Crime Control Model Vs. Due Process Model Essay - 1614 Words

Within the justice system lays two different methods used to protect society and individual whom commit crime the crime control model vs. due process model. There has been an ongoing intense debate over which criminal process works best for the United States and its citizens. Should individuals be given the right to be innocent until proven guilty? Or should individuals be placed in jail before being convicted of the crime? Should individual’s rights be thrown out as soon as they are assumed guilty of a crime? Or should individuals keep their rights regardless of a crime committed? Another major conflict in the criminal justice system is the effectiveness of deterrence and does it reduce recidivism? The justice system is need of finding an effective process that works best for society and handles the crime being committed. The goal of the United States justice system is to protect individuals from injustice and maintain social order. (Perron, 2001).The crime control model is used to make sure those who commit crime are held responsible and society is given justice. The crime control model focuses on setting aside guidelines for every citizen to follow. The crime control model was developed by the late Herbert Packer, and began its use in the late 1900’s. This model focuses on swift arrest, prosecution, and conviction of criminals. Individuals whom agree with the crime control model believe if the swift prosecution and conviction of a criminal is not done then we leading toShow MoreRelatedThe Mechanisms Of The Criminal Justice System902 Words   |  4 Pagessociety’s morals and values. It is our form of social control. As set out in our text, in 1964 two models eme rged in an article written by Herbert Packer, â€Å"Two Models of the Criminal Process.† Professor Packer proposed that there are two fundamental criminal justice models: the crime control model and the due process model. Decision making within the criminal justice system is based on these two philosophical models. Historically, emphasis for one model over the other has shifted back and forth throughoutRead MoreDue Process v. Crime Control Essay703 Words   |  3 Pages Due Process Vs. Crime Control The â€Å"crime control† model is defined as a process that uses every effort to repress and reduce crime. It has emphasis on speed, efficiency, and finality. This gives it the ability to apprehend, try, and convict a high number of offenders.(Cole, Smith, DeJong, 2013, p. 13) Anyone familiar with â€Å"Judge Dredd† is also familiar with the crime control model. Due process is defined as a model where every effort must be made ensuringRead MoreThe Preventive Approach Of The First Policing System Essay1384 Words   |  6 Pagesand proactive. These were each created in their own times to help combat crime or to aid the publics general safety. Each were suited to society’s needs at the time, the technology, and the diversity of the people. The preventative approach focuses on preventing future crime. To do this the police use methods such as patrolling areas where crime rates are higher to deter criminals. The reactive approach was more of a crime fighting menta lity, where the focus was on arrest rates and response timesRead MoreThe Violence Against Women Act914 Words   |  4 Pagescreated the â€Å"Duluth Model† that to this day, serves as â€Å"an every evolving way of thinking about how a community works together to end domestic violence† (â€Å"The Duluth Model – What is the Duluth Model?†, 2011). The Duluth Model approach takes the blame off victims and holds perpetrators accountable for their actions, as it believes that the act of battering is a â€Å"pattern of actions used to intentionally control or dominate an intimate partner† (â€Å"The Duluth Model – What is the Duluth Model?†, 2011), and thenRead MoreThe Crime Control Method : Plea Bargaining1126 Words   |  5 Pages The Crime Control Method: Plea Bargaining Renee Gainey The University of Alabama â€Æ' Abstract The criminal justice system acts on the crime control model; which focuses on the arrest, prosecution, and finally the conviction of criminals. Plea-bargaining exists in this model today as it speeds the process of a trial and conviction. With pleading guilty, criminals skip the process of a trial and faces their punishment. There are some benefits and negative aspects that come along withRead MoreLeading Org Final Exam Notes Essay1575 Words   |  7 Pagesambiguity (uncertainty of tasks or social expectations), work overload (quantitative, qualitative, overwork) Task Control Stressors, stress increases when employees lack control over how and when tasks are performed, pace of work activity Organizational amp; Physical Environment Stressors, Organizational (most prevalent is downsizing, reduced job security etc, additional workloads), Physical (due to excessive noise, poor lighting and hazards) Work-non-work Stressors, Time-based conflict (travel, rotatingRead MoreEssay on Restorative Justice: Comparative Studies947 Words   |  4 Pagesor mend the harm that is done to crime victims. This process empowers the victim through processes of mediation and negotiation. Restorative justice is not a new theory within many cultures. The United States justice system however engages two types of criminological theories that deal directly with crime different from that of restorative justice. (1)The retribution model, which emphasizes the deterrence of crime through punishment; (2) the rehabilitation model, which engages society to assistRead MoreThe Influence Of Cybersecurity Define The Hacker Motives Or Psychology1304 Words   |  6 Pagescomputers owners about outdated antivirus software, acts out of curiosity. Yet, the hacker is unauthorized to infiltrate client computer systems; and by doing so, the hacker commits a crime. 3. Boredom: It may seem abnormal that boredom or simply wanting to escape the current environment motivates a hacker to commit a crime by wishing to change the daily routine. 4. Challenge: The curiosity to find weaknesses in an otherwise well-guarded system or an IT system pushes the hacker to greater heights ofRead MoreIs the Death Penalty an Effective Deterrent?1677 Words   |  7 Pagesand the possible mistakes. Those who recommended the death penalty had higher scores on a measure of vengeance then those who picked life sentence. In this experiment there was 305 participants. A 2x6 design, with no argument, and no justification control condition was used. They were then asked to indicate what sentence they would recommend after they heard the scenario. They were also told to pick how confident they were with their decision and then complete a 20 item Vengeance Scales. AnalysesRead MoreThe Argument Of The Insanity Defense1429 Words   |  6 Pagesat the time of a committed crime has been a discussion of great debate among society. Although it is rarely used in criminal proceedings its credibility is still questioned by many people. 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Indian Auto Industry Free Essays

The Indian Mid-Segment Passenger Car Industry Nitin Gupta* and Vaibhav Shekhar** The Indian automobile industry is one of the fastest growing automobile industries in the world. The low penetration level of cars in India coupled with rise in the disposable income of its working population has made it an attractive destination for global automobile manufacturers. This case deals with the mid-size car segment of the passenger car industry in India. We will write a custom essay sample on Indian Auto Industry or any similar topic only for you Order Now In 2009-10, this segment accounted for approximately 12. % of the total passenger cars manufactured in India and its Year-on-year (YoY) growth rate was approximately 15%. The major players in this segment include Tata Motors, Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai Motors India, Ford India, General Motors India, Honda Siel India, Mahindra-Renault and Hindustan Motors. In addition to the existing players, various new players like Volkswagen, Nissan, Fiat, etc. , have either already entered in this segment or are about to enter. The case highlights various issues being faced by current as well as new entrants in this segment. The case provides exhaustive contemporary data on the mid-size car segment of the passenger car industry in India. Analysis of the case can be done using Porter’s five forces model. Many people buy compact cars today because they do not have the money to buy a sedan. So there is a high aspirational value attached to mid-size cars and newer cars at lower prices will only make more people think of buying them. – Pradeep Saxena, Head of the Auto Research Division at Consultancy Firm TNS1 Introduction Automobile Industry is considered to be one of the key sectors of any economy; it is capable of being the driver of economic growth because of both its backward as well as forward linkages with other sectors of the economy. According to the Automotive Mission Plan (2006-16), India is one of the fastest growing automobile industries in the world. The sector’s share in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rose from 2. 8% in fiscal year 1992-93 (April 1992-March 1993) to 5% in fiscal year 2005-06 2 and it has been rising every year since then. In the year 2009-10, Indian automobile industry produced more than 2 million passenger cars and more than 0. 5 million commercial vehicles. 3 According to the Eleventh Five Year Plan4 (2007-12), after liberalization in 1991, Indian * ** 1 2 3 4 Assistant Professor, IBS, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. E-mail: prof. nitingupta@gmail. com Research Scholar, IBS, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. E-mail: vaibhav. shekhar@yahoo. com http://timesofindia. indiatimes. com/articleshow/2888603. cms http://www. oppapers. om/essays/India-Automobile-Industry/155618 Society for Indian Automobile manufacturers, available at http://www. siamindia. com/upload/AMP . pdf Report by the Working Group on Automotive Industry, Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-12), Department of Heavy Industries, Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, India (August 2006). The IUP Journal of Business Strategy, Vol. VII, No. 3, 2010 Â © 2010 IUP All Rights Reserved. . 60 Automotive Industry had registered a spect acular growth of 17% during five fiscal years ranging between 2000-01 and 2005-06. Till 2002-03, it had achieved an investment of INR6 50,000 cr (US$10. 99 bn7) which went up to INR 80,000 cr in 2007 (US$17. 58 bn8) with a turnover of INR 165,000 cr (US$36. 26 bn). Moreover, an investment worth INR 35,000 cr (US$7. 69 bn) was in the pipeline. 9 According to the Annual Report (2007-08) of Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, Government of India, India is the second largest two-wheeler manufacturer in the world, fifth largest commercial vehicle manufacturer in the world, largest manufacturer of tractors in the world and fourth largest passenger car market in Asia. This achievement of the Indian automotive industry could be attributed to the Indian government’s decision to de-license the sector followed by up to 100% foreign direct investment through automatic route which enabled the industry to embark on a new journey since 1991. The above initiatives resulted in setting up of manufacturing facilities by major global players. It resulted in the massive enhancement of the production level of automobiles (which included passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, two wheelers and three heelers) from 2 million in 1991 to 11. 17 million vehicles in 2008-09. 10 The above measures taken by the Indian Government made India the new launch pad for global car manufacturers like Honda, Ford, Hyundai, General Motors, etc. Rising level of income of the Indians, availability of easy credit facility, relaxations in regulations by the Indian government in terms of import tariffs and equity regulations could be attributed as major reasons for this upsurge. The case concentrates on the mid-size car segment in India. It analyzes the reasons for the growth of this segment and the contemporary growth trends that it shows. The important issues that the case raises are: How is the impact of various external factors shaping this segment and what would be the future of this segment? Mid-Size Car Segment in India A mid-sized car11 is referred to as an automobile whose size lay between a small-sized car (Mini and Compact) and a full-sized car (Premium and Luxury). 12 It is generally priced between INR 3 lakh13 (US$6,953. 41) and INR 8 lakh (US$17,582. 2) with a carrying capacity of 4 passengers (2 adults and 2 children). The major players in this segment include Tata Motors, Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai Motors India, Ford India, General Motors India, Honda Siel India, Mahindra-Renault and Hindustan Motors (HM). Between the financial years, 2004-05 and 2009-10, the production of passenger vehicles in India rose from 1,027,858 units to 2,078,392 units, a phenomenal rise of more than 100% in production in just fi ve years. But during the same time period (2004-05 to 2009-10), the 5 6 7 8 10 11 12 13 Indian Automotive Industry includes Automobile Industry and Auto Component Industry. INR = Indian Rupee. Exchange Rate: 1 US$ = INR 45. 50 (applicable as on March 20, 2010). Figures of 2007 has been taken from Annual Report 2007-08, Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, Government of India. Figures as on 2006-07. Source: Annual Report 2007-08, Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, Government of India. http://www. ibef. org/industry/automobiles. spx Refer to Appendix for details on classification of passenger cars. http://auto. indiamart. com/cars/mid-size-cars. html 1 lakh = A Hundred Thousand. 61 The Indian Mid-Segment Passenger Car Industry production of the mid-size cars could not keep pace with the massive increase in the passenger vehicles in India and it increased by just 40. 5% (see to Table 1). As a result, the share of mid-size cars with respect to the total passenger vehicles produced dropped from more than 18% in 2004-05 to less than 13% in 2009-10 (see Table 2). Table 1: Total Production of Passenger Vehicles in India Indicator Total Production Total Mini Cars Production Total Compact Cars Production Total Mid-Size Cars Production Total Executive Cars Production Total Premium Cars Production Total Luxury Cars Production MUVs Production Figures in Units 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 1,027,858 1,112,794 1,322,739 127,175 614,137 187,345 26,673 5,017 140 67,371 98,047 714,985 200,019 27,660 5,333 89 66,661 99,400 881,665 212,763 39,478 4,477 249 84,707 ,531,545 1,619,095 2,078,392 81,179 245,972 44,166 5,745 525 105,333 62,323 229,239 33,526 7,527 543 102,128 69,195 263,352 42,293 9,092 375 151,908 1,048,625 1,183,809 1,542,177 Source: Center for Monitoring of Indian Economy: Industry Analysis Services Database Table 2: Segment-Wise Share in Production of Passenger Vehicles in India Indicator Total Mini Cars Production Total Compact Cars Production Total Mid-Size Cars Production Total Executive Cars Production Total Premium Ca rs Production Total Luxury Cars Production MUVs Production Figures in Percentages 2004-05 12. 7 59. 75 18. 23 2. 60 0. 49 0. 01 6. 55 2005-06 8. 81 64. 25 17. 97 2. 49 0. 48 0. 01 5. 99 2006-07 7. 51 66. 65 16. 09 2. 98 0. 34 0. 02 6. 40 2007-08 5. 30 68. 47 16. 06 2. 88 0. 38 0. 03 6. 88 2008-09 3. 85 73. 12 14. 16 2. 07 0. 46 0. 03 6. 31 2009-10 3. 33 74. 20 12. 67 2. 03 0. 44 0. 02 7. 31 Source: Center for Monitoring of Indian Economy: Industry Analysis Services Database A sign of growing economy in India is that since 2004-05 the sale of passenger vehicles always exceeded the production of passenger vehicles (except in the year 2007-08) (refer to Tables 1 and 3). Between 2004-05 and 2009-10, the sale of passenger vehicles also showed phenomenal growth of more than 100% (refer to Table 3). Of the total vehicles sold between 2004-05 and 2009-10, the share of mid-size cars dropped from just less than 20% to just over 14% (refer to Table 4). These trends have begun to cause substantial worry among the producers of the mid-size cars and they have started to explore the factors that are influencing such a trend. 62 The IUP Journal of Business Strategy, Vol. VII, No. 3, 2010 Table 3: Total Sales of Passenger Vehicles in India Indicator Total Car Sales Total Mini Car Sales Total Compact Cars Sales Total Mid-Size Cars Sales Total Executive Cars Sales Total Premium Cars Sales Total Luxury Cars Sales MUV Figures in Units 2004-05 1,047,109 124,447 617,837 206,888 25,646 5,876 155 66,260 2005-06 1,119,657 1,00,422 7,00,046 217,849 27,529 6,261 91 67,459 2006-07 1,353,574 96,103 890,504 235,355 40,964 5,978 249 84,421 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 1,516,716 1,659,777 2,120,366 87,003 249,152 42,195 6,209 862 101,871 63,992 271,662 33,641 9,042 1,093 107,767 69,004 299,175 46,686 11,455 1,265 151,869 1,029,424 1,172,580 1,540,912 Source: Center for Monitoring of Indian Economy: Industry Analysis Services Database Table 4: Segment-Wise Share in Sales of Passenger Vehicles in India Indicator 2004-05 Total Mini Car Sales Total Compact Cars Sales Total Mid-Size Cars Sales Total Executive Cars Sales Total Premium Cars Sales Total Luxury Cars Sales MUV 11. 88 59. 00 19. 76 2. 45 0. 56 0. 01 6. 33 2005-06 8. 97 62. 52 19. 46 2. 46 0. 56 0. 01 6. 02 Figures in Percentages 2006-07 7. 10 65. 79 17. 39 3. 03 0. 44 0. 02 6. 24 2007-08 5. 74 67. 87 16. 43 2. 78 0. 41 0. 6 6. 72 2008-09 3. 86 70. 65 16. 37 2. 03 0. 54 0. 07 6. 49 2009-10 3. 25 72. 67 14. 11 2. 20 0. 54 0. 06 7. 16 Source: Center for Monitoring of Indian Economy: Industry Analysis Services Database The major players in the mid-size segment of the passenger car industry in India has seen lot of upheaval between 2004-05 and 2009-10. As far as production figures, in 2004-05 are concerned, Tata Motors emerged as the market leader with the production of 41,103 u nits. It was closely followed by Honda Siel, Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai Motors. But, by 2009-10, Tata Motors not only lost its leadership position, it was nowhere near the top three players as far as the production of mid-size segment passenger cars in India were concerned. With the production of 99, 877 units or nearly 38% of the total mid-size cars produced in India, Maruti Suzuki had taken over the market leader’s position in this segment. It was followed by Hyundai Motors and Honda Siel (refer to Tables 5 and 6). Sales figures of mid-size segment passenger cars showed a completely different scenario from what was seen at the production front. In 2004-05, Ford India was the market leader with sales of 47,431 units, which translated into a market share of nearly 23%. It was The Indian Mid-Segment Passenger Car Industry 63 Table 5: Company-Wise Production of Mid-Size Cars in India Indicator Ford India Pvt. Ltd. Production Mid-Size Cars (4001-4500 mm): General Motors India Pvt. Ltd. Production (Mid-Size Cars) Hindustan Motors Ltd. Production (Mid-Size Cars) Honda Siel Cars India Ltd. Production (Mid-Size Cars) Hyundai Motor India Ltd. Production (Mid-Size Cars) Maruti Suzuki Ltd. Production (Mid-Size Cars) Tata Motors Ltd. Production (Mid-Size Cars) Mahindra Renault Pvt. Ltd. Production (Mid-Size Cars) Figures in Units 2004-05 25596 11036 14371 33036 30712 31491 41103 NA 2005-06 25294 4202 14909 37924 42288 31062 44247 NA 2006-07 39431 10337 12456 40147 41071 30465 37625 580 2007-08 33139 5574 10797 41901 47040 50596 30272 26653 2008-09 22439 2858 6940 36840 58873 73928 12957 14404 2009-10 28062 3832 9063 45980 46741 99877 23572 6225 Source: Center for Monitoring of Indian Economy: Industry Analysis Services Database Table 6: Company-Wise Share in Production of Mid-Size Cars in India Indicator Ford India Pvt. Ltd. Production Mid-size cars (4001-4500 mm): General Motors India Pvt. Ltd. Production (Mid-Size Cars) Hindustan Motors Ltd. Production (Mid-Size Cars) Honda Siel Cars India Ltd. Production (Mid-Size Cars) Hyundai Motor India Ltd. Production (Mid-Size Cars) Maruti Suzuki Ltd. Production (Mid-Size Cars) Tata Motors Ltd. Production (Mid-Size Cars) Mahindra Renault Pvt. Ltd. Production (Mid-Size Cars) Figures in Percentages 2004-05 13. 66 5. 89 7. 67 17. 63 16. 39 16. 81 21. 94 NA 2005-06 12. 65 2. 10 7. 45 18. 96 21. 14 15. 53 22. 12 NA 2006-07 18. 54 4. 86 5. 86 18. 88 19. 31 14. 33 17. 69 0. 27 2007-08 13. 47 2. 27 4. 39 17. 03 19. 12 20. 57 12. 31 10. 84 2008-09 9. 79 1. 25 3. 03 16. 07 25. 8 32. 25 5. 65 6. 28 2009-10 10. 66 1. 46 3. 44 17. 46 17. 75 37. 93 8. 95 2. 36 Source: Center for Monitoring of Indian Economy: Industry Analysis Services Database 64 The IUP Journal of Business Strategy, Vol. VII, No. 3, 2010 followed by Tata Motors, which had a market share of 19. 5%. Honda Siel was at the third position with market share of around 16%. Just five yea rs down the line, in 2009-10, Maruti Suzuki took the coveted position of the market leader with market share of more than 33%. Tata Motors continued to enjoy the second position (market share = 19. 23%), followed by Hyundai Motors (Market Share = 16. 2%) (refer to Tables 7 and 8). Ford India tumbled from the first spot in 2004-05 to the fifth spot in just five years. This shows the increasingly dynamic nature of the mid-size segment of the passenger car industry in India. Table 7: Company-Wise Sales of Mid-Size Cars in India Indicator Ford India Pvt. Ltd. Sales Mid-Size Cars (4001-4500 mm): General Motors India Pvt. Ltd. Sales (Mid-Size Cars) Hindustan Motors Ltd. Sales (Mid-Size Cars) Honda Siel Cars India Ltd. Sales (Mid-Size Cars) Hyundai Motor India Ltd. Sales (Mid-Size Cars) Maruti Suzuki Ltd. Sales (Mid-Size Cars) Tata Motors Ltd. Sales (Mid-Size Cars) Mahindra Renault Pvt. Ltd. Sales (Mid-Size Cars) Figures in Units 2004-05 47,431 10,650 14,609 32,767 29,828 29,702 40,454 na 2005-06 43,154 4,710 14,893 37,586 41,683 32,006 43,363 na 2006-07 62,808 10,726 12,334 40,489 39,003 29,781 39,462 0 2007-08 31,569 5624 11,005 40,550 48,171 49,402 36,859 25,891 2008-09 23,927 3,010 7,098 38,284 56,538 76,039 51,732 15,034 2009-10 28,004 3,874 9,039 45,082 49,412 99,854 57,532 6,332 Source: Center for Monitoring of Indian Economy: Industry Analysis Services Database What is interesting to note is that just eight players are active in this segment, though the intense rivalry is limited to the top four or five players only. More and more international players like Volkswagen, Renault (without Mahindra and Mahindra (MM)), Skoda and Fiat are introducing their products in this segment. This indicates a further increase in the intensity of the competition among the existing and the new players in the near future. To survive in such a highly competitive scenario, the existing players in the mid-size passenger cars segment will be forced to invest a considerable portion of their sales in research and development in order to produce new and better variants. This will be greatly beneficial for the Indian consumers. Indian Passenger Car Industry – An Attractive Destination According to the Indian Commerce Minister Kamal Nath, India is an attractive destination for global automobile manufacturers despite not having any specific trade The Indian Mid-Segment Passenger Car Industry 65 Table 8: Company-Wise Share in Sales of Mid-Size Cars in India Indicator Ford India Pvt. Ltd. Sales Mid-Size Cars (4001-4500 mm): General Motors India Pvt. Ltd. Sales (Mid-Size Cars) Hindustan Motors Ltd. Sales (Mid-Size Cars) Honda Siel Cars India Ltd. Sales (Mid-Size Cars) Hyundai Motor India Ltd. Sales (Mid-Size Cars) Maruti Suzuki Ltd. Sales (Mid-Size Cars) Tata Motors Ltd. Sales (Mid-Size Cars) Mahindra Renault Pvt. Ltd. Sales (Mid-Size Cars) Figures in Units 2004-05 22. 93 5. 15 7. 06 15. 84 14. 42 14. 36 19. 55 NA 2005-06 19. 81 2. 16 6. 84 17. 25 19. 13 14. 69 19. 91 NA 2006-07 26. 70 4. 56 5. 24 17. 21 16. 58 12. 66 16. 78 0 2007-08 12. 67 2. 26 4. 42 16. 28 19. 33 19. 83 14. 79 10. 39 2008-09 8. 81 1. 11 2. 61 14. 09 20. 81 27. 9 19. 04 5. 53 2009-10 9. 36 1. 29 3. 02 15. 07 16. 52 33. 38 19. 23 2. 12 Source: Center for Monitoring of Indian Economy: Industry Analysis Services Database agreements in this regard. 14 This is because there is an extremely low penetration level of cars in India (7 cars per thousand). 15 In addition, majority of the Indian population consists of youth having a median age of approximately 25 years16 and the population that fell in the working age g roup is 58% (approximately) which is estimated to increase to around 60% in the future. 7 This indicates an increase in the disposable income, which is likely to raise the penetration level of cars in India (as is evident from the current trend in the passenger car production and sales in India). These developments have made India an attractive destination for the global automobile companies. Auto majors18 like Ford, Honda, Hyundai, etc. , have not only entered into the mid-size segment of the Indian Passenger car industry but has also set up their manufacturing base in India. India’s liberal policy in terms of regulation has lowered the entry barriers for new entrants in the mid-segment of the passenger car industry. This has induced severe competition marked by high aspirations and new launches by existing players like MM, which in tie up with French car manufacturer Renault has launched Logan. Since this offering is not doing very well in the Indian market, Renault has decided to introduce new model of cars in India on its own, without any partner. Ford India is 14 15 16 17 18 http://www. surfindia. com/automobile/industry-investment. html Auto Motive Mission Plan (ibid). https://www. cia. gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/in. html#People http://populationcommission. nic. in/facts1. tm (Here the working age is considered between 15 years to 60 years), Figures as in 2001. Center for Monitoring of Indian Economy: Industry Analysis Services Database. The IUP Journal of Business Strategy, Vol. VII, No. 3, 2010 66 targeting to improve its position through aggressive marketing and by increasing its investment in manufacturing. 19 Moreover the existing players like Tata Motors, Maruti a nd Fiat are also planning to launch new models in this segment. 20 Intensifying the competition, Fiat India has launched Linea and Grand Punto in the Indian mid-size car segment. The Indian Customers A study on Indian consumers, conducted by Mckinsey Global Institute, 21 discusses the income level of the Indian consumers with the growth in the Indian economy. The report predicts that if India’s growth continues unabated, then the rise of over 291 million people over desperate poverty line by 2025, will make it the fifth largest consumer market in the world. 22 Moreover, the reports forecast a massive rise in the number of Indian middle-class to 583 mn by 2025. The report also discusses a rise in the average household disposable income from INR 113,744 (US$2,499. 7) in 2005 to INR 318,896 (US$7008. 70) by 2025. These results indicates a rise in the consumption level of the Indian consumers and shift in the consumption pattern from necessities towards discretionary consumption which include expenditure on transportation in the form of passenger cars. The findings of the report also reveal a change in spending habits of the rich urban households which con verges with that of their counterparts in developed countries and their priority expenditure includes purchase of branded apparels, foreign vacations and purchase of passenger cars. Other reasons (apart from economic growth) cited by the report include availability of easy consumer financing, tendency of the people to rely more on their personal vehicles and reduction in the prices of the passenger cars. Population commission report indicates that majority of the Indian population consists of youth with increasing disposable income. 23 According to the findings of CSMM-BW Customer Survey 2006-07, Indian consumers are discerning and are of highly demanding nature, which make them a tough nut to crack for the marketers. 4 The survey measures the attitude of the Indian customers towards various companies using two key dimensions viz. Customer Experience (how the customers rate the firm’s performance) and Customer Loyalty (extent of customer’s goodwill a firm enjoys) covering 16 products and services. The results of the survey reveal the rising expectations of the Indian consumers which the marketers are finding difficult to meet on a consistent basis. The above result is attributed to the churn that has taken place post liberalization in the Indian economy. 19 20 21 22 23 24 http://www. hinduonnet. om/businessline/2000/06/24/stories/192402fr. htm http://auto. indiamart. com/cars/mid-size-cars. html www. scribd. com/doc/47945/McKinsey-MGI-india-consumer-full-report Desperate poverty has been defined in the study as people with an annual income of less than INR 90,000 (US$1850. 33). Source: http://populationcommission. nic. in/facts1. htm (Here the working age is considered between 15 years to 60 years), Figures as in 2001. Customer Satisfaction Management and Measurement (CSMM) A Specialized Unit of Market Research Firm IMRB International (BW – Business World): Marketing White Book 2001-08). 7 The Indian Mid-Segment Passenger Car Industry The report also discusses about the availability of new and better choices for Indian consumers due to opening up of the Indian economy post liberalization. This development, according to the report, coupled with increase in their income level is the major reason for the rise in consumer expectations about various products and services that they purchased. The inability of the marketers to meet their customers’ expectations and the availability of newer and better alternatives could be seen as one of the ajor reasons for the decline in consumer loyalty towards various players operating in the market. Rising disposable income of the working population and increase in the number of car models introduced by different companies operating in India, has increased the array of choice for the Indian consumers. With new players entering into the lucrative Indian domestic market and with the current players introducing new models in different segments, the bargaining power of the Indian customers is increasing. This has resulted in a decline in consumer loyalty towards a particular player. In order to compete in the Indian market, car-makers need to manufacture and sell products that carry the highest customer value. To achieve this goal, they need to provide European-quality cars at Asian prices. Price is cosidered as the crucial selling point in the market. 25 However, rise in the purchasing power of the Indians, increasing competition in the Indian market, stress on driving comfort and life-cycle costs (especially costs related to fuel) are also becoming important factors for potential car buyers in India. The Indian Auto Component Industry The Indian auto component industry, apart from IT industry, is believed to have the potential to be globally competitive. Robust growth in the Indian automobile industry seems to have triggered an upsurge in the Indian auto component industry. The Indian automotive component industry supports the automobile manufacturers by supplying them with automobile parts like engine parts, electrical parts, brakes, steel equipments, etc. It is characterized by the presence of around 500 organized manufacturers and 1,000 unorganized manufacturers. 6 Similar to the passenger car industry, the Indian auto component industry too has witnessed a robust growth between 1995 and 2005, which has made it one of the fastest growing industries in India having achieved a growth rate of 28% during the period ranging between 1995-98, 24% in 2003, 16% in 2004 and 15% in 2005. 27 This trend is expected to continue in the future as well. The Automotive Mission Plan (2006-16) reports that the turnover achieved by Indian auto-component industry would be over US$14 bn in 2005-06 and US$16 bn in the financial year 2006-07. 8 The supreme capability of Indian auto manufacturers is evident, from the launch of indigenized passenger vehicles like Tata Indica, Tata Nano, Mahindra Scorpio, etc. , by various Indian automobile players. Moreover, global auto majors like Ford 25 26 27 28 Source: http://findarticles. com/p/articles/mi_m0KJI/is_3_118/ai_n16118939 Report by the working group on Automotive Industry, Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-2012), Department of Heavy Industries, Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, India (August 2006). According to ACMA – Mckinsey Vision 2015, the industry has reported a growth rate of 20% between 2000-05. According to ACMA – Mckinsey Vision 2015. The IUP Journal of Business Strategy, Vol. VII, No. 3, 2010 68 Motors, Honda Siel, Hyundai Motors, etc. , are also setting up their manufacturing base in India. They are leveraging the support of high quality auto component supplier’s base in India in order to reduce their cost of production. 9 The presence of high quality component suppliers is one of the major reasons for global majors for setting up manufacturing facilities and make India their export hub. The potential for the Indian auto component industry, according to The ACMAMcKinsey Vision 2015 document is estimated to be US$40-45 bn by 2015. 30 India’s auto component industry had the capability to manufacture the entire range of autocomponents, such as engine parts, drive, transmission parts, suspension and braking parts, electrical parts, body and ch assis parts, with engine parts making nearly a third of all exports. Therefore, the contribution made by exports is likely to play a significant role in achieving the aforesaid potential, which is evident from the fact that the industry achieved growth rate (in exports) of 25% during 2000-05 and is expected to grow at 34% during the following decade. 31 Availability of a Wide Array of Choices for the Indian Customers Compact cars have emerged as a dominant player (refer to Table 4) in the Indian passenger car industry controlling more than 60% of the units sold in the last five years. 32 The sales of the small car (particularly compact size cars) in India has exceeded the sales of cars in any other segment. So the biggest threat in terms of substitutes for the mid-sized cars is the small cars especially the compact size cars. With the coming of Tata Nano, which is priced at about US$2500-US$2800 per unit, the threat from the small cars was expected to be further magnified. The booming market of passenger cars in India was facing threat from a multitude of factors, one of them being the Multi-Utility Vehicles (MUVs) (refer to Table 9). The MUVs, as the name suggests, are the vehicles with multi-usage capabilities. Popular especially with the large families, the concept of a MUV no doubt has many takers Table 9: Increase in Sales of MUVs Between 2004-05 and 2009-10 Years Total Units of MUVs Sold Percentage Increase 2004-05 180,865 – 2005-06 198,991 10. 02 2006-07 224,705 12. 92 2007-08 251,567 11. 95 2008-09 228,655 –9. 11 2009-10 275,556 20. 51 Source: Center for Monitoring of Indian Economy: Industry Analysis Services Database 29 30 31 32 Ford India awarded Q1supplier status to 10 suppliers to help them export their products to Ford worldwide. Reported by a report on Indian automotive industry by Indian Brand Equity Foundation- http://www. ibef. org/ download/Automotive_sectoral. pdf) http://www. ibef. org/industry/autocomponents. aspx According to ACMA-McKinsey vision 2015, exports by auto components manufacturers are expected to contribute 50% of their growth (http://www. ibef. org/industry/autocomponents. aspx) Compact cars and mini cars have been taken together and are consi dered to be part of small cars. 69 The Indian Mid-Segment Passenger Car Industry in India. All the leading automobile players in India, including the indigenous ones such as the Tata Motors, HM, MM as well as the foreign ones are expanding their presence in the MUV segment of the Indian automobile market. MUVs with their multi-usage potentiality has been able to gain immense popularity in India. In the recent years many of the automobile companies have engrossed themselves in the manufacturing of MUVs, eying the huge potential market in India and abroad. Automobile firms such as the likes of Maruti Udyog, Tata Motors, MM and HM have come up with some of the finest models of MUV. HM, one of the oldest auto makers in India, has launched MUVs like Pajero, Pushpak, and Trekker, in the Indian market, with technical collaboration with foreign automakers. 33 The first two could not make substantial headway in the markets while the Trekker is getting some semblance of popularity in the rural pockets of the country. MM too has come up with a range of MUVs like Mahindra Voyager, Mahindra Hard Top Range, Mahindra CL Range and variants of Mahindra MM Range comprised the MUVs from the MM stable. Mahindra Scorpio, an SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle) that had been conceptualized and designed by automotive division of MM, has been quite successful not only in India but also in other countries like Russia, France, Spain, and Portugal. 34 This success could be attributed to its contemporary design and technology. An upgraded version of Scorpio known as ‘New Scorpio’ was launched with additional features. Tata Motors has also modified its versions of Tata Safari and Tata Sumo and has come up with its own range of MUVs. Chevrolet, Hyundai, Ford and Toyota, the foreign auto majors too have their own share of MUVs in the Indian MUV segment. Another threat to the passenger car market is that international car rental firms are making a beeline for the Indian shore with almost a dozen car rental brands expected to enter the market soon. 35 Several International players like Hertz, Europcar, Leaseplan and Avis among others have already established their presence in the country, while others like, Thrifty, Dollar, Enterprise and Vanguard’s brands like Almo and National among others are also said to be firming up their Indian plans. This sudden rush to India has been attributed to a slump in the US and European market. However, in spite of being US$2. 4 bn, car rental industry in India is highly unorganized. The market share of organized players in car rental industry is just 3%. 36 However, the industry, on the whole, has been seeing a buoyant growth of about 35-50% in the last two years (ibid). Public transport like buses and railways also form an important means of transportation in the Indian cities especially in t he urban areas. 37 Despite the growth in the number of private vehicle owners in middle income segments in the metro cities, a substantial number of commuters are still dependent on the public transport. Hundred 33 34 35 36 7 Source: http://auto. indiamart. com/hindustan-motors/ http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Mahindra_Scorpio Source: http://www. ibef. org/artdisplay. aspx? cat_id=60art_id=16173 http://economictimes. indiatimes. com/News/News_By_Industry/Dozen_car_rental_brands_to_drive_into_India _soon/ articleshow/2225650. cms http://www. urban-age. net/10_cities/07_mumbai/_reflections/india_Tiwari. html The IUP Journal of Business Strategy, Vol. VII, No. 3, 2010 70 million out of 235 million people living in the Indian cities belong to lower income segment who cannot afford to own a private vehicle. Currently, many state governments have taken up various initiatives regarding improving the intra-city transportation by allowing private operators to run buses within the city, introducing new and better means of transportation like metro rail in Delhi, new buses, investment in road infrastructure like making new roads and widening of existing roads, etc. These initiatives, coupled with increase in the fuel prices, present a potential threat to the sales of the passenger cars. 38 The sales of luxury cars, though not significant in the current scenario, might pose a threat in the future. The average Indian is no longer satisfied with the normal automobile offerings, car enthusiasts wanted to feel precious and pampered and feel the need to enjoy a superior lifestyle. Perhaps these expectations are molding the new class of affluent Indians to possess top brand vehicles, regardless of their prices. In addition, the World Wealth Report 2005-06, published by Merrill Lynch and Capgemini, states that India recorded the world’s second fastest growth at 19. 3% in the number of high net-worth individuals in 2005. 39 Moreover, easy availability of credit financing40 has led to increased demand for bigger and better cars. Foreseeing the Indian market potential, major luxury automakers were setting up their offices in India to cater to the rich people’s fancy for trendy and luxurious cars. Mercedes and BMW have offered products at a starting price of INR 25-30 lakh (US$54,945-65,934), whereas the Maybach has lured the consumers to pay as much as INR 5 cr (US$1,098,901) to drive in the lap of luxury. Other motor giants like Volkswagen, Audi, Lamborghini, Rolls Royce Phantom, Bentley, and Porsche have already joined the luxury car revolution in India. Conclusion The mid-size passenger car segment is currently passing through a dynamic stage. Growth in the Indian middle-class and easy availability of credit coupled with new launches and attractive pricing by the players will ensure its availability and hence will facilitate the growth of this segment. However, what the future holds for it, only time can tell. ? 38 39 40 Figures as on November 2007. www. capgemini. com/industries/financial/solutions/wealth/wwr05_archive www. scribd. com/doc/47945/McKinsey-MGI-india-consumer-full-report 71 The Indian Mid-Segment Passenger Car Industry Appendix Classification of Passenger Cars41 Small Cars or Compact Cars Small cars are classified according to the price range which varies from 1 to 3 lakh. It has the capacity to carry 4 passengers—2 adults, 2 children. These are basically entry level cars which are preferred by service group and middle income group. These cars are manufactured by—Maruti Udyog, Tata Motors and Reva. While companies like Volkswagen, etc. , are yet to launch their models in the market. Mid-Size Cars A mid size car is an automobile with a size between that of compact and full size cars. The price range of mid-size cars is between Rs. to 8 lakh. The mid-size cars have the capacity to carry 4 passengers—2 adults and 2 children. The credit of manufacturing these cars goes to companies like—Fiat India, Ford, General Motors, Hindustan Motors, Hyundai Motors, Maruti Udyog, Tata Motors, etc. Executive Cars An Executive Car segment includes cars that lie between the mid-sized cars and premiu m cars in terms of price (range lies between Rs. 5 lakh to 10 lakh) and seating capacity. It includes cars from major manufacturers like Daimler Chrysler, Hindustan Motors, General Motors, Toyota Kirloskar, Skoda India, Hyundai Motors and BMW. Premium Cars Premium cars fall within the price range of Rs. 7 to 15 lakh. They have the capacity to carry 5 passengers. These cars mainly target higher income group. Premium cars were launched by Audi India, Ford Motors, General Motors, Honda Motors, Hyundai Motors, Skoda Auto, Mitsubishi and Toyota Motors. Luxury Cars Luxury cars are very expensive and their price range is above Rs. 20 lakh. These cars are preferred by the high income group. Luxury cars have the capacity to carry at the most 6 passengers. So far companies like BMW, Daimler Chrysler, Porsche, Rolls Royce, etc. , have introduced these cars in India. Reference # 33J-2010-09-04-01 41 www. auto. indiamart. com/cars (accessed on January 10, 2008). The IUP Journal of Business Strategy, Vol. VII, No. 3, 2010 72 Copyright of IUP Journal of Business Strategy is the property of IUP Publications and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder’s express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. How to cite Indian Auto Industry, Papers

A Soliloquy from Macbeth for character Fleance Essay Example For Students

A Soliloquy from Macbeth for character Fleance Essay I think here is safe. How could this be happening to us? What has my father ever done wrong to deserve this terrible fate? Who would have ever done such a thing to my father, a brave warrior and a great man who always acted on his beliefs and was honest and loyal to those he held dear. Revenge, how can I take revenge when I don’t know even who my enemy is? (Fleance walks around and thinks for a while then suddenly he realizes something) Or it was the prophecy father told me about while we were riding. He said since the day he and Macbeth met the witches on that health and knew about their fates, he would not be weakened by those dark temptations but Macbeth is what he worried about. Macbeth seemed changed after the first part of the prophecy quickly came true and gave him the title Thane of Cawdor. Father tried to dissuade Macbeth, he told Macbeth the creatures of the dark can’t be trusted, sometimes they tell us part of the truth in order to win our heart then betray us in the deepest consequence but Macbeth didn’t seem to listen, Fleance macbeth. After King Duncan announced his heir for the throne, father knew Macbeth was improbable, Malcolm isn’t brave or powerful like Macbeth but it’s him who shall be king after all not Macbeth. He was afraid that Macbeth would seek his future actively instead of just waiting for the prophecy to become true even if it’s through wicked speculations and regicide. Father said his suspicion to Macbeth had risen significantly since he had that weird dream during that dreadful night, the night King Duncan got murdered. He said he met the three weird sisters again in his dream and they gave him signs which he didn’t fully understand so he tried to confide it with Macbeth but now he knows that it was the sign of King Duncan’s death and his own. Since then he has been suspicious of Macbeth but never told anyone except me about the dream or his suspicion because Macbeth was always his dearest friend. (Fleance signs) That’s why we went riding that afternoon so he can tell me everything about the prophecy in case Macbeth really is the one behind all these treasons and murders. But now, Macbeth had killed all my suspicions. Now I know him for the bloody murderer that he is. First he killed King Duncan then accused Duncan’s sons so he could become King of Scotland and now he has killed my father and tried to kill me so he can prevent the next prophecy that our family will rise to become Kings. But, he wouldn’t imagine that I, the son of Banquo escaped. If everything those dark creatures said about Macbeth has become true then what they said about me might become true as well. Macbeth, your reign will end one day I shall be King of Scotland and revenge my father’s death. (Fleance quickly looks behind) I have to keep going now before those murderers can catch up. I have to find a place where Macbeth’s men can’t capture me, a place no one knows who I am and hide until the right moment comes. The moment I rise and become King of Scotland.

The Color Of Water Book Review Essays - Hairstyles, Rachel Green

The Color Of Water Book Review Phillip Souzek Susan Vervaet English 111 Section (06) September 27, 2000 The Color of Water: Book Review In this memoir, the author chooses to have two narrators, himself as one, and his mother as the other. This style makes for quite an interesting story, skipping back and forth in time, from the childs life, to that of his mother. Although many time changes occur, they are quite easy to keep up with, as the two narrators of the book, James, and his mother, alternate chapters. For this reason, it is also very easy to compare the childhood of each of the main characters. Although the chapters arent always during the same time periods of the respective characters, they are close enough that similarities can be seen, and parallels can be drawn. This is one of my favorite parts of the novel, seeing the main character, James, grow up with his mother Rachel. In summary, the author tells the story of both his mother, and himself growing up. His mother was raised Jewish, but became Christian before James was born, which was thus the religion he was raised in. Both had very strict discipline, in their respective religions. The memoir focuses more on Rachel, who grows up in a Jewish family living in a country and area where Jews are not well received. After surviving this, and sexual abuse as a child, Rachel goes on to run away from home, and marries a caring black man from New York. Here she settles down, has a family, and raises twelve kids, while being constantly harassed because of her marriage, as well as her children, who are all of a different color than her. After eight children, her husband dies, and she remarries to a man of similar morals, race, and discipline. James, the final child of the original father, grows up knowing only the step-father as daddy, and suffers the hardships of growing up in a multi-racial family, which alway s seems to be in the minority. This memoir was written mainly for the authors interest, and not the readers, which definitely makes it unique. Although it is just like any other book, in that its successfulness will be judged by sales as well as how it affects readers, the author only went through all of the research done in writing this book in order to quench his own thirst for finding out where his roots lay. This is quite evident in the reading, which seems to mention the history, and story behind nearly everyone, as well as every place. This makes for many interesting stories, but often-times ones that are too preoccupied with showing the reader what it meant to the author, and not as concerned with the enjoyment of the reader. This, of course, spawns another problem. With an author who is only concerned with showing the reader how it affected himself, you are deprived of what you really want to know about a given character. James has eleven brothers and sisters, all of which have something to add to the story, and yet the exposition given to each of them is far from satisfactory. Much more detail could have been given on what they thought of their mother, how each of them found out about her, who teaches and lives the motto Dont tell anyone your business. For this reason, the children have the challenge of digging up the truth about their mother, and James takes it to the next level, by writing a book. What the book does offer a younger reader, like myself, is insight as to what it was like to grow in the 1950s and 60s in a biracial family. The hardships that these children, James especially, and his mother endure, are depicted quite well. Each shows how strong of a person Rachel was, and also helped to strengthen the children, which would benefit them later in life. However, the most important thing that came from these anecdotes of racism in the memoir was what it taught me, as a reader. The way that Mommy reacted during each of these instances showed that you truly could ignore people that have nothing good to say, and get away with it. She can

Great Mosque essays

Great Mosque essays The Great Mosque of Cordoba was considered a wonder of the medieval world by both Muslims and Christians. During that time, many people considered it as the Eight wonder of the world. The Great Mosque was built on a Visigothic site, which was probably the site of an earlier Roman temple. The Great mosque began being built in 785 in the Ummayyad dynasty, during the reign of Abd al-Rahman I, a survivor of the Ummayyad dynasty who escaped from Syria to the Iberian Peninsula after his family was massacred by the Abbasids. The function of the Great Mosque was to provide a place for worship and prayer for those who practice the Islamic faith. The structure of the mosque was a blend of Umayyad, Abbasdi, and pre-Islamic influences. The mosques hypostyle plan, consisting of a rectangular prayer hall and an enclosed courtyard, followed a tradition established in the Umayyad and Abbasid mosques of Syria and Iraq. (pg. 346 prayer hall) The marble columns and capitals in the hypostyle prayer hal l were reused from the ruins of classical Roman buildings in the area. The two-tiered system of arches is similar the Roman aqueducts. Its purpose was to increase the height of the interior space to allow light and air to come in. The upper arches are semi-circular and the lower arches have a horseshoe shape and are know as horseshoe arches. The horseshoe arch had been used by the Visigoths in Spain, but its use was greatly expanded by the Muslims. The curved arch was formed by alternating placement of pale stone and red brick voussoirs which was a technique adopted from the Romans and Byzantines. Al-Hakam II, who ruled from 961-976, commissioned expensive and luxurious renovations that displeased many of his subjects. His most lavish renovation was concentrated in the maqsura, the prayer space reserved for the ruler. Its lavishly decorated with carved marble, stucco, and elaborate mosaics. The maqsura is visually separated from the ...

About Wine Essay Example for Free

About Wine Essay ? What is wine? It is one of the most sensual and tasteful drinks you have ever drunk. It has been over hundreds of years and till today, wine has never disappointed our mouth feels. The most important of selling wines are the packaging, because the value packaging as a marketing tool. But how many companies know how to put up their wines into markets, and who know that packaging is the first step to extract customer. In this century, a lot of people have problem to choose a bottle for dinner or for any occasion, the mainly is too many bottle of wines for them to choose from and some of the wines label are not too clear to read and it might be a problem for customer. So means that wines marketing as wines packaging as label are so important to target customer. Nowadays most wines are sold in glass bottle and are sealed using corks as the packaging. Most the wines producers have been using alternative closures such as plastic corks, screw caps and tap. The mainly is because of the costs of produces and also to prevent cork taint. In this day, some of the wines are packaged in thick and heavy plastic bags with cardboards boxes cover as label. The wines are normally connected with tap on the side of the box, the box wine can stay up to one week after opening or less, it depends how much oxidized has been mixed in. This is another newest packaging in wines in the world, so that it also extracts some new people to buy it. But the important are the wines label, have to descript clearly and bit more extractive to the customer. About Wine. (2017, Mar 17).

Economics, Quality and Organisation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Economics, Quality and Organisation - Essay Example A further stream of concepts such as total quality management (TQM), statistical process control, quality control, quality assurance, quality system and quality management will form the basis upon which manufacturing organization quality will be discussed to link firm’s success and achievement to attainment of an organization’s quality. Cost minimizing an output maximum remains the objectives of profit-oriented firms and this can only be achieved based on a good manufacturing organization. It is upon these bases that the paper lays its framework upon which a modern firm draws its competitive advantage by being efficiently organized. Consumer perception is a key in sales of any particular commodity, firm that are efficient in their organization will ensure a customer’s is nagged into buying through satisfaction of his perception of a commodity. A consumer post purchase evaluation determines his loyalty to the purchased brand and this will help a firm’s bran d sell since a satisfied customer will promote the firm’s product to his colleagues and relative at no pay. This was conducted by New Mexico Manufacturing Extension Partnership based on the analysis and review of the production process and the layout of the company’s production area. The researchers applied the Value Mapping Process and realized that ACs was able to rid out excess movement, materials and tooling which resulted to establishment of a greater streamlined commodity flow. The reported indicated a reduction in the company costs by 65% with its production being raised to 45 units from the initial 20 units per shift. Another remarkable benefit was a reduction in production facility size by 73% as well as scrap rates declined to 18% from the original figure of 24%. A research conducted by NC State University Industrial assessment Center and the NC state industrial Extension Service’s

Exploration of The Cultural Challenges that French Companies Face in Essay

Exploration of The Cultural Challenges that French Companies Face in Attempts to Penetrate the Italian Market - Essay Example This study tackles significant considerations of the unique characteristics that the French and the Italian markets respectively have, the latter being the new one to be explored and developed. Such process is very necessary in order to determine what effective sales approaches have to be applied in the Italian market. An existing and working marketing scheme in France may not be viable or practicable in Italy. The advertising concepts and drives used by the company in France may not gain acceptance from the people of Italy. The This research study is limited to the presentation and exploration of the cultural issues in international marketing within the selected focus setting and in concept, theory and exemplifying scenarios. The research will be exhaustive in its conceptual thrust as well as in the material used to substantiate presented arguments, claims, points, ideas and perspectives among other positions. The core objective of this study is to illustrate my skills in the domains of marketing and cross-culture communication as a way of soliciting for related career opportunities in the U.S.A, Italy or in any English-speaking country. This study has been made in order to be read and understood by American audience. The endeavor is in tandem with the skills acquired during my course majoring in "international trade and marketing" at ESC Chambery Business School and the MBA pursued at the BMU.

Psychoanalytical Approach Essay Example for Free

Psychoanalytical Approach Essay ?1. Psychoanalytical Criticism ?2. Psychoanalytical criticism is a type ofcriticism that uses theories of psychology to analyze literature. It focuses on theauthor’s state of mind or the state of the mind of fictional characters. ?3. Sigmund FreudPsychoanalytical criticism originated in the workof Sigmund Freud. Freud’s theories areconcerned with the nature of the unconsciousmind. According to Freud, the human mindconsists of three parts: the id, the ego andsuperego. ? The id is source of our instinctual and physical desires. ? The superego is the part of the psyche that has internalized the norms and mores of society. ? The ego is keeps mediating between the demands of the id and the superego. It is rational, logical, and conscious. ?4. Repression? We often repress what the id encourages us to think and do because the ego and superego tell us not to think and do, therefore forcing these unacceptable wishes into the unconscious. All of us have repressed wishes and fears.? Repressed desires emerge in disguised forms: dreams and language (slips). They emerge in symbolic form that require  analysis to reveal their meaning.? Many elements of psychology that Freud described appear in literary works. ?5. Freudian Literary Criticism? Freudian critics try to understand how the operations of repression structure or inform the work They pay close attention to unconscious motives and feelings, whether these be those of the author, or of the characters depicted in the work.? They demonstrate the presence in the literary work of classic psychoanalytic symptoms or conditions. ?6. Carl Gustav Jung and Jungian literary Criticism? Jung developed the theory of the collective unconscious, a collection of shared unconscious memories dating back to the origins of human experience and manifested in dreams, myths, and literature.? A great work of literature is not a disguised expression of repressed wishes, but a manifestation of the desires one held by the whole human race, and now repressed because of the advent of civilization.? Jungian analysis of literature tries to discover the images in a work of literature that a permanent and universal significance. ?7. Harold Bloom and the anxiety of InfluenceThe most important contemporary psychological criticis Harold Bloom. Bloom uses the Freudian concept ofrepression to apply it to literary history in general. Nopoet creates in isolation from his predecessors. In TheAnxiety of Influence, he argues that poetsunconsciously misread the poems of their greatpredecessors. The new poems are essentiallyrewritings of poems by a father-figure predecessor. Poets keep struggling to free themselves from thisinfluence of father-figure poets.

Gregory Efimovich Rasputin Essay -- Papers

Gregory Efimovich Rasputin No other figure in recent Russian history has received the amount of vilification and contempt heaped upon Gregory Rasputin. The self-styled monk, who received practically little education in the intricacies of the Russian Orthodox faith, came from the rural areas of Russiaand achieved great recognition as a "staretz," or holy man in the highest circles of St. Petersburgsociety. From rags to social prominence the life of Gregory Rasputin holds many of the events leading to the eventual overthrow of the Russian imperial system, the dethronement of the House of Romanov and the assassination of the Imperial Family. Gregory Efimovich Rasputin came from solid peasant stock. Gregory Efimovich was born on January 10, 1869, in Prokovskoe, a small village in Siberiaon the banks of the TuraRiver. As a young lad, Rasputin shocked his village by constantly finding ways to get into trouble with the authorities. Drunkenness, stealing and womanizing were activities particularly enjoyed by the dissolute young man. Rasputin in fact was developing into a rake, a man with a debauched, and endless, sexual appetite. It was while on one of his escapades that Rasputin was first impacted by the mystical powers of the Russian Orthodox religion. At Verkhoturye Monastery Rasputin was fascinated by a renegade sect within the Orthodox faith, the Skopsty. Followers of the Skopsty firmly believed that the only way to reach God was through sinful actions. Once the sin was committed and confessed, the penitent could achieve forgiveness. In reality, what the S... ...iks during the revolution. Within three months of Rasputin's death, Nicholas lost his throne, the imperial family were imprisoned and many of the Romanov cousins arrested. In then end almost twenty members of the Romanov family were massacred by Bolshevik firing squads. No other epitaph to Rasputin's death better exemplifies the repercussions of the monk's death than that written by Grand Duchess Maria Pavlova, sister, in her Memoirs: "His death came to late to change the course of events. His dreadful name had become too thoroughly a symbol of disaster. The daring of those who killed him to save their country was miscalculated. All of the participants in the plot, with the exception of Prince Youssoupov later understood that in raising their hands to preserve the old regime they struck it, in reality, its final blow."

Joline Godfrey and the Polaroid Corporation Essay

Executive Summary The critical problems Polaroid faced in the â€Å"Joline Godfrey and the Polaroid Corporation (A)† case are the lack of structures to support innovations and the absence of mechanisms to develop talents. Polaroid’s business revolved around a single product category, which had been under the threat of emerging technologies. The company had retrenched to a narrow focus on profit through cost-cutting and short-term sales promotions instead of business innovations for strategic repositioning. The company’s engineering orientation and respect for â€Å"rising-through-the-ranks† made it difficult for innovative endeavors and talents from a different background (particularly females) to bring about strategic changes. The organizational deficiencies at Polaroid manifested themselves through a series of unorthodox choices and manoeuvres of Joline Godfrey and her mentor Jerry Sudbey, which tried to circumvent internal limitations to obtain financial and human resour ces for the exploration of a strategic alternative. With limited trust and regards for formal processes, Joline turned her Odysseum project into a â€Å"private experiment† and failed to compromise tactically with key corporate stakeholders to garner support and legitimacy. The project gradually lost its direction and internal support and the failed initiative cumulated in Joline’s derailment as an agent of change and a young talent with promising creativity. To prevent failures like Joline and her Odysseum project from repeating themselves, we recommend from Polaroid’s organizational perspective to: 1)Introduce a project management office to provide guidelines, assess viability, prioritize resources and establish milestones and deliverables to materialize innovative ideas; 2)Introduce a mentorship program to provide high potential staff with structured training, line exposure, project exposure and strategic guidance for them to flourish. The Problems and How They Arose The critical problems Polaroid faced in the â€Å"Joline Godfrey and the Polaroid Corporation (A)† case are the lack of structures to support innovations and the absence of mechanisms to develop talents.  Polaroid’s business revolved around a single product category, which had been under the threat of emerging technologies. After the retirement of its founder, the company had retrenched to a narrow focus on profit through cost-cutting and short-term sales promotions instead of business innovations for strategic repositioning. The company’s engineering orientation and respect for â€Å"rising-through-the-ranks† had built a collection of like-minds which reinforced this lack of openness, making it difficult for innovative endeavors and talents from a different background (particularly females) to bring about strategic changes. The Negative Consequences The organizational deficiencies at Polaroid manifested themselves through an unorthodox mentor-apprentice relationship between Jerry Sudbey and Joline Godfrey. In an attempt to explore a strategic alternative to cope with external changes, they took a series of choices and manoeuvres that circumvented Polaroid’s internal limitations. Joline’s Odysseum project took on a â€Å"private experiment† flavour and gradually lost its direction and support from Polaroid’s corporate structure. To Polaroid, the failure of the Odysseum initiative not only cumulated in the derailment of Joline as a young talent with promising creativity, but also spelled an opportunity missed perhaps for a critical corporate change. What Went Wrong? While Polaroid’s senior management claimed to embrace innovation, they did not â€Å"walk the talk†. As much as Jerry saw the need for Polaroid to evolve with its environment through Joline’s Odysseum project, the initiative lived on a patchwork budget. Financial support needed to be solicited from different functions, most of which through personal relationships rather than formal authority and endorsement. The project team had been assembled from volunteers who worked during private hours. Without stand-alone budget and resources, Joline’s drive for innovation faced tremendous pressure and took a hit in times of cost-cutting. The strategic instinct and personal rapport that Jerry had with peers and top management could only carry the initiative through a short distance, but not to the end where a fundamental change in the way Polaroid does business might have come about. Joline’s career at Polaroid had revolved around ad-hoc projects initiated by senior management (e.g. corporate downsizing  and the Spetra launch). Through these highly unstructured opportunities, Joline had developed a knack for thinking out-of-the-box and taking on challenges at her own initiative. Joline was creative, energetic and highly driven. She had the charisma not only to attract followers but also elicit the best out of them. However, without well-structured training and guidance from Polaroid’s hierarchy, Joline remained a â€Å"dreamer† with no hand-on experience in line functions that are essential for creditability and respect in Polaroid’s conservative culture. With few opportunities to work through and appreciate the formal structures and processes in Polaroid, she had developed a tendency to go her own way, unimpeded and even to a degree of stubbornness that she simply refused to compromise tactically with key corporate stakeholders (e.g. the marketing department) to garner support and legitimacy for her Odysseum project (see Exhibit 1). What Can Be Done to Avoid a Repeat? While it may be convenient to pin the failure of Odysseum, the mentor-apprentice relationship, and Joline’s derailment on the personal ineffectiveness of herself and Jerry, it would be far more meaningful rather for Polaroid to address innovation and executive development from an organizational perspective (see Exhibit 2). Firstly, we suggest the introduction of a project management office (PMO) to consolidate, support and control innovative endeavors. Individuals and teams are encouraged to formulate ideas into structured proposals with clear objectives, benefit and cost assessments, milestones, deliverables and adoption and cut-loss thresholds. The PMO will evaluate the proposals in terms of strategic fit, potential impacts and viability, prioritize the chosen ones, and procure resources and support for their incubation. The PMO will take projects with promising interim results to line departments for critique and validation, then formalize them as corporate initiatives and monitor their implementation progress. The cost of a PMO would likely be a couple of executives with good knowledge of organizational structure and business and financial processes to keep new ideas moving along. The key benefits of a PMO are the pronounced commitment to and structural support for intrapreneurship, which would foster innovation while keeping initiatives practical and realistic to yield profits for the organization over both  short and long terms. Secondly, to protect talented but inexperienced executives from failing through derailment cracks, we recommend the establishment of a training and mentorship program. Staff with potentials will each be assigned to a mentor from senior management, who will provide strategic guidance and help the staff develop key networks. The mentorship will be coupled with short-to-medium term assignments to business and functional lines to help the staff acquire hard-skills conforming to company standards and values. This balance of top-down and bottom-up approaches will help the staff understand business processes from strategic planning through to procedural execution. Cost of the program will likely be extra time spent by senior managers (as mentors) and line managers (as trainers). But rewards will be long-term and plentiful – it will help the organization establish talent pipelines and solidify succession plans, which will enhance its long-term sustainability. 1. The market (external environment) is changing – evolving from film to electronic photography. 2. Sudbey as a corporate leader had a vision for Polaroid to reposition to a service orientation. 3. Project Odysseum was carried out mostly through informal structures and lost track in the end. 4. Polaroid lacked the formal structures to support innovation (e.g. financing, human resources, strategic guidance, etc.). 5. Changes are needed in formal structures  (introduction of Project Management Office and Mentorship Program). 6. The new formal structures would trigger changes in how different components of the organizational architecture interact with each other (e.g. leadership involvement, work process for incubation of innovative ideas, etc.). 7. Polaroid would benefit as an organization and its staff would have venues to materialize their innovative ideas and develop skills to evolve into competent executives.

Classification Essay Students Essay

Being a student in today’s society holds an immense amount of pressure to do one thing: graduate. Thirteen years of school prepare students for the next major steps of their lives. Every student faces many struggles and frustrations before graduation day arrives. One may be able to surmise a few details about a student before they put pencil to paper or even speak. One can also make assumptions about a student based on his or her seating position. Motivation, determination, and concentration will establish a student’s amount of success. The three categories of high school students are underachievers, average students, and overachievers. The first category of students is the underachievers, or the back row. These students lack the characteristics needed to be successful. They are also the ones who think a success is showing up to class. Oftentimes, they will be failing classes and not even bother to hand in assignments. If they do pass their classes, it is with hardly passing grades and little knowledge gained. This typical student can be seen coming late to class with papers spewing out of his unorganized notebook. Work will not be completed on time, if finished at all. He will not participate in class discussions, or he may sleep throughout the period. In some cases, the only thing these students need is a little extra help. Procrastination, poor attendance, and laziness are few of the common characteristics of an underachiever. Underachievers revel in disrupting class and being a general nuisance to all involved. Homework transforms into spitballs and paper airplanes, and there are a multiple excuses prepared for why the assignment is not finished. They do anything possible to get out of class, and can be often found wandering halls, in the bathroom, or in the comfortable chairs in the office. A step above the underachievers are those students that do just enough in order to succeed, the average achievers, middle row. These students are often capable of achieving academic success, but lack motivation. Many athletes fall into this category, and only because they need to be eligible to participate in their respective sport. Choosing not to make any extra effort, they receive average grades and maintain average attendance. They may not stand out in class, but their work is always completed. These students view extra credit opportunities as a waste of time. These mediocre scholars are also the ones who believe that Wikipedia is among the greatest inventions of all time, while turnitin. com is not. Students who contain these characteristics make up the most common category. The final group of students are the overachievers. They sit prim and proper in the front row raising their eager hands. These workaholics are the ones whom teachers adore and whom fellow students despise. They often exceed the expectations of any teachers. They constantly work hard and are active in class. They take notes verbatim of what the teacher says, excel in group discussions, and much to the demise of the other students, raise the academic bar to an unattainable level. Although they are not often the greatest athletes, or the best at communicating with the opposite gender, they separate themselves with their cerebral work ethic. These scholars find reading entertaining, and would much rather solve a Rubik’s cube than run a mile. One of them will be inevitably become Valedictorian, and will give a speech at the podium come graduation day. When analyzing these students, one could be looking at future doctors, engineers, and various activists. Being average is not necessarily a bad thing, and being an overachiever is not necessarily a good thing either. The student with 4. 0 GPA in high school may not go on to become the neuroscientist everyone thought she would, while the student that took three gym classes may become a famous athlete. Of course, there is leeway for fluctuation in this formula of judgement. Ultimately, it is up to each individual to decide which type of student he or she will become: part of the back row, part of the middle row, or part of the front row.

Anarchy Essays - Political Philosophy, Politics, Anti-fascism

Anarchy Essays - Political Philosophy, Politics, Anti-fascism Anarchy Anarchy, coming from the greek term meaning "without government", is the political theory that society does not need a government to run the country or any governmental fundings (although robbing them of what they robbed us wouldn't hurt). Many people believe that anarchy is a horrible and impossible way of living, stating that anarchism would leave us vulnerable to criminals and terrorists. This may be because of the terroristic methods that anarchists have taken to reach their ultimate goal. The terroristic anarchism movement came under the leadership of Mikhail Bakunin in the 1800's, and have continued with most individual anarchists and anarchist groups. I admit, there are some vulnerabilities to anarchism, yet nothing that couldn't be avoided by taking the nessecary precautions. Religion, although in most cases wouldn't matter, is still a major factor in a society of anarchy. If a community is filled with religous people where the religion is full of good intentions and peace, the community will hold up considerably well. If a community is filled with religous people following a religion with bad intentions and hate, it may turn out two ways under the circumstances. Everyone could intentionally harm eachother due to the bad intentions, or everyone within the community could be peaceful to eachother due to the fact they all follow the same religion. There are many different ways of anarchism. It could be that the country is seperated into towns purely helping out the town and occasionally interacting with other neighboring towns, or that it is like it is today. Other types of governmental systems are not as free as anarchism. The idea of democracy is relatively swell, but governments today form and mold it to their own likings.For instance, in a certain state, a shock rock band known today as Marilyn Manson is prohibited from holding a concert there, which the law itself should be prohibited due to the constitution and its right of "Free Speech". Also, even though the American government today is supposedly not allowed to have influence upon religions, there are at least three cases in which they refer to God (Christian), the Pledge of Allegiance, dollar bill and coin currency, and the swearing of truth in courts of law. In the pledge of allegiance, I quote, "One nation, under God", in the dollar bill and coinage, I quote, "In God we trust", and in the swearing of the truth, I quote (in most cases), "Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help you God?" These are simply examples of the power governments have and often abuse. Communism runs bussinesses like a clock. No one is allowed to make more money than their equal co-workers even if their co-workers are slacking off while you are working to your limit. Monarchy includes kings, queens, and czars who have limited powers set by a legislative group. Dictatorship is like monarchy but with unlimited powers for the ruler. Now, with any type of government, things will change. Now matter how it is at one point, the government will form itself into another type of government with different rules and laws. History No one really knows where the theory of anarchy originates, nor it's international symbol, the circled "A", although there have been reports of an anarchist militia member in the Spanish Civil War with a clearly inscribed circled A on the back of his helmet. Anarchism dates back long ago with legends of countries of a "golden age" which preceded goverenments, and has also appeared among early Christian groups. Pierre Joseph Proudhon, a frenchman also known known as "The Father of Anarchism", started the first anarchism mass movement, urging the voluntary cooperation of men without any regulation or government. As time passed, the power of anarchism has declined, yet played a role in the Spanish Civil War, and recently entered Albania. In Albania, the government corrupted completely due to rebel attacks. It is now in complete ruins with theives and murderers running the streets. In one area, a few people tried to open a bombshell for it's gunpowder, used unwise methods and the bomb exploded, as well as the bombs around it. Obviously, this is not a country with willing, voluntary people working to restore order without government.

The Arab Socialist Regimes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Arab Socialist Regimes - Essay Example The socialist regimes in the Arab countries of the Middle East had a number of characteristics that makes them different from the current systems in the countries. These features were mainly evident in Syria, Egypt and Iraq. Some of the features included central planning in which control and planning of economic activities and other government activities. The government took the initiative of setting up the production goals, wage limit and costs of goods and services. It also ensured total control of all the public assets and resources. This was contrary to the current system in which the countries such as Egypt, Afghanistan and Iraq are approaching planning through the laissez-faire system where they do not directly control the economy. The regimes ensured a welfare state approach in the distribution of public resources. In Iraq, people were guaranteed universal healthcare, education and provision of support funds to the old members of the society. This is still applied in those cou ntries since welfare is not the same thing as socialism. The socialist regimes aimed at achieving self-sufficiency in the production process, initiating public investment so as to raise the capacity level and finally promoting import substituting form of industrialization.This is different from the current Arab regimes that are advocating for capitalism in which people are motivated to produce their own wealth. The locals who include farmers and low-scale workers have lost the socialized form of life in education, medicine and agriculture.

Small business in nigeria (management subject) Essay

Small business in nigeria (management subject) - Essay Example Entrepreneurs have a desire to be the master of themselves and have a high degree of commitment. Thus, instead of working for someone else, they choose to start up a small-business of their own. (Longnecker, Moore, Petty J. and Palich, 2005). When it comes to small-business, there is no set definition since different experts tend to define a small business differently. There are many factors through which small businesses are defined, including factors like size of the company, revenue, profits, operations, etc. The Bolton committee for instance has devised a definition of a small business called the economic definition. The economic definition is a more qualitative definition that emphasizes that a firm is called small when it has a relatively smaller chunk of the total market share of the industry, it is managed by owners in an informal and highly personalized environment and does not have a formal structure and that it is not a part of any large concern or a corporation and operates independently. (Corman, and Lussier, 2008). On the other hand, the European Commission defines a small business quantitatively. They coined a term Small & Medium Enterprise (SME) to refer to a small business. According to the European Commission, a business is a micro-enterprise if it has 0 to 9 employees, it is a small-enterprise if it has 10 to 99 employees and it is a medium-enterprise if it has 100 to 499 employees working under its umbrella. Organizations with employees 500 and above are hence called large-enterprises. Thus, a small business, in its true essence, is basically any firm that has a relatively smaller number of employed workers, has a small concern in the market, has a very informal organizational structure etc., however, at the end of the day, the exact measurement of any business as â€Å"small† is still a very vague concept and experts and analysts have thus been interpreting it differently according to the given situation and the circumstances.

Critical Analysis of College is a Waste of Time and Money Essay

Critical Analysis of College is a Waste of Time and Money - Essay Example It is clearly identifiable from the article that Bird has not expressed her views about college based learning for shock value merely, rather she actually has a firm conviction at heart that colleges in majority of the cases turn out to be a mere waste of wads of cash and many hours and she actually makes every effort in her article to defend this viewpoint. Though this article managed in satiating the minds of many thinkers out there who believe that earning a bachelor’s degree by making big commitments to the colleges in terms of time and money is an ineffective and rather clumsy way to get the real training, still many teachers and students themselves have reacted strongly negatively to Bird’s take on college based learning which is quite understandable. Now, there are two important things worth considering before getting all judgmental in this regard. First, if we think about the established reality which projects that the kind of role played by a teacher or scholar holds monumental importance and value for behavioral modification and general wellbeing of a student, the approach used by Bird to assess the importance of colleges immediately gets discarded. Next, it cannot be said that Bird’s article should be totally condemned or agonized since it lacks ground because concerning the common practice active presently among parents and students to waste wads of cash only after colleges’ or universities’ names, the possibility of a college to turn out to be a waste of cash and time may arise. This is because many times the real purpose of learning is lost when more attention is paid to the college’s name than on a student’s individual personality. It is an undeniable reality that a student who has the tendency to maintain lazy or defiant attitude and bad habits will remain just the same and behave as pathetically as a student even if he/she be enrolled at some of the most prestigious institution. In such cases, go ing to college does turn out to be a futile effort and a college definitely becomes a waste of time and money for such students, but Bird does not antagonize the conventional method of college based learning on this basis alone as she is seen going to different lengths in her article to nullify the concept of colleges for acquiring knowledge. Now, a college is seen by the vast majority of people as the central pillar or the support system upon which the whole building of learning could be supported. Bird disagrees openly from all such thinkers here. The argument used by her to antagonize the established thinking approach is that most of the students enrolled at different colleges in the present times have absolutely no sense of purpose as to why they are there in the college in the first place. This means that a student personally rarely ever has any strong motivation about staying in a particular college to learn. Most of them are just there because their mothers or fathers wanted them to be there or because their families wanted to show off to other relatives or friends about their son or daughter learning in some prestigious institution. Now, this can be passed off as a justified point brought up by Bird because students should personally be strongly motivated for going to colleges to learn and not only should they acknowledge this motivation but should also know how to defend their choice of going to colleges for learning. Next major point addressed by Bird in her article is that special attention should be paid to the real reason behind the

Network and Operating System Investigation Research Paper

Network and Operating System Investigation - Research Paper Example The Internet banking facilities consist of funds transfer, online shopping, credit card transactions, prepaid vouchers of different mobile phone companies and much more. Moreover, an Internet service provider (ISP) provides internet services to corporate organizations, home users, and small business. If the security of an ISP is compromised, then the hacker may be able to access all the systems that are ultimately the clients of the company. Likewise, ISP also provides site-to-site VPN connectivity from where all the classified data is encrypted from one end to the other. Furthermore, government based organizations also provide information services on the Internet along with defense agencies that are controlled and monitored by the military, once hacked, the impacts can be devastating if the hackers become vulnerable. This can also result in disrupting relations between the two countries. Similarly, a multi-national organization wants to be top of the competition by endearing the com petitive advantage, in order to make its presence stronger, several online features made available, providing more opportunities for hackers and cybercriminals. Why IDS As per network dictionary, IDS is defined as â€Å"Intrusion detection system (IDS) is a type of security management system for computers and networks. An IDS gathers and analyzes information from various areas within a computer or a network to identify possible security breaches, which include both intrusions and misuse†. IDS are of many types and organizations choose the best possible type that suits their prioritized mission-critical systems. The types include network-based IDS, host-based IDS, and software-based IDS. These types are further categorized into signature-based IDS which is also referred to as misuse detection, and Anomaly Detection. The functionality of ‘signature-based IDS’ is dependent on known signatures. The word ‘known’ is important because threats that are detec ting so far are categorized as known threats and are called signatures. Signature-based IDS only detect threats similar to the defined available signatures and do not comply with any new threat. Whereas, Anomaly-based IDS detect unknown activities within the network and detect them as threats and vulnerabilities. Defining Computing Forensics Discussing computer forensics in the context of law enforcement agencies or incorporate security, it will lead to a conclusion of a subject that covers the utilization of computers to catalog physical evidence that is analyzed in other forensics techniques including biometric identification, analyzing DNA and dental evidence. Current technological trends have revolutionized the methods of storing data along with different advanced access mechanisms. These systems facilitate law enforcement agencies by providing instant access to these characteristics. Although, computer forensics also facilitates the investigation of crimes within themselves in order to gather evidence associated with criminal activities that breach the violation of an organizations policy. The data can be extracted from storage devices including hard drives, flash drives, and memory cards etc. (Computer Forensics – a Critical Need in Computer. (n.d.)) Digital Forensics for a Database In order to conduct data forensics, some of the particular methods are mentioned below: Data dictionary extraction is achievable in flat files and ‘redo’ log files.

Assessment of Cadmium levels in Chocolate

Assessment of Cadmium levels in Chocolate Research Proposal Assessment of Cadmium levels in chocolate commercialized in Lebanon Josiane Haddad 1- Background and significance Cadmium (Cd) as an element is a soft silver-white transition metal. It is not usually present in the environment as a pure metal, but is most often present in the form of oxides, sulfides, and carbonates. It does not have a taste or odor. Cadmium sulfate and cadmium chloride are quite soluble in water, whereas metal Cd, cadmium oxide and cadmium sulfide are almost insoluble (International Program on Chemical safety [IPCS], 2007). Cd is released from several sources in nature: mobilization of Cd from the Earths crust and mantle due to volcanic activity, mobilization of Cd impurities in extracted raw materials such as phosphate minerals and fossil fuels, release of Cd from products and processes resulting from the use, disposal, recycling, open burning or incineration, releases from municipal installations and release of Cd previously deposited in soils, sediments, landfills and waste or tailings piles (United Nations Environment Program [UNEP], 2010). It is a toxic metal to humans and classified as a carcinogen by the National Toxicology Program (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry [ATSDR], 2004]. In the human body, Cd is mainly stored in the liver and kidneys. Hence, an early effect indicator of Cd toxicity is increased excretion of proteins in urine, kidney proteinuria, which is the result of proximal tubular cell damage. Several other side effects occur depending on the duration and magnitude of exposure. Skeletal damage is another critical effect of chronic Cd exposure at high levels. Cd concentrations in most tissues increase with age since excretion is normally slow, and the biological half-life is very long (10 to 15 years) (Jin T., Lu J. Nordberg M., 1998) in the muscles, kidneys, liver and whole body. In exposed people with renal damage, urinary excretion of Cd increases and so the whole body half-life is shortened. The kidney burden resulting from cumulative exposure to Cd can be assessed by measuring Cd in urine (UNEP, 2010). Epidemiological and experimental studies have associated occupational Cd exposure with several types of cancers including lung, prostate, renal, liver, hematopoietic system, urinary bladder, pancreatic, testis and stomach cancers (Journal of Inorganic biochemistry, 2000; Joseph P. et al., 2001). Exposure to this toxic metal also severely affects the function of the nervous system (L’opez E. et al., 2003; Cao Y. et al., 2009), with symptoms including headache and vertigo, olfactory dysfunction, Parkinson-like symptoms, slowing of vasomotor functioning, peripheral neuropathy, decreased equilibrium, decreased ability to concentrate and learning disabilities (Cao Y. et al., 2009; Phil R.O. Parkes M., 1977). Presence of Cd was also detected in hair and higher concentrations of hair Cd were reported in children with mental retardation (Marlowe M., Errera J. Jacobs J., 1983) and learning difficulties or dyslexia (Phil R.O. Parkes M., 1977; Capel I. et al., 1981). There are several sources of human exposure to Cd including employment in metal industries, production of certain batteries, some electroplating processes and consumption of tobacco products (International Agency for Research on Cancer [IARC], 1993). However, food accounts for approximately 90% of the Cd intake in the general, non-smoking population since this metal is found in the soil. The quantity absorbed by crops in different locations is influenced by factors such as soil pH, salinity, crop species and varieties and the presence of other elements (e.g., zinc). Less than 10% of the total exposure occurs due to inhalation of Cd in ambient air or ingestion with drinking water (UNEP, 2010). Since Cd is dangerous to humans, a provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) or provisional tolerable monthly intake (PTMI) had to be established. PTWI is an estimate of the amount of the chemical that can be ingested weekly over a lifetime without appreciable health risk (Food and Agriculture Organization [FAO] World Health Organization [WHO], 1988). The European Union recommends a PTWI of 2.5 ÃŽ ¼g/kg of body weight (European Union [EU], 2014). The PTMI for Cd recommended by the FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (ECFA) is 25 ÃŽ ¼g/kg of body weight (FAO WHO, 2014). In 2010, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommended that the acceptable daily intake level of 0.1 à °Ã‚ Ã…“†¡g kg−1 body weight per day for chronic exposure (Mead N., 2010). Studies in several European countries have demonstrated high levels of Cd in agricultural topsoil due to the use of Cd in fertilizers and atmospheric deposition. Over the last 100 years, the increase in soil Cd concentration in Austria, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Ireland and the United Kingdom was estimated to be 7 to 43 percent (UNEP, 2010). Hence, the risk is in continuous increase and further investigation on the quality of the crops and food consumed has to be pursued. Out of the possible crops carrying Cd, cocoa, the seed of the Theobroma cacao tree (Watson R., Preedy V. Zibadi S., 2013; Lee F., 1983), is one of the most consumed by all age groups worldwide, especially by children. The large consumption of cocoa and chocolate products derived from cocoa is due to its pleasant flavor and the feeling of well-being that it gives (Watson R., Preedy V. Zibadi S., 2013). Several studies revealed the benefits of chocolate consumption due to the high levels of flavonoids and antioxidants present in cocoa based foods (Grivetti L. Shapiro H., 2009; Crozier S. al., 2011; Buitrago-Lopez A. et al., 2011). They are an important source of minerals such as Ca, P, Fe, Mg, Cu, Zn, K, and Mn (Grivetti L. Shapiro H., 2009; Peixoto R., Oliveira E. Cadore S., 2012; Pedro N., Oliveira E. Cadore S., 2006). In addition, they may prevent harmful effects caused by free radicals in the human body, contributing to the reduction of cardiovascular disease and cancer risk (Fernandez-Murga L. et al., 2011; Yao H., 2011). However, the presence of potentially toxic elements has also been reported (Rehman S. Husnain M., 2013; Yanus R. et al., 2014), particularly lead and Cd (Dahiya S. et al., 2005; Jalbani N. et al., 2009). Previous studies have been performed to test the presence of Cd in chocolate samples in several countries and the results revealed the presence of this heavy metal with a large margin of variation. In turkey 20-30 ppb were observed, in India 1 to 2730 ppb were reported, in Malaysia 280 to 420 ppb and in Pakistan 4.3 to 190 ppb were observed (Dahiya S. et al., 2005; da Silva A. et al., 2006; Dos Santos A. et al., 2005; Guldas M. et al., 2008; Lee P. and Low T., 1985; Leggli C.et al., 2011). In Oakland, California, the non-profit organization As You Sow (AYS) tested Cd levels in 42 products, 26 of which contained lead and/or Cd level above what the state of California considers safe. The organization sent legal notices in the context of holding more heavy metals than allowed under the Golden State’s Proposition 65 toxic chemical warning law to 16 manufacturers including Hershey’s, See’s, Mars, Godiva, Ghirardelli, Lindt, Green and Black’s, Kroger, Whole Food s, Trader Joe’s, Earth Circle Organics, Moonstruck, Theo, and Vosges (AYS, 2015; The Washington Post, 2015). In this study, given that some of the brands commercialized worldwide are found in Lebanon, cocoa and chocolate derivatives will be tested for their Cd content. Specific Aim Various brands of chocolate, whether local or imported brands, are largely consumed in Lebanon. The main ingredients in chocolate consist of cocoa, milk and fats, each of which is a potential source of Cd. No study has been conducted till now to assess the quantity of toxic metals present in the products on the market. Hence, a study to determine Cd levels is important for chocolate consumers and manufacturers. The aim of this study is to assess Cd levels in chocolate samples mostly consumed by the Lebanese population and compare those levels to the values issued by global health organizations. Research design and methods Sample collection Different brands of dark chocolate, milk chocolate and cocoa powder are collected from different stores according to the most sold brand. The shelf life of most milk chocolate samples is one year, and 2 years for dark chocolate. Samples will be labeled and stored at a temperature between 15 and 17à ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ °C. Samples will be kept wrapped in foil and placed inside a Ziploc plastic bag so that they do not absorb the odors and moisture from the refrigerator (Subarmanian P., 1998). Microwave digestion In order to detect heavy metals in cocoa, the samples have to be digested since the matrices are organic. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), microwave digestion can be followed on chocolate samples where up to 0.5g are digested in 5mL of concentrated nitric acid and up to 2mL hydrogen peroxide (Onianwa P.C. et al. 1999; Mounicou S. et al., 2002), which can also be substituted by nitric acid and hydrofluoric acid (Gà ¼ldaÃ…Å ¸ M., Adnan F.D., Biricik F.B., 2008). The digestion is run in PTFE vessels at approximately 180 ±5à ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ °C for 15 minutes (Environmental Protection Agency [EPA], 2004). The time and temperature are subject to variation in order to find the most convenient parameters for the samples tested. Wet digestion method can also be applied in the digestion of chocolate samples. The two methods are comparable in results (Jalbani N. et al., 2009). However, wet digestion requires a greater use of chemicals and causes a greater risk of contamination (Jalbani N. et al., 2009). As the samples will be used to assess both lead (Pb) and Cd, each sample is spiked with an internal standard of Pb and Cd prior to digestion (FDA, 2014). Obtained samples after digestion are reconstituted to 25mL with ultrapure distilled water in volumetric flasks then placed in vials and stored in the refrigerator (EPA, 2004; Jalbani N. et al., 2009). Atomic absorption analysis For quantitation, stock Cd and lead standard solutions of 1000mg/L each are diluted to different concentrations and a standard addition method is followed to prepare a calibration curve. Diluted Cd and lead stock standards with 1% nitric acid will be placed in nitric acid rinsed volumetric flask and stored in plastic bottles (Teflon ® FEP or HDPE bottles recommended). Both elements can be combined in the same solution (Food and Drug Administration [FDA], 2010). The heavy metal is detected by Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (GFAAS). Electrodeless discharge lamps for Cd and Pb are operated, alternatively. Cd will be detected at a wavelength of 228.8 nm (FDA, 2010). Pure argon (99.999%) is used as the purge and protective gas. Different chemical modifiers will be tried to find the most convenient one such as ammonium phosphate, magnesium nitrate, phosphoric acid or others. Statistical analysis Statistical analysis will be done in two different stages. First, the mean Cd concentration of each brand of chocolate will be calculated and proportion differences for independent samples will be tested by comparing the calculated mean values to the permitted ones by Global Health Organizations. If significant differences are observed, a second step of analysis will be performed in which the studied brands are subcategorized forming a contingency table. The differences can be identified by a χ ² test thus allowing the formation of an ANOVA study to check in depth for the differences within the categories and between them. Using these methods, the most diverging categories from the norm will be identified. Expected results This study will most likely reveal the presence of Cd in chocolate samples as it has been the case in other similar studies. Some samples might have values higher than the tolerable intake specified by global health organizations. Potential problems Cd is toxic at low doses (FAO WHO, 1988; Mead N., 2010; EU, 2014; FAO WHO, 2014) and may be found in low doses in some samples as shown in previous studies (Dahiya S. et al., 2005; da Silva A. et al., 2006; Dos Santos A. et al., 2005; Guldas M. et al., 2008; Lee P. and Low T., 1985; Leggli C. et al., 2011). Accordingly, the selection of an appropriate chemical modifier for AAS analysis is very important. Several trials will be attempted in order to select the optimal type. In addition, the order and receipt of chemicals will be time consuming. Time frame Completion of the proposed aim requires duration of 3 to 4 months in order to allow for the collection of samples, sample digestion, graphite furnace analysis, evaluation and statistical analysis of the results obtained.