The Importance Of Literacy Essay Example for Free

The Importance Of Literacy EssayExplain the importance of literacy and numeracy skills for acces warble the wider curriculum. 1.1 Literacy and numeracy skills are essential in life. Pupils skilled in literacy and numeracy are more likely to stay in full time education and as adults be more productive and straighten out higher wages. Literacy and numeracy skills are extremely important for accessing the wider curriculum. This is because literacy skills are required for everything. If a learner has difficulty with literacy then they will contract it difficult to read nomenclature and they whitethorn also have a problem with writing. They may struggle in all sorts of subjects like Science as they may not be able to read the instructions to do experiments or label diagrams, in Music they may not be able to read the words to sing the songs, in Cooking they may not be able to read the recipe or food labels.Numeracy is also used throughout the wider curriculum so if a pupil has diff iculty within this area it can affect other areas such as Cooking with weighing ingredients, in PE they may find it hard to count if told to do 3 hops then 8 jumps tec. Poor literacy and numeracy skills could also affect the child socially as other children may not want them to join in. Improving pupils literacy and numeracy can have a positive effect on their confidence their ability to hand out with everyday tasks as well as their lifelong learning and health. Research shows the links between low literacy and numeracy and crime, poor health choices, low educational science and unemployment.

From the Middle Ages through the Renaissance Essay Example for Free

From the Middle Ages through the Renaissance EssayThe earliest monument of the blue Gothic was the duomo of Notre-Dame at Chartres, where flying buttresses were designed from the beginning so that the balconies were needless. This simplified the interior elevations to tierce partitions the nave arcade, the triforium passage and the clere write up windows. In the process, the clearstory windows ameliorate noticeably in size and vaulting shifted from sexpartite, over two bays, to quadripartite, over one bay. Chartres Cathedral has an additional complex chronology than the cathedral of Paris. The side had long been hallowed to the Virgin Mary and the church wealth included, along with other precious relics, a tunic thought to have been used or worn by Mary. Chartres glowering out to be the core of pilgrimage, and from 1020 to 1037 a Romanesque basilica with common chord profound radiating chapels was built to restore the previous church ruined by fire. By the twelfth pennyury , this church increased in size however a fire in 1134 had damaged the westwork.Work started the same year to fix up a new west front and narthex in much the same manner that Abbot Suger was to extend St. Denis Sculptors from the workshops at St. Denis came to Chartres, in 1145 to 1150 to carve the three portals of the new west facade, and the three lancet windows overhead were filled with stained glass depicting themes pioneered at Sugers church infancy of Christ, the Passion story and the Tree of Jesse or the genealogy of Christ. Fire again struck the Chartres on the night of June 10, 1194. The fire again struck the cathedral and town, destroying the wooden-roofed basilica and eight per cent of the city.Even though the new west front survived without major damage, the people of Chartres interpreted the fire as a sign of divine displeasure. The Gothic cathedral at Chartres was built in the span of twenty-six years from 1192 to 1220, and the sculpted north and south transport porch es were finished between 1224 and 1250. However, the north tower on the west front was established only in 1513, giving the west front at last a balanced asymmetry of form and style. Builders of the ample French cathedrals of the early thirteenth speed of light gave the impression on a determined pushing of Gothic technology to achieve soaring interior heights.The nave vaults at Chartres rise 113 feet over a fifty-three-foot-wide nave at Reims (begun 1211), the vaults are 122 feet high over a forty-five-foor-wide nave at Amiens (begun 1220), the vaulting is 139 feet high for the same nave width and at Beauvais (begun 1225), the some daring venture of all, the choir vaults rose 158 feet over a choir that is forty-five-feet wide before collapsing and being rebuilt in a strengthened form. The cathedral of St. capital of South Dakota at Beauvais was never finished, and only the choir and transept stand today to indicate the scale of the intended Gothic building.Although structural d isappointment was only part of the fuss at Beauvais, it is a recurring element in the history of the cathedrals construction. The design called for a string of seven radiating chapels off the ambulatory, with paired aisles in the choir that continued beyond the aisled transepts as double aisles in the nave. Work on the choir began in 1225, with choir vaulting being completed in about 1260. These vaults collapsed in 1284, probably because wind forces went over load capacities on slender transitional buttress piers, causing them to rotate and fall.Despite this check building history, the interior of the cathedral is stunning. The extreme justity of the arcade is corresponded by an attenuated glazed triforium, above which rises the fragile cage of the clerestory, where solid wall dissolves into glass, generating the whoremonger that the vault overhead rests on air alone. In the windows, plate tracery used at Chartres has been replaced by bar tracery, thin stone sections carved int o geometrical shapes ground on circles. Tracery on the enormous transept roses moves into even more elaborate, flame-like shapes. Seen from the eastern United States, the exterior is overwhelmingly vertical.Even though the Gothic style started off in France, it stretched to other move of Europe and became the principal style of northern Europe until the fifteenth century. English designers and builders soon formed their own Gothic esthetic and within a century had shaped Gothic churches that varied significantly from those built in France. Nineteenth century historians who initially studied the Gothic buildings of England classified the work in three overlapping phases, which are still practical or helpful for describing the progressive improvement of English medieval structural design.Early English built from 1175 to 1265, keeps up a correspondence approximately to High Gothic work in France. Salisbury Cathedral shows a rare example of an English Gothic cathedral assembled just about exclusively in homogenous style, Early English. Salisbury adds in features from monastic plans taking account of double transepts of Cluny III and the square east end of the Cistercians, in a lengthy angular building that is unquestionably English.On the interior, quadripartite vaults ascend from three-story nave elevations nevertheless the constant vertical line put-upon by the French has been substituted by a horizontal importance formed by a string course under the triforium and another under the clerestory windows. Even the ribs of the vaults do not extend down the wall but spring instead from wall corbels at the base of the clerestory. Surfaces are articulated by shafts and trim in black Purbeck marble. The exterior receives the same horizontal emphasis as the interior.Flying buttresses do not have a strong vertical character, and the walls are coursed in horizontal bands that extend across the west front. With all this horizontality, the 404-foot tower and spire offered the essential vertical counterpoint, and their great weight has obviously turned aside the piers at the crossing. The covered passages are excellent illustrations of early festooned tracery, and off the east range one comes across an attractive octagonal chapter house (King et al. , 2003).ReferencesMoffett, M. , Fazio, M. , Wodehouse, L. (2003). A World History of Architecture. London Laurence King Publishing Ltd.

Organizational Direction of British American Tobacco Nigeria limited

Organizational Direction of British Ameri dope Tobacco Nigeria limitedThe purpose of this survey is to discuss current organisational direction of British American Tobacco Nigeria Limited ( squash racketNL) and explore competitive business plan for jactitate Nigeria with strategic dimensions ranging from 2009 to 2012. The body of the document offers an analysis of the external, transactional and the internal environment of the accompany. Subsequently, the report considers the companys core competencies and its refer competitors, in order to deliberate courses of action that will enable quiver Nigeria to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage. The recommendations aim to rise BAT Nigerias existing competencies, this will add value to all the stakeholders.Disclaimer This report only considers British American Tobacco Nigeria Limited as a ratified business entity and does not intend to endorse consumption of baccy plant products in any form.2. Exe slueive summaryThis report aims to critically analyze the excerption that will ensure that British American Tobacco Nigeria Limited (BATNL) remain market leader by sustaining its competitive advantage in a passing competitive labor.Becoming no.1 in the market is hard work, but maintaining that position is far more difficult. In the light of this, I have critically examined the arguable scenarios and arrived at an plectron which will strengthen BATNLs current market position.The company today is facing the uphill task of dealing with threats from new market entrants, operational limitations caused by limited multinational suppliers, lack of availability of locally sourced sun cured tobacco, stricter legislative restrictions and challenges to just increase market sh be. This report suggests to management an option of forming a system of consistent market dominance and build sustainable competitive advantage.The option consists of an action plan which includes forward and backward integration of fork u p reach, capacity utilization and development of Nigerian production facilities as an merchandise Hub to West and Central African countries.The backward integration of give chain involves sourcing the Virginia tobacco from a wider international supplier base in order to prevent raw material expose of stock (OOS) situation of super premium, premium and international VFM (Value For Money) brands.Similarly, local sourcing of sun cured Tobacco for VFM production should be expanded by involving badr numbers of small homespun farmers in BATNLs business field of study in order to meet raw material requirements for the continuously upriseing demand of the VFM segment.The forward integration includes developing a wider and more efficient dispersion network by closes of integrating identified front end strategic customers into electronic distribution system and by providing fiscal assistance.The strategic berth of the country can be exploited so as to establish it as an export hub to otherwise West and Central African countries. It would ensure apostrophize saving advantages to the group, especially in terms of cheaper labour, freight and import taxes.Securing forward and backward integration a spacious with both the manufacturing factories in Nigeria acting as export centres, would make it feasible to proceed with capacity utilization, thus reaping the benefits of economies of scale.In the current scenario, it is going to be very hard to increase share of the existing pie, so the endeavour should be to augment the size of the whole pie rather than poach on the share of competitors. Migration from other brands seems a capaciously uphill task considering the large market size BATNL enjoys now. To enhance sales, the modus operandi should be concentrated towards capturing the increment in the market as a whole. The incorporation of the above discussed ideas would ensure a keep up competitive advantage, with the aim of increasing rent.1. Organisational Stra tegic Aims and Objectives1.1 Current Strategic Aims and ObjectivesIn the early 1990s, BAT decided to grow our business by focusing merely on tobacco a decision which regularized and transformed the Group. In 1995, BAT set itself the credible vision of regaining leadership of the global tobacco attention and established a strategy to get there.In this section summarises the key elements of BATNLs strategy which group believes can enable it to continually build a sustainable business in tobacco industry.Ultimate Strategic Aim Achieve Leadership of the Tobacco IndustryBATNLs vision is to achieve leadership of the tobacco industry in order to create long term shareholder value. Leadership is not an end in itself, but a company that leads its industry, is the preferred mate for key stakeholders and is seen to have a sustainable business, should be valued more highly.Company defines leadership in both a quantitative and qualitative sense. Punitively, it seeks quite a little leadersh ip among our international competitors and in the longer term, value leadership. BATNL recognises that its success will depend on adult consumers and that, therefore, we must be consumer driven.But the hard, quantitative measures do not in themselves address all the things it must do as a company. Taking a long term view, focusing on the reference of its business and how it work. As a result, qualitatively, company seeks to be recognised as industry leaders and to be the partner of first choice for governments, NGOs, investors and potential employees. BATNL pledges to do this by continuing to demonstrate that it is a responsible tobacco Group, with a sustainable business, outstanding people and superior products.In order to hit the sack company vision, BATNLs strategy for creating shareholder value has four elements Growth, Productivity, Responsibility and Winning Organisation.1.2 Component Parts to achieve Ultimate Strategic Aim1.2.1- Winning Organisation To deliver company visi on it must have the right people and the right working environment. That is the essence of BATNLs Winning Organisation strategy.By the right people, group mean outstanding people those with the ability and desire to drive and deliver competitive advantage and superior performance. Company endeavour to attract, develop and retain high eager talent. BATNL also puts emphasis on making it an organisation that is constantly learning. This learning culture shares knowledge quickly, learns from its mistakes and replicates success formulas quickly.To be a winning organisation British American Tobacco must also be a great place to work. This requires an open, confident culture that encourages change and innovation, is shaped by companys Guiding Principles, shake its people to perform to their best and importantly, enjoy their work.Finally, Winning Organisation strategy requires that company develops leaders, at all levels in the organisation, with a clear vision for the business, who pro mote innovation, and can align, energise and enable their teams to contribute to the twist of our global enterprise(B) Growth BATNL seek to increase its volume and value share of the West African tobacco market through both organic growth and mergers and acquisitions.For organic growth, company is concentrating on the key strategic segments of the market that offer the best prospects for long term growth, including gift and International shuffles. BATNL continues to focus on the growth of its Global Drive Brands as hale as being prepared to exploit opportunities for moneymaking volume growth in Value for Money and Low Price Segments. Company also wish to sustain or develop strong positions in priority markets simply defined as the largest and most profitable ones. BATNL believes that it is important to continue to develop and utilise innovative, differentiated products and to offer its consumers added value from its brands.(C) Productivity wild overall sexual climax to produ ctivity is about using its global resources to increase profits and generate funds for reinvesting in its business.Today, all companies are trying to cut costs. BATs approach is integrated aiming to establish a lower cost base while improving the quality of products and the speed they get to the market, as well as our effectiveness in terms of how it can deploy its people and large(p).As a Group BATNL is focused on its consumers, marketing is a large part of what it does and company is working to ensure it effectively and efficiently deploy its marketing resources.In order to maintain a strong balance sheet, capital effectiveness is an important part of its productivity strategy and includes a focus on inventory levels, utilising its assets, financing and other uses of capital.(D) Responsibility BATNL continues to balance its commercial objectives with the expectations of a broad range of stakeholders, thus ensuring a sustainable business.Company communicating with all stakeholder s about its Business Principles, which explain the way we expect its businesses to be turn tail in terms of responsibility, and demonstrating how group is following them. Companys three Business Principles, Mutual Benefit, Responsible Product Stewardship and Good embodied Conduct are each underpinned by a number of Core Beliefs.In the regulatory arena, BAT continues to promote sensible tobacco regulation thatbalances the preferences of consumers with the interests of societyestablishes an open minded and objective approach to harm reduction as a policyEnsures that its businesses can compete and prosper.BAT manufactures products that can be harmful to the health of its consumers and have publicly state its aim to reduce this harm to meet both consumer needs and societal expectations.Company proposes to do this bythe progressive reduction in the tar and toxins in its productsthe successful launch of a new generation of tobacco products with critical mass appeal that are recognised b y scientific and regulatory administration as posing substantially reduced risks to health.1.3. Factors Affecting the Strategic Plan1.3.1- Contextual Environment1Nigeria gained independence in 1960 but since the first military takeover in 1966, Nigeria has been ruled by military for over 35 years up until 1999. Since then democratically elected civilian governments are ruling Nigeria. below the new constitution adopted in 1999, a strong presidency appoints a federal executive council, comprising government ministers and ministers of the state from each of Nigerias 36 states. Although the 36 governments enjoy greater autonomy than under the former military administration they remain dependent on the federal government for funding. This set up creates a system of distributed power centres, with the highest authority lying with the president, making lobbying with political powers a complicated issue.Estimated GDP for 2006 is $116.7 billion whereas economical growth rate is believed to be 5.4%. This economic performance is severely offset by high rate of inflation (8.7%). Since 1999 under the rule of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Economic Empowerment and phylogenesis Strategy (NEEDS) has boosted non-oil sector growth and emendd macro-economy.Increased government spending on roads and ongoing efforts to reform and attract investments into the power sector could improve infrastructure modestly. Only minimal progress is likely with port reform. Both these aspects would have a positive effect on BAT Nigerias supply chain.Corporate profits except for oil companies are taxed at 30%. VAT on tobacco product is 7.5% whereas for other commodity product its charged at 5%.In governments effort to curb smoking, promotion of cigarette sales through billboards has become illegal since January 1st 2004. Federal government is under barely pressure from whom and other NGOs to put a ban on tobacco products promotion through electronic and print media. In addition, v arious pressure groups are raising concerns against tobacco farming as it renders land unusable for cultivation of other crops.1.3.2- Transactional environmentNigeria has a total population of 140 million and out of these only 2.9 million adults smoke, it indicates a huge growth potential for Tobacco industry. Given the scenario, though BAT Nigeria is catering to very comprehensive range of markets and consumer segments, further avenues for increasing market penetration of companys products have been identified through various analysis. The present market size of AFS is only 14% which explicitly shows growth potential. To grow and capture this segment, requirement for development of brands targeted especially to Adult Female Smokers (AFS) is identified. On the other hand, according to strategic group analysis premium brands have a need to expand their geographical reach and increase market penetration. Super premium product line should be prevented against brand dilution and their m arket presence should be enhanced with the help of specialized channels of HoReCa. On critically evaluating product offerings extended by the BAT Nigeria across different segments, few potential offerings for A class, B, C and D segments2were recognized like, pipe tobacco and cigar, limited editions and flavoured and VFM brand variants, respectively.Supply chain of BAT Nigeria has a weak link in procurement part of Virginia tobacco due to limited number of international suppliers (especially from Argentina and Brazil). Whereas, local procurement of sun cured tobacco has limitations of inadequacy of land contributive to tobacco farming, partial segment of farmers involved in tobacco farming and threats from pressure groups.With recent acquisition of Gallaher Group by Japan Tobacco Inc., JTI has the instant largest market share in Nigeria (14.4%), after BAT Nigeria (85.1%). Still we perceive the major threat to BAT Nigeria coming from Philip Morris Inc. (PMI). Looking at the histor y of PMIs institution to new markets, they capture major share of the market within 3 years, like in Benin. Though, global drive brand for PMI is Marlboro Lights, PMI is expanding its roots in Nigerian market indirectly through Kraft Foods, subsidiary of its corporate parent Altria Inc. The competitor analysis3shows that key strength of BAT Nigerias products against other competitors and especially PMI, as perceived by the customers, lies in their availability.2. Stakeholders Influence and Progress towards Strategic Aim2.1- Core Resources4In 2009 BAT group reported 1896m of profit, attributable to shareholders equity. This explicitly indicates financial strength of the BAT group. As operations of BAT Nigeria are directly funded by parent corporate body, access to adequate finances, as compared with other competitors, puts BAT Nigeria in the elite club of organizations with formidable financial resources.Since BAT signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in November 2000 with the fe deral government, it has enjoyed status of most favoured company and leveraged sonority with the government in establishing local production facilities in Zaria and Ibadan. These state of the art production units are quite unique resource to BAT Nigeria, considering that no other tobacco company has cigarette factory in Nigeria.Further, BAT Nigeria has strengthened its portfolio of core resources by investing funds and efforts in developing dedicated supply chain intermediaries.2.2- Core Competencies5Though the MoU expired in April 2007 with end of PDP presidency, strong relationship with the government has been instrumental in developing country wide distribution network and in increasing domestic tobacco farming. BAT Nigeria has improved efficiency and integration of distribution network by implementation of SAP (ERP module) and Siebel (CRM module). combine electronic supply chain with local access to raw material is the core competence of BAT Nigeria. Under this process and wit h continuous efforts to exercise CSR, BAT Nigeria has developed a sound social relationship and local knowledge. Benefits of BAT Foundation have been exploited to meet these strategic requirements.Apart from these local factors, BAT Nigeria has benefited from legacy and technological expertise of parent. Thus, process evolved quality of BAT products is been key source of competency.3.1 Futuristic Strategic PositionWay to Sustainable Competitive expediency6After analysing contextual transactional environment, core resources and competencies of BAT Nigeria, I propose an option which comprises of recommendations for strengthening up bombard and downstream supply chain7, capacity utilisation, developing Nigeria as export hub to west African countries and exploiting BAT foundation in mutually beneficial way (to BAT Nigeria and stakeholders), in order to provide BAT Nigeria with a sustainable competitive advantage. While suggesting the options compatibility, suitability, acceptability a nd feasibility of recommendations with BAT Nigerias current business model and low exposure to risk has been considered.Production of international brands of Premium and VFM cigarettes is based on Virginia tobacco imported from Argentina and Brazil. Reliance of production of international Super premium, Premium and VFM brands on foreign suppliers subjects upstream supply chain to political, economical and ecological factors evolving in exporting nations. To counter power vested in international suppliers and remove raw material quantitative bottleneck, supplier base of Virginia tobacco should be increased by importing the same quality Virginia from alternative source countries like Cuba, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Venezuela. Tobacco export being major change activity of these countries, international tobacco apportion regulations are quite liberal and no major hurdle could be seen in setting up trade channels. Geographic location of alternative source nations would not impose any sig nificant extra freight charges.For local brands of VFM cigarettes cultivation of sun cured tobacco needs to be increased. In this process, firstly, BATNL should lobby with the government to pass Land Use Decree, to facilitate farmers in gaining possession of land. Secondly, with ownership of land and providing the farming federation with help in taking mortgage loans, latest farming technologies and better tobacco seeds, farmers can be driven to come in a legal two way contract with BAT Nigeria, in regard to secure local cultivation and supply of sun cured tobacco and promising get guarantee in return.3.2 Justifying the strategic optionAs analysed by competitor analysis, in consumers perception, apart from poor availability, value offered by PMIs products is at par or better than that of BATs products. Thus, to sustain BATNLs existing system of dominance, it is of paramount concern to have a wide, efficient, dedicated and controlled distribution network. Apart from strategic tie-u ps with Global Brand Nigeria Ltd. (GBNL) and Global Apex Ltd., downstream members of distribution channel need to be integrated with electronic distribution platform of SAP and Siebel (CRM). Financial and technological assistant to channel intermediaries in this regard would benefit BATNL in two ways higher channel control efficiency and financial binding of down stream channel members to BATNL. The SWOT analysis8highlighted that BATNLs current practice of cash sales is its Achilles heel. To prevent competitors from breaking logistics net of BATNL, BATNL would have to forgo privilege of cash sales and start giving credit facilities to wholesalers and distributors.Further, and as underpinned by mobility barriers9analysis, to hold on to market share as high as 85.1%, the premium brands are the key and should be pushed deep into nation with associated promotional activities and rewards/rebates attributed to selling channel.At the same time, super premium brands should be prevented ag ainst brand dilution and their image of brand ambassadors should be act further. For proliferation of super premium brand products, upmarket specialised HoReCa10channel showed substantial potential for growth. The current problem of low co-operation from HoReCa owners, realising the dependency of BATNL on them for promotional purposes, can be overcome by offering them half yearly or annual contract of brand association, instead of event based approach.To motivate rural small-holder Nigerian farmers interest in the tobacco farming and business with BATNL, BATN Foundation needs to concentrate on issues pertaining to lack of access to modern agricultural machineries, educational activity on new agricultural practices and innovations, production credit, fair and transparent marketing opportunities.Currently, both local production facilities are not utilized up to their full phase of the moon capacities, partly due to relatively less demand in comparison with full production capacity and rest due to bottlenecks in supplies of raw tobacco. unneurotic with improvement in the supply of raw tobacco (international and local), developing Nigeria as export hub to cater neighbouring West and Central African countries would assist BATNL in building up sustainable competitive advantage by gaining economies of scale (capacity utilization), and becoming regional power in tobacco industry. extension 1EMBED PowerPoint.Slide.8Appendix 2Appendix 3Appendix 4Appendix 5Appendix 6Appendix 7Appendix 8Appendix 9Appendix 10

Multinational corporations

transnational corporationsMultinational corporations ar businesses that extend outside of their own country, whether they are fit(p) throughout the world or only in a couple other countries, they are considered multinational. The value adding activities which are owned by these companies are use to produce tangible goods or intangible services or the combination of both. There are many contends as to why incorruptibles bring multinational and on that point are various strategies for a firm to lead multinational.The immediate motives of the Firms female genital organ be to balloon business, to seek new market place, or for additional profits and revenues. It may overly be to concentrate on the economics of scale that a larger international demand skunk bring. The motive behind market desire activities is strong among firms who have some advantage related to technology or brand which gives them a competitive advantage over domestic rival. Another reason for firms to beco me multinationals is to secure key supplies. A secure and privileged access to inputs and/or distribution outlets and market access afford many firms especially those in manufacturing, to have a competitive advantage over their less favoured rivals.A firm might overly become multinational to have access to first cost factors of production. Factors of production like labour is a major(ip) cost factor in Europe and US and gives a competitive disadvantage compared to imports. So firms can offshore production to the forces countries and become competitive. Low cost capital through government subsidies is also a strong force to become a MNC.The discussed factors have been well captured in product cycle theory developed by Professor Raymond Vernon. The theory suggests that the first phase starts with product victimisation and innovation in home country as to maintain close linkage between research and production as well as the effrontery that similar demand will be created in other s imilar market. The second award assumes the product to be matured and production standardized as well as good demand from other market and an most-valuable form of revenues from the new business. Also, Competitors will observe the growing demand and try to piss themselves in the markets by setting up production in the importing country and becoming a MNC rather than an exporter. Finally in the last stage many competitors enter the market and focus is more on cost and resource seeking activities.The supra discussed factors are traditional motives and the theory lost its spring in 80s itself as the business environment became more complex. In the emerging motives the above forces that originally triggered firm to become a MNC became secondary. Increasing Scale of economies, RD investments and trim down product liveness cycles were not the choices for a firm to become MNC but rather a prerequisite for companies to survive in the business environment. Now the major motive for a fi rm to become a MNC is to capitalize on competitive positioning in multiple markets and leverage global information access.The above motives are purely reactive and opportunistic to the proactive business decision which sees international markets as major strategic opportunity. The decisions to become a MNC can be purely defensive, for example as a reaction to pressures in domestic markets. Overseas demand can help to offset seasonal or alternating(prenominal) downturns in domestic demand. It can also be that the domestic market has become saturated or the product is coming to the end of its domestic life cycle.The above discussed motives are rational, logical and there are strategies used to become a MNC but on other hand the motive of firm to expand might be personal ego of managers and also for personal monetary benefit of business managers who want to expand at any cost as the salary might be attached to the volume of the business. These irrational motives create principal agent problem in the future. Having explored why the firms become MNCs we now determine at how firms become MNC. The prerequisites for being an MNC might be to have a distinctive competency to overcome the liability of foreignness and the firm must also have some organizational capability to operate in the global market. Moreover, the host country should also provide some location specific advantages so that the firm have strong reasons to invest there. These prerequisites are very important as they help to define the strategic pickaxes available to compete worldwide.The process of firm becoming a MNC starts with a combination of development strategies, rational analysis and opportunism. Some firms may follow an internationalization model which was developed by Swedish academics from Uppsala. The model describes how a firm enters a foreign market and gains market knowledge by means of commitment of resources and how it gradually develops local capability and market knowledge to becom e an effective competitor in foreign market through several investment cycles.The firms may use the eclectic paradigm and operation cost analysis approach which explains the extent, form and pattern of international production and how it is founded on juxtaposition of the ownership specific advantages of firms contemplating foreign production, the propensity to internalise the cross border markets for these and the attractions of the foreign market for production (Dunning, 1988). So the entry decision is taken in a rational manner based on the be of transactions.The firms may also choose to enter the international market by low commitment and low control mode such as by exporting or subcontracting. Exporting is selling goods and services from one country to another. Exporting can be direct and indirect. Direct exporting can be done through agents and distributors. Direct exporting helps to proactively enter the foreign market. Indirect exporting can be done by export houses and confirming houses who are just the intermediaries. There are many contractual forms for international business like management contracts, Turnkey operations, manufacturing contracts, etc. Licensing and franchising can also be an option for a firm to become a MNC. Licensing means there is an agreement that one caller can utilise or sell intellectual piazza in return for compensation. The problem with licensing is that there is a chance of leak of knowledge and intellectual property and after the licensing agreement is over the partner can become a powerful competitor. Franchising which is also a form of licensing, gives certain rights to do business in a prescribed manner to other party in return for royalties or fees. Franchising can take form of manufacture- retailer franchise or wholesaler-retailer franchise and have similar risks that of licensing. There has been a enormous growth in franchising especially in US AND UK.If the firm wants to penetrate deep in the market and wan ts fuller involvement and control, the firm can go for a joint venture or foreign direct investment (FDI). Joint venture which is a collaboration of two or more parties can be contractual or equity based. It has the means to overcome restrictions on foreign investments or imports. Firms have to share costs and/or technology and the divided approach permits economies of scale and a potential to enter market. Some joint ventures are formed but the true reason behind it is FDI. FDI might also face problems of disagreements over strategic direction, managerial functions or use of appropriate profits. Cultural difference can also be a major roadblock in the joint venture. FDI which is a very spicy risk strategy can be explained as the establishment or acquisition of income generating assets in the host country over which the investing firm has control. It involves either taking control over established business in overseas market or developing a tailor made business operation. FDI can be broadly classified into two types, outward FDIs and inward FDIs. This classification is based on the types of restrictions imposed, and the various prerequisites required for these investments. The reasons for considering FDI are tariff quotas, tax breaks,grants, subsidies, and the removal of restrictions and limitations. Before opting for FDI a firm might also consider countertrade which is described as the most important trend in international business of emerging economies. It involves an agreement between two parties to pay in goods and services. There are many types of countertrade like barter, change agreement, compensation, etc. countertrade can open up trade where there are strict exchange controls or where the countries faces shortage of currency. In conclusion companies can become MNC by gradually moving up the scale from exporting and licensing to high commitment foreign direct investment. Some firms can directly adopt the high commitment strategy due to the maturity of market. In short, none of the approaches are necessarily right or wrong but should be consistent with the boilers suit strategic intentions and motivations of the firm. The firms can start with one option and then by experience move towards another in light of degree of commitment and risk involved, set against the level of control and closeness to market. Dunning, J.H. 1989. Multinational Enterprises and the Growth of Services. The Service Industries Journal,9. Bartlett, C.A. et al. 2006. Transactional Management. United States McGraw- Hill.Whitelock. J. 2002. Theories on internationalization and their impact on market entry. International selling review,19 Bellak.C. 1994. How Domestic And Foreign Firms Differ And Why Does It Matter?. Journal of Economic Surveys. 18.D. Laughton. 1995. How firms internationalize their operations in B. Dawes, International Business A European Perspective. Godiwalla,Y.H. 1986. Multinational Planning- Developing A Global Approach. Long Range Pla nning, 19.

Theories of Feminist Geography

Theories of Feminist geographicsDoes a libber geographics need be primarily concerned with the lives of women?In relation to the test title, according to Dias et al (2008), Hesse- Biber (2012) and McDowell (1992), there atomic number 18 signifi coffin nailt diversity and heterogeneity among feminist geography and its research, with no single methodology or epistemology. Therefore, instead of viewing feminist geography as a static sub-discipline, feminist geography should be visualized by looking at at a wide range of work produced by feminist geographers addressing the issues found in different contexts, with varying research aims. By examining living studies, this essay aims to deliver the fact that some aspects of feminist geography produce, in fact, been primarily concerned with lives of women in a socio- spacial context. Subsequently, this essay also aims to demonstrate that feminist geography did non engage exclusively with the lives of women by examining practices d eep down the geography discipline, associated with the disciplines elimination of fe antheral, feminist geographer corroborate offered important insights for geographers in discretion gender bias embedded in geography, and has urged the re-evaluation of geographic knowledge and practices among scholars.According to Dixon et al (2014), feminist geography is primarily concerned with improving womens lives by identifying, and to develop an understanding of the sources of womens oppression, as well as the dynamics and spatiality of the oppression. This description of feminist geography is mirrored by work produced by feminist geographers that has adapted Marxist surmisal in examining the relations among economic development, space and gender under capitalism (Pratt, 1994). These feminist geographers were foc using on the affectionate- spatial exclusion of suburban households female members from paid employment, which was an important element in reproduction of labour power, and ha s provided insights to how traditional gender relations in laissez-faire(prenominal)ic societies ar continued and preserved (Pratt, 1994 Mackenzie et al, 1983 Hawkesworth 2006 Seccombe 1974 Beechey 1977 Eisenstein 1979 Nelson, 1986 Massey, 1984 Chant et al, 1995 Hanson et al, 1995 Gerstein, 1973). Feminist geographers have argued that the isolation of women from employment a strategy that is vital to manage the effects of capitalist economy it reproduces the dominant- reduce that is essential to the operations of capitalist production (Hawkesworth 2006 Eisenstein 1979 Beechey 1977 Pratt, 1994). The isolation also facilitates daily and generational reproduction of labour power, plus it leads to the creation of a labour force, which consists of women who be willing to be working for slight than substantive wages (Mackenzie et al, 1983 Pratt, 1994 Seccombe 1974 Hawkesworth 2006 Beechey 1977 Nelson 1986 Eisenstein 1979 Massey, 1984 Chant et al, 1995 Hanson et al, 1995 Pearson, 1986 ). This was demonstrated in Nelsons (1986) and Hawkesworths (2006) study, as he mentioned that in 1970s, capitalist in the United States had relocated to suburban locations in aiming to employ, or further exploit, according to Marxist perspectives, housewives who argon more inclined to work despite the slight than substantive wages. It has also been revealed that governmental policies, working-class household strategies, as well as traditional male power exercised in both families and trade unions ar interplaying factors facilitate the isolation of women as housewives to inhibit or minimize employment opportunities available to women (Mackenzie et al, 1983 Hawkesworth 2006 Seccombe 1974 Eisenstein 1979 Nelson 1986 Pratt, 1994 Massey, 1984 Hanson et al, 1995 Gerstein, 1973). These literatures by feminist geographers are fundamentally linked to the lives of women (Johnson, 2007 Pratt, 1994 Hanson et al, 1995 Seccombe, 1974). By using womens lives as point of departure, they have ide ntify the consequences of the exclusion of women from employment creation of female labour that are more prone to be subjected to capitalistic exploitation, enabled by traditional gender and social relations which take a shit capitalism, in conjunction with patriarchal gender relations, which have contributed to the redefining of the spatial distribution of womens social and economic activities in urban areas.However, feminist geographers did not engage exclusively with the lives of women. Feminist geographers are also concerned with development of geography, in relation to the exclusion and isolation of female scholars from the discipline, and how this has affected geographic research and thought. As Morin (1995 1) has described, the theme of these studies is gender of geography rather that the geography of gender . Under this theme, feminist geographers have highlighted the fact that geography is a male- dominated discipline (Rose, 1993 Dixon et al, 2006 LeVasseur, 1993). As sugg ested by Dixon et al (2006), women have been excluded from higher education from late nineteenth to early 20th century early universities mainly consists of upper- class white men. During that period of time, female are mainly found in the field of teaching and helping professions, and are mostly absent in the disciplines and institutions that have contributed to the establishment of modern geography, such(prenominal) as geology and quick societies, such as Royal Geographical Society (Rose, 1993 Dixon et al, 2006). These expert societies were heavily involved with the establishment of geography as a discrete academic discipline, by defining geographys investigation agenda and methodologies, as well as establishing programs in university (Dixon et al, 2006). Since these societies had entry requirements based on peer nomination and work assessment, it was difficult for women to join such societies, as their works are often dismissed as non- scholarly (Dixon et al, 2006). As a result , these institutions had a disproportionately large numbers of male members (Rose, 1993 Dixon et al, 2006). As female are not able to negotiate in this field of study due to institutional discrimination , white men were able to almost exclusively define what act as the norm in the discipline, which has allowed masculinist thinking to thrive and flourish in geography (Rose, 1993 Dixon et al, 2006).A number of scholars have pointed out as men have associated themselves with attributes or descriptions in their studies on landscape, such as culture, intellectualism, practicality and mobility (Rose, 1993 Pile, 1994 Berg, 1994). The adaptation of dualistic worldview that was assumed to be objective and scientifically sound has meant that women are therefore associated with nature, organic structure and emotionalism (Rose, 1993 Berg, 1994 Lloyd, 1984). Further, masculinist thinking believes that men are capable of rational thought, whereas women are not, as female-ness was thought of as the lack of maleness (Jay, 1981 Massey, 1998 Longhurst, 2000 Lloyd, 1984 Bordo, 1986 Berg, 1994). Together, these beliefs have helped to establish a hierarchical, binary opposition between mind and body culture and nature men and women, with the latter assumed to be inferior and less important (Pile, 1994 Rose, 1993 Berg, 1994 Lloyd, 1984). dualistic world views have also meant that, according to masculinist thinking, men are traditionally associated with public spaces, due to their association with waged work, which requires mobility and intelligence (Dixon et al, 2006 Rose, 1993 Longhurst, 2000 Berg, 1994). Therefore in contrast, women are typically associated with private spaces due to their traditionally assigned role as care- taker at home (Dixon et al, 2006 Rose, 1993 Longhurst, 2000 Bordo, 1986). Men self- proclaimed attributes, facilitated by dualistic world views have facilitated the shaping of a hierarchy in geography in relation to gender (Rose, 1993). The hierarchical o pposition signifies that spaces that are typically associated with female, reproduction activities are deemed as less important and less valued when comparing to spaces that are associated with men and their waged production activities (Dixon et al, 2006). Dixon et al (2006) has demonstrated that geographer has thus focus their studies on male productive activities, such as steel manufacturing, rather than investigating reproductive activities that are traditionally associated with women, such as day care for example. As stated by Dixon et al (2006), this bias is reproduced in the discipline across multiple research area. This argument demonstrates the problems underlying geography the focus on production relative to reproduction at bottom geography signifies the existence of a knowledge gap within the discipline, in regard to areas associated with female economic and social activities. Furthermore, this can discourage scholars, who aim to examine or carry out research in fields as sociated with female activities, to engage with geography due to concerns over the research prioritization mentioned above, and turn to other disciplines that they smell their research will be valued (Dixon et al, 2006). Together, these diminish the scope of geographic investigation, further reducing any potential knowledge that would have been produced and incorporated within the discipline of geography, which lead to the diminishing of the academic significance of geography, and this urges the re-thinking of geographic practices, in order to minimize bias due to the disciplines masculinist legacy (Dixon et al, 2006 Pile, 1994 monastic et al, 1982).In conclusion, the works of feminist geographers examined in this essay have all shared a common theme- the exclusion of women and the consequences, in different contexts or settings. In some aspects of feminist geography, feminist geographers have directly engaged with the lives of women studies have attempt to undercover ways in whic h women are oppressed under capitalism, and to demonstrate how womens lives, in regards to their economic opportunities, are limited as a result of the exclusion from employment. However, this essay has also demonstrated that there are existing studies in which the primary concern is the development of discipline, under the influence of limited female participation. They have highlighted that the disciplines lack of female involvement, which has facilitated the flourishing of traditional masculine thinking as dominant discourse in geography, has in turn lead to the production of biased knowledge and skewed research approaches that constitute geography- this remained to be an internal, innate problem that results in the narrowing of the scope of study, and has imposed limits on the production of geographic knowledge. The problems highlight above, by feminist geographers, can by chance urge geographers to rethink their research priorities and focuses, to avoid the induction, or repro duction of masculine- orientated bias in geography, to overcome the legacy of male- domination in order to facilitate wider, more depth understanding of space/ place and social relations and activities. Together, these studies have confirmed that there is significant diversity among feminist geography feminist geographers have addressed a range of issue or concerns that relate to gender bias or inequality in different contexts. Thus it can be said that the primary concern cannot therefore be generalized into one subject of concern.ReferenceKaren Dias Jennifer Blecha (2007) Feminism and Social Theory in geography An Introduction , The Professional Geographer, 59(1) 1-9LeVasseur, M (1993) Finding a Way Encouraging Underrepresented Groups in geographics An Annotated Bibliography. Indiana, PA National Council for Geographic EducationRose, G. (1993) Feminism and geography the limits of geographical knowledge. Cambridge Polity Press.Massey, D. (1998) Blurring the binaries? High tech in Cambridge. In Ainley, R. (ed.) New frontiers of space, bodies and gender, capital of the United Kingdom RoutledgeMorin, K (1995) The gender of Geography. Postmodern Culture. Online 32 Available at http//pmc.iath.virginia.edu/text-only/issue.195/review-3.195Accessed 19 February 2015MacKenzie, S Rose, D (1983) Industrial change, the domestic economy and home life. In Anderson J Ducan, S Hudson, R (eds.) Redundant Spaces in Cities and Regions? Social Geography and Industrial Change. London Achedemic PressDixon, D.P. Jones III, J.P. (2006) Feminist Geographies of Difference, Relation, and Construction. In Aitken, S Valentine, G (eds.) Approaches to valet de chambre Geography. International SAGELinda McDowell (1992) Doing Gender Feminism, Feminists and look Methods in Human Geography. legal proceeding of the Institute of British Geographers New Series, 17(4) 399-416Beechey, V. (1977) Some notes on female wage labour in capitalist production. Capital and Class, 3, Autumn 45-66Eisenst ein, Z. (1979) Developing a theory of capitalist patriarchy and socialist feminism. In, Eisenstein, Z. (ed.) Capitalist Patriarchy and the Case for Socialist Feminism. New York Monthly ReviewNelson, K. (1986) Female labour supply characteristics and the suburbanization of low-wage office work. In Scott, A Storper, M (eds) Production, work, territory the geographical anatomy of industrial capitalism. Boston and London Allen and UnwinPearson, R. (1986) Latin American women and the new international division of labour a reassessment. Bulletin of Latin American Research, 5(2) 67-79Chant, S. McIlwaine, C. (1995) Gender and export manufacturing in the Philippines continuity and change in female employment? The case of the Mactan Export Processing Zone. Gender Place and Culture 2(2) 147-76Nelson, K. (1986) Female labour supply characteristics and the suburbanization of low-wage office work. In Scott, A Storper, M (eds) Production, work, territory the geographical anatomy of industrial capi talism. Boston and London Allen and UnwinMassey, D. (1984) Spatial divisions of labour. London MacmillanHawkesworth, M.E. (2006) Feminist Inquiry From Political Conviction to Methodological Innovation. New Brunswick, NJ Rutgers Unversity PressMcDowell, L (1992) Doing Gender Feminism, Feminists and Research Methods in Human Geography. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers New Series, 17 (4) 399-416Seccombe, W (1974) The Housewife and Her Labour under Capitalism. New Left Review, 83 3-24Pratt, G (1994) Feminist geographies. In Johnston, R Gregory, D Smith D (eds) The Dictionary of Human Geography (3rd edn) Oxford BlackwellHanson, S Pratt, G (1995) Gender, Work, and Space. New York RoutledgePile, S (1994) Masculinism, the use of dualistic epistemologies and third spaces. Antipod 26(3) 255-277Johnson, L. C. (1994) What future for feminist geography? Gender, Place Culture A Journal of Feminist Geography, 1(1) 103-113Gerstein, Ira 1973 Domestic Work and Capitalism, Radic al America , 7 (45)101-128.Longhurst, R (2000) Geography and gender masculinities, male identity and men. Progress in Huma Geography 25(3) 439-444Berg, L. D. (1994) Masculinity, place and a binary discourse of theory and empirical investigation in the military personnel geography of Aotearoa/New Zealand, Gender, Place Culture. A Journal of Feminist Geography 1(2) 245-260Bordo, S.(1986) The Cartesian masculinization of thought. Signs 11 (3) 439456Jay, N. (1981) Gender and dichotomy. Feminist Studies 7(1) 38-56Lloyd, G. (1984) The Man of Reason male and female in Western philosophy. London MethuenJanice, M Hanson, S (1982) On not excluding half of the human in human geography. The Professional Geographer 34(1) 11-23Hesse-Biber, S.N. (2012) Feminist Research Exploring, Interrogating, and Transforming the Interconnections of Epistemology, Methodology, and Method. In Hesse- Biber, S.N. (ed.) Handbook of Feminist Research Theory and Praxis (2nd edn) International SAGE

thematic essay on identity -- essays research papers fc

Thematic Essay on IdentityThere argon many aspects of identity in the poem stir without Love, by Sharon Olds. I green goddess relate my consume thoughts to how the reason views the subject that she talks about in this poem. There has been a situation in my own life where I was view to myself, just as the author was, How do they do it, the ones who make love without love? (Olds 740). Having been raised as a comprehensive and disciplined person, as vigorous as apparitional, I know the discouragement of having premarital sex. Its not just the immorality that these characters atomic number 18 experiencing that the author is talking about, but they probably contract personal issues that have to do with a their self worth and identity. These characters think they know what love is, but the truth is that they are in denial of what they are really doing. Even though religion is an issue to the characters, their identity pushes that concept to the side so that they can do what they relish most. I believe that the author is trying to stress the point that these multitude are not obeying the word of God and leading themselves into their own temptations. Olds compares the truly religious to the lovers by introducing them as people who have sex without being in love by saying, These are the true religious, the purist, the pros, the ones who will not accept a false Messiah, love the priest instead of the God (Olds 740). Part of this poem is ironic because the author starts by questioning... thematic essay on identity -- essays explore papers fc Thematic Essay on IdentityThere are many aspects of identity in the poem Sex without Love, by Sharon Olds. I can relate my own thoughts to how the author views the subject that she talks about in this poem. There has been a situation in my own life where I was thinking to myself, just as the author was, How do they do it, the ones who make love without love? (Olds 740). Having been raised as a well-roun ded and disciplined person, as well as religious, I know the discouragement of having premarital sex. Its not just the immorality that these characters are experiencing that the author is talking about, but they probably have personal issues that have to do with a their self worth and identity. These characters think they know what love is, but the truth is that they are in denial of what they are really doing. Even though religion is an issue to the characters, their identity pushes that concept to the side so that they can do what they desire most. I believe that the author is trying to stress the point that these people are not obeying the word of God and leading themselves into their own temptations. Olds compares the truly religious to the lovers by introducing them as people who have sex without being in love by saying, These are the true religious, the purist, the pros, the ones who will not accept a false Messiah, love the priest instead of the God (Olds 740). Part of this p oem is ironic because the author starts by questioning...

The world :: essays research papers fc

This paper is about the world, but Ive never written it.     ------------------------------------------------------------------------Editing ResourcesOther ResourcesHosted by match Ne tworks      ------------------------------------------------------------------------     ------------------------------------------------------------------------A critical review of Martin Luther fagot, Jr.s Version of Natural Law TheoryParadoxically, Martin Luther King, Jr., in his "Letter from Birmingham City Jail," initially uses serious music natural constabulary theory to oblige his actions, but in a flash thereafter contradicts a fundamental tenet of this theory and relies on a "weaker" version of natural law. In doing so, King essential enterprise to formulate a theory which justifies his illegal actions in view of his moral obligation to obey the law. Kings failure to distinguish between legal obligations and mo ral obligations yields a logical enigma in his final formulation of natural law theory. However, Kings theory need not be completely worsened if his argument is about modified to reject the moral obligation to obey laws. King initially uses classical natural law theory as his rational basis to stand for his actions. This theory has two main component claims according to Murphy and Coleman (Sourcebook, I-35), the counterbalance beingness, "Moral validity is a logically necessary condition for legal validity- an foul or dissolute law being no law at all" followed by, "The moral order is a part of the natural order- moral duties being in about sense "read off" from essences or purposes fixed (perhaps by God) in nature." According to this theory, morality law, but law = morality by definition. Thus for King to use this theory, two requirements are implicit. He must assert that an unjust law is not really a law, and he must provide a moral theory to dist inguish just and unjust laws. King first quotes St. Augustine, "an unjust law is no law at all," to underline his agreement with the first claim. He then includes the "law of God" as his moral theory to provide the framework upon which to judge the law. His argument using classical natural law theory at first seems to be a valid and necessary defense for breaking the law, i.e. disobeying segregation laws and orders to not march. Most people are initially supportive of his argument that an unjust law is not a law he can or should obey. Kings comment that "one has a moral certificate of indebtedness to obey just laws...one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws" (Letter, p3) therefore appears to justify his actions. However, a rational analysis makes manifest several difficulties associated with this argument.The world essays research papers fc This paper is about the world, but Ive never written it.     ------------------- -----------------------------------------------------Editing ResourcesOther ResourcesHosted by pair Networks      ------------------------------------------------------------------------     ------------------------------------------------------------------------A Critique of Martin Luther King, Jr.s Version of Natural Law TheoryParadoxically, Martin Luther King, Jr., in his "Letter from Birmingham City Jail," initially uses classical natural law theory to defend his actions, but immediately thereafter contradicts a fundamental tenet of this theory and relies on a "weaker" version of natural law. In doing so, King must attempt to formulate a theory which justifies his illegal actions in view of his moral obligation to obey the law. Kings failure to distinguish between legal obligations and moral obligations yields a logical paradox in his final formulation of natural law theory. However, Kings theory need not be completely reje cted if his argument is slightly modified to reject the moral obligation to obey laws. King initially uses classical natural law theory as his rational basis to defend his actions. This theory has two main component claims according to Murphy and Coleman (Sourcebook, I-35), the first being, "Moral validity is a logically necessary condition for legal validity- an unjust or immoral law being no law at all" followed by, "The moral order is a part of the natural order- moral duties being in some sense "read off" from essences or purposes fixed (perhaps by God) in nature." According to this theory, morality law, but law = morality by definition. Thus for King to use this theory, two requirements are implicit. He must assert that an unjust law is not really a law, and he must provide a moral theory to distinguish just and unjust laws. King first quotes St. Augustine, "an unjust law is no law at all," to emphasize his agreement with the first claim. He the n includes the "law of God" as his moral theory to provide the framework upon which to judge the law. His argument using classical natural law theory at first seems to be a valid and necessary defense for breaking the law, i.e. disobeying segregation laws and orders to not march. Most people are initially supportive of his argument that an unjust law is not a law he can or should obey. Kings comment that "one has a moral responsibility to obey just laws...one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws" (Letter, p3) therefore appears to justify his actions. However, a rational analysis makes apparent several difficulties associated with this argument.