The novel Of Mice and Men and the Great Depression - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 2 Words: 581 Downloads: 2 Date added: 2019/05/29 Category Literature Essay Level High school Tags: Great Depression Essay Of Mice And Men Essay Did you like this example? John Earnest Steinbeckrs Of Mice and Men is a widely read period piece from the Great Depression. The bleak themes, while not entirely accurate to Steinbeckrs life, are a spectacular example of the mind of America as a whole at the time. Steinbeck wrote a menagerie of literature placed during the Great Depression. For many readers, Of Mice and Men is the first taste of this literary movement. While it is unlikely Steinbeck could have known this at the time, his writing, on occasion, certainly makes it seem like he did. John Steinbeck was born to a modestly well off family. His father worked plenty of different jobs and his mother was a teacher. From a young age, he enjoyed being outdoors. He particularly enjoyed the Salinas Valley. This came to mold much of the descriptive passages in his writing. In 1919, Steinbeck enrolled at Stanford University and he left the college in 1925, still with no degree. He travelled to New York and worked quite a few different jobs while writing on the side. Some (less reliable) sources say he was a manual laborer, and while he did work in construction, the term manual labor often brings different jobs to mind, particularly when one is speaking of the Great Depression. While Steinbeck was clearly influenced by his home town of Salinas, his other influences are a bit more nuanced one could say the bleak style of his writing came from living in the Great Depression, or one could say it stemmed from believing his work would never be published. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The novel Of Mice and Men and the Great Depression" essay for you Create order The protagonist of Of Mice and Men is one George Milton. He and his partner, Lennie Smalls, are migrant workers. They had been run out of their previous town because of something Lennie did. George and Lennie squabble over a dead mouse, lay out their plans for the next morning, and end the day with George telling Lennie what theyll do when they have enough money for their very own farm. The next day, George and Lennie go to the new ranch. They meet the other characters who work at the farm. They get on well with Slim and Candy. Curly is immediately introduced as a troublemaker.The bond between George and Lennie seems to be confusing for most on the ranch. Curleyrs flirtatious wife appears and flirts with them. George, warns Lennie to stay away from her. Carlson shoots Candyrs dog. Candy overhears Lennie and George talking about their wishes to get their own farm and wants to join in on the plan. Things appear to be going well, but eventually Lennie kills a puppy and Curleyrs wife. He doesnt know his own strength. He goes back to the brush to wait for George. And George, out of mercy, shoots Lennie in the back of the head. In Of Mice and Men the readers are introduced immediately to the scenery, then, secondarily they are introduced to the main characters. It is the first example into a recurring theme that the land shapes the people living on it. Works Cited John Steinbeck. EXPLORING Novels, Gale, 2003. Student Resources in Context, Accessed 30 Nov. 2018. Lisca, Peter. Motif and Pattern in Of Mice and Men. EXPLORING Novels, Gale, 2003. Student Resources in Context, Accessed 30 Nov. 2018. Of Mice and Men. Novels for Students, edited by Diane Telgen, vol. 1, Gale, 1997, pp. 240-262. Gale Virtual Reference Library, Accessed 30 Nov. 2018. Owens, Louis. John Steinbeck. DISCovering Authors, Gale, 2003. Student Resources in Context, Accessed 30 Nov. 2018. Steinbeck, John. Of Mice and Men ; Cannery Row. Penguin, 1987.

Economics and Social Security Essay - 2130 Words

Week 1 Homework Problems Chapter 1 18) You rent a car for $29.95. The first 150 miles are free, but each mile thereafter costs 15 cents. You drive it 200 miles. What is the marginal cost of driving the car? A) A marginal cost is the additional cost to you over and above the costs you have already incurred. Hence here the marginal cost is $7.50 26) State whether the following are microeconomic or macroeconomic policy issues: a. Should U.S. interest rate be lowered to decrease the amount of unemployment? macroeconomics b. Will the fact that more and more doctors are selling their practices to managed care networks increase the efficiency of medical providers? Macroeconomics c. Should the current federal income tax be†¦show more content†¦To some people, government intervention in the economy are consider significant to protect against the worst elements of capitalism while others think that such regulations are unnecessary invasions of their freedoms. To what extend should the government get involve in the economy. The government should take a limited role in the economy while allowing private enterprises because such involvement would eliminate the negative aspects of capitalism while adopting the positiveness of Socialism. This would benefit the economy in variety of ways. Firstly, government regulations allow businesses to remain in the private hands while removing some of the worst abuses of pure capitalism. Secondly, a government intervention protects the consumers, producers, and the community as a whole. Finally, limited government involvement prevents crises such as inflation, unemployment and depression. The nineteenth century period w as a memorable period in the history of human kind. The Industrial Revolution transformed society from an agricultural to a mechanized society. The output of production increased enormously thus creating a substantial amount of jobs. Although the economy was drastically affected by the increasing industrialization; many people were horrified at theShow MoreRelatedSocial Security And Economic Security1311 Words   |  6 Pages In 2033 a retiree with the average Social Security benefits of $1,294 will only receive 77% of this number or $996. This average retiree pays the average monthly costs for a single adult in Grand Rapids, Michigan of $1,323. This shows Social Security benefits today are sinking below the amount necessary to live. In the case the benefits are cut further, living on benefits will be impossible. This stays true to the 20% of retirees who rely on Social Security for all of their income. To make a trulyRead MoreSocial Security And Economic Security1582 Words   |  7 PagesIn 18 years, Social Security benefits could drop so that millions will not have the money to survive. On the other hand, it could not exist entirely. Social Security funds are sinking due to its history, its inability to obtain funds, and the retirement of the Baby Boomer generation. To make a truly accurate evaluation of Social Security one must look at the past, present, and future of the program which is depicted in the following paragraphs through the program’s history, its costs, and finallyRead MoreEconomic Feasibility of the Social Security System1423 Words   |  6 PagesWill Social Security Survive the 21st Century? With all the concerns surrounding the economic feasibility of the Social Security system, perhaps the question should be asked whether the Social Security system would last another 20 years if drastic changes were not made soon. In the years leading up to 2011, when the first baby boomers would be eligible to start receiving Social Security benefits, alarms began to sound that the system was headed for trouble as this new deluge of retires, totallyRead MorePolitical Economic Stances On Social Security1381 Words   |  6 PagesPolitical-Economic Stances on Social Security: A Look into Liberalism and Social Democracy By merely glancing at the political systems across the world, it becomes clear that politics and the economy are inextricably tied. Both are institutions that maintain some sort of balance between freedom and equality, and both are associated with a variety of ideologies regarding what the best balance is (O’Neil 2013, 101 112). We often see how politics and economics influence each other, with policy focusingRead MoreThe United Nations and Its Humanitarian, Peace and Security, and Economic and Social Agencies1641 Words   |  7 PagesFood Program -WFP 11. 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Other beneficiaries of the program include the disabled, unemployed andRead MoreThe Social Security Act Of 19351623 Words   |  7 Pages The Social Security Act of 1935 brought about several changes in the world. The Social Security Act of 1935 bill was passed on April 14, 1935 and signed into law on August 14, 1935 with President Franklin D. Roosevelt in office. The Social Security Act was established to assist the elderly, old-aged workers, individuals involved in industrial accidents, unemployment insurance, the blind, and the physically and mentally disabled. Efforts in getting the Social Security Act of 1935 passed involvedRead MoreEssay on Retirement Revamping1377 Words   |  6 Pages Social Security is a major concern in American society today. Social Security first started in 1935 under President Roosevelt when he signed the So cial Security Act that provided the elderly with guaranteed retirement income. In 1939, benefits for spouses, dependent children of retirees, and survivors of workers who die before retirement were implemented by congress. In the 1950’s, disabled workers were also given benefits. Now days, Social Security is under close scrutiny. Funds are depleting,Read MoreThe New Deal And Social Security Act Of 1935 Essay1715 Words   |  7 PagesDeal and Social Security Act of 1935. Jacquelyn R. Ward United States History II: 1865-Present September 27, 2016 â€Æ' After the Great Depression, many Americans were left disheveled. They needed some form of financial assistance to help them get their lives back to normal. Many government officials such as Hurbert Hoover and Franklin D. Roosevelt helped to enact bills and programs that would assist Americans in rehabilitating their lives. The amount of unemployed workers, the economic reliefRead MoreThe Pros And Cons Of Pension Disbursement1645 Words   |  7 PagesGradually, the Social Security Administration has grappled to accommodate a host of novel demographic trends, namely those impacting the retirement sector of the American population. Continuously, with advances in the medical realm, the senior population is steadily extending its lifespan, and thus, retirement altogether, introducing a wealth of new economic considerations. As human longevity increases, the Social Security system proves increasingly unsustainable, specifically in the pension department-among

Relationship between RMG Export growth and GDP of Bangladesh Free Essays

Karakul Hosing, Professor of the Department of Finance, University of Dacha for his constant supervision, moral support, valuable instruction, helpful advice during the course of studies research work. Finally, I am deeply indebted to my family, teachers, friends whose invaluable support encouragement have done much to make this report a successful one. Description ARM Redeemed garments Export A function of international trade whereby goods produced in one country is shipped to another country for future sale or trade. We will write a custom essay sample on Relationship between RMG Export growth and GDP of Bangladesh or any similar topic only for you Order Now GAP The monetary value of all the finished goods and services produced within a country’s borders in a specific period, though GAP is usually calculated on an annual basis. It includes all of private and public consumption, government outlays, investments, and exports less imports that occur within a defined territory. PEP Exports Promotion Burro Qualitative control Acceptance sampling, can be used when a decision must be made to accept or reject a group of parts or items based on the quality found in a sample. Net Exports (NIX) The value of a country’s total exports minus the value of its total imports. It is used to calculate a country’s aggregate expenditures, or GAP, in an open economy variable A variable is any characteristics, number, or quantity that can be measured or counted. A variable may also be called a data item LAST Lot Quality Assessment Technique Work schedule A work schedule includes the days of the week and times of the day a particular employee is scheduled to work of a research or project. A nation could accelerate the rate of economic growth by promoting exports of goods and services. Remittance plays a vital role to economic development of that country. At present, Bangladesh is a good amount of remittance from export of ARM from 1970. By PAYOFF, within a span of about two decades exports have gone up to USED 4. 5 billion. Over the past decade alone, the sector registered a phenomenal growth rate of 15 percent per annum, which is impressive. In fact, this was an exceptionally high growth rate for an emerging industry anywhere in the world. The industrial base, which sustained such high growths, also enjoyed a robust expansion, from less than 50 factories in 1983 to more than 3,400 in 2002, with the number of ARM workers reaching approximately 1. Million. Trend of period average simple growth rate of total export of Bangladesh is almost similar in two periods; 1980-90 and 1991-2004. During the whole period under consideration ready-made garments, (ARM) exports contribute lion’s share (around 75 percent). For ARM export as a whole, the average annual growth rate is much higher (95. 2 percent) during the first period. Of the ARM export, the average annual Roth rate of knitwear export is much higher (74. 0 percent) during the last period as compared to woven wear. Working adolescent girls tend to avoid early marriage as they have their own source of income and are self-dependent. The mean age at marriage for girls working in ARM, factories tend to be higher than the national average. Employment opportunities especially for women created positive impact on family planning and population control in the country. Independent working-women are getting more conscious about the advantage of a small family, and are exposed to modern family planning methods. Nevertheless, repeatedly times the magnitude of its multiplier impact and implications will Justify the support that this sector has been given over the past years and the support it is currently seeking from the government. In PAYOFF Bangladesh exported ARM products worth 4. 5 billion US dollars. Her share in total US imports of apparels was 3. 2%; in EX. it was 3. 3% and in Canada it was 3. 0%. Bangladesh is known in these countries as a small country with a strong presence. This research proposal attempts to qualify the inter-relationship between Export growths of ARM and GAP of Bangladesh. How to cite Relationship between RMG Export growth and GDP of Bangladesh, Papers

The Effects of the General Environment on Cathay free essay sample

The effects of the Economic segment -The aircrafts are highly dependent on petroleum as the starting energy and the price of petroleum is keeping increase in last few years, so the cost of operation of Cathay Pacific Airlines is unavoidably increase, and the air ticket price also need to be raised to offset the increasing petroleum cost, finally the sales of air ticket of Cathay Pacific Airlines may decrease. The effects of the Technological segment As the broadband Internet connection is developing rapidly in every countries now, the management class persons can use video conference through Internet connection to launch cross-countries meeting, and they can travel by air less to save cost and time . So the sales of business class or first class air-tickets will decrease as the management of every organizations are the sales target of business class or first class air tickets The effects of the Political segment -China is keeping extend the â€Å"Individual Visits Scheme for traveling in Hong Kong† in more cities in China. We will write a custom essay sample on The Effects of the General Environment on Cathay or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page China people are attracted by the reputation of â€Å"Shopping Paradise† in Hong Kong and they have high consuming power, so more people from China will come to Hong Kong for traveling. The sales of the air tickets will increase as the turnover of airline from cities in China to Hong Kong increase. China and Taiwan started the direct flights policy in 2009, and more cities in China will launch the direct airlines to Taiwan, so Hong Kong can’t enjoy the advantages of transit city between China and Taiwan, so the sales of air tickets between China and Taiwan via Hong Kong will decrease as the China and Taiwan adopt open policies in economic cooperation. -Hong Kong and Taiwan had signed the agreement to open the airline market and extend the cargo volume between Hong Kong and Taiwan in 30/12/2011. The sales of air tickets between Hong Kong and Taiwan will decrease as Cathay Pacific Airlines can’t enjoy the oligopoly market advantages in this airline as more competitors will enter this airlines market. However, the sales of air freight services will increase as the extension of cargo volume between Hong Kong and Taiwan. -The volume of Hong Kong Airport will be saturated in coming decade, and reclamation is one of the main methods to extend the Airport. As more people concern about the effects of reclamation to the natural environment in Hong Kong, Hong Kong Government need to evaluate the reaction of Hong Kong people in this suggestion or to suggest other alternative development schemes for airport. If the extension scheme can’t launch on schedule and the volume of Hong Kong Airport saturates in coming years, the company can’t launch or extend more airlines, the competitiveness of Cathay Pacific will decrease. The effects of the Socio-cultural segment As people trend to want to plan their trips themselves, individual travels become more popular and common in Hong Kong, the sales of air tickets may increase if the company study their needs and offer appropriate packages to attract target markets. -As internet usage become more common in Hong Kong, people like to purchase goods or services through web site, like ebay or Tobo. E-commerce is a new tools to boost the sales figure as it is very convenience to do purchasing. If the company can explore the needs of e-buyers, it may take the advantages of sales in internet. -As Hong Kong Government implement 5 days work now, and more private companies also follow the 5 days work pattern. This means more people will have 2 whole holidays every week, if the company can study their needs and offer appropriate package for them, the sales will increase as their demand on holiday trip increase. The effects of the Global segment As USA and Europe are facing economic crisis now, so the purchasing power of people in these countries are turning poor, so the sales of the air tickets and air freights between Hong Kong, USA and Europe will decrease as the people from USA and Europe are not affordable to go travel in Asia and the demand of cargo in USA and Europe importing from China decrease. -European Union will start charging the carbon emission tax from every Airlines to Europe on 1st of January, so the cost of airlines to Europe will increase.

May Day Celebration in New France free essay sample

In addition, minor festivals, chiefly religious in character, were numerous, so much so that their frequency even in the months of cultivation was the subject of complaint by the civil authorities, who felt that these holidays took altogether too much time from labor. Sunday was a day not only of worship but of recreation. Clad in his best raiment, every one went to Mass, whatever the distance or the weather. The parish church indeed was the emblem of village solidarity, for it gathered within its walls each Sunday morning all sexes and ages and ranks. The habitant did not separate his religion from his work or his amusements; the outward manifestations of his faith were not to his mind things of another world; the church and its priests were the center and soul of his little community. The whole countryside gathered about the church doors after the service while the capitaine de la cote, the local representative of the intendant, read the decrees that had been sent to him from the seals of the mighty at the Chateau de St. We will write a custom essay sample on May Day Celebration in New France or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Louis. That duty over, there was a garrulous interchange of local gossip with a retailing of such news as had dribbled through from France. The crowd then melted away in groups to spend the rest of the day in games or dancing or in friendly visits of one family with another. Source

German Keyboards

German Keyboards QWERTZ versus QWERTY Isnt the Only Problem! The topic is computer keyboards and cyber cafes overseas-especially in Austria, Germany, or Switzerland. We recently returned from several weeks in Austria and Germany. For the first time, we had an opportunity to use computers there-not my own laptop, but computers both in Internet or  cyber cafes  and at the home of friends. We have long known that foreign keyboards are different from the North American variety, but on this trip  we also learned that knowing and using are two different things. We used both Macs and PCs in the United Kingdom, Austria, and Germany. It was a rather confusing experience at times. Familiar keys were nowhere to be found or located in an entirely new place on the keyboard. Even in the U.K.  We discovered the truth about the George Bernard Shaw  adage that England and America are two countries separated by the same language. Once-familiar letters and symbols were now strangers. New keys appeared where they should not be. But that was just in Great Britain. Lets concentrate on the German-language keyboard (or actually its two varieties). A German  keyboard  has a QWERTZ layout, i.e., the Y and Z keys are reversed in comparison with the U.S.-English QWERTY layout. In addition to the normal letters of the English alphabet, German keyboards add the three umlauted vowels and the sharp-s characters of the German alphabet. The ess-tsett (ß) key is to the right of the 0 (zero) key. (But this letter is missing on a Swiss-German keyboard, since the ß is not used in the Swiss variation of German.) The u-umlaut (à ¼) key is located just to the right of the P key. The o-umlaut (à ¶) and a-umlaut () keys are on the right of the L key. This means, of course, that the symbols or letters that an American is used to finding where the umlauted letters are now, turn up somewhere else. A touch-typist is starting to go nuts now, and even a hunt-and-peck person is getting a headache. And just where the heck is that key? Email happens to depend on it rather heavily, but on the German keyboard, not only is it NOT at the top of the 2 key, it seems to have vanished entirely!-Which is pretty odd considering that the at sign even has a name in German:  der Klammeraffe(lit., clip/bracket monkey). My German friends patiently showed me how to type -and it wasnt pretty. You have to press the Alt Gr key plus Q to make appear in your document or email address. On most European-language keyboards, the right Alt key, which is just to the right of the space bar and different from the regular Alt key on the left side, acts as a Compose key, making it possible to enter many non-ASCII characters. That was on a PC. For the Macs at the  Cafe Stein in Vienna  (Whringerstr. 6-8, Tel. 43 1 319 7241), they had printed out the rather complex formula for typing and stuck it in front of each computer. All this slows you down for a while, but it soon becomes normal and life goes on. Of course, for Europeans using a North American keyboard, the problems are reversed, and they must get used to the weird U.S. English configuration. Now for some of those computer terms in German-terms that you will seldom find in most German-English dictionaries. Although computer terminology in German is often international (der Computer, der Monitor, die Diskette), other words such as  Akku  (rechargeable battery),  Festplatte(hard drive),  speichern  (save), or  Tastatur  (keyboard) are less easy to decipher.   Foreign Keyboards Internet Cafe Links Cyber Cafes - WorldwideFrom CyberCafe.com. Euro Cyber CafesAn online guide to Internet cafes in Europe. Choose a country! Cafà © EinsteinAn Internet cafe in Vienna. Computer Info Links Also, see the computer-related links under Subjects on the left of this and other pages. ComputerwocheA computer magazine in German. ct magazin fà ¼r computer-technikA computer magazine in German. ZDNet DeutschlandNews, info in the computer world (in German).

Critically Evaluate the Contribution the Paper Makes to the Knowledge Essay

Critically Evaluate the Contribution the Paper Makes to the Knowledge Base On Strategic Management In Organisations - Essay Example Review of Theories Following are some of the theories which contribute to the paper’s objective. Goal setting has been considered as one of the most empirically investigated HRM practices undertaken in organizations (Rauch, 2007, p.6). The study of previous literature reveals that goal setting contributes to the process of decision making in organizations through the way of increasing the motivation of workers. Under the system dynamic approach, Warren has stated the importance and critical factor for setting of appropriate goals for the attainment of organizational objectives. He has put forth that managers often overestimate or underestimate the obtainable performance which causes the organizations to lose out on opportunities of growth and resource utilization while trying to attain ideal goals which are unrealistic (Hirsch, 2001, p.133). The common errors of setting performance goals are that they undershoot the potential of the situation or aim to attain such outcomes whi ch are not possible (Warren, 2008, p.328). Barlas and Yasarcan (2008), has put forth the comprehensive model of goal dynamics adopted through the perspective of the systems dynamics. They have emphasized on the limitations or drawbacks of the simple structure of goal seeking in the complex and social systems (Ragg, 2011, p.99). Under the structure there is modification of the state and reaches and approaches the goal with a negative and exponential behaviour. They have also emphasized on the roles of intangible soft variables which are associated with goal dynamics in organizations. Some of the major efforts have gone into the building of a model which considers such intangible factors like... The paper primarily contributes to the building of a model which depicts the setting of goals, management by objectives and training and development are considered to be some of the major components in human resource management required for enhancing the productivity of employees and consequently adding the performance of the organization on the whole. The contribution of the simple goal setting theory has been presented in the paper; however, scholars are critical about the application of the same in complex organizational settings. Researchers like Barlas and Yasarcan have emphasized on the components of intangible variables and their importance in organizations. They have shown a correlation between the goal setting theory and its influence on the motivation of workers and the goal commitment of workers. It is found that the goal dynamics plays an important role in the knowledge base of organizations. This paper makes a conclusion that most importantly information technology which forms a critical component in any knowledge based organization is influenced by the goal dynamics. Organizations are required to keep up the ever changing technologies and as such their short and long term goals also keep changing. Moreover they are also meant to focus on the optimum use of intangible resources for ensuring greater financial returns and attainment of greater competitive advantage. Lastly the paper is found to make a major contribution to the engineering sector through the presentation of the reasons of choosing the best suited engineering alternatives from many different design alternatives.

Concrete mix design and compression tests Assignment

Concrete mix design and compression tests - Assignment Example The results for the two materials were compared with special attention to the behaviors of each of them during loading. Testing of the two specimen metals preceded until fracture was realized. During the laboratory experimentation of the specimen metals, aluminum and steel were subjected to tensile tests in order to measure the tensile strengths. It was necessary to conduct the tests for Tensile strength for aluminum and steel, taking into consideration the fact that steel and aluminum are the most used materials during constructions and Engineering works. Ductility enables these two metal specimens to give extra tensile strengths. The tensile test helped in the determination of the elastic properties available in the specimen materials. The performances of the materials were measured by the behaviors that were observed on the materials and the conditions that support their performance. During this time, the challenges and failures of the experiment were observed. After the observation, emphasis shifted to the analysis of the information. The tests are expected to provide the framework on which Engineers can draw their conclusion and recommendation for reinforcing the bui lding materials and constructions in progress. The project is involves fundamental elasticity tests such as static tension test whereby the specimens of the two distinct materials are passed prepared and placed under weight which increasing becomes heavy. This is observed until the specimen attains the failure position. The measure of elasticity as one of the physical characteristics of the material determines whether the material will regain its original shape or will experience permanent deformation. The observation is meant to establish the proportional limit. This is the highest limit of stress, which the specimen material can produce and withstand while maintaining its position in the

The Effect of United States Army Training on the Decision Making Research Paper

The Effect of United States Army Training on the Decision Making Process of the Warfighter - Research Paper Example It will also be necessary to determine whether or not success in the classroom or on the field environment equates with success in the battlefield. The methods described by Benyus (2009), Fischer (2009), Gill (2004), and Robbins (2009) will be compared and contrasted in relation to methodology in relation to training. Abstract Depth An annotated bibliography of 15 peer-reviewed articles probes current thinking on training and the resultant decision influences through a filter of successful training sessions. An analysis of Department of the Army research data demonstrates that there is a problem of declining standards in Advanced Individual Training. The declining standards are manifested in the graduates being unable make sound judgment calls in combat situations when they are assigned to units deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan. Building on the material covered in the Breadth section and drawing on recent research material, a synthesized analysis of combat training and its influence on decision-making is conducted. This research study scrutinizes assessment tools that assist teachers and trainers in providing curriculum that is both informative and challenging to the learner. Abstract Application The Application considers the extent to which the training techniques employed to educate and train today’s combat soldiers are in need of improvement. Drawing on the material analyzed in the depth and breadth, the Application section examines the methodology used to train the soldier and how it has changed very little over the years. The application examines whether or not the end result of these techniques is poor decision making during the high stress of combat and its contribution to causes an increase in the number of casualties on the battlefield. The application determines whether or not an improvement of these methods will result in better decision making. This section will present a clear model for an approach to training for military and corporate tra iners. A complete overhaul of current training practices is not suggested, but rather, an upgrade designed to yield the desired outcome. This section will provide the culmination of the prior entries and present a workable model as the summary. TABLE OF CONTENTS BREADTH 4 What is Training? 4 Training’s shortcomings 5 A Trainer’s Cure 9 Initial Entry Training 15 Army Training Requirements 15 Field Training Exercise 23 Simulated War Fighter Games 23 Applying Benyus’ Theory of Biomimicry to Military Training 27 Biomimicry Theory Explained 27 The Training Theory of Fisher 31 Fisher’s Theory Explained 31 Gill’s Training Theory 33 Gill’s Theory Explained 33 Training Theory of Robbins 35 Robbins Theory Explained 35 Summary of Breadth 37 DEPTH 39 Annotated Bibliography 39 Literature Review Essay 59 Goals and Objectives of Training Combat Soldiers 59 Nature and Significance of Decision-Making in the Battlefield 62 What Improvements can be made to Arm y Training to Enhance Decision-Making 66 Summary of Depth 68 APPLICATION 69 Project Details 69 Ongoing Developments in Military Training

Reflective Essay on Team Building Skills

Reflective Essay on Team Building Skills Writing a reflection is comparable to that of using a Pensive, in the direction of reliving the already lived experience with the objective of learning from the past matters to enhance future performances. This reflection will closely practice (Gibbs,1988) Reflective Cycle. First stage will begin with a description of what happened, followed by feelings about that event or experience, further evaluating and analysing towards arriving at a conclusion along with making of an action plan for performing in a more efficient manner if a similar situation arises in the future. To begin with, in our course Managing Organization and People, Our Professor helped forming the teams by a structured process, he also encouraged to break the ice between the team members, by making us do a very exciting team building activity. Soon after, we were briefed about the case study on decision making; the job was to make a presentation on the given case. My team comprised of 5 members, and four members out of five were from the same country and common native language, I was the one who added country diversity to our team. Since other four members shared one common native language, with English as their second language, it appeared to me that they will be more comfortable communicating in their first language rather than English, which was our course language. In our first meeting we had dialog around the over-all plan, which we will follow to accomplish the goal of making our presentation. Division of the tasks was done, but there was no concrete discussion over how we as a team would check if individuals work is aligning with the overall schema or not. I was feeling confident to have a team with dedicated and friendly members, although few concerns were there, which arose after our first group meeting. The concerns were, communication, trust, fear of conflict, leadership. At the subsequent meeting the worries turned out to be true, instead of progressing we were in retrograde motion. The other four members preferred interacting in their first language rather than our course language not just this, but also everyone had a different point of view concerning the most essential question of the case study, we were asked to state organizations problem and opportunities clearly, but no one was ready to accept others view point, dissatisfaction was fumed and question was left unanswered. Other than Professors first team building activity, no other such activity was performed to better build the relationships and trust amongst the team members. In the absence of a strong connection between team members, we couldnt debate plentiful about how we will resolve this state of disagreement and if a leader was needed to facilitateand direct us in such circumstances. The bright side was that in terms of accountability, commitment, result oriented approach our team seemed standing strong. I felt quiet uncomfortable in this situation and tried taking the step of simplifying things by making everyone indulge in talks and making them to participate more. To ease the situation, we decided that everyone will stick to the chosen parts and at last we will add individual work to arrive at a better collective result. The situation was very challenging, but taking a call of not interfering in each others work till we complete, seemed the best possible way to avoid disagreements. However, the study by (Clark Clark, 2015) proved that team with better individual skills can be outperformed by team with more synergy, and in absence of synergy it was implied that our teams productivity was not going to be the optimum. It is often claimed that by engaging in team building à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦any group can transform itself into a high-performing team (Shandler Egan, 1996 as cited in Riener Wiederhold, 2016) and the study by (Riener Wiederhold, 2016) concluded that members who engage in team building tasks give better efforts than who dont.   Whereas our team never positioned team building activities in high importance ranking. We should have engaged in more team building to help us develop a good bonding. It was a major step missed by our team for turning out as a high performing team. Advancing to other key interconnected issues related to team structure were: Self-managed or leader driven, which best suited us. Avoiding arguments or shaping them to healthy discussions. Well defined by (Phillips, 2001) Whether a team is leader driven or self-directed; higher level of productivity and greater results are desired in a team, we as a team had the same goals of achieving higher level of productivity and our team was a self-directed team with no leader present, I think with the type of team mix we had, there was a leader required to reduce the differences between team members to help us in achieving higher productivity. Discussing more about a leader and importance of a leader in team, as stated by (Hamlin Jennings, 2007) Leaders influence both the mode of interaction and outcome of these interactions, therefore, in presence of a leader with right approach, our team interactions which were whirling as never-ending arguments, could have been shaped to fruitful debates, instead of it our arguments were gradually shaping to conflicts, again the big question; conflicts are helpful or obstructive for a teams productivity. There have been different views on this, The Study by (De Dreu Weingart, 2003) tells that conflicts adds tensions, increases gap and troubles between team members, therefore they should be treated as obstructions in any teams progress. Whereas, the study by (Amason, 1996, Cited by Brockmann, 1996)has a different view anddivides conflicts into two types. Type one is cognitive conflict, which aims at issues, ideas or process, it is constructive and useful for a team, whereas the second type is affective conflict which aims at people, emotions and values, it is harmful to a team and is destructive conflict. As a self-directed team, when we were not able to manage conflicts, a leader with positive influencing approach was required to route our teams destructive conflicts in direction of cognitive conflicts and we could have better responded to the case study question of stating organizations problem and opportunity. (Claus Langfred, 2007) suggested that Self-managing teams when cannot manage conflicts; tend to reform themselves in an inefficient structure, and with higher conflicts the trust level decreases. It was well reflected in our response to conflict, we decided to work on individual tasks without much interference and with greater autonomy we built a greater level of trust. Trust is a crucial factor for team performance (Erdem, 2003, cited by Aki   Mila, 2012) and with the developed trust we started performing slightly better. Cooperation followed by trust is what we gained next, which also resolved the perception of imbalanced diversity that I had in my mind. (Mitchell Boyle, 2015) concluded that Professional diversity could be good for innovation if team members have openness, Though initially, I was bit concerned that our team is not very diverse as all members except me were from the same culture and same language group, which was different from our course language, but later I realized that we all were very diverse in our professional experiences and fields; with openness to suggestions, creative thinking did prosper in our team and after divisions of task and developed trust, team members were very cooperative and communicated in English only. The five characteristics of a dysfunctional team stated in (Lencioni, 2010) are: lack of trust, fear of conflict, lack of commitment, avoidance of accountability, inattention to results, we were able to overcome four out of five characteristics by having a team with trust, commitment, result oriented approach and accountable members but we could never reach a stage of having a healthy conflict. We knew our presentation was not going to be the best, but it was time to feel motivated and deliver our finest with the available resources. Conclusion If given a chance to go back to the time, when teams were formed, definitely I will make the team indulge in more team building activities for achieving a greater bonding, which would have further helped us to sensibly handle and shape the conflicts into cognitive conflicts. Although, every member of the team worked with dedication and commitment, but we failed to understand the importance of synergy, thats how collective effort could have helped us to accomplish the given task with distinction. Our team achieved the required coordination, trust, communication, but we were too late to reap the benefit of these gears, so time management is one another important aspect we missed at. Action Plan This team project experience is one key asset that will help me in future to grip better the alike situations, and being a business student such teamwork situations will certainly come again in my professional career. Learnings which I have gained from this experience are that when working in a team conflicts are essential for success, but only if teams are mature enough to be self-managed or there is a right leader appointed who can shape conflicts in a positive direction to help teams achieving the synergy. which is the most desired element of team performances. Therefore, I will never shy away from such situation rather I will take first move to make team talk about it. References Aki, S., Mila, H. (2012). Building Trust in High-Performing Teams. Technology Innovation Management Review, Iss June 2012: Global Business Creation, Pp 38-41 (2012), (June 2012: Global Business Creation), 38. Brockmann, E. (1996). Removing the paradox of conflict from group decisions. Academy of Management Executive, 10(2), 61-62. doi:10.5465/AME.1996.9606161555. Clark, C., Clark, B. (2015). Is the Sum of the Parts Greater Than the Whole? Skill vs. Synergy. Academy of Strategic Management Journal, 14(2), 23-35. De Dreu, C. W., Weingart, L. R. (2003). Task versus relationship conflict, team performance, and team member satisfaction: A meta-analysis. Journal of Applied Psychology, 88(4), 741-749. doi:10.1037/0021-9010.88.4.741. Gibbs, G. (1988) Learning by Doing: A guide to teaching and learning methods. Oxford: Oxford Polytechnic Further Education Unit. Hamlin, A., Jennings, C. (2007). Leadership and conflict. Journal of Economic Behavior Organization, 64(1), 49-68. Langfred, C. W. (2007). The Downside of Self-Management: A Longitudinal Study of the Effects tf Conflict on Trust, Autonomy, and Task Interdependence in Self-Managing Teams. Academy of management journal, 50(4), 885-900.doi:10.5465/AMJ.2007.26279196 Lencioni, P. M. (2010). Overcoming the five dysfunctions of a team: A field guide for leaders, managers, and facilitators (Vol. 16). John Wiley Sons. Mitchell, R., Boyle, B. (2015). Professional diversity, identity salience and team innovation: The moderating role of openmindedness norms. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 36(6), 873-894. doi:10.1002/job.2009. Phillips, C. (2011). Managing team conflict. Center for Human Systems. Retrieved from http://www. chumans. com/human-systems-resouces/managing-teamconflcit. Htmlip. Riener, G., Wiederhold, S. (2016). Team building and hidden costs of control. Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, 1231-18.doi:10.1016/j.jebo.2015.12.008

William Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet Essay -- William Shakespeare Ro

William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet Although the story of Romeo and Juliet is over 500 years old, it is as relevant and appealing today as it was when first performed. Although dated, the story of Romeo and Juliet still holds great appeal and relevance to today’s society, despite the differences in morals and values between William Shakespeare’s audience 500 years ago, and Baz Luhrmann’s audience today. The arising issues of order and authority, fate and love entertain/ed and appeals/ed to both viewers in different ways. Shakespeare’s original play, Romeo and Juliet reflected the important Elizabethan concerns in relation to authority, law and order, making it relevant to the audiences’ morals and values of the time, as well appealing and entertaining. Shakespeare explored the consequences of order breaking down in society, demonstrated through many characters’ disobediences, with the result of chaos and ultimate consequence being the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. All characters were disobedient in some way, including Romeo and Juliet themselves. For instance, they both deceived their parents by getting married, Romeo killed Tybalt and Juliet faked death. Other characters, such as Tybalt, Mercutio, Montague and Capulet boys, went against the orders of the Prince by continuing violent actions in the city of Verona. The Friar and the Nurse are also guilty because they aided the young lovers’ immoderate actions - their meetings and marriage. Shakespeare offers the simple solution to this chaos as being obedient by respecting authority, law and order, being responsible with power as well as to be punished for their sins. This punishment is ultimately seen at the end of the play following the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. All characters have been hurt by this, hence being punished for their disobediences; â€Å"All are punished!† – the Prince. In this sense, Shakespeare’s play sets morals for the Elizabethan era, displaying the results of disobedience, violence and chaos. Luhrmann’s modern appropriation of the play also deals with authority, law and order, however instead of setting morals and offering solutions, it is relevant in that it displays a different viewpoint on modern society. He displays the world as being hectic and very fast, focused mainly on wealth and power, having lost sight of true values such as love, compassion and moral t... ... continuous, but particularly apparent in the use of water as a symbol of purity and harmony. During the ‘balcony’ scene, the water plays a major role in the connection between the lovers. It is a symbol of their unity and reciprocated love. This symbol of peace and harmony is then tainted by the death of Tybalt as he falls into a pond after being killed by Romeo. This scene also uses sequences of flashbacks to Romeo and Juliet in the pool, memories of the purity and cleanliness of Romeo’s conscience. It is then non-existent in the scenes of Romeo in the very dry, baron landscapes of Mantua. This symbolises the loss of his true love, and also any peace and harmony he knew before being banished. Other romantic symbolism in the film includes the extreme close-up shots of Romeo and Juliet when they are together, for example, in the tomb, repeated shots of the wedding ring – a physical symbol of their love. Together, Shakespeare’s original play and Baz Luhrmann’s modern appropriation is a relevant and appealing insight into the Elizabethan era as well as modern society. By comparing the two, it is made obvious the changes and differences in morals and values over 500 years.

Compare and Contrast the Philippines and Indonesia

Airah Mary Michaela Diaz (Task: Indonesia) Maegan Martinez (Task: Philippines) South Asia | Philippines| Indonesia| Type of Government| -known as the Republic of the Philippines. Is a sovereign state in SEA. -it is called republic or democratic form of government, where the power is in the hands of the people. -it has three branches: Executive, Legislative and Judicial. | -Republic of Indonesia – official name of the country means â€Å"Island of the Indies†-Head of government – President| Political History| -Discovery of katipunan (Aug. 19,1892)-Dr. Jose Rizal was killed by the Spaniards in bagong bayan or luneta park (December 30, 1898)-Philippine Independence (June 12, 1898)-death of President of Ramon Magsaysay (March 17, 1957)-The assassination of Senator Ninoy Aquino (August 21, 1983)-Proclamation of Martial Law by President Marcos on September 21, 1972| -October 1908- the first nationalist movement was formed, Budi Utomo-September 10, 1912- first nationalist mass movement was formed – Sarekat Islam-by December 1912 Sarekat Islam had 93,000 members-The repression of the nationalist movement led to many arrests, including Indonesia’s first president, Sukarno, who was imprisoned for olitical activities on December 29, 1929| Questions: 1. ) In what aspect does the government of Asian countries differ from one another? The government of Asian countries differ from one another by the laws, each government have different laws that people must obey and respect. Another one is the kind of government, there are many kinds of government in Asia like democratic, communist, federal republic and many more. They have their own government to follow. And in Asian countries, they have a leader who can make their country much better. 2. ) As a student, what concrete actions do you do to prove that you are pro government? As a student, I will obey and respect the laws of the government. I will simply apply the rules and regulations of our government and I will prevent myself from violating the rules. To be a role model to other students like throwing the trash to its proper dance. 3. How are they similar? They are similar on their type of government. 4. ) Disadvantages and advantages of the political system on the countries implementing it. The advantages of the political system are that it makes the country in o rder. It also makes the country to develop and also to organize the things in their place. The disadvantages are that sometimes the leaders cheat the country. They sometimes get money in the fund of their country; it affects the country’s progress. References: – Collier’s Encyclopedia #18 p. 685-694 – Lexicon universal encyclopedia – The new book of knowledge, volume I p. 218 – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/HistoryinIndonesia

Mia Hamm Essay Example

Mia Hamm Essay Example Mia Hamm Paper Mia Hamm Paper Kelsey Williams Period 3 Gym 15 October 2012 Mia Hamm Mariel Margaret Hamm, otherwise known as Mia Hamm, was born in Selma, Alabama on March 17th, 1972. Mia Hamms brother recalls that she was extremely athletic even back then and that she would often compete with the other boys on the block in childhood games, often winning them. But earlier on, Mia Hamm had some problems with her legs, she was born with a partial clubfoot. This meant that she had to wear casts on her feet to correct this problem. Fortunately, the casts had a visible effect and Mia Hamm would soon fully recover. Throughout Mia Hamms childhood, she had to move a lot, because her father was in the Air Force. Once, her and her family went to Italy and it is there that Mia saw exactly what soccer is about. The Italians passion for soccer triggered an interest in soccer, when she was just 6 years old. After moving to Texas, she immediately picked up the sport and started playing for a local womens soccer youth club. | Unlike most other players that have to go through certain steps during their childhood, Mia Hamms career had a jump start at a very early age. With Mia dominating the youth competitions of womens soccer in Texas, it was only natural that she ended up in the spotlight of the United States national team staff. However, at age 14, she wasnt ready for that big of a leap, yet. One of the less known facts about Mia Hamm is that she also enjoyed watching and playing football. This helped her later on in her soccer career, increasing her strength, structure and aggressive spirit. Age 15, Mia Hamm moved to northern Virginia, where she would attend the Lake Braddock Secondary school; living with her uncle. She kept on playing soccer and one day, an impressive phone call got the young girl cheering throughout the house. She was called for the senior United States womens soccer team, becoming the youngest player in history to play on it. Fortunately, she did have a good constitution that allowed her to physically survive the difficulties of senior professional soccer at that level. Although she would not play much during her first few years on the team, those times were extremely important in her adaptation process. By the time Mia was seventeen, she already felt right at home on the United States squad and managed to score her first goal for the team, in a match against Canada. After finishing high school, Mia Hamm was already on her way to success, now constantly being called up to the national team. She started playing regularly. However, she chose to follow a University as well; the University of North Carolina. She began playing for the University of North Carolina’s women soccer team, the Tar Heels, and lead them to a string of four straight national titles, in addition to being the team and the leagues all-time top scorer. | In 1991, she put her time with the University of North Carolina on hold. She was being called for her first World Cup, held in China. The United States team was put in a tough group against Brazil, Japan and Sweden. In their first match against Sweden, Mia Hamm managed a crucial 62 minute goal, and the USA team won 3-2. She had scored the winning goal. Their next match, against Brazil saw a wild United States Team with Mia Hamm as the MVP of the match, beating Brazil 5-0. In the last group match, against Japan, the United States womens soccer team beat Japan, 3-0. Coming back to the UNC, Mia Hamm was greeted as a hero and was soon given the nickname Jordan, as a reference to another North Carolina athlete of international fame, Michael Jordan. By that time, Mia Hamm, a soccer player that started out in a small Texas youth club, was already a World Champion at age twenty and had a wonderful career in front of her. When she finished studying at the University, Hamm focused merely on the US national squad, participating in the 1995 World Cup, where the United States ended up third. A moment bound to be remembered from that World Cup was when Mia Hamm went on to play as a goalkeeper, with no one left to play on this position. Despite the United States losing the title and the final, Mia Hamm was voted the Most Valuable Player of the World Cup. One year later, at the 1996 Olympic Games, Mia suffered an ankle injury that kept her off the field for a match, but she was able to recover for the final game, played against China. Hamm contributed decisively to the winning goal, her shot coming off the bar, only to be plunged back in the net by Shannon MacMillan. The United States had gotten another gold medal. Months before the World Cup started, Mia Hamm had already broken the record for most international goals scored by a male or female soccer player, hitting the net for the 108th time in a match against Brazil. Mia Hamms seventeen years with the United States squad brought her a lot of trophies and success. This included two World Cups, two World Cup bronze medals, two Olympic gold medals, and a silver medal. Mia Hamm also won the FIFA Womens Soccer Player of the Year twice, in 2001 and 2002. She currently holds the record for most international goals scored by a player, male or female, with an impressive amount of 158 goals. Mia was one of the only 2 women named on Peles 125 Best Soccer Players of All Times, next to USA national team colleague, Michelle Akers. Mia retired from soccer in 2004 at the age of 32, to start a family.

Economic Geography of The UK of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Economic Geography of The UK of Great Britain and Northern Ireland England has been more and more dependent on its industry since the 15th century. The United Kingdom was the first country in the world to become highly industrialized, and today fourteen people work in mining, manufacturing and building for every one in agriculture. It is the world`s third largest exporter of manufactured goods. It has a very wide range of industrial manufactures, and is one of the most important workshops of the world.The United Kingdom belongs among the top industrial countries. It is economically connected with the Commonwealth countries and since 1973 - when Britain joined the European Economic Community, popularly known as the Common Market - Britain has also worked very closely with Western Europe. It is also a member of G - 7 (The group of Seven leading industrialized countries).Up to the beginning of the 18th century, Britain`s industry was mainly carried on in the home or in small factories where water-power from rivers was used to drive, for example, looms. Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference. (L-R): R...The process of smelting iron with coal was discovered in England in the 17th century.Then came the industrial revolution with the discovery of steam-power, from coal. Coal and iron ore are both heavy and hard to transport. So industry grew up where they were available - in 25 of the 49 English counties, along the foothills of Highland Britain.Major industries include iron and steel engineering (including motor vehicles and aircraft), textiles, plastics, cotton, chemicals, electronics, wool, shipbuilding and food products.The agricultural system is very well developed but the agriculture provides only half the food it needs. The other half of its food have to be imported.The main products are oats, hay, wheat, barley and sugar beets. Cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry are the most important farm animals in the United Kingdom...

Healthcare Strategies Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Healthcare Strategies - Research Paper Example The mission of the facility is to honor the Veterans of America via provision of health care to improve their health standards and safety (VA, 2012). According to HPSA (2011), strategic planning involves determining the direction and focus of the organization in terms of delivering services to the patients, in this case the veterans. The plans of VA are based on well-known directives and priorities derived from the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and according to the plan; excellence in a number of goals is to be achieved from now, 2012, to 2016. According to VA (2012), these goals include: This is a process that is cyclical in nature, designed to improve thinking, acting and strategic learning abilities, extending the odds of reaching or exceeding the target goals, and also improve the organizational effectiveness and efficiency (Office, 2010; Baucus, 2009). The plan is reassessed annually which enables VA to keep track of the changing strategic environment, organizational goals and stakeholder requirements. The use of this approach ensures that VA moves the organization forward strategically consequently improving the care given to Veterans (Halasyamani, Kripalani, Coleman, Schnipper, Walraven, Nagamine, Torcson, Bookwalter, Budnitz, Manning, 2006). VA has a plan for achieving the set goals; a plan that needs all organizational efforts to be directed towards the stakeholder experiences, needs, and expectations while maintaining high standards of value and efficiency. The plan is to: i. Build an Improvement Culture. In order to provide quality care to Veterans and establish a system centered on patients, VA established that there need to be constant improvements and innovations. This is to improve safety, quality, and efficiency of VA services while at the same time cementing a working environment that is challenging but rewarding. This is to be achieved through creation of

Jeep Patriot Sports Car Advertisement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Jeep Patriot Sports Car Advertisement - Essay Example Adverts employ a tool of art called semiotics that involves the application of signs and symbols in conveying messages. This advert has different categories of the message to the buyer. These categories consist of both the words and images. There is a whole range of captions in the advert that portray a denoted message targeted at the buyer. In addition, Michael’s wife, surprises him, by declaring that she bought a jeep in a conversation. The captions and labels, it becomes clear to the buyer that she bought a jeep patriot sport car. The word ‘jeep’ in the advert represents a connoted meaning. The term communicates a deeper meaning to the buyer because it has a long history of use in the market. Just by its mention in the advert, it conveys a certain message. A jeep is a car that belongs to specific classes of people in the society because of its features. The unique feature is the quarter-ton that defines a jeep. In addition, there is a connoted message in the de claration of the wife that she bought the jeep. It confirms to the audience that she ‘could not hold back ‘. This adds sense to the persuasion at the end urging the audience not to ‘hold back’ from buying the jeep. In addition, the advert contains a symbolic message. The pictured movement of the jeep patriot car signifies its capability on the road and emphasizes on the value of the four-wheel drive system. In addition, the woman in the advert implies that the car is suitable for the feminine gender. She is a symbol for the suitability of the car to women. This is a crucial aspect of the advert because different cars suit male and female. There is an evident gender preference of some car models and any advert should highlight this fact. Moreover, the advert has literal message that the audience can conceive easily. A real couple indulging in a usual conversation gets the buyer’s attention. The two are getting ready to leave the house. The wife brings up the idea that she bought a jeep. This fact mesmerizes the husband, as it is evident from his facial reactions. The advert then features a real image of the ‘jeep patriot sport car’. From this real image, the features of the car become evident to the audience. The car looks compact but being a jeep, has an economic engine. The couple rides in the car portraying its suitability as a family car. The car has unique features for families that prefer to own a car with multiple capabilities. This jeep has sufficient room to accommodate both the heads and legs. This offers sufficient space for rear passengers. In addition, the car has a high capacity boot that provides a family sufficient space to carry luggage. The family setting highlighted in the advert persuades families to consider the jeep patriot as a favorable choice. Through a combination of the different messages, the advert provides the audience with details about the car. In addition, there is a denoted message t hat informs the audience of the price of the jeep. With a glance, potential buyers gain awareness of the product price. The advert utilizes different efficient aspects of visual art to communicate with the audience. The advert targets families and emphasizes on the suitability of the car to women as well. The concept of commodity fetishism comes out clearly in the advert.  

Newsletter Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Newsletter - Assignment Example nding and unique abilities, understanding their natural inquisitiveness, managing and monitoring their learning, and designing their instruction to address children’s learning are all skills that must be part of an effective professional development program†. It is acknowledged that the family is a crucial factor in enhancing learning skills through engaging in activities perceived as virtually enjoying and informative, at the same time. â€Å"For Grades 1 – 3: Money’s Worth: Coin clues. Ask your child to gather some change in his or her hand without showing what it is. Start with amounts of 25 cents or less (for first-graders, you can start with pennies and nickels). Ask your child to tell you how much money and how many coins there are. Guess which coins are being held. For example, "I have 17 cents and 5 coins. What coins do I have?" (3 nickels and 2 pennies). For Grades K-2: Newspaper numbers. Help your child look for numbers 1 to 100 in the newspaper. Cut the numbers out and glue them in numerical order onto a large piece of paper. For children who cannot count to 100 or recognize numbers that large, only collect up to the number they do know. Have your child say the numbers to you and practice counting up to that number. Grades 3 – 5: Shop around. Have your child search for advertisements in the newspaper for an item they have been wanting, such as a piece of clothing or tennis shoes, in order to find the lowest price for the item. After your child finds the best buy, have him or her compare the best buy to the rest of the advertised prices. Are this stores prices lower for everything or just items in demand? Value of Learning: This activity helps children see how much math is used in everyday life. It also helps in the variety of ways in which math is used to tell a story, read a timetable or schedule, plan a shopping list, or study the weather† (Helping Your Child Learn Math,

Sure Thing Insurance Essay Example for Free

Sure Thing Insurance Essay Name: Yashasvi ram v.s Case Study The root problem in this case is that the company here has the decentralized autonomy of the business units, but there is a lack of coordination between operating groups. To compensate this, Al was appointed as CIO to coordinate different I/T approaches of the business units and to advise the executive committee on the strategic aspect of I/T. But another problem here apart from the lack of coordination is that Al had line of responsibility for I/T in his previous job but in the current job he is given any authority over I/T and is accountable for any changes in there. Also, his advices on the strategic aspects were rarely sought and were never followed. He is struggling to take decisions regarding staffing, budget and he is wondering how other senior staff is able to manage. The first solution would do nothing/maintain the status quo, if nothing is done in this scenario, it would result in the downfall of the company because; there would be no proper coordination between I/T and if the advice given by Al on strategic aspects are effective but are not followed then that would result in huge loss to that unit. The minimum solution would be to follow some of the advices given by Al to the personal lines division that corporate policy demands a package to be used instead of writing premium system in COBOL. A CEO should consider this decision on the business grounds and find out the pros and cons of implementing some of these decisions and to later implement them. The ideal solution would be to give authority of I/T and the right amount of funding for Al to implement his ideas. As he already has a good experience previously in this field, his ideas of funding, strategic agendas should be followed with some consideration. Also, he should be given a chance to interact with other senior supervisors to know how they are managing the funds, their staff and so on. The long lasting solution would be, CEO considers the experience and also a skill set of their senior staff so that they can be assigned to the exact positions. This makes them work effectively and would contribute to the positive growth of the company. I would recommend the long lasting solution because, the main failure of the company here is not to identify their employees potential in the particular field and also implementing some of the functionalities (using COBOL) without any research on that. If these problems are rectified then coordination of all the business units can be  done effectively and this minimizes failure risk of Surething Insurance company. Things that can be done to prevent future failures: 1. Rapid expansion. 2. Under-reserving. 3. Unforeseen claims. 4. Under-Pricing. 5. Gross Incompetence. 6. Expansion into new areas.

Proposed Expansion Strategies Of Starbucks Into Indian Market Marketing Essay

Proposed Expansion Strategies Of Starbucks Into Indian Market Marketing Essay The following report is based on the proposal for Starbucks Corporation to make a direct foreign investment in India by penetrating its market with its product and services. Strategic recommendations for the future course of action is provided in order to achieve market competitive advantage. 1.0 INTRODUCTION Starbucks is the worlds leading speciality coffee retailer, producing and selling a wide variety of beverages, as well as pastries and confections, through some 8,400 coffee shops throughout 30 countries around the world. Starbucks has grown to become one of the most talked about globalized brands in recent times. In the four years since going public, the chain of coffee bars has become wildly successful by turning one of the worlds most pedestrian beverages into a premium product, wrapped in a carefully cultivated, widely recognized brand name that extends far beyond whats in the cup. It is a brand thats defined as much by attitude as it is by products. The Starbucks experience is about more than a daily espresso infusion; it is about immersion in a politically correct, cultured refuge from everyday hassles. Having established itself as a global force, many analysts are asking whether Starbucks can continue to go from strength to strength. Sustained success will require sharp focus on a set of key challenges, including innovation and experimentation. In order to achieve a competitive advantage, the company continues to rapidly expand its retail operations and pursue opportunities to leverage the Starbucks brand through the introduction of new products and the development of new distribution channels. SWOT analysis is given in Appendix A to highlight companys current strategic position. Companys proposed expansion into India is likely to bring a strategic challenge for the company. India is seen as having the greatest potential for multinational corporations. India is a highly diversified country. There is, nonetheless, a core culture based on a shared religion and political experience. India now has a growing middle class, an increase in disposable income that is considered rather opportunistic for companys expansion. To give a more in-depth insight into Indian market for Starbucks operations, macro-environmental framework is presented in Appendix B, including the analysis of political, economical, social and technological factors that will affect Starbucks proposed operations. 2.0 EXPANSION INTO INDIAN MARKET India is a mixed economy, where both public and private sector enterprises work together to achieve economic development for the country. India has many large and dynamic private sector companies which operate in all areas of economic activity trade, commerce and industry, without much interference from the government. India is a nation of more than 1.03 billion consumers (The Economist, 2001). It has an expanding middle class of 150-200 million consumers, most of whom are well educated and speak the English language. In the revised per capita income estimates, on the basis of the World Banks purchasing power parity (the exchange rate that equates a countrys goods and services with international prices), it is estimated that Indias per capita income is $1,150, with a GNP of a trillion dollars. As a result, India is ranked as the sixth largest economy in the world. India is the worlds largest democratic republic; although government bureaucracy does not have ultimate control over business decisions as in China, it has a lot of influence. Multinationals, such as Starbucks will be seen as vanguards of a new colonialism (Cateora and Graham, 1999), are continually thwarted through such measures as prohibitive tariffs (e.g. on computers and softwares), bans in importation (e.g. automobiles), quotas and other non-tariff measures (Schlender, 1997). In spite of the huge potential of the Indian market, there are various challenges Starbucks expansion will have to face, including six distinct issues concerning the economy, management, marketing, government, labour and finance. India is perceived to have a more favourable general business climate than, for instance in China. At current growth rates, corporate investment in Asia will not have a tremendous impact on the short- or medium-term growth and profitability of multinationals. For Starbucks in particular, it will be just another matter of gaining a broader global representation and greater market share. 2.1 Main Investment Advantages The Indian economy, already the fifth largest in the world after US, Japan, China, and Germany, is growing faster now than at any time in the past fifty years. On average, India boasts a GDP growth rate of more than 6 percent annually since 1991 (Panigrahi, Ede and Calcich, 2002). India is fast industrialising and with its vast labour force and talented people, the Indian government is striving to make the country an industrial giant within a decade. India, with the largest middle class in the world, also ranks second, after China, in terms of overall population (over 1 billion). For example, India has 1.03 billion people and about 170 people per car. The US, on the other hand, with a population of 275 million people, has three people per car. Forecasts indicate that by 2010, only 9 percent of the Indian population will be elderly, while the elderly, by comparison, will make up 19 percent of the US and 30 percent of the Japanese populations. Thus, consumers in India are comparatively young, having a potential to powerfully influence economic growth and consumption patterns. In India, the outlook is favorable for companies looking to build long-term value and improve manufacturing efficiencies. But Asian markets may not be the easy answer for companies attempting to boost their short-term growth. By investing in India, Starbucks should take a careful look at what really affects returns to public shareholders. Most investors and executives want a piece of the booming Asian market for the right reasons. With vigorous growth in the region, getting into India, and other countries should position companies well for the expected groundswell of shareholder value. Over the past five years, India, the largest democracy in the world, has put in place the foundations of a deregulated market-driven economy. It is hardly surprising then, that a growing number of US companies, motivated by favourable investment climate and the regions huge reserves for both human and natural resources, have begun to seriously consider investing there. 2.2 Financial Analysis of India Financial matters in India  [1]  are governed through more than 800 decrees and provisional regulations (Belcsà ¡k, 2005). The whole financial system, including banks, financial institutions, and stock markets, is yet to be organised. Simultaneously, in the financial sector, banks and financial markets remain plagued by lack of expertise, government mismanagement, corruption, and unclear legal status. Until recently, virtually all of Indias banks and financial institutions were state-owned, government controlled organisations. However, after the implementation of a liberalisation programme, and imposition of international financial standards, domestic state-owned banks and other financial institutions are less tightly controlled and more professionally managed. India is a functioning market economy with the majority of companies becoming consumer focused and market driven, getting increasingly urbanized, using technology to replace labour, deriving an Asian approach to management as distinct from the same followed by the West and are beginning to establish networks with other nations to face the rest of the world (Marshall, 2005). Many of these trends are applicable to India and it is no wonder that leading multinationals, including Starbucks, are making it a point to ensure that they have a strong presence in India. In todays context, the wealth of a nation is synonymous with the wealth of its organizations and to ensure that large domestic firms play their due role in the countrys development, the government of a developing country must provide the required support. The Government of India seems now to have understood this important requirement and recently proposed that it would delegate required managerial autonomy to various leading public sector units of the country. A number of recent policy changes have promoted foreign direct investment (FDI). The government has reduced exchange control regulations for companies with significant foreign participation. The 10 percent tax rate on long-term (12 months or more) and the 30 percent tax rate on short-term (less than 12 months) capital gains are the same for both Indian and foreign firms and investors. Dividends and interest income are taxed at a rate of 20 percent (Country Review, 2005). Article (2005) states that the key at tribute of multinational company, such as Starbucks is not that it engages in foreign production, but that it finances at least part of the production in its home currency. It is suggested that the stronger currency enables companies in the companys area of advantage in investing over weaker currencies, because of investors preference for securities denominated in the stronger currency and hence, a cheaper cost of capital. A strong home currency discourages and weaker currency en courages FDI in the nation. 2.3 Coffee Market in India India accounts for approximately 4.5 percent of world coffee production and has coffee importing countries, including Italy, Germany, Russian federation, Spain, Belgium, Slovenia, US, Japan, Greece, Netherlands and France (Mulligan and Authers, 2003). The coffee market itself in India is rather fragmented with no evidence of market leaders. Meanwhile with increasing competition amongst different multi-national brands, companies are coming up with added facilities. Coffee shops tend to focus on quality service, providing a cool and soothing ambience. Currently, Indian industry is expecting marginal improvement in price realisation in the global market. The quality and aroma of Arabica variety of Indian coffee is much diverse than in other global coffee markets. The Indian Coffee Board is quite sensitive to the plight of the countrys coffee industry and has been consistently following possible corrective measures to make the domestic industry feel least impact of adverse international market condition. Majority of coffee shops in India large cities are privately owned and there are only few bi players, such as Tata Coffee, Hindustan Lever, Nestle India, Barista Coffee. 3.0 PROPOSED EXPANSION STRATEGIES OF STARBUCKS INTO INDIAN MARKET 3.1 Cultural Context According to Hofstede, national culture plays an important role in individuals behavior and attitudes. It is recognized that individuals behavior in culture groups are strongly influenced by the values held in that society. Some of these values influence consumption patterns. Swaidan and Hayes (2005) pointed out that Indian culture, like many other Asian cultures, exhibits high collectivism and uncertainty avoidance. Similarly, Todeva (1999) found that Asian consumers are less prepared to take the social risk to try new products. On the other hand, the discomfort of being left behind presses them to follow suit if they believe others have tried the product. The innovation curve among Asians is, therefore, steeper and negatively skewed. In India, Venezia (2005) observes, you will find a society that has, like Europes, the diversities of a continent and the unities of a civilization. Such is the measure of the magnitude of the nature of diversity in Indian society whose features Indian industry had inherited. Societal diversity is not an unmixed blessing for corporations and their management. It is argued that in India, generally speaking, the weaknesses of societal diversity such as caste, for instance, are superimposed on its business and industrial organizations and exacerbated. Collectivism that is highly evident in India, is characterized by a tight social framework, in which people distinguish between in-groups and out-groups. According to anthropologists Kluckhohn and Kroeber, the essential core of culture consists of traditional ideas and their attached values. These values influence how people judge behaviour or situations and shared values direct people of the same culture to react in a similar way to a certain situation (Venezia, 2005). A major study by Hofstede defined business culture as learned assumptions and beliefs, attitudes and values shared by members of a group. India can be considered with a high score, along this dimension reveal a cultures orientation toward the present and past. Having a high Confucian dynamism culture India values the relative importance of personal steadiness and stability, saving face, respect for tradition, and reciprocation of greetings, favours, and gifts. Understanding of the cultural norms is a reliable basis for understanding behavioural responses and outcomes in the international buyer-seller dissolution process. For example, cultural norms operating in diverse culture in India compared with Australia is likely to have a significant influence on the styles of management and communication strategies that are appropriate for managing long-term and cooperative relationships. In particular, India is likely to have a cultural environment that is considerably complex to manage. Globalization has blurred the line between industrialized countries and developing nations by integrating politics and culture into management improvement. Typically, in business relationships in Asia between Asian and Western companies, where both cultures use and understand that management styles should be designed to be high in collaboration and low in assertiveness, we posit that both parties use a cooperative style. Starbucks needs to understand the national culture within which the company plans to operate, and the extent to which it adjust its communications accordingly. It is possible that Starbucks may have an inappropriate evaluation of the host culture of the overseas company in accordance with which it designs its communications. The trend in Indian public administration continues with a rationalist scientific approach that reflects the values of a nation. Hofstede analyzed as having small power distance, weak uncertainty avoidance, strong individuality, and masculine being exported around the world through globalization (Freeman and Browne, 2004). This is possibly due to the political instability. Higher stress, at the national level, is correlated with weak rule orientation and lower employment stability. It is possible India has found its natural balance in relation to its native culture and values. 3.2 Strategic Alliances  [2]   By entering a new market, Starbucks is likely to spur domestic competition and introduce a more dynamic style and new coffee experience.The company will also generate more labour and promote Western attitudes towards service and its provision. Main barriers to entry, in accordance to Porters competitive forces framework, will include the new power of suppliers and competitors already established supplier relationships and the knowledge of the market. One popular way to become involved in business is through franchising. While franchises are also a popular way of entering some international markets, strategic alliances are increasingly utilized. In fact, strategic alliances are often required by some countries, rather than other modes of entry, as they involve local firms directly in the business. Davis (2000) and Welles (2001) suggest that historically Starbucks does not like franchises, which is why the group in order to successfully enter Indian market, might consider this expansion through joint ventures and other partnerships. However, the company should keep in mind that Asian companies have not been particularly kind to minority and public shareholders. Numerous publicly listed companies have seen their share price d rop amid accusations that the controlling shareholders manipulated the relationship between listed and privately held subsidiaries. Poor governance contributes to market inefficiencies, which in turn lead to volatile markets that have to make larger corrections periodically in order to adjust for gaps in information and in perception. 3.3 Marketing Mix For a successful penetration into the market, Starbucks will have to establish a defined marketing mix, including: Product: Coffee shops may have their unique characteristics, but it also possible to see many parallels between the sector and other retailing and catering sectors. Over the years, Starbucks has grown to become one of the largest purchasers of high-quality arabica coffees. With a growing proportion of young people in India, the company might put also have in-store entertainment facilities and Internet. Place/distribution: Starbucks need to place its shops into central locations, as the rural part of the country still lives in poverty. Customer convenience and service delivery will have to be understood. Pricing: As Asia emerges from economic downturn, a growing middle class is willing to spend money. However, Indian population is predominantly characterized by an attitude to save money. The company will have to benchmark its products and prices in accordance to competitors, and also considering the market trends and the consumer incomes. Promotion: Starbucks uses various promotional strategies, including catalogs, the Internet, advertisements in local media but mostly, it uses word-of-mouth. The very location of its stores is a strong marketing tactic. To appreciate what is at stake, understand the psychology behind the brand. Advertising has never created Starbucks image. It was built on two things: the quality of its product-it really is a better cup of coffee-and the store experience. The retail experience also extends to sparkling service and an unspoken invitation to linger over a cup of coffee in the store. (Donation, 2003) The middle class populations in India will be targeted by Starbucks as potential markets for consumer durable goods. The company might use community events and sponsorships as the most effective marketing tools. Incorporating knowledge of consumer attitudes about the beverage and food industry Starbucks is entering should help in designing strategies to reach target markets. Indian consumers tend to be opinion leaders; less loyal to the same food product; and more responsive to product promotions and advertisement. Food prices are of a great importance to all Indian consumers. The company will have to use its ability to market itself as an ideal as much as a product-a caffeine-infused oasis for the hip and trendy. 3.4 Strategic Choices There is no best corporate strategy. The main focus of the business-level strategy should be based on how to compete effectively in the market. It is the core issue of how value is realised in a business, after all, value is realised only when a buyer is prepared to pay for the product. The extent to which they are prepared to pay a price which provides profits superior to those of competitors will therefore determine the extent to which that business is highly regarded by its owners and investors. Bases if strategic choice need to take account of the environment in which Starbucks operates. It is important, therefore, to recognise the role of organisational resources, capabilities and core competence in terms of the bases on which competitive strategy and advantage may be built. Porters generic strategic framework enables Starbucks to apply one of three main strategic options in order to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage, that include cost leadership, differentiation, and focus. Sustaining bases of competitive advantage is likely to require a linked set of organisational competences which competitors find difficult to imitate. Strategies of collaboration may also offer alternatives to competitive strategies. In a new uncertain environment, Starbuckss competences need to be found in companys culture and structure, which will encourage speed, innovation and the capacity to gain business success. The choice of a right entry route is critical to the future success of Starbucks. In accordance to Johnson and Scholes (2002), a unified framework linking country risk, country familiarity, the stage of the countrys development, technology and transaction cost has to be provided that a particular entry decision cannot be viewed in isolation and that such decisions are considered in relation to the overall strategic posture of the firm. The marketplace and workforce in India are becoming more diverse every day. In fact, workplace diversity is considered a major challenge and opportunity for human resource management. It makes integration both difficult and easy depending on how diversity is viewed and used. The sources of diversity and its uses make a difference to what it means and how it impinges on organizational purpose and human behaviour at the workplace and beyond. Workplace diversity in India may have been partly inherited from centuries of customs and practices, partly imposed from colonial heritage and largely acquired through corporate omissions and commissions. They have implications for global competitiveness and for managing human resources/ industrial relations (HR/IR). Clearly analysing cultural norms and attitudes towards management will be beneficial for Starbucks in the long-term. 4.0 CONCLUSION Starbucks has become a great successful company in the coffee bean and beverage business. A large part of this success is due to its effective strategy. To further grow, Starbucks will need to expand further in other areas of the United States as well as internationally. Due to India being one of the largest coffee drinking nation in the world, Starbucks expansion into India market will be an effective expansion strategy. Although, the expansion is occurring at such a rapid rate that investors worrying issue is of oversaturation. Therefore, Starbucks will have to look into other avenues for maintaining profits and further success. Considering partnerships and venture might be an effective strategy for Starbucks that can reduce the potential threat of the new market. New market penetration is a challenging and uncertain area of business. Hence, for Starbuckss effective market entry, a great emphasis should be given to market analysis. The culture and corporate strategy must also be maintained for success. This will ensure the health of the organization throughout the proposed expansion. APPENDIX A SWOT ANALYSIS: STARBUCKS 1. Strengths Financial resources: The company is the worlds number one specialty coffee retailer, and as such is has a greater financial reach than practically all of its competitors. Huge financial resources enable the company to take advantage of market opportunities, investments and expansion activities that are not available to smaller firms with a reduced capital. Starbucks has considerable financial strength. For instance, in fiscal 2003, Starbucks generated revenues of $4.1billion, a 24% increase on the previous year. (Company Report, 2004) Global presence: Starbucks is a truly global brand. The company has roughly 7,570 retail store locations around the world (as of September 2004), the majority of which are company owned and operated. The company has cast its net across 30 countries in a bid to establish a pioneering image, and although such a strategy has generated limited early returns form its international business, the company has succeeded in developing a truly global brand. A disciplined innovator: Starbucks is a disciplined innovator, and good management of its innovation time line is one of the primary reasons behind the companys success in generating consistent high level of same store sales. Starbucks currently has a number of new ideas being tried and tested in its stores. In 2002 the company introduced new Frappuccino Blended Beverages, and in 2003, the Iced Shaken refreshments product line was launched. Starbucks ability to roll out new initiatives and produces relatively quickly is a considerable competitive strength for the company. That is can rapidly fill gaps in its calendar is a by-product of Starbucks company-owned retail structure, vertical integration of many products and relatively simple store operations. Customers are also increasingly drawn to the companys music compilations, produced for the company by Hear Music. Consistent strength of core product: In the last eight years, Starbucks has consistently derived increasing proportions of its annual revenue from its beverages business unit. It is good for Starbucks to focus on the beverage market, as this core product division dictates the direction of other units, such as merchandise and food. A continued growth in the beverages unit represents overall company growth for Starbucks, as it shows the consistent strength of the core product. 2. Weaknesses Reliance on US market: Given the company is an international brand with wide ranging operations, it should be looking to generate a greater proportion of revenues from outside the US. Such is Starbucks reliance on this market, the company entire performance will be materially affected should the companys US unit under-perform, as a result of economic conditions or increased levels of competition. Rapid build-out hangover: Starbucks based its international strategy on the basis that maximum benefit can be derived from entering markets early to capture a first mover advantage. In accordance with this, the company rapidly cast its net, establishing operations in around 30 countries since 1995, and in doing so, incurring sizeable overhead charges. Also, in the companys haste to increase its scale, some rash decisions were made and some of these mistakes have delayed progress to profitability. Reliance on beverage innovation: An important long-term risk to the companys stock is a lower valuation caused by a slowdown in US sale store growth. Starbucks store sales growth has been largely driven by beverage innovation, but there are questions over how long this can last. Diminishing return from beverage innovation, one of the companys competitive strengths, would have a significant adverse effect on the companys performance. Performance of International operations unit: Starbucks International operations division has faced problems of expansion, with a number of openings failing to be successful. In 2003 Starbucks Coffee International ended its joint venture with the Delek Group of Israel. Following this decision, Shalom Coffee Company, the joint venture between Starbucks Coffee International and the Delek Group, closed its six Starbucks stores in Tel Aviv. 3. Opportunities International operations: By the end of fiscal 2004, Starbucks international business should finally achieve profitability. About 23% of the companys stores are located outside North America. Key markets include the UK and Japan, which should provide useful indicators for the respective performances of Starbucks other operations in Europe and Asia. Growth market: The specialty coffee sector accounts for roughly 15% of the US retail coffee market, which is already worth $21 billion. By 2005, the retail coffee market is expected to be worth $22 billion, and the specialty coffee sector will grow to account for 41% of this market. Starbucks has a market share of over 40% of the specialty coffee market, and the anticipated growth in this category will offer the company considerable opportunities for further growth and expansion in the near future. Starbucks Visa Card: The Starbucks Visa Card is likely to bolster revenues in 2005. During 2004, the companys retail sales mix by product type was comprised of approximately 78% beverages, 12% food items, 5% whole bean coffees and 5% coffee-making equipment and accessories. (Company Report, 2004) By diversifying its revenue streams Starbucks should be able to both increase the stability of its financial position by reducing its reliance on certain product lines, and also grow its revenues. Clustering of company units: With the continued growth of the coffee market, the company has looked to expand its business, including those areas where it has an established presence. Working on the basis that a key driver of business is the convenience of the companys outlet location, Starbucks has looked to cluster its units so as to dominate particular areas. The financial reward derived from this practice has been found to be considerable, as new outlets have not been found to eat into the business of existing outlets. A continued strategy of unit clustering, and a focus on stores that have convenient access for pedestrians and drivers, represents further opportunity for Starbucks to capture an increasing share of the coffee market. 4. Threats Supply risk: Starbucks is dependent on trading companies and exporters for its supply of green coffee. The company is looking at securing long term supply contracts, and in some cases has had to pay inflated prices in order to obtain such contracts. Starbucks responded to world coffee prices reaching 30-year lows during 2001 by offering suppliers more money to guarantee supply, and as such the risk of non-delivery on such purchase commitments is low. However, the nature of the business dictates that the companys dependency on suppliers does put it at risk. Slowing US retail sales: Long-term concerns regarding US store growth potential still remain. If current growth continues, saturation levels within the North American retail division will be reached inside five years. This represents a considerable concern for Starbucks, given that over the last two years, domestic retail has been the source of about 75% of the companys revenue growth and an even greater proportion of profit growth. Before they reach saturation point, US retail sales growth will slow considerably over the next three to five years, further increasing the pressure on the international division to justify the companys investment in expansion. Competition: The global coffee market is a very competitive sector, and Starbucks must compete against the likes of restaurants, coffee shops, and street carts. A major competitor, with substantially greater financial, marketing and operating resources than Starbucks, could enter this market at any time and compete directly against the company. Starbucks must be aware of competition on all levels and maintain its operational performance if it is to retain its status as the worlds leading specialty coffee retailer. Volatility of market: Starbucks is at risk to the volatility of the supply and price of coffee. The companys search for superior standard coffee means it can be adversely affected by multiple factors in the producing countries, including weather, political and economic conditions. In addition, green coffee prices have been affected in the past, and may be affected in the future, by the actions of organizations and associations that have in the Starbucks Corporation past attempted to influence prices of green coffee through agreements establishing export quotas or restricting global coffee supplies. The actions of these associations could cause a degree of costly disruption to Starbuc