Thursday, August 27, 2020

Competitors Of Tui Based On Market Share Tourism Essay

Contenders Of Tui Based On Market Share Tourism Essay The errand of the accompanying task is taking a key fit for a bundle occasion organization. A bundle occasion organization is characterized as one that offers least of movement and settlement in a solitary bundle. One organization that works globally and offers least bundle of movement and settlement is TUI Travel. TUI is the universes driving worldwide relaxation travel organization working in four distinct parts (tuitravelplc.com) The primary contenders of TUI dependent on Market share are: Carlson Wagonlit Travel Thomas Cook plc. Travelport Ltd Vision Statement Our vision is Making Travel Experiences Special (tuitravelplc.com) Assignment A: Market Environment Analysis So as to dissect the market condition appropriate expository devices ought to be picked: PESTLE Analysis for Macro Environment Doormen five powers for Micro Environment PESTLE Analysis Political Factors Changes in the tax assessment strategy of the administration in UK, for example, increment in VAT rate by 2.5% may negatively affect inbound the travel industry in UK as the costs of wares will rise. Likewise, 24% Britishers guarantee that expansion in VAT will likewise prompt costly staycations (Casal 2011) Unsteady Political condition can genuinely affect the travel industry of a country as the voyagers dread for their security and will in general keep away from that country. For example, ongoing Political uprising in mid east has lead to half retractions in Arab countries (Zablit 2011). Security and wellbeing concerns have significant effect on the travel industry. Fear based oppressor assaults of 9/11 in US prompted 10% fall sought after for movement and the travel industry (Bennett and Barry n.d.). Such assaults likewise bring up an issue on national security of the nation and hose the sightseers certainty. Monetary Factors Downturn: UKs intend to develop out of downturn may simply be extended further as the ongoing political uprisings in Middle East and fiasco struck Japan may have delay impacts on the world economy, influencing the travel industry also. In measures to keep family financial plans low, families are investigating a greater amount of household shore occasions, additionally expressed as staycations. In year 2009 there was a decline by 14% in abroad occasions in UK, while the household shore advertise rose by 5% (Mintel Report 2010). Cash Fluctuations: In the year 2008 there was opposition among the US guests for the UK because of solid Pound. Against the dollar, Pound was at two-year low. (Ashby 2008) Looking at the table 1, which shows Dollar reinforcing against the pound in the ongoing years, may pull in vacationers from US. Moreover, fortifying of Euro and Dollar can be expressed as a reason for raised enthusiasm for staycations and a worry for outbound the travel industry from UK. Table 1: Currency Prices for most recent 5 years, with base cash being Pound ( £) (Source: XE.com) Fuel Prices: Year Euro Dollar 2006 69 p 57p 2007 68p 51p 2008 76p 49p 2009 92p 71p 2010 90p 66p The Oil costs rose to $120 per barrel in February 2011 because of political uprising in Middle East and have left carriers stressed. Universal Airlines Group has chosen to reduce by flying less frequently. IAGs CEO said if the fuel costs don't retreat a definitive impact would be on tolls (Milmo 2011). This would prompt increment in bundled occasions costs. Social Factors: Socioeconomics: Mintel report 2009 recommends that the decrease in normal family units is anticipated to proceed while 5% development in 1-3 man families. It states about 48% of 1 part family went on a vacation when contrasted with 68% of weds, 60% of three man and 70% of four families. (Mintel Report 2010) Table2: Showing % change in family units in UK. (Source: Mintel Report 2010) By 2031 it is anticipated that the single family units (principally individuals more than 55) will include 18% of the absolute families in UK. Subsequently it would be a significant market for the bundle administrators (Communities 2009) Wellbeing concerns. 2004 2009 2014 % Change % Change M M M 2004-09 2009-14 One-individual family units 7.6 8.35 8.8 9.9 5.4 2 man 8.96 9.54 10.02 6.5 5 3 man 3.95 3.97 4.15 0.5 4.5 4 man 3.3 3.31 3.33 0.3 0.6 5+ individual 1.67 1.65 1.64 - 1.2 - 0.6 Absolute family units 25.48 26.81 27.93 5.2 4.2 Proceeded with worries over wellbeing and cleanliness are seen among UK inhabitants. The episode of Foot and Mouth ailment in year 2001 prompted 16% fall in guest use in UK prompting negative pictures of Britain as a vacation goal (Pasty 2003). Be that as it may, with the up and coming Olympics 2012 and Royal Wedding in 2011 will prompt high volume of vacationers visiting UK. Maturing Population. According to the National measurements association (2010) there were one out of five individuals of retirement age in the UK. As the populace is maturing there will be an additional expense for the organizations who offer benefits plans to their workers with the goal that their staff lives longer (Oxford University Press 2007). Mechanical Factors Web: In UK there were 20 million Internet endorsers out of 27 million families. Significant Level of Internet infiltration is a key contributing variable to online travel retailors performing better. Online deals of movement retail item spoke to 34% of the complete deals. This likewise has prompted wild rivalry among the players as the clients are searching for modest excursion bundles, third most significant factor when choosing occasion bundle (Euromonitor) Better Technology: Most recent innovation headways in parts, for example, building, carrier industry, transport, framework and so on, for example, happening to extravagance traveler planes, for example, Airbus A380 and Boeings 787, Eurostar by means of Eurotunnel have made cross fringe travel simpler and swifter than at any other time. Lawful Factors Discharges Trading Scheme: This plan was introduced in the year 2003 for EU so as to control carbon discharge. In 2008 changes were made to this plan, including the aeronautics exercises also. It implies the airplane administrators will be dependent upon a top and should pay stipend to cover their outflows. This could upwardly affect the costs of occasion bundles (Euro Monitor). Open Skies Agreement: Marked among EU and US in the mid 2008 permitting and aircraft from the EU or the US to wherever among EU and US. (Euro Monitor) This permits the clients to fly with their decision of carrier and hence can help lessen costs as a result of rivalry among the administrators. Natural Factors Moral Consumerism The Ethical Purchasing Index expresses that the moral buying has developed amazingly with all out market esteemed at  £30million. Eco Holidays, Fair exchange occasions have encountered uncommon development because of the rasing concern with respect to the earth among the individuals (Mintel Report 2005). Green Initiatives: In todays world it is outlandish for the movement and the travel industry to disregard the developing worries over condition. In an overview in year 2002, 85% of the individuals said it is significant their get-away doesn't hamper the earth. Because of this reality the bundle administrators are adjusting themselves to become condition benevolent (Euro Monitor). For example, Thomas cook has now begun to feature about their administrations meeting mindful the travel industry models (Mintel Report 2005) Watchmen Five powers: Serious Rivalry The four significant players in the market (Thomson, MyTravel, First-Choice and Thomas Cook) have, for number of years, bumped each other for greater piece of the pie and benefits have end up being unpredictable (Evans et al, 2003). The significant bundle occasion players target various fragments in the market, for example, offering extravagance get-aways, experience excursions and so on with some uniqueness too. Bundle administrators, for example, Thomson presented their own minimal effort aircraft Thomson fly and dynamic bundling where clients can book their convenience and flights independently (Lueck 2005) The degree of client administrations influence while picking an organization, on the off chance that one offers preferable client assistance over others it helps in holding clients. Hence there is extraordinary contention in the business Danger of New Entrants: The complete consumption on siestas is relied upon to ascend by about 22% in 2014 from 2004(Mintel report, 2010) making the travel industry alluring one as a result of the market size. However, elevated level of capital venture required focusing on bigger crowd and the need to separate goes about as an obstruction to passage. Also, to include, top 10 organizations control 70% of the market. This lessens the value reprisal and keeps the economies of scale high. Discoveries from Mintel report (2010) states Brand mindfulness assumes a significant job in bundle occasion industry and in this manner can go about as a hindrance. Along these lines danger of new contestant is low. Danger from Substitutes: Occasions can have immediate too backhanded substitutes, for example, rather than spending couple of pounds on a weeks excursion individuals may spend same measure of cash on purchasing a vehicle or towards house expansion. In this manner danger from substitutes if moderate. Bartering Power of Suppliers: Provider can have high arrangement control over the organizations having little piece of the pie, however in a market where 4 significant players authority over half of the market there is danger of in reverse mix. In this manner the bartering intensity of the providers is low Bartering Power of purchasers: Clients today have the alternative to book their days off over the Internet they eye to get modest arrangements. Respects to this the clients have more options. In any case, because of low degree of separation and lesser substitutes make the dealing power moderate. Basic Success Factor New Destinations: according to the Mintel report (2010) visiting another goal has seen most noteworthy development regarding rate, 12%. Spots that have blistering climate, sea shores, scenes, social legacy are a significant hit among different socioeconomics. Thusly so as to have bigger piece of the pie it is significant for the bundle administrators to persistently hope to refresh their contribution of desti

Saturday, August 22, 2020

The Humble Foot

The Humble Foot The Humble Foot The Humble Foot By Maeve Maddox For clear reasons, the word for foot is one of the most established in the language: O.E. fot, from P.Gmc. *fot (cf. O.N. fotr, Du. voet, Ger. Fuãÿ, Goth. fotus foot), from PIE *pod-/*ped-(cf. Avestan cushion ; Skt. pat, acc. padam foot; Gk. pos, Attic pous, gen. podos; L. pes, gen. pedis foot; Lith. padas bottom, peda stride). Like other body parts, foot has discovered its way into various informal articulations. Here are only a couple. pay to pay for something, for the most part for something one would prefer not pay for oneself: Ill go to the show if the organization will take care of everything. put your foot in your mouth to state something one laments promptly (or should!): You put your foot in your mouth with that comment about her cap. sit right at death's doorstep going to kick the bucket: When you had this season's cold virus, you looked as though you sat right at death's doorstep. to have bothersome feet to want to travel: Hes not a decent marriage prospect; he has irritated feet. to experience some sudden nerves to feel abrupt second thoughts about accomplishing something one had wanted to do: Its the morning of the wedding and the lady of the hour has cold feet. to get off on an inappropriate footto start an endeavor by accomplishing something improper: Susie began immediately off kilter with her good old supervisor when she revealed to him she didnt make espresso. to get off on the correct foot to begin doing everything right: The new fire fighter got off on the correct foot when he spared that infant. to put ones best foot forward to introduce oneself at ones best: She purchased another dress and had her hair done on the grounds that she needed to do her absolute best for the prospective employee meet-up. to arrive on your feet to get through a troublesome circumstance without hurt: Dont stress over Jack in this tempest. He generally arrives on his feet. to dawdle to be hesitant: Stop stalling and cut the grass! to have your feet on the ground to have a commonsense viewpoint: His choice to postpone the move until hes sure he has the activity shows he has his feet on the ground. not to put a foot wrong to do everything as per rule and desire: Mr. Flawless there never puts a foot amiss with the chief. to have feet that barely contact the ground to move rapidly: upon the arrival of the congregation cookout, her feet scarcely contacted the ground. to put ones feet up to unwind: Now that youve completed the task, you can rest for some time. to put ones foot down to take a firm stand: When little Jimmy kicked the canine, his dad at long last set some hard boundaries. My foot! articulation of mistrust: Abner Potts made an ideal score on the SAT? My foot! Need to improve your English quickly a day? Get a membership and begin accepting our composing tips and activities every day! Continue learning! Peruse the Expressions class, check our well known posts, or pick a related post below:What is the Difference Between These and Those?How to Punctuate Descriptions of ColorsTo Tide You Over

Friday, August 21, 2020

Blog Archive B-School Chart of the Week Liberal Arts College Boasts Best GMAT Scores

Blog Archive B-School Chart of the Week Liberal Arts College Boasts Best GMAT Scores Although quantifying a school’s profile certainly does not tell you everything, it can sometimes be helpful in simplifying the many differences between the various MBA programs. Each week, we bring you a chart to help you decide which of the schools’ strengths speak to you. One might expect top MBA candidates to naturally hail from Harvard or Stanford, institutions with equally impressive MBA programsâ€"or at least from an undergraduate  school with notable strengths in  business. But in fact, those test takers that score the highest on the GMAT apparently come from a school that does not even offer a business major. According to Bloomberg Businessweek’s 2012 Best Business Schools  survey of MBA graduates from 114 top business schools, the highest reported average GMAT score came from a graduate of Swarthmore College, a highly selective liberal arts college in the suburbs of Philadelphia, known for its rigorous curriculum. Swarthmore graduates scored an average of 742.5 (out of 800) on the GMAT, placing them in the 97th  percentile. The survey also revealed that of the 1,250 schools listed as alma maters by the more than 10,000 MBA graduate respondents in 2012, the University of Pennsylvania was mentioned most frequently (119 times). Maybe there is something in the water in Philadelphia… Share ThisTweet B-School Charts

Monday, May 25, 2020

Biography of Matthew Ridgway, Korean War General

Matthew Ridgway (March 3, 1895–July 26, 1993) was a US Army commander who led the United Nations troops in Korea in 1951. He later served as Chief of Staff of the US Army, where he advised against American intervention in Vietnam. Ridgway retired in 1955 and was later awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Ronald Reagan. Fast Facts: Matthew Ridgway Known For: Ridgway was a U.S. military officer who commanded United Nations troops during the Korean War.Born: March 3, 1895 in Fort Monroe, VirginiaParents: Thomas and Ruth RidgwayDied: July 26, 1993 in Fox Chapel, PennsylvaniaEducation: United States Military AcademySpouse(s): Julia Caroline  (m. 1917–1930), Margaret Wilson Dabney (m. 1930–1947), Mary Princess Anthony Long (m. 1947-1993)Children: Matthew Jr. Early Life Matthew Bunker Ridgway was born on March 3, 1895, at Fort Monroe, Virginia. The son of Colonel Thomas Ridgway and Ruth Bunker Ridgway, he was reared on Army posts across the United States and took pride in being an army brat. Graduating from English High School in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1912, he decided to follow in his fathers footsteps and applied for acceptance to West Point. Deficient in mathematics, he failed in his first attempt, but after extensive study of the subject he gained entry the following year. Ridgway was classmates with Mark Clark and two years behind Dwight D. Eisenhower and Omar Bradley.  Their class graduated early due to the U.S. entry into World War I. Later that year, Ridgway married Julia Caroline Blount, with whom he would have two daughters, Constance and Shirley. The couple would divorce in 1930. Early Career Commissioned a second lieutenant, Ridgway was quickly advanced to first lieutenant and then given the temporary rank of captain as the U.S. Army expanded due to the war. Sent to Eagle Pass, Texas, he briefly commanded an infantry company in the 3rd Infantry Regiment before being sent back to West Point in 1918 to teach Spanish and manage the athletic program. At the time, Ridgway was upset with the assignment as he believed combat service during the war would be critical to future advancement and that the soldier who had had no share in this last great victory of good over evil would be ruined. In the years after the war, Ridgway moved through routine peacetime assignments and was selected for the Infantry School in 1924. Rising Through the Ranks Completing the course of instruction, Ridgway was dispatched to Tientsin, China, to command a company of the 15th Infantry Regiment. In 1927, he was asked by Major General Frank Ross McCoy to take part in a mission to Nicaragua due to his skills in Spanish. Though Ridgway had hoped to qualify for the 1928 U.S. Olympic pentathlon team, he recognized that the assignment could greatly advance his career. Ridgway traveled south, where he aided in supervising free elections. Three years later, he was assigned as the military advisor to the Governor-General of the Philippines, Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. His success in this post led to his appointment to the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth. This was followed by two years at the Army War College. World War II After graduating in 1937, Ridgway saw service as the deputy chief of staff for the Second Army and later the assistant chief of staff of the Fourth Army. His performance in these roles caught the eye of General George Marshall, who had him transferred to the War Plans Division in September 1939. The following year, Ridgway received a promotion to lieutenant colonel. With the U.S. entry into World War II in December 1941, Ridgway was fast-tracked to higher command. Promoted to brigadier general in January 1942, he was made assistant division commander of the 82nd Infantry Division. Ridgway was later promoted and given command of the division after Bradley, now a major general, was sent to the 28th Infantry Division. Airborne Now a major general, Ridgway oversaw the 82nds transition into the U.S. Armys first airborne division and on August 15 was officially re-designated the 82nd Airborne Division. Ridgway pioneered airborne training techniques and was credited with turning the unit into a highly effective combat division. Though initially resented by his men for being a leg (non-airborne qualified), he ultimately gained his paratrooper wings. Ordered to North Africa, the 82nd Airborne began training for the invasion of Sicily. Ridgway led the division into battle in July 1943. Spearheaded by Colonel James M. Gavins 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, the 82nd sustained heavy losses largely due to problems outside of Ridgways control such as widespread issues with friendly fire. Major General Matthew B. Ridgway (center), Commanding General, 82nd Airborne Division, and staff, overlooking the battlefield near Ribera, Sicily, 25 July 1943. USMHI Italy In the wake of the Sicily operation, plans were made to have the 82nd Airborne play a role in the invasion of Italy. Subsequent operations led to the cancellation of two airborne assaults and instead Ridgways troops dropped into the Salerno beachhead as reinforcements. They helped hold the beachhead and then participated in offensive operations, including breaking through the Volturno Line. D-Day In November 1943, Ridgway and the 82nd departed the Mediterranean and were sent to Britain to prepare for D-Day. After several months of training, the 82nd was one of three Allied airborne divisions—along with the U.S. 101st Airborne and the British 6th Airborne—to land in Normandy on the night of June 6, 1944. Jumping with the division, Ridgway exerted direct control over his men and led the division as it attacked objectives to the west of Utah Beach. The division advanced toward Cherbourg in the weeks after landing. Market-Garden Following the campaign in Normandy, Ridgway was appointed to lead the new XVIII Airborne Corps which consisted of the 17th, 82nd, and 101st Airborne Divisions. He supervised the actions of the 82nd and 101st during their participation in Operation Market-Garden in September 1944. This saw American airborne forces capture key bridges in the Netherlands. Troops from XVIII Corps later played a key role in turning back the Germans during the Battle of the Bulge that December. In June 1945, he was promoted to lieutenant general and dispatched to the Pacific to serve under General Douglas MacArthur. Arriving as the war with Japan was ending, he briefly oversaw Allied forces on Luzon before returning west to command U.S. forces in the Mediterranean. In the years after World War II, Ridgway moved through several senior peacetime commands. Korean War Appointed Deputy Chief of Staff in 1949, Ridgway was in this position when the Korean War began in June 1950. Knowledgeable about operations in Korea, he was ordered there in December 1950 to replace the recently killed General Walton Walker as commander of the battered Eighth Army. After meeting with MacArthur, who was the supreme United Nations commander, Ridgway was given latitude to operate the Eighth Army as he saw fit. In Korea, Ridgway found the Eighth Army in full retreat in the face of a massive Chinese offensive. Lieutenant General Matthew B. Ridgway, circa. 1951. Public Domain An aggressive leader, Ridgway immediately began working to restore his mens fighting spirit. He rewarded officers who were aggressive and conducted offensive operations when able. In April 1951, after several major disagreements, President Harry S. Truman relieved MacArthur and replaced him with Ridgway, who oversaw U.N. forces and served as military governor of Japan. Over the next year, Ridgway slowly pushed back the North Koreans and Chinese with the goal of re-taking all of the Republic of Koreas territory. He also oversaw the restoration of Japans sovereignty and independence on April 28, 1952. Chief of Staff In May 1952, Ridgway left Korea to succeed Eisenhower as Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, for the newly formed North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). During his tenure, he made significant progress in improving the organizations military structure, though his frank manner sometimes led to political difficulties. For his success in Korea and Europe, Ridgway was appointed U.S. Army Chief of Staff on August 17, 1953. That year, Eisenhower, now president, asked Ridgway for an assessment of possible U.S. intervention in Vietnam. Strongly opposed to such an action, Ridgway prepared a report that showed that massive numbers of American troops would be needed to achieve victory. This clashed with Eisenhower, who wished to expand American involvement. The two men also fought over Eisenhowers plan to dramatically reduce the size of the U.S. Army, with Ridgway arguing that it was necessary to retain enough strength to counter the growing threat from the Soviet Union. Death After numerous battles with Eisenhower, Ridgway retired on June 30, 1955. He went on to serve on numerous private and corporate boards while continuing to advocate for a strong military and minimal involvement in Vietnam. Ridgway died on July 26, 1993, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. A dynamic leader, his former comrade Omar Bradley once remarked that Ridgways performance with the Eighth Army in Korea was the greatest feat of personal leadership in the history of the Army.

Thursday, May 14, 2020

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters and Keurig Coffee Case...

Project Name | Iacoboni’s Coffee Shop | Project Number | | Project Manager | Maria Muncy | Prioritization | | Owner(s) | Maria Muncy | Start Date: | 7/22/2013 | Scheduled Completion Date: | | Mission/ Purpose | What is your project going to accomplish? How does this project relate to overall goals and objectives of the company? It is part of a program or larger project? The project will create a place for children to come and enjoy their time while the parents can enjoy a cup of coffee and work. We want to make the coffee shop an environment for everyone to come to and enjoy. | | SOW | What will this project create? What is the product of the project? At a high level, how do you plan on doing the work of the project?†¦show more content†¦We would have to change the menu a little to add some things children would like to drink and eat. This is a business reason because we want more people to set in our shop to have their coffee. | | Project Manager and Stakeholders | Who will lead this project? Who are the major stakeholders? Maria Muncy and the lead contractor will lead the project. The customers are the major stakeholders. | | Milestones | What are the key milestone dates associated with the project?Our business needs to have this project done as soon as possible so August 1, 3013 start, November 1, 2013 half way there and February 1, 2013 project complete. | Budget | What is the order-of-magnitude budget for this project? The budget for this project will be 1.2 million being paid, half at the half way point and the other half at the end of the project. | | | User Acceptance Criteria/Quality | What are the minimum success criteria as defined by the key stakeholders? People will think that the coffee shop is too loud and crowded. | High-Level Project Assumptions | What are the assumptions on which the project is based?The assumptions are people will be happier and the business will do better. | High-Level Project Constraints | What are the major limiting factors that affect the project?Some of the limiting factors are room, time and money. | Exclusions and Boundaries | What are the boundaries of the project? What is to be included and what is to be excluded fromShow MoreRelatedbusn 412 week 6 assignment1433 Words   |  6 Pages Case Study Report: Green Mountain Coffee Roasters and Keurig Coffee Course – Business Policy (BUSN 412) Student Name – Inderjeet Singh Subject – Assignment week 6 University – DeVry University Date – 06/14/2014 Case Study Report: Fresh Direct Company Information Company Name – Green Mountain Coffee Roasters and Keurig Coffee Website – http://www.greenmountaincoffee.com Founded in- 1981 Background/History/Company Timeline 1981- Green Mountain Coffee RoastersRead MoreCase Study Report :: Green Mountain Coffee Keurig Coffee Essays1357 Words   |  6 PagesName :: Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Keurig Coffee Website :: www.greenmountaincoffee.com, www.gmcr.com, www.keurig.com Industry :: Processed amp; Packaged Goods- Coffee Makers Background amp; History Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. (GMCR) was founded in 1981 as a small cafà © and combined with Keurig in 2006 (About GMCR, 2004-2009). GMCR produces specialty coffee and coffee makers; Keurig is the maker of a single cup coffee maker as well as specialty teas and coffees. Keurig was foundedRead MoreSWOT Analysis: Green Mountain Coffee Roaster and Keurig Coffee Inc.2304 Words   |  10 Pagestwo companies involved in this case study are Green Mountain Coffee Roasters and Keurig Coffee Inc. They are both in the coffee industry. What is interesting is that Keurig Coffee Inc. actually started off as â€Å"a technology company in the coffee industry where they developed a brewer that represents a fusion of technology and design† (C36 in the book, [Dess et al, 2012]). Green Mountain Coffee Roasters’ website is http://www.greenmountaincoffee.com and Keurig Coffee Inc.’s website is http://www.keurigRead More5-Force Analysis of Keurig Brewing System by Jay Haque1 537 Words   |  7 PagesAbstract Green Mountain Coffee Roaster’s Keurig Single Brew system is dominating the U.S. market with an overwhelming market share. Analysts expect sales of single-cup brewing systems to continue to grow in the U.S. and competitors are eyeing a piece of the pie. An analysis of Keurig’s current position, based on Michael E. Porters 5-Forces, highlights a number of key areas of opportunity and risk for the company. Handled correctly, the Keurig product line should continue its growth, however, aRead MoreGreen Mountain Coffee Roasters Valuation Essay6315 Words   |  26 Pagesunits Specialty coffee Keurig system Canadian Business Unit Business Model Supply Chain Social Responsibility Industry Environment GMCR’s Competitive Advantage Quality, Convenience, and Choice GMCR’s Growth Prospects National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) Approval Starbucks/Tazo Tea Strategic Partnership Snapple Partnership SWOT Analysis Strengths Beverage Choice Options Sustainability Image Keurig Business Unit Weaknesses Single Supplier for Keurig Machines SingleRead MoreMarketing Strategy For Single Serve Coffee Products, Keurig Holds Strong Recognition908 Words   |  4 PagesIssue: Throughout the case, it becomes clear that competition may be hindering your product from leading the market. A limited amount of compact company resources and the constant technological advancements may prevent the company from performing to the best of its capabilities. In order to address this issue, we recommend that you investigate our recommendations to increase market share by implementing the strategies that will be discussed in this memorandum. Strategic Analysis: Strengths: WhenRead MoreStrategic Management - Green Mountain Coffee Roasters8502 Words   |  35 Pages1. QUESTION ONE Undertake a SWOT analysis of the organization in the case. A SWOT analysis of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters reveals the following : 1.1 Strengths i. Product Consistency By utilizing state-of-the-art roasting software, GMCR is therefore able to maintain their level of product consistency, ii. Unique Products Its key success is in differentiating its coffees. The coffee beans have been carefully selected and then roasting them in small batches to ensure consistency and to maximizeRead MoreKeurig Green Mountain Essay4159 Words   |  17 Pagesï » ¿ Keurig Green Mountain Christian Derderian Nick Fazzolari Miguel Jimenez Anastasia Zavgorodni Table of Contents I. Introduction II. Industry Economic and Value Chain Analysis A. Company Competitors B. Value Chain Analysis C. Firm’s Market Share D. Industry-wide Technological Developments E. Economic Analysis F. Firm’s Business Strategy III. Financial Analysis of the Firm A. Assess Short-term Liquidity B. Critique of Capital Structure and Long-term SolvencyRead MoreMarketing Strategy For Single Serve Coffee Products1014 Words   |  5 PagesIssue: Throughout the case, it becomes clear that competition may be hindering your product from leading the market. A limited amount of compact company resources and the constant technological advancements may prevent the company from performing to the best of its capabilities. In order to address this issue, we recommend that you investigate our recommendations to increase market share by implementing the strategies that will be discussed in this memorandum. Strategic Analysis: Strengths: WhenRead MoreGreen Mountain Coffee1353 Words   |  6 PagesBACKGROUND/HISTORY Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (GMCR) started as a small cafà © in Waitsfield, Vermont in the year of 1981. It was in 1993 that the company went public and acquired the early phase of Keurig Incorporated Inc, and then completed the acquisition in 2006. (Unknown.( 2004). Gmcr.Retrieved from http://www.gmcr.com/about-GMCR.html) Once these two companies combined it made the way we drink beverages different than ever before in both the home and office. According to GMCR’s website

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Stereotyping And Ethnocentrism - 1184 Words

Stereotyping and ethnocentrism shares similar themes, but are separated from an enormous distinction that which can lead from a tasteless joke to genocide. Stereotyping is simply an overall widespread generalization. They are formed from second hand information from close community member that use outdated information or are not an expert with that particular culture/community. Stereotypes are usually formed in situations when a person would suffer from information overload and in some cases, can accurately capture cultures or even celebrated within them (Neuliep, 2017, 191). Ethnocentrism takes this idea one step further. It is when one will view a particular people through their first perspective, without the want to understand the†¦show more content†¦They are rarely casted as lead roles and are usually support characters to the lead actor. Male actors are always portrayed as the nerdy side kick, doctors, or assistants. Their roles are weak and desexualized, as demonstrated by Wai Choy character in mean girls. If they are able to get a masculine role, they are either a Kung Fu warrior or an evil villain that is hell-bent on destroying western civilization. Women actors on the other hand are over sexualized; as they most commonly portrayed as sex workers. If they are able to steer clear of a role as a prostitute, they play roles of quiet, submissive, and feeble characters (Levin, 2017). The film â€Å"Full Metal Jacket† prominently showcases this stereotype as a Vietnamese sex worker says, â€Å"me love you long time† to a man in the United States military is a famous example of this exploration (Nittle). This is creating a great impact because our society as a whole looks at the people within the entertainment industry and the content it produces as examples of how we want to be. This creates a box for the youth of Asian cultures whether in the U.S. or elsewhere if that is their only example. Vietnamese/Asian Culture in the American News Even in 2017, our country is still plagued with tasteless stereotyping that even makes its way onto our news. An example of this was by Fox News on the â€Å"O’Reilly Factor† hosted by Jesse Watters. Watters did a street interview segment on the streets of New YorkShow MoreRelatedStereotyping And Ethnocentrism1565 Words   |  7 Pages Cultural Communication values and Communication Challenges in Muslims Stereotyping and ethnocentrism both have concepts that are intertwined in some type of way in society. Both concepts of stereotyping and ethnocentrism has been identified as being superior, dogmatic, bigotry, and can be harmful and hurtful to the human spirit. Although stereotyping and ethnocentrism attitudes are different in ways of harmfulness, but they are both problems in our society today, and that needs to be addressed andRead MoreComparing Stereotyping And Ethnocentrism1557 Words   |  7 PagesStereotyping and ethnocentrism both have concepts that are intertwined in some type of way in society. Both concepts of stereotyping and ethnocentrism has been identified as being superior, dogmatic, bigotry, and can be harmful and hurtful to the human spirit. Although stereotyping and ethnocentrism attitudes are different in ways of harmfulness, but they are both problems in our society today, and that needs to be addressed and brought to attention. In this essay, it targets to explai n and makeRead MoreCultural Awareness Project : Ethnocentrism1723 Words   |  7 PagesHi this is Brittney Del Pizzo and today for my cultural awareness project I will be discussing ethnocentrism in the imaging department. My objectives for the presentation is to explain how you can avoid ethnocentrism in the imaging department and to also explain how ethnocentrism can lead to stereotyping and how this can further have a negative impact on the department. I want to begin by discussing some general definitions so that you have a better understand of the topics that I am going toRead MoreEthnocentrism Is A Basic Attitude Expressing The Belief That One? S Own Culture Essay1731 Words   |  7 PagesETHNOCENTRISM Ethnocentrism is a basic attitude expressing the belief that one?s own ethnic group or one?s own culture is superior to other ethnic groups or cultures, and that one?s cultural standards can be applied in a universal manner. The term was first used by the American sociologist William Graham Sumner (1840?1910) to describe the view that one?s own culture can be considered central, while other cultures or religious traditions are reduced to a less prominent role. Ethnocentrism is closelyRead MorePrivacy, Time Orientation, And Gender Roles1486 Words   |  6 Pagesstereotypes, ethnocentrism, and racism is discussed. People tend to use these words collectively to describe racism but there are differences. Stereotypes are ideas about a certain group of people based on things such as sex, race, age, or profession. Ethnocentrism is the biased belief that one’s group is more worthwhile than another’s group. Racism is the belief that one racial group is superior to another. All of these words relate to each other but cannot be used interchangeably. Stereotyping is somethingRead MoreImproving Intercultural Communication Skills By Learning About Other Peoples Cultures, Behaviors, And Communication907 Words   |  4 Pagescross-cultural relations. Technology, trade, business and services require inter-cultural communication and not knowing the strategies and aspects of different cultural communications will lead to many problems. Some of which my book mentions are ethnocentrism, stereotyping and prejudice. Having these problems a society would not get along with one another and misunderstanding can devastate relationships. As I mention earlier, different approaches can be used to develop intercultural communications, these skillsRead MoreLanguage and Culture1039 Words   |  5 Pagescommunication gap can be much greater. Communication barriers including ethnocentrism, stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination, play major roles in understanding another culture. Ethnocentrism is the belief that ones own cultural way of thinkin g is superior to all other cultures. It becomes a barrier in intercultural communication when and individual refuses to believe that another cultures beliefs have any value. Ethnocentrism prevents one from seeing another individuals point of view and greatlyRead MoreMovie Analysis : Gladiator 917 Words   |  4 Pagesand Commodus when they conspire to have Commodus killed. All of these are examples of questioning the traditional view of inequality. Five concepts that helped me understand the movie were: Social groups, Gender roles, Social facts, Stereotyping, and Ethnocentrism. First social groups helped me understand the movie because I could see the groups which were the Roman Empire, the slaves, and the gladiators. They were as clear as day and I could see how they all interacted with one another on a consistentRead MoreRacial Prejudice : What Causes It?1566 Words   |  7 Pagesbackgrounds. The key point of prejudice is that it can be both nonconscious and automatic assumptions, since prejudice is a psychological cause. A survey in 2011 revealed that 52% of non-Hispanic whites expressed anti-Hispanic attitudes, proving that ethnocentrism is present on a daily basis. Subconscious evaluations are often made in regards to other cultures this is based on the practices of your own culture and personal experience. Religious accommodations will lead to less racist attitudes and prejudicesRead MoreEthnocentrism And Its Effect O n Society1277 Words   |  6 Pages What is ethnocentrism, and in today’s world is ethnocentrism still in existence; if so why. So, what is ethnocentrism, it’s simply making judgment as to one’s race or culture as to their beliefs, values, and customs to which they believe in; or what constitutes their lifestyles. In other words, believing that own race is superior over their own and thinking their better than anyone else; or above the rest (as to race); while judging their existence as to how we portray them. However, this belief

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Foreign Direct Investment in Russia-Free-Samples-Myassignmenthelp.com

Question: Perform a Country analysis and assessment of a new emerging Market where rapid GDP growth has created attractive Investment Opportunities. Answer: Introduction Country analysis refers to the detailed evaluation and interpretation of a countrys social, political and economic environment. This is helpful for the investors in the financial market. The following report addresses the country analysis of Russia in respect of the emerging market of textile and apparel industry. It focuses on the general overview of the country and detailed analysis of various social, economic and political factors, which influence the growth of the economy, scope of emerging markets, and level of FDI. The factors for competitive advantage, potential and opportunities of FDI, trade policies, foreign currency and exchange market, and recommendations for the scope of investment in the textile industry will be discussed in this report. Russia, officially the Russian Federation, is the biggest country in the world by the surface area, spanning over 11 time zones, and it is the 9th most populous country, with more than 144 million of people by March 2016 (Neumann 2016). The European western region of the country is more populous and more developed compared to the eastern region. The history of Russia is quite old and over the millennium, the country has gone through major political, social and economic changes. After the Russian Revolution, the Soviet Union was the biggest socialist state in the world. It played a major role in the allied powers in World War II and became the rival of United States in the cold war. The Soviet era witnessed major technological accomplishments of the last century. However, the Union or USSR collapsed in 1991 due to many radical reforms by then president, Mikhail Gorbachev, and the new Russia was born (Kaiser 2017). The economy of Russia holds the 12th position among the largest economies by nominal GDP and 6th by PPP in 2015 (Neumann 2016). The country is one of the market leaders in the production of natural gas and oil. It is part of many economic and social councils of the world. PESTL analysis of Russia PESTL is a market analysis tool, which helps to evaluate the external forces influencing the business and operation of a nation or any organization. PESTL stands for political, Economic, Social, Technological and Legal factors, affecting the external forces of a nation or an organization (Shabanova et al. 2015). The PESTL analysis for Russia is explained below. Political: Russia maintains an open foreign relationship strategy. The country witnessed economic and political turmoil when it got defeated in Afghanistan and the economy was badly affected. The government worked hard to regain stability and currently the system has become economically and politically stable. It has relationships with 191 countries and embassies in 144 countries. However, there is no political freedom in Russia, even though it is a federation and the corruption rate is very high (Vovchenko, Kochka and Pogorelenko 2015). Economic: The economy is growing and expected to reach $3.18 billion GDP by 2018 (Liuhto, Sutyrin and Blanchard 2016). The strong resource sector is the backbone of the economy. However, the corruption and high crime rate in the country discourages the investors for investing in the country, making the financial market vulnerable. Russia has the largest agricultural area and produces more crops than many nations, and maximum of crops gets exported to Asia and Europe. The economy is largely dependent on the price of oil. However, the textile industry in Russia is not developed. The country imports apparels from South East Asia (Shabanova et al. 2015). Social: Russia has a capitalist social structure. There were many social problems, such as, income inequality, high crime rate, high corruption, high death rate, and low living standards. However, the situation is improving with the government intervention (Wirtschafter 2015). Technological: Technology is one of the strengths of the country. When the technological revolution started, Russia became a pioneer in this, especially in space science. The first man in space was a Russian. The technological advancements such as, Nanotechnology and Rosnano, and in IT fields, manufacturing of weapons, and in the fields of mathematics, chemistry, aerospace engineering have contributed significantly in the development of the country (Aslund 2013). Legal: Russian jurisdiction is strong, although people have less political freedom. The government has brought about new legislative reforms in the country to attract investors in the country. The textile and apparel industry is the new emerging market, which has a big scope in the country. With a substantial amount of investments in this sector, it has a scope of huge growth. The industry can focus on the PESTL analysis of the country and can take actions accordingly. Factor endowments creating competitive advantage Russia has been endowed with huge amount of natural resources, such as, oil and natural gas. This leads to low energy prices. Relatively educated work force is another factor leading to competitive advantage. Hence, the reserve of natural resources and raw materials, lower prices of oil and educated work force are the factors for competitive advantage and in the next few years, Russia needs to improve the level of competency through development of skills and competency. These are favorable for the development of manufacturing industry (Series 2014). The textile and apparel industry is one type of manufacturing industry. The lower prices of energy and raw materials, the huge amount of agricultural land and skilled labor can help in the growth of this industry. Russia can easily grow cotton and develop the industry. The conditions of the textile manufacturing plants can be improved and it can produce apparel within the country, rather than importing from other countries (Hansen 2014). However, the economic and international relations factors, such as, exchange rate with other countries should be made favorable. The investors should feel confident about investing in Russia. The government must impose some protection for the domestic producers and thereby encouraging the improvement in the factors for competitive advantage (Kalotay 2015). Foreign currency and foreign exchanges influence The foreign currencies and exchange rate play a major role in the development and shaping of the economy of a nation. The exchange rate is the price of a countrys currency in terms of the currency of another country (Gabaix and Maggiori 2015). Hence, there are two components in the exchange rate, one is the domestic currency and the other is the foreign currency. For international trade, exchange rate is the most important part. It directly affects the export and import of a country. When the Russian Ruble is stronger compared to other currencies, the imports become cheaper and exports become costlier (Ghosh, Ostry and Chamon 2016). The major trading partners of Russia are Italy, Germany, China, Poland, Turkey, UK, USA, Switzerland and Finland. It also has trading partnerships with the countries in South East Asia for the imports of textiles. The other importing products are machineries, vehicles, food, chemical products, consumer goods etc. (Hameed and Rose 2016). The developed industries are machinery construction, energy and fuel, chemical and petrochemical, metallurgy, and agriculture. Thus, the textile industry is not developed yet, rather it is an emerging market. The foreign exchange is a major contributor in the development of the industries in Russia. When the currency appreciated due to high exchange rate, the global investors become interested to invest their money in the hope of higher return (Paw?ta and Miko?ajczyk 2016). Hence, the textile industry would be benefitted if it receives foreign direct investment from global investors. The amount of the investment is dependent on the exchange rate. If t he exchange rate is high in favor of Russia, the Ruble will appreciate and the investors will get higher return from their investments in Russia. The textile industry of Russia can develop with the help of the foreign direct investment. When the industry and domestic market will be developed, the country can reduce the textile imports (Hansen 2014). Existing trade policies, systems, barriers and incentives During the existence of USSR, two main trade policies were state monopoly on the foreign trade and tough protectionism (Makeeva and Chaplygina 2015). After 1991, Russia has adopted extremely liberal principles for establishment of free market. It had started trade with the developed western countries. Russia has trade agreements with European Union, and has membership in World Trade Organization (WTO). It is the 3rd trading partner of EU and EU is the 1st trading partner of Russia (Kuznetsov and Mezhevich 2016). The country has imposed specific tools such as import quota and export quota, import and export licensing, technical regulations in the international trade policies. It also has formulated policies for service trade, although those are not rigid apart from the currency regulation. The new agreement between EU and Russia focuses on building a comprehensive framework for the bilateral trade relations, along with stable and balanced rules for trade and investments. EU is the maj or FDI provider for Russia, by providing almost 75% of the total FDI inflow (Ec.europa.eu 2017). The trade barriers are mostly faced by United States companies while doing business in Russia. They face many tariff and non tariff barriers during exports. Russia banned US agricultural products and food items in 2014 after the annexure of Crimean peninsula. In the financial sector, there is a serious limitation for the foreign companies to access all the financial services in the country. The inefficient banking sector and underdeveloped financial sector are major obstacles towards economic growth of Russia. The restrictions on foreign capital investment and lack of competition in these sectors possess barriers to growth (European Commission 2016). The Russian government has started providing tax incentives and subsidies for investment. It also provides incentives for exports. This is a step towards trade liberalization. Existing level of FDI The FDI inflow in Russia was highest in the year 2008 at 74.8 billion USD and then declined. It again shot up to 69.2 billion USD in 2013 due to the transaction between BP and Rosneft, and declined very sharply to 22 billion USD and 6.5 billion USD in 2014 and 2015 respectively. The rapid fall in FDI inflow in 2014 pushed down the country to the 16th position in FDI inflows in the world from 5th position in 2013. The slump in FDI inflow occurred due to the influence of the conflict in Ukraine, poor climate for investments, introduction of the sanction plans, and downfall of the overall economy due to falling prices of oil (cbr.ru 2017). This was the first year when outward FDI flow exceeded the inward FDI flow in Russia. In 2015, the fall in FDI was 92% from that in 2014. However, the inflow increased by 62% from 2015 and reached 19 billion USD, due to privatization of the Rosneft company (santandertrade.com 2017). (Source: World Bank 2017) (Source: World Bank 2017) The share of FDI is very low in the GDP of Russia, only 1.5%, in the view of the growth potential of the economy (cbr.ru 2017). The FDI mostly comprises of working capital investments. In the recent years, the country has adopted many reform schemes, but corruption, administrative problems and uncertainties about regional stability have posed significant challenges. The FDI inflow is not expected to improve as long as the conflict in Ukraine and enduring problems of the governing system continue. To maintain a balance, the capital outflow should be reduced. From the FDI data of the UNCTAD and Central Bank of Russia, it is found that the major FDI inflow was in trade and repair of vehicles, 28.3%, followed by manufacturing (23.9%), financial activities and insurance (13.9%), mining and quarrying (13%) and real estate (4.3%) (unctad.org 2017). Thus, textile industry can establish its position to gain the foreign support. If the government shifts its focus to develop the textile industr y, the FDI inflow can happen in that sector and can contribute in the development of this sector, as well as of the economy. (Source: unctad.org 2017) Recommendations To overcome the challenges, it can be recommended that, Russia should promote the technological modernization of the textile industry and the economy through the facilitation of advanced technologies and equipment from abroad. It should expand the usage of the customs and the tariffs for exports, which includes the reduction of duties on the raw materials and equipment for producing export goods and establishment of special zones for processing of export products, and should take measures to eliminate export restrictions in the international market. Russia should adopt measures to increase the level of FDI in the textile industry and reduce the financial regulations to encourage the investors (Makeeva and Chaplygina 2015). In the end, it can be concluded that, the Russian economy is still recovering from the financial crisis of 2008-2009. Although the level of FDI has been improving after the sharp downfall in 2014, the country needs to adopt more liberal policies for increasing the level of foreign investment in the country. The PESTL analysis describes the economic, social, political, technological and legal scenario of the country. The existing level of FDI is 19 billion USD although, the textile sector does not receive any foreign capital. The textile industry is not yet developed and the country imports from the South East Asia. It is an emerging market, where there is a huge opportunity for potential FDI. References Aslund, A., 2013.How capitalism was built: the transformation of Central and Eastern Europe, Russia, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. Cambridge University Press. cbr.ru, 2017.Statistics | External Sector Statistics | Bank of Russia. [online] Cbr.ru. Available at: https://www.cbr.ru/Eng/statistics/?PrtId=svs [Accessed 19 Aug. 2017]. Ec.europa.eu, 2017.Russia - Trade - European Commission. [online] Ec.europa.eu. Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/countries-and-regions/countries/russia/ [Accessed 19 Aug. 2017]. European Commission, 2016.Trade and Investment Barriers and Protectionist Trends. [online] trade.ec.europa.eu. Available at: https://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2016/june/tradoc_154665.pdf [Accessed 19 Aug. 2017]. Gabaix, X. and Maggiori, M., 2015. International liquidity and exchange rate dynamics.The Quarterly Journal of Economics,130(3), pp.1369-1420. Ghosh, A.R., Ostry, J.D. and Chamon, M., 2016. Two targets, two instruments: monetary and exchange rate policies in emerging market economies.Journal of International Money and Finance,60, pp.172-196. Hameed, A. and Rose, A.K., 2016. Exchange rate behavior with negative interest rates: Some early negative observations. Hansen, P.F.B., 2014.Determinants of net FDI inflow to a cluster of Central and Eastern European countries(Master's thesis, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, s). Kaiser, R.J., 2017.The Geography of Nationalism in Russia and the USSR. Princeton University Press. Kalotay, K., 2015. The impact of the new ruble crisis on Russian FDI. Kuznetsov, S.V. and Mezhevich, N.M., 2016. Industry of Russia: external factors of internal modernization.St. Petersburg State Polytechnical University Journal. Economics, (1). Liuhto, K., Sutyrin, S.F. and Blanchard, J.M.F. eds., 2016.The Russian Economy and Foreign Direct Investment. Taylor Francis. Makeeva, A. and Chaplygina, A., 2015.Russian Trade Policy. [online] Center for Environment and Sustainable Development. Available at: https://trade.ecoaccord.org/2015/trade_policy_engl.pdf [Accessed 19 Aug. 2017]. Mishra, A. and Agarwal, A., 2017. Impact of FDI on Economic Growth and Employment: A Study of (Brics) Nations. Neumann, I.B., 2016.Russia and the idea of Europe: a study in identity and international relations. Taylor Francis. Paw?ta, E. and Miko?ajczyk, B., 2016. Areas for Improving the innovation performance of the textile industry in Russia.Fibres Textiles in Eastern Europe, (1 (115)), pp.10-14. santandertrade.com, 2017.Foreign investment in Russia. [online] En.portal.santandertrade.com. Available at: https://en.portal.santandertrade.com/establish-overseas/russia/foreign-investment [Accessed 19 Aug. 2017]. Series, F.P.B., 2014. Governance Quality as a Determinant of FDI: the Case of Russian Regions. Shabanova, L.B., Ismagilova, G.N., Salimov, L.N. and Akhmadeev, M.G., 2015. PEST-Analysis and SWOT-Analysis as the most important tools to strengthen the competitive advantages of commercial enterprises.Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences,6(3), p.705. unctad.org, 2017.unctad.org | Country Fact Sheets 2017. [online] Unctad.org. Available at: https://unctad.org/en/Pages/DIAE/World%20Investment%20Report/Country-Fact-Sheets.aspx [Accessed 19 Aug. 2017]. Vovchenko, N.G., Kochka, V.A. and Pogorelenko, N.S., 2015. PESTLE Analysis. SBERBANK Russia. - ( ), (28), pp.99-101. Wirtschafter, E.K., 2015.Social Identity in Imperial Russia. Northern Illinois University Press. World Bank, 2017.Foreign direct investment, net inflows (% of GDP). [online] Data.worldbank.org. Available at: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/BX.KLT.DINV.WD.GD.ZS [Accessed 19 Aug. 2017].

Thursday, April 9, 2020

Differences Between Confucianism and Daoism

Confucianism is a traditional form of ethics that was developed among the Chinese people during antiquity. Confucius, a Chinese teacher, taught his followers various things about living in a society (Harwood 52). Other influential people such as Jesus of Nazareth did their teachings in a style similar to his.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Differences Between Confucianism and Daoism specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, Confucius lived more than five hundred years before Jesus of Nazareth. Confucianism holds a belief that all humans can be molded through teaching to improve their conduct and productivity in the society (Harwood 54). Confucianism does not qualify to be considered a religion since it is not a belief system. It is an ethical system, which that demands people sacrifice themselves for their society. This ideology formed the basis of successive Chinese social and political structures. Today, this ideology forms the basis of the Chinese communist government, an authority much different from other communist setups. On the other hand, Chinese teachers developed Daoism much later during antiquity, at around 100 BC (Brine 3). Daoism is a philosophical field with a religious aspect. It is also known as Taoism, an older term. This philosophical field includes religious teachings, spiritualism, physical wellbeing, and societal norms (Hu Allen 4). It is also deeply integrated into the Chinese culture. Daoism was developed for individual practice rather than for communal purpose. There are several differences between Daoism and Confucianism (Brine 7). Confucianism is a hierarchal philosophy where the government is highly regarded. According its teachings, the authorities are for the good of the society. For this reason, all men in the society are required to assist the authorities in the administration of the state. In addition, human beings are supreme in the world according to Conf ucianism (Harwood 56). All people are expected to conduct themselves properly through humility and obedience. Furthermore, people are expected to educate themselves and maintain order in the society.Advertising Looking for essay on philosophy? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More On the other hand, Daoism has little regard for communal practices. It does not integrate the individual into the social structure (Hu Allen 3). Moreover, it does not support any form of hierarchal order in the society. According to Daoism, the individual is supreme. For this reason, it is not possible to form any kind or social order using Daoism. Art and skill are important aspects of practice of Daoism, particularly because it focuses on the enhancement of the individual. Daoism defines Confucianism as a distortion of human values. Daoism discourages communal practices since they are against any form of individualism. For Daoism, it is best to understa nd oneself since individualism is the true human nature. Taoists consider hierarchal society to be a oppressive system built due to greed. Structures such as the military are evil creations of acquisitive people according to Daoism (Hu Allen 10). Confucianism describes how a people should relate to one another. The relationship between a master and his followers is clearly defined. In addition, the manner in which values are passed from one generation to another is also defined for the sake of maintaining order (Harwood 58). On the other hand, Daoism encourages focus on individual development. It denounces any acquisitive moves made by the state or an individual. According to Daoism, every individual must understand oneself. Thus, the virtues of tradition and norms that are passed from one generation to another by ethical systems such as Confucianism are disruptive. Scholars, who applied their knowledge of philosophy and political ethics to create a basis for a society, developed C onfucianism. Rituals are important in Confucianism although the system it does not qualify to be considered a religion. On the other hand, the founders of Daoism were skilled in art (Jixu 9). Thus, they focused on developing ways in which an individual could adapt to nature. This is the reason why martial arts are one of the core practices in strict Daoism.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Differences Between Confucianism and Daoism specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More When Confucianism was developed, it considered maintenance of order in the society to be supreme. Order had to be obtained through all means including use of force. Thus, for Confucianism everyone must behave in a certain ethical way or be compelled to do so by the system. For this reason, Confucianism is regarded a tyrannical system based on belief by (Daoism Jixu 6). Confucianism encourages achievement through tedious effort and force given that the activities carried out to achieve a certain feat are done according to a certain defined ethical procedure (Harwood 60). On the other hand, Daoism encourages use of minimum effort to achieve. Use of clever tactics is encouraged to avoid strain. Instead of trying to find a solution to the apparent problem, Daoism encourages people to investigate the cause of a problem and remove it. Thus, results are obtained trough minimum effort. Confucianism focused on family, and it required people to observe rules within the family. Responsibilities of each member of the family are to be observed for the sake of prosperity of the society. These rules and responsibilities are to be observed by every member of the society regardless of rank or status. This way, human beings can dominate all other creatures and other aspects of creation. In contrast, Daoism encourages people to isolate themselves physically and spiritually to individual confines. This explains the development of monasteries for mon ks who believed in Daoism. In addition, Daoism teaches that humans should be humble, and should consider themselves one of the lesser creations in the world. Inaction is noble according to Taoism. It encourages the use of least force to achieve any objective. Since order is important to Confucianism, planning of activities is also a requirement for success. Every activity has to be carried out according to plan and at a definite predetermined moment. All ethics to be observed in performing a specific task are considered in the plan. On the other hand, Daoism encourages spontaneous action. A person should react to the situation in the environment according to the nature of the present problem. One should avoid premeditated actions according to Daoism. Thus, in Daoism the difference between good and bad is ill defined. The nature of an action depends on the present circumstances.Advertising Looking for essay on philosophy? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Confucianism is considered a promoter of violence in some instances. It is the responsibility of the citizens to expand their territory and acquire wealth for it. To a Confucian, the state is the guardian of every individual, and should be protected (Slavicek 45). On the other hand, Daoism encourages peace and respect for oneself. It is trough this belief that one is able to avoid war and destruction. In fact, the founders of Taoism referred to the masters of the state as robbers, due to their acquisitive preferences. Finally, there is the Confucian belief that morals can be forced on an individual. Through training, teaching, or rule of law, good morals are maintained within individual actions and even within the larger society (Slavicek 54). This is an ethical practice adopted from traditional practices. In contrast, Daoism maintains that there is no universal practice for any discipline. All actions should have an intrinsic motivation within the individual. The individual develop s morals instantaneously as he or she goes about all activities in life according to Daoism. Confucianism and Daoism present two complex realms of moral practice. Neither of the two can be describe as a religion. While Confucianism is an ethical system, Daoism is spiritualism that is not built around any belief in a deity. Followers of Confucius, the primary founder of Confucianism, tried to turn him into a form of a supernatural deity in quest for gratification that religion offers (Slavicek 57). However, Confucius cautioned them against developing a baseless belief in a human deity. Due to Confucius’ insistence that he was not a deity, Confucianism lacked the religious aspect of a belief system. That is why Confucianism is purely an ethical system. In contrast, Daoism incorporates spiritualism as part of its methods of finding solutions. Meditation is an important practice for Daoism, and is used to find solutions for problems, since every problem as its own unique solution . Although Daoism has a spiritual aspect, it does not qualify to be classified a religion due to the influence of craft and physical skills in its practice. Thus, both Daoism and Confucianism are not religions. The two moral systems have one common goal, and that is prosperity of the people. However, their approaches to the issue are sharply antagonistic. Works Cited Brine, Rebecca. â€Å"Taoism and Ink Brush Painting.† philosophy of Taoism 1.4 (2011): 1-10. Print. Harwood, Larry. â€Å"Sagely Wisdom in Confucianism.† Analytic Teaching and Philosophical Praxis 31.1 (2012): 56-62. Print. Hu, Hsiao, and William Cully Allen.Taoism. Philadelphia: Chelsea House, 2005. Print. Jixu, Zhou. â€Å"Confucius and Lao Zi: Their Differing Social Foundations and Cultures.† Sino-Platonic Papers 33.4 (2001): 2-17. Print. Slavicek, Louise Chipley. Confucianism. San Diego, Calif.: Lucent Books, 2002. Print. This essay on Differences Between Confucianism and Daoism was written and submitted by user DannyRand to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Monday, March 9, 2020

Families of the Forest Essays

Families of the Forest Essays Families of the Forest Essay Families of the Forest Essay ANTH 418 Final Paper This paper will be discussing the ethnography by Allen Johnson titled Families of the forest. The ethnography describes the Matsigenka people of Shimaa that live in the Peruvian Amazon. The paper will examine the Matsigenka culture, the needs and resources of the culture, and proposed projects to meet the needs of the culture. The Matsigenka of Shimaa live in isolation along river valleys and forested mountains in the Peruvian Amazon (Johnson,1999, p. 24). They live in small villages of about 7 to 25 people, that make up three to five nuclear family households (Johnson, 1999, p 3). The Matsigenka prefer to live in these hamlets and avoid interacting with people outside of their immediate family. The Matsigenka live a family level society and this helps them to avoid being exploited or to encounter enemies (Johnson, 1999, p. 6). Their isolated hamlets are very self-sufficient; â€Å"good land for horticulture is ample, however, and the low population density and widely scattered small settlements has meant only minimal competition between family groups for what wild foods do exist† (Johnson, 1999, p. 21). They live off of fishing, foraging and horticulture and the most important food to the Matsigenka is insect larvae. This provides them with protein and dietary fats, which they can get year round from moths, butterflies, beetles, bees and wasps (Johnson, 1999, p. 36). The cultural values of the Matsigenka are not to far from that of Western culture. Much of their religious beliefs are stemmed from folklore and spirits which promote proper behaviors within the group. They can be calm, quiet, gentle, but also mean, aggressive, and violent. They might be less sociable in large groups, but â€Å"they are more courteous and thoughtful in individual interactions. They are less attracted to the lure of commerce and new value systems. Their commitment to freedom of the family unit is truly remarkable† (Johnson, 1999, p. 50). The Matsigenka are a people that are at their happiest when left alone from outsiders and in their isolation. Much of their happiest in isolation stems from the fear of outsiders bringing in infectious diseases, which happened in the 1950s and 1960s when they first encountered Peruvians and Euro-Americans (Johnson, 1999, p. 75). They maintain societal standards for their hamlets that require independence and being able to live peacefully within a group. : They do not have or give proper names to one another and when they do name a person it is usually referring to a deformity or amusing incident (Johnson, 1999, p. 20). â€Å"Somehow individual men and women must be highly self-reliant, motivated to do the necessary thing according to their own judgment with little encouragement (or interference) from others, and yet at the same time be generous in the family and avoid the impulsive expressions especially of sex, aggression and greed that can shatter even the strongest interpersonal bonds in closely-cooperating family groups† (Johnson, 1999, p. 10). â€Å"Courtship is generally open and a topic of delighted conversation at large. For many couples, courtship is a more or less public expression of mutual interest as they test the possibility of marriage† (Johnson, 1999, p. 120). A married couple within the Matsigenka culture have established roles, they are partners with skills in separate areas of surviving. They seek to m arry well and make sure to not marry a lazy person. They think that this will lead to an unequal marriage and the lazy person will always be dissatisfied (Johnson, 1999, p. 121). Matsigenka husbands and wives spend much time together in evident harmony and enjoyment of each other’s company. We frequently find them sitting side by side at home, working quietly at some task, talking and laughing together. At times they become playful and giggle or wrestle erotically† (Johnson, 1999, p. 120). Anger does not play a large role in their marriages, but it does happen occasionally when there are beer feasts and the men become drunk. The men may even beat their wives who in return will runaway to the home of their brother or father. The Matsigenka understand that intercourse between a man and woman is what leads to pregnancy and that the woman always knows who the father of that infant is (Johnson, 1999, p. 78). They do practice abortions and infanticide if the child is not wanted or is believed to not be the husband’s baby. Abortions are used if the mother is a widow or already has enough young children, and it is considered the mother’s choice (Johnson, 1999, p. 82). In early childhood, â€Å"the matsigenka overtly do little to hasten a child’s development. Their style is best described as a gradual raising of expectations. They do not cajole a child to rise up and toddle toward them, but they welcome her when she does† (Johnson, 1999, p. 85). The child learns responsibility from interacting with the mother. The families feel they need to tame the willful child, so that the family can survive and multiply (Johnson, 199, p. 78). â€Å"Matsigenka siblings are close and affectionate. They spend most of their childhood in each other’s company, and interact seldom with other children. This is partly because there may be few other children around, but it is also a reflection of the nuclear-family centeredness of Matsigenka behavior† (Johnson, 1999, p. 14). Some hamlets send their children to school. The school is about an hour walk each way for most children. â€Å"The school acts as both a magnet and a repellent for Matsigenka households. Attraction to the school, for trade goods, medicines, and a general sense of security comes into conflict with many of their most basic preferences abo ut where and how to live best. It is these conflicts that account for the aversion many Matsigenkas have toward school communities† (Johnson, 1999, p. 197). When reading the ethnography by Allen Johnson there are a few specific needs that would benefit the Matsigenka people of Shimaa. When assessing the needs of the Matsigenka community it begins with gathering the information from the ethnography and then applying it to the community problems. The first need involves their drinking water and the access to it. The Matsigenka get their water from the river closest to their hamlets but because of their desire for isolation and the danger, they do not live close to the river banks. When they are in a the season of high water or Kimoariniku the trails become become muddy and make it hard to travel. During low season the â€Å"little streams that supply household needs during dry high water dry up, forcing people to lug river water in heavy, sloshing gourds up steep trails to their houses. And dry spells occur of long enough duration that crops in well-drained fields begin to wilt under the intense sun and Matsigenkas anxiously watch the skies for welcome signs of rain† (Johnson, 1999, p. 34). The second need of the Matsigenka people is a latrine. Johnson mentions in his book that a house did have a latrine but most of the people would use strips of land where brush or cane grow to defecate (Johnson, 1999, p. 207). â€Å"These are preferred areas for urination and children’s defecation. Adults are fastidious about defecation, however, and prefer whenever possible to refrain until they are at the edge of an old garden or out foraging in the forest† (Johnson, 1999, p. 207). By having effective latrines they can ensure proper sanitation, the prevention of infectious diseases, and help keep their drinking water safe and clean. The Matsigenka are disgusted by feces (itiga), not only of other people but of any animal. The feces of toddlers, not yet toilet trained, are quickly collected into a leaf and disposed of† (Johnson, 1999, p. 208). The Matsigenka do try to maintain good health but they do not have the proper tools and means to make sure they do not develop any infectious diseases. They try to locate their homes in areas where a family is not living upstream from their location, this ensures that the water will not be contaminated by urination or feces. They have standards of cleanliness to which they adhere, and they respond to injury and illness with all the tools at their command. But their technology for dealing with health threats, and particularly with infectious diseases, is of limited effectiveness† (Johnson, 1999, p. 431). Johnson notes that they do not go around with dirt all over them and smelling bad. They usually sit on the dirt floor with a mat, wash themselves daily, wash their garments daily, and wash their hands before preparing food (Johnson, 1999, p. 431). They also make sure that any waste or garbage is thrown away from their homes and in a designated area. â€Å"But efforts at hygiene are in a sense a losing battle in Shimaa. In addition to parasites, infections pass freely between members of a household or hamlet because of the continual affectionate touching and sharing between them† (Johnson, 1999, p. 434). The third need for the Matsigenka is the prevention of infanticide. â€Å"A small but significant proportion of women, again perhaps one in ten, contemplate killing their infants rather than raise them. Men may have attitudes in the matter, and may promote infanticide if they believe another man is the father, but it is primarily the woman’s decision and her action† (Johnson, 1999, p. 81). Johnson discusses that some women feel the need to kill their infant because they have been unable to stop it from crying after a few days. Not everyone in the hamlet feels that infanticide is right but most do feel that it is the mother’s choice. â€Å"The general belief is that troublesome children should be bathed in hot water, not given up on† (Johnson, 1999, p. 82). There is a need of prevention not only with the mother but also with those closest to the mother. Some of the mothers were told by others to kill their babies, either because they needed them to continue working or because a co-wife told them they cannot raise children (Johnson, 1999, p. 82). â€Å"In the difficult choices of abortion and infanticide, the mother has the ultimate say and performs the act, even when her husband or parent tries to influence her decision†(Johnson, 1999, p. 82). The final need involves the Matsigenka’s access to school and their participation in school. Education is important because it helps to increase income and knowledge which makes future generation better able to survive. Many Matsigenka people do not like the school communities because they involve being around people they do not know. â€Å"Although social relations are peaceful and courteous, in private there is a good deal of suspicion and accusation leveled against members of other hamlets† (Johnson, 1999, p. 49). Other Matsigenka school communities besides Shimaa are much more integrated, visit each other more often, and trade goods (Johnson, 1999, p. 49). This is why it would be beneficial for all members of the community to be more open and involved in the school systems. With more students attending the school there is more opportunity to have better teachers and a better education. Discussing the proposed needs of the Matsigenka cannot happen without having a proposed development project to accompany each need. The first need discussed was drinking water and the access to it. To gain better access to drinking water the Matsigenka people need manually drilled wells to help secure their water and make it more accessible. By working with the school ommunities they could work to gain donations and funding through organizations to help manually drill wells for the people. While doing this, information could be explained to the different hamlets on the importance of boiling the water to prevent infectious disease. The second need for the Matsigenka is latrines. This is an important project because it helps to prevent disease and keep peo ple healthy through proper sanitation. Many places that use latrines collect the waste and transport it out to be processed for future use as compost. With Matsigenka’s isolation and lack of roads and transport this makes this process very difficult. The project being proposed is to still use latrines but use biodegradable clay or stones to build it so that when the latrine fills up, it can still be used for farming in the future. Another possibility is to use good bacteria to help compost the human waste faster to help prevent the odor and flies from accumulating. When there is too much smell and flies people will prefer to defecate other places than the latrines. An additional way to cut down on the flies and smell is to install a type of sky light or vent that is at the top of the latrine. By building the latrine it will help sanitation and prevent water from being contaminated. While building the latrines it will be important to inform people in the community of the importance of not to defecating in the surrounding areas that they are living. To help keep infectious disease and bacteria from spreading it will be important to inform the community on the important of washing their hands after use of the latrine. The Matsigenka are already practicing good habits by avoid the areas of used for urination and defecation, so this would help in their transition to using latrines. The third proposed development project involves the prevention of infanticide. The Matsigenka people also practice abortions which are done before a child is born. This will not be a debate regarding whether or not abortion is right or wrong but rather a discussion on preventative measures to protect babies that are already born. Infanticide is usually used as a way to control the population or because of stressful parental situations. The community in Shimaa leaves the decision to the mother on whether or not to kill her infant. This is why it is important to inform the mother on etter ways to soothe a crying infant and ways to handle stresses regarding the infant. A project could be to implement awareness in the schools on how to handle infants and what are the options outside of infanticide for them and their infant. This is not a problem that could be change overnight. It may take many years of education and awareness to see the number of deaths decrease. The last proposed develo pment project is the need for more school communities and access to education. Education is incredibly powerful and when that knowledge is obtained it is something that cannot be taken away. Education for the Matsigenka people can mean opening up their communities to more opportunities to trade and increase their incomes. With more income they can afford to have stronger and more functional housing. More income can also mean better access to medicines and clinics so illnesses can be treated early. â€Å"Attraction to the school, for trade goods, medicines, and a general sense of security, comes into conflict with many of their most basic preferences about where and how to live best. It is these conflicts that account for the aversion many Matsigenkas have toward school communities† (Johnson, 1999, p. 197). The Matsigenka people fear outsiders because of their fear of illness and their history with outsiders bringing influenza to their communities. â€Å"Always a topic of conversation, news of a viral infection in the neighborhood travels quickly. Families scatter to their alternative residences. They will stay away until they believe the danger has passed and the locale is again safe† (Johnson, 1999, p. 198). This will be a hard part of the project to handle but with proper sanitation, clean water, and awareness of proper hygiene their fear of outsiders bringing infection can be lessened. The Matsigenka are unique in their want of isolation. Most communities are looking to make sellable goods or use of their land, so that they can reach more people to have the possibility of more income. With more people coming to the Amazon in search of natural gas and to exploit their resources the Matsigenka people are going to have to become more aware and take more preventative action with the outside world. This means they need more information to protect against infectious diseases and to keep their community in the changing world. References Johnson, A. , (1999). Families of the Forest. Retrieved from sscnet. ucla. edu/anthro/faculty/johnson/ethnography. html

Saturday, February 22, 2020

Fantastic Mr. Fox by Ronal Dahl Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Fantastic Mr. Fox by Ronal Dahl - Essay Example These early instances of animals in literature history stood generally imbued with strong allegorical and religious significance. â€Å"Fantastic Mr. Fox† serves as criterions of moral didacticism by use of animals as instances for humans to avoid or follow (Dahl 70). Before we even encounter Mr. Fox, Roald introduces us to three loathsome farmers who go by names of Bunce, Bean and Boggis. Farmer Boggis keeps poultry and is a prime sample of obesity since he eats 3 whole chickens together with dumplings for each meal of the day daily. Farmer Bunce, conversely, has thousands of geese and ducks. He stands a pot - bellied dwarf and his diet consisting of doughnuts bloated with goose liver cream. He seems to continue with this regime although he has a persistent stomach ache and an ill temper because of it. Finally, there is Farmer Bean, a turkey’s keeper and an apple orchard owner. He does not eat turkeys: he simply brews cider from the apples to drink the brew by the gall on. Bean is extremely thin but extraordinary brilliant. These 3 farmers are so contemptible that their local children sing a rhyme about their spitefulness when they come across them. It remains actually quite shocking that they manage to liaise with each other, considering their unpleasantness (Dahl 3). They must liaise, however, if they stand having at any chance at all, to outwit Mr. Fox. The Mr. Fox has a family of a wife and 4 little foxes to nourish, and each evening he asks his wife if she would like a duck, a goose, a turkey or a chicken. He then steals from the appropriate farm and takes back the chosen birdie. He is a cunning creature who approaches farms with the wind propelling towards him, so he can pick up the farmer’s scent lying to wait with a gun and quickly change his direction. The three farmers are furious and eventually agree they should hide proximal Mr. Fox hole to attack him once he emerges. The story continues their frustrated attempts to kill Mr. Fox alongside his family, who always succeed to dig further and escape the farmers. The foxes get horrified when tractors get brought to dig them out. However, Mr. Fox finds a plan to dig several tunnels along to each farm and steal enough foodstuff and cider for a celebration. Help gets solicited from other animals, of that get summoned to a great banquet (Dahl 13). Foxes stay often depicted as antiheroes in children's literature, â€Å"Chicken Liken† being a prime illustration. In 'Fantastic Mr. Fox, conversely, readers find themselves rooting for the foxes family in the aspect of the drastic actions taken by the 3 loathsome farmers. The story continues at a fast pace over chapters of about six pages each, and it is unlikely any child can have the chance to become bored. Quentin Blake delightful illustrations add hugely to bring the tale alive. The animals stay seen as life - size compared to the chickens, ducks, turkeys and geese. Mr. Fox wears a classy jacket and neck tie wh ereas Badger wears a waistcoat. Eyes and snouts are exaggerated, and all animals more have beaming, wholehearted smiles. The farmers, in contrast, are grumpy, glum souls. The illustration of 2 tractors with their headlights grinning makes them appear like two monsters with arrays of fangs, ready to gulp a creature that would get on their way (Sax 55). The tale remains intended for read - aloud tale for children aged 3

Wednesday, February 5, 2020

The three world of bali Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The three world of bali - Movie Review Example These midnight-to-dawn performances can be viewed from either side of the screen and also from behind the puppeteer. The ancient literary texts, collected in the old Javanese language of Kawi and Sanskrit (The Balinese Digital Library), are captured on Lontar leaves. These leaves come from Lontar trees that belong to the family of palm trees. The Lontar manuscripts are placed in boxes or bags for proper protection. The older women dancing in Gambuh dance and other performances are seen to be dancing closer to the ancestral shrines in temples. They do so as to honor their ancestors in this endless cycle of rebirth. For Balinese, the idea of time differs from ours. Flowers are seen to have a short time cycle, a rock to be have a much longer cycle while humans are somewhere in between. For them, there is never an end, but a continuous cycle. Balinese Hindus call their religion "Agama Tirtha" because water plays a very important role in their life. Water, represented by a circle in the Hindu tradition, symbolizes completeness and the un-manifest. The Balinese carefully plan out and stagger the use of Balis water supply. Water temple rituals promote a peaceful relationship between people and their environment. When changing the system, many problems were faced with problems such as of water, mice and other pests. Eka Dasa Rudra, in Bali, is held every one-hundred years. In 1963, upon the urging of then President Sukarno, Balinese priests organized to hold the ritual before the exact date it was supposed to be held on. Preparations were met with the first eruption in recorded history of Balis great volcano. This terrible disaster was seen as a confirmation of the gods and demons powers and the necessity of honoring the traditional calendar. The central temple was miraculously spared when the volcano erupted. The Balinese people saw this as a grand

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Personal Feelings And Learning From The Experiences Education Essay

Personal Feelings And Learning From The Experiences Education Essay This reflective report is written as part of the applied management project on WTOs impact on business entering new market which reviews the role of the regime in promoting cross border trade and new market access. According to Boud, Keogh and Walker (1985) reflective analysis is intended to enable a person to evolve, engage and develop the experience based knowledge. It is an open ended exercise giving meaning to the past experiences and understands better their significance in the present. A reflective analysis is made upon the period of writing up the dissertation project in a team is presented in the following paragraphs. The presentation of the reflection is based on my experiences upon the start of the project itself with anecdotes of the past coming up in between. This reflection has helped me to gain a better understanding of the role of reflective analysis of the past and how it can help me in my future career as well. The report is presented in four parts with my own and ou r groups recollection of experiences being the first part. This part gives out mainly my experience on the start of the project and phase when we worked as a group some of the frictions within the group and idea generation happening etc. In the next stage the dynamics of group is analysed in depth again based on my experience and also some feedback from my group itself. An attempt is made to connect the experiences with the theory on group dynamics and this presentation has helped me to understand the importance of group work, how difficult it is for some people to engage in groups and the opposite side where there are naturally talented leaders and followers. The part on group dynamics explores the theories on group formation especially Tuckmans (1963) theory of forming, storming, norming and performing. In the next section my personal feeling and some learning I gained from the experiences with working in a team. In this part I have also put forward the evolution of the project wo rk itself where I learned quite a lot on international business and the role of world trade organisation in the propagation of business around the world. In the final section the natural outcome from a reflective analysis is given in the form of lessons learned from the project work. Here is where this reflective analysis has indeed given results with some of the lessons and future action points have come as a real eye opener. In this exercise of reflection I have tried to be positive and have an analyst frame of mind. Recollection of Experiences In this section of the report I am putting together my experience from the start of the project, the first phases when we worked as a group some of the frictions within the group, idea generations and contributions of each member towards the report. From the first day of the induction programme into the project and upon learning the process of writing the reflective report our entire group decided to take notes on their personal experiences from each day of our meetings. In the end many in the group including me had failed to keep up this simple task. But we were at last able to put our thoughts together and sketch a rough idea as to what all had happened during our three months long process of project making. One of the initial surprises was the topic itself and the formation of the group. The university should have ideally given the students some time for group formation itself as was done in the case for other subjects where when a group report had to be written students were allocated time to form up the groups. But we had some idea that a group had to be formed and I along with some others had decided to join in the same group. Ultimately when the time for giving out the topics came some other students who were straggler in one sense also added up to our small group in order to make the numbers the university had mandated. This was initially and all along the project viewed as an inconvenience as most of these stragglers did not turn up for meetings or shares their piece of the work or take part in giving their ideas for the project. But during the reflection phase we realised that these additions only added up to our learning of group formation and performing in a group. After the groups were formed and topics allocated there were a weeks session where we had some constructive discussion on the project. This was the only phase in which the all the group members were present. The searching of information and collection of data for analysis were distributed in these initial days and we all agreed to meet up at regular intervals. Towards the end days of the first weeks session our attendance were beginning to collapse and many from the group dropped out. But it was during this first weeks group work that I experienced how a group can work together and how certain people are true leaders and others are followers. During the initial stages of the report making and when various points of views were discussed there were disagreement within the smaller group who were really cohesive as to the nature and the twist the dissertation should take. Some members were of the opinion that based on the initial inputs itself they should form a stand as to the nature of the progress. As our topic was the role of world trade organisation in developing international trade they argued that based on the initial sets of data literature review etc a stand of either the world trade organisation is good or bad should be taken. They argued that as we went along with the dissertation this will be the easier course as we only had to argue the cases were this has happened and collect and collate data from one side. But some other members of the group argued that making such a decision in the earlier stages of the work itself will be detrimental to the whole process of the project which is the analysis of the subject and based on the literature review and the analysis a discussion can be made as to whether the world trade organisation has indeed been advantageous pr disadvantageous to world trade. Finally some people choose to go with the initial strategy of determining what course they will take and then collecting all their data and analysing and discussion it in such a way that not other conclusion can be reached. These were the recollections and the experiences I had during the project which is worthwhile mentioning here in this report. Following is an analysis of these experiences on the formation of the groups and how I perceived it happened and the fallouts. The study on group formation and its implications has given me a better understanding of the team working requirements I need to face in a work situation and this analysis I believe will help me to perform better. Group Dynamics The group dynamics of the above recollections is analysed here in this section as said earlier the study on group formation and its implications has given me a better understanding of the team working requirements I need to face in a work situation and this analysis, I believe will help me to perform better. In this section the analysis is based mainly on Tuckmans (1963) theory of formation of the teams and their ability to perform. Tuckman (1963) is credited to have analysed the stages of the group formation and he named these sages as forming, storming, norming and performing. As per Schneider (2003), the purpose of a team is to bring together individuals with different backgrounds, skills, and abilities to solve problems or accomplish a set of goals and objectives working together that would be impossible to achieve working alone We were to work as a team for the applied management project and one of the ideas for working in the teams was to develop the sensation of building the team spirit and learn how to work in teams in our future careers. As said earlier we were a small group of four students who worked together in many assignments we had before and we gelled together even though there were some friction, ego clashes etc among us. But in spite of all these we were determined to be in one team for the applied management project. During the day of the first seminar some more students joined our teams and we became a big entity and we in fact had two small teams working in the same one. What happened were two small teams joined together along with some other stragglers who till then were not part of any informal groups of students. As soon as we got the topic we moved on to the stage to prepare ourselves and divide the work among us. It was during the initial stages that I realised how hard it is for the ma king of a team and working in them for many people. There were more than one leader in our entire team and each one had their own methods and views about the project work. In some fashion on the first day itself we found ourselves into two groups which were actually the two small groups which had joined up. I found out that there were more interactivity within these two separate groups and communication was much easier within the smaller groups. Analysing it now, I feel that these two smaller groups can be considered as two separate identities working together. At the time there were some misunderstandings, friction and miscommunication between the members and we thought that we were not going to work very well as a team. Each small team had an informal leadership role assumed or rather given and the main communication between the smaller groups happened through these leaders. The work to be done, the topics to be read and researched etc were divided up between the smaller groups i. e. initially into two and then we separately divided up these two parts again between ourselves. At the time we had many grievances about the working of each other but now I have come to realise that we indeed worked together but the overall composition was that of two separate identities working together. During the initial stages i.e. forming stage itself we inadvertently began working in our separate ways. Hence the formation of the group was that of two personalities of the two separate small groups. We each had our own working style and personality. It was during the norming stage that we truly started working in our individual groups and we started finding the rhythm. There were friction during the work allotment idea generation etc and this might be analysed as the storming stage where some personal differences and ego clashes came to the fore. In the end when we started to have separate group meetings and then combining our thoughts in the end by our respective leaders to ea ch other we were actually a performing group. Unfortunately it should be said that these group performances did not last very long. As soon as the induction week was over out group meetings ended and then we rarely met. But our small group which had earlier itself gone through the various stages of formation was a performing group and we tended to work together. Personal Feelings and Learning from the Experiences My personal feelings during the project work were mixed. I had a feeling that we were doing a great work and this chance will not come to us again. On the other hand the work was cumbersome, boring and tiring for most of us after the initial euphoria worn off. We kept on pushing the things to the last minute and indeed the reflection of our experiences we realised that we did not have a time bound schedule for doing things and even during initial stages when we tried to make some schedules it never were followed. I thought that there was plenty of time to do the research as there was three whole months to complete the project. One of the best learnings I had from the project was the scheduling of the project. This was a lesson learnt during the last days as the deadline approached there was a scramble for completing the work. One of the other developments was that even in our small groups there were many ideas on the project which never crossed my mind. I had a feeling from the beginning that I was among the better ones in my group as I always was a guide to many of my colleagues in our previous assignments. Many of my colleagues often turned towards me for ideas on how to do the assignments and presentations. But in the final project I realised that each individual have some thing to contribute to the overall performance of the team. This happened when they were sufficiently motivated to work for the project. The motivation to work and put effort came from the challenges we faced as from the very beginning we all realised that not a single individual could find all the answers and team work is needed. Hence each person had to put in their effort and when they saw their work getting appreciated them felt motivated enough to venture into unknown territory and come up with many ideas even though some of the m were complete idiotic. Hence I can say that individual effort does count in any group work. There were also instances of cases where I felt that some people with certain mentality are truly unable to work in groups at all. These are not to be construed as weakness in any part but it is true that some people are unable to work in groups. These are people with an independent frame of mind and they will stand out in as many as the group activities as they could. They could either participate negatively in a group work or does not participate at all. I learned quite a lot on international business and the role of world trade organisation in the propagation of business around the world. It was also during this study that the implications came upon me and some of the group members then formed some negative opinion of the world trade organisation. As it turned out the recent data and the literature were giving a negative aspect on the WTO. The literature review suggested that stronger and developed countries were putting much weight on the organisation to make the rules and regulations in their way so that poor developing countries need to open their trade barriers and cheap goods can be dumped in such countries. There were several instances of such cases were the poor countries were bullied by the developed world with the end result that the gap between the rich and the poor nations has only increased even after the formation of WTO. Lessons for Future Projects One of the important lessons I learned for the future career is on time keeping and the importance of planning the activities. During the final stages of the project we did not have enough time to complete as we had taken it easy from the beginning. This made me thinking in the final stages of the project on the importance of planning and scheduling of the work and also my life. I have decided to have a planning and make action points for each part of my life starting with my career plan. Till then I was an easy going person and hoped to get some job after my studies. But I realise that getting a job is not easy and getting a job that I would like to do will be very difficult. The other most important learning from this reflective analysis on the short period of the project was the subject of reflection itself. The reflection on my previous experiences gave me valuable insights into this self learning tool which can be used in my career. Self reflection is an important part of any body life and when we pause and analyse the past actions we realise that some of them were quite negative or time consuming and things could have been better. From this analysis action points can be made for the future. Reflection is not only to correct the past mistakes but also to gain valuable insights into the factors which have turned out better. Hence I have decided to use self reflection as a tool to pause and analyse my past actions and plan for my future career in every stage of life. Conclusion The above reflective report written as part of the applied management project on WTOs impact on business entering new market which reviews the role of the regime in promoting cross border trade and new market access. The presentation of the reflection is based on my experiences from the start of the project. The report presented in four parts gives a summary of the experiences I had over the four months of the project, the part played by the group is with an analysis into group dynamics exploring the theories on group formation, my personal feeling and some learning I gained from the experiences with working in a team and also the role of world trade organisation in the propagation of business around the world. In the final section the natural outcome from a reflective analysis is given in the form of lessons learned from the project work. One of the important lessons I learned for the future career is on time keeping and the importance of planning and scheduling of the work and also my life. I have decided to have a planning and make action points for each part of my life starting with my career plan. The other most important learning is the art of self reflection which is an important part of life; to pause and analyse the past actions to and plan for my future in every stage of life. I believe that this reflective analysis has indeed given results with some of the lessons and future action points have come as a real eye opener.