Jesus as founder of Christianity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Jesus as founder of Christianity - Essay Example That Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah or Christ, is the founder of Christianity is held as an unquestionable assumption by many Christians is obvious, but careful scholarship requires that the assumption be qualified, if not refuted. A founder may be defined as a person who establishes, initiates, originates or lays the foundations of an idea, movement, group or institution . Identifying a founder of Christianity then will require one to determine with which person did the religion originate, who established it, who introduced it as an idea or movement, and who gave it its structure and organisation. As we shall see, this task is not a clear-cut one. The origins of Christianity were fraught with much controversy, and its development into the organized religion and group of religious systems that we now call Christianity cannot be said to have been a smooth and linear one. This paper then explores the above question along three axes: Jesus as the founder of Christianity; Jesus as the originator of a Jewish Messianic sect that â€Å"posthumously† became Christianity; and the apostles as the founder of a Jewish sect that became Christianity through the interpretations and Christology of Paul. According to The Columbia Encyclopaedia, the main teachings of Christianity are that "Jesus is the Son of God; that his life on earth, his crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension into heaven are proof of God's love for humanity and God's forgiveness of human sins; and that by faith in Jesus one may attain salvation and eternal life"3. It is indisputable that Christianity centres on the life, death, resurrection, and teachings of Jesus, without whom the religion wouldn't exist. He is the pre-eminent source, and the great 'rabbi', whose words and the Midrash4 thereof form the New Testament scriptures. It is Jesus who gives the basis for the religion's creation in the forty days between His resurrection and ascension: "After his suffering he appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. He said to them 'you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'"5 Although Christianity begins in earnest after Jesus' ascension, he lays the foundations for it to be carried out in the above quote and in the Great Commission: "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And [miraculous] signs will accompany those who believe".6 There are two things of note about this commission; the first is that it reiterates the disciples' missionary work during the lifetime of Jesus7, and the second is that it gives the disciples the power and authori ty to continue doing the miraculous work that Jesus had done in his lifetime. The first time the gospel is preached after the resurrection is on the day of Pentecost, when, on receiving the promised Holy Spirit, Peter addresses the crowd gathered8. His sermon takes the following form: he recalls the Messianic prophecy in Joel and relates the story of Jesus' life, work, persecution and resurrection, using this to demonstrate that "God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."9 He closes with a rejoinder that indicates the basic tenet of 'The Way': "Repent and be baptised, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."10 'The Way' eventually becomes known as 'Christianity', after the appellation given to the disciples in Antioch11. On the one hand, the above shows that to some extent, Jesus can be considered the founder of Christianity, since it originates and is grounded in him. On the other hand, it shows, as most definitions of Christianity claim, that the religion that bears his name is actually founded by his followers after his death12. In one sense, Christianity,

Anotatted Bibliography Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Anotatted Bibliography - Essay Example The author comes up with a mode of describing the child; â€Å"Description. The criterion is however based on the child’s figuration. This is as regards oppositional theories of the subject matter. It is an emphasis brought about by the argument that there will always be theories produced in such an increasingly changing world using the context of Australia. In his argument, the author categorically takes a look at the history of childhood. He says this can only be studied through historical conception, that is, through inclusion of such sources as the Philippines Aries. The article uses a quantitative research methodology using results made on based on the insights of demographic historians. The author stresses on the fact that the youth is a constitution not of instinctive acquisition, but rather purposefully processed. This involves social constructs from childhood all the way to adulthood. Youth culture is examined on a historical perspective through the use of a sociological research approach. In this context, a close look and examination of the youth culture is achieved. Castaneda, C. (2002) The Child in Theory: post-structuralism, feminism, and psychoanalysis. In University of Sydney Library (ed), Figurations: child, bodies, worlds, Duke University Press, Durham, Chapter 5,

Good parenting advice for first time parents

Good parenting advice for first time parents Being or becoming a parent is one of the most challenging, yet most natural things people may face during their life. A first-time parent may feel overwhelmed by the situation, therefore it is important to learn from other parents and research carried out in this area. This essay will look at some of the most important pieces of advice that a good parent can have, which will hopefully lead to a good parenting. First it will outline more about what it means to be a parent. Secondly it will specify different theories of child development. Then it will look at attachment and the Internal working Model and why secure attachment is important in early childhood. And finally it will look at first relationships and how infants experience distress. A parent is someone who has a responsibility to raise and guide a person from child, to adolescent, all their way up until their offspring is an adult. Parents are important, because they are the main example for their child on how to interact with the world and how they should lead their life. A parent is a bit like a rules book or instruction manual, on how to live life, for a child. Good parenting is difficult to define, as one definition does not fit all, however it refers to finding a good balance within all aspects of how to be a good parent. Many successful people are often heard praising their parents and upbringing for their success; this could be due to a result of good parenting. If there is good, there must be bad parenting. Many criminals state that abusive or poor parenting is a cause for their behaviour. It is also important to realize that parenting has changed over the last 50 years, and that the term and expectations of a parent differs not only over time, but also culturally and socially, therefore what one can see as good parenting, can other dissaproof. (Oates, Lewis and Lamb, 2005) There are different theories of child development, and each of them focuses on different aspects of development. Psychoanalytic theorys central stage is to put importance to early period of childhood, as that influence the development of adult personality. Freud stressed the importance of childhood events and experience. He saw child development as series of psychosexual stages, where each stage played a role in adult personality. (Oates, 2005) Another theory is cognitive theory, which argues that development of interactions from birth leads to the emergence of language. Piaget saw children think differently from adults, and as a first person, he saw children play an active role in gaining knowledge of the world. Behavioural theory looks at how environmental interaction influences behaviour; development is shaped by reaction to rewards, punishments, stimuli or reinforcement. Theory which looks at early relationships is Social theory, where Bowlby (1988) argues that early relationship s with caregivers play a major role in child development and continue to influence social relationships throughout life. The way in which newborns create new attachments and form their first relationships is very important. This is because these attachments and relationships could potentially provide the blue print for that person for the rest of their lives. Therefore an important bit of advice would be to provide lots of healthy attachments for babies early on in their lives. An attachment is something that we have a close bond to or a special relationship with. This can be with an object or a person. Bowbly (1988) believed that attachment is vital to make healthy attachments, not only one, but a variety, as this could lead to a more developed Internal working model (IWM). An IWM is made up of three parts; the model of self, model of the other and the relationship between these. The first experiences which babies have build their IWM, and this is what they use to approach new ideas and situations with. Therefore this model helps them to use this prior knowledge of attachments when they are in new sit uations with a different objects or people. A healthy attachment is a long-term, stable relationship between a child and an object or person, in this situation a parent. It is important for the child to make strong healthy attachments with not only parents, but also with other people, such as their grandparents or caregivers. The more relationships the baby has, the better outcome for the childs IWM, it also leads to healthy emotional development. Ainsworths Strange Situation (1978) experiment created four types of attachment, that a childs IWM can take. The four types are insecure-avoidant (Type A), securely attached (Type B), insecure-resistant/ambivalent (Type C) or disorientated/disorganized (Type D). The Strange Situation experiment examines attachments and its developmental consequences. The experiment looks at the behaviours and actions of a child, when they have been separated from their parent and then when reunited. Ainsworth noticed that it was when the child and the parent were reunited, that a childs type was most evident. Mothers of secure infants respond to all of their childs emotions, therefore the infants learn that all emotions are valid in relationship. When reunited the child found easy to be comforted by its mother. The avoidant infants show only few emotions, which are mostly negative. The mothers are unresponsive to most of the emotions, especially the negative ones. Therefore these infants learn to hid e their emotions. At the reunion, these children avoid interaction with their parents. Mothers, who respond only to distress responds of their infants, tend to have ambivalent infants. These infants learn that negative emotions get the attention of their mother and that these emotions are the valid ones in the relationship. These child children will seek contact and interaction at the reunion, but when it is offered, they reject it. These results showed that important factor of developing infants different types of IWM can be influenced by their mothers sensitivity to their infants emotional communications and emotions. (Ainsworth, 1969) Child with secure attachment feels worthy of his parents attention and love, and can gain comfort from this feeling when they are separated, and has confidence that his parent will return. According to Meins et al. (2001), parents, who treat their infants as persons with their own feelings and thoughts, contribute to their secure attachment. Bowlby (1988) argues that is important to have secure attachment, because these children might approach a relationship with more confidence than someone who has insecure attachment. The attachment theory puts forward that an infant who has a secure attachment with one or both parents will be able to use them as a secure base in which to explore their environment. This is because their IWM represent that of their parent figures. An example of importance of secure attachment and how IWM works can be seen in the programme by Dr Acquarone (2006). Marni had problem with her sleeping habits, she woke up through the night and needed her mother to comfort her. She had formed an attachment to her mother, as she feels secure with her, but as Dr Acquarone suggested, Marni has not formed a sufficiently stable internal working model for her to use as a source of comfort when her mother is not available. Therefore Marni needs to find and develop an attachment to a substitute transactional object, which will help her in this situation. It is important to remember that the baby is also a person, how a parent relates to the child in the early life will have a direct influence on its future. Throughout our lives we have many relationships. As people are predominately social, it is important that they learn how to make good strong relationships. It is important to make relationships not only for our physical needs, but also for our psychological development. Humans first relationship is very important. Winnicott (1964) stated that there is no such thing as a baby if you set out to describe a baby; you will find that you are describing a baby and someone. A baby cannot exist alone, but is essentially part of a relationship. (Winnicott, 1964, p.88) The caregivers are providing the physical needs for the baby; such as food, warmth and support, furthermore they are providing the opportunity for the baby to form a relationship with them. As part of a good relationship, it is important that an infants and an adults social in teractions fit well together, this is known as meshing. Oates (2005) assumed that meshed interactions between mother and infant can give the infant the unique experience of taking part in a dialogue, which also provides the experience of relatedness. Therefore mashing is very important, because interacting with infants provides an opportunity for the infant to recognize what his/her behaviour means, and how others respond to it. However, infants are very sensitive to their mothers responsiveness, as can be seen from Murray and Trevarthen (1985) study. Infants who were interacting with their mothers through a video link, where the live link was replaced by a delay or replay of the recording, made the infants distressed, as the mother was not corresponding to the infants needs properly. Shuttleworth (1989) assumed that distress is a crucial experience in infancy, which should not be avoided as it creates intimate contact between mother and baby. Each parent deals differently with distressed baby. Winnicott (1965) stated that it is very important for mother to be emotionally available to her infant to build up a system of two-way communication. He also believed that infant should be allowed to experience tolerable frustration as this leads to a healthy development of independence and sense of self. Therefore he challenged the term good mother, as he sees good mother as someone who allows just the right amount of delay in meeting the infants needs. Studies were done on what is the best to do with distressed babies. For example Ainsworth and Bell (1970) found that babies, whose crying was ignored early, were later crying more frequently than babies whose mothers responded quickly to their babies needs. These findings agree with attachment theory, where the idea is that mother respond immediately to her babys needs. However not all studies have same results. Some suggests that baby cries more frequently if the mother responds too often, this agrees with Social learning theory. In the study of Clarke-Steward (1973) on 11, 14 and 17 months old babies was found that mothers who respond promptly to distress infants were among the least fretful. However, when the results were examined separately in gender, the girls were the most and the least fretful even their mothers were very responsive to their signals of distress. This results support the predictions of both social-learning theorists and attachment theorists, which examples were mentioned above. Being a first-time parent can be a very challenging and difficult period in a persons life. Therefore it is vital that help is at hand. This has lead too many theories on child development. Parenting style is an important factor, and each parent must do what they feel is best for their child. This essay has identified some theories and examined research that explores attachments and relationships. It suggested that communication is very important between the mother and her infant, and that communication and attachment has an influence of the emotional development of the child. These would be important bits of information to pass on, because looking at these theories puts being a first-time parent into perspective. They demonstrate how the actions of the parent will have an effect on the baby possibly for the rest of his life. Primary relationships and attachments create the life blue-print for that baby. Obviously mistakes happen and parent cannot be a perfect all the time. So along with the advice in any parent help book or any research carried out, it is important for the parent to just do their best no matter what happens. Word count: 1981

Leadership vs. Management Essays -- Compare Contrast Leader Manager Es

Leadership vs. Management Much has been written about the difference between management and leadership. In the past, competent management staffs ran effective companies. In light of our ever-changing world, however, most companies have come to realize that it is much more important to lead than to manage. In today's world the old ways of management no longer work. One reason is that the degree of environmental and competitive change we are experiencing is extreme. Although exciting, the world is also very unstable and confused. In an article entitled What’s the Difference between Your Hospital and the Other? Gary Campbell states that the difference between a manager and a leader is that the manager â€Å"finds himself quite willing to take risk, but seemingly afraid to take the risk of being different.† That being true, a manager will always be reactive instead of proactive. A true leader will be proactive. He will embrace change and will look for ways to differentiate himself and his company fr om the competition.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Warren Bennis – a popular writer of leadership resources – defines the difference between managers and leaders by using the following contrasts: 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The manager administers; the leader innovates. 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The manager maintains; the leader develops. 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The manager accepts reality; the leader investigates it. 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The manager focuses on systems and structures; the leader focuses on people. 5.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The manager relies on control; the leader inspires trust. 6.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The manager has a short-range view; the leader has a long-range perspective. 7.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The manager asks how and when; the leader asks what and why. 8.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The manager has his or her eye always on the bottom line; the leader has his or her eye on the horizon. 9.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The manager imitates; the leader originates. 10.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The manager accepts the status quo; the leader challenges it. 11.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The manager is the classic good soldier; the leader is his or her own person.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The culture of an organization is embodied in its vision as well as the actions and attitude of its employees. Managers can sometimes sustain the skeleton of the company culture but it takes a leader to invigorate it and keep it healthy. A manager works hard at keeping the â€Å"old† culture and a leader works even harder at ensuring the culture is innovative and breathing in each of its employees. Bo... ...capacity, probably both are necessary in a successful organization. However, in order to keep a company competitive and on the leading edge in an industry, it is more important to have strong leadership than strong management. With strong leadership, the culture of an organization is kept not only alive, but also healthy and thriving. An organization with strong leadership always encourages change and most always requires it. Both through a focus on hiring and developing strong leaders and maintaining a consistent two-way communication system, an organization can ensure its culture is created and maintained in a healthy manner. With strong leadership an organization will continue to change with its environment and keep ahead of the competition. Works Cited Bennis, Walter (1997). Learning To Lead: A Workbook on Becoming A Leader, pg. 9,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Perseus Books, Addison/Wesley Campbell, Gary (2004). What’s the Difference Between Your Hospital and the Other?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  HealthLeaders News July, 2004 One Thousand Ventures (2000). Business Guide, Management. Retrieved April 20, 2005 from http://www.1000ventures.com/business_guide/mgmt_new-model_25lessons-welch.html#LMML

Globe Theatre Essay

William Shakespeare was born on April 26, 1564. William Shakespeare was the son of John Shakespeare, an alderman and a successful glover originally from Snitterfield, and Mary Arden, the daughter of an affluent landowning farmer. He was born in Stratford-upon-Avon. He was the third child of eight and the eldest surviving son. Scholars have surmised that he most likely attended the King’s New School, in Stratford, which taught reading, writing and the classics. THEATRICAL CAREER Some of Shakespeare’s plays were published in quarto editions from 1594. By 1598, his name had become a selling point and began to appear on the title pages. Shakespeare continued to act in his own and other plays after his success as a playwright. EARLY WORKS With the exception of Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare’s first plays were mostly histories written in the early 1590s. Richard II, Henry VI (parts 1, 2 and 3) and Henry V dramatize the destructive results of weak or corrupt rulers, and have been interpreted by drama historians as Shakespeare’s way of justifying the origins of the Tudor Dynasty. Shakespeare also wrote several comedies during his early period: the witty romance A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the romantic Merchant of Venice, the wit and wordplay of Much Ado about Nothing, the charming As You Like It and Twelfth Night. Other plays, possibly written before 1600, include Titus Andronicus, The Comedy of Errors, The Taming of the Shrew and The Two Gentlemen of Verona. LATER WORKS It was in William Shakespeare’s later period, after 1600, that he wrote the tragedies Hamlet, King Lear, Othello and Macbeth. In these, Shakespeare’s characters present vivid impressions of human temperament that are timeless and universal. Possibly the best known of these plays is Hamlet, which explores betrayal, retribution, incest and moral failure. These moral failures often drive the twists and turns of Shakespeare’s plots, destroying the hero and those he loves. In William Shakespeare’s final period, he wrote several tragicomedies. Among these are Cymbeline, The Winter’s Tale and The Tempest. Though graver in tone than the comedies, they are not the dark tragedies of King Lear or Macbeth because they end with reconciliation and forgiveness. JULIUS CAESAR The Tragedy of Julius Caesar is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1599. It portrays the 44 BC conspiracy against the Roman dictator Julius Caesar, his assassination, and the defeat of the conspirators at the Battle of Philippi. It is one of several plays written by Shakespeare based on true events from Roman history, which also include Coriolanus and Antony and Cleopatra. THE TEMPEST The Tempest is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1610–11, and thought by many critics to be the last play that Shakespeare wrote alone. It is set on a remote island, where Prospero, the rightful Duke of Milan, plots to restore his daughter Miranda to her rightful place using illusion and skilful manipulation. He conjures up a storm, the eponymous tempest, to lure his usurping brother Antonio and the complicit King Alonso of Naples to the island. There, his machinations bring about the revelation of Antonio’s lowly nature, the redemption of the King, and the marriage of Miranda to Alonso’s son, Ferdinand. THE TAMING OF THE SHREW The Taming of the Shrew is a comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1590 and 1592. The play begins with a framing device, often referred to as the Induction,[1] in which a mischievous nobleman tricks a drunkentinker named Christopher Sly into believing he is actually a nobleman himself. The nobleman then has the play performed for Sly’s diversion. The main plot depicts the courtship of Petruchio, a gentleman of Verona, and Katherina, the headstrong, obdurate shrew. Initially, Katherina is an unwilling participant in the relationship, but Petruchio tempers her with various psychological torments—the â€Å"taming†Ã¢â‚¬â€until she becomes a compliant and obedient bride. The subplot features a competition between the suitors of Katherina’s more desirable sister, Bianca. HAMLET The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. Set in the Kingdom of Denmark, the play dramatizes the revenge. Prince Hamlet exacts on his uncle Claudius for murdering King Hamlet, Claudius’s brother and Prince Hamlet’s father, and then succeeding to the throne and taking as his wife Gertrude, the old king’s widow and Prince Hamlet’s mother. The play vividly portrays both true and feigned madness—from overwhelming grief to seething rage and explores themes of treachery, revenge, incest, and moral corruption. Hamlet is Shakespeare’s longest play and among the most powerful and influential tragedies in English literature, with a story capable of â€Å"seemingly endless retelling and adaptation by others. â€Å"[1] The play was one of Shakespeare’s most popular works during his lifetime and still ranks among his most-performed, topping the Royal Shakespeare Company’s performance list since 1879. TWELFTH NIGHT Twelfth Night; or, What You Will is a comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written around 1601–02 as aTwelfth Night’s entertainment for the close of the Christmas season. The play expanded on the musical interludes and riotous disorder expected of the occasion,[1] with plot elements drawn from the short story â€Å"Of Apollonius and Silla† by Barnabe Rich, based on a story by Matteo Bandello. The first recorded performance was on 2 February 1602, at Candlemas, the formal end of Christmastide in the year’s calendar. The play was not published until its inclusion in the 1623 First Folio. MACBETH Macbeth was written by William Shakespeare. It is considered one of his darkest and most powerful tragedies. Set in Scotland, the play dramatizes the corrosive psychological and political effects produced when evil is chosen as a way to fulfil the ambition for power. The play is believed to have been written between 1603 and 1607, and is most commonly dated 1606. The earliest account of a performance of what was probably Shakespeare’s play is April 1611, when Simon Forman recorded seeing such a play at the Globe Theatre. It was first published in the Folio of 1623, possibly from a prompt book. It was most likely written during the reign of James I, who had been James VI of Scotland before he succeeded to the English throne in 1603. James was a patron of Shakespeare’s acting company, and of all the plays Shakespeare wrote during James’s reign, Macbeth most clearly reflects the playwright’s relationship with the sovereign. MERCHANT OF VENICE The Merchant of Venice is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. Though classified as a comedyin the First Folio and sharing certain aspects with Shakespeare’s other romantic comedies, the play is perhaps most remembered for its dramatic scenes, and is best known for Shylock and the famous â€Å"Hath not a Jew eyes? † speech. Also notable is Portia’s speech about â€Å"the quality of mercy†. The title character is the merchant Antonio, not the Jewish moneylender Shylock, who is the play’s most prominent and most famous character. THE COMEDY OF ERRORS The Comedy of Errors is one of William Shakespeare’s early plays. It is his shortest and one of his most farcical comedies, with a major part of the humour coming from slapstick and mistaken identity, in addition to puns and word play. The Comedy of Errors (along with The Tempest) is one of only two of Shakespeare’s plays to observe the classical unities. It has been adapted for opera, stage, screen and musical theatre. The Comedy of Errors tells the story of two sets of identical twins that were accidentally separated at birth. Antipholus of Syracuse and his servant, Dromio of Syracuse, arrive in Ephesus, which turns out to be the home of their twin brothers, Antipholus of Ephesus and his servant, Dromio of Ephesus. When the Syracusans encounter the friends and families of their twins, a series of wild mishaps based on mistaken identitieslead to wrongful beatings, a near-seduction, the arrest of Antipholus of Ephesus, and false accusations of infidelity, theft, madness, and demonic possession. POEMS In 1593 and 1594, when the theatres were closed because of plague, Shakespeare published two narrative poems on erotic themes, Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Lucrece. He dedicated them to Henry Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton. In Venus and Adonis, an innocent Adonis rejects the sexual advances of Venus; while in The Rape of Lucrece, the virtuous wife Lucrece is raped by the lustful Tarquin. Influenced by Ovid’s Metamorphoses, the poems show the guilt and moral confusion that result from uncontrolled lust. [124] Both proved popular and were often reprinted during Shakespeare’s lifetime. A third narrative poem, A Lover’s Complaint, in which a young woman laments her seduction by a persuasive suitor, was printed in the first edition of the Sonnets in 1609. Most scholars now accept that Shakespeare wrote A Lover’s Complaint. Critics consider that its fine qualities are marred by leaden effects. The Phoenix and the Turtle, printed in Robert Chester’s 1601 Love’s Martyr, mourns the deaths of the legendary phoenix and his lover, the faithful turtle dove. SONNETS Published in 1609, the Sonnets were the last of Shakespeare’s non-dramatic works to be printed. Scholars are not certain when each of the 154 sonnets was composed, but evidence suggests that Shakespeare wrote sonnets throughout his career for a private readership. Even before the two unauthorised sonnets appeared in The Passionate Pilgrim in 1599, Francis Meres had referred in 1598 to Shakespeare’s â€Å"sugred Sonnets among his private friends†. Few analysts believe that the published collection follows Shakespeare’s intended sequence. He seems to have planned two contrasting series: one about uncontrollable lust for a married woman of dark complexion (the â€Å"dark lady†), and one about conflicted love for a fair young man (the â€Å"fair youth†). It remains unclear if these figures represent real individuals, or if the authorial â€Å"I† who addresses them represents Shakespeare himself, though Wordsworth believed that with the sonnets â€Å"Shakespeare unlocked his heart†. The 1609 edition was dedicated to a â€Å"Mr. W. H. â€Å", credited as â€Å"the only begetter† of the poems. It is not known whether this was written by Shakespeare himself or by the publisher, Thomas Thorpe, whose initials appear at the foot of the dedication page; nor is it known who Mr. W. H. was, despite numerous theories, or whether Shakespeare even authorised the publication. Critics praise the Sonnets as a profound meditation on the nature of love, sexual passion, procreation, death, and time. ESTABLISHING HIMSELF By 1597, 15 of the 37 plays written by William Shakespeare were published. Civil records show that at this time he purchased the second largest house in Stratford, called New House, for his family. It was a four-day ride by horse from Stratford to London, so it is believed that Shakespeare spent most of his time in the city writing and acting and came home once a year during the 40-day Lenten period, when the theatres were closed. By 1599, William Shakespeare and his business partners built their own theater on the south bank of the Thames River, which they called the Globe. In 1605, Shakespeare purchased leases of real estate near Stratford for 440 pounds, which doubled in value and earned him 60 pounds a year. THE MERMAID TAVERN GROUP About this time Shakespeare became one of the group of now-famous writers who gathered at the Mermaid Tavern located on Bread Street in Cheapside. The Friday Street Club (also called the Mermaid Clu was formed by Sir Walter Raleigh. Ben Jonson was its leading spirit. Shakespeare was a popular member. He was admired for his talent and loved for his kindliness. Thomas Fuller, writing about 50 years later, gave an amusing account of the conversational duels between Shakespeare and Jonson: â€Å"Many were the wit-combats betwixt him and Ben Jonson; which two I behold like a Spanish great galleon and an English man-of-war; Master Jonson (like the former) was built far higher in learning; solid, but slow, in his performances. Shakespeare, with the English man-of-war, lesser in bulk, but lighter in sailing, could turn with all tides, tack about, and take advantage of all winds, by the quickness of his wit and invention. † Jonson sometimes criticized Shakespeare harshly. Nevertheless he later wrote a eulogy of Shakespeare that is remarkable for its feeling and acuteness. In it he said: Leave thee alone, for the comparison Of all that insolent Greece or haughty Rome Sent forth, or since did from their ashes come. Triumph, my Britain, thou hast one to show To whom all scenes of Europe homage owe. He was not of an age, but for all time! Sweet Swan of Avon! what a sight it were To see thee in our waters yet appear, And make those flights upon the banks of Thames, That so did take Eliza, and our James! WRITING STYLE William Shakespeare’s early plays were written in the conventional style of the day, with elaborate metaphors and rhetorical phrases that didn’t always align naturally with the story’s plot or characters. However, Shakespeare was very innovative, adapting the traditional style to his own purposes and creating a freer flow of words. With only small degrees of variation, Shakespeare primarily used a metrical pattern consisting of lines of unrhymed iambic pentameter, or blank verse, to compose his plays. At the same time, there are passages in all the plays that deviate from this and use forms of poetry or simple prose. Shakespeare combined poetic genius with a practical sense of the theatre. Like all playwrights of the time, he dramatised stories from sources such as Plutarch and Holinshed. He reshaped each plot to create several centres of interest and to show as many sides of a narrative to the audience as possible. This strength of design ensures that a Shakespeare play can survive translation, cutting and wide interpretation without loss to its core drama. As Shakespeare’s mastery grew, he gave his characters clearer and more varied motivations and distinctive patterns of speech. MARRIAGE AND LIFE IN LONDON In 1582, when he was 18, he married Anne Hathaway. She was from Shottery, a village a mile (1. 6 kilometers) from Stratford. Anne was seven or eight years older than Shakespeare. From this difference in their ages, a story arose that they were unhappy together. Their first daughter, Susanna, was born in 1583. In 1585 a twin boy and girl, Hamnet and Judith, were born. What Shakespeare did between 1583 and 1592 is not known. Various stories are told. He may have taught school, worked in a lawyer’s office, served on a rich man’s estate, or traveled with a company of actors. One famous story says that about 1584 he and some friends were caught poaching on the estate of Sir Thomas Lucy of Carlecote, near Warwick, and were forced to leave town. A less likely story is that he was in London in 1588. There he was supposed to have held horses for theater patrons and later to have worked in the theaters as a page. By 1592, however, Shakespeare was definitely in London and was already recognized as an actor and playwright. He was then 28 years old. In that year Robert Greene, a playwright, accused him of borrowing from the plays of others. Between 1592 and 1594, plague kept the London theaters closed most of the time. During these years Shakespeare wrote his earliest sonnets and two long narrative poems, ‘Venus and Adonis’ and ‘The Rape of Lucrece’. Both were printed by Richard Field, a boyhood friend from Stratford. They were well received and helped establish him as a poet. RELIGION Some scholars claim that members of Shakespeare’s family were Catholics, at a time when Catholic practice was against the law. Shakespeare’s mother, Mary Arden, certainly came from a pious Catholic family. The strongest evidence might be a Catholic statement of faith signed by John Shakespeare, found in 1757 in the rafters of his former house in Henley Street. The document is now lost, however, and scholars differ as to its authenticity. In 1591 the authorities reported that John Shakespeare had missed church â€Å"for fear of process for debt†, a common Catholic excuse. In 1606 the name of William’s daughter Susanna appears on a list of those who failed to attend Easter communion in Stratford. Scholars find evidence both for and against Shakespeare’s Catholicism in his plays, but the truth may be impossible to prove either way. SHAKESPEARE PROSPERS Until 1598 Shakespeare’s theater work was confined to a district northeast of London. This was outside the city walls, in the parish of Shoreditch. Located there were two playhouses, the Theatre and the Curtain. Both were managed by James Burbage, whose son Richard Burbage was Shakespeare’s friend and the greatest tragic actor of his day. Up to 1596 Shakespeare lived near these theaters in Bishopsgate, where the North Road entered the city. Sometime between 1596 and 1599, he moved across the Thames River to a district called Bankside. There, two theaters, the Rose and the Swan, had been built by Philip Henslowe. He was James Burbage’s chief competitor in London as a theater manager. The Burbages also moved to this district in 1598 and built the famous Globe Theatre. Its sign showed Atlas supporting the world. Shakespeare was associated with the Globe Theatre for the rest of his active life. He owned shares in it, which brought him much money. Meanwhile, in 1597, Shakespeare had bought New Place, the largest house in Stratford. During the next three years he bought other property in Stratford and in London. The year before, his father, probably at Shakespeare’s suggestion, applied for and was granted a coat of arms. It bore the motto Non sanz droict–Not without right. From this time on, Shakespeare could write â€Å"Gentleman† after his name. This meant much to him, for in his day actors were classed legally with criminals and vagrants. Shakespeare’s name first appeared on the title pages of his printed plays in 1598. In the same year Francis Meres, in ‘Palladis Tamia: Wit’s Treasury’, praised him as a poet and dramatist. Meres’s comments on 12 of Shakespeare’s plays showed that Shakespeare’s genius was recognized in his own time. HONORED AS ACTOR AND PLAYWRIGHT Queen Elizabeth I died in 1603. King James I followed her to the throne. Shakespeare’s theatrical company was taken under the king’s patronage and called the King’s Company. Shakespeare and the other actors were made officers of the royal household. The theatrical company was the most successful of its time. Before it was the King’s Company, it had been known as the Earl of Derby’s and the Lord Chamberlain’s. In 1608 the company acquired the Blackfriars Theatre. This was a smaller and more aristocratic theater than the Globe. Thereafter the company alternated between the two playhouses. Plays by Shakespeare were also performed at the royal court and in the castles of the nobles. After 1603 Shakespeare probably acted little, although he was still a good actor. His favorite roles seem to have been old Adam in ‘As You Like It’ and the Ghost in ‘Hamlet’. In 1607, when he was 43, he may have suffered a serious physical breakdown. In the same year his older daughter Susanna married John Hall, a doctor. The next year Shakespeare’s first grandchild, Elizabeth, was born. Also in 1607 his brother Edmund, also a London actor, died at the age of 27. GLOBE THEATRE The Globe Theatre was a theatre in London associated with William Shakespeare. It was built in 1599 by Shakespeare’s playing company, the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, on land owned by Thomas Brend and inherited by his son, Nicholas Brend and grandson Sir Matthew Brend, and was destroyed by fire on 29 June 1613. A second Globe Theatre was built on the same site by June 1614 and closed in 1642. A modern reconstruction of the Globe, named â€Å"Shakespeare’s Globe†, opened in 1997 approximately 750 feet (230 m) from the site of the original theatre. The Globe was owned by actors who were also shareholders in Lord Chamberlain’s Men. Two of the six Globe shareholders, Richard Burbage and his brother Cuthbert Burbage, owned double shares of the whole, or 25% each; the other four men, Shakespeare, John Heminges, Augustine Phillips, andThomas Pope, owned a single share FAMOUS QUOTES All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages. – Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them. – Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more; it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. – Listen to many, speak to a few. CRITICAL REPUTATION Shakespeare was not revered in his lifetime, but he received a large amount of praise. In 1598, the cleric and author Francis Meres singled him out from a group of English writers as â€Å"the most excellent† in both comedy and tragedy. And the authors of the Parnassus plays at St John’s College, Cambridge, numbered him with Chaucer, Gower and Spenser. In the First Folio, Ben Jonson called Shakespeare the â€Å"Soul of the age, the applause, delight, the wonder of our stage†, though he had remarked elsewhere that â€Å"Shakespeare wanted art†. FIRST FOLIO Mr. William Shakespeares’ Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies is the 1623 published collection of William Shakespeare’s plays. Modern scholars commonly refer to it as the First Folio. Printed in folio format and containing 36 plays (see list of Shakespeare’s plays), it was prepared by Shakespeare’s colleagues John Heminges and Henry Condell. It was dedicated to the â€Å"incomparable pair of brethren† William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke and his brother Philip Herbert, Earl of Montgomery (later 4th Earl of Pembroke). Although eighteen of Shakespeare’s plays had been published in quarto prior to 1623, the First Folio is the only reliable text for about twenty of the plays, and a valuable source text even for many of those previously published. The Folio includes all of the plays generally accepted to be Shakespeare’s, with the exception of Pericles, Prince of Tyre and The Two Noble Kinsmen, and the two â€Å"lost plays†, Cardenio and Love’s Labour’s Won. W. W. Greg has argued that Edward Knight, the â€Å"book-keeper† or â€Å"book-holder† (prompter) of the King’s Men, did the actual proofreading of the manuscript sources for the First Folio. Knight is known to have been responsible for maintaining and annotating the company’s scripts, and making sure that the cuts and changes ordered by the Master of the Revels were complied with. DEATH Shakespeare died on 23 April 1616 and was survived by his wife and two daughters. Susanna had married a physician, John Hall, in 1607, and Judith had married Thomas Quiney, a vintner, two months before Shakespeare’s death. In his will, Shakespeare left the bulk of his large estate to his elder daughter Susanna. The terms instructed that she pass it down intact to â€Å"the first son of her body†. Shakespeare’s will scarcely mentions his wife, Anne, who was probably entitled to one third of his estate automatically. He did make a point, however, of leaving her â€Å"my second best bed†, a bequest that has led to much speculation. Some scholars see the bequest as an insult to Anne, whereas others believe that the second-best bed would have been the matrimonial bed and therefore rich in significance. Shakespeare was buried in the chancel of the Holy Trinity Church two days after his death. The epitaph carved into the stone slab covering his grave includes a curse against moving his bones, which was carefully avoided during restoration of the church in 2008.

Compare two of Palins meetings with people who are particularly memorable Essay

Pole to Pole is a piece of travel writing. It has also been made into a television show. The author of this piece of travel writing is Michael Palin, and it is about his journey from the North pole to the South pole. Michael Edward Palin, CBE (born 5 May 1943) is an English comedian, actor, writer and television presenter best known for being one of the members of the comedy group Monty Python and for his travel documentariesIn Pole to Pole, Michael Palin encounters several different people during his journey; these meetings were particularly memorable to him. Particularly the meetings, with Lyuba-Day 41 on board Junost- and Doctor Baela- witch doctor, day 108 in Zambia-. Palin meets Lyuba as he is travelling between countries on a boat, whereas he meets Dr Baela when he has just entered Mpulungu, but has been in the continent, Africa, for quite a long time. The use of language in these sections is effective because Palin portrays his attitude towards women. He does this by using a superlative to highlight his meeting with Lyuba. Palin also reinforces that he does not take Lyuba very seriously when he uses alliteration, â€Å"lovely Lyuba†, when he calls Lyuba â€Å"proprietress of the bar† he then implies a certain attitude towards women. This is because of the use of the word proprietress, meaning lady of the bar. This is also a contrast to Palin’s usual persona as Palin doesn’t normally criticize or seek to be sexist/ politically incorrect. When Palin visits Dr Baela he exaggerates the encounter by being dramatic. He also demonstrates that Dr Baela is weird and sort of unrealistic, when using emotive language such as â€Å"evil†, â€Å"shadow†, and â€Å"spirits†. This is because some people do not believe in such things as spirits and after life. When Dr Baela says what he thinks is wrong with Palin, Palin uses the word â€Å"concludes† in a sarcastic manner, this then suggests that Palin sees the meeting as a joke and does not take it seriously, as well as how strange he feels the meeting is. Therefore Palin does not take either of the encounters seriously. When Palin met Lyuba and Doctor Baela, both of these meetings were surprising and quite unexpected. These meetings were unexpected because Palin does not expect these people to act like they do, as well as being surprising. â€Å"Strangest encounter†, by using this Palin shows that his meeting with Lyuba was not just strange, but more than strange, this highlights the fact that he was not expecting this encounter with Lyuba, which is a contrast to life no the ship.This is comparable to Palin’s meeting with Doctor Baela, this is because Palin was surprised and didn’t expect Doctor Baela to act the way he did. â€Å"Only adds to the confusion.† By saying this Palin shows that he is confused, but he didn’t expect to be confused. â€Å"More seriously than I expected.† This quote also adds to the fact that Palin didn’t expect the day to go this way. I think Palin’s intention was to make both of these parts quite comical and laughable when he is with Dr Baela the incident begins comical but changes, I also feel that he was putting a strange and peculiar approach to the encounters. As reading this I would feel my response would be, that it was very different and an unforgettable experience. Therefore these encounters were both surprising and unexpected, this is because Palin did not expect the witch doctor to act the way he did which links in with the fact that he didn’t expect Lyuba to act the way she did. When meeting Lyuba, Palin uses a lot of sarcasm and humour in his language which is really effective, which differentiates this from the language Palin uses to make Doctor Baela sound completely silly, but also intimidating and that what he does is pointless. â€Å"If there’s nothing more normal in the world than sharing a water-logged packing case with a Russian Barmaid.† When Palin says this he says this in a very sarcastic way, saying â€Å"if there’s nothing more normal† he is being sarcastic that it actually is normal as well as being humorous and playful. This has an effect on the reader because it adds humour to the situation. â€Å"Which will ‘drive out’ any evil influence† By using the quotation marks either side of ‘drive out’ Palin shows the intention of making Baela sound pointless and useless. Using sarcasm and humour in the language makes Baela sound very unprofessional, and makes the reader feel that Baela is making a fool out of himself but everyone around him believes him although he talks a lot of nonsense, where as the language that he uses when he meets Lyuba then presents her to be quite intimidating, which adds to the affect of the flirting. I think when Palin is with Baela; his intention was to change a serious situation into a disappointing and peculiar one, as opposed to when he is with Lyuba and changing an awkward situation into a humorous one. I feel he does this because the reader may loose interest Palin uses a lot of description during these encounters with Lyuba and Doctor Baela. When Palin first sees Doctor Baela, he describes him extremely well, corresponding to his meeting with Lyuba when he uses very descriptive language. â€Å"He has pouting lips and big lazy eyes. He wears a head-dress of genet fur, a pink tunic with his name on the back and a pair of welding goggles.† By using this Palin describes what Doctor Baela looks like, in a very understandable and clear way. â€Å"Nonchalant British lounging† Using this in his diary entry for when he met Lyuba, Palin adds to the formality and description. Being this descriptive, as the reader I feel that this makes the situation clearer and more understandable similarly to when Palin is describing Doctor Baela. I feel that Palin’s intention was to show the reader really what was happening and to add to the fact that these situations were quite awkward. Overall I feel that these two meetings would be particularly memorable to Palin, I feel this because when someone goes through a long period of time not knowing where they are, not seeing friends or family, being some place different everyday, I would expect this to be quite emotional and that every different person he meets he would then remember because it is all a big opportunity and experience which he would like to gain the most out of. I chose Lyuba and Doctor Baela because they both are not the usual conversations or meetings you would have with a complete stranger, I also feel that these encounters will be quite unforgettable because Lyuba acted really flirty, quickly where as Doctor Baela acted quite rehearsed and quiet when it came to chatting. Therefore I feel that these meetings were particularly memorable to Palin’s journey.

Herbal Information essays

Herbal Information essays The history of herbs date back thousands of years to the times of when doctors didnt have many tools of medicine to cure the ill with. They would use plants, berries, roots, and event the barks of some trees to cure an ailment. In those times there wasnt much background research on herbal remedies and so sometimes a cure from a doctor could increase the sickness or even be fatal. Europe and the Mediterranean have been using herbs to cure and help for 4000 years and there are even some herbal healings mentioned in the Bible. Herb use to mean all non-woody plants but today it is referred as to any part of any plant such as the fruit, bark, flower, leaf, or root. There are myriad herbal systems such as European and Native American just to name a couple. Since there are so many systems there are also different ways of classifying herbs. Mostly all the systems have one thing in common and that is all of them treat the body as a whole and they each use the power of the plants to each individual as a whole. Each system is different and categorize herbs and plants differently. But whichever system you choose to go with the results will just about be the same. Herbs have different powers that can heal and help people. Herbs are safe to take and there are little cases of overdose. Herbs can cure lots of sicknesses and also protect the body by getting rid of problem inside. Herbal remedies are ones that claim they can cure a sickness or help in some way. Ginseng is a Chinese herb that has been used fro 7000 years. With that much background and history there must be something good about it. In an article from www.kcweb.com/herb/ginseng.htm it says that ginseng normalizes physical functioning depending on what the individual needs... So if a person has high blood pressure then the ginseng will lower it and if a person has low blood pressure the ginseng will increase it. There...

Vermont Teddy Bear Case Essay Example

Vermont Teddy Bear Case Essay Example Vermont Teddy Bear Case Essay Vermont Teddy Bear Case Essay Although Vermont Teddy Bear is a company with a rich track record in the business of last-minute gifts, its mission statement lacked its basic goals and philosophies that aim to shape its strategic posture. Vermonts mission statement clearly speaks to someone who is well acquainted with what the company does and what it sells, which is in my opinion a crucial point that the company missed when they addressed its customers. The following points provide an insight on what went wrong when Vermont decided to formulate its mission statement: * The Basic Product the company sells: Vermonts mission statement clearly failed to mention the type of product they sell. By defining the product the company simply distinguishes its offered products from competitive products of similar nature provided by other competitors in the market. * The companys targeted customers In this element, the company mentions who are its customers or potential customers. What will it do to serve them and how will its customers find this company different from the other companies or competitors who provide similar products in the market. Although Vermonts mission statement might have implied that it is currently targeting American customers through :The Vermont Teddy Bear brand represents the rich heritage of the Great American Teddy Bear begun in 1902. , yet this contradicts with the companys current plan in which it intends to exploit international markets, in other words, the company should revise its statement to include potential customers too. * The Technology applied: By defining technology, the company tells its current technology that it uses in making its products i. . whether state of the art technology or hand-made technology. It also tells about the unique ways in which its products are technologically more advanced or distinguished then their alternates. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that the word craftsmanship found in the companys mission statement might tell that the companys products are hand-made, which distinguishes it from other players in the industry, given the fact that most stuffed toys to day are manufactured. The Companys concern for survival, growth and profitability: Vermont failed to fine the means it seeks to survive in the longer run given the fallback they are currently going through. It not merely lists them out but also defines the logic behind them and how will the company strive to achieve them; these goals serve as economic indicators for the companys performance, and hence indicates how far the company is from satisfying the principal claims and desires of its employees and stockholders. The Companys Philosophy: By defining philosophy, the company defines its way of working, its culture, its beliefs and how it sees work to be carried out. it is also an analytical way of defining the norms of which it runs. In my opinion, the companys mission statement had covered the companys creed through the following: We will strive to wholesomely entertain our guests while consistently exceeding our external and internal customer service expectations. * Concern for public image Concern for public image is a wide term that includes not only the corporate social responsibility but the overall impact of the actions taken by the company on its image, which in my opinion was totally dropped when formulating Vermonts mission statement. * Companys self concept By defining the self concept, the company shows the outside world its core strengths and the place it sees itself in the future. When reviewing Vermonts mission statement, it is clearly evident that the statement failed to express the companys core strengths in terms of the entrepreneurship capabilities and a robust distribution channels. In light of what was mentioned above, I suggest that Vermont should revisit its mission statement, the following statement will help the BOD in their plans for the company: Become number one instant gift solution in the USA in the next 20 years. We design and manufacture the best teddy bears in America. We satisfy customer needs through product differentiation, we offer exclusive hand-made teddy bears to premium customers as well as providing convenient products to the other customers. Speed and easiness of delivery of our products will be respected along with premium quality. Monthly Measuring customer satisfaction will be our main tool for maintaining our market positioning and for our continuous development for our brand and products. While achieving our mission in owning a profitable business, we will strive to being ethically, legally, and environmentally responsible while remaining fiscally sound. Vermonts external environment consists of three components: its operating, industry and remote environment. In these three environments, there is a chance that one of its external environments may change. All of these environmental sectors affect the companys operations both on the local and international level, and its very possible for change to occur (as witnessed throughout the case study). Operating Environment: Competitors of Vermont Teddy Bear could be subdivided into three categories: * Major plush doll manufacturers such as Mattel and Hasbro were considered competition in this sub segment of the toy industry. * Other bear manufacturers including Steiff of Germany, Dakin, Applause, Fiesta, North American Bear, and Gund, the leading market of toy bears. Variety of other special occasions greetings such as flowers, candy, balloons, cakes and other gift items that could be ordered by phone for special occasions and delivered next day. As for Labor, and given the massive production the company is required to undertake to meet its customers needs especially in special occasions such as Christmas, Valentines Day amp; Mothers Day , the company heavily relied on outsourced home worker s who performed production functions at their homes and hence were treated as independent contractors. Although these home workers/independent contractors allowed the company flexibility in meeting heavy demand as mentioned earlier which allowed them in scheduling their hours of work, home workers were free to reject or accept any work offered by the company which might make the company vulnerable to failure in meeting its customers heavy demand especially in high season sales. The company maintains a solid HR system through a strong built bear culture among employees. The companys manpower do not belong to any unions which eliminates any Labor issues. n the credit side I believe that the company does not face any problem with external financing; the company has two sources of financing, equity through issuance of shares since it is a traded company in the New York stock exchange market, in addition to debt and leasing which can be provided through commercial banks and leasing companies, which in my opinion is not a viable point for Vermont as it already consumed most of its credit li mits lately, comparing with its competitors who had greater financial resources. Historically, the companys focus had been to design and manufacture the best teddy bear made in America, using American materials. This philosophy was modified significantly in 1998 with the companys decision to explore the offshore sourcing of materials and manufacturing alternatives in an effort to lower the companys cost of goods sold and to broaden its available sources of supply, in my opinion such change would diverse the companys dependence on American supplies or raw material, now that it has a wide pool of international suppliers which will give the company a significant bargaining power in terms of cost and quality. Although many teddy bear producers define their product as toy and marketed solely to children. The company marketed its bears as an attractive gift or collectible for both children and adults which enabled the company to penetrate a wide-ranged customer pool, including children, young and old people whether males or females. If the company considers going globally, the company might face problems when addressing global customers, such Anti-Americans who might avoid buying the companys products knowing that it is an American product, especially that the companys competitive advantage stems from their origin, being one of the earliest producers of teddy bears in America. Industry Environment: Barriers to entry into this industry is there, evidenced by the challenges that Vermont along with the other current players face in the market, such as economies of scale, product differentiation, capital requirements and access to distribution channels. Given that both the stuffed toys and last-minute gifts markets are already saturated, I believe that the possibility of entry of a new player to the said markets is quite difficult, unless this new player intends to acquire an existing company to capitalize on its position in the market. For Vermont and as discussed earlier, the company had recently shifted to rely on various suppliers from local markets and different countries in its raw material in an attempt to reduce its costs, yet it was implied that it still relies on an American supplier-who happened to be the only eye maker left in America-in attempt to produce the ears with domestic materials, this might give this supplier some bargaining power to exert on Vermont. Last minute gift customers normally lack the power to force down prices or play competitors off against each other, this is mainly attributable to that Vermonts industry is a fragmented one, and last minute shoppers are ready to pay anything to acquire a gift due to time constraints which disable them to consider or make comparison with other competitors products; they will simply buy the first thing their eyes lie on to buy that gift especially in special occasions and events. Capitalizing on what was said earlier, Vermonts Teddy Bear as a product had several substitutes including toy bears, stuffed dolls or animals, flowers, candy, balloons, cakes and other gift items which in my opinion deserve the most attention strategically. To my opinion, and given that the Industrys competitors are numerous and that the industry growth is slow, Vermont is facing an intense rivalry from its competitors which the company should focus on strategically in the future. Remote Environment: The remote environment is what originates beyond the daily operations of Vermont. The remote environment is made up of five factors that are not influenced by a single company. These factors are economic, social, political, technological and ecological. Although these factors cannot be affected by Vermont, they can definitely effect the operations of the company. These must be all considered by the company when working with the market. Over the next twenty years, there are several changes that might take place in the remote environment. Since technology is not an important factor in this industry the company might disregard it when formulating its strategy. Political factors are quite stable on the local side yet if the company considers going global it must take these factors into consideration, for example if changes occurred in laws and regulations with respect to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), they must make changes to meet Political standards. Ecological factors also might cause several issues; although the companys manufacturing practices are environmentally sound, other factors might be an issue (for example global warming) given the fact that the company owns and operate a factory at which it produces its products, then the energy used by the company to produce its products must e modified in order to meet ecological standards. To be sustaining in the market, Vermont should encourage the knowledge of the internal environment that affects its business. There are many internal factors that impact Vermonts performance; these factors constitutes of the companys competitively important resources and capabilities. Unfortunately reso urces whether tangible or intangible are scarce by nature and it will be a great challenge for the company to manage their resources in order to gain the competitive advantage. Tangible Assets: The company operates and owns a fully integrated facilities including retail stores, manufacturing and distribution facilities in a 62,000 square-foot building on 57 acres that the company owns; * The manufacturing/production facilities included a state of the art packing and shipping equipment; * The companys call centers had state-of-the art technologies including PC terminals and very high tech telephone switching equipment that allowed the company to handle significant call volume; * The company installed a new telephone system, which improved its telemarketing operations and was designed to accommodate future growth in telephone call volume; * The company had a high-tech shipping system, including state-of-the art multicarrier software so that if a major carrier like UPS went on strike, it could immediately make adjustments; * In 1998 the company succeeded to secure a source of finance amounting $600,000 (in the form of equity investment that was injected by Shepherd Group) which will provide working capital for the company to pursue growth in the Bear-Gram channel and to maximize the benefits of importing raw material; * The company had launched an extensive website including pictures of the product in 1997 where its customers are eligible to place their orders online, which was part of the companys computer network of approximately 250 workstations that linked order entry with sales and accounting systems. Intangible Assets: * The companys name in combinatio n with its original logo was a registered trademark in the United States including The Vermont Teddy Bear Company, Bear Gram, Teddy Bear Gram and Make-A-Friend-For Life; * It owned the registered trademark Vermont Teddy Bear in Japan; * The company claimed copyright, service mark, or trademark protection for its teddy bear designs, its marketing slogans, and its advertising copy and promotional literature; Organizational Capabilities: * The companys manufacturing practices were environmentally sound. The company sought to use the best available materials for its bears; * The companys products were sold with a Guarantee for Life under which the company undertakes to repair or replace any damaged or defective bear at any time; * The companys products were designed in such way to a certain event or occasions, the company even provided outfits to individualize the customers bears or to emphasize certain relevant characteristics of the receiver; * The company was primarily know for its Bear-Gram delivery service, where customers could send the gift of a Vermont Teddy Bear by placing an order through the companys 800 number or online, providing its customers with an instant and spontaneous solution for the perfect gift especial in events and special occasions; * Since its inception in the 80s, the companys main focus was to design and manufacture the best teddy bears made in America, using American materials and labor, which helped the company to build up a strong and extensive custome r base; * The companys decision to explore the offshore sourcing of materials was a brilliant and a dynamic solution for lowering the companys cost of goods sold and reducing the suppliers power over the company; * The company has a wide range of products that suits both premium and regular customers; it has its handcrafted 15-inch classic teddy bears as well as its manufactured bears, in addition to other items related to teddy bears such as clothing, jewelry and accessory ornaments; * The company strove to provide rapid response to its customer orders and complaints. It believed that as a result of the quality of its products and service, it had established a loyal customer base; The value chain analysis (demonstrated below) aim at increasing customer satisfaction and managing cost effectively; it is a systematic approach to examining the development of competitive advantage, it comprises both primary and support activities: Source: pcwin. com Primary activities of Value Chain Analysis are directly concerned with the production or delivery of a product and consist of: * Inbound Logistics: Vermonts manufacturing premises included a state-of-the-art packing and shipping equipment, in addition the company also had a three-year lease on 10,000 square foot of inventory space at a separate location in Shelburne. Exploiting offshore markets for the sourcing of its materials provided the company with a wider base of suppliers which prevented the company from dependence risks; * Operations: despite the companys 1998 move to the offshore sourcing of raw materials and which implied a significant departure from the companys historical position as an American manufacturer who uses almost exclusively American materials, the companys products were still environmentally sound; the company sought to use the best available materials for its bears. The company produced two type of products; its handcrafted 15-inch classic teddy bear for those customers who are interested in an American made product and its manufactured event or special occasion-customized teddy bears for the rest of its customers, in addition to selling items related to its teddy bears; * Outbound Logistics: The company was known for its Bear-Gram delivery services, which enabled the company to provide instant delivery services (either by air or ground delivery services) to its customers throughout the different states of America as well as outside customers such as Canada through a carrier such as UPS. In addition, the company had a high-tech shipping system, including state-of-the-art multicarrier software so that if a major carrier like UPS went on strike, it could immediately make adjustments; * Marketing and Sales: The companys extensive computer network in addition to its new telephone system enabled the company to expand its customer base not only in Ver mont but throughout the rest of the states and the world and provide rapid response to its customer orders which in turn; * Service: The company sought to respond promptly to customer complaints. Each bear was sold with a Guarantee for Life under which the company ndertakes to repair or replace any damaged or defective bear at any time; These primary activities are supported by secondary activities which help to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the primary activities of the company and consist of: * Firms Infrastructure: it can be subdivided into three main categories: * Organizational Structure: The companys Board members and Executive Officers had solid experience in different fields including marketing, finance amp; investment; * System of Planning Finance: The company managed to secure a $3. 5 Million commercial loan to partially finance its new facility, later the company completed a sale-leaseback transaction involving its factory, this financing replace the company s mortgage and line of credit. The company had also signed a letter of intent with a potential investor for a proposed $600,000 equity investment; the company intends to direct the proceeds of the said transaction to financing its working capital needs to pursue growth in the Bear-Gram channel and to maximize the benefits of importing raw materials; * Quality Control: The company strives to maintain its products environmental friendly and was safe for children. * Human Resource Management: * The company employed 181 individuals, none of them belonged to a union which provided the company with some sort of protection against strikes; * In order for the company to meet heavy demand at holiday periods such as Christmas, Valentines Day and Mothers Day, the company depended on independent contractors/home workers. * Technology Development: The manufacturing/production facilities included a state of the art packing and shipping equipment; * The companys call centers had state-of-the art technologies including PC termina ls and very high tech telephone switching equipment that allowed the company to handle significant call volume; * The company installed a new telephone system, which improved its telemarketing operations and was designed to accommodate future growth in telephone call volume; * The company had a high-tech shipping system, including state-of-the art multicarrier software so that if a major carrier like UPS went on strike, it could immediately make adjustments; * The company had launched an extensive website including pictures of the product in 1997 where its customers are eligible to place their orders online, which was part of the companys computer network of approximately 250 workstations that linked order entry with sales and accounting systems. * Procurement: * The most relevant long-term objectives for the company are as follows: * Competitive Position: the company always strives on keeping its position as a market leader backed by designing and manufacturing the best teddy bears made in America and represent an attractive gift or collectible for both children and adults; * Profitability: sustain and increase profitability by improving the Bear-gram services that is provided through either the internet or the phone which are designed to accommodate future growth in request volume; * Public Responsibility: the companys manufacturing practices respect the environmental aspects by using the best available materials for its bears. The company uses Differentiation-focus as a generic strategy illustrated in: * Using American-made materials in its products; * The company offers a life-time guarantee; * Easy order placement and prompt delivery; * Rapid response to its customer complaints. Grand strategies are applied through: * Product Development : The company diversified the spectrum of its products to include the following: * More than 100 different bear outfits to individualize the companys bears, to emphasize certain relevant characteristics, or to personalize bears for different occasions and events; * Using recycled Ben and Jerrys ice cream containers to make the bear joints movable, a feature associated with traditional, high quality teddy bears; * Selling items related to Teddy Bears; * Selling stuffed toys manufactured by other companies; * Changing the packaging structure to ensure damage-free products and lower courier services; * Turnaround Strategy: The company exercised the turnaround strategies to survive the following incidents: Incidents| Actions reflecting Turnaround Strategy| The companys expenses increased while sales growth did not offset this growth;| * Eliminate several unprofitable marketable ventures (such as its sponsorship to NASCAR circuit race car and driver); * Reduce General and Administrative exp enses; * Change of key management position;| * The company applied a new trademark name to broaden brand appeal and take advantage of national and international distribution opportunities; * Explore new opportunities for growth through opening new retail stores and expanding the catalog;| * Focus on Bear-Gram business to expand the companys distribution channels; * Shut down retail stores to reduce costs; * Change of key management position;|

Analysing the traditional approach to quality management

Analysing the traditional approach to quality management Quality in its simple terms mean activities designed in a manner to improve organisation and its services. Quality also means to learn what you are doing and how to do it better. It also means to find out ways you need to change for improving services to the ultimate users. Consumer–Quality–Producer Quality : From the consumer’s point of view is price. From the producer’s point is cost. But remember always the Customer’s view must reign supreme. Dimensions of quality : Products. 1} Performance : Basic operating characteristics of D a product. Example; A car : how good are the brakes, body, mileage, etc of a car. 2} Features : Any special characteristics added to the product. e.g; special interiors added in the Car. 3} Reliability : The expected time limit for the product to deliver its best. E.g; approximate mileage of the car before it needs service. 4} Durability : Will the product last long enough up to expected time limit. 5} Conformance : Does the product meets pre established standards. 6} Serviceability : How easy is to get the service repairs, speed of repairs and the cost incurred in providing service. 7} Safety : Is the product safe enough to meet all the safety requirements as prescribed. 8} Perceptions : Perceptions based on branding, advertising etc; Does the product meets the quality standard set by a particular brand name. 9} Appearance : The human senses of sight, taste and smell is met to the well established standard. Other more Dimension of Quality : Quality of design : The design of the product must be such satisfying the needs of the customers. Quality of production process : The customers needs and wants must be met by the product. Quality of conformance : All the legal requirements and the specifications are met by the product or service. Quality of customer service : Company and customer relation must be met by with highest level of accuracy. Customers must be satisfied with the services provided and m ust feel are taken care of. Organisational quality culture : One of the most important attributes towards quality is that the seriousness of the whole organisation in achieving quality. Quality management can be considered to have three main components: quality control, quality assurance and quality improvement. Quality management is focused not only on product quality, but also the means to achieve it. Quality management therefore uses quality assurance and control of processes as well as products to achieve more consistent quality. The Traditional approach to quality management : TRADITIONAL APPROACH As defined by Fetter, and quoted in Johnson, Kast and Rosenzweig [11] as the function of ensuring the attributes of the product conform to prescribed standards and that their relationships are maintained. The emphasis laid in traditional approach was on product inspection and rejection and the most crucial decision of time for when and what to inspect and what quantity to inspect. For this purpose, the features of the product and the cost involved needed to be considered. The process of inspecting the product might have been a random selection or a 100% check. The responsibility of assuring the product quality lied with the quality control department but generally the quality managers used to report directly to production managers or the plant manager. The managers on the contrary were in immense pressure to meet the production targets and therefore many times to meet the production targets used to let go the faulty goods. This resulted in increased customer complaints or even if the customer did not complain they never came resulting in rise in warranty cost. The managers were generally tolerant of high work scrap levels and rework inefficiencies.

Separation of powers and checks and balances AND bill become law Essay

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Debate outline - Research Paper Example The ethical dilemma for the medical profession and the family of the afflicted individual give rise to ongoing debates. Both sides present strong arguments for their side. II. Facts for Pro and Con side a. Pro side-Seven facts to support the Pro side of the debate In more ways, the aging group is more susceptible to developing clinical conditions that require extensive hospitalization, as most present protracted medical status; however, the exact pathophysiological path towards worsening condition remained indefinable (Kaufman, 2009). As such, clinical practitioners may try a number of treatment procedures with vague clinical presentation, possibly even during critical times in patient status, but these measures may remain in futile attempts as they do not target the exact cause of geriatric condition. In most cases, the education and vast clinical experiences that health professionals have acquired in academic and clinical settings do not assure that they are no longer liable to mak e clinical errors, especially on the side of the â€Å"omnipotent† physicians in predicting the outcomes of patients’ condition and course of disease process.

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The Role of Green Supply Chain Management in Sustainable Development Dissertation

The Role of Green Supply Chain Management in Sustainable Development - Dissertation Example 26 3.5 GrSCM and CSR †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 27 3.6 SCM and Environmentalism †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 28 Table of Contents (cont’n.) Chapter 4 Impact of Supply Chain on Green Logistics †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 29 4.1 Introduction †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 30 4.2 Performance Standards †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦... 31 4.3 Impact of GRSCM on Organisations †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢ € ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 32 4.4 Responsibilities †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 33 4.5 Strategies †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 34 4.6 Barriers †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 36 4.7 The Green Business †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 36 4.8 Best Practice: TQM †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚ ¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 37 Chapter 5 Conclusion and Recommendations †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 40 5.1 Conclusion †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 40 5.2 Recommendations †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 42 References †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 43 List of Figures Figure 1 – Traditional Supply Chain Strategy Figure 2 – SCM material and information flow Figure 3 – Competitiveness in supply chain Figure 4 – Functions of green supply chain Figure 5 – Framework of green... Traditionally, supply chain is about profits and producing more products in the age of globalisation. But as the number of conscience-stricken businessmen grew, products are aimed for customer satisfaction taking into consideration environmental protection. Early proponents of green supply chain management formulated a set of alternatives aimed at changing the ways people deal with nature and organisational processes not harmful to the environment. It is possible that we can live in the age of globalisation and advanced technology, but not being abusive to the environment. Green supply chain management became a goal of managers including organisations aiming for a sustainable future. The methodology used in this dissertation is a mix of literature review and analysis of secondary researches. Concepts of traditional supply chain and green supply chain management were analysed and compared and conclusions and recommendations were drawn from the analysis. It can be concluded this early that green supply chain management is a phenomenon and a challenge for businesses and organisations are aiming for long-term relationships with customers and, a value-added supply chain, and above all, a sustainable future.

Audience Ethnography. Commentary and observations on TV viewing Assignment

Audience Ethnography. Commentary and observations on TV viewing behaviour - Assignment Example The youngest child usually chose cartoons or adventure TV shows. Choice TV shows also differed for the males and females, with the males gravitating towards action movies and violent TV shows and the females opting for romantic movies, entertainment shows, and reality shows. The older adults were often observed watching documentaries. Common shows watched in the family included the early evening news. Watching TV news channels is generally considered a social activity for the family because most members of the family watch it even if the younger audiences sometimes may not understand it (Gauntlet and Hill, 1999). When watching the news, the parents often expressed their opinions about the news with their older children. The eight year old boy was usually not paying attention to the news and was often seen doing his homework or playing games on the tablet device. The older children sometimes shared opinions about the news, but in general, they simply agreed with their parents. At times, they expressed their sadness about the news, especially if the news involved accidents or young people like them. The watching of the news also coincided with family dinner times and the family usually watched the news while eating their dinner. After watching the news, the members of the family had different viewing preferences, but as a family, they already acknowledged that there were times when it was someone’s turn to watch something on the TV. After the news on a Monday evening, they knew that their father liked to watch Mythbusters and on a Tuesday evening, the family knew that the older children liked to watch their favourite TV series. On Saturday mornings, the family also allowed the youngest member of the family to watch cartoons. On Saturday afternoons, their father, grandfather, and middle child usually watched the replay of the Rugby match. On Saturdays at 8 pm, the family usually put on a movie from their DVD selection, one which all of them could watch. The TV viewing logs indicate that television means different things to different viewers. Some individuals value it for its entertainment value and others believe that it is an important source of information into the bigger world. As such, it is more than entertaining, and it is also informative and absorbing (Gillespie, 1998, in Gauntlett and Hill, 1998). The family enjoyed the time where they can watc h together as a family because it meant that they could interact and socialize with each other and were together even for only an hour or two in a day. They also enjoyed Saturday evenings when they could watch a movie on the DVD player because it also meant that they could share in the TV experience. The rest of the time, they knew that they all had different tastes in films and TV shows and would also be busy with their own personal concerns. Watching DVDs was a way of bringing them all together regardless of their preferences in TV shows and watch a film as a family (Wilson, 2004). It was noted that the DVD player was used regularly by the different members of the family. Some used it to fill in their free time, to entertain themselves, to watch pre-recorded shows, and to simply recall favourite shows and movies (Gauntlett and Hill, 1999). Technology has now allowed for the pre-recording of programs to watch at a