Fast profits Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Fast profits - Essay Example Since the release of the Jungle, the public responded to the outcry of the novel’s portrayal of the meat industry’s unhealthy practice of selling rotten and diseased meat to unsuspecting and unknowing customers. The putrid meat is masked by shiny, attractive surfaces of the can, thus enabling the customer to be deceived that the meat he is buying is safe and nutritious. Because of this, President Theodore Roosevelt was pressured to pass the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906, despite being kept in storage in 1902 and again in 1905. The Beef Inspection Act was also passed in order to have a standard inspection scheme, away from bribery and corruption in the meat packing industry. With these precautionary measures, there is no doubt that the American people regard meat as an essential part of human consumption. And without proper sanitary and packaging regulations, American health is endangered. The book has not only inspired the American public in becoming critical and well-aware of what they eat, it has also triggered the term â€Å"consumerism† up to the time being. The consumerism attitude entails being critical of product labeling, not only for meat but as well as for other products. Furthermore, it has also set standard requirement for all food manufacturers to put â€Å"nutrition facts,† wherein the label includes the nutrients that an individual would get from consuming the product, and public safety precautions, particularly for those products that may inflict possible hazards in particular scenarios. On the other hand, there has been a rapidly emerging movement of vegetarianism for the last century. Throughout the years since the inception of the book, there have been a growing number of people who have suffered from heart attack, heart by-pass, stroke, high blood pressure, and other debilitating diseases related to excess meat consumption. The growing number of obese Americans has also been

Internal Management Essay Example for Free

Internal Management Essay 1.0 Introduction I am a second year student of Applied Languages and Information Technology. I have been assigned an Internal Management Report on the recruitment, selection and induction training methods of a company. I have chosen Hertz International Reservations Call Centre in Swords, Co. Dublin as I recently completed a week on work placement there. While on work placement there, I learnt about how the call centre operates and the selection and training procedures. In my assignment I will give a report on my findings. 2.0 Recruitment Methods in Hertz The main part of recruitment in Hertz is done through recruitment agencies. The agency in which Hertz use is Richmond Recruitment. The other means of recruitment is by accessing applications on file. These present application forms may be postal CVs, emailed CVs or Internet applications. Applications can be made directly to Hertz on their website at www.hertz.com or www.hertz.co.uk. From time to time newspapers are also used as a way to recruit staff. Internal recruitment, i.e. positions for Team Leaders/Market managers is also popular within Hertz call centre. 3.0 Selection Methods 3.1 Curriculum Vitaes All CVs which are received by Hertz are screened by the recruitment team and/or Team Leaders. The qualities and competencies in which they look for in a CV are: * Customer service skills and experience, including an ability to work well with the public and an ability to adopt a customer perspective. * Technical skills, including proficiency with computers, systems and keyboarding skills. * Strong verbal communication skills, including good voice quality, diction and articulation. 3.2 Interviews After the process of the selection and elimination of CVs, the unsuccessful applicants are sent a letter within weeks. The agencies are also notified. The accepted candidates are notified with a date and time of interview. There are usually two interviews given. The recruitment team does the first interview although depending on the position and CV. The second is performed by a Team leader/Manager with a recruitment panel. The same questions are asked of all candidates (so that valid comparisons can be made). The interviewer emphasises the demands of the job e.g. shift hours, weekend work etc. It is then up to the candidate to decide whether they can commit to the job or not. Education, why Hertz appeals, greatest achievements are just some of the questions which are asked in the interview. If the candidate is good, the interviewer asks about notice period, holidays booked, if a work permit is required and salary expectations. The candidate is then asked if they have any questions, the contract conditions are explained and they are thanked for attending the interview. Notes are taken by the interviewer to help asses candidates more effectively after the interview. They also help to communicate to human resources department and other managers. They clearly state the outcome of the interview and an offer/rejection is then made. 3.3 The interview assessment At the end of a panel interview, each member of the panel compares the attributes of the candidate against the criteria laid down in the job description. This type of analysis helps ensure objectivity and enables the reason for selection/non-selection to be identified. After the 2nd interview, references are carried out prior to offer. The recruitment team then offers the position, and a contract is sent to the successful candidate. When the contract is returned, an employee file is set up. 4.0 Induction 4.1 Customer Service Training On the issue and acknowledgement of a position offered, Hertz Swords, notifies the employee of the commencement of their position. All new employees must complete a four to six week intensive training course. (Depending on hours of training per day). This begins from day one. A timetable is issued to each employee to show the programme of Induction training. On the first day photographs are taken for access cards which are needed to enter and exit the building and to eat lunch. The new employees are then introduced to trainers and each other. A presentation on the history of Hertz and overview of the company is then given. Health and safety, HR and payroll are explained followed by a tour of the building, customer services and fire safety. Coffee breaks and lunch are timetabled in between. Staff handbooks are given out which includes many important issues on being an employee at Hertz. It provides the employee on important information such as canteen facilities, computers, discipline procedures, drug policy, security, absence, equal opportunities, bullying sexual harassment and more. During week one of training the employee is given the opportunity to become familiar and relaxed within Hertz. Week two of training consists of shadowing calls. This is done by sitting with a Team leader or customer service agent and listening in on their incoming and outbound calls. This is taken place in the market language of the position of the trainee. The purpose of this is to give the employee an insight into what their job initials. The trainees see how the agent enters the information into the computer. In week three and four the trainee is then thought how the system is used which is Escalibre. Country, city and airport codes are learned. There are also codes for the car type. Each car has four codes. Each position in the four-character vehicle code represents a definable characteristic of the vehicle. They are given a list on the imput codes and must learn them off. The trainee is also trained in sales, i.e. how to sell a car reservation and how to take a call. Here are some guidelines in which they are trained to follow: * Try to answer the telephone promptly * Greet the caller with a clear, cheerful voice * Identify yourself * Listen closely and offer assistance. * Act with speed and courtesy * Offer our customer a satisfactory conclusion to his/her call. * Create a good image of Hertz They are trained as to how to deal with an angry caller: * Firstly, dont take the problem personally * Stay calm and listen! * Be patient. * Avoid interrupting until the caller has let off steam. * Avoid being rude yourself * Use careful questioning to sort out the problem * Offer positive assistance where possible. * If you are unable to deal effectively with the problem, make sure you pass the call on to someone who can. * Never make false promises to get rid of the problem Further training in week four consists of make mock calls i.e. practising with other trainees, reversing roles as the customer service agent and customer. Customers name is always Mr. Test! Additional training is given on the special offers, Hertz # 1 club gold card, Le swap magique and other packages. The trainee is thought about the benefits and terms and conditions, which must be explained to the customers. After the four weeks of training the new employee is ready to start their new position. Further on the job training is given during the duration of their new employment. 4.2 Prevention of strain/injury Training must follow legal compliance. Without training agents are exposed to significantly increased risk of aches, pains, stress and debilitating injury. Information alone is very rarely effective as staff tend to dismiss it. Staff need to understand how to make the most of their workstation (chair, desk and equipment), how to take responsibility for their own comfort and safety and what to do if problems arise. Managers and IT personnel need to be familiar with policy of workplace and equipment and safety to ensure planning and maintenance are correct. 5.0 Conclusions/Recommendations I feel Hertz International Call Centre in Swords has a very up to date and efficient Recruitment, Selection and Training procedure. The interviews are intense by non-discriminatory. The selection procedure is justly as it is essential for the company to choose the right candidate suitable for the position. The internal recruitment is also very successful as it gives the current staff of Hertz to progress within the company. Their training is very skilful and intense. The on-going training within the company is very successful and professional. I feel Hertz benefits from the procedures in which they have in place for the recruitment, selection and training of staff. 6.0 Bibliography I would like to thank all the staff working in Hertz. Without them this report would not be possible. I received most of my knowledge and information on the company from them. I would also like to thank my auntie Ann for sitting down to talk to me about her work in Hertz.

Main Factors Leading To The Cuban Revolution History Essay

Main Factors Leading To The Cuban Revolution History Essay What at the time seemed so surprising about Cuba in 1959 was that such a thoroughgoing social revolution happened there, given its relative prosperity. The answer is to be found in the particular historical conditions of the country. Cuba had, since independence from Spain, been prone to political instability and had undergone many attempts at change ranging from reformist governments, revolution and dictatorship. All of these attempts, and the reasons underlying them, played a part in the eventual triumph of Fidel Castros revolution and, in the failure of previous attempts at changing Cuba, lay the seeds of the new order on the island. As Ruiz (1968, p.7) points out, the 1959 revolution represented no sharp break with the past. The conditions for revolution had long been present and previous responses to them conditioned the path that the revolution of 1959 would take. What, then, were the factors in Cubas history and in its social and political life which made that revolution possi ble? Having identified them, one must turn to a discussion of the conditions during Fulgencio Batistas dictatorship from 1952 to the end of 1958 and the course that resistance to it took, and how that resistance, with Castro at its head, eventually triumphed. The historical conditions which contributed to the triumph of the revolution were categorized by Wright (2001, p.2) into four main areas: firstly, anti-American sentiment, provoked in Cuba by economic and political dependence on America since independence, secondly the negative effects on Cuban society and its economy of overdependence on sugar production, thirdly, the fragmented and divided nature of Cuban society and lastly, the weakness of Cuban political institutions, their lack of legitimacy, and the unpopularity of a political class tainted by corruption. To this last point may be added the propensity of Cuban politics to descend into violence, a trend dating back to the independence struggle against Spain. United States forces occupied Cuba after it had gained independence from Spain in 1898 and its influence was to be a constant in the political and economic system of the island. The most glaring and most resented example of United States intervention in Cuba was the Platt Amendment of 1902. This put limits on how much Cuba could borrow from foreign countries and the negotiation of treaties. It also allowed the United States the right to intervene for the maintenance of a government adequate for the protection of life, property and individual liberty (Williamson, 1992, p.439). In effect, Cuba became a protectorate of the United States. The Platt Amendment represented a humiliation to many Cubans and a betrayal of the independence struggle, and remained a contentious issue even after its repeal in 1934. It linked advancement and progress to the need to rid the country of foreign interference and became a key question in Cuban politics. American intervention at such an early stage cut across the process of building confidence in, and legitimacy for, the new institutions of the state recently freed from colonial rule and identified the whole political system from its start with foreign domination. It also influenced the conduct of politicians who relied on the support of America to settle political disputes, which were many in the first 20 to 30 years of the Republics life (Thomas, 1971). Early Cuban elections were fraudulent affairs and United States intervention was called upon on a number of occasions. An armed challenge to the government elected in 1906 resulted in United States intervention and resulted in direct rule until 1909. Further interventions took place in 1912, and again in 1917 when the election result was challenged by an armed revolt by the defeated party. Another important intervention came during the dictatorship of Gerardo Machado. The American ambassador first replaced the dictator Machado and then supported the army backed overthrow of his successor, Ramon San Martin Grau (Argote-Freyre, 2006). A sense of the humiliation and moral decay suffered by Cubans is offered by Arthur Schlesinger Jr. (McPherson, 2006, p.40) who said of Havana in 1950 that it resembled a giant casino and brothel. American tourists were picking up 14 year old Cuban girls and tossing coins to make men scramble in the gutter. He went on to say that nobody could be surprised if Cubans hated America. American political and economic influences on Cuba were closely linked. Investment from the United States had been steadily growing from the last days of Spanish rule. It increased in the 1920s as many Cubans had been ruined by the slump in the price of sugar in 1920, and by 1927 amounted to more than a billion dollars (Wright, 2001, p.4). Two thirds of all Cuban exports went to America in the 1950s (Paterson, 1995, p.35). By the 1950s, American interests controlled 90% of the telephone and electricity system, 50% of railways and 40% of the banking sector (Girling, 1980, p.49). This economic control had a number of effects on Cuba, one of which was in the way it limited the room to manoeuvre of Cuban governments. According to Ruffin (1990, p.77) economic dependence severely restricted political leadership in Cuba. Politicians for the most part acted in defence of American interests. For much of Cubas Republican history the need to appease American interests, and those of their followers in Cuba, made it difficult to influence any reforms which conflicted with those interests. The increasing American control over the Cuban economy meant a tightening of American political influence over Cubas affairs and meant that defending those interests became a prime concern for Cuban political parties. Legislation, such as much needed land reform, became subservient to the interests of the sugar producers who owned vast areas of land. In 1933, the government of Grau fell in part because the Americans refused to recognise it due to the reforms which it attempted to implement. Most Cuban politicians were unable or unwilling to upset the Americans and to disrupt the industry to which Cuba owed so much of its prosperity but which also fatally undermined its institutions (Ruffin, 1990). Taking on America was daunting, given Cubas dependence on American markets. Nowhere was this dependence on American markets more apparent, nor the need for change greater, than in the reliance of the Cuban economy on sugar production. The overdependence on sugar, which accounted for 85% of Cuban exports in the 1950s, (Wright, 2001, p.5) skewed not only the Cuban economy but also its political life and brought many social problems in its train. Decisions taken in Washington concerning quotas, duties and so on can and did have a profound effect on the Cuban economy. Cuba produced 3.6 million tons of sugar in 1923, rising to 5.2 million tons in 1925 and 7 million tons in 1952, falling to 4.7 million tons in 1954. Prices underwent similar swings which made economic planning difficult (Williams, 1970, p.480). The consequences of this dependence were many. Peasants were displaced creating an army of landless rural workers. Furthermore, as work on the sugar plantations was seasonal, from December to April, many were unemployed for a good part of the year (Ruffin, 1990). This unemployment, unlike the rise and fall of employment in other industries, was endemic to the system in Cuba appearing predictably every year when the sugar harvest was over. In addition, sugar attracted investment away from other crops and industries. Sugar companies owned or rented 70-75% of Cubas arable land (Sheer Zeitlin, 1964, p.24) and Cuba had to import much of the food which it needed. Other negative effects were to be seen in the financial sector. American banks were attracted to Cuba to underwrite the costs of the sugar industry. The 1920s was a key decade in this respect. Many who had borrowed in the boom years saw their fortunes wiped out during the depression and the stock market crash of 1929. The Cuban banking system collapsed, and the gap was plugged by foreign, mainly American banks. Whether the crop was good or bad or whether prices were high or low also had political and social consequences. Dulles (cited in Paterson, 1995, p.35) in a comment to President Eisenhower said that a reduction in the amount of Cuban sugar coming into America might easily tip the scales to cause revolution For example, Machados regime from 1925 to 1933 was marked by the convulsions caused by the fluctuations in the price of sugar and the collapse in the economy following the Wall Street crash of 1929 and which provoked a wave of strikes and street violence which were countered by a range of repressive tactics. On the other hand, the good years could help to provide a measure of political and social stability, as during the 1940s. There were social aspects to the sugar system as well. To meet the demand for labour in the good years, manpower was imported from Haiti, Jamaica and China sharpening already tense racial relations (Patterson, 1994). The existence of large numbers of workers who were unemployed for most of the year outside of the sugar harvesting season between December and April was always a potential focus for social and labour unrest. According to Sheer et al. (1964) all the mischievousness of the sugar system were aggravated by the fact that many Cubans saw them as having been inflicted by American business interests. The insurgents who had fought in the war of Independence targeted the cane fields and sugar mills burning many. It was during the American occupation when the industry was built back up again. Hostility to dependence on sugar and America constituted a grievance around which diverse groups in the fractured Cuban society could unite. Cuba also suffered from the fragmentation of its society throughout its history (Gott, 2004). Cuba, unlike other countries in Latin America lacked political elite, often composed of large landowners, with ties to the Catholic Church and the Military. In Cuba the old aristocracy had been wiped out during the independence struggle between 1868 and 1895, and there did not exist a powerful landowning class with close ties to the land (Williamson, 1992, p.439). The large sugar plantations dated from the last days of Spanish rule and much of them were in foreign hands. Nelson argued (Thomas, 1971, p.1111) that there was no national middle class. What middle class existed was based overwhelmingly in urban areas. The upper reaches of Cuban society threw in their lot with the system installed by the Americans. Native industry was underdeveloped and the ruling class interests were identified with those of their American allies. The lower classes were also fragmented. Most of the poor lived in the country while only a small urban working class existed in the towns and cities. Class divisions in Cuba were largely along rural urban lines. Some figures relating to rural housing conditions may help to illustrate this division. While Cuba in the 1950s could boast of relatively high figures in Latin American terms for ownership of consumer goods such as TVs, radios and telephones, the countryside painted a different picture. 97% had no refrigeration facilities, 85% no running water and 91% no electricity (Williams, 1970, p.479). Furthermore, seasonal workers were unemployed for a large part of the year and such an insecure life, in terms of employment, coloured their relationship with other groups and with society as a whole. Ruiz (1968, p.147) sums it up by his comments that no social or ideological bonds united workers or integrated them into the structure of society. Racial and ethnic divisions were also a feature of life in Cuba. Fear of a black takeover retarded the development of the independence movement in Cuba. Blacks made up a considerable proportion of the Cuban population and were disaffected with their treatment after their role in the independence struggle and by the history of slavery on the island. This disaffection was on occasions exploited by politicians in the early years of the Republic. They made up a considerable part of the army assembled by the Liberals after their defeat in the 1906 elections. A revolt of disaffected blacks took place in 1912 which was ruthlessly suppressed with the loss of 3,000 lives. This event would alienate blacks further from the mainstream of Cuban society (Gott, 2004). Fear of the black population also surfaced in the wake of the 1933 revolution. As the most impoverished section of the population, blacks seized upon the excitement of the times as an opportunity to improve their lot and played a leading role in the agitation on the sugar plantations where soviets were established. Despite the enthusiasm of many blacks for the revolution, thousands of blacks from Haiti were deported evidencing the degree of racial feeling in Cuba (Gott, 2004, p.141). Other institutions in Cuban society lacked popular support or respect and did not constitute a focus for unity or action. The Catholic Churchs position in Cuba had been weakened from independence with the separation of church and state in 1900. The Church was also seen as a white Spanish institution and therefore lacked influence among the black population. Also, unlike other Latin American countries, the Church did not form an alliance with the ruling elite or the military (Gott, 2004). Lastly, the political apparatus itself reflected the fragmentation in society. The parties were unrepresentative and by the 1950s the old mainstream parties were discredited and the way was open for others to fill the gap. Batista tried it with his dictatorship from 1952, but it was Fidel Castro who capitalised on the failure of democratic parties to address Cubas many and varied problems. This failure of democratic politics affected those groups who were to later make up the opposition to Batista and who helped in the success of Castros revolution (Gott, 2004). Weakness, incompetence and corruption were endemic to the Cuban political system from its earliest days. The first President Estrada Palma, led a class of politicians who, according to Thomas (1971, p.472) only sought the spoils of war after their role in the independence struggle. There was not a great deal of ideological differences between the Republican and Liberal parties. They suffered from the start from the involvement of America which wrested prestige and legitimacy from political institutions. Furthermore, the lack of democratic institutions prior to independence had not prepared Cubans well for eventual self government. The tradition of taking up arms, forged under Spanish colonial rule, was also frequently resorted to, which called into question the credibility of the entire political system. The possibility of calling in America as the arbiter of disputes was the default fallback position. The far from auspicious start represented by the fraud surrounding the first elections and the armed revolt against the government of Estrada Palma and the subsequent American intervention set the tone for electoral politics in the early years of Cuban democracy. Competition was not so much based on principle, rather as a crude struggle to see who would control the resources of the state which provided the means for personal enrichment, with the unfortunate turning readily to violence when hindered (Thomas, 1971). In a society dominated by sugar, and foreign owned industry, control of government jobs and access to the states resources proved to be a source of patronage and of enrichment for many. For example, between 1943 and 1949 the government payroll increased from 60,000 to 131,000 (Goldenberg, 1965, p.110). Many other corrupt practices existed such as the granting of permission for the sale of lottery tickets and it has been estimated that the dictator Machado made $3,000,000 a year from lottery collectorships (Sheer Zeitlin, 1964, p.46). These corrupt practices also provided a means of securing the loyalty of those who benefited from them. Electoral fraud was also a fact of life in a system where none of the parties had genuine mass appeal. Gott reports (2004, p.114) that in the early elections, armed supporters of the different parties would be present at polling stations and in the elections of 1916 the number of votes cast outnumbered eligible voters (Gott, 2004, p.127). The government of Gerardo Machado promised a new start. It initially was reformist and enjoyed a degree of popularity. However, it suffered from the uncertainty and turbulence of the 1920s in Cuba, occasioned by fluctuations in the market price for sugar and the eventual collapse of the Cuban banking system. In 1928, and despite a pledge not to govern for more than one term, Machado was elected unopposed for a second time. He also extended the length of his term from 4 to 6 years. It was a measure of the low standards of the Cuban political system that this flouting of democratic practice was supported by all the other parties in the Congress. There was a huge amount of social unrest, strikes, assassinations and bombings to which Machado responded with brutal repression (Gott, 2004). By the late 1920s a new generation was emerging of Cubans born in the Republic who expected more from it and who charged the old guard of betraying the ideals of the revolution which had won independence. Students, always to the forefront in Cuban political affairs, were particularly impatient for change, and groups such as the Directorio Estudiantil were to play an important role in the revolution which would topple the dictatorship of Machado (Thomas, 1971). The situation in Cuba was fast escaping from Machados control. The strikes, violence and worsening economic situation raised fears of social revolution and engendered a feeling of insecurity and uncertainty. Groups like the ABC, a terrorist organisation made up of middle and upper class students, replied to Machados notoriously brutal police force in kind, killing many of them in the street (Gott, 2004). The American government began to take an interest and sent their ambassador Sumner Welles to Cuba to try and settle the dispute. He tried to convince Machado to go, and when he eventually resigned, faced with the dire situation on the streets, the Americans sought to replace him with someone acceptable to them and amenable to American business interests on the island. Carlos Manuel Cespedes was appointed but proved unable to facilitate the unrest. He was brought down by a group of low ranking army officers led by Fulgencio Batista, a mixed race Cuban whose origins were far removed from the traditional military elite. Ramon San Martin Grau was eventually installed as the new president in 1933 (Argote-Freyre, 2006). The 1933 revolution promised great things for Cuba. The revolution was led in by a new generation untainted by the past and pledged to honour the promises of the independence struggle. There was a strong nationalist hint to their programme and it seemed as if some of Cubas most pressing social and economic problems would be addressed by a new wave of clean politicians. Their hopes were however to be dashed by a combination of American hostility, the betrayal of the revolution by Batista and internal divisions between moderates and radicals. The new government nationalised sugar mills and decreed that 50% of the workforce in all businesses had to be Cuban born. The American government refused to recognise Graus government, fearful of the effects it would have on American economic interests on the island. Batista, waiting in the wings, and mindful of the importance of American backing, especially given the internal opposition to Grau, helped to topple the revolutionary government in 1934 and so began the first of his reigns in Cuba, ruling through his control over a succession of puppet presidents until 1940, and in his own right until 1944. The army had become a player in the government of Cuba for the first time, a development which set a dangerous precedent (Gott, 2004). The 1944 elections were won, surprisingly to many, by Grau in elections which were accepted by all to be fair. Batistas rule had been positive in many aspects and had introduced a new, strongly social democratic constitution in 1940, the restoration of which would be a key demand of the 1950s revolutionaries. The peaceful handover of power to the man who had been vanquished in 1933 promised well for Cubas democratic future. However, the two terms of office of Graus Autentico party, formed after the defeat in 1933, were to prove some of the most corrupt in Cubas history and were probably the last nail in the coffin of peaceful, progressive democratic change on the island. Thomas (1971, p.737) asserts that Grau did more than any other single man to kill the hope of democratic practice in Cuba. Corruption was nothing new in Cuban politics however, for many, the governments of Grau and Prio Socarras were particularly foul and tainted not only by corruption but the actions of armed gangs, according to Thomas (1971, p.741) at least 10, who were tolerated and even used by governments between 1944 and 1948. The actions of Grau and the Autentico party were all the more disheartening for having been responsible by the hero of the 1933 revolution and the party which he founded in its aftermath. The party was able to plunder the countrys inflated repositories by the rise in prices for sugar during the years of the Second World War. The government of Prio Socarras which succeeded that of Grau was described by Sweig (Gott, 2004, p.145) as the most corrupt and violent in Cuban history. When Batista took power following a coup in 1952, it did not meet up with much initial opposition. Cubas political class had by now become totally discredited and many were doubtful if electoral politics could even begin to solve the countrys problems. In a sense Batistas coup was a response to this disillusion but in itself was a continuation of the misfortunes facing Cuban society and could provide no new way forward. Each generation of Cubans had been disappointed by politicians and had seen their hopes dashed leading to a rejection of the leaders of the previous generation. Cubans had no dependable political role models to look to (Wright, 2001, p.6) in changing and difficult times, making it easier for new departures and new methods to gain a hearing. This would have been significant in the revolution of 1959. Having looked at the factors in Cuban history which led to Batistas dictatorship, the problems which the country faced, and their influence on the revolutionary movement of the 1950s, it is time to look at the years of the dictatorship and the opposition which it brought forward in order to fully understand how Fidel Castros revolution triumphed and the path which the final phase of the Cuban revolution took. Cuba was, despite all its problems, a relatively prosperous society and there was some evidence of diversification in industry and a greater involvement by Cubans in the sugar industry. However, many inequalities and divisions remained, and the revolution which toppled Batista did not only seek to unseat an unpopular dictator, but also sought solutions to Cubas economic and social problems. In this respect it echoed the previous attempts at reform of the 1933 revolution and the promises of the 1940 constitution. Other factors were the absolute unpopularity, which was shared by a wide range of groups across society, and weakness of the Batista regime and the appeal and leadership qualities of Castro who at the end emerged as the leader of the new order in Cuba. Batistas regime in contrast was supported only by America, the rich, and the old discredited politicians of Cubas past and had no real social basis of support. The key to the survival of the regime lay in the continued support of America, and once lost, there were few to turn to among the decadent and discredited Cuban politicians who could broaden its appeal (Thomas, 1971). Fidel Castro was a product of the Cuban middle class and a member of the Ortodoxo party, formed in 1947 in response to the corruption of the two Autentico governments of the 1940s. Together with Ernesto Che Guevara he came to personify the revolutionary movement in Cuba. However, his 26th of July movement was not the only force opposed to Batista. Opposition, originated, as so many times before, with the students who were joined by the Autentico and Ortodoxo parties, Cuban intellectuals, and other revolutionary groups. Support for Castro was later to extend across a broad spectrum of Cuban society. The Civic Resistance Movement which supplied logistical support had as leading figures a former director of the National Bank, brokers and doctors (Paterson, 1995, p.30). There was little in Castros radical, but not overtly socialist programme, which would alienate the less radical elements of the anti-Batista opposition or justify outright American hostility and was based on the nationalist sentiment of the war of independence and the anti-American feeling which was an outcome of its perceived betrayal and harked back to the frustrated revolution of 1933. It promised an end to the endemic corruption which had plagued Cuban politics and a restoration of the 1940 constitution (Gott, 2004). The years of Batistas dictatorship were marked by resistance answered with repression. As the repression grew ever more brutal, more Cubans were alienated from Batistas regime. The contribution of the urban resistance to Batista has often been overlooked in favour of the more romantic guerrilla war waged by Castro and his followers when they took off to the mountains of the Sierra Maestra after the failed attack on Santiago in 1956. Resistance involved strikes, sabotage, assassination and propaganda. It was, as Wright asserts, (2001, p.16) the resistance in urban centres which pinned down the Batista forces and enabled Castros to grow in strength in the mountains and who also played a crucial role in supplying Castros guerrillas. The weakening of this resistance in the face of Batistas repression strengthened Castros position. An interview carried out with the American journalist Herbert Matthews and published in the New York Times in 1957 was a key event in the development of the war and a boost to Castros personal standing at home and abroad. It contradicted Batistas claims that Castro had been killed and the guerrilla defeated and aroused a lot of sympathy for the rebels in America. A failed attempt to assassinate Batista carried out by the Directorio Revolucionario Estudiantil in March 1957 could have changed the course of the revolution but its failure increased repression and eliminated another potential rival to Castro (Wright, 2001). Meanwhile Batista floundered on. An American arms embargo was evidence that he was losing American backing. A failed general strike in April of 1958 gave credence to the idea that only armed struggle would shift Batista. That Castros forces would be the most likely to lead it, was given a boost following Batistas disastrous offensive against the guerrillas in May 1958. Without American backing and unable to defeat the rebels militarily, Batista was condemned. In a bid to win American support and add a veneer of legitimacy to his regime he called elections in November 1958 from which most withheld, highlighting the isolation of his regime. Meanwhile a strengthened Castro began to emerge as the most likely to unseat Batista and his campaign spread outside of his mountain stronghold. After the fall of the city of Santa Clara in December Batista realised his regime was doomed and escaped to the Dominican Republic on New Years Eve 1958 (Paterson, 1995). The revolution had triumphed. The explanation of the 1958 Cuban revolution can be found then, in the history of the country: the anti-American sentiment of a broad spectrum of Cuban society, and the perceived betrayal of the ideals of independence by successive governments, the closely linked phenomenon of overdependence on the sugar trade and the subsequent underdevelopment of the countrys industrial base, the deep social divisions and finally, the weak legitimacy of its political institutions, the violent and undemocratic nature of Cubas political life and the low prestige of its politicians, all served to alienate Cubans from the political process and to seek answers from a new breed of leader. Events rooted in Cubas history made the revolution possible. As Johnson (1970, p.60) observed revolution often happens in countries which have already experienced change and where more change is necessary. Castro in his evocation of historic Cuban grievances which also harked back to previous reform programmes in 1933 and 1940 appealed to a wide range of anti-Batista opinion, but that Castro would be the one to lead it and to take it in a Communist direction was not inevitable. Castros revolution, regardless of what happened after taking power, was not a socialist revolution. It triumphed because it, as Perez contended, did not preach class war (Gott, 2004, p.166). The Soviet Union played no part in his triumph, and indeed the Cuban Communists did not ally themselves with Castro until 1958. Rather in its focus on the betrayal of independence, and his echoing of past failed attempts at reform, Castros programme was the culmination of a process begun on Cubas winning of independence. The ambivalence of America also played a part in Castros victory. The American position on Castro was not clearly defined (Gott, 2004, p.164) and in Castros success in not provoking greater intervention from the force that could have decisively swayed the outcome of the revolution was a key factor in the revolutions success. Another contributing factor was the weakness and indecision of the Batista regime and its identification with the failed policies and methods of the past. Batistas regime fell in part because it was as Julien (Goldenberg, 1965, p.146) observed rotten to the core.

Hamlet: Act V-scene 2 - The Climax :: essays research papers

Hamlet: Act V-Scene 2 - The Climax In Act V-Scene 2, as the play begins with Hamlet fill in the detail of what happened to him since he left Denmark, Hamlet concedes that there was a kind of fighting in his heart. But clearly his inner struggle has been manifested from the time of his first appearance in this play. Now it is to hear no more expression of self-approach or doubts that he will act positively against Claudius. What is impressive is his decisiveness. He is able to formulate a plan and to execute it without delay. He has found man's wisdom, or reason, to have its limitation: fortune, accident, chance - call it that what it will and can determine the course of events, as his own experience aboard the ship proves. He was able to find in the dark the commission for his own death; by chance, he had in his possession his father's signet for sealing the forged document. No less by chance, the pirates proved kind and, for sufficient compensation, they returned him to Denmark. Throughout the play, after we have itemized Claudius' major crimes, the Prince does not receive an answer to his question, one which is basic to his status as a moral symbol in the play: - is't not perfect conscience, To quit him with this arm? And is't not to be damn'd,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To let this canker of out nature come   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In further evil? It has been seen here a Hamlet who is still in doubt, still troubled by his conscience; and his view should not be ignored, if only because it illustrates once more the difficulties of interpretation. One may argue that there is no need for Horatio to answer Hamlet's question since he has already expressed deep shock at the latest evidence of Claudius' villainy. So the Hamlet in this scene has resolved all doubts; there is no longer a kinda of fighting in his heart. As the scene progress, Horatio reminds Hamlet that Claudius is sure to learn soon what has happened to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Hamlet's reply shows him to be controlled and confident. Now he expressed regret that he had so forgot himself as to offend Laertes, stating that he sees the image of his own cause in that of Ophelia's brother. Probably no more is intended that Hamlet makes reference to the fact that both have endured great losses, for Hamlet's cause transcends the personal or domestic, involving as it does the welfare of the State. The Prince's determination to win back the goodwill of Laertes make understandable his prompt agreement to participate in the fencing

Best Buy Case Study Essay

After acquiring a stake in Five Star, a retailer of appliances and electronics in China, Best Buy’s VP John Noble is responsible for launching a dual brand strategy to China as he did in Canada back in 2002. The plan was to open three stores in less than two years in China while Five Star was planning on opening 25 additional stores. Entering China would prove to be much more difficult than neighboring Canada as a country with 1. 3 billion consumers which is a lot of people to please. China was chosen as the second international expansion market primarily due to the overall market opportunity, consumer fundamentals and macro-economic factors (Ivey, 2006). † In addition to the Chinese being very frugal, there was also the issue of the concept of credit, or lack there of in China. About four percent of households in China used credit cards, compared to 75 percent in the United States (Ivey, 2006). Best Buy quickly realized that branding in China was not what really attracted the consumers (Ivey, 2006). Best Buy Inc Best Buy had been interested in entering China since the 1990’s. By that time, China had been hosting many of the United States and Europe as far as different manufacturing products. The option of dual branding was what Best Buy was thinking in order to essentially join forces with Chinas retailer of electronics and appliances, Five Star. By coming together, Best Buy in United States thought that the two companies would be even stronger as one. This sort of dual branding worked very well in Canada and presumably would have the same success in China. Competitors Some of the main competitors of Best Buy are Wal-mart and Costco. The competitors were constantly increasing their CE retail market and in particular they increased the products that were less complex therefore easier to sell. Internet shopping and distributors such as Amazon or sites like that are another example of a competitor in the CE market. Also, home improvement stores such as Home Depot and Lowe’s were also venturing into unknown territory which was competition for Best Buy. â€Å"Lines were blurring as retailers of all kinds were widening their product assortments in pursuit of revenues and margins (Ivey, 2006). † Dual branding in Canada seemed like logical step in that Best Buy and Canada’s Future Shop, the main CE retailer there could join together and become stronger with all of the competition coming about (Ivey, 2006). Dual Branding Canada Canada was paid $363. 95 million dollars to acquire Future Shop. Among several reason why the dual branding took place, the number one reason and most important was that Future Shop was an established brand â€Å"with over 95 percent unaided brand awareness among Canadians (Ivey, 2006). † Though dual branding seemed like a great idea there were also some downsides. Cannibalization was the main problem of course due to the products of Future Store eating the profits of Best Buy and vice versa. There was also the immanent issue that the consumer would not know which brand was which. Despite these issues, by the first year of operations the dual branding strategy seemed to be working and cannibalization seemed minimal. It seemed only natural to give it a try in China (Ivey, 2006). Dual Branding China â€Å"China was chosen as the second international expansion market primarily due to the overall market opportunity, consumer fundamentals and macro-economic factors (Ivey, 2006). However the Chinese consumer was different than that of the United States or Canada. Also, consumers were not really concerned with branding as much as they were messages relating to functional features. Therefore, the preference of brand did not really translate into revenue. There was also the issue of land acquisition as there were often delays which would force a store to take up to 6 months to even open its doors. The Chinese also preferred to deal with people they knew and had previous relationships with so pricing had to be up to par due to the consumer not providing much slack for it. With all of these problems, a dual branding in China did not seem as seamless as it was in Canada (Ivey, 2006). Conclusion It is understandable why Best Buy would want to go global to maximize its profit and consumer base all over. Though things seemed to work out in Canada, it would prove to be a much tougher hill to climb in China just based off the consumers alone and the way things are done there and simply the way of life. It will be interesting to see if the places like Turkey and Mexico, other potential targets will have the same success rate as Canada, and not resemble China’s issues.

Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Essay Example

Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Essay Example Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Essay Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Essay Essay Topic: Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Jewell is responsible for what Mr.. Hyde does. Throughout the novel the two characters appear to be two separate individuals. Jewell is handsome and good in the eyes of society whereas Hyde is ugly and evil when viewed through society glasses. This occurs especially because they are so different in nature. As the reader we recognize that they are actually two different individuals living in the same body. Because Jewell and Hyde are embodied in the same individual we realize that they are both handsome and ugly, or, more importantly, both good and evil. Oppose that Robert Louis Stevenson goal was to create the novel here he would explore the several popular themes of that time and keep it suspenseful, which makes the reader engaged till the very last page. Author uses a variety of writers technicians to convey the vivid image of DRP. Jewell, generally good doctor who creates an alter ego of himself through a scientific experiment ugly Mr.. Hyde. In my opinion, DRP. Jellys responsibi lity for Mr.. Hades actions is a complex question and in order to answer it properly we need to examine several different factors. First we should look at the way Stevenson portray night London. He connects dark fogged gloomy atmosphere of the city with all the evil events surrounding Hyde. Author goes a great length to describe every little detail that the reader has no doubt that crime would be unpunished in the labyrinth of twisted wicked dark streets. One of the main characters, Deuteron, experiences nightmares: He would be aware of the great field of lamps of a nocturnal city. The flexure of Hyde . Undaunted the lawyer all night; and if at any time he dozed over, it was but to see it glide more stealthily through sleeping houses, or move the more swiftly through wider labyrinths of lamp-lighted city, and at every street corner crush a child and leave her screaming. In other words, growing city of London provides freedom to DRP. Jewell to carry out his experiment without drawing much attention because strangers who walk its fogged night streets disregard Hyde and therefore that environment provides ideal co ver and anonymity for Hades crimes. Another factor that needs to be examined is the fact that DRP. Jellys experiment of separating good and evil did not go as planned. It was on the moral side, and in my own person, that I learned to agonize the thorough and primitive duality of man; saw that, of the two natures that contended in the field Of my consciousness, even if I could rightly be said to be either, it was only because I was radically both; and from an early date I had learned to dwell with pleasure, as a beloved daydream, on the thought of the separation of these elements. This quotation is from Chapter 10, Henry Jellys Full Statement of the Case. This where DRP. Jewell talks about duality of the human nature and his intent to separate 0,10 elements: good and bad from his own personality. The result of an experiment is that Jewell separated his evil side into Mr.. Hyde and ideally was supposed to remain purely good, while in reality he remained a mix of good and evil. As the story unfolds Hyde begins to take over Jellys conscious, until Jewell as a personality disappears completely and only Hyde remains. In other words, perhaps DRP. Jellys dark side (Hyde) was far stronger than the rest of Henry -?when set free, this side dominates his behavior. That leads us to the third factor we need to look at DRP. Jellys behavior after his realization of he experiment. Jewell does not seem to feel any guilt to stop or at least resist the urge to continue his transformations. Henry Jewell stood at times aghast before the acts of Edward Hyde, Jewell writes, but the situation was apart from ordinary laws, and insidiously relaxed the grasp of conscience. It was Hyde, after all, and Hyde alone, that was guilty. The idea of Hyde being responsible for all the evildoing seems as a silly childish-like self-justification. Obviously to the reader and DRP. Jewell himself deep down inside that first of all e is the one who created Hyde in the real world, understanding Hades evil nature. But I was still cursed with my duality of purpose; and as the first edge of my penitence wore off, the lower side of me, so long indulged, so recently chained down, began to growl for license. Not that dreamed of resuscitating Hyde; no, it was in my own person that I was once more tempted to trifle with my conscience .However, this brief condescension to my evil finally destroyed the balance of my soul. And yet I was not alarmed; the fall seemed natural, like a return to the old days before I had made discovery. It was a fine . Day. I sat in the sun on a bench; the animal within me licking the chops Of memory; This quote shows the reader, that Stevenson also left out some parts of DRP. Jellys biography pointing indirectly that he might have done some evil things in the past. In other words, Mr.. Hyde that emerged from DRP. Jewell must have the foundation on which he was created in the subconscious of the doctor. In conclusion, I would point out that the city of London has created fertile atmosphere for DRP. Jellys experiments, providing him and Hyde with the cloak of anonymity. However, we have determined that DRP. Jewell failed to recognize that his experiment went in the wrong direction, when he separated pure evil from within but did not become pure good himself as originally planned. In my opinion, DRP. Jewell IS largely responsible for Mr.. Hades crimes because he continued his experiments and transformations self-justifying that he himself is not responsible to Mr.. Hades evil deeds. The bottom line is that DRP. Jewell was the one who let the evil creature inside Of him Of the chain and gave Mr.. Hyde all the power.

Turn-Taking Definition in Conversation Analysis

Turn-Taking Definition in Conversation Analysis In conversation analysis, turn-taking is a term for the manner in which orderly conversation normally takes place. A basic understanding can come right from the term itself: Its the notion that people in a conversation take turns in speaking. When studied by sociologists, however, the analysis goes deeper, into topics such as how people know when its their turn to speak, how much overlap there is between speakers, when its OK to have overlap, and how to consider regional or gender differences. The underlying principles of turn-taking were first described by sociologists Harvey Sacks, Emanuel A. Schegloff, and Gail Jefferson in A Simplest Systematics for the Organization of Turn-Taking for Conversation in the journal  Language, in the December 1974 issue. Competitive vs. Cooperative Overlap Much of the research in turn-taking has looked into competitive versus cooperative overlap in conversations, such as how that affects the balance of power of those in the conversation and how much rapport the speakers have. For example, in competitive overlap, researchers might look at how one person dominates a conversation or how a listener might take some power back with different ways of interrupting.  Ã‚   In cooperative overlap, a listener might ask for clarification on a point or add to the conversation with further examples that support the speakers point. These kinds of overlaps help move the conversation forward and aid in communicating the full meaning to all who are listening. Or overlaps might be more benign and just show that the listener understands, such as by saying Uh-huh. Overlap like this also moves the speaker forward. Cultural differences and formal or informal settings can change whats acceptable in a particular group dynamic.  Ã‚   Examples and Observations Television programs, books, and films present some fine examples of turn-taking. Christine Cagney: Im being quiet now. That means its your turn to talk.Mary Beth Lacey:  Im trying to think of what to say.(Cagney Lacey, 1982) Once a topic is chosen and a conversation initiated, then matters of conversational turn-taking arise. Knowing when it is acceptable or obligatory to take a turn in conversation is essential to the cooperative development of discourse. This knowledge involves such factors as knowing how to recognize appropriate turn-exchange points and knowing how long the pauses between turns should be. It is also important to know how (and if) one may talk while someone else is talking- that is if the conversational overlap is allowed. Since not all conversations follow all the rules for turn-taking, it is also necessary to know how to repair a conversation that has been thrown off course by undesired overlap or a misunderstood comment. Cultural differences in matters of turn-taking can lead to conversational breakdown, misinterpretation of intentions, and interpersonal intergroup conflict. (Walt Wolfram and Natalie Schilling-Estes, American English: Dialects and Variation. Wiley-Blackwell, 2006) The Wolf: Youre Jimmie, right? This is your house?Jimmie: Sure is.The Wolf: Im Winston Wolfe. I solve problems.Jimmie: Good, we got one.The Wolf: So I heard. May I come in?Jimmie: Uh, yeah, please do.(Pulp Fiction, 1994) Turn-Taking and Parliamentary Procedure The rules regarding turn-taking in formal situations can differ markedly than between people who are speaking casually together. Absolutely fundamental to following parliamentary procedure is knowing when and how to speak in your correct turn. Business in deliberative societies cannot be conducted when the members are interrupting each other and when they are speaking out of turn on unrelated subjects. Etiquette calls interrupting someone else rude behavior and unfitting for people in refined society. [Emily] Posts book of etiquette goes beyond this to describe the importance of listening and responding to the correct topic as being part of good manners when participating in any form of conversation. By waiting your turn to speak and avoiding interrupting another person, you not only show your desire to work together with the other members of your society, you also show respect for your fellow members. (Rita Cook, The Complete Guide to Roberts Rules of Order Made Easy. Atlantic Publishing, 2008) Interrupting vs. Interjecting Sometimes butting in while someone is talking may not be considered as interrupting, but only interjecting. To be sure, a debate is as much about performance and rhetoric (and snappy one-liners) as it is about meaningful dialogue. But our ideas about conversation inevitably shape how we perceive the debates. This means, for example, that what seems an interruption to one viewer might be merely an interjection to another. Conversation is an exchange of turns, and having a turn means having a right to hold the floor until you have finished what you want to say. So interrupting is not a violation if it doesn’t steal the floor. If your uncle is telling a long story at dinner, you may cut in to ask him to pass the salt. Most (but not all) people would say you aren’t really interrupting; you just asked for a temporary pause. (Deborah Tannen, Would You Please Let Me Finish ... The New York Times, Oct. 17, 2012)

Borderline Personality Disorders Essays - Psychiatric Diagnosis

Borderline Personality Disorders Essays - Psychiatric Diagnosis Borderline Personality Disorders According to the latest estimate, five million Americans fit the profile of the borderline personality disorder. One moment calm and engaging, the next raging and impulsive, guilty and self-mutilationg. Borderlines puzzle those around them, straining relationships to the breaking point. Many psychiatrists define B.P.D.'s as a problem with who you are. It is one of the most complicated forms of mental illnesses. They tend to have many problems in thier relationships. They get invloved with other people quickly, but things also get wierd quickly. They're impulsive in a number of ways, many are related to suicide attempts. These attempts usually occur because of a problem in a relationship. People who are most likely to be able to borderline patients are those with extremely high I.Q.'s or other positive personality traits, and mothers with many children. B.P.D. is characterized by stable and persistant ways of behavior and thought. Most psychiatrists say that borderlines are the neediest people in the world, but alienate everyone they seek love from. Borderline Personality Disorder is caused by some defect in early attatchment that leads to the person searching for some type of protective relationship which makes up for what they unfairly didn't get in their childhood. It's a desperate search for someone who will take care of them. Most patients can function well as long as they have someone they feel will be there to care for them and believe in them. If the patient feels any sourt of betryal from thier specia lperson, they wll become abusive, obsessive,and in some cases, maybe even stalk the person. Sometimes a person with the disease will even become self-destuctive b/c they will want care ir protection from others. This is how they prevent people from leaving them. Borderline patients do learn from experience. By the time they are 30 years old, they will be able to build relationships or they will try to avoid getting too involved with others, so they turn to churches, self-help groups, or employment situations. Then they become more comfortable with their feelings, and they are less likely to feel they are bad people. Many borderlines will go to therapy because they attempt suicide or have suicidal feelings. Therapists are cautios to treat people with the disorder b/c they are concerned about their own personal life and think that the patient may intrude and disrupt them. Some patients have been known to park on thier therapists lawn, wanting to go on vacation with them, and be extemely jealous of thier children. Sometimes, therapists can diagnose a borderline personality in 10 minutes. This is possible b/c they don't have very good boundaries and will give you deep information in minutes. Attempted suicide is usually the most characteristic symptom of the disorder. Drugs don't help boderline patients b/c usually from many years of treatment, many people are back to square one. Believe it or not, time is considered one of the best treatments b/c it wears the pathology down. The 5 most Diagnostic Criteria for Borderline Personality Disorder: Making efforts to aviod real or imagined abandonment. Persistently unstable self-image ar sense of self. Feelings of emptiness. Stress-related paranoya and shyness. Thoughts of suicide and suicidal attempts. Bibliography www.electriclibrary.com

Genogram Analysis Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Genogram Analysis - Coursework Example ily members and whether the married or divorced, the diseases and health conditions that afflicted them and varied other facts depending on the type of information that is decided to be used in the configuration of a Genogram. That is why a Genogram is of immense relevance for tracing the salient traits and attributes in one’s family. Thereby I must acknowledge the fact that configuring a Genogram of my family turned out to be am immensely informative and insightful experience for me. Well, I must acknowledge the fact that I was quiet conversant with much of the information pertaining to my family and varied family members existing across varied generations that I required to construct a Genogram of my family. However, as it is with a Genogram, one need to have many intricate details about one’s family members so as to be able to compile and configure a truly informative and viable Genogram. Thereby I was required to solicit the help of my father so as to cull out the detailed information as to my family. My father as his other brothers is quiet conversant with the family history and the intricate details concerning the family as to the varied health conditions that afflicted or afflict varied family members, the marital history of the family members and the names of the spouses of the various family members. Belonging to the second generation of the family, and being a person with panache for details, my father readily helped in providing the data pertain ing to my family when I told him that I needed it to compile a Genogram of our family. I also sorted out tits bits from many other family members also. Well if I consult the Genogram of my family I could see that the success rates of the marriages in my family is not that high. My grandparents that are Lawrence V Ray and Julia Ray were divorced. One of my uncles Richard Ray never married, and my father and my uncle Charles Ray did divorce their first wife and remarried. If I take a look at the marital

Managing Activities to Achieve Results Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 1

Managing Activities to Achieve Results - Essay Example Diffusion of innovations would also help in improving the core focus of the organization that would help it to sustain itself in the competitive and turbulent business environment. Techniques for Improvement In order to achieve diffusion of innovation in the organization, Apple must adopt a strategy that tends to integrate the different functionalities of the organization. This would also include aligning its organization culture and structure so as to bring about greater diffusion of innovation in the organization. A flat organizational structure with greater functional independence would go about towards generating innovations and would also reduce barriers of communications that would help bring about diffusion of innovations. A ‘zootechnical’ form of innovation which includes use of technology to integrate the organizational culture and the aspect of innovation could be adopted by the organization (Manrique et al, 2000, p.107). In addition the organizational culture must also implement an ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) (what is ERP?) that would help it to integrate its different functional units that would help in better coordination and information sharing which would enable better diffusion of innovation in the organization. Apple must also incorporate the ‘Kaizen’ philosophy in the organization. Kaizen philosophy calls for a continuous improvement in the business process by inducing in a process of continuous learning. Adopting this philosophy would help the organization to achieve its objectives by enhancing the learning curve of the employees as well as the organization. This is important as innovations are largely based on learning and knowledge and enhancement of the learning curve can actually go about a long way in inducing employees to indulge in continuous improvement as employees would continuously develop new ideas for the betterment of the business. This in turn would lead to innovations which is the core competen ce of the firm. The importance of Kaizen philosophy is that it tends to include the organizational culture by helping the organization to continuously improve its culture that leads to innovation (Christensen, Betz & Stein, 2007, p.68). JIT and SPC The Just in Time approach is a part of the philosophy of operational excellence. The Just in Time approach envisages a situation in which organizations keep a minimum stock of inventory with them and stock minimal volume of goods. This helps in reducing the inventory carrying costs for a company as only a bare minimum inventory is stocked. This technique has been successfully employed by organizations like Dell and Toyota to derive competitive advantage. The implementation of Just in Time requires a close synchronisation with the suppliers of the organization. It has also been observed that incorporating a Just in Time approach would help foster a better relationship with the organization and the suppliers (Pride & Ferrell, 2010, p.329). is the whole paragraph from this reference? Organizational Issue : a little more detail is needed here. What happens due to this organisational issue. What affect does it have on the organisation? The main issue faced by Apple is with regards to the aspect of promoting innovations and its subsequent diffusion into

How SOX (SarbanesOxley Act of 2002) affects corporate governance and Research Paper

How SOX (SarbanesOxley Act of 2002) affects corporate governance and what additional improvements need to be added to SOX to improve corporate governance - Research Paper Example Oxley, thus the act’s nomenclature, and enacted on July 30, the act aimed to regulate and control the corporate and accounting sectors, particularly in the public company boards of management, and the management and public accounting companies (Shakespeare 333). The act goes by several names, considering its purpose. The act was referred to as the Corporate and Auditing Accountability and Responsibility Act when in the house, whereas in the Senate is as per the Public Company Accounting Reform and Investor Protection Act. The SOX (also Sabox) was proposed as an act that would protect investors by ensuring improvements in the corporate disclosures precision and trustworthiness for among other purposes pursuing the securities market and laws. The outcome of the act is sections that dictate the responsibilities expected of a public corporation board of directors, the criminal consequences to various misconduct, and creation of regulations by the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) on the compliance of public corporations to the act’s laws. The laws of the act are encased in eleven titles under the elements which include the Corporate Responsibility, Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), Corporate and Criminal Fraud Account ability, Auditor Independence, White Collar Crime Penalty Enhancement, Enhanced Financial Disclosures, Studies and Reports, Analyst Conflicts of Interest, Commission Resources and Authority, Corporate Tax Returns, and Corporate Fraud Accountability. The section covers the legal provisions which include disclosure controls (302), Improper influence on conduct of audits (303), disclosures in periodic reports also termed as Off-balance sheet items (401), Smaller public companies (404), criminal penalties for influencing US Agency investigation/proper administration (802), criminal Penalties for CEO/CFO financial statement certification (906), and criminal penalties for retaliation against

Medically and Mentally Challenged Inmates Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Medically and Mentally Challenged Inmates - Essay Example It is evidently clear from the discussion that once identified with suicidal tendency, the inmate should be offered such cells or wards where 24-hour observation is possible. Similarly, those who are identified with medical issues should be housed separately so that they can be monitored more frequently than other general inmates. Secondly, the correctional staff is given training in various intervention procedures and a toolkit for first aid in emergencies. Even after initial screening, these people are able to observe the inmates closely and report any inmate’s exhibiting signs of physical or mental illness. The third best practice is the strategy of utilization review. This means the appropriateness of the services and procedures offered to each inmate is periodically reviewed. This helps reduce the cost involved in offering unnecessary monitoring and treatment. Finally, it is clear that about 50% of all the diseases, injuries, and death in the United States are entirely pr eventable. Therefore, another best practice is to introduce preventive measures, including frequent health screenings, medicines and vaccines, health education campaigns, and checkups. These practices will help correctional facilities better manage medically and mentally challenged inmates.

African American studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

African American studies - Essay Example The evolution of slavery aided in the development of a racist ideology that promoted the belief that blacks are inferior to whites, a myth that persisted long after slavery was abolished, and one that is deeply embedded within our national discourse. Cultural racism, such as this, fosters a â€Å"we† and â€Å"they† mentality, a state of mind that is maintained through the socialization of new generations. The abolition of slavery did not mean that blacks were accepted by the dominant white society. The racist ideology that emerged out of the slavery system continued to influence how whites perceived blacks. Wilson (1973) explains â€Å"Whites rejected slavery as an acceptable institution in the North but were unwilling to endorse the view that blacks should receive social, economic and political equality†, exemplifying how the negative belief systems of the plantations were deeply engrained in American culture after two hundred years of slavery. Unable to accept blacks as equals to themselves, white Americans relied increasingly upon the system of segregation, as a means to communicate the message.Segregation between blacks and whites was reinforced by a system of racial etiquette.The 1896 Supreme Court â€Å"separate but equal† decision failed to clearly define equality, and as a result, the separation of facilities for blacks and whites created a need to clarify the social positions of the dominant white class. ... Lynching was regularly employed as a means to enforce the status quo, with over thirty-six hundred cases recorded between 1884 and 1914. Relations between blacks and whites became increasingly violent in character during the World War I era in America’s history. Black workers were competing openly with whites for jobs and housing, causing tensions to rise between the two groups. Having been denied political participation and strictly segregated in nearly all areas of their social lives, blacks found that their socioeconomic opportunities were severely limited. Race riots occurred in several American cities and discontent among the black population continued to rise. These hostile conditions continued into the World War II period, when more jobs became available to black workers. In addition to the economic opportunities provided by WWII, the conditions under which it was fought allowed Americans to re-examine their own racist logic. The racist ideology practiced at home was in consistent with the ideals they fought for in the war against Nazi Germany, a racist regime. Also, according to Marger (1991) racist policies at home were viewed [Student 3] as an â€Å"international liability† (235) when dealing with non-white nations. These changes in the national racial attitude, along with the 1954 Supreme Court decision in the case of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, helped push the advancement of black right civil rights. By the early 1970’s, the system of segregation had been fully dismantled and white supremacist groups, such as the Klu Klux Klan, were no longer supported. The historical relations between blacks and whites will remain in the collective narrative for many generations. America’s

International Trade Laws Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

International Trade Laws - Essay Example This works for the higher competitive advantage of the national companies, and thus 'closing eyes' on the illegal actions foreign companies take abroad, as well as trying to sue them for the refund of the damages which national companies pay abroad, and which is often resolved for the benefit of the national company, is a means of fighting competition through the means and methods which are legal only on the surface. 'Competition law embodies an inherent conflict while protecting local consumers from monopolies, cartels and oligopolies - it ignores the very same practices when directed at foreign consumers'. (Francis, 1995) For example, even GATT /WTO rules allow the existence of the foreign trade cartels, and if the same actions would be considered to be illegal within the country, these actions are seen as proper and legal at the international level. (Mathis, 2002) It was interesting to note, that one of the literary sources recommends adoption of the claw back provisions for the poor countries, which would want to develop their export markets. These claw back provisions would allow local courts to refund any penalty payment put on the local company by a foreign entity for the violation of trade policies and using unfair methods of international trade. ... Let's have a closer look at the GATT International Antitrust Code, which has created the four main principles, violated through the use of claw back provisions. - National laws should be applied to solve international competition problems; - Parties, regardless of origin, should be treated as locals; - A minimum standard for national antitrust rules should be set (stricter measures would be welcome); and - The establishment of an international authority to settle disputes between parties over antitrust issues. (Tarullo, 2002) The use of claw back provision if the violation of the first noted principle - they are not crated in accordance with the international laws and they don not foster creation of the laws which would support competition on the international level. Moreover, 'parties, regardless origin, should be treated as locals'; however claw back provisions are clear examples of the absolutely opposite actions of the parties. Claw back provisions are often depicted as the best means of protecting the parties from the improper judicial treatment in the foreign country; however fighting illegal actions and unfair competition is possible only through the adoption and use of such fines and damage payments for the benefit of the party the rights of which were violated. According to the Havana Charter 1947, there is a list of actions which are supposed to be illegal and represent the moves of the unfair competition; among these actions are discriminating particular enterprises, excluding enterprises from a specific territorial market, etc. Claw back provisions, on the contrary give local (national) companies legal basis for unfair competition' actions in the foreign country through understanding that in case they are sued, their country of

Medically and Mentally Challenged Inmates Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Medically and Mentally Challenged Inmates - Essay Example It is evidently clear from the discussion that once identified with suicidal tendency, the inmate should be offered such cells or wards where 24-hour observation is possible. Similarly, those who are identified with medical issues should be housed separately so that they can be monitored more frequently than other general inmates. Secondly, the correctional staff is given training in various intervention procedures and a toolkit for first aid in emergencies. Even after initial screening, these people are able to observe the inmates closely and report any inmate’s exhibiting signs of physical or mental illness. The third best practice is the strategy of utilization review. This means the appropriateness of the services and procedures offered to each inmate is periodically reviewed. This helps reduce the cost involved in offering unnecessary monitoring and treatment. Finally, it is clear that about 50% of all the diseases, injuries, and death in the United States are entirely pr eventable. Therefore, another best practice is to introduce preventive measures, including frequent health screenings, medicines and vaccines, health education campaigns, and checkups. These practices will help correctional facilities better manage medically and mentally challenged inmates.

International Trade Laws Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

International Trade Laws - Essay Example This works for the higher competitive advantage of the national companies, and thus 'closing eyes' on the illegal actions foreign companies take abroad, as well as trying to sue them for the refund of the damages which national companies pay abroad, and which is often resolved for the benefit of the national company, is a means of fighting competition through the means and methods which are legal only on the surface. 'Competition law embodies an inherent conflict while protecting local consumers from monopolies, cartels and oligopolies - it ignores the very same practices when directed at foreign consumers'. (Francis, 1995) For example, even GATT /WTO rules allow the existence of the foreign trade cartels, and if the same actions would be considered to be illegal within the country, these actions are seen as proper and legal at the international level. (Mathis, 2002) It was interesting to note, that one of the literary sources recommends adoption of the claw back provisions for the poor countries, which would want to develop their export markets. These claw back provisions would allow local courts to refund any penalty payment put on the local company by a foreign entity for the violation of trade policies and using unfair methods of international trade. ... Let's have a closer look at the GATT International Antitrust Code, which has created the four main principles, violated through the use of claw back provisions. - National laws should be applied to solve international competition problems; - Parties, regardless of origin, should be treated as locals; - A minimum standard for national antitrust rules should be set (stricter measures would be welcome); and - The establishment of an international authority to settle disputes between parties over antitrust issues. (Tarullo, 2002) The use of claw back provision if the violation of the first noted principle - they are not crated in accordance with the international laws and they don not foster creation of the laws which would support competition on the international level. Moreover, 'parties, regardless origin, should be treated as locals'; however claw back provisions are clear examples of the absolutely opposite actions of the parties. Claw back provisions are often depicted as the best means of protecting the parties from the improper judicial treatment in the foreign country; however fighting illegal actions and unfair competition is possible only through the adoption and use of such fines and damage payments for the benefit of the party the rights of which were violated. According to the Havana Charter 1947, there is a list of actions which are supposed to be illegal and represent the moves of the unfair competition; among these actions are discriminating particular enterprises, excluding enterprises from a specific territorial market, etc. Claw back provisions, on the contrary give local (national) companies legal basis for unfair competition' actions in the foreign country through understanding that in case they are sued, their country of

Annotated Bibliography Essay Example for Free

Annotated Bibliography Essay Based upon the journalist research of web based learning environment and different learning styles; it seems that web based learning environment is an excellent medium for enhancing learning, due to its ability to adjust to individual student learning styles and preferences. The article investigates the impact of students learning style and their performance. Online degrees have increased since 2006. More learners are becoming more technologically savvy, and it is those learners that are technologically inept, who relies on instructional design from classroom settings and interaction with instructors and peers. The investigation leads to the assessment and learning style on student achievement in a Web based learning environment. If it was just a matter of instructional learning it would be a good fit for all, however, all does not possess technology abilities. If all learners had these abilities, web based learning styles would increase. Web based instructional design modules are not conclusive to certain learning styles. Consideration should be given to the learners characteristics whether the learner is able to grasp the material via the web based instruction. Learners should consider their learning style, motivational level, ability to interact with the instructor and their peers. However, without these abilities, students’ learning styles will be impacted because they lack the abilities to learn via web based instruction modules. Lai, I K. W. Lam, F.K.S. (2010). Perception of various performance criteria by stakeholders in the construction sector in Hong Kong. Research is conducted to examine different points of views of the importance of performance outcomes in a construction project in Hong Kong. ANOVA was used to analyse the data relative to how the performances were measured. Performances were measured using a performance criteria starting with the most important first, which is time. Timely completion of a project would prevent loss of revenue and penalities to the contractor. Lai and Lam noted that construction projects require concise planning, and are  divided between the consultant and the contractor. However, each par ty plays a significant part in the projects’ success. The difference between the client and the contractor; the client usually push for timely completion and would offer an incentive bonus for timely completion, however, the contractor would prefer a reasonable duration of time, therefore to avoid penalities to the contractor. The client, consultant, and the contractor, all parterner together to make the project a success by bringing job satisfaction, quality, safety, environment, generation of innovative ideas, performance criteria, and effectiveness to the project. Avoiding any mishaps that will delay or keep the project from running smoothly. Williams, A BTM7101-8 Activity 6, pg 2 The results of the research found that time was the most important factor of the project and should be taken into consideration early on in the planning process, and certain allowances should be factored into the budget, such as time constraints, delays, and mishaps that could happen during the construction of the project. References Wang, K.H., Wang, J.H., Wang, W.L. Huang, S.C. (2006) Learning styles and formative assessment strategy: enhancing student achievement in Web-based learning Wang T., Wang K., Wang W., Huang S. Chen S. (2004) Web-based Assessment and Test Analyses (WATA) system: development and evaluation. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning 20, 59–71 Ford N. Chen S. (2000) Individual differences, hypermedia navigation and learning: an empirical study. Journal of Educational Multimedia and Hypermedia 9, 281–312. Seckel, S. (2007 Characteristics and Responsibilities of Successful e-Learners LAI, I. K. W. (2010). Perception of Various performance criteria by stateholders in the construction sector in Hong kong. Assaf, S.A. and Al-Hejji, S. (2006) Causes of delay in large construction projects. International Journal of Project Management, 24(4), 349-57. Naoum, S. (2003) An overview into the concept of parternering . International Journal of Project Management 21(1), 71-6. PAH (2008) Project Administration Handbook for Civil Engineeering Works, 2008 Edition.

Project management tools and techniques

Project management tools and techniques Project management tools and techniques are available to assist project managers and their teams in successfully delivering the project. Some popular tools in the time management knowledge area include Gantt charts, network diagrams, critical path analysis Critical Incidence 2- Perceived Failure Of The Project A critical incidence during the project was the perceived failure of the project by the University administration due to the amount of time it was taking to register all the students. This was 10 weeks in to the project and the university claimed that with their manual process they completed registration in 3 weeks. As the on-site member of the project team, I was responsible for utilizing all available resources to successfully complete the project within a reasonable time. The time frame was not stated and my aim daily was to register as many students as possible. Gantt charts Gantt Chart is one of the popular information presentation tools in a project plan for graphically scheduling and budgeting. This tool makes it possible to have a quick look at all the tasks names and timings, and shows the current schedule status and progress. (Schwalbe 2006). It is also a good technique to identify parallel and sequential tasks, estimated time required for each task and an overall project timeline representation (McFarland  Ã‚   ) Schwalbe K. 2006, â€Å"Introduction to project management† Publisher: Cengage Learning Avoiding Project Management Pitfalls Allison J. McFarland With the availability of various Project-Management applications, like MS Project, smartdraw-Easy Project Chart, etc., Gantt Chart can be easily made. According to Pankaja Pradeep Kumar one of the biggest problems, the project managers have to face, is project-scheduling. With Ms. Projects Gantt Chart, an effective scheduling plan can be put in place for providing the necessary information, required by the project team members, for measuring the actual performance with the planned performance. This will enable the projects to be delivered within the time constraint with pre-defined quality standard. There are many literature and reading material available expressing the usefulness of the Gantt Chat (see appendix 1). Unfortunately Gantt charts, despite having various advantages faces various criticism. Asaravala (2006) highlights that some critics argue that Gantt Chart distracts the project managers attention from the project and towards perfecting pretty graphs, while others argue that charts are created only to satisfy the higher-ups and act as a distraction for the project team. Asaravala, A. 2006, â€Å"Defending the Gantt Chart†,   Resource: Academic Search Complete (EBSCO) , Citation: Software DevelopmentJan2006, Vol. 14 Issue 1, p14-15 Luz (2009) Also criticises that, besides the benefits, Gantt charts have many weakness which includes lack of details and inefficient utilization of screen space when displaying large number of parallel tasks, each of which requires its own representation space. Maylor (2001) extends the criticism and considers Gantt Chart as a â€Å"blunt instrument†, that encourages a one-step approach to planning. As a result of the presentation capabilities of modern planning packages, the visual quality of colour charts means that they gain an implicit credibility. This can result in staff being unwilling to challenge the charts, and so they gain a momentum all of their own. Furthermore Maylor (2001) states that charts obliges the project manager to over-control the project instead of delegating the project responsibilities to the team members. Increasing use of the project-management applications, project managers become not only the ‘keeper of the charts but also a computer operat or. This might lead the virtual project plan not being updated, as frequent change occurs. Asaravala (2006) defends the charts approach by reasoning that Gantt chart is a communication tool in helping stakeholders in understanding the tasks and the tasks relations with each other Pritchard (2004) affirms that Gantt charts helps the stakeholder to have a good view of the project and also act as a communication tool to the project clients and the stakeholders involved. Furthermore it helps project leaders focus their attention on critical tasks and resources as the project moves forward and allow them to keep track of how the project is progressing and using its available resources. Pritchard C. 2004, â€Å"The project management communications toolkit†, Publisher: Artech House Asaravala (2006) concludes that one the major reasons for criticism against Gantt charts might be that project managers, most often, find it difficult to get Project Management Applications, like Microsoft Project, to do what they want it to do. This might lead to confusion in the project tasks and delays in delivering the project Since Gantt Chart is not the only tool for time management in a project management. Literature mentions that there is an alternative approach to Time management. Therefore, Kendrick (2004) and Ribeiro (2009) suggest that an alternative to the Gantt chart would be to use a Critical Path Analysis CPA (Network Analysis) whereas Field et al. (1998), Johnson et al. (2007) and Davis T. and Pharro R. 2003 suggest Gantt Chart should be used along with Critical Path Analysis. Critical path networks provide a powerful notation needed to show all the local interdependencies between different tasks. Furthermore, it also ensures completion of the project in a timely manner by quantifying the priorities, based on an analysis of all the task duration estimates, with efficient utilization of resources but all this depends on the accuracy of the information used. (Lock 2007) Lock D. 2007, The Essentials of Project Management, Edition: 3, Publisher: Gower Publishing   Ltd. Field M. and Keller L. 1998, â€Å"Project management†, Publisher: Cengage Learning EMEA Ribeiro J. M. 2009, â€Å"Procurement of Goods, Works and Services in Development Projects: With an Overview of Project Management†, Publisher: Presses inter Polytechnique Johnson L. K., Luecke R. and Austin R. D. 2007, â€Å"The essentials of project management†, Publisher: Harvard Business Press Kendrick T. 2004, â€Å"The project management tool kit: 100 tips and techniques for getting the job done right†, Publisher: AMACOM Div American Mgmt Assn for project of a long duration, or where the details associated with future stages of he project are unclear, the completion of detailed network or Gantt chart can be meaningless. An alternative approach for projects of this nature is to agree and set metilestones or target dates fro akey events some way into the future. Detailed plans are then produced on a rolling programme as work is completed. Milestone charts are a very useful way to represent the project schedule. The activities leading up to the next milestone are developed in detail (using the processes outlined above), but the future stages of the project are shown simply by apporiate milestones. The detailed activities associated with the work leading up to those future milestones are developed as the project draws near. This approach provides a realistic representation of the project as events some way into the future are inevitably less well known and clearly defined. Planning the schedule in detail as the work is approac hed provides more accurate detailed plans. Davis T. and Pharro R. 2003, â€Å"The relationship manager: the next generation of project management†, Publisher Gower Publishing, Ltd Personal Reflection In the trans Himalayan mountain bike race project, the use of Gantt Charts for delivering the project has been empirical. For me Gantt chart acted as a key planning and controlling tool for addressing the project management in terms of time, scheduling and cost. It is easy to understand, embodies the WBS and enables monitoring the progress against projected estimation. I do not agree with Maylor (2001) criticism for considering Gantt Chart as a â€Å"blunt instrument† because it is either the projects milestones that are not executed in the way it is scheduled for or the Gantt Chart is not consistently aligned with the reality of the project. Blaming the Gantt Chart for being useless is just absurd. I have observed that Gantt Charts are not as good as a Critical Path Analysis Flow Diagram for identifying and showing interdependent factors. Although some of the literature, as mentioned above, mentions using the Critical Path Analysis as an alternative to Gantt Chart but after experiencing and using both tools in the Himalayan mountain bike race project, made me realized their importance and compels me to agree with Field et al. (1998) and Johnson et al. (2007) CPA flow diagram should be used with the Gantt Chart as a secondary tool. and Davis T. and Pharro R. 2003 Highlights the critical path and shows project logic (flow). Introduction To Project Management By Kathy Schwalbe For this reason many good organizations stopped using chart approach to plan projects like the top level management of Hewlett Packards UK plants uses whiteboards and Post-It notes with individual sub-project managers using the project management application at the task level Kuta points out that the key success factor for project rely on the project decisions which are based upon cost, risk, procurement and contracting, and other issues but are not addressed in the traditional Gantt Chart can oftenbe the timing and tn Although Gantt chart act as a key planning and controlling tool for addressing the project manamgent in terms of time, schecdule and cost but in support of this argument by In this argument

Jazz Report Essay -- essays research papers

I attended the University Symphony Orchestra's "An Evening of Handel, Schubert, and Haydn" on Thursday, September 30, 2003 in the Daniel Recital Hall. The hall was much more crowded than I expected. At the beginning of the concert, the orchestra was seated on the stage; the men wore tuxedos, and the women wore black dresses or pants. The concertmaster came out to tune the orchestra, and then the conductor made his entrance and gave a brief description of the piece that was about to be played. George Frideric Handel's Overture to Music for the Royal Fireworks was composed during the Baroque era. It has a homophonic texture and its genre is a suite. There is a wide variety of instruments (aerophones, chordophones, and membranophones) used in this piece. Among the wind instruments (woodwinds and brass) heard were bassoon, oboe, French horn, and trumpet. The strings played included the violin, viola, cello, and double bass. Finally, the percussion instrument used for this piece was the timpani. This movement is broken down into four sections by tempo: Adagio, Allegro, Lentement, and Allegro. The Adagio section begins with a slow introduction at a mezzoforte dynamic. This section is in a major key and set in quadruple meter. It has a wide range and an ascending melody. There are brief cadences and the section grows in a crescendo. The loudness and energy of this section holds the attention of the listener and creates a proud and joyful mood. The Allegro section begins...

Atmosphere through Detailed Language in Snow Falling On Cedars :: Snow Falling Cedars Essays

Atmosphere through Detailed Language in Snow Falling On Cedars Snow Falling On Cedars, by David Guterson, is an emotional story. The death of a fisherman, Carl Heine, on San Piedro Island, turns into a murder trial for Japanese American, Kabuo Miyamoto. Also an inter-racial childhood romance between Ishmael Chambers and Hatsue Miyamoto shifts back and forth in time and the World War II Japanese Internment story unfolds as part of the romance. David Guterson creates atmosphere in the opening chapters through detailed language. The story is set on a pacific island where society is very small and the fishing community is very important to islanders. Guterson uses the sea, weather and landscape to describe many features in the opening chapters; this creates links between the setting and story. The use of flashbacks creates an interesting aspect to the novel. Guterson introduces the characters in very detailed portraits; this enables the reader to have a clear identity of each one. Tension is created in the courtroom through prejudice language and Guterson creates an atmospheric feeling to all court scenes. Kabuo Miyamoto is described as a criminal from the beginning of the murder trial; already the reader gets the impression that he is guilty for murdering Carl Heine. "†¦.his stillness suggested a disdain for the proceedings", this shows how Kabuo is feeling a dislike towards the trial, and creates a static atmosphere for the trial ahead. Kabuo also shows that he has no respect for the court as, "†¦.he sat proudly upright with a rigid grace", and he does not acknowledge anything that is going on, "†¦did not appear moved at all". Throughout the detailed description of the opening court room scene we can see that the atmosphere is very tense, and creates a feeling of suffocation, "It was a place of gray-hued and bleak simplicity". Kabuo Miyamoto comes across to the reader as a sensitive individual who is taking this murder trial in his stride. David Guterson shows that Kabuo was depressed whilst, "been exhiled in the county jail for seventy seven days - the last part of September, all of October and all of November, the first week in December", here Guterson lengthens the description of how long he was in jail for and creates a sense of boredom for Kabuo. The weather and sea descriptions that Guterson uses to represent and describe many scenes, are essential as they represent the San Piedro way of life.