Mazda Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Mazda - Case Study Example We need to form some kind of emotional link to the product. In determining a brand, there is the need to differentiate from others or form a shorthand logo, position ourselves or have an integrated strategy, and create a personality and vision while adding value. In this paper, it will be discussed as to how Mazda has formed that link with us and how their marketing program has created a brand that tells us who they are and why we should buy their car. Mazda has a very unique shorthand Logo. According to Mazda Zoom Zoom is1 shorthand for the love of exhilarating movement that we all have. It is the imagination we have about a car moving quickly down the road. They use the emotions we had as children in seeing a fast car and wanting to be part of that. Zoom Zoom is a promise that we will feel special when we get in any car built by Mazda. It is definitely different than any other company and when you hear Zoom Zoom, you think only of Mazda which is what is meant to happen. Zoom Zoom just sounds like fun when you say it. When Mazda began to reposition itself, it needed to change its strategy. It now had to be positioned as a hip, cool, and fun to drive car. It is also positioned to be a great car for young females who are professionals, according to the case study. Now we have a car that is fun to drive by the young who identify them through their cars and we are using the logo Zoom Zoom which is something we all said as children when we thought of anything fun that moved us from one place to another. There is, of course, another group that is touched by this phrase or logo. Older adults, especially the baby boomer age have always been involved with cars. That group of people has retired and is retiring in a completely different way than any other group before them.2 Zoom Zoom means fun and Mazda has positioned itself to absorb those customers. They do not see themselves as old like the generations before them. Instead they see themselves as headed for another adventure and Zoom Zoom fits all the co rds. Mazda's position is certainly related to the fun already mentioned however; it plays to several types of personality. Let's take the Mazda RX 8 for example. It is a classic yet quick sportster that has a distinctive look and room in the back seat. So it is a commuter car that is fun to drive, kid-friendly, and a weekend toy. What more could you ask for It has a 247 horsepower motor that runs at 9,000 rpms. It accelerates quickly and stops fast. What more could you possibly ask for and who in their right mind would not buy this car The personality is one of fun and yet able to handle responsibility just like the personality of their trucks is one of power and towing capacity but at the same time rugged and comfortable. Mazda has quite a vision. 3 They promise to always build cars that are fun to drive and will provide high levels of environmental performance and safety performance. They believe that their Zoom Zoom brand is sustainable and they will plan to continue to use it over the long term. The envision that they will continue to work on technology and develop cars that create great driving performance as well as provide great interior environments and safety. They believe their cars will always be fun to drive and make you want to drive them again. They have as part of their vision that they w

Gentlemans Agreement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Gentlemans Agreement - Essay Example For example, if an employee at a company says they will get you a job and you have nothing to worry about, this is an example of a gentleman's agreement. However if they are unable to get you the job then you have no legal recourse" (Free Dictionary, 2008, pg. 1). The Law Encyclopedia (2008, pg. 1) says that "Although agreements between individuals often create legally binding commitments, instances may arise in which mutual promises yield no legally enforceable agreement. Sometimes called "gentlemen's agreements," parties may honor them because moral obligations compel observance or because future relations will be more difficult if the present arrangement is broken. International organizations likewise may depend on such informal arrangements so as to maintain comity among members" and that "Occasionally the enabling treaties that create an international organization will leave some procedural or voting matter unresolved. Rather than amend the formal document, which is usually a difficult task, an informal working agreement will develop to resolve a particular problem.

Influence of Culture on Multinational Companies

Influence of Culture on Multinational Companies Abstract This report provides with the evidence for deriving the analysis on the cultural influence on the multinational corporations while dealing with the cross-national markets. On the basis of the world famous cross-cultural expert, Geert Hofstedes elements of culture, the report has been guided for making the proper analysis of the example taken i.e. LOreal, which has been taken for supporting the activities performed by the corporation to deal with the cultural differences in various international markets. This report is commissioned by Rumorama Banking Corporation. The report is intended for internal use only and is specific to the factors regarding the adoption of online banking. The internal use is primarily as a managerial guide to the marketing and commercial targets of Rumorama Banking Corporation. 1.0 Introduction Culture It is the set of values, beliefs, rules, and institutions held by a specific group of people. It is learned and shared by common category people and the elements of culture are interconnected. Group boundaries are well defined by the culture. Each large culture may contain some subcultures having the same context. Culture influences the decision making, impacts the management in strategic activities and also the negotiations. Ethnocentricity is a belief that ones own culture is universally superior to others. (Hofstede, 1982) Elements of Culture Aesthetics sense of beauty and good taste Art, color, symbols, music, folklore Attitudes and beliefs Time, directness, achievement, work, change Manners (appropriate behavior) and customs (traditional behaviors) Education Literacy, science, math, trades, management Legal and political system Secular versus religious Free or not free Planned versus laissez-faire Societal organization Family structure, in-laws, extended family, divorce Class mobility Associations by age, gender, common interests, or otherwise Language and communication Verbal and non-verbal Gestures and body language Office size and closed versus open doors Conversational distance Touching Protecting traditional languages 2.0 Background 2.1 Elements of Culture Observed by Hofstede Individualism versus collectivism High/low power distance High/low uncertainty avoidance Desire for achievement/affiliation Long/short time horizon 2.2 Affects of culture on business: Culture has an impact on nearly all the functions of the management i.e. from finance to marketing to HR to IT. Culture is the major factor which decides whether establishing a business in foreign land will be an easy or difficult task by considering various cultural differences. The work ethics of the business will vary with different country leading to a major change in the work structure. Need Hierarchy Lower-order needs must be fulfilled prior to higher-order needs Workers in poor countries motivated by lower-order needs People from different countries or cultures may rank needs differently 5 dimensions of culture are: Power Distance Cultures are ranked high or low on this dimensions based on that societys ability to deal with inequalities, power, authority. Individualism vs. Collectivism Cultures are ranked on their orientation towards intersocietal relationships: Individualistic societies: loose ties, individual achievement and freedom In social orientation the relative importance of the interests of the individual is high in the individualism and the interests of the individual take precedence. And in power orientation the appropriateness of power/authority within organizations is high and in respect of power the authority is inherent in ones position within a hierarchy. Collectivist societies: tight ties, tend to be more relationship-oriented In social orientation the relative importance of the interests of the group is low in the collectivism, the interest of the group take precedence and in the power orientation the appropriateness power/authority within organizations is also low, regarding the power tolerance the individuals assess authority in view of its perceived rightness or their own personal interests. Masculinity vs. Femininity Cultures view relationship between gender and work role: goal orientation. High (masculine: aggressive goal value material possessions, money, and assertiveness) {goal orientation What motivates people to achieve different goals} Low (feminine: passive goal value social relevance quality of life, and the welfare of others Uncertainty Avoidance Cultures are ranked on extent that they accept ambiguous situations and tolerate uncertainty: risk issues. Low (uncertainty acceptance) positive response to change and new opportunities {uncertainty orientation an emotional response to uncertainty and change} High (uncertainty avoidance) Prefer structure and a consistent routine Long Term vs. Short Term orientation Classification of culture or attributes of culture or segmentation of culture or culture model Elements of culture: rituals, religion, aesthetic, social institution, symbols, thought processes, lifestyle, food, values, languages 2.3 Multicultural challenges in international business today Multinational corporations, increasingly recognize that success in global marketplace depends, to a large degree, on the employees ability to deal in the international arena (Prof. Tapio Varis, University of Tampere) Ability to relate to ourselves and to other different people is used increasingly as a measurement when deciding between the applicants who will get a job. Many national corporations also agree that maximum efficiency in the workplace depends on high diversity competence (every person has possibility to use his/her special personal motivation and multidimensional ability) and good ethnic relations among their employees (Prof. Pekka Auvinen, Seinà ¤joki Polytechnic). International Standardization Organization ISO team (2006) is preparing a community based responsibility standard ISO 26  000 which emphasizes labours well-being and development. The name of the document will be International Standard Proving Guidelines for Social Responsibility. It will be published in 2008 and will take into consideration issues dealt with in this course. In business culture we do not take into consideration emotions the changing processes do not happen in practice (Hargreaves, 1998). 3.0 LOreal example for showing the cultural impact in foreign markets As seen in the theoretical and the empirical part, culture is one of the elements which influence the consumer behaviour, what can impact on the firm strategy. The aim of a research done by the LOreal is to understand the influence of culture on the consumer behaviour in international markets and to explain in what ways the consumer behaviour is influencing adaptation strategy investigating LOreal Paris in the Asian Zone (Japan, South Korea and PRC) in order to determine if cultural differences influence LOreal Paris adaptation strategy for its products and promotion. 3.1 Analyzing the LOreal case with Hofstedes study on elements of culture This hierarchy of needs can be linked to the individualism versus collectivism Hofstedes dimension. Indeed China and South Korea are highly collectivist and Japan is moderately collectivist. Thus the motivation of people will depend more on the other members of the group. Masculinity versus femininity Hofstedes dimension can also play a role in the motivation. Japan is a very masculine country, PRC is in the average and South Korea has more feminine values. The motivation of Japanese may have more feminine values like family or well being. The uncertainty avoidance dimension is another important factor of influence in the motivation. It evaluates the ability to incur a risk. Japan and South Korea people have high score; they need for a lot of information in order to feel secure. They look for quality in each detail like the packaging. They listen to the advice of the salespersons in the shops to be sure that the product is adapted to them. At the opposite, Chinese people, who have a lower score, are not afraid by the decision-making. 3.2 Some of the changes in LOreals business activities due to change in culture, differentiating their marketing or promotional activities: 1) As it is mentioned in the empirical finding, Asian and European people have different ways of speaking. Asian people are vaguer, indirect and pay heed not to offence people whereas European people are most direct. Being frank will be well perceived in European but not accepted in Asia. 3) for example, in Asian cultures, lot of subjects belong to the private sphere and are not supposed to be broached in public situations. 4) Asian countries are more neutral than affective. They do not show their feelings and give the impression of controlling themselves. This tendency is confirmed by the fact that Japan and PRC have a high masculinity level, what highlights the fact of hiding emotions. However, Korean people have a lower masculinity index. That shows the difficulty of treating all the countries of the Asian zone in the same way. 5) The last element is the relationship people have with the brand- , firm- and country-image. For example, France has a luxury image in Asia and LOreal Paris a quality one. This superposition of values may create a positive attribute for LOreal Paris when launching products in Asia market. This image is different in the Asian zone. Chineses and Koreans prefer this brand because they consider that France is well known for cosmetics, on the contrary, Japaneses are more suspicious and think that it is not a Japanese brand and that is not a product especially made for them. 6) The physical canons are different. It is well seen in Asia to have a white skin. Thus, LOreal Paris adapts its products to the perception of beauty. In Asia, foundations have a very light colour and contain a special molecule in order for the skin not to tan. This tendency is a bit different in PRC where cultural influences are more American oriented, what implies darker colours utilization. 7) In Asian countries, it must have simple shapes and colours. In order for the customer to perceive the packaging in a more friendly way, LOreal Paris adapts shapes and colours. 8) Because made in France has a luxury image, it was easier to gain credibility in Asian countries when LOreal launched LOreal Paris there. However, since Asian people (especially Japanese and South Korean) think they are different and need adapted products, LOreal Paris played with the sourcing effect. It created factories in China and in Japan to do researches and sell more adapted products. 9) LOreal Paris has different advertisements with Asian top model in addition to western one. The aim, once again, is to create an international LOreal Paris but with Japanese values in Japan, Korean values in South Korea and Chinese values in PRC. The brand uses local models. Women can identify to them since they share the same physical characteristics, they have the same culture and the same nationality. Conclusion The Asian market has its own specificities and its own culture. The way people perceive the product or the promotion, the way they motivate their choice or purchase is unique and LOreal Paris adapts many of its products elements in that way. First, about the product, LOreal Paris changes some physical aspects like the colours of the product (perception)* or the formulation (self concept, group influence)*. It also adapts the packaging attributes putting more details to the quality or the aesthetic aspect (perception)* and highlighting the luxury image of the brand (brand-and country-image)* thanks to a more Zen and simple packaging. Moreover, the service attributes appear in a more obvious way in the Asian zone (uncertainty avoidance, purchase)*. There, the salespersons are especially trained to answer all the questions possible (learning and memory)* about the molecule of the product or the way of using it, and they advice the customers in the most technical way (uncertainty avoidan ce)* thanks to some special programmes helping to know more about the specificities of each skin. The point of sales is also adapted with a more luxurious and personal concept (motivation, perception)* and the symbolic attributes are taken into account in the colours range (perception)* which is lighter. The promotion is adapted to the consumer behaviour differences too. LOreal Paris uses local top-model to enable people to recognize their own country in the advertisements. It creates some special web sites for the countries (self concept, perception)*. Moreover, in china, LOreal Paris adapts its promotion to the fact that Chinese expect more information about how to use the products (attitude towards change)* To conclude and to answer our research question, culture differences may influence LOreal Paris adaptation strategy for the make-up products and their promotion. The following model shows the elements of culture used (unconsciously or not) by LOreal Paris for its adaptation strategy, physical attributes, packaging, service attributes, symbolic attributes and promotion.

The Murders In The Rue Morgue Essay -- essays research papers fc

In Edgar Allan Poe’s â€Å"The Murders in the Rue Morgue†, a crucial statement is declared about how he views the inner workings of men, as well as how men interact with women in society. The narrative is based around the horrific murder of two defenseless women, which seems to have been committed by a mystery â€Å"beast†. Poe demonstrates the primitive violent forces that exist within people, particularly men, which have the ability to escape in shocking ways, often against a woman. Poe uses violence as a negative, inhumane act, in order to reinforce the innate brutal impulses that are just under the surface of all male beings.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Poe describes where the â€Å"Ourang-Outang† was originally taken from, with intent to embody the primitive undeveloped qualities in man. After being taken from an Indian Archipelago, Borneo, the Ourang-Outang is brought back to Paris, where he begins to obtain human characteristics simply by watching his master and learning through imitation. An example of this would be when the sailor comes back to his room and finds the Ourang-Outang â€Å"Razor in hand, and fully lathered, [it was] sitting before the looking-glass, attempting the operation of shaving, in which it had no doubt previously watched its master though the key-hole of the closet.†(Poe 120) When the beast becomes terrified, and escapes with the razor still in his hand, he is depicting the idea of a man’s inner â€Å"beast† getting loose when he fears a situation. During the scene when the Ourang-Outang â€Å"was flourishing the razor about her [Madame L’Espanayeâ₠¬â„¢s] face, imitating the motions of a barber†(121), the beast is thinking just like a human man. He is even using a human tool in order to commit these atrocious murders, which is indicative of Poe’s notion that all men are capable of performing horrible deeds at a time when their animalistic impulses take over.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There is a stark contrast presented between civilized behavior and the primitive behavior that these slaughters suggest. The murders are so horrid and revolting that it does not seem conceivable that a human would have the ability to do the things that were done. Some of the evidence collected from the murder site included, â€Å" two or three long and thin tresses of gray human hair that seemed to have been pulled out by the roots.† (99) Likewise, â€Å"the body [of the old lady], as... ...e power. In society, it is the cerebral beings that are looked at strangely by others, which is declared by Poe when he says, â€Å"had the routine of our life at this place been known to the world, we should have been regarded as madmen-although, perhaps, as madmen of a harmless nature.† (95) Here he is desperately trying to show the immense divergence in the inner workings of a man’s mind, which he does quite well with the Ourang-Outang representing man, as well as having Dupin, a genius, solving the crime committed. Dupin is the epitome of civilization, while in direct contrast is the beast, whom is completely barbaric and uncivilized. Throughout the tale, Poe is able to show how all men have animalistic impulses deep down, while demonstrating how these rages are often taken out on defenseless women. He then goes on to show the contrast between man as civilized and logical, against man as uncultured and thoughtless. Poe demonstrates how either type of man can exist, yet poses the question of whether it is possible for both characteristics to be exhibited simultaneously in a single man. Works Cited 1. Poe, Edgar Allan. Selected Tales. New York: Oxford University Press Inc., 1998.

Paradise Lost vs Genesis Essay

In the book of Genesis 3:1-6, the passage teaches the story of how Satan tempts Eve into causing the act that leads to the â€Å"fall of mankind†. Of this biblical account, is where John Milton gained inspiration for the idea of is work, Paradise Lost. Milton’s storyline and broad array of imagery portray the tale in a different light than that told in the Bible. While both accounts of â€Å"the fall†, are used to convey the same story and outcome, the two versions share some comparative similarities and many contrasting differences. In the biblical account of â€Å"the fall†, the dialogue shared between Satan and Eve is less developed and vague in detail than that of Milton’s tale. Satan’s approach of Eve is much more upfront and less personal in meaning. He quickly takes hold of the topic of the â€Å"forbidden fruit†. His character is shown with a much shallower depth of knowledge towards Eve. He uses a more 2-dimesional approach to tempt Eve to eat from the tree that God has forbidden her and Adam to eat from. He is shown to have a lack of cunning, and directly disproves and belittles Eve’s fears of eating from the tree with a lack of creativity and slyness. As the story continues, Eve is finally won over by temptation and eats from the tree. The story is left at that moment. John Milton’s â€Å"Paradise Lost† tells this same tale with a few changes in detail. Satan’s initial approach of Eve is much more complex than that shown in the biblical version. Satan uses charm and flattery to woe Eve’s trust towards his word, rather that to that of the word of God. With Eve’s wariness of his gestures, he then refers to her figure as that of a â€Å"goddess† and continues to exemplify her beauty, which in turn, soothes Eve’s doubts. During their conversation, the two exchange dialogue that, to the reader, gives a more in depth and illustrative look at what Satan is attempting to convey to Eve. Instead of simply disproving Eve’s fears of the consequences of eating from the tree, He lies and portrays himself as a living example of God’s false threats of death. This portraying by Satan leads Eve to yearn for the wisdom and knowledge that Satan promises when the forbidden fruit is consumed. From the text â€Å"So gloz’d the Tempter, and his Proem tun’d;? Into the Heart of Eve his words made way†, shows how Satan’s words attract Eve’s attention and do in fact woe her heart. After this temptation, Eve eats from the tree, and Milton uses intense imagery to describe events that come after this event. Milton describes how Earth feels the wound of Eve’s sin. Eve’s inner emotions are brought to light with her disobedience to God. She becomes worried of Adam’s reaction of this act against God, and fears she will be replaced. Her fear of being disowned by Adam comes before her fear of God. This is her prime reasoning for wanting to share the fruit with Adam. While the two versions of the same story differ to some degree, the similarities are equally noticeable. There is no question that there was, in fact, some sort of dialogue shared between Satan and Eve. In both accounts, Satan disguises himself in the form of a serpent. In this form is where he approaches Eve and begins to woe her from her promise to not eat from the forbidden fruit. Both stories convey the same outcome of this event by Eve sharing the fruit with Adam. By examining these two works, it’s easy to notice the aspect that Milton used to convey his story to the reader. Milton’s account of the â€Å"fall of man† uses broad imagery and creative story telling, but its meaning still shares some of the same qualities of the biblical version told in Genesis 3:1-6. While both accounts of â€Å"the fall† convey the same overall outcome and meaning, some aspects of the stories compare and contrast greatly.

Emily Dickinson Essay

American poet, Emily Dickinson, is a great example of the transition from the wordy Romantic style of writing to literary transcendentalism. Dickinson’s elliptical style and compact phrases are heavily exemplified in her poem 1577(1545), â€Å"The Bible is an antique Volume. † This piece is full of satire as the speaker questions society’s blind obedience to Christianity and ultimately suggests the embracing of a new religion. The speaker gracefully degrades the Bible’s right as the solitary means to interpret humanity and proposes that the audience finds something new to believe. In the first line, the metaphor referring the Bible as merely â€Å"an antique volume† speaks volumes. Dictionary. com defines volume in this context as, â€Å"a collection of written or printed sheets bound together and constituting a book. † The speaker views the Bible as an â€Å"antique† anthological collection of stories that can be priced rather than the acronym –Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. In the second and third lines, the validity of the authors of the Bible is questioned. Faded Men† and â€Å"at the suggestion of Holy Spectres† connotes the men where told what to write and didn’t experience that life themselves. These lines, and the entire poem, are mostly bereft of the elaborate syntax communal in Dickinson’s other poems. Those familiar with biblical persons understand the significance of Satan, Judas, and David and the impact of their roles in the Christian faith. As a Christian reader, the simplicity of the lines, â€Å"Satan—the Brigadier, Judas—the Great Defaulter, David—the Troubadour†, reduces the persons’ history. Although the descriptions denote some truth, there is more to them than that. Satan, the â€Å"prince of the air (Ephesians 2:2)†, is responsible for tempting Eve into eating the forbidden fruit hence leading to man’s â€Å"distinguished precipice. † David wasn’t just a psalmist, he was one of Israel’s greatest kings and he is part of Jesus’ lineage. Dickinson’s literary genius foreshadows what is happening in the twenty-first century. Today, being a Christian isn’t popular and life is harder for teenagers and young adults. This is demonstrated perfectly in â€Å"Boys that â€Å"believe† are very lonesome†. Believers can’t do what nonbelievers are doing without being convicted (1 Peter 1:14- As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance). The nonbelievers are â€Å"lost† and don’t know any better. Traditional churches push the â€Å"lost† farther away because of the hypocrisy and arbitrariness of renowned religious leaders. The holier-than –thou leaders are the worst offenders because they are doing what they teach will â€Å"condemn† you. As a result, â€Å"Orpheus’ Sermon captivated† and Christianity is shunned. Both atheists and Christians can appreciate the theme of this poem- everyone has to believe in something. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith best as â€Å"the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. † Unless a person has a personal relationship with God, they won’t really understand the meaning of faith- the essence of Christianity. The speaker encourages readers to not rely solely on what they are told but to challenge it and learn for their self.

Free Essays on Herbert Croly

I was born on January 23, 1869, in New York. Both my mother and my father were journalists. My father's name is David Croly and my mother's name is Jane Cunningham. Some of my early on goals included graduating from Harvard University, and becoming a well-known journalist, both of which were later achieved. After graduating from Harvard University, I became the editor of Agricultural Record. In 1909, I published the book titled The Promise of American Life. In this book I stressed several of my political views, such as the need for a planned economy, increased spending on education, and a society based on "brotherhood of mankind." Many people believe that this book influenced Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson. In 1914, a good friend of mine by the name of Williard Straight, asked me to be the first editor of the New Republic. When the New Republic was first published in November 1914, only 875 copies were made. After a year of circulation this magazine published more then 15,000. This became a strong supporter of the views of Theordore Roosevelt and the Progressive movement. When World War I first broke out, I was against Americas entry. I wanted the United States to remain neutral. After I heard about the sinking of the Luistania,I supported Americas entry, and the New Republic became a supporter of Woodrow Wilson and his decision to declare war on Germany. After the war, I began to be very critical of Woodrow Wilson and his decisions.As it is stated, I said that the Treaty of Versailles was " a treaty on annihilation." I also disliked the League of Nations, saying that it was an organization that "would perpetuate rather then correct the evils of the treaty." Sales of the New Republic increased during the war, but declined in the 1920's. I remained editor of this magazine up until my death on May 17, 1930.... Free Essays on Herbert Croly Free Essays on Herbert Croly I was born on January 23, 1869, in New York. Both my mother and my father were journalists. My father's name is David Croly and my mother's name is Jane Cunningham. Some of my early on goals included graduating from Harvard University, and becoming a well-known journalist, both of which were later achieved. After graduating from Harvard University, I became the editor of Agricultural Record. In 1909, I published the book titled The Promise of American Life. In this book I stressed several of my political views, such as the need for a planned economy, increased spending on education, and a society based on "brotherhood of mankind." Many people believe that this book influenced Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson. In 1914, a good friend of mine by the name of Williard Straight, asked me to be the first editor of the New Republic. When the New Republic was first published in November 1914, only 875 copies were made. After a year of circulation this magazine published more then 15,000. This became a strong supporter of the views of Theordore Roosevelt and the Progressive movement. When World War I first broke out, I was against Americas entry. I wanted the United States to remain neutral. After I heard about the sinking of the Luistania,I supported Americas entry, and the New Republic became a supporter of Woodrow Wilson and his decision to declare war on Germany. After the war, I began to be very critical of Woodrow Wilson and his decisions.As it is stated, I said that the Treaty of Versailles was " a treaty on annihilation." I also disliked the League of Nations, saying that it was an organization that "would perpetuate rather then correct the evils of the treaty." Sales of the New Republic increased during the war, but declined in the 1920's. I remained editor of this magazine up until my death on May 17, 1930....

Analysis of Goodwives essays

Analysis of Goodwives essays According to Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, men used women both positively and negatively. From my understanding of the book Good Wives there were more negative then positive ways of how men used women between 1650 and 1750 in Northern New England. Here I will briefly explain the one and only positive aspect followed by the negative aspects. I will also express my opin-ion of the relationships between men and women during this time period, whether they were positive or negative. The one and only positive way men (husbands) used women (wives) were as Deputy Husbands. A Deputy Husband would stand in the place of her husband in his absence or if he were unable to perform his duties. Some wives were servile, some were shrews, others were respected compan-ions who shared the authority of their spouses in the management of family affairs (p. 38). In performing her husbands duties, a wife not only gained the respect of her husband, but she also gained his trust as well. As a consort (a consort tuned her life to her mates (p. 9)), a wife would be aware that in strengthening her husbands business affairs she strengthened her own. The first negative aspect of how men used women was as Christians. Being a Christian was not negative, but how women were treated in the Church was negative. A Christian seized spiritual equality and remained silent in the church. Among the Congregationalist majority in New England, women could sign the covenant, enlarge the scriptures, write and even publish, but only among the Quakers could they hold office or preach in mixed assemblies (p. 9). In others words women were the majority in the church and as the majority they were allowed to sign the covenant and enlarge the scriptures, but they werent allowed to hold office or preach. Women werent even allowed to sit on the main floor ...

How to Use Mood and Atmosphere in Your Novel - Freewrite Store

How to Use Mood and Atmosphere in Your Novel - Freewrite Store ï » ¿The mood, or atmosphere, of your novel, is one of the things that makes your story stick in your readers’ minds long after they’ve turned the last page. Think about some of your favorite novels - what is it that you remember most? For me, the stormy atmosphere of my favorite novel, Wuthering Heights, is the first thing that comes to mind. Emily Bronte managed to create a mood in the novel that I really related to during my turbulent teenage years. As I’m writing this, I’m listening to the angry crashing of thunder and the pouring torrential rain, listening to children screaming as they run inside - what a perfect reminder of how nature creates atmosphere without any effort at all! The Power of Your Setting for Atmosphere There’s a variety of factors that go into creating mood and atmosphere in fiction. Your setting - including details like the weather and climate - can be a great starting point for conveying a mood. In Wuthering Heights, for example, the windswept moors of the Yorkshire Dales created the perfect backdrop for the atmosphere of the story. It’s the setting that allows you to introduce details that create the mood. The kinds of details that you can use for conveying the atmosphere against the backdrop of your story include smells, sounds, and sights. For example, you could create a gothic mood by using details that describe the decay of an abandoned house - cobwebs in the corners, rust on the bars on the windows, clouds of dust, and so on. Using Mood Words As a beginning writer, when I first came across the term ‘mood words’, I thought it referred to a list of moods (e.g. happy, depressed, angry, despondent, etc.). I was wrong. Mood words are broadly defined as descriptive verbs and adjectives that add an extra dimension to non-descript actions. For example, consider the difference between these sentences: Adelaide walked towards the door. Adelaide tiptoed towards the door. Walking is non-descript. We all do it, and without any kind of descriptors about howa character is walking, there’s no sense of mood or atmosphere. To tiptoe, however, is to walk in a particular way - to avoid being heard or to avoid disturbing someone. Overall, tiptoeing creates a sense of stealth and can be used to convey an atmosphere of tension or caution. Mood words are incredibly useful when you’re trying to convey an atmosphere. It can be helpful to have a list of mood words for particular types of scenes that you can easily refer back to. Here’s an example to get you started: Eerie Mood Words: Creaking Rattling Thumping Scuttling (as in a mouse scuttling) Whistling (as in the wind whistling) Cracking (as in a twig cracking) Show, Don’t Tell The easiest way to create a mood is to tell the reader what the mood is, right? Wrong. Which of these two passages is more engaging and captivating in its description of mood?: Rebecca felt happy that the interview had gone well. She was excited to hear back from the manager. Rebecca walked sedately out of the building, but as soon as she was out of sight of the reception desk, she almost danced across the road to where Dom was waiting for her. A bubbling laugh escaped her lips as she ran to him and threw her arms around his neck. â€Å"I think I’ve got it!† she almost shouted. â€Å"Oh, Dom, you should’ve seen me in there!† You should always avoid telling your readers something when you can show them through your characters actions and speech. The second passage conveys the excitement in a way that makes the reader feel part of the scene - simply telling the reader that your character is excited isn’t going to create an atmosphere of excitement. Word Choices The words that you use to describe a scene or setting can have a powerful impact on the kind of mood you create. When I was studying for my Creative Writing degree, my tutor set an assignment that I thought I’d suck at, but I actually found that I enjoyed it. We were given a setting - a simple backyard - but told to describe it in three different ways, conveying a different atmosphere each time. This is how it turned out: Scene 1: Shadows played across the yard like a shroud. Long grass, unkempt and almost knee-high, danced in the breeze. A child’s bicycle, long abandoned, lay in the shadow of a withered oak tree. Sunlight blazing off the sash windows of the house made it impossible for Derrick to see whether Susan was inside. Scene 2 Alstroemeria bloomed in the bright-blue planter pressed up against the side of the front porch. Danny’s bike was, yet again, abandoned in the middle of the lawn at the foot of the old oak. Excited giggles drifted down from the treehouse as the boys quickly hauled the ladder up. â€Å"Is your Mom home?† Derrick called out to the boys, shading his eyes against the glare of the sun. Scene 3 There were some signs that this had once been a happy home - the rusty bicycle below the oak tree, and the partially-collapsed remains of a treehouse. There had once been a lawn, but now it was just a scorched black scar in front of the dilapidated house. Derrick dug the toe of his boot into the dirt and sighed. It had been fifteen years, but if he breathed in deeply enough, it was almost as if he could still smell the smoke of the fire. The words that you choose to describe anything in your novel have the power to convey very different moods. You have to be careful about the vocabulary that you choose, to ensure that every word matches up with the mood you’re wanting to portray. Descriptions are a lot like paintings. The details that you show to your reader come together to create an overall picture - and if you use details that don’t fit the mood, they’ll be jarring to your readers. Putting What You’ve Learned Into Practice Actually practicing using mood and atmosphere in your novel is the best way to get better at it. I’ve put together some exercises to help you get started. Imagine you’re writing a ghost story. Which of these two settings would provide the best backdrop for your story?: A cabin on the beach on the island of Barbados in summer An isolated cabin in a remote part of the Scottish highlands in winter (where there are only a few hours of daylight each day) Imagine you’re writing a story about a marriage breakdown. How would these different settings change the mood of the story?: The kitchen during the morning rush to get the kids to school A seating area outside a cafe close to where there’s a group of protestors shouting and waving placards A clifftop as your characters are participating in a walk for charity Create a mood word list for each of the following atmospheres: Spooky Tense Despairing Excited Joyful Find a scene in a novel (yours, or one you’re reading) where there’s more telling than there is showing. Re-write the scene in a way that conveys a mood without using the actual word. Describe a house and garden in three separate scenes, creating a different atmosphere in each.

Role of music Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Role of music - Essay Example Music genre is a convectional category that identifies pieces of music as belonging to a shared tradition or set of conventions. Due to the artistic nature of music, these classifications are often complained to be arbitrary and controversial. Music genres are diverse and at times sound distinct. For example, comparing classical music to rock music (Richard 89). I aim to expound on classical music. Classical music is understood to be music rooted in Western European traditions performed by trained musicians in formal settings like concert halls, opera houses, and churches. When we hear of classical music, the image that forms in our minds is that of a large number of people with violins, an orchestra, performing in front of an audience. Classical music is the art music of the Western world. If popular music is written just to entertain, classical music is written to express something significant or great. Classical music's roots lay in the chant melodies of medieval religious rites. Classical music trends include trends of the Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Modern eras in their sound worlds and conception. Popular classical music artists include Yo-Yo Ma, Glenn Gould, Philip Glass, and John Adams. Classical music may also include avant-garde music( Hutchings 99). Avant-Garde is taken from the French for "vanguard," which is the part of the armed forces that alwa ys stands at the front of the rest of the army.

Usefulness of the annual report for investment decision making Essay

Usefulness of the annual report for investment decision making purposes - Essay Example Certain investors have gained knowledge in accountancy and they use the figures provided in annual reports before coming up with an investment decision. Others use information that is related to organization’s financial conditions and does not contain figures but only facts to make investment decisions. Annual reports and their structures have changed over time to facilitate both kinds of investors. Now annual reports contain information about profit and loss, cash flows and overview of the finances of organizations. The length of these reports has increased as the required number of details has grown. Annual reports contain statements provided by management (Bartlett 1997). All these kinds of information were not previously a part of annual reports. Investment decisions are not only based on analysis provided by management and directors of an organization; the profit and loss information provided through annual reports is superior while making investment decisions. These statements are highly important for those who are literate in accountancy. Individuals having literacy in accountancy are investment analysts who provide information to investors on how well a company has performed and how well it will perform in future, and through this analysis, investors make their investment de cisions. ... is characteristic of annual reports increased the uncertainty amongst investment decision makers because they had no idea how organizations would perform in future and what initiatives the organization would take to make the company operate successfully in future years. Due to lack of information about future activities, investment decision makers used to be dependant on old data and their confidence in their investment decision used to lack confidence in success. This led to the introduction of management’s statements within annual reports. In these statements management provides insights into what future steps the management is going to take to make the company successful in future. This information helped investors and investment decision makers make investments on the basis of future operations, and these investment decisions lacked uncertainty. For example, during 1996, a study conducted by Abrahamson and Amir (1996) proved that annual reports containing the presidentâ₠¬â„¢s letter are a useful insight for the investor trying to predict future performance of the organization. Similarly, a study conducted by Bryan (1997) states that the management of a company is required to disclose information about future operations through annual accounting reports of their organization, and these disclosures help investors in assessing whether the firm will make profit in future and align investment decisions accordingly. Information that profit and loss statements provide is quite limited, for example: Rogers and Grant (1997) argue that financial statements are limited to providing information regarding only one quarter of a company’s operational period. On the contrary, information provided by management gives insight into a longer period of time including past performance

Godzilla Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Godzilla - Essay Example Its signature weapon is its atomic breath that spews a stream of radioactive fire from his jaws whose color resembles the color of his dorsal fins. Godzilla can also emit short-range pulse atomic energy from his body called the pulse. The original Godzilla also has magnetic capability, which it uses against its metallic enemies. In addition to atomic-based powers, the original Godzilla is immune to injury and can heal itself fast. Its skin is impervious to any military arsenal weaponry making the monster virtually indestructible or invincible. It is also amphibious which can go to the deep of the oceans as well as roam the lands to wreak havoc. Of course, part of the story of the film is how to destroy Godzilla. Godzilla’s vulnerability, however, is hard to confirm and the origin of its alleged weaknesses are not thoroughly explained in its earlier films. There were instances where Godzilla manifested weakness against high voltage of electricity but in the same vein, it also q uite ironic that the monster is strengthened when struck by a lightning. Inversely, Godzilla showed that it freezes in chilling conditions but it can only suspend the movement of the monster. In one early film The Return of Godzilla, the monster showed vulnerability to cadmium but still not enough to kill the monster. In some earlier versions of Godzilla, such as â€Å"Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla, the directors hint that Godzilla does have a vulnerable spot under his armpit, that makes him susceptible to attack. The metaphor is that it is similar to an â€Å"Achilles Heel. This however, did not progress beyond this hint because it was not validated in the film that Godzilla died by a strike under its armpit. The new movie has not indicated if Godzilla has a new weakness or vulnerability. Instead, news had it that there will be three monsters in the film and one of them is Godzilla. The new movie of Godzilla will have three times the level of difficulty to kill because there are no w three monsters. As usual, the monsters will be wreaking havoc in cities and attacking the government with all its armaments. The original movie also used live models that measured 50 to 100 meters. Recently, there is confirmed news of a new installment of Godzilla. The first production shot will be on March of 2013 and the film will be shown on May 16, 2014. The film is not yet show but there are already records of what new Godzilla will be. According to the producers and creators of the new Godzilla, a fan will create the image of Godzilla. Its original producer Toho Co., Ltd. will not also produce it, rather by Legendary Pictures (Picard a). The new version will be in 3D compared to the two dimensional rendition of the original film. The original Godzilla used live models and the new Godzilla will instead use CGI (Computer Generated Image) to render the physical presence the monster and its effects. The setting will be in Vancouver, Canada and not in Tokyo like the original Godz illa version (Picard b). In addition, the new writer of the film is Frank Darabont who can clean up the original script written by Max Borenstein. With regard to casting, there is word that in Godzilla 2014 will cast Bryan Cranston (Argo, Total Recall, Get a Job) and

Portfolio Management & Construction Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 9000 words

Portfolio Management & Construction - Essay Example Qatar produces nearly 776 thousand barrels of oil each day and this current level of production is estimated to last for 54 years. When it comes to natural gas, the country is richest if all in the GCC countries. At the end of 2008, its natural gas reserves stood at 25.56 trillion cubic meters, representing nearly 61% of the entire GCC natural gas reserves and nearly 14% of the world’s natural gas reserves. In the GCC region, the country can be called as one of the most stable countries, given its prudent macroeconomic management and combination of natural resources. Due to higher global demand of energy, the economic boom continued till the end of 2008. In the past six years, the economy of Qatar grew as much as five times in size from 2002 to 2008, with an annual rate of 31.6% on average that makes nearly $19.6 billion (2002) to $100.4 billion (2008). The reason of such massive growth is steady increase in energy prices as well as surging gas and oil production. The country has allowed significant foreign investment in the production of its gas field in the past decade and is predicted to become world’s largest Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) exporter in the future period of time. The country is also pursuing to attract foreign investment in the production of its other sectors such as non-energy projects by liberalize the economy even more. However, the global economy experienced drop in oil prices in late 2008 as well as economic and global financial crises that ultimately reduced the budget surplus of the economy and resulted in sluggish pace of development projects and investments in 2009. It is expected that economic growth will rebound and the economic policy emphasizes on developing the non-associated natural gas reserves of Qatar and improving foreign and private investment in non-energy sectors but gas and oil sector is still central in the

Motivating employees Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Motivating employees - Coursework Example She emphasized that being respected, being taken seriously, and being listened to are considered very crucial. In this regard, using Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, Shank’s old boss failed to meet her esteem and status needs, which are the desires for self-respect, or self-esteem. These include the desires for achievement, confidence, independence, and freedom; as well as reputation, prestige, recognition, attention, importance and appreciation. For Shank, these needs have not been previously met because of the organizations’ utter disregard for a person’s worth as a person, and not as a number, as alleged. To address these missing needs, management of these previous organizations should provide positive recognition and importance to their personnel by acknowledging good performance through rewards, appreciating inputs, promotions and recognizing exemplary work, as needed. (2) Use the Expectancy Theory and/or the Equity Theory of motivation to explain how feeling underpaid might affect the work of a Flight 001 associate and what a manager can do to increase the employees motivation. The Expectancy Theory states that motivation is a product of three variables: namely, â€Å"valence which represents how much as person wants a reward; expectancy, which refers to a person’s estimate of the probability that effort will result in effective performance; and instrumentality, which relates to a person’s estimate that performance will lead to receiving the reward† (Martires & Fule, 2000, p. 22). Feeling underpaid might affect the work of an associate in terms of perceiving that the effort exerted leading to a level of expected performance is not appropriately compensated and therefore, there is this feeling of being short changed or not being properly remunerated for the particular job. In this case, the associated would

Arimount Marketing Plan Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Arimount Marketing Plan - Assignment Example Therefore, it would be the role of the manager to look gather information on the quality of goods the company produces, sales of the product being sold may also speak a lot as demand is high the supply would also be high increasing the sale of his product. A researcher in a company would be to come up with better ideas, which would boost the sales to increase the sale or products or better ways to market their products to be appealing to the customer (Kotler, 2010) It is a company’s role to ensure that the company has reached the potential customers in the shortest time possible and use a convenient way possible. The company should ensure that through advertising their product the customer is enthusiastic to see the products that re being sold by the company. The customer should consider why he should choose the product over another. It is the role of the company to ensure that the customer is satisfied with the production. The company’s role is to ensure that the packaging of the product is appealing to the customers who is willing to purchase the product or a customer who are testing the product for the first time. The item should be widely acceptable to the area or region of sale in that it has what the consumer requires. After the customer has used the product, e.g. the standards should remain if they are of high standards and should be improved if they are of low standards. The product should have a unique character that other consumer products do not have so that the product would be preferred to the other products this will retain the customers loyalty (Kotler, 2010). The company should be able to market the products of consumption everywhere in the shortest time possible. The company can market its products in any segment that it believe that it is more profitable to the company. The segments should be

Motivating employees Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Motivating employees - Coursework Example She emphasized that being respected, being taken seriously, and being listened to are considered very crucial. In this regard, using Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, Shank’s old boss failed to meet her esteem and status needs, which are the desires for self-respect, or self-esteem. These include the desires for achievement, confidence, independence, and freedom; as well as reputation, prestige, recognition, attention, importance and appreciation. For Shank, these needs have not been previously met because of the organizations’ utter disregard for a person’s worth as a person, and not as a number, as alleged. To address these missing needs, management of these previous organizations should provide positive recognition and importance to their personnel by acknowledging good performance through rewards, appreciating inputs, promotions and recognizing exemplary work, as needed. (2) Use the Expectancy Theory and/or the Equity Theory of motivation to explain how feeling underpaid might affect the work of a Flight 001 associate and what a manager can do to increase the employees motivation. The Expectancy Theory states that motivation is a product of three variables: namely, â€Å"valence which represents how much as person wants a reward; expectancy, which refers to a person’s estimate of the probability that effort will result in effective performance; and instrumentality, which relates to a person’s estimate that performance will lead to receiving the reward† (Martires & Fule, 2000, p. 22). Feeling underpaid might affect the work of an associate in terms of perceiving that the effort exerted leading to a level of expected performance is not appropriately compensated and therefore, there is this feeling of being short changed or not being properly remunerated for the particular job. In this case, the associated would

Film as a Subject of Study Essay Example for Free

Film as a Subject of Study Essay The tremendous expense involved in producing motion pictures reminds us that film is both an Industry, and an Art. Each film is the child of a turbulent marriage between businessmen and artists. Yet despite an ongoing battle between aesthetic and commercial considerations, film is now recognized as a unique and powerful art form on a par with Painting, Sculpture, Music, Literature, and Drama. As a form of human expression, the moving picture is similar to other artistic media, for the basic properties of other media are woven into its own rich fabric. Film employs the compositional elements of the visual arts: line, form, mass, volume and texture. Like painting and photography, film exploits the subtle interplay of light and shadow. Like sculpture, film manipulates three-dimensional space. But, like pantomime, film focuses on moving images, and as in dance, the moving images in film have rhythm. The complex rhythms of film resemble those of music and poetry; and like poetry in particular, film communicates through imagery, metaphor, and symbol. Like drama, film communicates visually and verbally : visually, through action and gesture; verbally, through dialogue. Finally, like the novel, film expands or compresses time and space, traveling back and forth freely within their wide border. Despite these similarities, film is unique. 1. It is set apart from all other media by its quality of free and constant motion. The continuous interplay of sight, sound, and motion allows film to transcend the static limitations of painting and sculpture – in the complexity of its sensual appeal as well as in its ability to communicate simultaneously on several levels. Film even surpasses drama in its unique capacity for revealing various points of view, portraying action, manipulating time, and conveying a boundless sense of space. 2. Unlike the stage play, film can provide a continuous, unbroken flow, which blurs and minimizes transitions without compromising the story’s unity. Unlike the novel and the poem, film communicates directly, not through abstract symbols like words on a page but through concrete images and sounds. What’s more, film can treat an almost infinite array of subjects. 3. There is almost nothing that the eye might behold or the ear hear, in actuality or imagination, which can’t be represented in the medium of film. From the North and South poles to the Equator, from the Himalayas as a vast mountain range to the minutest flaw in a piece of steel, from the whistling flight of a bullet to the slow growth of a flower, from the flicker of though across an almost impassive face to the frenzied ravings of a madman, there is no point in space no degree of magnitude or speed of movement within the apprehension of man which is not within reach of the film. To simplify what I’m getting at, recall the many faces of Gabbar Singh in the film Sholay, and you recall the power of film. 4. The Elasticity of Time in a Film Film is unlimited not only in its choice of subject but also in its approach to that material. A film can look to the remote past or probe the distant future; it can make a few seconds seem like hours or compress a whole century into minutes. Film can run the gamut of feeling from the most fragile, tender, and beautiful to the most brutal, violent, and repulsive. 5. Of even greater importance than film’s unlimited range in subject matter, however, is the overwhelming Sense of Reality it can convey. The continuous stream of sight, sound, and motion creates a here-and-now excitement that immerses the viewer in the cinematic experience. Thus, through film, fantasy assumes the shape and emotional impact of Reality. The technological history of film can in fact be viewed as an ongoing evolution toward greater realism, toward erasing the border between art and nature, between fiction and reality. In sum, Film is a uniquely powerful combination of the Seven Arts. II A. In the two pages above, a way of looking at films has been offered which says that films are more than just an entertaining way to pass the time. There is an art, and a science to them, which usually goes unnoticed. When you begin to notice these two dimensions, your understanding of cinema will be much smarter and sharper. To take an example, please go back to pt. 2 above, and especially the observation that film does not communicate ‘through abstract symbols’. How then does it communicate? The answer : through concrete, flesh and blood symbols. With the help of camera angles and special lighting, almost everything becomes symbolic on film. The protagonists’ hair style, dimpled cheeks, the clothes they wear, the voice in which they speak, the way they walk, the way they smoke, the solitary glass on a table, the chair, the curtain – anything and everything can be loaded with extra meaning in a film shot, and through the device of repetition be made symbolic. For instance if you see the empty glass on the same table in more than one scene, it becomes symbolic. B. Let us now go to pt. 5 which stresses the power of the camera in creating a ‘sense of reality’. This is the cinematic experience, in a nutshell. You may be watching computer-created beings as in the Hollywood film Avatar, but they succeed in feeling and sounding like humans. The same perhaps can be said about the Tiger in the film The Life of Pi. This ability to convey the sense of reality endows the filmmaker with tremendous power – which can be used to great public benefit, or it can be abused. Try and think of examples of both use and abuse†¦

Explosion In The British Petroleum Texas City Refinery Commerce Essay

Explosion In The British Petroleum Texas City Refinery Commerce Essay The explosion and fires incident in the British Petroleum Texas City refinery on 23 March, 2005 has been described and reviewed in this assignment. Investigation report revealed that the incident occurred during the startup of an isomerization (ISOM) process unit. It was reported that this incident resulted in huge impact on BP Company and its stakeholders. The impact of the incident has been critically commended with the support of several data. Fatalities and injuries on nearby trailers, onsite and offsite damage, post-incident emergency response, and economic losses were the major consequences of the explosion. Causes of the incident have been also examined in order to improve BP performance. Organizational and process safety inadequate was the major blame for the incident. Recommendations which may improve BP situation and help to avoid hazardous incident have been provided throughout the assignment. The improvement on process safety culture, organizational changes such as merger and acquisition, budget cutting and employees training at all levels, as well as the enforcement of more effective safety management systems have been suggested to improve BP performance. Lastly, a safe trailer placement policy has been proposed to avoid the risk of similar incident. British Petroleum Company and Texas City Refinery Background The British Petroleum (BP) refinery in Texas City, Texas is the third largest oil refinery plant in the U.S. On Wednesday, 23 March 2005 at 1:20p.m, an explosion and fires happened at the BP refinery in Texas City, Texas, 30 miles southeast of Houston. The BP refinery in Texas City has the great impact on the overall gasoline supply in the U.S. This oil refinery has the capability to produce about 10 million gallons of gasoline per day. This amount of production makes up about 2.5% of the gasoline sold in the U.S. Apart from producing gasoline, this BP refinery also produces diesel fuels, jet fuels, and chemical feed stocks. There are 29 oil refinery units and 4 chemical units cover its 1,200 acre plant. In BP refinery in Texas City, BP employs about 1,800 employees. While the explosion and fires occurred, about 800 contractor workers were onsite carrying turnaround activities. The site has had several alters in management at both the corporate and refinery stages from its commission ing to the date of the explosion incident (Kaszniak Holmstrom, 2008; U.S Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB), 2005). Incident Description On 23 March, 2005, explosion and fires in BP Texas City refinery occurred during the startup of an isomerization (ISOM) process unit (Figure 1). On that morning, the raffinate splitter tower in the refinerys ISOM unit was restarted after it had been shut down for maintenance. During the startup of a section of the ISOM unit, flammable liquid hydrocarbons were pumped into a distillation tower for more than 3 hours without any liquid being removed by operations worker. This action was opposing to startup procedure instructions. The false signal provided by control instrumentation and critical alarms failed to alert the operator workers of the high level in the tower. As a result, unidentified by the operations worker, the distillation tower was overfilled and flammable liquid hydrocarbons overflowed into the overhead pipe at the top of the tower (Kaszniak Holmstrom, 2008; U.S CSB, 2005). As the overhead pipe filled with liquid hydrocarbons, the pressure at the bottom rose rapidly and resulted in the three emergency relief valves which used to protect the tower from high pressure opened for six minutes. A large quantity of liquid hydrocarbons then flowed from the discharge of safety relief valves to a blowdown drum with a vent stack open to the atmosphere. The blowdown drum and stack speedily overfilled with flammable liquid hydrocarbons, which resulted in geyser-like release out the 113-foot tall stacks (Figure 2) (Kaszniak Holmstrom, 2008; U.S CSB, 2005). According to CSB final report (2005), this blowdown system was a hazardous and outdated design. As the liquid hydrocarbons fell to the ground, some of the volatile liquid evaporated to form a flammable vapor cloud. The explosion and fires happened when the flammable vapor cloud was ignited most likely by an idling diesel truck positioned approximately 25 feet from the blowdown drum. The vapor cloud arrived at a wi de area which is evident by the burned area as shown in Figure 3 (U.S CSB, 2005). Figure 1. Raffinate section of isomerization ISOM process unit (U.S CSB, 2005) Figure 2. Raffinate splitter tower overfills and blowdown drum releases flammable liquid hydrocarbons to the atmosphere (U.S CSB, 2005) Figure 3. A post-explosion photo shows the burned area in and around the ISOM unit had the most severe fire damage while the red arrow points to the top of the blowdown stack (U.S CSB, 2005). Causes of Incident There are several key findings as the causes of this incident occurred in BP Texas City refinery after an investigation was conducted by BPs investigation team which coordinated with CSB, the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The causes of the incidents are summarized as below, The BP board of Directors did not propose effective safety culture and major accident prevention programs. There were no member in charge of measuring and verifying the performance of BPs major accident hazard preventive programs (U.S CSB, 2005). Risk blindness (The Economists, 2006). For instance, BP did not take effective actions to halt the growing risk of a catastrophic event although several fatalities occurred in BP Texas City refinery prior to this incident (U.S CSB, 2005). BP was too much focused on the low personal injury rate at Texas City while the process safety management and safety culture had severe insufficiency (U.S CSB, 2005) Inadequate in BPs mechanical integrity program. This led to the failure of the process unit in BP Texas City refinery (U.S CSB, 2005). Overzealous cost-cutting strategies (Economist, 2006; Marketline, 2007a; U.S CSB, 2005). According to CSB final report (2005), BP Group executive managers had expenses cuts in the 6 years resulting in the Texas City disaster without measuring their impact on safety of the site (Economist, 2007; Process Engineering, 2007). The blowdown drum and the relief valve disposal piping were undersized and the relief valve system safety study was 13 years overdue (Process Engineering, 2007; US CSB, 2005). ISOM operators had been overstretched (Economist, 2007; US CSB, 2005). Insufficient in BPs operator training program (US. CSB, 2005). Impact of Incident on BP Company and its Stakeholders Explosion and fires in BP Texas City refinery resulted in several negative effects on BP Company and its stakeholders. Those effects include casualties and injuries, facility and equipment damage, offsite damage, post-incident emergency response and economic losses (US CSB, 2005). Stakeholders of BP who had been affected by this incident were as below, BP Company and its employees Employees of contracting firms which include Jacobs Engineering Group (J.E. Merit), Fluor Corp. and General Electric Co. Families of dead victims and injured workers in this incident Texas community Texas City BP stockholders The U.S citizens who use crude oil Casualties and injuries In the incident, it was reported that 15 contract employees of J.E. Merit, Fluor Corp. and General Electric Co. were killed and a total of 180 employees in the refinery were injured (U.S CSB, 2005). Investigation report revealed that those 15 casualties were due to the explosions impact on the nearby temporary office trailers where employees were having meetings. Of the 15 casualties, 11 of them were employees of Jacobs, Pasadena, Calif, which was contractor in BPs Texas City refinery. The 11 dead Jacobs workers include several managers, administrators and 4 female craft workers. 3 of the victims were employees of Fluor, Aliso Viejo, Calif, was contractor provided maintenance management services at the plant since 2001. The remaining contractor victim was employee of General Electric Co. whereas no BP employee was killed in the incident. Blunt force trauma, which most likely resulting from being hit by structural components of the trailers was the cause of the all 15 casualties. Duri ng the incident, there were approximately 2,200 contract employees and 1,100 BP employees working at the refinery plant. Table 1 shows the details of the 15 dead contractor employees (Powers Rubin, 2005; US CSB, 2005). Company Name Age Position J.E Merit Glenn V. Bolton 50 Planner-scheduler J.E Merit Lorena Lori G. Cruz 32 Instrument fitter-helper J.E Merit Morris R. King 57 Construction manager J.E Merit Arthur G. Ramos 59 Quality control technician J.E Merit Ryan Rodriquez 28 Craft superintendent J.E Merit James W. Rowe 48 Civil superintendent J.E Merit Linda M. Rowe 47 Tool room assistant J.E Merit Kimberly A. Smith 43 Field administrator J.E Merit Susan D. Taylor 33 Pipe fitter helper J.E Merit Larry S. Thomas 63 Project superintendent J.E Merit Eugene White 53 Safety supervisor Fluor Corp. Rafael Herrera 27 Quality control inspector Fluor Corp. Daniel Hogan 58 Quality control inspector Fluor Corp. Jimmy Hunnings 58 Quality control inspector General Electric Co. Larry Linsenbardt 58 Title not disclosed Table 1. Contractor employees who died in the incident (Powers Rubin, 2005) Additionally, 180 employees at the plant were injured, 66 of the victims had serious injuries and most of them were suffered multiple injuries. It was reported that lacerations, fractures, sprains, strains, punctures and second-and third degree burns were the typical combination of injuries occurred on victims. Those seriously injured had leave for works, medical treatment or constrained work activity. Of the 66 workers with serious injuries, 14 were BP employees while the others were contractor workers from 13 different firms. Moreover, report revealed that 114 employees were given first aid during the incident. Of those who were given first aid, 35 were BP employees while the rest were contract employees from 14 different contracting firms (U.S. CSB, 2005). Facility and equipment damage According to CSB final report (2005), the place within the ISOM unit which caused explosion, nearby trailer area, the adjacent catalyst warehouse as shown in Figure 4 and the adjacent parking areas suffered the most severe blast damage. The nearby metal warehouse which used to store catalyst and the satellite control room were heavily damaged (Powers Rubin, 2005; U.S CSB, 2005). Figure 4. Nearby trailers that sited west of the blowdown drum (pointed by red arrow) were destroyed (U.S CSB, 2005). Furthermore, it was found that about 70 vehicles surrounding the ISOM unit were damaged and numerous vehicles were destroyed (U.S CSB, 2005). Moreover, a total of 44 trailers sustained heavy damaged (Figure 5) and 13 trailers were totally destroyed by the blast pressure wave that propagated through the plant when the explosion and fires happened. Report also disclosed that a number of workers were injured in trailers as far as 479-foot away from the explosion (Kaszniak Holmstrom, 2008; U.S CSB, 2005). Additionally, adjacent buildings also were damaged by the blast pressure. The damage level on building was not as severe as those occurred on trailers. The damage on surrounding buildings included damaged doors, cracked walls, and broken windows, scattering of interior contents, damaged roofs and bent metal panels. Also, the explosion also damaged a total of 50 storage tanks although most tank farm was located more than 250-foot away from the ISOM unit. The damage on tanks included distorted tank shells, both the shell sides and the roofs. A number of tanks utilized to hold hazardous substances like benzene were found being damaged as well and this resulted in the hazardous substances vapors escaped to atmosphere (U.S. CSB, 2005). Offsite Damage CSB report disclosed that not only the buildings in the refinery were damaged but windows of some houses and business buildings which situated north of the refinery were broken as well. These damaged offsite buildings were located up to 3 quarters of mile away from the explosion (U.S CSB, 2005). Figure 5. Trailers in the vicinity of the ISOM unit were heavily damaged (Occupational Hazards, 2005). Post-Incident Emergency Response The emergency response teams in Texas City were one of the BP stakeholders affected by this BP refinery explosion. These emergency teams provided effective and rapid assistance for the injured people and recovered the fatalities. Texas City Industrial Mutual Aid System (IMAS) member companies helped with search and rescue and fire hose lines (U.S CSB, 2005) Economic Losses BP has set aside approximately $2 billion in compensation repairs, payouts and lost profit for settlement of the incident (Marketline, 2007a). According to The Justice Department and US Environment Protection Agency (EPA), in order to resolve Clean Air Act violations in Texas City refinery, BP Products North America has spent over $161 million after the explosion to control pollution in Texas City, improved monitoring and maintenance and enhanced its internal management practices in Texas City refinery. EPA also reported that $12 million was paid by BP on civil penalty and $6 million was spent on a supplemental project to decrease air pollution in Texas. For settlement issues, BP also converted 100 diesel public vehicles to vehicles that operate using liquefied or compressed natural gas in order to reduce the hazardous emissions like hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. Besides that, BP agreed to build 4 refueling stations for those converted public vehicles (Marketl ine, 2009). It was also reported that BP faced penalties with $92,000 from The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for violations in the Texas City refinery (Marketline, 2007b). Moreover, to compensate the victims in the explosion, BP has incurred $1.6 billion (Economist, 2007). Likewise, BP faced reduction in its fourth quarter profit in 2006 due to the huge expenses on safety and integrity investments after the incident. It was reported that BPs fourth quarter profit fell 12% when compared to the last 3 quarters of 2005. Although BP achieved record profit for 2006; BP lagged behind that of its UK competitor Shell (Marketline, 2007c). BPs share price also trailed its rivals like Americans Exxon Mobil in 2006 (Economist, 2007). Recommendations Some recommendations to improve BP situation have been proposed after accessing the causes of the incident. Safety culture recommendation and trailer siting recommendation have been suggested to BP Company as follow, Safety culture recommendation Improve and emphasis more on process safety culture and performance through: Increase spending on safety assessment and maintenance Appoint an expert on safety management systems for at least 5 years to examine the safety progress in BP refineries. Incorporate process safety into management decision making at all levels Promote improved process safety through education and training employees at all levels Construct organizational changes that may improve process safety which include: Main organizational changes in refinery, for instance through mergers and acquisitions Policies changes like cost cutting and ensure consistency of policies Employees changes such as changes in staff experience and hire more workers to avoid work overloads. Reinforce safety management systems through enforcement of more valuable and effective programs, for instance: Mechanical integrity programs Risk management and analysis programs and Errors reporting and investigation programs Trailers siting recommendation Develop a novel trailers placement policy which contains practices to ensure the safe siting of trailers as below, Protect occupied trailers from accident exposure, for example, explosion pressure and heat Set up minimum safe distance requirements for trailer siting where is away from dangerous zones of process plants Assess the relocated trailers placement via novel risk analysis methodology Conclusion The explosion and fires occurred in BP Texas City refinery in 2005 resulted in huge impact on BP Company and its stakeholders. The effects of the incident included casualties and injuries which 15 contract employees were killed and 180 employees in the plant were injured, facility and equipment in the plant were damaged or destroyed, offsite houses and business buildings were damaged, assistance from emergency response teams in Texas City and economic losses. BP had has paid about $2 billion to compensate the repairs, payouts and lost profits and about $1.6 billion to compensate the victims. Moreover, BP was fined by EPA and OSHA for violations in Texas City refinery. BPs Q4 profit in 2006 also faced declination due to the explosion in Texas City refinery. The profit reduction not only affected BP Company but also BP stockholders. The incident also resulted in the financial performance of BP lagged behind its competitors. As part of settlement, BP also agreed to convert 100 diesel pu blic vehicles to vehicles that operate using liquefied or compressed natural gas. Furthermore, the incident has vast impact on the overall gasoline supply in the U.S as the gasoline production of this oil refinery makes up about 2.5% of the gasoline sold in the U.S. Safety culture recommendation and trailer siting recommendation have been given to improve BP situation. Even though compliance with practices in policies does not guarantee on avoidance of hazardous incident, non-compliance undoubtedly increases the risks. Also, enforcement of effective safety management systems is essential in all companies. Last but not least, employees safety training at all levels are very important to prevent the major incidents.

Female Genital Mutilation Essays -- Exploratory Essays Research Papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I decided to do this paper in an effort to try and become less ethnocentric and find an appreciation of cultural practices which were not of my own.   I feel I have found a deeper appreciation for many African cultural practices, but my research of African culture has exposed me to many practices that seem inhumane and barbaric. One cultural practice that I just cannot bring myself to agree with is the treatment and oppression of African women by men. Through my studies on Female Genital Mutilation, I had hoped to find a valid explanation for this procedure that is so frequently being done to women and female children.   Instead, I found something deep within myself that wishes this mutilation would come to an end.   Allow me to provide you with the facts.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Female Genital Mutilation, sometimes also referred to as femal circumcision, is a surgical modification of the female genitalia.   Ther are four forms of female genital mutilation.   The first is called Mild Sunna.   It is the removal of the prepuce of the clitoris.   It is comparable to male circumcision when the foreskin is removed from the penis.   Next there is the Modified Sunna which is the partial or total removal of the body of the clitoris.   Then you have the Clitoridectomy or Excision.   This is the removal of all or part of the clitoris as well as all or part of the labia minora.   Lastly, there is Infibulation or Pharaonic circumcision.   This consists of a clitoridectomy and the removal of the labia minora and also the inner layers of the labia majora.   The raw edges of the vulva are then sewn together with catgut or brought together by use of thorns.   A small sliver of wood or straw is often then inserted into the vagina to prevent complete occlusion and to ... ... Nearly one hundred fifty million females have undergone this procedure and it is estimated that each year 2 million individuals are still at risk.   I am hoping that this information will grab at the hearts of others and educate readers on the facts of Female Genital Mutilation.   With that, I devote this to my sisters in Africa in hopes that this violation will one day come to an end. Works Cited 1.   Do They Hear You When You Cry.   Fauziya Kassindja. 1998 2.   Female Genital Mutilation. American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists Committee Opinion. Number 151. Jan. 2003 3.   Female Genital Mutilation.   Council of Scientific Affairs.   American Medical Association.   JAMA Dec. 2000. Vol.274. No. 21 4.   Infibulation in the Horn of Africa. Guy Pieters M.D. Albert B. Lowentels M.D.   New York State Journal of Medicine. April 2001. Vol. 77. Number 6. pgs.729-731

Dracula- Bram Stoker :: English Literature

Dracula- Bram Stoker In my opinion, this is one of the greatest horror books that have ever been written. It is excellent. The book begins with Jonathon Harker- one of the main characters, writing in his journal. From this we see that he is on his way to Transylvania, 'one of the wildest and least known portions of Europe' where he is visiting one of the clients of the accountants firm that he works for in his castle, Castle Dracula. From Budapest, he travels to Bistritz where he stays in the Golden Krone Hotel. The next day he is to travel to the Borgo pass by coach where Draculas carriage will meet him. There are early signs that all is not right: He has queer dreams whilst staying in Budapest, people are very wary of telling him anything of the count or his castle, when he asked the hotel owners what they knew of the Count 'both he and his wife crossed themselves and, saying that they knew nothing at all, refused to speak any further', people try to warn him off going to the castle, the landlady wouldn't let him leave the hotel until she had placed a cross around his neck, even the people on the coach he is taking to meet the counts carriage begin talking of evil things; Satan, vampires, hell. But this is soon forgotten as he journeys, he is absorbed in the beautiful landscape, oblivious to everything else. As they near the Borgo pass he finds that the other people on the coach's behaviour becomes more and more erratic as if they are nervous and frightened, for him as well as themselves. When they arrive to the pass, there is no-one there and they try to persuade him to leave with them but the Counts horseman arrives with the carriage . His appearance is very disturbing. He has eyes 'which seemed red in the lamplight' and red lips with 'sharp looking teeth. He interrogates the coach driver who seems to be very scared of him. There is also something very strange in his behaviour but we cant put our finger on it. Jonathan boards the carriage and begins the final lap of his journey towards the castle. The way in which the journey is described builds up a sense of apprehension, as if this is the beginning of an undescribable horror. The closer to the castle Jonathan gets, the worse it is. He sees a blue flame which the driver runs off into the darkness to inspect. While he is away the wolves of the forest form a ring around him but when the driver comes back, he

Conducting a Strategic Management Project Essay

Introduction Shell is one of the world’s leading energy group and petrochemicals companies. It has around102000 employees in more than 100 countries. The objectives of the Shell Group are to engage efficiently, responsibly and profitably in oil, oil products, gas, chemicals and other selected businesses and to participate in the search for and development of other sources of energy to meet evolving customer needs and the world’s growing demand for energy. Mission Statement Shell’s innovative approach ensures that they are ready to tackle the challenges of new energy futures. 1.1 Topic of investigation having a strategic implication. This report explains the team buildings and teams work in Shell and development of its research work progress within the organization. It also presents suitable analysis of the project management and planning, advisory and project implementation of work. In this report, positive results of theories and its test showed that effective teamwork can lead to a success and achieving critical goals of Shell. It may also be able to gain the sustainability of competitiveness. Moreover, study explains that how team performance can be improved through leadership with project planning to face the upcoming challenges in modern era of business environment Shell operates in. 1.2 The aim, scope and objectives of the project. †¢ How can we improve Shell’s research study about lubes oil? †¢ What strategy we should adapt for improving Shell’s research? †¢ How and effective team force can be made for this purpose? The aim of the project is to achieve such team management, technology and resources that meet the new emerging energy challenges. Shell need to adapt such management strategies which will make a strong workforce with experienced and skilful team members. Shell wants to be recognised as a great company-competitive successfully and a force for progress. Shell has a fundamental belief that they can make a difference in the world because of it’s worth in the global market. A strong consumer proposition has been developed for the brand and embodied in the line â€Å"World Quality† which communicates Shell value-based offering in a precise manner, to its core target audience. The purpose of the advertising in the first instance is to support this strong value pr oposition and secondly to tailor the media solution to the store. 1.3 Justifying the scope, aim and objective. In meeting the energy challenges, the world faces three hard truths. The first is that there has been a step-change in global energy demand, with rapidly developing countries like China and India entering the energy-intensive phase of growth. Even with huge improvements in energy efficiency and substantial growth in renewables, fossil fuels will still be the main element of the energy mix by mid-century. The second hard truth is that easy-to-access oil and gas is in decline. As a result, energy will come increasingly from unconventional sources, such as oil sands. The third hard truth is that the increased burning of fossil fuels especially coal for power generation could mean unacceptably high emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming and climate change. Meeting the energy challenge Shell is helping to meet the energy challenge with a broad range of approaches. It uses advanced technologies that can unlock oil and gas in more remote or hostile environments, and new techniques to extend the lives of existing fields. We are increasing production from unconventional sources, including oil sands. Shell helps make the most of cleaner-burning natural gas through our output of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and gas to liquids (GTL) products. We are helping to develop second-generation bio fuels that do not compete with food crops; and we are developers of wind and solar power. 1.4 Evaluation of project research methodology. Methodolgy Research Study should be verified by seniors because all research is based on practical data and that data may vary by location of the research and by person. Need to Understand the Hypothesis before research and development. Which department are more feasible and which person is more interested and suitable for that research. Research should be complete on time. Research conduct at same time on different locations 2.1 Identify sources of data and information that will support the aim of the project. For a company like Shell having the right information about the environment, customs, laws and customer needs is of key importance. To gather this information the company will firstly see the law of the country in which it is going to start business, as we are talking about their business in UK the law allows this business. Here in UK there is a high demand it is a rich environment for the company to run their business. Data about this can be obtained by doing surveys and examining the current market i.e. by observing the similar businesses running in the country. Scanning the Environment In this research study, an appropriate approach of environmental scanning is considered in the industrial organisations that are operating in the chemical industry. Different types of information were used in this study. It included general information about the industry and specific about the participating companies. The type of data that was included was; †¢ Formal data that concerns the company’s character. †¢ Data that is publicly available, like in annual reports. †¢ Interviews of managers that provided the history and culture of the companies. This information was very important to analyse and research the topic and to see how other companies are operating in the industry. Strauss (1987) emphasizes the usefulness of the case study approach when used with grounded theory. Grounded theory seeks to generate theoretical statements and, ultimately, complex theories based on empirical evidence, although it can be used in different ways and reach various degrees of complexity. The research design framework adopted in this study can be described as a multiple case study, composed according to the theory building structure, as described by Yin (1989), i.e., where the sequence of chapters follow a theory-building logic, and using the grounded theory method of qualitative data analysis. 2.2 Synthesise the data and information for options or alternatives that support the project aims. An effective information infrastructure was implemented to assess the information required in this research, which included technological information, processes and information acquired by people. A rich collection of scientific and technical information was gathered, which was managed by professionals having different backgrounds. However, some companies just provided a consistent picture which was a small collection made up of journals, literature and reports mainly. The information being pervasive is one of the main reasons in having difficulty in accounting for the costs involved in the research as it depends on specific roles and their performance. The data that was collected showed that in medium or large chemical companies data and information was being handled by 50% staff while in smaller companies about 9% staff was involved. The scope of the companies was assessed by their li nks with Research and Development organisations and hoe they collaborate with the regulatory agencies. Strategic change Larger companies like Shell influence the planning adoption but some other factors also interfere with the tendency, for example in what form the organisation is and what is the management style of the organisation. No evidence was found that suggests that the subsector companies should adopt the planning technique as a planning tool. While, the planning offices are also rare and their main duty is to collect the difficult data which is needed by the top management for decision making. The strategic change analysed mainly talked about increasing the quality of the product, which includes mainly improving the conditions of production. Environmental protection was also an issue in some cases there were highly pollutant industries. Globalisation and diversification were also some important strategic changes. Companies that targeted globalization pursued growth in the industry but some companies just secured their positions in the internal market due to the threat of major competitors operating in the main market. Companies which had a little scope of growth adopted specialization. The main target was to improve the product quality. Some companies claimed that they always pursue improving the production quality while other companies admitted that they have to improve the quality of the product to satisfy the EC regulations. 2.3 Determine an option or alternative that supports the project aims. Other way of supporting the project aim is to use theoretical information and implement it directly on the company. Information is like team management theories. Inductive and deductive research can be used to gather information and to move towards the aim. Deductive research Deductive reasoning works from the more general to the more specific. Sometimes this is informally called a â€Å"top down† approach. Conclusion follows logically from premises Inductive research Inductive reasoning works the other way moving from specific observations to broader generalizations and theories. Informally, we sometimes call this a â€Å"bottom up† approach. Conclusion is likely based on premises..It involves a degree of uncertainty. Inductive type based on induction. Data is collected on a subject and researcher tries to develop theory from this data. 3.1 Evaluate the research analysis to enable conclusions to be made. Team Management It is difficult to build a team and maintain good working relationships. However, team members go through a number of development stages to work together effectively in team performance management. Individuals performing well are rewarded while those who are not performing good are motivated. The functions and roles of its members should be recognised by its team. The leader should establish continuous communication lines and set clear goals that are understood. A team that performs well accomplishes projects quickly and with less difficulty, misunderstanding, and divergence. Strategic Objectives Strategic goals or objectives are broad, high level aims, derived from organisation’s mission statement and purpose, affecting the whole organization (sometimes referred to as corporate aims). These will be: †¢ Long term (time horizon of several years), although they should be monitored regularly (typically annually) and may be revised periodically. †¢ Responsive to external factors such as new competition, changes in global economic conditions, or customer demands. The term ‘strategic’ denotes a particular focus of the managers’ planning and decision making responsibilities. Senior mangers focus mostly on ‘why’ questions, concentrating on the ‘big picture’ and providing vision and leadership for employees across the whole organisation. Alignment of team performance and corporate goals To achieve the corporate aims it is necessary that the direction of the teams is towards the long term strategic goal. Managers and team leaders have to keep in mind what they need to achieve overall. And hence, to control the teams in such a way that either they are working on long projects or short it’s all adding up to the final goal. In the case of Shell the main objective of the company is to provide good quality chemicals. To achieve this there has to be a proper direct and control system of the staff working at the stores from the top management to the staff working on the floor. A good communication and understanding will always lead to easy achievement of goals, satisfying the customer at the end. Mangers are supposed to take into account the demand and supply of the products to make sure every product is available on time and then work should be allocated to the subordinates in a proper system to get all the work done systematically and easily. Proper team management should be done by the supervisors and the team leaders. All the staff should be divided into small teams which have to work in different sections. Proper training should be given to all the team members and a standard way of achieving the goal. This performance target should be given to all the team members and should be monitored and reviewed constantly. This standard should be according to the company policy and should be according to health and safety and customer satisfaction oriented. Providing good work at the end of every shift, which is the availability of all the products on time with good customer service. 3.2 Recommend a course of action that achieves the project aim. Skills that need some development †¢ Communicating †¢ Decision-making †¢ Leadership †¢ Prioritizing †¢ Valuing and †¢ Skills need to be achieved. †¢ To respond problems, experiences and opportunities from which to learn. †¢ To generate ideas without constraints of policy or structure or feasibility. †¢ Involving with other people i.e ideas bouncing off them, solving problems as part of a team. †¢ Need to have a limelight/high visibility i.e can chair meetings, lead discussion, and give presentations. †¢ To be engaging myself in short, activities such as business games, competitive teamwork tasks, role playing exercises. Supporting Others †¢ Motivating †¢ Analysing †¢ Delegating †¢ Reporting 3.3 Analyse the impact of the recommendations. Training courses at Shell for career progression. Management Development Programme Includes: †¢ Consumer Legislation †¢ Customer Service †¢ Employment Law †¢ Health and Safety †¢ Human Resource Management †¢ Policies & Procedures Opportunity development builds competitive positions by identifying and utilizing opportunities in the environment. Opportunity development is necessary because your existing positions are constantly being degraded by change. Opportunities exist as â€Å"openings† in the environment that allow you to advance your position in the direction of your mission. These openings are usually small, but by taking advantage of the small openings, you eventually position yourself for the big advances you want. Training After the initial audit our ethical trade specialists work with the suppliers to support them through remediation of any issues that are found. Training is offered to suppliers on particular issues and best practice, at regular intervals. Shell is in the process of more than tripling the size of its own ethical trade team that focuses on training and intensive problem solving with its suppliers. These individuals are trained to the highest levels and are equipped to address endemic problems in the supply chain and come up with viable solutions for the suppliers. 4.1 Produce the results of the investigative project. The purpose of this study was to explain the team buildings and teams work in Shell and development of its research work progress within the organization. It also presents suitable analysis of the project management and planning, advisory and project implementation of work. In this report, positive results of theories and its test showed that effective teamwork can lead to a success and achieving critical goals of Shell. It may also be able to gain the sustainability of competitiveness. Moreover, study explains that how team performance can be improved through leadership with project planning to face the upcoming challenges in modern era of business environment Shell operates in. The main result was in the adoption of the learning and training courses within the company in order to prosper and enhance in the future. Shell is one of the leading companies in the world in the chemical an oil sector and it felt pride in taking these training and development steps in order to move forward and to achieve its project aim as a result of the research program. 4.2 Evaluate the impact of the investigative project The future sustainability of any organization heavily depends on the quality of project management to be able to cope with today’s dynamic business environment. There is direct co relation between stake holder business project and the people within the firm. Shell is one of the four largest companies in the UK and has been ranked number one of the top 100 graduate employers in the UK and all over the world. The sustainability of Shell competitive advantage of its brightest people is depending on the successful team work and leadership. The best leaders know how to get others to follow and the best team members know how to follow their leaders. REFRENCES BOOKS: Aguilar, F.J. (1967) Scanning the Business Environment. New York: McMillan. Robert , buttrick ,(2005).The project workout: pearso education limited Edinburgh gate Education 3rd (1) pp, 305-350 Strauss, A. & Corbin, J, (1990). Basics of Qualitative Research: Grounded Theory Procedures and Techniques. London: Sage. Strauss, A. (1987) Qualitative Analysis For Social Scientists. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Total Quality Management: The route to improving performance by John S. Oakland (Hardcover – 15 Mar 1993) Shell employee control hand book 07/08 Personal development as a strategic manager unit 7001: level 7 strategic management and leadership CMI Checklist: †¢ Personal development planning †¢ Developing strategy for world class business E-learning †¢ Your role in improving personal effectiveness †¢ Development needs and planning development Web links: †¢ www.milum.net 13/12/2009 †¢ www.enotes.com 13/12/2009 †¢ www.quickmba.com 13/12/2009 †¢ www.managers.org.uk 10/12/2009 †¢ www.shell.co.uk 20/12/2009