Should The North Dakota Pipeline Lead A Negative...

Pipeline If the North Dakota pipeline continues to be built, will it have a negative ecological impact? A part of the pipeline is routed to be underneath a part of the Missouri river known as Lake Oahe, the Standing Rock Indian Reservation’s main water supply. If the pipeline were to leak it would contaminated the river and surrounding areas. Pipes will eventually leak; the Dakota Access pipeline should not be built so close to bodies of water of any kind. The pipeline belongs to the Texas-based company, Energy Transfer Partners. The Dakota Access pipeline is a one thousand one hundred and seventy-two mile pipe that will transfer about 470,000 to 570,000 barrels of crude oil a day through four states, North Dakota, South Dakota, Illinois, and Iowa. The pipe is thirty inches in diameter and â€Å"will connect the rapidly expanding Bakken and Three Forks production areas in North Dakota to Patoka, Illinois† (Energy Transfer Partners). This pipeline is hoped to help the US become less dependent on foreign oil and is a safer and cheaper way to move crude oil compared to rail car or trucks. It is also estimated to bring additional revenue and jobs to states the pipeline runs through. Using new advanced pipeline technology, they are confident that the pipeline will be safe and reliable (Energy Transfer Partners). Singh 2 Energy Transfer Partners are ranked among the safest of large midstream companies. They have had an OSHA, also known as Occupational Safety and HealthShow MoreRelatedExploring Corporate Strategy - Case164366 Words   |  658 Pagespractice. They are not intended to be a comprehensive collection of teaching material. They have been chosen (or speciï ¬ cally written) to provide readers with a core of cases which, together, cover most of the main issues in the text. As such, they should provide a useful backbone to a programme of study but could sensibly be supplemented by other material. We have provided a mixture of longer and shorter cases to increase the ï ¬â€šexibility for teachers. Combined with the illustrations and the short caseRead MoreMarketing Mistakes and Successes175322 Words   |  702 Pageswritten permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc. 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, website www.copyright.com. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774, (201)748-6011, fax (201)748-6008, website http://www.wiley.com/go/permissions. To order books or for customer service please, call 1-800-CALL

Movie 13 Days Case Study Essay - 1800 Words

Write Up On Thirteen Days Case Study: We will watch the film â€Å"13 Days† in class. You will then write a paper consisting of five to seven descriptive and concise paragraphs in bulleted form discussing how the negotiation issues are presented/used in the film and its connection to the readings. You should analyze each scenario and offer a series of observations related to the negotiation. When citing, be sure to include the author and page number(s). Think in terms of both integrative or distributive negotiation practices. Some things you to consider: How are problems handled? What impact do certain approaches/styles have? You may think in terms of the negotiations with the Russians or within the Kennedy administration. In the first†¦show more content†¦In the end, the publisher agrees to the terms, but asks for something to tell his guys since they will want his head on a plate. JFK tells him they will be saving lives including their own. In this situation, JFK was negotiating with the Publisher to hold off on the story until after he is able to release a statement because if the story is released first, there could be extreme consequences like nuclear attacks on the United States. In the book, Getting to Yes, a key to integrative agreements is the ability for the parties â€Å"to understand and satisfy each other’s interests.† (p. 64, Lewicki) In this scenario, the parties â€Å"have different types of interests at stake,† (p. 66, Lewicki) in which the publisher wants to be the first to release a huge story while the president wants to make sure people do not die. Ultimately, one of the interests becomes more powerful than the other in this situation, which allows for interests to change to the most important issue at hand. (p. 67, Lewicki) By JFK providing the publisher with a life changing issue the publisher surely acknowledges the situation and allows for JFK to win the negotiatio n. There isn’t always a victor in a negotiation, but there is in this confrontation. The tone of voice in which the president spoke was also important, making sure he was touching yet charismatic at the same time. WhenShow MoreRelatedCase Analysis : School Of Law And Business945 Words   |  4 Pages8946 6830 Phan Huong Giang Truong 271670 Unit Name: Unit Code: Principles of Economics CME101 Lecturers Name: Venkat Pechalliah Assessment Title Case Analysis Semester: Year: Assignment 1 (select assignment number) 1 2014 Due Date (dd/mm/yyyy): Lodgement Date (dd/mm/yyyy): Applied for Extension: (dd/mm/yyyy) 13/12/2014 13/12/2014 0 N/A 1 NO 0 YES – to Lodgement Locations: (refer to specific lodgement requirements as set out by the lecturer) DO NOT LODGE BY FAXRead MoreMovies Control: Sex and Violence1436 Words   |  6 Pagesis placed on the effects of movies on our views of racism, sexism, classism, and heteronormativity. 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Technology is made because the society always wants to find more efficient methods of doing certain tasks. Without technology, mankind would not have discovered things that the majority of us now know, such as the world, animals, science, and the like. However, the society doesn’t gain much benefit, besidesRead MoreMighty Ducks: Movie Critique1715 Words   |  7 PagesMovie Critique: The Mighty Ducks - 1 Introduction The first â€Å"The Mighty Ducks† movie raises numerous aspects of sociology in sport that will be analyzed in this paper. The two aspects of sociology in sport that were prevalent in the Mighty Ducks movie were: ethics and gender. This movie provides an example of a character who begins the story as a morally bankrupt individual with a â€Å"win at all cost† attitude. Through his experience coaching a young hockey team, Bombay learns the true meaning ofRead MoreTheme Of Self Image In 12 Angry Men892 Words   |  4 Pagespersonality, agenda and history. 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Battle of Saratoga free essay sample

Leading to the Battles of Bemires Heights and Freemans Farm, the Battle of Saratoga became known as a highly significant battle Of the American Revolution. These battles were a necessity to the victory of the Revolution for the Americans. The Battles of Bemires Heights and Freemans Farm were very necessary because they really helped out the Americans chances of winning more battles that would take place later. As General Burgeoned was leading his forces to Albany, he ran into the American forces at Bemires Heights (where they also fought after the battle of freemans farm).The American forces deed to do anything they could to get rid of as many British forces as possible. The Battles that took place had huge turning points for both side because the number of people that were killed and the amount of ammunition that was used affected later battles of the Revolution. In the Battle of Bemires Heights, Burgeoned had his army retreat northward for the town of Saratoga (silently in the night), having to leave the sick and injured behind, and the dead unburied.This proved how these battles affected the decisions of the fighting forces, some being sick and cruel, while others being intelligent and applicable. The Battle of Freemans Farm (taking place on September 19, 1777) was a very significant battle for the British and the Americans. The British were surprised at Bemires Heights, where the British suffered about 500 casualties while the Americans sustained about 280. The battle was taking place on Freemans Farm. Freeman was a Loyalist who had earlier left for Canada.After about three hours of battle, the Americans ran out of ammunition, making them have to retreat. The British then claimed victory at Freemans Farm. Freemans Farm was located on the west side bank of the Hudson River. It was right near Bemires Heights, making it easy for people to build fortifications in the woods and high outcroppings. It was located a few miles away from Burnooses destination of Albany. It was a perfect location for an army to fight and keep themselves in somewhat Of an alright sanctuary. During the Battle, both sides used different tactics and strategies.Burgeoned decided to go with a risky strategy of dividing his army into three columns, two towards Bemires Heights and one to follow the road that paralleled the Hudson. The American forces (led by Horopito Gates and Benedict Arnold) laced expert riflemen (led by Daniel Morgan) in charge of taking out the left flank of the British (led by Simon Frasier). This strategy worked well for the Americans, of course until they ran out of ammunition. The battle (of Freemans Farm) was officially ended when Burgeoned heard word from Sir Henry Clinton.Clinton was getting ready to leave New York City and come assist Burgeoned with the continuous battles. So, he told Burgeoned to hold back and wait for him to get there before he attacked the Americans again. Burgeoned gave up his plan for attack on September 20th, and told his troops to wait until reinforcements arrived. Following the Battle at Freemans Farm, was the Battle of Bemires Heights. Bemires Heights was another big marking point during the American Revolution, also having big turning points for each force.The Battle of Bemires Heights was the most significant battle of the Saratoga campaign because it was the battle that caused Burnooses surrender to the American forces. Bemires Heights was also located on the West bank of the Hudson River about 10 miles from Saratoga. The riverbanks went upward; forming bluffs about 100-300 feet high. Bemires Heights was also surrounded by woods, making it harder for the British forces to take out the Americans. Burgeoned led about 1,500 men to fight off the militia at Bemires Heights. The British suffered about 400 casualties while the Americans only reported about 1 50 casualties. This proved that American forces at times were stronger (or at least more intelligent) than the British. Multiple battle tactics and strategies were used and discussed at the Battle of Bemires Heights. General Horopito Gates and Benedict Arnold were debating whether or not they should keep their fortifications high in the outcroppings where they seemed more affective, or if they should set up fortifications down in the woods below the heights. Gates decided to keep his army where they were, infuriating Arnold, thus making Arnold be relieved from his position in the American army.Daniel Moorings groups of riflemen were dispatched under Gates orders. The British were badly outnumbered, but came back when high competent Simon Frasier came into play. Arnold, deceiving his orders, ordered a rifleman to take out Frasier. Frasier was badly wounded, taking the fighting spirit away from the British. The Battle was officially ended when Henry Clinton told Burgeoned that he was not likely to rescue the dying and losing British forces, leading Burgeoned o surrender to the American army on October 17, 1777.By the end of the Battle, Gates army was left standing with about soldiers. The Campaign of Saratoga was highly significant to the American Revolution because it really affected how the upcoming battles would turn Out (number of soldiers would be different and amount of ammunition). One thing the Battle of Saratoga did for the Revolution was change the American morale dramatically. It caused Horopito Gates to become a hero of the American Revolution. It also led to France stop helping with the American forces and clearing war on Britain, making things a little easier for the American forces. If the British had won the battle, then things could have been dramatically different. The British would have had more power and troops, making it harder for the American armies to keep up in later battles. Things could be very different now if the American army did not win the Battle of Saratoga. All in all, the Battle of Saratoga proved that disadvantaged and weaker American forces could overpower the stronger British forces. Horopito Gates led his army to annihilate Burnooses army at Bemires Heights, causing them to surrender.The Battle at Freemans Farm was also a huge turning point for the Americans, having total control over the best fortification spots at Bemires Heights. The significance to the Revolution is easily seen. Fifth British had the won the Campaign of Saratoga, then things would have been very different for the American forces. It could have even affected the absolute victor of the American Revolution. Just imagine what it would be like if we didnt win the Revolution and were still under British control. That is why we have to be grateful that Gates led his army to defeat the British in the Battle of Saratoga.

McDonalds and KFC Corporate Responsibility

Introduction Organisations have a responsibility to function as good citizens by ensuring sustainability of their supply chains and protecting the interest of their shareholders. They have to establish mechanisms of enhancing corporate governance. An organisation can also protect shareholders from losing their investments by ensuring that risks that lead to a reduction of competitive advantage are proactively mitigated.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on McDonald’s and KFC Corporate Responsibility specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In the fast-food industry, such risks include changing the attitude and sensitisation on the sustainability of fast-food organisations and sourcing strategies from consumers and communities in which the organisations operate. An effective supply chain arm of an organisation ensures that products and services are availed just whenever they are required in a manner that will ensur e that the increasing number of products that need to be availed in the market is sustainable (Bakshi Fiksel 2010). Supply chain management entails overseeing the movement of goods and services, finances, and information from the point of production to wholesalers and then to consumers. It also encompasses coordination and integration of flow of materials among organisations. Supply chain management plays an important function in an organisation since ‘organisations increasingly find that they must rely on effective supply chains or networks to compete in the global market and networked economy’ (Ketchen Hult 2006, p. 574). From this perspective, this paper deploys the concepts of supply chain to discuss various supply chain sustainability issues in the US fast-food industry with reference to KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) and McDonald’s. It first offers some background information on the organisations. It then discusses the subject of sustainability in their cha in supplies within the fast-food industry. The subject is later compared with approaches that are deployed by KFC and McDonald’s to enhance good corporate citizenship with reference to their supply chains.Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Overview Background to McDonald’s McDonald’s stands out as one of the biggest global fast-food retailers that offer fast foods in more than 119 customers all over the globe. McDonald’s restaurants and franchises, which stand at about 33, 500, continue to grow as the organisation penetrates new markets in Asia (Wilhelm 2010). This immense success of McDonald’s is attributed to a number of factors such as its incredible emphasis on engagement of consumers, appropriate leaderships that fits the business of the organisation, and exceptional investments of the organisational resources in brand management. T he franchise business model of the company has managed to ensure that products and services that are offered at the franchises are consistent with services that are offered at the company-owned restaurants. McDonald’s focuses on the development of business models, which pay attention to employee concerns. The organisation uses employees to deliver organisational value by offering healthy, safe, and hygienic foods (Gogoi Arndt 2003). This observation suggests that the main strategy of success for McDonald’s is to use its people to deliver services at outstanding high service rates so that customers do not waste their time waiting for services since such a move undermines the purpose for which fast-food restaurants are established. To achieve this goal, the organisation advocates a bureaucratic formal management structure. Background to KFC KFC is an organisation that specialises in fried chickens. It also operates within the fast-food industry. It is headquartered at L ouisville, Kentucky. The organisation takes the second position after McDonald’s in terms of size as measured by its sales levels (Novak 2014). By December 2013, KFC had over 18,800 outlets that were dispersed across the globe in over 118 nations. The organisation is also a subsidiary of the Yum Brands, which also owns organisations such as Taco Bell and the Pizza Hut fast-food chains. Similar to McDonald’s, the organisation also follows the franchising model of operation. Indeed, its founder, Harland Sanders, realised that the organisation would function under this model in 1952 when he opened the first franchise at Utah.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on McDonald’s and KFC Corporate Responsibility specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More KFC focused on popularisation of chicken in a market that was dominated by hamburger consumers. KFC is one of the major fast-food organisations that endeavour to internationalise by opening new outlets across the globe. In 1960, it opened branches in the UK, Jamaica, and Mexico. In 1987, it was amongst the first western-based organisations that opened new business branches in China. With its specialisation in chicken, it received tremendous welcome in the Chinese market since Chinese people prefer chicken to beef (Novak 2014). Amid undergoing various corporate transformations in a bid to establish a competitive advantage, KFC has not gone without challenges that are articulated to the need to enhance sustainability in its supply chains. Sustainability in the Fast-food Industry McDonald’s and KFC managers remain susceptible to challenges of enhancing sustainability in their supply chains while doing their businesses in a modern globalised business arena. Faced with modern problems that are associated with the production and distribution of products, supply chains managers in the two organisations deserve plausible information about the implications of supply chain and logistics strategies on physical and environmental participants in a bid to create socially corporate organisations. This plan is pivotal in helping to resolve various challenges that relate to supply chain management in business environments that are characterised by changing trends because of globalisation, intensive competition, and the need for securing and protecting the environment within which the organisations are established. There is also a need for ‘reliable, flexible, and cost-effective business systems that are capable of supporting customer differentiations’ (Bullinger, Kuhner van Hoof 2002, p. 3533). More than it has been experienced before, McDonald’s and KFC supply chain management personnel encounter a myriad of complex and dynamic supply chain problems, trends, and developments, which are incredibly hard to predict. To resolve this stalemate, the deployment of sustainable supply chain strategies is critical .Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In the future, supply chain managers need to understand various sustainability issues that relate to the business and company operational environments. Paying attention to the principle of corporate social responsibility encompasses one of the issues that constitute a sustainable supply chain management. Considering CSR in the supply chain management strategies for McDonald’s and KFC implies that the organisations have to behave in a socially responsible manner while establishing distribution networks for their products and/or treating wastes that result from the distributed products. For the last one decade, concerns of environmental sustainability have transgressed from ‘an obscure fringe concept to a mainstream concern at the highest level of corporate governance’ (Maloni Brown 2006, p.35). These changes have taken place following changes in the business environment, excessive anxiety for climatic changes, and concerns of energy security from various stakehol ders and advocacy groups across the globe. Maloni and Brown (2006) also note regulatory directives compel organisations to conduct an analysis of how their products affect their operations. This claim means that apart from the need to serve their own interest and the interest of the owners, McDonald’s and KFC have to deploy the adopted supply chain management approaches to demonstrate their concern to the protection and preservation of the environment within which they are established. McDonald’s and KFC pay incredible focus on CSR in their derivation of strategies for ensuring sustainable supply chains, especially following the heavy emphasis from green movements across the globe for an organisation to produce and distribute green products in the effort to curb environmental degradation. Adopting green strategies for supply chain management is not only a measure of ensuring sustainable supply chain management, but also a gauge of ensuring that an organisation behaves and acts in a socially responsible manner. Guaranteeing sustainable supply chains calls for the deployment of a number of principles. The principles must be directly related to the concerns of people who consume the products. Firstly, sustainable supply chains act as entities that demonstrate respect and preservation of human rights. This claim means that they must guarantee their commitment to the prevention of abuse of human rights. In this extent, Maloni and Brown (2006, p. 41) reckon, ‘supply chain management entities deserve to ensure that there is no forced labour, child labour, or discriminatory practices’. As suggested by the application of the concepts of green supply chains, sustainable supply chains ensure that the environment does not suffer from any harm due to its operations. The above claim suggests that sustainable supply chain entities need to encourage the implementation of various eco-friendly technologies. One of such strategies involves phasing out paper documentations and paper-based product packaging (Leclerc 2012). The most preferred direction is the one that will ensure that supply chain approaches become cost effective to the extent of making an organisation experience competitive advantage. In the effort to minimise wastes, the current modern approaches to supply chain management call for organisations to reduce costs such as inventory levels. Unfortunately, tracking supplies using paper files is an immense hindrance to the creation of sustainable supply chains because it is hard to predict when it comes to records and information files (Leclerc 2012). Although one of the green approaches to the creation of sustainable chain supplies that are driven by perspectives of green supply chains is through recycling of paper, a more effective way is the creation and embracement of technological ways of maintaining supplies data through mechanisms such as holding data in soft form. Indeed, within the last few years, KFC and McDon ald’s have strategically focused on programmes for creating sustainable supply chains. This process involves transformative mechanisms that are meant to outline various comprehensive road maps for detailing approaches that are implementable to ensure that business partners remain committed to the achievement of green technology in supply chains. In this context, Aronsson and Brodin (2006) confirm that sustainability in the current supply approaches that are deployed by McDonald’s initiates with simple but also significant practices that seek to optimise supply chain decisions. The beginning point is ensuring that inventories are availed at the right places at the right time and in the appropriate quantities. Effective and socially responsible supply management approaches require synchronisation of supply practices to ensure improved operations in transportation efficiencies right from the consumption of fuels to carbon emissions. This process has the aftermath of reduc ing carbon prints for many organisations. Carbon prints form one of the methodologies of determining the extent to which an organisation has embraced sustainable supply chains. Such prints are computed using inventories of greenhouse gas emissions within a company, product and facility, or any other alternative entity. Such gases include methane, nitrous oxide, and carbon dioxide among others as defined by the Kyoto Protocol (The United Nations 2014). Each of these gases contributes a given proportion to global warming. Development of successful relationships and closer alignment of strategic decisions in supply chains is important for sustainable supply chains. Financial communities have recognised that sustainability is central to the improvement of shareholder value upon their expansion of cash flows. It is also important in the development of resource exploitation, client contentment, and brand appreciation (Maloni, Brown 2006). These critical aspects help in building the compe titive advantage of an organisation. Indeed, competitive advantage is one of the supply chain management strategies that act as critical success factors for sustainability in any organisation, including KFC and McDonald’s. Different organisations may choose to pursue different types of competitive advantages. Some valid generic mechanisms of achieving excellence and market success include differentiation and cost leadership. The significance of these strategies in relation to sustainable supply chain is pegged on the idea that the most significant strategies for supply chains are the ones that translate into low costs to an organisation and in terms of social costs. Consequently, sustainability in a supply chain can be enhanced in an organisation by aiming to be the lowest cost leader within any industry. These cost leadership strategies include ‘economies of scale, proprietary technology, and preferential access to raw materials’ (Ciliberti 2009, p.119). From th e perspectives of deferential strategy, organisations seek to supply unique products in any industry. Such products deserve to create value to their consumers. From this line of thought, perspectives of green sustainable supplies have emerged in the discipline of supply chain. They constitute a major supply chain issue at McDonald’s and KFC. Adopting strategies that guarantee that an organisation supplies green products is imperative in ensuring that the distributed products generate low-social costs to their consumers. Such costs include a reduction of the extent of global warming by cutting down the emission of greenhouse gases (Orsato 2006). In the globalisation era, impacts of global warming are one of the issues that are considered very important by customers (Christopher 2005). Hence, sustainable supply chain management concepts that are deployed by KFC and McDonald’s persuade organisations to become green. Sustainability Issues at McDonald’s and KFC Withi n the last four decades, Americans have become large consumers of fast foods. Cheeseman (2013) says that they spend a total of $6 billion in 1970 on purchasing fast foods. This figure escalated to $142 billion in 2006. This situation has made the US a fast-food nation. Fast-food organisations are cheap. They often result in excessive food wastes and accumulation of packaging waste. Cheeseman (2013, Para. 2) confirms, ‘Cheap food comes with steep hidden costs to the people who produce it, sell it, and eat it, to the environment, and to future generations.’ Can KFC and McDonald’s operate sustainably? Can they constitute good examples of corporate citizens in the US fast-food industry? Both McDonald’s and KFC supply chains experience several issues, which make it difficult to enhance their sustainability. For instance, both organisations are immensely concerned with their environmental impacts. For take-away foods, they must wrap customers’ food. The m anner of disposal of these wrappings is an issue of great concern to the organisations, especially because the companies operate in nations that have different policy frameworks to guide in the disposal of products and product-associated wastes. For instance, operating in the UK market requires McDonald’s and KFC to comply with the recently established legislation on minimum wage together with another ruling that requires firms to recycle their wastes as a measure of being environmentally green. Such legal provisions have the impact of raising the cost of running the business of both organisations. Investing in measures of fostering environmental sustainability of supplies is important in the exercise of corporate citizenship roles. However, it leads to added costs, which attract low profitability. Since an organisation must balance all interests of the stakeholders, owners of the corporations become disadvantaged since high operational costs imply low returns on investments. Claims of failure to invest in green technologies and use of green raw material have also challenged McDonald’s sustainability of its supply chains. For instance, in 1980s the company received criticisms for sourcing its beef for making hamburgers from ranches that had been developed on a newly cleared forest cover in the Amazon rainforest. In the recent past, environmentalists sharply criticised McDonald’s over the wastes that were generated through its products and packaging. This concern made the company engage in partnership with EDF (Environmental Defence Fund) in the 1990s. The goal was to initiate a programme for phasing out the use of polystyrene food packaging to raise the number of recycled food boxes and containers. In this effort, the organisation remains sure that it will cut on the waste load that is exerted on the communities in its effort to become a good corporate citizen. McDonald’s and the EDF successfully implemented a waste reduction plan t o enhance sustainability in their supply chains. Business Ethics (2014) supports this assertion by adding that the company has led in terms of packaging in the tune of 300 million pounds. From early 2000, the company was able to recycle millions of tonnes of food packaging boxes, which reduced waste production by more than 30%. Amid this effort, McDonald’s still experiences new challenges that relate to sustainability of its chain supplies. For example, the Greenspace, a green organisation, criticises the corporation by claiming that Brazilian soy farming, which is deployed to feed chicken at McDonald’s, constitutes a major threat to the sustainability of the Amazon rainforest. Consequently, it responded by collaborating with the organisation in the implementation of a zero tolerance deforestation programme. KFC operates in the fast-food industry just like McDonald’s. Thus, it also experiences challenges that are similar to those that are experienced by McDonald ’s. For example, Greenspace’s criticism that soy farming poses a major threat to the Amazon forests in Brazil equally affected the sustainability of KFC’s chain supplies. The challenges of associating McDonald’s fast foods with obesity and health challenges such as diabetes and heart attack also influence KFC (Barnett 2010). However, in addition to these issues, as from 2003, PETA (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals), has sharply criticised KFC over its approaches in the selection of poultry across the globe (Yaziji Doh 2009). Yaziji and Doh (2009) quote KFC by informing that more than 60% of its paper-based products are derived from highly sustainable sources. In the Chinese market, KFC came under criticisms for utilising a growth hormone and high levels of antibiotics in its poultry in a manner that violated the Chinese law (Hsu 2013). Yum Brands, a subsidiary of KFC, which generates more than half of its sales revenue from the Chinese markets, re sponded by saying that the scandal had longer effects than the company had thought (Hsu 2013). KFC and McDonald’s Approaches to Sustainability Issues Upon noting the various sustainability problems in the supply of raw material and finished products, McDonald’s and KFC have now focused on developing organisational policies for enhancing their corporate citizenship. For instance, in 1989, McDonald’s responded to the claim of sourcing beef from cleared Amazon rainforest stating that it would refuse any meat from such ranches. A zero tolerance policy that addresses the sourcing of poultry that are fed by soy that is grown in the newly cleared Amazon forest also constitutes another measure that helps in presenting McDonald’s as a corporation that is environmentally friendly and supporting the conservation of natural habitat. McDonald’s has developed strategic plans for ensuring that its products align with the emerging concerns on healthy foods and eat ing habits. For instance, its strategic marketing plan has the objective of instilling a strong belief that including fruit salads as additional products that are served alongside the regular hamburgers and other products that are offered by the company responds to the call for people to embrace good eating habits. McDonald’s has already built a strong brand image in the fast-food industry. Hence, inclusion of the product is a further indication of the company’s flexibility to meet the need of its customers. This situation has an effect in ensuring that its products and services are sustainable in the short and long-term. Operating in an environment of criticism concerning McDonald’s degree of sustainability of supply chains makes it pursue various success strategies. In its mission statement, McDonald’s states that it focuses on people as most important resources that are available to enhance the success of its business objectives and goals (Wilhelm 2011 ). Other strategies include focusing on developing healthy meals. This strategy is driven by health professionals’ increased emphasis that fast foods are associated with obesity and its associated ailments, including hypertension and diabetes. McDonald’s continues to implement its global business strategy, which is driven by the business slogan ‘play to win’. This strategy is formulated to ensure that McDonald’s creates customer experiences that are consistent across all franchises and the company-owned stores. The corporation has also created a formal system that guides its operations in relation to five main facets, namely merchandise, cost, individuals, promotion, and position. KFC struggles to address issues that influence the sustainability of its supply chain. For instance, in 2009, the company sort ways of reducing the amount of packaging by more than 1,400 tonnes (Environmental Leader 2009). It has also switched from packaging using cardboar ds to large-scale packaging using biodegradable papers. The fast-food organisation also stopped offering its eat-in foods in cardboards in 2008. Its parent company, the Yum Brands, reported in early 2009 that it had already exceeded its target on CSR by a reduction of greenhouse emissions by 51,000 metric tonnes (Environmental Leader 2009). However, Idle (2011) notes that KFC has a long way to go in the implementation of its social corporate responsibility commitments. He further asserts that it has incredibly lagged behind in terms of mass communication of its plans for enhancing sustainable supplies by investing in CSR. Nevertheless, the corporation’s CSR manager in the UK and Ireland confirms that its engagement in CSR has taken a long time to be embedded in its business model (Idle 2011). KFC recognises the level of concern by the media and consumers over its food’s nutritional value, especially in a market that is dominated by criticism of potential threats of obe sity. In a bid to present its supply chain as sustainable, KFC now endeavours to engage in training and development programmes in addition to apprentice programmes on sustainable supply chain (Idle 2011). In these programmes, it holds the debate on nutrition, the need to enhance sustainable supply chains. It also explains to its staff how to become sustainable whilst not neglecting the meaning of being a sustainable organisation. KFC notes its weaknesses in communicating sustainability efforts to consumers and other parties that have stakes in its operations. It asserts that these parties hardly inquired about sustainability or even talked about it (Idle 2011). Consequently, unlike McDonald’s, it found no need for talking about it. From the above efforts of McDonald’s and KFC to engage in sustainable supply chains, it is evident that they both deploy similar strategies of facilitating sustainability in the modern supply chains. Indeed, considering the two corporation a pproaches to sustainability, sustainable supply chain is a function of all persons and agencies that are involved in the whole supply chain until products of an organisation are consumed and/or until the wastes are disposed. Green technology and green products communities will be interested to know whether products that are supplied by both McDonald’s and KFC through their supply networks meet the concerns of environmental protection. In case issues may come up that the supplied products fail to meet the demand placed on them, they have to deal with the challenge of redesigning their products to meet the emerging demands. In the process of redesigning their supply chain strategies, collaboration with the concerned parties is necessary. Indeed, both organisations have some existing loyal customers who must be supplied with products and services. To establish a balance of all the interested parties in the corporations’ products and services, they need to increase their c ommunication and collaboration efforts to ensure that their supply chains remain sustainable. Conclusion Sustainability in supply chain management can be enhanced through programmed inter-supplier communication strategies. Such strategies cut across many sustainable supply efforts, including sending automated emails to inform customers on any new advances in terms of product evolution and/or tracking and linking of information via strategies such as instant messaging. Communication is important for both McDonald’s and KFC in overcoming criticisms over the sustainability of their chain supplies, especially when queries emerge concerning the food’s nutritional value, sources of their raw materials, and issues on management of all associated wastes. Supply chain costs go beyond the costs of distributions of products, which are often reflected in the final prices of commodities and services. McDonald’s and KFC also encountered social costs such as poor perception of their products due to obesity and its related illnesses. Based on these assertions, the paper has regarded the embracement of concepts of CSR as one of the ways of ensuring that supply chains for both organisations remain sustainable and competitive. Other issues that have been considered in the paper in relation to sustainability of McDonald’s and KFC supply chains include effects of strategies of supply chain on the environment, especially with reference to the need to produce green products to ensure protection of the environment. Based on this concern, the paper has confirmed that the subject of creating sustainable supply chains entails interplay of a variety of stakeholders. The goal of an organisation that seeks to have sustainable supply chains is to ensure harmonisation of all stakeholders with sustainable supply chain strategies. References Aronsson, H. Brodin, M. 2006, ‘The environmental impact of changing logistics structures’, The International Jou rnal of Logistics Management, vol. 17 no. 3, pp. 394-415. Bakshi, R. Fiksel, J. 2010, ‘The Quest for Sustainability’, Supply Chain and Logistics Management, vol. 49 no. 6, pp. 1350-1358. Barnett, M. 2010, ‘Colonel Sanders’ New Modern Army of Outlets’, Marketing Week, 4 March, pp. 17-19. Bullinger, J., Kuhner, M. van Hoof, A 2002, ‘Analysing supply chain performance using a balanced measurement method’, International Journal of Production Research, vol. 40 no.15, pp. 3533-3543. Business Ethics 2014, Assessing McDonald’s Performance on Sustainability.  Web. Cheeseman, G. 2013, Can the Fast Food Industry Ever Be Sustainable. Web. Christopher, M. 2005, Logistics and supply chain management: Creating value-adding networks, Prentice Hall, Horlow. Ciliberti, F. 2009, ‘Codes to coordinate supply chains: SMEs’ experiences with SA8000’, Supply Chain Management: an International Journal, vol. 14 no. 2, pp.117-127. Env ironmental Leader 2009, KFC Switches to Earth Friendly Packaging. Web. Gogoi, P. Arndt, M. 2003, McDonald’s hamburger hell. Business Week, 18-19. Hsu, T. 2013, ‘After KFC Chicken Scare, Yum Plans to Stay on Course in China’, Los Angeles Times, 18 February, pp. 10-11. Idle, T. 2011, ‘How can KFC be a responsible business when you are fuelling child obesity?’ The chicken business responds. Web. Ketchen, G. Hult, T. 2006, ‘Bridging organisation theory and supply chain management: The case of best value supply chains’, Journal of Operations Management, vol. 25 no. 2, pp. 573-580. Leclerc, Y. 2012, ‘Sustainability and The Supply Chain: How to Reduce Cost and Save the Environment’, Manufacturing business technology, vol. 2 no.1, pp. 67-71. Maloni, M. Brown, E. 2006, ‘Corporate Social Responsibility in the Supply Chain: An Application in the Food Industry’, Journal of Business Ethics, vol. 68 no. 1, pp. 35-52. Novak , D. 2014, Recognising the Power of Yum!, Yum!, University of Kentucky, Kentucky. Orsato, R. 2006, ‘Competitive Environmental Strategies: When does it pay to be green?’, California Management Review, vol. 48 no. 2, pp. 127–143. The United Nations 2014, The Millennium Development Goals Report, The United Nations, New York, NY. Wilhelm, R. 2011, McDonald’s Formal Business Structure. Web. Yaziji, M. Doh, J. 2009, Case illustration: PETA and KFC, NGOs and Corporations: Conflict and Collaboration, Business, Value Creation, and Society, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. This assessment on McDonald’s and KFC Corporate Responsibility was written and submitted by user Lilianna Stevens to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Back to School Event free essay sample

The speech is based on responsibility and not giving up on education, he also mentions some people who are successful today and talk about how they got there, and that the students of America can do the same, if they were responsible enough to do their part for the country. Its as if, he asks the students, if they could do him a favor, and the more they educate themselves, the more he will make sure the students have the books, classrooms, equipment and computers they need to fulfill their education. He mentions a lot of values in his speech, but something he repeats the most and is the message of his speech is to never give up. Barack Obama starts his speech by asking the students â€Å"hows everybody doing today? †, already in the very beginning of his speech, he uses a simple language, which makes it easier for the younger audience to understand. We will write a custom essay sample on Back to School Event or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page A simple language and syntax is being used throughout the whole speech, and pathos when he tells about his own experience and expresses how he feels on this matter in the speech, which in general, makes it easier to earn peoples attention. I know the feeling. When I was young my family lived in Indonesia for a few years, and my mother didnt have the money to send me where all the American kids went to school. So she decided to teach me extra lessons herself, Monday through Friday – at 4:30 in the morning. † Feelings are important to use, especially when the speaker is trying to make a statement, and in this case it will make the listeners think that they arent the only ones going through struggle, and the fact that he is as successful as he is, makes the listeners think that they could do the same if they didnt give up. Another thing Obama uses in his speech is his compassion for the students. â€Å".. for those of you in kindergarten, or starting middle or high school, its your first day in a new school, so its understandable if youre a little nervous. † -â€Å"I know a lot of you have challenges in your lives right now that can make it hard to focus on your schoolwork. † Often when he shows his compassion for the students, its followed by his childhood and how he coped with the situation. â€Å"My father left my family when I was two years old, and I was raised by a single mother who struggled at times to pay the bills (.. There were times when I was lonely and felt like I didnt fit in. † Usually, when hearing others struggles, people tend to pity them, and this can be one of the reasons why using feelings in a speech, but another thing very important in a speech is reliability. The title, Barack Obama has, already makes him reliable, but he uses other successful people as exa mples, like J. K. Rowling and Michael Jordan. They are both very famous people, who are idols of many people. Obama mentions, that Rownlings first Harry Potter book was rejected 12 times, before they were published, and all the shots Michael Jordan has missed. Obama even uses of one Michael Jordans quotes: I have failed over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed. † The speech is divided in sections, where he uses pathos to get the attention of people, followed by ethos, where he tells why he is here and the reason why the students should be more responsible in school. â€Å"Every single one of you has something youre good at. Every single one of you has something to offer. And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what it is. Thats the opportunity an education can provide. And logos, when he uses other successful people the younger audience knows or unknown, but successful like Jazmin Perez, who couldnt talk English, when she first started her education, Andoni Schults, who has brain cancer and has difficulties with remembering thing he has learned, and Shantell, who is going to college, even after having a hard childhood. Like said before, using examples of people, who havent had a good childhood or life at all, makes the students think in way, that its pathetic they cannot achieve the same things. It boosts the students views on education, which makes them want to work harder. He also uses the future of their country as an example, by them that what they make out of their education will decide nothing less than the future of their country . What theyre learning in school today will determine whether we as a nation can meet our greatest challenges in the future. He continuously reminds the students, that in order to solve problems, help the world, create something new and important and protect our environment, requires the knowledge which the teachers, adults, and authorities try their best to give. He is addressing to the students as if they were talking together privately, and he also asks what they will do for their country, which makes the students more curious of what they are able to do. Obama uses all of the modes of appeal in great use, and has a lot of good examples in his speech. If you carefully look at the speech, you can see that he has somehow created a pattern – pathos, to get the students first, ethos, to tell and enlighten people why he is there and logos, where he uses other people as examples. This pattern goes throughout the speech several times. He encloses the speech by using pathos, where he uses family, teachers and the government as a key to a better future, because these adults are here for the students, when theyre in need. The values he wanted to tell are stated clearly in the speech. His purpose is to get the students attention and remind them, that education is very important for a better life and a better future. And that anyone is able to achieve whatever they want, if they try their hardest. It is important not to give up after only one try, instead give it more tries and practice to achieve your goals.

Free Essays on Questioning The Rules Of Life And Poverty

Questioning the Rules of Life and Poverty The English author and early feminist Virginia Woolf said, â€Å"Every secret of a writer’s soul, every experience of his life, every quality of his mind is written large in his works.† Writer’s Nikos Kazantzakis and Frank McCourt employ this in their texts, â€Å"The Isle of Aphrodite† and â€Å"Limerick Homecoming.† These writings draw from each author’s own experiences and offer a comprehensive look into their minds, revealing their world views, as realistic as they may or may not be. It is difficult to critique these writer’s views, being everyone adjusts the ways in which they deal with life to fit their own experiences, but when looked at on a broad scale it can be said that both realistic and important views can be drawn from each author’s respective essay. In his essay, â€Å"The Isle of Aphrodite,† Kazantzakis writes of questioning rules and figuring out things for oneself. Kazantzakis begins by drawing readers into his world and thoughts as his essay unfolds with descriptive images of Cyprus, the native land of Aphrodite. The author often floats back and forth between images and ideas and in the second paragraph of his text reveals his first idea, â€Å"Thought is an effort that goes contrary to the direction of life. The lifting of the soul, the vigilance of the mind, the charge toward the heights, all are the great ancestral sins against the will of God† (Kazantzakis 439). In saying this, Kazantzakis is asking why do we think so much about everything? He believes that we spend so much time thinking and making rules that it slows down the flow of our life. Too much thought is contrary to the way God wanted people to live their lives. In the above quote Kazantzakis is actually suggesting that creating rules is sinful. As his journey continues he offers many other ideas for readers to consider about conformity in life. Kazantzakis goes on to address thoughts as forces again... Free Essays on Questioning The Rules Of Life And Poverty Free Essays on Questioning The Rules Of Life And Poverty Questioning the Rules of Life and Poverty The English author and early feminist Virginia Woolf said, â€Å"Every secret of a writer’s soul, every experience of his life, every quality of his mind is written large in his works.† Writer’s Nikos Kazantzakis and Frank McCourt employ this in their texts, â€Å"The Isle of Aphrodite† and â€Å"Limerick Homecoming.† These writings draw from each author’s own experiences and offer a comprehensive look into their minds, revealing their world views, as realistic as they may or may not be. It is difficult to critique these writer’s views, being everyone adjusts the ways in which they deal with life to fit their own experiences, but when looked at on a broad scale it can be said that both realistic and important views can be drawn from each author’s respective essay. In his essay, â€Å"The Isle of Aphrodite,† Kazantzakis writes of questioning rules and figuring out things for oneself. Kazantzakis begins by drawing readers into his world and thoughts as his essay unfolds with descriptive images of Cyprus, the native land of Aphrodite. The author often floats back and forth between images and ideas and in the second paragraph of his text reveals his first idea, â€Å"Thought is an effort that goes contrary to the direction of life. The lifting of the soul, the vigilance of the mind, the charge toward the heights, all are the great ancestral sins against the will of God† (Kazantzakis 439). In saying this, Kazantzakis is asking why do we think so much about everything? He believes that we spend so much time thinking and making rules that it slows down the flow of our life. Too much thought is contrary to the way God wanted people to live their lives. In the above quote Kazantzakis is actually suggesting that creating rules is sinful. As his journey continues he offers many other ideas for readers to consider about conformity in life. Kazantzakis goes on to address thoughts as forces again...

Understanding of the Chinese traditional value Essay

Understanding of the Chinese traditional value - Essay Example Here, Rationale means to act based on objective truths and laws. Propriety implies suitability or appropriateness. The Chinese traditional value of harmony calls for â€Å"harmony but not uniformity.† coordinating dissimilar things to achieve an appropriate combination and thus move â€Å"from uncoordinated situation to one of coordination; from asymmetry to symmetry; and from imbalance to balance.† (Pan, pg 54) The contemporary Chinese society has put up a strong fight to ensure the maintenance of harmony between individuals and society; between nature and human beings; between communities; and between the mind and the body. This work details the Chinese traditional values with regard to parenting and goes further to compare these values with those forming the western culture. Talking about Chinese parenting, one will not miss to mention words such as strict, controlling and authoritarian. This is well established, especially, when we consider the example given by Amy Chua, a professor in law, who in the recent years candidly opened up her story of how she raised her daughters as a "Tiger Mother." A study by psychologists that sought to establish why Chinese parents were so much controlling found a strong attachment of the parent’s authoritarianism to their traditional values, particularly the one relating to obedience. Parents believe have been found to strongly influence the parenting style preferred not only in china but also in other parts of the world. Comparison between the Chinese parenting values and those of western countries, gives a wide divergence. Such is the case that these values differ not only with regard to family customs, but also the goals set for the children. Having said that lets now consider some of the values as it relates to the two worlds. Parenting style refers to a general scheme that describes how much response and control a parent directs towards his/her children. A study

Happiness in ancinet cultures Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Happiness in ancinet cultures - Essay Example This paper will seek to establish hat culture influenced happiness in the past. The ancient Egyptians struggled to live a happy life as well as eternal joy in the eternal life. They believed in life after death therefore; they had to make sure that their deeds here on earth guarantee them a next lifespan in eternity. They believed that a person, who keeps and observes the ways of the god, is guaranteed a whole life of joy and riches than all his peers. They too believed that an obedient person lives long up to old age in his own city, earning a lot of respect from other people, as well as being blessed with numerous children (Snape 29). This shows that since prosperity is associated with material wealth as well as happiness, everyone would struggle to obey culture and its beliefs. The ancient Egyptians had different gods who were responsible for different events in people’s lives. For instant, Osiris was a god of death, and would punish evil doers. This means that people would try very hard to avoid wronging their neighbors’ or the society to avoid death punishment. In return, quarrels were minimal and people lived in harmony and happiness in their villages. This kind of perception on happiness and eternity has been passed to the current generations due through kingdoms and dynasties. This means that inheritance and cultural practices have been passed from one generation to the next one because people are willing to live a longer life and continue their family lineage. The Egyptians had a positive view of life especially life after death since they invested in prestigious tombs with food and personal belongings for life after death. Marriage life was full of happiness since poetry was important and men were responsible for protecting their women as well reciting love poems for their wives. In Mesopotamia, population grew fast due to industrialization and plantation

The McKissack and McKissack Group Inc Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The McKissack and McKissack Group Inc - Essay Example McKissack has worked on various civil developments, fresh water and wastewater projects and have examined hundreds of miles of pipelines. Business strategy of McKissack has always been based on long term basis. And records show that over the past 100 years, McKissack has acquired and retained hundreds of clients through their excellent business relationships and customer retention. And they have achieved this through broad management approach and forming and achieving concrete strategic objectives. McKissack is a close knitted business entity which administers each project from its seed stage to its completion, while overseeing all the operations. McKissack is always looking for projects in the market that require innovative yet pragmatic and affordable construction solutions and the reason that gives them the courage to take such bold steps is their experiencing of completing thousands of projects in the past 100 years. Teamwork, quality and commitment have always been the hallmark of their business strategy that enables them to grow as an outstanding industry. The legacy of McKissack dates back to over two centuries when Moses McKissack (a slave) became an expert builder after learning the craftsmanship from his owner William McKissack, who was among the first contractor in the US. Moses McKissack, before dying in 1865, passed on his knowledge of structure to his son Gabriel Moses, who did the same by teaching the skill to his two sons; Moses III (born 1879) and Calvin (born 1890). When Moses III believed that he was skilled enough to start his own construction business, he moved to Nashville in 1905. He received education in architecture and engineering and in a short time got commission for structuring the Carnegie Library at Fisk University, which was the first major structure designed by a black American in America. After that assignment, he got recognition which landed him many more contracts of various colleges in the South and some Middle Tennesseeâ₠¬â„¢s better-quality homes (Governor A.H. Robert’s mansion was among them). In 1912, Calvin and Moses were the first individuals who were registered under the new licensing law with the State of Tennessee. The McKissack brothers did not stop there and proceeded to make Tennessee’s first black designing and building firm in 1922. They received national recognition when the US Government paid them $5.7 million to construct an air base at Tuskegee in Alabama. To this day, this contract remains the largest construction contract given to a black firm by the federal government. Moses McKissack had six sons who went into education, architecture, construction and law. Moses was invited to the Whitehouse to discuss the issue of national housing problem because of his expertise in architecture and construction in housing projects. This occurred during the reign of President Franklin Roosevelt. Calvin became the president of the McKissack firm after the death of his brother Moses who was succeeded by Moses’ son, Williams in 1968. McKissack flourished under the leadership of Williams who held on to the innovative ideas of his father and brought much praise to McKissack’s design and construction. Williams retired in 1983 and his wife took over the firm as Chief Executive Officer. Since then, she has brought

The Corporate Rationale Of The Virgin Group Marketing Essay

The Corporate Rationale Of The Virgin Group Marketing Essay Richard Branson,founder of Virgin and is considered to be the single most important ingredient to all the successes that has been reaped.This case study examines the Virgin Group corporate strategy and it identities the relationships within the Virgin Group.Virgines value adding activities and qualities are discussed.The Virgin Group is comprised of many different assorted mixes of businesses. The Virgin Group is diversified into 200 businesses and it has a finger in every pie. Looking at the case the overall corporate rationale is simply a projection of Richards own philosophy and his personal persona that is revered and became respected by the public.Richards high profile allowed the Virgin brand name to be the far most important asset to the company. All the businesses in the Virgin Group are strategically targeted towards a five pillar empire that Richard created. These pillars are travel, leisure, moblie phones, entertainment, retailing and personal finance. All the businesss within the empire all the managers to have freedom to make decisions independently for growth and allows them to feel the same degree of ownership and values. Richard Branson, founder of Virgin in 1970 is in the authors opinion the single most important reason to all the success that has been reaped up-to-date. The corporate rationale is simply a projection of Richard Brandons own personal philosophy, which he has introduced into the structure of corporate rational. The Virgin Group is comprised with many assorted mix of businesses.(Rob Abdul, 30/01/02) Corporate rationale is the way in which a corporate parent envisages the way that it can add value to its strategic business units. The Virgin Groups rationale is to diversity into as many markets feasible, and extend the Virgin brand name further at a low cost; where stature could be relied upon to reduce barriers to entry into static markets. The following will be discussed below. The Virgin Groups rationale is to diversify into as many markets that are feasible. They want to extend the Virgin brand name further at a low cost where stature could be relied upon to help reduce the barriers for entry into a static market. The Virgin Group looks for a challenge in every venture and aims to providing better quality products than the competitors do. The Virgin Group aims at entering a market that is still in the growth phase. (Rob Abdul, 30/01/02) The Virgin Group sees itself as a restructurer, this means that it has low central costs due to relatively small corporate centre, with fairly minimal involvement at business level. However they vary from the portfolio managers because they also set about trying to identify restructuring opportunities within their businesses and have the skills and expertise in order to intervene and introduce these changes where necessary. ( Jenn,2008) The Virgin Group has a wide range of strategic business units about two hundred ranging from airways to drinks, and makeup to publishing. Virgins corporate rationale is that they try to enter static market, in which there are few competitors and where consumers do not get value for money.The Virgin Group enters these markets that are still in the growth stage and to try and shake them up, for example they did this with Virgin Airways and Virgin Cola. By entering the market that is still in its growth stage and has few competitors Virgin managed to produce the product or service for a slightly lower price than all other competitors within the market then they should , along with their strong Virgin brand name. Virgin Group gained a big market share fairly quickly because they had lower prices than everyone else. This is a good way in which to enter a market because it surprises the other competitors who may have become too comfortable in this monopolistic market, and has a potentially huge initial gain. Using the surprise tactic ensures that the other market leaders will not expected your move and result in a slow response , for example when Virgin entered the airways market, the British Airways had not anticipated them as competition and so were not prepared to be able to cut costs and compete. So Virgin Airways gained a big share of the market very quickly. Excellent management practices has also been refer to as a major strength of this group, and is there for one of the most significant components of its corporate rationale. The Virgin Group corporate rationale was also diversify into as many markets that were feasible and extend the Virgin brand name at a low cost. The Virgin Group looked for a challenge in every venture and aimed at providing better quality products to their customers and better than their competitors. The Virgin Group corporate rationale was to sacrifice their short-term profits in order to gain a longer-term growth and therefore they used an independent business level decision making method. This corporate rationale allows the managers to make decisions independently for growth and feel the same degree ownership and values that any other manager would feel in the Virgin Group. (Rob Abdul,30/01/02) Virgins rationale for expansion was based on fierce external diversification strategy and Richards constant need to be creative in his approaches to new challenges. For Richard the brand is very important and is an asset. The ultimate objective is to have an established global name and therefore the Virgin Group needs to have a number of core businesses with global potential, with expansion this can be achieved. . Are there any relationships of a strategic nature between the businesses within the Virgin Group? The Virgin Group is formed by various strategic business units (SBU). A strategic business unit is a part of an organization for which there is a distinct external market for goods or services that is different from another SBU. (Rob Abdul, 30/01/02) Basically, there are 56 strategic business units in the Virgin Group. For example, there are Virgin Travel and Virgin Trading in the Virgin Group. As previously mentioned all the businesses in the Virgin Group are strategically targeted towards a five pillar empire system that Richard created. At the heart of Virgins core strategy is to develop the five pillars of the business empire which includes travel, leisure, mobile phones, and entertainment, retailing and personal finances. Looking at the diagram below it shows that all the ventures have the same brand name. The Virgin Group Figure 1, The Virgin Group As this diagram shows that the brand name is the main strategic relationship and this creates a strong acknowledgement from customers. Giving a venture the name Virgin sends out a message to the customers. The brand is associated with the words fun, innovative and daring. This can result in transfers of all marketing and promotional activities up to the present for the specific venture respectively. (Rob Abdul, 30/01/02) The Virgin Travel consists of Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Holidays, Virgin Aviation and Virgin Balloon. The Virgin Trading consists of Virgin Megastores, Virgin Enterprises, Virgin Clubs and Virgin Cosmetics. Several strategic relationships exist within the Virgin Group. One of the most recent of these strategic relationships involves it offer to customers of digital and mobile phone services as well as broadband internet service. Virgin Digital UK offers digital music to a wide variety of customers in mediums that are compatible with a wide range of software and digital hardware. The company boasts a high preparation for this market as it has deep roots in the music industry, beginning with its record company Virgin Records, because of Virgins Records previous ownership and rights to many music tracks the company has benefited by it having already at its disposal thousands of tracks to make available to the public (Baker Capital, 2005) This is the partnership involved with the mobile phone service company under the Virgin Label. Downloading music to mobile phones is an advantage that can be offered to Virgin mobile customers as an incentive to subscribe or switch to Virgin mobile service providers. This is also an advantage for the Virgin broadband provider, as it allows the Group to further integrate its digital services to include internet service and offer such packages and exclusive deals that have the potential to draw even more customers. (Marivic Butod, 2007) Another strategic relationship exists among the Virgin transportation companies. The Group of airlines (Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Galactic) have the distinction of offering the lowest fares for packages in the Atlantic and other parts of the world. The ability to offer flights to and from more unknown and less-travelled destinations is granted to Virgin because of partnership between and among the virgin airline companies of the different regions. Furthermore, the benefit is extended by the existence of a partnership with Virgin Rail that offers extended service via railway farther into more unreachable regions of the European continent. The Virgin Group tries to create and grow relationships with directors, managers and pilots within Virgin Galactic and all the business in the Virgin Group strategically targeted towards travel, leisure, mobile phones, entertainment retailing and personal finance. All the businesses within the Virgin Empire allow the managers to make decisions independently and this allows them to feel the same degree of ownership and values that any other manager. Businesses were ring-fenced in order for the assets not to be switched between companies in the Virgin Group and if any company became too large another company would be put in its place. The name Virgin became synonymous with Richard Bransons name and this key psychological strategy helps with marketing and promotions because this at the end of the day helps them expand and get well known. Therefore many businesses outside the Virgin Group have shown their interest though joint ventures as the Virgin brand name is becoming well known. Does the Virgin Group, as a corporate parent, add value to its businesses? If so how? Corporate parenting places collective responsibility on local authorities to achieve good parenting for all children in their care. It requires ownership and leadership at a senior level, this includes all elected members. They make sure all councillors in your council understand their corporate parenting responsibilities and are committed to fulfilling them. (Marivic Butod, 2007) The Virgin Group as a corporate parent values all its businesses. The Virgin Group achieves value by understanding the institutionalised markets. The Virgins management team has done a good job in identifying satisfaction in the market. The management team expertise and experience matched with the strategy allows the company to offer more for less. The Virgin group also added value to its businesses with the brand name and used the brand name to help overcome barriers to entry. The Virgin brand name is a consumers supporter and as mention before the brand is much respected with the British public. The Virgin Group at a corporate parent also helps with limiting the risks for the other businesses joining in the joint venture. Any company, corporation or organisation that is in a joint venture with the Virgin Group had the benefits of limiting the risks associated in the market place. The other value that the Virgin Group contributes as a corporate parent is that they do not restrict the management teams. The Virgin Group has a flat management structure which helps encourage innovation, flexibility and it can help promote the values of shared ownership and responsibilities. (Rob Abdul, 30/01/02) The Virgin Group ensures that innovation is amongst the staff members and helps ensure that the individuals are successful in their careers. The Virgin Group acquires partners that have the same mind set for the venture and they ensure that they match their ability to be innovative and create differentiation for their particular company. These innovative thoughts and ideas are then applied directly into the business and therefore helping it to be successful. Virgin Mobile is an example of this innovation as it formulated a partnership with the existing telecommunications operators to retail in mobile services. The virgin Group and their management team were successful at identifying that the agreement was in the handling of the network management. Due to their innovation of their joint ventures and networking it promoted a unique service to the market. Virgin as a corporate parent added workable value as well to its businesses by investing and developing the employees and real expertise. With all the joint ventures that the Virgin Group have made they did indeed limit some risks but they also contradicted some signals to the customers by having so many businesses and if the one performed badly the other separate businesses with the brand name stand a chance on been labelled as the same. (Rob Abdul, 30/01/02) In a sense the Virgin Group is a community, every Small Business Unit in it share ideas, values, interests, goals, and the most important, they share the same brand. Therefore the Virgin Group as a corporate parent have set standards and helped the businesses know exactly how to create value to the customers and how to ensure that the brand name is upheld. The Virgin Group as a corporate parent does value to its businesses and has achieved it though understanding the institutionalised markets, using the Virgin band name to overcome barriers to entry, it limited risks by going into joint ventures with different companies, it does not restrict the management team and the Virgin Group shows innovation. Virgins management team have been doing very well when it comes to identifying a market that is still in its growth stage and markets with very little competitors. It is this expertise and experience that is coupled with the strategy to offer more to the customers for less and it has helped the Virgin Group plough though complacent business industries. As a corporate parent virgins brand name has helped to overcome barriers to entry. The fact the brand name is well established and accepted by the public it has helped with getting into certain markets and to expand into areas where the Virgin Group believes it can make a difference and offering something different to the consumers and a good price. Virgin has limited the risks by going into joint ventures and any company that goes into a joint venture with Virgin also benefits the limitations of risks in the market place. As a corporate parent it helps the new venture as one have limited risks as it is under a well known brand of standards and low cost. It also encourages the management teams to be independent and make choices that will better the growth of the company. Virgins corporate rationale to innovation allows the staff members to be successful in their careers. The Groups acquires partners that think alike and that match their abilities to innovation and differentiation. This should then be applied to the whole business. For example Virgin Mobile formulated a partnership with existing telecommunications operators to retail in the mobile services. This innovation leads them to promote unique services and better offers to the customers. What are the main issues facing the Virgin Group and how should they be tackled? The Virgin group of companies was faced with two main issues. In the short term was the groups financial situation. A number of Virgins businesses were experiencing substantial negative cash flows. Despite plans to generate funds this still left poorly performing companies such as Virgin Express, Virgin Megastores, and Virgin Money, where offloading Bransons equity stakes would prove more difficult. Looking at virgin Atlantic which is an airline industry it indicates that the Virgin Group relied on this airline to make the profits and when deregulation increased the competition within the market place caused Virgin Atlantic to make some Losses. According to the Virgin Rail the biggest problem that they face is that the uses of this form of transport is voted as the unpopular rail operator and the fact that Virgins rail statistics were ranked low. Virgin Groups brand name was slowly chipped away by the press due to their reputation of the rail transport. The Virgin Group, been a larger empire, faces publicity blindly due to the fact if things were going right all is good, but then all it takes is a handful of businesses in the empire to either experience unavoidable consequences. Virgin Atlantic is an example of this as when there was bad services provided and with the bad publicity of the Virgin Rail it caused a disastrous effect opn the other areas within the empire. (Marivic Butod, 2007) Virgin name became diluted and doing analysis of the environment must be learned and that is what they did after these events occurred. The public is sensitive and as a corporate parent Virgin can add value to its businesses by investing and developing real expertise. Therefore Virgin should change its policy to accommodate both independent and joint ventures to rely on short term profits. The main issues facing the Virgin Group is Virgin Atlantic and virgin Rail. Virgin Atlantic is the airline industry and like any other industry it id cyclic. This proved to be dangerous in 2001 because the Virgin Group seemed to rely entirely on the profits of Virgin Atlantic. To make matters worse deregulations increased the competition in the market place and this caused all most competitors were experiencing losses. The biggest problem faced by the Virgin Group though was the strategic Rail Authority review in 2000 because it was the most public. Virgin Rail was voted as the unpopular rail operator and it was ranked 23rd and 24th out of 25 operators. This was a major issue as it damaged a part of the Virgin reputation. That was not bad until the press slowly chipped at the company. (Marivic Butod, 2007) CONCLUSION: The key emphasis on this case was innovation and differentiation. The aim was to offer more for less and that each company was truly a Virgin in its own field. Although to some this notion may seem a bit too good to be true, yet no one can deny that the virgin group is one of the UKs largest private companies. Success was the result of Richard Bransons philosophy and approach in his company. By using effective leadership, giving motivation, employing effective communication, interaction, job redesign, building trust and respect, it is very clear that the company has been performing well in various industries that it manages. The main aspirations of the Virgin Group of the companys key stakeholders is to continue expanding operations and various international business locations, new kind of business ventures and to enhance the reputation of the brand. Virgins marketing is customer focused and is apparent that every major and minor decisions and plans created are based on the result of researches conducted and founded on the customers. Furthermore the services and products are something better and more valuable. Virgin bases its pricing strategy on several key trends that shape the global marketplace.

Case Study †Catfish Dispute

â€Å"The Vietnamese catfish importers are enjoying the fruits of our work,† This was the main discontent of the domestic (US) catfish industry. Undoubtedly, the catfish farmers had put a lot of effort in improving the aquaculture technology to raise the catfish with better quality; thus, raised the demand of domestic market. At the same time, they had invested about US$50 million in the industry’s marketing. When catfish became the third favorite seafood of the American, leading to a total consumption of 275 million kilograms in 2000, it inevitably attracted people to get in the market.However, based on the fact that the US Congress had approved the U. S. -Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) with a reduction in tariff, it was the right for American importers to start the new business – importing Vietnamese catfish. The agreement was approved by the Congress due to the important reason: the trade benefits. To capture these benefits, they had to undertake the possible risks. Indeed, it was a fair game played by both parties. From the article, it was clear that one of the sources of discontent from domestic farmers was the quality considerations difference between the American-grew and Vietnam-grew catfish.The quality of US catfish is justified by the inspection of 17 federal agencies and can meet the standard of the Catfish Institute of America, whereas the Vietnamese catfish only need to pass the Food and Drug Administration’s approval. This preferential practice should not sustain. The authority should consider standardize the quality requirement of both places’ catfish, for example, make it compulsory for Vietnamese catfish products to undergo the same inspections as the US catfish. Or at least, ask for proof of quality issued by Vietnamese government for all imported catfish.

Factors Affecting Women Shoppers Essay

Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development 3. 3 2013 Budget Presentation Speech by Malaysia Prime Minister. 3. 4 The Household Use of Internet Survey,2005 by Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commisions. | | | | | CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1. 1Background of the Study The usage of Internet has grown rapidly over the past years and it has become a common means for delivering and trading information, services and goods. Nowadays, internet is not only a networking media, but it is also used as a means of transaction for consumers at global market. Women contribute the large number of Malaysia’s population. Major contribution of women to the nation always been recognized. With the increasing number of career women in Malaysia contribute further enhance of the purchasing power among women buyers. The existence of telecommunications equipment such as smart phones and tablets are not limiting time and place for them to be online. The roles of a shopper’s personal attitudes have been widely acknowledged in consumer decision-making and behavioral intentions (Wu, 2003). In particular, attitude serves as the bridge between consumers’ characteristics and the consumption that satisfies their needs (Armstrong & Kotler, 2003). Moreover, consumers’ characteristics, such as personality, as well as demographic and perception on online shopping benefits, have also been found to influence their online shopping behavior (Cheung & Lee, 2003). Thus, identifying the relative importance of each determinant of choice towards a given action could be a useful step in understanding such behavior occurs. The main aim of this study is to investigate purchasing intention of women shopper at Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP), with a particular emphasis on understanding and evaluating the factors which directly or indirectly influence their purchasing intentions by measuring the attitude towards online shopping. 1. 2Problem Statement Online shopping in Malaysia is a new technology breakthrough since it has just begun to assault the Malaysia retailing sector with the online shopping services (Haque et al. 2006). In order to increase online shopping in Malaysia, understanding consumer online shopping behavior and factors affecting this behavior when shopping online should be given priority. With the expansion of career women in Malaysia, women shoppers become one of the important market segments or two reasons; first, this group has money and shopping interest. According to Statistics on Women, Family and Community 2011, shows that number of female employed increased from 2000 until 2010. It shows that women in Malaysia have purchasing power (See Appendix 3. ). Second, this segment of the population has the potential of earning a greater income than other segments of the population. It will be great significance to find out the factors which influence women shoppers’ intention to shop online if we want to expand group of online buyers and the volume of e-commerce. According to to Statistics on Women, Family and Community 2011, Number of female enrollment in University is higher than ma le and the number keep increasing. In 2001, number of male enrollment student in University is 103,747 and female 142,242. In 2010, Number of male enrollment in University is 184,457 and female 278,323 (See Appendix 3. 2). The differences of student become bigger each year. The higher of education background can contribute to higher income in the future. Third, growth of online business keeps increasing. Recently, during the 2013 budget presentation by our Prime Minister has stated that; the Malaysia Government aware women not only important in a family, but also contribute to the development to the national economy. The government allocated 50 million to support women’s role. One of them is, Get Malaysia Business Online Program (GMBO) introduced to help 50 thousand small entrepreneurs, especially women to increase their online sales. Grants of thousand Ringgit Malaysia through the provision of 50 million Ringgit Malaysia by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) (See Appendix 3. 3). A mid-2005 survey by the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Corporation (MCMC), only 9. 3% of Internet users had purchased products or services through the Internet during the preceding three months. Among those who did so, airline tickets were the most popular items (43. %) followed by books (15. 6%) and music (6. 8%). Amounts spent on these items were small, however, with 57. 7% of transactions worth less than M$500. Moreover, it is expected Malaysian online sales will increase every year at a high growth (See Appendix 3. 4). Opportunities of online shopping can be restricted by internal and external constraints on behavior. It is important in expl aining human behavior since an individual who has the intention of accomplishing a certain action may be unable to do so because her environment prevents the act from being performed. Moreover, there are some barriers which have contributed to the unwillingness of Malaysians to shop online because they afraid their personal information will be stole or misused by others. Despite the high potential of online shopping in Malaysia, there is still lack of understanding concerning the online shopping and its impact on marketing. Consequently a framework is needed to structure the complex system of effects of these different factors, and develop an in-depth understanding of consumers’ attitudes toward internet shopping and their intentions to shop online. 1. Objectives of the Research The objectives of this study are; 1. To determine women shoppers’ shopping attitudes towards website design. 2. To determine women shoppers’ shopping attitudes towards reliability of online retailer. 3. To determine women shoppers’ shopping attitudes towards online shopping customer service. 4. To determine women shoppers’ shopping attitudes towards trust on online retailer. 1. 4Scope of Study Literature Review Factors influencing online shopping intention toward online shopping have been researched and documented in the context of traditional consumer literature. A review of empirical studies in this area shows that the theories of Reasoned Action (Ajzen & Fishbein, 1975) and Acceptance Model (Davis, 1989) are among the most popular theories used to explain online shopping behavior. Therefore the theoretical framework f this study is based in these theories. Online Shopping Perceived Benefit Perceived benefits are advantageous results derived from attributes. The benefit can be physiological, psychological, sociological, or material in nature. Within the online shopping context, the consumers’ perceived benefits are the sum of online shopping advantages or satisfactions that meet their needs or wants. There are many differences between a physical store and its electronic counterpart. Most of the previous online shopping research has focused on identifying the attributes of online stores that promote success (Davis, 1989; Liu & Arnett, 2000). Previous studies of online shopping have established two categories of benefits; intrinsic and extrinsic. Both are important in customers’ selections to patronize the online stores. Extrinsic benefits include features such as wide selection of products, competitive pricing, easy access to information and low search costs. Intrinsic benefits include features such as design and color. Research Framework The key components of the research framework for consumer attitude towards online shopping can be seen in Figure 1. Website Design| | Online Shopping| Reliability| | | Customer Service| | | Trust| | | Hypotheses: A series of testable hypotheses were developed from the proposed research model, as shown below: Hypothesis 1: There is a significant relationship between web site design and online shopping. Hypothesis 2: There is a significant relationship between reliability of online retailer and online shopping. Hypothesis 3: There is a significant relationship between customer service and online shopping. Hypothesis 4: There is a significant relationship between trust on online retailer and online shopping. In general, base on the hypotheses, the research framework will be focusing on four factors as independent variables and propensity to shop online will be the dependent variable. . e. for the hypothesis 1, 2, 3 and 4 which are focusing on Web Site Design, Reliability, Customer Service, and Trust, it is hypothesize that there should be a positive relationship that would likely to influence the online shopping. Research Methodology To undertake this project, two types of data will be gathered. i. Secondary data This type of data will be used extensively in literature review to provide the framework of this study. Textbook, journals and internet shopping reports will be the sources of this desk research. ii. Primary data This type of data will be the main instrument used in evaluating the factors affecting women shoppers’ online shopping attitude and purchase intention. The process of gaining this input is discussed next. In doing so, the rest of this section organized into four main areas; the research design, the target population and the sample size, methods for data collection, and data analysis and interpretation. The research design In getting the shoppers data, I choose to employ descriptive research over exploratory or causal research. This type of research is suitable when a study intends to produce accurate description of variables relent to the decision being faced, without demonstrating that some relationship exists between variables. This description fits well with the objectives of this study. In addition, a cross sectional studies is elected over longitudinal studies. The former allow the researchers to assess to a larger number of customers, thus enabling them to produce a more representative data. Through this method, data is typically cross tabulated against each other to answer specific issues. This kind of data is meaningful to companies that appeal to many segments of the markets such as internet shopping. The target population and the sample size In line with the scope of the project, the population refers to the female employee of Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP). To further define the population, this study will only examine the behavior of women shoppers in the age bracket 20 to 55 years old. The sample elements will be chosen using systematic sampling. Within this pool of shoppers, a sample of 200 shoppers will be selected. This sample size is considered appropriate. Roscoe (1975) for instance stated ‘samples sizes larger than 30 and less than 500 samples are the appropriate for most research. Likewise, Sekaran (1994) agrees that 500 samples are the appropriate upper limit for the sample size. Methods for data collection Since cross sectional study has been chosen for this study, data will be collected through questioning. Using this method, the respondents will be identified systematically and to aid questioning the shoppers, a set of questionnaire will be designed. The questionnaires will be distributed through online and respondents will be invites through UMP Portal.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini Research Paper Example

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini Research Paper Example The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini Paper The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini Paper Essay Topic: The Kite Runner Afghanistan was once a place of beauty and enjoyment however since the Taliban new laws have been enforced, the country is slowly degrading. Using the codes and convention for non-print, print, non-fiction and fiction; to analysis how different texts manipulate similar issues to produce a similar message. All three of these texts, The Kite Runner by khaled Hosseini, Beneath the Veil by Saira Shah and â€Å"Execution of a teenage girl† from 4 Corners, all explore the main ideas of an Afghanistan life from different perspectives. Undoubtedly, these texts manipulate the specific aspects of their own genres in order to influence the audience response. Imagine having no freedom to go for a walk down the street or yet even leave your own home. This is the oppression of human rights for women, since the Taliban regime was introduced into Afghanistan women are now unable to look after themselves and have no independents. Women are seen as a lower class against men, this is an unjust society and every woman in the western world would be horrified if this was law in their country. The Kite Runner is a male dominated novel about the male’s role in an Afghanistan society, the lack of input of women in this novel reinforces the lack of women’s rights. Soraya raises the issue of oppression through her conflicting past. Although she knows now that her actions in Virginia were wrong, she wishes that this event was not going to haunt her for the rest of her life. Nevertheless Soraya’s character is strengthened by her own miss-actions. Through this text Soraya demonstrates a strong belief that the oppression of females is still occurrence in the Afghan community. Their sons go out to night clubs looking for meat and get their girlfriends†¦ Oh, they’re jut men having fun! I make one mistake†¦ and I have my face rubbed in it for the rest of my life. † This quote from Soraya highlights the stereotype that the Afghanistan community has against the women in Afghanistan however the men can go on rampages and no one in the Afghanis tan community will shake their heads in disproval. The Women’s Group of Afghanistan shows the daily routine of a woman life in Beneath the Veil. The title notifies the audience of how the women must hide themselves living beneath a veil. The audience is shown the oppression of woman right when Saira Shah goes undercover. Doing this puts her self in great danger as now she is posing as an Afghani woman, not a foreign journalist. One of the many places the Revolutionary Group of the Women of Afghanistan (R. A. W. A) takes Saira Shah to is a secret local hidden from the Taliban. This is a school for girls, that is run by a female teacher that was banned from working once the Taliban regime was imposed. The running of this class is incredibly risky as quoted by the head female teacher â€Å"If they find out that were running a course here, they could hang us all†. This quote re-enforces the oppression of the females of Afghanistan as it tell the audience that girls over twelve are barred from going to school. Giving girls no education so that mean are seen as more upper class because they know how to read and write were female are not taught to keep the feeling of women a lower class minority group. With reference to the title â€Å"Execution of a teenage girl† the author creates an image of pain and death, by allowing the audience to picture a young girl getting executed. This also makes the audience think what her family and relatives were going through and if this unfortunate event ever happen in their own family how would they react. With using â€Å"girl† in the title it shows the western world the views of the Taliban against females. The using of this word singles out a population in Afghanistan that virtually have no rights at all. In most cases and in this particular case, a female was executed for sex outside marriage or adultery. However in these crimes two people have to play a part in this crime. Conversely it continuously seems that the male will constantly get a lighter punishment. As revealed in â€Å"Execution of a teenage girl† the teenage girl was humiliated then hung were the man only was received eighty lashes. Just from the title of this article the audience can raise many questions. Towards whether their own opinions on the article would be true or false. The imagery that 4 Corners has produced in this text really forces the audience to visualise the traumatic event that unfold on the teenage girl. An extract from the article quotes â€Å"a teenage girl was dragged through the town square† to her final destination before the ending of her life. In the minds of the audience it creates a dreadful scene of pain and anger, and immediately images flow into the audience of skin scrapping against the ground, the screeching screams from the young girl and the oblivious faces of the onlookers. This illustrates to the audience the oppression of female rights by the humility of the ‘dragging’ which presents the audience to feeling that this young teenage girl is unworthy of being in her own country or on earth at all. The western audience has a certain stereotypy of the Taliban, with authors knowing this fact the texts have been manipulated for the audience response to the text by using various techniques to enhance the audience view on the Afghanistan culture, mostly highlighting the negative aspects of the Taliban. â€Å"We just wanted to show how much misery the Taliban policies are causing the Afghan people. Now the same policies have caused misery to the entire world†. Is how Saira Shah opens her documentary, a bold statement of the vast effect the Taliban has had on Afghanistan and the world. The first opening footage of Beneath the Veil is manipulated to shock and disgust the audience. The audience is shown in slow motion the execution that is taking place on a soccer field during halftime. The manipulation of the camera is what gives the opening its desired effect. The slow motion of the execution creates suspense as the audience knows what the end result will be; however stay in tune with the documentary until it blacks out at the climax of the shot. Leaving the audience curious about the actions she has committed to deserve such an act of humility against her. On every occasion that the Taliban is shown in this documentary in a negative way, hidden cameras have to be utilized as for the use of cameras around Taliban is forbidden. The applications of a hidden camera depict to the audience the risk of filming such an event and suggest to the audience that the control the Taliban has over its own country. This is why the Taliban has forced the preventing any evidence of the inhumane practices been shown to the rest of the world. Saira Shah, shows the emotion to draw her audience into the terror of the Taliban. The act of her using children in her documentary exemplifies her point of the Taliban’s destruction. Children are represented as innocence and pure so when quotes are used from actual children it makes the audience empathise and feel sympathy towards the children who cannot control the day to day occurrences. This text makes the audience visual the painful and suffering of children by the by the vast number of children that share the same or similar traumatic events. The gruesome execution of a teenage girl provides the audience with an insight into how corrupt and stern the Taliban regime has become. The author of â€Å"Execution of a Teenage Girl† uses emotive language to position the audience into thinking negatively towards the Taliban. It is described to the audience that those who knew Atefah Sahaaleh knew has as normal but needy teenager who had suffered a lot of tragedy in her life and was just looking for some one to love her. Which brings sorrow to the audience because the author positions the girl as being innocent and suffering for her loses, though this girl would know that she has obviously broken laws which the Taliban have enforced. This is enlighten to the audience by the author suggesting that the fifty year old was the one to persuade the young girl into a relationship by giving the audience the feeling that this preyed on young girls such as Atefah Sahaaleh. This makes the Taliban unjust to the sentencing of this young girl to deaf because the man was the predator and was the one to start the relationship. Afghanistan is describes in The Kite Runner as a beautiful place in Amir’s eyes from a young age. However since the Amir and Baba left for America the Taliban had already started to destroy the natural beauty of Afghanistan. The author depicts this change in the setting of Afghanistan to show the audience the negative result of the Taliban taking over power. Towards the end of the book Amir tells his driver that â€Å"I feel like a stranger in my own country† this creates a picture in the audience’s mind of the drastic measures the Taliban has taken to over rule a country, that someone who grew but in Afghanistan and lived there for around eighteen years cannot recognize many parts of his old country. This has a negative effect on the audience as this feeling of losing something precious to yourself; most of the audience could relate to losing precious item or memory. This in turn makes the audience angry at the actions of the Taliban. Since the Taliban have taken over Afghanistan this country has started to fall. The new laws that have been in placed are over all barbaric. There is no wonder why the western world see the Taliban as a stringent authoritarian group at causes misery at every coner they turn. In the western world every person has the right for the opportunity to go to school, get their first job and be free and independent. This is an opportunity missed by most Afghan women and it breaks the audience hearts to see some of the mistreating and the humility of the women of Afghanistan.