Monday, September 30, 2019

Ap European History Frq: Karl Marx vs. Adam Smith

â€Å"Adam Smith’s enormous authority resides, in the end, in the same property that we discover in Marx: not in any ideology, but in an effort to see the bottom of things. In both cases their greatness rests on an unflinching confrontation with the human condition as they could best make out. † Assess the above quote. What ideas did both men draw upon in order to formulate their ideas? What were their conclusions? Why were their conclusions so different? To what extent were they correct? Adam Smith and Karl Marx were considered to be amongst the best or if not the best economic theorists the world has ever seen.Despite seeming to be polar opposites, both Smith and Marx are fundamentally similar. Both are looking to see what makes the entire system run, and what the basis of economy truly is. They both have their flaws, yet they were both correct. Their idea was to formulate something that would run the basis of economy. Both have different ideas, both have different ag endas. Marx and Smith had different thoughts and drawing different conclusion on how things should be run, and yet to a certain extent both of them are correct. Both men drew their ideas upon very different sources.Adam Smith was a child of the Enlightenment; therefore he must’ve drawn some Enlightenment ideas. In 1751 Adam Smith met Scottish philosopher David Hume, who was a major Enlightenment thinker. It is safe to assume that Smith learned many things from Hume, who was ten years his senior. Some also argued that Smith came up with the idea to write â€Å"Wealth of Nations† on his own, with little or no influence of others. Marx, on the other hand, was greatly influenced by the ideas of others. Georg Hegel's dialectics inspired Marx greatly.Generally, the idea was that conflict between two opposing forces would produce a synthesis which was generally more acceptable to both sides. Hegel saw this phenomenon in nature and everywhere, and it was the basis of class con flict in Marx's writings. Conflict would ultimately lead to synthesis, in which mankind would progress. In a way Marx was also inspired by Smith himself, and possibly also by early socialists such as Saint-Simon. Not only were their ideologies differ, each drew different conclusions from their theorems too.In his book â€Å"Wealth of Nations† Smith proposed that a nation’s wealth should be judged by its gold and silver supply but by the total of its production and commerce (today more commonly known as GDP). He also explored the idea of division of labor, through which specialization would lead to an increase in quality for manufactured goods. Marx would argue that communism offered the best model both politically and economically with its collectivist ownership, production, and central planning, which are intended to distribute wealth equally amongst the populace and eliminate the distinctions between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat altogether.He reasoned that wor kers would be exploited by capitalists (or bourgeoisie), for the capitalist system basically means that the rich would get richer and the poor would get poorer. Furthermore, the bourgeoisie is always in a better position to negotiate a low wage for the proletariats. One of his theories, the labor theory of value, claims that the value of a good or service is directly connected to the amount of labor required for its production. So, in effect the two theories and conclusion were very different. The very difference in ideology is what set the two apart.While Adam Smith contended that the most ideal economic system is capitalism, Marx believed that capitalism leads to greed and inequality. Karl Marx is more of a revolutionary; Adam Smith was more to reforms rather than a full-scale revolution, as he valued order and stability more rather than freedom from oppression. Karl Marx saw class struggle, while Adam Smith saw special interests that were often at odds with the general public int erest. Also, Smith did not put the spotlight on the land holdings or the riches of the aristocracy like Marx did.They also differed on the method of production of goods and services and distribution of resources. While Adam Smith’s envisioned ideal society would not distribute resources equitably or eliminate gaping wealth levels between the different classes in a society, Marx’s ideal economy would produce, according to the directives from a central authority, and distribute resources according to the needs of the public. However, despite the disagreements, both Smith and Marx were correct to a certain extent. In a wider perspective, they both wanted a prosperous nation of wealth.They both also agreed that the workers (proletariats) were crucial for the production of goods. Both of them also recognized that there is a conflict, or at least a wide division, between the working and upper class. Adam Smith also realized that there are basic social classes: land-owners, w age earners, and capitalists. Marx, to a certain extent, also accepted the condition where there are different classes, albeit trying to change the situation. Overall, both of them proposed ideas to change the economy to fit their liking, despite both economists going in a completely different direction altogether.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Mozart Sonata Essay

The succession of the pieces (Bach – Toccata in D minor, Mozart – Sonata in B flat, Liszt – Transcendental Etude No. 9, and Rachmaninoff – Sonata no. 2 in B-flat Minor) are arranged in order to typify the transgression of music development from the contrapuntal baroque form represented by Johann Sebastian Bach, the gradual transposition of the sonata form between the rococo and classical eras through Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and the combination of tonal heaviness and virtuosity as found in the compositions of Franz Liszt and Sergei Rachmaninoff. Each composition is characterized through the era in which it is composed in order to understand the development of musical forms, styles, and influences from the early17th century to the late 18th century. Bach represented the strict polyphonic harmony of the era characterized through two independent tonal forms in the melody and bass which separated may stand alone as two separate melodies; but combined, the tones form another different melody which sharply represents the ‘detailed heaviness’ of the baroque era, not only characterized in music but also art disciplines as well (Griffiths 101). Mozart’s sonatas are generally identified as playful tunes ranging from early pieces which show influences of other composers such as Franz Joseph Haydn to later developments which clearly show Mozart’s musical genius. His sonatas are a gradual transition from the polyphonic form to the utilization of the monophonic or single melody form. On the other hand, Liszt and Rachmaninoff represented a total break from the early baroque/classical periods wherein the romantic period identified their works to be focused on expression or emotion while maintaining regard from the development of the classical sonata form. Liszt’s compositions are noted for its technical beauty and virtuosity requirement while Rachmaninoff’s compositions are generally heavier compared to the varying degrees of tonal structure found in Liszt’s (Copland 91). First, we analyze Bach’s Toccata in D minor. Mainly one of the most recognizable pieces in music, the composition is arranged for the pipe organ where the instrument magnifies the full grandeur of the composition as well as the sound of the instrument itself. The piece is actually followed with a fugue which is generally the follow-up the contrapuntal polyphonic style of the Toccata. As mentioned, the piece is an example of polyphonic structure where the melody and bass are two separate melodies that produce one harmony. Tempo in common time, the whole structure of the piece is free form with a slight repetition of the theme followed by a series of thematic development. The color is somehow dark, generally typified by the heavy sound of the instrument itself as well as the tonal forte of the chords. On the other hand, Mozart’s sonata sharply contrasts with the color of Bach’s as the melody is lighter with the tempo set to a fast yet playful manner. The piece is separated into three movements and as the title suggests, it is structured in the sonata form identified through the introduction, exposition, development, recapitulation and coda. Meanwhile, Liszt’s ninth Transcendental Etude vary from a change in color and tone through the succession of octaves which give emphasis on the opposition of high and low tones. The piece is also different in the sense that the melody is much more expressive or romantic through arpeggios and the playfulness of the scales compared with Mozart’s playful theme. Lastly, Rachmaninoff’s Sonata no. 2 in B flat is much heavier compared to the aforementioned compositions because of the emphasis on color and tone. In contrast with Liszt’s, the composition opens with a sudden crash of octaves which introduce the ‘heavy’ theme of the piece. The gradual development into the second movement becomes reminiscent of the Liszt’s’ romantic theme but still identified with heaviness as found in the first movement. Works Cited Copland, Aaron. What to Listen for in Music. New York, N. Y: Signet Classics, 2002. Griffiths, Paul. A Concise History of Western Music. Cambridge, UK ; New York: Cambridge University Press, 2006.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Canadian Trade History Essay

It is due not later than Sunday March 3, at 6:00pm, submitted to Moodle You need to use at least 3 sources: your textbook, your class notes and 1 other source of your choice. Sources need to be cited properly. Your essay must cover all periods of trade: pre-European contact, early contact/colonial, late colonial, American-dominated, international. In each period, include what was traded, by whom, and for later periods, in what amounts ($). Papers should be written in proper essay style, with SHORT introductions and conclusions. Stick to the facts, as you space limit does not allow for much extra. The Canadian traded history. The trade is beginning with the neighbors, traded with the same value of the animals, good and the food you want. And in that time the money still no exists yet, thus neighbors and villages are trade with other things, this is the trading started. And it grew bigger and bigger to city trade with the city country trade with country, and crossing domain trading with country. Such as European trading good and slaves in China around 800 B. C. and there is not much people try to crossing the domain with the trade, because it is dangerous and took long time to get to other countries. Until the sail technique and been used for 1000 years. In1497, just five years after Columbus landed in the Caribbean John Cabot (Giovanni Cabotto), an Italian whose ships were financed by England’s King Henry VII, landed on the shores of Newfoundland, off the east coast of North America. And this is how Canadian trade history start. The national people were the first arrive in the North America live in the good social, health lives, hunting animals, trading with different tribes. But everything was changed after the EU came in with metal weapons, guns, food, and more and more. And the Indian changed their lives to better hunting and cutting fur and feather skills. But after the war, the national people gone to the north part of the NA, and their live is not better then any one else. Cold weather, sickness, war, and food are taking their life away. Only the EU took control over of NA after 1400. And the US and Canada become the colony of UK, trading making business around the world, and Canada are the biggest trading partner in that time. Few years after the Canada and UK had the war with US because US wants to be independent on their own, but uk don’t want them to be so because they still want to control the US and Canada. Thus the Trading is stopped and war. After the war trading start again. In that time the New York is the biggest trading city market in the NA. lots of Canadian are traded in New York, goods, foods , weapons and so on. And because the war Canadian are hate and anger about the American but we are the biggest traded partner in NA, so we are kind the anger about them, but we can’t live without them on the trade and business county. Until now the US still is the biggest trading partner in the NA.

Friday, September 27, 2019

Trus Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Trus - Essay Example There is quite a conflict in determining how trust comes into existence and how one may end up being confident about another person. For trust to exist, it is very important for two or more parties to exist. Trust is an outcome of hard work, persistence and dedication. In order to trust come into existence one individual needs to be confident about another individual. An individual can only show confidence in another individual if previously an individual has performed certain actions. For example: a student can only trust a teacher if the teacher has previously proved that whatever the teacher is teaching is actually real. This means that an individual has to perform certain activities in order to ensure that others trust them. Trust is a very important element of society and has various functions. It is one of the most important elements of any relationship that is taking place between two or more individuals or parties. Trust is the knot that keeps people attached with each other. Without trust relationships cannot take place and if trust is broken, relationships come to an end. Trust is a very important element in leadership. Leaders are those who influence others to work in a certain direction and others only work in the direction provided by the leader if others trust them. Trust is used in various contexts and may have different meanings. But the trust that is referred to the confidence that individuals have in each other is the most common way the term trust is used in the society. Trust is a term used in the context of real estate in which an individual may transfer his/her property to another individual on the basis of trust (Bellairs 99). Trust is used in the context of blind following that individuals have in the context of their religion and god. The most common definition of trust is the confidence that two individuals have in each other or one

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Analysis of the reading Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Analysis of the reading - Assignment Example Thus, he believes that if an executive spends money for any purpose purported to be for a social cause, he is in fact spending the shareholders’ money which he is not morally permitted to do. However, in this case, the author’s contention does not seem to be really valid as most of the decisions to spend come from the board of directors that represents the shareholders and not the executives in a corporate, in the light of the fact that all executives in such an entity need not necessarily be shareholders or directors. Yet, it is logical in terms of the concept it postulates. Similarly, he also mentions instances where shareholders coerce other shareholders, who may not be willing, to contribute to a specific cause. In this case his argument is quite reasonable and it definitely is not an appropriate action to utilize another person’s money for a purpose he or she does not intend to spend on. He further claims that in most cases, the term social responsibility is a guise to serve the purpose of some vested interests and this argument is quite reasonable because politicians on most occasions use this for political mileage, by making the corporate entities bear the cost. He also criticizes the businessmen who propagate social responsibility to gain cheap popularity as this will only lead the business entities being influenced by external forces in the long run. The author firmly upholds the view that social responsibility is a matter of individual concern. He, thus, concludes the article by contending that all individuals should work for the betterment of the community and business people, like other members of the society, will also share values and partake in such

Companys annual report and accounts Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Companys annual report and accounts - Assignment Example The strong cultural values make their identity as well as it is the integral part of their success (J Sainbury Plc, 2013, p.1). David Tyler is the chairman of the company. In real fair price, they are offering the best food for health. Profit making is not only the main of the company. They respect the environment. Their aim is to be the greenest grocer of UK. As well as they are funding for different charitable causes. From being a retail shop it is now diversifying its business by going online, opening own brand bank, they also doing property related business. All of these help them to acquire the whole market. In every aspect of need and demand Sainsbury can stand with their product as well as services. As a super market it is the first sponsor of the London 2012 Paralympics Games. The company has a market share of 16.5% in the UK super market (Mirza, 2012, pp.34-87). When an investor wants to invest in any company he needs to analyse the financial information of that company. The huge amount of numbers in the financial statement may confuse the investors. So financial ratio is a simpler and more organised way by which the investor can easily make his judgement about the financial position of the company. So we can say that Ratio analysis is a tool which is mainly used for different quantitative analysis of one company’s financial statement (Friedlob and  Schleifer, 2003, pp.45-67). The company’s liquidity, solvency, efficiency and capital structure of the company can be understood by using ratio analysis. Some of the ratio discussed below. Comparing with the expenses and relevant costs of the company, what is the ability of the business to generate earnings is measured by this type of ratios. Profit margin and return on assets are the two basic profitability ratios to measure the earnings capability of the companies (J Sainsbury plc, 2012, pp.2-5). The above table shows the yearly amount of profit and revenue. We can see that it is continuously

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Corporate Social Responsibility Policy of Multi National Corporations Essay

Corporate Social Responsibility Policy of Multi National Corporations - Essay Example World Business Council for Sustainable Development defines Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as "The continuing commitment by business to behave ethically and contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of the workforce and their families as well as of the local community and society at large." The European Commission advocates that CSR not only means fulfilling legal expectations, but also going beyond compliance and investing more into human capital, environment and relations with stakeholders." The need for Multi National Corporations to adopt Corporate Social Responsibility and implement it in spirit is immense in the current business scenario. The competition and corporate warfare in the business environment not only makes their focus very self-centered, but also robs them off all the attention they need to provide in the social context. It is this mad race, which needs to be controlled. It is because competition can catalyze the de-structuring of the social edifice based on values, morals and a sense of social responsibility. There have been grave losses to the environment, people and their lives as more and more MNCs are diversifying their areas and reach of operation. It is this concern that triggers a major thought process to streamline this chaos. Some method in this madness can only creep in if these big corporations begin to understand their role in a larger and more responsible perspective. The gamut of this perspective should not just limit to the stakeholders a lone, but involve the society as a whole. Survey of literature There have been many researches and studies on the concept of 'Corporate Social Responsibility'. There are many schools of thought on the subject. Some studies call CSR as an extension of the brand-building effort of the companies, while others attach a serious functional connotation to the concept. The Green Paper (2001) by the Commission of the European Communities identifies two main dimensions of CSR. One is the internal dimension that relates to the internal functions and processes of a company. The external dimension involves the external stakeholders. Several research-based studies have discussed the concept of 'Corporate Social Responsibility'. The different schools of thought explain it based on different experiences and consequences. One school of thought emphasizes on the model of collective action. According to Jarusri Jiravistakul of the Kenan Institute, who conducted studies on the collective action/institution model and its implementation in Thailand, Egypt and Indonesia the concept of CSR has succeeded in terms of business practices, environmental management and capacity development. This particular perspective talks about the operations of business enterprises as they affect a wide spectrum. The resources they make use of are not limited to those of the proprietors and the impact of their operations is felt by so many people who are in no way connected to them. They affect the shareholders, the suppliers of resources, the consumers, the local community and the society at large. George Goyder in The Future of Private Enterprise argues, "Industry in the twentieth century can no linger be

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Concept of culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Concept of culture - Essay Example â€Å"Culture is essential for the existence of a society, because it binds people together† (Kartha). Some of the major aspects of culture include social norms and values, language, religion, ceremonies and festivals, food, clothing, and arts and literature. Cultural relativity is an important concept related to culture. It means that any good or bad deed is related to the cultural norms and values. An action, which is socially approved in a culture, is good whereas an action, which is not approved in a culture, is a bad action. Almost all cultures tend to be ethnocentric in nature. The reason is that people belonging to any specific culture or society usually perceive things according to the perspective of their own cultures. For example, a person living in the Indian society will see every matter of life according to the mindset developed by Indian culture. He/she will not see any matter from the perspective of American or European culture. Therefore, we can say that cultur e not only influences the living style and mindset of people but also plays a considerable role in shaping behaviors and characteristics of the people living in any society. Works Cited Kartha, Deepa. â€Å"What is Culture.† Buzzle.com, n.d. Web. 19 Jun. 2011.

Monday, September 23, 2019

Controversial Images in Art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Controversial Images in Art - Essay Example This art seems to have created a standoff between the Catholic League and "Piss Christ" artist Andres Serrano that may have come to impermanent and anticlimactic silence. This image should not be viewed by small children since they can grow up with some wrong information which is not as per their respective religion (Leppert, 2007). The image in terms of private versus public sector, it can be viewed freely by those in the private sector as it does not involve the large crowd of people who in turn may cause chaos as different people have a different perception. Based on religion the image tends to be more against the Catholics as they make more use of the crucifix though this affects Christians in general. Serrano protected his artwork by saying that it was a critique of the "billion-dollar Christ-for-profit industry" and "condemnation of those who abuse the teachings of Christ for their own ignoble ends." The artiste as far he has the freedom of expression he also has responsibility of coming up with art that controversy free. The artwork should not be complex to interpret especially to the young ones. The viewers too have the responsibility to interpret and enquire of any type of art before either opposing or proposing of the same. This will aid in a smooth relationship between the artistes and the whole community at large (Mazur, 2002). Gender relates to this image in that it seems to victimize the moral behavior of male gender. This is by having the image merged in urine. All in all, Jesus Christ portrayed in the crucifix was a man. The artiste Serrano did show the image of a man, not because he was male gender but because Jesus Christ was of the said gender (Mazur, 2002). I am willing to fully support Serrano’s artwork; this is because it has a positive message to the Christian fraternity. His message is directed to those

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Howard Hughes Essay Example for Free

Howard Hughes Essay Howard Hughes, one of the most mysterious men in America. He achieved the American dream by not only becoming wealthy but he also built an empire. A businessman, plane designer, movie producer, industrialist, was great in everything he focused in. Had and enormous wealth and intellect, and he also had achievement. He fortune with hard work in any job and with his great influential ideas. Howard Robard Hughes Jr. was born in Houston, Texas on December 24, 1905. He was the son of Allene Gano Hughes and Howard Robard Hughes Sr. , who invented the tri-cone roller bit which allowed rotary drilling for oil in previously inaccessible places. He also founded the Hughes Tool Company to commercialize this invention. Howard’s parents died when he was still a child; he inherited a considerable part of his father’s million dollar fortune. Howards goals as a child were to become the best golfer, the best pilot, and the best movie producer. Despite the fact that he attended great schools, he never got a diploma. His father arranged for him to attend math and engineering classes at the California Institute of Technology. Then he enrolled in the now-called Rice University. Hughes is best known as an aviation genius, because of all of his the designs, ideas, and invention of airplanes. He is famous for the H-4 Hercules, also known as the â€Å"Spruce Goose†, and is also known because of his eccentric behavior. He set many world records while flying that seemed unreachable in his time. On September 13, 1935, he set a new speed record aboard his H-1 Racer by setting a speed of 566 km per hour, the previous record was 505 km per hour. This H-1 was donated to the Smithsonian Institute in 1975; now it is on display at the National Air and Space Museum. On January 19, 1937, he set a trans-continental speed record by flying from Los Angeles to New York City in 7 hours, 28 minutes and 25 seconds. On 1938 he set a record by flying around the world in 3 days and 19 hours; the preceding record was more than four hours. Hughes also received many awards; some are: the Harmon Aviatrix Trophy (1936 and in 1938) which is given for the most outstanding international achievements, the Collier Trophy (1939) which is the most prestigious award in the aviation field, and the Octave Chanute Award (1940) which is given for engineering innovations. Howard Hughes purchased Transcontinental and Western Air (TWA) in 1939. This company grew along with his chairman Jack Frye. TWA broke Pan Am’s legal designation as the US sole international carrier, so TWA began transatlantic flights using the new Lockheed â€Å"Connie†, which was used as both a civilian airliner and U.S. military air transport plane. In 1950, the airline changed its name to Trans World Airlines (TWA), because it offered flying routes from Europe to all Asia until Hong Kong. Later with the Transpacific Route Case of 1969, TWA was able to fly in the Pacific Ocean too. TWA and Pan Am were the only U.S. airlines serving Europe. One of Hughes’s most famous designs was the H-4 Hercules, also known as the Spruce Goose. This was a jumbo boat that flew; it was specially designed for carrying soldiers in a war. The idea was to use it in World War II, but unfortunately the Hercules was finished just after the end of the war. This plane was another satisfactory idea of Hughes, because it successfully flew once with Hughes in control. This is why Howard had to testify against the Senate War Investigating Committee, but they failed to file a final report because the government didn’t permit planes made out of aircraft aluminum. So Hughes had to make the plane out of hard close-grained wood so he could accomplish his contract with the U.S. Government. This plane was on display next to RMS Queen Mary in Long Beach, California for many years, but now it is in McMinnville, Oregon where it is part of the Evergreen Aviation Museum. On July 7, 1946, Hughes was flying a prototype plane of the US Army, made by him, when an oil leak changed the way a propeller had to work. The plane started to drop down and crashed in a Beverly Hills neighborhood. When the plane finally stopped, after destroying three houses, the fuel tanks exploded, setting fire to the plane and a close house. In the accident, Hughes got a crushed collar bone, six crushed ribs and some third-degree burns, but besides this it affected him the rest of his life. With this he turned into a more unusual person because he developed an addiction to opiates because of use of morphine as a painkiller during his rehabilitation. He turned into an isolated person, developing a disease known as hypochondria, which makes a person preoccupied with physical health and body. This person believes, fears or is convinced that he has a serious disease, despite medical reassurance. Hughes became so isolated the he was inside a room for a little over 8 months, only opening the room for food carefully inspected for any germ. The main reason he left the room in 1947 was because he was called to testify. Senator Ralph Owen Brewster opposed the commercial interest of Howard Hughes. He said that Howard had received $40 million from the Defense Department without actually delivering the aircraft he had contracted to provide (which was the H-4 Hercules). Even though Hughes had everything against him, he combated Brewster with the same anger, accusing him of being corrupt. Hughes spread rumors about the senator’s close association with Pan Am (Hughes’s rival company), alleging that he received free flights and other things in return for help beating TWA. The senator also passed a bill to remove government approval for TWA flights across the Atlantic. Hughes openly said that Brewster had promised an end to the Senate investigation if he would agree to merge TWA with Pan Am. In reply, the senator, annoyed by the accusations, stood aside from leading the investigation to become a witness before the committee. He denied Hughes’s accusations and made several opposing accusations, but failed to harm Hughes. The senator’s reputation suffered greatly from this incident with Hughes. Howard Hughes died on April 5, 1976, at the age of 70 when he was going on an airplane from his penthouse in Mexico to a hospital in Houston. The autopsy showed that he died because of a kidney failure, plus in his bloodstream it appeared that he had 1.9 micrograms of codeine. This dose of codeine is more than fatal, and together with a good amount of valium it makes it fatal. Hughes was unrecognizable due to his long years of recluse. His hair, beard, finger and toe nails were disgustingly long. Doctors said that malnutrition to his 6’4† body helped him on his death, because he only weighed 90 lbs. Since he was too unrecognizable, the FBI had no other choice than to use the fingerprint identification to identify the body. Howard is buried in the cemetery of Glenwood in Houston. Hughes is worth writing research paper, because he is a genius on mostly everything related to plane designs. It is good to know that thanks to this man we are able to move fast and around the world. Jets are a great innovation on planes; Howard was the one of inventors of the jet propulsion airplanes, but wasn’t able to make the most out of them, because of his illness. I believe he is an inspiration for most of the youths out there wanting to study engineering, I think this is true, because Howard is my inspiration because of the great example he represents. Besides being a plane genius he was also a movie director producer which is also another reason why this man is a good research topic. Bibliography: Johnson, Bobby H. Howard Hughes The World Net Encyclopedia. Ed. Robert O Zeleny. Chicago World Enc. Inc, 1990. PBS Chasing the Sun- Howard Hughes [Online] Available http://www.pbs.org/Kcet/chasing the sun/innovators/hhughes.html, September 9, 2003. Golden Ages [Online] Available http://nationalaviation.org/museum-enshrinee/asp?eraid=3enshrineeid=302, September 12, 2003. Donald L. Bartlett and James B. Steele, Empire: The Life, Legend, and Madness of Howard Hughes (New York: Norton, 1979). Charles Barton, Howard Hughes and His Flying Boat (Fallbrook, California: Aero, 1982). Michael Drosin, Citizen Hughes (New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1985). Howard Hughes, My Life and Opinions, ed. Robert P. Eaton (Chicago: Best Books Press, 1972). Robert Maheu, Next to Hughes: Behind the Power and Tragic Downfall of Howard Hughes, by His Closest Advisor (New York: HarperCollins, 1992). Harold Rhoden, High Stakes: The Gamble for the Howard Hughes Will (New York: Crown, 1980). Robert W. Rummel , Howard Hughes and TWA (Washington: Smithsonian Press, 1991). Tony Thomas, Howard Hughes in Hollywood (Secaucus, New Jersey: Citadel Press, 1985)

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Urban Regeneration Environment

Urban Regeneration Environment TO WHAT EXTENT HAS CULTURE-LED REGENERATION AFFECTED THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT Abstract To what extent has Culture-Led Regeneration affected the built environment within the UK? Use examples to put this into a wider context. Since the 1940s the phrase ‘Urban Regeneration has been increasingly used in conjunction with the action of redeveloping land which had, in years prior, been areas of moderate to high density urban land use. The study of this process and the way in which it came about has also increased as the successes of Urban Regeneration throughout the United Kingdom and indeed internationally, continue to prove economically, socially and politically advantageous to any number of parties involved in the development of gentrification over the last 70 years. In addition to looking at how regeneration has affected the built environment, the idea that it has been ‘culture-led poses further aspects and issues but however, less scrutiny has been given to the idea of regeneration being ‘culture-led, this is a continuously growing area which deserves more analysis due to the economic success it has given investors and key stakeholders. It has also worked towards preserving some of Britains architectural heritage for the future, giving certain areas that would otherwise have been in a state of disrepair a new lease of life and additional social benefits. By paying attention to the way in which regeneration has developed during the 20th century to becoming culture-led it will be possible to give an in-depth view of the effects on the existing urban fabric of the United Kingdom, particularly over the last 25 years. There are a number of ways in which cultural regeneration takes place, from local governments wanting to increase investment in the area to them gaining status through cultural events such as the Olympic and Commonwealth games, the World Cup to the European Capital of Culture and prominent buildings such as Stadiums and tourist attractions. All of which will be discussed and then highlighted through case studies including the Albert Docks in Liverpool, the Capital of Culture for 2008 and Salford Quays, Manchester which was involved in the Commonwealth Games 2002. On a wider scale, regeneration has played an important role in the history and demographics of cities around the world including Beijing and Melbourne, commonly cited UK examples include Salford Quays in Manchester and Albert Docks in Liverpool; other UK examples include, Canary Wharf in London and Cardiff in Wales. For the purposes of this study, UK examples will be used to directly answer the question posed, which will then be put in to context through briefly analysing the city of Bilbao and Barcelona in, Spain. Regeneration or gentrification can be a contentious topic due to the variety of complex issues surrounding this topic. This often includes, premium prices charged for the new developments. To the nature of change and impact on the local communities that may have fallen in to decline. The existing infrastructure and community that is impacted on by the process of regeneration can take time to evolve and ultimately impact upon the initiatives proposed, as well as the effects on the local community, the power of which should not be underestimated. In order to balance the argument for regeneration it will be necessary to substantiate these different viewpoints and provide a fair consideration from all stakeholders who would be involved and affected by developments. The impact on the environment caused by regeneration can vary depending on the amount of refurbishing and the variety of materials used in the regeneration programme. The extent to which these are recycled and reused to reduce the amount of waste and energy varies with each development. This field of expertise is large and far-reaching and will be discussed briefly in chapter 4 using case studies to highlight the various aspects. The study will also address physical as well as the environmental impacts of regeneration with past and current projects aiming to improve urban areas, with the aid of culture to deliver change. The environment aspect in particular is becoming increasingly important as the countrys social conscience continues to increase into the future. The paper will then draw together conclusions using arguments both in favour of and also against urban regeneration. It will also draw on why cultural regeneration is initiated and why these areas are finding the effects of cultural regeneration successful. The paper will also touch on areas that may have failed or where areas are finding the task of regenerating the physical but also the social and political aspects challenging. It will also be possible to discuss and argue the extent to which culture-led regeneration has moved away from the initial aims of improving an areas social and economic problems to also encompass the physical and environmental aspects of improving an area. This multi-faceted approach has continued to provide many obstacles for experts within the area but these are challenges that, if overcome, will ensure the longevity and economic well being of the project in question for a long time to come. The degree to which urban regeneration has affected the built environment in the UK is likely to be extensive due to well known case studies and examples, as well as visual evidence being clear in day to day life and also being reported in the media, however extracting the elements of gentrification to date and stating to what level they have been purely culture-led will prove more complicated due to difficulties in finding material that points to an area of culture as being the sole catalyst for the regeneration to begin. The essay proposes to demonstrate why cultural regeneration is successful Chapter 1 History History of regeneration Industrial revolution Early 20th century (1940s) Last 25 years (definition culture led detail) Castleford, Canary Wharf QUOTE The United Kingdom has a long history that has become synonymous with the manufacturing industry, dating back to the British Empire when the UK imported and exported many products from countries around the world. During the earliest phase of the Industrial Revolution the Bridgewater Canal was built in 1761, this halved the price of coal in Manchester due to decreased transport costs and ease of access. This triggered a period of canal building activity between 1760 and 1850, the canals provided the infrastructure by which trade could occur more easily and cheaply and it is along these waterways that many cities were developed, including Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Birmingham and London. Many industrial facilities were strategically located close to rivers, canals and estuaries, most notably Manchester and Liverpool being situated just 35 miles apart and joined by the Manchester Ship Canal, the North West became a fundamental destination for cotton and textiles and manufacturing as well as Liverpool becoming a central dock for trade due its global connections. The Industrial Revolution also witnessed a large growth in population, in 1695 the population of Britain was estimated to be 5.5million, by the early part of 1801, just over 100 years later, this had grown to 9.3million and 40 years later again, almost doubled to 15.9million people in 1841. These figures represent a 60% increase in just 40 years. (www.historylearningsite.co.uk) In the North West, Manchester alone experienced a dramatic six-fold increase in its population during this time. The development of cities during this period clearly meant that workers moved to these areas seeking jobs, stability and prosperity. By 1900, 80% of Britains population lived in urban areas, whilst the number of workers employed in the agricultural sector fell from eleven percent to just two percent. (www.statistics.gov.uk). There were various reasons for this to occur, but the main ones being the advances in technology and the closure of many farming and agricultural companies, hence reducing the number of those employed in this sector. This sudden surge in the migration of people from rural to urban areas, initially for jobs in the factories or mills, obviously meant that housing was required in these ‘super-cities, and it was needed quickly. The ever increasingly rich owners of the businesses saw the need to provide cheap housing for their workers, and so the now-famous back to back terraced housing associated with British industrial inner cities were born. The back-to-back terrace was the most popular addition to the city due to it being cheap and easy to construct, as well as durable and serving the purpose that it was required for. However, much of this housing was constructed without proper planning, adequate facilities or infrastructure for clean running water and waste disposal. Areas throughout the United Kingdom fell into a state of squalor and disrepair; serious efforts were made to reverse the ‘slum conditions resulting from the housing crisis over the next 100 years. During 1909, a Town Planning Act was formed, this act was to, ‘forbid the building of any more back-to-back houses, this highlighted the need for builders and designs to meet certain standards. During the First World War the slogan, ‘Homes fit for heroes (Crisp 1998) which accompanied the revised Town Planning Act in 1919. This Act focused on implementing improvements to inner city slums on general housing conditions, in order to create space for new housing many of the workers were persuaded to move out to the suburbs which were ‘greener and ‘cleaner this coincided with the decline of the industrial revolution and again agriculture levels increased. Once many of the inner city areas had been abandoned, a prompt decision was taken to destroy many of the workers houses due to the overcrowded and poor conditions of them. During the post war-era employment in the city grew more slowly than in towns and rural areas, employment began to decrease in the 1960s and the decline spread to almost all cities in the 1970s. As the worlds first industrial economy virtually collapsed within a ten year period between 1970 and 1980, 55% of jobs were lost in cities during the recession. (Turok Edge) The former industrial cities of Newcastle, Glasgow, Liverpool and Manchester were left lifeless and devoid of jobs, whilst towns and rural areas saw a steady increase in the number of opportunities. The inner cities were left with polluted by-products from the factories whilst the movement of jobs and people to the country was actively encouraged with the aim of reducing over-crowding, in order to clean up the cities and plan orderly settlements for the future. This led to further social and economic problems such as crime and relative poverty as many areas sank in to depression. During the 1980s, Manchester and Liverpool along with the other industrial areas of Birmingham and Newcastle had lost their influential status, mills, warehouses and docks which had made the cities so successful lay abandoned and increasingly vandalised, whilst the river and canal networks lay polluted. The beginning of the ‘Information Age during the 1990s saw a sharp transition from primary manufacturing industries to a knowledge based, service industry. This was seen as an important driver for change, despite the ability for new industries and businesses to locate in rural areas, through the use of the digital medium of the Internet. However, financial services and the retail industry have increasingly relocated business to city centres once again, creating flagship stores that drew service sector workers back into the city centre in turn creating the need for additional services in the city. The end of the 20th century saw the start of a renaissance in the development of new and improved venues for cultural activity, from arts and media centres, theatres, museums and galleries, to less formal roles such as public art works and urban designs in the public domain. Many towns and cities were seen to be re-investing in the rich cultural heritage of the past, and complementing this with contemporary art projects and exhibitions. It was during this time that work within the creative industries was recognised as bringing a viable way of sustaining a business enterprise around the arts and crafts, later joined by digital media based work. Chapter 2 Culture-Led Models Major events 3 models e.g. Olympic games (London , Commonwealth, Capital of Culture, World Cup, Stadiums International context/differences Bilbao (Capital of Culture), Barcelona (Olympics) It has not only been traditional and historic cultural capitals or world cities, that have looked to install this new form of cultural energy into their urban centres, those seeking to transform their image, established industrial cities as in the case of Bilbao and Glasgow. These cities are undergoing re-imaging, through new and upgraded cultural facilities to try and appeal as cosmopolitan destinations for the first time. Towns and cities such as these, will undoubtedly be greatly affected through culture, not only on the built environment, but also in their social and economic development. The role culture can play in attempting to regenerate an area can be expressed through three different models of regeneration; cited in a report by the Department of Culture, Media and Sports, on the contribution of culture within regeneration in the United Kingdom. The three models include; Culture-led Regeneration Culture Regeneration Culture Regeneration The models which have been identified show where cultural activity can be incorporated, or incorporates itself into a regeneration process. The different models developed include defining culture-led regeneration, cultural regeneration as well as culture and regeneration. Although sounding similar, the models represent and explain three varied approaches to regeneration. Culture-led Regeneration often involves the use of physical and environmental improvements and more often results in the creation of new cultural facilities. This can be through the construction of new buildings, or the reuse of existing structures, examples of which might include Peckham Library, the TATE modern in Southwark, or the Sage music centre and BALTIC centre for contemporary art in Gateshead. Due to the nature of these highly visible projects, both in the public domain and through marketing and advertising, there can be a misinterpretation that some cultural facilities are solely responsible for the regeneration of an area, when in fact they may be a less significant element in a wider, longer term programme. (Evans 2005). This can be identified particularly where â€Å"flagship† projects are concerned. Bilbao is one example where the external image of the city has been dominated by a single building; the Guggenheim. In this case, far less attention has been given to the preparation of infrastructure, such as improvements to roads and metro systems as well as the improvements to housing, with new residential developments, with the redevelopment of existing cultural facilities that may also have contributed to the regeneration of the city. Castleford, in West Yorkshire, has a population of around 38,000. The restructuring of the mining industry in 1997 meant that the number of employees had fallen to under six hundred. The closure of the mines, and other redundancies has led to unusually high levels of unemployment, poor health and low education achievements. The residents are unusually committed to improving the quality life, The Castleford Project is a programme of improvements supported by a collaboration between Wakefield, key regeneration agencies and the community; to improve the town centre, health care, bring safety within the neighbourhoods and local communities and give opportunities to the younger demographic.. The successful approach to the Castleford project shows that culture-led can support regeneration of the former West Yorkshire mining town. Just a few years prior many felt that towns on the outskirts of Yorkshire such as Castleford were in terminal decline following pit and factory closures that put thousands out of work. A strong community spirit led the changes in the area which saw the development of a visionary 25 year urban renaissance programme, this large scale project covered Castleford and four other local towns. The Castleford project has been unique in the sense that it was designed to empower local people to improve their area and develop their own vision and identity for the future. It involved a partnership between the council, the local community, and Channel 4 television which invested one hundred thousand pounds, as well as regional and national organisations; as a result local people have a sense of pride and care over their community. The initial catalyst for the regeneration of Castleford was the development of the Xscape leisure and shopping complex, this boasts the largest indoor ski slope in Europe, it is said to attract more visitors than anywhere else in Yorkshire, which has also led to the creation of many jobs, more than previously available when the pit was in existence. Considerable investment is being put into the area with one single firm staking  £55m. There is good quality house building, a new hotel, supermarket and plans for a heritage centre. By being rooted in the community and having the local peoples full support this regeneration programme has proved a success, if a project such as this is not deeply rooted in the community then it is not guaranteed to be successful or sustainable. Barcelona is a true example of Cultural Regeneration, where a Cultural City, was a successful host of the Olympic Games in 1992. Barcelona took the initiative with the early approach to urban design and culture planning. The design of creative quarters which span between the old city and the Olympic village site, this often meant refurbishing and reviving derelict industrial areas. This form of Urbanism in Barcelona has been characterised by the forming of cultural and public squares linked by avenues and promenades that promote the form of culture. A major feature of Barcelonas regeneration programme involved the expansion of the city centre to encompass the former industrial areas situated on the citys periphery. This allowed the redevelopment and expansion of the commercial sector along the waterfront. In 1999 the RIBA presented its Royal Gold Medal to Barcelona, the first time a city has received the award. It was given the award for its dramatic and successful transformation whi ch is now widely accepted as a model for cultural regeneration on an international scale. Barcelona proved itself through the successful bid and hosting of the 1992 Olympic Games; other examples of this cultural regeneration model include the European Capital of Culture programmes (ECOC), the international Expositions (EXPO) along with the annual celebrations such as the Edinburgh festival. Host cities have used these international events to increase their cultural profile and in turn these events to help initiate a long term regeneration programme. Glasgow became the first city to become European Capital of Culture in 1990 having had more than three years to plan for the event. This award was seen as an important opportunity as a catalyst for urban regeneration through the form of culture; Glasgows legacy as the first city with ECOC status 16 years ago has sustained this development; similar effects to Barcelona which has been recognised as a success internationally. Seville (EXPO 92), Lisbon (ECOC 94 EXPO 98) and Rotterdam (ECOC 01) are cases where large-scale regeneration programmes have been combined with these cultural events. Liverpool has been nominated as ECOC in 2008 and has chosen to build up to this event by hosting themed years. Liverpool was a major participant in the national celebrations of Sea Britain, with special relevance to 2005, The Year of the Sea. Hosting the start and finish of the 2005-06 2007-08 Round the World Clipper Race. 2008 the year of the Capital of Culture will see Liverpool hosting major events highlighting different aspects of the citys unique culture including The Tall Ships Race which has a significant connection with the cities maritime heritage. One event can have wider and far lasting cultural benefits, whilst attracting further investment and increased visitor numbers. Liverpool suffered a vast industrial decline leaving large areas of Brownfield sites derelict which caused economic and social problems. The ECOC will be a vital aid in reshaping and reforming Liverpool to revive the city back to its former successful status, with the regeneration of its famous waterfront known as the Albert Docks. In the third model, Culture and Regeneration, cultural activities are not fully integrated at either the development or planning stages. This is primarily due to the responsibilities for cultural provision and regeneration being often handled separately, within different departments. This means that any provisions for leisure or culture are likely to be small and implemented after any physical regeneration has taken place, as normally the primary focus was to develop housing and commercial space, the main and sure-fire reasons for bringing money in to an area. This model suggests that in terms of physical and environmental regeneration, the visible signs of any cultural activity or improvements may be small, but this does not mean that cultural activity is absent. This indicates that the cultural element has not been used to promote the regeneration programme. This type of regeneration has distinct connections with community groups, local groups and councils which may not exist in la rger flagship programmes, These three models Culture-led Regeneration, Cultural Regeneration and Culture Regeneration, highlight the different scale of regeneration projects and the level of cultural activities which can differ greatly, from whole â€Å"cultural cities† to redeveloped waterfronts, to community orientated public art programmes. The nature of the culture element in each model may vary, it is clear that culture can contribute to the regeneration programmes whilst also interacting with the physical, social and economic aspects that help to revive areas. The physical and environmental improvements, delivered within a cultural context are the visible signs of progression that ultimately promote the success and image of the city. Chapter 3- Case Studies Case Study 1 Salford Quays Case Study 2 Albert Docks Case Studies Albert Docks The Albert Docks is situated on the waters of the Mersey. The former docks comprises from five blocks of five storey warehouses, which provided 1.25 million square foot of storage space, surrounding by a quadrangle of water. Traditionally, the port had relied on privately owned warehousing in the town to store cargo from the dock. Since the decline in the city between 1970 to 1980, Liverpool has experienced more urban regeneration than virtually any other city in the UK. Since 1971 the city had to respond to a reduction in its population of about a quarter and a loss of more than half of its manufacturing industry. Over this period Liverpool has experimented in a variety in Urban regeneration schemes. The first government response to the emerging â€Å"inner city problem† came in 1968 with the launch of the Urban Programme small amounts of short term funding to support local community development projects in the inner city. Liverpool was amongst the first to benefit from 50 schemes supported by the programme including nursery, class, sports and community facilities. In 1969 the Home Office established a series of Community Development Projects (CDPs) including the Vauxhall CDP in addition to supporting a number of local projects, community education programmes, community centres etc. Researchers on the project concluded that the areas problems had structural roots and resulted from external economic change and restructuring (Topping and Smith 1977) In 1979, the new government established Urban Development Cooperation (including the Merseyside Development Corporation) central government agencies with the power and resources to reclaim large amounts of urban dereliction and to return them to beneficial economic use. Other areas of derelict land developers were offered more relaxed planning permissions and tax breaks. Through the 1980s British regeneration policy put a lot of emphasis on supporting local economic development by increasing the supply of land and buildings in inner cities. The first response of the government was to introduce City Challenge; a programme that allowed local authorities to lead local partnerships in bidding for central government money to support local regeneration projects, Liverpool was one of the first successful cities receiving 37.5million in the first round of bidding. By the 1980s Liverpools central area was in decline, few people lived in the City Centre, office and Commercial employment was falling and shopping centres were losing trade. The start of the programme to transform the waterfront commenced in 1986 the project saw the conversion of the existing warehouses into a complex of retail, restaurants, cafe, and a series of office units and business headquarters. Also there are a number of unique visitor attractions;- Tate Liverpool, the Beatles Story, Merseyside Maritime Museum, the International Slavery Museum, Liverpool Ghost Tours, and The Yellow Duckmarine. This development includes a number of luxury apartment, hotels and a state of the art conference / exhibition centre. The importance of the Albert docks to Liverpool is vast as it continues to attract visitors and has helped to re brand Liverpool from a declining and poor city. This in turn has led to the millions of pounds of investment reshaping the heart of the city centre with the development of Paradise Street. In the new millennium there are new challenges for planning and regeneration schemes in response to changes in social trends (cultural and political) with an increase in environmental issues, economic changes and associated with globalisation and the drive for developments to be more sustainable. However Liverpool has recognised the value of culture to aid in transforming a failing city, with the help of this development it will ignite many other opportunities for the city. Case Study Salford Quays Located in the former Docks area of Manchester and Salford, recently labelled as Salford Quays, The Lowry Centre is widely recognised as being key in the regeneration of Salford, Manchester and adding to the improvement of the North West as a region. As a national landmark in the Millennium Project for â€Å"The Arts† this comprises of galleries, theatres, bars, shops and restaurants. The Lowry Centre opened in April 2000 and has since been credited, along with its associated projects, with the creation of 6,500 jobs in the local economy. It is predicted that 11,000 new jobs will arise as a result of the regeneration of the Quays as a whole [Goodey 2000]. These associated cultural projects include The Designer Outlet shopping centre, the Imperial War Museum North (IWMN) and the latest development of the Mediacity:uk which will house the BBC; it also includes other leisure orientated facilities such as a multi screen cinema complex and a water sports centre. Although a culture-led scheme, the Lowry project was conceived as the final part of the regeneration of Salford Quays, a process that began in the mid 1980s, following the purchase of the Docks from the Manchester Ship Canal Company by Salford City Council in 1983. A development plan was prepared, which sought to â€Å"create a new quarter of the city which has a unique character derived from the way in which all parts of the development are related to water; and where people would be encouraged to work, live and play in a high quality environment† [Salford City Council, 1985]. However, despite the great potential that existed in the development of the waterfront, the site was not ideally located in terms of attracting residents, businesses or visitors; â€Å"The Docks were three kilometres from the city centre, enclosed by walls and filled with polluted water† [Struthers 2003]. At that time there was very little infrastructure existing prior to the plan. The adjacent Trafford Park Industrial Estate, was littered with derelict warehouses that had little access to the road network and no public transport provisions. Consequently, a reclamation programme was directed at three vital aspects of the site; water, roads and services, in addition to public access and landscaping. Following concerns that the site may be developed purely for housing and offices, a development strategy review was prepared and published in 1988 and set the context for future proposals with an emphasis on a mixture of uses and their relationship to the water, providing opportunities for leisure and culture based activities [Salford City Council, 1988]. This reflected the idea that both physical and environmental improvements had to be made in order to fully exploit the potential of Salford Quays. It took five years to close the main water basin which allowed the water itself to be treated and cleaned whilst the surrounding areas were cleared ready for the private sector development that was to follow. The access roads were developed to link the Quays internally, this initially meant the improvement of bridges, paths and walkways. There were also connections made to the major road networks into Manchester and beyond. This was all carried out in conjunction with landscaping the area and installing lighting and street furniture before any major building work could be carried out. The success of the Lowry Centre was entirely dependent on the infrastructure that was laid before it, in order to carry the number of visitors, workers and residents that would be required for it to be a success. The presence of the Lowry itself was a main drawing point for the Imperial War Museum which is now located directly opposite and is linked by the Lowry pedestrian bridge. The Imperial War Museum, a major tourist attraction in its own right was opened in 2002 and was designed by renowned architect, Daniel Libeskind, the imposing design aimed to depict the â€Å"world as a globe, shattered by war and mans self-destruction† [Libeskind, 2001]. Along with Old Trafford, the Imperial War Museum and the Lowry signify the cultural landmarks known as The Quays. The decision to extend Manchesters tram link to the Quays from Manchester City Centre as well as Bury in the north and Altrincham in the south of the city meant that the Quays was now open to a greater number of visitors, commuters and also residents. Chapter 4- Regeneration Sustainable regeneration Environmental effects of regeneration Physical regeneration Arguments against Regeneration social and environmental (rich people/poor areas and the infrastructure) Environmental / Physical effects The appearance and environment of towns and cities are clear representations of their history as well as indicators of their present ability to provide a quality of life to residents and business owners or workers. The built environment has always performed a wide range of functions, the main theme being initially shelter, social enablers and also trade. All of this f

Friday, September 20, 2019

Britannia Marketing Analysis

Britannia Marketing Analysis Britannia is available in all over India. Britannia Industries limited is engaged in the provision of bakery products, including biscuits, bread, Rusk, and cakes. It is headquartered in Kolkata. Employed about more than 3000 people as on 2010. Britannia all the products we can find in every place. Like rural market, urban and cities. The companys distribution channel divided in three levels. Manufacturer to distributor, distributor to whole seller and whole seller to retailer then the customer. The biscuits generally available in every daily needs shop provision stores, grocery shop. The Wadia group of India along with Group Dan one of France, are equal share holders in ABIL, UK which is a major shareholder in BIL. GROUPE DANONE is an international FMCG major specializing in Fresh Dairy Products, Bottled water and Biscuits. One of the world leader in the food industry. No. 2 worldwide in biscuits through its three core businesses (Fresh dairy products, Beverages and biscuits products). Britannia in Goa was started in 1942. After liberation of Goa in 1962 they introduce depot in Goa to the K.D. Naik in margao. AIMES AND OBJECTIVES Taking the feedback of Britannia customers about the schemes by Britannia and their competitors in Goan market. METHODOLOGY In this market research I used questionnaire as the research instrument. I interviewed around 100 outlets (shop keeper, whole seller, super markets etc). Interaction was made while the survey was conducted. The entire respondent were asked their suggestion which were given to the company. Industrial Analysis Industry: FMCG Industry. FMCG industry, also called as consumer packaged goods industry primarily deals with the production, distribution and marketing of consumer packaged goods. The FMCG are those consumables which are normally consumed by the consumers at a regular interval. Prime activities of FMCG industry are selling; marketing, financing, purchasing etc. the competition among FMCG manufacturer is also growing and investment in this industry is also increasing specially in India. FMCG is regarded as the fourth largest sector with total market size of US$13.1 billion. FMCG sector in India is estimated to grow 60% by 2010. Sub industry: Bakers. Companies: Parle, Britannia, ITC (Sun feast), Kwality, Nestle, Kelloggs, Priya food products, modern food etc. Leading Players: Product variation: Companies Overview. In 1892, a biscuit company was started in a ordinary house in Kolkata with an initial investment of Rs. 295. The company we all know as BRITANNIA today. In 1910, arrival of electricity Britannia sees operations developed. And by 1921, it became the first company east of the Suez Canal to use imported gas ovens. Britannia was acquiring a reputation quality and value. During 1944 sales ramp up by more than eight times to reach 1.36 crore. The company unveiled its new corporate identity- Eat Healthy Think Better- and made its first foray into the dairy product market. In 1999, the Britannia Khao, World Cup Jao promotion further one of Indias best known brands and also one of the most admired food brands in the country. In 2002 BIL launches joint venture with Fonterra, the worlds second largest dairy company Britannia New Zealand Foods Pvt. Ltd. is born Rated as One amongst the Top 200 Small Companies of the World by Forbes Global Economic Times ranks BIL Indias 2nd Most Trusted Brand Britannia brand is all about eating healthy for leading a better life. Largest company in the Indian Food processing industry whose product range also includes Breads and Cakes. Manufacturing and sourcing locations spread across the length and breadth of the country. Exporter of key biscuit brands enjoying brand loyalty in export markets. Vision:- The companys policy is customer satisfaction with less price as well as quality. Target maximum customer and sale of volume. The company wants to reach the product in every segment of customer. Also targeted to urban, rural, city town and villages area of market. High promotion for selling the product and achieve maximum market share and to increase the profitability by selling of maximum quantity. Britannia Industries Ltd. (BIL) Organisation structure. Chairman Managing Director General Manager Ass. General Manager Finance dept. Production dept. Marketing dept. sales Purchase dept. HR dept. Senior Manger Senior Manager Senior Manager Senior Manager senior manager finance Manager Production manager Marketing manager Area Sales Manager HR Manager Accountant Officers marketing excecutive Area Sales Incharge Ass. HR manager Officers Supervisors Sales man Executive Central Manufacturing UnitDistribution Channel Five forces:- Threats of new entry:- Economics of scale. Cost and resources advantage. Brand preference and consumer loyalty. Access to distribution channel. Capital requirement. Proprietary products. Buyer power:- Cost switching to competitors brands. Large number of buyers. Product differentiation. Supplier power:- Brands. Distributer. Substitutes. Availability of attractive price substitutes. Satisfaction level of substitutes. No immediate substitutes. Competitive rivalry. Demand for products. Price wars. Nature of competitors. PROJECT RESEARCH OBJECTIVE:- Taking the feedback of Britannia customers about the schemes by Britannia and their competitors in Goan market. METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION:- Primary data collection. Through structured questionnaire. Interview or feedback of the shopkeepers. Secondary data collection. Internet Market research books Company brochure and leaflets. SAMPLING SIZE:- 100 OUTLETS. (Super markets, large stores, large kirana, Small kirana, Bakery and food store, Mithai shop, Pan Bedi store, school and college outlets) RESEARCH LOCATIONS:- South Goa Margao main market Margao surroundings. Vasco Quepem Ponda. North Goa Panjim main market Panjim surroundings Mapusa Pednem Collection Of Information. It was the excited task of collecting the information as the end user had to explain all details of the survey and then non- availability as particular time consuming. The questionnaires were filled by the researchers due to language problems and limited time during survey. FINDING AND ANALYSIS. The first question in the questionnaire was about the stock of biscuits which respondent kept in your shop? Sample size: 100 Analysis: According to survey, most of the shopkeepers kept the product of Britannia and Parle more than other products. According to above data we can analyse that 48% of stock is filled by the Britannia products and 22% of stock is filled up by the Parle products and remaining 30% of stock is kept sun feast, Priya gold and other local biscuits. Which brand of products is mostly sold? Sample size: 100. Analysis: According to survey out of 100 respondents, 46 supports for Britannia, 27 respondents go for Parle and 20 told sun feast is mostly sold. It means that Britannia and Parle were more demanded by the customer as compare to sun feast and other local products. What made consumer to purchase Britannia products. Sample size: 100 Analysis: According to above pie chart shows that, it can be evaluated that most of the people i.e. 57% of the people go for Britannia due to its flavour than 30% prefer Britannia due to its price and rest of 15% due to its popularity and fame. Which seasons the consumption of Britannia is high? Sample size: 100. Analysis: According to survey, consumption of Britannia products is more in the rainy and winter season, as the consumption in summer seasons gets low. According to you, price of the Britannia product is? Sample size: 100 Analysis: According to survey, 49 respondents say that price of the product is reasonable and around 25 to 24 people says it price of Britannia product is high and low. Which brands schemes is more profitable to you (shopkeeper)? Sample size: 100 Analysis: According to survey, most of the respondent say Parle product schemes is more profitable as percentage of providing schemes by Parle is more as compared to other brands product like Britannia, sun feast and Priya gold. What do you want to say about the service of Britannia? Sample size: 100. Analysis: The survey founded that shopkeepers are satisfied with the service provided by the Britannia. Overall, the only thing is to say is that it is OK. Some of the places of shopkeeper responded that the distributor doesnt give regular supply of product and also they were not responding timely. How do you rank the Britannia with the competitor in case of schemes? Sample size: 100 Analysis: On the basis of above data most of the shopkeepers view not supporting to the Britannia product in relation to schemes because of improper supply of the products. These are the only reason which makes shopkeeper rank Britannia products lower than the competitors. What would you like to say about Britannia schemes? Sample size: Analysis: On the basis of above data most of the peoples say that percentage of providing schemes is very less as compared to other products brands. For e.g. If Britannia provide marigold scheme, such as 50+2. The same Parle will provide 50+3. These are the difference. Very less people say it is profitable only if they can buy in bulk. Have you seen any promotion activity of the product through electronic media or print media? Sample size: 100. Analysis: According to above survey, more than half of the customers said that they have Not saw any promotion activity of the Britannia product through print media. Suggestions. To improve their service of the products. Take corrective measures to overcome the problems of late or delay supply of products. They should give the proper feedback to the shopkeepers on the time. They should carryout promotional activities properly or effectively. ANNEXURE Questionnaire:- What are all the biscuits that you stock in your shop? Parle Britannia Sun feast Priya gold Other local biscuits. Which brand of products is mostly sold? Parle Sun feast Britannia Other local What made consumer to purchase Britannia products. Price Taste / Flavour Popularity / Fame Which season the consumption of Britannia product is high? Winter Summer Rainy According to you price of the products is? Low Reasonable High No idea Which brand schemes is more profitable to you? Britannia Parle Sun feast Priya gold. What do you want to say about the service of Britannia? Satisfactory Poor/ Bad No comment How do you rank the Britannia with competitor in case of schemes? Lower Good/Ok Excellent No comment What would you like to say about Britannia schemes? Other competitor percentage is more Increase percentage of schemes More profitable only if buy in bulk No comments Have you seen any promotion activity of the products through electronic media or print media? Yes No Personal Information: Name: Area/Place:

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Essay --

Reflection 2 Yassir Shahriar 4490353 Professional development is a subject about understanding and using those effectively from my prospective. Besides it enhances a vital skill called â€Å"critically thinking†. Since the course started my expectations were always at the higher level. After the long run with my team and my teacher, I personally believe that I have successfully met my expectations from this course. As I was working with my teams it was really important for me to adopt some strategies and use them accurately. I have actually done that. Hill, C (2007) said, â€Å"A group is an association of two or more individuals who have a shared sense of identity and who interact with each other in structured ways on the basis of a common set of expectations about each other’s behavior†(Hill, C, 2007, International Business, McGraw Hill/Irwin, New York, p-94). Thus my first strategy was we will discuss each of us points and everyone will take them accordingly. I thought that we have make things easier that’s why I arranged a lot of meetings. Moreover I was always connected via internet to...

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Black Boy :: essays research papers

The Crying of Lot 49 In a story as confusing and ambiguous as Thomas Pynchon’s The Crying of Lot 49, it is difficult to connect any aspect of the book to a piece of modern culture. However, Oedipa’s quest, her search for the truth, and the paranoia therein, are inherent in the plots of today’s most-watched television and movies. Though many themes from the story can be tied to modern culture, perhaps the most prominent is the theme of a quest for truth. Oedipa’s quest is best represented via a popular FOX television show called The X-Files.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  At first sight, the comparison is almost too obvious. Agent Fox Mulder, played by David Duchovny, seeks the truth behind the apparent mystery of alien abduction and the supernatural, a quest that he dubs â€Å"the X-Files†. Oedipa, too, is looking for the truth underneath her mystery: WASTE. Both characters yearn for the truth behind events, a truth that may or may not exist, in mysteries that fold plots upon themselves endlessly. Beyond the obvious similarities, however, lie more, almost uncanny, parallels.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Though both Mulder and Oedipa claim to seek the truth, what they both seek is resolution to the questions within themselves. For example, it is understood by fans of The X-Files that Mulder began his search for extraterrestrial life with the supposed alien abduction of his sister. The quest for the truth, then, is personalized for Agent Mulder, as he himself claims that he would not work as an FBI agent if his sister had not been [supposedly] abducted. Oedipa is on a personal quest as well. No other character in the story seeks the â€Å"truth† behind WASTE, the muted courier’s horn, the play The Courier’s Tragedy, Pierce Inverarity’s stamps, and a secret postal service. In fact, no one else has ever before made such a [possibly ridiculous] connection! So, as both characters seek their personal truths, they slowly begin to fear that no answer exists.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The motives of these two seekers are important, and indeed similar. There seems to be an obsession to find a truth in symbols (be they horns or crop circles), a truth that both characters come to realize may not even exist. By definition, obsession is â€Å"a persistent disturbing preoccupation with an often unreasonable idea or feeling†. Therefore, the moment that their questions are absolved, the moment that their hypotheses are proved, the quest and its subsequent paranoia, frustration, and pain are removed.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Fons Trompenaars’ Four Types of Corporate Culture Essay

Guided Missile – a project-oriented approach; concerned with results. This group looks for practical solutions to shared challenges via multi-disciplinary teams. The U.K. and U.S. fit into this group. Familial – this is a power-oriented model in which a ‘family’ approach is taken. Power comes from high but is well known and there is a deep concern for all members. Japan and Belgium fit into this model. Eiffel Tower – a role-oriented group in which hierarchy is important; top-down management style. To manage change, the business would have to change rules and procedures. France and Germany score high in this model. Incubator – fulfillment-oriented group who see all members as ‘co-creators’. A relatively egalitarian structure in which individuals are given the freedom to improvise. Silicon Valley is a good example of where this has worked to great effect. Trompenaars and Hampden-Turner: Seven Cultural Dimensions 1. UNIVERSALISM versus PLURALISM â€Å"What is more important – rules or relationships?† The degree of importance a culture assigns to either the law or to personal relationships. In a universalistic culture, people share the belief that general rules, codes, values and standards take precedence over the needs and claims of friends and other relationships. In a pluralistic culture, people see culture in terms of human friendship and intimate relationships. While rules do exist in a pluralistic culture, they merely codify how people relate to one another. 2. INDIVIDUALISM versus COMMUNITARISNISM â€Å"Do we function as a group or as individuals?† The degree to which people see themselves function more as a community or more as individuals. In a principally individualistic culture, people place the individual before the community. This means that individual happiness, fulfillment and welfare prevails and people take their own initiative and take care of themselves. In a principally communitarian culture, people place the community before the individual. Thus, it is the responsibility of the individual to act in ways which serve society. In doing so, individual  needs are automatically attended. 3. SPECIFIC versus DIFFUSE â€Å"How far do we get involved?† The degree to which responsibility is specifically assigned or is diffusely accepted. In a specific culture, people first analyse the elements individually and then put them together, the whole is the sum of its parts. People’s lives are divided accordingly and, only a single component can be entered at a time. Interactions between people are very well-defined. Specific individuals concentrate on hard facts, standards and contracts. A diffusely oriented culture starts with the whole and sees individual elements from the perspective of the total. All elements are related to one another. Relationships between elements are more important than individual elements. 4. AFFECTIVITY versus NEUTRALITY â€Å"Do we display our emotions?† The degree to which individuals display their emotions. In an affective culture, people display their emotions and it is not deemed necessary to hide feelings. However, in a neut ral culture, people are taught not to display their feelings overtly. The degree to which feelings become manifested is therefore minimal. While emotions are felt, they are controlled. 5. INNER DIRECTED versus OUTER DIRECTED â€Å"Do we control our environment or work with it?† The degree to which individuals believe the environment can be controlled versus believing that the environment controls them. In an inner-directed culture, people have a mechanistic view of nature; nature is complex but can be controlled with the right expertise. People believe that humans can dominate nature, if they make the effort. In an outer-directed culture, people have an organic view of nature. Mankind is viewed as one of nature’s forces and should therefore live in harmony with the environment. People therefore adapt themselves to external circumstances. 6. ACHIEVED STATUS versus ASCRIBED STATUS â€Å"Do we have to prove ourselves to receive status or is it given to us?† The degree to which individuals must prove themselves to receive status versus status simply given to them. In a culture with achieved status, people derive their status from what they have accomplished. Achieved status must be proven time and time again and status will be given accordingly. In a culture with ascribed status, people derive their status from birth, age, gender or wealth. Here status is not based on achievement but it is accorded on the basis of the person’s being. 7. SEQUENTIAL TIME versus SYNCHRONIC TIME â€Å"Do we do things one at a time or several things at once?† The degree to which individuals do things one at a time versus several things at once. Cultures developed their own response to time. Time orientation has two aspects: the relative importance cultures assign to the past, present and future, and their approach to structuring time. In a sequential culture, people structure time sequentially and do things one at a time. In a synchronic time culture, people do several things at once, believing time is flexible and intangible. http://www.provenmodels.com/580/seven-dimensions-of-culture/charles-hampden-turner–fons-trompenaars/ Geert Hofstede’s Six Cultural Dimensions The research of Geert Hofstede has shown that cultural differences between nations are especially found on the deepest level; i.e. on the level of values. In comparison, cultural differences among organizations are especially identified on the level of practices. Practices are more tangible than values. Means Oriented vs Goal Oriented The means oriented versus goal-oriented dimension is, among the six dimensions, most closely connected with the effectiveness of the organization. In a means oriented culture the key feature is the way in which work has to be carried out; people identify with the â€Å"how†. In a goal oriented culture employees are primarily out to achieve specific internal goals or results, even if these involve substantial risks; people identify with the â€Å"what†. In a very means oriented culture people perceive themselves as avoiding risks and making only a limited effort in their jobs, while each workday is pretty much the same. In a very goal oriented culture, the employees are primarily out to achieve specific internal goals or results, even if these involve substantial risks. Local vs Professional In a local company employees identify with the boss and/or the unit in which one works. In a professional organization the identity of an employee is determined by his profession and/or the content of the job. In a very local culture employees are very short term directed, they are internally focused and there is strong social control to be like everybody else. In a very professional culture it is the reverse Internally Driven vs Externally Driven In a very internally driven culture employees perceive their task towards the outside world as totally given, based on the idea that business ethics and honesty matters most and that they know best what is good for the customer and the world at large. In a very externally driven culture the only emphasis is on meeting the customer’s requirements; results are most important and a pragmatic rather than an ethical attitude prevails. This dimension is distinguishable from means versus goal orientation because in this case it is not impersonal results that are at stake, but the satisfaction of the customer, client or commissioning party Open System vs Closed System This dimension relates to the accessibility of an organization. In a very open culture newcomers are made immediately welcome, one is open both to insiders and outsiders, and it is believed that almost anyone would fit in the organization. In a very closed organization it is the reverse Easy Going Work Discipline vs Strict Work Discipline This dimension refers to the amount of internal structuring, control and discipline. A very easy-going culture reveals loose internal structure, a lack of predictability, and little control and discipline; there is a lot of improvisation and surprises. A very strict work discipline reveals the reverse. People are very cost conscious, punctual and serious Employee Oriented vs Work Oriented This aspect of the culture is most related to the management philosophy per se. In very employee oriented organizations members of staff feel that personal problems are taken into account and that the organization takes responsibility for the welfare of its employees, even if this is at the expense of the work. In very work oriented organizations there is heavy pressure to perform the task even if this is at the expense of employees. http://geert-hofstede.com/index.php

Monday, September 16, 2019

Neil Simon

Marvin Neil Simon was born on July 4, 1927, and grew up in Washington Heights at the northern tip of Manhattan. He attended New York University briefly (1944-45) and the University of Denver (1945-46) before joining the United States Army where he began his writing career working for the Army camp newspaper. After being discharged from the army, Simon returned to New York and took a job as a mailroom clerk for Warner Brother's East Coast office. He and his brother Danny began writing comedy revues and eventually found their way into radio, then television. Simon received several Emmy Award nominations for his television writing, then moved on to the stage where he quickly established himself as America's most successful commercial playwright by creating an unparalleled string of Broadway hits beginning with Come Blow Your Horn. During the 1966-67 seasons, Barefoot in the Park, The Odd Couple, Sweet Charity and The Star Spangled Girl were all running simultaneously. In 1973, following the death of his wife, Simon reached a low point in his career with two failures The Good Doctor (1973) and God's Favorite (1976). A move to California, however, reinvigorated him and he produced a much more successful play later that year in California Suite. After marrying actress Marsha Mason, Simon went on to write Chapter Two (1977) which was considered by many critics to be his finest play to that date. His fourth musical, They're Playing Our Song, proved fairly successful in 1979, but his next three plays (I Ought to Be in Pictures, Fools and a revised version of Little Me) all proved unsuccessful at the box office. During the course of his career, Simon has received around 27 awards. He got his first award in 1957 for your show of show and his latest one was in 2006 for American humor.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Politics in Education

Politics in Education Can education exist without politics? The answer is simply put no. While many would love to see the political scene leave education, it is inherent that the two remain together. The key is how they work together in the best interest of the students. Public schools are responsible for two precious entities- children and tax dollars (Farmer, 2012). This is one of the reasons that â€Å"today, education is perhaps the most important function of state and local governments† (Brown v. Board of education, 1954).While we are progressively seeing federal mandates in education more now than ever, it is mainly the state and local levels where politics are inseparable (Farmer, 2012). Since education is highly imperative to the future of our country, it is and will always be subject to political scrutiny. From the beginning, a well educated American was deemed necessary to protect independence and the general welfare of the citizens (League of Women Voters, 2011). It has been stated this type of citizen will â€Å"rule themselves through elected officials† (Brademas).Education, especially higher education, at one point was considered a luxury; however, in today’s world a â€Å"high-quality† education often including the collegiate level is believed to be both a â€Å"universal right and a necessity for individual welfare† (Farmer, 2012). For this reason education will remain important topic of political debates between politicians as well as local townspeople. Politics in education goes dates as far back as the Land Ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest Ordinance of 1787.Federal support was given at this time and later in 1841 with the Land Grand Act in the form of land designated for a system of public education to be established. During this time the federal government began to grant money. This money was often used to clean up from war expenses; however, some funds were used for education even though congress did no t stipulate that such funds could be used for education (League of Women Voters, Oct. 2011). It is well aware this funding continues today although the state and local government share the majority of the responsibility.In 1791, the 10th Amendment guaranteed rights to all citizens by stating â€Å"the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. † This amendment entrusted authority over education to the states by having state constitutions assign specific responsibility and legal authority for public education (Usdan, M. , McCloud, B. , Podmostko, M. , and Cuban, L. , 2001). Today, state and local revenue fund approximately 87% of the money for elementary and secondary education.It is estimated that only 10% comes from federal funding (The Federal Role in Education). In 1867, the original Department of Education was established to collect data on schools and teachi ng in order to help create an effective school system (League of Women Voters, 2011). One major turning point for federal education was the GI bill of 1944. The government allotted for nearly eight million World War II veterans to have education assistance to attend college. Until this point, the federal government basically only did research and created policies for an effective system.Financing of education was not highly supported through the department. Then in 1958, Congress passed the National Defense Education Act (NDEA) in response to Russia’s Sputnik. This created money available to students willing to study in science, mathematics, and foreign languages (Dow, 1991). In 1965, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act was created which included Title 1 funding to the disadvantaged. In 1983, A Nation at Risk was released calling for a refocus on an education reform in order to compete with other countries as it appeared that America was falling behind (Farmer, 2012).E ven though the Department of Education has grown drastically, their mission still remains â€Å"to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering education excellence and ensuring equal access† (Department of Education, 2012). Today, every educator is familiar with most of the current federal mandates including- No Child Left Behind (reauthorization of ESEA), Race to the Top, and common core standards. While most of the funding, administrating, and accountability falls on the state and local governments, these are all federal policies which are often the main topics in a political education debate.One must ask why the federal government has most of the control over our educational system if it is primarily funded by state and local governments. Is it possible that different areas with different demographics might need a different policy than that mandate from federal level. Being successful is teaching the students in the best possible env ironment and demonstrating success through achievement. What works in one small town may not work in the next small or large town. Why, then, does the federal government upport equality by mandating yet not funding criteria. One thing does remain true- all of these do have a common census-equality in education for each student. The debate question that rises: â€Å"is equality for everyone possible? † Under President George W. Bush, No Child Left Behind was designed to â€Å"close achievement gaps, particularly for minority children† (League of Women, 2011). It was set that by year 2014, 95% of students would be meeting state standards in reading and math.Many educators, politicians, and citizens argued that this was an unrealistic goal which would in return be punishing or threatening the low-performing schools. Under this law, parents could be given a voucher to send their child to a different higher performing school. Although every educator had to obtain â€Å"hig hly qualified† status, teachers working at the schools deemed needing improvement often had negative feelings toward their job and thus the students suffered (League of Women Voters, 2011). Race to the Top was signed into law by the current President Barack Obama in 2009.This federal mandate came with promises of funding, and as everyone knows â€Å"money speaks volumes. † This approach would award funds to states who would meet the necessary requirements. Two of these requirements are (1) improve evaluations of teachers thus improving effectiveness based on students achievement (2) raising the limit of charter schools (League of Women Voters, 2011). Race to the Top has several supporters because it comes with necessary funding to move our current classrooms into the 21st century; however, it also comes with unrealistic research.Several argue that standardized testing is not a fair way to evaluate teacher performance. The most current federal request is the use of commo n vs. state standards The idea here is that not only will each child receive an equal education within their state, but they now will receive the same equal education within their country and hopefully one day within the nation. The use of common core standards allows children to master through higher order thinking within broad life skills instead of basic memorization of state specific standards.It opens up a new way of thinking for children and teachers. It also does create a more equal playing field as far as what children learn within their elementary and secondary education career. Most political debates in education often revolve around these federal policies, but even more often than that the main debate is: funding. Who is going to pay for education? The answer brings up the other highly political debate- us, the taxpayers. It is true that all three levels of government- federal, state, and local- contribute to education.States typically provide a little less than half, loc al governments about 44%, and the federal government only funds 10% . The interesting fact is that within the federal government’s10% it includes Title 1, NCLB, RttT, Special Education, child nutrition, and Head Start (Federal Education Budget, 2012). Also, overall the U. S. Department of Education accounts for less than 3% of the total federal budget (Federal Education Budget, 2012). As a nation, we must ask ourselves is the value of education really worth only 3% of the entire federal budget? Excellence is given symbolic prominence, but not sustained financial support† (Usdan, et al, 2001). The political debate is that most politicians will not support efforts to increase funding for education because it will raise taxes- something very few citizens support. However, if the federal government gives only 10%, the state of Tennessee is left with majority of the responsibility to fund education in order for it to succeed. States rely mainly on income and sales tax to fun d elementary and secondary education. It is the legislature who determines the level and distribution of the funding.Tennessee uses the Basic Education Program (BEP) in order to determine the cost specifications for each component in our system. In Tennessee, the share is roughly 70% which is average when compared with our country (Tennessee Basic Education Program, 2011). In some states it is as high as 86% and as low as 31%. The variation exists because some states rely heavily on local property taxes instead of state funding (Federal Education Budget, 2012). The last and probably one of the most political entities is that of the local school board. The funding for local schools is usually provided by property taxes.Thus the wealthier areas have the ability to collect more taxes which allows for them to keep tax rates lower. Unfortunately, the poorer communities may have higher tax rates but still not reach the needed funding for the local school district. Therefore often times ch ildren with the highest needs are often sent to the schools with less resources and less qualified teachers. This is why education can never be created equal for every child. Another political argument is that in present times education leadership in America is not withheld to high enough standards.Instead some argue that we have fifty â€Å"education governors† (Usdan, et al, 2001) or some even go as far as to say, â€Å"Governors and presidents are no better suited to run schools than they are to run construction sites† (Thomas, 2012). Truthfully, yes many governors could be doing a better job in education, but most are willing to fight for it. Most support the importance as honestly we must all agree that â€Å"what, after all, could be more important than a proper education for the state’s most precious asset, its children? † (Usdan, et al, 2001). This argument holds very true at the local level.It is correct to say that from the ladder of the preside nt to the governor to the superintendents of education to school board chairs and members: often some of these educational leaders have little to no background or expertise in education. From the federal to the state level, most appointed leaders in education branches bring the required knowledge. However, the local school board is composed of a diverse group of members with different backgrounds and knowledge. While they all bring unique characteristics and a broad base of knowledge, it is often the case that they do not bring an educational background.Education needs a reform in which it is driven by educators who have lived within the field. These are the people who need to be in charge of forming and implementing our country’s educational policy. Educational leadership is important at all levels including the local school board. For over 200 years, politics has played a part in our educational system. From the federal government all the way down to the local politics talk ed about in gas stations or at a high school football game. Politics and education will always be entwined together. Both are vital for the future of our nation as our future is in our children.As the vision for Tennessee states, â€Å"it is to prepare all Tennessee children for successful post-secondary work, education, and citizenship. † The state’s master plan is to â€Å"ensure equal access to the education constitutionally guaranteed to all Tennessee children† (Master Plan). Without politics, schools will not exist. Without schools, knowledge to become a successful, active citizen will not exist. Thus both politics and education will always hold a vital role. Resources: Brown v. Board of Education. (1954) Civil Rights Organization. Retrieved October 2012, from http://www. civilrights. rg/education/brown/ Department of Education. (2012) Mission Statement Retrieved October 2012 from http://www2. ed. gov/about/overview/mission/mission. html Dow, P. B. (1991). Schoolhouse politics: Lessons from the Sputnik era. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Farmer, T. (2012, January 12). Politics of Local Education. Retrieved from the Connexions Web site: http://cnx. org/content/m14432/1. 10/ Federal Education Budget Project. (September 13, 2012). Retrieved October 2012 from http://febp. newamerica. net/background-analysis/school-finance Federal Role in Education. (2012). U. S. Department of Education.Retrieved October 2012 from http://www2. ed. gov/about/overview/fed/role. html League of Women Voters of the United States. (October 2011). The Role of the Federal Government in Public Education Part Two. Washington D. C: Author. League of Women Voters of the United States. (2011). The History of Federal Government in Public Education: Where have we been and how did we get here? Washington D. C: Author. Master Plan (2008). Master Plan FY 2008-2012. State Board of Education. Retrieved October 2012, from http://www. state. tn. us/sbe/masterplan. htm Tennessee Basic Education Program. (October 2011).State Board of Education. Retrieved October 2012 from http://www. state. tn. us/sbe/BEP%20Booklet%20FY12. pdf Thomas, P. L. , (2012). Politics and Education Don’t Mix. The Atlantic. Retrieved October 2012 from http://www. theatlantic. com/national/print/2012/04/politics-and-education-dont-mix/256303/ Usdan, M. , McCloud, B. , Podmostko, M. , and Cuban, L. (2001). Leadership for Student Learning. School Leadership for the 21st Century Initiative A Report of the Task Force on State Leadership. Washington, D. C. Retrieved October 2012 from http://www. iel. org/programs/21st/reports/staterole. pdf