World literature assignment Essay Thesis Example For Students

World literature assignment Essay Thesis A major effect of Western Colonialism all over the world was the role of women changing. Women started to stand up for their rights. More and more women wanted to get jobs, make money, have voting rights, and stand up to the more dominant figures. The two books I have read are Midaq Alley by Naguib Mahfouz and This Earth of Mankind by Pramoedya Ananta Toer. Both of these books have one major similarity; Western Colonialism. As that is too vast a topic, this essay if focused on the main female characters of both these books and their desire for power and authority. I will be discussing how the two main women of these books have different perspectives of having authority and how they achieve it. We will write a custom essay on World literature assignment Thesis specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Midaq Alley is about the residents of one alley in Cairo, Egypt. It is a very descriptive novel and each chapter is concise. Each chapter tells us about one of the inhabitants of the alley and soon how each is connected to one another. One of the main female characters in this book is Hamida. She is very beautiful and she knows it. She uses her beauty to make herself more confident. Hamida can be said to be provocative in a way as she intentionally uses her body and good looks to get attention. Hamida is very proud of whom she is, and she feels that she is too good for Midaq Alley. She feels that she deserves better and believes that she is above all in Midaq Alley. More importantly, Hamida yearns for power. However, her view of power was that it came from money. She craves being rich. Hamida wants to be rich so that all her dreams of having luxuries come true. In Midaq Alley, the people do not see Hamida in a positive manner. Although she is ambitious, they look at her in a bad way. Not because ambition is bad but because of Hamidas disposition. She is full of herself and arrogant and is known to have a sharp tongue. She is known to fight with whoever opposes her. The book, This Earth of Mankind has a very important female figure also. Nyai Ontosoroh is a concubine of a European man. She herself is a native Indonesian. In the book we know that the culture they live in concubines are looked down at, also we know that native people are at the bottom of the social hierarchy pyramid. Nyai, nonetheless, is nothing like the other native concubines. She is completely different. She has been polished and groomed in such a way that it is hard to decide whether she is a native or a European. She speaks perfect Dutch, has an unlimited knowledge of so many things, reads books, and looks impeccable. When Minke, the protagonist, first meets her he is in awe. He immediately realizes how different she is and starts respecting her. Nyai is in charge of the family business and most importantly, she commands her own master, Herman Mellema. Nyai is someone who has worked hard for her power and authority. She is someone who never had a formal education; she has read books and learnt how to be the way she is. By teaching herself Nyai has power, money, authority, and luxury. Nyai, is not proud of who she is. She refuses to be called madam because she knows that is not who is. Nyai knows her place in society and does not want anymore respect that she feels she deserves. We can already see the major differences in Nyai and Hamida. Hamida desires power and authority. Nyai has what Hamida wants but it is not what she wants for herself. Nyai does not like the fact that she has to supervise everything and do the work. She feels that it is because of her lazy master that she has this life of work. Nyai is not happy with what she has and neither is Hamida, but to a certain extent Nyai has what Hamida wants. This shows us how perspective can vary from person to person. Hamida thinks she will be happy with fortune and luxury whereas we see a woman who has all that but is not satisfied because she does not have the respect from society. Hamida could have had respect from society is she was not as arrogant and egotistical but she never thought that respect would be worth anything. .ub7dd803aa0ff8e926973508f1a99b658 , .ub7dd803aa0ff8e926973508f1a99b658 .postImageUrl , .ub7dd803aa0ff8e926973508f1a99b658 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ub7dd803aa0ff8e926973508f1a99b658 , .ub7dd803aa0ff8e926973508f1a99b658:hover , .ub7dd803aa0ff8e926973508f1a99b658:visited , .ub7dd803aa0ff8e926973508f1a99b658:active { border:0!important; } .ub7dd803aa0ff8e926973508f1a99b658 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ub7dd803aa0ff8e926973508f1a99b658 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ub7dd803aa0ff8e926973508f1a99b658:active , .ub7dd803aa0ff8e926973508f1a99b658:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ub7dd803aa0ff8e926973508f1a99b658 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ub7dd803aa0ff8e926973508f1a99b658 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ub7dd803aa0ff8e926973508f1a99b658 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ub7dd803aa0ff8e926973508f1a99b658 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ub7dd803aa0ff8e926973508f1a99b658:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ub7dd803aa0ff8e926973508f1a99b658 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ub7dd803aa0ff8e926973508f1a99b658 .ub7dd803aa0ff8e926973508f1a99b658-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ub7dd803aa0ff8e926973508f1a99b658:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Reality of the poem EssayThere is also a great difference between the characteristics of Nyai and Hamida. Nyai is very modest and down to earth. She does not think anything too great of herself. On the other hand, Hamida is completely the opposite. She shows off her assets and wants attention from people. Even the Jewish girls whom she is jealous or intimidated by she tries to make them feel bad by demeaning remarks. Nyai would never say anything bad about someone to intentionally make them feel bad. Nyai has adopted all the European mannerisms and practices them regularly; she has worked hard on herself. Hamida has not learnt any new or modern ways of life. She is still pretty backward minded in the sense that she wants to marry someone rich so that she can use his money to get out of Midaq Alley. Hamida does not want to lift a finger in order to get what she wants; she thinks it will come automatically because she is so beautiful and so impressive. Being satisfied with or without authority isnt the only important factor about these main characters. There is also the fact that the sources of this power and wealth are different for both of them. For example, Hamida was determined to be affluent and dominating she intended to do so by marrying a rich man. She was dependant on her fate to get married to someone just because she thought she was so pretty and perfect. Hamida did not have much to offer. She was not very smart nor did she have a very strong personality. Her only way out of Midaq Alley would have been getting married. In contrast, Nyai in the beginning also did not have much to offer. But she taught herself, her power and wealth came because she made herself into this strong woman who could face anything.

To Kill A Mockingbird Essays (505 words) - To Kill A Mockingbird

To Kill A Mockingbird Essays (505 words) - To Kill A Mockingbird To Kill A Mockingbird In the classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, there are two families that are textbook examples of complete opposites on the moral ladder, and in the community. The Cunninghams and the Ewells have two distinctly different reputations. The Cunninghams, although extremely poor, are highly respected throughout Maycomb County. The Ewells, being just as poor as the Cunninghams, are deeply despised. The Cunninghams are very respected by the citizens of Maycomb. They take nothing, unless they can pay it back, and that is virtually nothing. On the first day of school, the youngest of the Cunningham family, Walter, had no lunch. The new teacher didn't know the ways of Maycomb, or the Cunninghams. She tried to offer Walter money to buy lunch, and could not comprehend why he could not accept. Scout tries to explain to Ms. Caroline, "Walter's one of the Cunninghams, Ms. Caroline...The Cunninghams never took nothin' they can't give back-no church baskets, no scrip stamps. They never took nothing off anybody, they get along with what they have. They don't have much, but they get along on it." Walter knew he could not pay back the quarter, so he did not take it. On that same first day of class, Bob Ewell's son Burris also had an altercation with Miss Caroline. She asked him to go home and wash his hair with lye soap, and then treat his scalp with kerosene to get rid of the "cooties." Burris would have none of it. He told Miss Caroline that he was on the virge of leaving anyway. When Miss Caroline questioned his response, one member of the class tried to explain, "He's one of the Ewells ma'am. Whole school's full of 'em. They come the first day every year and then leave. The truant lady gets 'em here 'cause she threatens 'em with the sheriff.... You're supposed to mark 'em absent the rest of the year." Burris' father was a uncaring, jobless, drunk, who never even pretended to care about the education or well being of his many children. Walter Cunningham(Sr.), along with most whites before the trial, believed Tom Robinson to be guilty. He showed up at the jail where Tom Robinson was being held, with all intentions to kill Tom. After a one sided conversation with Scout, Mr. Cunningham realizes that he has no reason to be at the jail, and has even less of a reason to use his rifle. Bob Ewell cost Maycomb two lives, while Mr. Cunningham, at least for a while, saved one. Among the many things Bob Ewell had little value for, human existence proved to be right at the top. After finding his daughter Mayella kissing Tom Robinson (a black man), Bob accused Tom of raping and beating his daughter, though he had done it himself. After being found guilty, Tom Robinson was shot while supposedly trying to escape. All Bob Ewell could think about however was the fact that his word was held in only a slightly higher standing than that of a black man. He tried to kill Scout and Jem for retribution against Atticus, but eventually was killed himself by Aurthur "Boo" Radley.

Are Families Dangerous Literature review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Are Families Dangerous - Literature review Example Despite the article being chilling to read and despite the incidents along with the evidence lending a shade of authenticity and truth to the point, I fail to relate to or adopt her point of view. In my opinion, just because a dysfunctional family’s meanderings catch the attention of the media does not necessarily mean that there is an automatic disintegration of family units everywhere. Simply put, not all families are dysfunctional. Not every single family is a â€Å"nest of pathology and a cradle of gruesome violence† (Ehrenreich 37) as she writes in the opening paragraphs of the article. In the following paragraph, she attributes a family to be a â€Å"safe haven in a heartless world† (Ehrenreich 37) appearing to change her stance by saying that the family â€Å"nurtures warm, loving feelings, uncontaminated by greed or power hunger† (Ehrenreich 37). That she does not agree with the statements is given away by the fact that she makes use of the words à ¢â‚¬Å"theoretically and sometimes actually† before stating them. ... outcomes and bruised egos and broken personalities being the least, she does present a very strong case against a unit that everyone from celebrities to politicians, to the common man are in favor of. She does, however, miss the fundamental point that one cannot generalize or stereotype on the bases of individual incidents. What happens in one family does not reflect badly on another. One bad deed by one person (or in this case, some bad deeds committed by some people) does not condemn the whole human race. Just like it is wrong for a person to assert that all humanity is bent upon murdering, by pointing out to the killings and murders that are a part of our societal lives, similarly, her logic in this regard is flawed. Ehrenreich states that for a woman, home â€Å"is, statistically speaking, the most dangerous place to be† (Ehrenreich 37) and that an individual is in more danger with relatives than with strangers. She once again uses child abuse as a supporting point in her argument. Once again, she misses seeing the point that for every individual who has been exposed to such torment, there are hundreds out there who have not and are safe and loved in their homes. Yes, according to her, we do â€Å"learn nasty things like hate and rage and shame† (Ehrenreich 37) from family. But also, in her own preceding words in the same paragraph, the â€Å"family teaches the finest things human beings can learn from one another – generosity and love† (Ehrenreich 37). And this is the side of the argument I would rather stick to. We do, indeed learn a lot of good things from our family and are often indebted to them for instilling in us the moral compass that we carry around, figuratively, with us.  

Skills Shortage and HRM Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Skills Shortage and HRM - Essay Example Furthermore, it often increases the crime rate as people resort to earning money in illegal ways due to their unemployment. Other problems like low morale in the workforce, and economic recession are also very common due to unemployment. Furthermore, it discourages people to pursue further education because they see how even the highly educated people are often forced to do jobs which are below their potential, simply due to the lack of jobs available. Thus, unemployment has a major negative effect on the economy and welfare (Beresford, pg 190, 2004). Another difficult, however completely different, scenario occurs when the economy has plenty of jobs available in various industries, but does not have enough skilled labor to meet this demand. Whereas the people in the above mentioned situation were forced to compete with several other qualified people for the same job, this scenario describes a situation where companies are competing against each other for the same potential employee. They are forced to do this when the economy does not have an adequate supply of people with the skills which these companies require (Capelli, pg 145, 2005). PROBLEM WITH THIS SHORTAGE A shortage of skilled labor as described above usually pertains to fields which require high level skills, such as those needed for the technological industries. These industries are ever changing and developing, and thus require the workers to have updated and relevant skills. Such a feat can only be accomplished by regularly training these workers, which requires time and money. Sometimes, workers with such updated skills are not available for the companies to fill their vacancies. This causes severe problems, because then the company has to divert substantial resources to recruitment, which costs them heavily to get new employees; whereas new employees are supposed to be making more money for them, not costing them their funds. This causes problems for the companies, and thus it is necessary for t hem to determine some cost effective recruitment strategies (Goss, pg 232, 1994). POSSIBLE RECRUITMENT STRATEGIES One way of employing such cost-effective recruitment methods is to pay attention to factors which will attract employees as well as motivate them to keep working. These include the fringe benefits, bonuses, promotions, training programs and compensation rates that these companies offer the employees. The management style, reputation and size of the company are also very important factors in this regard. Different factors have a different level of importance for employees. Some may prefer a job which pays them a high salary, while others may be attracted to large companies with good reputations in the industry. Thus, these companies need to account for these individual differences when recruiting employees (Capelli, pg 146, 2005). Not every company can afford to offer the potential employees being recruited all the above benefits. In fact, some companies may face severe d ifficulties in recruiting new people due to such limited resources. If they exist in an economy which has a very limited supply of employees who possess the skills needed, they face major problems when trying to recruit such employees. Since they do not have all the resources other companies may be able to offer employees, they will not be the preferred choice of employers for

Expression in Human Imagination, Values and Emotions Essay

Expression in Human Imagination, Values and Emotions - Essay Example According to Vernon (1999), the birth of baroque style was an extension of the renaissance art period. Eventually, renaissance gave way to baroque, as the baroque style became more and more distinct. Baroque paintings, sculpture and architecture of a dramatic character were influential tools in the possession of secular and religious absolutisms. Baroque flourished in the service of the Catholic monarchies and the Catholic Church. The artists of this style concentrated on space lights, natural forms, colors, as well as the literal relationship between the portrait subject and the observer. This style produces experience emotions, immensely powerful and thrilling to the observer. The logical purpose of this style was to relay messages to the illiterate people rather than the educated ones. This explains why the paintings were portraits of common and famous stories in the scripture. Initially, baroque art style was dominated by history paintings, religious paintings, portraits and allegories, but later, genre scenes, still life and landscapes gained notoriety rapidly (Vernon, 1999). The most striking feature of the baroque painting was immense drama, dark shadows and intense light. The artists used to select the moment when the action was taking place and also slightly before a sweeping action would take place (Vernon, 1999). For example, the portrait of a steady David daring the giant and another portrait of David throwing the stone with his sling. Baroque style of art was meant to evoke passion and emotion, as opposed to calm rationality of Renaissance. Baroque came up during a period of political and religious strife. Reformation was bringing chaos among the religion of Roman Catholic. As such, it formed a counter reformation to check the increase of Protestantism (Vernon, 1999). Rome was the centre of patronage at that period, and the church was in need of an art style that would lure people back to Catholic Church. The art was further influenced by the prevailing political climate as the monarchies of Spain, which promoted this style. This art period denied people the freedom to choose their life style and enjoy entertaining pieces of art, as it concentrated on religious issues only. Further, the political and religious chaos was ruining people’s happiness. This pressure led to the development of the rococo art movement. #2 Rococo Art was a decorative interior design and French art that emerged in the period (c.1700-1789). Rococo art style focuses on the indulgence and lavishness of the aristocracy. The paintings of this style have outstanding erotic themes, and they are also whimsical with striking flowering brushstrokes and petal colors (Vernon, 1999). The design of rococo rooms was total works of art with ornate and elegant furniture, tapestry complementing style, ornamental mirrors, and small sculptures, wall paintings and relief. Painters used curving forms and delicate colors to produce exceptional artistic works that were naughty. Many people believe that rococo serves the same purpose to baroque as mannerism serves to Renaissance. Therefore, rococo is

The operations of the PepsiCo Company

The operations of the PepsiCo Company The report based on the operations of PepsiCo was done in the satisfaction of a Dynamics of Strategy Assignment. The company original location is in the United States of America but the company also operates in countries globally ranging from large emerging countries, the BRIC countries: Brazil, Russia, India and China to the small Caribbean Islands. PepsiCo, initiated as Pepsi: a carbonated cola drink in the beverage industry initiated in 1968 and has continued to expand since. The company has expanded through diversification and acquisitions into both the food and beverage industry. The company has been analyzed in terms of its internal and external environment and strategic opportunities for improvement has been proposed. PepsiCos mission Our mission is to be the worlds premier consumer products company focused on convenient foods and beverages. We seek to produce financial rewards to investors as we provide opportunities for growth and enrichment to our employees, our business partners and the communities in which we operate. And in everything we do, we strive for honesty, fairness and integrity. PepsiCos vision, PepsiCos responsibility is to continually improve all aspects of the world in which we operate   environment, social, economic   creating a better tomorrow than today. Introduction PepsiCo, one of the most diverse and leading companies in the food and beverage industry initiated as Pepsi Cola in 1898 producing only cola beverages. In 1965, the company took the step to merge with another company, Frito Lay, in the food industry to form the company as the name is today, PepsiCo. PepsiCo controls 103 billion litres in market volume in the US beverage industry and concurrently a UDS $321billion in market value. PepsiCo with competitors in both the food and beverage industry, focused on international growth and further diversification. PepsiCo is the second largest beverage producer in the world and the worlds leader in its Frito Lay division in the food (salty snacks) industry. PepsiCo has numerous competitors in both the food and beverage industry: CoCa Cola, Kraft Foods, Unilever, and Nestle. PepsiCo expanded its production initially from Pepsi, a cola beverage to diversifying to water (Aquafina), Quaker Oats in the cereal and snack industry to juices and energy drinks such as Gatorade. The company further acquired and formed joint ventures increasing its product line to teas and root beers. The company acquired and formed joint ventures, along with the purchase of famous restaurant chains such as Kentucky Fried Chicken. PepsiCo currently focuses on growth through Performance with a Purpose: to improve the performance of the company, human and talent sustainability as they move towards being more environment friendly. The assignment seeks to review and analyze the external and internal environment, evaluating whether the company is in strategic fit or drift. When this is determined, the researcher would assess the feasibility, acceptability and suitability of the proposed strategic option of growth in emerging markets. The researcher would then go on to recommend a detailed implementation plan of the chosen strategic option in terms of new product development. Task 1 Evaluation of the External Environment The evaluation of the external environment was undertaken through the use of various tools which analyses conditions, entities, events and factors of the environment in which PepsiCo operates. The tools used by the researcher were the PESTLE analysis, Porters Five Forces, the 3 Cs and the Industry Life Cycle. This analysis of each tool was embarked on to determine how the activities of PepsiCo are influenced by the macro environment and whether the company is in strategic fit. PESTLE Analysis is a tool that could aid organizations making strategies by helping them understand the external environment in which they operate now and how they will operate in the future. In all markets PepsiCo has entered, the government has intervened to some extent, where they were confronted with several political barriers to entry, adhering to laws and regulations. These issues increased, as the company expanded its operations and portfolio. PepsiCo was further affected when the economic downturn negatively impacted on their financial statement as costs fluctuated. Despite this, PepsiCo was granted approval for investment into the company. Cultural and demographic aspects, social factors also affected the operations of PepsiCo which include a shift towards healthier lifestyles. PepsiCo has kept up-to-date with technological advancements by introducing the most recent improvements to machinery in the industry. They have implemented modern media methods to increase brand awareness, allowing them to being innovative, reduce costs and improve quality. PepsiCo faces legal challenges where there were bans placed on advertising in some countries. In some countries the governments have reduced the awarded contract previously set at a term of five years to one year. PepsiCo has decided to go green and be environment friendly, focusing on water, climate changes, agricultural and packaging change. They have initiated to reduce their utility consumption. Michael Porter provided a framework that models an industry as being influenced by five forces. Porters five forces is a framework used by the researcher to determine the competitive intensity of the macro environment in which PepsiCo operate. Considering PepsiCo is one of the dominants in the food and beverage industry there is little room for new entrants to create competitive pressure. Due to capital, market knowledge and experience, PepsiCo has the absolute advantage in terms of cost which would deter new competitors. PepsiCo with the advantage of high bargaining power of suppliers are able to identify, differentiate and substitute inputs. If the suppliers have greater influence on the industry, then PepsiCo would have to pay high prices for the raw materials. PepsiCo allows the buyers a strong bargaining power so that they could maintain the number of buyers they have and attract new ones. Buyers may have greater influence on PepsiCo since there are numerous substitutes for its products. The threat of substitutes which exists within the beverage and food industry is a major issue for PepsiCo, where a price change can prove futile for the company. PepsiCo is fortunate since although there are substitutes for the products there are no close rival, with a diversified portfolio that links directly to PepsiCo at all product levels. This, a strength to the company gives them the competitive advantage of operating in the industry. The 3Cs Model is a business model which offers a strategic look at the factors needed for success The researcher would use the 3Cs model to measure the differences between the actual and the perceived quality of the companys product portfolio, helping to assess the importance of the brand name PepsiCo. Market dominance of certain products such as Frito Lay and Gatorade has been a success since PepsiCo would have increased market share. PepsiCo can maintain this dominance by obtaining control of their brand through patenting. The company can further seek other measures to maintain this success, through innovation by improving existing products. PepsiCo segments its market and goals are directed towards consumers since it is the consumers who the company depends on for revenues and profits. PepsiCo portrayed them as the New Generation or the Pepsi Generation. PepsiCo has even adjusted its portfolio by improving existing products and developing new ones to meet current trends in the market: a healthier lifestyle. Although PepsiCo is dominant in some products in the market they still need to focus on its competitors strategies and techniques. Coca Cola, leader in the beverage industry enjoys the largest market share for carbonated soft drinks. Smaller competitors use strategies to allow them to remain in the market and their size, although smaller than PepsiCo to gain competitive advantage. PepsiCo is in the mature stage of the Industry Life Cycle in the food and beverage industry. This tool with knowledge of past and current market trends are used to predict future trends and potential entrants or threats that may arise in the market. PepsiCo maintains its position by using techniques such as diversification strategies and developing products towards current trends and market development. Critical Assessment of Strategic Resource Capabilities The researcher undertook an analysis of PepsiCos internal environment, comprised of the organizations resources, capabilities and competencies. This assessment helped to determine whether the company is in a strategic fit or drift. Several tools such as the SWOT analysis, the VRIO framework and the Key Success Factors were used. PepsiCo has the second highest market share in the beverage industry but have always had and continues to maintain a strong brand image. The company had the advantage since with their diversified portfolio; they were able to create an image for not only for their cola beverage but for all their products. Due to this PepsiCo encountered additional revenue for growth and was able to invest in technology with helped them to benefit from economies of scale. Despite PepsiCos many strengths they had their fair share of weaknesses. The company has limited themselves with their diversified portfolio since they have concentrated mostly in North America. This could prove that they are not fully utilizing their resources available to them globally especially in emerging countries. This weakness can be converted to an opportunity where it can be used as a strategy towards growth. Further opportunities may emerge where PepsiCo can further diversify through new product development, improvements to old products and acquisitions, towards changing demand, a healthier lifestyle. PepsiCo faces challenges from competitors and the declining economy could also prove as a threat where there is sluggish growth of the economy. PepsiCo with a strong internal work culture, an intangible resource, is structured toward the companys Performance with a Purpose to encourage professionalism and personal development while subsequently having fun. Ideas and comments are most welcomed by the management team. Young employees are given the chance to embrace early responsibility, to accept risks and make some decisions allowing them to develop and become prospective leaders. PepsiCo also focuses external culture where they give back to communities. Geographic location has impacted on the internal culture of PepsiCo where culture is altered towards employees in different regions. The strategic location of the company also helps to improve the distribution of products. At some locations, PepsiCo use to their benefit government incentives to decentralize their operations. This helps to reduce operating costs. Brand imagery, reputation and high employee morale plays a huge role in increasing goodwill of PepsiCo. This intangible asset could lead to a positive impact on the financial statements. Despite the negative outlook from the financial statements due to the economic storm and currency fluctuations, the company was able to achieve growth in 2008. Although numerous government bodies planned to increase taxes for snacks and cola beverages and PepsiCo had a high short term debt, they continued to invest for long term prospects. VRIO framework is an internal tool of analysis in the context of businesses. VRIO is an acronym for the four question framework you ask about a resource or capability to determine its competitive potential: the question of Value, the question of Rarity, the question of Imitability (Ease/Difficulty to Imitate), and the question of Organization (ability to exploit the resource or capability). PepsiCo was able to add value to their manufacturing process through innovation and efficiency in all resources: Culture/HR, Location, Brand Image, Goodwill and Financially. All these resources are aligned, organized and exploited by PepsiCo. Culture/HR is the only resource of PepsiCo which can be identified as rare and not possessed by competitors. Although Goodwill is not rare, it is not easily duplicated by customers, hence is imitable and has a sustained competitive advantage. Despite this, if given sufficient time, money and resources all of PepsiCos other resources such as location, brand image and financial prosperity can be emulated, referred to as having a competitive parity. Key Success factors necessary for the success of PepsiCo in the market is that they should continue their use of celebrities in their advertising campaign. This would help to lure customers toward the product. The company can focus on widening their distribution channels as they expand their portfolio. This would help inject additional revenue into the company. Strategic Fit PepsiCo is in a strategic drift to the extent where there is minimal innovation to develop new products. The company prefers to obtain products through mergers and acquisitions, since these products would have been established already and it reduces PepsiCos risk of a failing product. The disadvantage of this is that the brand names of the acquired products are standardized. When PepsiCo acquire these products, they continue to trade under their original name and not the name of the company, such as Gatorade. Another drift of the company is where they fail to have optimal utilization of all their resources. Their advertising campaigns do not include a wide target market. Although the company serves approximately 86% of the worlds population, their advertising is mostly positioned towards the North American markets. Despite the strategic drift of PepsiCo, the company is in a strategic fit due to their strong Culture and Human Resources. This is clearly practiced within the goals of the company Performance with a Purpose. This is advantageous to them since the management team ensures they are practice of good work culture, factors that are rare and cannot be imitated easily. The culture of this organization contributes to standardized operations which lead to high quality of the products, giving them the competitive advantage. Another factor which contributes to PepsiCos being in a fit is that the company has a diversified portfolio with no other single company in the food and beverage industry directly competing with PepsiCos range of products allowing them to sustain their competitive advantage. PepsiCos most recent objectives in their sustainability report is being accomplished and puts the company in strategic fit where they are moving towards meeting the needs of the changing demand towards healthier products. This not only increase revenue but creates a strong brand image and gives the company the competitive advantage. Another object from PepsiCos sustainability report which puts them in a fit is their drive towards going green by reducing utility consumption, the labels in their packaging and usage of plastics. The company currently takes into consideration Green Initiatives, such as building codes when entering new markets. Despite of having few strategic drift issues which cannot be ignored, PepsiCo continues to maintain their competitive advantage in the changing markets and is in a strategic fit. Task 2 Discussion of Strategic Option PepsiCo, since established in 1898 has grown into a vast well established organization with a diversified portfolio. The company has achieved this through all factors in the Ansoff Matrix, allowing them to be the worlds largest food and beverage company. The company has achieved and continues to achieve growth through improvement, diversification of their product portfolio, entering new markets and through new product the development. Through extensive research into PepsiCo, the researcher found PepsiCo has experienced a drastic fall in sales in recent times as a result of the global economic recession and due to changing consumer demands. CEO of the company, together with management has proposed to introduce new products to combat this predicament so that the company can maintain their market status and continue to achieve growth. Through profound investment and innovation, PepsiCo is targeting emerging markets: BRIC countries. In keeping with PepsiCos mission grounded on Performance with a Purpose, their goals of Human Sustainability, and their current proposal, the researcher has chosen new product development as a growth strategy towards the improvement of the future strategic direction of the organization. By this route the company would Suitability Feasibility Acceptability Implementation Plan Conclusion Appendix 1 PESTLE Appendix 2 Porters Five Forces Model Appendix 3 3Cs Model Appendix 4 SWOT Analysis Appendix 5 VRIO Framework Resources Valuable Rare Imitable Organized Competitive Implication Hierarchy of Resources Culture/HR YES YES YES YES SCA Core Financial YES NO NO YES CP Base Location YES NO NO YES CP Base Brand Image YES NO NO YES CP Base Goodwill YES NO YES YES SCA Core Appendix 6 Ansoff Matrix SOURCE: http://tutor2u.net/business/strategy/ansoff_matrix.htm

A Passage Taken From the Film ‘Trainspotting’ Essay

The passage is taken from a film ‘Trainspotting’, and is therefore a scripted piece. In a situation like this situation in ‘real life’, there would undoubtedly have been interruptions on numerous occasions; however, being a scripted piece, there were no overlaps; the entire passage is in the form of turn taking. In ‘real life’, we all know that we should turn take, but we often break this rule. People break this rule when they are angry, when they are enthusiastic about the issue, or if they want to add to what the other person is saying. Another feature of the passage illustrating that this is a scripted piece, is the fact that there are no self-clarifications. The dialogue is more carefully and logically structured than if it was spontaneous speech. To understand the nature of this passage, one must first understand the context of the piece. Spud is an unemployed ‘bloke’ going to an interview, unbeknown to the interviewers that he does not in fact want the job. Previous to the interview, Spud had taken ‘speed’, which meant that in the interview he is behaving completely inappropriately. An interview should be held formally, and while the two men and the woman interviewing Spud try to keep this business formal, Spud makes three crucial mistakes. Firstly, he is acting as if they were ‘mates’, by using very chatty language; secondly, he says approximately 100 words, explaining that he had lied in his original application, but how he thinks that it was alright because it apparently was not important; and thirdly, because he has taken ‘speed’, he is talking extremely fast, with few pauses for breath, which suggests to an interviewer that he is nervous, and creates the effects that t he ‘speed’ would have had on him. An example of all three of these things, is when Spud says â€Å"No, actually I went to Craignewton but I was worried that you wouldn’t have heard of it so I put the Royal Edinburgh College instead, because they’re both schools, right, and we’re all in this together, and I wanted to put across the general idea rather than the details, yeah?† (Spud) Throughout the passage, Spud sets the agenda, and even when the interviewers ask questions, |Spud’s answers change the direction of the speech. An example of this, is when Spud says that he loves all people, including beggars, and then the conversation continues: â€Å"Homeless people?† (Woman) â€Å"No, not homeless people. Beggars, Francis Begbire – one of my mates. I wouldn’t say my best mate, I mean, sometimes the boy goes over the score, like one time when we – me and him – were having a laugh and all of a sudden he’s fucking gubbed me in the face, right.† (Spud) This shows how Spud is the one who sets the discussion topic. The original question from Man 2 was about what attracted Spud to the leisure industry, and from that, the conversation moved onto one of Spud’s ‘mates’. Spud setting the agenda, shows that Spud has the power, which is not in keeping with the stereotypical interview. Normally, the interviewer would have the power, not the interviewee. Spud begins the dialogue, aswell as ending it. He has the most words, and he speaks most frequently. Although having the most words and speaking most frequently does not alone guarantee the power to that character, along with setting the agenda, it is clear that Spud has it. He uses many declaratives, and many rhetorical questions, especially in his first speech, which is also evidence that he has the power. Examples of declaratives are â€Å"No problem. Whatever you say, man. You’re the man, the governor, the dude in the chair, like.† (Spud) Apart from just being a declarative, this is also a classic example of the informal language used throughout the passage by Spud. Words such as â€Å"man† and â€Å"dude† are informal and chatty, and not in the correct context to what an interview should be. An example of rhetorical questions used by him, are â€Å"People get all hung up on details, but what’s the point?† â€Å"Does it matter?† â€Å"What’s important is that I am, right?† (Spud) After his first ‘outburst’, Man 1, the interviewer, tries to obtain the power, by addressing Spud as Mr Murphy, which is very formal, and by using an interrogative. â€Å"Mr Murphy, do you mean that you lied on your application?† (Man 1) In reply to his question, Spud replies, â€Å"Only to get my foot in the door.† (Spud) This is not what Man 1 would have been expecting his answer to be. Most likely, he would have expected him to try and ‘wriggle out of’ having to say that he lied on his application. However, Spud does not do this. He out rightly admits that he lied. He is brutally honest, and because of this, Spud retains the power. This recurs periodically throughout the passage, and each time Man 1 tries to gain the power, he fails. At the end of this passage, Man 1 uses a declarative statement to end the interview, â€Å"Thank you Mr Murphy. We’ll let you know† (Man 1) If the interview had ended here, then it would have ended with Man 1 having the power. However, after this, Spud goes on to say, â€Å"The pleasure was mine. Best interview I’ve ever been to. Thanks.† (Spud) Because of this, Spud makes it seem as if the interview was ended on his terms, so he once again has the power, meaning that he had it throughout the entire interview. In summary, Spud has the power throughout the interview, all the while, the interviews are trying to gain it, which is what an interview typically entails. Using many techniques, the writer has made it so that Spud keeps the power right the way through the passage. Spud sets the agenda, and makes it impossible for the interviewers to be impressed by his antics; which is overall, exactly what he wants.

Bibliography on the Mexican Muralist Movement Essay

As an instructor for the Yale-New Haven Teachers institute Maria Cardalliaguet Gomez-Malaga has posted the contents of her Curriculum Unit 06. 02. 01. The Idea behind a final for this class is a discussion of how Modern Mexican, Latino/a, Chicana/o art during the twentieth century turned revolutionary propaganda of the 1920s and 1930s, into a significant 20th century art form to young Chicano artists and activists. These artists developed a strong new Mural Movement that has had strong influences on the social, political and cultural development to support social activism during the 1960s. Her curriculum enabled me to find a starting point in the development of a thesis where I believe this Art form â€Å"The Mural† is able to describe a historical picture of life from one society to another through a Painted Medium. This thesis is preliminary in scope and needs to be defined more precisely in its description of historical life, though it is a beginning or a starting point for additional research. Campbell, Bruce. Mexican Murals in times of Crisis. Tucson: University of Arizona Press. ISBN 0-8165-2239-1. This book traces the ongoing critical contributions of mural arts to public life in Mexico to show how post-revolutionary murals have been overshadowed both by the Mexican School and by the exclusionary nature of official public arts. By documenting a range of mural practices—from fixed-site murals to mantas (banner murals) to graffiti—Bruce Campbell evaluates the ways in which the practical and aesthetic components of revolutionary Mexican muralist have been appropriated and redeployed within the context of Mexico’s ongoing economic and political crisis. I think I can show how art can be used by public officials to influence public perception of political cause’s Author: Eva Sperling Cockcroft; Holly Barnet-Sa? nchez; Social and Public Arts Resource Center. Venice, Los Angeles, Calif. Signs from the heart : California Chicano murals Publisher: Venice, Calif. : Social and Public Art Resource Center : Albuquerque : University of New Mexico Press, 2001,  ©1990 In this book the authors began as just photographers collecting of pictures of Chicano murals for a family album. This would outgrow the picture taking phase as they discovered the social significance as these photos would become a nationwide photo documentation of powerful community based art. The book only one part of SPARC’s collection of mural slides is significant in that it helps to show the shift from Mexico to the United States as the center of mural production in the world. Art and Identity in Mexican and Chicano Social Movements by Edward J. McCaughan. This paper presents a comparative analysis of artwork produced in the context of social movements waged by Mexicans and Chicanos (U. S. inhabitants of Mexican descent) during the two decades between the mid-1960s and the mid-1980s. Young artists played a central role in projecting the public identity and agendas of powerful social movements that emerged in Mexico and among Chicanos in the United States in the 1960s. This paper is a good starting point for me in that the issues young artists were trying to depict are described in greater detail with the inclusion of female artists in the paper with internationally born artists I feel I have the material to start a solid project. Art and social change, or is it the ability of that art to provoke change in society’s view of? A view of what? Is this racial, social, class, or cultural differences among groups of people that art changes the perceptions of? I still am faced with a question that I would like to have answered for myself!

Free Essays on The Reshaping Of Everyday Life

The cultural and developmental aspects of American history in the 17th and 18th centuries are certainly among the most important and influential factors in the shaping of this country's long and storied history. The society that existed at that time had very different views on life and how it should occur. The daily routines were unlike ours even though it may be hard to believe. Even families, which seem to be a non-changing in history, were also distinct in size and order. A big change that occurred was the growth of the country. When the settlers first came to America they settled in villages near the coast. As more and more people migrated to America land for farming started to become scarce. There started to become a larger demand for land due to the fact that agriculture was the leading occupation for new settlers. The government started expanding the country by purchasing land from other countries. With all this new land, people started heading west to purchase their own. (Larkin 6) During the early years of colonization and exploration in North America, the New World collided and brought to each other many new things, both good and bad. There were exchanges of ideas, products and crops that greatly advanced the cultures of all involved, but on the other hand, new diseases, and harsh treatment of one another were also present. Before the arrival of the Europeans to present day United States, the Native Americans treated their homeland with respect and with spiritual properties. Occasionally they burned sections of land in the wilderness for better hunting area, but other than that they provided no threat to its well-being. This all changed when the European settlers arrived. The Europeans believed that humans had domination over the land. By building huge colonies, extensive road systems and for other technological advances, the colonizers greatly changed the face of our nation. Another impact on both the Native Amer... Free Essays on The Reshaping Of Everyday Life Free Essays on The Reshaping Of Everyday Life The cultural and developmental aspects of American history in the 17th and 18th centuries are certainly among the most important and influential factors in the shaping of this country's long and storied history. The society that existed at that time had very different views on life and how it should occur. The daily routines were unlike ours even though it may be hard to believe. Even families, which seem to be a non-changing in history, were also distinct in size and order. A big change that occurred was the growth of the country. When the settlers first came to America they settled in villages near the coast. As more and more people migrated to America land for farming started to become scarce. There started to become a larger demand for land due to the fact that agriculture was the leading occupation for new settlers. The government started expanding the country by purchasing land from other countries. With all this new land, people started heading west to purchase their own. (Larkin 6) During the early years of colonization and exploration in North America, the New World collided and brought to each other many new things, both good and bad. There were exchanges of ideas, products and crops that greatly advanced the cultures of all involved, but on the other hand, new diseases, and harsh treatment of one another were also present. Before the arrival of the Europeans to present day United States, the Native Americans treated their homeland with respect and with spiritual properties. Occasionally they burned sections of land in the wilderness for better hunting area, but other than that they provided no threat to its well-being. This all changed when the European settlers arrived. The Europeans believed that humans had domination over the land. By building huge colonies, extensive road systems and for other technological advances, the colonizers greatly changed the face of our nation. Another impact on both the Native Amer...

blitzkrieg essays

blitzkrieg essays The First Phase: Dominance of the Axis Man for man, the German and Polish forces were an even match. Hitler committed about 1.5 million troops, and the Polish commander, Marshal Edward Smigy-Rydz, expected to muster 1.8 million. That was not the whole picture, however. The Germans had six panzer (armored) and four motorized divisions; the Poles had one armored and one motorized brigade and a few tank battalions. The Germans' 1600 aircraft were mostly of the latest types. Half of the Poles' 935 planes were obsolete. Result of German Blitzkrieg on Poland On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland. The Polish army expected the attack to come along the Polish frontiers. But Hitler introduced a new kind of war called a blitzkrieg, which means lightning war. Waves of German bombers targeted railroads in Tczew, shown here, which crippled Polish military mobilization. Hundreds of tanks smashed through Polish defenses and rolled deep into the country. The Poles fought hard, but on September 17, the Soviet Union invaded their country from the east. By the end of the month, Poland had fallen. Polish strategic doctrine called for a rigid defense of the whole frontier and anticipated several weeks of preliminary skirmishing. It was wrong on both counts. On the morning of September 1, waves of German bombers hit the railroads and hopelessly snarled the Polish mobilization. In four more days, two army groups-one on the north out of East Prussia, the other on the south out of Silesia-had broken through on relatively narrow fronts and were sending armored spearheads on fast drives toward Warsaw and Brst. This was blitzkrieg (lightning war): the use of armor, air power, and mobile infantry in a pincers movement to encircle the enemy. Between September 8 and 10, the Germans closed in on Warsaw from the north and south, trapping the Polish forces west of the capital. On September 17, a second, deeper encirclement...

Assignment1 with VHDL using Xilinx software version 10.1 Essay

Assignment1 with VHDL using Xilinx software version 10.1 - Essay Example A serial register operates serially, accepting and transferring data one bit at a time, while a parallel register operates on a parallel fashion accepting and transferring all the bits simultaneously. Since mere transferring or storing data in digital circuits is literally achieved by shifting the bits, the registers specifically used for storing and retrieval purposes without any manipulations, are called shift registers. A shift register is generally designed with a series of flip-flops connected in the form of a chain such that the output of one is connected to the input of the other expect the output of the last one which is the actual output of the circuit. A universal shift register is one that incorporates all the features that are applicable for shifting operations including parallel input/output, left/right-shift serial inputs, operating mode control inputs (S1 & S0) and direct overriding clear line (RESET), etc. 2. Design Overview For this assignment, a 4-bit universal shift register is designed in VHDL (VHSI Hardware Description Language) and simulated in VHDL IDE- Xilinx ISE. VHDL is generally used to write down the entire digital circuit description and its logic in the form of code or program. The circuit description is defined as entity and the logic as process. ... Schematic view of 4-bit universal Shift Register created in Xilinx ISE The input S1 and S0 act as control signals which determines the mode of operation of the shift register. The possible combination of the two signals along with the required mode of operation are summarised in the below table: S1 S0 Action 0 0 Hold (retain the previous state) 0 1 Shift left 1 0 Shift right 1 1 Parallel load 3. Design Solution Based on the above truth table for possible combinations of control signals, the state function table is derived for all combinations of input signals and control signals with respect to RESET and CLOCK signals and is summarised below: RESET Mode Clock Serial IN Parallel IN OUTPUTS _RST S1 S0 CLK SIL SIR D0 D1 D2 D3 Q3 Q2 Q1 Q0 0 X X X X X X X X X X X X X 1 X X Not ? X X X X X X Q3 Q2 Q1 Q0 0 0 0 ? X X X X X X Q3 Q2 Q1 Q0 0 0 1 ? 1 X X X X X Q2 Q1 Q0 1 0 0 1 ? 0 X X X X X Q2 Q1 Q0 0 0 1 0 ? X 1 X X X X 1 Q3 Q2 Q1 0 1 0 ? X 0 X X X X 0 Q3 Q2 Q1 0 1 1 ? X X D0 D1 D2 D3 Q0 Q1 Q2 Q3 X – don’t care condition low to high clock transition In order to achieve the above functionality using VHDL programming, behavioural approach of VHDL is employed in the process definition. This approach is chosen due to the fact that it is purely behaviour oriented and highly independent of the design implementations and will not change with changes in design approach for the same behaviour. The process is defined with the circuit’s behavioural architecture and the event attribute on the CLK signal is employed, to realize the clock signal state change. Since RESET signal is asynchronous and needs immediate action irrespective of the states of other inputs, RST is checked at the beginning of the process

Bureaucratic and Normative Control Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Bureaucratic and Normative Control - Essay Example Actually hierarchy in general (in the sense of levels of authority) is to be found in any administration which has a certain degree of magnitude and complexity. The feudal type of administration had a complicated hierarchical system. (Davis, 1994, p73) 'There is hierarchy of a social rank corresponding to the hierarchy of fiefs through the process of sub-infatuation...' 6 But the difference between the two kinds of hierarchies, according to Weber, is to be found in the type of authority relations. In the feudal case the relationship between inferior and superior is personal and the legitimating of authority is based on a belief in the sacredness of tradition. In a bureaucracy, authority is legitimised by a belief in the correctness of the rules and the loyalty of the bureaucrat is oriented to an impersonal order, to a superior position, not to the person who holds it. So what makes an administration more or less bureaucratic from the hierarchical point of view is not the number of le vels of authority, or the size of the span of control; the decisive criterion is whether or not the authority relations have a precise and impersonal character, as a result of the elaboration of rational rules. Concerning first the criterion of meaningful adequacy, it does not necessarily make sense to someone that a type of organisation having the Weberian characteristics to an extreme degree should yield maximum efficiency. One could equally well imagine such an organisation as being extremely inefficient. For example, some of these characteristics, even from a common sense point of view, seem to promote administrative inefficiency rather than efficiency (e.g. promotion by seniority). As to the criterion of objective possibility, in the light of the empirical research done since Weber, one can argue that a perfectly rational-efficient organisation having Weber's ideal characteristics is not objectively possible, in the sense that it runs against the known laws of nature -- in this case, against recent empirical findings. Such findings rather indicate that the more accentuated some characteristics of the ideal type are, the more inefficient the organisation becomes. In one sense, a great part of the literature on bureaucracy since Weber