Influence Of Social Influence On Society - 1461 Words

Everywhere you go there is someone or something that is trying to influence you. Some way or another we have influenced somebody of our words and behavior. In society, it is very hard to escape the power of influence because it doesn t take much to become engaged in what someone is trying to portray. Social influence is the action, reactions and thoughts by other people or groups in which causes you to change your behavior (Aronson, Wilson, Akert, 2013). This can be caused by peer pressure, the need for acceptance, or wanting to fit in. This makes situations that are not the norm feel as if it is the norm. This is called a social norm which is generally an accepted way of thinking, acting, and acceptance by members of asocial group since it is considered the right thing (Aronson, Wilson, Akert, 2013). A norm is the way we judge people on what is the correct way to behave. Therefore norms are a part of influence on people in terms of how to perceive and behave inside social realit y. Being that I am a college student I have faced normative social influence. This is being influenced by other people that can lead us to conform in order to be liked and accepted by them (Aronson, Wilson, Akert, 2013). I believe a person may conform if it is known that everyone has made the decision that this particular situation is socially accepted. Even though we believe that conformity is bad, there are different kinds of conformity that is natural and can be beneficial depending onShow MoreRelatedSocial Influences And Its Impact On Society1874 Words   |  8 PagesSocial influences play a significant role in the way in which we respond to situations and how societies as a whole conform to the political rules and regulations. Social influences and pressures also mean that society has to conform to authority figures and follow their orders. Examples of this is taking orders from your boss at work or taking instructions off police constables. This social ranking is not only pres ent in today s society but also can be seen historically. One of the most significantRead MoreSocial Media And Its Influence On Society1988 Words   |  8 PagesIt is perhaps easier to count the amount of persons who do not have an account on a social media platform. The dawn of social media has carved out a way in which all generations can keep in touch with the world. According to Facebook’s newsroom, Facebook has over 1 billion daily active users. On Instagram, an average of 80 million photos are uploaded daily and approximately 3.5 billion likes. No wonder social media and its networks have opened up numerous avenues for young budding entrepreneurs toRead MoreSocial Cognition And Interaction Influence On Society1348 Words   |  6 PagesSocial Cognition and Interaction While analyzing the impact of the interaction of self and the society we see that the self generally influences the society. This is done by actions of individuals which lead to the creation of groups, networks and organizations of people. On the other hand society also affects and molds an individual with its shared values and collective norms which helps in giving an individual its identity and a role in the society. An example of this type of interaction wouldRead MoreSocial Media s Influence On Society1710 Words   |  7 Pagesnew social issue began to surface. As the internet rapidly gained international popularity, new branches of it were created. Currently, Social media dominates the internet world. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines social media as,  ¨forms of electronic communication (as Web sites for social networking and microblogging) through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content (as videos)† (www. merriam-webster.com). The sudden rise of social media’sRead MoreSocial Media s Influence On Society920 Words   |  4 PagesPersonally, I have always been a little late to the social media game. By the time I get the most popular form of social media, a newer, better version has been released. The first form of social media that I ever encountered was a website in 2006 called Club Penguin, where people could create penguins to represent themselves and go chat with any other penguin online at the time. While this isn’t what we think of as a social media website today, it had some similar aspects, especially in terms ofRead MoreSocial Networking: Influence on Society and Redefining Social Relationships.1282 Words   |  6 PagesSocial Networking: Influence on Society and Redefining Social Relationships. Social networking websites such as Face book, Twitter, MySpace, LinkedIn and You Tube are reaching 1.2 Billion users, globally, (ComScore, 2012). Their unprecedented popularity has the opportunity to influence lives in numerous ways. Current research is revealing socialising online is not only popular among young people but across older generations as well, (Hampton, Goulet, Rainie, Purcell, 2010) (ComScore, 2012). SeveralRead MoreSocial Media and Society Negatively Influence Gender Roles1376 Words   |  5 Pages Social media and society negatively influence gender roles and perpetuates stereotypical gender behavior. These influences can be found in sports, school, the arts, and the workplace. No matter what stage of life a person is in they will continue to be bombarded by the harshness of stereotypes. However, between the ages of 9 and 15 people are at their most vulnerable state because they are evaluating the people around them and are able to see how media perceives gender rol es. Although, men are affectedRead MoreThe Influence of Social Networking in Today’s Society Amongst Generations.1471 Words   |  6 PagesIt is no understatement that social networking has enormously influenced and changed today’s society. Relationships, both social and in the workplace have been re-defined and shaped so much so, that individuals can even share their everyday life with whomever they please with the simple click of a button. If social networking if performed correctly, is greatly productive in helping an individual and/or business grow and become successful. It is about a configuration of individuals, brought togetherRead MoreHow Social Factors Influence Individuals Living Within A Society?1349 Words   |  6 Pagesexamine? Sociology is the study of how social forces influence individuals living within a society. Any society is made of norms, values and beliefs that have the effect of constraining individuals’ thoughts and behaviors. Through understanding and sociological imagination, individuals can remove or at least lessen the social forces’ impacts that are causing the constraints. The focus and objective of sociology is to examine social patterns. Examining social patterns reveal the sources of pressuresRead MoreThe Classical Sociologists s Influence On Society And Social Processes2427 Words   |  10 Pagesarguments on how individuals and society relate to each other. Durkheim and Marx discuss the role individual action plays in explaining society and social processes at large. They also discuss impact does society in turn have on the constitution of human beings as individuals. They debate how social context affects the kind of prospects of self-realization individuals can acquire. Durkheim discusses sociology and how individuals are a product of society. He believed that society exerted a powerful force

Oracle Free Essays

How is the IKEA operations design different from that of most furniture retail operations? IKEA is known as one of the world’s largest furniture retailer that focuses highly on cost control, operational process and product development. IKEA differentiates itself from most furniture retailers by offering a wide range of well designed array of home furniture at very attractive prices that remain affordable to a large group of diverse customers. There are some unique features of IKEA as compared to most furniture retail stores (IKEA, 2012) Self – Service’ (minimal service or influence from sales person) Details of all products are made ubiquitous in the showroom thus making sales assistance unnecessary which this in return helps to reduce the hiring cost of labor. We will write a custom essay sample on Oracle or any similar topic only for you Order Now Layout of Products (product exposure) Ikea stores are designed in a one-way ‘walk-through layout’ that requires customers to be exposed to the entire products which is unlike from most furniture retail stores where by customers may choose to go directly to the section they preferred. Hence, the flow allows increased efficiency from entering the showroom, selecting of products to lastly making payments. Furniture Most of Ikea products are self – assembled products, this helps to reduce the costs of shipping as higher volume of bulk packaging can be done. Unlike most furniture retail stores where free delivery and assembly is given, additional charges apply if fixing of product is required by the customers. Lastly, four dimensions of operations (Volume, Variety, Variation and Visibility) will be used to determine the differences between IKEA operations to that of most furniture retail stores. High Volume – IKEA’s operations are of very large scale, major land space and huge car parks are developed to cater to all customers, everything about the design of IKEA’s operations encourages high volume of throughput as compared to most furniture retail stores (IKEA, 2012). High Variety of product but Low Variety of service – The variety of products showcase in IKEA is much more than most furniture retail stores, from small items such as kitchen appliances to large items such as tables. However, as far as the variety of service is concerned it is relatively narrow. Most products are self – assembled and there is no sales person to provide any service to the customers, leaving themselves to figure out and make their own decision for the purchase. High Variation on demand – Public holidays and weekends usually attracts more crowded as compared to normal week days, hence result in high variation. However, there will not be any difficulty of getting part-time staff into IKEA during the peak period as the operations in IKEA are well designed. Unlike most retail store which require staff with specific expertise that requires time to hire. Low Visibility – Customer contact is high in certain extend, but overall it is lower than most furniture retail stores considering most of the things are done (‘self-service’) solely by the customers from the start till it reaches the point of payment where it is also a standardized process by IKEA. This ultimately reduces the costs of the transaction as far as IKEA is concerned. What do you think might be the major problems in running an operation like IKEA? Having such huge variety and high volume of product being transacted, it may be tough for them to manage the inventory for all items. Shipping of high volume bulk items may take time and IKEA may face stock-out period, hence their operations planning has to be done and calculated accurately. As all sales are done on ‘self-serviced’ manner, it may not create a great shopping experience as compared to most retail stores where sales person are able to cater a more specific and unique first-hand experience to all customers to create loyalty. Lastly, IKEA being the largest furniture retailer require a lot of natural material such as wood, which may harm the global environment (IKEA, 2012). Reference IKEA (2012) Our Vision and Business Idea. Available at: http://www. ikea. com/ms/en_SG/about_ikea/the_ikea_way/our_business_idea/index. html (Accessed 29 January 2013) How to cite Oracle, Essay examples

Law for Donoghue v Stevenson 1932 AC 562- MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Law for Donoghue v Stevenson 1932 AC 562. Answer: Tort is considered as civil wrong under which innocent party has right to claim damages. Tort is derived from an old French word which literally meaning as wrong. In Australia, law is derived from English common law and tort is also deriving from the history of English common law. Tort is defined as situation when any person caused any harm to another person, and injured party sues the person for damages (ALRC, 2017). Tort of negligence- generally, tort of negligence is defined as legal action which can be taken by one person against another person who owned duty of care to precedent person. Liabilities of person under tort of negligence arise when person owns duty of care towards another person and breach of such duty cause damage to another person. Tort of negligence included three important factors and it is necessary for plaintiff to satisfy all these factors for being successful under claim: Duty of care owned by defendant towards plaintiff at the time of the act of negligence. Defendant must breach such duty of care by not meeting the expected standard of care. Damage caused to plaintiff from such breach. In general way negligence is recognized as act of carelessness but it must be noted that not every careless act result in liability. Only those act result in liability which satisfy all three elements (Law Vision, 2017). During the period of 18tth and 19th century, duty of care is recognized by common law in number of relationships which are limited in nature. Some example of limited relationships is innkeeper and guest, doctor and patient, and driver and road user. It is necessary for existence of duty of care that some form of relationship exists between the plaintiff and defendant. For the purpose of making successful claim it is necessary that any one of these categories must be established. These categories are extended as per the development of society, especially after the industrial revolution in 1800s. It must be noted that if plaintiff fails to establish any category then there is no remedy in law for him. After the period of 1932, law of tort expands through the case law Donoghue v Stevenson 1932 AC 562. In this case Mrs. Donoghue went to Wellmeadow Caf in Paisley, Scotland with her friend and purchased bottle of ginger beer from the caf. She was not able to check the contents of the bottle because she purchased sealed and opaque bottle. After consuming one glass of ginger-beer she found decomposed snail in the bottle when she poured another glass of beer. Because of the snail in ginger bottle Mrs. Donoghue claimed that she suffered from gastroenteritis and nervous shock. She file claim against the manufacturer of the ginger-beer Mr. Stevenson for negligence. In this case relationship exists between the parties to the case that is manufacturer of the ginger beer sold beer to the shopkeeper of the Wellmeadow Caf. This is considered as contract and remedies are available for any breach related to the terms of the contract. Shopkeeper of caf sold that bottle of ginger beer to Mrs. Donoghue, and in this no contract is exists, so there are no remedies available under the law of contract. This case was entertained by House of Lords in London. Main issue in this case is whether Mrs. Donoghue has power to bring an action for negligence against the manufacturer. House of Lords stated in this case that manufacturer of the product while preparing the product owns duty of care towards the ultimate consumer. Lord Atkin in this case stated the general principle related to the liability of tort of negligence. He stated in this case that persons who are so closely and directly affected by my act that I ought reasonably to have them in contemplation as being so affected when I am directing my mind to the acts or omissions which are called into question. This statement made by Lord Atkins includes two tests that is foreseeability test and the proximity test. As per these tests foreseeability test means any act or omission which are reasonable foresee that they causes injury or damage and proximity test state that it is necessary that there must be some level of closeness arises from the relationship of defendant and plaintiff, either physical relationship or some other relationship. After concluding this case, Court clearly established the concept of tort of negligence. It must be noted that this concept is not only applicable on some fixed rules but it is applicable on all sort of circumstances conditions and problems. Law of negligence must fit in the facts of the case which are coming before the Court for decision. In case law Donoghue v Stevenson, manufacturer manufactured the drink with the intention to reach that drink to consumer unopened and being without inspected, it is necessary that he must foresee the injury in case he fails to ensure that harmful objects must not find their way in bottles. Therefore, Court stated that manufacturer owned duty of care towards the plaintiff. Parliament of Australia made some changes in law of negligence through Civil Liability Acts such as in case of personal injury act replaced the reasonable person test with a three step test, but this Act still use the word reasonable and foreseeability which are developed by lord Atkin (Legal service commission, 2017; Uni study guides, 2017). Now, Court considers following points to determine whether negligence occurred or not: Whether defendant owned the duty of care towards the plaintiff or not? Whether such duty of care is breached by defendant towards the plaintiff? Whether plaintiff suffers injury or damage or not? Whether plaintiff suffers injury or damage from such breach of duty? It must be noted that for successful claim plaintiff must satisfy all these points and even if one point is not satisfied then plaintiff cannot establish the liability of defendant (Blay, n.d.) Duty of care- duty of care is considered as legal obligation for the purpose of avoiding causing harm in case risk was foreseeable if care was not taken by person. Sometime proximity test is applied for establishing the duty of care, in other words relationship of closeness must exist between the parties of care for establishing duty of care. This can be understood through example such as relationship exists between doctor and patient and relationship exists between driver and road user. Breach of duty of care- For the purpose of establishing breach of duty of care, Court will consider the standard of care expected in such circumstances. Standard of care is determined by Court by considering the actions of reasonable person in similar circumstances. In case defendant does not acted as per those standards or fails to match the standard of care then it will be considered as breach of duty. There are some common examples of breach of duty which can be seen in everyday activities such as driving. It is expected from al road users that they must conduct their actions as per the actions of reasonable person. Some examples of failure to meet the standard of care are stated below (The law handbook, 2017): In case driver fails to look at front and as a result runs into the car in front of them. In case driver fails to obey the traffic lights and hit the pedestrian in front of the car. Determining the cause of injury from breach of duty- there are some cases in which it is easy to determine cause of injury because in these cases cause of injury is only one, but there are few cases in which it is difficult to determine the cause of injury because in these cases there is more than one cause of action. For example- in case person fell from terrace and breaks his arm, then there is clear connection between the fall and injury suffered by person. In case person fall from bicycle and breaks his arm, and on same day morning he slips on wet floor and injured the same arm then there is issue between the determination of cause of action. Contributory Negligence- in case injured person themselves contributed in the cause of injury or damage then it is considered the case of contributory negligence. Contributory negligence occurred when plaintiff fails to take reasonable care for ensuring his own safety or loss which must be foreseeable. In this case, amount awarded as damages will be reduced up to the extent which person contributed in the loss or damage. Some examples of contributory negligence are stated below: Slip or fall occurred because injured person fails to take reasonable care for ensuring his own safety or loss which must be foreseeable. Person engages in activity which involves high level of risk such as person driving into water from pier. Passenger fails to wear the seat belt (Basten, n.d.; Marks, n.d.). In the present case, Keith is working as home handyman, and he advertises in the local Buderim Bugle that he is a qualified carpenter, but in actual he does not have any trade qualifications. Ruth worked as a teacher at local school, and owns a home. Ruth contacted to Keith for the purpose of replacing the rotting timber tread on her back stairs. He replaces the tread but for replace he uses a piece of left over untreated chipboard instead of hardwood. After some weeks and after some heavy rainfall at nights the replaced tread swells and collapses overnight. Each morning Ruth walks down the backstairs for the purpose of feeding her caged birds. After the following morning of that collapse tread Ruth walks down from backstairs with large number of feeding dishes and cleaning equipments. Things carry by Ruth obstructs her vision and she is not able to see the missing tread, as result she fell down from missing tread and dislocating her knee. On next morning in hospital, Ruth called the Keith, and Keith apologized from Ruth for injury caused to Keith. Ruth recovered after the period of two months and not able to return to her paid employment. Because of all these she resigned from her employment and decided to stay at home. In this case there is close relationship between the Keith and Ruth as the relationship of buyer and seller, and because of this Keith owns duty of care towards the Ruth. Keith breaches this duty because she use piece of clipboard instead of hardwood for the purpose of replacing the tread. In this case collapse of tread from burden is risk which is foreseeable in nature. Therefore, Keith breaches his duty towards the Ruth. From such breach Ruth suffers injury. In this case all four questions for determining the tort of negligence are satisfied such as: Keith owns duty of care towards the plaintiff. Keith breaches such duty of care he owns towards the Ruth. Ruth suffers injury by dislocating her knee. Such injury was caused from fell down from missing tread. In this case, defense of contributory negligence cannot be used by Keith because it is the daily routine of Ruth to walk down from such stairs and she is in believe that Keith uses hardwood to replace the tread. In the present case, all three elements of tort of negligence are satisfied that is Keith owns duty of care towards Ruth, Keith breach such duty, and breach of duty cause injury to Ruth. Therefore, Ruth can take legal action against Keith under tort of negligence and seek damages from Keith for injury caused to Ruth. References: Law Visison. (2017). The Law of Torts. Available at: https://www.lawvision.com.au/uploads/PDFs/Tort%20Law%20.pdf. Accessed on 29th May 2017. Legal Service commission. (2017). Negligence. Available at: https://www.lawhandbook.sa.gov.au/ch01s05.php. Accessed on 29th May 2017. ALRC. (2017). Authorising what would otherwise be a Tort. Available at: https://www.alrc.gov.au/publications/right-sue-tort. Accessed on 29th May 2017. Uni study guides. (2017) The rise of the tort of negligence. Available at: https://www.unistudyguides.com/wiki/The_rise_of_the_tort_of_negligence. Accessed on 29th May 2017. Blay, S. The nature of tort liability. Available at: https://www.findlaw.com.au/articles/149/the-nature-of-tort-liability.aspx. Accessed on 29th May 2017. The Law handbook 2017. Duty of care. Available at: https://www.lawhandbook.org.au/04_08_02_duty_of_care/. Accessed on 29th May 2017. Basten, J. Personal Injury Contributory Negligence. Available at: https://www.supremecourt.justice.nsw.gov.au/Documents/Publications/Speeches/2017%20Speeches/Basten_20170311.pdf. Accessed on 29th May 2017. Marks, W. d. Professional Negligence: Contribution and Contributory Negligence. The University of Queensland Law Journal, Vol. 15(2), Pp- 209-227. Donoghue v Stevenson 1932 AC 562.

Nirma vs Hul free essay sample

Rural inhabitants arent a different species, but consumers as quirky and demanding of marketers as any of their urban cousins. And just as eager to consume maybe even more so, given their access to messages of consumption via TV, but lacking the easy access that makes urban consumer’s blase. For marketers the potential is huge a country waiting eagerly for their products, providing they can make the effort to export inwards, and learn to play the games by rural rules. And if they dont, the chances are that they will be left behind. Even with the minimal effort put in by companies so far, rural India now accounts for majority, or near majority, consumption in many categories. Rural India is clearly not such an area of darkness anymore, and as a further incentive to keep the lights on, remember that farmers get electricity free! One of the most popular and widely accepted Marketing Myth is that the rural consumers will only buy really cheap mass market brands. We will write a custom essay sample on Nirma vs Hul or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page But the stark reality is that though brands like Nirma lead, but penetration of premium products has also been observed even to the lowest SEC. The percentages may be very small, but given the large universe, the actual figures may be significant Thus when we are aware of the fact that brands like Nirma rule the rural market, it would be interesting to study and analyse their basic marketing inputs the 4P†s 1 NIRMA About the Company Nirma is the Rs. 17 billion Detergents, Soaps and Personal Care Products Brand, a market leader in the Indian detergent market and second largest in bathing soaps the brand NIRMA being one of the worlds biggest in its segment result of its mission to provide Better Products, Better Value, Better Living. The man who altered the clothes-washing habits of the Karsanbhai Patel the chairman of the Ahmedabad-based Nirma Ltd. This chemist who manufactured detergents at home in Ahmedabad in 1969 has certainly come a long way. He worked from his backyard which developed into a soap factory, cycled to retail outlets and hawked his brand at one-fourth of the price of similar products then available. A t Rs 6, Nirma, named after his daughter, was the cheapest detergent vying for attention on shop shelves. By the late 1980s, Nirma had become one of the worlds largest-selling detergent powders. That he rewrote history and gave Hindustan Lever, the Indian subsidiary of the Anglo-Dutch foods and toiletries conglomerate Unilever, a huge headache is wellchronicled. Today he is proud owner of an Rs 2,500-crore Ahmedabad-based soaps and detergents major It has been Patels dream to make Nirma a synonym for quality. Nirma is not merely a brand or a product, it is a dynamic phenomenon, a revolution, a philosophy, he once said. Nirma sells over 800,000 tones of detergent products every year and commands a 35% share of the Indian detergent market, making it one of the world’s biggest detergent brands. Towards this end, he tried his hand at many brand extensions. From toothpaste to salt and matchsticks, they all nestled under the Nirma umbrella. Incorporated as a private limited company, Nirma was converted into a deemed public company and then to a public limited one in Nov. 93. Nirma is an over Rs. 17 billion brand with a leadership presence in Detergents, Soaps and Personal Care Products, offering employment to over 15,000 people.

Remoción de condiciones de la residencia por matrimonio

Remocià ³n de condiciones de la residencia por matrimonio Los extranjeros que obtienen la tarjeta de residencia por matrimonio  con un ciudadano antes de cumplir los dos aà ±os de casados  deben solicitar la remocià ³n de las condiciones si quieren conservar su estatus de residentes. Hay que hacer la remocià ³n de la condicionalidad 90 dà ­as (3 meses) antes de que expire la tarjeta de residencia condicional. A partir de ahà ­ todas las green card que tenga sern definitivas, pero habr que renovarlas antes de que expiren. Quà © hacer para la remocià ³n de las condiciones de la tarjeta de residencia Rellenar conjuntamente ambos cà ³nyuges la planilla I-751 y enviarla al centro del USCIS que corresponda junto con el pago de la tarifa y la documentacià ³n necesaria. La planilla debe rellenarse utilizando sà ³lo un bolà ­grafo de tinta negra. Escribir N/A para dejar sin contestar las preguntas que no le afectan a su situacià ³n personal y escribir NONE cuando la respuesta deba ser ninguno. Si para contestar a alguna pregunta no llega el espacio proporcionado en el formulario, entonces tomar una hoja en blanco, escribir en la parte superior de la misma el nombre del residente permanente, su Alien Registration Number y la seccià ³n y nà ºmero de pregunta que se va a contestar en esta hoja adicional. Cundo no estn obligados los cà ³nyuges a rellenar conjuntamente la planilla I-751 Cuando el matrimonio haya sido de buena fe pero haya finalizado por viudedad, nulidad o divorcio. En este caso, adjuntar documento que acredite el fin del matrimonio. En los casos de divorcio à ©ste se ha tenido que producir por un caso de violencia o crueldad extrema hacia el cà ³nyuge extranjero. Incluso en los casos en los que el matrimonio no se ha disuelto pero el cà ³nyuge extranjero ha sufrido violencia domà ©stica à ©ste puede presentar en solitario la solicitud de remocià ³n de las condiciones de la tarjeta de residencia. Pero deber adjuntar documentacià ³n que pruebe esta situacià ³n, como son rà ©cords mà ©dicos, policiales, de asistentes sociales o de una corte. Incluso fotografà ­as de lesiones producidas por el abuso o declaraciones de un centro de acogida a và ­ctimas de la violencia domà ©stica. Documentos que se deben adjuntar con la peticià ³n Una fotocopia legible de la tarjeta de residencia por ambos lados. Documentos que sirvan de evidencia de que el matrimonio no es fraudulento y se ha celebrado con el à ºnico propà ³sito de conseguir los papeles. Entre los ejemplos de documentacià ³n que sirve para este propà ³sito destacan: Certificado de nacimiento de hijos en comà ºn.Hipotecas en comà ºn, contrato de arrendamiento, cuentas de banco de ambos cà ³nyuges, prà ©stamos, facturas a nombre de los dos, seguros de vida a favor del otro.Declaraciones juradas de al menos dos personas que conozcan la naturaleza del matrimonio y està ©n dispuestas a testificar que se trata de una relacià ³n de buena fe. En su declaracià ³n deben indicar su nombre completo, fecha de nacimiento, lugar de residencia y cà ³mo es que conocen al matrimonio.Adems, si se ha sido arrestado, demandado, o condenado en corte debe enviarse la documentacià ³n original que debe suministrar la agencia policial que realizà ³ el arresto, o la corte que sentencià ³ condenando o absolviendo. Y si se ha cumplido la condena, documentacià ³n original de ello. En los casos de multas de trfico no hay que notificarlas si no ha habido arresto y sà ³lo se ha impuesto pà ©rdida de puntos de la licencia de manejar y/o una multa inferior a los $500. Pero sà ­ deber hacerse cuando estn relacionadas con haber tomado alcohol o drogas. Si se adjunta algà ºn documento en un idioma distinto del inglà ©s, deber ser traducido por una persona que certifique que tiene un adecuado conocimiento de ambos idiomas. Costo de remover las condiciones de la tarjeta de residencia Este trmite tiene un costo de $590. En realidad hay que pagar $505 por el acto de la remocià ³n las condiciones y $85 por la gestià ³n de los datos biomà ©tricos (toma de huellas digitales, etc.). Adems, si un ciudadano americano hubiese pedido la tarjeta de residencia condicional para sus hijastros, adems de para su cà ³nyuge, deber abonarse $85 por cada nià ±o o muchacho para el que se realice el trmite de quitar las condiciones. Esto aplica sà ³lo en los casos en los que los chicos adquirieron la residencia al mismo tiempo que su padre o su madre o en los 90 dà ­as siguientes. Si tomà ³ ms tiempo, debe entonces rellenarse un I-751 por cada muchacho en esa situacià ³n. A dà ³nde enviar la documentacià ³n Depende del lugar de residencia habitual. Las personas que viven en los estados de Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Dakota del Norte, Dakota del Sur, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin y Wyoming o en los territorios de Guam o la Samoa Americana deben enviar la peticià ³n a: USCIS California Service CenterP.O. Box 10751Laguna Niguel, CA 92607-1075 Pero si se vive en: Alabama, Arkansas, Carolina del Norte, Carolina del Sur, Connecticut, Delaware, Washington, D.C., Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Nuevo Hampshire, Nueva Jersey, Nuevo Mexico, Nueva York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, y Virginia Occidental o en las Islas Và ­rgenes Americanas o Puerto Rico, entonces se enviar la documentacià ³n a: USCIS Vermont Service Center75 Lower Welden StreetP.O. Box 200St. Albans, VT 05479-0001 Entrevista Estas 65 preguntas dan una idea de quà © esperar en la entrevista a esposos. La finalidad es intentar diferenciar entre un matrimonio real y otro de mera conveniencia. El caso especial de cà ³nyuge de militares Las personas que desean remover las condiciones de su green card cuando estn en el extranjero acompaà ±ando a su cà ³nyuge que es militar o trabaja para el gobierno de los EEUU debern adjuntar dos fotos tipo pasaporte y una tarjeta con sus huellas digitales tomada en una oficina consular americana. Consejo y advertencia Se recomienda tomar este test sobre  cà ³mo obtener y conservar la tarjeta de residencia.  Sirve para asegurarse conocer informacià ³n esencial. Finalmente, los extranjeros que adquieren la green card por  ser inversionista  tambià ©n obtienen una tarjeta de residencia temporal. Pero para remover las condiciones deben seguir un trmite distinto. Este es un artà ­culo informativo. No es asesorà ­a legal.

Bachata

Bachata Music and dance go hand in hand. Just like Bachata music, the dance is also simple and uncomplicated, containing a series of the simplest of steps. The dance moves or step variety, during a performance, strongly depends on the music, (such as the rhythms played by the different instruments), mood, setting, and the performers’ interpretation. The leading is done like in most other social dances, with a â€Å"pushing and pulling† hand and arm communication. The original dance style from the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean is a basic dance arrangement in a full 8 count moving within a square. Others in the Western dancing world later developed a more simple style and pattern, which incorporated dance elements from other dances as well. The basic is also in a full 8 count, but with a side to side motion. Both of these styles consist of 3 normal steps and then a tap step, which is often accompanied by a â€Å"pop† of the hips, and can sometimes be substituted with syncopations. The music has an accent rhythm at every 4th count, this is normally when the dancers will tap-step and pop their hips- this is called dancing Bachata to the basic rhythm of music. Bachata can be danced to other music as well if the dancers just focus on a particular instrument. The early slow style of the 50s was danced only closed, like the Bolero. The Dominican style of Bachata is danced today all over the Caribbean, now also faster in accordance to faster music, adding more footwork, turns and rhythmic free style moves which alternate between closed (romantic) and open positions (more playful). While men may perform the music, women and men alike take part in Bachata dancing. It is a dance of sensuality and seduction, relating strongly with its roots in heartache and bitterness and unrequited love. Dominican Bachata is created by the people over many years for social dancing, and is still evolving. There are many different styles of Bachata dance, here is just a few: * Original Bachata Traditional (the Western Traditional: the first Fusion Style) * Modern/Moderna (later Fusion Style) * Bachatango/Bachata Tango (later Fusion Style) * Ballroom (later Fusion Style) There are â€Å"many other Fusion Styles† of Bachata from the West, pioneered and promoted by different teachers around the world, each with its own distinct flair. Whether these are considered completely different styles or simply variations of the main styles, is often argued by teachers and students alike.

Negotiation Strategies and the Ethics in the Movie Essay

Negotiation Strategies and the Ethics in the Movie - Essay Example Nick faces strong opposition from Vermont's Senator Ortolan Finistirre, who defends in the Senate the use a skull and crossed bones in the cigarette packs. However, he does his best even as his son comes to know of his immoral venture. Nick Naylor and his friends use many business strategies to survive in their businesses. Nick Naylor invokes many negotiations in line with his duty some of which are successful while others are not. Among the many strategies that Nick Naylor uses, there are negotiating strategies that are so dominant in the movie (YouTube Web). A negotiation is a process that involves two or more individuals with an aim of work together to formulate agreements about the issues in dispute. A negotiation strategy in this case is a pre-determined approach to achieve a desired goal or objective to potentially find and make an agreement or contract in a negotiation with another party or parties (Moore Web). Negotiation strategies also involve ethics that drive the negotiat ions and dictate relations between the negotiators. This paper will address the various negotiation strategies as used in the movie, thank you for smoking and the ethics of the negotiation strategies that apply in the same movie. ... Subsequently one is supposed to plan the best environment for the negotiations and draw a concrete program for the engagement. This procedure is very fundamental in any negotiation process though it varies from one dispute to another. In some cases it even not possible to follow this procedure subject to the urgency of the matter. However, where time allows, professionalism calls for the adoption of this procedure in negotiation. This way desired results have a guarantee. Planning is indeed, very important in implementing any negotiation strategy. One should prioritize his interests in a negotiation process and rank them accordingly. In addition, one should equip themselves with the knowledge about other negotiators. They should also consider the effect of money in a negotiation process. Then plan factual inquiries carefully and plan money moves based on negotiation objective principles (Cronin-Harris, Web). Indeed, among the many factors that can lead to a failed negotiation strateg y poor planning is very significant. Other factors like failing to pay attention to your opponent, paying too much attention to anchors, caving in too quickly, gloating, and thinking the pie is fixed come in handy to the failure of a negotiation strategy (Stanford Graduate School of Business Web). In the negotiation table, one should adopt given attributes to ensure that the negotiating parties focus on the dispute and you win the dispute. It is very significant that one separates the negotiators from the problem so that they can have an independent focus in addressing the dispute. For a winning situation, a negotiator should put informed emphasis on their interests in the dispute and not necessarily on the positions

People in middleast don't want to workout to get in shape so they look Essay

People in middleast don't want to workout to get in shape so they look for easy ways - Essay Example ks on weight loss, and more gymnasiums have opened more than ever before, but the number of people losing weight around the world is not adding up to an appropriate number who should be fit due to the technology. For this paper, I will go by the thesis statement that people in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia do use alternative methods of losing weight rather than working out. Residents of the Middle East do not want to work out to get in shape, so they look for easy ways. According to the World Health Organization, obesity in the Middle East is a notable health issue. WHO results showed that approximately 1.6 billion people were overweight, and 400 million residents were obese. According to probability statistics, by the year 2015, 700 million individuals will be obese, and 2.3 billion people will be overweight; this number includes both adolescent and adults (World Health Organization 60). The spread of the Western lifestyle usually defined as the consumption of attractive energy dense meals with undesirable composition, elevated consumption of animal fats and sugars and decreased or non- consumption of dietary fiber, along with a lack of sufficient physical activity- is one of the principal origins of obesity and overweight problems in the Middle East (Roya 439). In as much as there are great numbers of individuals in the US who are obese, it is not bizarre to see people working out to get in shape. In the US, most people take exercise seriously and they exercise extensively and religiously as opposed to people in the Middle East especially Saudi Arabia (Al-Hazzaa 663-670). The difference in culture could be the reason as to why people in the US work out as opposed to those in Saudi Arabia. People do not necessarily work out in a gymnasium, but they run around their neighborhoods in the morning or afternoon. This routine makes the obesity situation in the US better than that of the Saudi Arabia. It is almost impossible to see people in the Middle East working

The view that Fanthorpe offers us new perspectives on the things we take for granted Essay Example for Free

The view that Fanthorpe offers us new perspectives on the things we take for granted Essay I agree to a great extent with the view that UA Fanthorpe presents the reader a new perception into the things that are so important in our lives but we are seen to be taking advantage of these things. These views are illustrated by Fanthorpe in her collection of poems Safe as Houses and two of these poems that tie in with this theory are The Unprofessionals and Water Everywhere. The first poem looks at the event of bereavement after the death of a close person and the time of consoling and supporting the individual through their mourning phase. The poem indicates that the people surrounding you who have come to support you during your bereavement dont have their presence appreciated, as it is expected from them to be there during this time and situation. In the opening stanza of the poem the Fanthorpe describes the moment as The worst thing and the use of the superlative adjective demonstrates that the person is going through the worst crisis of their life, in this circumstance the death of a close one and that this tragedy would have a knock on affect through the life of the grief stricken person. That uproots the future, That you must live for every hour of your future, The author implies that the only way through this situation is letting time do the work as suggested by the proverb Time is a great healer. During the next stanza the poet refers to the The Unprofessionals or the people who come to console as though they arent trained in the art of counseling and the event has come as a shock to them as well as the mourner as they havent anticipated this crisis. They come, Unorganized, inarticulate, unprofessional; Fanthorpe demonstrates to the reader that the frame of mind that the visitors are in is that they are struggling on how to cope with this situation and with someone who is in the midst of distressing circumstances. The author illustrates to the reader that the The Unprofessionals help the victim through this state by facilitating there day to day activities such as making tea and answering the phone. They come sheepishly, sit with you, holding hands, From tea to tea, from Anadin to Valium, The above verse suggests that their presence alone is a huge factor in the comfort that they provide to the wounded. Also the references to the painkillers suggest that the counselors engage in the bereaved daily routines to relieve them of more problems. The expression Sleeping on put-you-ups gives the reader the feeling that they are only considering ways in which to strengthen the victims spirit and this also proves that they are selfless as they contemplate others before themselves. The next verse reveals to the user how the time passes gradually in heartache as the consoler is forced to dig into conversations About wallflowers, and fishing, whilst trying to keep the mourner occupied and taking their mind of the troubles. The succinct expression and why is used commonly during this type of situation as the grieved has to confront the bigger issue of overcoming the death of there close relatives. Here The Unprofessionals are trying to pop the important question to help the person through his or her grief. Fanthorpe strangely places this immense question against the light issues of Wallflowers, and fishing to show the reader that somehow and at some point you have to tackle the larger problems in life, in the form of death. The author again ponders the casual things in life to take his mind of his problems which shows that it is hard to confront dilemmas without the help of your confidant. Like civilians in a shelter, under bombardment, Holding hands and sitting it out The final stanza as shown above also demonstrates how a traumatized individual has to confide in their counselors arms. Fanthorpe also uses a simile to create emphasis on the difficulty of the situation that not only the victim but the minder is in by comparing it to the harshness of war and its distressing affect on the civilians. The poet compares the troubles to how it felt during air raids of a war whilst under constant bombardment not knowing what was going to happen next or whose life would be taken away. The poet exaggerates the length of time it takes for the victim to recover from the dreadful pain of a close ones death by suggesting that these events of The Unprofessionals is ongoing and everlasting. Through the immortality of all the seconds, Until the blunting of time. The poets stress on the seconds helps exaggerate the length of time it takes to recuperate from an event of a sorrowful nature. However the final line makes evident that time is the greatest of healers as the use of the word blunting is symbolic of a blade, which is no longer sharp signifying that after time has had its say your pains would have diminished. The next poem which I will analyze discusses how people seem to take one of Gods greatest creations of water for granted. In the opening line the author believes that water is a God in its independence and that know one officially recognizes it as a divine being. Officially they do not acknowledge this god. Officially they honour assorted immortals In stone buildings with pioneering roofs. In the first stanza the poet is referring to the sacred places of worship that have been built with the finest material and stand out from all other buildings. Fanthorpe brings to mind the pioneering roofs of mosques, churches and temples where they honour heavenly immortals. The poet illustrates to the reader that although they dont seem to admit to worshipping water they use the water as though its never-ending in the form of the toilet or shrine. Below, a shrine To the godhead. Here they may stand alone In confessional boxes, or lie full length In his hollow bed, singing. The references above to the use of religious terms such as shrine or confessional boxes demonstrates to the user that the toilet is a sanctified site for the worshippers of water. The poet tries to manipulate everyday objects that we use with water to exemplify that water is something that we take for granted and uses the common places of the toilet and bathtub to show us that we use the water but dont acknowledge its use. Another amusing look at the water as a God is the imaginative idea that Fanthorpe creates the feeling to the reader that the gurgling sound coming from the plug hole is in fact the water gods prophecies. Here he sometimes speaks In loud, disquieting, oracular tones. Fanthorpe also uses the significance fish in Christianity to exemplify the details of the theory of the water God. Here the poet signifies that fishing is a ritual of the God as people are casting there fishing rods as a gesture to the Deity and that the people taking part are demonstrated as meditating towards the water god but in fact are too busy finding the catch of the day. We found contemplatives, with green umbrellas, Making symbolic gestures at the stream. This stanza is quite amusing as for a person who doesnt recognize the water god would believe the poet was strange and the poet is selecting the most ordinary of things in a human beings life to pick out where they are contemplating towards the water. Fanthorpe also utilizes the events of watering a garden and washing the car as being religious ceremonies intended for the water god. In the hot month they consecrate their gardens With a wet rite involving children, rubber They lustrate the car. The mention of children in the above stanza has the suggestion of the rite of baptism in Christianity and the car could be pictured as being given a re-birth as they are glistening there of its wrongdoings. The tone of the poem changes during the next verse as Fanthorpe alters her view on how people identify with the water god from a positive view to a negative impression which they make using established prayers. Lovely weather for ducks! Last Thursday we had our summer. Flaming June! (Black comedy is native to this people). Fanthorpe uses displays everyday comments made by people against the god and his rainy gift, and suggests that these comments are sarcastic towards the god. The above verse is typical of what people take for granted in water as when we have rain people complain that there is too much of it and when it is sparse they complain of having too little. This backs the idea that Fanthorpe offers us new perspectives on the things we take benefit of although we never stop complaining about the problems that it causes us. The next stanza is also comical for the reader as the weathermen on different channels are compared to ministers of god as they preach to the worshippers of what the water god has proposed for them. Ministers of the god Recite on different airways his moods and intentions. The people claim not to believe. But they listen. The above extract demonstrates the humour which Fanthorpe portrays in her work as she uses the common belief that weather forecasters are always predicting incorrectly but the majority of British society still ends up listening. The opening line of the penultimate verse there literature is great. They never read it is related to the line above as they both accuse people of not speaking the truth and this also links in with the idea that people dont acknowledge that they worship the water god. In the finale of the poem UA Fanthorpe speaks her mind by stating that humans take the form of water for granted and implies that this makes them ignorant of their surroundings. The two poems above that I have analyzed clearly demonstrate that the view that Fanthorpe offers her readers an original perception on the things that we humans take advantage of and that we should consider ourselves to be lucky to have these things for example in the form of water and friends which no one can live without.

Genetic Engineering :: Bioengineering Essays

Bioengineering, or genetic engineering is an altering of genes in a particular species for a particular outcome. It involves taking genes from their normal location in one organism and either transferring them elsewhere or putting them back into the original organism in different combinations. Most biomolecules exist in low concentrations and as complex, mixed populations which it is not possible to work efficiently. This problem was solved in 1970 using a bug, Escherichia coli, a normally innocuous commensal occupant of the human gut. By inserting a piece of DNA of interest into a vector molecule, a molecule with a bacterial origin of replication, when the whole recombinant construction is introduced into a bacterial colonies all derived from a single original cell bearing the recombinant vector, in a short time a large amount of DNA of interest is produced. This can be purified from contaminating bacterial DNA easily and the resulting product is said to have been "cloned". So far, scientists have used genetic engineering to produce, for example: - improve vaccines against animal diseases such as footrot and pig scours; - pure human products such as insulin, and human growth hormone in commercial quantities; - existing antibiotics by more economical methods; - new kinds of antibiotics not otherwise available; - plants with resistance to some pesticides, insects and diseases; - plants with improved nutritional qualities to enhance livestock productivity. Methods: - Manipulation of the Gene pool, which is related to Hybridization which is the breeding of species but the species are not the same but they are related. - Chain reaction is the production of many identical copies of a particular DNA fragment. - The utility of cloning is important, it provides the ability to determine the genetic organization of particular regions or whole genome. However, it also facilitates the production of naturally-occurring and artificially-modified biological products by the expression of cloned genes. - Insertion of selectable marker genes to pick out recombinant molecules containing foreign inserts -

Employment-At-Will Case Essay

Case Example A: Elaine has sued Jerry because Jerry fired her. Elaine was on the job for two months.The job offer letter that Jerry had sent her mentioned the great career opportunities at the company and stated that her annual salary would be $30,000. The company is an employment†at†will employer. Elaine was given no reason for the termination. After the termination, Jerry hired a man named Kramer, who had less job experience and education than Elaine, for the position. Elaine has sued to get her job back. There are legal issues in case example A. These issues will need to be brought up and answered before any decision can be made over this case. A letter was sent to Elaine. Could this be considered a contract? If not, was there a contract involved? If there was a contract involved, is it an executory contract or is it not valid at all? This is an employment-at-will employer, does the employer really need to give a reason for the termination? Ethics in business play a big role in today’s society. Could ethics have been violated by the employer? Is this discrimination against Elaine? Did the employer lower Elaine in to this business with lies to gain something from her? Is this an intentional misrepresentation or fraud? Did Elaine have a certain skill that the employer needed and after the employer got what he needed he fired her? These are short legal questions that will need to be further studied. Elaine’s argument contains legal rules to support her claim. There is printed evidence that can definitely help out Elaine. The job offer letter states that there are great CAREER opportunities at the company. A career is defined as more than a simple job. It is a major part of a person’s life. A job usually last a couple of months. A career is thought of lasting for more than a couple of years. The fact that the term â€Å"career† was used in the letter, it is assumed that this is going to be something more than just a â€Å"job† Another word that was used is annual. The annual salary was said to be $30,000. The term â€Å"annual† also implies that the career that the employer is offering is something that is  long term and not just a two month job. The plaintiff can argue that these were the conditions that were used when she was hired. She sought out this job because she was offered great career opportunities but was never given the â€Å"career† or the opportunity to make $30,000 annually. This could be classified under intentional misrepresentation or fraud because the plaintiff was brought into the business with false statements. Something else that Elaine can argue is that she was discriminated. After she was fired, she was replaced by a man that had less job experience and a lower education than Elaine. Elaine might have been let go because of her sex. This could be a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The defendant also has a valid argument that he can dispute. This business is an employment at will employer. This means that the employee can be let go at any time for any reason. Elaine knew that this was an employment at will. When she read the letter and accepted the job, she also accepted all the conditions that came along with it. The plaintiff knew that she could be fired any time. This is the defendant’s argument. Based on facts and legal laws, the judge can look over the evidence and rules and make a decision. The employment-at-will doctrine clearly states that the employer can fire the employee at any time for any reason. There are many exceptions to the employment-at-will doctrine. In this case, the tort exception and statutory exception can be applied in favor of the plaintiff. The tort exception states that the employee can sue an employer for fraud. Based on the letter Elaine received, she never was given what she was promised. The employer gave the future employee false statements regarding receiving $30,000 annually. The employer also made the employee believe that this was a career when it clearly lasted no more than two months. This is classified under fraud. The statutory exception will be the main exception in this case. The statutory exception states that â€Å"Title VII and other federal state antidiscrimination laws prohibit employers from engaging in race, sex, religious, age, handicap, or other forms of discrimination†. Right after Elaine was fired, a man was hired for that same position with less work experience and a lower education. This is evidence that Elaine was discriminated based on her sex. An employee who was wrongfully discharged can sue the employer for damages. Therefore the plaintiff will win the case. The legal rules that currently apply are fair and reasonable.  Employment-at-will employers exist because in some jobs, the employer needs that flexibility in order to respond to any changes or needs. Sometimes it is necessary to let employees go but the employer should never forget the laws of business and also ethics. Also, adding exceptions like statutory exception and tort exception to this doctrine helps protect employees in case they are ever treated unfair or are ever taken advantage by their employer. The rules that are currently set for now are fair and reasonable and should not be violated. Work Cited Cheeseman, H. R. The legal environment of business and online commerce. (Custom ed.).

Benefits of chocolate-revised

How can something so good be so bad? This was a question that I often asked myself while devouring the candy and chocolate I squirreled away in my â€Å"special drawer. † I grew up in a household that has always been health conscious. My mother was one of those exercise and natural food fiends who believed that popcorn was the only acceptable â€Å"junk food. † Every Halloween she would remind us that she was letting us go out to trick or treat for tradition's sake. She would then go into what I secretly called the â€Å"evil candy lecture†.(Think Willy Wonka's dad in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. ) She would frighten us with stories of kids having their teeth fall out after eating candy. This lecture was repeated at Easter even as our grandparents handed us huge chocolate bunnies and chocolate eggs. As we grew older and wiser to the myth of the falling teeth, she changed tactics and warned us about zits and fat. We wouldn't want to look like a pimple that g rew a face now, would we? She was pretty much the same with the kids I went home with who, after raiding the refrigerator for chocolate would turn up empty handed.Mom would always chide us saying: â€Å"You guys already have so much energy that you can't even sit still. What would you want more sugar for? † To me, chocolate is that â€Å"secret sin† that a lot of people hide within the very cold depths of their refrigerators. People sneak bites of that luscious brown concoction, savoring its sweetness that varies from the dark and bittersweet to the hybrid milk chocolate like it was something so illegal. The many warnings against indulging in the often foil-wrapped sweet treat are unending.The dentist would warn against the extra acid needed to dissolve left over chocolate in the mouth that therefore result into cavities. Nutritionists and dietitians use the magic â€Å"C-word† or calories when preaching against the evils of chocolate consumption. The media incl uding television, the movies or advertising also add to the popular concerns about chocolate intake. Often portrayed, the scene has become familiar – a kid eating chocolate and candy normally is shown sporting bad teeth or is a fat slob with chocolate stains all over his hands and shirt.The svelte and gorgeous ladies on daytime shows referring to chocolate, cake and ice cream as â€Å"guilty† things. Chocolate's high levels of sugar, fat and calories have been blamed for a multitude of bad things from diabetes, acne, to rapidly and uncontrollably expanding waistlines. Yet it might surprise people to know that chocolate does have a good side to it. Minus the sugar and calories, it can almost qualify as a health food. â€Å"The botanical name for the cacao – or cocoa – bean is Theobroma, meaning Food Of The Gods. † (â€Å"Charlie's Chocolate Fact-Ory; SOME,† 2005, p. 24)Cocoa beans are the source of chocolate. While no chocolate formula is ali ke, it is an accepted fact that cocoa beans from which chocolate is derived from is rich in flavonoids or plant chemicals which have polyphenol which exhibits anti-oxidant properties (Isham, 2007. p. 27 ). While polyphenol is also present in many fruits, vegetables, tea and red wine, some people may say that it is easier to be â€Å"healthy† when you actually like the food you are eating. (â€Å"More Friendly News†¦Ã¢â‚¬  1993) Between broccoli and a Snickers bar†¦ is this really a choice?Recent studies have also shown that flavonoids protect the heart from the damaging effects of unstable oxygen compounds, which can damage blood vessels. A study conducted in Germany and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that the intake of dark chocolate could lower blood pressure. Similar studies have also shown that the flavonoids found in cocoa have anti-blood clotting properties and could decrease the level of low-density lipoproteins, other wise known as bad cholesterol. (Taubert, Roesen, et. al. 2007)The two-year study, which was conducted at a primary care clinic in Germany from 2005 to 2006, tested adults with mild untreated hypertension. Half of the test subjects where given polyphenol-rich dark chocolate bars while half where given white chocolate, which is mainly made up of cocoa butter. Results indicated no change from the blood pressure of the white chocolate eating group while an average drop of 5 points of systolic pressure and 2 points of diastolic pressure was monitored from the dark-chocolate group within two weeks. (Taubert, 2007)So while eating dark chocolate could be beneficial to our health, what about the supposed tooth cavities it brings? It has after all been widely believed that the acid the mouth needed to produce to â€Å"clean† the chocolate off teeth damages tooth enamel and causes decay. According to research done by the Forsyth Dental Center in Boston Massachusetts, â€Å"normal consu mption of milk chocolates, especially at meals† had no direct connection in causing cavities since chocolate by itself has the ability to â€Å"offset the acid-producing potential† of its sugar content.(â€Å"Myths and Facts†) What about the supposed correlation between chocolates and acne? Much to the delight of chocolate lovers, independent studies done at the University of Pennsylvania and the U. S. Naval Academy have categorically disproved this myth. There is also no truth that chocolate lovers take in too much caffeine. An ounce of milk chocolate only contains 6 mg. of caffeine, not much more than what is found in a cup of decaffeinated coffee. The only fat in plain chocolate comes from cocoa butter, which is produced when the roasted cocoa seeds are pressed.Comparing cocoa butter fat with other fats in food, researchers have discovered that despite its total saturated fat content, cocoa butter does not raise levels of bad cholesterol such as other kids of fat did. Such was the result of a study conducted by Dr. Margo Denke and Dr. Scott M. Grundy as published in the December 1991 issue of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. (â€Å"More ‘Friendly' News About Chocolate And Beef,† 1992). Rather than be harmful, cocoa butter is good given its high stearic acid content, which is cholesterol neutral.(Ross, 2001) Even chocolate milk is better than just plain milk as it has been proven to contain more zinc, potassium, niacin and riboflavin than plain whole milk. (Roesel & Overly) Experts say that to get the best possible antioxidant benefits, one should prefer dark chocolates and not those mixed with milk as it appears that the milk solids deter the absorption of antioxidants. (Taubert, 2007) There is also that persistent belief that some component or chemical part of chocolates make them addictive.Leah Porter, vice president of scientific affairs for the Chocolate Manufacturers Association in Vienna, believes that the s upposed addiction is merely craving caused by the taste and smell of chocolate. â€Å"Chocolate's appeal is due to aroma, flavor and creaminess, not any addictive properties,† says Ms. Porter, who holds a doctorate in plant sciences. â€Å"If it's addictive, then other foods are addictive. † (â€Å"Chocolate's Dark Little Secret;,† 2005, p. B01) Chocolate also contains phenylethylamine, a chemical that increases in our brains that gives us a feeling of well-being and euphoria that is similar to the feeling of being in love.(â€Å"‘Eating Chocolate Makes You,† 2006, p. 30) In addition to this, it also stimulates hormones that deaden â€Å"pain† areas making it an effective and non-medicated answer to headaches (Daly & Fredholm, 2004, p. 1) Given this, it is no wonder that chocolate is among the most common â€Å"comfort† foods that people crave for especially in times when they are down and emotionally distressed. Despite these findings , critics abound against the touted health benefits of chocolate. Many are skeptical about these so-called benefits and view pro-chocolate studies as highly biased since these were commissioned by the chocolate manufacturers themselves.Some researchers question the supposed benefits of flavonoids saying that sufficient tests in a controlled environment have not been done (Tanner, 2003). Add to this the fact that most tests done are through chocolate manufacturing industry funded research damages their findings' credibility. John W. Erdman, a professor of food science and human nutrition at the University of Illinois concurs with this problem but notes that it is a â€Å"necessary evil† since research would be very difficult to conduct if it relied entirely on independent funding (Schmidt, 2002).Erdman further adds that most of the time the Food and Drug Administration only conducts tests after preliminary research has been done. He adds that one positive way to look at things is that at least, it may not be such a bad thing that companies are investigating the nutritional value of their products. (Schmidt, 2002)ReferencesCharlie's Chocolate Fact-Ory; SOME TASTY FACTS ON OUR FAVOURITE SNACK 2ozs Can Kill a Dog Was Once a Medicine 400 Beans Make 1lb It Speeds Heartbeat. (2005, July 17). The People (London, England), p. 24. Chocolate's Dark Little Secret; What's Good and What's Not about Tasty Treat. (2005, March 22).The Washington Times, p. B01. Daly, J. W. , & Fredholm, B. B. (2004). 1 Mechanisms of Action of Caffeine on the Nervous System. In Coffee, Tea, Chocolate, and the Brain, Nehlig, A. (Ed. ) (pp. 1-11). Boca Raton, FL: Routledge. Retrieved October 9, 2007 from http://www. questia. com/read/108551912 ‘Eating Chocolate Makes You Feel Good'. (2006, December 19). South Wales Echo (Cardiff, Wales), p. 30. Isham, A. (2007) â€Å"Eat (More) Chocolate –Lose Weight (Anyway)† The Chocoholic's Survival Guide and Practical Handbook. Pando ra McShannon Press. â€Å"More ‘Friendly' News About Chocolate And Beef† (1992) Southwestern Medical Center for Human Nutrition. (Dallas, Texas).Retrieved from Southwestern Medical Center for Human Nutrition database: http://www8. utsouthwestern. edu/utsw/cda/dept27717/files/48295. html.â€Å"Myths and Facts. † Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Company. Retrieved October 8, 2007 from Chocolate Chocolate Company website: http://www. chocolatechocolate. com/mythfact. htm.Nehlig, A. (Ed. ). (2004). Coffee, Tea, Chocolate, and the Brain. Boca Raton, FL: Routledge. Ross, J. (2001 March), â€Å"Cocoa and Chocolate as Functional Foods† Natural Health Products Technology Cluster. Retrieved from htttp://www. uoguelph. ca/nhptc/Jessica1. html.Roesel, K., Overly, B. â€Å"All About Chocolate† Kentucky State University Cooperative Extension Program Retrieved from http://ces. ca. uky. edu/bourbon/fcs/all_about_chocolate. htm.Schmidt, P. (2002) â€Å"Chocolate's Pot ential Health Benefits – and its Effect on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients. † ImmuneSupport. com. Retrieved from ImmuneSupport databse: http://www. immunesupport. com/library/showarticle. cfm/ID/3464/ Tanner, L. ( 2003 August 27)†Studies Show Light, Dark Sides of Milk, Dark Chocolate. † USA Today. USA Today. com. Retrieved October 9, 2007 from http://www. usatoday. com/news/health/2003-08-27-dark-chocolate_x.htm.Taubert, D. (2007 July 3) Consumption Of Small Amounts Of Dark Chocolate Associated With Reduction In Blood Pressure. Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Retrieved from JAMA database: http://pubs. ama-assn. org/media/2007j/0703. dtl#1 Taubert, D. Roesen, R. Lehman, C. Jung, N. Schomig, E. (2007) â€Å"Effects of Low Habitual Cocoa Intake on Blood Pressure and Bioactive Nitric Oxide: A Randomized Controlled Trial. † Journal of American Medical Association Vol. 298 No. 1. pp 49-60 Retrieved October 9, 2007 from JAMA database: h ttp://jama. ama-assn. org/cgi/content/abstract/298/1/49.

Theory X, Y, and Z Essays

Theory X, Y, and Z Essays Theory X, Y, and Z Paper Theory X, Y, and Z Paper Comparison and Contrast on Theory XY and Z Douglas McGregor suggested that there are two different ways in which we can look at workers attitudes toward work. Each of these views, which McGregor called Theory X and Theory Y, has implications for management. Theory X (authoritarian management style) -People do not really like to work and will avoid it if at all possible so they must be coerced, controlled, directed, threatened with punishment to get them to work. -The average worker avoids responsibility, is unambitious and wants security more than anything else. Management based on Theory X is paternalistic at best and, at very least, authoritarian. -Rewards and punishment are assumed in this theory to be the key to employee productivity. Theory X managers believe that workers are only motivated by one thing money. They are selfish, lazy and hate work. They need to be closely controlled and directed. Theory Y (participative management style) The theory Y is to some extent the opposi te image of X -Effort in work is as natural as rest and play. People will apply self-control and self-direction in the pursuit of organizational objectives, and the external control or the threat of punishment is not the only means of getting them to work. -Commitment to objectives is a function of rewards associated with their achievement. The most important reward: satisfaction of their own ego needs. -People usually accept and often seek responsibility. -Creativity, ingenuity, and imagination are widely distributed among the population. People are capable of using these abilities to solve an organizational problem. In modern industry the intellectual potential of the average person is only partly utilized. Theory Y managers believe that Workers are motivated by many different factors apart from money. They enjoy their work and they will happily take on responsibility and make decisions for the business. Theory z William Ouchi Theory Z makes certain assumptions about workers: People tend to want to build cooperative and intimate working rela tionships with those that they work for and with, as well as the people that work for them. They have a high need to be supported by the company, and highly value a working environment in which such things as family, cultures and traditions, and social institutions are regarded as equally important as the work itself. They have a very well developed sense of order, discipline, moral obligation to work hard, and a sense of cohesion with their fellow workers. Finally, Theory Z workers can be trusted to do their jobs to their utmost ability, so long as management can be trusted to support them and look out for their well being. One of the best aspects of theory Z is the long-term employment which would appeal to Americans because they want job security. The collective decision making will create a good work environment and increase productivity. Something that Americans wont like is the slow evaluation and promotion. Americans dont like to wait years before they can get a promotion and they would rather get a new job instead. Another great benefit is that the company will have holistic concern for you and your family. Theory Z also places more reliance on the attitude and responsibilities of the workers, whereas McGregors XY theory is mainly focused on management and motivation from the managers and organizations perspective. Comparison Contrast Douglas McGregor tends to categorize people as one type or another: either being unwilling or unmotivated to work, or being self-motivated towards work. Threats and disciplinary action are thought to be used more effectively in this situation, although monetary rewards can also be a prime motivator to make Theory X workers produce more. William Ouchi believes that people are innately self-motivated to not only do their work, but are loyal towards the company, and want to make the company succeed. Theory X leaders would be more authoritarian, while Theory Y leaders would be more participative. But in both cases it seems that the managers would still retain a great deal of control. Theory Z managers would have to have a great deal of trust that their workers could make sound decisions. Therefore, this type of leader is more likely to act as coach, and let the workers make most of the decisions. As mentioned above, McGregors managers, in both cases, would seem to keep most of the power and authority. In the case of Theory Y, the manager would take suggestions from workers, but would keep the power to implement the decision. Theory Z suggests that the managers ability to exercise power and authority comes from the workers trusting management to take care of them, and allow them to do their jobs. The workers have a great deal of input and weight in the decision making process. Conflict in the Theory Z arena would involve a great deal of discussion, collaboration, and negotiation. The workers would be the ones solving the conflicts, while the managers would play more of a third party arbitrator role. This type of manager might be more likely to exercise a great deal of Power based conflict resolution style, especially with the Theory X workers. Theory Y workers might be given the opportunity to exert Negotiating strategies to solve their own differences. Theory Z emphasizes more frequent performance appraisals, but slower promotions, while according to Theory X, appraisals occur on a regular basis. Promotions also occur on a regular basis.

Immigration In The United States Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Immigration In The United States - Essay Example During this period the ban on Asian entry was lifted and all the nations were on an equal footing. This brought in an unexpected flow of immigrants from Korea, Taiwan, China, and the Philippines. There was a sharp and sudden increase in immigration from India, China, and Korea by 1980s and as a result, the population of Asians in the US started rising. As the economic and political condition in Vietnam deteriorated, the US government had no alternative but to allow them to enter the US. For different reasons, immigration from Latin America and Asia surged during the 1980s. It is also estimated that by 1990 there were additional 3.3 million undocumented immigrants living in the US of which 75 percent were from Mexico. In 1996, the total Mexican population in the United States was 7.15 million of whom 2.35 million or 38 percent were unauthorized. There was a backlash against the immigrants in the mid-nineties when the federal immigration law became punitive and restrictive. The immigra nts were blamed for the social and economic problems. There was a fear that Americans of European descent would become a minority and this projected shift is already evident in urban areas like Los Angeles and Miami (Massey, 1995). Immigration is changing the size and composition of major cities in the US. Card (2007) says that immigrants are usually drawn to expanding cities particularly to cities with historical enclaves of earlier immigrants. Immigrant arrivals increase the local population with a limited outflow of other groups.

Business GP Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Business GP - Essay Example Other areas are also important so explained briefly; the blind spot is what others know about a certain individual, but which the individual does not know about himself, the hidden area which is known only to the individual himself, and the unknown area consists which is unknown to the individual and the others as well. The open area can be used to communicate effectively within the organization. The open area is very important because this introduces the new team members, which in this case would be the Working Better group. When we work in this area, we are at our best and also productive. The open arena is actually seen where good cooperation and communications occur. Also when different teams are grouped, the size of the open area can be expanded horizontally into the blind space so that individuals can learn more about themselves. This can be done by seeking and actively listening to feedback from other people. This can be done by anonymous slips so as to ensure privacy. This cannot be done immediately until or unless the people actually get to know each other first. Ice breakers heighten the effectiveness of training sessions, which will be particularly significant in this conference. On the first day, everyone needs to introduce himself/herself and this can be done in a comfortable manner through the ice breaker exercises. One exercise that can be done effectively is that after everyone has stated their names, a manual can be handed out to any random person that he/she should start with any word. That same person will ask the next person to continue with any other word. For example, the person with the manual states ‘I’, the person next to him might say ‘am’ and this continues on. Not only it shows dependency on other team members which illustrates that team work is important, it creates humor when people can come up with any random words, hence breaking

The religious influence on comics books Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The religious influence on comics books - Essay Example In comic books, religion determines themes and plot development. Plot development determines the actions performed by the characters. In the comic book, â€Å"Our Gods wear spandex† religion (mythology and occultism) takes center stage in driving the plot. The lives of characters in this novel revolve around four key historical periods, the modern times, the Egyptian mythological times, the Roman times and the Greek mythological times(Knowles 30). Each religious period, produces characters with unique personal traits and moral understanding, extensively influenced by the respective period (Wandtke 26). This comic book narrates the emergence of comic superheroes in the 19th century (Knowles 44). It also relives how each character transforms as a response to drastic cultural change of this period. â€Å"Our Gods Wear Spandex† extremely focuses on the rapid spread of occultism in Western Europe and America during the late 19th century (Knowles 50). The spread of occultism during the late 19th century gives rise to four key categories of characters in this comic book. The Messiahs (Superman, Captain America and Spiderman), are selfless individuals; they sacrifice their lives to save the human kind (Knowles 53). The Amazons (Wonder Woman), the female collaborators of the Messiahs, they come in handy in saving lives (Knowles 56). The Golems (Wolverine and Punisher) are the antagonists; they are evil to the core. The fourth group known as Magic Men (Green lantern) applies magic in saving the world (Knowles 59). In this case, in respect to the period of history in which a comic book focuses on, religion plays a critical role in determining and developing personality trait of each character presented within the book. Secondly, in comic books religion presents the characters as subjects to super natural powers such as magic. Thoth the Egyptian lunar god was the pioneer of magic and one of the founding fathers of the

Birmingham International Airport Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4750 words

Birmingham International Airport - Assignment Example Real estate values drop and countryside vanishes as air traffic increases. The additional vehicle traffic requires new roads or maintenance of existing ones and further degrades air quality and raises noise pollution. The proposed Birmingham Alternative attempts to address environmental and economic issues. The BIA has offered to build a wide-spaced runway to reduce the negative impact on the Solihull Borough area. Some believe the economic benefits are offset by the level of noise and air pollution as detailed in such reports as The Plain Truth, a study commissioned by the Ashford Trust. Compromises can be reached by efforts to decrease demand which will lessen congestion, emissions and noise levels, which have been shown to cause health problems and learning disabilities in children. Airports and the aviation industry are an important part of the UK culture and economy. The government, local residents and the airports can work together to ensure that the increasing air travel does not significantly effect the health of UK residents and the environment. The Birmingham International Airport (BIA) was built and operated by the Birmingham City Council in 1939. During World War II the RAF used the facilities until 1946 when the airport resumed civilian use, but it was controlled by the government until 1960 (BIA). The airport exp The airport expanded several times throughout the years with the "Eurohub' being added in July 1991. It was billed as the first terminal to host both domestic and international passengers. Remnants of the original airport are still evident west of the hangars near the main runway. In April 1987 the airport changed hands and became the Birmingham International Airport plc (public limited company) owned by seven district councils in the West Midlands. BIA currently serves over 800,000 passengers a month and hosts thirty eight airlines, making it the fifth busiest airport in England. The airport handles nine million passengers a year and is located near the M42 motorway and A45 main road. Service is also provided by the Birmingham International railway station. The airport currently has two paved runways one being 2,605 metres and the other 1,315 metres. Expansion plans include

Overview Of Tata Steel Pre Merger

Overview Of Tata Steel Pre Merger TATA Steel, earlier known as TISCO, is the iron and steel production company which is the flagship concern of the TATA group, Indias largest private corporate group. Tata Steel was established by Indian Parsi Businessman Jamsetji Tata in 1907. As of 2005, TATA Steel was Asias largest private sector steel company. The company was also recognized as the worlds best steel producer by World Steel Dynamics in 2005. Tata Steel has set an ambitious target to achieve a capacity of 30 million tonne by 2015. To this end it acquired Singapore based NatSteel in 2004 and acquired a 40% stake in Thailand based Millennium steel. Through these two acquisitions, TATA steel added about 3.2 million tonne to its production capacity. As of 2006, TATA Steel had a production capacity of 5.3 million tonnes. After the Corus acquisition (18.2 million tonne), the net acquired capacity was 21.4 million tonne, and TATA Steel plans to add another 29 million tonne by this route. Thus we see that TATA Steel seems to have a definite strategy of increasing capacity through acquisition and is acting on it rapidly. At this point we will conduct a resource based analysis of this strategy. A resource based view of strategy emphasizes the internal resources of a company in the formulation of strategy in order to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage. The following model makes this process clear:- Resources Resources are the input which an organization uses to carry out its activities. And yet organizations in the same industry might have similar resources but have differing performance, since they may utilize their resources differently. For a resource based view, Assets available to a business may be classified in the following form  [1]  (Resources in management TRIZ, Business level):- TATA Steel Particulars Pre Merger Post Merger Tangible assets (in Rs. Crore) Fixed assets 9865 11040 Current assets 2174 2332 Financial assets (in Rs. Crore) Assets (cash) 288.39 7681.35 Net Worth 9755 14096 Intangible Location Jamshedpur Jamshedpur Size World 56th largest World 5th largest Competition None domestically None domestically Thus we can see that prior to the merger TATA Steel was a very large domestic steel player, in fact the largest in India. The location advantage conferred by the plant being in Jamshedpur was aptly put by Mr. Ratan Tata, who said that the owners of iron ore will be the rulers of the steel industry. Its captive raw material resources and state of the art 5 million tonne plant at Jamshedpur gives at a competitive edge. This capacity is slated to go up to 7 million tonne. In addition, TATA steel has extremely good relations with the government in the region by virtue of its long standing developmental efforts in the region. As a result, TATA Steel has acquired a great deal of goodwill among the local population and consequently, the government. This is apparent in the Greenfield projects which the group is setting up in the region:- 6 million tonne plant in Orissa (India) 12 million tonne in Jharkhand (India) Capabilities However, the best resources in themselves are of no real value to a company in and of themselves. The organization must have the capability to employ these resources properly. It is these distinctive capabilities of an organizations resources which result in a competitive advantage. But this advantage is sustainable only if this capability comes from some characteristic other firms do not possess. TATA Steel is one of the lowest cost steel producers in the world. It is also one of the even fewer steel companies which are EVA positive. It has an operating profit margin of nearly 40%  [2]  (avg. = 16%). As an indication, only two manufacturers in USA (and none in India) have higher margins. At the same time, growth rate for sales was 232% and net income was 590%  [3]  . Adding this information to its captive raw materials resources as explained previously, we can see that TATA Steel had a unique position as an extremely low cost steel producer in an extremely fast developing region of the world. Tata Steel holds a very vital place in Indian business history, because it has introduced some of the unique concepts like 8-hour working days, leave with pay and pension system for the first time in India and the first player to start rapid industrialization process. In the later part, the concepts invented and implemented by the Tatas became law and compulsory practice for the Indian employees. A direct result of these employee friendly practices is the goodwill which TATA Steel enjoys among its workforce. In consequence, the Jamshedpur plant furnaces have never been closed down due to industrial strife. Thus we can see the two major capabilities which enable TATA Steel to employ its resources effectively extreme operating efficiency and employee friendly policy. Another point of note is the extremely cash rich status of the organization even prior to the acquisition with an interest coverage ratio of 32, and a growth rate of 380% for net cash flow from operations. Competitive advantage At this point we can clearly see the sources of competitive advantage for TATA Steel prior to the merger. Therefore let us examine its position in the market prior to the merger, with the Porters five forces model. 1) Threat of entry of new competitors The steel industry is one which has a very high entry barrier. In addition, established players already enjoy customer loyalty, and hence it will be difficult for new players to gain market share. On the other hand, the sector promises high returns in future. 2) Intensity of competitive rivalry In terms of price, quality and innovation TATA Steel had no domestic competition as of 2005-06. However, on a global scale, it was just so small in terms of volume that it could not bring into play the economies of scale of the truly major players. 3) Threat of substitute products This threat is well nigh negligible with respect to steel. 4) Bargaining power of customers The steel industry is one of periodic swings in demand. However, with an average growth rate of 7% expected in countries like India, China and Brazil in the foreseeable future, we can safely assume that price of steel will continue to rise. In fact, the price of steel has doubled over 2006-2008  [4]  . However, it is also accepted that consolidation in the steel industry will lead to stabilisation of world steel prices and higher bargaining power. This is necessary because the buyers are consolidating e.g. auto makers are consolidating with six to seven global majors. 5) Bargaining power of suppliers The three major iron ore suppliers CVRD, Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton have a 75% market share and 40% margins. Clearly, small players are at a distinct disadvantage. Strategy In this context, let us examine the strategy of acquisition as proceeded upon by the TATA Steel management. First, TATA Steel had proximity to low cost iron ore, and the capability to take advantage of it. As a result, TATA Steel had acquired leadership status in the Indian market. In terms of the BCG Matrix, it would be considered a star. However, if it does not grow into the international it would, sooner rather than later, become a cash cow. In order to remain a star, it would have to grow its capacity and become a world major. However, before the Corus acquisition, it was only at 56th position in capacity. In terms of the world market, TATA Steel would find market penetration in Europe or America extremely difficult. In addition, as explained via the Porters five forces model, steel producers are on the wrong side of the equation both with respect to the buyers as well as suppliers, who are well consolidated and hence in a position to dictate terms. Hence, it is necessary for global steel players to consolidate as well, and thereby acquire a position of strength. This would decrease price fluctuations and increase earnings multiples. Hence, considering resources (cash, technology) present with the company, the competitive advantage it enjoyed (low cost, high margin) and the market conditions (consolidation), acquisition of some major manufacturer and jump into the big league was the only choice. Strategic Decision Undertaken The strategic decision we will be considering for the purpose of this project is Tata Steels decision to acquire Corus and the how they went about the entire process. The reasons behind the takeover will be viewed in detail along with a resource based view of the resources so collated by the newly formed company now known as Tata Europe. I really believe that the owners of iron ore are going to rule the industry. They will be OPEC of the steel industry. (Ratan Tatas interview to McKinsey Quarterly quoted by Wheatley in Financial Times, January 29, 2007). This statement made by Ratan Tata expresses in clear words the true reason behind the adoption of this strategy. Corus- An overview Corus headquarter in London, Europes second largest producer of steel and the 9th largest in the world was founded in the October 1999 via a merger between two companies British Steel and Koninklijke Hoogovens. This merger was a result of the privatization of Steel producing companies by the U.K government. In the year 2005 its revenues stood at  £9.2 billion. Corus had a divisional structure which comprised the Strip Products division, the Long Products division, Aluminum Division and the Distribution Building division. Corus customer base ranges across countries of the world and its core businesses include the manufacturing, development and allocation of steel aluminum products as well as services. It has a diversified product services portfolio which comprise manufacturing of electrical steel, narrow strip, plates, packaging steel, plated steel strip, semi-finished steel, tube products, wire rod and rail products and services and also design, technology and consultancy servic es. To support this elaborate array of products services, Corus employed about 42,600 employees in sales services centers across 40 countries. The main strength of the company lay in its international expertise with local customer service and its brand which stood for quality and strength Through the period of 200 2006 Corus grew via a number of acquisitions which did add to its large pool of long term debts, but nevertheless it has a wide range of customer segments ranging from commercial and military aerospace ventures, the automotive, construction, engineering, defense and security, as well as the rail and shipbuilding industry. Some of the Financial Information available in respect to Corus in the year 2005 has been put in annexure 1. Acquisition Based Dynamic Capabilities Tata Steel has often used the Acquisition strategy to expand their products and markets or gain other advantages and have in most cases been good at it. Looking at this strategic decision from Acquisition Based Dynamic Capabilities approach we find that over the years the Tatas have well groomed these capabilities into their system. There are three factors to consider here: Acquisition Selection Capability- Tata steel was correct in timing the merger as it was due to emerging trends in the world steel industry with the increasing consolidation in the market. With a eat or be eaten mentality it was essential for this strategy to be adopted in order to become the 5th largest producer of steel and give competition to post merger entities like Arcelor-Mittal etc. Also there would be multiple points of contact with their firms existing resources and those of Corus owing to the long list of synergies as listed in the following pages of the report. Acquisition Identification Capability- The most appropriate target for the Tatas was definitely Crus as there was the horizontal integration with respect to the R D capabilities that the Tatas were keenly interested in adding to their resource base. The Due Diligence was well carried out as though there were certain cultural issues in the way, the top management of the Tatas were fact to act in a manner to resolve the issues. Some of the steps they took involved retention of crucial executives of Corus to help in a smoother integration process and also aid in running the newly formed entity. Also the Tatas did not over pay for the deal as the market value of it exceed the price they paid, and the yearly savings expected from it were substantial. Apart from that they were able to gain access to wider distribution networks and newer markets. Acquisition Reconfiguration Capability- This is one of the most crucial aspects which can determine the success of failure of a merger. It involves the acquirer to be able to merger its resources with the new ones acquired and do so in a productive and efficient manner in order to enhance the functioning of operations etc. Tata Corus Merger Tata steel started the acquisition process in the year 2005 but since Corus had been involved in a number of its own acquisition processes the deal was finally closed with the acquisition of Corus on the 2nd April 2007 as per official records. The price paid or the same was considered to be too high at an overwhelming $12 billion out of which the Tatas financed the deal with only $4 billion. This strategic decision undertaken by Tata Steel raised their rank from the 56th to being the 5th largest steel producing company in the world. In all fairness it is necessary to note that this acquisition did not come to the Tata with ease, as though the bidding started at 455pence per share, by the time the deal came to a close it had resulted in gaining a price of 608pence per share. This 33% hike in bidding rate was caused due to the emergence of another bidder, the Brazilian Steel maker Companhia Siderurgica Nacional (CSN). The Counter Bids The deal so made was a 100% acquisition and the newly formed entity now renamed Tata Europe is being run by one of the subsidiaries of Tata Steel. As Corus had been looking to make an exit, Tatas acquisition proved to be a profitable opportunity. The expected synergies deemed the deal to be beneficial for the Tatas as although some said that the Tatas overpaid, it was clearly communicated by the Tatas that they had paid much less than the replacement cost (market value) of all the assets they were able to acquire via this merger. Reasons For This Merger Strategy- The Global Trends The Steel market in the world had been witnessing some very strong trends which called for such a merger. There are a series of mergers which happened in the world steel industry which include some of the following: In 2004, Mittal bought International Steel Group, an American company which included assets of the previous Bethlehem Steel. Mittals merger with Arcelor ($36.1 billion offer) in 2006 created the largest steel company in the world. In October, 2006, Russian steelmaker Evraz Group bought Oregon Steel Mills of the U.S. for $2.3 billion. Nucor, the second largest US steel producer, acquired Harris Steel Group of Canada for $1.07 billion in January 2007. Severstal, the largest Russian steelmaker had invested $800 million in a new plant in Mississippi and $900 million in a plant near Detroit. Essar Group of India has made a $1.6 billion investment in Algoma Steel of Canada (2007) as well as $4.65 billion offer to buy Minnesota Steel Industries. On May 4, 2007, Swedish steelmaker, SSAB, made a $7.7 billion cash offer to acquire Ipsco of Canada. Global Steel Production in 2005 Hence we see that the environment of the steel industry was amenable to consolidation. There was a strong desire among key players to gain efficiencies resulting from steel production. Some of the reasons for such a trend towards acquisitions were: Obtaining access to new and growing markets Enhancing purchasing power with respect to suppliers and buyers Growing economy of China and India during mid-2000s Higher degree of price stability better margins Attractive to Investors Eat or be eaten mentality A desire amongst the key players to gain efficiencies resulting from scale Steel prices have been on an upward trend as can be seen in the following graph. This phenomenon started in the year 2004 and slowed down due to the economic crisis in 2009. But a great deal of volatility has been witnessed in the market and had been another major reason to consolidate so as to have a greater hold on the market dynamics. There was also lot of speculation in the market about China, the worlds largest producer of steel to increase its capacity resulting in a dip in world prices of steel. Growing economies like China and India did make up for a major demand for steel and to meet this requirement China was even importing steel from outside. Following is the graph of 2006-2008: Prior to the beginning of the deal negotiations, both Tata Steel and Corus were interested in entering into an MA deal due to several reasons. The official press release issued by both the company stated that the combined entity will have a pro forma crude steel production of 27 million tons in 2007, with 84,000 employees across four continents and a joint presence in 45 countries, which makes it a serious rival to other steel giants. Post- Acquisition Scenario A Resource Based Perspective Before After EBITDA 13% 25% Capacity 7 MTPA 25 MTPA Position 56 6 Business Resources with sub-categories in Management- TRIZ Concrete Level Business Specific Level Tangible Assets Fixed Assets Assets: 23741.48 cr Cutting edge technology- providing metal solutions Low cost upstream Tata facilities with high end downstream processing facilities of Corus RD facilities of Corus Intangible Assets Human Distribution networks, Research and Development capability of Corus to be leveraged for Tata Steels green field projects in Orissa, Bihar and Jharkand Finances Capital, Obligations and Savings To finance the deal worth $12 billion the following sources were used: Equity by Tata Steel: $ 3.88 billion Bank loans: $ 8.12 billion by Credit Suisse, ABN Amro and Deutsche Bank Long term loans obligation to be paid by Corus cash flows Obligations: Total interest obligation: $ 640 million to the already existing interest obligation of Corus amounting to $ 400 million Pension liabilities of Corus $ 24 billion Cost Synergies: Production cost $ 710/ton which is far less than a green Field project which would cost around $ 1200-1300 per ton Savings of $350 million per year through synergy General Characteristics Location of Operation Main Center India; UK, Netherlands and South East Asia Markets Innovative solutions to: Construction, Packaging, Automotive, Aerospace Energy, Engineering, Defense and Security, Consumer Products, Ship Building, Rail Greater access to market and Significant presence in over 25 countries or regions Products Bar billet, Business services, Construction products services, Electrical steels, Packaging steels, Plates, Plated steel strip, Pre-finished steels, Rail products services, Sections, Semi finished steel, Specialty, Strip products, Support products, Tube Products, Wire Rod Size Post Acquisition Sales Rs 8105.30 cr Production Capacity 26 million MTPA Competition Position 5th largest Steel Maker with a production capacity of about 26 Million Tons Per Annum Strengthened position in construction, automotive and packaging construction sector Management Resources with sub-categories in Management TRIZ: Concrete Level: Management Specific Level: Planning and Coordinating; Strategic Planning- For the growth and globalization the route of acquisitions was taken up and the logic has been explained before. Post acquisition the top management of the acquired company was retained for effective integration of processes Operational Planning-. The Tata Steel and Corus operations were being run as one virtual company with performance improvement tasks being undertaken in each location. The aim was cross-fertilization of research, development of capabilities across functionalities and transfer of best practices from Europe to India. Organization- Company Operational Structure- 15-18 teams were formed with 3-4 members each with joint representation in teams to look at various synergistic avenues Company Organizational Structure- Corus Tata SteelIntegration Team- 7 members Several Task Force Teams were also constituted for integration. Organization and Environment- Government and society- The acquisition had a very positive response from India, Indians felt patriotic towards this investment. In fact the Indian Trade and Commerce minister Kamal Nath commented that the global perception of India is now changing. This way the Indian government and society was quite supportive of the deal, in spite of critics commenting that the deal was over-priced. The historical ties between India and UK were also becoming stronger, Trade and Industry were looking up. Markets- the Tata Steel stock attained a 52 week high of 721 on March 2007, showing positive investor response. SPs credit rating also improved Informal Organization Culture- Both the organizations had similar performance culture with respect to aspirational targets, safety and social responsibility, continuous improvement and openness and transparency. However, there were some cultural issues: Inherent in the mind of the employees. Resentment of being governed and managed by a former British colony Insecurity of production centers shifted out of the UK to low-cost centers. The labor unions in Europe raised their concern regarding this. Other Characteristics Compensation mismatch 18.5 % employee expense (Corus) 7.9 % employee expense (Tata Steel) Recent developments: In 2010 Tata Group has announced that the name and logo of TATA Steel will be used use for Corus. The transition also signifies that Tata Sons, which controls the use of the Tata brand, is satisfied that operations at Corus are now aligned with the characteristics of the Tata brand. The workers understand this is a name change and also realize that the Tata board has been supportive of the employees. It implies that synergies are being attained and that cultural integration is on the right path. Leadership: Common organization values for Tata Steel and Corus: Continues improvement program Integrity, respect for individual and world class governance Post- Acquisition: The company had effectively retained the top management of the acquired company to facilitate effective integration and to take care of the above stated cultural issues of the employees. This move coupled with effective communication has instilled confidence amongst the employees 2010 Current Executive committee which manages day to day operations of Tata Steel Europe (new name for Corus under Tata Steel) Value Chain Perspective There were significant effects that were seen on some parts of the value chain post Tatas acquisition of Corus. As already detailed above, Tata saw Corus as a strategic acquisition and took some immediate and long term steps to make the acquisition a success. Operations: This part of the value chain witnessed a saving of a whopping $103 million in 2008 09 post the integration process. Performance Improvement Teams (PITs) in 15 different areas were identified. These teams engaged in various new cost related projects in the wake of the economic recession and reduced volumes. The most important project that the teams worked on was the use of low cost coal for coke production and recycling of steel plant waste. Marketing and Sales: The acquisition of Corus gave Tata access to European markets in a very time efficient and cost efficient manner. Tata got access to the distribution network of Corus which was instrumental for its expansion in Europe. With the help of new capacity new products were introduced to cater to an expanding market in Europe. Post the acquisition, the company added flat products to Corus portfolio and thus strengthened Tatas position in the Automotive and consumer product segments. Tata globally became the 6th biggest player in the steel industry. Outbound Logistics: This function of the integrated company has undergone significant computerization and has led to more efficient supply chain management. The IT teams of Tata Steel Europe (Erstwhile Corus) are working in coordination with the IT teams of Tata Steel India to strengthen the IT support to this vertical. Both are also working to create online visibility of the operational performance of the organization. Procurement: This support function has seen significant cost savings driven by the increase in scale of the combined entity. Post the acquisition, Tata Steel Europe has appointed Lead Buyers for high value items and thus has streamlined the processes to a large extent. Contracts have been renewed for these suppliers and a resultant savings of over $40 million have been realized. Technology Development: The acquisition has provided Tata access to the latest technology and state of the art Research and Development setup. Tata has always been known for its technological excellence amongst the Indian peers but Corus took it to international standards. Post this deal, the total RD strength of the company has gone up to 1000 people. Process improvement teams have been set up leveraging the expertise of Corus for better process technologies. Through this RD set up TSE (Tata Steel Europe) has been working with various strategic partners one of them being the UK ministry of Defense. Human Resource Management: To increase efficiencies and in the wake of the economic downturn faced by the organization in FY 09, the company decided to cut its manpower costs by 20%. The target departments were IT, Finance and Human Resources. This undercutting was done through leveraging of Tata Steel Groups capabilities. A Performance Improvement Committee was set up during the integration phase and it still is responsible for knowledge transfer across the organization and adapting of best practices, which has to a great extent to Tata Steel Europe. Firm Infrastructure: Substantial steps have been taken in this regard in various departments such as finance, plants etc. This has been the pivotal point of addition in the value chain of the new company. Finance: Substantial expansion in the equity and debt resources was witnessed in order to acquire a big company as Corus. As the acquisition was essentially financed by raising substantial debt ($7.3 billion), the gross debt of the Tata Steel group stood at $10.54 billion in 2008 and increased to $11.78 billion by close of 2009. Restructuring of the debt has been witnessed in the recent past but the debt equity ratio still stood at 1.65 as at the end of FY 2009 from a low of 0.06 in FY 2006. Asset Restructuring, Integration and Divestment: With the acquisition of Corus, Tata Steel was the owner of an asset base that was thrice he size of the original Tata Steel and therefore was the need for integration of assets, divesting the obsolete assets and pairing down of overlapping assets. Immediate steps taken included closure of 4 plants and mothballing of 2 plants out of the 15 plants of Corus group. The expansion of the hot strip mill capacity at Port Talbot to 4mt. is on the table; and a decision to restructure the Corus Engineering Steels has been taken. All of this was done under the Fit for Future initiative undertaken at the merged company. Sources: Tata Steel Annual Report 2007 08 Tata Steel Annual Report 2008 09 Achieving Global Growth through Acquisition: Tatas Takeover of Corus, Journal of Case Research and in Business and Economics Tatas Acquisition of Corus: A Quantum Leap, Rashmi Malapur, The ICFAI University Press (2007) Achieving Global Growth through Acquisition: Tatas Takeover of Corus by Kimberly, Suresh and Jessica http://www.mumbaimirror.com/index.aspx?page=articlesectid=5contentid=201007022010070215213931780a91fb3 http://indiaearnings.moneycontrol.com/sub_india/compnews.php?autono=264760 http://www.tatasteeleurope.com/en/company/management/executive_committee/ http://www.financialexpress.com/news/tata-steelcorus-synergy-realises-76-mn-in-fy08/347487/