10 Ways To Create Immediate Character Empathy

10 Ways To Create Immediate Character Empathy 10 Ways To Create Immediate Character Empathy Need fast, practical help getting readers to care about your main character? Enjoy this blog by my friend and colleague, an award-winning, bestselling novelist. JJ Guest post by Brandilyn Collins Regardless of genre, novelists must create empathy for protagonists at their first appearance. Mere actionisn’t enough! The most interesting plot won’t matter to readers if they don’t care about your main character. Here’s how to make that happen. Most of these work best when combined with at least one other. Your character must be: Need help writing your novel?Click here to download my ultimate 12-step guide. 1. Displaying a valued trait such as loyalty, love, or courage. Especially important if the protagonist soon makes a bad choice. It’s far easier to create empathy for a character right away than to erase negativity. So before he makes any negative choice, show your protagonist help a child, tend a sick person, stand up for a friend†¦ 2. Particularly good at something. People enjoy watching real talent. This approach involves details. Don’t merely tell us a hunter is efficient with a gun. Show him treating the weapon lovingly, oiling it, practicing with it. Besides a keen eye, maybe he smells prey before seeing it. 3. Treated unjustly. This approach can work on its own, although other techniques can enhance it. It’s human nature to feel bad for someone who meets injustice. 4. Wishing for something universally understood. This includes love, acceptance, purpose. Such desires help soften characters- even those who first come across as selfish or uncaring. So this is a great approach to characters harder to like. 5. Thrust into danger. Anything from facing a storm to a bad guy with a gun. But because we’ve read so many danger-filled scenes, use at least one other technique to make us care about the character. 6. Thrust into grief. The challenge here is that readers don’t yet know the character well enough to feel her pain. But resist the temptation to load in a bunch of backstory to enhance the grief. It’ll slow your story. Find ways to incorporate other empathy approaches within the action. 7. Caring for others, especially at a cost to oneself. Known as a pet-the-dog scene, the Bad Guy shows his tender side: kill the human, kiss the hound. Two points to remember when using this technique: (A) Overdone, the scene can become syrupy. (B) The caring needs to be unassuming. A true caregiver doesn’t stop to think how kind he’s being. 8. Unique, attention-getting. Your character may do off-the-wall things, may look different or think in unique ways, may have an unusual first-person voice. The possibilities are many. This approach needs to be mixed with at least one other. A character can act in all sorts of unusual ways to make you look twice. That doesn’t mean you’ll like him enough to keep reading. 9. Attempting to overcome a fear or make a change. Readers identify with this. We don’t like facing our fears or change. But two challenges: (A) Present the problem clearly enough that readers understand what’s must be overcome and why it’s so hard for the character- without loading in backstory. (B) Sometimes this is more of an internal battle. The character may be deciding whether to walk out on a relationship, or he may have conflicting desires. To make an inner struggle compelling in the opening scene, put it in the context of action. 10. Facing an inner struggle. Differs from #9 in that the character isn’t trying to make a change. She doesn’t know how to handle a burden- guilt, depression, bitterness, jealousy, hate Sometimes the character doesn’t even know she’s burdened. She may be in bondage due to intense bitterness but not realize it. In this case, give the reader just enough information to understand more about the character than the character understands about herself. Just remember that you want the reader to like your character, not think she’s an idiot. Again, it helps to mix in other approaches. Exercise Read the opening scenes to at least five novels you’ve enjoyed. Which techniques were used, and how were they combined? Then read your novel’s first scene. Will readers empathize with your protagonist by the end of it? See how others- who’ll be honest with you- react. Brandilyn Collins (www.brandilyncollins.com) is a best-selling author of 30 books. She isknown for her Seatbelt Suspense ®- fast-paced, character-driven novels with myriad twists and a thread of faith. Brandilyn teaches fiction-writing techniques in her book Getting Into Character. She has won numerous writing awards and is a frequent speaker at writers conferences. Brandilyn and her husband have three grown children and live in the Pacific Northwest. Which of her techniques above will help your work-in-progress? Tell me in the Comments below. Need help writing your novel?Click here to download my ultimate 12-step guide.

Social Influence on the Amish Culture. Professor Ramos Blog

Social Influence on the Amish Culture. https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1zh3oAvUWTAzUA1_2uGe2zHCJN_y4S-1LeBa00XLqa4s/edit?usp=drivesdk

Harpo Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Harpo - Article Example h Winfrey show where she showed her social support to the population both local and international has revolutionized the society to become more open minded towards discussing social issues openly. More importantly, is her role in promoting the social activity of finding a solution to these social issues and implementing these solutions. This has influenced many communities to outgrow certain levels of criticism and denial well enough to address social issues faced daily. There are some few potential dangers in having a super powerful leader such as Oprah Winfrey being the head of your company (â€Å"Case: Harpo,† n.d). One of the dangers is when the leader has so much power and decides to abuse and misuse this power. This action is very dangerous especially if the investors are engaged in false investment schemes promoted by the leader that will only have them losing their finances. The company will gain a bad reputation, and recovery is very hefty. Another potential danger is in the leader instilling too much fear towards the employees in the company. There is a certain model of treatment that every leader will want to articulate in their company toward themselves and even towards the employees. If the leaders start to be harsh and have the management do the same, the employees’ performance will be negatively affected, thus, making the company employees fearful of the leader and unable to achieve the company goals every year. As already witnessed in history, when a super powerful leader of a company or nation departs from it either through retirement or because of an ailment or death, the chances of creating a continuum of success is very slim. The best ways in which Oprah Winfrey can ensure that Harpo will survive after her departure, whether due to death, ailment or even due to a tarnished public appeal is by creating and implementing a leadership succession plan. In this situation, she should have an active plan of having every individual undertaking a

The effect magazine advertisements have on women Essay

The effect magazine advertisements have on women - Essay Example In today’s world, Magazines are considered to be trendy, cool and fashionably sensitive.Magazines come in all shapes, sizes and colours addressing and covering a variety of topics and issues. Men and women often tend to carry a magazine with them to pass their time. Today, we have magazines covering the latest fashion, Hollywood scandal, the glitz and the glamour of celebrity lifestyles, sports and fitness, just to name a few! The ‘magazine business’ is a multi million dollar business simply because it is affordable and also produced on a monthly basis in general. Although men and women buy and read magazines, it is indeed safe to say that most if not all magazines covet the â€Å"perfect woman† to adorn its pages, sell its products and lure customers to take the bait.In this paper we will look at how popular magazines focus on spreading the image that in order for a woman to look beautiful, she must look a certain way and follow a particular style. We will examine the consequences and effects that this has had on women, look at why there is such a great demand for scantily clad women and why does sex sell so quick!We will also look at why Caucasian women are more in demand to pose for magazines and be their glamour girls more than any other race in the world.I will conclude this paper by examining the cause and effects that magazines have on women and how can one be wise enough not to be snared or captured by the glitz and the glamour that these magazines so readily display! display! Magazines: Their Powers of Persuasion One of the strongest forces that magazines use is 'The power of persuasion'. The power of persuasion goes to work on the reader as soon they pick up the magazine. It was Gloria Steinem who said "Most women's magazines simply try to mold women into bigger and better consumers". And that's the reason why we see magazines such as 'Cosmopolitan', 'Vogue' 'Glamour' etc having celebrities and models adorn their pages and promote their products. Through them they convey to the world, that in order to be like them and look like them you must follow them. Most magazines encourage its readers to go on diets to make them look thinner, try plastic surgery so that they can fix any 'flaws' that they have and urge you to try their beauty secrets and vitamin pills so that you can not only look good but also feel good! These magazines make sure they feature a list of their products that will help you achieve your goal! The power of persuasion works through the medium of suggestion and this is one of the biggest reasons why Magazines have such a tremendous impact on the world at large! Magazines: The Pictures they Paint The front covers of most magazines have pictures of celebrities and models that are scantily clad and in a pose that is both suggestive as well as provocative. On the front pages are alluring captions which act as powerful tools of persuasion and immediately go to work on the readers mind. The November issue of Cosmopolitan has the words "Get a sexy Bod" in bold letters on its front page, Vogue has Jennifer Aniston on its front cover with a bold lettered caption "The Shape Issue" and Muscle Mag has wwe diva Candice Michelle on its cover to promote fitness and subtly suggest how one can and should have a body like Candice. The message that is being sent across to every woman through these magazines is very subtle but yet perfectly clear. They suggest that if you want to look glamorous, be in sync with the latest style and be the center of attention, you must do whatever it takes, buy whatever it

Whole Foods Market Essay Example for Free

Whole Foods Market Essay John Mackey cofounder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) founded Whole Foods in 1980 with the purpose of providing organic foods to the grocery shopping public. This started a movement over the next 30 years that has brought organic foods to the common shoppers in many markets around the U. S. that had only been previously serviced by smaller health food stores or by their local grocery chain. The success of Whole Foods moving forward will be how they can succeed and maintain their profitability when unemployment remains high and Americans have less disposable income. This essay will look at several factors of Whole Foods, including latest trends, the competitive environment in the grocery industry, environmental threats, SWOT analysis of the business operations and strengths that must be leveraged to maintain a competitive advantage. Trends in the Organic Foods and the Impact on Whole Foods As the public has become increasingly aware of the potential negative impact of additives, preservatives, and pesticides in their food, organic food grown in a natural way without steroids, pesticides and minimum preservatives offers consumers who are concerned about their food a different choice. Prior to 1990, there was no government standardization or definition as to what could or could not be classified as natural food. The 1990 passage of the Organic Food Production Act, â€Å"started the process of establishing national standards for organically grown products in the United States† (Thompson, Strickland, Gamble, 2009). This was followed up in 2002 when the U. S. Department of Agriculture provided further standardization by establishing standards for the labeling of products that were categorized as organic. This standardization worked to alleviate customer concern and skepticism in regards to what was being called organic on the food store shelves. In increasing overall customer confidence, consumers knew that when they purchased a product labeled as organic, they were getting what they paid for. Public health concern over what is done to grow, process, and package the food supply as well as the standardization and classification of organic food has create a niche market for stores that focus on supplying organic foods and earth friendly cleaning supplies to consumers. Whole Foods has been able to capitalize on this growing niche market by strategically locating their stores through an aggressive expansion into new markets through the last thirty years. Acquisition of competitors has also allowed Whole Foods to absorb the competition and gain access to new markets. As long as consumers are able to afford the premiums cost in purchasing organic foods, the market outlook is positive. Application of Porter’s 5 Forces Model The grocery industry is a competitive one, with many competitors and very slim profit margins. Box store chains such as Wal-Mart and Target leverage their high volume purchasing power to purchase products from suppliers at the absolute lowest price. These compete with other grocery chains that typically operate on a Regional level, such as Harris Teeter, Food Lion, and Lowes (and many, many more). All of these stores compete aggressively to earn customer loyalty and drive volume of sales. Whole Foods is able to compete as it markets its goods and services to a very niched market that afford the premium of purchasing organic foods. When applying Porter’s Five-Forces model, one can see how this company has been able to successfully grow and leverage their products and services. Competitive Pressures Created by the Rivalry among Competing Sellers: Whole Foods has differentiated themselves from a very crowded market by offering a unique product to a very select consumer base. While stores such as Wal-Mart focus on serving the masses with their grocery offerings, Whole Foods targets it products to a customer base that can afford to pay higher premiums for a product that they believe is healthier and safer to consume. The growth of Whole Foods has allowed it to leverage its purchasing power with suppliers that allows for Whole Foods to pass on savings to consumers and offer more competitive prices than competitors. As in the case with the Wild Oats acquisition, Whole Foods can squeeze the margins of its competition then buy them out as they begin to fail, gaining access to new markets and new customers. Competitive Pressures Associated with the Threat of New Entrants: Whenever a business model has proven to be successful, it is not long before similar entrants to the market appear. One organic food supermarket chain local to North Carolina, Fresh Market, has focused on smaller sized stores located in areas underserved by Whole Foods. Fresh Market focused its business model on locating its stores near university campuses and other areas where residents had higher levels of disposable income. Now Fresh Market is expanded to more markets easily served by its distribution centers that are centrally located to the entire East Coast of the United States (the I-95 and I-40 corridors). As Whole Foods is both well established and has significant cash reserves, it enjoys a competitive advantage over smaller chains such as Fresh Market when it looks to penetrate new markets with new stores because the necessary capital is on hand to do so. Competitive Pressures from the Sellers of Substitute Products: It can be expected that Wal-Mart and other competitors seek to steal business from Whole Foods by keeping their prices low, locating stores in proximity to whole foods stores, offer similar organic products for less and potentially conducting studies that show organic foods offer no additional health benefit or decrease risk to consumers than non-organic foods. The question also becomes, how loyal will Whole Foods customers continue to be when food prices begin to soar as oil and gas hit all time highs and the unemployment rate continues to hover close to 10%? Will customers need to stretch their dollars and go across the street to the competition or will they be loyal to Fresh Market and pay the premium? Competitive Pressures Stemming from Supplier Bargaining Power and Supplier-Seller Collaboration: Whole Foods is able to leverage its pricing structure with suppliers more than competitors because of the volume of products it sells. In fact, it can be said that the growth of Whole Foods has fueled the growth and financial success of its suppliers. This relationship has allowed Whole Foods to develop relationships with key suppliers and logistics providers that new and smaller organic food chains are unable to compete with. Competitive Pressures Stemming from Buyer Bargaining Power and Seller-Buyer Collaboration: As arguably the largest buyer of organic products, Whole Foods is able to leverage relationships from suppliers. When a new Whole Foods stores opens it â€Å"takes [in 2007 dollars] about $850,00, to stock a store with inventory, a portion of which was financed by vendors† (text citation). By be able to leverage it suppliers in this fashion, Whole Foods can mitigate financial risk and burden. Most Significant Environmental Threat and Whole Foods Combat The largest threat to the profitability to Whole Foods is the state of the current economy and the rise in commodities prices as a result of some of the highest gas prices on record. As consumers have less discretionary income, will they afford to continue shopping at grocery stores that charge a higher premium? As gas prices rise, so to does the cost of growing, harvesting, and shipping products to the store. Gasoline is used in each of the steps from the farmer growing and harvesting the food, to the large trucks that transport it, to the energy required to supply the packaging and the electricity in all of the stores. The rise in fuel will drastically reduce profit margins and may require price increases. To combat the rise in energy costs, it might be possible for Whole Foods to invest more in green energy. Already upgrading their vehicles to run on bio-diesel, it might be possible for Whole Foods to place solar farms on the roofs of their buildings much like Kohl’s Department Stores have. This would be in line with their corporate governance and mission statement and would allow them to harness the power of the sun to sell energy back to energy producers thereby reducing overall costs while taking advantage of the government green energy tax credits currently in place. SWOT Analysis Strengths (Internal): Cash Rich – Debt to Capital Ratio of 13. 97% (industry Average 37. 88%), Positive Earnings of $. 51 per Share, Strong Distribution Network, Supplier Relationships, Loyal Customer base, Motivated Work Force, High Rate of Revenue per Employee of $206,849. 70 (TD Ameritrade, 2011). Weaknesses (Internal): Unionization, Cowboy Leadership-John Mackey, Average Store Size 37,600 square feet (down from 51,500 in 2008), Average Store Age is Nine Years (TD Ameritrade, 2011). Opportunities (External): Increased Growth in Overseas Markets, Store Expansions in the U. S. , Perceived Shareholder Value, Ability to Borrow Money at Favorable Rates due to Credit Rating. Threats (External): Cap and Trade, Rise in Oil Prices, Drastic Reductions in Real Estate Values, Consumer Income and Unemployment, Government Regulation and Taxation, Government Mandated Health Care, Drought and Weather Related Issues that Affect Supply. Sustaining Competitive Advantage Whole Foods can use it strengths and opportunities to achieve a sustained competitive advantage in the marketplace by increasing their presence in markets in both the U. S. and abroad. The company is moving forward slowly with expansion plans with only one store currently under development as of 9/26/10 (TD Ameritrade, 2011). With real estate at all time lows in most markets, the company could leverage some of the equity and cash it currently has on hand to purchase real estate where future stores could be opened. With the instability and uncertainty in the economy investing in real estate would allow for future growth or future profits. Whole Foods should also continue to find new opportunities to grow their business to non-believers in the organic way. By sanctioning health outcome studies that look at the long term health implications of eating foods high in preservatives, steroids, pesticide content, etc. , it is possible Whole Foods might prove overall better health outcomes when people go organic. There is also risk associated with sanctioning that sort of study as it might prove to be that organic foods offer no better health outcomes than traditional foods. The risk reward would be fantastic should organics be found to provide better health outcomes. Store sales would skyrocket and the general population would be more willing to purchase organic foods at a higher premium should it prove to be safer than traditional food. Summary When one researches the financials and fundamentals of Whole Foods, little negatives are observed or found. When comparing these financials and fundamentals to other Grocery Store Chains, Whole Foods out performs the competition in nearly every single category. At the close of the markets on 4/21/2011, Whole Foods stock closed at $66. 30 per share, close to its 52 week high and dividends are being paid to investors at an incredible $. 40 per share (TD Ameritrade, 2011). John Mackey, though often criticized for his flamboyant style and leadership, has found a successful way to reach customers with a unique product. Whole Foods is a leader and a revenue generator far above others in its class. References TD Ameritrade. (2011, April 16). Research and Ideas. [Chart]. WFMI Overview and Valuation. Retrieved April 23, 2011 from https://wwws. ameritrade. com/cgi-bin/apps/Main Thompson, A. A. , Strickland, A. J. , Gamble, J. E. (2010). Crafting and executing strategy: The quest for competitive advantage: Concepts and cases: 2009 custom edition (17th ed. ). p. 8,New York, NY: McGraw-Hill-Irwin

Examination of Womens Friendships through an Analysis of Katherine Phi

Examination of Women's Friendships through an Analysis of Katherine Philips' Friendship's Mystery: To My Dearest Lucasia When readers reflect on the poetry of the seventeenth century, poets such as John Donne and the Metaphysicals, Jonson and the Cavaliers, and John Milton often come to mind. The poetry crosses over various boundaries of Neoplatonic, Ovidian, and Petrarchan forms, for example, often with many references to women filling the lines. Described as helpless creatures, seventeenth century women were often shut out from all possibilities of power, and they were generalized into four categories: virgins, women to be married, married, and widowed. In the state of marriage, women were forced to be the submissive, powerless objects of their husbands. Equality and balance within their marriages were of no concern to men of the seventeenth century. Out of the oppressive setting of the seventeenth century arose very few women poets; however, Katherine Philips not only became a poet, but she also displayed her will to survive by responding to the negativity that surrounded the lives of females, especially the oppression of women in marriages. By focusing on the importance of friendships between women Philips used her poetry, specifically "Friendship's Mystery: To My Dearest Lucasia," as an outlet to critique the misogyny and misrepresentations of marriages put forth by male poets, such as John Donne, and the oppressive social settings of the seventeenth century. In order to better understand Philip's critique of Donne within the lines of her poetry, a reading of twentieth century critic Adrienne Rich's essay "When We Dead Awaken: Writing for Re-Vision" ... ...Company, 2000. Donne, John. "The Canonization." Abrams 1240-1241. Donne, John. "The Relic." Abrams 1253-1254. Donne, John. "The Sun Rising." Abrams 1239. Hageman, Elizabeth H. "The Matchless Orinda: Katherine Philips." Women Writers of the Renaissance Reformation. Georgia, 1987. Mendelson, Sara and Patricia Crawford. Women in Early Modern England 1550-1720. New York: Oxford University Press, 1998. Philips, Katherine. "Friendship's Mystery: To My Dearest Lucasia." Souers, Philips Webster. The Matchless Orinda. London: Oxford University Press, 1931. Rich, Adrienne. "When We Dead Awaken: Writing for Re-vision." On Lies, Secrets, and Silence. New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 1979. 33-49. Wiesner, Merry E. Women and Gender in Early Modern Europe. New York: Cambridge, 1993. Norton Topics Online: www. wwnorton.com/nael Examination of Women's Friendships through an Analysis of Katherine Phi Examination of Women's Friendships through an Analysis of Katherine Philips' Friendship's Mystery: To My Dearest Lucasia When readers reflect on the poetry of the seventeenth century, poets such as John Donne and the Metaphysicals, Jonson and the Cavaliers, and John Milton often come to mind. The poetry crosses over various boundaries of Neoplatonic, Ovidian, and Petrarchan forms, for example, often with many references to women filling the lines. Described as helpless creatures, seventeenth century women were often shut out from all possibilities of power, and they were generalized into four categories: virgins, women to be married, married, and widowed. In the state of marriage, women were forced to be the submissive, powerless objects of their husbands. Equality and balance within their marriages were of no concern to men of the seventeenth century. Out of the oppressive setting of the seventeenth century arose very few women poets; however, Katherine Philips not only became a poet, but she also displayed her will to survive by responding to the negativity that surrounded the lives of females, especially the oppression of women in marriages. By focusing on the importance of friendships between women Philips used her poetry, specifically "Friendship's Mystery: To My Dearest Lucasia," as an outlet to critique the misogyny and misrepresentations of marriages put forth by male poets, such as John Donne, and the oppressive social settings of the seventeenth century. In order to better understand Philip's critique of Donne within the lines of her poetry, a reading of twentieth century critic Adrienne Rich's essay "When We Dead Awaken: Writing for Re-Vision" ... ...Company, 2000. Donne, John. "The Canonization." Abrams 1240-1241. Donne, John. "The Relic." Abrams 1253-1254. Donne, John. "The Sun Rising." Abrams 1239. Hageman, Elizabeth H. "The Matchless Orinda: Katherine Philips." Women Writers of the Renaissance Reformation. Georgia, 1987. Mendelson, Sara and Patricia Crawford. Women in Early Modern England 1550-1720. New York: Oxford University Press, 1998. Philips, Katherine. "Friendship's Mystery: To My Dearest Lucasia." Souers, Philips Webster. The Matchless Orinda. London: Oxford University Press, 1931. Rich, Adrienne. "When We Dead Awaken: Writing for Re-vision." On Lies, Secrets, and Silence. New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 1979. 33-49. Wiesner, Merry E. Women and Gender in Early Modern Europe. New York: Cambridge, 1993. Norton Topics Online: www. wwnorton.com/nael

Concept of Globalisation

Concept of Globalization Globalization means different things to different people. The three important perspectives of globalization are as follows: †¢ To a business executive, globalization refers to a strategy of crossing national boundaries through globalized production and marketing networks. †¢ To an economist, globalization refers to an economic interdependence between countries covering increased trade, technology, labor, and capital flows. †¢ To a political scientist, globalization refers to an integration of a global community in terms of ideas, norms, and values. Because of these differences in perspectives, globalization has been defined in many different ways. The following are the widely used definitions of globalization: †¢ â€Å"Globalization is a free movement of goods, services, people, capital, and information across national boundaries. † †¢ â€Å"Globalization is a process by which an activity or undertaking becomes worldwide in scope. † †¢ â€Å"Globalization is a process of integration of the world as one market. † Form these definitions; it is clear that globalization leads to an integrated global economy. The process of globalization ultimately converts the huge globe into a small global village. Forms of Globalization Globalization is a multi-dimensional process. It has four important dimensions: economic, cultural, political, and environmental. The process of globalization is now influencing these aspects of an economy. A brief description of these forms of globalization is as follows: ECONOMIC GLOBALIZATION: Economic influence is the most obvious part of globalization. Economic globalization is contributed by liberalization, deregulation, privatization, and declining costs of the markets in goods, services, capital, trade, and finance. Economic globalization has speeded up in the recent past. A free-trade doctrine removes the barriers to the flow of goods between countries. The formation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) has given impetus to this process. Multinational companies are another force to boost up economic globalization. CULTURAL GLOBALIZATION: Different countries have different sets of national beliefs, values and norms. The expanding process of globalization has brought these cultural diversities together to form a global culture. Advances in communications, television networks, transportation technology have been reducing the barriers of distance and culture. Over the last several years, global communications have been revolutionized by developments in satellites, digital switching, and optical fiber telephone lines. As a result of such developments, reliable system of commercial jet travel has reduced the time it takes to get from one location to another. This has tremendous impact on the flow of tourists across the globe. Television programmers have made people aware of other cultures and languages. These have reduced the cultural distance between countries. The process of globalization has increased mutual understanding, peaceful coexistence, and learning from each other's experiences. POLITICAL GLOBALIZATION: Nations today are more inter-dependent. They are joining hands to participate in creating macro-political framework for development. There are exchanges of views and experiences between nations regarding the establishment of good governance system, legal system, human rights, free media, property rights, decentralized pattern of governance, relatively free access to state information, and so on. The regional grouping of nations has promoted the integration further and created pressure for democracy and human rights. Because of these global influences, the political system worldwide made a shift away from command and mixed economies to the free-market model. ENVIRONMETAL GLOBALIZATION: The globe today is facing unprecedented problems of global warming, depletion of the ozone layer, acute loss of bio-diversity, and trans-border pollution. In fact, ecological problems like floods, soil erosion, water pollution, air pollution, acid rain, and global warming cross national borders without hindrance. To prevent any further degradation of global ecology, the world community is actively engaged in preventing the growing problem of environment. Today, world attention has been drawn toward conservation of environment, harnessing water resources, and judicious use of non-renewable resource. The world community is, therefore, trying to encourage countries to understand these global environment issues and adopt legal and other measures to protect the environment. Nature of Globalization Globalization promotes international business. The international business is composed of four main categories: (i) world trade, (ii) portfolio investment (iii) direct investment, and (iv) multinational enterprises. A brief description of international business is given below: WORLD TRADE: The oldest form of international business is trading of merchandise. Consumers in one country buy goods, which are produced in another country. This is a common phenomenon. Most of the world trade today is among the industrialized countries. World trade is mostly made up of manufactured goods. The service trade has also been rapidly increasing during recent years. Export business is beneficial for a country not only in terms of trade, but also because it creates export-related jobs. With the growing integration of the world economy, world trade would also increase. In fact, expansion of world trade itself has been made easier by two things. Firstly, technological changes in transport, global network of banking and insurance, and information flows have made it possible to undertake world trade more quickly. Secondly, a number of international and regional agreements or arrangements have been established to promote and coordinate world trade. PORTFOLIO INVESTMENT: International portfolio investment is also known as indirect foreign investment. Portfolio investment is the second main type of globalization. It is the purchase of foreign securities in the form of stocks, bonds, or commercial papers to obtain a return on that investment in the form of dividends, interests, or capital gains. Acquiring foreign stocks and bonds does not confer managerial control of a foreign enterprise on the buyer. Rather, the international portfolio investor is a creditor whose main concern is a decent return on his or her investment. Therefore, the capital flow is greatly affected by relative interest rates and strong currency values, which result in high return for the investors. FOREIGN DERECT INVESTMENT: Foreign direct investment (FDI) is the long-term capital investment. It involves acquisitions by domestic firms of foreign-based factories or any other types of business firms. The investor, thus, enjoys managerial control over the assets of the acquired firm. Direct investment may be financed in a number of ways other than through capital movements. Foreign investments may be financed by borrowing locally, by reinvesting foreign earnings, by the sale to foreign affiliate of non-financial assets such as technology, or through funds generated by licensing fees and payments for management services to the parent company. MULTINATIONAL COMPANIES: FDI is an important vehicle for the birth and growth of multinational companies. A multinational company encompasses both domestic and overseas operations. It is called multinational because it operates across national boundaries. However, its focus is on foreign markets. A multinational company, thus, has all the components of the definition of globalization and international business discussed above. Being multinational in scope and activity, such firms also encounter wide-ranging socio-cultural, political, and legal problems while operating in many different countries. Methods of Globalization There are a number of methods for globalization of business. In each method, there is a choice of strategies to follow. These strategies are sometimes referred to as â€Å"foreign market entry strategies†. If the international business strategy is to be successful, a business firm must carefully analyze the advantages and disadvantages of different entry methods before deciding on its approaches. A brief account of some of the methods of globalization is as follows: EXPORTING: The most widely used and common method of doing business internationally is exporting. A direct export operation is a direct sale by a manufacturer to an overseas customer. Indirect exporting involves selling through an intermediary. Exporting is preferable when the cost of production in the home country is substantially lower than producing goods in foreign markets. Therefore, business firms having cost advantage would like to export their products to foreign markets instead of investing in production facilities there. Exporting is, thus, the first stage in the evolution of international business. Exporting is the best alternative under a given set of conditions. It is the least complex global operations. However, there are some factors, which make exporting less attractive than other alternatives. For example, policies of some governments discriminate against import. In some cases, imports are even banned. There may also be hostility against imports. In these situations, exporting strategy may not be effective. LICENSIG AND FRANCHINSG: Licensing and franchising are important entry and expansion methods. Through these methods, the companies can expand their business. Earnings come to the company through fees and royalties. Today, many western companies have been extensively using licensing and franchising practices. One of the growing trends in international business today has been trademark licensing. This has become a substantial source of worldwide revenue. Licensing offers rapid entry into a foreign market. Under international licensing, a business firm can contractually assign the rights to certain technical know-how, design, intellectual property to a foreign company in return for royalty. In many countries, law regulates such fees or royalties. At times, a licensing agreement may be of cross-licensing type wherein there is mutual exchange of knowledge and patents. In a cross-licensing arrangement, a cash payment may or may not be involved. The advantage of licensing is that the licenser does not have to bear the development costs associated with opening up in a foreign country. The licensee bears the costs. Franchising is a form of licensing in which a parent company (the franchiser) grants another independent entity (the franchise) the right to do business in a prescribed manner. The franchisee buys an established marketing package without the risks of product acceptance, market testing, etc. The franchiser gets foreign market entry at minimum cost, plus a local ntrepreneur. The privilege may be the right to sell the parent company's product, to use its name, to adopt its methods, or to copy its symbols, trademarks and architecture. One of the common forms of franchising involves the franchiser supplying some ingredients for finished products, like coca-cola supplying the syrup to the bottlers. Hilton Hotels might sell a franchise to a local company in Nepal to operate hotels under the Hilton name. FULLY OWNED MANUFACTURING FACILITIES: Bigger corporations establish their own factories abroad. This strategy has some advantages. The corporation owning the factory has full control over production and quality. There is also no risk of developing potential competitors as in the case of licensing and contract manufacturing. However, there may be some problems while operating in a foreign country. The government may impose restrictions on the use of desired technology. Similarly, constraints such as lack of skilled manpower, infrastructural facilities, production bottlenecks, raw material supply etc. may also be encountered. Above all, the corporation may have to invest a lot in terms of financial and managerial resources to operate the plant in its fullest capacity. JOINT VENTURES A joint venture is a partnership in which the domestic firm and the foreign firm negotiates tie up involving one or more of the the following:equity,transfer of technology,investment,production and marketing. The arrangement defines responsibility for performance,accountability and powersharing. MERGER AND ACQUISITION The most extensive form of participation in global market is 100% ownership,which may be achieved by start up,merger or acquisition STRATEGIC ALLIANCE Various terms are used to describe the linkage between firms to jointly pursue a common goal,such as collaborative agreements,strategic alliance and global strategic partnership. EFFECT OF GLOBALISATION Increasing globalization has many effect and consequences on an indivisual business firm as well as the national economy. These effect are both positive as well as negative. We can identity some 5 major effects of Globalisation Liberalized International Trade Import Penetration Foreign Direct Investment Multinational Companies Competitive Environment

Audiences are not only entertained Essay

For centuries, drama has acted as a mirror for culture and society. Through the power of dramatic form, we have been invited to be entertained yet also engaged in the social concerns, which can both be provocative and surprising. Both ‘Stolen’ by Jane Harrison and ‘A Beautiful Life’ by Michael Futcher and Helen Howard address contemporary social concerns and issues in Australian society. Stolen employs dramatic styles, techniques and conventions to portray the social issues caused by the stolen generation. On the other hand, A Beautiful Life again employs dramatic styles, techniques and conventions to portray the unforgettable story of a refugee family who escaped the hardships of Tehran Jail, only to find themselves suffering racism and injustice in the High Court of Australia. Stolen addresses the Stolen Generation and the social concerns surrounding the impact of individuals and the Indigenous community. Harrison splits up the action between five diverse characters, tracing their independent stories from childhood to adulthood. We have the sexually and physically abused (Ruby); the hopeful turned hopeless (Jimmy); the stolen child who in turn has her children stolen from her (Shirley), the lost (Sandy) and the ‘black’ girl in a ‘white’ man’s world (Anne). In a workshop of the opening scene, ‘Arriving’ (pg. 1) in which the characters speak in the ‘stream of conscious style’ the difference in what each actor produced to portray their particular character was very noticeable. Harrison’s use of a wide breadth of characters is effective in reflecting the broad spectrum of social concerns the Stolen Generation faced: physical, sexual and mental abuse, ‘I promised not to tell’ (Ruby: pg. 8); high suicide and depression rates, ‘I can’t fight’ (Jimmy: pg. 34); cultural loss, ‘Who do you think you are?’ (Voices: 29); loss of belonging, ‘Always on the run’ (Sandy: pg. 3) and loss of family, ‘This time I’m going to hold my baby and never let go’ (Shirley: 2). Stolen uses absurdist techniques, including a non-linear and episodic plot  structure and undefined place and time to convey the disconnection and lost culture that has resulted within the Indigenous community as a result of the Stolen Generation. The dialogue closely follows the conventions of spoken language creating a sense of realism to the audience, to emphasis the fact that these events did happen and cannot be reversed. One of the most typical techniques with Stolen is the use of monologues. The experiences of each child are portrayed through these monologues – the delivery indicates how these experiences are traumatic and a fundamental part of their psyche that is not easily spoken about through normal conversation. Through a class workshop I was able to watch a class mate act Jimmy’s monologue ‘Racist Insults'(pg. 33-34). I found this scene particularly engaging because we are not only watching a young man end his life, but we watch a fraction of how our ‘White Australians’ treated the Indigenous. The audience gets a first hand view of the racism and abuse copped by most Indigenous Australians, this scene shines a direct light on the hardships we put forward onto our Indigenous and why a whole culture is missing from our nation. While Stolen deals with how we treat our Indigenous, A Beautiful Life cover the social issues surrounding refugees and the ignorance of Australian people regarding human rights. This play covers the period when 5000 Mojahedin freedom fighters were killed by Iran’s government regime. The play interweaves the experiences of Hamid: his torture in jail in Tehran and witnessing human rights abuses before making a dramatic escape to Australia; and his arrest and trial following a protest outside of the Iranian Embassy in Canberra in 1992. Hamid, his wife Jhila and their son Amir – who represent refugee culture – are represented in the court by Australian lawyers Brendon O’Sullivan and Stephanie James. Both present the Australian culture as being ignorant ‘bloody Arabs’ (pg. 21), racist ‘a bunch of Muslim fanatics’ (pg. 7) and stereotypical ‘ranting bloody slogans to Allah’ (pg. 7). Futcher and Howard emphasis the un-empathetic nature, stereotypical and racist culture of Australians through Stephanie and Brendan. Amir (Hamid’s son) makes the perfect narrator as he grows and develops through the play from a young Iranian boy into a 20 year old Iranian/Australian who can believable comment on both countries. The character of Amir has humour ‘She’s Irish, she can get really angry’ (pg. 41), compassion, ‘It’s all  right, Mum’ (pg.11) and a desire to tell the story of his Iranian/Australian family, ‘What about the Boltons, Dad? (pg. 13). Brechtian techniques such as the used of a non-linear and episodic storyline, as well as historification and the breaking of the forth wall (through Amir) give insight into contrasting cultures and systems of justice. The use of performance styles, such as physical theatre, engage the audience so that the play has heighten reality: allowing the audience to follow Hamid, through the racism, prejudice and his lack of human rights. The use of dramatic dialogue allows the characters in A Beautiful Life, persuade, argue, threaten, provoke and inspire the audience. Language techniques include the use of the Farsi accent or clipped tone to lend authenticity to the Iranian feel of the text and of course to show the reactions of ‘Australians’ – represented by Brendan and Stephanie – when the characters speak their mother tongue. I first encountered the use of the accent when acting the character of Jhila in _SCENE FIVE,_ I feel as an actor that use of accent does add authenticity and a sense of realism throughout the scenes making it easier for the audience to connect with the character rather than the actor. Through the power of dramatic form, we have been invited to be entertained yet also engage in the social concerns explored throughout Stolen and A Beautiful Life. Through the performance of scenes in workshop activities and in-depth study of both texts, I have come to understand the styles, form and conventions Harrison, Futcher and Howard use to convey their points of view. Whilst Stolen uses absurdism to portray the social issues caused by the stolen generation, A Beautiful Life uses Brechtian techniques to portray the unforgettable story of a refugee family who escaped the hardships of the pain and suffering caused by the Stolen Generation on both the personal and societal side Tehran Jail, only to find themselves suffering racism and injustice in the High Court of Australia. On a final note both composers worked well using dramatic forms, techniques and conventions to engage the audience to understand the social concerns explored in the plays.

Clerestory Windows in Architectural Design

Clerestory Windows in Architectural Design A clerestory window is a large window or series of small windows along the top of a structures wall, usually at or near the roof line. Clerestory windows are a type of fenestration or glass window placement found in both residential and commercial construction. A clerestory wall often rises above adjoining roofs. In a large building, like a gymnasium or train station, the windows will be positioned to allow light to illuminate a large interior space. A smaller home may have a band of narrow windows along the very top of a wall. Originally, the word clerestory (pronounced CLEAR-story) referred to the upper level of a church or cathedral. The Middle English word clerestorie means clear story, which describes how an entire story of height was cleared to bring natural light to sizable interiors. Designing With Clerestory Windows Designers who wish to maintain wall space and interior privacy AND keep a room well-lighted often use this type of window arrangement for both residential and commercial projects. It is one way to use architectural design to help your home out of the darkness. Clerestory windows are most often used to naturally illuminate (and often ventilate) large spaces such as sports arenas, transportation terminals, and gymnasiums. As modern sports stadiums and arenas became enclosed, with and without retractable roofing systems, the clerestory lens, as its called on the 2009 Cowboys Stadium, became more common. Early Christian Byzantine architecture featured this type of fenestration to shed overhead light into the massive spaces builders were beginning to construct. Romanesque- era designs expanded the technique as medieval basilicas achieved more grandeur from height. The architects of Gothic-era cathedrals made clerestories an art form. Some say it was  American architect Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959) who adapted that Gothic art form to residential architecture. Wright was an early promoter of natural light and ventilation, no doubt in response to working in the Chicago area during the height of Americas industrialization. By 1893 Wright had his prototype for the Prairie Style in the Winslow House, showing second-story windows under the enormous eave overhang. By 1908 Wright was still struggling with a perfectly beautiful design when he wrote: ...often I used to gloat over the beautiful buildings I could build if only it were unnecessary to cut holes in them.... The holes, of course, are the windows and doors. By the time Wright was marketing his Usonian homes, the clerestory windows had become an important part of both the interior design, as seen in the 1939 Rosenbaum house in Alabama, and the exterior design, as in the 1950 Zimmerman House in New Hampshire. The best way to light a house is Gods way - the natural way.... Wright wrote  in The Natural House, a 1954 classic book on American architecture. The best natural way, according to Wright, is to place the clerestory along the southern exposure of the structure. The clerestory window serves as a lantern to the house. More Definitions of Clerestory or Clearstory 1. An upper zone of wall pierced with windows that admit light to the center of a lofty room. 2. A window so placed. - Dictionary of Architecture and Construction The topmost windows of a church nave, those above the aisle roof, thus any high band of windows - G. E. Kidder Smith, FAIA A series of windows placed high on a wall. Evolved from the Gothic churches where the clerestory appeared above the aisle roofs. - John Milnes Baker, AIA Architectural Examples of Clerestory Windows Clerestory windows illuminate many of Frank Lloyd Wright-designed interior spaces, especially the Usonian home designs, including the Zimmerman House and the Toufic Kalil Home. In addition to adding clerestory windows to residential structures, Wright also used rows of glass in more traditional settings, such as his Unity Temple, Annunciation Greek Orthodox, and the original library, the Buckner Building, on the campus of Florida Southern College in Lakeland. For Wright, the clerestory window was a design choice that satisfied his aesthetic and philosophic ideals. Clerestory windows have become a mainstay of modern residential architecture. From the 1922 Schindler Chace house designed by the Austrian-born R. M. Schindler to the student designs of the Solar Decathlon competition, this type of fenestration is a popular and practical choice. Remember that this new way of design is centuries old. Look up at the great sacred places across the world. Heavenly light becomes part of the prayerful experience in synagogues, cathedrals, and mosques throughout the ages, from Byzantine to Gothic to Modern structures like architect Alvar Altos 1978 Church of the Assumption of Mary in Riola di Vergato,  Italy. As the world became industrialized, natural light from clerestory windows supplemented the gas and electric lighting of venues such as Grand Central Terminal in New York City. For a more modern transportation hub in Lower Manhattan, Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava returned to ancient architectural history, incorporating a modern oculus - a version of Romes Pantheon extreme clerestory - showing again that whats old is always new. A Selection of Clerestory Window Examples Dance Studio, Preserving Wall SpaceTurner Contemporary Gallery, David Chipperfield Architects, United KingdomKitchen, 1922 Schindler House, Los Angeles, CaliforniaKarl Kundert Medical Clinic, Frank Lloyd Wright, 1956, San Luis Obispo, CaliforniaGothic Exeter Cathedral, United KingdomItalian Byzantine Church of Saint Vitale in Ravenna, ItalySunlight Shining Into Grand Central Terminal, New York City Sources Frank Lloyd Wright On Architecture: Selected Writings (1894-1940), Frederick Gutheim, ed., Grossets Universal Library, 1941, p. 38Dictionary of Architecture and Construction, Cyril M. Harris, ed., McGraw- Hill, 1975, p. 108G. E. Kidder Smith, FAIA, Sourcebook of American Architecture, Princeton Architectural Press, 1996, p. 644.John Milnes Baker, AIA, American House Styles: A Concise Guide, Norton, 1994, p. 169Additional photo credits: Cowboy Stadium, Ronald Martinez/Getty Images (cropped); Winslow House, Raymond Boyd/ Getty Images (cropped); Alto Church, De Agostini/Getty Images (cropped); Zimmerman House, Jackie Craven

These Are -Some Adjectives

These Are -Some Adjectives These Are â€Å"-Some† Adjectives These Are â€Å"-Some† Adjectives By Mark Nichol The suffix -some has one of three functions. The most common function, the adjectival one, helps us enrich our vocabulary, and in some cases (especially when -some is attached to a heretofore unacquainted noun to create a nonce word) provides a whimsical or otherwise humorous tone. The adjectival use of -some (stemming ultimately from the Old English word for some) aids in characterizing something tangible or intangible. Some -some words are ubiquitous; others may be new to you. Here’s a nearly comprehensive list. 1. Awesome: This term, tragically weakened by hyperbolic usage, originally had the potent sense of â€Å"something inspiring awe.† (Awe, â€Å"a combination of wonder, dread, and profound respect,† came to us from the Old Norse word agi.) As a result, it is best avoided except in the most casual contexts. 2. Adventuresome: In Middle English, aventure meant â€Å"chance, risk† (ultimately from Latin adventus, â€Å"to arrive†). Adventuresome is a close synonym of adventurous, â€Å"inclined to undertake risks.† 3. Blithesome: Blithe, which comes down to us unchanged from Old English, means â€Å"happy† or â€Å"heedless†; blithesome refers to the former sense. 4. Bothersome: Bother’s etymology is unknown, but its meaning and that of bothersome is clear: A bother is a worry or an annoyance, and something bothersome arouses those feelings. 5. Burdensome: Burden (from the Middle English word byrthen, â€Å"something born, or carried†) is a load or a responsibility, and the connotation is usually negative, so a burdensome task or duty is an unpleasant one. 6. Chucklesome: This expression, based on the root word chuckle, â€Å"laugh† (itself derived from chuck, a variant of cluck, meaning â€Å"a click of the tongue†) means â€Å"inclined to laugh,† or â€Å"humorous.† 7. Cuddlesome: To cuddle (etymology unknown) is to hug, and something cuddlesome is worthy of such attention. 8. Cumbersome: The use of this term’s root word (â€Å"hinder, clutter,† from the Middle French word combre, â€Å"dam†) is rare, though encumber is more familiar. Cumbersome itself means â€Å"unwieldy† or â€Å"ponderous.† 9. Dolesome: This synonym for doleful is based on an archaic synonym for grief and means â€Å"sorrowful.† 10. Fearsome: Though this word can mean both â€Å"causing fear† and â€Å"feeling fear† (or, more accurately, â€Å"timid†), the former usage prevails. However, a third sense, also more common than the latter, is â€Å"extreme,† as in â€Å"fearsome ambition.† 11. Flavorsome: This synonym of flavorful is based on the term ultimately derived from the Latin word flatus, â€Å"breath† (which glad you asked is also the origin of flatulence). 12. Frolicsome: The root word, a borrowing from the Dutch word vroolijk, â€Å"happy,† means â€Å"playful† in English, so frolicsome refers to someone in such a mood. 13. Fulsome: This term, a combination of full and -some, is one of a class of words that have unfortunately acquired contradictory or confusing senses. Actually, fulsome started out that way, with the senses of â€Å"abundant, generous, well developed† competing with â€Å"offensive, overdone, effusive.† Although the negative senses long prevailed, they have been overtaken, though not thoroughly, by the positive ones. The result: Unless the context is clear, your readers may not know which sense you intend to convey. 14. Gladsome: This word, whose root is the word that means â€Å"expressing happiness or joy,† is a synonym for cheerful. 15. Gruesome: This word for something frightening or repulsive stems from the Middle English word gruen, â€Å"to shiver.† The root word is seldom used on its own, usually in horror fiction. 16. Handsome: Of all the some words, this one has perhaps the most interesting etymology. It originated in Middle English when hand, the word for the extension of the arm, was attached to -some to mean â€Å"easy to use.† The meaning was extended to â€Å"appropriate,† and from there is wasn’t too much of a leap to the sense of â€Å"attractive.† 17. Irksome: To irk is to weary or irritate, and something irksome arouses those feelings. 18. Lithesome: Lithesome and its variant, lissome, mean â€Å"nimble, flexible,† from an old English word for â€Å"slow.† 19. Loathsome: The root word now has a sense of â€Å"reluctant, unwilling,† but the Middle English word loth, from which it stems, means â€Å"evil,† and the modern definition of loathsome is â€Å"disgusting.† 20. Lonesome: This word means â€Å"feeling lonely.† 21. Lovesome: This term means â€Å"winsome† (see below) or â€Å"affectionate.† 22. Meddlesome: Meddle (from the Latin word miscere, â€Å"to mix†) means â€Å"to interfere,† and a meddlesome person, therefore, is a busybody. 23. Mettlesome: The previous term should not be confused with this word for â€Å"spirited,† from mettle, an alteration of metal with the connotation of â€Å"strength, stamina.† 24. Nettlesome: This synonym for irritating is based on nettle, the name for any of various plants that sting or have prickly parts. 25. Noisome: The root word for this synonym for harmful or objectionable is not noise but Middle English noy, â€Å"annoyance.† However, considering that noise ultimately stems from the Latin word nausea, which English borrowed directly, perhaps they’re related after all. 26. Quarrelsome: Quarrel (from the Latin word querela, â€Å"complaint† which is also the source of querulous but not of query) means â€Å"to struggle or dispute,† and a quarrelsome person is one inclined to fight or argue. 27. Tiresome: This word’s meaning stems from the senses of tire meaning â€Å"to fatigue or bore.† A tiresome person or situation is one that causes fatigue or boredom. 28. Toilsome: Toil means â€Å"strenuous labor,† and a toilsome task is an unusually laborious one. 29. Toothsome: This synonym for attractive or delicious, with a reference to the toothsome person or provender’s impact on the teeth as an extension of the sense of taste, may seem a fairly recent coinage, but it is in fact hundreds of years old. 30. Troublesome: Trouble (ultimately from the Latin word turbulentus, from which turbulent is also derived) is the root of this word meaning â€Å"difficult, causing trouble.† 31. Venturesome: The root word of this term is an alteration of adventure, and venturesome is a synonym of adventuresome (see above), but it has an distinct sense of â€Å"hazardous† as well. 32. Wearisome: This word’s root is a synonym for tired, and wearisome is, likewise, another word for tiresome (see above). 33. Wholesome: The root word is whole (from the Middle English word hool, â€Å"healthy, unhurt, entire,† ultimately from Old English hal, from which we also derive hale), but the word means not only â€Å"healthy† but also â€Å"proper, prudent, safe.† It is the only word on this list with an antonym formed simply by appending the prefix -un. 34. Winsome: The meanings of winsome are â€Å"charming† or â€Å"cheerful,† but the root is derived not from the Old English predecessor of win, as in â€Å"to achieve victory† (winnan, â€Å"struggle†) but from the same language’s term wynn, â€Å"joy.† (However, both winnan and wynn probably ultimately stem from the Latin word venus, â€Å"desire.†) 35. Worrisome: A worrisome thought or deed is simply one that provokes worry, or concern. The other, more pedestrian uses of the suffix -some are to attach it to one of several numbers to indicate a group of people, as in twosome, threesome, and foursome (fivesome and sixsome are also listed in at least one unabridged dictionary, but the suffix is not applied to larger numbers) or to convey an approximation, as in â€Å"Twenty-some people attended the meeting.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Homograph ExamplesHyper and Hypo50 Musical Terms Used in Nonmusical Senses

Report on Financial and Economic issues around the EU and affects on Essay

Report on Financial and Economic issues around the EU and affects on Arcelor Mittal - Essay Example It is critical to note that the firm reports its operational performance across the whole Europe wide region and therefore country wide segregation of the relative performance of the firm is relatively not present. What is key to understanding is the fact that firm is facing strong macroeconomic risks in these countries as fiscal expansion has been curtailed by the relative governments in these countries. The weak demand is mostly due to the austerity measures taken by the governments. Since Governments are major users of steel and related products therefore a decline in the fiscal expansion is one of the key reasons for decline in the business of the firm in PIIGS and other European countries. Details of Staff Employed Firm has reported that 37% of its employees are located in EU27 countries. (Statista.com,2000).   These countries are 27 European countries where firm have operations of different nature including mining, steel production, construction and other related activities. The production sites are located in Madrid, Averio, Ireland and other smaller locations where firm operates its so called mini-steel mills. In Spain, firm has four different production locations where firm is engaged in different activities including steel production as well as mining activities. Since firm is located in Luxemburg therefore the number of employees working in the headquarters of the firm is also included in its workforce in Europe. Difficulties in PIIGS Markets In Spain, firm is facing severe problems of high energy prices and lack of alternative energy resources. The lack of these resources therefore has increased the overall level of operational cost for the firm and resultantly has an impact on its profitability. (Mitchell,2012).  In Ireland, Portugal, Italy and Greece, one of the key difficulties is the lack of demand being generated from the government and private sector. Since these countries are still under strict austerity measures. In Spain, firm is also f acing disputes with the employees and many of the Staff members have protested against the closure of factories in Madrid.( En.tengrinews.kz 2012)   In Greece, firm is specifically facing debt related issues and the major write down by the firm in Europe is appropriated towards the Greece debt. Most of the challenges faced by the firm in the EU region come from Greece as the country as a whole hardly avoided bankruptcy after due funding support from European Union member countries. Cost of borrowing is also on the rise especially in Greece due to heavy borrowing by the government and bond issues.( Eichengreen, 2012)   Apart from this, the global demand for Steel is slowing down causing overall decline in the business operations of the firms. It is critical to note that EU27 experienced a negative growth rate of Steel consumption during 2012 suggesting that the overall demand is on the decline in these markets. Expansion or Contraction Firm is already on its way to close some of its production facilities in Spain as it has closed its Madrid facilities and is also in process of redeploying some of its staff to other locations in Spain. This indicates that firm is curtailing back on its operations in Spain and same practice may also be adapted in other countries and markets also. It is also already in process of closing down its furnaces in

Strategic Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Strategic Management - Assignment Example Few major markets where it operates are the US, the UK, Australia, Asia, Europe and New Guinea. Recently, the company added more than 36 additional channels in Europe, Latin America and Asia. Consequently, the profit was also recorded to be on rise continuously. Notably, in Italy they have gained popularity by the introduction of ‘Sky Italia’. ‘Sky Italia’ offers digital video recorder, which allows customer to store their favourite movies and television programmes in HD quality. For this reason people are ready to pay for ‘Sky Italia’ (News Corporation, 2009). Broadcasting Business of TNC News Corporation’s television business mainly includes ‘My Network TV’, FOX Entertainment and 27 TV stations. Their revenue comes mainly from advertisements of different sponsors of TV shows. Their main competitors are other TV stations and Cable Programme Networks, which compete for various TV shows, revenues from advertising and that of a udiences. Around 15 percent to 18 percent of News Corporation’s total revenue comes from their television business. In the year 2009, their income from television business exceeded 4.6 billion Dollars. There was a decrease by 21% from the revenue generated in the fiscal year 2008 which amounted 1205 million Dollars. One of the reasons for this decline can be stated as the selling of few television stations in the year 2008. The revenues from advertisement also decreased because of weak market conditions (News Corporation, 2009). In the year 2010 News Corporation’s operating income saw an increase by 37% in comparison to 2009. It was recorded at $2.3 billion. All of their significant networks showed notable growth. Their revenues also increased by 8 percent in the year 2010. The revenue in 2010 was $32.8 billion Dollars and the net income was recorded at $2.5 billion Dollars (News Corporation, 2010). The Satellite Broadcasting Television section of News Corporation cons ists of ‘Sky Italia’. It provides television and broadband services via satellite directly to home. The audio & video quality, interactive programming and better service quality are the major factors of gaining a larger market share in the respective segment. Around 11 percent to 12 percent of the company’s revenue comes from this segment. For instance, in the year 2009 the revenues of ‘Sky Italia’ had increased by 11 million USD. Their number of subscribers also increased to 4.8 million in 2009 compared to 4.4 million in 2008. Consequently, their main competitors are the companies which provide high quality graphics and sound, good entertainment, various broadband internets and DTT (Direct to Home) services to the targeted market (News Corporation, 2009). Question 1 Generic Strategy of News Corporation The News Corporation has employed various generic strategies that were introduced by Michael Porter. Michael Porter had proposed three strategies in order to increase competitive advantage of a company. These are ‘cost leadership’, ‘differentiation’ and ‘market segmentation’. Considering the current strategies implied in the organisation, i.e. the News Corporation, it can be observed that the company has followed the differentiation and the segmentation strategies according to the Porter’s Generic Model. As stated by Porter, differentiation strategy is highly advantageous in a broad