Book Report Vertigo Rushing - 2446 Words

Vertigo rushing, a teenager falls to the frigid, gravelly asphalt, blood flowing profusely from his furrowed brow. Unarmed and unaware of the varying bullets that ripped through his body, tearing muscle and bursting veins, the eighteen year old attempts to blink through the maroon fluid dripping into his eye as his face stings from the harsh contact with the road. Just a day after tomorrow, the teenager was to begin attending classes at a college. He remarks to himself that he feels awfully cold and damp. There was no rain today and an awfully nagging sensation assured the boy that something went terribly wrong. He struggles with recalling what exactly occurred. All at once he is bludgeoned with the striking realization that there are†¦show more content†¦He closes his eyes, and the relief is indescribable; a cessation from the trauma was immensely welcome. At this moment, he began to desperately cling to the hope for an afterlife and long for the compassionate God soon to be expecting him. Such is the case of Michael Brown and many others who, like him, are deceased due to an altercation with a police officer that greatly overstepped his bounds as protector, and instead became a predator. No aspect of the burglary of a young life appears justifiable, nor is the toll it places upon the individual’s friends and families. A person put in the professional position to safeguard civilians should never be pardoned for the murder of a weaponless individual, regardless if the officer feels anxiety or otherwise. A professor would not deny his students the pursuit of knowledge, and a police officer should not deny citizens their lives. So, is it not only natural for people to become concerned when a horrific and undeserving death strikes too close to home? Discovering the source from which the numerous sigils, protests, and horrific riots in Ferguson, Missouri spawned is not a demanding task in the least. In fact, it can be said to have a somber beginning with the tragic murder of a young Michael Brown. After a supposed altercation between Officer Darren Wilson and Brown over a traffic citation and

Psychoanalytic Perspective on Personality Development Free Essays

L D Assignment 1: Psychoanalytic Perspective on Personality Development Submitted By Pravin Bang Submitted To, Prof. Abhishek Kumar Psychoanalytic Theory, conceived by Sigmund Freud and developed and modified by his colleagues, students, critics and later by ‘neo-Freudians’ such as Erich Fromm in the 19th and 20th centuries, has been a significant influence and contribution to psychological research, treatment of mental illness and a general understanding of the development and functioning of the human psyche[1]. Tenets of Psychoanalytic Theory Though the field has developed into several complex branches with a variety of ideas and theoretical frameworks since its conception, some of its basic and fundamental tenets can be recognised as follows: 1. We will write a custom essay sample on Psychoanalytic Perspective on Personality Development or any similar topic only for you Order Now )Human personality is determined by, apart from hereditary characteristics, childhood environment, experiences and memories. 2. )The Human mind is divided into three ‘parts'(not physically): Conscious, Pre-conscious and Subconscious. The conscious mind is where we put things which we are currently attentive to, the pre-conscious mind is is where we put things we are aware about but which are not the subject of our attention and finally the subconscious is where we have little control or awareness about the processes or emotions, i. e. , is not reached the conscious mind. 3. )The above concept was later evolved into the idea of the Id, Ego and Super Ego, by Freud. Id is the process of the mind which operates almost solely on the ‘pleasure-principal’ and is the source of our impulses and desires, it is a part of the mind when an individual is born. Ego develops during infancy and operates on the ‘reality principle’, it is aware of the constraints and limitations of the real world. The Super ego refers to how we perceive ourselves and our moral and ethical values. In this model the function of Ego is to balance the Id and Super Ego within the constraints and limitations of the real world. 4. )Human impulses and desires originate from the subconscious mind, this has the profound consequence that we are not in control of our behaviour and drives. The main human drives are sex and aggression. Conflict and neurosis arises when the attempt to bring subconscious drives into the conscious mind meets psychological resistance, i. e. , when certain emotions are ‘repressed’ and forced to remain in the subconscious primarily because of their incompatibility with the value systems and moral standards applicable to the self as perceived by the Super Ego. This is done through ‘defence mechanisms’. Psychoanalysis and Childhood Development Psyschoanalytical theory has been an influential concept for explaining the development of an individual’s personality. The two major theories regarding this subject are Freud’s Psychosexual Development theory and Erikson’s Psychosocial Development theory. It is worth noting that both these thoeries lend great significance to childhood environment and it can be said that psychoanalytical approaches led to childhood being regarded as being of much greater psychological significance than it had been historically. Erkison’s Theory of Psychosocial Development Unlike Freud’s Psychosexual theory, Psychosocial Development regards personality being continually affected and modified throughout the individual’s lifetime. Erikson’s theory defines the the term ‘Ego Identity’ which may be explained as the individual’s perception and awareness of self developed through social interaction across his or her lifespan. Each stage in this theory is characterised by a conflict or ‘challenge’ which arises through differences in personal and sociocultural views and which the individual must resolve to grow into a better personality. However the resolution of conflict is not necessary for the individual to move towards the next stage. The eight stages of Erikson’s theory are outlined below: a. )First Stage: Starting from birth and lasting for one year, this stage involves the conflict between Trust and Mistrust, with the infant being completely dependent, the competence and consistency of his caregivers would determine whether his outlook towards the world is that of trust or mistrust. b. )Second Stage: Spanning from age two to three, this stage is characterised by the conflict between Autonomy and Shame and Doubt. At this age the child begins to develop motor abilities and is able to fulfil some of his own needs, however parents still remain a crucial support through which and under whose supervision the child starts learning tasks and begins to explore the world around him. Parents who watchfully encourage these early attempts at self-sufficiency instil a sense of autonomy and confidence in the child’s personality, however too restrictive or demanding parents may hinder the positive effects of this process and instil a sense of self-doubt and shame in the child. . )Third Stage: Seen in children of age three to six, this stage is characterised by the conflict between Initiative and Guilt. At this age children rapidly acquire new skills and knowledge, they are learning principles of mechanical causality, lingual and grammatical abilities, performing complex tasks which grant increased self-sufficiency and mastery of the world. At this age the child’s motivation for action is that of achievement, he aims to solve a purpose with the tasks he ndertakes, successful resolution of this stage leads to a sense of initiative and leadership, although undertaking tasks which are too complex or not yielding positive results may induce frustration and anger. However, if parents discredit or undermine this newfound motivation of the child he develops a sense of guilt regarding his feelings and urges for getting involved in various actions and tasks. d. )Fourth Stage: Occuring from age five to twelve, this stage is characterised by the conflict between Industry and Inferiority. During these years children become familiar with and learn about technology and crafts and become motivated to contributing to fruitful and productive action. During this stage the child develops a sense or cooperation and willingness to â€Å"do it right†. Successful resolution of this stage leads to the inoculation of industrious qualities; however failure to achieve a sense of productiveness and mastery leads to feelings of inferiority. e. )Fifth Stage: Spanning from thirteen to nineteen years of age, this stage is characterised by the conflict between Identity and Role Confusion. During adolescence, children explore their independence and develop a sense of self. Those who receive proper encouragement and reinforcement through personal exploration will emerge from this stage with a strong sense of self and a feeling of independence and control. Those who remain unsure of their beliefs and desires will feel insecure and confused about themselves and the future. f. )Sixth Stage: Covering young adulthood from age 20 to 24, this stage is characterised by the conflict between Intimacy and Isolation. During this stage people begin exploring personal relationship and the successful resolution of this stage requires the individual form close, committed relationships and leads to a sense of security. Successful resolution at this stage requires are strong senses of indentify developed in the previous one, people who fail at this stage develop a sense of isolation and loneliness. g. )Seventh Stage: Covering middle age from 25 to 64 years, this stage is characterised by the conflict between Generatively and Stagnation. The main motivation of individuals at this stage is to provide guidance to the next generation; this stage also involves forming strong, accepting and healthy familial relationships. Failure at this stage leads to a feeling of stagnation. h. )Eigth Stage: The final developmental stage, this stage is characterised by the conflict between Integrity and Despair. If the individual is able to look at the life he has led and feel accomplished then he feels a sense of integrity, however failure to do so leads to a sense of despair. Freud’s Theory of Psychosexual Development Unlike Erikson’s theory, Psychosexual Development postulates adult personality being determined only from heredity or past childhood experiences and memories. Freud outlined the stages of personality development during childhood, being characterised by certain erogenous zones and their attendant conflicts the positive resolution of which leads to a healthy personality whereas â€Å"fixation† at a particular stage, i. e. , getting stuck at the drives of a particular stage leads to negative personality traits, as follows: a. Oral Stage: The first stage of development lasting from birth to 1 years of age, at this stage children explore the world with their most sensitive zone, the mouth. Fixation at this stage leads to habits such as smoking, over eating, etc. b. )Anal Stage: This stage stars from age to and lasts unto age three, at this age children learn control over elimination of bodily waste. Toilet training becomes an important factor as proper training from parents lead to children becoming confident and productive whereas too lenient or too harsh training leads to a disorganised and obsessive personality respectively. . )Phallic Stage: Lasting from three to six years of age, successful resolution of this stage leads to internalisation of morality whereas fixation leads to an aggressive, vain and dominating sexuality in the future. d. )Latency Stage: Lasts from six years of age until puberty, successful resolution of this stage leads to development of social and people skills and ability to build and maintain relationships. e. )Genital Stage: Final developmental stage, lasts from puberty to most of the adult life, successful resolution leads to psychological independence from parents. References: 1. ) Slater, Charles L. (2003), â€Å"Generativity versus stagnation: An elaboration of Erikson’s adult stage of human development†, Journal of Adult Development 2. ) Erikson, Erik (1956). â€Å"The problem of ego identity†. Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association 4: 56–121. 3. ) Marcia, James E. (1966). â€Å"Development and validation of ego identity status†. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 3: 551–558. How to cite Psychoanalytic Perspective on Personality Development, Essay examples

5 pillars of Islam Essay Example For Students

5 pillars of Islam Essay The worship of Allah is principal in a Muslims mind at all time. There are also five formal acts of worship which help strengthen a the faith and obedience of a Muslim. They are frequently called the Five Pillars of Islam. The Five Pillars of Islam are the framework and guidelines of the Muslim life. They are the testimony of faith, prayer, supporting the needy, fasting during the month of Ramadan, and the once in a lifetime trip to Makkah for those who are able to do so. These Five Pillars are the thing Muslims do to please God and to keep themselves well and happy in this lifetime and for the future ones to come. It was Prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam, who was reported to have said, Islam is based upon five pillars. One of the five pillars is Shahadataan or Kalima. This is the declaration or testimony of faith. The declaration itself is very simple and it goes as follows: I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger. Islam is based on faith and the Unity of God. When one agrees with this statement, they are testifying upon the Unity of Allah and the message of Prophethood. When one witnesses the statement that Muhammad is His messenger, one is verifying that all the prophets before him were also His messengers showing that Allah is one and His message is one. When one declares this statement with their purity of heat and conviction of faith, they are then Muslim. The second of the five pillars is Salat. This is the name for the mandatory prayers which are to be performed five times a day. The prayer is a direct link between the worshipper and God. The is no authority like a priest, so the prayers are said by a person who is well familiarized with the Quran, which is chosen by the worshippers. The prayers contain versus from the Quran but the personal supplication may be said in ones own language. These prayers are said at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset, and nightfall. Even though it is always preferable to worship together in a mosque, a Muslim house of worship, a Muslim can pray anywhere he pleases. The Call to Prayer is a prayer which Muslims recite and the translation entails these phrases: God is most great, I testify that there is no god except God. I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God. Come to prayer! Come to success. God is most great. There is no god except God.

Parker Pen Case Study free essay sample

This particular case deals with a number of subsidiary marketing problems of PARKER, a writing instrument company, which ultimately converge into a major marketing problem. The designer of this case also has a specific objective to attain out of this case study. Wrong selection of marketing strategy by the new CEO of PARKER (Mr. Paterson) was the principal problem of this case. There are a number of subsidiary problems associated with this. Long-term The global strategy orientation plans failed in the long run of the company for the past two decades and now the re-establishment of a global strategy with multinational decentralization approach is needed. By which way can the company regain its primary position in the global market with a multinational marketing approach once again and retain the traditional qualities of the brand? In stating the problem(s) be specific, concise, and to the point. The root of all managerial and marketing problems is the ill-defined framework and biases in the decision–making procedure derived from the CEO of the company James R. We will write a custom essay sample on Parker Pen Case Study or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Peterson. Identify and list the â€Å"symptoms† to the problem and Key Facts of the Case The adaptation of a unified global marketing approach can be explained as a self-reference criterion (SRC) mistake of the CEO due to his former experience. Many companies involved in global marketing, do not rigidly centralized all their marketing effort, due to the huge variety in the culture of different region. In some cases companies made little or few adjustments in their standardized global effort to meet the requirements of different environments. But Mr. Peterson and his strategy had the rigidity in following centralized packaging, pricing, and promotional materials. This rigidity was not accepted by the customers of different culture. Pursuing the market and products of lower-end in addition to higher-end products was a devastating re-positioning decision for the company. Over the period of time PARKER established an image, as the seller of high-end products. But the new CEO suddenly started pursuing the lower-end of the market and started producing lower-priced pens. This was counter to PARKER’s tradition and image and many of its loyal customers could not accept this. Ultimately this proved to be an ill – advice for PARKER. There is another reason for the failure of the new strategy. Problems arose on the manufacturing side with the fact that repeated mechanical faults caused disturbance in the productivity of the automated production plant. Mr. Peterson fired a group of his successful managers which consisted of some veteran managers of the company. In some cases, a move was greeted with dismay by the employees within the company, which ultimately affected the productivity of the firm. Under these circumstances, company’s image was affected, which ultimately resulted into the selection of a wrong strategy for PARKER. 3. Strategic Alternatives Analysis, advantages and disadvantages of alternatives Continuing with the Previous Decentralized Strategy via enhancing presence in the local markets like before through investment in local subsidiaries and economic motivation to its past advertising agencies. This strategy may enhance sales gradually but repair the brand image and net equity in the long term. Lower End Market Product may be developed with Different Brand Name. In this strategy PARKER would try focus its efforts again on selling the upper end products in their generic brand name PARKER to keep up the tradition and image of the company at historically targeted market segments. At the same time, the company could pursue the lower end market with different brand name products, in order to achieve risk diversification and better net equity. Initially, this strategy might face some difficulties to penetrate the market but if handled with care it could earn the satisfaction of profitable segment, especially in emerging markets like Brazil, China and Turkey.

Rulers of Spain essays

Rulers of Spain essays Like around the world today, in the past of Europe there were many religious wars and struggles for power. It was a time for monarchy and parliament to rule the land, also, a time for conquering and civil wars. These things that occurred in the past made America what it is today. The Spaniards had many different rulers to live under. One of them was Isabella and Ferdinand. These people unified Spain by reducing noble power and gaining the support of the Church. They got rid of all religious opponents by the use of genocide. Another important ruler of Spain was Charles V. This ruler had a huge empire due to his inheritances. He gained Austria, Bohemia, and the Netherlands. These rulers paid the price for their unification of Spain. They drove out most of the prominent and educated people in Spain, just because they happened to be Muslim or Jew. This made Spain fall because they needed their money. They also failed to trade and industrialize because they society frowned upon that. Another nation that failed to be successful was Hungary. The Mongols constantly invaded them. Soon, half of the population was killed in war. They made progress but yet the Ottoman Turks crushed them again. Poland was a nation that failed to become independent also. Their influence was weak and they were partitioned by Russia, Prussia, and Austria. Russia was a nation made successful due to the efforts by Peter and Catherine the Great. They westernized the nation of Russia by building better seaports, making a better navy, and expanded Russian territory. Catherine the Great won control of the Black Sea of the Northern Shore because of a war with the Ottoman Turks. It was a surprise that she won this battle, but she did it because she was a wise ruler. The power struggle in Europe began because of extravagant rulers. These people believed in divine rule, meaning that God gave them the authority to rule. Like Peter and Catheri...

Canadian Blood Services IMC Essay Example for Free

Canadian Blood Services IMC Essay â€Å"Oscar Wilde once said that youth is wasted on the young. But investing in the future, the leaders of tomorrow, is more than just good business sense – it’s a necessity for survival and success† – Dr. Graham Sher, CEO of Canadian Blood Services (Pulse Magazine, 2012). Canadian Blood Services is a not-for-profit organization that operates across Canada, excluding Quebec. The objective of Canadian Blood Services is to encourage and receive blood donations through safe and secure methods to help Canadians who need blood transfusions (Canadian Blood Services, 2013). There is an increasing need for blood and blood donations across Canada. Of the current Canadian population, â€Å"the baby boomer generation remains the most loyal in terms of donating blood, while younger generations are significantly less likely to donate on a frequent basis† (Renwick-Shields, 2013). As the baby boomers age, Canadian Blood Services must find new ways to reach the younger generations, including the fastest growing segment, the Millennials. How can Canadian Blood Services increase the number of BC Millennial whole blood donors by 20,000 by March 31, 2015? The target number of donors is based on the previous years’ statistics of Millennial donations (age 17-34), according the Canadian Blood Services data provided (Bird, 2014a). The target number is a percentage of half the total Millennial population of BC in 2012, as typically only half the population is eligible to donate (Renwick-Shields, 2013). The problem statement is specific to BC as a test market. The timeline is based on Canadian Blood Services’ fiscal year, beginning April 1, 2014 and ending March 31, 2015. According to Canadian Blood Services, on average, every 60 seconds, someone in Canada requires blood or a blood product (2013). The demand for blood is not subsiding, increasing at a steady rate of 2% per year (Canadian Blood Services, 2013). To be an eligible donor, volunteers must meet many stringent requirements, including a minimum age of 17, sufficient levels of iron and hemoglobin in blood, and disclosure of health and travel history. Canadian Blood Services IMC. (2016, May 01).

Tort Law Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Tort Law - Coursework Example According to Winfield & Jolowicz (Tort, 17th ed. ; WVH Rogers ed), in order to hold the defendant liable for defamation, the claimant has to prove the following elements: 1. The statement must be defamatory; 2. The statement must refer to the claimant; 3. It must be published i.e. communicated to atleast one person other than the claimant. The aforementioned principles as applies to the present context in the following manner: 1. The statement must be defamatory: The statements made by Alex were to the effect of degrading public image of the players and team manager. Besides causing harm to their reputation in public, the statement also tends to raise ethical questions on the players and the team manager and hence lowers them in the public eye. Vide Lord Atkin’s judgement in Sim v. Strech [(1936) 52 TLR 669], it is now the settled position of law that any statement that tends to lower the claimant in the estimation of right thinking members of the society can be defamatory. Th is position has been reemphasised in several of the recent judgements as well. Therefore, it cannot be said that the statement is not defamatory and accordingly, any defence on those lines will be valid, if at all, subject to unique situation of the present case and other factual considerations. 2. The statement must refer to the claimant: In the present context, it is undisputed and clear beyond doubt that the statement made is very specific to few players and the team manager. Hence, provided that a claim is brought by the named few, this element will apply and hold good. 3. The statement must be published: In order to ascertain whether this element can be satisfied in the present context, it is necessary to analyse how ‘publication’ is interpreted at common law over a period of time. The statement vis-vis Alex, is made only to one person other than the claimant. The question therefore is – whether such an act of sharing one’s belief with another person without knowledge of the fact that such beliefs/statements would be published, amounts to ‘publication’. At common law, the element of publication is satisfied even if the defamatory statement is made to one person other than the claimant. In Crossland v. Wilkinson Hardware Stores Ltd. [(2005) EWHC 481 (QB)], it was held that slander, which is defamatory statement made orally, made to one person can have a damaging effect. Having said that, another element that needs consideration is – the potential cause of action. It is a settled principle at common law that chain of causation breaks when a statement made is published as it amounts to repetition [Ward v. Weeks (1830) 7 Bing. N.C. 211 followed in Weld Blundell v. Stephens [(1920) A.C. 945]. Thus, in the present case, there would be two causes of action available to the claimants. The first being statement made by Alex to Barbera; the second being the article published in The Daily Truth. The implications differ depending upon the claimant’s choice of action. The defendant in such cases is not liable for the published article where she did not intend such publication/repetition [Cutler v. McPhail (1962) 2 Q.B. 292]. Thus, if the claimants’ cause of action the newspaper article only, then Alex cannot be held liable as she did not intend repetition or publication of the statements made. II TORTIOUS LIABILITY OF BARBERA A. Factual matrix material to the potential lis 1. Barbera has obtained

The study of Market Entry Strategies of SGP to expand into China Literature review

The study of Market Entry Strategies of SGP to expand into China - Literature review Example During its expansion programs SGP already had bought a stake in China’s Liquid Petroleum Gas market and is looking forward to become the market leader for the product. (Forbes.com, 2010). Literature Review One of the largest Liquid Petroleum Gas distributors, SGP based in Thailand as studied focuses on its strategic move on gaining entry into the Chinese soil. To this end, Levi (2006) states that the strategy devised by a company to make its entrance into a totally new or sub-divided market is better known as the ‘market entry strategy’ for the company. These firms further adopt another strategy to support its expansion to newer markets. This strategy helps the firm to make reasonable allocation of its resources to gain the potential of effectively operating in the newer markets. Levi (2006) further states that through the employment of the ‘market entry strategy’ the firm successfully draws out a plan to tap the newer markets. The plan incorporates a n outlook through which the newer market is properly segmented and effective plan of actions are chosen to meet the demands of the target group through acquisition and expansion operations. The central component of the strategy taken by the company to enter into newer markets is constituted by ascertaining the ‘mode of entry’ by the company into the foreign market. Research made along several firms on a global scale confirms that there are mainly five modes through which a firm plans to make a foray into foreign markets. (Levi, 2006, p.34). Levi (2006) states in this regard that entry models like ‘exporting’, ‘licensing’, ‘financing’, ‘building up a joint venture with the foreign firms and establishment of subsidiaries in the foreign land are considered feasible by a firm willing to enter into foreign markets. Each of the several modes of entry has significant advantages and disadvantages which can be underlined as follows. T he company through the export mode targets to push the products produced in its own country to the foreign market. Thus the company is not required to set up a new factory in the foreign market. The company through the export mode endeavours to build huge amount of revenues by exporting a large number of products to the foreign nations. Export strategy used by the firm to enter into foreign markets however faces some distinct disadvantages. The company using such strategy may have to face the stringent regulations and market policies of the foreign market which can prove detrimental to its expansion. The cost of transferring products along the borders also tends to impose huge costs to the production firm. Again the foreign market may happen to be non-demanding to the products produced by the exporting firm. The level of obstruction can also result out from the barriers relating to difference of culture between the exporting and the receiving nation. Thus the above reasons may happe n to make the export mode unsuccessful for the exporting firm. Levi (2006) further observes that the company can also take help of transferring the license to produce a stated amount of the products and thereby to market the same in the foreign market. In that the company renders a sum to the firm in the foreign nation taking such task. The company operating through the licensing mode gains the advantage of cost for not

Napster and Apple’s Ipod Essay Example for Free

Napster and Apple’s Ipod Essay This paper deals with a through case study of the music industry in the face of change within the age of the Internet with the major focus on Napster and Apple’s ipod. In 2000 Shawn Fanning founded Napster – a file sharing program where people could download music for free and access the songs they have downloaded at any hour of the day. However, in 2000, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and a number of the big business recording labels argued that Napster was violating copyright laws, facilitating the illegal copying and distribution of copyrighted music. ’’ (Hill, 1) After Napster was in the lime light for allowing people to take advantage of free downloads, peer sharing technologies such as Kazaa were just coming into play where people were able to download music in a similar fashion. In very short order after Napster’s service was shut down, a number of new file sharing services started to rapidly gain users.’’ (Hill, 11) However there was one slight difference here, people were downloading through other people’s computers and not accessing the files via a central server and therefore it became difficult to stop this practice from taking place. The music industry responded as it had with Napster, filing lawsuits in attempt to shut down the services for copyright violation. But in this case it was more difficult to prove infringement.’’ (Hill, 11) Within the last 20 years since CD’s have been in vogue the music industry has changed. People have differing opinions regarding whether one is better than the other. It was Apple’s ipod and the Itunes online music service that revolutionized the music industry. These were the programs and applications that allowed you to purchase and listen to whatever you want but at the same time protect the artists that wrote and produced the music. It is important to look at the growth in the music recording industry since these changes took place and to see what the results and changes have been. There was strong growth in the music recording industry in the 90’s. However, when the 2000’s hit global sales dropped by 5% and continued to drop for the next three years. Many people have been blaming this negative trend on Napster. In 2003 sales dropped to a low of $32 billion in 2003. In the early 90’s the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) was concerned about consumers burning’’ songs downloaded over the Internet onto CD’s. This was such an easy process to do as you could download the files you wished to place on your CD from Napster and use a program by which you can copy CD’s. This concern was important to take into consideration because of the sheer amount of songs that were downloaded over the Internet for free and if people were downloading the songs they were not purchasing the CD’s from their favourite artists. There is a large cost in promoting an artist and the use of copyrighted material makes this process even more expensive for the artist as not as many people will be purchasing the CD’s. People would be more likely to download the songs instead of purchasing them because it is cheap (free) and easy. In the past, the music industry has always been concerned about the potential for piracy of copyrighted material. However, another trend that raised copyright infringement issues was MP3- compressed digital files that could be downloaded for free from the Internet. At the point where Napster was going through the courts certain lobbying groups were concerned with websites where people could download free MP3 files and in doing that listen to pirated music. The RIAA tried to shut down Napster because of piracy and the laws that the company had broken. During this time the music industry also tried to develop technology that would protect digital audio recordings from piracy and counterfeiting. The main problem in regard to Napster and the piracy issue is to do with the fact that Napster’s service was violating copyright, facilitating massive piracy of intellectual property and consequently stealing. There were talks about a paid subscription service to be created by Napster in 2001 but nothing ended up coming into fruition and on September 2, 2002, Napster announced its liquidation. It is clear to see why Napster has such an appeal to its audience given the fact that it was free and people could download any song that they wanted. In today’s environment people can still access peer-sharing websites however sometimes songs may be written down under a search engine listing and may even be a computer virus. Itunes is therefore giving users and artists the best of both worlds – consumers get to download the songs they want even if it is only one song off a particular album and the artist gets compensated for it. All in all, it is clear to see the vast changes that have taken place over the last decade or more and the fact that significant changes will take place in the future. The growing popularity and vast information available on the Internet is going to change the way people purchase and listen to music and people need to be aware of this as the world changes everyday and nothing lasts forever. References Hill, Charles W, The music industry in the age of the Internet: from Napster to Apple’s Ipod.

The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner :: essays research papers

In Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, the author uses the story of a sailor and his adventures to reveal aspects of life. This tale follows the Mariner and his crew as they travel between the equator and the south pole, and then back to England. The author's use of symbolism lends the work to adults as a complex web of representation, rather than a children's book about a sailor.First, in the poem, the ship symbolizes the body of man. The ship experiences trials and tribulations just as a real person does. Its carrying the Mariner (symbolizing the individual soul) and crew shows that Coleridge saw the body as a mere vessel of the soul. This symbol of a boat is an especially powerful one, because one steers a ship to an extent, yet its fate lies in the hands of the winds and currents.Secondly, the albatross symbolizes Christ. Just as the Mariner senselessly slays the bird, man crucifies Christ whose perfection is unchallenged. Even though Christ represent s mankind's one chance at achieving Heaven, man continues to persecute Him. The albatross symbolizes the sailors' one chance at deliverance from icy death and the Mariner shoots him.Thirdly, the South Pole symbolizes Hell. No visible wind blows the unfortunate crew toward the South Pole. Rather, an unseen force pulls them there. Such is the case when the world's temptations lure one to Hell. Just as the sailors approach far to close to this icy purgatory, their Redeemer, the albatross, or at least his spirit, leads them safely back in the right direction.Fourthly, in the poem England symbolizes Heaven. When the Mariner first sees his country, a great sense of hope and joy overcome him. At the point when the Mariner is about to enter Heaven, the body, symbolized by the ship, must die.

Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products, Inc. Essay

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is defined as the voluntary activities undertaken by a company to operate in an economic, social and environmentally sustainable manner. When companies operate in an economically, socially and environmentally responsible manner, and they do so transparently, it helps them succeed, in particular through encouraging shared value and social license. Management and mitigation of social and environmental risk factors are increasingly important for business success abroad, as the costs to companies of losing that social license, both in terms of share price and the bottom line, may be significant. JOHNSON & JOHNSON is a good example of a company that follows CSR. In 1982, Johnson & Johnson’s Tylenol medication commanded 35 per cent of the US over-the-counter analgesic market – representing something like 15 per cent of the company’s profits. Unfortunately, at that point one individual succeeded in lacing the drug with cyanide. Seven people died as a result, and a widespread panic ensued about how widespread the contamination might be. By the end of the episode, everyone knew that Tylenol was associated with the scare. The company’s market value fell by $1bn as a result. When the same situation happened in 1986, the company had learned its lessons well. It acted quickly – ordering that Tylenol should be recalled from every outlet – not just those in the state where it had been tampered with. Not only that, but the company decided the product would not be re-established on the shelves until something had been done to provide better product protection. As a result, Johnson & Johnson developed the tamperproof packaging that would make it much more difficult for a similar incident to occur in future. The cost was a high one. In addition to the impact on the company’s share price when the crisis first hit, the lost production and destroyed goods as a  result of the recall were considerable. However, the company won praise for its quick and appropriate action. Having sidestepped the position others have found themselves in – of having been slow to act in the face of consumer concern – they achieved the status of consumer champion. Within five months of the disaster, the company had recovered 70% of its market share for the drug – and the fact this went on to improve over time showed that the company had succeeded in preserving the long term value of the brand. In fact, there is some evidence that it was rewarded by consumers who were so reassured by the steps taken that they switched from other painkillers to Tylenol. The features that made Johnson & Johnson’s handling of the crisis a success included the following: †¢They acted quickly, with complete openness about what had happened, and immediately sought to remove any source of danger based on the worst case scenario – not waiting for evidence to see whether the contamination might be more widespread †¢Having acted quickly, they then sought to ensure that measures were taken which would prevent as far as possible a recurrence of the problem †¢They showed themselves to be prepared to bear the short term cost in the name of consumer safety. That more than anything else established a basis for trust with their customers. Johnson & Johnson published their own form of an â€Å"ethics oath† entitled †Our Credoâ€Å", as a way to communicate the mission, vision and accountability that Johnson & Johnson holds itself to for a variety of groups- doctors, nurses, patients, mothers, fathers, employees, those in the communities they operate in, as well as the global community and company stockholders. The Credo was created in 1943 by Robert Wood Johnson, a member of the founding family of the Johnson and Johnson Company. It was created just before the company became a publicly traded entity and long before the term â€Å"corporate social responsibility† was used for accountability in the workplace. On the Johnson and Johnson corporate website, they state that: â€Å"Our Credo challenges us to put the needs and well-being of the people we serve first. Our Credo is more  than just a moral compass- we believe it’s a recipe for business success. As a key player in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry, Johnson & Johnson understands the responsibility they have when it comes to providing safe products to their consumers, as the risks tied to faulty products within this industry are particularly sensitive.† As a refresher, here are some of the benefits of having your employees publicly recite an ethics oath: †¢Positive Brand Value †¢Increase in Commitment From Employees †¢Perception + Expectation= Reality †¢EVERYONE is Accountable Many companies use storytelling and the mission of previous company leaders as a way to inspire employees and get them on board when working towards company goals. In the case of Johnson and Johnson, the importance of â€Å"Our Credo† has been evident since conception, and continues to play a signifiacnt role in the company today. When looking at the above benefits that an ethics oath can provide a company, Johnson and Johnson has been able to experience the rewards associated with each of these benefits. The story of Johnson and Johnson’s â€Å"Our Credo† is a great example of the positive impact a corporate ethics oath can have on a company.

Life Resource Center Scavenger Hunt Worksheet Essay

The Life Resource Center (LRC) is a valuable free tool available to Associate Level students. Taking some time to explore this website to discover some of the many topics, resources, and tools available is a great way to find information to enhance health and wellness. Login to the student website. Click on the Programs tab at the top of the page, and then on Life Resource Center under Services. Explore the resources available on the site and use them to answer the following questions. 1. What are the three ways that students may receive counseling services through the LRC? Online, a campus, or by phone 2. What heading are the Health Tools and Health Challenges found under? Thriving tab 3. Where is the Assess Your Health tool located? Thriving tab and Health tools heading 4. What are the five categories on the Live Healthy Page? How healthy are you, Lifestyle changes, Physical fitness, Prevention and screening, Tips for healthy living. 5. Where can resources and articles about good nutrition be found on the LRC? Under the Thriving tab and healthy eating heading 6. What are three of the health topics that can be found on the LRC? Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Senior’s Health 7. What are two categories found under the Medical Care heading? Alternative and complementary medicine, Dental care 8. Where on the LRC would a person find information on addiction and recovery? Balancing tab, Addiction and Recovery heading 9. Where on the LRC would a person find information about health issues related to aging? Ageing tab and in the Health heading 10. What are three psychosocial health topics that are available on the LRC? Phobias, ADHD, and Suicide

TheRevolutionary War essays

TheRevolutionary War essays The colonists held a Second Continental Congress. They named George Washington the leader of the Continental Army. The colonists tried to make peace with the British but the British wanted to fight. The Second Continental Congress made a document up to tell the British that the colonists wanted freedom. This letter was called the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration stated things like all people are equal and that they have a right to choose who their politicians are. On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was signed and OKed. British advantages: They were a trained army, they hired German mercenaries, good leadership, and lots of money. British disadvantages: Their supplies had to be shipped from Britain, and they weren't very familiar with the land they were fighting on. American advantages: They knew the terrain, they had supplies close by. American disadvantages: They were not a trained army, they didn't have much cash. The first battles were in Boston. The British won the battle in Bunker Hill. Victories went back and forth. Then the British started winning. The American army got pushed back to Pennsylvania. Washington took his troops and crossed the Delaware river (1776). He made a surprise attack on Xmas night. They kicked British ass. The British tried to attack NY. They got beaten to a pulp in Saratoga. This was an important battle for the American army. Then the French started helping out the Americans. The French hated the British (Nowadays, the French hate EVERYONE) America ran out of cash and had to borrow from other countries George Washington was a good leader and kept the troops together during the crappy winter. They were stationed at Valley Forge. It was cold as hell. Then Britain and America took the fighting out to sea. The British had a real kick ass navy. America had a crappy navy, but they still messed up some British cargo ships ruining the...

Impact of Social Media on Adolescent Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Impact of Social Media on Adolescent - Essay Example The most threatening issues related to an adolescent with regards to social media is the problem of cyber-bullying. According to Ahlfors,† Cyber-bully is a person who uses electronic means to cause emotional harm to another person. The perpetrator demonstrates a pattern of behavior of repeatedly engaging in online acts to humiliate another; either the same target or targets each time or against random, unknown targets† (Ahlfors, 2010, p. 516). It has been argued that individuals who stay away from bullying in real life tend to divert to cyber-bullying as it seems more attractive. Furthermore, the lack of supervision in online activities, as well as the feeling of being in total control, works as a fueling factor. The behaviors might revert to extremes when there is no system present which would hold them accountable for their deeds. On the other side, the people being bullied tend to be hesitant in reporting such misdemeanors because of the fear of being deprived of the m edia. In addition, according to a research conducted by CASA survey, it was revealed that young adults between the ages of 12-17, who are active social media users, are more likely to use tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana than other young adults. However, the survey also claims that the results merely show correlation, hence, social media can’t be blamed for causing such addictions amongst adolescent. Nonetheless, it provides ample evidence for parents to maintain a moderate amount of social media exposure for the young adults. It is important to limit the number of online hours allowed, moreover, sufficient supervision is also necessary to keep an eye on the media activities. Furthermore, according to a study, it was deduced that social media is also responsible for mental and psychological distress among adolescents. It has been evidenced that individuals who had a simple adolescent life went on to being mentally disturbed adults when exposed to social media. The reasons for the psychological effects have known to be the negative feedback on these social websites which lay an important role in adversely affecting an individual’s self esteem. Hence, it is important that limited personal information

Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

Marketing - Essay Example Marketing can be considered both a science and an art. Marketing is a science because there are many marketing tools that required the use of the scientific method. There are many different marketing theories and concepts that must be learned to understand the science of marketing. Marketing can be viewed as an art because marketing tools such as advertising require the use of imagination and creativity. There are many different marketing challenges and opportunities companies face today. A great opportunity is the rise of mobile advertising. Marketers can utilize the rising popularity of smartphones such as the iPhone to deliver marketing ads to mobile users. There are over 4.7 billion cellular users worldwide. A marketing challenge corporations are facing today is the rising cost of marketing through the traditional channels which are television, radio, and the press. DQ2 A trend that I have noticed in the macro-environment is the use of marketing board signs using screen technolog y that are capable of changing electronic messages. These boards are tremendous marketing tools that can be used to serve the needs of multiple clients. One of the hottest trends in the retail industry is the growing popularity of ecommerce. The internet has become a great mechanism to achieve sales. In 2010 in the United States ecommerce generated $147 billion in sales. Another trend in the marketing field is the growing use of diversity to obtain greater marketing results. Since the internet has become more popular than ever before companies are using aggressive online marketing strategies to achieve sales growth. DQ3 The three videos are no longer available due to copyright infringement violations. I believe that innovation can be obtained by listening to the customers. The ideas and feedback from the customers can be incorporated into the product design phase. The R&D department should perform primary research to evaluate the needs of the customers. 4. The marketing function whi ch I consider acts similarly to art is advertising. Marketers have to be creative just like artists in their creation of commercials. Creating characters is a great way to catch the imagination of the customers. The insurance giant Geico created the Gecko character which is used in a series of television commercials. Marketing is a science evidenced by the fact that there exist thousands of books and articles written on the academic subject. Marketing is taught as an academic discipline across the world. Marketing is one the seven branches of business administration. 5. The philosophy followed by Mr. Ishisaka at Toyota makes a lot of sense. It is imperative to listen to the customers in order to create products that the market will accept. Toyota does a lot of research to determine how to best serve their clientele. I do not think that Toyota lost track of the customer in relation to their recent problems. The quality control problems that cause the defective brakes are something th at was not foreseen by the company. It is possible that the firm became too confident and as consequence the company quality standards deteriorated. The company would never intentionally put the lives of its customers at risk. 6. In your response you mentioned that marketing is not selling. Marketing might not be selling, but selling is one of the most important aspects of marketing. Accountants are not responsible for the sales of the company, but marketers are. The success of a lot of marketing initiates is measured in terms of how much revenues were generated due to the marketing initiative. To justify an ad campaign the marketer has to convince the manager that the project will increase the revenues of the company. Marketing has other important functions such as servicing the needs of the customers. 7. Marketing is a science because it analyzes information using models, theories, and concepts. The use of marketing can help a company increase its brand value. Branding enables com panies to achieve higher sales at better profit margins. A product that has brand

Multivariate Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Multivariate Analysis - Essay Example The huge capacity of research in the field of modeling of the real world processes along with handling of several input and output variables is obvious. All these situations can be considered as multivariate due to the presence of multiple variables. Multivariate Analysis: Multivariate analysis techniques identify the relationship patterns among a number of variables at one time. Multivariate analysis techniques are generally used for, Development of classification systems. Enquiring ways to group and use data items. Generation and testing of hypothesis. Selected Papers The research papers selected for the study are listed as follows, 1. A Study of Diversification in banking sector with special reference to Finance, by Yaseen Ahmed Meenai, IBA, Karachi, Pakistan. 2. Performance measurement by Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA): A study of banking sector in Pakistan by Sultan Jahanzaib, Bilal Muhammad, Zaheer Abbas. International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan. 3. The Comparison of Principal Component Analysis and Data Envelopment Analysis in Ranking of Decision, by Filiz KARDYEN and H.Hasan ORKCU, Turkey. The sources of these research papers are indicated in the references. The rationale of selection: Keeping in mind the major field of study as ‘finance’, these papers are selected to study the application of multiple multivariate analysis techniques in the field. Following paper wise description clarifies the selection criteria to a better extent. Research paper 1, discusses the growth of consumer financing in Pakistan during the early years of the first decade of this century. The purpose is served through the selection and study of the data generated by ten financial institutions in this era. To support the hypothetical claim of a boom in performance during this period, two multivariate analysis techniques namely Profile Analysis and Correspondence Analysis are used. The second research paper is also related to the banking sector in Pakista n. The relevance with the field of finance becomes the main reason for the selection of this paper as well. The added reasons are that the paper exhibits the application of a unique non statistical multivariate technique namely Data Envelopment Analysis. This technique is used to comment on the efficiency and effectiveness of the DMUs (banks). The hypothesis presented claims no correlation between efficiency and effectiveness. The result of analysis supports the hypothesis. Research paper 3 is selected mainly to enhance the knowledge of multivariate techniques studied and learnt in this research so far. This paper is taken as an extension to the previous one as it compares the Data Envelopment Analysis with a purely statistical multivariate analysis technique namely Principle Component Analysis. The case study (a bit financial) and data selected for the comparison is related to the ranking of multiple European Union Countries in terms of economy. The paper stands out as it proves th at PCA could be used instead of DEA for ranking the DMUs (counties in this case) as effectively as DEA. The paper highlights the procedural differences of both the techniques as well. The Techniques: Profile Analysis This technique takes the data in tabular manner to consider the row wise or column wise profiles. The visualization of data through profile analysis enhances the understanding of data. The factors like relative inclination or decline and percentage

Leadership Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 12

Leadership - Assignment Example Leadership style: Consultative. This is a problem that is long overdue. In other words, it needs a very effective and promising solution. Being unsure about a solution needs further consultation from highly capable followers who possess expertise to assist you in making decisions. Leadership style: Participative. Although it is important to synchronize the working hours, I need to realize that my followers are very capable and love making decisions. If I insist my decision to impose 8 working hours, they might feel different about it and it may affect their performance at work. Seen this way, it is better to ask them what would be the best solution to the problem and consider all their opinions. That way, they would feel that their inputs are valued and at the end of the day, whatever decisions we may come up to, everyone is willing to follow it without compromising productivity. Leadership style: Consultative. As a leader, I am more aware of the working attitudes of my followers. Since I have plenty of time to decide, I can spend some of that time in gathering inputs from my followers since they are the ones who will directly be affected by my decision. Leadership style: Autocratic. The success of the change relies on me. In other words, my decision is very critical. Considering that my followers are not interested in making routine decisions, I have to be the assertive decision-maker in the team. Leadership style: Autocratic. Looking at the situation, it is clear that it comes with time pressure. There is no sufficient time to discuss the situation with your followers since an immediate decision is needed. I think that autocratic leadership would salvage the job since my followers are both capable and cooperative anyway. Leadership style: Empowerment. This is a difficult case since you are dealing with work and emotions. Hence, it is best to provide a neutralizing factor that will not compromise the top management’s decision, at

The corporate management mechanisms used by Nestle

The corporate management mechanisms used by Nestle The writer believes it will be reasonable to first define cross business synergies and then relate it to the analysis of the Nestle case study provided. According to Martin et al (2003), cross business synergies is defined as understanding and recognizing the value which can be created and captured, over a period of time, by the sum of the business units together with regards to what it would have been individually. This assignment is based on the Nestle case study in 2008 from De Wit and Meyer (2010). The aim is to write a report that will critically evaluate the Nestle organization at the corporate level to identify the cross business synergies, corporate growth directions throughout its history. The assignment will also highlight the corporate management mechanisms used by Nestle to leverage its synergies and outline the future scenarios for the company corporate level strategy. Identifying the cross-business synergies within the organization throughout its history According to the case study, Nestle replicated its milk district model that was initially introduced in Switzerland to ensure sufficient milk supplies in 1870s and modified it by adding value to it and facilitating the availability of the product across the continents, example, Latin America, Asia, Caribbean, African and Inner Mongolia. This shows that the company recognized that choices varies across continents and by adding value to the original product (milk) to make it easy to use and available in other continents represents a synergy which was created and captured. Another important cross-business synergy in the history of the company is the Research and Development, RD. Nestle understood the limitations and challenges involved in starting a new company that will stand alone and compete favourable with competitors in a new market and therefore, utilized the combined strength of its businesses to invent new products, Nescafe, (a soluble instant coffee) by the help of its RD team. Nescafe remain one of the largest brands in the world and have changed the way we drink coffee across the world today by making coffee drinking fun, stylish, ready to use, high class and tastier. Also important is the production of another brand Nestea (an instant tea), and the chocolate powder Nesquik by the same drying process used in making Nescafe. Furthermore, from the case study, Nestle reinvigorated Nesquik originally sold in the form of a powder used in milk into syrup form and into ready to drink varieties, this is also a very important cross business synergy for Nestle, which provided an easy access to coffee drinking in restaurants, hotels, cafe, and made the products affordable, available, and to suit individual taste and choice. Another cross business synergy was in leveraging marketing approach which helped the company to build expertise in various business units and invention of new products through its Research laboratories to launch a platform for growth which eventually increased sales and generated increase market revenue. An important cross-business synergies within the organization is GLOBE (Global Business Excellence), this is a comprehensive information system which used by Nestle to secure and bring together the companys businesses together under a common and unique technology infrastructure. Globe was used by the company to capture data and to standardized data which is based on the same definitions and units. This enables Nestle to have a unified system and measurement across its business units anywhere in the world, manage information, and create knowledge that could be transferred and shared across its business units, and provided a better customer management system, thereby building customer confidence and promoting the quality of their products across the continents. Furthermore, GLOBE provided synchronization of data between manufacturers and retailers, which resulted in an improved order fulfillment. The system also enabled retailers to add new products to their store stocks simply by clicking the mouse of their computer. Another cross business synergy is the invention of new nutrition, health and wellness vision by basic scientific research and state of the art tools such as nutrigenormics. This allowed Nestle to improve consumer healthcare, fitness and weight management, by making their products healthier and reducing fatty acids. Corporate Growth Direction of the Company throughout its history Figure 1 Corporate Growth Direction From the case study, one of Nestle corporate growth came in the direction of Horizontal integration. This represents a horizontal integration because the company expanded forward within the food business by merging with a known food processing industry Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk also a food business. The merger provided the company with more resources and capital to expand their products and later added Chocolate to their brand in 1905. (See figure 1.) The growth continued in the horizontal integration trend and expanded to other countries example, Britain, U.S., Spain, and Germany, where they operated their processing plant. The growth within the industry continued horizontally and allowed the company to expand into Brazil, Australia, and established their presence in Singapore and Hong Kong. The company merged with Maggi, Europe large producer of food enhancer and prepared food such as soup, which indicates that the company continued to expand and grow within its food industry. Nestle continued the chain of growth towards the horizontal integration direction and acquired several businesses example, canned and frozen food, bottled water and pet foods. Nestle diversified for the first time outside the food industry, and in 1974, the company became a major shareholder in LOreal, one of the worlds largest producers of cosmetics, with a 25 percent interest in the French company. Nestle undertook a second step outside food industry by acquiring Alcon Laboratories, a U.S. company which specialized in eye care products in 1977. This growth direction is called Horizontal Diversification, since it was the first time the company moved outside of its business industry. The company continued its growth in the direction of horizontal integration under new management (Maucher era) and In 1985, acquired the American food giant Carnation for $3 billion, which was regarded as one of the largest in the history of food industry during the time. From the case study, Nestle moved away from the Agricultural and processing roots and sold their Cocoa and processing plants ending their growth towards the Backward Vertical Integration direction and involvement with their supplier business. This pointed out that Nestle was moving in the Horizontal direction and has kept their competitive advantages gained over the years by continuing in the same horizontal growth direction i.e. Horizontal diversification. and Horizontal Integration. From the analysis, the writer believes that Nestle may no longer be interested in the Vertical growth direction, this may be evidence by the statement from its new CEO Brabeck who commented that the company want to reduce cost and devote more attention to other businesses that adds value There were also major acquisitions during Brabeck tenure which solidified the company position in key areas such as bottled water, coffee, ice cream, and infant formula, and also the company decision to dissociate from the Agricultural and processing business Thereafter, Ralston Purina was acquired in 2001; the pet food business has become a recognized name around the world. The company diversified horizontally again during Brabeck tenure beyond its technology and traditional line of products and processing food towards a wider vision of nutrition, health and wellness. To continue its platform for growth, the company made three important acquisitions: by acquiring Jenny Craig, a U.S chain of weight loss centre in 2006, providing Nestle a platform of moving into weight management. Novartis Medical Nutrition in 2007, which helped Nestle to strengthen their position in the area of healthcare nutrition, and the Novartiss Gerber baby foods business in 2007, thereby extending Nestlà ©s leadership in all the areas of infant nutrition. This showed that the company became interested in the healthcare and fitness business. The corporate Management Mechanisms used by Nestle to leverage its synergies The three management mechanisms used by managers to leverage synergies are: Centralization, Coordination and Standardization. These will be applied to the case study in order to discuss the corporate management mechanisms used by Nestle to leverage its synergies already identified in this assignment. One of the synergies identified earlier in this assignment was the replication of Nestle milk district model in Switzerland by modifying the product. This was possible from the writers point of view because the company retained the same standardization process and procedure which has already proved successful in Switzerland. The company simply repeated the process and then added value to the product which eventually resulted in an improved quality for consumer satisfaction and then introduced the product to other countries, example, Britain, Germany, Spain, Asia and Australia, Africa etc. Another corporate management mechanisms used by Nestle in leveraging its Research and Development are Coordination and Standardization. From the writers point of view, the establishment of the research laboratories requires the coordination of Nestlà ©s resources, activities, product offering and integration of its business units together to build world class research laboratories, and Standardization integration resulted because the company used the same process to replicate, modify and re-invent new products. Furthermore, other identified synergies were the reinvigoration of Nesquik originally sold in the powder form into syrup form. The management mechanism applied in this process is standardization mechanism. According to the passage, Nestle used the same drying process in making Nescafe and re-invented it to produce Nestea an instant tea and Nesquik a syrup form. Also of interest is the leverage of the GLOBE system using a standardized system, which synchronized data, improved information management and created knowledge that could be transferred across Nestlà ©s business unit and allowed customers to add new products to their inventories by a click of mouse. Again, the companys leverage of market approach which created a platform for growth and increase sales was based on the standardized integration mechanism system from the writers point of view. This is because Nestle continued in the same level of progress, growth direction and transferred the same management mechanism already tested and applied in some countries into other continents, which led to a rapid growth in sales and market revenue. The 60/40 benchmark standard used by the company to improve their nutrition, health and wellness and reduced fatty acids was also based on the standardized integration mechanism. According to the CFO, the process was based on taking out salts, fatty acids and sugar and putting in omega 3, whole grains and calcium to give it a healthier profile. The Future Scenario for Nestlà ©s corporate level strategy, based on the integrated organization and portfolio organization perspective One of the future scenarios for Nestle corporate level strategy is: how the company can remain relevant and dynamic and at the same time provide essential industry leadership in areas such as sustainable sourcing while keeping products affordable Firstly, based on the integration organization approach, the company should remain customer driven, always adding value to their products and improving the quality of their products by emphasizing their core competencies. Nestle should regard competencies as the core of coordination and to place their synergies at the heart of their company. They should continue to innovate and re-invent through their various RD centres, and integrate their multi business units. The company should promote synergies more than responsiveness; they should make acquisition infrequent and focus more on internal growth as stated by Bulcke the CEO. Building their business core competence should remain their strategic plan, while remaining tactical with their suppliers and sourcing of raw material. This is realizable by continuing their strategy of buying their agricultural products directing from farmers and encouraging continuity of their supplier business. These will ensure that prices are kept low and affordable while the premium quality is not affected. Besides, Integrated approach encourages looking after the brands to enable it remain relevant to customers in order to generate more sales. Consequently, the writer thinks that achieving the future ambition will be difficult using the portfolio approach. According to the portfolio approach, responsiveness should be strongly emphasized over synergies. This is risky because it may result in loss of synergies and brands. Nestle has several billionaire brands already established across the world. It will be unreasonable to risk losing any of them. Besides, portfolio approach does not encourage internal growth but is well suited to diversification through acquisition, which is contrary to the CEO vision for the future growth direction of the company from the case study. Portfolio perspective only leverage financial resources and does not recognize any synergies which are not financial related. The second scenario is to understand how Bulcke intend to balance local autonomy with global coordination. Based on the integrated organization approach, the company should balance local autonomy with global coordination by giving country managers reasonable degree of autonomy in matters dealing with the customers, they should integrate resources, activities and position along multi business synergies. Such coordination of work across multi business unit boundaries will result in the ability to operate in such a way that seems like the various part were actually in one units. The company should place the corporate centre at the forefront of competitive strategy. They should maintain the standardization activities, example GLOBE which synchronized data and information system management across the businesses. Based on the portfolio approach, the efficiency of the cash flow and balancing the business risk are regarded as more important. Portfolio approach supports, activities and produc ts offering to be split along business unit lines, hence global coordination may be difficult to realize. From the case study, Nestle future plan shows that the company will move towards an integrated organization approach. According to Bulcke, Nestle future growth will come from internal growth. The company is re-focusing its corporate strategy from the past. Nestle intend to build on their core competences and strength which according to their CEO is their products, RD, global presence, people, brand portfolio and Nestle culture. From the writers point of view, integrated approach will reinforce the companys product profile in the market and keep them very competitive by being focused, and put in more emphasis on developing and building their synergies rather than defending business unit responsiveness. The company has gained enormous synergies by sharing advances in their basic and applied sciences and research, which also helped to rapidly increase developments. Following the integration approach will ensure that Nestle does not lose their synergies or its billionaire brands through lack of invention and innovation. Nestle RD was identified as a fantastic platform for future growth, therefore, the management need to continue to leverage it better by building on the core competencies developed by the team of scientists and researchers, and integrating the multi-business units, activities, resources, and looking after their brands by supporting RD and invention programs. Nonetheless, the writer believes that the company may not be able to realize their internal growth ambition by adopting the portfolio organization approach. This is because Nestle culture over the years has been anticipation and being proactive rather than reactive according to the CEO, which showed that the company favours synergies rather than responsiveness. The company intends to focus more on reinforcing their brand, and capitalizing on their core competence for growth which does not agree with the portfolio approach. From the grow direction trend shown in figure 1. It appears that the company are not seeking to enter into any buyers or supplier business or pursuing new business opportunities towards the vertical direction but rather focusing on reinforcing their existing brand and building on their area of expertise. Conclusion This assignment has answered various questions based on the case study provided. The writer has identified the synergies which has enabled Nestle to expand its businesses globally. The growth direction of the company was also outlined and discussed with various analyses given. Furthermore, the writer highlighted the management mechanisms which relate to corporate level strategy and related it to the case study. Finally, the future scenarios of the company was outlined and discussed. Based on the discussions on integration and portfolio organization approach, the writer believes that the company will be better suited to realize its future vision and programs by adopting the integrated organization approach. This assignment presented an interesting discussions and an insight into the history and activities of a giant food industry Nestle. References Martin, and Eisenhardt, 2001,: 3. Cross-business synergy: Recombination, modularity and the multibusiness team. Bob De Wit and Ron M eyer. Strategy Process, Content, Context, an international perspectives fourth editiomn.

The Reality of Divorce in American Society Essay -- Divorce Marriage R

The Reality of Divorce in American Society As with most life transitions, divorce can be liberating, depressing, frustrating, or traumatic to any person who experiences it. Perhaps the most painful part on the process of divorce is when the children get involved and when they all get trapped in the situation. These children may suffer significant losses in their lives and unless the situation can be handled in a civil manner, they will become prone to the psychological torment that could affect them for the rest of their lives. The issue of divorce however is becoming more and more intense since for the past ten years the divorce rate in the United States has skyrocketed to a record high of almost fifty- percent. It is also believed that the divorce rate in the United States is the highest in the world and the reason for this are primarily the ever-changing role of the husbands and wives in their household, early marriage, infidelity, extra marital affairs, domestic violence, financial instability and psychological incapacity . The issue of divorce is not only the main problem in the American society of today. The custody issue on who is going to gain the right to take care of the children wholly is also a tough one. For the past decade, divorce and the custody battle have rapidly become a significant life event for perhaps millions of Americans each year. â€Å"There were more than two million divorces each year, affecting 3 million adults and more than two million children (Thompson, Parting 18).† Thus we can prognosticate that the American family of today is definitely ill and is in great need of a revival. The first and probably the most important step in order for couples to have a solid relationship is education. Education is the key to lowering divorce rate. Divorce is one of those issues where private and personal behavior exacts a huge public cost, â€Å"but because divorce and marriage are such intensely personal issues, most citizens are loath to support any program that injects government into the process (Uncoupling 223).† We share the view that new laws or public programs cannot solve this crisis. However, it seems equally clear we cannot sit idle as divorce ravages families and society. Couples who are planning to get married should somehow take a step in advance to learn about the process of marriage and the circumstances that surround it. The... ...use for this emotion. Another negative and most common feeling that arises is that of distrust. Trust is a two-way street. Both partners must not only trust, but also be trustworthy through sharing experiences with one another. Marriage is a very joyful event in a person’s life. However, unless much can be done in order to redefine the status of what marriage is all about, divorce and other marital problems will continue to arise tremendously. Divorce is tumultuous event in a married couple’s life. It does not only affect the financial status of the household, but rather it also affects the people that comprises the family especially the children. Families are experiencing many problems today, but the role of divorce in this picture has been frequently overlooked because its destructive effects have been subtle, yet insidious. When the divorce rate increased in the 1960s, few would have predicted its dire consequences three decades later. Yet divorce has changed both the structure and the impact of the family. Intimacy, time, effort trust and love is the key to have a peaceful and healthy relationship. Marriage for life is God's ideal, but divorce is a reality in our society.

Asia europe transport problems

Recent political and economic developments at the global and regional levels have resulted in a more conducive development environment in the Asian and Pacific region and the opening-up of opportunities for international trade and tourism development for the developing countries of the region, including those which are landlocked. Nevertheless, the lack of unhindered access to the sea adds transport costs and time to international trade transactions. In addition, landlocked countries face greater transport risks and hazards than countries which have direct access to nternational sea routes.The United Nations has addressed the specific concerns of landlocked countries in a number of documents. Among those which are directly related to transport are the following: General Assembly resolution 50/97 of 20 December 1995 on specific actions related to the particular needs and problems of landlocked developing countries; â€Å"Global framework for transit transport cooperation between land locked and transit developing countries and the donor community† (TD/B/LDC/AC. /6); â€Å"Problem of physical infrastructure development of the landlocked countries, ncluding economies in transition† (E/ESCAP/SREC(7)/3); and â€Å"Progress report on measures designed to improve the transit transport environment in Central Asia† (A/ 51/288). With Just-in-time delivery becoming almost a prerequisite for efficient international trade, particularly in an increasingly competitive market environment, adequate attention must be given to resolving problems in transport areas which are crucial for the efficient development of the international trade of landlocked countries.The inauguration in May 1996 of a new rail line linking the Islamic Republic of Iran nd Turkmenistan, thus completing a new â€Å"silk rail route† from China to Europe via the landlocked countries of Central Asia; the priority attention of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the development of the ne cessary physical infrastructure, as well as bilateral and multilateral agreements for international transport particularly to and from Central Asia; the establishment in May 1996 of a forum for the comprehensive development of regions along the second Europe-Asia continental bridge which is of importance to Mongolia and the landlocked countries of Central Asia; the initiative of he Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) on the development of a rail link from Singapore through Malaysia, Thailand, Viet Nam or the Lao People's Democratic Republic and on to Kunming, China; and the recently completed study of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) on transport and transit needs, including those of Nepal and Bhutan, are vivid illustrations of the commitment of the member countries of ESCAP to the development of a land transport network in Asia in The present note highlights some of the issues and problems of physical and soft nfrastructure in the main modes of transport (with emphasis on land transport, inland waterways and connections to seaports) which serve the landlocked countries in the region, namely Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bhutan, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Mongolia, Nepal, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. l.MAJOR ISSUES AND PROBLEMS IN THE TRANSPORT SECTOR To improve the efficiency and competitiveness of international trade and tourism in the landlocked countries of the region, the following issues relating to major modes of transport need to be addressed: (a) choice of alternative transit routes; b) reduction of transit costs and time along the transport routes; and (c) cooperation among the organizations concerned. A. Choice of alternative transit routes Although many of the landlocked countries in the region have several potential routes to seaports, most of them are heavily dependent on one main transit route because of limited resources and, in some cases, the limited opt ions open to them in the past as a result of the political situation at that time.This render these countries vulnerable to disruption of transit services owing to national disasters, technical and operational breakdowns, labour disputes and conflicts. Moreover, in view of regionalization and globalization of economic development, different access routes to different seaports may be required for efficient transport of goods to trade partners located in different parts of the globe. Therefore, it is important for any landlocked country to have a choice of transit land transport routes (and inland waterways if applicable) to the main seaports in Asia, as well as a choice of air transport routes and connections to major subregional, regional and global destinations. In addition, in view of the development of trade within Asia, as well as betweenAsia and Europe, there is an increasing demand for reliable and efficient intra-Asia and Asia-Europe land bridges with connections to landlocke d countries in the region. The landlocked countries need to be part of an integrated approach to the development of an intra-Asia and Asia-Europe land transport network of international importance. 1. Formalization of the international land transport network in Asia The Commission at its forty-eighth session, held in Beijing in April 1992, endorsed comprising the Asian Highway; the Trans-Asian Railway; and facilitation of land ransport, as a priority for phase II (1992-1996) of the Transport and Communications Decade for Asia and the Pacific.The objective of the project is to assist in creating a land transport network in Asia to facilitate international trade and tourism. The route selection criteria include capital-to-capital links and connections to main industrial and agricultural centres, and connections to major seaports and river ports, as well as to major container terminals and depots. The network should also provide interregional land transport linkages, particularly with the region of the Economic Commission for Europe. The project enjoys support from 25 ESCAP members, including all the landlocked countries except Armenia, Azerbaijan and Bhutan which have yet to Join the project. Armenia and Azerbaijan, however, are participating in activities that are related to ALTID.With the successful implementation of phase I (1994-1995) of the ALTID project, considerable progress has been achieved in the formulation of the international land transport network in Asia linking landlocked countries. The Asian Highway network (see figure l) has been revised in the southern corridor connecting the Islamic Republic of Iran – South Asia – South-East Asia (which includes he landlocked countries of Afghanistan, Nepal and the Lao People's Democratic Republic), and a new network formulated in the corridor South-East Asia – China – Mongolia. A study on the development of highway networks in the landlocked Asian republics (Armenia, Azerbaijan, K azakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) to identify the potential Asian Highway routes in those countries was completed in 1996.The Trans-Asian Railway network includes the following land bridges between Asia and Europe: Europe-Russian Federation and/or China-Korean peninsula; Europe-Islamic Republic of Iran-Central Asia-China (New Silk Railway); Europe-Islamic Republic of Iran-South Asia-South-East Asia. With the completion during phase I ofa feasibility study on connecting the rail networks of China, Kazakstan, Mongolia, the Russian Federation and the Korean peninsula, and a project on the Trans-Asian Railway in the Indo-China and ASEAN subregions, the network has been formulated in the northern corridor of the Asia-Europe routes (see fgure II) which includes the landlocked countries of Kazakstan and Mongolia, and in the Indo-China and ASEAN subregions (see figure Ill), the Lao People's Democratic Republic.A potential Trans- Asian Railway network in the sout hern corridor of the Asia-Europe routes (of importance to Afghanistan and Nepal) was also identified (see fgure ‘V) through a related preliminary study. The Commission at its fifty-second session reiterated its strong support for the ALTID project and emphasized the importance of its completion and of improving the operational efficiency of both the Asian Highway and Trans-Asian Railway networks, including the Asia-Europe links, at the earliest possible date. The Commission adopted resolution 52/9 of 24 April 1996 on Intra-Asia and Asia-Europe land bridges. rogramme of the New Delhi Action Plan on Infrastructure Development in Asia and the Pacific.It also approved the plan of action for the implementation of phase II (1996-1997) of the ALTID project, which includes a detailed study on the southern corridor of the Trans-Asian Railway, and it decided that a study on the development of the Railway in the corridor connecting South-East and North-East Asia (including the Lao People 's Democratic Republic and Mongolia) should be undertaken and that similar studies on the development of the Asian Highway and the Trans-Asian Railway in the corridor connecting northern Europe with the Russian Federation to the landlocked countries of Central Asia and the Islamic Republic of Iran should be included in the projected phase Ill (1998-1999) of the project. 13. When completed and fully operational for the whole of Asia, the land transport network could provide landlocked countries in the region with a choice of alternative land transport routes to major seaports in Asia, and land transport and land-cum-sea links to any other country in Asia and Europe.However, to realize such a potential, the landlocked countries must have unhindered access to the network. . Unhindered access to the international land transport network in Asia The construction of the regional land transport network and all related infrastructure is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for reliable and efficient international transport. A legal framework is also required to provide the basis for unhindered access to the routes for efficient international trade and tourism. A coordinated plan for the development of international land transport routes and services based on agreed performance parameters and standards is also essential.This has been vividly demonstrated by the experience of Europe, where the ollowing four major all-European transport agreements have been adopted: (a) The European Agreement on Main International Traffic Arteries (AGR Agreement) of 1975, which defines the major European roads and establishes uniform technical characteristics; (b) The European Agreement on Main International Railway Lines (AGC Agreement) of 1985, which determines the major lines and infrastructure parameters of the European railway network; (c) The European Agreement on Important International Combined Transport Lines and Related Installations (AGTC Agreement) of 1991, which is the first European ultilateral treaty governing international combined road/rail container and piggyback transport; (d)International infrastructure agreement covering European inland waterways Oanuary 1996). recommended that a legal framework should be developed for Asia in the form of ESCAP agreements on the Asian Highway and Trans-Asian Railway, taking into consideration the related experience of the European Union. With such ESCAP agreements in place, all the countries in Asia, including the landlocked countries, would enjoy free access to road and rail transport routes of international importance. 3. Inland waterways of international importance to some of the landlocked countries in Asia Inland water transport can play an important role for the regional or international trade of some landlocked countries.A number of rivers in these countries can potentially provide the cheapest means of communication with neighbouring countries, or even through them to other countries in the world. For instance, a number of tributaries of the Brahmaputra River flow out of Bhutan through India to Bangladesh; the Lao People's Democratic Republic is bordered or bisected by the Mekong River which flows through China, Myanmar, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Thailand, Cambodia and Viet Nam; Mongolia gives rise to the Yenisey, the Angara and the Amur-Heilongjiang rivers which link the country to China and the Russian Federation; and Nepal has three of the four largest tributaries of the Ganges River flowing from India to Bangladesh.The improvement and development of inland water transport infrastructure and services would benefit all of these countries in various ways, including cost savings, environmental protection and energy savings. In addition, transit by water is more easily accepted by operators of seaports located at river mouths and it is less prone o losses, pilferage and breakage than transit by road and rail. At the present time, however, the rivers are not fully u tilized for navigation in most landlocked countries. Most of the rivers are still in a natural state without appropriate improvement and marking. Water levels in the rivers are not always regular or sufficient and the gradient is often very steep. In some river sections, the waterways are full of rapids and shoals which endanger vessel navigation or even interrupt it entirely.Some rivers are blocked with siltation, cables, pipelines, bridges, dams and other structures along or crossing them. Few aids to navigation are nstalled to mark the navigable channels in the rivers. All these factors limit the free use of the rivers for transport. However, the potential of inland water transport for international trade should be evaluated. In order to promote the use of rivers for transport which would serve the needs of landlocked countries, ESCAP is implementing several projects under the regional action programme of the New Delhi Action Plan on Infrastructure Development, which was launched by the Ministerial Conference on Infrastructure in October 1996.One of the projects is on the harmonization of requirements relating to international mportance of common or well harmonized rules, and provide guidance with regard to navigation rules, aids to navigation, the carriage of dangerous goods, facilitation measures and waterway classifications for internationally navigable rivers. Another important project is on the development of inland water transport infrastructure and services. This project includes a regional strategic study for the development of inland water transport in the ESCAP region. An intensive investigation will be carried out to identify the problems faced by the inland water transport sector. The situation ill be compared with successful experiences in other parts of the world.This study should provide a clear picture of the advantages and disadvantages of inland water transport in specific situations, identify opportunities for development and suggest regi onal actions and national policy options to expand the use of rivers for navigation in the ESCAP region. Expert group and policy-level meetings will be held to discuss the findings and suggestions of the study. Necessary follow-up actions will be taken at both the regional and national levels. With regard to some landlocked Asian republics, the same opportunity may exist or transit transport through inland waterways. Specific studies need to be carried out to identify the potential for the expanded use of inland waterways. 4. Air transport It goes without saying that reliable and efficient air transport is crucial for the economic and social progress of landlocked countries.While the emphasis in this paper is on related aspects of land transport, inland waterways and maritime linkages and transport, the following activities of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) have been included in the regional action programme 1997-2001) of the New Delhi Action Plan on Infrastruc ture Development in Asia and the Pacific and endorsed by the Ministerial Conference on Infrastructure: programme of transition to the new civil aviation communications, navigation and surveillance and air traffic management system; programme for economic reform in civil aviation in Asia and the Pacific; programme for the protection of the environment in the vicinity of airports; improvement and harmonization of flight safety standards; expansion of the UNDP-promoted ICAO TRAINAIR programme; and poverty alleviation through rural airfield development in least developed countries. These projects address major problem areas in air transport in the Asian and Pacific region, including in the landlocked countries. B.Reduction of transit time and costs along the transport routes of While the formulation of an international land transport network in Asia is in progress through the implementation of the ALTID project, there are already a provide the landlocked countries with access to seaport s. These are reflected in table 1. 1. Reduction of transit time and costs at border crossings and ports Even when all necessary infrastructure is in place, the delay of vehicles at border rossings can entail tremendous losses of resources and time. A similar problem occurs when the waiting time is long for ships to be loaded and unloaded in seaports which serve landlocked countries. When international inland waterways are available for use, delays of cargo at cross-border points have similar economic effects. a) Facilitation of land transport at border-crossings (i)Commission resolution 48/11 on road and rail transport modes in relation to facilitation measures Recognizing that harmonized transport facilitation measures are a prerequisite for efficient international trade and transport along road and rail routes of nternational importance, the Page 1 1 Commission at its forty-eighth session adopted resolution 48/11 of 23 April 1992 on road and rail transport modes in relation to fac ilitation measures. By that resolution, it recommended that the countries in the region, if they had not already done so, consider the possibility of acceding to seven international conventions. The status of the accession of the landlocked and neighbouring countries in Asia to the international conventions is shown in table 2.It is clear that in order to facilitate international and bilateral trade and tourism the constructive cooperation of the ountries is required to create a minimum legal basis for land transport cross-border traffic. In this respect ESCAP adopted a subregional approach to providing assistance to countries. A special seminar for the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) subregion (with the participation of Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) on the implications and benefits of accession to the conventions was held in Tehran in November 1994. A similar seminar for the North-East Asian countries (including the Lao People's Democratic Republic and Mongolia) was conducted in May 1996 in Bangkok.Another seminar for countries of the Greater Mekong subregion (including the Lao People's Democratic Republic) was organized Jointly by ESCAP and the Asian Development Bank at It is very encouraging to note that Uzbekistan has acceded to six conventions, and Kazakstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan have each acceded to four. However, Afghanistan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan are each party to only two; Azerbaijan, to one; and Bhutan, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Mongolia and Nepal to none at all. A similar situation of accession to few or no convention occurs in the neighbouring ountries of Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Myanmar, Pakistan, Thailand and Viet Nam. Such a situation calls for the urgent implementation of Commission resolution 48/11 by all landlocked countries and their neighbouring countries. Transit facilitation Transit transport plays a particularly important role in the develop ment of landlocked countries.Two international conventions, namely the Convention and Statute on Freedom of Transit, Barcelona, 20 April 1921 (popularly referred to as the â€Å"Barcelona Transit Convention†), and the Convention on Transit Trade of Landlocked States, New York, 8 July 1965 (â€Å"New York Transit Convention†) assist in facilitating the transit transport of landlocked countries. However, only a few of the Asian landlocked countries and their neighbouring countries are contracting parties of these conventions, as indicated in table 3. There is clearly great potential to improve transit transport in the region. It is recommended that the landlocked countries and the neighbouring countries should accede, if they have not already done so, to the Barcelona and New York transit conventions as soon as possible.The development of a subregional multilateral transit treaty/agreement also ppears to be a promising approach to transit facilitation. Preparation of suc h a draft transit treaty for the ECO region, for example, could be carried out as part of the project on international transport development in the ECO region, which is being proposed Jointly by ESCAP, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and ECO for possible funding by the Islamic Development Bank. (iii) Multilateral and bilateral agreements on land transport facilitation Multilateral and bilateral agreements which govern land transport at border crossings are of great importance to the landlocked countries in Asia.Given the role f the agreements in promoting international traffic, a database covering mainland Asia is being established at ESCAP as part of the ALTID project. As indicated above, there are several main rivers in Asia which may be used by landlocked countries for international transport. To facilitate navigation and river basin development activities, a draft agreement on commercial navigation on the Lancang Jiang – Mekong River (upper reaches of the Mekong River) between the Governments of China, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar and Thailand has been drawn up and it is expected that this agreement will be signed in the near uture.The Agreement on Cooperation for the Sustainable Development of the Mekong River Basin was signed on 5 April 1995 between the countries of the Lower Mekong River basin (Cambodia, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Thailand and Viet Nam). The Mekong River Commission is the institutional framework through which the Agreement will be implemented. The bilateral agreement between Bangladesh and India, which is signed on a biennial basis, could also be of practical interest to landlocked countries. Similar arrangements which take into account the related experience in other regions could e of great practical value in facilitating international inland water transport in Asia, including in landlocked countries. c) Facilitation of maritime traffic In addition to facilitation for land tran sport and transport on inland waterways, facilitation of maritime traffic plays an important role in improving the efficiency of the international land-cum-sea transport systems which serve the landlocked In an era of large ships with efficient cargo operations resulting in very short stays in port, the delays caused by documentary â€Å"red tape† result in extra costs and time. To improve the situation, countries in the region having seaports (including those serving landlocked countries) are adopting the Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic, 1965 (FAL Convention) as amended. The objective of the FAL Convention is to simplify the procedures for the inward clearance of ships, cargoes, passengers and crew on arrival in a port.This can be achieved by the utilization of six standard declaration forms and the adoption of common standards for processing documentation. However, among the ESCAP members and associate members, only Australia, China, the Democra tic People's Republic of Korea, Hong Kong, Fiji, India, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Marshall Islands, New Zealand, the Russian Federation, United States of America and Vanuatu are party (as of January 1997) to the FAL Convention. It is clear that there is potential to improve the efficiency of the land- cum-sea routes serving landlocked countries if all the coastal countries concerned accede to the FAL Convention.To assist the countries in the process of acceding to the Convention, ESCAP, in cooperation with the International Maritime Organization, ommenced in 1993 a four-year programme of country-level workshops and subregional seminars to promote the adoption of the FAL Convention and the implementation of its provisions. (d) Corridor studies To assist member countries in Asia, including landlocked countries, in the facilitation of cross-border traffic, ESCAP undertakes corridor studies to identify non- physical impediments to the flow of goods which cause delays and add unn ecessary costs to the transport process. One such study, for example, was completed in 1994 in the corridor Singapore – Malaysia – Thailand – the Lao People's Democratic Republic – Viet Nam. The study was extended in 1995 to cover Cambodia and in 1996 to include Myanmar.The study revealed the following impediments: restrictions on the movement of vehicles and drivers across borders; restrictions on the movement of cargo between the port and inland origin/destination without customs inspection in the port; restrictions on the movement of third country or transit cargo; limitations on the effective use of multimodal transport; and failure to make use of available technology and information to plan port and cargo-handling operations. The reports lso provided recommendations for dealing with these impediments. A study carried out by ADB on regional technical assistance to the Greater Mekong subregion for mitigation of non-physical barriers to cross-border mov ement of goods and people (completed in October 1996) should also be mentioned in this context.Similar studies are to be carried out as recommended by the Ministerial Conference on Infrastructure along the major intra-Asia and Asia-Europe land bridges, with the next ESCAP study planned for the corridor Port of Bandar Abbas (Islamic Republic of Iran) – landlocked countries of Central Asia – China. One other impediment frequently found in the landlocked countries in Asia is a lack of a proper coordinating mechanism at the national level among the ministries and agencies involved in cross-border procedures and formalities. 2. Improvement of transport logistics Multimodal transport, freight forwarding and electronic data interchange (ED') play an increasingly important role in the development of international trade. Just- in-time delivery, which is becoming a prerequisite for competitive international trade, increases the need for a highly efficient integrated system of de spatch, transport and