Modernizing The Crucible Essay -- The Crucible Arthur Miller Witchcraf

Modernizing The CrucibleImagine you are a director who has been asked to direct a modernversion of The Crucible. Decide on how you would addle the black market modernand the kind of setting that you feel is the most appropriate forconveying the themes of the play. In your discussion, you should dealwith what you feel are the main themes of the play that you want tofocus on and how the setting will enhance and even add depth to whatyou have to say.Firstly, I feel that in order to make the play as modern as possible,the play has to have a feel which all of its viewers rout out instantlyidentify with, as easily as being realistic when compared with currentworld events. Hence the setting which produces the most realisticplay, as well as portraying events that viewers can identify stronglywith, will therefore be the most appropriate for conveying the themesof the play.I have also decided to elaborate on the themes of hysteria,intolerance, virtue and choosing a scapegoat.For my settin g, I will rely heavily on a combination of two worldevents that, in differen...

Effective Use of Humor in Magazine Advertising :: Media Advertising Promotion Essays

Effective Use of Humor in Magazine Advertising The purpose of a magazine advertisement is to attract the ratifiers attention and hold it long enough for the reader to recognize and remember the name brand of the product being advertised. This is achieved, in many cases, by the use of a comedic image or phrase. These, hope well(p)y, will cause the reader to sit up and look further into what just made him or her smiling or even laugh. This technique is seen quite often in the pages of the latest issue of ArtByte magazine. ArtByte is a relative newcomer to the world of computer and technology-related magazines. It is aimed at the speeding teen to lower thirties technologically-minded individual who has a somewhat wry sense of humor. Many of the ads in this magazine reflect the idea of ArtByte being aimed at this demographic in their marketing techniques by adding humor to their advertisements. But they still make an attempt to appeal to the high-tech reader. This makes for an interes ting balance of technologically-minded text and humorously-appealing imagery. Listen.com, for example, makes full use of this technique (15), as does Aquent talent agency (0,1). The former advertisement depicts a young man, with whom the reader is meant to identify, who apparently works at a diner as a short-order cook. But, as a sight gag, instead of flipping the burgers on the fryer in front of him, he has opted to pretend that he is a disk jockey (a symbol of the high-tech, modern popular culture) and act as if he were spinning and scratching the aforementioned burgers like records on a turntable. The resultant text reads Theres music everywhere, if you know where to look. This makes for quite the funny image, but most likely only to those who would recognize just what he is doing (young, culturally aware, technologically minded individuals). The smaller text, just below the headline reveals that Listen.com is actually an online music database that allows the technologically ab le consumer to (the same demographic targeted by the rest of this magazine) to generate and download MP3s, an internet-based music format. There are also digital videos, and links to other music-related websites. These features have become a mainstay of the modern internet users digital repertoire. These advertised features appeal almost instantly to anyone looking for a fast and easy way to access music and information via the internet.

Strikes of the 70s and 80s: The Invisible Role of Women Essay

Strikes of the 70s and 80s The Invisible Role of Women Throughout history women have slowly go from the role of mother and housewife into the labor force. In the middle of this rise in stature is a relatively unknown set of events that helped women gain the vanity and individual attitude needed to move up in the work force. Womens participation in strikes during the 1970s and 80s is relatively unknown in U.S. history. Although the women involved in these strikes do a big impact on the strike and its outcome, they go widely unrecognized and uncredited for their roles. This paper will focus on three strikes the Brookside ember Strike, the Phelps-Dodge fuzz Strike, and the Pittston Coal Strike. individually of these strikes has its own individual history and story, but they have many things in common as well. Most importantly, each strike had women participants who greatly impacted the strike and did a small part to help women move towards a place in the labor force. Each of the th ree strikes will be examined from the standpoint of five main factors. First, what were the roles of women in the strike? What kind of work were they involved in? Second, what interest did the women have in the strike? Third, what kind of descent did the union have with the women? Did it impair their efforts or support them? Fourth, how did the women ultimately impact the strike? Were they seen as a lordly influence? In addition, were they seen as positive by the media or ignored by them? And lastly, what happened after the strike? Did the women continue their new, politically active roles or did they go back to the lives they lived before the strike? Each of these questions will be addressed for each of the three strikes discussed... ...rt of something much bigger that would eventually lead to women as an integral part of the labor force. Works CitedAulette, Judy and Mills, Trudy. Something Old, Something raw(a) Auxiliary Work in the 1983-1986 Copper Strike. Feminist Studies 14 .2 (1988) 251-268. Beckwith, Karen. Collective Identities of Class and Gender Working-Class Women in the Pittston Coal Strike. Political Psychology 19.1 (1998) 147-167. Birecree, Adrienne M. The Importance and Implications of Womens interest in the 1989-90 Pittston Coal Strike. Journal of Economic Issues March 1996 187-210. Lasky, Marjorie Penn. Women, Work and Protest A Century of U.S. Womens Labor History. Boston Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1985. Maggard, Sally Ward. Womens Participation in the Brookside Coal Strike Militance, Class, and Gender in Appalachia. Frontiers 3 (1987) 16-21.

Little Women :: Essays Papers

Little WomenSummary of Part OneLittle Women tells the report card of the four March sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy as they grow from childhood to adulthood. The story is set during the Civil War times. The March girls are struggling because their father is away at war and funds are limited. Jo and Meg have to work outside from home, not only because their father is away at war but also, because he lost all of his money trying to help a friend in need. Jo works for her bitter Aunt March. Meg spends her days teaching miniscule children as a governess.When Jo and Meg attend a New Years party, they meet their neighbor Theodore Laurence or Laurie, as he prefers to be called. He is the grandson of their rich neighbor Mr. Laurence. Jo and Laurie established the beginning of a wonderful friendship. All the girls start visiting the Laurence home with the exception of Beth. Beth being the shy one from the sisters and dismayed of Mr. Laurence decides to stay home instead. Mr. Laurence fin ds out that Beth is a wonderful easygoing player. He talks in private to Mrs. March, she helps him convince her to attend his house and play the piano in private. Beth makes Mr. Laurence some slippers, to show him her gratitude. Mr. Laurence touched by her sincerity gives her the piano that once belonged to his sickened and departed granddaughter. From that point her and Mr. Laurence develop a special bond. Meanwhile Amy is rottenly in debt with her classmates. It seems that for Amy and her classmates is a pastime to trade pickled limes. Meg gives Amy money to buy limes. She purchases 24 and proudly announces it to her classmates. When she refuses to share her limes with a classmate she gets in publish with her teacher. He then smacks her with a ruler. When Mrs. March finds out she then decides that is better for Amy to be taught at home. Meg is invited to a fortnight at the Moffats. She attends a party in which she is ridiculed. Laurie also attends the party and is disappointed by her behavior. At the party she also becomes aware of some gossip that is going around of her and her family. She tells her amaze and her mother tells her to focus on being herself and to never mind the gossip.

Cixouss The Laugh of the Medusa Against Showalters Feminist Criticism

Cixouss The Laugh of the Medusa Critiqued Against Showalters Essay Feminist Criticism in the Wilderness         In learning about womens liberationist theory this semester, one idea that arose from class discussions was the notion of essentialism.  Essentialism, a theory that stresses essence as opposed to existence, was discussed at length and while some classmates imbed it to reductionary and clich&233, it is a question that I assume must be asked of ecriture feminine authorship.  Does ecriture feminine writing essentialize women?  If it does, is essentializing women problematic?    One critique of ecriture feminine by the womens rightist critique and gynocricitics is that the former essentializes women.  In my own understanding of feminist theory, I arrive at related to ecriture feminine in my writing and believe that women should bring out from their bodies, should write as women, but there were some interesting p oints raised in class by classmates who do not argue with ecirture feminines position.  This paper give ascertain at the issue surround essentialism whether a woman writing from her body essentializes women.  Ironically, although I find the writing of ecriture feminine writers to be engaging, stimulating and meaningful, I have chosen to write this paper in a linear, structured and straightforward manner.  As an exegesis piece of work, I still believe that the notions of writing from female encounter and acknowledging female difference are possible.        I will look at an example of Ecriture Feminine writing, that of French feminist Helene Cixouss The Laugh of the Medusa.  This work will then be c... ... is clearly a gynocritic, I argue that she can be seen to support the movement to an ecriture feminine way of looking at womens writing and language.  My reasoning behind this argument is that I believe the reason why Show alter objects to ecriture feminine writing is because she believes that ecriture feminine essentializes women and that sees essentialism to be harmful to feminist theory.  Because I do not think that ecirture feminine essentializing women (in a problematic way), I argue that Showalter can reinforce the notions behind ecriture feminine.         Showalter argues that we need to ask much more searchingly what we want to know and how we can find answers to the questions that come from our experience (Showalter 2000 311).              

Cixouss The Laugh of the Medusa Against Showalters Feminist Criticism

Cixouss The Laugh of the Medusa Critiqued Against Showalters Essay Feminist Criticism in the Wilderness         In learning about womens liberationist theory this semester, one idea that arose from class discussions was the notion of essentialism.  Essentialism, a theory that stresses essence as opposed to existence, was discussed at length and while some classmates institute it to reductionary and clich&233, it is a question that I assume must be asked of ecriture feminine musical composition.  Does ecriture feminine writing essentialize women?  If it does, is essentializing women problematic?    One critique of ecriture feminine by the feminist critique and gynocricitics is that the former essentializes women.  In my own understanding of feminist theory, I take aim related to ecriture feminine in my writing and believe that women should make unnecessary from their bodies, should write as women, but there were some i nteresting points raised in class by classmates who do not argue with ecirture feminines position.  This paper pass on smelling at the issue surround essentialism whether a woman writing from her body essentializes women.  Ironically, although I find the writing of ecriture feminine writers to be engaging, stimulating and meaningful, I have chosen to write this paper in a linear, structured and straightforward manner.  As an exegesis piece of work, I still believe that the notions of writing from female sleep together and acknowledging female difference are possible.        I will look at an example of Ecriture Feminine writing, that of French feminist Helene Cixouss The Laugh of the Medusa.  This work will then be c... ... is clearly a gynocritic, I argue that she can be seen to support the movement to an ecriture feminine way of looking at womens writing and language.  My reasoning behind this argument is that I believe t he reason why Showalter objects to ecriture feminine writing is because she believes that ecriture feminine essentializes women and that sees essentialism to be harmful to feminist theory.  Because I do not think that ecirture feminine essentializing women (in a problematic way), I argue that Showalter can reinforce the notions behind ecriture feminine.         Showalter argues that we need to ask much more searchingly what we want to know and how we can find answers to the questions that come from our experience (Showalter 2000 311).              

Fast Food Should Not Be Sold in Schools

Byamba Mr. Cahill ENG 101 STLCC 11 October 2012 Fast pabulum should not be sold in schools Fast food is a breakfast, lunch or dinner choice for umpteen people on a daily basis. It is use as an option to save time, or to satisfy taste and portions. But, what about the health consequences? People know that fast food is not synonymous with vigorous living, and many forget this thought process when they are at the counter. Unfortunately, burying fast food on a daily basis does nominate an adverse effect on childrens health, such as fleshiness and lack of nutrients.Therefore, fast food should not be sold in schools. corpulency surpasses smoking in healthcare costs and impact on chronic illness and is on the rise in every country in the world. It is spurred on by thousands of years of evolution that have crafted humans into beings that catchk out sugar, fat and calories and is caused by a toxic food environment that offers up food as never before. The most startling victims are c hildren. The food industry is granted free and free access to children.Every day, triad of American children and youth eat fast food, and it contributes to close to one-fifth of their entire diets, according to research reported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation website. An article in Rolling Stone magazine states that 96 % of U. S. schoolchildren can identify Ronald McDonald topped only by Santa Claus who is more widely recognized. This familiarity represents just how ingrained fast food is in the U. S. psyche. Early botheration about childhood corpulency centered on its role in the predicting adult obesity and hence adult diseases.The author of a book pabulum fight said seventy percent of obese children become obese adult obesity in children is related to risk for disease as very much as fifty years later. He also mentions that clustering of risk factors for heart disease known as insulin resistance syndrome, now identified in children as young as five years old. Childr en may be at risk for high blood pressure when consume salty dispose food such as potato chips, French fries, pretzels, pizza and burritos. Junk food can lead to nutritional deficiencies when children eat it.Fast-food menus are big on too much protein, fat, sodium and sugar, which displace many of the beneficial nutrients that children need for health every day, including part. Dietary fiber is found in fruits, vegetables and grains, with only modest amounts retained in refined grains, or white strain and white flour. Burgers, sandwiches, and breading for fried food incorporate refined white flour buns, rolls and bread crumbs. French-fried potatoes erect adequate fiber but too much fat and sodium. Common vegetable ingredients such as tomatoes and onions represent the low end of the fiber scale.Low fiber intake is linked with greater incidence of cancer, heart disease and constipation. In one sentence, eating fast food meals regularly may mean that you run short to meet your b odys requirement of eating 2 to 2 1/2 cups of fruits and vegetables and 3 cups of dairy. Vegetables and fruits give you vitamins and minerals, while dairy provides you with calcium and protein. Some people esteem that there is nothing wrong with selling fast food in schools. They say it is convenient, cheap and tasty.Convenience foods, or foods that require no preparation or traditionalistic cooking by busy mothers trying to juggle a full time job with looking after a family are equally as unhealthy and unwhole few as the burgers and pizzas you get from fast food outlets. Foods that are processed and made into what can best be described as unsex meals often contain few in any nutritional ingredients. They are bulked out with pasta, breadcrumbs, corn flour, processed potato, processed egg and milk products as fountainhead as hydrogenated vegetable oil, saturated fats, gums, sugar substitutes etc. and then made to taste good by the addition of herbs and spices, salt, monosodium glu tamate and sugars. They also contain artificial act upon and preservatives as well as some artificial flavorings just to complete the unhealthy package. Some people may think the dollar menu is cheap, but it isnt cheaper to eat highly processed food a typical order for a family of four, for example, ii Big Macs, a cheeseburger, six chicken McNuggets, two medium and two small fries, and two medium and two small sodas costs about $28 at the McDonalds.People can serve a cook chicken with vegetables along with a simple salad and milk for about $14, and feed four people. If thats too much money, substitute a meal of rice and canned beans with bacon, green peppers and onions its easily enough for four people and costs about $9. In addition, eating fast food causes to increase obesity which leads to cost lots of money. Overweight individuals have 36 percent higher inpatient and outpatient and 77 percent higher medication costs. Food Fight, p45) It increases risk for many serious diseas es, can be disabling, and has a very negative impact on the quality of persons life. Also, fast food is a be adrift of money because you are buying a lot of calories, fat and sodium but getting very little nutrition in return. Apparently some people get addicted to the taste of popular fast food because it contains just the right mixture of fat, sugar and salt to set off the diversion chemicals in the brain.Experiments carried out on lab rats showed that when they were fed a diet that consisted of 25% sugar and then the sugar is removed, the rats become anxious, their teeth start to mutter and they suffer with the shakes not unlike people going through a nicotine or morphine withdrawal. (The New York Times, 2011)The researchers also noticed long lasting changes in brain chemistry of rats fed with foods that had a combination of sweet, salt and fat in, which led them to conclude that there was a possibility that people too could see brain changes and become physically addicted to eating fast food.Another article on The Washington Post states that Highly palatable foods those containing fat, sugar and salt set about the brain to release dopamine, the neurotransmitter associated with the pleasure center, he found. In time, the brain gets wired so that dopamine alleys light up at the mere suggestion of the food, such as driving past a fast-food restaurant, and the urge to eat the food grows insistent.Once the food is eaten, the brain releases opioids, which bring emotional relief. Together, dopamine and opioids create a pathway that can activate every time a person is reminded about the particular food. This happens regardless of whether the person is hungry. (The Washington Post, April 27, 2009) Eating fast food in one case in a while, that is once or twice a month wont matter at all, but having a habit of eating this kind of food can lead to serious consequences.The absence of healthy food alternatives is one of the factors leading to an alarming increas e in childhood obesity rates across the United States. Schools would like to protect children instead must sell soft drinks and snack foods to function. For example, the cafeterias in the schools should offer to school children less bacon and more broccoli, fewer intent dogs and more whole grains, less ice cream and more fruits, less sodas and more water. This does not imply that children should never touch bacon, hot dogs, sodas, or ice cream, ut rather that changing the balance of some foods relative to others is a means of improving Americas health. Today, nearly one-third of children and teens are overweight or obese. Growing evidence suggests that strong, far-reaching changesthose that make healthy foods available in schools are working to reduce childhood obesity rates. request children to avoid fast food is like asking them to save money for retirement. Instead, we can balance it by limiting fast food consumption in schools.

Full Faith and Credit Clause

I think the most predominant subject that comes to mind involving the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the U. S. authorship centers around analogous- wind marriages. The argument in this issue centers around whether a gay couple who gets married in Massachusetts would/should be recognized as legally married in any other adduce they move to. I am sure the framers of the Constitution could never deem imagined that some 200+ age later, that the original intent of Article IV Section 1 of the Constitution, the Full Faith and Credit Clause, could possibly undergo the scrutiny it has had to endure in youthful years.The battle cry marriage means only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife, and the word spouse refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife. The Constitution specifically delineates that no State shall be required to give effect to any public act, record, or judicial proceeding of any other State respecting a relationship between persons of the same sex that is treated as a marriage under the laws of any other State, or any right or claim arising from such relationship.If same-sex marriages have become legally acceptable in some states, then those couples should enjoy those benefits in the states in which they are considered to be legal. States are granted the right to match those laws that have effect on their own citizens, and, should a gay married couple wish to reside in a state where same-sex marriages are not legal by law in that state, then they must accept the law in that state as binding on them. Any state that chooses to not recognize same-sex marriages within their own constitution certainly has that right under the Full Faith and Credit Clause.Until at such time someone finds a way to challenge the constitutionality of the Clause, gay couples will have to resign themselves being able to practice their chosen lifestyle, but without the benefits of such union in states where it is deemed illegal. In further support of this issue, I deal that the Defense Of Marriage Act (DOMA) (1996) is unconstitutional on its face. DOMA violates principles of equal protection and due process. A pixilated case can also be made that DOMA abuses the Full Faith and Credit Clause and contravenes fundamental principles of federalism.Since there are relatively similar laws enacted in all 50 states, with only small differences between most of them, I see no reason that the Full Faith and Credit Clause should be held applicable to the issue of same-sex marriages. I find it difficult to imagine how the Court could find excluding same-sex couples from the definition of marriage unconstitutional without creating a constitutional requirement that same-sex couples be allowed to marry. Therefore, I believe that the Constitution guarantees each and every one of us the right to choose to marry the one we love.The fact that they are of the same sex should not deprive those individuals of the same rights and privileges of other citizens merely because it violates some individuals morals or beliefs. Since the Constitution itself does not actually delineate the definition of marriage, I believe that all attempts that deprive gay people certain rights not otherwise deprived of other individuals violates the spirit of the Constitution, and abuses the Full Faith and Credit Clause therein.

Caferoma’s Marketing Manager Essay

In the last two years, caferomas share of the woodland ground coffee market has declined by almost 30 % (see chart). there are several reason for this brand loyalty consumers have become little loyal to brands and more scathe conscious. they are willing to buy start-priced coffee product. price supermarket are betraying, under their feature label, similar products to caferoma at much lower prices. Copycat producto competing products of italian-style ground coffee are selling at price 30 to 40% lower than caferoma Brand Image the caferoma brand no seven-day seems to be exciting and up-to-date. Repositioning the products change caferomas image to appeal to a different market segment. (which segment? what changes to taste, quality, packaging, logo labelling, distribution?)princingreduce the price by, say. 20% to 30% so that it is in the medium range of price.advertisingdevelop a new advertising camping to relaunch the brand.multiple brandsell caferoma, with small changes to produ ct, under different brand names at lower prices. own brand label product allow supermarket to sell Caferoma under the supermarket own brand labels. Continue to market the Caferoma brand at the same time.A new product Bring out an instant coffee or decaffeinated product under the caferoma brand as soon as possible.Stretching the brand Allow some makers of coffee equipament (cafetieres, percolators, coffee, machines, etc.) to use the caferoma brand on their goods, for a licensing fee.Claudia, Caferomas Marketing Manager, has some recent new from one of Caferomas biggest customers, Majestic Hotels, a major European hotels chain. She discusses the news with Caferomas Sales Director, Pietro. try to their conversation. how does this new inormation affect your decisions?writingwrite an e mail to Caferomas Managing Director, Mario Cumino. Summarise what action you agreed to take at the meeting to solve Caferomas problem Explainyour reasons.taskas members of PEFDs marketing team, hold an in formal meeting. consider the advantages and disadvantage of each solution. then decide what to do hobble the decline in the products market share and to increase profits

Management and Cost Accounting Assignment

B313F Management and Cost Accounting Assignment 1 consider due29 October 2008 Weighting15% of the total marks of the course straits 1(25 marks) Mini Case Setos Storage W atomic number 18house Paul Seto owns and manages a commercial storage warehouse. He stores a vast variety of perishable goods for his customers. Under the existing pricing policy, he has aerated customers using a tied(p) rate of $2. 40 per kilogram per month for goods stored. His storage warehouse has 10,000 cubic metres of storage capacity.In the past two years, Seto has become dissatisfied with the moolahability of the warehouse operation. condescension the fact that the warehouse remains relatively full, revenues have not kept pace with operating cost. Recently, Seto approached his accountant, Albert Lo, about using activity-based costing (ABC) to improve his understanding of the causes of cost and revise the pricing formula. Lo has resolved that most costs can be associated with sensation of four activit ies. Those activities and their related monthly costs, volume measures, and volume levels for 2008 are as follows Activity Cost Monthly leger Measure Send/receive goods $80,000 Weight in kilograms 50,000 Store goods $8,000 Volume in cubic metres 800 Move goods $10,000 Volume in square metres 500 Identify goods $3,000 Number of packages 500 Lo has also collected last months information on the following 3 customers whose goods were entirely received on the first day of last month. Customers Weight of Order Cubic Metres Square Metres Number of Packages (Kilograms) Sunshine Co. 20,000 600 30 10 stovepipe Buy Co. 20,000 400 20 40 Chows Trading 20,000 200 100 160 Seto would like Lo to perform some analyses based on the above information and data in order to evaluate whether to use ABC. postulate a. Determine the price to be supercharged to for each one of the 3 customers under the existing pricing policy. (3 marks) b. Based on the monthly activity cost and vol ume data provided, determine the amount of cost assigned to each of the 3 customers. 10 marks) c. Determine the price to be charged to each of the 3 customers using activity-based costing (ABC), assuming Seto would base the price on the cost determined in part (b) plus a markup of 40 percent. (3 marks) d. Critically discuss whether Setos existing pricing policy captures the costs incurred to provide the warehouse services. (5 marks) e. A cost hierarchy categorizes costs into different cost pools on the basis of the different types of cost drivers or cost-allocation bases. Describe the four levels of a manufacturing cost hierarchy under the ABC schema. 4 marks) Question 2(25 marks) Antique Furnishings Ltd. is a Yuen Long based manufacturer making three unique wood products bed-frames, coffee tables, footstools. These products are completely carved by hand by skilled craftspeople who have been trained in making these products. Since it takes about a year to train each craftsperson, the labour cost is a fixed drudgery constraint over the short term. For the year ended 31 December 2008, the company expects to have 34,000 available labour hours. The average hourly labour rate is $25.Information regarding the current product line is as follows Bed-framesCoffee tablesFootstools $ $ $ Selling price900 680 240 Variable costs Direct material220 160 60 Direct manufacturing-labour costs 300 275 75 Indirect manufacturing-labour costs 80 40 21 Other indirect manufacturing costs100 80 20 Variable marketing expense 20 15 10 Variable manufacturing costs are variable with respect to units produced. Variable selling expenses are variable with respect to units sold.Fixed costs Indirect manufacturing-labour costs 80,000 Other indirect manufacturing costs 70,000 Selling & administration 75,000 Required a. Compute the section margin per unit for each of the three products above. (6 marks) b. assume that the market demand exceeds the companys production capacity for all produc ts, determine the number of units of each product that the company should make. (Hint You need to maximize the contribution per unit of the scarce resource. ) Calculate the profit before tax based on your determination of units of each product. (7 marks) c.Assuming that the company has a policy of devoting between 20% to 50% of its available skilled labour capacity to one product, determine the number of units of each product that the company should make and calculate the maximum profit before tax. (7 marks) d. Discuss how managers decide whether a cost is a direct or an indirect cost and describe the factors that will affect the classification of a cost as direct or indirect. (5 marks) Question 3(25 marks) DVD Express is a large manufacturer of affordable DVD players. Management recently became assured of rising costs resulting from returns of malfunctioning products.As a starting point for further analysis, Bonnie Lee, the controller, wants to test different forecasting rules an d then use the best one to forecast quarterly expenses for 2009. The relevant data for the previous three years follows 2006Return 2007Return2008Return QuarterExpensesQuarterExpensesQuarterExpenses 1$15,0001$16,2001$16,600 217,500217,800218,100 318,500318,800319,000 418,600417,700419,200 The result of a simple regression analysis using all 12 data points yielded an intercept of $16,559. 09 and a coefficient for the independent variable of $183. 22 (R-squared = . 27, t = 1. 4, SE = 1128). Required a. Calculate the quarterly forecast for 2009 using the high-low method and regression analyses. Recommend which method Bonnie should use. (15 marks) b. How does your analysis in requirement 1 change if DVD Express manufactures its products in multiple global production facilities to serve the global market? (5 marks) c. How do we know when high correlation exists? Explain whether high correlation is the same as cause and effect? (5 marks) Question 4(25 marks) Quik Printing Inc. , is a rapid ly growing company that has not been profitable despite increases in sales.It has hired you as a consultant to find ways to improve the situation. You believe that the problem results from poor cost control and inaccurate cost estimation on jobs. To gather data for your investigation, you turn to the accounting system and find that it is almost nonexistent. However, you piece together the following information for April Production 1. Completed job 101. 2. Started and completed job 102. 3. Started job 103. Inventory rates 1. Work-in-process livestock March 31 Job 101 Direct material.. $ 2,000 Labor (960 hours ( $10) 9,600 April 30 Job 103 Direct material.. $ 1,600 Labor (1,040 hours ( $10) 10,400 2. Each job in work-in-process inventory was exactly 50 percent completed as to labor hours however, all direct material necessary to do the entire job was charged to each job as soon as it was started. 3. There were no raw-material inventories or finished-goods inventorie s at either March 31 or April 30. Actual manufacturing disk overhead was $20,000. Cost of goods sold (before adjustment for over-or underapplied overhead) Job 101 Direct material $ 2,000 Labor.. ? command overhead ? Total $ 30,800 Job 102 Direct material ? Labor.. ? Overhead ? Total ? Overhead was applied to jobs using a predetermined rate per labor dollar that has been used since the company began operations. All raw materials were purchased for cash and charged directly to Work-in-Process Inventory when purchased. Raw material purchased in April amounted to $4,600. Direct-labor costs charged to jobs in April totaled $32,000.All labor costs were the same per hour for April for all laborers. Required Write a report, with supporting calculations, to management to show the following a. The cost elements (direct material, labor, and overhead) of cost of goods sold before adjustment for over-or underapplied overhead for each job sold. (14 marks) b. The value of each cost element (direct material, labor, and overhead) for each job in work-in-process inventory at April 30. (7 marks) c. Over-or underapplied overhead for April. (4 marks)

Linguistic Reorganization of States and the Changing Federal Structure of India

India is a confederacy of nominates and these raises atomic number 18 sort outd on the basis of major languages. The Indian leaders right later on independence do it clear that they wanted a federal enjoin. A federation is the existence of dual polity. It is a concourse of regions or states united within a Central government. It is a dual form of government where the powers are dissever amid the centre and the state governments.They each enjoy considerable independence within their sphere of Governance so as to avoid any clash between the two. However the basis on which this federal structure would be implemented was non certain. Right after independence, Jawaharlal Nehru, opposed the geological formation of states based on lingual lines. According to him this would lead to the military issue of sub-nationalities that would cause agitation and then to the rising of sovereign states.Thus, initi whollyy after Independence the country was divided into states belonging to 3 classes Class A states, which were made up of the former British Provinces, such as Uttar Pradesh, due west Bengal and Bihar Class B states, which were made up of former large princely states and large f employ unions of states, such as Hyderabad, Mysore and Rajasthan and Class C states, which were those make out of smaller princely states, such as Bhopal, Delhi and Vindhya Pradesh. The Dar Commission, which was set up to deal with the question of lingual states, expressed itself against the lingual reorganization of states.In November 1948, the JVP committee was set up to review the Dar Commission report because of the insistence from the delegates of Andhra, Kerela, Karnataka and Maharashtra. This report too was against the linguistic reorganization of states. In 1953 following the fast unto death by Potti Sriramulu in support of Telugu language Andhra the congress was forced to change its position and Andhra was created in October 1953. In response to the climb flood of additional demands the State Reorganization commission was established on December 1953.The report of SRC given in 1955 created 14 young states from the existing 27. In 1956 the act was enacted. This was the first phase of linguistic reorganization, an different(prenominal)(prenominal) phases followed during the period from 1960 to 1980 when these 14 states were moreover subdivided into naturalfound states. As the introduction suggests setting up states on linguistic lines was non the aim of the leaders rather they were forced to. They wanted the states to be economically and administratively viable also they wanted to avoid further communalism which strength be caused due to the states being re nonionic on linguistic basis.Integration and democratic participation were the important aims of the leaders then. There was an attempt for inclusive agglomeration of diverse identities and groups by dint of inter-segmental and inter fractional adjustments and changes. After Independ ence the task of putting the peeled nation in to working order, dealing with the lions of refugees, of coping with the conflict in Kashmir, of integrate and consolidating into governable units the myriad of princely states and framing constitutions became the most urgent items on the Governments agenda. Unity and security were the slogans of the day. (J. E. Schwartzberg) However this policy proved undermanned when it encountered the large currents of era of mass politics.. The issue of Linguistic states in particular became the focus of popular agitation (A. S. Narang). Also minorities complained of discrimination by the topical anaesthetic government. It was also stated that the political parties repeatedly exploited ethnical minorities anxieties and desires. The Dar Commission discarded the linguistic reorganization on the basis that a state cannot be created having entirely 70-80% of the population speaking the same language.The commission said that it could not be called a linguistic group yet rather a sizeable majority. It was however along this abundant majority lines that the 14 states were carved out in 1956, thus eliminating the categories of states as class A, B and C. But it gave mature to new chores, for example the SRC did not, at that time, divide the provinces of Bombay and Punjab because they found no neat linguistic lines for division. A separate state of the Punjabi Suba was demanded based on the religious differences between the Hindus and Sikhs.Nehru did not agree with this idea but instead said that additional areas should be incorporated into the exemplify state of Punjab to dilute the Sikh presence and marginalise the separatists within the province. This was mainly because Punjab was a border state and any tampering with the populations interests might jeopardise the security of the country. But ultimately the new state of Punjab was formed in 1966 when the Sikh leadership abandoned the religious criteria and demanded the formation of Punjab on ethno linguistic lines.along with the new state of Punjab other 2 new states formed Haryana- which consisted mainly of the Hindi speaking belt of erstwhile Punjab and Himachal Pradesh- which were mainly the hill districts. The province of Bombay was also bifurcated between the Gujarati and Marathi speakers in 1960. The first federal revolution thus discarded the design of administrative divisions that Nehru had favoured for independent India, a design which did not recognize the need for congruence between ethnic personal identity and territorial reserve home charges.The first reorganization did precisely the opposite it legally ac noesisd India as a federation of ethnic subunits. In a sense, Nehru and India had runed to the ethnic crack line conceded by the Congress movement during the shin for national independence. (Maya Chadda). This was not the end of all problems. The new issue arose in the north-eastern states. The North-eastern states were the mos t neglected of all the states in India.The British followed a policy of seclusion that had left the region resentful and suspicious of all governments that had sought to control the Northeast from New Delhi. Along with that the overlapping of the Naga and Mizo tribes across Burma and the Indo-Chinese border, closely linked the issue of ethnic autonomy to national security and territorial control. If India was to keep these areas under her control it was necessary to allay the people living in those areas. And the appropriate answer was found in separating the state of Assam into separate tribal provinces.The Nehru government created the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution which divided the Northeast into three broad areas with special arrangements of power sharing for each. This schedule created district councils which had power over local economy, culture, religion and customs. crimsontually with the North-Eastern Area (reorganization) subroutine 1971, at that place came in to e xistence several states from the undivided state of Assam. Tripura and Manipur which were originally parts of Assam became Union Territories in 1956 and then separate states in 1972.Meghalaya became an autonomous state within Assam and then a full-fledged state in 1972. Mizoram was declare a Union Territory. While at that place were agitations in Tripura and Manipur for separate statehood like the Nagas, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh never demanded a separate statehood. These states were simply created to stop China from claiming these border territories. The state of Mizoram was created in 1987 after signing of accord between the Mizo National Front and the Govt of India after 20 years of insurgency by the prevailing Mizo tribe.But this did not end the problem as numerous linguistic minorities felt that in the states with a dominant language they were outcasts, they were being neglected by the dominant groups and this was leading to the deterioration of not unaccompanied the ir culture but also their languages. This identity crisis among the various nonage groups is still leading to upheaval in different parts of the country. Many linguistic minorities are asking for separate states citing the example of the north-eastern states. LINGO-ETHNIC UPHEAVALS IN DIFFERENT STATESEven though the states of India have been from time to time reorganized on the basis of linguistics, some problem always seems to crop up regarding one area or another. At present upheavals are to a niftyer extent regarding ethnic reorganization rather than linguistics alone. Here is an account of 2 such strifes. THE NAGALIM PROBLEM- One of Indias oldest inveterate armed conflict is between the Govt of India and the Nagas. The armed conflict has persisted with two interruptions one in 1960 and another when an accord was signed in 1975. The pact of 1975 was signed between the Govt of India and some willing leaders of Nagaland.This was interpreted as a sellout and thus gave fire to the already heated up issue. The conflict was that of the creation of Nagalim, an integrated land for the Nagas which not only included the present state of Nagaland but also those districts of Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam containing Nagas as majority. According to J. P. Hutton (1922), Nagaland (Nagalim) has always been a sovereign nation occupying a clump area of 120,000 sq. km of the Patkai Range in between the longitude 93E and 97E and the latitude 23. 5N and 28. 3N.It lies at the tri-junction of China, India and Burma. Nagalim, without the k straightwayledge and consent of the Naga people, was apportioned between India and Burma after their respective declaration of independence. The part, which India illegally claims, is subdivided and placed under four different administrative units, viz. , Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Nagaland states. The eastern part, which Burma unlawfully claims, is placed under two administrative units, viz. , Kachin State and Sagaing Divisi on (formerly known as the Naga Hills).Nagalim, however, transcends all these arbitrary demarcations of boundary. The integration of the Naga areas of Burma with the areas in India was not the Naga political agenda, but obtaining the Nagas of India together has been an issue that unites most Nagas. Even the Nagaland Assembly has passed a number of resolutions expressing support for that cause. The policy of non-interference by the British was followed by area expeditions that were resorted to in order to quell opposition of the hill communities to the colonial extension of commercial activities in and through their land.Eventually the hill communities were brought under different territorial administrative authorities and hence the concept of territorial politics was thus introduced, hitherto unknown to the hill communities. The so-called administrative convenience, made some of the ethnic groups fall under one or another political unit. In the process the Naga areas were brought un der four administrative units Assam, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. The contiguous Zeliangrong Nagas were divided among the states of Assam (North Cachar Hill district), Nagaland and Manipur.Such crotchety administrative divisions and introduction of territorial politics shattered all ethnic aspirations (U. A. Shimray) and gave rise to ethnic stirrings The problem with the Nagas are that they are not a linguistic community, they speak as many as 30 different languages which belong to several distinct forms of Tibeto-Burmese language group. The languages spoken by some tribes are unexplained by the other Naga tribes. Thus, whether or not some of these groups should be included in to the Nagas is a very big concern. The other major problem is with that of Manipur.The remainder of creating a single political unit out of all Naga-inhabited areas puts the Naga project of nationhood in collision course with a parallel Manipuri project. Indeed, the issue is so smooth that unt il June 2001 the Indian government left the territorial scope of the 1997 ceasefire deliberately vague. Eventually, things came to a head when the NSCNIM insisted on a clarification, and in June 2001 a joint record sustain that the ceasefire was between the Government of India and the NSCNIM as two entities without territorial limits.The announcement led to a veritable political explosion in Manipur and significant expression of animosity in the other affected states. Seeking guarantees from the Indian government that Manipurs territorial integrity would not be sacrificed on the altar of Naga peace has now become a major theme in Manipuri politics (Sanjib Baruah). The United Naga Council (UNC) has issued a statement that calls for a peaceful parting between the Nagas and the Meiteis. But theUNC statement will only aggravate the tense smirch in Manipur because it threatens a break-up of the tiny state, a prospect no Meitei will be prepared to accept. The join on the other hand h as made it absolutely clear that Manipurs territorial integrity or Assams and Arunachal Pradeshs cannot be undermined to solve the Naga problem. It is therefor time for the NSCN and other responsible Naga civil society groups to state if they are willing to accept a solution without a Greater Nagalim that will cogitate slicing up of existing states like Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.If they accept then an extensive autonomy plan that give Nagas a chance for socio-cultural integration without changing of state boundaries, should be prepared by the state govts to give something like supra-state body a chance. That may mean that the Nagas will control the areas of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh that they inhabit in a majority but that is a price the three states may have to pay for finally solving the Naga problem that threatens to engulf the whole region.THE GHORKHALAND PROBLEM- Another big problem for India is that of the Gorkhaland issue. The word Gorkha is historical ly associated with the Kashas of North India. But it was after the establishment of the Gorkha Dynasty in1559 by Drabya Shah, the word began to be referred to the inhabitants of the Gorkha ruled region. Daniel Wright (1877) says, The Gorkhas or the Gorkhalis so named from the former crownwork of their country are the dominant race. They formerly occupied the district around the town of Gorkha, which is about 40 miles from the city of Katmandu.They are said to be of Rajput subscriber line and to have been driven out of Rajputana on the occasion of an invasion by Musulmans. They first settled near Palpa, having passed through the Kumaon hills, and gradually extending their dominion to Gorkha. The Gorkhas were originally Indo-European in character but after the Anglo-Nepalese war the British distinguished them as distinctly mongoloid in character. With time the term Gorkhas have been used interchangeably with the Nepalis. The struggle for Gorkhaland, it seems, started since 1907 by the leaders of the hill people for a separate administrative setup.In 1917 there was a similar demand to create a separate territory from West Bengal. Similar uprising followed in 1919, 1920, 1930. In 1943 the All India Gorkha League was formed which wanted the govt to recognize the gorkhas as a separate minority. Then in 1949 they demanded a separate state for themselves. But these were all disregarded by the authorities. The main agitation for the Gorkhaland started in the 1980s under the leadership of Subhas Ghising belonging to the Gorkha National Liberation Front. The GNLF-led agitation for the creation of a separate state of Gorkhaland happened at a time when the Communist Party of India, Marxist CPI(M) was intemperately in power in the state of West Bengal. Given the CPI(M)s pro-poor ideology, stellar achievements in land reforms, rural development, and community empowerment in West Bengal, and prior public commitments to grant autonomy to the Gorkhas, it was surprising tha t sentiments for a separate Gorkhaland grew steadily in the Darjeeling district (Rajat Ganguly).Once the agitation started it left many people dead, many hundreds homeless, there was loss to the local economy due to strikes etc. More importantly it drove a deep chasm between the majority Bengalis and the minority Gorkhas in West Bengal. All this led to an agreement between the GNLF and Govt of West Bengal & Govt of India in August 1988 that aa autonomous Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council will be established, but in return the GNLF would have to drop the demand of separate state. However this hardly changed the situation of the hill district.There were hardly any development project carried out by the DGHC and the people felt cheated. The DGHC blamed the West Bengal Government for not providing the necessary gold and for trying to undermine the DGHCs image and authority in Darjeeling. At times, Subhas Ghising, the GNLF chairperson and Chairperson of the DGHC, even talked of resurrecti ng the Gorkhaland agitation, which were provokeed by his political opponents as merely pressure tactics to procure more funds from Kolkata. Ghisings political opponents in turn accused him and the DGHC of being corrupt and wasteful and operating in an undemocratic manner.The struggle for Gorkhaland received a new boost 2008 when a new party called the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha under the leadership of Bimal Gurung. Once a trusted aide of Subhas Ghising, Bimal Gurung decided to break apart from the GNLF and started a new agitation for Ghorkhaland. A new party was formed called the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha and on April 2011 they signed a pact with the central and state govts forming the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, a semi- autonomous body that would replace the DGHC.The reasons why there is a demand for Gorkhaland are 1. Although states in post-independent India were reorganized on the basis of ethno-linguistic criteria, the policy failed to eradicate the problem of entrapped minorities as many states within the Indian federation continued to include peripheral minority ethnic groups that were linguistically and culturally different from and politically and economically subordinate to the majority ethnolinguistic communities that wielded power in the states.Many of these entrapped minority groups had a long history of demands for political autonomy or separate political identity and had come to believe that the States Reorganization Commission would consider their exemplar with sympathy. When that did not happen, many of these minority ethnic groups felt frustrated and aggrieved. In the years following the states reorganization, these isolated and peripheral minority ethnic groups came to resent their indigenous poverty and underdeveloped status and became convinced that they were being deprived (deliberately or otherwise) by the majority communities that controlled the state governments.The only way out of this poverty and underdevelopment, these grou ps felt, was by creating their own state and entering into a direct relationship with the Indian central government for assistance and guidance for instance, Gorkha leaders in Darjeeling cited the example of Sikkim, which had trinity of Darjeelings population but received almost ten times more central grant than Darjeeling. (Rajat Ganguly) 2.The isolation and under development has been aggravated by the fact that that their homeland has been infiltrated by members of the dominant community and other ethnic groups thereby creating an exploitative cultural division of labour in which valued roles and resources are allocated generally to the outsiders. The ethnic communities have also failed to successfully compete with the dominant outsiders for valued resources, such as access to learning, health care and employment. 3. The agitators argued that the West Bengal state government have deliberately kept Darjeeling isolated and neglected.They also claimed that much money was spend on the development of Siliguri but very little of these funds went to the hills for the development of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and other hill towns. For eg- there is still acute shortage of water and the supply is not enough to cater to the demands of the growing population as well as the tourists. The conditions of the roads are appalling and there is a huge dearth of electricityor problems of voltage. 4. The area had no facilities for higher education, the North Bengal University being the only University in that region.But it was situated in Siliguri and not in the hills. 5. This neglect of the region has led to the decline in the tourism industry, which has further led to the decline in employment among the local people. 6. It was also claimed that the Govt offices set up in the area did not benefit the locals as most of the posts went to the outsiders from the plains. Along with that the lack in education facilities did not facilitate the locals in getting the jobs. 7. West Bengal government based in faraway Kolkata appeared to be remote, opaque and unaccountable to the local people of Darjeeling.The CPI(M)s casual response to the various grievances and problems of the people in Darjeeling also strengthened the local perception that the party neglected the hills in favor of the plains. BODOLAND ISSUE, ASSAM The Bodos belong to the Tibeto-Burman speaking Indo-Mongoloid ethnic group and are the most commonly found in the Brahmaputra plains of Assam. The term Bodo is also used to denote a large number of tribes-the Garos of Meghalaya, Tippera of Tripura, and Boro Kachari, Koch, Rabha, Lalung, Dimasa, Hajong, Chutia, Deuri, and Moran of Assam and other parts of the Northeast. M. N. Brahma, The Bodo Kacharis of Assam-A Brief Introduction, Bulletin of the Tribal Research Institute Gauhati, 11 1983, p. 52. ). These tribes ruled over Assam until about 1825 but at present they are found in the northern areas of the Brahmaputra Valley, mainly in Kokrajhar, Darrang, Goa lpara, and Kamrup districts. Theirs is a patriarchal society and they mostly follow Bathauism, which is a form of animism, as religion. They mainly practiced Jhooming agriculture but off late have ventured into settled agriculture.Industrial activities are lacking but there may be some silkworm culture done by the Bodos. The demand for a separate Bodoland started during the British rule. It took a major turn after independence and mostly after the formation of Nagaland and other north-eastern states. The bodos formed Plains Tribal Council of Assam (PTCA) in 1967 and demanded the formation of a separate state for the Bodos and all other plain tribes of Assam. The All Bodo Students Union also formed in the same year as a part of PTCA. But with time they all lost hopes upon the party and started working separately.In the 1980s Assam saw another movement by the All Assam Student Union (AASU) and Assam Gana Parishad (AGP) about the eviction of foreign nationals from the state. The ABSU worked alongside the AASU with the hope that their cause would receive a boost. The movement finish with the formation of the new AGP Govt. But the ABSU soon realized that the attitude of the new Govt about towards the Bodos is no less different from the preceding Govts. Thus, in 1987 they renewed their struggle for Bodoland, a creation of full-fledged state for the Bodos.The two districts of Kokrajhar and Darrang became the nerve centres of the struggle. Initially the ABSU had a list of 92 demands but later it mainly centred around 3 main agendas (1) formation of a separate state named Bodoland on the north swan of the Brahmaputra (2) establishment of autonomous district councils in the tribal dominant areas on the south bank of the Brahmaputra (3) incorporation of the Bodo Kacharis of Karbi Anglong in the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution The main reasons for this agitation were 1.The Bodos constituted 49% of Assams population in 1947 but by the 1971 census they had drop ped to 29% due to internal and external migration. The migrant labours from Bangladesh affected the population of the Bodos. They got most of the jobs while the Bodos were left jobless. 2. Another major problem was that the Bodos mostly depended on agriculture for sustenance. The land that belonged to them have been mostly taken away form them by the migrants or for the establishment of tea groves pushing them away into the forests and thus reducing to poverty and indebtness.The new regulation by the Assam Govt imposed a rule forbidding any settlements inside the forest. All of these led to the entrapment of the tribals and was a major cause for the agitation. 3. In 1950s the Govt of Assam had made a rule forbidding the encroachment of the migrant population in to the special area demarcated for the schedule Tribes and Castes. But this was not strictly maintained leading to the loss of land among the tribal and a severe competition for the scarce resources. 4. In mid-sixties the As sam Govt. declared the Assamese language to be the official language of the state.The effort to impose the language drove a wedge between the two communities. 5. The effort by the Assam Govt to assimilate the different identities and not integrate them led to the fear among the tribals about loosing their identity. This to a large extent led to the agitations. 6. Only 10% of jobs are close for plains tribals, including the Bodos. On top of that the requirement of knowledge of the Assamese language to obtain a government job in the state was a further restraint to employment opportunities for Bodo youth. . The progress achieved by hill tribes in neighboring Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland and the relative advances made by the two hill districts of Assam-Karbi Anglong and North-Cachar Hills with their autonomous district councils made the Bodos and other plains tribes feel that, despite their larger population, they have been ignored. 8. The creation of separate tribal states for p opulations smaller than the Bodo in the 1960s and 70s made the demand of the plains tribals seem legitimate. 9.The crafty outline of the constituencies merging the tribal and non-tribal majorities makes it impossible for the tribals to gain a seat in the state legislators. 10. Lastly, the unrestrained suppression by the law enforcement agencies against Bodo agitators in 1987 fuelled the movement further. The ABSU resorted mostly to bandhs and closures, disrupting the rail and road links of Assam and the rest of the northeastern region. The agitation also saw extortion and harassment of nontribals, non-Bodo school teachers, clerks, foresters posted in tribal areas, and tea plantation managers and employees.But the most serious development of the movement was the formation of the rebel insurgent Bodo Security Force (Bd. SF), comprising a hard core of the Bodo youth wedded to fantastic tactics to achieve the goal of Bodoland. The prolonged movement seriously affected the economy of A ssam and the entire northeastern region. The chief ministers of the six northeastern states that were affected by the frequent bandhs urged the movement leaders, the Assam government, and the center to move quickly toward a settlement.Political parties of all hues unequivocally condemned the violence perpetrated by some of the protestors and the consequent police reprisals. The AGP government came tear down heavily on the agitators, ruling out any need to form a separate Bodoland state to ameliorate the grievances of the plains tribes. It also sought to drive a wedge between the Bodos and other tribes by avowing the need to protect the interests of all tribals in the state, the Bodo- dominant movement notwithstanding. (Sudhir JacobGeorge) The agitations continued well into 1993 with the Bodo Security Force gaining more power and at places marginalising the ABSU and other parties. There were also a number of failed attempts to talk by the Assam Govt and the central Govt. Efforts to solve the Bodo issue continued involving a great deal of ground work and behind-the-scenes effort on the part of Home Affairs Minister Rajesh Pilot, the Bodo Congress (I) legislator, Jaman Singh Brahma, and an emissary of the prime minister. These efforts ultimately resulted in the Bodo Accord, signed at Guwahati on February 20, 1993, formally ending the prolonged Bodoland agitation.The main aspects of the Bodo accord was 1. Creation of a Bodoland Autonomous Council (BAC). This is only an autonomous hill council and not a separate state. 2. The legislative power of the BAC is to be vested in a 40-member council, out of which 35 members are to be elected on the basis of pornographic franchise and the remaining five are to be nominated by the governor of Assam. 3. executive powers are to reside in a smaller Bodoland Executive Council (BEC), similar to a state-level cabinet. 4. There would also be elections for the BAC. 5.The territory of the BAC included the areas between the Sankos h River and Mazbat Pasnoi River, which roughly mark the western and eastern boundaries on the north bank respectively. The more complex southern border of the BAC, often impinging on nontribal areas, appears to have been left unspecified. Comprising 2,750 villages and several small towns, the BAC includes 25 tea plantations. 6. A benchmark for the inclusion of areas in the BAC was that Bodos should constitute 50% or more of a villages population. However, villages with lesser Bodo populations have also been included to ensure territorial continuity. . The BAC is to be organized with 38 departments, mostly corresponding to the subjects earmarked for autonomous district councils, such as education, forests, health, land, and revenue. But law and order was retained by the state, along with the right to dismiss the elected council under exceptional circumstances. (Legislative Branch, Assam Act No. 11, 1993) 8. The Accord also provided for the leaders of the movement to ensure the surre nder of all arms, explosives, and ammunition by their followers, and bring those who had gone underground back into the national ainstream. All the rights of nontribals living in the BAC area were to be protected, and their language, culture, and land kept intact. Memorandum of Settlement (Bodo Accord). So was the agitation really worth it? The 7 or 8 year long agitation, did it end in the fulfilment of the demands? An analysis of the Bodo accord reveals that the Bodos did not get all that it wanted. Firstly, they did not get the state separated as they would have wanted. Secondly, it was not a tripartite deal rather a bipartite deal with the state and the BAC.Thirdly, it was not a political accord as it was only an administrative institution. The law and order was to be maintained by the state government. Fourthly, the leaders had to accept only half the area of they actually demanded. It includes 2750 villages only rather than the 4635 initially demanded. Also the area of the BAC is still not defined. All these shortcomings have led to discontent among the Bodo people. The situation is very vulnerable and an outburst again is not far away. Infact a strife did take place in mid 2012 in Assam again.So we see that the there was unnecessary killing of people. The people of different religions and communities were rendered homeless. They had to live in refugee camps. The strife led to the destruction of the valuable forest and wildlife resources because the Bodo security force took shelter in the Manas wildlife reserve. The area was exploited indiscriminately by the security forces. But it seems that the lines of agreement did not do justice to the struggle. All the loss of lives seemed to be in profitless the destruction of forests were in vain because they did not receive even half of their want.CONCLUSION We see that even if the state had earlier yielded to the linguistic reorganization of states in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s they are opposing now. The increa sing opposition by the Central and State governments in the recent times has shown that the country is not ready for further divisions. Where they have initially supported the tribal groups in the border areas for the formation of states they are not supporting it now for further division. Thus, the Bodoland, Gorkhaland and Nagalim movement did not appreciation good. All these movements failed and statehood was not granted.

Managerial Analysis: BYP6-2 Essay

Breakeven Point Fixed Expenses / Contribution Margin Ratio authoritative Approach 200,000 / .4 = $500,000Automated Approach600,000 / .8 = $750,000The certain start without investing in the tonic robotic painting booth has a higher margin of safety (Total Sales- Breakeven gross revenue = Margin of safety. catamenia $2,000,000 $500,000 = $1,500,000Automated $2,0000,000 $750,000 = $1,250,000Using the current approach, they cannot increase capacity and would beget to turn sales away. As long as they are beyond the break-even of 500,000 for the automatize approach, they can improve their sales and possibly their contribution margin and bring in margin with purchasing the robot painting booth. On the down side, they would have to possibly lay off 25 of their skilled painters, which is not good for the company where the business is located.(c) Using the current level of sales, compute the margin of safety proportionality under each(prenominal) approach and interpret your findi ngs.Current ApproachAutomated Approach real(a) Sales$2,000,000$2,000,000Break-Even Sales$500,000$750,000Actual Sales$2,000,000$2,000,000Margin of Safety Ratio0.750.625(Actual Sales- Break-Even Sales)/Actual Sales= Margin of Safety Ratio The purpose of margin of safety ratio is to evaluate the relative impact if the changes in sales would have on each approach. The difference in the ratio represents the difference in put on the lines between Current and Automated Approach. To find the ratio, we use actual sales minus the break-even sales the result is the margin safety ratio. Generally speaking, this ratio is the lower the better because it indicates the risk of operating loss in this case, the Automated Approach is more favorable to the company.(d) Determine the degree of operating leverage for each approach at current sales levels. How much would the companys unclutter income decline under each approach with a 10% decline in sales?Current ApproachAutomated ApproachContribution Ma rgin$800,000$1,600,000Net Income$600,000$1,000,000Degree of Operating Leverage1.331.60Contribution Margin/ Net Income= Degree of Operating Leverage We find the degree by using contribution margin / Net Income of each approach the results are the degree of operating leverage. This approach is important to the decision makers because the analysis indicates the earnings excitability in general, higher operating leverage indicates a higher earnings capriciousness risk. The degree of operating leverage is an important tool aiming the company to know the behaviors of its competitors as well as the comparison of two approaches if the management exacting to adopt a new approach to replace the existing one. Assume the net income of each approach decline with a 10% decline in sales, the net income under Current Approach will reduce by 13.3% (1.33*10%), and the net income under the automated approach will decrease by 16% (1.60*10%). The conclusion is Automated Approach exposes to a higher e arnings volatility risk because it has a higheroperating leverage.(e) At what level of sales would the companys net income be the same under either approach?The level of sales that the companys net income would be the same under either approach is $1,000,000. .6x + 200,000 = .2x + 600,000.8x = 800,000x = $1,000,000(f) Discuss the issues that the company must consider in making this decision. Many items need to be considered before the company makes a decision. The automated approach has a lower margin of safety should sales decline meaning the company would lose money quicker than if it remain under the original approach. The operating leverage is also higher under the automated approach. All of the calculations indicate a greater risk to the company under the automated approach, but as often happens this is the approach that also offers the greatest potential difference for profits if sales continue to grow. These risks need to be weighed carefully to protect the companys income.

Panama Canal’s Legacy in American History

Assuredly the waterman furnish, If you didnt get already, was one of the most economic and socialized marvels of its time. It was, at first, attempted by the French in the later(a) 1800s, only when they were unable to carry out the furnish because of financial problems. Not only that, but yellow fever and malaria flooded the campgrounds with the charge of mosquitoes, which made the work force unbalanced (Avery). Then in 1904, the Americans were to take over under the leadership and guidance of chair Theodore Roosevelt. Even then Americans had a difficult time with construction.Moreover, with the canal built, its to a greater extent sufficient then sailing around the tip of South America. Even to twenty-four hours, the canal is used several(prenominal) times a day to bring benefits to the U. S. The French Admittedly, the French owned the Panama canalize before the U. S. Therefore, they were entitled to its construction under the leadership of Ferdinand de Lesseps, who worked on the Suez Canal in primitively years (Avery). Either Nicaragua or Panama would be the location for this engineered creation. Nicaragua was intentionally the first location for the canal (Jones) until one of the French leaders, one day, received a letter in the mail.As usual, the letter had a postage stamp on it (Avery). From thither, Panama was then chosen to pull going the passageway, for the stamp showed Nicaraguas terrain with erupting volcanoes, in which they didnt want that to destroy their plans (Avery). From there, Engineers were sent to survey the area (Avery). Since the area was owned to the Columbian court, they had to persuade them to grant permission to build the canal (Jones). Finally, they were prone permission to precede with their construction plans (Avery).Ferdinand De Lesseps. The man in control, Ferdinand de Lesseps, was an older man who was completely vain from his earlier success in the Suez Canal (Avery). To him, the Panama Canal would be no different. Cl early, he believed that the Panama Canal would be done quicker than the Suez, but was mistaken for in Panama consisted of nonhing but mountains and jumpy soil (Avery). In Egypt, it was only sand. His idea of the canal was that it would become a sea leveled canal, like the Suez and be parallel to the Panama Railroad that was built by the Americans earlier in the 1800s (Avery).With Him, a man named General Stephen Turr, who was a close Hungarian companion of de Lesseps, decided to help him in the canal (Avery). With Turr, the canal would be both thirds of the way done from the Rio Grande to the city of Colon, but it would be a take time and m any lives, for Panama was infested with monstrous diseases that could kill men inwardly forty eight hours. Disease Yellow Fever and Malaria roamed the French and, of course, American construction sites. Stegomya faciata was the species of mosquito that carried these diseases from one person to the next (Easmon).Thousands of men died from thes e diseases that, at first, seemed like a case of influenza because your body would be using a vast amount of substance to rid the polluteion (Easmon). Pursuing this further, it would worsen to a more serious case of the disease. Yellow fever is intellectually known as virus that has been transmitted from primates to humans done with(predicate) mosquitoes (Easmon). When the mosquito bit into the primate, it would then become permanently infected with the disease and ends up developing in the mosquitoes salivary glands to be spread to different(a) organisms, which in this case, humans (Easmon).When bitten, the virus would travel into the bloodstream to make its way into the colored, kidneys, or blood vessels to incubate through time period of three to sixteen days before symptoms would occur (Easmon). Symptoms included headache, diarrhea, eliminate and anorexia. Soon after the body would recover for a time period of twenty four hours before it became more serious (Easmon). Duri ng this time the body would reckon anemia (yellowing of the skin), liver inflammation, and jaundice, in other words, yellowing of the eyes (Easmon).Hence the reason it was given that name yellow fever (Easmon). The kidneys would become infected as hygienic and cause the person to bleed from the nose, mouth and stomach (Easmon). What was interesting, though, was that the West Indian Negroes, which worked on the canal, were somehow immune to yellow fever, but they severely suffered from malaria (Avery). Malaria, on the other hand, was far off more deadly then Yellow fever for it consisted of parasites (Malaria). An engineer once quoted If we could control malaria, I would be less anxious round other diseases.If we cannot control malaria, our mortality is going to very heavy (American Canal Construction). Consequently, these infections developed in mosquito salivary glands as well and reproduce in the liver (Malaria). Above all, this incubation period could last for months to a year at a time (Malaria). When the parasites leave the liver they reenter the bloodstream where they are able to infect red blood cells to reproduce once a deliver the goods until the cell bursts (Malaria). As a result, it caused anemia and jaundice from the lack of blood cells (Malaria).Other symptoms include seizures, confusion, swooning and death (Malaria). Thus, the French were not able to keep up with the rapid growth of infected patients. They had only a few nurses in the infirmary that where nuns and it didnt benefit them at all since they were untrained, which lost even more lives (Avery). For example, the nurses would leave in the evening without giving any other care to the patients, which could have prevented the deaths of several lives if was brought up (Avery).Victims of disease were actually sustained in screened cases with buckets of water to prevent insects from crawling up the beds (Avery). This created a breeding ground for mosquitoes (Avery). Later on, when the Amer icans took over they prevented this by oiling cesspools and canisters, fumigating Panama City, and ridding stagnant waters (American Canal Construction). Financial Problems Eight years after the French started the canal they experienced financial problems with getting the canal finished.Ferdinand De Lesseps blend ined to travel covert to France to attempt to find loans (Jones). He soon found out that France could not afford the vast amount he was asking for, which was around three million francs. The country could only pay eight percent of that amount (Jones). Engineers gathered together to calculate and survey the canal to discuss the completion of it and decided that it could not be done (Avery). Finally, in 1889, the French abandoned the Canal project pay back loans (Avery). In the final analysis, they were only able to finish two fifths of the canal (Avery).Most of the bills that they used went to camp rent and maintenance, supplies, property and medical necessities, but non advised buying and those who stole money for possession greatly affected the outcome(Avery). One anonymous member of the French once quoted that one bust expended on the canal work, one third wasted, and one third stolen. They left wing the canal up to America to finish the job and in 1894 the Americans had taken full control over the canal with Theodore Roosevelts leadership and power (Avery) President Theodores ImpactPresident Roosevelt was first elected into office in 1901 (This capacious Enterprise). For him, the canal could be easily used for military and economic power(This Great Enterprise). To peruse this even farther, he started negotiating Columbia for the possession for the canal. He offered forty million dollars to gain their permission to finish the canal, but Columbia refused (Buschini). Roosevelt became enraged with their decision, but Roosevelt knew that Panama was preparing to revolt against Columbia and decided to join them (Buschini).He then quoted I was prepa red to at once to occupy the Isthmus anyhow and proceed to dig the canal, but I deemed it likely that there would be a revolution in Panama soon (Buschini). He then sent marines and gunboats to gain control over the canal and successfully forced Columbia to accept his request and grant Panamas Independence (This Great Enterprise). In conclusion, the Panamanians and Roosevelt negotiated the convert Bureau Varilly Treaty (Jones) that would trade U. S. military power for the independence of Panama and entitle the U.S. construction for the Panama Canal (This Great Enterprise). Many Americans didnt respect of Roosevelts act against Columbia for the reason that they believed it was deemed unconstitutional, but Theodore Roosevelt Resumed his work and announced that I took the Isthmus, started the canal, and then left congressnot to disceptation the canal, but to debate me While the debate goes on, the canal does to and they are welcome to debate me as long as they wish, provided that we can go on with the canal(Buschini).As Americans built the Canal, they found several warehouses containing Machinery and supplies (Avery). Several Machines were found under water as well and allowed Americans to use them for spare parts (Avery). Also locomotives, cranes and other machinery were used to get the Panama Canal under way (Avery). Steam shovels were used instead of ladder dredges and Dump cars were loaded with soil to be shipped out of the area on the Panama Railroad (Avery). The Plan for America was to make the sea level canal into a lock canal with the depth of twenty nine and a half feet and ninety eight feet wide(Avery).Finally in 1914, the Panama Canal was able to open under the presidency of Woodrow Wilson (This Great Enterprise). To make sure there was no tension between the Columbian court and America, he negotiated a treaty paying Columbia twenty five million dollars to dissolve any potential conflicts (This Great Enterprise). Later on in 1978, President Jimmy C arter created a treaty to be ratified by the Senate that the Panama Canal would be given back to the people of panama to own and manage by the year 2000(This great Enterprise).The Canals Effect on the U. S. Indeed, the Panama Canals legacy brought several economic and social benefits for the U. S. In the U. S. it would create several more jobs to aid the canals shipment process and contain inflation for the hassle of transporting goods and by traveling around South America (Panama Canal). Since prices would decrease on imported goods, the American people would gain more money to spend on other necessities. In return, this would boost Americas economy through spending.The only consequences that resulted from this achievement was that it cost America three coulomb and fifty two million dollars to complete the canal in addition to several acres of tropical forests were destroyed, people were driven from their homes and several lives were lost through disease and natural causes (Panama Canal). Socially, this canal would allow military alliances stronger between America and other countries and showed its importance through foreign intervention. To pursue these even farther, treaties were also created through the canals construction that brought America and other countries together as well (Panama Canal).Conclusion All in all, it has taken the Panama Canal about(predicate) four decades to be completed. Through the Frenchs financial problems to Americas success in 1920, several hardships were created and overcome. Americas success would neer have been accomplished if it wasnt the determination of President Theodore Roosevelt and his revolt against Columbia. Even though the French were unsuccessful to complete the canal, they still have the right to know that they aided the Americans by leaving assets for repair, spare parts, and aving the U. S. thousands of dollars in medical centers, cabins, tools and supplies. Several lives were lost as well through Panamas horr ific diseases and other factors such as landslides, but its social and economic impact on America greatly affected its economy and alliances through military aid and trades. Through the twentieth century, the legacy of the panama was one of the most social and economic investments of its time and will always and forever be a part of Americas success.

Case16 Alarm Ringing: Nokia in 2010

strategical com relegation effort Analysis steady Analysis Roy L. Simerly Department of perplexity 3106 Bate East Carolina University Greenville, NC 27858-4353 (252) 328-6632 (Work) (252) 328-4094 (Fax) emailprotected ecu. edu strategical wariness Case Analysis Firm Analysis Abstract This is the atomic result 16 part of a cardinal part series dealing with the complexities of possibility depth psychology in Strategic Management race routes. One of the primary section of Strategic Management is to serve as a cap-st atomic public figure 53 course integrating the material students have accumulated throughout their course of study deep d ingest a argumentation school.There is a need for instruments that provide provide the necessary integrating and luck for application of acquired knowledge. There is alike the reality that students do non remember each(prenominal) that they should from previous courses. Equally important is the necessity to establish the primarys of Strategic Management as a discipline in its take in right. It is the theoretical ground of Strategic Management that provides the rational for the integration. The purpose of this article is to provide an outline for compend of a upstanding. I utilise this method at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.The plainly difference is that graduate students be expected to show more sophistication in their presentations. Strategic Management Case Analysis Firm Analysis This is the second of a twain part series dealing with superstar approach to case epitome in Strategic Management classes. This paper takes the view that Strategic Management is a cap-st angiotensin converting enzyme course intended to integrate the material students have accumulated throughout their course of study within a line of results school. Strategic Management is, in fact, the nevertheless course that has as its stated purpose the integration and application of key solicitude concepts.Normally , students atomic number 18 expected to have a working knowledge of the primary vocation management disciplines of chronicle, economics, finance, grocery storeing, and operations, when entering the course. When instructors present case analysis, it is usually as a three-step process progressing from economic, to labor, and finally, to conjunction analysis. In doing so they face the challenge of creating a classroom experience that en suitables students to conceptualize the framework as an integrated whole. The challenges for the instructor atomic number 18 interesting to say the least.First, on that point is the need for the instructor to understand the heading of each of the primary business management disciplines, as well as what the student displace be expected to accomplish. Second, there is the need for instruments that provide provide the necessary integration and opportunity for application of acquired knowledge. Third, there is the reality that students do not al ways remember all that they should. This leaves a great deal to be accomplished within unity semester. An equally important challenge is the necessity to impart the basics of Strategic Management as a discipline in its own right.It is the theoretical foundation of Strategic Management that provides the rational for the integration. More importantly, the students needs an correspondence of when to use what techniques in the business world. Given these challenges, I use among other classroom techniques case analysis. Students are required to provide analysis and discussion for a number of short cases throughout the semester. All are taken from current publications such as, Business Week, Fortune, Forbes and The Economist. I lift that school text book cases do not provide the currency necessary.These cases are used to demonstrate the text theory under discussion, and to show the relevance of proper(postnominal) elements of the major scripted cases. I require two major written c ases. The first is an analysis of an intentness, and the second is an analysis of a true within that industry. both(prenominal) are essential to compass the learning accusings for the course. The learning objective for the course is to understand how the top coach-and-four (CEO) is responsible for ensuring the long term survival of the tight within its matched environment.The learning objective for the written case analyses is to arrive at a signalize where they nominate develop a sound business plan to ensure the survival of their chosen unattackable within its militant environment. Also, to appreciate the complexities of collecting and understanding the relevance of the vast amount of information available. The learning objective for the industry analysis is to determine the opportunities and threats that hold out for unattackables within a agonistical environment. They should be able to appreciate how the various forces operating in an industry create or limit the c hances for survival.The learning objective for the firm analysis is to determine the strengths and weaknesses of a firm and, to determine the core competence that piece of tail be built on to establish a competitive benefit. The final step is to develop a business plan that will align the capabilities of the firm with the requirements of the competitive environment. Students are required to work in groups to complete the two major case write-ups. They will afterward irritate a presentation of their findings. I require teams because the most difficult part of management is the management of human resources.By setting specific guidelines for students I make their grade contingent on their management abilities as well as their ability to complete the projects. Team size is limited to 3 or 4 members. They are free to choose their firm and its industry. I strongly suggest that they aim a firm that has a production live on. This makes it easier to get a line the four organizationa l functions being integrated. I also encourage them to select an industry that would be suitable for employment based on their particular interests, and primary area of concentration.For example, accounting majors are encouraged to examine an accounting firm. Finance majors are pointed toward the banking industry. In the end, the students make choices based on group consensus and personal interests. However, a flickture of majors can be an advantage when working on the cover. The possible collaboration and integration of different perspectives is one advantage another is the opportunity to work on a part of the papers that is relevant to their discipline. How firms performance is be is left to the student. I must approve all choices prior to the student beginning work.In this way, I am sure that the projects are do-able. No two groups are allowed to do the akin firm within the same class, but they can do different firms within the same industry. There are no belatedly industrie s or firms. Each has its own challenges. A important amount of time is spent covering analysis techniques, and the resources available, prior to the students starting on the projects. They are also encouraged to divide the work up into specific areas. For example, for the firm paper do the four functional areas first, then do the introduction and conclusion.This gives a bonny balance to the work load. One communal complaint somewhat this approach to case writing is that a student working on one section of the paper will not learn about the other sections of the paper. Every approach to case writing has a limitation, but I think that this one is manageable. First, the intent is not to teach students about one particular industry. It is to teach them the relevance, and the techniques, of industry and firm analysis. Stressing this point early on is very important. It is important to note that I do not give the students likewise many specific directions.I want them to do their own research and make discoveries along the way. There is no one right answer. Correctness if such exists is a product of the logic used in the analysis. For example, two measures of economies of scale are required. It does not matter which measures are used, what matters is that the student reasons through the problem and finds a kernel of unslopedifying a position. If I give too much situation it limits the imagination of the student and prevents discoveries that could be significant. To function get the students oriented, I do provide complete sample papers from a previous class.I am careful to ensure that the sample papers are on an industry and firm not before long being done. I do not have to worry about copying, or other forms of cheating. The papers must be up-to-date, which means significant recent citations in the bibliography. Additionally, I do provide the students with the opportunity of sending in parts of the project as they write. I then provide feedback to preven t them expiry off on tangents and wasting valuable time. Most students find this method beneficial as they work. I find the quality of the papers improves dramatically over the course of the semester.It is critical to stress that this is a business report, and not an English paper. Each paper will take on significant proportions (30 to 50 pages) if just the required work is done. If focus is not maintained, the size becomes unmanageable. Assumptions and common knowledge are not accepted. Everything has to be proven in some manner, if just by an interview with a business person. Quantitative and soft analysis are required. I give a number of examples in class of how wrong common knowledge can be. The firm paper analysis that follows has been adapted from the work of Wheelen & Hunger (2000)1.Their model for the military rating of firms has been evolving for over a decade, and represents one of the more concise approaches to firm analysis. This approach is compatible with a number of Strategic Management text and can easily be adapted to most situations. In addition, my own experiences in the business world have been incorporated. In what follows, I cover in some detail the outline for the firm paper. This outline is given to the students in its entirety. FIRM PAPER OUTLINE This outline is solitary(prenominal) a guide. Each firm is unique, and you are responsible for adapting your paper to fit the circumstance.Form is important, but must not replace reason. Learning Objective to determine the strengths and weaknesses of a firm and, to determine the core competence that can be built on to establish a competitive advantage. Method Firm analysis and the evolution of an abbreviated business plan to ensure long term survival within the competitive environment. equalize your firm to a better performing firm within the same industry, or to the industry issues that you created in the industry paper. Maintain your focus on the questions being asked. Provide conclusi ons for each section and sub-section.A decision hyaloplasm should be provided at the end of each section, and an general matrix provided in the conclusion section. Where quantitative analysis is required, provide numbers expressed as ratios. Use five years of data to establish trends. Where qualitative analysis is required, provide citations to support your arguments. Assumptions and common knowledge are not accepted. Continuity I do read these papers Be sure that if you make a declarative description in one section, you do not contradict yourself in another. While it is a team project, I read it as the work of one person. Integrate the paper.Please number pages, and use section headings and sub-headings. Help is just a mouse-click away(predicate) I strongly encourage you to show me your work as you progress. I can, and will, save you hours of frustration if you will show me what you are doing. I. Current Situation A. Brief firm history. What industries and industry segments is your firm involved in, and what will be the focus of the paper? You can not do all of the industries or segments in one semester. Make a rational choice that aligns the firm paper with the industry paper. Provide a statement of the current position or situation of your firm within the industry (i. e. how goes it). How diversified is this firm? link or unrelated (you may discuss this wherever you think most steal)? B. Strategic Posture. 1. What is the current mission? Did you have to deduce it, or was it stated. Is there a clear point B (an objective that we can quantify)? You should be concerned with both the quality of the mission statement, and its appropriateness for the competitive environment. You will be able to address this issue after you complete the firm analysis. 2. What is the current (Porters generic) strategy? Since you are only doing one segment, you are concerned with business-level strategy only.Is this strategy consistent with the mission, appropriate for the en vironmental context, being followed by management? Again, this is outperform answered after the analysis is complete. II. External Environment (Opportunities and Threats. ) This section is a restatement of some of your industry paper work. You restate your findings with respect to this specific firm. A. Socio-cultural. What general environmental factors among the socio-cultural, economic, political-legal, and technological forces are currently touch on both the firm and the industry in which it competes?Which present, current, or future threats or opportunities are important to your firm? B. Task Environment. Which of the five forces (Porters) in the immediate environment are currently affecting the level of competitive intensity within the industry? Which present current or future threats or opportunities important to your firm? III. Internal Environment (Strengths and Weaknesses) The only way to know if your firm is doing well is through comparison. Therefore, almost all of the elements that follow require the analysis of your firm and then a comparison to a better performing firm, or to industry standards.A. Management. The objective of the management function is to ensure the long-term survival of the firm within its competitive environment. Begin with your assessment of how management has addressed this objective. 1. Board of Directors. The objective of the board is to provide circumspection of the firm. Based on your observations is this board appropriate for the competitive environment of this organization? a. What is the board size and objet dart (averages for all firms is 74% external, with 14 members total). b. What are their skills? Do you have the four functional areas covered? c.Do they own a significant percentage of stock? Here you are testing elements of agency theory. d. What is their level of pastime in the oversight of the corporation? That is, what committees are they on? How often do they meet? 2. Top Management (usually only the CEO) . The objective of management is to ensure the survival of the organization within its environment. Is management achieving that objective? a. What are top managements chief characteristics in terms of knowledge, skills, background, and management style? Is top management sufficiently skillful to cope with likely future challenges?Has it established a systematic approach to the formulation, implementation, evaluation and control of strategic management? Is there a vision, clearly articulated, guiding corporate activities (i. e. , does this manager know where the organization is headed)? What is the point of stock ownership, and is it appropriate? b. Organizational Structure. What is the present social organisation? Discuss decision making authority, degree of autonomy, team building, empowerment, etc. Is the structure appropriate for the competitive environment and consistent with the current strategy and mission? c. Culture.Is there a well defined or emerging elaboration compos ed of shared beliefs, expectations, and values? Is the culture a source of support or hindrance to achieving the mission/strategy of the corporation? B. Marketing The objective of the marketing function is to maximize market share. argon they achieving this objective? You should be able to provide a graph of market share change over time equalised to another firm or the industry. What is the market share change of the firm in relation to market growth? Remember to use ratios, not raw numbers. How well is the corporation performing in terms of market position and marketing mix?You answer this by comparing the 4 Ps to a better performing firm. 1. How well does your firms product fling (product mix) compare to a better performing firm? 2. Is the firms pricing appropriate? 3. Compare the place (distribution system) of the product offering. 4. Evaluate the promotional efforts of the firm. What is the payoff for the money spend on advertising? Is there a affinity between advertising and market share change? Provide a conclusion to this section. What trends do you see from analysis of their past performance? I suggest using a decision matrix.From your analysis, what are the strengths and weaknesses of this function? C. Operations/Production. This section will be revised for those teams doing a assistance firm. While the basic arguments are the same, the methods will be different. Consult with your instructor before beginning this section if you are doing a service organization. The objective of the operations function is to increase productivity. Are they achieving this objective? This is also the functional area where you can best evaluate whether your firm is following the logic of re-investing in itself (the logic of the managerial enterprise)? 1.In order to achieve improvements in productivity, the firm must be re-investing in itself. What is the trend in capital spending? What is the trend in productivity improvement? 2. In combination with the marketing sect ion, has this firms emphasized product development, or diversification, for growth (the Chandler argument)? No longer required. 3. Operating leverage. How has the mix of people to capital changed over time are primed(p) costs rising? What are the trends in costs per unit of labor, inventory control, etc.? 4. Research & Development. What hang is the corporation receiving from its R&D investment?Is the firm technologically competent? How well does the firms investment compare with similar corporations? What is the bang for the buck Provide a conclusion to this section. I suggest using a decision matrix. From your analysis, what are the strengths and weaknesses of this function? D. Finance The objective of the finance function is to maximize shareholder wealth. Are they achieving this objective? I would prefer total returns to investors over time as the measure here. The data are available. 1. Remember to use at least five years of data for the most important factors. What trends do you see emerging from this analysis?Suggested ratios are contained in the text. 2. How well is the corporation performing compared to competition? 3. bully Asset Pricing Model. (Class lecture notes) What is the cost of capital for this firm? What impact does this have on competitiveness? What does your analysis tell you about the probability that management will reinvest in the firm? 4. Debt to Equity polity and susceptibility to external forces, such as debt covenants, take-over attempts, etc. As lecture material points out, the capital structure decision is very important to the survival of the firm. Crunching of numbers is not the objective here.You are looking for significant trends that can impact the survivability of the firm. As you find negative trends that could effect other organizational functions, tell your team mates. What have they discovered? This section can not stand on its own, it has to be integrated into the overall paper. Provide a conclusion to this section . I suggest using a decision matrix. From your analysis, what are the strengths and weaknesses of this function? E. Human Resource Management. If applicable i. e. , are unions involved? If so, you are concerned with the HRM function of the organization. F. Management study Systems.If applicable. Is you firm having problems with its MIS system? Readings from articles should give a clue. If no problem is noted, you do not have to admit this section. IV. Critical Success Factors. From your industry paper, discuss how your firm is addressing these factors. Most of these factors (2 of 3) will lend themselves to quantitative analysis and comparison. V. Strategic Problem. From your analysis, what is THE strategic problem of this firm. This is only one paragraph and not a laundry list. lead your paragraph will begin Management has failed to ensure the long-term survival of this firm because.. VI.Strategic Alternatives. Provide appropriate strategic alternatives stated as strategies, not as elements of a strategy. Discuss the pros and cons of each. The current strategy, if appropriate, could be one of the alternatives if the firm simply needs to improve the implementation of that strategy. VII. Recommendation. From your alternatives, what ONE strategy do you recommend, and why? This is only one or two paragraphs. VIII. Implementation. This is the section where most teams lose it. Remember that strategy is a simulate of actions and activities. A. Give SPECIFIC recommendations on how you would implement your strategic choice.Provide details addressing each of the four functional areas. B. give how you are solving the weaknesses and building on the strengths of each functional area. C. What is the core competence of this organization? dejection we build a sustainable competitive advantage within this industry? D. Include a basic pro forma for at least 5 years out to see the impact of your changes. Use your best guess on the numbers, indicating your assumptions. E. Conclude the paper with your prognosis for the firm. This is the grade sheet for the firm paper Case Name_________________________ BibliographyAppendices, graphs, tables Firm Business Segments Strategy Mission Corporate ownership Board of Directors R Type and grad of Diversification Capital investment related to performance Social/Environmental programs Growth rate of firm Cost of Capital (CAPM) Take over target Asset base compared to competitors Historical financial data S. W. O. T. C. S. F. s Analysis of the functional areas Management Marketing Operations Finance 1 Wheelen, T. L. & Hunger, J. D. 2000. Strategic Management. Upper institutionalize River, N. J. U. S. A Prentice Hall