Saturday, August 31, 2019

Musical Instruments Classification Essay

All musical instruments can be divided into four major classes: aerophones, chordophones, electrophones and percussion. The biggest and the most versatile class is aerophones which can be further subdivided into free aerophones and pipe aerophones. On the next level free aerophones fall into those with free reed and with beating reed. Beating reed aerophones are represented by single reed (organ pipes) and double reed (human voice) instruments. Free reed instruments in their turn split into those with framed and unframed reed. Each of these two groups is then subdivided according to the way they are played. Unframed reed aerophones can be wind-blown (bull-roarer, Aeolian harp), mouth-blown(leaf instrument), or mouth-blown-and-plucked (Jew’s harp) while frames reed instruments are mechanically-blown(barrel organ, orchestrion), foot-blown (harmonium, pedal concertina), hand-blown (bayan, accordion), and mouth-blown (harmonica, khaem). The pipe subclass splits into brass, reed pipe and edge pipe aerophones. Each of them is further divided into two subclasses: brass aerophones into those with (trumpet, French horn) and without (didgeridoo, trombone) valves; reed pipe into single reeds (clarinet, saxophone) and double reeds (oboe, bassoon); edge subclass into whistle flutes (whistle) and tree flutes (flute, piccolo). The second largest major class of musical instruments is percussion instruments which fall into membranophones and idiophones. Membranophones are subdivided into those with determinate pitch and with indeterminate pitch. Both of them are then classified by the type of impact: struck (roto drums, snare and bass drum), rubbed (friction drum), and blown (kazoo). Idiophones split into pitched and unpitched and then also include struck (triangle, bell, castanets), rubbed (glass harmonica), plucked (kalimba), and shaken (jingles) percussion insruments. Chordophones have only three primary subclasses: bowed chordophones (violin, cello), plucked chordophones (guitar, banjo), and struck chordophones (piano). The last class of electrophones includes electric/acoustic (electric guitar, bass etc) and electronic insrtruments. Electronic ones then split into electromagnetic (electric organ, synthesizer) and digital (MIDI keyboard, MIDI guitar).

Friday, August 30, 2019

Regression of the Human Race

As the human race ‘evolves' and progresses it has created an environment unsuitable for the generations to come. This Darwinist environment promotes the ideals of a ‘dog-eat-dog' world, in which one person's ambitions are more important than another human beings. People strive for the ideal life in which money is not an issue, so the matter of living comfortably is not a problem. To live comfortably is an idea of life without worry of matters such as starving, fiscal responsibility, and lord shelter.In order to achieve this life without worry, many people have progressed in heir businesses and technologies further improving the civilization, but at the cost of the environment around them. At the rate in which the human race is depleting its natural resources, future generations are going to struggle living at the same standards of the current human race. For example, since natural fuel sources are depleting which most transport vehicles depend upon, the price of gas will most likely escalate even more and less people will be able to afford the costs of owning a gas powered vehicle.However, the depletion of resources is the least to worry about; the use of all gasoline yields arbor dioxide. This carbon dioxide rises into the atmosphere and slowly tears away at the ozone layer by reacting with the chemical: ozone. As the ozone layer depletes, more of the sun's harmful and heating rays penetrate the Earth warming it. If too much of the ozone is depleted, the globe's average temperature will rise and throw nature off balance. Areas around the Earth's equator are already feeling its effects.Drought plagues the agricultural industry of the United States, especially Texas, because lack of water does not allow for the prosperity of crops and livestock. The human race is also digressing socially. Disease, illness, and starvation plagues third-world countries around the world while people in first-world nations worry about their ‘Faceable statuses' and ‘Twitter feeds. ‘ Economic classing also burdens the modern human race. For instance, one percent of America's population controls more than one-third of the United States' wealth.About fifty million people live below the poverty line which is a fiscal value of one person living with about twelve thousand dollars a year. ‘The rich get richer, while the poor get poorer. ‘ More and more people Join the impoverished population every year, but very little people Join he wealthy populations. Corruption also burdens several national governments. Foreign relations tend to be negative and war is constantly underway. Russia recently invaded Crimea and claimed the territory to attain peace, but a nation's rights were still violated.Another world war can erupt Just as easily as the first and second wars took place. Both of the world wars greatly impacted the environments the human race occupies, for example Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Earth has been infested by a parasi te that is sucking the life out of it and depleting all its natural resources. This parasite is the human race. Humans constantly tear down forests, mine its natural resources leaving huge gaping holes in the planet, and send tons of debris into the Earth's atmosphere further damaging the planet.Several species of animals have gone extinct due to the massive eradication of ecosystems throughout the world to harvest natural resources. Animals are becoming endangered because their natural habitats can no longer sustain life when their sources of shelter, food, and water are gone. The theory of Darwinism comes into play; if an animal cannot survive in an environment it must adapt to the new hangs, for if it does not the animal will and should die. Unfortunately, the human race most likely will not be able to adapt to a world consumed by water.As the global temperature rises, polar ice caps melt at increasing rates and increase the sea level, the â€Å"looming catastrophe. â€Å"(Rich ard 1) Beaches are growing smaller and smaller each year, and eventually the water will engulf major cities, such as New York. In fact, Hurricane Sandy would not have been as disastrous at it was if the sea level was lower. As human civilization ‘progresses' it is slowly destroying the only planet suitable or sustaining human life. Why grow a tree? It only makes the oxygen humans need to breathe in order to survive and function at fullest capacity.Greed for power and money has plagued human civilization and will ultimately lead to the extinction or near extinction of humanity. The lack of care for fellow humans, animals, and the Earth is destroying the planet. The human race will have to start all over again as it depletes all of the Earth's natural resources and destroys the only planet humans exists on, as far as evidence shows. However, ignorance also plays a big part in the extraction of human civilization; people deny the existence of global warming and justify their dest ruction of the globe.Work Cited Agency, Environmental Protection. Sustainability. N. D. Weapon. 5 May 2014.. This weapon explains the difficulties concerning sustainability of the current human population at the rate at which it is depleting the earth's resources. Anderson, Richard. Resource depletion: Opportunity or looming catastrophe? 1 1 June 2012. Document. 5 May 2014. This weapon provides several articles and studies concerning sustainability of the current human population as well as the effects of human resource depletion.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Case Study of an Ethical Dilemma

Case Study of an Ethical Dilemma Introduction An ethical dilemma arises when the clients and health care providers differ in their understanding of what is right or wrong (Narrigan, 2004). As nurses we often deal with ethical dilemmas in our everyday clinical practice; and as professionals we have the responsibility to analyse and examine any ethical problems that may arise. Any decision should be based on ethical principle that protects the best interest of both the patient and the health care provider. This paper will outline a critical incident which occurred in one of my clinical experience in intensive care unit (ICU).It presents the clinical case, identifies the ethical dilemma, and discusses the principles that apply to this situation. The Case Mrs G was a 76-year old woman who was brought to emergency department (ED) after her carer found her in respiratory distress. The ED doctor noted that the patient was minimally responsive to verbal stimuli, afebrile, normotensive, tachycardic to 130 bpm, and tachypnei c to 30 breaths/min.A chest radiograph revealed a right lower lobe consolidation. Based on her old notes it was found out that she had been recently admitted for investigation of significant weight loss and it was found to be a result of advanced bowel cancer ,with lungs, bone and brain metastases. While in ED Mrs G’s respiratory functions deteriorated and a referral for ICU was made. She was then seen and reviewed by our junior registrar and after discussion from the ICU consultant, Mrs G was admitted to ICU for closer observation. I was then tasked to look after this patient for that shift. After knowing the brief history of the patient from my team leader, I was then asking the doctor of what do we do for this coming admission? Are we going to intubate and ventilate this patient in case she developed respiratory failure? And what are the chances of her recovery from this critical illness? Has it been discussed to the next of kin before the plan for ICU admission? The docto r then replied that it was his consultant’s decision, and so we will just have to wait when this patient will arrive in the unit. . Within 24 hours of being transferred to the ICU, Mrs G’s condition deteriorated rapidly and a decision was made to talk with the family of what we should do in the event of cardiac arrest. Relatives need to be involved in discussions about end-of life issues so that they are fully aware of the appropriate decisions to be made; and that all parties involved understand the situation (McDermott, 2002).The son was immediately informed about his mother’s condition and it was revealed that Mrs G had previously stated to him that she does not want any heroic measures in the event of cardiac arrest. The conversation with Mrs G’s son over the phone resulted in the decision to initiate a not for resuscitation (NFR) order. The purpose of the NFR order is to deliberately withhold life-saving measures when the patient’s respiratory or cardiac function suddenly stops (Costello, 2002).

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Business Negotiations in China Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Business Negotiations in China - Essay Example Kam-hon, Yang and Graham (2006, p. 623) say that family orientation is a very important value in the Chinese culture. This is demonstrated by the fact that Tom and his team were bombarded with questions about their family and personal lives. The fact that Barb Morgan was divorced must have portrayed a negative picture on the team. Because the Chinese value family bond they are usually more interested in personal information on business partners. The value of interpersonal relationships in the Chinese culture shows that the American negotiation team should have been more interested in socializing with the Chinese and make friends with them instead of paying more attention to the formal business negotiation process. Woo, Wilson and Liu assert that the Confucianism theory further explains the cultural basis of Chinese behavior as being motivated by the high values that the Chinese put into hierarchy and seniority. As a result, male business partners are considered more important in busi ness negotiations. In the Chinese culture men are considered more significant than their female counterparts and for this reason, men occupy most of the senior managerial positions in business organizations. The issue of seniority and gender in business culture is illustrated by the fact that the Motosuzhou Team talks with Barb Morgan while their eye contact was focused on Tom Sherman and Mark Porters because they were male and their opinion was thus considered of more value by the Chinese than that of Barb Morgan. This ruined the relationship of Morgan with the Chinese later during the negotiations and hence showed a negative image on the team by the Chinese who value good relationships. The American culture is very different from the Chinese culture as explained by Al-Khatib, Vollmers and Liu (2007, p. 84). Firstly, the Americans value formal relationships in business negotiations and activities and personal relationships are not considered necessary in doing business. On the othe r hand the Chinese consider business negotiations as personal interaction rather than interaction between companies or business firms. Because of these differences in culture the Electrowide team viewed the negotiations as two companies trying to strike a deal while the Chinese viewed the process as relationships between individuals. These differences must have caused disharmony between the Americans and the Chinese and hence contributed to the eventual failure of the negotiation process which was aimed at creating a joint business venture. Kam-hon, Yang and Graham (2006, p. 625) add that the western culture does not uphold physical expressions such as handshakes while the Chinese value physical expressions because they act as a sign of appreciation and respect. Question 2 According to Graham & Lam (2003, p. 82) strategic corporate plans of a company are crucial to the management decision of two companies which are trying to negotiate for a joint venture. Therefore, lack of compatib ility in two companies whi

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Forget about Copywriting in Advertisements Essay

Forget about Copywriting in Advertisements - Essay Example The present competitive environment is characterized by numerous market players trying to capture the same market segment. Bargaining power of consumers is on the high and hence it has become a very important issue among the managers to create a distinction and have an edge in the market (Chew & Gottschalk, 2009, p.57)). Companies are spending billions to analyze the demands of the customers and undertaking continuous research and development to market products that satisfies the ever changing needs of the consumers. In this regard marketers also banking upon advertising as a medium to communicate to the target market audience (Pringle & Marshall, 2012, p.16). This assumes importance as in the present age of competition it is very necessary to remain in close contact with the customers and also have channels that can help marketers communicate with the customers (Rich, 2009, p.218). Huge volumes of resources and time are being spent on creating advertisements that are innovative so a s to ensure that the intended message reaches out to the consumers. Extensive market research is being carried out to ensure that the advertisements are creative and that individuals take time to view these advertisements and that the intended message reaches out to the target market audience (Yeshin, 2005, p.215-216). However with all the organization placing numerous advertisements it has been found that customers are getting annoyed and irritated by the number of such advertisements that they are being flooded everyday. Customer’s everyday is bombarded with mails, messages as well as advertisements on television and print media that are confusing them and as a result they are largely ignoring these advertisements (Kenworthy & Rodrigues, 2007, p.141). This has made it very essential to not only generate innovative means of advertising but also ensure that the advertisements are popular and acceptable by the audience. The question of ethics also comes into play in this regar d with many marketers indulging in unethical means to ensure viewership of advertisements (Lee & Johnson, 2005, p.174). Hence it has been a critical aspect for marketers to undertake strategies in this regard so as to ensure that advertisements are effective and that the intended message reaches out to the customers in an effective manner that generates value or the customers as well as the organization. The aspect of proper advertising also implies copyrights with various companies trying to outpace each other by copying or mimicking the advertisements of their competitors. Governments across nations are also putting legislative regulation on marketing advertisements so as to ensure fair competition in the market (Buskop, 2008, p.120). The present study would specifically analyze the aspect of advertisements that would include analyzing the aspect of creating innovations in advertisements and promotions and also to ensure that customers view the advertisements and the correct messa ge reaches out to the target market segments so as to help a company stay ahead of the competition in the market and generate innovations. Importance of Art of Copywriting The art of Copywriting is as important as ever, no matter how much the advertising world has changed. There has always been a need for copywriters because of the fact that copywriting provides a

Monday, August 26, 2019

Small Scale Industries Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Small Scale Industries - Essay Example As an example consider the case of Jordan. The strength of SSI in Jordan was 84% of the total established industries during the period of 1990-1998 which escalated to almost 90% of the total industries during the period of1999-2006 (Hachure cited in Lozi, 2008).Contrary to this , the Mexican experience shows that only 70.000 projects go to the second year from 200,000 started annually. (Bencivenga, V. Bruce, S. and Starr, R. 1995). Different countries have different ceiling of labor size for an industry to be labeled as small scale. For e. g. 15 workers in Iraq and Ghana, while Egypt, Belgium and Denmark have raised the ceiling for labor not exceeding 50 workers. In contrast , countries such as France and Italy adopted the criterion of 500 workers to distinguish between small-scale and other industries But in Japan and in the United States the total number of workers working in small scale industries was set at 300 in Japan and 1000 workers in the United States(Subramanian 1995). The globally important sector has not been free from dilemma and troubles in the post-reforms period; whether it is lack of infrastructure, technology or is of credit crunch. The present research is an attempt to analyze national policy decisions and industry initiatives affecting the sector, particularly in the developing nations where these industry have considerable economic importance.. 2. Literature Review 2.1 Pre-liberalization factors affecting SSI In the developing countries, Small scale Industries (SSI) have been pioneer in generating employment. These have greater advantage compared to the large enterprises in manufacturing especially in items that involve a larger share of value added from labor. The SSIs employ not only skilled but semiskilled and even unskilled labor. Manufacturing sector has better prospects in the trade particularly if the product is competitive, durable and upto the standards (Morris and Basant, 2006)). The SSIs were contributing to GDP considerably prior to liberalization also (Table -1) (World Bank, 1986). Morris and Basant (2006) have critically analyzed some of the areas that have affected growth of SSI in India. These are: The researchers have found policies based on reservations, duty concessions, directed credit, and government regulation, controls, and extension and such short sighted policies began initially for SSI; the macro- economy favoring policies such as monetary, fiscal, infrastructure and development oriented remained inadequately addressed. The non-affordability of infrastructure by SSIs is a deterrent to their expansion and survival in this liberalization period. SSIs have capacity to grow upward provided given impetus Table -1. The Japanese experiment has shown the way as to how the traditional industries, producing a wide variety of consumer products, could evolve into small and medium enterprises (SMEs) when these are able to renew technology and do not have financial crunch. India, of all the developing nations, was at greatest advantage to cash on falling tariffs under General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) in textile and many light engineering, handicraft and other manufacturing units.

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Auditing research paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Auditing research paper - Essay Example The digital sales increased by 53% over last year and net earnings increased by 6.9% to $80.4 million. Earnings per share went up by 17%. (GameStop Reports†¦) Due to previously announced planned investments and due to some strategic initiatives the earning per share in second quarter is likely to decline by $0.04 per share. The full year diluted earnings per share is estimated at $2.82 to $2.92 that is a rise of 6.4% to 10.2% over the last year of 2010. That means net earnings will be in the vicinity of $440 million to be up by almost 8-9% in comparison to last year of 2010. (GameStop Reports†¦) On the matter of quality of earnings, It will be pertinent to state that GameStop achieved record sales of $9.47 billion and net earnings of $408 million (up by 8.1%) in the year 2010. The last year’s earnings in the difficult market condition should be considered good as it shows increase in earnings by almost 8%. Net earnings to sales ratio is 4.3% that is also commendable. GameStop could generate $590 million of operating cash flow and reduced debt by $200 million that truly displays the quality of its earnings. (Brightman 2011) In view of the solid earnings performance, BB&T Capital Markets upgraded GameStop from hold to buy ratings with a $32 price target. The main reason for upgrading cited by BB&T is declining competition in the high margin used game market. Overall capital market’s response to the company was quite encouraging last year (Wilcox, 2010). Lazard Capital Market analyst commented stating that this is a notable achievement. He further stated that even assuming slow growth, digital will promise more than 0.5 billion revenue to GameStop in next two years. GameFly is a new entrant in the capital market hence it will take some time to have full-fledged financial data of the company; however, when compared with industry average it is found that GameStop is a low debt company that certainly displays it strength. Even

Interpersonal Communication Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Interpersonal Communication - Article Example The writer, Chris Zervas, states that, the area of constructive criticism can be problematic as "We say things we don't mean or recipients hear more than was meant." (1) Therefore, often during constructive criticism in a potentially sensitive area such as the workplace, direct channels of interpersonal communication are not functioning correctly. The sender is communicating the wrong message, using inadequate phrasing and wrong information whilst the other participant receives a distorted or exaggerated message. The receiver subconsciously picks up another message from indirect channels of interpersonal communication. These indirect channels may include the tone of voice of the sender or his body language. The receiver may suspect that the sender has hidden motivations, revealed by these uncontrolled actions. The receiver also may react defensively as he or she may feel that their position within the work team is threatened. Chris Zervas uses his management insight to implement "ski llful communication" which "can make these situations far less volatile."(2) Zervas states that the important connotation of the senders message should make the receiver feel respected and valued, which is the converse of how criticism generally makes people feel.

Saturday, August 24, 2019

International Business Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

International Business - Research Paper Example ates and sold domestically. Furthermore, it is the hope of this author that by elaborating upon the fundamental decision-making structure that must be engaged with in order for such a choice to be made logically, the reader will come to a more full and complete appreciation for the many factors that take place prior to affirm determining what particular strategy and means of operation it will pursue. Finally, the analysis will seek to take a definitive stance with regards to whether making or buying a product is the better approach. Before delving too deeply into the issue at hand, it should be understood that such a level of inquiry necessarily demands that the firm/business entity must engage in a cost-benefit analysis of outsourcing versus domestic production. However, although it may seem that this cost-benefit analysis is necessarily something that is simple, it involves a series of steps, several different measurements, and a thorough analysis of both compliments and inputs of production as well as projected levels of sale and/or import tariffs/taxes/duties (Kisner, 2003). Due to the general complexity of this decision-making process, many firms have engaged in electronic software systems that help to keep a running tabulation of all differentials involved. However, for purposes of this brief analysis, the reader should seek to integrate with the determinant costs and benefits based upon experience analytical and non-electronically facilitated process. From even a cursory review of the make versus buy argument, the reader should come to understand there are essentially for primal numbers that the analyst must be fundamentally aware of. These four determinants which must be measured prior to any consideration being given are as follows: the volume, the fixed cost of making, per-unit direct cost when making, and per-unit cost when buying (Whittle, 2012). Accordingly, the preceding analysis will seek to engage the reader with a more full and complete underst anding of why each of these four determinants must be fundamentally understood and appreciated prior to any actionable decision being made by the entity in question. Besides the obvious level of importance of the four specific values which have been listed an elaborate upon the above, their overall importance is more specifically with regards to their representation within two specific equations. Ultimately, as can be expected, these two equations are understood as â€Å"costs to buy was quote and â€Å"costs to make†; however, more often, these equations are merely referenced in terms of their respective acronyms – CTB/CTM. Respect to CTB, this can be defined as volume multiplied by per unit cost when buying (Zhu, 1997). Likewise, with relation to CTM, this can be understood as fixed unit costs plus per unit direct cost multiplied by volume. In and of themselves, the determinant compliments of these equations tell the producer/importer little if

Friday, August 23, 2019

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - Essay Example ("Pride and Prejudice." 123HelpMe.com. 27 Feb 2009). Jane Austin received her formal education from her father. Her novels were initially published secretly. She never got a chance to live in south of England and had no connections with the literary community of London. Even though her work received optimistic reviews, she was not a famous novelist during her lifetime. The essay is an attempt to bring out the characters of the novel and to analyse them in the light of humour and satire which make up the novel. The opening lines in the novel, "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." Pride and Prejudice, ch.1 (1813), is a statement which is true to this day. This statement brings out the intelligence of Austen as an author. She has asserted that the subject of the novel will be courtship and marriage and she has based the hilarious tone of the novel with a simple subject to work out and to speak sharply of. She has geared up the reader to guess whether it is a husband in search of a wife, or a woman in pursuit of a husband. Austen's authority of delicate prejudice and shrewd wisdom is exposed in Pride and Prejudice; she is able to express such a multifaceted message using a simple, but witty style. (http://www.online-literature.com/austen/prideprejudice/) The theme of the story is fundamentally an assessment of the obstructions which an eligible female encounters when she is on the look out for a prospective husband. Jane Austen reveals her mind through the immortal character of Elizabeth Bennet, who is the central character of the novel. Therefore with a reference to the term personality, there is a belief that Austen more or less resembles Elizabeth Bennet. This novel ends on a happy note. The novel emphasizes the point that pride and prejudice can be overcome. "Hence, nothing in Austin's novel is pointless or distracting from the main theme--pride and prejudice." ("Pride and Prejudice." 123HelpMe.com. 27 Feb 2009). Character analysis: Elizabeth Bennet, the second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet is the most striking character especially with her freely displayed wit and independent thinking and she is never attractive to readers but when she asserts herself against the arrogant Lady Catherine she raises a question of identity in the minds of the readers. She does everything with a pinch of thoughtfulness and simplicity especially when she refuses to reveal her age when it is demanded or even when she argues that younger sisters need not wait until their older sisters are married. (http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/pride/canalysis.html) Elizabeth is always in conflict with the noble Mr. Darcy, and both incorrectly perceive each other because of their pride and its ensuing prejudice. The novel is in fact is about the challenges of the heart and at the same it pertains to the ways in which one can be educated. Darcy at first cannot visualize that there is anyone who deserves his attention in the constricted, simple world in which he detects himself. On the other hand Elizabeth is able to look only at his vanity and arrogance and is offended by his superior airs. Elizabeth and Darcy fight through their wits and of the society, till such time when Darcy's marriage proposal surprises Elizabeth. She rejects Darcy's offer and this

Thursday, August 22, 2019

John Berger Ways of Seeing Essay Example for Free

John Berger Ways of Seeing Essay In John Berger’s article, ’Ways of Seeing’, it explains European eighteenth century art and how it relates to many of todays cultural transitions. Before Berger begins explaining the art itself, he tells us about the cultural constructions that exist today. These cultural constructions are enforced and were highlighted through European eighteenth century art. He began by explaining the difference between a man and a woman’s presence. Men’s presence depends how much power he is able to successfully portray. This power can be social, economical, sexual, etc. A woman’s presence expresses her attitude toward herself and in turn how she will allow other to treat her. This explains why women are so critical of them and critique their actions no matter what the situation may be. Berger begins to explain how the art ties into this when he says, â€Å"men act, women appear.† He further explains how men look at women, while women watch themselves being looked at. Thus, a woman is turned into an object. He even provides an interesting example of how women supposedly became subservient to men. In the book of Genesis Eve gave Adam an apple they weren’t supposed to eat. After they ate the apple they became aware and self-conscious of the fact they were naked, so they made clothes for themselves. Eve was punished for eating the apple and giving one to Adam by being made subservient to the man. This relates to art because, in Berger’s words, â€Å"women in paintings are there to feed an appetite, not to have any of their own.† He also explains the nude women in paintings appeal to the men’s sexuality. In European oil paintings the painter is never painted, yet is always assumed to be male. The women in these paintings were treated and/or portrayed as objects, and this view still exists today. It is an unequal relationship that in Berger’s words, â€Å"still structures the consciousness of many women.† The insecurities women feel in a large part comes from the way they have been viewed as object, always needing to be perfect. This is proven through the European eighteenth century art as the way the women are portrayed in the paintings. These views still exist in the media today. Commercials show seductive women gazing into a camera with an equally attractive man staring at them.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Globalization And Its Impact On Malaysia Media Essay

Globalization And Its Impact On Malaysia Media Essay In 1985, the term of globalization was first used by Theodore Levitt. He characterizes the vest changes that had taken places in the international economy over last two to three decades. The rapid and pervasive economic and financial changes had taken place in production, consumption and investment globally. Globalization can generally refer as a process or widening economic integration. Thus globalization increase the economic openness and growing economic interdependence between countries around the world economy. Furthermore, the process are involves the increment of peoples movement, goods, capital across the national borders and services. All of this has been made possible by revolutions in communications, information and other technologies as well as important political changes. In other word, globalization typically refers to the process by which different economies and societies become more closely integrated, and concurrent with increasing worldwide globalization. Globalizations can generate wealth to the country and it definitely can bring the economy of the country to the highest points. Furthermore, globalization draws peoples closer together, and offers many of us choices. It also enables us to produce more efficiently, effectively and it allows us, at least some of us to improve the quality of life. However, if globalization can generate wealth, for sure it can take it back. For sure, not everyone is happy about globalization because it brings the negatives impact to country as well. Globalization allows rich and powerful outside business interests to intrude into the local culture and they are attend to overrides local traditions and for sure it has threatens a way of life. The cultural and religious of the society has effected and threatens because of globalization. In industrialized and developing countries, many people have felt threatened and they are threatened by the globalization. A globalized economy presents a myriad of challenges for the peoples such as in the form of protecting local cultures and environment as well as local jobs. Globalization also tends to impact the national security of the world. This close integration of the countries in the world in the global system has wide implications or ramifications toward national security. The effects of the globalization on national security is the world has created a new international law which were stripped the nation-state from its sovereignty and also made the neutrality moot, political and economic integration. Because of this, it tends to increase the tension in the international system as neither geography nor national policy offers much protection. With this, national security question has created because of the globalization. In addition, the globalization also can impact the human work for the whole world. The most important factor that effect the changing in work is technological, so the changes due to the world-wide and wholesale introduction of new information technologies (NIT) is particularly important impacts when promoting and speeding up globalization, in part of recurrently influencing work settings. However, world-wide changes in technology not only induce changes in work places but occupational structure and the professions in company have dramatic changes too. The process of globalization is one of the most critical developments that will affect the evolution of national economies. Since, globalization offers participating countries a new opportunities for accelerating growth and development, unfortunately, at the same time, it also poses challenges to and imposes constraints on policy makers in the management of national, global economic systems and also regional. So, globalization may impact the worlds poor and making the people of the world become very poor which are making the world unbalanced. At last, we know that the greatest challenge we have face today is to ensure that globalization becomes a positive forces which can helps the worlds people, instead of leaving billions of them behind in squalor. Inclusive globalization must be built on the great enabling force of the market, but market forces alone will not achieve it. It requires a broader effort to create a shared future for worlds people based upon our common humanity in all its diversity. Section 2 : Discuss Current Key Issues (Lee Tsun Chieh 1071113009) Differential aspects of globalization Economy After Malaysias independence, Malaysia has been one of the most globalized developing countries. Globalization is one of the major factors to Malaysias phenomenal economic development and growth. In addition, Anwar lbrahim had said that globalization has done us a good service and especially in the economic sector. [1] In 1992, Malaysia had offered to reduce the tariffs on 79% of imports ,however, non-tariffs has converted into tariffs, mainly for import licenses involving approval permits(APs). With this, Malaysia has benefited from increased manufactured exports and consumer welfare has been improved. On the other hand, Malaysias Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio has increased, the trade liberalization decreasing, and indicating the increase in economic liberalization year by year. In facts, the globalization has directly improving the economics of Malaysia. Similarly like what Stiglitz said (2009), who defined globalization as closer integration of countries and people of the wor ld and the growing importance of internationally active corporation moving capital, goods, and technology across borders.[2] Economic liberalization has in indirectly made the economy increasingly susceptible to external shocks, and undermined the expansion of domestic industrial capacity and capability. Malaysia has incurring trading losses from RM 809 million in 1961 to RM 53,691 million in 1997, this will led to a decrease in the export purchasing power, and also will reduced the quantity of imports into Malaysia. Method of Communication From the angle of technology, the technological innovation lead to a lot of convenient especially the communications technologies, such as fiber optics, electronic mail and also particularly satellite communications, all these discover made their life easier and they be able to communicate all around the world because of the revolutionary innovation. On the other hand, it enable cost saving for internal communication and reduce the travelling costs. By internet, the able to support the business online and reduce the capital expenses and also the maintenance costs. Technology Technology always is the important impact of the globalization, and technological innovation also part of promoting and speeding up globalization, it also used to recurrently influencing work settings. Nowadays the technological advances occur rapidly and all around the world, some of the industry has responded by forming joint ventures, overseas research and development organization and etc. All the new organization will speed up the world technological innovation and help them own county develop to globalization and this interaction will continue. To make sure the technological innovation keep going on and without influence the working setting, our country try the best to globalization it. Examples transfer of technology through licensing, creation of new business and also joint ventures. All these interactions had been done to increased the number of subsidiaries of the multinational corporations and have created new strategic alliances. In the twentieth century, which machines have increasing rapidly and replaced the skills of workers nowadays. In a production process in which science and technology are central, knowledge and not skill defines the process.[3] Now most of the university employees spend few hours in a day in front of the computer screens. They linked to their colleagues through internet services to find out their needs. National Security The impact of globalization on nationals security is complex. Furthermore, it could be affecting the political and economic conditions within the states. However, the impact of globalization is not necessarily negative. Some of the participants have argued that some ways the forces of globalization have brought about greater stability in the region. For example, Johor-Riau-Singapore triangle in Southeast Asia, these countries have reduced the conflicts between them and they have give some cooperate between each of them. Nevertheless, the impact on globalization on the national security environment is not fully positive. Globalization may actually serve to aggravate long-standing tensions. This is the challenges to the whole world and many of these are represent long-term threats which have traditionally fallen outside the realm of foreign policy. In fact, in the last 11 years, the US interference in Malaysia economy had threats of economic sanctions under the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act (ILSA) on the PETRONAS. This issue is to pressure Malaysia to tow along the line set by its foreign policy in the New World Order.[4] In addition, the foreign interference that increased in Malaysias internal affairs had demonstrated by the Anwar. However, USA-led was tried to inflame the Anwar-Mahathir conflict in order to erode the confidence of international community on Malaysias political stability in the Malaysias internal affairs. [1] With this, we know that the economic interdependence has a political price which is either delegating some nation authority to a common international institution like World Bank and IMF or increased the vulnerability. Cultural For the cultural aspect, globalization means the changes in term of the way of living among people in the community. Hallak (2000) [5] in this regard states that globalization has produced two discrepant phenomena; standardization and diversification. Standardization refers to similarity in eating habits, clothes, and cultural products whereas diversification is more about encouragement in accessing the multiple nature of world heritage. The process of cultural globalization would not be smooth without the help of advanced communication technologies. Scientific and advanced technology of communication plays a vital role in disseminating a certain culture throughout the world. Mohamed and Musa (1999) [6] noted that the communication media, especially television and the Internet, are the tools to spread out diverse cultures and lifestyles which mostly come from Western societies. The society is exposed to the Pepsi lifestyle, McDonalds, Hollywood and Bollywood movies. Globalization, in short it creates similarities and differences in the cultural. Mobility Mobility can be characterising into tourism and migration. For past, to travelling world-wide is hard to accept because of the travel fee is too expensive. But nowadays, the international tourism has become one of the target and fastest growing business sectors in many countries. The cheap air travel and enticing tourist infrastructures have made it possible and interesting also for that low income population to make vacation far away from here. Example AirAsia airline always comes out with a lot of offer and package for us with affordable price, with that kind of promotion, the low income family have the chance to do more vacation. Section 3 : Case Study and Discussion (Tan Jin Sheng 1071113007) From our questionnaire survey, there are 50 students have participated. There are 25 students are male and another 25 students are female. There are 45 students are Malaysian and 5 students are non Malaysian. All of the students that participated are at the range of age at 18-29. All of them are single and none of them are in married. There are 39 students doing their degree and 11 students doing their diploma. There are 30 students are from FET, 10 students are from FBL and another 10 students are from FIST. From the pie chart above, we found out that there 66% of students are understood about the meaning of globalization. Most of the students believe that the globalization will bring benefits to them and also our countries. Part of the students does not know well the meaning of globalization because they seldom access to the media, and also internet. For the students who know because they learn it from the syllabus of studies and the access to the media frequently, like reading newspaper or access to internet every day. On the other hand, they also able to list out the impact of globalization and important of it toward Malaysia. Example, globalization enables fast growth in economic and decentralization of production, rapid development of urban centres, and etc. Of course globalization also bring us a lot negative impact like increasing inequality and poverty, negative use of labour flexibility particularly for easy hire and fire, and etc. For further improvement, our government need to take action to minimize the negative impact due to globalization. From the pie chart above, we found out that most all students are think that the technology, economy and the method of communication will have impact in Malaysia. Mostly all of them think that the impact will come in the positive form for example we invented new technology, we have more convenience way to communication and more people will become rich. In facts, when our county has good economy, it definitely will make the people rich, when we are rich, we can have better live and quality life. In addition, they think that we will have a good way or convenience way to communication with each other when globalization in Malaysia has growth fast likes others country. Technology are the one of the main impact of globalization, it development in science and technology in order to fast growth in technology sector. Technological innovation is the part of promoting and speeding up globalization, it also going to replace the skills of workers nowadays. So, from this survey, we found out that most of the students can understand what is globalization is, however they wish that our country can be globalized and become more developed country in Asia as well as in the world. Furthermore, we also can see that most of the students can only see the appearance impact when Malaysia is globalized, in facts, there are more aspect that will impact in Malaysia when Malaysia are globalized. So, these kinds of information are importance to the people of Malaysia in order to be a developed country in the world. Section 4 : Conclusion and suggestion for Improvements (Kishok nair a/l vijaya seharan 1071118515) Suggestion for Improvements Globalization in general humanitarian sense must be understood as creating a situation where people nations all over the globe come closer and closer with lesser lesser conflict and greater greater prosperity. During globalization, there are a lot of impact occurs within our nation, there have positive and also negative impacts which will bring a lot of benefit and also disadvantages to our life and country. So, we as the nation of Malaysia play an important role to minimize the bad impact. Example, we need to have ethical behaviour to treat or serve everything around us, not just being ethical behaviour but we need to put effort to do it also. The government also the important role, government need come out a lot of action like promote by advertisement, do campaign and etc. All the action taken by the government will make the nation aware of their attitude and they will review themselves if they found it wrong. Besides that, government also can come out certain plan to archive Ma laysia ideal achievement, examples like Tenth Malaysia Plan on Globalization. The related ideas in the plan was leveraging on our diversity internationally, nurturing, attracting and retaining top talent, supporting effective and smart partnerships and etc. Currently Malaysia are using the critical discursive strategies like mimicry, hybridity, representation and orientalism, this has been able to selectively appropriate fragments of modernity via its embrace and successful prosecution of the free market laced with an Asian cultural flavour enabling it to portray itself as a successful Asian market economy.  In so doing, it has allowed Malaysia to transform itself from a relatively passive object into an active subject broaching issues of pan-Islamic practices and thought, global inequalities, human rights, the environment and social, cultural and political representations of developing countries and/or the third world.[7] Conclusion As the spread of globalization, globalization has increasingly become a specific economic strategy pursued for many of the countries in the world in order to re-exert their position and influence over those other countries. However, in Malaysia, we should know about the globalization maybe will gives us the positive impact and also the negative impact. Then what we want to do is to ensure that globalization can bring us more positive impact instead of negative impact. So, we should improve or to achieve the 10th Malaysia plan on globalization in order to be a fully globalized country. At last, globalization may become a key to success or a key to become a developed country; however, it may also become a key to failure the country when the country cannot manage it well.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Importance of Planning within the Business Environment

Importance of Planning within the Business Environment The objective of this assignment is to show the understanding of the business environment and management in construction and property. To achieve this, two core elements associated with management will be examined and compared with an existing construction company such as Wilmot Dixon, which is struggling with the current economical climate. This study will discuss the implementation of planning using innovative management strategies and tools required to assist companies to be better positioned for sustainable growth. Defining the Business Environment According to Palmer Hartley (2006) the business environment can be defined as everything which surrounds a system. For example, if we take a business as the core of a working system, there are surrounding influences which contribute to the workings of this system within the macro environment. For a business it can be difficult to identify what the elements are within the environment. We can demonstrate important factors relating to the business environment using the PESTEL model as illustrated in Figure 1.0 Businesses survive by turning inputs into goods and services which customers in the environment want to purchase. The current climate suggests we are still in a down turn market. With reference to Wilmott (2011) in an exclusive interview, he suggests that 2011 will be an extremely tough year due to the soaring costs associated with the supply chain and materials. Another politically associated topic is the increase in VAT. According to the Federation of Master Builders (2011), increasing VAT from 17.5% to 20% could lead to over 11,000 job losses in the construction industry over the next decade. Such an increase may deter many businesses from starting new projects and where projects are starting, contractors are not breaking even. An example of this can be related to Willmot Dixon, a primary tier contractor where they have forecast a slowdown in the property market. According to Willmot (2011) Firms are pricing below cost because they are talking themselves into believing the market price for materials and supply chain will continue to fall so then they can recover the difference. A fundamental issue with companies facing such a troublesome year would be to implement a business management plan looking to read the environment and understand how the business system will evolve in the future. Such a strategic move would involve essential planning. Planning 3.1 The purpose of planning Essentially, the purpose of planning is to contemplate future actions whether this is economic, political or environmental. According to Brews Purahit (2007), as business conditions become additionally unstable, companies tend to adapt a planning strategy. Change in the business environment creates uncertainty. It enables companies and people to adapt by establishing goals and objectives and sets out how to achieve them by implementing a business plan. With reference to figure 1.1, the initial approach would be to identify the purpose of planning, identifying the companys current position in the market and identify where they want to be. Once this has been established it will offer a clearer direction to employees. This will enhance motivate to increase control by allowing people to measure their progress against set targets and allow the company to use its resources efficiently. With reference to one of Wilmot Dixons senior partners, Willmot (2011) announced one of the companies key objectives due to the politically associated development of re-furbishing un-occupied housing Willmot Dixon is diversifying into new areas such as private residential and mixed-use regeneration development. We can associate this back to the PESTEL model where we can look at the political issues and demographics of the current economy. A major issue is that there is a shortage of housing with an ever increasing population. The government is looking to r e-furbish un-occupied properties scattered around the UK and put these properties back to council housing, an area Willmot Dixon has proposed to target. 3.2 Contents of planning Companies expanding in business or are looking to adapt to change in the business environment, prepare a business plan. According to Mckeever (2010), a business plan is a document that sets out the markets the business intends to serve. There are different plans which a business will decide upon, for example: A strategic plan sets out the overall direction for the business. It is broad in scope and covers all the companies major activities. A strategic business unit consists of a number of closely related products, which is meaningful to formulate a separate strategy. An operational plan details how the overall objectives are to be achieved, by specifying what is expected from senior management experts from specific departments or functions. Annual plans are common amongst most companies focusing on finance and setting budgets for the coming year. What is common in all business plans is focusing on the direction of the business in short and long term planning. Key aspects of planning include the strategy of the company and the development of the business to enhance profit. A planning hierarchy can be seen in figure 1.2, showing how the characteristics of plans changes at each level. According to Mathews (2011), a government plan to cut the cost of public construction projects by a fifth, through standardising buildings, was published alongside the recent Budget. With the property market having been so affluent and now with the market and the country progressively slipping into further recession, it would seem that more construction companies would be looking to plan long term, using a more strategic option rather than plan for the short term. 3.3 The Process of planning The process of planning relates to how plans are produced for a business or organisation to succeed. According to Jennings (2000), companies change their approach to planning as conditions change. There are seven iterative tasks which can be performed when making a plan as shown in figure 1.3. Figure 1.3 Seven iterative tasks in planning. Any plan depends on gathering information. Reverting back to the PESTEL model is good practice when sourcing information such as market trends, formal analysis of the political and legal factors, current economy, socio cultural factors, technology and issues relating to the environment. Whether the company is a centralised company where the decisions are taken at the centre of the company, or a decentralised company, where the decision-making is delegated to lower levels of management, within the organisation casual encounters with colleagues is a major influence in gathering information. Once all of the information has been accumulated a mission statement can be compiled showing the organisations direction and overall goal in the construction market. It will guide decision making and should inspire and motivate the workforce to accomplish the desired result. As a result of the mission statement, a SWOT analysis can be used to evaluate the company in the current economic climate. Conducting a SWOT analysis as defined in figure 1.4 will enable companies such as Willmot Dixon to define their key strengths and weaknesses. Completing a SWOT analysis integrates the external opportunities and threats, as example, according to Lowery (2011), the economy is shaping to be a tough year for the construction sector. VAT increases and higher employer National Insurance contributions combine with government spending cuts to spell a year of contraction. Articles such as this are a means of monitoring progress externally as well as internally. By evaluating how the economy will effect an organisation and by completing a SWOT analysis, allows companies to set their goals and objectives . Goals and objectives give focus to a task such as what will be achieved and when. Setting goals is difficult for companies as they have to look beyond their present status and predict how their role as a business will fit in with the changing economy. The criteria for assessing goals is to be realistic and this can be achieved using the SMART acronym. Specific: Does the goal set specific targets? Measurable: Goals can be defined precisely enough to measure progress towards them. Attainable: Goals should be challenging but not unreasonable. (Goal setting theory suggests the motivational consequences of goal setting. Rewarded: People see that attaining a goal will bring reward. Timed: Does the goal specify the time over which it will be achieved, to a reasonable and acceptable standard. Goals and objectives provide the reference point for other decisions within the management plan, formulating the criteria against which performance can be measured. Creating a set of goals and objectives will direct a company to identify what actions and resources are necessary in order to accomplish the set goals and objectives. This will identify what needs to be done, who will do it and communicate this information to the relevant personnel. With reference to Lynch (2005) specifies that managers handle this aspect of planning in 3 ways: Comprehensively: where managers decide to make a clear cut change in direction. They assume that success depends on driving the changes rapidly and in a coordinated way across the company that implies a comprehensive business plan, Incremental or directional plan: where areas of the business plan are uncertain such as a volatile market, or where the company is depending on the outcome of research. Important strategic areas may be left deliberately unclear until the outcomes of current events have been established (Lynch, 2005, Page 633), or the third way, selective planning when neither of the other two methods are the best way forward and managers implement major change only in some areas of the business plan. Plans will vary for different companies, as an example, Grant (2003), gives an insight into the way mangers can develop strategy. For instance his study in 6 major oil companies used a clear planning process as detailed in figure 1.3. The details varied between companies but all shared the common components. Figure 1.3 The generic strategic planning cycle Source: Based on Grant (2003) Once a plan has been formulated the objectives and actions of the plan needs to be communicated to managers and employees. In larger organisations this can incur time and effort but is carried out to ensure: Everyone understands the plan Allow time to resolve any issues, confusion or ambiguity Communicate judgements and assumptions that underline the plan Ensure the plan is instigated and activities are organised in practice and on paper. 3.4 Outcomes of planning However good a business plan is, unless it is implemented nothing normally happens. To ensure the plan is instigated, progress needs to be monitored. This can be monitored in a number of different ways such as, output and profit or by completing goals and objectives. By constantly evaluating the progress or the company and monitoring the results, objectives and targets can be changed to suit the business if for example there is change in legislation. This is why gathering knowledge and using a fundamental element such as the PESTEL model is a continual cycle to ensure sustainable growth. Conclusion Business plans will vary in every company, but the major elements will always remain consistent. In order to survive the current economic climate it is time for business to make significant changes. It is essential for companies to gather information that is to date with legislation, politics, technology etc and all the elements associated with the PESTEL model. This will enable companies to alter the business plan to constantly evolve with the market trend. The construction industry, according to many major companies and societies, is still in recession and with a new government introducing legislation involving tax increases and spending cuts, construction companies need to rethink their current strategies. Willmot Dixon, as an example, is looking to diversify into different areas of property development, with consistent work sprouting from maintenance and refurbishment work. Examples like this can demonstrate positive management thinking that will be the flagship for other smaller companies to follow. Bibliography Robson W., (1997). Strategic Management Information Systems. 2nd Ed. Great Britain: Pearson Education Limited. Palmer, A and Hartley, B., (2006). The Business Environment. 5th Ed. Great Britain: McGraw-Hill Education Harris, F and McCaffer, R., (2006) Modern Construction Management 6th Ed. Great Britain: Blackwell Publishing Limited Broddy, D. and Paton, S., (2011)). Management An Introduction 5th Ed. England: Pearson Education Limited

Monday, August 19, 2019

the paper :: essays research papers

Chinese Space News Marks 10th Consecutive Successful Launch of Long March Yesterday's ChinaStar-1 launch was the 52nd launch by Chinese Long March rocket and the fourth by a Long March 3B, the country's most powerful launch vehicle. Long March experienced 3 failures in 1995 and 1996. The successful launches in recent two years will undoubtely strengthen Long March's position in the competition of global launch market. The Long March 3B placed the 2984 kg ChinaStar-1 into an orbit of 201x85732km with 24.5 degree inclination. The Lockheed Martin built satellite has 24 C-band and 24 Ku-band transponders. It will be finally placed into the geostationary orbit at 87.5 degrees East longitude by Lockheed Martin in next few days. Next in line will be the Sinosat-1 built by the French group, Aerospatiale, for an official Chinese client. That launch, also by a Long March 3B, is expected in July.  [May 30, 1998] Long March 3B Successfully Launched ChinaStar-1 Long March 3B successfully launched ChinaStar-1 today, CCTV, the Chinese official television station announced today. This is the fourth launch and the third successful launch of Long March 3B, the most powerful rocket in China. Chinastar-1 was built by Lockheed Martin and will be operated by China Oriental Telecommunications.  [May 29, 1998] APT Satellite Holdings See Revenue Growth Hong Kong Satellite operator APT Satellite Holdings sees revenue growth this year despite a reduction in the satellite transponder services in Asia due to the economic slowdown. The current leasing rate for the company's third satellite, Apstar-IIR, was now at 25 per cent. But it was expected to increase more than 50 per cent by the end of the year, APT chairman Xie Gao-Jue said. The group planned to launch Apstar V or one big satellite to replace Apstar I and Apstar IA, which run out in 2004 and 2006 respectively. APT Satellite was also negotiating with a mainland firm to develop a direct broadcast satellite system, though no decision has been reached. The group's current financial status was rated "healthy" on a gearing ratio of 42 per cent. Direct effects of the Asian currency crisis were said to be minimal as the firm's revenue is in US dollars.  [May 24, 1998] AsiaSat 4 Launch Put on Hold Asia Satellite Telecommunications Holdings (AsiaSat) yesterday said it was postponing the launch of AsiaSat 4 due to a decrease in demand for telecommunication services from satellite transponders. "We will evaluate the project at the end of this year and hoped it can be launched in the year 2000,'' chief executive officer Peter Jackson said.

history :: essays research papers

At the time that Gotham City was situated, the political condition of the country was undergoing major transition. There was great need for politicians to take up opportunities created by the masses as a leverage for their own cause. Gotham City with its infrastructure would have been an ideal situation for any political figure to take up and use it for his own advantage. Michael Curley, who has been a democratic candidate himself, was keen on individuality. He had been nominated for Boston’s mayor several times but he had not been able to achieve significant success with Congress due his criminal background. Curley would have suggested that the town continues to develop the Gotham district that was thriving and at the same time the immigrant groups should be paid more attention. Curley believed that every person is entitled to social rights. Even if he was charged with fraud himself and jailed, the Bostinanian believed in individuality. He belived that any misuse of public rights should be rectified by law. In the case of Gotham City, the rights of the immigrants were being misuse; therefore they should be given their due rights. Similarly, George Washington Plunkitt (1842-1924) would also have the opinion that people whether poor or rich should be given opportunities to rectify their situation. He believed in dealing with any situation in an honest manner, not through dishonest black mailing etc. He believed every man is an opportunist and he should use such opportunities to better his cause. Whether these opportunities comes in the form of rectification of a city living standards or investing in a project. With Gotham City’s background an opportunist should take up the situation in his own hand to improve the condition of the city. With an infrastructure like Gotham, Plunkitt would have considered the city a good investment. To improve the condition of the city, they would have to improve the living condition of the immigrants further. This way they would build a stronger city and labor force for the meager industrial structure further. On the other hand Woodrow Wilson with his Princeton background would have a different view for reorganization of Gotham City. Wilson gained a Ph.D. and professorhood when he became president of Princeton in 1902. His main concern was to reorganize the curriculum and introduction of preceptorial system of instruction to provide individualized education to the masses.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Huntingtons Disease :: essays research papers

Huntington's Disease   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Huntington's disease, or Huntngton's chorea, is a genetic disease that causes selective neural cell death, which results in chorea, or irregular, jerking movements of the limbs caused by involuntary muscle contractions, and dementia. It can cause a lack of concentration and depression. It also may cause atrophy of the caudate nucleus, a part of the brain. However, symptoms vary between individuals, with some sufferers showing symptoms that others do not. Those suffering from Huntington's disease normally begin displaying symptoms between the ages of 30 and 50, but has been known to show itself in people as young as two and as old as 80.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Huntington's disease is inehrited from one of the victim's parents. Since the gene for HD is dominant, there is a 50% chance of a sufferer's offspring inheriting the disease. Because a victim usually does not begin to display symptoms until after the period in which he or she would have children and the disease may have been misdiagnosed in earlier generations as Parkinson's disease or other similar affliction, he or she might pass along the gene without even knowing it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The gene for Huntington's disease is located on the short arm of chromosome four in cytogenetic band 4p16.3. It was first identified in 1993. While everyone posseses this gene, in someone suffering from Huntington's disease, the number of repeats of a certain trinucleotide, cytozine-adenine- guanine (CAG), is much larger than what it is in a normal person. In an average person, the number of repeats is between 9 and 37. But is a sufferer of HD, the repeat count is from 37 to 86. While nobody has found a direct correlation between the number of repeats and the age when symptoms appear, there is evidence that people with very high numbers of repeats contract the rarer early- onset Huntington's disease, which usually affects people under the age of 20. It is estimated that between .1 and 10 % of people who suffer from Huntington's disease have obtained it through new mutations.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are three different tests for Huntington's disease. The first, presymptomatic testing, is for people who are at risk for the disease. The second, prenatal testing, is a testing of a fetus at risk for the disease. The third type of testing, confirmatory testing, is used on someone suspected of having Huntington's disease.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Treatment of Huntington's disease usually involves counciling and education about the disease of both the family and the patient. Since the symptoms are so varied in both type and severeness from patient to patient, medical treatment must be individualized.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Depression, a common symptom, is usually treated with tricyclic

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Lis Pendens Essay

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION The doctrine of lis pendens1contained in Section 52 of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882 (hereinafter â€Å"TPA†) and expressed by the maxim ut lite pendente nihil innoveturem bodies the principle of law that â€Å"†¦pending a litigation nothing new should be introduced, and provides that pendente lite2, neither party to the litigation, in which any right to immovable property is in question, can alienate or otherwise deal with such property so as to affect his opponent.†3 The basis of this doctrine rests on the idea that â€Å"†¦the very purpose of seeking relief against any grievance [through a judicial proceeding] would be meaningless and ineffective†4 â€Å"†¦if alienations pendente lite were permitted to prevail†5 as despite having a decree of the Court in his favor, the plaintiff would have to commence proceedings de novo in order to reclaim his rights from the person to whom the property right was transferred by the defendant. The do ctrine can be said to be an aspect of the principle of res judicata6and has its basis in â€Å"expediency and necessity of fine adjudication†7 and the need of having â€Å"finality in litigation†.8The doctrine is based on the notions of justice, equity and good conscience9 and has emerged out of public policy considerations.10 This paper deals with the doctrine of lis pendens as it is contained in the Transfer of Property Act 1882 and analyses the doctrine under the following heads: (A) Theoretical Basis (B) Essential Conditions and (C) Effect of a transfer pendente lite. STATEMENT OF PROBLEM Why this project? This is a project in the subject of Property Law for the completion of assessment and evaluation as it is part of the curriculum. The above project titled ‘Doctrine of Lis Pendens (Section 52): A Critical Analysis’ is part and parcel of course of Property Law subject in eighth semester. The project lies for the complete analysis of the theme through which we will be able to find out and highlight the basis and their relevance in the subject. SCOPE The project deals with some of the questions arising out of Section 52 of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882 which deals with the transfer of immovable property pendente lite. The research will be restricted to the given topic and secondary sources are used for the purpose of this research. OBJECTIVE The objective of the research is to study in depth Section 52 and critically analyze it referring to various books and Law Commission Report. Also, to find out the limitations and loopholes which are there in the Section in light of different case laws and judicial pronouncements. HYPOTHESIS Pendency of a suit or a proceeding shall be deemed to continue until the suit or a proceeding is disposed of by final decree or order, and complete satisfaction or discharge of such decree or order has been obtained or has become unobtainable by reason of the expiration of any period of limitation prescribed for the execution thereof by any law for the time being in force RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Doctrinal Research This project is mainly the outcome of the library based research. The research is of the systematic exposition, analysis and critical evaluation of legal rules and their inter-relationships. Articles, books, case study and secondary data are referred for the literature review and reference and based on it analysis and conclusion are drawn. CHAPTER 2 THEORETICAL BASIS This part will enquire into the theoretical basis of the doctrine of lis pendens. The broader question that is sought to be answered here arises in a situation when a person unknowingly acquires title to a property which is involved in a civil dispute which is yet to be decided upon. In this situation, the question that is often raised is that on what basis the rights of the ignorant transferee can be subverted under the doctrine of lis pendens in order to recognize the rights of the victorious party in the  dispute over the disputed property. Two theories have been out forth in this regard. The first theory states that a pending suit is a constructive notice to the entire world and thus an ignorant transferee is consequently deemed in law to be aware of the disputed condition of the property and is barred from making the claim that s/he was a bonafide purchaser.11 However this theory is being increasingly displaced by another which relies on public policy considerations to justify the doctrine of lis pendens. Accordingly â€Å"†¦the doctrine is not founded on any theory of notice at all, but is based upon the necessity†¦ [for] preventing litigants from disposing of the property in†¦such manner as to interfere with execution of the court’s decree. Without such a principle†¦ all suits for specific property might be rendered abortive by successive alienations of the property in suit, so that at the end of the suit another would have to be commenced, and after that, another, making it almost impracticable for a man ever to make his rights available by a resort to the courts of justice.†12 This theory does away with need of inferring a constructive notice from fact of existence of the dispute. The transferee’s rights are not affected because the suit amounts to a constructive notice but because â€Å"†¦law does not allow litigant parties to give to others, pending the litigation, rights to the property in dispute, so as to prejudice the opposite party.†13 â€Å"The intention of the doctrine is to invest the Court with complete control over alienations in the res which is pendente lite, and thus to render its judgment binding upon the alienees, as if they were parties, notwithstanding the hardship in individual cases.†14 It has been argued that such a stringent version of this doctrine imposes an undue burden on innocent purchasers who buy disputed property. This is particularly so in cases where the lis is not duly registered under Section 18 of the Indian Registration Act, 1908. The states of Maharashtra and Gujarat have enacted state amendme nts which restrict the application of this doctrine to the cases where the parties to the dispute have registered the lis under the Indian Registrations Act 1908. This affords protection purchasers who may not have any means of determining the existence of a dispute in relation to the property they intend to deal with.15 CHAPTER 3 ESSENTIAL CONDITIONS The following conditions have to be satisfied for the application of Section 52 of TPA: (I) A suit or proceeding â€Å"in which any right to immovable property is directly and specifically in question†16 must be pending in an appropriate Court (II) The suit should not be a collusive one. In such a case, the property â€Å"cannot be transferred or otherwise dealt with by any party to the suit or proceeding so as to affect the rights of any other party thereto under any decree or order which may be made therein, except under the authority of the court and on such terms as it may impose.†17 The following parts deal with each of these elements in detail. Pending Suit â€Å"A suit is commenced by the filing of a plaint, and appeals and execution proceedings are a continuation of the suit.†18 According to of Section 52 a transfer of property involved in a suit while the pendency of the suit is hit by the rule of lis pendens enshrined therein. For a suit to be pending the Court must have the necessary jurisdiction. In the absence of such jurisdiction, â€Å"the decree pronounced by the Court will be a nullity†19 and hence would not attract the rule of lis pendens. An appeal or execution is included in the continuation of the suit and the bar of lis pendens extends over such proceedings. â€Å"The explanation to the said section indicates that the pendency of a suit would encompass the stage after the final decree till complete satisfaction and discharge of such decree or order. It is, therefore, obvious that legislature †¦ has thought it fit to extend the scope and ambit of the terminology â€Å"suit† even for covering the execution proceedings in connection with decrees passed in such suits†20 A transfer made before the pendency of the suit is not subjected to this rule.21 A suit filed in a foreign court cannot be a lis pendens under this rule.22The rule cannot apply to properties situated outside India.23 Furthermore the right to an immovable property24 must be directly and specifically be involved in the suit.25 Suit must not be collusive Section 52 of TPA becomes operative as soon as a bona-fide suit is instituted which is not in any way collusive.26 A collusive proceeding27 is different from a fraudulent proceeding. In a fraudulent proceeding, the claims made are false and are instituted to injure the plaintiff. Whereas in a collusive  proceeding, there is a secret arrangement between the parties to the suit and the object of instituting such proceedings is to utilize the judicial forum to curtail the claims of bona-fide transferees over the disputed property.28 A collusive proceeding would bind the parties but not their transferees.29 CHAPTER 4 EFFECT OF TRANSFER PENDENTE LITE â€Å"The transfer when it falls within the mischief of [Section 52 of TPA] will be deemed to be non est for the purpose of lis pendens.†30 The right to the property will continue to vest in the transferor notwithstanding he transferred it. However, there is no indication in the section that the transfer is rendered void. Rather, the transfer has been held to be â€Å"valid and operative as between the parties thereto.†31 The doctrine of lis pendens merely subordinates the rights of the transferee to the rights determined by the Court upon the completion of the proceedings. If the rights do not conflict, then the transfer would act as a valid transfer. This is can be inferred from the words, â€Å"so as to affect the rights of any other party thereto under any decree or order which may be made therein.†32 CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSION This paper reviews the doctrine of lis pendens under Section 52 of TPA. It is evident from the analysis of the doctrine that the basis of the doctrine lies in public policy considerations and the expediency to ensure finality of litigation. While the doctrine does invalidate a transfer pendente lite it renders the rights of the transferor subservient to those determined by the Court in the ongoing proceedings. The doctrine demonstrates a classic case wherein individual rights of parties are rendered dormant to satisfy a public policy objective. The broad principle underlying Section 52 of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882 is to maintain the status quo unaffected by the act of any party to the litigation pending its determination. Even after the dismissal of a suit, a purchaser is subject to lis pendens, if an appeal is afterwards filed. If such a view is not taken, it would plainly be impossible that any action or suit could be brought to a successful  termination if alienations p endente lite were permitted to prevail. The explanation to Section lays down that the pendency of a suit or a proceeding shall be deemed to continue until the suit or a proceeding is disposed of by final decree or order, and complete satisfaction or discharge of such decree or order has been obtained or has become unobtainable by reason of the expiration of any period of limitation prescribed for the execution thereof by any law for the time being in force. INDEX OF AUTHORITIES 1. Legislations: a. Transfer of Property Act 1882. 2. Cases Cited: a. Thakurai Bhup Narain Singh v. Nawab Singh And Ors. [1957] AIR Pat 759 (HC). b. Bellamy v. Sabine [1857] (1) De G & J 566. c. Digambararao v. Rangarao [1949] AIR Bom 367 (HC). d. Lov Raj Kumar v. Daya Shankar [1986] AIR Del 364 (HC). e. Chanda Sab v. Jamshed Khan [1993] AIR Kant 338 (HC). f. Minakshi Saini v. Gurucharan Singh Sharma (2002) 2 Punj LR 439, 441 (HC). g. Simla Banking Industrial Co. Ltd. v. Firm Luddar Mal [1959] AIR Pun 490 (HC). h. Ghantesher Ghosh v. Madan Mohan Ghosh and Ors.[1997] AIR 471 (SC) . i. Umesh Chunder v. Zaboor Fatima [1956] AIR 593 (SC). j. Palani Chetti v. Subramanyam Chetti (1896) ILR 19 Mad 257. k. Sivaramakrishna v. K. Mammu (1957) 1 Mad LJ 14 (HC). l. Hans Nath v. Ragho Prasad (1932) ILR 54 All 159 (HC). m. Md. Shafiqullah Khan v. Md. Samiullah Khan [1929] AIR All 943 (HC). n. Gouri Dutt v. Sheikh Sukur Md. [1948] AIR PC 147 (PC). o. Nuzbat-ud Daula v. Dilband Begam 21 IC 570. p. Nagubai Ammal v. B. Sharma Rao [1956] 1 SCR 451 (SC) 3. Books: a. Sorabjee S, Darashaw J.Vakil’s Commentaries on the Transfer of Property Act (2nd Edn., Wadhwa Nagpur 2004). b. Bharuka G, Mulla: The Transfer of Property Act 1882 (10th Edn., Lexis Nexis 2006). 4. Dictionaries: a. Black H.C., Black’s Law Dictionary (4th Edn, West Publishing Company 1968). 5. Law Commission Reports: a. Law Commission of India, Section 52: The Transfer of Property Act 1882 and It’s Amendment (Law Com No. 157, 1998).

Friday, August 16, 2019

Countries such as Italy and India Essay

Youth is wasted on the young. † We all stereotype, and we can all be prejudice. The elderly sometimes see a teenager and automatically assume they are troublemakers who hang around the streets at night, which is not always the case. Most teenagers perception of the elderly is that they ramble in their talk get in the way and are rather helpless. When can you really class yourself as old though? To me I would say it’s when you retire. Your life changes completely, you have a lot more spare time since you’re not working. Life becomes relaxing and care free. Although old age can be relaxing, I personally am not looking forward to it, I prefer to be young. It seems life will become harder, forgetfulness, your body is weaker, and therefore it’s harder to move about. Also in this country the elderly are not treated as well as in others, Countries such as Italy and India. There the elderly are looked up to and treated with utmost respect. When they grow old and become incapable of doing certain things they are taken care of and are looked after by their younger generations. In the U. K grandparents are often just sent away to a retirement center, because their own family cannot be bothered to look after them. In the poem â€Å"Warning† she chooses to exploit her freedom in her old age, be wild and â€Å"make up for the sobriety of her youth†. Whereas in â€Å"Old man Old man† which is the poem I will be comparing against â€Å"Warning† in this essay, he does the opposite, he draws back in seclusion. Unhappy in his old age. The narrative of â€Å"Old man Old man† and â€Å"Warning† differ greatly. â€Å"Old man Old man† focuses on the negativity of old age. How in his old age he has become even more obstinate in his â€Å"contracted world†. The poem describes how he used to be independent, â€Å"lord once of shed, garage and garden†. Although now he cannot accept he has become helpless, â€Å"you who hate being helpless†. Now he is â€Å"self-demoted in his nineties to washing up†, and yet still â€Å"missing crusted streaks† Fanthorpe, who we assume is a daughter, describes the old man in a very desolate tone. It seems as though she has always tried to help him, but he’s always believed he’s a â€Å"world authority†. Now the old man has become surly in his old age, and helpless. Despite this, he still refuses help from his daughter. Towards the end of the poem, she offers her aid, â€Å"let me walk with you to Drury lane†. Whereas in â€Å"Warning† Jenny Joseph talks about how she will enjoy her liberation in old age. She tells us how she what she wants to do when she grows old. She wants to act like a child and â€Å"wear purple†. Throughout the poem she only talks about herself no one else is mentioned. For her old age represents the liberations. She talks about the restrictions that are imposed on her now, and how she will do differently when she grows old, like eat â€Å"only bread and pickle for a week†. Another way we can compare two poems is from the persona. In ‘Old man Old man†, there are two personas. The old man himself, and the poet. We assume the poet is a daughter, as they are very pessimistic towards the old man, this could be from the way she was treated by him â€Å"not good with daughters†. She describes her father in quite a negative manner, and at times nearly mocks him. She speaks about how old age affects their relationship. She describes the things he is no longer capable of doing. She moans about him and is very cynical about him. Towards the end she mimics him, â€Å"you said to me, but only as a cloud†. Throughout the poem the weakness of the old man is repetitively mentioned. Showing now how he has become weak and incapable in his old age. The persona in â€Å"Warning† is just one woman talking about herself. She is a strong willed and independent woman. She wants to â€Å"make up for the sobriety of her youth. She will act reasonably for now, to â€Å"set a good example for the children†, but when she becomes old, that will be her rebeliion. She is very positive about old age, and focuses on all the good points of old age, like the freedom. Jenny Joseph has self-determination, whereas the â€Å"Old man in Old man† seem to have nearly given up in his weakness. The poets use language in contrasting ways to express their ideas and opinions of old age. â€Å"Old man Old man† begins with a stanza in the past tense. Describing the way he lives and is. The direct speech in italic, in the second stanza, its â€Å"I’ve lost the hammer† which the old man would be saying, but towards the end, the direct speech is from the poet to the old man â€Å"Let me find your hammer†. This is to evoke bathos in the reader. The poet expresses her words in a tender way, showing how she does care for her father but nee s him to let her help him. She begins to lightly mock him in the third stanza, calling him a â€Å"world authority†. A Wife is mentioned later on in the poem, and instead of the poet calling the old man’s wife ‘mum’; she refers to him as â€Å"your wife. † This could be showing that he was re-married, and the daughter was not with her mum anymore, therefore she cares a great deal about her father, and when he refuses to help her and shuts her out, it hurts her even further. The semi-colon after â€Å"your surliness† splits up the pitiable image of the old man, and halts the rhythm of the poem. Here we stop and remember the man who no longer â€Å"tells jokes†. Verbs are taken out of the poem to help the flow of it. Whereas in â€Å"Warning† the sentences are complex, with two or more verbs in them. The stanzas are groups of three, to remember them and separate it clearly. The stanzas in â€Å"Warning† are not separated equally. Although there is a circular structure, â€Å"wear purple† is repeated at the beginning and end of the poem. â€Å"Old man old man† is in a disheartened tone. â€Å"Warning† is in a childish tone, for example she wants to â€Å"grow more fat†. This could be because the things she wants to do a re also quite childish like â€Å"learn to spit†. Which is quite un-lady like but simply expresses her desire for freedom. Also the title â€Å"Old man, Old man† is repeated throughout he poem, this seems to emphasize his old age. The first stanza is â€Å"Warning† is free verse, she creates a list of short sentences, all the things she wants to do when she grows old. â€Å"Youth is wasted on the young†. After analyzing both poems â€Å"Old man, Old man,† and â€Å"Warning†. I think that â€Å"Warning,† argues this title more than â€Å"Old man Old man†. As she speaks of how she will do youthful things when she grows old, so it is not wasted on the young. I myself preferred â€Å"Old man old man†. I preferred the seriousness of it, as â€Å"Warning† was in quite a childish tone. I found it interesting to see the relationship of the father and daughter, and her mocking of him was quite humorous. â€Å"Warning† was more like a big list of juvenile things she wanted to do when she was old. The two personas are at crossroads in their life, the turning point of becoming old. â€Å"Old man Old man† is how becoming old is a negative thing, how you become incapable of certain things. â€Å"Warning† is how she will enjoy her liberation of old age. I contend that â€Å"Old man, Old man† is a more accurate description of how life will be when old age attacks. I would prefer for it to be how jenny josephs perception of old age is, but as you grow old, as I said earlier, you become incapable of things. Like memory loss and moving about. â€Å"Old man, Old man† shows this. In â€Å"Warning† she is still young and does not know how it really is to be elderly.

Thursday, August 15, 2019

The Ethnic Conflicts

Recent changes in American society have resulted in increasing number of minority students enrolling in colleges and universities. Differing views among these ethnic groups can sometimes cause conflicts for students of all races (Cozic 249). Some argue that students and universities benefit from these ethnic conflicts. Same time others believe that increasing racial diversity in American colleges and university has led to a decrease in the quality of education. People who support multiculturalism in universities believe that â€Å"students who can resolve conflict in racially diverse universities will be better prepared to succeed than students at universities that are more homogeneous†(Cozic 249). Conflict is expected, perhaps even healthy, in a social situation where people have different interests and compete for scarce resources (Duster 251). Some American schools are racially integrated, so â€Å"it is not surprising that students experience shock and tension when they arrive at their first experience of multiculturalism†(251). But shocks like this maybe a good preparation for future life. According to Duster, nowadays students are â€Å"far more competent, far more eligible, far more prepared than when this [Berkley] was an all-white university in 1950†³(252). Back in 1960s , when the campus was mainly white, almost every eligible student who applied to Berkley was admitted (252). But â€Å"when the United States changed its immigration laws in the 1970s, well-qualified candidates from China, Hong Kong, and Korea swelled the pool of applicants†(252). Suddenly, not everyone who was eligible could get in (252). The increasing number of minorities applying to universities created â€Å"increasingly ferocious competition at the same-sized admissions gate†(252). The media, so far has chosen to emphasize the beleaguered white student who has to adjust to affirmative action (252). Isn†t it a shame, stories imply, that these students are feeling uncomfortable in an environment that used to be their university (252). It isn†t theirs anymore (252). Since the demographics of the United States are changing at a fast rate, â€Å"shouldn†t the university population and curriculum reflect more of this new reality? â€Å"(252 – 53). Meanwhile, the quality of students at universities is only getting better. Duster implies that affirmative action exists because, â€Å"over the past two hundred years, blacks and Latinos have had a difficult time entering higher education, and that legacy hasn†t gone away†(253). There are economic barriers that restrict access to college for minorities. And these barriers aren†t disappearing. The smartest among them [Berkley students] also see that in a globalized economy, Berkley†s multiculturalism can make them better leaders†¦. (254). The opponents of cultural diversity believe that â€Å"affirmative action favors minorities whose average academic performance is unacceptably below university standards†(Cozic 257). D†Souza argues that the question is not whether universities should seek diversity but what kind of diversity. It seems that the primary form of diversity which universities should try to foster is diversity of mind (D†Souza 258). He says that â€Å"such diversity would enrich academic discourse, widen its parameters, multiply its objects of inquiry, and increase the probability of obscure and unlikely terrain being investigated†(258). According to D†Souza, the problem begins with a deep sense of embarrassment over the small number of minorities – blacks in particular – on campuses. University officials speak of themselves as more enlightened and progressive than the general population, so they feel guilty if the proportion of minorities at their institution is smaller than in surrounding society (259). As a consequence, universities agree to make herculean efforts to attract as many blacks, Hispanics, and other certified minorities as possible to their institutions (259). The number of minority applicants who would normally qualify for acceptance at selective universities is very small; therefore, in order to meet ambitious recruitment targets, affirmative action must entail fairly drastic compromises in admissions requirements (259). University leaders are willing to use unjust means to achieve their goal of equal representation, says D†Souza. For example, â€Å"the California legislature is considering measures to require all state colleges to accept black, Hispanic, white, and Asian students in proportion with their level in the population, regardless of disparity in academic preparation or qualifications among such groups† (259). Many selective universities are so famished for minority students that they will accept virtually anyone of the right color (260). For minority students, who struggled through high school, the courtship of selective universities comes as a welcome surprise. During their freshman year, many minority students discover that they are not prepared to the college work load and it is hard to keep up with another students. For minority students, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, these problems are often complicated by a difficult personal adjustment to a new environment (261). University leaders have discovered how displaced and unsettled minority freshmen can be, and typically respond by setting up counseling services and remedial education programs intended to assure blacks and Hispanics that they do belong, and that they can â€Å"catch up† with other students (261). For many minority undergraduates the university†s quest for racial equality produces a conspicuous academic inequality (261). In the minds of minority students, affirmative action is not a cause of their academic difficulties, but an excuse for white racism which is the real source of their problems (263).

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Nike in China

Executive Summary Overview Nike is the market leader in athletic shoes in the United States. The Oregon based company has always utilized offshore facilities in low-income countries to produce at minimal costs followed by importation into predominantly the US for sales. Nike is quick to divest from emerging markets as costs rise and has recently signed short term production contracts with a long term strategy of production in China. Unlike Nike’s previous global endeavors, the political and cultural atmosphere in China has made the collaboration more demanding. Opportunities As the South Korean standard of living continued to improve, expected wages grew forcing Nike to look elsewhere for low cost shoe production. Market research identified China and India as the best long term possibilities for the new production facilities based on finances. Due in part to a trusting relationship between Nike and the Chinese government based on the family lines of vice president David Chang, China was determined to be the optimal location to grow. The possibility of a joint venture giving Nike access to a possible billion customer market was another opportunity that could only be found in China. Issues in China Nike has spent the last four years building facilities, training staff, and developing relationships in China. Unlike other facilities in low GDP countries that had been utilized previously, the China collaboration has been less than successful. The current infrastructure combined with landlocked facilities made transportation logistics difficult. The Chinese government had certain expectations and standardization requirements that were misaligned with Nike’s incentives in terms of quality, pay, pricing, and employee motivation. The PRC government also created difficulties in import/export restrictions causing logistical problems with raw materials, specifically anything entering the country through South Korea, a major Nike supplier. While a foothold in China could eventually lead to an enormous new customer base, the current global strategy was ill suited to take advantage at the current time. Options * Shift strategies in China from global to multi-domestic to take advantage of the market. This option would require the formation of a joint venture with the Chinese government. Move factory locations to reduce transportation and logistics issues. * Pull out of China completely. Recommendations We believe the government regulations will make quality improvement and cost effectiveness highly unlikely in China. Furthermore, a multi-domestic strategy requiring a high investment rate would be required to take advantage of the Chinese population as a new customer market. With low expendable income and a forced jo int venture with the government necessary to sell Nike in China, we determined that selling in China is not currently an option. As such, the team recommends an urgent identification of new possible production environments with a concerted and eventual total divestiture in China. Questions a. How has Nike conceptualized the athletic shoe industry: global or multi-domestic? Justify your answer. What are the implications of this conceptualization? Nike instituted a global strategy, as opposed to a multi-domestic strategy, from the company’s onset to compete in the athletic shoe industry. Knight identified opportunities abroad to reduce costs in the upstream functions of the value chain. Through the coordination of overseas operations integrated with US downstream functions focused on local US markets, Nike’s utilization of a Porter-defined global strategy has brought the company to China. The Far East’s Role in the Value Chain Beginning with the first Japanese facilities, Nike factories located in the Far East, Europe, and South America have accounted for approximately 93% of shoe production with only minor assembly in the US. The identified regions within this concentrated configuration were almost exclusively production-only facilities without the R&D, sales and marketing, and other downsteam services required for a successful multi-domestic strategy. The countries had been targeted due to low costs with certain factories being divested over the years due to increasing wage rates and political uncertainty. Competition to reduce costs between different countries was key to identifying new opportunities and deciding on which factories would remain open as economic factors changed. While reducing costs was the main concern in global production, Nike could not accept a subsequent loss of quality. Previous experiences in Far Eastern plants had proven successful via quickly accepted technology transfer and ratios of grade-B shoes falling below 5% at rapid rates. Without the combination of high value and low cost, the strategic competitive advantage would be lost. Assumptions and Implications of a Global Strategy Nike moved to China based on their strategic history of standardizing the operations life cycle. Knight believed China would mirror other Far Eastern locales. Cost cutting assumptions included pay based on relative Chinese wages (as opposed to relative Nike production wages), employee incentives capabilities, minimal import/export barriers, and an infrastructure for facile distribution logistics. For each unforeseen difficulty encountered along these assumptions, Nike’s costs would increase and could drive margins down to a point where China would no longer be financially competitive. The Olympic team public relations venture attempted to further the relationship between Nike and the Chinese government, not to present a new product for the public. The millions spent were misaligned with a low cost model and were identified with past exploitations by the West. While the possibility of two billion feet was enticing, Nike was in China to produce, not sell, shoes. There was no plan to market, distribute, or sell in China. Accordingly, the idea of a joint venture should not be on the table under the current strategy. However, the PRC strongly pushed JVs and the lack of a true collaborative environment could be detrimental in an environment so heavily regulated. b. Speculate on the reasons for Nike wishing to enter China. Before the entry do you think these reasons were valid? Justify your answer. China’s Excellence in Manufacturing China is known for their excellence in manufacturing. Nike intended to exploit this excellence in order to drive down their supplier costs, while maintaining their customer’s willingness to pay constant which creates value for Nike’s customers and shareholders. Prior to entry and based on Nike’s due diligence, this was a valid reason. However, Nike either underestimated or did not entirely comprehend the challenges of conducting business is China. From the difficulty of sourcing local materials to the inconsistency in quality of the finished product, China was not the optimal manufacturing location for Nike. Rapid Growth of the Athletic Footwear Market in the 1970’s (& Bad Forecasting) Perhaps Nike did not do enough high quality market research to see that the growth was slowing in their market. Nike may have become complacent due to their dominance in the industry or Nike may have discounted the market trends in the athletic footwear industry that showed a decline in the rate of growth, when comparing the 1970’s to the 1980’s. The bottom line is that Nike did not accurately forecast and adjust their strategy to the athletic footwear industry trends and market conditions. Prior to entry and based on Nike’s due diligence, this was a valid reason. Nike chose to enter China, in part, to meet the demand of the growing market. However, perhaps they should have spent more time and resources on market research, which would have revealed that the growth rate was declining, and perhaps additional suppliers were not necessary to carry out their business plan after all and that a different international location might better meet their sourcing needs and goals. Rising Costs from Existing Suppliers One of the reasons Nike planned to enter China was due to the costs of conducting business in other countries (for example, South Korea and Taiwan) had been increasing. Nike thought that they could source product from China at a lower cost than their current offshore producers. Prior to entry and based on Nike’s due diligence, this was a valid rationale. Due to the multiple issues that Nike faced in China, the costs associated in producing a pair of shoes were actually higher in China than their other international producers. See Table A in the appendix for a landed cost comparison from the case. Two Billion Feet Although the case clearly specifies this is not a reason for entry into China, one of Chang’s motives may have been to sell directly to the Chinese. The size of the Chinese population is over three times the size of the United States. Even though the shoes produced in China were for the US, Chang may have considered producing a low cost shoe for the Chinese. Perhaps Nike’s long term strategy was to navigate the Chinese political system, develop a strong local production presence, and then ultimately sell low cost footwear directly to the Chinese market. This reason was not valid prior to their entry. Nike’s product was not produced for the Chinese, as the average Chinese consumer could not afford the product. b. How did the decision to enter China complement Nike's overall strategy? Nike’s decision to enter China was based on flawed information. Nike underestimated the inherent challenges (political bureaucracy, materials sourcing, shipping and transportation, quality control and the Chinese culture of non-motivation and non-commitment) they faced when conducting business in China. Nike also failed to accurately forecast the demand in the athletic footwear industry. The decision ultimately hurt Nike’s overall strategy, as their production costs rose, while the demand for their product was declining. Higher cost and declining demand both negatively affected Nike’s bottom line. c. Identify the entry and ownership strategies used by Nike in entering China. Do you think they were appropriate? Base your analysis on the entry and ownership strategies outlined by Robock and Simmonds, referenced above. Justify your answer. As costs started to rise in other Asian markets, Nike made the strategic decision to open new full-scale manufacturing facilities in China, with the goal to reduce production costs. Nike’s entry strategy into China created obstacles in achieving their long-term goals, which they should have foreseen. Below are a few factors that contributed to the obstacles. External Factors Nike underestimated the scope of the Chinese bureaucracy. Nike’s only choice was to hire a consultant to navigate the issue. This consultant increased Nike’s costs of doing business in China. Furthermore, Nike overestimated the size and future growth potential of their target market. Nike should have conducted additional due diligence and more thorough market research before deciding to move into China. In addition, Nike did not forecast the materials sourcing issue, which added to product costs. Internal Factors Nike failed to forecast/implement some key factors when deciding to enter China. Nike lacked the necessary internal operations to actively manage and solve production problems in real time. Also, Nike had great difficulties communicating the issue of quality control to the Chinese. Furthermore, the Chinese managers and workforce lacked motivation to perform their jobs to levels satisfactory to Nike. Ownership Nike chose to be wholly owned. Nike did not pursue the joint venture route, even though China tried to persuade Nike otherwise. Nike did, however, hire a consultant as a strategic partner to help them navigate the challenging bureaucracy. Given the political climate in China, perhaps Nike should have approached China with a joint venture agreement. Having China as a partner may have saved Nike time and resources when launching a new manufacturing platform. Or, perhaps Nike should have formed a strategic partnership with a local footwear manufacturer in order to bypass some of the issues with starting an entirely new facility and would have had some assistance in navigating the local market. d. Would you say Nike's entry into China was a success? Give reasons for your view, explaining why the entry was successful or a failure. At the time of case study, Nike’s entry into China was not a success. This evaluation is based on several reasons primarily due to the cultural clash between Nike and Chinese production. By 1984, Nike encountered a range of problems—from quality issues (only 80% of Chinese shoes were A-Grade), to inventory management (records kept on a guess method of expected usage), lack of flexibility from Chinese managers, motivational issues with management and workers, as well as complex and difficult government relations. Quality Issues in Product and Management When China’s reformist leader, Deng Xiaoping, opened China to foreign investment and global market opportunities, Nike seized the opportunity to buy a finished shoe product from the PRC as a long-term, low-cost supplier. However, despite China’s opening to the global market, it still existed as a socialist state with severe trust issues and obstructions to the free flow of information. These factors compounded to cause an array of production difficulties. Due to the Chinese factories still producing 20% B-grade shoes (significantly higher than both South Korea and Taiwan), Nike management not only wasted additional time arguing with Chinese managers on the quality problems (rather than actually improving the problem) but Nike also had to hire additional inspectors for each factory. While the money spent to hire these inspectors was relatively low, this illustrates the need for oversight and the lack of faith and trust in the Chinese managers to run the factories to Nike’s standards. Governmental Regulation Additionally, as a socialist state, Chinese workers lacked motivation to increase production (factories at a standstill by midday) and to adhere to production schedules since they would be paid the same regardless of output. Even attempts by Nike of monetary incentives only appeared to have an effect for approximately 60 days. Because of the central planning system, the Chinese managers were used to stable prices. Price negotiations proved extremely difficult as none of the actual participants in the negotiations (foreign trade bureau, factory directors, local production bureau leaders) had the authority to make price decisions—everything relayed to authorities in Beijing. Compared to Korea or Taiwan, negotiations were slow which was extremely detrimental in a global and ever-changing environment. The levels of bureaucracy in China were much higher than those encountered in South Korea or Taiwan. Although Nike tried to establish a positive relationship with China (through contributions to the country’s sports activities and hosting various Chinese officials visiting the U. S. ), meeting with the high-live leaders in China did not prove useful. The Chinese bureaucracy made making decisions difficult as it was never apparent who was in charge of what and Chinese officials did not show the same level of interest in establishing a relationship with Nike (leaders sometimes did not show up for appointments). Ultimately, all of the cultural difficulties resulted in extremely low production numbers (Nike originally targeted production growth to 1,000,000 pairs per month by mid-1980’s but annual production in 1984 was only 700,000 pairs), significantly lower than both South Korea and Taiwan. Although Nike had ultimately hoped for a 20% price advantage over Korea, they were still losing $1. 00 on each pair of PRC shoes while the quality was much lower on these shoes as well. e. Identify the options available to Nike regarding its operations in China. If you were Chang at the time of the case, what future course of action would you recommend in China? Options Some of the options available to Nike regarding its operations in China are to pull operations out of China completely or consider entering into a joint-venture agreement with China. As of 1984, Nike’s foray into China has not been a success due to a variety of reasons (listed above). If Nike were to pull operations out of China, they would risk losing all of the equipment investment as well as damaging the sensitive and already tenuous relations ith the government. Other countries would have to be evaluated as a low-cost source of production. Some possible countries could be Indonesia or shifting a greater percentage of production to Taiwan as their comparative changes in unit labor cost, although increasing, were significantly lower than Korea or Taiwan. However, if Nike did decide to stay in China and enter into a joint-venture agreement, this step would potentially be viewed as a sign of trust and evidence of commitment by China. Nike would also be allowed to sell its products in China—a significant market to consider with a population of 1 billion people. Nike would also have additional freedoms with regards to hiring and dismissing personnel. The costs of a joint-venture agreement though, were estimated at $500,000 per factory and worker salaries would be about 20% higher than local factories. Recommendations to Nike If we were Chang at the time of the case, the future course of action that we would recommend to Nike would be to pull out of China operations. Although the possibility of access to a market with 1 billion people seems counter to this decision, China’s great strides in opening to global markets indicates the likelihood that Nike will be able to access this consumer at some point without having to make the commitment of a joint-venture agreement. Additionally, while recognizing the sunk-costs bias, we feel that the potential costs to continue operations in China would result in Nike still losing money on each pair of shoe produced instead of cutting their losses and finding another profitable production avenue. Conclusions Nike saw China, as well as the many impoverished nations where previous production had occurred, as a part of the supply chain with a cost effective advantage. Korea and Taiwan had become increasingly expensive and China was a long term option. Unfortunately, Nike did not understand the political or cultural implications for utilizing China as part of a global strategy. The political environment and infrastructure in China created unforeseen difficulties for Nike in building an efficient production system. Government controlled wages reduced the influence of incentives for both work efficiency and quality. Strained relationships with the South Korean government made importation of materials slow and expensive. Transportation logistics and regional cultural differences made the government suggested sites for initial factory locations less than ideal. China’s two billion feet did not align with Nike’s global strategy. The Chinese public could not afford the high costs for the Nike brand and current ROI expectations could not be achieved. The Chinese government’s relationship approach to external companies would have much greater acceptance towards a mutually beneficial joint venture. Some saw Nike’s global strategy as exploitation. The financial impact of Nike’s strategy could not be delivered in China. The collaborative relationship desired by the Chinese government was misaligned with Nike’s needs. Together, it becomes apparent that the best option for Nike is to locate a better location for production urgently and completely divest in China.