Mining Industry Overview

Mining? Industry? Overview? Boyi? Xie? March? 5,? 2012? Michael? Porter’s? Five? Forces? Outline? †¢? †¢? †¢? †¢? †¢? †¢? †¢? Products? Suppliers/Customers? Industry? Compe? tors? Cost? Revenue? &? pro? t? Overall? trends? Other? factors? Products? †¢? †¢? †¢? †¢? †¢? †¢? †¢? †¢? †¢? †¢? †¢? Aluminum? Copper? Lead? Zinc? Gold? Silver? Uranium? oxide? Diamonds? Stainless? Steel? Materials? Iron? Ore? Coal? Aluminum? Zinc? Copper? Gold? Iron? ore? Diamond? Marketing? &? Customers? †¢? Marke? ng? centers? of? mining? companies? †¢? Sell? products? at? the? most? advantageous? price? to? make? the? most? of? their? intrinsic? value? ? Act? as? a? source? of? specialist? exper? se? †¢? Iden? fy? value? opportuni? es? †¢? Customer? service:? †¢? Technical? assistance? †¢? Transporta? on,? e. g.? BHP? Shipping,? Rio? Tinto? Marine? †¢? Customers? †¢? Jewel ry? makers.? E. g.? gold,? silver? and? diamonds? †¢? Manufacturing/construc? on? companies.? †¢? E. g? Hyundai? Steel? †¢? Government? †¢? Other? retailers? BHP? Billiton? †¢? BHP? Billiton? is? a? global? mining,? oil? and? gas? company? headquartered? in? Melbourne,? Australia? and? with? a? major? management? o? ce? in? London,? UK.? It? is? the? world’s? largest? mining? company? measured? by? evenue.? †¢? BHP? Billiton? was? created? in? 2001? through? the? merger? of? the? Australian? Broken? Hill? Proprietary? Company? Limited? (BHP)? and? the? Anglo? Dutch? Billiton? plc.? (Billiton? origins? stretch? back? to? 1860)? †¢? It? is? now? a? dual? listed? company? in? Australian? Securi? es? Exchange? and? London? Stock? Exchange.? †¢? It? operates? a? wide? variety? of? mining? and? processing? opera? ons? in? 25? countries,? employing? approximately? 41,000? people.? †¢? It? has? opera? ons? on:? aluminum,? diamonds,? iron? ore,? petroleum,? stainless? steel,? uranium,? etc.? †¢? Mines? in:? Algeria,?Australia,? Brazil,? Canada,? South? Africa,? USA? Rio? Tinto? †¢? Rio? Tinto,? now? headquartered? in? London,? UK? (and? Brisbane,? Australia),? was? founded? in? 1873,? when? a? mul? na? onal? consor? um? of? investors? purchased? a? mine? complex? on? the? Rio? Tinto? river,? in? Huelva,? Spain.? †¢? It? is? now? a? dual? listed? company? in? Australian? Securi? es? Exchange? and? London? Stock? Exchange.? †¢? It? is? one? the? world? leaders? in? the? produc? on? of? aluminum,? iron? ore,? copper,? uranium,? coal? and? diamonds.? †¢? It? also? has? signi? cant? opera? ons? in? re? ning,? par? cularly? for? e? ning? bauxite? and? iron? ore.? †¢? It? has? opera? ons? on? six? con? nents? but? is? mainly? concentrated? in? Australia? and? Canada.? Vale? †¢? Vale? is? a? Brazilian? mul? na? onal? diversi? ed? metals? and? mining? corpora? on? and? one? of? the? largest? logis? cs? operators? in? Brazil.? †¢? It’s? the? largest? producers? of? iron? ore,? pellets,? and? second? largest? nickel;? other? products? include? manganese,? ferroalloys,? copper,? bauxite,? aluminum.? †¢? It’s? listed? on? stock? exchanges? of? Sao? Paulo,? New? York,? Paris,? Hong? Kong? and? Madrid.? †¢? It’s? also? the? corpora? on? with? the? ost? â€Å"contempt? for? the? environment? and? human? rights†? and? was? named? world’s? most? evil? company.? @8+8+&%*1(9'+8$)%#'. $%*1+08+2$,%01%1209$/31/(%0#$% 1. $/'44%(‘/;$06%')%*1+)2($/%)$*01/)%,$9$+,'+0%1+% ,$(‘+,%3/1(%,$. $419$,%$*1+1(8$)%)0/2&&4$,%01% /$*1. $/:%A#84$%0#$%8+,2)0/5%? ‘)%#80%#'/,%75%0#$%&417'4% *†. â€Å"3!. ,)3'! %! %8)7! â€Å"! â€Å"2)3174. â€Å"! +%)0. 9+),+#)&0+)'+&$'†) ‘+,%&1+$%7$51+,:% Global? Indices? Global indices (February 1989=1) 9 †¢? Mining? companies? have? con? nued? to? outperform? the? overall? market.? †¢? While? the? industry? was? hit? hard? by? the? global nancial? crisis,? mining? ompanies? have? led? the? return? and? gone? beyond. 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 Dow Jones FTSE HSBC Global Mining Index Source: Bloomberg. BCDC%)'? %/$'4%0$+)81+%8+%0#$%(‘/;$0%')%&/1? 0#% /$712+,$,6%133)$0%75%'%+2(7$/%13%8+*8,$+0)%0#'0%;$90% Global? Indices? â€Å"#$%&'(#)*+)*,-. %)/0 -. $/%0#$%*12/)$%13%0#$%4†²)0%5$'/6%&417'4%$*1+1(8*%'+,% 914808*'4%0/$+,)%#'. $%*#'+&$,%0#$%8+,2)0/5:%†#$%(8+8+&% !†#$%&'()*†#%)! &%+,-)! â€Å"). )†+/)+'. ). â€Å"#)&0+'+)! %)†1)&$'†! â€Å"2) 7'*;:%$*081+)%? #84$%)29945%/$(‘8+)%*1+)0/'8+$,6% ?80#%*#'44$+&$)%)2*#%')%,$*48+8+&%&/',$%'+,%(1/$% $(10$%41*'081+):%†#$%*1)0%*2/. $%#')%)#830$,%296% *1+08+28+&%01%920%9/$))2/$%1+%0#$%8+,2)0/5%01%(‘8+0'8+% *†. â€Å"3!. ,)#! %3! 4,! â€Å"+5)6+/)4,. (+'%). ‘+)+7+'2! â€Å"2).  "#)&0+) 8+,2)0/5%8)%/$*$8. 8+&%(1/$%'00$+081+%3/1(%80)%(‘+5%'+,% .'/8$,%)0†²;$#14,$/):%! â€Å"#$%&'#$†&($)†&*%#+%8+%0#$%(8+8+&% 8+,2)0/5: †¢? Emerging? countries? con? nued? to? storm? ahead,? with? demand? for? resources? driven? by? strong? GDP? growth,? including? close? to? 10%? growth? in? China. †¢? Mining? market? capitaliza? on? con? nued? to? rebound? in? 2010,? with? many? players? recovering? the? remaining? market? capitaliza? on? lost? uring? the? global nancial? crisis? and? surpassing? the? level? seen? at? the? end? of? 2007.? 1%#/+)*,-(%,2#3 @8+8+&%*1(9'+8$)%#'. $%*1+08+2$,%01%1209$/31/(%0#$% 1. $/'44%(‘/;$06%')%*1+)2($/%)$*01/)%,$9$+,'+0%1+% ,$(‘+,%3/1(%,$. $419$,%$*1+1(8$)%)0/2&&4$,%01% /$*1. $/:%A#84$%0#$%8+,2)0/5%? ‘)%#80%#'/,%75%0#$%&417'4% *†. â€Å"3!. ,)3'! %! %8)7! â€Å"! â€Å"2)3174. â€Å"! +%)0. 9+),+#)&0+)'+&$'†) ‘+,%&1+$%7$51+,:% †¢? The? total? year? end? market? capital iza? on? of? the? top? 40? companies? increased? by? 26%,? with? larger? gains? generally? achieved? by? the? smaller? companies. Global indices (February 1989=1) 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 Dow Jones FTSE HSBC Global Mining Index Source: Bloomberg. BCDC%)'? %/$'4%0$+)81+%8+%0#$%(‘/;$0%')%&/1? 0#% /$712+,$,6%133)$0%75%'%+2(7$/%13%8+*8,$+0)%0#'0%;$90% *'2081+%'+,%/8);%1+%0#$%'&$+,':%? @? ‘. /$! 3# 3/&+030. 3.! 3#$! A $'$/%0* 3/&+030. A. /,+B! $ Top 40 TS 100 250% 50 Coal India PotashCorp Barrick Gold FreeportMcMoRan Anglo American Xstrata China Shenhua 0 Rio Tinto 200% Vale †¢? The? big? get? bigger.? They? are? also? diversifying? in? other? direc? ons.? For? instance,? some? have? begun? exploring? the? bene? ts? f? ver? cal? integra? on? in? an? anempt? to? control? the? en? re? commodity? value? chain? –? from? coal? mining? to? steel? produc? on? to? power? genera? on.? 150 BHP Billiton †¢? New? entra nt:? Coal? India.? Following? its? IPO? in? October? 2010,? it’s? the? largest? new? entrant.? 5$&/! â€Å". 3 (#. A(! ‘ 3#$! ($)3 150% 100% 2009 2010 Source: Capital IQ. Note:? EBITDA:? earnings? before? interests,? taxes,? deprecia? on,? and? amor? za? on? 9%. #1:. %&7%2;-201$? @?! &! (3&*+!. 23! 5$&/! -. /! 3#$! ‘0*0*%! 0*+2(3/57! R)/. ((! 3#$! â€Å". 1! G?! 3#$/$! A&(! &! 50% 0% Source: B â€Å"#$%&'($)%*+,-)&%&. $(%-‘. -. 0+&%1232%4$%)'4%5#$%567%5#/$$%(0+$/)%89:;%90)&G#'H& 9##? â€Å"@)*+†A. +6;),†*5(â€Å"*88/)8*0)†A*+6),† were? announced? during? the? ;B†*5(â€Å"=CB†1481)/†01*5†³01)†9/,0†³1*+#>? â€Å"D5†³*5† â€Å"(2/. &$%2([email  protected]&. /%†&0#†1'/2&%). &%**3/*%;/&0%†1/2&? /3/& ?rst? half? of? 2011.? .&7B(*C/3&;C%)&7858&%). &577B&%). (* C/3& ;;'? â€Å"E. â€Å"F60†³014,†450. â€Å"F)/,F)704A)$†7. 5,4()/†01*0† â₠¬ ¢? Deals? volumes? and? aggregate? â€Å"(2/. &0#†1'/2&'%>/&7855&;C/&$12(/2;&4/%3&#E&+,-&()&;C/& â€Å". >&JK? † values? were? 10%? and? 25%? 1 80 ,000 3,000 Announced Date Target Target Description Target Headquarters Transaction Value (millions) Target ResourceType !$%%#&'(#%$#)*'+,*#-. /. /0#12,*3 2011? 1H? Top? 10? Global? Mining? Deals Acquirer 01/28/2011 Massey Energy Corporation Massey Energy Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, A. T. Massey Coal Company, Inc. , produces, processes, and sells bituminous coal primarily in the United States. United States US$8,500 Coal Alpha Natural Resources, Incorporated 04/24/2011 Equinox Minerals Limited Equinox Minerals Limited engages in the mining and exploration of mineral properties. Australia C$7,300 Copper Barrick Gold Corporation Announced 01/11/2011 Date Target Consolidated Thompson Iron Mines Limited Target DescriptionConsolidated Thompson Iron Mines Limited, a mining company, engages in the exploration an d development of mineral properties in Canada. Target Canada Headquarters Transaction C$4,900 Value (millions) Target Steel Resource Type Acquirer Cliffs Natural Resources Incorporated 05/02/2011 01/28/2011 US$3,400 US$8,500 Coal Coal Kazakhstan US$3,200 Zinc 04/24/2011 Equinox Minerals Limited Australia C$7,300 Copper 06/10/2011 01/11/2011 PT Bumi Resources Consolidated Thompson Minerals Tbk Iron Mines Limited International Coal Group, Inc. produces coal in northern and central Massey Energy Company, through States. owned subsidiary, A.T. Massey Appalachian regions of the United its wholly Coal Company, Inc. , produces, processes, and sells bituminous coal primarily iKazzinc JSC States. produces zinc with copper, precious metals, and lead n the United primarily credits in Kazakhstan. Equinox Minerals Limited engages in the mining and exploration of mineral properties. PT Bumi Resources Minerals Tbk, through its subsidiaries, engages in the Consolidated Thompson Iron Mines Limited, a mining Indonesia and in west exploration and development of mineral properties in company, engages in the exploration and development of mineral properties in Canada.Africa. United States United States 04/14/2011 International Coal Group, Massey Energy Incorporated Corporation KazzInc Indonesia Canada US$2,100 C$4,900 Diversi? ed Steel and Metals Mining 02/03/2011 05/02/2011 Fronteer Gold International Coal Group, Incorporated Incorporated Fronteer Gold Inc. engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of International Coalproperties in producesthe United States, and Turkey. mineral resource Group, Inc. Canada, coal in northern and central Appalachian regions of the United States. Canada United StatesC$2,300 US$3,400 Gold Coal Arch Coal Alpha Natural Incorporated Resources, IGlencore ncorporated International p Barrick Gold Corporation Bumi plc Cliffs Natural Resources Incorporated Newmont Min Arch Coal Corporation Incorporated 04/14/2011 03/02/2011 KazzInc Companhia B rasileira de Metalurgia e Mineracao Kazzinc JSCBrasileira de Metalurgia ewith copper,engages in the extraction, Companhia primarily produces zinc Mineracao precious metals, and lead credits in Kazakhstan. processing, manufacture, and marketing of niobium-based products. Kazakhstan BrazilUS$3,200 US$1,950 Zinc Diversi? ed Metals and Mining 06/10/2011 PT Bumi Resources Minerals Tbk PT Bumi Resources Minerals Tbk, through its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration and development of mineral properties in Indonesia and in west Africa. Indonesia US$2,100 Diversi? ed Metals and Mining 02/03/2011 Fronteer Gold Incorporated Fronteer Gold Inc. engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral resource properties in Canada, the United States, and Turkey. Canada C$2,300 Gold 03/02/2011 Companhia Brasileira de Metalurgia e MineracaoCompanhia Brasileira de Metalurgia e Mineracao engages in the extraction, processing, manufacture, and marketing of niobium-based products. Brazi l US$1,950 Diversi? ed Metals and Mining 06/22/2011 Vale Fertilizantes SA Vale Fertilizantes S. A. produces and supplies phosphate- and nitrogen- based inputs for the production of fertilisers and inputs for chemical companies in Brazil. Brazil US$1,390 Fertilisers and Agricultural Chemicals POSCO, Sojit Corporation, N Steel Corpora Holdings Inco Vale S. A. The Japan Oil and Metals Na Corporation & Pension Servi 06/15/2011 Drummond Company, Inc. Colombian Mining Operations and Related Infrastructure Drummond Companys, Colombian Mining Operations and Related Infrastructure comprises coal exploration properties with probable reserves of about 2 billion net tons. Colombia US$1,524 Coal Itochu Corpor 06/22/2011 Vale Fertilizantes SA Vale Fertilizantes S. A. produces and supplies phosphate- and nitrogen- based inputs for the production of fertilisers and inputs for chemical companies in Brazil. Brazil US$1,390 Fertilisers and Agricultural Vale S. A. Glencore Sojit POSCO, ICorporation, p nternational Steel Corpora Holdings Bumi plc IncoThe Japan Oi and Metals N Corporation & Pension Serv Newmont Min Corporation 2011? 1H? Top? 10? Global? Mining? Deals et ource Acquirer Acquirer Description Acquirer Headquarters Transaction Status (as at August 8, 2011) l Alpha Natural Resources, Incorporated Alpha Natural Resources, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the production, processing, and sale of coal in the United States. United States Closed per Barrick Gold Corporation Barrick Gold Corporation engages in the production and sale of gold, as well as related activities, such as exploration and mine development.Canada Closed l Cliffs Natural Resources Incorporated Cliffs Natural Resources, a mining and natural resources company, produces iron ore pellets, lump and ? nes iron ore, and metallurgical coal products. United States Closed l Arch Coal Incorporated Arch Coal engages in the production and sale of steam and metallurgical coal from surface and underground mine s located throughout the United States. United States Closed Glencore International plc Glencore International plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in producing, sourcing, processing, re? ning, transporting, storing, ? ancing, and supplying commodities to industries worldwide. Switzerland Announced Bumi plc Bumi plc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration, mining, and processing of coal and other minerals in Indonesia and West Africa. United Kingdom Announced Newmont Mining Corporation Newmont Mining, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and production of gold and copper properties. United States Closed POSCO, Sojitz Corporation, Nippon Steel Corporation, JFE Holdings Incorporated, The Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation & National Pension ServiceJFE Holdings, Inc. , through its subsidiaries, engages in steel and engineering operations in Japan. JFE Holdings Inc. : Japan Announced National Pension Service is a pens ion fund manager. National Pension Service: South Korea rsi? ed als and ng rsi? ed als and ng Nippon Steel Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sale of steel and related products in Japan and internationally. Nippon Steel Corp. : Japan POSCO: South Korea Sojitz Corporation operates as a general trading company worldwide. Sojitz Corporation: Japan Japan oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation provides ? ancial assistance, technology development, technical support, stockpiling, gathering/providing information, mine pollution control, and overseas ? eld survey services in Japan. ilisers POSCO engages in the manufacture and sale of steel products in South Korea and internationally. The Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation: Japan Vale S. A. Vale S. A. engages in the exploration, production, and sale of basic metals in Brazil. Brazil Announced Itochu Corporation ITOCHU Corporation operates as a general trading company primarily in Japan and inte rnationally. Japan Announced

Abstract on Marketing Intelligence System for a Media Company

Marketing Intelligence Database Management at Manipal Media Network Limited A project by * Abhishek Gupta * Aishwarya Shetty * Nikhil Modi * Nikita Patel * Pritish Prabhu * Rahul Dara * Reshma R * Rishi Gupta * Sudip Ray * Vaibhav Goswami OVERVIEW OF MMNL Manipal Media Network Limited is a subsidiary of Manipal Group which specializes in printing and publications. Udayavani, the flagship publication of the MMNL is a leading daily Kannada newspaper. Its subscriptions reach most cities of Karnataka including Mangalore, Bangalore and Gulbarga.Its first issue was in 1971 and it continues to grow daily reaching more than 300,000 houses. BUSINESS STRATEGY MMNL has always tried to maintain the values of its shareholders and customers against its competition. MMNL strives to be a Multi-media Corporation, making its presence felt across several platforms including print, e-papers among others delivering local news and entertainment solutions. IT STRATEGY The strategy of the IT team of MMNL is consistently aligned with the overall strategy of the company.This is done by the higher management who believe that IT plays an integral part in proving a competitive advantage. The IT team has provided MMNL with various solutions ahead of its time such as iTunes’ first Kannada Application, the first Kannada News Android App and has entered into partnerships with media leaders such as Yahoo and Newshunt. The IT team has also ensured that MMNL is a leader in delivering news on online platforms such as Android, IOS and Web. Along with this, it has developed internal MIS systems and also worked hand in hand with companies like 4CPlus for successful ERP implementations in numerous areas.By implementing Market Intelligence Database System which will help us in storing the data in a structured format and providing management with quality information which will give them a better insight for efficient decision making. Strategic Alignment Model * Alignment of business and IT strate gy: * The overall business strategy of MMNL is to be a multi media corporation with presence across platforms delivering hyper local news and entertainment solutions. The IT team works in alignment with this overall strategy and strives to provide cutting edge technology solutions that are ahead in time, however keeping the cost aspect in perspective. Some of the results of their effort is – ITunes first Kannada App, First Kannada News App on Android, Partnership with global leaders like Yahoo and Newshunt. Since many readers today have access to internet and spend a lot of time on it, the industry feels that there might be a shift from traditional newspaper to online platforms. * However, this should take a decade's time or so. MMNL being a leader in coastal in Karnataka sees this as an opportunity to be leader on online platforms as well like Android, IOS, Web. Alignment of business and IT capabilities: * In order to align the business capabilities with IT capabilities, we have provided a suggestion to use IT capabilities in order to improve business processes and using IT tools to promote customer loyalty. The marketing intelligence system proposed by us is a step towards accomplishing this objective. * Alignment of business strategy and business capabilities: * In order to align the business strategy with business capabilities, social architecture tools can be formulated.The existing resources and capabilities should be fully utilized in order to implement the business strategy. * Training and motivating the workforce and incentivizing the workforce on successful completion of strategic objectives and goals are the means towards achieving it. * Alignment of IT strategy and IT capabilities: * When it comes to internal strategy, the IT team has developed internal MIS system and also engaged with an external agency for ERP implementation which has been done successfully in many areas.This proves that the current IT capabilities are quite robust and can be further utilized to drive business growth. * Alignment of IT strategy and capabilities can be achieved by having a cross-functional team of managers with expertise is IT knowledge and business knowledge so as to leverage the full potential of its IT capabilities. COMPETITION The major competitors to Udayavani are Prajavani, Vijay Karnataka, Kannada Prabha, Sanjevani among others. This leads to major emphasis being placed on gathering and use of market intelligence as the competition is cut throat.MARKET INTELLIGENCE Marketing Intelligence includes everyday information relevant to a company, collate and analyze the obtained information for subsequent decision making in determining market opportunities, risks and strategies. The system is to be designed for usage by the management of the company and can be viewed by all the employees of the company. This specifically enables the management to see current key performance factors in real time and analyze trends, rather than wait for analysts to deliver periodic reports.Market Intelligence is a subset of Business Intelligence which is a set of methodologies, processes, architectures, and technologies that transform raw data into meaningful and useful information. INFORMATION GATHERING Market related data reaches the company through various sources. The lower level of the organisation consists of executives and trainees who visit distributors on a daily basis. The sources of information could be by a company employees or special agents and the mode of information is mainly through phone calls, SMS, email or through other market sources.The bulk of the information is however gathered by these lower level executives from the distributors and hawkers usually during the early hours of the morning. The information consists of competitors strategies with respect to: * Advertising space, * Insertions of pamphlets, * Change of content in existing publications (page design) * Emergence of new newspapers (VRL publication) * Distributors margins * Expansion by competitors in new territories * Subscription rateManipal Institute of Communication conducts yearly market research on behalf of MMNL which gives them insight into the new trends and expectations from customers and distributors. STORAGE OF DATA MMNL presently maintains individual excel sheets for each of its competitors. The assistant managers are tasked with collating and compiling the data given to them by the executives. This data is maintained according to: * Date and division * Edition * Geographic area and edition * Source of information and context * Findings * Employee entering data and * Employee validating the dataThe data is validated through multiple sources in different regions and also through cross verification. Example: Data collected in Mangalore will be cross checked with similar repeating data from Udupi and Manipal. Due to such disparate sources, data comes in various formats, due to which collation of data is very difficul t. Also, it is difficult to comprehend this data and bringing it into a common platform may distort it. Since information is not properly structured, it may get distorted while sharing between various departments and its interpretation could be different by different people.PROBLEM The problem faced by MMNL is on three levels. 1. Lack of structure- Data reaching the company is unstructured and in fragmented form. It makes the data difficult to comprehend. Since data is of strategic importance, it could have high impact on company’s future strategy or decision. 2. Transfer of data – The data leakage during the transfer of data is the biggest problem faced by MMNL. The executives at the lower level who pass the data to the managerial level use their discretion and pass the data what they feel is important instead of all the data gathered.This leads to loss of data which may turn out to be important. 3. Accessibility – MMNL has data of the past 8-9 years which is s tored using excel sheets. A separate excel sheet is maintained for every company. Whenever the company has to check some data it has to go through all the files which is a cumbersome process. 4. Acceptance – When a new system is implemented people may not be ready to accept it. They may be anxious about what the change may lead to. RECOMMENDATIONS Few options that are present to address the issue of data leakage faced by MMNL are: 1.Toll-free number – The company can acquire a toll free number on which the executives will call and/or SMS the data which will be recorded through an automated system. If this is implemented the executives will not have to take extra efforts to pass on the data to their managers which in turn it will minimize any data leakage. The costs associated are: * BSNL – Cost is Rs. 1. 60/minute. * Initial Cost: Rs. 13000 (Rs. 10000 refundable) * Fixed monthly cost: Rs. 1000 * Tata – Cost is Rs. 2. 39/minute * Initial Cost: Rs. 30000 (R s. 25000 refundable) Fixed monthly cost: Rs. 3000 * Reliance – Cost is Rs. 2. 20/minute * Initial Cost: Rs 13000 (Rs. 10000 refundable) * Fixed monthly cost: Depends on usage 2. Incentives – Keeping the existing system of personally reporting the data to managers in place, incentives can be provided periodically based on quantity and quality of data. This will ensure that executives are encouraged to pass on every piece of available information. If the toll-free system is implemented by MMNL then it can provide incentives to executives who report the data.The problem of unreliable data will not arise as the data will be validated from sources in different regions. 3. Training and development – MMNL can perform training and development programs which are imperative to mould the staff in accordance with the company’s strategy. A company’s sales force is very crucial for the intelligence gathering activity as they can provide excellent data about the current trends in the market. They are also a very credible source for acquiring confidential data about competitors, consumers, suppliers etc.For sales force outside Manipal and Udupi, a trainer can be made to tour different parts of the country. 4. Network Externally – In order to keep a tab on its competitors, measures should be taken to track how competitors are performing. For this, purchasing the competitor's products, checking their advertising campaigns, the press media coverage, reading their published reports, etc can be done. This process is called Competitive intelligence which is the broader discipline of researching, analyzing and formulating data and information from the entire competitive environment of any organization. . Collect Competitive Intelligence through customer feedback – Customer feedback is an important aspect for any company as it is the customer who purchases the product. Online platforms like chat rooms, blogs, discussion forums, custome r review boards etc can be used to generate customer feedback. This enables the company to understand its customer’s view about the product. For this, a structured system can be applied by the company to obtain the relevant data. Manipal Institute of Communications does yearly surveys to find out changing customer perceptions regarding MMNL. . For the issue of accessibility MMNL can implement a database. * The centralised database will be in the following format: * The basic cost for a database system is around Rs. 1. 5 lakhs but depending on the different features needed by MMNL the cost can vary. * The database form can be opened at any time by the employees. A static link will be provided. * Our centralized database system will be decided into 2 main categories: * Internal Data * External Data * Internal Data * The employees can enter the intelligence acquired on internal matters in this section. The data entered here will be like delivery problems, supply chain problems e tc. * There will be a form asking them what are the issues and the department it relates to. * External Data * This section will again be divided into 2 parts: * Competitor data * Advertising Data * Competitor Data * In this form the employee will have to enter intelligence pertaining to: * Name of the company * News Acquired * Source of News * Advertising Data * In this form the employee will have to enter intelligence pertaining to: * Name of the company * News Acquired Source of News * The database will also have a verification code. * Every employee will be given a unique code which he has to enter before submitting the intelligence data. * This will secure the database and will also eliminate the possibility of anyone entering data wrongly under the name of any other person. * The problem of acceptance can be addressed in the following manner: a) Involvement of employees (i) Executives: Involving them in regards to the various incentives on offer will help reduce the anxiety to change; this will also help in building loyalty. ii) Employees: The employees can be involved through inputs about the functions needed by them in the database system. b) Workshops – MMNL can conduct workshops in the initial months after the implementation of the database system and the toll free number. * Representation through GRIDS QUICK WIN SUSTAINABILITY RISK IMPLEMENTATION RISK DUMB IDEA NEW SYSTEM at MMNL SIZE OF OPPORTUNITY ABILITY TO EXECUTE (PG. NO. 34, CHAPTER 1,CORPORATE INFORMATION & STRATEGY MANAGEMENT) MMNL has a very good track record in implementation of new technological systems.Whenever the company has implemented a new technology system the implementation took place glitch free. The company has implemented Kannada news app on android and also it has tie-ups with Yahoo and Newshunt. The company is also in the process of implementing an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. The implementation of this is going smoothly. This leads us to believe that abi lity to execute a new system will be high at MMNL and thus the new system will fall in sustainability risk. But, whenever a new IT system is implemented there is always an implementation risk ecause there might be social and technological problems. Social problems which can arise are that employees may be anxious about the new system. They may be anxious about the fact whether they will be able to use that system properly or not and if not then will they be fired from their jobs. Technological problems that may arise are compatibility problems with the legacy systems and maintenance problems. Thus, we say that the new system will be in the implementation risk of the strategic grid. PROBABLE IMPACT ON STRATEGY PROBABLE IMPACT ON BUSINESS OPERATIONSCurrent position Position after implementation (pg. no. 37,chapter 1,Corporate Information & Strategy Management) The marketing intelligence gathered from various sources is currently passed around in the office informally through Word of M outh and excel sheets. This leads to the data being fragmented, lost and getting distorted. As a result of this it is not accessible to everyone and does not provide the correct point of view. Due to this lack of accessibility, management is not able to take any timely strategic decisions.This also does not help the company much in its business operations. We can say that current system of MMNL is in the SUPPORT quadrant of the McFarlan’s Grid. This is because the system does not impact the business operations as well as its strategic decisions. After the Marketing Intelligence database system is implemented, the data will be stored in one centralized location. This will help in easy accessibility of the data. The company officials can then access this data at anytime and use it to take strategic decisions.Since the data is about competitors and the market which will help in taking important strategic decisions. The implementation of the system will not lead to any change in the business operations of the company. Thus, the system, once implemented should move from the current support position to the TURNAROUND quadrant of the McFarlan’s Grid. * BENEFITS FROM DATABASE Implementation of Market Intelligence Database System at MMNL will not lead to any tangible benefits as the decisions taken by management on the market intelligence acquired cannot be known at the moment.The implementation of the system at MMNL will only lead to intangible benefits. The benefits that arise will be: 1. The data will all be present in one place which will help the management to take better decisions. 2. The company employees will save a lot of time if the data is present in one place with options of search. 3. It will give company a competitive advantage as very few media networks have such a system present at the moment. 4. The storage of data will help the company in making a wide database which can be used for analytics in the future.

Lessons from Enron for British Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Lessons from Enron for British Business - Essay Example Another accounting gap, which was discovered from the Enron's balance sheet, was the recording of the note receivable as an asset. These were the promises to pay the equity claim in the limited partnerships, which Enron recorded as assets even though GAAP requires subscribed equity to be reported as a contra-stockholders' equity account, rather than as a note receivable. Once it was accused of GAAP violations, Enron announced it would restate the previous 4 As years of financial statements by recording a $1.2 billion reduction in stockholders' equity, adjusting its income statements and balance sheets for the unconsolidated SPEs, and making prior-period proposed audit adjustments and reclassifications that had originally been considered as immaterial. Enron's restatement reduced previously reported net income by $569 million and reduced shareholders' equity by $1.2 billion. Shortly after these announcements, several rating agencies lowered Enron's long-term debt to below-investment grade, and Dynegy terminated its proposed merger agreement with Enron. In December 2001, Enron filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Charles Mulford, co-author of The Financial Numbers Game, says, "the accounting model isn't broken, financial reporting just needs some tweaks." The Enron used the most common off balance sheet financing technique. ... Enron's restatement reduced previously reported net income by $569 million and reduced shareholders' equity by $1.2 billion. Shortly after these announcements, several rating agencies lowered Enron's long-term debt to below-investment grade, and Dynegy terminated its proposed merger agreement with Enron. In December 2001, Enron filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Off Balance Sheet Financing: 2nd aspect: Charles Mulford, co-author of The Financial Numbers Game, says, "the accounting model isn't broken, financial reporting just needs some tweaks." The Enron used the most common off balance sheet financing technique. Enron conducted much of its business in these entities that they controlled. They transacted with themselves. That kind of self-dealing allowed them to report profits when they weren't traditionally making a profit." (Cited in Kelcher, 2002) Definition: Off balance sheet usually means an asset or debt or financing activity not on the company's balance sheet. It could involve a lease or a separate subsidiary or a contingent liability such as a letter of credit. (Wikipedia, 2005) Can be explained as the different methods of acquiring capital by a company, which is not stated, on the financial statement of the company. The most commonly used methods of raising money which does not appear on the balance sheet is in the shape of the research and development partnerships, different kinds of lease, and Joint ventures etc. are the common methods used. Most of the companies obtain funds by using their product idea on intelligence and knowledge about any specific field and acquiring the capital from the partner. Since the partner who is providing

Ionic and Covalent Bonding Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ionic and Covalent Bonding - Essay Example Formation of ionic bond takes when an electron is transferred from a non metal to metal making the two atoms have partial positive and negative charge hence they attract one another. Reaction between non-metals and metals results into electrons being transferred from the metal to non-metal and, therefore, the metal and non-metal forms ions. On the other hand, the compound formed is called an ionic compound (Gaskell 2008, p. 17). In the above example, sodium atom loses an electron to the chlorine atom. Therefore, sodium atom, therefore, becomes partially positively charged while the chlorine atom becomes partially negatively charged hence an ionic bond is formed (Gaskell 2008, p. 18). Ionic bonds do not have a definite shape while covalent bonds have definite shapes that can be predicted. In addition, covalent bonds can be broken to the original atoms which made the molecule because the atoms are close to one another so as to share electrons (Engel and Reid 2012, p.43). While, ionic bonds are solid, covalent bonds molecules are gaseous or liquids. Compounds that have covalent bonds have a lower melting point than ionic bonds because they have weak van der waals forces that do not require a high amount of energy. On the other hand, ionic compound has higher melting points because their bonds are stable and hence high amount of energy is required to the bonds (Atkins & Paula 2012, p.54). Ionic bonds also form crystalline atoms and in solution or molten state they conduct electricity and are also polar bonds. Therefore, most of them dissolve in water but are insoluble in solvents that are not polar (Silbey et al. 2004 p.30). Ionic bonds are formed between a metal and non-metal atoms. For the formation of the bond to occur, the atoms must have high difference in electron negativity and it is made when the metal atom loses an electron to the non-metal making it

Operational Management Business Plan of a Special Event Essay

Operational Management Business Plan of a Special Event - Essay Example Siegel (2009, Pg. 21) says that this domain constitutes an important and critical part of business that governs the efficiency and quality with which products are manufactured or services are provided and involves numerous human intensive procedures. In fact, operations management also encompasses the effective distribution and supply of goods to customers. The history of operations management can be traced back to the Second World War when various researchers undertook complex studies to understand the various basic processes that influenced the course of army operations such as logistics, troop movement, supply routes etc (Pycraft, 2009, Pg. 43). This extensive focus on analyzing the pattern of military operations led to the evolution of military systems and provided the much needed insight into understand multilateral and interdisciplinary process that constitute the field of operations research. The discipline of operations research thus encompasses various scientific domains and depends on solutions like statistics, modeling and structured algorithms to provide some useful answers to complex problems that pertain to various business processes and operations within an organization. In this context, operations research does not rely much on considering the exact nature or area of specialization of the organization. According to McMahon (2007, Pg. 87), the sole purpose of employing operations research methods is to determine a scientific answer to a given complex scenario that can enhance the performance of the company and thus requires the collaboration of experts from several disciplines to understand the problem from a quantitative perspective. Thus, operations research provides numerous tools, methods and procedures that help solve many issues pertaining to operations management (Wagen, 2009, Pg. 63). Operations management is also influenced by industrial engineering that helps understand a given problem area from an engineering perspective and develop re quisite solutions. The current paper describes the usefulness of operations management in organizing special events like seminars and conferences. Various issues pertaining to event management like planning, purchasing, inventory management, logistics, budgeting and quality will be considered when describing the applicability of operations management to this particular business area. The manner in which different components work together in organizing a successful event and the role of operations management in reducing costs and ensuring profitability has been highlighted. Specifically, the paper discusses the usefulness of operations management in organizing a networking event for reputed firms such as an investment bank. Investment banks regularly organize such events to interact with potential customers, forge new contacts with major players in different industries and strengthen relationships with existing customers. Typical attendees to these events included high profile repres entatives from several prominent companies operating in various industries. Role of operations management in organizing events A networking event, such as the one discussed in this paper, is not just a luxurious business party, but is in fact an important marketing exercise for investment banks that is aimed at promoting their services through personal interaction with potential clients. While the event has to display the reputation and prominence of the investment bank, the primary goal of the event

What is the optimal rate of inflation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

What is the optimal rate of inflation - Essay Example The causes of inflation are many and complex but economists do point towards the interaction between the output given by an economy and the supply of money in a system as well as the interest rates established by the government as guides for what inflation would be present in a country. Monetarist economists believe that the supply of money is most important in setting the rate of inflation while the Keynesian economists suggest that interest rates and economic output set the rate of inflation (Wikipedia, 2007). The problem with defining what the optimal rate of inflation should be comes from the difference in theory and practice. Certain theories point towards negative inflation being the best but it has been shown that countries with negative inflation suffered the consequences because other factors influenced their economic situation. Others suggest that a positive rate could be the optimal answer but some countries have suffered from uncontrolled inflation and overheating economies when inflation became difficult to control. Politicians on the other hand prefer to see zero inflation since it is easy to project an idea of economic stability if they can point towards zero inflation as well as a zero unemployment rate (Palley, 1998). Another difference between economists and the economic policies of several state operated banks around Europe is their optimal rate of inflation. It seems that there is no real consensus on the idea and while some economists suggest that the optimal rate of inflation in an economy is slightly negative (Friedman, M. 1969), others show with examples from recent history that a slight rate of inflation could actually be good for the economy (Sinclair, 2003). The dominant economic paradigm, subscribed to by both the government and the stock markets, is the theory of the Non-Accelerating Inflation Rate of Unemployment (NAIRU). This is also called the alias the natural rate of unemployment (Palley, 1998). The theory maintains that if the

Business and Operation Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Business and Operation Strategy - Essay Example Business strategy is the way in which companies achieve competitive advantage and according to Ohmae (1982), it is an instrument of competition in a competitive market as what distinguishes this from other types of planning is merely competitive advantage. Porter’s (1980) main idea of business strategy is that competitive advantage in a company can be created by low cost or differentiation and these instances can become meaningful in a broad or limited market. The strategy here is in the form of a two by two matrix in internal and the market perspectives in competitive advantage of a firm where there is cost differentiation and market range. Porter (1985) believes that companies in major cases adopt one of these strategies but if a company chooses to apply more than one strategy it defeats the object due to the cost leadership and differentiation strategies are incompatible, differentiation usually increases the cost. Operational excellence describes a distinct strategic approach to production and providing services and products where the aim of this strategy is to hold price leadership in the industry.

Christianity and Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Christianity and Education - Essay Example Years ago, people served God without feeling ashamed. He was a part of everyday life. Society valued the Lord as a whole, as it was expected that all people go to church for worship. Those who did not were looked down upon, since they were not giving the Lord the thanks he deserves. Children prayed openly in school, and the class always said prayers before beginning the daily study routine. Nowadays, fewer people attend church. Christians who are faithful in their worship towards God are frequently mocked, and if people miss church, not much is thought of it. Much of society does not hold god in as high of regard as they used to. What’s even worse is that God has practically been taken out of our schools. Some secular individuals who do not take Christianity seriously may reason that Christians are making too much of a big deal about matters. They feel that God is still in our schools, since children are still allowed to pray privately. Evidence, on the other hand, is contrary to such reasoning, as the Bible has much to show us about the times we are living in. What’s more, we can find an explanation in the pages of God’s word as to why the school system is going downhill when it comes to God and morals. The passage at 2 Timothy 3:1-5 gives us a good explanation as to why such events are transpiring. This passage talks about the last days and what is to occur during those times. We are told that children will be disrespectful to those in charge, having a complete lack of regard to authority. Violence will increase greatly, as people will commit violent crimes without a conscience. There will be a serious lacking of self control, and the number of selfish individuals will increase to an alarming rate. Should a person make a mistake, there will be no forgiveness if he wants to smooth things over because people during the last days will be very unforgiving. And if this isn't bad enough, we are told about how people will have a prideful spirit, and will deeply persecute those who love serving God and doing what is right. People will only be concerned about the things that pleasure them rather than devoting time to serving God (the Holy Bible, New King James Version.) Everything that was mention in this Bible passage is characteristic of what is currently occurring in our schools at present. Years ago, children actually respected the teachers. Now, it is not common to hear that teachers stand around helplessly while the children do their dirty business because they are afraid of what the children might do for correcting the behavior. Children talk back to the teachers, and some have even inflicted harsh physical violence. The number of violent incidences that occur in our schools today is ever increasing. Just about every time one switches on the TV to watch the news, there is some sort of report on school violence. There are numerous cases concerning children who bully others, and nothing is done about it because the teachers are afraid of the bullies. Others take things to the extremes by calling bomb threats or bringing weapons to school to injure and kill teachers and fellow classmates. Such violent behavior is not characteristic of a Christian who is reverent in his service to God, and it shows us that things are really getting out of control as described in the above Bible passage. When we look at the pages of God's word, He makes it very clear how he feels about violence. At Galatians 5:19, 20, there is a list of practices that are not acceptable for a servant of God to engage in. Acts of violence are listed among them. In these verses, we are told what will happen to those who engage in such acts. These persons will not inherit God's kingdom (the Holy Bible, New King James Version). Also Psalm 11:5 states that God hates violence (the holy Bible, New King James Version). Nothing can be clearer about how God feels than this verse, which directly states His feelings about the subject. Sadly, school children are not taking this into account, as God is no longer a part of the school curriculum. God

Is Anatomy Destiny Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Is Anatomy Destiny - Research Paper Example Secondly, the paper will examine maleness and femaleness in the society and critically explore whether individuals should be tied to the gender they are assigned in the society. There are several factors usually present at birth that are used to determine the sex of an individual at birth which include the presence or absence of a Y chromosome, the type of gonads, sex hormones, the internal reproductive anatomy and the anatomy of the external genitalia (Kalat 122). Genetically, males and females are different where males have an X and a Y chromosome whereas Females have two X chromosomes .Immediately after conception, the male and female embryos are indistinguishable except for their differences in chromosomes where the male embryo has a Y chromosome. The Y chromosome triggers the production of testosterone and other androgen/male hormones which cause the embryo to develop testes and a penis instead of developing ovaries and a uterus. Biological psychologists regard gender identity a nd role as arising from biological processes and the differences between the two sexes where men and women act, feel and think differently because of the differences regarding how their brain works which is brought about by chromosomal and hormonal differences (Kalat 341). The male hormones (androgens make the male brain to develop and work differently from the female brain and this accounts for the differences in behavior between men and women for instance men are more aggressive than women Males and females produce different sex hormones (androgens for males and oestrogens for females) in varying quantities that not only affects their physiology e.g. menstrual cycle in females but also has a bearing on their behavior. For instance, testosterone which is produced in greater quantities in men has a great influence on the behaviors that is prominent in males. A research has shown that violent offenders and recidivists (those with a tendency of reoffending) have higher amounts of test osterone than nonviolent offenders. Women have higher levels of oxytocin which is associated with the behavior of women being more sociable than men in the society whereas men are generally seen to be more aggressive. Financial traders with higher levels of testosterone were also seen to take greater risks which are also in agreement with the fact that most entrepreneurs are male (Pettman 294). On the other hand, the issue of gender identity and gender roles is a social construct not a matter of differences in sex. Beauvoir considers the various myths used to paint women as a second gender in different societies. She strongly criticizes these myths terming them as dubious analogies and pseudo-thinking form of philosophy (Beauvoir 49). Social factors contribute to once gender roles and performance since the social influences start playing a big role in the child’s development immediately the baby is born. Parents and the society play a role in teaching and shaping of gender ty ped behaviors in boys and girls as early as they are born. They encourage specific gender –typed behaviors that bring about gender-appropriate activities as much as discouraging cross-gender activities

Company law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 4

Company law - Essay Example For example, the verdict of this case law also highlights that the company can also be sued or can sue others as well. Through this authority, the company will be given an opportunity to defend itself and provide grounds for legitimising their business actions and their ramifications as well. At the same time, the company has right to own property, assets and liabilities as well. When these characteristics are compared with a natural human being, it can be deduced that both corporate entity and human being have similar rights, authority and ownership of assets. However, there are certain circumstances in which this artificial existence is not allowed but the veil of incorporation is lifted for ascertaining liability or any other legal issue that have necessitated such action. In the following parts of this essay, first the case study background has been provided in which the basic facts and other details have been included. Subsequently, the related held has also been provided. It is followed by various sections highlighting the influence on English company law and common law as well. In this discussion segment, both aspects have been highlighted so as to ascertain and understand the usefulness of this case law. For this purpose, support of subsequent other case laws has also been provided. Salomon was a merchant in the boot and leather business. With the passage of time, the business experienced a steady rise which required additional capital and members as well. In order to meet the needs of growing business, Solomon decided to form a limited company by taking his family members as partners. Subsequently, he sold the business control and ownership to the new company as the new company paid cash, debentures and shares as well. However, due to the certain events, the company was liquidated and the case was moved into the court because the parties argued that Solomon and the

Children and parents Essay Example for Free

Children and parents Essay A new age man is a man that a man that believes in equality and shares all household chores with is partner exactly and contributes equally as much as the women. This is different from a house husband because this is a man who has had a complete role reversal and takes on the traditional role of a house wife and stays at home full time. We cannot generalise about role relationships across society because changes in role relationships have not occurred at the same pace or to the same extent through all sectors of society. Role relationships vary according to social class and ethnicity. Home based entertainment, for example DIY give spouses things in common which gives them a friendlier and more loving relationship. Contraception has allowed couples to have children later and also it means that a lot of couples choose to have smaller families or no children at all. This does not apply to some religions such as Catholics who do not believe in using contraception. Women can now plan when to start their families and to have children resulting in them planning them around their careers. Feminism is an approach that fights for the equal rights of women. This is a large factor in the changing equality in the home because more women demand to be treat as their partners equal. It has lead to the rejection of the housewife role. There is an increase in male unemployment more men have become more involved in domestic tasks. Jane Wheelock (1990) conducted research into this topic and found that men undertook a lot more housework and childcare while unemployed. One survey showed that mothers that also worked outside home had it worse because they still spend more hours on housework a week then they do at their paid place of work. On average these women spend 62 hours a week on house hold tasks were fathers who also worked only spent 23 hours on house work. Another survey shows that some traditional gender role are still being passed down to the younger generations( 1992-93) such as girls still taking more of a part in cooking, cleaning and child care but boys are doing more things for themselves like cleaning their own rooms, making beds and washing their own clothes. Sometimes sociologists say that social class and ethnicity change role relationships. It is suggested that working class families are more male dominated (patriarchal). Evidence proves that middle class conjugal relationships are more equal than working class ones but it is also said that working class fathers are more involved in childcare. It is believed that Asian families are usually based on unfair patriarchal relationships. Westwood and Bhachu (1988) challenge this idea arguing that images of the Asian family are usually based on prejudice and prejudgement. They point out that Asian families are in fact British families and are a strong source of resistance against the racism of British society. In reality there are ethnic differences between Asian people in Britain according to religion and social class, which makes it hard to generalise about the Asian family. Henriques and Slaugher talk about the patriarchal relationships between men and women. This means that the relationship is male dominated. They talk about the two different segregated roles. Relationships between children and parents have changed over time but it has always varied between working, middle and upper class families. Throughout the nineteenth century life chances varied a lot for different classes for children. A paid employee such as a nanny would often look after higher-class children. This would often separate their children from their parents and so it would be harder for them to develop a strong bond. Working class children on the other hand, especially boys would often have to start work very young. There was a wider range of jobs for boys were available but girls would often have to work in cotton factories. The hours would be long and the pay and conditions would often be unfair. Poverty prevented parents sending their children to school and sometimes they would only send their boys but keep the girls at home to teach them how to be a good housewife. Mothers would often have a close relationship with her daughter. People used to have children so they could send them out to work to earn money for the family. Sometimes parents thought that education just blocked this. Another reason why people used to have children was so they had someone to take care of them in old age. Factors that changed these relationships included the growth of the welfare state, which meant people no longer needed children to look after them in old age. Parents could no longer send children out to work at such a young age because of protective legislation, this meant that law including factory and mine acts stopped it. There was a growth of the meaning of childhood and they remained children for longer because of the state of education in 1870 meant you had to attend school. Children were given more attention by parents, media and toys invented a new childhood and children and parents spent more time together. Today the relationship is usually warmer and more caring than in the past. Children are seen as more important and taken a lot more seriously. There have been changing attitudes towards discipline and laws against hitting children in Scotland. It is now seen as wrong to hurt a child, if they do organisations (social services) get involved. There is more of an emphasis on freedom and childrens rights. Relationships are more children centred and because family sizes are smaller children get more attention. In 1976 a law was passed to say that the minimum age of leaving school was 16 and though a child can work before then the hours and law restricts times. This means that children are financially dependent on their families for long periods of time especially if they go on to further education. Children are fully dependent on their parents and this can sometimes bring stress and tension to the family. Not all relationships between child and parents have improved as sadly cruelty to children is still widespread and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) estimate that around 600 children are intentionally harmed by their parents each year.

Analysing equality and diversity in social care

Analysing equality and diversity in social care Equality is about creating a fairer society, where everyone can participate and has the opportunity to fulfil their potential (DH, 2004). It is about identifying patterns of experience based on group identity, and the challenging processes that limit individuals potential health and life chances. For example, occupational segregation. Women make up almost 75% of the NHS workforce but are concentrated in the lower-paid occupational areas: nursing, allied health professionals (AHPs), administrative workers and ancillary workers (DH, 2005). People from black and minority ethnic groups comprise 39.1% of hospital medical staff yet they comprise only 22.1% of all hospital medical consultants (DH, 2005). An equalities approach understands that our social identity in terms of gender, race, disability, age, social class, sexuality and religion will impact on our life experiences. Diversity literally means difference. When it is used as a contrast or addition to equality, it is about recognising individual as well as group differences, treating people as individuals, and placing positive value on diversity in the community and in the workforce. Historically, employers and services have ignored certain differences. However, individual and group diversity needs to be considered in order to ensure that everybodys needs and requirements are understood and responded to within employment practice and service design and delivery. One way in which organisations have responded to the issue of diversity in recent years has been the development of flexibility in working practices and services. For example, an employer may allow an employee to work a flexible working pattern to accommodate child care arrangements, or a GP surgery may offer surgeries at the weekends in accommodate those who work full time during the week. These approaches recognise that in order to be inclusive and equal to all, organisations may need to respond differently to individuals/groups. Therefore, a commitment to equality in addition to recognition of diversity means that different can be equal. Learning outcomes Understand concepts of equality, diversity rights in relation to Health and Social Care. Equality and diversity is becoming more important in all aspects of our lives and work for a number of reasons. We live in an increasingly diverse society and need to be able to respond appropriately and sensitively to this diversity. Learners in the healthcare setting will reflect this diversity around gender, race and ethnicity, disability, religion, sexuality, class and age. Your organisation believes that successful implementation of equality and diversity in all aspects of work ensures that colleagues, staff and students are valued, motivated and treated fairly. Every member of society is likely, at some point, to be a recipient of health and social care. The Department of Health can only achieve its aim of better health, care and well-being for all, by building an explicit commitment to equality, diversity and human rights throughout the health and social care system. All public organisations including the Department of Health and public providers and commissioners of health and social care services have a duty to promote equality. Successfully delivering these duties is a core part of the health and social care systems objective to offer services that deliver high quality care for all. To do this, the diversity of the population has to be recognised, in policy development through to service delivery and patient care, acknowledging the diverse experiences, aspirations and needs of staff, patients and service. The Department of Health and local health and social care organisations continue to take proactive steps to address unequal access and outcomes experienced by some sections of the community. DH is working to ensure the principles and practicalities of fairness, equality, diversity and human rights are a central to the work of the Department. In 2007 the UK established a new single equalities body, to bring together the existing equality Commissions dealing with gender, disability, and race and ethnicity into a Commission for Equality and Human Rights. The promotion and enforcement of equality and diversity is one of the three duties of the new body. This paper briefly explores diversity in relation to the theory of gender equality and also examines developments in policy at the EU level, which has provided much of the impetus for change. Our focus is on the policy approach and the tensions that the policy documents reveal about the emphasis on equality and diversity approach, in particular the extent to which attention to gender issues may get lost in the diversity bundle, and the extent to which a focus on the individual may be strengthened over the group. This page lists some of the guidance materials produced by the former equality commissions and guidance produced by external organisations, who have given us permissi on to reproduce their materials on our site. Understanding how discrimination can impact on individuals lives is essential to prevent potential discrimination within in teaching and learning situations and ensure that you are confident in dealing with discrimination issues if and when they arise. While we can face discrimination because of any of these aspects, it is important that we also identify the links between social identities and individuality and/or a state and situation. Bad treatment can be multi-layered and occur because of: Since 1998 the UK has also included human rights within its legal framework. The Human Rights Act applies to all public authorities and bodies performing a public function. The Human Rights Acts places the following responsibility on your organisation. Organisations must promote and protect individuals human rights. This means treating people fairly, with dignity and respect while safeguarding the rights of the wider community. Organisations should apply core human rights values, such as equality, dignity, privacy, respect and involvement, to all organisational service planning and decision making. The Human Rights Act provides a complementary legal framework to the anti-discriminatory framework and the public duties. The legal context As a clinical teacher you will want to ensure that you understand the legal framework regarding equality, and that you can relate this framework to your everyday role. The UK framework has two elements to it: the anti- discriminatory framework (which gives individuals a route to raise complaints of discrimination around employment and service delivery) and the public duties (which place a proactive duty on organisations to address institutional discrimination). The SEN and Disability Act 2001 extended the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to education with effect from September 2002. This act requires teachers to explore the provision of reasonable adjustments for students who may have disabilities, including learning disabilities, to enable them to participate effectively. Beliefs are the assumptions we make about ourselves, about others in the world and about how we expect things to be. Beliefs are about how we think things really are, what we think is really true and what therefore expect as likely consequences that will follow from our behavior. Since the last comprehensive review in 1974, the Health Belief Model (HBM) has continued to be the focus of considerable theoretical and research attention. This article presents a critical review of 29 HBM-related investigations published during the period 1974-1984, tabulates the findings from 17 studies conducted prior to 1974, and provides a summary of the total 46 HBM studies (18 prospective, 28 retrospective). Twenty-four studies examined preventive-health be haviors (PHB), 19 explored sick-role behaviors (SRB), and three addressed clinic utilization. A significance ratio was constructed which divides the number of positive, statistically- significant findings for an HBM dimension by the total number of studies reporting significance levels for that dimension. Summary results provide substantial empirical support for the HBM, with findings from prospective studies at least as favorable as those obtained from retrospective research. Perceived barriers proved to be the most powerful of the HBM dimensions across the various study designs and behaviors. While both were important overall, perceived sus ceptibility was a stronger contributor to understanding PHB than SRB, while the reverse was true for perceived benefits. Perceived severity produced the lowest overall significance ratios; however, while only weakly associated with PHB, this dimension was strongly related to SRB. On the basis of the evidence compiled, it is recommended that consideration of HBM dimensions be a part of health education programming. Suggestions are offered for further research. It is important for care workers to promote equality, value diversity and respect the rights of service users. There are various ways of how they can challenge discriminatory issues and practices in health and social care. One of the ways in which care worker can promote equality, value diversity and respect the rights of service users is to always put the patient/service user at the heart of the service provision. This means that the patients individual needs will be met and achieved Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person in the world. Ideas about human rights have evolved over many centuries. But they achieved strong international support following the Holocaust and World War II. To protect future generations from a repeat of these horrors, the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. For the first time, the Universal Declaration set out the fundamental rights and freedoms shared by all human beings. These rights and freedoms based on core principles like dignity, equality and respect inspired a range of international and regional human rights treaties. For example, they formed the basis for the European Convention on Human Rights in 1950. The European Convention protects the human rights of people in countries that belong to the Council of Europe. This includes the United Kingdom. Until recently, people in the United Kingdom had to complain to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg if they felt their rights under the European Convention had been breached. for example; a personal eating plan to a specific individual. Putting the service user at the centre of the provision generally makes a happier and healthier patient in all areas. Care workers can help achieve this by: * Understanding what it is like to use those services * Involving those who use the services Another example can be quoted as, Rights of one patient will clash with the rights of another A patient has the right to watch TV or listen to the radio, while the patient in the next bed has the right the right to an undisturbed sleep the rights of these two patients clash. By providing earphones could help resolve this. If patients share a room one wants the door propped open and the other one doesnt although this is a clash of rights the rights of the patient who wanted the door closed would outweigh the other as propping open doors is a fire risk Care settings must provide services in such a way that all service users get equal benefit for them. For example a person who does not have English as their first language may require a translator in order to understand the services available and to express a choice about them. One of the most beneficial ways in which a social care setting can challenge anti discriminatory is through staff development and training this may be done formally through supervision sessions or more informally in the course of day to day working. The manager should supervise the work of their staff, offer advice and guidance in difficult situations and help the workers identify training opportunities to improve their practise.  

Changing face of Indian Fashion

Changing face of Indian Fashion Changing face of Indian Fashion â€Å"Language disguises the thought, so that from the external form of the clothes one cannot infer the form of the thought they clothe, because the external form of the clothes is constructed with quite another object than to let the form of the body be recognized† (Calefato 2004. p 13). The western culture is cultivating a grand love affair with the distinctive fashion style in India. Along with Indian music and spirituality, Indian clothing is seeing a huge impact on main stream identities of western style and culture. The main intention of this essay is to demonstrate how this emerging trend relates to the changing face of Indian fashion. Fashion is the style and custom prevalent at a given time. To some its an art form, to others its like a part of their culture and religion but to most it is a method of utilizing cloth to show or hide something about themselves. Fashion can be used to serve as an extension of ones own personality or to disguise ones own true self. One of the major points here is, how does art, culture and industry, the three aspects of life, relate to fashion? The English dictionary states that, art is a human skill opposed to nature. There are various for and against argument on whether fashion is an art form. One view that favors the argument is, art is a visual medium whose creators respond to the same stimuli as painters and sculptors and like art, it involves immense creativity as well as mastery of technique and materials. The view against it is, artists supposedly are not concerned with selling, they are consumed with creating works of art, not producing a collection for regularly scheduled s howings (Rhodes, 2003). Culture on the other hand is basically an ‘intellectual development at a certain time and a certain place and refers to certain human behavior and activities that conclude to significance and importance whereas; industry is a segment of economy, concerned with the production of goods and service. It is an essential component of most societies and fashion is a huge contributor to it. The major fashion cities have continuous competition between each other and due to their different strategies become known as the ‘cultural industries. The history of costume, Barthes (1983) says, has a general epistemological value. By ‘history of costume, he means a socio-semiotic reading of the phenomenon of clothing as an articulate language through which it is possible to analyse a culture, as system and process, institution and individual act, expressive reserve and significant order. The nature of fashion, however, constantly changes and focuses on newness , or the illusion of something new which means that signs and symbols are transient. According to Woodruffe-Burton â€Å"fashion is a visual commentary on the excess of a postmodern culture, the perfect foil for a world of fragmented and commensurate identities and personage, offering a dynamic procession of free floating signs and symbolic exchanges† (Woodruffe-Burton 1998, page 302). Choices made in relation to new clothes are usually controlled by the current fashion ‘look as defined within the fashion system and realized by the availability of fresh goods (Alexandra, 2004). According to Barthes (1983), the concept of new lifestyle and fashion styles is â€Å"signified† while the fashion commodities become â€Å"signifiers†. He also points out that the present form of fashion commodities decrease in value and are subsequently relinquished when the new signifier readily provides a replacement for the previous signifier. In addition, Baudrillad (1981) referred to fashion as a â€Å"compulsion to innovate signs†¦apparently arbitaray and perpetual production of meaning a kind of meaning drive†. The meanings drive individuals, to seek out those new commodities that could signify them. According to Vinken, The discourse on fashion is constructed by the articulations of three major conceptual articulations: the division of being and mer e appearance; the division of the sexes; and inseparably linked to the latter the division of the classes. In modern times, there has been a marked tendency for the first of these conceptualities whether it appears in its philosophical form or in its ethical application to be incorporated into the sociological variations of the divisions of gender and class. This phenomenon of compression has been compounded by the fact that the paradigm of the division of the sexes has allowed itself to be grafted onto the discourse on class, dominant until the eighteenth century, with the same ease that, in traditional thought, the moral condemnation of vanity let itself be combined with the philosophical suspicion of mere appearance†(Vinken, p4) India during its earlier days to be clothed in fashion was seen as a mark of privilege enjoyed exclusively by upper class. The lower end of the society didnt have the access to it due to the dominance of traditional clothing which followed inten sively during that time. But now it has changed for the better and is being enjoyed by almost everyone at every social level because of the democratization of fashion which has helped in mass production during the Industrial Revolution. The appearance of avant-garde designers from Japan in the early 1980s was believed to be the beginning of the postmodern phenomenon in the field of fashion. It allows openness to a great variety of styles and genres and the acceptance of Asian designers which was considered as the breakdown of the racial boundaries among designers who were largely white. Post modernity allows ethnic minorities, from women, lesbians and gay men to state find or retrieve an identity (Wilson 1994). The definition of what is fashionable was gradually decreasing in its nature with the beginning of postmodernism which eliminated differences and with the end of the autonomous sphere of fine art. What was usually worn as underwear now could be worn as outerwear. What used to be a hole for the neck could be worn as an armhole. Contents of fashions have become diverse and have redefined themselves implying the breakdown of the clothing system, itself that is, of sartorial conventions. The emergence of the new modern India seems to be the buss word for the new younger generation exposed to the vision of the new millennium as India opened up its doors to the west, there came a need to create a new identity. Thus was the idea of taking Indian traditional fabrics and styles and combining them with western cuts and lines, to appeal to larger segments and masses. Due to these developments, fashion gained in acceptance out of selected cities into the most conservative households. The new emerging trend catered way to the concept of Indian fashion boutiques, due to which women started moving out of the house and those typical tailor master were out of fashion. When more and more women started doing job, the online boutiques proved to be of great help as they can find everything under one roof, from fabric, designing, stitching and accessories (Chawla, 2006). Earlier to have a desired design, effort was needed to be put on to run from shop to shop to buy the fabric. Once the fabric is bought, the matching colour of laces and buttons need to bought and all these need to be given to the tailor for completing the stitching of the garment. Now, all these headaches are been taken care by the boutiques which keep a complete range of stitched and unstitched garments from casuals to party wear. The mall culture and family stores has dominated and is steadily growing in India. These are the places which are starting to become a favorite fashion hub for upper and middle class people. These stores sell fashion garments of all age groups and sexes and are considered as shopping destination. Most Indians express a great deal through their clothing. Their quench for the ultimate perfection plays a great deal in their choice of beautifully colored dramatic and sensuous garments. Highly lively colors woven in to signify the ornate designs can be found resonating through the whole of India. Lot of western influences has created modern designs which has been included into the basic structure of Indian outfit and that are the dresses that we find these days. So that makes us wonder, what was Indian fashion actually like when there were no designers displaying their haute couture to pamper a luxurious line of clientele? Well the answer to it is, India had its own kind of customs and traditions followed from generation to generations, the presence of it are even felt today. A surprising fact about ancient Indian fashion was that the clothes were not stitched together at all because most of the clothing was ready-to-wear, as soon as they left the loom. The ancient Indian fashion did not really have garments that were sewed together. The examples of these are the dhoti, the sari, the turban and the scarf. The practice of wearing dhoti by men and women were seen as a familiar site since India always go through hot and humid climatic conditions and these were made with cotton which suits the condition. The traditional Indian Dhoti, the Scarf or Uttariya and the popular Turban are still seen visible in India as people continue to wear them and hence remains as an integral part of Indian culture. Indian dressing styles are marked by many variations, both religious and regional with a wide choice of textures and styles (Tirthankar, 1999). One of the most commonly worn traditional dresses, the sari, is essentially a rectangular cloth measuring about 6 yards long. It passes through the legs around the body and tucked in at the back. Its worn in varied styles and is made from materials like pure silk or other fabric woven in different textures with different pattern s. It is worn by women as the lower garment combined with a Stanapatta (a thin band that wraps horizontally around torso) which forms the basic wear. This consists of garments that do not have to be stitched, the stanapatta being simply fastened in a knot at the back (Osella, 2000). Although the saris and the dhotis have never gone out of fashion, with the Persian influences in Indian fashion, women started wearing long tunics that went down to the knees with trousers that were known aschuridars. It also includes the very popular, versatile, comfortable and stylishsalwar-kameez. Thesalwaris a loose pajama like trouser whose legs are wide at the top and narrow at the ankle whereas kameez is a long tunic that goes down till the knees, the sides of which are left open below the waist-line, giving the wearer great freedom of movement. The basic design of this has been modified in various ways since ancient days (Jessica Pudussery, 2009). Apart from clothes, Gold plays a major role in Indian fashion and the use of it has been a tradition, long enjoyed by Indian women since early ages. Ornaments made of gold, combined with precious and semi-precious gems and beads, are the most popular ones. As the story goes on, it is said that traditionally Indian ornaments had an e conomic value for women. The ornaments given to her at her wedding constituted a daughters inheritance from her father (which was earlier referred to as Dowry). Though this no longer holds true, a brides ornaments is considered as a financial security for her throughout life. In India the appearance of dressing styles is more towards a cosmopolitan way rather than region specific; the cause of this change can be reflected back to the early days of Indian Independence. Later on globalization bought about huge changes and this can be considered as one of the major factors witnessed in Indian fashion industry, were significance noticeable changes in styles have happened in connection with Indian dressing. Indias rapidly expanding economy has provided the basis for a fundamental change, the emergence of what is called a new vanguard increasingly dictating Indias political and economic direction (India child, 2000). There can been seen an increasingly popularity towards western mode of dressing styles among the urban youth of both sexes. Some young women are trying to incorporate the latest fashion trends within their wardrobe while still following some of the traditional Indian dressing customs. The women youth market is significant not only because of it she er size and the spending power but since they are the trend setters for rest of the population. Young women generally pay more emphasis on their appearance than older people and thus clothing occupies a more central position. They are more likely to be fashion conscious and hence are frequent buyers and they usually prefer wearing casuals (Gowswamy Roy, 2007). Although traditional dress is still worn in India, according to V.P. Sharma, an Indian worker working as a weaver in the traditional handloom sari industry in Bihar since 1988, blames the trend in womens changing tastes for handloom saris, a simple cotton sari that many Indian women wear daily. The plain designs and less appealing colors, plays no significant role for a new modern woman like Rashmi Raniwal who is a 22 year old sales assistant. Sari? she says giggling, I never wear it casually, only for formal occasions. She further adds that women in India welcomes change as it is seen as a mark of progress. There is a common view that people would consider, a woman clothed in western formal wear is more empowered than her traditional counter parts. (Time Magazine 2009). In globalized modern India mens fashion hasnt changed significantly from season to season whereas business clothing has undergone few changes but its more of being professional than being fashionable. Personal hygiene is part of the success equation, freshly scrubbed wins out over heavily fragranced. The finishing touch for Indian business professionals is his choice of accessories like briefcase, portfolio and pen but when it comes to sealing the deal, a top of the line suit, a silk tie and a good pair of leather shoes would make things perfect and professional. Its all about presenting themselves in a way that makes the business clients feel comfortable and confident on them. Dressing for success is still the rule that is being followed. It was during the late 1970s and 80s the importance of women in work place began to have a prominent role than ever before. They gradually moved into positions that had been traditionally held by men. Many of them even thought that they need to imi tate males business clothing to look appropriate for the position; the outcome was, women seen dressed in skirted suits and jackets with tailored blouses. While the business women now wear trousers to work, she does it with the intention to look professional. (Doris, 2005). Like the men the same overall rules apply to womens work atmosphere as well, business clothing is not a reflection of the latest fashion trend but it is to notice herself as a professional. They think that they should be noticed for who they are and their professional skills rather than the fashionable clothes they wear. The business wear should be appropriate for the industry and the position they hold within the industry. In the 1960s and 70s, this whole bit of buildup of wealth in India was still suffering from a Gandhian hangover. Even though there were a whole lot of families who were wealthy all over India from North to South, all their lifestyles were very low key. They were not exhibitionist or were not into the whole consumer culture. The trend has now changed completely and we can see a complete lifestyle transformation on spending habits from cell phone, holiday destination to latest fashion, which earlier would have triggered a sense of guilt that in a nation like India a kind of vulgar exhibition of wealth is contradictory to its own values. Consumerism has now become an Indian value and the new Indian middle class is making its voice heard everywhere. The middle class is hard to define precisely, is bracketed on either side by the upper and lower echelons. It is not a single stratum of society but straddles town and countryside. It encompasses prosperous farmers, white-collar workers, busi ness people, military personnel and myriad others, all actively working towards a prosperous life (Fernandes, 2006). Members of the upper class which is around 1 percent of the population, are owners of large properties, members of exclusive clubs and vacationers in foreign lands, and include industrialists, former maharajas, movie stars and top executives. Below the middle class is perhaps a third of the population who are ordinary farmers, trades people, artisans and professional workers (Britannica 2009). In todays fashion conscious society, with numeral number of designers, it would be a difficult to note down some of the top fashion designers all over the world. The superiority of designer clothing gives one the satisfaction of owing a designer piece that is unique in every way. The emergence of western concepts of displaying fashion shows has now become a common event in India. The so called catwalk models started displaying collections of designers on ramp. It was in 1932, the first fashion catwalk was organized in India by Catherine Courney. Now it can be seen as a common every day event with many conceptual and theme based shows. Indians have started exploring new avenues with their modern hybrid fashion trends which is a blend of the old traditional and the new modern and is gearing up to International exposure. This fact can be proved by the existence of eighty plus fashion schools in India were young vibrant designers are trained to face the international arena. Recently, som e of the worlds famous fashion designers like Armani, Fendi and Myiake all have been fascinated and drawn by the elements of the exotic Indian culture and traditions (Mark 2008). India, which perfectly mixes the spirit of adventure, the sense of mystery and majesty with the principles of elegance, sophistication and modernity, has long been a wonderful source of inspiration for many internationally acclaimed fashion designers. In Paris, Dries Van Naton, (The Telegraph, 2009) one of the new fashion leaders and the member of the so- called â€Å"Belgain Four† presented a collection of layered chiffon raps dresses saris and kurtha looks alikes. The color palettes of these modern western designers are drawing from the colors of vibrant Indian Rajasthan Desert at sundown using rich golds red and green. Fashion designers are credited for their mastery in embedding their creations with works of art that embellish the beauty of a woman. Its a fact that all of us are different from e ach other and seldom have the perfect figure and elegant personality that should be flaunted. Its also a truth that nobody is perfect, we all vary in height, color and characteristics. Its the magical hands of the fashion designers that transform one through intelligent smart dressing. They shape up the body in the most modest manner and make people look stunning and sensuous. There is something unique about every designer, one might focus on ethnic styling while the other on hottest western collections. The Indian movie industry has contributed and provided inspiration for the gloriously rich Technicolor summer fashion. Asia had a huge influence on the spring/summer 2002 designer catwalks and this resulted in the high street awash with bright turquoise, fuchsia, brocade and emerald tops, skirts and trousers (Colin 2004). With the changing times the Indian fashion designers have brought about a storm in this glamour world with their commendably fabulous variety both internationally and locally. A huge chunk of latest fashion is made out of expensive designer clothing. These range from expensive saris to other traditional outfits which are stitched with semi-precious stones. These are exclusively made to cater the taste and preference of particular individuals to be worn during special occasions. Some even focus on modern expensive western fashion brands to make their presence felt. All these trends can be seen in Indias growing class of the super-rich which constitutes the maharajas and other like leading movie stars and industrialists. According to CapGemini Merrill Lynch Asia Pacific Wealth Report 2008, the number of Indians with more than $1 million in assets has grown since last year by 22%, to 167,000, more than in any other Asian country. Finally, Indian fashion beauties on the world stage canno t be ignored or left out of fashion since its the women beauties of India who bought about major changes in outlook of fashion, though they were left behind in the early days. Lara Dutta (Miss Universe 2000) and Priyanka Chopra (Miss World 2000) are the few to name as the world renowned Indian beautys who contributed to these changes. Indian fashion got International exposure and acclamation through the medium of such beauty contests. Unlike uniforms, the way we dress of our own accord involves a number of subconscious decisions. There is a concept in fashion that nothing is new, in a sense everything has been done before. This is coming closer to obvious reality, although the direction is not yet decided, it is almost certain that women will use fashion as an extension of their freedom and being no longer limited by the boundaries of class. Now people like to dress in style which is accepted globally and has become an aspect of ones identity and personality.

Cannibals and Vampires in Aeschylus and ONeill :: Biography Biographies Essays

Cannibals and Vampires in Aeschylus and O'Neill    Aeschylus and Eugene O'Neill have populated their trilogies with cannibals and vampires. Family members feed off one another both literally and figuratively. For the houses of both Agamemnon and Ezra Mannon, this bloodlust is insatiable and inherited, an inescapable curse. A family curse provides the dramatic force necessary to push characters toward pivotal actions and events. At the conclusion of both trilogies the curse is finally broken (or at the very least supplanted). While O'Neill and Aeschylus articulate the destructive and violent effects of the curse in similar terms, each playwright breaks the curse to achieve distinctly different thematic goals. The curse is described and decentered in order to be critiqued.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Both families attempt to consume themselves. A desire for revenge, to enforce a personal code of justice, carries the family curse from generation to generation. The house of Agamemnon is virtually born out of cannibalism. Tantalus, the founder of the house, is tormented eternally in Hades for feeding the gods the flesh of his sons Pelops. Much later, Agamemnon himself is held accountable for his father's cannibalism by Aegisthus. Aegisthus' desire for revenge is overshadowed only by Clytemnestra's thirst for her husband's blood. She speaks of his corpse as a sacrificial animal and likens his blood to wine. Compelled by Apollo, Orestes also carries the curse. He was fed by his mother's milk as a child but now he will only be satisfied with his mother's flesh. Only Orestes and Electra survive.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Mannon family implodes, leaving only one survivor, Lavinia. The Mannon's self destructive hunger has a sexual tension absent in the Greek trilogy. This incestuous obsession reiterates the self perpetuating nature of their legacy of hatred and violence. They too feed off each others' suffering, yet there is an almost symbiotic need for each member to survive. More like vampires than cannibals, they drain their victims slowly over time. However, no Mannon thrives from this practice. As the action of the play unfolds Ezra and Christine are drained and cast aside. Their deaths, coupled with Orin's death which follows, bring greater suffering to Lavinia not release from responsibility as she might have hoped. Like Orestes she is both an agent and a victim of her family's curse.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Though achieved by different methods, judgment is passed in each play. The family curse will not claim another generation.

The Unification of Germany Essay example -- History Historical German

The Unification of Germany   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In 1871 the thirty-eight states of what was once the Holy Roman Empire, re-united to become what was known in the early twentieth century as simply, The German Empire, united under the rule of the German Emperor, or Kaiser. There are many factors which led to the unification of the German states; liberalism, nationalism, Otto Von Bismarck, fear of ‘another Napoleon’, the Prussian King William I, and the three wars Prussia fought.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One of the key factors which led to the Unification was nationalism. Nationalism is the idea that certain things such as race, culture, religion, language or territory set them apart from those around them, and they could identify their interests with a group of people not just a local monarch. This idea created the belief that one’s loyalty was first to the ‘nation’ not the monarch. On 23 February 1848, there was a demonstration in Paris that resulted in the abdication of King Louis Philippe. Then on 13 March students in Vienna staged a rebellion which later that day forced Prince Metternich to resign as Austrian Foreign Minister. Prussian King, Frederick William IV, stood against reform and used troops to break up demonstrations. But on hearing of Metternich’s resignation he lost his nerve and called together a Diet, granting a constitution. When a crowd gathered at the Palace in Berlin the royal guard opened fire. The resulting revolution ended by November of that year as the people began to fear the consequences of prolonging it. The failure of this revolution, and the failure to achieve national unity, broke the link between liberalism and nationalism. In the end it was the nationalistic ideals of the German aristocracy, not the general populace that brought about the Unification of the German States in 1871. (1) ** I remember to have been so entirely absorbed by what was happening that I could hardly turn my thoughts to anything else. Like many of my friends, I was dominated by the feeling that at last the great opportunity for giving the German people the liberty which was their birthright and to the German fatherland its unity and greatness, and that it was now the first duty of every German to do and to sacrifice everything for this sacred object. We were profoundly, solemnly in earnest. **   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Liberalism was an important factor of the German Unification. ... ...ded and supremely outmatched. These three wars achieved Bismarck’s goals of obtaining support for the army reforms and unifying Germany under Prussian leadership (which meant the expulsion of Austria from Germany’s affairs). So, the unification of Germany in 1871 was achieved through a combination of factors; the idea held by the German people of a unified nation (nationalism), the fear held by the German aristocracy of anything which may result in a reduction to their power, such as liberalism and the ‘Napoleonic Fear’, the Prussian King William the first whose most important roles were appointing Bismarck and the introduction of the army reforms, and of course, Otto Von Bismarck. Bismarck was the reason for the three wars against Austria, France and Denmark, the implication of the Prussian army reforms and he made sure that the German states finally unified under the rule of a Prussian monarch, or ‘German Kaiser’, ruler of the newly founded German Empire in 1871.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Works Cited www.schoolshistory.org.uk/ ASLevel_History/unificationofgermany.htm mars.acnet.wnec.edu/~grempel/ courses/wc2/lectures/germanunif.html www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/germanunification.html