Islamic Art Essay

Islamic art is perhaps the most accessible manifestation of a complex civilization that often seems enigmatic to outsiders. Through its brilliant use of color and its superb balance between design and form, Islamic art creates an immediate visual impact. Its strong aesthetic appeal transcends distances in time and space, as well as differences in language, culture, and creed. Islamic art not only invites a closer look but also beckons the viewer to learn more. â€Å"The term Islamic art may be confusing to some. It not only describes the art created specifically in the service of , but it also characterizes secular art produced in lands under Islamic rule or influence, whatever the artist’s or the patron’s religious affiliation. The term suggests an art unified in style and purpose, and indeed there are certain common features that distinguish the arts of all Islamic lands. â€Å"1 Although this is a highly dynamic art, which is often marked by strong regional characteristics as well as by significant influences from other cultures, it retains an overall coherence that is remarkable given its vast geographic and temporal boundaries. Of paramount concern to the development of this singular art is Islam itself, which fostered the creation of a distinctive visual culture with its own unique artistic language. Calligraphy is the most important and pervasive element in Islamic art. It has always been considered the noblest form of art because of its association with the , the Muslim holy book, which is written in Arabic. This preoccupation with beautiful writing extended to all arts including secular manuscripts; inscriptions on palaces; and those applied to metalwork, pottery, stone, glass, wood, and textiles and to non-Arabic-speaking peoples within the Islamic commonwealth whose languages such as Persian, Turkish, and Urdu were written in the Arabic script. Another characteristic of Islamic art is a preference for covering surfaces with patterns composed of geometric or vegetal elements. Complex geometric designs, as well as intricate patterns of vegetal ornament (such as the arabesque), create the impression of unending repetition, which is believed by some to be an inducement to contemplate the infinite nature of God. This type of nonrepresentational decoration may have been developed to such a high degree in Islamic art because of the absence of figural imagery, at least within a religious context. Contrary to a popular misconception, however, figural imagery is an important aspect of Islamic art. Such images occur primarily in secular and especially courtly arts and appear in a wide variety of media and in most periods and places in which Islam flourished. It is important to note, nevertheless, that representational imagery is almost invariably restricted to a private context. Figurative art is excluded from the decoration of religious monuments. This absence may be attributed to an Islamic antipathy toward anything that might be mistaken for idols or idolatry, which are explicitly forbidden by the Qur’an. In Islamic cultures the so-called decorative arts provide the primary means of artistic expression, in contrast to Western art, in which painting and sculpture are preeminent. Illuminated manuscripts, woven textiles and carpets, inlaid metalwork, blown glass, glazed ceramics, and carved wood and stone all absorbed the creative energies of artists, becoming highly developed art forms. These works include small-scale objects of daily use, such as delicate glass beakers, as well as more monumental architectural decoration, for example, glazed tile panels from building facades. Such objects were meticulously fabricated and carefully embellished, often with rare and costly materials, suggesting that the people for whom they were made sought to surround themselves with beauty. Royal patronage played an important role in the making of Islamic art, as it has in the arts of other cultures. The construction of mosques and other religious buildings. including their decoration and furnishings, was the responsibility of the ruler and the prerogative of high court officials. Such monuments not only provided for the spiritual needs of the community but often served educational and charitable functions as well. Royal patronage of secular art was also a standard feature of Islamic sovereignty, one that enabled the ruler to demonstrate the splendor of his court and, by extension, the superiority of his state. Evidence of courtly patronage is derived from the works of art themselves, but an equally important source of information is the extensive body of historical texts that attest to royal sponsorship of the arts almost throughout the Islamic period. These historical works also indicate that only a fraction of such court-sponsored art has survived; objects made of precious materials are particularly rare. From the fourteenth century onward, especially in eastern Islamic lands, the arts of the book provide the best documentation of courtly patronage. Of course, not all works of Islamic art were sponsored by the court; in fact, the majority of objects and manuscripts in museum collections originated elsewhere. Such works of art including pottery, base metalware, carpets, and textiles have often been viewed as the products of urban, middle-class patronage. These objects nonetheless frequently reflect the same styles and make use of the same forms and techniques employed in courtly art. Whether produced in a courtly or an urban setting or for a religious context, Islamic art is generally the work of anonymous artists. A notable exception is in the sphere of the arts of the book. The names of certain calligraphers are well known, which is not surprising given the primacy of the written word in Islam, as are those of a number of painters, most of whom were attached to a particular court. The identification of these artists has been based on signed or attributed examples of their works and on textual references. Given the great number of extant examples, comparatively few signatures are found on metalwork, pottery, carved wood and stone, and textiles. Those signatures that do occur, combined with rare evidence from contemporary textual sources, suggest that families of artists, often over several generations, specialized in a particular medium or technique. Some of the famous Arts are in the Building and Architecture. They build mosques to worship and praise in. In the mosques they built gates which â€Å"is a monumental, highly decorated structure set into a usually plain facade (front) facing the street. â€Å"2 You can find some of these gates in such building as the The Dome of the Rock and in the most famous tomb of the Taj Mahal. Now only few buildings are still around, but the cities still rank the highest in beauty. The Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem signifies and serves as a perfect example of the brilliancy behind Islamic art. The Dome of the Rock contains all the major characteristics throughout the whole architectural building, which includes calligraphy, patterns of visual and geometrical elements, figural imagery, and illuminated manuscripts. † The Dome of the Rock is often called the first work of Islamic architecture, and if it is the building must be the finest first effort in the history of architecture. â€Å"3 The Dome Of The Rock, Jerusalem 692 and later The interior view of The Dome of the rock. Where many believe Abraham offered to sacrifice Isaac The gates of Taj Mahal 2003 The Taj Mahaul was built for the empire and his wife. It is one of the most formal themes that a building can contain. â€Å"Its refined elegance is a conspicuous contrast both to the Hindu architecture of pre-Islamic India, with its thick walls, corbeled arches, and heavy lintels, and to the Indo-Islamic styles, in which Hindu elements are combined with an eclectic assortment of motifs from Persian and Turkish sources. â€Å"4 With all the beautiful structures and elements of Islam, you would never know how strict the region was. In Islamic cultures the so-called decorative arts provide the primary means of artistic expression. They showed their beautiful creativity in all their work such in the buildings, books, and the carvings.

Internet and foreign language education Essay

A new technology has surfaced and now it has caught the imagination of millions of people on this planet. Surfing through it, the internet has put everybody eager to explore more of it and to become a real part of it. The effects of this technology have permeated both small and large establishments, schools, universities, and even governments. Composed of a collection of computers worldwide commonly connected via telephone lines, Internet’s main objective is to share information. From early beginning in 1960s as a decentralized network connecting some military and academic computers, the number of host computers on the Internet has ballooned much. The World Wide Web now forms the most popular part of the Net. With the development of the Web, which was first designed for using text links only, further refinement into multi-media links resulted with pictures, audio, and video links. This has made the Web more popular. Today, fast modems can carry extra large files of graphics and sound linking target resources on the Net. With the ballooning number of websites and Internet users worldwide, educators could benefit much from this. Internet and Foreign Language†¦3 Educators now see the application of the new technology in the field of learning and teaching as very promising. They now scrutinize a wider application of Internet and the Web in language education. The shifting scenes from laboratory-based educational setting, computer-assisted learning is now the fad. From monitored teaching process to interactive computer applications, the tedious and boring process has been replaced by promising results. Good software like CALL helps facilitate the language learning process though others see some degrees of â€Å"rigidity† of the program. Developers of CALL have to moderately go back to remedy the situation. Whatever type of computer, one can access the Net from any place, any time. Within the Internet is a multi-media information system called the World Wide Web or WWW or simply the Web. The Web has two systems: the Web servers and the Web clients. The former dispenses information while the other receives information. Through the use of Web browser, one receives educational webpages or otherwise. Educators are now reaping benefits from the use of the Internet. Language teachers so far are exploiting the electronic mail to create mutual interaction between and among students and teachers in learning language skills. With such innovation, multinational Internet and Foreign Language†¦4 student participants have been encouraged to develop communication and mental skills from varying cultural backgrounds. A study by Davis and Chang (1994) using electronic mailing system has set up an exploratory pattern as to what could be achieved in using electronic mail at improving the student writing in terms of fluency, usage, and organization. This study has practically defied language and cultural barriers. Knowing the culture is knowing the language. This adage holds true in learning languages preserved in a cultural environment. Accessing information on social, cultural, economic, and geographical data on a particular language increases one’s repository for both the learners and teachers. Searching the Net for a specific subject needs fine tuning. One should remember though that a series of messages having the same subject coming from the original message has replies and replies to replies that follow. And this is how one comes about learning incidentally. This interactive intercourse increases one’s learning experience applicable in the area of language teaching or learning. Besides, fellow language teachers offer site listings valuable to avid learners. Internet and Foreign Language†¦5 The use of the Net is not always in short order. It is not without fuss, which becomes a challenge to users. Technical glitches can spoil one’s plan. Similarly, little familiarity on computer and Internet use can block one’s initiative in pursuing to learn. Another roadblock in implementing such innovation is the cost of maintaining the system, which holds back institutions with little funding. Besides, censor may enter the scene when language program becomes offensive or indecent. Despite all odds, this technology will simply flourish as people continue to interact with each other. And with the emergence of a global community that seeks to find a common world language, the burden now rests upon the application of this technology today. Works Cited Davis, B. & Chang, Ye Ling (1994/95). Long distance collaboration with on-line conferencing. TESOL Journal, 4(2), 28-31.

Events project management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Events project management - Essay Example This event is regarded as the largest fund-raising event pertaining to the women only in the UK. It incorporates entirely a series of the 5k along with 10k events that are assisting the program to raise fund for the cancer patients. The popularity of the event i.e. ‘Race for Life’ can be determined by taking into consideration the increased number of participants since its start up in the years 1994. The event essentially includes within it the activities such as walking, running and jogging related to 5k and 10k. Apart from this, the funds being collected from the event are distributed and utilised with respect to cancer treatment (Cancer Research UK, 2014). This report intends to provide an outline of project management planning regarding the development of the prevailing event i.e. ‘Race for Life’. In this regard, the report will provide a strategic plan for involving males and older people within the future events under the domain of Race For Life. The event project management plan will delineate the prevailing opportunities and risks, marketing plan, budget and project plan related to the scheduled event as well. In accordance with the present aim of the organisation, it is ascertained as beating cancer comprehensively. The prime objective behind organising the event is that sooner the funds are raised the earlier will be the aim fulfilled. The aim of strategic planning for the development of the event i.e. ‘Race for Life’ is to involve males and older people. This will further enable to create awareness about the criticality of the disease along with facilitating to spread the event. On further note, this new development will help the event to raise accelerated fund in a shorter time. As observed that the event utilises its funds in the cancer treatment pertaining to all the races, therefore involving the youth and older individuals will prove beneficial for its

(Urgent) Law exam questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

(Urgent) Law exam questions - Essay Example The report that recorded by the witness who was also part of the company’s employees indicated that the icicle had been taken off the claimant’s left leg. The judge ruled that since the Santa and elf did not see the icicle as they discharged their duties in the usual and that there was protection scheme in operation the respondent was not in violation of duty. The judge added that icicle was invisible from the employees responsible (elf and Santa) because it was covered with a toy on one part and wall on the other side. So, had they seen it earlier then they could have taken it away and the claimant could not suffer the injury. The judge ruled that the respondent was not responsible for the damage suffered by the visitor because the security system in place could have protected the claimant from falling. In this case, the legal issue involved the duty of care the employees of the company owes the visitors. It is the companys mandate to ensure all measures are set in place to protect the visitors against any injury or joss during the time they are in the premise. In this case, the concern was whether the injury suffered by Dufosse when she fell upon stumbling against icicle was as a result of employees’ negligence. Following the application of an appeal, the appellant expressed dissatisfaction with the earlier ruling. The respondent on the other hand brought forth an argument that the appellant had contributed to injury by falling on the icicle. The judge argued that if the icicle was there to be fallen on then even the employees could have seen that icicle. Therefore, the issue as to whether the appellant had contributed to the injury she suffered was not in order hence there was no contributory negligence in the case. By ratio decidendi, the issue is to assess the base on which the judge of appeal arrived at the ruling of the case at hand. As stated earlier, the judge in the district court

Audit Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Audit - Essay Example This has resulted in the emergence of the phrase that â€Å"auditors are the dogs that did not bark during the crisis†, and thus their role in helping avert financial crisis through detecting and reporting any anomaly or perceived misrepresentation of the financial truthfulness of organizations has been put to question (Fielding, 2011 p35). Therefore, considering that there are four major auditing firms that operate globally and monopolizes the European Union regions, namely PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ernst & Young, Deloitte and KPMG, concerns have always arisen regarding the collusion between the auditing firms and their clients to give unfair and unbalanced financial reporting information and opinion (Clifford, n.p.). This has necessitated the need for introducing reforms that would see the already existing collusion, as well as the conflict of interest in auditing, effectively addressed (IFAC, 2013 p36). EC audit reform proposals and the underlying areas of concern that they s eek to address First, the EC audit reform proposes a system of compulsory rotation of audit firms amongst their clients (Crump, 2011 n.p.). This proposal has arisen from the fact that; it has been noted that many firms and organization have enlisted the services of a single audit firm for many years, even running for decades, something that has made it possible for the audit firms and their clients to develop a collusion mechanism that prevents the auditors from applying prudence in auditing the transactions and the financial reports of their longstanding clients (Irvine, 2013, n.p.). The effect of this has always been unbalanced and misleading audit reports, which are only proven wrong, when such firms are eventually netted in big financial scandal or when the firms are forced to close down, due to financial problems, despite the fact that their previous reporting and audit reports have been indicating favorable financial positions (Garcia, 2005 p56). Consequently the EU has introd uced a proposal requiring that the client firms will have to change their auditors after a maximum period of 6 years, or a maximum of 9 years, on condition that the client firms have enlisted the services of joint auditing services, since there is a potential of the audit firms increasing the quality of the auditing done, when the firm is audited by two different firms (IFAC, 2013 p42). Thus, this proposal was meant to introduce measures that would encourage joint services, even where it is has not been made obligatory; to avert the problem of conflict of interests and collusion, amongst the auditing firms and their client firms (Orlik, 2011 n.p.). Mandatory audit tendering The EC reform proposal also introduces a proposal for the audit client firms for all public-interest entities to mandatory introduce obligatory open and transparent selection procedures for the new firms (Lovells & Banerjee, 2011 p44). Under this requirement, the EC also proposes that the audit committee should e ffectively be involved in the selection procedure of the new auditors, to ensure the prudence of the selection process, since the auditors selected also influences the nature of the reporting and financial opinion given by the audit firms

What is the difference between Roman law and Anglo law Essay

What is the difference between Roman law and Anglo law - Essay Example This paper involves a comparative analysis of Roman and Anglo Law. It identifies the differences and similarities between these two streams of law and how they work in the historical context. The study goes on to examine the contemporary effects of these two streams of law and how they operate in Britain and Spain. In examining the context of Roman and Anglo Law, there is the need to evaluate and analyse the historical context within which the two legal systems evolved. The history of Roman law cannot be separated from the spiritual age or the role of the Catholic Church in formulating rules and anointing leaders who were believed to have the divine right to rule (Coughlin, 2011). This is different from the Anglo legal code which is centrally built around the Norman Conquest and the changes that came with the political and feudal order through the creation of laws that were a collection of legal systems and processes that existed in different parts of Britain (Atiyah & Sommers, 1987). The scope of the Roman Law is based on the Canon of the Catholic Church which included core rules and fundamental principles that were laid down by the Church for its followers (Glenn, 2010). Roman Law and the Canon Law was shrouded in mysticism and hence, this formed the foundation for the actions and activities of the legal system and the legal processes that existed in these Catholic countries and such nations. Some of the top commentators and proponents of Roman Law rejected the concept of the validity of law, this is because the these thinkers believed that law should not be based on logic, but rather on divine direction (Coughlin, 2011). This is because there is a general trend and process in which they sought to protect the divinity of the papacy and the divinity of anointed kings and nobles who were viewed as persons with divine power and

Employment Law for Animal Care & Service Workers Essay

Employment Law for Animal Care & Service Workers - Essay Example Better employment laws shall serve to provide legitimate guidelines for the allowance of a healthy working atmosphere for both employer and worker. Other major economic competitors have incorporated these inclusions into their prevailing national laws to adapt with the current flexible trends in the employment system. Legislators and capitalists are enjoined to work hand in hand to promote a better future for its workforce thereby allowing a broader expansion of Australia's economic goals. In 2005, the Howard Government and the Australian Parliament launched the Workplace Relations Amendment Bill 2005 "Workchoices" guide that announced series of amendments to the Australian Labor Law. Effective last March 2006, the Workplace Relations Act 1996 took effect despite heavy protests from the labor sector and equally heavy expenditures. The Australian Labor Party and the Australian Council of Trade unions had originally described the amendment as "sugar-coating a poison pill" and a "representation of the old package". The Howard Government countered that reforms were necessary as step in the deregulation of the Australian economy. Andrews reasoned that the 1.7 million extra jobs created in Australia and the 14% increases in real wages were part of the reason "part of the reason for that is because of the reforms that we made in 1996".1 Accountably, the government claims that such reforms made a substantial impact on the present economic status and that 'Workchoices' "will h ave more choice and flexibility and this in turn will lead to a higher productivity".2 Laws and Provisions under Workchoices The creation of several minimum workplace system conditions in Australia has been equated by the government and the business sector in the effort to maintain the economic stability. Under the new unfair dismissal practices, companies with fewer than 100 employees are exempted from unfair dismissal. At the same time employees of larger corporations will not be protected if they are dismissed for 'operational reasons' that previously allowed them to claim compensation or reinstatement. This was done to alleviate the stifling penalties imposed by the Labor government of 1993 that according to the Howard government has slowed business growth and lesser jobs. If however the reasons do not fall under 'operational requirements'; claims under unfair dismissal practices will have some solid ground and as an alternative, the government "has offered pay $4000 to employees who were unlawfully dismissed to aid in the legal costs".3 For areas where unfair contract legislation allows dismissed emp loyees to seek compensation upon contract termination, 'Workchoices' has specifically excluded them from such legislation. This further explains that an employee under this area will no longer be allowed to seek remedy under this act. The grounds cited where an employee may claim for unlawful dismissal would include racial discrimination, family commitments and retaliations. The sovereign right to work in a job of choice that an employee has been trained and academically prepared will always remain under equal opportunity. Equal rights for

Applied statistics for finance and economics Coursework

Applied statistics for finance and economics - Coursework Example The spread of recession globally made share prices go down dramatically. Changes in pricing is a fundamental aspect in chart analysis. Traders usually watch out for stocks assuming a certain direction or impressions of a possible stock price change (McWhirter, 2008). Momentum becomes a dealers partner if well analyzed and identified. The assumed logic behind price momentum is that price movements are random. A popular argument among many is that share prices change fast to portray new information and new information cannot be predicted. This, therefore, means trend analysis does not lead to a better long term performance. The actions of market participants usually determine price momentum. Traders being opportunistic the way they are, orders tend to be placed once a given direction is determined on stock price. The more sales is experienced the upward or the downward form is increased. This trend proceeds until word is out that a new trend now warrants selling or buying the stock. Price direction now becomes chaotic nevertheless not random. Taking the case of random walk argument trends will be seen on a random manner. A good example is tossing a coin. No matter how many you toss it and land on tails the last five times, the probability in coin toss will always remain on 50%. Take another example on roulette wheel ball. The previous spins doesn’t necessarily mean that one might land on red or black. The rate sits steadily on 47%. Traders who follow the random walk theory note that the timing of new data and news is not predictable. They also note that that stock prices change very fast with th e coming of new information, The constant variation of stock market is the simple definition of volatility. Suppose today the stock market goes up, tomorrow it goes down it goes up again in the following five days, then this is called volatility of stock. The most common cause for this

Humanities-issues in science and societies proposal Essay

Humanities-issues in science and societies proposal - Essay Example Topic One: Wind farms are known to affect birds through collision, displacement, barrier effects and habitat loss (Drewitt and Langston, 2006). There is some debate about how serious the impact on fish might be (Wahlberg and Westerberg, 2005). Human beings complain about certain impact on the beauty of natural landscapes, and there are suggestions that living near wind farms negatively causes an illness called â€Å"Wind Turbine Syndrome† (Pierpoint, 2009). Topic Two: Wind farms are using increasingly larger turbines, and though this may look more cost effective than smaller turbines, there are significant operation and maintenance costs to consider (â€Å"Operation and Maintenance Costs,† n.d.). Conclusion: This paper has shown that wind farms have been represented by proponents of green science and politics as an answer to mankind’s need for energy that does not depend on the burning of fossil fuels or the creation of risky nuclear power stations. The evidence shows that there is indeed a place for wind farms in energy planning. These facilities are, however, not as ecologically friendly as one might think, and the cost of building and managing them makes it unlikely that they will ever contribute more than a small proportion of human energy

Pepsi vs coca in india case Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Pepsi vs coca in india case - Essay Example Coca-Cola reentered India in the early 1990s when the Indian government adopted the policy of liberalization, privatization and globalization. By that time, PepsiCo had already acquired 26 percent of the cola segment. Coca-Cola could not eat into the market share of existing players as the beverage market was in the growth phase. PepsiCo has been actively strengthening its non-cola portfolio in India. The company has diversified into the lemon and orange segment of carbonated drinks and has also launched its brand of juices. PepsiCo garners one-fourth of its revenue from the non-cola segment and is well poised to capitalize on the consumers changing tastes and preferences. One the other hand, Coca-Cola’s flagship brands; Coke and Thums Up are cola drinks. PepsiCo has also launched its Aquafina brand of bottled mineral water in India. The company has captured a significant market share in the bottled water market which is expected to grow steadily in the future. The vast product array of PepsiCo also includes Gatorade, a well established international sports drink brand. The growing health consciousness amongst Indian consumers is likely to help Gatorade gain further traction in the Indian market. The emergence of sports and exercises in the daily regimen of Indian consumers bodes well for PepsiCo. PepsiCo uses appropriate advertising and sales promotion tactics keeping in mind the Indian culture. Sponsorship of cricket and football tournaments and celebrity endorsements has struck the right chord with PepsiCo’s target market in

Rogers Chocolate Essay Example for Free

Rogers Chocolate Essay Introduction Premium Chocolates are like Imported Roses which not consider necessities for one life. People love to have or get one of those products. However, if there isn’t a special occasion or surplus cash, some people will not buy that unnecessary stuff. In Canada, premium chocolates were growing at 20 percent annually and the Canadian market size for Chocolates was US$ 167 million in 2006. An attractive growth from premium chocolates makes the current player like Rogers Chocolates, Purdys and others are thinking new strategies to expand market. In addition, some big traditional manufacturers like Hersheys and Cadbury are also very interested and keen to enter this segment (Zietsma 2007). Rogers Chocolates is a king in Victoria and well known in British Colombia. However, outside this area the brand awareness is still low. The new appointed CEO is being targeted to double or triple Sales in ten years. The key successes in premium chocolates are: understand the consumer’s needs, brand awareness, diversified products and enhanced competitiveness. There are many challenges for Rogers’s chocolates to grow in this ever-growing competition, and there are many old and new strategies that haven’t been proven effectively. Moreover, Rogers is small/medium Company that has limited resources to apply all those strategies. The management decision-making will be very crucial to manage its strength and weakness while at the same time; they have to overcome the threat and opportunities in the industry. 1. Competitive driving forces in the premium chocolate industry Porter’s Five Forces Model. Porter’s â€Å"five forces† model uses five competitive forces that determine a particular firm’s capability to compete (Thompson, Strickland, Gamble 2010). The chocolate and cocoa industry can use the â€Å"five forces† model as an analytical tool to determine the competitive market. [pic] Figure 1: Five competitive forces by Michael Porter 1. Competitive Rivalry The intensity of rivalry among competitors in an industry can create price wars, advertising battles, new product lines, and higher quality of customer service. There are many circumstances that intensify rivalry which some of them are as follows: many balanced competitors, a slow growing industry, demands falls, high fixed or storage costs, little switching costs, aggressive competitors and many other circumstances (Thompson, Strickland, and Gamble 2010). Premium Chocolate competition in Canada involves strong regional brands and few global players such as Godiva, Lindt, Callebaut, and Purdy’s. Even though The Canadian market size of chocolates industry as a whole had been falling (2 % grow projected). However, the premium chocolate market was growing at 20 percent annually (Zietsma 2007). That situation considers less intense rivalry among competitors; moreover every area has their own local king like Rogers in Victoria. Nevertheless, in 2008, Global economy was severely hit by the crisis that originated from the United States and quickly spread to the whole world including Canada. Premium chocolate majority consumers in Canada come from tourists especially Americans as bordering neighbour. When the tourist’s number drops and the demand for premium chocolate also falls, the fierce rivalry will increase 2. Threat of new entrants Frequently, existing industry members are often strong candidates to enter market segments or geographic areas where they currently do not have a market presence (Thompson, Strickland, Gamble 2010). Apparently, Hershey’s and Cadburys have been moving into the premium chocolate market through acquisitions or up market launches since this segment still posses high percentage of growth (Zietsma 2007). The market is only control by few large and old players which occupy significant market shares. The chocolate industry has a significant economy of scale entry barrier because large companies exist in the industry that has high production output and it reduces the threat of entrants. In addition to economy of scale, product differentiation is another entry barrier in the chocolate. There are many competitors in the industry that have remarkably identifiable brand names and customer loyalty like Rogers Chocolate itself. New company must increase its spending to overcome the reputation and large customer base of the existing companies. 3. Threat of Substitutes. Rogers’s chocolate is often used as gift during numerous seasons and celebrations including Christmas, Easter, Halloween, Valentine’s Day, anniversaries and birthdays. Other types of gifts during these seasons are viewed as substitute products. These products are flowers, jewelry and stuffed animals. All of these products can be purchased instead of Rogers’s chocolate unless they just want only ‘Chocolate’ as gifts. Many chocolate brands and a wide variety of seasonal gifts make the threat of substitute products is considered low to moderate in this industry. However, if Rogers Chocolates can maintain its local heritage especially in its traditional area like Victoria and British Colombia then the threat for Rogers can be minimized. 4. Power of Buyers If a buyer represents a large percentage of the supplier’s sales, the buyer has more bargaining power over the supplier. Rogers’s chocolate 50% of sales is contributed from its 11 retail stores which is a strong one. However, since the previous president Mr. Jim Ralph had grown its wholesale market up to 30% thus, they have to take a good care of its big wholesale buyer. Another condition that affects the power of buyers is product differentiation. If the product is undifferentiated, the buyer has the power to play competitors against each other and reduce the cost. The premium chocolate has a differentiated product, which reduces the power of buyers. Rogers have brand identification and customer loyalty, which makes it hard for buyers especially the loyal ones not to consume Rogers for their premium chocolate consumption Today, buyers demanding chocolate more than just a taste, they becoming more health conscious therefore the demand for organic chocolate and dark chocolate are growing. 5. Power of Suppliers The bargaining power of suppliers is a competitive force that can diminish a firm’s profitability by raising prices or reducing the quality of the supplier’s product. The suppliers of the chocolate industry have significant bargaining power over the industry because of the limited suppliers. In addition the supplier groups’ bargaining power increases if there are no substitute products. Because the cocoa bean is a required ingredient in chocolate the suppliers do not have any substitute products for which they must compete. This lack of substitutes increases the bargaining power of the chocolate industry The strongest Competitive Forces From the five competitive forces, they are relatively low to moderate in affecting premium chocolate industry especially Rogers Chocolate. However, the presence of Hershey’s and Cadburys in the premium chocolate market will cause the strongest threat as they have enormous resources and experiences. The weakest forces should be the supplier as they can only affect the cost thus as long as people still love chocolates then the market is still big. The potential profitability of new entrants from outside industry is low since the barrier of entry for this industry is very high. However, it will be a different story if those big guys in the chocolate industry like Hershey’s are very serious entering this premium chocolate market as happening lately. 2. Drivers of Change Those competitive forces as explained above can be a driver of change either individually or collectively. Another unique driver of change is consumer behavior towards health consciousness. Today, the demand for organic products and dark chocolate are growing worldwide. Rogers has responded well to this healthy lifestyle by offering non-sugar added chocolate. People also put strong image to the company that practice good corporate social and environment responsibility. Therefore, the premium chocolate players that will remain in the market are only those who could ride the changes and rise above the expectation of consumers because brand and quality play a significant role in customer purchase decision. 3. Key Success Factor in the premium Chocolates Industry. 3. 1 Understanding the Consumer’s Needs The company must understand that they must have the features required by the consumers. For premium chocolate consumers, their reasons in buying are for themselves or for gifts. The first thing in the consumer mind for the products is the taste, and then packaging, shopping experiences, and the price. Rogers Chocolates has earned a reputation as one of Canada’s premiere chocolate makers and many consumers stating that Rogers’ is one of the best chocolate they have ever tasted (Customer Review 2010). The retail stores create a unique costumer experience with the aromas and image of the store and one of the friendliest staff. Since the premium chocolates serve as a gift either individually or as corporate gifts in special occasion then their packaging need to be unique and attractive. The Rogers packaging are appealing and other competitors are trying very hard to improve theirs. Another 30 percent of Rogers’s costumers are wholesale distributors and stores. The relationship that Rogers maintains with these customers has been essential to the growing success of the company. They have to strive to provide competitive price, great customer service and inventory in a timely manner. 3. 2 Brand Awareness Rogers’ Chocolates had a brand share of approximately 6% out of $167 million Canadian Chocolates market in 2006. Consumer pay premium price for premium chocolates and this fact can be looked intimidating to the retail and wholesale customers who are unaware of the brand and unwilling to try it. Therefore, the chocolate’s companies need to have a strong brand name and brand image. Rogers Chocolates’ brand is iconic and local heritage in Victoria but less known in the rest of Canada. Either customers love the brand or completely unknown. 3. 3 Diversified Products â€Å"We bought raspberry filling dark chocolate, pistachio and fruits in milk chocolate, a white chocolate bar and a lemon meringues and couple of truffle bars. Did we buy too much chocolate between the 2 of us? Nonsense, one can never have too much chocolate. † The review above came from Tom, California who visited Rogers Shop in Vancouver on October 3, 2009 (Customer Review 2010). People love to choose their own selection and favourites. The company has to strive to provide innovative and delicious products to meet the market demand. Rogers also has addressed the health conscious consumer by provide non-sugar chocolates. Rogers can offer a great breadth of products that enables the company to reach a large customer segment 3. 4 Enhanced Competitiveness Increased marketplace competition has significantly given an impact in Rogers’s business and as a result, Rogers must continuously seek for areas for improvement in order to enhance competitiveness against other competitor in the market. Improving weakness could be done in terms of product innovation, operational and manufacturing, marketing, advertising and promotion, inventory and distribution, and customer relationship. The company has to observe their capabilities and make the most of them in order to stay and win in the competition. 4. SWOT analysis |Strengths |Opportunities | |. Product |Market | |Established brand |Tourist approach in cruise ship | |Quality taste |Growing Markets 20% annually | |Award-winning |Young people market | |Variety |USA and International Market | |Consumer Loyalty in Victoria |2010 Olympics | |Human Resources |Licensing,Franchising and partnership | |Employee pride and loyalty |Products: | | Skilled and experienced management |Ice cream | |Rogers own retail stores |Health conscious products | |Sam’s Deli Performance |Consumer Trends | |Strong financial position |Affordable luxury products | | |Healthy lifestyles | | |Technology | | |Mobile marketing | | |Production capabilities | | |Internet | |Weaknesses |Threats | |Product/Brand |Intense competition and new entrants | |Little awareness outside Victoria |Economic Downturn/ Drop tourists | |Production |Change consumer traffic to Vancouver | |Planning, Documentation and Forecasting |Private label Chocolate | |. Suppliers |Fluctuating demand | |Capacity |Environmental and human concerns | |Equipment and processes | | |Human Resources | | |Resistance to change | | |Conflict management | | |Multiple responsibility | | |Sales force | | |Distribution | | |Location | | |Market Coverage | | |Inventory management | | |Financial | | |Sales growth | |. The BOLD/ Italic and BIG SIZE fonts are the key factor for each category The company has a strong set of strength. Rogers Chocolate is small/medium business thus its weaknesses still not very damaging and the company situated in fairly strong position. However, looking at the threats, the company needs to repair its weakness especially in Branding, Production and Inventory in order to sustain in the business. The opportunity table shows great opportunity for Rogers to grow and expand. However, Rogers needs to expand its strength beyond outside Victoria especially towards young people and definitely repair the weaknesses to cater the growing market. 5. Strategies and positioning. Rogers Chocolates positioned as High quality – premium price Chocolate As stated in the company website, Rogers’s philosophy is making only premium products and packaging elegantly. In the premium Chocolate market, Rogers’s chocolates control only 6% and price the products in high price point but still competitive and even slightly lower then Godiva and Callebaut. High Quality Rogers Callebaut Purdy’s Godiva Lindt Low Price Cadbury Hersheys High Price Low Quality Rogers brand is well respected among those who want high quality chocolate. Rogers’s products have no additives and use high quality ingredients. The brand is very well-established in Victoria and has loyal consumers Mission Statement: Rogers Chocolates is committed in producing and marketing fine products which reflect and maintain our reputation of quality and excellence established for over a century. All aspects of our business will be conducted with honesty and integrity, upholding our proud Canadian tradition. (Rogers Chocolates 2010) GOAL: â€Å"To double or triple total sales within 10 years† Management’s Strategy Selection Based on Roger’s goal of doubling or tripling total sales within 10 years, then the main strategy will be increasing brand awareness. Rogers’s products are already proven superior despite their distribution which circulates mainly in British Colombia area, thus company has to expand its market range to greater area and to East Canada or overseas. Rogers has already won the 2010 Olympics Official Chocolates together with Purdys (Lazarus 2008) which is a tremendous opportunity to create awareness nationally and internationally. To grow a market, factors such as Licensing, franchise and partnership is being considered. One idea under consideration for developing the wholesale network was the creation of a turnkey store-within-a-store setup that would allow wholesale clients with a retail presence — such as department stores to add a mini-Rogers store in their shop. Rogers’s management also aim to increase the number of online shopping. Those strategies are consistent with Rogers’s goal to increase the sales by double and triple in ten years. However, being a small/medium company, Rogers’s management can only choose to act on several options while not putting a risk on its culture and tradition. Licensing, franchising and create store-within-a-store is a cheaper options to expand the market compare to open its own retail stores in the new areas however does it really appropriate to Rogers excellent retail experiences? (source)s together with Purdys Conclusion In early 2009, Parkhill and Rogers’ management chose to focus on expanding the company’s retail network. Parkhill says that Rogers will also continue to develop its wholesale channel, but will be selective in choosing partners who fit the company’s brand. â€Å"Our foundation is retail,† he says. â€Å"It’s the ‘Wow!’ experience that customers get when they walk into our stores, are greeted and are handed a free sample of our chocolates. From this customer experience, success comes in other things that we do such as wholesale and online sales. † Roger is high quality premium chocolate thus the experiences for shop and consumes Rogers chocolate has to be excellent as well. If the Brand is being franchised or create a small shop at the corner of somebody else store then the quality of service and the store ambiances can not be controlled. People not only say about how good Rogers Chocolate was but also their great experiences in Rogers Store. Therefore, the decision of developing Rogers own retail is good decision and consistent with its goal and philosophy. References:? Customer Review 2010, Rogers Chocolate, Available http://www. yelp. ca/biz/rogers-chocolates-vancouver [Accessed 5 June 2010] ? Lazarus 2008, Sweet deal for Purdy’s and Roger’s Chocolates, August edn, Marketing Magazine ? Morrissete 2008, On the case: How sweet is this, really? , Financial Post Magazine ? Rogers Chocolate 2010, History, Available: http://www. rogerschocolates. com/history [Accessed 5 June 2010] ? Thompson, Strckland, Gamble 2010, Crafting and Executing Strategy: The Quest for Competitive Advantage. Concepts and Cases, 17th edn, McGraw-Hill Irwin, United States ? Zietsma 2007,Case: Rogers’ Chocolates, Ivey Management Service.

Data Gaps And Limitations Environmental Sciences Essay

Data Gaps And Limitations Environmental Sciences Essay An extensive site history and description of the Trimpell Middleton petrochemical site has been put forward and documented in the phase I site investigations carried out for Environmental Agency and documented in the Atkins scoping study. This historic site is situated to the North and West of Middleton and positioned on National Grid with reference SD420590 (Semple, 2013 as cited in Atkins, 2000). It is about 2km south-east of Heysham and occupies an expanse of 116 hectare. The site was built and managed as a joint project between Trinidad Lake Asphalt, Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) and Shell to produce aviation fuel during the World War II after which it was closed down in 1945 (CSM). It became operational again in 1948 under the ownership of Shell and ICI with a reform in its production techniques and with the introduction of new chemicals (CSM). The main refinery operations and chemical productions closed down in the 1970s and the site became derelict and has been decommissioned. The only finger prints observable in the site is the operations of SRM limited formerly Solrec Limited who are in to solvent refinery and recovery (CSM). The site is considered in two basic areas for the purpose of this report. These are the Main Refinery Area (MRA) and Final Production Tank Farm (FPTF). The main refinery area includes all the land initially occupied by the refinery, located to the west of Middleton Road and an extension which is assumed not to have been occupied by the refinery. The Northern part of the site was purchased by Solrec Limited in1975 while the Lancaster City Council has the ownership of the central and south-western parts (CSM). The Final Production Tank Farm (FPTF) is situated between the railway passageway to the east and Middleton road to the west and contains four giant tanks buried within the vicinity of supporting buildings and parts of the undeveloped land. At present, the Lancaster City Council is the known owner of the two storage tanks in the northern most part while the two other storage tanks and the remaining part of the FPTF in the furthermost south towards the railway passageway are thought to be owned by Middleton Business Park Ltd (CSM). SITE GEOLOGY The site has its central part lying flat with a rising land to the east in the direction of Middleton Road and Trimpell Tip and to the west near Whittam Hill. The site is elevated in both the northern and southern parts compared to the central part which is low-lying with the furthermost southern part of the site having a lower topography than the central part (CSM). Over these years, the site topography and ground elevation has changed because of dumping activities including inert waste materials in some parts of the site (CSM). This is documented in the report and was also observed during the site reconnaissance visit. PRODUCTION ACTIVITIES: In the operational years of the refinery, gasoline was stored in tanks at the banks of Heysham and was conveyed to the tanks on Whittam Hill for refinery use. The conveyance relied on gravity and supported by the topography (CSM). The refinery operation stopped after the World War II and restarted in 1948 with the refinement of crude to produce gas oil, fuel oil, gasoline and butane (CSM). Sulphur was removed from the crude at the Hower Baker Plant possibly by conversion to hydrogen sulphide and absorbed into an alkaline solution in the caustic soda plant (CSM). Knowledge of recovery of sulphur or the sulphide is lacking. The catalytic cracking process introduced sour water condensate which was likely to contain hydrogen sulphide, ammonia, phenol and some other hydrocarbons. Knowledge of the fate of the sour water produced is lacking. Mercaptan, an intermediate product would possibly have been removed by the use of sulphuric acid or sodium hydroxide during production of gasoline in a process of sweetening. This could be by conversion of mercaptan to disulphide (CSM). Ammonia was produced in the main refinery site in the ammonia stalls. Possible by-products of this process are coal tars and ammonia. Hydrogen used in ammonia production was produced in a water gas plant. The residues of this process were carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide which were removed by brushing with caustic soda and injection with copper liquor respectively. Methanol was produced and was stored in ICI product tanks thought to have been previously used to store petroleum. This manufacturing technique stopped and methane was produced by the addition of high temperature steam to waste oil obtained from Shell production activities. ICI went in to manufacturing of insulating board after the war using isocyante process and asbestos was thought to have been used in the process. Insulation board production was continued by Kingspan Insulation and Coolag Limited after ICI left. Knowledge of their manufacturing details is lacking. Also within the vicinity of the site is Trimpell Tip where waste from the refinery and nitrates processing such as incinerator residues, domestic and commercial waste, potentially combustible substances and inert materials were disposed. HIGHLIGHTS OF PHASE I The process of contaminated land management as described in contaminated land report 11 (CLR II) falls within three paradigms. These are risk assessment, option appraisal and implementation of the remediation strategy. The phase I investigation aims to define the purpose of the investigation, identify arrears of concern and to refine a preliminary conceptual site model using available information (CLR II). This is achieved by collating and evaluating desktop information, site reconnaissance survey and possibly interview from people who have historical or current information of the site. In doing this, all the information gathered would be needed to construct a conceptual site model that takes in to cognizance all contaminant sources, pathways and receptors or potential receptors. The report documented in phase I investigation (CSM) has identified areas of concern which is a major objective of the initial environmental site assessment. This includes the refinery area and the final production tank farm. The report makes known the historical sequence of events that have taken place in the site from agricultural use which preceded the refinery to its current derelict state. The report also describes the siteà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s environmental setting including the topography and geology. DATA GAPS AND LIMITATIONS The report from the scoping study of the phase I investigation provides basic information about the site including site history and description, geology and a range of production activities that took place at the site. However, there are uncertainties and incompleteness on knowledge of certain historic activities and operations that took place at the site. The most pronounced limitation in the site scoping study is the lack of knowledge of the precise locations where certain operational activities were carried and knowledge of the extent of pollution impacted on the site by reason of those activities. Report shows that some locations of historic facilities (structures) have been identified while some are yet to be traced. Example is the underground tanks whose locations are yet to be determined. Knowledge of some underground utilities is lacking such as piping and sewer system and consequently their pollution or contaminant linkage is not ascertained. Other notable information includ es: The historic processing and manufacturing areas have been identified but there are missing information in the phase I report regarding the disposal and fate of most of the chemicals used in the manufacturing and processing operations. The areas of concern have been identified but contaminant releases and migration mechanisms are yet to be determined. The site geology such as topographical features is known but knowledge of its hydrology, hydrogeology, drainage routes, direction of ground water flow is not known. Contaminants of concern have been identified but whether release has occurred at the areas of concern is yet to be identified. Information is lacking on the background concentrations of the site as this would be a parameter to consider during remediation processes. Because of the gap and limitations in information from the phase I report, the need arises to propose and develop a phase II site investigation and conceptual model which would be used to fill the missing gaps or information. OBJECTIVES OF PHASE II The purpose of phase II investigation is to pull together enough information to determine if release has occurred at each area of concern identified or not (CDEP, 2010). A release is established to have occurred if concentrations of contaminants of concern detected exceed the limits stated in the reasonable confidence protocol (CDEP, 2010). In this stage, consideration will be given to both environmental setting and potential receptors. The site scoping study shows a possible presence of a wide array of contaminants generated from refinery or petrochemical operations, fertilizer works, railway haulage and asbestos manufacturing related process. The potential receptors of concern for these contaminants are humans, fauna, flora, controlled waters and ecological receptors. From the phase I study, a number of significant pollution linkages have been identified with most of them being probable and possible pollution linkages. A complete pathway exists between contaminant sources and the s ite drainage (CSM). This pathway is complete through discharge of site surface water run-off to the Morecambe Bay which is the ecological receptor. The phase I report recognizes a probable significant pollutant linkage through volatile emission, dust generation, direct contact to infrastructure, fauna and human health. Also, likely to exist is a significant linkage in which ground water or surface water could reach deeper groundwater in the aquifer. For the final production tank farm no significant pollution linkage was identified. Noteworthy that the tanks were sealed off during decommissioning and such suggests no significant linkage. However, a probable pollutant linkage has been demonstrated to exist between shallow groundwater and the site drainage system (CSM). There is probable existence of a pathway from groundwater and contaminated soil through dust generation, volatile emission and direct contact to infrastructure, fauna and human health. Table 1: List of possible contaminants to be found on the site Contaminants Class of chemical Fuel oil Organic Gasoline Organic Butane gas Organic Phenol Organic PAHs Organic Coal tars Organic Naphtha Organic Waste oil Organic Alcohols Organic Esters Organic Ketones Organic Toluene Organic Xylene Organic Hexane Organic Cellulose thinner Organic Chlorinated Solvents Organic Sulphur Inorganic Caustic Soda Inorganic Ammonia Inorganic Mercaptans Inorganic Copper Liquor Inorganic Sulphuric acid Inorganic Nitrates Inorganic Asbestos Inert materials Table 2 CONCEPTUAL SITE MODEL AND PHASE II INVESTIGATION Identified Potential Areas of Concern (Potential Sources) Potential Release Mechanism (Potential Migration Pathway) Expected Release Locations Suitable for Sampling and Analysis for Phase II Investigation. Underground storage tanks Tank leaks, over fills, Piping, valve, and dispenser leaks. I) For probable tank leaks, the underlying soil at the edge of the tank and sidewall can be sampled. II) For over fills, sample collection should be underneath the tank or vent pipes at the low lying or by the sloping area. II) For piping and valves, sampling should be along the pipes, pipe joints, and the vicinity of the valves. Underground water Leaching, from the vadose zone through the fringe capillary in to the underground aquifer. Sampling wells should be bore at the lowest lying area of the site, from the site geology; the central and southern parts are the lowest lying areas, so sampling should be carried out within that area. Permanent or temporary wells could be installed. A temporary well enables the detection of contaminant release while permanent well enables to monitor the ground water flow and the effects of season and tides on the fate of contaminants. Trimpell Tip Leaks, degradation and leaching. Within, beneath, down slope within the vicinity of the tip. Delivery and Loading areas Spills and leaks Cracks on the asphalt or motor way reinforcement. If there are no basement where cracks could be found, then areas with sparse vegetation which are observable within the vicinity of concern. Fire service water dam It could be a reservoir or sink for an array of contaminants which seep into it. It can leach downwards or the degradation products may persist and can also be remobilized into the surrounding environment. Beneath, adjacent to the dam. Legacy structure (building) which are fingerprints of the remaining in the site. Spills, volatile emission and depositions. Cracks on walls and floors, joints between the building roofing, wall and floors. Main refineryà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s drainage system Migration, leaching to underground water. Underground water or soil core. Solrec Limited Release from solvent recovery and refinery plant. Spills and leaks. Soil within the vicinity of plant, water sample from the low lying terrain of the site Gasoline storage tanks on Whittam Hill. Leaks, spills from over fills Adjacent and underlying soil. SAMPLING STRATEGY The limitations and gaps of the phase I study suggest the need for more site interrogation through sampling to ascertain the presence of contaminants at the areas of concern. The sampling approach to be used will be more direct based on the information that has been obtained from phase I on the particular areas of concern. In addition, the data quality objective is very important in designing a sampling protocol needed to achieve site specific objectives. Ground water The identification of a probable pollutant linkage for ground water or surface water seepage into deeper groundwater necessitates a sampling protocol for groundwater. Besides, ground water sampling is an integrated sample which is representative of more spatial zone. This is because of effect of several environmental system including the unsaturated soil, capillary fringe and aquifer constituents on the underground water (USEPA, 1995). Table 3: Proposed sampling locations, number of soil samples and permanent monitoring wells to be installed for underground water sampling. Sampling Locations Number of samples Number of wells Well depth Main Refinery Area 2 1 Final Production Tank Farm. 2 1 Up Gradient of the site (North). 2 1 Mid-point (Low lying Central Area) 2 1 Down gradient (South) 2 1 Solrec Recovery Plant Site 1 1 Slope down side of Timprell Tip. 1 1 Outside Area of Concern (Background sample) 2 1 The collection of samples at each of the designated area of concern should be close enough to be representative of the area. Monitoring wells designed with screened intervals intercepting the saturated zone at the upper portion are suitable for assessing the occurrence of release to the ground water. Consideration of the site geology such as the length at which release is expected to occur, groundwater flow path and transport characteristics of the potential contaminant of concern should be made before sampling (USEPA, 1995). A single ground water sampling event may not be sufficient to establish a release, so multiple sampling or permanent wells are proposed for complementary purpose. With this strategic arrangement of bore holes, it would be possible to obtain ground water which could be interrogated for non-aqueous phase liquid, oily sheen and samples for laboratory analysis to know if there is organic or inorganic contaminants in the water sample. The observation of high or low pH solution would be suggestive to changes in natural status of the aquifer which could facilitate the mobilization of contaminants of concern. Soil Sampling and Analysis A soil sampling program is being proposed having identified a probable significant pollutant linkage through volatile emission, dust generation, direct contact to human health, fauna and infrastructure. The object of this is to establish if there is a complete pathway for the source emission to reach the receptors. This would involve sampling and analysing core soil samples from designated target areas so as to better characterize the site. A technical bias or judgemental sampling would be used since information has been known about the areas of concern. Sampling can also be carried out for cracks on the walls of legacy structures present on site to reveal the presence of contaminants. Table 4: Proposed sampling locations, number of samples and sampling zones or depth. Sampling Locations No of Samples Core depth Main Refinery Area 3 Surficial Final Production Tank Farm. 3 Surficial and Saturated Slope down side of Timprell Tip 2 Saturated zone. Gasoline storage tanks on Whittam Hill. 2 Surficial and Saturated zone Underground storage tanks 2 Saturated zone Outside the area of concern (background sample) 4 Surficial and saturated zones. The surficial sample which be able to detect if a release has occurred or not but a saturated sample would be representative of an integrated sample affected by the environmental quality of enormous zones of unsaturated soil, capillary fringe and aquifer material. The analysis of the samples should be judgmental for cost effectiveness. Because the contaminants of concern have been identified in the preliminary site investigation, there would less need for a broad spectrum of analytical parameters instead; analysis should be streamlined to the identified contaminants of concern which are mostly petroleum based organic contaminants and a few inorganics. Soil core samples can be observed for non-aqueous phase liquid in sample which usually have characteristic black dint. Detection of organic contaminants in the analysed samples above background concentration or within the reasonable confidence protocol would mean the empirical confirmation that a release has occurred. Noteworthy that dr illing fluid that could contaminate the well should not be used as not to have false positives and the environmental professional has to demonstrate that any contamination observed is not artificial but represents the site contamination state. The occurrence would be suggestive of a significant pollution pathway.

Issues In Intercultural Marriage

Issues In Intercultural Marriage An intercultural marriage is a union of two people involving numerous cultures and backgrounds. When two various cultures combine together, there may be significant challenges they have to face. A culture may differ from one to another due socially transmitted behavior patterns, arts, beliefs, institutions, and all other products of human work and thought. Culture is a system of shared beliefs and values and is constantly evolving and changing around the world. The presence of intercultural marriages and intimacy is clear and expanding in societies throughout the Culture may consist of shared language, religion, or ethnicity. America is the one of the greatest multicultural and multiracial societies in the world at the moment. Nevertheless, this may come across as a shock to most people but as lately as 1966, 17 states in United States actually had laws against the interracial marriage and all of the states regulated marriage between whites and other races in the country. Despite of the significant number of intercultural marriages in the U.S today, mere empirical research has been done to determine the nature of these marriages (Ngye Snyder, 2000) Communication style and interpersonal relationships are fundamental aspects of culture and can vary dramatically from one culture to another. It is note worthy to remember that everyone on this earth has culture, not just those clusters that are considered civilized. The majority of culture is unseen, below the surface. For example, when a Russian man marries an Italian it is not only the differences in native language (Russian vs. Italian) and religion (Eastern Orthodox vs. Roman Catholic) but also a host of cultural differences associated with such factors as expression of emotion, conflict expression and management, the role of the f family of origin in raising children (Sullivan Cottone, 2007)The beliefs and values that lie beneath the surface can be the most difficult to change when it is necessary.(Progressive Scholar, 2010) interracial marriages are not always intercultural marriages, as in some countries, for example United States, people of different races can share the sam e cultural background. (Source Wikipedia, Last access 17th August) it is easy to comprehend why it is difficult to let go of a tradition or expectation. It isnt easy to deal with the legacy that weve all grown up with in our ethnic, religious and socio-economic backgrounds. Though it seems to be a very romantic love story in the beginning but the truth is,it can be very challenging and frustrating in real life. And it is simply not about being racist, marriage has a deeper meaning to it, which dwells in understanding it, is possible to have extremely strong and natural negative feelings surrounding an interracial relationship or a marriage even though youre not consider as racist. Legal or not illegal the question is should interracial marriages been encouraged? The union between two different cultures altogether will give space to different experiences and opportunities in life, but mostly difficulties in the marriage life where it is concerned. Adoptions to a different culture altogether maybe not turn out to be an easy task. Individually ethnic and cultural variances put pressure on the marriage itself. With two diverse cultures, a family often has struggle understanding the differences between the families. Most of the time, such differences are not even recognized and unexplained. At this position an even larger problem with intercultural marriages. It is easy to look at why it is difficult to let go of a tradition or expectation.It isnt easy to deal with the legacy that weve all grown up with in our ethnic, religious and socio-economic backgrounds. Numerous cultures will consume of different marriage laws, customs and also parental disagreements which will lead into disputes. There will be lower material satisfaction, higher divorce rates due to logistics. Language barriers, different traditions and societys disapproval these factors will lead into higher failure of the marriage. Hence, a union between two cultures should not be encouraged due to the factors mentioned above. The report will consist of three major factors which are mainly focused on miss- contribution towards an inter-cultural marriage. Initially how the marriage is affected by the cultural shock, diverse of marriage laws which can lead in to disagreements plus adaptation to a various cultures and environment factors. Secondly, the societys points of view, Spouse facing discrimination due to colour and differences, if he/she is beyond the racial divide. Last point will conclude of dissipation of culture. The report contains information based on various countries and issues with diverse cultures marriages. BODY OF CONTENT ADAPTATION TO A DIFFERENT CULTURE The main intention of getting marriage is to emotionally, spiritually and physically unite a men and women together, as husband and wife, it is a commitment made in the presence of God, and is valid until death.Intercultural marriages are often influenced by external factors that can create confrontation, and disagreement in relationships. Different cultures endure vastly diverse moral, ethical and value foundations that influence their perceptions of individual, family and societal lifestyle. When these fundamentals are operating alongside the foundation of different cultural roots, as in intercultural marriages, problems and disagreement often times occur. It takes effort to combine two cultures successfully, and a willing attitude to learn from both partners. The first argument against intercultural marriages is the cultural shock (adaptation to a new culture). When considering an intercultural marriage either one of the partners have to get introduced to a new culture. Ideally both have to get use to each others cultures and laws to survive the marriage and this will create a lot of problems in the process. For an example A non Muslim marrying a Muslim will have to obey to certain laws in Islam; Islam forbids marriage between Muslim women and non-Muslim men. Therefore, any partner will have to convert and obey Islamic rules (sound vision, 2010). In the case of Muslim men marrying Jewish and Christian women, the situation is different. While Islam does allow this, Muslim men marrying Jews and Christians need to remember that living in the West, if they end up divorcing, the children will almost automatically be given to the mother. The converting process from one religion to another and adapting to new laws will create massive problems that will even end the marriage. Additional wrinkle in U.S. Muslim family law practices stems from the structure of authority in Islamic jurisprudence since there has never been an official church certifying individuals to speak on behalf of the religion, the field is open for any dedicated Muslim to seek to act as imam and lead a community (Quarishi Syed- Miller, 2001) therefore, non-Muslims have a very rare chance of wining and surviving in the marriage due to different laws in different cultural laws. Moving on,Intercultural marriages have contrasting differences between traditions and cultures. Although a few studies have looked into this aspect, cultural differences also stimulate marital conflicts particularly in intercultural marriages. In fact, the quantitative study of Takano (2002), pointed out that 19% of the marital discords in interethnic couples involved in his study are attributed to cultural differences. Couples that enter a cross-cultural marriage bring into their relationship vastly diverse assumptions and expectations about marriage and family life. Many of these assumptions flow out of the values, unspoken rules and belief systems that permeate their primary cultures. These unspoken values have become so much a part of their lives that they are almost hidden from view. For an example the way of celebrating Christmas is different in Germany rather than America (J). In fact, many of these cultural differences do not surface until after the couple is married.However, New experiences and new culture altogether may interest a adventurous spouse as its a unique onec ina life time experience and the difficulties greatly depend on how religious and culturally bond the families are. Not all think out of the box, New strange land, parents and language may cause distress in the beginning of the marriage life. One spouse will live in the country of origin and the other will be a stranger in a strange land the pleasantness mayb fall apart after sometime when trying to fit into a different family ,cuture. Marriage and customs differ from one country and to another culture .For example, Indian marriage customs are varying from marriage customs of Chinese traditions. In Japan the Japanese bride to be painted pure white from head to toe, visibly declaring her maiden status to the gods. There are two choices of headgear exist. One which is, the watabÃ…Â shi, is a white hood, the other is called the tsunokakushi, serves to hide the brides horns of jealousy. It also symbolizes the brides intention to become a gentle and obedient wife. During the period of the traditional wedding days, there would be a tilak ceremony (where the groom is anointed on his forehead), a cer emony for adorning the brides hand then cover the feet with henna (called mehendi) accompanied by Ladies Sangeet (music and dance) and many other pre-wedding ceremonies. Hence, marriage traditions, customs and beliefs may clash due to above points mentioned so far. Religion runs deeper since they practice their faith and it is a part of their cultural identity that they want to hang on to. The accurate, customs and special days associated with the religion remain significant to them. The regarding worship of the children will matter some religions deny the validity of all others and insist on conversions or demand that the children should be brought up in that religion. A couple might face difficulty in deciding on this above point and the spouse form the other religion may feel inferior and down. For example Orthodox Judaism teaches that the family must repudiate (sit shivah for) a child who marries a non-Jew: Islam demands obedience to gods law only as revealed by Muhammad, and also requires that a Muslim marry a fellow Muslim. The catholic churches until recent years insisted that a non-Catholic partner sign a prenuptial agreement to raise any catholic children. Particular Christian sects preach that all outsiders are damned to eternal fire and prohibit any marriage to people of different faith. At this specific point the problem may occur with the faith plays a major role in decision making this is if the partner is intensely religious. As they approach on each others separate territory, there is a new language, new customs and a new standard of normal to be learned. While culture a certain behavior might be accepted, here it might cause native offense. This sought of marriage is similar to a foreign alliance, with two separate people coming together and discovering the heritage and history of the other. Bibliography Ballard., (2006), The International YWAMer magazine, 6th of January 2006, issue June 2006. Berry, F (1992). Langston huges, before and beyong harlem. USA: Carol PuB.Co.Group. P56-75 Donovan, S Corbin, J (2007), Intermarriages, 5th October 2007, viewed on 16th of July 2010, http://www.jstor.org Gorilgirl, (2009), Broken Traditions? Intercultural Marriage and Cultural Continuity, 13th of july 2009, Available: http://gorigirl.com/broken-traditions-intercultural-marriage-and-cultural-continuity. Last accessed on 16th of july 2010 Romano, D (2006), Intercultural marriage, prmoses and pitfalls, 8th January 2006, Available: accessed on 26th of July 2010.

The Ethics of Student-Faculty Business Deals :: Argumentative Persuasive Teacher Essays

The Ethics of Student-Faculty Business Deals The Akamai Corporation has meant big money for one Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor and one of his students. Back in 1995, Tom Leighton, a professor of applied mathematics at MIT, started playing around with ways to use complex algorithms to ease congestion on the Web. He enlisted several researchers, including one of his graduate students, Danny Lewin. At the time, they weren't thinking about starting a company. But Mr. Lewin, following the keen instincts of a cash-strapped graduate student, suggested they enter the project in the Sloan School's annual business-plan competition. They won the software category in the preliminary round and then entered the finals, where they finished among the top six. Mr. Leighton and Mr. Lewin were still interested in the technology mainly as an academic exercise, but the possibility that their work could have real-world applications pulled them inevitably into business. They launched Akamai Technologies Inc. in the fall of 1998, and took it public the following October. Opening day saw the stock soar from $26 a share to more than $145, giving the company a day-one market cap of $13.13 billion. This sounds like a great business venture, but there still is a small problem. Mr. Lewin was one of Mr. Leighton's students when they formed the Akamai Company. This brings about the moral question of the case. Should students and professors be allowed to start companies together? Although there is no clear answer, there is widespread agreement among administrators that schools need to address the question. As a result, many M.B.A. programs are in the process of reviewing and, in many cases, implementing policies and guidelines governing student-professor business collaborations. The burden of this moral question falls mostly on professors since student is not an establish profession and thereby has no formal code of ethics. On one side of the issue are those who point to ethical considerations and insist that schools can't tolerate the possibility that students may perceive any conflict of interest on the part of a professor. On the other side are those who've invested substantial time and money in a business-school education specifically to gain access to professors. These people don’t want to consider any restriction on their ability to conduct their business lives as they see fit. Caught in the middle are administrators, who must protect their schools' academic integrity while trying to accommodate students and faculty alike.

courteous :: essays research papers

Being courteous is an act of being respectful and by using good manners towards people. Treating people with courtesy can show many different feelings towards the person being acted upon. In the play Othello by William Shakespeare there are many characters in the play that use and don’t use acts of courtesy. The focus of this issue is the question of, do the men in the play show courtesy towards the women in the play? Othello is the main character, and Iago is a solider in his army. Iago was passed a position of lieutenant to another solider named Cassio. This action made Iago very angry and jealous, so he would seek a sort of revenge throughout the play. In the play Othello Iago, a respected individual, shows very little respect towards women in the play. In lines 103 through 125 in Act 2 scene one Iago is very disrespectful towards the women in the play. In Iago’s speeches, especially in lines 109 through 119, Iago acts in a very heavily manner towards Desdemona, and Emilia in these scenes throughout the play. In the opening acts we learn that Othello is a respected man, and a leader of an army. He lives out a long history of heroic stories and epics that make women woo over him. He marries Desdemona, while carrying a relationship with Emilia, the wife of Iago. Iago finds out about a past relationship with Othello and Emilia and becomes jealous and seeks revenge again. Iago then thin ks of a way to make Othello jealous. Iago shows no remorse towards anyone in these situations and uses not only his wife but also Desdemona to seek revenge on Othello out of jealousy. Throughout act 2 Iago talks to and about women in a very rude DuBois 2 manner. In line 115 Iago states, " â€Å"You rise to play, and go to bed to work.† This statement was primarily directed towards Desdemona and Emilia but, also includes all women at this time period. This means that a woman’s main purpose is to please a man and that’s it. Iago also shows little respect for the leaders of his army, like Cassio his former lieutenant. He uses Cassio to make Othello jealous and then this makes Othello angry at Cassio. Cassio also shows little some disrespect towards women as well. In act 3 tension arises between the crowd and at the end a former prostitute of Cassio approaches him and he deliberately eases her by telling her that he hasn’t seen her in awhile because he is under a lot of stress lately.

Research Paper on Organizational Structure

I would like to start by saying that any corporate organizational structure depends on the product line and the industry in which the company operates. The companies belong to the continuum of either the functional or project organizations. Functional companies are organized around different technological processes. The top management of such organizations is responsible for the resource allocation, with the responsibility for the final output is not being tied to one single person. The use of rules and procedures, instructions, details and organizational traditions among the company’s management and workers is vital for the company’s functioning. The products belong to the high level of specialized knowledge which is created in this organizational structure (Matteson, 53). Light weight matrix organizations are functional and specialized. The product manager is usually added to this structure to coordinate the product creation and to serve as a liaison for the management-workers-customers. This new key person is used for collecting information, conflict resolution, and project objectives achievement. Product managers have less status and influence than functional managers, namely because they do not directly contact workers (Hersey, 88). Heavy weight matrix organizations possess dominant project structure and minor functional departments. The company’s product manager than possesses greater reasonability while the manufacturing, and marketing concepts are present in this organization (Berger, 144). Project organizations are located on the other end of the spectrum and have the following features: teams and projects. The project workers share the same location and concentrate on the same projects. The professional workers, on the other hand are supposed to have broader tasks and associated skills and responsibilities. In the project organizations the functional managers are responsible for the human resource development and technological implementation in the functional groups. The companies can also be classified according to the nature of their business and project undertaken. The projects can be characterized by the number of employees involved to perform numerous tasks, the workload on each employee. One can also classify the organizations in the following 4 categories: I. The company’s product is not complex and comprehensible for a single person, thus one person is likely to have enough knowledge to produce it. The companies that develop these kinds of products (shoes, clothes industry) usually have small development department. If this company has more than one individual department, then it usually structured as a functional organization as noted earlier in the essay – research paper (Matteson, 57). II. The company’s product is of low complexity, yet the total work is high. Such products, therefore, can be developed most efficiently within one functional department. A research department is usually the very department where this type of product is created. AS the company starts to have more departments, it would usually use the light weight matrix organizational structure to enjoy efficiency. The employees involved in this product creation are expected to work full time, and many tasks are expected to be performed simultaneously which contribute to the overall sequence design to be called Design Structure matrix (Hersey, 92). III. The company’s product is of high complexity of intangible, tangible, or mechanical nature. This kind of product is still in the engineering phase, making it rather clear what needs to be done to get the product into mass production and distribution. One should use numerous skills and disciplines to create this product, and these tasks do not have high workload. It is almost impossible to cause the employees to work fulltime on the very one product, thus creating the ‘job shop’ logistics situation (Schermerhorn 120). One should not forget that manufacturing and product development is not accepted by all product managers, it still usually yield decent result. The Product development process is constantly learnt and improved to remove bottlenecks and reduce the product variation. One should focus on the process rather than on the list of tasks and duties. This type of organizational structure has to follow the following three laws (Berger, 147): a. Taking smaller steps at one time usually boosts quality and effectiveness. b. Elimination of bottlenecks drastically improves productivity and efficiency. c. Elimination of variation will remove delays and distractions and thus will free some of the corporate resources. It is of importance to note that cross functional simultaneously run engineering squads is the common practice for the product development in such organizations. It would be a mistake to assign the same person to 5-6 different projects because it would result in congestion. One should not forget that by working at 100% of the product development capacity will increase the product development lead. Thus, one should deploy about 80% of the product development capacity and focus on the bottlenecks. IV. The company’s product is very complex while the total work is high. These kinds of organizations require their workers to work full time and the project organizational structure would be ideal for this very situation (Matteson, 59). Speaking about the company’s strategies that are vital for the corporate survival in the long run, one should remember that they would also depend on the corporate structure and thus would be broken down into three main categories of strategies that promote corporate values, corporate culture, corporate goals, and corporate missions (Hersey, 94): Corporate level strategy encompasses all strategies and sets the company’s mission and general guidelines. Functional strategies comprise Marketing strategies, financing strategies, and the strategies of each department participating in the given product development depending on the organizational structure. The focus in on mid and short term. One should remember that many companies would find it useful to use strategic business units rather than functional structure of organization to derive competitive advantage and thus govern the semi-autonomous units of organization that have their own budgeting, product development, hiring etc. Operational strategy is located on the lowest level of each organization simply because it is very narrow in focus and has daily scheduling criteria. This strategy obeys the higher level strategies present within the organization and adhere to the Management by Objectives principles (Berger, 150). Management by objectives (MBO), one should note, is the systematic scientific approach that allows the existing companies to focus on the attainable goals to reduce the costs and with the improved efficiency survive the competition. The MBO focuses on results, rather than on the process. The MBO would delegate tasks by dictating the proper final result without the detailed roadmap of how to achieve that. MBO strives to assure that everyone in the company has clear goals and objectives that coincide with the company’s goals and then by empowering others will have the goals achieved. One should still remember that MBO can fit only the knowledge-based companies.

Importance of Ego

The Importance of Ego In the novella Anthem by Any Rand, the last two chapters play an important part in bringing together the text as a whole. The narrator transitions from third to first person narration after his escape from the dismal â€Å"utopian† society. Prometheus, the aforementioned narrator, recounts the history of man and his struggle to overcome oppression by greater forces and authoritarian figures. The author chooses to repeat symbols and words of individuality and the benefits of singular work.Any Rand uses her novella Anthem to promote the importance of individuality in all aspects of life. In her early life, the author, Any Rand, was exposed to brutal oppression and collectivist thinking. Any Rand, born â€Å"in SST. Petersburg, Russia in 1905† soon before the communist revolution occurred in 1917. Growing up she detested the institution she lived under, so she immigrated to America in 1926. Any Rand was educated in the USSR which gave her an upper han d that other American novelists didn't have. She had first-hand experience with communism which drove her to oppose It entirely.According to Rand, â€Å"no outside power has the right to demand† anything from an Individual or the work they can produce. In her lifetime, Rand wrote Atlas Shrugged, We the Living, the Fountainhead, and Anthem. Among other less popular works by the end of her writing career. These fictional books advocate Individualism and bravery in a despotic society. Any Rand died in New York City, NY in 1982, leaving behind her a legacy which fueled more complex and innovative thinking in future generations of readers and philosophers.The style of Any Rand's writing impacted the world of literature from the beginning. She â€Å"[defied] cultural and political trends† and â€Å"established a unique place† among fellow authors. According to Danna, â€Å"[Any Rand's] mind was utterly first handed† which proved to be very successful. Although at first she was misunderstood and deemed â€Å"immature† in a psychological sense, Any Rand became a reputable author through explanation of her philosophy: Objectivism. According to Stephen Cox, â€Å"Rand could not find a philosophy that reflected her beliefs† so she created a new philosophy entirely.The success of Objectivism was long lived by Any Rand thanks to her persistence and unconditional belief in the individual mind. Her â€Å"[works are] a protest to individual submission† and they â€Å"reject distinction† just as the Objectivism theory does. This is why in her works she focuses â€Å"inside the head† of the narrator rather than the importance of a solid plot. The psychological aspect of her philosophy is seen especially in Anthem where the mind of one man has been destroyed by the foundation which raised him.In Anthem there is no sense of religion, either, which was Any Rand's purpose In all of her novels. According personally to An y Rand, â€Å"religion Is nothing but a brutal attempt to subjugate the Individual mind† and individual goals each man should achieve. Objectivism Is solely a belief In one's own self. There Is no delve power or authoritarian force that can sway a person's decisions or thoughts to work for or against others. Individual power Is higher than corruption and collectivist ideology. Electives ideologists. In Anthem there is no distinct malevolent force, but citizens who have different hardwiring in their minds than Prometheus does. There is no villain, only â€Å"good against good-different† since villains are deemed irrelevant. For objectivism, it is more important to focus on the protagonist and their inner struggles ether than the community and how an antagonist may impair them. One of the most important aspects of Anthem is its connection to the younger audience.Prometheus is a young adult trying to find his place in a society where he does not fit. According to Karen Go uld ‘any young adult would benefit from Promethium's struggle with identity because it is so easily relatable to them. Anthem, being one of â€Å"Rand's simplest novels†, explains objectivism using â€Å"inner psychological states† which is a both practical and pleasing style of writing for any reader interested in studying Objectivism works. Effortlessly, Anthem brings together both a pleasing plot packed with Objectivism morals and ideas.The novel brings â€Å"the kind of intensity' a reader would think â€Å"could [change] the course of history': exactly what Any Rand imagined her work to do. The protagonists â€Å"never give up† their beliefs and â€Å"assert their†¦ Stubborn views† on their world. These morals are synonymous with the ideas of objectivism: to never give up an individual thought, or decision because of outside forces. Anthem promotes â€Å"outstanding moral character† and individuality simply and with intensity, not to bore young readers, but to draw them towards eating more complex objectivism works, such as the Fountainhead.Unlike many novels of the time, Any Rand chose to create an inner struggle for Prometheus to battle throughout the novel. The beginning shows his unwillingness to think other than â€Å"the individual cannot exist apart from the collective† society, regardless of his sinful thoughts. With each chapter a new part of individualism is revealed to Prometheus, but it is up to him to fit the pieces together. The â€Å"evil† that he is doing â€Å"does not bring him a†¦ Punishment† rather a â€Å"psychological reward† for thinking as a singular person.Closing out the book, Prometheus fully understands that â€Å"ego is†¦ A cause of splendor† for man. The last two chapters of the novel represent the anthem of people Just like Prometheus and Gaga. Each paragraph can be read as a hymn or chant of people who believe in the individual mind , the people of Objectivism. Prometheus reflects on the history of man being â€Å"enslaved by the gods† and â€Å"enslaved by other men† and how detrimental this was to the ego of man. In his lifetime, the authority oppressed his society, and completely erased any evidence of first person.The summary of the wow-chapter anthem is that the only freedom left for men is taken away only by other men' and each person has the ability to create the life they want, no superior being can control the fate of a person. Unlike the aforementioned critics, it can be speculated that Any Rand used religious symbols and illusions to make fun of religion as a whole. Ego is â€Å"[the] god that will grant [men] JOY' and Prometheus and Gaga are very similar to the biblical Adam and Eve. The use of gods and religious symbols in this book further supports Objectivism ideas. To worship the ‘Ego god' is to worship oneself.There is no god to worship but the power inside oneself. Many cr itics believe that because Any Rand was atheist, that the religious symbols in her books happened by mistake, or were In reality and in fiction, Any Rand was a strong believer in the individualist mind and the power of one. Compiling her complex background, the breakthrough philosophy of objectivism, and lack of religious beliefs, each of Rand's novels proclaim the values and ideas of objectivism starting with the most basic Anthem. Even after her death, Any Rand still makes a very large impact on modern society and advanced philosophy today.

Skywest Inc

Case 6 : Sky West Inc. and the Regional Airline Industry 1. 3 Business Model 1. Network Carriers legacy carriers Hub-and-Spoke 2007 United, Northwest, American, Continental Delta 2005 5 82 % 10 0 25. 3 2. Low Cost Carriers low cost business model point-to-point Southwest JetBlue legacy Low Cost Low Cost United Airlines Low Cost United Ted Airlines Delta Low Cost Delta’s Song Airlines 3. Regional Carriers Jets Legacy Network (Hub-and-Spoke) short-haul flight Regional Airlines block-hour incentive Regional 95 % Regional Regional Hub-and-Spoke Legacy Regional Airlines Partner SkyWest Inc History Origins in the Early 1970s SkyWest Dixie Airline St. George Utah 1972 J. Ralph Atkin 4 Dixies Commuter Airline Atkin Fixed Base Operation (FOB) Air Charters Air Ambulance Service Mar 1972 Atkin SkyWest Airlines 1974 Jerry C. Atkin Ralph Atkin's nephew $25,000 Oct 1975 Reorganized 3 SkyWest Expansion in the Late 1970s 1976 Hughes Air West Cedar City-Salt Lake City SkyWest Navajo Chieftans 5 National Parks Transportation Company Avis Franchises 2 Cedar City St. George. 1977 Interline American Airlines ? Check-in Interline SkyWest 1978 1. SkyWest Commuter Airline ( Regional Airline) 3 Certified Air Carrier Federal Government Regulations Major Airlines 2. Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) SkyWest 3 $160,000 Page Arizona Yuma, Kingman, Prescott, Grand Canyon, Tucson, Winslow Phoenix, Arizona, Blythe, Los Angeles, and El Centro, California. 3. SkyWest Fairchild Metroliner II $1. 4 ( $150,000) Growth from Deregulation, Acquisition, and Affiliations in the 1980s 1978 Major Airlines United, Western American Airlines Regional Airlines SkyWest 1983 Metros 7 Navajo Chieftans 5 Cessna 207s Charters SkyWest Reagan Reagan Professional Air Traffic Controllers Association 24 Sep 1981 SkyWest Arizona Metro SkyWest 1982 SkyWest 10 Republic's Escort 1980s SkyWest Mail, Small Packages, and Bank Documents 10 % 1983 SkyWest 2 Regional Airlines St. George 17 6 250 Customer Service Aug 1984 SkyWest Las Vegas Palm Springs, California Southern California Palm Springs Sun Aire 1968 Borrego Springs, California San Diego 90 1983 Sun Aire 330,000 1985 Sun Aire SkyWest Metros SkyWest 12 14 Sun Aire 28 Sun Aire Facilities American Airlines Los Angeles SkyWest/Sun Aire Major Market SkyWest Regional Carrier 11 Holding Company SkyWest, Inc. , 3 1. SkyWest Airlines Inc. SkyWest Aviation Inc. ) 1998 Regional Airline 5 12 Business Travelers SkyWest Commuter Airline Ski Resorts California SkyWest Airlines Delta Continental Airlines 2. Scenic Airlines Air Tours, General Aviation Scheduled Flights Grand Canyon Arizona, Utah, Nevada 3 . National Parks Transportation franchise Avis 1985 SkyWest Code-Sharing Western Airline Salt Lake 70% 1987 Delta Airlines Western Airlines SkyWest Delta Code : DL SkyWest SkyWest/Sun Aire Western Express Delta Connection. Logo Code-Sharing Major Regional Airlines 1980 United Airlines Regional United Express American Airlines American Eagle Network 1980 SkyWest Brasilia EMB-120 Turboprop Regional Airlines SkyWest California 1986 Sun Aire acquisition SkyWest NASDAQ 1987 SkyWest Air Transport World's Commuter/Regional Airline 500 Regional Airlines 988 SkyWest $2. 3 California 28 Events in the 1990s Jun 1993 Aviation Services West, Inc. Flight Tour Scenic Airlines, Inc. , Las Vegas Grand Canyon Aviation Services West Scenic Airlines, Inc. 1994 SkyWest Delta Salt Lake City 5 Casper, Wyoming; Butte, Montana; Burbank, California; Rapid City and Sioux Falls, South Dakota SkyWest Canadair Regional Jets (CRJs) Bombardier, Inc. Brasilias 50 540 1,200 miles 41,000 Oct 1995 SkyWest Continental Airlines Code-Sharing SkyWest Continental Connection Los Angeles SkyWest 3% Continental Flights 1996 48% Delta 1996 SkyWest 2. 5 16 SkyWest Brasilias 50 Canadair Regional Jets 10 Metroliner 1 Oct 1997 SkyWest United Airlines United Express SkyWest Connecting Flight Los Angeles 1997 SkyWest 25 SkyWest 585 45 12 Salt Lake City Vancouver Canadair Regional Jets 19 Jan 1998 SkyWest United United Express San Francisco Hub United June 1, 1998 1998 SkyWest Connecting flight 3 Major Airlines Delta, United Continental 1 July 2002 SkyWest Tucson Arizona. 8 Dec 2002 United Airlines Partner SkyWest Chapter 11 2003 SkyWest Bombardier CRJ700 70 30 United Express 9 May 2003 SkyWest code-share Continental Airlines SkyWest regional Continental Houston, The US Department of Transportation SkyWest 2003 SkyWest DOT SkyWest 1 5 regional carriers DOT 2004 †¢ hub Chicago, IL (ORD) †¢ Colorado Springs, CO (COS) CRJ †¢ Delta Dallas/ Fort Worth Hub (DFW) SkyWest †¢ SkyWest ,000 †¢ DOT SkyWest 2004. [pic]2005 †¢ SkyWest, Inc. Atlantic Southeast Airlines Delta Air Lines. †¢ Chicago O’Hare. †¢ Sky West Inc. Partner United Delta 2006 Legacy 2 2006 †¢ SkyWest CRJ900 †¢ Dec 2006 SkyWest Inc. SkyWes t Midwest Partner [pic]2007 †¢ SkyWest Airlines Midwest Connect / Delta Connection / United Express Legacy 2 (Delta Connection / United Express) Outsource 20 SkyWest Inc. Denver, Chicago, Los Angeles San Francisco United express SkyWest Inc. Outsourcing Delta †¢ SkyWest Delta Connection Department of Transportation Cedar Utah 8 Jan 2008. Source: Annual Report 2007 SkyWest Inc. Skywest Inc. 2. : Bridging the Region Gap from West to East SkyWest Inc. Regional Airline Western Eastern SkyWest Airlines ASA artner Legacy Airlines : safety / on time arrival / service and quality / fairness and consistency / working together as a team / personal and corporate integrity and maintaining profitability & Efficient Use of All Resources. SkyWest Inc. : Partner Legacy Airline / : Developed industry-leading reputations for providing quality, low-cost regional airline service. 3. (Functional Level Strategy) [pic] Inbound Logistics: Service , , , Ground Handling Equipment, Operations: Outbound Logistics: Marketing and Sales: †¢ Distribution Legacy Airline Partner †¢ Product Design Service : (Functional Level Strategy) (Competitive Advantage) 3. 1 Superior Efficiency : Superior Efficiency SkyWest Inc. Product Design: †¢ 0. 03 USD 0. 095 USD. †¢ Partner Legacy Airline †¢ (routine maintenance) Human Resource: †¢ †¢ – 90 - Retirement Plans SkyWest Inc. – Teamwork Information System Function: †¢ Interline American Airlines Check-in †¢ Republic's Escort Marketing: Product: (Cost per Available seat mile) Place: – Code Sharing Market Share – Partner Legacy SkyWest Inc. 2006 SkyWest Inc. 3,114 2005 1,964 ( Exhibit 6) 3. 2 Superior Quality Superior Quality SkyWest Inc. Reliability: The Aviation Safety Action Program Program Stetson Quality Suite SkyWest Inc. SkyWest Airline Regional Airline 15 2004 2005 SkyWest 84. 5% SkyWest 1% 50% 2006 SkyWest Airlines 1. 2 % 1. 7 % Reliability SkyWest Airlines . 3 Superior Innovation: Process Innovation – SkyWest Airline ASA 2 – Partner Legacy Airline 3. 4 Superior Customer Responsiveness SkyWest Airlines DOT 2 2003-2004 Functional Strategy SkyWest Inc. Superior Customer Responsiveness †¢ Superior Efficiency : Product Design Upgrade 0. 103 USD 0. 095 USD. †¢ Superior Quality : Customer Service 4. (Business Level Strategy) (Functional Level Strategy) . What needs will be satisfied? SkyWest Inc. Regional Airline Legacy Airlines partnership 2. Who will be served? Connecting flight Legacy Airlines (Broad Target) 3. How will those needs be satisfied? On-time service with quality. Business Strategy SkyWest Inc. Cost Leadership Competitive Positioning Efficiency Quality – – Business Leisure (Broad Target) Legacy Airlines partner – Western Eastern – Customer Services) Business Strategy Functional Strategy Superior Efficiency Superior Quality Superior Customer Responsiveness 5. (Corporate Level Strategy) SkyWest Inc. 1. Concentration Growth: †¢ Horizontal Growth ASA Partner Legacy Airline Partner Legacy Airline Partner (Contract Agreement Term) †¢ Intensive Growth Improve Competitive Position Regional Airline 2. Retrenchment Sell-out National Parks Transportation Scenic Airlines Atlantic Southeast Airlines (ASA) [pic] (Concentration Strategies) 1. Market Penetration SkyWest Inc. Upgrade ( CRJ 50 ) Legacy Airline (Contract Agreement Term) Legacy Airlines 2. Market Development ASA ( ) Eastern Partner Legacy Airline 6. 6. 1 (Organizational Structure) SkyWest Inc. Geographic Structure (Destinations) SkyWest Airline Atlantic Southeast Airline (ASA) Functional Structure Decision Making SkyWest Inc. Centralized ( www. SkyWest. com/about/exec. php , www. flyasa. com , www. SkyWest,Inc. htm ) 6. 2 (Organizational Culture) SkyWest Inc. Efficiency and Quality Efficiency : Part Time 3 Ticket Agents / Baggage Handlers SkyWest Airlines $40,000 $202,000 ASA Airlines Quality: †¢ SkyWest Airline Maintenance Department AMT Award 3 2004 – 2006 †¢ The US Department of Transportation SkyWest 2003 2004 6. 3 (Organizational Leadership) â€Å"Chairman, President and CEO Jerry Atkin accept the Airline Business magazine award for Regional Airlines Leadership† Efficiency and Quality 7. (Strategic Control) 7. 1 Efficiency: †¢ SkyWest Inc. ASA Delta SkyWest Inc. SkyWest SkyWest 70 90 50 †¢ 2007 SkyWest Inc. SkyWest ASA ? †¢ ASA Regional SkyWest ASA Cost per available seat [pic] 7. 2 Quality: †¢ SkyWest Inc. The US Department of Transportation SkyWest 2003 2004 †¢ SkyWest Inc. the Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration Stetson Quality Suite software SkyWest Inc. ? Partner Legacy Airline 7. 3 Innovation : †¢ Midwest, Bradford R. Rich , CEO Treasurer SkyWest Inc. SkyWest Midwest †¢ ASA Teamwork ? 7. 4 Customer Responsiveness : The US Department of Transportation SkyWest 003 2004 Legacy Airlines 8. (Strategic Evaluation) 8. 1 Established standards and targets : Regional Airline Partner Legacy Airline FAA / DOT TSA Regional Airline Legacy Airline Partner Legacy Airline 8. 2 Create measuring and monitoring system : Yield/RPM, Revenue/ASM, Cost/ASM Miss baggage handling rate 8. 3 Compare actual performance against the established targets : ? 8. 4 Evaluate result and take action if necessary : (Statements of Income / Balance Sheets / Air Travel Consumer Report) easuring and monitoring system 9. SkyWest Inc. (Functional Level Strategy) : Superior Efficiency Superior Quality Superior Customer Responsiveness †¢ Superior Efficiency : Product Design 0. 103 USD 0. 095 USD. Superior Quality : (Customer Service) (Business Level Strategy) : Cost Leadership Competitive Positioning Efficiency Quality – – Business Leisure (Broad Target) Major Airline Partner – (Customer Services) – Western Eastern (Corporate Level Strategy) : 1. Market Penetration SkyWest Inc. ( CRJ 50 ) Legacy Airline (Contract Agreement Term) 2. Market Development ASA ( ) Eastern Partner Legacy Airline Bridging the Region Gap from West to East Regional Airline Western Eastern Operations Developed industry-leading reputations for providing quality, low-cost regional airline service. 10. (Effectiveness of Strategies) Profitability (ROIC) Profit Growth 5 5 5 MESA AIR, ALASKA AIR, EXPRESSJET, PINNACLE AIRLINES REPUBLIC AIRWAYS 6 002-2006 : |Airlines |2002 |2003 |2004 |2005 |2006 | |SKYWEST |86. 87 |66. 79 |81. 95 |112. 27 |145. 81 | |MESA AIR |-11. 27 |25. 31 |26. 28 |56. 87 |33. 97 | |ALASKA AIR |-118. 60 |13. 50 |-15. 30 |-5. 90 |-52. 60 | |EXPRESSJET |84. 28 |108. 18 |122. 77 |97. 99 |92. 7 | |PINNACLE AIRLINES |30. 79 |35. 07 |40. 73 |25. 70 |77. 80 | |REPUBLIC AIRWAYS |7. 69 |36. 14 |38. 85 |60. 65 |79. 51 | |Total |79. 75 |284. 98 |295. 28 |347. 58 |377. 05 | (Source : Annual Report year 2002-2006 ) Plot 2002-2006 [pic] SkyWest Inc. SkyWest Inc. 2005 SkyWest Inc. SkyWest Inc. ASA Delta 2005 ASM (Available Seat mile) SkyWest Inc. (Passenger Revenue) Ground Handling Service Major Airline Partner ASA 2005 SkyWest Inc. 2002 – 2006 :    |   |   |   |   |   | |   |2002 |2003 |2004 |2005 |2006 | |OPERATING REVENUES: | | | | | | |Passenger | 769,427 | 882,062 | 1,139,580 | 1,938,450 | 3,087,215 | |Ground handling and other | 5,020 | 5,964 | 16,464 | 25,598 | 27,441 | |Total operating revenues | 774,447 | 888,026 | 1,156,044 | 1,964,048 | 3,114,656 | |   | | | | | | |OPERATING EXPENSES: | | | | | | |Total operating expenses | 654,892 | 779,546 | 1,011,268 | 1,743,640 | 2,775,496 | |   | | | | | |Interest expense |3,611 |9,891 |18,239 |53,330 |118,002 | |   |   |   |   |   |   | |   |   |   |   |   | |   |2003 |2004 |2005 |2006 | |OPERATING REVENUES: | | | | | |Passenger |14. 64% |29. 19% |70. 10% |59. 26% | |Ground handling and other |18. 80% |176. 06% |55. 8% |7. 20% | |Total operating revenues |14. 67% |30. 18% |69. 89% |58. 58% | |   | | | | | |OPERATING EXPENSES: | | | | | |Total operating expenses |19. 03% |29. 73% |72. 42% |59. 18% | |   | | | | | |Interest expense |173. 91% |84. 40% |192. 0% |121. 27% | |   |   |   |   |   | 2002 -2003 2004 2002 – 2006 |Airlines |2002 |2003 |2004 |2005 |2006 | |SKYWEST |71. 96% |-23. 11% |22. 71% |36. 99% |29. 87% | |MESA AIR |76. 56% |324. 57% |3. 86% |116. 37% |-40. 27% | |ALASKA AIR |-173. 27% |111. 38% |-213. 33% |61. 44% |-791. 53% | |EXPRESSJET |75. 31% |28. 36% |13. 49% |-20. 18% |-5. 4% | |PINNACLE AIRLINES |116. 10% |13. 91% |16. 13% |-36. 90% |202. 74% | |REPUBLIC AIRWAYS |26. 73% |370. 00% |7. 51% |56. 12% |31. 09% | |Total |190. 78% |257. 33% |3. 62% |17. 71% |8. 48% | Plot 2002-2006 [pic] SkyWest Inc. 2002-2006 2003 CRJ200s EMB120s ROIC |ROIC |= |Net Profit (After Tax) | |   |   |Invested Capital | ? Invested Capital = Total Equity + Total Long-term Debt ( http://finapps. forbes. com/finapps/jsp/finance/compinfo/) (Annual Report) Sky West 2001-2006 ROIC : | |2002 |2003 |2004 |2005 |2006 | | | | | | | | |Net Profit (After Tax) | 86,866 | 66,787 | 81,952 | 112,267 | 145,806 | | | | | | | | |Total Asset | 999,384 | 1,529,210 | 1,662,287 | ,320,646 | 3,731,419 | | | | | | | | |Total Equity | 638,686 | 709,063 | 779,055 | 913,198 | 1,178,293 | |Long-Term Debt | 125,379 | 462,773 | 463,233 | 1,422,758 | 1,675,626 | | | | | | | | |Total Invested Capital | 764,065 | 1,171,836 | 1,242,288 | 2,335,956 | 2,853,919 | | | | | | | | |ROIC |11. 37% |5. 70% |6. 60% |4. 81% |5. 11% | (Source: Annual Report from www. SkyWest. com) ROIC SkyWest Inc. ROIC 5 MESA AIR, ALASKA AIR, EXPRESSJET, PINNACLE AIRLINES REPUBLIC AIRWAYS 6 2002 – 2006 ROIC Airlines |2002 |2003 |2004 | 2005 |2006 | |SKYWEST |11. 37% |5. 70% |6. 60% |4. 81% |5. 11% | |MESA AIR |-5. 67% |8. 14% |3. 87% |6. 99% |4. 44% | |ALASKA AIR |-7. 84% |0. 85% |-0. 92% |-0. 33% |-2. 74% | |EXPRESSJET |31. 53% |39. 46% |42. 49% |27. 21% |20. 37% | |PINNACLE AIRLINES |37. 52% |48. 96% |34. 67% |18. 41% |35. 68% | |REPUBLIC AIRWAYS |- |7. 18% |3. 97% |3. 44% |3. 99% | Plot [pic] SkyWest Inc. ROIC 2003, 2005 2006 2003 CRJ200s EMB120s 005 ASA Delta ROIC 2005 ROIC 11. (Problems) SkyWest Airline : (Miss baggage handling) Atlantic Southeast Airline : – Cancel flight – – (Miss baggage handling) – (On-time) ASA 12. (Issues) 1. Partner Low Cost Airlines (South West Airline and Jet Blue) 2. Partner 13. (External Environment Analysis) (External Strategic Factors) (Opportunity) (Threat) (Attractive or Unattractive Industry) 13. 1 General Environment [pic] a) Economic segment 4 US Inflation rates | |[pic] |Current Inflation Rate | |Year | |Jan | |Feb | |Mar | |Apr | |May | |Jun | |Jul |Aug | |Sep | |Oct | |Nov | |Dec | |Ave | | | |2009 | |NA | |NA | |NA | |NA | |NA | |NA | |NA | |NA | |NA | |NA | |NA | |NA | |NA | | | |2008 | |4. 28% | |4. 03% | |3. 98% | |3. 94% | |4. 8% | |5. 02% | |5. 60% | |5. 37% | |4. 94% | |3. 66% | |1. 07% | |0. 09% | |3. 5% | | | |2007 | |2. 08% | |2. 42% | |2. 78% | |2. 57% | |2. 69% | |2. 69% | |2. 36% | |1. 7% | |2. 76% | |3. 54% | |4. 31% | |4. 08% | |2. 85% | | | |2006 | |3. 99% | |3. 0% | |3. 36% | |3. 55% | |4. 17% | |4. 32% | |4. 15% | |3. 82% | |2. 06% | |1. 1% | |1. 97% | |2. 54% | |3. 24% | | | |2005 | |2. 97% | |3. 01% | |3. 15% | |3. 51% | |2. 0% | |2. 53% | |3. 17% | |3. 64% | |4. 69% | |4. 35% | |3. 46% | |3. 42% | |3. 9% | | | |2004 | |1. 93% | |1. 69% | |1. 74% | |2. 29% | |3. 05% | |3. 27% | |2. 99% | |2. 65% | |2. 54% | |3. 9% | |3. 52% | |3. 26% | |2. 68% | | | |2003 | |2. 60% | |2. 98% | |3. 02% | |2. 22% | |2. 6% | |2. 11% | |2. 11% | |2. 16% | |2. 32% | |2. 04% | |1. 77% | |1. 88% | |2. 7% | | | |2002 | |1. 14% | |1. 14% | |1. 48% | |1. 64% | |1. 18% | |1. 07% | |1. 46% | |1. 0% | |1. 51% | |2. 03% | |2. 20% | |2. 38% | |1. 59% | | | |2001 | |3. 3% | |3. 53% | |2. 92% | |3. 27% | |3. 62% | |3. 25% | |2. 72% | |2. 72% | |2. 65% | |2. 13% | |1. 0% | |1. 55% | |2. 83% | | | |2000 | |2. 74% | |3. 22% | |3. 76% | |3. 7% | |3. 19% | |3. 73% | |3. 66% | |3. 41% | |3. 45% | |3. 45% | |3. 45% | |3. 39% | |3. 8% | | | |1999 | |Fiscal Year |Domestic |International |Total |% change | |2006 |660. 9 |89. 7 |750. 6 |0. 46 | |2007 |693. 3 |75. 8 |769. 1 |2. 46 | |2008 |713. 8 |79. 8 |793. 6 |3. 19 | |2009 |735. 7 |84 |819. 7 |3. 29 | |2010 |758. 9 |88. 3 |847. 2 |3. 35 | |2011 |782. 6 |92. 9 |875. 5 |3. 4 | |2012 |807. 7 |97. 6 |905. 2 |3. 39 | |2013 |833. 4 |102. 3 |935. 7 |3. 37 | |2014 |860. 5 |107. 2 |967. 7 |3. 42 | |2015 |888. 4 |112. 3 |1,007. 1 |4. 07 | |2016 |917. 7 |117. 6 |1035. 3 |2. 80 | |2017 |848. 4 |123. 1 |1071. 6 |3. 51 | Source: Forms 41 and 298-C, US Department of Transportation Forecast % Passenger change [pic] Source: RAA Industry Life Cycle †¢ Forecast % Demand Passenger change Airline Industry 2006 Life cycle Airline Industry Airline Industry Regional Airlines Regional Airlines 1970-2006 Life cycle Regional Airlines ? Industry Life Cycle Growth ) Strategic Groups [pic] Y Performance Performance Partner Airline Legacy X c) Strategic Types : Strategic Type Regional Airline Defender Regional Airline Performance Partner Legacy Airline Regional Airline †¢ Legacy Airline †¢ FAA TSA DOT Upgrade †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ d) Key Success Factors : †¢ On Time Schedule Sector †¢ Regional Airlines ? Hub Time Elasticity †¢ Destinations Regional Airline †¢ Cost Regional Airline Partner