9th Amendment

History of the 9th Amendment The 9th Amendment reads â€Å"The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. † In other words, people retain more rights than the ones listed in the Constitution. The 9th amendment is one the least referred to Amendments in decisions of the Supreme Court. People also say it is one of the most confusing, controversial and misunderstood Amendments to the Constitution.The 9th Amendment has an interesting background. When the Constitution was written by the Constitutional Convention and submitted to the States for ratification, many began to argue that the Constitution did not protect the basic natural rights of the citizens. The Anti-Federalist Party (Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, and George Mason) claimed that unless certain rights were written down in a Bill of Rights, the government would take over these rights and abuse people.Meanwhile, people in the Federalist Party, including George Washington, John Adams, James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, believed that the Constitution didn’t give the government the authority to do anything that wasn’t stated in it. Therefore, they concluded that the Bill of Rights was not only unnecessary, but even potentially dangerous.They believed that if specific rights were listed to be protected from government involvement, people would get the idea that the government controlled the rights that were excluded. After hearing both sides of the argument, James Madison took a stand and tried coming up with a resolution to the problem even though he agreed more with the Federalists. On June 8, 1789, he brought up to Congress a list of his own suggested amendments to Congress.Among one of the Amendments, was a solution that was later called the 9th Amendment. His solution was worded like this: â€Å"The exceptions here or elsewhere in the constitution, made in favor of particular rights, shall not b e so construed as to diminish the just importance of other rights retained by the people; or as to enlarge the powers delegated by the constitution; but either as actual limitations of such powers, or as inserted merely for greater caution.The Congress accepted James Madison’s solution, but not without some final touches before it was added to the Constitution. Congress simplified the wording so that it could be understood better by the people. In the end, the Anti-Federalists won the argument and the Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution. Works Cited â€Å"9th Amendment to the US Constitution. † 9th Amendment. Web. 16 Feb. 2012. . 2. Farber, Daniel A. â€Å"The ‘Silent' Ninth Amendment Gives Americans Rights They Don't Know They Have. † Home. Web. 18 Feb. 2012. .

Users of Accounting Information

Name: – Nilashish Ghosh Dastidar (Roll No. – 8) Class: – PGDRM (2012-14) ASSIGNMENT: – BRIEFLY STATE THE USERS OF ACCOUNTING INFORMATION. Accounting Information provides quantitative and qualitative information about the various transactions and events of an accounting entity. The Accounting Information system of the accounting entity captures quantitative data and processes the pecuniary transactions related to the functioning of the same.Contemporary systems like ERP also encompasses in its scope the traditional quantitative Accounting Information besides some qualitative or non-financial information like customer satisfaction quotients, employee satisfaction quotients and product or service quality. Accounting Information is utilized for â€Å"predicting†, â€Å"comparing† and â€Å"evaluating† the earning power and financial health of the said entity by a set of users. Today, all types of organizations, from manufacturing behemoths like Tata Steel, Reliance Industries Limited etc. o Small & Medium Enterprises have need for Accounting Information. Every sector of the economy, from Manufacturing to Service to Retail and even Non-Profit organizations like NGOs, require such Accounting Information. The users of Accounting Information for any accounting entity are broadly classified into Internal and External categories. A) Internal Users – This category of users are associated with the management of the concern for which the Accounting Information is sought to be collected and provided.They include the individual and collective decision making bodies in the concern such as the Owners on one hand and the team, departmental, regional and top Managers of the entity. All Officers, Managers and the Directors/Partners come in this group of users. Occasionally, the internal Auditors would have to refer to past financial information statements of the entity and thereby become an internal user of Accounting Informa tion. The internal users generally rely on any Source Document/s (documentary evidence of transactions like Bills, Cash-Memo etc. ), P/L Account, Income & Expenditure Account, Balance Sheet, Cash Fund Flow Statements, Balance Sheets, Explanatory Notes & Schedules Of Workings Annexed To The Financial Statements & also Planning & Budgetary information. (1) Owners – They need Accounting Information mainly to determine the prospect of the investments already made, the solvency of the operation, the efficiency and profitability of the business and the optimum capital/resource utilizations. (2) Managers – This group of users generally and uniformly requires the Accounting Information for the planning, operating and controlling aspects of the concern.B) External Users – The external users consist of two distinct sub-groups – the Financial Group and the Public Group. Unlike the internal users, the need of the external users with regard to Accounting Information i s explicitly different from group to group. Though they generally rely on the similar sources of Accounting Information like Internal users – that is, P/L Account, Balance Sheet, Notes & Annexure Attached To The Financial Statements, however, there are also some specialized types of Accounting Information demanded by the External users like Tax Returns, Trade Policies etc. 1) Financial Group consists of the Investors, Lenders/Bankers and Suppliers/Trade Creditors of the concern. a) Investors – need Accounting Information to decide about the risk factor involved in making investment and in holding on to the equities they already have in the said entity. The profit and loss statement of the entity would also motivate them to either increase or decrease their stakes. b) Lenders/Bankers – assess the confidence of the payment of interest and the repayment of the principal on the loans extended to the entity by the latter based on the Accounting Information. ) Supplie rs/Trade Creditors – for them, the Accounting Information provide with a reasonable idea on the credibility of the entity and thereby allowing them to decide whether to continue to supply (credit sale) inputs to the said entity. (2) Public Group comprises of the Government Agencies & Tax Authorities, Industrial Authorities & Research Workers, Labour Unions, Employees & Customers. a) Government & Tax Agencies – As because the financial health of the nation is ultimately the responsibility of the Government, hence any economic activity today is controlled and regulated by the same.It has to judge the prospect of a business and the mode of its functioning. Naturally, it would require any information to decide proper allocation of natural resources, impose duties etc. The Tax authorities would need to judge the appropriate tax levies on the entity. b) Labour Unions & Employees – both rely on the Accounting Information to assess the health of the entity since their p resent and future benefits and growth are both essentially dependent on the fortunes of the said concern. ) Customers – they range from the process owners in the manufacturing or service chains linked to the entity in question to the wholesalers/retailers stocking on the product or services from the entity and ultimately the end-consumers. Depending upon the assurance of continuity of the entity, will these customers be ready to maintain their association with the concern or switch over some substitute/competitive entity. d) Industrial Authorities & Researchers – The Industrial regulators need information to take decisions regarding subsidies, grants, relief etc.The Researchers need information to carry out analyses and research on the entity’s operation. DIAGRAMMATIC REPRESENTATION OF THE USERS OF ACCOUNTING INFORMATION: – ———————– CATEGORY OF USERS OF ACCOUNTING INFORMATION INTERNAL USERS EXTERNAL USERS FINANCIAL GROUP PUBLIC GROUP – OWNERS – DIRECTORS – MANAGERS – OFFICERS – AUDITORS – INVESTORS – LENDERS – BANKERS – SUPPLIERS – TRADE CREDITORS – GOVT. AGENCIES – LABOUR UNION – EMPLOYEES – CUSTOMERS – INDUSTRIAL AUTHORITIES

Childhood Obesity In United States Education Essay

The coveted subject of pick is childhood fleshiness in United States. Obesity has become a major factor with the immature coevals and continues to turn. Childhood fleshiness needs to be solved or our kids ‘s lives will be filled with unneeded diseases and wellness complications due to hapless wellness and eating wonts. Obesity plays a immense portion in the lifting population worldwide. Harmonizing to the Center of Diseases Control and Prevention childhood fleshiness has more than tripled in the last 30 old ages. ( Center of Disease Control and Prevention, 2012 ) Fleshiness can take to shorter life span, depression, figure of diseases and other physical and psychological jobs. There can be many factors are involved that can act upon childhood fleshiness. Cultures, environmental factors, life style ‘s picks can all play in the function of raising the population of childhood fleshiness in United States. It is of import to halt the tendency and give the following coevals of kids a healthy start in life. Who can the universe bend to educate our society in the right nutrients to eat, and physical activities so that the job of childhood fleshiness is corrected? It is true that kids in the United States are in problem in many ways. Of class, there are a batch of dissensions of precisely what all the jobs are, and even more dissension on how to work out the jobs of childhood fleshiness in United States. Many parents in United States do n't cognize what nutrient to function their kids, and physical activities for their kids. Because the parent does n't cognize what nutrient is healthiest, they provided their kids with nutrient that are non healthy for them. Who is precisely the incrimination for childhood fleshiness in United States? Parents must larn the right nutrients, and physical activities to assist cut down childhood fleshiness. Parents can act upon what their kids eat. Everyone is born with a sweet tooth and a salty one, but they must larn to bask other gustatory sensations. If parents are to protect their kids from fleshiness, they must look beyond the place, and their kids ‘s schools. When kids are introduced nutritionary nutri ents early in their lives, they tend to larn to eat smart. That ‘s why it is of import for kids to larn how to take nutrients before come ining school. Childhood fleshiness has become a turning epidemic and some may believe that the parents are the incrimination. Lee Haney stated, â€Å" More than of all time, we as parents, and a state must make something about the growing of fleshiness in our kids. â€Å" ( Haney ) Environmental factors, civilization, and life can play a immense portion in the lifting population of fleshiness worldwide. Obesity leads to a figure of diseases, shortens life span, depression, and a figure of other physical and psychological jobs. It is of import that grownups halt the tendency and give the following coevals of kids a healthier start in life. This is an issue that is non merely for persons, but it a job that affects society. The inquiry in who is the incrimination? Fleshiness is non-discriminating among male childs and misss and occurs in all ages, races, and cultural groups. Harmonizing to the Institute of Medicine, parents ( defined loosely to include primary health professionals ) have a profound influence on kids by advancing certain values and attitudes, by honoring or reenforcing specific behaviours, and by functioning as function theoretical accounts. These values start during the first hear of life, and can advance healthy life styles for kids if implemented right by parents. ( 2004 ) . Some blame genetic sciences for childhood fleshiness in United States. Children are more likely to go fleshy if their parents are corpulent. It is contributed through cistrons or household life styles and behaviours? Children are either feed excessively much nutrient, or non plenty nutrient? Is it possible that dietetic factors during the babyhood phases of kid development set the phase for future fleshiness? Birch states that fat cells ( adipose tissue ) develop in an baby during gestation and are distributed during childhood. Additionally, he states that one time the adipose tissue develops in the organic structure, it remains there for life. ( Birch, 2006 ) A kid ‘s eating wont is a combination of the nutrient and parts ‘ sizes that the kids are offered. Children depend on their parents and health professionals to supply their day-to-day nutrient consumption. With this being said, it is clip for parents and health professionals to get down going a positive function theoretical account in the kids ‘s life. It is clip now for parents and health professionals to be responsible for what and how much is being feed to kids. There are many more on the job parents working now than in the yesteryear, this has cause many parent s to turn to fast nutrients. A kid is exposed to over 40,000 fast nutrient advertizements yearly. These advertizements influence the nutrient picks of kids and striplings, and the nutrient is likely position while watching telecasting. Consumptions of fast nutrient among kids and striplings increased significantly from 1998-2001. ( Bowman, S.A, Gortmaker, S.L. , Ebbeling, C.B. , Pereira, M.A. , & A ; Ludwig, D.S. , 2004 ) Parents and child care givers are responsible for the nutrients that are selected to given at meal clip, and at snack clip. Many old ages ago more grownups turn to cooking a nutritionary repast daily. Timess have truly changed. Unfortunately many parents today face many challenges, such as non holding adequate clip to fix, and storage infinite many grownup non being able to supply healthy formulas, which makes it difficult to cook homemade repasts of old ages ago. With these jobs, no admiration many parents are trusting on fast nutrients, procedure nutrients and frozen nutrients. Parents and child care givers are responsible for the nutrients that are selected to be given at meal clip, and at snack clip. Many old ages ago, more grownups turned to cook a nutritionary repast daily. Timess have truly changed. Unfortunately, many parents today face many challenges, such as non holding adequate clip to fix, and storage infinite many grownups non being able to supply healthy formulas, which makes it difficult to cook homemade repasts of old ages ago. With these jobs, no admiration, many parents are trusting on fast nutrients, procedure nutrients and frozen nutrients. Many grownups depend on the readily available fast nutrient to feed their kids. Yes, it is easier to merely run by the thrust in eating house on your manner place from work, but it is more educational and alimentary to do the same meat at place. Children must larn about utilizing good nutrient picks. Food provider ‘s gives people what they want. In certain vicinities, fast nutrient is more accessible than healthier nutrient. Sometimes populating in a vicinity where fast-food eating houses are more accessible than food market shops straight affects how the kids eat. Peoples who live in nutrient piece of lands with greater handiness to fast-food eating houses than food market shops had higher rates of diet -related decease. ( Gallagher, 2006 ) One may experience that school tiffin plans are an of import beginning of day-to-day nutriment. This is particularly of import for kids that come from a low income place, where there are jobs with nutrient. Most schools provide kids with two repasts a twenty-four hours. These repasts are breakfast, and tiffin. Some kids are in drawn-out twenty-four hours plans where they are offered a bite, and sometimes supper. These schools are have bound Calories and saturated fats in the school tiffins, more that approximately 80 per centum of schools autumn to me these ordinances. Are these plans the cause of childhood fleshiness? It is difficult to state. Is it the peddling machines and competitory nutrient higher class schools? Some higher-grade schools offer school tiffin, every bit good as different nutrients on a separate nutrient line, and peddling machines. With the usage of these machines, or buying nutrient from the competitory line of nutrient this nutrient, pupils can buy extra nutrient to eat so the needed sum that each pupil is provided. Possibly these are the nutrients that are doing fleshiness? Could it be that there is excessively small physical instruction offered for the kids day-to-day life? Schools in United States offer physical instruction. Each kid is provided physical instruction at least one time a hebdomad. Each kid besides has physical instruction provide daily through the deferral, better known as kid ‘s drama. Each kid has limited deferral chances. Parent can seek to alter some of the things, to assist extinguish childhood fleshiness. It is really tough to learn a immature adolescent to listen to their organic structures, to eat when they are hungry. Lasting behavior alterations can non be done from the exterior. This is a alteration that has to be done internal. This can go a long-time conflict. This is why it ‘s really of import to larn the nutrients to eat, and the right physical exercising that can be usage to extinguish childhood fleshiness. There is a great demand to rectify childhood fleshiness. It is non every bit simple as inquiring, who is the incrimination for childhood fleshiness? There are many factors involved. What we need is instruction and information. United States is filled with people who are over worked, over scheduled, of activates. This is the sort of job that can non be solved nightlong. It is of import to derive control of the issue of childhood fleshiness ; this is non an person job, but a job that affects many people in United States. Who is the incrimination, everyone in United States plays a portion in the incrimination? Everyone must pull off their consumption and supervise the nutrient that enters the organic structure. The epidemic of childhood fleshiness is planetary. The effects can be long-run or even life threatening. If United States looked at the issue of childhood fleshiness, and seek to undertake it on as a society, instead than looking at it as who is the incrimination, we can if non extinguish, set a great large dent in the turning population of childhood fleshiness in United States. It can be solved. So, allow ‘s move.

Buying decision making process Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Buying decision making process - Essay Example Product specification: Product specification may be defined as statement of need by the consumer. It states what the consumer wants to buy and what the supplier is required to offer. Specifications may be simple or complex depending upon the nature of the product. The success of the buying depends much on his / her correct statement to buy the product. Some times the product specification may be used as form of contract to buy in bulk or regular quantity. Supplier selection: Supplier selection is one of the basic and crucial decisions that a buyer has to take considering supplier’s many performance and relationship factors. A number of criteria may be used for evaluation of supplier like reliability of the source, correctness and competency of design, capacity of the product, production rate, quality control, lead time, trouble shooting facilities, etc. A questionnaire covering major and important factors is recommended to facilitate evaluation of supplier. Commitment: No commitment is a state of wish and hope and may lead to illusion. Commitment throws responsibility on supplier to supply the correct product as per agreed specification on time, render after sales service etc. The commitment brings not only development but success of the supplier for strengthening long business relationship, opening for repeat purchases etc. The supplier takes challenges to test himself / herself and brings self-discipline through commitment. Participation (decision making): Participation or decision making is nothing but the behavior of the train operating company of buying and using the rolling stock. The train operating company can buy the rolling stock through established commercial process like direct advertising in news papers, magazines etc. inviting tenders, through sales person or authorized agent / representative etc of the supplier company of

Risk management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Risk management - Essay Example Information about risk communication, and how it helps in the dimension of psychological understanding of risk is included to the paper. The problem of different risk regarding in cycling by different people is raised in the paper. The last section includes concluding response to this problem. The method used is particularized examination of the literature together with the critical summarizing and personal inferences on the topic. It is a widely known fact that every day people engage in some situations that are more or less predetermined risk possibility (Adams, 1995). It depends from person’s occupation, way of life, social environment and many other factors. Still, a big importance hides in person’s perception and understanding of risk. Moreover, relation to risk situations and appropriate communication stay the ground for the risk management. If to talk about the definition of risk in the field of science, we may observe different investigations concerning this term. Rosa (2003) argues that risk is â€Å"a situation or event where something of human value (including humans themselves) is at stake and where the outcome is uncertain†. In other words it is the potential to lose something valuable for the peculiar person. Hazard comes close to the risk theories and this term is defined as some condition with the potential to induce deplorable implications in the risk situations (HSA, 2014). The problem under investigation is the cyclists (push bike riders) and probability of risk in concern to this occupation. The statistic data demonstrates that cycling is rather save occupation in relation to other kind of sports and bicycle is determined as not dangerous vehicle for transporting people. Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Centre (2012) stays the data that â€Å"in 2012, 726 lost their lives in bicycle/motor vehicle crashes, just under two people

Important Trends in Popular Music Emerged in the Early 1960s Assignment

Important Trends in Popular Music Emerged in the Early 1960s - Assignment Example It was in the sixties that Soul and Surf music, Latin tunes, Country and Folk hymns, and Psychedelic Acid Rock rise out from Rock ‘N Roll, making all of these accepted by that year’s generation. Apparently, though his about splashy tides of oceans, pretty ladies in bikinis, and muscular gents with surfing boards became the basis of â€Å"surf music.† Characteristics of its hymn include being brazen and â€Å"instrumental† like that of the sea’s excitement and captivating sense of â€Å"rush.† Since then, people associated the sport called â€Å"surfing† with it, that is why, famous tunes like Surf City of Jan and Dean, Misirlo of Dick Dale, and Surfin’ USA of the Beach Boys appeal to all surf-lovers even if the artists themselves are non-surfers. However, tunes are not all about shores and oceans since this had started in Hawaii as â€Å"chants† for their prayer and meditation purposes. Its impact during the sixties was so intense that even if there were no shorelines to relate with and buildings rather dominate the place, it was embraced by American youth at that time (â€Å"Surf Culture†). During the critical days of the sixties when violent things seemed to monopolize, the so-called Rhythm and Blues (R&B) in the industry have flunked shortly to give way to â€Å"soul music.† Inspired with the uprising of â€Å"civil rights,† the blacks have dominated it, though it was seen as a counterpart of white’s R&B; thus, it has given them the opportunity to defy cultural differences. With this, the songs were basically inspirational and were aiming to relay a message of peace, equality, and unity.  

The building institute of training and developing Essay

The building institute of training and developing - Essay Example The process of demolishing and rebuilding is a process of perciceness, safety, professional surveying of the project so it is done correctly, and cost effectiveness. It is a basis process which from start to finish of making sure that all regulations are correctly handled, and that the process is done accurately.The process of removing as-pesos must be done with the windows shut so that it does not escape from the house. This then makes it so that you can remove the asbestos quickly from the front door and bring it in a proper disposal unit. Then the stench of asbestos does not remove. The employees removing the asbestos protect their health. Asbestos is a very dangerous problem when inhaled or gotten on the skin, so the overalls must cover every inch of the body, and protect the one that puts the asbestos in the proper dumping mechanism. It must be disposable so that it does not contaminate any area which the clothes may be. Washing the clothes may ruin a washer with putting the che mical in it, so it is policy that the clothes are disposable.Air conditioner sheets must be removed and not reused due to circulation within the air vents of asbestos. This way it prevents any asbestos that gets in the air ducts from contaminating the house. The air conditioner vents must be removed and replaced to ensure that none leaks from the air vent and gets any in the house once the project is finished. The air conditioner parts must be taken down and ready to be cleaned at the end of the project. ... then the overalls and masks used by the personnel are thrown away with the asbestos TASK 2 The type of loads are important. There are relevant loads that must be used. There are the basic parts of the home that must be loaded up along with the different parts of the gutted interior. This would include the basic framework of the innards of the house; which could probably just be brought out the front door. You may want to remove all of the old interiors, all of the floor boards, and correctly tear down the home; leaving loads for the construction. They may want to tear down the floor boards, the roof, and organize it in loads of efficiency. This can then be done problematically and automatically. This process then tears down the home and makes it cost efficient once all of the parts of the home are removed. TASK 3 There are several needed professionals which you must acquire to then commence with building. You must first consult an Architect, who will draw out the basic lay out off the home. You consult with him with how much space you want in the rooms, how many rooms it has, and what you want the basic layout of the house to be like. He will draw out a design trying to meet your specifications. The architect must then work with a residential designer, which scopes out the zoning procedures of the neighborhood in which the house is being built. This will make sure that the lay out the architect has drawn match the houses in the area, and meet zoning restrictions of how you are allowed to build a house in the area. A designer then designs the basic details of the house working with them and the residential designer makes sure the set up

Exploratory Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Exploratory Paper - Essay Example For one, various enhancements in the Internet such as flash playing and audio embedding has provided new and effective ways for people to communicate. In addition to this, the wideness of its reach has convinced companies to use the Internet as a major communication medium in tapping their primary target markets. Also, the immensity of information that could be accessed in the Internet has influenced the creation of passion groups or digital tribes. These are primarily comprised of people who interact with those who share the same interests with them. Lastly, the Internet has also been used by non-profit organizations in advocating their programs that aim at furthering social causes. For example, anti-human trafficking initiatives are commonly broadcasted in the groups’ Youtube, Facebook, or Twitter accounts. Through these examples, it can be claimed that the role of the Internet in connecting people has helped it foster the so-called ‘global digital community’. F or one, micro-blogging sites like Twitter keeps people updated with the current societal events—whether local or international. Youtube encourages people to be more ‘content creators’ rather than mere ‘passive users’ by allowing them to upload original videos. ... As such, miscommunications and disputes may transpire in the Internet, especially when taken into consideration the capacity of the Internet in disseminating information in a highly fast manner. It is through these aforementioned reasons that an in-depth analysis of the social implications of the Internet is vital. In this light, this paper shall expose the positive and negative effects of the Internet in peoples and cultures, and why key institutions of human society must work hand-in-hand in optimizing the benefits obtained from the Internet. Positive Implications of the Internet At this point, a critical examination of the social benefits of the Internet must be done in relation to technology and culture. Firstly, the Internet allows for an easier and more dynamic access and transfer to information (Brey 3). With the increase in the Internet’s storage capacity, massive information could now be stored and accessed in almost all websites, as supported by search engine giants like Yahoo! and Google. Interestingly, hard copies of numerous pieces of literature are now present in the Internet, too. In addition to this, the convergence of various media in the Internet paves the way for an easier exchange of information (Brey 3). For example, Tweeting is now linked to the user’s Facebook account, while websites now have share buttons that aid in the faster distribution of information. Traditional television, furthermore, has incorporated QR codes in its programs to lead its audiences to specific websites. Apart from these examples that reinforce how the Internet allows for an easier and more dynamic access and transfer of data, it can be claimed that the Internet

Respond Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 3

Respond - Essay Example The discussion post effectively captured the relevant elements of performance improvements and emphasized its relevance in contemporary work settings. The articles that were selected focused on the health condition of employees; particularly focusing on nutrition and weight loss. One agrees that the holistic well-being of all employees must be a paramount concern of organizations. Actually, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) defines standards that require employers to seriously take care of the safety and health condition of workers. As such, the information contained in the articles impact the performance of workers through assuming a healthy disposition (physically, mentally, emotionally and even socially) in order for them to achieve defined goals. The focus on health emphasizes that a healthy human resource would be least costly for the organization in terms of avoiding absenteeism, illness, and propensities for

United Arab Emirates Country Profile Essay Example for Free

United Arab Emirates Country Profile Essay The Middle East stirs interest because of its important historical and contemporary role in global affairs. The region caught the interest of the United States only during the Second World War but the region has hosted and witnessed significant world events. Many of the early civilizations emerged from the region such as the Assyrian, Babylonian, Egyptian and Sumerian civilizations. Influential religions such as Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Zoroastrianism developed in the Middle East. The region also formed part of various empires, in succession, as territorial control changed from the Persian, Greek, Roman, Arab, Mongol, Tatar empires and then to the Turkish empire. The succession of empires led to the fusion of civilisations and cultures leading to various radical changes in the region and human history. (Peretz 1994) During the middle ages, Europe took interest in the Middle East in opening pilgrimage paths to the Holy Land through the Crusades. This increased trade with Western European countries and opened contact of the Middle East with Asia. Napoleon occupied parts of Palestine in the hopes of defeating the British Indian Empire growing in Asia. These expressed recognition of the region’s value as Europe’s gateway to the greater Asian region. Tsarist Russia also moved southward in attempts to take control of Iran and Turkey. (Peretz 1994) With the fall of the Ottoman Empire, the Suez Canal trading route opened opportunities for various European countries establishing interest in the Middle East. Competing interests fuelled various wars and diplomatic conferences to settle control of the Turkish Straits. Nazi Germany also sought to gain a foothold into the Middle East and then into Asia. During the First and Second World Wars, weapons and supplies passed through the trading routes of the Middle East. In the 1940s, the Middle East gained more importance with the discovery of its vast oil reserves, particularly in the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. The Middle East gained strategic value not only for its trading routes but also for its massive oil resources. Many foreign companies sought concessions to extract oil from the region. Oil exports supported the growth of industries in European countries and the United States since at least eighty percent of oil consumed in these western regions came from the Middle East. In the early 1960s, the states comprising the Arabian Peninsula and Iran produced one-quarter of the total global oil production with an unknown volume of reserves. During the Cold War, the clashing ideological interests sought to capture the acquiescence of the Middle East, with Russia exerting pressure from the north and the United States exerting pressure from the west. (Peretz 1994) Due to these events, the Middle East became an important region in world affairs. Middle East is the regional name given by Western European states to the block of territory located at the South Western border of Asia, North Eastern border of Africa, and Western border of South Asia. As a collective term, Middle East is a large region comprised of the countries Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. This area, previously called Far East, is located in between the European and East Asian regions. The term also connotes countries sharing a predominantly Islamic culture. (â€Å"Middle East† 2007)

The Strategic Finance Of Nestle Management Essay

The Strategic Finance Of Nestle Management Essay Nestlà ©s case study provides various examples which demonstrate a link between concepts drawn from pre-requisite modules. In my opinion, the link between First Mover Advantage model clarified in Strategic Management and the concept of Merger Acquisition covered in Strategic Finance are the most interesting. Figure 1.1 provides evidence found through the combination of these two concepts. Figure 1.1: Link between FMA and MA Evidences In the 20th Century, Nestle expanded through a series of acquisitions Nestle enters markets early-before competitors Acquires local firms when good opportunities arise Local brand for local market (Customization) 2/3 of Nestlà ©s growth generated from acquisitions FMA to Polish market Nestlà ©s Acquisition of Goplana Strategic Finance (NarayananNanda, 2004) First Mover Advantage Strategic Management (Johnson et.al, 2008) Merger Acquisition First Mover advantage is defined as the benefits generated for a firm that breaks in new markets first (Johnson et.al, 2008). The aim is to build a strong and sustainable position within the market as a way to defend potential competitive newcomers. Regarding Nestlà ©, the company enters emerging markets early before prospective competitors in order to build a significant position within them (Case Study, 2011). Thus the company is able to respond to any potential economic and population growth within emerging markets as well as to any possible upcoming competition. Mergers Acquisitions are strategic components dealing with buying or combining different companies that can assist the company to a speedy growth and improve its financial performance especially in the long term (NarayananNanda, 2004). During the 20th century, Nestlà © has undertaken a number of mergers and acquisitions, most notably the acquisition of Maggi in 1947, and thus has achieved to extend its geographic presence and product line (Case Study, 2011). Nestlà ©s acquisition of Goplana, is an interesting example of how its activities link with the companys long-term strategy of achieving first mover advantage within the Polish market (Case Study, 2011). The company was aiming to rush its development inside the market and maintain its authority. As such, Nestlà © retained the local staff and management of the acquired company and carefully adjusted the Goplana product line to better fit local opportunities (Case Study, 2011). Overall, acquisitions have been an important function for Nestlà ©s growth (Cook et.al, 2003). Alongside the MA group, the firm uses people from the finance sector as to assist the financial analysis of MA process (Cullinan et.al, 2003). This shows a clear link between Nestlà ©s FMA strategy and its MA activities. The firm maintains local companies with regional staff in local markets as to better customize its performance by creating share value and local expertise. Significantly, the success of Nestlà © in growing local companies also depends on the management development programmes that Nestlà © uses in order to come closer and train its local managers (Case Study, 2011). The process of entry for a company influences its ability to create value. According to Rahman Bhattacharyya (2003), Nestlà © has benefited by acting as a first mover in emerging markets. In terms of business development, the company sometimes involves mergers and acquisition activities as a way to grow and create value. Moreover, the reasons behind the MA activities can vary according to expectations. These may be the economies of scale, speed of entry, shareholder expectations and so on (Johnson et.al, 2008). Mergers and acquisitions are considered as one of the most dynamic ways in which a firm can recombine assets to create value (AhernWeston, 2007). By being the first mover into a market it may hides some drawbacks. Hill Jones (2009) noted that first movers have to tolerate large costs of pioneering that later movers may not. Also first movers may fall into substantial mistakes and risks as they lack experience, where second movers can enjoy knowledge and improvements through first movers gaffes. Similarly, MA is a particularly stressful practice for people involved within the new corporate culture and structure that can create ambiguity, anxiety and antipathy amongst companys staff (Appelbaum et al 2000). Such a fact can destroy the organisations value. 2nd Question: Does it make sense for Nestlà © to focus its growth efforts on emerging markets? Why? According to the Case Study (2011), by the early 1990s Nestlà © realised that it faced important challenges in maintaining its rate of growth within the markets of Western Europe and North America. Therefore, the company has turned its attention to emerging markets for further growth. Rapoport (1994) stated that developed markets are in the saturated phase of their life cycle where the competition is becoming higher, creating the war of price and substitution. Due to the economic downturn in such markets, people incomes have been characterised as incomplete and thus consumers are becoming more price conscious. Additionally, population indexes show that the population growth rate has been stagnated in contrast with the emerging world which is expected to expand by the year 2015 (Delegge, 2009). Delegge (2009) stated that emerging market economies are growing at a faster pace than those in developed countries. Furthermore, the researcher indicates that due to the combination of the global recession and the downturn of real estate prices, residents of emerging markets are expected to outperform both American and European consumers in terms of spending dynamics. Thereby Nestlà © translated emerging markets as an opportunity of higher growth returns with the promise of significant market share in the long term. In order to maintain its growth rate, it does make absolute sense for Nestlà © to focus its growth efforts on emerging markets. Goldman Sachs introduced the BRIC acronym (Brazil, Russia, India and China) that refers to the countries which are estimated for the next decades to be at a better stage than the current developed markets (ONeilStupnytska, 2009). Furthermore, they announced the concept of the Next Eleven (N-11) countries such as Nigeria, Mexico and Turkey which have the potential of becoming along with BRICs, the worlds dynamic markets by 2032 (ONeilStupnytska, 2009). Nestlà © has already been active in developing economies but it is therefore slight in contrast with their rival company Unilever. Moreover, the US food drink report (2010) notes that even with the greatest exposure in such markets; Unilever has experienced negative average revenue. This was due to its poor business management and incorrect decisions made over the last five years. Nestlà ©s core competencies and capabilities can enable the company to continue performing in emerging markets. Nestlà © has the ability to create brands quickly and in a sustainable fashion with products such as Nescafe, which also give strong focus on RD which enables the company to generate greater profits (Datamonitor, 2010). The company has the unique strength to customize global products with the same quality standards based on customer needs in the local market. Also, the firm has unmatched geographic existence in the emerging markets and so the company has the flexibility to deal with circumstances that sometimes cannot be easily predicted (SinghChild-Villiers, 2010). Applying those distinctive competencies, Nestlà © can earn greater returns and gain a sustainable advantage over its competitors. Rahman Bhattacharyya (2003) supported that unique performance within emerging markets can offer differential advantages for a first mover company. Following a first mover strategy, Nestlà © has benefited in many emerging markets as it was the first company which offered differentiated affordable products in local markets (RahmanBhattacharyya, 2003). Nestlà © aims to build a substantial position by achieving successful customer perceptions. Moreover, as the market grows and income levels rise, Nestlà © can potentially benefit by being responsive in such possible situations. Nestlà © can also take advantage of location economies, which are created from performing a value creation activity in the best location possible (HillJones, 2009). For instance, Nestlà © has opened a new factory in Nigeria which was dedicated in Popularity Positioned Products (Nestle, 2011a). This enabled the company to achieve lower costs and therefore facilitated the company to customizing its products in terms of price and accessibility. Thus, by enduring in such location economies, Nestlà © can gain a competitive place in each single location. 3rd Question: What is the companys strategy with regard to business development in emerging markets? Does this strategy make sense? From an organisational perspective, what is required for this strategy to work effectively? Regarding the business development in emerging markets, Nestlà ©s strategy was to enter markets before competitors in order to get the first mover advantage. The company aims to build a significant position within the developing world and thus be able to understand and satisfy the requirements of local population. Nestlà © acquires local firms when valuable opportunities arise during the entry process of the company into new emerging markets. A good example is that of 1995 where Nestlà © acquired Rossia, one of the leaders of chocolate manufacturer in Russia (Nestle, 2009). Nestlà © realised the chances that have been offered from the opening of Russian market and the increase of income levels, by making this new investment. In addition, there are times when Nestlà © enters emerging markets by building its own infrastructure from scratch, such as in China. Considering such a method, the company enters markets where no actual competitors exist and thus creates its own paths as a way to establish a market presence. Nestlà ©s product portfolio includes a strong presence of numerous key brands which focus on developing local marques for their respective markets thereby escaping its global brands for these customers (Urde, 1999). Overall, the company owns 8500 brands under its organisational umbrella and less than 10% are registered in more than one country. As an alternative way of trying to force a product in a market, the company customizes its product based on the needs of the local consumer and focuses at the extent of achieving economies of scale. At the moment, Nestlà © follows the strategy of adaptation to local conditions by using its in house PPP (Popularity Position Products) method which offers affordable products of high quality to meet the needs of emerging consumers (Nestle, 2010b). In the long-term, Nestlà © is aiming to supply the whole region with various products in order to realize economies of scale. For instance, as part of its long term business development strategy in Middle East, Nestle has established a network of factories in five countries. According to Porters generic strategies figure 1, Nestlà © adopts focus/niche strategy which reduce company risks and focus its marketing efforts on a limited number of market segments (Eldring, 2009). By adopting such a strategy, the company aims to build a substantial position in these particular markets so as to gain a competitive advantage using product innovation and marketing activities. Due to the fact that these economies are growing at a fast pace, Nestlà © is able to escape such segments and can offer a wider variety of upscale products such as mineral water and prepared foodstuffs (Case Study, 2011). (Source: Adopted from: www.mindtools.com/media/Diagrams/GenericStrategies) The successful presence of Nestlà © within developing markets verifies that the implication of Nestlà ©s strategy has been correctly applied. The corporate structure that Nestlà © comprises is closely related with the idea that all markets are equally important. Lavelle (2004) mentioned that Nestlà ©s strategies originated from a particular point and are independently applied from its local units. In order for the strategy to work effectively, it is necessary for the company to consider the following issues. Firstly, the firm must have available resources to invest in RD as well as the fast and effective production of innovative products (Hitt et.al, 2009). Nestlà © has established 6 RD centres in emerging markets that provide the ability to launch new products quickly and efficiently (BulckeSingh, 2011; Bauer, 2011). In order for the company to maintain its advantages over the competition it is imperative to continue focusing and investing on its RD activities. Secondly, the company must ensure that products can be customized at the requirements of any local market. Using the PPP model, Nestlà © is able to offer its products based on the requirements of the emerging consumers. Finally, Nestlà © must continue focusing on long-term investments in order to sustain a competitive advantage within the emerging markets. 4th Question: Through your own research on NESTLE, identify appropriate performance indicators. Once you have gathered relevant data on these, undertake a performance analysis of the company over the last five years. What does the analysis tells you about the success or otherwise of the strategy adopted by the company? Key Performance Indicators can be described as the main companys parts that assist to define and evaluate the success of a strategy in which the business is involved (Eckerson, 2009).Obviously, companys performance indicators can differ according to the reasons that have been composed for. Performance Indicators can be defined using numerous models, one of which is the Balanced Scorecard. The concept involves both qualitative and quantitative measures which evaluate the performance regarding the strategy chosen (Johnson et.al, 2008). Figure 4.1 applies the concept of Balanced Scorecard for Nestlà ©; an analysis has been carried out and can be seen below. Figure 4.1: Nestlà ©s Balanced Scorecard Financial Sales EBIT Net Profit NESTLE To be recognised as the world leader in Nutrition, Health and Wellness, trusted by all its stakeholders To be the reference for financial performance in its industry Internal Business Employees Factories Customer PPP Customer Acquisition Learning Innovation GLOBE-NCE RD (Source: Adapted from Johnson et.al, 2008 www.nestle.com) Firstly, the financial perspective can help the company understand its shareholders perception. Nestlà ©s EBIT grew steadily in the past 5 year period from CHF 13302 million to CHF 16194m in the year 2010, a growth of 21.7% (Nestle, 2011c). Significantly, 2009s EBIT was reported at CHF 15699m, an increase of just 0.15%. Moreover, the relative sales figures grew from CHF 98458m in 2006 to CHF 109722m in 20010, dropping at CHF107618m in 2009 after a successful year in 2008 where sales were at CHF109908m (Nestle, 2011c). In addition, the net profit margins showed a dramatic growth over the last five years from CHF9197m in 2006 to CHF34233m in 2010. Such a significant increase of net profit was due to the disposal of 52% of Alcons outstanding capital, which increased the profit (as a percentage of sales) from 9.7% in 2008 to 31.2% in 2010 year (Nestle, 2011c). Secondly, an internal analysis makes it possible to identify the level of operational procedures of Nestlà ©. During the year 2006, Nestlà ©s workforce involved 265 000 people, a number that increased in the year 2008 to 283000. Throughout 2009, the company cut about 5000 jobs resulting in a 281000 person workforce for 2010 (Nestle, 2011b). In addition, the company in 2009 was operating 449 factories 30 less from the year 2006 (Nestle, 2007b; 2010a). With respect to the third perspective of Learning Innovation, Nestlà © seems to have a strong focus throughout the years. Taking into consideration Nestlà ©s product innovation, it can be seen that the company is aiming for a deeper scope within this area. In 2006, Nestlà © spent about CHF 1.7 billion for its RD with a further increase in the following years (Nestle, 2007b). According to Nestlà © (2010a) spends about 1.9% of its annual revenues on its RD program which is considered as one of the key drivers of growth. In addition, the company combines two programs, GLOBE and NCE, which enable the reduction of production waste. Through these models, Nestlà © has achieved CHF 1 billion in 2008 which has further increased its efficiencies to a CHF 1.5 billion saving in 2009 (Nestle, 2010a). Finally, the consumer perspective is related to how customers perceive Nestlà ©. This can be measured through Nestlà ©s PPP model which aims to focus on low-income consumers around the world (Nestle, 2010b). Within 2007, the PPP performance involved 37 countries while in 2008 this number almost doubled to 70, generating an organic growth of 27% (Nestle, 2008). In 2009, PPP achieved sales of CHF 8.8bn with an organic growth of 12.7% (Nestle, 2010b). As a final point, 2010s concept encompassed 90 countries with sales figures of CHF 11bn and a double digit growth (Bulcke, 2011) Overall, the analysis of such indicators shows that Nestlà © has been able to improve its performance over the last five years. Despite the crisis triggered in 2008, Nestlà © is actually steady on a financial and non-financial scale. It seems that the long term strategy generates positive results for the short term as well. Giving focus on customization of local markets through the PPP concept, the company builds strong roots for the future, particularly in emerging markets as there are high growth potentials. 5th Question: How would you describe Nestlà ©s strategic posture at the corporate level; is it a pursuing, a global strategy, a multi-domestic strategy, an international strategy or a transnational strategy? Multinational companies use four main primary strategic postures when competing in the international environment. These are illustrated in figure 5.1. Such strategies depend on factors that are related to two types of pressures, Cost Reductions and Local Responsiveness (Hill, 2009). Figure 5.1: International Operations Strategies TRANSNATIONAL STRATEGY Move material, HR, ideas across national boundaries Economies of scale Location Economies Ex. Nestle, Kraft GLOBAL STRATEGY Standardized products Economies of scale Ex. Motorola, Intel High MULTIDOMESTIC STRATEGY Customization Different National Markets Ex. MTV, McDonalds INTERNATIONAL STRATEGY Import/export Minimal local customization Ex. Microsoft, PG Low High Low (Source: Adapted from Hill, 2009; AhlstromBruton, 2009) Figure 5.1, demonstrates the conditions under which each of the International Strategies are most appropriate. In addition, it shows some key characteristics of each strategy and gives examples of companies that follow different strategies. Regarding Nestlà ©s strategic posture, the company traditionally operated on a decentralized structure as a way to customize its product offerings to local needs, a key characteristic of a multi-domestic company. With the multi-domestic strategy, an organisation focuses on national differences and customizes its products by responding to the needs of the local preferences. This is in contrast to the global strategy where the company is able to improve its profits and development through lower costs that are derived from location economies and economies of scale (Hill, 2009). Due to the high competitive conditions that Nestlà © faced along with the need to obtain cost reductions, the company moved one step ahead by adopting a transnational strategy (Busco et.al, 2006). Such a strategy involves elements of global and multi-domestic strategies through which the company seeks to achieve both cost efficiencies and local customization (Hitt et.al, 2009). Child-Villiers, Head of Investor Relations, noted that Nestlà © is now integrated in a proactive and efficient way within the markets. He also supported that the company goes one step ahead as it links the globe with Nestlà ©s Continuous Excellence programme (BulckeSingh, 2011). Similarly, its competing company, Kraft Foods shifted to a transnational international strategy to better compete and grow (FoodProcessing.com, 2007). Within Nestlà ©, its national units are characterised as semiautonomous as they are able to involve decisions such as pricing and marketing in order to customize the products to local needs. Localization rather than globalization is the key characteristic of the companys idea which is also supported by the belief that there is not a single product for everyone (Nestle, 2007a). Although the authority of local subsidiaries are still decentralised, the firm has an integrated structure of seven strategic business units (SBUs) that manage advanced strategic decisions for key products ranks and achieve cost economies by centralizing operations such as acquisitions, production and RD (Hill, 2009). The company is divided into five divisions made up of Africa, America, Europe, Asia and Oceania. However, each zone assists in the development of the overall strategy but do not interrupt the local strategic decisions. It can be noted that Nestlà ©s activities and resources are neither centralised in the company, nor decentralised so that each subsidiary unit is able to operate separately in local market. Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, the CEO of Nestlà © noted that while the company comes closer with the consumer the more decentralized it is, he nevertheless supported that the more it is dealing with high level judgments, the more centralized decision making becomes (Wetlaufer, 2001, p.116) Moreover, following a transnational strategy it may sometimes require the company to adapt a more flexible tactical expansion and therefore involves a partnering with other organisations or exclusively owned acquisitions (DooleLowe, 2008). For instance, in 2003, Nestlà © formed a partnership with Colgate-Palmolive in order to develop a gum and candy product line. This was done in an attempt to capture a share of a market dominated by other competitors (Fox, 2005). 6th Question: Does this overall strategic posture make sense given the markets and countries that Nestlà © participates in? Why? Generally, Nestlà © operates almost in every country all around the world. Within the developed markets Nestlà © has a strong basis while in developing world the company involves a huge presence as they are potential markets for growth. According to Hill (2009), transnational strategy makes most sense in markets where the pressures for cost reductions and local responsiveness are high. Due to the high competitive levels and the financial complications that exist in developed markets, companies have to rethink about their strategies in order to survive (Hill, 2009). Then again, emerging markets involve low spending consumers with different preferences and tastes as well. It is therefore important for firms to respond at the cost pressures and the local requirements of the markets (Hill, 2009). Following this transnational structure, Nestlà © is able to customize global products in accordance with consumer requirements in the local market. This can be achieved through its autonomous local units which are responsible to understand the local needs and decisions related to marketing and distribution. Using an extensive market research, the company offers its products under the organisation umbrella and specializes on building brand names that are associated with local conditions (XieBoggs, 2006). Consequently, the company achieves the advantage of building customer loyalty and brand equity in local markets (Pass et.al, 1994). Allowing the subsidiaries to modify their packaging and distributions channels to meet local needs is a further benefit for Nestlà ©. In instance, Nestlà © and Mars in UK have combined their confectionery deliveries to Tesco, as a way to reduce as much possible trucks from Britains roads (IGD, 2010). This had a result to reduce both environmental and distribution costs. Since the early 1990s Nestlà © UK has been recycling its packaging as a way to reduce the amount of packaging used (IGD, 2008). The company decreased not only the costs of packaging but also its transportation costs since less Lorries are required. Regarding Nestlà ©s strategic posture, the companys subsidiaries within emerging markets have achieved to reap previous learning and ideas that have been used in developed markets (BulckeSingh, 2011). It seems that the company has succeeded to successfully transfer capabilities, skills and core competences in these markets. Hill (2009) supported that a transnational enterprise must give strong attention on flexibility by exploiting an information flow among the organisation and its local units. Thus, the key characteristic of transnational strategy offered the ability for Nestlà © to achieve almost 40 billion of sales in emerging markets and a growth of 11.5% in 2010 year (BulckeSingh, 2011). This worldwide combination strategy allows Nestlà © to enjoy benefits of low cost through location economies and economies of scale (Ireland et.al, 2008). For instance, as part of its strategy in the Middle East region, Nestlà © has set up a network of factories in five countries with a prospect to supply the whole region, achieving at the same time economies of scale (Case Study, 2011). Through the integration of regional economic groupings the company is able to produce larger units which can supply entire areas, building at the same time competitive advantage (Nestle, 1999). Sometimes, the transnational strategy involves a complex structure which includes a potential danger of losing control. Under this circumstance the organisation involves problems of creating a practical and valuable organizational structure and it is therefore impossible to manage the strategy (Hill, 2009). According to Bartlett et.al (2010) in order avoid any risks the transnational strategy requires a balanced binary of decision making and not a choice of one or the other but of where, how, when. 7th Question: Is Nestlà ©s management structure and philosophy aligned with its overall strategic posture? The management structure and philosophy is well affiliated with Nestlà ©s overall strategic posture. Nestlà © provides cooperation between local autonomy and centralized decision making. Even that the authority to local subsidiaries is decentralised, the firm is organised into seven SBUs that involve in the overall strategy development. Thus the multinational firm focus on local responsiveness and global integration (BartlettGhosal, 2000). The companys structure is well matched with the concept of transnational strategy. The SBUs that Nestlà © performs around the world are responsible for top strategic decisions which have specific focus on particular product lines such as coffee and beverages (Parsons, 1996). In addition, these SBUs participate within the overall companys strategy where Cook et.al. (2003) noted that the acquisitions made from the SBUs are essential drivers of firms success. Beside that structure of SBUs, Nestlà © includes regional divisions in five key geographical zones (Case Study, 2011). In combination with SBUs, these regional organisations are also supporting the overall strategy and business development. It is also important to state the RD that Nestlà © operates which focus on the creativity and production of products that meet local requirements. The RD function involves 29 research groups within various countries around the world (Bauer, 2011). Beyond such structure, Nestlà © decentralized as the responsibility for market decisions is carried down to local units which are basically operate autonomously for various local judgments. Nestlà © supports the philosophy that there is no single product for everyone, which achieves to understand local preferences through its subsidiaries and thus develops tailored products that meet those tastes and habits. Figure 7.1: Nestlà ©s organisation chart (Source: Adopted from: www.Nestle.com) Following the above figure 7.1, it can be seen that Nestlà © operates within a global matrix structure. As it has been already stated above, Nestlà ©s structure centralizes in some operating decisions and at the same time decentralizes in cases of national operations. The company integrates its functional competencies and capabilities into local teams such as to successfully respond within the global marketplace (BulckeSignh, 2011). Thus using a global matrix structure the company is able to fulfil customer requirements from different geographical places (Ireland et.al, 2008). According to Hill (2009), a global matrix structure is highly recommended for an organisation which adopts transnational strategy in order to be effective implement. Since 2000, Nestlà © has developed its Global Business Excellence (GLOBE) approach with a prospect of simplifying its organisational process structure through an integrated knowledge system. The programme provides Nestlà ©s companies with similar plans, structures and best performance to integrate actions thru the entire organization and to support organizational strategy for business objectives (Johnson, 2005). Recently, the company reorganised its structure through the development of an additional programme known as NCE (Nestlà © Continuous Excellence). Through that method Nestlà © is able to reduce production waste by saving million tonnes of product material through know-how production such as recycling (Nestle, 2010c). Bulcke Signh (2011) noted that the combination of those two programmes, GLOBE and NCE, enable the company to drive cost-effective growth and outperform the market. Concluding, the idea behind those programmes was to reorganise the organisations structure as t o be linked with the overall strategy.

Premarital Sex And Promiscuity

Premarital Sex And Promiscuity This essay will be discussing the topic of promiscuity and premarital sex from both Ellistons and Punzos theories. According to Punzo on Premarital sex, it is for two people to have engaged in a sexual contact/intercourse without having the full commitment but on the other hand, promiscuity according to Elliston it is to have sex with many different people without having any commitment. When comparing both, Punzo is seen as the conservative while Elliston is seen as supporting casual sex. Punzos theory is when two people are together having sex they both must be engaged in a deep commitment between the two people. On the other hand, Elliston is arguing that sexual intercourse doesnt require any thoughts or strong consideration with any commitments since it is not that big of a deal. According to Elliston promiscuity is seen as free love, where you can just meet someone and starting to fall in love with them. With this definition, it might be easier for some to understand it, as having freedom. It can also be recognized as having recreational sex, having sex just for fun. When the word fun comes with anything, it will be seen as attractive and easy going. Elliston has created a definition himself that better defined promiscuity. Promiscuity is defined as sex with a series of other adults not directly related through marriage and with no commitments; no promises of affection, sexual exclusivity in future (Elliston 144). Elliston also stated that for those who just want to get others in bed to have sex by lying, exploiting, and deceiving or something close to it are wrong. It is seen as wrong because it breaches the ethical principles that we all learned as a child, which is not to lie. When someone is lying about everything just because they are trying to get someone in bed to have sex with them, it is seen as very unethical. Promiscuity is seen as to the advantage of males and to the disadvantage of females because it is true that males do not have anything to lose while females will lose their virginity and at times their love. It has become exploitive; woman would get social blame but man would get sexual satisfaction. Promiscuity is not actually wrong but it is the double standard that is in places where woman is at a disadvantage in comparison to man. Promiscuity can not be defined as wrong all the time; the charges that it necessarily violates generally accepted a moral principle is false. (El liston 146). Elliston is saying that the double standard that should be remove but not the promiscuity, since it is always seen as a disadvantage for woman. The female involved might not feel the same as to being cheated or being used for the man to have their sexual satisfaction but it might be the woman who is using the man to satisfy herself. Sex is just a body language in the form of body interaction between the two people that are willing to interact and it leads to pleasure. It also has a deep meaning behind it. According o Elliston, sex is more than thrusts and moans, caresses and sighsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦just as verbal language has a dimension of meaning beyond phonemes and morphemes, so body language has a significance beyond the intertwining of two bodiesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Promiscuity has instrumental value in that it can facilitate the mastery of one kind of body languageà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦sexual body language is learned through sexual interactionà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦experiences enable an individual to develop a repertoire of gestures for communicating desire and affection and of decisive movements that clearly state intentions of love or amusement. People can be moved not only by the things we say but also by the things we do-with them, for them, or to themà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦desire and satisfaction can be communicated not only through verbal exchanges, but also through a lingering look and an appreciative caress. To a shattered ego a physical embrace may express far more reassurance than its verbal counterparts, and a kiss may convey desire more eloquently than pleas or poemsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦The observance of this etiquette is an acknowledgement of the selfhood of the other. The acquisition of it is one of the opportunities promiscuity provides(Elliston 149). Based on this quote, Elliston is saying sex is a part of body language and the more you practice it the better you will get. The skills that you get from promiscuity will wider range of people outside of marriage or committed-relationships. Usually a married couple would be seen as only one man is allow to have dinner with one woman, which is referring to only having sex with the partner and that is it, third party is not acceptable (traditionally). Elliston sees having sex with one person at first before you decide to love that person or not. Pretty much he i s saying having sex first will be a pre-stage of trying out whether the persons sexual skill or chemistry from sexual intercourse will help you decide to love this person or not. Therefore Elliston is arguing that promiscuity should be allow and should not be seen as wrong because it is something for the two to try out and see if the chemistry is there. In Punzos view, sex before marriage or even having sex with no commitment is seen as wrong. Punzo has answered the question of is having pre-martial sex without any commitment wrong, with using Wilsons theory of sexual intercourse to compare it with playing tennis and Chessers theory of two people going to see movies together. Both Wilson and Chesser see it normal and there is nothing morally wrong about having pre-marital sex. At the same time, Punzo has disagreed with both of them stating that going to the movies or playing tennis with many people are just some general activities which anyone can encounter, but it does not necessary have to be the one you would have sex with, or have any sexual interest with. In Punzos view, sexual intercourse must be between two committed people, so having sex without any sort of commitment is wrong. Punzo states that commitment is a must before sex, as one must agree to commit to a relationship before they can move on to a new level in their rela tionship, through having sex, the two gives themselves to each other in the way of trust, expressing ones mind, and feelings through the most intimate activity, sexual intercourse. Punzo see Ellistons argument between sex and dinning is a wrong example because dinning and sex are two different things, it is in an extreme that it has nothing to do with each other, dinning and sex has no connection at all. Dinning can be with any friends, or family members, and it does not involve any sexual contacts. Yes, dining can be with your spouse, partner but it can also be with someone else. Both eating and sex do give people satisfaction, but they are totally different from each other. Food is a need for people to survive but people can live with out sex. Ellistons theory is to have sexual intercourse with as many people as you can before falling in love, but Punzos theory is to be in love or have the necessary commitment before having sexual intercourse. The moral perspectives of both are totally different from each other. This is why Punzo would not agree with Elliston and vice versa. Ellistons argument has a defect to it, it is having sex with a number of people does not only increase the skills of ones sexual ability, but it also limits the important value of having the most intimate relationship with the other through sexual intercourse. I believe we all know that having sex with the one we love is the most loving and special feeling of being complete as a whole. If one is engaged in a sexual activity with many other people and then stated that the one is now in love with their partner is not a rational theory, but it is also very confusing and unreasonable that promiscuity does not damage a committed relationship. Having sex without any commitment, and isolate oneself with uncommitted sex is a view that may not be true. They can have sex without any commitment but they might realize more about themselves. It doesnt mean they are isolating themselves just because they do not involve in a committed relationship. Punzos full commitment does not have a clear defin ition, does it mean to be in a legal marriage with legal documents, and so if the two are just common-law couple then does that mean they are not legal? Punzo should have clear that term and have a better explanation of it. With the mutual understanding and respects towards each other with pre-martial sex, it is not going to affect the two negatively. It would not be harm if pre-martial sex will lead the two into commitment and onto future commitment, it would become a good thing. If pre-martial sex is happening then protection is needed to prevent any unexpected or unwanted pregnancy. In conclusion, both Punzo and Elliston has their pros and cons. Premarital sex should follow Punzos theory of sex, and they must involve commitment, but not with full commitment. Punzo did not clarify what full commitment means, if it meant at the stage of being legally married, then those who are only engaged or soon to be marry couples should not be having any sexual interactions. Also promiscuity must be permitted only if no one is being hurt and lie to as a result of promiscuity. It is true that Ellistons argument of double standard needs to be remove because it is only seen as woman being the one that are at a disadvantage, but sometimes it is not the case, woman would be out to lie to man just to get money or any material that need from the man. Therefore double standard should be remove but not promiscuity. Also promiscuity is a good way to practice ones sexual skills and ability in the bed, it is true to the term practice makes prefect, it would suit this practice of promiscu ity closely.

Jerry Springer Compared To Oprah Winfrey :: essays research papers fc

Springer vs. Winfrey   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the world of entertainment, TV talk shows have undoubtedly flooded every inch of space on daytime television. Many of us have seen and heard the often recycled topics found on such veteran shows as Geraldo and Sally Jesse Raphael. Anyone who watches talk shows on a regular basis knows that each one varies in style and format. One might enjoy watching the sometimes trashy subject matter found on Jenny Jones, while someone else might prefer the more serious and light-hearted feel of the Maury Povich show. But no two shows are more profoundly opposite in the content, while at the same time standing out above the rest, than the Jerry Springer and Oprah Winfrey shows.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Jerry Springer could easily be considered the king of â€Å"trash talk.† The topics on his show are as shocking as they come. For example, the show takes the ever common talk show themes of love, lust, sex, sexuality, adultery, cheating, guilt, hate, conflict and morality to a different level. In a vintage Springer show, one finds women who cheated on their boyfriends and are ready to confess. But the boyfriends are in for an even bigger surprise when they find out who their girlfriends have been cheating with. As the secret lovers are patiently waiting back stage, the girlfriends confess that they have been cheating on their men with other women. Another episode seemed reminiscent of the John and Lorenna Bobbitt case, only more twisted. A man cuts off his own genitals because he claimed that his homosexual neighbor was stalking him. Shocking, indeed, but the list of talk material goes on from dangerous love triangles, broken homes, pregnant strippers, teen age prostitutes, adult film stars, devil worshippers, and the always popular rates booster, the KKK. Clearly, the Jerry Springer Show is a display and exploitation of societies moral catastrophes; yet people are willing to eat up the intriguing mishaps of other people’s lives.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Oprah Winfrey was once a follower of the trash TV format, but her long running popular TV talk show has since been reformed. Like Jerry Springer, the Oprah Winfrey Show takes talk TV to its extreme, but Oprah goes in the opposite direction. Oprah’s show is probably the most immaculate talk show there is. It is unlikely that you will find guests on Oprah that have committed adultery, or have sold their souls to the devil. Instead, the show focuses on the improvement of society and an individual’s quality of life.

Anorexia Nervosa Essay -- essays research papers

Anorexia Nervosa A lot of people including men not just women often dream about having the perfect body. Some may work hard for it and others may think they cannot achieve that dream. In our society, we seem to make body image appear to be almost one of the most important things. Young girls less then thirteen years of age can start to see themselves as being "fat" even if they are thin. In fashion magazines for instance, you will hardly ever see pictures of overweight or slightly overweight people. They are filled with runway models who are so skinny it looks as if they are sick with a disease or are cracked out on drugs. How can people think that looking that way is attractive? It's so disgustingly gross to see models like that when they look emaciated at times. They call themselves "models." Who would want to model themselves after someone who looked like that? Although, it is sad to say that some people actually go as far as starving themselves to look like what they thin k is perfect. Anorexia nervosa is an illness that most commonly happens with teenage girls. At times even teenage boys and adults can struggle with anorexia. Anorexia causes people to be obsessed with food and being thin. Often at times, people with anorexia have emotional problems and use food and weight to try to deal with their problems with a sense of control. "Ninety percent of all anorexics are women" (The National Women's Health Information Center Pg. 1 of 4). There is no exact cause of anorexia. For some, they feel that they are not happy and think that being thin Butler 2 would make them a lot happier and successful. Anorexia can sometimes come from problems in relationships or bad experiences from early childhood. People with anorexia are perfectionists. They need everything to be perfect in their lives and if not, then they blame themselves if their lives are not perfect. Along with having anorexia, there are many problems caused b... ...ients. There are also support groups that anorexics go to so they can discuss their fears and help each other recover from their illness. People with anorexia need full on support from their friends and family as well. Friends and family need to show love for the person with the illness. A lot of times, people with anorexia will beg and lie so they don't have to eat. They feel if they will give up the control they have from gaining weight. Friends and family need to be strong when dealing with a person who is suffering from anorexia. They cannot let the person talk them into believing there is nothing wrong or let the person convince them that they don't need to eat for the time being. Family and friends need to be there for that person and shouldn't get angry at them. Being anorexic is an illness and needs professional help because it cannot be controlled by willpower. Word count: 917

Little Albert

Assignment One – Mini Lit Review. The Little Albert Study. Not everyone believes that biology is our destiny. Many scientists whole-heartedly believe it is our experiences in life that count. They believe that it is our up-bringing, education, and our environment that form our behaviour, beliefs and characteristics. Chief among scientists in this field of thought is psychologist John Watson. Watson developed a theory that we are not restricted to our genetic make-up, but instead we arrive into the world as a blank slate and all our information is learned.There is continuous dispute over this theory with the nature nurture debate strongly in play (McLeod, 2007). On the nature side of the debate, it is believed that individual’s differences are determined by their unique genetic make-up. They argue that all other characteristics that develop later in life are caused by maturation (McLeod, 2007). The other side is nurture which John Watson strongly supports. This side says that we come into the world as a blank slate and through experiences our slate is gradually filled (McLeod, 2007).To support the theory that environment is more powerful than genetics, Watson designed an experiment on an infant commonly known as the Little Albert experiment. This experiment focused on Ivan Pavlov’s process of classical conditioning. Watson believed and wanted to prove that all human psychology can be explained by this process (McLeod, 2008). The other studies that I will be comparing the Little Albert experiment to will be â€Å"Elevated fear conditioning to socially relevant unconditioned stimuli in Social Anxiety Disorder† (Lissek, Levson, Biggs, et all, 2008) and the study of Pavlov’s dogs (Pavlov, 1928).These studies will enable me to make a justified evaluation of the Little Albert study by making comparisons to these two other studies. The Little Albert experiment was conducted by John Watson and Rosalie Rayner in 1920. They chose nine mo nth old Baby Albert for the study because Albert had been reared almost from birth in Harriet Lane home for Invalid Children where his mother was a wet nurse. Albert was deemed extremely stable and well developed which determined his suitability for the experiment (McLeod, 2007).The focus of their study was to continue on from Pavlov’s experiment involving the classical conditioning of dogs, and determine whether this empirical evidence was also evident in humans (Watson, 1924). More specifically, they were focusing on conditioned emotional responses. In determining these aspects they conducted a series of different tests involving a variation of stimulus. Before the experiment commenced, they gave Albert a sequence of baseline tests to determine his initial fear responses to stimuli.They presented him with burning paper, a monkey, a dog, cotton wool, a fur coat (seal), various masks and a white rat. During the baseline, Albert showed no initial fear to these items. Throughou t the study these items (fluffy white objects) served as the independent variables. The dependant variable was whether or not Albert cried or showed distress. During the study Albert was positioned on a mattress on a table. Albert was presented with a white rat and just as he reached out to touch it, a metal bar was struck with a hammer behind him.Albert jumped and fell forward, burring his head into the mattress, but did not cry. After these two stimuli were paired on several occasions, Albert was presented with only the white rat. As the rat appeared in front of him he became distressed and turned away, puckered his lips, began to cry and crawled away (Watson, 1924). From this, it became obvious that Albert’s fear had been conditioned. Albert had associated the white rat with a loud noise producing fear, thus having conditioned fear of the white rat. The experiment showed that Little Albert generalized his response from furry animals to anything furry.Albert showed the same reactions as the initial experiment when Watson presented him with a furry dog, seal-skin coat and even a Santa-Claus mask (Watson, 1924). The way in which Albert’s responses were measured was through the amount of distress to the stimuli he presented. The Little Albert study is a highly popular study especially across the field of Psychology. Although the study has provided valuable knowledge and understanding of learned behaviours and the development of phobias, it’s procedures considering ethics are questionable.The fact that Albert was only nine months old deems this study unethical. Albert’s mother was obviously desperate for money to support her son, so the bribe of money probably out-weighted the possible harm caused to her son. Albert’s mother probably wasn’t entirely aware of the potential risks involved. Albert’s fear was supposed to be extinguished at the end of the experiment, but he moved away. Other ethical codes that have bee n violated in this study are that of the distress that it caused.Little Albert was never desensitized from the conditioning undergone meaning that because he had a conditioned fear of white furry objects, he would forever be terrified of white furry objects (Watson, 1924). In today’s code of ethics, the welfare of the participant/s is the most important factor and under no circumstances should this protection be hindered, unless the participant has given consent to be put under this distress. It is also now deemed unethical to purposely cause distress to a participant in laboratory circumstances (Weiten, 2008).These unethical procedures could have been corrected quite simply. In the study of fear conditioning in people with social anxiety disorder, they conducted what called an extinction process where the participants were desensitized from any fear conditioning that took part throughout the experiment (Lissek, Levson, Biggs, et al, 2008). This experiment is clearly ethical as it was only conducted in 2008 and would have had to have been passed by the ethics board in order to be conducted. The Little Albert study is a valid study; however it was not measured effectively.The way in which Little Albert’s fear was measured was just whether or not he cried or showed distress. The way in which they measured this could have been improved in order to get more valid and reliable results. In this case, the studies operational definition was not valid. The Little Albert study could have used apparatus in order to get more valid results. For example, they could have measured Albert’s fear by assessing his skin conductivity. This would have measured Albert’s distress through measuring the arousals in his skin i. e. weat. They also could have used the blink-startle response measurement as used in â€Å"Elevated fear conditioning to socially relevant unconditioned stimuli in Social Anxiety Disorder† (Lissek, Levson, Biggs, et al, 2008). T his method measures how much the participant blinks when presented with a stimuli. If the participant is startled (scared) by something, they will blink a lot more than if they are not startled. The reliability of the Little Albert study is not strong. If the same study was conducted today, the same results would not be found.Little Albert’s responses to the stimuli that he was presented with could have been a result of his general fear of animals, not that he conditioned a fear of white fluffy objects. Most people would agree with me when I say that if you were a nine month old baby and an animal was jumping up at your face, you would be scared and would become distressed. Being a nine month old baby, Albert also could have just been tired, bored, and hungry or just missed his Mother. None of these factors were accounted for during the trials.If the same study was conducted today, it would become extremely obvious that times have changed and so too should the design of the s tudy. The reliability of the experiment is hindered by the fact that the method of measurement is simply observation and there is no concrete evidence being analysed. For example if they were to measure brain activity or use the blink-startle reaction measurement, these results would be a lot more concrete and therefore the study would be classed a lot more reliable.In comparison, the 1928 study of Pavlov’s dogs (Pavlov, 1928) is a lot more reliable even though it is only a few years newer than the Little Albert study. If Pavlov’s experiment was replicated today, very similar if not the same results would be found. The fact that Pavlov used concrete methods of measuring his data deemed his study a lot more reliable. If he was to measure the amount that the dogs salivate by just observing them, it would not be as valid.To conclude, through the evaluation of the Little Albert study and comparison to â€Å"â€Å"Elevated fear conditioning to socially relevant unconditio ned stimuli in Social Anxiety Disorder† (Lissek, Levson, Biggs, et al, 2008) and Pavlov’s dogs (Pavlov, 1928) it has come to my attention that the Little Albert study does not comply to today’s code of ethics, the reliability is not strong and could be improved on however it is a valid study, but the operational definition could be improved.I feel that the contributions to knowledge of conditioned fear are valuable to society and has proved useful in various situations and other studies. Future studies on this topic would prove extremely valuable to society and our understanding on fear conditioning. References McLeod, S. A. (2007). Simply Psychology; Nature Nurture in Psychology. Retrieved 3 April 2012, from http://www. simplypsychology. org/naturevsnurture. html McLeod, S. A. (2007). Simply Psychology; Pavlov. Retrieved 3 April 2012, from http://www. implypsychology. org/pavlov. html McLeod, S. A. (2008). Simply Psychology; Classical Conditioning. Retrieved 3 A pril 2012, from http://www. simplypsychology. org/classical-conditioning. html Pavlov, I. P. (1928). Lectures On Conditioned Reflexes. (Translated by W. H. Gantt) London: Allen and Unwin. Watson, J. B. & Rayner, R. (1920). Conditioned emotional reactions. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 3, 1, pp. 1–14. Weiten, W. (2011). Psychology: Themes and Variations. Belmont, Calif: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.

Racism in the Adventure of Huckleberry Finn Essay

Introduction Huckleberry Finn is a wonderful book that captures the heart of the reader in its brilliance and innocence. Despite many critics have attacked its racist perspective;the piece merely represents a reality that occurred during antebellum America,the setting of the novel. Twain’s literary devices in capturing the focal of excitement,adventure,and human sympathy is a wonderful novel that should be recognized,not for bigotry, but that it is the candid viewpoint of a boy that grew up in that era. And even then,the protagonist does overcome some social prejudices of slavery because he is concerned with the well-being of his runaway slave friend Jim. That the mockery of the slave race in the end allowed by Huck is more about fulfilling the awes of Huck towards Tom. The novel is a success because it does not fail to capture the one singular point of growing up for Huck:boyhood. Mark Twain definitely characterizes the protagonist,the intelligent and sympathetic Huckleberry Finn,by the direct candid manner of writing as though through the actual voice of Huck. Every word,thought, and speech by Huck is so precise it reflects even the racism and black stereotypes typical of the era. And this has lead to many conflicting battles by various readers since the first print of the novel,though inspiring some. Says John H. Wallace,outraged by Twain’s constant use of the degrading and white supremacist word‘nigger’,†[The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is]the most grotesque example of racist trash ever written†(Mark Twain Journal by Thadious Davis,Fall 1984 and Spring 1985). Yet,again to counter that is a quote by the great American writer Ernest Hemingway,†All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn†¦it’s the best book we’ve had†¦There has been nothing as good since†(The Green Hills of Africa [Scribner’s. 1953]22). The controversy behind the novel has been and will always remain the crux of any readers is still truly racism. Twain surely does use the word‘nigger’often,both as a referral to the slave Jim and any African-American that Huck comes across and as the epitome of insult and inferiority. However,the reader must also not fail to recognize that this style of racism,this malicious treatment of African- Americans,this degrading attitude towards them is all stylized of the pre- Civil War tradition. Racism is only mentioned in the novel as an object of natural course and a precision to the actual views of the setting then. Huckleberry Finn still stands as a powerful portrayal of experience through the newfound eyes of an innocent boy. Huck only says and treats the African-American culture accordingly with the society that he was raised in. To say anything different would truly be out of place and setting of the era. Twain’s literary style in capturing the novel,Huck’s casual attitude and candid position,and Jim’s undoubted acceptance of the oppression by the names all signifies this. The thesis has three chapters. Chapter one is introduction of the whole work. Chapter two give some information about the criticism literature. Chapter three give a deep look at the research about the racial problems in the book Huck Finn. Chapter four is the conclusion part. 1 Literature Review Literary criticism is an attempt to evaluate and understand the creative writing,the literature of an author. Literature includes plays, essays,novels,poetry,and short stories. Literary criticism is a description,analysis,evaluation,or interpretation of a particular literary work or an author’s writings as a whole. Literary criticism is usually expressed in the form of a critical essay. In-depth book reviews are also sometimes viewed as literary criticism. Controversial in death as he was in life,Mark Twain has been seriously accused by some of being a†racist writer,†whose writing is offensive to black readers,perpetuates cheap slave-era stereotypes,and deserves no place on today’s bookshelves. To those of us who have drunk gratefully of Twain’s wisdom and humanity,such accusations are ludicrous. But for some people they clearly touch a raw nerve,and for that reason they deserve a serious answer. Let’s look at the book that is most commonly singled out for this criticism,the novel that Ernest Hemingway identified as the source of all American literature:The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. For Twain’s critics,the novel is racist on the face of it,and for the most obvious reason:many characters use the word†nigger†throughout. But since the action of the book takes place in the south twenty years before the Civil War,it would be amazing if they didn’t use that word. A closer reading also reveals Twain’s serious satiric intent. In one scene,for instance,Aunt Sally hears of a steamboat explosion. â€Å"Good gracious! anybody hurt? â€Å"she asks. â€Å"No’m,†comes the answer. â€Å"Killed a nigger. † But anyone who imagines that Mark Twain meant this literally is 580 SCIENCE&TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION2010 5? missing the point. Rather,Twain is using this casual dialogue ironically, as a way to underscore the chilling truth about the old south,that it was a society where perfectly†nice†people didn’t consider the death of a black person worth their notice. To drive the point home,Twain has the lady continue: â€Å"Well,it’s lucky,because sometimes people do get hurt. † That’s a small case in point. But what is the book really about? It’s about nothing less than freedom and the quest for freedom. It’s about a slave who breaks the law and risks his life to win his freedom and be reunited with his family,and a white boy who becomes his friend and helps him escape. Because of his upbringing,the boy starts out believing that slavery is part of the natural order;but as the story unfolds he wrestles with his conscience,and when the crucial moment comes he decides he will be damned to the flames of hell rather than betray his black friend. And Jim,as Twain presents him,is hardly a caricature. Rather,he is the moral center of the book,a man of courage and nobility,who risks his freedom–risks his life–for the sake of his friend Huck. Note,too,that it is not just white critics who make this point. Booker T. Washington noted how Twain†succeeded in making his  readers feel a genuine respect for’Jim,'†and pointed out that Twain,in creating Jim’s character,had†exhibited his sympathy and interest in the masses of the negro people. † The great black novelist Ralph Ellison,too,noted how Twain allows Jim’s†dignity and human capacity†to emerge in the novel. â€Å"Huckleberry Finn knew,as did Mark Twain[Ellison wrote],that Jim was not only a slave but a human being[and]a symbol of humanity†¦ and in freeing Jim,Huck makes a bid to free himself of the conventionalized evil taken for civilization by the town†Ã¢â‚¬â€œin other words,of the abomination of slavery itself. In fact,you can search through all of Twain’s writings,not just the thirty-plus volumes of novels,stories,essays,and letters,but also his private correspondence,his posthumous autobiography and his intimate journals,and you’ll be hard put to find a derogatory remark about the black race–and this at a time when crude racial stereotypes were the basic coin of popular fiction,stage comedy,and popular songs. What you find in Twain is the opposite:a lively affection and admiration for black Americans that began when he was still a boy and grew steadily through the years. In a widely praised post-Civil War sketch titled†A True Story,†for example,he wrenchingly evoked the pain of an ex-slave as she recalls being separated from her young son on the auction block, and her joy at discovering him in a black regiment at war’s end. And on those occasions when Twain does venture to compare blacks and whites,the comparison is not conspicuously flattering to the whites. Things like: ?†One of my theories is that the hearts of men are about alike,all over the world,whatever their skin-complexions may be. † ?†Nearly all black and brown skins are beautiful,but a beautiful white skin is rare. † ?†There are many humorous things in the world;among them is the white man’s notion that he is less savage than all the other savages. † 2 Methods/Research Design The null hypothesis for this research is that half of the university students study literature will think that there are racial discrimination in the book Huck Finn and others won’t. 1000 students in their third and forth years of university will be the subject. They must never see the book or the movie of Huck Finn. They come from both big cities and rural area. They are divided into four groups. The first two groups(each has 250 students)include the students from big cities,part of them students from rural areas. First,all of them will hear the story of Huck Finn. Then they wi answer relevant questions about the images of Huck Finn in th questionnaires and during the interviews. The questions are about th using method of language,the plot design and the thinking of Huck,et Finally,the movie of Huck Finn will be shown. Students will describe th image of Huck and their views about racial problems in this book According to their answers,different answers will be divided into differen groups. After these works,comes the analyses of the statistics and dat After comparing the answers of the four groups,gives the conclusio whether literary students from big cities and from rural areas have th same opinion of the racial discrimination in this book. As expected,half o them will have the same opinion and half of them won’t. 3 Anticipated Results 3. 1 Time-Table My studies will last more than two years. I decide to spend about 5 hours per month on my studies. I plan to spend the first six month developing my proposal and methodology and completing the literatur review. During this period,I will also attend some relevant courses abou reader’s response theory. Then I will spend about six months i questionnaires and interviews. After that,I plan to spend eight months i analyzing the statistics and data. Finally,four month will be used mainl on the thesis. February 2008–Aug. 2008 *Develop proposal and methodology and complete the literatur review *Attend some relevant courses about reader’s response theory Aug. 2008–Feb. 2009 *Design the questionnaires Collection of official and unofficia statistic Feb. 2009-October 2009. *INTERVIEWS October 2009–Feb. 2008 *Analysis the statistics and data *Mainly work on the thesis 3. 2 Anticipated result University students from different countries will have differen opinion on the same thing. As expected,half of them will have the sam opinion and half of them won’t. However,if the result doesn’t suppo my anticipated result,I will try to find the weakness of my researc design,and improve it. Then do the research again and again. If I als can not get the anticipated result,I will accept the result with a scientifi attitude. [1]David E. E. Sloane. Mark Twain’s Humor:Critical Essays. New York an London:Garland Publishing,Inc. ,1993. [2]Harold Bloom. Mark Twain(Bloom’s Modern Critical Views)(Hardcover Chelsea House Publications;Library Binding edition. July 1986. [3]... ,2001. [4]http://42explore. com/litcrit. htm. [5]http://www. dreamkidland. cn/cpgs/hkbl/001. htm. [6]www. classicreader. com/author. php/aut. [7]www. ucpress. edu/books/MTW. ser. html. ? ? Group number Students from big cities Students from rural areas questionnaire No. 1 No. 3 interview No. 2 No. 4 0 0