Growth Strategy for Vincor Essay

Vincor needs to align itself in the marketplace such that it can continue to be a market leader and grow internationally. The Canadian wine market is stagnant with limited growth opportunities in a few segments – red, premium, varietal, and ice wines. Supply is always a big concern and government regulations for the sale of alcohol must be considered. As a result of the changing environment, new prospects in the market and strategic growth in external markets (international) should be analyzed. Going forward, Vincor’s growth strategy needs to focus on markets where they can have substantial market penetration and be highly successful. The opportunities are as follows: 1) Expand into international markets via acquisition and restructure the current debt to reduce interest costs. Capitalize on the popular brand name in the new market to achieve significant foreign growth. 2) Varied approach to cost reduction and focus on niches within Canada. Recover a portion of the emerging grey market by developing new product packaging for the low-end wines (plastic or boxes). 3) Build mutually beneficial partnerships with new glass bottle suppliers and develop a sales channel that will induce economies of scale for the price of bottles and increase margins; or renegotiate with current suppliers to reduce costs and provide incentives by signing an exclusivity agreement. 4) Zero in on the ice wine consumers by meeting the demand. Exploit the Inniskillin brand in the Canadian premium wine market in order to gain market share. 5) Develop a new product internationally through a partnership with a winery or vineyard by leveraging Vincor’s strong management team, international award status and proven sales force to sustain Vincor’s growth pattern. Expanding internationally through the acquisition of a company with strong branding would prove the best alternative, both in terms of timing and future growth potential. Developing a partnership in order to produce new products would take years and considerable time and effort before any gains would be realized. The varied approach would not produce enough growth to support an IPO, but many of these avenues will be addressed to reduce costs over the next several years. First six (6) to twelve (12) months: †¢ Set up the team that will conduct an international market study to determine which market, and more specifically, brand to penetrate. The team will include: 1. Jones and a market insight team (utilize services of a consulting firm that specializes in foreign winery acquisitions) 2. Jackson and his mergers and acquisition (M&A) team 3. Munroe for sales and marketing 4. Investment banker †¢ The market insight team will gather the data and develop a sound understanding of the targeted wineries and knowledge of the regulations of the country †¢ Recommendations will be made to M&A team Next twelve (12) to eighteen (18) months: †¢ Once a decision is reached, the investment banker and M&A team will contact the companies, begin their due diligence process and conduct the final purchase †¢ The new winery will be integrated into Vincor’s portfolio and Munroe with his sales and marketing team will be responsible for its growth The international acquisition will expand Vincor globally and provide for significant growth in its portfolio. At the same time, the desired Canadian relationships with suppliers will be cemented to reduce cost of sales and increase margins.

Beer in Pastel Essay

1. PESTEL analysis for Western European brewing industry. Political factors: * Government is restricting consumption of beer and alcohol products by imposing special laws. * Government initiating social events emphasizing the harmful effects of beer on the human health. * Higher penalty for being influenced by alcohol when doing crimes. Economic factors: * Many European countries are controlling the amount of beer sold in bars, clubs and bars. * Governmental acts and restrictions increased the amount of beer sold through supermarket chains. * Acquisitions, mergers and products with new brands – these are popular measures and strategies in the brewing market these days. * Packaging is responsible for a considerable amount of costs included in the total costs of production. * Super markets are offering cut price offers. Socio culture factors: * Binge drinkers are met with aggression and censure, blame for antisocial behavior. * Consumers pay more attention to their health and harm that drinking beer can bring thanks to governmental effective policies to prevent high beer consumptions. * Drinking in the pubs and bars has been reduced and wine drinking is also increased in Western Europe. Technological factors: * To achieve efficiency in production and cost reduction, companies utilize the latest technologies in order to achieve supreme quality with fewer costs. * In order to increase the cost effectiveness of the production, centralization is introduced to the organization of the production process. * Media adverts are used to commercialize established brands and promote new brands. Environmental factor: * Germany and United Kingdom markets are in a decreasing phase whereas the annual sales are growing, especially Chinese market. * German retailer’s sales are increasing from local private brands rather than†¦

Discussion Board Topic Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Discussion Board Topic - Assignment Example A reader can interpret the bible easily by understanding the context of the book that is the original and the history setting of the Bible. The method also known as historic-grammatical approach, aids the reader to find the literal meaning of the words based on the understanding of the chronological and cultural settings in which the written words form (Duvall & Hays, 2010). For instance, words in the Old Testament differ from the New Testament in that the New Testament authors were trying to interpret the Old Testament authors in this way it becomes easier for readers to apply what they have read into the present life. Topical preaching is very popular and practical that entails choosing a topic from the Bible and then expanding on the same. This method of preaching is recommended as many topics in the Christian calendar are naturally related to topical preaching for instance, the Youth day, Development day and even the Holy Communion (Duvall & Hays, 2010). However, preachers may violate topical preaching, as there is a temptation to rely heavily on non-Biblical sources, and a high tendency of misusing scriptures from the

Describe and explain the different stages of American policy toward Essay

Describe and explain the different stages of American policy toward China during the Cold War - Essay Example The first years of the Cold War are notoriously difficult to pinpoint since although the United States was against communism in the earlier years of the 20th century, it was allied with the Soviet Union during World War II in defeat of Germany and Japan. Therefore it is most common to claim the beginning of the Cold War as occurring in those years after World War II when the United States explored its options in terms of dealing with all communist countries (Wala 168). With specific reference to China, the United States spent the early 1950's deciding how to proceed with a Chinese nuclear disarmament plan. The following decade was dedicated to the war between North and South Vietnam, a conflict that gave further rise to unfriendly relations between the United States and China. While China supported the communist regime of North Vietnam, the United States supported South Vietnam in its efforts to establish a democracy. The Vietnam War was in essence a mirror of the non-violent conflict raging between the United States and China, and both countries saw the war as a way to manifest its own beliefs and prove one way or the other that theirs was the superior political strategy. In fighting for South Vietnam and providing troops with arms, the United States hoped to instill democracy in the nation and actually win over communism. The Chinese government felt exactly the same way about its involvement with North Korea and the installation of a communist government. The Vietnam War marked the pinnacle of the hostilities between the United States and China during the first stage of the Cold War period (Wiest 19-23). China and the Soviet Union were close allies immediately following the Second World War, and while the USSR took a central role in the spread of communist ideals on the international level, China's responsibility was to spearhead and Eastern revolution whereby all of Asia was hoped to be made communist (Ross 71-80). The influence of China was difficult to ignore both for the USSR and the United States simply because it was such a massive, populated country. When China became allied with the USSR, the United States government was confronted with the realization that it might be overwhelmed by the combined political and military influence of these communist states, and so when the opportunity came to ally itself with China, America took it. In the early 1970's US President Nixon took advantage of the wish of the Chinese government, headed by Mao Zedong, to establish more friendly relations with the United States. Despite the communist status of China, the major irritation to the democratic American government was the continued success of the communist Soviet Union and therefore Nixon and Zedong understood how an alliance could benefit them (Harding 391-395). Both America and China were experiencing issues with the Soviet government at this time, and although China and the USSR were both communist countries, the former had decided to change the focus of its political and economic appeal. This rapprochement is considered one of the contributing factors in the eventual collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War. In 1979 China and the US announced a full return to their diplomatic relations, and on this milestone US President

The case therefore presents a challenge for students of Multi National Essay

The case therefore presents a challenge for students of Multi National Strategy - Essay Example This way a substantial amount of time taken in the drug development process can be saved. (Gonzalez-Benito, 30) The issue that occurs here is that testing drugs in poor countries gives rise to ethical concerns. Then dealing with the pharmaceutical critics becomes both a managerial concern and issue. These critics come up with claims that companies have failed to develop cures and only test drugs in the developing world intended for wealthy nations. (Lou Ann Di Nallo, 2008) In recent years the rising affluence in developing nations has created new incentives for drug makers to produce treatments over here. Also the huge population in developing countries makes a large market for the drug makers. However, according to advocates of social responsibility, the main responsibility for drug makers in the developing countries is to provide to their citizens an access to health care at affordable prices and to fight the neglected diseases prevalent over there. Which means these large companie s need to come up with programs that would at any time put the need for meeting public health care ahead of their profits. These kinds of programs will then eventually lead to improved relations with the host countries and will also promote the growth of market there. Therefore, addressing to the needs of developing counties has become an important part of pharmaceutical companies’ agenda. (Nott, 1996) In developing countries, the issue of getting intellectual property rights for the development of new drugs by pharmaceutical companies becomes an issue. This is because property rights or patents can be a disadvantage for developing countries in two ways. Firstly, these will increase the knowledge gap and secondly the producers of knowledge will have more bargaining power as a result. And most of these producers of knowledge themselves live in developed countries. Giving out patents will put the developing nations in a weak bargaining position when negotiating prices from the monopoly suppliers of drugs. Also, is believed that by awarding such rights to multinational companies, the introduction of new products by the local industries will be delayed and new medicines will become more expensive for a common man in these poor countries to afford. The resulting impression will be that of denying the people an access to the new drugs. (Charles Y.J. Cheah, 2004) Therefore the defense of the intellectual property rights is one of the major managerial issues of pharmaceuticals in developing countries just like the case of Novartis in India These companies argue that these rights would promote innovation and technological development which will eventually lead to social welfare and economic growth in developing countries. Patents provide an incentive to producers for investing in research and development, hence innovation. (Shah, 2010) Therefore, choosing a strategy that gives the company a reputation of being responsible while at the same time lowers the innova tion cost needs to be established. Companies expect reasonable rate of return for their investments on new drugs developed which would at times also mean charging a price that is much higher than what the market can afford to or is willing to pay. This lack of opportunity to make profits can be demotivating and lead to some

Short History of Socialism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Short History of Socialism - Essay Example But if anthropologists wish to engage the contemporary world and come to terms with all its interconnectedness they certainly cannot afford to ignore the role of intellectuals in shaping-and occasionally perhaps inventing-new cultural traditions. Holy's portrayal of the actors who, as the voices of the Scandinavian nation, precipitated that country's 'Velvet Revolution' is the most dramatic of a number of illustrations provided in this volume, several of which deal with Africa. Socialism when analyzed, is found to embrace four main elements. The first of these is the common ownership of the material instruments of production. It is not stated precisely how this common ownership is to be brought about, or exactly what form it is to take (Lichtheim, 1970).. Opinions may and do differ about the practical steps which are to be taken to secure the desired end, and also about the nature of the collective organization in which this ownership is to be vested. But no one can be called a socialist in the modern technical sense who does not accept the doctrine of the common ownership of the material instruments of production. ... It is simply necessary to exercise one's imagination, and to picture to one's self the extension of that which already exists in a comparatively small way (Lichtheim, 1970).. It is said substantially all land and capital, because it is held that it is not necessary that the common ownership should be absolutely all-inclusive. It is a weakness of the extremists to insist on all -- inclusiveness in common ownership, which much damages their cause. What is necessary is that the collective ownership should become dominant in such manner as to control all other ownership and confine it within narrow limits. All the great instruments of production, like telegraphs, telephones, railways, forests, arable lands, and large manufacturing plants, must become collective property; but socialism does not imply that it is necessary to restrict individuals in the acquisition of the instruments of production on a small scale, -- for example, a wheelbarrow or a cart. Socialism, then, presented in the s trongest form, does not proceed so much negatively as constructively. Society is to acquire the instruments of production; but individuals, for the most part, are not to be restrained, except indirectly, by positive social action. Modern socialism is the natural outcome of modern industrial conditions, and its origin is contemporaneous with the origin of those conditions. We must seek its beginnings in the beginnings of modern industry. We can express this thought differently by saying that modern socialism is the product of the industrial revolution. It has grown with this revolution, becoming international as the industrial revolution has spread over the nations of the

Total Quality Management Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Total Quality Management - Article Example The first approach conceptualizes TQM as a limited set of technical tools(such as statistical process control and Pareto analysis) while the second approach views TQM as part of broader changes to human resource (HR) practices. Soft TQM corresponds to human factors like commitment, team work and so on which contributes to organisational performance. It plays dual roles. One is to create an environment where seamless diffusion and implementation of hard TQM can take place, and the other is to directly affect organisation's performance in the same way that traditional human resource management (HRM) practices impact organizations. (Ahire et al. 1996). Hard TQM tools tend to be more profound in companies that adopt strategies to increase stakeholder commitment and incorporate the views of employees in decision making processes. It views the organization on the whole as a system. It can be concluded that soft TQM will affect elements of hard TQM, in addition to having a direct impact on performance. In this study Organisational performance is expressed using seven variables used by (Samson and Terziovski, 1999) amongst six variables of soft TQM used by (Dow et al. 1999) and the four elements of hard TQM adopted by (Power et al, 2001). 1. ... 1. Direct effect of soft TQM on organisation's performance: Three (executive commitment, open organization and employee empowerment) of 12 soft TQM factors correlate to corporate performance (Powel, 1995). Again 3 (workforce commitment, shared vision and customer locus) of 9 factors influence corporate performance (Dow et, 1999). 2. Indirect effect of soft TQM on organisation's performance: Here soft TQM influences hard TQM for performance. A blend is required as attention to process, product and information technology may yield quality improvements, but ultimately it is 'people that make quality happen' (Bowen, 1992). Executives appear to understand that employee motivation, education and corporate culture all have an important role to play in efforts to improve quality, even if they are uncertain about how HR-based quality improvements can be implemented in practice (Bowen & Hart). 3. Direct effect of Hard TQM on corporate performance: Hard TQM contemplates in stressing continuous improvement and treat organization as total systems (Sitkin et al, 1994). For instance, product and process benchmarking has resulted in optimal product design and process cost reduction at companies such as Ford, Motorola, Xerox and General Motors (Main and Templin, 1992). Brief Description of areas investigated: A total of 3000 Australian manufacturing sites were surveyed of which 962 sites responded, yielding a response rate of 32 percent. A telephone survey of 108 non-respondents was conducted after the main survey, and no evidence of non-response bias was found (AMC, 1994). Since the survey instrument consisted of a large number of questions (a total of 260), the results of the survey were also tested for respondent fatigue. It was found that the

The 18th century French philosopher Denis Diderot said, Only passions, Essay - 1

The 18th century French philosopher Denis Diderot said, Only passions, great passions can elevate the soul to great things. Describe one of your passions and - Essay Example Nothing is more interesting or controversial than a political discussion. It could include an across-the-fence chat with a neighbor concerning an upcoming city council vote regarding the installation of speed bumps on area streets or an in-depth analysis of how the Magna Carta was the foundation for the U.S. Constitution. Politics are much more than simply an interesting subject that allows people to casually converse about topics beyond the weather. Politics, whether local, national or global, shapes our lives and the lives of future generations. It is a dividing line that defines ideologies. To really know a person is to know where they stand politically. In addition, it is a measure of a person’s general intellect and level of knowledge. I bring up the subject when on a date or meeting someone that I plan to associate with so as to ascertain the mindset of that person. I am in no way insinuating that an individual who is not interested in politics possesses character flaws but I would rather spend my free time with people of opinion and conviction that are concerned about the greater good. The ‘greater good’ is the goal for all but the means to that end differs to varying degrees. Married couples, old friends and family members seldom completely agree when discussing politics. One should avoid controversial subjects such as religion and politics while in a social setting it has been popularly suggested. I would add, ‘if you cannot control your emotions.’ Politics binds and greatly affects us all. The discussion is essential if local, national and global society is to evolve into the universally shared goal. In addition, the subject is fascinating and, based solely on this fact, worthy of dialogue. My passion for politics drives me to communicate its multidimensional aspects effectively. Politicians seemingly put more importance on

Revolutionizing the Retail Sector Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Revolutionizing the Retail Sector - Case Study Example This system enabled merchants to changeover only parts that needed upgrade unlike the whole system in previous system. Motherboard and hard disk are removable for maintenance and upgrading to match with the latest and high performance blade. This makes retailers easily acquire high performance technologies while keeping conformations and fixings. This design decreased downtime and minimized cost and maintenance time. Blades can power and connect a variety of devices that enabled retailers to try new technologies while in store (Parry, 2011). These solutions offered by DigiPoS, are advantageous to the retailers compared to the later system that did shut down for a complete changeover. Changing the only parts of a system which needs upgrade is a great achievement as it allows the retailers continue serving their customer and no losses due to change over or loss of reputation. Since DigiPoS produced both hardware and software, an alternative of implementing the new technology could be, have a robust type of hardware that most software upgrades could not affect the performance of the whole system (Parry, 2011). DigiPoS could have made the hardware energy efficient with the required high technology capabilities and customize their software to offer solutions to the upgrade of their system unlike the hardware upgrades which caused closure of retailers businesses due to changeover of systems. This can be a good solution to the issue of upgrade. Make software upgrades match with the latest technology and only upgrade hardware at rare conditions with backups to enable retailers continue with their businesses unlike the later where they had to shut down for each upgrade. Most a times, upgrade of software does not affect much the performance of a system though change of configurations and compatibility might change. Quantum blade system is an upgrade of retail blade system with increased power efficiency and increased performance. Quantum blade runs on SSD made by Intel c ompared to retail blade that used rotating hard disk drives. These SSD used in quantum blade systems has no spinning parts and this increases the reliability and productivity of the systems. Quantum blade has a 60% reduction of power consumption compared to retail blade that increases the return on investment. Unlike retail blade systems, quantum blade have reduced carbon footprint, which saves a lot of cost. With better heat dissipation, there is a further decrease of the cost of ownership with the quantum blade systems. Quantum has a 30 percent increase in performance compared to the retail blade due to the introduction of the new processor. The storage of data in quantum has increased volumes due to flash drives added compared to retails blade (Digipos, 2013). Both quantum and retail blade systems have low consumption of power and decreased downtime. They also offer little time for upgrade or replacement as hard disk, power supply, and motherboard in both technologies. Furthermor e, both have a higher reliability due to the fan less power supply and capability of connecting a variety of devices powered by the Blade. Data storage and diagnostics due to the use of diskette on component flash drives. In addition, both systems have the capability of mounting on different locations depending on retailer’s wish (DigiPoS Store Solutions, 2013). Several methods said to help reduce the cost of owner

Soccer or Hunger Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Soccer or Hunger - Essay Example In fact, the level of attention that is paid to the sports in Europe and U.S speaks about the high levels of life the dwellers of this regions have. Thus, it is no wonder that there is little football fans in Africa - it's hard to devote all of the attention to the forthcoming football match when you don't know what your children will have for breakfast tomorrow. Soccer has become a profitable industry due to the amount of attention that is devoted to it in the developed countries. It turned out that being a soccer player is a decent occupation; at least the salaries of the soccer players in some parts of the world, are higher than those of the doctors or lawyers. The numbers found in the Soccer and World Football FAQ were that in top Euro leagues the soccer players make from $50,000 to $7,000,000-8,000,000. The statistics strokes us down by the fact that the financial state of the European soccer players is not as good as it may've seemed, as the average salary is no more than $1,500,000. The top salary in Mexico is $2,200,000, but the average one is no more than $400,000. High profile players like David Beckham earn roughly 10 million a year from their salary alone. Roy Keane (Manchester United) got paid 100,000 a week, while Ronaldinio gets paid 7.6 million per year.

Textron Case Essay Example for Free

Textron Case Essay 1) How does Textron make money? Textron is able to make money as a result of 4 defining aspects of its business model: a. Textron is a conglomerate: by purchasing a variety of companies, Textron is able to share technology between its business units thus increasing its competitive advantage in these respective units. For instance, lessons learned in aerodynamics at Bell Helicopters can be used in the construction of aircraft at Cessna. Additionally, because of Textrons size, it increases its buyer power and can take advantage of economies of scale when purchasing from the common suppliers across business units. b. Diversification: Textron has purchased a variety of companies that complement one another such as different target markets (regular consumers vs. government consumers) and both high and low priced products (ex: hardware tools vs. private jets). Thus, like a well diversified stock portfolio, Textron is able to hedge its exposure to risk between its various business units (if one industry performs poorly one year, another industry may fair better). c. Vertically integrated: in Textrons history it developed a vertically integrated company that controlled every operational aspect of the business from raw goods to processing to distribution. Thus, it has been able to control the costs of many aspects of its business d. Finance business unit: Additional revenue is generated through the earned interest from customers who purchase credit from Textron in order to purchase Textron products. This revenue stream keeps customers in the Textron environment instead of losing customers to other credit-granting financial institutions. This Textron environment also: * Creates a one-stop-shop that can increases Textrons stickiness to its customers (also increase customer retention), which may lead to longer and stronger customer relationships. * Creates flexibility since Textron can offer more favourable interest rates than other financial institutions to promote more Textron sales 2) Assessment of Textrons: Assessment of Exhibit 1: Textron is investing heavily in assets that are not producing the sales or profits required to sustain its growth. Hence, its only choice is to finance its growth, which increases its debt and risk of bankruptcy. Textron needs to improve its asset management by increasing the output of its assets (such as PPE), changing its assets or improving its days inventory. Textron can increase the outputs of its assets by training staff to use equipment and tools more effectively or upgrade equipment and tools that can increase productivity. Textron can decrease its days inventory by improving its sales forecasting in order to produce only enough units that are demanded by the market. 3) Assessment of Textrons Cash Flow: Analysis of Cash Flow Statements 2004-2006 (in millions): * Under CFO * Net income nearly tripled from 2005 (203) to 2006 (601) * Under CFI * Net cash used in acquisitions increased significantly from 2005 (28) to 2006 (502) * Under CFI the Net Cash Used in Investing Activities of Continuing Operations has more than doubled from 2004 (800) to 2006 (2062) however, under CFO, the Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities of Continuing Operations has not doubled nor has it grown significantly from 2004 (949) to 2006 (1017). * Under CFF * In 2004 the Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities (Net CFO) is 950 and the Net Cash used in Investing Activities (Net CFI) 818. Therefore Textron generated enough cash to finance its investment activity (950-818 = 135). By contrast, in 2005 and 2006, Textron has had to use debt to finance its investments since in 2005 the Net CFO is 1036 million and Net CFI 1195 million (delta = -159) and in 2006 the Net CFO is 969 but the CFI is 1409 (delta = -440). By increasing the amount of debt, Textron increases its risk of going bankrupt in the future should the company not be able to meet its debt obligations. * Final Assessment of Cash Flow Statement: It seems that Textron is making a good amount of cash through its operations but this cash is not enough to feed its investment activities. Even worse, the increased investment has had little impact in increasing cash inflow. * Assessment of Exhibit 2: All of the above ratios are point towards poor cash flow management except Current Ratio. Thus Textrons favourable Current Ratio can be interpreted as Textron has the ability to pay off its liabilities only if it sells its large inventory (indicated by its large Days Inventory value). 4) Textrons use of LIFO and FIFO: e. Textrons income before taxes in 2006 using FIFO * Under current method: * The beginning inventory of 2006+purchase -COGS=the ending inventory of 2006 * 1,712 + purchase 8,528 = 2,069(in millions) let this calculation be called A

Operations Analysis: Starbucks

Operations Analysis: Starbucks Starbucks main focus has been on its employees. Starbucks understands that their employees are the driving factor and most important resource of the company. Starbucks provides each employee with a starting wage above minimum wage standards as well as a quality health care and benefits packages. They firmly believe that the welfare of their people, environment and community are linked to their success as a company. These principles provide an established and proven work environment for every staff member throughout every retail store owned or operated by Starbucks. PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES Speed Starbucks is all about customer experience and the key aspect to that is not keep a customer waiting. Speed is an essential aspect, for the business, because the speed of their processes affects them in many ways. The profitability is affected when the staff keeps the customers waiting and this could cost them dearly, besides, with regard to the product, by being slow the quality of the food and beverage also suffers. One way of reducing time is to have efficient and smooth internal communications, and by keeping an adequate quantity of inventory, especially a well organized kitchen or working space. Quality Quality is probably the main performance objective as it is usually the one factor that differentiates it from its competitors. As mentioned above, as part of the customer experience, quality plays a main role. Quality encompasses a lot factors and a large portion of that depends on the customer perception of it. Quality is primarily affected by the quality of the resources, the time management etc. Starbucks could adopt a TQM approach and even have quality checks. They could take back feedback from customers from time to time to review their performance. Dependability Starbucks needs to be consistent in its performance, and the quality of service or product provided. One way to measure dependability of products is for example a business may look into the records of the amount of warranty claims made against a particular product. Flexibility Speed and Flexibility are related, the faster the processing time the better the chances of processes being adjusted quickly. Flexibility also involves a degree of being up to date and to accommodate the customer needs from time to time. Starbucks RD department would have to identify flavors and new mechanisms that could attract new customers and benefit the company. It also involves understanding the economy they work in, like creating a customized menu for the countries they serve in. Cost Cost affects a large chunk of how the company works, because no matter which company it is they all have a profit maximization objective. Major costs for Starbucks include the acquiring of coffee beans and Starbucks is very specific about the Arabica beans they procure, an example of minimizing cost would be how they have started growing their own coffee beans, which has given them better control over their costs by reducing supplier costs. Another method to do so is to update technology that better uses input and reduces waste. Of the 4 strategic perspectives, Resources applies best to Starbucks Financial resources affect Cost and Quality performance objectives. If quality is high, costs are usually high. However, Starbucks finds the balance between cost quality and provides a good quality product service at minimum cost. Physical resources refer usually to the area where business is carried out and affects the Speed element of the performance objectives. Starbucks all around the world have similar outlet design where to get to the counter; customers have to first pass through the seating area. It would be faster and probably more convenient to customers to have the counter closer to the entrance. Human resources include the knowledge and experience of employees/owner and affect the Dependability variable of the performance objectives. There is a requirement for all Starbucks employees to learn how to make the various drinks and also how to interact with customers. The way Starbucks employees interact with customers is very different from other of their outlets. Also, a drink made in one outlet sometimes doesnt differ at all from the same drink made in others. There lies a very high degree of consistency in the product and service of Starbucks. Technological resources affect the Quality, Speed and Cost variables of performance objectives. With better technology, costs can be reduced, speed may be increased and quality can be consistent. SUPPLY NETWORK The major aspect of Starbucks supply chain is the supply and distribution of the coffee beans. This is a complex process as the coffee and other related products need to be obtained from around the world to be delivered at their retail outlets. Starbucks follow the rule of Plan, Source, Make and Deliver for their supply chain. Their operations begin right from the planting of the coffee to brewing the perfect cup of coffee for their customers. Starbucks supply chain includes everything from planning the raw materials, to the manufacturing of the coffee and last but not the least distribution of this coffee to their retail outlets, and they successfully do this by positioning its own people inside of distribution centers, to keep watch over operations and forge stronger relationships with service providers. (Refer to Appendix 1) CUSTOMER ORDER PROCESS Store Entrance Cashier I Cashier II Payment Specialty Drink NO YES Pickup Counter Cashier Calls Order to the Barista Barista Repeats the order and prepares Products Eg. Coffee Bean Select and purchase supplies, hire and training Seen by Customer Not Seen by Customer Fig: Paryani, K. (2013) Product quality, service reliability and management of operations at Starbucks.International Journal of Engineering, Science and Technology, 3 (7), p.3-14. Available at: http://www.ijest-ng.com/vol3_no7/ijest-ng-vol3-no7-pp1-14.pdf [Accessed: 13 Mar 2013]. (Refer to Appendix 3 4) ORDER PROCESS MAPPING This order process mapping has been divided into three main portions, the customers viewpoint, the cashiers viewpoint and finally the baristas view point. From the customers viewpoint, the order process begins when the customer enters the store and begins to make an order. At this point depending on the speed of the order process, the customer could either wait at the queue or leave it he/she feels like it is time consuming. On reaching the cashier, the customer reads and chooses from the menu available and places an order to the cashier. The cashier then informs the customer about the specialties offered, like a caramel or chocolate topping etc. This is the decision point for both the cashier as well as the customer and the customer could alter the order further. After this point, the customer pays for the drink and proceeds to either in store or maybe wait at the special stools near the checkout counter to the collect the drink and proceed to leave. Next from the cashiers perspecti ve, the process begins with the opening of the store, and it is the responsibility of the cashier to ensure that they have necessary cash to make transactions, by ensuring that they have coins and other cash/notes. The actual order happens, when the customer chooses the drink or food places the order. The cashier then mentions the various options available like choosing a topping or cream etc. The cashier after confirming the order with the customer, then immediately calls out the order to the barista. After this, the cashier tells the customer the amount to be paid and collects the amount, along with a receipt for the order, and tells the customer the approximate time that will be taken for the drink to be prepared. The final approach is that of the barista. When the order is placed by the customer, the cashier calls out the order to the barista. The Barista then follows this up by calling out the order loudly once more. This is the poke-a-yoke approach, as a method of double check ing and ensuring that the right order is placed. After this, the barista proceeds to make the actual drink. At this point it can take two deviations, there could be a fail point and the barista may not make the drink properly, in which case the drink will be made again and the barista completes the drink and places it on the checkout counter or gives in to the customer in his/her seating area. The red arrows signify an interaction between the customer and the staff and how the viewpoint is different in both their terms. The green arrow is the cashier calling out the order to the barista. Fig: Perkins Will. (2012). Research journal. The Impact of an Operational Process on Space. VOL 04.02 (1), p43-44. TRANSFORMATION PROCESS MODEL Inputs Outputs Transformation Process Coffee beans Baristas and other staff Coffee Machine, condiment counter, food freezers and other equipment Coffee Customer Satisfaction Experience Preparation of Coffee Warming of Food Fig : Simple Transformation Model adapted from Shaw, N, 2010, Operating Systems, Performance Objectives and Operations Strategy, Operations Management 1, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh (Refer Appendix 2. ) The transformation process model shown below gives us an insight to the detailed version of the order process of Starbucks. It starts with the environment, which includes the customers of the coffee shop. The transformation process model is constructed keeping in mind the Starbucks customer experience that ensures when a customer leaves the coffee shop they have a smile on their face. Like the traditional transformational process this model also depicts the inputs, the transformation system and the outputs. This model creates a linkage between monitoring and control and the transformation system, which helps in enhancing customer experience and the environment in the shop. Environment Customers Inputs Customer Order Coffee Beans Staff Equipment including coffee machines and so on. Transformation System Preparation of coffee Food warming Output Prepared Coffee Starbucks Experience Monitoring and Control Fig: Detailed Tranformation process of the order process adapted from Operations management: The input/output transformation model. 2013. Operations management: The input/output transformation model. [ONLINE] Available at: http://cnx.org/content/m35439/latest/. [Accessed 13 March 2013]. PROBLEMS FACED Some of the primary problems faced by the company in terms of its operations and performance are as follows. Inadequate seating capacity and power sources. The cleanliness at the condiment counter is another issue. No new beverages options or menu and that not all beverages are available at different stores across the globe. Inconsistency in customer service and inventory. The Wi-Fi ports arent available at all stores. RECOMMENDATIONS A) Increase seating capacity: Starbucks can increase their seating capacity by having a outdoor seating area. They could also use comfortable, space friendly couches and bean bags that can be moved around easily to suit the customers comfort. By increasing the seating capacity of the store, more customers will prefer to dine in-store and this would mean that the order process will be serving a larger number of people at the given time. Staff would have to be on hand at all times. B) Cleanliness of the counters and the coffee desks: Starbucks has a separate condiment counter which hold additional sugar sachets, stirrers, mug holders, tissue napkins etc. Though the staff provides these along with the coffee order, customers can access this if they need any additional. A recommendation that we would suggest is to develop a good roster system that will ensure that staff take turns in keeping an eye on the coffee desks. This is essential to the order process, affecting the level of customer service and satisfaction. This could contribute effectively to improving both the speed and customer satisfaction of the order process, because this is a vital part of the process. C) Customized orders: Though Starbucks boasts of customizing their beverages on the request of the customers, like providing variety in their milk full cream, low fat, skimmed milk, soya milk etc. It was identified that most of the time, the store is out of inventory for the required order and this is a major weakness. This affects the order process, because it confuses the customer and the barista. This will have a direct impact on the order process such that, the staff taking the order will have to be specific in terms of mentioning their specialties available. The customer must be made aware of the choices available, and they should have the respective ingredients available for these options. D) Stores have Wi-Fi ports. Starbucks, like its competitors, provided the policy of free Wi-Fi ports in the store. However, not all stores are consistent in this aspect and many stores dont offer this facility. This will affect the order process, as customer like youngster and business people might actually leave the store due to this reason. E) Switch menu. Customers often feel like the Starbucks menu doesnt switch around much and also that they dont have all their options available in all store. We would advice Starbucks to incorporate the feedbacks from their customers into their menu and this again would directly affect the order process. CONCLUSION This report has effectively analyzed the operations of the Starbucks chain of coffee shops. The study looked into understanding the performance objectives by aligning them to the strategic objectives of the company. Furthermore, we have identified the suitable transformational model of the company and then explained in detail the order process. We chose the order process as the main focus of this paper, because we felt this was one the main operations of the company. We have identified how the order process functions and have also mapped out the entire process from the view point of the customer and the company. Finally, we have identified some functional problems and weaknesses of their operations. One the basis of site study as well as adequate research through company profiles and journals, they study has looked into amending some of these issues. The report has explained our recommendations towards addressing these issues and henceforth makes the operations of the store more bene ficial and profitable to both the company and customers. APPENDIX 1. They set a direction based on three broad action areas: service, cost, and talent. We make 80,000 deliveries per week globally and the store managers and baristas rely on us doing this well for them to be successful. Replenishment to our stores was not setting our stores up for success. We talked to store managers and they were clear that they could not be successful if the reliability and quality of supply was not good enough. 2. The basic model of transformation process indicates the inputs and outputs required by the firm. One of the main procedures of Starbucks is the order process that includes different inputs that are essential for the coffee shop. The inputs being, coffee beans, barista and other staff, the coffee machine, condiment, food freezer and other equipments. The outputs result in the hot and warm coffee and the customer satisfaction and experience. The process that led to the outputs includes the production of coffee and warming the food. 3. Starbucks utilizes an Assemble to Order process (ATO) when dealing with customers. ATO is a mixture of make to order and make to stock. Since customers like to personalize their order, Starbucks has an inventory in every branch to reach customers needs. The product is made when a customer puts in their order yet all the materials are kept at hand for workers to make each order accordingly. Also, they keep certain things made at all times on hand like caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee because its a common order thats expected to sell and can be customized for the specific customer such as adding sugar or milk if theyd like to. (Team 1 Starbucks, 2010) 4. A typical service blueprint of the order process at Starbucks is shown Below. To start the order process, the barista behind the cash register gives friendly service by looking the customer in the eye and then greeting the customer. The customer gives the order. If the order is for an espresso drink, the barista repeats the order, out loud, and states the ingredients in a predefined order (size, type of milk, type of coffee, etc.). The barista behind the espresso bar repeats the drink ingredients in the same order. This simple poka-yoke technique helps to guarantee that the drink will be made correctly the first time. This process is generally observed at in most Starbucks stores, where the barista asks for the customers name and repeats it with the drink order. In the early days, the baristas were trained to ask the customers name. Howard Schultz has brought this step back as another way to differentiate Starbucks from the other coffee shops; this act, in turn, has had a positive impact on improving market share. (Paryani, 2011) Names of team Members Team work (management/co ntribution /attendance of team meetings) Research (contribution to data collection / group discussions /idea generation /literature review) Final Report (report construction /report write up/diagrams/ referencing, etc.) Total contribution towards assignment Athina Abigail Dsilva 1 2 2 5 Callahan Jason Brown 2 1 2 5 Leni Vincent Joseph 2 1 2 5 Nida Saleem Siddiqui 2 2 1 5 Rudy Rosario 2 2 1 5 Vidhya Subramani 1 2 2 5 Total score 10 10 10 30

Critical Review of Post-Mortem Sperm Retrieval (PMSR)

Critical Review of Post-Mortem Sperm Retrieval (PMSR) Introduction Post-mortem sperm retrieval (PMSR) is a procedure that has given rise numerous legal and ethical concerns, including: consent for procedure, ownership and assignment of sperm as a possession, divergence on the inheritance of the offspring and conflict over the introduction of sperm retrieval in organ donation (Pastuzak, et al., 2013). There is no agreement on the use of PMSR at different levels from institutional to an international level. A report published in 2003 discussed the benefits of implementing guidelines to introduce a framework and therefore simplify concerns with respect to PMSR, which included (Tash, et al., 2003): Consent issues Resource availability Medical contraindications A 1-year time period for careful evaluation of the recipient. Although PMSR is still fairly uncommon, the continuous increase in requests for In-vitro fertilization (IVF) with intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), resulted in an increased rate of PMSR requests (Kerr, et al., 1997). Sperm retrieval techniques With the advent of ICSI and IVF, numerous sperm retrieval techniques have been developed in order to tackle sperm retrieval from various entry points. The most commonly used techniques involve either an epididymal or testicular procedure by open surgery or percutaneous entry (See Table 1): Table 1: Sperm retrieval techniques Key: MESA – Microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration; PESA – Percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration; COB Conventional open biopsy; TESA – Testicular sperm aspiration. Micro surgical epididymal sperm aspiration (MESA) An incision in the scrotum is performed to uncover the epididymis. Using a microscope the tunica is incised and a ductule is mobilised. An incision of the ductile then follows exposing the fluid within which is aspirated. Microsutures are then applied, when sufficient fluid is aspirated, to the ductule. In the case that no fluid is observed another ductule is mobilised for aspiration. Microsurgery allows for a precise incision resulting in an aspiration free from any contaminating blood. With this technique a large number of motile sperms can be retrieved and preserved for future use. Also, it allows for preservation of the ductule in the case of further aspirations, if needed. Nevertheless, no evidence is present to affirm that using microsurgery will result in better retrieval in the future. In addition, the technique is very laborious and time-consuming, needing a microscope and an experienced microsurgeon (Siber, et al., 1994; Girardi Schlegel, 1996). Percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA) By using antiseptic the scrotum is thoroughly cleaned and consequently washed using saline to eliminate any excess antiseptic. In some cases, local anaesthetic is utilised (Gorgy, et al., 1998), then the epididymis head is put between the thumb and forefinger, where it is then punctured, from the scrotal skin, with a needle that is connected to a tuberculin syringe filled with 0.1ml of washing medium. The plunger is then retracted that slowly punctures the ductule. The syringe is then rotated and partially withdrawn staying within the epididymis. Then the suction is released slightly and the syringe withdrawn. Examination of the aspirated sperm is then performed after flushing the fluid into a dish. In the case that motile sperm are not found, the procedure is performed again at a different location. As the location is selected blindly, numerous tries are needed in order to secure good quality sperm. In this case, the procedure is quick, easy, does not need open surgery and easily repeatable. Nevertheless, since the punctured location is random, it cannot be controlled and occasionally ductules can be missed. In some cases, the epididymis can be very small and even covered with fat layers, making retrieval challenging. This can be overcome by using OFNA. Also, there is a higher chance of contacting a blood vessel and therefore contaminate the fluid with blood (Shrivastav, et al., 1994). Testicular sperm aspiration (TESA) In this case anaesthetic is needed, afterwards a butterfly needle is poked around the testicular fluid while suction is applied from another syringe. The fluid is then examined for sperm quality. Studies also show that color Doppler ultrasonography can be used to guide the syringe and go around blood vessels (Balenky, et al., 2001). It is quite a simple technique that does not need any special training or equipment. However, there is a risk of puncturing the tunica blood vessels since it is done blindly. Puncturing multiple passages into the tissue may lead to damage and ultimately haemorrhage. Also, sample volume tends to be quite scanty (Craft Tsirigotis, 1995). Conventional open biopsy (COB) An incision is made in order to expose a testis, afterwards an incision is also made to the tunica and a small piece of testicular tissue is sampled. Sutures are then made to the tunica and the incision closed. It is a simple method that can be performed by a general surgeon and yields a significant amount of tissue. However, testicular vessels can be damages since it is an open surgery procedure, that would lead to the possibility of impaired testicular function as these are end-arteries (Schlegel Su, 1997; Manning, et al., 1998). Key ethical issues Ethical issues can be assessed through fairness, choice and wellbeing of the stakeholders, in order to arrive to a plausible conclusion. I managed to identify the following as the stakeholders; deceased husband, family members (wife/partner, parents etc.), unborn child, physician and society. Fairness With regards to fairness the debate is driven by two main issues; firstly, the right of the father to an heir even after death. In such cases, it is suggested that the father conveys consent for artificial insemination prior to his death (Strong, et al., 2000; Orr Siegler, 2002). This would make the decision more ethically justifiable. In cases where this is not available, inferred consent could also be accepted. However, although very little data is present with regards to the postmortem wishes of men, it is assumed that a large faction of men would not want their spermatozoa used after their death (Pastuszak, et al., 2013). Nevertheless, strict regulation should always be implied, to eliminate abuse where possible (Strong, et al., 2000). Choice The issues of society with regards to PMSR centre about a fear of a continual acceptance of non-conventional practices especially in conservative societies which may lead society to become biased and aversely disapprove of such practices. However, this difference in viewpoint can be seen in all controversial debates, where society criticizes individuals of backing such practices for their own goals and desires. Therefore the introduction and implementation of legislation is important to provide a framework which may help society better understand the uses of PMSR. In the case that family members want to perform sperm retrieval from the deceased based on verbal consent from previous conversations, would the physician be obliged to carry out this task? Basing the answer on the physician’s autonomy, the physician is not obliged to enter in a patient-doctor relationship, unless the patient has no other means for medically necessary care, which is not the case. This means that the physician will never be obliged to perform such duties even if sperm retrieval might be ethically justifiable in certain scenarios. This occurs especially if the physician conscientiously opposes sperm retrieval making him free to decline performing such tasks (Strong, et al., 2000). Also, another question arises, in that would the physician be morally obliged to decline performing practices which may cause harm to a future generation? The Human Embryology and Fertilisation Authority (HEFA) obliges physicians providing assisted reproductive technologies to assess t he wellbeing of the unborn child before proceeding (Parliament of the United Kingdom., 2008). Deciding to perform such a procedure utilizing the sperm of the woman’s partner can be a complex situation to tackle especially without consent. Wellbeing The main concerns when PMSR is sought are with regards to the deceased and the unborn child. Postmortem sperm retrieval affects the welfare of the deceased as it alters the values and beliefs of the deceased (Bahadur, 2002; Orr Siegler, 2002). Also, the child would be considered the heir of the deceased, which has several permanent social implications, especially on the deceased’s family, including, possession distribution and also the child’s upbringing. This could in turn be in complete disagreement with the deceased values (Bahadur, 2002). Family members could also find interest in maintaining the family’s lineage, which could also be in direct conflict with the deceased’s wishes. With regards to the unborn child there are issues too as children born through PMSR will have no father, which may result in difficulties during their upbringing (Strong, et al., 2000). Nevertheless, the claim that post mortem insemination can lead to such dejected views is very complex as it tries to compare existence with something that does not exist. Nevertheless, it is still a very difficult task to raise a child without a father, which may lead to additional costs for the mother and the family which in turn may also be stigmatized (Weber, et al., 2009). Policy and regulatory frameworks for PMSR PMSR has now started to gain international recognition, with different countries starting to implement legislation in order to manage its practice and safeguard its use. Several countries have opted to completely abolish its use. In fact Sweden, Germany, Canada and some parts of Australia have legislation that prohibits the use of PMSR (Bahadur, 1996; Webb, 1996). In addition, regions in West Australia have legislation that prohibits post-mortem use of gametes (Webb, 1996). Israel allows the transfer of pre-embryos to the wife within a year from the death of the husband, even if there is no consent. However, upon death of the wife, the embryos would not be used (Benshushan Schenker, 1998). In the U.K., the Human Fertilisation and Embryology ACT of 1990 does not forbid post-mortem sperm retrieval and storage however it does need prior written consent from the male (Parliament of the United Kingdom., 2008). In France on the other hand after a particular case the Centre d’Etude et de Conservation du Sperme Humain (CECOS) has embraced a practice of not allowing postmortem retrieval, a policy which was backed by the French courts (Aziza-Shuster, 1994). Thereafter, in 1994, France passed an act that prohibits post-mortem sperm retrieval (Lansac, 1996). On the other hand other countries like Belgium and the USA permit PMSR, even in the absence of the males consent (Brahams, 1997; Brahams, 1996). Conclusions The advent of new practices to aid infertility cases, will challenge us with ever increasing ethical issues which most probably will only increase in number. This is why informed consent is a major issue that needs evaluation as it forms an essential part of many programmes. However, for consent to be impartial, all the information with regards to such practices must be given together with counselling to enable proper consent to be given. This means that ideally both male and female should give their consent in advance. Cases involving married couples that have prior consent even with first degree relatives, PMSR should be allowed, although it has to be in agreement with a special committee responsible of dealing with such cases. Cases that might deal with consanguinity or incest for example a mother to be inseminated with her son’s spermatozoa should be prohibited both for ethical and genetic reasons. Also, cases where children are already present, and are heirs, should be al so consulted and consent be obtained. Nevertheless, this review is being written in order to address a number of issues important issues that come with PMSR. Since, such practice is still in its infancy and little data is present, it is difficult to reach any definite answers or conclusions, especially since there is little legislation to produce a framework of guidelines and practices. However, this review might help in furthering the discussion especially since ethical opinions will vary depending on cultural and religious values. Also, the issue is not merely medical and relies also on moral ethical and religious values. A debate will allow for common guidelines to be achieved and with time implemented for future practice and improvement on the subject.

Illegalization of Flag Burning Violates the First Constitutional Amendment :: Argumentative Persuasive Argument Essays

Illegalization of Flag Burning Violates the First Constitutional Amendment When making flag burning illegal you have to wonder what our lawmakers were thinking. It was clearly not about the First Amendment in which American’s right to free speech is protected. Desecrating a flag is guaranteed in our Bill of Rights, however unpatriotic that may be. It is impossible to draw the line of where desecration begins. What about those that let our sacred symbol touch the ground, a clear violation of respect, do we punish them too? This proposed law is un-American and will only lead to furious citizens exercising their born rights. In 2000, a flag protection amendment was proposed, the statue contained harsh penalties, with fines up to 250, 000 dollars and two years jail time requested. Amendment â€Å"remove freedom† was defeated in the senate by a 36 to 64 vote, 64 people were looking out for our freedom. Laws like this would allow Congress to engage in â€Å"thought control†. Allowing a flag burning amendment to pass is letting Congress determine what is acceptable considering free speech. Surely this law will provoke more than it will help. It is believed, on average, that seven flags are burned a year, and in fact Professor Robert Justin Goldtein documented that only 45 flags were burned in the past 200 years. Seven will multiply if Americans think their rights are being curtailed. During Prohibition, a time when alcohol consumption was outlawed, nearly 30, 000 illegal and secret saloons were started in New York City. This shows that when rights are taken away Americans won’t stop, flag burning won’t cease either with an amendment. Boy Scouts burn flags when retiring them. How can a flag burning law determine just were to draw the desecration line? The amendment would have to detailed guidelines that punished only the protesters. Burning a flag would only become a crime when the thoughts attached to the act are offensive: or forefathers believed free speech to be one of our most necessary rights.

Eleanor Roosevelt :: essays research papers

Eleanor Roosevelt   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Although shy and awkward as a child, Eleanor Roosevelt grew into a woman with great sensitivity to the underprivileged of all creeds, races, and nations. Born on October 11, 1884 to Anna Hall and Elliott Roosevelt, Eleanor suffered great loss early in life with t he death of both parents. After being raised by her grandmother, she met a distant cousin, falling in love and married Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1905. She bore 6 children, with one son dying during infancy due to influenza.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mrs. Roosevelt served many types of council and learned the ropes of politics very quickly. With her husband and uncle, Theodore â€Å"Teddy† Roosevelt, both very much involved in politics, she took an interest in civil rights. Eleanor has been voted most admired woman in America because of her compassion and many acts of good deeds. Some of her many accomplishments, including defying segregation laws by sitting between the whites and blacks at a Southern Conference for Human Welfare in Birmingham, truly showed America that she was passionate for her thoughts and beliefs, never being afraid to stand up and let people hear her voice. Eleanor also influenced the Army Nurse Corps to open its membership to black women and then joined the NAACP board of directors.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The content of Eleanor’s speech is to reach out and get books for rural areas across the United States. You can tell in her speech that she has a passion for education and wanted to help the people of poor communities get access to education through libraries and books. She stressed the importance of making books more accessible for those that had a true desire to read and wanted to show people how much they could learn by opening a book during their leisure time.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Culture always plays a big role in the receiving of any speech. You can not connect with your audience if there’s no interest in the topic.

Many characters in To Kill A Mockingbird are isolated from mainstream :: To Kill a Mockingbird Essays

Many characters in To Kill A Mockingbird are isolated from mainstream society. Discuss the ways in which Atticus Finch and one other character are set apart from the society of Maycomb To Kill A Mockingbird was set in the 1930s in the south of USA, Alabama. At that period, slavery had already been made illegal. But people in the south were a bitter about it because they still believed that they needed the slaves to maintain their cotton farms. They didn't treat the blacks as though they had the same social status as them and basically still treated them as though they were still slaves. This unfair prejudice was widespread throughout the south. "Maycomb", didn't actually exist but was meant to be the embodiment of a typical town in the south at that time. In Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird, she has created characters who seem a little different and thus, isolated from the rest of Maycomb's mainstream society. Prime examples of this isolation are Atticus and the Ewells; particularly Bob Ewell. Probably one of the most important and obvious point to Atticus Finch's isolation is his lack of prejudice towards black people. Although this might not be seen as something unusual at the present day, it was at that time. More obviously so because the story was set in the south where prejudice against the blacks was something that was taken for granted. The people in Maycomb knew that prejudice was wrong and yet, they didn't think that prejudice against the blacks was wrong. They saw it as a separate matter. An example of this would be the teacher telling the children that "Over here we don't believe in persecuting anybody. Persecution comes from people who are prejudiced." The irony in it is that the reader knows that the majority of Maycomb are prejudiced against the blacks and to say that Hitler was wrong in being prejudiced was hypocritical. Atticus though, wasn't prejudiced and this was what made him different. He lets Calpurnia, a black woman, take care and act as a mother to his children. This though is not really seen by the people of Maycomb. To the people of Maycomb, Calpurnia is merely a housekeeper; but she's actually much more than that. As he told Aunt Alexandra when Aunt Alexandra wanted to dismiss her, "She tried to bring them up according to her lights, and Cal's lights are pretty good." Unlike others, he appreciates what Calpurnia did for him. "We couldn't operate a single day without Cal, have you ever thought of that? You think how much Cal does for you?" He says this to Scout when she wanted Atticus to Many characters in To Kill A Mockingbird are isolated from mainstream :: To Kill a Mockingbird Essays Many characters in To Kill A Mockingbird are isolated from mainstream society. Discuss the ways in which Atticus Finch and one other character are set apart from the society of Maycomb To Kill A Mockingbird was set in the 1930s in the south of USA, Alabama. At that period, slavery had already been made illegal. But people in the south were a bitter about it because they still believed that they needed the slaves to maintain their cotton farms. They didn't treat the blacks as though they had the same social status as them and basically still treated them as though they were still slaves. This unfair prejudice was widespread throughout the south. "Maycomb", didn't actually exist but was meant to be the embodiment of a typical town in the south at that time. In Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird, she has created characters who seem a little different and thus, isolated from the rest of Maycomb's mainstream society. Prime examples of this isolation are Atticus and the Ewells; particularly Bob Ewell. Probably one of the most important and obvious point to Atticus Finch's isolation is his lack of prejudice towards black people. Although this might not be seen as something unusual at the present day, it was at that time. More obviously so because the story was set in the south where prejudice against the blacks was something that was taken for granted. The people in Maycomb knew that prejudice was wrong and yet, they didn't think that prejudice against the blacks was wrong. They saw it as a separate matter. An example of this would be the teacher telling the children that "Over here we don't believe in persecuting anybody. Persecution comes from people who are prejudiced." The irony in it is that the reader knows that the majority of Maycomb are prejudiced against the blacks and to say that Hitler was wrong in being prejudiced was hypocritical. Atticus though, wasn't prejudiced and this was what made him different. He lets Calpurnia, a black woman, take care and act as a mother to his children. This though is not really seen by the people of Maycomb. To the people of Maycomb, Calpurnia is merely a housekeeper; but she's actually much more than that. As he told Aunt Alexandra when Aunt Alexandra wanted to dismiss her, "She tried to bring them up according to her lights, and Cal's lights are pretty good." Unlike others, he appreciates what Calpurnia did for him. "We couldn't operate a single day without Cal, have you ever thought of that? You think how much Cal does for you?" He says this to Scout when she wanted Atticus to

How to Write a Critical Essay on Film Essay

1. The introduction includes the name of the movie and the director’s name. 2. The introduction identifies the thesis, or focus, of the analysis. 3. The Ideas presented are supported with details from the movie. 4. Supporting materials are smoothly incorporated into the sentences. 5. In writing this critical analysis, the writer has considered purpose and audience. 6. The conclusion brings the essay to a definite close. 7. The paragraph is relatively free of errors in spelling, grammar, usage, mechanics, and manuscript form. Sample Outline for a Critical Essay The following is a basic outline of a critical essay, the kind that might be written in a composition, literature, or film class. in this case, the writer is analyzing the meaning of particular symbols in a short story and film. Keep in mind that this is only one kind of possible organization; there are several ways to structure an essay effectively. Outlines can also vary in the amount of detail. Always check with your instructor if you are unsure about the organization of your essay. Title: Symbols of Freedom in Stephen King’s story â€Å"Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption† and Frank Darabont’s film The Shawshank Redemption. Thesis Statement: In their different version of Shawshank Redemption, author Stephen King and director Frank Darabont make distinctions between freedom and captivity using a bird, a library, and a poster as symbols of freedom and justice. I. Introduction †¢The theme of freedom †¢Contrast freedom with the idea of unfair imprisonment †¢A bird, a library, and a poster as symbols of the human spirit, longing for community, and rebirth II. The bird as the struggle of Andy Dufesne’s human spirit †¢Bird as a universal symbol of freedom †¢Ã¢â‚¬ Caging† the bird is a metaphor for Andy’s false imprisonment †¢Jake’s different fates in the book and the film: warning and hope III. The  library as a symbol for community †¢The library as a place of freedom within the prison †¢Represents Andy’s connection with his own intellectual society †¢The library as a connection between Andy and the other prisoners IV. The poster as a symbol of rebirth †¢The women on the posters represent the â€Å"outside† †¢The posters guard and protect Andy’s struggle for freedom †¢Andy must go through the poster to escape †¢The sewage pipe Andy crawls through is like a birth canal †¢Rita Hayworth is like a â€Å"mother† to Andy’s new life V. Conclusion †¢Andy’s freedom was stolen †¢Andy â€Å"steals† his freedom back †¢Andy’s escape is the ultimate triumph of the human spirit over injustice and inhumanity

Unit 48 P3

P3– Produce an Action plan for self- development and achievement of own personal goals Short-term goals Goals| How I will achieve these goals? | How long I think this will take to achieve? | Pass AS Level PE. | Do a large amount of revision and get the course work handed in by the end of term. | 2 weeks (course work)3 months (exam)| Pass AS Level Sociology. | Do revision and learn the key sociologists for each topic. | 3 months (exams)| Pass the 3 units of BTEC Level 3 Health and Social care. | Create a timetable and make deadlines for myself to get my work. | 3-4 months (coursework)| Pass my driving test. Get my coursework finished and save money to pay for lessons. | 4 months – 1 year (theory and driving test)4 months (provisional license) | Get a part time job. | Apply online for jobs and look at job vacancy boards in shopping precincts. | Waiting for a response. | Long-term goals Goals| How I will achieve this? | How long I think this will take to achieve? | Pass AS and A2. | Do a lot of studying and revision for exams. | 1 year and 3 months (exams and course work)| Get into university. | Concentrate on coursework during AS and A2 and apply for a number of universities. 2 years (depending on my grades at A-Level)| Get a degree in sport science. | Go to lectures and get work done on time. | 3-4 years (to complete Sixth form and go to university)| Get a decent paid job after university. | Graduate from university and apply for jobs such as PE teacher, Handball coach. | 4-5 years (to complete Sixth form, university and 1 year of work experience) | Have a nice house. | Save up a large amount of money and buy or rent a house or flat. | 10 years (to complete Sixth form, university, 1 year of work experience and get a job in teaching/coaching)|

A Short History and Summary of the Current Conditions in Chile and Its Geographical Situation Essay

Chile is a country situated on the west coast of South America. It is also known as The Republic of Chile. The size of Chile is 289,112 square miles with a width of less than 100 miles. It is basically a little larger than Texas. Chile is divided into three main parts, mainland and two territorial islands named Isla Sala y Gomez and Easter. Chile has an interesting history and it has seen many ups and downs in its economic development (Hudson, 1994). A description of the history of the 20th century of Chile and its current economic and political situation is presented below. The history of the 20th century of Chile is mainly focused on its entrance to the parliamentary system and thus it saw the changes in its political situation. In the beginning of the 20th century, Chile was stable despite of having lesser power in the hands of presidents. During this time, congress selected the president for the country. The presidents of this century mainly includes: German Riesco Errazuriz, Pedro Montt, Ramon Barros Luco, and Juan Luis Sanfuentes. During the 1920’s, there was an increasing gap between the middle class and lower class of society (Bizzarro, 1987). Due to this gap, the masses were dissatisfied and they called a new leader, Arturo Alessandri Palma, who brought the system of election for the selection of president. He brought other changes as well such as compulsory primary education and separation between the church and state. After a few months’ service of Alessandri, Carlos Ibanez came into power and promoted public works and industry; however, he is known as a military dictator. Electoral Democracy was there during the years of 1931 to 1971 in Chile. After a period of uncertainty in Chile, Alessandri came into power again. Alessandri ruled Chile almost like a dictator and restored the power of Constitution of 1925. Considering the presidency elections of 1958, it is found that there were three candidates and all were from different types of people. They were conservative, Christian Democrat, and Socialist (Zanartu, & Kennedy, 1969). Jorge Alessandri Rodriguez won the election of 1858 and maintained a stable situation in Chile. Alessandri was sensible and with his ability to maintain the economic and political situation, he put a halt to the inflation in Chile; thus, contributed in the economic development of the nation. In 1964, Frei defeated Allende again. Frei was a Christian Democrat and took control over the copper industry of Chile. In the next elections, Allende came into power with his socialist view. Allende was the first elected Marxist in Chile. Allende brought new policies and changed the existing policies; such as, he finished the nationalization of the copper firms of the United States, nationalized banks, and sped up land distribution in the country. Some leaders in Chile were against the socialists programs of Allende. In 1973, with the help of the U.  S. , a military coup ousted Allende (after which he committed suicide). After Allende, Pinochet ruled untill 1990. He was mainly focused on privatization and returned the banks, factories and lands to the private owners, and put strict economic and social condition on the people of Chile (Weil, 1969). Overall, it can be said that Chile saw many different leaders in the history of the 20th century and developed in many directions. Current economic and political situation of Chile is described below in the paper. The Economic Situation During the 1970’s Chile saw the economic growth, but in the next decade it experienced recession. Pinochet was the president of Chile and he put some strict economic conditions on Chileans. Looking at the current economic condition of Chile, it can be said that it is a growing and prosperous economy. The government of Chile has a played an important role in the economic development of Chile. Peso is the official currency of the country. The government has intervened many times in the financial market of Chile to control the economic situation of the nation and promoted the social spending (Loveman, 1988). According to the current economic condition, the total GDP of Chile is U. S. $ 268. 3 billion and its GDP growth is 5%. Inflation in the country is 4 to 5% and its main industries include copper, iron, lithium, fish processing, foodstuffs, wood and woods products, cement, textile, etc. (Thomas White International, 2013). It is already discussed above that culture and history of Chile has affected the economic development of the country many times and its reflection can be seen in the economic system of Chile. Chile has seen both growth and recession (with the different economic treatments of its presidents) It is currently able to manage a decrease in the foreign debt and open for the foreign investment. The Current Political Situation The current political system of Chile is also stable. It is nation with multiparty. The country has three branches of executive, legislative, and judiciary. The cxecutive branch selects the president for the country and the legislative branch has two houses named Chamber of Deputies and Senate. The Supreme Court and other lower courts come under the judiciary system. There are many political parties involved in the Chilean Government and they are trying to maintain the social and economic condition of the country (Kelleher & Klein, 2011). Analysis and Conclusions Concluding the paper it can be said that Chile has now become an important part of the global economy with its growing industries. Due to many changes in its political atmosphere in the 20th century, Chile faced many challenges in its economic development as it saw growth as well as recession. In 1990, the democratic government was again brought into Chile. A Christian democrat Eduardo Frei won the election in 1993. Currently, the condition of Chile is stable. Chile is facing some challenges in its development of having some problems between the military and the government. Also, there is a belief in the people of Chile that the income inequality is getting worse. Apart from the economic problems, the people of Chile are facing the problems of natural disaster. A devastating earthquake has affected the economic condition of Chilean. The newly elected president of Chile, Sebastian Pinera, is trying to control the challenges that the country is facing (Cynthia & Crabtree, 2010).

Say You’re One of Them

In many respects, the world’s attention has shied away from modern Africa in recent years, most likely due to the unsteady domestic situations in other parts of the world. Recently, however, the collection of stories written by Uwem Akpan, Say You’re One of Them, has brought back to the forefront all of the pain and challenge of life in Africa at the present time. The humanity that comes through the words not only tugs at the heartstrings of the reader, but also makes strong statements about cultural conflict, class struggles and other social phenomena. This research will not only discuss Akpan’s work, but also these intertwined issues within the work. Ultimately, the work will be better appreciated and understood, but also, modern issues will be brought to light. Discussion of the Various Issues of Cultural Conflict within the Story When the research was introduced, the point was made that Akpan’s work was not only deeply emotional, but also makes strong cultural statements. Taking that assertion a step further is possible when using specific examples from the work to identify and discuss the various aspects of cultural conflict to be found in the story. The first of the areas of cultural conflict which emerges in the work is the vast divide between the economic classes within modern Africa. An early story in the work tells of a young boy whose sister turns to street prostitution in order for him to be able to afford to attend school- a blatant attempt to escape the lower class and ascend in African society. So intense is this desire to advance that extreme measures are taken by poor Africans to make ends meet: â€Å"When Baby was born, we pawned three quarters of his clothes to defray debts† (Akpan, 2008, p. 13). Therefore, fellow Africans are in fact culturally divided along economic lines, despite hailing from the same homeland. Language is also a dividing factor in modern day Africa, or more specifically, the way that someone’s voice sounds not only could set them apart from others in a cultural context, but in fact could lead to bodily harm for those of one culture who encounter opposition from another, as seen in this excerpt from the work: â€Å"He was an easy target for the sporadic violence that seized the land†¦a simple thing like his accent could give him away† (Akpan, 2008, p. 93). This is an interesting element of cultural conflict in a highly diverse continent- it is a unique type of situation whereby someone who merely speaks in a different way than others could in fact set them apart and lead to fractured subcultures, but that is exactly what Akpan is portraying. Additionally, there is a subculture of violence that is prevalent in the Africa of today; to be m ore specific, much of Africa is ruled at the present by wealthy warlords, who essentially build their own armies and make their own rules for their own advancement. Basically, these individuals are using force to alienate and oppress their own fellow Africans, keeping the weak in a state of poverty and preventing them from possible improvements that would allow them to surpass their oppressors: â€Å"Our northern generals are responsible for the extreme poverty in the land† (Akpan, 2008, p. 314). Therefore, we see the establishment of a new culture of the powerful over that of the weak. This culture is likewise somewhat restrictive, as the penalty for trying to escape it would be brutality at best, and death at worst. Changes in the Culture in the Story In Say You’re One of Them, there are sweeping changes to African culture that can be seen when looking more closely at the points that are made in work; the culture is essentially shifting from one of proud traditions and an embracing of the diversity of the various nations of the continent to a more divided one, where differences in economic status, language and ability to fight back against those who have the power to destroy one another has taken precedence (Mwaria, et al, 2004). An important point needs to be made here- although what is happening in Africa according to Akpan is certainly distressing, it is not unique to Africa, nor is it limited to lands where opportunity is less than widely available. This can be pointed out with a look into other cultures where division is complicating matters at present. A Study of Other Cultures Like Africa, the United States is a melting pot of different cultures and also like Africa, has encountered its share of culture clash in recent years. This conflict has taken place in several diverse cultures and has divided people in several different ways. First, along lines of ethnicity, the US has seen a renewed level of awareness of the fundamental differences in human beings as a result of the horrific terrorist acts of September 11, 2001 on American soil. Because of this pivotal event, those wishing to immigrate to the US from other nations, whether legally or illegally, have met with opposition ranging from disdain to outrage and acts of unwarranted violence (Moser, 2000). It would seem that like Africa, the diversity of culture that made America such a unique place has been watered down in a flurry of prejudice, fear and false impressions about one ethnic group or another. Instead of introducing new cultures into the American landscape and then allowing them to assimilate into the prevailing American culture, people are being excluded from the opportunity to do so from the beginning, not only depriving them of opportunity, but also stifling the advancement of American society from within. Politically, Americans have also formed subcultures that of late have been in a great deal of conflict. Recent years have seen differences in political mindset become key issues that instead of bringing these individuals together for the sake of healthy debate, have in many cases divided individuals to the detriment of the political process (Shogan, 2002). From time to time, this difference has also turned volatile in more than one instance as wars of words sometimes turn into acts of violence. Lastly, class envy is also alive and well in America, creating cultural conflicts, especially given the current dire economic climate in the world. Tied closely to the political issues of the nation, economically diverse people are commonly divided by a lack of understanding of each other’s culture- a culture defined by money and privilege or the absence thereof. Overall Analysis of the Reading Akpan’s book opened the eyes of the researcher in many ways, not the least of which was in terms of gaining an understanding that cultural differences can either create a wonderful blend of different traditions and ideas or can divide people and lead them to destroy others. This realization evoked in the researcher the feeling that diversity must be embraced, lest its power consume and destroy one culture at the hands of another. Conclusion The research has made important points about culture, diversity, and the perpetual change of the human condition. In conclusion, perhaps the best point to take away from the research is the fact that without a tolerance at least and embracing at best of diversity, no one can truly be free.

U5 Research Project Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

U5 Research Project - Coursework Example The GPO corresponds to active directory containers. The GPO defines  registry based polices, security options, software installation and maintenance options, scripts options, and folder redirection options. It provides the facilities to maintain access barriers to different configurations of users and windows (Technet.microsoft.com, 2015). Windows policy editor is a tool that enables a user to edit group policies and is also a helpful learning tool. There are various differences between encrypting file system (EFS) and BitLocker drive encryption. Both services are used to encrypt your files. EFS is more specific than BitLocker. EFS is commonly used to encrypt particular files or folders in a drive whereas, BitLocker encrypts the whole drive; system drives, fixed drives and removable drives (windows.microsoft.com, 2015). BitLocker is independent of user accounts it is either on or off for all drives but EFS provides the individual rights to users (windows.microsoft.com, 2015). Moreover, BitLocker needs administrator rights. On other hand, EFS does not require administrator privileges in order to be used (windows.microsoft.com, 2015). BitLocker also uses a special microchip, trusted platform module (TPM) that underpins the advance security to your operating system. windows.microsoft.com,. (2015).  Whats the difference between BitLocker Drive Encryption and Encrypting File System?. Retrieved 5 January 2015, from

Week 2 #1 Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Week 2 #1 - Coursework Example The firm needs technical skills and knowledge to operate effectively. In order to acquire these technical skills, the firm needs to recruit competent and highly qualified employees. These employees can then be used to impart the skills and knowledge to other company employees thus improving the company’s overall level of knowledge, skills and abilities (Staines 2012) Conducting widespread recruitment communications makes it easier for qualified candidates to apply for the vacancies in the firm. This is then followed by thorough interviewing process that seeks to establish the interviewee’s level of knowledge, skills and abilities. After recruiting the most qualified candidate for the task, the firm forms a team around the individual so as to encourage knowledge sharing. According to Zhang et al (2014) knowledge sharing enables the company to access the necessary skills with reduced cost implications while at the same time improving the motivation of staffs that learn new things. Zhang, R., Chen, Q., El-Den, J., Jie, Z., & Wankun, Z. (2014). Team members’ knowledge sharing satisfaction in enterprise competition simulative games: An empirical research. Paper presented at the 436-444. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1674840406?accountid=62741 Politis, J. D. (2003). The connection between trust and knowledge management: What are its implications for team performance. Journal of Knowledge Management, 7(5), 55-66. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/230318989?accountid=62741 Staines, G. M., PhD. (2012). Finding the best people in a tough economy: The role of knowledge, skills, abilities, attributes, and the challenges of the talent acquisition process Library Leadership & Management (Online), Retrieved from

Advantages And Disadvantages Of A Corporation Diversifying Essay

Advantages And Disadvantages Of A Corporation Diversifying Internationally - Essay Example Diversification may be used to refer to the variation between businesses within a company. This variation may be by products and/ or services. Diversification meaning varies across businesses, as what stands as diversification in one organization may not have significance in another. Thus, the definition of diversification is subjective. Nonetheless, business diversification may be in the dimension of cost leadership, production of commodity products, new product development, market leadership, strong brand names, high value added products, niche markets served, customers shared, advertisement emphasis, customer service emphasis and product design. Other dimensions may be emphasis on research and development, raw materials used, quality emphasis, distribution networks, company size. International diversification entails diversifying an investment portfolio across diverse geographic regions in order to lessen the overall peril and enhance returns on the portfolio. Corporations embrace international diversification by locating their operations in diverse nations and regions so as to reduce operational and business peril. There are three types of international diversification that is, related diversification, unrelated diversification and single product strategy. ... pany level tactic founded on a multibusiness model with the aim of increasing profitability through the use of common organizational capabilities to augment the performance of all the company’s business units. Firms that pursue this mode of diversification strategy are referred to as conglomerates, implying business organizations that function in numerous diverse industries. Advantages of international diversification Diversification and profit stability The assertions associating diversification on profit stability revolve around the portfolio concept, which holds that investing in diversified stock with non related profits may lower the precariousness of a corporation’s total gains. The idea of portfolio relates to product diversification, which may lower the variance of a company’s total profits. The reason is that the unpredictability of various profit schemes merged is nearly always less than the unpredictability of every profit stream independently, on cond ition that the profit streams are negatively related. Researches establish that product diversifiers actually enjoy higher profits than non diversifiers. The degree of risk reduction through unrelated diversification may exceed that which may be attained through related diversification. The reason is that unrelated diversification could lower industry specific systematic risk because it entails diversification across numerous industries. On the other hand, related diversification may not lower industry specific systematic risk happening within an industry. Industry specific systematic risks are the risks universal to all businesses in a certain industry (Kim, Hwang & Burgers, 1989, p 47). Rugman observed the same view, that geographical diversification through direct overseas investments evens out a

Political Continuities and Discontinuities in the World between the Term Paper

Political Continuities and Discontinuities in the World between the Colonial Period and the Present - Term Paper Example In a simplistic perspective, colonialism pertained to the acquisition, perpetuation, and management of the overseas territories referred to as colonies by the people from other countries, most commonly happening to be denizens of the Western world. Colonialism was a process by which the people of a Western country established sovereignty over a foreign land and the colonizers went to a great length to alter the politics, social norms, culture and economic dynamics of that colony to strictly suit their vested interests and designs (Wesseling 1997, p. 29). Inequality was indeed the basis of colonialism and the inequality between the colonizing nation and the colony and between the colonizers and the natives was the crux of all the colonial logic. Colonialism did have a multidimensional impact on the individual rights, politics, cultural norms, economics and religion of the colonized nations and gave way to institutions and concepts like slavery, economic exploitation, religious enforce ment and ethnic alienation. Though these norms and concepts have greatly ceased to exist in a strictly colonial form, they indeed tend to continue in altered forms and designs in the contemporary times. This paper intends to trace the continuities and discontinuities associated with these institutions and concepts in a current perspective. Slavery Colonialism relied for its political and economic sustenance on the subjugation and exploitation of the colonized. Slavery was an immensely unfortunate and inhuman aspect of colonialism that tended to dehumanize the people from colonized lands to run the economic machinery of the colonial nations (Walvin 1994, p. 7). The essential essence of slavery in the colonial times was that it methodically degraded the culture, traditions, social institutions and religions of the colonized races to consider them equal to being animals. The colonial forces had to somehow justify the exploitation of subjugated races as slaves, and the one plausible way of doing so was to prove and establish that the people from colonized races were inferior to the Europeans. The foundations of slavery and the slave trade were laid in the beginning of colonialism and the commensurate rise of mercantile powers (Walvin 1994, p. 56). Slavery was utterly devastating for the colonized races in a long term context as it significantly shrunk their populations, made the colonized lands and races more vulnerable to and dependant on colonial powers, decimated any chances of modernization of the enslaved races and brought far reaching political consequences, whose reverberations could even be heard in the present times. The institution of slavery devastated farming and industry in the colonized nations. There is no denying the fact that the institution of slavery in its colonial context, where the individuals from the enslaved races were owned and managed by the Western vested interests has seized to exist in the present times. However, it goes without sayin g that the historical momentum that accompanied colonialism and imperialism and the accompanying institutions and practices like slavery still continue to shape the present world in ways and forms that is utterly disturbing and annoying. It would not be wrong to say that there are far greater numbers of slaves serving the cause of the Western economies today than that existed during the zenith of slavery. Today the

The Catholic Church and Its Influence on Africans in Colonial Latin Essay

The Catholic Church and Its Influence on Africans in Colonial Latin America - Essay Example The Church used a number of ways for a number of ways for conveying its messages and maintaining the order which ranged from the content of the sermons to the establishment of institutions like the Inquisition. The Catholic Church was an influential and powerful institution in colonial Latin American society, but its teachings were not followed by all the members of the colonial Latin American society. Africans in Colonial Latin America As Landers pointed out that the Africans started living in Latin America about a century before they started living in the United States. In her book ‘Slaves, Subjects and Subversives’ she studied the African Diaspora in Latin America. The study includes the experiences of many types of African descents, most of them were slaves, but there were also free people. She also presented her views about Christianity which was purposefully and religiously used for enslaving oppressors.1 Out of about twelve million Africans only eleven million cou ld survive the trauma and horror of slavery of the Middle Passage and mostly worked as slaves in plantation. Their and their decedent’s experiences of plantation slavery are horrible realities of the Iberian colonies of Latin America. The Catholic Church played a key role in soothing their sufferings.2 The Role of the Catholic Church in Maintaining Social Order The entire population of the Colonial Latin America society was under the influence of the Catholic Church including Africans who were mostly slaves and the Church served as an institution aiming to maintain the social order in the society. The Catholic Church tried to ensure that the social order is not overturned by the Africans or the slaves. The sermons of the Catholic Church did not approve the extreme cruelty of the slave owners and often criticized them, but they didn’t say anything against the slavery. The sermons of Padre Antonio Vieira instructed African slaves to obey their masters irrespective of the extreme cruel treatment by them. The sermons also talked about the rewards in the heaven for their sufferings on the Earth and insisted to pay attention on peace of their souls neglecting their physical pains.3 These sermons meant to comfort African slaves so that the social order is not disturbed. The sermons of the Catholic Church also tried to minimize any possibility by the African slaves to rise up against their masters or to escape from their masters. The sermons aimed to divert the focus of the African slaves from their sufferings to the afterlife and their souls. The sermons emphasized on neglecting worldly pains for the peace of souls and afterlife and ensured that the slaves are loyal to their masters and masters are obeyed by them so that the social order is maintained. The Catholic Church also used the institution like the Inquisition to maintain the social order. The Inquisition was used for interrogating and bringing to trial those who don’t follow the teaching s of the Catholic Church and go against it. â€Å"The Inquisition investigated everything from not living up to the teachings of the Church, to practicing Judaism, to charges of sorcery†