The White Dilemma in South Africa

South Africa is one of the African countries that was for a long time under colonization by the white man. Besides, being colonized, the situation in South Africa was quite bad as there was rampant discrimination of the blacks by the white people which came to be known as apartheid. Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The White Dilemma in South Africa specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More There are restaurants, schools, hospitals, shopping malls and recreational centers in South Africa that were a preserve of the whites only. This meant that black people could not get admission under any circumstances. However, in the year 1994, South Africa got independence and this meant that the black people had freedom to do as they willed in their land. Slowly, most of the white people had to live the country but there are those who opted to remain. This is what presented the dilemma in that how were the white people who remained i n South Africa after the apartheid supposed to be treated by the black people who had been ill treated previously by the whites? Were black people going to punish the white people who remained in this country for the heinous acts of discrimination that were committed by their colleagues? This pertinent question is the focus of this discussion and it is based on The Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee. Looking at the storyline, it is clear that the new South Africa which is free from apartheid is bound to undergo some changes. The black community which was previously oppressed by the white community seems keen to sort of revenge for the actions of discriminations by the white. It may not be fair because the white people in the new South Africa are not necessarily the ones who were responsible for the apartheid era but nevertheless one would understand the bitterness of a people who were deprived for many years their rights in their own country. The story begins when David Lurie who is a profe ssor in a university in Cape Town is engaged in an affair with a student and is later accused of sexual harassment. Instead of taking an opportunity to defend himself against allegations leveled against him, Lurie decides to resign and even move from the city to reside with his daughter in the outskirts of the city. â€Å"It’s always complicated, this harassment business, David, complicated as well as unfortunate, but we believe our procedures are good and fair, so we’ll just take it step by step, play it by the book† ( Coetzee, 2000,p. 45) The area where his daughter resides is one that was considered as belonging to the black community during the apartheid era.Advertising Looking for essay on ethnicity studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More â€Å"There is tension from both sides as Lurie begins to stay in black community area. He fears that he may be treated unfairly by the black community who are st ill angered by the kind of treatment they faced during the apartheid era† (Coetzee 2000). The black community on the other hand is suspicious of this white man who now wants to reside among the blacks a phenomenon that would have been considered impossible during the era of apartheid. While Lurie is living with his daughter in the province, their neighbor is a black man who has helped Lurie’s daughter on a number of issues. However, Lurie is convinced that the black man has something to do with the rape ordeal which his daughter went through some time back. However, neither Lurie nor his daughter is willing to take any action against the black man. â€Å"As gently as he can, he offers his question again.†Lucy, my dearest, why don’t you want to tell? It was a crime. There is no shame in being the object of a crime. You did not choose to be the object. You are an innocent party.† (Coetzee, 2000, p. 13) It becomes apparent that there is fear among the whites living in the new South Africa of being persecuted by the black people who obviously want to revenge for the many years of discriminations that they endured during the regime of apartheid. There also seems to be fear in that the whites do not have faith and trust in the institutions that have been set up in the new republic. Since most of the occupants of the newly formed institutions are blacks, there seems to be a perception by the whites that they are not likely to face justice. This also explains Lurie’s action in the University when accused of sexual harassment. Instead of taking the earliest opportunity to make a defense against the allegations that have been made against him, Lurie opts to resign. This shows that he may have weighed his options and saw that that since most of the people who will sit in the panel hearing his case are black, he felt that there might be a form of prejudice against him and thus opted out instead. There also seems to be an ironic t wist of events in that the whites seem to be slowly fitting into the shoes of the blacks literary. Due to the intensive level of discrimination that was rife during the era of apartheid in South Africa most people in the black community had sort of resigned to fate and were living in deplorable conditions in the countryside or country districts as they were commonly referred to. Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The White Dilemma in South Africa specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More â€Å"Now that the era of apartheid is gone and the new South Africa is here, most of the white people had to live the country and for those who opted to remain, they now have to go and live in places that were previously considered for the blacks whose conditions are deplorable to say the least† (Coetzee 2000). What is coming out very clearly from this discussion is that the white people feel threatened in the new South Africa. The black people might not discriminate the whites as was the case in the apartheid era, but it is without a doubt that the blacks are bound to revenge or at least reclaim what was originally theirs which was taken away from them unjustly. And when that happens, the whites are going to be displaced from their comfort zones which they were used to. J.M. Coetzee has tried his level best to put the scenario in perspective and has tried to show just how much the white dilemma is still so alive in the new South Africa. A serious look at the issues in South Africa actually reveals a situation much worse that what Coetzee has captured in his book. Another hard reality that the white people in the new South Africa have had to contend with is that most of the concepts which they had brought with them from the west may become irrelevant as the black people increasingly keep looking for local solutions. (Coetzee 2000). After very many years under the white man rule where not much development too k place for the black people, there is an urge to want to catch up and account for the lost time (Sacks, 1997, p. 56). Government and newly set up institutions seem to be going for local concepts as opposed to the concepts of the white man. A keen scrutiny of the situation in this country so many years after she got her independence reveals that the wounds of the past appear so fresh and the apparent gap between the whites and black is one that can easily be seen. White dilemma in this African country seems to be deeply rooted among the citizens of this country. References Coetzee, J. (2000). Disgrace. London: Penguin Books.Advertising Looking for essay on ethnicity studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Sacks, B. (1997). South Africa: an imperial dilemma: non-Europeans and the British Nation. Mexico: University of New Mexico Press This essay on The White Dilemma in South Africa was written and submitted by user Kingston U. 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.

The Korea Question essays

The Korea Question essays What is national identity? This question may seem to be to simple to even bother answering. The easy answer is that national history is the events in a nations past that, when put together, unify all aspects of life in that nation. From this rough definition it would make sense that all of the nations in the world have a national identity. However, this question is not as black and white as it may seem. Some people believe that a nation whose history is nothing more than occupation by other countries should not be considered an independent nation. This can be seen very well in the case of Korea, which ahs had a history filled with Chinese, Japanese, and western influence. However, though Korea has strong ties to all of these imperialistic powers; it still shows aspects that are uniquely Korean. Korea has a history that includes dominance, subservience, and reemergence. The people of the Korean peninsula have had a very colorful history. Through the period of the Later Bronze Age the Korean peninsula experienced significant political development. Perhaps the most important of these developments was the creation of the walled-town states. The six walled-town states of the Korean peninsula are seen in Chinese records. The most advanced of these states was Chao-hsien. The early leaders of Chao-hsien called themselves tangun wanguom to signify both their descent from the divine creator and their monarchial status . The leaders of Choa-hsien soon realized that in order to maintain power over the peninsula they would need to join with other walled-town states to ward off invaders. By the fourth century BCE the confederated kingdom was created and served as an extended political unit of substantial military power . Shortly after the confederated kingdom was created it was challenged by the powerful Yen faction, a powerful contender from northern China. The Yen people asserted that Chao-hsien was arro...

Monomer Definition and Examples (Chemistry)

Monomer Definition and Examples (Chemistry) A monomer is a molecule that forms the basic unit for polymers, which are the building blocks of proteins. Monomers bind to other monomers to form repeating chain molecules through a process known as polymerization. Monomers may be either natural or synthetic in origin. Oligomers are polymers consisting of a small number (typically under 100) of monomer subunits. Monomeric proteins are protein molecules that combine to form multi-protein complexes. Biopolymers are polymers consisting of organic monomers found in living organisms. Because monomers represent a huge class of molecules, they are commonly categorized into various subgroups such as sugars, alcohols, amines, acrylics, and epoxides. The term monomer combines the prefix mono-, which means one, and the suffix -mer, which means part. Examples of Monomers Glucose, vinyl chloride, amino acids, and ethylene are examples of monomers. Each monomer may link in different ways to form a variety of polymers. In the case of glucose, for example, glycosidic bonds may link sugar monomers to form such polymers as glycogen, starch, and cellulose. Names for Small Monomers When only a few monomers combine to form a polymer, the compounds have names: Dimer: Polymer consisting of two monomersTrimer: Three monomer unitsTetramer: Four monomer unitsPentamer: Five monomer unitsHexamer: Six monomer unitsHeptamer: Seven monomer unitsOctamer: Eight monomer unitsNonamer: Nine monomer unitsDecamer: 10 monomer unitsDodecamer: 12 monomer unitsEicosamer: 20 monomer units

Tourism Management Course Work Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Tourism Management Course Work - Assignment Example If the front desk doesn’t respond pleasantly and efficiently to the needs of the traveler, this also will leave a bad impression. How a guest is treated is more important than the looks of an establishment, which does not diminish the need for a beautiful venue. It just means that beyond that beauty should be substance, which is represented by the quality of the staff. 3. As a resort hotel manager, do you believe your guests need to be educated about environmental protection? Do you need to educate your staff? Answer: Because of the new trends in green tourism, the staff definitely needs to be fully informed on all the ways that the hotel is implanting green policies in order to leave a smaller eco footprint. The staff should also be prepared to answer questions concerning ways in which the guests might take issue with one policy or procedure or another which does consume more than what might be desired. The guests should see literature in their rooms and at the front desk tha t shows what measures have been taken in order to lower the rate of consumption by the hotel. This type of information is both instructive and develops good relationships between the hotel and the guests. The information, however, should also be subtle because those who are at the resort are there to experience a sense of luxury. A good balance between maintaining the appearance of excess, while also showing responsibility, will provide for the best possible outcome regarding this issue. 5. For new developments, should the access roads be supplied by a government agency, the developer, or both? If both, who should supply what? Answer: Access roads to a new development are supplied by the government as the building of new commerce is considered to be a benefit to the city. Negotiations between the government and the developer will often allow for other considerations as well, but the access roads, as they are connected to the main roadways, are the responsibility of the government ag ency who is in control of road development within that specific area, whether it be city, county, state, or federal. 8. The sports director of a large resort hotel has been instructed to upgrade the hotel's physical fitness program. Provide some suggestions as to how this might be done. Answer: When approaching physical fitness within a resort hotel environment, conservative is the best approach because of the liability risk involved in active participation. Low impact, high result physical activity is the best method so that guests are attracted to the hotel, but are not in danger of physical injury. Although all physical fitness has some risk, making sure that staff is fully prepared to help guests and that any activity that is programmed has fully certified instructors is the best possible mitigation to risk. The second element of reconstructing a physical fitness program is in looking at the current trends and selecting those trends that reflect safe use, but also are exciting t o the guest. Dance routine type programs, such as Zumba, an exercise program which incorporates salsa dance, provide an environment of fitness while supporting something that is relatively safe. Being current while mitigating risk factors is the key to any new physical fitness program in a resort environment as it is likely some guests who participate will have not had much previous physical activity in their background. Therefore, the third element is making sure the program is

Dante And Virgil Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Dante And Virgil - Research Paper Example This is made clear in Canto IV where Dante and Virgil meet the great Greek philosophers such as Socrates, Plato and Lucan. These philosophers are in the first level of hell which is really more like a purgatory. Because they were born before the birth of Christianity, they did not have the opportunity to recognize Christ as their Lord and Savior so they live in a state of Limbo. When alive, they dedicated their lives to wisdom and thought rather than religion and did not have the foresight that the patriarchs of the Old Testament had in embracing faith that one day He would come. As a result, their afterlife is a world in which reason provides some illumination, but the atmosphere is mostly dark without God’s light. However, the souls are comfortable and content in being able to share human ideas and thoughts with other great thinkers. This section of the Comedy firmly establishes Dante’s ideas that the only way to receive God’s blessing is through Christian faith. Even though the ancient philosophers were highly respected thinkers who led very virtuous, ethical and moral lives, they are still trapped in Limbo because they never even considered the possibility that Jesus would one day come to redeem them all. This is made clear when Virgil tells him that a person â€Å"in power crowned† came to Hell and took away all the Old Patriarchs who believed that the Messiah would come even though they died before he appeared. Thus it doesn’t even matter if you have lived the kind of life prescribed in the Bible, you still can’t get into heaven unless you were willing to have

Use of Force Essay Example for Free

Use of Force Essay Use of force can be defined as the right granted to the authority or an individual to settle conflicts through measures that are aimed at either preventing or dissuading a given party from a certain course of action or physical intervention to stop the individual(s) from taking a certain course of action. As such, use of force may be applied by the military, the police, other security personnel or corrections in an effort to stop or prevent crime. The executive branch may also exercise the use of force in such cases as deploying the military or the police in an effort to maintain law and order or to defend the sovereignty of the country in question. However, the use of force by the executive branch is dependent on political jurisdiction passed by the legislative branch. In essence, the use of force is vested in statutes in the constitution with a series of progressive actions authorizing given authorities and security bodies to apply the use of force in certain situation. Unlike the use of negotiation and conflict resolution techniques, forced is useable by a law enforcement officer if a law breaker decline from desisting a certain course of action or if he attempts to run. Use of force in this context includes physical restraint and lethal force to solve or to restrain such an individual from committing the crime. The general rule however remains that only a reasonable force maybe used and only the necessary one given the circumstances under which force is required. As such, individuals authorizing the use of force are always held accountable for the degree or the level of force employed in any given situation (Marie, 2001, p. 43). Law enforcement officers and security personnel are usually faced with varying situation in their line of duty that requires them to use force in deterring crime or even to protect themselves. An example of such a situation is when a police officer is involved in a shoot out with criminals. In such a situation, force will be required not only to deter the criminals but also for self defense. While use of force is permissible in certain circumstances, the level and the degree to which force is applied is usually limited by the circumstance in question. Security and police officers are required to use only the necessary force given a certain circumstance and are thus held responsible and accountable for force used in such circumstances. On the other hand, the degree of force applied by an officer is dependent on not only the circumstance at hand but also on how such an officer is equipped in terms of a gun, handcuffs or other equipment and tools used by law enforcement officers such as pepper spray. As opposed to police officers, security officers are not authorized to make arrests but situation may bid them to take a criminal into custody. Whether a security officer or a police officer, dealing with any situation require the application of reasonable force by avoiding excessive force under the circumstance in question (Regina, 2001, p. 38). In this regard, the officer involved is required to access the seriousness of the situation, the risk associated with such a situation and the situation immediacy. In case it is a security officer who is present in such a situation, the best action to take is to inform law enforcement authorities to take the relevant action. Diffusing any given situation requires that the police officers be well trained and informed regarding the laws applicable and especially on the use of force continuum which gives the necessary guidelines in regard to the degree of force applicable in different situations (Thomas, 2002, p. 62). The use of force continuum can be broken down to six levels that are designed in an elastic manner in the context of the need for using force given that situations keep on changing. For example, a situation may require that the level of force used bounce from level one to level two and back again in a matter of minutes or seconds. In regard to the use of force continuum, the first level includes the presence of a visible and uniformed police officer or a marked vehicle. This is usually seen as enough to stop or deter a crime. The presence of an officer here includes walking, running or standing. Also defined in the concept of presence is use of vehicle lights, speaker or a horn. In this context, the police officer is capable of stopping a crime without a word but rather through the use of gestures and body language. However, such gestures should be professional and non-threatening. The second level involves the combination of presence of an officer and the use of verbal communication to deter or stop a crime in progress. In essence, variation in voice can be used such as whispering, shouting or just normally to achieve the desired results. Officers are usually advised to start calmly in a firm but non-threatening manner. Words chosen and their intensity can be varied as deemed necessary and short commands can be used in dealing with serious situations. This level requires that a police officer be well trained in communication skills so as to be able to communicate effectively in any given situation. In essence, the use of verbal communication combined with the presence of the police officer can be able to deter or stop a crime without the need for physical force (Ian, 1998, p. 23). Level three involves the use of control holds and restraints where words and presence fails to apply. This requires the physical involvement of the police officer present in the situation. However, minimal force should be used including bare hands for guiding, restraining or holding the law breaker. Thus at this level, use of offensive moves such as punching should be avoided. The officer in question may make use of pain compliance holds where ordinary holds fail to control a suspect who is aggressive. On the other hand, the officer may make use of handcuffs where a suspect exhibits traits of aggression, where he or she poses a real threat of where such a suspect exhibits the possibility of fleeing. On the other hand, not all suspects require handcuffs and if the officer uses handcuffs, he is responsible for guiding such an individual to prevent him from falling or tripping. Great care should also be observed to avoid any bodily harm to the suspect such as positional asphyxiation. Training is therefore important to help police officers apply the necessary measures in situations that require use of control holds and restraints (Marie, 2001, p. 52). The forth level of use of force continuum involves the use of chemical agents to diffuse a crime. If the officer establishes that the suspect is threatening or violent, extreme but non violence measures can be used to control the suspect. This however is subject to the assumption that all other levels of force continuum have failed to be effective. In this regard, pepper splay or tear gas can be used to diffuse the situation. It is important to note here that proper care should be taken when using chemical agents to deter or stop a crime as such agents may cause death or severe reactions to suspects with allergic and other medical conditions. Moreover, they can cause the suspect to fall down a staircase or walk into traffic (Regina, 2001, p. 27). Level five involves measures aimed at temporary incapacitating the suspect in question. The assumption behind use of force in this level is that the circumstance was extreme, immediate and violent. The officer then can use empty hands or impact tools. In this regard, defensive and offensive moves are allowed but must be applied properly and in the right circumstances. Temporary incapacitation is useful in preventing an injury in regard to the officer and other people involved in the situation. The officer may make use of baton blows on certain joints areas or on soft tissues or use of stun gun to incapacitate the suspect long enough to handcuff him or get more help. Care must however be taken while applying any measures as some of them such as neck compressions are very risky and poses a threat to the livelihood of the suspect.

Individual Types of Learning Behavior Essay -- Biology, Herman Brain D

Herman Brain Dominance (HBD): Ned Hermann improved his model of Brain Dominance in 1979. His Whole Brain Model (Herman, 1995) combines Roger Sperry's left/right brain theory and Paul MacLean's triune model (primitive, intermediate and rational brain) to produce a quadrant model based on the task- specific performance of the physical brain. Each quadrant is described to have an ideal style of learning and preferences for individual types of learning behavior. Quadrant A is logical-analytical, Quadrant B is sequential-organized, and Quadrant C is emotional and interpersonal, while Quadrant D is visual, holistic and innovative. Depending on the relative functioning of these quadrants, he classifies individuals as humanists, theorists, organizers and innovators. In this context, it has been found that individuals with ADHD are right-brain dominant in their information processing and learning styles, resulting in being more creative than those with left-brain dominant styles (Jensen , 1998). These two models focus on characterizing learners. There has been much further work in characterizing the Cognitive Styles of different learners, such as the work of Furnham (1995) and Ramsden (1992) on Whole/Analytic organization and processing of information, and Verbal/Imagery representation of information. However, there is some debate about whether Cognitive Style should be considered part of Learning Style: â€Å"LS are more in terms of processes than outcomes† (Duff, 2003, pp.5). Sadler-Smith (2001) also brings out in their discussion that Cognitive Style and LS are independent. Dunn and Dunn: Dunn, Dunn and Price (1979) identified the factors that influence learners in terms of five types of stimuli: Environmental, Emotional, Soc... ...n. Students who are kinesthetic learners may exhibit the same symptoms that are commonly known as red-flags for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder when they are not allowed to move about in a classroom. To relieve the stress of not being able to move, they seek to break out of these constraints through uncontrollable activities. Many teachers may consider these misbehaviors to be symptoms or signs of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. These two seemingly separate topics overlap in many instances. A better understanding of the correlation between ADHD and kinesthetic or tactile learners will help teachers, parents and practitioners gain a better understanding of the disease. A better appreciation of the disease and varied learning styles may indeed bridge this gap of understanding for this commonly diagnosed, yet controversial childhood disease.

Different arguments of civil society by katy pace

Different arguments of civil society by katy pace BY Tuni127 Katie Pace Civil Society and its Definitions While generally acknowledged to consist of privately formed social organizations, civil society remains an ambiguous conception prone to diverse interpretations. As a Western idea, first made famous by Alexis de Tocqueville in his analysis of American democracy, its application worldwide and in nations with differing social, religious, economic and political backgrounds has created debate about what civil society is and how civil society influences or is influenced by government.Tocqueville first presented civil society to the West as voluntary, non-political social organizations that strengthen democracy preventing a tyranny of the majority. Associations, which can be â€Å"religious, moral, serious, futile, general or restricted, enormous or diminutive†, protect diversity by uniting equal but weak individuals into powerful groups. These associations prevent the fragmenta tion of society by forcing men to consider the affairs of others and to work with their neighbors.According to Tocqueville, the equality and individualism fostered by democracy convince men that hey need nothing from nor owe anything to their neighbors; thus, without civil society, they would isolate themselves from the community. Finally, Tocqueville argues that civil society fosters the social norms and trust necessary for people to work together and teaches individuals to appreciate and effectively use their liberties. Consequently, civil society promotes democracy and checks despotism.Many Western writers wholeheartedly accepted Tocqueville's definition of civil society. In both his book, Making Democracy Work, and his article, Tuning In, Tuning Out: The Strange Disappearance of Social Capital in America, Robert Putnam treats ivil society, also called social capital, as â€Å"features of social life- networks, norms and trust- that enable participants to act together more effec tively to pursue shared objectives†. Putnam argues that social capital influences citizen engagement in the community, which in turn influences government.A developed civil society is necessary for democracy to work well, for it relies on and develops the trust among individuals and the leadership skills necessary for a representative government. The author of the Solitary Bowler agrees that â€Å"the association-forming habit† is â€Å"the stuff if civil society'. His discussion of the decline of civil society in America is based on his Tocquevillean definition of civil society as a network of voluntary associations.Though the author acknowledges that American civil society may simply be undergoing metamorphosis and not disappearing, he holds fast to his Western view by drawing the reader's attention to new types of voluntary associations which fit snuggly into his definition. The article, Bowling Alone, also focuses on new forms of social capital, but it does not red efine social capital. Other writers question Tocqueville's definition and analysis of civil society.In his article, The Importance of Being Modular, Ernest Gellner agrees that civil society is â€Å"that set ot diverse non-governmental institutions, which is strong enough to counterbalance the state†¦ whilst not preventing the state from fulfilling its role of keeper of the peace and arbitrator between major interests†. However, he argues that this definition is deficient because it includes elements of plural societies that should not be considered examples of civil society.Gellner says a nation can have â€Å"a plural, non-centralized, but socially oppressive society' in which social order is aintained by local, kin-defined, religious and stifling rituals that leave no room for individual autonomy. Therefore, civicness cannot be determined by pluralism. Once must narrow the definition of civil society and take a closer look at a society's associations to see if they f all within the new definition. Sheri Berman attacks the traditional conception of civil society in, Civil Society and the Collapse of the Wiemar Republic. Prior to the nazi's rise to power, Germany society was a plethora of social institutions.Due to the lack of responsive national government and political parties, hese associations fragmented society instead of uniting it. Consequently, in an â€Å"inversion of neo-Tocquevillean theory', civil society weakened and eventually destroyed the Weimar Republic, replacing a democracy with a totalitarian regime. Consequently, Berman argues that associations should be considered â€Å"a politically neutral multiplier, dependent for its effects on the wider political context†. Once the concept of civil society was applied to the East, more objections were thrown at it.In his article, Orientalism, Islam and Islamists, Bryan Turner discusses the role of elativism and ethnocentrism in western analysis of Middle Eastern society. Turner d efines the Western viewpoint of civil society as â€Å"that network of institutions which lies between the state and individual and which simultaneously connects the individual to authority and protects the individual from total political control. † The West assumes that civil society is the main indication of social progress from a state of nature to one of civilization and from despotism to democracy.Defined by the West, despotism exists where â€Å"civil society is either absent or underdeveloped†. The estern concept of civil society is based on in individualism; thus, the West assumes there is â€Å"no established tradition of legitimate opposition to arbitrary governments in Islam† because Islam is â€Å"devoid of individual rights and individuality'. However, the West ignores similarities between Islam, Christianity and Judaism. Furthermore, the West accepts Islam's lack of social capital as the cause of its political instability and fails to examine othe r possibilities.Eva Bellin also questions the application of Tocqueville's civil society to eastern studies in her work, Civil Society: Effective Tools of Analysis for Middle East Politics?. Bellin argues that the term itself has a range of definitions. The West has applied this ambiguous term to the Middle East and determined that the region is â€Å"inhospitable to civil society'. Yet, the West ignores the use of the term by Middle Easterners themselves. Leaders call on civil society to promote projects of modernization. Islamists employ the concept to gain influence in the public sphere. Intellectuals use the term to increase individual liberty.Thus, civil society acquires elements of â€Å"secularism, citizenship, civisme, civility, civil iberties†, most of which would destroy despotism. Bellin concludes from this that the West should not dismiss the existence of civil society in the Middle East. Samu Zubaida also urges proponents of civil society to reexamine its defini tion in his article, Islam, the State and Democracy. He defines two concepts of civil society. The first, a secular-liberal definition, conceives ot civil society as voluntary associations that â€Å"foster individual autonomy and provide experience in the exercise of social and political rights and responsibilities†.For such associations to exist, the state must ithdraw from economic and associational life while creating â€Å"legislation and institutional mechanisms which provide the framework of rights and obligations for these spheres†. The second definition of civil society is an Islamic-communal definition that conceives of civil society as an â€Å"informal network of relationships† whose focus is property and business. Finally, Ibn Khaldun provides a conception of civil society that, while written long before debates about social capital began, could enlighten the West about civil society in the East.In The Maquaddimah, Khaldun's ivil society is based on group feeling and religion. A leader acquires power and a society acquires stability if the community is bonded by feelings of kinship and common descent and by connections between clients and allies. Religion strengthens these bonds by eliminating Jealousy and discord as the community focuses its energy on important goals. Group feeling can exist in harmony with an absolute ruler and its lack can destroy an empire, rendering a community vulnerable to outside control. The different approaches to civil society outlined above leave the reader with two pposing definitions of civil society.The first is a Tocquevillean definition in which civil society and democracy are assumed to complement each other. The second is a Middle Eastern definition in which civil society does not consist of formal groups whose existence is designed to achieve specific goals. Civil society is instead a series of informal relationships based on religious, familial and clientele connections that can and do exi st under undemocratic governments, for they are entirely beyond the government's sphere. These relationships have existed throughout Islamic history and continue to exist today.

How CSR is your company Essay

What is Corporate Social Responsibility? Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a self-regulated system that companies use to ensure that their operations are in line with ethical standards, the law and the norms of society. CSR aids companies in taking responsibility for their actions and â€Å"encourage a positive impact through its activities on the environment, consumers, employees, communities, stakeholders and all other members of the public sphere (WIKIPEDIA, 2012)† The company that has been selected for analysis is Burberry. Burberry was established in 1856 by Thomas Burberry and is now an ‘internationally recognised luxury brand with a worldwide distribution network (Burberry PLC, 2012)’. They have 473 stores worldwide and employ approximately 6,681 people. This company claims that they are in compliance with CSR and have on their website listed the ways in which they achieve this. â€Å"One of Burberry’s five strategic themes is pursuing operational excellence. Operational excellence in CR has five key areas of focus: * Healthy business partnerships: based on shared values and high ethical standards * Excellent products and service: quality, craftsmanship, heritage and service standards * Environmental excellence: operating efficiently with minimum waste and maximum control * Excellence in people management: attracting and retaining talented employees * Contributing to society: investing and engaging in the communities where Burberry operates (Burberry, 2011)’ Employee diversity When it comes to employment, it is important for a company to be extremely diverse and offer equal opportunities. Not only are they required to do this by law (under acts such as the Equality Act 2010), but they should also choose to be diverse. A company that chooses to be diverse is well respected by societies in which they operate, and will find that increasing numbers people/other companies are seeking them out to work for/with them. In the long run, embracing equality & diversity could also benefit the company as it will enable them to gain new ideas and look at things from a different perspective. Burberry claims that they are a diverse company when it comes to employment and says that their diverse work force strengthens and drives their success as a luxury brand. The brand now ‘employs nationals of 95 countries across all continents’ (Burberry PLC, 2011). They state that gender equality is promoted within the organisation and equal opportunities are offered at every level of employment. Health, safety and well being Organisations need to genuinely care about the health and safeties of those who are working for them because once they are on their premises the employees become their responsibility. Procedures should be put into place to ensure that the working environment is safe and comfortable enough for their employees to operate in. In order to provide safe and healthy working conditions for their employees and third party contractors, the company sate that they use third party auditors in its locations all of the world to ensure that standards are being met. Stores and offices are said to be audited once every 3 years, and distribution & manufacturing sites annually. In 2010/11, a well-being programme was launched within the company designed to ‘encourage staff to lead healthier lifestyles (IBID, 2011)’. According to the company’s research, the numbers of sick days were reduced by roughly 0.8% per employee. Operating responsibility There has been much controversy around the world in regards to workers in places in third world countries being exploited by companies who simply want cheap labour and have no regards for those producing their products or merely fail to have procedures in place that ensure that these workers are not being treated any differently to for instance a factory worker in the United Kingdom. Burberry believes that ‘to be a great brand u need to be a great company (IBID, 2011)’. They are members of the UN global impact and use its ten principles to guide their CSR activities. The company have a committee of 16 which is solely dedicated to CSR. In the years 2010/11 three meetings were held. â€Å"Burberry believes that its products should be made only in factories that comply with local labour and environmental laws and by workers who work fair but not excessive hours, are provided with a safe, hygienic work environment, and who can exercise their right to freedom of association as well as collective bargaining (IBID, 2011)†. The group have an Ethical Trading Policy, under which clear rules/expectations are said to be set concerning the management of labour standards. Burberry added four new policies to the existing rules that cover bribery and corruption, foreign contract labour, unauthorised sub-contracting and animal welfare. The CRS team deliver training to suppliers where they are made aware of the company’s trading expectations, management systems and counsel on transparency standards for sub-contractors. Stake holder engagement Corporate responsibility should not just be practised with the walls of the organisation. Companies should aim to work together and encourage one and other to do what is morally right and socially acceptable in order to better the supply chain process. By working together, it will increase the chances of change occurring. â€Å"Burberry understands that it cannot solve supply chain labour issues alone and maintains an open dialogue with suppliers, other brands, NGOs and trade unions to bring collective action to bear across the supply chain† The organisation joined the Ethical Trading initiative in June 2010. Ethical trade define the ETI as being â€Å"a sound breaking alliance of companies and trade unions†¦that work in partnership to improve the lives of poor and vulnerable workers across the globe who make or grow consumer goods (2010) Fur When discussing what is ethical and socially acceptable, it is not only human beings that should be discussed. Animal cruelty is a big issue in the especially within high end fashion industry as many of them implement real animal fur and skin into their products. It is a matter of opinion as to whether or not animal fur should be used, however if a company do decided to utilise it, then it should be executed in the most ethical way possible. Burberry openly admits to using real animal fur in the designs. However they state that they only source animal fur from furriers that uphold high standards when it comes to the ethical treatment of animals & share the company’s concerns regarding animal welfare. Helping the environment Global warming is a major concern within the world today. People are being encouraged to reduce their carbon footprints whether it is by taking a greener form of transportation or using less electricity. Organisations more than anyone should be making big changes to the ways in which they operate, as through their production and distribution channels emit more carbon emissions than a normal household. Although it may cost them more money, or even lengthen the time frame of certain processes and procedures, it is an important factor that cannot be overlooked. Recycling is also very important and companies must learn to utilise all of their resources to the fullest. When it comes to trying to assist in sustaining the environment, Burberry’s website make a number of claims as to what they actively do to make a difference. They state that they are dedicated to finding new and innovative ways to reduce their carbon footprint and throughout their global operation. Their performance report for the years 2010/11 is as follows; â€Å"Energy: * Committed to purchasing solar energy to power our distribution centre in Vineland, USA * Inductive motor optimisation panels were trialled in all UK manufacturing sites to reduce energy consumption Business travel: * Due in part to executing the Group’s under-penetrated markets strategy, air travel for UK employees increased by 52% per  £1,000 of turnover Waste: * There was a renewed focus on diverting waste from landfill. In Horseferry House there was a 54% increase in waste recycled during the year * The closed loop textile recycling system launched in the UK last year has been expanded to Europe. Since April 2010, Burberry’s recycling partner has converted over 130 tonnes of sample and raw material waste into car door insulation Logistics transport emissions: * An unprecedented rise in sales coupled with the shift from seasonal to monthly deliveries impacted the Group’s ability to ship goods by sea. To address this, a number of key initiatives have been introduced, including centralised logistics decision making, shortening of critical path and increasing strategic raw materials pre-buys in order to accommodate sea transportation lead times. (Burberry PLC, 2011)† Charity work Giving back the community is an extremely huge part of CSR as it helps to build relationships between the organisation and the community in which it operates. Burberry has its own foundation which came into establishment in 2008. This foundation aims to help young and disadvantaged people with reaching their full potential and realising & accomplishing their dreams. The company encourage their employees to dedicate up to four hours of paid leave per month to help and support the foundation. They provide the youths with one-to-one mentoring, and weekly help with school homework. * â€Å"In 2010/11 over 25% of employees located in cities where the Foundation is active offered their personal talents and business skills to help disadvantaged young people work towards realising their full potential. In total, over 3,700 hours or 490 working days were dedicated to volunteering (IBID, 2011)†. Is Burberry as ethical as it portrays itself to be? Burberry makes a large number of claims on its website in regards to how seriously they take Corporate Social responsibility. However not all companies that present themselves to be good and ethical practice what they advertise. Carelessness and/or neglect can lead to a company’s image being tarnished, even if they have had a good reputation in the past. There have been a number of incidents where Burberry has been seen not to be fulfilling their Corporate Social Responsibility. In 2007, it was exposed that a Chinese factory that manufactured Burberry goods were mistreating members of staff (Appendix 1). Staff were working long hours, with no unions and earning approximately  £15 per week. â€Å"Workers at Tai Yi Sheng Fashion factory, just across the border from Hong Kong in Guangdong province, claim they work 12-hour shifts through the night, in breach of even China’s lax labour laws (The Mirror, 2007)†. In China the law states that no worker should work more than eleven hours per day, however staff claimed that over time is a regular thing and that â€Å"8pm to 8am and Saturday is a full working day(IBID, 2007)†. The Mirror reported that not only were the factory workers working over-time with very little payment, but they were also being docked large sums money from their monthly wage if any mistakes were made. As many of the staff were migrants, they lived in shared accommodation provided by the factory, with up to eight people in one room. Although the factory did not belong to Burberry and was not responsible for manufacturing solely Burberry goods, the company still should have made efforts to inspect the production on a regular basis as the supplier is indirectly representing them. As time has gone by, the company have increased the number of visits made to factories (Appendix 2). In 2008, there were 314 CR visits to factories, 2009 saw 487 visits and in 2010 637; which is approximately a 51% increase within the space of two years. The company have also provided all their supplier’s factories with worker hotlines where they can whistle blow on any unethical activities that may be occurring. This shows that they have responded to incidents such as these and are aspiring to be more ethical. Burberry has also been given a number of awards and recognition for various aspects of Corporate Social responsibility. * In 2010 they were awarded the Female FTSE 100 Award which is given to a company that has the most women on their board. In the same year Burberry were awarded the FTSE Executive Women Award. To earn this award you are required to employ the most female executives in the FTSE 100. â€Å"Thirty-seven companies have multiple women directors, but one quarter of all boards in the FTSE 100 still have no women at all†¦ 43% of their [Burberry] boards are women(BitcDiversity, 2010)† * The company again in 2010 were awarded The Carbon Trust Award. This award recognises a company’s efforts in reducing carbon emissions and it also provides proof to the public that they are committed to making a change. Competitors * Primark On Primark’s website, they state that they take their Corporate Responsibility seriously when it comes to their employees, supporting the community and packaging and waste regulations. The company, just like Burberry are part of the Ethical Trading Initiative which to an extent does provide evidence that they practice good ethics. This is an improvement for them as in 2005, the company came under fire after evidence of them using child labour and exploiting workers in India came to light. In regards to recycling, the company in 2008 recycled ‘8863 tonnes of cardboard and 1194 tonnes of polythene packaging (MRW 2010)’. Primark are yet to win any awards in relation to being eco-friendly and ethical. * Louis Vuitton Following research it is clear that Louis Vuitton strives to be an ethical organisation and is very concerned about the environment. In 2009 the company donated 15% of all sales made through their online store to The Climate Project. â€Å"The company now favours transport of products by ship, far more environmentally friendly than transport by air (as of today, 60% of all leather goods are transported by ship) (Purseblog, 2009)† However, just like their competitor, Louis Vuitton is fond of implementing animal furs and skins into their designs. Recommendations * Burberry should publish all of their emissions in greater detail as they do not provide insufficient information on the emissions that come from their operations. Carbon emissions are based on air travel and global building energy; however all of the figures that Burberry provides are based on their turnover. The company have not made clear its future goals when it comes to reducing carbon emissions within the supply chain and have not shown the public their total carbon footprint. * Remove fur from their production Although Burberry does state that they only deal with furriers that are ethical, there is still great concern around the fact that even some of the higher end furriers are not using ethical procedures and are ignoring animal welfare laws. If Burberry were to completely remove fur from their products it would greatly increase how it is perceived ethically. Other designer brands have taken the plunge in banning fur from their product lines such as Polo Ralph Lauren and Ann Taylor. Alternative materials should be sourced to replace the fur. * Eco friendly factories By winning a Carbon Trust Award, it shows that Burberry is moving forward when it comes to trying to help the environment, yet there is still more than can be done. Eco-friendly factories can help to pave the way to bettering the environment. In an eco-friendly factory, renewable energy can be used such as solar panels. It may not be able to run the whole factory however it will reduce the amount of electricity that is utilised. The factories will incorporate; * Eco-friendly bricks * Plants around the factory as this will create a cooler microclimate * Natural lighting indoors for the staff, via sunroofs * Open their own factories Burberry claim that the majority of their products are made in Europe, however for the remaining locations around the world, the company should open their own factories. This will better enable them to keep an eye on operations and to ensure that workers are being allowed to exercise their rights. When leaving the production in the hands of another organisation, it is very likely that they will operate as they please and could eventually tarnish the brand’s reputation. * Currently, Burberry is using too much air freight. To be greener they should look into using ships to transport their products and materials. Conclusion In conclusion, Burberry is a company that has been able to fulfil their Corporate and Social Responsibility to the fullest. They have been able to react quickly to any areas within the organisation that they may have intentionally or unintentionally overlooked in the past and put regulations in place to ensure that those things do not re-occur in the future. Corporate Social responsibility is not about simply ‘portraying’ the organisation in a good light, it is about going above and beyond away from the eyes of the public and trying to make genuine change. BIBLIOGRAPHY BITCDIVERSITY. (2010). Burberry. Available: http://www.bitcdiversity.org.uk/awards/on_awards_2010/case_studies/ftse_100_award/burberry.html. Last accessed 22nd Jan 2012. Burberry. (2010). CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY. Available: http://uk.burberry.com/store/corporate/corporate-responsibility/. Last accessed 21st Jan 2012. Burberry. (2010). CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY. Available: http://www.burberryplc.com/bbry/corpres/socres/. Last accessed 22nd Jan 2012 Ethical Trading Initiative. (2012). About us. Available: http://www.ethicaltrade.org/about-eti. Last accessed 22nd Jan 2012. Gyekye, L. (2009). Primark defends recyclability of clothes. Available: http://www.mrw.co.uk/primark-defends-recyclability-of-clothes/3005045.article. Last accessed 22nd Jan 2012. Luck, A. (2007). SHAME OF BURBERRY. Available: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2007/06/11/shame-of-burberry-115875-19276939/. Last accessed 22nd Jan 2012. Wikipedia. (2011). Corporate social responsibility. Available: http://en.wiki pedia.org/wiki/Corporate_social_responsibility#cite_note-0. Last accessed 21st Jan 2012.

Industry and Competitive Analysis

Industry and Competitive Analysis The retail industry deals with merchandizing of products and services. This involves the purchase of goods in bulk then reselling them in smaller proportion to consumers. Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Industry and Competitive Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Some companies in the retail industry produce their own branded products and services to gain competitive advantage over other companies in the industry. The ability to produce branded goods and products in the retail industry is a critical success factor because most companies sell homogeneous products. The product idea of manufacturing a fridge with water and ice dispensers developed after assessing consumer’s problems and needs in the twenty-first century. Consumers value convenience and instead of buying separate appliances for preserving food, an ice maker and water dispenser, one product that serves all these functions would offer conven ience to consumers. Industry Analysis A company can offer homogeneous products and services or use a differentiation strategy, which offers unique products with additional features. The degree of differentiation refers to the ingenuity in making a product or service. Highly differentiated products are unique and contain more features than competitor’s products. In the retail industry, differentiated products and services give company a competitive edge over competitors. To attain and maintain market leadership, an organization should regularly reinvent products and services to match dynamic consumer needs. The retail industry carries homogeneous products with very few companies offering consumers branded differentiated products. The retail industry is one of the oldest trades known to man. According to Wrice, the retail industry began with barter trade in the ancient world (2). The industry has evolved over time from small kiosks and fragmented supplies to huge self-service hypermarkets that allow consumers the convenience of obtaining whatever they want under one roof and shopping at the comfort of their neighborhoods. Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Advancement of technology has played a key role in transformation of the retail industry. E-commerce allows organizations to have virtual stores and consumers can shop from the comfort of their homes. The cost structure analysis establishes the correlation between cost and volume. Cost structure also aids in the calculation of breakeven point when determining projected profitability of a product. Before undertaking any manufacturing project, management should establish a cost structure depending on the organizations cash flow needs. Manufacturing methods can be either capital or labor intensive. Labor-intensive projects have high variable costs while capital-intensive projects have hig h fixed costs. Depending on the available resources or methods required for manufacturing the product and affinity towards technology, the management may choose a capital structure with high variable cost or fixed cost. The retail industry has balanced cost structure that requires both fixed costs and variable costs. The retail industry is shifting from the traditional structure by adopting flexible structure that allows companies to meet consumer’s dynamic needs more conveniently. In the wake of the advanced technology, companies have virtual stores, which target consumers who do their shopping online. The retail industry has moved away from urban shopping to increase consumer’s convenience by avoiding traffic jams in urban centers. Retailers now use suppliers’ integration that allows consumers to cater for all their shopping needs under one roof; for example, most companies in the retail industry are incorporating fast-food outlets, a bank and a fueling sta tion to increase consumers’ convenience when shopping.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Industry and Competitive Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Environmental Analysis It is fundamental to undertake environmental analysis of an industry before undertaking any capital-intensive venture. The industry’s environment determines the strategic choices made by a company to gain a competitive advantage over competitors. Environmental analysis helps a potential investor to understand the dynamics of the macro and micro dynamics of the industry. Demographics refer to the composition of the population in an organization’s target industry. The demographics establish which products are likely to be on demand in the market. Demographics of the retail industry are made of vast diversity of ethnic backgrounds; for instance, the number of baby bloomers and the graying age group has been on the rise over time, something that underscores the need to have environmental analysis for the retail industry to thrive. A refrigerator is a necessity in any homestead because it helps preserve food. A refrigerator with additional features such as water and ice dispenser increases offers consumers value for their money in terms of cost and space. The graying community and baby bloomers buy food products in bulk to avoid making many trips to the store hence the need to have a fridge. In addition, the working population also requires the convenience of a refrigerator because people mainly shop over the weekends. As aforementioned, the retail industry has transformed radically due to the advancement in technology. Companies in the retail industry have adopted virtual stores enabling them to engage in international businesses. E-commerce has changed the relationship between organization and consumers. To remain competitive, organizations in the retail industry must understand the dynamics brought about by new technology. Technological advancement has not only presented companies with the opportunity of undertaking international business, but also increased organizations’ vulnerability to competitive rivalry. The political-legal environment regards the rules and regulations governing an industry. Therefore, it is imperative for organizations to understand the political-legal environment of an industry before engaging in any venture. Before manufacturing of the fridge with water and ice dispenser, the patents and trademarks, idea investigation is pertinent to avoid any legal suits, which could jeopardize the manufacturing process.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The economic environment determines consumer’s purchasing power. In the advent of global economic recession, consumers’ purchasing power has gone down significantly. Analysis of the economic dynamics will help an organization to establish which strategies it should adopt to give consumers the incentive to purchase their products and services. Strategic positioning of the refrigerator using product differentiation and penetration pricing will help in launching it into the market successfully. Competitive Analysis Industry’s competition analysis uses the five forces framework viz. â€Å"the threat of new entrants, suppliers bargaining power, buyers bargaining power, threat of substitute, and competitive rivalry within the industry† (Porter 6). The nature of the retail industry allows consumer to switch from one retail store to the next without incurring any cost. This flexibility increases the buyer’s bargaining power. For retail stores to gain marke t leadership, they have to offer consumers with value and fair prices. Supplier bargaining power increases when there is a limited number of suppliers carrying a scarce commodity in an industry. Lack of consumer loyalty in the industry makes the retail business attractive to potential investors. The retail industry offers consumer products purchased from manufacturers hence it is quite difficult to differentiate the product and this scenario decreases customer loyalty and in turn increases threat of new entrants. To mitigate the threat of new entrants, retail stores have adopted low-pricing strategies and offer outstanding customer service to create customer loyalty. The retail industry faces a formidable threat for some of its product lines from substitutes available to consumers. The threat of substitutes is low in the retail industry because the cost of obtaining alternative products is relatively high. A substitute for the fridge with a dispenser is coolers used to preserve food s and drinks. The fridge offers more space for storing food and has additional features, which will appeal to consumers. It is imperative for new entrants to carry out analysis of competitors’ SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunity and threats) analysis in an industry so that to device strategies, which will counter competitors’ moves giving a potential investor a competitive position in the industry. According to Hutchison, Macy, and Allen, to counter the strengths of competitors, it is critical to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of major players in the industry (16). New entrants can use the weaknesses of a competitor as opportunities to gain market share in the industry. Major companies in the retail industry include Target and Wal-Mart. The companies’ brand names are well established; therefore, new entrants into the market need to garner enough resources to create awareness about their products and services, thus building a brand identity. Convenien t location, good customer care, and supplier integration are critical success factors in the retail industry. Although major competitors like Walmart sell homogeneous products and services, they gain competitive through the ability to maintain low cost thus offering consumers the lowest prices in the industry. New entrants into the retail industry can use product differentiation, intensive promotional campaigns, and pricing strategies to gain market share. Competition in the retail industry is high and might be challenging for a new entrant; however, strategic positioning will help to gain a significant market share. Low pricing strategy and product differentiation will help in market penetrating for the fridge with a water and ice dispenser. In addition, intensive promotion strategies will help create awareness of the same. The new refrigerators distribution channels should be exclusive virtual stores to reduce administrative costs thus offering consumers low prices and value. Pr ojected expenses and profitability Before embarking on manufacturing of the fridge with a water and ice dispenser, developing a financial plan will be helpful in evaluating the projected expenses and profitability. Cost analysis helps to evaluate whether it is worthwhile to undertake a business venture or not. Total costs for manufacturing the fridge, like any other manufactured product, will include â€Å"direct material cost, direct labor cost, manufacturing overheads, distribution, marketing, and sunken cost† (Viscusi 1424). The activity-based method is most appropriate when apportioning the manufacturing overheads. The projected profitability calculations commence after establishing estimates of demands for the company’s product. Market analysis should help establish potential demand, which is essential in estimating profitability levels. To achieve profitability, the total cost of manufacturing a unit of a product should be below the break-even point. If the ven ture is profitable, the manufacturing of the fridge should commence immediately after market testing. Conclusion Retail industry has undergone major transformations over the last few decades. The transformations are attributable to changing dynamic consumer needs and advancement in technology. The environmental and competitive dynamics of an industry help to identify appropriate strategic choices for new entrants. Evaluation of the competitor’s weakness and strengths help to identify strategies appropriate for launching a new product into the market. A financial plan helps to give the projected expenses and profitability of a product to determine whether it is worthwhile to undertake the project. Hutchison, Thomas, Macy, Army, and Allen, Paul. Record label marketing. USA: Focal Press, 2010. Print. Porter, Michael. The Five Competitive Forces That Shape Strategy, Harvard Business Review, 2008. Viscusi, Kip. â€Å"Regulating the Regulators. University of Chicago Law Review 6 3.4 (1996): 1423-1461. Wrice, Mark. First Steps in a Retail Career. Australia: Macmillan Publishers. 2002. int.

An Overview Of Volkswagen Group Automobile Industry Marketing Essay

An Overview Of Volkswagen Group Automobile Industry Marketing Essay The main aim from this project is to analyze manufacturing company in term of ratios analysis and common size analysis. We took Volkswagen Group as a manufacturing company and we try to know what are the line business, major competitors, and the goals of Volkswagen Group. Then we start to make common size analysis (vertical and horizontal analysis) for both income statement and balance sheet from year 2005 to 2009 to see the financial performance of the company over the time. Moreover we make ratios analysis to check the liquidity, solvency, profitability, efficiency, and cash flow of the Volkswagen Group.  Finally, the report is going to discuss the data that we found on common size analysis and ratios analysis. Also the report will include all the annual report from 2005 to 2009. Company profile a)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   What is the company’s principal line of business and major competitors? Volkswagen Group majorly known as the VW group is a German originated automobile man ufacturing group that is ranked third largest in world as a motor vehicle manufacturer. The core business of the group includes developing vehicles and components for all marques and manufacturing complete vehicles for the Volkswagen Passenger Cars and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles marques. The group has world-wide working of operations but its primary focus is Europe market. Major competitors of Volkswagen are Toyotta, General Motors, Ford and Hyundai. b)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   On what day does the company’s fiscal year end? The company Fiscal year ends on Dec, 31st c)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   What is the largest source of cash from financing activities? For the year ended Dec 31, 2009 it’s â€Å"Proceeds from issue of Bonds† d)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   What is the largest use of cash from investing activities? For the year ended Dec 31, 2009 it’s â€Å"Disposal of Equity Investments† e)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   What is the average income tax rate for the fiscal year reported? Income tax rate for 2005 is : 35.2%, 2006: 9.1%, 2007:37.0 %, 2008: 29.1%, 2009: 27.7%. The average tax rate is 27.62%. f)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   What is the average issue (sale) price per share of common stock issued as of the end of the fiscal year reported? The average issue (sale) price per share à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ 149.42 Company goals and achievements Descriptive information, Compare goals provided in annual reports with achievements in the following periods, seek for any possible predetermined standards and find out whether the company achieved them in the following periods. There are numerous objectives and goals set by the Management of Volkswagen with the motive of enabling the company to expand the scope of its business and generate sustainable success by focusing on its customers and environment. As part of business operations management, the Board has focused on introducing measures to improve cost structures through process optimization overall a nd modular strategy implementation. The implementation of these goals can be seen through the financial performance of Volkswagen where in terms of sales, the related costs are kept in controlled and balanced trend with no irregular hikes. Volkswagen goal of servicing its customers with most innovative and fascinating vehicles is met with its ability to generate increased world-wide sales and improved cost position. In 2007, the company earned a sales record of 6.2 million vehicles.

Pr 3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Pr 3 - Essay Example Although all the above qualities are desired in a school leader, I believe it is not fair to expect one person to be good at so many aspects of work. This is the reason why â€Å"shared leadership† seems to be an effective idea to me. In shared leadership, the leader passes around the command to the team according to the demand of the job. This is according to Burns theory of Transformational Leadership, which he defined as the â€Å"ability to empower others â€Å".In other areas as well, it is known that after a limit, benefits like salary hike do not motivate the employees any more. The trick beyond that limit is to give them decision making power. The same is true in education as well. An effective school leader helps staff members by providing personal attention, encourages them to think out of the box and shows trust in them by making them a part of important decision making. Another theory that seems to be very appealing to me especially in education is the Servant Leader theory. Educational institutions in our world are generally seen as institutions made to serve the community. Although education is big business nowadays, still people like to think of it as a place which is not for profit but for the welfare of students. In countries like India, schools are considered sacred just like a place of worship. Keeping in mind this mindset of the society, servant leaders are very suitable for schools. These leaders want to serve first, and in the process of serving, they acquire the wisdom, skills and authority of a leader. They are caring, helpful and sensitive to the needs of both the teachers and students of their school and work towards their success by doing constant labor themselves. The leader that has had a major impact on me can be considered as belonging to the servant leader class. Just as the theory describes, this leader was not the principal or top official of the school but was at the center of the