Social Criticism In Literature Essays - Criticism, Discrimination

Social Criticism In Literature Essays - Criticism, Discrimination Social Criticism in Literature Many authors receive their inspiration for writing their literature from outside sources. The idea for a story could come from family, personal experiences, history, or even their own creativity. For authors that choose to write a book based on historical events, the inspiration might come from their particular viewpoint on the event that they want to dramatize. George Orwell and Charles Dickens wrote Animal Farm and A Tale of Two Cities, respectively, to express their disillusionment with society and human nature. Animal Farm, written in 1944, is a book that tells the animal fable of a farm in which the farm animals revolt against their human masters. It is an example of social criticism in literature in which Orwell satirized the events in Russia after the Bolshevik Revolution. He anthropomorphises the animals, and alludes each one to a counterpart in Russian history. A Tale of Two Cities also typifies this kind of literature. Besides the central theme of love, is another prevalent theme, that of a revolution gone bad. He shows us that, unfortunately, human nature causes us to be vengeful and, for some of us, overly ambitious. Both these books are similar in that both describe how, even with the best of intentions, our ambitions get the best of us. Both authors also demonstrate that violence and the Machiavellian attitude of "the ends justifying the means" are deplorable. George Orwell wrote Animal Farm, ". . . to discredit the Soviet system by showing its inhumanity and its back-sliding from ideals [he] valued . . ."(Gardner, 106) Orwell noted that " there exists in England almost no literature of disillusionment with the Soviet Union.' Instead, that country is viewed either with ignorant disapproval' or with uncritical admiration.'"(Gardner, 96) The basic synopsis is this: Old Major, an old boar in Manor Farm, tells the other animals of his dream of "animalism": " . . . Only get rid of Man, and the produce of our labour would be our own. Almost overnight we would become rich and free.'" (Orwell, 10) The other animals take this utopian idea to heart, and one day actually do revolt and drive the humans out. Two pigs emerge as leaders: Napoleon and Snowball. They coneztly argued, but one day, due to a difference over plans to build a windmill, Napoleon exiled Snowball. Almost immediately, Napoleon established a totalitarian government. Soon, the pigs began to get special favours, until finally, they were indistinguishable from humans to the other animals. Immediately the reader can begin to draw parallels between the book's characters and the government in 1917-44 Russia. For example, Old Major, who invented the idea of "animalism," is seen as representing Karl Marx, the creator of communism. Snowball represents Trotsky, a Russian leader after the revolution. He was driven out by Napoleon, who represents Stalin, the most powerful figure in the country. Napoleon then proceeded to remove the freedoms of the animals, and established a dictatorship, under the public veil of "animalism." Pigs represent the ruling class because of their stereotype: dirty animals with insatiable appetites. Boxer, the overworked, incredibly strong, dumb horse represents the common worker in Russia. The two surrounding farms represent two of the countries on the global stage with Russia at the time, Germany and England. Orwell begins his book by criticizing the capitalists and ruling elite, who are represented in Animal Farm by Mr. Jones, the farmer. He is shown as a negligent drunk, who coneztly starved his animals. "His character is already established as self-indulgent and uncaring." (King, 8) Orwell shows us how, "if only animals became aware of their strength, we should have no power over them, and that men exploit animals in much the same way as the rich exploit the proletariat." (Gardner, 97) What was established in Russia after the Bolshevik Revolution was not true communism ("animalism"), which Orwell approved of, where the people owned all the factories and land. Rather, "state communism" was established, where a central government owned them. Orwell thought that such a political system, "state communism," was open to exploitation by its leaders. Napoleon, after gaining complete control, did anything he wished - reserved the best for the pigs, and treated the animals cruelly. The animals could

Indian Ocean Raid in World War II

Indian Ocean Raid in World War II Indian Ocean Raid - Conflict Dates: The Indian Ocean Raid was conducted March 31 to April 10, 1942, during World War II (1939-1945). Forces Commanders Allies Vice Admiral Sir James Somerville3 carriers, 5 battleships, 7 cruisers, 15 destroyers Japanese Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo6 carriers, 4 battleships, 7 cruisers, 19 destroyers Indian Ocean Raid - Background: Following the Japanese attack on the American fleet at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 and the start of World War II in the Pacific, the British position in the region quickly began to unravel. Beginning with the loss of Force Z off Malaysia on December 10, British forces surrendered Hong Kong on Christmas before losing the Battle of Singapore on February 15, 1942. Twelve days later, the Allied naval position in Dutch East Indies collapsed when the Japanese soundly defeated American-British-Dutch-Australian forces at the Battle of the Java Sea. In an effort reestablish a naval presence, the Royal Navy dispatched Vice Admiral Sir James Somerville to the Indian Ocean as Commander-in-Chief, Eastern Fleet in March 1942. To support the defense of Burma and India, Somerville received the carriers HMS Indomitable, HMS Formidable, and HMS Hermes as well as five battleships, two heavy cruisers, five light cruisers, and sixteen destroyers. Best known for his reluctant attack on the French at Mers el Kebir in 1940, Somerville arrived on Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and quickly found the Royal Navys principal base at Trincomalee to be poorly defended and vulnerable. Concerned, he directed that a new forward base be constructed on Addu Atoll six hundred miles to the southwest in the Maldives. Alerted to the British naval build up, the Japanese Combined Fleet directed Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo to enter the Indian Ocean with the carriers Akagi, Hiryu, Soryu, Shokaku, Zuikaku, and Ryujo and eliminate Somervilles forces while also supporting operations in Burma. Departing Celebes on March 26, Nagumos carriers were supported by a variety of surface vessels as well as submarines. Indian Ocean Raid - Nagumo Approaches: Warned of Nagumos intentions by American radio intercepts, Somerville elected to withdraw the Eastern Fleet to Addu. Entering the Indian Ocean, Nagumo detached Vice Admiral Jisaburo Ozawa with Ryujo and ordered him to strike British shipping in the Bay of Bengal. Attacking on March 31, Ozawas aircraft sank 23 ships. Japanese submarines claimed five more along the Indian coast. These actions led Somerville to believe that Ceylon would be struck on April 1 or 2. When no attack materialized, he decided to dispatch the older Hermes back to Trincomalee for repairs. The cruisers HMS Cornwall and HMS Dorsetshire as well as the destroyer HMAS Vampire sailed as escorts. On April 4, a British PBY Catalina succeeded in locating Nagumos fleet. Reporting its position, the Catalina, flown by Squadron Leader Leonard Birchall, was soon downed by six A6M Zeros from Hiryu. Indian Ocean Raid - Easter Sunday: The next morning, which was Easter Sunday, Nagumo launched a large raid against Ceylon. Making landfall at Galle, the Japanese planes moved up the coast to strike at Colombo. Despite the warning the previous day and sightings of the enemy aircraft, the British on the island were effectively taken by surprise. As a result, the Hawker Hurricanes based at Ratmalana were caught on the ground. Conversely, the Japanese, who were unaware of the new base at Addu, were equally taken aback to find that Somervilles ships were not present. Striking the available targets, they sank the auxiliary cruiser HMS Hector and the old destroyer HMS Tenedos as well as destroyed twenty-seven British aircraft. Later in the day, the Japanese located Cornwall and Dorsetshire which were en route back to Addu. Launching a second wave, the Japanese succeeded in sinking both cruisers and killing 424 British sailors. Putting out from Addu, Somerville sought to intercept Nagumo. Late on April 5, two Royal Navy Albacores spotted the Japanese carrier force. One aircraft was quickly downed while the other was damaged before it could radio an accurate spotting report. Frustrated, Somerville continued to search through the night in the hopes of a mounting an attack in the dark using his radar-equipped Albacores. These efforts ultimately proved fruitless. The next day, Japanese surface forces sank five Allied merchant vessels while aircraft destroyed the sloop HMIS Indus. On April 9, Nagumo again moved to strike Ceylon and mounted a large raid against Trincomalee. Having been alerted that an attack was imminent, Hermes departed with Vampire on the night of April 8/9. Indian Ocean Raid - Trincomalee Batticaloa: Hitting Trincomalee at 7:00 AM, the Japanese struck targets around the harbor and one aircraft conducted a suicide attack into a tank farm. The resulting fire lasted a week. Around 8:55 AM, Hermes and its escorts were spotted by scout plane flying from the battleship Haruna. Intercepting this report, Somerville directed the ships to return to port and attempts were made to provide fighter cover. Shortly thereafter, Japanese bombers appeared and commenced attacking the British ships. Effectively unarmed as its aircraft had been landed at Trincomalee, Hermes was hit around forty times before sinking. Its escorts also fell victim to the Japanese pilots. Moving north, Nagumos planes sank the corvette HMS Hollyhock and three merchant ships. The hospital ship Vita later arrived to pick up survivors. Indian Ocean Raid - Aftermath: In the wake of the attacks, Admiral Sir Geoffrey Layton, Commander-in-Chief, Ceylon feared that the island would be the target of invasion. This proved not to be the case as the Japanese lacked the resources for a major amphibious operation against Ceylon. Instead, the Indian Ocean Raid accomplished its goals of demonstrating Japanese naval superiority and forcing Somerville to withdraw west to East Africa. In the course of the campaign, the British lost an aircraft carrier, two heavy cruisers, two destroyers, a corvette, an auxiliary cruiser, a sloop, as well as over forty aircraft. Japanese losses were limited to around twenty aircraft. Returning to the Pacific, Nagumos carriers began preparing for the campaigns that would culminate with the Battles of the Coral Sea and Midway. Selected Sources World War II Database: Indian Ocean RaidCombined Fleet: Raids into the Indian Ocean Defense Media Network: Nagumos Indian Ocean Raid

REFER TO OTHER INSTRUCTIONS FOR PROBLEM QUESTION WHICH NEEDS TO BE Essay

REFER TO OTHER INSTRUCTIONS FOR PROBLEM QUESTION WHICH NEEDS TO BE ANSWERED CONCERNING EU LAW-Principles of Direct Effect, Indirect Effect, State Liability and - Essay Example Van Gend, European Community regulations can and must be tried before national courts and therefore Eastern Interiors can bring action on refusal of license in UK courts. However since the UK Government in Tachographics has left the matter of implementation of EU regulations to individuals without any State intervention, it is not likely to interfere unless Eastern Interiors can demonstrate a discriminatory bias in the decision of the European Commission to refuse its license. The other Company does not have any grounds for appeal, since it does not even have a reply from the Commission. Action can be bought against EU regulations by a Member State by going in appeal to the ECJ, which is the only authority that can possibly over rule the decisions of the Commission. However in this instance, since only two companies are affected by the refusal/denial of license, it is unlikely that any appeal will be entertained by UK Courts. Through the concept of direct effect, member states are bo und to apply EU regulations in their entirety, and they cannot be implemented piece meal (See case 128/78 Commission v UK (1979) ECR 419). In the event of non compliance with the EU regulation, the UK may have to change its laws to accommodate EU Law (See the case of C-246/89R Commission v UK (1989). However this case concerns the refusal of licenses, for which restrictions on availability have already been specified, and since the regulation will be implemented in its entirety, the restriction on licenses and the right to refuse or deny a license as laid out in the Regulation, will have primary and predominant effect in the UK and individuals such as Eastern Interiors will have to accept and adhere to the terms of the Regulation. EU regulations are in general very detailed and unless any specific remedies are available to individuals under the terms of the regulation, it is unlikely that eastern Interiors or the other company can successfully seek remedy under EU law. In the case

Popular World Music Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Popular World Music - Essay Example This is because the camera angles are shot from above viewing the cleavage of a woman, females bending in front of the cameras, and the camera looking up from below which is forbidden in numerous cultures as it is similar to looking up a dress. In addition, according to xStephhhXx, (1), numerous music videos are filled with images having shots where bodies of the females are showered with money, indicating that the women’s bodies can be controlled and bought by men. This is mostly common in the hip-hop music videos and the pornographic images in the videos form a cultural environment that inspires ferocious behavior by a number of men towards women. The images are not innocent, but the narratives they tell are firmly implicated in the power and gender relations of our culture. Knowing that the media is an influential tool that has so much power to influence how individuals behave and think in the society, and how we describe others and ourselves. Watching such music videos is not a simple thing to sit through, since music videos are a collection of numerous troubling clips displaying the extreme insolence given to women in the domain of music

Failed Products Essay Example for Free

Failed Products Essay A clothier, such as Levi Strauss, that has been around for 150 years is bound to have their share of hits and misses because fashion is terribly fickle and largely unpredictable. But this doesn’t mean you should ignore your target audience. In late 2002, Levi Strauss began a massive marketing push to launch what was being touted as one of the company’s most significant launches in history, Type 1 Jeans. The line unnecessarily went to great lengths to accentuate all those signature design details already long-associated with Levi’s, such as the red tab logo, buttons, rivets, and the two-horse back patch. To accompany the launch, Levi Strauss spent $2 million on an artsy, misguided  Super Bowl commercial  that confused viewers. Going against common practice, they placed Type 1 in retailers with inconsistent prices, ranging from $30 at a retailer like JC Penney’s to over $100 at Barney’s, with no discernable difference in quality. Levi Strauss pulled the entire line after less than two years and Type 1 proved to be the proud clothier’s most spectacular flop. How marketing can cause a product to fail? I have discussed in the past many good examples of  marketing helped a product to succeed. Apple is the first brand that comes to mind when we talk about marketing. The communication and design of the products has led to its wide spread success and Apple becoming one of the  most valuable companies in the world. But what about marketing failures? For every Apple there are many products that fail due to bad marketing strategies. In this piece I would like to discuss one of them-  The TATA Nano. - In a recent trip to Sri Lanka, I saw the TATA Nano being used extensively as a Taxi. As I asked around the average Sri Lankan felt that the Nano though a good car  did not carry enough prestige to be a passenger car. And this they felt was a result of the positioning taken by the marketing managers of the brand. As I look back at the previous campaigns for the Nano, it suddenly struck me that Nano was a consumer behavior assessment failure. The brand managers positioned the car as the next upgrade for a family of four with a two wheeler. But every such household had an aspiration to move to something better and not necessarily cheaper. Even if the consumer was in that income bracket, he aspired for something cooler. This point was not taken into consideration while the brand managers were coming up with the positioning. The next campaign focused on the tier 2 cities with bad roads and little or no inclination to move things along. This further hit the car sales. Finally now the Nano has been positioned as a cool car to have fun with. Also the colors and the powerful AC are being positioned as the differentiators along with the classic adage of better fuel efficiency that has helped its sales. I personally feel that positioning a product or service would be a strong spin off from consumer behavior and without understanding the hopes and aspirations of the masses a product is bound to not have the stickiness factor. TATA Nano was a classic case of a product manager who chooses not to respect the aspirations of his prospective consumers. A famous marketer once told me that â€Å"A man buys a car for what he wants to be and buys a house based on what he is†.

Comparing three poems from different cultures :: English Literature

Comparing three poems from different cultures Introduction The three poems that I will be comparing are ‘Presents from my aunts in Pakistan’ by Moniza Alvi, ‘Half-caste’ by John Agard and ‘Island Man’ by Grace Nichols. All of these poets have mixed-race backgrounds and all of these poems are linked in with the difficulties arising from having different cultural backgrounds. Story/theme ‘Presents from my aunts in Pakistan’ is reflective of Moniza Alvi’s childhood and her experiences of being from two different backgrounds â€Å"glass circles, recall the story how the three of us sailed to England.† She tells the reader about her experiences in Pakistan, the journey from Pakistan to England and about being in England. This shows that although she is confused about her background, she remembers everything from both cultures. ‘Half-Caste’, however, is a very confrontational poem and John Agard addresses the reader personally. â€Å"Excuse me†¦explain yuself†¦yu must come back†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Agard addresses the reader personally and confronts them about their opinions or beliefs of Half-caste people. He asks them to tell him what they mean by the phrase half-caste, then gives various scenarios about what they may mean which are incongruous. This puts his point across and makes people think about or change their beliefs. Conversely, ‘Island Man’ is the story of a man that used to live on an island, possibly the Caribbean, and then moved to London. This poem describes his feelings as he wakes up for the first day back in London â€Å"Comes back†¦to dull North Circular Road†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This poem also shows that he would much prefer to live on his â€Å"emerald island† than in London. This shows that the man has made a conscious decision about which part of his background he prefers and which part of his life he would like to fulfil. Emotions expressed ‘Presents from my aunts in Pakistan’ is a very sensitive poem and many emotions are expressed throughout the poem. In the first stanza, Moniza Alvi expresses excitement as she lists all of the wonderful things that her aunts have sent her from Pakistan. In the second stanza, she seems down heartened about everything and says, â€Å"never be as lovely as those clothes.† For the rest of the poem she seems confused about her background and indecisive about which background she prefers. ‘Half-Caste’, however, expresses a feeling of confrontation throughout the poem and it always seems as if John Agard wants the readers to respond to what he says but because of his hectoring tone the reader believes that they cannot. On the contrary, ‘Island Man’ has a pessimistic feel to the poem throughout. It seems as though the island man is constantly

Defense of Marriage Act

In 1996, Congress enacted the Defense of Marriage Act (â€Å"DOMA†), which added the following definition to the United States Code: â€Å"†¦[T]he word â€Å"marriage† means only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife, and the word â€Å"spouse† refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife. † (Defense of Marriage Act sec. 3). Since the enactment of DOMA, however, five states (Iowa, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Vermont and Massachusetts) have come in direct conflict with the law by conferring full legal status to same-sex marriages.Thus, a same-sex couple may be legally married in their state of residence but would not be recognized as such under federal law. The Supreme Court, in light of its own binding precedent, must recognize that marriage, is a constitutionally-guaranteed, fundamental right of all citizens. Because DOMA interferes with such rights, it must be overturned as unconstitutional, and th e federal government must recognize same-sex marriages performed legally in states where such marriages are permitted. In a landmark post-DOMA case, the Supreme Court overturned its earlier decision in Bowers v.Hardwick, and held that state anti-sodomy laws restricting consensual sexual behavior between adults, same-sex or otherwise, were unconstitutional (Lawrence v. Texas 558). The Court held â€Å"†¦that our laws and tradition afford constitutional protection to personal decisions relating to marriage, procreation, contraception, family relationships, child rearing, and education†¦. Persons in a homosexual relationship may seek autonomy [in making these choices]†¦ just as heterosexual persons do† (Lawrence v. Texas 574). States’ ability to define or limit marriage is further diluted by the equal protection doctrine.The right to marry is fundamental and, as such, cannot be defined so as to apply to citizens on an unequal basis or on the basis of classi fication. The equal protection doctrine is derived from the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution, which provides that no citizen of the United States or any state shall be denied â€Å"equal protection of the laws† (U. S. Constitution, amend. 14, sec. 1). Prior to 1996, the Supreme Court’s equal protection decisions progressively made strides toward greater personal freedoms and greater recognition of the fundamental rights of individuals.By defining marriage solely as a relationship between a man and a woman, Congress attempted to slam the door on decades of Supreme Court jurisprudence. The Supreme Court famously addressed the right to marry as a matter of equal protection in the 1967 decision of Loving v. Virginia. Striking down anti-miscegenation statutes in more than 20 states, the court held â€Å"[t]here can be no doubt that restricting the freedom to marry solely because of racial classifications violates the central meaning of the equal protection clauseâ €  (Loving v.Virginia 12). The Supreme Court has also recognized the right of prison inmates to marry (Turner v. Safley, 78). In so doing, the court addressed specifically whether the inability to consummate a marriage affects the constitutional protection afforded such a relationship. In her opinion for the court, Justice O’Connor wrote: â€Å"Many important attributes of marriage remain, however, after taking into account the limitations imposed by prison life†¦.[M]arriages†¦are expressions of emotional support and public commitment†¦hav[e] spiritual significance†¦ [and] [f]inally, marital status often is a precondition to the receipt of government benefits (e. g. , Social Security benefits), property rights (e. g. , tenancy by the entirety, inheritance rights), and other, less tangible benefits†¦. These incidents of marriage, like the religious and personal aspects of the marriage commitment, are unaffected by the fact of confinement or the pur suit of legitimate corrections goals.† (Turner v. Safley 95-96) All the minimal hallmarks of marriage enumerated by the Court in Turner can exist in a legal same-sex marriage; with the sole exception of the couple’s ability to obtain the federal government benefits denied them by DOMA. In a case that perhaps best encapsulates the Supreme Court’s belief in the breadth of the right to marry, the Court addressed a Wisconsin law that prevented people with child-support arrearages from marrying. (Zablocki v. Redhail, 434 U. S. 374 (1978)).In holding the law unconstitutional, the court stated that â€Å"[a]lthough Loving arose in the context of racial discrimination, prior and subsequent decisions of this Court confirm that the right to marry is of fundamental importance for all individuals† (Zablocki v. Redhail 384). If marriage is a right of â€Å"fundamental importance for all individuals,† (Id. ) it is necessarily a fundamental right for homosexual me n and women. In conclusion, the Defense of Marriage Act and the federal government’s failure to recognize legal same-sex marriages are unconstitutional.DOMA illegally interferes with the fundamental right of homosexual individuals to choose whom they wish to marry. The United States was undergoing a major conservative revolution at the time DOMA was passed. The times have changed. As Justice Kennedy wrote in 2003, seven years after DOMA was enacted, â€Å"†¦[T]imes can blind us to certain truths and later generations can see that laws once thought necessary and proper in fact serve only to oppress. As the Constitution endures, persons in every generation can invoke its principles in their own search for greater freedom† (Lawrence v.Texas, 579). It is time for the Supreme Court of this generation to lift the oppression of DOMA and require the federal government to recognize legal same-sex marriages. Works Cited Defense of Marriage Act, U. S. Statutes at Large 2419 (1996): sec. 3. Desylva v. Ballentine, 351 U. S. 570 (1956). Lawrence v. Texas, 539 U. S. 558 (2003). Loving v. Virginia, 388 U. S. 1, 12 (1967). Turner v. Safley, 482 U. S. 78 (1987). Zablocki v. Redhail, 434 U. S. 374 (1978).

Innocent Smoothies

Innocent drink case study analysis: Innocent drinks are a unique business selling 100% natural fruit smoothies. (Innocent drinks) There are many factors that contribute to the company’s successful development so far. Firstly, and most importantly, their unique selling point which is using just fresh fruit in their drinks. This is a major strength to the company as they fit in today’s trend of a healthy eating lifestyle. â€Å"They contain even more antioxidants than the average five a day† (Adams 2007). Moreover Innocent has environmentally friendly packaging; their bottles are clear with simple product information in one colour. Straight away this makes it stand out more than the rest on that shop shelf. â€Å"They were the first company in the world to put drinks on shelves in 100% recycled plastic bottles† (Oracle 2008). However they did not carry out in depth research, they only asked consumers one question: â€Å"Do you think we should give up our jobs to make these smoothies? † (Bains et. al. 2008). No questions related to the product that could help them in the future were asked. Moreover the founders abided by their principles and they only produced their products how they wanted to. This had moved them from a niche market to a nationalised company, now holding more than half of the market share. Furthermore they have met their social responsibilities in many ways such as projects in India, providing food for the homeless and the big knit- providing warmth for the elderly. â€Å"We knitted 20,000 hats to raise ? 10,000 money for Age Concern† (Innocent drinks) Another factor of success to Innocent is their fun and informal business style. Their organisational structure is unique as their staff get bonuses on having children and snowboarding holidays. Even their website is fun-filled excitement; it has its own attractive style it tells you everything about them. Lester (2007) explains â€Å"Their Company’s offices are among the friendliest and relaxed in the world† However the difficulties that company’s like Innocent drinks face are firstly lack of experience and knowledge. Lester (2007) describes â€Å"Its founders had no real experience in the sector. † Moreover raising capital, the founders of Innocent being foolish gave their jobs up straight away without any solid plans. Lester (2007) explains â€Å"They needed to raise money to buy fruit and bottles and get the smoothies made. † However capital problems can be solved by finding ‘Business Angels’. Innocent also found theirs – a wealthy American Maurice Pinto, had the experience and the `money; he was highly impressed by Innocent. â€Å"Maurice decided to invest ? 250,000 in return for 20% stake in the business† (Lester 2007). Furthermore many new businesses underestimate things like how much raw material they will need, this was similar to Innocent. They had only ever made small quantities of their juices but were looking to expand across the nation† (Lester 2007). But using fresh fruits meant that the drinks will be perishable quicker and will have to be sold really quickly. Having too many founders can also be an obstacle to a small business. Innocent had three founders, which meant there were conflicts and every decision had to be discussed and debated befor e reaching a conclusion. This can slow down progress. Innocent have many more business opportunities now that they are a successfully developed business. They have already started to expand their product range in making further products like desserts. They could furthermore develop their product range from ice-creams to maybe even meals, keeping to their principles of healthy eating. Moreover, with the right market research, if these products became successful, they could even open up shops, even restaurants or cafes and possibly start selling online too. These are opportunities because â€Å"By differentiating the products or service the company increase the value of its operators and hence, improves performance† (Bradley 2002 p21). They could further enhance their existing products starting with new packaging, a new style, new combination of colours or even new sizes (king/snack size). Ali (2001 pg 24) suggests firms should â€Å"Keep products fresh by introducing new variants and improved versions†. Using incentives is a good way to get attention, Innocent could offer a free soft toy cow, or a free membership pass to a gym. Innocent use testimonials on their website, they could use famous faces to make these testimonials stand out more. Ali (2001 p11) also explains that a business should â€Å"Look at the various aspects of their business that customers use to form a view of you† Lastly Innocent could sponsor big charity events and music shows, this way they are being ethically responsible and they raise awareness about their products. All of these suggestions would contribute to reducing the risk of business failure for Innocent drinks in the future. Innocent is a fast growing business and one of the most successful. However Page, Ralph and Jones (1989 p 1-55) explain fast growth in a short period of time is a threat. Having to produce on a large scale and making deliveries on time can be difficult. Forecasting demand and market growth is essential; firms almost fail predicting this incorrectly. A fast growing business like Innocent, need to keep track of forecasts as accurately as they can, or they can lose their reputation and money. For example, â€Å"Firms need skill in measuring and forecasting the size, growth, and profit potential† (Kotler 1994 p 245). Also Innocent will have to be aware of changing trends and tastes in their market, drastic changes in the market can affect Innocent. However there are also external threats to Innocent like competition (Myroslaw 1987 p 45). They need to keep a constant watch on competitors to make comparisons with their own business. Moreover change in economic conditions effect firms, currently the economy is suffering a recession; (www. news. bbc. co. uk) during these times it would be best to lower prices. Even more technology changes can be threatening to the position of a firm, Innocent might need to update their current technology and re-train their employees. Finally meeting their liabilities, avoiding bad debts and cash flow problems will contribute to a firm’s success. In conclusion Innocent drinks is proven to be a surprisingly successful business even after all the struggles, they came through as a strong and honest business. However they now need to be extra careful because they have reached a high level of success, and the higher you are the harder it becomes to maintain that position. Word count: 1,062 Bibliography: Anthony S. Page, Ralph C. Jones (1989) ‘Business Growth – How to Achieve and Sustain It’, Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 10(2) p 1-55. Ali, M. (2001) Marketing Effectively, Hampton, Dorling Kindersley. Baines, P. Fill, C. and Page, K. (2008) Marketing. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Bradley, F. (2002) International Marketing Strategy, Dublin, Pearson Education. Kotler, P. (1994) Marketing Management, USA, Prentice Hall. Myroslaw J. (1987) ‘customer service competition business to business and industrial market’ Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing, 2(4) p45-52. ttp://www. innocentdrinks. co. uk/us/? Page=our_story Accessed 21/11/08 http://www. innocentdrinks. co. uk/bored/ Accessed 21/11/08 http://money. aol. co. uk/small-business/innocent-drinks-coming-to-fruition/article/20070814091309990004 Accessed 19/11/08 http://www. oracle. com/customers/snapshots/innocent-drinks-demantra-snapshot. pdf Accessed 21/11/08 http://www. drinks-business-review. com/art icle_feature. asp? guid=55937F47-8134-4E4F-A9A4-881AE440062F Accessed 21/11/08 http://news. bbc. co. uk/1/hi/magazine/7686531. stm Accessed 01/12/08

Government and Insurance Case Study Essay Example

Government and Insurance Case Study Essay Example Government and Insurance Case Study Essay Government and Insurance Case Study Essay The claims that the government insurance are receiving tend to be much higher than what those who cash and carry are required to pay. The government is having to pay significantly higher claims for members of medicare and Medicaid than those who do not use government insurance and pay with cash. The government feels they are being taken advantage of in this system and have imposed laws that now forbid that a companys’ claims be in excess of 120% of what the ordinary, or usual, charges would be without good cause. Potentially, government programs reimbursement amounts exceed the retail sales price for products because customers are more restricted and requires an extensive number of internal processes and procedure. The reimbursement amounts are set by the program entity. The process of selling goods involves additional mandated by law consideration beyond the normal cash and carry process, including the processing of insurance claims and substantiation of product delivery. Another potential could be because of the nondurable medical supplies, and how the process is cumbersome as the products are supplied to customers on a monthly basis. We do not think that the reimbursement rate for this company is substantially in excess. In order to comply with all of the governments requirements, there are significant operating expenses that must be incurred to get the products to where they need to be. Looking at TABLE 6, you can see that the product cost per unit is significantly higher for the product s sold to the government than the products sold to the cash and carry customers because of these extra operating expenses that are incurred. For this reason, this company should have good cause to charge a higher percentage for reimbursement rate in order the allow the business to operate at a profit and make it worth while to continue providing products for these customers. Although the numbers are not given to see what the company charges for :

The Annapolis Convention of 1786

The Annapolis Convention of 1786 The Annapolis Convention was an early American national political convention held at Manns Tavern in Annapolis, Maryland, on September 11- 14, 1786. Attended by twelve delegates from the five states of New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Virginia, the convention was called to address and remove the self-serving protectionist trade barriers each state had independently established. With the United States government still operating under the state power-heavy Articles of Confederation, each state was largely autonomous, with the central government lacking any authority to regulate trade between and among the various states. While the states of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and North Carolina had appointed delegates to the Annapolis Convention, the failed to arrive in time to participate. The other four of the 13 original states, Connecticut, Maryland, South Carolina, and Georgia, refused or chose not to take part. Though it was comparatively small and failed to accomplish its intended purpose, the Annapolis Convention was a major step leading to the creation of the U.S. Constitution and the current federal government system. The Reason for the Annapolis Convention After the end of the Revolutionary War in 1783, the leaders of the new American nation took on the daunting job of creating a government capable of fairly and efficiently meeting what they knew would be an ever-growing list of public needs and demands. America’s first attempt at a constitution, the Articles of Confederation, ratified in 1781, created a rather weak central government, leaving most powers to the states. This resulted in a series of localized tax rebellions, economic depressions, and problems with trade and commerce that the central government was unable to resolve, such as: In 1786, a dispute over alleged economic injustices and suspension of civil rights by the state of Massachusetts resulted in Shays Rebellion, an often violent dispute in which protestors were eventually subdued by a privately raised and funded militia.  In 1785, Maryland and Virginia engaged in a particularly nasty dispute over which state should be allowed to profit from the commercial use of the rivers that crossed both states. Under the Articles of Confederation, each state was free to enact and enforce its own laws regarding trade, leaving the federal government powerless to deal with trade disputes between different states or to regulate interstate commerce. Realizing that a more comprehensive approach to the powers of the central government was needed, the Virginia legislature, at the suggestion of future fourth President of the United States James Madison, called for a meeting of delegates from all of the existing thirteen states in September 1786, in Annapolis, Maryland. The Annapolis Convention Setting Officially called as a Meeting of Commissioners to Remedy Defects of the Federal Government, the Annapolis Convention was held September 1114, 1786 at Manns Tavern in Annapolis, Maryland. A total of only 12 delegates from just five states- New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Virginia – actually attended the convention. New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and North Carolina had appointed commissioners who failed to arrive in Annapolis in time to attend, while Connecticut, Maryland, South Carolina, and Georgia chose not to participate at all. Delegates who attended the Annapolis Convention included: From New York: Egbert Benson and Alexander HamiltonFrom New Jersey: Abraham Clark, William Houston, and James SchuremanFrom Pennsylvania: Tench CoxeFrom Delaware: George Read, John Dickinson, and Richard BassettFrom Virginia: Edmund Randolph, James Madison, and St. George Tucker The Results of the Annapolis Convention On September 14, 1786, the 12 delegates attending the Annapolis Convention unanimously approved a resolution recommending that Congress convene a broader constitutional convention to be held the following May in Philadelphia for the purpose of amending the weak Articles of Confederation to rectify a number of serious defects. The resolution expressed the delegates’ hope that the constitutional convention would be attended by representatives of more states and that the delegates would be authorized to examine areas of concern broader than simply laws regulating of commercial trade between the states. The resolution, which was submitted to Congress and the state legislatures, expressed the delegates’ deep concern regarding â€Å"important defects in the system of the Federal Government,† which they warned, â€Å"may be found greater and more numerous than even these acts imply.† With only five of the thirteen states represented, the authority of the Annapolis Convention was limited. As a result, other than recommending the calling of a full constitutional convention, the delegates attending the delegates took no action on the issues that had brought them together. â€Å"That the express terms of the powers of your Commissioners supposing a deputation from all the States, and having for object the Trade and Commerce of the United States, Your Commissioners did not conceive it advisable to proceed on the business of their mission, under the Circumstances of so partial and defective a representation,† stated the convention’s resolution. The events of the Annapolis Convention also prompted eventual first President of the United States George Washington to add his plea for a stronger federal government. In a letter to fellow Founding Father James Madison dated November 5, 1786, Washington memorably wrote, â€Å"The consequences of a lax, or inefficient government, are too obvious to be dwelt on. Thirteen Sovereignties pulling against each other and all tugging the federal head, will soon bring ruin on the whole.† While the Annapolis Convention failed to accomplish its purpose, the delegates’ recommendations were adopted by the U.S. Congress. Eight months later, on May 25, 1787, the Philadelphia Convention convened and succeeded in creating the present U.S. Constitution.

Could you be an Entrepreneur Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Could you be an Entrepreneur - Essay Example These people are still alive in history, in their inventions and in the hearts and minds of the people, and they continue to inspire many people. However, the dark side of entrepreneurship is that not all people make it to level where they earn a place in the history. In fact, statistics reveal that more than half of the small businesses fail in their first year of business. Furthermore, the bankruptcy fillings have been increasing over the past few years (Keister, pp. 19-23, 2005). This paper is an attempt to explore the reasons of the same. The paper would present the reasons why majority of the entrepreneurs fail to manage their growth phase and what allows entrepreneurs to do the same with effectiveness. Discussion Following are some of the reasons why entrepreneurs fail to manage their growth. Growth Strategy One of the biggest issues entrepreneurs face once they have overcome the inertia of business is the absence of a clear strategy. Most small businesses are opened based on i ntuitions, advices of colleagues, peers, family and friends, raw data, assumptions and others. Furthermore, since most entrepreneurs want to make it simple, they do not plan things extensively, and just allow things to â€Å"let happen.† Entrepreneurs prefer their business to be a rollercoaster ride rather than planning and strategizing like other businesses do (Kuratko, pp. 287, 2008). However, once they get going and enter into their growth phase, they fail to understand that the reactive approach, unplanned approach, uncalculated, intuition based strategy is less likely to work. When a firm grows, it is exposed to the market competition and other competitive forces like that of buyer power, supplier power, threat of new entrants, and threat of substitute products. When a firm grows, it catches the attention of many competitors and rivals, which had previously avoided the entrepreneur as posing no threat (Audretsch, pp. 23-43, 2002). Therefore, the point is that while growi ng, an entrepreneur has to choose a clear and well-defined growth strategy (Bygrave & Zacharakis, pp. 78-79, 2010). Now successful entrepreneurs are able to understand that there are only three types of four distinct types of growth strategies available for the firm. These are ‘penetration strategy, product development strategy, market development strategy, diversification strategy’ (Crane & Meyer, pp. 112-115, 2010). Penetration strategy calls for operating in the existing market with the existing product. The idea here is to increase the usage of customers by encouraging them to buy more of the same product. The same can be done with the help of marketing, promotional offers, little modifications in the product and others. Important here to note is that the entrepreneur would not look to target any other customers, segment or try to take away share from other competitors (Crane & Meyer, pp. 112-115, 2010). By pursuing a market development strategy, the entrepreneur tr ies to reach out new geographic, demographic, psychographic, and other markets and segments for its existing product. Moreover, it is also possible to pursue a market development strategy by communicating a new use of the product thus increasing the customer base. Successful entrepreneurs may also go for product developme