Mass Spectrometry and HPLC of peptides Lab Report

Mass Spectrometry and HPLC of peptides - Lab Report Example The mass of the protonated and solvated molecules pass through the mass analyzer that establishes the mass of the analyte. Reversed phase high pressure liquid chromatography relies on the reversible water-hating associations between the molecules of the solute present in a polar mobile phase and the immobilised hydrophobic ligand in the solid support to effect separation (David 2001). The dispersal of the solute between the two phases is a function of the binding attributes of the medium, the polarity of the solute and the constituents of the mobile phase. The polarity of the mobile phase is lowered by the addition of organic solvents, which minimize the hydrophobic associations between the solute and the stationary phase hence causing desorption. Hydrophobic molecules end up spending more time on the solid support hence requiring a high solvent concentration to promote desorption. The mass to charge ratio (m/z) is the proportion of the mass of a substance to the number of ions present in a substance. This value is obtained sing the formula m/z = (MW + nH+)/n where m/z = the mass-to-charge ratio, which is indicated on the axis of the spectrum; MW is the molecular mass of the sample; n is the integer number of charges on the ions and H is the mass of a proton, which is equivalent to 1.008 Da. The above equation can be used to find the molecular weight of a sample provided that the sum of charges on an ion is established. The m/z value is read from the spectrum and substituted into the equation. Usually, during the calculation of charge, it is assumed that any two adjacent members in the sequence of multiplied charged ions differ by one charge. The mass of charge ratio (m/z) of large molecules such as ionised proteins, for example, lysozyme and bovine serum albumin is obtained in the same manner as described. The charge of the ion is found by monitoring adjacent charge states and substituted into the above equation alongside the m/z ratio that

John Heartfield Photomontages and Marxism Essay

John Heartfield Photomontages and Marxism - Essay Example To understand this relationship between Marx and Heartfield, this paper will provide some background into Heartfield’s work and the Weimar Republic before analyzing three of Heartfield’s works in light of Karl Marx’s â€Å"The German Ideology.† Within the language of his art, Heartfield created photographic symbols for the various political parties. He included such images as clenched fists, raised arms and open hands to show the strong actions and determined nature of the men in the various parties to do what they felt was important. Rather than going out and working to take his own photographs, Heartfield opted to take recognizable photographs from the mainstream press and reassemble them in such a way as to change the meaning of the image to what he envisioned. Most of his images appeared in the magazine Die Arbeiter-Illustrierte Zeitung (Worker’s Illustrated Magazine or AIZ). To make his meanings as clear as possible, Heartfield stuck to a minimalist style, restricting himself to only a few telling images in each piece, thus becoming a father of the modern and postmodern movements. The Weimar Republic, a convenient name developed by scholars to distinguish the political situation in Germany between the two world wars, was characterized by violent social upheaval. The country had been led for more than 40 years by the military and was suddenly forced, with the loss of World War I, to accept a civilian government. However, the large numbers of soldiers returning from the war, an unstable idea of how civil government should be constructed as well as a general non-acceptance of this type of government led to chaos within Germany. Several councils were put in place by the soldiers and workers of Germany. These councils led to the abdication of Emperor Wilhelm II, the establishment of a socialist nation and the creation of a parliamentary-led governmental system that acted more like a dictatorship. The general

Middle Range Nursing Theory

Middle Range Nursing Theory Contents Introduction Middle Range Nursing Theory Overview of a Nursing Theorist Nursing Meta-paradigm Importance of Middle Range Theory How Will This Theory Improve Nursing Practice? Conclusion References Introduction The nursing theories help in describing the various aspects of the nursing profession and here the middle range nursing theory is discussed which however has a limited scope but provides the best of knowledge for the particular profession. The interest increases in the middle range of nursing theory as the concepts of an individual are been cleared or justified. The practice paper covers range of topics that can be helpful for others and the topics include the succinct description of the middle range nursing theory, then an overview of the nursing theorist is provided to tell what the background is? Following are the perspectives about the health, environment, patients and the nursing. The importance of middle range nursing theories for the new students and the improvement while using this theory clearly states that the students can improve their nursing practice using this theory. And in the end the paper is finally concluded with main key points discussed in the paper (Mary Jane Sm ith, 2008). There are different types of theories, such as, Grand Nursing theory (haves the widest scope and provides general concept but does not allow to do empirical testing and eventually restricts from giving explanation or prediction of situations), Middle Range Nursing Theory (has a narrow scope and connects the two other theories, provide suggestions on a lower level and provides the surety of research based work and nursing practice) and Nursing Practice Theories (has the most limited scope and can be used only for a small range of situations, provides framework, predictions and impact of nursing practice). Middle Range Nursing Theory Middle range nursing theory offers the concrete basis for the handling complex situations. It is narrowly described phenomenon compared to the Grand Nursing theory. It provides less abstract and greater empirical testing along with more specific phenomenon. In this nursing theory, descriptions along with prediction and explanations put forward to answer the queries that are not covered in other theory of nursing practice. This theory provides the perspectives that trains the students to handling the complex and emergency situations and also helps for the nursing interventions. This theory is more applicable in situations where explanations and implementations are needed in nursing practice. Middle range nursing theories are a sub-division of nursing discipline that focuses on potential knowledge of the discipline by expanding the phenomenon related to health care of patients. The middle range nursing theory is defined precisely with the help of ladder of abstraction that states the abstraction level decreases as we come down the ladder and but the conciseness is increased (empirical level), and exactly opposite happens while moving towards the philosophical level. The middle range nursing theory is a sub-division of the empirical level (Sandra J. Peterson, 2009). Overview of a Nursing Theorist Kristen Swanson nursing theory provides the background for the issues related to pregnancy. Kristen Swanson obtained her nursing degree from the University of Rhode Island in the year of 1975 and the master’s degree in the year of 1978. The Swanson theory of nursing takes necessary measures that deal with the miscarriages in pregnancy. The Swanson Theory of Caring encompasses around the counseling for the parents and their families after the miscarriages. The theory involves the combination of techniques that deal with the sociocultural effects which rise after a baby’s loss. This theory provides the overview of aspects which are just beyond to the physical status of the patient. These aspects are considered by the health care professionals to enhance the emotional recovery of the mother and father both, due to miscarriage or abortion. The theory’s basis is laid on the study and research of Dr. Kristen Swanson which focused the issues faced by the parents and families in the women’s pregnancy. The theory provides a platform on which the potential healing of the parents can be done. The researches by the theorist have been incorporating educational models and practices of other physicians all over the country (Ahmed, 2006). Nursing Meta-paradigm The nursing meta-paradigm is the huge models that represent the clear relationship between the current theoretical nursing practices. Presently many of the nursing practices are considered for acquiring the relationship between the four main components of the meta-paradigm. (Parker, 2006). The four major meta-paradigms in the nursing profession are as follows: Person: who are the people that receive the nursing care, this paradigm can be the ill individual who is treated like a subject in the process of treatment. The individual has a constant changing process that takes place between him and his environment. Receivers of the health care from nursing can be a sick person or whole families or any community. Health: that is defined as the level of wellness of an individual. It is dynamic process which is described by the individual all over the life span. The main focuses on the subject’s health are laid on the nature of physical, aesthetic, social and ethical territories. Illness or sickness is defined as the experience of an individual who faced dysfunctions originated due to health care. The level of a person’s health is an expression of the common interacting processes that take place between the individual and their environment. Environment: it corresponds to the internal and external factors that influence the level or degree of health an individual possess. It refers to the impact of geographical and landscape on the individual. Dimensions that may cause harm to the individual include the impact of physiological, psychological, economic and social, cultural, historical, and developmental factors that are prevalent in the society where the individual lives. Nursing: it is the profession that provides the health care facilities in the hospitals. The nursing interventions render care to support the ill patient. These four concepts of the nursing meta-paradigm make up a complete directional understanding of the profession. These four concepts embed the basic knowledge of nursing theory, philosophy, education, research and experience of the nursing profession. Importance of Middle Range Theory Nursing theories provides the principles that underpin the new student’s nursing practices and help generating nursing knowledge (Colley, 2003). The middle range nursing theory is important for the students of nursing because it provides a middle reality view and more specifically generalized practice areas for the nurses. It also provides the nurses with concrete ideas which however are limited but very useful for them. In middle range nursing theory, the characteristics of the propositions are clearly stated due to which a better decision can be made for the health care of patient. The middle range nursing theory provides the level of testability which may generate a test hypothesis. Since the development of middle range nursing theory is from the Grand nursing theory and the nursing practice theory, the theory consists of all the literature review and clinical practices and guidelines that should be followed by the nurses. How Will This Theory Improve Nursing Practice? The middle range theory for nursing is very important for the nurses and therefore, the nursing practice can be improved with this theory. The focuses that are laid by this theory, develops the concrete and conceptual framework of ideas in the nurses with which they can practice their profession efficiently. The scope that is covered by the middle range nursing theory is, however, limited but still the ideas and literature that it consist has concreteness in it which helps in the improvement of the nursing practice. Conclusion By providing nurses with a sense of identification, the middle range nursing theory can help the subjects and the nurses (which are the health care professionals) to identify the particular contribution that should be made to the health care center and the patients too. Providing the nurses with adequate knowledge and guidance according to the principles laid by the middle range nursing theory will help to improve the standards of their practice and also the health of the patient. The four basic components of the nursing meta-paradigm play a significant role, in developing good middle range nurses that tell the relationship between the person, health and environment with the nurses. The middle range nursing theory provides the generalized and conceptual development of the characteristics that lays the basis of the formation of good middle range nurses practicing in the health care centers to provide health care facilities with effective results. References Ahmed, D. S. (2006). Theories and models of nursing practice. Journal of Nursing, 5-7. Colley, S. (2003). Nursing theory: its importance to practice. Journal of National Institute of Health, 33-37. Mary Jane Smith, P. R. (2008). Middle Range Nursing theory. New York: Springer Publishing Company. Parker, M. E. (2006). Nursing theories nursing practice . Philadelphia: F.A. Davis Company. Sandra J. Peterson, T. S. (2009). Middle Range Theories: Application to Nursing Research. Lippincott Williams Wilkins.

Violence :: essays research papers

Violence What do all of these scenes have in common: a small figure jumping on another figure's head, a man stabbing a woman with a pencil in the hand, and a man punching another man in the face? Violence. What is the difference between these three scenes? One is a scene from a video game, another is from a new, popular movie, and one can be seen in real life. In a popular video game you have a little character named Mario who is supposed to rescue Princess Toadstool. In doing so he has to jump on certain characters' heads in order to kill them. It is scenes like this that the government wants to outlaw. How can the government limit the amount of violence a kid sees in his or her childhood because the only way is to remove the kid's eyes just so he or she couldn't see the violence? Of course the kid can still hear the violence, so what are they going to do, cut off the kid's ears too? After that, the kid would be safe from seeing and hearing violence. What could the kid do after that? Violence is just a part of human nature; it may be a part that civilized humans suppress in order to try to have law and order. Law and order are two things that just seem like guidelines from which a kid bases his or her rebellion. Just like in Columbine High School there was a small group of kids who were willing to break the law because there were restrict ions on what they could do. And because they were teased by some of the kids, and to them it might have felt like the whole school was coming down on them, they got their revenge in one way possible. Although we will never know exactly why, even though they left a note, they rebelled against the system like they did; we will never know because they are now dead from their suicide pact. From now on, I think that someone should take threats a little more seriously when it comes to kids like they are. In video games you could be, as the government puts it, trained like a killer just from video games. I don't believe that statement to be true, because if it were then we would have a 'holodeck'; from Star Trek.

Artistic Themes from Ancient Cultures Essay

The role a man plays in society, as well as the role a woman plays in society is referred to as a gender role. A gender role can include, but is not limited to a person’s status, position, behavior, and activities that is deemed fitting for the sex of that person. Men and women’s roles are very different and have always been that way. It is expected by society that men and women have diverse principles and attitudes. The fact that certain behavior is logically linked to the gender of the person is confronted by the social aspect that is mirrored by behavior. Role is such a broad word with different understandings, one meaning powerfully characterized. On the other hand the term gender role refers to history and culture. Gender roles do change with time. Roles have changed drastically over time. Dependent on the background or culture of people, one should know that gender roles can be clarified in a number of ways. In earlier times it was normal for the woman to stay at home and care for the home and the children but now that have changed. Women these days are working just like the man. However in some cultures it is still tradition that the woman stay home and take care of the house. Those particular cultures think it is just not right for women to be independent or provide for their own family. In some cultures people are still against women voting or having the same rights as men. But in the culture I live in, men and women share equal rights which includes, but is not limited to the right to vote. â€Å"The measurement of gender role identity typically focuses upon personality traits (e.g., agentic versus communal), with individuals indicating on a paper-and-pencil survey the degree to which each trait provides a true description of themselves (Lenton, 2004).† In Rome, they believed in their gender roles. According to the men of Rome, the women were very weak individuals who needed male guidance and protection. The role of protector and guide was first played by the father of the woman  and then the husband. If, by chance something happened to the husband, another man would be appointed to take on this role. If a woman bared three children or more she was no longer required to be under the guidance of a man, she is now unrestricted. According to Fiero (2011), â€Å"women had traditional occupations in food and textile production and prostitution, but women were also known to hold positions as musicians, painters, priestess, midwives, and even gladiators. In Rome, marriages were put together based on the person’s social status. A gift, identifying the social status of the bride was given to the groom from the bride’s father. Not knowing the social status brought about many problems. â€Å"Infidelity was on the rise in marr ied women, divorce was becoming more common, and it was not uncommon for the second and third marriages to come about in men and women (Fiero, 2011).† The differences in the gender roles were very obvious. In the earlier Roman years women were only allowed to drink grape juice. They were not permitted to drink wine at all. When women attended dinner parties they were not allowed to lounge around, however the men were. The slaves did most of the manual labor so women had very little to do, if anything. The gender roles of the Romans were totally different from the Greeks. Work was shared by both men and women but were separated centered on their gender. Women were given the option to own land alongside with the men. â€Å"Both men and women stayed active in the economy among families that ran small shops or workshops (Sutton, 2013).† Jobs with low pay were offered to the women who did want to work. Once the Greek women starting a family, they would stop working outside of the home. Today, women are allowed to work after starting a family. â€Å"Regardless of origin, it is important to convey that gender roles are neither static nor invariant (Lenton, 2004).† As the years p assed, gender roles have dropped. The modern lifestyles that are created now have transformed the aspect of gender roles. There are more women in the workplace than ever before. Women are now just as equal as men. References Lenton, A. P. (2004). Gender Roles. Retrieved from http://www.credoreference.com/entry/worldsocs/gender_roles Fiero, G.K. (2011). The Humanistic Tradition (5th ed.). New York City, New York: McGraw-Hill.Sutton, S.B. (2013). Culture of Greece. Retrieved from http://www.everyculture.com/gelt/greece/html

Wright Demonstrating the Ideals of Organic Architecture in Taliesin West

Wright demonstrating the Ideals of Organic Architecture in Taliesin West Exterior image of Taliesin West, Scottsdale, Arizona â€Å"Organic can merely mean something biological, but if you are going to take the word organic into your consciousness as concerned with entities, something in which the part is to the whole as the whole is to the part, and which is all devoted to a purpose consistently, then you have something that can live, because that is vital† (1) (Meehan 52) The famous American architect by the name of Frank Lloyd Wright based his designs on what he called â€Å"organic architecture†.His philosophy of what modern architecture should be is one as unique as his buildings, but nevertheless he was a pivotal figure in the progression of modernism in the United States. As described by Kathryn Smith, his winter home in Scottsdale Arizona â€Å"[reveals], more than any of his other buildings, a closer understanding of Wright the man as well as Wright the archit ect. † (Smith 92) This winter home is known as Taliesin West and is an epitome of organic architecture.Wight’s work has previously been demonstrated with the International Style, but upon deeper understanding of his architecture one can come to the conclusion that it does not exactly agree with the movement. He allowed his work to be included in first exhibition of the International style in the hopes of demonstrating the immense difference of his structures compared to the work by Le Corbusier’s, Alvar Aalto, Walter Gropius and many others. Before exploring the relation between Taliesin West and Organic Architecture, an investigation of his lectures and writings must be completed to thoroughly grasp his principles of design.Comprehending his journey until 1936, when he bought the land to construct his new project, will grant the knowledge needed to effortlessly connect the two. Wright started his career at an early age, in 1885, in the city of Chicago. He first worked for architect Joseph Silsbee, than spent five years under the direction of Alder and Sullivan. In 1893 he made the decision to commence his own firm and went through a large learning curve for the next seven years – being a young, ambitious architect with no true reputation and little individual experience. The first decade of the 1900s saw Wright’s first real break-through with the Prairie House.The ideas he demonstrated in this school of thought have a clear connection to his later developed definition of organic architecture. â€Å"Reproductions and variations of foreign styles did not seem to Wright an authentic expression of American culture†¦ † (Twombly 59-60) The drive to appropriate the types of buildings to their suitable land in America pushed Wright further in his designs. The time period expanding form 1910 to 1930 gave rise to many hardships for Wright. In 1911 he built his new home in Wisconsin, named Taliesin, and in 1914 it was the pl ace of the tragic death of his wife and two children.Wright remarried but in 1927 got divorced for Olga Lazovich Hinzenberg to whom he stayed married until his death. By the 1930s Wright’s Organic style had clearly matured and he became confident in his principles, nonetheless he would continue the exploration of his style through experimentation. He opened the Taliesin Fellowship in 1932 in his Wisconsin estate. This fellowship was not to be like a school at all – â€Å"instead of teachers, pupils, and pedagogy† he envisioned having â€Å"skilled craftspeople, novices, and physical labor. (Twombly 212) This is a direct result of â€Å"Wright [believing] that education should be in doing, not in the classroom. † (Twombly 212) A former apprentice of the Fellowship, by the name of Bruce Brook Pfeiffer, describes that upon their first encounter with the desert in 1928 (when Mr. and Mrs. Wright went to Phoenix to collaborate on a hotel called the Arizona Bal timore) â€Å"they would take weekend trips out on the desert. They thought the desert was a wonderful place. The air was clean, beautiful and dry. (Pfeiffer) Following the gradual decline of Wright’s health, he was recommended to relocate to a warmer climate and so the desert was the ideal location. He previously stated â€Å"living in the Desert is the spiritual cathartic a great many people need† (Smith 88) In 1936, after the inspection of several sites, Mr. and Mrs. Wright purchased eight hundred acres of land in Paradise Valley, located approximately twenty six miles of Phoenix, Arizona. (Smith 88) When he visited this site Wright said â€Å"it’s a look over the rim of the world. † (Pfeiffer) This desert floor landscape would be Wright’s and the Fellowship’s new winter home.To now further explore Wright’s own definition of the term â€Å"Organic Architecture† it is essential to note that he used the word â€Å"natureâ₠¬  with two main definitions. The first way in which he used the term alluded â€Å"to the outdoors †¦ or the â€Å"external† nature. † (Twombly 304) In this context there were four major ways in which nature informed his designs, the first of these being the need to be close to the outdoors and nature itself. The inspiration that could be drawn from surroundings as models for architectural forms and construction principles was also a crucial influence to his designs.The use of materials that would connect to the immediate nature was very important in the making a construction organic. Lastly, in the designs Wright created, there was always a sensitivity of the local climate conditions. Wright’s second definition for the term â€Å"nature† refers to a philosophical view on the environment. This use of the word related to a concept he called the â€Å"internal† nature of a house. Wright’s statement that â€Å"architecture rightly defin ed is the structure of whatever is† (Meehan 54) clearly relates to the â€Å"idea† of the house which he connects to his philosophy.Wright also believed that through the study of nature one could find specific characteristics to everything and these characteristics make every item be what they are. His philosophy also encompasses the idea that essence, which every item contains, exists before perception. This philosophical view of nature is difficult to apply or relate to a specific building because it is more relevant to the thought process behind the design. Floor Plan of Taliesin West, Scottsdale, Arizona Taliesin West is known to be one of Wright’s best examples of organic architecture because it so clearly demonstrates these principles. The buildings are neither large nor monumental, but they command a presence on the landscape. Under Wright’s first definition of the word he states an organic building must connect to ground and be close to the outdoor s. A primary example of that demonstrates this is the masonry wall surrounding the buildings. This wall creates an extension into the natural landscape and seems to connect them as one. (Pfeiffer) Large openings to the outdoors along with massive windows create a direct link to the outdoor Desert. Wright was also great at capturing views with his huge windows.One of his fellowship workers explains how he would capture two perfect views into one window by framing the mountains in the top half, and framing the desert floor on the bottom half. (Pfeiffer) This created a great show whether someone was standing or sitting. To compare with the surrounding landscape there are â€Å"small pools extended throughout the plans [that give] a luxury of water and fountains in contrast with the dry Desert. † (Pfeiffer) Although Wright brings in this new element of nature it still emphasises the need to connect to nature.Another aspect of his primary definition is to use forms found in nature and on the land as inspiration for building forms. While speaking to his students he has presented the argument that â€Å"you are never going to get out of yourselves anything more than you are, then you can take in, than you can see as yourselves. † In this statement he refers to the importance of going in nature and examining it with a close, intensive look. This is how one can gain the knowledge nature has to give and discover the construction principles it applies. The slopping roof of Taliesin West showcases this state of mind.The roof is jagged and peaks, as to blend in with its background. Wright was an exceptional fan of the abstract mountains in the background of his land. He described the desert landscape saying â€Å"†¦ here, everything is fresh, original edges pretty much preserved, erosion still going on at a terrific rate making chasms. † (Brierly 5) The slopping walls also seem to derive from this inspiration. The lines carved into the wall that s urrounds the complex was a direct inspiration of when Wright saw the water erosion lines on a canyon he visited. Pfeiffer) The roughness of the desert is also resonated throughout the construction of the edifice. Masonry Wall, Exterior image of Taliesin West, Scottsdale, Arizona He further uses materials as an important part of a construction being organic. In this case, the canvas roof was a great inspiration for him. When he first arrived in Arizona for an earlier project, he decided to build a camp site for himself and his workers instead of staying in a hotel. In the campsite, which he called Ocatilla, they used canvas as roof material and this was the beginning of his admiration of the material in this climate.He loved the soft, natural glow of light dispersed in the space by the canvas. He was determined to keep this canvas roof in Taliesin West and so he did. He also often modified it when he would return from a summer spent in Wisconsin. When the material needed to be replac ed due to inconvenience he made sure to experiment fully and pick a material that would give the same effect of lighting. The Desert rocks he used in the masonry walls of the buildings and going around the building are a prime example of selective material use.All the rocks used in these structures were taken directly from the land on which they were built on. This gave the resort a multi coloured facade that blended in the surrounding land impeccably. By using these materials Wright also strengthened the connection between Taliesin West and its building ground. Bruce Pfeiffer also describes how they used a method called â€Å"desert ruble masonry wall† to make these walls. They would build a wooden frame and place the flat side of the stones facing outwards and proceed by filling it in with concrete.He goes on to describe how they would fill in all the small holes with rounded rocks and describes it as â€Å"each of the walls at Taliesin West [being] an artistic creation. à ¢â‚¬  (Pfeiffer). The third major material element of the construction is the use the redwood. This material was used to support the roof, creating an abstract mountain like rooftop, and throughout the interior of the building. The wood is local to the surrounding area of the Desert. The colour of the wood compliments the landscape and the multicoloured walls of the structure.Lastly, Frank Lloyd Wright was a great believer that a house should always â€Å"go with the natural climate†. (Twombly 310) This is the concluding manner in which nature informs Organic Architecture. This is a concept that Wright had been applying for an extended period of time and can be traces back the Prairie House. In Taliesin West he designed deep overhangs for the roof to create much needed shade in the long sunny days of the Arizona climate. He also had blinds made of the canvas which could be close the large arches leading to outside on overly sunny days.These blinds ended up being replaced by actual glass windows to regulate the heat of the building. Another prime demonstration of this is again the used of the canvas roof. The lighting it gave to the rooms was a perfect complement to the intense Arizona sun. Wright often experimented with the arrangement of the canvas and the wood beams. The lighting of a space is very important for the atmosphere it creates. When the canvas roof became too much of an nuisance because it would leak a lot and was becoming expensive to replace every few ears, Wright experimented and made sure to replace it with a material that would give the same glow to the space. He initially only replaced part of the canvas with glass, but eventually it was all substituted by glass (Smith). When using the word â€Å"nature† in terms of his philosophy, Wright was somewhat less direct. He used the word in this sense to stand for the essence of a building and the â€Å"working of the [organic] principle. † Taliesin West applies to all the dim ensions of his â€Å"organic principles† and would therefore be Organic architecture. The characteristics he believed everything in nature had also applied to the Desert itself.When speaking of this inspiring landscape he would say â€Å"[a]characteristic thing in the desert here is, of course, the desert itself† (Brierly 4) When Wright envisioned Taliesin West, it was his initial purpose to have an ever changing, organic structure. He would adjust it as needed as time passed. A former apprentice of the fellowship once pointed out that â€Å"Thanks to [their] seasonal migrations †¦ Mr. Wright was able to view †¦ Taliesin West with a fresh eye each time he arrived at [it]. † A demonstration of this is the rearranging of the wood beams and canvas to adjust the light.Another dimension of this philosophy is the fact that everything in nature contains an essence. These essences are all active. Nothing possesses a static essence. They can be partially the sa me but will always be different as time passes. (Twombly 312) This is what happened in Taliesin West since its original plans â€Å"were based on the life of the Fellowship† (Smith 89) and it now holds the same presence it did when it was originally built â€Å"with the spirit of youth and exuberance of life† (Twombly 235) but has different purposes and slightly different configuration. Exterior image of Taliesin West, Scottsdale, ArizonaWright had an exceptional career and is recognised to be one of the most pivotal and influential architects of modern architecture in America. Through his upbringing close to nature and his eternal patriotism to America he had a clear vision to a country filled with culture – with this culture being reflected in its architecture. Wright was a man that believed the base of any culture is its architecture. Wright built structures with specific characteristics which made them uniquely themselves. Taliesin West had details that coul d ever only be found in it and nowhere else.It has been made clear to me through the study of Wright’s philosophy that the fact that a building would hold these specific details about itself that make it uniquely it, is the fundamental definition of what organic architecture. The essence built into the complex is the reasons it is and organic design. Taliesin West can be said to be â€Å"part of the desert on which it sits† (Smith 90) Bibliography Brierly, Cornelia. Desert life: Desert Foliage At Taliesin West. Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, 1988. inForm, Arch. Taliesin West. n. d. April 2012. Meehan, Patrick J. Truth Against the World: Frank Lloyd Wright speaks for an Organic Architecture.New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1987. Pfeiffer, Bruce Brooks. Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West Planet Architecture series. 2003. CD-rom. Smith, Kathryn. Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin and Taliesin West. University of Michigan: Harry N. Abrams, 1997. Twombly, Robert C. Frank Lloyd Wrigh t: His Life and His Architecture. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1979. Week, The Architecture. Great Buildings. n. d. April 2012. Wright, Frank Lloyd. Frank Lloyd Wright Essential Texts. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2009. Wright, Frank Loyd. The Natural House. Horizon Press Inc. , 1954.

Department of Transportation essays

Department of Transportation essays The Department of Transportation was created in 1967. It is responsible for overseeing over 100,000 employees and using its $58.7 billion budget to it best possible ways. The United States transportation system includes around 3.9 million miles of public roads along with 2 million miles of oil and natural gas pipelines. There are 120,000 miles of major railroads, over 25,000 miles of used waterways as well as more than 5,000 public-use airports. This department also includes more than 500 major urban public transit operators and more than 300 ports on the coasts. It is for this reason that the Department of Transportation has such a great responsibility, so many workers, and large budget that probably doesnt go as far as it looks. These are all very expensive areas to maintain. The person at the top of the Department of Transportation is the Secretary of Transportation, Norman Mineta. He is the first Asian American to serve as a member of the cabinet. He and his family were forced into internment camps during World War II. He graduated from the University of California at Berkeley. After his graduation from college he served in the military as an intelligence officer in Japan and Korea. He then worked for his fathers insurance company before he entered politics in 1967 when he was elected to city council. Only four years later he became the first Asian American mayor of a major city, San Jose. By this point he was already taking interest in transportation decisions in his city. After his term as mayor was up, he ran for a seat in the United States House of Representatives. Here Mineta served as an active member of congress from 1975 to 1995. He loyally represented Californias Silicon Valley. He had a varied agenda that consisted of legislation ranging from science and technology, economic growth, and transportation issues. In the house, he was chairman of transportations committees. As well as this, he was a c...

Blooms Major Novelists

Blooms Major Novelists Includes bibliographical references (p. 112-118) and index.Summary A comprehensive research and study guide for several novels by Charles Dickens, including plot summaries, thematic analyses, lists of characters, and critical views.Contents Biography of Charles Dickens [pt. 1]. Plot summary of Great expectations List of characters in Great expectations Critical views on Great expectations: Sylv ©re Monod on the morality of the novel Julian Moynahan on Pip as Dickens's most complex hero Harry Stone on fairy-tale aspects of the novel H.M. Daleski on the use of the first person in the novel A.E. Dyson on Magwitch Q.D. Leavis on guilt and class in the novel John Lucas on Pip as character and Pip as narrator Pearl Chesler Solomon on Dickens and his father Murray Baumgarten on writing and speech in the novel Thomas Loe on the Gothic elements in the novel [pt.Dickens at the Blacking Warehouse. Charles Dickens...2]. Plot summary of Bleak House List of characters in Bleak Hou se Critical views on Bleak House: J. Hillis Miller on the theme of interpretation in the novel Virginia Blain on Esther's "Sexual Taint" Christine Van Boheemen-Saaf on the novel as Victorian family romance Harold Bloom on the novel as canonical Laura Fasick on the diseased body in the novel [pt. 3]. Plot summary of David Copperfield List of characters in David Copperfield Critical views on David Copperfield: Charles Dickens on the novel Mowbray Morris on Dickens's fancy William Samuel Lilly on the sober veracity of the novel Algernon Charles Swinburne on the novel as masterpiece Stanley Friedman on the model for Uriah Heep [pt.3]. Plot summary of A tale of two cities List of characters...

4th Grade Writing Prompts

4th Grade Writing Prompts Students in fourth grade need a variety of practice developing their writing skills. According to Common Core State Standards Initiative, fourth-grade writing should include opinion pieces, informative texts, and narratives about real or imagined experiences. Additionally, a fourth-grade  writing curriculum should include short research projects.   These writing prompts offer diverse forms of inspiration for every student. Opinion Essay Writing Prompts In an opinion essay, students must  state their opinion, then back it up with facts and reasons. Ideas should be organized logically and supported by details. Best Friends Forever. Write an essay explaining what makes your best friend the best best friend.  Awesomeness.  Describe the most awesome  thing about being in fourth grade.New Worlds. Would you rather help start a colony on a new planet or a city under the ocean? Why?School Food. Name one thing you would like to change about your school’s menu and explain why.Someday. If you could be a race car driver, an astronaut, or president of a country, which would you choose and why?Cityscapes. If you had a friend visit from another state, what is the one place in your city you would insist he or she had to see? What makes this place so special?Shipwrecked. You find yourself stranded on a deserted island with only 3 items in your backpack. What would you want those items to be and why?Flat Earth. Some people still believe that the Earth is flat. Do you agree or disagree? Include supporting  facts.Extra! Extra! Name one class, sport, or club you wish your school offered and exp lain why it should be available. Seasons. Which season is your favorite and why?One-star. What is the worst book you ever read and what made it so terrible?Fandom. Who is your favorite TV, movie, or music star? What makes him or her the best.Progress.  Identify  something at which you would like to improve about yourself as a student this school year. Explain why you would like to get better and list some steps you can take to make it happen. Informative  Essay Writing Prompts When writing an informative or explanatory essay, students should introduce the topic clearly, then develop the topic with facts and details. When explaining a process, students should outline the steps in a logical order. Bullied. Explain how you would handle  being bullied and the steps you would take to stop a bully.Mad Skills. Describe an unusual talent, hobby, or skill that you possess.Cuisine. Describe a food that is unique to your family or area of the world to someone who has never tasted it.Role Model. Think of a person who has made an impact on your life and describe the role they’ve played.Pay It Forward. What is one thing you would like to do - either now or in the future -   to make the world a better place?Packing. Explain the most effective way to pack for a trip to ensure that you have everything you need.Wild Kingdom. Of all animals, wild or domesticated, which is your favorite? Include interesting  facts about this animal in your essay.Gaming. Explain how to play your favorite video or board game to someone who has never played it before.Problematic. Describe a problem  you’re facing and three ways you could possibly solve it.Extreme Weather. Choose an extreme w eather condition or natural disaster, such as a tornado or a volcanic eruption. Explain  its causes and effects. Sweet Treats. Explain the process of making your favorite dessert.Learning Styles. Think of the way you prefer to learn, such as by reading, listening, or doing. Explain why you think you learn best that way.Edison. Thomas Edison said that he didn’t make mistakes; he just learned 10,000 ways not to make a light bulb. Describe a mistake you made and the lesson you learned from it. Narrative  Essay Writing Prompts When writing narrative essays about real or imagined experiences, students should use descriptive details and logical sequence. They can use dialogue and sensory details to develop their essay. Microscopic Details. Imagine being microscopic. Describe an adventurous  trip through your body.Alone. You find yourself locked in your favorite store alone overnight. Where are you and what do you do?Homeless. A friendly stray dog follows you home from school. What happens next?Time Travel. Imagine you could travel back in time to when your mom or dad was your age. Write an essay about your relationship with your fourth-grade parent.Mismatched. Write a story about someone your age. The story must include a giraffe, a mouse, a flying carpet, and a large birdcage.Pet Peeve.  Recount a moment when  something really got on your nerves. Describe the experience and why it irritated you so much.Surprise! Think of a time your teacher surprised your class. Describe what happened and how the class reacted.Special Moments. Think of a specific day or event that you will always remember. What made it so special?Travel Through History. Imagine you could travel back in time to live through o ne event from history. Describe the event and write about your experience. The Most Terrible Day. Write an essay about a day when everything went wrong. How did the day start and end, describe the experience.Road Trip. Write about a favorite family vacation or road trip. Where did you go? What made it special?Funny Pet Tricks.  Can  your pet do a funny or unusual trick? Describe it.President. If you could be president for a day (or the principal of your school), what would you do? Research Project  Essay Writing Prompts Fourth-grade students should also complete short research projects using books, magazines, and online sources. Students should take notes and provide a list of the sources they used in their research. New Puppy. You want a new puppy. Do some research to determine the best breed for your family and write about it.Battles.  Research and write about what you  consider the most significant or famous battle in history.Famous People. Choose a famous person from history or science and write about their lives and contributions.Animal Kingdom. Select an animal to research. Include facts about its behavior, habitat, and diet.Countries. Choose a country. Investigate its culture and holidays, and find out what life there  is like for kids your age.States. Pick a state you’ve never visited. Learn three to  five unique facts about the state to include in your essay.Inventions. What do you think is the greatest or most useful invention of all time? Find out who invented it and how and why it was invented.Native Americans. Choose a Native American tribe. Learn about where they lived, their culture, and their use of natural resources in their area.Endangered Species. Research and wr ite about an animal that is endangered. Include facts about why it is endangered and any changes that people can make to help increase its population. Fine Arts. Learn more about an artist or composer. Include facts about their life and death and most well-known works.Authors. Research  an author whose books you enjoy. Include facts about what inspired him or her to start writing.Dig Deeper.  Research something you’ve studied in  history, science, or  literature  but would like to know more about.State Standouts. Choose a famous person from your state. Learn about his or her life and contributions.

Managing information Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Managing information - Assignment Example Postal surveys (sometimes called mail-out surveys) usually involve mailing self-completed questionnaires to a target group of people. The main advantages of postal surveys are that large numbers of questionnaires can be sent out at fairly low cost. Questions that are difficult to ask on the telephone or in face-to-face interviews, can be asked in a postal questionnaire. For example, personally sensitive information (about income, sexual orientation, drinking behaviour) are best asked about in a way that saves the respondent the embarrassment of facing a stranger and reporting something they may feel awkward about. 41.67% of the male clients to the assessing the store used their own personal cars a compared to 50% of females who used their personal drive. 27.08% of male walked to the store while 30.76% of females. 31.25% males used public transport while 19.23% female used public transport to access the store. Many of the female clients’ use they own drive this implies that in the region more female earn much more than their male counterparts. In the same place more female clients prefer to walk rather than using the public transport. The clients using their own drive found it most convenient to access the store with 35.29% finding it extremely convenient to access the store. 44.44% of clients walking to the store found it extremely convenient for them. And only 13% using public transport found it convenient to access the store. This implies that it is much more convenient to use a personal drive than use of public to access the store. 5% of the clients found the services being to helpful at all even after they waited for extremely long. A relatively huge number of clients 14% found no help at all even after just waiting for slightly long for the service. This implies that the time taken to offer services did not have implication to the quality of service delivered. A total of 14% of all the clients found the service to be helpful

The qualities of the hero and antihero Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The qualities of the hero and antihero - Essay Example Playing the hero, Indiana Jones is an idealist. He starts a principled journey against the powerful Nazis and their leader Adolf Hitler in search of the Ark of the Pledge. Indy stands up to bad guys, Nazi thugs, who are determined to acquire the ark. He sacrificed himself against great odds. For instance he compromised his distress of snake in order to acquire the ark. Indiana role as a hero also demonstrates when he rescues Marion and reclaims the ark from Belloq and the Dietrich. Jones is always pro-active and makes effective decisions. For instance, when he surrenders rather than destroy the ark, an important historical artifact, now in the possession of Belloq. Indiana always succeeded in his goals, which is a true definition of a hero. He managed to keep the agreement out of the reach of the Nazis. Playing the role of an anti-hero in the movie Payback, Mel Gibson (Porter) is a realist. Porter is a criminal: a killer, a thief, a thug, a gambler, a cheater, and a liar. He murdered many, including Resnick and Philip. Self-interest drives him as shown when he narrated; he had $70,000 robbed from him, and that is what he desires to get back The heroism in him demonstrates through the vengeance mentality. He stands up to authority in tracking the money that had passed into the hands of "the Outfit". In order to reach Resnick, the Porter first dealt with Arthur Stegman, the Chinese trios, crime bosses from the Outfit, and the unethical police detectives Leary an d Hicks. Most notably as an antihero, Porter eventually fails in his goal of reclaiming the money. Harrison Ford depicted as Indiana Jones is evidently a masculine character. Indiana shows heroism through the enormous resources he possesses for the use of the gun, fists and whip when relevant. Indiana also demonstrates the character of a rebel. In a general view, Indiana

Managing change within an organization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Managing change within an organization - Essay Example Type of product or Service The retail company operating based on a number of formats is found to trade on a plethora of products ranging from groceries to food products to toys to apparels also. The commodity base of the retail company has further expanded to include different hardware and automotive parts and also frozen products making it the largest retailer of the world (Walmart Corporate). Type of Organization The organization in question based in United States operates mainly along the retail sector. Wal-Mart which has become the leader in the retail global retail sector through continuing its operation based on corporate sustainability and also focuses in contributing to the growth of internal people (Walmart). Management Style The management style or approach in Wal-Mart reflects high amount of consciousness for sustainability. The sustainable approaches of the management team are reflected owing to the company’s high amount of dependence on renewable energy sources an d its endeavors in reducing the quanta of waste. Further the company also works in procuring and selling such products as are both consumer and environment friendly. Wal-Mart also focuses on generating a cost effective approach through the location of local retailers (Walmart-a). Values and Mission and Culture of Wal-Mart The values, mission and culture of Wal-Mart stores focus mainly on the welfare and interests of the consumers. The mission of the company thus focuses on helping the people save enough money and to lead a life which is healthy. Wal-Mart values the needs of its consumer profile and works to provide cost effective services and products to them. Working on the above mission statement the company has developed a working culture focused on hearing the queries and feedback from both internal and external consumers. Further the company management also endeavors in redefining eye contacts with the internal and external client base (Walmart-a). . Need for Change and Change Leaders in Wal-Mart Coping with the changes in demand in the external market the management team at Wal-Mart has also decided to bring large amount of changes in the structural and organizational policies of the company. Changes in the organizational polices were brought about reflecting more on environment protection by switching over to renewable energy sources and in usage of recycled materials. Moreover the management body of the company is required to pay heed to the voices coming from the lower hierarchies. In another change Wal-Mart’s managers endeavored to remove the practice of sexual discrimination in the work structure (Mathis, 31). Wal-Mart has also incorporated the systems of electronic commerce on an expanded plane to help strategize its marketing moves and reach larger consumer bases. Again the company is also working to effectively develop its supply chain and logistics network by opening up local warehouses. This helps in reducing the cost of procurement and transportation and thereby enhances productivity (Walmart-a). Change leaders in Wal-Mart like Mike Duke, Bill Simon and John Fleming endeavor to not only take into hold the cooperative nature of the

Strategic management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 17

Strategic management - Essay Example In this approach, resource allocation plays a major role as implementation of a plan requires wide array of resources. There has been numerous models and frameworks developed by practitioners in context of strategic decision making. This approach cannot be considered as static in nature and the models comprise of feedback to monitor execution. Strategies are designed by organizations in order to obtain valuable and unique position in the market place. Strategic management helps an organization to identify its areas of strengths that can be utilized to obtain desirable goals and objectives. In this particular study, strategic management at Nestle will be thoroughly analyzed. Nestle is a Swiss multinational company belonging to the food and beverage industry. The company has its headquarters in Vevey, Switzerland. Nestle can be stated as the largest food company in context of revenue margins. A merger of Anglo-Swiss Milk Company led to the formation of Nestle in 1905. The company has e xpanded its business operations through product diversification strategy. It initially manufactured infant formula products and condensed but later shifted into wide range of products such as bottled water, tea, coffee, breakfast cereals, baby food, dairy products, frozen food, confectionary, snacks, ice-creams and pet foods. On the other hand, the company has even done series of corporate acquisitions so as to sustain its position in the industry. Nutrition can be stated as the core principle in Nestle’s business operations. However in the current scenario more emphasis is given on this factor along with wellness and health. Individual business units and corporate wellness units of Nestle are major driving forces in Good Life, Good Food to end users. The global population has witnessed a tremendous growth and it has summed up to six billion. There have been changes in lifestyle and even living standards have improved in

Law of Contract Assessment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Law of Contract Assessment - Essay Example The competency of the parties to the contract is not under question. It is implied that there exists lawful consideration and the lawful object is the plot of land. Legal position of the seller and buyer Based on the validity of the contract, the legal position derived from the contract is fairly defined in this case. The question of building construction is extraneous to the contract, and going by the facts of the case, the performance of the contract is not contingent upon the building permission. This is also strengthened by the fact that the building permission has never been applied for. The statement of Holger made during the course of conversation with Jaki, the manager of SkyReach â€Å"of course, it [building permission by the local planning department] should be no problem. As I understand it, inner city development is a top priority here† is based on the information available to him, which could not be construed as a statement of an expert by a manager in a real est ate company who is expected to be more knowledgeable in the business. The seller of a property should disclose any material defect in the property. Concealing the information would be an act of fraud. It is only Holger’s understanding, and there is no guarantee or concealment involved. Also, â€Å"the plot is restricted to ‘educational purposes’ only† cannot be treated as defect in property as reservation for various purposes is common; SkyReach could not allege concealment of information, and the contract is also not conditional on specific use of the plot. This aspect is extraneous to the contract, and Jaki had a time of one week to verify the position before entering into the contract after his discussions with Holger. Analysis The permission has been rejected on the grounds that the use of the plot is restricted to ‘educational purposes’ only.   A close analysis of the facts of the case reveals that SkyReach has applied for building perm ission as a rightful owner of the property based on the contract, which it can’t renege. Secondly, reservation of the plot for ‘educational purpose’ exists already, which the SkyReach failed to verify. Thirdly, according to the facts of the case, the sale is not conditional with reference to the purpose for which the plot could be used. The sale of real estate property is enforceable by specific performance in the event of a breach of contract. There are defenses available against specific performance which would avoid specific performance, and the only defence that could be remotely considered as an action in equity is, ‘specific performance would cause severe hardship to SkyReach’, because other defences such as misbehavior and impossibility of performance are not relevant to the case. But, defence against specific performance is not possible due to the reasons discussed under ‘Legal position of the seller and buyer’, based on the fact s of the case and analysis. In Tamplin v James,[1]  Ã‚   defendant, the buyer failed to perform in the contract of sale on the grounds that that he expected that two pieces of garden formed part of the lot, when they were in fact held by a railway company and not the vendor. In this landmark case, the court decreed specific performance for purchase of the land. The defendant’s appeal was unanimously dismissed by the Court of

Republican Party vs Democratic Party Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Republican Party vs Democratic Party - Essay Example The current chairman is Mike Duncan, the senate leader is Mitch McConnell and the house leader is John Boehner. As with all parties, this is divided into different sections to manage different platforms. The Republican National Committee promotes the party's campaign activities. Under this, the Republican National Convention is responsible for raising funds and planning future campaign strategies. Following a more conservative point of view relative to the American-Christian point of view, the party stands for more economic freedom including lower tax rates and limited government intervention. National Defense takes top priority and the Republican Party believes its Americas right to act against any threat they perceive is harmful for the country, like attacking Iraq on a vague hunch and without any potential evidence. The sleek and stealthy deer is making good progress. This party stands as the oldest party in America and up until 2004, it was also the largest political party in America as well. It traces its roots back to Thomas Jefferson who was the co-founder with other important personalities back in 1972 (Democratic Vision, 2008). The present chairman of the party is Howard Dean with Harry Reid as the senate leader and Nancy Pelosi (speaker) and Steny Hoyer (Majority Leader) of the House. Structure The promotion of democratic campaign activities is the responsibility of the Democratic National Committee. It supervises the Democratic National Convention during presidential elections. However, the national convention is the one which has ultimate authority once the party is elected and the national committee is the one in authority when it is not elected. Ideology The party supports social liberalism and progressiveness. This is the reason for its being so popular because it draws loyalty of all types of demographic population in America. Throughout its history, the party has brought relief for the common and relatively struggling man like farmers and laborers. Recently though, the voting majority consists of social liberalists who are in the upper middle class and are well aware of their surroundings. These people prefer a more socially free platform of living their lives as opposed to the Republican Party which takes a much more religious approach. They favor moderate to high spending and a less intrusive enterprise system to work freely. The party strongly holds the opinion of the role of the government to completely eliminate poverty through progressive taxation. Works Cited Robert Allen Rutland. The Republicans: From Lincoln to Bush. University of Missouri Press, 1996 DNC Services Corporation. The Democratic Vision. The Democratic

Law of Contract Assessment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Law of Contract Assessment - Essay Example The competency of the parties to the contract is not under question. It is implied that there exists lawful consideration and the lawful object is the plot of land. Legal position of the seller and buyer Based on the validity of the contract, the legal position derived from the contract is fairly defined in this case. The question of building construction is extraneous to the contract, and going by the facts of the case, the performance of the contract is not contingent upon the building permission. This is also strengthened by the fact that the building permission has never been applied for. The statement of Holger made during the course of conversation with Jaki, the manager of SkyReach â€Å"of course, it [building permission by the local planning department] should be no problem. As I understand it, inner city development is a top priority here† is based on the information available to him, which could not be construed as a statement of an expert by a manager in a real est ate company who is expected to be more knowledgeable in the business. The seller of a property should disclose any material defect in the property. Concealing the information would be an act of fraud. It is only Holger’s understanding, and there is no guarantee or concealment involved. Also, â€Å"the plot is restricted to ‘educational purposes’ only† cannot be treated as defect in property as reservation for various purposes is common; SkyReach could not allege concealment of information, and the contract is also not conditional on specific use of the plot. This aspect is extraneous to the contract, and Jaki had a time of one week to verify the position before entering into the contract after his discussions with Holger. Analysis The permission has been rejected on the grounds that the use of the plot is restricted to ‘educational purposes’ only.   A close analysis of the facts of the case reveals that SkyReach has applied for building perm ission as a rightful owner of the property based on the contract, which it can’t renege. Secondly, reservation of the plot for ‘educational purpose’ exists already, which the SkyReach failed to verify. Thirdly, according to the facts of the case, the sale is not conditional with reference to the purpose for which the plot could be used. The sale of real estate property is enforceable by specific performance in the event of a breach of contract. There are defenses available against specific performance which would avoid specific performance, and the only defence that could be remotely considered as an action in equity is, ‘specific performance would cause severe hardship to SkyReach’, because other defences such as misbehavior and impossibility of performance are not relevant to the case. But, defence against specific performance is not possible due to the reasons discussed under ‘Legal position of the seller and buyer’, based on the fact s of the case and analysis. In Tamplin v James,[1]  Ã‚   defendant, the buyer failed to perform in the contract of sale on the grounds that that he expected that two pieces of garden formed part of the lot, when they were in fact held by a railway company and not the vendor. In this landmark case, the court decreed specific performance for purchase of the land. The defendant’s appeal was unanimously dismissed by the Court of

Trade Unions in South Africa and Argentina Essay Example for Free

Trade Unions in South Africa and Argentina Essay Introduction: South Africa is a country that is crippled by the heritage of the apartheid, this is because the struggle for democracy was a long and exhausting one (Budeli, 2009: 68). Argentina also suffered among the hands of the military regime, as the lives of ordinary people was accompanied with hunger and a forceful government (Brysk, 1994: 1). The trade union movement has been pivotal in both of the countries, as the labour movements were able to mobilise towards better countries. In this essay, South Africa and Argentinas trade union struggles will be discussed through a political-economic and historical context, and the essay will portray how these two countries share similarities and differences. South Africa: The Nationalist Party, which was a result of many Afrikaners going against the Smuts government, came into power from 1948 to 1994 (Baskin, 1996: 209). The apartheid laws came into full swing in 1948, where racial discrimination became institutionalised, which simply means that the segregation between whites and non-whites was enforced by the apartheid government (Baskin, 1996: 209). These laws played a large role in dictating which races received employment, for example in many cases jobs would be reserved for whites only, and were greatly protected (Baskin, 1996: 211). Trade unions had to struggle with political and industrial relations when trying to fight for the rights of workers (Baskin, 1996: 210). In many cases African trade unions (Black, Indian and Coloured people) were not recognised and so it was a constant fight to try and get recognised as legitimate trade unions (Baskin, 1996: 210). In 1948, the Nationalist government, removed the Industrial Conciliation (Native) Bill that was in effect under the Smut government, and it introduced the Botha Commission (Baskin, 1996: 210). The Botha Commission was greatly criticised by the government as it gave African trade unions the ability to be recognised and to receive bargaining rights (Baskin, 1996: 210). The apartheid government rejected the application of acknowledging the African trade unions, due to the relations most of them had with the African National Congress (ANC), (Baskin, 1996: 211). This was because the ANC became one of the non-white political organisations that  were going against the unjust laws that existed in apartheid South Africa (Baskin, 1996: 211). In 1954 the Minister of Labour introduced the Trade Union Council of South Africa (TUCSA), in order to gain greater solidarity from the white workers, TUCSA also made it clear that their association with African unions was non-existent in order to win over the majority of white conservatives (Baskin, 1996: 214). This brought rise to the South African Congress of Trade Unions (SACTU), also in 1954 (Baskin, 1996: 214). SACTU, made it clear that it was in opposition of the union and political strategies that existed within TUCSA, this was because SACTU posed a large threat to TUCSA, as they argued against the control of African trade unions (Baskin, 1996: 214). SACTU embarked on a journey and agenda that involved political mobilization of the African working class as they continuously became proletarianized by the apartheid government (Baskin, 1996: 214). But to importantly strengthen the political agenda by linking up with the ANC (Baskin, 1996: 214). In 1957, SACTU sent a number of invitations to TUCSA in order to discuss ways in which African unions can be recognised and that collective bargaining for Africans could be considered, even the Minister of Labour was often invited to these discussions and yet both the minister and TUCSA, rejected all the invitations (Baskin, 1996: 224). Examples of the invitations would be that of the local committee of SACTU, appealing to TUCSA for a joint meeting to discuss a statement made by the Minister of Labour about job reservation for semi-skilled and skilled workers, it also refused the invitation given, where SACTU asked for TUCSAs support for the Treason Trials Defense Fund (Baskin, 1996: 224). Therefore this shows that the African trade unions were trying by all means to cooperate with government departments and TUCSA, but they were not interested in any way. SACTU leaders such as the president, Leon Levy and the general secretary Leslie Massina were banned, due to the fact that they were in opposition of TUCSA (Baskin, 1996: 224). By 1959, the alliance between the ANC and SACTU grew strong, as more and more people began to recognise the movement, over 46000 individuals became members of SACTU, these members were largely factory based (Baskin, 1996: 225). SACTU continued to campaign and attracted many Africans (Baskin, 1996:  225). The ANC and SACTU began to draft the Freedom Charter, which was a manifesto of what a democratic South Africa would be, where individuals would not be discriminated against because of their race, sex or disability, amongst others factors (Baskin, 1996: 228). By the time the protest in Sharpville arrived in 1960, there were many grievances that were felt by the African working class, but the main reason for the protest, was to protest against the pass laws and other factors such as constant low wages and poverty (South African History Online, 2012). Pass laws were used to control the movement of non-whites in apartheid South Africa (South African History Online, 2012). The Sharpville protest was a peaceful one and the apartheid police opened fire on the civilians which resulted in a massacre where many lives were lost and so the African unions and ANC, SACP (South African Communist Party) began to intensify when Umkhonto weSizwe, which was the military forces used and occupied by the ANC, SACP and African trade unions in the armed struggle against apartheid (South African History Online, 2012). By 1965, many of the leaders of SACTU either went into exile, executed or were imprisoned at Robben Island and so the union activity died down, as there was no one to lead the organisation (South African History Online, 2012). SACTU was instrumental in paving the way for many of the other trade unions in strengthening their struggle for the working class. The instability in apartheid South Africa, forced the United Nations to condemn the apartheid policies and to request the members of the United Nations and the international community to also condemn the South African apartheid government by stopping any economical and military business they had with South Africa (Budeli, 2009: 68). But dominant companies like Anglo American, Barlow Rand and Gencor, grew tremendously (Baskin, 1991: 113). These companies were negatively affected when non-whites decided to go on strike in 1973, their main grievance being that of low wages, this strike led to industry in South Africa come to a standstill (Budeli, 2009: 68). It became evident that the workers had gotten stronger in the sense that they were able to form pivotal stries without any formal backing from the government (Budeli, 2009: 68). This led to the growth of many unions, which by the end of 1973 resulted in the government introducing the Bantu Labour Relations Act (Budeli, 2009: 68). The act was passed in order to control and  regulate the conditions of black employees, to also regulate the disputes, prevention of disputes and settlements between black employees and their employers, in this way the government was able to belittle any relevance or influence that the African trade unions had (Budeli, 2009: 68). This did not stop the strikes from occuring as they spread through put the country, and the isolation from the international community had a negative affect on the economy of South Africa (Budeli, 2009: 69). This led to the rebirth of many trade unions such as SACTU, and later in 1976 the Soweto Uprising intensified the need for a change in South Africa (Budeli, 2009: 69). By 1979, the South African government felt the pressure from the international community and brought to the table the Weihahn Commission of Inquiry (Budeli, 2009: 69). The Commission had its first report in 1979, as it presented fundamental changes in the labour relations system (Budeli, 2009: 69). The Commission, supported the freedom for all trade unions to make up their own rukes and regulations, amongst other things (Budeli, 2009: 70). The formation of the Federation of South African Trade Unions (FOSATU) was also in 1979, where there was central decision-making by a panel of executive committees which represent delegates from all the factories, with the sole role to promote shop floor development and organisation, FOSATU proposing that they will only work with the government, for all races to be able to register to a trade union (Baskin, 1991: 60). FOSATU paved the way for the formation of trade unions such as the National Union of Mine Workers (NUM) in 1982 led by Cyril Ramaposa (Baskin, 1991: 115). NUM was used to protest against horrid working conditions and better wages. In 1984, the government created the tri-cameral parliament, which fundamentally extended political rights and affiliation to Indians and Coloureds excluding black individuals (Budeli, 2009: 72). This made the black people very angry, and to further fight against the apartheid government strategies, the birth of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) occurred in 1985, COSATU formally allied itself with the ANC joining the organisation in the struggle against apartheid (Budeli, 2009: 72). The birth of COSATU was accompanied by a large strike, where a record of 185 000 work days were lost, during industrial activity in January 1986  (Baskin, 1991: 77). Official government records showed that 1985 brought the highest number of strikes in the last ten years, not knowing that the next 12 months were going to be pivotal point in South Africa (Baskin, 1991: 77). Impala Platinum, were in shock when on New Years day 1986, over 36 000 workers put their tools down, at the four Imp ala Platinum mines in Bophuthatswana, this created a large problem as the four mines produced over 30% of the worlds platinum (Baskin, 1991: 77). The miners were in protest against receiving low wages and having to work over time on public holidays without being paid for the extra time, and that their living conditions should be the same as that of their white counterparts, where they are allowed to receive access to marital quarters as well (Baskin, 1991: 78). But even more important, the workers demanded that management should provide facilities to NUM even after management had refused (Baskin, 1991: 78). COSATU had to form their structures, and so they decided to take a participatory approach, where the majority of workers were delegates, and there was mass participation in the decision-making, what was most important to COSATU was to ensure that the workers were taken care and this was done at constantly looking at the grass root level (Baskin, 1991: 112). By the late 1980s COSATU began to have issues within the congress where smaller unions like NUMSA, were unhappy and also conflict with community organisers (Baskin, 1991: 112). But such internal problems did not, distract the working class from the struggle, to the extent in which the apartheid government lost their tight control over the townships, and so the regime became increasingly compromised. By the early 1990s the struggle began to dissolve with the release of Nelson Mandela and the unbanning of the ANC, SACP and PAC and all the other struggle organisations that were involved (Budeli, 2009: 73). Argentina: The military government came into power in 1943, at this time Peron was gaining a lot of recognition and in many ways Perons ideology coincided with that of the working class (Munck, Falcon Galitelli: 127). The event that occurred in 1945 on the 17th of October was fundamental in the Argentinen labour movement (Munck, Falcon Galitelli: 127). During 1943  and 1944, Perons support base grew tremendously due to the support received from inside the trade unions (Munck, Falcon Galitelli: 127). The event that took place on the 17th October, it was the mobilisation of the working class as they demanded the nationalisation of industries, profit sharing for workers, an extensive social security system amongst other demands (Munck, Falcon Galitelli: 127). Peron used the event to his advantage by becoming allied with the trade unions by getting all the government employees and their unions to mobilise against the employers who were condemning the reformist social activities and soon to be policies of the military regime (Munck, Falcon Galitelli: 128). Union leaders were often eager to ensure the linkage between the military politics and themselves, this was all in 1945 (Munck, Falcon Galitelli: 128). Since Peron was the Minister of Labour, he introduced the Law of Professional Associations which amplified the power of the General Confederation Labour (CGT), and also gave the government the ability to allow unions legal status, as a precondition for collective bargaining, which was on the behalf of their members (Munck, Falcon Galitelli: 128). Peron chose this way forward as a response to the train drivers, textile and shoe makers unions (Munck, Falcon Galitelli: 128). Though Peron was becoming increasingly popular, other military rulers were not taken by Peron, and in actual fact wanted to remove Peron from his position of power, unfortunately for the other military rulers, this did not necessarily affect Perons campaign to win over the working class (Munck, Falcon Galitelli: 128). In 1946, Peron was elected into office to be Argentinas president, his first mission was to eradicate the Partido Laborista, to make way for his new party the Peronist party (Munck, Falcon Galitelli: 130). Peron created his own kind of ideology, and it was known as Peronism which meant the people and so Anti-Peronism would be enemies against the people (Di Tella Dornbusch, 1989: 91). The CGT became the foundation of the Peronist party (Munck, Falcon Galitelli: 131). Even though Peron had succeed in wining over unions, some independent unions under Louis Gay, posed a threat to the succees of his office and in 1947, Peron executed the resignation of Gay, in order to have full control of the labour movement, and not allow the unions to have any political presence (Munck, Falcon Galitelli: 131). Peron adopted a corporatist model in Argentina, where the employers, government and unions would come together issues that affected the country (Munck, Falcon Galitelli: 131). This was because in many cases, the working class would be striking, and demanding increases of wages being part of the employee contracts and yet the employees continued to refuse, but the turning point was reached in 1948, where higher wages were received due to the increase in the amount strike activity (Munck, Falcon Galitelli: 136). Most of these strikes were pleads from the working class, for the improvement of working and living conditions (Munck, Falcon Galitelli: 136). Peron had big plans for Argentina, one of which was to turn Argentina into an industrialised country, this was done through the creation of a steel company but by 1950 the industrialisation faced a crisis (Munck, Falcon Galitelli: 137). Perons economic policies faced a lot of negative comments by the Catholic Church (Munck, Falcon Galitelli: 137). It became intensified when the Catholic Church began to use armed forces in order to make changes, the Church argued that it was no longer feasible that wages could always increase and that profits and capital to keep the companies was going to decrease (Munck, Falcon Galitelli: 137). Once the changes were made to the economic policies, real wage began to decrease in 1950, and the economic growth rate fell (Munck, Falcon Galitelli: 137). Strike action began to rise, from 1950-1954 there were 125 strikes and 4,006,204 working days were lost (Munck, Falcon Galitelli: 138). Even through the minor economic crisis Peron still soared to defend the working class (Munck, Falcon Galitelli: 137). In 1955, the working class, the Peron government and CGT had a confrontation with the military, middle class and Catholic Church, many people were killed and a massacre resulted in Plaza De Mayo (Munck, Falcon Galitelli: 142). The military were victorious which resulted in Peron being removed from office (Munck, Falcon Galitelli: 147). The fall of Peron, caused a period of political instability, which resulted in phases where different organisations would be in office from military regimes (1955-1958), to civilian interludes (1958-1962), or even a  combination of both in 1962-1963 (Munck, Falcon Galitelli: 147). In that time span, the factory floor was forced to conform to the new modern strategies that were meant to lead productivity, but two points were important at the time, which is labour resistance and the bureaucratisation of the unions (Munck, Falcon Galitelli: 148). The labour resistance was often known as the Peronist resistance as socialist and communist parties became instrumental in the deterioration of Peronism, therefore trade unions became divided into Peronist, Socialist and Communist Munck, Falcon Galitelli: 148), The CGT was often divided between provinces, which resulted in the persecution of many union leaders in the Peronist resistance (Munck, Falcon Galitelli: 149). Vandorism became influential in the labour movement, this was because the Frondizi government, which came into power in 1958 had began to make changes in the economic policy, by promoting the privatisation of certain factories (Munck, Falcon Galitelli: 152). The state had a confrontation with the labour movement when it was decided that Lisandro de la Torre near Buenos Aires (Munck, Falcon Galitelli: 152). Vandorism was greatly a bureaucratic organisation even at the grass-root level, but eventually military coup led to the fall of Vandorism in 1966 (Munck, Falcon Galitelli: 157). Military coups became the usual, when from 1966-1971, Argentina went through three presidents, in 1966 it was Ongania, 1969 was Levingston and 1971 was Lanusse (Munck, Falcon Galitelli: 166). A new working class emerged, where there was heterogeneity growth, internal diversification and an increase in the decentralisation on growth of labour productivity (Munck, Falcon Galitelli: 168). The situation in Cordoba, was a cause for concern as the strike activity in the area increased where workers were protesting against harsh working hours (44 hour week paid as 48) and they were questioning the power of employers in reducing the national wages due to the decrease in economic growth (Munck, Falcon Galitelli: 169). Peron came back in 1973 as the president which did not last for a long time, because when Peron died in 1974, his ideologies died with him (Munck, Falcon Galitelli: 187). By 1983, free elections had taken place, and the  military regime began to die (223). Similarities: Argentina and South African trade union movements possess many similarities. The first similarity that was noted in both of these case studies, is the commitment of the trade unions in changing the political and economical structures of the countries, as mentioned above, South African trade unions were in constant conflict with the apartheid regime when trying to reform the structures (Baskin, 1996: 210), the same happened in Argentina, when Peron and the trade unions were at the forefront of trying to move the militant regime, in order to satisfy the needs of the working class (Munck, Falcon Galitelli: 127). Industrialisation has played a large role in the history of both Argentina and South Africa, and it known that the same patterns of industrialisation existed in the countries (Cooper, 2011: 19). The type of industrialisation that occurred in both countries is that of mass production and often on the manufacturing of engineering parts (Cooper, 2011: 19). The trade unions had a large role to play in the lives of the working class during the industrial booms of the two countries, for example in South Africa in 1986 many of the mine strikes that occurred in South Africa, trade unions such as NUM and COSATU were at the forefront trying to ensure that the interests of the working class are taken into consideration, which was mainly the improvement of working conditions and wage increases, the Impala Platinum strike mentioned above is an example of solid trade union support (Baskin, 1991: 77). In Argentina 1958, there were many talks of privatisation of the factories and this would badly affect the working class as the wages were sure to decrease, in particular there was an intense labour movement formed at Lisandro de la Torre near Buenos Aires, to protest against the privatisation of the factory, Vandorist unions were at the forefront of the protests (Munck, Falcon Galitelli: 152). An important similarity would be that of both countries having the labour movements under harsh authoritarian regimes, where a bureaucratic model exists and only to those it benefits (Cooper, 2011:6). Therefore in most cases in both the countries there would be large mobilisation and resistance against the authoritarian rule, as mentioned above the trade unions were  instrumental in coming up with certain policies that assisted the working class (Cooper, 2011: 6). In South Africa, the policy of the Freedom Charter is and example of the trade unions mobilising politically and formally against the apartheid regime (Budeli, 2009: 68). In Argentina, when Peron allied himself with the trade unions, and ensured that the CGT was backing him, it was a clear indication that changes and policies were going to be put into place to loosen the authoritarian control (Munck, Falcon Galitelli: 128). Both countries began to rely greatly on foreign aid and foreign investments in the 1950s and 1960s, this played a large in the restructuring of the economy to suit the needs of the foreign corporations than the people living and working in the country (Cooper, 2011: 5). In South Africa there was a large increase in the expenditure on machinery in 1956 and 1960 (Webster, 1985: 9). Argentina had the same thing happen, and the governments inability to effectively deal with the political and economic conflicts gave rise to turning point strikes in the country (Cooper, 2011:19). The last similarity is that the trade unions formed in both countries wanted grass-root democracy and often socialist economic transformation (Cooper, 2011: 25). In South Africa this was done by COSATU, by introducing shop floor delegates in order to deal with the issues that the workers were having directly, this was done in a participatory manner (Baskin, 1991: 112). In Argentina, Vandorism used heavy bureaucrac y as grass root organisation (Munck, Falcon Galitelli: 152). Differences: The differences found in the countries are also vital in the comparative analysis. The first difference is that the two countries often had different ideologies in their trade union and political movements, an example would be that most of the trade unions in South Africa such as COSATU had communist policies, even the ANC which as mentioned was the political party that was against the apartheid regime started of with communist political backing with SACP (Budeli, 2009: 73). Whereas in Argentina, Peron made it clear that only his policies that he implemented were to be used and in any cases trade unions who were communist were often deposed by Peron, and so the only successful trade unions in assisting the working were the ones that allied  themselves with Peron, thus the success of socialist or communist trade unions was limited or non-existent (Munck, Falcon Galitelli: 128). South Africas apartheid regime differed from the military regime in Argentina, in the sense that it occurred according to race lines, this simply means that the African unions that represented non-whites were not recognised by the government and so jobs were often just reserved for white people, and there was no protection for non-white workers from the employers (Baskin, 1996: 224). Unlike in Argentina where the labour movement, did not have to concern themselves with racial issues directly. Argentina even under the military regime did not experience the international community condemning the actions taken by government to the extent of actually placing sanctions on the economic, social and political activities in the international community, whereas South Africa had been sanctioned from the international community which was felt directly by the working class as wages became lower and the economy was crippled (Budeli, 2009: 73). Conclusion: In conclusion, Both South African and Argentinas trade unions have been instrumental in the reforms that occurred in both countries. The trade unions were not only revolutionising against the undemocratic regimes, but in the process of doing the trade unions in both countries were highly influential in making the lives of working class better through the struggles that were fought against harsh working conditions and low wages (Cooper, 2011:19). Even though the struggles in both countries lasted for many decades, labour movements in both countries, have improved since the regimes occurred, in the fight for a stronger and more effective working class. List of References: Baskin, J. 1991. Strking Back: A History of COSATU. Johannesburg: Raman Press. Baskin, J. (ed). 1996. Against the Current: Labour and Economic Policy in South Africa. Naledi: Ravan Press. Brysk, A. 1994. The Politics of Human Rights in Argentina: Protest, Change and Democratization. California: Standford University Press. Budeli, M. 2009. â€Å"Workers right to freedom of association and trade unionism in South Africa: An historical perspective†. Fundamina. Vol. 15(2) pp. 57-74. Cooper, D. 2011. â€Å"Locating South Africa in the third world: Comparative perspectives on patterns of industrialisation and political trade unionism in South America†. Social Dynamics: A journal of African studies.Vol. 17(2) pp. 1-40. Di Tella, G., Dornbusch, R. 1989. The Political Economy of Argentina 1946-1983. London: MacMillan Press. Munck, R., Falcon, R., Galitelli, B. Argentina: From Anarchism to Peronism: workers, unions and politics 1885-1985. New Jersey: Zed Books Ltd. Webster, E. (ed). Essays in Southern African Labour History. Johannesburg: Raman Press.

Strategic Analysis Of Nestle Company Management Essay

Strategic Analysis Of Nestle Company Management Essay The purpose of this paper is to critically evaluate the strategic decisions that have occurred over the corporate history of Nestle mentioned in the case and to what extent has Mergers and Acquisitions and Strategic Alliances played a role in NESTLEs strategy in that period. In order to evaluate these strategic decisions, the paper shall outline Nestlà ©s historical strategic decisions; give a brief description of each decision and how mergers and acquisitions contributed to the growth of the company. The paper goes on to explain the current strategies of Nestlà © and how sustainable these strategies may be in the future. It explains the rationalisation of these current strategies and the new strategies that ought to be developed. The paper then looks at the future strategies of Nestle to outline the issues that are likely to be faced when these strategies are implemented .Likely actions are then suggested which may help give solutions to problems faced by Nestle on implementation of its future strategies. The strategic decisions involve new product development, extensive research development and entry into new product category which were mostly achieved through mergers and acquisitions. The current strategy was noted as unsustainable in the long term due to the fact that most of the products of Nestlà © cannot be classified as healthy .The suggestion made was that Nestle should come up with strategies that will make them healthier than their competitors. Nestlà ©s future strategies were also scrutinized and possible solutions given to overcome some of the strategic implementation issues the organization is likely to face. 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Evaluate the strategic decisions that have occurred over the corporate history of NESTLE mentioned in the case and to what extent has Mergers and Acquisitions and Strategic Alliances played a role in NESTLEs strategy in that period?    Expansion According to Bell and Shelman (2009), Nestlà ©s sales expanded rapidly across Europe a few years after its inception. The company started developing an international reputation, and in 1905 it took the strategic decision of acquiring its main competitor, the Anglo-Swiss Condensed milk company (Bell and Shelman, 2009). The Federal Trade Commission refers to this as a horizontal merger where a firm acquires a former competitor allowing for a consolidation of companies in the same industry (Barney, 2011). As a result, Nestle in the early 1900s began positioning itself as a powdered milk, and infant food company. Furthermore, the combined companies through the Nestle brand name continued to grow through product and market extension mergers. Barney (2011) describes a product extension merger as one which adopts a complementary product through an acquisition, as seen in the case of Nestle which aligned product adoption in categories such as sugar, milk, cocoa and coffee. Nestlà © further undertook market extension mergers which involve gaining entry into complementary markets through acquisitions (Barney, 2011); whereby Nestle entered the confectionary, coffees, cereals, soft drinks, ice cream, water and prepared foods markets (See Ansoff Matrix below). Ansoff (1965) would argue that Nestlà © uses four different approaches to grow its products and markets. To explain the reasoning behind Nestlà ©s past MAs they can be assigned into these categories of growth which include: market penetration, product development, market development and diversification (See Ansoff Matrix above). During the 1920s, Nestle diversified its portfolio from infant formula to include Milo. This was its first powdered drink not created for infants. Spanning from 1938 to 1948, Nestlà © made the decision to enter into coffee and tea sector with the launch of Nescafe and Nestea. Nestle also diversified into the confectionary market, prepared foods, water, pet foods, energy bar and weight loss markets with the acquisitions of Peter, Cailler, Kohler Swiss Chocolate Company, Maggi, Vittel, Friskies, Powerbar and Jenny Craig respectively. Diversification outside the food and drink industry to enter pharmaceuticals and cosmetics was executed in the 1970s when it became a minority shareholder of LOreal (25%) and later acquired Alcon Laboratories. Barney (2011) highlights that acquiring new companies leads to reduction in production or distribution costs through economies of scale and vertical integration. Mergers and Acquisitions are also beneficial In increasing market share For industry know how and positioning For Financial leveraging (See appendix 3) Reasonable for this industry To improve profitability and EPS (See exhibit 2 for EPS 2006 and 2007) Source: Lasserre (2012) According to Lasserre (2012), MAs can also create several types of values for a company. He argues that they are justifiable if the economic value of the two entities is worth more combined than the sum of independent values before the merger (2012). Thus, the businesses must create shared economic values through synergy by increasing revenues whilst decreasing costs. Lasserre assumes these created values can be both short-term (one-off value) and long-term (synergistic effects). Diversification and global reach were the main values created for Nestlà © in its acquisitions. For example, Carnation enabled Nestle to extend not only in its product range but also to reach new areas around the world. The following table outlines the values created through Nestlà ©s MAs. Nestlà ©s MAs Value created Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company  ·   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Consolidation Maggi  ·   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Diversification Acquisitions in canned and frozen foods, water, ice cream and pets food  ·   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Diversification Alcon Laboratories  ·   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Diversification  ·   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Options (to monitor the evolution of the technology) Carnation  ·   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Global reach  ·   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Diversification Ralston-Purina  ·   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Diversification Jenny Craig  ·   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Diversification Novartiss Gerber  ·   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Global reach  ·   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Options (to monitor the evolution of the technology) Table: Nestlà ©s MAs and their value created. Source: Authors own creation based on information from Bell and Shelman (2009) and Lasserre (2012). Furthermore, the relationship between Nestle and LOreal developed further when they created two joint-ventures: Galderma and Laboratories Inneov. According to Barney (2011), joint ventures are undertaken in order to manage risk, share costs, and enter into new markets and industries. It is assumed that Nestle saw the benefits of alliances rather than acquisitions into the cosmetics market due to its lack of knowledge on the industry. Once Nestlà © diversified its portfolio, they followed-up by expanding brands through what Ansoff (1965) refers to as market penetration. In order to utilise its current resources, and take advantage of the market opportunities created by Milo and Nescafe, Nestle developed new brands such as Nesquik and Nespresso (Bell and Shelman, 2009).   Additionally, Nestlà © acquired more brands consistent with its presence in the water and pet foods market: e.g. Vittel and Friskies.   Ã‚   According to Ansoff (1965), market development is the introduction of existing products into new markets. This can be seen through Nestlà ©s acquisitions of Stouffer, which enabled the company to sell its food products to different markets: frozen prepared meals. Lastly, Nestle used product development to introduce new products such as Buitoni, Carnation, and Kit Kat to grow within its existing market of food, powdered drinks and confectionary. Nestlà ©s diverse portfolio provides it with a competitive advantage, and has enabled the company to become the worlds largest food and Beverage Company (Bell and Shelman, 2009). However, it seems that some product diversifications through mergers and acquisitions led to the downfall of its profits; especially visible in the years leading up to Mauchers administration (Bell and Shelman, 2009). Barney (2011) suggests that mergers and acquisitions between strategically unrelated businesses do not necessarily create significant economic profits. Thus, it can be assumed that Nestlà ©s strategically unrelated acquisition of Alcon and partial acquisition of LOreal between 1974 and 1977, contributed to a decline in profits between 1978 and 1981. Supply Chain Rationalisation As Nestle grew and entered new markets, they worked towards horizontally integrating their supply chain. According to Christopher (2005), companies such as Nestle seek to spread geographically, whilst reducing costs through economies of scale by prioritising manufacturing and operational processes. This can be seen throughout the 1900s as Nestle invests in its value chain by: opening processing plants within the U.S., Britain, Germany and Spain; manufacturing in Australia; warehouses in Singapore, Hong Kong and Bombay; and factories in the U.S. and Brazil (Bell and Shelman 2009) (See Nestlà ©s value chain). Firm infrastructure Decentralized organization Executive Committee consists of the CEO and 12 top managers The company is structured through 43 regional organisations reporting to directors of three geographic zones (zone Europe, Asia/Oceania/Africa and zone Americas). Country managers are given a large degree of autonomy when dealing with customer matters. Nestlà ©s Value chain Human Resource Management Focus on developing local management Investment in training and providing cross experiences People start from the bottom and move their way up in the organisation Unique culture/ focus on long term results Developing people from acquired companies. Technology Development Strong RD platform/ open innovation model Big investment in RD (investment to support pharmaceutical businesses and food, nutrition, health and wellness) Creating an innovation acceleration team to support rapid product introductions. Initiating a common technology infrastructure/ a comprehensive information system named the GLOBE. Margin Procurement Purchasing some raw materials instead of processing them in-house. 60% of materials purchases from emerging economies Direct sourcing -In developing countries agricultural commodities are bought from local markets and often directly from farmers- rather than on the world market Service Jenny Craig -personal nutrition counselling / Jenny Direct website and phone /Home delivery. Personalized services 24/7 service though telephone and internet help line for Nestlà ©s premium products. Marketing sales Positioning the company as healthy Strong brands product and brand differentiation. Dealing directly with consumers. Medical nutrition: market to professionals Outbound Logistics Synchronization of data between manufacturing and retailers- through the GLOBE system. Introducing new distribution channels for some brands (e.g. Nespresso corners, boutiques and home delivery) Inbound Logistics Ware- Housing Operations -Manufacturing, food processing plants -Producing locally -About half of the factories are in developing countries/ production for the local market. -Partnership with local farmers -providing advice and support -Implementing quality control processes. Moreover, Nestle made the strategic decision of establishing local supply chains which meant deploying its agricultural capabilities down to  the farm level through strategic alliances. This is referred to as their milk district model which allows farmers to supply milk to the company directly and in exchange Nestle provides its resources and know-how, such as providing storage and chilling facilities (Nestle, 2012). This highlights the fact that Nestle was seeking to establish its value chain activities, or Global business system, earlier on in its history (See value chain above).   According to Hill and Hill (2009), this type of model has the capability of reinforcing a companys competitive advantage as it is able to overcome barriers to integration, better respond to delivery speed, simplify sharing of information and reduce costs of production (Bell and Shelman, 2009). Adapting to a Global Role Nestle recognised that for it to sustain its competitive advantage it needed to establish a global technological platform to capture data, manage information and create knowledge (Bell and Shelman, 2009). Consequently Brabeck made the strategic decision of initiating the GLOBE system. Using this common technological infrastructure, it would be able to share information amongst all Nestlà ©s businesses and allowed for a synchronization of data in its supply chain (Bell and Shelman 2009). Refocused Strategy: Nutrition, Health and Wellness Nutrition has always been an integral part of Nestlà ©s vision, dating back to its first nutritious infant formula. However, due to Nestlà ©s realisation of consumers being increasingly aware of the link between food, health and personal wellbeing, there has been more of a shift away from a technology and processing-driven image towards health and wellness (Bell and Shelman 2009). Under Brabecks tenure, a Nutrition Strategic Business Division was created, along with the acquisitions of Proteika, Musashi (nutrition business), Jenny Craig (diet centres) and Novartis Medical Nutrition (Bell and Shelman 2009). Restructuring of Research and Development Unit Nestlà © also made a strategic decision of restructuring its RD unit to satisfy customer needs and internal growth. This was by shifting away from small decentralized units set up globally to limited large resource-intensive centres. This was done to renovate old brands by finding multiple uses for its product. Under Brabecks tenure, a 60/40 preference rating system was introduced where products were either discontinued or sold if they did not achieve the 60% level. This was done in order to ameliorate the companys performance and market orientation (Bell and Shelman, 2009). 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚   To what extent is the current strategy of NESTLE competitively sustainable in the future? How should it be rationalised and what new strategies ought to be developed in the future? Current strategy Nestlà ©s current strategy was to achieve worldwide sustainable competitiveness through four strategic pillars: low cost, efficient operations, renovation and innovation of the Nestle product line, universal availability and improved communication with consumers through better branding. They also had a vision of transforming the company from a technology-and processing-driven food and beverage company towards a vision of nutrition, health and wellness. (Bell and Shelman, 2009, p.3). Nestlà ©s current strategy of reorganizing its operations did come as an advantage as in some cases moved away from its agricultural and processing roots to buying the ingredients from outside suppliers (Bell and Shelman, 2009). This can be argued on the basis of Nestlà © reducing the steps of its value chain activities as Brabeck explained some of these activities could not add value to some businesses. An example would be the fact that Nestlà © exited from cocoa roasting but still carried on producing chocolate. This in turn reduced the costs and made the value chain more efficient. In fact, in terms of strategic operations, Lasserre (2012) argues that making fundamental changes in the value chain can lead to developing new products and services which can help a company sustain its innovative advantage. Moreover, to enhance the reliability of its suppliers, Nestlà © implemented a strategy of forming partnerships with its suppliers by creating direct links with them and providin g them with support and technical advice. This helped the company cope with the volatility of the supply market and enhance its operations.   Therefore, in terms of operational efficiency, Nestlà © can be seen to be sustainably competitive. Secondly, Nestlà ©s current strategy was focused on renovating and innovating its product line through reorganizing its RD.   Lasserre (2012) suggests that organizations such as Nestlà © could be trying to gain a critical mass advantage. He further explains that in order to achieve this, a minimum amount of resources needs to be mobilized for an activity to perform efficiently and effectively. Hence, Nestlà ©s shift from decentralized units of RD to few large resource-intensive centres. As a result of its RD centralization, Nestlà © was able to reinvigorate old brands; an example was finding multiple uses of the Nesquik brand from not only being a powder but to also present it as syrup and into ready to drink varieties. However, this strategy came at a disadvantage to Nestlà © as they lost the benefits of decentralization. These benefits include proximity to markets which gives a firm the ability to create products that fit local customer specificities, gaining access to geogr aphical clusters of knowledge creation and development access to good-quality scientists and the capability of a firm to learn from different market and cultures (Lasserre, 2012). Therefore, in terms of its RD strategy, it could be argued that Nestlà © will have trouble sustaining its competitive advantage in the future since part of its future strategy is to expand to other markets. Thirdly, with the introduction of GLOBE in the mid-2000s, Nestle initiated an era of capturing data by tying all of Nestlà ©s entities together under a common technological platform. This led to the company standardizing its data to manage its vast information and create and share knowledge among its Strategic business units, manufacturers and retailers. The main idea was to use shared knowledge to enhance the collaboration between all the different units of the company which can reduce costs and produce value all over the organisation. Bauwens (2012) outlines this as a social innovation where knowledge is shared and can be used by others. A good example would be the fact that the Globe system allowed for a synchronization of data leading to an improvement in order fulfilment between manufacturers and retailers. This has allowed Nestlà © to sustain its competitive advantage by adapting much faster to change and delivering value to customer (Lasserre, 2012). Therefore, knowledge sha ring has the potential to play a big role in helping Nestlà © maintain its competitive advantage.    Nestlà ©s final strategic pillar of improving communication between the organization and consumers through better branding could signify the companys efforts to differentiate its products. Barney (2011) would argue that Nestlà © could be trying to alter perceptions of current and potential consumers by altering its product features. In fact, Nestlà © focused on reducing fat and calories as well as incorporating healthy and natural ingredients into a wide range of products. It could be argued also that better branding is linked to its vision of moving from a food and beverage company to a wellness, health and nutrition company. This could also be Nestlà ©s way of differentiating its products by taking advantage of its reputation in the marketplace as a leading company in its industry. Therefore, customers would, in the long term, respond positively to the companys efforts of producing healthier products. Thus, if Nestlà © actually succeeds in changing peoples perceptions and posi tion itself as a health driven company, it can manage to maintain its competitive advantage in the future. It is through these four strategic pillars that Nestlà © derives its current model, the Nestlà © model, which refers to the companys long term of objectives of organic growth (target of 5% and 6% each year), continuous yearly improvement in EBIT and improve capital management which determines the assets of the company against the profit it generates (Bell and Shelman, 2009). The company seems to be achieving its objective as it has slightly improved its earnings before interest and taxes as seen in exhibit 6; it has slightly made progress in its capital management through its improved return on capital employed as seen in Appendix 2; and it has been able to achieve its objective of organic growth between 5% and 6% except for 3 years between 1996 -2007 years also indicated in Exhibit 6. Therefore, it is safe to assume that Nestlà ©s current strategy is competitively sustainable in the present however it remains to be seen if it can be successful in the future with its new vision . This is due to the fact that Nestlà © is possibly trying to implement both product differentiation and cost leadership strategies. Porter (1980) defines such firms as stuck in the middle (Barney, 2011). On the one hand, three of its strategic pillars indicate the companys intention of becoming a cost leader through low cost operations, restructuring its product line and efficiently managing its knowledge. On the other hand, it wants to differentiate its whole portfolio of products and services by changing the product features or by diversifying their products. Porter (1980) cited in Barney 2011 further explains that if a firm tries to implement both strategies then one of them will fail. He continues to add that for a firm to be economically superior in a single industry then they need to sell   at a high price and have small market share (product differentiator) or sell at a low price and gain significant market share (cost leader) therefore Nestlà © needs to decide which of the two it wants to become . As a result, a lot of their organizational requirements such as organizational structure and management control systems are stuck in the middle for example the fact that certain products need to be managed globally especially in the nutrition division while others are locally managed. Nestlà ©s current strategy could be rationalized by foregoing their vision of being a nutrition, health and wellness organization. Instead they should focus on being more of a healthier food and beverages company as a cost leader with its current Nestlà © model. First of all, if Nestlà © was to pursue a health, nutrition and wellness strategy Nestlà © would then have to restructure its product portfolio by getting rid of its unhealthy products such as Hot Pockets, and Kit-Kat. In exhibit 8 it can be seen that these products do not deliver growth to the company yet in exhibit 9 they seem to have a higher market share. This shows that the unhealthy products are in fact the cash cows of Nestlà © which indicate that they are the foundation of the company. It should try and follow Unilevers example of focusing on its core products. Therefore, Nestlà © should frame new strategies and make changes to its vision. Instead of holding on to unrealistic goals, the company could reposition itself in the market as becoming healthier than the competition. In fact, Nestlà © has already implemented this approach in the past with several products by introducing some nutritional improvements. As an example, Nestlà © reduced ice-cream fat by 50% and calories by 30% for Dreyers Slow Churned ice-creams and added healthy ingredients to some chocolate snacks (Bell and Shelman 2009). This indicates that the company has the resources needed to deploy this repositioning strategy. The company should also revaluate its SWOT analysis in terms of switching its vision to Health, Nutrition and Wellness. (refer to Appendix 2) Indeed, the strong RD platform enables Nestlà © to produce more healthy products while maintaining its taste. Moreover, Nestlà © has the capabilities of doing so with its open innovation model (global network with 5,000 scientists and technologists as well as RD centres worldwide) which enables the company to maximize its chances of coming up with new and innovative products. 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚   With regards to future strategies what are the strategic implementation issues likely to be faced by the company and what actions should they take to overcome them? Future strategies One of the future strategies of Nestlà © is to grow internally instead of growing through mergers and acquisition. Implementing this strategy could be catastrophic for the company as its growth has been largely relying on acquisitions and joint ventures. Nestlà © would also lose the benefits of using joint ventures, strategic alliances and acquisitions (Appendix 4). This would then imply that Nestlà © would have to use its own resources and core competencies to expand thus placing a greater risk on the business. It can also have a negative impact on the liquidity position of the company. A way in which this issue could be overcome is by applying both strategies. By applying both strategies, the company would be able to spread its corporate risk and share its costs as its return on capital employed still continues to generate profits for the company. Additionally, Nestlà © has managed to build strong foundations through mergers and acquisitions which has led it to improve its financial position. As seen on Exhibit 4, the acquisition of businesses has increased from 447 million in 2006 to 456 million in 2007 which has improved its cash flow. Therefore, in order to maintain a strong position, Nestlà © should carry on with mergers and acquisitions as well as growing internally. Another of the future strategies initiated by Bulcke is to shift the structure of Nestlà © from an organisation by country to an organisation by business through sharing best practices using GLOBE (Bell and Shelman 2009, p.10). He argues that this would enable Nestlà © to start managing its operations globally instead of adapting to every market. However, using the McKinsey 7s framework, many issues can be foreseen as seen on the table below. Factor Strategy Produce variety of quality products, wide variety of brands. Focus on nutrition, health and wellness. 4 strategic pillars (low cost, efficient operations, renovation and innovation of the Nestle product line, universal availability and improved communication with consumers through better branding) (Bell and Shelman, 2009, p. 3) Structure Decentralised and relatively flat organisational structure which helps to cater for local needs thus increasing flexibility. organized by country/ every country is like a small kingdom It has operations worldwide through strategic business units. System Comprehensive information system:   the GLOBE Employees move from the bottom up in the organisation. Style Democratic leadership style: managers are given autonomy to take decisions.   As such, they feel a sense of belonging in the organisation Staff Nestlà © maintains local companies with regional staff in local markets as they better understand the needs of customers. 43 regional organisations. More than 275,000 employees. It has a pool of experts- its staff consists of scientists, technologists from top universities (Bell and Shelman, 2009, p. 6) Skills Nestlà ©s competitive advantage is its RD. It has a high level of technology (23 Product Technology Centres), and  a network of experts around the world. (Bell and Shelman, 2009, p. 9). Shared Values Deliver long term value to shareholders. Focus on long term results. Unwritten culture strong personal culture (Bell and Shelman, 2009, p. 8). Although the change in the structure and the strategy was supported with a change in systems by adapting the GLOBE, other elements of the framework have not been adapted. For instance, the style used by Nestlà © was a democratic leadership style where management in the different countries are given a great deal of autonomy. By changing to a more centralized and global management style some internal resistance from the people can emerge.   The different markets are used to operating as small kingdoms (Bell and Shelman 2009, p.10). Therefore, given that country managers in the different countries were used to be given a great deal of freedom especially when dealing with issues related directly to the customer, this new strategy can produce some internal problems for Nestlà ©. To overcome this issue, other elements of the 7s framework have to be adapted. The main element that links everything together is shared values. Nestlà © has to work on making changes to its internal culture by introducing new shared values between its people. Implementing the GLOBE is not enough to implement the new strategy, a culture of sharing information and best practices should also be introduced and reinforced. Nestlà © should teach its people to move from a management style of taking control and matters into their own hands to a style of sharing control and producing decisions globally and collectively. The implementation of this approach may differ across countries due to the cross-cultural differences between countries. According to Lasserre (2012), country specific cultural values influence managerial values and assumptions in an organisation. As an example, Lasserre (2012) illustrates that western countries are more individualistic while Asian countries are collectivists which heavily impacts how business is done in these countries. In terms of implementing a culture of sharing, it can be assumed that Asian countries would respond more positively to the change than western countries.   Ã‚   Nestlà © intends to achieve its future growth by implementing four platforms for growth which are health, nutrition and wellness (to be the centrepiece), emerging markets, out of home consumption and premiumisation of existing products. (Bell and Shelman, 2009).The aforementioned strategy for growth is expected to double Nestlà ©s sales in the next 10 years. (Bell and Shelman, 2009)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Bulcke emphasized that the priority should be on health, nutrition and wellness to implement the vision into every product segment and every country. This vision is in line with Brabecks strategies of going beyond food to Nutrition, Health and Wellness (Bell and Shelman, 2009). The total sales for Nestlà © Nutrition segment has significantly increased from 5,964 million in 2006 to 8,434 in 2007, which represents an improvement of 41% as shown in Exhibit 11. Although total sales have increased, most products that have led to this increase in sales were unhealthy. So, in order to maintain its vision as a Health, Nutrition and Wellness, Nestlà © should give up its unhealthy products in the long term. However, this would negatively impact on the financial position of the company as these are its core products. Moreover, making the same products available in every market might not be adapted to the needs of every customer in terms of tastes, preferences and nutritional value so Nestlà © should make sure at least every different product are tailored to the needs of every different market.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Regarding emerging markets, Bulcke found out that these markets are growing at a faster pace and therefore Nestlà © should integrate further into it as there is a high potential for growth. The implementation of popularly position products (PPP), a strategy designed for low income earners so they can afford good nutrition products on a daily basis, is ex