Transportation Logistics And Supply Chain Management

Transportation in Logistics and Supply Chain Management Why is transportation so important? There are different kinds of transportation. Transportation is used to get people or things from point b to point a. Without transportation how would things get moved? According to an article written by Marco Cristini, transportation has had a huge impact on many countries and without transportation it would be difficult for customers to receive their items from oversea. Like Newton’s Third Law, transportation controls the opposed reaction to every action. For example, when purchasing items online from Ebay, a website that sells goods, Ebay uses FedEx to transport items to the customers. When it comes to logistics and supply chain, transportation plays a major role. Each of these has a role to play. They all are connected together in one way or another. Sheikh explains that logistics activities cover the entire supply chain so they become important involving in improving supply chain’s overall performance. The goal of the logistics pr ocess is to merge and organize all activities involved in acquiring, converting and distributing goods from raw materials to finished goods to the customer in order to achieve customer service objective in a proficient cost efficient way (Bryne and Markam, 1991). Logistics is the main event that is where everything is coming from. Logistic is a part of supply chain which is also a part of transportation. The supply chain consists of 3 areas which includesShow MoreRelatedLogistics Of Logistics And Transportation1304 Words   |  6 PagesRole of Logistics and Transportation Kevin D. Walden Park University Ms. O’Quinn 29 November 2014 Logistics contributes to and moves the entire economy. Economic developments in recent years have led to the creation of complex company networks and systems of goods flow – in the process, the globalization of procurement, production and sales as well as the division of labor have increased. In addition, the complexity of international logistics systems in many sectors has grown as a resultRead MoreA Brief Note On Systems And Logistics Support Management1070 Words   |  5 Pages Third-Party Logistics Gregory Long Florida Institute of Technology MG 5061: Systems and Logistics Support Management Dr. Janice Spangenberg February 28, 2016 Abstract Today’s world business environment has become so competitive that companies in order to be successful in the market must deal with different resources for satisfying their customer need. In the past decade or so the competitive global market has made a big influence inRead MoreA Brief Note On Systems And Logistics Support Management1308 Words   |  6 Pages Third-Party Logistics Gregory Long MG 5061: Systems and Logistics Support Management Dr. Janice Spangenberg February 28, 2016 Abstract Blanchard (2006) defined third party logistics as, â€Å"A single entity that coordinates all the logistics requirements for a given company/agency.† Today’s world business environment has become so competitive that companies in order to be successful in the market must deal with different resources forRead MoreGlobal Supply Chain Management And Logistics Management1504 Words   |  7 PagesJaimini Patel 26th April,2016 Global Supply Chain Management means the sourcing and procurement, conversion and all logistics management activities through the planning and management of all activities. It’s also considers the co-ordination and collaboration with channel partners including suppliers, intermediaries, third-party service provides and customers across the world. Elements of the Global Supply Chain Management: Read MoreA Brief Note On Systems And Logistics Support Management1036 Words   |  5 Pages Third-Party Logistics Gregory C. Long Florida Institute of Technology MG 5061: Systems and Logistics Support Management February 14, 2016 Abstract Today’s world business environment has become so competitive that companies in order to be successful in the market must deal with different resources for satisfying their customer need. In the past decade or so the competitive global market has made a big influence in the growing for externalRead MoreEssay on Transportation and How it Affects Logistics1139 Words   |  5 PagesTransportation is one of the largest industries in the world. It is the most costly and time consuming of the supply chain. Transportation refers to the movement of products and raw materials from one destination to another. This process begins from the supply chain to the shipping of the finished product to the consumer. For we know that products are rarely produced in the same location. We as people depend on transportation because it moves goods and people from one place to another. TransportationRead MoreAchieving Transportation Excellence1371 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Achieving Transportation Excellence How is process improvement important to achieving transportation excellence? How might process improvement be extended to other areas of logistics planning? The transportation sector is continually evolving. Whether moving people or products by land, sea, or air, all transportation strategies need to balance proficient network design and operations with rising intricacy, government supervision, environmental accountability, security risks and demands for flexibilityRead MoreEssay about Transportation and How it Affects Logistics1255 Words   |  6 PagesTransportation is one of the largest industries in the world. It is the most costly and time consuming of the supply chain. Transportation refers to the movement of products and raw materials from one destination to another. This process begins from the supply chain to the shipping of the finished product to the consumer. For we know that products are rarely produced in the same location. We as people depend on transportation because it moves goods and people from one place to another. TransportationRead MoreSupply Chain And Logistics Management1295 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction What is supply chain and logistics? Supply chain management involves various activities from acquisition of raw material to distribution of final goods while logistics involves only transportation of goods. Supply chain plays integral role in business process without effective supply chain management an organization cannot meet its demands on time. So it plays crucial role in business activities. Following activities are involved in supply chain management 1. Procurement 2. ProductionRead MoreThe Integration Of Green Logistic1747 Words   |  7 PagesIntegration of Green Logistic Introduction Success of an environmentally friendly supply chain will require an integration of efforts, such as reduction in transportation requirements, implementation of reverse logistics practices that are in harmony with environmental considerations, and an intuitive infrastructure which reduces adverse measures directly impacting the environment. The United States, being one of the top countries in leading eco-friendly supply chain, has a friendly supply chain aspiration

A Higher Power - 1392 Words

A Higher Power Heads rise in sync. A dismissal prayer releases its captors from a world unlike their own: a world of assurance and self-devotion that is frequently visited to escape the troubles that haunt the lives of each and every person. Family and friends greet each other. One by one, each person steps outside, each feeling spiritually rejuvenated and prepared to face the day. Regardless of the specific belief, there is no question that faith in a religion or a higher power is the very foundation inspires a great majority of society. It is the force that urges humans to fight on through their routinely dismal lives and the force that motivates hard workers to continue their path to eventual prosperity. Considering the magnitude of the term â€Å"a higher power†, it is no surprise that along with the inspiration and everyday propulsion that accompanies it, there also comes a large grey area of deviation. Among the most common sources of discrepancy is the question of who exactly the high er power is that so massively affects the lives of so many people and whether or not they actually exist. As the debate between the existent and the nonexistent recycles itself without end, a very conceivable notion of revolution and compromise is entirely ignored. Perhaps the dispute should reflect upon not the existence of who, but what the higher power is that guides such a spiritual populace. Since the beginning of human history, mankind has found great assurance in the idea thatShow MoreRelatedIs Disobeying A Higher Power?1194 Words   |  5 PagesFor as long as history has been recorded the human species has been subject to authority. There has always been somebody for people to answer to. God, a king, or even an elected official. After an extensive history of obeying a higher power the concept has become part of our species culture.Rebellion is frowned upon by society and compliance is expected. When is it right to break the chain and disobey? According to Socrates it is never right to disobey authority, he says â€Å"Consider the logical consequenceRead MoreHigher Powers Essay1895 Words   |  8 PagesEffects Higher Powers Have on Common People One decision can have a ripple effect that impacts many years to come, further than anyone would realize at first glance. These impacts can be felt immediately or many years later. Important and even seemingly unimportant figures have more power than they think. People often make decisions with only themselves in mind. This happens when a leader is hungry for power and stops at nothing to obtain power. However, wise decisions act towards the bettermentRead MoreInstitutional Power Of Higher Education976 Words   |  4 PagesRajwinder Kaur Institutional power of higher education enables students to find their place in society and later in life reaping the benefits of having immense knowledge. What are the benefits of having higher education? If you don’t have any education then what is your place in society? Due to my â€Å"limited† English I faced limitations throughout my middle and high school experiences. College has been an ambiguous thought never to be turned into reality. My reality is I belong to a low status inRead MoreI Attended The Noon At One Rule 62 Open Discussion Meeting1130 Words   |  5 Pagescelebration after this chip due to the hard work, dedication and determination it takes in order to stop drinking. After the chip presentation, the topic of discussion was announced by the leader. The topic was Dependence and how we rely on a higher power and how it helped to overcome addiction. It was stated that, â€Å"In order to become independent, you must become dependent on something.† Initially, I did not understand the logic of that statement. It was not until I had sat through the meeting untilRead MoreThe Pawn Or The King?1596 Words   |  7 Pagesthe metaphorical center of the universe and involved in some greater plan over which we have no control or no significant effect. The 1951 movie The Day the Earth Stood Still, directed by Robert Wise, shows both of these ideas: the existence of a higher power in the form of a more intelligent alien race and the self-importance placed upon a people by themselves-specifically a nation. The dichotomy between humanity’s egoism and its desire to shun responsibility prevents us from fully accepting one orRead MoreNarcotics Anonymous 12 Step Program1538 Words   |  7 Pagesillness is addictive too. They also said that NA is a spiritual program of recovery from the disease of addiction, but not at all religious, they also emphasized all throughout the meeting the significance of having fruitful relationship with a higher power This primary belief conflicted with my Christian because it seems quite pantheistic, existentialistic and seemingly reared towards Carl Rogers and Maslow psychological theories that were in essence person based, and where New age religionsRead MoreBelief in a Higher Power and Greek Philosophers1371 Words   |  6 PagesTo many people in the world there can be such things as a higher power. In my eyes I do believe in such a thing, I believe that Socrates does as well. When reading Euthyphro there are many components to why Socrates believes in the gods. When reading the Apology there are many reasons to why Socrates believes in the gods as well. Finally when reading Crito there a re also numerous reasons to why Socrates believes in the gods also. There are many reasons to prove that Socrates does believe in the godsRead MoreAlcohol Addiction Is A Never Ending Problem Essay1370 Words   |  6 Pagesthat alcohol has taken over her life. Not only in regards to her family life, but also financially, employment and close friends. †¢ Step Two â€Å"Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity† – Marge must believe that she can get through the addiction by believing in herself or someone of the higher power, such as God. †¢ Step Three â€Å"Made decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood him† – Marge must want to change and be willing toRead More Alcoholics Anonymous Essay1487 Words   |  6 PagesCame to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. My interpretation was that an alcoholic had to believe that a power such as God or another deity could cleanse his or her mind of this insidious disease. As it turned out, I was half right and half wrong. The first speaker was named Marshall. Marshall is a successful businessman and has been a member of Alcoholics Anonymous for over ten years. He relayed his story about how his Power restored him to sanityRead MoreComparison In Vietnam705 Words   |  3 Pageswar wore away. It was all too rhythmic†¦ too structured. Men were glorified for simple kills, awarded for stupid acts of bravery and killed by the orders of a higher power.    A person like myself needed more. I questioned - what if I controlled the army base? What if I became the power to determine all others? The self-realisation that power is an invention and a faà §ade to control was astonishing. I saw the future before me; the opportunity, the control, the salvation of myself at the cost of others

Intersectional Feminism for Race and Ethnicity- myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theIntersectional Feminism for Race and Ethnicity. Answer: The term intersectional feminism represents the diversity and inclusiveness of the feminist movement. The main agenda of the feminist movement remains constant, but includes the overlapping identities such as, class, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and religion that impact the way women experience oppression and discrimination. The film Hidden figure released in 2016 and directed by Theodore Melfie highlight this topic I their film that will be discussed and compared with Women, Race and Class by Angela Y. Davis holding similar essence. The story of the film portrays three characters; the historical figures of NASA, Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson and their struggle in the organization. Several injustices that were done on them were highlighted in the film along with highlighting their characters as warm, strong and exceptionally joyful, hardworking, dancing, joking and laughing. The audiences are shown repeatedly about their success that were appropriated and accepted by all but rewarded by none. It also shows the instance when the mathematician character Paul Stafford holds Katherine back from putting her name on their joint project though she play crucial role in their success, or the denial of Dorothys title or the pay for the supervisor work she performed (metro.co.uk 2017). Several similar incidents are highlighted in the film, even representing the incidents of Vivian Mitchell who is a white woman, hyperware of her fragility and novelty for their place in NASA. She had constantly refused t o use her privilege for uplifting the black women and give them their just rights and position. These intersectional discriminations are show throughout the film that forced the audiences to confront the flaws in their thinking instead of feeling detached. Both the sexist and racist characters abound, as the characters faced these from not only white men, rather from the both sexes. These advantages were taken from them on multiple occasions on these intersectional grounds and used in the white peoples benefits and privilege to obtain unfair career advantages. This shows the toxic atmosphere that the characters faced where their importance is accepted by all, but when times came to reward them, they showed negligence which will be a far decent term to represent the cruelty they had to face (cherwell.org 2017). Similarity can be found in Angela Daviss work, women, Race and Class that focuses on tracing suffering of the women in United States on the grounds of race, class, ethnicity, religion and many more. The suppression is highlighted along with the efforts of women protesting against it through the movements. Several aspects of the feminist struggles that occurred throughout history for equality described in different chapters of the book. All the aspects are connected by the author with a single string which is racism that interfered and reduced the ability of the feminist movement. The white women refused to constantly consider the black community in their movement and fight for equality. They couldnt find equality among themselves and fighting for the cause of equality is highly criticized by the author and scholars over time. The author primarily focused on the black community, though freed from the concept of slavery are still suffering from a more complex form of work. They were st ill restricted to the works in domestic settings. Another major issue that has been highlighted in the work is economic inequality which again lacks the unified protest against the cause. The goal of feminism in United States always failed to acknowledge the racism as the failure of their protest and how is facilitates to shape the experiences of the black women residing in the grounds of United States. She often took example of the election for supporting her point, where the white women took of the point racism that is of their superiority from the black women in convincing the white men. The feminist movements themselves never considered the experience of the black women that can be an important resource in their protest and both parted themselves separate form one another (Davis 2011). In conclusion, it can be said that the racism, religion, ethnicity has always played important role in the feminist protest throughout history. The activists have always asked for equality in the society, but seems to always forget to include their own kind, that is the black women in the states who is also a women and deserves the same rights. Intersection had always been visible in both the presentation in the film Hidden Figures by Melfie and the book by Davis. This intersectional feminist protest can be considered as the reason of every failure. The question lies within as they cannot find equality among themselves as women, how can they seek equality in the male dominated society. References cherwell.org. 2017.inter-sectional feminism. [online] Available at: https://cherwell.org/2017/03/30/intersectional-feminism-triumphs-in-hidden-figures/ [Accessed 28 Aug. 2017]. Davis, A.Y., 2011.Women, race, class. Vintage. metro.co.uk. 2017.Hidden figure. [online] Available at: https://metro.co.uk/2016/08/17/taraji-p-hensons-hidden-figures-is-the-intersectional-feminist-movie-we-need-right-now-6071797/ [Accessed 28 Aug. 2017].

Human Resource Management free essay sample

Explain what HR management is and how it relates to the management process. 2. Why is it important for a company to make its human resources into a competitive advantage? How can HR contribute to doing so? 3. What items are typically included in the job description? What items are not shown? 4. What is job analysis? How can you make use of the information it provides? 5. Do you think companies can really do without detailed job descriptions? Why or why not? 6. In a company with only 25 employees, is there less need for a job description for the president of the company? Why or why not? 7. Give some examples of how interest inventories could be used to improve employee selection. In doing so, suggest several examples of occupational interests that you believe might predict success in various occupations including college professor, accountant, and computer programmer. 8. Explain why you think a certified psychologist who is specially trained in test construction should (or should not) always be used by a company developing a personnel test battery. (CIPD) Human Resource Management: A strategic approach to managing employment relations which emphasizes that leveraging people’s capabilities is critical to achieving sustainable competitive advantage, this being achieved through a distinctive set of integrated employment policies,programmes and practices. (Bratton Gold, 2003). Tarmac welfare tradition arose from the time when much of the workers responsibility was directed to the benefit of employees rather than to strategic concerns of the organization and management in a variety of work settings include;Â  quarries, wharves, asphalt plants, concrete plants and recycle sites. Industrial relations: arose to the growing power of trade unions involvement in disputes, collective bargaining, negotiation and industrial law and regulation. The practitioner as a bureaucrat (control of labour) due to the increase growth and change of workplace activity such as: job allocation and performance monitoring; time keeping and control of absenteeism; sick leave and holidays; pay and benefits; training and promotion; rules and regulations; procedures and forms. Part of Tarmac dream vision is to achieve the exceptional to deliver value to all its stakeholders and a key element of that plan is to engage their employees to use their energy and skills to improve the business. The professional tradition: arose as a need for a specialized body of knowledge in the areas of law, economics, administration and social sciences and the professionalism of the work involved. Within Tarmac HR Management the level of skills of specialist employees have become a central role to Tarmac growth and as a result recruiting internal and external roles have become part of the process that enable the organization to meet its employee’s objectives. According to Fisher et al Human Resource Management involves all management decisions and practices that directly affect or influence the people or human resource, who work for the organization. HRM is a series of activities which include; four key policy goals that can achieved strategic integration(fit) between HR and Business Planning. HR policies and Practices must reflect in the management of people and it systems such as investment in high quality employees. High commitment and flexibility is associated with management practices such as teambuilding, empowerment, involvement and the creation of strong cultural values with a unitarist approach to employee relations. The diagram below illustrates the comparisons between the two contexts. Old assumptions ( Personnel Management) New assumptions (HRM) Reactive, piecemeal, interventions in response to specific problems Proactive, system-wide interventions, with emphasis on fit, linking HRM with strategic planning and cultural change People are a variable cost People are social capital, capable of development Self-interest dominates, conflict between stakeholders (pluralist perspective) Co-incidence of interest between stakeholders can be developed (unitary perspective) Seeks power advantages for bargaining and confrontation Seeks power equalisation for trust and collaboration Control of information flow to enhance efficiency, power Open channels of communication to build trust, commitment Relationship orientation Goal orientation Control from the top Participation and informed choice 1. 2 assess the functions of the human resource management in contributing to organizational purposes According to the case study, Tarmac Human Resource Management is a strategic process that involved planning for the future with the right skills and knowledge that enables the business to meet its objectives and compete more effectively. In order for the HRM function to be effective there must be good teamwork, and co-operation and consultation between line managers and HR Manager. Top management should agree on clear terms of reference within a framework of personnel policies. Therefore the effective management of people involved a partnership between managers and HR Specialists, and as a result the HRM Function can be seen as operating at two levels: the organizational level and the departmental level. The organizational level: The HR manager would be concerned mainly with aspects of procedures that affect the organizational activities such as human resource planning, procedures for recruitment and selection, induction and training, consultation with trade unions or staff representatives, employee development, compliance with the law relating to employment, maintaining records and statistics and liaison with outside bodies such as ACAS,employers organization, government agencies, the criminal records bureau, training organization and professional associations. Departmental level: Line managers would be more concerned with the operational aspects of HR activities within their own departments such as organization of work and allocation of duties, minor disciplinary matters, standard of work performance,safety,under-job-training, communication of information and grievances from staff. In order to assess the functions of HRM the four Cs model was developed by researchers as a means to investigate the effectiveness of HRM. Commitment – Employees’ identification with the organization loyalty and personal motivation in their work. Competence – Employees’ skills and abilities, training needs and potential for performance improvement and career development. Congruence – harmonization of the goals, values and efforts of management and employees. Cost-effectiveness – efficiency where HRM objectives are met and benefits obtained at the lowest input cost. The models mention above can be evaluated or measured using the following criteria: Performance based criteria – profitability, productivity, error reduction, compliance are easily measured and compared. Effective personnel management – long term measurably impact on improved business performance. Subjective criteria quality of working life, employee motivation, team spirit,openess to change, job satisfaction, quality of employee relations. The diagram below illustrates the function of HRM and its environmental influences. (De Cenzo et al 1994) HRM Functions and environmental influences 1. 3 Evaluate the role and responsibilities of line managers in human resource management The roles/responsibilities of line managers in human resource practices Laurie Mullins pointed out that line managers have both the right and duty to be concerned with the effective operation of their own department, including the management and well-being of their staff. According to Legge (1989) an effective HRM for line managers is to create competitive advantage in implementing HR policies in showing leadership by involving staff and responding to their suggestions, and in controlling quality, timekeeping and absence makes a real difference to emplyees’attitudes. Line managers responsible for activities such as: Selection of department/team members: such as Interviewing and selection Discipline and grievance handling – informal conflict resolution,counseling,initial stages of disciplinary action such as complaints investigation, interviews Absent management –Â  monitoring time keeping and absenteeism, record keeping Performance management – agreeing performance criteria and targets, monitoring performance and giving feedback, identifying learning needs and opportunities, instructing coaching, counseling and mentoring, employee appraisal reporting and interviewing, motivation. Employee relations – immediate emplo yee communication both upward and downward, managing team participation and involvement, reinforcing cultural values through management styles. 1. 4 analyses the impact of the legal and regulatory framework on human resource management. At Tarmac human resource needs are constantly changing with distinctive product portfolio which means it needs to have a more diverse workforce to support its operations. The operational structure of Tarmac is divided into areas Tarmac UK and Tarmac International; therefore the legislative framework will play a major part in Tarmac hardcore HR management policies. These include: SEX Discrimination Act 1995/97(amended in 1996) The Act covers on the ground of sex, marital status, maternity or pregnancy. There are three types of discrimination Direct discrimination, indirect discrimination, victimization. There may be permissible reasons for discriminating on the ground of gender, reference to tarmac international operations where legal restrictions particularly jobs likely to involve work outside the UK, where laws or custom(United Arab Emirates) are such that the duties could not effectively performed by a woman. Race Relations Act 1992 Amended (1996 and 2000) outlaws certain types of discrimination on the grounds of colour, race, nationality, or ethnic or national origin. The equal opportunities commission and commission for racial equality have powers to investigate alleged breach of the Acts. Serve a non-discrimination notice on employers found guilty of contraventions Follow-up the investigation until satisfied Equal Pay Act 1970 The equal pay act 1970 was the first major attempt to tackle sexual discrimination of employment between men and women. Sexual harassment (code of conduct) compliance with EU code of conduct is only voluntary and there is no specific law against sexual harassment in Europe. Work and Families Act 2006 – provide parental rights, Maternity leave, Requirements to notify intention Parental leave, Right to return under the Employment Act 2002 Employment equality regulations Act 2003 The act came into force on 2 December 2003 outlawing discrimination on the basis of: Religious belief Sexual orientation Disability Discrimination Acts 1995 and 2005 The disability discrimination act 1995 came into force in December 1996. The act contains provisions for disabled access to services, transport facilities and education and training opportunities. The disability right commission was established to ensure that employers and disabled people are informed of their respective rights and duties. Data Protection Act 1984 and 1998 First piece of legislation to come into force that addressed fear that information about individuals stored on computer files and processed could be misused, inaccurate or misleading. National Minimum Wage Act 1998 The Act was introduced 1999 covering all UK Regions and all sectors of the economy. Agriculture remains outside the scope of the legislation. The economic, social and regional impact of NMW includes: Women and part-time workers benefit from the NMW Labour costs increase Reducing in wage inequality (equalization of pay) Increase prices and the degree of competition in the markets in which it operate. LO 2 understand how to recruit employees At Tarmac like most other businesses human resources needs are constantly changing and as a result workforce planning involves a continual review of human assets and the business organizational structure. Most of Tarmac employee have been a man in a hat which depends heavily on high skill workers in a variety of settings including; sales, customer service and marketing and as well as IT, finance and procurement. A successful planning leads to better chance of success, it also helps organizations cope with changes and it requires managers to define the organization’s objectives. CIPD definition of HRP as a systematic and continuing process of analyzing an organization’s human resource needs under changing conditions and developing personnel policies appropriate to the longer-term effectiveness of the organization. It is an integral part of the corporate planning and budgeting procedures since human resource costs and forecasts both affect and are affected by longer-term corporate plans. Organization wishing to maximize its human resources planning must focus on three areas of primary concern to management: Needs forecasting: Improved planning and control over staffing and organizational requirements. Performance Management: Improving the performance of individuals, teams and the organization as a whole. Career Management: Activities to select, assign, develop and otherwise manage individual careers in an organization. 2. 1 analyses the reasons for human resource planning in organisations Outline HRP purposes Armstrong (2003) To attract and retain the number of people required with the skills, expertise and competencies required To anticipate potential surpluses or shortfalls this will need to be adjusted. To develop a well-trained and flexible workforce this will support organizational adaptation to external to external changes and demands. To reduce dependence on external recruitment to meet key skills shortages (by formulating retention and development strategies). To improve the utilization of people (most notably by developing flexible working systems). 2. 2 outline the stages involved in planning human resource requirements There are three stages to human resource planning process: Stage 1: assessing what demand the organization will have foe people and skills as its business plans are auctioned. Stage 2: forecasting based on analysis of internal and external trends and conditions.

Ethan Frome Essays (418 words) - Ethan Frome, Ethan Lovett

Ethan Frome Shalayne Manibusan November 3, 2000 World Literature Book Report #1 ?Ethan Frome? A man has been through much drama in his life. In Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome it shows how Ethan's parents fall ill and die, he then marries an older cousin, Zenobia, because he did not want to be lonely and she was the only one available it is an unhappy marriage right from the start. But a young cousin of Zenobia comes to live at the farm and that's when the whole love triangle starts. At the very end, Ethan and Mattie decide that the only way they can be together is if they commit suicide going down the hill on the sled aiming for a tree. But they end up surviving it. Mattie is paralyzed from the accident and ends up staying in Starkfield, while Ethan becomes depressed and lives in anger and hate. Zeena, Ethan's wife takes care of Mattie. So the three all live in agony and are miserable. To understand this story, you must think of the situation that they were in. First of all, Ethan was involved in a marriage, which was unhappy. His wife was stubborn and very blunt. On the other hand, there was her cousin that was living with them and she was everything that the wife wasn't. Now Mattie, Zeena's cousin, and Ethan develop great feelings for each other over the year of her stay, which can not be explained. The only way out of the situation was for Mattie and Ethan to commit suicide. Ethan was stuck. He couldn't possibly leave his wife for Mattie because he had no money and she was sick. So they, Mattie and Ethan, decided to sled down the hill and aim for the tree. They did. But it was only tragedy. They both ended up surviving. In the book, the writer said that it would've been better if Mattie did not survive. It only made matters worst. The three lived together in the household, which you can only imagine being miserable. Ethan was full of pity, Zeena was full of hate , and Mattie was not the sweet, happy girl she use to be, she too became miserable. Mrs. Hale finally got to see everything that had happened and understood why Mr. Frome was the way he acts. So therefore, this book was romantic but miserable. Living the life Ethan Frome lived in to me would be agonizing. It's tormenting just to live in that household in which the three are. Book Reports

Market Strategy

Market Strategy Abstract This article explains the market strategy of Persil laundry detergent Company which was developed from close consideration of the current customer needs and the market environment. Market segmentation is strategy that has been used and segments Persil laundry detergent Company differentiates itself from the other competing companies such as Aerial and Omo detergents.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Market Strategy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Some of the ways that it uses to differentiate itself is by coming up with new products which are packed in new looking packets that communicate a lot of information and are acceptable by the segmented customer market. The new products provide the customers with extra services at compared to the other detergents hence giving us the advantage over the other companies. Introduction Market segmentation is a concept found in both marketing and economics and it involves dividing the market into smaller segments of individual groups which have similar wants and needs. There are two major categories of segmentation i.e. industrial market segmentation and consumer based segmentation. In this article we will mainly focus on consumer-based segmentation since the sales of the product we are marketing (Persil laundry detergent) can be significantly increased if we applied this approach. The main aim of consumer-based segmentation is to divide the customers according to their specific needs and wants and to make it easier for the marketers to target them, convince and retain them. Market segmentation The consumers (markets) can be categorized into three main segments i.e. behavioral segmentation, Psychographic segmentation and lastly geodemographic segmentation. Geodemographic can be split into two segments (geographic and demographic segmentation) but considering them together as one segment helps marketers get more accurate results in that geodemographic considers the needs of the consumer population together with the geographical areas that they cover. In a nut shell geodemographic kills two birds with one stone. In the case of marketing Persil laundry detergent geodemographical segmentation would be involve area covered by the customers (i.e. the whole country), class, religion, education and age of the target customers of which the main in our case is the middle aged females and the bachelors since they are the ones who mainly shop for the laundry detergents (Christian, 2008).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Psychographics segmentation applies the principles of psychology and demographics with the aim of understanding consumers. It segmentation therefore divides consumers according to their personality, lifestyles and values. We can generally say that our target customers usually have a lot of chores to attend to and they would greatly value a detergent that saves them some few minutes by removing the dirt together with the stubborn stains from their laundry immediately it comes into contact with the clothes i.e. in a single wash. Mentioning this to the customers on advertisements and printing it on the detergent packets would help a lot in achieving this (Hawkins and David, 2009). Behavioral segmentation groups the customer market according to the customers attitude towards certain products, their knowledge about it and lastly their responses towards it. This clearly shows that the marketers must obtain accurate information concerning the above three from their customers and by so doing they are able to retain the customers for as long as possible. Value proposition, differentiation and positioning Value proposition is a statement that businesses and marketers use to convince potential customers to buy their products instead of those of their competitors it summarizes the additional bene fits that the customers will gain from their product. This is achieved by how a business differentiates itself from its competitors and positions itself at a distinct position with an advantage over its competitors (Robertwinton, 2007). Differentiation on the other hand is simply the act of developing a set of differences that clearly distinguish what a company offers from what its competitors are offering. Each difference that a company develops comes with a cost of implementing it but also there is an overall benefit from what it communicates to the consumers. Therefore, the benefits of the differences must be more than the cost for them to be profitable to a business. The decisions that are made during differentiation are what positions a business in the market in other words differentiation leads to the positioning of a business either at an advantaged position or a disadvantaged one. According to Phillip Kotler (2009), â€Å"Positioning is the act of designing the companys off ering and identity (that will create a planned image) so that they occupy a meaningful and distinct competitive position in the target customers minds. The end result of positioning is the creation of a market-focused value proposition, a simple clear statement of why the target market should buy the product†.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Market Strategy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The relationship between the three concepts (value proposition, differentiation and positioning) is now clear i.e. differentiation leads to positioning and positioning results in creation of a value proposition which convinces customers to by one product and not the other (Littler, 1995, p 34). The value proposition of Persil laundry detergent is in a simple statement,†Wash out the dirt not the colors†. A lot of customers are usually discouraged y how most of the detergents end up washing away the original color of their clothes leaving them faded. Also on the packet of Persil laundry detergent is some simple instructions on how to use it and it clearly shows that Persil laundry detergent does all the work of removing all the dirt in a single wash. The two main competitors of Persil laundry detergent are Aerial and Omo detergents. The two companies are still young but they are growing at a very high rate that seems threatening to Persil laundry detergent which has been the major detergent in the market for decades. Aerial’s value proposition is also in for of a simple statement that states that ‘Aerial is your cheapest laundry solution’. This is one of thing that puts the other two companies at an advantaged position since customers perceive Aerial as only economical but not the best. Omo detergents also have a value proposition which is a bit better than that of Aerial and it states that ‘Omo multi active detergent removes all stubborn stains’. This kind of assures the customers that Omo detergents will give them the best results by simply removing all the stubborn stains from their laundry. What they miss to quote is that the original color of the clothes will still remain unharmed hence leaving us a t an advantaged position i.e. the customer is assured that Persil laundry detergent will remove all the dirt, including the stubborn stains, on their but leave them as they were before. As you know, the whole world is trying to develop green technologies that are environmental friendly. This is as a result of the increased environmental degradation which has in the long run affects the health of us humans by causing some diseases that claim a lot of lives in the societies. This has also drawn the attention of Persil laundry Detergents Company and as result; we have come up with a herbal version of Persil laundry detergent. The new Herbal detergent performs even better than the previous one due to the fact that it contains some natural co mponents extracted from natural herbs and they are environmental friendly since they are biodegradable.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This idea convinces customers to buy our product because they will receive the better service from our product and they will be actively participating in environmental conservation. This put us in an advantages position from our competitors who are still producing the old chemical detergent which in some way is not environmental friendly. Our new positioning statement will be ‘Go green and wash out the dirt not the colors’. This will also displayed in the new look of our packets which will contain a green color with some of sample drawings of the herbs that are used in manufacturing the detergent. Conclusion There are numerous benefits of a well-planned market strategy among them being the development and definition of the goals of a business and the possible ways of achieving them. One thing that allows businesses to continue thriving is the achievement of the goals that were put in place and for this to be attained the business must be able to acquire and retain custo mers. This can only be done through marketing and sales since they are the only business functions that directly deals with the customers in all forms of businesses. References Christian, G. (2008). The Marketing Strategy Continuum: Towards a Marketing Concept for the 1990s. New York: MCB UP Ltd. Hawkins, D. and David, L. (2009). Consumer Behavior: Building Marketing Strategy. UK: McGraw-Hill College. Kotler, P. (2009) Marketing Strategy Differentiating and Positioning the Market Offering. Web. Littler, D. (1995). Marketing strategy. Oxford: Butterworth. Robertwinton. (2007). Develop A Product Marketing Strategy. Web.

Management styles. The Jefferson Clinton Hotel Assignment

Management styles. The Jefferson Clinton Hotel - Assignment Example Management styles that have been used Democratic style This is one of the most suitable managerial styles used in any organization. Using this style, the manager does not make decisions on his own. Before any decisions are made, the manager must consult with the employees of the organization. This means that everyone is included in the decision making process. By including the employees in the decisions making process, they become motivated to work in the organization because they were involved which means they are working under the same rules that they helped to create. This management style is particularly ideal in very complex organizational settings like the Jefferson Clinton Hotel. The hotel has employed many workers and this style is the best style that can be used to manage all of them. Persuasive style This type of management style borrows a few skills from the autocratic management style. However, the persuasive manager remains in control over the decision making process. But this manager will spend time with his employees and try to convince them of the benefits of the decision that would be made. The employees do not have a say in the decision making process. However, the employees of the hotel feel like they are motivated because they now see the benefits of the decisions even if they were not involved in the decision making process. This management style is used in the event that decisions require to be made urgently and there is no time to go through the normal decision making process that is normally there within the hotel that involves the employees as well. 3. Consultative style This management style is more of a dictatorial management style, whereby the employees have no say in what happens. However, the decisions are made in the best interests of the employees. This mean s that the needs of the employees are brought forward first. Using this management style, communication between the employees and the management is mainly in a downwards direction. This means that the employees do not communicate with the employees. However, feedback is very much encouraged as it helps in boosting the morale of the employees. The manager therefore consults the employees when making a decision but the employees are not involved in the decision making process. The hotel has adopted these management styles due to the fact that there are some instances where decisions need to be made quickly and urgently. There is therefore no adequate time to go through the normal decision making process where the employees are involved in the process. The type of management style that an organization chooses to use is very important as it can help to develop the organization even further or pull it behind (Greenhaus, Callanan&Godshalk, 2009, p. 178). Leadership characteristics The man ager of an organization is also the leader of the employees in that organization. This therefore means that the leader should be able to lead the employees very well. The employees look up to the employees for guidance and

The United States Air Force Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The United States Air Force - Case Study Example Enlisted members are the â€Å"backbone† of the Air Force. They perform the primary jobs that need to be done. Enlisted members are â€Å"specialists†, trained to perform specific specialties in the military. As enlisted personnel progress up the ranks, they assume more responsibility, and provide direct supervision to their subordinates. Commissioned officers primary function is to provide overall management and leadership in their area of responsibility. Commissioned officers do not specialize as much (with certain exceptions such as pilots, doctors, nurses, and lawyers). Commission officers are commissioned through specific commissioning programs, such as one of the military academies. There are ten commissioned officer grades and commissioned officers outrank all enlisted personnel. In the process of making decisions, there are at least two acceptable processes; (1) rational, and (2) political. By definition and by practice the made a concerted effort to base its de cision-making on the rational process, which rests heavily on a analytic process. An analytic process can be defined as one which there are agreed upon methods for generating alternative solutions to problems, and for assigning values to the 2 benefits and costs expected from each of the alternatives. The USAF has computational methods readily available for calculating benefits and costs ratios once these values are assigned. assigned. The critical point here being, given the structure, size, importance and power influence, there is a strategic need to continually be in sync with the DOD, the President, Congress, and fellow military personnel. The essence of the rational process is the belief that, "all good persons, given the same information, will come to the same conclusion". USAF History According to the National Security Act of 1947 which created the Air Force, "In general the United States Air Force shall include aviation forces both combat and service not otherwise assigned. It shall be organized, trained, and equipped primarily for prompt and sustained offensive and defensive operations. The Air Force shall be responsible for the preparation of the air forces necessary for the effective prosecution of war except as otherwise assigned and, in accordance with integrated joint mobilization plans, for the expansion of the peace time components of the Air Force to meet the needs of war"( Act of 1947) The Air Force came into being after more than 30 years of debate on how best to incorporate an airpower presence into the nations demanding national defense program. The Air force approached the defense scene with the awesome ability to make a formidable presence known, seen,and felt across the globe, and provided the US with an immediate presence in the geopolitical arena. Melinger makes a salient point on the impact of the Air Force into the theatre of war, he says, "the USAF history is more than

Democratization in the Middle East Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Democratization in the Middle East - Essay Example The information revolution is seen as a leading factor of political instability in the region and as a result, it impacts on the democratization process in a negative way. This is owing to the fact that the improved infrastructure from the Persian Gulf to North Africa facilitates the effectiveness of opposition movements and terrorists. For example, Islamists in Tunisia and Saudi Arabia use recent developments in communication to fight against the current regimes. The cumulative effect of this development is a decline in democratization. The second challenge to the process of democratization is the forces of Islam and nationalism. These are known as the two most influential forces in the region. The development of Islamist factions has serious implications on the democratization process in the region as well as the relationship between Islam states and the rest of the world. For example, countries such as Algeria where Islamist regimes exist but are in their early stages may experien ce a long-term struggle that impacts democratization.Thirdly, the concept of democracy is unfamiliar in the foundations of Islam which is the main religion in the region. In other terms, democracy is irreconcilable with the Muslim religion. This can be supported by the fact that among the number of countries with an Islamic majority only twenty-three percent of them have democratically elected regimes. In fact, only one Muslim nation across the world is considered as democratic.

Socially Responsible Investing And Morally Responsible Investing Management Essay

Socially Responsible Investing And Morally Responsible Investing Management Essay Introduction The last decades a bid debate is going on about the responsibility of business. The most known debate is the one that started with the book of Milton Friedman (1962) Capitalism and Freedom. Then at 1970 Friedman published an article at the New York Times Magazine, repeating his views on corporate responsibilities and he supported them further. After that publication many responses where published from many scholars (ex. Mulligan 1986, Shaw 1988, Nunan 1988) each one arguing for or against Friedmans views. One of the well-promoted debates is the one between Friedman and Freeman who is a major supporter of the stakeholder theory. This last debate ended with the death of Friedman and the essay of Freeman (2008) that he is ending the debate. The main argument between the scholars is focused in the following phrase of Friedman (1962, 1970): there is one and only one social responsibility of business-to use it resources and engage in activities designed to increase its profits so long as it stays within the rules of the game, which is to say, engages in open and free competition without deception or fraud.. In this essay I will try to focus on these rules of the game in now days, the demands of the global market and some arguments that confirm a change in the rules or at least a movement toward a fundamental change. The New Rules of the Game In short time after Friedmans publications, Davis (1973) presented a very prophetically article. He tried to illustrate argument for and against social responsibility, presenting very accurate the issues that led to the CSR development and spreading. Among others he spotted the benefits of CSR towards the public image of a company, the long-run self-interest, the implications from government regulation, social norms and the increasing stockholder interest toward responsible behavior. Cooper suggests that Friedman was right, since the rules of the game are now changed, and have nothing to do with the rules in 1970 that extended only to the basic free market principles. He argues that now the societys expectations of business are including also environmental concern, consumer safety, ethical governance and other. A modern company has to deal with multiple stakeholders that are increasing because of the rising interest and also because of the globalization of the markets. NGOs, trade un ions, consumers organizations, all are trying to influence with the companys activities and support their interests. So now CSR has to go beyond corporate philanthropy and charity work. Row (2006) argues that now there is greater awareness that CSR encompasses not only what companies do with their profits, but also how they make them. For better understanding of the changes of the rules I will present some of those that had change and what is required, from a company, to deal with now. Public Image Vivien and Thompson (2005) in their essay commented the study of FTSE 100 that found that, in UK, around 60 percent of the firms market value was not reflected in the balance sheet. That means that the value of a firm is coming also from other non-financial assets. Deephouse (2000) proposed that reputation is the most competitive advantage that companies can have. With the development of the media and the technology, it is crucial for a company to have a good public image. It is now very easy to spread out a problem that occurred in a company, something that in the past was more difficult due lack of means. Now with the internet almost anybody in the world can express an opinion and be read (or heard) by anyone in the world. So a minor problem can easily take global dimension and publicity. Also with the rising number of multinationals millions of people are becoming stakeholders and are interested in the activities of these companies. Fombrun (1996) stated that reputation is based o n stories various stakeholders tell about the organization. Now with millions of stakeholders, there are millions of stories to be told and the technology provides the means to do it. Fombrun (1998) also lists six criteria that effect reputation of a company in the public eye: financial performance, product quality, employee treatment, community involvement, environmental performance and organizational issues. It is easy to see that many of these criteria are connected with CSR strategies. So CSR can assist a company to create or preserve a good public image, something that in the past was not essential for the business. Rowe (2006) argues that the growing numbers of NGOs, campaigning groups and activist organizations can strongly affect the image of a company. Some years before the numbers of these stakeholders and their power were far smaller. Friedman, driven by the political status of cold war, was facing any critic on the system as a socialist or communistic approach. Now, in a globalized market, these stakeholders have an important role and influent consumers, shareholders and more or less even nations. People in different countries have different values but the structure of human value system is universal (Schwartz, 1994, 1999). That is why a bad image can affect the stakeholders around the world, even if they have different values. But we should not forget that reputation also affects shareholders behavior. When having substance, favorable reputation attracts stakeholders as well as shareholders and investors for usually creating refection of investments security and trustworthy treading partner (Dowling, 2004; Gregory, 1991). Government Regulation Some years ago the balance of power shifted away from government in favor of corporations. Under globalization, deregulation, privatization and technological innovation accelerated that phenomenon (Rowe, 2006). But now, in the post-Enron world and in the middle of a global economic crisis, voices raising and asking for more regulation. Greenfield (2006) argues that the law governing corporations need to be more protective of corporations. Lydenberg and Sinclair (2009) argue that there may be battles between corporations, government and NGOs over the appropriate circumstances for regulation and the degree of that regulation, but the ground rules will have changed only when corporations are seen fighting for, not against, such oversight. CSR, for now, is a voluntary initiative that corporations are taking beyond their legal requirements. Reporting CSR initiatives was part of the communication strategy of each company. Now governments and regulators increasingly expect, and are beginnin g to require, CSR reporting (Lydenberg and Sinclair, 2009). Governments, especially in Europe, ask from public traded companies to include social and environmental indicators in their reports to shareholders (Lydenberg and Sinclair, 2009). National pension funds are required to adopt social and environmental guidelines for their investments. Also raising economies and markets, such as China, are requiring from the state-owned companies to report their CSR initiatives (Ethical Performance, 2008). We see that, starting from reporting, CSR starts to be regulated. For now reporting of public companies and public interests investments are required to report and consider social and environmental issues. For sure that will expand to the private sector, maybe through contracting from public companies. Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) and Morally Responsible Investing (MRI) Calvert Investments states that SRI funds aim to integrate personal, social and environmental concerns with financial considerations, their objective is to increase investors wealth while ensuring that the selected companies have a positive impact on people and the Planet.. SRI funds are also known as Green Funds or Ethical Funds (Ghoul and Karam, 2007). Lydenberg and Sinclair (2009) argue that systematic corporate disclosure on social and environmental issues is increasingly demanded by responsible investors and consumers. SRI Funds are going a step further. SRI Funds demand their investments to be in an ethical way and in ethical sectors of economy. Usually SRI Mutual Funds are not involved with alcohol, gambling, tobacco and weapons production or distribution. Beyond that they pursue to have good performance is areas of welfare, board diversity, community relations, corporate governance, environment, human rights, indigenous peoples right, product safety and impact, and workplace practices (Lydenberg and Sinclair, 2009). Baue and Cook (2008) note there has been a changing behavior of mutual fund voting on climate change issues. Also public pension and investment funds have moved significantly on their transparency with respect to proxy voting (Global proxy Watch, 2008). Moreover in 2006 the United Nations Global Compact and the UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative lunched, at the New York Stock Exchange, the Principles for Responsible Investment, an initiative that aim to connect pension funds and money managers from around the world to commit to principles of responsible investment. As we see there is a turning to the way that investments are done. Beaver (2001) argues that institutional investors have been taking large and long-term positions in firms while playing more dominant role in corporate affairs. Also Warren (2002) notes that over 60% of shares are held by financial institutions, which seek the best returns on behalf of their investors [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] however, there is now a growing sector of the investment market that is guided by ethical criteria in the selection of its investment portfolio. At last Hendry et al. (2007) argue that the activism of public pension funds, and more recently of trade unions pension funds, has had greater effect on company-shareholder relationship. [..] Public pension funds, have taken the view that the pensioners of the future have an interest not only in financial returns but also in such things as environmental sustainability and ethically and socially responsible capitalism.. A different kind of responsible investment is the so-called Morally Responsible Investing (MRI). These are faith-based funds that invest in companies whose products and policies are consistent with the investors religious (usually moral) beliefs (Ghoul and Karam, 2007). There are basically two types of MRI funds, the Islamic Mutual Funds and the Christian Funds. Both are based on the religion and their investment is more focused on ethical (each in its own perception) field of investing and less on social or environmental contribution (Ghoul and Karam, 2007). That is the major difference with the common SRI funds. Conclusions When Milton Friedman was writing his famous book and essay couldnt predict these changes in the world. He was actually right when he argued that companies should act within rules of the game. Those rules have change. Cooper supports that companies of the 21st century have as an essential component of success a balanced approach of CSR issues. As we saw many of the rules are changed and keep changing. The image of a company is now more important than ever before. CSR makes the corporate image better. Also the way of investing had changed. Personal values of the investors or sustainability strategies of Mutual Funds are affecting the investors portfolio towards ethical and responsible investing. Regulatory systems are changing and moving towards more ethical accountability. The corporate scandals and the financial crisis triggered a reaction of multiple stakeholders that now demand a more regulatory system. Companies also start to support that, since they see that the bad actions of so me targeted whole industries (ex. Bonuses of bankers). Risk and sustainability strategies are becoming a mainstream in the business world. Those cant work if they are not connected with CSR strategies and responsible behaviors. Klein and Dawar (2004) propose that CSR has value to the firm as a form of insurance policy against negative events. There is still to see if these rules are going to change more and how are they going to interact with the market and companies behavior. Googins et al. (2007) argue that the rules of the game are to change, however this redefinition will need to encompass shifts that are legal, regulatory, theoretical and cultural.

Tropical Rainforest Destruction Essay -- Deforestation Essays

Tropical Rainforest Destruction Introduction â€Å"In the minute that it takes you to read this page, a piece of tropical rainforest the size of 10 city blocks will vanish forever† (Lewis, 1990, pg 40). Rainforests around the world are being destroyed at such rates, three hundred and sixty-five days a year. The rainforests are â€Å"home to over half of all living things [and]†¦cover less than 7 percent of the land surface of the globe† (Lewis, 1990, pg 14). This paper analyzes tropical rainforest destruction from many different perspectives because there are several contributing factors to the destruction of rainforests. Topics addressed in this paper include: an introduction to rainforests, causes and examples of rainforest destruction around the world, results of rainforest destruction and solutions to rainforest destruction. At the end of this paper there is an appendix to aid the reader in understanding the concepts presented. Why are rainforests important? Rainforests are an asset to the entire world. The destruction of rainforests worldwide is a problem because it eliminates habitat for wild life and depletes the earth of vital environmental services. â€Å"Environmental services are what nature provides for human beings at no charge. Conservationists point out that people take these services for granted, so they are undervalued, exploited, and disappearing†¦We rely on forests for wood, medications, and food†¦on plants to pump oxygen into the atmosphere and absorb carbon dioxide; on wildlife to keep pests in check and distribute seeds and pollinate plants that provide us with food and other goods†¦If we put a price tag on these services, we might be more disposed to protecting earth’s other living inhabit... ...edication will prevent the complete decimation and destruction of the rainforests upon which the planet so desperately depends. Literature Cited 1) Alexander Cockburn, S. H. (1989). The Fate of the Forest. New York: Courier International Ltd. 2) Gallant, R. A. (1991). Earth's Vanishing Forests. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company. 3) Gay, K. (2001). Rainforests of the World (2 ed.). Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, Inc. 4) Institute, W. W. (2000). Vital Signs 2000 (1 ed.). New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. 5) Josep M. Camarasa, R. F. (2000). Encyclopedia of the Biosphere (Vol. 2). Michigan: The Gale Group. 6) Jukofsky, D. (2002). Encyclopedia of Rainforests. Connecticut: Oryx Press. 7) Lewis, S. (1990). The Rainforest Book. Los Angeles: Living Planet Press. 8) http://www.brsi.msu.edu/rfrc/stats/wri/rank.html

Canada Culture Essay

1.0 Introduction Society is a shared context in a way that every individual’s activity relates and connects to it, including business. Culture is the comprised of values, beliefs, behaviors, customs, and attitudes that differentiate each society. A society’s culture determines the systems that manage how organizations function in the society (Griffin and Pustay, 2010). Because of individuals possess their own activity and habits, they do things differently in a group. There are some characteristics of culture are essential for their significance to international business. First of all, culture reflects learned behavior that is conveyed from one member of a society to another. Certain elements of culture are conveyed intergenerationally, for instance a family, when parents educate their children table etiquette. Some elements are transmitted intragenerationally, like when seniors teach incoming freshmen about a school’s customs (Griffin and Pustay, 2010; Phatak et al., 2009). Next, the elements of culture are interrelated. For example, in Canada, different subcultures (different cultural group) include Anglophones and francophones (English-speaking and French-speaking people) (Deresky, 2011). Due to culture is learned behavior, the culture changes in response to external forces affect the society, in other words, it is adaptive. An example is after World War II, Germany was divided into free-market-oriented West Germany and communist guarded East Germany. Although they are having a common inheritance developed over centuries, this division created large cultural differences between Ossis (East Germans) and Wessis (West Germans). The differences resulted from adaptations of the East German culture to the principles of communist ideology concerning attitudes toward work, risk taking, and integrity of remuneration systems (Griffin and Pustay, 2010). Finally, culture is shared by associates of the society and in fact shapes the membership of the society. Persons who share a culture are members of a society, while those who do not are outside the confines of the society (Griffin and Pustay, 2010). Culture is inside everybody without their realization. We are different because of it. 2.0 Brief Introduction of Canada Location The country to be discussed in this assignment is Canada. Canada is located on the northern section of the North American continent which is the north of the United States mainland. Waters bordering the country consist of the North Atlantic Ocean to the east, the North Pacific Ocean to the west, and the Arctic Ocean to the north. Canada’s size is as great as that of the continent of Europe (Encyclopedia of the Nations, 2011). With a total area of approximately 9,984,670 square kilometers according to CIA (2011), it is the largest country in the Western Hemisphere and the second-largest in the world, after Russia (Encyclopedia of the Nations, 2011). In addition, Canada is divided into ten provinces and three territories. The three territories are Yukon Territory, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut Territory (CIA, 2011; Encyclopedia of the Nations, 2011). These lands are all located in the northwestern, tundra regions of Canada, and each of them has a rather small population in comparison to the other provinces. Also, the territories are primarily settled by native tribes. These natives have obtained a certain level of self-government for each particular territory (Encyclopedia of the Nations, 2011). Culture According to CIA, Canada has two official languages, namely English (58.8%) and French (21.6%). Thanks to the diversity of all origins Canadians which stand from British Isles origin 28%, French origin 23%, other European 15%, Amerindian 2%, other, mostly Asian, African, Arab 6%, and mixed background 26%, Canada is a highly diverse culture. Besides, the major religions are Roman Catholic and Protestant (CIA, 2011). Due to its short history, Canadian culture is above all modern. This is particularly apparent in its authors, almost all of whom are still alive: Margaret Atwood, Michael Ondaatje, Yann Martel (three recent Booker Prize winners), Marie-Claire Blais and Antonine Maillet are already popular in the US (Embassy of Canada in Washington, 2011). In recent decades, Canada has gained international recognition in the visual arts thanks to progressive artists. Jeff Wall, Rodney Graham, Edward Burtynsky, Ken Lum, Ian Wallace and Genevià ¨ve Cadieux introduced new uses for photography techniques, Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller used new technologies in artistic formation (Embassy of Canada in Washington, 2011). Population The population of Canada in July 2011 was 34,030,589 as estimated by the CIA (2011), which made its population as number 37 among the 237 countries of the world. It was about 15.9% of the population was over 65 years of age, with 15.7% of the population under 15 years of age in 2011 and there were 98 males for every 100 females in the country in 2011 (CIA, 2011). According to CIA, the annual population growth rate for 2011 is 0.794%. It was estimated by CIA (2011) that 81% of the population lived in urban areas in 2009. Canada’s capital city, Ottawa, had a population of 1,170,000 in that year. The Toronto metropolitan area had an estimated population of 5,377,000; Montrà ©al, 3,750,000; Vancouver, 2,197,000; and Calgary, 1,160,000 (CIA, 2011). According to the Government of Yukon (2011), Yukon Territory has an expanding population over years of 34,667 as of 2010. It was originally occupied by the Athapaskan tribe, which still has six distinct groups of peoples residing in the territory (Encyclopedia of the Nations, 2011). In April 2011, the Northwest Territories had a population of 43,505 (NWT Bureau of Statistics). There is about 28 percent of the population is descended from the Dene tribe, while other indigenous groups are the Inuvialuit and the Mà ©tis (Encyclopedia of the Nations, 2011). Nunavut Bureau of Statistics (2011) shows that the Nunavut Territory had a population of 33,413 as of April 2011. It was separated from the Northwest Territories in 1999 and is now the largest political subdivision in the country, covering 18 percent of the total land area. Moreover, it is also the largest native land-claim settlement in the history of the country. About 84 percent of the residents claim ancestry from native tribes, and the largest of these Nunavut tribes is the Inuit of 83 percent, formerly known as the Eskimos which is a derogatory term meaning â€Å"eaters of raw meat†. Conversely, the remainder of the native population in Nunavut Territory is descended from the Dene and Mà ©tis tribes (Encyclopedia of the Nations, 2011). Nationality According to CIA, the people of Canada is known as Canadian in singular form, and Canadians in the plural form, whereas the adjective of Canada is called Canadian. There are four steps to becoming a Canadian citizen. Firstly, determine if a person is eligible to become a citizen. Secondly, apply for citizenship. Next, take the citizenship test, if the person is between the ages of 18 and 54. Finally, attend a citizenship ceremony, if the person is 14 or older (CIC, 2011). Economy As Canada Site (2011) says, Canada is one of the world’s wealthiest nations, has the tenth largest economy in the world, and has one of the highest levels of economic freedom in the world. Besides that, Canada is also a member of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Group of Eight (G8). OECD is a platform in which governments work together to share experiences and seek solutions to common problems (OECD, 2011), while G8 is the group of eight highly industrialized nations including Canada, which hold a yearly meeting, the G8 Summit to foster consensus on global issues like economic growth and crisis management, global security, energy, and terrorism (Council on Foreign Relations, 2011). Since World War II, the remarkable growth of the manufacturing, mining, and service sectors has transformed Canada from a largely rural economy into one primarily urban industrial. The 1989 US-Canada Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (which includes Mexico) touched off a dramatic increase in trade and economic integration with the United States of America (US), Canada’s principal trading partner. Canada benefits a substantial trade surplus with the US, which absorbs about three-fourths of Canadian exports each year. Furthermore, Canada is the US’s largest foreign supplier of energy, including oil, gas, uranium, and electric power. With great natural resources, skilled labor force, and modern capital plant, Canada’s economies enjoyed solid growth over years (CIA, 2011). The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country of purchasing power parity in 2010 was $1.33 trillion, which shows an increase after the economic recession from 2008 to 2009, with GDP of official exchange rate $1.574 trillion in 2010 (CIA, 2011). Together with the Real Gross Domestic Product (RGDP) for the year 2010 of $39,400, there was a surge since 2009. The services sector was the major part of composition of GDP which was 78% in 2010, with 20 % in industry, and 2% in agriculture. Canada also had an unemployment rate of 8% in 2010 which has a drop of 0.3% compared to 2009. However, the inflation rate also had a surge of 1.3% to 1.6% in 2010 (CIA, 2011). The agricultural products of Canada include wheat, barley, oilseed, tobacco, fruits and more, whereas the industries products are stand from transportation equipment, chemicals, processed and unprocessed minerals, food products, wood and paper products, fish products, petroleum and natural gas. The exports commodities are motor vehicles and parts, industrial machinery, aircraft, telecommunications equipment, chemicals, plastics, fertilizers; wood pulp, timber, crude petroleum, natural gas, electricity, and aluminum with $406.8 billion in 2010. Imported goods are machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, crude oil, chemicals, electricity, durable consumer goods with $406.4 billion in 2010 (CIA, 2011). On 8 July 2011, the rate of 1.00 US dollar is 0.96 Canadian Dollar, which is the currency of Canada, at an exchange rate of 0.9627 using nominal rate (Bank of Canada, 2011). Politics Canada achieved independence on the first of July 1867 and recognized by UK per Statute of Westminster on 11 December 1931. The government of Canada stands of a parliamentary democracy, a federation, and a constitutional monarchy (CIA, 2011). Every territory has only one senator and one representative in the national parliament, fewer legislators than those representing the other provinces (Encyclopedia of the Nations, 2011). Besides, the political leaders are consist of the Bloc Quebecois, Gilles Duceppe; Conservative Party of Canada, Stephen Harper; Green Party, Elizabeth May; Liberal Party, Robert Rae(interim); and New Democratic Party, Jack Layton. These political pressure groups are from the agricultural sector, automobile industry, business groups, chemical industry, commercial banks, communications sector, energy industry, environmentalists, public administration groups, steel industry, and trade unions (CIA, 2011). 3.0 Analysis of Geert Hofstede’s Dimensions Brief Nature of the Business The industry for this assignment is in the retailing sector. It is placed in Charlottetown, which is located in the province of Prince Edward Island, Canada. Its primary industry is in the fish and seafood markets, together with its alternate industry of dealing with wholesalers and distributors, and a full-service restaurant. It serves as a seafood market to sell live and cooked lobster; live mussels, clams, oysters, and quahaugs; shucked scallops, frozen snow crab sections, haddock, salmon and halibut fillets, lobster meat, and much more. Besides, the organization also dispatches lobster, mussels and oysters across Canada. Having the company set off with wonderful views of the heritage Hillsborough River and Charlottetown waterfront, it is a spot for people heading to the waterfront for a delicious seafood meal, or purchasing lobster, mussels, clams, oysters, crab or fresh fillets from the seafood marke t in the town. Introduction of Geert Hofstede’s Dimensions Culture is defined into several ways. They include Geert Hofstede’s Five Dimensions which would be discussed as the following. Social Orientation Social orientation or individualism versus collectivism dimension looked at the relationship between the person and his or her fellows. In societies where individualism was emphasized, the ties between individuals were loose and individual achievement and freedom were highly treasured. In collectivistic societies, the bonds between individuals were tight. Therefore, people born in collective societies, for example extended families, and everyone was supposed to take care of the interest of his or her group (Hill, 2007). Power Orientation One of the dimensions from Hofstede is the power orientation (Giffin and Pustay, 2010), or the power distance as Hill (2007) says. It is mainly dealt with the way a society treats the fact of unequal physical and intellectual capabilities in humans. High power orientation cultures were found in countries that permit inequalities grow eventually into inequalities of power and wealth, says Hofstede (Hill, 2007). According to Griffin and Pustay (2010), high power orientation denotes a power respect culture, where people in a culture tend to accept the power and authority of their superiors merely on the basis of the superiors’ positions in the hierarchy. These same people also are inclined to respect the superiors’ right to that power orientation. People at all levels in a firm accept the decisions and mandates of those above them because of the implied belief that higher-level positions carry the right to make decisions and issue commands (Giffin and Pus tay, 2010). On the contrary, low power distance cultures would try to minimize such inequalities they could (Hill, 2007). As Griffin and Pustay (2010) say, low power orientation suggests that a culture is in power tolerance. It has much less significance to an individual’s position in the hierarchy. They are more willing to question a decision or mandate from those higher levels or even reject it. They are willing to follow a leader when that leader is perceived to be correct or when it seems to be in their own self-interest to do so but not because of the leader’s intangible right to issue mandates. Uncertainty Orientation Another dimension is uncertainty orientation (Griffin and Pustay, 2010) or uncertainty avoidance according to Hill (2007). It assessed the degree of various cultures socialize their members into acknowledging indefinite situations and tolerating ambiguity. Correlates of low uncertainty orientation, or uncertainty avoidance according to Griffin and Pustay (2010) a culture set high priority on job security, career patterns, retirement benefits, and the like. They also took seriously for rules and regulations; the manager was expected to deliver clear instructions, and subordinates’ initiatives were closely controlled (Hill, 2007). Furthermore, Griffin and Pustay (2010) define low power orientation as ambiguity and change are seen as undesirable, and society will prevent it whenever possible. These people prefer a structured, routine, and even bureaucratic, way of performing tasks. On the other hand, high uncertainty orientation, or uncertainty acceptance according to Griffin and Pustay (2010) cultures were regarded as a greater readiness to take risks and less emotional resistance to change (Hill, 2007). According to Griffin and Pustay (2010), people in uncertainty acceptance are stimulated by change and thrive on new opportunities. Ambiguity is considered as a context within which an individual can grow, develop, and engrave out new opportunities. A sense of monotony, routineness, and overbearing structure are the certainty carried in this culture. Goal Orientation Goal orientation or masculinity versus feminity according to Hill (2007) is the approach in which people are motivated to work toward different types of goals. One extreme on the goal orientation range is aggressive goal behavior. People who display aggressive goal behavior or masculine cultures according to Hill (2007) tend to place a high premium on material possessions, money, and assertiveness. At the other extreme, passive goal behavior or feminine cultures according to Hill (2007) are people that place a higher value on social relationships, quality of life, and welfare for others. Moreover, cultures that value aggressive goal behavior also tend to define gender-based roles rather rigidly, whereas cultures that stress passive goal behavior do not. In cultures regarded as extremely aggressive goal behavior, men are expected to work and to focus their careers in conventionally male occupations; women are usually expected not to work outside the home and to focus on their families. If they do work outside the home, they are usually expected to be engaged in areas of traditionally work dominated by women (Griffin and Pustay, 2010). Time Orientation Hofstede’s fifth dimension, time orientation, is the extent to which members of a culture adopt a long-term against a short-term outlook on work, life, and other aspects of society. Some cultures, such as those of Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea, have a longterm, future orientation that cherish dedication, hard work, perseverance, and moderation. Other cultures, including those of Pakistan and West Africa, have a tendency to focus on the past and present, stressing respect for traditions and fulfillment of social obligations (Griffin and Pustay, 2010). Assessment of Canada’s Culture Using Hofstede’s Dimensions In this part of the assignment, Canada’s culture is studied along Hofstede’s Dimensions. The ranking of Five Dimensions for Canada adapted from Geert Hofstede Cultural Dimensions (2009) is shown in Figure 1 below.

Adoption is the Option ! Professor Ramos Blog

Adoption is the Option ! Imagine you are walking down the stores at the mall when you approach a puppy store that has the cute little puppy playing in the news paper shreddings. Petting and taking pictures with it you never really come to ask yourself the question of where these dogs come from. As innocent as it may appear on the outside many of these puppies come from puppy mills in which they breed dogs in large amounts and live in horrible conditions. As an owner of two beautiful dogs I have the experience to be able to give you both sides of the story and why ultimately you should adopt. Adopting from an animal shelter has many benefits that only makes this experience even more exciting which include the costs, different breeds and what puppy mills are. Now when shopping for your furry friend whether it be for yourself or your child looking at all the different breeds it can be overwhelming and the prices only add that much more pressure. Coming form BestFriends.org it says â€Å"Buying a pet can easily cost $500 to $1,000 or more. Adoption costs range from $50 to $200, depending on whether the pet comes from the city shelter or a rescue group that has spent money on boarding, vets and grooming.†(Francis Battista). Just by adopting your animal you are nearly saving half the coast which means more money in your pocket and possible trips you can be taking with your new dog. In addition from personal experience when my sister and I adopted our Jack russell terrier Chester he came fully vaccinated and neutered ready to take home. Which means the only money you will be coming out of pocket for is just the adoption fee and you are on your way to becoming a dog parent.   Although the costs are low many may argue that they pay the price for the breed they want. Which to a certain extent I can agree and relate to the people since I myself have also purchased a purebred dog as well. Yet when doing further research it opened my eyes to see that buying a beautiful purebred dog can come with a few consequences along with a hefty price tag. It states here on Peninsula Humane society SPCA.org that â€Å"Simply put, mixed-breed dogs are, in general, healthier than their purebred cousins and typically require fewer visits to the veterinarian.†(Benefits of Mixed Breeds). So its great to not only see you are saving more costs as I stated in the last point but your dog will be there for all the amazing memories life has to bring to you. In addition when going to shelters you are seeing a wide range of different breed of dogs which can open your mind to certain breeds that you may have never expected to see. Which brings up the question of where do the se shelter dogs even come from and the trustworthiness of it. Shelter dogs often times are strays, rescue from abuse or the family of the dog simply could not take care of it. Although it may seem like these dogs are in bad health it is quite the opposite since they are now being cared for by the people at the adoption centers. As for purebred dogs one article from The Humane Society of the United States says this â€Å"Most pet stores do not disclose the true origins of their puppies, instead using deceptive sales pitches about USDA licensed orprofessional   breeders†(The Humane Society of the United States). Which often times means that you most likely will not know where your pup is coming from and that draws up a big concern of whereter they were breeded from trustworthy people or ones who run puppy mills. To fully understand retail dogs stores and people who sell purebred animals we have to look at what puppy mills are and how they affect the pups life.   The true definition of a puppy mill is a â€Å"commercial farming operation in which purebred dogs are raised in large numbers and often in substandard or poor   conditions (Merriam-Webster). For example think of farmers and how they have chickens bunched up in a coop and the more eggs the chickens lay the more space that is occupied. This can create great health concerns not only in the pups themselves but as well as the mothers of these puppies, it can also bring serious stress to their bodies. Puppy mills laws failing states in the newspaper article that â€Å"They talk of 12-year-old blind dogs held in cages and giving birth to puppies that they cannot properly care for, piles of manure on concrete floors inside sheds, cages pile on top of each other, each containing a bitch with puppies.†(Brian williams). The pups have no choice but to live in these conditions simply because the market for pure breed animals is very high. Even though the animals in the shelter may have had a bad past as well it is really good to know that we are not contributing to that market that supports these horrible puppy mills.   Therefore which makes adopting from a shelter just that more special you are able to save these animals and know there is one less animal who is hurting. Not only that but for those who have children it is a great learning experience for them and makes them feel better knowing they saved a dog. It even says from CA-Shelter-Me-PBS that â€Å"an estimated 6 to 8 million animals enter the nations shelters annually† (PR Newswire). However, since we do not live in a perfect world it is pretty impossible to get everyone on board yet even just a slight percent of that could help to at least decrease the rate of stray dogs that are left out on the street As humans we are all drawn to the luxuries in life but with our animals this comes at a cost to them and their health on both sides of the spectrum. We have the choice to choose whether or not we buy from puppy mills and add to their suffering or help to save a life and create a new one for the animal that may have thought a shelter w as their last stop. So the main question is do you want to help to create a better life for our animals or simply add to the market of animals being abused in puppy mills. â€Å"Benefits of Mixed Breeds.† Peninsula Humane Society SPCA, phs-spca.org/adopt/mixed-breeds/. â€Å"Fact Sheets Resources.† The Humane Society of the United States, humanesociety.org/resources/fact-sheets-resources. â€Å"Puppy Mill.† Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, merriam-webster.com/dictionary/puppy mill. PR Newswire. â€Å"Shelter Me Launches National PBS Series Highlighting The Extraordinary Lives and Benefits of Adopting Shelter Pets.† 4 Apr. 2013. Ebsco Host. â€Å"Reasons to Adopt a Pet.† Resources, resources.bestfriends.org/article/reasons-adopt-pet. Williams, Brian. â€Å"Puppy Mill Laws Failing Horrific Conditions Stun RSPCA .† 26 June 2010. Ensconced Host.

The eNotes Blog Reading Round-Up January

Reading Round-Up January We asked everyone in the office to talk about their favorite books from the last month. Take a look at our favorite reads from January, and let us know in the comments which books youll be adding to your to-read list. From nonfiction to comedy to graphic novel, theres something for everyone here! Washington Black by Esi Edugyan Page count: 339 Genre: Historical Fiction Publish date: 2018 Washington Black, narrated by an enslaved 11-year-old boy named Washington â€Å"Wash† Black, begins on a sugar plantation in Barbados. After witnessing unspeakable brutality on the plantation, Wash is able to escape on a hot-air balloon with the assistance of the master’s younger brother. His escape is the start of a lifelong adventure around the world that exposes Wash to a whole new realm of science and discovery. Its a deeply heartfelt story that leaves the reader with a new perspective from which to see the world and a realization that â€Å"everything has value. Or if not value, at least merits investigation.† - Heather, Customer Service Less by Andrew Sean Greer Page count: 273 Genre: Fiction Publish date: 2017 This January, I read Andrew Sean Greer’s Less, a Pulitzer-prize winning novel full of wit, heart, and humor. This cleverly crafted novel stars a man named Arthur Less as he decides whether to attend his ex-boyfriend’s wedding. Fearing the awkwardness of attending and unwilling to admit defeat by declining, Less devises a plan to skip town by accepting invitations to literary events around the world- what could go wrong? Well, your publisher could drop your new novel, the person you’re interviewing could be violently ill, your jokes could not translate, and your frenemy could be waiting to pounce. Tragic as that sounds, Less is a comedy. From the â€Å"evenings with Arthur Less† to the delightfully overconfident way he speaks German, I was laughing out loud from the start. And underneath the humor, Greer’s novel explores an all-too-common fear: growing old, being alone, and wanting to be loved. Part satire, part love story, and all heart, Less should be the next book you pick up. - Wes, Managing Editor Middlesex by Jeffery Eugenides Page count: 529 Genre: Fiction Publish date: 2002 Middlesex is a book that had been on my radar for a while. When I stumbled across a copy of it at Goodwill, I had to see why it was worthy of Oprah’s praise and a Pulitzer. In my opinion, Jeffery Eugenides’s writing style is absolutely captivating. Embellished in striking metaphors and witty remarks, Eugenides’s novel gracefully transforms a multi-generational family saga into a modern-day Greek drama. The narrator and protagonist, Cal Stephanides, invites readers along an intimate journey of self-exploration through the moral dilemmas and twists of fate that have shaped his identity. This story is an intoxicating hybrid of genre and culture that parallels Cal’s own experience as a hermaphrodite, a hybrid of two genders. Overall, Middlesex is a thoughtful read and powerful reminder that we have the ability to choose who we want to be, regardless of where we’ve come from. - Savannah, Social Media Manager Tribe by Sebastian Junger Page count: 182 Genre: Nonfiction Publish date: 2016 If you’ve followed along with some of our previous book recommendation blogs, you won’t be surprised to learn that I usually stick with fiction. This month, however, I stumbled across Tribe and ended up loving it. Simply put, Junger explains how modern society- in exchange for technological and medicinal advances- has removed our ability to bond in the egalitarian, close-knit communities in which humans evolve to thrive. The book is jam-packed with research and always takes an objective stance, so I finished it not with an opinion of how we should or should not live as people, but instead with a better understanding of why chronic loneliness and mental illness have become so prevalent in today’s society. - Kate, Marketing Coordinator Where’d You Go, Bernadette By Marie Semple Page count: 330 Genre: Fiction Publish date: 2012 After reading Democracy Hacked: Political Turmoil and Information Warfare in the Digital Age and Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory, I needed something a bit light(er) and not non-fiction, as you can image. So, I decided to pick up Whered You Go, Bernadette  by Marie Semple after seeing it on the Local Authors shelf at our friendly local bookstore  The Elliott Bay Book Company. Whered You Go, Bernadette  is a comedy novel set in Seattle and published in 2012, about Bernadette Fox, a witty and slightly agoraphobic architect, who goes missing after her husband tries to get her committed to a facility. It is narrated by Bernadettes 15-year-old daughter, Bee, as she tries to cobble together the moving parts that lead up to Bernadettes disappearance. I realize this summary sounds a bit bleaker than the actual plot- but this book is equal parts sweet and amusing. Semple, who is a Seattle resident and was a writer for Arrested Development, perfectly captures the laugh-out-loud (and deserved) snark toward Seattle drivers, mega-tech corporations like Microsoft, and PTA parents with maybe a little too much time on their hands. It was an enjoyable read and I really look forward to the movie coming out later this year, starring Cate Blanchett(!) as Bernadette. - Samantha, Head of Marketing The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang Page count: 288 Genre: Graphic Novel, YA Publish date: 2018 The Prince and the Dressmaker is a coming-of-age story about identity, friendship, hard work, and beautiful dresses. It’s also possibly the sweetest love story I’ve ever read- I was reaching for the tissues by the end of Frances and Prince Sebastian’s tale. Not to mention that Jen Wang’s art is some of the most sumptuous I’ve ever seen in a graphic novel: you can almost feel the fabric of Lady Crystallia’s gowns and taste the French pastries. Grab a copy of this book, cozy up with a cup of tea, and prepare to feel your feelings. - Jules, Editor