“Hedda Gabler” by Henrik Ibsen and the 19th Century Marriage Essay Example for Free

â€Å"Hedda Gabler† by Henrik Ibsen and the 19th Century Marriage Essay Marriage in the 19th century was a social and economic matter, rather than a matter of personal relationship. The morals of the era, including family morals, are often associated with the Victorian England, where they revealed themselves in the most ultimate and form, yet especially this kind of attitude towards marriage dominated throughout Europe. The hypocrisy of the 19th century marriage, which caused countless lives to be broken and countless people to be unhappy, inspired many prominent writers like Oscar Wild, Gustave Flaubert, Honore de Balzac, Leo Tolstoy and Fyodor Dostoyevsky to refer to the motifs of protest against such state of things. Yet Henrik Ibsen is unique even in this society, he concentrates on the named subject in virtually every of his famous plays. One of those plays is â€Å"Hedda Gabler† first published in 1890. In this paper I will attempt to analyze Ibsen’s play in the context of the XIX century marriage, as well as the effect the play itself had on the social perception of family ties. I will argue that Ibsen managed to demonstrate how frustrating a hypocritical marriage can be and what a disastrous consequences it can cause not only for the married women, but for every person involved in the relation. I will further argue that the play can be viewed as Ibsen’s contribution to change of the entire social idea of the place of a woman in a family. Ibsen himself wrote that The title of the play is Hedda Gabler. I intended to indicate thereby that as a personality she is to be regarded rather as her fathers daughter than as her husbands wife. Here Ibsen refers to the key problem of marriage in the 19th century. A woman has not played any independent role in it. She has always been viewed as â€Å"belonging to some man†, whether it is her father, brother or husband. Correspondingly, she had no opportunity to develop her own life and turned out to be a toy in the hands of men, being entirely dependent on them in social and economic aspects . In Hedda’s case she is either a daughter of a general, or a wife of an academic. But what is worse, she is dependent not only socially, but even mentally. She does not seem to be very clever, yet this does not mean that she lacks character. At her first approach Ibsen stresses her â€Å"pale and opaque† face and that â€Å"her steel-grey eyes express a cold, unruffled repose† . She is no way a foolish maiden dreaming only of lavish and careless life, throughout the play she often acts as a person of firm will, yet of a bad, or rather undeveloped character. This personal underdevelopment includes both narrow outlook and lack of moral principles. Perhaps she has been taught everything possible about morals, but a person of her type would rather act in contrary to imposed principles. Hedda really â€Å"belongs† to her husband and she is constantly reminded of that. This makes her desire for power even stronger, as she demonstrates more and more masculine features as the play develops. Unwilling to accept the feminine stereotypes of behavior Hedda plays with her father’s pistols perhaps more to shock and confuse her family, because handling arms is surely not a proper thing for a young lady. Yet the play with the pistols is still comparatively innocent. It appears that Hedda plays her own game with the society. Her relatives treat her as an obedient toy, so Hedda starts using them as toys in turn. This is a game of arrogance and indifference. Hedda makes snobbish remarks to the surrounding people, insults Aunt Julie’s new hat. The game gradually becomes more and more dangerous, and ends with two suicides. It seems that in this game Hedda makes little difference between a hat and Lovborg’s life. What the world has given to Hedda that Hedda returns to the world, and in case her dreams of luxurious existence are ruined, she can ruin the world in turn. The dependent position of a woman in marriage is naturally followed by another aspect of 19th century marriage – restriction of a woman. Ibsen embodied this social barrier in the repeated image of a glass door. The barrier is easy to be removed or broken, which she â€Å"nervously† walks to, but which she never opens, dying inside the claustrophobic space of the house. A question might arise here why Hedda at all married Jorgen Tesman whom she never loved and whom she openly neglected? The most obvious answer is that Hedda was in need of money, since her fathers only heritage was a good name. Tesman was an acceptable choice to her. He is considerably prosperous, his scientific prospects look perfectly, his name is noble, and, what is most important, his character is not very strong, so Hedda can easily control him. What is less obvious is Hedda’s desire to revenge Lovborg who failed to meet her hopes. Whether consciously or not, Hedda is making her way towards actual murder and suicide from the very beginning of the play. Although even in the 19th century the declared ground of marriage was love, Hedda cries to the Judge not to â€Å"use this sickening word† . She has crossed out her dreams of love and she does not want even to remember them. However, Hedda at least has an idea of love and passions, while her husband has none. As Hedda married Tesman of convenience, so Tesman did to Hedda. He is attracted both by her origin and by her beauty, while her death impresses him in a strange way: â€Å"Shot herself! Shot herself in the temple! Fancy that! †. This last phrase shows his real attitude. He never loved Hedda, and his primary concern was his own social position which he hoped to improve with a good marriage and an image of a beautiful wife. In fact there are no good or bad characters in the play, no victims and no executioners. Hedda is often blamed as a â€Å"snobbish, mean-spirited, small-minded, conservative, cold, bored, vicious. Shes sexually eager but terrified of sex; ambitious to be bohemian but frightened of scandal; a desperate romantic fantasist but unable to sustain any loving relationship with anyone, including herself† . This all can be true, but other characters are not better. The basic defect of the situation is that men and women surrounding Hedda are completely unable to see her as a personality outside of her social position. To the last they believe that Hedda would act in the â€Å"accepted way†, whether it is Tesman who views his wife as a pretty doll or Judge Brack who blackmails Hedda to enter into the family and probably force Hedda to a love affair believing that Hedda would act as a women in hopelessness, in other words obey . Brack is surprised with Hedda’s rebelliousness against the rule and asks: â€Å"Are you so unlike the generality of women as to have no turn for duties? † . But what Hedda does not want to hear about are duties. In this company even Lovborg causes little compassion. An miserable alcoholic who almost ruined his talent saved not due to his own effort, but due to a woman, he is unable even to die in the way Hedda has determined, and his suicide looks ridiculous. Being finally cornered by the circumstances Hedda decides to commit suicide herself. All of her dreams are ruined, she is now convinced that nobody loves her, her dreams of freedom, luxury and passions appeared to be mirages. She is unable to dominate even in the situation she has herself created. Hedda realizes that she is not a romantic hero but a simple wife of an academic, she is imprisoned and powerless. Her possible motherhood can only aggravate her despair, for a child shall be born from a man she does not love, and childbirth will make her even more helpless and dependent. Thus suicide looks as a natural resort for her. There is an another strong social allusion in the play. Lovborg and Mrs. Elvsted use to label Loveborg’s manuscript as a child, so burning a manuscript is a similar to child murder. When Hedda kills herself she kills her prospective children, as well as ruins her husband’s reputation thus doing two things he is afraid of. She commits suicide out of escapist intents but it is also a revenge to her husband, Brack, relatives and the whole world where such hypocritical marriage is possible. â€Å"Hedda Gabler† caused an ambiguous reaction of the public ever since premiere. The responses differed from calling it â€Å"Ibsens greatest play and the most interesting woman that he has created† to the devastating characteristic by George Bernard Show who emotionally observed: â€Å"What a marvel of stupidity and nonsense the author did produce in this play! It is incredible to think that only a score of years ago the audience sat seriously before its precious dullness†. American newspapers added oil to the flame of critique. The Philadelphian Ledger wrote after the American premiere â€Å"What a hopeless specimen of degeneracy is Hedda Gabler! A vicious, heartless, cowardly, unmoral, mischief-making vixen†. Yet I would emphasize a characteristic that remains actual until now. It has been provided by Justin Huntly McCarthy who wrote of the â€Å"he most interesting woman that he has created she is compact with all the vices, she is instinct with all the virtues of womanhood† . The debate has not ceased over the years. Hedda became a favored character in the feminist movement, the play has been staged in numerous interpretations, including even lesbian one. However such public interest is the best proof of the fact that Ibsen hit the nail. â€Å"Hedda Gabler† is a play about fatal marriage. It starts with return of Hedda from her wedding journey and ends with the beginning of her final journey. However, Ibsen managed to generalize his subject and make his play a story of woman place in the society. 19th century marriage did left little space for female existence in the world dominated by males. That what the play is actually about. The motif of domination is revealed throughout the play and it is not always possible to say who, except for faulty customs dominates the situation. After all Tesman is unable to control even himself, and Hedda can not take the leading positions in the family due to social restrictions. Death is her protest. Perhaps it would not be too general to say that Ibsen wrote not only of physical death of his character but of a spiritual death of womanhood in the 19th century marriage. Works Cited: 1. Ibsen, Henrik. Hedda Gabler. Digireads. com, 2005. 2. Coontz, Stephanie. Marriage, a History: How Love Conquered Marriage. New York: Penguin Books, 2006. 3. Templeton, Joan. Ibsen’s Women. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001. 4. Eyre, Richard. â€Å"Femme fatale. Richard Eyre would like to apologise to Ibsen for doubting the greatness of Hedda Gabler†. The Guardian. 5 Mar. 2005. 21 April 2009 http://www. guardian. co. uk/stage/2005/mar/05/theatre 5. Sanders, Tracy. Lecture Notes: Hedda Gabler Fiend or Heroine. Australian Catholic University, 2006. 21 April 2009 http://dlibrary. acu. edu. au/staffhome/trsanders/units/modern_drama/hedda_gabler. html

Environmental Issues Facing Future Of European Car Industry Marketing Essay

Environmental Issues Facing Future Of European Car Industry Marketing Essay The European Car industry has been continuously evolving from its early years. The world economic recession leading up to World War II led to strengthening of the uneven automobile manufacturing market, while in the postwar period, improved economic growth, marketing, and an expanding road structures increased sales for auto manufacturers in many developed countries. Design, service, and speed became trademarks of the thriving car producers, as evidenced by the every growing range of car models and the increasing popularity of Formula 1 racing all over Europe. In todays modern society the car industry is beginning to show signs of struggle due to the challenges that the industry faces in the new era. Issues such as congestion, rising oil prices, traffic jams and air pollution are some of the reasons that have forced the car makers to rethink its marketing, its goals, its objectives, and all the other unforeseen consequences. In total car makers produce almost 60 million vehicles every year, and provide employment to millions and millions of people all over the world. Average profits have been on a decrease from 20% or more in its first days of the 1920s to nearly 10% in the 1960s and way less than 5% in this present day. In fact some volume car makers such as Fiat, GM, and Ford all have actually been losing money. EUROPEAN AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY The European industry is the worlds largest car manufacturing region and the worlds largest market. In addition to that the industry is considered a leader in the worldwide market, with incorporated operations consisting of design, research, development, production and sales (BERA 2004). The market is made up of a concentrated and refined universal network, which includes different joint-ventures, special productions, many cooperatives, and assembly sites. European car manufacturers have a combined productivity that exceeds that of the United States and Japan; but no one single European manufacturer produces more than its Japanese or United States competitor (BERA 2004). There are more than 20 vehicle producers in Europe, with the largest carmakers producing numerous brands, such as VW, GM, Fiat, DaimlerChrysler, and Peugeot Citroen (McLaughlin, Maloney 1999, p. 193). There are also independent carmakers, such as Porsche, BMW and Baritone (McLaughlin, Maloney 1999, p. 193). The vehicle production of the European automotive industry has shown a great increase over the last 10 years. According to recent studies the largest car manufacturing country in Europe is Germany which is estimated at 30% of regions total production, followed by France at 19%, than Spain at 17% and UK at 10% (BERA 2004). Similar to the other markets in the global car industry trade, European industry has undergone an important restructuring, consolidation and reorganization, which comprises of mergers, such as Chrysler and Daimler-Benz, General Motors acquisition of Saab, BMWs hostile take over and then sale of Rover, Jaguar and Volvos passenger car division are now all under Ford, Volkswagens acquisition of Lamborghini, Bentley, SEAT and Skoda (McLaughlin, Maloney 1999, p. 193). Presently there are many other supply arrangements and co-production efforts amongst the European carmakers and other manufacturers all over the globe. Trends and issues in Europe: Increasing challenges Sustainable development for European Car industry requires sufficient and capable, economically feasible, socially adequate and environmentally sound transport systems (UNDESA 2010, p.1). Urban population is growing rapidly, in particular in the developing countries such as Turkey, Poland, Croatia and Ukraine. By 2050, two-thirds of people will live in mega-cities and other urban areas. Cities in developing countries urgently need better and affordable public urban transport systems (UNDESA 2010, p.2). With increasing income and prosperity many city dwellers aspire to own their own motor vehicles. Rapidly growing use of private motor vehicles and of freight transport, limited space and inadequate infrastructure result in urban traffic congestion, lost time, wasted resources, polluted air and negative health impacts through emissions of sulfur oxide, nitrogen oxide, volatile organic compounds and particulates, including black carbon (UNDESA 2010, p.2). Motorized transport depends almost entirely on oil products for its energy needs. Many developing countries are energy importers. Inefficient use of motor fuel in congested urban transport imposes unnecessary costs on countries, which can contribute to foreign trade imbalances and hamper economic development (UNDESA 2010, p.2). At present, the transport sector is responsible for almost a quarter of greenhouse gas emission from fossil fuel sources worldwide. It is the fastest growing sector with respect to green house gas emissions, yet is has received so far little attention from international climate initiatives and support programmes. For increasing resource productivity in transport, both for passenger and freight transport, a comprehensive approach is required that seeks (UNDESA 2010, p.2): to avoid or reduce transport demand, where possible, to encourage a shift towards less polluting and more efficient transport modes, and to improve and deploy clean transport technologies. EXISTING LITERATURE REVIEWED The automobile sector, is very important in the European economy, but is currently facing a number of problems. The lack of funding creates difficulties for the consumer to finance the purchase of a new car. European markets are also in overcapacity, and the evolution towards an aging and a no car society is predictable on the structural long-term (EJCIC 2009, p.4). To address these issues European Union has adopted a number of policies as well. To finance the sector in the short-term, to elaborate short-term schemes to favour demand, to restructure the sector on the long term, also to finance RD and clean cars, and finally to improve traffic flow and promote efficient use of transportation (EJCIC 2009, p.4). The car industry is one of the main manufacturing sectors in the Europe and remains important in terms of production, wealth and jobs: it produces 15 to 18 million cars a year, about 1/3 of the world production, and employs directly and indirectly 12 million people (EJCIC 2009, p.4). Many suppliers depend on the automobile industry (steel, aluminum, plastic, glass, textile industries, etc.) and its investments in RD benefit also to other sectors (EJCIC 2009, p.4). Once a symbol of social and industrial development, the automotive industry is now facing a multitude of severe challenges: fight against climate change, oil price volatility and the financial and economic crisis that has caused a significant decline in demand and, therefore, jobs (EJCIC 2009, p.11). Automotive industry is considered as a vital sector for growth and competitiveness in the EU, and it figures prominently on the political agendas of the European Commission (EJCIC 2009, p.11). THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES OF THE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT AND MARKETING The business environment of the firm or an industry consists of all the external influences that affect its function, decision making and its performance. When given the measureless number and range of external influences, how can companies expect to analyze, let alone monitor, environmental situation? This organizing of information can be done by using some form of system or framework. Environmental influences can be classified by PEST analysis into political, economic, social, and technological factors (Grant 2005, p.68). Also environmental influences can be sorted by the micro-environment or task environment that can be distinguished from the wider influences that form the macro-environment (Grant 2005, p.68). Although systematized and constant scanning of the entire range of external influences is always desirable by most companies in the industry, such extensive environmental analysis is expensive, because it creates an excess of information (Grant 2005, p.68). The condition for efficient environmental analysis is to differentiate the vital information from the information that is less important. To do this, we must look at primary principles of most companies (Grant 2005, p.68). In order for the firm to make profit it must first create value for its customers. Thats why; it must understand its consumers. Second, in creating value, the firm must acquire goods and services from suppliers. Thats why; the firm must have a good understanding of its suppliers with whom they should form good business relationships. Third, the capability to generate income from value creating activity entirely depends on the intensity of rivalry amongst firms that compete for the same value creating opportunities. Thats why, the firm must be aware of competition. Hence, the core of the industrys business environment is formed by the relationships that the firms in the industry have with three sets of players: customers, suppliers, and competitors (Grant 2005, p.68). These make up the industry environment. At the same time one cannot say that macro-level factors are unimportant to environmental analysis. Macro-level factors consist of general changes in demographic structure, economic or social and political trends (Grant 2005, p.68). These factors are also critical determinants of the threats and opportunities companies in the industry will face in the near future. The main concern is how these more general environmental factors affect the firms industry environment. Strategically speaking the threat of global warming, for most industries, will not be an important issue, at least not for next few hundred years (Grant 2005, p.68). However for European car industry, the implications of global warming are a vital issue because of restrictions on burning fossil fuel and rising taxes on oil. To analyze the strategic implications of global warming, the automobile manufacturers need to trace its implications for the industry environment (Grant 2005, p.69): What will be the impact on demand, will consumers favor more fuel-efficient cars or will there be a shift from gasoline-powered to electrically powered vehicles? Will there be substitution of public transportation for private transportation? Will there be new entry by manufacturers of electric vehicles into the car industry? Will the heavy RD costs associated with adapting cars to the new environmental challenge cause the industry to consolidate? P.E.S.T. A technique thats used to identify, assess and evaluate external factors affecting the performance of firm in the industry is known as PEST analysis (Gregory 2004 p.49). PEST analysis is done to help an organisation gain knowledge and understanding of the broader business environment and may be carried out as part of a continuous process of environmental scanning (Campbell, Stonehouse Houston 2002, p.118). PEST analysis may be used to evaluate firms expansion into a new market or to evaluate the feasibility of a new product or service (Campbell, Stonehouse Houston 2002, p.118). There are a large number of factors that may be included into PEST analysis, few of which are outlined below. Political factors Political and legal factors play a critical role on the development of any industry. Political and legal factors shape the rules of rivalry, supply chain requirements and operational costs (Jones 2010). International instability has led to an increase of oil prices that has created a sturdy trend towards smaller engines, hybrid engines as well as lighter diesel engines (Jones 2010). Present high level of oil prices has damaged the sales of larger engine-sized cars that are more then two litres in capacity, most of which are luxury and premium vehicles. There are also various quality controls and operation requirements for safety standards and emission levels that have a negative impact on the costs of production which in turn reduce the operating profit margin of companies (Jones 2010). A new legislation for car parking has been implemented in various European countries due to the threat of high congestion with the extreme traffic load of road networks. The foreign ownership regulations also form a part of political and legal factors. Currently the UK, France and Spain are considered as one of the most FDI welcoming countries in Europe. Automotive industry is being deregulated, which means that foreign car makers have a flexibility of choosing between various entries into the market and expansion modes in doing business with European companies (Jones 2010). The political relations between countries of operations imply certain benefits in a form of reduced tariff and non-tariff barriers, for example India and Japan work together with the UK within the regime of favorability (Jones 2010). Economic factors The countrys present and future demand situation is one of the most important determinants of location, because demand influences operations margin, the pricing strategy of the product, potential growth of the market, and the potential of return on investment (Jones 2010). Since early 2000s the target market size in Europe has experienced steady growth by size and value. There has been growth in size as every day current car parking capacity is being increased. The steady increase of average price level of parking contributed to the growth of market value (Jones 2010). European market is viewed as extremely mature. The present maturity has led to the overcapacity issue and an evident drop in sales of particular car segments. In general due to the maturity issue the market is experiencing negative growth. Even so, there is still an enormous significant growth potential for the sales of certain car segments due to the impact of technological factor as well as socio-cultural factors (Jones 2010). The strong growth of GDP, personal disposable income and consumer expenditures reveal the soaring level of consumer confidence. But when looking at the purchase of new cars, consumer confidence has fallen a lot. Nowadays consumers in Europe have been very unwilling to take out new debt and instead been choosing to service their existing debt. Also there has been a decline in the levels of mortgage equity withdrawal, which indicates that European consumers do not seek other funds to buy pricey items like cars (Jones 2010). The current strong position of Euro against other currencies has created many benefits for manufacturers consumers operating in Euro zone such as certainty of operations and reduced currency fluctuation risk. When highlighting the outlook of the automakers industry, it is evident that one of the key concerns with establishing and maintaining the competitive advantage is the cost factor, to be more specific, it is the ability of the firm to manage its direct and indirect costs (Jones 2010). Furthermore, when a decision has to be made with regard to the location of operations and the establishments of factories, industry specialists say that the key determinant here is labour-specific costs. A major emphasis is being put on the labour-specific cost saving (Jones 2010). According to the survey, more than 85% of industry specialists agreed that not only in Europe but all over the world, in the next coming five years there will be a very big increase in labour specific costs, such as legal services, cost of pensions and medical benefits for the employees (Jones 2010). According to predictions as the target market for car makers, the attractiveness of Europe will stay high (Jones 2010). The reason why European region will remain attractive for car makers is the potential increase of its market size and value, due to the expansion of the European Union and their strong currency. There are however suggestions that the share of markets in Europe will drop, because of the present maturity of the market, excessive competition and the demand trend. Social factors Whenever social factors are discussed the key factor that always comes to mind is a demographic factor, because it involves the lifestyle, the trend and the spending power of the consumer. The type of risk aversive behavior and value per customer all fall under a demographic factor (Jones 2010). The use of particular type of products and its projections can be determined by looking at the status of demographic trends. For example, the sales of family cars have been damaged by the current European demographics. The changes of routines, lifestyles and habits have a direct impact on the consumer spending. For instance, there has been a recent increase in preferences for secondhand car ownership instead of brand new vehicles. Additionally, the impact of trend factors such as fashion ability and luxury preferences can be so strong that it can remove and neglect the negative effects of oil prices and maturity of the market in some car segments (Jones 2010). Thats why, despite the predictio ns, luxury cars and many SUVs can experience strong growth, while the sales in other car segments experience dramatic fall. Technological factors New transactional capabilities are now open with the current development of Internet. Continuous development and growth of technological solutions, particularly in the area of digital technologies and communication create fresh operating opportunities such as innovative marketing mix channels, latest market research tools along with new purchase environment known as e-commerce (Jones 2010). To counter the problem of overcapacity, a number of leading car distributors make use of e-commerce. There e-exchange channels linking supply chain agents have undergone major improvements and have become the source of strategic advantage since it creates the aptitude of better value chain quality control and faster market response (Jones 2010). Porters Five Forces of Competition Framework When it comes down to it, there are many tools that can determine the level of profitability and the amount of competition in an industry. A helpful, commonly used framework for analyzing and categorizing these factors is the one developed by Michael Porter of Harvard Business School (Grant 2005, p.73). Porters Five Forces of Competition framework analyzes the profitability and the fertility of an industry, as indicated by its rate of return on capital relative to its cost of capital, as determined by five forces of competition (Grant 2005, p.73). These five sources of competitive pressure fall under either horizontal or vertical competition. Three sources make up horizontal competition namely: competition from new entrants, competition from substitute products or services, and competition from established rivals. And two sources make up vertical competition namely: the bargaining power of buyers and the bargaining power of suppliers (Grant 2005, p.73) Competition from Established Rivals The European automotive market is highly collective. The main rivalry involves Ford, General Motors, Volkswagen, Renault, Peugeot, BMW, Citroen, Honda and Toyota. There is a threat of intense price wars and a strong requirement for product differentiation because of this presence of powerful competitors with established brands (Jones 2010). This competitive pressure leads to an increase in promotional costs; and overcapacity introduces a significant price pressure. The current market conditions are so intense, that some manufacturers had no choice but to close certain plants to slash the costs and stay alive on the market. There are three major competitive strategies that firms use to survive; the first one is to serve and satisfy the needs of emerging market segments, new product development strategy, and lastly the supply chain improvement strategy (Jones 2010). Any opportunity that might arise requires an immediate operational responsiveness as there always is little space till market opportunity is leveraged by competitors. Bargaining Power of Buyers Because of the increasing overcapacity issue and high intensity of competition on the worldwide scale, European buyers experience very strong bargaining power (Jones 2010). It is said that buyers have a high level of bargain seeking behavior. Competition from Substitutes Apart from straight competitors such as public transport, cars compete with other forms of transport: air, sea, and rail. The ever-increasing importance of door to door transportation as well as environmental concerns has decreased the present threat of other forms of transport as substitutes. The main source of substitute threat comes from the sales of used cars. The steady accumulation of secondhand cars is one of the major reasons for the dramatic fall of the sales of new cars (Jones 2010). Bargaining Power of Suppliers Although carmakers have formed large entities it did not make a noteworthy shift of bargaining power in relations between original equipment manufacturers and the suppliers. The consolidation in the original equipment manufacturers sector has generated the equivalent consolidation between different groups of suppliers (Jones 2010). In the light of the overcapacity issue, demand chain partners and especially large car dealers do experience large bargaining power. Competition from entrants There is a high level of entry barriers when an industry is extremely consolidated and there is a well-developed value-added chain, RD and marketing capability. All of these minimize the threat of new entrants. However, due to global nature of the automotive industry the idea of new entrant is not that straightforward, since existing companies may enter new geographical markets. For example there is a huge potential for Chinese manufacturers to flood European markets in case safety measures and protectionist laws are not introduced by European countries (Jones 2010). Attractiveness of the industry for Foreign Direct Investments The value of Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) per annum or per capita is one of the most common indices used to compare the attractiveness of countries (Maksymiuk 2006, p.4). The attractiveness of any country for FDI consists of many factors (which are valid also for sectors): low transaction costs, low risks for investment, a developed capital market, assured property rights, high expenditure in research and development, a highly developed infrastructure, a liberal economy, a lack of barriers for the entrance or exit from the market, a high quality of institutions supporting entrepreneurship and innovations, low taxes for employees, highly qualified specialists, a big domestic market, positive perspectives for the development of the country and political and social stability (Maksymiuk 2006, p.4). The attractiveness of the automotive industry can be increased by additional factors: the number of automotive suppliers qualified by quality management systems, the close proximity of car manufacturers, and the access to raw materials, a good climate guaranteed by government, operational clusters and co-operation between the industry and universities as well as RD institutions and consulting companies (Maksymiuk 2006, p.4). Information technologies are essential in all phases of development of the product, through manufacturing, logistics, purchasing and up to sales and after-sale services (Maksymiuk 2006, p.18). IT reduces the period of implementation of solutions and the costs of implementation. It supports the transfer of data around the world and makes it easier for transnational corporations to develop their products in a country that offers the most favorable conditions for FDI. IT is also one of the first tools which helps during mergers and acquisitions. The automotive industry could face some issues in the future. There could be a fall in the popularity of cars because of increases in car prices, increases in maintenance costs, and the appearance of substitutes for the car (Maksymiuk 2006, p.19). Another threat for the automotive industry could be triggered by an increase in transaction costs. It would be rather difficult to find such a situation in all automotive regions in the world, however decline in one of the regions (e.g. nationalization or a change of law against FDI in a big country) would bring higher losses and an extension of profits from investments in the longer term Many companies could be stopped because of a lack of components. Europe (especially the countries that have recently joined the European Union), with its strengths and opportunities reduces the risk of losses and is an attractive place for future investors (Maksymiuk 2006, p.19). SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION Out of all the main manufacturing car industries in the world (Japan and US), the European is the largest and the most competitive. European automotive industry is a complex one and at the same time very diverse. It is basically dominated by German manufacturers. Although there has been a rise in sales and manufacturing from France, Spain and UK, German car makers still dominate the market. The market is also further divided by manufacturers that produce mass volumes of cars, than the manufacturers that focus on specializations and finally those that target niche markets and only cater to those specific customers. I say that the car industry is a complex one, because the state of industry affects many markets that are related to it, such as car parts, accessories, fuels and many more. Another reason why the industry is complex is that there are changing regulations of the car production, such as issues of global warming, safety and reliability. Also, companies must continuously consi der political, environmental and technological concerns in order to succeed. However despite the complexity of the environment of the automotive industry, European car industry has many favorable business and environmental factors such as the future growth potential within Europe, also there is an economic stability, positive growth of certain car market segments and finally theres relatively medium entry barriers which makes it an excellent place for FDI investors.

Organizational Diagnosis Plan Of Six Box Model Information Technology Essay

Organizational Diagnosis Plan Of Six Box Model Information Technology Essay The six-box model is a structure developed by the American analyst Marvin Weisbord to evaluate the performance of organizations. It is a general structure and is proposed for use across a wide variety of organizations. It is based mainly on the techniques and assumptions of the field of organizational improvement. The model represents a exacting way of looking at organizational structure and plan. It gives awareness to issues such as planning, incentives and rewards, the role of support functions such as personnel, internal competitions among organizational units, standards for remuneration, partnerships, hierarchies and the delegation of authority, organizational control, accountability and performance assessment. The model also follows the basic systems approach to organizational functioning including the well-known inputs and outputs categories. (The Marvin Weisbord Six-Box Model (Weisbords Model)) Table 1 1.0 Scope This plan provides information about Organizational Diagnosis control of XYZ. It is used to plan and implement organizational process based on a thorough understanding of the current strengths and weaknesses of the organizations processes and assets. 2.0 High-Level Overview Application Development is performed according to the phases of the Software Development Lifecycle. Below is a high-level overview. Each of these stages is described in more detail, in the sections that follow. Generally, a customer or site manager initiates a request for development based on the customers needs. The request is then analyzed to determine if it should be done as a request task or a project. If it should be a project, then it is analyzed to create a project charter. It should then be determined whether planning can be done with pre-allocated hours or whether a planning project is required. These results should be documented in the planning SOW, a planning schedule, and a PID if necessary. This can be done during by meeting with the customer depending on the scope of the project. The purpose of the planning project is to perform all of the planning and requirements analysis required in order to get an execution project approved. During the planning phase, business requirements and a project plan with all of its subordinate plans should be created. This can be done depending on the scope of the project. During the requirements analysis phase, the software requirements should be developed based on the project plan and business requirements. Then, an estimate should be created based on the project plan and software requirements. And finally, a schedule should be done based on the estimate, software requirements, and project plan. Once approved by the customer, these documents should be combined with an execution SOW. Once approved and resourced, the project and its resources are entered into the Project Lifecycle Application (PLA). Once approved, the execution project begins; and, the first phase is design. During this phase the architecture is developed and a test plan is created. The design and test plan are then reviewed and approved. Once approved, the construction phase begins. During this phase all components are created and integrated. The components will also be unit tested, integration tested, system tested, and then user tested. After construction, preparation to move the software to production is done. A Transition plan is created which is intended to train the support staff and users on the software and to coordinate its release to production. All help and support documentation should be created and approved. After the migration is complete, a post project meeting should be held to conduct lessons learned exercises. The Measurement Analysis repository should also be updated, analyzed and re-baseline when necessary. 2.1 Overview Organizational Diagnosis enables steady method routine across the organization and provides a foundation for cumulative, long-term benefits to the organization. The Quality Management System (QMS) is a group of items maintained by the organization for use by the employees and projects of the XYZ organization. This collection of items includes descriptions of diagnosis and process elements, descriptions of life-cycle models, process tailoring guidelines, process-related documentation, and data. The organizations Quality Management System supports organizational learning and process improvement by allowing the sharing of best practices and lessons learned across the organization. The organizations set of standard processes have been tailored by input from the Process Owners, XYZ QRB, MRB and the Director of Process Excellence to create XYZs defined processes. Additionally, tool manuals, templates, etc. have been incorporated into the extranet portal to provide all needed assets to perform the expected activities of a CMMI Level 3 and ISO 9001:2008 organization. 3.0 Purpose The purpose of Organizational Diagnosis Plan is to document and implement XYZ organizational diagnosis activities based on a thorough understanding of the current strengths and weaknesses of the organizations diagnosis and process assets. Vision: Grow into a leader in the Commercial industries by solving important logistics and supply chain problems on-time, under-budget, and with integrity and positive customer economic impact. Mission: Provide on time, on budget, logistics and technology solutions with unmatched integrity and business principles.   Values: Operate business with integrity and high ethical standards. 4.0 Structure The table two below provides a guide for the general software life cycle activities to which specific processes and procedures have been defined in this plan. A separate responsibility matrix has been provided that maps each activity and associated responsibilities. Some of the activities listed below may not apply depending on the project. The PMP will provide justification for skipping activities. QA functions are performed throughout the Product Development Life Cycle (PDLC) shown below: Software Lifecycle Activity Project Planning and Oversight Software Development Environment System Requirements Analysis System Design Software Requirements Analysis Software Design Software Implementation and Unit Testing Unit Integration and Testing CI Qualification Testing CI/Hardware Configuration Item (HWCI) Integration and Testing System Qualification Testing or software product inspection Software Use Preparation (Pre-deployment preparation) Software Transition Preparation (Deployment) Life Cycle Maintenance (On-going support) Table 2 Software Lifecycle Activity Table 3 Software Lifecycle Activity Break Down For a typical software product development, the PDLC will have a number of various activities some of which are show in table four below. These activities shown below are the typical activities that QA is typically involved in. Inception Analysis/Requirements Deployment Design Validation Develop/ Implement Table 4 Development Life Cycle (PDLC) 4.1 Management This section describes each key essentials of the XYZ organization that influence the quality of the developed product. The organization chart below provides the general structure of the XYZ organization. Table 5 Organization Chart Executive Management is responsible for Establishing the Quality Policy, and reviewing it for continuing suitability. Executive Management is responsible for Communicating the Quality Policy, the importance of meeting regulatory and statutory and customer requirements. Executive Management is responsible for identifying the Key Processes to be included in the QMS. Executive Management is responsible for identifying the data required for effective review of the QMS. Executive Management is the management review team. It is the responsibility of the Management Representative to schedule and conduct management review meetings in compliance with this procedure. The Management Representative is responsible for collecting summary reports and data from the responsible functions and for ensuring adequate employee awareness of the companys QMS. The Management Representative is responsible for bringing information and progress reports on action items assigned to them at previous management review meetings, information on planned changes that could affect the QMS, quality planning needs and activities and recommendations for improvements to the QMS. Executive Management consists of the Chief Executive Officer, Executive Vice President, Senior Vice Presidents, Vice Presidents, Senior Directors and the Management Representative. Product realization processes: the processes that contribute or result in the product being produced or the product being provided. Key Processes: product realization processes, customer related processes and quality management system processes that are included in the QMS. Each Software Development Project will have a Project Manager or Program Manager who is directly responsible for achieving the project objectives and defining the management team. The Project Management Structure will depend on the project size, scope and requirements. Table six below describes common configurations for the project management team. Table 6 Software Development Organization Chart The table seven below provides an overview of the roles and responsibilities of the personnel on the software development team. Role Responsibilities Program Manager The main responsibility of the Program Manager is to coordinate interdependencies between projects. The Program Manager may also be responsible for the direct management of a project. The responsibilities of the Program manager are: 1. Managing shared resources across all projects that are administered by the Program Manager 2. Identifying and developing project management methodology, best practices, and standards 3. Coaching , mentoring, training 4. Monitoring compliance with project management standards, policies, procedures, and templates through project audits (Conduct Quality Assurance reviews) 5. Developing and managing project policies, procedures, templates, and other shared documentation 6. Coordinating communication across projects 7. Manages major program scope changes 8. Ensure project teams have access to tools and repositories 9. Measure and report progress of project teams 10. Monitor and report status of key milestones and deliverables 11. Conduct regular status meetings 12. Monitor issue resolution 13. Manage change control process 14. Coordinate strategic initiatives through cross-project management 15. Promote and support software object reuse 16. Foster clear communication and synchronize activities among multiple project sites 17. Maintain project documentation repository 18. Monitor sign-off of key deliverables 19. Facilitate workshops and software trials 20. Conduct risk reviews Project Manager/Leader The Project Manager is the person assigned by the organization to achieve the project objectives and insure delivery of a quality product that is on budget and on-time. The responsibilities of the project manager are: 1. Focus on specified project objectives 2. Control the assigned project resources to best meet project objectives 3. Manages the constraints, (scope, schedule, cost, quality) of the project on a daily basis 4. Guide and evaluate the performance of the development team 5. Use project schedule and work breakdown structure produced to guide team in the implementation of the project 6. Provide continuous feedback to Project Team on status of project to include issues 7. Select, develop and oversee an effective team and allocate team members to project tasks and coordinate activities of sub-teams 8. Mediate problems encountered by team members 9. Report project progress to Program Manager and/or Senior Management 10. Ensure adherence to the project plan by all project participants 11. Conduct status meeting or report progress to customer and management 12. Communicate with the customer, program manager, senior management and stakeholders 13. Manage project Risk and Risk Mitigation 14. Define clear milestones and deliverables Team Lead A Team Lead is a experienced Software Engineer who is responsible for: 1. Oversee the work being done by other software developers/engineers on the team 2. Act as a mentor for new or less experiences software developers/engineers on the team 3. Act as a mentor for other members of the team 4. Delegates work to other members of the team 5. Monitors team progress and assists the Technical Lead with updating status of work activities 6. Responsible for ensuring that the work product(s) are delivered within the timeline 7. Responsible for ensuring the teams unit testing and code reviews are completed and appropriate 8. Responsible for ensuring that team deliverables are tested to criteria prior to handing off to testing Technical Lead A Technical Lead is a experienced Software Developer/ Engineer who is responsible for: 1. Responsible for the fundamental architecture of the software application 2. Recommends / researches software solutions 3. Recommends /researches COTS solutions 4. Oversee the work being done by other software developers/engineers 5. Act as a mentor for new or less experiences software developers/engineers 6. Act as a mentor for other members of the team 7. Act as an interface between the team members and the Project Manager 8. Delegates work to other members of the team 9. Assists the Project Manager with updating the work plan and activities 10. Responsible for ensuring that the work product(s) are delivered on time and on budget 11. Serves as the Project Managers technical advisor and provides programming perspective on requirements 12. Lead or attend meetings as required 13. Responsible for ensuring unit testing and code reviews are completed and appropriate 14. Responsible for ensuring that deliverables are tested to criteria prior to handing off to testing 15. Responsible for ensuring that all team members follow approved policies and procedures to include configuration management Software Developer/Engineer Responsible for designing and implementing an executable code solution, testing the resulting components, and analyzing runtime profiles to debug errors that might exist. A software developer may also be responsible for creating the softwares architecture and/or employing development tools. Database Administrator Responsible for the design, implementation, maintenance and repair of a database. Also responsible for the development and design of database strategies, performance, and security measures. Also responsible for mentoring/assisting junior DBAs and DBA programmers. Database Programmer Design, develop, and maintain database applications. Create Scripts; perform data maintenance or bug fixes. Write SQL statements and procedures/functions. Analyze, define and document system requirements for data, workflow, logical processes, interfaces with other systems, auditing, reporting requirements and production configuration. Software Architect Responsible for creating and maintaining the overall structure and layout of a software systems components and their interfaces within and outside of the system. Business Analyst Lead Performs a liaison function with the customer as required in addition to a role as a business analyst. Responsible for mentoring and assisting junior BAs. Business Analyst Responsible for analyzing the business needs of clients and stakeholders to help identify problems and propose solutions. Responsible for documenting, defining. And communicating customer requirements. May be required to document requirements using cases and UML. Systems Engineer Analyzes the role of the system in the broader enterprise, defines the requirements the system needs to meet, in terms of services and non-functional requirements, and defines the architecture of the system to meet the requirements. Systems architects may also be doing similar activities in their roles. Database Architect/Modeler Responsible for leading the coordination and collection of database requirements, documenting, organizing and communicating the requirements for the database, modeling the database architecture and ensuring it supports the business needs. Test Engineer Responsible for writing test plans, cases, and conditions for manual testing of the application Assisting with implementing an automated functional/regression test. Helping mentor other testers in testing and Best Practices. Supporting Quality Assurance initiatives. Reporting regular status of testing. Recording and tracking defects through use of designated tools. Writing automated test scripts for applications and databases. Software Quality Assurance Responsible for reviewing and commenting on the projects QA Plan. Implementing the quality program in accordance with this QA Plan. Developing statistical analysis and process quality metrics data for process and product performance using data from QA analysis/audits. Reporting on the results of all statistical analysis to the program/project management and other responsible parties. Performing root cause analysis on problem areas to help support improvement plans. Providing guidance and recommendations on improvement areas. User Experience Designer Responsible for translating customer requirements into defined user interfaces. Developing and maintaining design mockups, usage scenarios, prototypes, specifications, navigation maps and other design documents. Working with development teams to make sure that the workflow reflects the customers needs and ensure consistency among features. Defining innovative user interfaces and interaction styles which result in improved user productivity. If required may code/wire up UI screens to backend code. Configuration Management Responsible for reviewing and commenting on the projects QA Plan. Implementing the quality program in accordance with this QA Plan. Resolving and following-up on any quality issues raised by QA related to CM. Ensuring the quality factors are implemented in the software related to CM. Implementing the CM practices, processes, and procedures in accordance the companys quality policies and other program/project planning documents. Table 7 Roles and Responsibilities 4.2 Program/Project Roles and Responsibilities The following describes the functional groups that influence and control product quality in any project and their influence on QA functions and activities. Program Management is responsible for the following items: Establishing a quality program by committing the project to implement the Software Engineering Process Policy in accordance with the companys quality policies. Reviewing and approving the relevant QA Plan. Resolving and following-up on any quality issues raised by QA. Assisting the independent Quality Control (QC) group from the project to audit and report on the projects QA functions and compliance with prescribed standards. Identifying the quality factors to be implemented in the system and the project as a whole. Project Management is responsible for: Implementing the quality program in accordance with the companys quality policies. Identifying the QA activities to be performed by QA. Reviewing and approving the QA Plan. Identifying and funding an individual or an independent group from the project to perform the QA functions. Resolving and following-up on any quality issues raised by QA. Identifying and ensuring the quality factors to be implemented in the system and software. Identifying, developing and maintaining planning documents such as the Program Management Plan, Test Plans, and the QA Plan. Product/System Engineering when applicable is responsible for: Reviewing and commenting on the projects QA Plan. Implementing the quality program in accordance with the QA Plan. Resolving and following-up on any quality issues raised by QA related to software engineering activities. Identifying, implementing, and evaluating the quality factors to be implemented in the system (software and hardware). Implementing the engineering practices, processes, and procedures as in accordance the companys quality policies and other program/project planning documents. Product/Software Design/Development is responsible for: Reviewing and commenting on the projects QA Plan. Implementing the quality program in accordance with the QA Plan. Resolving and following-up on any quality issues raised by QA related to software design and development. Identifying, implementing, and evaluating the quality factors to be implemented in the software. Implementing the product/software design/development practices, processes, and procedures in accordance the companys quality policies and other program/project planning documents. Product/Software Test/Inspection is responsible for: Reviewing and commenting on the projects QA Plan. Implementing the quality program in accordance with the QA Plan. Resolving and following-up on any quality issues raised by QA related to product/software test. Verifying the quality factors are implemented in the system. Implementing the product/software test practices, processes, and procedures in accordance the companys quality policies and other program/project planning documents. Product/System Test is responsible for: Reviewing and commenting on the projects QA Plan. Implementing the quality program in accordance with the QA Plan. Resolving and following-up on any quality issues raised by QA as related to system test. Verifying the quality factors are implemented in the system (software and hardware). Implementing the system test practices, processes, and procedures in accordance the companys quality policies and other program/project planning documents. Configuration Management (CM) is responsible for: Reviewing and commenting on the projects QA Plan. Implementing the quality program in accordance with this QA Plan. Resolving and following-up on any quality issues raised by QA related to CM. Ensuring the quality factors are implemented in the software related to CM. Implementing the CM practices, processes, and procedures in accordance the companys quality policies and other program/project planning documents. Quality Control (QC) is responsible for: Reviewing and commenting on the projects QA Plan. Implementing the quality program in accordance with this QA Plan. Develop statistical analysis and process quality metrics data for process and product performance using data from QA analysis/audits Report on the results of all statistical analysis to the program/project management and other responsible parties Perform root cause analysis on problem areas to help support improvement plans Provide guidance and recommendations on improvement areas 4.3 Strategy and Business The Strategy and Business Development department is organized to include the front end pieces of the business which includes business development, business development support, marketing, proposal writing, capture, and strategy. The structure includes the designation of leaders to lead the Integrated Growth Team (IGT) for a specific swim lane of business. Here are the IGTs: 4.4 Commercial Logistics Services Leader Donald Duck Focus -Logistics services Defense Technology Leader Duffy Duck Focus Logistics technology solutions Adjacent Marketing Leader Red Bull/Mickey Mouse Focus State of Texas technology and maintenance related solutions Supply Chain Solutions Leader Red Ants Focus Commercial distribution industry via our indirect partner channel The structure also assigns resources to each IGT for various functional areas, but the actual resources from an organizational structure perspective reside in the originating department. The management of the Business Development support and proposal writing resources is done by the Director of Business Development Operations. The Strategy and Business Development department rolls up to the Senior Vice President. While the IGT leaders can push opportunities through the various gates, the final submission and pricing will need to be signed off by the following key positions: Senior Vice President of Strategy and Business Development Chief Executive Officer Executive Vice President Programs 4.6 Human resources 4.6.1 General To ensure competence of our personnel, job descriptions have been prepared identifying the qualifications required for each position that affects product quality. Qualifications include requirements for education, skills and experience. Appropriate qualifications, along with required training, provide the competence required for each position. 4.6.2 Competence, awareness and training Qualifications are reviewed upon hire, when an employee changes positions or the requirements for a position change. Human resources maintain records of employee qualifications. If any differences between the employees qualifications and the requirements for the job are found, training or other action is taken to provide the employee with the necessary competence for the job. The results are then evaluated to determine if they were effective. Training and evaluation are conducted according to the Human Resources. All employees are trained on the relevance and importance of their activities and how they contribute to the achievement of the quality objectives. 4.7 Business Manager Job Description A business manager may take on a variety of different positions within a business, all of which involve the planning, directing, and coordinating of operations within a company.   A business manager is also responsible for developing policies and managing the daily operations of the business.   A business manager may also be responsible for planning for the most efficient use of materials and human resources. A business manager may specialize in a specific area of business operations.   For example, a business manager may specialize in purchasing, personnel, or administrative services.   In other cases, a business manager may cover all aspects of business operation.   A business manager may also be held accountable for the accuracy of financial reporting for the business. 5.0 Rewards Rewards will be base on each project if they finish on time and under budget. During the testing if the software is found to have many bugs the rewards will be up to the management. The amount of rewards can be from twenty five dollars gift cards to two hundred dollars. The amount will be dependent on the Management Review Board to decide what the amounts will be given. 6.0 Helpful Mechanisms Executive Management is responsible for conducting Management Review meetings. The Quality Management Representative schedules the QMS meetings and notifies 6.1 Management Review Team. Management Review Team is responsible for bringing information and progress reports on action items assigned to them at previous management review meetings, information on planned changes that could affect the QMS, quality planning needs and activities, and recommendations for improvements to the QMS; reviewing Management Review Items; and recommending dispositions in their respective areas of responsibility. 6.2 Quality Management System XYZ developed and implemented a Quality Management System in order to document the companys best business practices, better satisfy the requirements and expectations of its customers and improve the overall management of the company. The Quality Management System of XYZ meets the requirements of the international standard ISO 9001:2008. This system addresses the design, development, production, installation, and servicing of the companys products. Each policy statement is followed by specific information pertaining to the procedures that describe the methods used to implement the necessary requirements. This manual is used internally to guide the companys employees through the various requirements of the ISO standard that must be met and maintained in order to ensure customer satisfaction, continuous improvement and provide the necessary instructions that create an empowered work force. This manual is used externally to introduce our Quality Management System to our customers and other external organizations or individuals. The manual is used to familiarize them with the controls that have been implemented and to assure them that the integrity of the Quality Management System is maintained and focused on customer satisfaction and continuous improvement. 6.3 Quality Review Board The primary purpose of the XYZ Quality Review Board is to review and audit XYZs operating plans, policies, processes, work instructions, forms, templates and procedures. The XYZ Quality Review Board will assure XYZ business processes are in compliance with, but not limited to, adopted process frameworks such as Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), Lean, and Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL). 6.4 Management Review Board MRB is responsible for Establishing the Quality Policy, and reviewing it for continuing suitability. MRB is responsible for Communicating the Quality Policy, the importance of meeting regulatory and statutory and customer requirements. MRB is responsible for identifying the Key Processes to be included in the QMS. MRB is responsible for identifying the data required for effective review of the QMS. MRB is responsible for bringing information and progress reports on action items assigned to

Different Forms of Satire in Jonathan Swift’s Gullivers Travels Essay

Gulliver’s Travels, had an exceedingly great impression on myself as it had been read, though there had been components of the story where extreme moments of satire had been used to cover up some real life events during the time that Jonathan Swift lived. Jonathan swift a great writer, used many forms of satire in his fictional novel Gulliver’s Travels, the way he portrayed his characters were to be people around him in real life, however mostly about nations, what I mean by that is metaphors. Also an abundance of examples on situational irony that Swift used in this short story. Jonathan Swift had used many forms of satire during his writing of Gulliver’s Travels, he used this form of writing to express a unique way of sending a message to the real world, and Jonathan Swift’s wagering of using of satire was to send a message, that their present ruler did not have some characteristics that rulers needed to have during their eras of being a king and such, s o he expressed whatever was needed to be expressed in the form of satire in his novel Gulliver’s Travels. As it has already b...

Do People Who Are Trafficking Human Organs Help Other People? Essay

Do People Who Are Trafficking Human Organs Help Other People? (The Guardian, 2012), Denis Campbell and Nicola Davison, says that the unlawful business in human organs special kidneys has advanced quickly and unexpectedly. The reasons why selling kidneys has advanced quickly is that nowadays many countries have wars so there are many poor people who need money to live a good life. Also, after wars, there are many sick people that felt desperation because they lost their organs in the war and no one donated to them, so they needed to buy organs to stay alive. Other reason is because people have two kidneys so when they sell one kidney for important reasons, they won’t die. Most countries punish those people who sell their organs that is why in those countries there are many illegal trafficking of human organs, but in some countries trafficking human organs is legal like Iran. People who are trafficking human organs help other people to live a good life, also help sick people to feel healthy again and not to die. The desperation of many peo ple needing transplantation surgery and the poverty of many people with healthy organs often results in the trafficking of human organs. It’s a trade where the two persons win, because trafficking human organs help many poor people who don't have money to buy food or clothes by selling their organs that they can live without for money to the sick people who need this organ to stay alive. Selling organs can help the sick person to stay alive and give the poor person money to help his family from humiliating life. I read something posted on (ALL THINGS PAKISTAN blog, 2007) about a poor Pakistani guy who holds with his hand a paper with a sign that says â€Å"Would you buy my kidney please?.† I think ... ...can help many people. References All things pakistan blog. In (2007). Retrieved from http://pakistaniat.com/2007/10/17/would-you-like-to-buy-my-kidney-please/ Caplan, A. R., & Arp, R. (eds.) (2013). Contemporary debates in bioethics. Hoboken, NJ, USA: John Wiley & Sons. Retrieved from http://books.google.com.kw/books?id=-RsoAAAAQBAJ&dq=how much does the middle man make trafficking organs&source=gbs_navlinks_s Denis, C., & Davison, N. (2012). The guardian. In Shanghai : Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/may/27/kidney-trade-illegal-operations-who Gross, R. (2008). Noblesse oblige blog. In Retrieved from http://noblesseoblige.org/2008/01/12/egyptian-man-sells-wives-kidney-on-black-market/ Parry, W. (2012). How poverty, false promises, fuel illegal organ trafficking. In Retrieved from http://www.livescience.com/19237-illegal-kidney-organ-trade.html Do People Who Are Trafficking Human Organs Help Other People? Essay Do People Who Are Trafficking Human Organs Help Other People? (The Guardian, 2012), Denis Campbell and Nicola Davison, says that the unlawful business in human organs special kidneys has advanced quickly and unexpectedly. The reasons why selling kidneys has advanced quickly is that nowadays many countries have wars so there are many poor people who need money to live a good life. Also, after wars, there are many sick people that felt desperation because they lost their organs in the war and no one donated to them, so they needed to buy organs to stay alive. Other reason is because people have two kidneys so when they sell one kidney for important reasons, they won’t die. Most countries punish those people who sell their organs that is why in those countries there are many illegal trafficking of human organs, but in some countries trafficking human organs is legal like Iran. People who are trafficking human organs help other people to live a good life, also help sick people to feel healthy again and not to die. The desperation of many peo ple needing transplantation surgery and the poverty of many people with healthy organs often results in the trafficking of human organs. It’s a trade where the two persons win, because trafficking human organs help many poor people who don't have money to buy food or clothes by selling their organs that they can live without for money to the sick people who need this organ to stay alive. Selling organs can help the sick person to stay alive and give the poor person money to help his family from humiliating life. I read something posted on (ALL THINGS PAKISTAN blog, 2007) about a poor Pakistani guy who holds with his hand a paper with a sign that says â€Å"Would you buy my kidney please?.† I think ... ...can help many people. References All things pakistan blog. In (2007). Retrieved from http://pakistaniat.com/2007/10/17/would-you-like-to-buy-my-kidney-please/ Caplan, A. R., & Arp, R. (eds.) (2013). Contemporary debates in bioethics. Hoboken, NJ, USA: John Wiley & Sons. Retrieved from http://books.google.com.kw/books?id=-RsoAAAAQBAJ&dq=how much does the middle man make trafficking organs&source=gbs_navlinks_s Denis, C., & Davison, N. (2012). The guardian. In Shanghai : Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/may/27/kidney-trade-illegal-operations-who Gross, R. (2008). Noblesse oblige blog. In Retrieved from http://noblesseoblige.org/2008/01/12/egyptian-man-sells-wives-kidney-on-black-market/ Parry, W. (2012). How poverty, false promises, fuel illegal organ trafficking. In Retrieved from http://www.livescience.com/19237-illegal-kidney-organ-trade.html

The Controversial Issue of Affirmative Action :: Affirmative Action Racism Racist Essays

The Controversial Issue of Affirmative Action Considering the subject of affirmative action the following questions frequently are raised: Is there a clear understanding of affirmative action roles/goals? What are the pros/cons of these programs? What are the "loop holes" in the system? Does seniority play a role in affirmative action? Addressing these key questions may help us all in our daily routine, as administrators and/or potential administrator in the public/private sector. Affirmative action programs throughout the United States have long been a controversial issue particularly concerning employment practices (public/private) and university student and/or staff recruitment. Most public agencies have some type of instituted affirmative action program. According to Cheryl Perry-League, Director of Equal Opportunity of the Port of Oakland, every business operating on Port of Oakland owned land must have a standing affirmative action program on record and businesses bidding to do work for the Port of Oakland must have an acc eptably diverse workforce. BACKGROUND To understand the role and/or goals of affirmative actions programs we should define what the broad definition of what affirmative action is and what caused its development. The phase "affirmative action" was used in a racial discrimination context. Executive Order No. 10,925 issued by President John F. Kennedy in 1961. The order indicated that federal contractors should take affirmative action to ensure job applicants and employees are treated "without regard to their race, creed, or national origin." A person could define this statement as an order to imply equal access and nothing else. Subsequently, Executive Order 11246 issued by President Johnson in September 1965, "mandated affirmative action goals for all federally funded programs and moved monitoring and enforcement of affirmative action programs out of the White House and into the Labor Department." Affirmative action "refers to various efforts to deliberately take race, sex, and natio nal origins into account to remedy past and current effects of discrimination. Its primary goal is to ensure that women and minorities are widely represented in all occupations and at all organizational levels" (Tompkins, 1995, p.161). Another definition of affirmative action according to Barbara Bergmann is "planning and acting to end the absence of certain kinds of people-those who belong to groups that have been subordinated or left out-from certain jobs and schools" (1997 p.7). Tracing the history of affirmative action, laws against racial discrimination have proved inadequate for workplace integration because they often provide remedies only after the fact.

Of Mice and Men Quotations

â€Å"Of Mice and Men† Quotes Hopes and Dreams: â€Å"An’ live off the fatta the lan’,† Lennie shouted. â€Å"An’ have rabbits† â€Å"We’d jus’ live there. We’d belong there. We’d have our own place where we belonged and not sleep in no bunk house† They fell into silence. They looked at one another, amazed. This thing they had never really believed in was coming true. â€Å"Nobody never gets to heaven, and nobody never gets no land. It just in their head. † [Crooks] â€Å"why I’d come lend a hand† â€Å"Well just forget it,† said crooks. â€Å"I didn’t mean it. Just foolin’. Wouldn’ want to go no place like that. † George said softl, â€Å"- I think I knowed from the very first.I think I knowed we’d never do her. He usta like to hear about it so much i got to thinking maybe we would. † Friendship VS Isolationism George: â€Å"Guys like us , that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family —- â€Å" â€Å"With us it ain’t like that. We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us. Lennie broke in â€Å"But not us! An’ why? Because†¦ because I gotyou to look after me, and you got me to look after you, and that’s why† Candy: â€Å"Well-hell! I had him so long. Had him since he was a pup. He was the best damn sheep dog I ever seen. †Slim: â€Å" Ain’t many guys travel around together,† he mused. â€Å"I don’t know why. Maybe ever’body in the whole damn world is scared of each other† Crooks: â€Å"A guy needs somebody – to be near him. A guys goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody† 1. â€Å"Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don’t belong no place. . . . With us it ain’t like that. We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us. We don’t have to sit in no bar room blowin’ in our jack jus’ because we got no place else to go. If them other guys gets in jail they can rot for all anybody gives a damn.But not us. † Toward the end of Section 1, before George and Lennie reach the ranch, they camp for the night in a beautiful clearing and George assures Lennie of their special relationship. In this passage, George explains their friendship, which forms the heart of the work. In Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck idealizes male friendships, suggesting that they are the most dignified and satisfying way to overcome the loneliness that pervades the world. As a self-declared â€Å"watchdog† of society, Steinbeck set out to expose and chronicle the circumstances that cause human suffering.Here, George relates that loneliness is responsible for much of that suffering, a theory supported by many of the secondary characters. Later in the narr ative, Candy, Crooks, and Curley’s wife all give moving speeches about their loneliness and disappointments in life. Human beings, the book suggests, are at their best when they have someone else to look to for guidance and protection. George reminds Lennie that they are extremely lucky to have each other since most men do not enjoy this comfort, especially men like George and Lennie, who exist on the margins of society.Their bond is made to seem especially rare and precious since the majority of the world does not understand or appreciate it. At the end, when Lennie accidentally kills Curley’s wife, Candy does not register the tragedy of Lennie’s impending death. Instead, he asks if he and George can still purchase the farm without Lennie. In this environment, in which human life is utterly disposable, only Slim recognizes that the loss of such a beautiful and powerful friendship should be mourned. 2. â€Å"S’pose they was a carnival or a circus come to town, or a ball game, or any damn thing. Old Candy nodded in appreciation of the idea. â€Å"We’d just go to her,† George said. â€Å"We wouldn’t ask nobody if we could. Jus’ say, ‘We’ll go to her,’ an’ we would. Jus’ milk the cow and sling some grain to the chickens an’ go to her. † In the middle of Section 3, George describes their vision of the farm to Candy. At first, when Candy overhears George and Lennie discussing the farm they intend to buy, George is guarded, telling the old man to mind his own business. However, as soon as Candy offers up his life savings for a down payment on the property, George’s vision of the farm becomes even more real.Described in rustic but lyrical language, the farm is the fuel that keeps the men going. Life is hard for the men on the ranch and yields few rewards, but George, Lennie, and now Candy go on because they believe that one day they will own their own place . The appeal of this dream rests in the freedom it symbolizes, its escape from the backbreaking work and spirit-breaking will of others. It provides comfort from psychological and even physical turmoil, most obviously for Lennie. For instance, after Curley beats him, Lennie returns to the idea of tending his rabbits to soothe his pain.Under their current circumstances, the men must toil to satisfy the boss or his son, Curley, but they dream of a time when their work will be easy and determined by themselves only. George’s words describe a timeless, typically American dream of liberty, self-reliance, and the ability to pursue happiness. 3. A guy sets alone out here at night, maybe readin’ books or thinkin’ or stuff like that. Sometimes he gets thinkin’, an’ he got nothing to tell him what’s so an’ what ain’t so. Maybe if he sees somethin’, he don’t know whether it’s right or not. He can’t turn to some other guy and ast him if he sees it too.He can’t tell. He got nothing to measure by. I seen things out here. I wasn’t drunk. I don’t know if I was asleep. If some guy was with me, he could tell me I was asleep, an’ then it would be all right. But I jus’ don’t know. Crooks speaks these words to Lennie in Section 4, on the night that Lennie visits Crooks in his room. The old stable-hand admits to the very loneliness that George describes in the opening pages of the novella. As a black man with a physical handicap, Crooks is forced to live on the periphery of ranch life. He is not even allowed to enter the white men’s bunkhouse, or join them in a game of cards.His resentment typically comes out through his bitter, caustic wit, but in this passage he displays a sad, touching vulnerability. Crooks’s desire for a friend by whom to â€Å"measure† things echoes George’s earlier description of the life of a migrant worker . Because these men feel such loneliness, it is not surprising that the promise of a farm of their own and a life filled with strong, brotherly bonds holds such allure. 4. I seen hundreds of men come by on the road an’ on the ranches, with their bindles on their back an’ that same damn thing in their heads . . . very damn one of ’em’s got a little piece of land in his head. An’ never a God damn one of ’em ever gets it. Just like heaven. Ever’body wants a little piece of lan’. I read plenty of books out here. Nobody never gets to heaven, and nobody gets no land. In this passage from Section 4, after Lennie shares with Crooks his plan to buy a farm with George and raise rabbits, Crooks tries to deflate Lennie’s hopes. He relates that â€Å"hundreds† of men have passed through the ranch, all of them with dreams similar to Lennie’s. Not one of them, he emphasizes with bitterness, ever manages to make that dream come true.Crooks injects the scene with a sense of reality, reminding the reader, if not the childlike Lennie, that the dream of a farm is, after all, only a dream. This moment establishes Crooks’s character, showing how a lifetime of loneliness and oppression can manifest as cruelty. It also furthers Steinbeck’s disturbing observation that those who have strength and power in the world are not the only ones responsible for oppression. As Crooks shows, even those who are oppressed seek out and attack those who are even weaker than they. 5.A water snake glided smoothly up the pool, twisting its periscope head from side to side; and it swam the length of the pool and came to the legs of a motionless heron that stood in the shallows. A silent head and beak lanced down and plucked it out by the head, and the beak swallowed the little snake while its tail waved frantically. The rich imagery with which Steinbeck begins Section 6, the powerful conclusion, evokes the novellaà ¢â‚¬â„¢s dominant themes. After killing Curley’s wife, Lennie returns to the clearing that he and George designate, at the beginning of the book, as a meeting place should they be separated or run into trouble.Here Steinbeck describes much of the natural splendor as revealed in the opening pages of the work. The images of the valley and mountains, the climbing sun, and the shaded pool suggest a natural paradise, like the Garden of Eden. The reader’s sense of return to a paradise of security and comfort is furthered by the knowledge that George and Lennie have claimed this space as a safe haven, a place to which they can return in times of trouble. This paradise, however, is lost. The snake sliding through the water recalls the conclusion of the story of Eden, in which the forces of evil appeared as a snake and caused humanity’s fall from grace.Steinbeck is a master at symbolism, and here he skillfully employs both the snake and heron to emphasize the predatory n ature of the world and to foreshadow Lennie’s imminent death. The snake that glides through the waters without harm at the beginning of the story is now unsuspectingly snatched from the world of the living. Soon, Lennie’s life will be taken from him, and he will be just as unsuspecting as the snake when the final blow is delivered. Themes Friendship: -George and Lennie -Candy and his dog -Saves them from loneliness -Makes sacrifices – George shoots Lennie, so that Curley will not have a hance to torture him, even though he doesn’t want to. -Loyalty – George stuck by Lennie through all his problems and did what he though was best for Lennie what he killed Curley’s Wife. – â€Å"I ain’t mad† Friendship that he forms with Slim after Lennie’s death – â€Å"me an’ you’ll go in an’ get a drink. † Loneliness: Curley’s wife – sexism -Is given a bad reputation -Sexuality: â €Å"jailbait†/ â€Å"tramp† Crooks – color/ racial discrimination -Isolated – he does not live in the bunk house with the rest of the ranch hands and is not allowed in unless under special circumstances: ChristmasCandy – His best friend was a dog -His do was shot, he was completely alone George is lonely even though he had Lennie. This is because he is not mentally compatible with George. Also since the relationship is seen as a â€Å"master-pet† or â€Å"parent-child† relationship Lennie can be more of a responsibility. [However, friendship and companionship plays a big role in their bond. ] Slim is seen as â€Å"God-like† so the reader does not see slim effected by loneliness Power: Curley has power because he is the boss’s son.Curley’s Wife also has a lot of power over the ranch hands because of her sexuality and because she is Curley’s Wife. â€Å"I could have you strung up on a tree so easy it ainâ₠¬â„¢t even funny. † â€Å"Crook’s face lighted with pleasure in his torture† â€Å"a nigger, an’ a dum-dum, and a lousy old sheep† â€Å"bindle stiffs† Wearing high heeled boots symbolizes power. This does not apply to Slim. He does not have to Wear high heeled boots yet he has authority at the ranch and has natural respect, it does not have to be forced unlike with Curley. Discrimination: Sex Discrimination – against Curley’s Wife I ain’t want nothing to go with you† George says this to Curley’s Wife. Pg. 93 – racial discrimination against Crooks â€Å"A colored man got to have some rights even if he don’t like ‘em† Inverted discrimination â€Å"In a second George stood framed in the door, and he looked disapprovingly about. ‘What are you doin’ in Crook’s room. You hadn’t ought to be in here. † Nature: Lennie is compared to animals. The actions/ mo vements of nature show foreboding/danger â€Å"One end of the great barn was piled high with new hay and over the pile hung the four-taloned Jackson fork suspended from its pulley.The hay came down like a mountain slope to the other end of the barn, and there was a level place yet unfilled with the new crop. At the sides the feeding racks were visible, and between the slats the heads of horses could be seen. Fallacy – personification but with nature. This reflects the mood of the scene. Pg. 104 – nature’s response to Curley’s Wife’s death. â€Å"But the barn was alive now. The horses stamped and snorted, and they chew the straw of their bedding and the clashed the chains of their halters. † Pathetic Fallacy – Horses reflect the danger.