Foods Market Essay

For months, Whole Foods Market and its legal team have waged a very public battle against the Federal Trade Commission’s charges that the high-end grocer’s 2007 merger with Wild Oats Markets violated antitrust laws. The court fight started in June 2007 when FTC lawyers first tried to prevent the merger by filing suit in the U. S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Then, last October, Whole Foods raised the stakes by unleashing lobbying and media campaigns against the FTC. After all of that, this morning’s announcement that Whole Foods has agreed to settle with the FTC raises an obvious question: Why? Decherd partner Paul Denis, who has represented Whole Foods since 2007 in defending the merger, says it came down to money, and Whole Foods also just wanted to move on. â€Å"This is a very expensive process,† he says, adding that Whole Foods â€Å"thought if made sense to try to eliminate that cash burden. † In December, Whole Foods said it had spent $16 million on attorney and expert fees since 2007. Asked whether allocating additional resources to the public fight against the FTC was worth it for his client, Denis says, â€Å"You do what you have to defend yourself. †¦You can never ask yourself is it worth it. †

Africa&Egypt Essay

Africa is one of the richest continents when it comes to spectacular experiences with nature. Nowhere in the world can one encounter the abundance and variety of wildlife. Africa also delivers a plethora of ecosystems, geographical features and amazing wilderness experiences. Whether it is deserts, rivers, lakes, mountains, jungles, waterfalls, etc. Africa Geography The continent of Africa borders the southern half of the Mediterranean Sea. The Atlantic Ocean is to the west and the Indian Ocean is to the Southeast. Africa stretches well south of the equator to cover more than 12 million square miles making Africa the world’s second largest continent. Africa is also the world’s second most populous continent. Africa is one of the most diverse places on the planet with a wide variety of terrain, wildlife, and climates. It is the second largest and second most populous continent. Major Cities The highest point in Africa is Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania at 5895 meters high. The lowest point is Lake Asal in Djibouti at 153 meters below sea level. The largest country in Africa is Sudan, the smallest is The Seychelles. The most populated country is Nigeria and the largest city is Cairo in Egypt. The largest lake in Africa is Lake Victoria and the  longest river is The Nile River, which is also the longest river in the world. Africa is rich with varied wildlife including elephants, penguins, lions, cheetahs, seals, giraffes, gorillas, crocodiles, and hippos. African languages are varied with more than 1000 languages spoken across the continent. The Suez Canal divides Africa from Europe. The Sahara Desert The Sahara is larger than the US. Temperatures can reach as high as 130 and some areas go 10 years without rain. A few areas have grasses that can support animals. For thousands of years people have carried goods and ideas across the Sahara. The Kalahari Desert The Kalahari is not as dry as the Sahara. Grasses and wild melon grow and animals are able to graze. The Namib Desert The Namib Desert is one of the driest places on Earth. Trees and get water from mists that drift from the Ocean. Still animals and people find ways to survive in this area. Desertification: Turning semi desert land into desert Desertification can happen by natural actions: drought or by human actions such as cutting down forest for cooking fuel or to make farmland, overgrazing of shrubs and grasses by cattle and goats. With no grass or tree roots, the topsoil blows away and the desert advances. Natural Resources The most abundant natural resources in Africa are gold, diamonds, copper, cobalt, and oil. However, the distribution of resources is uneven causing wealth in some counties and poverty in others.

Family Assessment Essay

Gordon’s functional health patterns is a method developed by Marjory Gordon, a nursing theorist and professor. The functional health patterns are to be used during the nursing process to obtain a more comprehensive assessment. There are 11 functional health patterns to in place to create a comprehensive assessment. The functional health patterns are values and health perception and management, sleep/rest, nutrition, activity/exercise, elimination, cognitive-perceptual, role relationship, self perception, coping-stress tolerance, sexuality and religion. In this paper, I will discuss all of these functional health patterns as they pertain to my husbands perception of our family. Functional Health Patterns I interviewed my husband using Gordon’s functional health pattern guided questions. Miguel is a 41 year old father of four children, Trysten who is 6, Tyernen is 5, Lola is 3 and Eva who is 14 months old. Miguel has been married to Susan for 13 years. He has been running a household for the past 5 years at, taking on the newest role for men as a stay at home parent. The Health Perception–Health Management pattern involves health practices used to reach current level of health or wellness and the individuals actual health status. Questions should focus on the individuals perceived health status and meaning of health. During the assessment of this pattern, a nurse may unearth other patterns that may need to be explored. (Edelman) Rarely sick, Miguel goes to the doctor when necessary and is on Zoloft for anxiety. The kids have been to the doctor this year for their well check ups. Trysten is battling allergies, and just got over a sinus infection. Eva had an ear infection and is now teething. Tyernen had his tonsils out last year. Lola is relatively healthy and Susan just discovered she has been starting to get migraines and is trying different home remedies for these. Nutritional-metabolic patterns focus on the nutrient intake relative to metabolic need. This includes evidence of nutritional balance (physical examination) and reports and description of food and fluid consumption (history). (Edelman) Many meals are eaten out, fast food and restaurants are frequented. When foods are cooked at home, stews, steak, chicken cutlets, pastas, bread, and salads are usually made. Snacks include fruits and banana shakes he makes for the kids. He is overweight and states he knows so. The kids are healthier, and the parents make better choices for them then they do for themselves. Susan is, too, overweight. A very important factor when assessing the sleep-rest pattern is the perception of getting an adequate amount of relaxation and sleep. If the individual reports energy levels waning or fatigue this may provide some indication of the individual’s satisfaction. People have their own ideas about the roles that rest and sleep play in preparing the individual for desired or required daily activities. This pattern becomes extremely important when sleep and rest are reported as insufficient because it effects other aspects in the assessment. (Edelman) Miguel states that he has trouble sleeping and is often tired the next day. He states â€Å"the doctor ordered a sleep study for my sleep apnea I’m sure I have, but I never go. † Children sleep well through the night, approximately 10 hours. Susan just switch from working night shift to day shift, and is flipping her schedule around. Elimination patterns include bladder, skin and bowel function. Nurses ask the patient about regularity, quality, and quantity of stool and urine through reports from the individual any changes or perceived problems and about methods used to get regularity or control. Perspiration quantity and quality determine excretory skin function. (Edelman) In regards to his bathroom habits, he states he goes regularly. Miguels skin is clear, some dryness on elbows and knees noted. Hair and nails look healthy and clean. Children have normal patterns and skin is clear no dryness. Susan has drier skin, states bathroom needs are normal. The activity-exercise focuses on activity level, regular exercise program, and leisure time activities. Physical and subjective assessments include movement capability, activity tolerance, use of assistive devices, self-care ability, satisfaction with activity and exercise patterns, and any perceived problems. (Edelman) With the 4 children, he does get out and play with the kids, but there is no regular exercise routine. The children play everyday outside, wether in the park or in the yard. Susan doesn’t have a regular exercise program either. Cognitive patterns are the ability of the individual to understand and follow directions, make decisions, solve problems, retain information and use language appropriately. Auditory, olfactory, visual, gustatory, tactile, and kinesthetic sensations and perceptions impact the perceptual and sensory patterns. (Edelman) Cognitively, Miguel reads the news online and utilizes the internet to write to his family in Argentina. English is his second language, and he does need assistance expressing himself every once in a while. He does wear glasses, but they are more for driving needs. Children are developmentally on target for their respective ages. Susan is working full time, taking on line courses and running a home with the help of her husband. The sense of each individual’s personal identity, emotional patterns, goals, and feelings about the self is the self perception pattern. Self-image and sense of worth come from the individual’s perception of personal appearance, limitations, and competencies, including the individual’s self-perception and others’ perceptions. (Edelman) Miguel wants to go back to school, but his family is first. At this time, he is at home, allowing his wife to continue her education to better their situation. He feels trapped at times, wants to go back to work. He wants to go to the gym, but his children are more important at this time. He reads to better his knowledge base and fixes the cars, thriving on a bargain when it is found. Again, children seem to be on with their developemental milestones. Susan is having trouble with her physical appearance. Though she projects a confident persona, she is uncomfortable with how she looks at this time. Roles-relationships pattern describes the identity the individual assumes with in a social group and how they interact with others with in that social group and how they are connected. The individual’s perception is a large component of the assessment, as is the individual’s subjective level of satisfaction with the roles and relationships they are in. (Edelman) Miguel states â€Å"I am a daddy, husband, and a friend. † He describes himself in his roles, â€Å"daddy† being the most important to him. The childrens role are still being determined due to the fact they are so young. Trysten is big brother to all and best friend to daddy. Tyernen is a big brother and in competition with Trysten all the time, though it seems to make them want to be better. Tyernen favors his mother, but jokes around often with daddy. Lola seems to have taken on the role of trouble maker, and Eva is following her footsteps. Susan has taken on the role of mother, breadwinner, student, and nurse (not in any specific order). She tends to lead the family, get everyone moving. The sexuality-reproductive pattern is defined by the individual’s sexual functioning, sexual self-concept, methods of intimacy, and reproductive areas. The importance of sexuality to the individual’s life and health is related to the relationship and self-perception patterns. Body image, gender identity and role are linked to sexual identity. Sexual functioning involves, but is not limited to, sexual relations with a partner. (Edelman) Miguel and Susan have not been physically intimate in a long while. Either one of them remember the last time. This is mostly due to Susan’s self-perception/body image and the busy lives that are being lead. Miguel has expressed more than once that the physical aspect of their shared sexuality is unsatisfying. The ability to manage stress in life is a learned behavior. Stress is an inevitable part of life; without it there is no motivation to grow. Most stress comes from minor irritations that build over time, not great tragedies. Edelman) There are many stressors affecting this family. Four young childrens’ demands, being in Arizona when we would prefer to be in New York, working full time, going back to school, staying home with the kids, many many stressors are impacting the lives of the two parents. For the most part, the stress is handled well, though we both seem to be r eaching for food too often and may need to re evaluate our coping mechanisms so it doesn’t impact the childrens learned coping mechanisms. The values-beliefs pattern is defined as the individual’s goals, spiritual values and beliefs. Each of the 11 health patterns addresses the value systems of individuals, family, and society. Individual values or beliefs develop over time and guides the individuals life through societal influences and personal experiences with family. (Edelman) There is no firm religious influence in the home. The family is valued, belief in building a strong base for the children to grow. After compiling the data from the assessment of the family discussed in the paragraphs above, some nursing diagnosis that would be appropriate would be: Altered Nutrition more than body requirements related to using food as a coping mechanism. Sexual dysfunction related to change in body or self-image. Ineffective coping related to inadequate coping method. In conclusion, the functional health patterns gave me a better idea of what is happening in my family and how it is effecting my husband and our relationship. There is always an aspect of the health patterns that can be improved upon within a family, it is the nurses job when assessing to be thorough and helpful.

Discuss the claim that to understand any one citys fortunes fully it Essay

Discuss the claim that to understand any one citys fortunes fully it is necessary to follow the interconnections between cities - Essay Example The images of cities bring forth bustling streets, unending streams of vehicles, people jostling with each other for space and attention, faceless groups of people hurrying either to work or home, crowded markets and unruly by lanes, libraries, hospitals, hotels, museums, traffic, cathedrals and other religious places, skyscrapers and underground and on ground railways and more than anything else, lighting and brightness all over. We also notice that mostly people are lonely in the crowd, lost in their own thoughts and hurrying towards the next goal. Very rarely one could see the heartening sights of people walking companionably together in groups. Cities are not accidental happenings. They are created for a purpose, the result of a long and interesting evolution of the landscape. They must have started as the centres of a certain activity and with additional activities growing around it, they have formed into present cities. Cities do not spring up without reason. There always exist economical, social, geographical or historical reasons for their materialising from nowhere. They are the focussed places of social, cultural and geographical mass. They are the centres of many activities and had been the hubs of certain bustling, continuous activity for a long time, and hence, they have grown into cities. All of us have our own pleasant and unpleasant experiences of the cities. Intensity of urban life differs from place to place, from city to city. Every city differs from another if urban elements and social significance are taken into account. Cities could be awe-inspiring for a villager. A city could be romanticised, revered, mystified, or even feared. Every city has its own individuality. It has even its own skyline from which usually it is recognised. Famous cities have popular skylines, and their recognition is instantaneous. "From this perspective, city life is distinctive because its scale is larger and activities more intense than anywhere else," (p.6). Massey et al are of the opinion that smaller cities like Kuala Lumpur try to rival with bigger cities like New York by having impressive skyscrapers, even though skyscraper like announcements are unnecessary for a city. There are arguments that cities with impressive skyscrapers also have people begging on the streets and slums full of misery. Every city is not a planned city. Most of the cities are grown in a rather uncontrolled way adjusting itself to the geography and the main activity of the city. Some of these cities, though rather cumbersome, are a few of the most attractive cities in the world. City is a hub of activity and hence, centre of many connections and networks. These connections could be of any kind and mode; social, economical, cultural, religious, historical, political, commercial, business-oriented or even connected with tourism or transport. It could be connected with a port where goods are loaded and unloaded and around the activities of the port, a city could have been built. It could be connected with the movements of the army, navy or a business centre, famous for certain trade. It could be housing one of the major businesses and the city might have been built around this particular business. There are thousands and thousands of possibilities. Today, new cities are springing up on the ruins of

Evaluative Report (Social Science Research) Research Paper

Evaluative Report (Social Science ) - Research Paper Example Meanwhile, qualitative research refers to research that â€Å"produces findings not arrived at by statistical procedures or other means of quantification† (Strauss and Corbin 1998, p. 10-11). It is appropriate for â€Å"persons’ lives, lived experiences, behaviours, emotions, and feelings as well as about organizational functioning, social movements, cultural phenomena, and interactions between nations† (Strauss and Corbin 1998, p. 11). It is interpretative (Strauss and Corbin 1998, p. 11). For making the distinction and discuss the difference between the two, we discuss two articles: one on quantitative research and the other on qualitative research to understand better the two types of research. We point out however that there are mixed research methods. The work of Lo and Zhong (2006) explored how the variable gender intervenes on the effects of â€Å"structural factors† on crime rates. In particular, Lo and Zhong argued that while people face the same â€Å"structural factors†, the effects of these factors can be modified by gender (2006, p. 318). Following up the work of earlier scholars, Lo and Zhong study pointed out that macro-level social ties can have effects on crime that exceed those of the â€Å"traditional structural-disadvantage factors† (p. 318). The authors argue that theory provides a basis to believe that structural disadvantages can explain crime (p. 319). The authors argue that social control rooted in strong relationships developed from marriage and employment can strongly influence the crime rates (p. 319). Lo and Zhong argued that strong social ties are built from relationships like marital relationships such that when the likelihood of family disruption increase, the likelihood of deviance also increase (p. 319). Thus, they hypothesized that when married people largely populate a locality, the demographics will likely indicate mutual

Classroom Management and Student Discipline Research Paper - 2

Classroom Management and Student Discipline - Research Paper Example In this essay, I endeavor to engage in reflection particularly in classroom management and student discipline. Towards this end, I will be discussing various dimensions in classroom management and discipline in the context of my own personal experience. To fully engage in reflective practice, I will draw from relevant literature to assess my own practice. In assessing my practice, I will introduce two types of overarching skills: hard skills and soft skills from where specific strategies belong. I will then highlight areas of weaknesses and strengths. In conclusion, I will offer recommendations for my own practice that hopefully, will aid in both my personal and professional growth. In evaluating and reflecting upon my practice of classroom management and student discipline, I find it helpful to distinguish between two types of practices. First, I will refer to as technical strategies or hard skills. The second category I shall label as relationship strategies or soft skills. In the world of work, hard skills often refer to technical skills or procedures often involving machinery and computer protocols. In the classroom, technical strategies are those that involve planning, structuring and organizing systems and procedures to maintain an effective classroom environment. Soft skills on the other hand are the people skills that are employed to build on relationships. In the classroom, certain relationships are important and must be established to reduce disruptions and misbehaviour. Planning would be the key factor in Arrend’s (2009) preventative classroom management strategies. To be able to plan effectively though, it is highly important to know and understand the background of the students, which I usually invest in during the first term of the school year. I have found that this preparation facilitates not only making effective lesson planning

Financing new ventures Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Financing new ventures - Assignment Example This product solution allowed large scale manufacturers of state-of-the-art very large scale integrated circuit (VLSI) manufacturers to monitor, test, and validate the mechanical and structural integrity of their production as part of essential manufacturing quality control procedures. Maintaining a leadership position in the ATE industry was management's main strategic vision. As a company, STC's primary mission and goal of management was to grow and be known as the global leader in designing innovative new testing technologies and providing integrated quality management systems for electronic equipment and components manufacturers (Missionstatements, 2013). As a direct consequence of their objectives the company required to invest heavily in research and development in order to stay ahead of the competition (Nash-Hoff, 2011). As an internal strategy and in order to remain financially feasible and minimize the impact of research and development costs in the company's bottom line, ST C aimed to spread their large R&D expenses across a large amount of sales by pursuing participation in most major segments of the industry and market their products and services globally throughout Europe, North America and Asia. As an industry during the period of 1975-1984 the ATE's and computer related technologies were going to a period of constant flux and dramatic shifts in available technologies. The advent of the new technological breakthroughs exponentially expanded the consumer and industrial electronics market, from personal computers to household electronic equipment such as cordless telephones and microprocessor based home appliances to automated teller machines, mainframe computers, and industrial automation equipment (Wordinfo). At the time just like in today's computer market new technological breakthroughs such as the introduction of a new computer chip can change the course of the whole industry and make previous silicone chip products practicably obsolete almost o vernight. The traditional product development life cycle of design, building a prototype, redesigning and making a new prototype had become obsolete due to time constraints and the fact that computer chips had become too complex and prohibitively expensive to follow the old industrial design model (Ulrich, Eppinger). The rapid and evolving nature of the industry meant that in order to stay competitive and deliver innovative products that the consumer wanted the firm relied heavily on speed to bring products from initial design to market readiness. The process involved having reliable testing processes and costs considerations that were always paramount in the viability of any new product introduction. High quality, reliable, and cost effective ATE solutions became an essential part of the industry in order for manufacturers to survive and remain competitive. Additionally, with the growth and advent of ever more complex semiconductor components manufacturers found it too complex and cost prohibitive to design and build their own testing equipment in-house. During the period of 1978 to 1984, the industrial ATE market grew at an average of 28% per year and sales increased from $359 million in 1978 to $1.6 billion by 1984. 2) During the period of 1980-1984 STC possessed the broadest testing product lines in the market and reaped the financial benefits in

Strategic Financial Management business report Essay

Strategic Financial Management business report - Essay Example ally the company was engaged in many businesses but with passage of time, it concentrated on the beverage business and divested other business like Pillsbury and Burger King. At present the company’s portfolio consist of mainly alcohol based beverages. Presently the company is operating many major strategic business units (SBUs) like spirits, Beer and Wine. Among them the most extended one is the spirit SBU because it comprises of many sub units like Scotch whisky, Vodka, Ready to drink, Liqueurs, Whiskey, Rum, Gin and Tequila. To understand why spirit SBU is so vital for the company, its last year’s sales break up has to be undertaken. As per the Diageo’s annual report 2007-08, the company’s is to focus on its premium drinks as these are the major source of income. In the last few years, the company’s revenue has increased marginally, but operating expense has also gone high. Thus Diageo has made a strategy to enhance its operating profit along with growth in organic sales. From the very beginning, the company has followed an aggressive acquisition strategy. At present the company has its operation in different part of the world, where they have strategic partnership with many other players of this industry. When a company plans for enhancing the profitability, its main motto remains increasing the shareholders value. In the last year certain changes has came in the consumption patter in alcoholic beverages in different part of the world, hence the company will target the growing market of alcoholic beverages in BRIC countries. Undertaking all these facts and figures, the company has planned to continue its cost cutting strategy. Diageo will continue to operate under four business areas, it will develop its local brands and to overcome the growing pressure from governments, it will come forward and will promote responsible drinking of alcohol, also participate in reducing the misuses of alcohol (Diageo-b, 2005). To analyse how successful were the

Law for business report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Law for business report - Essay Example The second question deals with the name itself. Is the name Toys4Everyone prohibited by law? If the use of the name Toys4Everyone would be considered to be an offence of offensive, or if it contained â€Å"other sensitive words,† then the name would be prohibited. (Companies Act 2006 5(1)(53)(a)(b); Companies Act 2006 5(1)(55)(1)). To qualify as a sensitive word, the word would have to be one that is regulated by Secretary of State. (Companies Act 2006 5(1)(55)(1)). Likewise, if the name is likely to give the impression that the company is associated with Her Majestys Government, the local authority or any public authority, then they would not be able to use the name, either. (Companies Act 2006 5(1)(54)(1)(2)). In this case, Toys4Everyone would not seem to fall under any of the above. It would not give the impression that the toy company is associated with government, it is not offensive and likely would not be considered to be an offence to use the name, and it is doubtful that it would be a sensitive word that would be subject to regulation by the Secretary of State. So, there does not seem to be a legal issue there. Moving on through the Companies Act, and there is a provision that states that the name chosen by the company must not be the same or too similar to another that is registered with the registrar. (Companies Act 2006 5(3)(66); Companies Act 2006 5(3)(67)). If the name is the same as another, then they cannot use the name. If the name is too similar to another, then the Secretary of State can order them to change their name. (Companies Act 2006 5(3)(67)). This is one legal challenge that may face the Board of Directors, if in fact there is another company with the name of Toys4Everyone, or if there is another company that has a very similar name as Toys4Everyone. If there is another company with a similar name on the registrar, then they

IP Art Appreciation AIU Online Essay Example for Free

IP Art Appreciation AIU Online Essay Among the three artists Rubens, Caravaggio, and Rembrandt there have been many magnificent works of art. There are many different similarities and differences within each Artists works, aesthetic qualities and symbolic significance, as well as the artists points of view for each work of art. Rubens, (Peter Paul Rubens) â€Å"was a prolific seventeenth-century Flemish Baroque painter, and a proponent of an exuberant Baroque style that emphasized movement, color, and sensuality. He is well-known for his Counter-Reformation altarpieces, portraits, landscapes, and history paintings of mythological and allegorical subjects. † He began by visiting many famous artists and copying some of their works of art to develop a sort of sense of understanding for this type of art and how it is create. One of his paintings â€Å"Head of Medusa† can be seen by many as very grotesque, yet it is incredibly detailed and realistic. Medusa was known as a Gorgon in Greek mythology, and that was of evil. Many often described her as a winged type creature with head of snakes. Though, she was mortal and Perseus killed Medusa by decapitating her. Medusas death is found in the epic, Argonautica. This painting is most likely depicting the defeat of evil, and intended to be very dramatic, catching the viewers’ attention immediately. (Rubens.org 2013) Caravaggio (Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio) â€Å"was an Italian artist active in Rome, Naples, Malta and Sicily between 1593 and 1610. He is commonly placed in the Baroque school, of which he is considered the first great representatives.† He was also one of the many artists that Rubens copied in his times of studying art. â€Å"The intense realism or naturalism, for which Caravaggio is now famous, is used in the majority of his paintings. He preferred to paint his subjects as the eye sees them, with all their natural flaws and defects instead of as idealized creations. This allowed a full display of Caravaggios virtuosic talents. He was also widely known as the most famous painter in Rome. His painting of Medusa in a leather jousting shield is very similar in meaning to that of Rubens painting, though  Caravaggio’s depicts that of the incident where the Goddess Athena placed in upon her shield because any who looked upon the head of Medusa would turn to stone. Both Caravaggio’s and Rubens painting are grotesque and dramatic, yet a beautiful display of their own imagery. (Caravaggio.org 2013) A writer named Walter Wallace gives an incredible and justifying description of Rembrandt ( Rembrandt Van Rijn). He states â€Å"In life Rembrandt suffered far more misfortune than falls to the lot of an ordinary man, and he bore it with the utmost nobility†¦. The child of poor, ignorant Dutch peasants, Rembrandt was born with near-miraculous skill in art. As an uneducated young man, he established himself in Amsterdam, married a beautiful, wealthy, sympathetic girl named Saskia, and enjoyed a brief period of prosperity and fame. However, because men of genius are always misunderstood by the public, fate snatched him by the throat†¦. Rembrandt responded with a masterpiece, a fact unfortunately apparent only to him and his wife. Everyone else, from the burghers to the herring-peddlers, thought the painting was dreadful. Rembrandts patrons hooted in rage and derision, demanding changes that the artist, secure in the knowledge that posterity would vindicate him, stubbornly refused to make.†(Wallace 1968) Like Caravaggio and Ruben, his works could be just as realistic and gruesome, yet seem to take your breath away at the meaningful imagery that they all portrayed. One of his paintings The Blinding of Samson, he depicts armored men holding down Samson, and taking a knife to his eyes, thus blinding him. This is of course representing the Blinding of Samson that is portrayed in the Holy Bible. This artist captures the viewers attention by the emotion of this moment. It was also very common to see stories of the Bible depicted in artists work during this time period due to The Roman Catholic Church’s stand point at that time. The three artists Ruben, Caravaggio, and Rembrandt all created amazing works of art, with similar interests as well as display of their own imagery. All three works of art depict similarity that suggests they are from the same time period, such as the style, detail of dramatic facial expressions, and that each was of some sort of mythology or theory that they firmly believed on or felt an intense obligation to share. References: Caravaggio, The Complete Works. (2013). Retrieved on September 28, 2013 from: http://www.caravaggio-foundation.org/Medusa,-painted-on-a-leather-jousting-shield,-c.1596-98.html Peter Paul Rubens, The Complete Works. (2013). Retrieved on September 29, 2013 from: http://www.peterpaulrubens.org/biography.html Wallace, Walter. (1968) The Legend and the Man, in The World of Rembrandt: 1606-1669. pp. 17-25.

Representation Of Morocco In Western Cinema

Representation Of Morocco In Western Cinema Morocco, its people and culture, has tickled the fancy of westerners long times ago, even before the colonial era. With the western industrial revolution under the advocacy of the imperial inclination, different generations of western writers and film makers have depicted Morocco according to the colonialist requirements and desires of the moment. The Anglo-American literary and mediatic productions as a scion and legatee to the ideology of European colonies in general, turned their gazing gawk on another Arab space of North Africa, mainly Morocco. The original outset of the Anglo-American interest in Morocco can be traced through the successive genres of travel narratives, novels, essays, etc. which took Morocco as their subject of writing and setting of shooting films. Going back to some historical reviews of the literature written about the representation of Morocco in the Anglo-American cinema and literature, we find that political, economic, and religious motivations are various pretexts that legitimize the western representation of Moroccan people together with their different cultural aspects. In Belated Travelers, Ali Bahdad has shown that westerners from the early travelers to modern tourism have defined the other including Moroccan people as savages, child like, sexually thrilling, etc. From the early British literature led by Daniel Defoes Robinson Crusoe(novel film) to the American writers led by Paul Bowles The Sheltering Sky(novel film), Morocco has been presented in the western imaginary as a land of jinns, dervishes, harems, all darkly promiscuous, sly and inscrutable. The film in its turn as an extension of narratives has sustained the same discourse of novelists. Most films shot in Morocco present the Moroccan space -desert and kasbah- as a dangerous setting. Through such representations, film makers seem to seek an identity through military, economic and sexual adventures, in which the Moroccan other is continuously cast as inferior and the dark element of the night. Babel, The Sheltering Sky, Legionnaireà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦remain major films where film makers insist on the alienating forces of the Moroccan cultural threats, in which the pure nobility of the white character must defy. It is rarely that we see some fair characteristics displayed by actors, showing the real image of Moroccans. The favourable setting favoured by film makers is most of the times dirty and shabby districts. The film makers always try to find places even far and may cost them more money just to find a place that can cast Morocco as inferior and uncivilized lacking the basi c requirements of life. Traditional and orientalist writings about Morocco are indistinguishable texts and images affixed and engrafted onto the modish mode of films. From the early talkie, Morocco (1930), the classic Casablanca (1942), road comedies Road to Morocco till Five Fingers (2006), Morocco becomes a confining other space and a penal complex for the recalcitrant Anglo-American heroes. The Muslim and Arab gears of prevalently fixed stereotypes are applied likewise to portray Moroccans and supply the requisite background rapscallions, dickhead and wilful, etc. Such representations persevere to inhabit the imaginations and thoughts of the western audience largely and hardly to be changed. Edward Said has clearly identified the function of Arabs in western cinema: In the films and television the Arab is associated either with lechery or blood thirsty dishonestly. He appears as an oversexed degenerate capable (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) of cleverly devious intrigues, but essentially sadistic, treacherous, low. Slave trader, camel driver, money changer, colourful scoundrel: these are some traditional Arab roles in the cinema. (Orientalism, 286-87) Unfortunately, Morocco is geographically situated within two antagonist streams of the west as an Arab and African, uncivilized parts of the world. All types of stereotypes given to Arabs, Muslims and indigenous black Africans are also used identically to describe Moroccans. Throughout history of the Anglo-American cinema, Moroccan characters (Arab Africans) have served as the quintessential other in foreign cinema. Moroccans have been consistently represented as inferior to the west orally, intellectually, culturally and politically. In the post 9/11 world and London bombardment, where some Moroccans were found guilty and involved in terrorist acts, Moroccans are perceived as antagonistic to western values and a threat to the western stability. In Babel, the film maker clearly shots this belief to show that all Moroccans are against the American presence in Morocco including tourists who are bulleted by a small Moroccan child in the mountains. CNN reports and considers this event a terrorist attack. In this conjunction, Woll and Miller argue that the Arab image has stalked the silver screen as a metaphor for anti-western values. The movie Arabs, and the television Arabs, have appeared as lustful, criminal, and exotic villains or foils to western heroes and heroines (Ethnic and Racial Images in American Film and Television, 79). Across the films under study, Anglo-American cinematic productions seem highly obsessed by stereotypical images of Moroccans. Arabs and Africans in general and Moroccans in particular are cinematically constructed to possess a wide array of loathsome characteristics: they may be backward, wild, cruel, blood thirty, crude, sex-crazed, stupid, dishonest conniving or menacing. Year after year and decade after decade, hundreds of films have flooded the market with a large number of unfavourable Arab and African depictions. In his book, Reel bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People, Jack Shaheen has studied more than one thousand films with major Arab themes and settings, about 40 of which are about Morocco. In his latest book, just after 9/11, Guilty: Hollywoods Verdict on Arabs after 9/11, Shaheen has studied again more than one hundred films about Arabs picturing them as responsible for what is happening now around the world. Within these bundles of stereotypes, one can wonder about the reasons behind all these biased descriptions. As a response to such questions, many scholars like Churchill agree that it seems necessary to alter realities to assume the maintenance of empire (Fantasies of the Master Race, 38). Churchill goes on saying that mere conquest is never the course of empire in the achievement of mission can only be attained through the productive utilization of captured ground (34). Within the same line of thought, Pieterse writes that the legacy of several hundred years of western expansion and hegemony, manifested in racism and exotism, continues to be recycled in western cultures (White on Black: Images of Africa and Blacks in Western Popular Culture, 9). Coming to mediatic representations, we find that Brzezinki in Out of Control: Global Turmoil on the Eve of the 21st Century, Naylor in Cultural Diversity in the United States, and Shohat and Stam in Unthinking Eurocentrism all agree that Hol lywood cinema promotes Eurocentric representations in order to further an economic and political propaganda. In the present time, which is characterized by terrorism, we see that the movie discourse of the First and the Second World Wars repeats itself and continues to endorse and legitimize the imperial vision of the white mans burden. Buschbaum asserts that as early as the First World War, many western governments recognized the propaganda potential of film (Left Political Filmmaking in the West: The Interwar Years, 26), in the Second World War, in Rosss words, the movie industry and its key personal exempted from military service (Cinema and Class Conflict, 82). Many scholars like Martin, Hoberman and Shaheen claim that the best movies of the 1930s promoted colonialism, neo-colonialism and imperialism. These films include Marta Hari, Shangai Express, Tarzan the Ape Man, Flying Down to Rio, etc. During the 1950s, this imperialistic agenda was furthered in films such as those starr ing Ronald Reagan- Hong Kong, Tropic Zone, Prisoner of War- all uphold the idea of the United States domination of the third world countries and were often made with the government assistance. Passage to india: british cinema Although these biased representations within the commercial films have moderated somehow over years, we can say that the visual image of the other Arab and Moroccan in particular is still very poor. Jack Shaheen in his interesting documentary Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People (YouToub Video), explores that the 20th century witnessed a large number of films degrading and distorting the image of Arabs including Moroccans. Anglo-American film industry is now theorizing and supporting wars through different scenes that the audience seems to take for granted. Due to this grave impact that such films have on the targeted viewers, Hoberman finds it very necessary to assign these Eurocentric films a new genre called war-nography (Vulgar Modernism, 227). Many films unabashedly affirm traditional Anglo-American values and institutions and negate everything anti-western. Among these movies, we can mention Kingdom of Heaven, Black Hawk Down, True Lies, The Mummy, Raiders of the Los t Ark, The Stone Merchant, to name but a few. In my thesis, I will study and attempt to prove that the films made about Morocco: Babel, Casablanca, Hideous Kinky, Five Fingers, The Road to Morocco, A Night in Casablanca, Legionnaire, The Man Who Knew too Much, The Sheltering Sky, Our Man in Marrakesh, Man of Violence, Unveiled, and some others fit within the aforementioned category as well. In Hideous Kinky, despite some short instances where fairness manifests itself, Moroccans are targeted for stereotypical representations within British films. As Varsey succinctly states: the British influence in general, and its impact in the area of colonial relations in particular, had far reaching implications for Hollywoods depiction of ethnic difference (Foreign Parts: Hollywoods Global Distribution and the Representation of Ethnicity, 699). She concludes that Hollywoods representations of ethnic and national difference and the movies modulation of these stereotypes were informed not by the personal psychologies of individual production, but by the economic imperatives of global distribution. Shome in Race and Popular Cinema: the Rhetorical Strategies of Whiteness in the city of Joy, and Young in Fear of the dark: Race, Gender, and Sexuality in the Cinema have all concluded that racial representations within cinema exemplify how the discursive productions of whiteness is often complicit in the practices of neo-colonialism. Religious representations are equally as stereotypical as other cultural portrayals within films. According to Newcombe, film images of people associated with religion typically represent widely shared level(s) of popular cultural expressions of religious attitudes that are safe neutral, and often used because of their immediate visual qualities (Religion on Television, 33). These religious representations also serve to support neo-colonialism since they frequently ritualize the values, beliefs, in Schultzes words, and even the sensibilities of a people (Television Drama as Sacred Text, 5). Moroccan religion or Islam in general has been the victim of representations that pre-date the movies dual purposes of religious loathe and economic exploitation. In this conjunction, Rose elaborates: There are Muslims who are of different origins, while most, like the majority of Palestinians, are Arabs, the followers of Muhammed are found in parts of the world. There is the dominant religion in such non-Arab states as Bosnia, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, Malaysia, and Indonesia. (They and We: Racial and Ethnic Relations in the United States, 58) However, in the films under study, the Moroccan Muslims are often depicted as dark Arabs and nomadic heathens because black becomes the colour of the devil and demons. While watching the movies, the majority of Moroccans remain cinematically either part of the movie backdrop or totally invisible. In addition to this stereotypical account, another representative feature that portrays Moroccans in the Anglo-American cinema is that they are doubly misrepresented as Arabs and Africans. Hoberman concurs that the misrepresentation of the Other in general has achieved a state that had surely blistered the paint and the chrome of the American dream machine. Why should anyone want the facts? Shared fantasies are what hold a people together (Vulgar Modernism, 328). Within this religious representation, Moroccans could not escape the Hollywood machine through its films about Morocco, mainly The Five Fingers, which depicted Morocco as a place of terrorist groups and savage terrorists. What makes this religious representation very perilous is the audience who take things presented through the motion picture for granted may be throughout their lives. In a study conducted by Schaefer, the American sociologist, about school children who watched D.W. Griffiths Birth of a Nation, he found that watching the movie made them more favourably inclined towards blacks for five months when children were retested (Racial and Ethnic Groups, 80). So if school children could not forget the image of blacks presented in The Birth of a Nation, how adults of world audience could overlook the Moroccan image in Babel, Five Fingers, Casablanca, etc., especially if we consider that most people take images as truth based. The audience gameness to believe whatever images th ey see in the movies is clearly explained by Contreras in Practical Consideration for Living and Working in Contexts of Diversity: Most individuals are quite capable of forming opinions without adequate prior-knowledge, thus forming a prejudgement either for or against a group, idea, or person. For example, after learning about the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma, how many people immediately thought the explosion had been the work of Arab terrorists? (Cited in Naylors Cultural Diversity in the United States, 330) Similarly to what happened during the evens of Oklahoma, moviemakers have tried to instil the idea of Arab terrorism in the minds of the audience either through special effects or real military victories. Balio, Barder, Bordwell and Thompson, Shohat and Stam and Hoberman all concur that the movies have influenced virtually every human activity, from politics and warfare to sexual behaviour and dreaming. It is true that after the events of 9/11 for example, the movies have turned Americans as Hoberman notes into Bob Hoskins in Toontown, real people wandering around delirious mental landscape of special effects, feel good fantasies, and militaristic spectacles (Vulgar Modernism, 334). Method This thesis is a cultural studies-based inquiry into the politics of Moroccan representation in the Anglo-American movies and the role they play in deepening the abhorrence and misperception of Moroccan cultural aspects by the west. This thesis will also re-articulate a way of understanding the links between the representations of Moroccans in the Anglo-American films and the unleashing of violence and insolence towards Moroccans and Arabs in general. The primary research questions guiding my research are: In what ways have Moroccans and Moroccan land been represented in the Anglo-American movies? Is it possible to describe a new specifically Anglo-American form of Orientalism that is distinct from old European forms? How is the identity of Moroccans articulated in opposition to an Anglo-American identity? To investigate these questions, the thesis relies on a range of data sources: primary and secondary analysis of films, scholarly books and articles, reviews of films, etc. that can help to contribute to a better understanding of how cultural domination can work upon the minds and practices of filmmakers to act around the Moroccan character in a large sample of movies. To decode the movies messages, I find myself in a situation where every component in the film must be analysed critically as Martin says in his book, Hollywoods Movie Commandments the critic must consider both the way in which the action is portrayed and the effect on the audience (91). Plot, character, theme, point of view, and setting are all typical areas upon which analysis should concentrate. Because of the films peculiar visual qualities, each of these areas takes on additional dimensions. Character, for example, is not only written into the screenplay, but also interpreted and portrayed by the actor. Even more im portantly, many of these traditional elements of narration are staged through mise-en-scene. When the action is being filmed, the shot, speed of motion, tonality, sound and special effects become also important interpretive factors within a film since cultural representations within a film can be depicted or influenced through these elements. In this research, I will shell out more concentration to issues raised in the different films and to what they say about Moroccan society and its values. The research relies on cultural studies and the postcolonial theory as its main theoretical and methodological approaches to interpret and analyse the selected films. I will make use of the literary critique of the elements of narration together with the ways in which these elements are portrayed visually. I will use the elements of narration as a guide to discuss the cultural representations across the scenes. Through the postcolonial theory, I aim at re-examining the Moroccan reality with the process of redefining Moroccan identity presented in the Anglo-American cinema. Thus the Moroccan voice will be raised with the promise of giving optimism to the silenced Moroccans in the films. Three native Moroccan movies will be employed in this research as a postcolonial means to describe people, things and values that live or relate to the geographical locations of the Moroccan society. These films are: M. Abdderrahman Tazis Badis, Farida Belyazids A Door to the Sky (Une Port sure le Ciel) and Laila El Marrakshis Maroock. Through Moroccan third cinema, Moroccan filmmakers led by Abderrahman Tazi define themselves and participate in the discursive processes that rule their destiny. It is true that A. Tazi remains the leader of the third cinema in Morocco which is manifested in his films Badis, Looking for my Wifes Husband, Lalla Hobby, etc. in these films, he tries to avoid shooting scenes that seem a kind of fetish for the west (cited in Beyond Casablanca, 66). A. Tazis wakefulness of the subjective representations of western movies is developed during his work with Anglo-American filmmakers who came to make films in Morocco. In his interview with the American anthropol ogist, Kivin Dwyer, A. Tazi recounts one of the bad experiences that demeans his pride as a Moroccan working with a Hollywood film maker John Derick while filming Bolero (1984). John Derick says to A. Tazi while facing a problem in one of the shots: what the hell am I doing here in this country? Why didnt I go to Israel, where people are more civilized, where people are less like-savages (Beyond Casablanca, 44). It is hoped that the postcolonial approach which allows for and respects different narrative voices will provide an apt method for looking at the different histories and values reflected in selected Anglophone movies. It is also my hope that the postcolonial method will enhance an understanding of different approaches used by various filmmakers as they attempt to disengage the Moroccan identity from the imperial syndrome. Rationale for the corpus The studies of the history, criticism and analysis of these films about Moroccan people and culture are significant in many ways. These films are sampled across the British and American film productions. The selection of the films is based on certain criteria. Since Im dealing with the representation of Moroccan identity in the Anglo-American cinema, I tried to choose only films that have been shot in Morocco and taking Moroccan culture as the main theme. The films are also selected according to the messages they transmit to the audience about the Moroccan religion, politics, culture, space, geography, women, traditions, etc. in Babel, for example, we see the filmmakers representing Morocco in unfair way; we see very old women in black smoking, even young children attacking American tourist- an action which seems to present that all Moroccans young or old hate the American people. In the same movie, we notice again the same old story of sexuality reiterated in the acts of presenting the Moroccan characters sexually thirsty even to their brothers and sisters. In the Sheltering Sky and Hideous Kinky, again, we see stealthy figures appear and disappear without intimating whence they come, nor where they go. These figures seem wearing turbans as big domes standing in shadows waiting to mug a western passer-by. In this film, we also see presentations of the Moroccan Kasbah as a labyrinth where western people are doomed to death. In Five Fingers, Islam, main religion in Morocco is associated with terrorism and denunciation of western spectrum. Legionnaire is the film where Moroccan space is divided into two: a dangerous desert from which no western visitor can escape, and whore streets for sexual pleasure for soldiers. All the films selected for this study are those that narrate Moroccan experience from an imperial eye. This presentation of course affects the Moroccan individual and society. The films continuous impact on identity and culture leads us to study some indigenous films productions shot by Moroccan film makers. The Moroccan films would serve a counter discourse to question and rectify the ideological representations imposed by outside cinematic productions.

A Self Evaluation and Personal Goal Setting

A Self Evaluation and Personal Goal Setting You are about to graduate from the UMA Teacher Certification Program. What are you immediate plans and goals? Well yeah!!! I am going to graduate from UMA Teacher Certification Program and my plans are to further study for Elementary Teaching Certificate and am enrolled with The College of New Jersey for summer course 2010 in Bangkok and from March 1st 2010 I have taken up for my 3 credit courses in Thomas Edison State College, beginning with English. It is a busy schedule for me for a year and a half and my goal is to achieve my target to be a recognized international teacher. Apart from that, my immediate plan is to apply here in international schools to work as a pre-school teacher and end my career working as teaching assistant. What are your long-range plans and goals? My husbands job is transferable and I have to follow him wherever he is been put up and my long term goals are to get settled as a teacher especially for 3 to 4 year old in international schools or even in India. Internationally recognizable is more beneficial because I want to be different from my mom and my other family members who are teachers in local schools in India. Right now in china, I do have a lot of scope to work as Montessori teacher and I will start applying in different schools after I receive my UMA certificate, so am anticipating it with great anxiety. My goals are to nurture each childs desire to learn by himself, learn steadiness, teamwork, encourage positive feelings about oneself and help a child in developing his/her social skills, expressive growth and physical management. How has the Montessori training experience changed your views, outlook, and/or life in general? Montessori studies do have a great impact on my personal behavior and attitude towards children. I have learned how to be patience and loving and caring towards children. I feel myself being prepared spiritually and I do experience these changes in my classroom here where I allow my children free choice with limits. I observe them and try to find out how much they have been upgraded being in class since the day one. I plan a lot of stuffs for each and every child to make them work independently. My dressing style has changed a lot. I used to be a Disney fan and wear a character t -shirt and now I have changed to simple and sober clothes. I place activities on the tables in one corner of my classroom and observe how children perform it and how they take interest in it though I work in a traditional pre-school. I do take these activities during center time and observe children and their joy into learning the activity. I can provide a well prepared environment that meets the development al need of a child. I can help each child realize his/her potential and nurture a life long love for learning in a child. What do you believe are your strengths as a Montessorian? My strengths are patience and friendliness. I am very organized and have a passion for learning. I am creative and love art and music. I am a good communicator and above all I love children a lot. As a Montessorian, I can exhibit my strength in having a thorough knowledge in each activity and show interest in every child through a detailed observation. What do you believe are your weaknesses as a Montessorian? I personally donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t find any weakness in me as such but am a strict teacher and much disciplined person in my life. I would love things to be in the right place and love a clean and neat environment. My greatest weakness is running towards perfection. I love everything to be perfect and also expect everyone near me to be perfect as well. Also I would think that a child should understand when taught once about a topic and should not make us teachers repeat things again and again. I sometimes get on my nerves when things have to be repeated many times to the same child like writing the letters neatly on a 4 lines sheet. My stern looks at times which I think I need to stop and try to be lenient. What aspect of the program do you consider to be the most significant in your personal estimation? Why? The most significant aspect of the program was the Skype calls because my doubts were all cleared so very clearly and patiently and I really liked the amount of dedication it was through my tutor Trudy, which can never be forgotten. Initially I was scared of a Skype call to clear doubts, but it was a great way to learn online and clear doubts and mistakes. I appreciate the efforts taken by my tutor to simplify all my doubts in a short span of chat and very clearly and precisely. Also my evaluations were never harsh or badly evaluated Evaluations were always fair and encouraging in all aspects. Encouraging words were always used that motivated me to dedicate myself to study calmly and now finishing my course on time. Other than having the physical hands-on experience with the materials, do you feel that you are prepared to be an affective Montessori teacher? Why or why not? I am prepared to consider myself as an affective Montessori teacher because I know the basics of what are the qualities and roles of a Montessori teacher and I am anxious to use my potentials for having my own classroom with Montessori materials and then watch the children perform the activities and observe the environment as an eye of a teacher, because till now I have been observing as a Montessori student. I am confident that I can be a better teacher and am willing to learn more and this can be done by experiencing the Montessori environment and so I would love to work as a Montessori teacher if I get a chance to. What final comments do you have for UMA? Thanks. My expectations were exceeded. UMA definitely did so much for me, I can say it helped me get where I am now. UMA nurtured me with so many strengths and taught me so many new things to brighten my future and foresee a new world in front of me. I appreciate UMAà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s reputation for academic excellence and educational integrity. UMA provided a flexible and high quality learning opportunity. My tutor was very friendly, helpful and approachable. She was very good, considerate, and sort of shepherded me through my whole course. UMA provided Montessori lessons that provided applicable experience and education. I could work in my own space and pace. I could manage work, home and studies. The education I received from UMA was worth my time and money. How do you foresee UMA being a continued benefit to you in the future? Finishing my Montessori Certificate is like a tremendous leg up for me in terms of marketability. The online studying experience was pleasant and enlightening. I feel validated. I feel qualified. UMA fostered me with a bright career which am sure is going to be very beneficial in my career. The experience was very fulfilling and has given me a lot of strength and a lot more self-esteem. I feel am a step ahead in my career academically and professionally.

The Hard Nut Essay -- Drama

The Hard Nut ============ The Hard Nut Is Based On The Nutcracker and Mouse King by ETA Hoffmann, the dance company they used was the Mark Morris Company and the music is by Tchaikovsky. The director of the Hard Nut has not been original, as he has used the same music from the original Nutcracker. The video is a live recording. Act 1 The opening scene starts with three people on the stage dressed as young children, they have their backs to the audience and are dressed in a black and white style, and the curtains are drawn. The curtains go up and Act One Begins. The scenery is black and white there is also a big door bigger than the characters on the stage. The three main characters on the stage are children we can tell this by the way they are acting and the facial expressions they pull. The director is dealing with gender issues a lot of the women are played by men. The dance style they are using is ballet. The huge door opens and the set changes to a living room style setting. It is around Christmas we can tell this, as there is a Christmas tree in the corner of the stage. The characters are dressed in green and red which are the colours of Christmas. In the days were the musical is set they did not have coloured televisions the television starts to go colour and the music starts to be multipurpose as if there is a fire. Throughout the play the use of humour is quite big. The three children are now obviously in their Christmas suits the oldest girl showing off all dressed up whilst the other is quiet and dressed in pink different from the rest, she is overlooked by people very sensible and very shy. Everybody on the stage pairs up and are dancing in duets apart from the youngest child who is in the pink, she is being ignored but is trying hard to involve herself. The girl then notices a man coming into the house she makes a fuss and everybody notices and acts surprised. The man appears to be a joker always wants to be the centre of attention and loves the quiet girl. He brings in two life size presents and the young girl and boy open them, two giant toys come out and begin a duet but they are using the people around them to do the duet including the children. They are using sharp isolated movements acting like robots, using different motifs. The family then get back into partners and begin the duets again... ... look on their faces and start running around in circles and the kiss again! The characters start to run diagonally across the stage in duets and form a huge circle. The use lots of pirouettes all at the same time and then exit the stage with leaps. It leads to the girl and the nutcracker again, showing that they are deeply in love. They perform another duet and kiss again and again. They use movements to show they are in love like smooth runs and turns. They travel away from each other and come back together showing they are reaching for each other’s love! The music becomes grand and they both take centre stage, a new drop down sheet comes down with all different toys on and the music gets faster and faster. They run of and the black and white scene from the start comes back. The stage is now back to the opening scene with the television programme on. The maid comes in going mad and turns the television off. The audience start clapping as the characters come on in duets bow and go through the door apart from the girl and the nutcracker. They finally come on last and the curtain goes up all the characters are in positions and the girl and nutcracker join them.

The Great Gatsby Essay examples -- The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgeral

The Great Gatsby The Characters in the book are static characters because everything that happens to them does not affect how they act on any permanent basis. Gatsby’s personality never changes from his smug, rich, party host for more than a hour or two. Tom and daisy Buchanan never stop fighting but, at the same time, never try to end their relationship because of it. Nick tries to become a big city man but never changes from his middle American farm boy ways. The Characters never change from their basic views and idiosyncrasies throughout the progress of the book. Gatsby’s personality never changes from his smug, rich, party host for more than a hour or two. the only time his attitude changes from this is when he sees Daisy for the first time in five years and when Daisy le...

The Hanging of Angelique

The Hanging of Angelique, The Untold Story of Canadian Slavery and the Burning of Old Montreal, written by Afua Cooper, is the story of not just Marie-Joseph Angelique, a black slave in 18th century Montreal accused, tried and hanged for arson, but gives insight into the entire African slave trade and brings to the forefront the thousands of African slaves here in Canada, a fact that has been â€Å"bulldozed and ploughed over† (P 7)1, while we ridicule our southern neighbours for their involvement in the very same industry.It is also a useful tool in the study of everyday life during this time period in New France, including their personal interactions, economic pillars, cultural beliefs, and overall social structure. Dr. Afua Cooper is a leading authority on Canadian black history and slavery; she has devoted her life to uncovering the past and educating the public on the little known subject of black slavery in Canadian history.She is a renowned presenter, scholar, poet, and author, having published five books of poetry, and several books both historical and historical fiction2 in her efforts to bring to light â€Å"Canada’s sorry history of slavery and racism† (P XII)1. She is currently the Ruth Wynn Woodward Endowed Chair in Women’s Studies at Simon Fraser University, British Columbia2.Fifteen years of research went into the telling of Angelique`s story, using a variety of methods including court and business records, including Angelique’s trial transcripts, newspapers containing advertisements for the purchase and sale of slaves (P 97)1 and other histories of slavery. It is these many details that Dr. Cooper has included that helps the reader to become immersed in the story. From the haunting description of la question ordinaire et extrodinaire (P 17-19)1, the rise and fall of Portugal as a maritime superpower (P 24)1 , and the descriptions of the city and buildings that were destroyed so easily (P 142-3)1.She tells the s tory of not only Marie-Joseph Angelique, but of all people in New France including both negro and Indian slaves, indentured labourers, and those of the higher classes. Angelique`s owners, Francois Poulin de Francheville and his wife, Therese de Couagne belonged to a social class referred to as bourgeois, â€Å"a social class of middle standing—between the aristocracy and the lower classes† (P 107)1. Their business was commerce, most notably, the â€Å"lifeblood of the colony†, the fur trade.Francois, and many others, prospered from the fur trade, it was, in fact, the main economy of the colonies at the time. Not only for the actual voyageurs and merchants, but the supplies needed for the outposts, goods to trade with the natives (especially alcohol), and transportation of these goods to the trading posts. Without support from Montreal, none of the posts would have been able to survive. The fur trade was an essential part of life in New France, not only to those directly related, it affected everyone. The trade was the pivot upon which most other affairs, especially politics, religion, and war, spun. Politicians and priests, Natives and French, merchants and voyageurs, soldiers and kings, architects and engineers all had careers made, enhanced, or unmade by the fur trade† (P 115)1. Another barrier between the rich and poor keeping the class divisions separate was the Seigneurial system, of which Angeliques owner was a part.An upper class man were granted land by the crown, and then was rented to others to work it, all the while paying the Seigneur rent and paying for the use of his mill. Only a Seigneur could own the mill, and all of the natural resources on said land, including fish, timber, or valuable metal deposits, belonged him as well. Francois Poulin de Francheville happened to be Seigneur for a plot of land about fifteen acres outside of Montreal, which just happened to be rich in iron deposits.In an effort to diversify the co lony’s economy, he obtained a twenty-year monopoly from the crown to mine the iron in the Trois-Rivieres area (P 121)1. Francheville continued to support the fur trade, still the pivot of life in the colonies by selling manufactured goods such as sewing needles, cookware, and stoves, but the majority of the steel was used by France for shipbuilding and military equipment. Montreal was no longer economically dependant on the fur trade.Among the classes of New France, Angelique was at the very bottom, disadvantaged on three fronts. Not only was she a slave, but she was a black female slave. After the black slaves were the Indian slaves, or Panis (P 81)1, free blacks, indentured labourers, and then the traders, bourgeois, and Nobles that made up the high society. Though the class structure was quite rigid, there was room for movement in the ranks. Angelique was romantically involved with Claude Thibault, an indentured labourer in the same household as herself.Though Claude was n ot a slave, he was contracted for three years and was paid for the work he did, he wished to escape the colonies and return to France. The pair did escape once, but were caught, and he was believed to be Angelique`s accomplice in setting the fire. As those in lower classes mingled and formed bonds, so too did the middle and higher classes, though for different reasons. Francois Poulin de Francheville was a social climber, and in order to expand his social circle, he married the daughter of a very influential and rich Montreal merchant, Therese de Couagne.Where Angelique and Claude had shared frustration and humiliation of serving others, the marriage of Francois and Therese was a mutually beneficial agreement mostly due to money and family connections. Though Patriarchy was the dominant ideology at the time, white women still had some freedom. Black slave women were advertised for sale usually as house servants, the ability to cook, clean, and do household chores were the selling po ints. They were seen as not being able to do any more than such duties.When her husband died, however, Therese de Couagne, being a high class white woman, took full control of all of her husband’s business dealings and they flourished. Not only were men seen as better than women, white women were more capable than black. Legal procedure when prosecuting Marie-Joseph Angelique was shockingly different to that which is practiced today. Pierre Raimbault, Angelique’s prosecutor, gathered evidence and prepared the case against Angelique. The evidence against her was strong, several witnesses testified against her, and she had motive, being a mistreated and angry slave.She was found guilty by the judge, who was not entirely impartial because he, like many others, had lost most of his possessions in the fire. Her sentence was to â€Å"be condemned to make honourable amends, and to have her hand cut off, and that she be thrown alive into the fire in a place in this town deeme d most appropriate, after having been subjected to la question ordinaire et extraordinaire in order that she name her accomplices and that the judgement of the one named Thibault be delayed until the said accused has suffered such interrogation† (P 254)1.Angelique`s punishment was appealed, and downgraded, but such brutal punishments were quite common in European societies, carried out on perpetrators of such crimes believed despicable, others included burnt alive, boiled, quartered, covered in hot oil or tar (P 255)1. La question ordinaire et extraordinaire was, indeed, torture. The judge not only wanted a confession from Angelique, he wanted her to name her former lover, Thibault, as her accomplice, so that he too could be executed.Once again, not exactly promising for a â€Å"fair and unbiased† trial. Afua Cooper’s The Hanging of Angelique, The Untold Story of Canadian Slavery and the Burning of Old Montreal not only shows an overview of the African slave trad e and its beginnings, the overall social structure, cultural beliefs and economic backbone of New France, but she also succeeds in showing the indomitable nature of the human spirit by showing no matter how little freedom she has, Angelique still finds ways to rebel.It shows the class distinctions that ruled people’s lives in the 18th century Canada that no longer exist to such an extent, the way they lived, whether by the fur trade, or farming, or as a government official. It is a great example of how Canada has grown from small colonies with little to no economic diversity, and rigid class structure ruled by societal pressure where slaves were a sign of prestige, to a multicultural developed country today.

Alexis De Tocqueville’s Thought On Freedom Of Press

The issues of the freedom of press and the freedom of speech have for long been discussed by scholars. Professionals in politics, sociology, communications, and public relations tried to distinguish, whether freedom of press was a positive notion. The book of Alexis de Tocqueville is interesting in terms of discussing the freedom of press through politics only. Besides, the author tended to assume that freedom of press could become a negative phenomenon in the life of society.These assumptions are surprising for us, who are used to freedom of press and freedom of speech, but Tocqueville's work should be analyzed in order to understand, in what state the freedom of press is currently found. Democracy in America: the freedom of press â€Å"I confess that I do not entertain that firm and complete attachment to the liberty of the press which things that are supremely good in their very nature are wont to excite in the mind; and I approve of it more from a recollection of the evils it pr events than from a consideration of the advantages it ensures.† (Tocqueville, 2006) Tocqueville did not conceal his attitudes towards the freedom of the press: he supposed that freedom of press could potentially produce political evils, but simultaneously, he also tried to be objective in evaluating the state of freedom of press in the two countries – the United States and France. Freedom of press should be considered in the light of the assumption, that press is the embodiment, and the means of expressing certain ideas.Press is the means of transferring the ideas to the masses, and the language is the instrument to convey these ideas to the public. It is relevant to state, and Tocqueville recognized this conflict, and no matter how negative or positive freedom of press could be, it did not impact the state of political affairs in the country. This may sound rather contradictory, but the author provides us with a very clear explanation of the subject: he refers to langu age as â€Å"the mere carcass of the thought†.Consequentially, the press becomes the mere form for expressing the ideas of certain political circles. In case the freedom of press is suppressed, the ideas themselves will not disappear and will continue their existence due to the fact that â€Å"the sense and the spirit of the work is too subtle for their [tribunals] authority† . Even in the case censorship is established the word of public in Tocqueville's understanding will be heard.In the attempt to objectively evaluate the state of press and its freedom in the world, Tocqueville refers to specific reasons of why some nations simply have to cherish freedom of press: among the major reasons the author discusses the liberty of press as the only source of justice in the countries, where judicial system lacks sound laws to prosecute those who violate laws, possessing legal impunity . In the case with the United States, the freedom of press is the direct consequence of the individual sovereignty, which American citizens exercise.In the political and legal environment, in which the U. S. citizens do exist, it would be not only inappropriate, but absolutely absurd to adopt the measures of informational censorship . â€Å"The sovereignty of the people and the liberty of the press may therefore be looked upon as correlative institutions; just as the censorship of the press and universal suffrage are two things which are irreconcilably opposed, and which cannot long be retained among the institutions of the same people.† (Tocqueville, 2006)Tocqueville determines the political situation in France and America in the similar revolutionary terms, acknowledging the fact that America did not possess a single germ of revolution, while the roots of the press and freedom of press development in France were mainly found in the social instability, through which that country had to go during that time. The freedom of press in both countries led to the situatio n, when it was already formed as a singular power, combining both goods and evils.The situation described in Tocqueville's work was really similar to that we face today: the freedom of press makes this press almost incompatible with that we call social and political order. Probably, Tocqueville was very predictive and could foresee that the freedom of press could potentially produce public disorder, but in any case he was very objective, recognizing the power of press in the United States. â€Å"In France the press combined a twofold centralization; almost all its power is centred in the same spot, and vested in the same hands, for its organs are far from numerous.â€Å"In those terms Tocqueville was trying to express the basic statements of what we currently call â€Å"ownership† in press . On the contrary, the American nation did not possess any centralized control over its press, which has become the direct consequence of the freedom of press in that country. According t o Tocqueville, America was initially keeping to the opinion, that the more journals it published, the more neutralized would be their effect on the public. However, the frequent situations we now witness are different from the way the author wanted to position them.The numerous publications are certainly the expression of the freedom of press, but they also tend to produce the clash of opinions, social attitudes and even disorders in the attempt to gain more economic profits. The press has turned to be the mere marketplace of ideas, which is the major discrepancy between the press now and the press then. According to Tocqueville, freedom of press is often the major cause of the situation, when neither of published sources is capable of convincing the public of this or that opinion.The countries which experience freedom of press also face the situation when â€Å"men are not very ready to die in defence of their opinions, but they are rarely inclined to change them; and there are fe wer martyrs as well as fewer apostates. † The freedom of press: Tocqueville’s theory vs. contemporary society â€Å"By press is usually meant all media of mass communication although the printed media, as the oldest, is treated as the exemplar in most discussions.† The press in democratic countries acts independently from the state power, and democratic governments do not have any centralized control over the contents of published texts or the journalists’ activity. The current situation in the freedom of the world press has somewhat changed with the development of globalized Internet resources, which do not make the press free, but rather make the press uncontrolled. One should agree that while these two dimensions determine one issue, they are completely different, and being free does not mean being uncontrolled.The situation which we observe in our society also possesses similar features described by Tocqueville: he referred to the role of the free pres s as the guarantee to those, whose legal system was too weak to protect its citizens. These principles are not changed and tend to acquire new stronger features. Volokh states that democratic governments are responsible for their actions ; this is why citizens expect that they will be informed about the decisions, which are taken by these governments on their behalf. Press fosters the realization of this right â€Å"to know†, and serves the means of tracking all governments’ actions.The free press appears to promote the government’s accountability, and is not as frequent source of social disorder, as Tocqueville assumed. However, Tocqueville was right in his assumptions as for the possible negativity of the freedom of press. This negativity is currently demonstrated through the facts of less control and less accountability of press in general. Surely, it is difficult to disagree that the press in the U. S. is free, but not everyone understands real implications of this freedom in the contemporary societal conditions.First of all, freedom of press is never absolute; our society is not an exception. We are frequently deceived, thinking that everyone has an opportunity to express his thoughts in press. However, â€Å"in societies like ours, freedom of press is far from just a facade. There are many possibilities to pressure the media, and there are openings within them. † Second, our press is not the only source of accumulating our ideas and thoughts; there are numerous expressions and discussions beyond press. A bright example illustrates our discussion. Haenngi spoke about the Multilateral Agreement on Investments.The conflict arouse from the negotiations held by OECD and the mentioned organization and was expressed in the article published by â€Å"Business Week†. The informational explosion has achieved so large scales that the negotiations were ceased, and the press proved its role as the largest carrier of the public bodie s’ accountability. This was a small, but a meaningful victory, though objectively, the press in that case was balancing at the edge between the social fairness and social disorder. The situation with the U. S. press is different from the rest of the states due to the American society keeping to high standards of social welfare.This means that the large portion of the U. S. citizens belongs to whom we call â€Å"rich people†. The whole American history proves that the rights to be free were not granted but were won by the citizens themselves. This is why it is possible to assume that â€Å"universal suffrage and universal schooling have at last made bourgeoisie stand in fear of the common people, for the masses promised to become king. † The masses could allow taking such leading positions only because the press could serve an effective instrument in not only expressing the will of masses, but defending their will.The situation is different in other countries: fo r example the state of mass media in India is mostly regulated by the narrow circles. The issue of ownership is very relevant for the Indian press . This is why the situation is very unbalanced, and as Tocqueville explained, different states need and use media with different purposes. Simultaneously, the effects of the freedom of press for every state are integrally linked to the level of the legal, social, political and economic development in this state.Freedom of press cannot exist separately from the mentioned development; otherwise it loses its power and risks being turned into the weapon of influential minorities. Doubtlessly, the press has acquired more opportunities for expression, but it still retains the older features described by Tocqueville. Even taking into account that the author of Democracy in America did not recognize the positive character of the freedom of press, he objectively acknowledged the need for it to exist. We have just entered the stage of social develo pment, when freedom of press is considered to be the sign of the democratic society.Yet, none of us ever looks inside to understand whether this freedom is genuine. Conclusion The book of Alexis de Tocqueville was very relevant for the time, during which it was being written. It has retained its relevance until today. The present-day society understands the importance of the freedom of press, but it is not rare that the press is being governed by outside factors or players, who wish to use it for the promotion of one’s interests. It is also difficult to distinguish, whether freedom of press is authentic and is not the cover of the political plays â€Å"behind the curtains†.The society has greatly changed since the time Democracy in America was written; the importance of the freedom of press has not changed, though. Its value was supplemented with the well-known processes of globalization and marketing, when the freedom of press is frequently confused with the press bei ng totally uncontrolled and used for the proliferation of certain ideas to obtain economic benefits.BIBLIOGRAPHYBernabe-Riefkohl, A. â€Å"Government Advertising Placement and the First Amendment: Freedom of the Press Should Overweigh the Rights of the Government as Contractor†. Communications and Law 22 (2000): 123-129.Haenggi, S. â€Å"The Right to Privacy Is Coming: Balancing Individual’s Right to Privacy from the Press and the Media’s Right to Freedom of Expression†. Houston Journal of International Law 21 (1999): 23-34.Tocqueville, A. â€Å"Liberty of the Press in the United States. † In Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America, Project Gutenberg, 2006. Volokh, E. â€Å"Freedom of Speech and Information Privacy: The Troubling Implications of a Right to Stop People from Speaking About You†. Stanford Law Review 52 (2000): 144-147.

Case Study of Marks and Spencer Essay

Introduction Marks and Spencer is one amongst the main retailers in kingdom managing over 600 stores and handling many workers. At present, the corporate is that the leading supplier of women’s wear and nightclothes within the UK. Within the space of different attire, these have incurred a substantial quantity of growth. The corporate additionally provides for food retail. This report has been based on strategic planning of Marks and Spencer. TASK 1: 1.1. Explain the importance of external factor affecting an organization to begin your report describe how you should use SWOT and STEEP analysis to explain the current context of an organization in your chosen case study. SWOT Analysis: SWOT analysis is that the analysis that helps organization to search out the position of their whole and also the image of product within the current market they’re in operation this analysis helps to search out the subsequent points of the organization within the market (Henry, 2008): Strength Weaknesses Opportunities Threat If we tend to do a similar analysis in Marks and Spencer than following would be the results of the analysis in keeping with the on top of strategic examples: Opportunities: Below are the opportunities for Marks and Spencer on which it can capitalize its strengths: Enter in new market with the prevailing product however with glorious worth. Marks and Spencer can enter in emerging markets such as India and China to avail the opportunities of growth in these markets. Become a preferred fashion supplier with inexperienced thinking till 2012. Fashion industry has potential of growth in future. Marks and Spencer can avail this opportunity by expanding its store networks. Threat: Below are the threats available to M&S: Change in fashion merchandise and clothes by competitors frequently can impact the market share of Marks and Spencer. Change in polices of government in terms of financial policies that might impact the borrowing power of M&S. Increasing competition in the market has forced the company to be competitive in cost. Because of intense market competition, Marks and Spencer can face decrease in its market share. Because of increase in inflation, buying power of customers is decreasing. This can impact the market share of company at large scale. Political Analysis The government of kingdom encourages commerce in its territory. This can be primarily seen within the varied corporations that originate from completely different components of kingdom. It’s sometimes standard that any variety of trade is authorized within the aforementioned region on condition that it’s not contrary to public policy, public order, or any existing laws applicable in kingdom. This can be inspired with the membership of kingdom in commerce blocs just like the Common Market and international trade organizations like the globe Trade Organization (Daft, 2010). Economic Analysis The UK is among the centres of commerce in Europe as an entire. Shoppers aren’t restricted to the native voters as a considerable amount of travellers congregate on the streets of its urban areas on a continual basis. This can be correspondingly correct within the context of the retail  business, specifically within the neck of the woods of classy articles like fashion and attire (Collier, 2004). The client base has the propensity to involve many sorts of wear betting on the prevailing variety of weather of the realm. Technological Analysis A lot of people in United Kingdom are capable of accessing within the net. This intimates that variety of the businesses square measure able to maximize of their operations and broaden by using e-commerce initiatives. This is often primarily seen in foremost retail organizations like Tesco. Hence, on-line promoting and buys created within the course of cyberspace is popping intent on be one amongst the competitive blessings no inheritable by the leading retail organizations in UK. 1.2. Describe how the need and expectation of stake holder here influenced the strategic decision of the business selected in the case study Stakeholders have different expectations from the organizations. Future strategic plans of the company can impact the expectations of its stakeholders and vice versa. Following are the expectations of stakeholders of Marks and Spencer regarding strategic decisions of business: Shareholders: They are the individuals who have invested in the company. The shareholders of Marks and Spencer expect high return on investment from the strategic decisions taken by management. Employees: The employees of Marks and Spencer expect job security and high salaries. In addition to this, the employees of Marks and Spencer also expect assurance of a developing working environment through strategic decisions. Customers: They are very important stakeholder of Marks and Spencer. They demand that strategic decisions of company offer hem quality product and services at their convenience while maintaining price at affordable range. Community: The community is also an important stakeholder of Marks and Spencer. It demands that the Marks and Spencer must contribute towards it through its strategic decisions in terms of sustainable practices. 1.3. Explain the changes in the external environment in the case study example that have happened so far. The STEEP analysis of Marks and Spencer is effective to analyse the external environment of the company. The STEEP analysis of Marks and Spencer is as follows: Political Factors: Within the case of Marks and Spencer, one amongst the additional worrying political elementary parts that they need to modify is that the issue of labour regime  and preservation of commercial relationship. Years ago, the event makes an attempt sought-after by the organization are restricted by many encroachments of worker rights that primarily are against labour laws not solely within their operations in the domestic level however additionally in their international endeavours (Marr, 2006). This can be significantly correct in their French operations whereas the organization was charged of grave abuse and breaking of celebrated labour laws. Economic Factors: Increasing inflation has impacted the market share of the company. The analysis of economic factors has shown that the buying power of customers is decreasing because of increasing inflation. In addition to this, increasing competition and slow growth of the industry has impacted the market share of company. In the last 25 years, market share of Marks and Spencer has declined from 14.8% to 10.8% (Zoe, 2012) Social Factors: In the framework of social and cultural aspects of the setting, the regular United Kingdom has the tendency to be extremely loyal to a selected whole. The quality of quality of the merchandise is imperative in each deal however may effortlessly be defeated by a fairly competitive valuation strategy from an opposing whole. Current observations equally indicate that predilection on trendy designs over the classics looks to indicate among the United Kingdom shoppers. Technological Factors: Increasing technological advancement in the industry has impacted the efficiency of the processes. Decrease in cost can be achieved through effect ive use of technology. The industry analysis shows that Marks and Spencer has not been efficient to respond to technological advancements. TASK 2: 2.1. Explain the effects of its current business plans on your organization. The Vision and Mission of Marks and Spencer The company seeks to grow into a world category distributor. Marks and Spencer intends to attain this by specializing in 5 key growth areas: A. the corporate seeks to still invest in and grow its core retail business by introducing new merchandise and services B. the corporate seeks to strengthen its property portfolio. C. the corporate seeks to boost on its M&S Direct business D. the corporate seeks to expand on their international business E. the  corporate seeks to integrate â€Å"green† operations in doing business by incorporating their â€Å"Plan A.† The current business portfolio of Marks and Spencer can be accessed through BCG Matrix. BCG Matrix suggests that it is good in terms of clothing and has position of stars on the BCG matrix. However, in food market, the position of Marks and Spencer is at question mark. This is because market share of Marks and Spencer in food market is very low. The industry growth in fashion market of United Kingdom is also show which suggests that the position of Marks and Spencer is moving towards dogs. With substantial inflow of capital and differentiation of products and services, Marks and Spencer can take position of stars on BCG Matrix. 2.2. Review the organization present position on the market place, and consider especially its customer base, and more generally its rivals. Marks and Spencer have robust weapon in trade: very robust name. This implies that their whole is related to factors like category and quality. Another department that the corporate hold is seen in its prosperous history in mercantilism. At some stage in the years of its functions, it’s obtained an honest range of amenities that function moneymaking institutions for Marks and Spencer. Alongside this history is that the continuation of established partners and alliances that has been obtained by means that of over a century of business. Among the most flaws of the corporate square measure 1st and foremost perceptible in its management. Specially, a match involving the arrangement of the corporate, the character of its trade, and therefore the authentic management approaches has nonetheless to be established. Moreover, being a performing artist within the competitive business of retail, an organization should own active promoting talents (Michael, 2009). However, it seems that Marks and Spencer has been insulation in terms of selling enhancements like loyalty cards and operation of customer-focused functions. The market share of Marks and Spencer has been declining in the market of United Kingdom. In the past year i.e.2011, the market share of Marks and Spencer has decreased from 10.9% to 10.4% because of intense competition and shortage of purchases (Zoe, 2012). In 1989, the market share of Marks and Spencer was 14.8% in the United Kingdom which has decreased in the 25 years because of increasing competition in the market (Zoe, 2012). The strategic plans of Marks and Spencer have played important role in this regard. The strategic plans of the competitors have worked effectively and  increased their market share. For instance, the market share of Next (competitor of Marks and Spencer) has risen from 1.5% to 7.5% in the same period (Zoe, 2012). Therefore, the biggest reason behind decline in market share of Marks and Spencer is its strategic plans (Zoe, 2012). 2.3. Evaluate the competitive strength and weakness of your organization current business strategies. Strengths: Reputation: Marks and Spencer is the famous brand in the United Kingdom. Strong image of brand is the major strength of the company that attracts customers. Online Shopping: Marks and Spencer allows customers to purchase through internet. Online shopping allows convenience to customers and contributes in strong position of the company. Weaknesses: Slow to change: Marks and Spencer is slow in its response towards changes in customer trends and preferences. The competitors of Marks and Spencer can take advantage of this weakness of the company by responding quickly to market changes. Lack of newness: the products and services of Marks and Spencer are not innovative and creative. Competitive worth: Low creativity, innovativeness and response to changes in environment have reduced the competitive worth of Marks and Spencer. Shortage of Suppliers: Marks and Spencer does not have wide choices of suppliers. In this way, the company is weak in its buying power. Task 3: 3.1. Suggest strategic option for M&S The strategic options for Marks and Spencer can be determined through effective analysis of industry and competitor moves. The ANSOFF Matrix can be effective tool for suggesting strategic options for Marks and Spencer. The ANSOFF Matrix for Marks and Spencer is as follows: Market penetration: This is the strategy through which existing products are pushed in the existing market. Market Development: This is the strategy through which new markets are searched for the existing products of the company. Product Development: This is the strategy through which new products are developed for the existing markets of the company Diversification: This is the strategy through which new products can be developed for new markets of Marks and Spencer. Marks and Spencer can implement this strategy by adding  differentiation factor in its products and pushing new products in new markets. The above strategies are effective for the Marks and Spencer to increase its market share in the United Kingdom. The company has strong capabilities which can be incorporated in the strategic plans of the company in an effective way to achieve its aims and objectives. 3.2. Describe the activity of business rivals which compete with your organizations and assess the impact of such an activity on it. The competitors of M&S are identified as departmental stores, small local retailers and supermarkets. In more specific form, the competitors of M&S are Debenhams, House of Fraser and BHS. Moreover, Tesco and Sainsbury have also been giving competition to it to some extent. The competitors of M&S are using model of shop within a shop. They have been focussing on the expansion of their businesses across United Kingdom. Tesco has adopted a policy of offering huge price cuts to customers for increasing its sales volume. In 2012, it has showered customers with price cut offers. These extensive discounts offered by Tesco (Wallop, 2012) may impact the business of M&S because customers tend to buy the products that are priced low. In this way a substantial customer population of M&S may shift towards Tesco. This may result in decrease in market share of M&S. 3.3. Returning to your suggestions (3.1) for strategic option, how would you develop them further in light of this competition? In relation to the competition, expansion strategy can be very effective for Marks and Spencer. As competitors are expanding business across the geographical boundaries in order to increase their market shares, Marks and Spencer can also excel in the market by adoption investment strategies. In real terms, this can be done by saving cost through cost leadership strategy. By adopting cost leadership strategy, Marks and Spencer can save cost and invest it for expanding its operations. Cost Leadership Strategy Cost leadership strategy may be a strategy during which company offers low price with prime quality to the shoppers. Company will sale its product at average costs of trade so as to realize high profits. The second chance is that company sells its product at lower costs than the trade costs. The concept behind this idea is to draw in higher market share. By getting price advantage firms will get competitive advantage within the market. Price leadership strategy will be adopted by raising the processes of business so  inefficiencies will be aloof from the business (Pearson, 2009). Differentiation Strategy Differentiation may be a strategy that enables firms to supply distinctive merchandise or services that have price to the shoppers. The distinctiveness in merchandise or services should not be offered by the competitors. All the promoting methods aim to induce differentiation. Differentiation is that the prime supply of competitive advantage for firms (Porter, 1980). The differentiation strategy permits firms to draw in customers at higher costs. Differentiation strategy permits firms to charge high costs to the shoppers so as to supply distinctive merchandise and services to them. Promoting methods are designed so as to draw in customers and to supply individuality to the shoppers. Focus group strategy This dimension is not a separate strategy in and of it, but describes the scope over that the company need to contend supported worth leadership or differentiation. The firm can worth additional extremely to contend at intervals the mass market (like Wal-Mart) with a broad scope, or in focused market section with a slim scope. In either case, the concept of competition will still be either cost leadership or differentiation (Michael, 2005). Market Development This strategy involves investment in different markets and innovation. It is only the difficult times when businesses get a chance to alter and revise their current strategies and implement new ones. Apart from this, most companies may lack proper resources to implement a proper business strategy or they might just make temporary changes in their market structure and less attention to product innovation. This reduces the chances of an investment strategy to be successful. TASK 4: 4.1. Now shape these suggestions into a coherent business plan, and indicate how the structure of the plan needs to be developed with participation of relevant stakeholder. Suppliers  Suppliers are called key stake holder of any organization. Particularly in Marks and Spencer they need an excellent influence and that they hold the  talk’s power that’s why any new strategic policy might have an effect on them, thus once M&S have new strategy or changes within the organization they need to recognize and discuss its connected contents with their suppliers (Smit, 2003). The suppliers of the company can be involved in the strategic plans by developing partnerships with them so that consistent supply of quality materials can be ensured with cost effective buying. Customers: Customer are key stake holder of any organization as a result of they hold the money within the stores of any company and have the facility to spend it wherever ever they require, that the policies of the corporate ought to be kind within the means that defend the interest of consumers (Burns, 2009). The new strategic plans of the company must involve customers through effective marketing strategies. Employees: In any organization particularly if we tend to took an example of M&S they need managers with the expertise of six to seven years and that they are perpetually operating in a very same setting with loyalty and progressing with the nice name, thus it’s important to require additional care of workers whereas doing strategic planning for organization. The higher than division of stake holders with their level of interest and power shows the result they may create within the strategic planning. 4.2. Describe appropriate criteria for reviewing potential options for the proposed strategic plan. The criteria selected for the evaluation and monitoring of proposed plan is as follows: Suitability: This factors refers that whether the overall project is worthwhile and rational or not. The proposed plan for Marks and Spencer will be evaluated that whether the strategy addresses the mission of the company or not. Moreover, this factor also assesses the effectiveness of the proposed plan of the Marks and Spencer from economic point of view. SWOT analysis of the company is conducted to address this factor. Feasibility: This factor refers to the idea that whether the company has enough economic resources for achieving the aims of proposed plan. The resources included in this regard are market access, people capital and expertise. Through cash flow, forecasting, resource deployment analysis and break even analysis will be used for evaluating the worthiness  of the proposed plan. Acceptability: This refers to the idea that stakeholders of the company have agreed with the strategic aims of the proposed plan. The financial and nonfinancial outcomes of the proposed plan of Marks and Spencer are accessed through this factor. The employees would have concern about the nonfinancial outcomes of the proposed plan such as about working conditions. 4.3. Describe how the plan includes an assessment of the resources required to implement the plan. The strategic plan of any organization needs to be reviewed on regular basis so that its results can be measured against set objectives. In order to implement the strategic plan, resources are required (Marr, 2006). Marks and Spencer needs to assess its following resources for effective implementation of strategies plan: Financial resources: Marks and Spencer has strong financial resources in the form of capital and store networks. It is a listed company having plenty of funds available for expanding its operations and improving current business practices. Human resources: In more than 300 stores of Marks and Spencer, huge workforce is present which is qualified and efficient and has potential for achieving financial returns for the company. TASK 5: 5.1. Compare the core values of the organizational against its current business objectives. The core values of M&S include quality, innovation, customer values and commitment. In addition, M&S believes that it is a trusted retailer and has a strong heritage of highly qualified and efficient employees. Moreover, engagement and involvement of employees in the business objectives is also preferred by the M&S. The objectives of the M&S include providing quality products with high innovation. Moreover, the organization also has aim to provide customer each time a new product. In this regard, the core values i.e. innovation and quality provision are highly related with the organizational values. In order to produce innovation in the product, the employees are encouraged and involved in the organizational processes and designs. In this way, it is said that the organizational values and objectives of M&S are aligned with each other. 5.2. Develop these values into a vision of the organization and suggest a mission statement that expresses these values. The core values of Marks and Spencer are stated in following vision: â€Å"To be the best brand against which all other competitors are measured† The mission statement of the Marks and  Spencer is as follow: â€Å"To provide quality products to customers while increasing market share† 5.3. Describe how this vision can combine with the business objectives of the strategic plan, so that an inspiring vision of the future of the business can involve all relevant stakeholders. The vision of the organization is to provide the best brand to customers in comparison with the competitor’s products and brands. On the other hand, the organizational objectives include providing high quality innovative products and services to customers. The inspiring vision of providing high quality and innovative products has been effectively distributed and transformed into organizational objectives. The employees at the lower end are aware of the organization vision because they are given appropriate environment to produce innovations and creativity in the products. In the strategic plan, the organizational objectives and vision is combined to produce high quality and innovative products. In future, the strategic plan will provide highly effective because it has involved the all relevant stakeholders of the organization. The employees are involved in the strategic plan to produce creativity and innovation in the products. The customers are involved in a sense that they are provided high quality and new product products. Through innovation and quality in products, the sales and market share of the company may increase. This may result in high profitability of the organization which will ultimately contribute positively to the shareholders of the M&S. 5.4. Develop measure for evaluating your strategic plan. In order to evaluate the strategic plan, following measures are developed: Ongoing monitoring: The objectives of the strategic plans are continuously monitored on the basis of the objectives. The ongoing and completed objectives will be monitored that whether the strategic plan is implanted effectively or not. For the ongoing objectives, suggestions or appropriate actions will be taken to lead the overall strategic plan to appropriate accomplishment. The achievements of the plan objectives will be measured on regular basis. Qualitative and quantitative measures will be adopted for evaluating the strategic plan. TASK 6: 6.1. Develop a schedule for implementing a strategy plan in an organization. Formulating a timetable permits the corporate to possess a close map of the  strategy. Within the case of Marks and Spencer, the creation of a timetable permits them to understand the vision of the corporate by specifically pinpointing actions required to for its implementation. A timetable permits the corporate to possess a transparent cut and elaborate define of the events. This is often additionally an honest tool to live whether or not or not the corporate is moving forward or not. The schedule for the implementation of plan is as follows: First Year: The research and development activities will be effectively developed to introduce the innovation and creativity in the organization. The customer traffic will be improved through offering innovative and quality products. Second Year: The market share will be improved through offering long term benefits to customers. The customer loyalty cards will be used for building customer loyalty for the organization. Third Year: Finally, in the third year the company will tend to expand its market to areas where it has not shown its presence. New stores will be opened by the organization. 6.2. Describe system of information dissemination most likely to inspire stakeholder’s commitment to the plan. Communication regarding strategic plans can be of two types (John, 2010): Proactive communication Reactive communication In this particular case, proactive communication mechanism needs to be implemented. Before implementing plan, all stakeholders must be communicated for getting their suggestions regarding strategic plan. This will not only build trust among stakeholders but also enhances chances of effective implementation of strategic plan. Through continuous reporting and meetings, shareholders will be informed about the strategic plans of the company. The shareholders of the company will be involved as active part of the company so that they can get satisfaction regarding policies of management. The suppliers and customers will also be kept informed through reporting. The customers will be informed about the new offers of company through advertisements and marketing tactics. In this way, Marks and Spencer will be using both types of communication strategies in Marks and Spencer. Before the implementation of plans, the shareholders and employees will be taken into confidence. On the other hand, after significant achievements, they will be informed through reactive communication strategy. 6.3. Describe  system that will continually monitor and evaluate how your strategic plan is implemented, one that anticipates future opportunities as well potential problem. The system for evaluation and monitoring of the strategic plan must include wide range of data. The company needs to collect data from several resources regarding the progress of the plan. After data collection, results must be measured against SMART objectives designed for the plan. In order to counter with potential problems, Marks and Spencer needs to implement a culture of innovation. Management by Objective tool will be used by Marks and Spencer for the monitoring of proposed strategic plan. Management by Objective is the way through which objectives will be defined by the management and employees of Marks and Spencer in accordance with the strategic objectives of the organization (Daft, 2010). Employees will be given clear understanding of the aims and objectives of the company. Through following way, this plan will be implemented in the company: Setting Objectives: In the first step, objectives are set by engaging supervisors and employees in a coordinated way Developing plans: In the next step, plans are developed for the achievement of strategic objectives of Marks and Spencer. Periodic Reviews: On periodic basis, evaluation will be made regarding achievement of strategic objectives. The performance of all objectives will be assessed through effective implementation of plans. Performance Appraisal: Lastly, the performance of employees will be appraised against the set objectives. This step will be effective for granting rewards and promotions to employees. Effective appraisal system will help the management of Marks and Spencer to motivate its employees in an effective way. References Michael A. Hitt, R. Duane Ireland, Robert E. Hoskisson, 2009, Strategic Management: Competitiveness and Globalization : Cases, Daft, J. Murphy, H. Willmott, 2010. 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