The Great Depression Essay Example for Free

The Great Depression Essay Tillie Olson’s semi-autobiographic story â€Å"I Stand Here Ironing† focuses on a mother’s reminiscing of the decisions she’s made regarding her first child, Emily, and the resulting impact those decisions had on her daughter. The mother, also the narrator, paints a picture of guilt, resentment, and remorse toward her choices while raising Emily. Throughout the story, there’s several instances that point to the mother possibly being a victim of postpartum depression. Emily. Although the consequences of the mother’s choices have already taken effect, she can’t help but to think about what she could have done or what Emily could be if she’d made the â€Å"right† decisions, as deemed by then society’s standards. The setting takes place during a time of struggle and hopelessness in the United States, the Great Depression of the 1930’s. The birth of Emily, in this trying time, made for a much needed contrast to the sense of despair in the air. â€Å"She was a beautiful baby. The first and only one of our five that was beautiful at birth (312).† Here, it’s apparent the joy that every first-time mother has. This effervescent sentiment only lasts for eight months, though, when Emily’s father abandons his family. For a young mother living in those times, that is devastating. Being a single-parent mother in the 1930’s was unheard of and extremely taboo. She’d be seen as an outcast and a failure to her family. In her mind, the only option was to leave Emily to her ex-husband’s family, in order to make a better living herself and her daughter. Upon Emily’s return, at the tender age of two, the mother hardly recognizes her and sees her in a new light. The baby who was once beautiful is no longer. â€Å"I hardly knew her [†¦] All the baby loveliness gone (313).† The culmination of separation, as well as the angst and disappointment that she felt for Emily’s father has taken effect and is now transferred to her daughter. Everything about Emily, from her appearance to her walk, now reminded the mother of her estranged husband. That very moment reveals the reason behind Emily’s jaded life postpartum depression. Postpartum depression is a mood disorder that begins after childbirth and usually lasts beyond six weeks. Occurring in 8%-20% of all new mothers, postpartum depressed women exhibit behavior that is neither healthy nor motherly, which in turn has an adverse effect on the child. These effects became more than apparent in Emily’s case. PPD would help to explain the narrator’s constant distancing herself from Emily and difference of treatment her daughter received compared to her other children. The narrator’s environment, economic standing, social status, and many other factors contributed to her developme nt of PPD. According to a study by Child Psychiatry and Human Development, children of postpartum depressed mothers have results showing a plethora of adverse outcomes relative to community sample children. Children whose mothers were diagnosed with PPD demonstrated lower ego-resiliency, lower peer social competence, and lower school adjustment (Doesum). These results heavily support the claim that the mother in â€Å"I Stand Here Ironing† had severe PPD in Emily’s early stages of life. The mother acknowledges her daughter’s social awkwardness in a passage from the story. I am glad for that slow physical development that widened the difference between her and her contemporaries, though she suffered over it. She was too vulnerable for that terrible word of youthful competition, of preening and parading, of constant measuring yourself against every other, of envy, â€Å"If I had that copper hair, â€Å"If I had that skin†¦.† She tormented herself enough about not looking like the others, there was enough of the unsureness, the having to be conscious of words before you speak, the constant caringwhat are they thinking of me? Without having it all magnified by the merciless physical drives. (316). In addition to these findings, girls of postpartum depressed mothers show lower verbal intelligence (Doesum). â€Å"School was a worry to her. She was not glib or quick in a world where glibness and quickness were easily confused with ability to learn (315).† Emily, during her teens substituted in for her step-father while he was away at war, acting as the second parent to her siblings. She had to grow up quick and even as a child, she didn’t have much of a childhood. The mother admits that Emily’s aiding her at home may have had an influence in her shortcomings in school, stating, â€Å"There was so little time left at night after the kids were bedded down. She would struggle over booksâ₠¬ ¦ (317).† Surprisingly, daughters of mothers who had PPD were also rated as less externalizing by their mothers than girls in the community sample. One of the interpretations of this result may be a tendency among girls of depressed mothers to show more role reversal or â€Å"parentification,† in an effort to fulfill the parent’s need for comfort and care. An example of this is when a young Emily was sent to nursery school. She gravely disliked the nursery but she never outright expressed it to her mother. She would come up with excuses such as the teachers being sick in order to persuade her mother to let her stay home. Emily would feel pain on the inside and never externalize it to the outside world. Regarding the other children, the mother always describes them in a positive light and shows favoritism toward them compared to when Emily was their age. With her second daughter, Susan, the mother always chalks up in a highly favored fashion. â€Å"[†¦] Susan, golden- and curly-haired and chubby, quick and articulate and assured, everything in manner and appearance Emily was not (316).† Susan exemplified what it was to be the â€Å"it† girl during those times with her appearance as â€Å"a chubby blonde replica of Shirley Temple.† This created a tense feeling of envy and jealousy within Emily, according to the narrator. Even during the story, the narrator interrupts her monologue to announce that her youngest child, Ronnie, needs his diaper changed. Afterwards, she and he â€Å"sit for a while and I hold him, looking out over the city spread in charcoal with its soft aisles of light (316).† This, a scene that would never be depicted during Emily’s childhood. The only mention of her at that age is depiction of the mother picking up Emily from the babysitter at nights which was always met with an outbreak of tears and weeping, â€Å"a weeping I can hear yet.† She’s always look at Emily w ith an expression of tightness and worry. â€Å"You should smile more at Emily when you look at her (313),† a neighbor once said to her mother. Her less than motherly attitude to Emily is further exposed when she reveals that she’d let Emily be absent but is noticeably stricter with her siblings’ school attendance. These conclusions support the idea that Emily’s mother at one time had severe postpartum depression. A mothers feeling of self-confidence and self-efficacy is determined by many different factors including contextual characteristics such as social support, infant temperament, and maternal mental health. Defined, maternal self-confidence is the mothers perception of her own ability to take care of the child and to correctly interpret the childs signals. It governs adjustment to motherhood and is of great importance with respect to a positive mother–infant relationship (Doesum). The mother makes it clear throughout her retelling of Emily’s past that she doesn’t view h erself as a very good mother. She internally expresses her frustration with the way she raised Emily and the choices she’d made. Of course, motherhood doesn’t come with a handbook but she could have done some things differently. Ever since she was eight months old, Emily had continuously been neglected. Her father left her as a baby and as a result, her mother sent her off to live with his family for a while. Then, she was placed with a babysitter and later on dropped off at a nursery, then to a convalescent home. The narrator not once referenced to Emily having a best friend or a child over to play, at an age where forming relationships with peers is crucial. Even at the convalescent home, Emily had made a bond with another child, until her friend was immediately placed in another home. The establishment wouldn’t let children keep the letter they received in the mail from parents and had strict rules for visitation. This so called â€Å"home† established an â€Å"invisible wall† so to speak between visiting parents and the children above on the balcony (Frye). â€Å"They don’t like you to love anybody here,† explains Emily (315). It represents a separation Emily would feel for the rest of her life. All her life, Emily has invariably been pushed to the side and abandoned by the people whom she thought loved her or at least had her well-being in mind. Because of this, she became a lonely, isolated child. Even through her gift of mime, performing for high schools and colleges, Emily still felt isolated and alone. High levels of stress, low quality mother–infant interactions and insecure attachment early in a child’s life can adversely affect the development of the brain, which can have long-term consequences, for example for the child’s capacities to regulate emotions and cope with stress. Whenever Emily’s mother went out with her step-father, she couldn’t take it. She would open the door, thinking it might make her mother come back sooner and place the clock on the floor, claiming the clock â €Å"talked loud.† The clock is just one of many symbols in the story, representing the time mother and daughter never spent together and the separation between the two. The narrator is convinced that Emily is â€Å"[†¦] a child of her age, of depression, of war, of fear (318). As she reflects on her daughter’s life, she feels resentment, angst, and guilt yet she doesn’t let this consume her. She still has faith that her daughter will lead a different path and not have to go through the same painful struggles she faced as a lonely, 19-year-old, single mother during the Depression. Hardships turned her into what she is today, a strong and mature woman which is apparent due to her unbiased analysis of what she could have done better while raising Emily. The mother always heeded the advice of others and never herself as a first-time mother, always looking for validation through outside externalities. She corrected these mistakes with her subsequent children but by the time she realized it for Emily, it was too late. The damage has already been done. Although she may forever be reluctantly under the power of the iron, she wants Emily to be persuaded â€Å"[†¦] that she is more than this dress on the ironing board, helpless before the iron.† She has the capability to make something of herself, regardless of the way she grew up. Emily, at 19, has more opportunities than her mother had at the same age. That slight tinge of hope leads readers to interpret their own future for Emily, which she jokingly hints to through her budding talent for comedy by inferring that the human race will be atom-dead in a few years. She has a strong resource with her talent for pantomime that hopefully will foster as she grows older and gives her a chance to see what life is like outside of poverty. Emily is a survivor, through it all and has the ability and capacity to take life by the reigns, if she so chooses (Yahnke). Bibliography Doesum, Karin T. M., et al. Early School Outcomes for Children of Postpartum Depressed Mothers: Comparison with a Community Sample. Child Psychiatry and Human Development43.2 (2012): 201+. Academic OneFile. Web. 30 Apr. 2012. Frye, Joanne S. â€Å"I Stand Here Ironing’: Motherhood as Experience and Metaphor.† Studies in Short Fiction 18.3 (Summer 1981): 272-292. Rpt. in Short Story Criticism. Ed David L. Siegel Vol 11. Detroit: Gale Research, 1992. Literature Resource Center. Web 19 Mar 2012. Gerstenlauer, Jakob, et al. Effects of Postpartum Anxiety Disorders and Depression on Maternal Self-confidence. Infant Behavior and Development 35.2 (2012): 264+. Academic OneFile. Web. 30 Apr. 2012. Olsen, Tillie. â€Å"I Stand Here Ironing.† 1953. Portable Legacies 4th Edition. Schmidt, Jan, and Lynne Crockett, editors. Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2009. 312-318. Yahnke, Robert E. Magill. â€Å"I Stand Here Ironing† Robert E. Magill’s Survey of American Literature, Revised Edition, September 2006, p1-1 Short Fiction (Work Analysis). Literary Reference Center. Web. 28 Mar 2012.

Business Plan For Dazzling Brides Bridal Wear Marketing Essay

Business Plan For Dazzling Brides Bridal Wear Marketing Essay In Singapore, there are quite a number of bridal shops and boutiques that are locally owned, such as a single unit operations and new business ventures that are increasing in numbers daily. However what sets Dazzling Brides in a different way from other bridal business is that it is a bridal boutique that carries in house designer and collaborated with Swarovski to deliver classy wedding gowns to future brides at a reasonable price. There are a number of factors that influences the decisions of customers. Some of the factors that will play significant influence in customers decisions making in the wedding industry are analysed based on a couple of factors. In the wedding industry, these factors will significantly play a major role in any decision taken by brides. The wedding industry can be a competitive industry for entrepreneurs. Anyone keen in the business need not have to have a store to engage in the bridal business and can do so on a freelance basis. Ease in engaging freelances to assist in the wedding planning process is of ample quantity in the market. When it comes to wedding gowns, there are many substitutes that a bride can do to save cost such as renting their wedding gowns or even sewing it themselves. However these forces did not hinder the plan to set up Dazzling Bride as the strong passion of providing bride- to- be a lifetime experiences that is memorable has been the core reason of setting up a bridal boutique by a group of friends. Weddings are an interesting industry to be involved in as it is an event that never seems to die as the world is evolving no matter how unpredictable the economy can be. What is interesting is the way wedding gowns has evolve and most educated females are looking for wedding gowns that are exclusive and has the capability to make them look dashing. In addition to that, a positive incline in the number of marriages in Singapore has ignited our believed even more that the wedding industry will prosper and this will generate great potential profit to the business. This is one factor that we found to be a positive outlook for the bridal business as there are 24,596 registered marriages in 2008 in comparison of 26,081 in 2009 (Refer to appendix 1). 3.2 Environmental Analysis The Singapore government is actively facilitating singles in Singapore to find a life partner by providing opportunities for them to mingle. In the recent speech by DPM Wong at the Population Community of Supply 2011, comprehensive description on how the government has participated actively in encouraging Singaporeans to get socialize and examples on support available was emphasized. This is made possible through the social development network such as the Social Development Unit (SDU) and the Social Development Service (SDS) in assisting singles to find love between graduates and non graduates. The government has also provided Singaporeans with a broad-based package of support so as to encourage marriage by increasing the maternity and childcare leave, increasing the baby bonus cash gifts and co savings and also increasing childcare subsidies to parents. All these gestures shows the full support of Singapore government in promoting marriages and this is an important political and soc ial assurance for Dazzling Brides business venture as with such support the business will have the ability to acquire greater market share over the long run. Economically, Singapore has performed well in 2010 and this will lead to increment in salary resulting in more disposable income that will encourage many brides to spend more for a wedding gown that is exclusive and a wedding ceremony that will have deep impression to them and guest (refer appendix 2). The stability of Singapore economy status with the expected economy growth of 4.0 to 6.0 per cent in 2011 (refer appendix 3) has also encouraged great influx of immigrants and expatriates and this group of people will have the opportunity to be part of the exclusive customer of Dazzling Brides too. With the growth in population due to increase in trend of immigrants getting married locally (refer appendix 4), and regard Singapore as home or workplace the potential of Dazzling Brides to be involved in this group of customers wedding day will be on the high note. Aside from assessing the political, economically and social outlook, technologies used by Dazzling Brides will be top notch where the photos taken and videos recorded for indoor or outdoor shooting will deliver the best look for the brides with simple touch-ups, colour treatment and album layouts that enhances a bride beauty accompanied by a wedding gown that will complement a look of a lifetime. 4.0 DESCRIPTION OF THE VENTURE (1540) 4.1 Define the Business 4.1.1 Reason for entering venture / Defining Venture Bridal shop services defined for life-style needs is a growing and thriving industry yet to reach its full potential; therefore, Dazzling Brides is created with a passion for bridal services, wedding gowns and to make ones dream comes true on the most glorious day of their life. Our commitment is to provide a personalized service to help one with their wedding during this period. We strongly believe that wedding should be memorable and our  goal is to provide bridal services as comprehensive as possible to allow individuals thoroughly enjoy their special day. 4.1.2 Mission statement At Dazzling Brides, we are committed to provide superb customer  satisfaction as our number one priority. Our mission is to  provide comprehensive, professional and stress-free  bridal services at an affordable rate. Our bridal boutique with a touch of class as well as pragmatism forms the hallmark of our design. Our distinctive selection of luxurious, classic, stylish and sophisticated gowns by professional designers aims to reflect ones personality and unique  style. Our pre-wedding photography is a contemporary and natural in which most couples seek. Everyone at Dazzling Brides will remain deeply committed in bringing our brides the finest to make ones wedding a lasting memory. Location Analysis Dazzling Brides will be located at 2 Tan Quee Lan Street, Primero Place. It is located in Bugis Street and just a stone throw from major shopping centres like Iluma at Bugis, Bugis Village, Albert Complex and Parco Bugis Junction (Onezine, 2010). Other amenities include hotels, backpacker inn, restaurants, and Raffles hospital. Primero Place is highly accessible as it is strategically located near to vicinity like Bugis MRT, taxi stands and four bus stops nearby. For added convenience, over 1000 parking lots are available outside Primero Place and nearby vicinities like OG Albert, Parco Bugis Junction and Shaw Towers. It is also close to schools like Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and Singapore Management University. With many shopping centers, accommodation, amenities such as supermarkets, restaurants, boutique shops, cinema and restaurants / steamboat eateries around, there will be a continuous high influx of customers (generally the younger crowd / couples). Located near Primero Pla ce, there are three bridal shops but Dazzling Brides is differentiated by concentrating on personalization Made to measure gowns and suit and a one-stop service bridal shop that caters almost everything and settle everything in house (except album printing) for a more personalized feel (Business Finder, 2011; Streetdirectory, 2011; ShowNearby, 2011) * (Refer to Appendix 5a-d for Map and more information). Formation Dazzling Brides will occupy two former offices (750 sqft @ $3600 monthly each) on level two via rental. One office will be used for indoor photoshoot and the other will be bridal showroom. As both units are well maintained with partial furnishing, minimum renovation (estimated $10,000) to meet the unique requirement of a bridal shop will be done and Most renovations will be free-standing and can moveable (Refer to Appendix 6 for pictures). Description of the unit (Real Estate Listings Singapore, 2011) Shop House with Lift Access False Ceiling, Lightings, Electric ports, Telephone ports Individual Air Conditional One Partition Room Timber Flooring Attached Washroom with Shower Facilities Attached Shelves And Show Case 4.4 Key players These key players in the bridal industry provide exclusive and unique arrangements and unique designer wear for ones wedding day. Ted Wu: For the flawless bridal gown, Ted Wu is the answer. Ted Wu is associated with dazzling bridal gowns with intricate fabric designs and elegant style with Peranakan embroidery and superior beadwork on the beautiful silk organza. Divine Couture: This bridal shop provide one of the best bridal services in and it offers an extensive range of stylist, glamorous gowns and evening wear. For its gowns, main focuses are on subtle embroiders, lush silks and elaborate bead work. Amanda Lee Weddings: With an exquisite designer wear range using lush fabrics and gorgeous color, it has transformed the bridal scene and becoming one of the best and a leading name in Singapores bridal industry. My Dream Wedding: One of the key bridal players in Singapore that provides one stop custom bridal services in wedding photography, gowns and themes. The Wedding Present: Looking after every aspect from designer gowns, suits, car decoration and floral bouquets and service, it is a one-stop bridal shop that cater to personalized needs / services in a fuss-free manner (Compare Infobase, 2009). Product and Services Dazzling Brides extensive product and services include: Bridal Gown / Evening Gown / ROM Dress / Groom Suit (jacket and pants) / Tea dress / Bridesmaid Dress Flower Bouquet / Bridal Car Decoration Make-up and Hair-Do Photography services including studio, outdoor shoot Wedding album and photo frame Portrait with canvas and frame Accessories General consultation services Dazzling Brides is pioneered by a team of talented and innovative consultants, in house designers and photographers to turn your fairytale into reality. We believe in making ones special day unforgettable. Specialize in customized made-to-measure gowns and suits lovingly made with materials specially imported from Japan, Hong Kong and parts of Europe. With simplicity and elegance as our hallmark, the design style is always strong on innovative tailoring techniques and carried hands sew embellishment. Another trademark of Dazzling brides gown is the creative use of crystals by Swaroski for the elegance and allure touch. Legal Structure Dazzling Brides is incorporated by three directors (shareholders) with passion for the bridal industry. The company is deemed as a legal entity separate from its members and directors and profits are subjected to corporate tax rates. A Private Limited Company (Pte Ltd) will be formed whereby individual shareholders personal assets are protected and own liability is limited to value of the shares; members also have limited liability. In a bridal business, there are many aspects to each deal so to prevent clients from suing the directors, limited liabilities is important to safeguard personal assets. Set up costs consists of fees for company name approval @ S$15 per name and registration fees @ S$300. Official procedures to comply consist of personal assets are protected of company secretary, auditor (exempted for the first three years of business); annual returns must be filed and there are specific rule for general meeting, appointment of directors and shareholders resolutions etc. T he company will have perpetual succession unless business is closed by winding up or striking off (Spring Singapore, 2009). 5.0 SWOT ANALYSIS Dazzling Brides competitive edge is that it is located geographically in heart of the city and is accessibly convenient for patronizing by customers. It has a very spacious area that has ample space for brides family and friend. Space constraint will be eliminated with smartly arranged decor so as to create an ambience of freedom where bride can move with ease while trying their wedding gowns. Not only that, a sitting area will also be provided so as to make family members and friends feeling comfortable too as they are very much responsible in providing positive or negative feedback to customers purchasing power. Dazzling Bride will carry high end wedding gown by in house designer and each designer will be allocated a designated section in the shop space. For example if a customer is looking for designer A wedding gown, they will be able to see this entire designer options grouped in one segment. On top of that, Dazzling Brides will also collaborate with Swarovski closely so as to provide brides a glittery experience look to their expectations. These are some strong quality that Dazzling Bride possess that will ensure a smooth flow of process from meeting up with wedding consultants, selection process, fitting, photographers selection and many more. Sales staff hired by Dazzling Bride will be employed based on their experience in the retail industry and has the necessary knowledge and skills so as to ensure that customers will feel supported at all times in every detail of their wedding preparation. The key criteria required will be sale personnel that have high tolerance and patience level and are creative in their selling capability. Dazzling Brides is a new business venture and this may seem to be a slight pinch nevertheless with great determination, sincerity and passion of its consultant, in house designers, talented photographers and dedicated service staffs, Dazzling Brides will be able to deter any hiccups that might occur. It has been a trend for brides to have their wedding photos taken overseas, for example in Malaysia, Taiwan and many other counties where packages are attractively price. However Dazzling Brides is confident that with wedding gown designs that are exclusives and unique in line with great service and a holistic approach of making the bride-to-be experienced a memorable event; the thought of engaging in overseas packages will be greatly eliminated as every step will be conducted at home. This form of convenience will allow brides an opportunity to have more time to concentrate on other wedding preparation that can be massive. Marketing Plan Wendy 7.0 ORGANIZATION PLAN 7.1 Human Resource Plan As marriage is serious matter as it happens only once in a lifetime so everyone in Dazzling Bride must take customers wedding day seriously. Hence, it is of paramount importance that everyone shares the same values and fit with the companys culture. Regardless of positions, we will be very selective and, there will be a set of guideline that the candidates must fulfill during selection. On the job training will be carried out by management to help with individuals learning process and to improve them as time evolves. In this fast moving fashion lifestyle industry, it is vital to stay updated on latest desired item in the market. Thus, we will encourage all to expose to the latest MTV, magazines, bridal shows and exhibition to gain insights. There will be challenging but achievable objectives to optimize potential. While on the job, their performances will be observed and if they fail to meet standards, they will be terminated within 2-3 months. Rewards and remuneration will be tied t o performance (incentives trips and bonus) (Refer to Appendix X for detailed human resource plan). 7.2 Structure In order to be successful and to uphold the standards of top quality bridal products and services, we will cultivate a culture so that everyone is motivated and will put in 101% effort. Fostering people with strong professional skills and characteristics People with a dream (Flexible and daring to make decision), common value, and strong commitment with cohesive attitude. Fun working environment to pursue dreams, encourage innovation/creative, to grow and contribute to goals with minimal politics. Processes, systems and decisions open and transparent. Honest, ethical and socially responsible business behavior. Culture that allows opportunity for changes, growth, good communication and company that truly cares. Incentives to encourage collective success. In addition, we have a defined organization structure (Hisrich et al., 2010) that layout key personnel, roles and responsibilities to direct efforts at all levels. This helps to maintain a strong strategic fit with its mission and provide clear business direction. The organization structure help management to stay on top of happenings and ensure that there is continuous review of operation and capital budgets, exploring opportunities for growth and expansion, supporting day to day activities, ensures business objectives are made, resolving conflicts, ensure proper use of assets and develop network of information sources (Refer to Appendix X for detailed organization chart). 7.3 Equipment / Procurement Equipments to be purchased will consist of office, stock, indoor photo-shoot and showrooms equipments OFFICE SHOWROOM INDOOR SHOOT Fax / Phone Cash Register Sewing Machine Camera Calculator Signage / Banners Shelves/Racks Tripod Desk / Chairs Bags Scissors / Pins / Measuring Tape / Sewing Kits Studio strobes (lighting) + Stands Computers Chairs and Tables Stationery Backdrop and Props Copier NETS/ Credit Card Terminal Decoration Reflector Filing Cabinet Dye Set-Up Stereo Dressing table Misc. Supplies Filing Cabinet Telephones Changing Room (Portable) Forms/Contracts Telephone Installation Mirror STOCK Hangers Vacuum Cleaner / Cleaning items Racks / Hangers Bridesmaid dress samples Iron / Steamer Window Display Fixtures Evening Gown / ROM Dress / tea dress samples Mannequins Coffee Maker and Supplies Crinolines / Can Can Sofa Curtains Accessories samples Business Cards Changing Room (Portable) Jewelry Mirrors Shoes Groom suit samples Bridal gown samples Flower bouquet samples Portrait, wedding album and photo frame samples 8.0 Financial Plan TBA 9.0 EXPANSION PLAN/ EXIT PLAN 9.1 Expansion Plan At the end of the third to fourth year of operation, Dazzling Brides vision will be to expand organically by not only providing new range of beautiful exclusive wedding gowns for purchases or rent. We will consider opening up another shop that will provide extended services for a wedding industry and diverse our business model to cater to other services. We will provide brides to be with a venue to conduct their wedding ceremony with live bands packages if needed, transportation for bride and families, wedding decoration and source out gifts for guest and even catering services. Aside from that we will also extend our business by collaborate with the Indians and Malay community so as to provide the necessary wedding needs. In addition we would also participate in Singapores Bridal Bazaar Fair where the latest wedding gowns range will be showcase. 9.2 Exit Plan However if the expansion plan were to come in short or if Dazzling Brides fail to generate positive income we will decide to sell the business as a management buyout (MBO) where new group of management will still be able to continue the business in a different management style and elevate the business further. 10.0 Milestone (Summary) TBA Appendix 5a: Map of Bugis Street and Primero Place (Extracted from Streetdirectory, 2011) Appendix 5b: Primero Place (Extracted from Streetdirectory, 2011) Appendix 5c: Analysis of Primero Place General and Accessibility (extracted from ShowNearby, 2011) Appendix 5d: Analysis of Primero Place Parking and Transportation (extracted from ShowNearby, 2011) Appendix 6: Pictures of the offices (Real Estate Listings Singapore, 2011) Job Specification for Bridal Designers, Photographer, Coordinators, Seamstress and Make Up Artist (Stone, 2005): JOB SPECIFICATION Position: Bridal Designers x 2 Date: 20 March 2011 Selection Criteria Experience: To advise clients on the design of the gown. Design and develop bridal gowns and suits in accordance to the needs of customers. Source merchandise / materials and liaise with suppliers. Singaporean / PR and Malaysian (female) preferred. Qualifications: Diploma or Degree in Fashion Design/ Fashion Marketing/ Fashion related. Skills, Abilities and Knowledge: Minimum 2 years experience. Well versed in Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop. Has good fashion sense, market foresight and capable to conduct material sourcing. Personal Qualities: Pleasant personality and meticulous in work attitude. Passion for bridal fashion, creative thinking, and a team player. Able to handle stress and customer oriented. Excellent English / Mandarin communication skills. Special Requirement: Keen to work irregular hours (including Weekends / Public Holidays). Remuneration: Salary range from SGD 2000 to 2300 with attractive benefits. JOB SPECIFICATION Position: Photographer Date: 20 March 2011 Selection Criteria Experience: 1 to 2 years  in bridal and lifestyle photography. The right candidate will need to have highlyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¨developed creative skills both with the camera and in Photoshop. Singaporean / PR and Malaysian preferred. Skills, Abilities, Knowledge and Personal Qualities: We require somebody who is a good in communication; works well with people and is able to meet deadlines with quality work. Studio and outdoor lighting and knowledge are needed. Fluent English and Mandarin with high levels of social energy is a must, as there will be high demands for clients interaction and teamwork. Special Requirement: Keen to work irregular hours (including Weekends / Public Holidays) and keen to travel. Remuneration: Salary range from SGD 1500 to 2000 with attractive benefits and travel allowance. JOB SPECIFICATION Position: Coordinator x 2 Date: 20 March 2011 Selection Criteria Experience: Attending to customers and establish good rapport with clients. Co-ordinate appointments and follow up between internal departments and customers. Perform daily administrative duties (ordering inventories, coordinating with printers, florists etc) to meet the needs of the operations. Other ad-hoc duties when required. Singaporean / PR and Malaysian (female) preferred. Qualifications: Diploma  holders with 1 to 2 years  of sales co-coordinating administrative experiences. Skills, Abilities and Knowledge: Well versed in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop and Microsoft office. Able to communicate with customers independently and able to handle artwork. Personal Qualities: Pleasant personality and meticulous in work attitude. Good organizational competence with excellent follow-up skills. Presentable, pleasant personality and Service-oriented in achieving customer satisfactions. Excellent English / Mandarin communication skills. Special Requirement: Keen to work irregular hours (including Weekends / Public Holidays). Remuneration: Salary range from SGD 1800 to 2100 with attractive benefits. JOB SPECIFICATION Position: Seamstress x 2 Date: 20 March 2011 Selection Criteria Skills, Abilities, Knowledge and Experience: 1 to 2 years  experience in sewing / measurements (textile). Singaporean / PR and Malaysian (female) preferred. Personal Qualities: Willing to learn and can communicate with basic English and Mandarin. Special Requirement: Keen to work irregular hours (including Weekends / Public Holidays). Remuneration: Salary range from SGD 1300 to 1500 with attractive benefits. JOB SPECIFICATION Position: Make-up Artist x 2 Date: 20 March 2011 Selection Criteria Skills, Abilities, Knowledge and Experience: 1-2 years strong experience in MakeUp Artistry. Singaporean / PR and Malaysian (female) preferred. Qualifications: Professional Makeup Certification. Personal Qualities: Willing to learn and can communicate with basic English and Mandarin. Willing to travel and good interpersonal skills. Special Requirement: Keen to work irregular hours (including Weekends / Public Holidays). Remuneration: Salary range from SGD 1800 to 2000 with attractive benefits and travel allowance. Organization Chart Outsource Audit Committee and Secretary Managing Director (Plans / Analysis and Management) (Photographer) Associate Director (Financial Matters) (Designer) Associate Director (Human Resource and Administration) (Make-up Artistry / Consultant) Bridal Designers x 2 Gown design and material sourcing Photographer Indoor, outdoor shoot and artwork Make-up Artist x 2 Indoor, outdoor shoot and actual day Make-up Seamstress x 2 Sewing, Alteration and Measurement Coordinator x 2 Serving customer, coordination of operation

The Behavioral And Technical Approach Information Technology Essay

The Behavioral And Technical Approach Information Technology Essay Several viewpoints on information systems illustrate that the study of information systems is a field with multiple disciplines and therefore, no single theory or perspective governs. Generally speaking, the field can be separated into behavioral and technical approaches. The behavioral approach can be broken down even further into sub-categories to include economics, psychology, and sociology. The technical approach can also be broken down into sub-categories to include management science, computer science, and operations research. A very important element of the information systems field is involved with behavioral issues that surface in the development and preservation of information systems. Problems like strategic business design, implementation and utilization, and management cannot be fully explored with the models using a technical approach. Behavioral disciplines such as economics, psychology, and sociology can also contribute vital concepts and processes. For example, economists study information systems mainly interested in what impact systems have on cost structures within the business and within its particular market. On the other hand, Psychologists are interested in how human decision makers comprehend and use information. Finally, sociologists study information systems looking for how groups and organizations form the development of systems and also how these different systems affect individuals, groups, and organizations (Information Management, 2010).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The behavioral approach does not completely ignore technology. In fact, information systems technology is frequently the reason for a specific behavioral problem or issue. But usually the heart of this approach is not normally geared toward technical solutions. Instead it centers on modification in attitudes, management and organizational policy, and behavior. Technical Approach The technical approach to information systems puts emphasis on mathematically based models to study information systems, in addition to the physical knowledge and abilities of these systems. The disciplines that play a role in the technical approach are computer science, management science, and operations research. Computer science has to do with creating theories of computability, means of computation, and approaches to effective access and storage of data. Management science highlights the growth of models for decision-making and management procedures. Lastly, operations research deals with mathematical methods for optimizing business issues such as inventory control, transportation, and transaction costs (Information Management, 2010). Key Management Challenges Building, operating, and maintaining information systems in todays fast-paced business world can be very challenging. These key management challenges are based on a multitude of problems such as information system investments, strategic business decisions, globalization, information technology infrastructure, and ethics and security. Information System Investment Challenge If managed intelligently, investments in information systems can improve employees lives and a businesss overall performance. For instance, over the past twenty years the Internet has developed form a technical innovation to a personal and business necessity. Some businesss have recognized considerable improvements in processing information by changing from mainframe computing to personal computers connected by local area networks (LAN). The ability of software applications to identify and correlate pertinent data in a data warehouse allows businesses to uncover unidentified financial or physical resource relationships and therefore make available suitable assistance where there had been none. However, along with the ability to enhance lives and organizations, some information system investments can become risky, costly, wasteful mistakes. To overcome these challenges, senior management personnel need to be able to successfully evaluate these investments to ensure the correct return on investment (ROI) (Laudon Laudon, 2006). Strategic Business Challenge You can pick up any management book and you can read about the significance of developing a strategic plan, and ideas about how to both develop and implement your plan. On the other hand, you will also find articles that you imply that strategic planning does not work because it is impossible to develop a long term plan in this ever changing business environment. In my opinion, the truth lies somewhere in between. Strategic planning can definitely help you get prepared on what you need to accomplish over the next years, what things you will need to accomplish those goals, and exactly how to go about accomplishing your goals. The trouble is that the benefits of strategic planning can be easily lost. These plans fail primarily because of what happens after the process of strategic planning. In general, a great effort goes into creating and developing a strategic plan, which is then quickly put away and forgotten, even by the people that created it. The goal of strategic planning lies not only in the development of the plan, but also in its implementation. Implementing the strategic plan will only work if you are clear about what this plan can bring to you and the organization. The strategic plan needs to have value, not only to the organization, but also to the employees. The bottom line is that the plan needs to be used by everybody. A strategic plan needs to be used as a decision-making tool from the top of the organization all the way to the bottom. Chief Executive Officers ought to be able to use it to make decisions on the direction of their business, mergers, or staffing. Managers should also be able to use it to make decisions for the priorities of their departments goals and objectives, and to align the work of their department with the overall goals of organization. Lastly, every employee must be able to use the plan to recognize his or her own goals, and where they fit in big scheme of things. When implemented correctly, a strategic plan helps to add meaning and focus to not only every individual, but the organization as a whole (Information Systems, 2010). Globalization Challenge The globalization of information technology warrants special attention by business executives, government officials and scholastic researchers for a multitude of reasons. First, is that information technology and systems are high-technology industries of considerable size and with significant potential for stimulating economic growth and jobs. The immediate growth in global trade and the surfacing of an international economy require information systems that can sustain both the production and selling of goods and services in many different countries. Second, access to the most up-to-date computer and telecommunications technology is central to competitive success in nearly all industries. Government policies which deliberately or inadvertently retard technological progress in the production and use of computers, information systems and telecommunications have important economic effects. Third, given language barriers, cultural, and political differences among dissimilar countries, th is focus often resulted in confusion and the breakdown of central management controls (Laudon Laudon, 2006). To overcome these challenges, it is imperative for organization to develop global hardware, software, and information systems standards. Additionally, organizations must be able to create global accounting and reporting methods and design worldwide business processes. Information Technology Infrastructure Challenge This particular challenge for businesses deals with how organizations can develop information technology infrastructures that can sustain their goals when business situations are changing at a rapid pace. Aging infrastructure is obviously a huge issue in many industries that only gets bigger as time goes on. Some equipment may have had external upgrades or facelifts, but in most cases, it is over 70 years old. Many organizations are left with expensive and unmanageable IT platforms that cannot readily adapt to innovation and change. Additionally, a competitive business environment and the pressures of the global financial situation weigh increasingly on companies minds (Information Systems, 2010). To battle this challenge, some organizations may be required to redesign its organization and develop a new information technology infrastructure to survive in this competitive business world. Ethics and Security Challenge Organizations must always be cognizant that their information systems are used in both an ethically and socially responsible manner. Although information systems have provided many benefits, they have also created new ethical and security issues that must be addressed. Every improvement in information technology can be tied in with at least one ethical dilemma. From Facebook to ordering merchandise online, computer users are ignorant of the delicate balance between ethical behavior and profits. Businesses, software and hardware developers, and individuals must think about what is ethically correct when using information technology on a daily basis. The primary issues essential to the world of information technology are the individuals expectation of privacy and the providers ethical duty to use its applications responsibly (Information Systems, 2010). The challenges organizations will face will be how to apply high-quality assurance standards to their information systems, as well as to their products and services. Additionally, they will have to develop information systems that are not only secure but that are still easy to use by most individuals. Digital Firms A digital firm can be described as, One in which nearly all of the organizations significant business relationships with customers, suppliers, and employees are digitally enabled and mediate (Laudon Laudon, 2006, p. 11-12). The firms primary business processes are performed through digital networks encompassing the whole organization or connecting several different organizations. A core or primary business process can be defined as the minimum single tasks to be completed to provide a certain level of reliability in output, without any thought to hardware, software, or performance. When a core process is put into practice, anything can be added to make the process more efficient, but nothing can be removed. On the other hand, a business process can be defined as, The set of logically related tasks and behaviors that organizations develop over time to produce specific business results and the unique manner in which these activities are organized and coordinated (Laudon Laudon, 2006, p. 12). Digital firms are extremely powerful because they can sense and react to their ever changing surroundings much faster those traditions organizations. Because of their quick reaction and the fact that they are more adaptable than the traditional firm, digital firms are much more able to endure in unstable times. Because these new firms are completely digital, there exist much more opportunities for them in the global business word. The Internet is quickly becoming the information system infrastructure of preference for electronic commerce. It offers organizations an easy way to connect with other business and individual at an unbelievably low cost. Additionally, it offers a complete and uncomplicated set of technologies and technology standards that can be implemented by any organization. Organizations can use Internet technology to drastically cut their transaction costs, time searching for buyers and sellers, and gathering information on products or services. This information is at the fingertips of anyone with a computer and access to the Internet. One example of a powerful digital firm has to be EBay. Following 2001, there were a high number of dotcom businesses that failed, but there were a few that held their ground, like eBay. The success of eBay is based on its capacity to transform many splintered, predominantly local markets into global ones at a comparatively low cost to its users (Simonsohn, 2010). People have always had a basic need and an appeal in buying and selling used objects and collectibles items. Prior to eBay, people would have tried to sell their unwanted items through family garage sales, classified ads, and flea markets. Nevertheless, the amount of people accessible to sell these items to was limited due to the fact that face-to-face transactions were almost always required. Another great example of a powerful digital firm would be Google. Google isnt just legendary for producing and providing useful services, but it has also acquired a few innovative businesses and integrated them. These include YouTube, Blogger, Picasa and Jaiku. Google used its digital background to take advantage of opportunities in the global business world, making them one of the most powerful businesses to date (Google, 2010). Types of Information Systems For most organizations, there are many different requirements for data or information. Senior managers continually need up-to-date information to help aide in their business decisions. Mid-level managers may need a bit more detailed information to assist them in monitoring and managing a multitude of different business dealings. Lastly, supervisors and employees with operational roles need information in order for them to perform their everyday jobs. Consequently, organizations tend to have a number of information systems operating at the same time. The three I will be discussing are the management information system (MIS), decision-support systems (DSS), and the transaction processing system (TPS). Management Information System A management information system (MIS) management information system (MIS)System used to extract data from a database and compile reports that help managers make routine decisions. obtains data from a database to compose reports, such as detail reports, summary reports, exception reports, and financial statements to assist managers in making better decisions. The different types of reports depend on the specific information a particular manager may require. A MIS is largely involved with internal sources of information. MIS generally receive data from the transaction processing systems (TPS) and reduce it into a sequence of management reports. MIS reports generally are used by mid-level managers and operational supervisors (Laudon Laudon, 2006). Decision-Support Systems A decision support system (DSS)decision support system (DSS)Interactive system that extracts, integrates, and displays data from multiple sources to help managers make nonroutine decisions. is an interactive system that gathers, displays, and combines information from various sources to help managers make non-routine decisions. DSS are explicitly designed to help management make decisions in circumstances where there is doubt about the potential results of those decisions. DSS are made up of tools and procedures to help gather pertinent information and analyze decisions and alternatives. DSS often requires the use of complex spreadsheets and databases to produce what-if models (Laudon Laudon, 2006). Transaction Processing Systems The majority of organizations day-to-day activities are documented and processed by its transaction processing system (TPS)transaction processing system (TPS)Information system used to record and process an organizations daily activities or transactions., which collect input data and changes them into output information meant for a variety of users. Input data are called transactions which are transactionsFinancial and nonfinancial events that affect a businessevents that affect a business. Transaction Processing Systems (TPS) are intended to process everyday transactions accurately and efficiently. A business may have several transaction processing systems to include; billing systems, payroll and tax payments systems, production and purchasing systems, or stock control systems to handle all movements into and out of the organization (Laudon Laudon, 2006). Challenges Posed by Information Systems Although the many different types of information systems are available to an organization and can be extremely beneficial to its growth, there are some management challenges. Some of these challenges include the tension related to designing and building the information systems, the need for training for both management and employees, and the need to establish which information systems is the most critical, therefore which system receives the majority of the funding. For an organization to overcome these challenges they need establish exactly what is needed in terms of information systems. Next, they need to schedule and provide proper training to all company personnel, so they are familiar with the systems. Finally, they need to develop a method of accounting for the cost of the systems and their priority. Key Enterprise Applications Most organizations compete in an rapidly changing, aggressive, global environment. Operating in a global environment forces an organization to concentrate on the most cost-effective implementation of its processes, customer service, and speed at which their products or services are brought to market. To achieve these lofty goals, it is essential that the organization freely exchange useful information across different functions, levels, and business departments. By incorporating all its processes, the organization can more effectively exchange information between departments, customers, and suppliers. The four key enterprise applications are enterprise systems, supply chain management systems, customer relationship management systems, and knowledge management systems. Enterprise Systems Enterprise systems incorporate the vital business processes of an organization into a separate software system. Data from a variety of functional areas are centrally housed and maintained where they can be retrieved and utilized by other functional processes. This alters an organizations work flow. Now information can effortlessly run throughout the organization, increasing synchronization, efficiency, and decision making. Enterprise systems are extremely tricky to employ successfully and once employed, are especially hard to change. Enterprise systems, also known as enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems solve problems by providing a single information system for organization-wide coordination and integration of key business processes (Laudon Laudon, 2006, p. 56). Supply Chain Management Systems Supply chain management (SCM) can be described as an overseeing of resources, information, and finances as they move form supplier to manufacturer to wholesaler to retailer and finally to the consumer. Supply chain management requires managing and integrating the information, goods, and services flow together within and amongst organizations. Supply Chain Management Systems (SCMS) are used to help an organization manage its relationship with suppliers to optimize the planning, sourcing, manufacturing, and delivery of goods and services. SCMS supply information to aide suppliers, purchasing organizations, wholesale distributors, and logistic companies coordinate, schedule, and control business processes for their products and services (Su Yang, 2010). Customer Relationship Management Systems Many businesses make more profit from ongoing relationships with their customers than from the original sale. Customer relationship management (CRM) is a term applied to processes implemented by an organization to handle its contact with its customers. Customer relationship management systems (CRMS) concentrates on the coordination all of the business processes encompassing the organizations with its customers in sales, marketing, customer satisfaction, revenue optimizing services, and customer retention (Laudon Laudon, 2006). In todays highly-competitive business surroundings, the success of an organization relies greatly upon maintaining and exceeding customer expectations for both service and value. Knowledge Management Systems Knowledge management is the specific management of essential knowledge and information acquired by individuals so that it can be is effectively shared and made use of by other personnel in the organization. Through the successful sharing of corporate intellectual assets, Organizational Knowledge must be efficiently changed into business intellect. Personal knowledge concerning a business process must be converted into corporate knowledge ensuring it applied throughout consistently, ensuring maximum benefit to the organization. The main function of a Knowledge Management System (KMS) must be to make information obtainable to all authorized users (Laudon Laudon, 2006). However, implementing a straightforward information management system, file indexing and retrieval system is only the start. Securing corporate knowledge requires more than software and technology, it requires solid document management software and cultural alteration of how information is produced, handled, stored, and distributed.

Animal Testing is Wrong Essay -- Ethics Science Essays

Animal Testing and Why it is Wrong Imagine a cold dark room with cages lined against the walls. The living creatures echo throughout the building as if the entrapped animals are able to sense their fate. Lying on a table are several rabbits strapped down with tiny cups attached to their bellies. These rabbits go through an enormous amount of pain due to the fact that they are not given painkillers of any sort. Sadly, these animals are being used for scientific experimentation. It is a debate that has taken place for several years and it continues to be an ongoing battle. Do animals have rights and is animal testing wrong. In 1824 The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in England was formed and since then there have been debate after debate on animal rights. In the past, it was only an issue of the human treatment toward work animals and house hold pets. Now organizations, including People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have formed in hopes to stop scientific experimentation on anima ls. According to be poll by the Associated Press in November 1995, two-thirds of all Americans believer that animals have just as much right to live without suffering as humans. What do you believe? Is animal research ethical, is it accurate, and are there other methods available to take the place of animal research? Animals are being mistreated and there in no need for it. There are too many other options available for research which is more accurate and humane. Animal testing still an option/Types of test being used Although animal research is not used as much, the number of animals being used remains substantial, with estimates ranging anywhere from 10 million to over 100 million per... ...uk/science/hottopics/animalexperiments/index.shtml Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing, John Hopkins University. (2003) Retrieved April 4, 2004 from http://caat.jhsph.edu/ National Anti-Vivisection Society. Animals in product testing. Animals in Education. Animals in Scientific Research. (2001). Retrieved April 4, 2004 from http://navs.org Macy, David. CQ Researcher. Fighting Over animal Rights. August 2, 1996. Retrived April 14, 2004 from http://www.morehead-st.edu:2125/cqresearcher/document Fox, Katrina. Nexus Magazine. The Human Cost of Animal Experiments. (2001) retrieved April 14, 2004 from http://www.nexusmagazine.com/articles/animaltesting.html Barnard, Neal and Kaufman, Stephen. Animal Research is Wasteful and Misleading. Retrieved April 12, 2004 from http://www.members.iinet.au/~rabbit/expmilg.html

The Heart of Darkness: The Great Human Disease :: Literary Analysis, Joseph Conrad

It is easy to look at others and see their faults and weaknesses, but it is hard to see the same vices in ourselves. In the novella Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad, this universal human flaw can be seen in the character of Marlow. While it appears that Marlow escaped the darkness, really he remained just as lost in the wilderness as the rest of those involved. The truth is that Marlow was not the exception. He may have escaped Africa, but he did not escape the darkness. Marlow thought that he had only â€Å"peered over the edge† (pg. 119), seen into the darkness, when really he had fallen into it. He had been seduced by the snake. It should have been obvious to Marlow that there was something wrong with this company. There were countless clues right in front of him. Nothing was masked or hidden, made to appear wholesome. First of all, the way that he got the job was something that should have raised suspicion. The previous captain had died â€Å"in a scuffle with the natives† (pg. 12). That bit of information should have made Marlow reconsider taking the job or at least raised some questions concerning the circumstances of the â€Å"scuffle.† Aside from how he got the job, from when he first set foot in Brussels, Belgium, Marlow saw so many off-putting things. He describes the city as a â€Å"whited sepulcher† (pg. 14)-a symbol of death. It is a biblical allusion from the book of Mathew. In a passage Mathew describes â€Å"whited sepulchers† saying that they â€Å"appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness† (Matthew 23:27). The fact that Marlow recognizes this shows that he is not completely ignorant to the truth about the company. Then he walks into the company’s office positioned on â€Å"a narrow and deserted street in deep shadow† (pg. 14), and he sees these two women knitting black wool, looking as though they were â€Å"guarding the door of darkness† (pg. 16). Basically everything was telling him not to go behind those doors-not to take the interview-and Marlow chose to do it anyway. At one point Marlow even says it was as if he â€Å"had been let into some conspiracy,† into â€Å"something not quite right† (pg. 15). Clearly, Marlow knew that there was something nefarious about the whole business, and yet he took the job just the same, thus disproving his innocence in

How Far Is Odysseus Motivated by Nostos?

â€Å"Odysseus is motivated only by his desire to return home (nostos). † How far do you agree with this view? In your answer you should: * Consider how Odysseus behaves on his journey home; * Include an analysis of his motives; * Support your answer with evidence from The Odyssey. On his journey home, Odysseus encounters many obstacles which he attempts to overcome swiftly so that he may arrive home as soon as possible; however, it can be argued that nostos is not his only motive throughout his journey, though it may be the most significant.In Book 5, Homer presents Odysseus for the first time, and we find him weeping for his â€Å"lost home† and discover that he has been doing so for the past seven years every day. This shows how much he longs for his nostos and that this is his main aim in life. However, despite his apparent pain and homesickness, he has not yet attempted to leave the island, nor does he hate Calypso for keeping him here, as he sleeps with her every night and shows no aversion to eating and talking with her.Of course, if he did try to escape he would die immediately, so his motive for not doing so is self-preservation rather than nostos; on the other hand, if he died he would never achieve his nostos, so perhaps his sole motive is nostos. Furthermore, he declines Calypso’s offer of immortality as he claims his â€Å"never-failing wish† is to achieve his nostos. In Book 9, Odysseus tells the Phaeacians that he and his men raided Ismarus when they left Troy.Odysseus’ motive for this could either be a desire for booty (in which case he wants kleos rather than nostos) or a desire for supplies (in which case he does want to achieve nostos, and so is preparing himself for the journey). Also, he is anxious to leave Ismarus as soon as possible which shows a desire for nostos; however, he allows his men to overrule this decision, which either shows that his motive is to please his men, or that his desire for nostos is not very strong at this point.If it is the former, his sole motive his not nostos. (Incidentally, when he drags two of his men away from the Lotus-eaters, his motive is to please his men as well as to be a good leader, not nostos, which shows that his sole motive is not nostos at this point). In Book 9, Odysseus explains how he tried to escape the Cyclops’ cave as he and his men were in â€Å"mortal peril†; thus, his motive was self-preservation and good leadership (as he wanted to save his men as well).Furthermore, the reason they were trapped in the cave in the first place was because Odysseus desired booty; though his men tried to urge him away, he wanted â€Å"gifts† and would not leave without them. In addition to this, he called out his true name to the Cyclops as he wanted kleos and thus provoked the Cyclops to curse him (which hindered his nostos). At this point in his journey, he was motivated more by kleos than by nostos. In Book 10, we find out tha t Odysseus stays with Aeolus for an entire month, thus fulfilling the laws of xenia by not rushing away, so piety seems to take precedence over nostos here.When he has left Aeolia, however, he is certainly anxious to reach Ithaca swiftly and even takes complete control of the â€Å"sheet of the ship† in his â€Å"anxiety†. He does not relax until they are finally in sight of Ithaca. Furthermore, when the winds blow him back to Aeolia, he does not attempt to linger once more but immediately requests Aeolus to assist him in reaching Ithaca as soon as possible and feels â€Å"deep distress† when the request his denied, showing how important nostos is to him.In Book 10, Odysseus also relates how he stayed with Circe for a year simply finding â€Å"pleasure in living† and enjoying himself. He does not feel any pressing need to return to Ithaca, and it is his men who finally remind him that they need to go home. This shows that he is not motivated solely by nos tos on his journey. On the other hand, when his men urge him to leave Circe’s island, he is quick to agree and they leave the next day, showing his eagerness to return home – however, despite nostos being the significant motive it is clear that it is not the sole motive at this point.In Book 12, Odysseus encounters the Sirens, Scylla and Charybdis and the island of Thrinacie. Here it is very clear that his motive is not nostos; he listens to the Sirens rather than putting wax in his ears, motivated by kleos and curiosity; he attempts to kill Scylla rather than sailing swiftly past, again motivated by kleos; he easily gives in to his men and lands on Thrinacie despite knowing that their â€Å"deadliest peril† (and greatest obstacle to nostos) lies there, claiming his motive is that he cannot go against the majority vote.Although he does pray to the gods for a â€Å"way of escape† from Thrinacie, he can also be motivated by wanting supplies and self-preserv ation, so his sole motive is not nostos. On Scherie, Odysseus states that â€Å"All I seek now is my passage home†. The use of â€Å"all† shows that it is the only thing he wishes for and therefore his sole motive since he has left Calypso’s island. It can be argued, however, that it is only because Odysseus has achieved kleos (his name is known even in the heavens) and no longer has the responsibility of his men that his sole motive is now nostos.Also, he has now been away from home for twenty years, and is now truly homesick. Odysseus’ arrival in Ithaca is quite anti-climatic: although he is â€Å"overjoyed† and kisses the earth, Homer does not linger on the moment but relates how Athene and Odysseus proceed to make a plan. The killing of the Suitors is much more significant, as it is described in great detail and Books 14 – 23 concern mainly this matter.Then again, perhaps this is because Odysseus has not achieved his nostos simply by arr iving at Ithaca: he must regain his position as well, in which case the killing of the Suitors is far more significant. However, it can be argued that the killing of the Suitors is not solely motivated by nostos but also a desire for revenge, especially since Odysseus does not spare any of them and kills his disloyal servants as well, and would have killed the Suitors’ families if it had not been for Athene’s interference: it does not seem like the sole motive for all of this killing could have been nostos.In conclusion, Odysseus is motivated by many things throughout his journey, including kleos, revenge, curiosity, the desire to please his men, good leadership, leading a comfortable life and nostos. Before he lands on Calypso’s island, nostos is not the most significant; however, it becomes his sole motive for the rest of his journey. Once he lands in Ithaca, it can be argued that he is also motivated by revenge, but nostos is still a significant motive even i f it is not the sole motive.

Genetically modified food Essay

The past score of years has witnessed the astonishing revolution in the scope of plant breeding technologies. The biological technologies have regularly been utilized to create new gene combinations for progressing crop diversities. This intentionally modified by the manipulation of the DNA, and transformation of certain genes to create new variations of life, which called genetically modified (GM) food. There is presently some debate about whether to accept GM food. The disadvantages of GM food are labelling issue and transformation of certain genes might lead to environmental issues. Nevertheless, there are also a number of crucial advantages such as farmers could improve their economic benefits and GM food could improve the nutritional quality to prevent disease. Therefore, this essay will argue that GM food has obvious benefits to the society because it can improve economic benefits by trading and decrease allergenic. GM food has some negative consequences for society. The main adverse effect is that GM food may has mandatory labelling scheme issues. Research has shown that some manufacturers realize that implement a mandatory labelling scheme could cost a fortune (Steiner 2000, p. 158; Uzogara 2000, p. 188). Moreover, labelling of GM food could remind consumer these products are biotech, and this could lead to customer losses (Uzogara 2000, p. 188). Then, the concept of mandatory labelling scheme for GM food in some countries is uncertainty (Steiner 2000, p. 158). For example, manufacturers use misleading and confusing labelling to muddle the consumer such as ‘may contain genetically modified material’ (Steiner 2000, p. 158). Indeed, labelling issue for GM food is extremely difficult to implement in some countries, governments may promulgate a series of legislation to implementation. Secondly, transformation of new DNA technology used to create GM food that has environmental risks. This involves monarch butterfly early death and threatens beneficial insects, which would seriously destroy the balance of the ecosystem. Some species are suffering from premature death after insects fed by GM crops, and also this might result in difficulty in reproduction such as monarch butterfly and green lacewing insects (Steiner 2000, p. 153). Furthermore, Lemaux (2009, p. 528) has reported an experiment, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) in genetically engineered (GE) corn pollen could lead to colony collapse disorder that  accelerate the bees’ decline. It can be seen then that mandatory labelling scheme issue and environmental threats could give rise to some negative aspects for GM food. If one looks closely at the literature on this topic, nevertheless, there are a number of significant advantage points to GM food. One of these is that GM food could improve farmers’ economic benefits. According to Uzogara (2000, p. 193), GM food could be converted from annuals to perennials that would increase crop yields during the year. Perennial crops would lead to increased labor allocation, reduced labor costs, decreased fertilizer use and cost of production for farmers to make more economic profits (Uzogara 2000, pp. 193-194). For example, according to USDA surveys from 2001 to 2003, 79% of US farmers who choose Bt corn to increase yields (Lemaux 2009, p. 536). He also states that the Zaragoza region is one of the three leading GE corn-growing regions in Spanish and has at least 11.8% yield increase. Indeed, the profitability of farmers’ growth is approximately $69 per acre per year higher than conventional farmers (Lemaux 2009, p. 536). Especially, farmers in developing countries realized the most significant economic benefits from GM rice because large-scale farmers have higher yields and less infestation (Lemaux 2009, p. 536). This evidence shows that GF food farming is a potentially high profit margin business, and profitability often depends on factors relating to crop yield and pest infestation. Thus, GM food could change the status quo to achieve the highest profitability for farmers. Allied to this is the further advantage of GM food which could improve nutritional food quality. This involves nutritional content and health-enhancing properties of particular foods that might solve malnutrition and population health problems in developing countries. Uzogara (2000, p. 194) states that GM crops would help the population to reach their daily based requirements and prevent malnutrition. For example, cassava has been genetically modified to have a higher nutrient value (Anon cited in Uzogara 2000, p. 194). Furthermore, the nutritionally enhanced crops like iron, vitamin A and Beta-carotene dense rice could help alleviate malnutrition (Bouis 2007, pp. 80-83). For instance, according to research, approximately three million preschool children in developing countries are suffering from vitamin A deficiency that could lead to visible eye damage,  however, GM rice can increase vitamin A and iron which could prevent blindness (Bouis 2007, pp. 82-86; Ferber cited in Uzogara 2000, p. 194). It is clear that farmers could gain significant economic benefits through GM food because it would increase the yield and reduce labor costs, and nutritionally enhanced crops could help the population to prevent disease or malnutrition. Consequently, although GM food as one kind of biological technologie can have some negative outcomes for labelling and environment issues, GM food arguably has more positive effects. The effect of global trading that is a significant benefit to improve economy. The USA is the dominant exporter of both GM soybeans and GM maize, which are account for 76% of GM maize and 50% of GM soybeans exports (Nielsen et al. 2003, p. 780). He also claims that high-income Asia is the main importer of GM maize and GM soybeans that are 41% and 30% respectively. Moreover, Nabradi & Popp (2011, p. 8) report that GM crops account for a great proportion from global trading that providing significant export profits for many countries. For example, The United States, Argentina and Brazil are the world’s three largest GM soybean and GM maize exporters with above 90% and 80% share of world soybean and maize trade (Nabradi & Popp 2011, pp. 9-10). Similarly, the volume of global soybean trade increased from 85.4 to 87.9 million tonnes from 2009 to 2011, and the volume of global maize trade increased from 86 to 88.5 million tonnes in three years (Nabradi & Popp 2011, p. 10). They also indicate that China has significant soybean importing volume that from 46 to 49 million tonnes during three years. Further to this, eliminating allergens as a result of GM food has been one of the prominent concerns among food quality and human health. Allergenic foods usually contain multiple allergens, such as milk, soy, peanut, crustaceans, fish, egg and tree nuts. According to Herman (2003, p. 1318), using GM to remove intrinsic allergens from soybeans that present in thousands of processed and prepared foods in developed and developing countries. He also claims that eliminate allergens from GM soybeans that has high relationship to the development of GM crops, and transgenic soybeans is a first step in solving food allergies (Herman 2003, p. 1319). Otherwise, the alternative GM method to remove the allergen from food, for instance, some experiments to use gene suppression technology  attempts to reduce and/or eliminate allergens in rye and rice seed, and even use this measure to suppress an allergen in shrimp that is potentially dangerous to sensitive people (Herman 2003, p. 1319). Plausibly, GM food may eliminate allergen from all of food that would help people to stay away from food allergies. Although some argue that GM food may has some negative impacts to mandatory labelling scheme, there is considerable labelling of GM food still has positive impacts on consumer and manufacturers. Uzogara (2000, p. 188) claims that labelling for GM food would enable the consumer to avoid ethical, cultural, or religious reasons by certain foods. For example, Jews and Muslims usually insist on Kosher and Halal foods because the purity of this food can be guaranteed, which not contain pig genes (Uzogara 2000, p. 187). He further maintains that product quality can be improved by labelling, for instance, improved favour, longer shelf-life, and build brand identity. Similarly, according to General Labelling Directive, labelling for GM food that means this can be guaranteed by European regulation, and consumer can trust the information on the products (Andersen 2010, p. 139). Furthermore, while some authors claim that GM food has negative impacts on environment, Uzogara (2000, p. 195) indicates that GM food has still environmental benefits include protection against plant diseases, improvement of saline soil, and herbicide tolerance. GM food like tomatoes, squash and corn become virus resistant that against GM food destroying viruses or viral diseases (Uzogara 2000, p. 195). According to Bouis (2007, p. 80), GM crops can improve soil conditioning that is changing highly saline soils. Then, herbicides are effective against several target weeds also cuts conventional herbicide use significantly (Uzogara 2000, p. 195). While discussing GM food may has some negative impacts to mandatory labelling scheme and environment issues, the considerable positive consequences to improve global trading and remove intrinsic allergens can never be neglected. In conclusion, GM food clearly has advantages on economy and human health. While GM food lead to the mandatory labelling scheme hard to implement and has threats to the environment, success in the labelled GM food let some consumer more easier to choose food and make the crops stronger to against different threats. Furthermore, GM food References: Andersen, LB 2010, ‘The EU rules on labelling of genetically modified foods: mission accomplished?’, European Food & Feed Law Review, vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 136-143, viewed 8 November 2014. Bouis, HE 2007, ‘The potential of genetically modified food crops to improve human nutrition in developing countries’, Journal of Development Studies, vol. 43, no. 1, pp. 79-96, viewed 28 October 2014. Herman, EM 2003, ‘Genetically modified soybeans and food allergies’, Journal Of Experimental Botany, vol. 54, no. 386, pp. 1317-1319, viewed 12 November 2014. Lemaux, PG 2009, ‘Genetically engineered plants and foods: a scientist’s analysis of the issues (Part II)’, Annual Review Of Plant Biology, vol. 60, no. 1, pp. 511-559, viewed 11 November 2014. Nabradi, A & Popp, J 2011, ‘Economics of GM crop cultivation’, APSTRACT: Applied Studies in Agribusiness and Commerce, vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 07-19, viewed 10 November 2014. Steiner, MP 2000, ‘Food flight – the changing landscape of genetically modified foods and the law’, Review Of European Community & International Environmental Law, vol. 9, no. 2, p. 152-160, viewed 11 November 2014. Uzogara, SG 2000, ‘The impact of genetic modification of human foods in the 21st century: A review’, Biotechnology Advances, vol. 18, no. 3, pp. 179-206, viewed 3 November 2014.