What did the Greeks ever do for us Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

What did the Greeks ever do for us - Essay Example The dictionary typically defines philosophy as â€Å"the love of or search for wisdom or knowledge† or â€Å"as the theory or logical analysis of the principles underlying conduct, thought, knowledge and the nature of the universe† (Neufeldt, Goralnik, 1994, p. 1015). With such a general definition, one might begin to understand the complexities involved in studying philosophy as it seems to encompass just about all knowledge pursuits. Perhaps part of the confusion in trying to define the term can be found in the early days of the science when it applied almost universally to all avenues of knowledge in ancient Greece. The term itself derives from an ancient Greek word that translates to â€Å"love of wisdom† (Wikipedia, 2005) and it is through several early Greek thinkers that we have arrived at the perceptions we now foster. Although philosophy and its early proponents have had a huge impact on the shape of modern Western thought, for the purpose of brevity, th is paper will only discuss how some of the key Greek philosophers have influenced modern conceptions of ethics and morality in a very general sense.Within this discussion, it is important to understand that the definition of ethics as it is considered by philosophers does not merely constitute a choice between right and wrong behavior.

Reflective Independent Learning Essay Example for Free

Reflective Independent Learning Essay 1. A critical part of being an independent learner is reflecting on your learning. Go to the following link from the University of Hull and learn more on how to be a reflective learner: University of Hawaii Reflective Learning 2. Being an independent learner is a guiding principle for university learning and success. Clearly, learning independently is a complex activity that involves many things but crucially it requires the ability to take responsibility for and to reflect on your learning so that you can achieve the goals that you set for yourself. Find out more about what it means to be an independent learner and how you can improve in this area by going to the following link and reading this article from Hull University: Study Advice 1. Write a short paragraph answering the following questions: a) Describe several things that you have done or are doing at university that would be defined as independent learning. b) Being motivated, confident and reflective were highlighted in the article as key to independent learning. How do you rate yourself in these areas? c) Referring to the articles above, describe how you can improve your independent learning. One of the important things that I use and I define as independent learning is portfolios. I use them not only for all my classes but also for everything I take a picture of or draw or write or even tutorials that shows how to make things. I consider that very important because it helps me to remember everything I did and I liked, so every time I take my portfolio and browse it, I remember all the good and positive things I did and that make me happy. In my opinion, motivation, confidence, and reflection are the fundamental keys to be an efficient independent learner because they give energy that make you feel that you want to do something that you like. And when you do something you like it gives you motivation and confidence. It‘s a kind of cycle that never ends. And personally I think those three elements are what keep artists doing the good work. In my case I use normal portfolios, but the negative thing about that is that a certain time I will end up having many portfolios which will take a lot of space.

Effective Foreshadowing in King Lear :: King Lear essays

Effective Foreshadowing in King Lear    The first scene of a play usually sets up the basic themes and situations that the remainder will work with. In Shakespeare’s play King Lear, the very first scene presents many of the play's basic themes and images. The recurrent imagery of human senses and of "nothing," the distortion of familial and social ties, the gradual dissolution of Lear's kingship, all make their first appearances in the first lines of Shakespeare's play.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Much of the imagery in King Lear's first scene presages what is to come in the play. Often characters refer to senses, particularly sight, whether as a comment on the necessity of sensing consequences before acting (as Lear does not), or as yet another of Shakespeare's comments (most apparent in Hamlet) on "seeming." The destruction of Gloucester's eyes and his subsequent musings ("I stumbled when I saw" (IV.i.19) etc.) are a more graphical presentation of this basic theme which originally appears in Lear's first scene. Goneril declares Lear is "dearer than eyesight" (I.i.56) to her (though she is the one who later suggests putting Gloucester's eyes out for his "treachery"). Regan goes further, proclaiming "I profess / Myself an enemy to all other joys / Which the most precious square of sense possesses" (I.i. 72-74). Crossed in his wrath by Kent, Lear cries "Out of my sight!" (I.i.157), only to be reproved with Kent's "See better, Lear, a nd let me still remain / The true blank of thine eye." (I.i.158-9).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Lear's dialogue with Cordelia on "nothing" introduces yet another theme in the play's imagery, echoing, among other scenes, some of his later conversations with the Fool (I.iv.130 "Can you make no use of nothing, nuncle?") and others. Indeed, King Lear is, in many ways, about "nothing." Regan and Goneril seem to offer much in the beginning, but after whittling down the number of Lear's knights, they leave him with nothing, and in the end their "natural" affection comes to nothing as well. Lear is progressively brought to nothing, stripped of everything -- kingdom, knights, dignity, sanity, clothes, his last loving daughter, and finally life itself.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One of the main signals of the growing chaos of Lear's world is the distortion of familial and social ties. King Lear exiles his favorite daughter, Cordelia, for a trifling offense, and those daughters he does favor soon turn against him.

The structure of the play Blood Brothers

At the start of the play , w see the end of the play , a flash back, although at this point we do not know its the end , all we see is 2 men dead on the floor and a very mysterious and creepy music can be heard , leaving the audience wondering what is going on. Then we learn of what is going on as the narrator recites a passage that we here a few times in the play â€Å"As like each other as two new pins, of one womb born on the self same day, how one was kept and one given away? An did you never hear how the Johnston's died, never knowing that they shared one name till the day they died, when a mother cried, my own dear sons lie slain† this passage tells the audience what's happening and gives away the plot, but it doesn't ruin it for the audience as there is still information they do not know for example, how did they die? Why did they not know they were brothers? And lots more questions, causing them to be more indulged in the play. Complication The complication in the play is when Mrs. Johnstone is forced to give up one of her sons to Mrs. Lyons to avoid losing them both to social services or going into so much debt that she just couldn't look after them. If this part of the play didn't happen, there really would be no play as it would mean Eddie and Mickey wouldn't have to meet and they would never become blood brothers, Eddie wouldn't go to university because he wouldn't of been able to afford it and Eddie wouldn't of had the good job and been able to give Linda money later on in the play and give Mickey a job. Rising action Other small complications in the play that are added in to make it more interesting and add more action are important to the play also. The love triangle between Mickey, Eddie and Linda, without this part of the play Linda wouldn't have cheated on Mickey causing Mickey to get jealous and seek out Eddie to kill him at the end of the play. But another complication which was vital and the reason that Linda cheated was Sammie shooting the man and Mickey going to prison for it , if this didn't happen Mickey wouldn't of got depressed had to take his Tablets , he wouldn't of slowly pushed Linda away, and as I said , Linda wouldn't have cheated. Climax The climax of the play is obviously the end sequence which starts with Mrs Lyons who at this point in the play has become a paranoid wreck showing/telling Mickey that Edward and Linda are together, This is a catalyst for the ending everything in the play after this point speeds up (the music, the speech the movement) Mickey is outraged by what he now knows about his wife and Ex best friend so he runs home finds the gun that Sammie used to shoot the man earlier in the play and goes in search of Eddie , during this he the female characters realise what's about to happen and emotions hit there peaks â€Å"he's †¦. Mickey†¦. Mickey's got a gun† (Mrs. J) (p97) the tension and speed increases more and more as we get closer to the end. Shouting and screaming increases the tension, Mickey reminds the audience of what has happened throughout the play â€Å"FREINDS! I could kill you. We were Friends weren't we? Blood brothers, wasn't it? Remember?† then it finally hits the peak when Mrs Johnstone tells them there brothers and they both are shot, Mickey by the police officer then Edward by Mickey. Solution The solution, although sad is the two twins dying, if it wasn't for them not knowing they were twins the play would never have been, but nothing could be peaceful and right until the problem made at the start which was them, was taken away. The secrets and lies had to come clean for the play to be ended and that meant Mrs Johnstone had to learn from her mistakes, she had to be punished for her mistakes and the superstition which pays such a key part in this play had to come true. Finally we end the Play how it started with the mysterious Narrator repeating the passage said at the start â€Å"Did you ever here the story of the johnstone twins , As like each other as two new pins, of one womb born on the self same day, how one was kept and one given away? An did you never hear how the Johnston's died, never knowing that they shared one name till the day they died, when a mother cried, my own dear sons lie slain†. The narrator The narrator in the play plays a very important character in the play, like most narrators he tell the story, but this narrator is slightly more mysterious and complicated than most. He is a ghost like figure; He seems to always be there, but is never seen by the characters, he is truly like a ghost , in some parts of the play he touches the characters they turn round to see who it was but they seem to see nothing although the audience see him there. I have said that the narrator plays a ghost like figure other interpretations of him would be an evil spirit or the devil, I wouldn't Say he was ever like a guardian angel though because all his references are to bad things in the play, he is never really around when happy and comical parts of the play E.G when there children are playing guns but is ever present when tension and anger is involved in the scene , also his song â€Å"The devils got your number† suggests he may be the devil or an evil spirit in connection with the devil. The narrator also continuously refers back to superstition reminding the audience of a very key factor in the play. His lines are never blunt and straight to the point either, they usually are in riddles to make the audience think. Themes The themes in Blood brothers are constantly referred to and gone back to throughout the play, usually reminded to the audience by the narrator but also quite obvious in the play. The first is fate this is mainly shown through the flash back, we see what the ending is like and we are also told by the narrator so throughout the play we know its going to end up like the start. The second and proberly most important theme is superstition â€Å"new shoes on the table, take them off† this theme is a main factor of fear in the play , Mrs johnstone is forever scared to let Mickey and Eddie play and be friends as she is scared if they find out they are brothers they will both die , like Mrs. Lyons said. The final theme is love, love pays a key part and links with superstition Mrs Johnstone loves both her sons and doesn't want them to die , But due to the love triangle between Linda , Eddie and Mickey she has to tell them showing how destructive love really is. The love of different class's is also shown in the play, we see Mrs Lyons and upper class citizen being very over protective of Eddie because she loves him so much she doesn't want him getting hurt in comparison to Mrs johnstone who would rather show her love by letting Mickey enjoy himself and have fun. Dancing Dancing is referred to a lot in the play especially in a lot of the songs, were Mrs. Johnstone refers to a lover taking her dancing or not taking her dancing. Again dancing is compared in the two social classes in the play Mrs Lyons teaches Edward to dance in a very traditional way E.g. a Waltz, were as Mickey Dances to a disco music and Rocky music reflecting on the character as Edward dances a more mature and educated dance and Mickey dances a more playful Un educated dance which doesn't have much structure. Dreams and ambitions Every Character in the play has there own dreams and ambitions again these are Very different over the two social classes. To start though Mrs Lyons has the dream of having a child, so when Mrs. Johnstone comes to her with twins that she doesn't think she can look after Mrs Lyons jumps at the opportunity. In Mrs. Johnstone case she dreams of getting a new husband, moving house, Getting money, she also gets all the things she wants†¦ but these things seem to all cause problems later on in the play , for example Mrs Lyons gets her Child but ends turning into a paranoid wreck because she feels the burden of the secret of adopting Mrs J's baby illegally is always upon her. In Mrs Johnston's case moving house and getting a new man is really ruined as they move to were The Lyons family have escaped to and Mickey and Eddie grow up together, if this wouldn't of happened they proberly would of forgotten each other preventing both there deaths. Both Mickey and Eddies dreams and ambitions also cause destruction there dreams to be like the other seems to cause jealousy which eventually causes Mickey to shoot Eddie, Eddie's dreams of university separates the 3 friends leaving Mickey to fend for himself and make the wrong choices. So to sum up every ones dreams and ambitions seem to come true in the play but they all seem to backfire on the characters. Toy guns Toy guns is an issue covered in the play which causes many problems, when the characters are kids they play with toy guns as said in the song they can get up after a count to ten , they cant die when they play with toy guns they don't understand the dangers of guns , this lack of understanding is carried out into there adulthood and it results in Mickey being put in prison when Sammie pulls the trigger and shoots someone , but still Mickey does not learn his lesson, in the final scene when Mickey holds the gun to Eddie I don't think he means to shoot him , I think he is using it to scare Edward and due to his naivety when he shoots Eddie he kills him , he kills his own brother and best friend. He has never grown up, he is still a kid inside, but the weapon he holds has.

Impact of rise of China on international orders in East Asia Essay

China is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Her growth has been accompanied by more political influence and voice in international scene. Her international influence has started to be felt in the recent years. China great investment in other countries has played a big role in this. China has also been on process of fastening her diplomatic relationships with various countries. She is also a member of major international and regional organization e. . World Bank, World Trade Organization (WTO), Asian Development Bank (ADB), International Monetary Fund, Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation(APEC). Additionally, she also has veto power in UN decision making process. Consequently her rise is likely to destabilize international orders in East Asia which compromises of countries such as People Republic of China, Japan, North Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and North Korea. It is likely that influence on this area by the America, Western Countries, Russia and Japan will be destabilized as China entrench its economic and political interests. (Rex Li 2008 p1). China has been having different perception about issues in this area which have been conflicting with those of Western and USA. For instance, the North Korea nuclear weapon programs which has been openly and toughly opposed by USA and Western countries has seen fair opinion from China which has also been opposing sanction against this country. China has also been actively developing ‘strategic partnerships’ with the major power and actors around the world. It is therefore clear that China has been having global aspiration but East Asia has remained to be the main focus. People of Republic of China leaders also consider East Asia as the most important region for her economic development as well as security concerns. She has vital interest in this region. Her leaders have also been paying great attentions on strategies of the major powers in East Asia especially the Russia, America and Japan. Her economic expansion in terms of trade has been increasing tremendously, for instance her exports grew from US$9. 8 billion in 1978 to US $1218 billion in 2007. Her foreign direct investment increased from US$916 million in 1983 to US$74. 8 billion in 2007. China has also focused on enhancing economic cooperation with the East Asian countries. This relation has been integrated into number of subregional economic groupings such as Northeast China-Korea-Japan and Hong Kong-Guangdong-Shenzen triangles. In addition to this, China has also been in forefront to ensure development of other subregions e. . Tumen River project so as to promote her cooperation with Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Mongolia and Russia. The other subregion is Yellow Economic Zone which include Shandong and Liaoning provinces, Japan, South Korea China has also continued to strengthen its multilateral and bilateral relations with other Asian nations. The announcement of establishment of a China-ASEAN free trade Area by 2010 in Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Plus Three summit in 2002 at Phnom Penh is a good example of these efforts. Additionally, she has also established its military ability through purchase of more weapons especially from Russia. For instance, China has over forty ballistic missiles. (Rex Li 2008 p4). All this relations offers China with a good foundation to destabilize the international order in East Asia. Although it may take a little longer, it is probable that America, Russia and Japan influence in this area will be overtaken by that of China.

Wishing I Found The Courage Sooner Professor Ramos Blog

Wishing I Found The Courage Sooner â€Å"Do you feel any older?† my dad said as he was giving me my annual birthday speech. I was turning sixteen, and I got the same speech every year, except this year he had added, â€Å"You still arent allowed to date, And if I find out you do, there will be consequences.† Now this was surprising to me, because although I knew I wasnt allowed to date, I knew I was getting older and it just didnt really make sense because my brother was only a year older and had already been dating for years. Although it may seem a bit much and sound completely sexist, my dad isnt some horrible guy. I am his only daughter and the youngest of all my siblings, so I figure thats why he acts a little too protective over me and still sees me as a kid. As angered as I was about what my dad told me, I let it slide because it didnt seem like I had anything to think about at the time because I didnt have a boyfriend. However, I was also scared to ever tell my dad if I did. This wasnt the first time I had been treated differently than my brother. Jumping back to being seven years old, I recall things like having to set the table everyday. Which if you ever had to do you would know its an extremely annoying task, mostly if you were like me and were obsessed with watching movies, because I would be running back and forth trying not to miss the important parts. I cant say there was no good to come from setting the table because everytime we ate me and my brothers would have a competition on who could finish their food first and I would always lose, until I discovered we had two size forks. Everyday I would give myself a big fork and give them little forks. The most shocked i’d ever seen them was the first time they ever saw me finish before them. â€Å"What? No way? That’s impossible† â€Å"Better luck next time† I replied with an evil smirk. This went on for years until one day I asked, â€Å"why do I always have to set the table?† My question was never really answered. Instead I was told â€Å"because you’re always downstairs and your brothers are upstairs.† I didn’t say anything back although I knew that what he was saying was just an excuse. I always noticed a pattern which was my stepmom cooking in the kitchen and me being asked to set the table. After that day, I did start to notice a change. I still continued to set the table quite often, but some changes were made. There started to be days where my brothers were told to do it, or it would be split and I would set the table while my brothers would grab drinks for everyone. Life at my mom’s house was very different, maybe because she was a girl and new how it was to be treated differently and wanted for me and my brother to be raised as equals. We always had the same chores, bed time etc. The thing with my mom knowing how it was to be raised as a girl she knew the danger and scariness that came with it. There was an overlap on where my mom and dad agreed and that was on my curfew and where I was not allowed to go out and my brother was, even at a younger age they were more strict on what time and where I was going. This was always extremely annoying and very frustrating. My mom was always extremely strict if I wanted to spend the night at someone’s house or go out with friends. She gave me the same speech everytime I left the car, it was very serious and always felt extremely long and I didnt really understand why she would tell me all the time. It would start with who im going with, where I was going, when will I be back, then she would get number of my friends parents. Although my brother got a similar speech, it wasnt the same and wasnt as stressed as mine was. I know my mom wasnt the only person giving this speech to their kids about safety but I always noticed it was more focused on girls. This didnt annoy me as much until I started to get older. When I was thirteen years old, I was at my dads house and I got a message from my friend saying there was a fair in town. She asked if I wanted to go with her, it was already pretty late and I already knew it was going to be a struggle to try and convince my dad. I finally got the courage and went downstairs. I began by sitting next to him, pretending to be interested in whatever he was watching. Wow this movie seems really interesting, I might watch it later yeah its really good, I rented it earlier, if you want to watch it you have to by tomorrow because I have to return it I nodded and after about seven minutes began asking him if he knew there was this really cool carnival that was only open that we ekend. I could tell he could see where I was headed in the conversation and he chuckled a bit. I continued on with all the really cool things about this carnival and how all my friends were going. Then got annoyed when my brother walked halfway down the stairs said â€Å"im going to the movies with my friends in an hour† turned around, and walked up stairs like it was nothing. While I got told no, because it was late, already dark outside and not safe. He gave me a compromise, and I took it. He said â€Å"the fair will still be there tomorrow and you can go then when its earlier.† Over the years I realized more and more that what was happening wasnt fair and needed to be talked about. I went to my parents and began to talk to them about how they were making me feel less than my brother and how it wasnt fair or equal what they were doing. I told them that â€Å"I deserved to be treated the same way my brother was treated and that, I want to be able to leave the same time and be able to come back the same time.† â€Å"we are so sorry, thank you for coming to us and letting us know how we have been making you feel† Without even realizing it, my parents especially my dad realized what he had been doing. After telling them, I felt as if a weight was lifted off my chest, I felt free. I wish I had went to my parents sooner because since then, me and my brother have been treated as equals and I no longer felt alone or less than my brothers. h

Essay on Agency Operations

Essay on Agency Operations Essay on Agency Operations Essay on Agency OperationsIt is know that the criminal justice system consists of various agencies and organizations. Each criminal justice agency should be well-organized to perform its functions in a proper way. Besides, each criminal justice agency has its own responsibilities to succeed in different areas of decision-making authority (Cole et al., 2014).   It is very important to have a deep understanding of the key operations of criminal justice agencies in order assess the effectiveness of functioning of the criminal justice agency as part of the entire criminal justice system. According to researchers, â€Å"the American criminal justice system â€Å"consists of more than 60,000 public and private agencies with an annual budget of more than $214 billion and more than 2.4 million employees† (Cole et al., 2014, p. 102). The examples of the sections, bureaus or divisions that influence agency operations include Human Resources Section, Records Division, Office of Legal Affairs, Internal Affairs and/or Professional Standards, Labor Relations Office, and Budget Section.Scott County Iowa Juvenile Detention Center is one of the criminal justice agencies aimed at fulfilling certain roles and responsibilities within the whole criminal justice system, which deals with people who violate the established criminal justice laws. The Juvenile Detention Center is focused on the use of effective strategies to maintain control in the community, including the â€Å"involvement between youth and staff† that can be viewed as an important management tool to facilitate agency operations (About Juvenile Detention Center: Background, Philosophy Components, 2014). Moreover, the Juvenile Detention Center provides individual approach to planning of treatment programs, implementing crisis counseling and living skills training for the youth and promoting a wide range of supervised recreational activities. In general, the Juvenile Detention Center can be characterize d as an integral part of the larger Juvenile Justice/Treatment system promoted within the criminal justice system (About Juvenile Detention Center: Background, Philosophy Components, 2014).The Human Resources section is responsible for administering workforce diversity programs; monitoring labor management relations; providing professional career development services; designing and administering employee benefit programs and other functions (Scott County Iowa Juvenile Detention Center Human Resources, Official Website, 2014). The mission of the Human Resources section is to provide â€Å"excellent service; through strategic business partnerships and collaboration with departments Human Resources recruits, developing and retaining a highly qualified and diverse workforce utilizing effective, innovative recruitment and benefit strategies† (Scott County Iowa Juvenile Detention Center Human Resources, Official Website, 2014).   The Human Resources section of the Scott County I owa serves as an effective centralized source of the proper information that can be used as â€Å"advice or guidance through the fair and equitable treatment of employees, applicants, and departments† (Scott County Iowa Juvenile Detention Center Human Resources, Official Website, 2014).The major goal of this paper is to analyze and report on a section/bureau/division in a criminal justice agency. The focus of the analysis is to examine the manner in which the section/bureau/division influences agency operations. This paper will be focused on the study of the Human Resources Section of the Scott County Iowa Juvenile Detention Center.MethodologyThe methodology that will be applied by the study has been chosen in order to acquire information and deduce conclusions about the effectiveness of the criminal justice agency operations. The Scott County Iowa Juvenile Detention Center will be chosen as a criminal justice agency and the Human Resources section will be analyzed as one of the agency’s sections that fulfill its roles and responsibilities defined by the criminal justice system.Purpose of the study and type of investigationThe major purpose of this study is to learn more about agency operations and the effectiveness of strategies used to conduct agency operations.   In fact, the selected agency and the section provide the proper materials, such as organization charts, annual reports, and budgets that can be used in the study (See Appendix 2).Data collection methodsIn order to achieve the established goals of the study, it is necessary to conduct interviews with the persons working in the section about their job(s). In other words, primary data will be used in the form of interviews that will be conducted with the Human Resources employees. Besides, observation method will be used to provide data collection. Various activities in the Human Resource section will be observed. The observer will be focused on watching the implementation of the key a ctivities, conditions, interactions, and individual and team behaviors.The interview surveyThe technique of personal interviewing can be effectively used in this study in order to reach the major goals of the study. Actually, the interview survey is the most useful and productive method of communication, which influences the results of the study or research. To achieve the established goals of this study, semi-structured face to face interviews will be contacted involving one interest group: the employees working in the Human Resources section. The choice of the participants will depend on the researcher’s knowledge about different levels of education, lifestyles, and ages of interviewees.Observation methodThe observation method, which can be used to assess the agency operations, requires much time. In this study, observation will be focused on the assessment of the behavior of employees working in the Human Resources section. Job observation will help to assess employs compl iance with the existing rules and regulations, skill development and skill improvement. Watching how employees operate being involved in certain activity helps to assess the overall functioning of the agency.Discussion  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In this section, the structure, practice, operations and procedures of the agency and of the section will be analyzed. The procedures that can be used to conduct the study including interviewing some people who work in the section will be described. Besides, similar agencies will be compared and the results of the study will be presented.Analysis of the structure, practice, operations and procedures of the agency and of the sectionThe Scott County Iowa Juvenile Detention Center is structured to provide effective services based on the established standards, rules and regulations of the criminal justice system. According to 2012 Annual Report, the staff members of the agency include the Director Jeremy Kaiser, Shift Leaders Ca sey Smith and Barbara Walton, Youth Counselors Kenneth Ashby, David Bonde, Jacqueline Chatman, Dave Donohoo, Jeff Douglas, Alvin Edgeworth, Neika Harms, Jessica Hankins, Oscar Hubert, Chad Huetmann, Jennifer Kargl and Jeff Lykam and other members (Scott County Juvenile Detention Center. Annual Report, Fiscal Year 2012). Besides, the Scott County Iowa Juvenile Detention Center includes area education agency staff: teachers Bob Bosco and Brice McKinney, para-educators Rose Roe and Becky Ervin, and social workers Stephanie Doubet and Patricia Fuller. The Scott County Iowa Juvenile Detention Center is operated by Scott County (Scott County Juvenile Detention Center. Annual Report, Fiscal Year 2012). The referrals are provided from some other counties in Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois (Quad Cities). Today there are ten detention centers in the State of Iowa, including Linn County (Cedar Rapids), Dubuque County (Dubuque), Polk County (Des Moines) , Woodbury County (Sioux City), North I owa (Waterloo), Northwest Iowa (Cherokee), Southwest Iowa (Council Bluffs), Scott County (Davenport), South Iowa (Fairfield), Central Iowa (Eldora) (Scott County Juvenile Detention Center. Annual Report, Fiscal Year 2012). According to the 2012 Annual Report, many allegations against the detained youth are felonious acts. Moreover, many young people have committed multiple violations of criminal conduct. The types of offences are different (See Appendix). In other words, the detained young people were involved in different types of criminal conduct, including property-related offenses 49%, violent crimes 40%, drug-related offenses 5%, public order offenses 5%, and other types of offenses 1% (See Appendix 3). The behavior management program provided by the Center includes several components: educational services (e.g. G.E.D. testing), crisis counseling services, various recreational activities, testing and evaluation practices, living skills activities, realistic success planning act ivities, and testing for sexually transmitted diseases (Scott County Juvenile Detention Center, Annual Report, Fiscal Year 2012, p. 4).The Human Resources section provides information about complete county job listings and job descriptions. Besides, the Human Resources staff submits online applications or provides other job-related inquiry. The Human Resources section provides support to the human resource needs of the agency and addresses the needs of employees regarding their employment opportunities, developing and administering the major organizational rules and regulations, based on the U.S. Constitution laws (State of Iowa Juvenile Detention Centers, 2011).   Moreover, the Human Resources section is responsible for employee salary and benefits, offering a package of salaries and benefits. Some of the benefits include medical coverage, short-term disability coverage, critical illness coverage, long-term care coverage, dental coverage, life insurance, and other benefits. The H uman Resources section provides equal opportunities to employees, avoiding discrimination on the basis of race, gender, age, disability, and national origin (State of Iowa Juvenile Detention Centers, 2011).Description of the interviewing procedure and the observation procedureThe interviewing procedure was aimed at finding some important information regarding the effectiveness of employee jobs in the Human Resources section. The Scott County’s Human Resources Team members include the Assistant County Administrator/Human Resources Director Mary J. Thee, the Human Resources Generalist Barb McCollom, the Human Resources Generalist Vanessa Wierman and the Benefits Coordinator Cheri Sexton The Human Resources staff members follow the Human Resources policies, which help to effectively implement the established strategies in the field, including recruitment and selection procedures, promotion, retrenchment, employee compensation, performance management, employee training and develo pment practices.   The interviewing procedure was focused on a set of specific questions (for detailed information regarding the interviewing procedure refers to the Appendix 1). During the process of interviewing, the Human Resources staff members were asked to explain what motivates them to work in the agency.The observation procedure was focused on providing behavioral assessment of employees involved in various agency operations. The type of information received by the observer helps to assess the impact of agency operations on the overall functioning of the system.   Several operations were observed, including recruitment and selection procedures. In general, the operations were conducted based on the established standards, rules and regulations. As Human Resources operations require planning, it is very important to use the proper organizational policies. The Human Resources section of the agency demonstrated well-organized recruitment and selection processes. The staff me mbers used technology to facilitate these procedures. They used databases to make the processes of recruitment and selection easier to implement. The planning developed by the Human Resources employees was based on the policies set by the agency and the government. In general, it has been found that recruitment and selection processes are well-planned. The employees responsible for recruitment and selection use their professional skills, knowledge and experience to minimize delays in finding the proper candidates to fill vacancies. The staff members use previously submitted employment applications in order to review and analyze the most qualified candidates for the recruitment and selection procedures. The Human Resources staff members use various recruitment efforts, e.g. advertisements of all types. As a result, the positions were filled without any problems. Thus, the observation procedure helped to assess the behavior of employees. All staff members were motivated to recruit and select candidates. They were polite, attentive and communicative. These facts mean that the policy set by Scott County to recruit and select the most qualified candidates to the required positions was followed by the Human Resources employees. Recruitment and selection operations were conducted effectively, in an affirmative manner, ensuring the existence of open competition, and providing equal employment opportunities. The acts of discrimination were not found.Comparing similar agenciesComparing the Human Resources section of the Scott County Iowa Juvenile Detention Center to other agencies, it is possible to find some similar characteristics, such as the structure, practice, operations and procedures of the agency and of the section. Juvenile Detention Center in Winchester, Virginia shares similar characteristics of recruitment and selection processes. For example, both the Human Resources section of the Scott County Iowa Juvenile Detention Center and the Human Resources section of the Winchester Juvenile Detention Center receive applications based on the established standards, including â€Å"supplemental application, official copies of high school diploma/transcripts, college transcripts; a copy of birth certificate, driver’s license and social security card† (Juvenile Detention Center Hiring Process, 2014; Scott County Policies, 2014). Moreover, applicants should be screened based upon the established pre-set criteria. In both agencies, the Human Resources staff members invite selected candidates for an oral interview. In addition, both agencies place emphasis on the role of a comprehensive background investigation of successful candidates. The procedures used to provide an effective investigation include polygraph testing, psychological examination and fingerprinting. Besides, in both agencies, successful candidates have to pass drug screening and physical examination (Juvenile Detention Center Hiring Process, 2014; Scott County Policies, 2014).The results of the studyThe results of the study demonstrate the effectiveness of the selected agency operations. The Human Resources section is well-structured and well-organized. The interviews with staff members provided much important information regarding the employee performance, motivation and responsibility. The Human Resource employees perform well as they are motivated. They have the required skills and follow the set policies. Besides, work environment is supportive to perform well. The employees have the necessary resources to conduct agency operations in a proper way. Some of these resources include equipment, time management and reliable information.Conclusion  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Thus, it is necessary to conclude that the Scott County Iowa Juvenile Detention Center and the Human Resources section are well-organized to fulfill their roles and responsibilities in a proper way. This study is focused on providing thorough investigation of the two major Human Resources operations that influence overall functioning of the agency. The results of the study demonstrate the impact of important factors for the overall success of the agency, such as employee motivation, the structure of organizational processes, and other factors. This paper provides analysis of the effectiveness of recruitment and selection operations in the Human Resource section in the criminal justice agency. The manner in which the section influences agency operations is standard, based on the study finding.

Name that festive tune - Emphasis

Name that festive tune Name that festive tune Oh, jingle bells! Under the influence of one too many eggnog-laced espressos, weve only gone and rewritten verses from three popular Christmas songs in almost impenetrable management speak. Passive constructions? Tautology? Unnecessarily long words? Latin? Oh yes. Can you translate these tunes back to their original festive format? Email us your answers once youve deciphered them. The first five people with the correct songs will win a copy of the book My Grammar and I (or should that be Me?) And, from everyone at Emphasis: it is our fondest desire that you experience a convivial festive period. We really mean it. 1 The decrepitation of Castanea sativa on an unenclosed conflagration The arctic impingement of Jokul Frosti on ones proboscis The harmonising of a choral ensemble on festive canticles And citizens attired in the accoutrement of the Inuit. 2 Im experiencing a reverie in which I behold a Yuletide that is niveous In all ways identical to those I was familiar with at some point prior to today During which time the uppermost parts of foliage scintillated And pre-pubescent juveniles gave attention To perceive tintinnabulation amongst crystalline water ice. 3 The Ilex aquifolium and the Hedera helix At the exact moment that they have advanced to their maximum dimension Taking into account the entire scope of flora to be found in the thicket It is atop the Ilex aquifolium that the coronet is borne.

Messiah Handel's Messiah Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Messiah Handel's Messiah - Term Paper Example Community, school, collegiate and church choirs are still performing parts of this Oratorio today as an expression of a great celebration, especially during the season of advent. Oratorios are considered sacred operas, so performing parts of them in contemporary times would indicate that liturgical celebrations acknowledge the rich traditions of the baroque era as performed in churches on special events. In listening from the examples from the listening guide on Handel’s Messiah, one is able to identify specific ways and examples where the music supports and describes (text paints) the words through the pitch, intonation, spacing used by the soloist and accompanied by the violin, harpsichord and the cello. The distinct movements of the vocal and the intensity or loudness was prominent to express the words being sung. High quality exudes from the distinctive overtones heard from the violins and other musical instruments of the

The Family dynamic has impact on child development Research Paper - 1

The Family dynamic has impact on child development - Research Paper Example It is my theory that the family dynamic does affect child development and the factors that affect the family dynamic the most are financial security of a family, birth order, family structure, parental involvement and parental employment. These factors all seem to play a major role in Child development. FINANCIAL SECURITY: The first article that will be examined is the Canadian Council on Learning (2007) Report on the State of Early Childhood Learning and pertains to family income and how it impacts the family dynamic & childhood learning. Income is not as important as is developing countries a significant discrepancy was demonstrated in this study. Firstly in a study, 19% of children from low-income families were considered to have delayed (Academic) development compared to 14% of other children. Moreover the paper also demonstrated that 28% of young learners from low-income families demonstrated delayed development in Number Knowledge Assessment as opposed to 14% of other (Non-low income) families. Although this study mainly focused on the effect of poverty on young families and what this poverty would mean for young learners probably the most important point that was excluded is the current economic climate of North America. This article was published in 2007 when the economy wa s performing much better than it is right now and ultimately one could postulate that the declining economic condition in the global economy means that more and more young learners are going to be negatively affected and ultimately we may see sliding results on number knowledge assessment and delayed (academic) development. BIRTH ORDER: The next main article that will be covered is Vercilo’s (2010) article which postulated that birth order affects the characteristics and physiological development of Children. Ultimately there are three schools of though on this mater insofar as some psychologist believe that birth order has no effect, modest effect or a great deal of effect on a

Muman resource management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Muman resource management - Assignment Example Human resource planning occurs in the broad context of strategic and organizational planning of business involving forecasting the future needs of an organization in terms of human resources and the way in which it will be met. The main perspective of this assignment is to critically analyze the human resources based function of a selected organization and the company which has been selected for the same is Toyota Inc. Toyota: A Detailed Overview Toyota is basically an auto manufacturing company, with its headquartering located in Tokyo, Japan. The name of the company has been abbreviated with the name of Toyota Motor Company (TMC). After the names of General Motors and Volkswagen, Toyota is known as the 3rd largest automobile company of the world. It was 1937, when this great company has been founded by Kiicchiro Toyoda. TMC is basically a subsidiary of Toyota Group, one of the largest conglomerate groups of the world, both in terms of size and revenue recognition as well. The share s of the company are registered on three different stock exchanges of the world, which predominantly are New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), London Stock Exchange (LSE) and Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE). Toyota made 7,308,039 of units in the fiscal year 2011. Apart from that, the company also earned net revenue of Japanese Yen (JPY) 18.583 trillion in the fiscal year 2012 with net income of JPY 283.55 billion. The company currently has more than 300,000 employees working in around 60 countries of the world (Financial Highlights of Toyota, 2012). The shares of the company are very famous among the general public and most of the investors think that it would be wonderful choice to invest only in the stocks of Toyota merely because of its high growth rate and strategy to comply with the effective compliance with both internal and external stakeholders. HR planning in Toyota Toyota is one of those companies which bounds with ad hoc and perfect strategies both in marketing and Human Resources v iewpoint. The company complies with all the sufficient knowledge and information about the Human Resources functions and has a great knowledge about all the labor laws (Christopher & Jain, 2010, 475). Toyota Inc equips their human resources manager and heads regarding managing their workforce accordingly and effectively as according to them, it is the most important and essential function for them. The company has a perfect loyalty and promotion system for the employees from which the motivation level of the employees enhanced tremendously well. Toyota is one of those companies which have a very low turnover rate merely because of its human’s friendly strategies. By far and large, it could be said that Toyota Inc is moving with a perfect human resource policy from which they can attract the recognition of more and more employees. Human resource policies refers to the formal guidelines and rules that is put by businesses in place to train, hire, reward and assess the members o f their work force. Sound human resource policy is very essential in the growth of any business or company (Poole, 1999, 457). One of the greatest human resources policy initiated by the company is the utilization of management by objectives (MBO) in which the management gets the employees participated in

Selfawareness and Career Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Selfawareness and Career Management - Assignment Example The practical implications are for more progressive career learning, in conditions which enable 'due process' to establish viable bases for both choice and change of mind. This thinking more sharply differentiates careers education from guidance, setting out a strong rationale for the former. It does not replace DOTS, but extends it into a new-DOTS re-conceptualization termed 'career-learning space'. The effectiveness of career learning is determined by its transferable outcomes. New-DOTS thinking resonates with the conditions for transferable learning. There are possibilities here for building a strong consensus between practice, theory and policy. It helps us in exploring our strengths and can identify the areas we really want to develop. These areas can be related to academic abilities, skills or personal characteristics. Understanding what we want to develop, there are numerous ways of going about this. The approach depends on what we want to develop and may vary. ... These areas can be related to academic abilities, skills or personal characteristics. Understanding what we want to develop, there are numerous ways of going about this. The approach depends on what we want to develop and may vary. It is really important to plan the stages of development carefully, setting ourselves small, manageable targets and checking regular progress against them. DISCUSSION A rising trend is to give confidence to employees to develop to be energetically involved in the administration of their own careers. Career self-management, the extent to which one repeatedly collects information and strategy for career crisis solving and verdict making includes two foremost behaviours: developmental advice seeking and job mobility attentiveness. The career surroundings are changing from a customary one that is "bounded" and determined by methodical service relations with one boss to one that is boundary less and more and more self-directed by the member of staff (Arthur & Rousseau, 2006). Over modern decades, the gestures of business restructurings, mergers, acquisition and downsizing have resulted in administrative center trends distinguished by job anxiety, compliment organizations, and smaller quantity promotions (Mirvis & Hall, 2004). As a consequence, even in steady or quick growing firms, employers are more and more powerless (or unwilling) to assure and form ally administer career opportunities (Individual Growth Strategies, 2005). In order to be

MRKT - Marketing Real-World Write-ups Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

MRKT - Marketing Real-World Write-ups - Article Example B2B transactions differ from other transactions because they require coordination between different persons. A research study in which over 1500 businesses participated led the following findings: 93.2% of the participants make B2B by making a search online; 95.5% of the participants used search engine at some point in the B2B process; 63.9% of the participants choose search engine information over consumer review sites. There were other interesting conclusions that were arrived after the study. The most popular search engine is Google. Google’s market share of traffic in the United States is 72.11% (Googlesystem). The use of the internet improves supply chain logistics of a company because it reduces the amount of intermediaries. The use of a website can serve as a communication channel that improves communication between businesses. Search engine research takes place one to two months prior to the buying decision. The position of the search engine result is very influential in the behavior of the surfer. Approximately 60% of users click at the first three results only. It takes users seconds to decide which site to click after a click scan. Search engines are primarily used in the early and mid stages of the buying cycle. It is imperative for businesses to design their website well in order to optimize them to attract traffic from customers that are interested in the products or services your company offers.

Radioisotopes in Medicine Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Radioisotopes in Medicine - Essay Example There are neutrons found in the nucleus. These are the neutrons which give an element a radioactive status. Unlike the protons, these neutrons are found in the different number of different at atoms of the same element and based on this difference in the number of neutrons the isotope status is acquired by an element. The sum of protons and neutrons in an atom is called its atomic mass. So atomic number of all atoms of an element is the same but atomic mass could be different (Medical isotopes). There are some elements which decay and are converted to isotopes that posses the properties of unstable isotopes; examples are uranium and thorium. The same isotopes can be generated artificially when it does not exist naturally in some elements. This is achieved by a combination of protons and neutrons. These radioisotopes can be obtained through a variety of ways but the most frequent way of producing radioisotopes is by neutron activation in a nuclear reactor. There are two major outcomes which give radioisotope status to an element, either by gaining a neutron and making an atom neutron rich or by gaining a proton and resulting in proton rich atom. The unstable state of a radioisotope is converted to stable one by the emission of alpha or beta particle with some energy release in the form of gamma rays. In fact, this is radioactive decay of that atom. In medicine, these radioactive products are termed as radiopharmaceuticals (Medical isotopes).   Around the first decade of the last century there had been some initial, discussions on the issues of radioactivity and radioisotopes like thorium and ionium. Most of the radioisotopes which are in more frequent use today were discovered during the third decade of the last century. Radioactive isotopes like, iodine-131, cobalt-60, technetium-99m and others were discovered during a short period of three years (1938-1941) (Radioisotopes for diagnosis and treatment).   Till mid-seventies of the last century there was not much development in the field when some newly discovered radioisotopes along with technetium-99m revolutionized the field of nuclear medicine when technetium-generator made it practical to convert inactive pharmaceuticals to be labelled on the hospital premises (Radioisotopes in medicin). In 1980s, gamma cameras performance was improved through computer integration which helped in enhancing the processes and eventually the quantification of the radioactivity emitted. (Radioisotopes in medicin). Around the last decade of the last century the image quality as well as details were made improved with the help of single photon emission computer tomography (SPECT) systems. Radioisotopes utilization in Medicine   Radioisotopes have been utilized in medicine very extensively for preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic purposes.

MRKT - Marketing Real-World Write-ups Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

MRKT - Marketing Real-World Write-ups - Article Example B2B transactions differ from other transactions because they require coordination between different persons. A research study in which over 1500 businesses participated led the following findings: 93.2% of the participants make B2B by making a search online; 95.5% of the participants used search engine at some point in the B2B process; 63.9% of the participants choose search engine information over consumer review sites. There were other interesting conclusions that were arrived after the study. The most popular search engine is Google. Google’s market share of traffic in the United States is 72.11% (Googlesystem). The use of the internet improves supply chain logistics of a company because it reduces the amount of intermediaries. The use of a website can serve as a communication channel that improves communication between businesses. Search engine research takes place one to two months prior to the buying decision. The position of the search engine result is very influential in the behavior of the surfer. Approximately 60% of users click at the first three results only. It takes users seconds to decide which site to click after a click scan. Search engines are primarily used in the early and mid stages of the buying cycle. It is imperative for businesses to design their website well in order to optimize them to attract traffic from customers that are interested in the products or services your company offers.

BMW new change program Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

BMW new change program - Case Study Example Also we can observe that the management also has redesigned the job of the workers. The hierarchical structure has been diminished and the teams hold more responsibility. Eventually, this will create new challenges for the members of the team. There is also evidence that the jobs of the workers no longer involve monotonous tasks. The jobs of the team members are halved so that they can concentrate on the development of the team. Every fortnight the team members talk for 45 minutes to solve problems and to gather new ideas. The assembly line workers who were previously responsible only in the production levels were now having additional roles in tackling problems and suggesting solutions which has resulted in huge gains for the organization. By making the job more challenging and providing opportunities for achievement, recognition, responsibility and growth, the job itself becomes a source of motivation. b) The management of BMW has taken the approach to maintain the hygiene and motivational factors as suggested by Herzberg's motivation-hygiene theory. In this theory, Herzberg explains that there are hygiene factors, which are not intrinsic part of the job but the conditions under which a job is performed. These factors do not help in the improvement of efficiency of the organization, but they prevent losses in the performance of the workers. These factors help in maintaining a reasonable level of output from the workers. At BMW the hygiene factors are already well established. Hence, to heave a motivated workforce, the management decided to improve the motivational factors such as increasing the responsibility, achievement and recognition. By dividing the workers into teams and empowering them to solve problems and make decisions, the management has increased the presence of motivational factors in the organization. The jobs of the workers now include a variety of tasks and the formal structures have given way to more people oriented teams. This creates job enrichment. The idea of maintaining the motivational factors hs lead to job rotation, job enrichment and job enlargement, which has benefitted the company to a major extent. By increasing the scope of responsibility and recognition the management has created more value to the job of the assembly line worker. The Herzberg's approach can often motivate the members to achieve new heights which the human resource policies fail to achieve. c) Working in groups benefits both the employees and the organization. For the employees it is very useful by creating a participatory work environment. At BMW, the management also takes part in the production process, hence the environment of participatory work is established. Next, there is improved organizational processes and procedures. The teams are empowered to make decisions, hence the processes and procedures followed become more effective. The worker satisfaction is increased because of the additional roles played by the team members. Working in empower teams helps to establish a positive work environment which gives room for better human relationships. Hence, this helps the workers to reduce stress, increase shares responsibility and trust amount the members of the team thus increasing the quality of the work life. Also, the workers are made to attend workshops and training programs by the management, which gives them opportunity to develop themselves. For the

In Broad Daylgith Essay Example for Free

In Broad Daylgith Essay â€Å"In Broad Daylight† is about Mu Ying, nicknamed Old Whore. She has affairs with different men and is publicly denounced and paraded before the community by the Red Guards who travel from another city and happen to know her bad name. Her dwarf peddler husband Meng Su tries to rescue her from the public humiliation, only to be humiliated himself by the Red Guards, the spectators and his wife as well. Finally, he is found crushed by a train, and Mu Ying lies alone at bus stop, deranged. Written from the point view of a naive boy, nicknamed White Cat, Ha Jin intends to portray through untainted and authentic lens a Chinese woman with a self-awakening feminist consciousness who stands up for her sexuality. Turning point number one in the story is when the questioning of Mu Ying has started and has to confess her crimes of adultery with three other men. She then comes to the point where she explains the feeling of wanting a man holding her with his strong arms very detailed. After Mu Ying describes this feeling of sexual need, a woman who is the mother of Bare Hips speaks from the front of the crowd and says â€Å"You have your own man, who doesn’t lack an arm or a leg. It’s wrong to have others’ men and more wrong to pocket their money† (Jin 156). And on this moment Mu Ying is still recovering from a punch of the Red Guards and still replies with a smirk on her face looking down on her husband â€Å"I have my own man? † (Jin 156). â€Å"My man is nothing. He is no good, I mean in bed. He always comes before I feel anything† (Jin 156). As a central focus of the public denunciation, Mu appeared to be rather calm when she was caught at home. She neither protested nor said a word, but followed the Red Guards quietly. In her eyes, these Red Guards were only a group of children. She did not expect that the join forces of the Red Guards and the revolutionary masses in the town would be tremendous enough to put her in destruction; more importantly, she did not think that her behavior had violated any rule or law. When her husband appealed to the Red Guards, she stared at him without a word, and a faint smile passed the corners of her mouth. In her yes, the behavior of her impotent husband is pedantic and ridiculous. When the Red Guard asked her why she â€Å"seduced men and paralyze heir revolutionary will with your bourgeois poison† (156), she responded rather calmly with a rhetorical question, â€Å"I’ve never invited any man to my home, have I? † (Jin 156). When several women hissed in the crowd, she even tried to persuade them by citing her own experience: â€Å"Sisters,† she spoke aloud. â€Å"All right, it was wrong to sleep with them. But you all know what it feels like when you want a man, don’t you? Don’t you once in a while have that feeling in your bones? Contemptuously, she looked at the few withered middle-aged women standing in the front row, then closed her eyes. â€Å"Oh, you want that real man to have you in his arms and let him touch every part of your body. For that man alone you want to blossom into a woman, a real woman—† (Jin 156). As a group of juveniles, White Cat and his companions know little about the adult life. This limitation makes their participation a journey of discovery. When adults burst out laughing at Mu Ying’s assertion of her husband’s impotence, the teenagers appeared to be puzzled. The dialogue between them shows this point clearly: â€Å"What’s that? What’s so funny? † Big Shrimp asked Bare Hips. â€Å"You didn’t get it? † Bare Hips said impatiently. â€Å"You don’t know anything about what happens between a man and a woman. It means that whenever she doesn’t want him to come close to her he comes. Bad timing. † â€Å"It doesn’t sound like that,† I said (Jin 157). Obviously, Bare Hips does not know any more than Big Shrimp though his impatient tone tries to conceal this ignorance. Ignorant as he is, Bare Hips makes so bold as to cry at Mu Ying, â€Å"Shameless Old Whore! † (Jin 154). Impossible to perceive, the innocent children are acting the role of accomplice in the public denunciation against Mu. Their thoughts and behaviors manifest the influence they have taken from their parents. In this sense, the innocent teenagers have degenerated from lovely angels to dreadful demons. This is a turning point because when the red guards pulled Mu Ying out of her house and started patrolling her through the city streets to get her to the school yard to sentence her, her husband came running from a street corner begging to let Mu Ying go â€Å"Please don’t take her away. It’s my fault. I haven’t disciplined her well. Please give her a change to be a new person. I promise, she won’t do it again† (Jin 155). And even though I have a feeling Mu Ying does not take the Red guard’s judging protocol as a serious punishment at that point, once she has confessed everything it all gets to her. That is when she gets the feeling that she really has humiliated and hurt her husband, because she is looking for him after she got hit with an ink bottle, only to find that he suddenly left the scene. That is the point she says she does not want to be punished after all and promises to better herself. What I saw as turning point number two becomes clear in the last paragraph, which means I did not see that really as the conclusion. It is the scene where Mu Ying is lying alone at the bus stop, saying: â€Å"Take me home. Oh, help me. Who can help me? Where are you? Why don’t you come and carry me home† (Jin 156). It is a perfect example of â€Å"You don’t know what you have until it is gone. † The second train that used its steam horn killed the husband of Mu Ying and made her a widow and truly alone. What I mean with that is that Mu Ying already felt alone because her man was not good enough for her. This feeling of loneliness combined with her husband’s underachieving partly lead to her committing adultery. Now with her husband dead, she finally exactly knows what it actually means to be alone. But moreover the story clearly shows that her husband saved her live once, after she was raped and now he again tries to get her â€Å"off the hook,† by taking the blame. Her grudge against men because of this rape is probably the other part of why she turned to adultery. It is almost shocking to observe that Mu Ying herself is not punished as the â€Å"Old Whore,† where Meng Su did not only try to take the blame, but also gets himself punished like in Old China. While the Red Guards only make her walk down every street saying the words â€Å"I am an evil monster† (Jin 160), instead of burning her alive, Meng Su is beheaded like in the old days. I strongly felt a parallel between the â€Å"blare of horns† announcing the beheading of Mu Ying’s husband. In Ha Jin’s story, the rough death of Meng Su, the husband, constitutes an â€Å"unscheduled event,† which brings White Cat and his companions to the violence of the adult world. The public denunciation of Mu Ying was no longer a thrilling scene, but something that touched them to their souls, evoking their introspection or maybe disillusion about the world. Bare Hips’s vomiting is a strong signal, indicating the shocking effect that the violence may have brought to him. After the shocking experience, they are no longer innocent adolescences, but adults struggling at the verge of understanding. This whole story turned out like a gruesome, tragic circle of misery and unanswered love to me. I think Meng Su loved Mu Ying dearly, but couldn’t take her grudge against men away that she got from the rape by the Russians. Imaginably, as a victim of the gang rape, she must have experienced a hard time of being treated with disdain. Instead of being hit to death by the accident, she has walked out of the shadow of the concept of chastity, and began to enjoy the pleasure of the flesh as well as economic benefits brought about by men, the invader of her virginity. The bitter time she has experienced has actually hardened her heart and paved the way for her further self-liberation, both physically and spiritually. Meng Su couldn’t cope with not saving her from the shame that the Red Guard trial put on her and killed himself, leaving his beloved Mu Ying really alone and helpless at the bus stop.

Slavery In USA And Serfdom In Russia

Slavery In USA And Serfdom In Russia Slavery, condition in which one human being is owned by another  [1]  , has been part of countless civilizations since the dawn of Mankind. From the fields and mines of Ancient Mesopotamia, through great Rome and sophistic Greece, and all the way until just but a century ago in America and Russia, slavery was a basic foundation of the society. In its beginning, and several times since, slaves were kept almost as family members, but mostly they were put to do the hard, physical work. Slavery was always weld together with the economy of the owners, be it civilians or the monarch crown. Even today some slavery still exists. We might hear and read about evil criminality referred to as human trafficking, forced prostitution, child soldiers, forced and bonded labour and the use of children in international drug trade, children labour  [2]  . Also Conservative estimates indicate that at least 27million people, in places as diverse as Nigeria, Indonesia and Brazil, live in conditions of forced bondage  [3]  . International organizations like the UN, with its Anti-Slavery Commission, still fight to abolish these modern remains of slavery. In our everyday life language we tend to say that we are slaves of our work, our money or some other materialistic need. Fortunately slavery in its ancient and medieval context has been abolished in practically the whole world. Serfdom, condition in medieval Europe in which a tenant farmer was bound to a hereditary plot of land and to the will of his landlord  [4]  , differs principally from slavery in the fact that serfs obtained their subsistence by cultivating a plot of land that was owned by a lord. The reason for then comparing serfdom in the Russian Empire with slavery in the USA lies in the fact that in 18th- and first half of 19th century Russia the nobility, the Dvoryanstvo, possessed the power to practically do everything they wanted with their serfs. This power was identical to the slave owners in the Southern States of America, also in the 18th- and 19th century. This essay aims at showing how fundamentally different the American and Russian society was, and, ironically, how both contained unfree human beings in miserable conditions. The difficult conditions will be looked at too, and the interesting difference that can be found when comparing the fall of slavery and serfdom will be given so me attention. The research question is then; What were the simmilarities and differences between slavery in the USA and serfdom in the Russian Empire? The topic is worthy of investigation since the effects of slavery and serfdom still affect people living in the USA and Russia today. The United States of America The New World On October 12, 1492, when Columbus (1451-1506) reached land in the West Indies for the first time and met the indigenous people there, he made especially many notations in his log book. (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦)they [native people] indicated that people from other nearby islands come to San Salvador [Columbus named the island so] to capture them; they defend themselves the best they can. I believe that people from the mainland come here to take them as slaves  [5]  . Columbus log indicates that the Native American civilizations already consisted of some sort of slavery, unless Columbus own wish to make slaves of them made him misunderstand what they were trying to tell him. Columbus thinking like this is not unreasonable, considering what we can read further in the log: They ought to make good and skilled servants, for they repeat very quickly whatever we say to them and, perhaps most surprisingly I could conquer the whole of them with 50 men, and govern them as I pleased. This was day o ne, not counting the days it took to sail to this new land, and already some sort of prediction about the future of the new continent could be drawn, like in a novel consisting of foreshadowing. This was the beginning of the colonization of the West Indies, and later, the whole Northern- and Southern American continent. Portugal, Britain and France soon joined the scene, and successfully conquered and established themselves in the New World. Because of the cruel enslavement and barbaric behavior of the Spanish conquistadors, but mainly due to the unexpected European diseases like smallpox, typhus, influenza, diphtheria and measles, thereby killing millions upon millions of people  [6]  of the Indians. The tragic result of these biological genocides was the need for more workers, workers that would be found in Africa, and from there be brought to America. The Transatlantic Slave Trade The Bible says that the root of all evil is the love [lust] for money  [7]  . This was the case with the Transatlantic Slave Trade, a fundamental part of the Triangle Trade. This trade moved slaves from Central and Western Africa across the Atlantic Ocean to the West Indies [current Caribbean Islands], Brazil and North-America. It is estimated that about 9.4-12million Africans arrived in the New World from Africa. These were from Ghana and Nigeria, Congol and Angola. They were sold by West African kings and leaders, who often were put on the throne by the European traders themselves: The principal European traders took active part in installing kings who they judged would favour their activities irrespective of whether such kings were acceptable to their subjects  [8]  . Kings sent military expeditions against nearby tribes, captured their people and sold them to the Portuguese. The Portuguese acted out of personal, but also Spanish, need for slaves  [9]  . 10 A group of Africans captured by African slave market suppliers. After being captured, most Africans were separated from their families, men, women and children alike. They were then forced to walk hundreds of kilometres in order to reach the Slave Coast in West Africa, and the Atlantic Ocean. After arrival there, they were stowed together on ships like animals, with almost no place to even turn around, travelling for weeks among the filth of vomit-filled tubs, blood, urin, children crying, women shrieking and the dying groaning in despair. They could feel the stench of death spreading throughout the whole ship. These were the horrors of the Midlle Passage. 11 At any attempt of mutiny or resurrection terrible reprisals were carried out, like on the American ship Kentucky in 1844 where 46 men and one woman were hanged, tortured and mutilated and shot in the breast and the bodies thrown overboardà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦sometimes they shot at the body while it still hung living, and all kinds of sport was made of the business  [12]  . One can imagine that the poor survivors of these atrocities asked themselves if the situation could get worse. Nations like Holland, Britain, France and Spain followed up the Portuguese in the triangular trade. When arriving in America the slaves, who were in much smaler numbers than at departure, were sold profitably in auctions and the money was used to by sugar , tobacco and cotton. These raw materials were transported back to the individual countries of Europe and manufactured there. Sugar became rum, cotton textiles, and the tobacco used. To maintain this buisness slave transport ships were sent to West Africa again with products from Europe that were desirable for the merchants and leaders that were settled there. The 13 colonies and slavery Britain, one of the greatest colonising nations, had several colonies all around America from British Honduras [Honduras] in the south to Newfoundland in the north. 13 of these colonies had settled together like neighbours on the North-American continent. These colonies did not differ from others in the matter of slavery. Also here a master could enjoy absolute rights over his property  [13]  . Two of the earliest established colonies, Virginia (1607) and Maryland (1632), were especially determined to repress the blacks, both free and slave. This was mainly due to fear of slave insurrectons, like e.g at St. Domingo [Haiti]. Laws and codes were created, restricting assemblies of black slaves, forbidding escape and travel without pass (Virginia,1705). Any kind of violence against the white owner(s) (or any other white person for that sake) allowed the owner to correct such a slave very physically, and also, if the slave died during this correction, no punishment towards the owner e xisted. It was ()as if such accident never happened.  [14]  (Virginia,1705). Anti miscegenation laws were established (Maryland, 1664), not allowing sexual relations or marriage between people of different races [Declared unconstitutional in 1967]. The penalty for such inter-racial marriages was that the white women who had succumbed to this terrible act, would lawfully become a slave herself, and so any children that she might give birth to. To bear firearm (unless allowed by the owner for protection against the Indians) and witness in court proceedings against any but other blacks was illegal too (Virginia,1639 and Virginia,1705), as well as any excercisement in any ecclesiastic [church], civil or military office (Virginia,1705). Convertion to Christianity through baptism did not change civil rights either (Virginia,1667). Noteably, greatest influence was played by the above partly mentioned Slave Codes of 1705. These subsequently came to serve as models for the other colonies. It was because of these Slave Codes that slaves would be considered by the law as real estate, property, a thing. Due to lack of co-operation and stubborness from the British Parliament and King in former taxual matters concerning the 13 colonies, militia of the New England colony surrounded the city of Boston on April 18th 1775. The attack was a result of a confiscation and arrestation attempt in Concord  [15]  . Armed clashes between the British troops and the colonies began the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783). The Second Continental Congress met the same year. This Congress formed the Continental Army and fought the British Army. What is highly relevant to my research question is what the Second Continental Congress did but a year after its gathering. They wrote and signed the most important act in American history, on July 4th 1776. It was the United States Declaration of Independence. Second Continental Congress  [16]   In the second sentence of this document we find the famous words:We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. One could assume that this clear separation from Imperial England and forming of a new nation based upon such beautiful words and honorable ideals must have contributed directly towards abolishment of slavery in the United States of America. The great paradox is that it didnt. Yes, the Revolutional ideas helped the Quakers together with Tomas Jefferson and Luther Martin in their pro-abolishment fight, resulting in illegalisation of slave trade in New York and Pennsylvania, but not much more. South Carolina temporarily illegalized the trade, while Massachusetts were hypocritical in their law by only prohibiting slave trade directly from Africa. Eli Whitneys cotton gin invention strenghtened the economic foundation of slavery in the Southern states and restored the African slave trade in North-America. Apparantly the former made changes affects did not last long. Officially only South Carolina had restored the slave trade, but the rest of the States smuggled in slaves and used them as well. The Bill of Rights (1789), the first 10 amendments to the US Constitution from 1787, guaranteed the white people in the United States that The Congress shal make no Law respecting the Establishment of Religion, or prohibiting the free Exercise thereof; or abridging the Freedom of Speech, or of the Press, or to the Right of the People peaceably assemble  [17]  . Through this they layed down a democratic foundation and example for the whole modern world. The United States should have been quite perfect, only that the great paradoxal and moral problem of slavery due to racism persisted. The Russian Empire Part of the culture Russia as a nation has gone through many changes throughout its history. The Kievan Rus state, which started in the 880s, contained the predecessors of several Slav people and is the oldest Russia we know of. Prince Vladimir (978-1015), a successor of the Kievan Rus crown, converted to Christianity and Eastern Orthodoxy. It was through this conversion and acceptance of Eastern Orthodoxic religion that the Byzantine culture, statecraft and art came to Kievan Rus. These three were mixed with the Slavs culture and thereby created traditions which influenced the rise of the Russian autocratic state  [18]  . Russias autocratic system in the 19th century was therefore quite old. The medieval state of Kievan Rus disintergrated in the end though, starting to divide into principalities in the 12th century because of domestic conflicts. The Mongol-Tartar invasion, starting with an attack in 1223, did not improve the situation. The Mongol-Tartars destroyed Kiev along with many other cities at the time, so that many of the Slav people, mainly peasants, became homeless and had no choice but to move and settle on the land of wealthy Russian princes and nobles. A starting serfdom was therefore partially one of the consequences of the Mongol-Tartar invasion. The peasants-serfs, became attached and dependent upon the mercy of higher ranked Russians. As the Mongol-Tartars power diminished, especially with the defeat at the Battle of Kulikovo (1380), the grand princes of Muscovy [Moscow], had created a strong and wealthy Grand Duchy. Ivan III (ruled 1462-1505), one of the most successful grand princes there, was the first Muscovite ruler to use the titles of tsar and Ruler of all Rus. He had the right to claim it, Muscovy trippled in size under his rule. In order to keep strict order and reject any smaller princes who claimed to rule specific territories, Ivan the III forced all lesser princes, the nobility, to acknowledge him the sole and unquestionable ruler of Muscovy. This would also count for his heirs. Ivan IV  [19]   The formation of the very powerful and autocratic tsardom came to exist. With Ivan IV, grandson of the III, the word autocratic was no longer only a property of an independent ruler, it came to mean unlimited rule. Between 1565 and 1572, under Tsar Ivan the IV [the Terrible], none in Muscovys prosperous and important district was safe. The Tsar, for uncertain reasons, started killing advisers, government officials and the aristocrats (boyars/nobles) The peasants started moving away in fear their problems with unpayed taxes. In order to prevent them from moving, the Tsar started binding them to the land, bringing the russian peasantry closer and closer to legal serfdom. Boris Godunov  [20]   The consequence of such a fools rule was constant chaos from 1598 to 1613. Despite the frequent change of tsars, tsardom itself survived and was consolidated as peasantry went through a gradual enserfment. Boris Godunov (1551-1605), brother-in-law of Ivan IVs mentally ill heir to the throne, practically became the Tsar of Russia from 1584-1605. In 1597 a decree made by him to attach peaseants to the land on which they lived and worked with was set out. Peasants could no longer move from one landlord to another as they wanted. This was done in order to keep rural stability in Russia. Godunov formed serfdon in its most oppressive form, while at the same time the rest of Europe was getting rid of domestic serfdom. The Legal Code of 1649, which further legalised the attachment of serfs to the land, came about because the state prepared the serfs with land as presents of compensation for the new nobilities, the Dvoryanstvo, but also presents for acts of loyality and military service  [21]  The main factor in this development was the governments central bureaucracy, which had expanded significantly by the 1650s. There were many peasants who tried to run away, becoming fugitives. Anyhow, thousands upon thousands of Russians became enserfed and controlled by other Russians. It was in racial aspects different than the situation of the African slaves in the US. But, like slaves in America, the now legimite serfs also started making riots, some more serious than others. The tsar and the government managed to keep their power though, through the nobility, the Russian Orthodox Church and autocracy. Backwardness Peter the Great (1672-1725) indirectly separated the Russian serfs culturally from the Dvoryanstwo through his westernisation of Russia. He forced the nobility to wear Western dresses, tastes and social customs, splitting the Dvoryanstvo with serfdom even more. In 18th century Russia metallurgical and textile industries used serf labour, and practically all of agriculture used serfs. It was possible to maintain the country with this system of serfs, but from then on Imperial Russia would be backwarded compared to Western Europe with its Industrial Revolution. Russian serfs Russias westernisation was based upon the governing elites of Western Europe like e.g in France, but in 1789 with the French Revolution at hand, the Russian Tsar would not and could not keep contact with countries like France. When Tsar Nikolas I came to the throne he thought that all contact with Western Europe had to be sensured or stopped. The central tool of the Tsar was His Imperial Majestys Private Chancery. The Third Section was in charge of state security. Tsar Nicholas I (1825-1855) was especially afraid of revolts against him because of the Decembrist revolt in 1825. This was a military protest in St. Petersburg by Russian army officers and intellectuals who had been affected by liberalism in Western Europe, deriving mainly from France through the Napoleonic Wars. These officers had realised the backwardness of Tsarist autocracy, and now sought to abolish serfdom, as an obstacle to economic prosperity, and modernize Russia through western technical and philosophical ideas. This was, ironically, the same thing that Peter I had wanted to do. The problem this time was that the Tsars autocracy was at stake. Nikolas I regarded the West as his personal enemies, and therefore ordered the Third Section of his Chancery to use censorship and surveillance methods in order to strictly limit reports of events in Western Europe and to suppress criticism of domestic social conditions. The criticism revealed itself through works of people like Alexander Pushkin and Pyotr Chaadaev, but also through the plays of Nikolai Gogol, who satirised the institution of serfdom in his novel Dead Souls. This is highly similar to what was happening in the USA, where Slave narratives like Uncle Toms Cabinand other literary publications were written by the pro-abolitionists. These works were not censored like in Russia, due to the First Amendment in the United States Constitution Bill of Rights where it is written: Congress shall make no law(à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦)abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press. This also clearly shows how completely different the American and Russian society was. In 1858 there were 22.5 million serfs in the Russian countryside. Another 19 million where tied to lands owned by the state. 41.5 million out of a 74 million population  [22]  . The everyday life of a slave and serf in the 19th century While the white americans in the last part of the 19th century enjoyed a better standard of living than any other people on earth  [23]  , the black americans suffering was below criticism. In Russia conditions were of the medieval kind. The North of the USA was more industrialised, while the South continued their traditional farming. Of course, there was much farming in the North as well, but due to the industry they posessed, they produced almost 90% of the nations manufactured output in the 1850s. Slavery therefore existed only in the South, were there was a supposed need for it. In some defence of the South, only 25% of Southern families owned slaves. In Russia on the other hand, the whole country was based upon the vast countryside. Little industry existed, thus keeping Russian serfs intact on the fields. The number of serfs was naturally greater than the number of slaves. At least in the beginning of the 19th century auctioning was less brutal. Now dealers and owners advised against splitting up families. It still happened though, and many family members never saw each other again. The splitting up of families ended in Russia with a law of 1833. Most of the slaves were put to do the hard physical work on the cotton fields and farms. The white owners were most often performing hard work themselves, but the slaves were always inferior to them because in need for money slaves could be sold. In Russia the nobility didnt have to do the hard physical work. The simple and inferior serfs where to do it. Many slaves turned to Christianity and faith in God. In Russia, where the serfs were mainly Orthodox, the Church told people to withstand their hard conditions patiently. Still many, quite understandably, protested against their owners both through resistance to work and violence against them. In the US this often resulted in a visit to the Lashing House. The Lasher was a legally-appointed functionary to whom slaves were sent with just a letters notice from the owner as to how many lashes the slave was to recieve. This show that even though few people owned slaves in the South, most of them accepted it to rather big extents. Emancipations compared The abolishment of slavery in the USA and the emancipation of the serfs in Russia happened as a consequence of two wars. The American Civil War (1861-1865), where the blacks proved themselves through great acts of courage and valour, and the Crimean War (1853-1856), where Russian serf soldiers, even though brave, could not defeat the Western modern troops of Britain and France. The Civil War was to a significant extent the result of tensions between pro- and anti-slavery states, and as the war progressed slavery became the main theme. The Crimean War was the war of one supposed very strong power, Russia, verses Britain and France. Autocracy and serfdom against democracy and industrialisation. I find it very interesting to at this moment observe how the Civil War was about the neccesity of victory to abolish slavery, while the Crimean War resulted in defeat and pre-unintendedly led to emancipation of the serfs as the beginning of tremendous reforms. Note also that both wars and emancipations occurred at approximately the same time. Conclusion When we look upon how the United States of America and the Russian Empire came to be, there are practically no similarities, except the law making which defined slaves and serfs. By the mid-19th century slaves and serfs possesed almost the same identical status in their societies, which meant not possesing anything at all. The ethnical difference between slaves and serfs thus loses any significance. Both groups where human beings being oppressed by other human beings who acknowledged themselves as being superior. The everyday life of slaves and serfes were both characterised by bad conditions with practically no legal protection. Both slaves and serfs tried some form of riots, both groups consisted of runaways, and physical punishment happened if the owner wasnt satisfied. Suspicion and mistrust was an everyday reality. Both groups experienced auctioning and splitting up of families. Slaves and serfs alike were needed for agricultur in the rural parts of their respective countries. Slave and serf were understood to be inferior to their owners. There was, in quantity, more serfdom in Russia than there was slavery in the US, but in quality they experienced the same discrimination and unrightousness. Even though the slaves came from Africa, and lived as a minority in the USA, they ended up fighting like true heroes for their freedom in the American Civil War. The serfs of Russia where no minority, but actually the majority. They were Russians in bondage. A final comparing of slavery and serfdom would be to try to find out wheter it was worse in the USA or in Russia. I have come to the conclusion that it would be unwise to do so. Both systems consisted of people doing terrible acts against fellow people, black or white doesnt matter. This is also what we should learn from this history, and enlighen ourselves minds to fight this kind of atrocity to ever happen again.

Free Richard III Essays: Richard III as a Rapist :: Free Essay Writer

Richard III as a Rapist Yes, King Richard/Duke of Gloucester masters the art of seduction in his wooing of Lady Anne. And when I say, "masters the art," I guess I mean that he achieves his conquest. But is seduction really the prevailing theme throughout Richard III? I propose that we be careful when we say that Richard is a great seducer, for is it seduction or rape when one's consent is not given? For instance, Lord Hastings, the Duke of Clarence, the young princes, Queen Margaret, and other seeming "seducees," were they seduced or forced? Most interesting to me, would be the Duke of Buckingham. I really can't determine which side of the issue he falls on. I would be most apt to consider him a disloyal, dishonest, money-grubbing, power mongerish, usurper if anything. And would almost admit that he could be conned into doing just about anything if there were to be some gain for his own. He begins his part in the play with thoughts of "atonement" (I.iii.36). He cries, "peace, peace, for shame! If not for charity" to the Queen Margaret when she beseeches him to "take heed of yonder dog [Richard]" (I.iii.272,288). Then when Richard asks him what Queen Margaret is saying, he replies with, "Nothing that I respect, my gracious Lord" (I.iii.294). THEN, what is up with his speech of loyalty to King Edward? He goes on and on about how if he should EVER be "cold in love," to the King and his family, then "deep, treacherous, and full of guile" should he be (I.iv.38-40). He goes straight from this loyalty to committing Lord Rivers, Lord Grey and Sir Thomas Vughan to prison. He rants and raves at the Cardinal for not tearing the young Duke of York from his mother's arms. Finally he engineers the death of Hastings with Gloucester/Richard and sets everything into motion for his coronation. Is he seduced, is he forced, or does he just do what he wishes on whim, hoping that in the end, everything will turn out for his ultimate gain? I suppose the answer to my question lies in the dialogue betwixt the newly crowned King Richard and Buckingham, when Buckingham is confronted with the assignment of killing the two young princes. If Buckingham could have made known his intentions to the King then we would know if he was a seducee, or a forced man.

Ikea SWOT analysis Essay

1. Customer knowledge: one of the key competitive advantages IKEA has the deep knowledge about the customer. The company understands the purchasing factors that influence customers to buy and implements the best practices to induce that decision. IKEA offers low prices and a huge range of products. Designers constantly introduce new design products that look stylish in the eyes of customers. All the products are designed so it would be easy to transport and assemble. Moreover, the company offers the widest product range and positive shopping experience. All of these factors are aligned with what customers want and need and which results in higher sales. 2. Constantly using innovations to drive costs down. Low prices are the core business of IKEA business idea and company always tries to do things as efficient and cost-effective as possible. To drive costs down all the time, the company must find new and innovative ways to do that and to incorporate them in its businesses model. The business’ innovations include new materials that help IKEA using the recycle material to become a friendly environment company or using the newest ways of packaging. 3. Supply chain integration. IKEA is committed to long lasting relationships with its suppliers. In this way, the company can order large volumes and benefit from lower prices and greater quality while suppliers are assured of guaranteed orders. IKEA sources its materials close to suppliers to reduce transporting costs. All the efforts of closely integrating supply chain results in lower costs and a competitive advantage. 4. Brand reputation and market presence. According to Inter brand, IKEA is the most valuable furniture retailer brand in the world, valued at nearly $US 12. 8 billion in 2012. The business operates 332 stores in 38 countries and is present in the major world markets. More than 600 million customers visit IKEA stores every year. Worldwide market presence and strong brand reputation ensures that customers will often choose IKEA over its competitors. 5. Diversified product portfolio. Unlike IKEA’s largest competitors, the company has fairly diversified businesses. In addition to its furniture products, the company operates restaurants, houses and flats. Although, firm’s main business is designing, manufacturing and selling furniture it is not so affected by the changing forces in this market as other furniture retailers. 6. IKEA uses cheap labor which keeps its costs down and gives them a competitive advantage. Starting from the days when it discovered that furniture manufactured in Poland was as much as50% cheaper than furniture made in Sweeden, IKEA has started looking for cheap labor. It top five supplying countries are China (21% of supplies), Poland (17%), Italy (8%), Sweden (6%)and Germany (6%). China, as everyone knows, provides really cheap labor so IKEA gets its largest chunk of furniture manufactured from there. Cheap labor keeps the costs down and allow them to charge customers low price and helps IKEA sustain its competitive advantage. (IKEA SWOT 2013 ) Weaknesses 1. Negative publicity. The company has been criticized many times for issues like poor treatment of employees, questionable advertising practices or lobbying government authorities. Negative publicity decreases brand reputation and customer loyalty. 2. Low quality of products and services. IKEA is unable to find compromise between continuous cost reductions while maintaining the same quality of products. According to UK Customer Insights report on IKEA by Verdict, IKEA’s customers are less satisfied with its product and services quality than the average customer in UK buying at other stores. Firm’s cost reductions lead to decreasing product quality, which was followed by higher number of products returned and damaged brand. Furthermore, the Ikea product lack of innovation like KEA designs the price tag first, then the product. IKEA’s product strategy council is so much Obsessed with low price that they spend almost no time on product innovation. IKEA has been enjoying sustainable competitive advantage due to their low cost strategy 3. Standard products. IKEA’s main competitive advantage derives from low costs, which in part are achieved due to standardized products. Standardized products attract fewer customer segments. Therefore, the business inability to offer better quality more customized products allows its competitors to fill that niche and fortify their position in it. 4. It lacks thorough market research on customers’ preference before entering into a new market. To provide a good quality product and also value the customers need and wants should be the organizational motto; this is because it’s a furniture company. IKEA did not do any sort of market research regarding customer’s needs and wants. So they should come up with a market research results that will give them more profit. > Furniture > Ikea Online > Strategic > Ikea Design Opportunities 1. Further expansion into developing economies. Retail markets grew by at least 5% on average in emerging markets in the last year, opening huge opportunities for IKEA’s revenue growth. The company currently operates in most of the developed economies but hasn’t firmly stepped into developing economies, except China. There are great opportunities for IKEA to expand into Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia and Malaysia to increase its presence in these markets to sustain future growth. 2. Growing online sales. Online retail sales account for 17% and 4% of total retail sales in UK and US respectively. Online sales grow constantly and with 870 million visitors to its website IKEA could exploit this opportunity and benefit from increased sales and lower costs. 3. Expansion to growing grocery market. The current trend of eating healthier food has resulted in higher demand for grocery products in many developed economies. IKEA has an opportunity to expand its grocery business by introducing more grocery stores in its current retail places. The company is already successfully managing its food outlets, so this expansion opportunity would be well aligned with the current operations. Threats 1. Intensifying competition. Many low cost retailers such as Walmart, ASDA or Tesco are entering homeware specialists market where IKEA operates. These large retailers have similar specifics as IKEA, including low costs, well managed supply chain and huge market presence and can easily gain some market share from IKEA. 2. Growth of average consumer income. Growth of average consumer income means that people buy less low price and low quality products, which is exactly what IKEA offers in its stores. With the rising income people will be less attracted to IKEA and will turn to retailers that offer higher quality home ware products. ( IKEA SWOT 2013 ) Porter†s Five forces Analysis 1. Rivalry within the industry In Sweden there is handful of companies involved in the furniture industry. Moreover there are a lot of retailers in the market. The condition is pretty much same in USA. There are Home Depot,Wal-Mart, Costco and many other small retailers. On top of this many retailers import from china and sell it in the market at low price. This indicates that the competition within the industry is very high. 2. Bargaining power of suppliers It can be say that the bargaining power of suppliers is low. IKEA has a well-established relation with suppliers all over the world. Till 2008 IKEA has 1380 suppliers in 54 countries 21% of which are in China. Moreover IKEA also own manufacturing company like Swedwood Manufacturer. So it is evident that IKEA can threats the suppliers to enter into their business. 3. Bargaining power of buyers There are a lot of retailers who are directly involved in price war against each other. There are importers who are importing from china also in direct competition in the market. So the consumers have many alternatives. They can chose which manufacturers they will buy from. So the bargaining power of buyers is high. 4. Threats of new entrants There are no entry barriers in the industry. But the intensity of competition may scare off potential entrants. The required initial investment is not too much. Anyone can open a retail shop with small investments. But if someone wants to become a major player in the industry; than the firm needs to invest a lot of money, need to establish relation with suppliers, select suitable locations for outlets. These will require a lot patience and capital. So it is safe to say that the threats of new entrants are high if competitors want to do business for a long term. 5. Threats of substitutes Since the born of civilization men are using furniture. The styles are changing so as the trends. The industry is moving wood to plywood, rot iron even plastics. As the market is becoming more environment concerned many firms are giving slogan to go green. But the basic functional demand has remained the same. So it is safe to say that there are no threats of substitutes Opportunities IKEA can expand its product line by producing high end products From the very beginning IKEA’s target market has been the middle class to lower middle class people. This strategy has been worked for a long time but IKEA never wondered about how farther they can reach. In USA the trend was changing; people were getting thirstier for elegant design. IKEA can develop products that are designed for the high class people who are sensible about the design and quality and do not care about the price. For example Toyota: Lexus. IKEA can expand its business into interior designing and crockery products IKEA can expand its core business of furniture to a next level. IKEA can place crockery item swith the kitchenware furniture. This way when a customer walks through the kitchenware department he/she will be attracted to these products and may end up buying some. IKEA can go for environment friendly technology Customers now a days are now more concerned about the environment than ever. So IKEA can make products that are environment friendly; products that consume less water so the carbon footprint will be at minimum. Product customization can boost up IKEA’s sales IKEA can call for idea from its customers. This will definitely bring in some unique idea to the tent. IKEA can initiate a service that will allow customers to order customized products for some extra charges. This will help IKEA to capture the particular segment of the market who loves customization Threats Changing social trend can hinder the growth of sales of IKEA IKEA’s objective is to provide products to its customers at cheaper rate than the competitors. This objective does not recognize the necessity of a constant development of design and quality. In the pursuit of becoming a cost leader in the market IKEA can lose a major portion of the market that want quality and well designed products. Accelerated market competition in USA The furniture market of USA is very fragmented. But there are some well-established retailers who are selling functional furniture at a very low cost for example: Wal-Mart, Office Depot. These retailers will be in direct competition with IKEA. On top of this there are also some high end retailers who sell high-quality, well designed furniture. These high-end retailers often provide additional services like interior designing, home delivery and free set-up. The risk of global financial crisis The global is under a constant threat of depression since 2007. The whole economy of the world is suffering from a recession since fiscal year 2006-07. This economic condition may affect IKEA. Since the purchasing power of buyers has gone down they would be reluctant to purchase products that are not vital to them. This can cause a free-fall of sale revenue of IKEA worldwide; especially in USA ( Dahman J 2011). Reference Dahman, J 2011, IKEA’s Strategic Management, Scribd, viewed 12 October 2013,< http://www. scribd. com/doc/59951004/Case-Analysis-IKEA>. SWOT analysis of IKEA, IKEA’s Strategic management, viewed 11 October 2013, < http://www. strategicmanagementinsight. com/swot-analyses/ikea-swot-analysis. html>