Thursday, October 31, 2019

Strategic Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 25

Strategic Management - Essay Example There are various strategic decisions which Tesco has to make relating to factors such as the direction of Tesco in the long run, the scope of its activities, stakeholders’ values and expectations, responding to the ever changing business environment, building on its capability as a business entity, and acquiring a higher market share relative to its competitors. These decisions tend to be complex as they have to be made in an uncertain situation. There are also various levels of strategy for Tesco such as business level strategy, operational strategy, and corporate level strategy. Business level strategy refers to the way a business organization conducts itself in a particular market to be successful. Operational level strategy is about various levels of Tesco and their contribution with regard to accomplishment of the strategy. Corporate level strategy deals with the overall scope and purpose of Tesco and how to add value to various business units. The analysis of those factors that are not within the control of a company can be termed as an analysis of macro environmental factors. Macro environment analysis is often done by Tesco to develop a sound knowledge of the issues that are present in the current business scenario. PESTEL framework is considered to be an important tool to conduct macro environment analysis by the Tesco. There are several factors that are considered in PESTEL analysis such as political, social, economic, legal, environmental, and technological aspects of a business environment. The sole purpose of PESTEL analysis is to assist Tesco management in the creation of strategies that will leverage the external factors that are not within the control of the organization to its favour. Political factors of the PESTEL analysis deal with factors such as government stability, trade tariffs, policies of social welfare that are imposed upon companies, tax policies, international business regulation laws, etc.

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Vietnam in the 1950s and 1960s Essay Example for Free

Vietnam in the 1950s and 1960s Essay There was many reasons for the USA to get involved in Vietnam between the 1950s and 60s however they were all in stages, not just in one go. They called America and USAS clash the Cold War which began mainly due to America and the USSRS political differences. The USSR was a communist state and the USA and the other countries who were their partners were capalist states or countries. Many people believed that capalists and communists could not live alongside each other for long and that one system would take over another, however both sides were determined not to be taken over. This is how it all started as the governments were trying to take over large parts of East Europe and Asia. When the buffer zones were added there was a greater risk of war as the zones were dominated by the USSR who were causing a government domino effect through to the west so the USA and their partners were determined to stop it which caused the Truman Doctrine. The main reasons for the USA to get involved with Vietnam were because of their fear of communism and that communism could take over the Western world and Asia. Another reason why the USA didnt like communism was because in 1945 the USA built and tested the first nuclear bomb on Japan but kept it secret from the Russians even though they were supposed to be allies. This made the Russians very suspicious of America. America also didnt like communism because of their very different political beliefs as the communists were a totalitarian state whilst the USA believed in democracy and were afraid the Russians would try to spread their beliefs around the world. The first way of the USA to get involved was to supply France with money as during World War 2 they had lost control of North Vietnam however managed to keep control of South Vietnam. The USA paid the French armies to regain control of North Vietnam so to keep it capitalist and was thought to be a stand against world wide spread of communism. However in 1949 Americans were worried because China had turned communist and supplied money and weapons to North Vietnam making the war harder to win. The French assumed that they were invincible as they were surrounded by mountains and an airbase but the French miscalculation led to a humiliating defeat and ended French plans to regain control of Vietnam. This meant the USA had to get more involved as  well as take more action as communism continued to get stronger. The USAs next involvement plan was to send military advisors to South Vietnam. In 1954 Eisenhower gave 17 officers sealed orders sending them to Saigon and by January 1961 the number of advisors had grown to 685. However the advisors were not there to fight but to train the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) to combat an expected invasion from the North. These advisors didnt work as the communist Vietcongs seemed to be getting stronger and even though the numbers of advisors were secretly raised it didnt greatly help. The USA soon had to get even more involved as their strategic hamlet programme officials selected villages in South Vietnam which they thought could be easily defended by the Vietcong but didnt work as very few hamlets were secure and the policy was very unpopular with the Vietnamese. Religion was also a problem because Diem favoured Roman Catholics but this led to street protests like a Buddhist monk who set himself alight. Diem soon became increasingly unpopular and was assassinated by ARVN officers who ere worried that the USA would withdraw there support if Diem continued in power. However the assassination made things worse as Diems successors were no better at governing the country. This all led to the USA needing to involve themselves more by using the military. This first happened with the Gulf of Tongking incident which was an excuse for Johnson to get the Gulf of Tongking resolution which allowed him to take all the necessary measures to repel any armed attacks against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression. Then in February 1965 Johnson got the opportunity to justify bombing North Vietnam when the Vietcong attack the USAs base at Pleiku. Ten aircraft were destroyed eight US advisors were killed with over a hundred others wounded. Johnson could then call up troops and bomb the North. The operation was called rolling thunder. The planes bombed the key military and industrial targets of North Vietnam but were not allowed to bomb until he felt he could explain his actions to the American people. After that, 3,500 US marines were sent to the airbase of Danang and from then on the Americans took control of South Vietnamese war effort. This all generally happened due to the Americans obsession with communism and their belief of the domino theory, that once one country turned communist, so would the next and next which made the Americans more involved with Vietnam as time went by with the Americans trying to stop the spread of communism across South East Asia.

Sunday, October 27, 2019

History Of Taj Hotel Tourism Essay

History Of Taj Hotel Tourism Essay The Company was incorporated in 1902 and it opened its first hotel, The Taj Mahal Palace Tower, Mumbai, in 1903. The Company then undertook major expansion of The Taj Mahal Palace Tower, Mumbai by constructing an adjacent tower block and increasing the number of rooms from 225 to 565 rooms. From the 1970s to the present day, the Taj Group has played an important role in launching several of Indias key tourist destinations, working in close association with the Indian Government. The Taj Group has a philosophy of service excellence which entails providing consistently high levels of personalized service and innovative means of improving service quality. The Taj Group has been active in converting former royal palaces in India into world class luxury hotels such as the Taj Lake Palace in Udaipur, the Rambagh Palace in Jaipur and Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur. In 1974, the Taj Group opened Indias first international five star deluxe beach resort, the Fort Aguada Beach Resort in Goa. In 1980, the Taj Group took its first step internationally by opening its first hotel outside India In 1984, the Taj Group acquired under a license agreement each of The Taj West End, Bangalore. During the 1990s, the Taj Group continued to expand its geographic and market coverage in India. In 2000, the launch of the 56 acre Taj Exotica, Goa and the Taj Hari Mahal in Jodhpur were completed. In 2003, the Company celebrated the centenary of the opening of its Flagship hotel, the Taj Mahal Palace Tower, Mumbai. In 2005 the Company acquired on lease The Pierre, a renowned hotel in New York City, to enter the luxury end of the developed hotel markets internationally . Introduction Of Taj Hotel The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) and its subsidiaries are collectively known as Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces and is recognised as one of Asias largest and finest hotel company. Incorporated by the founder of the Tata Group, Mr. Jamsetji N. Tata, the company opened its first property, The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Bombay in 1903. The Taj, a symbol of Indian hospitality, completed its centenary year in 2003. Taj Hotels Resort and Palaces comprises more than 60 hotels in 45 locations across India with an additional 15 international hotels in the Malaysia, United Kingdom, United States of America, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Africa, the Middle East and Australia. Spanning the length and breadth of the country, gracing important industrial towns and cities, beaches, hill stations, historical and pilgrim centres and wildlife destinations, each Taj hotel offers the luxury of service, the apogee of Indian hospitality, vantage locations, modern amenities and business facilities. Service Segmentation By Taj Hotel IHCL operate in the luxury, premium, mid-market and value segments of the market through the following: Taj (luxury full-service hotels, resorts and palaces) is our flagship brand for the worlds most discerning travelers seeking authentic experiences given that luxury is a way of life to which they are accustomed. Spanning world-renowned landmarks, modern business hotels, idyllic beach resorts, authentic Rajput palaces and rustic safari lodges, each Taj hotel reinterprets the tradition of hospitality in a refreshingly modern way to create unique experiences and lifelong memories. Taj also encompasses a unique set of iconic properties rooted in history and tradition that deliver truly unforgettable experiences Taj Exotica is our resort and spa brand found in the most exotic and relaxing locales of the world. The properties are defined by the privacy and intimacy they provide. The hotels are clearly differentiated by their product philosophy and service design. They are centered around high end accommodation, intimacy and an environment that allows its guest unrivalled comfort and privacy. Taj Safaris are wildlife lodges that allow travelers to experience the unparalleled beauty of the Indian jungle amidst luxurious surroundings. They offer Indias first and only wildlife luxury lodge circuit. Taj Safaris provide guests with the ultimate, interpretive, wild life experience based on a proven sustainable ecotourism model. Upper Upscale Hotels (full-service hotels and resorts) provide a new generation of travelers a contemporary and creative hospitality experience that matches their work-hard play-hard lifestyles. Stylish interiors, innovative cuisine, hip bars, and a focus on technology set these properties apart. The Gateway Hotel (upscale/mid-market full service hotels and resorts) is a pan-India network of hotels and resorts that offers business and leisure travelers a hotel designed, keeping the modern nomad in mind. At the Gateway Hotel, we believe in keeping things simple. This is why, our hotels are divided into 7 simple zones- Stay, Hangout, Meet, Work, Workout, Unwind and Explore. Ginger (economy hotels) is IHCLs revolutionary concept in hospitality for the value segment. Intelligently designed facilities, consistency and affordability are hallmarks of this brand targeted at travelers who value simplicity and self-service. Taj Hotels also promise a whole new experience of tranquillity and total wellness, through Jiva Spas a unique concept, which brings together the wisdom and heritage of the Asian and Indian Philosophy of Wellness and Well-being. Rooted in ancient Indian healing knowledge, Jiva Spas derive inspiration and spirit from the holistic concept of living. There is a rich basket of fresh and unique experiences under the Jiva Spa umbrella of offering, Yoga and Meditation, mastered and disseminated by accomplished practitioners, authentic Ayurveda, and unique Taj signature treatments. Royal traditions of wellness in service experiences, holistic treatments involving body therapies, enlivening and meaningful rituals and ceremonies and unique natural products blended by hand, come together to offer a truly calming experience. Taj Air, a luxury private jet operation with state-of-the-art Falcon 2000 aircrafts designed by Dassault Aviation, France; and Taj Yachts, two 3-bedroom luxury yachts which can be used by guests in Mumbai and Kochi, in Kerala. Taj Sats Air Catering Ltd., the largest airline catering service in South Asia, as a joint venture with Singapore Airport Terminal Services, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines. CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY AND SOCIAL RESPONSBILITY As a part of Tatas; Indias premier business house; we; at Taj Hotels, have always believed in society and environment being integral stakeholders in our business along with our shareholders, customers, vendors and others. We promote corporate citizenship through our strategic public-private partnerships which encourage building livelihoods of less-advantaged youth and women. The causes we promote include reducing malnutrition, promoting indigenous artisans and craftsmen and enhancing employability of identified target groups by sharing our core competencies as a leading hospitality company. We encourage training and development of differently able youth. We at Taj have the unique scope and opportunity to develop raw potential into a skilled workforce that is immediately employable by various players in the industry. A majority of our community projects are focused around extending our key strengths in food production, kitchen management, housekeeping, customer service and spas to promote economic empowerment of candidates from vulnerable socio-economic backgrounds. We are fully committed to the cause of building a sustainable environment by reducing the impact of our daily operations on the environment and improving operational efficiencies, resource conservation, reuse and recycling of key resources. Vision The Taj Group of Hotels commits itself to the overall improvement of the ecological environment, which we are all a part of. We recognize that we are not owners but caretakers of the Planet and owe it to our children and future generations of humankind. It is our endeavour not only to conserve and protect but also to renew and regenerate the environment in which we live and operate.Our commitment encompasses all actions related to our products, services, associates, partners, vendors and communities.We will partner and engage with our environment through EARTH: Environmental Awareness and Renewal at Taj Hotels. For us EARTH is not a program, nor a process; it is a way of life. EARTH( Enviornment Activities) In an endeavour to reinstate its vision and efforts to boost sustainable tourism, Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces presented EARTH (Environment Awareness Renewal at Taj Hotels) this year. Implementing schemes such as the Gangroti Glacier Clean-Up Expedition, as well as designated Earth rooms, which minimise environmental impact, Taj is one of Asias largest group of hotels to commit to energy conservation and environmental management. EARTH has received certification from Green Globe, the only worldwide environmental certification program for travel and tourism. The Taj began a century ago with a single landmark The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Mumbai. Today, the various Taj hotels, in all their variety and historical richness, are recognised internationally as the symbols of true Indian hospitality. The Companys history is integral to Indias emergence into the global business and leisure travel community; and looking to the future, Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces is well positioned to meet the increase in travel activity with the rapid expansion of the Indian economy. Taj Hotels has joined the internationally-recognised Green Globe benchmarking and certification system as an extension of its existing environmental policies. Taj Hotels has long recognised that as a leader it has an important contribution to make and a responsibility to demonstrate to others how they can be part of the fight against climate change. Corporate Governance Taj has been practicing good Corporate Governance even before Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) made it a mandatory requirement from 2001. Out of more than 5000 companies listed with the Bombay Stock Exchange the Company is categorized as an A Group Company which group comprises only 200 companies and the criteria for selection is based on Market Capitalisation, Liquidity, Industry Representation, Listed History and track record of Compliance. Being a TATA group Company, the Company goes beyond the mandatory requirements of Corporate Governance and conducts business in a fair and transparent manner. It maintains good investor relationships and endeavors to deliver to investor consistent quality services. Customer facilities Taj Hotel Exotica Resort Spa Maldives, is an exclusive, private and romantic island resort lush with tropical plants and encircled by clear blue waters of one of the largest lagoons of the Maldives. Taj Hotel Exotica Resort Spa Maldives spreads idyllically along a pristine beach and the serene lagoon. The award-winning resort, now re-launched, seamlessly extends the magic of the islands blessed natural beauty in its design even as it offers the finest contemporary luxuries and services. Taj Hotel Exotica Resort Spa Maldives offers 59 Rooms and 3 Suites. All the rooms are completely refurbished and redesigned. 90% of the accommodation is built over water and 10% is on the beach front. The rooms offer infinite views of the Indian Ocean. Taj Spa, an authentic Indian spa, offers a range of signature wellness experiences. A choice of gourmet cuisine, water sports, and recreation make for a complete and exclusive destination. Room Facilities Air Conditioned Satellite Television International Direct Dial Telephone Private Bathroom Hairdryers Mini Bar Safe Deposit Box 24 Hour Room Service Coffee/Tea Making Fac High Speed Internet Access Coffee/Tea Making Facilities Hotel Facilities Travel Desk Doctor On Call Laundry Service Concierge Desk Luggage Storage 24 Hour Front Desk Postal/Parcel Service Currency Exchange Counter Baby Sitting Service(On Request) Airport Shuttle Service(On Request) Dining Entertainment 24 Degress Equator Bar In Villa Dining The Deep End Sports Leisure Spa Water Sports Fitness Centre Billiards/Snooker Tables Meeting Facilities Business Centre SWOT Analysis Strengths:- The group has enormous power and strengths, which ma kes it the best and competitive, some of them are: It consists of 57 properties in 40 locations across India and 18 international hotels. Its stylish variety of hotels like; Taj exotica, Taj safari, The gateway hotels, Ginger hotels, Jivas spa etc. Its effective and efficient management techniques and staff. Its brand name. The presence of Taj Hotels, Resorts and Palaces in various countries like United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Dubai, Singapore, Australia, Japan, Russia and the United States of America. Securing management contracts at Palm Island, Jumeirah in Dubai,Saraya Islands in Ras Al Khaimah, Aldar Group in Abu Dhabi, UAE Langkawi in Malaysia and Thimpu in Bhutan. The various initiatives taken like; rollout of CustomerFeedback System, Tata Business Excellence Model, IT initiatives, Ginger hotels etc. Weakness Taj hotels being such a big brand, has a lot of advantages but every big company faces some odds and so does Taj. Some of its weakness; Its hard to maintain such a huge chain of subsidiaries and there are more chances of mishaps in management. Its huge competitors like Oberoi, Leela, Oriental, ITC etc are also providing same facilities and thus it becomes a weakness for Taj hotels. Its very costly for the Indians to afford the tariffs and service charges set by Taj hotels. Thus, they loose a major part of their market share. They need a lot of investment. As Taj hotels is a popular group, it is always in the eyes of the terrorists, as taj has already faced such an incident. Therefore, it proves to be a weakness some times, to be so popular. Opportunities The Group is poised strategically to take advantage of the following situation: In the backdrop of a healthy economy having its positive fallouts on the Tourism Sector leading to rapid growth in markets in India, South Asia and key gateway cities in source-market destinations. Rapid expansion in both International and Domestic destinations, with top-of-the-line Luxury, Leisure and Business properties. Meeting growing demand in the budget and mid-market segments. Extending the product portfolio into related offerings viz. luxury residences, wildlife lodges and health spas. Threats The threats identified by the Group are related mainly to the markets in which the Group operates and general factors related to the tourism industry. Significant among these are: Cheaper international airfares, increasing affordability of travel to International destinations, especially South East Asia, Europe and Australia. Growing presence of international hospitality chains competing in the Luxury and Business segments, to meet excess demand situation. Appreciating Indian Rupee vis-à  -vis the US Dollar, resulting in lower realisation on foreign exchange earnings. Slowdown of international demand resulting in reduction of revenues. Future Strategies Urban Sanctuaries Luxury Weekends from the Taj City Escapes Island Escapes Rejuvenate with Jiva Christmas and New Year breaks Some more developments in progress are: TAJ opens its 5th hotel in Bangalore Taj Coromandel presents ANISE No Room for the Ordinary advertising campaign Taj Residency Bangalore unveils Jiva Spa Heritage Nature Walk At The Taj West End, Bangalore Bhairo,The Stunning New Rooftop Restaurant At Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur Intoxicating Bhutanese Bath At Taj Tashi, Thimphu, Bhutan Two More Taj Safari Lodges Will Open In 2009 Taj Values PEOPLE DIVERSITY, INTEGRITY RESPECT PASSION FOR EXCELLENCE EXCEED EXPECTATIONS INNOVATION SENSE OF URGENCY ACCOUNTABILITY SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY JOY AT WORK People are our greatest asset and the key to our success. We respect diversity of people, ideas, cultures and honor the value of individuals in a team. We believe in perfection to achieve excellence. We continuously improve processes to surpass global benchmarks. We succeed by exceeding expectations of all stakeholders and protecting the interest of our shareholders and playing by the rules. We encourage innovation, embrace change and support growth through knowledge and learning. We accept responsibility and deliver on promises with a sense of urgency and agility. We commit to improve the quality of life of the communities we serve and our concern for the environment by returning to society what we earn We recognize and respect each other in all interactions and set the example for our guests, business associates and colleagues. We encourage a fair environment that supports equal opportunity to attract, develop and retain the best talent and endeavor to have fun too. Taj Promises At the Taj Group, our commitment to service excellence is rooted in our two guiding principles called the Four Steps of Service and the Taj People Philosophy. One of our key priorities is to empower our people to deliver on our legacy of impeccable service. Four Steps of Service: 1. A warm and sincere welcome. Use the guest name, whenever possible. 2. Fulfill guest needs and provide anticipatory service. 3. Defect free products and services. 4. Fond farewell using the guest name, whenever possible. Taj People Philosophy The Taj People Philosophy displays our commitment to and belief in our people. We see Talent Management as the most important sustainable competitive advantage in the future. You are an important member of the Taj family. We endeavor to select, retain and compensate the best talent in the industry. We reward and recognize quality customer care based upon individual and team performance. We commit to providing you with opportunities for continuous learning and development. We abide by fair and just policies that ensure your well-being and that of your family, the community and the environment. We commit to regular and formal channels of communication, which nurture openness and transparency. We strongly believe that you are the Taj. Key Initiatives Ginger Hotels IHCL is in the process of rolling out its Smart Basics hotels, under the brand name Ginger. The first prototype has been launched in June 2004 in Bangalore, with roll out being planned in a number of cities and towns subsequently. These hotels will cater to the economy or value for moneysegment and being predominantly domestic clientele based, are far less prone to fluctuations than the luxury and upscale segments. In the long run, this segment will help in derisking the current revenue stream of the company. Brand Architecture IHCL is in the process of clearly defining the product and service standards in order to have consistency across properties under each brand. This will help in further enhancing the brand value of Taj. Product Upgradation IHCL continues to invest in renovation and relaunch of key / brand defining properties. In the last financial year IHCL upgraded rooms at the Taj Mahal Palace Tower, Mumbai and Taj West End, Bangalore The lobby and public areas of Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur and Rambagh Palace, Jaipur were also renovated to provide a luxurious sense of arrival. The Sea Lounge and Harbour Bar at Taj Mahal Palace Tower, Mumbai was relaunched, while a new Vietnamese restaurant Blue Ginger was opened in Taj West End, Bangalore The renovated products and the new outlets were very well received in the market. The renovated rooms at Taj Mahal Palace Tower, Mumbai and Taj West End, Bangalore have emerged as the price leaders in the respective cities. In the coming year IHCL intends to open a number of FB outlets by celebrity Chefs with international cuisine. In the upscale segment, the properties are being relaunched to be at par with international level upscale hotels. The rooms at Taj President, Mumbai, Ta j Residency, Bangalore, Jai Mahal Palace, Jaipur and Taj Holiday Village, Goa are being renovated and relaunched. Service Excellence In the last few years IHCL has undertaken a number of steps to significantly enhance service levels to be in line with the best in class. IHCL has constantly benchmarked itself with the key international luxury chains and strived to raise the bar. IHCLs service excellence philosophy, has at its core, delivery through our people, processes and culture. IHCL has taken a number of steps to provide highly personalized service to the discerning customer, including butler services in its luxury properties. In order to take care of the entire stay experience, IHCL has also completely revamped its Concierge services. The Centers of Excellence have been strengthened considerably to train staff to meet the exacting standards of a truly luxury hotel. Tata Business Excellence Model (TBEM) will play a significant role in raising the bar of service provided. The TBEM has been rolled out in all the three hotel divisions and will be rolled out to the international properties also. Tata Business Excellence Model (TBEM) In order to intensify the drive for Business Excellence, IHCL conducted Internal Assessments based on the Tata Business Excellence Model for Luxury, Leisure, Business SBUs as well as for Taj SATS Air Catering Limited. The Luxury Division has also applied for External Assessment, which is to be facilitated by Tata Quality Management Services. Based on the External Assessment (2003) feedback report and the feedback from the Internal Assessment, action plans to improve processes which finally impact the overall organizational effectiveness, have been drawn out and worked upon. Some of the key initiatives deployed across key hotels of the Taj group in the year 2003-04 are: Rollout of the Customer Feedback System The CFS was launched in November 2003 and has taken root in 30 hotels across Taj group. It is the primary and sole customer feedback system of the group. Till date, the system has clocked around 12,000 pieces of customer feedback. The feedback from all sources gets recorded and aggregated and analyzed to improve the service quality in areas of concern at each of the hotels. Feedback is not restricted to only guest difficulties (complaints) but also consists of compliments and suggestions. The feedback would ultimately be used for product planning as well. IT initiatives From a situation in 1999 where there was limited IT application, Taj group has today achieved domestic leadership in deploying IT to leverage its competencies and is rapidly approaching benchmarks set by international highly regarded chains. The first three phases of implementation of the IT strategy included putting in place the physical infrastructure across the Taj Group and getting customer relationship applications to ride on this physical infrastructure, with a view to enhancing customer services through customer information and recognition systems and better inventory management. Some of the key IT initiatives being under taken by IHCL are Orion, a comprehensive back office system, implementing Revenue Management system, Interactive TV Systems and National Call Center. Competition A Tata company shall fully strive for the establishment and support of a competitive, open market economy in India and abroad, and shall cooperate in efforts to promote the progressive and judicious liberalisation of trade and investment by a country. Specifically, a Tata company shall not engage in activities that generate or support the formation of monopolies, dominant market positions, cartels and similar unfair trade practices. A Tata company shall market its products and services on its own merits and shall not make unfair and misleading statements about competitors products and services. Any collection of competitive information shall be made only in the normal course of business and shall be obtained only through legally permitted sources and means. Direct Competitors: 1. Oberoi Hotels 2. Oriental Hotels 3. ITC Welcomgroup 4. Hotel Leela etc. Potential Target market : The upper class of the society is targeted. i.e. the richer people in the society. Their fares or tariffs are high as the luxuries provided by them are also standard and 5-star. Thus, this is in context to the Indian branches of Taj Hotels. STRATEGY: Taj group has used the Taj name for all its operations to leverage the brand equity commanded by the name Taj. Taj brand is playing an increasing role of driving revenues Taj group plans to add around 12 Hotels in the next 3 years . Taj facilitates the expansion to other segment by endorsing the sub-brands with their parents brand names. MARKETING STRATEGY A higher emphasis was placed on the business segment as the profits are higher (this market being less price-sensitive) as compared to the luxury segment. There was a proliferation of the Taj Presidency hotels not only in new cities, but also smaller towns. The action plan is more opportunities, adding to and complementing the brand. INNOVATIVE MARKETING SERVICES: STAY A BIT LONGER- If a customer book 2 nights or 3 with Taj hotels, then they surprise to customer with a complimentary nights stay at select hotels. EARLY BIRD OFFER- Say at any of Taj properties ranging from modern business hotels to idyllic beach resorts to authentic Rajput palaces, 10 days in advance and avail the Early Bird Rate to enjoy savings of 20% over our Best Available Rate (BAR). SUITE SURPRISES Book between 1-4 nights in Taj Suites and enjoy a free nights stay. Luxury at the Taj isnt only about indulgences, but advantages. Book 1, 2, 3 or 4 nights in our majestic Suites, featuring impeccable interiors and classic style, and enjoy a complimentary nights stay. TAJ SAFARIS are wildlife lodges that allow travelers to experience the unparalleled beauty of the Indian jungle amidst luxurious surroundings. They offer Indias first and only wildlife luxury lodge circuit. Taj Safaris provide guests with the ultimate, interpretive, wild life experience based on a proven sustainable ecotourism model. TAJ AIR, a luxury private jet operation with state-of-the-art Falcon 2000 aircrafts designed by Dassault Aviation, France; and Taj Yachts, two 3-bedroom luxury yachts which can be used by guests in Mumbai and Kochi, in Kerala. BUSINESS EDGE At the Taj, business is not just unconventional, but valuable. Alongside the quintessential fusion of business and pleasure, you will also enjoy unbelievable savings and benefits on our traditional hospitality and exceptional service that are sure to leave you pleasantly surprised.   Breakfast for two (single/double same rate) Hotel Credit of Rs 2000/- per stay against FB, laundry, or spa (where spa services are available) KEY SUCCESS FACTORS Technology related:-Used of advance technology in hotel premises. Manufacturing- related: High utilization of fixed assets. Quality control know-how. Serving customer according to their specification. Distribution-related: Presence of hotel chain at various places. A strong network. Marketing related: Breadth of product line and product selection. Personalized customer services. A well-known and well-respected brand name.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Spain Political Analysis :: essays research papers

The kingdom of Spain is roughly about 504,750 sq. km., including the Balearic and Canary islands (CIA). This land mass is roughly double the size of our state of Oregon. The country is located in Western Europe and borders the countries of; Andorra, France, Gibraltar, Portugal and Morocco (Ceuta and Melilla) (CIA). The country has roughly about 30% arable land and exports much of its agricultural products. The Spanish population is about 40.1 million people with about 1% growth rate (CIA). The population mix is mainly that of Mediterranean and Nordic heritage. The Kingdom of Spain is less populated than most of its European counterparts with the majority of the population living in main cities.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The government of the Kingdom of Spain is a Parliamentary Monarch. The Chief of State is Juan Carlos I was coordinated in November of 1975. Juan Carlos was the immediate successor of the dictator Gen. Franco (NTDB). The head of the government is President Jose Maria Aznar Lopez. Aznar is a member of the Popular Party, and won both the popular vote and the designated votes. The ruling body of Spain is a bicameral legislation with a National Assembly, Senate, and Congress. In addition the government also supports a standing military to include; Army, Marines, Air Force, Navy, Cost Guard, National Police, and Civil Guard (NTDB). The military currently has 300,000 active duty men and woman. The current political outlook on Spain is stable. However, Spain is the only country in the EU that has a recognized separatist group known as the ETA. The ETA stands for Euzkadi Ta Askatasuna meaning Basque Fatherland and Freedom. This movement was started in 1959, and aim was to gain sovereignty for a small area in northern Spain near France. The ETA has accepted responsibility for over 800 deaths and an estimated 1,600 terrorist attacks (CNN) However, in the ETA’s defense these attacks were strategically aimed at government officials, and were never intended for innocent bystanders. The ETA have been involved in peace negotiations and resulted in a 14 Month cease-fire in 1998 (BBC). However that ceasefire ended when peace negotiations did not end in the favor of the ETA’s Plan in Zurich Switzerland. It was not until the September 11 attacks that the United States recognized the need for a global effort against terrorism and all its allies. In February of this year, t he United States in cooperation with the Spanish government ceased several millions of dollars in ETA and ETA supporters’ assets in the US and protectorates.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Don Quixote

Joseph Andrews is Fielding's first novel. It is a classical example of a literary work which started as a parody and ended as an excellent work of art in its own right. The work Fielding intended to parody was Richardson's first novel Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded which had taken England by storm in the years following 1740 when it was first published. In his novel Fielding intended in the beginning to show how Lady Booby (aunt of â€Å"Lord B. † in Richardson's novel) attempts the virginity of Joseph Andrews, described as the virtuous Pamela's brother but in the end discovered to be different. The whole intention was comic. But after Chapter IX Joseph Andrews seems to break away completely from the original intention. Parson Adams, who has no counterpart in Pamela, runs away with the novel. He â€Å"is one of the most living, lovable, comical bundles of wisdom and simplicity in all literature. † In the words of Edmund Gosse, â€Å"Parson Abraham Adams, alone, would be a contribution to English letters. † He indeed is the hero of the novel, and not Joseph Andrews. Fielding was aware of giving a new literary form with Joseph Andrews which he called â€Å"a comic epic in prose. † Fielding is a great master of the art of characterization also. Fielding's broad human sympathy coupled with his keen observation of even the faintest element of hypocrisy in a person is his basic asset as a master of characterization. He laughs and makes us laugh at many of his characters, but he is never cynical or misanthropic. He is a pleasant satirist, sans malice, sans harshness. He gives no evidence of being angry at the foibles of his characters or of holding a lash in readiness. His comic creations resemble those of Chaucer and Shakespeare. Parson Trulliber and Falstaff, if they were to meet, would have immediately recognized each other! Fielding is one of the greatest humorists in English literature. The same comic spirit which permeates his plays is also evident in his novels. As he informs us, the author upon whom he modeled himself was Cervantes; it is not surprising, therefore, that comedy should be his method. Fielding's humor is wide in range. It rises from the coarsest farce to the astonishing heights of the subtlest irony. On one side is his zestful description of various fights and, on the other, the grim irony of Jonathan Wild. Higher! than both is that ineffable, pleasant, and ironic humor that may be found everywhere in Tom Jones but is at its best in Joseph Andrews where it plays like summer lightning around the figure of Parson Adams-an English cousin of Don Quixote. Fielding's very definition of the novel as â€Å"a comic epic in prose† is indicative of the place of humor and comedy in his novels and, later, those of many of his followers. It may be pointed out here that Richardson had no sense of humor; he was an unsmiling moralist and sentimentalist. Comparing the two, Coleridge says: â€Å"There is a cheerful, sunshiny, breezy spirit that prevails everywhere strongly contrasted with the close, hot, tfay-dreamy continuity of Richardson. † Fielding's humor is sometimes of the satiric kind, but he is never harsh or excessively cynical.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Center5812100 Essays - Economy Of Kazakhstan, Economy, Free Essays

Center5812100 Essays - Economy Of Kazakhstan, Economy, Free Essays center5812100 Development of measures to implement controlling in the management system of investment projects of Samruk-Kazyna Invest LLP Location: Astana Course Code: TOP101 Course Name: Business Research Professor: Dr Oliver Elliott Student(s) Name(s): Nurzhan Sikhimov 1. Research proposal The theme of my research is "Will the introduction of a controlling system in the management of investment projects of Samruk-Kazyna Invest LLP be effective?" The relevance of the chosen topic is that today the issue of improving the management system of companies' activities is acute. We have chosen one of the most promising enhancements to the effectiveness of the management system, this is the introduction of controlling, as a modern toolkit that is gaining popularity all over the world. The purpose of our study was to study and analyze the development of practical measures to introduce controlling in the investment project management system. The work is the result of a study, where the materials of practical research clearly demonstrated the effectiveness of the process of implementing projects controlling in the investment activity of the company with application in practice. The entry of Kazakhstan into the world economic space gives impetus to the improvement of the management system at the largest companies of the country. The condition for the formation of a successful state, its strong economy and huge human potential is itself the development of a high level of innovation and variability, as well as the search for new approaches in the management, monitoring and subsequent forecasting of companies' activities. We can confidently say that in the current conditions of reforming the country's economy, the application of the controlling system that we offer becomes an integral part of the process of forming competitive enterprises and companies, as well as a competitive state. The thoughtless introduction of foreign experience in the management of companies in the companies of the CIS countries, based on the still not fully formed conditions of the developing economy, did not give the desired effect. Hence, the need arose to find new effective ways of managing. Our analysis of this problem demonstrates the inadequacy of its study in the work of economists and specialists in the field of management. In the course of the study, it became clear that there was a need for comprehensive and comprehensive monitoring and, accordingly, analysis of the activities of companies without which it is impossible to manage complex economic processes and make rational decisions. Therefore, we conducted a detailed study and systematization of methodological approaches to project management and, as a result, the application of the controlling we propose. Given the development of market relations, a particular influence of a number of factors on the control, management and adoption of important decisions will increase: competitive struggle, universal computerization in the process of processing economic information, constant processes of introducing amendments to the tax system of countries and so on. All indicators of the company's activities can be obtained by making an objective control and analysis, through which the actual position of the company is evaluated, and as a result, a reasonable objective allocation of all resources: material, labor and financial, with the introduction of innovative achievements in scientific and technological progress, productive forms of management and management of the company's production, activation of entrepreneurship, and mobilization of previously unused reserves. Formation and development of controlling in Kazakhstan is conditioned by unified objective requirements and conditions, satisfaction of practical needs and solution of many theoretical issues in project management. In our study, we will consider the activities of one of the largest investment company of Kazakhstan - Samruk-Kazyna Invest LLP, which manages and monitors investment projects in Kazakhstan. Within the framework of this company, there is a need to reorganize the control system for investment projects, to improve this process and increase the effectiveness of the activities undertaken to increase sustainability, and the level of competitiveness. Thus, the study of the conceptual framework and identification of the problems of implementing the controlling system in project management in the investment activities of Kazakhstan companies made it possible to determine the importance and necessity of their solution, search and make recommendations for practical impleme ntation. 2. Literature Review The study of the problems of formation and development

Monday, October 21, 2019

How To Say Both in Spanish

How To Say Both in Spanish There are various ways of expressing the idea of both in Spanish. Translating Both Meaning Too Most of the time, both simply means two and functions as an adjective or pronoun. In such cases, you can translate both as either ambos (ambas in the feminine) or los dos (las dos in the feminine). The two terms are almost interchangeable; ambos is somewhat more formal. Here are some examples: Los dos se abrazaron. (Both hugged each other.)Las dos cartas escritas desde Calabria reflejan la misma bondad. (Both letters written from Calabria reflect the same kindness.)A los dos nos duele la cabeza si tenemos hambre. (Both of us have a headache if were hungry.)Los dos là ­deres de Al Qaeda ms buscados en Irak murieron durante una operacià ³n militar. (Both of the most-wanted leaders of Al-Qaida in Iraq died during a military operation.)Ambos creyeron poder demostrar la existencia de Dios. (Both believed they could demonstrate the existence of God.)Me gustarà ­a mucho leer ambos libros. (I would very much like to read both books.)Ambas dijeron que no volvern nunca ms al Perà º tras esta amarga experiencia. (Both said they would never return to Peru after this bitter experience.)Ambas opciones son buenas, y a veces no prefiero ninguno. (Both options are good, and sometimes I dont prefer either one.) Note that in each of the above examples, ambos or los dos also could have been translated as two or the two. Translating the Emphatic Both There are many cases where both isnt the equivalent of two, usually when it is used for emphasis. Theres no one set way to express the concept; you need to look at the sentence to determine the context and develop a translation in that way. Here are some examples; note that the translations given arent the only ones possible: El aprendizaje es una asociacà ­Ãƒ ³n en el cual tanto el maestro como el estudiante juegan un papel dinmico.  (Learning is a partnership in which both the teacher and the student play a dynamic role.  Here, both adds emphasis, indicating that the teacher, as well as the student, play a role.)Queremos comprar una casa grande y adems barata. (We want to buy a house that is both big and cheap. The use of both suggests that the two qualities normally dont go together and thus adds emphasis. Here, adems, which usually means also, fulfills a similar function.)Pablo y Raà ºl tienen sendos hematomas que estn siendo tratados. (Pablo and Raà ºl both have bruises that are being treated. Both is used here to clarify that each of the victims, not just one of them, is bruised. Sendos is an always-plural adjective often translated as respective or his or her own and is used here to provide a similar meaning. Sendos or sendas can also refer to more than two.)Hubo errores de uno y otro lado e n el conflicto. (There were errors on both sides of the conflict. Both is used to emphasize the existence of a contrast, which uno y otro also does.) No es posible perder peso y comer lo que te gusta al mismo tiempo. (It isnt possible to both lose weight and eat everything you want. Both here suggest that two actions are being done simultaneously. Al mismo tiempo means at the same time.) Translating Common Phrases With Both At least English phrases or idioms with both have Spanish equivalents. Both sides, when referring to opposing sides of an argument or position, can be translated idiomatically with las dos campanas, which means literally both bells. Siempre oigo las dos campanas antes de hacer un juicio. (I always listen to both sides before making a judgment.)Creo que nuestros servidores pà ºblicos no escuchan las dos campanas. (I believe our public servants arent listening to both sides.) The best of both worlds can be translated literally as lo mejor de dos mundos or loosely as lo mejor de cada casa (literally, the best of each house). Este vehà ­culo ofrece lo mejor de dos mundos, la deportividad de un coupà © y la espaciosidad de un SUV. (This vehicle offers the best of both worlds, the sportiness of a coupe and the space of an SUV.)Brasil es in paà ­s multicultural que tiene lo mejor de cada casa. (Brazil is a multicultural country that has the best of both worlds.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

buy custom General Motors and Ford Motor essay

buy custom General Motors and Ford Motor essay In Business 300 Career Research Project, I chose General Motors and Ford Motor because I am quite familiar to Michigan state and the fact that its the headquarter of both companies and because of my love for automobiles. General motors is situated in Detroit at Michigan 300 Renaissance Center. Ford motor is situated in Dearborn, Michigan in at One American road. As per the business week; General motors was founded in 1908 and the latest report dated on 9 September 2011 indicated that the company had about 210,000 employees. Ford motor was founded in 1903 and the latest report dating back to 28 February 2011 showed that the company had a rough estimate of 164,000 employees. In the Fortune magazines 2011 fortune 500, General Motors was ranked number 8 and number 15 in the previous ranking. Its current C.E.O is Daniel Akerson. Ford Motor was ranked as number 10 in Fortunes Magazines 2011 Fortune 500. In the previous year, it had been ranked at number 8. Fords C.E.O is Alan Mulally. In t he Forbes Magazines global 2000 leading companies, General Motors was ranked at number 61. In sales volume, it was number 18, number 70 in terms of profit gain, number 155 in terms of assets and number 148 in terms of market value. Its counterpart, the Ford Motor was ranked at number 54. Number 24 in terms of sales, number 63 in terms of profit, number 140 in terms of assets and number 126 in terms of market value. In terms of wages and salaries, the hourly pay entry level of new workers is $14 while for the veteran is $28. A recently signed four year labor contract advocated for a rise by $2 to $3. An assembly line worker receives median $27 while an auto Industry Engineer receives a roughly figure of median $37. Fords hourly workers include assembly line workers who make a median $28, mechanics earn $16, maintenance electricians make $33, tool and die maker make $32. For Salaried employees, service managers earn $42,180 per year, mechanical engineers receive $84,965, manufacturing engineers make $80,000 and product development engineers are paid $74,008. Career advancement from both companies involves the process of climbingup the corporate ladder until one reaches the highest possible level. It basically involves the beginning of ones career all the way to ones retirement. In both companies, career advancement calls for experience, acquisition of educational certifications and qualifications , recognitions, family life, career shift or career growth. The corporate structure of General Motors is made up of board of trustees and the officers of the foundation. The Board is made of the chairman who is the C.E.O of General Motors Corporation, the headquarters. Other branches of the company are headed by the Presidents who also constitute the Board. Officers of the foundation, the headquarter; include the chairman, the president, vice presidents, secretary, treasurer and the tax officer. Corporate structure of Ford motors consist of the C.E.O who is the chairman of the board together with his directors who heads all the other branches. Then there is the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Information Officer. Ford Company has a corporate culture of getting involved in humanitarian events like the Rouge Rover clean-up and Habitat for Humanity, it is religion friendly and respects diversity. Corporate culture of General Motors is exemplified by General motors Foundation which gives financial support to American Red Cross. Education requirements at General Motors require all the applicants to have a high school diploma. To work on General Motors cars and parts requires a person to have enrolled in a General Motors auto Services Educational Program. This curriculum focuses on Maths, English and Electronics before proceeding to technical training. This program is mostly taught in community colleges. Ford Motors designs a curriculum called SCCs Ford Automotive Student Service Educational Training Program. This program provides training to students and it runs for two years leading to an associate degree and finally an employment. As per the Forbes magazine, Fords ratios and returns place the companys profit margin at 5.10%, operating margin at 8.70 and return on equity at 0.28. General Motors Ration and returns indicate that the companys profit margin is 6.60, operating margin is 8.70 and return on equity is 28.70. Both companies are involved in manufacture of automobiles and operations of Financial Services .They are located in the same state in the U.S. In year 2011s fortune 500, both companies appeared in the top ten ranking and top 100 in Forbes Magazines global 2000 leading companies. Both companies offers their curriculum to students who desire to work for them .Factors facilitating career advancement are the same in both companies as well as their involvement in humanitarian projects. However, the two companies have different corporate structures. All other branches of General Motors are headed by the Presidents while all the other branches of Ford Motor are headed by Directors. General Motors requires an applicant to have a high school diploma while Ford Motor requires an associate degree. The advantage of working foe General Motors and Ford Motors is that they pays relatively higher than other automobiles e.g. Toyota and the fact that they design their curriculums hence any student who successfully finishes his course is likely to be employed by the company. These companies have wide markets for their products and provide health plans for their employees. Working as hourly workers can be quite tedious because of long working hours and quite disappointing when one has to be dismissed from work because of recession. I would like to work for Ford Motor because it offers tremendous benefits to its employees. Besides the health plans, the company offers 10% more than Toyota and General Motors on vacations and pension plans for its employees. Other benefits include paid sick time off, unemployment insurance, 7.65% social security tax and workmans compensation. I would like to work as Mechanical Engineer because it is one of the highly paid fields in the company. To qualify and work as an engineer, I have to undertake an associates degree which comprise of studying Maths, English, Electronics and a Technical training. To further my skills, I would pursue a Mechanical Engineering course in one of the best universities in U.S. Buy custom General Motors and Ford Motor essay

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Design the Evaluation Plan, Part 3 Research Paper

Design the Evaluation Plan, Part 3 - Research Paper Example This however is not possible if the teachers in the system are not. Every day there are multiple cases of disgruntled parents and students who feel that the treatment they get in our public schools is short of their expectations. It is therefore wise to come up with a training program that trains teachers on the matter. For the government to support such a training project, we need to evaluate the cultural competence of the teachers in our schools first. In light of this, this paper is an evaluation plan for the cultural competence of teachers in public schools. Evaluation Scope and Purpose The Department of Education is interested in funding a proposed training project to enhance cultural competence of the teachers in public schools. It commissioned an evaluation of the teacher cultural competence so as to get data to pass the teacher cultural competence training as policy. Of interest to the ED is an evaluation plan which identifies the project’s strengths and weaknesses so that they will have the means to improve the educational system. Emphasis is especially laid on the need to enhance the cultural competence of the teachers. The ethical issues around prior conduct of the teachers need to be evaluated due to political considerations. There is the apparent need to enhance the cultural competence of the teachers. ... cultural competence of the teachers that are not in the training project design foresight and hence have possible remedies for them sought a forehand before the training commences. The evaluation seeks to answer the questions; i. Is there a dire need to improve the cultural competence of the teachers in the public schools? ii. Are the public education stakeholders satisfied with the cultural competence of the teachers? iii. What should be detailed in their cultural competence training project? Evaluation Team Members and Stakeholders The evaluation team will consists of a group of ten (10) chosen from several disciplines. There will be one (1) general overseer who will be the evaluation comptroller. The general overseer gives tasks and will act as the project coordinator. It is important to have an in-charge for any group to function effectively. There will be two (2) audit officers, three (3) social workers who should be experts in public education issues, two (2) volunteers and two (2) external evaluators. It is wise to conduct the evaluation with ‘outsiders’ since they are not involved in the funding or the implementation of the program. They are useful in identifying useful indicators, assessing the program in relation to quality, effectiveness and efficiency and describing pre- and post-program levels of stressors. Their approach is neutral due to lack of any links with the organization hence they have a non-partisan perspective to the evaluation. Their input has to be impartial in the evaluation. However, the limitations that come with external evaluators are lack of specialised knowledge in matters concerning public education. They may as well be a source of extra stress on the stakeholders. Project Logic and Indicators The evaluation will have two scheduled

Friday, October 18, 2019

Function of place in Mad Max 2 by Georgre Miller 1981 (film) Movie Review

Function of place in Mad Max 2 by Georgre Miller 1981 (film) - Movie Review Example The cinematography of Mad Max 2 makes very little use of interiors but instead invites the audience to a wide open desert space, reminiscent of the blue skies, red sand and rugged canyons that were common in traditional westerns. The characters in their black leather or white canvas clothing move around this desolate space, and the impression that is given is deliberately edgy and harsh. The sun beats down on the settlers’ camp, and the bikers circle like marauding Indians, and all of the humans appear to be in a frontier between civilization and a deadly wilderness. The way the camera approaches the action is very different from the predictable and safe western style, however. Car chases are filmed with the camera low to the ground, and the vehicles approaching at speed and this draws the audience right into the danger. The main character played by Mel Gibson, is a drifter, neither one of the robbers, nor one of the homesteaders with their homely pigs and chickens. This locat ion does not symbolize the pioneers taming the wilderness, but rather the wilderness has the upper hand and the settlers are very much at its mercy. This film uses location to underline the destructiveness of industrialization and the precariousness of human survivors after an apocalyptic war.

The Paper Tiger Reasons for Legalizing Drugs Essay

The Paper Tiger Reasons for Legalizing Drugs - Essay Example Legalization arguments are paper tigers that, when confronted by reason, leave no doubt that drugs should not be legalized. Advocates will often point to our Constitution to justify the stand that all people should be free to ruin their life with a drug habit. Of course while no one but the most radical elements advocate legalization for children, assuming that it only applies to adults stretches the meaning of freedom to the point that it becomes unrecognizable. Adults are not simply individuals living in a vacuum, unaffected by and having no impact on the world around us. People have families, communities, cultures, and societies that they are a part of. A person's freedom of choice must be carefully balanced against societies obligation to protect all of its members. The myth that the abuser is the only victim of drug addiction simply does not apply to the parent who is neglecting their children because they are too high to understand the responsibilities of adequate parenting. Legalization advocates often link the ideal of freedom with ethics. They point to the inherent unfairness and hypocrisy of a government that condones alcohol use but condemns marijuana users to prison or probation. However, this argument merely draws attention away from the real issue. The controversy is not the safety and status of alcohol. The issue should remain focused on the legalization of drugs and not an issue of which drug is better or worse. Proponents likewise point to the unfairness in the application of the drug laws as a reason for legalization. They cite the disproportionate number of minorities and poor in prison for violating the drug statutes. Milton Friedman, a leading legalization advocate, asks, "Can any policy, however high-minded, be moral if it leads to widespread corruption, imprisons so many, has so racist an effect" (P14}. While his sympathy may be admirable, his reasoning is flawed. If police forces are using racism or a policy of corruption to enforce the law, then that is the issue that needs to be addressed. It is not t he drug law; it's the application that needs examined. If a preponderance of murderers on death row are minorities, and they probably are, no one would advocate legalizing murder, and we should not legalize drugs in a misguided effort to correct deficiencies in our enforcement efforts. Our current strategy of enforcement has resulted in a ballooning population of prison inmates, many who are there as either a direct or indirect result of drug addiction. Opponents of strict drug enforcement question whether we can afford the continued incarceration of drug offenders (Currie, P10). The real question is; can we afford not to Crimes resulting from drug use often fall into two categories; the property crime committed to get money to purchase drugs, and the crime committed during an altered state of mind and loss of rational behavior. Bennett tells us that if drugs were legalized, "drug use would soar" (P13). The crimes that result from the drug user's impaired judgment would increase proportionately. But would legalization reduce property crime Advocates would have us believe that the greater access to a legal supply

IRobot Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

IRobot - Article Example The Roomba Robot was a home care robot that would take care of some fundamental home care duties such as house cleaning. In addition, iRobot carried out some military duties and was used for military defense. The launch of iRobot was a success for the iRobot company, and made work easier for both home use and military use. The board of directors provides a great source of intelligence or the running hand the management of the company. The iRobot company secured a long-standing contract with the military. In order to achieve its success, iRobot has had to undertake intensive research and development and budget allot of money on its noble idea. The aim of this industry was to become the leading robotic industry in the world. This made the company grow to recruit over 500 highly qualified professionals who ensured that the company achieved its objectives. Moreover, the company made alliances with other highly qualified commercial companies such as the Boeing group, and the advanced scientific concept. The motive of these alliances was to enable the company to develop and improve upon products that was almost impossible for the company to develop by itself using its own technology. In order to achieve these high standards, the company had to have a good financial position with an excellent cash and long-term debt rate. This enabled the company to have a sustainable competitive advantage over other competitors such as Japanese’s robot developer companies. iRobot Company benefits much than other competitive companies. This is because of its resources and capabilities that have enabled the company develop. One of its main strengths is its cost advantage. The company benefits from cost advantage in that it produces robots at a lower cost than its competitors do. This is because of the high level of technology that they use with the help of other high technology companies such as Boeing and advanced scientific concept. Moreover, the

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Tax(see attachment) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Tax(see attachment) - Essay Example Manufacturing parts in UK and then exporting to third world countries is not viable due to various financial factors. Hence the company has decided to set up a manufacturing unit in any of the third world country. This will help the company to maximize its profits, and at the same time give an opportunity to expand and explore new markets. The following report addresses the various issues that have to be considered from international tax perspective while expanding operations offshore. While setting up an overseas operation there are certain very important tax related issues that need to be considered before choosing an appropriate location. The issue might seem to be too complicated initially given the numerous nations and their individual legal and political systems but there appears to be abroad consensus among all the nations of the world regarding tax matters. And, this is surely a matter of utmost relief to companies that intend to operate across political boundaries as tax matters indeed create problems in estimating income earned by a subsidiary, more so what portion of it can be rightly considered as income of the consolidated entity. However, with the phenomenal rise of multinational corporations, the vexatious issue of which state should rightfully tax which portion of the income of a multinational business entity still poses certain questions for which unambiguous answers are hard to come by. Legally speaking, every state has the jurisdiction to impose tax, irrespective of whether the tax is generated within the domestic territory of the state (source country) or it is generated outside the domestic territory but by a legal entity that is normally resident of the state (residence country). In the international taxation regime that is adhered to by almost all the countries of the world, the country where the tax is generated has the first right to tax

Terror Tactics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Terror Tactics - Essay Example The Al-shaabab is a terrorist organization in Eastern Africa Region, Boko Haram in West Africa, Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Palestine, Student Islamic Movement of India in India, and United Self-Defense Forces of Columbia among others. Countries that have experienced its effect fast-hand like United States, 2001 and Kenya, 1998 have progressive efforts in combating it using a series of tactics. Most terrorist organizations have a common ideology; to destroy U.S.A’s allies, United Nations’ activities against terror groups, and structures of global order. Not even a powerful state like USA can fight terrorism alone because such groups have established networks and have easy access to money across international borders. The best tactic applied by USA in conjunction with United Nations is the use of the 4D strategy (Defeat, Deny, Diminish and Defend). Nations fighting terrorism aim at defeating terrorism through direct and indirect use of economic, diplomatic, information, intelligence, financial, and military among other tools. Research findings published in Terrorism Research Initiative (Rineheart, 2010) reveal that the 4D strategy, at times referred to as the Counterinsurgency Theory has helped counter terror activities by simultaneously applying the 4D strategy elements. The outcome has led to disorientation of terror organizations by limiting and eliminating their sources of finance, reducing their scope and capabilities from global threats to state criminal domains. Maxims of warfare (White, 2012) demand that every participant to know and mark terrorists and their sympathizers as enemies. Through combined efforts, it will be possible for their unlawful and inhuman activities to be restrained within controllable limits. Therefore, both local and international security agencies must work tirelessly to ensure terror activities, plans, and their locations are known before the worse happens. Rineheart Jason. (2010). Counterterrorism and

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

IRobot Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

IRobot - Article Example The Roomba Robot was a home care robot that would take care of some fundamental home care duties such as house cleaning. In addition, iRobot carried out some military duties and was used for military defense. The launch of iRobot was a success for the iRobot company, and made work easier for both home use and military use. The board of directors provides a great source of intelligence or the running hand the management of the company. The iRobot company secured a long-standing contract with the military. In order to achieve its success, iRobot has had to undertake intensive research and development and budget allot of money on its noble idea. The aim of this industry was to become the leading robotic industry in the world. This made the company grow to recruit over 500 highly qualified professionals who ensured that the company achieved its objectives. Moreover, the company made alliances with other highly qualified commercial companies such as the Boeing group, and the advanced scientific concept. The motive of these alliances was to enable the company to develop and improve upon products that was almost impossible for the company to develop by itself using its own technology. In order to achieve these high standards, the company had to have a good financial position with an excellent cash and long-term debt rate. This enabled the company to have a sustainable competitive advantage over other competitors such as Japanese’s robot developer companies. iRobot Company benefits much than other competitive companies. This is because of its resources and capabilities that have enabled the company develop. One of its main strengths is its cost advantage. The company benefits from cost advantage in that it produces robots at a lower cost than its competitors do. This is because of the high level of technology that they use with the help of other high technology companies such as Boeing and advanced scientific concept. Moreover, the

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Terror Tactics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Terror Tactics - Essay Example The Al-shaabab is a terrorist organization in Eastern Africa Region, Boko Haram in West Africa, Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Palestine, Student Islamic Movement of India in India, and United Self-Defense Forces of Columbia among others. Countries that have experienced its effect fast-hand like United States, 2001 and Kenya, 1998 have progressive efforts in combating it using a series of tactics. Most terrorist organizations have a common ideology; to destroy U.S.A’s allies, United Nations’ activities against terror groups, and structures of global order. Not even a powerful state like USA can fight terrorism alone because such groups have established networks and have easy access to money across international borders. The best tactic applied by USA in conjunction with United Nations is the use of the 4D strategy (Defeat, Deny, Diminish and Defend). Nations fighting terrorism aim at defeating terrorism through direct and indirect use of economic, diplomatic, information, intelligence, financial, and military among other tools. Research findings published in Terrorism Research Initiative (Rineheart, 2010) reveal that the 4D strategy, at times referred to as the Counterinsurgency Theory has helped counter terror activities by simultaneously applying the 4D strategy elements. The outcome has led to disorientation of terror organizations by limiting and eliminating their sources of finance, reducing their scope and capabilities from global threats to state criminal domains. Maxims of warfare (White, 2012) demand that every participant to know and mark terrorists and their sympathizers as enemies. Through combined efforts, it will be possible for their unlawful and inhuman activities to be restrained within controllable limits. Therefore, both local and international security agencies must work tirelessly to ensure terror activities, plans, and their locations are known before the worse happens. Rineheart Jason. (2010). Counterterrorism and

The Importance of Art Education Essay Example for Free

The Importance of Art Education Essay Manifold, M., Zimmerman, E. (2011). Everyone Needs an Art Education: Developing Leadership Through Positive Attitudes Toward Art Methods Courses. Art Education, 64(6), 33-39. This article reports on a study that was conducted to see if positive leadership, when it comes to art education in the K-6 classroom, would lead to positive responses from students who previously held a negative view to art-related classes. The article also addresses the importance of art education being integrated into the general curriculum, thereby developing students who will be future advocates and role models, with positive attitudes toward the arts. This article is considered scholarly because it is peer-reviewed. The source of academic authority is the peer-review process. Bohannon, R., McDowell, C. (2010). Art, Music, and Movement Connections for Elementary Education Teacher Candidates. General Music Today, 24(1), 27-31. The article discusses a lesson plan using the connection between the visual arts, movement, and music, and introducing the concept of line and contour. Through the use of art, the teacher was able to incorporate the concept of line and contours in match, science, reading, and social studies. The article details how teachers expose their students to art, and then help them make the connection to other subjects. The article is considered scholarly because it is peer reviewed. The source of academic authority is the peer-review process. Diket, R. M. (2003). The Arts Contribution to Adolescent Learning. Kappa Delta Pi Record, 39(4), 173-177. The Arts provide a â€Å"unique core of understanding, and enhancements for learning through other school subjects† (Diket, 174). The article details the importance of art, and it’s incorporation into other subject matters. The article discusses the impact of the â€Å"No Child† Legislature, and the importance of teachers recogni zing the value of art in their lesson plans. The article is peer review and considered scholarly. The source of academic authority is the peer-review process.

Monday, October 14, 2019

A Critical Evaluation Of The Balanced Scorecard Accounting Essay

A Critical Evaluation Of The Balanced Scorecard Accounting Essay In 1992, Kaplan and Norton first published a paper about the Balanced Scorecard ¼Ã‹â€ BSC ¼Ã¢â‚¬ °. It was a huge success and BSC soon became very popular all over the world. Before BSC emerged, organizations usually use traditional methods of performance evaluation focused mainly on financial measures such as ROCE, sales and profits. BSC translates an organizations mission and strategy into a comprehensive set of performance measures that provides the framework for a strategic measurement and management system. The scorecard measures organizational performance across four linked perspectives: financial, customer, internal business process, and learning and growth (Kaplan and Norton, 1996). In recent years, a number of multi-national organizations have introduced BSC as part of their management control systems. The purpose of this paper is to give a critical evaluation of the BSC as a performance management tool in multi-national organizations. The paper is structured as follows: the next part gives some reasons of multi-national organizations using BSC and the advantages of using it. The second is about some limitations of using BSC and the reason why it is not suitable for some organizations. One specific example is given for both parts. The last part is the conclusion of this paper. BSC has been widely used in multi-national organizations in the past 15 years. It obviously has some benefits to these organizations. Here are some of the advantages of BSC and they are also reasons that make so many organizations adopt BSC. Firstly, each perspective of BSC requires the identification of a number of goals, and suitable measures. This means that BSC can provide strong support to the decision making of the organization. In the world which is full of competition, its very important for an organization to identify what is most important. Each goal and each measure of the BSC is closely related to the strategic target of the organization. The organization can make strategic decisions based on the BSC. Multi-national organizations are often very large, they need simplified and concentrated target for the whole organization to keep themselves competitive. Otherwise, the connection between different departments will become weak and the organization will finally fall apart. Secondly, BSC guards against sub-optimisation, so that improvement in one area is not achieved at the expense of another. Teamwork is a very important part of corporate culture. BSC combines different elements of an organization and that enables managers to consider what different departments functions are. In traditional methods of performance evaluation, managers only focus on financial figures. This can lead to decisions that make one department improve its performance on the expense of another. This is quite important to multi-national organizations. A multi-national organization has many departments and one of the managers tasks is to coordinate these departments and make the most use of each department. If one department improve its performance on the expense of another, there will be serious problems for the organization. Thirdly, BSC brings together many of the different elements of a companys business and strategy into a single report. This can make decision making process more efficient. All of the four perspectives of BSC are key elements to the success of an organization. BSC provides a report of the combination of the four perspectives and it can save time for managers who are making decisions. It also enables managers to minimise information overload by limiting the number of measures used. Nowadays, organizations seldom get bothered because of lack of information, on the contrary, they often have to deal with more information than what they really need. This happens more often on multi-national organizations. Many multi-national organizations hire professionals as consultants and when these consultants provide suggestions, there will usually be an increase in the sources of information. This will thereby increase the pressure of dealing with information. BSC can help managers concentrate on on ly a few key factors, so that they can minimise information overload and make the right decision at the same time. Fourthly, BSC challenges managers to look at organizations in new ways and to talk to stakeholders about the issues which really matter. It can also inspire employees to work harder. Traditional methods of performance evaluation stress what managers want employees do and then evaluate the result. Theyre about the control of results. BSC, on the other hand, stresses target management. It encourages employees to reach the target creatively. Top managers dont know everything themselves. The BSC lets people who know the area best make the best decision and the task for top managers is to combine all these together and set a target for the organization as a whole. Managers dont have to look at the detailed information, they just need to set targets and make decisions for the organization as a whole. This can be quite important to multi-national organizations because they usually have departments all over the world, its impossible for top managers to look into every detail in every departm ent and shareholders need the most important information to make decisions. So BSC turns out to be a very good tool for multi-national organizations. However, BSC is not suitable for every organization in the world. It also has some limitations. Firstly, BSC is to complicated for some organizations. Organizations have to increase the number and breadth of performance measures when the adopt BSC. Many organizations find it complex for evaluating business units performance because BSC has large number of performance measures across several perspectives. (Kraus, K. and Lind, J., 2010) If an organization wants to adopt BSC, it has to establish clear and real cause-and-effect relationships between different measures. Its much easier than done in reality, even Kaplan and Norton admitted it (Kaplan and Norton, 1996). This process of establishing relationships may take years to complete. Therefore, many organizations find it hard to adopt BSC. And some organizations which do adopt BSC just simplify it by reducing measures and some even focus on financial measures only, just like what they do in traditional methods. Secondly, BSC may result in employees paying attention to the areas measured. Since BSC outlines what the organizations strategy and all the areas that will be measured, employees will start paying attention to these areas so that they can get high reward through good performance in these areas. Theyll ignore areas that wont be assessed because they wont get reward from these areas. And this can become a weak point of the organization. The use of BSC requires a change in the orientation of the employees. Managers have to think about customers, internal business process and learning and growth as well as financial perspective, which means managers have to know more than just financial figures. Other employees, at the same time, are also forced to look at the organizations goal instead of their own production or sales goals. This requires that all of the employees must have a higher education than they had in traditional methods. Thirdly, BSC may be too restrictive and also may not be able to cope with a fast changing business environment. The market is changing rapidly nowadays and it takes time to construct a BSC system in the organization. Important elements for an organization change everyday. And new elements arise everyday. Its quite possible that one element is very important when the organizations decides to adopt BSC and becomes not important at all when BSC is finally established. Fourthly, some organizations may face capital market pressure. Most organizations, especially multi-national organizations, raise fund from the capital market. Capital market influence managers decisions a lot. Managers know what they say and do may affect the stock price and they know that usually analysts are only interested in financial measures. This leads to organizations focus on income and revenues because this is what theyre measured on externally (Kraus, K. and Lind, J., 2010). Finally, BSC may have a high cost. BSC requires an organization to think from and set target in financial perspective, customer perspective, business process and learning and growth perspective. This require not only deep understanding of the overall strategy of the organization, but also the separation of the strategy into different departments. The organization needs to set proper goals and measures for each department. And employees need to learn about BSC to make sure the system will work. Information of each department and each perspective of the BSC needs to be collected. Establishing BSC consumes a lot of time and resources. Even established, BSC can cost a lot. It needs continuous collection of information. And there is a learning and growth perspective in BSC, which can be quite expensive. So many organizations may abandon BSC just because of the high cost. Lets take Coca-Cola, the famous multi-national company based in America, as an example. Coca-Cola Beverage Company in Sweden (CCBS) adopts BSC in the company. CCBS took the advice of Kaplan and Norton. It decided to measure its performance from financial perspective, customers, internal business process, and learning and growth. The top managers had a three-day meeting to discuss about it. They set a long-term target for the company (about 3 years). They also described the market conditions at that time. Then they decided an overall target for the company and set measures for different systems and programs. The top managers tried to keep each perspective of the BSC balanced. In order to do that, CCBS used a step-by-step way. First of all, the managers set some financial measures related to the overall strategy, set financial targets on these measures and then reached these targets in a proper way. The second step was to repeat the same process in the customers perspective. The question was how our customers will respond if we plan to reach our financial target. The third step was to identify the internal business process. The managers asked themselves some questions: do we have enough creativity? Are we willing to change ourselves in order to make the company change in a proper way? After this process, CCBS was able to make sure that each perspective was balanced and all the measures would lead the company to the same direction. But they did think that it was necessary to repeat these steps several times before they became totally balanced. CCBS didnt put emphasis on business plans or budgets. It didnt see BSC as something can be unchanged. On the contrary, it considered every problem in a changeable way and made modifications every year. This may be the main reason that made BSC adoption in CCBS such a success. Some other subsidiaries of Coca-Cola are also establishing BSC in recent years. However, Coca-Cola didnt ask all of its subsidiaries to adopt BSC as a tool of performance measurement. Different companies may have different conditions and different management. Since all the laws and economic environment in different countries are distinct and the adoption of BSC requires good management, BSC may not be suitable for some companies. Take companies in China as an example. The stock market in China is not as mature as it is in European countries. Many investors in the stock market dont have enough economic background and they usually rely on analysts. However, analysts only care about financial figures. This leads to some companies consider BSC as useless. And in some companies which do use BSC, managers often ignore the real core of BSC. They usually use BSC to measure performance of employees and decide their wages only and they dont realize that BSC is actually about the companys overall strategy. So BSC is not suitable for most companies in China right now. BSC adoption needs a more mature market and managers who really understand what BSC is. In conclusion, BSC has many benefits and it can help organizations become more competitive. But it also has some limitations and it doesnt work in some countries and in some businesses. It is not suitable for every organization.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

The Dramatization of Act 3 Scene 1 of William Shakespeares Romeo and J

The Dramatization of Act 3 Scene 1 of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet Romeo and Juliet is a very famous play about two lovers in two different families who are rivals. Romeo and Juliet has love, passion, fighting, sadness, madness, lust and jealousy packed into one. It was written by William Shakespeare around 1595 over 400 years ago. Romeo and Juliet is a great play for all ages and genders this is one of the things that makes it so special. This is why it is still performed around the world today. Before Fight This is how William Shakespeare makes the story dramatic before the fight. In the play Shakespeare uses dramatic and emotive language for example "for now those hot days, is the mad blood stirring". Before the fight starts there is a light hearted mood. It is nice sunny day where Benvolio and Mercutio are playfully fooling around, talking about various subjects in their life. After a while they sit down to rest, just chatting. Quite quickly Mercutio and Benvolio get bored and restless. At this time the Capulets turn up and the mood suddenly changes to a tense atmosphere They slowly walk over to Benvolio and Mercutio and Tybalt was not in a good mood after the previous night . Benvolio was first to see them "by my head here come the Capulets" Mercutio reply's with a smile "by my heel I care not" this shows that he's in a strange mood most probably bored and restless and is trying to cause trouble. Straight away Mercutio is up on his feet and face to face with Tybalt drawing attention to themselves. He gradually provokes Tybalt e.g. "could you not take some occasion without giving" but then Tybalt infuriates Mer... ...ust in case what they paid for was not that good. In the days when Romeo and Juliet was 1st performed, theatre companies could not afford props and scenery so it had to be explained in the story. So in today's performances it would be a bit more effective and more pleasant to watch. Over 400 years people's emotions and feelings have not changed that much to this present day so I think people would still react the same to the loving parts of the play and tragic scenes. But the humour has definitely changed so I think today's audiences would not find the jokes as funny or just might not understand them. But today's audience would be much more polite and patient if the play got a bit slow or boring, as in Shakespeare's time people would have thrown rotten fruit and their excrement at the actors, who would have carried on.

Saturday, October 12, 2019

The Changes in Mickey and Edwards Relationship :: Blood Brothers Willy Russell Essays

The Changes in Mickey and Edward's Relationship There! In a flash the whole course of your life has been decided, will you succeed or will you fail? It is not for you to decide, you have had your freedom taken away from you and you will never realise until the last moments of your frustrated, or enjoyable life and by then it will be too late. This is Blood Brothers in a nutshell; a musical which tears through the walls of social ethics exposing the obvious truth, injustice and social inequalities roam our Country and the devices which Russell uses brings this to the audience in a mixture of speech, song and show. In this piece of drama coursework focusing on Blood Brothers there will be several different aspects of the play which will be focused on. The characters, particularly the main two, will be the fundamental building blocks of answering the question because once we know everything about Mickey and Edward we can then go on to look at their relationship changes. Another important issue to look at is the dramatic devices used by the director and how this will link to the structure of the play. Also it would be useful to look at the language used as this can give a good insight into the author and on this note, reach into the ideas and themes of the play so we will have a good view of Willy Russell's intentions. Finally looking at the setting to see more of Russell's intentions and the cultural context; trying to see what kind of audience Russell had in mind. Looking at Russell's intentions I have come up with three main view points: He just wrote this play as you see it at face value; it could be an ironic storyline that they are blood brothers but also real brothers, the fact that it's a musical is purely for show and entertainment. The evidence for this point of view is one of Russell's interviews about Educating Rita, where Rita cuts off Frank's hair; it's supposed to be alluding to the cutting of Sampson's hair by Delilah. In fact the real reason was it was supposed to be a comic gag. So then how do we know that Russell wrote the play for the general audience and not for the commentators and critics, maybe he wrote the play to be enjoyed; rather than for people to debate the social meanings but just watch a musical? An alternative view point would suggest that Russell saw this as way to show how difficult it is to be successful or just to lead a good

Friday, October 11, 2019

Hemingway’s fiction is not his suicide note Essay

Earnest Hemingway, the literary genius of the late 1800s produced volumes upon volumes of both poetry and fiction. After a short and very fruitful life Hemingway committed suicide but failed to succeed in initial attempts. Later, he finally succumbed to the great equalizer – death. Some people have surmised that Hemingway left clues to his unlikely demise in his fiction, however, â€Å"suicide cut the strings before they were painfully drawn out; Hemingway attempted to suck life dry of anything and everything he could fathom† (Gunsberg, 1995) This basically means that Hemingway believed that it was necessary to experience everything, even death, to enrich his art and craft. Although Hemingway committed suicide, and although many of his work focuses on death and suicide, it would be grossly unfair to conclude that he foretold his suicide in his fiction because this would be underestimating the power of the writer and his genius. A brilliant writer like Hemingway used his fiction as a form of exploration of the human condition and not as a reflection of his own condition. It would be very presumptuous to suppose that Hemingway used his fiction to foretell his suicide as many writers and literaturists would agree that although literature is a means of exposing internal emotions, it is also a means of release; hence, Hemingway’s fiction is more of an illustration of his literary genius than they are, as most would suppose, cries of help of a man in pain. Therefore, Hemingway’s fiction could not be considered his suicide notes. For instance, in the story ‘Indian Camp’ (Hemingway), the author does narrate an instance where the Indian Father commits suicide, (Hemingway) but this is simply used as a platform for the issue of emancipation from pain as illustrated by the contrasting incident of the Indian Mother who is professionally attended to by Dr. Adams who stops her pain and successfully delivers her baby. (Hemingway) In this particular story, it is not so much the suicide that is the issue but the prospect of hope and new beginnings that takes center stage. Another story where suicide is tackled is ‘A Clean and Well Lighted Place’ (Hemingway) where Hemingway portrays the pain of old age suffered by a deaf old man (Hemingway). In this particular story, there is an incident where the old man attempts to commit suicide by hanging himself, but the noose is cut by his niece and foils his attempt. (Hemingway) The story, albeit tackling suicide in one of its details does not necessary give much value to this issue, it even illustrates how one cannot escape the pains that accompanies life; that not even death can release us humans from what we have to deal with in life. So, if carefully considered, this particular story does not actually vindicate Hemingway’s own suicide, in fact it even serves to sissify his own attempt by indirectly implying that if the author believed that suicide was not a means of ending the suffering of existence as shown in his fiction, then he would have been a great coward to commit what he was writing against. Hemingway did not use his stories as a platform for the justification of his own suicide; he had his own reason’s for his suicide, and those reasons are not in any way connected to his stories. Finally, in ‘Hills like White Elephants’ (Hemingway) the author tackles the issue of abortion with a couple arguing over whether to have it (the baby) or not; the man insisting of having an abortion and the woman, subtlely indicating that she would like to have the baby. (Hemingway) Although there is no reference to suicide in this particular Hemingway story, what is obvious is the argument between two people regarding the issue of ending a life, which, by the way, is not really an argument that you would normally hear from ordinary chat. In this story, Hemingway, again, although, very discreetly, makes references to why life should be valued and why it should be considered with utmost respect, even going to the extent of contrasting childbirth with happiness. (Hemingway) Easily, from this story it is immediately evident that the author was against any form of taking away life intentionally, and so totally debunks the assumption that his fiction was an indirect indication of his consequent suicide. If such is the case, then it can be easily concluded that Hemingway committed suicide for a higher reason; this being related to the progress of his art and craft. Like many other writers who had grappled with the peculiarities of life, Hemingway was no different; and like many other creative writers then and now, it has to be considered that art, in any form, is already a means of airing out recluse emotions; it is a release that is even perhaps more effective than death itself. Hemingway, like many other artists during his time, had peculiarities of his own, and what most of these writers had in common was the ability to use the human condition as a platform in their work. While many of Hemingway’s stories talked about suicide, it has first to be understood that the author is not necessarily the ‘I’ in any of his/her work, and so it would be terribly unfair to affine subject matters in Hemingway’s stories to his actual existence. The relationship of the author to his story ends with his by-line; all the other things in the written work should be set apart from the author. It is very elementary to assume that the author only writes about his/her own personal life because, then, creativity would not have as big a role in literature as it is supposed to have. What could be more accurate, however, is the fact that the literary genius of Hemingway was enough for people who read his work to assume that he was foretelling his own suicide. While this assumption is blatantly misdirected, it simply shows how a writer is able to twist and distort the minds of his readers to think that there is much more to his fiction than meets the eye (or mind). If such is the case, then every reader might as well apply for a position at the Vatican interpreting the ancient Dead Sea scrolls. Works Cited Gunsberg, Ben. â€Å"Earnest Hemingway: Would Be King. † Earnest Hemingway. 18 Dec. 1995. 16 Apr. 2009 . Hemingway, Earnest . â€Å"A Clean, Well-Lighted Place. † Earnest Hemingway. 1999. 16 Apr. 2009. Hemingway, Earnest . â€Å"Hills Like White Elephants. † Earnest Hemingway. 1999. 16 Apr. 2009 . Hemingway, Earnest . â€Å"Indian Camp. † Earnest Hemingway. 1999. 16 Apr. 2009 .