Tuesday, December 31, 2019

The Duality Of Man By Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde - 1098 Words

The Duality of Man In the classic story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, a quiet, polite scientist, Dr. Jekyll, creates an elixir that basically allows him to turn into the aggressive and violent man called Mr. Hyde. The main theme seems to repeat itself throughout the entire tale, while it may not be clear to the reader in the beginning, this theme is actually quite easy to understand once it has been discovered. The underlying theme, that Robertson seems to want his reader to take away is this idea of the â€Å"duality of the nature of man†. Robertson looked at man as being made up of two parts, contained in one overall being. The reader can choose for themselves to look at these two parts as either the good and the evil or as man’s primitive, true self and the mask he must wear for society. However this idea of the duality of man is approached, one cannot deny that it seems to be the underlying theme throughout this classic novella. Near the beginning of this piece, Dr. Jekyll states that â€Å"man is not truly one, but truly two,† with each persona placed in the soul. The easiest way to look at this is to think of the metaphorical angel and devil that sit on your shoulder. One persona being the light or good side and the other being the darker, more â€Å"evil† side. The soul becomes a battleground, where both sides clash heads at every opportunity in an endless struggle to gain dominance over the other. This is where Dr. Jekyll gets his tragic idea from: a potion that will separateShow MoreRelatedHow Does Stevenson Portray the Duality of Man in the Opening Chapters of ‘the Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’?1845 Words   |  8 Pagesthe duality of man in the opening chapters of ‘The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’? Stevenson writes ‘The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’ with the intention of showing the reader the duality of man and explores this through the juxtaposition of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. In this novella, Stevenson also uses the environment and setting of the story to represent the contrast between Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. In the opening chapters of ‘The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’Read MoreThe Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde : Literary Review1515 Words   |  7 PagesThe Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: Literary Review The Romantic era was plagued with class conflict, poverty, and labor issues. The Victorian novel allows those who had access to them discover and focus on moral issues with society. Among the novel that were created during the era, the genre of a gothic novella emerged. Well knowns gothic novellas included Frankenstein, The Picture of Dorian Gray, and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Robert Stevenson’s gothic novella The StrangeRead MoreJekyll And Hyde Character Analysis968 Words   |  4 PagesStrange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, explores the duality of human nature. He writes this novel to show us that humans have split personalities, and that there are two sides to human’s personality: good and evil. In the late-Victorian literature, duality appears to be a common theme; serving as a way for modern readers to analyze late-Victorian literature and culture. Stevenson weaves throughout the novel a theme of duality + which appears in the characters of bo th Jekyll and Hyde as well as inRead MoreStevenson and Conrad: The Duality of Human Nature 778 Words   |  3 PagesThis may be why the controversial issue of the duality of human nature has been found at the heart of many Victorian works. The theme of the duality of man can be found in the works of two famous English authors, Robert Louis Stevenson and Joseph Conrad. Stevenson and Conrad both incorporate the theme of the duality of human nature within their own novellas. Stevenson employs this theme throughout his novella The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and similarly Conrad employs this theme throughoutRead MoreTheme Of Innocence And Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde1054 Words   |  5 Pages Duality Songs of Innocence Songs of Experience, by Blake, and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, by Stevenson, are two stories, which present a case of duality. At the beginning of each of these novels, the author presents two different extremes: Blake presents innocence and experience and Stevenson presents good and evil. In both of these novels, as the story progresses, their two extremes struggle to coexist and one ultimately dominates over the other. Both Songs of Innocence Songs of Experience andRead MoreDr Jekyll And Mr Hyde Duality Essay1502 Words   |  7 PagesIn the novel, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson provides insight into the inner workings of the duality that exists within humans. Dr. Jekyll is a well-respected doctor in his community while his differing personality Mr. Hyde is hideous and considered by the public as evil based on appearance. As the novel progresses Dr. Lanyon begins to investigate Mr. Hyde, he begins to realize similarities betw een both Mr. Hyde and Dr. Jekyll such as their handwriting which resultsRead MoreCharles Darwin to Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde1565 Words   |  7 PagesHow does Stevenson present duality in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde? Stevenson presents duality in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in various ways. One of these variations of the duality is among the minor characters, for example Utterson and Enfield. Their similarity is that they are both respectable Victorian gentlemen, that both like to discuss stories but they feel it is gossiping about their friend and say ‘let us make a bargain to never refer to this again’, this shows that they feel that they have overRead MoreDuality In Literature1347 Words   |  6 PagesDuality in Literature One of the main hobbies enjoyed by society today is reading. Classic works of literature and new pop culture novels are the basis of much of the discussion used in everyday life, and man is delving deeper into the novels known and loved. Dedicated readers are contemplating the purpose of this phrase in this chapter, why this word is used here, and what theme best expresses the author’s main idea. Probably the most popular theme in literature today is the use of duality. DualityRead MoreThe Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde1126 Words   |  5 PagesAs Robert Grudin said in _______, â€Å"there is an almost tragic duality between outer and inner worlds, between the rush of experience and the immobility of awareness†. Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1886 novel, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, brilliantly exemplifies the philosophical phenomenon that is the duality of human nature through the 2 main characters that coexist interdependently together, Hen ry Jekyll and Edward Hyde. According to Webster’s dictionary, the duplicity of human beingsRead MoreRomeo And Juliet Duality Essay1408 Words   |  6 PagesIn literature, duality is anything that has two sides, mostly dealing with good and evil. Duality plays an important role in showing who the characters are and how the story occurs in many different books. Books in which duality plays a prominent role include Dr. Jekyll and Mrs.Hyde, Romeo and Juliet, and the Bible. Duality exists throughout the play Romeo and Juliet. The things characters say, the characters, and actions of the characters are ways duality exists in the play. For example,

Monday, December 23, 2019

greek Essay - 607 Words

When people think of ancient cultures and civilizations, they don’t think about the kind of influences they might have had on our society. One of those cultures having the most influence being Ancient Greece. The Ancient world of Greece is far from ancient in the arts, philosophies, ideas, architectures, governments, religions, and everyday life of the people in the latter half of the twentieth century. Come, discover and explore the civilization that forms the foundation of human history. Come, step into the ancient past. Those who have studied this ancient civilization under stand that what we are today is largely a result of the blueprints left by this culture. Greek civilization was rich in culture and a society which emphasized the†¦show more content†¦The fact that Greeks believed music and dance could strongly affect human behavior meant that it played an important part in all aspects of their everyday life. Giving them a wider range of ways to express their inner most beings. Another great way to express themselves was in their writing. In poetry and history Greek writers created masterpieces that have influenced and inspired readers to the present day. Like the developments in the physical arts, the development of the lyric poem was a sign of the times. It developed around the time that many Greek writers wanted to start expressing their own feelings, emotions, and opinions. Just as the sculptors and painters sought to understand their own bodies, the ancient writers wanted to reveal to us the workings of their heart. Other forms of literature were the first written records of human history. The development of their alphabet gave us a way to look back into history, find out the mistakes of ancient cultures, and find ways not to make them again. The other love this culture had was the love of wisdom. While the artist where exploring their bodies and the writers their hearts, the philosophers started to explore their minds and the universe. The notion of where people came from and how the universe was created plagued their minds every minute of their life. The early Greek philosophers studied everything from mathematics to the nature of theShow MoreRelatedGreek Religion : Ancient Greeks1704 Words   |  7 PagesAncient Greeks worshipped lots of different gods. They believed many gods appeared in human form and were provided with superhuman strength. The Greeks usually worshipped in sanctuaries located within the city or the country. A sanctuary was a well-defined sacred space set apart usually by an enclosure wall. They also worshipped in temples. Temples benefited from their natural surroundings, helping the expression of character divinities. The Greeks also had a Christian Orthodox church they used.Read MoreGreek Goddess And Greek Women874 Words   |  4 PagesThis review attempts to analyze the Greek goddess Athena as well as Greek women whose function in society contrasts with the roles of a goddess. This topic is of relevance to feminist’s who are smashing down barriers on stereotypes of women, this study attempts to shed some light to recognize the roles of Athena and Greek women. Past research has analyzed the differences between Greek women and Athena on how they contrast with responsibilities. What is often ignored is the complexity of both individualsRead MoreThe Religious Convictions Of The Greeks2684 Words   |  11 PagesDuring prehistoric times, the Greeks had outright and unquestionable admiration for their divine beings. They showed their reverence by putting set up numerous ceremonies and festivals to worship the divine beings that they adored to guarantee concordance with them. Specifically, the center will be on the religious convictions of the Greeks, including request to God and present, and also on celebrations and human expressions, for example, the old Olympic recreations and theater. These parts of theirRead More Greek History Essay1558 Words   |  7 PagesGreek History The Ancient Greek civilization was located on the same land Greece is now, Ionian Islands, Asia Minor, South Italy, and Sicily. It is surrounded mountains and in the north by water. The Ionian and the Aegean seas, together with natural islands and bays, gave the Greeks the opportunity to develop their high level of commerce and their rich culture. The mountains, which surrounded Greece, gave them the advantage of being well protected. From earlier times, the Geeks lived in independentRead MorePerseus : Greek Mythology, And The Greeks1434 Words   |  6 PagesPerseus is from Greek mythology, and the Greeks put morals throughout their stories to teach the upcoming generation. The morals of these stories can still be learned from today. Although Perseus was known for slaying Medusa, he is also known for his acts of heroism and the influence of the morals taken from his story on the modern day world. Perseus was the son of Danae and Zeus. Danae s father was King Acrisius of Argos. And years before Perseus birth, he was foretold a prophecy which statedRead MoreGreek Mythology : Ancient Greeks1835 Words   |  8 PagesIntroduction: The Ancient Greeks believed in many gods and heroes during their time. Each one had a sole purpose in a mortal’s lifetime. Greek mythology had a huge impact on religion in Ancient Greece. The Greeks performed rituals in order to honor their gods. Mythology affected the Ancient Greeks in many ways. The origins of mythology, the influences of mythology through a human’s lifetime and lessons taught in the ancient myths will be examined. Why Greek mythology was created Greek mythology was createdRead MoreGreek Art And Greek Objects Essay1443 Words   |  6 Pagesbelonged to the Greeks. Their heritage was so highly valued that it lived on even after they no longer ruled. The Greeks were some of the most innovative artists of their time and their work was so inherently beautiful that people from future cultures fell in love with it and decided to incorporate it into their own customs. The most famous group known for this was the Romans. After the Romans took over Greece, their love for its customs bloomed which resulted in many recreations of Greek art that areRead MoreGreek Mythology Of Greek Gods2349 Words   |  10 Pagesthem with wild berries and goat milk. Their significance is that they can be both wild and tamed creatures. 9. Dionysus has a good and an evil side because wine can be all fun and games but overused could be dangerous and terrible. It shows that the Greeks could both the good and bad sides of wine. 10. Demeter and Dionysus both show that the bond between mother and child is so strong that it would lead someone to go to extreme measures to keep the other safe. 11. Father heaven imprisoned his childrenRead MorePerseus : Greek Mythology, And The Greeks1434 Words   |  6 PagesPerseus is from Greek mythology, and the Greeks put morals throughout their stories to teach the upcoming generation. The morals of these stories can still be learned from today. Although Perseus was known for slaying Medusa, he is also known for his acts of heroism and the influence of the morals taken from his story on the modern day world. Perseus was the son of Danae and Zeus. Danae s father was King Acrisius of Argos. And years before Perseus birth, he was foretold a prophecy which statedRead MoreGreek Religion And The Greek Culture3445 Words   |  14 Pageselements that make up the Greek culture, one can see that their history of religion is vast. To understand the religious practices of the Ancient Greeks, we must first begin to examine the cultural practices. I will be describing Greek religion as it was practiced in the Archaic and Classical Period, which ranged around 800 B.C. to 323 B.C. When discussing the Classical Period we enter the realm of polytheism which has no attachment to church or body of dogma. Although the Greeks believed in multiple

Sunday, December 15, 2019

System Thinking and Action Research Free Essays

string(258) " of change and knowledge outcomes versus community based participatory action research where those affected by the change and other important stakeholders participate in all stages of the research from design, implementation, and data gathering to analysis\." System Theory and Action Research Susan M Ross Dr. Tyler Zerwekh September 15, 2012 Abstract Public health practices and policies are largely influenced by the population involved and seek to improve the overall health of the public. Achieving success in systems thinking requires making strategic decisions about what processes will best achieve the public health goals. We will write a custom essay sample on System Thinking and Action Research or any similar topic only for you Order Now Systems Theory Information Technology Systems Theory evaluates the relationship between information systems, and information technology, and people. Action Research is used in the field of public health to alleviate adverse conditions in communities by addressing the determinants of health, community-wide interventions, and health promotion. Examples of Action Research evaluate the computer usage and health information technology and health collaboration groups as well as promotion of information health management techniques. An emphasis on relationship is the heart of systems orientation. Systems thinking involving humans require an understanding of the nature of the system and its dynamics requires and an understanding of the people involved and the interaction with each other in the applicable network of the system. Action Research is a participatory, democratic process concerned with developing practical knowledge in the pursuit of worthwhile human purposes, theory and practice, in participation with others in the pursuit of practical solutions to issues of pressing concern to people, and more generally the flourishing of individual persons and communities. Reason Bradbury, 2001). This paper will present a demonstration of a thorough analysis of a systems theory, action research, and an action research proposal to analyze the theory in relation to Caucasian socio-economic group. Systems Theory Fundamental systems-thinking perspectives and approaches that are shared across different fields are: (1) increased attention to how new knowledge is ained, managed, exchang ed, interpreted, integrated, and disseminated; (2) emphasis on a network-centric approach that encourages relationship-building among and between individuals and organizations across traditional disciplines and fields in order to achieve relevant goals and objectives; (3) the development of models and projections, using a variety of analytic approaches in order to improve strategic decision making; and (4) systems organizing in order to foster improvements in organizational structures and functions (Leischow, et. al, 2008). Achieving success in systems thinking requires making strategic decisions about what processes will best achieve the public health goals for the designated population and how new discoveries can be disseminated effectively, and what structures and functions are needed to deliver the new knowledge. Effective knowledge flow results in better network performance, which allow for the achievement of systems-level change. Systems organizing have evolved from traditional management theory to a learning organizational theory, or an adaptive-systems perspective within other systems environments. Information Technology Systems Theory Information Systems (IS) theory is de? ned as concepts that speculate on social and technical relationships between Information Technology, Information Systems and social outcomes. Much IS theory originated in other disciplines and has been re? ned or applied to examine IT/IS issues. IS theory would also be classified as to include the technology acceptance model (TAM) and structuration theory and IT productivity models as applied to IS/IT phenomena (Chiasson, Davidson,2004) . Over the past years public health systems have evolved significantly. As personal computers became more powerful and operating systems became more usable with the advent of Microsoft Windows, Computer information systems were updated to make use of more modern features, capabilities and software. Public health agencies began to recognize that information technology was a legitimate target for investment to improve their ability to perform core public health functions. As agencies began to upgrade replace or create new systems that were more robust and specialized using modern database management systems and tools on more reliable platforms, and the Internet began to come into its own. The Center for Disease Control promoted its first System wide area communication and system integration projects through its Information Network for Public Health Officials (INPHO) initiative in 1993. (Artz, Salkowitz, 2007). Computer technology moved fairly quickly from the glass confines of the dedicated computer room to the general-purpose office. Over the past thirty years standards for technology have become an important fixture of organizational computing life. Enforcement of standards also varies greatly depending on the political support for Information Technology (IT). As applications became more network-aware and network dependent, the need to leverage network investments became critical. Public health agencies became more ambitions as technology became more enabling. Computer Information Technology has a lot to offer Public Health agencies: existing data sets may be consolidated and population-based, including experiences negotiating data sharing agreements and memoranda of understanding. With advancing technology national and international standards are being quickly developed to guide this functionality. (Artz, Salkowitz, 2007). Standards with compliance for patient information data sharing among different agencies, and back-up systems in the event of system failure and crisis are also among the concerns for globalizing Information Systems. Action Research Action research is a collaborative approach to research that provides people with the means to take systematic action in an effort to resolve specific problems. Action research focuses on methods and techniques of investigation that take into account the study population’s history, culture, interactive activities and emotional lives. Although action research makes use of many traditional data-gathering strategies, its orientation and purpose are slightly different. The basic action research procedural routine involves four stages; (1) identifying the research question (s), (2) gathering the information to answer the questions (s), (3) analyzing and interpreting the information and (4) sharing the results with the participants (Berg, 2004). Action Research is used in the field of public health to alleviate adverse conditions in communities by addressing the determinants of health, community-wide interventions, and health promotion. Indeed, action research is less a methodology and more a set of guidelines for the roles of the researcher and collaborators, interweaving theory and action and the function of the research knowledge. There are many subtle variations and iterations of action research, but a gross distinction could be made between action research that is conducted by a researcher implementing an intervention at a community level for the dual purposes of change and knowledge outcomes versus community based participatory action research where those affected by the change and other important stakeholders participate in all stages of the research from design, implementation, and data gathering to analysis. You read "System Thinking and Action Research" in category "Essay examples" Participatory action research approaches often have the additional goal of promoting critical consciousness where through cyclical stages of dialogue participants attain a greater understanding of their situation, which in turn may result in political or major social change (Mullett, Fletcher, 20). Critics of Participatory Action Research (PAR) have questioned whether the reality of participatory research is ideal for promoting a healthy community. The language of participation in health promotion research, and the inattention to gender, social and cultural (as in the use of universal terms like â€Å"the oppressed†) differences in participation in research processes do not always comport with the outcome values of PAR. Further, while participatory approaches can stimulate capacity building and community development, they can also bring unequal players to an uneven table to participate in difficult predetermined decision making (Minkler, 2000). Action research also called participatory research is an alternative philosophy of social research. Three particular attributes are often used to distinguish participatory research from conventional research: shared ownership of research projects, community-based analysis of social problems, and an orientation toward community action. Critical action research expresses a commitment to bring together broad social analysis—the self-reflective collective self-study of practice, the way in which language is used, organization and power in a local situation, and action to improve things. Critical action research is strongly represented in the literatures of educational action research, and there it emerges from dissatisfactions with classroom action research that typically does not take a broad view of the role of the relationship between education and social change. Critical action research has attempted to take account of disadvantage attributable to gender and ethnicity as well as to social class in its initial point of reference (Kimmis, McTaggart, 2007). Examples of Action Research Lau and Hayward (1997) used an action research approach in a study to explore the structure of Internet-based collaborative work groups. Over a two-year period, the researchers participated as facilitators in three action research cycles of problem-solving among approximately 15 instructors and project staff, and 25 health professionals from various regions striving to make a transition to a more community-based health program. The aim was to explore how Internet-based communications would influence their evolution into a virtual collaborative workgroup. The first phase was taken up with defining expectations, providing the technology and developing the customized workgroup system. The next phase saw the full deployment of the system, and the main lesson learned was that the steepness of the learning curve was severely underestimated, with frustrations only minimally satisfied by a great deal of technical support provided by telephone. The final cycle saw the stabilization of the system and the emergence of the virtual groups. The interpretations of the study suggest that role clarity, relationship building, information sharing, resource support, and experiential learning are important aspects in virtual group development. There was also a sense that more research was needed on how group support systems can help groups interact with their external environment, as well as on how to enhance the process of learning by group members. Comstock and Fox (1995) have written about their experiences in integrating computer conferencing into a learning community for mid-career working adults attending a Graduate Management Program at Antioch University in Seattle. Their findings relate to establishing boundaries to interaction, creating a caring community, and building collaborative learning. Students were expected to use the system for collaborative learning using three forms of conversation – dialogue, discussion and critical reflection. Dialogues were enjoined as a result of attempts to relate classroom lessons to personal situations at work, with a better understanding provided by multiple opinions. Discussions, distinguished by the goal of making a group decision or taking an action, required a fair degree of moderation, insofar as participants found it difficult to reach closure. The process of reflecting critically on ideas was also difficult – participants rarely took the time to analyze postings, preferring a more immediate, and more superficial, conversational style. The authors conclude with four recommendations: 1) be clear about the purpose of the computer conference and expectations for use; 2) develop incentives for widespread and continuous participation; 3) pay attention to affects of the software on the way the system is used for learning; and 4) teach members of the community how to translate face-to-face collaborative processes to the on-line environment (Reason, Bradbury, 2001). Action Research Proposal The Affordable Care Act calls for a greater reliance on the internet as a means of communicating health and coverage information, yet variations in the current usage of the internet by some populations have important implications for implementation. Based on the results of The Washington Post, the Kaiser Family Foundation, and Harvard University Race and Recession  Survey(2011),  six in 10 adults overall say they have ever used the Internet to access health information, and access differs by race and  income. Forty-three percent of Hispanics report having ever used the Internet to access health information, while 56 percent of blacks and 65 percent of whites report doing so. The differences are even more striking among those with lower incomes. Just three in ten Hispanics with incomes under $40,000 say they have ever used the Internet to access health information, compared with 44 percent of blacks and half of whites with similar incomes. More than 70 000 websites disseminate health information; in excess of 50 million people seek health information online, with likely consequences for the health care system. The Internet offers widespread access to health information, and the advantages of interactivity, information tailoring and anonymity. However, access is inequitable and use is hindered further by navigational challenges due to numerous design features (e. g. disorganization, technical language and lack of permanence). Increasingly, critics question the quality of online health information; limited research indicates that much is inaccurate. Meager information-evaluation skills add to consumers’ vulnerability, and reinforce the need for quality standards and widespread criteria for evaluating health information (Kline, Haynes, 2001). An action research project evaluating the effects of the information technology theory on Caucasians over a period of time would be helpful in providing evidence based research for the Information Technology Systems Theory. The research project would review a group of Caucasian males and females in the same age range, the same level of computer skills and education. The focus of the research is to determine if the majority of access to healthcare was through the use of Information Technology would it create a healthier group then a group with minimal access to healthcare period. The group would be evaluated for a year. During the time frame the group would have an in-person visit with a doctor once every six months except for an emergency. The visit would include a complete physical and required wellness checks. Follow-up visits would be via Skye or video-conferencing. The group would be deemed physically and mentally fit excluding family history of health issues. The group would be given a pass to a fitness center for a year to maintain their health, and would have to maintain contact with a nutritionist and their physician via the computer e-mail o a regular basis. The group would also have access to the Internet anytime they want for the evaluation time. The rest of the environmental and social aspects would be determined by each participate of the research project, meaning that each participates could be local or global as long as there is consistent monitoring of the all of the participates. The evaluation would incorporate Action Research and Critical Action research as some instances would take into account the social economic status of the participants. Given that the largest percentage of whites used the computer and there is a large portion of people that lack access to healthcare in all races. Minimizing variables, such as computer knowledge and education levels and providing all necessary tools to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Researchers would have options to focus the variable changes if there are any on the social economic condition of the individual participants. In conclusion Systems thinking involving humans require an understanding of the nature of the system and its dynamics requires and an understanding of the people involved and the interaction with each other in the applicable network of the system. Public health agencies began to recognize that information technology was a legitimate target for investment to improve their ability to perform core public health functions. Computer Information Technology has a lot to offer Public Health agencies: existing data sets may be consolidated and population-based, including experiences negotiating data sharing agreements and memoranda of understanding. Action research approaches can stimulate capacity building and community development in designated social status groups if the focus is correctly designated. References Arzt, N. H. Salkowitz, S. M (2007), Evolution of public health information systems: Enterprise-wide approaches, p4-6, 11-13, 18-22. Berg, B. L. , (2004), Qualitative research methods for the social sciences, retrieved on August 23, 2012, from http://digilib. bc. edu/reserves/sc210/piat/sc21007. pdf Chaisson, M. W. , Davidson, E. , (2004), Pushing the contextual envelope: developing and diffusing IS theory for health informat ion systems research, Elsevier Ltd. pg 157, retrieved on September 13, 2012, from http://www. butlercommonplace. org/thoughts/images/d/d0/Chiasson_et_al_2004__Info_and_Org. df Comstock, D. , ; Fox, S. , (1995),  Ã‚   Computer conferencing in a learning community: opportunities obstacles. †Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www. seattleantioch. edu/VirtualAntioch/DRAFT7HT. HTM (14/04/1998). Kemmis, S. , McTaggart, R, (2007), Participatory action research, Communicative action and the public sphere, retrieved on September 13, 2012, from http://www. corwin. com/upm-data/21157_Chapter_10. pdf Cline, R. J. W. , Haynes, K. M. , (2001) Consumer health information seeking on the Internet: the state of the art, Oxford Journals, Volume, 16, Issue 6, pp671-692, etrieved on September 13, 2012, from http://her. oxfordjournals. org/content/16/6/671. long Lau, F. , and Hayward, F. (1997). â€Å"Structuration of Internet-based collaborative work groups through action research. Retrieved on September 13, 201 2 from   http://search. ahfmr. ab. ca/tech_eval/gss. htm (11/4/1998). Leischow, S. J (2008), Systems thinking to improve the public’s health, American Journal of Preventive Medicine, retrieved on September 9, 2012, from http://dccps. nci. nih. gov/brp/scienceteam/ajpm/SystemsThinkingImprovePublicsHealth. pdf. Mullett, J. Fletcher, S. , (2011), Action research in public health, Oxford Index, retrieved on September 13, 2012, from http://oxfordindex. oup. com/view/10. 1093/obo/9780199756797-0018 Minkler, M. , (2000) Using participatory action research to build healthy communities, Public health reports, Focus on healthy communities. Retrieved on September 13, 2012, from http://www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/pmc/articles/PMC1308710/pdf/pubhealthrep00022-0089. pdf Reason, P. , ; Bradbury, H. (2001). Handbook of action research: participative inquiry and practice. London: SAGE. Retrieved on September 7, 2012 How to cite System Thinking and Action Research, Essays

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Strategic Management for Analysis of Tesco †Myassignmenthelp.com

Question: Describe about the Strategic Management for Analysis of Tesco. Answer: Introduction The report mainly starts with the mission, vision and the value of the company. The external analysis of the report includes the political, economical, technological, environmental and the legal factors that affect Tesco. The five forces of Poster have also been explained in the report, along with different types of resources that are available and used to work towards achieving the goal of the company. The report also provides an overview about its generic strategies with the help of the Strategic clock. The strategies are identified and described with the help of the strategic management that is mainly carried by the managers in order to achieve better performance. This report provides an overview about the company Tesco and its strength as well as weaknesses. Strategic Purpose Mission, Vision and Value: Mission: to be the champion for customers, helping them to enjoy a better quality of life and an easier way of living (Tarata, 2013) The vision statement of the company determines the aspiration view of the company. The vision statement provides a standard that a company desires to achieve. Tesco is the company, which is mainly built around the consumers and the colleagues. The vision statement of Tesco is that it wants its business to be highly valued by the customers they mainly serve as well as the community in which they function. Figure 1: The TESCO (Freelogovectors,2012) (Source: Freelogovectors.net 2012) The management, which is associated with Tesco, recognizes the fact that the missions, vision as well as the values are important for the success of the company. Strategic Statements and functional objectives of the company The future plans and the direction of the company are provided by the strategic statement of a company. A strategy of a company should be a merged with positive actions on the part of leaders to progress the market position of the company and monetary position and reactions to predictable developments and fresh market conditions. The functional objective of Tesco includes the fact Tesco wants to become a pleasing place to work where the workers should get a chance of being themselves. Its main objective is to expand the company with the sale of the organic products. External analysis Macro Environment of Tesco Political factors The performance of the company, Tesco is greatly influenced by its political factors. The factor, which determines the performance of the company, includes the rate of tax, the act of legislation as well as the constancy of the country in which the company operates. The governments are known to persuade the retailers in order to generate employment due to the ongoing instability. However, Tesco plays a significant role in generating jobs for the individuals, which in turn increases the demand for the products produced by the company (Srdjevicet al. 2012). For example UK exist from the EU, will affect the companys work force as visa restriction would come in soon. Economic factors It was reported that in the year 2009 the growth rate of Tesco was below 10 percent due to the financial crisis that in turn made all the customers cash rigorous. However, not in spite of all this company incurred any loss. The key reason for the success of the company was the strategy that included both internalization as well as diversification. For example unemployment rate, this will affect spending power and in turn affect the revenue and profitability of Tesco. Figure 2: The Macro Environment (Source: Li et al 2014) Social factors As per the report, most of the customers in the UK has shifted to one-stop shopping due to the changes in the social habits as well as the culture. As a result, Tesco has increased the variety of non-food items, which are offered for sale. Tesco is mainly focusing on the social changes, which includes ready to cook and eat. For example, age will be the main demographic issue as Tesco will need to consider age when marketing there different products and plan for future market change. Technological factors- The progression in the technology has influenced Tesco to incorporate new prospects. One of the advancement in the technology includes the introduction of the online shopping that makes possible the free home delivery. The other advancement includes the self-service checkout point, which in turn provides both effortlessness and expediency to the customers. As a result, Tesco has invested an enormous amount on the project related energy efficiency (Dhakal 2012). Ecological factors - It has been clearly committed by Tesco that the company will minimize the carbon footprint by 50 percent by the year 2020. Legal factors The legal factors that include the policies of the government, which in turn affects the performance of the company. For Example, The law that includes the National Minimum Wage Act 1998 that will deal with the performance of the company. (Ndungu2014) The threats of the company One of the most common threats of the company is the increasing cost of the raw materials that in turn impacts the overall margin of the profit. The opportunities of the company Tesco should mainly focus on the augmentation of the sales of the non-food items (Dudovskiy 2016). Example the products related to health and beauty. Porters five forces of analysis The five forces of analysis of Porter help to determine the extent of the overall competition of the company. Threat of new competitors In the food retail industry, the threats of the new entrants are low, however Tesco needs to undergo a huge investment of capital in order to ascertain a brand name. The most important brands which have already captured the food retail market and can prove to be a threat for Tesco are ASDA, Sainsbury and Morrison (E. Dobbs 2014).also the likes of LIDL and ALDI. The bargaining power of the buyers In the case of the food retail industry the bargaining power of the buyers are substantially The bargaining power of the suppliers In the case of the suppliers, the bargaining power is relatively low. As a result, Tesco is benefited as the negotiations are positive. Threat of Substitute and foodstuffs - The menace of substitutes in the food retail market like Tesco is noticeably low for food items and average to elevate for non-food items (Arline 2015). Rivalry among the existing firms The rivalry among the existing firms in the food retail market is significantly high and as a result, Tesco faces a powerful competition from its competitors. The competitors in this case are ASDA, Sainsbury and Morrison. Internal Analysis Resources The human resources of Tesco are responsible for hiring people in order to execute the activities in the company. The main objective of the human resource is to recruit the workers and they are also responsible for their dismissal. They mainly aim to hire the individuals with high quality and are also responsible for maintaining them. Tesco operates in more than 11 countries with almost 476,000 employees. As per the reports, the total number of employees in United Kingdom is 315,829 and in Asia the numbers of employees employed are 96,471. Out of the total workers, 88 percent of the workers are employed on the part time basis. There is total of11 top management in Tesco. The financial resources are mainly concerned with the capacity of the business to finance the chosen policy of the business. The policies include the investment in new products as well as the distribution channels. These policies of Tesco needs to managed from the finance view point. The financial statements of TESCO from the year 2013 to 2016 are as follows: 2013 2014 2015 2016 Financial l statistics (m) UK ROI 38,228m 37,189m International 10,678m 10,208m Tesco Bank 1,044m 1,021m 1,003m 947m Group revenue (exc. fuel) 49,853m 48,352m Revenue UK ROI 45,062m 43,080m International 10,916m 10,398m Tesco Bank 1,044m 1,021m 1,003m 947m Group revenue 63,916m 63,406m 63,557m 56,925m Operating profit before exceptional items UK ROI 498m 505m International 254m 277m Tesco Bank 188m 162m Group operating profit before exceptional items 940m 944m Operating profit margin before exceptional items 1.7% 1.7% Operating profit/ (loss) UK ROI (5,334) 599 International (569) 286 Tesco Bank 153 161 Group operating profit 4,182 2,382 2,631 (5,750) Share of post-tax profits/ (losses) of joint ventures and associates 91 72 60 (13) Net finance costs (397) (432) (571) Profit/ (loss) before tax 4,038 2,057 2,259 (6,334) Taxation (874) (529) (347) 670 Profit/ (loss) for the year from continuing operations 3,164m 1,528m 1,912m (5,664) Discontinued operations (350) (1,504) (942) (102) Profit/ (loss) for the year 2,814 24 970 (5,766) Attributable to: Owners of the parent 2,806 28 974 (5,741) The broad ranges of the operational resources, which are mainly concerned with the physical capability, are categorized under the physical resources. The VRIN model used by Tesco is categorized in the following way: Valuable The resources can be a source of competitive advantage if they are able to bring value to Tesco. Rare In order to provide a competitive advantage to the firm, the resources needs to deliver a unique strategy (Talaja 2012). Inimitable If the competing firms are not able to obtain the resources in that case the resources will become the sources of sustained competitive advantage. Non-substitutable The resources are strategically important if two resources can be used separately. Physical resources: There are a total of 6,849 stores of Tesco in the worldwide basis. There are 2,348 numbers of factories in Tesco. There are three types of franchisee associated with Tesco. It includes the Telecom Franchisee, one stop, Carlisle. The core competency of Tesco is that it is a customer-focused strategy. Tesco has introduced a club card reward scheme that allows the company to collect and analyze their targeted customers. Tesco uses the information and adapt their services to the local market, thus adding value to the customer experience. Business function of the company The basic function of Tesco is mainly done by Human resource where Tesco needs to recruit the individuals who will be responsible for carrying out some vital activities. Once Tesco becomes successful in finding the correct individual, they will be able to meet the requirements of the customers. Another basic function of the company is to administer that is to fix the problem over the phone, which is mainly done by the ICT department (Yassleeman 2014).The staffs are mainly managed with the help of the HR. department mainly offers benefits such as childcare vouchers as well as pension to the staffs. The finance and the accounts department manage the revenue and the cost. Figure: The organizational chart of the company Tesco (Source: profile, 2011) The Marketing function is mainly responsible for promoting the goods as well as the services that is mainly offered by making the customers aware of them. In the sales department, the staffs related are responsible for selling within the store and the telesales staffs sells the product over the phone. The types of internal communication that is used by Tesco includes intranet which is accessible to each and every employee. The employees mainly keep the email conversation copy for reference. Tesco also organizes meeting in which the workers are free to share their thoughts which in turn helps the company to grow (Quirke2012). Figure: The organizational chart of the company Tesco (Source: Created by Author) Basis of competitive strategy There are three generic strategies, which include market segmentation, product differentiation as well as the cost leadership. This strategy helps to provide the overview about how Tesco will provide its customers with what they desire at a better price (Simister 2016) Figure 3: The Bowmans Strategic Clock (Source: Mindtools.com, 2016) Position 1: Low value/Low price Mostly the companies avoid being in this position and this position is also referred to as the bargain basement bin. The only way Tesco can make it is by attracting new customers by incorporating cost effective selling volume. The product of Tesco ranges from Tesco value items to the Tesco Finest range that appeals the social groups. Position 2: Low PriceThe low cost leaders of a company generally compete in this category. The companies mainly drive down the prices of the products in order to bare minimum profit. Position 3: Hybrid price The companies like Tesco follow this strategy as the interesting companies mainly follow it. Tesco mainly offers their products at a low cost; however, they supply that product, which has a higher professed value compared to the low cost competitors. The customers are thus assured of the prices and the company becomes successful in building a reputation as they offer the goods at a reasonable price. Position 4: Differentiation With the help of this Strategic clock, the company will keep the price of the product low in order to seek a greater share of the market. Position 5: Focused Differentiation - The expensive product that has a higher professed value as well as higher price mainly follows focused differentiation. The customers based on professed value purchase the products. As a result, the product does not have any more real value. Position 6: Increased Price With the help of this strategy, Tesco increases the price of its products and as a result, it enjoys a higher rate of profit. However, in the case of the opposite situation, the company faces a loss in their market share and they need to make a modification to their price or cost. But as a company it hardly ever go into this stage Position 7: High Price/Low Value This position is followed when Tesco undergoes a monopoly pricing. However, Tesco does have competitors and it needs to focus on the price of its product. As a result of this Tesco tries not to operate in this level Position 8: Low Value/Standard Price In this case, there is no product in Tesco that fits in this part. Strategic Choice Ansoffs Matrix The Ansoffs Matrix mainly focuses on the current and the probable products of the company. The Ansoffs Matrix is shown below with the help of the table. Existing Products New Products Existing Market Market Penetration Product Development New Markets Market Development Diversification Market Penetration Tesco will seek to attain growth with their existing goods in their present market subdivision thus with the objective to augment the share of the market. The market penetration will help to secure dominance of growth markets and Restructure a mature market by driving out competitors and Increase usage by existing customers (Thijsen et al. 2014). New Product Development Tesco will develop new products that will be mainly targeted to its obtainable market segment. With the help of the New Product Development, Tesco will be able to export its product to the country it desires. (Hussain et al. 2013). New Market DevelopmentTesco will search for growth by targeting the existing products to the existing segment of the market. Example could be the health and beauty range Diversification Tesco will grow by expanding into new businesses by increasing new products for new markets. Example taxis in each local store. As they do have a home delivery service some of its customers wants to buy and take home immediately, and this is an avenue to make more revenue. Ansoffs Matrix (Market Penetration Strategy) The market penetration strategy helps to drive out the competitors as well as dominate the growth of the market. It also increases the usage of the customers.as Tesco is one of the largest retailers with a very high foot flow in majority of its stores and the Tesco express strategically positioned in most town centers, it has an edge over competitors like ASDA and can make full use of this. Suitability Market penetration is suitable as with the help of it, Tesco will be able to reduce their order processing times as well as display the entire portfolio of the product. Acceptability Market penetration is acceptable as Tesco will be able to share the growth of the market and be able improve the customer loyalty. Feasibility Market penetration is feasible in the sense that Tesco will be able to have various different formats of store outlets in diverse countries. Conclusion: PESTEL and Porters5 forces have shown that Tesco is one of the major retailers in the UK with a grocery market share of 27.9 per cent. Tesco first utilized the online sales channel with a high level of competency. In order to make the most of their strengths the company should continue to implement the online sales channel successfully. The company should also make a strong property portfolio, which in turn, will increase the overall value of the company. The high dependence of the company on the UK market affects the share of the market. As a result, in order to circumvent its weaknesses the company should lower the dependency upon the UK market, and look at a broader market environment In order to capitalize on its opportunities, Tesco needs to continue to focus on the growth of the health and beauty ranges in the UK. This in turn, would help the company to expand their market. Tesco will be able to manage its threats by offering price cuts on its products as well as giving special offers so that the Supermarket is not threatened by the growth of Asda. References Arline, K, 2015, Porter's Five Forces: Analyzing the Competition. Business News Daily. Available at: https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/5446-porters-five-forces.html [Accessed 28 Jun. 2016]. David, F. and David, F.R., 2016. Strategic Management: A Competitive Advantage Approach, Concepts and Cases. Dhakal, S, 2012, Articles World: PESTLE analysis of Tesco. 123articlesworld.blogspot.in. Available at: https://123articlesworld.blogspot.in/2012/04/pestle-analysis-of-tesco.html [Accessed 28 Jun. 2016]. Dudovskiy, J, 2016, Tesco SWOT Analysis - Research Methodology. Research Methodology. Available at: https://research-methodology.net/tesco-swot-analysis/ [Accessed 28 Jun. 2016]. Dobbs, M., 2014, Guidelines for applying Porter's five forces framework: a set of industry analysis templates.Competitiveness Review,24(1), pp.32-45. Freelogovectors.net. 2012, Tesco Logo [EPS-PDF Files] Vector EPS Free Download, Logo, Icons, Brand Emblems. [online] Available at: https://www.freelogovectors.net/tesco-logo-eps-pdf-files/ [Accessed 28 Jun. 2016]. Havinga, T., 2013.Food Retailers as Drivers for Food Safety Standards.Available at SSRN 2331869. Hussain, S., Khattak, J., Rizwan, A. and Latif, M.A., 2013.ANSOFF matrix, environment, and growth-an interactive triangle.Management and Administrative Sciences Review,2(2), pp.196-206. Li, Y., Li, Y., Li, Y. and profile, V. (2014).Li Yang: February 2014. [online] Yvonneeeli.blogspot.in. Available at: https://yvonneeeli.blogspot.in/2014_02_01_archive.html [Accessed 28 Jun. 2016]. Mindtools.com. 2016,Bowman's Strategy Clock: Making Sense of Eight Competitive Positions. [online] Available at: https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newSTR_93.htm [Accessed 28 Jun. 2016]. Ndungu, K., 2014.Analysis of TESCO. GRIN Verlag. profile, V. (2011). Market Planning with Tesco. Marketplanningwithtesco.blogspot.in. Retrieved 2 August 2016, from https://marketplanningwithtesco.blogspot.in/ Quirke, M.B., 2012.Making the connections: using internal communication to turn strategy into action. Gower Publishing, Ltd.. Simister, 2016 Bowmans Strategy Clock Your Strategic Options. Differentiateyourbusiness.co.uk. Available at: https://www.differentiateyourbusiness.co.uk/bowmans-strategy-clock-your-strategic-options [Accessed 28 Jun. 2016]. Srdjevic, Z., Bajcetic, R. and Srdjevic, B., 2012, Identifying the criteria set for multicriteria decision making based on SWOT/PESTLE analysis: A case study of reconstructing a water intake structure.Water resources management,26(12), pp.3379-3393. Talaja, A, 2012, TESTING VRIN FRAMEWORK. Anita Talaja. Thijsen, T., Tong, T. and van Leer, J., 2014,Ansoff Model.Marketing. Yassleeman, y, 2014, ROLE OF HRM IN GROWTH OF BUSINESS: A Study on TESCO. boyzone2times. Available at: https://boyzone2times.wordpress.com/2014/03/22/role-of-hrm-in-growth-of-business-a-study-on-tesco/ [Accessed 28 Jun. 2016]

Friday, November 29, 2019

Superpower Relations and the Thaw in the Cold War Essay Example

Superpower Relations and the Thaw in the Cold War Essay The Post-Stalin Thaw and the bid for PeacefulCo-Existence?1953-1961In the 1950s the Cold War, although in many ways the same, was changing in character* Globalization of the Cold War* Nuclear Arms Race* Stalin’s death in ’53 and the ThawHowever, a more thorough relation of tensions – dà ©tente – was not to emerge until after the shocks of the Berlin crisis ’61 and more particularly the Cuban Missile Crisis ‘62Timeline of coexistence and confrontation characterising 1953 – 611951 – Churchill elected PM, and in a surprise move from his reputation as a ‘Cold War warrior’ pressed for a summit with the Soviet Union to end the Cold War.November 1952 – Election of Eisenhower, reflecting a ‘hardening of US attitudes’March 1953 – Death of Stalin, the politburo avoided one person consolidating power and confirmed the collective leadership of Malenkov, Molotov, Beria, Bulganin and Khrushchev. Policy of destalinisation introducedJuly 1953 – End of the Korean War. It had a traumatising effect on the US population with 32,629 US killed, 103,284 injured and the deaths of 3m aprox. Korean civies.* American anger was reflected in the policies of Dulles – rollback and massive retaliation* Limitations of these policies demonstrated by the lack of a US response to Soviet suppression of protest in East Germany (1953) and more significantly Hungary (1956)August 1953 – PM Malenkov recommended a policy of ‘peaceful coexistence’ with the West1954 – Eisenhower’s Domino theory announcedJuly 1955 – First summit since Potsdam held in Geneva. No agreements made but the friendly atmosphere was dubbed ‘the spirit of Geneva’, raising the possibility of future concord.February 1956 – Khrushchev’s ‘secret speech’ dramatically extended destalinisation by condemning Stalin’s rule in a closed meeting of the Communist Party.1957 – Eisenhower Doctrine. In conjunction with Domino Theory, ‘Roll Back’ and ‘Massive Retaliation’ extended US military alliances world-wide in an attempt to firmly contain communism.1958 – Khrushchev emerges as head of Soviet StateSeptember 1959 – Hopes for the possibility of peaceful coexistence raised by the success of a second summit held at Camp David.May 1960 – U2 Spy Plane Incident. Soviet walkout at the third summit in Paris ended both the summit and hopes for ‘peaceful coexistence’1961 – Berlin Crisis. Marked the return of the Cold WarWhat changes took place in superpower relations between1948-1955Prior to 1950 the Cold War had developed due to the circumstances arising from the post-war world and had been focused on Europe.The Development of Globalism* Communist takeover of China in 1949 turned attention to the far-east* Korean War (1950-1953) and events in Vietnam in 1954* Euro pean decolonisation resulted in newly independent states appearing in the ‘third world’: needing financial assistance coupled with the fear that other superpowers would take the opportunity to extend their influence if they did not the Cold War developed into conflict on a global scale.The Nuclear Arms Race* In 1949 the USSR developed its own atomic bomb, shaking US confidence in the process at the speed at which the Soviets had developed a nuclear capability.* The US not only considerably increased its conventional weaponry during the Korean War* But developed the thermonuclear bomb in 1952 and the hydrogen bomb in 1954* The USSR developed its own hydrogen bomb less than a year later* The development of harnessing nuclear weaponry to missiles gave the arms race on an increasingly destructive and dangerous dimensionThe ‘Thaw’* After 1953 (Stalin’s death) there was a collective awareness of the need for East-West dialogue* Leadership of both USA and U SSR recognised the importance of avoiding/limiting conflict where possible* Diplomatic attempts to establish a dialogue between the superpowers led to the ‘thaw’ in the Cold War.The ‘thaw’ took on a paradoxical nature. Alongside the spread of conflict and the development of the arms race, superpower relations experienced a diplomatic ‘softening’ of relations; in comparison to the bitter antagonism of the early Cold War.What issues caused tension between the Superpowers in the period 1948-1955?Tensions between East and West remained strong during the time period, issues that had caused division in the early years were still present and continued to have the potential to provoke a crisis, yet the situation was also changing.The ‘German Problem’* Berlin blockade a failed attempt by Stalin to solve the ‘problem’* Ended hopes of German reunification, both sides were unhappy with the outcome and disputes continued over the s tatus of a reunited Germany.Rise of Communism in the Far East* Communist takeover of China in ’49 raised US fears of spread of Communism to far-east* Korean War ’50-’53 reinforced US perceptions of the aggressive and expansionist tendencies of the Soviet Union as Stalin was considered to behind Communist North Korea’s attack on the Capitalist south.* Rise of communism in Vietnam seemingly confirmed US suspicions.European Decolonisation* European no longer possessed the will nor the resources to retain their vast overseas empires.* The power vacuum left by the defeat of Nazi Germany had been filled by 1948* However, the process of decolonisation brought about another power vacuum in large parts of the ‘Third World’* Middle East – Area of particular strategic importance because of its oil supplies.* Had previously been in the control of France and Britain whom relinquished their control over the region after WW2* Both superpowers were ke en to not allow the other to exert its influence over the region* Israel was established as an independent country in 1948 with the British withdraw from Palestine* British troops were withdrawn from Egypt in 1955 despite continued Ango-French ownership of the Suez Canal* The developing hostility between Israel and the Arab states threatened to draw the Superpowers into conflict as they both sought to exert their influence over the region.* Indochina* French control was broken by the bloody defeat at Dien Bien Phu in 1954.* As the French withdrew, the USA became concerned about the spread of communism in the region.Soviet Actions in limiting Destalinisation* After Stalin’s death in ’53 Malenkov (the new Soviet PM) introduced the ‘New Course’* This policy allowed a limited degree of liberalism within the USSR* Terror and repression were partially relaxed* Khrushchev developed the policy of destalinisation further after 1956* Seeing the ‘New Courseâ₠¬â„¢ and relaxation of terror and repression occur in the Soviet Union, the communist states of Eastern Europe called for a similar liberalisation within their own regime.* Demonstrations broke out in Czechoslovakia, East Germany and Poland against governments that refused to move away from strict Stalinist policies.* The unrest was crushed by government troops, this appalled the West and condemned their actions but did not intervene directly. Raising tension* The use of Soviet troops to crush an uprising in Hungary brought about a similar response by the West and once again raised tension.The Arms Race* Both States took action to ensure they did not fall behind in their capacity to wage war.* The Arms Race was a cause and consequence of the tension of the Cold War* By the end of 1955 the USA had 560 strategic bombers to the USSR’s 60* So started the seemingly limitless and ironical arms race, whereby the Soviet’s attempt to catch up with the USA led to the US increasi ng arms output in fear of being overtaken by the Soviet Union.What factors promoted a ‘thaw’ in Superpower relations between 1948-1955After 1953 there were attempts to establish some dialogue between the superpowers, helped in part by the change in leadership of both the Soviet Union and the USA. However, the ‘thaw’ was the result of factors within the wider context of international relations that pushed both sides towards seeking some degree of accommodation with the other.The Consolidation of Positions* By 1949 the Iron Curtain marked a defined line between the two superpowers spheres of influence in Europe. Marking a border between the two different spheres of influence* The insecurity of the second half of the 1940’s had been caused by both sides attempting to mark out their areas of dominance.* By 1949, the division of Europe had become entrenched, the US military commitment to NATO was a strong indication to their commitment towards defending E urope from Communism. Whilst, the Warsaw Pact of 1955 symbolised Soviet commitment to protecting Eastern Europe from US imperialism.* The USA and USSR were forced to accept the resulting division of Europe and thus with their positions more secure the superpowers were more willing to attempt negotiation.Death of Stalin* Stalin was perceived in the West as the dominant factor in the development of the Cold War* Liberal Historians who have emphasised the role of personality have seen Stalin’s death as the determining factor in the development of the ‘thaw’.* During 1948-49 the initiative appeared to be getting away from the Soviet’s, failure of the Berlin blockade, the formation of NATO and the defection of Yugoslavia from COMINFORM were all failures for Stalin’s foreign policy. His death in 1953 provided the opportunity for a new soviet leadership to change its approach to the west.Beria* In the immediate aftermath of Stalin’s death it was unc lear to the West who was in charge of Soviet foreign policy, Beria, the long-serving head of the secret police took the initiative and offered the West a proposal for a reunified, neutral Germany.* Beria – ‘all we want is a peaceful Germany and it makes no difference to us whether or not it is socialist’* Beria’s motives may have been to distance himself from Stalin’s policies, or an attempt to impress his colleagues in the Politburo.* However his association with the terror of Stalin’s rule was too much for the other members of the Politburo and he was arrested within months: accused of being a British spy.* With the execution of Beria an opportunity to end the division of Germany was lost.Malenkov’s New Course* With the removal of Beria, Soviet foreign policy fell into the control of Malenkov who with Khrushchev and Bulganin formed a collective leadership.* Malenkov recognised the limitations of a hard-line approach of confrontation with the West and decided to embark on a ‘New Course’* Malenkov did not believe the war between capitalism and communism remained inevitable and that therefore resources could be directed away from arms and heavy industry and towards consumer goods and raising living standards within the USSR* There was still the belief that the collapse of capitalism was inevitable, but war was not needed to ensure its demise.* War was now a risky strategy with the advent of the nuclear age, and there were other safer methods that could be used to defend communism while waiting out the inevitable collapse of the capitalist system.* Khrushchev criticised Malenkov’s ‘New Course’ during his struggle for power, but when he achieved his objective he was to adopt and develop the ‘New Course’.Khrushchev and Peaceful Coexistence* Building on the ‘New Course’ Khrushchev articulated a new approach towards the West which became known as Peaceful Coexi stence* Khrushchev believed that the collapse of Capitalism was inevitable and therefore he saw Peaceful Coexistence was the best way of conducting relations in the meantime. Nuclear war was not worth the risk.* Khrushchev – ‘There are only two ways – either Peaceful Coexistence or the most destructive war in History. There is no third way’* He developed this theory between 1955-57 and by June 1957 he was firmly established as the leader of the Soviet Union and able to pursue this policy relatively unhindered.Eisenhower and Dulles* Eisenhower became president in 1952* His war record and his post as head of NATO allowed him more protection against McCarthyism and ‘being soft on communism’* Had the self-confidence from his military career to pursue his own policies and was a firm believer in face to face diplomacy.* ‘New Look’ was hard-line approach to foreign policy and won much support in the US* Dulles (secretary of state) talked of ‘rolling back’ communism and the ‘liberation’ of Eastern Europe. Based on ‘massive retaliation’ and the policy of brinkmanship* Dulles – ‘the ability to get to the verge without getting into war is the necessary art. If you cannot master it, you inevitably get into war. If you try to run away from it, if you are scared to go to the brink, you are lost’* In private however, Eisenhower and Dulles were cautious and understood the destructive nature of nuclear weapons. Their policy was based on a reasoned approach to the situation they faced.* Eisenhower was conscious of the power and influence exerted by the military-industrial complex and was aware that economic resources that could improve living standards were being diverted into arms production.* The US military, which had undergone massive expansion during the Korean War was in danger of distorting and unbalancing the US economy. With the growth of expensive nuclear mi ssiles, an agreement with the USSR appeared necessary.Therefore, from the early 1950s, the Governments of both the USA and USSR were facing the same pressures. Pushing them towards reaching an accommodation.Economic Pressures* The desire to reduce military spending to free resources for other sectors of the economy.* Domestic reforms and living standards were held back by pouring money into an unproductive military sector.* In the USSR aprox 1/3 of the economy was geared to the military sector* In the USA over 12% of GNP was spent on armaments – Eisenhower’s ‘New Look’ was designed in part to save money of conventional arms by relying on fewer but more powerful nuclear weapons* Neither country could sustain huge military costs without long-term damage to its economyAvoiding Nuclear War* Both Superpowers had the A bomb (1949) and H Bomb (1955)* Destructive power of the H-Bomb (x1000 more powerful than A-bomb dropped on Hiroshima) posed a very real danger to the existence of life on earth.* Moral dilemma for leaders whom the responsibility of using the weaponry fellWhat, if anything were the achievements of the ‘Thaw’?* The ‘Thaw’ in relations that developed after 1953 resulted in a series of summits between Eisenhower and Khrushchev – the ‘Geneva Spirit’* The achievements of these summits was certainly limited, but meaningful dialogue between the powers was a significant step forward.* Election of Eisenhower and death of Stalin enabled an armistice to be concluded in 1953 to end the Korean War.* New Soviet leadership put pressure on North Korea’s Kim Il Sung to agree to a ceasefire. There had been stalemate since ‘51* January 1954 – Berlin Foreign Ministers conference. Soviet representative Molotov, called for the creation of an all-German government out of those in West and East Germany to begin the move towards reunification.* Although the West opposed this idea †“ calling for free elections before the creation of a German Government, it was seen as rather more constructive than previous provocative Soviet proposals.July 1954: Geneva Conference – discuss problems in Asia/S.E Asia* Korean armistice confirmed* Settlement reached to allow French to withdraw from Indochina* Despite Dulles reservations over the wisdom of the settlement (communism in N. Vietnam) the agreement was endorsed by all involved.* The Communists had not been as obstructive as the West feared.New Soviet Approach – early 1955, USSR agreed to the reunification of Austria as long as it remained neutral.July 1955: Geneva Summit Meeting – leaders of USA/USSR/GB/FRANCE* Issue of German reunification raised – Khrushchev prepared to allow if Germany remained neutral* However, was made more complicated by the admission of West Germany into NATO in May 1955* For USA, West Germany of vital strategic importance.* Khrushchev suggested the dismantling of NA TO and Warsaw Pact and a new system of collective security in its place.* West weren’t prepared to agree to this, but were willing to look at arms limitations* Eisenhower suggested ‘open skies’ to verify arms agreements, Khrushchev refused this offer.* Conclusion: Both sides went in with high hopes, however the only agreement to come out of the summit was the cultural exchange of scientists, musicians and artists.* Eisenhower – blamed ‘Soviet duplicity’ for the summits failure. Yet recognised the potential for a future agreement. Hope was ‘badly blurred by the Soviets, (but) at least the outlines of the picture remained’* Khrushchev – Geneva had seen his policy of ‘Peaceful Coexistence’ fail to secure any concessions from the West.* Peaceful Coexistence however, did have an effect on relations within the Soviet Bloc.* Success – Improvement in relations with Communist Yugoslavia* Failure – Split wi th China – Mao had not been consulted about destalinisation, who was practicing Stalinist policies within China. His resentment led to a breach in relations with the USSR.The ‘Thaw’ was a cautious and limited move towards establishing a meaningful dialogue between the USA and USSR. Yet by 1955 the level of trust and understanding between the Superpowers had not substantially improved: the essential dynamics of the Cold War remained unchanged.What do the Crises between 1956 and 1962 tell us about the nature of the Cold War conflict?Reveal the superficial nature of the Cold War ‘Thaw’. Highlighted the need for some form of rules by which conflict should take place and therefore be limited. This conclusion is exemplified by the examination of 4 Cold War crises during this period.The Hungarian Rising 1956* Challenge to the post-war settlement* Evidence of Soviet vulnerability in Eastern Europe, undermining the image of a confident and powerful Soviet reg ime.* Although showed the willingness of the Soviet Union to maintain a tight hold over its sphere of influence.* Importance of the Warsaw Pact that helped Soviet dominance and organisation, ensuring other eastern bloc states contributed to the Soviet control* Soviets internally confused how to deal with the uprising, yet during 1950s USSR enjoyed parity with USA and the West was less unware of internal confusion and was less than confident in its ability to deal with the Soviet threat.* Important in establishing the rules of the Cold War – USA empty rhetoric over ‘rolling back’ and ‘liberalisation’ in the east.* The uprising complicated Western attempts to consolidate the prevailing balance of power and peace with USSR was principal foreign policy.* Eisenhower regime regarded the revolution as inconsistent with the pursuit of American national interests and taught Eastern Europe they could not rely on West to rid it of its unpopular regimes.* Howeve r, revolution served to discredit the USSR and the international Communist movement – USSR had crushed a popular workers’ uprising.* Until the rising, the official Communist movement had enjoyed considerable cultural authority amongst the western intelligentsia. After ’56 significant sections of this progressive opinion became estranged from the movement.* Accelerated the dismantling of Soviet dominance in Eastern Europe –* Depth of popular hatred for the regime was revealed and undermined the confidence of the Soviet leadership.* Ruling elite realised the application of 1950’s style coercion would no longer work in E.Europe. After the revolution was crushed, new Hungarian PM Janos Kadar set about introducing ‘gloulash communism’ – slowly the regime of coercion was relaxed and life was liberalised* Similar methods were introduced in other E.European countries, principally Czechoslovakia.* By 1970s economic reforms and the gradua l decline of state repression indicated that the days of the Soviet imposed regime were numbered. October 1956 helped to consolidate a trend that would lead eventually to the fall of the Berlin Wall.Berlin 1958-62* West Germany (NATO 1954), East Germany (WARSAW PACT 1955)* West Germany had undergone a ‘economic miracle’ since WW2, whilst East Germany struggled to present itself as a meaningful independent state.* The East German failure to win over its people was exemplified by the growing exodus across the ‘Iron Curtain’* 1  ½ million between 1950-55* The influx of East German citizens into the West, many of them young and skilled was a threat to Soviet power and prestige* In 1958 Khrushchev issue an ultimatum calling for the removal of all occupying forces from Berlin. Berlin would become a free city with the existence of East Germany formerly recognised by the West.* However, the unique position of West Berlin as an island of capitalism within communis t Germany was a powerful propaganda tool for the West in undermining the Socialist bloc.* It was only after Eisenhower invited Khrushchev to the US that he dropped the ultimatum. SUCCESS OF EISENHOWER’S PERSONAL DIPLOMACY* The ultimatum was renewed in June 1961 when Khrushchev met Kennedy at the Vienna Summit. The ultimatum was rejected, the West firmly believed in the concept of four-power administration* Both sides called up reservists in 1961 as the flood of refugees became a torrent, by June 1961 over 2.6m had left the GDR since ’49, 300,000 since January 1961 (6months). Partly caused by GDR’s 1960 decision to collectivise the remaining farms* Khrushchev gave the approval for the East German Government to build the Berlin wall: preventing the loss of young and skilled workers, stabilising East Germany and successfully contained the threat posed to the Soviet sphere of influence by Berlin.* 13th August 1961 – Soviet’s closed the East-West border except for specified crossing points* 17th August 1961 – Erected the Berlin Wall* 11,000 Western troops confronted the vastly superior Soviet conventional forces* The USA as in Hungary issued statements of condemnation but did nothing to intervene directly* The USSR had been careful to avoid interfering with the rights of the West within the cityThe Berlin Wall became a symbol of the economic and political bankruptcy of the eastern bloc: yet despite the rhetoric and tension generated, the wall illustrated the growing entrenchment and stability of the superpowers spheres of influence in Europe.The Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962* Illustrated the impact of individual leaders – Khrushchev: tendency to push limits and test his opponents* Kennedy: relative youth and experience* Cuba, which the USA perceived to be in its ‘backyard’ had turned Communist in 1959 after a civil war. Took the cold war into Latin America, which had been considered part of the USA’s spheres of influence since the Monroe Doctrine 1863* Khrushchev, under pressure from the USA in the arms race which had by 1962 had developed a sizeable lead in the Arms Race* Khrushchev installed nuclear bases in Cuba in response to US bases in Turkey* The development of an increasingly large number of nuclear missiles gave the crisis the potential to be devastating* Personalities, Geography (threat to US sphere of influence) resulted in an especially hard-line US policy when the Soviet leadership was acting in an increasingly unpredictable manner.* Kennedy threatened to use nuclear weapons if Soviet ships carrying missiles did not return to Russia and the bases dismantled. BRINKMANSHIP in action* However, Kennedy was keen to ensure opportunities for a peaceful compromise were pursued – the difference between hard-line public rhetoric and caution and negotiation in private was vital in Kennedy’s approachThe impact of the Cuban Missile Crisis on superpower relations* Khrushchev was widely perceived to have ‘backed down’, at home and abroad, however the USSR did gain concessions on the removal of US bases in Turkey* Dangers of nuclear annihilation exposed by the crisis led to a recognition on both sides that relations had to be improved* If ideological tensions were too deep to relieve tension then some rules at least were needed to establish the conduct of conflict.* Hot line telephone link and Nuclear Test ban treaty of 1963 were the first steps in cooperation that developed in the 1970s into Dà ©tente.Taiwan Crisis 1954-58* August 1954, Shek authorized the movement of troops to the Nationalist stronghold islands of Quemoy and Matsu.* Mao saw an opportunity to â€Å"liberate Taiwan†, ordering the bombing of the occupied offshore islands beginning in September 1954.* The USA considered nuclear weapons, although Eisenhower followed a diplomatic path by enacting the Formosa Resolution in January 1955. Pledging the American def ence of Taiwan in the case of a communist invasion, but left vague whether the United States would intervene to protect the islands off China’s mainland.* Passage of the resolution produced a series of indirect negotiations between the US and China (in which the Chinese agreed to cease bombing Quemoy and Matsu), and the First Taiwan Straits Crisis ended in May 1955.* The United States and Taiwan entered into a mutual security pact, strengthening the connection between the two nations and making Mao’s â€Å"liberation† efforts more difficult to achieve.* By 1958, however, tension in the Taiwan Straits resumed. Concerned with increased American involvement in Taiwan and frustrated with the failure of his more moderate policy, Mao assumed a hard-line approach.* Ordering the bombing of Quemoy in August 1958, grounded in the belief that an international crisis could benefit the Chinese. Paint the US as imperialist aggressors, and demonstrating China’s independ ence from the dominant communist power of the era the Soviet Union.* Eisenhower reiterated America’s resolve to defend Taiwan (and the offshore islands even though they weren’t explicitly listed in the Formosa Resolution), both in rhetoric and by his decision to send a large naval contingent to the Taiwan Straits. Eisenhower’s forceful stance and Soviet pressure convinced the Chinese to end the bombing and seek a peaceful settlement with the Nationalist government in October 1958.* US had made a comprehensive commitment to Taiwan. PRC was angered at the timidity of the USSR. Strained superpower relations between USA, USSR and ChinaAssessment* Between 1956 and 1962 events in Hungary, Berlin, (Taiwan) and Cuba revealed both the potential dangers of crisis and confrontation, the superficial nature of the ‘thaw’ and laid done rules each side was prepared to adopt in order to stabilise relations.Khrushchev* Due to the political structure of the Soviet U nion left after Stalin, a large degree of power was invested in Khrushchev and thus changes in foreign policy were strongly influenced by the personal preferences of individual leaders.* Destalinisation – had a marked impact on superpower relations as well as the Soviet’s control over their satellite states* His changing temperament could either promote a ‘thaw’ in superpower relations (peaceful coexistence) or push the world towards nuclear annihilation (Cuban missile crisis).* He was removed from power in 1964, the Politburo accused him of ‘hare-brained scheming’, he had become increasingly unpredictable.Eisenhower* Eisenhower was very much in command of his administration and had great experience in foreign affairs. He was the first US President to define a successful national security policy and strategy in the nuclear age.* His greatest successes came in foreign policy and the related area of national defence spending. Ending war in Korea and refusing to get drawn into subsequent conflict. He made peace and kept the peace, saving untold billions and lives.* He understood the risks of erring on the side of activism and wisely accepted a minor setback rather than hazard a major disaster* His greatest failures were his lack of vision. His Cold War attitudes became increasingly outmoded in a world where nationalism was an ever more powerful force – (e.g. unappreciative of Mao’s nationalism)ConclusionThe context of superpower conflict was changing after 1948.* Growing stability of entrenched positions in Europe gave both sides some security in which to operate.* Pressures arising from the nuclear arms race and economic concerns meant different approaches to the conduct of Cold War relations were needed.* Change of leadership in both USA and USSR promoted a different approach to their foreign policies, attempts to establish the framework for improved relations were made possible.* Although tension was reduce d, there was little in the way of tangible achievements for either side by 1955.* Periodic crises from 1956-62 illustrated how the ‘thaw’ could easily give way to more dangerous conflict and how much the direction of superpower relations could depend on individual superpower leaders.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Free Essays on A Whole New Point of View on Volpone

A Whole New Point of View The lights dim, the audience goes silent, spotlight up, out steps the producer to introduce his play, Coca-Cola’s Craig Kevorkian Presents Volpone. The curtains open up to a completely unfamiliar setting. I, Craig Kevorkian, the Producer, have made a few minor adaptations to the play in order that it might hold the interest of the audience; you see, Jonson’s version was just too boring. The year is 2642 AD; the place is the futuristic city of Venice situated on a space platform orbiting high above the planet of Italy. The characters all have their own little quirks with names to match. Volponex is the man-cyborg as clever as a fox. Moscax is a robot who feeds off of the same energy source as Volponex but assists him in all things. Nanox is a genetically engineered midget alien. Ballsy is a eunuch whose testicles were removed as punishment for his poor rhyming scheme. Pat is an um†¦. uh†¦. well†¦. it’s Pat; there’s not much to say about umm him? Her? Voltorex is a lawyer whose pocketbook is too thick for his own good. Corbacciox X is an older model cyborg and mentor to the newer cyborg Bonariox 3000. Corvinox is a space merchant from the planet Ghoti; and of course there is President and First Beyatch Politicex Oughtn’tex-Beex, visiting from the planet England. As the curtains open upon the play the great cyborg, Volponex, stands in his docking station and beckons his little rolly robot helper (you know the kind, the small kind of pyramidy thing with wheels on the bottom and arms that extend from inside to sweep things up, pull back curtains, pull out chairs and the like, not particularly elegant, but functional. It has a big face painted on the front, with a smiley face.), commands him to display a holographic image showing his stock quotes, savings, and checking accounts. Feeling disatisified with a mere 996 billion denarri credits, he decides to go on a hunt for more money. He a... Free Essays on A Whole New Point of View on Volpone Free Essays on A Whole New Point of View on Volpone A Whole New Point of View The lights dim, the audience goes silent, spotlight up, out steps the producer to introduce his play, Coca-Cola’s Craig Kevorkian Presents Volpone. The curtains open up to a completely unfamiliar setting. I, Craig Kevorkian, the Producer, have made a few minor adaptations to the play in order that it might hold the interest of the audience; you see, Jonson’s version was just too boring. The year is 2642 AD; the place is the futuristic city of Venice situated on a space platform orbiting high above the planet of Italy. The characters all have their own little quirks with names to match. Volponex is the man-cyborg as clever as a fox. Moscax is a robot who feeds off of the same energy source as Volponex but assists him in all things. Nanox is a genetically engineered midget alien. Ballsy is a eunuch whose testicles were removed as punishment for his poor rhyming scheme. Pat is an um†¦. uh†¦. well†¦. it’s Pat; there’s not much to say about umm him? Her? Voltorex is a lawyer whose pocketbook is too thick for his own good. Corbacciox X is an older model cyborg and mentor to the newer cyborg Bonariox 3000. Corvinox is a space merchant from the planet Ghoti; and of course there is President and First Beyatch Politicex Oughtn’tex-Beex, visiting from the planet England. As the curtains open upon the play the great cyborg, Volponex, stands in his docking station and beckons his little rolly robot helper (you know the kind, the small kind of pyramidy thing with wheels on the bottom and arms that extend from inside to sweep things up, pull back curtains, pull out chairs and the like, not particularly elegant, but functional. It has a big face painted on the front, with a smiley face.), commands him to display a holographic image showing his stock quotes, savings, and checking accounts. Feeling disatisified with a mere 996 billion denarri credits, he decides to go on a hunt for more money. He a...

Friday, November 22, 2019

Customer Relationship Management Bachelor Essay

Customer Relationship Management Bachelor - Essay Example This paper seeks to highlight the conditions when a comprehensive CRM program becomes useful even necessary for an organization, what processes and operational aspects should be the focus of this program, its possible risks and benefits, and what is the best CRM model a company experiencing a particular customer relationship problem can adopt. For this purpose, the essay sets a scenario involving a manufacturing firm, which we shall call Company A, whose interaction with customers can stand improvement. With this in mind, one of the company executives presented a blueprint for a CRM program for the consideration of top management. Management was duly impressed and appointed the executive as consultant to study and handle the program's implementation. Two weeks after the consultant's appointment, the Managing Director calls his attention to complaints over the way company operations and employees' behavior fail to promote good customer relations. In effect, the problem is laid at the door of the Operations Manager, who has direct responsibility for company processes and people that affect its dealings with customers. Thus, operations become the main target of the consultant's study to determine how the company can adopt and benefit from CRM. This paper assumes the role of the consultant as it evaluates the problem and proposes a specific CRM plan based on a study of how the company's people, processes and operations can be realigned and managed for them to interact better with customers. 2. The Problem in Perspective CRM is all about systematic gathering and retrieval of customer-related data and is thus associated with the Internet and computers, which skill is not among the criteria used in hiring managers, especially operations managers. Operations managers are usually hired more for their decision-making and people handling abilities than for their computer skills, such that insufficient knowledge of information management restricts their control of overall operations (Boughman, 2003). They may be knowledgeable about the company's processes and people but this does not make for good customer relations if the operations manager has no access to the wealth of information about customers offered by a CRM system. The problem is worse at Company A, where the study found that the operations manager lacks control even over the attitudes of the staff, which as a rule has been described as flippant and rude to customers. There is no open line of communication between the front office and the backroom office. This lack of coordination often results in the gathering of customer records that are either inaccurate or incomplete, while purchase orders often get lost in the shuffle. Missing in customer records are such vital data as names, addresses, purchase histories, service and support contacts. Readily available knowledge about customers and their buying patterns is considered one of the most valuable assets of a business organization. A company without any geographic and demographic

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Becoming an Informed Voter-Researching your congressional Delegation Essay

Becoming an Informed Voter-Researching your congressional Delegation - Essay Example Such as the state of Michigan and its 9th congressional district. Presently, the representatives of this district, who also work for the state as a whole, include Senator Carl Levin and Congressman Gary Peters. With Senator Levin being an elected official for the previous three decades, it would affirm the role having been played by both the Senator, as well as his political party. The Democratic Party would further cement that hold, with the election in 2008 of Congressman Peters. Both men in their respective elections, would face Republican candidates as their opponents and win. Thus, showing that the citizens of Michigan seek to find reliable change and are open, at least when they feel the time is right, to find it where and with whomever they are able to. Historically speaking, the citizenry of the 9th congressional district, have been represented by both the Republican Party, as well as the Democratic Party. With the different roles to be played by Senators and Congressman, the fact that Senator Levin will have been in officer for as long as he has, would lead many to decipher that either the electorate of Michigan feel more comfortable with a Democrat as their Senator for an extended period of time. Otherwise, there hadnt been a strong Democratic contender for the congressional seat in the 9th district until Congressman Peters decided to run on the Democratic platform. After observing the general rank and file of most of Michigans elected representatives, those of whom influence what occurs in the 9th district and by extension the state as a whole, it would appear presently that the Democrats would in fact hold an edge as of late. From a standpoint of advantage, the Democrats would have their own advantage presently. Not only having Senators in power from their political fold, along with Congressman Peters, the Governors mansion and the Lt. Governors positions are both presently held by confirmed Democrats. Whether its been recent change,

Monday, November 18, 2019

Case analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Case analysis - Essay Example It is amongst the top fifteen companies in the United Kingdom. It’s past financial performance has been quiet commendable and its spread of operations world over. The biggest strength of the organization laid in its successful acquisitions through which it derived internal development. Sound financial control of the organization ever since its inception has been one of its hallmarks. More and more hotels were acquired as time passed. Despite having innumerable complex intricate operations, the structure of the organization was unbureaucratic. Their chief financial manager Joseph believed in trading purchase assets; a strategy that proved to be very effective for them.The main premise behind this was to use cash flow generated from the acquisition to cover debts. This meant good management would increase cash flow for the company while covering debts. John acquired those assets he believed would rise in cost owing to inflation and would help generate significant cash flow in future. Most of the acquisitions barring that with Express had been on good friendly terms. Even after acquisitions, the business was allowed to run in their own styles without a lot of interference from the top management. Joseph never intervened deeply into the running affairs of the business. There were lots of opportunities all the way from the beginning. Acquisitions kept taking place as went the chance to do so turn in. The opportunities were executed none bureaucratically. Joseph’s only focus was on the fact that the existing cash flow would be able to cover any debts while operations were feasible. If everything fit the bill for him, he would then go ahead. It was with this idea in his mind that he acquired brewer Truman, Han bury, Buxton (THB). Joseph realized that the breweries were attractive in-city spots. He further cashed in on the curativeness of this offer when he saw an opportunity in â€Å"Winey Mann† as a follow up on THB. This was a huge step for

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Effects of Quotas on Importing and Exporting Countrys Trade

Effects of Quotas on Importing and Exporting Countrys Trade LITERATURE REVIEW This chapter starts with a theoretical framework. It discusses what quotas are followed by the models showing the effects of quotas on importing and exporting countrys trade. A large body of literature attempts to predict the likely impact of removal of quotas on textiles and clothing. The results of these studies are included in this chapter. 3.1 Theoretical Framework There are many forms of protection in world trade. They include tariffs and non-tariff barriers. Tariffs, which are taxes on imports of products into a country or region, are amongst the oldest form of government intervention in economic activity. They are implemented because they provide revenue for the government and protect the domestic industry from foreign competition. Non-tariff barriers include voluntary export restraints, technical barriers to trade, and import quotas. The effects of all these tariff and non-tariff barriers on importing and exporting countries are almost identical. Quotas restrict the imports of specified products by setting a maximum quantity or value of goods authorized for import. Different types of quotas exist, such as global quotas, bilateral quotas, seasonal quotas, quotas linked to export performance, quotas linked to the purchase of local goods, quotas for sensitive product categories, and quotas for political reasons. In this context, quotas refer to the limits placed on the quantity of different categories of clothing (e.g. knitted T-shirts, sweaters, gloves) and textiles (e.g. knitted fabric, acrylic yarn, cotton fabric) that can be exported to the US, Canada and the European Union (EU). Under the ATC system, garment and textile-producing countries were assigned a maximum quantity that they could legally export to the US, Canada and the EU during a particular time frame. The quotas set by the ATC differed by country and per product. The allocation of quotas was generally based on historical export levels (Appelbaum, 2004). The quotas operated under the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing were originally introduced under the MFA. The main purpose of these quotas was that they were imposed only by specific countries, on exports from specific countries. Another purpose was that the importing countries allowed exporting countries to allocate the quotas. Quotas effects are not easy to understand since they are very complex and require a global perspective to be taken. To a better understanding of the effects of quotas on both importing and exporting countries can be gained from the use of, diagrammatic models. The first diagram model used here shows the effects of quotas on importing countries. Importing countries imposed quotas as a device for restricting imports than tariffs. This is because they are more predictable. They ensure that imports cannot exceed a certain amount, whereas, with a tariff, the precise effect on the volume of imports is uncertain, depending on the slope of the demand and supply curves. When the quota imposed the price of the product became OP* from OP. Sd + quota is the domestic supply curve with the quota added. Demand of the product falls to OQ3 because of the high price and domestic supply increases to OQ2. Imports, also falls, because of the quota constrained at Q2Q3 = WV. In case of importing country profit goes to the person who imported the product at the price OP and sell it on OP*, not to the government (area C in Diagram). If government auctions the quotas than importers have to buy a licence of the quotas to import the products, than the profit will go to the government. The main advantage of the quota is that domestic production increases because the imports decrease, however, consumption of the product also decreases. However, in some respects quotas are more damaging than tariffs for the importing country. Like quotas allocated on the basis of share of the importer in the market and once allocated, it is difficult for more efficient importers to import more if their quota has been already used up. To understand their effects on exporting countries it is important to distinguish between the prices of restricted and unrestricted markets. A simple diagram model can be used to present the basic economic implications of the MFA quotas for exporters (Figure 3.2). As in Kathuria, Martin and Bhardwaj (2001), the diagram is kept simple by basing it on the Armington Assumption, which states that the products produced by this group of exporters are not the same as the products of other countries. This assumption allows well-defined import demand curves to be drawn for quota-restricted products in the restricted country (DR) and in the unrestricted country (DU). The point where these two demand curves meet horizontally gives the global demand (DT) for the products of the restricted countries. In the absence of any quotas, as in figure 3.2, the price will be the same in restricted and unrestricted countries. In the unrestricted equilibrium represented in figure 3.2 the same price applies in both the restricted and unrestricted countries, because the restriction comes in figure 3.3. When quotas are introduced in restricted markets the quantity exported to those markets declines as shown in figure 3.3. The price received for exports to restricted markets increases from (PW) to (PR), because of the restrictions and the price received for exports to unrestricted markets declines from (PW) to (PU). The overall demand curve of country (DT) becomes steeper and less elastic. Because the original price of the output falls, the volume of output automatically declines. Whether static welfare increases or decreases depends on whether the net gain from quota rents in restricted export markets compared with the situation in figure 3.2, represented by the crosshatched area in figure 3.3 outweighs the losses in the vertically shaded area in figure 3.3. However, the overall effect of the ATC quotas on a countrys economy cannot be determined simply by the economic effects shown in figure 3.3, although it does provide a basis for evaluating the partial effects of quotas on all restricted markets. This model is thus inadequate for evaluating the overall impact of the quotas on a country because it does not take into account the effect of restrictions on other exporting countries. When restrictions applied to competing countries clearly increase the demand for exports from the country of interest, whether these restrictions are beneficial or not for any given country depends upon the importing countries, and on the relative magnitude of exports from each country. To predict the reallocation of textile and clothing production among developing countries, a simple Ricardian analysis suggests that a country will produce and export goods in which it has a comparative advantage. A country has a comparative advantage in producing a good if the opportunity cost of producing that good relative to other goods is lower in that country than in other countries. This depends on the factor endowments of each country and factor requirement characteristics of the produced good. The textile and clothing industries are labour intensive, and the basic input is cotton. Thus, according to the Ricardian model, it is expected that countries with larger labour forces and higher production of cotton will benefit most from ATC expiration, as it will facilitate an increase in their production and exports of textiles and clothing. The abolition of quotas in January 2005 eliminated some, but not all of the distortions affecting global trade in textiles and clothing. While the quotas have been abolished, tariffs on textiles and clothing remain, frequently at very high levels. Furthermore, some of Pakistans competitors now benefit from preferential access to industrial country markets, either under preference schemes such as the EUs Everything But Arms (EBA), or through preferences provided under regional arrangements. Unlike tariffs or export taxes, export quotas are nontransparent in their effects on trade. An analysis of the trade competitiveness situation shows that the phasing out of quotas implies significant changes in the worldwide trade structure, leading to strong output and employment shifts in and between countries. 3.2 Impact of quota elimination on textiles Textile and clothing trade among World Trade Organization (WTO) members is governed by the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC), which came into force with the WTO Agreement on 1 January 1995. This agreement means that alongside the progressive application of General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) rules, there will be progressive phasing out of quotas in the EU, US and Canada. These quotas were inherited from the Multi-fibre Arrangements (MFA). On 1 January 2005, the ATC expired and all quotas were abolished. This means that all WTO members now have unrestricted access to the European, American and Canadian markets. This has obviously had an impact on major countries/regions concerned. This research addresses the possible impact of quota abolition on Pakistans textile industry. A considerable number of studies have aimed to quantify the economic and trade effects of the ATC phase-out as well as complete textiles and clothing market liberalisation. The majority of studies reviewed were undertaken by universities, economists and international organisations like the World Bank (WB), International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Asian Development Bank (ADB), and in the case of Pakistan, the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), government organizations, and some institutions. Most of them foresee increases in global welfare as a result of gradual liberalization of the sector with the implementation of the 10-year transitional programme of the WTOs ATC, at the end of which the system of import quotas that has dominated the trade since the early 1960s disappeared. Most of the research covers the global textile industry and the South Asian countries post ATC regime. There is not much research available specifically about Pakistans textile industry in the quota free-regime, the opportunities and challenges Pakistan will face, and whether Pakistan will benefit from this regime or not. This literature review summarises briefly some of the available studies on the impact of the ATC phase-out on the textile and clothing industry. A large body of literature attempts to predict or quantify the likely impact of the removal of quantitative restrictions. Different approaches have been used to address the issue; summary of these studies is given in table 3.1. Diao and Somwaru (2001) estimate that over the 25-year period following the ATC implementation, the annual growth of world textile and clothing trade will be more than 5 per cent than it would be in the absence of the ATC. According to their simulations, this acceleration translates into about $20 billion more trade in the short run (upon implementation) and as much as $200 billion in the long run (25 years). They also predict that, consistent with the trend in the historical data, the world clothing trade will increase twice as fast as the textile trade in the post-quota world. Similar results are reported by Avisse and Fouquin (2001), who found that, as a result of the ATC, the global trade in textiles and clothing will be about 10 per cent and 14 per cent h igher, respectively. Table 3.1 Results of Selected Analytical Studies related to ATC Authors Database Model Characteristics Policy Simulations General Results World Bank (2004) Data collected by authors General equilibrium analyses Quota Removal focus (Pakistan) Overall, the short-run impact of MFA abolition will be positive on the textile sector, negative on clothing. The analysis suggests that Pakistan will benefit substantially from abolition of its own quotas, with the benefits resulting from improved efficiency of resource allocation outweighing the loss of quota rents. Francois and Spinanger (2001) GTAP 4 (Base year 1995) Quota prices for Hong Kong for 1998/99 Standard Static GTAP model Quota removal plus Uruguay Round trade liberalization in the context of Chinas WTO accession. (Focus: Hong Kong) Textile and clothing exports from Asia (especially south Asia) increase substantially. Preferential access to the United States and the EU would be reduced and there would be a shift in demand away from countries like Mexico and Turkey. Terra (2001) GTAP 4 (Base year 1995) Standard Static GTAP model (i) Quota removal and (ii) Quota removal plus tariff reductions (Focus: Latin America) Developing countries subject to the biggest quantitative restrictions would expand their exports at the expense of the importing developed countries, but also of other developing countries which are less restricted (i.e., Latin American countries). Avisse and Fouquin (2001) GTAP 4 (Base year 1995) Standard Static GTAP model Quota removal Output share of Asia increases from 12 percent to 18 percent. Chinas exports would increase by 87 percent, South and Southeast Asias would increase by 36 percent. Latin America and NAFTA would lose 39 percent and 27 percent, respectively. Authors Database Model Characteristics Policy Simulations General Results Diao and Somwaru (2001) GTAP 5 (Base year 1997); Counterfactual analysis using an intertemporal version of GTAP MFA phase-out simulated by improving the efficiency of textile and apparel exports from constrained Countries. Other trade barriers on textile and apparel imports are reduced by 30 to 40 percent in all countries. The annual growth of world textile and apparel trade would be more than 5 percent higher. Market share of developing countries as a whole would increase by 4 percentage points following the ATC. China would gain almost 3 percentage points of the world Textile and apparel market, while other Asian countries would capture more than 2 percent. Non-quota developing countries are predicted to lose about 20 percent of their markets. Matoo, Roy, and Subramanian (2002) Data collected by the authors. Partial Equilibrium. ETEs derived from Kathuria and Bharadwaj (2000). Leontief production. Export elasticities from 1 to 5. Interaction between the ATC and the AGOA rules of origin for Mauritius and Madagascar Under the current AGOA system, the apparel exports of Mauritius and Madagascar would be about 26 percent and 19 percent lower, respectively, following 2005. If AGOAs rules of origin requirement is eliminated, the decline in Mauritiuss exports would be only 18 percent, and Madagascars exports could increase. Lankes (2002) GTAP 5 (Base Year 1997) Standard Static GTAP model Quota removal Total export revenue loss attributed to the MFA quotas estimated to be $22 billion for developing countries and $33 billion for the world as a whole. Source: Commission of the European Communities, 2004 Although the elimination of ATC quotas is predicted to result in an increase in global trade, the impact is likely to differ among countries and regions. For each country, quota elimination represents both an opportunity and a threat. It is an opportunity because markets will no longer be restricted but it will also represent a threat as other suppliers will no longer be restrained and major markets will be open to intense competition. For instance, Lankes (2002) argues that the ATC may lead to a reallocation of production to the detriment of developing-country exporters that have been â€Å"effectively protected† from more competitive suppliers by the quota system. A World Bank (2004) study provides an analysis of potential gains and losses for Pakistan from abolishing the quota system. The study shows that whether Pakistan will be better or worse off depends on the extent to which exports from Pakistan are restricted relative to exports from other suppliers; the strength of the competitive relationship between suppliers; and the extent of complementarities associated with global production sharing, particularly the benefits from increased demand for textiles and clothing as inputs. The general results of the study are, overall, that the short-run impact of ATC abolition will be positive on the textile sector, and negative on clothing. The analysis suggests that Pakistan will benefit substantially from the abolition of its own quotas, with the benefits resulting from improved efficiency of resource allocation outweighing the loss of quota rents. The implications for the clothing sector could be serious, however if no action is taken to improve productivity, output could decline by over 15 per cent, and exports by a quarter. Overall, Pakistans real income may decline by perhaps 0.4 per cent, and real wages could decline slightly if no action is taken to improve productivity. The degree of a quotas restrictiveness can thus serve as a useful, if imprecise means of broadly predicting the likely impact of its removal. Being able to determine which countries are quota constrained and which are not is useful in understanding how particular countries will fare following quota elimination. In the existing literature, the degree of restrictiveness of an MFA quota is often measured in terms of its â€Å"export tax equivalent† (ETE). ATC quotas are administered by exporting countries and impose a cost on exporting firms that is exactly analogous to an export tax. In order to export, a firm in a quota-constrained country has to obtain or purchase a quota (or an export licence). The more restrictive a quotas is, the higher the tax will be. ETEs are obviously zero for non-restrained products or countries. Flanagan (2003) points out that although as many as 73 countries are included in the quota system, some do not fully utilize their quotas. Elimination of an unfilled or non-binding quota has little effect on a countrys ability to export because it could have continued to export to the quota limit in any case. Many estimates of ETEs exist, and they vary for different countries and time frames. Francois and Spinanger (1999) estimate that Hong Kong clothing exporters face an implicit export tax of up to 10 per cent for goods intended for the U.S. market and 5 per cent for the European Union (EU) market. Kathuria and Bhradwaj (1998) report that in 1996, Indian exporters to the United States paid an ETE of 39 per cent (cotton based) and 16 per cent (synthetics), versus 17 per cent (cotton based) and 23 per cent (synthetics) in the EU market. In USITC, the import-weighted ETEs for US imports were estimated to be about 21 per cent for clothing, and those for non-clothing, textile categories were around 1 per cent. In general, the literature reveals that Asian countries are relatively more constrained than other regions. Flanagan (2003) categorizes countries into groups depending on how â€Å"quota constrained† they are in terms of the number of product categories where quotas seriously limit demand. In the group of â€Å"Countries seriously held back, almost across the board, by quotas† were Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Philippines, Korea, Sri Lanka and Thailand. At the other end of the spectrum, countries such as Nepal, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are categorized as â€Å"Countries whose quotas have been a valuable tool, now threatened†. According to Flanagan, China, India and Indonesia have shown the most consistent and widespread near-saturation of quotas for yarn, fabric and garments. Many analysts predict that the market shares of quota-constrained suppliers will increase markedly following 2005. Terra (2001) predicts that clothing production of the restrained exporters, as a whole, will increase by almost 20 per cent, and their textile production will increase by almost 6 per cent. Meanwhile, Terra estimates that the market shares of non-quota constrained suppliers (e.g. Mexico and African countries) will shrink. She predicts a fall in the exports of Latin American countries, which will be displaced by the big exporters subject to restrictions. Mercosur and Chile are predicted to reduce their exports of clothing significantly and their exports of textiles moderately. Avisse and Fouquin (2001) estimate that Asian clothing exports will rise by 54 per cent and their share of the world market will increase to 60 per cent, from 40 percent in 1995. Chinese clothing exports, in particular, will rise by 87 per cent, and their share of world clothing exports will rise by more than 10 percentage points. Both South Asias and Southeast Asias clothing exports will also experience substantial gains, increasing by 36 per cent, combined. On the other hand, Latin American clothing exports are predicted to decrease by 39 per cent. Avisse and Fouquin estimate that Chinese production will rise by 70 per cent, and that of other Asian countries, by 26 per cent. Within a broadly unchanged level of global output, Asias share will rise from 12 per cent to 18 per cent. North American production of clothing 14 will decline by 19 per cent and European production will drop by 11 per cent according to estimates. Diao and Somwaru (2001) provide similar estimates. According to their dynamic model, world market share of developing countries as a whole will increase by 4 percentage points following the ATC. China is predicted to gain almost 3 percentage points of the world textile and clothing market, and other Asian countries to capture more than 2 percentage points. Current non-quota holding developing countries are predicted to lose about 20 per cent of their markets (equivalent to 2.3 percentage points of total world textile and clothing markets) to the restrained ones. In addition to the costs of quotas themselves, the nature or quality of the quota administration system can also restrict an individual countrys exports, and lead to quota â€Å"underfill†. Whalley (1999) points out that many developing countries have built costly domestic administrative structures around the internal allocation of quotas. Krishna and Tan (1998) present empirical evidence that the costs of the export licence system within the restrained countries are significant and that both the licence cost and hidden administrative costs are added to the price of the product prior to entering the foreign market.