E-Tourism in Sri Lanaka

E-Tourism In Sri Lanka E-Commerce Infrastructure University Collage Dublin Student Name: Madushanka W. H. M Student Number: 11294574 E-mail: madawa. [email  protected] com About Sri Lanka Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka commonly known as the pearl of the Indian Ocean or as Ceylon is one of the exquisite Island in the world Sri Lanka set in the Indian Ocean in south Asia near to the equator which is a great home to 8 UNESCO world heritage sites.Not only that this great Island has unspoiled beaches, waterfalls, pure rivers, 15 national wildlife parks, lagoons with indigenous aquatic birds, 250 acres of botanical gardens, hot water wells and so many unique things. Because Sri Lanka is a multinational country; Sinhalese, Sri Lankan Moors, Indian Tamil, Sri Lankan Tamil, all these ethical groups lives in this small Island. Sri Lanka is a place where the original soul of Buddhism still flourishes (Buddhist 69. %) but it is not a problem to friendly people in this country becau se there are Muslims (7. 6%), Hindu (7. 1%), Christian (6. 2%) & some other religions people living happily within area of 65,610Km. Country has three main geological divisions. In the lowlands, up to an altitude of 100m to 150m, the mean annual temperature various between 26. 5 0C to 28. 5 0C. In the highlands, the temperature falls quickly as the altitude increases. The mean annual temperature of Nuwara Eliya, at 1800 m sea level, is 15. 9 0C.The coldest month of the country is January, and the warmest months are April and August. Agriculture plays an important role in Sri Lankan economy. Main agricultural product is rice but Tea, Rubber & coconut brings more foreign currency to the Island not only that but also Spices export brings foreign money as well. Sri Lanka's economy today is mainly based on the service and industrial sector. However Tourism and the related services industries are also growing in Sri Lanka. Madushanka W. H. M 11294574 madawa. [email  protected] com What is E-TourismWhen we consider about manual processes regarding tourism, there are so many things including air ticket or Cruise ticket reservation, hotel reservation not only that every person must need to obtain a permission before entering to a country (Visa). Just think if a tourist or travel agency had to do all those things manually; definitely it will take nearly one month or more. So E-tourism is the best option for all those time taken processes. It’s a combination of e-commerce and tourism & it helps to maximizing the efficiency of tourism sector.Tourism has closely been connected to progress of ICTs for over 30 years. The establishments of the Computer Reservation Systems (CRSs) in the 1970s, Global Distribution Systems (GDSs) in the late 1980s and the Internet in the late 1990s have transformed operational and strategic practices dramatically in tourism (Buhalis, 2003; Buhalis & Law, 2008). The tourism industry at first focused on utilizing computerized systems (e. g. , CRS, GDS) to increase efficiency in processing of internal information and managing distribution.Nowadays, the Internet and ICTs are relevant on all operative, structural, strategic and marketing levels to facilitate global interaction among suppliers, intermediaries and consumers around the world (Buhalis & Law, 2008; Egger & Buhalis, 2008). E-tourism is a really great concept because it includes business management, information systems & management and the tourism. As an example it has main electronic business functions such as e-commerce, e-marketing, e-accounting etc http://www. srilankan. aero/welcome. html? local e=en_us. ttp://www. srilankan. aero/welcome. html? local e=en_ushttp://www. srilankan. aero/welcome. ht ml? locale=en_ushttp://www. srilankan. aero/wel come. html? locale=en_us. srilankan. aero/welco me. html? locale=en_us http://www. starcruises. com/newweb/homepage. aspx Madushanka W. H. M 11294574 madawa. [email  protected] com Key Players In E-tourism E-tou rism provides great opportunities for numerous key players in tourism industry to expand their businesses. Also because of the E-tourism numbers of new players have come into the tourism industry.Mainly there are several key players; 1. 2. 3. 4. Airlines Hotels Tour operators 7 Travel Agencies Particular country(In here Sri Lanka) 1. Airlines When we considering about the airlines long time ago reservations were made by using a manual process. It’s a really time consuming work because reservations were made on manual display boards, where passengers were listed. Travel agencies had to locate the best routes and fares in manuals and then check availability and make reservation by phone, before issuing a ticket manually.World’s first automated reservation system called SABRE (Semi-Automatic Business Research Environment) was introduced by American Airlines and IBM jointly during 1962. It enabled American Airlines to replace the handwritten passenger reservations system o f the 1950s with the automated reservations system for the future. Currently SABRE global distribution system is used by more than 400 airlines, 55,000 travel agencies, 88,000 hotels, 13 cruise lines & etc.In Sri Lanka currently Sri Lankan airlines has earned great revenue and won series of international and national awards in fields ranging from passenger transport to marketing and internet technology including Platinum Award from the International Air Transport Association as one of the first airlines in the world to introduce a major innovation to tickets. Madushanka W. H. M 11294574 madawa. [email  protected] com SriLankan Airlines made significant investments in technology during last year, the carrier contracted with Calidris(since acquired by Sabre Airline Solutions) to help ensure seats are not occupied by false or spurious bookings .The solution looks at business problems including: Ticket time limits, Fake names, Duplicate bookings and duplicate segments within a booking , Fake or duplicate ticket numbers. 2. Hotels One of the most important player in travel & tourism sector which has a long history, nearly 1300 years. World’s oldest hotel is â€Å"Hoshi Ryokan† which is founded in 717. Sri Lanka’s oldest hotel is â€Å"Galle Face Hotel† which was founded in 1864 by four British entrepreneurs. Now a day hotels in other words E-Hospitality plays major role in E-Tourism.During 1970s due to the airlines Computer Reservation Systems (CRSs) and ICT developments forced hotel industry to develop hotel CRSs in order to maintain good customer friendly environment with rapid response time to customer. By using CRSs in hotel sector, it’s enable travel & tourism trade to access accurate information on availability and to provide easy, inexpensive, efficient and reliable way of making and confirming reservations. Switch companies such as THISCO and WIZCOM emerged also to facilitate interconnectivity between dedicated or interna l hotel system and GDSs (Emmer etal. 1993; O’Connor, 1995, 1999) The development of switch companies Switch Companies CRSs/GDSs Madushanka W. H. M 11294574 madawa. [email  protected] com â€Å"Galileo† is one of the well-known CRS in the world which provide Hotel room reservations, Airline bookings etc. Galileo RoomMasterâ„ ¢ is supper solution by â€Å"Travelport† company which provides hotel shopping and booking solution. By purchasing Galileo RoomMasterâ„ ¢ it provides Galileo-connected subscribers with direct, real-time access to relevant hotel system for shopping and bookings of hotel’s properties.Also it enables to connect with more than 190,000 travel agency workstations, as well as corporate and consumer/ecommerce users throughout the world. Most of the Sri Lankan hotels also are now available for online reservations by using those systems & some of them are inbuilt solutions by the hotels. 3. Tour operators & Travel Agencies Tour operator s organizes, arranges leisure packages including flights & accommodation. They pre-book tourism products and distribute them through advertising in travel agencies.Major tour operators use internet based communication system in order to reduce information handling costs and to increase the speed of information transfer with agencies and the customers. Currently some of the established tour operator’s business are made, in other words packages are booked through online. Thomson Holidays is one of the world famous tour operator company which only accept reservation made through Thomson’s open-line Program (TOP). In Sri Lanka huge number of tour operators like JF tours, Miracle Sri Lanka, Nalro tours use Ecommerce based techniques to attract travelers & advertise about their packages. Madushanka W.H. M 11294574 madawa. [email  protected] com 4. Sri Lankan Government After 30 years of the civil war, tourism is one of the main considering areas of the Sri Lankan governmen t. As mentioned in previously, county has lot of tourist attractions. So currently government has invested in several areas to develop travel & tourism industry. Sri Lanka Tourism Board (SLTB) former Ceylon Tourist Board which is under the Ministry of Economic Development has the main responsibilities to develop country’s travel & tourism. As a country still Sri Lanka couldn’t reach up to good place in E-Tourism. but SLTB doing its best to improve E-tourism.They have an alliance with ICTA (Information and Communication Technology Association of Sri Lanka) to develop E-Tourism. Also SLTB re- launched their web site (http://www. srilankatourism. org/) with new look & currently Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau which is under SLTB trying to use the best technologies to promote about the Sri Lanka (http://www. srilanka. travel/). Social networking (Facebook icon) on the page Ministry of Economic development has long time tourism development strategy (20112016). They have mentioned use of the internet & E-commerce are key objectives to be achieved through the 5 year strategy.Madushanka W. H. M 11294574 madawa. [email  protected] com E-Tourism Benefits to Key Players 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Help to understand about the customers & help to build a good customer relationship. Make direct communication between customers. Ability to respond in quick and efficient way to customer. Reduces communication, advertising cost due to eMarketing. Help to increase interconnectivity among the key players. 24/7 of the business time Less of labors. E-Tourism Benefits to Customers 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Can do the business directly without interpreters. Reduces time Accessible at any time Due to competition can obtain good ervice or great product at low price. Can know Up to date information. Wide range of selections. Ability to customize products or services. Online auctions. Future developments in E-Tourism E-tourism has reach to great place in the world but when con sidering with E-commerce there are so many ways which can develop. ? ? ? E-tourism in world or Sri Lanka, still haven’t any major developments in field of mobile, mobile advertising. So developing that kind of product will help to earn more revenue than now. When considering other online products travel & tourism sector need to more think about social networking.As a country Sri Lanka should need to develop several telecommunication technologies such as speed of the internet, wireless internet access etc. †¦ Madushanka W. H. M 11294574 madawa. [email  protected] com Bibliography 1. Department of Meteorology – Sri Lanka (2012) Climate in Sri Lanka [online], available: http://www. meteo. gov. lk/index. php? option=com_content=article=106 d=81=en [07 Feb 2012]. 2. Dodson, B (2011) ‘PEACOCK PROUD’, ascend, available: http://www. google. lk/url? sa=t=j=sabre%20in%20srilankan%20airlines= web=1=2=0CCgQFjAA=http%3A%2F%2Fwww. abreairlinesolutions. co m%2Fima ges%2Fuploads%2FPeacockProud_APR_2011. pdf=6Lk0T87BIYnPrQe13rC6 Dw=AFQjCNGqQUEN5z3krOlHuO4v41AcGRi3wA=rja [06 Feb 2012]. 3. Gartner, W. C, Lime, D. W. (2000) Trends in outdoor recreation, leisure, and tourism: New wave of technological evolution, London: CABI publishing. 4. Glowatz, M (2011) ‘Emerging Infrastructure Trends ’, E Commerce Infrastructure (SL), 9 Feb 2012, University Collage Dublin, Unpublished. 5. Hotelmule(2008)The development of switch companies[Image online], available: http://hotelmule. com/management/html/83/n-2183-9. html[06 Feb 2012]. 6. IBM

Analysis of John Howard Griffin’s “Black Like Me” Essay

John Howard Griffin’s research should undeniably be considered sociological. He began with a theory, if he became black he could help understand the difficulties between races as both a white man and a black man in the south and with this knowledge develop a means to bridge the gap. With this information he developed a micro-theory, trying to explain a limited part of human behavior; why is there hate among blacks and whites? He collected his data in a process of explanatory research. He needed to test his theory in order to elaborate existing explanations. He gathered all his data and went through all research methods in the hopes of explaining his theory. He followed the research process; developed a question, took into account what would be needed to answer the question, decided how to get this and conducted it as ethical as a black-white southerner could. He used a meta-analysis in examining the information. Griffin improved the description of the relationship while developing explanations for the cause of such activity and aimed to advance research in this area by gathering new knowledge. Finally, when he gathered all his information he released it to the mass media. Although it takes the form of a journal it should still be considered sociological research. The diary method is, in fact, beneficial. Instead of conducting a cross sectional form of research in which information is gathered at one particular time, Griffin, using the diary, conducted a longitudinal study. With such a study change can be identified and a broader understanding will develop in the hopes of answering the research question. Of coarse when such a research method as a diary is used questions arise as to its validity and reliability. It can be assumed that the reliability of Griffin’s work is quite substantial. He had an insider perspective due to his covert observation and participant observation. His information was derived from a large population across more than one state, while still focusing on the southern parts of America. All the persons mentioned in the diary shared the same belief; whites were limiting the black potential. Then it must be asked whether the diary was biased or not. Since it was, in reality, a diary, the information published could be selective. This then questions the validity of the  research. There is no doubt that Griffin had opinions on the topic before it was investigated. However, the research was also very generalizable. This should help to alleviate many of the doubts towards the ethics of the means of research. Since human behavior is very complex it is difficult to narrow down the independent variable. All doubts on validity aside, the research was conducted in a meth od of sociological nature. It was a combination of participant observation, covert observation and unstructured interviews. For example, Griffin had conversations at the YMCA with other black men, or on the bus between New Orleans and Mississippi. These weren’t done with an outlined set of questions; they were conducted by way of one oppressed African-American to another. In conducting his research in such an unobtrusive manner Griffin helped the media identify the setting, the human and social environment, their activities and behaviors, and non-verbal communication. In this method Griffin wasn’t looking to prove causality, rather looking to support his argument in hope for change. With all this taken into account it can be summarized that Griffin followed the research process and used sociological methods. Norms are generally defined as an aspect in society in which an expected behavior binds a certain group of people. However, norms can be applied to many different areas. It can mean placing a set standard for achievement on a certain communal grouping based on the accomplishments of the average person from that grouping. It can also mean a characteristic that is representative of a social group. Or norms can be considered a common practice, belief or custom . However when dealing with norms it must be understood that they apply differently depending on the context of the situation. Much like social norms vary from legal norms. Social norms were the predominant force Griffin encountered throughout his research. Although legal norms played a particular part, judgment was based on the structures of mutual belief, not necessarily judicial. For example, the â€Å"whites† of the southern United States were holding the assumption that the â€Å"blacks† were sexually demented and intellectually impaired (Griffin, 1962: p. 114). The southern white majority assumed that African-Americans were so open about  their sex lives that they even performed activities in the streets and in front of children. They also believed that the blacks wanted white woman sexually and that due to their lack of education all they knew was their natural instinct to reproduce. They assumed this behavior to be applicable to all African-American men. As Griffin tries to explain, he can find no inferiority amongst the blacks; â€Å"These characteristics don’t spring from whiteness or blackness, but from a man’s conditioning† (Griffin, 1962: p. 92). Role taking is a critical part of fostering any sober understanding of a relevant society. It involves looking at things from a different viewpoint. This assists us in understanding how different groups perceive us. We have to know what we look like through others eyes. In order to achieve this we must first understand their mind frame. John Howard Griffin goes through great lengths to achieve this. He understands that it is practically impossible for him to fully comprehend what life is like for a black man, while being a white man in the southern United States. Thus he undergoes pigment therapy that redefines his life. Griffin darkens his skin in order to appear as though he were a black American, in the hopes to achieve an unbiased account of African-American life in the deep south. By infiltrating the seemingly distinct society and adapting to the practices of that society Griffin has undergone role taking. When in New Orleans, Griffin’s first area of research as a black s outherner, he quickly learns of the limitations enforced only by the fact that his skin color was different. By becoming the minority studied, Griffin was not only able to study, first hand, the accounts of racism, but he was also able to emotionally attach himself to the African-American society. Alienation is the separation between â€Å"parts or the whole of the personality and significant aspects of the world of experience.† This term can have many meanings depending on the situation and for whom it is intended. In terms of Griffin’s book, alienation was the physical segregation and the emotional feeling of inequality and unequal opportunities based on skin color. Alienation was evident throughout Griffin’s experiences. Separate waiting rooms at bus stations, separate washrooms and fountains, isolated living  areas, the inability to purchase food and drinks at certain stores, the inability to rest in certain areas, unequal job and education abilities, all formed the feeling of alienation. (Griffin, 1962: p. 92) Griffin realized that this division, both physical and emotional would have to be overcome in order to attain a greater appreciation as a race. Griffin and many blacks alike thought education was the key to destroying the norm of alienation. â€Å"Equal job opportunities†¦ That’s the answer to much of the tragedy of our young people† (Griffin, 1962: p. 44). According to Griffin there were two problems that caused this alienation and lack of motivation to change, they were: the discrimination against the Negro and his discrimination against himself (Griffin, 1962: p. 45). According to Griffin then, it was not only the fault of the whites that the blacks were in the situation they were, it was partly the fault of the blacks as well. Stereotypes are formed when the characteristics of a certain group of people are based on the generalized characteristics of a few. They are most often used to simplify that which we have difficulty understanding, in order to make it more predictable. As W.I. Thomas taught, what we believe to be true will be true in its consequences. Throughout history racial stereotypes have always existed. Perhaps, though, the most dominant stereotypes have been placed against African-Americans. They have been thought of as uneducated, immature, unmotivated, criminal, violent and sexual predators. However, as Griffin points out, the sins the whites commit are the same as the blacks. Except for the fact that blacks are deprived of the â€Å"pleasures of the spirits†. They feel like a lesser person so in order to acquire that feeling of accomplishment and manhood they engage in such activities (Griffin, 1962. p. 91-93). After all, it is the white man who, all through the book, is intrigued by the sexual natures of the black race. It is the whites who hire black prostitutes and it is the whites who violently punish the blacks. Not only are the stereotypes revealed, they are identified as completely illegitimate. In one instance on a bus in New Orleans Griffin attempted to offer an elderly lady a seat by indicating with his eyes that there was an empty one beside him. He thought she would be sympathetic, however she disrespectfully replied, â€Å"What’re you looking at me like that for?† Implying that there were sexual desires instead of kindness behind his offering  (Griffin, 1962: p 25). Reductionism in sociological research places limits on what can be considered as causes when attempting to explain a range of human behavior. Griffin may have been affected by reductionism due to the fact that he was writing a sociological paper. As a result he may have focused on such limited topics as norms, stereotypes and alienation. An economist, however, may have looked at the economic prosperity in the south compared to other parts to explain the racial tensions. Perhaps even the government would be to blame for enforcing racism through propaganda and unequal laws. A biological reductionism would be trying to reduce the problem down to the genes of the human being or as a revolutionary process. In order to achieve a full understanding of the situation, all accounts should be measured, not only those which apply to a specific field. Therefore, the validity and reliability of the research can be questioned. For example, in Griffin’s book, he focuses only on the stereotypes of society, not where they come from. He doesn’t attempt to answer why whites feel hatred towards the blacks, only that it exists. Perhaps the underlying problem is purely situational. The south is known for its farms and small communities, but does this problem exist in the larger cities throughout North America? And if it doesn’t, why not? If it doesn’t exist than it is strictly environmental. Griffin mentions that there are those people who are not actually racist, but they fear showing any sympathy towards another race. What causes this fear? There must be some form of pressure from somewhere that causes this racism. All these questions must be answered in order to truly define the problems between African-Americans and Caucasians. Griffin did a fine job in writing the introduction to racism, however he left the body blank.

Manipulation in Blade Runner and Maus Essay

This paper discusses the issue of manipulation in Ridley Scott’s, Blade Runner, and Art Spiegelman’s, Maus – volume I and II. When used as a form of authoritative control, manipulation lends itself to the dehumanization of the characters within these texts; consequently enslaving them to an inescapable and fascist framework of control. Manipulation is an artful management used for the purposes of deception and control. The shrewd and devious exertion of manipulation, as a tool of tyranny, gives those who propagate it the ability to engineer the movements of the masses. Within the texts, Blade Runner, and Maus- volume I and II, the characters are manipulated to glorify the â€Å"genetically pure†. When Deckert administers the â€Å"Void-Comp† test to Rachel he is presenting her with a scenario to test her purity. Deckert proposes to Rachel â€Å"It’s your birthday†¦someone gives you a calf-skin wallet† to which Rachel replies, â€Å"I wouldn’t accept it†¦also, I’d report the person who gave it to me to the police† (Blade Runner 22:38). Even as a replicant, Rachel has been influenced to idealize the â€Å"genetically pure†, like all of the other characters have in Blade Runner. The police force also manipulates Deckert to believe that he must retire the replicants. When Deckert says, â€Å"I’ve got no choice, huh?† Tucker responds, â€Å"No choice at all, pal† (Blade Runner 13:31). Perhaps when force and punishment support and sustain manipulation this type of persuasion is inevitable. In Art Spiegelman’s, Maus – volume I and II, manipulation is more overtly used as a method of authoritative control by the Nazi regime. On page 54 in Maus II, a German solider begins talking to Vladek as they are marching. Vladek even describes him as having â€Å"a little heart†. Before long the guard yells for Vladek to â€Å"shut up† and Vladek becomes â€Å"afraid anymore to speak†. The guard has his own ideals, but has been so influenced by Nazi rule that he is afraid to defy the beliefs that have been pressed upon him. Simply by initiating the conversation, the soldier inadvertently demonstrates that he doesn’t fully accept what Hitler has influenced him to think of the Jews. His actions are derived from an appeal to ignorance. Within the texts, this type of manipulation ultimately lends itself to the dehumanization of those who are believed to be â€Å"genetically impure†. In Blade Runner, the replicants are reduced to animals and as long as Deckert continues to see them as an inferior or subhuman force, his effort to eradicate them is not done in vain. In seeing the replicants as animals Deckert can kill them without actually murdering them. After all, â€Å"this is not execution; it’s retirement† (Blade Runner 3:10). In this sense, Deckert and the replicants are engaged in a perpetual struggle of being predator or being prey. Batty exemplifies this struggle when he howls like a wolf while in pursuit of Deckert (Blade Runner 1:38:04). When Priss says, â€Å"but we’re stupid and we’ll die† in response to Batty’s plans of paradigmatic change, it becomes obvious that the way the replicants are treated has changed the way in which they view themselves. The repl icants have been reduced to animals. Similarly, in Maus, the Nazis see the Jews not as humans but as animals. Spiegelman draws the Jews as mice in his graphic novel to conceptualize this fact. Vladek describes how the Jews were transported in cattle cars. â€Å"It was such a train for horses, for cows. They pushed until there was no room left. We lay one on top of the other, like matches, like herrings† (Spiegelman 2:54). This treatment was a form of manipulation attempting to change the way in which the Jews viewed themselves. The Nazis didn’t treat the Jews as human and so they were influenced by this treatment to believe that they were non-human. Vladek describes how the German soldiers saw the Jews. â€Å"We were below their dignity. We were not even men† (Spiegelman 2:54). The dehumanization of the Jews helped the Nazis to justify their actions. The need for the soldiers to separate themselves from the brutality shows their true beliefs. If they truly objectified the Jews, they would not have had to detach themselves from them in order to carry out Hitler’s visions. It was Hitler’s visions that influenced the soldiers to carry out their actions. Hitler’s visions had been manipulated into becoming their own. Eventually this type of manipulation has the ability to disseminate through society, successfully propagating misinformation as truth. It is evident, in both of the texts, that the characters become enslaved to an oppressive system built by manipulation. The characters are unable to free themselves from oppression because they have been surrounded by a fascist framework of authoritative control. In Blade Runner, when Rachel declares â€Å"I’m not in the business I am the business† she has come to the realization that she is a slave to the system. Rachel goes from living with Tyrell to knowing she’s a replicant, and having no other choice but to take on her designated role (Blade Runner 1:04:09). When Rachel asks Deckert â€Å"Would you come after me?† and Deckert responds â€Å"No†¦ but somebody would† the characters realize the authoritative nature of a world, fostered by manipulation and controlled by surveillance (Blade Runner 1:06:02). In the final scene of Blade Runner, Batty affirms this notion: â€Å"It’s quite an experience to live in fear†¦that’s what it is to be a slave† (Blade Runner 1:45:12). In Maus, the dehumanization of his father has enslaved Artie to Vladek’s past. When Artie thinks of his parent’s history he is doomed to envision a pile of dead Jews under his desk (Spiegelman 2:41). Artie is unable to escape the terror of Auschwitz. This becomes clear on page 47 of Maus II, when Artie puts on the mask of a mouse. Artie signifies himself as the â€Å"child of a survivor† and, despite the fact that he has never been there, Auschwitz will manipulate the way in which Artie lives forever. Artie has absorbed his father’s past to such an extent that he has begun to lose some of himself and adopt some of his father. Artie bleeds history, as the title of Spiegelman’s book suggests. Ridley Scott’s, Blade Runner, and Art Spiegelman’s, Maus – volume I and II, cooperate to reveal the effects of manipulation when it is used to formulate authoritative control. The propagation of misinformation dehumanizes the characters within these texts, making them slaves to a system that is created by manipulation and sustained by surveillance. Works Cited Blade Runner (Director’s Cut). Dir. Ridley Scott. Perf. Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young and Daryl Hannah. Warner Studios, 1982. Spiegelman, Art. Maus – A Survivor’s Tale. 2 vols. New York: Pantheon Books, 1986.

HR's Role in a Strategic Acquisition of Wordsmit Retail Booksellers Assignment

HR's Role in a Strategic Acquisition of Wordsmit Retail Booksellers - Assignment Example The organization has 18 bookstores in different parts of the country, such as Tasmania, Western Australia, and the entire Northern Territory. Wordsmith made acquisition of Mainly Books in order to enhance its strong presence in Australia. In addition to this, the organization made acquisition of the mainly Books in order to penetrate the entire Australian market. Mainly Books faced several issues and business losses over the last years due to inadequate human resource management practices. Overstaff and inadequate recruitment process affected the overall business operation process of the organization. In addition to this, Wordsmith retail chain bookseller does not implement aggressive human resource management strategy in the business processes. However, the recent human resource manager of Wordsmith named Gemma is trying to implement a strategic function in the human resource process in order to meet the developed business goals and corporate objectives. The human resource manager i s trying to design a redundancy process in the human resource management of the newly acquired firm. It is clear from the case study that the organization faced high business losses over the past few years. The implementation of the redundancy process can create several legal issues for the organization that need to be considered by Gemma. It is true that the global economic environment is getting affected due to the strong effects of the recent financial crisis and economic recession. Each and every organization has to maintain developed employment laws of the organization. In addition to this, the government of Australia developed several strict employment rules for business organizations. Redundancy and staff cutting can create several legal issues. The employees have their basic right to make a complaint against the employers and the management of the organization against this period1. Gemma is trying to recruit a number of employees despite the issues of overstaffing.  Ã‚  

Kashmir conflict Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Kashmir conflict - Essay Example Muslim Pashtun tribesmen from Pakistan took to regularly raiding into Kashmir. The Maharaja was ill equipped to respond and India refused to intervene until Kashmir agreed to annexation. The Maharaja â€Å"eventually decided to accede to India, signing over key powers to the Indian government – in return for military aid and a promised referendum.†5 When Indian troops entered the Kashmir, Pakistan invaded to ‘defend’ Kashmiri autonomy. The result was the first India-Pakistan War, fought in and over the Kashmir. It ended on New Year’s Day, 1949 when the United Nations brokered a cease-fire agreement and dispatched a peacekeeping force to the region.6 Map 1: Kashmir Remarkably, this cease-fire was tenuously maintained through fifteen years of â€Å"unending artillery duels and annual clashes on the world’s highest glacier.†7 However, in 1965 war broke out again. India accused Pakistan of infiltrating local insurgents into the Indian contr olled region and fermenting rebellion. In response India crossed the cease-fire line and occupied key defensive positions. Eventually another cease-fire saw them return to their original positions. In 1971, while a devastating civil war raged in East Pakistan (Bangladesh) Indian troops entered that country. That ignited the third India-Pakistan War. Although that war was not fought in the Kashmir directly one of its results was the â€Å"Simla agreement that turned the Line of control [cease-fire line] into their unofficial temporary border.†8 Since 1972 India and Pakistan have not fought another war although the border conflicts have persisted. Also, as noted earlier, the potential for catastrophic conflict increased significantly in... The province of Kashmir is located in India, on the border between India and Pakistan. It is the only state in India with a Muslim majority (67.2 percent). Consequently, it has been a point of hostility, endemic guerrilla warfare, and occasional conventional military clashes. Additionally, for the last few years the threat of nuclear conflagration has hung ominously over the province. Then events over the last decade, the current situation, will be examined. Finally, prospects for the future, specifically prospects for the resolution of the dispute will be considered. With an autonomous Kashmir a non-starter and India and Pakistan both firmly committed to controlling Kashmir rather than its partition, it is difficult to see that the dispute is any closer to a resolution today than it was a decade ago when Fathers described it as 'stumbling toward resolution'. On the positive side this dispute has simmered and occasionally flared up throughout the decade since both India and Pakistan revealed that they had nuclear capabilities without ever becoming an out and out declared war, let alone a nuclear exchange and it seems reasonable to assert that the conflict will continue to smolder without becoming grounds for a nuclear confrontation.

Strategic Management report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Strategic Management report - Essay Example It is this factor alone that has got it 70% of the US market in 2000 and about 50% share of the market outside the US. Over the last 3 years Gillette has been trying to recover its lost glory that it enjoyed for the decade up to 1997. In 1986 its sales were $ 2.8 billion and rose to $ 9.08 billion in 1987. Since then it has hovered around the $ 9 billion and this stagnation has eroded its stock value but fortunately not its market share. Due to its innovative approach to product development which Gillette has maintained for over a century, it retains market leadership in this segment. Gillette has unsuccessfully tried to add to its product portfolio for over 50 year. The redeeming feature has been the Safety Razor sections for men and women. A SWOT analysis of the product also suggests that this core product range is the company’s real strength. The weakness is the quarterly sales strategy of loading sales to retailers. The opportunity lies in improving its sales strategies. There are really no threats to the company from are competition. While the majority of shares is held in public but a sizable stakeholders are employees, both present and retired ones. The single largest share holder is Buffet Warren who holds about 10% of the company stock. They are worried over the declining stock prices especially since 1997 through 2001. The decline has been sharp from a valuation of $ 4.8 billion to $ 1.9 billion. They need a quick turnaround or they fear the company will be a takeover target once again. Historically Gillette has always scored over the competition primarily due to its customer loyalty which has come about due to its innovations in products. This is its main strength even today. It also has a wide distribution base worldwide and its products range from entry level to premium level catering across all segments of customers. It can therefore rely on its R & D to continue to offer strong product lines in this core sector. It

Strategic Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 13

Strategic Management - Essay Example This essay presents a discussion about a strategy for competing against Apple Inc, a well-established and successful firm with an established brand and a capability for in-house VLSI design. Apple Inc, which first incorporated on January 3, 1997, is a company built on ability in electronic design and a capacity for taking an entrepreneurial risk at a time when the market suggested a future for personal computers and electronic gadgetry (Linzmayer, 2004, Pp. 1 – 10). Its founders Stephen Gary Wozniak and Steven Paul Jobs had an interest in electronic design and they were able to impress Armas Clifford, a retired software designer with connections and capital, who stepped in to help them with US$ 92,000 of his own funds and a secured credit line worth US$ 250,000 from Bank of America. The capital meant a lot to the backyard operation that Jobs and Wozniak had been operating to make electronic gadgets for some time. With continued success, Apple Computers went public in 1980 when Job’s initial 45 % stake translated into 7.5 million shares, worth US$ 82.35 million when Apple Stock was at an all time low in 1982 or US$ 2255.85 million in the year 2000 when the company stock record high. Within the relatively recent past, Apple Inc recorded net sales of US$ 32, 479 million in the year 2008, with a net income of US$ 4, 834 million (Apple Inc, 2009, â€Å"Annual Report for 2008†). This result is an improvement on the result for the year 2007, when Apple recorded net sales of US$ 24,006 million and earnings of US$ 3,496 million. However, despite the fact that Apple has enjoyed success, it is important for this computer company to remain vigilant in difficult economic times when competition amongst computer manufacturers is intense and efforts to exploit its weaknesses are possible. Thus, it makes sense to examine the present market environment for Apple and to reflect on a

The Impact of CCTV Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The Impact of CCTV - Essay Example According to Home Office (2004), the U.K. has an estimated 402 million CCTV cameras, which translates to one camera for every 14 people. In London, for example, one is likely to be caught on camera for at least 300 times a day. The United States is not left behind as most cities and towns have increased the number of CCTV cameras in the recent past to assist in deterring crime and beef up security. Despite the good intention, studies have shown that it is very expensive to install and operate a CCTV camera. The cost has been cited as one of the major impediments of CCTV cameras since, despite their high cost, the benefits are very little. Apart from the set up cost involved in CCTV installation, the system also incurs ongoing operating costs, which makes it expensive to install and operate. Furthermore, the operation of CCTV requires employment of human resource that actively monitors the cameras 24 hours (Armitage 2002, p.8). Such additional costs make the installation of CCTV camer as very expensive and unviable based on the fact that the benefits are very little. A study conducted in the U.K. in 1990s showed that the Home Office wasted millions of Euros in installing CCTV cameras in major towns and cities to assist in improving security (Home Office 2004). Precisely a whopping 78% of the Home Office crime prevention budget was directed towards CCTV installation, according to Home Office (2004). In Stockholm city alone, 55 million Euros were invested in CCTV installation to beef up the security of the city. Despite such huge investment in CCTV installation, findings showed that the crime rate in the city did not change much since some crimes were still being committed in the full view of cameras. This raised many questions as to why the government had to... The researcher states that 911 events prompted the U.S. government to beef up security in the country through the formation of the Department of Homeland Security. At the same time, American citizens also became more vigilant in a bid to ensure that their security is not compromised in any way. This has seen the number of video surveillance cameras in many towns and cities. Armitage indicates that many American cities and towns installed CCTV cameras as a mean of beefing up security and preventing crime. Basically, a CCTV camera can be installed in a business premise, home compound, street, where the cameras collects videos of all activities taking place, which is then directed to a Digital Video Recorder for viewing, and storage for future reference. In so doing, CCTV enables controlled areas to be put on surveillance remotely. The fact that the CCTV cameras are able to capture events in areas is of great importance to law enforcement and regulatory agencies since it makes it possib le for them to respond quickly to an episode once alerted. The analysis, that was conducted by the researcher showed that even though CCTV is effective in crime prevention in some areas such as in vehicle-related crimes, it is not worth investing in. This is because it is expensive in terms of cost, has poor picture clarity, and interferes with the privacy of citizens. As a result, the researcher suggests that government should consider investing the amount allocated for CCTV project for other more effective ways of reducing crime.

Marxist Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Marxist Analysis - Essay Example There is Lewis Anderson, an experienced negotiator from the global parent union. Anderson warns the workers to call off the strike since in his opinion, they will not win. Anderson is right; when the employees refuse to compromise, the corporation simply provides their job to replacement employees. The situation was almost identical in the recent Caterpillar strike. American Dream provides a catastrophic picture of a State in which the philosophy of unionism of employees standing by other employees is dying off. The Marxist theories on capitalism comprise the following; a falling rate of profit, a reserve army of the unemployed, business crises, increasing despair of the proletariat, and escalating concentration of industry into few firms. In the Marxian model, the capitalist is the main player in the economic process. The capitalist search for earnings and response to adjusting rates of profits largely explains the dynamics of the capitalist system. In the Marxist model, capitalists rationally and intentionally pursue their economic benefits and implant seeds of their own destruction. According to Marx, capitalism generates undesirable social outcomes, for example, the events depicted in the movie (Marx 762). In the Marxian model, augmented capital accumulation will raise the labor demand. Increase in demand for labor raises the wage rates. Increasing wage rates lead to diminishing surplus value and profits. Marx explains this scenario using the concept of the reserve army of the unemployed. In Marxist view, there is continuously an excess labor supply in the market, which has the influence of lowering wages and maintaining the profits and surplus value positive. In search of profits, capitalists introduce new machines in the production process. Direct unemployment in the reserve army occurs as a result of replacement of employees with new technology (Marx

Assessment of physical workload in boiler operations Assignment - 1

Assessment of physical workload in boiler operations - Assignment Example These were used as indicators for quantifying physical labour that such operators experienced. In this case, Justino et al (4) had to use a number of instruments to measure the heart rate, places of higher overload, pain in certain parts of the operators’ body, and physical workload. These instruments included heart rate monitor, which was utilised to measure the heart rate, the tape measure for marking the key points where operators of the boiler remained during the process of boiler operation, the Infrared digital camera for showing the areas that experienced higher incidence of thermal radiations within the body of operators, the heart rate meter for recording the operator’s heartbeat, the painful Areas Diagram and Nordic questionnaire for collecting information regarding pain experienced by operators, and the wet-bulb globe thermometer (WBGT) for recording thermal temperatures, which in turn helped ascertain places of higher thermal overload. To measure pain, a diagram, in this case, human body was divided into 24 segments. Was followed was to evaluate these body parts to ascertain areas that the operators experienced pain. This was done by evaluating subjectively, with the use of a scale ranging from zero to seven, the level of discomfort experienced in each of the 24 segments. In measuring the heart beats, the heart rate meter, which consisted of three parts: transmitter, digital pulse receiver, and an electrode elastic strap, was used. This way, a transmitter was fixed in the chest of the operator to enable the heart beats to be captured and stored within the wrist receiver. In order to ascertain which parts of the body experienced higher thermal overload, a tape measure was used to mark key areas that an operator remained while carrying out the boiling operations. The wet-bulb globe thermometer (WBGT) was then used to

Climate Change Paper Term Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Climate Change - Term Paper Example For example, if major actors in the world’s politics, such as President Bush for instance, are asked about the biggest threat in the world, he may have a list of threats that do not include the dilemma of climate change. The long list of possible threats may include terrorism, security in Iraq, and the extremism of Iran. While all these concerns may be important issues to deal with, the problem of climate change should be given equal, or perhaps more, attention from all countries of the world due to its possible global effects. In that sense, Blair’s argument about the seriousness of the climate change issue is not far-fetched. Rather, his claim that global warming and climate changes should be two of our major concerns in the whole world is reasonable and valid. Actually, Blair’s concerns, which were echoed by the United Nations, about the security threat of climate change are justifiable due to the dangerous effects of global warming on health, economy, and the environment. In recent years, the world’s average temperatures are rising, constituting a serious problem, referred to as ‘global warming.’ This phenomenon occurs as a result of the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) on high levels of air. To put it in simple words, the more amounts of Carbon dioxide concentrated in the atmosphere, the higher the world temperatures will grow. Carbon dioxide is one of the main elements in the greenhouse gases that should be reduced in order to keep world temperatures from rising (Houghton). The main source of Carbon dioxide is man’s industrial activities, especially in rich industrialized countries. As made clear by many scientists, â€Å"carbon dioxide (CO2) gas generated by man's burning of fossil fuels and the forests is responsible for about half the greenhouse gas warming† (â€Å"The Effects of Global Warming.†). Thus, the indirect effect of the increasing industrialization trends in the world is the global rise in the temperature levels. This puts much of the responsibility on industrialized nations in trying to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, the change in the climate is not too slight to realize; rather, it can be felt by ordinary people, not only by specialized scientists and environmentalists. In Egypt, for instance, most people are aware that summer weather has become much hotter than the case tens of years ago. Also, there are the recurrent waves of hot weather that hit Europe, which has never used to such high temperatures before. Consequently, the change in global climate should be the concern of all kinds of people in all countries, not only scientists and those who are specialized in the geography of the world. Climate change can cause major economic problems for countries, which would have to spend huge amounts of money curing its citizens from the detrimental effect of this environmental phenomenon on health. Human bodies are unable to cope with the severe changes in weather temperatures, when they go too high or too low. Hence, human bodies are accustomed to bear temperatures that revolve around the average. So, the rise in the world temperatures has its serious negative impacts on health, causing a series of diseases and side effects. Generally, world statistics prove that â€Å"extremely hot temperatures increase the number of people who die on a given day†

Back yard burgers †the business model Essay Example for Free

Back yard burgers – the business model Essay

Lewis model as a model for structural change

Lewis model as a model for structural change Describe the Lewis model as a model for structural change. How does the Harris-Todaro model of rural-urban migration differ from the assumptions and outcomes of the Lewis model? The Lewis model is an early traditional model which seeks to explain how labour movement from one sector to another leads to economic development in a country, particularly developing countries. Whereas the Harris-Todaro model is a model used to address issues concerning rural-urban migration by analysing income differentials. These models are similar but are based on different assumptions which shape their outcomes. I will be analysing these assumptions outcomes and making comparisons between the two models. The Lewis model seeks to explain the growth of a developing country in terms of labour transition from a traditional agricultural sector to a modern industrial sector. This model (sometimes known as the Dual Sector Model) was initially developed by Sir Arthur Lewis in his article, Economic Development with Unlimited Supplies of Labour. This article was published in 1954. This article and model are instrumental in laying the foundation in this area of Economics. The Lewis Model is about how surplus labour  [1]  from the traditional agricultural sector is transferred to the modern industrial sector, whose growth over time absorbs the surplus labour. This is promotes industrialisation as well as encourage sustainable development  [2]  . In this model, the traditional agricultural sector is usually characterised by low wages, an abundance of labour and low productivity through a labour intensive production process. Whereas, the modern industrial sector or manufacturing sector is defined by higher wages, higher marginal productivity  [3]  , and initially a demand for more workers, compared to the agricultural sector. The manufacturing sector is also assumed to use a production process which is capital intensive, therefore, investment and capital restructuring in the manufacturing sector is possible over time as capitalists profits are reinvested in the capital stock  [4]  . The assumption is that there is low marginal productivity in the agricultural sector because it is believed to be low priority as the hypothetical developing nations investment is going towards the physical capital stock in the manufacturing sector. The agricultural sector has a limited amount of land to cultivate, so this means that the marginal product of an additional farmer is assumed to be zero as the law of diminishing marginal returns  [5]  takes place as a result of the fixed input, land. This means that the agricultural sector has a quantity of farm workers that are not contributing to output in agriculture because their marginal productivities are zero. These farmers that are not producing any output are termed as surplus labour as they can move to another with no impact on the agricultural sector. Due to the wage differential between the agricultural sector and the manufacturing sector, workers tend to leave agriculture to work in manufacturing sector over time to reap the reward of higher wages. The idea is that if the quantity of workers moves from the agricultural sector to the manufacturing sector equal to the surplus labour from the agricultural sector, regardless of who actually transfers, general welfare and productivity will improve. Total agricultural product will remain unchanged while total industrial product increases because of the additional labour; however, this additional labour drives down marginal productivity and wages in the manufacturing sector. Over time, as this transition continues and investment results increase in the capital stock, the marginal productivity of workers in manufacturing will be driven down by additional workers entering this sector. Eventually, the wage rates of the agricultural and manufacturing sectors will equalise as workers leave the agricultural sector for the manufacturing sector, which increases marginal productivity and wages in the agricultural sector whilst driving down productivity and wages in manufacturing. The end result of this transition process is that the agricultural wage equals the manufacturing wage; the agricultural marginal product of labour equals the manufacturing marginal product of labour, and no further enlargements in the manufacturing sector takes place as workers no longer have a monetary incentive to move. The Lewis Model of Modern-Sector Growth in a Two-Sector Surplus Labour Economy (Diagram 1) The Harris-Todaro Model is an economic model used in developmental economics and welfare economics. This model is used to explain some issues surrounding rural-urban migration. The main result of the model is that the migration decision is based on the income differentials between rural and urban areas, not wage differentials. Therefore, this implies that rural-urban migration, in the context of high urban unemployment, can be economically rational if it is expected that urban income exceeds rural income. The Harris-Todaro Model (Diagram 2) The model asserts that equilibrium will be reached when the expected wage in urban areas, adjusted for the unemployment rate  [6]  , is equal to the marginal product of an agricultural worker. The model assumes that unemployment is non-existent in the rural agricultural sector and that rural agricultural production and the subsequent labour market is perfectly competitive  [7]  . This means that the agricultural rural wage is equal to agricultural marginal productivity. In equilibrium, the rural-urban migration will be zero because the expected rural income equals the expected urban income. The formal statement of the equilibrium condition of the Harris-Todaro model is as follows: Wa = Lm (Wm) Lus In this formula, Wa stands for agricultural income, Lm stands for employment in the manufacturing sector, Lus stands for the total urban labour pool and Wm stands for the urban minimum wage. The equations illustrates that the expected agricultural wage rate equals the expected urban wage rate, which is the urban wage rate multiplied by the total number of jobs available in manufacturing divided by the total number of the urban labour pool. Rural-urban migration will take place if: Wa Ls On the other hand, urban-rural migration will take place if: Wa > Lm (Wm) Ls This suggests that migration from rural areas to urban areas will increase if urban wages (Wm) increase in the manufacturing sector (Lm), increasing the expected urban income. If agricultural productivity decreases, which lowers marginal productivity and wages in the agricultural sector (Wa), there will be a decrease in the expected rural income. This also leads to a rise in migration from rural to urban areas. Mega-cities: Cities with Ten Million or more inhabitants (Figure 1) Source: Data from United Nations Population Division, March 2002 Migration rates exceed urban job creation rates, this is because rural-urban migration causes overcrowding and unemployment in cities. This leads to many people ending up in unproductive or underproductive employment in the informal sector  [8]  . However, even though this migration causes such problems as in inducing informal sector growth and unemployment, this behaviour is economically rational and utility maximising in the context of this model. As long as the migrating economic agents have complete and accurate information concerning rural urban wage rates and the probability of obtaining employment, they will make an expected income-maximising decision. Estimated and Projected Urban and Rural Population of the More and Less Developed Regions, 1950-2030 (Figure 2) To summarise, the assumptions of the Lewis Model include the idea capitalists reinvest profits which leads to fast growth expansion in the modern sector. The level of wages in the modern industrial sector is assumed to be constant and determined as a given premium over a fixed average continuation level of wages in the traditional agricultural sector. The assumption that there is surplus labour in the sense that marginal product of labour is very important. It is partially because of this that workers will move as they are believed have no impact on the agricultural sector. Another assumption is all rural workers share equally in the output so that the rural real wage is determined by the average and not the marginal product of labour. Moreover, under the assumption of perfectly competitive labour markets in the modern sector, the marginal labour curves (Diagram 1) are actually demand curves for labour. Lewis also assumes that modern sector employers can hire as many surplus rural wo rkers as they like with out the fear of rising wages because urban wage is above rural income. Finally, it is assumed to employment expansion continue until all surplus labour is absorbed by the industrial sector. These assumptions shape the conclusion that labour transitions take place for workers who leave the traditional agricultural sector for the modern sector in search for a better wage. However, some of these assumptions do not hold in reality and changes the shape of the model. This model is complicated because of the fact that surplus labour is both generated by the introduction of new productivity enhancing technologies in the agricultural sector and intensification of work. Also, the migration of workers from the countryside to the cities is an incentive towards those two phenomena as the relative bargaining power of workers and employers varies and with this so does the cost of labour. The wage differential needs to be sufficient between industry and agriculture to incentivise movement between the sectors but the model assumes that any differential will result in a transfer. The assumption that surplus labour in rural areas and there is full employment in urban areas has been proved wrong by contemporary research indicators. These show that there is little general surplus labour in rural locations. The model also assumes diminishing returns in the modern sector, but there is much evidence that increasing returns exist in this sector. The Harris Todaro model is based on different assumptions compared to the Lewis model even though their models lead to similar conclusions. The Harris-Todaro model assumes that it is the difference in expected income earnings rather than actual wage differentials that causes workers to switch from rural areas to urban areas if expected income is higher. The model assumes potential migrants are risk neutral. This means they are indifferent between a certain expected rural income and an uncertain expected urban income of the same magnitude. This assumptions indication of economic realities is debatable. This is because poor migrants will more likely to be risk adverse and require a significantly larger expected urban income to migrate. However, the Harris-Todaro model can be adjusted to reflect risk aversion through alteration of the expected urban income calculation. Although, when the model assumes risk aversion instead of risk neutrality, the results are practically indistinguishabl e. The Lewis model uses a competitive model whereas the Harris-Model does not do this. This is seen because rural-urban migration acts as an equilibrating force that equates rural and urban expected incomes. (Figure 3) To conclude, the Lewis model and Harris-Todaro model have similar outcomes in the sense of labour moving from rural agricultural areas into urban areas in search of modern industrial work as an approach to earn more money and leave poverty. However, the assumptions of the two models are very different and maybe this is why each model has had different impacts in terms of economic development history. The Lewis model is an early traditional model. which in practical situations does not work properly because of the assumptions. Therefore, the extent of the model is rarely realised. Although, this model does provide a good general theory on labour transiting in developing economies. The Harris-Todaro model, on the other hand, even with its problems with the assumptions, has lead to policy implications such as ways to reduce inequalities and bias between rural areas and urban cities as an attempt to reduce this migration problem. Overall, both models have increased awareness of the growing issues surrounding rural-urban migration. As many countries like India, Singapore and China act as success stories of this type of migration and economic transition as a catalyst towards leaving poverty, there are many developing nations who have not had the same success, but have suffered from a rise in urban poverty, unemployment and fall in living standards (figure 3) and (figure 4). (Figure 4) References https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-wEto3iEmddyiVbJa82CGzEtTAf3PPuDGrmiF4SHr_f0C2_gYh6MuUlb4mC72Q0GhcgISGx-3Pd4Y-WYXBed-RNb80qWI9KlvYkz_OL4De4RcVdKLx4FMbxwKIXQlwcxvywLDtJONTB60/s400/WorstSlumPopulationsinSubSaharanAfrica-Graph.gif http://econ.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/EXTDEC/EXTRESEARCH/EXTWDRS/EXTWDR2009/0,,contentMDK:21961509~pagePK:64167689~piPK:64167673~theSitePK:4231059,00.html http://econ.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/EXTDEC/EXTRESEARCH/EXTWDRS/EXTWDR2009/0,,contentMDK:21963658~pagePK:64167689~piPK:64167673~theSitePK:4231059,00.html http://www.facsnet.org/index.php?option=com_contentview=articleid=190:journalists-guide-to-economic-terms-04-02catid=75:archives Harris J. and M. Todaro, Migration, Unemployment Development: A Two-Sector Analysis (American Economic Review, March 1970); 60(1):126-42 Todaro and Smith, Economic Development (Addison Wesley; 9th edition, July 2005) pg. 108-113, 339-343

Analysis Of Small Enterprise: Jones Electrical Distribution

Analysis Of Small Enterprise: Jones Electrical Distribution Mr. Jones is having business in a large, fragmented and highly competitive environment. Profitability of his business depends heavily on sales volumes and costs. The sales are growing at around 18% per annum. However, the profit margin is not maintained at a constant level in terms of sales growth. Exhibit I shows that even though the sales growth was achieved in FY 2005-2006, the firm could not have higher operating profits. The sales revenue was nullified by huge rise in operating expenses. A close look at the profit and loss account reveals that the operating expenses are mainly consists of salaries and wages. It seems that in order to keep the fixed costs in control, the compensation of sales executives is quite high because of link to sales volumes. The sales growth has helped the employees to earn more than to the organization. Secondly, Mr. Jones is working with more than 100 suppliers. For such a small volume of business, 100 suppliers are in excess. This huge number of suppliers may create problems in tracking on accounts payable. The company is also having average days payable at 22.8 days in FY 2006, as compared to 9.8 days in FY 2005. During the last two years, Mr. Jones has not been able to take advantage of trade discounts. Mr. Jones is also making payments of $ 2000 per month to Mr. Verden, along with interest payment of 8% per annum. The face amount ($250000) can be considered as a long term loan for Mr. Jones. However, it is not evident from the P L account, that the interest paid on the loan taken from Mr. Verden is accounted for income statement. Mr. Jones is also building up fixed assets over a period of time; however, these assets were financed through his short term financing. It can be assumed that the short term finance was available readily for the operations, has been diverted to create long term assets and liquidating long term debts. These facts and assumptions imply the Mr. Jones is having a relatively aggressive approach in working capital financing of the firm. Main issue for Mr. Jones is to find a financing option for the firm. As the market is very dynamic and there is economy downturn, he is not able to forecast demand for his products for more than one year. Although, the following year looks quite promising and a good sale is forecasted, Mr. Jones is facing issue of liquidity. Mr. Jones is of opinion that the liquidity problem is causing the irregular cash flows and hence he need to borrow more money for daily operations. However the forecasted cash flow (Exhibit III) can show that there is no severe cash flow problem. A focused approach to accounts payable and accounts receivables will help Mr. Jones to overcome the liquidity problems. Around the main issue of arranging finance for the business, Mr. Jones has the additional issues of growing sales, reducing tension between the firm and suppliers, moderating salary for the sales staff and creating a strong relationship with the bankers. Looking at the financial statements (Exhibit I, II, III) we can say that the financial condition of Jones Electrical Distribution are satisfactory. The company is having steady growth in sales. The operating margins are also kept at optimal levels. However the company is facing problems managing their cash operations. A feel of cash crunch is guiding the firm to store more inventories, and as a result of that, the inventory levels have increased. The firm is also investing in fixed assets on regular basis. The firm is able to maintain the cost of goods sold to an optimal level since last few years. This has been the result of maintaining cordial relations with the suppliers. The firm is maintaining healthy liquidity ratios and growth ratios. However, the increase in days payable and inventory turnover is a bit of concern. Even if the cash conversion cycle is reducing, we can observe that days payable has exceeded the limit of 30 days. It means that if the relationship between the firm and supplier is not maintained, the firm can face the interest expenses for not managing their current assets. The firm is working on very thin operating margin. The increase in TIE (Times interest earned) over the years measurers that the operation income is declining and soon the firm will not be able to meet their annual interest costs. suggest of increasing sales volume on immediate basis to maintain profitability. The firm is also able to maintain retention rate of 100% after providing for the proprietorà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s salary. This made sure that the firm will take minimal finances from outside sources. The major problem for Jones Electric Distribution Company is to manage cash for the new financial year 2007. And this problem looks like a temporary problem. The firm is having stored huge inventories in expectation of sales growth for the New Year. The forecasted analysis shows that a onetime credit enhancement from bank will help the firm to manage their finances better. A higher credit will help the firm procure inventory and use them in business. With improved collections and cash at hand, the firm can now manage for trade discounts and save money. Secondly, the firm will be able to retain a huge sum of $201,000 at the end of FY 2007. These funds can be used to retire their personal loan with Mr. Varden. Retirement of this loan will help the firm to improve on its profitability and the bank finance will be easier. It is also observed that additional finance from bank is helping the firm to avail trade discounts. The nominal cost of not taking the discount when credit terms are 2/10, net 30 is 37.24 % [( 2/98)*(365/30-10)], which is much higher than the 8% interest charged by the bank. Hence, it is advisable for Mr. Jones to go for a bank finance and use the money for availing trade discounts. Even if Mr. Jones adopt a slow growth strategy (to grow at the rate of 8-10%), and can manage with the existing facility of USD 250000/-, he can avail trade discounts and increase his earnings. However, one time use of bank finance will make sure that in coming years, Mr. Jones can be debt free and his firmà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s financial performance will improve. Looking at the market growth and the risk appetite for Mr. Jones, we can advice him for taking an aggressive route and avail higher finances from Southern Bank and Trust. The financial projections are given below for various options. Following are the options available to Mr. Jones. Take Trade Discount and avail USD 350000/- Take Trade Discount and avail USD 250000/- Forgo Trade Discount and avail USD 350000/- Forgo Trade Discount and No Additional Financing We already seen that forgoing trade discount is a costly affair for the firm and hence cannot be used. So first two options are available for making a profitable decision. As Mr. Jones is forecasting the market as growing, he can use this opportunity to avail bank finance at USD 350000/-. This facility can be availed in two parts, Long Term and Short Term. Long term funds of USD 100000/- can be used with the cash received from business to retire the personal loan. Remaining USD 250000/- can be used for normal business transactions and avail trade discounts. These operations will make sure that Mr. Jones is having stable business operations in under one year. While going for financial restructuring, Mr. Jones can also look forward to change the salary structure of Sales Personnel. FRICTO Analysis. Flexibility : An additional finance of US $ 100000/- will help Mr. Jones to manage his future cash flows. Mr. Jones is already maintaining a healthy RR of 100%. This helps the firm to keep the Debt/Equity ratio in control. The continuous operations will make sure that Mr. Jones can avail more finance as and when required. Risk : Mr. Jones required reducing his number of suppliers and focusing on few major ones. With reduction of suppliers, it will be easier for him to manage accounts payable and he can demand better credit terms. Income : Cost reduction will be the focus area for Mr. Jones, in an attempt to increase profits for the firm. As the firm is working on very thin margins, any excess spending will hamper the profitability of the firm. Mr. Jones needs to give closer look on operating expenses, which are increasing ahead of sales growth. Control : Mr. Jones can decide on which option to choose for the betterment of the firm in long term. Timing : As the business is in growing stage, Mr. Jones is able to take risks, depending on his relations with supplier and buyers. It is also beneficial to avail additional finance when business is growing. Others : The risk appetite of Mr. Jones, his relation with the suppliers and an in depth knowledge of the industry is the key success factor for the firm. The success of the firm depends heavily on Mr. Jonesà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ insights. Exhibit I Exhibit II Exhibit III Exhibit IV

Self: Plunging into the Other Side of the Mirror Essay -- Self Conscio

Self: Plunging into the Other Side of the Mirror Only in a mirror do we find ourselves. We cannot do it when we are apart, distanced, from who and what we are: we need to see our shapes, our selves, in the way we cannot see ourselves subjectively. But still, the glass plays with us, contorting and distorting, even if it is nothing more than a straightforward, honest reflection. It is our minds which are the true lenses. Why do we feel this compunction throughout the ages to look at our own reflections? It is inbred into us; it begins at such a tender age, this obsession with oneself. I never really took much notice of it while I was young, partly because I myself was never overly concerned with my appearance, and partly because my generation was not so image-conscious. However, as the years have passed, I have grown into an awareness of this larger societal issue, watching as more and more pre-teen girls doll themselves up in tight jeans, baby T-shirts and glitzy make-up. Like observing the gorillas in the mist, I watch as these girls preen and pluck, check themselves over and over in their compacts and handheld mirrors, readjust their clothes and redo their hair. It is, from a clinical viewpoint, disturbing. I doubt any of those girls remember the first time they ever saw their reflections in mirrors. If they even did, I further doubt that they would make anything of it, ponder its repercussions, question the greater impact of this first awakening. It is not an emotional, sexual, or intellectual awakening, no: it is a subtle and important transition from the world of the oblivious to the waking world of self-consciousness. As a very young child, I looked for myself in any reflective surface I could find. I would cra... ...ingle noticeable change. My roommates constantly voice their bewilderment at these frequent self-deprecations of mine. It is probably tiring for them to have to reassure me, time and again, but I have fed for too long on my own seeds of hatred and regret; now, like Persephone, I am drawn into that underworld, lost within its dark corners. I am me, I do realize that. But when I look at my other self, that frowning, miserable girl in the mirror, I cannot yet see what Walker saw in herself. However, I no longer look for myself in the mirror, not truly. Yes, it is a starting place, like the very last step to the top of the high dive. But I still have those five very long feet to walk before I can dive off into that most vast of mirrors, and I want to be able to enjoy that shimmering and sparkling last look at myself before I plunge, deeply and honestly, into my self.

A Critique of Bushs Speeches after September 11 -- Speaking Analysis

A Critique of Bush's Speeches after September 11 After the terrorists attacks on September eleventh, President Bush had to prepare himself to address the nation with intensions to calm the United States citizens and give them some answers. The President had many speeches in the week after this happened and some words he used were not as concise as they could have been. These words and phrases are his attempts to comfort the United States people but only anger the terrorists he has declared war with. In a critique of Bushs speeches in the weeks after the tragedy, it is written, He called for revenge, called Osama bin Laden the prime suspect and asked for him dead or alive. (Max 1) Using such strong words gives an impression that Bush is overly confident and jumping to conclusions. Using revenge would imply retaliation and in result would come a war. Bush seems so sure that bin Laden is responsible when, still as of this day, he has no hard evidence. Asking for him dead or alive is probably the first threat he made. The only accompli shment Bush got out of making these accusations and threats was making the American people nervous. The citizens of the United States may not agree with the decisions he is making for the country. Bush needed another chance to redeem himself and comfort his people. A committee of speechwriters and George Bush spent time writing the speech that was given on September twentieth. In this speech, the President made more sense and brought his ideas together more clearly, with phrases and topics that would calm the citizens of the United States. Americans were still unclear of who had performed these acts of terror and were nervous because Bush was being rash, and wasnt speaking with confidence. The president answers questions, revealing which organization was responsible and their mission as people. Bushs speech on the twentieth reveals that, The terrorists directive commands them to kill Christians and Jews, to kill all Americans, and make no distinction among military and civilians, including women and children. (pg. 2) The president clarifies that bin Laden is the leader of the terrorist organization, Al queda, so that the Americans can understand whom we are going to war with. As said in The End Of Innocence, And today the enemy must be named as terrorism, or more broadly as any who might disrupt the spread of "open societi... ...ed States and to provide its people with knowledge of what to prepare for in the future. The president spoke to the nation numerous times in the week after these attacks, and he began to reveal that his situation was making him nervous and even scared in his speeches. The president had to show his confidence and reassure the nation with relief in his speech on September twentieth. The president was there most of the time his writers were working on the speech, and it seemed he was comfortable speaking the topics of the speech. After the speech was recited, Ted Kennedy stated that The presidents speech was exactly what the nation neededa message of determination and hope, strength and compassion.(Words that Changedetc. 11 par. 1) The president allowed the citizens of the Unites States of America to feel confident with the status of our nation in the future, after he gave this speech. Works Cited 1. Max, D.T. The 2,988 Words That Changed a Presidency: An Etymology. The New York Times, 7 Oct. 2001 2. Bush, George W. "President Bush's Speech to the Nation." Capitol. Washington, D.C. 20 Sept. 2001. 3. Rogers, Joel. The End Of Innocence. The Nation, 17 Sept. 2001

Free YGB Essay - The Message of Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown :: Young Goodman Brown YGB

"`Lo! there ye stand, my children†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the story "Young Goodman Brown", the prominent theme is that everyone has a dark side. As the dark figure clearly states, "Evil is the nature of mankind." Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Young Goodman Brown" describes the hunger for virtue people of the early 19th century had, and how that virtue is all but a dream, through his tone and imagery.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As the passage begins, the first word read is "Lo!" An audience reads this word, and immediately gets the feeling that someone of a supreme nature or of high power is speaking. "...[T]here ye stand, my children," again allows the reader to see that some sort of father figure is about to speak to his children. The next several words describe the harsh tone of how this "figure" is speaking. This dark tone coming from words like "deep and solemn" easily sets up how the figure is speaking to his children. However, the reader receives a glimpse of a past good in this devilish character. When Hawthorne writes that the figure speaks with "almost sad...dispairing awfulness," the audience sees that the dark creature at one time might have not been so melancholy, "as if his once angelic nature could yet mourn for our miserable race." This thought runs parallel to some form of biblical text where Lucifer, an angel of God, is damned out of heavens to become the ruler of Hell. Hawthorne's background of a religious family probably makes him knowledgeable about these histories. The phrase brings about a sense of the dark figure's previous peaceful past--how the figure was once a good soul, virtuous with the rest of the audience souls. The passage gives a down tone when it describes the feeling of the dark figure. One might also get a sense of the imagery the Hawthorne accomplishes when describing the distraught figure. The audience can see the creature talking with his deep dark voice, and the fear of what really is true about our society. The figure remembers being of an "angelic nature," how he too had a virtuous persona. Unfortunately, as the context of the passage conveys, there is a harsh reality that virtuous world is just a myth. This is against all of Young Goodman Brown's beliefs that there is no evil if one sets their mind to it, but the figure proves B rown very wrong.

Comparing Beowulf with the Green Knight

When it comes to groundbreaking, classical literature, not many works can trump what Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight have done. Although similar through importance, readers would be hard pressed to discover any more similarities between the two. Beowulf is an epic poem from the Anglo-Saxon period, while Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a tale from the medieval period. The main characters of each novel, Beowulf and Sir Gawain, each endure personal struggles in the â€Å"problem of pride. In completely separate fashions, both of them lust for domination (libido dominandi) throughout each of their respective stories. Beowulf, the earliest of epic heroes, was significantly known for his bravery. With his lack of fear for death, he without a doubt was known as the greatest warrior at the time. However with great skill and the constant appraisal from fellow warriors, Beowulf becomes very boastful in his continued desire for dominance. In fact, his first words of the tale were, â€Å"When I was younger, I had great triumphs. Then news of Grendel, hard to ignore, reached me at home. Off the bat, he introduces himself as an accomplished warrior who felt it was his duty to slay the monster Grendel the minute he heard about his destruction. Beowulf revels in his decision to come over from Geatland to protect King Hrothgar and his people. He feels that this is his opportunity to come and â€Å"protect the thrown† in a God-like manner. Furthermore, in Beowulf’s quest, he completely ignores the medieval warfare’s protocol on weapons. While warriors typically use weapons in battle, Beowulf disagrees with this approach, risking his humanity while stepping outside of his human limits. He decides to fight Grendel on his own terms, and this over prideful, â€Å"superheroesque† mind frame (first interpreted as heroic) would come back to haunt Beowulf in his eventual death. As the story of Beowulf continues, Beowulf’s pride wears him down in his lust for domination. King Hrothgar, at one point, even warns a younger Beowulf to not let libido dominandi occur. Hrothgar proclaims, â€Å"He covets and resents; dishonors custom and bestows no gold; and because of good things that the Heavenly Powers gave him in the past he ignores the shape of things to come †¦ O flowers of warriors, beware of that trap. Choose, dear Beowulf, the better part, eternal rewards. Do not give way to pride. † However, Hrothgar’s advice doesn’t seem to help in Beowulf’s clash with the dragon towards the end of the tale. Beowulf was praised for his nobility when he was younger, but his aging only increased his lust for domination. He simply doesn’t care about the repercussions of his death, and how leaving them unprotected would severely impact his people. In conclusion, Beowulf recklessly battles this dragon to the death. He praises God before his death as he states, â€Å"To the everlasting Lord of all, to the King of Glory, I give thanks that I behold this treasure here in front of me, that I have been allowed to leave my people so well endowed on the day I die. † This ending, going out in a blaze of glory, was exactly what Beowulf wanted to happen. It was not exactly his fate, but his desire for glory was simply too strong, thus neglecting what should have been most important to him: the safety of his people. If he was truly a great hero, he would put the well being of others before his desire for dominance. In the case of Sir Gawain, his libido dominandi was enigmatic. Personal honor and valor seemed to be the two most important aspects of his life. Differing from Beowulf, Sir Gawain’s quest is a moral epic, and not one of physical attrition. However, Sir Gawain’s libido dominandi stems from his false humility, or in other words, his refusal to accept human failure. In the introduction of the story, the Green Knight travels over to King Arthur’s castle and demonstrates his Christmas game. At first, Arthur is asked to be put to the test, but in an act of chivalry, Sir Gawain (Arthur’s nephew/right hand man at the knight’s roundtable) steps up. He explains, â€Å"While so bold men about upon benches sit, That no host under heaven is hardier of will, Nor better brothers-in-arms where battle is joined; I am the weakest, well I know, and of wit feeblest; And the loss of my life would be least of any. † It is almost as if Sir Gawain undersells himself so much, to only further enhance his heroism. During his travels the corresponding winter season, Sir Gawain’s internal conflicts continue. He is fighting against his own demons; there is no Grendel (or any other physical monster for that matter) in this story, just a desire for moral reformation and satisfaction from others. In his stay at the Bertilak of Hautdesert’s castle, Sir Gawain’s morale is only further boosted. Bertilak states, â€Å"As long as I may live, my luck is the better that Gawain was my guest at God’s own feast! † In response, Sir Gawain quickly deflects the compliment and explains that the honor is his. Furthermore, after Gawain’s final interaction with the Green Knight, he flinches when the axe is first wielded towards his neck. This of course is a normal human reaction. But to this noble knight, it is completely unacceptable. This corresponds with his problems of Pride; Sir Gawain wears the green girdle around his arm given to him by Bertilak’s wife to constantly remind him of his wrongdoings (slightly giving into her seduction). After returning to a hero’s welcome, Sir Gawain’s false humility continues as he sulks about his minor faults and lives in shame. However, as those who surround him maintain their commemoration of him, his libido dominandi clandestinely grows. Throughout the text, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, a common theme of â€Å"doubleness† is used effectively to portray the complexity of medieval life. In other words, there was never just one, blatant solution to courtly issues. In the case of chivalry, Sir Gawain was faced with social courtesy (secular) versus Christian courtesy (religious). In the case of the Green Knight, two separate images of positivity and negativity were deliberated. And in the case of the girdle, the knotted belt and open belt showcased two different connotations. During the medieval period, the policy of chivalry to the aristocracy ruled above all. It was a code of conduct developed from warrior knights. The debate between religion versus politics was significant during the â€Å"High Middle Ages† as personal morality became a big issue in 1400’s English literature. When Sir Gawain is first introduced to Sir Bertilak’s wife, â€Å"he politely approached; to the elder in homage he humbly bows; the lovelier he salutes with a light embrace. He claims a comely kiss, and courteously he speaks; they welcome him warmly, and straightaway he asks to be received as their servant, if they so desire. Honor, graciousness, and respect marked the typical knight’s introduction. However, Sir Gawain begins to question his honor when Bertilak’s wife begins her seduction tactics. Gawain is faced with the â€Å"doubleness† issue of doing what is right as a Christian versus doing what is right in knighthood. Should he deny the sexual advances because it was another man’s wife, therefore it was a sin against God, or should he accept the lady’s wishes out of honor and respect. The theme of temptation becomes the heart of this tale, as Sir Gawain’s adherence to the code of chivalry is constantly put to the test. After rejecting the first two advances, Sir Gawain begins to crack a little during the third and final bedroom scene. Bertilak’s wife changes her evasive language to a more assertive style, and her attire (moderate in earlier scenes) suddenly becomes risque and revealing. He declares, â€Å"My body is here at hand; your each wish to fulfill; your servant to command I am, and shall be still. † Gawain gives in due to the laws of chivalry, where knights are required to respect the set of laws concerning courtly love, and do whatever a damsel asks. The Green Knight also plays a huge role in continuing with the â€Å"doubleness† theme. This character is extremely difficult to interpret as some view him as a devilish figure whose only purpose is to tempt Gawain into sin, while some view him as a holistic figure whose purpose is to build Gawain into becoming an improved knight. In the Green Knight’s introduction to the Christmas party, he arrives with a holly branch and an axe. The holly branch represents peace and happiness, while the axe is supposed to represent violence and death. Furthermore, he states, â€Å"Not all, I think, for dread, but some of courteous grace let him who was their head be spokesman in that place. He immediately references God, but then counteracts that with his threats of beheading someone. To the reader, these two polar opposites begin to question what the Green Knight’s true intentions are. In addition, even the color green goes along the lines of the â€Å"doubleness† theme. During the medieval ages, the color green was conveyed as life, love, hope, and the birth chamber to some; while to others it provoked thoughts of jealousy, death, and sometimes the color of the devil. Towards the conclusion of the tale, the Green Knight’s true persona becomes revealed as he turns out to be the host, Sir Bertilak. This plays on with the theme of temptation, as this was all set up to test Sir Gawain’s honor and virtuosity. The girdle, which is the third theme of â€Å"doubleness,† contains a symbolic meaning that has been interpreted in a variety of ways. The girdle can be viewed as sexual or spiritual. Accordingly, the knotted belt of the girdle represented chastity, good faith, and virginity while on the contrary, the open belt represented sexual advances and poor faith. This girdle is very lavish, as it is made out of green silk and embroidered with gold thread (colors that link it to the Green Knight). Sir Bertilak’s wife claims that it possesses the power to keep the wearer of it away from harm. However, it is deciphered towards the end of the story that this girdle indeed has no magical properties, and was simply another experimental tactic used against Sir Gawain. While Gawain is able to resist the brunt of Bertilak’s wife’s sexual advances, he is unable to resist the powers of the girdle. When Bertilak returns home from each of his hunting trips, Gawain does not reveal the girdle and instead hides it in shame. This showcases the spiritual interpretation; his acceptance of the girdle is a sign of his faltering faith in God. After the Green Knight reveals his identity as Sir Bertilak/the host, Gawain curses the girdle for he believes it represents his cowardice. He states, â€Å"But your girdle, God love you! I gladly shall take and be pleased to possess, not for the pure gold, nor the bright belt itself, nor the beauteous pendants, nor for wealth, nor worldly state, nor workmanship fine, but a sign of excess it shall seem oftentimes when I ride in renown, and remember with shame the faults and frailty of the fresh preserve. Yet, the others celebrate him during his return from the quest. To show their support, Arthur and his people wear green, silk baldrics that appear just like Gawain’s girdle. The double interpretation of the girdle corresponds with its complex, multi-faceted symbol. This theme of â€Å"doubleness†, the constant use of temptation with more than one side, bec omes the main driving point in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.

Public life Essay

Early Years When brownish and his family move to New York, he acquire that the pro-slavery forces in Kansas were confrontational. brown left for Kansas after learning that the families of his adult sons were completely open from any possible attack. He smooth bloodlines and weapons along the way and steady held an anti-slavery convention in Albany. Despite the compel because of his support for unrest to liberate, dark-brown belt up bitaged to get financial support. He gat here(predicate)d more(prenominal) than anti-slavery forces in Ohio. embrown and his forces were going away to spot at nothing to stop the pro-slavery actions in Kansas.He believed that the pro-slavery forces, or the recoil Ruffians, depart eventually become impetuous themselves. He used this as vindication for his disregard for the law. dark-brown was angered by the violence displayed by the Border Ruffians, and as well as the political manipulations happening to quell the Federal emancipation ist movework forcet. brownness learned that his family was to be attacked next by the Border Ruffians and the pro-slavery neighbours squealed almost the support that his family was giving him. In whitethorn 1856, five pro-slavery fixatetlers were killed by cooks men.They were taken from their homes and slashed to death by swords. According to cook, he did approve of the murder, still he neer participated in it. both of chocolate-browns sons were captured by hydrogen Pate, a pro-slavery captain. But Pate was in short captured with twenty-two men. Pate was forced to shorten a treaty that exchanges their liberty with the freedom of his two sons. Pate was spared, scarcely his sons release was to be postp oned till September. Pro-slavery forces from Missouri came to Kansas under(a) the command of Major General nates Reid.They headed towards Osawatomie, Kansas, determined to crush the abolitionist forces there. more or less of Reids men killed one of cooks sons in the m orning of bowly 30, 1956. browned was clearly outnumbered by Reids pro-slavery forces, just they still defended their posts. They managed to wound 40 and kill 20 of the Reids men. Reid arranged his men to retreat into the forest, and Browns men managed to capture four of Reids men. This display of bravery in that maculation that clearly went against him was viewed as an act of resolution by Northern abolitionist forces. Brown was then k immediatelyn by the nickname, Osawatomie Brown.A month recentlyr, Brown met Free secernate go outers in Lawrence to help oneself jut for a possible assault by the pro-slavery forces. Pro-slavery forces from Missouri were engaging attacks in Kansas. Battles ensued, though large damages were nipped in the develop when Kansas governor privy Geary called for dis limbament and offered lenience to sol grumblers of both sides. Brown fled from Kansas with his sons to gather more funds and support from the north. Brown travelled eastward to ga ther more funds. In his travels, he met with many prominent abolitionists analogous William Lloyd Garrison and Gerrit Smith.Some of the wealthy abolitionists he met agreed to provide Brown with funds. This assemblage of financers become known as the privy sixsome. How much of Browns political platforms the Secret Six knew still clay a mystery until today as these men were just there to fund Brown with no questions asked. On January of the undermentioned year, Brown received pledges of weapons from different abolitionist organizations and individuals. He travelled more and go along to look for funding. He received help in forms of many pledges but minute of these pledges were translated to cash.Brown met with Hugh Forbes in New York in March. He hired Forbes to be the tactician and drillmaster of his army. both(prenominal) met in Tabor and formulated a plan for their anti-slavery crusade in the reciprocal ohm with them disagreeing with some of the details of the plan. Th ey left for Kansas half-dozen months later without Forbes receiving his salary. He decided to move on for the east instead of going with Brown to Kansas. Brown travelled to Ontario to attend a Constitutional Convention. Chatham, Ontarios population were by and large dominated by slave fugitives. It was here that Browns provisional nature was adopted.Brown was elected as the commander-in-chief and elder Monroe, an African man was elected as minister, and shall act as president until a new one was elected. numerous of the delegates sign the Constitution, but only a a couple of(prenominal) joined Browns forces. Many intended to join but Forbes attempt to reveal the plans to Henry Wilson, a mama senator. Many of the members of Browns national circle felt fear that their call will go revealed to the public. The members of the Secret Six were divided. Some of them wanted Brown to escape his plans rapidly, while some insisted for postponement.To derail Forbes cognition of his p lan, Brown returned to Kansas and remained there for 6 months. He joined forces with James Montogomery, the leader of the raids in Missouri. Brown led his own attacks, managing to set 11 slaves free. He took the liberated man with him to Detroit and to Canada. He went from city to city to collect more support. He reconnected with the Secret Six, visited his family and kaput(p) for Harpers Ferry. Upon arrival in Harpers Ferry, he rented a farmhouse nearby for his new recruits. He never received the number of recruits he anticipate to come to support him.He revealed the plan to some of his supporters and some of them expressed their perplex and qualms about the plan. One of them, Douglass, already knew of Browns plan since 1859 and has tried numerous attempts to avert the enlistment of blacks in Browns army. Some of the weapons fit for a thousand men arrived late September, but Brown only had 21 men. A month later, Brown led 19 of his men to attack the armory of Harpers Ferry. He p lanned to distribute the weapons here to arm the slaves in the locality. He would then lead these men to the south to liberate more slaves.His plan was to free the slaves of Virginia to maim the macrocosm and kill off the life-line that kept the thrift alive in the south. They easily entered the township and they captured the armory with no resistance. They also paste the news to the local slaves they were going to be freed soon. Things went awry when a passenger read arrived in town. One of the train supply warned the passengers about Browns men. Brown ordered him to halt then, but comprehend that his warning was not heeded, shot him openly. news of the raid reached Washington by late morning.Browns men were held deep down the armory by the angry residents of the town. armed services men sealed off the bridge, the only escape route available. Brown moved inside the armory and had the doors and windows blocked. The soldiers and towns pot foreign prevented the exit of anyo ne inside the armory, and sometimes, Browns men would shoot at the people outside. Brown sent out his son, Watson, and one of his men under the bearing of a white flag and yet the men outside shot them. Exchanges of shots were fired, and Oliver, another of Browns sons were wounded and killed.On October 18, John Browns fort was environ by the military. They were encouraged to surrender, but Brown refused, saying that he would rather die there. The military men then bust the doors and walls of the armory down and captured the men inside. Brown was charged with murder of 5 men, abettal of a rebellion among the slaves and treason against the state of Virginia. The court found him to be punishable on all three counts on November 2. He was sentenced to be publicly hanged a month later. On November 2, after a week-long trial and 45 minutes of deliberation, the Charles town jury found Brown vile on all three counts.Brown was sentenced to be hanged in public on December 2. Before he die d, he wrote, I, John Brown, am now quite a certain that the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away but with blood. I had, as I now think, vainly flattered myself that without very much panel it might be done. METHODOLOGY The results of this deliberate were obtained via info collection from documents from the internet, several books and journals. selective information analysis of the information was performed and some personalized opinions of the author were also injected into the analysis of the data gathered.