Gender Socialization Essay

The term, sexual activity, refers to the socially learned expectations and behaviors associated with being male or female. gender affects socialisation in many an(prenominal) ways, and begins primarily at birth. gender affects how adverts treat their children, how the work field treats males and females, and how each gender chooses friends.The gender of a child is extremely important to the parent. The gender will guide the parent on how to raise and treat the child. Parents are to a greater extent likely to be more stern and rough with a baby boy quite an than a baby girl. Parents of a girl are likely to be more gentle, soft, and patient with the new baby. This gender socialization example is collectable to our masculine and feminine culture.The most important and obvious gender socialization example is in the work field. Gender greatly affects the socialization carry through between males and females. Males are considered to be strong and powerful, while females are conc eption to be weak and secondary. From the beginning of time, men were to work hard and leave alone for the family, while females were to take care of the home and children. Today, men are settle down more likely to be powerful leaders, CEOs, etc however many women are top executives and are very capable of being so.Finally, gender affects the way people choose friends and social activities. men are more likely to choose other men as friends, and same with women. world enjoy spending time with people that are similar to themselves. Men will also engage in masculine activities such as hunting, fishing, and running, while women engage in feminine activities such as shopping, tanning, and reading. Gender subconsciously helps make our daily decisions. Ive never thought near gender being such an important aspect in our daily lives. Gender affects socialization in so many different ways parents raising their children, the work environment, and choosing friends. Gender socialization i s extremely important in todays society.

Marketing Plan of Toyota

1. Executive Summary Toyota drive sess Australia (Toyota, Australia) which deals with a wide range of gondola elevator rail drivecar sh ars has manufactured the Prius cable car in the self-propelled assiduity which is one of the topper cross synergism crash in today argument environs. And provide a competitive return to sassy(prenominal)(a) dividing line by achieving and surroundingsal friendly car and providing the best efficient dismiss system. The wrap up begins with the introduction of the high society where brief scene information on the comp each and discussion of the marketplace in which the Toyota club operates is explained.A current situation Analysis is conducted which gives a better savvy of Toyota, its antithetic crops, competitors and disparate surroundingss in which it operates. After considering the internal and external environment a SWOT Analysis is conducted which tells us the strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats of the bu siness environment. On the fanny of these factors the searing issues be identified and marketing objectives and strategies acquit been defined. Towards the end a recommendation of change and implementation plan has been developed to improve the product.The report contains distinct graphs which immortalize the current position of the community and the functioning of the product in the current market. 2. Table of Contents 1. Executive Summary2 2. Table of Contents3 3. Introduction4 4. commission Statement5 5. Situation Analysis6 a. Internal environs6 i. Products6 ii. pecuniary and non- pecuniary situation6 iii. Channels8 b. External Environment9 i. commercialises9 ii. Competitive environment9 iii. Economic environment9 iv. demographic environment10 v. Social and Cultural environment11 vi. Political and legal environment11 vii.technical environment12 c. SWOT analysis13 d. diminutive issues14 6. merchandising Objectives15 7. Marketing Strategies16 a. Tar constrict Markets16 b. Product strategies16 c. Pricing strategies17 d. Promotion Strategies17 e. dispersal Strategies17 8. Recommendation for Change18 9. Implementation Plan19 10. References20 I. Bibliography20 A. Appendices23 3. Introduction Toyota Motor flowerpot Australia (Toyota Australia) is one of the Toyota japans globose manufacturing centres which deal with manufacturing vehicles. It is the largest self-propelling companies of the reality.It provides long term trueness to the distinguishable domestic help and export markets. Toyota Australia head office and manufacturing activities ar ground in Melbourne. While the sales and marketing operations atomic number 18 ground in Sydney. Toyota, Australia employees all oer 4500 mint and more than thousands atomic number 18 employed for its suppliers and sell networks. Toyota Australia locally built cars analogous Camry and Aurion. And it imports a wide range of passenger, four-wheel drive and commercial vehicles including Corolla, LandCruiser, Yaris, Tarago, Kluger, HiAce, RAV4, HiLux, Prado and the revolutionary hybrid model Prius.In addition to this it as well distributes and sells the luxury Lexus brand of vehicles. Toyota is Australias largest vehicle exporter and in 2008 exported 101,668 cars to over 20 countries worldwide. This cockeyed export drive contributed over $1. 9 billion dollars (including parts and accessories) in tax for Toyota Australia in 2008. Cited on Toyota Website at http//www. toyota. com. au/ rough/company Toyotas Australia parent company, Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) is Japans largest self-propelling companies in the world.It was open in 1937, Toyota Group manufactures different kinds of automotives across 27 countries and regions throughout the world. And its vehicles are exchange in more than 170 countries and region under different brand names like Toyota, Lexus, Daihatsu and Hino. Toyota Australia leads the automotive industry with respect to the environmental technologie s with the success of the hybrid technology used in Prius. This report is passing game to achieve a situation analysis for Toyota Australia. It entrust consider different elements like internal environment, external environment, SWOT analysis and critical issues.With the abet of different marketing capabilities and organic evolution process marketing plan evaluation for Toyota Australia go out achieved. We will consider tributary research for Toyota, Australia for analysis. Different sources for the secondary research data which are used for this marketing plan are as follows Textbook, Internet data (company website and different web resources) and Journal articles. 4. guardianship Statement Toyota Mission Statement reads as follows We deliver outstanding automotive products and helpers to our customers, and enrich our community, partners and environment.The vision is to be the to the highest degree see and admired company. The four core values of Toyota, Australia are * Customer foremost * Respect for people * International focus * Continuous improvement and origination Cited on Toyota Website at Toyota Hybrid synergy force Philosophy For Toyota, shade is not just a promise its a fashion of vivification. Toyota believes in kaizen (continuous improvement). It has made a commitment to manufacturing, innovative technologies and social office that will enhance the quality of life. A better way of locomote has been developed using the Hybrid Synergy drive technology.It gives confidence to over 2 million drivers worldwide. The car which one drives is designed and locomotive engineered with the highest standards of quality and reliability. Toyota is the worlds leading hybrid system in the automotive industry. (Toyota 2009) 5. Situation Analysis a. Internal Environment i. Products Toyota Prius is a vehicle which is ever-changing the world. It combines luxury, technology and environment. Its a 1. 8 Petrol / Electric Hybrid Synergy Drive. This car is the worlds most advanced hybrid system. Cited on Toyota Website at It provides uncompromised performance.Its key features are Smart Entry & Smart, 6040 split retractable rear seats, Ecological plastic, LED headlamps, Three alternate(a) driving modes, Superior hybrid synergy drive system, first unbelted Toyota engine, shift by wire, Solar Ventilation System, Touch Tracer display, pointedness up display, Remote Air Conditioning System, Pre-collision safety system, Dynamic radiolocation cruise control, emergency brake signal, Intelligent park assist, brake by wire, fomite stability control and traction control. Cited on Toyota Website at ii. Financial and non-financial situationThe global economic crisis in July 2008 had a major bear upon on automotive markets. Toyota, Australia go through a rapid deterioration in vehicle sales because of the downturn in the economy. This in turn resulted in lower net incomeability. Vehicle manufacturing and Sales During the year to 31st March 2009, Toyota Australia manufacturing operations produced 130,228 Camry and Aurion vehicles for domestic and export markets. referable to a inviolate sales performance for the first six months, the company was recognized in the Australian industry to achieve highest sales record during the year 2008.In this close the domestic retail sales reached 238,983-2,336 units ahead on the previous year, and the sales gaudiness represented a market share of 23. 6 per cent. There was 19. 2 per cent decrease in Australian industry new car sales from January to March 2009 as compared to the same quarter in 2008. Toyota Australia (including Lexus) sold 16,498 fewer cars in the first three months of 2009 as compared to the same result in 2008, which represented a 26. 6 per cent decrease in sale volume. During January 2009, the company implement a general terms step-up for near of its imported vehicles ascribable to a weaker Australian dollar.Export Market Toyota Australia is the landed es tates largest vehicle exporter. In 2008/2009 the company exported 94,955 Camry and Aurion vehicles to 20 countries which were nub East, New Zealand and Pacific Islands. This was down from 99,395 in 2007/ 2008, due to the decrease in affect from Middle East Markets following the start of the global financial crisis. unless for the calendar year, Toyota Australia exports reached 101,668 which was an all time record for the Australian automotive industry. The export program earned $1. 9 billion in revenue over the same period.However for second half of the fiscal year, due to the global economic crisis impacted the entire business resulting in even off of sales in export and domestic markets. Global economic conditions will result in exports being lower in the 2009/2010 period. Despite the lubber marketing conditions, the company continues to set new sales record. On a model basis, sales records were set for Corolla, Prius, Kluger, Yaris and HiLux. The 11,000th Prius Vehicle was s old in Australia during the period and globally, the one-millionth Prius was sold in April 2008.The decline was due to the impact of the global economic downturn and changes to Luxury railcar Tax implemented by the Federal Government in 2008 and growingd competitor activity by companies like Honda. (Toyota 2009) iii. Channels Toyota automotives are available at different dealers over the world. It uses different integrating web services to provide information of the different vehicles online. It also provides an option to book a test drive online on http//www. toyota. com. au/book-a-test-drive. Cited on Toyota Website atOne pot also get eBrochure and printed brochures and all the information for the vehicle on the Toyota Australia website (www. toyota. com. au). The main headquarters are in Japan. b. External Environment i. Markets The demand for cars has augmentd in late times so the important verbal expression for the company is to get an captivate market share in Australia n market. The figure 1 is shown in Appendices which tells us the current market share of the company and Figure 2 shows that sales of the new motor cars in recent epoch has incrementd.As there is a concern for providing greener environment across the world, there exists an prospect for Toyota Australia to create better fuel economy and sign upd emissions car which caters to the indispensableness of environment. Toyota Prius is one such hybrid synergy drive system vehicle which provides best combined greenhouse and air pollution rating of any vehicle sold in Australia. Prius is officially our greenest car. As cited on Toyota Website at ii. Competitive environment Toyota Australia strong competitors in all department are Ford, GM, Honda, Mercedes, BMW and Volksw come alongn. elevator car Sales. com Limited 2009) Toyota Prius main competitors deep down the market are Honda Civic Hybrid and Ford Fusion Hybrid car. Toyota Prius belongs to the lower/ metier passenger car segment (C). Currently Toyota Prius provides maximum fuel dexterity as compared to new(prenominal) brands. It comes with a standard 1. 8L l4, 16 values engine. (ANDiDAS. com 2003) compare As cited on Yahoo Website at iii. Economic environment Australia is a stable, democratic outlandish with a strong competitive economy. Australia has one of the most outstanding economies of the world with skilled workforce.There is a flexible lying-in market, an efficient government sector and a very competitive business sector within the country. The Australian economy is one of the fast developing within the world. Australia investment in ICT as a percentage of complete(a) municipal Product is the one-third highest of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries. Australia is strong in Information and communication technology (ICT), innovation systems, business environment and human resource development. (Australian Department of international Affairs Trade 2009). gross do mestic product for Australia expanded to 0. 0% over the last 4 quarters. The Australia Gross Domestic Product is worth 1015 billion dollars or 1. 64% of the world economy, as mentioned by the World Bank. Australias economy is occupied by its services sector, however its economic success is based on lots of agricultural and mineral resources. Australias relative advantage in the export of primary products is a trace of the natural wealth of the Australian continent and its small domestic market. The country is a major regional financial centre and a positive component of the global financial system.Figure 3 in Appendices shows the Australian GDP Growth Rate. (TradingEconomics 2009). out-of-pocket to the accession in fuel costs, consumers will realise the value to the quality and services the car provides, rather than price. The Toyota Prius car with the hybrid system which provides fuel cleverness and reduce emissions will decidedly run a long way as its environment friendly. iv. demographic environment The estimated race growth rate in 2009 for Australia was 1. 195%. The total cosmos estimated was 21,262,641 out of which 18. 6% of the population was in the midst of the age separate of 0-14 days , 67. % of the population was between the age gathering of 15-64 years and 13. 5% of the population was between the age group of 65 years and over. The target customers for Toyota Australia would steady down into these two age groups ranging from 15 64 years and 65 years and over. The age structure is similar to that of New Zealand and the USA. (Kotler, 2007). These are the capableness customers and Toyota of necessity to focus on them as they fall into the potential market for purchasing cars. In Australia 99% of male and female population are literate. The statistic show that 78. % of people babble English, 2. 5% of people turn to Chinese, 1. 6% of people speak Italian, 1. 3% of people speak Greek, 1. 2% of people speak Arabic, 1% of people speak V ietnamese , 8. 2% of people speak other linguistic process and 5. 7% of people speak unspecified language ( As per 2006 Census). There are different ethnic group like White, Asian, Aboriginal and others. Different religion like Catholic, Angli gage, Uniting Church, Presbyterian and Reformed, Eastern Orthodox, other Christian, Buddhist, Muslim and others exist. (Central Intelligence Agency 2009). v.Social and Cultural environment Australia has a multi cultural environment. It has different cultural group from all over the globe. Its various(a) culture reflects liberal democratic traditions and social and cultural influences of the millions of migrants who have colonised in Australia since World War II. Australias original inhabitants, the Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders peoples, have been living in Australia for at least up to 40,000 years. The rest of Australias people are migrants or descendants of migrants who have arrived in Australia from about 200 countries.The defin ing feature of todays Australia is the cultural salmagundi of its people, and the way they are united to each other. Australian has the right to limited their culture and beliefs and to participate freely in national life. (Australian Department of Foreign Affairs Trade 2009). Toyota Australia require to define an international standard which caters to the different cultural group so they can target the potential buyers within the market. vi. Political and legal environment The political system in Australia consists of a federal parliamentary democracy. There are 6 states and 2 territories in Australia.The legal system is based on English common police accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations. There are no political pressures from the group leaders hence the company can start the business in Australia. (Central Intelligence Agency 2009). The only problem here was when the Luxury Car tax was implemented by the Federal Government in 2008, Toyota Australia experienced a decline in sales on their luxury car segment range. Also environmental and safety measures involve to be implemented within the car with respect to the legal requirement for Australian standards. (Toyota 2009). vii.Technological environment In Australia the technological environment changes rapidly. Some of the technologies impactd to automotive industry are as follows Environmental Technology like hybrid synergy drive, refuge Technology, IT Based Approach, Fuel Cell Technology, Personal Mobility and zombie Technology which are used in the modern cars. Such features increase the sales figures of the company. For Example In Toyota Prius the hybrid synergy drive which gives a better fuel efficiency and reduces emissions is one of the key features which gave the opportunity to increase the sales figure of the company.Toyota was the innovator for this hybrid synergy drive car and it captured the market using this technology. However these features also increased the cost of manuf acturing the car. So Toyota necessitate to keep up with the pace, as the technological environment keeps changing rapidly and the competitors might come up with a better enhance version of this technology. (Toyota Japan 2009). c. SWOT analysis Toyota Prius Car, Australia SWOT analysis through within the Australian market Internal Environment Strength Weaknesses * Toyota Australia is the countrys largest vehicle exporter. Its reliable and Eco- environment friendly. * Continuous Improvement and novelty * Just in Time approach to Production pioneered by Toyota. * Lexus, Corolla and other strong brands * Need to Understand the Australian Culture * Expensive set * Costly to manufacture * New Technology can cause potential problems External Environment Opportunities Threats * Hybrid Synergy Drive Technology * Due to the recent economic crisis the petrol price has increased enhance it gives an opportunity for Toyota Prius to enter into the market as it works to maximize fuel efficiency. Due to the Australian government regulation in concern with the environment, Toyota Prius will be suitable for the market as it will reduces emissions and is environmental friendly. * Strong controversy within the market. Example Honda, Ford, and General Motors * Petrol fuel Price improver * Availability of Public Transports in Australia Example Train, tram, bus and cab. * Luxury Car Tax implemented by the federal govt in 2008. d. Critical issues The demand might decrease for Toyota Prius as it does not focus on some actors which are as follows * The cost structure of Toyota Prius needs to be rectified. The loot is reduced due to the cost structure. * Enhance the development of hybrid and fusion vehicles which would be the key to the future growth. * Implement a more in force(p) cost structure in the areas of production and sales operation. (vBulletin 2009) * The company needs to rectify the problems which are there in the current version of the car. Problems which relate to electrical, engine, interior accessories and fuel delivery system. (CarComplaints. om 2009) * Toyota needs to keep investing in the Research and Development of Prius Car for new innovation. As it already possesses expertise in producing hybrid cars. So it is essential for Toyota Prius to keep investing in the Research and Development of the car engine to increase the fuel efficiency and provide a competitive advantage in the market. * Expand the orbital cavity of the emergency value analysis to achieve cost decrease and reduce fixed cost by 10%. (vBulletin 2009) These are some of the critical factors which if not considered might cause problem in towards competitive business environment.Which in turn will affect the sales of the Toyota Prius Car. 6. Marketing Objectives * subjoin the sales for the coming year and regain the loss which occurred during the economic crisis. * To increase the market share of the company. * To attract new buyers for the car and retain the devoted old customers. * To maintain the brand and standard within the market. 7. Marketing Strategies a. sharpen Markets The Toyota Prius has targeted this car at all levels of consumers. However the drivers ranging in an age group of 40 to 80 year old drive this car as they are environment conscious.Toyota targeted the car which was affordable from middle to lower income groups. It fuel efficiency and less emission is very attractive to this kind of age group. (Sheila Wilson 2005). Toyota is also designed to be used by people who are working in the in the city , because it features include switching of the engine whenever the Prius is stopped at a red light and give an extraordinarily good fuel consumption and excellent usable performance. Therefore Toyota Prius segments the market only by combining two demographic values which is income and age group and hence it targets these two segments of the market. WebPublication Pty Limited 2008). The campaign of Toyota Prius says Harmony betwee n Man, Nature and Machine, which means the car, has been absolutely designed for the use of the environment and everyday life. This car belongs to the lower/medium passenger car segment (C). Hence the competition is against the entire (C) car segment. So the company needs to be innovative in a manner. (High Gear Media 2009). b. Product strategies The Toyota Prius has re-engineered the car and launch the third extension version.The market in Australia is huge and moneymaking so Toyota needs to launch the re-engineering project quickly and create new innovation to be a competitive leader within the consumer market. However on the company website it say it plans to launch an urban commuter assault and battery electric vehicle by 2012. To improve the environment the new generation Prius has a 1. 8- liter four cylinder petrol engine which replaces the 1. 5- litre engine previous model. It has technology such as the solar cellular respiration system and remote air-conditioning system . It has features such as pre-collision safety system and skilful parking assist.It the greenest car ever sold in Australia, thus it provides the worst pollution emission and low fuel consumption. So Toyota Company can satisfy the customers and earn profit from the Australian Market. (Toyota 2009). c. Pricing strategies In visual sense of target consumers, Toyota Company uses excellent technologies for the Prius cars. It is cogent to maintain the original price-positioning strategy. close of the buyers dont bother about the price. Toyota Prius car uses the Price sliver Strategy. In this strategy the company will set a relatively high price in the beginning and then reduce the price over time.As they are able to get consumers at every price point. Toyota Prius car is based on the innovation of hybrid synergy drive hence this innovation helps the company to use this pricing strategy. Competing with price will not support effective development. However, for the company to increas e their profit the basic objective is to reduce the prospective cost (sunk cost). So it needs to use the price skimming strategy and capture the market forward other competitors enter the potential market. And Toyota Company has always been an early innovator to do that. (Aisha Jones Scheffel 2008) d.Promotion Strategies The different promotion strategy which were used by the Toyota Company for the Prius car were as follows Television and print advertisements highlighted the evolutionary aspect of hybrid technology and freedom from depending on oil. Toyota has created online e-brochures with video clips which were sent to different people. Toyota also benefited from various celebrity endorsements that attracted attention to the new Prius car. Toyota also promotes motor show exhibitions. Example The Melbourne Motor Show was the first public pushover to display new Prius Cars.Toyota has one unique characteristic which is to provide a greener environment friendly car as it produces low emissions. Recently they promoted in an advertisement saying Harmony between Man, Nature and Machine. (Ann Rodriguez and Chris scalawag 2004) e. Distribution Strategies Toyota Company has distribution centres in Australia. In 1999, Victorian parking lot Distribution Centre was opened at Altona. It uses the unique distribution methodological analysis the Internet. One can find the dealer on the Toyota. com. au website. Dealers are classified with General Sales, Prius Sales, General Services, Prius Services and All Parts.One can get the relevant information of the dealer which would contain the address, Telephone, fax phone and email address. 8. Recommendation for Change * Lower the fixed cost of the altogether process. * Improving the procedure of the Research and Development. * Build good relationship with other automotive companies in order to increase profits. * Supporting supplier development by funding the on-site process improvement and cost reduction activities. * Supp orting dealers to apply Toyota Production System to improve customer service reduce costs and increase productivity. Producing Hybrid cars at the manufacturing plant within Australia. (Toyota 2009) 9. Implementation Plan * The main problem was maintaining a long life of the battery of the car. This is one of the biggest problems of the Prius car and the company should overcome this problem to increase the sales. (ConsumerAffair. com 2009) * The passenger side headlight goes off intermittently. This should be rectified by the company. It is a common problem found in most of the cars. (Howard A. Gutman 2009) * Vehicles engine shutting off, at a speed of 35 miles per hour (mph) and 65 (mph). Launching advertisement campaign for Green Environment friendly vehicle. * Providing great offers during festival like Christmas and Easter. * Advertising the new features of the third generation car like Remote Air Conditioning System, Pre-collision Safety System, Intelligent Park Assist and Solar Ventilation System. (The Gale group 2009) 10. References * Kotler, Brown, whirl , Burton, ed. (2007), Marketing, Frenchs Forest Pearson Education Australia. I. Bibliography * Toyota 2009, Toyota Motor Corporation Australia Limited, Australia, viewed 9th November, 2009, http//www. toyota. com. u/about/company * Toyota 2009, Toyota Motor Corporation Australia Limited, Australia, viewed 9th November, 2009, * Toyota 2009, Toyota Motor Corporation Australia Limited, Australia, viewed 9th November, 2009, * Toyota 2009, Toyota Motor Corporation Australia Limited, Australia, viewed 9th November, 2009, * Toyota 2009, Toyota Motor Corporation Australia Limited, Australia, viewed 9th November, 2009, * Toyota 2009, Toyota Motor Corporation Australia Limited 2009 Sustainability enshroud, Toyota, Australia viewed 10th November, 2009 * Toyota 2009, Toyota Motor Corporation Australia Limited, Australia, viewed 10th November, 2009, * Toyota 2009, Toyota Motor Corporation Australia Limited, Austr alia, viewed 10th November, 2009, * Car Sales. com Limited 2009, Toyota Prius (2003-) (October 2003), Car Sales. com Limited 2009, Australia, viewed 10th November, 2009, * ANDiDAS. com,2003, Toyota Prius Marketing Communication Plan, ANDiDAS. com, UK, viewed 10th November, 2009, * Yahoo 2009,Yahoo Autos, Australia, viewed on 10th November, 2009, * Australian Department ofForeign Affairs Trade 2009, Australia straight off Australia Now, Australian Department of Foreign Affairs, Australia, viewed 10th November, 2009, * TradingEconomics 2009,Australia GDP Growth Rate,Trading Economics, viewed eleventh November, 2009 * Central Intelligence Agency 2009, The World FactBook, Central Intelligence Agency, Australia, viewed eleventh November, 2009, * Australian Department of Foreign Affairs Trade 2009, People, culture and lifestyle, Australian Department of Foreign Affairs, Australia, viewed eleventh November, 2009, * Toyota Japan 2009, Technology, Toyota Motor Corporation, Japan, viewed 11 th November, 2009, * vBulletin 2009, PriusChat Forums, PRIUSChat, Australia, viewed 11th November, 2009, * CarComplaints. com 2009, 2008 Toyota Prius , AutoBeef carcomplaints. com, Australia, viewed 11th November, 2009, http//www. carcomplaints. om/Toyota/Prius/2008/ * WebPublication Pty Limited 2008, Toyota Prius Across a Continent , Autoweb, Australia, viewed 11th November, 2009, * Sheila Wilson 2005, police squad Toyota and Prius Marketing Strategies, Wilson Marketing, United States, viewed 11th November, 2009, * High Gear Media 2009, 2010 Toyota Prius Marketing physical composition Harmony Between Man, Nature And Machine, AllAboutPrius, Australia, viewed 11th November, 2009, * Toyota 2009, Hybrid Synergy Drive News, Toyota, Australia viewed twelfth November, 2009 * Toyota 2009, The New Prius Uses an Improved Hybrid System and New Engine, Toyota, Australia viewed twelfth November, 2009 * Toyota 2009, Experience Prius, Toyota, Australia viewed 12th November, 2009 * Aisha Jon es Scheffel 2008, The Right Pricing Strategy priceless ,ArticleBase. com, Australia, viewed 12th November, 2009 http//www. articlesbase. om/business-articles/the-right-pricing-strategypriceless-631704. html * Ann Rodriguez and Chris Page 2004, A Comparison of Toyota and Honda Hybrid Vehicle Marketing Strategies, Rocky Mountain Institute, Australia viewed 12th November, 2009 * Toyota 2009, Toyota Motor Corporation Australia Limited 2009 Sustainability Report President Message, Toyota, Australia viewed 10th November, 2009 * ConsumerAffair. com 2009 , Toyota Prius Battery Problem , Consumer Affair . com Knowledge is occasion , Australia, viewed thirteenth November, 2009, * Howard A. Gutman 2009 , Toyota Prius Headlight Defect , Law Offices of Howard A. Gutman, New Jersey viewed 13th November , 2009, * The Gale

Marco Polo The Travels – The Silk Road

This is the story of a capacious young doughty triggerer. At the young age of 21, he embarked upon and successfully completed, the tasks entrancemed practically insurmountable to achieve in the era to which he be languished. He was not very much educated in the academic sense, but till date he continues to be the research subject for the aspiring Doctorates. He studied everything in the college of self-education, whither his mind was his Principal. His initiative, his Professors His hard work his tutors A art object who would decide A man who would act A man who would start and a man who would finish God moulds souls like Marco Polo but rare, perhaps for the specific office of inspiring the younger contemporariesThe Great caravan inn es displaceial leave inclined him the brief, close toly from political angle, but the self-starter Marco Polo, brought along with him the comprehensive nurture and details that staggers the most fertile imagination. Marco Polo is a trader- generator not an author-trader. The potential writing ability in him of which perhaps he was not consciously aware, enthralled those who read his work. Volumes sacrifice been written and discussed most his actuateogues. If Marco Polo were to appear for a test on criticism/appreciation or so his writings, the syllabus would be so vast, Marco Polo would not be able to c everyplace it in his life-time. The critics have seen so much in his writings, made threadbare analysis, which the original author would have never imagined.Another reason for the popularity of the concur wasthe details highlighted in it were revealed to the away(p) world for the first time. They were so mysterious that the readers were enthralled by the descriptions. legion(predicate) refused to believe his accounts. When Marco Polo lay on his deathbed, his priest, his friends and relations clustered around him to say that he at last renounce the countless lies he had recounted as his true adventures, so his soul would be cleansed to Heaven. The old man rosebush up, roundly damned them all and declared, I have not told the half of what I saw and did Remember, the community who were attempting to cross him belonged to that generation which argued that the Earth was categoric and the sun rotated around the Earth Marco Polo was much ahead of his multiplicationI designate Marco Polo provided the enceinteest inspiration to the younger generation of not however Italy, but the entire world, as for adventures and travels. He was the genius, who embodied the liveliness of hard aspirations and their fulfillment, under most difficult conditions. His travel experiences have uncomparable significance, all over the world. I do believe that Marco Polo provided positive knowledge, culture that was not known to the people. He was the first Westerners to travel through the Silk road. (It is only rebootd as a Silk highroad, but in squareity there is zip silken about it it is a rough, rugge d, treacherous pathway.)He is hailed as one of the most important figures from Italy. His life span from 1254-1324, was quite eventful. He highlighted the differences between europium and Asia. During the medieval multiplication, religion had the greatest impact on the lives of Kings and his subjects. Marco Polo explains how secularism was practiced then. but concerning God and your own soul do what you go forth, whether you be Jew or pagan, Saracen or Christian, who live among Tartars.They freely confess in Tartarv that Christ is a original but they say that he is a proud lord, because he will not keep company with other gods but wants to be over all others in the world. So in some places, they have a Christ of gold or silver and keep him ensconced within a shrine and say that he is the great lord of the Christians.(Polo, 1958, p.47).The concept of atomic number 53 in diversity was clearly seen and appreciated by Marco Polo.Education and tradeTo Marco Polo, it must be admitte d, traveling and interest in trade is the family heritage. In 1260, Niccolo Polo, the preceptor of Marco Polo, and his brother Maffeo went across Black Sea in search of utile ventures. They brought from Venice sizeable quantity of extraordinary jewels and set out from Constantinople by broadcast to Sudak and onward to Barku. When Marc Polo was introduced to the Great Khan, he was just 21 years old. By then, he had possessed an excellent knowledge of the letters and customs of the Tartars.Khan took great fascination for this brilliant youth and soon he was the carteled police lieutenant of Khan with whom he took counsel on important issues. Marco Polo was then sent on a mission to Kara-jang (Yunnan) in the far south west, as an envoy. The mission was a great success. The trader- instincts surfaced en route, Marco Polo made the detailed test of all the curiosities and novelties. On return, the Great Khan was given a brief, about the issues and business for which he was sent. Th e curious customs of the people were highlighted. This young cuss im holeed Khan on all counts.The Silk Road isthe travel chronicles about the arduous three years journey from Venice to the abode of the Great Khan initially through the ancient trade corridor and quench by blow account of his wonderful experiences based on facts related to the peoples of Iran, Iraq, India, Tibet, Pamir, Mongolia and China. Marco Polo made it a point to record every aspect of the life that he encountered they were so different, peculiar and interesting from region to region, country to country. Therefore, Marco Polo is regarded as a great anthropologist. In addition, the book contains many areas which Marco Polo covered during his epic travels as an emissary for the Great Khan, when he was in China for seventeen long years.I think Marco Polo had a great eye for the details, and nothing escaped his attention. The emporiums en route, the reflexion of yurt in Mangolia as re grimacential quarters( comp arable to the mass cheap caparison colonies in the developing countries), fireworks, paper currency, printing and pasta, the treatment and honor provided for the dead, provide making, the introduction of ginger in various recipes, tea as a popular form drink, Marco Polos statement in Persia that he had xanthous cooked in pomegranate juice, turmeric,(look at the style how he introduces turmeric here is likewise a vegetable that has all the properties of true saffron, as puff up as the smell and the color, and yet it is not really saffron.).Marco Polo was responsible for manoeuver of scientific and technological innovations, such as gunpowder, ceramics, the magnetic compass, the printing press and mathematics, along the Silk Road to the West. I also feel that Marco Polo won the trust of Kubilai (the sixth Khan in the Yuan dynasty) and retained it for 17 long years is one of his greatest achievements. He began his journey with an empty book and returned as an encyclopedia.To comp lete his mission, Marco Polo traveled by foot, on horse and boat. The Silk Road is not just an historical entity of the 13th century. In the red-brick times also, this route holds fascination for the travelers. As if to pay compliments and tributes to History, during the summer vacation, people in large numbers traverse along the original route from Shaanxi Province east to Gansu and then to Xinjiang. En route, one can see the traces and landmarks of the ancient glorythe religious art painted in caves by art-loving travelers.The ancient pagodas stand tall and majestic side by side with the new artistically and classically designed buildings. Traveling on this Silk Road is to study the pages of an historical book. Actual travel and experiencing is more than to study a dozen books on the subject. Columbus treasured Marco Polos book as a reference guide for his adventures, not without reasons. Marco Polo provided some amazing and consummate details relating to trade routes. He did hi s job of amassing details and making notes with the extravagance of a modern MBA research scholar. He was alone on his travel and other efforts, but he never hesitated to collaborate with the local creation and authorities regularly. Marco Polo had rare insight for minutest of the details regarding a particular ware or activity.Marco Polo-the legend of a nameThe name Marco Polo has assumed fabled significance. That was not a jet -set age where one can travel end to end of the world within a matter of days. back and courage were the domineering traits. That a 21 year young comrade achieved the intimate trust and became the emissary of the Great Khan is an inspiration to the modern youth. He was successful in all his political, trade and cultural assignments. His name has become a legendary trademark Marco Polos name was given to a childrens game, in a story in the wisdom fiction series of Doctor Who. A charge with three masts clipper ship built in Saint John, New Brunswick, i n 1851 was named Marco Polo.Marco Polo was the first ship to sail around the world in under six months. umpteen ships of the Italian name were named Marco Polo. The International Airport in Venice is named Marco Polo. In Hong Kong also at least there are 3 Marco Polo Hotels. He is the microbe of inspiration to many novelists like Donn Byrnes Messer Marco Polo (Irish Writer), Gary Jenningss novel The journeyer (1984). Marco Polo is one of the important characters in Italo Calvinos novel Invisible Cities.When he was 15 years old, John Goddard, who was also known as the real life Indiana Jones, and one of his expeditions, the most amazing adventure of this generation was to follow Marco Polos route through all of the Middle East, Asia and China. Marco Polo continues to be the perennial source of inspiration for adventure-seeking younger generation.References CitedPolo, Marco (Author), Latham Ronald (Author) Book The Travels of Marco Polo. Publisher Penguin Classics (September 30, 19 58) ISBN-10 0140440577 ISBN-13 978-0140440577

Financial Forecasting Checkpoint

Financial Forecasting CheckPoint FIN/200 Axia College of University of Phoenix redeem a 200- to 300-word explanation of the reasons the following types of companies would need a financial expect brand hot lodge, family-owned confederation, and a long-standing corporation. The reason type of companies such as brand new companies, family-owned companies, and long-standing companies would need a financial anticipate is to get around projected financial statements a series of pro forma.The education highly-developed by a series of pro forma provide a motley of estimate on inventory, payables, receivables as well as what would be compulsory for net and borrowing. A projected financial statement provides a openhearted of advantage in any of the companies listed above as it gives the firm an sixth sense on operations. A pro forma would assistance guide companies in deciding how to best operate and succeed.When push throughing a brand new telephoner a financial forecast is es sential. A financial forecast would help a brand new family decide on how some(prenominal) inventory would be needed, cost of start up and production, and how much expectant is needed. Obtaining a financial forecast would excessively help guide a brand new lodge on how much profit the company give the bounce make, whether a bank loan would be needed to start up and how many individuals can be hired.Family-owned companies need financial forecast just as much as a brand new company. A family-owned company would need a financial forecast for obtaining tuition from the simplest of things like how much inventory is in stock, profit sharing, expected expenses and profit for the future. A family-owned company would need a financial forecast to also make good decisions on continuing a successful business, which plane section needs revamped or tweaked.It is essential for a family-owned company to obtain a financial forecast to also estimate whether sales income would be luxuriant to cover expenses and whether cutbacks need to be made. A long-standing company, even though it has been in business for a long time (hence the phrase long-standing) needs a financial forecast for the same reasons a brand new company and a family-owned company needs it. A pro forma (financial forecast) would provide a long-standing company with estimated future profit, expenses, cash budgets, and sales income. A inancial forecast can also help guide a long-standing company in reservation decisions on things like increasing sales, whether advertising is needed and whether certain investments strengthen to be worth it. Although, a financial forecast is just introductory estimation of what is to be expected in the future it provides essential information that could help guide any type of company in the duty direction. Starting a brand new company, a family-owned company, and a long-standing company all have something in common producing a successful company in all aspects.

Youth Culture And The School Of Rock

The picture show School of Rock is a get that revolves around a first class pseudo rockstar and imitative tame watcher which rogue unappeasable portrays in the film whose exploits to arrive a transitory means to earn money took him inwardly the classroom of a prestigious straddle initiate which he transformed from an pathway of academic tuition towards his very(prenominal) own band practice and narrative studio, complete with a new set of band mates to renew the ones that dumped him at the wee part of the film (Christian lean up on Entertainment, 2003).The film takes a spin on education, and how it is important to instill students non and the sciences, math, history, English, literature, art and current events, but as swell up as the shenanigan in looking to a greater extent inwardly and little outwardly. While the obviously un noniceable improbable aras of the movie was non sought by nigh viewing audience, the poor creationner by which the principa l hires instructors which proves potent in jeopardizing the disciplines erstwhile penny-pinching standing and high esteem is highly improbable considering that the protocol for hiring could progress to immediately alerted the principal roughly the duplicitous campaign of blackness.But beca put on of the effort to justify the point of the creators of School of Rock, viewers be forced to accept the fictional land site Black was into to moot how both plot and conflict progresses towards the impending climax of the movie that locomote the borderline separating propriety from rebellious attitude, norms and deviance, piety and blasphemy, and the boilers suit outlook of what is upright and wrong.I. The extent of the critique that the movie School of Rock provided when it comes to criticizing the existing c totallyownessfulness enculturation as envisioned in the movie batch be found in the homophilener by which that particular bestride (prep school) was portrayed inclu ding all of the noniceable feature articles of the age group the most important of which is accordance and organism overly impressionable.Obviously, the aim of the movie is to glorify rock n bustle, and one of the most dedicated soldier of rock n history Jack Black was sent on an former(a)(a) mission to get up the modern day heathens of rock n cast by describing children inside prep schools as nothing but eccentrics, grade-conscious smart alecks, bullies and insecure singulars. That is the chief(prenominal) premise of the critique of the movie round the existing young person destination today, but that does not seem to be consistent with the current young person lifestyle. Thanks to technology, practice of medicine became alive in the digital sphere, and can be accessed more than conveniently.Real-world kids with the same age and profile as the kids presented in the movie may have their Ipods on most of the duration in amid class lessons and at home, their Inte rnet powered computers make them closer to more rock music and rock n roll nicety. They listen to rap-metal bands give care Linkin Park, Limp Bizkit and punk rockers like Avril Lavigne and Green Day. In the age of MTV, they do not just get to listen to their rock idols they in addition get to see them even when there are no plan c oncerts.Because of this, the attack of the movie on the existing offspring refining and how it is sorrowing(a) of rock can be merely deduced into something that the movie presumes. Youth finishing is mostly the end point of the influence of the adults that surround a particular younker and influence him or her either by directly shaping the bearing by dint of conscious actions or efforts or as a result of how a particular youths subconscious mind reacts to the image he or she shares with a person, ultimately creating influence in the youths mind and the culture to which it responds and reacts to.Most of the parents portrayed in the film are consistently admonishing their kids to focus on studies and make smallish time for less important things, like playing the musical pecker and later on, listening to rock n roll albums (Sweat, 2008). The movie illustrates the part of the youth and the adults when it comes to culture building and cultivating the youth are in general in a greater position to be left without any other options or alternatives towards what culture to embrace, and that is why there are those who are instrumental to the culture that is introduced to the youth.In the movie School of Rock, the prevailing youth culture among the students is a culture that is quotationized by the desire to learn, the desire to please the parents with good grades, the desire to go with the existing school program not generally because they were forced to like it but because they were left with very little extract in the options detailing the culture they may and can embrace, a situation that lurchd when Black arrived ( Christian Spotlight on Entertainment, 2003).Characters like Summer Hathaway illustrate the incident that while being submerged in a culture that leaves very little option for variety, selection and the exercise of free will, that still, there is a very good way of making the most of what is being presented to the individual and come out from that experience a better person. The movie did not indicate that the children have bad parents it just so happen that they did not know rock n roll in any of its types of forms that make the infusion of rock in their new school life as a totally exciting and new experience.The culture of subservience and the addressistic of the students to adapt is the existing youth culture rock and roll was not the symbolic youth culture it was the fact that sooner of later a new influence will be introduced to the youth and to the existing culture and this new idea/belief/system will either commute the old culture or assimilate itself to the old culture a nd get an entirely new and unlike culture.What happened to the students of School of Rock is the experiencing of the culture transport that underwent transformation via the assimilation of a new idea/culture when they versed how to enjoy rock, the change generally affected the outlook and not the aspects of the student/youths life that temperamentizes the complete taking over of a new culture remember that music is already part of the youth culture embraced by these children in the movie, as portrayed and established early in the film (Christian Spotlight on Entertainment, 2003).They were excellent musicians who were all especially enough exposed to classical music and a dose of protrude music that include Christina Aguilera and Puff Daddy. And more importantly, they did not slack from canvass and that the new musical education was showed as something that the parents later on merrily integrated to the culture of their children, and it goes to show that music is not the bla nket culture but a section of the culture that is generally near malleability in adjusting to the changing times. in that respect are areas in the American youth culture criticism of the movie towards real life situation that is generally done in poor taste, particularly how some of the students were made to pose stereotyped characters in a modern day grade school Lawrence, who was an Asian American student was stereotyped as the Asian geek Billy was a gay stereotype (note the reference to Lisa Minnelli, another effort at stereotyping), a particular aspect of the movie that was also notice by individuals making comments roughly the movie in the Christian Spotlight on Entertainment website.All in all, the extent of the critique included the criticism on the use of extreme rigidity to make students obedient, submissive and disciplined which may not be prerequisite now since more and more schools are now taking a different come towards a more liberal take on music as well as o f life and how these are integrated in the overall holistic approach towards an improved way of student self development.There was also an area in the criticism of the youth culture via the use of the movie that defeats itself youth culture today is not in fate of an out of the box experience to be able to experience shovel in culture because youth is pop culture, and rock n roll is not a musical elitists anymore that the youth are ignorant about it and the parents of the students are disturbed by the impact of rock n roll to the youth and the assimilation of this type of music to the youth culture.Somehow, the writer and the managing director of the film made poor research about the drastic change in the ainity of rock and how it has crossed towards becoming a mainstream entity that it is today is rock music is indeed something that does not go well with learning and studying, then why is there a product called Multiplication Rock, wherein the lessons in mathematics are taugh t using rock music?why are there products like Toddlers Sing Rock N Roll which is being distributed as a for sale items that parents enjoy and even recommend having? Why is the discussion on rock n roll and the links to cogitate articles found in educational and learning support websites like lees Summit? II. The movie, however focused on the rockstar dreams of the character of Jack Black, put a serious statement regarding the perceived stiffness, tightness and lack in personality found in some of the schools in America.In the movie, it was clear that antecedent to Blacks entry to the school system, the students are characterized as willing to the system, and it was only Black and his effort to teach the kids rock n roll that became the avenue to which the students learned to infuse personal decision and personal direction in how their lives will shape out, and not depend entirely on the system that is designed to make them compliant and obedient members of the society (Christi an Spotlight on Entertainment, 2003).Black was trying to teach the kids one of the basic tenets of rock n roll, and that is the characteristic that allows for the constant ambitious of the norms, which, according to Black, was an action that is known as sticking it out to the man. Rock n roll was the instrument that Black used so that the students were made aware of the fact that it is important to known ones self and reconcile ones self with the realities in life.The depression manifested itself later on in the movie there were go-getters and self reflection was unhampered by the consideration that they should first please other sight and consider first their opinion and say. Because of the breaking of the cycle that makes students compliant through the influence of the school system, some members of the class started understanding themselves and making worldly concern check on their mindset.Music was an effective tool because unlike the other aspects of the youth culture imp osed and forced upon them, music is not force-fed to them it was unendingly opening new doors that allowed for many personal conflicts and personal problems to be addressed.The character Zack Mooneyham found rock n roll as an effective way for him to express his artistic side by not just coat songs but also by getting the incident to write and play songs which he himself wrote the character Freddy Jones managed to re-direct his anger and obvious penchant for hostility by becoming a full fledged drummer and percussionist Tomika managed to overcome her insecurity about her weight problem while the rest of the bands support crew showed pronounced excellence in their particular assignment during the performance night.This may not be included in the curriculum, but the children are learning different new things in a different way. III. The movie also indicated how a good deal influence school is, not just in providing an avenue wherein the students can harness their economically viab le skills which they can use when they grow up and become members of the sprainforce, it also showed that the experiences of a student inside the school, as well as the culture wherein a student is a part of, are crucial factors in the formation of the cognition and drive of the student towards what he or she wanted to become as a member of the workforce.Brian Faldutos character already knew what he can and cannot do, and the rock project allowed for him to show eccentric person his potential. This was the case of Summer, who was also showing inclination in making the managing of the band a serious business that can lead to a full time career in the future. While these may all be temporary for these fictional characters, the point is that rock n roll gave the students a chance so that they themselves can see what they wanted to do most in all probability when they grow up, and get a crack at that with a tip start this early.The authoritarian conflict that the students are already subjected to even when Black was not even in their lives was mirrored by Blacks identical authoritarian leadership when he came into the lives of the students, which was in irony about the fact that Blacks character was all about going away against the system and sticking it to the man.But Black nonetheless proved to be the tipping point for the students who, through the short course of time they were together prior to the battle of the bands, were already showing signs of skills and competencies that they may or may not use as part of their professional capacity range once they started their active participation in the work and labor strata.Conclusion It is considerably understandable that what Black was hinting on is that the youth culture of today is bereft of the impact and influence of old school rock artists, and it is because of Blacks puritan outlook that School of Rock has become less and less of an effort to show how music influences lives and instead becoming the one m an act of the shoving of Black of a particular type of music from a particular era of rock to kids who are exposed to the rock music of their age and time.Black was worshiping his particular understanding of rock n roll so much that the criticism for youth culture did not have enough legs to stand on it was being attacked by a work of fiction that does not engender musical heterogeneity, which was made obvious during the time when Black showed intolerance to the mere mention of musical artists who are not included in his rock n roll list. Black and his character was a snob, and at the end, he showed how he is not a teacher one bit by showing very poor characteristics and capabilities that is necessary for effective teaching.In retrospect, the movie seemed like a criticism about the lifestyle of rock n roll puritans who cannot and would not go anywhere because of the culture that they imbibe. The kids, it turned out, are all right after all the question is, can they say the same t hing for the character of Black in the movie and his own culture? Maybe what needs a serious scrutiny and criticism is the youth culture of people like Blacks character in the movie. They should stop seeing grade school student as idiots and innocents when it comes to music and perhaps with that, they may be able to provide a more youth culture critique.

Healthcare Analysis Essay

1. Differentiate among the terms strategicalal management,strategic thinking, strategic planning, and managing strategic momentum. Which of these activities is most important in a healthc ar disposal and why? ANSstrategic management consists of the analysis, decisions, and actions an memorial tablet undertakes in order to shape and sustain competitive advantages. strategic management is concerned with the analysis of strategic goals (vision, mission, and strategic objectives) along with the analysis of the internal and external environment of the governing. Next, leaders must make strategic decisions.These decisions, broadly speaking, address two prefatory questions What industries should we compete in?How should we compete in those industries? These questions also often look at an organizations domestic as well as its planetary operations. And last argon the actions that must be taken. Decisions are of little use, of course, unless they are acted on. Firms must take the re quired actions to implement their strategies. This requires leaders to allocate the necessary resources.Strategic thinking is realiseed a key proscribed thought process of strategic management framework is defined as the generation and application of quaint business insights and opportunities, to create competitive advantage for a firm or organisation. It fuel be done individually, as well as collaboratively among key people who can positively alter an organisations future. grouping strategic thinking create much value by enable a proactive and creative dialogue, where we gain other peoples perspectives on critical and complex issues which is an important benefit in instantlys highly competitive and fast-changing business landscape.Strategic planning is an organizations process of defining its outline, or direction, and making decisions on allocating its resources to betroth this strategy. In order to determine the direction of the organization, it is necessary to understa nd its menses position and the possible avenues by which it can pursue a finical course of action. Generally, strategic planning deals with several key questions like1 What do we do?2 For whom do we do it?3 How do we excel?Strategic momentum is the tendency to maintain or hit the ceiling the emphasis and direction of prior strategic actions in current strategic behaviour. The most important role as leader of an organization is strategy. The outflank way to sustain the momentum is by following the guidelines of the Essentials for Successfully Implementing the Strategic Plan and to continue to deploy the small group of people who partake the vision and are engaged in helping you implement it. agree to me strategic management is the most important activity in a health tuition organization, because a well-formulated strategy can bring various benefits to the organization in present as well as in future. 1 Strategic management takes into account the future and anticipates for it.2 A strategy is made on rational and logical manner, thus its efficiency and its winner are ensured. 3 Strategic management reduces frustration because it has been planned in such a way that it follows a procedure. 4 It brings growth in the organization because it seeks opportunities. 5 With strategic management organizations can avoid helter & skelter and they can work directionally. 6 Strategic management also adds to the reputation of the organization because of consistency that results from organizations success.7 Often organizations draw to a close because of inadequacy of proper strategy to run it. With strategic management organizations can look for the events in future and thats why they can remain inactive in the market place. 8 Strategic management looks at the threats present in the external environment and thus organizations can either work to mature rid of them or else neutralizes the threats in such a way that they constitute an opportunity for their success. 9 St rategic management focuses on proactive come out which enables organization to grasp every opportunity that is available in the market.2. List, describe, differentiate, and provide examples of the different aims of strategic management. ANS1 Corporate level2 Divisional level3 Organizational level4 Unit levelCorporate level strategies addresses questions like,what business should we be in.? For example if we take Trinity, what business should we do..? Health care, including hospitals, long term care units, hospices etc. The other question would be what other options should Trinity consider like mental health centers.Divisional level strategies are more focused and provide direction for a single business type. For slip Trinity Health, strategies must be developed for separately for hospital division, out patient units, hospice care etc.. how many hospitals are optional .. or what markets are available for new chain of hospitals. Organizational level Strategies includes strategies m ade at an individual organizational level like each hospital in Trinitys hospital division may develop their take in strategies depending upon the present market conditions.Unit level Strategies support organizational strategies through accomplishing various objectives. Unit operational strategies may be developed in spite of appearance departments of an organizations like a hospital with different units, example Medicine department, military operation unit or paediatric unit etc

Principles of Maintaining Stationary Stock Essay

1 ) 1. 1 Explain the intent of doing certain nonmoving impart is maintained and controlled? A better mark of stationary shoot should ever be maintained and controlled because it makes treating easier and saves blowing clip. Norm tout ensembley a beau monde result hold one item-by-item in charge of the breed and that individual allow hold the responsibilities of bear oning any stock. Smaller companies ar easier to keep than larger 1s. Large companies can hold much more than of a trenchant at a lower placetaking as they entrust subscribe to a mussiness more stock or stationary. Besides within a larger company at that place will be more sections so it will be made a small harder.The individual responsible has to staring(a) in head any budgets the employer/manager had localise in topographical point. There are different ways of which you can command the degrees of the stock provided these are yet once more different with distributively and every company. A hebd omadal or biweekly think into on stock is normally the most effectual dash. Checking stock degrees will as well assist to detect what stationary is used more within their company. This will demo what is more relevant in purchasing. If the stock is non checked or maintained so the degrees can drop. This can ensue into the company outlay more bullion to mother the equipment/stock they need from a soaring street store and this can so thwart many workers/managers.1. 2 Describe factors that whitethorn impact the future degree of demand for stationary stock. Their will be many factors that may impact the future degree of stationary stock. One of these is the cost of the stationary itself. All. if non most. companies are doing cut in their disbursement and this is one section that may experience the cut more than others. Employees will be asked to utilize less stock whilst working and bespeaking rates for stock. These may go declined if the individual in charge thinks that the com pany will non ingest the stationary or it is non required. Besides another factor is the usage of engineering. engineering science is everlastingly increasing and going a bigger portion in everyones lives. This means more administrations will be utilizing the cyberspace a batch more. E-mailing more to cut the cost of paper and it is a faster manner to direct messages or to pass on and run their match. Letterss are going a less frequent manner of pass oning. This will do each company cut vote out on the lineament of paper. ink. envelopes and casts that are used.1. 3 Explain the intent of doing certain value of specie is obtained when telling stock. The intent of doing certain value of money is obtained when telling stock is indispensable. Each company needs to plight that they are non blowing any unessential money and that the stock you are telling is really needed. The individual in charge of telling demands to believe about the rescue costs. quality and bill costs. They besides need to believe about using minimal orders but can still cover everything that will be needed. The value of money is most of import because no company wants to be blowing money on merchandises that cant be afforded or on stationary the habit be used. The individual who is responsible for all this needs to hold a good think about what truly needs to be ordered and if it is prerequisite in the environment. Besides to cognize if it is environmentally friendly earlier precisely telling anything and everything they want to.2 ) 2. 1 Describe how to order. receive. shop and actuate stationary stock points. Ordering before you even get down to order you need to cognize who your providers are. If you dont already commit a provider so you need to happen one. You will aim to happen a provider that is suited to you and your company. When taking a company you will study to see these things Are in that location any bringing charges?Do I have to put a minimal order? Do they sell all the stock we need? Are their fiscal values competitory or really expensive? How long does it bring forth for an order to come through? You may happen it easier to compose a list of the stationary ( stock list ) you will necessitate so you can pick a provider that fits your demands. Once you have gear up the provider you will be utilizing so you will necessitate to belong through the catalogue or online and order what you need. Besides the individual responsible for this will necessitate to be cognizant of their budget and that they do non go bad over.Receive When you do have the stock. it is better to look into the bringing notes against what has been delivered to guarantee that all the stock you need or ordered is their. You will necessitate to look into the reception and look into everything they say is there is really there and is non defective. You will necessitate to place directly off if there are any jobs or any stationary missing. Lastly you will necessitate to di rect the reception up the finance so they can look into it against the bill and do certain all the monetary values tot up up and no 1s is being over charged or under charged.Shop when hive awaying the stationary you should revolve it so it is the oldest foremost. Storage should be in a nice neat order and organised so you can see what you have and what you dont have. Revolving stationary isnt the most of import thing to make but it is still well(predicate) so that pens and Tipex do non dry out and the paper doesnt acquire creased or even moistures. When hive awaying stationary it is best to maintain all things the same together and take count to see how many there is so you know for following clip when it comes to tell how much you should order. imprison when disposing stationary you need to first work out what can be recycled. or if it is environmentally friendly and what merely needs to be put in a normal bin. Most companies now like a concern with an environmentally friendly provider. They will look at the manner they package the merchandises so it makes it easier to dispose of the packaging. How near a company is to their concern is of import to cut down on the transporting costs.

Chris’s major flaw in Horses of the Night

Imagination limits concreteity. In Horses of the Night, Margaret Laurence suggests that attempts to live unconstrained by an mutinous shape victimisation imagination as an nonpayment cannister prove insufficient and detrimental. Chris, the protagonist, is natural into the Great first, has a reverie that can non move up true. Chris attempts to leakage this stage setting to ensure his trances. These attempts at splinter leave Chris in a broken mental state. Chris has a dream of becoming an guide exactly his environment prohibits him.He is a hopeful young man who moves into Manawaka to overhaul high school. The relationship in the midst of Chris and genus genus Vanessa offers insight into Chriss cozy most thoughts and motivations. He says, What I am right smart out to be is an engineer, urbane engineer. (287) This statement is juxtaposed with The Depression did not get better, as invariablyyone had been formulation it would. It got worse, and so did the drought . (288) This contrast is employ to establish the central conflict of the story, Chriss unattainable dream. The Depression is Chriss inevitable incident that he has no way of every last(predicate) overcoming.Although he is advanced(a) and lumberingworking there is nothing he can do just intimately his environment. Throughout the exposition, of the story Grand commence Connor acts as a reminder of Chriss macrocosm. He references Chriss deceased father by mocking Chris for chasing his dreams. Wilf wasnt much good, even as a young man If the male child takes after his father, its a unworthy lookout for him. (285) This quote not simply foreshadows the inevitability of Chris failure, exclusively excessively reminds him of his hopeless reality. The Depression is describe by Vanessa as an unmanageable labour brought upon the people by a malevolent divinity.An allusion to the Bible is make when Vanessa describes the effects effect on Manawaka as Children of Israel macr ocosm afflicted by manufacturer besides never in real danger of annihilation(288) this again reaffirms the status of Chriss environment are carved in stone and unaffected by serviceman means. Chriss dream is pure and safe of good intentions but the quantify of his existence did not benefit him. besides in turn prohibits him from ever achieving his dream. Chris surrounded by pessimism, grief and embossment uses imagination to escape.Chris uses false hopes to satisfy his dream of becoming an engineer by using imagination to escape reality . He fabricates the reality near him in order to escape using imagination. When Vanessa asks him about alter Creek, Chris weaves a fantastical story. These fabrications serve as an insight to Chriss elemental escape imagination. Chris understands that his situation is inescapable but he bequeath not accept that his dream cannot be achieve. Furthermore, when Chris faces negativity or confrontation he removes himself to his surroundings m entally. This trait is shown though his conflicts with Grandfather Connor.When Grandfather Connor bludgeons Chris with harsh words, Vanessa comments he gave no property of feeling anything(285) and He would not moot or defend himself, but he did not apologize, either. He entirely appears to be absent, elsewhere. (286) Whenever he faces safeguard or any form of reality, he escapes to his imagination. By ignoring the negative aspects of his aliveness he cannot understand the fragility of his unachievable goal. The night before his sack Chris explains that anybody can do anything at all, anything, if they really set their minds to it.(290)The action Chris takes prohibits the credit of his dream while his constant escape from an undesirable circumstance is disconnecting him from reality. Vanessa was an optimistic girl that bought into all of Chriss tales and conceptualized in all of Chriss strange fantasies and unreachable dreams. But as the story progresses and the description of the cause of the great depression worsen, she be brings less nave to the destructive reality of her circumstance. This is opposed Chris who is still seemingly optimistic about his situation.By persisting and working hard Chriss only companion by his journey to distinguish his dream is his imaginative false hopes. It drives Chris for state of ward do him to never stop accept and focus on the end goal. Although he is innovative though his line of descent ventures it still cannot overcome the fact that his circumstance I far too much for him to handle. The reality of the great depression cannot be overcome by even the most hardworking because the circumstance surrounding Chris is an unstoppable force that will inevitable crush Chriss dreams. evening though Chris persistently tries to realize his dream the reality of his circumstances could not be escaped. Imagination although prompt Chriss escape from reality, using imagination, not only destroys his dream but also his mind. Chris is cynical because he realizes that his erstwhile hopeful theory is right off crushed by reality. He says To believe in a God who is brutal. What else could He be? (298) Chris, although, did all he could to achieve his goal, his circumstance, or the will of God, is prohibiting him.For Chris there is nothing more queer than to persevere to acquire his dream but to lose it all because of an uncontrollable force. When Chris talks about the war, he mentions What kind of God would pull a trick like that? (298) Chris understands the detriments of war yet he still feels the collect to leave his current circumstance of Shallow Creek. Ironically, Chris escapes the reality of his circumstance by facing the reality of war. Even though he escapes so galore(postnominal) times he cannot physically escape the reality of war. Chris comes home, insane and hospitalized.This implies that Chris escapes into his imagination, going insane. Chris never faces reality. When reality is all around him there is no way to ignore it. Before he could merely shut himself off to the world, but in war there is nothing you can escape to, only insanity. Chriss attempts to escape the reality of his circumstance, be it through imagination or false hopes prove, futile and fatal. Dreams bespeak to be grounded within the boundaries of circumstance or else they will never come true, because reality will trample over imagination.Chriss major flaw in Horses of the NightImagination limits reality. In Horses of the Night, Margaret Laurence suggests that attempts to live unconstrained by an uncontrollable circumstance using imagination as an escape can prove insufficient and detrimental. Chris, the protagonist, is born into the Great Depression, has a dream that cannot come true. Chris attempts to escape this circumstance to realize his dreams. These attempts at escape leave Chris in a broken psychological state. Chris has a dream of becoming an engineer but his environment prohibits him.He is a hopeful young man who moves into Manawaka to attend high school. The relationship between Chris and Vanessa offers insight into Chriss inner most thoughts and motivations. He says, What I am going to be is an engineer, civil engineer. (287) This statement is juxtaposed with The Depression did not get better, as everyone had been saying it would. It got worse, and so did the drought. (288) This contrast is used to establish the central conflict of the story, Chriss unachievable dream. The Depression is Chriss inescapable circumstance that he has no way of overcoming.Although he is innovative and hardworking there is nothing he can do about his environment. Throughout the exposition, of the story Grandfather Connor acts as a reminder of Chriss reality. He references Chriss deceased father by mocking Chris for chasing his dreams. Wilf wasnt much good, even as a young man If the boy takes after his father, its a poor lookout for him. (285) This quote not only foreshadows the inevitabi lity of Chris failure, but also reminds him of his hopeless reality. The Depression is described by Vanessa as an uncontrollable force brought upon the people by a malevolent God.An allusion to the Bible is made when Vanessa describes the depressions effect on Manawaka as Children of Israel being afflicted by Jehovah but never in real danger of annihilation(288) this again reaffirms the circumstance of Chriss environment are unchangeable and unaffected by human means. Chriss dream is pure and full of good intentions but the timing of his existence did not benefit him. But in turn prohibits him from ever achieving his dream. Chris surrounded by pessimism, grief and depression uses imagination to escape.Chris uses false hopes to fulfil his dream of becoming an engineer by using imagination to escape reality . He fabricates the reality around him in order to escape using imagination. When Vanessa asks him about Shallow Creek, Chris weaves a fantastical story. These fabrications serve a s an insight to Chriss primary escape imagination. Chris understands that his situation is inescapable but he will not accept that his dream cannot be achieve. Furthermore, when Chris faces negativity or confrontation he removes himself to his surroundings mentally. This trait is shown though his conflicts with Grandfather Connor.When Grandfather Connor bludgeons Chris with harsh words, Vanessa comments he gave no sign of feeling anything(285) and He would not argue or defend himself, but he did not apologize, either. He simply appears to be absent, elsewhere. (286) Whenever he faces resistance or any form of reality, he escapes to his imagination. By ignoring the negative aspects of his life he cannot understand the fragility of his unachievable goal. The night before his departure Chris explains that anybody can do anything at all, anything, if they really set their minds to it.(290)The action Chris takes prohibits the realization of his dream while his constant escape from an und esirable circumstance is disconnecting him from reality. Vanessa was an optimistic girl that bought into all of Chriss tales and believed in all of Chriss strange fantasies and unreachable dreams. But as the story progresses and the description of the effects of the great depression worsen, she becomes less naive to the destructive reality of her circumstance. This is unlike Chris who is still seemingly optimistic about his situation.By persisting and working hard Chriss only companion through his journey to realize his dream is his imaginative false hopes. It drives Chris forward motivating him to never stop believing and focus on the end goal. Although he is innovative though his business ventures it still cannot overcome the fact that his circumstance I far too much for him to handle. The reality of the great depression cannot be overcome by even the most hardworking because the circumstance surrounding Chris is an unstoppable force that will inevitable crush Chriss dreams.Even t hough Chris persistently tries to realize his dream the reality of his circumstances could not be escaped. Imagination although motivating Chriss escape from reality, using imagination, not only destroys his dream but also his mind. Chris is cynical because he realizes that his once hopeful theory is now crushed by reality. He says To believe in a God who is brutal. What else could He be? (298) Chris, although, did all he could to achieve his goal, his circumstance, or the will of God, is prohibiting him.For Chris there is nothing moredisappointing than to persevere to acquire his dream but to lose it all because of an uncontrollable force. When Chris talks about the war, he mentions What kind of God would pull a trick like that? (298) Chris understands the detriments of war yet he still feels the need to leave his current circumstance of Shallow Creek. Ironically, Chris escapes the reality of his circumstance by facing the reality of war. Even though he escapes so many times he can not physically escape the reality of war. Chris comes home, insane and hospitalized.This implies that Chris escapes into his imagination, going insane. Chris never faces reality. When reality is all around him there is no way to ignore it. Before he could merely shut himself off to the world, but in war there is nothing you can escape to, only insanity. Chriss attempts to escape the reality of his circumstance, be it through imagination or false hopes prove, futile and fatal. Dreams need to be grounded within the boundaries of circumstance or else they will never come true, because reality will trample over imagination.

Evolution of Management Essay

EARLY MANAGEMENTOrganizations and conductors have existed for thousands of years. The Egyptian pyramids and the expectant Wall of China were projects of tremendous scope and magnitude, and required bang-up way. heedless of the titles given to managers passim history, some unmatchable has always had to plan what necessitys to be accomplished, organize people and materials, lead and direct attainers, and impose controls to go over that goals were attain as planned.Another example of early steering can be found in the city of Venice, which was a study scotch and deal out center in 1400s. the venetians busted an early form of business concern forthrighting move and engaged in many activities common to todays compositions. The venetians apply w arhouse and inventory systems to keep pencil lead of materials, human resource management functions to manage the labor force and an accounting system to keep track of revenues and costs.Two historical events significant to the study of management are process of Adam Smith, in his book, The Wealth of Nations, in which he argued brilliantly for the economic advantages of contribution of labor (the breakd induce of jobs into narrow, repetitive tasks). The Industrial Revolution is plump for important pre-twentieth-century influence on management. The introduction of machine powers combined with the division of labor made openhanded, efficient factories possible. Planning, organizing, leading, and controlling became necessary activities.There are six major climb upes to management. They are explained as follows1) SCIENTIFIC MANAGEMENTscientific management is delineate as the use of the scientific method to get a line the one best way for a job to be done. The nearly important contributor in this field was Frederick W. Taylor who is love as the drive of scientific management. Using his principles of scientific management (1) scientifically study all(prenominal) part of a task and develop the best me thod of acting the task, (2) scientifically select and thentrain, t to severally one and develop the shiter, (3) cooperate fully with imparters to ensure that they use the proper method, (4) divide run short and responsibility to the high upest degree equally between management and workers. Management takes over all work for which it is better fitted than the workers.Taylor was able to define the one best way for doing each job. Frank and Lillian Gilbreth were inspired by Taylors work and proceeded to study and develop their own methods of scientific management. They devised a classification scheme to label 17 basic hand motions called therbligs in state to eliminate wasteful motions Guidelines devised by Taylor and others to correct production efficiency are still used in todays geological formations. However, authorized management practice is not cut back to scientific management practices alone.Elements of scientific management still used implicate1. Using time and motion studies2. Hiring best qualified workers3. Designing incentive systems based on output2) GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE THEORISTSThis assemblage of writers, who cogitate on the entire plaque, developed more ecumenic theories of what managers do and what constitutes good management practice.Henri Fayol and Max Weber were the two most prominent proponents of the general administrative approach. Fayol focused on activities common to all managers. He expound the practice of management as distinct from other typical business functions.He stated 14 principles of management which are as follows1. discrepancy of Work. Specialization increases output by making employees more efficient. 2. Authority. Managers must(prenominal) be able to give orders, and self-assurance give them this practiced. 3. Discipline. Employees must obey and obedience therules that govern the organization. 4. wiz of Command. Every employee should receive orders from only one superior. 5. Unity of Direction. T he organization should have a single plan of action to take out managers and workers. 6. Subordination of individual interest to group interest. The interest of any one employee or group of employees should not take precedence over the interests of the organization as a whole. 7. Remuneration. Workers must be paid a plum net income for their services.8. Centralization. This term refers to the degree to which subordinates are involved in finale making. 9. Scalar Chain. The line of authority from top management to the lowest ranks is the scalar chain. 10. Order. People and materials should be in the right place at the right time. 11. Equity. Managers should be kind and fair to their subordinates. 12. Stability of tenure of personnel. Management should succeed orderly personnel planning and ensure that replacements are available to lead vacancies. 13. Initiative. Employees who are allowed to originate and carry out plans will exert high levels of effort. 14. Espirit de corps. Pro moting team spirit will build harmony and unity within the organization.Max Weber was a German sociologist who developed a guess of authority structures and described organisational activity based on authority relations. He described the ideal form of organization as a bureaucracy marked by division of labor, a clearly defined hierarchy, detailed rules and regulations, and impersonal relationships. slightly up-to-date management concepts and theories can be traced to the work of the general administrative theorists. The functional view of a managers job relates to Henri Fayols concept of management. Webers bureaucratic characteristics are evident in many of todays large organizationseven in highly flexible organizations that employ talented professionals. Some bureaucratic mechanisms are necessary in highly innovative organizations to ensure that resources are used efficiently and effectively.Webers Ideal bureaucracy3) QUANTITATIVE APPROACH TO MANAGEMENTThe quantitative approac h to management, sometimes known as trading operations research or management science, uses quantitative techniques to improve decision making. This approach includes applications of statistics, optimization models, information models, and computer simulations. The quantitative approach originated during World War II as mathematical and statistical solutions to armed forces problems were developed for wartime use.The relevance of quantitative approach today is that it has contributed most at present to managerial decision making, particularly in planning and controlling. The availability of advanced computer software programs has made the use of quantitative techniques more possible for managers.4) ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIORThe field of study concerned with the actions ( looks) of people at work is organizational behavior. Organizational behavior (OB) research has contributed much of what we know about human resources management and contemporary views of motivation, leadership, tru st, teamwork, and conflict management.The early advocates of OB approach were Robert Owen, Hugo Munsterberg, Mary Parker Follett, and Chester Barnard. Their ideas served as the foundation for employee selection procedures, motivation programs, work teams, and organization- milieu management techniques.The Hawthorne Studies were the most important contribution to the development of organizational behavior.This series of experiments conducted from 1924 to the early 1930s at Western Electric Companys Hawthorne Works in Cicero, Illinois, were initially devised as a scientific management experiment to assess the impact of changes in various physical environment variables on employee productivity.After Harvard professor Elton Mayo and his associates joined the study asconsultants, other experiments were included to look at redesigning jobs, make changes in workday and workweek length, introduce rest periods, and introduce individual versus group wage plans.The researchers concluded that social norms or group standards were key determinants of individual work behavior.Although not without criticism (concerning procedures, analyses of findings, and the conclusions), the Hawthorne Studies stimulated interest in human behavior in organizational masstings.In the present day context behavioral approach assists managers in designing jobs that motivate workers, in working with employee teams, and in facilitating the flow of communication within organizations. The behavioral approach provides the foundation for current theories of motivation, leadership, and group behavior and development.5) THE SYSTEMS APPROACHDuring the 1960s researchers began to analyze organizations from a systems office based on the physical sciences. A system is a set of interrelated and interdependent parts arranged in a personal manner that produces a unified whole. The two basic types of systems are open and closed. A closed system is not influenced by and does not interact with its environment . An open system interacts with its environment.The Organization as an Open SystemUsing the systems approach, managers show an organization as a body with many interdependent parts, each of which is important to the well-being of the organization as a whole. Managers coordinate the work activities of the various parts of the organization, realizing that decisions and actions taken in one organizational playing field will affect other areas.The systems approach recognizes that organizations are not poisedthey rely on and are affected by factors in their extraneous environment.6) THE CONTINGENCY APPROACHThe contingency approach recognizes that various organizations require different ways of managing. The contingency approach to management is a view that the organization recognizes and responds to situational variables as they arise.Popular Contingency VariablesOrganization size of itAs size increases, so do the problems of coordination.Routineness of task technologyRoutine techno logies require organizational structure, leadership styles, and control systems that differ from those required by customized or non-routine technologies. environmental uncertaintyWhat works best in a stable and inevitable environment may be totally inappropriate in a rapidly changing and unpredictable environment.Individual differencesIndividuals differ in hurt of their desire for growth, autonomy, tolerance or ambiguity, and expectations.CURRENT TRENDS AND ISSUESThe following are the current concepts and practices are changing the way managers do their jobs today.Globalization Organizational operations are no longer limited by national borders. Managers throughout the world must deal with new opportunities and challenges inherent in the globalisation of business.EthicsCases of corporate lying, misrepresentations, and financial manipulations have been widespread in recent years. Managers of firms such as Enron, ImClone, Global Crossing, and Tyco International have placed their own self-interest ahead of other stakeholders welfare. While most managers continue to assoil in a highly ethical manner, abuses suggest a need toupgrade ethical standards. Ethics education is increasingly emphasized in college curricula today. Organizations are taking a more active role in creating and using codes of ethics, ethics training programs, and ethical hiring procedures.Workforce diversityIt refers to a workforce that is heterogeneous in terms of gender, race, ethnicity, age, and other characteristics that reflect differences. accommodate diverse groups of people by addressing different lifestyles, family needs, and work styles is a major challenge for todays managers.EntrepreneurshipIt is the process whereby an individual or group of individuals use organized efforts to pursue opportunities to lay down value and grow by fulfilling wants and needs through innovation and uniqueness, no matter what resources the entrepreneur presently has.Three important themes stand ou t in this definitiona. The hobbyhorse of opportunitiesb. Innovationc. GrowthEntrepreneurship will continue to be important to societies more or less the world. Managing in an E-Business World E-business (electronic business) is a comprehensive term describing the way an organization does its work by using electronic (Internet-based) linkages with its key constituencies in order to efficiently and effectively achieve its goals.Knowledge Management and Learning Organizations switch is occurring at an unprecedented rate. To be successful, todays organization must become a learning organizationone that has developed the dexterity to continuously learn, adapts, and change. Knowledge management involves cultivating a learning culture where organizational members systematically gather knowledge and share it with others in the organization so as to achieve better performance.Quality ManagementQuality management is a philosophy of management that is driven by continual returns and respon se to customer needs and expectations. The objective of quality management is to create an organization committed to continuous improvement in work.

Family Portrait Essay

My great-grandmother, who is ninety-five years old, recently sent me a photograph of herself that I had never seen originally. While cleaning out the attic of her Florida home, she came across a studio portrayal she had taken about a year out front she married my great-grandfather. This picture of my great-grandmother as a twenty-year-old girl and the story canful it have fascinated me from the moment I began to consider it. The young char in the picture has a face that resembles my own in umpteen ways. Her face is a bit more oval than mine, but the thinly waving brown hair around it is identical. The small, straight nose is the resembling model I was born with.My great-grandmothers mouth is closed, yet thither is just the s startest hint of a smile on her full lips. I know that if she had smiled, she would have shown the same wide grin and down-curving smile lines that place in my own snapshots. The most haunting feature in the photo, however, is my great-grandmothers eyes. They be an exact duplicate of my own large, dark brown ones. Her brows are plucked into thin lines, which are like 2 pencil strokes added to cotton up those fine, luminous eyes.Ive also carefully studied the clothing and jewellery in the photograph. Although the photo was taken seventy-five years ago, my great-grandmother is wearing a blouse and edge that could easily be worn today. The blouse is made of heavy eggshell-colored satin and reflects the light in its folds and hollows. It has a turned-down cowl collar and smocking on the shoulders and beneath the collar. The smocking (tiny rows of gathered material) looks travel by-done. The skirt, which covers my great-grandmothers calves, is straight and made of light woollen or flannel. My great-grandmother is wearing silver drop earrings. They are about two inches long and roughly shield-shaped. On her left wrist is a twinned bracelet. My great-grandmother cant find this bracelet now, despite our having spent hours meddling through the attic for it. On the third finger of her left hand is a ring with a large, square-cut stone.The story behind the picture is as interesting to me as the young woman it captures. Great-Grandmother, who was earning twenty-five dollars a hebdomad as a file clerk, decided to give her boyfriend (my great-grandfather) a picture of herself. She spent almost two weeks salary on the skirt and blouse, which she bought at a fancydepartment store downtown. She borrowed the earrings and bracelet from her honest-to-god sister, Dorothy. The ring she wore was a present from another young man she was geological dating at the time. Great-Grandmother spent another chunk of her salary to pay the portrait photographer for the hand-tinted print in old-fashioned tones of brown and tan.Just before giving the picture to my great-grandfather, she scrawled at the lower left, Sincerely, Beatrice. When I study this picture, I react in many ways. I think about the anesthetize that my great-grandmot her went to in order to impress the young man who was to be my great-grandfather. I laugh when I look at the ring, which was probably worn to realise him jealous. I smile at the serious, formal inscription my great-grandmother used at this stage of the budding relationship. Sometimes, I am filled with a concoction of pleasure and sadness when I look at this frozen long since moment. It is a moment of beauty, of love, andin a wayof my own past.