Developing Negotiation Case Studies

While a great deal of excellent advice exists for producing case studies on managerially relevant topics in general, negotiation cases have distinctive aspects that merit explicit treatment.This article offers three types of tailored advice for producing cases on negotiation and related topics (such as mediation and diplomacy) that are primarily intended for classroom discussion: 1) how to decide whether a negotiation ­related case lead is worth developing; 2) how to choose the perspective and case type most suited to one’s objectives; and 3) in by far the longest part of the discussion, ten nuts and bolts suggestions for structuring and producing an excellent negotiation case study.Suppose you read about, participate in, or otherwise become aware of a negotiation that intrigues you as a possible candidate for a case study. Perhaps a student, colleague, participant in an executive program, or private client suggests such an episode. You may consider researching and writing u p the case yourself or you might supervise someone else for this purpose. Should you proceed with an investment of your scarce time and resources? If so, how?What’s the best casewriting advice you can give to a research assistant, a student (team) grappling with a course assignment to produce a case study, or someone else who is simply interested in writing up a negotiation for discussion purposes? ii Generations of experienced, even legendary, casewriters have codified guidelines for producing excellent case studies on virtually any subject. iii Yet negotiation cases often have distinctive aspects that merit explicit treatment.Over the years, I’ve found myself in many conversations trying to crystallize and convey the elements that seem to contribute to crafting superior negotiation cases. I hope that pulling these insights together and developing them a bit more systematically will be useful for others undertaking casewriting projects. A quick caveat: though casewrit ing is often properly part of a larger research program, and synergistic with other methodologies, I focus here on case studies that are mainly intended as vehicles for classroom discussion and analysis.As such, I sidestep important issues associated with systematically selecting and developing cases for well- defined research projects. For example, in the field of international relations, which thrives on case studies, the â€Å"method of structured, focused comparisons† is a research staple. iv More generally, exacting criteria exist for identifying, developing, comparing, and Draft: Developing Negotiation Case Studies. Copyright  ©2010 by James K. Sebenius. 1 contrasting case studies in order to extract valid inductive social scientific knowledge. However, I leave that set of considerations for specialists with casewriting as a component of well-defined research agendas. vi The following sections offer three types of advice for producing cases that are primarily intended for classroom discussion: 1) how to decide whether a case lead is worth developing; 2) how to choose the perspective and case type most suited to your objectives; and, 3) in the by far the longest part of the discussion, ten nuts and bolts suggestions for structuring and producing an excellent case study.One of the best ways to learn the casewriter’s craft is to study a number of truly excellent case studies, or better, to discuss such cases in a forum led by an experienced case method instructor. As such, in each of the three advice sections that follow, I’m tempted to list a number of my favorite negotiation cases as models.Since, however, these choices may be unfamiliar to many readers, and may be set in times, places, or contexts of little interest to others, I will instead offer a set of model cases, plus commentary, in an online forum in the hope that others will consult, comment, and contribute. (See online url to be provided later. ). I. Advice on developing a prospective case: a case for what? A case of what? Start by seeking clarity on your overall purpose: â€Å"a case for what? †

Tragedy to Triumph

Julia Klein Mr. Tuz History Block 3 23 October 2012 Tragedy to Triumph There has been no greater, more unforgettable tragedy in America’s modern history than what took place on September 11, 2001. It was a horrifying day that ended 2,996 lives: 2,977 victims and 19 hijackers, but eventually created a new beginning of change for the better of the nation (The 9/11 Commission Report). A decade after the 9/11 attacks reshaped several facets of life in America. Life and travel in America has changed significantly over the past decade (Shanty).As an immediate response for our nation’s safety, there were some temporary changes made, while other changes have resulted in lasting transformations of our country (Villemez). A traumatizing day for many, 9/11 created a national burden of prejudice, brought about much needed changes of transforming our travel, and altered our government, which all eventually helped strengthen America. Obviously, not all of the changes that resulted fr om the September 11th tragedy were beneficial to the nation, especially the Anti-Islam Sentiment that was developed (Jamil).America’s 2. 6 million Muslims have constantly found themselves facing resentment and hostility during the years after 9/11 (9/11: ‘The Day the World Changed). Some Americans had responded to the September 11 terrorist attacks with extreme terror, as well as a growing intolerance against people who were, or simply just appeared to be from the Middle East. Immediately after the attacks, the government searched for suspects internationally, and numerous Muslims in the U. S. reported that they were the victims of hate crimes and harassment (Villemez).After the attacks, Islamic violence in America increased greatly. According to the FBI, 28 hate crimes in 2000 were found to be anti-Islamic, while that number rose rapidly to 481, and remains above 100 a decade later (The 9/11 Commission Report). There has also been a significant growth of religious divi sion and public distrust of Muslims in America (9/11: ‘The Day the World Changed). â€Å"The perception many Americans share today is that â€Å"terrorism† and â€Å"Islam† are synonymous. This is not true, because those terrorists are not true Muslims, and do not representIslam, any more than the KKK represented Christianity. Unfortunately, people's ignorance has led many to shape a negative attitude about Islam,† Basir Jamil shares his disappointed perspective on the hot topic of Anti-Islam Sentiment (Jamil). Jamil was born in America, but has a Pakistan background. Throughout his childhood, he has personally encountered racism and extremism that resulted from 9/11. He said he â€Å"endured snide comments, people calling me â€Å"terrorist,† and people generally hating me for no reason but my race and religion† (Jamil).Though it is accurate that concerns about extremism involving a tiny minority are justified, as a few of the terrorist plot s since 9/11 did involve Muslim citizens who purposely tried to harm the United States, it is also equally believed that the larger community of American Muslims has. Throughout the last decade, there has been a gravely unjust burden of prejudice and misunderstanding in America. Another immediate change, which occurred as a result of 9/11, was to take new measures of safety in our Nation’s security. Most of the security changes after the attacks took place in the airports (Villemez).A couple months after the attacks, Congress passed the Aviation and Transportation Security Act. This created the Transportation Security Administration that secures all transportation systems and insures air travel safety (Johnstone). The TSA implemented new procedures, which included more rigid guidelines on screening. After 9/11 as new threats were being discovered, new procedures were being introduced including removing shoes and banning all liquids. Airplanes also underwent major changes incl uding fortified cockpit doors becoming more common, and less first-class cabin curtains being used by many airlines (Villemez).Pilots can now become a federal flight deck officer by applying, which gives them the right to carry a gun and serve as a federal officer. In order to compensate for the extra security costs, a â€Å"Sept. 11 fee† was added onto passengers' tickets. The TSA has collected nearly $15 billion over nine years (Shanty). Besides air travel, railways and mass transit systems now have checkpoint regulations that allow law enforcement to randomly search personal property and bags. Also random stops at major tunnels were greatly increased to include checkpoint searches at the discretion of law enforcement (Johnstone).The improvement of security in travels shows the tremendous impact of 9/11, but it also is clearly evident in the policies adopted by the U. S. government immediately after the tragedy (Villemez). Former President George W. Bush passed a considerab le amount of U. S. legislation to strengthen U. S. National Security (The 9/11 Commission Report). The Patriot Act may be the most obvious piece of legislation relating to Sept. 11. In the 2002, there were more than 130 pieces of 9/11-related legislation introduced in the 107th Congress, with 48 bills and resolutions signed into law.The Patriot Act made it easier for law enforcement agencies to search telephone, medical and financial records (Villemez). Along with the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, they included the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act. This required the State Department and Immigration to exchange visa and immigrant data with each other (Shanty). According to The Washington Post, there were 263 government organizations created following the attacks. Government agencies created after 9/11 included the Department of Homeland Security.The Homeland Security Act of 2002 combined over 200 government agencies including the TSA, Immigration and Cus toms Enforcement, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the National Guard, and the Secret Service (The 9/11 Commission Report). The government plays a very significant role in our nation, and played their role well by closing most of the holes of insecurity effectively. A decade is a lengthy time, but perhaps not quite long enough for a country to bounce back from the biggest terrorist attack on its soil. Security measures have been extended, but Americans are still feeling the impact of what happened on that early fall day.Though this incident caused a lasting legacy of terror in many, it also brought America closer as one nation (Villemez). â€Å"Instead of turning us against each other, tragedy has brought us together. (†¦) This country was built as a beacon of freedom and tolerance. That’s what's made us strong, now and forever,† Obama says as he realizes the affect of 9/11 on the country, and the importance of the nation moving forward as one nation and o ne people (The 9/11 Commission Report). Instead of pulling back from the world, our alliances have been strengthened while security at home has tremendously improved.America now has a renewed sense of pride and unity (9/11: ‘The Day the World Changed'). People have begun to realize just how precious every moment we have in life is and how fortunate we are to live in a country that gives us the freedom to live as we please. This day will never be forgotten, lives were lost, lessons were learned, and a stronger America has emerged. Works Consulted â€Å"9/11: ‘The Day the World Changed'. † Issue Focus. Sept. 11 2002: n. p. SIRS Government Reporter. Web. 20 Oct 2012. Jamil, Basir. â€Å"Growing up Muslim after 9/11. † Baltimore Sun. N. p. 12 Sept. 2010. Web. 21 Oct. 2012. Johnstone, R. William. â€Å"Not Safe Enough: Fixing Transportation Security. † Issues in Science and Technology Vol. XXIII No. 2. Winter 2007: 51-60. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 20 O ct 2012. Shanty, Frank. â€Å"Ten Years on Background. † American History. ABC-CLIO, 2012. Web. 11 Sept. 2012. The 9/11 Commission Report: Final Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. New York: Norton, 2004. Print. Villemez, Jason, and Dalia Mortada. â€Å"9/11 to Now: Ways We Have Changed. † PBS. PBS, 14 Sept. 2011. Web. 21 Oct. 2012.

Compare and contrast about the book Indian Killer and movie, Smoke Signal Essay

‘Inidan Killer’ by Sherman Alexie can be kept under the term murder mystery books, however there are lots more than the mysterious killings. Sherman wants to take his reader on a journey through the dark heart of current Native American life. The reader finds a mixture of substance abuse which gives rise to self-hatred, which is mixed with an ironic pride of being the native of America. With analysis of the characters of the book reader feels that the fuel is present there to ignite the fire. It is felt that the difference due to the color of the skin results in sourness in any relationship that arises between a dark kinned and a white skinned person. The story mainly surrounds a man, John Smith who was immediately adopted after his birth by a white couple. Throughout the book John is seen suffering a complex because of his skin color as he is of Indian origin. He previously has no idea about what an Indian is except from the books that her mother bought to read, from some documentaries and movies. He knew that no white people would like his or her daughter to date with one who is an Indian or simply just because of his dark skin. During one of the protest powwow, John meets an Indian called Marie Polatikin who also fights for the njustice Indians are facing. The protest usually included a professor of Native American literature class and a cop who later turned to be a mystery writer as both were quite partial to the Americans. Days passed and both, John and Marie were busy with their respective works but in the meantime the tension between the white and native communities also started to rise. The first body due to these differences was found with owl feathers and another white college student suddenly disappeared from an Indian casino parking area. This gave rise to violence against Indians in Seattle and a group of men started beating Indians f that area. To retaliate this, Marie’s cousin brother tortures a white hitchhiker in the same way as he was tortured by his stepfather who also was a white man and tried to beat the â€Å"bad† Indian out of him. The characters and the situations described in â€Å"Indian Killer† are actually representing an existing widespread problem. Three types of Indians are shown, one that are drunk which means that even if they are aware of the wrong treatment from the white community they don’t say a word in protest because they think they would not be able to defeat the whites. The second type of Indians are noble or good Indians who are in such positions that they don’t usually get disturbed due to these events. If any Indian from either of the two categories uttered a word about land claims or anything that seemed for the whites like threatening for their status quo, was immediately tagged as malcontent or radical. This was the third and the most problematic category of Indians for the existing whites. And this is the category that Sherman Alexie deals with in his book, â€Å"Indian Killer†. The reader gets carried away and starts caring for the characters o matter whether they are white or Indian because nothing actually matters, as all the characters are human and interesting. When Marie tells that the reason behind the killings is the ghost dance, Sherman Alexie wants his readers to examine their opinion of Indians and the consequences of the way they had been treated in past. Sherman Alexie has made use of overt and subtle racism along with harsh reality and few descriptions of violence. The story and plot goes along swiftly and straightforwardly. This novel can be an eye opener for those people whose land it was where their families had immigrated. Smoke Signals† is a movie which is also written by Sherman Alexie and is a film in which a young Indian, Victor makes a trip to pick up his father’s ashes who had fled from the family years back. Victor sets off in search of his father and everything about him and in this way tries to find his identity too. He has to borrow money from his neighbor and friend Thomas who in turn wants Victor to take him along his journey. Unflinching frankness of Indians is seen in the film and the comic scenes that make people laugh loud are in fact satire on Indians or the rest of Americans. Thomas here is seen quite considerate about his friend’s pain and he has helped Victor quite a lot of time in life. Later in the film Victor meets his father’s neighbor and one time lover and comes to know about the reason of his abandonment. Sherman adds real color to the story of â€Å"Smoke Signals† with Indian reservations. Sherman has introduced confrontation of Indians and rest of Americans in a very peculiar way. A man, who has a tag, â€Å"racist redneck† written on his forehead, takes over the seat where Victor and Thomas were seated and that too of no particular reason at all. It is seen hat even when the film flashes from back to past and from â€Å"present† to â€Å"past† or vice versa, there is no change in the background or the people or the dress they were wearing. Alexie has talked about Indian reservation in the film as if it existed from long past without even considering the progress. But here Victor gives a fighting chance for survival and to move on. This is the point where Sherman’s character John and Victor of the book â€Å"Indian Killer† and film â€Å"Smoke Signals† can be compared. Both of them are not ready to surrender to the injustice by the rest of Americans towards Indians. They oth fight for their existence and identity. The film â€Å"Smoke Signals† was written by an Indian writer and almost the entire cast is cool, calm and collected of Indians. Smoke Signals† is an important movie and a turn point for Native North America because of the long misrepresentation of them on silver screen. The Indian Victor is stereotyped and along with Thomas looks like a typical Indian. Thomas has a lot of stories to tell throughout the movie and tells personal stories along with family histories and myths. There is no shyness in the movie about the drunkenness or hopelessness of the people in the past. Everyday and persistent racism is seen in the movie once they leave the reservation. The film is a journey of two young Indian men to more mature ones. In the film Victor is seen reminding Thomas of behaving like an Indian and to stop grinning all the time. In both the film â€Å"Smoke Signals† and the book â€Å"Indian Killer† the Indian characters are not ready to leave their identity and come face to face with racism. There are references from popular cinema in the movie as well as the book â€Å"Indian Killer† every now and then. The film leaves the audience and the readers of the book feel that the uthor has much more to explore and to say but due to their limitations they have stopped and ended. It seems that both the stories are original and even if the movie does not have any famous or big names attached to it is worth watching and realizing the real status. The story itself is very simple but the characters of the present generation do not seem to surrender to the prevailing situation and circumstances. They fight for justice and want their identity back by hook or by crook. â€Å"Indian Killer† and â€Å"Smoke Signals† both show the differences between father nd sons and the troubled relationships of the two generations. Usually films appear to be personal but this film with a simple story line is quite universal in nature. The characters are confronted with racism fact to face and the manner Sherman Alexie has presented the situation is very unusual. Sherman’s style is somewhat typical and in both the stories he has taken almost the same issue of racism but presented it in a different way. His characters are quite strong and not ready to accept injustice to their community and they fight for it throughout the story.

Start Up Shoe Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Start Up Shoe Business - Essay Example high heel, medium heel and low heel. All these three heights can be adjusted in a single product. The heel of this innovative product will be of hard plastic. It can be rotated to adjust the desired heights from three default sizes. This feature is the key attractive feature of the product. Manufacturing cost of this product would be $25. The company will manufacture this product through their own production unit. It will source leather and other required raw materials from the local suppliers. The quality of this multi-featured shoe will be of premium standard so that it can be positioned in the market among the premium brands. Quality will be checked by the expertise of the company’s manufacturing department. Quality control activity involves checking of quality of lather and pasting. These two components of a shoe determine the overall quality of the product. Customers’ feedbacks about the product at initial stage need to be evaluated to find out necessary revisions in production process or product raw materials. Quality control is one of the most important parts of production process. The quality control department always needs to focus on the industry quality standard and position the brand by comparing general feedback of the customers about quality of this product with respect to other brands. This product will be offered in the market with high standard of customer service like 6 months after sales warranty for any kind of damages of the shoe. New shoe will be provided in case of major damages within 6 months. Production flow of this product will be controlled on the basis of the demand of the product in the market. This strategy will be adapted to faster liquidation of the inventory and lower inventory cycle. Customers’ feedback will be given higher priority for further product development in terms of quality and design of this innovative product. Location HIGHLOWS shoe will be manufactured in Springfield, MA. Springfield is one of the most popular cities in England. The manufacturing unit of this product will be established in this location. Therefore, availability of resources needs to be analyzed in this location. For developing manufacturing and warehousing unit, a large hall will be leased for the next 5 years, and the interior of the hall will be designed. This includes separating the total space into two different divisions like manufacturing unit and warehouse. In the manufacturing unit, required machineries will be installed. Electric wearing will be fixed before the installation of the machineries. The generator facility will be necessary to ensure 24 hour electric supply. Renting the required building will be cost effective for this new business as the initial investment needs to be allocated in various activities like marketing, transportation, working capital management etc. Therefore, the cost of developing a building will be allocated in other operating activities. It is the most effective busi ness strategy for a new business to use rented fixed assets at initial stages, which also helps the company to easily withdraw the business in case of the worst case scenario in terms of market demand of the product. 2 to 3 vehicles are necessary for carrying raw material and also for supplying the products to the wholesalers as well as retailers. Again, to reduce initial capital requirements, this service will be outsourced from local transport service providers. To avoid delayed supply of raw materials, local suppliers will be involved in the production of this product. Legal Environment In order to obtain the licensing of the shoe business, an experienced attorney will have to be hired in order that all the legal requirements of the business are fulfilled and necessary

Laudable, culpable and non-culpable decisions Essay

Laudable, culpable and non-culpable decisions - Essay Example This research aims to evaluate and present laudable, culpable and non-culpable decisions. Laudable decision: BAES made an initiative to hire Lood Woolf to have an independent and irreproachable investigation into its ethical practices as a business and to identify areas of improvement where its dealings as a business entity can be improved. Despite of all the unscrupulous dealings of BAES, its decision to have an independent panel of investigators to be headed by Lord Woolf that would inquire into BAES ethical standards was laudable. This initiative yielded positive results in identifying which ethical practices needs improvement and produced a recommendation on how to improve it. Lord Woolf himself practiced ethical propriety in setting the parameters of his investigation. Agreeing to investigate cases which are also conducted by SFO would be tantamount into meddling in the investigation by the authorities and thus, would be ethically inappropriate. Non-culpable decision: In January , 1997, the chief executive officer (CEO) of British Aerospace (BAe), backed Tony Blair to become Prime Minister of the UK. Many business leaders did the same. Although it is not illegal for a business entity to support a politician vying for office, it is deemed inappropriate to back somebody with the expectation of business gains in the future. Though it was not tacitly expressed in the case that BAES solicited for business favours when Tony Blair became the Prime Minister of UK, it was implied that he was returning favours to BAES when acted like a salesman for BAES in trying to persuade the Czech Republic Gripen fighter jets, worth $1bn. No immediately harm was done with BAES’s political support to the candidacy of Tony Blair, but the political gratuity extended by Tony Blair leading to BAES unethical and controversial business practices tainted UK’s defence industry. Culpable decisions Blameworthy Context In 2001, Tanzania paid to BAES $21 million for a military a ir traffic control (ATC) system that came from debt that was supposed to be spent on Tanzanian education. This decision of Tanzanian President Benjamin Mpaka to purchase an overpriced (at least four times more expensive than civilian radar) air traffic control (ATC) system which was disbursed from a fund that was supposed to be spent on Tanzanian education was most blameworthy. BAES used Shailesh Vithlani, a â€Å"marketing adviser† to secure a a ?28m Air Traffic Control radar which was four times more expensive than a civilian radar). Payments to Vithlani were routed through Red Diamong Trading (RDT), a shell company based offshore in the British Virgin Islands (BVI). It would be naive not to have the â€Å"obvious inference† that some of the money Vithlani got was used to bribe Tanzanian officials. 2. Outlining standard ways to place blame and respond to it, interpret any defensive utterances by the culprits (and their supporters); and interpret their critics’ (and victims’) utterances Outcome related disappointments/blame-ORD Person/relationship-related disappointment – PRD ORD + PRD (any utterances expressing both) Utterance: Mr Turner said: â€Å"we are fully complying with all the SFO’s requests. We are acting in a responsible and dignified way and we are very proud of this company. We think it is unfair and unjust that our reputation is being affected.† Interpretation: BAES is bluffing that they are an ethical company and is offended with the decision of SFO to investigate their company. Utterance: Mike Turner said: â€Å"we want to be in a position to provide customers, investors, employees and communities [with] further assurance that our policies, ethics and business conduct are subject to continuous improvement and set the pace for the international defence industry.† Interpretation: It is just a PR utterance that BAES does not really mean to say considering their actual

Multimedia and Design Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Multimedia and Design - Essay Example Norman (2007) reveals that it is particularly important that before we judge these people we try step into their shoes. Before allowing one to label this person, try imagining they are acting like so or saying those things they are saying. Maybe this person always keeps to him/herself because s/he is uncomfortable around others, they just are not used to conversing with people hence they are a little cold, or most probably, they were not feeling well at the particular time you encounter them. We need to put ourselves on the receiving end, as in being treated the way we may be treating these people. It is necessary to note this before saying anything to the other person. It is definite that you would be pretty hurt if a stranger or someone you are not familiar with said something mean to you because you did not look or sound or act to their expectations or anticipated thoughts. If you could not take the pain, then you would not want to subject someone else through the same path. Just because the first encounter with this person gave you a poor impression does not mean that they are constantly saying or acting in that manner. Some people may be psychiatric cases, a force the prompts them behave in weird ways, and if one is not able to; at an instance make this out, one may end being prejudiced in his/her judgment of the subject. There is a probability of them having a bad day at the time of encounter or were in some way depressed or angry (Norman, 2007). One should try to engage this person often and see how they act before you create an impression. Some people are generally moody hence; a number of encounters should be enough ground to draw a solid ground on their behavior. Some machines are able to read peoples moods and determine the ability to engage in some chores effectively in the said mood, while some can measure the level of desire of something in a person. Norman (2007) suggests the need of incorporating an emotional component program into

Communication of the Saudi Arabian Culture Research Paper

Communication of the Saudi Arabian Culture - Research Paper Example ere allowed to enter Saudi Arabia only when they witnessed during the Depression period, a drastic fall in their revenues which they received from the pilgrims (Lacey, 2009, p.75). The principles and values intrinsic in these morals as well as devotion to Islam lie down at the core of the enlightening among the diversified group of citizens and non citizens, tribal or non-tribal, living in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The societal values which are a part of the everyday behavior of Saudis include kindness, unselfishness, and generosity; respect for elders in the hierarchical structure of the family; liberation and independence on others and command over the emotions and feelings of each others; and a readiness to maintain lives of other members of the family assuming accountability for their mistakes also (Abbasi & Hollman, 1993, p.56). Saudis worry that respite of the world picturing them as coming from another planet, although most are outstandingly polite and convivial once you truly break free from the principles. Limitations on intermingling between not related people of the opposite sex stay rigorous. Currently, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is managing to move on against its harsh rules, initially by starting a coeducation university, allowing women to sell private clothing to other women, even harmonizing down the decapitations. King Abdullah has taken drastic measures for the positive environment of the nation. However, to the rest of the globalizing world, these changes are hardly noticeable. Saudi Arabia is measured or seen as an extremely high context culture. In high-context cultures, significance is entrenched more in the perspective rather than the policy. Hall (1982) discussed that "most of the information is either in the physical context or internalized in the person, while very little is in the coded, explicit, transmitted part of the message" (p.18). Thus it is important for the listener must appreciate the appropriate signals so as to seize the

Project Management & Strategic Planning - Case Study -- [S6] Essay

Project Management & Strategic Planning - Case Study -- [S6] - Essay Example major steps in strategic planning phase went missing; steps such as estimation of resource requirements, risk planning and communication with all stakeholders. Furthermore in monitoring and controlling phase business continuity was not planned hence the WestJet implementation took more time and cost along and resulted in customer dissatisfaction. Estimation of resources such as time, people and money ensures a better execution, through risk planning all the related risk factors to the project are estimated with risk prevention and mitigation plans while communication with all stakeholders including customers ensures business continuation in an effective way and clarifying roles and responsibilities (Charvat, 2002). Effective communication prior to a project initiation determines the information and communication needs of the stakeholders resulting in better understanding of responsibilities and tasks distribution as well as clarifying the expectations from them. It results in formation of a cohesive team resulting in a better performance later on and initiates a change management process within the organization. Increased level of awareness invites ideas from employees and customers and ensures readiness of all involved parties. Some disadvantages to communicating a major project in advance include wasted time of project managers in communicating with stakeholders, revealed plans to competitors most of the time triggering a reaction, increased level of suspicion amongst the employees and confusion within customers. Communicating major projects in advance, the project manager has to emphasize on explaining each stakeholder the specific value addition for them (Green, 2007). With volumes sales go down and decreased revenue is not considered good for even an organization in its transition or up-gradation. Along with the unavailability of seats or canceled flights it was essential that both airlines convey the positive message maintaining the trust of the customer

Water Quality Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Water Quality - Research Paper Example Different bodies set the standards for basing water quality measurements. The primary purpose for setting standards is protection of aquatic and human life. Standards The concerned organizations set different standards according to the varying uses of water (WHO 1). Environmental factors affect natural water bodies and environmental specialists work to identify sources of contamination. Many people usually associate the term â€Å"water quality† with contamination. Water quality, as a topic under discussion, is a complex subject since water cannot be separated from the ecology. The chief cause of water pollution on the globe is its use in industrial and commercial sectors of the economy. Untreated wastes from industries pose a significant threat to aquatic, as well as human life. Runoff water from agricultural activities also contaminates water. Parameters As stated earlier, standards for measuring water quality are set accordingly as uses of water vary. The intended use of wa ter, therefore, sets parameters for water quality. There is a focus on water treated for use in industries, by human beings or in the environment. Contaminants in untreated water intended for human use comprise of organic contaminants (chemical contaminants from industrial and petroleum use), inorganic contaminants (salts and metals), and microorganisms (bacteria and viruses). Water quality depends on bio network or ecology, as well as human uses of water. For example, water may be used to dispose sewage or industrial waste thereby affecting its quality (Kaul and Gautam 4). The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), established in 1970s, has set two types of standards to limit contaminants in tab water. These standards are primary, which regulate substances that are likely to harm health of people, and secondary. Secondary standards dwell on the qualities that have an effect on odor, appearance and taste. Drinking water may have low levels of contaminants which may not necessarily pose a threat to health. Municipal water systems in urban areas use water purification technology to treat water from the source before distributing for human use. The terms â€Å"hard† and â€Å"soft† water describe types of water needed for industrial or domestic use. Hard water contains minerals, for example, magnesium and calcium, which hamper effective washing abilities of soap. Soft water, on the other hand, does not have minerals and people prefer it for washing. Soft water is not healthy for human consumption since it lacks minerals needed by the body. Therefore, softening of hard water for human use is not advisable. Environmental water quality touches on surface water in oceans, rivers and lakes. The quality standards for such water vary due to flora and fauna, ecological conditions and intended human use (â€Å"Water quality targets online† 10). Toxic substances in water, needed for fishing, irrigation and industrial use, present risk to health. Plants irrigated with such water absorb toxins which get passed on along the chain as animals consume them. Toxins also have adverse effects on aquatic life. Water quality regulations set standards for protection of water, and establish provisions to guard against water contamination. Environmental scientists strive to preserve flora and fauna and focus on preservation of endangered kind and the health of people. Water quality sampling and testing There are numerous water quality indicators which shows that water quality as an area under discussion is multifaceted. Water exists in balance with the environment and, hence, experts make precise measurements of water quality on the source. Measurements of temperature, turbidity, conductivity, dissolved gases, and transparency depth (closely related to

Luxury Goods in Hong Kong, China Essay Example for Free

Luxury Goods in Hong Kong, China Essay Luxury goods experienced a slowdown in current value growth for 2012 against 2011, largely attributed by the unstable economic conditions brought about by the 2011 Euro crisis as well as the slowing down of the Chinese economy. While consumers’ sentiments were still relatively strong, spending continued to tilt towards a more cautious end. Depreciation of Euros also saw more consumers heading to Hong Kong for holidays and in turn purchasing luxury goods from there to take advantage of the. Euromonitor International’s Luxury Goods in Hong Kong, China report offers a comprehensive guide to the size and shape of the Luxury Goods market at a national level. It provides the latest retail sales data, allowing you to identify the sectors driving growth. It identifies the leading companies, the leading brands and offers strategic analysis of key factors influencing the market and their effects on Luxury Goods retailing along with the development of consumers’ shopping patterns. Forecasts to 2017 illustrate how the market is set to change. Buy a Report Copy @ http://www.rnrmarketresearch.com/contacts/purchase?rname=88087. Product coverage: Designer Apparel (Ready-to-Wear), Fine Wines/Champagne and Spirits, Luxury Accessories, Luxury Cigars, Luxury Electronic Gadgets, Luxury Jewellery and Timepieces, Luxury Travel Goods, Luxury Writing Instruments and Stationery, Super Premium Beauty and Personal Care.Data coverage: market sizes (historic and forecasts), company shares, brand shares and distribution data. Why buy this report? Get a detailed picture of the Luxury Goods market; Pinpoint growth sectors and identify factors driving change; Understand the competitive environment, the market’s major players and leading brands;

Rolls Royces Strategic And Business Management Management Essay

Rolls Royces Strategic And Business Management Management Essay Rolls-Royce is founded in 1906 by Frederick Henry Royce and Charles Stewart Rolls (Pugh, Peter, 2001).Headquartered in London. As a diversified company, Rolls-Royce operates in four global markets namely civil aerospace, defense aerospace, marine and energy-in each of which it is among the worlds top three competitors. The company has manufacturing sites or service centers located in 50 countries around the world. Rolls-Royce produces both commercial and military engines civil and defense aerospace business for a broad customer base, including more than 650 airlines, 4,000 corporate and utility aircraft and helicopter operators, and 160 armed forces around the world. Rolls-Royce also supplies power generation systems to the oil and gas industry and is one of the worlds largest makers of marine propulsion systems. It maintains key operations in North America, Europe, and Asia, with emerging presence in the Middle East (Nancy Daniels, 2001). Rolls-Royces revenue for the year 2009 was  ¿Ã‚ ¡10,414 million, definitely higher than the figure for 2008, which is  ¿Ã‚ ¡9,082 million. In 2009, 44% of Rolls-Royces revenue came from civil aerospace, while defense aerospace, marine and energy each accounted for 20%, 26%, 10% (Rolls-Royce, 2009). 2. Analysis of the Current Business Environment Affecting the Industry 2.1 Macro-Environmental Analysis The PESTLE analysis (appendix A) details the main macro-environmental trends affecting the aviation industry. Of these, the economic crisis is the most pressing current issue but in the longer term, technological advancements remain central to the industrys progression. More international cultural exchange will accelerate the development of aviation industry, and the growth in developing countries needs more energy and a range of products serviced by Rolls-Royce. 2.2 Micro-Environmental Analysis Porters Five Forces analysis (appendix B) indicates that the threat of substitution in the aviation industry is fairly low. Limited to the technologies and standards, the airline company can only get the suitable parts from the original corporation which supplied the products. Threat of entry is quite low because the aviation industry needs the latest scientific and technological achievements and long-term technology accumulation as well as a lot of money and human resources, so the potential competitors are hard to entry. Suppliers are hard to influence the aviation industry, for the reason that big corporations such as General Electric (GE) and Rolls-Royce possess the key technologies, while the suppliers are so many that can be easily replaced. The power of buyers has increased somewhat due to ease of switching, transparency of costs. But they dont have many choices but only three. Overall, competitive rivalry within the aviation industry is very high due to the presence of General Electric (GE) and Pratt Whitney (PW), rapid technological change and intense products and services competition. 2.3 Main Opportunities and Threats The main opportunity is the increasing business in the jet aircraft market and growing aerospace and defense market as well as Rolls-Royces Strategic alliances and investments. The most prominent threat currently faced by the industry is the economic crisis. Based on a survey of randomly selected flight departments about their expected use and purchase plans over the next five years, market forecasters believe Europe will remain a major source of demand for business aircraft, and orders will reach record levels in the next five years. While most of Europe entered recession about a year later than the America, European orders are expected to recover once economic growth resumes (Ian Goold, 2010). The challenge of climate change will present a range of exciting opportunities for Rolls-Royce. Many customers will potentially consider investing in new technology earlier in order to minimize emissions. Equally there is likely to be a lot of interest in future low carbon technologies as well as alternative energy sources (Rolls-Royce, 2009). And as manufacturing employment has declined in Britain, there has been less reason for the best and brightest to study the subjects that manufacturing demands. Rolls-Royce executives say that the pool of experienced engineers, process managers and skilled workers from which the company can recruit is shrinking (The Economist, 2009). Any company engaged in global business should be aware of the risks of currency fluctuations. In such an economic environment, the exchange rate fluctuations can affect Rolls-Royces earnings and value. They are fully exposed to what is known as an exchange risk. 3. Analysis of Rolls-Royces Strategic Capabilities 3.1 How the various market trends have affected Rolls-Royce plc And after 1987 the various market trends are as following: Rolls-Royce was rescued by being nationalised by a Conservative government when the firm reached its nadir in 1971. Margaret Thatcher privatised it in 1987, when Rolls-Royces engines were then used by only a handful of airlines. There was a trend that the engine market would be dominated by GE and Pratt Whitney. After that, the core of the firms strategy had been to increase the number of its engines powering the worlds civil jets. There was a trend that defence spending would be reduced after 1987, which was the edge of the end of cold war. Growth in civil business was doubly important because Rolls-Royce was badly hit by the fall of the Soviet Union-at which time defence accounted for 60% of its revenues (The Economist, 2005). Government began to reduce defence spending, thus Rolls-Royce got less orders from the military. Worse for the firm, British Airways, which was Rolls-Royces old customer, equipped its new Boeing 777 wide-body planes with GE engines (The Economist, 2005). From then on, Rolls-Royce tried its best to get its engines on the wings of big airlines around the world. The British government used to be Rolls-Royces biggest customer, buying its jet engines for Royal Air Force planes and its nuclear power plants for Royal Navy submarines. But nowadays America (the biggest defense market by far) is its biggest defense customer, using its jet engines on todays jump-jet aircraft and planning to do so on the Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter, which promises to be the subject of the biggest contract in military history (The Economist, 2005). Nowadays America and British are facing the threat of international terrorist organizations, so the market is still promising. With the development of the worlds emerging economies, the world needs ever more tankers to transport oil and gas over long distances, and demand is growing for economical but high-power marine gas turbines to drive them, in place of the diesel-electric hybrid motors that have dominated until now. 3.2 Rolls-Royces development strategies According to these various market trends, Rolls-Royce increased the number of its engines to civil jet, and bought copper in order to push oil and gas along pipelines. In order to expand American market share, Rolls-Royce bought Allison. With over 80 per cent  of global commercial shipbuilding taking place in Asia, Rolls-Royce recently relocated its global headquarters for the Marine business to Singapore, bringing the Group closer to the customer base. The company had already placed its Global Headquarters for Marine Services and the regional headquarters for the Commercial Marine business covering Asia, the Middle East, India and Australia in Singapore. The operations also house one of Rolls-Royces global repairs and overhaul service centers. Rolls-Royce stands out as well for being the only company to offer an expanded OEM warranty (Rolls-Royce, 2009). As the expansion of the new markets and the use of new engine, Rolls-Royce has sold more services together with their products. Ansoff: product/ market matrix Product Current new Current penetration product development Market New market development diversification The theory of the Ansoffs: Product penetration refers to current product for current market. Aircraft engines Automation and control equipment Diesel and gas turbine engines Electric propulsion systems Engine support services Fuel cells Generators Offshore drilling equipment Overhaul and repair services Technical publications Training (Hoovers, Inc., 2009) Product development -it means new product for current market. Diesel and gas turbine engines; providing a better service Market development it means current product for new market. Marine motors ¼Ã…’Fuel cells ¼Ã…’Engine support services; Expanding American market share Diversification-It means new products for new market. Such as jet engines 3.3 How the main competitive advantage have been built up Competitive advantage refers to condition which enables a company to operate in a more efficient or otherwise higher-quality manner than the companies it competes with, and which results in benefits accruing to that company. After 1987 Rolls-Royce focused on four sectors which are civil, military, and marine as well as energy, and the firm continued its expenditure on investment and RD, it provides new products and new technologies. Rolls-Royces competitive advantage mainly focuses on core markets and core technology. We can see that, for the past decades years, the core strategy of the company has been to focuses on the four chosen markets namely civil aerospace, defense aerospace, marine and energy, now each of them are the top three in the world. Meanwhile, Rolls-Royce has increased the number of its engines powering the worlds civil jets, and the whole firm mainly makes all kind of engines, which accounts the majority of their revenue.   3.4 Evaluate the companys use of acquisitions Acquisitions means acquiring control of a corporation, called a target, by stock purchase or exchange, either hostile or friendly, also called takeover. After 1987 Rolls-Royce had several acquisitions as a method of strategic growth as following: (1) In 1996 Rolls-Royce bought Allison, its an American maker of small jet engines, mostly for corporate jets. This gave Rolls-Royce a significant presence in America-essential for any firm seeking to increase sales to the Pentagon (The Economist, 2005). From then on, American gradually  replaced Britain as Rolls-Royces largest market.   (2) In 1999 the company bought Vickers, a struggling arms-and-marine business. This acquisition took Rolls-Royce into the business of marine propulsion systems for warships. (3)In the same year Rolls-Royce bought Coopers, another specialist company, as the short cut in compressors with gas turbines in order to push oil and gas, which was very good for Rolls-Royces energy business. 3.5 Main Strengths and Weaknesses Rolls-Royces main weakness is they have to employ a lot of employee, which is very common in the manufacturing industry. It means Rolls-Royce has to pay a lot benefit for the retail employee. And sometimes, the orders may not be implemented well in such a big group corporation. There is another issue that Rolls-Royce has to focus on, that is, the increasing inventory which is caused by the unexpected order or demand. This will increase the companys operating costs. Rolls-Royces main strength is they are a leading integrated power systems company operating in the civil and defense aerospace, marine and energy markets. They have built their golden quality of their band, and they have regular partners and customers, for whom they will provide sustainable products and services. Furthermore, Rolls-Royce is a global corporation, so their business has a diversified geographic spread, which can be a source of guaranteed profit. Also they have a strong and trustful leadership to guarantee the right direction the corporation goes. Evaluation of Rolls-Royces Recent Strategies Rolls-Royces recent strategy is based on five key elements: 4.1 Address four global markets Rolls-Royce should focuses on the four core businesses, civil aerospace, defense aerospace, marine and energy, which are the most four profitable markets to the corporation. And there are still a lot to be done in order to develop the international market. As we know, Europe and the American market accounted for the majority of revenue, thus Asia and African are two emerging markets to emphasize. In some developing countries, Rolls-Royce will benefit from the preferential policies and cheap labor force. 4.2 Invest in technology, infrastructure and capability Rolls-Royce needs to invest more in RD to develop more innovative, environment-friendly products in order for it to keep the possession of advanced technologies and to offer better services. Meanwhile, with the development of the global market, it is necessary to invest more on the infrastructure to offer better services and attract more customers. 4.3 Develop a competitive portfolio of products and services As mentioned above, a competitive portfolio of products and services can consolidate existing markets and explore new markets. 4.4 Grow market share and installed product base Across the group, the installed base of engines in service is expected to generate attractive returns over many years (Rolls-Royce, 2009). 4.5 Add value for the customers through the provision of product-related services. Rolls-Royce should seek to add value for their customers with aftermarket services that will enhance the performance and reliability of their products (Rolls-Royce, 2009). 4.6 Others Manufacturing industry need a lot employee to make products, so Rolls-Royce could move the manufacturing centers to countries with low labor costs, which can greatly cut the cost. 4.7 Key Competitors GE Aviation and Pratt Whitney are Rolls-Royces top competitors. General Electric (GE) enjoys a very strong position in the wide body market, with the CF6 and GE90 engines powering about 40% of aircraft in the class. Pratt Whitney (PW) and Rolls-Royce each have about a 30% market share with the JT9D/PW4000 and the RB211/Trent series, respectively (Aircraft Economics, 2004/2005). To date, the most fuel efficient single-aisle jet engine belongs to Pratt Whitney, a considerably smaller player. The company unveiled its PW1000G geared turbofan in 2008 after a decade of development and promised it would reduce fuel burn by some 12% to 15% compared to todays engines (WSN Staff, 2010). In other business areas, there are some Rolls-Royces competitors not as big as GE and Pratt Whitney, such as SAFRAN, Emerson Electric, GE Honda Aero Engines, Honeywell Aerospace, IHI Corp, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, McDermott, Siemens AG, and Volvo. 5. Evaluation of Rolls-Royces leadership Sir John Rose took over as CEO in 1996. Rolls-Royces CEOs used to have an engineering background until Sir John Rose. He likes the intensely challenging job in Rolls-Royce which has something to do with His adventurous lifestyle, I guess. His leadership is critical to Rolls-Royces success. Rose insisted on continuing to invest substantially in the Trent engine series and it proved to be very important. Under Roses direction, the second largest business of Rolls-Royce, marine propulsion also has fared very well over the past years (Heller, Richard, 2005). Sir John Rose attaches importance to the after-sales business. And it makes sense, because engine services and sales of spare parts to replace worn components make up more than 50 percent of turnover. All in all, Rolls Royces leadership is smart, mature ¼Ã…’dynamic, aggressive and trustworthy. 6. Conclusion Rolls-Royce, the global leader in power systems and services for air, land and sea, will focus on both the importance of services for its civil and defense aerospace markets and its newest programs for these markets, mainly on the global market. In civil and military business, they can also through acquisition of developing countrys jet industry to expand market segment. Therefore there are tremendous opportunities for future business in expanding consumer markets, such as China and India. After setbacks in the exploration, the corporation has achieved a positive development under the leadership of Sir John Rose.

Islamic Women :: essays research papers fc

Many times when feminists looked at Islamic women they criticized the man for not treating women properly. However, as Jane I. Smith states, women of Islam are not really offended by that fact, on the contrary, they believe that it is better for them. The Holy Koran is the basis for the Islamic believers. It has many interpretations, however there are certain facts that are sure to be clear as to the position of women in an Islamic society. Koran did introduce very significant changes as to treatment of women. Certain women did play powerful roles in societies. However, whatever the earlier realities for women in terms of marriage, divorce, and inheritance of property, it is clear that Islamic men believe that they are above woman. However, they are supposed to support them and make sure that they have everything that they need to help raise their children and praise the god. In Islam, marriage is not a sacrament, as it is in other religions. It is a contract that man and woman sign and in which the woman can clearly includes her own clauses and negotiate terms. It is rare however possible for a man to have more the one wife. However, when that happens the man is responsible for caring and supporting both of them. In order to marry another woman however, the man must have the permission of his first wife. Although Muslim women have had been married at extremely young age, this practice is related to the fact that father and other male relatives generally have chosen the grooms themselves. There are however some discrepancies. Islamic women are not treated equally in the face of the law. â€Å"Ones women statement in the court is equal to half of one man.† The same principle also applies to inheritance and other issues. The Koran states that the man, since he is supporting the woman, should receive twice as much of everything. Until recently education for women in the Muslim world has been minimal.

Maud Martha, by Gwendolyn Brooks Essay -- Maud Martha Essays

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Black women's experiences and those of other women of color have never fit the private -public model.   Rather than trying to explain why Black women's work and family patterns deviate from the alleged norm, a more fruitful approach lies in challenging the very constructs of work and families themselves. ("Native") Maud Martha Brown had strong ideas regarding marriage.  Ã‚   She set out to conquer the role as wife, in spite of and because of her insecurities and personal hardships.   Unlike the rose-colored images that enveloped the minds of many traditional (white) women during that period of the 1940s and 50s, Maud Martha set her sights on being a bride under the simplest conditions.   Maud Martha was prepared to settle for being good enough to marry, rather than being a woman no man could refuse.   Her position in society, her relationships with her family, and her overall existence in society greatly influenced Maud Martha's ideas regarding the male-female union.   Though still influenced by her former roles, the final chapters of Gwendolyn Brooks' Maud Martha reveals an undeniably stronger and more mature heroine.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Pulitzer Prize- winning author, Gwendolyn Brooks has gained much attention, but not without comparable controversy and criticism (Appiah 313).   The Chicago-based author has built a sturdy reputation in both mainstream and African American literary circles.  Ã‚   Nonetheless, her more popular works has won most of the poet laureate's recognition.   "No white poet of her quality is so undervalued, so unpardonably unread.   She ought to be widely appreciated... as one of our most remarkable woman poets" ("Voices").   Brooks challenged the existing approach to romanticism, the fairy tale nature of the Amer... ...d Giola's Literature Web Site. <http://longman.awl.com/Kennedy/brooks/biography.html>. Modu, Anaezi and Andrea Walker. All the Man I Need: Black Woman's Loving Expressions on The Men They Desire. Newark: Gateway, 1999. 13-14. Parl, You-me and Galyle Wald. "Native Daughters in the Promised Land: Gender, Race, and Question of Separate Spheres". American Literature 70 (3) (1998) 14 Oct 2000 <http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/webz/FSQER...:entityemailfullresultset=1%7.html>. Tresiddier, Jack. Dictionary of Symbols: An Illustrated Guide to Images, Icons, and Emblems. San Francisco: Chronicle, 1997. 120-6. Washington, Mary Helen. "The Darkened Eye Restored: Notes Toward a Literary History of Black Women". Angelyn Mitchell, ed. Within the Circle: An Anthology of African-American Literature, Criticism From the Present. Durham: Duke, 1994. 442-53.

Concerns that Caused the Settlement of British North America :: American America History

Concerns that Caused the Settlement of British North America I believe that throughout the Colonial period, economic concerns had more to do with the settling of British North America than did religious reasons. First, according to my textbook, the British originally sponsored trips over to the New World only after other countries were profiting from their collections of goods and new trade ports. Maybe other countries in Europe had begun settling the New World for religious concerns, but definitely not Britain. The British government was more concerned with staying up with other countries in Europe in the economic race rather than trying to find religious havens for people who weren't with the majority when it came to religion, such as all the non-Anglicans. Second, proprietary organizations were into only the monetary value of North America. Organizations, such as the Virginia Company, were formed for the sole purpose of creating joint venture expeditions in hope of finding gold and silver. Yes, they may have been sympathetic towards those w ho had religious concerns, but may have only sponsored them for their own possible profit. Third, out of all the immigration to North America, the most came from slaves and indentured servants. This shows that more people came over to support the economy, rather than for religious tolerance. Slaves were then forced to accept new religions, which is opposite a reason to come over for religious concern in their original territory. They were accepted in their native land, but came over to a new one and were forced into a new religion. In conclusion, the settling of

Ikea China’s Shopping Experience Essay

IKEA’s focus towards shopping experience is part of their effort in building brand loyalty. As you can see from the pictures, every bed in the store are occupied, with children and adults falling asleep. IKEA does not discourage this. They realize that the more customers choose to relax in its showrooms, the more likely they will have positive attitude towards its brand and make a purchase once their incomes catch up with their aspirations. In contrast, competitors lack building brand loyalty. 11-furniture, has successfully copied the IKEA’s products as well as customer shopping experience by letting customers to try on the products. However, many still say that at the real IKEA, the layout is much neater. Therefore, the brand image of IKEA would still be better perceived compared to the fake stores’. B&Q does not have showrooms for people to have direct touch and feel of the products. B&Q does provide service such as interior design consultation. However, research has also shown that Chinese customers might hesitate to do face-to-face consultation. Therefore trust and brand loyalty are hard to develop. AIKA, are focusing more on manufacturing low-cost products with limited effort in providing shopping experience to build brand loyalty. Therefore, they may lose their potential customers to the IKEA in the future. Through globalization, Chinese customers have greater exposure to Western trends and lifestyles. However, this trend is not necessarily prevalent across all demographics within China. Therefore, to determine whether IKEA is effectively tapping into this trend, we need to examine the level of acceptance of Western shopping experience and products of IKEA’s target market. IKEA mainly targets young adults, typically aged 25-35, who live in Tier 1 cities where they get exposed to Western brands. This generation was born under the One Child Policy, known informally as â€Å"little emperors† who are characterized as being impulsive and easily influenced. Therefore, we could say that IKEA’s target market could be easily aspire to western brand’s high quality and culture. As a result, shopping experience by IKEA is very suitable with the need of consumers to try western products. On the other hand, competitors such as 11 Furniture and AIKA do not represent the western culture. Those Chinese customers who hold a high regard for Western culture will favour Western brands over local brands. Arguably IKEA’s closest competitor, 11 Furnitre who tries to replicate IKEA, has one fundamental difference. It does not provide the Western culture or image IKEA projects. Every detail of the store equates 11 Furniture with Chinese culture in the minds of customers, while IKEA is equated with the Western culture and experience.

THEME ANALYSIS ON HENRIK IBSEN “A DOLL’S HOUSE”

THEME ANALYSIS ON HENRIK IBSEN â€Å"A DOLL’S HOUSE† A Seminar Paper Presented to Prof. SIMBULAN Language Department College of Arts and Sciences ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY Echague, Isabela In partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the course ENGLISH 32 By PEARL JOY VINLUAN TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION * Statements of the problem * Objectives of the Study * Significance of the Study * Scope and Limitations * Definition of Terms II. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE III. METHOD OF DEVELOPMENT IV. SYNOPSIS OF THE STORY V.SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION * Summary and Conclusion * Recommendations INTRODUCTION The study of literature has two aspects; one, of simple enjoyment and appreciation; the other, of analysis and description. When we listen to a song that appeals to the ear or read literature that appeals to the heart, for the moment at least, we discover a new world, a world so difficult from ours that it seems to be a world of dreams and fancies. To analyze and explain them may be joyous but nevertheless, an important skill to develop.Our impulse to read and enjoy upon it is a universal one, answering a number of psychological needs that all of us, in certain moods and on certain occasion share. Such needs to be sure, vary greatly from individual to individual, for they are in turn, the product of our separate tastes, experiences and education. They also vary within each of us; they shift and alter as we change and grow. Enjoying Literature, however, means much more than getting pleasure from our reading. Enjoyment also includes understanding. Literature is a kind of mirror that enables us to see ourselves better and to understand what we see.When we read a character like Nora in â€Å"A Doll’s House†, realize that telling the truth will set her free and give her peace of mind. This kind of experience upon understanding literature is one of our greatest sources of enjoyment. Statement of the Problem This study is sought to answer the following questions: 1. What is the theme of the story? 2. How is the theme manifested in the story? 3. What is the implication of the theme to the present time? Objective of the Study The objectives of the study are as follows: 1. To find out the theme of the story; 2.

Prop 34: the Death Penalty

The Death Penalty, also known as Capital Punishment is a world wide controversial issue. Should the death penalty be repealed and replaced with life imprisonment without possibility of parole? California voters on Tuesday rejected a ballot measure that would have repealed the state's death penalty. Supporters against Prop 34 claim that California is broke and taxpayers would pay at least $50,000 annually, giving lifetime healthcare and housing to killers who tortured, raped, and murdered children, cops, mothers and fathers. A yes on Prop. 4 states that no offenders would be sentenced to death under state law. Offenders who are currently under a sentence of death would be resentenced to life without the possibility of parole. The state would provide a total of $100 million in grants to local law enforcement agencies over the next four years. I strongly agree with a vote yes on Prop. 34. The death penalty isn’t an effective way to prevent or reduce a crime. Not only does this no t prevent future crimes and murders, but sometimes the death penalty is applied unfairly to innocent people.Evidence has shown that more than 100 innocent people have been sentenced to death in the United States and some have been executed. Prop. 34 means that the state of California will never execute an innocent person. Franky Carrillo was 16 when he was arrested and wrongly convicted of murder in Los Angeles; it took 20 years to show his innocence. Judge LaDoris Cordell, from Santa Clara said â€Å"If someone’s executed and later found innocent, we can’t go back. † I agree with this judge because what if later we find evidence that the offender is innocent there no way we can bring someone back to life.So then again who has the right to take the life of a human, when God is the one who decides when our time on earth has come to an end. Life without parole would be less expensive than the death penalty. California’s death penalty is too costly and is ha rdly used. Only 13 people have been executed since 1967 and no one since 2006. Prisoners are put to death row but die of old age before they make it to there punishment. We waste millions of tax dollars on special housing for these inmates, when they just sit around doing nothing.To me it makes more sense to keep a killer in a prison for the rest of his/her life until they die. An impartial study found California will save nearly $1 billion in five years if we replace the death penalty with life in prison without possibility of parole. The savings would come from eliminating lawyers’ fees and special death row housing. California is broke and Prop. 34 will save us money. We all know that killing another person is the most evil crime that one can commit.But it seems that our government is being hypocritical when it states that capital punishment is allowable because, after all, the criminal did murder an innocent victim, and therefore should be killed. This is known as the â⠂¬Å"eye for an eye, and tooth for a tooth theory. † Of course, if we used this system all the time, there would be no need for laws. The majority of countries in Western Europe, North America and South have abandoned capital punishment. Why is it that the United States remains a user of capital punishment?The death penalty is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment. It denies criminals their natural born right to life. The death penalty should be abolished because it has never been shown to lower crime rates or stop serial killers from killing. It costs far more to execute a person than to keep him or her in prison for life. Capital punishment is against the humanity, we can find other alternatives to it. As Voltaire once said, â€Å"It is better to risk saving a guilty man than to condemn an innocent one. †

Formal Education Vs. Informal Education Essay

Are you or your child receiving an education that fits your element? If not then when would now be a good time to look into that? Adults and children today or mostly unaware of how education is being presented do to the fact that they are only aware of one type of education. Of course most of us all are all born and raised on the â€Å"ladder system† which is another way of saying formal education, but many people don’t realize that there is an abundance in different types of education. We have all heard of private schools and charter schools, but those are just schools not education. Yes they are education to a degree but there are only two types of education, and they are frequently fought and argued about which one is better. Those two types of education are formal education and informal education. In todays society people are built mainly on morals and beliefs that are passed down through the government and high end white collard business men. Unfortunately people are becoming more and more unaware of informal education. Informal education is better than formal education do to the constant environment change and open curriculum that a education lacks. Informal education is better and should be blended in with formal education to get a real world experience. The year two thousand and thirteen today we thought to have evolved in our educational practices. Even now people are becoming more intelligent in formal education through the years that the â€Å"ladder system† was introduced. Unfortunately though with that we also have been developing lower and lower common sense. That is mainly to do with formal education. Many people ask what is formal education? Formal education is education presented in a prestiges matter in which there are different levels completed. The levels being Elementary school, Middle School, High School, and finally college. Seeing that there are different levels to be completed makes a more focused approach on education which in the long run will increase your intelligence, do to wanting to complete the final task which is college. Even by doing this many people blindly rush into college only forgetting what they have learned in middle school and even high school. Formal education is also very narrow and not open in many other experiences. Formal education schools are often decided what to teach based on what the state wants. With most of the formal educations power going to the government and states. That leads formal educated schools to having a very closed curriculum and not being able to learn outside the box or have any other experiences. With formal education being a ladder system and a narrow curriculum, you can see that in terms of college expectations you are intelligent, but in realistic experiences you are not. Now what is Informal Education. Let me share an idea with you before i tell you. You probably know what a formal event is right? You wear a formal garment such as a suit or a dress and you go to a very on point social event, but whatever when you are not dressed formally? You tend to have more creative freedom and you start to be educated on different types of apparel. Informal education the informal clothes appose to formal clothes such as a dress or suit. In the world of informal education there is no Ladder system. It is in short basic education but in a progressive form. And with being no ladder system the states are not involved with the curriculum which means you get to learn outside the box and experience far more than formal education could ever teach you. Many people argue which is better when most people really lean more towards formal education, but really for an educational stand point informal education is better. There are many factors to bring into play when explaining the reason informal education is better than formal education. First let me explain environmental reasons to this. Looking at formal education you see that every day you are in the same blocks of classes and you are constantly surrounded by the same people. With that you are not really experiencing different types of people because you are built upon having the same people through out the school year. You are not exposed to different personalities or characteristics do to people adapting to your own and becoming more like you. Informal education on the other hand you are exposed to the same class room, but there are usually different people in your class daily, and frequently even different teachers. With that your are not adapting to certain personalities but you are adapting to a realistic way of life which is being surrounded constantly with different people. Another thing argued strongly is the experience range. Formal education gives you a very narrow curriculum not allowing you to experience other things that are more valuable outside of school. Most of the things in formal educated school apply only to school and not in the real world although english, science and some math is an exception. Informal education allows you to see many different prospectives on certain subjects and you really get to experience a lot more than what the state narrows it down too. Experience such as different people usually everyday, different subjects everyday and when a subject is ever retaught, it is taught by a different teaching making a different point of understanding. The education in an informal school is usually basic things that you would learn in middle school, but going more into formal education it starts to be applied to many different areas in a real world circumstance, and applied several different ways. In a formal education school you are taught more advanced things that help develop the brain, but has no use in the outside world. In todays formal educated schools we are all taught that knowledge is power but that is really an understatement. What use do you have of acquired knowledge if you don’t even know how to apply it in a real world circumstance? Point proven. Formal educated schools today are focused to much upon how to help you get to the next step of the ladder rather than helping you understand the use of the information provided. While formal education has a great affect on the brain development wise, it lacks many uses outside of its buildings. In formal education on the other has many experiences that are less advanced and may not enhance or develop the brain much. But if knowing how to use one piece of great information acquired and it making you become very successful. Then all the other information obtained that had no transformational value was just a waist of time. Even today many people see education beyond high school as a waist of time, and the ones that adore formal education argue greatly on the belief. The biggest thing that affects people differently in formal or informal schools is the mindset that is carried through out the course. When begging a regular ladder system school which starts at elementary school we are all familiar with the different cards used to display behavior status. The blue card representing excellent behavior. The green card representing good behavior. The yellow card representing behavior that needs attention, and finally the red card representing bad behavior. What people do not know is the physiological effects that the cards hold towards the child. When growing up we are all taught right from wrong, but it is now human nature to focus only on the problems. With that said many times in elementary school kids are often punished more than rewarded, and many times barely acknowledged for the good they have done. When still developing at a young age there brains start adapting and internalizing what they are surrounded by. Many times do kids get yelled at for there miss behavior and even punished frequently. And not so often do the kids get praised with the same amount of energy they were being punished for. With so little energy going towards the good and rewarding, and so much going towards punishing there starts to become an imbalance of emotions. In the long term the students feel like they are useless and not worthy enough for whats to come. With that they start growing up with these feelings and in the long run do not have the emotional uplift to conquer any dreams or goals. While during informal education every student is treated equally and is not so much punished as they are rewarded. This in the long run carries the opposite effect than in formal education.

Public Institution for Social Security Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Public Institution for Social Security - Essay Example Kuwait started a pension scheme in1955, which was within the background of civil employment and retirement bylaws in the public sector. The initial independent decree for pensions was issued in a Decree No. (3) In 1960, and it was effected from 1 April 1960. This law covered all government employees, the civil servants as well as the military. The law was immediately followed by the enactment of an independent law for pensions and securities for the military, which is in agreement with law no. (27) Of 1961. However, the law was enforced on 9/9/1961.The first complete and integrated law for social security was established on 1 October 1976, which was in accordance with the Amiri Law Decree No. (61) Of 1976. (The Public Institution For Social Security 2-8). The current social security law in Kuwait provides security cover to all active citizens in the community notwithstanding their occupation. Additionally, the law offers security cover for employees employed by third parties in any sector. The law also covers the members of Municipal Council, National Assembly, mayors, as well as apprentices for work sponsors and the self-employed individuals inclusive of merchants, and free-lancers such as engineers, physicians, attorneys, salespersons, as well as Kuwaiti citizens working outside the country. In addition, the social security scheme provides security cover for individuals practicing in other professions that are legitimately licensed by proficient authorities. (The Public Institution For Social Security 9-14). Kuwait social security law is mainly financed by contributions paid by three parties who include the insured persons, the employers, and the State Public Treasury. The information systems department in the institution has a substantial part in accelerating the development of PIFSS. Essentially, the systems department covers all the technical requirements for all the departments in the  institution.   Year after year, the systems department achieves several requests, investigations, as well as projects (The Public Institution For Social Security 6-12).

Hubbards Fruitful Breakfast Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Hubbards Fruitful Breakfast - Assignment Example The subsequent sections will henceforth elaborate on the nutritional content and value of the breakfast cereal, its key ingredients, and functions. The final part will highlight the conclusion with brief information regarding the nutritional value of the ‘Hubbard’s Fruitful Breakfast Toasted Muesli.’ Hubbard’s Fruitful Breakfast Toasted Muesli is notably the pioneer muesli for the Hubbard brand of cereals. Evidently, the breakfast cereal is famous for its fruity taste and constituted about 25% of the cereal (Pinaturo, 2007). The fruitful breakfast toasted muesli is a pioneer brand in the New Zealand market that has unique chopped oats. Consequently, it is easier and lighter when consumed. In addition, the sweet fruity flavor is composed of larger chunks that make it not only tasty but enjoyable to kick start the day. The breakfast cereal equally contains a balanced range of nutritional supplements that qualifies it as a healthy breakfast cereal. The cereal is evidently rich in several nutrients that are vital for healthy body growth and development. In relation to the nutritional information provided the energy intake from the cereal it is indicated as 845Kj, 10%, 1690kJ in respective relation to the average quantity per serving, percentage daily intake per serving an average quantity per 100g (Pinaturo, 2007). In regards to the protein intake from the cereal it is indicated as 4.9g,10 %, 9.7g in respective relation to the average quantity per serving, percentage daily intake per serving an average quantity per 100g. On the other hand, in relation to the total fat intake, it is indicated as 6.0g, 9%, 11.9g in respective relation to the average quantity per serving, percentage daily intake per serving an average quantity per 100g (Pinaturo, 2007).

Visual Literacy in Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 8

Visual Literacy in Business - Essay Example However, there is more to the poster than just what meets the eye. In the year 2008, America was facing one of its worst moment. The poster portrayed Obama as what America needed to get back to its feet. He was the hope for America. The variety of solid colors used in the poster represented all the races in America. It sold him as being a president who represented all the races equally. ‘’We can do it† poster was trying to sell the idea to women that they could also join the Second World War. However, the poster is acting as a platform to promote feminism. It has a message that communicates to women to arise and shine. They are encouraged to take up the challenging tasks through the message displayed and the use of an image of a woman. Old Spice advertisement is trying to sell the body wash. However, it is interesting because it sends the message that everything is possible when a man uses Old Spice. The man is portrayed to have a good body and wealthy. Every woman desires this type of a person and, therefore, most will buy the product for their men. This form of communication can lead to some ethical issues. They include sexism and feminism, for example, the Old Spice advertisement. It has objectified men and most would struggle to look like the man in it to make them attractive. If it were a female half-naked, it would have lead to a lot of reaction from the public therefore promoting

The Koran Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Koran - Essay Example The contrast can be portrayed in their styles of teaching, preaching or guiding the mankind. Both the Bible and the Koran believe in one God. This is the greatest similarity between the two of them but the contrast is in the name. Followers of Bible call him God or Lord while the followers of Koran call him, Allah. The stature of Jesus, as lord was fixed even before he was born. As mentioned in the New Testament, the country shepherds were informed about the emergence of lord by the angels in the following way: â€Å"Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ3 the Lord.† In Koran too there is one God. In fact the Koran itself is considered the proof of one God. As mentioned in the Islamic literatureâ€Å"†¦the Koran is, literally, Gods word and is, like Him, miraculous and eternal†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Based on the works of Koran and bible it is evident that there are prophets in both the religions. In Islam the greatest prophet is Muhammad whose revelations have been compiled together in the form of the Holy book Koran. His importance as a prophet is such that every Muslim aims to read some verses of the Koran, five times a day. The contrast between the Koranic prophet Muhammad and biblical prophet, Moses as mentioned in Islam is that â€Å" The many allusions to Moses (Musa), for example, stress that God may choose even an ordinary, flawed man to be His prophet and say nothing of Moses role as the leader of his people.† (Islamic literature) This is the reason why, where Muhammad is given so much of importance Moses’s importance is recognized but not glorified as much as that of Muhammad. Both Jesus and Muhammad had qualities of the teacher. They taught and preached the lessons of love, trust and peace to their followers. They were the basis of the two widely recognized religions. Though both these teachers are treated with

Property Law 1 Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Property Law 1 Assignment - Essay Example Mitchell had with Alfie. However, Ian as the new freeholder of the property cannot repossess the leased property, unless Mr. Mitchell violates the terms of the lease such as (a) does not pay rent (b) the original lease with Alfie specifies that the lease can be ended before the specified 25 year period (c) refuses to carry out any obligations that are executed in the lease agreement between Alfie and Mr. Mitchell*2. However, there is one important clause that must be considered in the light of the Land registration Act of 2002 which became active in 2003. Since Mr. Mitchell has acquired the property after the date of the new Registration Act, Alfie should have registered the lease title in favor of Mr. Mitchell*3. In fact, since the duration of the lease period is for 25 years, registration would have been mandatory even before the new Act. Hence, the first factor to be explored is whether or not Alfie and/or Mr. Mitchell have registered Mr. Mitchell’s term of lease absolute. In the event this has not been done, Ian will be under no obligation to allow Mr. Mitchell to remain except on renegotiation of new terms. But since Mr. Mitchell has paid some consideration in order to acquire a lease on the property, he will be entitled and within his rights to retain his possession of it and his lease allows him the right to peaceful possession and enjoyment of the outbuilding on which he holds a lease. Although he possesses the outbuilding, this is not a separate property but will be a part of the Albert Court property depending upon the legal description of the property and its boundaries as they have been spelt out in the title deed. Miss Watt’s term of tenancy is however a short term. The terms of the Land registration requirements under the new Act of 2002 will apply in her case*4. The new Law requires that all new tenancies of any length that start more than three months after the date

S.W.O.T. analysis on Costco Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

S.W.O.T. analysis on Costco - Essay Example The companys first business opened in 1976 under the name Price Club on Morena Boulevard, San Diego (Costco Wholesale, 2013). The company originally served small businesses, but it discovered that it could achieve greater buying influence by also serving some audience of non-business members. In 1983, the company’s first warehouse was opened in Seattle. The company became the first to grow from 0 to $3 billion in terms of sales in less than six years. Costco merged with Price Club in 1993. The combined company operated under PriceCostco where it had 206 locations of operations generating annual sales of $16 billion. The headquarters of Costco Wholesale Corporation is found in Issaquah, Washington. The company is the globes biggest warehouse club chain based on sales. The company has employees of about 142,000 in number. This paper analyses Costco in terms of its strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats. The paper sets out a short history of the company and its market position. The paper looks at the revenue of the company, and the areas it can also engage into in order to increase its revenue. This paper sets out to explore if Costco has managed to hold its ground in its line of operation (Costco Wholesale, 2013). Costco boasts of very loyal customers. Customer loyalty is the strength of the link between an organizational relative attitude and continuous patronage with customers. The organization has effectively managed to attract and retain many customers over the years of its operation in operation (Costco Wholesale, 2014). Since Costco has a loyal customer base, it allows for the organization to have continued business from customers. It gives the organization credibility from customers who help it to grow. Customer loyalty has many benefits which include customers buying from an organization from time to time again, increase in how much

Law case study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Law case study - Essay Example For a claim of negligence to succeed, the claimant must establish that the defendant owed him a duty of care, and that the defendant was in breach of that duty. If a breach occurred or not is more a question of actual fact which is to be established on the basis of the evidence. However, the standard of care (expected) is a matter of law. In English law, the prevailing principle is that the standard of care is absolutely objective. The defendant’s actions or lack of actions are measured against the standard established by society for the task performed. In practice, the objectivity of the standard of care means, if a person purports to have a certain skill, or initiates endeavors which imply his possession of a specific skill, then he must display a level of competence associated with that skill. When we view the case of Wells v. Cooper 1958 DIY home repairs must meet the standard of a reasonably competent tradesman. On a whole the law of negligence is focused on who will pay the cost for the loss or damage. Generally, the motive of the defendant is irrelevant to the determination whether he breached the duty of care. We will first look at the Housing Act, 1966 s 39 which empowers the council to make loans for the acquisition of houses. To satisfy the necessary requirements in qualifying the borrower as a bone fide recipient and all the property as fit, the council must perform (via its agent or representative), an inspection of the dwelling on the basis of two pertinent criteria; (1) establishing the actual value and (2) that the dwelling will provide sufficient security for the loan.... as a result of the report by the Council's valuer, as to the actual value of an existing houseand thatis so situated as to be readily saleable, in the event of a sale by the Council becoming necessary, due to default by the borrower" (Ward). In an accompanying opinion in this case, Castell J., [1985] I.R. 29 at p 52 held that, "In light of the facts to which I have referred it seems to me that there was a sufficient relationship of proximity or neighborhood between the plaintiff and the council such as that in reasonable contemplation of the council carelessness on their part in carrying out of the valuation of the bungalow the plaintiff (in view of his knowledge that they were going to value the premises and his very limited means), would himself employ a professional person to examine it and so they should have known that if the valuation was carelessly done it might not disclose defects in the premises and as a result the plaintiff might suffer loss or damage. So it seems to me that a prima facie duty of care existed and there is nothing in the dealing between the two parties which should restrict or limit that duty on any way. In particular no warning against reliance on the proposed valuation was given" (Costello 1985) Also in Siney v. Corporation of Dublin [1980] IR400, O'Higgins, CJ states at p.414, "In this case it is sufficient to say that many of these recent decisions recognize a possible liability where the exercise of statutory powers in a negligent manner results in3 injury to

Innovative Idea for a New Product, namely the Round Umbrellas Essay

Innovative Idea for a New Product, namely the Round Umbrellas - Essay Example For this reason, I chose to come up with a new product on umbrellas that are consumer friendly both in price and in its use. The umbrellas will help minimize the issue of umbrellas being prone to damages both during storms and also in high winds. The umbrellas will be aerodynamic wind-resistant designed that will ensure that the umbrella will not overturn during heavy winds. The umbrella will also be extra reinforced rib constructed to ensure that they are firm enough to withstand storms and wind. The umbrellas will be designed in different sizes; big to serve many people in a place, relatively small for few individual and also for one person. The umbrellas are designed such that one will not be wet on trousers and even hands, unlike the other umbrellas. The umbrella will use less expensive materials like anodized aluminum, its configuration is manual and has 5 -6 ribs that make it's cheaper but still strong to withstand storms. For this business, the business structure that best suits it is partnership structure. A partnership involves two or more agree to start a business and run it jointly. The partnership will work well for this innovation since it has few formalities needed, and there is a partnership deed that regulates the operations of the business. With the partnership, there is shared management control and task sharing that reduces the workload for one person. The partners may also take part in their areas of specialization where they are best skilled ensuring that the business runs so well. Partnership venture also limits the chances of one bearing the losses that one may incur alone since they are shared among the partners hence; it makes it attractive to many businesses. Having the issue of loss sharing every partner will work keenly to reduce possible chances of incurring losses in the market, and so the business runs efficiently to gain profits. To establish a venture,  it all begins with d eveloping some ideas. In this stage, researchers are more involved.  

The relationship between censorship and student publications Essay Example for Free

The relationship between censorship and student publications Essay Pushing the limits of free speech and then killing it is not an uncommon theme for todays student press. Civil disobedience and censorship of student publications has been a hot-button issue since the 1960s and remains a crucial, yet under-examined area of free speech. In an assumed tolerant democracy which flaunts philosophical ideals like a free market of ideas, censorship laws have undermined the essential function of student newspapers as an outlet for challenging, insightful and investigative journalism. The following essay seeks to examine the relationship between censorship and student publications by specifically drawing on the Rabelais case. Accordingly, this essay further attempts to explore the legal and philosophical reasoning behind censoring student newspapers. In 1998, the Full Court of the Federal Court handed down its first decision which directly involved the right to political communication of a student publication1. The court held that an article advocating theft published in the La Trobe University student publication, Rabelais, instructed in matters of crime and was not protected by the implied constitutional freedom of speech.2 The appellants four editors of the publication argued that the article addressed issues of wealth distribution in a capitalist society and constituted political communication.3 Prior to Rabelais, Australian courts have never squarely confronted political communication in relation to the National Classification Code.4 Whilst the Federal Courts decision to uphold the findings of the Classification Review Board generated another proponent of control on the boundaries of political communication, it simultaneously limited the journalistic scope of student publications in challenging the moral and political patterns of society. The implications of Rabelais have since posed an explicit threat to the autonomy of student publications by which student journalists are left confined within the legally permissible censorship system.5 A common principle validating restrictions on free speech is balancing. In the case of Rabelais and similar articles in nature published in other student publications, striking a reasonable balance between political material and Australias censorship laws fosters the argument that the protection of political communication is not absolute. Judicially-considered concepts underpinning political communication6 is often subject to the maintenance and protection of the system of representative government.7 By strict adherence to this generalization, virtually all political dissent and civil disobedience is then liable to interfere with the maintenance and protection of the government system. Heerey J8 provided further insight, claiming this relationship to accommodate an imbalance in which the protection of representative democracy overrides the protection of dissent9 by student publications: It should be noted that Anarchist theory extended from non-violent writers and political leaders like Tolstoy, Thoreau and Ghandi to Proudhon (property is theft) the Anarcho-Syndicalists whose creed was that unions should become militant organizations dedicated to the destruction of capitalism and the state. All this may be in one sense politics, but the Constitutional freedom of political communication assumes indeed exists to support, foster and protect representative democracy and the rule of law. The advocacy of law breaking falls outside this protection and is antithetical to it. 10 However, the argument brought forward by his Honour is severely flawed. The knowledge needed to draw political comparisons from the works of Tolstoy, Thoreau and Ghandi lies in the mere fact that the writings of these revolutionaries were not refused classification, but available to the public for debate and reflection. In this instance, measuring competing interests on the basis of political ideologies in power would easily translate into banning all commonly dissenting student publications.11 The classic role of student publications in discussing socio-political affairs beyond the bounds of moral and legal civility is one which indeed supports, fosters and protects the system of representative democracy. This lends itself to another critical failure in determining classification of student publications. In refusing classification of Rabelais, the Review Board directly addressed the legal aspect of inciting crime, compromising the publications implied rights to political communication.12 It did so by appraising the article in isolation from other writings of political nature, published in the same edition.13 Setting aside possible constitutional questions, the approach in reviewing student publications does not distinguish between student and mainstream media. If a student press is to function as the dutiful outlet of alternative and challenging thought in society, then such definition should allow for exceptional free speech privileges. To give further reference to the limited interpretation of the role of student publications in Australia, there is a high probability that the article in question would have been permissible to publish in other countries, particularly the United States. Not only does the existence of a U.S. Bill of Rights expressly protect the rights of individuals to free speech, but an implicit rule applied by U.S. courts entitles student journalists to the highest level of First Amendment protection to sustain the traditional libertarian function of student publications. 14 The rule that student publications enjoy freestanding exemptions of restrictions underlying the First Amendment emanates from legislation based in the state of California, which expressly duplicates First Amendment rights to college and university students. 15 One can hardly ignore the advantageous effects of a similar law being implemented in Australia. Like the United States, it is widely maintained that student publications in Australia should remain wide-open free speech zones, where every form of speech is permitted and censorship controls are turned off.16 However, the recent introduction of the Voluntary Student Unionism bill17 before parliament has additionally threatened the agenda of student publications. Although the bill, which traces back to 197418, sets out to render universal student unionism voluntary, it could potentially be the first law that directly undermines students right to free speech by defunding Australias student press19. The Western Australian (WA) VSU model, which came into force in 1997, has cut funds directed to all student publications in the state, while other student advocacy bodies were lost completely.20 In conclusion, although Australia has a robust commitment to freedom of speech, on a practical level, this commitment is too often regulated by prevailing moral and legal protocols. As evidenced by the legal implications brought forward by the Rabelais case, there remains little conscious acknowledgement of the significant function of student media in challenging dominant viewpoints. Given the undoubted importance of the court in interpreting political communication, the process in determining such can only be rendered valid and objective if the historical and philosophical principles underpinning student media are taken into consideration. The burden here is not only on the narrowed definition of political communication, but the lack of an accountable and tolerant classification system. Similarly, the Rabelais case reawakens the time-worn argument of implementing an express free speech right in Australia. Given that student publications are dedicated to political dissent and civil disobedience, and thus vulnerable to legal ramifications, it would arguably seem fair to grant student media the privilege of special free speech rights, over and above all the general speech rights Australians enjoy. A law similar to that of the United States would allow society to recognize the doctrine of academic freedom and protect and maintain the free market of ideas in a representative democracy. As Parsons once said: The creative writer should enjoy a latitude greater than would be of proper to the journalist and newspaper published who deal with fact.21 1 Brown v Members of the Classification Review Board of the Office of Film and Literature Classification (1998) 154 ALR 67 (hereinafter Rabelais) 2 The article provided a step-by-step guide on how to shoplift. Pursuant to the Classification (Publication, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995, publications that describe, depict, express or otherwise deal with matters of crime will be refused classification 3 Note 1. The Federal Court upheld the decision of the Chief Censor to refuse classification (i.e. ban) of Rabelais. The charges were later dropped. 4 Clayton, M. (2005). Interview. [Interview with Christopher van Opstal, 24/05/2005]. See also Classification (Publication, Films and Computer Games Act) Act 1995 5 Boey, H. (2005). Interview. [Interview with Christopher van Opstal, 19/05/2005]. Duncan, J. (2005). Interview. [Interview with Christopher van Opstal, 19/05/2005]. Fomiatti, L. (2005). Interview. [Interview with Christopher van Opstal, 19/05/2005]. Belford, A. (2005). Interview. [Interview with Christopher van Opstal, 19/05/2005]. 6 For example, in Australian Capital Television v The Commonwealth (1992) 177 CLR 106, six members of the High Court acknowledged the implied freedom of communication in government and political matters. Other judicially-considered cases in Rabelais, include Theophanous v Herald Weekly Times (1994) 182 CLR 104; Lange v Australian Broadcasting Commission (1997) 189 CLR 520; Levy v The State of Victoria (1997) 189 CLR 579 7 Pearson, M. (2005). Interview. [Interview with Christopher van Opstal, 23/05/2005] 8 French J and Sunberg J were the two other judges in Rabelais 9 Heerey J refers here to dissent as writings which advocate breaking the law or anarchy 10 Note 1 (Heerey J). By contrast, the appellants council argued that advocating theft was an appropriate means of reallocation of resources of political dissent or as a central tenet of Anarchist theory. The same argument is brought forward by Des Clark, Chief Censor of Australia. Clark, D. (2005). Interview. [Interview with Christopher van Opstal, 26/05/2005] 11 Clark, D. (2005). Interview. [Interview with Christopher van Opstal 26/05/2005]. Clayton also points out that a publication which incites crime must be banned under regulations by the OFLC, even though the publication may be of political nature. Note 4. 12 Note 4. See also Clayton, M. 1998 Censorship, Free Speech and the Rabelais Case, Legal Date, Vol. 10, No 1.; Clayton, M. and Borgeest, T. 1998, Free Speech and Censorship after the Rabelais Case, Media and Arts Law Review, Vol. 3 at 194 13 Note 1. The Rabelais edition also discussed political issues of death penalty in the United States and pending execution of a former black activist, Mumia Abu Jamal 14 Goodman, M. (2005). Interview. [Interview with Christopher van Opstal, 23/05/2005] 15 Pursuant to s 76120 of the California Education Code, the governing board of a community college shall adopt rules and regulations relating to the exercise of free expression by students. See California Education Code Section 66301. 16 Boey, H. (2005) Interview. [Interview with Christopher van Opstal, 19/05/2005] 17 Higher Education Support Amendment (Abolition of Compulsory Up-front Student Union Fees) Bill 2005 18 Aldrich, F. (2005). Interview. [Interview with Christopher van Opstal, 27/05/2005] 19 Note 13. If impending VSU is passed by the Senate in July, it will be necessary to cut funds to the printing of student publications. This will result to the disappearance of most student publications. 20 Hastings, G. (2004) VSU Legislation Experiences in WA, Victoria, and Federally, NUS Research at 5 21 Pollak, M. 1990, Sense and Censorship, Reed Publishers, Sydney, at p. 284