On My Life in PInk essays

On My Life in PInk essays Honestly, I dont know how I would react if ever I become a father of boy like Ludovick. One thing is for sure that I will not make him feel like he is a failure to the family. If ever he makes some foolish innocent mistake, he will surely be reprimanded but, he will not be treated as a stranger to the family, even to the point that he sort of disgraces the family. Even if he becomes a shame to the family, we will accept it and move on. Just like anyone who trips down, we, as a family, will stand up and continue with our lives. If anyone opposes it and makes fun about it, Ill pity them because theyre lives are just stuck on the fact that my son made an innocent mistake. They didnt learn something from that mistake, and the worst thing is, they didnt even see the shame that they are bringing themselves. If ever I become a father of a boy like Ludovick, he will surely be loved, no matter what others say, no matter what they do, my son will always be my son. He came from his paren ts, and I will make sure that he will be taken care of by them. (I didnt use pronouns for Chris/Christine to avoid gender confusion) At the first sight of Chris, it made an impression to me that Chris is a boy, with the toys and the outfit. However, when Chris mother yelled Christine, a quick realization hit me that Chris is a girl. I know that I made a quick improper judgment on the gender of Chris/Christine but Im not in the right position to tell whether Chris/Christine is, biologically, a boy or a girl. It was not stated in the story whether Chris/Christine is a boy or a girl. I dont know either why did Chris/Christines mom called Chris/Christine Christine. Maybe Chris/Christine is a boy but Chris/Christines mom want Chris/Christine to be a girl, or the other way around. Maybe it was only Chris/Christines preference to be masculine. It&apos...

Prisons essays

Prisons essays As the general population of America ages, so do its inmates. It is predicted that by the year 2010, at least one in ten will be age fifty or older. In Florida for example, the growth rate of geriatric inmates already exceeds that of the younger inmate. The reason for this epidemic is partially due to tougher long-term sentencing guidelines, resulting from the get tough on crime campaign. Because of these long sentences, seniors are concentrated in prisons well beyond their proportions in civilian public. Prisons can lose substantial litigation costs if heath care programs and concerns are not met. The older inmate will also need to be separated from the younger inmate who potentially could overpower a geriatric inmate easily. As the government struggles with the issues of elderly inmates, the problem is only getting worse. The creation of the supermax prison is due to the current dangerousness of the adult male prison situation. These prisons are overcrowded to the point of danger and are forcing administration to act. Because of tougher sentencing guidelines, and longer sentences, the prisons have filled up without a turnover rate that eases the crowding problem. Prison administrators are being forced to release non-violent offenders from prison back into the community, leaving the violent offenders all together in the prison. This creates a tense situation inside the prison, and creates an opportunity for deviance such as riots or fights. Intermediate sanctions are beginning to fill the gap between prison and probation extremes. They can range from fines to boot camps and expand options in the criminal justice system to better suite a crime with an appropriate punishment. The particular punishment holds the offender strictly accountable for their actions. With the limited recourses available for the criminal justice system, intermediate sanctions permit effective and effic ...

Do you agree with the view that British politics became racialised in Essay

Do you agree with the view that British politics became racialised in the period since 1945 - Essay Example the West Indies, Pakistan and India not only affected the demographics of the country and the level of employment, it also raised a series of important racial issues that influenced the British policies in a serious manner. Therefore, this paper will analyze how Britain became a multiethnic country and will interpret different immigration acts that were passed by the government in order to better coordinate and control the racial relations within the British society over a period starting with the year 1945 up to present times. The Labour government conducted, in January 1946, a postwar economic survey that estimated a labor deficiency of 600.000 up to 1.3 million (Paul, 1997, p.4). Acknowledging the postwar labor crisis, the British Government first turned to Europe for help, attracting a large number of Poles (130 000) and Italians by using guest-worker schemes. Even constrained by a critical economic situation, Britain preferred white race immigrants, which demonstrates that British policies were dictated by a fine distinction among races and the tendency to keep the society predominantly white. Soon enough though, the Iron Curtain put an end to these efforts and France, Switzerland and Germany became more attractive destinations for migrants coming from southern Europe. However, even if Britain had an unstable economy, it also had an advantage of 600 million of people that inhabited its colonies (Hansen, 2003) and this is when the British government recognized the opportunity of putting all the skilled workers in these regions at use. â€Å"Whatever racist ideas they held were secondary to their need for workers to fill gaps in the labour market by doing the worst jobs† (Brown, 1995). In 1948, the British Nationality Act gave people that lived within the boundaries of the Commonwealth a special status, as CUKCS, which is short for â€Å"Citizens of the United Kingdom and colonies†. Due to this special legal status, â€Å"persons born in colonial or Commonwealth

Organizational culture is fundamentally about symbolic meaning and as Essay

Organizational culture is fundamentally about symbolic meaning and as such cannot be managed. Discuss - Essay Example The key factors that have contributed to the importance of organisational culture are globalisation, extensive networks of society and dynamics of ever changing social aspects that have created a work environment that has a diverse culture worldwide (Lann, 2008). Organisational culture plays a pivotal role in allowing the organization to gain a competitive edge in its industry and also becoming successful in the business world with a huge market share. The employees are the key elements that make or break the firm as they are ones who execute the objectives and goals of the organisation. It is important for the organisations to adapt to the organisational culture as required because diversions may lead to conflict of opinion and interest in the organisation. Both the employers and employees need to work together with each other in complete harmony so that desired level of success and results can be achieved by the firm. Within the last two decades of the 20th century, the practitione rs and scholars have been approaching the firms from soft perspectives of individuals as human beings who join the corporations with particular beliefs and values. These beliefs and values play an important role towards the behaviour and attitudes of the employees in the organisation. ... t things for human beings as reflected in the Elton Mayo theory, hence organisations should ensure that they value their employees in all perspectives. Satisfied employees tend to be more productive at workplace and they also tend to respect their organisational culture. According to Gareth Morgan, cited by Ravasi and Schultz (2006), the cultural perspective is one of the interesting and possible metaphors that can be used to understand the functioning and operations of an organisation. The main areas that are focused by the researchers following this perspective are interpreting the ways people do their thinking so that their feeling and actions can be easily conceptualised by the set of values that have been encompassed in the broader perception of culture (Sun, 2008). The thought process of an individual impacts the way job roles are handled at work and also impacts the way employees perceive things at workplace. The perception of employees are also dependent upon their treatment in the organisation by the supervisors and peers. This cultural perspective has both limitations and strengths and has made valuable contributions in the field of organisational research. During the studies by many researchers, one of the primary virtues of cultural metaphor was identified that directed the attention towards the significance of symbolic interaction in the organisation. Before the development of symbolic-interpretive perspective, the major emphasis was on the functionalist perspective which stated that culture is an integral part of the organisation that is defined by the management (Bako, 2010). The symbolic-interpretive perspective was valued by the researchers because it allowed them to study how the organisations have strong roots in their shared systems of meaning. It

Samsung and the Theme Park Essay Example for Free

Samsung and the Theme Park Essay Charles Dhanaraj and Young Soo Kim prepared this case under the supervision of Professor Paul Beamish solely to provide material for class discussion. The authors do not intend to illustrate either effective or ineffective handling of a managerial situation. The authors may have disguised certain names and other identifying information to protect confidentiality. SAMSUNG has the right to reproduce and use this case for its educational purposes. Ivey Management Services prohibits any form of reproduction, storage or transmittal without its written permission. This material is not covered under authorization from CanCopy or any reproduction rights organization. To order copies or request permission to reproduce materials, contact Ivey Publishing, Ivey Management Services, c/o Richard Ivey School of Business, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 3K7; phone (519) 661-3208; fax (519) 661-3882; e-mail [emailprotected] uwo. ca. Copyright  © 1996, Ivey Management Services and Samsung HRDC Version: (A) 2002-11-22. In October 1994, Her Tae-Hak, President of Samsung’s Joong-Ang Development Company was driving to his office, past the â€Å"Yongin Farmland† (Farmland), an amusement complex sprawling over 3,700 acres in the Yongin valley. Her was spearheading a major drive within the company to position the theme park as one of the world’s leading vacation resort towns. His master plan called for an investment of about US$300 million over the next five years, to be internally funded by the Samsung Group. Despite the booming Korean economy and the increasing demands for leisure attractions, the global competitive environment of the theme park industry raised several concerns. Should Samsung invest in such an aggressive expansion plan for Farmland? Was this an attractive industry for investment? Her was scheduled for a meeting with the Chairman of the Samsung Group for a formal presentation of the proposal at the end of the month. THE GLOBAL THEME PARK INDUSTRY The early 1990s saw the emergence of theme parks as a major source of family entertainment, not just in the United States but around the world. The earliest evidence of a business where people â€Å"paid money to be terrified† was in the early 1600s when several Russians operated a sled ride with a 70-foot vertical drop. In the late 1800s, several theme parks were set up in Coney Island (New York) in the United States. The first roller coaster was set up in 1884, followed by an indoor Page 2 amusement park, Sealion Park. In the 1930s, the amusement industry had to contend with alternative entertainment offered by the movie houses as well as setbacks due to economic depression. However, with the Disneyland Park opening in 1955 in California, the industry was revived and Walt Disney was credited with raising the profile, as well as the profitability, of the industry to a new height. There was a variety of parks and attractions, each with a different approach to drawing crowds and showing them a good time: Cultural and Education Parks were a remnant of the old-fashioned type of European park. Such parks featured formal greens, gardens, and fountains. Generally they incorporated historical and educational exhibits. Outdoor Amusement Parks were small parks that served a metropolitan or regional market. These parks featured traditional thrill rides, carnival midways, and some entertainment. Most amusement parks did not have a theme to the architecture, rides, and entertainment. Theme Parks were generally family-oriented entertainment complexes that were built around a theme. Theme parks were larger and had a greater variety of rides and attractions than amusement parks. Water Theme Parks were a recent phenomenon, a special type of theme parks centered on water activities. Large water parks featured wave action pools, river rides, steep vertical drop slides, and a variety of twisting flume slides. Most of the theme parks were members of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, which tracked the attendance at various theme parks. In 1993, North American parks accounted for 48 per cent of the worldwide attendance, Asian parks 33 per cent, European parks 14 per cent, and Central and South American parks four per cent (see Table 1). North America The Walt Disney Company was the largest park chain in the world with three major theme parks in the United States. Time Warner’s Six Flags Corporation was the second largest with seven parks spread out in the United States. Paramount, Anheuser Busch and Cedar Fair were some of the other conglomerates who owned theme parks. In mid-1993, Paramount bought Canada’s Wonderland theme park originally developed by Taft Broadcasting Company in 1981. Despite the mature nature of the industry in the United States, a number of theme parks were investing heavily in upgrading their facilities, and extending the theme parks’ services. 9A96M006 Page 3 Europe In 1980, Alton Towers, a 60-year old park in North Staffordshire (England), comprised primarily of historic gardens, repositioned itself as a theme park by adding a roller coaster and some other attractions. The park was extremely successful within a very short span of time. The success of Alton Towers led to a number of new theme parks in the late 1980s and the early 1990s, including Blackpool Pleasure Beach (England) that featured the world’s tallest roller coaster. In France alone, three major theme parks emerged in the early 1990s: Walt Disney’s $3 billion Euro Disney, the $150 million Parc Asterix located northeast of Paris, and the $110 million Big Bang Schtroumpf (Smurfs) theme park just north of Metz. Six Flags Corporation and Anheuser-Busch both recently opened new theme parks in Spain coinciding with the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Asia Tokyo Disneyland was opened in 1983 by Walt Disney as a joint venture with the Oriental Land Company (OLC). The success of Tokyo Disneyland set off a wave of theme park developments in Asia. OLC and Disney had agreed to open a second theme park, â€Å"Tokyo Disney Sea† in 2001. Ocean Park in Hong Kong, started in 1977, was the largest water park in Asia with an annual attendance of 3. 2 million. Jaya Ancol Dreamland, located in North Jakarta, Indonesia, was one of the largest recreation complexes in south east Asia. Dreamland had a theme park (Dunia Fantasi), a waterpark complex, an oceanarium, a golf course, a beach and several hotels. China was a major growth market. Beijing Amusement park, started in 1981, reported that between 1990 and 1993 revenues increased over 2,000 per cent and earnings before interest and taxes were up 200 per cent. Over the next five years, six regional theme parks were to be developed with a total investment of over $100 million. FINANCIAL ISSUES. The theme park business required a large-scale initial investment, typically ranging from $50 million to $3 billion. Depending on the real-estate markets, the cost of the land value itself could be very high. Theme parks required over 50 acres of land for a full scale development, with some of the theme parks utilizing 10,000 to 30,000 acres. Since accessibility of the park location was a key success factor in the industry, theme park developers chose land sites in a central area which was relatively expensive. Alternatively, they could choose a remote area at a low cost and develop the transportation network. In either case, the land development costs constituted nearly 50 per cent of the overall investment. The amusement machinery constituted 20 to 30 per cent of the total investment, and the working capital requirements took up the remaining 20 to 30 per cent of the investment. The amusement equipment required for the park was also expensive, most of it 9A96M006 Page 4 9A96M006 going from $1 million to $50 million. Businesses which had an in-house land development expertise or equipment technology had better control of these costs. Many parks periodically added new attractions or renovated existing ones to draw repeat customers. The parks typically reinvested much of their revenue for expansion or upgrading purposes. The economies of scale and scope were significant in the industry. Increasingly, parks got larger and larger to generate more operating revenues. Also, companies had multiple parks to take advantage of the learning curve effects in the management of theme parks and the increased economies of scope. Most of the operating expenses for theme parks (about 75 per cent) were for personnel. Admission fees1constituted over 60 per cent of the total revenues of a theme park, while the rest came primarily from food, beverage, and merchandise sales. To handle the admissions revenue a centralized ticket system was generally preferred. An all-inclusive admission price entitled customers to as many rides and shows as they desired. This approach led to longer stays at parks resulting in increased food and beverage sales. Another centralized admission method was to sell ride/show tickets in sets or coupon books (i. e. , five coupons for $5, but 12 coupons for $10). Both approaches to centralized ticket sales minimized the number of employees handling money throughout the park resulting in improved efficiency and control. Walt Disney Company’s financial profile was generally used to assess the return on investment within the industry. The revenues for the theme parks segment of the Walt Disney Company were at US$2. 042 billion in 1988 and grew to US$3. 4 billion in 1993. Operating income was pegged at US$565 million in 1988 and US$747 million in 1993. The return on equity for the Walt Disney Company was pegged at 17 to 25 per cent. One of the analysts remarked on the theme parks segment of Walt Disney: Theme parks are going to become increasingly stable and annuitylike, with the ability to generate $700 to $750 million in cash flow a year. There were signs of declining profitability in the U. S. operations, since the market was maturing and the competition was getting more intense. Tokyo Disneyland, the Japanese operation, was growing and profitable. However, EuroDisney, the European theme park, was a disaster for the company with huge losses since operations began in 1992. The company was expecting a break-even in 1995. 1. Admission fees varied from $5 to $25 depending on the location and reputation of the park. Page 5 9A96M006 MARKETING AND SOCIAL ISSUES The traditional appeal of theme/amusement parks was to preteens, teens, and young adults. Changing demographics were causing most parks to think in terms of a broader market, particularly families, corporate groups, and even senior citizens. There were five major market segments for theme parks: Local Families — people within a day’s drive who visited mostly on weekends. Most parks focused exclusively on this segment, which generally constituted 60 to 75 per cent of the attendance. Children’s Groups — schools, churches, recreation agencies, scouts, and other groups who traveled in buses on summer weekdays. The Evening Market — teens and young adults who came for entertainment, concerts, and romancing at night. Corporate Groups — included consignment sales and group parties. Tourists — a substantial market for large theme parks in destination areas such as Florida. Customer satisfaction was a critical issue in theme parks management. Successful park managers used extensive marketing research to understand their customers and also spent a lot of effort in promoting the park. To reach the diverse groups, parks emphasized increased beautification and the range of entertainment and food services offered. Theme park managers were working with tour operators and government tourist promotion boards to draw the tourist crowds to their parks. Theme parks spent about 10 per cent of their annual revenues for advertising. Radio, newspaper, yellow page (telephone book) advertisements, family and group discounts, and direct mail were the most common promotional methods. Among large theme parks, television advertising was an excellent visual medium to capture the excitement. Some parks expended a major portion of their advertising budget for television promotion. An issue for the theme parks industry was the seasonal and intermittent nature of the business. Theme parks’ attendance peaked in the spring/summer and in the school holidays. Even in the holiday season, bad weather could adversely affect the attendance. The seasonal fluctuations put a lot of strain on the theme parks’ management. During the peak season, the requirement for employees shot up; quite often the management had to find employees beyond the domestic territory and provide housing for out-of-town employees. The sudden surge in demand often choked the service systems such as transportation, building management, etc. It was the availability of leisure time and a high discretionary income that drove the commercial recreation industry. Economic downturns had a severe impact on industry revenues. Also, consumers could substitute a visit to theme parks with other modes of entertainment. Consumers substituted products/services in order to try something new, different, cheaper, safer, better, or more convenient. Free Page 6 admission parks and beaches, camping trips, or even video-movies at home were competing options for leisure time. REGULATORY ISSUES Government regulations were quite strict because of the extensive land use, and the potential for serious accidents. Licensing requirements and methods of ascertaining operational expertise to ensure visitors’ safety varied from country to country. In some countries, where land was scarce, governments limited the area of the land that the developers could take up for theme parks. Park administration was dependent on the government for utilities such as power, gas and water. A typical period required for arranging government approval for a theme park could be as high as two to five years, depending on the country. A related issue was insurance premiums. Given the likelihood of accidents in the amusement parks and the possibility of serious injury, 100 per cent insurance coverage was a must in the industry. Although safety records in the industry were very good, the insurance premiums were extremely high in some parts of the world, particularly in the United States. However, the large premiums often drove the small players in the industry out of business. Countries in Asia did not have this handicap. TECHNOLOGY ISSUES The theme park industry had three classes of inputs: the building and construction services that provided landscaping and architectural support; the hardware providers that supplied amusement machinery; and the software providers that supplied management know-how. The amusement machinery industry had grown over the years. Most of the large drives, such as the Hurricane or the Giant Wheel, were manufactured in Japan, Europe or the United States. There were fewer than 10 suppliers who were capable of developing quality machinery, such as DOGO of Japan, HUSS of Germany, and ARROW of the United States. Most of these suppliers worked globally, and the machinery were custom designed and made to order to fit the particular market and environment conditions. There were a large number of suppliers for the smaller machines, and quite often, they could be manufactured domestically. Special simulators for amusement purposes using proprietary technology were being developed by technology-intensive companies such as Sega Japan and Simex Canada. The park management expertise commonly referred to as the â€Å"software† in the industry was not easily available. Leading theme park companies, such as Walt 9A96M006 Page 7 9A96M006. Disney Company, charged huge licensing fees which were over 10 per cent of the revenues. Also, they were very selective in choosing joint ventures in other countries. Disney went through an extensive market analysis and partner profile analysis for over three years in Europe before finalizing the venue in France with the joint venture partner. Mr. Yu, director-in-charge of the Farmland project, commented: We wanted to go for a joint venture with Walt Disney Corporation. But they somehow were not interested in Korea. So we had to go it alone. It takes a long time for theme park managers to develop service delivery of world class quality. Although Walt Disney offered a number of educational programs to train other managers in the â€Å"Disney Management† style, the know-how seemed to be too sophisticated for the competitors to emulate. Virtual reality (VR) was increasingly becoming a highly lucrative mass-market entertainment phenomenon. A new entry that was due to open in July 1994 was Joypolis, a $70 million interactive theme park owned by Sega Enterprises, with projected revenues of $37 million per annum. Sega had plans to open 50 such parks in Japan, and was negotiating with Universal Studios, California, for its first U. S. installation of a VR theme park. YONGIN FARMLAND Yongin Farmland (Farmland), opened in 1976, was the first amusement park in Korea. It was managed by Joong-Ang Development Company, one of the wholly owned subsidiaries of Samsung with a mission to provide a better quality of life through healthy open-air leisure activities. In addition to the Farmland management, Joong-Ang was responsible for the building maintenance at all Samsung’s offices, as well as maintaining two golf courses. Farmland was located about an hour south of Seoul, and was owned by the Korean conglomerate, the Samsung Group (see Exhibit 1). The 3,700-acre attraction began as an agricultural center to demonstrate how mountainous land could be used productively for growing food products. Mr. Lee of Joong-Ang said, At that time, we had trouble raising enough food for our country. We created a model farm of how to work with an abandoned mountain by building a pig farm and planting fruit orchards. We changed the land use gradually through the years as we added entertainment elements. The Wild Safari was opened in 1980, and the Rose Festival, an impressive rose garden filled with 6,000 rose bushes of 160 different varieties arranged according. Page 8 9A96M006 to various themes, opened in 1985. To provide for winter entertainment, the Sled Slope was opened in 1988. A drastic departure from the traditional theme parks was taken when Yongin Farmland opened a Motor-Park in late 1993. The motor park operations incurred a loss in the first year of operations (see Table 2 for the profit and loss statement). In November 1993, Her took over as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Joong-Ang Development Company. Prior to his assignment to Joong-Ang, Her was the CEO of Cheju Shilla, a luxury hotel on Cheju Island in Korea. Her was credited with developing a world-class sea resort at Cheju Shilla which surpassed in customer service established hotel chains such as Hotel Hilton. Since taking over the reins of the company, Her had focused on improving the customer satisfaction level at Farmland, and had also been developing the plans for Farmland’s expansion. One of the major challenges was to see how the expansion plans for Farmland would match with the corporate strengths of the Samsung group. Her was aware that earlier attempts by previous management to expand Farmland had not met with the approval of the group’s Chairman. There were concerns in many quarters that the theme park industry did not fit well with the â€Å"high-tech† and the â€Å"global† image of the Samsung Group, and also that the profitability might be very low. The theme park industry was still in its early stages in Korea, and had a history of less than two decades. However, indications were that the industry was growing globally, with more players entering. Nevertheless, some of the managers did not see profitable growth opportunity in the theme park industry. One of the managers in Joong-Ang said: Theme parks may be a growing industry worldwide. That does not mean that it should be so in Korea. In Korea, we work five and a half days a week and we have annual vacation of only four to five days a year. Where do Korean people have time for theme parks? FARMLAND CUSTOMERS Traditionally, Farmland focused on the local customers. Most of its customers came from surrounding areas within two hours’ drive (see Table 3). The economic growth in Korea had been a major driving force in industry growth (see Exhibit 2). Despite the early stage of growth in the Korean leisure industry, there were six theme parks in the Seoul area including Farmland. Most notable among these were Lotte World and Seoul Land. Lotte World, started in 1989, prided itself on having the world’s largest indoor theme park with adjoining hotel, department store, shopping mall, folk village and sports centre. Commenting on Lotte’s strategy, one of the managers at Lotte World said: Page 9 9A96M006 We focus on a segment different from Farmland. Since we are located downtown, we cater to a clientele who want to drop by for a shorter period. Typically, we get office people who want to relax after a hard day’s work or couples who would like to spend some time in a romantic environment. Seoul Land, located near Seoul at Kyungkido, was also a key competitor to Farmland. With attendance at 3. 37 million, Seoul Land ranked 23rd in the â€Å"Top 50 theme parks worldwide. † Mr. Woon, one of the managers at Seoul Land, remarked: The park has a good reputation for quality special events and the people enjoy coming to the park because of its fresh air, beautiful scenery, and easy access. Despite the competition from other parks, Farmland had the highest growth rate within the Korean industry (Table 4). The seasonal nature of the theme park industry affected all the competitors, not necessarily in the same pattern (Table 5). PRICING Farmland was also going through a major change in its pricing structure. The pricing strategy in place (Table 6) was a combination of â€Å"pay-as-you-go† and â€Å"pay-one-price† system. Users had the option of paying the admission fees and buying separate tickets for rides (pay-as-you-go), that were available as coupons (Big 5 for five rides). Membership in the park was available for a price, which provided free admission for a year. The other option was to buy a â€Å"passport† (termed as â€Å"pay-one-price†) that provided admission as well as unlimited rides for one full day. The passport users were estimated at 17. 4 per cent of the attendance in 1993, and the membership holders were estimated at 75 per cent. Farmland wanted to switch gradually to the pay-one-price scheme, which was the most common pricing scheme in the leading markets. The prices across the major competitors were comparable. In 1993, average admissions and ride fee per person was 6,667 Won in Farmland, 7,279 Won in Lotte World, and 6,494 Won in Seoul Land. Theme parks also monitored the amount a visitor spent on food, beverages, and souvenirs. In 1993, average percapita expenditure on food and beverage in the three parks was 2,874 Won in Farmland, 2,017 Won in Lotte World and 1,804 Won in Seoul Land and merchandise sales per capita were 996, 1,319, and 722 Won, respectively. Page 10 9A96M006 OPERATIONAL ISSUES While there was some indication that the Samsung Group would be willing to consider a proposal for expansion of the Farmland, Her had to contend with a number of operational issues at Farmland. Based on discussions with a number of managers and customers, Her had some idea of the various issues involved in the operation of Farmland. Transportation One major issue was accessibility to the park. Yongin was 60 kilometres south of Seoul, and during peak hours, it took as long as two hours to drive from Seoul to Farmland due to traffic jams. One resident who lived very close to the Yongin area said: Actually, it should take only 15 minutes to drive from my home to Farmland. But the traffic jam is so intense that if I go to Farmland, it may take almost an hour of crawling in the traffic. That’s one main reason why I have not visited it so far. One of the managers in the marketing group commented on the critical nature of this problem: In Korea, we work five and a half days a week. Most of the time on the working days the travel time is long. All the house chores have to be done only on the weekends. Given this fact, it is only to be expected that Korean customers would not be so keen to travel on a Sunday or on a holiday if the traffic is heavy. However, many managers in Joong-Ang believed that the accessibility problem was only a temporary issue. Mr. Yu, Director of Personnel at Joong-Ang, commented: Travel difficulties are part of our life in Korea, given the small land and the large number of people. The government has plans to bring the subway up to Yongin, in which case Farmland would have a subway terminal, which will provide a lot of convenience to our people. This was echoed by one of the visitors to Farmland, who commented: I hate sitting inside my house all day. I have to get out somewhere. Seoul is too crowded and I would like to go to some place to breathe some clean air. Beaches are closed most of the season, and Page 11 9A96M006 if I want to go for some mountains or Pusan, it is too far away. So, I don’t mind driving down to Yongin to spend a relaxed day. I will skip the rush hour by leaving early from the park. Parking Another related issue was parking. Farmland had ample parking space for about 8,000 cars at one time around the four sides of the park. One of the managers who conducted an extensive analysis of the parking space said: What we have now is more or less enough for the time being. We have enough space for about 8,000 cars and at four people per car we can accommodate about 32,000 people. If we assume the lot turning over at 1. 7 times a day (at an average stay of six to eight hours), we can handle a peak attendance of 52,000. But the real problem is the seasonality. On peak days, we may get more visitors and quite often people may spend more time. If we are going to expand, this will be a major bottleneck. Part of the expansion plan included augmenting the parking spaces and also providing a â€Å"Park and Ride† scheme for visitors so that they could travel comfortably from the various car parks to the entrance. Environmental Issues Expanding Farmland meant taking over more of the land mass available in the Yongin valley. A farmer living in the Yongin valley, who was vehemently opposed to the expansion ideas, said: They (Samsung) just want to expand their business. But they don’t realize that one of the problems with cutting down the trees and leveling the ground will cause potential flooding in the surrounding region. This will damage all our crops. How will they compensate us? Organizational Inertia It was also a challenge to introduce a dynamic environment within the Farmland organization. In order to succeed in the industry, Farmland had to go through a major reorientation in its organizational style. Farmland had initiated customer satisfaction surveys recently and it was brought to the attention of the management that the customer satisfaction levels were lagging behind the key competitor, Lotte World. As one of the marketing managers noted: Page 12 9A96M006. Repeat business is very important to our survival. If we don’t satisfy our customers, they won’t come back and we won’t have any business left. But, it is not in our Korean nature to smile at strangers. We are very serious people. So it becomes all the more difficult to get the type of service you can see at Disneyland. Mr. Yu, who had pioneered a number of changes within the organization, recalled one event which demonstrated the type of organizational inertia the management had to deal with: Previously we had the head office at Seoul and we were managing the Farmland by ‘remote control. ’ We were faxing information and directives up and down. But I somehow did not see that this would be the best way to work. I insisted that the head office had to be located where our products are and only after much persuasion could we move to this place. Among other things, management was also considering a change in the recruitment process. Traditionally, Farmland had gone after the â€Å"academically best† graduates and students, which was the standard practice at Samsung. The management felt that they needed more service oriented people. The management wanted to recruit more female workers, the level of which at that time was below 25 per cent, but anticipated problems since most Korean women stopped working after marriage. Mr. Yu said: I think times are changing. For that matter, even if we have a high turnover, it may be good for us since fresh blood always brings in fresh ideas and we would be able to preserve some dynamism in our organization. THE MASTER PLAN Based on a detailed survey (Table 8) and tentative analysis, the management had put together a master plan to invest about $300 million in revamping Farmland. There were also suggestions of changing the name to provide a better image of the company. A master plan, for a phased investment of about $300 million dollars over the next two years, was being developed. Everland, Green Country, and Nature Land were some of the names proposed for the new â€Å"mountain resort. † Included in the master plan were: A waterpark to be built adjacent to the existing theme park, at an estimated cost of US$140 million, with a Caribbean theme. A Global Fair, a fun-fair indicative of the major countries in the world, at an estimated cost of $85 million. Page 13 9A96M006 Expansion of existing zoo, and parks including a night time laser show and a fable fantasy garden at an estimated cost of $50 million. The funding would come mainly from the parent, Samsung Group, and also through corporate sponsorship of the other companies within the Samsung Group. The master plan also indicated that if the first phase was successful, a second phase of developing a resort town in Yongin, with luxury hotels, golf courses, and resort accommodations would occur. (Exact budget for the second phase was not available at that stage.) A number of managers within the company who were closely involved in developing the master plan felt strongly that the theme park expansion was not only a priority but also would be a profitable venture. The General Manager of the planning group commented: What we want to create is a destination resort town and a residential community where people can come, relax and enjoy themselves in a low-stress environment. Samsung employs more than 180,000 people here in Korea. This will give them a place to come and be proud of. There will be plenty here for all members of the family as they grow. We feel it is time to change from a farm-oriented name to a name which represents our new mission, which is to create a zeal for long-lasting life that is combined with the harmony of nature. If this plan is approved, we will become the prototype destination resort town in the entire world. We have visited them all, and when we’re finished, there won’t be any better! Her wanted a comprehensive analysis of the theme park industry to ascertain the profitability of the industry. He wanted to present to the chairman of the Samsung Group a clear rationale why Samsung should invest in this industry. The Richard Ivey School of Business gratefully acknowledges the generous support of The Richard and Jean Ivey Fund in the development of this case as part of the RICHARD AND JEAN IVEY FUND ASIAN CASE SERIES. Page 14 9A96M006 Table 1 TOP 50 AMUSEMENT/THEME PARKS WORLDWIDE (1994) Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 Park Location Tokyo (Japan) DISNEYLAND MAGIC KINGDOM of Walt Disney World, Florida, United States DISNEYLAND, Anaheim, California, United States JAYA ANCOL DREAMLAND, Jakarta, Indonesia. EPCOT at Walt Disney World, Florida, United States EURO DISNEYLAND, Morne La Voltee, France YOKOHAMA (Japan) HAKKEIJIMA SEA PARADISE, Japan DISNEY-MGM STUDIOS, Walt Disney World, Florida, United States UNIVERSAL STUDIOS FLORIDA, Orlando, Florida, United States BLACKPOOL (England) PLEASURE BEACH, England YONGIN FARMLAND, Kyonggi-Do, South Korea UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD, California, United States SEA WORLD OF FLORIDA, Florida, United States LOTTE WORLD, Seoul, South Korea CHAPULTEPEC, Mexico City, Mexico HUIS TEN BOSCH, Sosebo, Japan TOSHIMAEN AMUSEMENT PARK, Tokyo, Japan KNOTT’S BERRY FARM, Fuona Park, California, United States SEA W.

Essay --

The Segregation of Éire Ireland has a very conflicted history. Just when that history may seem to take a turn for the better, it seems that there is always another event to keep the trend of depression ongoing. The separation of the Protestant and Catholic Church would be the center of these events. However, the two different groups could potentially work together for the betterment of the nation. Through an analysis of why Protestants and Catholics split in the first place, disadvantages that Catholics would face in the coming years and also how these disadvantages were lifted, an argument will be developed in that there is perhaps the chance that they may end up working together in the future for the betterment of Ireland. Although these two groups would fight over the countless decades, they need to join into one entity if they wish to see a better future for Ireland. The traces of the split can be seen nearly five hundred years ago during the Protestant Reformation in the sixteenth century. During King Henry VIII’s rule, Henry had wanted a divorce from his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, to marry Anne Boleyn. When the Pope would refuse to allow a divorce between Catherine and Henry, Henry would decide to start his own church so that he could be in a position of power to proceed with the divorce. This church would become the Church of England. Through this radical break away from the social norm, Henry VIII would be remembered as a man who would go to great lengths to get what he wanted. This break would also signify the beginning of the Protestant Reformation across Europe. This event marks the first time that two groups are seen as a national friend and foe recognition. As Bartlett notes, â€Å"By the 1570’s loyal and disloyal ... ...ehind leaders such as Wolf Tone, pledging their support in the form of the United Irishmen. Even though the 1798 Uprising would ultimately fail, this milestone in Irish history had the other citizens of Ireland that the Catholics were willing to lay aside their past differences for the betterment of their nation. This begs the question that will they continue to work together in the future. Based off the past evidence, Protestants and Catholics have little to lose in assisting each other and having Ireland progress into a nation that is one unified completely. What needs to happen though is that each side has to lay out the terms with no outside influence. There can be no ambiguous statements surrounding these terms and officials have to free of bias, as much as a person can be, to effectively write equal terms that ensure economic progress and religious tolerance.

Realism in “Great Expectations” by Charles Dickens Essay

Realism was developed by the middle of the 19th century as a response to the idealistic world of romanticism which had dominated for the past half century. It was an aesthetic movement which attempted to hold up a mirror to its society to show a true reflection of reality. Although claiming to offer a slice of life by emphasizing chiefly in the importance of the ordinary amongst the middle and lower classes, realism is a relative concept, a representation of reality which adheres to a loose collection of conventions. Many of these are offered in Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, which follows the life and struggles of the protagonist and narrator, Pip. Dickens uses techniques such as a chronological linear narrative, an omniscient narrator, the celebration of the ordinary, and the resolution of the enigma to drive the moral undercurrents of Pip’s everyday existence. This constructed realism is essentially a representation of reality based on Dickens ideology, offerin g social commentary and reflecting the values and attitudes of nineteenth century England. see more:old age home article The basic structure of Great Expectations follows a chronological development of Pip’s life; from his childhood innocence, to his disillusioned expectations, finally his rejection of the high life and a circular succession ending back at the beginning. This chronological structure of which Dickens narrates exemplifies Pip’s learning process through his moral and emotional turmoil and complies with the opportunity to generate a realistic setting. For example, Pip’s description of London, â€Å"a most dismal place; the skylight eccentrically patched like a broken head, and the distorted adjoining houses looking as if they had twisted themselves to peep down at me through it,† creates an archaeologically realistic description of London, and hints a sense of foreboding, foreshadowing the futility of Pip’s expectations. This ideology developed through Pips learning process is created through a carefully crafted linear plot in order to present fiction as reality. Reflected by the matured Pip in the perspective of the omniscient narrator, Great Expectations’ first person narration employs the wisdom of hindsight to define the events and characters of the story. Dickens imbues the voice of the matured Pip to make judgments on his past actions, at the Christmas  dinner for instance, Pip experiences a deep desire to tweak Mr. Wopsle’s large nose–to â€Å"pull it until he howled.† The older Pip narrates this encounter comically and sympathetically, conveying his youthful innocence through the perspective of a child. This convention of retrospect produces a sense of psychological depth and compassion, given access to Pip’s feelings, thoughts and motivations. As the newly democratic age finds importance in the individual, essentially Great Expectations is both an external novel in Pip’s commentary of the society around him and an internal novel in the development of his perspective. By evoking consciousnes s of Pip’s character, Dickens coaxes the audience to enter the illusion of reality. Furthermore, in parallel to the importance of the individual, realism tends to concern its interests in the commonplace and ordinary everyday lives among the lower classes. Through the characters of Great Expectations, Dickens celebrates the commonplace, employing Pip, the most ordinary of subjects, as a central vehicle instilled to investigate his social reality and to express ideological views on society. Biddy, for instance â€Å"was not beautiful – she was common, and could not be like Estella – but she was pleasant and wholesome and sweet-tempered.† Despite her humble position in society Biddy emerges with admirable values, which contrasts to the cold beauty, cruelty and deception of Estella. In accordance to realist conventions concerned with rejecting the ideal, Dickens portrays the upper class with great malice, greed and corruption as Miss Havisham encourages Estella to torment Pip, whispering â€Å"Break their hearts!† Ideologically driven, realism is deliberate in rejoicing in the ordinary, and condemning the supreme. Moreover, realism is largely concentrated on ideologically driven values as the central issues of life tend to be ethical. Dickens paints the lower class to embody a high moral ground and rejects the false values of the upper class. Drummle, for instance, is an upper-class lout, while Magwitch, a persecuted convict, has a deep inner worth. This concept is developed with greater depth in the character of Joe, of which despite his position in society, his unrefined and uneducated qualities, is identified as the epitome of goodness. As a true ‘gentleman’, â€Å"It was not because I was  faithful, but because Joe was faithful,† Joe contrasts to the aspirations Pip seeks to become, of which Dickens shows as corrupt and materialistic. It was Joe’s â€Å"quiet goodness† stemming from honestly, empathy and kindness, which compelled Pip, as he reflects in retrospect, to reject the values of this society in favor of an inner morality. Additionally, a sense of ending is invested in Great Expectations which resolves the plot. The learning process Pip embarks on educates him on the futility of his expectations, and his hopes to return as a gentleman is a complete failure: Estella reminds him coldly that she has â€Å"no heart.† In Pip’s case, closure is restored through his moral development and growth, epitomized in his reconciliation with Joe and Biddy. His maturation toward adulthood is symbolized by his desire to rectify his behaviour toward his lower class loved ones. Pip has at last learned that love, loyalty and morality hold more value than social class and wealth. On a different vein, at times Great Expectations does not remain faithful to the conventions of realism. Dickens tends to slip in and out of reality, deviating from realism to social satire, using hyperbole to satirize the pretentiousness of Pumblechook’s social improvement â€Å"a large hard-breathing middle-aged slow man, with a mouth like a fish, dull staring eyes†¦looked as if he had just be all but choked.† The gothic genre is also apparent in Pip’s first description of Miss Havisham, â€Å"†¦ought to be white, had lost its luster, and was faded and yellow. I saw that the bride within the bridal dress had withered like the dress†¦Now, waxwork and skeleton seemed to have dark eyes that moved and looked at me.† The audience’s first impression of Miss Havisham is thus one of darkness, mystery and terror. With these constructed implications, realism is considered a loose convention as Dickens deviates between reality and the conventi ons of other genres. It can be seen that Great Expectations exhibits aspects of realism as it assumes that reality inheres in the here and now, in the everyday. Dickens employs themes including accurate descriptions of specific setting, the chronological structure of the story, the omniscient narrator, the importance of the ordinary, the pedestrian, and the middle class with  tendency to reject the ideal and the resolution of the enigma. Dickens also tends to deviate between different genres in contrast to the realistic portrayal of certain aspects in society. When these constructs are applied in literature, a set of conventions emerges, however in order to mimic reality they only offer an abstraction of reality reflecting the values and ideology of the composer’s context. With that said, literary realism is essentially a representation of the world based on the attitudes of the composer, carefully constructed to a set of conventions.

Note for Writing Task 1 Ielts

NOTES ON NECESSARY VOCABULARY FOR WRITING TASK 1 POPULATION: the most/least populated; the biggest/smallest number of people; the most/least densely populated; the most/fewest people; the number of people/residents/inhabitants DIFFERENT TYPES OF STH: many kinds of, various categories, a range of, a host of TOURISTS (to Australia): travelers to Australian, people who travel(led) to Australia, people who go/went to Australia, people who visit/visited Australia.FUELS (coal, gas, oil, and nuclear to produce energy/power or electricity): The most popular source of energy is/was†¦.. ; the most power is/was produced from†¦.. ; the most electricity comes/came from†¦.. , energy production from†¦. s the highest DISTANCE: to drive/cover/run a long distance, to drive a longer distance, to cover the longest distance; the distance/space that London train covered was the longest WATER CONSUMPTION & OIL PRODUCTION: the most water was used/consumed in agricultural sector; agricult ure is/was the sector that consumed the most water; water usage in agriculture is/was the highest; the most oil was produced in Europe, DEATH RATE: the percentage of people who died (of + a disease), the number of deaths (among young people); the mortality rate, BIRTH RATE: birth rate, fertility rate, the proportion of babies born, the number of infants, WORKERS: the number of workers in education sector; the number of employees in education domain/field; the number of people who work(ed) in education sector, the most people worked/functioned/operated in service sector.LEISURE ACTIVITIES: hobby, interest, like, choose, select, vote for, take part in, join in, SALES: sale = the act of selling things, sales = the number of items sold, SAVINGS (always plural) = the money that is/was saved EARNINGS (always plural) = the money that is/was earned EXPENDITURE: spending on sth = an amount of money that is/was spent on sth = the expenditure on sth = the budge for sth = Noun + expense ; more money was spent on sth than on sth else; people tend to spend more on sth than on sth else, the expense on sth is higher than†¦.. DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS: 14-24: People from 14 to 24 years old = people between 14 and 24 years old = people aged 14 to 24 = the 14-24-year-old people = the 14-24-year-olds = people from the youngest group 45 and over: Men/women from 45 years old = ales/females aged 45 and over = men/women from the oldest group = those from the oldest group 25-34: People from 25 to 34 years old = †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ = people from the second youngest group = those from the second youngest group 35-44: People from 35 to 44 years old = †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ = people from the second oldest group = those from the second youngest group Note: People (men/males, women/female, viewers, members, participants, attendants, male smokers/ female smokers†¦. ) NOTES ON IELTS WRITING TOPICS (TASK 2) CHILDREN Writing task 2 (an essay) Some think that computer games are dangerous for children in every way; others think that computer games help children’s development. Discuss both views and give your opinion. Writing task 2 (an essay) Men and women employed in full-time jobs have to share evenly household chores and caring for children at home. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Writing task 2 (an essay) In certain cultures old age is considered to be more important while in others it’s the opposite, children are thought to be more important.Discuss both views and give your opinion. Writing task 2 (an essay) A country’s future is depending on its young people. Therefore, a country should invest heavily in its youth. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Writing task 2 (an essay) Nowadays children have too much freedom. Do you agree or disagree? Writing task 2 (an essay) Some people say that younger children should follow their instincts and be allowed to behave as freely as they want, while others disagree. Discuss both views and give your opinion. Writing task 2 (an essay) Teachers at schools exert a greater influence on intellectual and social development of their students, as compared to their parents.Do you agree or disagree? Provide arguments to support your opinion. Writing task 2 (an essay) Some argue that teaching students of different abilities in one classroom isn’t beneficial. Discuss and give your own opinion. Writing task 2 (an essay) Some people think that schools are merely turning children into good citizens and workers, rather than benefiting them as individuals. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Writing task 2 (an essay) Many people believe that teachers should teach students how to judge right from wrong and how to behave, while others think they should just teach academic subjects. What is your opinion? STUDENTS Writing task 2 (an essay)Theoretical subjects like mathematics, philosophy and economics should be removed from the university education, whereas most of the students ar e interested in taking practical subjects such as computer programming, engineering and so on. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Writing task 2 (an essay) Some people believe that universities are producing more graduates than needed, and that less emphasis should be placed on university education. Others are of a different opinion. Discuss both views and include you own opinion. Writing task 2 (an essay) In the past lecturers could teach a certain number of students in one lecture hall. With the development of new technology it’s hard to justify the reason to participate the lecture physically and not via the internet. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? What is your personal opinion? Writing task 2 (an essay) Read also: Principles of Good Writing by L.A. HillSome countries are providing general education in secondary schools, while others are teaching skills specific to a future career. Which type of education would be a better choice these days, in your opinion? Writing task 2 (an essay) Many university students live with their families while others need to live away from home because their universities are in different cities. What are the advantages and disadvantages in both situations? Writing task 2 (an essay) Employers now tend to prefer employees with good social skills in addition to good qualifications. Social skills are getting more and more important compared to qualifications. Do you agree or disagree? Writing Task 2 (an essay)Most students choose to work part time during university studies. Do you think it is a good or a bad idea? Give your opinion and support it with an explanation and examples. Writing task 2 (an essay) Paying university graduates large salaries is justifie d, but only if they had to pay for their education. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? ENVIRONMENT AND TOURISM Writing task 2 (an essay) Environmental pollution is a serious issue and it is important to take steps on an individual level to reduce it. But now, since it is becoming an international issue, it is time to take environmental protection to a higher level. To what extent do you agree or disagree?Writing task 2 (an essay) Many people say there is a need to protect the environment, but put no effort when it comes to them. Do you belong to these people? What actions could be taken to prevent this? Discuss and provide real life examples. Writing task 2 (an essay) Some people say cheap air travel is good because it enables ordinary people to travel, others argue that it is bad for the environment. Discuss both views, and include your opinion. Writing task 2 (an essay) Costs of international travel are decreasing and the tourism is growing. What are the advantages and disadvantages of an increasing tourism activity in different countries? Writing task 2 (an essay)Many people say that companies and private tour operators should pay the bills for cleaning up pollution, instead of the government. To what extent do you agree or disagree with that? Writing task 2 (an essay) Many experts hold the opinion that the increasing demand for oil and gas means people should look for new sources of energy for the future. Others feel that the damage to the land would be a major disadvantage of such search. What is your opinion? Explain and give reasons from your own experience. Writing task 2 (an essay) Developments in technology have caused environmental problems. Some say this can be solved by living a simple life, others think that technology can solve these problems.Discuss both views and give your opinion. Writing task 2 (an essay) Cultural traditions are being used for money making purposes, especially for tourists. Is this destroying the tr aditions or is it the only way to keep them alive? Writing task 2 (an essay) Nowadays a growing throw-away culture causes people to throw away their goods and replace them with new, latest technology ones available on the market. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this culture for our society. Writing task 2 (an essay) Reducing the global environmental damage should be handled by the governments rather than individuals. To what extent do you agree or disagree?Give reasons for your answer and provide relevant examples from your own experience. MEDIA Writing task 2 (an essay) Mobile phones and the internet can be of great use for the elderly. In what ways do you think these can be helpful to them? How can they be encouraged to use this technology? Writing task 2 (an essay) Nowadays TV news shows a lot of disaster scenes and violence. What effect on individuals and society in general can this have? Writing task 2 (an essay) Nowadays, young people are admiring media and sports stars even though they don’t set a good example. Do you think this is a positive or a negative development? Writing task 2 (an essay)Even though people read the news using the internet nowadays, newspapers still are an important source of information for the general public. Do you agree or disagree with that statement? Writing task 2 (an essay) Nowadays TV news shows a lot of disaster scenes and violence. What effect on individuals and society in general can this have? Writing task 2 (an essay) News is a source of knowledge about the world. How much can we trust the journalists? What are the qualities a good journalist should have? ARTS & TECHNOLOGY Writing task 2 (an essay) Some people think that museums should entertain people, while others believe that the purpose of museums is to educate. Discuss both views and give you own opinion.Writing task 2 (an essay) Some people think that government should support artists (poets, musicians) financially, other argue that money shou ld be spent on other, more important, issues. Do you agree or disagree? Writing task 2 (an essay) Why do you think artists like writers, musicians and painters still have value in our society? Discuss. Writing task 2 (an essay) These days, people pay more attention to artists (writers, painters and so on) and give less importance to science and technology. Do you agree or disagree with this view? Writing task 2 (an essay) In the last century, the first man walking on the moon said: â€Å"It is a giant leap for mankind†.However, some people think it makes little difference to our daily lives. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Writing task 2 (an essay) In the past lecturers could teach a certain number of students in one lecture hall. With the development of new technology it’s hard to justify the reason to participate the lecture physically and not via the internet. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? What is your personal opinion? Writing Task 2 (an es say) Lectures were the traditional way to teach large numbers of students in the past. Now new technology is being used to teach students. Is this a positive or a negative development? Writing task 2 (an assay)Early technological developments brought more benefits and changes to people’s life than the recent technological developments. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Writing task 2 (an essay) Mobile phones and the internet can be of great use for the elderly. In what ways do you think these can be helpful to them? How can they be encouraged to use this technology? Writing task 2 (an essay) Some people think that government should spend money on other important subjects rather helping artists. Do you agree or disagree? GOVERNMENT AND LAW Writing Task 2 (an essay) Some people think that the role of women in the military or police forces is very relevant and becoming more significant. Others argue the opposite. Do you agree or disagree? What is your opinion?Writing task 2 (an essay) Some people think that design of newly constructed buildings in big cities should be controlled by governments. Do you agree or disagree? Writing Task 2 (an essay) Nowadays jobs become more stressful and workers stay longer at work. What are the reasons for this? What can employers do to help employees? Writing task 2 (an essay) Often new commercial centers are planed with respect to green areas and sport facilities. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Why? Writing task 2 (an essay) Some people believe that governments should ban dangerous sports. Others claim that they should have freedom to choose their favorite activities.Discuss both views and present your opinion. Writing task 2 (an essay) Some people say that the government is responsible for aged care and financial support for the elderly, others argue that it is the role of individuals. Discuss both views and give your opinion. HEALTH Writing task 2 (an essay) Some say that public health is important and there should be more sports facilities. Others say that they have small impact on individuals. Discuss both views and give your opinion. Writing task 2 (an essay) Some people say that the government is responsible for aged care and financial support for the elderly, others argue that it is the role of individuals.Discuss both views and give your opinion. ECONOMY Writing task 2 (an essay) Richness is an important factor in helping people. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Writing task 2 (an essay) Even though developing countries receive financial help, poverty is still an issue. Some say they should be receiving other kind of help, to eliminate poverty. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Give examples and suggest what other form of help can be offered. Writing task 2 (an essay) Some say that economic development is the solution to poverty; others say it is the cause of poverty. Do you agree or disagree with the statement? Give your own opinion. Writing task 2 (an es say)Nowadays a growing throw-away culture causes people to throw away their goods and replace them with new, latest technology ones available on the market. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this culture for our society. Writing task 2 (an essay) Many people support the development of agriculture, such as factory farming and creation of new fruits and vegetables. Others oppose to this idea. Present both sides and give your personal opinion. Writing task 2 (an essay) Rich countries should not employ skilled labor from poor countries, as the poor countries need the workers more. To what extent do you agree or disagree? ADVERTISING Writing task 2 (an essay) Some people think advertising is good for the economy.Others say it can cause people to desire something unnecessary or completely useless. What is your opinion? Writing task 2 (an essay) Some people believe that advertisements targeting children may have negative effects on them, and suggest banning such advertisements as a solution. To what extent do you agree or disagree? SOCIAL ISSUES Writing task 2 (an essay) Multi-cultural societies have more advantages than drawbacks. Do you agree or disagree? Support your opinion with examples. Writing task 2 (an essay) Some people say that individuals are depending a lot on each other and some say individuals are getting more independent of each other. Discuss both views and give your opinion. Writing task 2 (an essay)The big cities are constantly growing. Why is this happening, and what problems does it bring? What can be done to improve people’s lives? Writing task 2 (an essay) There is a trend of increasing competitiveness in today’s society. In your opinion, is it a good or a bad development? Writing task 2 (an essay) People in former times used to be more dependent on one another, whereas nowadays they lead a more independent life. Do you agree or disagree? LANGUAGE DEATH Writing task 2 (an essay) Every year rare languages disappear from t he world. Some people say this is not important, because it is better to have fewer languages. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

How Writers Can Become Songwriters

How Writers Can Become Songwriters I am lucky to make a living as both a songwriter and a â€Å"regular writer.† When I tell other writers about my songwriting, they typically respond with, â€Å"I wish I could do that!† My response is always, â€Å"Why don’t you?† I hear reasons like, â€Å"I don’t know how,† or â€Å"I can’t sing.† These excuses seem reasonable, but I’m here to tell you that if you’re a writer, you CAN be a songwriter and you CAN get paid for it! Here’s a step- 1. Analyze your strengths If you’re someone who doesn’t use a lot of creative writing, you’ll want to start putting some work into this. Songwriting is all about emotion. Take your latest piece of writing and see how it could be a song. If you’re thinking, â€Å"nothing I write could be a song,† here’s an example: Let’s say you’ve written an article about online shopping. It’s a straight-forward, how-to guide. What if the person shopping is buying things to care for a sick loved one? What if they have a spending addiction and need to stop? Use imaginative stories to find your lyrics. 2. Practice lyric writing Having a great story won’t matter if you can’t make it fit the music. This is the biggest issue with new lyric writers. They don’t know how to write in a way that will fit into a song. Songwriting is largely math-based. If line one has 6 syllables, line two should as well (you can play around with this once you’re experienced, but for now just keep it simple). Use a metronome and say your words out loud. Can you clearly speak them to a beat? If not, make edits. 3. Meet cowriters Now you’re ready to put your words to music! If you already play an instrument, you’re a step ahead. However, you can easily meet potential cowriters at open mic nights. I saw a woman read a poem she wrote at an open mic. She was so good that several people asked her to co-write after she was done! Practice speaking your words and getting into a rhythm, then perform them in front of musicians. If you’re stage-shy, post them on your website and social media. Connect with other writers and offer your awesome lyric writing skills. 4. Get co-writing credit This is where the money is. When you write a song with someone, whoever’s name is on the track gets paid. Determine how you’ll split royalties ahead of time (before the song is finished or released). Typically, if two people write a song they’ll split it 50/50. Decide how you want to split it and go from there. Do not give away your credit unless you are offered some type of up-front pay! 5. Get paid Now you’re at the point where you’ll pitch your songs to publishers. You and/or your co-writers will attend pitching events or submit Hopefully these tips will inspire you to try songwriting. It can be a fun and creative way to earn income, and you might write the next big hit!

Fitz John Porter - Civil War - Major General

Fitz John Porter - Civil War - Major General   Fitz John Porter - Early Life Career: Born August 31, 1822 in Portsmouth, NH, Fitz John Porter came from a prominent naval family and was a cousin of Admiral David Dixon Porter.   Enduring a difficult childhood as his father, Captain John Porter, battled alcoholism, Porter elected not to go to sea and instead sought an appointment to West Point.   Gaining admission in 1841, he was a classmate of Edmund Kirby Smith.   Graduating four years later, Porter ranked eighth in a class of forty-one and received a commission as a second lieutenant in the 4nd US Artillery.   With the outbreak of the Mexican-American War the following year, he prepared for combat.            Ã‚   Assigned to Major General Winfield Scotts army, Porter landed in Mexico in the spring of 1847 and took part in the siege of Veracruz.   As the army pushed inland, he saw further action at Cerro Gordo on April 18 before receiving a promotion to first lieutenant in May.   In August, Porter fought at the Battle of Contreras before earning a brevet promotion for his performance at Molino del Rey on September 8.   Seeking to capture Mexico City, Scott attacked Chapultepec Castle later that month.   A resounding American victory that led to citys fall, the battle saw Porter wounded while fighting near the Belen Gate.   For his efforts, he was brevetted to major.    Fitz John Porter - Antebellum Years: Following the end of the war, Porter returned north for garrison duty at Fort Monroe, VA and Fort Pickens. FL.   Ordered to West Point in 1849, he began a four-year term as an instructor in artillery and cavalry.   Remaining at the academy, he also served as adjutant until 1855.   Sent to the frontier later that year, Porter became assistant adjutant general for the Department of the West.   In 1857, he moved west with Colonel Albert S. Johnstons expedition to quell issues with the Mormons during the Utah War.   Serving as the forces adjutant, Porter returned east in 1860.   First tasked with inspecting harbor fortifications along the East Coast, in February 1861 he was ordered to aid in evacuating Union personnel from Texas after it seceded.    Fitz John Porter - The Civil War Begins: Returning, Porter briefly served as chief of staff and assistant adjutant general for the Department of Pennsylvania before being promoted to colonel and given command of the 15th US Infantry on May 14.   As the Civil War had commenced a month earlier, he worked to prepare his regiment for battle.   During the summer of 1861, Porter acted as chief of staff first to Major General Robert Patterson and then Major General Nathaniel Banks.   On August 7, Porter received a promotion to brigadier general.   This was backdated to May 17 to give him sufficient seniority to command a division in Major General George B. McClellans newly-formed Army of the Potomac.   Befriending his superior, Porter began a relationship which would ultimately prove devastating for his career. Fitz John Porter - The Peninsula Seven Days: In the spring of 1862, Porter moved south to the Peninsula with his division.   Serving in Major General Samuel Heintzelmans III Corps, his men took part in the siege of Yorktown in April and early May.   On May 18, as the Army of the Potomac slowly pushed up the Peninsula, McClellan selected Porter to command the newly-formed V Corps.   At the end of the month, McClellans advance was halted at the Battle of Seven Pines and General Robert E. Lee assumed command of Confederate forces in the area.   Recognizing that his army could not win a protracted siege at Richmond, Lee began making plans to attack Union forces with the goal of driving them back from the city. Assessing McClellans position, he found that Porters corps was isolated north of the Chickahominy River near Mechanicsville. In this location, V Corps was tasked with protecting McClellans supply line, the Richmond and York River Railroad, which ran back to White House Landing on the Pamunkey River. Seeing an opportun ity, Lee intended to attack while the bulk of McClellans men were below the Chickahominy.    Moving against Porter on June 26, Lee assaulted the Union lines at the Battle of Beaver Dam Creek.   Though his men inflicted a bloody defeat on the Confederates, Porter received orders from a nervous McClellan to fall back to Gaines Mill.   Attacked the next day, V Corps mounted a stubborn defense until being overwhelmed in the Battle of Gaines Mill.   Crossing the Chickahominy, Porters corps joined the armys withdrawal back towards the York River.   During the retreat, Porter selected Malvern Hill, near the river, as site for the army to make a stand.   Exercising tactical control for an absent McClellan, Porter repelled numerous Confederate assaults at the Battle of Malvern Hill on July 1.   In recognition of his strong performance during the campaign, Porter was promoted to major general on July 4. Fitz John Porter - Second Manassas: Seeing that McClellan posed little threat, Lee began marching north to deal with Major General John Popes Army of Virginia.   Shortly thereafter, Porter received orders to bring his corps north to reinforce Popes command.   Disliking the arrogant Pope, he openly complained about this assignment and criticized his new superior.   On August 28, Union and Confederate troops met in the opening phases of the Second Battle of Manassas.   Early the next day, Pope ordered Porter to move west to attack Major General Thomas Stonewall Jacksons right flank.   Obeying, he halted when his men encountered Confederate cavalry along their line of march.   A further series of contradictory orders from Pope further muddled the situation.   Having received intelligence that Confederates led by Major General James Longstreet were on his front, Porter elected not to move forward with the planned attack.   Though alerted to Longstreets approach that night, Pope misinterpreted the meaning of his arrival and again ordered Porter to launch an assault against Jackson the next morning.   Reluctantly complying, V Corps moved forward around noon.   Though they broke through the Confederate lines, intense counterattacks forced them back.   As Porters assault was failing, Longstreet opened a massive attack against V Corps left flank.   Shattering Porters lines, the Confederate effort rolled up Popes army and drove it from the field.   In the wake of the defeat, Pope accused Porter of insubordination and relieved him of his command on September 5. Fitz John Porter - Court-Martial: Quickly restored to his post by McClellan who assumed overall command following Popes defeat, Porter led V Corps north as Union troops moved to block Lees invasion of Maryland.   Present at the Battle of Antietam on September 17, Porters corps remained in reserve as McClellan was concerned about Confederate reinforcements.   Though V Corps could have played a decisive role at key points in the battle, Porters admonition to the cautious McClellan of Remember, General, I command the last reserve of the last Army of the Republic ensured that it remained idle.   Following Lees retreat south, McClellan remained in place in Maryland to the irritation of President Abraham Lincoln.   During this time, Pope, who had been exiled to Minnesota, maintained an ongoing correspondence with his political allies in which he scapegoated Porter for the defeat at Second Manassas.   On November 5, Lincoln removed McClellan from command which resulted in a loss of political protection for Porter.   Stripped of this cover, he was arrested on November 25 and charge with disobeying a lawful order and misbehavior in front of the enemy.   In a politically-driven court-martial, Porters connections to the relieved McClellan were exploited and he was found guilty of both charges on January 10, 1863.   Dismissed from the Union Army eleven days later, Porter immediately commenced efforts to clear his name. Fitz John Porter - Later Life: Despite Porters work, his attempts to secure a new hearing were repeatedly blocked by Secretary of War Edwin Stanton and officers who spoke in his support were punished.   Following the war, Porter sought and received aid from both Lee and Longstreet as well as later garnered support from Ulysses S. Grant, William T. Sherman, and George H. Thomas.   Finally, in 1878, President Rutherford B. Hayes directed Major General John Schofield to form a board to reexamine the case.   After extensively investigating the case, Schofield recommended that Porters name be cleared and stated that his actions on August 29, 1862 helped to save the army from a more severe defeat.   The final report also presented a scathing image of Pope as well as placed a large amount of the blame for the defeat on III Corps commander Major General Irvin McDowell.        Ã‚   Political wrangling prevented Porter from immediately being reinstated.   This would not occur until August 5, 1886 when an act of Congress restored him to his prewar rank of colonel.   Vindicated, he retired from the US Army two days later.   In the years after the Civil War, Porter was involved in a number of business interests and later served in New York City government as commissioners of public works, fire, and police.   Dying on May 21, 1901, Porter was buried in Brooklyns Green-Wood Cemetery. Selected Sources: Civil War Trust: Major General Fitz John PorterNPS: Major General Fitz John PorterCivil War: Major General Fitz John Porter

Convenience Cookware case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Convenience Cookware - Case Study Example It is also important for the company to pre-test the products before manufacturing them for the market. In this case, the company made a blunder to manufacture a lot of products before testing them if they are suitable for the market. The company should produce a manageable batch of products at a time such that it can take proactive measures should any crisis happen. For instance, it is easy to recall defective product in small quantities than large quantities as illustrated in the case study of Convenience Cookware. The above argument goes in line with inventory management. The company should make sure that they stock current assets in the form of products on offer that can be quickly converted into cash. Basically, current assets are in form of cash and other assets that can be converted into cash or consumed during one year on the normal operating cycle of business (Chasteen, Flaherty & O’connor, 1998). The acquisition of inventory and converting it into cash should be a short period hence the current assets should not be overstocked as illustrated in the case study given above. Overstocking inventory is always problematic in that it may not be sold out during the anticipated period which can negatively impact on the return on sales to the company. The other change that can be made by the company is to use Public Relations (PR) in its operations especially in times of crises such as the one revealed in the case study. Basically, PR refers to sustained effort to create and maintain goodwill between the organization and its publics (Flippo, 1961). This discipline can also be used for crisis management so as to try to create a positive image of the organization. During times of crises, PR can be used to present the firm in a positive way which can help to rebuild confidence in the consumers. It is important for the company to carry out research about the causes of such problems in the future. This will be followed by an

Business Plan for Introducing Erythritol in Indonesia Assignment

Business Plan for Introducing Erythritol in Indonesia - Assignment Example Unlike other sugar substitutes, it is made from naturally occurring substances and hence is largely free from side-effects. Indonesia is an archipelago of 13,367 islands with a total land area of 1,907,950 square kilometers. The reforms undertaken by Indonesian government since the 1997 economic crisis have resulted in very conducive environment for establishing a new business. The low cost of labor in Indonesia makes setting an Erythritol production factory a very profitable enterprise. Besides, with increasing consumer awareness in Indonesia, it will also be profitable to market and sell this zero-calorie, no side-effect sugar substitute in Indonesia. Although Indonesia is not an easy place to start a new business Indonesian government encourages foreign investment in Indonesia. Considering the low cost of labor, it would be cheaper to setup a factory in Indonesia rather than importing Erythritol from outside. According to www.doingbusiness.org, it takes an average of 97 days and a minimum capital of IDR 20,000,000 (USD 2500) to obtain the required licenses to launch a new business in Jakarta. Another 40,000,000 (USD 5000) is needed to obtain the required permits and registrations for a warehouse. Hence the main costs would be of building the factory and buying/leasing equipments. Unfortunately, in Indonesia this cost could be prohibitive. Another hurdle in setting up a factory in Indonesia is the long time it takes to get all the requir... Glucose can be obtained from a number of high starch crops. Since corn is readily available crop in Indonesia and has high glucose content, it is the first choice for raw material for production of Erythritol. The crop is mainly grown on the island of Java. So it is best to locate the factory on the island, near the raw material. While deciding the location of the factory, we have to consider the cost of land. In the urban areas and in major cities, including Jakarta, there is limited land area and hence the price is extremely high. In fact, many cities have forbidden setting up of new factories within their municipal limits. Hence it would be better and cheaper to locate the factory in the rural area where there is plentiful of land and adequate manpower. Raising Capital Due to the huge benefits of Erythritol as a sugar substitute and the cheap cost of labor in Indonesia, setting up a factory in Indonesia represents a low-risk business. Capital is needed for buying real estate, building factory, buying corn from farmers, buying equipment, labor and marketing. There are several options for raising capital. However, the best and the cheapest option is a bank loan. With a low-risk strategy and a solid business plan, getting a bank to finance the new business should be easy. The land and factory can be used as collateral in the bank loan. Company Operations The company will be hiring local population for all major positions, including the Chief Executive Officer. The local people understand the local customs better and thus will be in a better position to handle the day-to-day operations. The low labor cost in Indonesia also makes this proposition an attractive one. The raw material, corn in this case can be easily obtained from