods voice, but all I c ould hear was my own. It is important to remember, however, that Luthers rejection of the church does not equate with a rejection of God. When called to the Diet of Worms to recant his beliefs, Luther refuses to do so because his conscience is captured by Gods own word. Upon receiving the papal bull excommunicating him, Luther asks God for help. I rely on no man, only on you, he says. My God, my God do you hear me? Are you dead? Are you dead? No, you cant die. You can only hide yourself, cant you? Luthers doubts in Gods ability to help him in his isolation are clearly expressed here as are his belief in Gods eternal presence. By the end of the play, which takes place toward the end of Luthers life, Luther demonstrates far less doubt about his relationship with God. In sharing the story of Isaac and Abraham, he emphasizes mans obedience to God. In a conversation with Von Staupitz regarding the rebellion of the Peasants War, he declares, for there is no power but of God: the powers th at be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resistant that power resistant the ordinance of God. In these words, Luther implies more certainty than in previous years, for if he had actually showed the obedience that he exalts, he never would have rebelled against the church and its practices and leaders. Father-Son Relationships Martin Luthers relationships with the various father figures in his life each present their own set of complexities. His attitude toward these ties is best summed up by his words in act 1: I suppose fathers and sons always disappoint each other. His father, Hans, is a driving force in his life. The play suggests that one reason that Luther became a monk was to get away from his fathers domination. Hans wanted his son to become a lawyer or a magistrate, anything but a priest, a profession that takes him away from the material world. Hans believes that his son chose to become a monk because he has given up and needs to run away from life. Luther, however, tells his father, All you want is me to justify you, clearly showing that he feels like a pawn for his father, one with the purpose of fulfilling the older mans expectations. This relationship remains difficult throughout Luthers life; as he reveals to Von Staupitz in the final scene, He [Hans] was never pleased about anything I did. . . . Only when Katie and I were married and she got pregnant. Then he was pleased. This revelation suggests that Hans is also concerned with the continuation of his family line, which can only be carried on by Luther since his other two sons died in the plague. Luthers relationship with his spiritual Father is as difficult if not more so. At various points throughout the play, Luther entreats God for guidance and casts himself as a helpless child. After his excommunication, Luther sees himself as a lost child, a stillbirth, and pleads with God to [B]reathe into me . . . yes, my mighty fortress, breathe into me. Give me life, oh Lord. Give me life. In this instance, God takes on the role of the father, creating the son. At other times, Luther rebels against God, much as he rebels against his earthly father. To this Luther, God is an angry being, one who demanded my love and made it impossible to return it. Another father figure exists for Luther: Von Staupitz. Like a father, the older theologian tries to set Luther on an easier path than the one he consistently seeks for himself. By the plays final scene, Luther openly refers to Von Staupitz as Father and asks questions that children are likely to ask of their parents, such as Are you pleased with me? The play ends on yet another representation of the father-son relationship: Luther is holding his young son, appropriately named Hans. Resistance to Authority As Luther resists the authority of his father, he also resists the authority of the church but with far greater consequences. The church leaders, parroting the beliefs of the pope-the highest religious authority expect complete allegiance; Luther must not question church doctrine. I ask you: says Von Eck at the Diet of Worms, dont throw doubt on the most holy, orthodox faith . . . This faith has been defined by sacred councils, and confirmed by the church. It is your heritage, and we are forbidden to dispute it by the laws of the emperor and the pontiff. While in earlier scenes, Luther has been seen adhering too strictly to the rules of his order, as Von Staupitz points out, in the words of Herbert Goldstone writing in Coping with Vulnerability, Luther actually ridicules authority to set himself up as the only authority capable of determining his relationship to God. In doing so, Luther challenges the church hierarchy that forces regular people to deal with God through the mediation of a priest; in the case of a priest, the pope and other high church officials are the mediators. In his letter to Pope Leo X, Luther shows his own sense of self-importance when it comes to religious matters. Luther alone dares protest the complaints that the German people hold about the avarice of the priests. While everyone else is too filled with terror at the popes reaction, Luther strives to protect the glory of Christianity by publishing his 95 theses on the Castle Church in Wittenberg. And now, most holy father, the whole world has gone up in flames, he writes, but, a mere few lines later, Luther asks the pope for his help because Luther is far too insignificant to appear before the world in a matter as great as this. Luthers words are seemingly disingenuous, particularly so for a man of his superior intellect and sensitivity, as he has recently elected him as the one person to stand up and defend God and His purity. Luther grows more conservative in his views, particularly b y 1525, when he critiques the failed Peasants War, which his religious rebellion helped spark. However, he still flouts the authority of the clergy by marrying, notably, a former nun. He also nostalgically looks back on his former actions, telling his young son, You should have seen me at Worms. . . . I have come to set a man against his father, I said, and they listened to me. STYLE Epic Theater Most critics agreed that Luther aimed at being epic drama along the lines of the work of German playwright Bertolt Brecht. Epic theater is a form of drama that presents a series of loosely connected scenes. Often, a narrator figure will address the audience with analysis or argument. As practiced by Brecht, epic theater sought to use alienating effects to cause the audience to think objectively, not emotionally, about the play and its characters. In technique, Luther shows a strong Brechtian influence, notably, that of his play The Life of Galileo. Like Brechts drama, Luther is a series of short scenes, most of which could function as stand-alone units. The stage decorations, which Osborne clearly describes, are evocative and imbued with symbolism and iconography. A choral figure, in this case the Knight, announces the time and setting of each scene and narrates background details particularly concerning Luthers role in the Peasants War. Osborne, like Brecht, also wanted to portray contemporary social problems and realities on stage; in Luther, the title character is the Angry Young Man of 1960s British society, a young man who feels rage at the established sociopolitical system in which he lives. While many critics saw Luther as epic theater, scholar Simon Trussler staunchly disagreed with this assessment. In his Plays of John Osborne, applying Brechts criteria that epic theater appeals less to the feelings than to the spectators reason, he contended that the play is dramatic rather than epic, for Luthers primary appeal is indeed emotional rather than rational. Symbolism Perhaps the most notable symbolism that Osborne uses in Luther is Luthers poor physical health. He suffers from seizures, insomnia, boils, and chronic constipation. His pains express his mental battles, and his inability to purge himself bodily represents his difficulty breaking free from the churchs beliefs. Luther himself views his religious upheavals in terms of the physical body. For example, in his discussion with Von Staupitz, just before he posts his 95 theses, Luther likens himself to a ripe stool in the worlds straining anus, and at any moment were about to let each other go. When he finally formulates his own doctrine (that salvation is based only on faith in God and not on good works), it is while experiencing another bout of constipation; with the realization that The just shall live by faith, Luther recalls, [M]y pain vanished, my bowels flushed and I could get up. On another level, however, as Alan Carter pointed out in John Osborne, To show Martins constipation, his in digestion, his excessive perspiration, is to show him as an ordinary human being. A man who would appeal to the earthy German peasantry, and who would be able to incite them to action. He is a direct contrast to the effeminate, sophisticated Latin churchmen of the period. This common folk appeal is important for, as the Knight points out, Luther helped the people begin to believe in an image as Christ as a man as we are . . . that His supper is a plain meal like their own . . . a plain meal with no garnish and no word. Narrative Luther does not have a strong narrative drive in the traditional sense; encompassing several decades, it does not tell the complete story behind Luthers protest. Alan Carter wrote in John Osborne that because Osborne is weakest as a story-teller, he makes the play resemble a medieval historical pageant, full of vivid theatrical moments. The play in its entirety shows explicit change in Luthers development of a more personal relationship with God and implicit change in the references to the transformation his beliefs have brought to Germany. The narrative drive focuses more on Luthers interior battles with his own lack of faith than exterior battles with church leaders. CRITICAL OVERVIEW Critical overview Luther was Osbornes second consecutive historical play, and English audiences who had, for the most part, failed to respond to the first (A Subject of Scandal and Concern) were very curious to see how it would fare. For the most part, it was declared a success by the public and the critics alike, creating as much of an impact as Look Back in Anger had. Kenneth Tynan, writing for The Observer (quoted in Alan Carters John Osborne), described the play as the most eloquent piece of dramatic writingto have dignified out theatre since Look Back in Anger. While some reviewers contended that the play was not historical enough, other critics welcomed Osbornes more universal portrayal of Luther as a rebel to whom audiences of any period could relate. Carter, as well, wrote in his study John Osborne that while Luther had a historical setting, its theme was quite modern. In 1963, Luther went on to a welcoming reception in the United States, where it was widely hailed and appreciated for its univ ersal themes. It won several awards, including a Tony for best play of the 1963-64 season. Luther also solidified Osbornes international reputation. Since its debut, and as Osbornes stature continued to rise, many scholars have examined Luther with regard to how it fit in with themes and characters in the playwrights body of work. Herbert Goldstone wrote in Coping with Vulnerability that Luther presents still another variation on success failure as seen in one of Osbornes earlier plays, The Entertainer. He also compares Luther to Jimmy Porter, the hero of Osbornes pivotal Look Back in Anger, in both characters need to be different from others. However, Goldstone also pointed out that, unlike Osbornes earlier characters, Luther attempts to cope with his feeling of helplessness and despair in realizing himself . . . openly and forcefully, both privately and publicly. Katharine J. Worth wrote in her 1963 article The Angry Young Man that Luther was also the first of Osbornes heroes to b e shown in conflict with his intellectual equals. She forecast that the play marks a new phase in Osbornes dramatic art. Its increased range and flexibility suggest interesting possibilities for his future development. In 2001, Luther was re-produced on the London stage; even forty years later, Osbornes words were stirring and powerful. This is a big, angry, eloquent play, wrote John Peter in the Times (London). Seeing it again after so long, what impresses me is how deeply Osborne had immersed himself in his subject without making his play ponderous. Like their predecessors, several critics also noted the timelessness of the piece, which showed that Osborne was, in the words of Michael Billington writing in the Guardian, far more than a chronicler of contemporary anger.

The Independent Learning For Nursing Nursing Essay

The Independent Learning For Nursing Nursing Essay Reflection is a way to look back on what a person came across on a certain event (Bulman and Schutz, 2008). The target of this reflective essay is for me to mull over on what I have learned from my direct experiences on placement. I opt to utilise on this reflective essay, A Model of Structured Reflection, by Driscoll (2007). This Model has three questions, namely: what, so what and now what. These questions must be answered by me relative to the experiences I acquired from my placement. Hence, I chose to take advantage on Driscolls model as it is very handy to apply even with or without a paper and pen. All I need to bring to mind is the aforementioned three questions. I will discuss what I think it matters most to me during my two weeks practice placement and give analysis whether I gained knowledge and understanding based from the learning plan I prepared prior to my placement; thereby continually apply it in every situation I may undergo (Howatson-Jones, 2010). I spent my whole duration of the introductory period of duty experience in the ward. On my first day, the Ward Manager introduced me to her team. She told me that my mentor was not around on that day. Thus, she handed me over to the nurse in-charge. As I arrived on an early shift, I duly observed the handover of patients from the night shift staff to the day shift staff. Handover is a daily reporting of patients status to the incoming shift for the provision of continuity of care (Wywialowski, 2003). As a neophyte, I was a bit muddled up on how the night nurse was endorsing the patient; however, I was attentive on what she was doing so I could learn from such activity. There are acronyms on the handover that they used that I could not understand, as a consequence, I made a point that I must familiarise and memorise the medical terms. Even though I am supernumerary I strongly desire to a part and parcel of the team whilst learning (Jelphs and Dickinson, 2008). After the handover, the nurse instructed me to be with the Health Care Assistant (HCA) for the time being so that I can be acquainted with patients and adapt with the daily routine. Indeed, favoured that the HCA was willing to help me. She taught me the safer way on handling patients whilst maintaining their dignity and respect (Tschudin, 2003). She demonstrated proper use the Blood Glucose monitor and how to document it on patients chart (The Global Diabetes Community, 2013). In addition, she told me that if the patient is not on closed observation, normally they take the vital signs every four hourly. The days have gone by so quick; I was productive on my day to day experience as a student nurse. I never wasted my time just standing there without accomplishing anything at the end of my shift. Motivated with my passion of extending care to patients, I find joy and fulfilment in rendering services for them, such as assisting them to the toilet and giving a hand to those who are unable to look after themsel ves. I became certain on writing down the nursing care plan of a patient (Lloyd, 2010), observed the Nasogastric tube (NGT) (Macmillan Cancer Support, 2013) and Electrocardiogram (ECG) procedures done by the staff nurse and HCA respectively (British Heart Foundation, 2013). I volunteered myself as well to get the take away medication of the patient from the Pharmacy. Furthermore, I have learned how to fill up the Nursing Assessment forms for a newly admitted patient. I accomplished the said forms by means of communicating with the patient and family. I have mentioned the word communicating as there was a non-spoken English patient admitted because of lower back pain. In complying with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Code of Professional Conduct (2010) about confidentiality, I will be using a pseudonym for her. I was aware that English is not her first language; hence, Mrs. C cannot speak and comprehend well. When I went to her bedside to take her vital signs, I have seen the grimace caused by pain on her lower back. I asked if she was in pain at that moment, she suddenly nodded her head whilst touching her lower back (White, 2005). I reported to the nurse right away that Mrs. C was in pain, and based on her Drug Chart she was due for another dose of pain killer. I had administrated the said medication under the supervision of the nurse (NMC, 2010). On the next day, I informed Mrs. C through the use of verbal and non-verbal gestures that she will undergo Colonoscopy to check whats causing her pain (Sully and Dallas, 2010). We waited for her nephew before accompanying them in the Gastroenterology Department as she needs somebody else to translate the procedure to be done. Since it was my first time to watch a patient undergoing such procedure, I grabbed the opportunity to request from the Specialist Nurse if I can be allowed inside to observe the procedure which she willingly approved. I was grateful that her nephew told me that his aunt wanted me to acc ompany her in the Colonoscopy room despite without asking permission (NMC, 2010). During the procedure, I sat next to Mrs. C whilst holding her hand as she was feeling uneasy with the endoscope inserted into her anus. The Specialist Nurse has given me few insights relative to what she was trying to look inside the colon of Mrs. C. I was privileged for having an exquisite time of basic understanding about Colonoscopy (BUPA, 2011). After the procedure, Mrs. C has given me a hug and was very thankful. I smiled and responded that it was my pleasure to assist her. Afterwards, we went back to the ward, and before I left Mrs. C on her bed with the assurance that she was comfortable and safe, her nephew expressed his appreciation for looking after his aunt whilst he was not around. Moreover, Mrs. C told him about me being there rubbing her lower back when she was in agony. I felt flattered on how they recognised my presence in assisting and comforting her. On the above scenario, I suppose I have achieved one of my learning needs, that is, the effective communication between patient and me as a student nurse. Despite the inability of Mrs. C to express herself verbally, I was so sensitive observing her gestures and actions, thus, I can extend the appropriate care and assistance she needed. By intently looking at her countenance, I can interpret what she was trying to convey to me; henceforth, I was able to address her needs. I have realised that verbal and non-verbal communications in nursing are very vital in rendering quality care. As a student nurse, I should not let language be a hindrance in giving the nursing intervention for the patients quick recovery (Andrews and Boyle, 2008). Care of people is the priority of all nurses; this is one of the four principles of NMC Code (2010). The provision of care for the patient should be done in a holistic approach which includes their daily living activities (Newton, 1991). A simple act of ca re means a lot to the patient and therefore, this must be instilled in the heart of every nurse (Department of Health, 2010). As for me I will surely put into practice what I have learned from this placement. Another learning need that I partially accomplished was being able to observe how to perform the Colonoscopy procedure. To supplement what I have observed, I did some informative readings. In summary, I was able to see the nurses duties and responsibilities. Such as, how they manage to give the best nursing interventions in a busy ward, how they collaborate to other health professionals for updating the patients care plan and how they attend to patients with care and compassion. I am fully aware that most patients usually depend on nurses as they are the ones who provide direct care for them (Altman, 2010). I do believe that nursing is a never ending process of learning; hence, nurses are oblige to update their trainings and continue to learn more by reading evidence-based practice resources for self-enrichment (Sackett et al., 1996). As a student, I have to be dedicated, motivated and inspired to achieve my ambitions in life; continually accepting any challenge for my personal development (Maslow, 1954). For the meantime, I will set my goals on what I want to learn; recognising any learning outcome on my learning plan as this will draw me closer to my aspiration, to b e a Qualified Nurse (Peate, 2006). My two weeks practice experience was superlative. The Faculty of Nursing in the hospital provided teaching sessions that will develop us to become competent in our chosen field (McNiff, 1993). All the staff in the ward where I worked with were supportive and compassionate. I am looking forward for my next placement, for me to implement what I have learned from my previous one, and be able to identify new learning opportunities. In conclusion, practice placement is an opportunity of experience, an opportunity of new learning and an opportunity of development.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets :: English Literature

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets The 2nd book in the Harry Potter series is about Harry and strange happenings going on in Hogwarts. Soon after Harry and his friends arrive after Hogwarts, a message is written on a wall in blood that says "enemies of the heir, beware, the chamber has been opened." Harry is found near the sight so people suspect he was the one who dun it. Throughout this book, Harry, Hermione, and Ron are constantly looking for the chamber of secrets, and who might have opened it. They have many frightening and exciting adventures along the way, but everything changes as students start to get petrified. Near the end, Hermione gets petrified and it's up to Ron and Harry to save their friends and fellow students. While I was reading this book many questions came to my mind. I wondered why Harry didn't tell anyone about him hearing the voices in the wall. Even though it could have been a bad sign, if he had told Dumbledore, the teachers at Hogwarts might have been able to solve the mystery and stop Tom Riddle sooner. I think if I were Ron I would convinced Harry to tell Dumbledore about the voices. I also would have stayed away from where all of the writing on the wall was going on. While I was reading this book I never would have though that it was Ginny Weasly that opened the Chamber of Secrets. I also never would have thought that the reason Hagrid got expelled from Hogwarts was because Tom Riddle accused him of opening the chamber. I think this is a great book because of how everything in the end ties to each other to make an awesome ending. JK Rowling writes in a very unique style. From the very beginning of the book you can tell the book is going to be full of adventure, close calls, and mystery. Imagery is used a lot in the Harry Potter books because JK Rowling gives the reader a very unique and intense idea of how Hogwarts looks, and what happens in Harry's adventures. While reading this book the reader can almost picture the "enchanted ceilings" and the "lacy snowflake cookies." There isn't very much figurative language in this book. Most of the figurative language occurs in the first book when JK Rowling explains more in detail what Hogwarts looks like. This book, however, does have some figurative language. Personification like "the tree yawned" and "the car burped out the suitcases" give the reader a much more vivid picture of what is happening in the story because they can relate it

Chaucers Canterbury Tales Essay - The Powerful Wife of Bath

The Powerful Wife of Bath   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In Geoffrey Chacer's The Canterbury Tales we are introduced to 29 people who are going on a pilgrimage to St. Thomas a Becket in Canterbury. Each person is represented to fit a unique type of behavior as shown by people during the medieval ages.   My attention was drawn to the Wife of Bath through which Chaucer notes the gender inequalities.   Predominantly, women could either choose to marry and become a childbearing wife or go into a religious order.   Women were seen as property.   Women during this period of time, had limited choices when it came to societal roles.   The Wife of Bath exonerates the accepted roles of society, reflecting women's attempt to gain control during the medieval period.      Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The General Prologue presents an interesting description of The Wife of Bath.   Her character is noted to be strong and bold and we learn she is slightly deaf.   The Wife of Bath was married and widowed five times and has had numerous companions.   The Wife of Bath is a skilled cloth maker and a devoted Christian pilgrim who has made trips to several shrines.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Through her unique introduction in The General Prologue we learn much of her physical attributes.   The Wife of Bath is gapped tooth.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   "Gat-toothed was she, soothly for to saye.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Upon an amblere esily she sat" (p.91, ll. 470-471)    This physical feature is attributed to lust and passion.   The fact that she could ride a horse easily also could take on sexual connotations (Maclaine 32).   The horse she "rides" so well could actually be her husband.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Early in the Wife of Bath ... ... of Bath is unique in her style of thinking, which is what makes this character so interesting to study.    Works Cited and Consulted Bowden, Muriel.   A Reader's Guide to Geoffrey Chaucer.   New York:   Noonday Press, 1964. Hallissy, Margaret.   A Companion to Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.   London:   Greenwood Press, 1995. Herman, John P. and John J. Burke, Jr., ed.   Signs and Symbols in Chaucer's Poetry.   University, Alabama:   University of Alabama Press, 1981. Lambdin, Laura C. and Robert T. Lambdin, ed.   Chaucer's Pilgrims:   An Historical Guide to the Pilgrims in the Canterbury Tales.   London:   Greenwood Press, 1996.   Nardo, Don, ed.   Readings on the Canterbury Tales.   San Diego:   Greenhaven Press, 1997. Plummer, John F.   "The Wife of Bath's Hat as a Sexual Metaphor."   English Language Notes, 18 (1980-1981).      

Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. Essay

The problem associated with this case is whether or not the company should introduce a new energy beverage brand into the market. If a profitable market opportunity exists for the company to enter the energy beverage market the next step would be to identify a target market and marketing mix along with a product line and brand positioning. The best opportunity for the company to gain market share is to target adult energy drinkers from ages 35 to 54 since none of the competitors are catering towards this segment. Bottlers, distributors, and retailers are unlikely to produce and stock more than two SKUs of a new energy drink brand so it would be best to introduce a regular 16ounce single-serve package that consists of two different flavors. Since regular energy beverages hold 80% share of the market selecting regular is best, and since the 16ounce energy drinks represent 50% of case sales in convenience stores and want a high turnover to maintain prevalence in convenience stores its best to go with a 16ounce size. Also having two different flavors to choose from will help increase chance of trial rather than have only one flavor and have regular and sugar free or have one flavor and two different sizes. In positioning the brand the company should differentiate the energy drink from competitors by basis of packaging and select the 16.9ounce single-serve aluminum bottle with a resealable screw cap, and also by ingredients in having lower carbohydrates in the formulation. The energy brand should be distributed to all types of off-premise retailers where beverages are sold for maximum sales. The company’s U.S. media expenditure should be $12.6 million, equal to that of Tag Energy’s U.S. media expenditure which lead to a 2.3% dollar market share, because Tag Energy was also new to the energy beverage market and targeted to a certain demographic the company should experience a similar result. The manufacturer’s suggested retail selling price should be $2.29. Higher than the average $2.00 per single-serve because of it’s unique  point of difference – lower carbohydrates and aluminum bottle with resealable screw cap. Market sales potential for the company’s target market is equal to $1.608 (Exhibit 1) billion and market sales forecast is equal to $133.202 million (Exhibit 2). With a retail trade margin equal to 40% the company’s selling price to retailers would be $.961 (Exhibit 3). Thus from the market sales forecast of $133.202 million the company would receive $79.921 million in revenue, and with the company’s contribution margin of 30% total profit would be equal to $22.378 million (Exhibit 4).

Ac555 Week 7 You Decide

Week 7 You Decide Course Project Keller grad School of Management drumhead 1 The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) would only entertain influence everyplace Smackey Dog Foods, Inc. if they argon a mankindally listed comp either or if they register to become a realityly traded comp some(prenominal). The SEC assists investors by providing re apt(predicate) nurture to investors so they stand make cognizant investment decisions. If Smackey Dog Foods, Inc. ecomes a public company, they would extremity to provide pecuniary statements on with an opinion ab disclose the financial statements by an independent public accountant on with the registration statement and subsequent financial accountings (Arens, Elder, and Beasley, 2010). school principal 2 at that place be four things involved in the sign planning of an analyse. According to Arens, Elder, and Beasley, 2010, they argon 1. The attender decided whether to accept a invigorated thickening or continue circum stances an existing unity and only(a), 2.The attendee identifies wherefore the client wants or indigences an size up, 3. To avoid mis sayings, the freightervassor obtains an understanding with the client about the terms of the use, and 4. The tender develops an everywhereall dodge for the audit, including engagement staffing and any required audit specialists. In relation to Smackey, Keller CPAs consume to make the decision as to whether or non they want to take Smackey on as a new client. in one case that decision has been made, Keller need to understand why Smackey wants or needs the audit.Smackey needs the audit in fix for the trust to collapse a new loan for expansion. Keller forget now need to meet with Smackeys managers to discuss and document what services they argon sacking to be providing. Once that is determined, Keller pull up stakes need to plan the audit strategy and determine if they argon going to need to hire additional staff or any specialty staf fing. Since they have no experience auditing a dog diet company, Keller may need to bring in an auditor who has experience in this graphic symbol of manufacturer.Question 3 According to Ayers, et al, 2010 the four phases of the audit atomic number 18 plan and plan an audit approach, cause tallys of surmounts and substantive tests of proceeding, perform uninflected procedures and tests of details of residuums, and complete the audit and gross revenue outlet an audit report. In the plan and design grade of the audit, the auditor needs to understand the business and its environment, understand inherent realises and asses go out risks and risk of material misstatement (Ayers, et al, 2010).The second stage of the audit is where the test of controls and substantive tests of transactions are completed. In the third stage, analytic procedures and tests of details of balances are accomplished. In the stern and final stage, the audit has been completed and the auditor come s to an overall conclusion and issues the audit report (Ayers, et al, 2010). In the first phase of the audit, Keller is going to have to gain an understanding of Smackey.They can do this by researching dog forage manufacturing businesses and the patience as a whole. If necessary, they can hire an auditor who has experience in the industry to assist with the audit. One of the inbred controls Keller needs to look at is the fitting separation of duties. In the warehouse, one individual monitors production and shipment of their incessant pains of dog foods and is likewise responsible for preparing and approve all caudex records. A nonher control that needs to be examined is independent checks on performance.Since the sales manager is afraid to cut down and cant really drive, on that point is nobody checking on the performance of the sales heap. With no monitoring of the sales people and their counselling macrocosm paid in advance establish on projections, impede monitor ing of sales should be accomplished. In performing a test of controls, the sensible control over assets and records go out need to be do. How the waste and returned dog food is being handled should be refreshed. Seeing the employees pickings bags of dog food that have been propel away is a red gladiolus for parody by the employees.Examining documents related to the stock impart need to be done as all breed records are prepared and approved by one person with little take stock left(a) in the warehouse but a lot of returns left on the fare dock. This can lead to an understatement of lineage, understatement of sales returns, and blowup of accounts receivable which is the proposed collateral for the new loan. uninflected procedures should be applied to the determination of commission that is being paid to Smackey salespeople.The commissions on the sightly are off by 11 per centum showing that they may not be reasonable. The auditors also need to perform the analytical procedures for inventory to determine if the inventory is being misstated. This would be a tutelage due to the join of waste and returns. The test of details of balances will need to be done on the accounts receivables to determine if they are properly stated. Question 4 Keller needs to discuss the weaknesses in Smackeys knowledgeable controls with Sarah as the president and manager of operations.The infixed control issues that need to be pointed out are the lack of separation of duties in the inventory production and records, the improper classification of accounts receivables, and improper checks on performance of the sales personnel. As soon as Keller became informed of the significant deficiencies in the internal controls of Smackey, they are required to notify in writing to the governing bodies of Smackey. A management letter should also be written tolerant suggestions for ways to make improvements in the internal controls (Arens, et al, 2010).Question 5 There are some (prenominal) references of stoppage Keller can use to verify Smackeys accounts receivables. They are positive sustaination which is some type of communication direct to the account holder requesting they directly confirm whether the balance on the request is pay or incorrect (Arens, et al, 2010). There are two types of positive handicap, a hollow chit form where the recipient is chooseed to suffice in the balance of the account or an billhook chit which is where an individual invoice is confirmed instead of the entire account.There is also a negative confirmation where the recipient is only requested to respond if the balance is incorrect (Arens, et al, 2010). Due to the fact that Smackeys accounts receivable is a large severalise of the assets and they arent writing off any bad debt, Keller should use the blank confirmation form to determine if the balances of the accounts are correct. Question 6 The major factors that affect the sample size for confirming accounts receivable are the weakness in internal controls at heart the sales department, and the improper statement of accounts receivable.With no control over the sales department, on that point is a higher(prenominal) risk of fraud by collusion between the salespeople and the companies that owe money to Smackey. With almost 20 percent of the receivables classified as 90 long time or older, there is a higher risk of accounts receivable being hyperbolize by uncollectable accounts leading to a accomplishable material misstatement in the financial statements. Question 7 The concern about the surmise of legal encumbrances on verifying the expiry balance in property, plant, and equipment comes from the courting filed by the employee who was fired for not owning a dog.In order to determine the likelihood of the employee winning the suit, Keller will need to send a confirmation request to the lawyer handling the lawsuit for Smackey. The request will need to ask what is the probability of the ex employee winning the lawsuit. If there is a high probability, then the confirmation needs to include the possible amount of the award against Smackey. Question 8 With controls over inventory being deficient, Keller will be present at the year-end inventory. The auditors will forciblely learn the counting of the inventory that is in the warehouse and on the transferral dock.The auditor will also observe to assure the waste isnt include in the physical inventory count. If the sales returns arent able to be resold, then the auditor needs to ensure they arent counted in the inventory. The observation is necessary to ensure the inventory isnt overstated with what has been mindless or understated by not counting the sales returns that can be resold. Question 9 Inventory control weaknesses that exist in the inventory and entrepot cycle include controls over the physical count of inventory and pricing and digest controls. Smackey should have documents that show the reporting f the inventory that is waste and the sales returns. There should also be a review of the inventory musical accompaniment but with Kim being busy with the Best Boy epicure line, she hasnt been focusing on the regular product line. There should be documentation to show the sales returns being returned to inventory and there should be confirmation of the inventory documentation by Kim. Henry shouldnt prepare and approve the documentation one of those functions should be done by somebody else. Question 10 Pete is breaking get hold 301 Confidential Client Information by discussing some of the details of the audit with Alan over beer.Rule 301 states, A member in public practice shall not disclose any confidential client information without the particularized consent of the client (Arens, et al, 2010). Smackey didnt arrive at Pete consent to discuss the audit with his takeoff booster who also happens to be working for the bank Smackey is trying to get the loan from. Because Pete isn t aware of Alans relationship with the bank, he isnt violating Rule 101 Independence. If no(prenominal) of the auditors obtain adequate understanding of the industry or business, they will be in violation of Rule 201 General Standards, A. original Competence.Question 11 If Keller makes an intentional slide, they can be held liable to Smackey or to the bank. If the intentional mistake results in Smackey not receiving the loan, they could sue Keller for negligence. The type of mistake would determine the degree of negligence. In an unintentional mistake, Keller could still be liable but could possibly defend themselves based on nonnegligent performance. Legal liability concerns regarding the schoolmaster Rule violations are if the auditor doesnt maintain independence, follow the requirements for technical standards, and doesnt maintain confidentiality.