Project Management Essay

By carefully assessing the skills necessary, the relative challenges that such position entails, and the supplementary benefits it contributes to an individual, gives me more reason to be interested in the position as a project manager. Seeing this, it is only proper for an individual to be fully capable to handle such diverse and strenuous work. In the end, by carefully assessing the relevant information regarding project management, only then can an individual assert his/her capabilities to operate in such scenario. Looking at the position closely, it involves multi-linked process that is a determinant for an overall completion of a particular project. Free Management library mentions that â€Å"project management is a carefully planned and organized effort to accomplish a specific (and usually) one-time effort, for example, constructing a building or implement a new computer system. † (1997) Due to this, the project manager should efficiently and effectively coordinate all important and vital segments of the project to ensure and assure its clientele of its relative success. Apart from the challenging scenario involved in the realm of project management, project managers also have the benefit of acquiring different skills needed that can be used in further endeavors and future goals. This may prove to be an important determinant for relative career goals as the work trends during this time demands more adaptive and skilled workers. Free Management Library Mentions further states that â€Å"therefore, it’s important to have skills in forming, leading and facilitating groups. (1997) Dwelling further into the realm of skills acquisition, one thing inviting about the position of project manager is its capability to hone leadership skills as well as logical skills which remain to be a vital part of the overall conduct of work. I want to point out the importance of leadership skills because of its capabilities and lasting effects it can contribute not only to the individual but to the overall dynamics of the group as well. The position of project manager not only enhances and creates avenues for project development but at the same time a method in augmenting leadership capabilities of an individual. Another important reason why I want to become a project manager is the relative challenges it promotes as far as success is concerned. In the creation and formulation of new ideas, risks are involved. These risks can either create hindrances or failure of the project to be implemented further. In the end, a skillful project manager must balance clientele’s plans and at the same time opinions and perceptions of people under him. Only by doing this can the project manager be successful. Also, I am fascinated in the way project manager handles all the decision-making processes. This is one such reason why I am interested in the position of project manager – due to its capabilities to enforce its own decision making. Though such may prove to be good for the part of the project manager, there are numerous setbacks and risks involved. Making the wrong decisions can mean problems for the overall success of the project. In addition, the blame shall only be given to the project manager for every failure and setbacks due to poor decision making. Seeing this, there are indeed positive outcomes and challenges posed by the position of development manager. However, with the relative positive outcomes, the position remains to be challenging and worthy of getting. That is why, given these reasons, I still want to become a project manager in the near future.

Original Writing – A Wild Night

Splash. Splash. The sound of the icy water droplets falling from the polished faucet and hitting stone hard sink echoed throughout the minuscule bathroom. The steady beat of the water had more life than the young girl that was sprawled like a sleeping new born across the floor. There was no one around to state how long she had been lying there nor to care that she not eaten for a period so long that her skin had become more citrine than pale. The girl's breathing was synchronised with the dripping and her mind was in state of oblivion. Her charcoal hair enveloped her face and she had her arm stretched over her eyes, which were exhausted from the numerous amount of crying, because she did not feel ready to face reality yet. Have ever tried clear your mind of all attachments to do yoga and failed? Then you were likely to understand why it did not take long for the adolescent to cloud her mind with thoughts again. Julie's heart began to beat at the speed of a hungry puma as her mind's feelings multiplied. Her muscles were frantically quivering as she thought about the penalty of one's action. The girl's lung had started to heave while she gasped because she finally grasped the importance of time. Although her body was already concerned about the low water levels, she had let some tears escape from her swollen eyes. If you have not noticed already: Julie was having another breakdown. It was hard to believe that less than twenty four hours ago, Julie was not a depressed girl but merely a ‘normal' teenager. â€Å"I do not want you to step a foot outside this house with that boy!† Those typical words of a father left the mouth of elderly man. He stood in the doorway of a coral bedroom, which was decorated with posters of male singers and movie posters, to barricade his daughter from the dangers of pubescent boys. His daughter was caught up in the excitement from receiving boys' attention and he knew that it was his job to protect her. No fathers want to loose their children especially at a young age. His small frame hardly allowed him to properly block the room entrance but he gave a stern look and disallowed any doubts of his decision to enter his mind. However, Julie, who took after her father, was determined to take her step to the wild side. She felt that she had grown up to be too obedient and sensible under the watchful eyes of her parents and the time had come to create equilibrium by thrusting herself into the thrilling side of being a teenager. Julie believed that she worked hard all her life and that she deserved to have a taste of what her fellow peers experienced regularly; she wanted to party all night and watch a genuine brawl between a gang of boys. After all, good grades and respect were not the only merits of life. Julie positively did not want the others to use the phrase ‘an apple does not fall far from its tree' to describe her. â€Å"Whatever you say, father.† Julie's reply came with a sigh and a slight roll of eyes, which was a behaviour her father thought she had gained from school, before leaping onto her floral designed bed. Her father was quite taken back by her sudden gesture of succumbing, but he felt convinced that he was able to sway his daughter from starting a life of rebellion. He wanted to believe that his daughter had grown up to be reasonable and resist the temptations of becoming reckless as she knew the terrible aftermath. The father gave a small nod to express his triumph and he hurriedly backed away from his girl's room to leave her at peace. Unfortunately, he failed to notice that his girl's left middle finger was wrapped around the forefinger behind her back, a sign which made her promise as valid as Zeus' promise to Helena about not having any more affairs. Moments after her father had left, Julie ambled to casement. The metal bars shielding the window were the only features that stopped Julie from feeling that her home was a complete prison. She tilted her head forward against the artic cold window, as she was searching for a familiar figure, only to find her patient friend slouching against his Audi. Julie slithered her left forefinger across the chilly window sill. Then, for a brief minute, as a flash of idea entered Julies mind. The corners of her lips curled up. The adolescent lifted her left gradually. She gripped the metal hook of liberty tightly. Julie pushed down and swung the window wide open. She had thrust her head forward to observe the distance of the ground. Freedom. Julie raised her legs and crouched on the window ledge. She was about to leap when she felt her heart hammer against her ribs. New thoughts of doubt about her actions were accumulating in her mind: was she doing the right thing? Should she have just listened to her father? Julie squeezed her eyes tight as a way of blocking the qualms. As she had believed, it was time for her to rebel against her secure life. The teenager leaned forward, so that she could prepare for the pain, and took her leap. Rory took a break from his constant head bobbing to watch in bewilderment as a petite body fell right in front of him. Julie pulled her self up and paused to let the jab of pain to fade. She gently moved the strands of dark face behind her ear and straightened her clothes before limping forward. The boy gazed into Julie's auburn eyes in an awkward stillness and wondered how serious the girl was to experience what he thought was a good time. He had always thought of Julie as a robot; she was always doing her work and remained so courteous. He had offered her peek at an alternative life (his life) as a joke. She had accepted. Rory was awed by what had just happened and at that moment felt a little fear. â€Å"Are we going to go or what?† Julie had sliced the eerie silence between them. â€Å"Yes†¦ Yes! Where should we go?† â€Å"You're the expert, surprise me.† She was anxious at first; she did not know what to expect or if it was right to trust Rory. However, when they arrived at a club, Julie felt she was part of long lost community. The club may have been exceedingly dim and yet humid, but Julie had put aside the difficulty in breathing and vision because she felt welcomed into a society that she was already a part of. Julie was met with expressions of astonishment as faces from her daily life came up to her, but they were soon replaced with expressions of delight. She experienced disappointment as bitter liquor flowed through her throat with a nutty aftertaste. Beer was definitely overrated but it grew onto her. Her body was searing and her skin was damp with all the sweat that was caused from all the energy Julie used from dancing. She felt her ears and cheeks burn and the pungent smell of gasoline as her companion came closer after every song. The rhythmic music blasted louder every second while the faces of the dancers became hazier. Julie did not care that care that she was becoming exhausted or nauseous because she was more grateful that for once, she had felt like one of her fellow peers. It was past midnight when Julie and Rory stumbled out. Julie started giggling to cover her hesitation from staying out too late. They both knew they had carried away but when Rory felt calm, Julie felt a mixture of adrenaline and fear. She had never stayed out that late and the feeling of guilt injected into her because her father would be worried. Julie tried to shuffle towards Rory's car, but it was camouflaged with the coal-black night. She could also feel her knees becoming weak as her legs trembled. Why did she drink so much when she knew the side effects? Rory grabbed the girl as she started to tilt and dragged her into the automobile. He was prepared for those kinds of situation as he was experienced. â€Å"Want to have a little more fun before our little adventure ends?† Rory gave a devious grin as he suggested to the intoxicated girl. It did not matter that Rory was drunk while he was driving to the two friends, all it mattered that the girl got home. Julie rested her face on her fist as she began to feel light headed. His hint annoyed her at first because it felt like his voice was bashing against her head, but then she took an awareness of what he said; she nodded her head in agreement. The more thrills they felt, the more Julie felt she had achieved. â€Å"Let us end this night in a bang!† Rory flashed his teeth with a smile as he put more pressure on his feet. Julie's hair began to flutter as the wind rushed in from the open windows. They both started to feel their heads throb as the car jump from the speed bumps. The roads and houses had started to zoom by at a faster speed. Julie could feel her stomach's content pushing up as she felt the car vibrate against her body. The two teenagers' eyelids were becoming heavier by the second. Julie gave a small smile as they passed a recognizable row of houses at sixty miles per hour before drifting off. Rory's mind became dazed as he identified a distant small figure, which was waving their arms hysterically, in the middle of the street. He tried to put pressure in his right foot to work the brakes but the car only seemed to be going faster. His arms were moving the steering wheel in all directions as he didn't know what to do. The boy gave up and started to buckle his own belt he felt his body rammed forward. The car crashed into an undersized body that had rolled up the bonnet and collide into the front window. The revolting taste of iron and bitter entered his mouth. The last thing his memory contained was the image of an unconscious face similar to Julie's cover with shards of glass. The bonnet and screen were drenched in fresh crimson blood. A ruined car was the least of Rory's troubles as he heard the piercing sirens amplifying. Her father's death had resulted Julie to conceal herself in the hospital's bathroom. She wanted to avoid the sympathy of the nurses because they boosted the guilt and sorrow that filled her soul. Julie wanted to be alone to prepare herself for the emptiness that was to follow. She clasped her hand tightly and questioned quietly why that was happening to her. For when she wanted to feel achievement and exhilaration, she filled with distress and loneliness. Her father did not deserve to be punished for her own insolence. She was mourning in her own place of escape and dreaded what was to happen when will step out. Julie has grasped the idea that actions come with consequences and was her responsibility her life does not get out of control. Regrettably, she learnt that lesson the hard way,

Conflict in Short Story Essay

Essay on the Conflict Presented in William Faulkner’s Short Story, â€Å"Barn Burning† Conflict in literary works can be presented in a multitude of ways and it can be about almost everything that presents opposing forces. In William Faulkner’s short story, Barn Burning, the conflict is indeed about two opposing forces—that of the father and the son who values different things and who sees things differently. However, this is not the only conflict that the story illustrates. More than the physical conflict which the father and the son so obviously have, there is a hidden conflict present which is within the son. This conflict is the battle between what is right as defined by the law which the son upholds versus what is correct as defined by familial loyalty. The story revolves around the case of the father, Mr. Snopes who is accused of burning the barn of Mr. Harris. Though the case is dismissed, the Snopes name is forever tainted and the family decides to leave town and relocate. In the beginning of the story itself, Colonel Sartoris Snopes, the little boy protagonist and youngest son of Mr. Snopes is in turmoil since he knows that his father did indeed order that the barn of Mr. Harris be burned. Readers are able to see the conflict within the character of Sartoris who wants to say the truth but who wants to be loyal to his father, a father who nurtured, sheltered, fed and protected him. Sartoris decides that he will be loyal to his father even to the point of regarding Mr. Harris as their common enemy: â€Å"our enemy he thought in that despair; ourn! Mine and hisn both! He’s my father! † (Faulkner, 1939, p. 1137). This parade of thoughts that Sartoris conjures up in his mind is the beginning of the battle of his conscience of whether he wants to abide by the loyalty that he owes his father and family or abide by societal laws. These thoughts are actually also a reflection of Sartoris convincing himself that he must at all cost, abide by familial loyalty. The same strain of thought pops again when the judge in charge of the case calls on Sartoris to testify whether his father really had a hand in the burning of the barn: â€Å"He aims for me to lie, he thought, again with that frantic grief and despair. And I will have to do it. † (Faulkner, 1939, 1138). Sartoris knows that his father is guilty and yet he also knows that he must lie to protect his father and the reputation of the rest of the family members, that he has no choice. Later on when the family leaves town to relocate, the father calls the son to ask him whether he would tell the judge the truth. This moment is where the father explains to the son what to do and what the importance of familial piety and loyalty is: â€Å"You got to learn to stick to your own blood or you ain’t going to have any blood to stick to you† (Faulkner, 1939, p. 1140). This explanation of the father sums up the conflict that they have with each other: the father thinks that even if a family member is wrong, the others have to stick to that wronged member while the son thinks that truth and justice are more important. This difference in opinions, values and perspectives turn out to be crucial points in the end when the father runs into trouble again and decides to burn another barn. The son finally decides without hesitation that he will not stand up for his father and for the rest of the family who chose to stand with the father. The son decides to stop the father by calling the attention of the barn owner that there is something amiss. Thus, the son wins over the father twice in the sense that he chooses to abide by his own beliefs while at the same time upholding the laws of society and saving the property of the other. However, there is also a sense of loss of the boy since he has lost his family and he causes the death of his own father by reporting him to De Spain, the barn owner. In a way, the father’s explanation with the son comes true: since the son did not stick to his blood, his blood will also not to stick to him meaning that his family (the rest of the Snopes) will also decide to leave him or be disloyal to him. In conclusion, the conflict in the story is between father and son; and between the son’s loyalties to his family versus his moral obligations to the laws of society. Both conflicts are also resolved by the end of Faulkner’s short story with the death of the father. However, there is a possibility that a new conflict arises in the loneliness that the son is now going to experience as he makes his own way in the world and whether he can survive that loneliness. References Faulkner, W. (1939). Barn burning. The Harper American literature, v. 2, 2nd ed. Ed. McQuade, D. , et al. New York: HarperCollinsPublishers Inc. pp. 1137-1149.

Tokugawa Yoshimune and His Kyoho Reform Research Paper

Tokugawa Yoshimune and His Kyoho Reform - Research Paper Example The major characteristics of the new period were more definitely illustrated than ever before during the Kyoho era, when the general reform initiatives of Tokugawa Yoshimune, the eight shogun, and the difficulties that resulted in to them, took over the scene. The severest of these new difficulties involved the personal finances of the shogunate, which had been unsuccessful in matching national growth. The agricultural production of Japan by the 18th century was approximately 60% more than it had been a hundred years prior; though, on the contrary, the financial status of the central government was dropping annually (Hauser 2010). In a country teeming with all forms of commercial and agricultural enterprise, the central government was plainly not capable of securing enough for its own. According to Hauser (2010), beginning from 1722, having relieved from the possibility of resistance from the Senior Council and strengthened the economy, Tokugawa Yoshimune focused on financial reform. Tokugawa Yoshimune and his Kyoho Reform Tokugawa Yoshimune was born in 1684 in Wakayama, child of a daimyo of Kii. Yoshimune was assigned daimyo of Sabae han thirteen years after, but after the death of his elder brother in 1705 he was relocated to Kii (Hall 1991). In 1716, after the demise of Ietsugu, bakufu heads designated Yoshimune his heir, rewarding Edo a ruler knowledgeable in supervising a large area. The newly assigned shogun did not have any connections in the bakufu, yet he was able to slowly appoint his own people in important positions and by the 1720s was firmly in charge (Hall 1991). Particular attributes of his regime were notable. While Tsunayoshi had conformed to rules based on a powerful principle, Yoshimune moved fluidly in reaction to situations; his flexibility is indicative of the political ideology of Ogyu Sorai (Titsingh 1834). His restructuring started vigilantly, encouraged by problems left by the prior regimes of Tsunayoshi, Ienobu, and Ietsugu, respecti vely. Nevertheless, since the 1720s the array of reform increased significantly in obvious response to the joint effect of recoinage plans previously in force and a wave of social disorder and crop declines (Hall 1991). That enhanced array, which marked the 1720s the glory days of the Kyoho reform, engaged the bakufu more profoundly into public and political administration than ever before. Governing the vast, intricate, environmentally limited, and highly monetized civilization of 18th-century Japan was extremely difficult. In 1728, after attaining the zenith of progress, Yoshimune committed a number of years to combating unforgiving agricultural problems, the Kyoho food crisis, and uncontrolled fluctuations of the price of rice that seriously upset samurai way of life (Hall 1991). The difficulties pushed Yoshimune to reevaluate core strategies and in 1736 to enforce a major change in monetary policy. The change led to a 15-year phase of governmental strength that was attained in s pite of, or, more accurately, at the cost of, long-term agricultural failure. The economic troubles of the government was very severe, and a solution had to be determined at once to ease the hardship. The shogunate, in 1722, informed the daimyo about its problems and obliged them to bring in rice to its stockrooms at the pace of ‘one hundred koku for each ten thousand koku of domain assessment’ (Hall 1991, 449)—koku is a Japanese term for ‘

Sexual Harassment in the Work Place Research Paper - 1

Sexual Harassment in the Work Place - Research Paper Example sue caused by different factors arising from the socialization, power, and politics among others, making the harassment sometimes to be inevitable in many occupations. Sexual harassment used to be a key concern in government and state related jobs, but due to the rising cases and poor measures to control the issue in both public and private employment areas, the governments had to step in to protect the victims and enforce order. Sometimes co-workers, managers, and employers find themselves in compromising and violating situations, because they overlook the harassment and its impact in the workplace. There are many things, unwanted pressure, looks, feel, touches, verbal, non-verbal, and physical communications and actions that would create sexual harassment, either intentionally or unintentionally that would provide the legal definition of a harassing conduct. Title VII is enforced by the (EEOC) Equal Opportunity Employment Commission that has built up large body of regulations and g uidelines, which avails the legal meaning of harassing behavior and lays out the standard to be followed by courts, and enforcement agencies in handling sexual harassment charges (ICRC factsheet 1). As part of a social context in working environments, employees get to socialize better, which could have either a positive or negative effect in the long run. As a benefit, it improves team work and support in job performance; sometimes the relationships go beyond the work domains and employees could get married and have families of their own, since there are few or no such laws that restrict them. Similarly, the law works to ensure integrity and morality in workplace, such that if the employee is not willing to engage in a sexual relationship with his or her co workers, employers, supervisors,... This paper approves that business sexual harassment training programs and establishment of complaints committees, possibly outside the line of management, with gender equality and expertise in leading and counseling people is required by law in the business level, Businesses consist many rules and regulations that govern the employees and management. However, some of those rules are optional and may not be strictly enforced; instead the federal, state, labor, and international laws require establishment of some policies such as in sexual harassment, which should enforce and comply with the requirements of the law. Businesses regardless of the size have to option but to deploy such policies, because they are part of the necessary policies regulated by the law. This report makes a conclusion that workplace sexual harassment affects individuals psychologically, and their behavior in their social lives and in the workplace. It is a problem that puts indirect pressure on the people to terminate their jobs, due to the hostile working environment and when control measures are lacking. In some cases, it causes trauma to individuals making them unable to perform their roles, due to emotional and physical stress. It also demoralizes the workers involved and may cost them their self esteem. The international, federal, state, and business rules and regulations put measures to define, prohibit, and control sexual harassment among other discriminations, which must be enforced through set procedures and institutions in filing complaints and seeking protection. The employer and their employees also have responsibilities in administering and complying with the laws in solving sexual harassment disputes.

Outline and abstract Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Outline and abstract - Research Paper Example The term paper will focus on analyzing the legal imperative steps that must be taken in order for an online contract to be concluded. The concepts of offer, acceptance and consideration will be analyzed under the Canadian legal provisions, as well as the international acts regulating this domain. These steps will be critically analyzed by the author in order to explain the difficulties that might occur in their performance and to recommend, if possible, better solutions to overcoming these difficulties in the online world. The difference between an invitation to treat and an offer will be also explained, although it is sometimes difficult to establish. However, the paper will try to analyze it as thoroughly as possible so that most of the differentiating aspects are cleared up. The author will describe the legal characteristics that an offer must have and will also analyze them. The rules of acceptance will be explained and analyzed, focusing on the concept of cross-offer and the legal manners of acceptance, too. The paper will also focus on the moment of conclusion of online contracts, which is determined by the moment of acceptance. According to article 23 of UNCITRAL â€Å"a contract is concluded when an acceptance of an offer becomes effective†. The practical application of this stipulation will be also analyzed. In Canada, conclusion of online contracts falls under the jurisdiction of the following legislative acts: United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Commerce ("U.N. Model Law"); Uniform Electronic Commence Act (UECA); Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act; and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act. The author will give a brief description of each of these acts, pointing out their strong and weak points. The research will be based on legislative acts, national and

Business Professional Interview Question Assignment Essay - 1

Business Professional Interview Question Assignment - Essay Example He felt an atmosphere of wonder himself and confessed that what struck him the most was the manner by which the crew delivered personalized customer service. Ihsan: In my observation, there exists a sense of responsibility in everyone and my immediate subordinates talk to me with comfort. Often, they move with unreserved behavior of showing their real concerns as much as all the others act similarly for the sake of healthy relations. Ihsan: As far as I can recall, yes. There was a time when in about two quarters, the restaurant was infrequently visited by customers, the reason being that a nearby store launched a new interesting item in their menu, one similar to our fish fillet meal which caught the attention of many. Somehow, this incident led us to cut costs with certain resources and about three of the anticipated promotions were on pending status. Ihsan: I discuss with them future plans of growth for the company so that I can stimulate their imagination toward the brighter positive side of things. This way, I believe that they can visualize opportunities and be guided back to their original drive or passion for work. Actually, I have also tried giving my potential workers a treat in a fancy restaurant and in my favorite vacation spot where I gathered them for a light chat. Those who nearly decided to leave normally delight and look for more bonding moments especially when I narrate my inspiring account of Albaik’s humble beginnings and the philosophies I have lived by to keep the business in the mainstream. Ihsan: Yes I would. I think that is one great way of getting to know my people better. However, besides the reward system, I would equivalently bring up discussion of issues that deserve sanction to be fair and

Research Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 14

Research Paper - Essay Example The invaders moved forward taking a North wise course and captured several other towns such as Beirut. The eminent collapse of German superiority and the failure of the European western front led to the collapse of the war in the Middle East. (Oschsenwald 375) Consequently, there was the formation of treaties such as the Paris Peace Conference, which happened in a time span of not more than two weeks after the end of the war in the Middle East. For this case, Germany entered the armistice with forces of the Entente Allies and officially ended the war. The Paris Peace Conference developed peace in the Middle East. However, there was a challenge in the course of development of the peace movements because Germany dominated the agenda with more problems than any other did. The Middle East conflict was also a concern among the London Pact that happened in 1915, the Sykes-Picot Agreement, Balfour Declaration, and others (Oschsenwald 380). Another problem during the Paris Peace Conference was the fact that British and French powers, that were the strongest powers of the time, pursued their interests rather than that of other nations. For instance, the advisers to the then British Prime Minister, David Lloyd told him to consider the Middle East as a prize. On the other hand, the French powers led by Georges Clemenceau considered a control over the straits of Syria and Southern Anatolia. They also hoped to have a French advisor for the Ottoman Sultan. Oilmen, bankers, merchants, missionaries, humanitarians, and bondholders also converged for the Paris meeting to push for their interests concerning the Middle East (Woodward 34). Zionists succeeded in incorporating a version of Balfour Declaration and benefited from approval by the League of Nations. There were other movements and treaties such as the San Remo agreements and the Treaty of Sevres. The former was because of the failure of the Paris peace meeting to yield mu ch fruit for the

Should judges be elected, appointed, or selected on merit Essay

Should judges be elected, appointed, or selected on merit - Essay Example I believe that the merit based selection of judges is best as it would primarily rely on its legal expertise for judgment leading to sentencing. The role of judges is paramount in the legal arena. The need for independence in imposing sentences in offences becomes a crucial issue. The accountability to public opinion in cases directly linked to public welfare is an issue that frequently influences the selection pattern or raises controversy. The responsiveness to public opinion is deemed important but at the same time, the need to remain within the broader precinct of law and constitution is integral part of justice. The judges who are selected through merit are prone to follow law and their judgment and sentences are based on legal statutes and clauses that cut across race, color, culture and socio-political leanings (O’Connor, 2010). This is fundamental to justice system that is not influenced by outside pressure, be it public opinion. The merit system of selection is also commendable because it ensures that selection of judges is done through a nominating committee which comprises of eminent lawyers and non lawyers of public repute. The list of judges is forwarded to governor who appoints a judge from the list for a defined period. The second term of the judge is through election which the public can appropriately elect if it finds his/her performance up to its expectations. This is a critical parameter that gives public the right to oust the judge if the performance evaluation or the meritocracy level of judgment is found to be below par. Most importantly, the merit based selection promotes independence in judiciary that discourages political interference and undue pressure that could influence justice (Cann, 2007). It also helps to appoint judges from sectors like minority and women who may otherwise be sidetracked by the vested interests. It also gives equal opportunities to

Common Inventory System Problems & Solution Essay Example for Free

Common Inventory System Problems Solution Essay Symptoms: Preoccupation with the forecast within the execution time frame. Typically, companies begin altering their forecast management processes when addressing supply chain performance. But this is unwise without understanding the nature of your demand and the root causes of forecast errors. When forecast accuracy is overemphasized, fill rates and inventory turns don’t improve, even when forecast accuracy does. No measure of customer service or inventory turns. Customers must be satisfied on an ongoing basis for a company to achieve long-term sustainability. Yet, inventory managers often have no idea how well customers’ needs are being met. Similarly, without knowing how quickly inventory moves through the value-creation-and-delivery system, a company won’t be able to manage inventory levels. Daily planning is based on a back order report. This is an entirely reactive model. Today’s fast-paced marketplace requires proactive inventory planning to meet current demand. Customers will switch to a competitor if their needs are consistently unmet in the time frame they dictate. Solutions: Mandatory tracking of fill rate and inventory turns for all product lines. Product managers should know these measures at all times. Fill rate should be measured daily, while inventory-turn measures will vary based on sales and production cycles. The important thing is that managers are both tracking and working to improve these rates. Develop realistic forecast-error measures. Developing realistic measures for how much forecast error you can tolerate without a SKU stock-out is essential. Typically, companies estimate plus or minus 10 for this measure, which equals about two days worth of inventory-a miniscule amount considering that companies often have weeks or months worth of inventory. Effective forecast management and inventory planning require accurate data, so accurate forecast error measures are a must. Mistake No. 2: Having unqualified employees manage inventory Symptoms: A sentiment that â€Å"our business is different because (fill in the blank).† Every company has inventory planning challenges, such as variable demand. No business is so different that it would not benefit from strategic  inventory management. Decentralized inventory management. If warehouse managers, office clerks, and other employees without specific inventory-management training are making inventory-management decisions, then it is certain that wasteful inventory is piling up throughout the system. Usually, this model reflects a company with no clear goals or strategy for inventory planning. Lack of formal training program or professional peer interaction. Inventory management is a professional skill that requires upfront and ongoing education. Emphasizing â€Å"buying† over planning. Buyers make purchases, but planners make strategic decisions to meet goals. Thinking of inventory planning from a purely â€Å"buying† point of view means opportunities for improvement and financial benefits will be overlooked—daily. Solutions: Recognize that inventory management requires professional job skills, and hire and train accordingly. Just as a company with hundreds of thousands of free dollars on its balance sheet would hire professional investment advisers, a company with hundreds of thousands of dollars in inventory should have professional inventory managers. Assign accountability for inventory management. Often, companies can’t answer the question, â€Å"Who is in charge of making sure inventory levels support strategic goals?† If no one is, then these inventory planning goals will never be met. TOP 5 SOLUTIONS: 1. Use reorder points on inventory items to keep purchasing streamlined and inventory manageable. Reorder points (otherwise known as min. and max. levels) are the best method for making sure you have the right amount of inventory in your warehouse at all times. If you have too little inventory you could lose out on sales, but if you have too much your cash is tied up in inventory that will not be sold. One of the biggest problems many companies have is managing their cash. A quick way to solve that from an inventory standpoint is by making sure you have set the appropriate reorder points for your business. 2. Spend money on specialized training for mission-critical software. Companies with a lot of inventory spend thousands of dollars on software they need in order to manage and track their items as  they move all over the world. This software manages millions of dollars’ worth of assets. After spending so much money on software, some companies don’t want to spend a f ew thousand dollars extra to buy the specialized training they need to implement the software. This is a big mistake because this software won’t do you any good if you don’t spend a little bit more to learn how to use it. If you try to learn your software on your own you may suffer for months before you learn the basics of how it works. 3. Rearrange the warehouse to set up for picking efficiencies. Sometimes trainers see mistakes that are so obvious you would think they’d be corrected immediately, but warehouse managers may be too distracted to notice them. We often see 100,000-square-foot warehouses that are organized inefficiently. These companies could save themselves large sums of money by making a few changes to where they place their inventory. The items that you sell the most or send out the most should be right next to the shipping dock. This keeps your employees from having to walk all the way across the warehouse to pick them up every time you are going to send them out. As companies grow, sometimes they just randomly put things where there is sp ace. This works for a little while, but as you grow you need to think about efficiency because the minutes that your employees spend driving around the forklift cost you money. 4. Take time to get to know your technology so that you can use all the functionality. Rarely will a company use all of the functionality their software provides. Most of the time there is more that the software can do for you that you haven’t explored. Software companies always hear from their customers about which features they want added to the software when a lot of the time the features are already there. The more features that you use in the software the more effective you can be in managing your inventory. You should either assign someone within the company to learn the software functionality or pay someone to come in and teach it to you. 5. Stop doing yearly physical inventories and move to a more regular, smaller cycle counting and reconciling routine. Businesses used to shut down for a day to a week each year to go into their warehouse and physically count everything to make sure that it matched the information in their software. This practice is mostly outdated because of the amount of time and money it takes. Doing these checks in smaller, more regular cycles keeps a company from having to shut down. We recommend picking one section each day to check  your product levels against the information from your inventory software.

Learning Teaching And Assessing

Learning Teaching And Assessing The author will discuss issues relating to assessment in the clinical area including areas for development and improvement. The assessment under consideration is A Safeguarding Children Induction Handbook (Nottinghamshire Community Health 2009). This is a competency based induction framework and is designed to be undertaken by all new staff who will have regular contact with children and families (appendix 3). It is the responsibility of managers to ensure that staff will have the opportunity to achieve and maintain the competencies. The Primary Care Trust (PCT ) intends that use of this framework will meet statutory requirements to safeguard children (Nottinghamshire Community Health 2009). . Practice teachers were directed to facilitate this programme for Specialist community public health nursing (SCPHN) students. Assessment is the means by which learners are graded, failed or passed fit for practice (Quinn and Hughes 2007). Assessment in practice provides the grounding to ascertain if a learner is ready to move on or can demonstrate competence. This is needed in order to protect the public. Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) directs that SCPHN courses are balanced with 50% of learning in practice. Practice teachers are responsible for assessing students in public health practice. The portfolio is used to show evidence of achievement in practice. NMC (2008) advises portfolios are a method of evaluation suitable to collect information about a students competence to practice. Portfolios can demonstrate learning, by experience, reflection, personal and professional development and the students must cross reference all work to demonstrate achievement of NMC Standards of proficiency for SCPH nurses. Portfolio marking can be subjective and experience suggests students are not always clear what is n eeded to compile them. Calman et al (2002) suggested clinical assessment has relied on one practitioner observing and reporting on another which runs the risk of bias. As a student practice teacher the author has found this trying. There have been difficulties in achieving supervision due to a demanding caseload. A practice teacher mentor located at some distance has added to the challenge. The student and student practice teacher have benefited from time with university tutorial staff. In order to maintain good assessment processes careful allocation of mentors would be beneficial in future. Price (2007) and Gopee et al (2004) suggest that heavy workload of mentors and practice teachers may hinder learning; however teaching frameworks such as this one can help. Price (2007) suggests that knowing and being able to demonstrate knowledge are not enough to define fitness for practice. Practitioners should be assessed on consistency of accomplishments. Thus placements which take place o ver a long period are well set to meet those needs .The SCPHN student takes place over one academic year with a one to one practice teacher and student relationship. The author as a new practice teacher has found this very rewarding but also a fine balance between meeting the demands of student, clients and her own studies. Duffy (2004) in a report concerning mentors failing to fail students made recommendations. In order to identify any weaknesses in clinical practice mentors should work closely and habitually with students in order to make precise and honest assessments. As a trainee practice teacher the author has felt poorly prepared for assessment of students and though previous mentorship experience has proved useful it was very different. Closer work with a practice teacher mentor would be beneficial and the author has taken steps to address this. Peer support has proved invaluable and shared experience has been a reassuring factor. It is envisaged that the safeguarding induction programme will be part of portfolio evidence for student and practice teacher (appendix 3). It is the responsibility of the managers to evaluate which level of competency should be achieved. A problem based learning approach was considered to provide formative assessment. The NMC (2006) acknowledges that while the practice teacher will make summative assessments there is value in other mentors being involved in formative assessment. In practice other mentors have not been available due to staff sickness. Ousey (2003) found that problem based methods may promote learning as students felt involved and learn knowledge in context. Unfortunately the group identified to take part in this were not able to commit to regular meetings .Student anxiety about working with an unknown group was also a factor. The practice teacher was able to reassure the student that formative assessment was to provide the student with information about progress and tailor teaching to her needs (Quinn and Hughes 2007). Issues of equity and diversity were addressed as the course was tailored to meet an individuals needs. It seemed realistic to assume that the SCPHN student should achieve level 4 competencies, (can teach others) by the end of her course. When participating in an information evening and later first level interviews for potential CCPHN students the clear message was that the PCT intends that nurses with this level of qualification will be team leaders (Nottinghamshire Community Health 2008). Problem based learning can be a very supportive process and has the value of shared expertise (Price 1999). With future students and new starters better preparation should make this possible The safeguarding handbook does not make clear if there is a time limit set to achieve outcomes however they are based on recommendations from a national intercollegiate report (Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health 2006). Competency based assessment such as these rely on the assessor having the skills and knowledge to effectively monitor learning. The competency framework in question was delegated to new practice teachers with little preparatory training and this has resulted in needing to seek guidance form safeguarding nurses. This could have been avoided with better preparation. Use of the safeguarding induction handbook has proved useful tool to direct specific learning. This however was fixed by the needs of the PCT in order to meet national safeguarding directives. Its content is clearly and carefully designed but like all competency based assessment it relies on the assessors objectivity. It is described as an induction framework which implies it is for new starters only. This is confused by guidance notes which imply it is to be used to maintain staff competence. There are no clear timescales for achievement, that and the level to be achieved relies on individual managers. This may cause problems with equity of competence. Evaluation suggests this is a work in progress .The author recommends that new practice teachers and managers should have further training and feed back should be given to the development group for the annual review.

Product and market analysis of Ice Cream

Product and market analysis of Ice Cream Kulfi is a popular South Asian, ice cream made with boiled milk typically from water buffalo. It comes in many flavors, including pistachio, malai, mango, cardamom (elaichi), and saffron (kesar). Kulfi differs from western ice cream in that it is richer in taste and creamier in texture. As well, where western ice creams are whipped with air or overrun, kulfi contains no air; it is solid dense frozen milk. It is made by boiling milk until it is reduced to half. Then sugar is added and the mixture is boiled for another ten minutes. Then flavorings, dried fruits, cardamom, etc. are added. The mixture is then put in moulds and frozen. One can eat kulfi plain as is or it can be garnished with ground cardamom, saffron, or pistachio nuts. As well, Kulfi is also served with Falooda vermicelli noodles. But since the kulfi could not become world famous, with the concept of kulfi, ice-cream was started in 1981 in India. Then onwards it has been one big journey. on the road. Now, Ice Age The Healthy Ice Cream Parlor brings to you the new generation of Ice Creamsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. The Evolution of Ice Cream Ice creams origins are not known to reach back as far as the second century B.C., although no specific date of origin nor has inventor been undisputable credited with its discovery. We know that Alexander the Great enjoyed snow and ice flavored with honey and nectar. Biblical references also show that King Solomon was fond of iced drinks during harvesting. During the Roman Empire, Nero Claudius Caesar (A.D. 54-86) frequently sent runners into the mountains for snow, which was then flavored with fruits and juices. Over a thousand years later, Marco Polo returned to Italy from the Far East with a recipe that closely resembled what is now called sherbet. Historians estimate that this recipe evolved into ice cream sometime in the 16th century. England seems to have discovered ice cream at the same time, or perhaps even earlier than the Italians. Cream Ice, as it was called, appeared regularly at the table of Charles I during the 17th century. France was introduced to similar frozen desserts in 1553 by the Italian Catherine de Medici when she became the wife of Henry II of France. It wasnt until 1660 that ice cream was made available to the general public. The Sicilian Procope introduced a recipe blending milk, cream, butter and eggs at Caf Procope, the first caf in Paris. Ice Cream for America The first official account of ice cream in the New World comes from a letter written in 1744 by a guest of Maryland Governor William Bladen. The first advertisement for ice cream in this country appeared in the New York Gazette on May 12, 1777, when confectioner Philip Lenzi announced that ice cream was available almost every day. Records kept by a Chatham Street, New York, merchant show that President George Washington spent approximately $200 for ice cream during the summer of 1790. Inventory records of Mount Vernon taken after Washingtons death revealed two pewter ice cream pots. President Thomas Jefferson was said to have a favorite 18-step recipe for an ice cream delicacy that resembled a modern-day Baked Alaska. In 1812, Dolley Madison served a magnificent strawberry ice cream creation at President Madisons second inaugural banquet at the White House. Until 1800, ice cream remained a rare and exotic dessert enjoyed mostly by the elite. Around 1800, insulated ice houses were invented. Manufacturing ice cream soon became an industry in America, pioneered in 1851 by a Baltimore milk dealer named Jacob Fussell. Like other American industries, ice cream production increased because of technological innovations, including steam power, mechanical refrigeration, the homogenizer, electric power and motors, packing machines, and new freezing processes and equipment. In addition, motorized delivery vehicles dramatically changed the industry. Due to ongoing technological advances, todays total frozen dairy annual production in the United States is more than 1.6 billion gallons. Wide availability of ice cream in the late 19th century led to new creations. In 1874, the American soda fountain shop and the profession of the soda jerk emerged with the invention of the ice cream soda. In response to religious criticism for eating sinfully rich ice cream sodas on Sundays, ice cream merchants left out the carbonated water and invented the ice cream Sunday in the late 1890s. The name was eventually changed to sundae to remove any connection with the Sabbath. Ice cream became an edible morale symbol during World War II. Each branch of the military tried to outdo the others in serving ice cream to its troops. In 1945, the first floating ice cream parlor was built for sailors in the western Pacific. When the war ended, and dairy product rationing was lifted, America celebrated its victory with ice cream. Americans consumed over 20 quarts of ice cream per person in 1946. In the 1940s through the 70s, ice cream production was relatively constant in the United States. As more prepackaged ice cream was sold through supermarkets, traditional ice cream parlors and soda fountains started to disappear. Now, specialty ice cream stores and unique restaurants that feature ice cream dishes have surged in popularity. These stores and restaurants are popular with those who remember the ice cream shops and soda fountains of days past, as well as with new generations of ice cream fans. According to legend, Marco Polo brought the secrets of ice cream with him from the Orient, together with other sundry savories. There is, however, no proof of that, although there is some evidence that the Chinese indulged in iced drinks and desserts, which gives some weight to the Marco Polo theory. The Chinese did, however, teach Arab traders how to combine syrups and snow, to make an early version of the sherbet. Arab traders proceeded to show Venetians, then Romans, how to make this frozen delight. The Emperor Nero was quite fond of pureed fruit, sweetened with honey, and then mixed with snowso much so that he had special cold rooms built underneath the imperial residence in order to store snow. In the 1500s, Catherine de Medici brought the concept of the sorbet to the French, who were soon to make a great improvement on it. As you will have noted, the above are frozen desserts, not ice cream. That invention awaited the development of the custard, then the discovery that freezing it would create a delectable dessert. This notable event occurred in 1775 in France, and was shortly followed by the invention of an ice cream machine, which did a much better job of creating a light and fluffy frozen custard than beating by hand could do. Thomas Jefferson, who imitated Nero in having a special cold room for storing snow, provides us with the first recipe for ice cream found in the United States. Not to be outdone, George Washington invested in one of the ice cream machines. Until 1851, ice cream (or, more frequently, cream ice) was solely made at home. But an intrepid man from Baltimore, named Jacob Fussell changed all that by opening the first ice cream factory. Near the turn of the century, the ice cream soda was created, although by who seems to be in questioneither James W. Tuff or Robert Green. It does seem to have been done by accident, howevera scoop of ice cream falling in a glass of flavored soda water. At any rate, the drink became a national craze, and many a girl and boy went courting over an ice cream soda. So many, in fact, that many municipalities passes laws forbidding the sale of soda water on Sunday. Quickly afterwards, the sundae was inventedit contained the ice cream, syrup, and whipped cream of the soda, but without the evil influence of soda water. Numerous variations existed. The next ice cream craze with the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition in Saint Louis. Charles Menches was doing a lively business selling scoops of ice cream in dishes, all the way up to the point that he ran out of dishes. Frustrated, but determined to still find a way to make a profit, he lighted upon his friend Ernest Hamwi, who was selling a wafer-like cookie called zalabia (a Syrian treat). The combination proved irrestible. HISTORY OF THE ICE CREAM CONE For over a century, Americans have been enjoying ice cream on a cone. Whether its a waffle cone, a sugar cone or a wafer cone, what better way to enjoy a double scoop of your favorite flavor? Making Its Appearance The first ice cream cone was produced in 1896 by Italo Marchiony. Marchiony, who emigrated from Italy in the late 1800s, invented his ice cream cone in New York City. He was granted a patent in December 1903. Although Marchiony is credited with the invention of the cone, a similar creation was independently introduced at the 1904 St. Louis Worlds Fair by Ernest A. Hamwi, a Syrian concessionaire. Hamwi was selling a crisp, waffle-like pastry zalabis in a booth right next to an ice cream vendor. Because of ice creams popularity, the vendor ran out of dishes. Hamwi saw an easy solution to the ice cream vendors problem: he quickly rolled one of his wafer-like waffles in the shape of a cone, or cornucopia, and gave it to the ice cream vendor. The cone cooled in a few seconds, the vendor put some ice cream in it, the customers were happy and the cone was on its way to becoming the great American institution that it is today. A Business Is Born St. Louis, a foundry town, quickly capitalized on the cones success. Enterprising people invented special baking equipment for making the Worlds Fair cornucopia cones. Stephen Sullivan of Sullivan, Missouri, was one of the first known independent operators in the ice cream cone business. In 1906, Sullivan served ice cream cones (or cornucopias, as they were still called) at the Modern Woodmen of America Frisco Log Rolling in Sullivan, Missouri. At the same time, Hamwi was busy with the Cornucopia Waffle Company. In 1910, he founded the Missouri Cone Company, later known as the Western Cone Company. As the modern ice cream cone developed, two distinct types of cones emerged. The rolled cone was a waffle, baked in a round shape and rolled (first by hand, later mechanically) as soon as it came off the griddle. In a few seconds, it hardened in the form of a crisp cone. The second type of cone was molded either by pouring batter into a shell, inserting a core on which the cone was baked, and then removing the core; or pouring the batter into a mold, baking it and then splitting the mold so the cone could be removed with little difficulty. In the 1920s, the cone business expanded. Cone production in 1924 reached a record 245 million. Slight changes in automatic machinery have led to the ice cream cone we know today. Now, millions of rolled cones are turned out on machines that are capable of producing about 150,000 cones every 24 hours. FROM THE COW TO THE CONE How Ice Cream Is Made Everybody has a favorite flavor or brand of ice cream, and the debate over whose ice cream is the best rages on each year. While each manufacturer develops its own special recipes, ice cream production basics are basically the same everywhere. The most important ice cream ingredients come from milk. The dairy ingredients are crucial in determining the characteristics of the final frozen product. Federal regulations state that ice cream must have at least 10% milk fat, the single most critical ingredient. The use of varying percentages of milk fat affects the palatability, smoothness, color, texture and food value of the finished product. Gourmet or super premium ice creams contain at least 12% milk fat, usually more. Ice cream contains nonfat solids (the non-fat, protein part of the milk), which contribute nutritional value (protein, calcium, minerals and vitamins). Nonfat dry milk, skim milk and whole milk are the usual sources of nonfat solids. The sweeteners used in ice cream vary from cane or beet sugar to corn sweeteners or honey. Stabilizers, such as plant derivatives, are commonly used in small amounts to prevent the formation of large ice crystals and to make a smoother ice cream. Emulsifiers, such as lecithin and mono- and diglycerides, are also used in small amounts. They provide uniform whipping qualities to the ice cream during freezing, as well as a smoother and drier body and texture in the frozen form. These basic ingredients are agitated and blended in a mixing tank. The mixture is then pumped into a pasteurizer, where it is heated and held at a predetermined temperature. The hot mixture is then shot through a homogenizer, where pressure of 2,000 to 2,500 pounds per square inch breaks the milk fat down into smaller particles, allowing the mixture to stay smooth and creamy. The mix is then quick-cooled to about 40 °F and frozen via the continuous freezer method (the batch freezer method) that uses a steady flow of mix that freezes a set quantity of ice cream one batch at a time. During freezing, the mix is aerated by dashers, revolving blades in the freezer. The small air cells that are incorporated by this whipping action prevent ice cream from becoming a solid mass of frozen ingredients. The amount of aeration is called overrun, and is limited by the federal standard that requires the finished product must not weigh less than 4.5 pounds per gallon. The next step is the addition of bulky flavorings, such as fruits, nuts and chocolate chips. The ingredients are either dropped or shot into the semi-solid ice cream after it leaves the freezer. After the flavoring additions are completed, the ice cream can be packaged in a variety of containers, cups or molds. It is moved quickly to a hardening room, where sub-zero temperatures freeze the product to its final state for storage and distribution. ICE CREAM LABELING WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN? There are many choices in todays ice cream case to suit a wide variety of consumer tastes. There is plenty of information on food labels, but what does it really mean? Here, the International Ice Cream Association sheds some light on how ice cream and related products are labeled. Labeling Definitions The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sets standards of identity for many foods so that consumers will get a consistent product, no matter what brand or type they buy. For ice cream, FDA permits the use of nutrient descriptors such as light, reduced fat and low fat so that consumers know exactly what theyre selecting in terms of nutritional content. These FDA standards follow the federal Nutrition Labeling and Education Act (NLEA), which governs all food labeling. Here are some of the terms consumers are seeing in the supermarket, and exactly what those terms mean: Ice cream is a frozen food made from a mixture of dairy products, containing at least 10% milk fat. Reduced fat ice cream contains at least 25% less total fat than the referenced product (either an average of leading brands, or the companys own brand.) Light ice cream contains at least 50% less total fat or 33% fewer calories than the referenced product (the average of leading regional or national brands.) Low fat ice cream contains a maximum of 3 grams of total fat per serving Nonfat ice cream contains less than 0.5 grams of total fat per serving. Quality Segments In addition, there are commonly used marketing phrases that describe ice cream products in terms of quality segments, such as super premium, premium and economy. Several factors can contribute to a products quality segment, such as price, brand positioning, product packaging, quality of ingredients and the amount of overrun (air) in the product. Overrun refers to the amount of aeration the ice cream undergoes during its manufacture that keeps the mixture from becoming an inedible frozen mass. Overrun is governed by federal standards in that the finished product must not weigh less than 4.5 pounds per gallon. Super-premium ice cream tends to have very low overrun and high fat content, and the manufacturer uses the best quality ingredients. Premium ice cream tends to have low overrun and higher fat content than regular ice cream, and the manufacturer uses higher quality ingredients. Regular ice cream meets the overrun required for the federal ice cream standard. Economy ice cream meets required overrun and generally sells for a lower price than regular ice cream. Ice Age The Healthy Ice Cream Parlor Company profile: Name: Ice Age The Healthy Ice Cream Parlor Date of Launch: 20th September 2006 Promoters: Justin Dcosta Phinsy Chirayath Rahul Mahapatra Shruti Saraf Aaron Dsouza Fizzah S.J Product: Sugar free and Fat free healthy Ice Creams. Health conscious desert. Proposed Flavors: World famous Vanilla and 20 different mouth watering flavors. Project: Manufacturing and selling of healthy sugar free and fat free Ice Creams. Specially made for health conscious and sweet tooth people. Head of department/ management: Justin Dcosta : Finance Phinsy Chirayath : Public Relation Rahul Mahapatra : Marketing Shruti Saraf : Product Testing Aaron Dsouza : Human Resources Fizzah S.J : Outlet manager Investments: Total capital investment required: 7 crore Borrowed capital (loan from IDBI bank): 3 crore Total partners investment: 4 crore Each partners capital: 70 lakhs All the six promoters and administrators of Ice Age Ltd will be equal partners and the profits sharing ratio between them will be equal. Introduction. Founded in Mumbai, Maharashtra, Ice Age Ltd.. company is setting up an Ice Cream manufacturing and selling parlor. The project will have great significance in the present day context of increasing weight and illness among the youth as well as adults due to increasing fat and sugar intake due to increasing content of sweetener in the Ice Creams and juices. The manufacturing of all types of ice creams will be done at its production site and then will be transported to its parlors established in the heart of the city. Ice Age Ltd.. is entering the Indian market with an aim of establishing its brand as a necessity of the Indian buyers. The company will follow a strategic positioning approach for the target market. Ice Age Ltd.. has kept into account the income and behavioral factor of the Indian buyers while designing the products. It is important for the company to understand the consumer behaviour before it goes into such a market. The Indian consumer for the first time will have a premium product which is eco-friendly, healthy and affordable. Business strategy Our business strategy will include the determination of the most beneficial product market in term of establishing itself in this new product segment. The most important factor for the success of Ice Age Ltd. brand is the perception of the consumer and to what extent it can build a positive image in the consumers mind. The intensity of the business environment, the sustainable competitive advantage of a quality product will give it a strong base to build the market. It is important for us to adopt a different strategy for the Indian market since it is composed of quality buyers as well as those who will buy for their family. Thus, we shall introduce some new strategies so as to establish our self in the Indian market and develop a strong customer base. The Model used for preparing the marketing strategy by Ice Age Ltd.. in the Indian Market Product Range External Analysis Competitors Analysis Internal Analysis Environment Analysis Marketing Strategies Future Plans Conclusion The first growth vector will involves gaining penetration with the existing product-market Ice Age Ltd. will attempt to attract customers from competitors through its strategic positioning and will establish strong brand equity. The second growth vector will involves product expansion while staying in the current market. Ice Age Ltd. will then offer a new product. It will be aimed not only for the existing market but also for the price conscious segment. The third growth vector will apply the same products to the new markets. The fourth growth vector will be to diversify into new product markets. We shall concentrate on the second growth vector and study the strategy with respect to the Ice Cream market. Internal Analysis According to the recent studies, most of the newly launched product or services fail due to improper analysis of their internal and external needs. A company should most effectively and efficiently take care of all the internal matters and needs. Since internal analysis is so use full and the life cycle as well as pricing is totally depended upon this analysis, Ice Age Ltd.. has taken proper and fully effective steps in analyzing all the need and requirements of the company. During internal analysis the promoter should take care of the following things: Raw material requirement Power supply Labour requirement Working force Capital Working capital Internal rules and regulations Proper management Proper material handling External Analysis Customer Analysis The Indian market with its vast size and demand base offers great opportunities to marketers. Two-thirds of countries consumers live in rural areas and almost half of the national income is generated here. It is only natural that rural markets form an important part of the total market of India though the urban market is increasing drastically. Our nation is classified in around 450 districts, and approximately 630000 villages, which can be sorted in different parameters such as literacy levels, accessibility, income levels, penetration, distances from nearest towns, etc. The rural bazaar is booming beyond everyones expectation. This has been primarily attributed to a spurt in the purchasing capacity of farmers now enjoying an increasing marketable surplus of farm produce. In addition, an estimated induction of Rs 140 billion in the rural sector through the governments rural development schemes in the Seventh Plan and about Rs 300 billion in the Eighth Plan is also believed to have significantly contributed to the rapid growth in demand. The high incomes combined with low cost of living in the villages have meant more money to spend. And with the market providing those options, trends and tastes are also changing. Thus Ice Age Ltd.. has decided to enter this market with the basic idea of tapping the upper middle class which had established itself as a huge tapped market in the perception of a lot of national and multinational players who were then trying forages into the Indian market. Competitors Analysis NEED OF COMPARISION Consumer Mindset The consumers always have a different loyalty status for different brands. Sometimes they buy some brand due to the price or sometimes due to the features. Studying the consumers mindset is of vital importance as perception of individuals at the buying stage of various brands is unpredictable and ever changing. Market Share The market share of the players in the two wheeler auto market needs to be studied to know which company is in the booming stage and which company is in its closure stage. Also the advertisement and promotional share needs to be studied. Thus, market share helps us know the current market leader and market follower so that our company can develop an efficient marketing strategy for its product range after analyzing the current market players position. SWOT Analysis The SWOT Analysis i.e. the Analysis of the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats of the company products and its competitors at a glance. It needs to be compared to get an overall analysis of all the major companies and to know the company having better strengths, more opportunities and on the other hand the company having more of weaknesses and threats. The above diagram represents the sales of the famous Ice Cream parlors in Mumbai and their sales before Ice Age entered the market This diagram represents the sales pattern of all the Ice Cream parlors in Mumbai including Ice Age Ice Cream Parlor after one year from the launch of Ice Age Ltd (Estimated) Environment Analysis High initial launch cost There is a large front-ended investment made in new products including cost of product development, market research, test marketing and most importantly its launch. To create awareness and develop franchise for a new brand requires enormous initial expenditure is required on launch advertisements, free samples and product promotions. Launch costs are as high as 50-100% of revenue in the first year and these costs progressively reduce as the brand matures, gains consumer acceptance and turnover rises. For established brands, advertisement expenditure varies from 5 12% depending on the categories. It is common to give occasional push by re-launches, which involves repositioning of brands with sizable marketing support. Market research Customers purchase decisions are based on perceptions about brands. They also keep on changing with fashion, income and changes in lifestyle. Unlike industrial products, it is difficult to differentiate products on technical or functional grounds. With increasing competition, companies spend enormous sums on product launches. Market research and test marketing become inevitable. The business rests on the two aspects that are brand equity and distribution network. Marketing driven In relative terms, marketing function has greater importance in the Ice Cream industry. The players have to reach out to mass population and compete with several other brands. The perceived differences are greater than the real differences in the product. Brand equity Brand equity refers to the intangible asset in the form of brand names. The consumers loyalty for a particular brand is due to the perception that the product has distinctively superior and consistent quality, satisfies his/ her specific needs and provides better value for money than other competing brands. A successful brand generates strong cash flow which enables the owner of the brand to reinvest a part of it in the form of aggressive advertisement/ promotion to reinforce the perceived superiority of the brand. The worth of a brand is manifested in the consumers insistence on a particular brand or willingness to pay a price premium for the preferred brand. Distribution network In this sector, one of the most critical success factors is the ability to build, develop, and maintain a robust distribution network. Availability near the customer is vital for wider penetration as most products are high value products. It takes enormous time and effort to build a chain of stockiest, retailers; dealers etc and establish their loyalties. There are entry barriers for a new entrant as a new product is typically slow moving and has lesser consumer demand. Therefore dealers/ retailers are reluctant to allocate resources and time. Established players use their clout to inhibit new entrants. However, when a product offers a strong breakthrough, equity build up rapidly and so does the distribution network. The major problems faced while marketing in the Indian market: Underdeveloped People and Underdeveloped Markets: The number of people below poverty line has not decreased in any appreciable manner. Thus underdeveloped people and consequently underdeveloped market by and large characterize the Indian markets. Many Languages and Dialects: The number of languages and dialects vary widely from state to state, region to region and probably from district to district. The messages have to be delivered in the local languages and dialects. Even though the numbers of recognized languages are only 16, the dialects are estimated to be around 850. Prevalence of spurious brands and seasonal demand: For any branded product there are a multitude of local variants, which are cheaper, and, therefore, more desirable to mass. Different way of thinking: There is a vast difference in the lifestyles of the people. The kind of choices of brands that an urban customer enjoys is different from the choices available to the rural customer. The rural customer usually has 2 or 3 brands to choose from whereas the urban one has multiple choices. The difference is also in the way of thinking. The rural customer has a fairly simple thinking as compared to the urban counterpart. Marketing Strategies Differentiation The concept is to make the product different from those of its competitor. When we look at the Indian Ice Cream market we see that the leaders naturals have constantly maintained its market leadership by constantly differentiating on the basis of new flavors. And coming up with line extensions with regular frequency. The only alternative for Ice Age Ltd. to survive in this industry will be to differentiate itself. This differentiation could be on the basis of the marketing mix. (Product, Price, Promotion, Place) Thus, as per the different factors of marketing mix 4 Different strategies are made to market in the developing cities in India. Target Market Ice Age the healthy ice cream parlor offers a wide range of sugar free and fat free ice creams. The ice creams are specially made keeping in mind all the health conscious people as well as youth and people who suffer from illness like diabetes. Ice Age is a healthy ice cream parlor which targets the higher middle class and rich class of the society. Due to the variety of flavors and the specialty of being sugar free and fat free makes the Ice Age Ice Creams more popular among the fitness and health conscious people. Ice Age targets the market where people are ready to buy healthy junk food due to their taste buds and the fact that Ice Age Ice Creams are totally fat free and sugar free with the same original taste. Hence Ice Age Ice Creams targets the market where people from age group 1 year to 80 years can enjoy their favorite ice cream keeping in mind health conscious people, diabetic people, young people, etcà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Segmentation Segmentation variables Several variables differentiate consumers who prefer different kinds of Desserts, such as frequency of consumption, price sensitivity, relative importance of calories vs. taste, consumption occasion (at home, at work, at a social event, during recreation or at a restaurant), and desired serving size. The two most important variables are probably price sensitivity and the taste-calorie tradeoff. The reason that price sensitivity is especially important is that some consumers will pay high prices for a product of high q

The Two-Dimensional Character of Virginia Woolfs To The Lighthouse :: To The Lighthouse Essays

To the Lighthouse  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Two-Dimensional Character   In the novel, To the Lighthouse, Virginia Woolf illustrates the character of Mr. Ramsay, a husband and father of eight children.   As a husband, he degrades and mentally abuses his wife, Mrs. Ramsay, and as a father, he disparages and psychologically injures his children.   Yet, Mr. Ramsay has another side -- a second dimension.   He carries the traits of a very compassionate and loving husband and a securing and nurturing father. Although Woolf depicts Mr. Ramsay as crude, brusque, and insensitive, he, nonetheless, desires happiness and welfare for his family.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Even though Mr. Ramsay frequently scolds and denounces Mrs. Ramsay, he still seeks happiness and comfort for his wife.   For example, after Mrs. Ramsay lies to James about the next day's weather, "He [Mr. Ramsay] stamped his foot on the stone step. 'Damn you,' he said." (31) Mr. Ramsay devastates his wife's emotions.   Because of a little lie, the temperamental Mr. Ramsay hurts, if not kills, Mrs. Ramsay's emotions.   Still, right after the incident, Mr. Ramsay self-reflects and   "[he was] ashamed of that petulance [that he brought to his wife]." (32) Mr. Ramsay understands and regrets the sorrow he brought on Mrs. Ramsay.   He sympathizes with her and is "ashamed" for what he had done.   Mr. Ramsay wants to appease his wife and make her happy as a result of the torment that he inflicted on her.   Next, Woolf again illustrates Mr. Ramsay's insensitive dimension when Mr. Ramsay makes Mrs. Ramsay "bend her head as if to let the pelt of jagged hail, the drench of dirty water, bespatter her unrebuked." (32) Mr. Ramsay is heartless to his wife's feelings; it is as if he enjoys "drenching" Mrs. Ramsay and enjoys seeing her in mental anguish.   However, Woolf later contrasts the callous Mr. Ramsay with a more sensitive and caring Mr. Ramsay:   So stiffened and composed the lines of her face in a habit of sternness that when her husband passed†¦ he could not help noting, the sternness at the heart of her beauty.   It saddened him, and her remoteness pained him. (64)      Therefore, here Mr. Ramsay is portrayed as a sympathetic and caring husband that is "pained" by the expression of sorrow on his wife's face.   Mr. Ramsay is sensitive to his wife's feelings and desires her well-being.

Julius Caesar :: essays research papers

Who’s The Noblest of the Main Characters in Julius Caesar?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When attempting to get a read on all the characters of the play Julius Caesar and which one has the smallest flaws you need to look at each character and evaluate them individually. You have to consider if Aristotle would consider them noble or not. You have to decipher if the characters are being noble for the right reasons. You have to also look at which characters exhibit positive virtues and which ones don’t. Aristotle says, â€Å"virtue or excellence is a characteristic involving choice, and that it consists in observing the mean relative to us, a mean which is defined by a rationale principal, such as a man of practical wisdom would use to determine it. It is the mean by reference to the two vices: the once of excess and the other of deficiency. It is, moreover, a mean because some vices exceed and fall short of what is required in emotion and in action, whereas virtue finds and chooses a median. Hence in respect of it’s essence and definition of its essential nature virtue is a mean, but in regard to goodness and excellence it is an extreme†(Aristotle 1107a, 1-8). None of the main characters are truly noble or virtuous but no one really is. Of all the main characters I find that Brutus has the least amount of flaws. But he too is not deficient of flaws. In order to prove my point I will give reasons why some of the other characters cannot be considered the noblest of them all.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The almighty, egotistical and borderline arrogant Julius Caesar had his flaws. Caesar proved to be deficient in fear while also exhibiting excessive courage. In attempting to prove how courageous he was, Caesar wanted to prove a point to Cassuis by jumping into the flooded Tiber river. Caesar said to Cassuis, â€Å"Dar’st thou, Cassuis, now Leap in with me into this angry flood, And swim to yonder point(Shakespeare, 1.2-102-104)? After they jumped into the water a dismayed Cassius describes what happens next, â€Å"Upon the word, Accout’red as I was, I plunged in And bode him follow: so indeed he did. The torrent roared, and we did buffet it with lusty sinews, throwing it aside And stemming it with hearts of controversy. But eve we could arrive the. point proposed, Caesar cried â€Å"Help me Cassuis or I sink(Shakespeare 1.2, 104-111)! Cassius then saved his life. Caesars whole point of jumping into the raging flood was to prove how courageous he was, but he was nearly killed for his reckless behavior.

The main purpose of the National Rifle Association (NRA)

The main purpose of the National Rifle Association (NRA)[1] is to â€Å"promote and encourage rifle shooting on a scientific basis†.[2]   Along with this key initiative, the NRA has other promoting sights that harbor the same motto such as the Institute for Legislative Action[3], and the NRA Foundation[4] (Source Watch, December 2005). The goals of the NRA may be considered conservative because it is an organization priding itself on the proper use of gun control, and it repeatedly goes back to the second admendemnt that allows citizenry to bear arms.   The goals tend to be more on the conservative side since the point of the organization is for citizenry to keep and use firearms and hold a militia in case of infringing governemnt control.   The side that counteracts any deceitful government with military action as the second amendment states[5], The Second Amendment guarantees: â€Å"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.† This guarantees a citizen's right to keep and bear arms for personal defense. The revolutionary experience caused our forebears to address a second concern — the ability of Americans to maintain a citizen militia. The Founding Fathers trusted an armed citizenry as the best safeguard against the possibility of a tyrannical government. The NRA then is a conservative organization.   This is true because the NRA is only for law-abiding citizens having guns while a liberal stance would be for no one having a gun.   That is the main difference.   Conservatives then believe that guns are used for self-defense.   The main base of the NRA is shooting according to a scientific basis, and therefore gun control is not ideal for an NRA member.   They believe that gun control laws are not applicable in today’s society although there are staggering statistics that prove that gun control does work because per capita countries with gun control laws have less gun related incidents and death[6].   In all the NRA is a very conservative organization. One of the main politicians that oppose the gun control issue is former congressman John Thune[7].   The politician that is for gun control is Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle.   Their views are very much strictly conservative opposing fundamental liberalism.   In areas such a gun control and the laws arising in the senate for or against these laws both politicians have adamantly stood in contrast to the other, as the NRA website states in Cox’s article, Since 1986, Daschle has cast literally dozens of anti-gun votes in the U.S. Senate. He voted for the Clinton gun ban in 1994 and again earlier this year. He voted for prohibitions that would have shut down gun shows across America†¦ And as the leader of his party in the U.S. Senate, Daschle carries far more clout and control over fellow Democrats than you might think. And time after time, he has chosen to use that raw power against gun owners. In contrast, Daschle’s challenger, former Congressman John Thune, has been a committed defender of Second Amendment freedom since his first vote in Congress. During his tenure in the House, John Thune voted to prohibit the federal government from keeping computerized records of gun purchases and to protect the American tradition of weekend gun shows. These two politicians are polar opposites with issues concerning guns.   Of course on of the biggest debates on gun issues arose in the 2004 elections with John Kerry being obdurately opposed to guns and even wanted to ban them while Bush of course took the other stance and advocated guns and by extension the NRA. In the NRA’s goals of liberty, equality, and democracy hold true to the idea of freedom.   That is why the Second Amendment is so vital to the NRA’s standing infrastructure; it allows citizens to hold onto freedom with militia and guns in case of the inception of an autocratic government or despot scenario.   In this belief the NRA has a foundation dedicated to education about freedom and guns. The goal again of the NRA is to â€Å"promote and encourage rifle shooting on a scientific basis†.  Ã‚   The ideal of democracy is a nation for the people and the NRA seeks to uphold that goal.   In order to do so, and the maintain liberty, and equality the NRA foundation is a modicum that allows for people to exerise their right of bearing arms, as the website states, Established in 1990, The NRA Foundation, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization that raises tax-deductible contributions in support of a wide range of firearm related public interest activities of the National Rifle Association of America and other organizations that defend and foster the Second Amendment rights of all law-abiding Americans. These activities are designed to promote firearms and hunting safety, to enhance marksmanship skills of those participating in the shooting sports, and to educate the general public about firearms in their historic, technological and artistic context. The Foundation is about protection; protecting freedom through use of guns.   In all, the goals of the NRA in direct accord with their view of liberty, equality and democracy. There are however interest groups that exist that oppose the NRA and their beliefs.   Some of these groups are affiliated with animal protection.   Though the NRA does hunt animals they do so with proper licensure.   The animal rights groups (FETA, National Humane Society of America) oppose the use of trapping, baiting, and hunting with dogs.   The opposition stems from the NRA believing every animal should be hunted without restriction to the animal rights groups wanting to limit hunting on specific species (bear, dove, etc) because of endangerment and other issues. In other instances the NRA helps to control a rising population of animal through hunting, as the website further states, Animal â€Å"rights† extremists from The Humane Society of the United States and other groups came out in strong support of a bill to stop the bear hunt in Maryland. Maryland DNR opposes the legislation and maintains this is needed to properly manage the bear population. The opposition to guns and by extension to the NRA is that they do not regulate their hunting but instead say that hunting a citizen’s right.   On the other hand, the NRA helps to maintain population control by hunting.   If hunters (or NRA active supporters) did not hunt then the population might get out of control and that animal would invading the space of humans, and in the case of the white-tailed deer their numbers would increase steadily and more people would get into wrecks because their population wasn’t checked through the use of fire-arms.   Also, in the view of an NRA member, hunting is a legitimate means by which to supply their family with food; so not only is hunting good for society but it is also good for the family. The NRA also has volunteer positions in its organization.   These positions include duties such as protecting freedom for gun owners.   Volunteers answer calls for the organization, and are called EVC (Election Volunteer Coordinators).   These volunteers as the NRA website states, †¦all EVCs serve on a voluntary basis, and ARE NOT employed by NRA. Rather, like you, they are NRA Members and volunteers who have stepped forward to help organize fellow Second Amendment supporters in an effort to protect our freedoms. If you are able to give ANY time to assist with volunteer activities in support of local pro-gun candidates, please contact the EVC in your area. The point of becoming a volunteer is to be actively involved in the protection of the Second Amendment in one’s own community.   A volunteer makes their surrounding community aware of the NRA and its issues through town-hall meetings, writing letters, writing newspaper articles, and in other ways during election years so that the citizenry is aware of the gun issues at hand are better equipped with gun knowledge.   There are also volunteer organizations involved with promoting the ideas of the NRA, one of which is the Firearms Coalition of Colorado and as the NRA website states, Formed 14 years ago to fight the City of Denver`s attempts to ban numerous semi-auto firearms, the Firearms Coalition of Colorado (FCC) exemplifies just what it means to be a â€Å"volunteer organization.† During the last 14 years, working side-by-side with NRA-ILA, FCC has steadfastly continued its efforts to thwart countless attacks by anti-gun politicians at the local and state levels. These are the ladies and gentlemen that you commonly find working at 3:00 a.m. if that is what it takes to get the job done. The purpose of volunteers and volunteer organizations is to promote gun awareness and to advocate the Second Amendment. The NRA is an organization dedicated to fire arms and the proper use of such firearms.   It is a strong advocate of the Second Amendment and is proud to take control of guns and the rights of the citizenry to use those guns for personal purpose without the interference of the government.   As their website states, and this paper reiterates, the NRA was Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the â€Å"lobbying† arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is committed to preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It is therefore an organization priding itself on protecting an individual’s freedom, equality and democracy.   To achieve this, volunteers work during elections to ensure everyone is aware of gun issues and how to ensure that guns are not banned from the country.   The right to bear arms is important to the NRA because it ensures that an autocratic government does not take control of the nation, and guns are an important decipherer in that equation of freedom. Work Cited Friends of NRA.   ;http://www.nrafoundation.org/; NRA Organization.   ;http://www.nraila.org/index.aspx; Source Watch.   (December, 2005).   National Rifle Association.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   ;http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=National_Rifle_Association; [1] A foundation founded in 1871 ( [2] This quote can be found on the NRA website at, http://www.nra.org/ [3] This is the NRA’s lobbying arm, which means it is a group of legislatures promoting the cause of the NRA with politicians and other public officials. [4] a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, which provides â€Å"a means to raise millions of dollars to fund gun safety and educational projects of benefit to the general public.† (NRA website). [5] This quote is found on the NRA website and it furthers to explain the cause of the organization in regards to its fundamental motto and the fact that the NRA is trying to protect and legislate a citizens right to weapons in case of a tyrannical government. [6] There is a list of other conservative related issues pertaining to the NRA that are: conservatives believe that background checks are not necessary for owning a gun, it is unlawful to license gun owners, again there is the Second Amendment for the bearing of arms to protect individual rights, the NRA also holds true that it is wrong for individuals to sue gun companies. [7] Of South Dakota

Buddhist protestant

At first glance, the Protestant and Buddhist religions do not appear to have much in common. However, some of the rituals observed in one have parallel rituals observed in the other. At the structural level, there are more comparisons than contrasts to be made. If the view is expanded to include the followers of each religion, however, many more contrasts than comparisons can be observed. It is the people, the Protestants and the Buddhists, that make the religions different, due to teachings that cannot necessarily be observed.The customs of each religion will be detailed, and the similarities and differences made clear, in the essay that follows. This particular Sunday morning Protestant service begins at nine o’ clock, though the schedule is far from rigid. Members of the congregation are milling happily about, most wearing smiles that are wide and bright. Some of them spot me as a newcomer as soon as I step through the doorway, and they rush to shake my hand and introduce t hemselves. (One of these is Tobias Scouten, who agrees to be interviewed for this essay.) Protestants in this particular church, and this may be the same everywhere, are always welcoming new members. This is evidenced almost immediately after the service begins. The room, which Scouten calls â€Å"the sanctuary,† is dimly lit, except for the stage. Three spotlights illuminate the entire stage. There are candles burning on either side, but the dominant aromas are carpet cleaner and the various mingled odors of the people filling the room. After a few songs, which are sung with great enthusiasm by the entire congregation, the preacher takes the stage.His smile is perhaps brightest of all, and he makes a point of welcoming any visitors who might be in the audience. (There are no pews in this sanctuary; the worshippers are seated in cushioned chairs, which are arranged in long rows. ) He then offers up the microphone to anyone who has a â€Å"testimony† to share. Testimoni es, in this context, means a story in which congregation members spread the letter or the spirit of the message. Examples shared this morning include a few bags of groceries purchased for a needy family, an invitation extended to a despairing nonbeliever, and a night spent in prayer over a friend’s sick father.The congregation encourages these stories with calls of â€Å"Amen† and â€Å"Praise Jesus. † In this way, individual church members are rewarded, if with nothing more than the acclaim of their peers, for helping the Protestant faith as a whole to grow. The testimonies are followed by a musical performance. A young man and a young woman take the stage, the former holding a cordless microphone and the latter wearing an acoustic guitar. While they sing, the congregation sits back and listens, though a few scattered â€Å"Amen† calls can be heard at crucial moments in the lyrics. When the pastor returns to the stage, he reads from the Bible.He pauses d uring this reading to clarify certain points, bringing the ancient writing into more current context. After the reading, he relates an family anecdote, which in the end returns to the theme (this week, the church is focusing on â€Å"forgiveness†) discussed in the Bible passage. This is the only time during the service that everyone in the audience is quiet. All eyes are on the pastor as he walks up and down the stage, speaking through a headset microphone. His pacing is matched to the tone of his voice; when his volume increases, so does the length of his stride.Upon speaking the final words of his sermon, he allows full silence to descend on the congregation for a full five seconds before requesting everyone bow their heads in prayer. There is another song, again sung by the entire congregation, and the service comes to a close. No one appears to be in much of a hurry to leave the sanctuary. Many of the worshippers turn to each other and recommence the mingling in which the y had been indulging before the service began. At this point, Tobias Scouten escorts me out of the sanctuary and into what he terms â€Å"the fellowship hall† for coffee and cookies.We seat ourselves at one of the many tables, and he fills in the blanks for me. The information Mr. Scouten provides will be put to use when the Protestant practice is compared with the Buddhist practice, following the explanation of the latter. A small group of people, â€Å"fifty or so, on a good day,† according to Abbot Bai Tue, comes together at nine o’ clock on Saturday mornings for an English-language Zen service. The temple is a modest building, which consists of one large meeting room—called the â€Å"Zendo†Ã¢â‚¬â€and a few smaller rooms.Among these lesser chambers, the Abbot has an office, a bathroom, and a kitchenette. Upon entering the building, it is required that I remove my shoes. In a coatroom just inside the front door, every pair of shoes is stowed in a separate cubby. Not many of the cubbies are used, either because the temple does not attract a large group of regulars or because more people choose to attend the Sunday morning Japanese-language service. As it is, I am joined with less than twenty people in the temple. These people are dressed casually, in comfortable clothes, to make seated meditation more peaceful.As I will be told later, it is requested that people wear clothes that will not make much noise when the wearer moves, as this might be distracting during the meditation period. The dominant aroma here is one of incense, though the exact scent is unknown. Behind where the Abbot sits, a display consisting of a small Boddhisatva statue, a cup of incense sticks, and several burning sticks which are poking out of the base of the statue. The Zendo itself looks to be all natural wood, without much—if any—paint on the walls or ceiling.As the Abbot will tell me later, the sight of natural wood calms those who co me to the temple to meditate; it â€Å"allows them to feel surrounded by nature,† even while they are inside the building. No one says a word while they set up for the service. Cushions are retrieved from a closet off the main room for everyone to sit on, for there are no chairs. â€Å"Silence,† the Abbot will tell me, â€Å"is required in the Zendo. † The temple’s attendance might be small, but this matters little to those who do come regularly. They do not come to meet with the other members of the â€Å"Sangha†Ã¢â‚¬â€meaning the group—they come to experience something within themselves.The service begins with the ringing of a smell bell and a chanting ritual, alternating between the Abbot and the Sangha. The nature of this chanting is the offering up of the mind and the prostration of the body to something higher. This higher ideal is not a being, but rather a state of being: enlightenment. It is a myth that Buddhists worship Buddha. The y look to him as a leader, more of an example than a personification of judgment and the resulting punishment or reward. Following the chants, there is a type of sermon made by the Abbot, though the Sangha are encouraged to â€Å"turn inward† while listening.The words are not to be taken at face value, but to be seen as portals beyond which greater meaning can be found. The Sangha meditates during this time, and after a short period the Abbot falls silent. Within the Zendo, not a sound can be heard. The remote location of the temple becomes a notable positive at this point, as the only noise from outside is the rather soothing rush of the wind in the trees. The meditation lasts almost an hour and a half, after which Abbot Bai Tue invites anyone with questions related to the temple in particular or the Buddhist practice in general to stay and talk.Though I am not the only person to remain once the meditation is over, it quickly becomes clear that I am the only visitor to the t emple this morning. The Abbot is more than willing to provide answers for me, though he does not lead me in my interview at all. Even now, the search is a personal one. He speaks only when a question is posed, and his responses are concise and to-the-point. As stated in the introduction, the comparisons to be made between the religions are mostly structural. Both Protestants and Buddhists come together to practice.They begin with acts of participation, with songs in the Protestant church and chants in the Buddhist temple. Then a leader takes control of the service and gives the congregation or the Sangha what they cannot receive anywhere else. But even in these similarities, there are intrinsic differences. Mr. Scouten tells me he sings in order to show his â€Å"gratitude and love for the Lord. † According to Abbot Bai Tue, the chants have a different purpose; they â€Å"prepare the mind for meditation. † It would seem that the Protestant songs are sung for God, while the Buddhist chants are done for personal preparations.When the sermon begins, the Protestants are listening closely to each word spoken, and vocal responses are encouraged. In the Buddhist temple, the sermon is meant only to set the stage, and such responses are discouraged. These differences point to a fundamental contrast between the two religions. The Protestant faith is founded on the concept of propagation, and the practitioners of the faith take great pride in aiding that propagation. Diametrically, the Buddhist faith is about looking inward and finding peace within oneself. Bibliography Scouten, Tobias. Personal Interview. 18 February 2007. Tue, Bai. Personal Interview. 24 February 2007.