Analysis of the Credit Card Industry in Turkey Essay

The current Turkish government is very pro western and secular, however its divided religious loyalties, issues surrounding Greek sovereignty rights and fundamentalist groups threaten the expected 5 year stability of this administration. Government involvement in banking The Turkish Government has a history of involvement in banking affairs which is of concern to international investors. The Turkish state owns and finances a number of its banks and provides artificial stability to the banking system through state funded initiatives. The Government has also tailored wages in line with inflation rates e. g. minimum wages rates. With recent IMF intervention the long term plan for Turkey is still not absolutely clear. EU Membership The Turkish Government is pro EU membership and this is potentially the biggest paradigm shift on the horizon for Turkey’s financial system, this factor is further dealt with as a key driver. Economic †¢ Interest Rates Low interest rates in Turkey fuel loan take-up and have caused increase in credit card issue. Historically higher interest rates led to more widespread loan default and meant that less switching occurred as consumers were â€Å"tied† to provider. Economic growth in Turkey, with higher levels of middle and upper income, urban dwelling professionals and better access to continuing education has undoubtedly increased credit card take-up. (This could also be construed as a social factor). †¢ Global financial crisis The effects of the global financial crisis will have a major effect on banking restrictions to lending and credit availability in Turkey. Turkey’s export markets will be likely affected by the ongoing crisis which has a major effect on GDP which in turn affects spending power. Social †¢ Higher standard of living Higher standards of living among consumers have a beneficial knock on effect for credit cards issuers. In Turkey 7. 5% of GDP is invested back into education thus consumers are more financial savvy. †¢ Urban/Rural Divide Urban dwellers have a much higher likelihood of credit card use given their potential for access of issue and probability of a regular wage earning role. As the economy develops Turks are increasingly moving off the land from poorly paying seasonal work to the cities that offer a better chance of regular income and personal development. Technology †¢ E –Commerce Worth in excess of 2 billion euro to the economy and with 16 million people accessing the internet E-Commerce is a huge growth area and potential distribution channel for the credit card industry. It is also a medium for information driven purchasing through advertising potential and its access is furthered through telephone technology integration. †¢ SMART Cards The security afforded to the credit card industry through use of SMART cards has a beneficial affect on usage through; 1. Increased level of merchants accepting the facility 2. Security for use in Internet Cafes (here large numbers access the internet) 3. Security of service has become a battleground for competition among issuers Coupled with the above technologies, the explosion in EPOS facilities mean more access to products and services through credit card use, homogenising the myriad of potential transactions and benefiting both consumer and merchant. ATM’s also have further facilities to enhance the benefits of using plastic such as bill pay, mobile kiosks etc. Legal †¢ Intervention of Government/Key official Institutions There have been widespread changes in the law in Turkey affecting the credit card industry such as; 1. Restriction on credit card limits . Illegality of altering terms without informing consumer 3. Increases in minimum payment required 4. The Central Bank’s lowering of the interest rate cap 5. Loosening of the frameworks around mergers and acquisitions All of these interventions alter the attractiveness of the market for the credit card industry, which was historically fraught with lack of reg ulation and anti-consumer practises. Identify the 4 KEY DRIVERS FACING THE CREDIT CARD SECTOR 1. Technological Advances 2. State Intervention in Financial Affairs 3. EU membership 4. Rural-Urban Migration Technological Advances The rapidly advancing technology in the field of mobile payment will have a lasting effect on the credit card industry. Companies that can stay ahead of the game with new technologies in security, risk management and will be best placed to benefit from increased A physical â€Å"credit card† is really only a vehicle to hold a magnetic strip containing coded information. In terms of technology this is already quite dated; †¢ Already systems are designed to â€Å"swipe† a card on a merchant’s mobile phone, this will allow for a myriad of services which will no longer require cash transaction e. g. street traders. Advances in retina scanning technology are also at an advanced level and it is envisaged that the future of mobile payments may be through facial recognition or retina scanning. †¢ Other technology such as what is used in â€Å"The Baja Beach Club in Barcelona† where they inject a rice-size â€Å"VeriChip† RFID device into the wrist or upper arm of its patrons whom pay by swiping their arm – adapted from http://www. creditcards. com/credit-card-news/credit-cards-of-the-distant-future State Intervention The level of further state intervention in Turkey’s financial affairs will be a key driver in Turkey’s future credit card success or decline. As we have seen, moves by the government to regulate the industry have impacted on the potential earnings of the banks through lowering interest rates. In turn this type of regulation has stabilised the markets and led to economic growth which impacts positively on numbers of consumers available to the sector. Whether the current â€Å"Republican Democracy† in Turkey will be in power going forward is obviously of importance to this argument. With elections due in 2011 the future of state intervention in banking affairs is unclear. EU Membership Turkey becoming a full member of the EU will be another key driver in the credit card industry. EU entry will mean the freeing of trade and access to a further 500 million consumers. It is most likely that Turkey would be a more attractive market for global companies, of interest here, financial organisations who would be attracted by the large numbers of â€Å"unbanked† consumers and those who see Turkey strategically as the gateway to Eastern markets. The credit card market would likely become much more competitive with new entrants who would most likely look to merge with/acquire existing indigenous banks. Rural-Urban Migration According to the case study the majority of people in the rural areas of Turkey tend not to be credit card users. As the economy improves larger numbers of rural people (especially male) will likely move towards the larger urban centres to participate in the industrial or service sectors. This in turn leads to greater numbers with the potential to use credit cards, in turn offering greater numbers of potential consumers to the sector. SECTION 2 – Porters 5 Forces 2. Use the five forces framework to identify the forces affecting the Turkish credit card sector a. Graphically illustrate the five forces (see overleaf) b. Draw conclusions from the 5 forces analysis to explain; 1. How attractive the sector is I consider the Turkish credit card sector to be an attractive market for a large multinational e. g. BNP or Barclays to enter. From my analysis I have concluded that consumers are fragmented and suppliers are concentrated. Rivalry is high, yet only among 4 suppliers, considering rivalry in an industry such as haulage this must be considered attractive. Capital requirements of entry are high, but not on the scale of industries such as mining might be. Economies of scale and experience exist, however for companies already in credit card markets in other countries by no means insurmountable. The threat of substitutes is relatively low as the credit card holds a relatively niche position. Product differentiation/loyalty is low among existing consumers; good offers would attract new business, as would strong internet presence. Turkey has; â€Å"40 percent of people who are bankable based on their socio-economic status and age in Turkey are still â€Å"unbanked,† having no accounts with any banks in Turkey â€Å" (www. mckinsey. om/clientservice/†¦ /Credit_Cards_in_Turkey. ashx) This data identifies a large section of the Turkish population who are potential consumers for a new entrant; therefore the market could potentially grow significantly for all players involved. 2. How the competitive forces are changing/may change The competitive forces are currently changing most notably in areas such as consumer access to inform ation. More widespread access and use of the internet will drive further competition in the market through portals such as comparison websites, industry reviews etc. This will ultimately increase bargaining power of consumers, leading to decreased profits for suppliers. EU accession would alter the competitive forces among the major players currently in the sector. Interest rates set by the ECB, participation in the single currency etc. would have a significant impact on the state financed banking institutions and would alter their relevance. One would suspect that in a free market system the Turkish government would relish the opportunity of divesting the burden to international organisations to increase competition. With increased market stability and better financial education, consumer’s use of substitutes may extend to less expensive forms of credit such as personal loans. Coupled with better economic conditions consumer’s use of debit cards may also increase; given that currently lower income workers struggle to maintain a balance sufficient to cover their living costs. 3. How the sector may change to reflect changing forces The credit card sector can move more of its marketing budget toward E-Marketing and target new and younger consumers through this medium. MBNA have used this marketing channel very successfully in the past. In order to combat increased uptake of personal loans and increased use of debit cards the credit card sector may look at collective lower interest rates, better offers through loyalty bonuses and customer kickbacks and better education of its customers as to how to better use their credit cards. In order for the credit card sector to prepare for increased competition post EU accession it may look to further differentiate its offerings to appeal to the Turkish people e. g. align the credit offering with cultural values or emotions. It might be necessary to offer further services aligned to credit cards such as life insurance to augment and differentiate the offering. 3. Scenario Planning Scenario 1 â€Å"Renewed Political/Terrorist Violence in Turkey† In recent years, terrorist bombings – some with significant numbers of casualties -have struck religious, political, and business targets in a variety of locations in Turkey. The potential remains throughout Turkey for violence and terrorist actions both by transnational and indigenous terrorist organizations such as PKK, . Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C) and AlQa’ida. Adapted from http://www. eubusiness. com/europe/turkey/invest) Given Turkey’s increasing dependence on foreign direct investment a return to more concerted campaign of political violence would spell disaster for the credit card industry. Large financial corporations, especially US owned would be deterred from entering the market, or potential ly pull out of the market thus decimating competition. Access to sources of international credit and lending would dry up therefore affecting consumer’s ability to purchase products and services on credit. Turkey’s export market would potentially be destroyed as Western nations would deter from transacting in case monies were being skimmed to fund further terrorist activity. This would further lower the GDP of the country affecting the spending power of consumers in turn negating the need for credit cards. Further knock on effects of violence include the loss of capital Governments have available to invest in its economy, on education and infrastructure. Government capital would have to be spent on further military and security projects. The tourism industry, a huge earner for Turkey would be decimated as travelers would fear the threat of violence. The black market economy would thrive under such conditions and regular banking functions would significantly cease with many consumers using cash/barter systems of attaining needs. With respect to the Credit card sector, this scenario would be highly detrimental to its future, as consumer confidence in the financial service sector would be decimated. The sector would have to pour vast resources into transaction security and marketing the brand safety and correct usage policies to consumers. Default numbers would likely increase due to instability and escalating interest rates. Scenario 2 â€Å"Turkey Gains Full EU Membership† â€Å"The EU is committed to supporting Turkey in its path for membership. The initial objective of EU financial support towards Turkey was the extension of an area of peace, stability and prosperity within and beyond Europe. Once the Union accepted Turkey as a candidate, financial assistance began to focus on supporting Turkey in its preparation for EU membership† http://www. eubusiness. com/europe/turkey/funding A study on the EU (http://europa. eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction. o) reported the following economic benefits of a country joining the EU; 1. An average of 2. 15% increase in GDP 2. Exchange rates for Turks travelling through Europe would be eliminated, as would the potential damaging effects exchange rate swings have on Turkish exports. I would assume that the credit card sector would become significantly more competitive in the light of EU membership therefore the sector would have to increase its marketing and branding spend, but would have a larger pool of consumers to choose from.

How Disability May Affect Development Essay

You should explain in detail how and why the disability affects development because disability affects children’s development in different ways. That can be physically and sensory, social, emotional and behavioural and learning or cognitive. There’s too many disabilities and conditions to list so I did write in general terms or make examples of specific types of disability eg Hearing impairment affects language and communication in that †¦. etc. ADHD affects behaviour and social development in that†¦.etc. Emotional and social development are also affected by a condition like Autism – Asperger’s syndrome. Dyslexia is a condition that affects learning literacy, dyscalculia affect learning numeracy skills. Physical development may be affected if the child or young person uses a wheelchair, they may not have good mobility. Dyspraxia also affects body movements and coordination. Intellectual development may be affected by a learning difficulty eg. a child with Downs syndrome Children with a learning or physical disability may be exposed to prejudice or discrimination at school for the reason that they could be treated differently than the rest of the children. They may be bullied or teased by other students which will affect their self-confidence and in turn affect their learning ability and development. Disabilities are categorised in different forms i.e. learning or physical. Learning disabilities which affect development could be. Autism; autism is a disability which affects how a person relates and communicates with other people and the world around them. Children with autism find it difficult to understand facial expressions or the tone of a voice. They can feel lonely and cut off from  society as they avoid social interaction. This could affect their ability to development or interact in social settings or in the classroom. Dyslexia; is a difficulty in learning to read. Children suffering from this may become frustrated and problems could arise at home or in school, behavioural problems could also be seen, as well as the child becoming unenthusiastic or disliking school. If dyslexia is undetected then this will affect their development at school and could spoil any chance of achievement. Physical disabilities could include. Cerebral palsy; cerebral palsy is a condition which affects the movement, posture and co-ordination of a person. A child/young person with this disability may only be affected physically with this disability while others could be affected by seizures, epilepsy or difficulties with speech and language. [continues]

Kohls Corporation and Dillards Inc Essay

Kohl’s Corporation was organized in 1988 and is a Wisconsin corporation. The company operates family-oriented department stores that sell moderately priced apparel, footwear and accessories for women, men and children; soft home products such as sheets and pillows; and housewares. Stores generally carry a consistent merchandise assortment with some differences attributable to regional preferences. As of February 2, 2008, the company operated 929 stores in 47 states. (Source: Company 2007 Form 10-K) Originally founded in 1938 by William T. Dillard, Dillard’s, Inc., now operates 326 stores in 29 states. The company’s store base is diversified, with the character and culture of the community served determining the size of facility and, to a  large extent, the merchandise mix. In general, stores offer a wide selection of merchandise including fashion apparel for women, men and children, accessories, cosmetics, home furnishings and other consumer goods. Most stores are located in suburban shopping malls but customers may also purchase merchandise online. (Source: Company 2007 Form 10-K) Learning Objectives †¢ Read and compare financial statements for two companies in the same industry. †¢ Consider how different strategic choices lead to different financial statement relationships. †¢ Perform an analysis of financial information using common-size balance sheets and income statements, ratios, and other techniques. †¢ Critically evaluate two companies based on financial information. †¢ Evaluate a financial analysis to form investment recommendations. Refer to the 2007 financial statements and notes of Kohl’s Corporation and Dillard’s, Inc. Analysis a. Describe the industry in which these two companies operate and assess the competitive environment. What current economic factors affect the companies’ operations? Who are the main competitors in this industry? What threats do the companies face? What opportunities? How are the two companies similar? How are they different? b. Consider the income statements of both companies. Are there any unusual or nonrecurring items that need to be considered in your analysis? That is, are the earnings of high quality? Are the earnings persistent? c. Prepare common-sized income statements and balance sheets for each company for fiscal 2007 and 2006. To common size the income statement, divide each item by net sales. To common size the balance sheet, divide each item by total assets. A company’s financial performance can be analyzed in many ways. Return on equity (ROE) is a widelyused measure of financial performance that compares the profit the company made during the period (net income) to the resources invested and reinvested in the company by shareholders (stockholders’ equity). The DuPont model systematically breaks ROE into components. One form of the DuPont model is: Stockholders’ equity is reported on the balance sheet and excludes any reported minority interest or non-controlling interest. Note that once the common terms cancel in the second equation (the DuPont model), the right-hand side of the ROE equation collapses down to the first equation: Net income divided by the firm’s Stockholders’ equity. Reading from left to right in the second equation, the first right-hand side ratio represents the fraction of pretax earnings that the shareholders keep. One minus that ratio is the average tax rate so the ratio decreases as the tax rate goes up. The second ratio represents the fraction of EBIT (i.e., operating profit) that the firm keeps after financing costs so the ratio decreases as the net cost of debt increases. The third ratio represents operating return on sales or the operating profit earned on each unit of revenue. The fourth term is  the asset turnover ratio, a measure of overall efficiency in asset use. The product of the third and fourth terms is operating return on assets. The final ratio captures the leverage of the firm—a measure of how the firm has paid for its assets. The ratio increases as the firm takes on more debt (that is, for a fixed level of equity, more assets must mean more debt). Note that the final term is equal to 1 + (Average total liabilities / Average stockholders’ equity). Normally, analysis of the financial statements begins with operating return on sales and asset turnover (thus, operating return on assets). Then it turns to leverage (liquidity and solvency) and the cost of leverage. Finally, a review of the tax burden is conducted. The ROE analysis can be followed up with an analysis of the company’s cash flows. d. Compute return on equity (ROE) for both companies for fiscal 2007 and 2006. Calculate the five components of ROE and verify that their product equals ROE. Remember to use average total assets and average stockholders’ equity in your ratio calculations. e. Refer to the common-sized income statement you prepared in part c and your ROE decomposition from part d. Assess the companies’ asset efficiency. Which firm is more efficient in its use of assets? Consider efficiency in terms of total asset turnover, receivables turnover (and average collection period), inventory turnover (and average holding period), payables turnover (and average time to payment), cash conversion cycle (i.e., receivables days + inventory days – payables days), and fixed asset turnover. g. Assess the companies’ liquidity and solvency. Are the companies likely to meet their debts as they come due? Consider ratios such as the current ratio, the quick ratio, and the debt-equity ratio. Also consider interest costs and the times interest earned ratio. Is there any â€Å"off-balance-sheet† financing that will constrain future cash flow? You should explicitly consider operating leases at both companies. Assume that the discount rate implicit in the capital leases is the appropriate discount rate for capitalizing the operating leases. Further, assume that the lease payments due in 2013 and beyond will be paid evenly over 20 years for Kohl’s and paid entirely in 2013 for Dillard’s. h. Assess the cash flow of each company. Are cash flows from operations a source or a use of cash? How are operations and investments being financed? What differences do you note? i. As a potential investor, would you be interested in seeking additional information about either of these companies? What sort of information would you want? Would you invest in either company?

Business Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 3

Business Law - Essay Example The current generations of businesses have discovered secrets to achieving their goals, growing their organizations and keeping competition at bay. While growth and profit earning strategies were the main focus for many businesses in the past, the current trend is different. Businesses are targeting more than just earning high incomes and increasing their profits. They have discovered that they can achieve their visions and missions through confronting the existing social and environmental challenges, allowing the profit earning motive to be a secondary factor.Therefore, organizations are building their market share and growing their revenues through corporate social responsibility innovation. This entails innovating and applying powerful ways of addressing the existing social and environmental challenges (Hollender and Bill, 159). However, the application of social responsibility innovation to act as a marketing strategy, without championing for any social and environmental benefit, is harmful to an organizations brand. This is because; consumers have become more enlightened and aware of the application of charity and good-deeds as a marketing ploy by organizations. Therefore, the current generation of the consumer goes beyond looking at the billions pumped into the corporate citizenship programs, to look at the sustainability and the benefits obtainable by the society. There are various innovative corporate social responsibility techniques that are applied by organizations to achieve the sustainability of corporate citizenship.... This is vital to maintain strong drivers of the organization, who steers it towards its targets (Hollender and Bill, 70). Microsoft Corporation history, vision and mission This is a multinational corporation with its origin in the USA, dealing with a variety of products and services related to computers and computing (Harnick, n.p.). The company is ranked as the largest software maker in the world, based on software revenue collection, and the world’s most valuable company. In the â€Å"CR’s 100 Best Corporate Citizens 2012† (CR100), which gives the rank of the top 100 highly ranked socially responsible organizations, Microsoft Corporation was ranked as the third best (Harnick, n.p.). The company was founded in 1975 to develop interpreters for the then Altair 8800 microcomputer (Harnick, n.p.). However, the company eventually diversified into manufacturing into personal computer operating systems and software. According to the current standings, the company has d ominated the field of computer operating systems, office suite and online visual communication media (Harnick, n.p.). The mission of the company is to provided professional and value added services in the technology industry, with a high customer service and the interest of the customers in mind. Its vision is to build a customer service-based professional services consulting company, which will specialize in information technology consulting (Harnick, n.p.). Microsoft Corporation stakeholder analysis Stakeholders refer to the people or entities that are party to or affected in one way or the other by the operations of an organization. Microsoft Corporation has the founder,

Outsourcing Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Outsourcing - Term Paper Example Human resource department is usually not the basic area of operations of a company therefore costs associated to this department are usually high. All companies are not able to operate their HR departments efficiently. Outsourcing gives the HR department in specialist hands. Employment associated risk like employee law suits are reduced as a result of HR outsourcing (Benefits of Outsourcing, 2011). Lawsuits can cause financial problems for the firm and can also tarnish the reputation of the company. HR outsourcing to a specialist firm can also enhance the performance of hired employees. HR firms provide training for employees and this is the reason of increased performance. There are also problems associated with HR outsourcing. By outsourcing an important division of the company like human resource a divide between firm’s objectives and employees may happen. Employees should be hired keeping in mind the overall goals of the company and organizational culture. HR outsourcing may also be a problem because it may involve risking inside information to outside people. Company will have to inform the HR firm about its future plan in order to tell them what kind of employees they want to hire. This will involve risking inside information to other companies. United Parcel Services is a well known example of outsourcing HR. The company has outsourced its human resources to eight different Human Resource Outsourcing companies (Alderton, 2005). The company is a great example as it is using many HR companies at once. UPS has also started communication portals between HR companies and employees so that their concerns are duly noted. PepsiCo is another large name that has outsourced its HR department (HRO Today 2009). The company thinks that HR outsourcing blends well with its operations. PepsiCo has outsourced benefit administration and contact center support to a HRO firm. This shows that

Early American History from 1790 to 1877 Term Paper

Early American History from 1790 to 1877 - Term Paper Example Just 14 years after the founding of our nation in 1790, many changes were already in the works, and America had already been one year under its first President, George Washington, who served as a general against the British in the Revolutionary War. During the second of his eight years in office, the Bill of Rights was drafted (in 1791), adding 10 Amendments to the U.S. Constitution ? which outlined the freedoms enjoyed by citizens, including the freedom of speech, the freedom of religion, and the right to bear arms (Nussbaum 2006). Also during this term, the rivaling Federalist and Republican political parties were formed – the former pressing for a strong central government and banking system with good ties to England, with the latter wanting an economy based in agriculture with weakening ties to Great Britain (Ibid.). After the turn of the century, America continued to want to expand its borders, and made the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, paying France $15 million for 800,000 square miles of land from Louisiana to Montana, doubling the nation’s size (Klose and Jones 1994, 130). ... This was followed by the Missouri Compromise of 1820, where the existing southern slave states agreed with the northern free states that Missouri would become a slave state if Maine became a free state (Nussbaum 2006). Just three years later, a treaty devised by President James Monroe, known as the Monroe Doctrine, was reached between the U.S. and European nations, where both sides agreed not to interfere with each other’s (including Spain’s) colonizing interests, guaranteeing safety to all (Klose and Jones 1994, 154). However, all conflict was not avoided, as Mexico’s General Santa Anna Stormed the Alamo in Texas and defeated American Colonel William Travis in a two-week battle in 1836, but the long battle gave the U.S. time to eventually defeat Santa Anna’s army in another showdown to make Texas independent and later become the 28th state (Nussbaum 2006). As populations swelled in the eastern U.S., European Americans sought to displace the occupying Indi ans in Georgia, and 7,000 troops forced 15,000 Cherokees to Oklahoma under grueling conditions in 1838 – an exodus known as the Trail of Tears, where 4,000 Native Americans perished (Ibid.). America was growing, and there was not much that could get in the way. This expansionist frenzy would stop no time soon. A concept known as Manifest Destiny soon became the term used to spread the belief that it was America’s fate to occupy and claim land across the continent, from coast to coast, and many routes ? including the Oregon, California, Mormon, and Santa Fe Trails ? were traveled during this time to inhabit the far west (Baker 2006, 7). This expansion was not uncontested, however, as the Mexican-American War ending in 1848 resulted in a costly victory – in money and casualties – for the U.S., which

Assignment 5 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 3

Assignment 5 - Essay Example It is one of the causes for discrimination prevailing in the minds of individuals that lead them to make bias decisions for people belonging to different racial and ethnic background. Barrack Obama is symbolized because of the skin color. It has been evident in the history that Americans were perceived as corrupt and impure. As the commander in chief is a black American, due to this he has been symbolized with inferiority, the commander in chief can face great threats. In order to provide evidence to this perception Ridley in the video shows the past historical evidences in the ancient civilization and their perceptions and experiences with a particular race or caste (Griffin 132). In a similar manner, as one of the symbolic expressions of the nation towards the other nation can create a major difference due to which Barrack Obama can face severe threats on racial and ethnic grounds. Symbolic expression of religion is one the major cause of the discrimination at workplaces. Some of the employees at the workplace develop preference in the workplace because of their religious backgrounds. Religious icons at workplaces can create strains and discrimination among the other employees (especially minorities) on the bases of skin, racial and ethnic backgrounds. (Griffin 129). Al-Qaeda can be identified as a greatest example for religious symbolizing and oppression due to which most of the security and other organization have symbolized Muslims as terrorist. It has globally impacted Muslim individuals throughout the world. The symbolic expression of the Al-Qaeda has created an image of oppression in the mind of people for all Muslims in the world. In order to overcome the fragmentation in the retailing system, the firm should sell products either to the import agents or wholesalers. It shall allow the organization to enter in too fragmented retailing system in India with better

Fourth Estate Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Fourth Estate - Essay Example The news media can also alert the nation to events that may otherwise not have been public, and may perhaps alter the social style of the day. The press are absolutely instrumental in advocacy and the presentation of political (and social) issues (Powe, 1992). One of the most important examples of the power of the Fourth Estate can be seen in the coverage of the Middle East. Every newspaper or TV news channel will present at least one article on the Middle East daily, with much (if not all) of the coverage being negative. Although the press generally try to maintain some form of neutrality to preserve their integrity (Schultz, 1998), there are some areas in which this cannot be upheld in full, and the Fourth Estate has to ensure that it refers to issues in the way that the readers and viewers can understand. The coverage of the Middle East is a perfect example of this. The recent troubles in Libya, for example, have been presented by the media in the Western world almost exclusively from a Westocentric perspective, ensuring that the people of Libya are almost constantly referred to as victims with Gadaffi being portrayed as an evil dictator (e.g. Cobain, 2011). Whatever the personal perspective on this issue is, it is almost impossible to find any news sources that describe the troubles in any other manner; the role of the Fourth Estate here is to uphold the view of the area in this possibly over-simplistic manner. The Fourth Estate has shaped society in this manner, and the majority of people in the Western world would agree with the general principles of this matter. From the description of the concept of the Fourth Estate given above and the example of Libya, it is easy to see that the press easily fills this role and holds an immense social and political power in these first world countries, who usually have an established democracy and a large

Generals Revolt on Rumsfeld Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Generals Revolt on Rumsfeld - Essay Example This perception is based on shared perceptions and values followed by the organization and its members. The task and duty of a military leader is to create positive and supportive culture and climate based on principles, rituals and values of the military organization1. The Revolt of the Generals is a vivid example of how climate and culture caused a breach in the civil-military relations. The Revolt of the Generals is a vivid example of assault on military culture. Secretary Rumsfeld was accused in "willfully ignoring military advice and initiating the war in Iraq with a force that was too small"2. The generals state that his leadership led to low level of morale and poor climate, poor performance and personal relationships. Following Hustings (2006) culture and climate are important in the Army because connected with team spirit and commitment soldiers. It is possible to say that the Army structure is based on strong military culture supported and reinforced by soldiers and the officers3. The case of Rumsfeld portrays that a leader's behavior sets the course others follow and determine the values and other measures used to account for group actions. The responsibilities of strategic leaders include identification of a task and the quality of its fulfillment.

Tay-Sach’s Disease Essay Example for Free

Tay-Sach’s Disease Essay The purpose of this paper is to discuss the hereditary genetic disease Tay-Sach’s, discovered during a pregnancy. The discussion will focus on developing an interdisciplinary team and care plan for the expectant parents based on their wishes. This paper will also cover any ethical and/or legal dilemmas that may arise as well as identify counseling needs of those involved. In addition, there will be a personal reflection about high risk pregnancy, abortion, and the decision made by the expectant parents. This study involves a married couple who after two years of trying to conceive a child became pregnant. The expectant Mother Rita Trosack is 43 years old and her husband Peter is 46. They are both Caucasian and have mediocre knowledge of their family history. Due to advanced maternal age, chorionic villus sampling was performed and it was determined that the baby is affected with Tay-Sach’s disease. Criteria Interdisciplinary Team, Rationales and Expectations Due to positive finding of the fetus being afflicted with Tay-Sach’s disease, this pregnancy is now considered to be high risk. This will require a more specialized interdisciplinary team to follow her intensely throughout her pregnancy as well as the baby after he/she is born. First and foremost the patient(s) are always going to be a part of the interdisciplinary team. Making them a part of the team helps them to be more comfortable with the situation as a whole. It also makes them feel as though they have some sort of control throughout this ordeal. It will be the patient(s) responsibility to voice their concerns and wishes. The first healthcare member of the team is the RN. The RN will be the advocate for the family. It will be his/her responsibility to build a trusting relationship and rapport with the family in order to build their confidence and make sure that their wishes are being adhered to. In this particular case the RN will need to be able to recognize her own feelings in regards to the issues that surround Tay-Sach’s disease and know how to set them aside so that he/she can properly advocate. The RN will need to assess the situation, background, culture, and beliefs to get a good sense of who the family is. It will be the RNs duty to try and answer any questions the family may have and direct the family to the necessary resources that they may require. Another member of the team will be the perinatologist. This is a physician who specializes in high risk pregnancy and births. There will also be a neonatologist, this is the physician who specializes in newborns that are premature and/or have birth defects. This member of the team will be involved in the care of the fetus throughout the pregnancy as well as at the birth and will follow the baby until care is transferred over to a pediatrician. The pediatrician will provide the necessary care and treatment for the infant and into his/her childhood, basically throughout life. A genetics counselor will be brought in to speak with the family about Tay-Sach’s disease. The counselor will be able to assess the parent’s knowledge base of genetics, explain the disease and how it is caused, discuss any concerns they have, and explain the possible outcomes of future pregnancies. A social worker will also be involved to provide the family with any other resources they may need such as support groups, counseling and/or legal help (Ainsworth, 2011). Teaching Plan The RN would need to initially call the patient and set up an appointment for them to come in and speak with the physician. The physician would be the one that would explain to the family exactly what Tay-Sach’s is. The physician would explain to the expectant parents that Tay-Sach’s is an inherited disorder that is caused by a genetic mutation that both parents carry. What happens is the body is missing an important enzyme and without it, there is a buildup of a fatty substance within the cells of the nervous system, mainly the brain, ultimately resulting in permanent malfunction. Signs and symptoms of the disease do not begin to surface until the child is around six months of age and it begins with gradual dysfunction of the motor skills. As the nervous system further degrades the symptoms become worse and the child loses sight, hearing, and mental functionality. Unfortunately there is no treatment for Tay-Sach’s except comfort measures and the life expectancy for a child with infantile Tay-Sach’s disease is typically four to five years (Ainsworth, 2011). The physician would need to emphasize that maternal age or lifestyle does not have any part in the cause of this diagnosis. The physician would then need to explain the options available at this time which are carrying the child to term or terminating the pregnancy via therapeutic abortion (Tay-sachs. org). Depending on the parent’s decision, should they choose to carry the child, they can also choose to care for the infant or place it for adoption. After the physician has spoken with the family, the RN would need to be there for the family, not only to listen, but again to answer any questions they may have. Mr. and Mrs. Trosack have decided to carry their infant to full term and care for their child due to their religious beliefs. At this time the RN would be responsible to clarify and document the parents’ wishes. The RN would be responsible for coordinating appointments with the specialists that will be involved in the care and communicating this with the family. The RN will then give the family the educational information to the parents to take home with them and the web address to the online support group for Tay-Sach’s. While finding this type of information out is unsettling, it will be the RNs job to make sure and give the parents ways to cope. The RN can teach them about relaxation techniques such as guided imagery, music therapy, or breathing patterns that can be done in situations when they are feeling anxious about the impending birth. The RN will educate the parents on maintaining a healthy diet and continuing regular activity and exercise as the physician recommends. The RN will explain to the expectant parents that since the pregnancy is considered high risk based on maternal age and the diagnosis of Tay-Sach’s there will be more frequent visits to the perinatologist than one would typically expect and there may be more ultrasounds performed to assess the baby. With any pregnancy the RN would want to educate the parents about signs of labor and when to seek medical attention in case of an emergency. The parents would need to know things that are not normal during pregnancy such as burning upon urination, vaginal bleeding, fluid gushing from the vagina, severe swelling, vision changes, loss of consciousness, or a severe headache. Education about abstinence from smoking and consumption of alcohol is also a necessity, regardless. Another oint of discussion eventually will be the birth, the RN would need to let the parents know that with a high risk pregnancy, home births are not recommended (mayoclinic. com). Ethical Implications of Genetic Testing Some would argue the genetic testing, especially during pregnancy gives someone the right to play â€Å"God†. In an article written by Dr. Rob DeSalle he discusses how we are now able to detect certain genetic disorders that parents can pass to their children such as Tay-Sach’s or Phenylketonuria. According to his article he wonders if this will give people a free pass to design their babies. Dr. DeSalle also speaks about â€Å"superhumans† in his article and the fact that with advancing technology we could create a race without defects (amnh. ecolleg. com). Chorionic villus sampling is typically done at 10-12 weeks gestation. An ethical concern surrounding the timeframe of this testing is that it often causes the parents to make the decision of a therapeutic abortion in a pregnancy that may have spontaneously aborted on its own. Although this theory is not 100 percent, it still could prevent the family from going through such a disheartening experience (Himes, 1999). Another dilemma families are faced with is the risk versus benefit. Chorionic villus sampling does not come with our risks. This type of test involved inserting a catheter either through the abdomen or transvaginally into the placenta and collecting a sample. Doing so has been known to cause a spontaneous abortion or even cause reduced limbs. The test, while important, could potentially do more harm than good. Ethical and Legal Dilemmas Whose right is it to bring a dying child into the world? Some believe that everything happens for a reason and others believe doing so is a form of inhumanity. This could surely affect the parents decision, especially if they felt that carrying the child to term and bringing it into the world would cause it suffering. What if the test is wrong? It is known that chorionic villus sampling is not as effective of a test as an amniocentesis, therefore with this knowledge the parents may wish to wait until further testing can be done, however by that time, the choice of therapeutic abortion is no longer an option (Himes, 1999). As far as legalities are concerned, discrimination would possibly be an issue. The parents insurance may not want to provide the necessary coverage for their child because the diagnosis was made in utero and they could have â€Å"prevented† it. The child is also going to require around the clock care, will either of the parents be let go from their positions for needing to take so much time off of work? These are two issues that also may affect the parent’s decision. It was determined that they both work very extended hours and this child will definitely have an effect on that. Patient Advocacy Advocating for the Trosack’s means standing up for them so that their decision and wishes are adhered to and making sure they are heard by the interdisciplinary team. The RN would also be their voice of reason when trying to explain their decision to other family members that they may bring in to learn more about the situation. Regardless of the RNs personal feelings it is his/her duty to make the parents feel confident in their decision and know that they are making the right decision for themselves. Personal Reflection As far as my own personal opinion, I am completely against abortion unless it is medically necessary or a woman has been raped or molested and does not want the baby that was conceived as a result. I do believe that the parents have the right to do whatever they feel is best for their family. In the case of the Trosack’s, I fully support their decision to carry their child.

The Changes of Market Shares for the Local Cars

The Changes of Market Shares for the Local Cars The local car market in Malaysia consists of local car manufacturers and companies that joint-venture with foreign company like Tan Chong and Datsun from Japan. The two main local car manufacturers are Proton and Perodua. Before the financial crisis in Malaysia at 1998, Proton was the leader in the local car market. Proton has the highest sales of cars than other car manufacturers. However, after the financial crisis, Perodua managed to take over the leadership in local car market. The main reason is Perodua has launched many new models as compared to Proton. The after-sales service by car manufacturer like Perodua was much better than Proton. The replacement parts for Proton is very far expensive than Perodua. Perodua also reduces their car prices to attract more buyers. Besides all these changes, the prices for the joint-venture cars are very expensive due to high sales tax and import duty. Currently, the sales tax is coming down for all the cars including local and foreign cars. T he joint-venture cars are expensive in Malaysia because they are considered as foreign cars and the government wants to encourage more local people to buy local cars. The local cars qualities are not par with the foreign cars. The new car buyers will look at the quality first before buying them. Lately, the car industries are very competitive because the foreign joint-ventures provide many new schemes to attract new car buyers. For example, they introduce the low interest financing which provide high loan and low interest rate. They want to attract more middle-income groups to buy their cars. The interest rate for national cars like Proton is higher than the non-national cars like Honda and Nissan. Even though the interest rate for national cars is high, the lower or middle income groups are likely to buy national cars. The main reason is the price for national cars are cheaper than the non-national cars. The EON Bank Bhd hire-purchase officer stated that: the banks revised interest rates for new non-national cars were 3.5% (5 year tenure), 4% (7-year) and 3.85% (9-year) while the rates for national cars now stood at 3.85% (5-year tenure), 4% (7-year) and 4.10% (9-year) (Yvonne Tan Eugene Mahalingam 2010, para. 6,7). For example, a proton car cost about RM 80,000 and the interest rate is 3.85% per annum. The new car buyer has to pay an interest of RM 3080. In contrast, a BMW car worth RM 300,000 and the interest rate is 3.5% per annum. The new car buyer has to pay RM 10,500 for interest. If a car buyer chooses to buy BMW, he or she has to pay an extra of RM 7420 of interest. The interest for both cars differs greatly because the price for both cars is totally different. The market shares among the local car manufacturers are divided when the new models from the joint-venture companies like Toyota and Nissan emerged into local car market. The table above shows the sales and production of passenger cars for the year of 2002 and 2003. For the year of 2002 and 2003, Proton maintained the leadership in the local car market. However, there was a decline in their sales volume from 214,373 units in 2002 to 155420 units in 2003 and their market shares fell from 59.6% to 48.6%. On the other hand, Perodua remained at the second position in the local car market. Peroduas sales volume fell from 114,265 units in 2002 to 111798 units in 2003 but their market shares rose from 31.7% to 35%. The new foreign cars like Toyota, Honda and Nissan have less market share in the local car market. The main reason is foreign cars price is much higher than the local cars like Proton and Perodua. Table 2 shows the analysis-by makes and segment for passenger vehicles. Before 2004, Proton has the largest market share in the local car market but after a few years, Perodua has overtaken Proton as the leader in the car sales. In 2008, Perodua managed to sell 167,392 units as compared to Proton that only sold 141,782 units. The market share for Perodua which is 33.6% is higher than Proton market share, 28.5%. The sales volume for Perodua increases from 166,735 units in 2009 to 188,641 units in 2010. The market share also rises from 34.3% to 34.7%. People like to buy Perodua cars because Perodua has better quality of model like Myvi. On the other hand, Protons sales volume increases from 141,782 units in 2008 to 147,744 units in 2009 and to 156,960 units in 2010. The market share for Proton cars rises from 28.5% in 2008 to 30.4% in 2009 but fell from 30.4% in 2009 to 28.9% in 2010. This drastic change happens because Proton cars are old-fashioned and Proton didnt change the model of the car but only modified them. Peroduas after-sales service is better than Protons after-sales service. It is always cheaper to maintain a Perodua car than a Proton car. The spare parts for Proton cars are expensive as compared to Perodua and the parts are in poor quality. The other foreign car like Honda increased their sales volume and market share in the local market. The sales volume for Toyota fell from 87,416 units in 2008 to 65,744 units in 2009 but increased to 71,065 units in 2010. The market share also fell from 17.6% in 2008 to 13.5% in 2009 and to 13.1% in 2010. Normally, the new car buyers will choose to buy national cars as the cars are cheaper than foreign cars. People cannot afford to buy the foreign cars because foreign cars double the price of national cars like Proton and Perodua. Besides this, the resale value for foreign cars is much higher than the local manufactured cars. Reasons for the Changes to the Local Car Market The two main reasons for the changes to the local car market are sales tax and excise duty and Asean Free Trade Area (AFTA). Sales tax is a single stage tax imposed at the import or manufacturing levels. (Taxation, 2011) All the buyers need to pay sales tax and excise duty for all vehicles whether is local manufactured or foreign assembled. The car buyers need to pay more if they buy foreign cars like Toyota, Honda and Nissan. Raslan Sharif (2011, p.49) noted these taxes are a source of considerable revenue for the Government as about 500,000 vehicles are sold every year in Malaysia. If the foreign car is too expensive, the new car buyers will prefer to buy local cars as they are cheaper and no import duties. For example, the original cost of a Honda car is RM 53,000, however, because of sales tax and excise duty, the Honda car has increased the price to RM 93,000. The new car buyer has to pay an extra of RM 40,000 for a Honda car. The price of a Toyota Vios in Malaysia is about RM 8 3,000 but in Thailand the car only costs for RM 43,000. Sales tax and excise duty can affect the sales of local cars or foreign cars. The Malaysian Insider stated that: Malaysians were currently paying eye-watering excise duties of between 65 to 105 per cent on top of 10 per cent in sales tax. (Lee Wei Lian, 2011) Sales tax and excise duty also decrease the quantity traded for local cars in the local car market. Excise duty is a type of tax that imposed on buyers. Excise duties are levied on selected products manufactured in Malaysia, namely cigarettes, tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, playing cards, mahjong tiles and motor vehicles. (Excise Duty, 2011) Excise duty is an ad valorem tax levied on manufacture, sale, or use of locally produced goods. (Excise duty, Business Dictionary.com) Initially, the diagram above represents the demand and supply for the local cars. D0 is the initial demand for local cars and S0 represents the supply of the local cars. D0 and S0 are intersecting at point e0. The equilibrium price is P0 and the quantity traded for local cars is Q0. The supply of local cars shifts to the left from S0 to S1. The price of the local cars increases from P0 to P1. The quantity traded for local cars also decreases from Q0 to Q1. When the new car buyers know there is an increase in the price for local cars, they will not buy them. Eventually, the demand curve shifts to the left from D0 to D1. The quantity traded for local cars decreases from Q1 to Q2 and the price of the local cars become uncertain. Apart from sales tax and excise duty, the Asean Free Trade Area (AFTA) also contributes to the changes for the local car market. The sales tax and excise duty is coming down because of Asean Free Trade Area(AFTA). AFTA is a collective effort by ASEAN member countries to reduce or eliminate tariffs on intra-ASEAN trade in the goods sector. (Introduction, miti.gov.my) If there is no reduction in sales tax and excise duty, those investors would not want to invest in Malaysia and Malaysias local cars like Proton and Perodua cars cannot sell to other countries. Malaysias excise duty is much higher than other asean countries like Thailand and Indonesia. People would not want to buy Malaysias cars as their own countries cars have better quality and cheap. Conclusion In conclusion, there are a few changes to the local car market. Perodua has taken over the leadership from Proton in the local car market. The sales of the Perodua are better than Proton because Peroduas car is cheap and has better after-sales service. The car industries in Malaysia are competitive as more people are able to buy foreign cars. In my opinion, Malaysians mostly will choose foreign cars if they can afford to buy a foreign car. If they are in the low or middle-level income group, they would probably choose Peroduas car as their first choice. Proton cars have more car problems and in poor quality than Perodua cars. People would buy foreign cars as they would not depreciate much when compared to local cars. The resale value for local cars like Perodua and Proton are low too. Foreign cars are expensive because of the high taxation on foreign cars. I think that the government have high taxation on foreign cars in order to protect Proton. People have lost confidence on Proton cars as the model is lousy and the spare parts are expensive than other local cars like Perodua.

Operational Activities of Tesco and Coca Cola

Operational Activities of Tesco and Coca Cola Executive Summary Operations management plays a key role in achieving the performance objectives at Tesco and Coca Cola. The underlying aim is to pace in such a way that the focus lays on the customer needs and wants while the organization stays profitable. Substantial facts have been established with sole focus on utilization of resources by both the companies in an efficient manner. Organizational difference between the two companies has been highlighted under the light of operations management. And an evaluation mix based on both the organizations operational framework is elaborated depicting various factors involved. A critical analysis on the structure of both the organizations is provided which mainly entails the similarities and differences on their respective processes and operations. Contents Section A In the following section, introduction to the selected companies is provided in which a deep insight into the identification of current customers is discussed and what current strategies are applied to them. Along with that, it has also been explained that how the operations are aligned to the customer needs. Introduction to TESCO Tesco is the largest retailer chain in the UK and the third largest in the world. To be exact, as stated in Tesco About Us, (2010), it has operations in 2,362 stores in Britain alone. Tesco started off by trading only groceries but now it merchandizes almost every consumer product ranging from a needle to consumer electronics and financial serves. It has grown through various acquisitions of businesses. As Tesco has grown and so have its employees. Tesco currently employs 286,394 staff in the UK and over 460,000 worldwide (The Times 100 , 2009). To serve bigger markets it needs well-trained staff. The UK is the companys largest market, where it operates under four banners of Extra, Superstore, Metro and Express. The company sells almost 40,000 food products, including clothing and other non-food lines. The companys own-label products (50 percent of sales) are at three levels, value, normal and finest. It knows that better staff knowledge, skills and job satisfaction is all vital to i ts further growth.( http://ivoryresearch.com/sample5.php) 2.1 Customers Current trends indicate that British customers have moved towards one-stop and bulk shopping, which is due to a variety of social changes. Tesco have, therefore, increased the amount of non-food items available for sale. Tesco is purely a consumer centred organization. It constantly strives to offer new services, products and ways to shop. It also makes sure that the delivery is executed on time and is hassle free with no strings attached. Its customers include two entities which comprise of B2C and B2B; domestic or regular buyers and small businesses that buy in bulk for further retail, respectively. According to Baba, (2009), Tesco has an aggregate market share of 30.5% with ASDA following it with about half the lag. 2.2 Alignment All the stores are linked to a database and inventory control is ensured in order to meet the consumer demands. It keeps on giving discounts on goods that are in demand and customer focussed. Especially during seasonal events, Tesco has the policy of lowering the prices while maintaining the quality of products as well services offered. Tesco makes use of advance technology in its routine as well as specialized chores. It has innovated and deployed cameras to reduce queues on self-service tills. This is considered as a breakthrough in mechanized retail business. Introduction to Coca Cola Coca Cola started it operations from Atlanta in 1886 as a drug to relieve from headache by a pharmacist Dr. John S Pemberton. Later it became popular and was put into production as a carbonated cola drink. Currently, The Coca Cola Company is the worlds leading manufacturer, marketer and distributor of non-alcoholic beverage concentrates and syrups, and produces nearly 400 brands. Its winning team comprises of over 92,800 employees globally. It has operations in more than 200 countries. Coca Cola Great Britain (CCGB) offers 21 brands and over a hundred products to the consumers in the UK. Its regional headquarters are situated in west London. 3.1 Customers Coca Cola is a refreshing and invigorating brand and caters to the same market as such. Customers include the youth and young adults but kids and adults have also shown frequent consumption patterns over time. According to Coca Cola, (2010), it offers about 1.6 billion servings of its products to the consumers per day. This represents that it has a huge customer base and is very popular among many. 3.2 Alignment Coca Colas vast operations system is responsible of catering to variable demand of its consumers. With a customer base this large, it has concentrated on its supply chain system to ensure ready availability of Coca Cola products to its consumers. It has marketed itself at the right place and at the right time to ensure its presence among its valued customers. It has catered to the regional values and blended itself into the culture of its consumers such that it keeps the customer relationship bond intact. Analysis 4.1 Total Quality Management (TQM) As mentioned by Oakland, (1995), Total Quality Management is a mix of total quality and total management. It specifies quality, defines service and quality of service. Following are a few of the TQM principles adopted by both the selected companies. 4.1.1 Employee Training Employee training and personnel development is an integral part of any organization. Be it the top management or the field staff, training is very important. (Pulat, 1994) Tescos vast operations and customer handling requires a subtly well trained staff. For this they conduct regular checks and performance measurements to identify key deficiencies in the system and try to uproot them through proper training. Similarly, introduction of new products or services in the brand portfolio requires development of employees. Coca Cola relies on training its valuable staff periodically. Be it the innovative technology improvement in production or new inventory management software, Coca Cola strives to provide their workforce with trainings ranging from basic level to the advanced. 4.1.2 Continuous Improvement Continuous improvement is a very basic concept of TQM and must be a part of every organization. Tesco practices commitment towards closed loop feedback for system correction. It focuses on the communication process and obtains feedback both from its employees and from the customers to accelerate the improvement process. Coca Cola, on the other hand, practices continuous improvement which means that the processes should be made so efficient that no defective article reaches the marketplace. Hence, straightening the processes such that they are aligned to the customer needs. 4.1.3 Teamwork In the current scenario of cut throat competition in the market, firms need to be equipped with multi-dimensional, flexible and competitive workforce to be effective. Coca Cola train its staff in order to create cross functional teams which, in return, give the company harmonized systems of control till the lowest level of hierarchy. Tesco creates opportunities for its workers to hone their teamwork abilities by assigning them a variety of projects. It, hence, synergizes its employees in pursuit of a common goal customer satisfaction. 4.2 Marketing strategies According to Etzel, (2008), marketing strategy is a process which involves utilization of limited resources to attain opportunities and eventually, customer satisfaction. Following are some growth strategies designed to identify and focus on the customer. 4.2.1 Cost Support System Cost support system signifies that the organization is leading the business due to its low cost of production. Tesco being a market leader in retail store business has managed to cut its costs in many ways. It has implanted automated tills where customers are enjoying self-service. Through this it has managed to cut some of its human resource employment cost. Additionally, the implementation of adequate inventory control system has slashed Tescos over or under filling problems which has, in return, saved marginal expenses. Coca Cola has adopted new ways of bottling and through proper research, managed to reduce any wastage cost. Besides, they have their own filtration and recycling plants which have condensed water usage by 21% (Coca Cola, 2010). 4.2.2 Market Subdivision Market subdivision is done in order to identify the individuals who share one or more characteristic that distinguishes them with respect to demand of similar products based on qualities and prices etc. Coca Cola has segmented its product to the young generation which is energetic and dynamic. It has positioned itself in the same way as it target market is. It is available everywhere in the form of bottles and vending machines placed in offices, canteens, bars etc. On the other hand, Tesco targets the shopping community like housewives and adults. They have an access to self-earned money and make buying decisions themselves. 4.2.3 Product Distinction Product distinction is all about creating a differentiating factor that make the product stand out of crowd. Tesco has differentiated itself by price slashing phenomenon. It offers amazing discounts and gives away bundle offers. Moreover, availability of almost every item that a consumer wants is ensured which makes it a one shop stop for everybody. Coca Colas greatest differentiating factor is its bottle shape and its unique taste. The shape of the bottle communicates glamour and quality and the taste has a sense of refinement in it. Section B Operations Management Framework As described by Render, (2001), operations management is a process concerned with efficient and effective production of goods and services while meeting customer preferences. 5.1 Process Planning and Design Process designing involves understanding the two ends that is where to start and where to finish keeping in view the various requirements and limitations during the method performed. Process planning and design refers to the fact of transformation the process that can deliver factors like low cost, high quality, enhanced functionality and speed etc. to the production process of goods or services. Coca Cola has production in many countries and is responsible of producing highly standardized products in large volumes. Coca Cola has become a commodity and a necessity to the consumers. The production usually runs 24 hours a day and seven days a week. This all has been achieved through planning and designing the process of production. Tesco, on the other hand, follows a lesser mechanized channel of approach. It doesnt have to go through the tedious production process but it does package goods to be placed in the stores. Planning and design is an on-going process so Tesco has been continuously planning to spread its fixed cost over the volume. It offers a generalized flow shop operation (See Appendix) which allows the customers an ease of access to all the sections without crowding out and creating bottle necks. 5.2 Process Mapping Business process mapping comprises of the activities that define a road map about what the business actually does, the standard and where does the responsibility chain go to. Coca Cola has adopted this concept of creating value chain and establishing the links in the value chain that where the value needs to be added continuously. Meaningful flow charts, work flow diagrams and value stream maps have been designed in order to pre map any latent ambiguities or confusions regarding the processes. Its production process has been made more efficient and it has found and fixed the holdups in the process through this. Tesco Management uses process mapping to revise existing services and add more services into its operations. However, due to a different nature of business, it uses process mapping less frequently. 5.3 Layout Planning The goal of layout planning is to allow workers, equipment (and where applicable, customers) to operate at peak effectiveness, efficiency and involves determining the most feasible locations of the facilities in order to increase efficiency and minimize cost of operations. Layout planning is a very integral and commonly practiced phenomenon in both the organizations. Layout planning involve the best locations where a product can be displayed and where it would gain the most consumer attention. Tesco, being a retail store, exhibits various layouts for customers to get attracted. The products offered are well placed and ordered in symmetry. Special offers are positioned usually at the entrance of the mart and at the eye level of aisle. Tesco evaluates the brand presence by demand and positive traits to place it on the shelves as a convenience factor. Like new promotions are advertised within the store through print media and are placed within the reach of common customer. Coca Cola keenly places it products according to the store size. In small retail outlets, it focuses on brand visibility as well as product availability. Merchandise and coolers are placed in such a way that they are the first thing to be noticed by the customer who enters the store. Whereas in large retail chains, a proper section is allotted for the Coca Cola merchandise. The aisle is decorated with Coca Cola print advertisements and best-selling and new products are placed at eye level of the consumer to create brand recognition. 5.4 Supply Chain Management As mentioned by Blanchard, (2007), supply chain management is an on-going process which aims to harmonize the movement, storage, usage and the whole value chain which include the process from purchasing to shelving. Tesco has adopted the principles of supply chain management and has reduced its costs by around 45%. As a result, it has been able to lower its inventory as well (Tesco, 2010). As it deals in consumer electronics and basic commodities with standard benefits like food, home supplies, standard clothing etc. its main function here is cost reduction aligned with customer satisfaction. With the fashion goods, timeline is focussed more due to rapidly changing trends. Tesco deals with both the domestic customers as well as to business customers i.e. B2C and B2B respectively. So, it has aligned itself well to cater to both the markets (Brock, 2010). By implementing supply chain management concept, Coca Cola has reduced its inventory costs and production functionality. This has also enabled the company to ensure a rapid delivery of their products to the outlets and eventually the consumers. One more aspect that urges Coca Cola to constantly improve its supply chain system is its belonging to the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector. 5.5 Schedule Management Schedule management is all about ensuring that the right tasks are conducted at the right time and on the right items. Following are some of the factors that the companies keep in their minds while managing operations. 5.5.1 Demand Forecast Coca Cola schedules itself by performing a demand forecast to support the whole operations management process. It plans its capacity beforehand to ensure a steady flow for the future sales. For example, Coca Cola foresees its sales to go up in summers or social events so it schedules the production of products in such a way that it caters to the increased demand of the consumers. Similarly, Tesco follows the demand forecasting techniques to stay profitable and be able to respond to demand during the times of social events and festivals. For example, customers would want costumes and pumpkins during Halloween and Christmas trees during Christmas. 5.5.2 Master Scheduling Key players in master scheduling are sales and operations. Coca Cola has disaggregated its workflow into different major chunks. Through this a synergy is created which has a greater and better effect on the overall production process. This means that production process is divided into various segments and a sum of all would result into a whole. Coca-Cola alters the master schedule and as a result, inventories, lead times and capacity requirements are altered in favour. Tesco, on the other hand, manages the inventories and supply lines in accordance to the commodity requirement. For example, perishable goods like frozen food are kept till the mentioned expiry period. To make sure nothing goes wasted, appropriate quantities are taken and under storage capacity. 5.6 Lean Management Lean management, according to Plenert, (2007), refers to the process of elimination of costs as well as wastes during production process. Coca Cola is one of the leaders in waste management system. It has laid a three factor phenomenon i.e. reduce, reuse and recycle the packaging. It has introduced a new bottle design which is 20% lighter and it has slashed carbon emissions by 2,200 tonnes (Coca-Cola, 2010). The company has established recycle zones at certain places to encourage recycling of waste. The glass bottles currently contain about 37% recycled glass, while half of the aluminium used in the cans is recycled. Using the metal in this way saves 95 per cent of the energy needed to manufacture it from its raw form. Hence, new ways have helped slicing costs attached. Tesco practices employee empowerment. It has a team of multi-cultural individuals working under one roof. They have been delegated certain authorities that help benefit both themselves and the customers. Theyve been able to specify value in terms of competitive pricing. Moreover, it has cut costs by training the staff thus reducing the mishandling and waste of perishable goods and delicate items. It pursues perfection by creating customer pull value through value stream. 5.7 Inventory Management System An intelligent inventory management system is what almost every organization needs today. Tesco was one of the first ones to adopt the RFID system in practice. What purpose does it serve is that conventional bar codes are replaced with computer chips or smart tags. And this makes use of wireless technology to track inventory. It goes through two stages i.e. firstly; the suppliers tag the inventory and send it to the respective outlets. To make sure it reaches at the right outlet, they are monitored wirelessly. Secondly, the already reached inventory is unpacked and further allotted with a different RFID and sent to shelves. One of the key benefits it offers is that it prevents from shoplifting. However, Coca Cola practices a bit simpler inventory management system. It gathers the required raw materials like concentrate etc. from various defines sources according to the requirements and stores them for operations. Particular raw material is selected and sent to the work in process. Thus facilitating the entire production process. Critical Analysis on Differences between Organizations Although both the companies have customer focused in their minds, the main difference between both Tesco and Coca Cola is their nature of production. Coca Cola serves in the manufacturing sector and produced high quality goods for consumption whereas, Tesco functions in the service sector and is involved in the production of services. It also acts as a middle man for various deals. Coca cola is a soft drink beverages retail business that serves both the markets i.e. business to consumer and business to business customers. It offers its services to small scale as well as large scale retail outlets in the form of packaged beverage. And for the business community, it has contracts with various businesses like McDonalds and Burger king etc. and provides them with vending machines. It has paced itself well in the industry and always meets the consumer needs. The operation implications of Coca Cola involve a high tech beverage factory that produces high quality beverages and works 24 hours a day and seven days a week. A steady supply of raw materials is managed at a pace harmonious to the production process. A proper storage and inventory control system is also maintained in order to aid the supply chain aspects and then the supply of beverages to the end user is ensured at any cost. Tesco, on the other hand, is in a supermarket business. It focuses more on its outlets and the services it provide to the customers. Moreover, a key fact not to be neglected is its online store named as Tesco Direct. As the name suggests, the delivery is made direct to the defined place. All the bargains that Tesco offers are available online on Tesco Direct. This facilitates the consumer even before visiting the store hence adding value. Apart from dealing in the consumer goods, Tesco is also a key player in various other fields. It operates in Garden centers, for financial services it runs its own bank namely Tesco bank. In addition to that, it has its own brand of electronics products known as Technika. Other services offered include its presence in the telecom and energy sector as well. Section C Evaluation of Mix Today, conducting operations in an environment in which if one doesnt evolve from primitive ways, it will go obsolete. Constant innovation in operations framework and selecting a customer focused approach is very important. The operations at Coca Cola Corporation are in collaboration with their long and short term goals. Through their staunch strategies and their rigorous implementation, Coca Cola has been able to improve itself in terms of financial growth as well as the market share. A better logistics system has helped it reach out to his customers at a rapid pace. And with the implementation of a better and more advanced production plant, it has benefited its own growth by increasing the production capacity and access to multiple productions at a time. The quality standards are maintained according to the world accredited criterions like ISO and environment friendly standards. They have shifted to using CFC free machinery in their chillers and coolers which are much healthier. With adoption of supply chain management system, the company has enabled a systematic approach to operations. The management of supply chain and operations has helped the company to provide the customers with the required satisfaction level they wanted. Coca Cola is one of the leaders in waste management system. It has laid a three factor phenomenon i.e. reduce, reuse and recycle the packaging. It has introduced a new bottle design which is 20% lighter and it has slashed carbon emissions by 2,200 tonnes (Coca-Cola, 2010). Tesco also has a smart inventory control and management system. From collection of goods till their sale, everything is scrutinized and put under check to ensure free flow through proper channel. This has facilitated them to manage and forecast the demand of goods that are demanded more and the ones that are demanded lesser often. Coca Cola provides an excellent customer services programme by introducing new drinks according to the taste of the customers and by doing this they are very successful in maintaining the existing customers loyalty and catching new customers. Coke also introduces a coke reward programme. My Coke Rewards is customer loyalty marketing campaign for the Coca-Cola soft drink. Customers enter codes found on specially marked packages of Coca-Cola products on a website. Codes can also be entered on the go by texting them from a cell phone. These codes are converted into virtual points which can in turn be redeemed by members for various prizes. On the other hand Tescos Club card loyalty scheme is designed not only to reward members based on their spend, but also to enable Tesco to better understand and meet the needs and preferences of its customers by recording and analysing their buying behaviour. In each Club card mailing, Tesco uses the information gained from its loyalty scheme to provide customers with offers that are as appropriate to them as possible. In fact, as a member, when you receive your Club card vouchers, youll also receive one of over 80,000 different combinations of other special offers and vouchers, allocated to you based on your previous purchases and shopping habits. So instead of having to throw half of the extra vouchers away, you should be able to save money by using them all! Tesco was one of the first ones to adopt the RFID system in practice. What purpose does it serve is that conventional bar codes are replaced with computer chips or smart tags. And this makes use of wireless technology to track inventory. However, Coca Cola practices a bit simpler inventory management system. It gathers the required raw materials like concentrate etc. from various defines sources according to the requirements and stores them for operations. Particular raw material is selected and sent to the work in process. By implementing supply chain management concept, Coca Cola has reduced its inventory costs and production functionality. This has also enabled the company to ensure a rapid delivery of their products to the outlets and eventually the consumers. One more aspect that urges Coca Cola to constantly improve its supply chain system is its belonging to the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector. The lean procedures have devised employee empowerment and led both Tesco and Coca Cola to reduce as well as manage its wastes and eventually the costs attached to it. Coca Cola has deployed large waste bins in the cities to encourage recycling and practices reusing and recycling waste too. Tesco is also very focused to employee empowerment and gives away incentives to the ones who show performance. Additionally, value is not something that is just attached to price, quality or service but it is related to the experience as well. Layout planning plays a keen part in fulfilling this need of the customer. This satisfaction is achieved when the perceived value goes proportional to the quality provided. Hence, the value is added at every step of production of goods or services. Process automation in the manufacturing of Coca Cola products and in-store mechanization of Tesco has reduced the costs a great deal and has added worth to the companies. The strategies and techniques for production of goods and services are constantly adding value to the means of production as well as to the customer norms which is creating a bond between organizations and the customers. By tracking performance on a regular basis, both the companies can identify areas that are performing well, as well as those that need to be improved and worldwide aims not just to retain customers. They a bigger share of each customers wallet the amount of money the customer has to spend on their products.

Poe - A perfect Plan of Guilt :: essays research papers

Revenge is sweet and guilt it torture. Montresor decides to dabble between revenge and guilt and ultimately learns that revenge has consumed him. This can be seen when Montresor is aware of the suffering that Fortunato is feeling as he begins killing him. The compassion that Montresor feels is coupled with guilt from the murder he committed. These feelings make Montresor’s perfect plan of revenge lead to a lifetime of guilt. Revenge has a thin line which can easily be crossed when the revenge no longer fits the crime. Montresor speaks of this during the first paragraph when he states â€Å"I must not only punish, but punish with impunity† (Poe 141). He wants to be exempt from harm as well as from guilt. This would make the revenge sweet, or satisfying. Montresor comments on a satisfying revenge at the end of the first paragraph by saying â€Å"A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser. It is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong" (141). Montresor means that revenge must be satisfying, but can not consume himself. He can not step over this line and commit a crime himself. This act will cause guilt upon the avenger and eliminate any satisfying feeling that he might have received from the revenge. Montresor begins to be overtaken by his retribution almost immediately. His fascination with deception is his weak point. Montresor plans a revenge that would satisfy him for the insults that have been committed against him. While doing so he wants to be stealthy and states â€Å"it must be understood that neither by word nor deed had I given Fortunato cause to doubt my good will† (141) He continues to deceive Fortunato by lying to him about the pipe of Amontillado and playing on his nature of a wine connoisseurship. Montresor would say â€Å"I have my doubts† (142) knowing that Fortunato would only become more motivated to taste the Amontillado and tell of its authenticity. It is this deception that he becomes carried away with. This becomes a game for Montresor. He uses Fortunato as a pawn, and plays each move very carefully. While Montresor has become fatally involved in his plan of revenge he still has not forgotten that Fortunato is a friend. When they are ready to go to the vaults, Montresor shows concern for Fortunato’s health.

Sexual Identity in Africa Essay -- Sexual Issues

A passionate subject, a cultural and universal practice, a part of the human nature and a divine attribute bestowed upon man by his creator. No culture is superior to another when it comes to sexuality, its acts is everywhere. It doesn’t change the face of any culture or change modernity from moving forward. Sexuality, sexual harassments, sexual dimorphism, sexual orientation, sexual intercourse, gays, lesbians, sexual preferences, sexual rights, sexual selection, sex appeal, being sexy, an endless list of each phrase, briefly coming with one source word; Sex. Sex has been a necessity, even though it is hardly ever discussed. In time past, in every part of the globe, there has always been a universal acknowledgements of the act â€Å"SEX†. Socially, it is an act a man and woman (wife/wives) engaged in after fulfilling the appropriate marriage rites. Politically, in ancient history and in present times, it was and still is the ultimate weapon of seduction that gave/gives most of our prominent women power over their male opponents. Over the years, sexual activities have grown to affect our lifestyles and perspectives (life views) to a great extend. In distinct parts of the world, the concept of sexual expressions and identities took diverse forms. The forms cut across beliefs, religions, perceptions, moral standard and even politics. However, certain things were settled for. According to N.M Heckel, in medieval times, â€Å"Sex was measured, as it is now, to be a normal and natural part of life. Most authorities agreed that it was not intrinsically sinful because God would not have made such a necessary activity to be a taboo (without sex one cannot have children and fulfil the commandment to "increase and multiply, and repleni... ...tisfree/cifamerica/2011/nov/02/america-problem-sex-education> Hoeksema, S. Inclusive Sex Education Needed in African Schools. 11th Nov 2011, 24th April 2012. Web. Heckel, N. Sex Society and Medeival Women. 24th April 2012. Web. http://www.lib.rochester.edu/camelot/medsex/text.htm Meston, C, Ahrold, T. Ehtnic, Gender and Acculturation influences on Sexual Behaviours. DOI 10.1007. 2008. Print. Mirrer, L. Women Jews and Muslims in the texts of Reconquest Castile. University of Michigan press. Michigan. 1996. Print. Neary, L. Homosexuality in Africa is Still a Taboo. 22nd February 2010. 26th April 2012. Web. AUN students. Personal Interview. 14-14th April 2012. Wikipedia. Premarital Sex. 24th April 2012. Web.

Wage vs Salary

Introduction: Wage and salary are the two important elements for designing compensation package for any organization. Often, we mistake considering the wage and salary as synonymous. But there are some substantial differences between them. In order to get higher productivity, it is much more important to know the different between wage and salary. Before comparison, try to penetrate the insights of them. Wage: Wages are generally paid per hour. This means that you have to be present and working in order to get paid. Most of the time, wage jobs are not as inclusive when it comes to things like paid vacations, or paid sick days. Wage earners often have to give up pay for leaving early, coming in late, missing a day, or taking a vacation. Historically, we often refer to manual labor jobs as wage jobs, and positions. Wage earners are more likely to be found in positions with high turnover, while salaries are often assigned for positions with low turnover Wages are more likely to be added up into additional payments. If you work 50 hours in one week, you may receive your first 40 hours at the regular pay rate, and the additional 10 hours at 1 Â ½ times your normal pay rate. Depending on the structure and traditions of different economies around the world, wage rates are either the product of market forces (supply and demand), as is common in the United States, or wage rates may be influenced by other factors such as tradition, social structure and seniority, as in Japan. Salary: A salary is an amount paid for a particular job, regardless of hours worked, in a package payment system. Salary refers to how much you get paid every year. Salary earners rarely have to punch a time clock, or keep an accurate account of their hours, because they get paid for performance rather than by the hour. Salaried workers are much more likely to have paid sick days and paid vacations, and are not docked pay for being late or leaving early from time to time. Salary can also be counted in terms other than money. Some companies consider reimbursement for things like medical insurance as part of your salary. You can even find some companies blending education and retirement contributions as part of your salary package. Professional jobs are salaried jobs and it has low turnover compare to wage jobs. It might include a base salary, pension, fringe benefit, bonuses, stock options and so on.

Reading and watching are totally different

Reading and watching are totally different: one describes things by words, while the other uses visual actions. To some people who enjoy reading, they can find interest in books with imagination. Personally, I like movies more than books, because I can understand more by visualization. When I read â€Å"A Rose for Emily,† I couldn’t understand the story at first.Then when I watched the movie, it helped me to understand more about what’s going on around Emily, with more details and chronological events. The story told in Faulkner’s order is not chronological which is harder for reader to understand. I found out some differences of the story in the book compared with the movie.In the book, the author mentions about the taxes more than in the movie. The mayors send to Emily a tax notice but there is no reply. They write her formal letter, and even come to her house to talk about it. The only sentence Emily can say to them is that â€Å"I have no taxes in Jef ferson.†The movie only shows a scene that Emily received a lot of tax notice letters which she has never replied once. After her father’s death, Emily becomes poor and has no income since she has been only depending on her farther. I guess in the movie, it focuses more on her relationship with Homer which the book doesn’t show much. I didn’t know Emily sleep with Homer until I saw the movie.As I read the title of the book, I expected something must be related to rose in the story, but I couldn’t find it after I finished the story. I were surprised by the end of the movie, when Emily died, people put a rose in her tomb which made more sense to me due to the title. One more different thing is the strand of gray hair is found in Homer’s hand but not on the pillow as it is in the book.At the end, the story remains a mystery about Emily and Homer. Why does Emily kill Homer? And when is it in the story? Does she sleep with him everyday or just the last day of her life? Does Tobe fall in love with Emily? These questions were neither answered in the movie nor in the book. The author left us something to think about, something to criticize on our own. In my opinion, I think that Emily kills Homer because she loves him and she wants him to be with her for the rest of her life.We all know that Emily falls in love with Homer, but what about Homer? Does he love her? All the people in town are saying that Homer is not a marrying man. So, even though they are dating and sleeping together, Emily knows that he will not marry her, and one day he will leave her just like her father. This makes her think about a way to keep Homer with her forever.I guess this is the reason she wants to kill him. There is a scene where they meet at the door of a drug store, in which Homer doesn’t show any respect or kindness to her. That makes Emily more determined about her plan of poison Homer.At the end, her cousins find Homer’s body on the bed and a strand of gray hair on his hand. This indicates that Emily does sleep with the death body but we don’t know when Emily has been doing that. So, I still wonder that how come she doesn’t kill herself after him since she has nothing left.

Machinal as a Play Written in Anger.

Machinal was written by Sophie Treadwell, a woman attempting to make her mark in a male dominated society and in a male dominated work sphere (as an author and playwright). This was in a time when it was considered a tenet of social life to accept a woman’s role was to facilitate the life of the man to whom she belongs. To reach above the kitchen shelf and attempt men’s work or to enter the men’s world was frowned upon and was punished by the social system. A woman in the wrong field or operating socially as equal to a male would either have to work under a different, male, identity or be met by severe criticism and gender based discrimination, her works largely ignored or peremptorily dismissed as inferior. The playwright draws on her experience with and bitterness against the social machine (hence the name Machinal, French for machine like) and tells the tale of an average everywoman who spends her entire, short, life seeking freedom from the role society has cast her in. Her role as defined by society is that of what the society in question considers any decent well bred young woman. She is originally a caregiver for her mother’ working at a job that makes her feel suffocated to earn enough to take care of both of them. Next she becomes a companion, decoration (he chose her for her hands) and sexual partner for her husband who â€Å"buys her† by providing for her mother and making sure she no longer needs to work at the job she hates and finally she becomes a mother caring for her daughter not because of any sense of love but because society refuses to allow her to abandon the child. These separate roles give birth to her rage pushing her to outbursts of rage and anti-social behaviour and ironically in their climax lead to a murder based on pity, not for herself but for her husband. Based on the idea that the play was based loosely on Treadwell’s experiences in a man’s world and the infamous murderess †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. it can be assumed that the emotions that Helen (young woman) experiences are echoes, or perhaps rather intensified images of her feelings. Her mother speaks with the voice of society, having been the one to raise her to be imprisoned in a world where she will never truly experience freedom. Her mother is a symbol of how entrenched the rules of the machine are. Having in her time experienced, surely, the same suppression as her daughter she was still unable to conceive a life outside the machine or to offer that freedom to her child. Instead she denies her the slight pleasure she found in marrying a man who appealed to her insisting that she instead take the practical course of marrying the man with the highest income though what she is offered is a pampered but empty life. It is questionable if she in fact loves her daughter or simply nags her because it is her method of keeping her in line. It begins to seem as though she simply ensures that she herself will be taken care of, so that a rich husband her daughter is an opportunity to jump at, not for Helens benefit but for hers. This would indicate that within the machine all interpersonal relations are determined by such practical considerations as where the power, especially in monetary terms lies and this is always with the men. What is left to the women is only as much as they can wrest from each other by manipulation and deception. This may be what young woman realises causing her to threaten her mother; that she does not in truth love her and simply uses her in and for the purposes that suit her. This They inspire the young not particularly educated or intelligent woman to crystallize the comprehension of her condition though it is one that has been forced on her since infancy and is considered normal by the rest of the machine and her objection and opposition of it succinctly in her statement â€Å"I will not submit† which she repeats like a mantra. This is a role that truly does not inspire her, that of mother, wife and daughter. Though she must also endure her mother’s nagging. She is controlled even unconsciously by men who like her husband who do not recognise their domination She does not like or love him and resents him because she did not choose to marry him but was forced to by her mother, and through her mother, society’s expectations of her. Also at the time of the marriage she disliked his â€Å"fat pressing† hands which to her represented oppression. he viewed it as the lesser of two evils because it would provide the means to provide for her mother and escape her. It would also mean she no longer had to work, being unsuited (or so it seems) to any type of structure. She also marries him despite a strong distaste for him because it is accepted by society that a woman gets married and has children. This is possibly the first major capitulation in her life. The first time she could be said to have had a choice in the direction of her life and in her attempting to find or maintain her (relative) freedom. Machinal by Sophie Treadwell