The White Hotel Essay Example For Students

The White Hotel Essay Wrought with images of death, love, desire and life, D.M. Thomas novel, The White Hotel, takes readers on an unexpected historical tour of one of the worlds most horrifying events. Narrated in the first and third person, as well as with an omniscient narrator, Thomas begins in the middle of the story momentarily causing confusion on the readers part. Thereafter the story continues at the beginning and gives us an ending that is not an ending but a new beginning for the main character, Lisa Erdman. Each chapter is almost its own entity but many parallels and symbols can be seen in each, linking them into a cohesive story and a web swelling with meaning and dire premonitions of an inevitable future. Lisas poem and prose, Don Giovanni (Chapter 1) and The Gastein Journal (Chapter 2) gives clues and alludes specifically to the chapter entitled The Sleeping Carriage (Chapter 5) where the horrific reality of Babi Yar and the Holocaust are plainly laid down for the reader. Lisas own life exp eriences and fears are also justified in Chapter 5 and the events that lead up to her death in Babi Yar. The last parallel that I will explore is the one present between Chapters 1 and 2 and The Camp (Chapter 6) where a readers belief must be suspended and life restores all those that died in the preceding chapters. We will write a custom essay on The White Hotel specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Finally, I will put Lisa on the couch (much like Freud did in Chapter 3, Frau Anna G.) and explore a variety of psychoanalytic theories and defense mechanisms and see how the character of Lisa applies to them and how she has exhibited them throughout the novel. Parallels and SymbolismThe metaphysical qualities that Lisa possesses does not become apparent until Freuds letter in which he tells her, It is clear that you are especially sensitive (196) and when the events of Babi Yar occur in Chapter 5. Numerous parallels occur, that only a few can be presented henceforth. Chapters 1 and 2, in which Lisas poetic nature surfaces, alludes and directly parallels the events leading up and occurring at Babi Yar. Just as the fire consumed a portion of the White Hotel, a fire consumed the center of the city where Lisa and Kolya lived in Chapter 5. In the latter fire, an old man brought about the comment that the Germans could be blaming the â€Å"Yids† for that fire. This can also be a parallel with the fire in the White Hotel. Lisa’s passion and sexual excess could be to blame for the fire that blazed within the hotel: â€Å"I could not stop myself I was in flames/from the first spreading of my thighs† (15). Her heightened sexual excitement incited such a ferocious outburst of passion that the hotel itself burst into flames. The monstrous quantity of murdered individuals and the evil that the Germans had brought was preceded by a fire that attempted to cleanse the city of such evil, but unfortunately failed. The White Hotel fire can also be compared to the burning of these massacred corpses. Just as passion is an emotion of fire, so is hate. Hatred prompted the Germans to set fire to the corpses to allow for more executions to continue. â€Å"She stumbled over a root, picked herself up and ran on blindly† (31). With this first sentence, Lisa gives us the impression of being hunted with the intention of being killed in Chapter 2. The idea of the soldiers idly smoking while she imagined herself turning into a tree and giving up the search parallels her fight for escape in Chapter 5 from Babi Yar. She makes numerous attempts to escape, including showing her Ukrainian passport, but unlike in Chapter 2, Lisa could not escape. â€Å"A German finished his coffee and strolled to a machine gun† (247). Her imagining of the nonchalance of the hunting soldiers is recalled again with the nonchalance of the German firing squad. The appearance of the little boy in both instances occurred, but just as the boy faded away in Chapter 2, he was killed in Chapter five and Lisa survived in both, â€Å"a part of her went on living with these survivors†(250). .u903fb59b58cb24853648e346e310d4e6 , .u903fb59b58cb24853648e346e310d4e6 .postImageUrl , .u903fb59b58cb24853648e346e310d4e6 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u903fb59b58cb24853648e346e310d4e6 , .u903fb59b58cb24853648e346e310d4e6:hover , .u903fb59b58cb24853648e346e310d4e6:visited , .u903fb59b58cb24853648e346e310d4e6:active { border:0!important; } .u903fb59b58cb24853648e346e310d4e6 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u903fb59b58cb24853648e346e310d4e6 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u903fb59b58cb24853648e346e310d4e6:active , .u903fb59b58cb24853648e346e310d4e6:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u903fb59b58cb24853648e346e310d4e6 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u903fb59b58cb24853648e346e310d4e6 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u903fb59b58cb24853648e346e310d4e6 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u903fb59b58cb24853648e346e310d4e6 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u903fb59b58cb24853648e346e310d4e6:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u903fb59b58cb24853648e346e310d4e6 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u903fb59b58cb24853648e346e310d4e6 .u903fb59b58cb24853648e346e310d4e6-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u903fb59b58cb24853648e346e310d4e6:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Food Consumption Among American Teenagers Health N EssayA final parallel between Chapters 2, 3 and 5 that I will make is that of the violence and sex present in both scenes. Both the violence and the sex intermingle. While lying broken and half dead, Lisa was raped with a bayonet as if being ravaged on the outside was not enough and her insides had to be ravaged. A few verses in Lisa’s poem give the illusion of ravaging and impalement in her sexual relationship with the soldier: â€Å"that night he almost burst my cunt apart† (18), â€Å"your son impaled me† (19). This illusion of violence and sex can also be seen in her dream on page 20: â€Å"I was impaled/upon a swordfish.† The latter instances foreshadowed the violence and cruelty, as well as the pain that could be suffered when sex intermingles with violence in Chapter 5. Some of the parallels that are obviously linked to her experience and which manifest itself in Chapter 5 is that of the pain present in her left breast and ovary. The stomp delivered by the looting soldier to her breast and pelvis finally made clear these pains which were inexplicable. Also her breathlessness, which sometimes made it difficult for her to speak, can be seen as a symbol for the forced silence she had to endure at the bottom of Babi Yar: â€Å"she uttered no sound† (248). Freud in Chapter 3 alluded that this could have been a symptom of what had occurred when she was fifteen (94), but this can also be seen as a foreshadowing of her forced silence in attempt to survive. Chapters 2 and 3 also provide symbols and parallels for Chapter 6 where Lisa and others were resurrected. In both Freud is represented but not really addressed by Lisa. She does not recognize him in the White Hotel as the priest, but she does recognize him in the Camp and she does realize that he was also the priest in her poem and prose: â€Å"she suddenly realized that the old, drying-out priest in her journal had been Freud† (260). The soldier is also in both and had a disregard to her â€Å"bleeding† (her menstruation cycle). In the camp the soldier â€Å"did not mind that she was bleeding† (261), just as the soldier at the White Hotel â€Å"was not upset† when she â€Å"told her lover the bad news† (45). Her rape, which assuredly also made her bleed, did not take away from her sexuality and her womanhood. This affirmation by the soldier that it was alright even with the blood, restored Lisa as a woman regardless of the horrific sex act which co uld have easily de-feminized and de-sexed her. The soldier’s rape and de-humanizing attempt in the act of an abnormal and painful sex/violence act was defeated since the soldiers provided an affirmation that it was okay despite the blood that she had shed. She was still a woman in their eyes. One final parallel that can be made between the chapters is that of motherhood and nurturing. In both sections, Lisa breastfeeds and is breastfed. Breastfeeding is a nurturing and comforting act that a mother provides for her child. This established the safe haven of the Camp and allies Lisa to her mother in their womanhood and motherhood. In both sections Lisa is indisputably a mother, while in her real life she could not fathom having children, and only became a step-mother late in her life and not of her own choosing. Also, as Freud notes in Chapter 3, â€Å"the child sucking at the maternal breast has become the prototype of every relation of love† (116) we see this motherhood and love relationship not only in Chapters 2 and 3, but also in Chapter 6. â€Å"On the couch†A variety of psychoanalytic theories can be applied to Lisa Erdman as her life story flows from page to page in the novel. One that even Freud touched upon in Chapter 3 in his case study of Lisa was that of homosexuality. Freud believed that Lisa was a lesbian (†she had so completely buried the knowledge of her homosexuality†) (136), but he was wrong in his diagnoses and misplaced his suspicions onto Lisa. In actuality, it was Lisa’s aunt who was more suspected as a lesbian. Lisa’s mother in Chapter 6 recognized this when she discussed with Lisa the affair that she had with her brother-in-law (268). .u9cb4c28d65581338f94d91db7f29150a , .u9cb4c28d65581338f94d91db7f29150a .postImageUrl , .u9cb4c28d65581338f94d91db7f29150a .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u9cb4c28d65581338f94d91db7f29150a , .u9cb4c28d65581338f94d91db7f29150a:hover , .u9cb4c28d65581338f94d91db7f29150a:visited , .u9cb4c28d65581338f94d91db7f29150a:active { border:0!important; } .u9cb4c28d65581338f94d91db7f29150a .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u9cb4c28d65581338f94d91db7f29150a { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u9cb4c28d65581338f94d91db7f29150a:active , .u9cb4c28d65581338f94d91db7f29150a:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u9cb4c28d65581338f94d91db7f29150a .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u9cb4c28d65581338f94d91db7f29150a .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u9cb4c28d65581338f94d91db7f29150a .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u9cb4c28d65581338f94d91db7f29150a .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u9cb4c28d65581338f94d91db7f29150a:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u9cb4c28d65581338f94d91db7f29150a .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u9cb4c28d65581338f94d91db7f29150a .u9cb4c28d65581338f94d91db7f29150a-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u9cb4c28d65581338f94d91db7f29150a:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Entrepreneur Observation Report EssayTransference can also be seen on Lisa’s behalf when she inserted Freud’s son, a soldier named Morton, as her lover, who that was also a soldier, in Chapters 2 and 3. Having never met him, she saw his picture on Freud’s desk and Freud made it clear in his case study discussion that she had never met him (114). Freud felt that this transference of putting Morton in her writings encouraged her to stay on and continue to be analyzed by him (117). Freud fails to explain why this would be so unless he felt that she wanted to explore the reasons of this transference. Freud does not provide a reason for the transference, ei ther. What could be deduced is that just as she wished to bind Freud to her closer and she wished to make love to him but since she could not, his son was the closest to it. Earlier breastfeeding was discussed as a way to bring someone closer. Since Lisa could not make love to Freud, she did the next best thing and breastfed him. Later in the novel, we see this burgeoning love for Freud as her letters attempt to bring him closer to her and she wonders just how close Freud would like to be with her (198). Lisa for many years repressed the images of her mother involved in a sexual liaison with her uncle. Her mind fogged the image of her mother in a very sexual atmosphere with her uncle and replaced it with her aunt. She did not want to know that it was her mother could have committed adultery and especially that her aunt knew and was even involved in it. One final psychoanalytic defense mechanism that Lisa was engaging was that of projection. In her writings, Lisa projected personal charactsteristics and was able to relate to the retired prostitute. Although it was not fully projected since she did not deny that she saw herself as the retired prostitute. While with Freud, she admitted that her â€Å"unruly thoughts† made her feel the connection with the retired prostitute (119). The Talking Cure: Literary Representation of PsychoanalysisDuring class discussion, we were able to read an exerpt (the chronology of events) of the above named book. One thing that was discussed was the illicit affair had by Lisa’s mother and uncle and how her father did not know. I disagree with this point since in Chapter 6 Lisa’s mother admits to Lisa that her father did know about the affair: â€Å"He knew, but it was never mentioned† (268). This helps to release Lisa’s mother from some of the guilt, since there was no deception involved because both spouses knew what was occuring. D.M. Thomas has created a novel filled with interweaving images that can be seen from its beginning pages to the end. Most instances can be compared to a variety of other situations that occured in Lisa’s life and that has occurred in a historical context. Her symptoms and experiences display certain psychoanalytic theories that she dissected with the fictional Freud, even though his analysis were sometimes wrong. The fervent passion, the macabre deaths and the hopeful ending make for an enriching story that recalls a dark time in history and a hopeful ending (or beginning) for Lisa.

Merits and demerits of a balanced scorecard

Merits and demerits of a balanced scorecard Introduction Many organizations in the twenty first century usually use the balanced scorecard to align their strategies and visions. This is usually one of the strategic plans within such Companies. This concept is also usually incorporated by non profit organizations and government bodies.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Merits and demerits of a balanced scorecard specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It is also usually used in the measuring of overall performance of organization in relation to set goals. Some businesses usually use it to enhance their external and internal communications. (Atkinson, 2006) This concept is mostly known to have been initiated by Kaplan in the early 1950’s but started being implemented in the nineties. This model is mostly used to analyse employees’ activities throughout the year. This concept is usually praised for its advantages as a management framework within org anization. It is also highly criticized for its various limitations experienced by users. This paper looks in-depth at the pros and cons of a balanced scorecard framework of performance management. (Kaplan and Norton, 2004) Merits Balanced view of organizational performance Just like any other framework of managing performance within organizations, the balanced scorecard has its pros and cons. One of the merits of the balanced scorecard is that managers are able to have a view of organization’s performance that is usually balanced in nature. This is comparing to other traditional methods that were used to analyse Company performance. In most cases, the methods would give financial aspects of the business only. They usually overlook other aspects that are part of organizational performance. (Kaplan and Norton, 2004) The balanced scorecard looks at all the features in the light of Company objectives. This enables management team to ascertain whether Company objectives are being met or not. This is considering the fact that an organization may be performing spectacularly in financial terms but has poor organizational development. (Neely, 2007)Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This also could include very poor customer satisfaction. It is also possible for an organization to be making enviable profit while its communication systems are poor and processes outdated. A balanced scorecard helps managers to analyze all these aspects and to have an overall view of the Company performance. Through the use of a balanced scorecard, there is a comprehensive view of the organization. (Pandey, 2005) This tends to overturn the conventional idea of organizations having separate departments and isolated functions. It helps to show that all units within organizations are correlated. Analysis of all essential departments helps management team to co rrect areas that require change. This also includes putting rectification measures in time before the Company’s performance is adversely affected. (Zanini, 2006) Helps in implementing organizational development Through the use of a balanced scorecard, it is easy to implement organizational development. Organizational development is usually implemented in an official and organized way. It involves, coaching and instructing employees in areas of need. It also helps in accomplishment of organizational goals. Majority of the goals are usually long term in nature. Organizational development is known to be part of the strategic plan in many Companies. This is where staffs are trained and educated on various areas such as customer care and resource management. The use of a balanced scorecard may show the customer care levels to be very low within the organization. This usually indicates that staffs need training on customer care. Through this method, staffs easily trained on areas s hown to have a deficit in service delivery. Research shows few managers implement strategic planning. (Atkinson, 2006) The use of strategic maps as part of the balanced scorecard helps the organization to know its participation in achievement of strategic goals. The balanced scorecard in itself can be used to educate staffs on different organizational aspects.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Merits and demerits of a balanced scorecard specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Through the balanced scorecard, it is easier to show staffs on the essence of incorporating more training and development. Staffs get to know the effect of training on overall performance of the organization both in the short term and long term. (Neely, 2007) Benefits of long term performance remedies are enjoyed Further analysis of the balanced scorecard shows that it is quite advantageous as compared to other traditional methods. Other tradit ional methods of performance management analysed financial situations in the Company. This usually resulted in incorporation of short term remedies on handling the problem. For instance, an organization in financial performance would have short term corrective measures put in place. These usually included an increase in prices among other interventions. (Pandey, 2005) Most of the times the short term remedies never worked in the long run resulting in a situation where organizations still had the initial problem to solve. When using a balanced scorecard, managers analyse both the short term and long term effects of remedies. This usually helps as managers are able to put in place strategies that work well for the organization even in the long term. Organizations that usually utilize the balanced scorecard as a framework of managing performance benefit from long term interventions of improving performance. (Zanini, 2006) Flexibility Analysis of the balanced scorecard shows that it mak es it very easy to make amendments to the organization when need arises. This makes the system to be highly portable and quite flexible to use. Global and local business markets are usually known to be very unpredictable with changes occurring on a day to day basis. Such changes in the business environment usually necessitate organizations to make internal changes. A balanced scorecard usually helps to make necessary amendments in case of such changes in the business environment. A balanced scorecard helps to make changes in objectives and day to day measures so that strategic goals within the organization can be achieved.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Clear map that is strategic in nature Research shows that the balanced scorecard clearly illustrates the strategic and operational features in an organization. In most cases, organizational measures, actions and day to day decisions tend to waver away from the organization’s strategy. The management team in the organizations usually assumes that they are usually working on strategic goals while this is not usually the case. (Neely, 2007) The incorporation of the balanced scorecard as a framework of managing organizational performance helps in this realization. It usually provides a clear map that is strategic in nature. This also usually includes the cause and effect features of every action. These usually include measures taken on a day to day basis in relation to organizational goals. These strategic maps are simple and can be interpreted by any of the staffs within the organization. This is even those who may not have any prior knowledge in strategic management. (Zanini, 2 006) Planning tool A balanced scorecard is usually very essential in organizations since it can be used by managers as a planning tool. As earlier on illustrated, the business environment is highly characterized by uncertainty. Despite this, a balanced scorecard can be used to put in place a rational budget for a business’ financial year. It can also be used for resource allocation. This is more so financial and material resources within an organization. This is usually based on the fact that a balanced scorecard provides a fact based and systematic management framework. This usually helps to replace planning based on intuition. It usually helps managers to anticipate future outcomes. This is usually because of leading indicators in a balanced scorecard. The simulations and cause –effect features of the balanced scorecard make planning easier. (Neely, 2007) Facilitates improvements within an organization A balanced scorecard is usually known to facilitate improvement w ithin an organization. A balanced scorecard raises the visibility of managers on what is going on within the organization. This is because it shows areas that are currently performing well and those that are performing poorly. At one glance, managers can identify areas that need to be worked upon. (Neely, 2007) Through this, managers easily identify areas that require urgent changes. This spurs improvements to be carried out within the organization. Managers are usually able to identify best practices within an organization through the use of a balanced scorecard. Proponents of this model assert that a balanced scorecard helps to create more innovation opportunities within organization hence improvement of service provision and overall performance in organizations. (Zanini, 2006) Enhances accountability Unlike other traditional frameworks of performance management, the balanced scorecard is more comprehensive in nature. Various features within the organization are thoroughly analyse d and not just financial aspects. This tends to encourage accountability of stakeholders within the Company. This is founded on the fact that the work done in every department has to be analyzed. This in most cases is not just the accountability of employees but also that of the management team. (Pandey, 2005) Some organizations tailor the balanced scorecard such that time management of all staffs and management team is analysed. This also usually includes the way they relate to other staffs within the organization. Employees and management team tend to be more responsible as they go about their duties. (Kaplan and Norton, 2004) Essential in benchmarking Balanced scorecard helps managers to identify areas that are performing poorly within the organization. Benchmarking is part and parcel of strategic management. Many businesses are incorporating benchmarking in order to enhance efficiency and effectiveness. An essential step in benchmarking is identifying processes within an organiz ation. Generally, benchmarking gives a different view of handling quality issues within an organization. It actually acts against any resistance to change whatsoever. This entire process can be carried out by an organization as an individual venture or as a joint undertaking between organizations. (Kaplan and Norton, 2004) A balanced scorecard makes it easy for managers to identify the process within the Company. It also makes it easy to compare the performance of various processes and departments. This allows improvement of quality of production, service delivery to be improved through benchmarking process. It is also essential to note that the balanced scorecard can be used for comparing performance of processes and departments between organizations. (Neely, 2007) Break down of measures at the corporate level A balanced scorecard is usually known to help in breaking down measures at the corporate level. This is such that managers at local levels clearly understand their role in en hancing organizational effectiveness. This also includes the role of the rest of the employees within the organization in improving overall corporate effectiveness. This makes stakeholders take their positions and roles since they get to understand the organizational measures in their respective levels. This means that the organizational strategy is usually made operational through overall translation into targets and measures for each group of staffs. (Zanini, 2006) Limitations Scorecard metrics There are also some limitations of using a balanced scorecard as a framework of managing performance in organizations. One of limitations is the fact that the metrics in the framework do not relate to all organizations. It means that the balanced scorecard metrics cannot be used for all organizations that would desire to use it. This usually leads to a situation where some organizations incorporate the balanced scorecard, use the metrics. These are usually not beneficial to the organization . This makes the entire process of using the balanced scorecard meaningless as the organization may not benefit at all. It is usually recommended that managers tailor make metrics that are usually relevant to the organization before using the balanced scorecard. This would help analyse and improve current performance. (Atkinson, 2006) Limited view of organizational performance Critics of the balanced scorecard assert that it does not give a full view of Company performance. The scorecard has four major areas that managers use as a framework of analyzing performance. These areas in essence are mostly meant to show development and growth aspects of any business. The four areas, according to critics, do not who the overall picture of performance in an organization. It is usually worth noting the financial metric on the framework is not comprehensive in nature. It is highly recommended that managers use the balanced scorecard as part of strategy that is bigger. There is mostly the need for organizations to incorporate comprehensive accounting models as part of the bigger strategy. This usually helps to have a more overall view of Company performance. (Atkinson, 2006) Incorporation of non financial measures For an organization to use the balanced scorecard, it has to tailor the metrics to the Company processes in order to enhance relevancy. This means that managers have to include non financial metrics in order to have an overall view of performance. This has been cited to be a complicated venture. This is usually based on the fact that organizations usually have many non financial departments. It is mostly difficult for managers to identify non-financial metrics to be included and those that should be excluded. This is because the balanced scorecard cannot be effective if all dimensions within the organization have to be included in the framework. (Kaplan and Norton, 2004) When the dimensions are very many, the balanced scorecard usually has high chances of failin g. Critics of the balanced scorecard assert that it is challenging to track non-financial dimensions. This is because the dimensions are usually subjective in nature. The biggest challenge for managers is to include dimensions that are mostly related to outcomes that are usually defined in nature. (Neely, 2007) Time consuming While the balanced scorecard has been applauded for myriad advantages, it has one major limitation. It is usually a very time consuming process. This requires managers to burn the midnight oil trying to workout the balanced scorecard to suit their organizations. Collecting information concerning all the metrics on the balanced scorecard takes a lot of time. Usually this involves collecting information from various stakeholders within the organization. The implementation of the balanced scorecard requires participation of both the management team and staffs. If any of them fails to participate then, the process can never be successful. This in the long run is us ually quite time consuming. (Pandey, 2005) Limited in scanning external environment A balanced scorecard is an essential tool of analysing the internal environment in organizations. This tool is usually limited since it cannot be used to scan the external business environment. This means that balanced scorecard cannot be used in scanning external environmental factors. It cannot replace external environmental systems used to analyse the environment. Managers need to incorporate other systems when scanning the external environment. (Pandey, 2005) Resistance in initiating balanced scorecard Researchers assert that there are various challenges commonly faced when managers try to implement a balanced scorecard. It is usually resisted by some of the staffs during the initiation process. This is usually because they do not see the holistic picture. This requires total commitment of top management. In most cases, employees tend to resist the new system, since they perceive it as a tool tha t is mostly used to show underperformance. Some staffs tend to perceive it as unnecessary addition of administrative tasks. (Atkinson, 2006) Conclusion A balanced scorecard is usually incorporated as part of a Company’s strategies. It mostly used to align strategies and visions in organizations. It is also usually used in the measuring of overall performance of organization in relation to set goals. This concept is mostly known to have been initiated by Kaplan in the early 1950’s but started being implemented in the nineties. This model is usually used to analyse employees’ activities throughout the year. The model has various advantages and limitations. A balanced scorecard gives balanced view of organizational performance. It enhances flexibility when amendments need to be made. It also usually encourages accountability of staffs and even the management team. It is useful to benchmarking process and helps in implementing organizational development. A balanced scorecard also has its limitations. This includes the fact that it is time consuming. It requires a lot of time to include all the metrics in the framework of performance management. It is quite challenging for managers to include all the metrics in the balanced scorecard. It is limited in scanning external environment. This means that it can only be used in scanning the internal environment in organizations. Critics of the balanced scorecard assert that it gives a limited view of organizational performance. This is because it is not all inclusive in terms of relevant metrics in organizations. All in all, balanced scorecard is quite instrumental in organizations and the merits far outweigh the limitations. References Atkinson, H. (2006). Strategy Implementation- A role for the Balanced Scorecard:  Management Decision. 44, 10: 141-1460. Kaplan, R., and Norton, D. (2004). Measuring the strategic readiness of intangible  Assets: Harvard Business Review, 82(2): 52-63. Neely, A. (200 7). The search for meaningful measures: Management Services 51, 2:14-17. Pandey, I. (2005). Balanced Scorecard Myth and Reality: Interfaces, 30, 1: 51-64. Zanini, M. (2006). The Balanced Scorecard here and back: Management Accounting Quarterly, 7, 4: 18-23.

The Salic Law - Early Germanic Law Code and Law of Royal Succession

The Salic Law - Early Germanic Law Code and Law of Royal Succession Definition: The Salic Law was the early Germanic law code of the Salian Franks. Originally dealing primarily with criminal penalties and procedures, with some civil law included, the Salic Law evolved over the centuries, and it would later play an important role in the rules governing royal succession; specifically, it would be used in the rule barring women from inheriting the throne. In the early Middle Ages, when barbarian kingdoms were forming in the wake of the dissolution of the western Roman empire, law codes like the Breviary of Alaric were issued by royal decree. Most of these, while focusing on the Germanic subjects of the kingdom, were clearly influenced by Roman law and Christian morals. The earliest written Salic Law, which had been transmitted orally for generations, is generally free of such influences, and thus provides a valuable window into early Germanic culture. The Salic Law was first officially issued toward the end of the reign of Clovis in the early 6th century. Written in Latin, it had a list of fines for offenses ranging from petty theft to rape and murder (the only crime that would expressly result in death was if a bondsman of the king, or a leet, should carry off a free woman.) Fines for insults and practicing magic were also included. In addition to laws delineating specific penalties, there were also sections on honoring summonses, the transference of property, and migration; and there was one section on inheritance of private property that expressly barred women from inheriting land. Over the centuries, the law would be altered, systematized, and re-issued, especially under Charlemagne and his successors, who translated it into Old High German. It would apply in the lands that had been part of the Carolingian Empire, most especially in France. But it would not be directly applied to the laws of succession until the 15th century. Beginning in the 1300s, French legal scholars began attempting to provide juridical grounds to keep women from succeeding to the throne. Custom, Roman law, and the priestly aspects of kingship were used to justify this exclusion. Barring women and descent through women was especially important to the nobility of France when Edward III of England tried to lay claim to the French throne through descent on his mothers side, an action that led to the Hundred Years War. In 1410, the first recorded mention of Salic Law appeared in a treatise rebutting Henry IV of Englands claims to the the French crown. Strictly speaking, this was not a correct application of the law; the original code did not address the inheritance of titles. But in this treatise a legal precedent had been set that would thenceforward be associated with the Salic Law. In the 1500s, scholars dealing with the theory of royal power promoted the Salic Law as an essential law of France. It was used expressly to deny the candidacy for the French throne of the Spanish infanta Isabella in 1593. From then on, the Salic Law of Succession was accepted as a core legal premise, although other reasons were also given for barring women from the crown. The Salic Law was used in this context in France up until 1883. The Salic Law of Succession was by no means universally applied in Europe. England and the Scandinavian lands allowed women to rule; and Spain had no such law until the 18th century, when Philip V of the House of Bourbon introduced a less strict variation of the code (it was later repealed). But, though Queen Victoria would reign over a vast British Empire and even hold the title Empress of India, she was barred by the Salic Law from succeeding to the throne of Hanover, which was separated from Britains holdings when she became queen of England and was ruled over by her uncle. Also Known As: Lex Salica (in Latin)

Media Reflections Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Media Reflections - Assignment Example What is known with Americans is about the world is more inconsistent to the influence they have and how it control resources. An erroneous rule of thumb for foreign correspondents covering the world’s news is that â€Å"all everyone cares is about earthquakes and rebellions†. On the other hand, most Americans get their news from television and newsletters including magazines. However, television is the last effective media in communicating in-depth news with great knowledge due to its distortions and sparseness. If numbers can mean anything, journals and newspapers are not doing their job in getting Americans informed that they have a lot to learn from other newly developed countries. Most average sized newspapers are found to publish a maximum of one thousand words in a day for foreign news. This discards much of the total words furnished by the syndicates and news agencies. There are estimated less than four hundred full time correspondents for United States news orga nizations internationally serving the U.S. This is fewer than the number of correspondents who were at work at the end of the Second World War. The printing press was found to have numerous effects on people’s association and interactions. It was found to foster nationalism while at the same time promoted individualism. People could not engage in association in the mind of being a liability. The printing press also set up the literacy rates among the working people and on the middle class people. Knowledge was democratized among all members of the state. People could obtain knowledge on specific areas with much support from the printing press (Harrison, 1996). The printing press was as well found to have speeded up the dissemination and the preservation of knowledge among all members of the state. In relation to the internet in the modern day media, these functions of the printing press correspond to the specific effects portrayed through the study of the internet today. Inte raction among individuals is greatly enhanced by the internet while many of the internet users. The internet shapes the users knowledge through the interaction by different people. It democratizes knowledge with no limitation to all users (McLuhan, 2006).   Information is known to be in form of power. This is now known than ever in the third world countries and they are therefore calling for new international order of information. The newly developed countries have their demands going unheeded due to the lack of a substantial change in the world system of information dissemination. The American media in particular, are highly influential. The feature films, popular press, commercial TV and the hit parades were all invented in U.S. they were then imported and copied by the rest of the nations. Very little of the Anglo-American news film agencies and news select the images for the perception of international political information in the world. Information is no longer treated as a c ommodity but as a service at the disposal of every person. In the same way, if a new world order of information is established, the third world nations must consolidate their information media as well as the western highly developed technological states must assist. People make use of the media in criticizing the

Recent Approaches to Management and Changing Nature of the Workspace Research Paper - 1

Leadership and Management Essay - Research Paper Example Though the two concepts are completely different, they are linked with each other. It is quite significant for the organizations to pay due attention towards the leadership as well as the management aspects in order to increase the efficacy of the overall organization (The Wall Street Journal, 2012). The main objective of the paper is to identify the changing nature of the work environment and the relevance and the application of recent approaches to organizational structure. The study will also endeavor to identify if any association between organization structure and culture exists or not. The paper will also attempt to offer examples from recent organizations such as Ford Motor Company and McDonald’s and will demonstrate the organizational structures of these two organizations and how it tends to impact the culture as well. organization Structure By the term ‘organization structure’, it can be comprehended as the framework around which a group is organized, the groundwork that keeps the coalition functioning. It serves as an operational manual directing the members how the organization is put together and how it tends to operate. ... One of the most significant functions of the organizational structure is related to decision making. One of the imperative benefits related to the organization structure is that if the organizational structure is flat then the decisions can be made quickly. organizational structure can perk up the efficacy. In a functional organization, where there is a considerable number of departments, the department heads delegate project tasks to both directors as well as managers. These individuals generally take up tasks with the help of numerous coordinators as well as analysts. Employees are held responsible for their individual tasks since all the employees work hard to complete their project on time. Those employees belonging to small companies are often organized in terms of product or geographical region are found to be more motivated. This implies that the organizational structure of a smaller organization is quite flexible enough to motivate the employees of the organization. The organ izations subsist in order to integrate corresponding activities in the presence of specialization. The numerous structural dimensions of the organizational structure are connected with various activities happening within any controlled group of components behaving in a certain way to follow objectives. The information activity which is concerned with information flow among the members of the group is generally related to the coordination dimension. The monitoring activity which is related to the recuperation functionalities of the organization is associated with control dimensions. A good organizational structure may assist in developing and administering a culture which is conducive for the members of the organization.  

SWOT analysis Essay Example for Free

SWOT analysis Essay Pizza Hut, the most popular and prominent brand in the fast food industry is the largest chain food shop in the world. Starting from 1958, it has emerged as the market leader of the industry. The franchise has its own Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats but it is clearly enjoying competitive advantages over its competitors. The franchise has a strong marketing tool, large market share and a group of loyal customers. Based on these, if the company goes for a better and stronger marketing approach in the future, they will keep enjoying the edge over its competitors in the future as well. Marketing Plan for Pizza Hut (Part 1). Pizza Hut is the world’s biggest restaurant company and international franchise which has the origin in Texas, America. It has almost 34,000 restaurants across the world and is currently operating in 100 countries. Pizza Hut offers different types of pizza along with some other dishes like pasta, buffalo wings, breadsticks, and garlic bread. It has started its journey back in 1958 by brothers Dan and Frank Carney in their hometown, Kansas. Since then it has emerged as one of the most popular restaurants not only in America but also in the entire world. (Pizza Hut Corporation, 2012) Internal Environment. The mission statement of Pizza Hut is: â€Å"We take pride in making a perfect pizza and providing courteous and helpful service on time all the time. Every customer says, Ill be back! We are the employer of choice offering team members opportunities for growth, advancement, and rewarding careers in a fun, safe working environment. We are accountable for profitability in everything we do, providing our shareholders with value growth. † (Pizza Hut Website, Hawaii) So from the mission statement it is clear that the franchise wants to serve pizza of great taste and wants to retain its customer so that everybody gets the ultimate joy. They also want to be accountable to its shareholders along with quality team members and workplace. Over the years, Pizza Hut is working hard to establish the above goals and objectives through their dedication, sincerity and honest team members. That’s the reason today Pizza Hut has become the worldwide leader and a trustworthy name among the food lovers. Though today’s world is fast and mechanical people are still looking for the better quality of the food, service and also great taste. As a result, the goals and objectives of Pizza Hut is still very much correct with the peoples perspective. The present performance of Pizza Hut is very admirable as it has captured the largest market share in the industry and also has a loyal customer base. Because of their effective promotion, pricing. Food quality, distribution channel and most importantly unparallel taste, Pizza Hut has achieved a great success in the industry. The recent sale volume of Pizza Hut is also noticeable. In the year 2011, Pizza Hut had a turnover of $5. 5 billion (Financial Statement, Pizza Hut, 2012) where Dominos Pizza had $530. 6 million. (Financial Statement, Dominos Pizza, 2012) So, Pizza Hut is enjoying the edge over its competitors. Though the trend of the industry is downward because of the socioeconomic crisis hasn’t recovered still. The overall performance of the firm hasn’t declined much (only in 2007 it had a turnover of $6 billion) (Financial Statement, Pizza Hut, 2012). And the little decline is the result of the recession of 2008 as discussed earlier. In spite of those little drawbacks, Pizza Hut is trying their best to keep the pace with their mission statement and if they are unable to do that just because of external facts they will meet up with that with their honesty, service quality etc. Customer Environment. In a nutshell, everybody around the world is the potential customer of Pizza Hut. As people of all ages like foods like pizzas, they can enjoy the ultimate and different taste of Pizza Hut. The current customers of Pizza Hut have great variety. As they provide a wide range of pizzas, people from different ages can enjoy their foods. People of young age have a great attraction towards the Pizza Hut and they are a great portion of customers for Pizza Hut. In the process a few other players can be added as the young people may take money from their parents and can be influenced by their friends. The product is used only in one way and that is for eating. The great taste of the pizzas can amaze everybody and they can be the admirers of that. Customers can buy pizzas directly from the outlets and can hang around there. They can even order the food online and home delivery will be available. In the festival time with some special offers the consumption may be increased and customers may be attracted to consume more to get benefits. Because of taste, quality and service, the purchasers of Pizza Hut purchase the foods of Pizza Hut. There are other players in the market and they have a loyal customer base as well though that is not as significant as Pizza Hut. As a result, Pizza Hut are not getting those customers and they aren’t buying the pizzas of Pizza Hut. External Environment The competitors are quite a lot in the market for Pizza Hut. Some big names like McDonalds, Dominos Pizza etc. are strong contenders for taking away the crown from Pizza Hut. As it discussed earlier, Dominos pizza isn’t far away from Pizza Hut in sales volume and trying hard to get there. McDonalds also with their innovative products are looking to do the same. As it told, the recession of 2008 made a strong impact on the Pizza Hut as well as on the industry. It has experienced downward pressure in the sales volume. So, if the economy gets stabilized, the performance of the industry as well as Pizza hut is expected to be improved. Computerization is a must for the current world. Pizza Hut is computerized and centralized. As a result, the customers are enjoying digitized facilities like online ordering, home delivery etc. The sociocultural situation of the target customers are also very important factor which is needed to be considered. The target customers’ demography, economic and social condition all these things make impact on Pizza Hut as they are expanded their businesses in almost every corner of the globe. So, before going to open an outlet, they need to consider those factors and their probable profitability from that. The profitability shouldn’t be only factor for Pizza Hut. They must consider their ethical and social responsibility towards people and they have a close eye on those as well. They try to ensure the best quality and service of their food s before presenting them to their customers which made them unique in the industry. SWOT Analysis The SWOT analysis of Pizza Hut is like below: Strengths †¢ Largest chain restaurant of the world (Griffiths, 2009) 1. As the restaurant spreads in many countries of the world, it can reach a significant number of people in the entire world. As a result, the franchise can serve their products to many nationalities and because of that they have become e trustworthy name among the customers. People of the different parts of the world have different tastes and preferences. Pizza Hut by having so many outlets in different countries is doing that purpose quite successfully. 2. Pizza Hut enjoys the most branches around the globe (100) which the competitors of Pizza Hut aren’t able to do. As a result, the other restaurants can’t reach to people like Pizza Hut does which clearly makes a difference between Pizza Hut and its competitors and Pizza Hut is having the edge. †¢ Has large varieties and types of pizzas and known for its innovative range of pizzas under one roof (Free SWOT Analysis, 2010) 1. Because of having range of pizzas, Pizza Hut has become successful to meet up with the demands of various customers. Even the people from different countries are enjoying the different tastes of pizzas from Pizza Hut. So, the innovations from Pizza Hut are helping the franchise to be more reliable and popular to its customers across the world. 2. The other competitors like Dominos Pizza can’t offer such a variety of pizzas to its customers. As a result, they are lagging behind Pizza Hut on this regard. †¢ Strong marketing tools (Griffiths, 2009) 1. Pizza Hut has many media partners and uses television as a very strong advertising tool. That’s why their advertisements in television become so popular and has a strong impact on the people from the various parts of the world as Pizza Hut keeps the regional differences on their mind. 2. As Pizza Hut uses better marketing and advertisement tools than its competitors, the other companies of same type aren’t matching with Pizza Hut in the same way. †¢ Large market share and loyal customer base (Free SWOT Analysis, 2010) 1. As the market leader Pizza Hut enjoys the most of the profit of the industry and loyal customers encourage them to increase the number of their outlets in the 100 countries they are operating. 2. The competitors are not having as large market share as Pizza Hut has. So, they are lagging in regard of profit. They don’t have as large loyal customers as Pizza Hut as well. Weaknesses †¢ Loyal customers are feeling that the satisfactory level of the pizzas are not like before and it is in the declining process as other franchises are offering something better than that of Pizza Hut (Free SWOT Analysis, 2010) 1. If the trend of the above feeling among the loyal customers continue then the large market share that Pizza Hut is enjoying at present, will be reduced at some point which will lead the loss of market leadership for them. 2. The other players of the industry are coming strongly with new innovative ideas so that they can satisfy the customers in a better way than Pizza Hut which is be the minus point for Pizza Hut. †¢ Internal conflicts within the company regarding the computerization and centralization of processes (Free SWOT Analysis, 2010) 1. Whatever happens the customers seek the ultimate satisfaction and service from a company but because of this problem, they are not getting the desired services they expect from Pizza Hut. This will lead a bad spoken of mouth problem for the company. 2. The whole processes in Pizza Hut is centralized and computerized but those are causing internal conflicts among the franchises in different regions but the other organizations are not reported to have any problem like this. So, this problem will have an adverse effect on the image of the Pizza Hut. Opportunities †¢ Introduction of new fresh pizzas with innovation (The World’s Largest Online Library, 2009) 1. People are now more health conscious than ever. So, introducing the fresh pizzas will be great idea for attracting new customers and to meet their needs. Besides that, innovative pizzas like new flavors and sizes may create appeal to the customers especially to the young customers. 2. The needed time for innovation can be long as there is no time bindings for that but the fresh pizzas can be introduced immediately as it won’t take a lot of time. †¢ Opening new branches in the regions where the demand is increasing (Free SWOT Analysis, 2010) 1. Young generation in the countries like India, Bangladesh and Pakistan is probably the one big opportunity for Pizza Hut to explore. As the popularity of Pizza and other fast foods among these people is increasing day by day, Pizza Hut can use that for their market expansion. 2. As Pizza Hut already having outlets in those countries, the new branch opening won’t take too much time and will increase the profit for the company Threats †¢ Increasing cost of cheese (Griffiths, 2009). 1. The cost increase of cheese will increase of the price of the pizzas. As Pizza Hut tries to give the best taste of pizzas to its customers, it will face problems in doing that. As a result, attracting new customers and retaining the existing customers will be a big challenge for them. 2. As the price is increasing in a slow manner, at present Pizza Hut may not face the problem but in the long run with the increase of price of pizzas, they will feel the pressure. †¢ Threat from other companies and also from the local brands (Free SWOT Analysis, 2010) 1. McDonald already introduced McPizza and Dominos Pizza becoming more and more competitive. So, the competition is getting tougher and tougher day by day. So, customers who seek variety may tend to shift from Pizza Hut and in the process Pizza Hut may loss a significant portion of the existing customers. Also some local brands are trying to provide pizzas of different tastes to the customers in different countries which are alarming for Pizza Hut. 2. The threat of losing customers because of the above reason may arise very quickly. So, Pizza Hut should be aware of the fact. SWOT Matrix. |Strengths: |Opportunities: | | | | |Largest chain restaurant of the world |Loyal customers feel that the satisfactory level of the pizzas | |Large varieties and types of pizzas and known for its innovative |declining | |range of pizzas under one roof |Internal conflicts within the company | |Strong marketing tools | | |Large market share and loyal customer base | | | | | | | | |Weaknesses: |Threats: | | | | |Introduction of new fresh pizzas with innovation |Increasing cost of cheese | |Opening new branches |Threat from other companies | | | | Developing Competitive Advantages. From the SWOT analysis, it is quite clear that in spite of having some weaknesses, Pizza Hut is clearly enjoying some competitive advantages over its competitors. The three stronger points are discussed in the next section: Largest chain restaurant of the world As the restaurant spreads in many countries of the world, it can reach a significant number of people in the entire world. People of the different parts of the world have different tastes and preferences. Pizza Hut by having so many outlets in different countries is doing that purpose quite successfully. Strong marketing tools. Pizza Hut has many media partners and uses television as a very strong advertising tool. That’s why their advertisements in television become so popular and has a strong impact on the people from the various parts of the world. Large market share and loyal customer base As the market leader Pizza Hut enjoys the most of the profit of the industry and loyal customers encourage them to increase the number of their outlets in the 100 countries they are operating. Developing a Strategic Focus Focusing on marketing Among the three competitive advantages, Pizza Hut has the most prominent opportunity to develop a strategic focus on marketing. As the advertising tool of Pizza Hut is very strong they should focus more on this sector. As countries like India, Pakistan and Bangladesh are probable opportunities for Pizza Hut and they are looking to expand their business in these countries, a strong advertisement in the television and other media can be very fruitful for Pizza Hut. (Your file library, 2010). References Free SWOT Analysis. (2010, June 02). Free Online Providerof Quality SWOT Analysis. Retrieved January 20, 2013, from Free SWOT Analysis website: http://www. freeswotanalysis. com Griffiths, M. (2009, December 23). Documents Resources for Small Businesse Professionals. Retrieved January 20, 2013, from Docstoc website: http://www. docstoc. com Pizza Hut Corporation. (2012). About Us: Pizza Hut. Retrieved January 20, 2013, from Piza Hut Web site: http://www. pizzahut. co. uk The World’s Largest Online Library. (2009, March 03). Retrieved January 20, 2013, from Scribd website: http://www. scribd. com Your file library. (2010, May 21). Retrieved January 20, 2013, from Fliiby: http://fliiby. com Pizza Hut Website, Hawaii http://www. pizzahuthawaii. com Financial Statement, Pizza Hut, 2012 http://www. yum. com Financial Statement, Dominos Pizza, 2012 http://www. ft. com.

Lyrical Ballads Captures The Hour of Feeling Essay -- Coleridge Wordsw

Lyrical Ballads were written in a time of great change. They were dominated by the French Revolution and both Wordsworth and Coleridge felt great impact from this. There was disruption all over with the American War of Independence and other wars worldwide. Britain itself was changing rapidly due to colonial expansion, which brought new wealth, ideas and fashion, and there was much disturbance to both the people and the land with the act of enclosure, which may have meant more effective farming but less work. The introduction of the Poor Laws meant that landowners paid their remaining staff very little knowing that they would be supplemented by poor relief. However the conditions stated by the Laws before aid would be given were very similar to ?The Last Of The Flock? with people having to give up every means of self support and therefore reduce the chance of them ever living independently again. The Industrial Revolution introduced the new ?middle? class for which many of these poems were written for. They use simple language to allow them to understand and self educate, which many of them were very interested in doing and bettering themselves, much like Wordsworth himself and his sister as shown in ?Tintern Abbey?. Here he talks of her being at the stage of education that he was five years before when he last visited. Despite all the war and upheaval there was very little provision for those who got left behind such as those left unemployed due to the Industrial Revolution and enclosure as well as returning servicemen. The effect of this was felt widely as shown in ?The Female Vagrant?, the wife of a soldier forced to move countries etc and the increasing state of poverty they lived through. In a different culture ?The F... ...t brought all the great things they had hoped for and things had not got any better, in many cases things had actually deteriorated. Wordsworth and Coleridge seemed to be of a similar opinion to the general population throughout this whole period, they both began full of optimism for this time of change before slowly becoming more against it as shown in some of their poetry. ?Anecdote for Fathers? for example is a rather cynical poem focusing on a negative area of the human condition as a whole. Lyrical Ballads very much reflects Wordsworth and Coleridge?s feelings on society at the time and to me they seem to be of the same opinions as the general population during that period. The poetry and indeed the Romantic Movement also illustrated the ?hour of feeling? well and therefore I believe that Lyrical Ballads captures the ?hour of feeling? very successfully.

The California-Illini Manufacturing Company’s (Ci)

The California-Illini Manufacturing Company's (CI) Q1. What is the firm's competitive strategy? Does the strategy seem appropriate? In the strictest sense, competitive strategy refers to how a company can gain a competitive advantage through a market while finding a distinctive way of competing. California-Illini Manufacturing Company is able to compete in the Global industry because they are handmade tillage and cultivating tools and they are American made; they use expensive metal pieces and are hand metal forged, along with using manual electric arc welders.There is in most every market the opportunity for handmade products, for example Lamborghini cars are hand made vehicles, which are more expensive, but because of the extensive labor they are considered to be better built. The industry however, is very competitive in American and the global market, and there are cheaper options available. With that said I think there is still a substantial market for the rugged, handmade, Ameri can tools and they should stick to their design strategy and use their family built, third- Generation Company known for the quality of tools as their trademark. Q2.What motivated the cost reduction strategy? Did the cost reduction strategy work? Why? The cost reduction strategy occurred because during the early to mid 1980’s during President Reagan’s first term an economic downturn struck companies, this depressed market caused many businesses like CI to struggle. Their inventory was down and the cash flow was poor, the company began to look into cutting cost, increasing prices, technology and productivity. In the short run (1989) the cost cutting strategy failed, operating expenses were up 20%, along with increased inventories by 24% and net profits continued to slip!Q3. How did CI's standard cost system affect the cost reduction strategy? CI’s cost system was developed to measure performance and profit potential, each materials and labor input is given and pr oduction managers are demanded to meet or improve the standards. In the end the new PCIC manager suggested increasing the job lots from 100 to 150 rather than the 6,000. The company decided to remain loyal to their old performance cost system instead of taking an alternative approach which may have helped CI. The process seems to be broken and they are just blindly following the approach to measuring performance.The cost reduction strategy seemed to be well meaning, and had the opportunity for success BUT, CI was chained to old ideas and old ways of thinking, past successes don’t always ensure future success. Q4. What is the role of work-in-process in the cost reduction strategy? The work-in process was important in the implementation of the cost reduction strategy. In General, there are three stages of cost of goods: Raw materials, work-in-process inventory, and finished goods. The cost of each stage includes materials cost, labor cost, and overhead. The cost reduction strat egy needs to cut the cost from every stage.Work-in-process is very important. There are always many steps during work-in-process, such as setup and Assembly. We can cut cost by using economic sizes, shorting routine time, and decreasing variances. In this case, the company planned to increase batch sizes to improve productivity. The short-time result was impressive because plant efficiency measures rose about 15%. But it also caused some negative effects. In order to improve efficiency measures, departments kept processing large lots regardless of current demand. It brought much storage expense, overtime expense and it made scheduling difficult.All these costs play a negative effect in the cost reduction strategy. Q5. Is the new (PCIC) manager on the right track with the smaller lot sizes? Yes, the PCIC manager is on the right track. Now the company has a big problem:Inventories increased by 24% and net profits continued to deteriorate. The current level of processing job lots 6. 00 0 is a main reason to cause this problem. It produced large batches when the demand is not that high. So it is an effective way to solve the problem by reducing the processing job lots. But the big change from 6000 to 100 or 150 cannot make sure the stability of the company.It needs to be reconsidered. By managing the constraints, they are not over producing and building inventory levels for products that won't sell. Q6. What steps is the PCIC likely to take now? The final goal is to increase the profits. The most important things are to improve operations and increase sales volume. Firstly, reduce the processing job lots and control lead times. The company should not produce and build inventory levels for products that won't sell. They should provide the high quality productions to customers as soon as possible. Secondly, restore domestic sales. As reported that domestic volume decreased by 11. %.The company should find the reasons and get back the domestic share. Thirdly, open up new international markets. Q7. What type of cost system should be used at CI? CI should implement a cost system that would be flexible and adhere to the changing market situations and that would be the ABC cost system. Importance should not be based so much on the amount that a company would produce at a given time. CI may have saved so much in input costs while producing a lot within a shorter time but if these products are not what the market needs or wants, everything would just be a waste.

Assesment 6 Practical Team Sport

BTEC SubsidiaryExtended Diploma In Sport QCF Level 3 Unit 8: Practical Sport (PT) Unit 22: Rules, Regulations and Officiating in Sport (R&R) Assessment 6 of 8 P1 Skills and techniques- Passing: the skill off passing is used when a player on the same team is giving the ball to another member, this is called passing and this is used to spread the play across the line of attack as the ball in tag rugby cannot be passed forward so generally the ball will be thrown sideways or backwards using the following technique.When the player feels that it is right they will look for a pass by doing this there head position will be looking to where they plan on the ball reaching and this is typically to the midriff of a player on their team so to perform this skill they will have their feet shoulder width apart so that they have balance but also they will have the ball in both hands so that they do not drop it when using the passing action which is having both hands either side of the ball bringing the ball back to create momentum and power and then bring it towards their target and releasing giving the force that is required for it to reach their team mate.Catching: This skill is when you are receiving a pass as you will have to catch the ball and to do this to make your teams play fluent and quick you must have a good technique on how to catch the ball.To have a good technique on catching the ball you must make sure your hands are clear and visible for your teammate to see that you are ready for the ball but then when the ball is heading in your direction you must make sure that your feet are shoulders width apart and that you have a solid base and you are balanced then make sure your hands are close to your chest so that if you happen to miss the ball it will rebound off your chest and will be easier to catch , before catching the ball your head and eyes must be looking at the irection of the ball so that you are ready then when successfully catching the ball look for optio n on whether to pass it on or make a run forwards. Intercepting: The skill of intercepting is used when you prevent the opposition’s team from making a pass and you catch it which then converts possession into your teams favour.The technique of this skill is identifying where the ball is going to go and getting your body position correct to quickly react and catch it before a player on their team does for example if you are about to go in for an interception you will need to keep eyes on the ball and make sure all your body is in line with the ball including your hands so that you can grasp it in mid-flight. After you have caught the ball there will usually be a gap in their defence so as soon as you catch it there will be the opportunity to run for the score zone.Blocking: This is a skill used again for preventing the opposition from retaining the ball and the technique for this is to get any body part in the way of the balls intended destination. The technique to doing this is to make your body as big as possible with the biggest surface area as possible. To do this you will need to stretch out every limb possible and direct them in the way that the ball is heading so that you can block it. Tactics: on1 defending: This is when your team is the defending team and every person on your team has a person to mark on their team and it is your job to mark them so within tag rugby you would be lined up in your defensive line opposite the person you will be marking, a good point to this is that everyone on their team will be marked however if the person you are marking gets passed you then there is very little cover to prevent them from scoring a try. on 1: This is a tactic used when there is a specifically good player on the oppositions team and it is used by 2 players marking the 1 player that is dangerous to their team and it is there job to mark and defend against this one player, an advantage of this is that it may prevent that one player from scoring how ever because two people are marking 1 player it will leave a player on the other team without someone marking them so it could expose their defence.Zonal defending: this is where the defending team do not mark a person instead they mark zones so for example within tag rugby there would be teammates marking the middle sections and wide sections off the pitch and it is their responsibility to make sure that no one gets past them in that area however this can be quite a hard tactic to implement as everyone in the team needs to be disciplined else gaps would open up in the defence leading to opportunities for the attacking team to score.Half court: This tactic is again one that you would use for defending and this is where your team will only defend half the pitch so when the other team has it in there half they will not pressure them and let them have the ball but then as soon as the ball comes into the defensive half there will be high pressure on the ball carriers and players around them to try and gain possession back and limit the amount of chances the team will get, However leaving the team with this amount of space gives them time to build up pace which could mean that the defending team may not be able to catch the attacking team. M1 Passing:

Writing a Blockbuster Novel

Writing a Blockbuster Novel With all of the options to self-publish, many new authors are learning the joys of writing the blockbuster novel theyve always wanted to write. However, especially if you self-publish, the extent of your success as an author is largely determined by the quality of the content and how well you market your work. In self-publishing, you dont have a marketing team and editorial staff advising on what works and what doesnt, so doing your research from the beginning is the best way to avoid wasting time on a novel that doesnt have what it takes to keep your readers interested in reading further.So how to you write the blockbuster novel? Well, it requires a lot of time, a lot of research and a lot of patience, but beyond that, here are some necessary steps you should take.Step 1 – Write what you knowThis step seems to be the most obvious but isnt always so. It can be difficult to narrow down the subject matter, genre, and core content of the novel you want to write, but the best way to get started is to ask yourself two important questions:What topic(s) do I know a lot about? (Remember, the more unique, the better)What genre do I read the most?Your answers to these two questions will determine the absolute best approach you can take to writing a novel. When you write what you know, there is a certain natural element of authenticity that shows up in your writing that is hard to replicate by someone who doesnt have your unique knowledge and/or experience. Writing within a genre that is comfortable for you is another big plus to make it through the process as painlessly as possible- you know what works (e.g., what has been published already) and you know what that genres typical audience wants to read.Step 2 – Use multiple points of viewSome of the best novels ever written used multiple points of view. It creates a more intricate storyline than having an omniscient narrator and it removes the threat of the novelists voice becoming too overpowering. In readi ng a story from multiple points of view, we are able to see locations through the eyes of the character rather than having them impersonally described by a narrator. We are also able to see how the characters view each other without obligatory narrator description.Using multiple points of view also allows the story to move forward easier and at a better pace. You can switch points of view from chapter to chapter (or even within chapters, although this is unusual) and keep the pace strong, while also giving your reader another reason to keep reading. If weve left character A in a precarious situation in chapter 4, then use another point of view for chapter 5, it is likely that the reader will want to keep reading to chapter 6 or chapter 7- whichever chapter brings us back to character A and her predicament.Step 3 – Outline completelyWhile its tempting to jump right in and start writing, its almost impossible to write a great novel without outlining first. Ask any novelist abou t the outlining process and he or she will likely tell you that they spent weeks (even months) working on an outline before they ever put pen to paper (or more appropriately in the digital age, finger to keyboard).Youll find that in the process of outlining, your story might completely change from what you originally intended. Thats because when you outline correctly, youll be able to see all the moving parts with a birds eye view- and this view often shows you were there are holes in your story or plot turns that wont work. Outlining gives you an idea of how the plot will build and what it will build toward, so that you can leave hints along the way through character development or foreshadowing.Step 4 – End each chapter with a question in your readers mindThe end of a chapter is arguably the most important part of it- primarily because the way you end it will either discourage or encourage your audience to keep reading. One way to ensure your readers keep turning the page i s to end the chapter with a burning question or curiosity that your reader needs to answer.This part can be done in the outlining process and will also be beneficial for helping you divide up chapters in the most effective way. As you are outlining what will happen, write the question that should be on the readers mind at the end of each chapter.Will [insert character name here] be shot by the man who just entered the room with a gun?Will the girl accept the ring that was just handed to her in a marriage proposal?Will that ticking bomb go off?You get the idea†¦Step 5 – Dont marry the first few draftsSpeaking of marriage, heres a good rule of thumb for writing your blockbuster novel: dont marry the first few drafts. Youll find that throughout the process of outlining and writing a first draft, the story you originally planned for takes on a life of its own and often goes in entirely different directions than originally planned.If you get attached to your first draft, you wont give your story the opportunity to take on its own life. When youre absolutely convinced you should keep a plot element or character trait that somehow changes over the course of writing the first draft (or first few drafts), you are limiting your novel. Let the characters develop themselves as you go and be willing to part with them if they arent working out.

An Overview of Political Conservatism

An Overview of Political Conservatism Principles Ideologies Political conservatism is a term applied to people who believe in: Economic liberty and the central role of free enterprise in American societyA small, non-invasive governmentA strong national defense focused on protection and the fight against terrorism The most influential national political organization for conservatives in the US is the Republican party, although the recent Tea Party phenomenon is perhaps the most tightly aligned with the ideologies mentioned above. There are also many advocacy groups that focus on the promotion of these initiatives. Ancillary Principles Ideologies Conservatives are often wrongly equated with the Christian-right. For years, social conservatives held a firm grip on the Republican Party and by extension the entire conservative movement. For religious conservatives, the principles and ideologies mentioned above are ancillary to the wedge issues that threaten Christian culture. These include: Traditional family values and the sanctity of marriageA commitment to faith and religionThe right to life for every human being While many mainstream conservatives agree with these concepts, most believe they are secondary to the core tenets mentioned previously. Political Leaders Most conservative political leaders tend to be Republican. In most cases, Republican politicians seek to gain the trust of the conservative community. President Ronald Reagan was perhaps the modern conservative movements most important political leader. He ushered in a number of socially conservative initiatives and is widely regarded as the icon of political conservatism. The father of modern conservatism, who was known as Mr. Conservative, was Barry Goldwater. Other conservative leaders have included notable figures such as Newt Gingrich, Robert Walker, George H.W. Bush and Strom Thurmond. Conservative Justices, Media Intellectuals Outside Congress and the White House, the Supreme Court and the national media have a strong influence on US conservative politics and perspectives. Supreme Court Justices William Rehnquist, Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and judge Robert Bork have all had a major impact on the interpretation of law. In the media, Rush Limbaugh, Patrick Buchanan, Ann Coulter, and Sean Hannity are seen as the conservatives whose opinions have tremendous influence today. In the 20th Century, Russell Kirk and William F. Buckley Jr. were perhaps the most influential and highly regarded conservative intellectuals. Campaigns Elections To be an effective political leader, a conservative must first run an effective campaign. Perhaps no other campaign has been as important to the conservative movement as the one run in 1964 between Mr. Conservative Barry Goldwater and Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson. Although Goldwater lost, the principles he fought for and the legacy he left have resounded with conservatives ever since. Nevertheless, conservatives who run campaigns today often appeal to social conservatives, using abortion, the second amendment, the sanctity of marriage, school prayer and the War on Terror as the key planks in their political platforms. War on Terror In the 20th Century, the Vietnam war stiffened the resolve of conservatives to never again suffer defeat at the hands of a foreign enemy. The War on Terror began with the attack on 9/11, and conservatives remain largely divided about what the battle parameters should be. Most believe the War on Terror must be won at all costs. The decision to invade Afghanistan to search for Osama bin Laden found favor with many conservatives as did the invasion of Iraq to find al Queda operatives. Despite liberal opposition, conservatives see victory in Iraq as the key front in the war against international terrorism. Division of Church State Because conservatives have such a strong belief in small, non-invasive government, most believe the state shouldnt dictate morality or interfere with the church. Conversely, they believe that although government should be free of religion, it shouldnt be free from religion. To conservatives, school prayer isnt an exercise of the institution, but of the individual and should, therefore, be allowed. Most conservatives oppose the idea of a welfare state and believe the government should regulate standards, not appropriate funding, since private organizations are often better equipped to deal with social problems. Abortion Stem Cell Research For social conservatives, no other issue is as important as abortion. Christian conservatives believe in the sanctity of all life including embryos and believe it is morally wrong to abort living fetuses. Consequently, the pro-life movement and the fight against abortion rights is often incorrectly equated with the conservative movement as a whole. While most conservatives are pro-life, the issues gray areas make it as highly debatable inside the conservative movement as they do anywhere else. Still, most conservatives believe abortion is the same as murder and, like murder, should be against the law. Capital Punishment The death penalty debate is another very controversial issue among conservatives. Opinions vary and depend mostly on what type of conservative ideology the person espouses. Compassionate conservatives believe in the Christian concept of forgiveness and compassion, whereas other types of conservatives believe that when justice for murder is delivered, the punishment should fit the crime. In most cases, conservatives believe the well-being of the victim is more important than that of the criminal, and thus capital punishment is justified. Others believe in rehabilitation and a life of repentance and service to God. Economy Taxes Libertarians and Constitutionalists are natural fiscal conservatives due to their desire to reduce government spending, pay off the national debt and shrink the size and scope of government. Although the Republican Party is most often credited with reducing government waste, but big-spending from the most recent GOP administration has hurt the partys reputation. Most conservatives identify themselves as fiscal conservatives because of their desire to deregulate the economy through lower taxes and incentives for small businesses. Most conservatives believe the government should leave the private sector alone. Education, Environment Foreign Policy The most important education issue concerning conservatives has to do with how the theories of creation and evolution are taught in schools. Social conservatives believe that, at the very least, the biblical concept of creation should be taught as an alternative to the evolution theory. More radical creationists believe evolution shouldnt be taught at all because it undermines the notion of mankind being created in Gods image. Another issue is school vouchers, which give parents the freedom to choose which school their children should attend. Conservatives are largely in favor of education vouchers, believing it to be their right to choose where their children receive their education. Conservatives have traditionally argued that global warming was a myth, but recent scientific evidence has indicated it to be a reality. In the face of these overwhelming studies, some conservatives still cling to the idea that it is a myth and that the statistics are skewed. Other conservatives, such as crunchy conservatives, advocate for a cleaner, greener way of living and are in favor of providing the private sector with economic incentives to reduce pollution and develop alternative fuel sources. When it comes to foreign policy, conservatives are divided on this issue as well. Paleoconservatives take a largely non-interventionist approach to foreign policy, but neoconservatives believe that failure to intervene in international affairs is tantamount to isolationism and as such, stokes the flames of terrorism. Conservative Republicans in Washington are mostly neoconservatives, who support Isreal and the War on Terror.

Accounting info system Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Accounting info system - Essay Example ults to improve targeting marketing activities that will lead to great impact in the next few months .It can help in a transportation company to identify the best prospects for its services. A bus topology or straight line topology is appropriate since all the computers are connected using a single cable, it involve transmission of packet data to all network nodes on the segment .the network is however cheap and simple to install and can be used by a large group of people Using cloud computing connection of wireless device can be difficult normally when it comes to personal devices .it can be expensive to set up on a small scale cloud computing. Data ownership is a problem when it comes to cloud computing especially when you have a lot of data to deal with This is a protocol where messages are divided into packets before they are sent. Each packet is then sent individually which can even follow different routes before reaching to its destination. After the packets forming the message reach at their destination they are then combined to form the original message. For the company there is the primary data which can be obtained from the ground or within the company its self internally .Secondary data is be obtained from other sources that have not been fully analyzed maybe from externally. The company can adopt the user machine system where both human and machines are involved in the performance of some activities in the accomplishment of a goal .The company can also use open system one that interacts with the environment By the use of database it can be of help in that the management can be able to evaluate historical data and be able to know how product have been manufactured in the company hence achieving in product