Zara International Case Study

Zara International was a retail shop originated in La Coruna, Spain in 1975. It was clothing and accessories shop and imitated the latest fashion trends and sold them at a lower cost. It became Zara International after entering Portugal in 1988 and then the United States and France in the 1990s. The distributor for this brand is Inditex and is considered the most successful retail chain in the world. Zara has a business strategy that is very different from the retailers nowadays.If a customer orders a product Zara’s distribution centers can have the items in the store within 24 to 48 hours of receiving the order, depending upon the country. The business plan that Zara’s executives made was very innovative and played a great part in the success of this retail chain. Not only has it been successful and profitable in the past, they are successful in the present and have been expanding their brand all over the world Zara International’s business strategy has elements of classical management approach.Classical Management approach has the assumption that people at work act in a rational manner that is primarily driven by economic concerns. This approach has three major branches: Scientific management, administrative principles and bureaucratic organization. Scientific Management Frederick W. Taylor used the concept of time study which is to analyze the motions and tasks required in any job and to develop the most efficient ways to perform them. His first principle was motion study which is the science of reducing a job or task to its basic physical motions.This concept was clearly evident in Zara International’s case. Time is the main factor that is considered by Zara International as opposed to production costs and advertisements. According to Schermerhorn (2010), â€Å"Parent company Inditex Group shortens the time from order to arrival by a complex system of just-in-time production and inventory reporting that keeps Zara ahead (p. 54)à ¢â‚¬  It is only possible if Zara has skilled workers and the required training to train these workers with the ability to send the product within 24 hours of receiving an order in the European store and 48 hours in American and Asian stores.This is evidence of using the principles two and three of Scientific Management. All this requires careful planning which is the fourth principle of scientific management. Administrative Principles: Henri Fayol’s administrative principles are also clearly seen in Zara International’s case. Zara had a foresight of what it was doing will create profit. It did not spend any money on advertising but instead on being efficient and on time on its production. With no advertising the company made a profit of $10 billion in sales which were overwhelming.The CEO of Inditex Pablo Isla seems to have great organization and leadership in gaining profit for the business. Zara international also applies a Behavioral Management approach in doing b usiness. According to Schermerhorn (2010), â€Å"The behavioral approaches maintain that people are social and self actualizing. † (p. 38) Instead of advertising their brand Zara makes sure that the interiors and exteriors of the stores are up to date and designed based on the location. They focus on what people are demanding and keeping in mind their social and cultural needs.It also keeps a close watch on the latest trends and the buying behavior of customers. Zara’s strategy of being successful consists of various factors. Zara has succeeded by doing business according to customer’s needs and buying behavior. Their different approach in production approach is another factor. They have created a very efficient link in between their management principles and social environment. Their use of complex systems of just in time production has played a major role in its success. Zara also has believed in cutting expenses wherever and whenever possible and has done tha t in an intelligent way.Their strategy of inventory control is also worth applauding. By using this distinctive thinking Zara has been successful amongst the fashion world. The latest trends in the competitive apparel industry are companies going digital. Reinvention of fashion runways and then use of social media in publicizing the latest fashion is a hot trend. Use of mobile devices such as smartphones and iPads for shopping for the convenience of customers is also a very hot trend. There are also virtual dressing rooms and interactive store windows that make shopping for apparel easier (Agathou, 2012. Zara has also started to come up with innovations to stay in the competition. Zara International has launched its online store in Mainland, China (Inditex to launch, 2012). Zara has also expanded its stores internationally by entering South Africa this year (Kew, 2012). Zara International will definitely continue to do well with the business strategy. However it will still have to a dapt to the changes in the global economy and plan their business strategies according to the customers and clientele. It will do well since it is expanding internationally and also adapting the latest technologies.Zara International has gained huge success by following the classical management approach and the behavioral management approach. Inditex has used a distinctive business strategy in their production and inventory control. Even in the competitive trends in apparel industry, Zara will survive in the competition if it continues to do business according to the clients’ needs and wants. BIBLIOGRAPHY (2012, September 4). Inditex to launch Zara’s online store in Mainland, China. www. fibre2fashion. com. Retrieved from http://www. fibre2fashion. com/news/apparel-news/newsdetails. spx? news_id=115305 Agathou, Amalia. (2012, June 30). 6 Hot Digital Trends transforming the fashion industry. Insider. Retrieved from http://thenextweb. com/insider/2012/06/30/6-hot-digital -trends-transforming-the-fashion-industry/ Kew, Janice. (2012, August 27). Zara Enters South Africa as Foreign Brands Seek Growth. Bloomsberg Businessweek. Retrieved from http://www. businessweek. com/news/2012-08-27/zara-enters-south-africa-as-foreign-brands-seek-growth Schermerhorn Jr. , John R. (2010). Management. Management Learning Past to Present. (pp. 31-56)

Debate Paper

Whether or not armed security guards should be in schools has been a debate for years but has really been brought into the limelight since the most recent tragedies of Columbine, Virginia Tech and Sandy Hook. The supporters of having armed security in our school districts believe that it is a needed layer of security and helps to diminish response time if necessary while keeping children, parents and teachers feeling safer to be in school. The ones against having guns in the schools believe that we have had armed guards in schools and it did nothing to stop it.They also believe that the cost is too high while also worrying about their children’s psyche from being around loaded weapons every day. No matter which side you are on, there are great arguments for both sides that are logical as well as emotional and it is everyone’s job to listen to all of the information that is available and make their decision based on what they feel is the best choice. That choice could be one of the most important decisions that they ever make because it could mean the difference between life and death.Sandy Hook Elementary School, Columbine High School, Virginia Tech, and the University of Texas at Austin were some of the most televised and the deadliest school shootings that have ever occurred in the United States. Since 1992, there have been over 387 school shootings which are way too many for the United States which poses the question, why did these tragedies happen in the first place? If we had armed security guards or a military/police presence at our institutions of development and higher learning would these tragedies have been prevented or could there have been less loss of life?The answer is that having an armed guard would not have prevented these attacks from individuals whose entire intention was to commit murder. Look at Columbine and Virginia Tech, both of these facilities had armed guards on their campus and it did nothing to stop the attack. The att ackers observed the guards behaviors and learned their routines for patrolling and made their moves when they could get past the guards without detection.This also raises the question is if the school is liable for the deaths of these students since they had trained professionals on site and they did nothing to stop the attack could the school be charged with negligence? So with the evidence of having two of the most brutal school shootings of all time happen while armed security was present, what makes you think that they could stop an incident somewhere else? Deciding whether or not armed security would actually stop an attack is important but so is figuring out how to pay such high costs to have these armed personnel on site to protect our children.Most schools are struggling as it is to keep viable programs such as the arts running while also trying to keep their schools staffed with teachers and other personnel. How could they even fathom paying more money for security when the y cannot even keep an art class going? The average salary for armed security guards across the country is around $55,000 per year then you have to factor in training, equipment, uniforms, and benefits so, on average a school would have to pay $100,000 per year for one security guard for their school.Now some school districts only have a few schools but others have a lot more and they would have a hard time paying for that. Of course, a lot of people would argue that you should not put a price tag on our children’s safety but in many cases the price of their educations would diminish because less money would be spent there to be able to pay for security. Could a school district along with the parents choose to take education away from the students in order to add armed guards in the chance that something goes wrong?Education is a key component in raising a smart, self-sufficient adult. The other factor that becomes a part of cost is having the money to pay for the lawyers and incidentals in the chance that the security guard acted inappropriately. What if there is an accidental shooting or a guard becomes over zealous in what they feel that their responsibilities are? These factors could lead to major lawsuits that the school would be responsible for by either having to represent that officer or in paying settlement and court costs for a lawsuit.These are added costs that the majority of the schools across the United States cannot afford to take on. The safety of schools have been tested more in the recent years with news coverage of the most recent incident in Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, where twenty children and six staff members lost their lives. With the recent rise of school shootings it is no wonder parents are concerned for their children’s safety in schools.Where drugs and peer pressure were once major concerns, in today’s society, we worry about our children dying in the hands of armed shooters. While ther e is much controversy over how to protect the future of America’s children, lawmakers are supporting a bill to allow armed guards to stand and protect our children in the school systems by creating laws to allow armed security in the schools. â€Å"The Indiana amendment's sponsor, Rep. Jim Lucas (R), said he believes mass shootings like the one in Newtown could be prevented by more firearms. † (Resmovits, 2013).In support of armed guards, the National Rifle Association has paid for research and found among the study’s central conclusions is that ‘‘the presence of armed security personnel adds a layer of security and diminishes response time’’ in a shooting, (Asa) Hutchinson said. (Asa Hutchinson) cited a 1997 Mississippi incident in which an assistant principal ran to his truck to retrieve a . 45-caliber semiautomatic pistol and subdued a gunman who had already shot two students (Stolberg). † New legislation would allow armed teac hers, staff members, or on-duty patrols to respond if a situation were to occur.†Ã¢â‚¬Å"The (National Rifle Association's) model legislation would lift restrictions on guns in schools and require specific training for school employees who choose to carry guns. † (Resmovits, 2013). In this time of uncertainty, President Barack Obama, is trying to pass stricter gun laws. â€Å"As President Obama tries to persuade a reluctant Congress to pass new gun laws, the poll found that a majority of Americans -54 percent- think gun control laws should be tightened, up markedly from a CBS News poll last April that found that only 39 percent backed stricter laws.† (Cooper and Sussman, 2013).There is much speculation this increase could be as a result of the Newtown shooting. Meaning people are seeking security, parents are worried for their children, and there is widespread fear of a situation like Newtown ever happening again. Which brings us back to our controversial view, why is having an armed guard important? Having an armed guard might also dissuade any possible shooters from attempting to attack the school, avoiding the situation altogether. The armed guard would be a figure of authority and possible intimidation of any gunmen.As the saying goes ‘you can’t bring a knife to a gun fight’ therefore it would be hasty to think schools can stop armed intruders with anything other than a gun itself. Usually these gunmen are suicidal and seeking attention, where they understand their outcome is death, therefore restraining is not enough. A gunman at this level would not hesitate to shoot first, regardless of who is in their way, which is why having someone on site ready to respond and taken the gunman down is an ideal solution. As a parent there is nothing more important than keeping your kids safe and the same goes for a teacher and their students.Many parents feel that whatever a school needs to do to keep their children safe they are more than willing to agree with. Teachers feel more relaxed that they have someone there to help them in an emergency situation that can help protect the children and children feel safer knowing that they have someone to turn to when their parents are not around to protect them. Some people might argue that having a loaded gun in the school might mess with a child’s mental state because it makes them feel that guns are the only form of protection so they would prefer them not to be there.The reality of the situation is that we live in a world that can be tragic and devastating at times and a lot of kids are forced to see things that are way beyond their years and they are circumstances that no child should have to deal with. But, the great thing about kids is that they are resilient and very smart and with the proper education could be taught about right and wrong and why they need to have armed security guards at school. It is just like explaining to your kids how to dial 91 1 or where in the house the smoke detectors and fire extinguishers are.You also make your kids wear seatbelts and bike helmets to protect them so that they do not get hurt in case of an accident. Parents do these things not to scare their kids but to prepare them in case of emergencies. Children are not equipped to handle an active shooter in school nor should they ever be expected to just like you would not teach a child how to fight a fire but teaching them that this person(s) on campus are there to protect them in that small chance that someone comes into their classroom wishing to do them harm.Parents and teachers would love nothing more than to let their children believe that the world is filled with rainbows and teddy bears but the reality is that it is not and no matter how much people try to protect children from evil you are doing them a disservice by not telling them the truth. It would be morally wrong to lie to children and to make them feel safe when there is a potentia l for danger. Ethically it is the responsibility as parents and teachers to teach children that there may be evil in the world but there is also a lot of good and that there are always people here to protect us.Making a child feel safe and secure while also making the parents and teachers that are responsible for these kids is clearly more important than what it might cost or the possibility that having proper security might possibly fail. There have been too many shooting incidents in the United States but who knows the number of shootings that were prevented because a school chose to have security on campus. Proper knowledge and training is key to making sure that these security guards can do there jobs to protect the innocent.Another option for a school that may not have the financial resources is to hire off-duty police officers to work details on there days off because this would cost a lot less and you are guaranteed to have highly trained and dedicated people willing to put t heir life on the line for your children. As a society why are we more willing to pay for name brand clothes for our kids then add security that can save their lives?During a situation as horrific as an active shooter in a school is a serious issue that unfortunately is our reality today and we have to prepare that it could happen and having armed and trained security personnel on site could mean the matter between life and death and is this something we really want to chance because of money or the possibility that it is for nothing? We do not get into car accidents every day but we always make sure that are children are buckled up so why should adding security measures to schools be any different?

The Key Considerations When Developing International Business Literature review

The Key Considerations When Developing International Business - Literature review Example Hence, this leads us to the topic of â€Å"key considerations in developing an international business.† This work attempts to identify the extent in which prior literatures, especially the latest ones, have suggested on the importance or key considerations in putting up an international business. Using the internet and the online library resources, it has been identified that there are at least seven materials which appeared to be most relevant to the subject matter, the materials have also been reviewed and the most salient points have also been identified. This work limited itself to materials written within the last 5 years with the exception of one in which it was written in the year 1999 but appeared to be highly relevant to the subject matter. One important material on the subject matter is written by Beyer and Fening (2012). Beyer and Fening (2012) highlighted the importance of business strategy for success in the global market. However, they actually emphasized on the role that institutions play in shaping global business strategy. The authors pointed out for instance that one important consideration is whether the targeted country for expansion of the business implements and imposes restrictions on trade and commerce vis-à  -vis foreign nationals. Another important consideration is whether the potential market is saturated with government policies and regulations that restrict the businesses. One important material on the subject matter is written by Beyer.

Why did the Cold War End Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Why did the Cold War End - Essay Example It is called the Cold war mainly because there was no direct confrontation between these two world powers and instead, their confrontations tended to happen by proxy. They often provided the funding and weapons to rival groups in various countries, such as Vietnam and Korea, and these fought each other to see which ideology would come up supreme (Hitchens 2006, 276). It is to the credit of the leaders of these rival states that they did not come to an open confrontation with each other. If they had allowed their emotions to get away with them, then it would have been a disaster on a global scale. This is because both of these powers possessed nuclear weapons, and in case of a war, they would have been inevitably used. Despite all the rivalry between the Soviet Union and the United State, the Cold war suddenly ended in the late 1980s; this was mainly due to both long term and short-term issues, which took place in the Soviet Union, and these, are what will be discussed in this paper. The main reason why the Cold war ended is because the Soviet Union collapsed, and this happened due to various long and short-term circumstances. It has been suggested by certain scholars that the Soviet Union would have fallen much sooner than it did (Dobbs, 1993). This is because, from the time of Stalin’s rule onwards, the Soviet Union was not secure when it came to food supply. Stalin’s policy of the collectivization of agriculture, and the seizure of peasants’ property left the Soviet Union with insufficient grain reserves to feed its population. Where it had once been one of the largest exporters of grain in the world, it became one of its biggest importers. There was extremely little funding for the Soviet Union to use to export grain and there came a time when the state was virtually bankrupt. This would have manifested the fall of the Soviet system but

Mangroves and Development in Indonesia Case Study

Mangroves and Development in Indonesia - Case Study Example This paper stresses that  the mangrove ecosystem provides sanctuary for migratory and indigenous birds. The mangrove forests are not free from human destruction and intervention just like other coastal ecosystems. Traditionally, the small communities at the coastal regions managed the forests at a sustainable level. However, the intense utilization of the forests has resulted in a steadily worsening state of the forests. In addition, the mangrove ecosystem has become an easy source of wood for construction and fueling as well as the waste disposal and production of food.This study declares that the vegetation extends approximately 80 kilometers of the Jakarta bay at the coast of Jarkarta in Indonesia. The report provides a plan for the management of mangrove forest in the region of Jakarta, Indonesia. The Indonesian coastline is approximately 81,000 km in length and it comprises of about 17,000 islands. The country has various coastal ecosystems that support different species and p rovide various services to the habitants and the community. The main ecosystem of the Indonesian coastline entails the coral reefs, mangrove forests, algal beds, seagrass-beds, estuaries, mudflats and beach vegetation.  The factors that promote the destruction of the coastline ecosystem in Indonesia include population growth, high population density, effects of tourisms and the high rates of urbanization in the region.

Fifth Chinese Daughter, Hong Wong's Parenting Philosophy And Practice Essay

Fifth Chinese Daughter, Hong Wong's Parenting Philosophy And Practice - Essay Example Hong Wong’s parenting philosophy is not Hong Wong’s own parenting philosophy! The philosophy was transmitted to him and it was the way of life in a traditional Chinese family. How did the philosophy mould into that shape? A scientific answer to this question is impossibility. It is so because it has been so since times immemorial! The parents loved the children; they punished them severely as well. Punishment and love were alternative beats of the same heart for the parents. The story is about Jade Snow Wong’s upbringing in such a family in San Francisco’s Chinatown of pre-World War II times. Women were looked down upon, not with any individual malice, but their inferior status was taken for granted. Corporal punishment was part of the manual of family governance. Family business was conducted along with home life just like a train that moved on two parallel tracks. Certain fixed Chinese values were taught to the children whom they were expected to follow scrupulously. Jade Snow Wong writes, (1989, p.2) â€Å"Even at this early age she had leaned the meaning of discipline, without understanding the necessity for it. A little girl never questioned the commands of Mother and Father, unless prepared to receive painful consequences.† Absolute dictatorship in the family!... Jade Snow’s admittance to college education changes her perspectives, and she begins to understand the merits of freedom in a woman‘s life. She is on head-on collision with the clash of cultures and values. She begins to assert her identity, but she is aware of the essential dignity of the Chinese traditions. Jade Snow was also exposed to racism in her life. To mention just two instances of racism, when the family moved into the basement, her father â€Å"hired Negroes to chisel out part of the brick walls.†(p.51)In school a boy name Richard used to harass her and she reports it thus: â€Å"With malicious intent in his eyes, he burst forth, â€Å"Chinky, Chinky, Chinaman†¦.Chinky, Chinky, no tickle, no washee, no skirtee†¦.† (p.68) Sex discrimination was an important part of the Chinese traditions. Women were mostly confined to the kitchen jobs and the boys were given more care and attention. But Jade Snow’s father faced a great moral/cult ural dilemma over the male-female issue. According to the popular Chinese opinion, daughters would eventually get married in another family, so why to invest in their education? His further observations have great significance. Jade Snow writes thus: â€Å"But my answer was that since sons and their education are of primary importance, we must have intelligent mothers. If nobody educates his daughters, how can we have intelligent mother for our sons? If we do not have good family training, how can China be a strong nation?†(p.15) My personal thoughts: The book shows how the assimilation process of two cultures is arduous and slow. For the first generation of the Chinese Americans it was the toughest

Answers of questions of cases Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Answers of questions of cases - Assignment Example The interpretation of this Article, therefore, includes both full and partial ratification and, therefore, the Pact is now in force. The effects of State K’s statement in the instrument of ratification imply that, although the State has ratified the Pact, it has reservations on the implementation of articles 2 and 3 of the Pact. In essence, State K is bound by all the other articles in the Pact save for article 2 and 3. It is, therefore, noteworthy that State K will not make racketeering a criminal offence for everyone in the state as stipulated by Article 2 of the Pact. Additionally, State K will not be under any obligation to either prosecute or extradite to a State which requests it, any person found within its territory whom there is reasonable cause to suspect of having committed acts of racketeering under Article 3 of the Pact. State L s letter may not have any significant effect on State Ks ratification of the Pact. This is because treaty ratification is a matter that i s solely decided by a State. Another state whether a party to or not to the Pact or treaty cannot compel another State on whether to ratify a Pact or the manner it should ratify such Pact. Consequently, L, s letter requiring withdrawal of the statement contained in State K’s instrument of ratification is only considered the opinion of State L and cannot affect State K, s ratification of the pact unless State L withdraws it ratification. 2) In this regard, two approaches to the recognition of a state oppose each other. There is a believe that the appropriate existence of a state in the international perspective will only become complete when the State is legally recognized by other States. There is also the contrary perspective that disagrees. As a result, there are two theories that focus on the recognition of the state, and they are the constitutive and declaratory theories. The constitutive theory provides that there is no automatic recognition of a body as a state. The the ory provides that a state is considered as a state when it is recognized as a state. Accordingly, other states have substantial discretion to recognize or not to recognize a state. Additionally, the new state only exists upon recognition by those other states. In this regard, a state is, and converts to an international being exclusively through recognition. The legal existence of new States gets its recognition from the will of other states already established. According to this theory, it is, therefore, noteworthy that a state cannot be considered as a proper subject in the international perspective unless it is recognized and approved by other states. On the other hand, the declaratory theory looks at the alleged state’s allegation of its sovereignty inside the territory it entirely controls to decide if it can access the international level. The declaratory theory is the opposite of the constitutive theory and holds that recognition is of little importance since states ha ve limited or no discretion in the determination of whether an entity is a state. The status of statehood according to this theory is based on facts and not state discretion. The foreign ministers statement can be interpreted as accurate according to the later theory that does not lay emphasis on recognition. There is the widespread argument that recognition is irrelevant for the existence of a state. In light of this, the attitude that is to be adopted by the British government is one that

RESEARCHING BEHAVIORS OF INTERNET SHOPPING Research Paper - 1

RESEARCHING BEHAVIORS OF INTERNET SHOPPING - Research Paper Example For this research a lot of literature has been analyzed in depth and quantitative research design will be used for the purpose of conducting this research. This research will be conducted with full authenticity and all areas regarding the current and future trends in internet shopping will be investigated. The internet has become accessible to public for over twenty years by now. It came upon the scene and has exploded in popularity like few things have ever done in the history of mankind. Since the introduction of the World Wide Web, its value in the area of commerce as well as human life has been growing. Skeptical at first, online consumerism has steadily increased and, along with it, has come some positive and negative behaviors. Online business has been the most distinctive feature in this internet era. The internet is used by all types of people on a daily basis for multiple purposes. Internet shopping is one of the most accepted forms internet activities after email and browsing. Online business is the process of buying products through the internet. This has become the easiest way to purchase various items people want, without physically visiting the shop. When the customers wish to buy a product or service, they will explore it online and further make an evaluative learning about the product. This online shopping allows the consumers to search for information about the product and its prices. It opens a vast opportunities for the shoppers to study the product details. There will be several collections of items from books, prints, games to electronics, household materials, etc. They will be better attracted by learning the facts about the products they intended to buy. Then they assess other options avai lable and lastly make a decision to buy the one that most suits their needs, considering all aspects of the product. After, this, the money transaction is done and then the materials are provided. The instances of people

Determine the distribution of shear force, bending moment and stress Essay

Determine the distribution of shear force, bending moment and stress due to bending in simply supported beams - Essay Example to Identify the measurements to be taken, they should be variables and they both should be able to be measured at the same time (the measurements should be as specific as possible to reduce variation and increase the chance of higher correlation). The third part is to make 50 to 100 pairs of the measurement, ensure that the measurements are as steady as possible so as they do not interfere with the final figures. The next step will be to plot the measured pairs on a scatter Diagram, plot them to give maximum visual spread points; this may involve using different scales and making the axes cross at non-zero value. The last step is that the diagram will be seen and it should be interpreted and action taken accordingly Sketch graphs of shear force and bending moment distribution and validation of calculations by alternative checking methods, plus analysis of safety factor for a chosen material, incorporating referenced additional data, are required for M/D criteria. The strength of a correlation is determined in various statistical angles. It is in this aspect that this Correlation, which is represented by the value that fall between, values of -1.00 to +1.00. If the value is 1 positive or negative it means it is a perfect correlation, this rarely occurs as it means that when the variables both change with the same magnitude, while a correlation of 0 means that there is no relationship between the two variables. A correlation of .8, .9 or even .7 is a strong correlation and it means that there is a great relationship between the scores of one variables and the other, while a correlation of .2 or .3 is a weak correlation meaning that there are some relationships between two variables a but it is a weak one. Q1: Select a standard rolled steel I-section for the simply supported beam shown in figure below. Select an appropriate factor of safety and material strength. Include references for all source information employed. The self-weight of the beam itself may be

Workplace related issues Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Workplace related issues - Research Paper Example Many factors affect workers at the work place. With the growing business world, more opportunities are presented for employees to venture into; hence, the management is left with no choice but to find means of making sure that the employees are satisfied with the working conditions. These issues at a glance appear minor, but in the actual projection, they determine a great deal the motivation and efficiency of the worker (Hancock & Szalma, 2008). These issues range from the office design, office layout, the furniture in the office and the lighting systems. The services provided to the employees, such as refreshments, recreation facilities, health care plans and the rules and regulations as well as the policies of the organization (Hancock & Szalma, 2008). The level of interaction with the management and the influence of technology on the employees are also major issues. The employers are thus in the run to provide quality environment and services to the employees in order to be able to keep them for tomorrow. The ego of the employees determines a lot their motivation, and since the worker spends most of his or her lifetime at work, it is true that the quality of the place of work will affect the employee’s ego. A well-designed office, well built, partitioned and painted is a key motivator to a person’s attitude towards the work (Hancock & Szalma, 2008). For instance, if the work designated requires privacy for the employee, and the office does not provide such, the worker may feel an easy while executing their duty hence underperforming. A good design of building attracts and motivates the employee to stay around and provides essential factor for enhancing the creativity and innovative skills of an employee. The human mind is such that it makes preferences over color, and this generally affects the attitude of an individual towards a place. If the office is painted in such colors that the worker does not like, this will cause them to be de-motivat ed to stay in the office. Thus, it is important for the office to be painted in standard colors. The lighting system also matters a lot. A dimly lit room will cause low mood and negative attitude to the worker, toward the work. A moderately brightly lit office provides a serene working atmosphere hence motivating the employee to work. The arrangement of the office equipment and furniture is another key determinant factor to the attitude of the employee towards the office (Burke & Witt, 2002). A shabbily organized office will represent a job that is not taken seriously. The workers will tend to dislike the office hence this will affect his or her concentration in work, resulting to poor results. The furnishing of the office also affects the attitude of the worker towards their job. An office with old and shaggy looking office furniture will discourage the worker. For instance if the furniture is old and rugged, the employee who is expected to sit on them for most of the hours of his day will definitely not look forward to a new day at work. They as a result will just come to work for the pay but not to give quality work as is expected of them (Hancock & Szalma, 2008). The worker will do a job that is as good as the environment allows him or her to do. However, if the furniture is of quality, every worker will enjoy being at their workstation. In addition, they will be motivated to put in their best efforts and skills to work, since the setting is comfortable. A healthy health is essential for an individual to deliver quality service in all areas of life. An ailing person is not in a good state of mind

How Nothings Changed and Two Scavengers deal with social injustices Essay Example for Free

How Nothings Changed and Two Scavengers deal with social injustices Essay Both Nothings Changed and Two Scavengers deal with social injustices, however, there are some big differences between them. Nothings Changed is set in Cape Town, Africa and focuses on the segregation of black and white people, after an apartheid was made. It is an autobiographical poem by Tatumkhulu Afrika. The poem is about how District Six used to be a place for blacks and whites to live together. But when that changed, Tatumkhulu left in anger (and prison). Now he has returned to his old home after many years and has discovered that the segregation has gotten wider and worse. The social injustice in the poem is the black and white segregation. On the other hand, Two Scavengers deals with the social segregation between the classes in America. At a set of traffic lights, early in the morning (9am), a garbage truck has stopped next to a couple in a Mercedes. The garbage men then ponder on the class system and how they are less respected by people like this couple. They wonder if theyd ever be seen as equals as they wonder if the democracy of America really works. The social injustice in the poem is the way the different classes are each treated differently. The first stanza of Nothings Changed is setting the scene as the writer walks towards his old home. We can tell that the area is now a wasteland by what the writer treads over (like the cans and weeds) on his walk back home. We can tell hes angry from how his old home has turned out from when he says, The hot, white, inwards turning anger of my eyes, as he knows he has returned home. Although all of the stanzas use commas a lot, the second stanza uses and after each comma. I feel that the commas are used to in order to add more expression as you read, and as you pause at each comma, you wonder whats coming next, thus creating suspense even though, in my opinion, the poem is not that exciting or interesting enough for it to have any use. On the other hand, the ands that are used throughout the second stanza, instead picks up the pace as we experience what he is going through at the same time that he is going through his feeling, since the poem is wrote in first person, as if he is actually reliving these memories, making us feel more emotional and connected to the writer. In the fourth stanza, there is only one line, but one that I feel is a very important line for comparing the poems.No sign says it is: but we know where we belong.This line shows us that although no one is saying that whites are treated better (new restaurant) than blacks (working mans cafà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½), this line shows us that the blacks know that the segregation is still there. The writer says of how his, Hands burn for a stone, a bomb, to shiver down the glass of the whites only restaurant. We know that this is the same reason why the writer was sent. to prison all those years ago, but we are unsure whether this is that memory he is reliving or if he is speaking of the present day.The next and final sentence of the poem has the writer commenting that, Nothings Changed. This, Id like to believe, tells us that, either way, the writer is willing to risk prison (or worse?) in order to vent his anger at the segregation. The first stanza of Two Scavengers sets the scene by introducing us to the characters and telling us what they are doing.The garbage truck is described as bright yellow while the garbage men are described wearing red plastic blazers, both of which would stand out anywhere in San Francisco at nine in the morning. I feel that this tells us that no matter how hard the government might try to hide the garbage men, they are going to get noticed at some point. The writer says of the garbage men, one on each side hanging on, in reference to where they are on the garbage truck (back stoop).This makes me think that the writer is trying to make out that the men are struggling to hold on to this job, even though it is such a looked down upon job. The writer then says that the two garbage men are looking down into an elegant open Mercedes with an elegant couple in it. In that section, the writer has took the literal meaning of looking down but we also think of the figurative meaning and then are meant to wonder if the garbage men are in fact better people than the couple and so their position should be swapped. From the fact we know that the couple are heading to his architects office while the garbage men are on their journey home, shows us that the couple and garbage men are like night and day, both there, but never at the same time. This emphasizes the segregation between the different classes. In the second stanza, the writer describes the older of the two garbage men as some gargoyle Quasimodo, Quasimodo being the title character of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, the main theme of the book being the cruelty of social injustice.Quasimodo led a tragic life, being kind and loving despite his ugliness. However, he dies of a broken heart. Quasimodo means almost finished or half made.From this, I believe that the writer is backing up my point about the garbage men perhaps being better people than the couple and that what we are seeing of the garbage men is only the tip (no pun intended) of the iceberg. In the second stanza, the writer describes the older of the two garbage men as some gargoyle Quasimodo, Quasimodo being the title character of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, the main theme of the book being the cruelty of social injustice.Quasimodo led a tragic life, being kind and loving despite his ugliness. However, he dies of a broken heart. Quasimodo means almost finished or half made.From this, I believe that the writer is backing up my point about the garbage men perhaps being better people than the couple and that what we are seeing of the garbage men is only the tip (no pun intended) of the iceberg. The last stanza is made almost entirely of a metaphor, one part of which grabs my attention because it is an oxymoron, the part being small gulf.The metaphor describes how even though there is not much of a gap between the two vehicles, making it easy for one person to climb into the other vehicle, theyll never be able to do so because of the class system and how, because of it, they are always going to be looked down upon. Of course, the two poems are similar in the way that they both deal with social injustices (Class system and Segregation), but, in the same way, different because the two place settings (San Francisco and Cape Town) are so far apart. In Nothings Changed, as previously mentioned, the writer uses a lot of commas to slow down the pace in order, I believe, to add suspense.On the other hand, the writer of Two Scavengers doesnt use any punctuation, instead stopping the line whenever he wants the reader to stop and let what theyve just read sink in. Because of the punctuation, the structure of Nothings Changed looks less pre-prepared and more straight from the heart, as the plot would suggest.However, Two Scavengers is neater in its construction, despite the lack of punctuation, thus giving off the opposite feel to Nothings Changed. After studying both poems, although I feel that I wouldnt need to, its obvious to me that Nothings Changed shows far more anger, raw as it might be, than Two Scavengers.The reasons for this being that in Nothings Changed, there is a constant reminder of how angry the writer is as he walks around his old home, in the end, of course, wishing he had a bomb to blow up a whites only restaurant.But, in Two Scavengers, the two garbage men look at the social injustice in hope rather than anger, as seen by when they wonder if theyd ever be able to reach in to the Mercedes and start a normal conversation with the couple, like old friends.

Differential Pulse Voltammetry

Differential Pulse Voltammetry Introduction In this era of globalization, scientist had discovered various method of analysis. One of the methods of analysis is known as electrochemical method of analysis. Electrochemical method of analysis consists of coulometry, voltammetry and potentiometry. (Harvey, 2000) Coulometry is a method of analysis either with fixed current or constant current. Coulometry is also known as amperometry. In amperometry, current passes through a polarisable electrode. The current that passes through the cell is directly proportional to concentration of ion species that present in the electrochemical cell. Whereby, petentiometry is a method of analysis with zero or negligible current and the potential of the cell serve as a signal. During the process of recording for current change a graph of electrode potential versus time is being plot. These graphs could be categorized into two which is polarograhy and voltammetry. The different between polarography and voltammetry is that polarography used dropping mercury electrode and voltammetry used a solid metal electrode or other types of electrode. However in this assignment voltammetry will be discussed. Voltammetry is taken from the original word of volt. The prefix volt means measurement involving potential. (Monk, 2001) Voltammetry can also be further divided into pulse voltammetry, square wave voltammetry, Stripping voltammetry, thin layer voltammetry, cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. However, the topic of the assignment differential pulse voltammetry. Differential Pulse Voltammetry There is various technique of voltammetry present nowadays. For the topics to be discuss here is differential pulse voltammetry. The diagram below shows the graph of differential pulse voltammetry. It is being name differential pulse volatmmetry is because 2 current is being measured. Unlike on normal pulse voltammetry the current is being measured at a short time intervals and its stop after the current is dropped. In differential pulse voltammetry, 2 sample is being masured. When the 1st sample is added into the system the potential increased. As fast as the sample stop the 2nd sample is added into the system result in decreasing in current. The different of the current is being measured. It was because of the different in current is being measured it is name as differential pulse voltammetry. (Monk,2001) Differential pulse voltammetry is a beneficiary technique. It enable detection up to nanoscale to be done.(Girault,2004) It was because it uses a method of differentiation when there is a different even at a low current it could be observed. However, in classical method or normal pulse voltammetry it does not enable us to do so. It was because of the small scale of different could be observed it is very sensitive. (Skoog, 2006) Importance of Differential Pulse Voltammetry DPV usage is very important in examining the pH dependence of redox potential for a electron and proton transfer in tryptophan and tyrosine. The pH dependence is used to calculate the à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬  G values for different reaction pathways and thus determine that the mechanism can be a one step or two step depending on several factor. DPV is also Important in examining quantized double layer charging of hexanethiolate coated monolayer protected Aurum clusters. It provides necessary resolving power, by suppressing background currents s to separate out all 13 peaks related to Aurum clusters core charging. This helps to make the tough peaks to become visible. This highlights the power of DPV. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) is also important in the determination of Dapsone is 4,4-diaminodiphenyl sulfone (DDS) in drug substance and product at carbon paste electrode and a glassy carbon electrode. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) is also important in the determination of ascorbic acid, pyridoxine and folic acid in a multivitamin preparation. The individual vitamins all gave well-defined peaks in the anodic region with a linear response of peak current to concentration. The DPV method was found to be generally applicable to the determination of the vitamins in several multivitamin preparations, or, in simplified form, to the determination of the individual vitamin preparations. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), important for the determination of pharmaceuticals, dyes, insecticides and pesticides. In general, this methods offer high sensitivity, low limit of determination, easy operation, and the use of simple instrumentation. DPV also important for the quantization of phenols. Difference and Similarity of Differential Pulse Voltammetry and Normal Pulse Voltammetry The Advantage and Disadvantage of Differential Pulse Voltammetry (DPV) Advantage of Differential Pulse Voltammetry Differential pulse voltammetry can distinguish faradaic waves better from the background due to the larger 2nd derivative of the current/potential relation for faradaic processescompared to the normal pulse technique. Besides that, since the modulation amplitude of differential pulse voltammetry is constant, capacitive current will be expressed as a more or less constant baseline. Electro -oxidizable and -reducible substances on the other hand, will appear as recognizable peaks. The detection limits of 10-8M are possible, though one should be aware of the increasing probability to encounter irreversible phenomena. The latter can be detected by a shift of the voltammetric peak to more negative (reduction) or positive (oxidation) potentials and by the lowering of the peak with decreasing modulation time(User manual for, 2001). The main advantage over direct current (DC) polarography that differential pulse polarography (DPP) shares with other pulse methods is that there is little double layer charging contribution to the overall response, which allows the achievement o f a lower detection limit. An advantage that DPP has over both DC polarography and other pulse methods is that due to the differential measurement sequence, the output of this technique takes the form o f a symmetrical peak, which is more useful from an analytical perspective(OGorman, 1998). Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) is a selective and sensitive technique, where the potential is changing linearly with the time (potential linear sweep) superimposed by the potential pulses of the amplitude between 10 and 100 mV for several milliseconds (Jiri Sochor, Jiri Dobes Olga Krystofova, 2013). Next, by using differential pulse voltammetry at stationary electrodes, excellent results can be obtained provided that oxidation and reduction are soluble, or with a mercury electrode if the resulting metal (if any) amalgamates; the voltammetric method can often be more rapid than the corresponding polarographic mode with its dependence on the drop time, provided that the delay time between pulses is not less than twice the pulse width (to avoid transient noise disturbances) and that the scan rate is not too fast ( to limit dc distortion) (E.A.M.F.Dahmen, 1986). The Advantage and Disadvantage of Differential Pulse Voltammetry (DPV) Advantage of Differential Pulse Voltammetryy Differential pulse voltammetry can distinguish faradaic waves better from the background due to the larger 2nd derivative of the current/potential relation for faradaic processescompared to the normal pulse technique. Besides that, since the modulation amplitude of differential pulse voltammetry is constant, capacitive current will be expressed as a more or less constant baseline. Electro -oxidizable and -reducible substances on the other hand, will appear as recognizable peaks. The detection limits of 10-8M are possible, though one should be aware of the increasing probability to encounter irreversible phenomena. The latter can be detected by a shift of the voltammetric peak to more negative (reduction) or positive (oxidation) potentials and by the lowering of the peak with decreasing modulation time(User manual for, 2001). The main advantage over direct current (DC) polarography that differential pulse polarography (DPP) shares with other pulse methods is that there is little double layer charging contribution to the overall response, which allows the achievement o f a lower detection limit. An advantage that DPP has over both DC polarography and other pulse methods is that due to the differential measurement sequence, the output of this technique takes the form o f a symmetrical peak, which is more useful from an analytical perspective(OGorman, 1998). Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) is a selective and sensitive technique, where the potential is changing linearly with the time (potential linear sweep) superimposed by the potential pulses of the amplitude between 10 and 100 mV for several milliseconds (Jiri Sochor, Jiri Dobes Olga Krystofova, 2013). Next, by using differential pulse voltammetry at stationary electrodes, excellent results can be obtained provided that oxidation and reduction are soluble, or with a mercury electrode if the resulting metal (if any) amalgamates; the voltammetric method can often be more rapid than the corresponding polarographic mode with its dependence on the drop time, provided that the delay time between pulses is not less than twice the pulse width (to avoid transient noise disturbances) and that the scan rate is not too fast ( to limit dc distortion) (E.A.M.F.Dahmen, 1986). The Disadvantage of Differential Pulse Voltammetry Differential pulse voltammetry is slower technique compared to square wave voltammetry (OGorman, 1998). Conclusion As a conclusion, differential pulse voltammetry is a very useful method for analysis to be done compare with normal pulse volatmmetry due to its sensitive. It is a useful in various field of the industry like pharmaceuticals, dyes, insecticides and pesticides. Although differential pulse voltammetry is useful, however it must be used based on the condition of the when analysis is done. References (2001).User manual for electrochemical method for windows version 4.9.. (pp. 9-10). The Netherlands: Eco Chemie B.V. Retrieved from http://www.bioeng.nus.edu.sg/people/PI/trau/Lab_manuals/Autolab manuals/Electrochemical Methods 4.9.pdf Ballentine. J. , Woolfson,A.D, (1980). The application of differential pulse voltammetry at the glassy carbon electrode to multivitamin analysis.32(1), 353-356. E.A.M.F.Dahmen. (1986). Electroanalysis:theory and application in aques and non-aques media and automated chemical control. (Vol. 7, p. 164). New York: Elsevier Science Publishing Company Inc. Retrieved from http://books.google.com.my/books?id=DpCWhuUMbdMCpg=PA164lpg=PA164dq=advantages+of+differential+pulse+voltammetrysource=blots=6iOU-xcP22sig=_JDlOgIQ0Bs3Px5PqZMNXMwgAK0hl=ensa=Xei=2AAkU5yAJsbZrQfJwoFQved=0CEcQ6AEwAzgo#v=onepageq=advantages of differential pulse voltammetryf=false Christian, G.D. (2004), Analytical Chemistry, 6th edition. Girault, H.H.(2004) Analytical and Physical Electrochemistry. Harvey, D.(2000). Modern Analytical Chemistry. Jiri Sochor, Jiri Dobes, Olga Krystofova, (2013). Electrochemistry as a tool for studying antioxidant properties. International Journal of Electrochemical Science, Retrieved from http://www.electrochemsci.org/papers/vol8/80608464.pdf Miles, D. T.; Murray, R. W. Analytical Chemistry 2003, 75, 1251–1257 Mohammed A. E. R. , Nahla N. S, Mohammed I.W, (2011). differential pulse anodic voltammetric determination of dapsone in pharmaceutical preparation using carbon paste and glassy carbon electrodes: Application to quality control l .6, 307-321. Retrieved from http://dspace.upce.cz/bitstream/10195/42522/1/ElRiesMA_DifferentialPulse_2011.pdf Monk, P.M.S.(2001). Fundamentals of Electroanalytical Chemistry. Ni, Y., Wang, L . (2001). Simultaneous determination of nitrobenzene and nitro-substituted phenols by differential pulse voltammetry and chemometrics.431(1), 101-113. Retrieved from www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0003267000013192 OGorman, J. (1998). Novel electroanalytical methods. (Masters thesis, Dublin City University)Retrieved from http://doras.dcu.ie/19220/1/John_OGorman_20130717104801.pdf Sjà ¶din, M.; Styring, S.; Wolpher, H.; Xu, Y.; Sun, L.; Hammarstrà ¶m, L. J. Am. Chemistry Soc. 2005, 127, 3855–3863. Skoog, D.A., Holler, E.J., and Crouch, S.R., (2007), Principles of instrumental Analysis, 6th edition. 1

The Pros And Cons Of Exporting Marketing Essay

The Pros And Cons Of Exporting Marketing Essay This report talks about what exporting is and why many countries take part in exporting, the strategies used in Exporting, the types of methods of exporting and the advantages and disadvantages of exporting. Countries with advanced economies and services are usually the ones who have the largest economic activity. These service producing industry firms market their offerings in foreign countries. These include industries such as education, engineering, construction, architecture, travel, transportation, insurance, banking, finance, professional business services information and entertainment. An example could be construction firms who usually send their employees to other countries to go and work on major projects. Service professionals such as accountants engineers and business consultants often provide their services via the internet, the telephone by mail and by visiting customers in their own countries. Also entertainment like Hollywood who export their movies and videos earn billions of dollars. PMI mortgage is a small Insurance firm who mortgage insurance packages to foreign markets. Insurance packages can be created in a central location such as London and then exported via mail a nd the internet to customers located in other countries. The firm enjoys considerable success in Asia and various European countries.Cavusgir, Knight, Riesenberger Pearson International Business Edition: page 388-389. These sales are different from other domestic sales from the side of the seller. Its someone else who decides that the product can be sold to customers located in foreign countries because theres demand for it. This would lead to the original seller not being aware of exporting details. However, many countries take a huge interest when they discover that their product has demand overseas and are actually being exported. Seeking out domestic buyers who represent foreign end users or customers Many general contractors, foreign corporations, foreign trading companies, foreign distributors and agents just purchase for exports. These purchase a wide variety of goods and services. In this case some companies may know that their products are being exported but it is still the buyer who handles any risk involved and details of exporting. Exporting Indirectly through Intermediaries. This is when a company engages the services of an intermediary who is capable of finding foreign buyers in foreign markets for its products. International trade consultants, Export Trading Companies or Export Management Companies can give an exporter access to good trade contacts. But yet the exporter can still retain some control over the process and can still realize some of the other benefits of exporting such as market opportunities, new technologies and foreign competitors. Exporting directly This is an approach where a company directly exports to foreign markets. This strategy is difficult and ambitious because it requires the company to handle every aspect of the exporting process from market research and planning foreign distributions and collections. There needs to be a lot of involvement of mangers because it needs their time and attention. However such an approach is good because maximum profits are gained as well as long term growth. 2.2 INTERMEDIARIES USED IN EXPORTING Sales Representatives This intermediary uses the companies products which are then made present to potential buyers. Sales representatives usually work on commission basis, assume no risk or responsibility and are under contract. The contract defines territory, terms of sales, methods of compensation and procedures to terminating the agreement. Agents This is a representative who has authority to make decisions or commitment oh behalf of the firm they are representing. Its important to have a contract that states whether the agent does or does not have the legal authority to obligate the firm. Distributors This when an individual or company purchase goods and re-sells it for profit. The distributor provides support and service for the product. Distributors usually handle a range of non conflicting products. Foreign Retailers This is when companies directly sale to foreign retailers. This method relies on traveling sales representatives who directly contact foreign retailers. 2.3 ADVANTAGES OF EXPORTING It increases economies of scale and reduces per unit cost of manufacturing. It diversifies customers base and reduces dependency on home markets therefore risk is spread. An example can be if a product is not selling in selling country a firm can have back up because the same product may be doing so well and selling in other countries. It increases market share, increases profit and sales volume better than the domestic market. It increases flexibility and reduces the risk if they face circumstances beyond their control, they can easily withdraw from an export market share. The cost of entering a foreign market is so less because they are not investing or creating any physical presence there. So its easy for a firm to use exporting to test new markets before deciding to commit to greater resources through foreign direct investment. Leverage the capabilities and skills of foreign direct distributors and other business partners located abroad. Enhance domestic competitiveness: Most companies become competitive in the domestic market before they venture in the international arena. Being competitive in the domestic market helps companies to acquire some strategies that help them in the international arena. Gain global market share: By gaining international companies a firm will participate in the global market and gain a piece of their share from the huge international market place. Compensate for Seasonal Demands: Companies whose products or services are only used at certain seasons domestically may be able to sell their products or services in different foreign markets during different seasons. Create potential for company expansion: Companies who venture into exporting business usually have a presence or representation in the foreign market. This might require additional personnel and thus lead to expansion. Sell excess production: Companies who have excess production for any reason can probably sell their products and not be forced to give deep discounts or even dispose of their excess production. Gain Knowledge and Experience: Going international can yield valuable ideas and information about new technologies, new marketing techniques and foreign competitors. The gains can help a companys domestic and foreign business. Expand Product life cycle: Many products go through stages of the product life cycle. Once the Product reaches the final stage, maturity in a given market, the same product can be introduced in a different market where the product was never marketed before. 2.4 DISSADVANTAGE OF EXPORTING Exporting does not require the firm to have a physical presence in the foreign market and this would lead to management havening fewer opportunities to learn about customers and other aspects of the market. Not having direct contact with customers from a foreign market would mean the exporter would fail to perceive opportunities and threats and may not acquire the knowledge that it needs to succeed in the long term. Exporting requires management to spend time and effort to learn about freight forwarders, documentation, foreign currencies and new financing methods this usually puts a strain on firm resources. Exporting is sensitive to tariffs and other trade barriers as well as fluctuations in exchange rates. Extra costs: It takes more time to develop extra markets and the payback periods are longer, the up-fronts costs for developing new promotional materials allocating personal to travel and other administrative costs assuasive to market the product can strain the major financial resources of small size companies. Production modification. When exporting companies need to modify their products to meet foreign country safety and security codes and other import restrictions. At a minimum, modification is often necessary to satisfy the importing country labeling or packaging requirement. Financial Risk: Collections of payments using the methods that are available (open account, prepayment consignment, documentary collection and letter of credit) are time consuming and can be complicated, countries have to carefully weigh the financial risk involved in doing international transactions. Market information: Find information on foreign markets is unquestionably more difficult and time consuming. Before a firm decides to export it first has to go through certain steps in order for them to know if they would be doing the right thing or not for example by assessing potential markets, acquiring appropriate skills and competences. 3.0 TYPES OF EXPORTING The two types of ways an organization can export are through indirect of direct exporting. An organization can choose between the two depending on what they want to achieve in terms of market share, increase of customers and quantity of products. They can also choose according to what management can handle. For example a company that produces tie and die outfits can decide to export through indirect or direct export. If they feel that management can not be able to mange exporting directly they can use indirect export as a means of entering into a foreign market. 3.1 INDIRECT EXPORTING This is when a firm contracts with intermediaries that are located in their own home market. The intermediarys then sale the products to customers located in foreign markets on behalf of the company. An example is Lafarge Zambia PLC who deals in cement and distributes their products to a local client within Zambia. The client then decides to re sale the product across borders to customers located in countries like DRC, Angola, Mozambique and Malawi. There are different indirect exporting options which are available and these are: International trading companies These are companies that buy and sale products internationally. They establish branches in certain countries around the world and each branch operates as a separate business unit buying from local markets and selling the products to other branches which are located in other countries. Like the Japanese who are well known and active in countries like South Africa and have companies like Mitsui and Itochu .As well as Gerber Goldschmidt Group. These companies go beyond buying and selling, they may even by a stake in a local market and in the end they become Trading companies or Export Trading Companies. Multi National Companies These are companies who have subsidiaries located in different foreign countries. Usually countries in the motor vehicle industry like Toyota, Ford of BMW buy raw materials and components and use these inputs in their manufacturing process. These companies then export their products around the world. So components that they used from their home country are found in overseas countries and yet to the supplier in the local market saw this as a local purchase. Tourist Purchase These are foreigners who travel and visit new countries depending on where they are like in South Africa they can purchase products likes wines, fruits and gifts that they take back home. To the supplier this was seen as a local purchase. Piggybank Exporting This is when companies sell their goods internationally and who already have a market network abroad. In order to maximize the power or popularity the company decide to have complimentary products to their existing range of products which they sale through their networks to their foreign customer base. 3.2 ADVANTAGES OF INDIRECT EXPORTING It not a risky strategy Depending on the intermediary used indirect exporting requires minimal involvement because they dont concern themselves with shipment and other logistics. It allows firms to focus on their home country rather than focus on other countries which make the work become hectic. An example can be Trade kings limited who produce sweets, soaps and washing powder. Exporting in indirectly is good for them because it allows them to pay more attention to their domestic customer needs which help them to serve them better and come up with quality products. You can easily point at someone else incase theres a problem or error so it limits their liability. Selling through an intermediary is cheap and it saves up on time. The intermediary sometimes answers questions from the consumer and provides technical support. 3.3 DISSADVANTAGES OF INDIRECT EXPORTING Theres no direct contact with the end user which can cause a firm to not knowing how they can improve their product and how the consumer feels about their product. An example can be a shoe making company who exports indirectly cannot be able to know what customers feel about their product and what they can do to make a better product and to gain more customers. The intermediary used will still require sales support from the firm that they purchase from. Firms who export indirectly have less control on the final transactions made. When an intermediary is used firms do not get the whole hundred percent the intermediary also get a margin. Using intermediaries slows down a firms expansion in the long term around the world because they would not get to learn about the different types of markets. An intermediary cans sometimes sale similar products as to the one a firm has as well as a product that is directly competitive to a firm. An example is when someone when the intermediary sales Black Opal make up and MAC make up these two compete with each other which can cause conflict. When an intermediary is selling the product they may not do it as well as the actual firm because putting a product in another persons hands means that the other person can sale it they want to and some sales wont reflect the goodness of an organization. 3.4 DIRECT EXPORTING This involves the direct selling of products using intermediaries located in foreign markets. Firms who usually export directly to foreign markets usually make some internal changes to their organization and these internal changes they make have to support more complex functions than that the ones that were there before. Direct exporters normally choose the markets where they think they can easily operate, easily give them profit and can increase their market share as well as which one would have good distribution channels. When a firm decides to sale to customers it prevents other businesses taking part of their margins. However this approach requires a large commitment of financial and human resources and takes some time to gain good relationships with customers, negotiate deals and understand the market. 3.5 ADVANTAGES OF DIRECT EXPORTING The firm is in control of their pricing, they decide how much to sale the product for. An example can be a firm who makes hair products. If they can export directly they can easily come up with a price that suits them rather than letting someone else sell the product for them and coming up with their own price. The firm takes total control of their brand and brands it according to what suits them. They get to have direct contact with their customers who help them come with ways of how they can satisfy their customers and come up ways of how to produce high quality products which will suit the needs of the customer. Its easy to identify opportunities. Customers prefer to deal with producers directly so this in the end becomes easy for the customer and producer and in the end a customer relationship is made. 3.6 DISADVANTGES OF DIRECT EXPORTING Its expensive because it needs s of time and energy, staff resources and requires a lot of money. Sometimes they would not be able to respond to customers as quickly as the way the local agents to do it They have to handle all logistics and risks. Depending on which country they export to the may have a problem because of the language barriers and cultures. 4.0 CONCLUSION Exporting is one of the best ways of entering foreign markets. In the world that we live in today many countries have now engaged themselves into exporting rather than depending on their domestic market. Exporting also gives a chance to consumers in a local market because they would not have to travel to find a product because through exporting they get to find the products in their home market. Exporting has given lots of firms and countries a huge increase in profit and has developed many economies.

A Comparison of The Trial and The Metamorphosis :: comparison compare contrast essays

A Comparison of The Trial and The Metamorphosis      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Two of Kafkas' most predominate works, The Trial and The Metamorphosis, are very similar in many aspects, yet also have unique differences. Many of these similarities and differences are very obvious, but also there are subtle comparisons that the reader might not pick up while reading. One would think, after reading both stories, that the differences outweigh the similarities, but that is not entirely true. Not only should the reader view the style of the writing when comparing the two, but also the setting and plot of the two stories. Both stories relate to loneliness, frustration and individuals threatened by anonymous forces beyond comprehension or control.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Although the struggle between these anonymous forces are a lot more evident in The Metamorphosis, they are also seen throughout The Trial. In The Metamorphosis, the anonymous force is whatever, or whoever, changed Gregor Samsa into an insect. In The Trial, the struggle is more complex. Joseph K struggles to find the true meaning behind his arrest. He searches for answers related to his case, but no one can give him a clear answer as to why he was arrested. Not even the inspector that arrested him,    "These gentlemen here and myself have no standing whatever in this affair of yours, indeed we know hardly anything about it. We might wear the most official uniforms and your case would not be a penny worse. I can't even confirm that you are charged with an offense, or rather, I don't know whether you are." (p 12)    As you can see, K has no luck getting information regarding his case. In fact, from the time he was first put under arrest to when he was killed, he never encountered the anonymous force that issued the arrest. The same is true for The Metamorphosis. Gregor never finds out exactly what turned him in to an insect, and why. This is the dominate issue in both stories, and a prime example of similarity in Kafkas' stories.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Another similarity in the two stories is how Kafka used surrealism. Surrealism in The Metamorphosis is obvious, as Gregor's sudden change into a bug is quite surreal by itself. In The Trial, there are many subtle examples. Perhaps the best example is the scene with the whipper.

FPL Group Essay -- GCSE Business Marketing Coursework

DIVIDEND POLICY AT FPL GROUP INC Q.1 DIVIDEND POLICY AT FPL GROUP, INC In 1994 FPL Group, the parent company of Florida Power and Light Company, announced a reduction in its quarterly dividend from $.62 ($2.48 annual) a share to $.42. This was the first-ever dividend cut for a healthy utility, so the company did its best to explain to investors why it had taken such an unusual step. Table 1. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Year Dividend Earnings Dividend Dividend Earnings Dividend Dividend per share per share payout ratio payout (%) per share payout payout (%) before ratio extraordi- nary items ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1993 2.47 2.30 1.07 107.39 2.76 0.89 89.49 1992 2.43 2.65 0.92 91.70 2.65 0.92 91.70 1991 2.39 1.48 1.61 161.49 2.66 0.90 89.85 1990 2.34 (2.86) (0.82) (81.82) 2.64 0.89 88.64 1989 2.26 3.12 0.72 72.44 2.99 0.76 75.59 1988 2.18 3.42 0.64 63.74 3.12 0.70 69.87 1987 2.10 3.10 0.68 67.74 2.69 0.78 78.07 1986 2.02 2.90 0.70 69.66 2.90 0.70 69.66 1985 1.94 3.11 0.62 62.38 3.11 0.62 62.38 1984 1.77 2.62 0.68 67.56 2.65 0.67 66.79 Mean 68.23 78.20 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Analysing dividend policy of FPL Group we could track some major steps, which leads company to that decision. From table 1, the number shows that FPL has paid very high dividend comparing to the earnings. Dividend has been increased every year. Furthermore, from the record, this company has a 47 years history of dividend increases. We can see that in 1990 dividend payout ratio was increased sharply compare to the previous years. Also, we can see that FPL had a loss in 1990, but the company still increased dividend. Furthermore, in 1991 to 1993 dividend payout ratio was significantly high when compare to the historical data. These sharp changes ... ...pected in a rational market, within a month of the announcement, the stock price had more than recovered it's initial loss. Bibliography: 1. M.H. Miller and K. Rock, "Dividend Policy Under Asymmetric Information," Journal of Finance, 40:1031-1052 (September 1985). 2. J. Lintner: "Distribution of Incomes of Corporations among Dividends, Retained Earnings, and Taxes," American Economic Review, 46:97-113(May1956). 3. P. Healy and K. Palepu, "Earnings Information Conveyed by Dividend Initiations and Omissions," Journal of Financial Economics 21 (1988), pp149-175. 4. R. Comment and G. Jarrell, "The Relative Signaling Power of Dutch-Auction and Fixed Price Self-Tender Offers and Open Market Share Repurchases," Journal of Finance 46 (September 1991), pp 1243-1271. 5. S.C. Myers, "The Capital Structure Puzzle," Journal of Finance 39 (July 1984), pp 581-582. 6. M.H. Miller and F. Modigliani: "Dividend Policy, Growth and the Valuation of Shares," Journal of Business, 34:411-433 (October 1961). 7. R.A. Brealey and S.C. Myers, Principles of Corporate Finance, 6th Edition, Irwin McGraw-Hill, Chapter 16.

Escaping an Ever Pressuring Society Essay example -- Essays Papers

Escaping an Ever Pressuring Society James Joyce author of Dubliners, is a book which examines the everyday life of people who live in Dublin. In this intimate portrayal of Dubliners, Joyce writes short stories about the individuals in Irish society. In Dubliners many characters feel the pressure of society, and show their desires to escape. In the stories â€Å"Eveline†, â€Å"Counterparts† and â€Å"The Dead†, the themes of individuals v. society and journey through escape are present. In each story there is a powerful person present that controls a particular person or situation. In Dublin jobs are very important, since they control the social standing in their society. Dublin itself is a major issue to the characters in Dubliners; they wrestle with the ideas of being able to escape. In the story â€Å"Eveline†, a young woman gets the chance to escape from her hard life in Dublin, when a young man named Frank sweeps her off her feet and has plans to move to Buenos Ayres. In â€Å"Counterparts†, a man is faced with the unbearable aspects of his life, when he gets scolded by his boss, humiliated at the pub and when the pressure it too much he takes it out on his son and beats him. â€Å"The Dead† is a story about the realization that even though a couple might be together, they might not necessarily know everything about their significant other. Gabriel gets hit with a realization when he comes to find out that his wife was in love with another man at a young age, and the information is almost disheartening to Gabriel when he hears it. In each of the stories there is a dominant person in their lives. Eveline a young woman struggles with having the responsibility of having to take care of her father a... ...he story is very symbolic to the coldness that is now shared between the couple and the whole town of Dublin, â€Å"his soul swooned slowly as he heard the now falling faintly through the universe and faintly falling, like the descent of their last end, upon all the living and the dead† (225). James Joyce has pointed out many thoughts throughout writing Dubliners. The theme of journeys and escape are present in everyday life living in Dublin, and show how people are unhappy in their current lives and strive to escape through other activities. Reading Joyce he includes many themes that tie into the daily routine of Dubliners. Many references to fire vividly illustrate the point that they live life in a hell. Dubliners is a creative portrayal of individual people living in Dublin, all the while not giving too many facts surrounding a character or story.

Informative Speech About Eating Disorders

f SPEECH PLAN FOR INFORMATIVE SPEECH Title:â€Å"What lifestyle do you want to live? Understanding Your Credit† Topic:Credit Reports and Credit Scoring Specific Purpose:I want my audience to understand the factors that make up their credit scores. Thesis Statement: The factors that make up the credit scores are: payment history, debt, length of credit history, new credit, and type of credit used. (www. myfico. com) Organizational Pattern:Categorical Forms of Support:Explanation, graphs, expert testimony, statistics. MESSAGE DESIGNDevelop Introduction Get their attention:Comparison slide of house, car, and job. Make it hit home:Review the first slide. For many, the difference of these two types of lifestyles has nothing to do with knowledge or work ethic, but is based solely on their credit. Reveal Topic:Understanding Your Credit, What options do you want? Aspects of Speech:We are going to review the different factors that make up your credit score: Your payment history, debt, length of credit history, new credit, and type of credit used.Most of the slides and data provided are from FICO, the Fair Isaac Corporation, which the company that compiles credit scores. Transition:Let’s see how much we can cover in 6 minutes. 4-S Development of Main Points Signpost first factor:First, let’s talk about the payment history. State first factor:The Payment History is the largest single contributing factor to your credit score. Support first factor:The Payment History makes up 35% percent of your credit score. (www. myfico. com). The Payment History includes: Revolving Accounts, Installment Accounts, Collections, and Public Records.Listings remain on the payment history for 7 years; and bankruptcy information can remain on the payment history for up to 10 years. Summarize first factor:The payment history receives most of the attention when you and when lenders look at your credit. To keep a high credit score, you must keep your payment history completely clear of negative listings. The FTC estimates that as many as 75% of all credit reports include errors and inaccuracies (www. ftc. gov). For this reason it is important Signpost second factor:Next, let’s talk about debt.State second factor:The second largest factor that influences your credit score is your debt. Support second factor:When your credit score is calculated, the Fair Isaac Corporation will look at how much debt you have. This will make up 30% of your credit score. Debt will not necessarily lower your credit score, although that depends on where the debt is located. The type of debt that is most heavily considered when calculating your credit score is your debt to credit ratio with your revolving accounts.According Lexington Law Firm (www. lexingtonlaw. com), to maximize your credit score you need to keep your credit card balances below 20% of their total balance within the FICO scoring updates in 2008. Your debt will also be looked at by lenders to evaluate your debt to income ratio, although this does not affect your score. Summarize 2nd factor:When we think of fixing our credit, most of us think of paying off our debts. This will not necessarily raise our credit scores, except in the case of lowering our credit card balances.Your credit score relies more heavily on making the payments on time, and your ratios then how much debt you have. Signpost third factor: Next let’s review the 3 smaller factors that influence your credit score. State third factor:The 3 smaller factors that influence your credit score are the length of credit history, new credit, and the types of credit that you use Support third factor:These other three types of credit make up the last 35% of your credit score, so together, they are just as influential to your credit score as your payment history.First they take the length of your credit history into account, FICO and lending institutions want to make sure that you have established long habits of utilizing yo ur credit responsibly. Second creditors feel that it is a red flag if you are trying to apply for too many new forms of credit in a short period of time, so they track your inquiries (every time a creditor checks your credit for a purchase). These inquiries are most influential on your score for 1 year after they are made and completely fall off of your score after 2 years. The last factor is the types of credit used.FICO and lenders prefer that you have experience in paying off loans and using credit cards, although using only one of these types of credit can be sufficient to satisfy most of the 10% of the weight in this factor. Summarize third factor:As we establish credit, it is important that we keep a long stable history in our credit reports. Closing credit cards may hurt your credit because it will lower the length of your history. These small factors are usually discarded as we try to establish our credit, but for many, make up the difference between a 720 and an 850 credit score.Develop Conclusion Summarize points:In our society, we are constantly being judged by our credit score. For most of us, our standard of living will be determined by this score. It is important to keep a clean payment history, low balances on credit cards, and multiple credit lines for a long period of time to get the score that you need. Here is a listing of the tiers of credit scores and interest rates you may receive by being responsible with your credit. Restate your purpose:Your credit is important, and it is tracked for years at a time.If you’ve made some mistakes, look into getting it fixed, and learn the principles of keeping a high credit score so you’re not caught unawares of traps in the future. Close: REFERENCES 1. Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO). www. myfico. com/crediteducation 2. Lexington Law Firm, John Heath, Directing Attorney. www. lexingtonlaw. com 3. Federal Trade Commission, The Impact of National Credit Reporting under the Fair Credit Reportin g Act. http://www. ftc. gov/bcp/workshops/infoflows/statements/cate02. pdf

Atanarjuat: the Fast Runner Essay

The role of religion has been a major factor of every culture for as long as anyone can remember. The feeling of togetherness that comes with belonging to a group of people that believe in the same ideas and a central entity defines a person and the way they see the world. Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner  shows the impact of a certain belief on a tribe of Eskimos in Igloolik, a village in  Eastern Arctic wilderness, at the dawn of the first millennium. An evil curse was said to be following one member of the tribe, Oki, because of his jealousy of Atanarjuat. The film follows the lives of these two men and the conflicts they have as they grow older. It also focuses on the spiritual ideas that drive both Oki and Atanarjuat, and their other tribe members, to drastic actions. From the beginning, the curse is embedded into the film successfully, as it helps explain why certain things happened to Atanarjuat and Oki. The curse was portrayed by a sound effect whenever a person was affected by it. Without that effect, the idea of the curse may not have come across as well, and might even have been forgotten until the end. As well as the curse was portrayed, the reason for it coming about was a bit confusing for viewers who were not used to the language and style of the film. Years before the story of Atanarjuat and Oki, a shaman predicts that a curse will be brought on by Tulimaq. By no coincidence, camp leader, Kumaglak, died in a duel and his rightful successor, Tulimaq, was passed over and Sauri was given the title. Tulimaq does not take this well, accusing Sauri of helping murder his father. Tulimaq becomes a laughing stock and cannot feed his wife and kids, Atanarjuat and Amaqjuaq, though he gets help from his friend, Panikpak, widow of Kumaglak. It was hard to understand what exactly caused the curse and why Tulimaq was the one burdened by it with the way the story was told. The quick scenes and unclear dialogue were not exactly helping in telling this story, especially since it was from a culture that most viewers would not be familiar with. Overall, the film was effective in describing the actions and beliefs brought on by Tulimaq’s curse. The power the idea that the curse is what causes the constant conflict between Atanarjuat and Oki is portrayed skillfully. In the beginning a tribe member, Qulitalik, is shown leaving the village in fear of the curse, but promises to return if his sister, Panikpak, ever needed his help. This promise is so strong that, decades later, when Atanarjuat needs help hiding and defeating Oki, Qulitalik is the person that aids in ending the curse. This brings in the idea of loyalty to family and community and shows that these were vital beliefs of the tribe. Another aspect of the film that greatly helped illustrate the importance of both the tribe’s beliefs and conviction of the curse was symbolism. Throughout the film, certain symbols and symbolic gestures were used to show the tribe’s belief in a certain idea. Right before her husband dies, Panikpak witnesses a stone lamp fall and break in half, which foreshadowed the bad events that were to come. A walrus-tooth necklace was introduced in the beginning of the film as a sort of heirloom of Kumaglak. It was given to Sauri as a symbol of his new power as the new chief. Although it is just an object, it revealed the tribe’s faith in what it represented because at the end of the film, once the necklace was returned to Tulimaq’s spirit, its rightful owner, peace is brought back to the village. This film shows how greatly this tribe of Eskimos are effected by their beliefs and rituals, although the viewers may not be familiar with them. In the ethnography Never In Anger by Jean Briggs, she describes the difference in gender roles in Utku tribe. They were very similar to those of the tribe of Igloolik. The women were the caretakers, doing housework, tending to animal hides, looking after children, and cooking, while the men fished, hunted, and built igloos as shelter. Each sex was separated during meals and women were submissive to men. This played an integral part in the film, especially for the character, Puja. She did not seem to want to conform to the ideals of what women were supposed to do in the tribe, and was seen as lazy and spoiled. She also seemed to believe she could have more than one man, as men were allowed to have more than one wife, and challenged this idea when she seduces Atanarjuat’s brother, Amaqjuaq. The women’s role in the village was a catalyst for certain actions taken by the males. For example, Atanarjuat and Oki had their first conflict over Atuat when she and Atanarjuat fell in love while she was betrothed to Oki. Oki goes after Atanarjuat once again when Puja lies about his brother hitting her for no reason, when in fact it was because she was caught cheating on her husband with him. Although women were not in charge of the actions of the tribe or important decisions of the tribe, it is shown that they do have importance in another sense. They can influence the men’s actions individually and in terms of the tribe as a whole. The film Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner definitely has some aspects that need improvement for viewers who are not familiar with the Eskimo culture to understand. However, in terms of portraying the culture and beliefs, this film gives its audience something they can identify with. No matter where they are from, they can sympathize with what believing in a supernatural notion can make one do, and how family and community loyalty influences ones decisions.

Iron Crowned Chapter 24

â€Å"What?† exclaimed Jasmine. I didn't share her concern. â€Å"Damn it. I should have banished you the first time I saw you. I don't have time for this, not with everything else. You should be in the Underworld by now. Kiyo isn't going to kill me.† â€Å"I'm serious!† said Deanna, as frantic as a ghost could get. â€Å"You're in danger!† I shook my head. â€Å"Look, I'm sorry about your husband †¦ really, I am. But not every guy is homicidal. Don't transfer this to me.† â€Å"I'm not! This is real. I was going to move on after †¦ after †¦ well, after my husband was arrested†¦.† There was a mournful pause. Her story had come to a close, but it hadn't had a happy ending. â€Å"I wanted to say good-bye formally and went looking for you †¦ but found Kiyo instead †¦Ã¢â‚¬  I put my hands on my hips, wishing I'd brought my wand. I did not need a delusional ghost, not with everything else right now. â€Å"And then he said he was going to kill me?† â€Å"No. He told that other queen he would.† That cut off my snark, leaving me speechless for a moment. â€Å"What other queen?† demanded Jasmine. â€Å"The blond one. The Willow Queen.† Jasmine and I exchanged looks. Suddenly, Deanna's crazy statements had become slightly less crazy. â€Å"What exactly did you overhear?† I asked quietly. â€Å"He told her you were pregnant and that you'd have an abortion if it was a boy †¦ but that he was concerned. He was worried because you hadn't just done it already.† Deanna looked back and forth between our faces, desperate for either of us to believe her. â€Å"He said it was probably just shock and that you'd ‘do the right thing,' but that if you didn't †¦ well, Maiwenn said they'd have to make you lose the baby. Or †¦ if that didn't work †¦ that Kiyo would kill you.† â€Å"That's insane,† I said. â€Å"Kiyo wouldn't kill me.† â€Å"Kiyo doesn't want the prophecy to come true,† said Jasmine. â€Å"It's not that insane.† I turned on her. â€Å"He loves me. This whole idea †¦ it's ridiculous.† â€Å"Why would I lie?† said Deanna. â€Å"You helped me. I'm helping you by warning you before I move on to the next world. I'm telling you, I heard them. Kiyo swore he'd make sure the prophecy couldn't be fulfilled.† â€Å"Kiyo. Loves. Me.† â€Å"Dorian loves you too,† pointed out Jasmine. â€Å"And look what he did. When you think about it, Kiyo's the type who'd think one tragic loss of life was worth saving many. Or something stupid like that.† â€Å"He would.† Admitting it surprised me, and yet †¦ as the meaning of Deanna's words sank deeper and deeper, I remembered my first meeting with Kiyo. He'd found me on Maiwenn's orders. They hadn't known what kind of person I was, if I'd wanted to fulfill the prophecy or not. He'd never said so explicitly, but my impression had been that both were willing to go to extreme means to stop Storm King's heir from being born. Our relationship had obviously changed since then, but maybe †¦ maybe some things hadn't†¦. â€Å"But he wouldn't go that far,† I finished. â€Å"Do you want to take that chance?† asked Jasmine softly. â€Å"Maybe he wouldn't really kill you, but you heard what he said about Maiwenn's ‘magic' abortion.† What had Deanna claimed? That Kiyo and Maiwenn had planned to make me terminate the pregnancy if I wouldn't willingly? â€Å"We just need to talk,† I said, hoping I sounded convincing. My next words gave me away. â€Å"Somewhere I know I'm safe.† â€Å"Kiyo's in the waiting room,† said Jasmine, seeing that I was finally taking this seriously. â€Å"Is this a safe place?† â€Å"Probably not.† I had finished getting dressed. â€Å"There must be a back door. There's always a back door. We'll go †¦ we'll go home. I'll get my weapons, and then we'll go to the Otherworld. He and I can talk about this reasonably in the Thorn Land. I'll be safe there.† â€Å"You'll never make it there,† said Deanna. I'd practically forgotten about her. â€Å"He can follow you. As soon as you leave here, he'll know and come after you.† â€Å"How could he – â€Å" I lightly touched my upper arm, the spot where Kiyo's nails had barely dug in the other night. I took a deep, shaking breath. â€Å"He marked me,† I said. He'd scratched me the first night we'd met too, leaving a long-healing wound that allowed him to track me wherever I went. This one was smaller but would work just as well. Jasmine was already moving toward the door, so full of tension and purpose that she seemed much older. â€Å"We'll just go straight to the Otherworld then. You'll be safe there. Where's the nearest gateway?† I racked my brain, thinking of our location. â€Å"By Morriswood Park. Farther than I'd like.† â€Å"Well, we have to go soon. If we stay here any longer, the doctor'll come ask what's wrong,† said Jasmine. â€Å"And we can't let Kiyo find us in the parking lot.† â€Å"You'll never make it to the park in time,† wailed Deanna. I scowled, but she was right. Jasmine looked at me questioningly. For a moment, I considered calling Volusian, but he might happily kill Kiyo and claim it was in my defense. I wasn't ready for that. â€Å"I know where we can go,† I said. â€Å"Come on.† We left the exam room, stepping out into the hallway. I turned with purpose, opposite the direction of the waiting room we'd entered from. This took us deeper into the clinic, past more examining rooms and their lab. A couple staff members passed us, but we walked confidently enough that no one stopped us. They probably assumed we'd been directed somewhere. Meanwhile, my eyes were searching for an exit sign. There had to be a back door. Surely hypocritical health professionals had to go somewhere to smoke. â€Å"There.† I nodded toward an exit sign, praying it didn't lead to a fire door, which would be of no use to us. Nope. It was just an ordinary door, one probably used for maintenance or shipments. Someone did notice us then and start to ask what we were doing, but by then, we were outside and behind the building. â€Å"Eugenie, where are we going?† asked Jasmine anxiously. Deanna had faded away, perhaps now finally leaving this world after fulfilling what she believed to be her last duty. As we walked briskly toward my car, some part of me kept wanting to think she'd lied. But why? As she'd said, she had no reason. She'd held true to me before. And with every passing second, I grew more and more conflicted, wondering what I should believe. Kiyo loved me. He'd gone out of his way to win me back †¦ but he was firmly set on protecting the human world. At any cost? We'd see. Deanna was mistaken; she had to be. My worst fate was probably going to be Kiyo's talking me to death. We got in the car, and I did briefly consider trying to make a break for Morriswood Park and its Otherworldly gate. After all, what was Kiyo going to do? Get in a high speed chase with us? The thing was, with that mark, he would be able to track me. He could probably feel me moving away now. If we headed anywhere near the park he'd figure it out. He'd either try to beat us there or just catch up with us on the other side. No, I had to go somewhere else. Somewhere with protection. Somewhere I could be sure I was safe until all of this madness was settled. Jasmine's face grew increasingly troubled as we drove away from the doctor's office. She kept glancing back, as though expecting to see Kiyo right on our bumper. When we turned into a suburban neighborhood, her worry shifted to confusion. â€Å"What is this?† â€Å"Home,† I replied, pulling into the driveway of a well-kept house surrounded by trees and flowers. A fence enclosed the backyard but couldn't hide the efforts someone had made to turn a Tucson backyard into something lush and green. The gate in the fence was unlocked as I'd known it would be. The yard was unoccupied, save for birds and insects. The house's patio door had its glass open, covered only by a screen that let in the afternoon air. It too would be unlocked. â€Å"Kiyo won't really do it,† I muttered, as I jerked the door open. â€Å"Maybe he's upset †¦ but we can talk this out. Deanna overreacted. We're overreacting.† We stepped into a small breakfast nook, and in the adjacent kitchen, a man spun around. My heart leapt when I saw him. The familiar, kind face. The graying hair. The tattoos of whorls and fishes. It felt like a lifetime since our last meeting. Roland. I'd gone to my parents' house. Roland's reactions were those of a man who'd spent years fighting and training, but even that didn't prepare him for the sight of us. Astonishment filled his features, quickly giving way to outrage. â€Å"Eugenie! What are you – â€Å" â€Å"Get your weapons,† I ordered, casting an uneasy glance behind me. Jasmine followed as I strode toward him. â€Å"Whatever you've got in the house.† He didn't move. â€Å"You know you're not – â€Å" â€Å"Get them!† I exclaimed. â€Å"We don't have time for this!† I don't know what look I wore on my face, but it was enough to pierce the walls of hurt and anger he'd built between us since learning of my involvement in the Otherworld. I'd taken a risk coming here, a gamble that no matter what happened, Roland would protect me. And I was right. He transformed before my eyes, suddenly the concerned and caring stepfather I'd grown up with. â€Å"What's – â€Å" Before he could finish, the screen door flew open. Kiyo stood there, face dark and stormy. â€Å"What the hell are you doing?† he demanded. â€Å"Why did you take off?† â€Å"You first,† I said, taking a step back toward Roland. â€Å"What are you doing?† Jasmine moved to my other side. My eyes were on Kiyo, but I could sense Roland bracing for battle. Maybe he didn't know what was going on, but anyone could have seen how dangerous Kiyo was. â€Å"I wanted to talk to you, and you disappeared!† Kiyo moved forward a little but stopped, recognizing the united front that Roland and I – and yes, even Jasmine – presented. â€Å"Talk? Is that all you wanted to do?† â€Å"Yes. Of course.† Kiyo glanced between all of us. â€Å"You promised, Eugenie. You promised if it was a boy, you'd get rid of it.† â€Å"There's a girl too!† I exclaimed. â€Å"You can't get rid of one without the other.† â€Å"It doesn't matter,† he said. â€Å"The consequences are too big.† â€Å"I can't kill an innocent. She hasn't done anything.† â€Å"Not directly. Letting her live means he lives. And there's nothing innocent there. He can't live. Eugenie, you know that. I'm not trying to be cruel. Please. Do what's right.† Jasmine and Roland remained silent as this drama played out. Meanwhile, I realized how sickened the language of this whole matter continued to make me. Get rid of it. He can't live. â€Å"You're so quick to kill your own children,† I said in disbelief, echoing what Jasmine had said a few days before. â€Å"Don't you feel any remorse? You know better than me what it's like to be a parent!† â€Å"Yes,† he said, clenching his fists. â€Å"I do know. And it's amazing. I wish you could know what it's like†¦.† â€Å"But I can't? I can't have the same chance you and Maiwenn had?† Kiyo shook his head. â€Å"You aren't the same as Maiwenn. You can't ever be.† It was like a gut-punch. I was stunned into silence, and a bit of his fierceness eased. I think he read my reaction as acceptance. â€Å"Look, I don't get this,† he said. â€Å"I don't get why you're resisting all of this after what you've always said! You never wanted a baby – any baby. If you've changed your mind, then †¦ well, try again. You just can't have these.† â€Å"And what then? I just keep having abortions until a girl comes along? What kind of a sick bastard are you?† I moved forward without realizing it, my anger exploding. Roland put a hand on my arm, keeping me back. It wasn't affection. It was a warning. It was defensive strategy, keeping us together. â€Å"I'm trying to protect the human world,† Kiyo said. He hadn't come any closer, but he was as ready as we were, his reflexes even faster. â€Å"And you should be too.† â€Å"And what happens if I don't do what you want?† I asked quietly. Here it was, the moment of truth. He sighed. â€Å"I don't want it to come to that.† â€Å"To what?† My voice rose sharply, the anguish in me ready to explode. â€Å"What will you do?† â€Å"I'll take you to Maiwenn – by force. And then †¦ and then she'll take care of it.† â€Å"The hell you will,† I said. Goddamnit, I wished I had a weapon. I almost always traveled with them – but not to the doctor's office. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Roland's hand rest on the counter and wrap around something. A wand. He'd had his wand in the kitchen. But of course he would. Unlike me, he hadn't become careless. â€Å"I'll never let that happen. You guys aren't going to experiment on me!† Kiyo's face displayed a mix of emotions. There was sorrow and disappointment. He did care. He didn't want this fight between us – but he also believed in his greater good. He believed he had to do anything to stop the prophecy, and I knew then that Deanna had spoken the truth. Ideally, he just wanted the pregnancy to end. If that wasn't possible, then I was what needed to be eliminated. â€Å"How can you do this?† he asked, his voice both a threat and a plea. â€Å"How can you risk all this – just to save one life?† It was only in that moment, as the words left my lips, that I learned the truth about myself, what I'd been holding deep inside. The girl and boy thing didn't matter. Only the heartbeats did – those tiny, rapid heartbeats pounding in my ears †¦ â€Å"I'm not,† I told him. â€Å"I'm saving two lives.† I sealed my fate with that. Kiyo moved so fast that I wasn't prepared for the attack. He sprang toward me, shape-shifting as he did into his giant fox form, fangs out, snarling. A blast of wind slowed – but didn't stop – his leap, providing enough time for Roland to jerk me out of the way. The wind magic hadn't come from me. It had been Jasmine, which was why the power hadn't packed much of a punch. The unaccustomed magic left her gasping, but it had been enough to buy us a brief escape. Roland pulled me out of the kitchen, out to where we had more space to maneuver in the living room. Kiyo followed without hesitation, all brute strength and speed. â€Å"He can be banished,† I gasped out to Roland. â€Å"The same as a gentry.† Roland gave a brisk nod of acknowledgment. He already knew this, but in the sudden flurry, he didn't have the necessary pause to do a full banishing. Kiyo reached us, throwing himself on me and pushing me away from Roland. I fell hard to the ground, Kiyo's weight pinning me there. As quickly as he'd turned fox, he transformed back into a man. Still displaying amazing speed, he pulled me up by the arm. I didn't know if his intentions were simply to cart me out of the house or to attempt a world-jump then and there, but I didn't give him the chance. I'd recovered my senses and took hold of my magic. The air grew thick, and a hurricane-worthy gust blasted him away – along with a substantial part of my parents' furniture. Kiyo grimaced as he regained his footing and agonizingly took one step at a time toward me. â€Å"Damn it!† he yelled over the roar of the wind. â€Å"Stop this!† â€Å"You stop this!† I shouted back. The magic burned in my blood, and no matter how annoyingly weak the pregnancy had made me, my power hadn't diminished too much. â€Å"We don't even know that this prophecy's real! I've already met one fake seeress. It could all be for nothing.† Roland and my mother had once told me that prophecies were a dime a dozen in the Otherworld, and I'd seen that to a certain extent. Until now, I'd never wanted to take the chance that mine wouldn't come true. â€Å"But we don't know!† Kiyo countered. I could see the irritation on his face. I was keeping a storm raging around me, one that held him at bay while hopefully Roland began a banishing. â€Å"We can't risk it. Please. Please come back with me to Maiwenn. We'll fix this.† I didn't answer and instead kept the storm going. My gaze stayed on Kiyo, but I felt the tingle of shamanic magic – human magic – beginning to glimmer. Roland was indeed performing a banishing spell. Kiyo transformed into a fox again, and with that extra strength, he managed to push through the storm-shield around me and knock me to the ground again. He stayed as a fox this time, holding onto that strength. His teeth bit into my shirt, through to my shoulder, and I yelled out in pain. My magic wavered, and to my astonishment, he began dragging me – slowly – across the living room. His progress was halted when a small end table slammed into his back. I tell you, those things are lethal. Instinctively, he reared up against his attacker: Jasmine. He shoved her away, and she stumbled back. Snarling, Kiyo returned to me, and I had the uneasy feeling my odds were getting worse as to whether he'd cart me away or just kill me. He could hold on to human thoughts in fox form, but they became increasingly influenced by animal reactions the longer he stayed transformed. He suddenly looked away from me, gold eyes on Roland, who stood planted firmly across the room with his wand extended. I'd sensed the banishing earlier because of my training. Now, with the spell in full force, Kiyo could feel it too. Abandoning me for the new threat, Kiyo raced toward Roland. I screamed as all that animal power slammed into my stepfather, pinning him against the wall. The wand flew from Roland's hand. The banishing spell disintegrated. Kiyo shifted to human form again, still trapping Roland. Roland was strong but couldn't match Kiyo's strength. Struggling was useless. â€Å"Stop it,† cried Kiyo. â€Å"Both of you.† His arm pressed against Roland's neck. Roland managed a gasp as the grip cut off his air. Immediately, I let the storm magic around me drop. As I did, I felt that Jasmine had been lending her strength to me without me even realizing it. She too ceased her wielding and struggled up from where she'd been knocked down, coming to stand with me once again. The room fell eerily still. â€Å"Let him go,† I growled, moving slightly forward. I knew I couldn't win against Kiyo in a physical fight, but I also couldn't let him harm Roland. â€Å"This isn't about him. Don't hurt him.† â€Å"Believe me,† said Kiyo, â€Å"I don't want to.† His eyes were dark and human again, but there was still some feral glint in there. â€Å"Come with me, and I'll release him.† â€Å"Come with you,† I said flatly. â€Å"To Maiwenn's?† â€Å"You'll thank me later,† said Kiyo. My mind raced frantically. Roland was struggling for breath. How much longer did he have? Would Kiyo really kill him? I wondered if I could get off another blast of magic. Another attack of wind? Lightning? I could create a controlled bolt indoors, but it'd probably kill both men. And if I went with Kiyo †¦ let him take me to Maiwenn †¦ well. There'd be no getting out of that, no escape. Roland looked ready to pass out. His blue eyes were fixed on me, and then, quickly, he glanced toward my feet. I thought it was him about to lose consciousness, but then I saw the purpose in his eyes. His wand was near my feet, within easy reach. I didn't let on to Kiyo that I'd noticed. Roland's eyes returned to me, some message there. â€Å"Please,† I begged, wondering frantically what Roland wanted me to do. â€Å"Let him go.† I couldn't pull off a banishing spell. There wasn't enough time. Kiyo would release Roland, true, but then I'd be the one attacked again. I honestly didn't know how long Kiyo would play it safe. He was attempting â€Å"reasonable† solutions: force me to go to Maiwenn, blackmail with Roland, et cetera. Sooner or later, if he truly believed the prophecy's threat, he would simply eliminate me. Roland was still staring at me, still wanting me to do something he thought would save us. He'd trained me. Surely I could figure it out. I had to. What could a wand do? It cast spells. It banished creatures, sending them out of this world†¦. I felt my eyes widen. I knew what he was telling me to do. Doing it would save him, I was certain, because Kiyo would release him and come after me †¦ into the Otherworld. Roland wanted me to open a gateway for myself. I could do it. It was a fast spell, one I had the power for. Forcing another being through was what took so much time and effort. But opening the gate and stepping through? That could be done quickly. If it could be done. Getting in was easy. Passing through the worlds unassisted was hard, and I'd even had trouble going through fixed, physical gates lately in my weakened state. Making a blind, unaided transition might not even be possible for me. I'd done it once before, and it had required a lot of power. And dear God, had it hurt. If I could do it, though †¦ I'd get away from Kiyo, and Kiyo would let Roland go in order to chase me down. This could buy me the time to flee to safety. The only thing that might make it possible was that I had anchors in the Otherworld to help pull me in. If I jumped with no solid destination, I could end up trapped between the worlds, my essence disintegrated. Hell, that might still happen, but an anchor would reduce the likelihood. I didn't know where I was in relation to the Otherworld's layout, but the closest anchor would pull me in if this worked. Time to find out. With speed that rivaled Kiyo's, I reached for the wand and then grabbed hold of Jasmine's hand. Bringing her only made my task more difficult, but I wouldn't leave her to Kiyo. With the wand, I summoned the necessary magic and ripped open a gate to the Otherworld. Kiyo realized what was happening and released Roland, trying to reach me – but it was too late. I threw myself into the opening, clinging to Jasmine, and knew it would shut immediately behind us, simply because I couldn't hold open a personal gate for long. It felt just as painful as last time, like I was crashing through the floors in a building. Down, down, down. Smash, smash, smash. Each layer was more agonizing than the last, and with each blow, I felt like I was being torn apart. It was likely I was, and I would destroy Jasmine with me, ripping our souls from our bodies. Then, I sensed a tug. My soul turned toward it, and I felt my fractured self coalesce and become whole, even as that falling, excruciating sensation continued. Then – there was only one impact left: a real one. Jasmine and I slammed into a hard stone floor. My body cried out at the pain. True, physical pain. I had already been hurting from the fight with Kiyo, and now, crashing through the worlds had taken that pain to new levels. Nausea welled up in me, and I fought hard not to throw up. I could hear Jasmine whimpering, but the sights around us were a blur as my disoriented mind tried to get a hold of itself. Finally, the world came into focus, the colors and lines growing sharp once more. A faint hum of magic in the air, one that was always present, told me I'd made it intact to the Otherworld. And Dorian was looking down at me.