A Study on Risk Management in Banking Industry Essay

Risk management is relatively new and emerging practice as far as Indian banks are concerned and has been proved that it’s a mirror of efficient corporate governance of a financial institution. Globalization and significant competition between foreign and domestic banks, survival and optimizing returns are very crucial for banks and financial institutions. However, selecting the efficient customer and providing innovative and value added financial products and services are another paramount factors. In a volatile and dynamic market place for achieving sustainable business growth and shareholder’s value, it is essential to develop a link between risks and rewards of all products and services of the bank. Hence, the banks should have efficient risk management framework to mitigate all internal and external risks. The objective of this study is to envisage ideal framework of bank-wide risk management for Indian Banks. The presence of accurate measures of bank-wide risk management practice increase shareholder’s returns and allows the risk-taking behavior of bank to be more closely aligned with strategic objectives. Bank-wide risk management practice should aim to enhance the drivers of shareholder’s value such as: – 0 Growth; 1 Risk adjusted performance measurement; 2 Consistency of earnings; and 3 Quality and transparency of management. The important steps of the efficient framework of banking concern should ensure all risks are identified, prioritized, quantified, controlled and managed in order to achieve an optimal risk-reward profile. This entails ideal and dedicated coordination of risk management across the bank’s various business units. However, the approach to monitoring and enforcing the adherence of business units within the bank may vary. The factors that influence this decision are: – 4 The feasibility decisions of the business unit. Â  5 The regulatory requirements in respect of the business unit. 6 The cost of effective monitoring and controlling steps. Risk management is a line function that needs to be addressed by each individual cost center and business unit. However, a centralized bank-wide risk management framework has certain advantages for the Bank. The advantages are: – 7 Improving capital efficiency by providing an objective basis for allocating resources reducing expenditures on immaterial risks and exploring natural hedges and portfolio effects; 8 Supporting informed decision making by uncovering areas of high potential adverse impact on drivers of share value, and identifying and exploiting areas of risk-based advantage context. 9 Building investor confidence by establishing a process to stabilize results by protecting them from disturbances, and demonstrating proactive risk stewardship 10 Define cost and profitability centers 11 Profitability and cost allocation on customer, product, services and branch wide Most of the banks do not have dedicated risk management team, policy, procedures and framework in place. Those banks have risk management department, the risk manager’s role is restricted to pre-fact and post-fact analysis of customer’s credit and there is no segregation of credit, market, operational and strategic risks. There are few banks have articulated framework and risk quantification. However, the outputs are far from the stressed or actual losses due to usage of un-compatible implications. The traditional lending practices, assessment of credits, handling of market risks *, treasury functionality and culture of risk-rewards are hauls of public sector banks. Where as private sector banks and financial institutions are some-what better in this context. The sheer size and wide coverage of banks is a big hurdle to integrate and generate a cost effective real time operational data for mapping the risks. Most of the financial institutions processes are encircled to ‘functional silos’ follows bureaucratic structure and yet to come up with a transparent and appropriate corporate governance structure to achieve the stated strategic objectives. CONCLUSION There are many banks like HSBC, Citibank, Deutsche bank have bank-wide risk management practice which contributed in their global success whereas banks and institutions like Sumitomo Corp, Barings, Bank of America, CSFB and UTI have failed due to lack of efficient bank-wide risk management practice (compliance and operational risks). So the above comments emphasis the necessity of having bank-wide risk management to achieve the stated strategic objectives in a competitive, volatile and dynamic market conditions in an emerging Indian economy. We believe the above-described bank-wide risk management framework is easy workable, cost effective and efficient process without any hassles or hurdles of high-tech tools and techniques

Response to intervention and the gifted learner

Averageness knows nil higher than itself, but endowment immediately recognizes mastermind ( Sir Arthur Conan Doyle ) . Many talented famous persons were told early in life that they would non be successful, for illustration: Walt Disney was fired from a newspaper for deficiency of imaginativeness: Michael Jordan was cut from his high school hoops squad: Carol Burnett was dismissed from drama school with a note stating she was excessively diffident to set her best pes forward: Thomas Edison was told by a instructor that he was excessively stupid to larn anything and that he should travel into a field â€Å" where he might win by virtuousness of his pleasant personality † ( Bluefish TV.com ) . What if these magnetic and alone persons had merely given up and did precisely what a few short-sighted persons had suggested? The natural flight of giftedness in childhood is non a six-figure wage, perfect felicity, and a guaranteed topographic point in Who ‘s Who. It is the deepeni ng of the personality, the strengthening of one ‘s value system, the creative activity of greater and greater challenges for oneself, and the development of broader avenues for showing compassion ( Silverman, 1993, p. 22 ) . Response to Intervention came to life tardily in 2004 when George W. Bush signed the Persons with Disabilities Educational Improvement Act, which reauthorized the Persons with Disabilities Education Act, now called IDEA 2004. Basically, Bush required general instruction to detect and measure a pupil ‘s response to an individualized intercession in the general instruction schoolroom. Basically what was restricted to a particular instruction schoolroom is now a cardinal facet in the general instruction schoolroom. RTI was designed to do certain every pupil gets aid or services he needs whether or non he technically qualifies for particular instruction or has a learning disablement ( McCook, 2006 ) . My campus, Athens Intermediate, incorporates appraisal and intercession within a school-wide, multi-level bar system to take full advantage of pupil accomplishment and cut down behaviour jobs. At AIS, this procedure identifies pupils who are at hazard for hapless larning results, proctors pupil advancement, provides research-based elaborate intercessions and tweaks intercessions along the manner based on a pupil ‘s reactivity. We use a tiered service bringing theoretical account, which means different degrees of direction and aid are provided. Tier one is direction received in the schoolroom, suited for most pupils. Tier two signifies the intercessions that a few pupils will have when information shows that they are non rather larning the stuff after direction is given. Tier three is really intensive direction given to a little figure of pupils that data proves they are still non acquiring the desired consequences ( National Center on Response to Intervention ) . What can be done for those who are gifted? Basically, on Tier 1 all instructional demands are being met with nucleus lessons. Is whole-class and grade-level direction suitable for the talented scholars? Maybe for some topics and some advanced scholars, but all of them? They frequently have already mastered what is being taught or can make so really rapidly. RTI can be utile for the talented kid. Just like the pupil who is behind and demands aid ( i.e. Tier 2 ) , there are those who are in front and necessitate some acceleration. Like there are a little figure of pupils who are drastically behind in any given area/subject and will necessitate some important aid ( i.e. Tier 3 ) , there are about the same figure of pupils who are significantly in front and will necessitate considerable challenges and acceleration in any given area/subject ( Fisher, 2009 ) . How will the RTI theoretical account at Athens Intermediate take into history the gifted and talented scholars? How can we at Athen s Intermediate increase the quality and degree of services for our talented scholars?Literature ReviewWhy Implement RtI for the Gifted Childâ€Å" In the ordinary simple school state of affairs kids of 140 IQ waste half of their time.A Those above 170 IQ waste about all of their time.A With small to make, how can these kids develop power of sustained attempt, regard for the undertaking, or wonts of steady work? † Hollingworth, L. ( ) p. 299. Response to Intervention is a many-sided attack turn toing pupils ‘ comprehensive faculty members and behavioural demands, it can function as a theoretical account for increasing the quality and degree of services for all pupils, including those who are gifted and talented ( Coleman, 2010 ) . It involves the systematic usage of appraisal informations to efficiently allocate resources to better larning for all pupils including pupils with disablements, pupils identified as talented, those who qualify under subdivision 504, and advanc ed scholars ( WOGI, 2010 ) . By documenting instructional intercessions, the RTI procedure allows high-achieving scholars ‘ entree to differentiated course of study, flexible tempo, bunch grouping, and other cosmopolitan intercessions available to all pupils in the regular schoolroom ( hypertext transfer protocol: //www.gadoe.org/ci_iap_gifted.aspx ) . If instruction is to concentrate on developing pupil abilities and supplying an educated work force, so it besides must concentrate on the growing and accomplishment for all students-where â€Å" all † truly does intend all ( Hughes, Rollins, 2009, 32.3 ) . It is the place of the Council for Exceptional Children that a RtI model for talented pupils would back up advanced larning demands of the scholar in footings of a faster paced, more complex, greater deepness and/or comprehensiveness with regard to their course of study and direction. Likewise, scholars who are gifted with disablements may necessitate more than one deg ree of intercession and acceleration in footings of course of study and instructional schemes, RtI must be seen as a school broad enterprise, crossing both particular instruction and general instruction ( CEC, 2007 ) .Early InterventionCurricular intercessions should be selected based on informations driven determinations and related to identifiable mensurable gifted features. Educators should besides be held accountable for showing the direction in a mode that reflects best learning patterns ( Hughes, & A ; Rollins, 2009, 32. 3 ) . Three times during the school twelvemonth scholars are screened to place a demand, designation and acceleration of the course of study can get down right off. Interventions can be implemented to better academic chances. Dexterity of the scholar is identified within a nurturing system regardless of label or potentially biased instructor recommendations. By waiting to supply endowment development activities until pupils â€Å" measure up † for talen ted instruction services, schools are guaranting that lone pupils who have the appropriate backgrounds when they enter school receive such services. RtI promises an amazing medium of cultivating the possible growing before a pupil qualifies. Without back uping the strengths of talented scholars, true growing can non happen and scholars are in danger of non developing and even losing their gifts. An early intercession through cosmopolitan testing for strengths is a proved method for happening talented scholars, particularly in traditionally underserved populations. Research supports grounds that gifted kids may get down to conceal their endowments at an early age. Knowing the features of pre-school through class 2 talented pupils is critical in detecting possible and/or demonstrated strengths for early intercessions ( CDE, 2006 ) . Interventions for talented scholars must move in conformity with the country of energy and involvement, or magnetic demands of the pupil. Disregard to giftedness may augment underachievement and other negative behaviours therefore, ensuing in the possibility of RtI for low public presentation and behaviour. â€Å" It is surprising that really extremely talented kids do non arise more often against the inappropriate educational proviso which is by and large made for them. Surveies have repeatedly found that the great bulk of extremely talented pupi ls are required to work, in category, at degrees several old ages below their tried accomplishment. Underachievement may be imposed on the exceptionally gifted kid through the restraints of an inappropriate and undemanding educational plan or, as frequently happens, the kid may intentionally underperform in an effort to seek peer-group credence † . – Miraca U.M. Gross, Exceptionally Gifted ChildrenPersonalized Instruction Based on Student Needsâ€Å" If they learn easy, they are penalized for being bored when they have nil to make ; if they excel in some outstanding manner, they are penalized as being conspicuously better than the equal group. The civilization tries to do the kid with a gift into a nonreversible individual, to punish him at every bend, to do him problem in doing friends and to make conditions conducive to the development of a neuroticism. Neither instructors, the parents of other kids, nor the kid equals will digest a Wunderkind † ( Margaret Mead , 1954 ) . Direction for the talented scholar should be constructed on the strengths and skill excess of the scholar. Attention endowed on alone scholar attributes keeps the schoolroom focal point on presenting direction that works for single pupils ( instead than a one-size-fits-all attack ) . Differentiated direction, a basic of RtI, allows teachers to at the same time address single, little group and big group demands ( Whitten, Esteves, & A ; Woodrow, ) . Gifted scholars are an improbably heterogenous group with a greater diverseness in accomplishment degrees than that found among typical pupils ( Hughes, Rollins, 2009, 32.3 ) . Therefore, in a tiered plan the demands of talented scholars would be specifically met based on their features. It is of import to recognize that we must distinguish within a talented group. Even though talented pupils may hold been identified as gifted, there are still strengths, failings, and a enormous scope of existent public presentation degrees wit hin this group ( Hughes, Rollins, 2009, 32.3 ) . Gifted scholars need to be able to entree a flexibly-paced advanced course of study that provides deepness and comprehensiveness in their country of strength ( CEC, 2007 ) . The CDE believes the identified strengths of a talented pupil will do all talented pupils to see at least flat II intercessions so that ceilings are non placed on larning. These intercessions might be schoolroom based, little group with a specializer, a specialised plan delivered by the schoolroom instructor or specializer or categories to run into the individualised demands of talented pupils ( CDE, 2006 ) .Instruction Driven by AssessmentAssessment instruments and gifted/talented designation processs provide pupils an chance to show their diverse endowments and abilities ( TEA, 2009 ) . Within an RtI model for a talented scholar, pupil advancement is often monitored to do certain acceleration and betterment is taking topographic point. If it is non, a different scheme should be put into topographic point. This can assist cherished clip being lost in turn toing the academic troubles of a pupil. In stead of seeking something over a long period of clip without cognizing whether it ‘s working, teachers can corroborate a scheme ‘s validity with the talented scholar. Harmonizing to the Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students the designation procedure for gifted/talented services is on-going, and appraisal of pupils occurs at any clip the demand arises ( TEA, 2009 ) . Advancement monitoring is the systematic assemblage of informations to measure the advancement of the kid ( Hughes & A ; Rollins, 2009, vol.32, 3 pg. 36 ) . The aim in a remedial plan is to raise the pupil accomplishment to that of their equals in the general instruction schoolroom, or Tier 1. However, in a strength-based RtI, the end is to raise achievement beyond the general instruction schoolroom. Progressing monitoring is critical to the procedure of finding how much a pupil ‘s accomplishment degrees are altering over clip. Since the intent is achievement betterment for all scholars, advancement monitoring is critical.Improved Quality of DirectionThe Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction acknowledges the virtues of utilizing RtI for pupils that are at hazard, but besides recognizes the possible it holds for accomplishing higher degrees of academic and behavioural success for all pupils, including those whose demands extend beyond the nucleus course of study ( Rollins, Mursky, Coltrane, Johnson, 2009, vol.32,3 ) . Several cardinal facets characterize a strict course of study and research based effectual pattern focused on rich and profound thoughts of subject. Instruction will prosecute pupils emotionally and cognitively. It requires pupils to work out jobs, reference issues, and create merchandises and is relevant to the scholars lives ( Tomlinson, 2005, 44, pg. 160-166 ) . A critical component of RtI is the proper usage of research-based instruction methods. The focal point is proactively making an instructional environment that sets up scholars for high degrees of accomplishment. Research-based instruction goes beyond validated plans and schemes to include proved instructional methods such as differentiated direction. All scholars must hold the chance to show their acquisition in ways that allow them to be successful. Direction should be designed to account for pupils ‘ larning strengths, involvement and academic capablenesss. The scheme, plan or intercession must be subjected to rigorous, systematic, and nonsubjective processs to obtain and supply dependable and valid informations utilizing experimental or quasi-experimental designs across multiple scenes ( Whitten, Esteves, & A ; Woodrow, 2009 ) . When learning methods are grounded in research, scholars have the best opportunity of success. An array of disputing course of study options in rational, originative and/or artistic countries ; leading ; and specific academic Fieldss are provided for gifted/talented scholars ( TEA, 2009 ) Additionally, TEA asserts that course of study is designed and evaluated through coaction by specializers in content countries, instructional techniques, and gifted/talented instruction. Furthermore, the usage of a tiered bringing theoretical account should be employed.Focus on Positive Relationships in the ClassroomLearners should experience confident and supported within their schoolrooms. Direction that histories for their learning s trengths and involvement countries will actuate the talented scholars. When pupils feel safe and accepted by instructors, they demonstrate greater academic growing. Respecting pupils ‘ larning strengths and involvement promotes larning and Fosters an environment where scholars can boom. Flexible grouping and peer-assisted acquisition, both indispensable constituents of RtI, allow pedagogues to at the same time construct pupils ‘ societal and academic accomplishments ; as relationships are strengthened, so excessively are pupils ‘ academic accomplishments ( Whitten, Esteves, & A ; Woodrow, 2009 ) .Increased School-Wide CollaborationEducators must work as a squad. RtI is a general instruction enterprise. Accountability for transporting out the theoretical account should fall entirely on the shoulders of the general instruction instructors. Reasonably, pedagogues of all backgrounds and experiences must and will take part in assorted signifiers of teamwork to run into the demands of all scholars gifted or non. ) . How will the RTI theoretical account at Athens Intermediate take into history the gifted and talented scholars? Will staff work together to supply the appropriate intercessions deem necessary for the single scholar? How can we at Athens Intermediate increase the quality and degree of services for our talented scholars? What support will the schoolroom teacher receive to supply individualised services to the gifted scholars?MethodologyIn this action research a triangulation method, the usage of both qualitative and quantitative research will be used to place what can be done to assist pedagogues of talented pupils at Athens Intermediate School comprehend the RtI for the talented procedure. This attack will besides demo how to outdo use it when assisting their advanced scholars with individualised accelerated direction. Glantz tells his pupils that integrating multiple beginnings of informations is critical to guaranting a more accurate p osition of world ( Glantz, 2003, pg. 40 ) . Athens Independent School District is a 3A school situated in scenic Athens, Texas. Athens Intermediate School ( AIS ) is a big intermediate made up of 538 pupils. There are 13- 4th class schoolrooms, 14- 5th class schoolrooms, and 2 particular instruction schoolrooms. Interrupting this down farther, of the 13- 4th class schoolrooms 8 are self-contained and there 2 squads of double linguistic communication categories. The fifth class makeup is 2 squads of double linguistic communication, 2 squads of mono-language and 4 self-contained mono-language schoolrooms. AIS is a recognized campus for the past two old ages. Furthermore, Gold Performance acknowledgment has been earned in Science and in 2010 a Gold Performance has been earned in Reading betterment and attending. The participants for this action research will be 16 identified talented pupils in the 4th class and 20 identified pupils in 5th class. Teachers will be assigned a colour and pupils will be affixed with a figure and parents of the participants will be referred to as parent of colour group/number to keep confidentiality and security intents. The qualitative informations will be collected through studies such as questionnaires and interviews to measure the attitudes or positions of the respondents ( Glantz, 2003, pg.62 ) . Harmonizing to Glantz, they are comparatively easy to build and analyse. Questionnaires, like the Likert graduated table, will be utile to depict how the instructors and parents of talented kids at AIS respect RtI and Gifted accelerated direction. Systematic observation is another information aggregation method that will be employed to get informations that will be accurate. The usage of an observation process such as siting charts and pupil time- at- undertaking have should turn out to strongly act upon pupil accomplishment. These instruments can be easy adapted for usage in different classs and with the instruction of different capable affair ( Willerman, McNeely & A ; Koffman, 1991 ; pg. 21-22 ) . Quantitative methods focus upon the merchandise, or the â€Å" what, † in a state of affairs ( Gl anz, 2003 ) . The â€Å" what † of this action research will be collected through elaborate field notes in that they are nonjudgmental, concrete descriptions of what has been observed. Informal unstructured open-ended interviews with the pupils, parents and instructors will be conducted to determine the comprehension and use of RtI for the talented procedure.Research Findingss

How a satisfied customer help a company grow Research Paper

How a satisfied customer help a company grow - Research Paper Example The company also aims at helping these organizations develop effective communication strategies whose focus is customer based, employee related, investors, stakeholders, partners, and media relations focused. Harriet Weintraub Fashions has been tested and proved successful in its line of business. We encourage person to person or a group of people’s communications consulting. We not only deal with companies and corporations but with individuals as well. Broadways also has a plan of opening other branches in other states as part of its expansion plan. Description of Marketed services The services offered by Harriet Weintraub Fashions are among others, trainings on communications. Proper communication is the bottom-line of any relationship. In this competitive world of business, companies and firms are struggling for the same client base. It is the case of putting the best foot forward, which Harriet Weintraub Fashions clearly explains. We also conduct management training. We tr ain the top brass of any company on how to relate with each other and with other members of staff. Productivity comes about only when people work together for a common goal. Training of new employees is also done by us. Furthermore, we take our clients through sessions of image consultancy. Such sessions include how to make presentations, going for deals, meeting new clients etc. Identification of the target market We have a rather broad market as already highlighted. However, we majorly target companies who deal directly with the consumers. We all know from the chain of trade, that there are those organizations that interact directly with the client for instance, the fashion industry. We take it upon us to address key issues that pertain to such matters since such companies compete on customer experience. Description of service quality metrics There exists no single metric by which the service of an organization to its customers should be pegged (Morris, 2012). All metrics work tog ether for the achievement of the organization’s success. The following metrics as adopted by Harriet Weintraub Fashions look to span the benchmarks of operations, finances and quality respectively. They include; Timely service delivery. At Broadways Limited, we try to make sure that our services are delivered to the prospective customers within the same day. Our promptness makes them respect us and appreciate us more. Moreover, we try to clock a deal with a new client at the first impression. This is important to us especially given the industry we are in. We do this by identifying which issues need to be considered at whatever time and thus enable us establish the proper escalation rates. Moreover, as an operational metrics, we try to gauge the rate of customer response and resolution. We also monitor the rate at which our employees handle customer matters and determine whether more team training or individual coaching is required. We do this by evaluating the average time i t takes for a member of staff to effectively communicate to the client at hand. We also take caution to ensure that the abandonment rates are as minimal as possible. This is especially when there are a lot of clients. Financially, as an organization, we take into account all the revenues accumulated and expended being careful not to run into losses. We also calculate the importance of training versus productivity. This is because we know that it is directly proportional to customer

Firewalls provide complete from hacking .Discuss this in terms of Essay

Firewalls provide complete from hacking .Discuss this in terms of privacy and information access - Essay Example Nevertheless, some experts believe that firewalls are an effective solution to deal with these issues. This essay will discuss the implementation of the firewall technology for the enhanced security of any business or personal network. Also, it will outline and analyze firewalls security matters, effectiveness, and methodologies in addition to implemented in individual and organizations. The terms security and privacy are associated with data and information, which are important part for organizations as well as individuals. Security comprises the rules, actions, and technical measures used to stop illegal access or modification, theft, and physical damage to the database (Laudon & Laudon, 1999, p. 502). Privacy refers to right of individuals and organizations to disallow or confine the compilation and utilizations of information about them and most organizations carry out their business activities on the Internet, and at the present, securing information on the Internet has become a challenge for the organizations as well as individuals. In addition, the aim of information security is the safety of data from unexpected or worldwide threats to their reliability and utilization. Because the utilization of data and information has become out to be more open through the Internet, business intranets, and from mobile computing devices. Therefore, applying data security e fficiently has become more complicated and time taking (Shulman, 2006), (Norton, 2001) and (Hoffer, Prescott, & McFadden, 2007, p. 499). The augmented utilization of the Internet and the World Wide Web places networks at even larger danger of unwanted threats. Various companies distribute or publish information on the Internet (using web sites), while remaining companies have workers who distribute information to the Internet from the organization network or download material from the

The market situation and current issues relevant for Lohospo Assignment

The market situation and current issues relevant for Lohospo - Assignment Example Center of discussion in this paper is Lohospo, a service agency for hosts in the region of Freiburg and Schwarzward. The main aim of the Lohospo is to offering access to tourism and hospitality related marketing and distribution scheme for small and medium sized hosts, who avail their accommodation services part-time with the opportunities of the Internet. The study includes current rate of potential hosts, holiday’s homes, and bed and breakfasts of Bodensee market and also the way in which this hosts are mainly attract there guests. â€Å"Bodensee Standort Marketing GmbH is a supraregional business promotion service and contact partner for the international business region of Lake Constance† and at the same time there are also lots of competitors in the market, who are offering online booking services. The main purpose of the Individual Consultancy Study is to offer useful foundation to motivate interest of the private sector. The findings will outline a sound foundati on for the private sector to carry out further research in development plans on Bodensee market. The Government is open-minded on the growth of Bodensee market. Demand of the Market will be the driving factor for such growths. Any growth will have to take into consideration the environmental insinuations and guarantee sustainability. The Tourism Commission is a co-organizing party in government to manage tourism developments in Bodensee market. The Tourism Commission will carry on playing the helping role in promoting the private sector with additional explore suggestions for Bodensee market. There is a rising universal trend for persons who are planning their holiday to consist of bath and resort rudiments in their vacation itinerate. â€Å"Tourism Industry Growth in any country is prone to the changing economic conditions. In the event when a country is passing through a low phase or an individual's job is at stake, not many people choose to travel† (Tourism Industry Growth 2010). As a well-known tourist destination, it is significant for Bodensee market to examine the possible cost and advantages and recognize main issues of rising world class facilities in the Bodensee market, in the strategic perspective of further developing the position of Bodensee market as a tourist centre. To enter Lohospo into the Bodensee market, it is very much necessary to understand the current issues and condition of the market. An hotelier always intends to provide his consumers with whole high-quality experience; part of it is in the destination data provided by devoted concierge and other hotel workers. â€Å"The internet enables customers to search for information even before their arrival. Hotels can use this opportunity to provide pre arrival highly relevant information whilst maintaining a continuance relationship with its customer’s right after the booking process† (Stay Planner for Hotels 2007). The Strategic Aims of Entering Lohospo in the Bodense e Market Were: To widen the range of tourism services, providing to the extremely high-end segment of the market with a kind of facility that can extend tourists stay and improve the tourism experience. To optimize the possible benefits of existing resources in improving Bodensee market picture and status as a tourist destination. To contribute to a long-standing tourism growth of Bodensee market, for it to offer an extensive range of world class tourist services, appeals and experiences. To cautiously inspect the possible demand for bath and associated resort and leisure services, suitable to Bodensee market particularly tourism growth and climatic context. To carry out market research and assessments to determine the most suitable kind of facilities based

Should Morbidly Obese Kids Be Taken from Their Parents Essay

Should Morbidly Obese Kids Be Taken from Their Parents - Essay Example This paper provides the summary and response to the article written by gaelle faure, â€Å"Should Parents of Obese Kids Lose Custody?† published on Time.com on Friday, Oct. 16, 2009 (faure) Western world is facing the critical question,† Should morbidly obese children be taken from their parents?† at present. Reports from Scotland, California, New Mexico, Texas and New York, as well as Canada have shown that because of a childs obesity the parents lost the custody of their children. Because of child privacy laws, many such incidents have been kept as secrets whereas only few of them have been published. The above issue has first appeared in public debated issues, two years before with a British television documentary about Connor McCreaddie, an 8-year-old who weighed more than 200 lbs. and was at risk of being taken from his mother by authorities. It is an accepted fact that removing children from their parents remains a last resort, but obesity experts are increasingly debating whether doing so can boost a childs chances for a healthier life. Childhood obesity can cause physical problems like Type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, high cholesterol orthopedic problems, and mental problems due to hypertension, sleep apnea and early puberty. The major reason for over weight is overeating itself. Even though, parents have a major role in making their children obese, other issues like genetic predisposition and socioeconomic status and environmental factors, like whether children have access to parks and playgrounds are also major reasons for child obesity. As per Tam Fry, chairman of Britains Child Growth Foundation, if the parents refuse to address the child obesity issue, then they should be put in the care of professionals — with the provision that parents may visit, till the steps are taken to alter the familys diet so that the child may eventually return to a

Do you agree with Fredrik Barth that to understand the continuity and Essay

Do you agree with Fredrik Barth that to understand the continuity and constitution of ethnic groups we should focus on interaction at the boundary - Essay Example Beliefs of one ethnic group vary from another group and each group strives to preserve its culture. The members of various ethnic groups separate themselves from other groups in the world by raising boundaries around themselves. These boundaries ensure that the cultural and religious beliefs of an ethnic group stay with their group. The book Ethnic Groups and Boundaries: The Social Organization of Culture Difference by Fredrik Barth focuses on the ethnic groups and the boundaries which these groups raise around themselves, in order to exclude the outsiders from assimilating in their culture. Fredrik Barth maintains that the association of the cultural differences is an essential feature of ethnic groups. In this paper, we will discuss the significance of interaction at the boundary while studying the continuity and constitution of ethnic groups. I agree with Barth’s claim that to understand the continuity and constitution of ethnic group it is necessary to focus on interaction at the boundary, for these are the boundaries which avert the outsiders from influencing the religious beliefs, cultural values and behavioral traits of an ethnic group. In his book Ethnic Groups and Boundaries: The Social Organization of Culture Difference, Fredrik Bath discuses ethnic groups and their various features, beliefs and cultural identities. Ethnic groups are defined differently by various historians, anthropologists and scholars. The term â€Å"ethnicity† had been interpreted in numerous ways. Some think that ethnicity refers to a set of religious beliefs that are followed by a group of people while others think that common behavioral traits and language is the essential aspect of an ethical group. Although it is an accepted fact that an ethnic group consists of people who share a common heritage and culture, there are differences among historians and scholars regarding the characteristics of an ethnic group. â€Å"Attempts to find an objective set of criteria which might

Wal-Mart Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Wal-Mart - Essay Example However, this paper will try to evaluate the success of Wal-Mart which is indeed the market leader in the retail industry, and it will prove the supremacy of the organization with personal experiences and supportive facts. Personal viewpoints and some observations about Wal-Mart: The base of this argument can be put as the undisputed crowd pulling ability and growing footfalls in Wal-Mart. There are many other retails stores are there and they also pull the crowd very efficiently but do they pull crowd like Wal-Mart? Well, from many personal experiences it can be stated that the world number one retailer indeed pull the crowd efficiently than any other stores. If a person goes to any Wal-Mart store in USA in any time, he or she will see a gathering of huge crowd looking to buy something or the other. The cash counters are always busy with long queues and happy customers are always coming out with their purchases. However, the question is how they are so successful and how they overco me the tough competition in the market. From the personal experiences and viewpoints it can stated that Wal-Mart follow the strict rule of POCKETS (price, operations, culture, key item promotion, expenses, talent and services). They follow unique penetration pricing policy, they never tend to compete, break through operations management can handle the customers and the employees wisely within the store, great culture, they promote the key products very tactically and the inner talent of the management is distributed properly within the lower level of the organizations. There are some points are also there to support the positive aspects of the Wal-Mart and they are mentioned bellow. Remarkable business strategy of the Wal-Mart to support the argument: Wal-Mart has changed the seller’s market to the buyer’s market with their great business strategy. In the United States the main strategy of the Wal-Mart is to open stores in every five kilometers. And the main concept is selling practically everything under one roof with large discounts. The main strategy is to compel the people to buy more and more. Evolution of the supply chain management system: Supply chain is a very important factor for a g lobal giant like Wal-Mart. And in this case they are very strict to choose their thousand of suppliers globally. Mattel, the toy maker is one of the biggest suppliers of toys to Wal-Mart and they admit that it is a great business channel but a tough client as they want great quality parameters. Wal-Mart looks for close and strong relation with their suppliers. Wal-Mart is always hungry for customer satisfaction and that is the reason they also look for great suppliers who can provide good quality products in proper time with competitive pricing. Evaluation of the brand image: Wal-Mart has always been in the way to strengthen its existence. Around 2000 they opened the walmart.com which is the online portal for online shopping. And they have all the facilities like on-time delivery, great products and easy to use. In 2008 they have changes their total brand image, from the Wal-Mart store; Inc they changed their brand name to Walmart. Criticism about Wal-Mart: It is a true fact that gr eat brands have great criticisms. The Wal-Mart has been criticized in many ways many times but somehow I had overcome the criticism and embarked towards the success. In many times it has been criticized as the slaughter of the small grocery businesses. There are many times when small grocery stores owners have opposed the erection of the Wal-Mart store in their vicinity. But, the success relies on the verdicts of the customers. Mr. Sam Walton understood the importance of the demanded products to be sold in a low price in a price sensitive market. The Wal-Mart is

Annotation of Toby Fulwiler’s “Provocative Revision” Essay Example for Free

Annotation of Toby Fulwiler’s â€Å"Provocative Revision† Essay Provocative Revision by Toby Fulwiler is an essay that talks about how he, as an experienced teacher of writing, has come up with different techniques in the overlooked art of re-writing. His paper specifically discusses about where, when, and how to revise. To successfully do this, he presents four provocative suggestions to help students in revising their papers. These techniques are: limiting, adding, switching, and transforming. Limiting. Generalization is bad in writing. The cure for this, Fulwiler argues, is limiting. Generalities do not have much appeal because most people already know about them. What catches the readers’ attention are details of things they already know. Telling details makes subjects come to life. Fulwiler further suggests limiting on time, action, scope, and focus. Adding. The natural thing to do in revisions is to add new information. Some techniques on adding are adding dialog and interviews. Adding dialog adds drama and appeal. Adding interviews, on the other hand, makes the paper more credible, especially when experts are part of the interview. Switching. Switching involves re-writing the story by using a different approach or perspective. Sometimes, a change in point of view makes a paper interesting. A change of voice â€Å"changes the nature of the information and the way it is received† (Fulwiler 165). Changing voice could mean changing the point of view from first to third person, from subjective to objective, and vice-versa. Transforming. Transforming involves overhauling the whole paper, making the way it is presented totally different from its preceding draft. Provocative Revision Critique/Comments Toby Fulwiler, establishes his credibility in the subject of revising by saying that he has been teaching writing for a long time; a good technique to persuade an audience to listen to what he is saying. Despite his extensive experience in education, he humbly says that his education is far from over. He also says that despite him â€Å"provoking† his students to revise their papers, he makes sure that the students’ styles are kept. There is some truth in his views on generalization as a bad technique. Unfortunately, the world still has much to learn. Sometimes general things can be new to some people. Since Fulwiler has a specific audience in mind, his assumption is valid; otherwise, he too is guilty of generalization. Another thing worth commenting on his subject on limiting is the way he makes limiting like tabloid writing—he says that details on personalities, problems, and scandals are interesting subjects. He presents a problem in his teaching—students who don’t do their own work. He claims that by making students revise their work, he can make students (even those that don’t do their own) do their own work. He fails to realize that the students who ask others to do their work for them may do the same thing with the revisions. Other than these, the rest of Fulwiler’s article is quite good; he provides passages from his students’ work as examples for bad and good writing. The good news is that those that turned out to be bad examples at first, turned out to be good papers after some revision using the techniques presented. Work Cited Fulwiler, Toby. â€Å"Provocative Revision. † The St. Martin’s Sourcebook for Writing Tutors. 3rd Ed. Christina Murphy and Steve Sherwood. Boston, New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2008. 156-168.

King Lear Shakespeares Essay Example for Free

King Lear Shakespeares Essay Dylan Thomass Do not go gentle into that good night was influenced by William Butler Yeatss Lapis Lazuli and William Shakespeares King Lear but the villanelle bears a stronger resemblance to Shakespeares play. The attitudes toward how an individual lives in the face of impending death, explored by Thomas, are similarly examined with the portrayal of Gloucester and Lear. Dylan Thomass Do not go gentle into that good night has been noted to bear the influence of and even echo W. B. Yeats, especially Lapis Luzuli, and, secondarily via this poem, Shakespeares King Lear. One scholar notes its Yeatsian overtones (Fraser 51); another judges Thomass villanelle to have much of the concentrated fury of expression which the poetry of the older Yeats contained, but more tenderness and sympathy (Stanford 117), and goes on to say. , citing Lapis Lazuli, that Yeats described the poet as one who knows that `Hamlet and Lear are gay' (118). William York Tindall cites not only Lapis Lazuli but also Yeatss The Choice as sources (204). Another scholar seems to skip over Yeats entirely (though his own phrasing echoes line 1 of Lapis Lazuli), seeing the Grave men/blind tercet (which contains the injunction to be gay) as perhaps invok[ing] the Miltonic (Tindall also mentions Milton 205) and the effect of the phrase be gay as rather hysterical sentimentality (Holbrook, Dissociation 53); of the earlier Wise men/lightning verse, however, he says The images are merely there, histrionically, to bring in the phrase `forked no lightning to give a Lear-like grandeur to the dirge (52). I would like to propose that Do not go gentle into that good night bears a much stronger and more direct connection to Shakespeares play than is suggested by references to Yeats or to Lear-like grandeur. I would like to propose that the attitudes towards deathor, more precisely, the attitudes towards how one lives in the face of impending deaththat Thomas explores in this poemthe implied attitude his speaker attributes to his direct audience, and the one he urges be adopted in its placeare similarly explored in King Lear and dramatized in the characters of Gloucester and Lear. I also propose that the voice we hear in Do not go gentle may not be a directly lyric speaker but an obliquely drawn persona, that of Gloucesters son Edgar. Further, when read in the shadow cast by King Lear, the tone of Thomass poem grows dark indeed. Do not go gentle into that good night is addressed to Thomass father, David John, known as D. J. According to biographer Paul Ferris, D. J. was an unhappy man a man with regrets (27); born with brains and literary talent, his ambition was to be a man of letters, but he was never able to advance beyond being a sardonic provincial schoolmaster in South Wales, feared for his sharp tongue (26-33). After his first serious illness, thoughcancer in 1933A mellowing is said to have been noticeable soon after; his sarcasm was not so sharp; he was a changed man (104). As he grew more chronically ill in the 40s, mostly from heart disease and with one of the complications being trouble with his sight, the mellowing intensified: As Ferris puts it, It must have been [D. J. s] backbone of angry dignity that his son grieved to see breaking long after, when he wrote `Do not go gentle into that good night' (27), and the poem is an exhortation to his father, a plea for him to die with anger, not humility (259). The poem was first published in November, 1951, in Princess Caetanis Botteghe Oscure, on consecutive pages with Lament, a dramatic monologue spoken by an old man on his deathbed who recalls his rollicking youth and middle-age spent in the pursuit (and capture) of wine, women, and song, but who has married at last in order to obtain a caretaker, and must suffer pious comforting in his final, helpless days. (Bibliographic evidence suggests the two were also composed, or at least finalized, more or less simultaneously; Kidder 188.) In the letter to Caetani that contained Do not go gentle, Thomas remarked that this little one might well be printed with [Lament] as a contrast (qtd. in Kidder 188). As Ferris suggests, it would be difficult to over-estimate D. J. s influence on his son: . . . the pattern of [Dylans] life was in some measure a response to D. J. Thomas and his wishes. For the early books that Dylan Thomas read, the rhythms he absorbed, and probably for his obsession with the magic of the poets function, he was indebted to D. J. (283). Prominent among those early books read by Thomas are the works of Shakespeare. In 1948 (and Thomas might have begun his, as usual, protracted drafting and revision of Do not go gentle in 1945, after D. J. suffered a nearly fatal illness; Tindall 204), Thomas wrote a journalist that D. J. s reading aloud of Shakespeare seemed to me, and to nearly every other boy in the school, very grand indeed; all the boys who were with me at school, and who have spoken to me since, agree that it was his reading that made them, for the first time, see that there was, after all, something in Shakespeare and all his poetry. . . (qtd. in Ferris 33; his ellipses). That Thomas was familiar with and admiring of Shakespeare is, of course, no surprise, but his direct linkage of his father with Shakespeare, particularly at this point in time, is interesting, and he demonstrated more than familiarity with King Lear: In 1950, during one of his reading tours in America, he spent an evening with novelist Peter de Vries (who would later use Thomas as the basis for the poet Gowan McGland in Reuben, Reuben) and, among other conversational gambits, declaimed some Lear (de Vries, qtd. in Ferris 233). That he was equally well-immersed in Yeats is verified by the fact that poems by Yeats were among those he performed on his 1950 tour of

Communication Theory Has Emerged Media Essay

Communication Theory Has Emerged Media Essay Different schools of thought have defined communication in many ways. Renowned scholar, G.G. Brown defines communication as: transfer of information from one person to another, whether or not it elicits confidence. But the information transferred must be understandable to the receiver. On the other hand, Fred G. Meyer defines communication as: the intercourse by words, letters or messages. Nonetheless, the central theme in all these definitions is the exchange and flow of information between two or more parties. This may result to the use of both verbal and non-verbal cues. Evidently, communication affects human livelihood and its behaviour and there is need to demonstrate how it affects individual actions. Thus, an introspection of how communication theory has emerged from the pre-christian era to modern times responds to the need of explaining individual actions. The history of communication dates back to time immemorial, with significant variation in communication technologies evolving in tandem with shifts in socio-political and economic systems. Various modes of communication have subsequently emerged with the passage of time and technological advancements. On the other hand, we are still able to trace the history of communication to oral and written speech. An insight into how communication theory came into being is demonstrated in the Holy Bible. In the Old Testament book of Genesis chapter one, verse three, it reads: And God said, Let there be light, and there was light This expression of communication serves to show that communication existed since time immemorial. God was able to undertake creation through His speech. Again, further credence to the foundation of communication theory presents itself in the New Testament through the book of John chapter one, verses one to two; In the beginning there was the Word. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Once God created man, He was able to connect with him by words. This is revealed through the stories of Adam and Eve, Abraham, Noah, Moses and many others in the bible. Further, God communicated with prophets, and his people through visions, dreams, words, signs and symbols. Notably, the Old Testament portrays the usage of communication through figures of speech, especially through metaphors. Metaphors were widely used to intimate deeper meaning in speech and writing. This attribute is well observed in the books of Proverbs and Psalms. As such, the pre-christian era was well founded in communication through language use and its mastery. The same applies to the Christian era as well which derives much of its communication foundation from language mastery. This is well exemplified through Jesus parables. Aside from the religious views of communication theory, there is also the philosophical basis for communication theory. The proponents of this school of thought are mainly Greek philosophers and historians ranging from Aristotle, Isocrates, Socrates and Plato. From their insights emerged the theory of rhetoric. Despite both Isocrates and Sophists maintaining that rhetorics objective is persuasion, Isocrates promoted its use for human improvement while Sophists held the view that rhetorics purpose was for self-praise and thrift. Given the divergent views on the purpose of rhetoric, Plato also weighed in on the matter showing favour to dialectic than to the manner of oral presentation. As such, he favoured the use of reason and rationality in arguments. On the other hand, Aristotle sought to chart a defining measure to communication theory as the mode by which a person interacts with his/her audience. Due to the insights of the aforementioned philosophers, rhetorical theory has developed to become a solid basis by which communication is defined in many sectors. Persuasion of individuals by communication extends beyond politics, media, journalism and even religion. This is achieved through the use of Aristotles Rhetoric principles which include invention, arrangement, style, persuasion and memory. Despite there being many classes of communication theories, including the seven traditions (classical rhetoric, semiotics, phenomenological, cybernetic, social psychology, sociocultural communication, and critical traditions), thee major classifications can be adopted by mode of influence; Rhetoric theory as a result of the influence of oratory speech; social communication theories resulting from socio-political changes; and theories of mass communication as a result of journalism spread. In its modern form today, rhetoric theory is interrelated with traditional forms of communication theory, e.g. semiotics. Through the propagation of text in print media or images in visual media, which are both sign elements, the mass audience is able to be persuaded along cultural lines. As such, signs and symbols are continually employed in oratory speech to move masses and influence their perception of issues. On the socio-political scope, theories such as Authoritarian, Free press, Commmunist and Social responsibility are notable. These theories help explain communication theory evolution in the wake of various social-political changes in the society. Significantly, these theories focussed on the beginning of information dissemination to large population groups and the accompanying influence on the political class e.g. the governments. Again, they pronounce some of the social plights and classification within society attributed to information access. As authoritarian leadership was the norm before the widespread prevalence of print media, governments took it upon themselves to restrict flow of information to the common people, and as such, freedom of expression was strictly guarded. Consequently, the elite class would deprive the common people the right to information and access through controlling media sources. As a result therefore, print media was in low circulation and only accessibl e to the few due its then high price. Nevertheless, with the clamour for free will in the 17th century, Libertarianism/Free press took over. This was significantly influenced by the emergence of print media which in time became affordable to the common populace and reflective of their views which were previously gagged under authoritarian leadership. On the other hand, as free press offered an avenue for expression of free will, it was noted to be devoid of social responsibility. This necessitated the need for checks and balances, especially with the development of other communication media such as radio, television and film. Social responsibility therefore advocated for accountability through government and self regulation in order to promote social welfare and equity. Free press was further limited by the communist theory which promoted media control in the guise of effective press freedom. Consequently, the medias role was to educate but not to inform the general populace. In addition, the population was expected to post opinion on issues covered by the media so as to foster the so-called greater press freedom and institute greater audience participation. In effect therefore, the Communist theory was associated as a counter to capitalism trend where the media was in the control of a few media elites and only serving their inte rests. However, the 20th century marked a dramatic shift in communication theory evolution. This was brought about by advancement in communication technology to spur the spread of journalism. Notable events that defined this spread included the occurrence of the World Wars which depicted the strength of information pre-, during, and post war. Information was a tool in itself during the warring period and as such, theories were formulated once validated. This was articulated through stimulus response theory, propaganda and many more theories. Stimulus response theory took note that mass media has a significant effect on individuals perception of issues and in response, people would normally subject themselves to viewership that conforms to their beliefs and attitudes. Propaganda theory on the other hand was used to great effect to spreading rumours and falsehoods either in favour or disfavour of a certain person or group of persons. Evidently, it was during the World Wars and in the politica l sphere that propaganda is commonly used. Derived from rhetoric theory, propagandas main objective is persuasion in order to influence peoples perception of issues at hand. Nonetheless, in the modern day setting, propaganda is also employed in advertising, marketing and socio-economic conflicts. Again, technological advancement brought with it new media of communication e.g. television, computer, mobile phones, radio and other forms such as internet and social networking. These media served to spread journalism through provision of information of news and information for public consumption. A number of theories were hence formulated to describe this phenomenon, viz: Agenda setting theory, two-step flow theory, diffusion of innovation theory and uses and gratification theory. Agenda setting theory explains a very highly effective impact of the media the ability to inform the population about essential issues. Agenda setting hypothesizes that communication consists of information and awareness. Therefore in community discussion, media interaction has an influence on community understanding of various issues. These may range from state policies, economic system, and other community issues. As a result, a classification of agenda-setting emerges; Policy-agenda setting, Media-agenda setting and public agenda-setting. Under public-agenda-setting, the publics viewpoint shows the key issues of concern; Media agenda setting shows the significance and depth of news items being covered in relation to their coverage in various media stations; Policy agenda-setting points to the influence that a reported issue has on policy makers. In effect therefore, Agenda setting has led to the prominence of the CNN Effect whereby 24-hour news channels set the international news agenda. In fact, locals in the developing nations view their news items captured in these channels as being of very prime importance. Nonetheless, Agenda setting is based on thinking that media does not necessarily indicate reality; they narrow it down and shape it; media focus on a few problems and topics bring the community to understand those problems as more essential than other problems. For this reason, agenda-setting helps individuals comprehend the role of the media in shaping news items and issues for public consumption. This is well exemplified by how media stations, publishers and news anchors set the news agenda and consequently, viewers affix much significance to the amount of broadcasted information and its position in the broadcast. The two-step theory theorizes how casual relationships play a part in changing the way in which individuals take up relevant information from media campaigns. Consequently, the primary source of information for the public is normally the newspaper and radio segments, whose information bits is adopted by opinion leaders who further relay the information to the less active segment of the society. In effect therefore, informal social groupings have some influence on society information uptake and dictate which information is worth sharing. Diffusions of Innovations theory explains the mode by which a new concept or exercise is conveyed to individuals through certain communication programs over time. Consequently, the selected mode of transfer assists in explaining the aspects that impact individuals ideas and activities. Therefore, the media selected as well as cultural interaction provide information that impacts common or well-known viewpoints. The diffusions process is therefore the procedure by which technological advancement is conveyed through certain media over a certain period among individuals in a social system. An illustration of how diffusions of innovation theory is prominent is through social media e.g. the youth accessing information and news in the internet mode via facebook. Another notable viewpoint of journalism spread mass communication in the modern times is the Uses and Gratification theory. This concept describes the uses and features of the press for diverse user groups ranging from the people, and the community in general. In order to describe how people use mass journalism to please their needs, the theory: seeks what people do with the medial; identifies their intentions for particular media use; and examines the individual effect of a particular media use. The main underlying factor of the theory is the supposition that individuals constantly seek a media channel to fulfil personal needs. Consequently, a medium is frequently used when the current purposes to use the medium results in more gratification. In light of the evolution of communication theory from pre-christian era to the modern times, it is definite that communication has evolved over time. Its mystery is captured in Gods creation act and its complexity has been researched by various scholars. The Greek philosophers made wise attempts in its definition which apparently form the cornerstone of todays knowledge. On the other hand, global socio-political events and transformation have further shaped communication theory development. And yet, as technology continues to advance, further definitions of communication shall continue to be formulated to track its changes with time.

Economy :: Unions Labor Work Papers

Unions Why Unions? "Unions are groups of working people who join to talk to employers about wages and conditions of work instead of workers talking to employers on an individual basis."1 Because they speak for everybody, unions can get a better deal for each worker than one employee could by negotiating with the employer. As seen in the short movie "WHY UNIONS?", non-unionized workers talks about the unfair treatment they experience in the work place. Through collective action, workers formed unions so they could have a voice in deciding wages, hours, working conditions and dealing with the many problems arises in the workplace. Unions are not just organizations trying to get more dollars and cents or better working conditions for people who hold union cards. People who don't enjoy the benefits of union protection get benefits too. "The labour movement was in the forefront of the struggles for public health care, for public education, for minimum wages, holidays and employment conditions."2 1 D. Martin, Form War To Peace, Canadian Labour Congress, Quebec, 1991, P.17 2 Notes On Unions, Canadian Labour Congress, Quebec, 1992, P.1 Union Nowadays "Unions are like businesses: their success depends upon attracting and retaining buyers (new members). Recently, one of the major problems faced by the union movement is that few Canadians understand what services unions come into public."3 The public also don't know the union is also helping Canada in other parts of areas such as economy, etc. The public think that the only time unions come into the public's eye is as a result of strike or withdrawal of services. This is because of the impressed strikes held by the union workers. The memorable one would be the strike held by the Toronto Transit Commission workers back in September 1991. The lack of transportation resulted in inconveniences among the public. The Canadian public becomes upset over conflict. The strikes make the public forget about the contributions of unions in other areas. "From a marketing perspective, the union movement has positioned itself like the nuclear industry -- it receives attention only when it is about to blow up, melt or leak."4 Five important needs for union movements are: 3 Alistair Davidson and Ian Mckinnon, "Unions need to study marketing," The Globe and Mail, May 8 1984, Business section, P.8

Analysis of Keats To Autumn Essay -- Keats To Autumn Essays Poetry

Analysis of Keats' To Autumn  Ã‚   John Keats' poem To Autumn is essentially an ode to Autumn and the change of seasons. He was apparently inspired by observing nature; his detailed description of natural occurrences has a pleasant appeal to the readers' senses.   Keats also alludes to a certain unpleasantness connected to Autumn, and links it to a time of death.   However, Keats' association between stages of Autumn and the process of dying does not take away from the "ode" effect of the poem.      The three-stanza poem seems to create three distinct stages of Autumn:   growth,   harvest, and death.   The theme going in the first stanza is that Autumn is a season of fulfilling, yet the theme ending the final stanza is that Autumn is a season of dying.   However, by using the stages of Autumn's as a metaphor for the process of death, Keats puts the concept of death in a different, more favorable light.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the first stanza, the "growth" stanza, Keats appeals to our sense of visualization.   The reader pictures a country setting, such as a cottage with a yard full of fruit trees and flowers.   In his discussion of the effects of Autumn on nature, Keats brilliantly personifies Autumn.   A personification is when an object or a concept is presented in such a way as to give life or human characteristics to the idea or concept.   Not only does Keats speak of Autumn as if it had life, (e.g., in lines 2 and 3, where he creates a friendship between Autumn and the sun, in which they "conspire" to "load and bless" the trees with ripe, bountiful fruit), but he also gives personality to the life-form Autumn.   He first defines Autumn as a "season of mist and mellow fruitfulness."   The references to both "mist" and "mellow... ...ch as funerals, or recessionals.   It is appropriate that this change of imagery into musical imagery in the final stanza because it is not only the end of the poem, but it is the description of the end of Autumn as well ("While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day").   The use of the word "soft" in "soft-dying day" helps to take away the "Grim Reaper" sense of death and define it as a natural, inevitable occurrence that ends a cycle.      The final line "and gathering swallows twitter in the skies" gives the reader a definite sense of ending (the swallows are preparing to migrate for the winter season).   At this point, the poem seems to comes to a rest, and this final line creates an effective sense of closure. Bibliography: "To Autumn". The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Ed. M.H. Abrams. New York: W.W. norton, Inc., 2000.          Analysis of Keats' To Autumn Essay -- Keats To Autumn Essays Poetry Analysis of Keats' To Autumn  Ã‚   John Keats' poem To Autumn is essentially an ode to Autumn and the change of seasons. He was apparently inspired by observing nature; his detailed description of natural occurrences has a pleasant appeal to the readers' senses.   Keats also alludes to a certain unpleasantness connected to Autumn, and links it to a time of death.   However, Keats' association between stages of Autumn and the process of dying does not take away from the "ode" effect of the poem.      The three-stanza poem seems to create three distinct stages of Autumn:   growth,   harvest, and death.   The theme going in the first stanza is that Autumn is a season of fulfilling, yet the theme ending the final stanza is that Autumn is a season of dying.   However, by using the stages of Autumn's as a metaphor for the process of death, Keats puts the concept of death in a different, more favorable light.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the first stanza, the "growth" stanza, Keats appeals to our sense of visualization.   The reader pictures a country setting, such as a cottage with a yard full of fruit trees and flowers.   In his discussion of the effects of Autumn on nature, Keats brilliantly personifies Autumn.   A personification is when an object or a concept is presented in such a way as to give life or human characteristics to the idea or concept.   Not only does Keats speak of Autumn as if it had life, (e.g., in lines 2 and 3, where he creates a friendship between Autumn and the sun, in which they "conspire" to "load and bless" the trees with ripe, bountiful fruit), but he also gives personality to the life-form Autumn.   He first defines Autumn as a "season of mist and mellow fruitfulness."   The references to both "mist" and "mellow... ...ch as funerals, or recessionals.   It is appropriate that this change of imagery into musical imagery in the final stanza because it is not only the end of the poem, but it is the description of the end of Autumn as well ("While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day").   The use of the word "soft" in "soft-dying day" helps to take away the "Grim Reaper" sense of death and define it as a natural, inevitable occurrence that ends a cycle.      The final line "and gathering swallows twitter in the skies" gives the reader a definite sense of ending (the swallows are preparing to migrate for the winter season).   At this point, the poem seems to comes to a rest, and this final line creates an effective sense of closure. Bibliography: "To Autumn". The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Ed. M.H. Abrams. New York: W.W. norton, Inc., 2000.         

Blinds to Go Company Essay

Executive Summary: The case, based on the company Blinds to Go, emphasizes the importance of staffing in stores as they expand to meet their growth objectives. Being a manufacturer and retailer, with a unique sales model – 100% commission based and focus on customer service gave the company an advantage over its competitors. According to the senior management Quality of staff was paramount and hence their original compensation system motivated best performance and fostered a high energy, sales hungry culture at BTG. To attract more recruits for its expansion phase, the management changed the compensation system from full commission to salary on the recommendation of a newly hired vice president. Sales declined and the overall staff turnover increased. Seeing this the company brought back the old culture and experienced a sales turnaround. This shift also caused another huge turnover in stores. A large percentage of voluntary turnover occurred in the first four months. The higher turnover after eight months was partly due to termination because of sales performance. The biggest challenge the company now faced was understaffing. The need for additional staff was further aggravated due to its continued push for growth and the tight US and Canadian labour markets. Another concern to be addressed was that the company had planned for 80 per cent of its expansion in US where the employees preferred the fixed pay than the company’s commission based pay structure. During this period BTG had tried several recruiting methods with varying degrees of success. With an IPO in the pipeline and plans to add on average 50 stores per year for the next five years, it was critical for the company to come up with a staffing strategy with focus on Quality of the staff and low employee turnover. The Company: Blinds To Go (BTG) was a retail fabricator of window dressings. It was started by David Shiller in 1954 in the Cote-des-Neiges district in Montreal, Canada. From the mid 1970s, BTG focussed on the sale of blinds. It was able to create a production system that reduced the delivery time frame of custom blinds from six to eight weeks to 48 hours. The reduced delivery time led to overwhelming customer response and the business flourished. The firm, realising their unique advantage of being a manufacturer and retailer simultaneously, began expansion by opening stores throughout Canada and US. By June 2000, BTG operated 120 corporate owned stores in North America. BTG expected to add 50 stores per year for the next 5 years, 80 percent of which targeted to US expansion stores. BTG’s business philosophy was that quality of staff was cardinal than the store location, customer demographics or advertising. The firm established this by experimenting with a store that was locationally disadvantaged and had declining sales. BTG was able to triple the sales of the said store in one month by deploying their ‘A’ management team and trained staff there. The four staff roles in BTG stores were 1. Sales associate 2. Selling Supervisor 3. Assistant Store manager & 4. Store Manager. Sales associates were the junior most employees and their job was to follow a set plan to help walk in customers to make a purchase. Consistent sales performers among them were promoted to selling supervisors, who were assistant store managers in training, or assistant store managers. Assistant store Blinds to Go: Staffing a Retail Expansion Case Analysis SECTION E: Group #5 managers were in charge of the stores in the absence of store managers. The store manager was responsible for overall store operations. The BTG selling process involved a high level of customer interaction, which set a very high level of service expectation. Their emphasis on customer satisfaction and sale closure led to higher volume of orders relative to their retail competition Original Compensation of Retail Staff: The compensation structure at Blinds To Go incentives performance based on number of sales deal closed. The commission based structure fosters the high energy, sales hungry culture at BTG. This structure was believed to be a motivating factor to boost performance. High performers at BTG actually made more money than comparable retail outlet salesman. For Sales Associate the salary structure was a mix of fixed pay and variable pay with $3 – $5 comprising of fixed and 3% of sales as variable component. For Managers/Assistants the salary structure was $10,000 – $15,000/yr as fixed pay with 1.5% to 3% of overall sales as variable pay. Changes in Compensation Structure – 1996: As per the recommendations from a newly hired Vice President of store operations the compensation structure for the store staff was changed from being fully commission based to salaried. Under the new structure, the sales associated were paid Cdn $8 per hour as a fixed component. For the store managers a higher base salary component as compared to the commissions was set. The main focus of the move was to make the compensation more attractive to the prospective hires. Another change being brought was to limit the involvement of store managers in the sale process. All these changes had an adverse effect on the sales figures which showed a decrease of 10 to 30% from 1996 to 1997. The staff turnover increased to 40% from the earlier 15%. Even thought the new pay structure helped in recruiting more hires, it led to the hiring of lower calibre people. The existing good performers did not appreciate the changes, thus affecting their morale and hence their commitment to sales. To counter this adverse effect, the management introduced a variation of the commission based compensation plan in May 1998. The effect of the change could be seen in the 10 to 30% increase in store sales from the previous year. Still the BTG stores experienced a high employee turnover that year. It was probably because of the employees accustomed to fixed pay were leaving the organisation, being dissatisfied from the commission based structure. Analysis of the employee turnover reflected that the highest no of employees left the firm in the first 4 months from their hiring. Most of the new expansion plans were in US. But the people of US were uncomfortable with the 100% commission based pay structure. Thus there was a requirement in the change to the structure to adapt to the US market. Blinds to Go: Staffing a Retail Expansion Case Analysis SECTION E: Group #5 Channels of Recruitment To be able to attract and recruit people who had certain sales driven qualities, several channels of recruitment were harnessed to fill in the job positions. Since BTG was already understaffed and with massive growth plans (50 stores per year ) lined up, we need to analyse the various pros and cons of the channels of recruitment. Employee Referral: Current staffs refer friends and family to BTG which helped company attract candidates already briefed on the company’s ideology. This channel was very effective which is evident by its highest ratio of leads to hire. The success of the ER scheme was partially due to the fact that referrals generally continued employment excited by the opportunity that the friend or family member who is a BTG employee recounted. Though maximum hiring was effected through this channel yet this alone did not currently satisfy BTG’s hiring needs. Internet Sourcing: This is one of the non-store recruitment channels which BTG used in two ways. First, BTG solicited resumes at its blindstogo.com site. Second, DSM’s and recruiters actively searched online jobs sites like Monster.com to contact potential candidates. Currently 12 out of 143 recruits were through this channel. DSM Compensation Readjustment: DSM’s were mainly responsible for store source of recruitment mainly walk-ins and employee referrals. They had to hire 10 new sales associate every month. Their importance in recruitment process is highlighted by the fact that their salary was based on number of new staff selected rather than on sales targets. Currently 16 out of 143 sales associate were recruited through this channel in past two months. BTG Retail Recruiters: They were professional recruiters who were paid @20000/year with a bonus of $150 -$500 for each successful hire. They generate leads through cold calls, networking referrals, colleges, job fairs, Internet and employment centres. Though they had performed sub- optimally in terms of number of number of new recruits, their training had increased to enable to get in at least 4 new recruits per week. Newspaper Advertising: Newspaper channel generated the maximum number of leads but the senior management believed that this medium did not generate the quality of candidates that BTG needed. This channel attracted more of the people who did not meet the desired skills standard and core values expected by BTG in potential candidates. To be able to meet our desired staff requirements, we believe this channel needs to be harnessed to its full potential and complemented by necessary training to new recruits to enable them to meet company’s performance standards. Store Generated Leads: BTG believed in direct store walk-in mode of recruitment as well. It had put â€Å"help wanted† signs on its windows to attract potential candidates to meet its recruitment needs. But this policy was successful only in densely populated areas with high footfall. HR Strategy: Udofia, Vice Chairman BTG, is looking for a strategy that solves all the major issues currently faced by the company, which would include unstaffed stores, staffing for future expansion and high employee turnover. Following are the steps that could be taken by him to achieve its growth objectives: ï‚ · A Robust Training Module: As mentioned, the quality of staff is extremely important in the retailing business. The crunch in the labor market doesn’t give the company a flexibility to choose Blinds to Go: Staffing a Retail Expansion employees on a strict criterion. A training module would help BTG to relax the criterion and increase the number of selected employees by recruiting people who are trainable. In order to keep a check on the quality of the employees, the company can recruit the employees at a trainee level with a fixed pay. The training would be mostly on the Job led by experienced Store Managers. A review system would help these selected candidates to get promoted as Sales Associate. The initial pay as a trainee would be low. But the incentive to get promoted as Sales Associate would drive them to work and learn quickly. Currently we can see that there are large numbers of people who are attracted by the Newspaper Channel and Internet. But the problem is with this medium is that it didn’t generate quality employee. By a robust training module the company would be able to hire trainable people and give them opportunities on the basis of their performance. The Promotion Structure: A scheduled review and internal promotion structure could be followed which attracts the current employees and increases the retention rate. The review can be conducted on at 2 levels, Sales Performance and Soft skills. A feedback mechanism would help the employees to work on the areas they lag. The review can be scheduled every 8 months and every employee can be given an opportunity to get promoted. The internal promotion structure could be leveraged as a tool to advertise. This would attract people who currently don’t want to join at Sales Associate Level. The promotion structure would also help in filling up the vacancies of Supervisors and Managers. Pay Structure: The pay structure for Sales Associate could be revised in a manner as explained below: According to the current pay structure, a Sales Associate is paid $6-$8 per hour or 6% of sales, whichever higher. Clearly it can be seen that the Marginal and the Poor performers are the once who are enjoying the fixed compensation system. In order to motivate them, fixed + variable compensation could be followed for these below par performers. This structure would demotivate the top performers as there will be a reduction in their salaries. So it would not be the best idea to implement this structure for top performers. A benchmark of $10000/sale/week could be set. This would not only motivate them to perform but the company also would overcome the problem of social loafing. The structure is explained below: Marginal-Poor Performers ($10000-/sales/ week) $3 per hour + 3 % of sales Leadership Program: The highly experiences set of Store Managers could be given an option to join the leadership program. Under this program the Senior Employees would take up the responsibility of the training module and help the company attain the level of quality it requires in its workforce. Their compensation could be based on the rate of conversion of trainees to Sales Associate instead of Sales. Increased Stock Options to senior and experienced Store Managers would give them a feel of ownership in the firm which is what an employee needs after serving an organisation for years.

Meno Essay

Meno Paper Assignment Can virtue be taught? Plato starts off the Meno with this simple question. Prior to answering this question, Socrates is adamant about first understanding what virtue is. Socrates and Meno go back and forth throughout the story attempting to figure out the definition of virtue. When they come to the conclusion that they do not know what virtue is, they attempt to prove whether virtue can be taught, is attainable by practice, or is simply possessed by nature. As Meno asks Socrates whether virtue can be taught, Socrates explains to him that he does not know what virtue is.Meno defines virtue to Socrates in many forms. For a man virtue is managing public affairs and in turn benefiting his friends, and harming his enemies. For a woman she must manage the home well, preserve its possessions, and be submissive to her husband. He also explains that a child, a slave or an elderly man also have different virtues. Socrates refutes this definition of virtue. He has not bee n given a definition but yet a list of examples. He gets his point across to Meno by using bees as an example. There are many different types of bees, but one bee does not differ from another in the fact that they are both bees.This same concept has to be true with virtue, for there are many and various types but they all have the same form making them virtues. Here we are presented with the first rule of giving a definition, and that is simply to not give examples. Meno attempts to give Socrates a second definition, stating that virtue is simply the ability to rule over people. Once again Socrates refutes this definition. In the case of a slave or a child this cannot be true; hence this is merely another example of a specific trait of someone who is virtuous. Socrates also adds that if this were true than it would have to be justly and not unjustly.Menos response to this is that justice is virtue. Is justice virtue or is it a type of virtue? This is the next issue Socrates points o ut to Meno. In response Meno says that justice is a type of virtue, therefore he has done nothing more than give another useless example of virtue. Socrates wants to put an end to this problem so he gives Meno the definition of both shape and color to give him an example of a good definition. We are given a third definition by Meno, in which he states that virtue is to desire beautiful things and have the power to acquire them.With this Socrates translates desire for beautiful things as the desire for good things. Meno agrees with this statement, in turn allowing Socrates to once again disprove this definition. There are those who desire bad things, but in their own minds believe these bad things to be good. Therefore these people essentially desire good things but are not virtuous. Meno now explains to Socrates that he has found the definition; it is the capacity to acquire good things with justice. Socrates goes on to explain that this is yet again just a fragment of virtue.In ess ence all Meno has explained now is that virtue is virtue, for justice is a type of virtue. Socrates has brought forward the second rule of definitions, which is that you can’t use the word in the definition. At this point Meno is perplexed, and begins to get angry with Socrates. He informs him with the fact that he came here knowing exactly what virtue was, but now Socrates has driven Meno to the point that he now doesn’t know what virtue is either. Socrates explains that he has not done this purposely but that he truly is just as perplexed, and therefore they should search for this answer together.Meno displays his confusion by asking how it is even possible to search for something that you do not know at all. This is where Socrates introduces the idea that the soul is immortal and learning that which we do not know is recollection. Meno would like Socrates to show him that this is true. Consequently Socrates picks out a slave boy, who was raised in the home of Meno, and begins to ask him geometric questions. He questions the boy about a square, naming the different principles and rules of a square.As the boy begins to answer these questions correctly, Socrates points out to Meno that he has created his own right opinion concerning this logic. Through constant questioning the boy is able to form right opinions on logics that he has never before been presented. Socrates reveals to Meno that this is recollection. Being immortal the soul has learned all there is to know, whether it be in this life as a human or in a time prior to that. In turn recollection is simply the process of turning true opinions into knowledge through constant questioning.With this being known, Socrates illustrates to Meno that one should always seek to find out that which they do not know. In order to find out whether virtue can be taught Socrates and Meno set up a hypothesis that virtue is something good. Socrates begins to elaborate on this fact by stating that if virtue is good, than it is beneficial. They begin to examine what kind of things benefit an individual. Socrates and Meno both agree that Health, strength, beauty, and also wealth all benefit us. Socrates also points out that these same things can do harm do someone.So what is the directing factor that determines whether they are beneficial or harmful? All things directed by wisdom end in happiness. Therefore since virtue is beneficial, it must be knowledge. In turn virtue must be a kind of wisdom. If this is true, then virtue can be taught. Meno agrees with Socrates that this is true. Immediately after the two agree Socrates questions whether they were wrong by agreeing to this. He points out to Meno that virtue might not be knowledge. If knowledge is teachable, and virtue is knowledge, then there would be teachers as well as learners of virtue.Up to now they have not been able to come across any such individuals. At this point Anytus is introduced into the story, and Socrates invites him to join them in their search for teachers of virtue. Socrates asks Anytus if they should send Meno to the sophists who profess to teach virtue. Anytus wastes no time in sharing his negative harsh views of these sophists. Socrates tells Anytus to give Meno the name of an Athenian in which he should visit to learn the meaning of virtue. Anytus claims that any Greek citizen would be able to make him a better man that the sophists.Of these good men can any of them teach virtue, for they have yet to see this. Socrates uses Themistocles as a prime example; he was even the best of men but failed to pass down his virtue to his son. Instead he taught his son to be a great horseman. He presents Anytus with a couple other examples of virtuous men who failed to pass their virtue down to their children. At this point Anytus becomes angry and he leaves. He asks Meno if there are many good men among his people. Meno says that there are many good men. Among these good men do they agree hat they ar e teachers and virtue can be taught? Meno states that sometimes they say it can be taught, and other times they say it cannot be taught. After hearing this Socrates goes on to explain that these men cannot even agree on this point, therefore they are not teachers of this subject. Thus there are no teachers of this subject, as well as no learners, consequently virtue cannot be taught. Now that Meno and Socrates have agreed that virtue cannot be taught, Socrates begins to explain where they went wrong in their original investigation.He explains that they were right in agreeing that good men must be beneficial, and that they will be beneficent if they give correct direction in our affairs. The agreement that one cannot give correct direction if one does not have knowledge, is where they have gone wrong. One may use right opinion as a guide for correct action, in which it is no less useful than knowledge. Right opinion and knowledge differ in the fact that right opinion escapes a manâ⠂¬â„¢s mind very quickly. It is not until one ties these right opinions down, by giving an account of the reason why, that they become knowledge.Socrates explains to Meno that this is recollection, as they have previously gone over. At this point Socrates and Meno have come to a conclusion. Virtue is not teachable and is not acquired by nature, but comes to those who possess it as a gift from the gods which is not accompanies by understanding. Socrates leaves Meno and ends the story with one final statement. He says to Meno, â€Å"We shall have clear knowledge of this when, before we investigate how it comes to be present in men, we first try to find out what virtue in itself is. †

Francisco Goya as Representative of Modern Art Essay

The culture of the museum, as well as its patrons, determines the vision of modern art. However, it is limited not simply due to the fact that tit negates or contradicts the aberrant and the other, but also because the preferences and interests of the patrons of the modern art have been peculiar or unusual with all the familiar concerns and obsessions of modern artists themselves. This consists of their concern with radical difference, their search for alternative forms of representation and their aspirations to demystify the classicism that inspired and shaped European art† (Doyle and Winkiel, 36). In order to understand the concerns of modern art through the artists, it is best to look at the life of Franciso Goya and the influences which shaped his brilliant art and masterpieces which gives emphasis to his right to be considered as the representative of Modern Art. In March 30, 1746, a young boy, future artist was born in Fuendetodos, which is considered to be a small town which is located close to Saragossa. The parents of this young boy, who was named Francisco Jose de Goya y Lucientes were Jose Francisco de Paula and Gracia Lucientes. The former was a gilder while the latter was a member of a poor but noble family. Even if Francisco Goya was only fourteen years old, he already took a four-year apprenticeship under the tutelage of Jose Luzan, who was considered to be an undistinguished who honed his painter skills through rigorous studies in Naples. Francisco Goya was part of the competitions which were sponsored by the Real Academia de San Fernando. It took place in Madrid in the year 1770 to 1771, but during that time, he was not that triumphant or victorious. In addition to this, when he participated in a competition which was sponsored by the Academia de Parma, he was only able to receive or obtain an honorable mention. However, this honorable mention cannot be taken for granted because it helped him receive pious commissions. These commissions were mainly from Saragossa, where Francisco Goya decided to settle by June in the year 1771. Franciso Goya’s wife is Madrid Josefa Bayeu, and they got married in July 25 1773. Madrid Josefa Bayeu is the sister of Franciso Bayeu, who is known to be the leading Spanish artist at the court. Josefa Bayeu was a very big help for Franciso Goya’s career. She helped him receive a position at the royal tapestry factory, for which Franciso Goya executed sixty-three cartoons by1792, wherein thirty nine are considered to be created before 1780. Franciso Goya has a competitive advantage against other painters because he is able to effectively use vivid colors and intense luminosity in his cartoons. In July 1778, Franciso Goya was able to publish his first serious groups of prints. Nine etchings in these prints were after the paintings created by Velasquez which can be found in the royal collection. In May 1780, he was unanimously voted or elected to the Academia in Madrid. His â€Å"Christ on the Cross† (Prado, Madrid), a conventional neoclassical painting was a great help for Franciso Goya to receive such position. In March 1785, he was chosen to be the deputy director of the Academia (Brown and Mann, 3) Approaching the end of the year in 1792, Francisco Goya suffered a mysterious illness which disabled him for much of the following year. This mysterious illness also caused him to become permanently deaf and eventually, reevaluate his goals as an artist. Francisco Goya’s powerful social commentary which is the result of his developed fantasy and invention can be observed in â€Å"Caprichos†. â€Å"Caprichos† is a series of eighty etchings which Franciso Goya offered for sale. Francisco Goya’s brilliant use of realistic observation mixed with brutal distortion creates an extraordinary power to the scenes which Goya had drawn from both the daily life and his own imagination. However, the sardonic criticisms that was received by Franciso Goya regarding his works, especially those from the existing social order, made him decide to remove them for sale. Between 1797 and 1798, Franciso Goya was able to receive the commission for the frescoes in the hermitage church which is located in San Antonio de la Florida in Madrid. He was able to receive this because of the help of Jovellanos who was the Minister of Grace and Justice, from November 1797 until the August of 1799. Franciso Goya inverted the customary baroque display or arrangement by illustrating the angels under the dome in which he characterized Saint Anthony conducting a miracle. Unlike the works of the other artists, â€Å"vigorous brushwork and the definitions of the figures primarily in terms of large, flat planes of intense color, unprecedented in church decorative schemes† were observed in Franciso Goya’s works. (Brown and Mann, 4) In 1819, Francisco Goya suffered a relapse of his illness. He again endured this illness which nearly cost him his life. This traumatic experience of Francisco Goya can be observed or is most likely reflected in the fourteen Black Paintings which he created in Prado, Madrid, in the year 1820 or 1823. Using oil as a medium, he painted directly on the walls of two rooms in the country house on the periphery of Madrid, generally known as Quinto del Sordo which is translated as the house of the deaf man. It was named after him, â€Å"the deaf man†, because he had purchased it in February 1819. His rough handling of paint and expressionistic distortions intensify or gave emphasis the violence of his works, particularly in the image of â€Å"Saturn Devouring His Son†. Several attempts have been made just to interpret Franciso Goya’s works, but these highly personal paintings challenged and disregarded any rational explanation (Brown and Mann, 5). Designing tapestries during the time of Francisco Goya was not a highly regarded task. In addition to this, it is not even well paid. However, designing tapestries offered Francisco Goya a chance or the break to start in the big city. The commissions that he received from designing tapestries came directly from the Court. After five years, Franciso Goya presented his designs to the King and the Crown Prince and Princesses in person. In this manner, he had the privilege of kissing their majesties’ hands, which is definitely one good indication or sign for a man who is eager to rise to the top (Hagen, 7). The prince, Charles IV, was particularly fascinated with the hunted, broadly with themes of the hunting. As a result, Francisco Goya mainly designed hunting scenes. When the heir to the throne took Maria Luisa of Parma as his wife, Francisco Goya’s art was changed. Maria Luisa wanted her tapestries to show the popular diversions, or scenes which show ordinary people enjoying pleasurable pursuits, which the temperamental Italian princess was not allowed to indulge at the strict Spanish court. Charles IV’s wife yearned to surround herself with light-hearted scenes which depicts everyday life also influenced the trend which is being acted out in the theaters of Madrid; â€Å"between the acts of classical dramas, the public would be entertained with comic scenes from the daily lives of the lower classes† (Hagen, 7). Not like the religious or pious themes of Franciso Goya’s Saragossa work and the hunting scenes which he created for the Crown Prince, the work of art which he created for the Maria Luisa now provided Francisco Goya the motivation. It also gave Francisco Goya the chance to illustrate how people behaved and how they treated each other, as well as the opportunity to show his representation of these things in his own perspective. Moreover, it can be said that he expounds these themes humorously and light-heartedly, which he would later present in a completely different light. From this early stage or phase stems the self-portrait of Francisco Goya, in which he is looking neither skeptical nor gloomy. It is not actually a self-portrait of Francisco Goya, but the broad, flat face with high cheek-bones, undoubtedly shows that it is him. Unmistakably at a â€Å"novillada†, Francisco Goya can be observed to be standing with a number of other young men situated near a bull. â€Å"Novillada† means a bloodless fight with a young bull. Goya himself testified to have engaged in such risk-laden chase or recreation, though speculations that it is just a rumor he spread himself are present. Considering the fact that bullfighting fascinated him right up to the end of his life, it would look that it is not out of his character. A strong indication or support for this would be the time when he signed one of his letters using the title â€Å"Franciso de los Toros†, which is considered or translated as â€Å"Francisco of the bulls† (Hagen, 10). Francisco Goya, however, was not only familiar with the bulls but also the majos and the majas or the men and women from the lower quarters of Madrid. These majos or majas unlike the other residents of Madrid, have a particular style of dress and conduct. The typical majo is said to be proud, easily offended and quick to pull a knife. In addition to this, he is relished with eye-catching costume and, as far as he could help it, the majos never worked. This unwillingness to perform any type of work at all known to be widespread among Spanish men in the 18th century, dated back to the time when Columbus discovered America. The new colonies sent their gold back to the king. The king in return, gave it to his favorites and his far too many officials and officers. Although this â€Å"Golden Age† was long gone, the pretension to idleness and redundancy had remained, even among those classes who had never directly profited from the king’s gold (Hagen, 10). The female pendant to the majo was the maja. The maja is considered to be a woman with passionate nature who took a delight in being provocative. In his representations or interpretations of majas, Francisco Goya challenges the concerns and issues of class and race. He also emphasizes the power of the gaze itself. Based on the writings of the French Ambassador of Spain in 1788, according to the accounts of J. E. de Bourgoing, the majas are indeed considered as the lower class but, for the bewitched majo, the maja was â€Å"the most seducing priestess that ever presided at the altars of Venus† (Mahon, 42). The limitation of the real majas would be the majism. Majism is the sub-cultural style of life and the way of dress, considered to be a significant aspect during the revolutionary call for democracy in the nineteenth century. Francisco Goya’s â€Å"The Naked Maja† (1798-1805) as well as her counterpart, â€Å"The Clothed Maja† (1800-1803), represents the power of the majism during their times. For the â€Å"Naked Maja† and the â€Å"Clothed Maja†, they boldly or shamelessly face the viewer. The majas posed heir hands in order to maximize the erotic effect which they inflict on their viewers. The maja’s fashionably coquettish shoes, shimmering dress and lace bolero in the â€Å"Clothed Maja† appears all the more tantalizing or enticing as compared to her bare flesh which can be observed in the â€Å"Naked Maja†. She is not, however, idealized or innocent due to her charms. Rather, she is a daringly erotic portrait or representation in an era when nudes are considered to be illegal or banned in Spain because of the influences of the all-powerful Church on erotic fashion or masterpieces. The erotic messages conveyed by fashion involve the interplay of their whole body and the perspective of both sexes. More particularly, it can be said that they are most acutely focused in the proportions of the female torso. It is the most considerable field of fashionable alteration and at the same time the one where the shape of fashion most willingly comes into view to wear the genuine look of nature. The placement, the depth and width of the pelvis, the relative girth and length of the rib cage, size and shape of the breasts, the set of the neck and shoulders, and the exact disposition of its fleshy upholstery, front and back, all these, along with the styles of posture both seated and upright, are continuously shifting visually, according to the way clothes have been variously considered in history to help the female body give the impression of being more beautiful and natural on their terms. Nude art, inescapably dedicated or devoted to Eros, recognizes those terms. Francisco Goya’s â€Å"Naked Maja† and â€Å"Clothed Maja† in Prado, Madrid are generally recognized as erotic. They are considered as such not just because of the shadowy suggestion of pubic hair. One of the most significant characteristics of the naked maja’s body is that it gives the impression of showing the effects of corseting without the corset, which on the other hand, is very positively present in the clothed maja. The high, widely separated breasts and rigid spine of the recumbent naked maja are as erotic as her pubic fuzz or sexy smile. Her breasts certainly disobey the law of gravity and her legs, comfortable or accustomed to emerging through the light-weight and to a certain extent, narrow skirts of the day, are self-consciously disposed for effect, comparable to that of a twentieth-century woman. It is the definite effect of her missing fashionable dress or costume that makes her a purposely or deliberately a sexual image (Hollander, 91). In this way, Francisco Goya’s majas can be observed within the context of his 1796-1797 â€Å"Caprichos†. The term â€Å"capricho† was coined after the Italian word â€Å"capriccio†, which means â€Å"a caprice or jeu d’esprit† outside the usual rules. In the year 1790s, capricho was referred particularly to the arts and to the power of imaginative and creative initiative and resourcefulness rather than observance of the traditions, norms or custom. Locally, the term was also utilized to illustrate or exemplify the moral points created in Spanish comedies. Francisco Goya, being a a keen theatre-goer, it is this understanding of the term that critics often use when reading his art. The paintings of the majas are part of this â€Å"capricho spirit† too, as they refer to the personal and the political. Goya create distortions in his patron, the Duchess of Alba and her courtly lifestyle wherein the Duchess was rumored or thought to be the model of the Naked Maja, due to the speculation that both have rich black hair. On the other hand, Francisco Goya’s â€Å"Caprichos† illustrate his faith in the power of fantasy not merely to lead art into a brave new world but to help depict and represent the hidden desires and fears of a politically corrupt society, and so to enlighten it too (Mahon, 43). Francisco Goya has been renowned as one of the greatest artists of all times and as an essential and a pivotal figure in the expansion and maturity of modern art. Francisco Goya’s utilization and management of the textual qualities of paint and the expressive and emotional intensity of much of his imagery to a great extent influenced later painters. Impressionists, romantics, symbolists, realists, and surrealists have all considered him as their spiritual ancestor. Francisco Goya’s oeuvre, which has been considered or contemplated to be consisted of 688 (Gassier and Wilson) to772 (Gudiol) paintings, is as diverse as it is large (Brown and Mann, 5). Francisco Goya also represents additional feminine sensitiveness and it is imbued or drenched with temperament. This is the quality of Francisco Goya’s impressionism which makes it modern (Caffin, 203). Francisco Goya as an artist is perceived and understood as being critical or even disapproving of conventional portraiture, which is considered as socially elevating, consistentand in large measure, banal. This analysis of the recipes of portraiture is frequently construed as an analysis of class-based society itself. Tradition in portraiture is not at all monolithic, if one considers the work of Francisco Goya where the communicative and expressive range inside the genre is adequately or sufficiently grand to act as precedent or example for almost any modern portrait (Brettell, 169). Works Cited Brettell, Richard R. Modern Art, 1851-1929: Capitalism and Representation. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999. Brown, Jonathan, and Richard Mann. Spanish Paintings of the Fifteenth through Nineteenth Centuries. USA: National Gallery of Art, 1990. Caffin, Charles Henry. The Story of Spanish Painting. Michigan: University of Michigan, 1910. Doyle, Laura, and Laura A. Winkiel. Geomodernisms: Race, Modernism, Modernity. USA: Indiana University Press, 2005.