Developing Supply Chain to Deliver WOW Essay Example for Free

Developing Supply Chain to Deliver WOW Essay Zappos.com is a privately held online retailer with an extensive product category mainly including apparel, footwear, handbags, and watches. Headquartered in Nevada, it primarily operates in the US with about 1,300 employees and revenues mounting to $635M in 2008. Thanks to its strength in offering an outstanding customer shopping experience and strong corporate cultures and values related to customer service, it was the largest online shoe retailer in 2008, with a positive growth outlook. However, in the face of possible economic downturn, its underlying insufficiencies in supply chain management and operations may pose a threat to the company’s long term profitability. Nevertheless, the opportunity of possible international expansion may well be exploited to improve sales and expand the business, but such decision still needs critical evaluation and feasibility assessment in whether Zappos can sustain its focus on outstanding customer service levels in such scenario. The online-retail industry in which Zappos operates is one in which the rivalry among existing competitors is high, as it is competing with both click-n-brick stores like Amazon, as well as traditional retail stores such as Footwear Inc which also have a strong focus on the shoe segment. However, the threat of new entrants is very low as a result of the high initial capitalization required for the start of business. There are a large number of buyers in the market. However, high price sensitivity and low switching cost strengthen the buyer`s position; continuing to attract such customers becomes one of the main challenges for Zappos during a likely scenario of economic downturn. Zappos will need to adopt strategies such as importing directly from foreign suppliers, committing to 5 day delivery through ground shipping as opposed to next-day air shipping, offering its own private label, and expanding its Powered by Zappos initiative. Company Value Chain: Problem Analysis External Analysis Porter’s 5 Forces The following is an evaluation of the external forces acting upon Zappos’ operations and their possible impact in the immediate and future performance of the company: Degree of Rivalry HIGH: While Zappos is a pioneer player in the online retail segment, in practice it is not only competing with other online retailers, but with brick-and-mortar stores in the traditional retail sector which have substantial experience in the market. Many other players offer similar products to those carried by Zappos’. Bargaining Power of Buyers MODERATE to HIGH: Given the many alternatives in the market, the switching cost for a customer to other retailers is very low. Consumers are becoming increasingly price-conscious, and with the small potential for differentiation in the non-fashion elite segment, the customer can easily find other similar product options, forcing retailers to offer lower pricing to remain competitive. Threat of New Entrants MODERATE TO LOW: The barriers to entry in the industry are extremely high, based on the large capital investment required. However the online retail business is still on its growth stages, which may attract new players and investors looking to capture potential markets. Bargaining Power of Suppliers LOW: Competition for both wholesaler / importer suppliers and direct manufacturers is intense and well established; therefore, the market itself drives the power of the many suppliers down. As discussed, there are many alternatives in the market such that no single supplier is dominant. Threat of Substitutes LOW: There are no substitute products available for most of the products which Zappos may offer to the public, so such threat is unlikely. SWOT Analysis Strengths Customer-Oriented Culture and Services Zappos has strong company culture and values, which have a large influence on all aspects of the business, including the supply chain. Zappos is always looking for new ways to WOW every customer and always treat every employee like family. The employees consider Zappos a fun place to work. In addition, Zappos` commitment to customer service satisfaction is clearly demonstrated by their value propositions and represents their core differentiation strategy. These are free shipping, guaranteed 5 day delivery (WOWing the customer, where 49% of customers will receive their product within 2 days), a 365 day return policy and 24/7 customer service. Unique Products and Innovation The core products that Zappos offers are designed to be distinctly different from the traditional shoes available in brick-and mortar stores. Zappos provides customizable product models and extensive product information to customers. For example, Zappos` site has a detailed d iscussion of gait that helps customers to determine which type of shoe is appropriate for them. Weaknesses Presence Limited to Online Market Although there are many online shoppers today and the number is still growing, Zappos is unable to reach the majority of retail shoppers by only having the online outlet channel. Relatively Low Profit Margin The revenue of Zappos in 2008 is $635 million, but the company policy on product returns makes up 35% of gross sales. This is definitely crippling Zappos profits. High Dependency on UPS Until 2008, Zappos has only one call center in Las Vegas and one distribution center in Shepherdsville, Kentucky. The distribution center is less than 30 minutes from the UPS hub in Louisville. This will make Zappos delivery highly dependent on UPS. Opportunities Rapid Growth of Online Shopping – Online purchasing has grown consistently year after year; the opportunity lies in capturing new online customers and retaining them. Technology Innovation In 2008, Zappos added more automation to its warehouse operations by installing a robotic system in which robots picked up shelves that contained the items to be picked, and brought the shelves to the workers. These new robots allow Zappos to ship a pair of shoes in as little as eight minutes. Technology advances will allow Zappos to increase the capacity and efficiency of its distribution centers, without having to build new centers. Build Strategic Alliances with Complementary Retailers Zappos could build synergies with similar-size online retailers which offer complementary products in an effort to broaden its customer base and target audience. Threats Economic Downturn Customers will become more price-conscious in difficult economic times, which will ultimately drive Zappos strategy in order to remain competitive in such scenario. Competitive Rivalry While Zappos is one of the pioneer players specialized in shoe-retailing, the trend is for established brick-and-mortar companies to start offering their products online, which may generate additional competitive pressures. Possible Security Breach for Online Retailer Zappos must address possible security breaches to its servers. Problem Statement Based upon the previous analysis, Zappos faces two major problems which may be detrimental to the company’s long-term success. Our aim here is to synthesize them in order to formulate a series of recommendations that the company could implement to solve the mentioned problems. Problem 1: Supply Chain Management The first problem that the company faces within its organization is related to supply chain management. We have identified three different sub-issues within this topic in which Zappos has room for improvement: Imports from wholesalers as an intermediary between Zappos and the manufacturers Due to the highly uncertain demand in the sector, having a wholesaler between Zappos and the brands that manufactures the product is a strategic problem for the company. When Zappos places an order, it is relying on the inventory that the wholesaler keeps in order to fulfill its need of supply. Furthermore, Zappos may find it difficult to secure its supply as the company grows, having no control over wholesaler import decisions. This is especially critical in a sector with unstable demand faced with global economic uncertainty. Zappos must devise supply chain-related strategies which provide the company with more flexibility in terms of profit margins in order to deal with more price-conscious customers in the future. Delivery to Zappos’ distribution centers from suppliers The company faces a problem in relation to inefficiency of partially loaded trucks arriving to unload to Zappos’ inventory facilities. As the case highlights, significant numbers of partially loaded trucks (LTL) arrive to unload products generating unnecessary traffic in the distribution center, subsequently slowing down the unloading process. There’s a need for Zappos to address this issue, ultimately affecting its whole operation’s efficiency. Inventory Management At this point, the company uses manual scanners to register incoming and outgoing stock from its distribution center. This may lead to inventory inaccuracies due to the high probability of human error to occur in the handling of the incoming and outgoing merchandise. It is of the utmost importance for Zappos to have accurate inventory information, not only in terms of its supply chain management, but also in maintaining customer service levels because of the potential of having inaccurate information on the website such that a customer may order a product which is actually out of stock. Problem 2: Growing the business Throughout the case it is been said that the company plans to expand. It is possible to grow the business in a national scale as well as internationally. The following issues need to be addressed by Zappos when evaluating company expansion: determining strategic locations for new facilities to store its inventory and achieve a good balance between supplier lead times and delivery times to the final customer. In addition, the company faces the decision of whether to continue having its distribution centralized in Kentucky. Moreover, Zappos needs to evaluate whether or not it is still feasible to use UPS ground shipping in the long-term. The company would also face a problem not only when trying to maintain its customer service levels and an efficient delivery, but also when trying to get new employees to share its corporate culture. Recommendations: Start Importing Directly from Foreign Manufacturers: Zappos should begin developing direct relationships with foreign manufacturers, especially with Chinese suppliers, starting by importing some products directly, instead of buying from North American wholesalers. This strategy has the following benefits: * Cost savings from purchasing the same products at lower prices, providing the company with more pricing flexibility at dealing with cost-conscious consumers in a difficult economy. * Distribution channel efficiency is increased by eliminating middlemen in the supply chain. In this sense, there is no need for products to be shipped from foreign suppliers to a wholesale distributor and from there to Zappos; Zappos can receive the product directly at their distribution center, reducing freight costs across the value chain as well as lead times. * A closer relationship with manufacturers might enable Zappos to obtain information regarding inventory levels, product availability, and or der status and timing. It is worth noting that even in cases where Zappos is still purchasing from a wholesaler (who in-turn imports from the manufacturer), the wholesaler can request the manufacturer to deliver directly to the Zappos distribution center, earning the lead time and cost benefits. Opt for Ground Shipping as Opposed to Next Day Air Shipping: Given the risk of failing to meet the next day delivery standards because of external factors, Zappos should only guarantee 5-day delivery. In this manner, the company will consistently overdeliver, with 99% of customers receiving their orders within 4 days. This strategy not only makes sense from a cost perspective, but it also goes hand-in-hand with Zappos’ culture of outstanding customer service. However, the option of next day air delivery should be made available to the customer for a premium rate. Sign a Contract with a Selected Trucking Company Specialized in Consolidation: In order to minimize LTL shipments to its distribution centers and mitigate the economic inefficiencies that LTL implies, Zappos should sign a contract with a major transportation and logistics company specialized in consolidation in order to handle Zappos order pick-ups from some of its remaining local suppliers, optimizing cargo capacity and delivering such products to the distribution center. This contract strategy would only be possible to implement in areas with high supplier concentration such as Southern California and Ontario. It is granted that such a strategy would require a long and difficult negotiation process between suppliers, the logistics company and Zappos; however, economies of scale benefits could be obtained from the large volumes to be handled and the cost savings distributed across the industry value chain. Search for Additional Partners and Expand â€Å"Powered by Zappos†: Powered by Zappos partners act as distributors of the products carried by Zappos. In this sense, finding new partners will generate additional revenues from both the fees of developing and running distributor websites and operations and from an expanded market base deriving from multiple websites offering Zappos products. Offer its own Zappos Private Label: Zappos could expand the business by offering its own private label; private labels offer the advantage of not purchasing from a third-party wholesaler which in itself is making a profit from the merchandise, allowing for more flexibility in terms of pricing and profit margins. Overall, by commercializing its own brand, Zappos can offer its private label merchandise at lower prices than the industry standards, while maintaining its profit margin. This strategy would be effective at dealing with price elastic customers in uncertain economic times. It must be noted that to achieve this, however, the company would need to develop internal design capabilities and source its private label through selected manufactures which meet their needs. In order to achieve the lowest supplier prices, supplier relationships would need to be developed through established contracts which may include exclusivity agreements. Based on the large volumes that Zappos handles through its established customer base, the strategy could also earn benefits from economies of scale and increased brand awareness. Do not Expand Internationally in the Short-Term: The huge capital investment required and the risk of affecting customer service levels makes international expansion undesirable in the short run. The company’s financial base must be strengthened further before pursuing such expansion, maintaining the focus on customer service that the company has been known for. Customer service is core to company values and culture and therefore cannot be compromised by any strategic decision. International expansion must be accompanied by the same training standards, staffing levels and passion for customer service at company call centers and order delivery must meet Zappos promise. This last factor could pose a special challenge, given that Zappos would be relying on couriers operating in different countries which may introduce a factor of uncertainty beyond Zappos control as to what levels of delivery performance can be met. Invest in an Automatic Scanning System for Inventory Control: In an environment where such accurate inventory information is required, the current manual scanning of goods entering and leaving the distribution center is inadequate. Errors in inventory control will inevitably have a negative effect on customer satisfaction in that the system may allow a customer to purchase a product that is in fact out of stock. A system which automatically scans incoming and exiting products (magnetic doorways or similar) guarantees inventory accuracy and goes hand-in hand with the core values of the company, making it a worthwhile and even necessary investment. Limitations * The capacity of the existing distribution center in Kentucky is unknown; therefore we are assuming that the current infrastructure will be enough to sustain the operations of the company to meet an increasing demand and market share in the short-term. * Suppliers which have their own fleet might be reluctant to agree to let Zappos do order pick-ups and deliver their products; however, our recommendation assumes that the suppliers are flexible in this sense. * A break-up of the company`s operational costs would be required in order to make better-informed strategy recommendations. The performed analysis is based on purely qualitative information. [ 1 ]. MGSC 602 Strategic Management of Operations Coursepack, Zappos.com: Developing a supply chain to deliver WOW, Stanford Graduate School of Business, Case GS-65, 02/13/09, page 276 [ 2 ]. MGSC 602 Strategic Management of Operations Coursepack, Zappos.com: Developing a supply chain to deliver WOW, Stanford Graduate School of Business, Case GS-65, 02/13/09, page 296 [ 3 ]. MGSC 602 Strategic Management of Operations Coursepack, Zappos.com: Developing a supply chain to deliver WOW, Stanford Graduate School of Business, Case GS-65, 02/13/09, page 273 [ 4 ]. MGSC 602 Strategic Management of Operations Coursepack, Zappos.com: Developing a supply chain to deliver WOW, Stanford Graduate School of Business, Case GS-65, 02/13/09, page 280 [ 5 ]. MGSC 602 Strategic Management of Operations Coursepack, Zappos.com: Developing a supply chain to deliver WOW, Stanford Graduate School of Business, Case GS-65, 02/13/09, page 276

Relationships Between Language And Culture English Language Essay

Relationships Between Language And Culture English Language Essay The relationships between language, thought and culture have been one of the myths of language for centuries. This paper will assess the power of language and the mutual influence between language and culture by observing cognition of different language speakers. The aim of this essay is to find out the influence they have on each other, and to evaluate the relationship between language and culture. The mutual influence between language and culture will be the major focus of this essay. The main argument would be discussing whether language really influences culture or it just reflects culture. One of the definitions for language was established by Harcourt (2005): communication of thoughts and feelings through a system of arbitrary signals, such as voice sounds, gestures, or written symbols. Such a system includes its rules for combining its components, such as words. Such a system as used by a nation, people, or other distinct community; often contrasted with dialect (p. 633) Thinking is often understood as an intra-mental activity inside an individual mind. In the process of thinking, language is used as a tool with inner speech representing vocalized thinking. Language is therefore possible to be a variable influencing thought. The grammar, syntax, limitations and traits of a language may shape the thinking style of the language speakers. Anthropology theories/concepts (200-250 words) In this thesis, ethnolinguistics, the study of the relationships between language and culture, and how they mutually influence and inform each other (Haviland, 1999), will be the main focus. Two anthropological theories, linguistic relativity and historical particularism (historicism), will be discussed as the first is the main theory of this study and the second one will function as a backup. Linguistic relativity The main theory, linguistic relativity, is the idea that distinctions encoded in one language are unique to that language (Haviland, 1999). Under the theory of linguistic relativity, users of markedly different grammars are pointed by their grammars toward different types of observations and different evaluations of externally similar acts of observation, and hence are not equivalent as observers but must arrive at somewhat different views of the world (Whorf and Caroll, 1956). In other words, people speak in different languages would have different thinking styles and cognition of the world. Furthermore, the schools of thought can be represented by two extremes, linguistic determinism and universalism. There are two forms of linguistic relativity according to their interpretation of the power of language, linguistic determinism and linguistic relativism, while universalism is an opposite idea to linguistic relativity. These concepts will lead to the main argument of this thesis. Determinism is the strongest form of linguistic relativity. It suggests that language can affect thinking, linguistic relativity holds that speakers of different languages think differently. Relativism is the modest form of linguistic relativity. Its idea is that, language can affect thinking, linguistic relativity holds that speakers of different languages think differently (Wolff and Holmes, 2010). In contrast, universalism is an opposite concept. In the idea of universalism, cultures, or at least languages, vary in innumerable ways; but there are patterns of variation that reflect universal properties that we might call the nature of language (Croft, 2010). Apart from linguistic relativity, the theory of historical particularism will be used as a backup theory in this thesis. Historical particularism Historical particularism is a school of anthropology prominent in the first part of the twentieth century that insisted on the collection of ethnographic data (through direct fieldwork) prior to making cross-cultural generalizations (Ferraro and Andreatta, 2011). It emphasizes that each culture is a unique result of its distinctive past, which makes cross-cultural generalizations questionable (Bailey, G. A. and Peoples, J., 2010). Culture influences language According to historical particularism, each culture has its own shape and is partially composed of traits diffused from other cultures since each society has their own past and they are a representation of that unique past. Since that culture and history are interrelated, and language is a tool to record and carry forward the history of a society. There is an often-cited example of linguistic relativism, Eskimo words for snow. It is a claim saying that Eskimos have an unusually large number of words for snow in their language. In English, we add adjective, participles or preposition phrases to modify the word snow, like falling snow, snow on the ground, snow packed hard like ice, slushy snow, wind-driven flying snow, etc. However, the word snow is too inclusive to an Eskimo, they use different words for different kinds of snow instead. From the Eskimo words for snow claim, it was discovered that some languages may rich in words and expressions describing a specific thing. And the vocabulary of a language can be a peephole for us to look into that culture. The concept of jade in Chinese literature In literary Chinese culture, jade has some metaphorical meanings. The concept of jade vastly appears in various contexts of Chinese poetry and idioms. Even among most of the common vehicles of Chinese metaphors, jade deserves special attention. The literary concept and image Chinese attached to the word jade (à §Ã… ½Ã¢â‚¬ °) reflect Chinese jade culture in their tradition. The concept of jade has appeared in the content of various types of Chinese literature, such as poetry and idiom. In Chinese language, there are many idioms linked with jade. The use of jade in those idioms usually is to symbolize beautiful and fine things. The followings are some examples: Idioms à ¨Ã‚ ±Ã‚ ¡Ãƒ §Ã‚ ®Ã‚ ¸Ãƒ §Ã… ½Ã¢â‚¬ °Ãƒ ¦Ã‚ Ã‚ ¯ à ©Ã‚ ¦Ã¢â€ž ¢Ãƒ ¦Ã‚ ºÃ‚ «Ãƒ §Ã… ½Ã¢â‚¬ °Ãƒ ¨Ã‚ »Ã… ¸ à ¦Ã‚ Ã‚ ¡Ãƒ §Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ…“à ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¡Ã‚ ·Ãƒ §Ã… ½Ã¢â‚¬ ° à ¥Ã¢â‚¬  Ã‚ °Ãƒ ¦Ã‚ ¸Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ãƒ §Ã… ½Ã¢â‚¬ °Ãƒ ¦Ã‚ ½Ã¢â‚¬  à ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¹Ã¢â‚¬ ¹Ãƒ §Ã‚ £Ã… ¡Ãƒ ¥Ã‚ ¼Ã¢â‚¬ ¢Ãƒ §Ã… ½Ã¢â‚¬ ° Implications of jade luxury beauty talent stainlessness valuable contributions Additionally, there are hundreds jade-related characters take jade (à §Ã… ½Ã¢â‚¬ °) radical, despite jade (à §Ã… ½Ã¢â‚¬ °) itself. Most of those characters have descriptive meanings of some specific kind of jade ¼Ã‹â€ Ãƒ §Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ‚ ¾Ã‚ ¼Ã…’à §Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ…“ ¼Ã…’à §Ã‚ Ã‚ ¦Ã‚ ¼Ã…’etc. ¼Ã¢â‚¬ °, knocking sound of, the color of or even the stains on a jade ¼Ã‹â€ Ãƒ §Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ‚ ½Ã‚ ¼Ã…’à §Ã¢â‚¬â„¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¼Ã…’à §Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ¢â‚¬ ¢ respectively ¼Ã¢â‚¬ °. Jade-related characters à §Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ…“ à §Ã‚ Ã‚  à §Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ‚ ¤ à §Ã… ½Ã‚ ¦ à §Ã… ½Ã‚ ² à §Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ… ¾ meanings fine jade joint jade precious jade panannular jade ring tinkling of pieces of jade jade used as tally From the above examples of the literary use of jade, we can notice that the concept of jade is attached with numerours good features and enjoys a high position (as Chinese people created a lot of jade-related characters) in Chinese culture. It is said in the Book of Rites, one of the Chinese Five Classics of the Confucian canon, that since ancient time, all gentlemen wear pendants of jade-stones, and that they should never be without them unless there is sufficient reason (à §Ã‚ ¦Ã‚ ®Ãƒ ¨Ã‚ ¨Ã‹Å" ·Ãƒ §Ã… ½Ã¢â‚¬ °Ãƒ ¨- »). Jade has played a very important role in traditional Chinese culture. (Yang, 2011) The above example about literary concept of jade in Chinese literature shows cultures influence on language. It evidences that language is a reflection of culture. Japanese terms for rain Similar with the Eskimo words for snow claim, there is another word myth in Japanese. There are unusually many different terms which can be used to express different types of rain in Japanese. These terms categorize the rain into different types, by intensity, season, duration and even characteristics. Here are some expressions of rain or related to rain in Japanese. Types of rain in Japanese Pronunciation in Japanese Meanings à §Ã¢â€ž ¢Ã‚ ½Ãƒ ©Ã¢â‚¬ ºÃ‚ ¨ hakuu rain shower à ¤Ã‚ ¿Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ãƒ ©Ã¢â‚¬ ºÃ‚ ¨ niwakaame rain shower à ¥Ã‚ ¼Ã‚ ±Ãƒ ©Ã¢â‚¬ ºÃ‚ ¨ jakuu weak rain à ¥Ã‚ °Ã‚ Ãƒ ©Ã¢â€ž ¢Ã‚ Ãƒ £Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã…   koburi light rain à ¥Ã‚ °Ã‚ Ãƒ §Ã‚ ³Ã‚  Ãƒ ©Ã¢â‚¬ ºÃ‚ ¨ konukaame fine rain à §Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â€ž ¢Ãƒ ©Ã¢â‚¬ ºÃ‚ ¨ enu misty rain à ©Ã¢â‚¬ ºÃ‚ ¨Ãƒ ¦Ã‚ °Ã‚ · uhyou freezing rain à ¦Ã¢â€ž ¢Ã‚ ´Ãƒ ¥Ã‚ ¾Ã…’à ©Ã¢â‚¬ ºÃ‚ ¨ harenochiame clear then rain à ¦Ã‚ °Ã‚ ·Ãƒ ©Ã¢â‚¬ ºÃ‚ ¨ hisame very cold rain or hail à ¥Ã‚ ¤Ã…“à ©Ã¢â‚¬ ºÃ‚ ¨ yau night rain à ¦Ã‚ ¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ãƒ ©Ã¢â‚¬ ºÃ‚ ¨Ãƒ ¥Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ Ãƒ §Ã‚ ·Ã… ¡ baiuzensen seasonal rain à ¦Ã‹Å" ¥Ãƒ ©Ã…“- shun rin spring rain à §Ã‚ ·Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃƒ ©Ã¢â‚¬ ºÃ‚ ¨ ryokuu early-summer rain à ¥Ã‚ Ã‚ Ãƒ ©Ã¢â‚¬ ºÃ‚ ¨ juuu refreshing rain once in ten days à ¦Ã‚ Ã‚ µÃƒ ©Ã¢â‚¬ ºÃ‚ ¨ keiu welcome rain à ¥Ã‚ ¤Ã‚ ©Ãƒ ¦Ã‚ ³Ã‚ £ tenkyuu rain from a cloudless sky à ¦Ã¢â€ž ¢Ã‚ ´Ãƒ ¤Ã‚ ¸Ã¢â€š ¬Ãƒ ¦Ã¢â€ž ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒ ¥Ã‚ °Ã‚ Ãƒ ©Ã¢â‚¬ ºÃ‚ ¨ hareichijikosame brief light rain à ©Ã…“- nagame long rain à ©Ã…“-à ©Ã¢â‚¬ ºÃ‚ ¨ rinu long rain à ©Ã¢â€ž ¢Ã‚ °Ãƒ ©Ã…“- inrin long rain à ¥Ã‚ ¤Ã¢â‚¬ ¢Ãƒ §Ã‚ «Ã¢â‚¬ ¹ yuudachi sudden evening rain The above expressions for rain in Japanese reflect the rain culture in Japan. Japanese society and culture are affected by the climate there. Frequent rain is a prominent feature of Japans climate. Japan has a high precipitation. The average rainfall in Tokyo is around 1,800 mm, nearly double the global average of 1,000 mm. The intensity of rain is also strong and varies from season to season. It rains a great deal in Japan, therefore the society, culture and even language of Japan are affected by rain. According to the theory of linguistic relativity, phenomena and things that play important roles in a given society and culture are often subdivided into various types and described using a wide variety of specialized terms. By the examples of jade in Chinese literature and rain in Japanese language, the idea that culture influences language is evidenced. Considering culture to be a product of human thought, we can deduce that language is influenced by human thought, but not unilaterally influencing culture (linguistic determinism). The theory of linguistic relativism is basically proved, but how about language influences culture? Does language only reflect culture? In the following paragraphs, the idea that language influences culture will be discussed to find out whether language and culture really have mutual influence on each other (linguistic relativism) or language does not do much in culture. Language influences culture The idea that the way we view and feel the world is, to a certain extent, dependent on the language we use. Each language contains a peculiar and unique world view, which causes speakers of that language to see and think in a characteristic way, different from the speakers of other languages. This has become known as the principle of language relativity. In this part, different cognitions of different language speakers will be shown as examples of languages influence on culture (language shapes thought) Perception of eye-witness memory and blame There is a study conducted by Caitlin Fausey at Stanford. In that study, Fausey found that eye-witness memory differ depending on the language one speaks. The way that a person records events is depending on the language who speaks. The grammatical structure of a language affects our thinking pattern and even our eye-witness memory. In that paper, a cross-linguistic difference in how English and Spanish speakers describe the same events is identified, a corresponding cross-linguistic difference in eye-witness memory is also found. For speakers of an agentive language like English, if they see someone accidentally brush against a flower vase and the vase ends up in pieces on the floor, they can easily remember who broke it. When asked about what happened, they might say, Someone (the agent) broke the vase. They can easily notice the agent of an action. In agentive languages, descriptions like this are typical and appropriate for clearly accidental events. By contrast, non-agentive language speakers description of the same event/action often sounds evasive. Even if they see the same event, when asked about what happened, they might not remember who did it, and just answer The vase is broken Furthermore, the influence of language is not only on eye-witness memory, but even on blame. A canonical non-agentive description (e.g., the vase is broken) is intransitive and does not place the person as the subject for the change-of-state event. People are sensitive to this distinction between agentive and non-agentive frames. Linguistic framing influences ones judgment about blame and punishment. In financial liability, agentive descriptions will lead to 30%-50% more in requested financial damages than non-agentive descriptions do. Judgments and blame can be affected by linguistic frame. Tetraphobia in Southeast Asian countries. Tetraphobia refers to the fear of four. It is a common superstition throughout Southeast Asian countries, for examples, China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia. The fear of the number 4 is simply come from its pronunciation in Southeast Asian language. In Mandarin, its pronunciation of 4 is very close to that of the word for death, as both of them are pronounced as shi. And in Japanese and Korean, the two words are even perfectly homophonous. The superstition of tetraphobia has permeated all aspects of society in these countries, from architecture to communication norms. Here are some examples of tetraphobias impact: Many building in Hong Kong are typically built without 4-related floors, including offices, hospitals, hotels, apartments and skyscrapers. One famous example is the Vision City in Hong Kong, which is missing floors 40 through 49 The Chinese avoid phone numbers and addresses with fours, especially when theyre combined with another number that changes the meaning. Example: 94 could be interpreted as being dead for a long time. The number four was banned from license plates and can only be used once in ID numbers in Taiwan. The official sound of 4 in Japanese language is shi, but Japanese people usually use the alternate pronunciation, yon, that far away from its official sound, when talking about phone numbers and dates. The names of military aircraft and vehicles in China often start with the number 5. And South Korean and Taiwanese navies also avoid 4 when naming their ships. Table 4 is often eliminated at engagements, weddings, birthdays and other celebrations. People in society in this culture always avoid using 4 in verbal speech during holidays and when a loved one is sick or dying. From the above examples, the theory of linguistic relativism is further evidenced. The power of language is significant for sure. The language a person uses can shape whose thought. The thought of a group people forms culture. The language of a place is reflective to the culture of that place, at the same time, language promotes the culture of there. Conclusion (400-500 words) Form this study, it is clear that linguistic relativism is an evidenced theory. The relationships between language and culture are bilateral. Language is created to fulfill humans need. Therefore different society created there languages in different ways. The traits of a language are shaped by the culture of a society that created the language. The communication styles, vocabulary, grammar of a language, are all able to reflect a unique culture of a place. Language can be the epitome of a culture, and even a society. Language is a tool to express human thought and spread culture. The traits and limitations of a language affects the thinking style and cognitions of its speakers. When time goes by, it can shape the culture of a single place. Language shapes human thought and brings culture to society while it is also attached with cultures influence.

BMWs Managing Information Systems

BMWs Managing Information Systems Management information systems (MIS) pertain to those systems that enable company leaders to make choices for the effective functioning of businesses. Management information systems are composed of computer resources, individuals, and processes utilized in the current business enterprise. MIS also pertains to the company that establishes and manages majority or the entirety of the computer systems in the company in order that leaders can make choices. The objective of the MIS based company is to provide information systems to the different levels of corporate leaders. MIS experts establish and aid the computer system all over the organization. Trained and knowledgeable to deal with company computer systems, these experts are in charge in some manner for almost the entire computers, from the biggest mainframe to the portable computers. Company Overview BMW is a German vehicle and engine producing organization established in 1916. It also manages and creates the MINI brand, and is the mother organization of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. Mainly, BMW Group Brands are MINI, BMW and Rolls-Royce (BMW Education Programme 2009a). BMW is famous for its efficient and durable cars. And its mission statement is being a leader in the world as premium product provider and also premium service provider( BMW Education Programme, 2009b) BMW has established a reputation as both an engine producer and the manufacturer of luxury vehicles. They built the 3, 5 and 7 series, the M5, which represents sheer power, or the Z8, an innovative car. BMW has also proven its capability to resurrect legendary cars, reviving the legendary Mini and its acquisition of the Rolls-Royce brand (BMW Official Website, 2009). While the companys main office is still based in Munich in Germany, it has ten manufacturing plants all over the globe seven in Germany, one in Austria, one in South Africa and one in America, and sales units in sixteen nations where the vehicles are transported (The BMW Group, 2009). Aside from the vehicle segment, it stays as one of the important European producers of engines for civil aviation, through its partnership with Rolls Royce. Power merged with innovation is what BMW stands for. Overview of MIS of BMW The present automotive industry is classified by increasing product diversity and brief development periods. One of the important activities is to enter the market quicker by organizing the product development and production start-up procedures. One can attain this streamlining by doing a huge number of effectively coordinated procedures in parallel, utilizing a data structure that has all the data regarding the product and its types and is available at each phase to all people included in production planning (Clarke, 2007). This process, pertained to as integrated product and process engineering, is at available when one utilizes mySAP Automotive. mySAP Automotive integrates SAP Business Suite programs with customized operations to aid BMW- as well as other manufacturers, vendors, sales, and service companies attain substantial benefits by merging the whole engineering, production, marketing and service business sector. With mySAP Automotive merged within the operations of BMW, the company is able to improve important business procedures and attain important company objectives: * Competent staff and talent with effective procedures for workforce and talent acquisition * Financial stability with improved procedures for financial performance control * Operational effectiveness with improved procedures for operations control * Product and service dominance with improved procedures for product control * Excellent client value with improved procedures for sales and service mySAP Automotive is particularly created to address the needs and challenges of the BMW and the automotive industry. It is a comprehensive and effective solution for BMW that encompasses business procedures from engineering design, preparation, manufacturing, purchasing, sales and service (SAP for Automotive Website, 2010). Created to be a comprehensive and holistic management information system, mySAP Automotive is organized based on various market sectors that create the foundations of automotive industry. Roles of mySAP Automotive in BMW Provide information across various departments a) Operations More than any operational aspect, operations of BMW have been affected by significant developments in technology. As a consequence, production processes have evolved. For example, inventories are given just in time in order that huge sums of funds are not used for storing large inventories (Kiley, 2004). mySAP Automotive offers solutions for BMW in terms of vehicle and procedure modeling, preparation and manufacturing implementation. mySAP Automotive helps BMW ins terms of the improvement of the planning of the manufacturing process. Consolidated product and process modeling is attained within BMW through mySAP Automotive, where the modeling of every vehicular model and production procedures from the initial prototyping stage to the manufacturing stage is accomplished in one framework (Kidd, 2000). This minimizes information redundancy and the necessity for interfaces as information is saved in a solitary system. Cooperative engineering with suppliers provides new opportunities for more effective and quicker product development with suppliers online. Versatility and effectiveness in manufacturing within BMW is attained through the Model-mix preparation and immediate needs preparation feature of mySAP Automotive. Model-mix preparation enables BMW to improve the manufacturing sequence particularly essential for the company. Immediate needs preparation allows quicker processing of assembly and parts requirements of make-to-order setting as against the basic MRP. b) Accounting In BMW, all accounting documents are managed by all accounting managers (Laudon, 2007). In this case, mySAP Automotive offers solutions that improve the accounting procedures and policies of BMW. mySAP Automotive offers solutions that improve the accounting activities of the company, enabling them to respond more quickly and effectively to the industry demands. c) Finance mySAP Automotive offers financial data to all financial managers within BMW including the head of the finance department. The head of the finance department of BMW studies historical and present financial outputs, predicts long term financial necessities, and tracks and manages the usage of money over time utilizing the data produced by the mySAP Automotive (Buxmann, 2004). mySAP Automotive offers solutions that allow sales and pricing of cars through configuration, status monitoring of cars, sales and allocation of available components. Car customization and pricing online improved car sales of BMW by providing clients with the alternative of customizing their cars (Seese, 2008). Once the car is customized, car customization and pricing will identify the price of the car according to the customization. Car search and locator allows BMW to look and find cars that satisfy the particular configurations, attaining quicker delivery to clients. d) Marketing mySAP Automotive aids the marketing initiatives of BMW in the aspect of product development, dissemination, pricing choices, advertising, and sales prediction (Forquer, 2005). More than any other operational aspect, mySAP Automotive depends on outer sources of information. These references include rivalry and clients, for instance. e) Human Resource mySAP Automotive also helps with BMWs initiatives connected to employees, leaders, and other staff working within the company. Due to the fact that the role of the human resources is important to all other aspects of the operations of BMW, mySAP Automotive has an important responsibility in guaranteeing company development for BMW (Sankar, 2006). 2) Facilitate decision making at the three tiers of management a) Operational Level Systems To make the operational level decision making within BMW very simple and effective, mySAP Automotive helps in offering and disseminating updated data to proper users. mySAP Automotive is created to improve the reporting of data that will be critical in the correct decision making within the operational level of BMW. mySAP Automotive is able to immediately gather and edit information, summarize outcomes, and able to cope and correct mistakes immediately. b) Management Level Systems mySAP Automotive has automated and manual internal controls that help in the management level decision making activities in BMW (Kogent, 2009). Data is obtained through proper editing and inner control checks. A detailed inner and outer audit program is used within BMW through mySAP Automotive. c) Strategic Level Systems To have an improved strategic level decision making, information within BMW is analyzed and organized effectively and uniformly through mySAP Automotive. Gaps in the manner data is gathered and documented can alter data and trend analysis. Aside from this, since information gathering and documentation procedures will alter over time, so BMW management has created effective processes to enable systems developments through mySAP Automotive. These processes are always well defined and noted, effectively communicated to proper workers and has a monitoring system that aids in the strategic level decision making of BMW. 3) Serve as efficient means for managing business processes The establishment of mySAP Automotive within BMW is the consequence of the implementation of an environment of system management. The owners are the users of mySAP Automotive who understand current client needs and also have budget authority to finance new projects. In order to manage its business processes efficiently, BMW has strived in establishing ownership that advocates pride in its business procedures and aids guarantee accountability. Even though mySAP Automotive does not really completely minimize costs, the establishment of this important system, and its effective usage, minimizes the chances that erratic choices in business processes are done due to unreliable data (Dickersbach, 2005). Erratic business decisions essentially waste resources. This may lead in a detrimental impact on profits and/or capital. Management always guarantees that mySAP Automotive is established on a logical process that includes the following stages: †¢ Proper investigation of system options, approval areas as the system is established or obtained, and task management. †¢ Program establishment and negotiation of deals with suppliers. †¢ Systems integration and management. Management always takes into account the usage of business management processes to track development as mySAP Automotive is being integrated. Inner controls are created into the procedures and periodically assessed by auditors. Application of mySAP Automotive in BMW mySAP Automotive obtains customized production orders from BMWs planning system. The orders involve the components necessary to manufacture every vehicle; the X5, for instance, has lots of parts included in the car list of materials. mySAP Automotive produces the delivery timeframes for every component to match BMWs assembly-line preparation and organizing policies. BMW sends these comprehensive analyses and accurate JIT delivery timeframes to its suppliers. Major suppliers get the data through electronic data interchange (EDI). Other suppliers enter the mySAP Automotive official site, where BMW states the requisites to offer the latest data on its delivery necessities (Kuhlin, 2005). By logging online, suppliers can check this data in actual time, including release time frames, procurement files, receipts, and engineering files. When they send components, the suppliers send BMW forward transport notifications to give BMW with accurate data on component figures and delivery schedules. Components entering at the BMW premises are then obtained and shipped immediately to the line. There, BMW utilizes mySAP Automotive to check manufacturing status in actual time (Dickersbach, 2007). mySAP Automotive takes note of the manufacturing validation and components consumption data every three minutes. Components used during manufacturing are eliminated from the inventory list, and expenses are posted to compute the value of work in process. Client demand for BMWs new X5 sports car and its famous Z3 models needed a solution that would effectively increase and assist streamlined manufacturing. mySAP Automotive aids the company to minimize order-to delivery time, improves its supply chain initiatives in the aspects of demand planning and monitoring and locating of material deliveries, and enhances inventory precisions all over its production facilities- allowing BMW to tremendously minimize time to client for its efficient cars. Benefits of MIS for BMW Effective Solution BMW had been utilizing a customized data solution to handle its supplier and logistics needs. The organized was able to finish its integration of mySAP Automotive only a month after this management information system became accessible. mySAP Automotive provides BMW an effective, measurable structure that can be widened and changes to consider new functionality or developments in business procedures. mySAP Automotive offers BMW with top notch Internet operations and the commonly utilized business procedures from production preparations and purchasing to sales and allocation- for a total supply chain management remedy. The effective coordination between BMW and its business partners aids the engineering and massive manufacturing of customized products (Woods, 2006). BMW takes advantage of actual coordination on the Internet and instant pipeline visibility, enabling them to track developments in the midst of the development and manufacturing stages. Immediate Access to Data Important BMW business procedures are merged with mySAP Automotive so data stored in BMW systems can be readily viewed, including prediction requisites on a component stage, sales orders, and car bills of material. Since mySAP Automotive is not that hard to integrate, BMW is able to connect it with its modernized warehouse. The information systems transparent setting and expandability have also allowed BMW to immediately merge its own programs into the enterprise site for suppliers in mySAP Enterprise Portals. Aside from industry-based solution, BMW is utilizing mySAP Automotive for logistics, financing, and workforce improvement tasks. The organization has also established Internet programs for supplier quote establishment and investigation for manufacturing components, which have been integrated to the mySAP Automotive. Enhanced efficiency mySAP Automotive enables BMW to optimize profit opportunity, handle and limit expenses, enhance quality, and speed up time to delivery. Minimized risk Updated data regarding projects, procedures, functional performance, and markets provide BMW initial signs of changes in demand, client needs, and financial situations. Improved visibility and management Improved analytics enable BMW to determine accurately where theyre getting product and manufacturing expenses, allowing them to maximize efficiency in all of its resources (Knolmayer, 2009). Quicker time to market mySAP Automotive speed up the period to market by improving interaction, enhancing coordination, and managing consistent information in the whole procedures. Widened reach With mySAP Automotive, BMW is able to control the whole value chain, interacting through enterprise sites and allowing holistic coordination among workers, suppliers, and clients. Increased sales mySAP Automotive allow BMW to predict and cope up to market demands, determine new business trends, and exploit new ways to increase market share and profits. Assistance for business management allows procedures like car sales, car service, components management and finance to be effectively monitored by BMW (Missbach, 2000). Enhanced supply chain management Locate-to-order and make-to-stock procedures offer perspectives into the client needs, inventory, and capability allowing BMW to address client demands. Improved aftermarket service With mySAP Automotive, BMW is able to know client demands, improve customer service, and offer excellent assistance to improve revenues in the top end aftermarket business. Reduced overall expenses of ownership mySAP Automotive minimizes overall expenses of ownership by offering high end features and removing the necessity for the expensive interfaces needed by other information systems. Easy integration mySAP Automotive effectively mergers important aspects of BMWs operations, including supply chain management, product life-cycle management and business management (Stanford-Smith, 2001). mySAP Automotive offers BMW a centralized, merged foundation, so the company doesnt have to manage an information base of various systems. Conclusion The structure of mass manufacturing was initially introduced by Automobile industry a long time ago. But at present the industry is confront world competition and the demands of the industry have completely evolved. The clients are not anymore contented with limited options. They say what they need, the time they need it at the proper place. Clients are always perceived as an important resource for automotive companies. To address the demands, make-to-order manufacturing is essential rather than mass production. Here the effectiveness relies on speed; the pace of acknowledging market needs, the pace of establishing new frameworks, the pace of purchasing raw materials, the pace of manufacturing and the pace of shipping the products to the proper environments. Coordination the whole industry stakeholders-providers, dealers, and clients is important. The mySAP information system of BMW is offering seamless flow of data to organizing the operations. mySAP Automotive is more than a mere Supply Chain Management information system. mySAP Automotive provides a centralized information structure for engineering, supply chain management, purchasing and business management. Regardless of whether the organization is a car manufacturer like BMW, a provider of car parts or dealer, mySAP Automotive aids these organizations to concentrate on their clients. Important strengths of the mySAP Automotive information system lies in offering established processes, improved program tools, and open technology to obtain their mySAP Automotive information system up and running immediately and helping to attain their business objectives.

Service Learning and ESL Students :: ESL Students

School, when some people hear the word, they usually think that school is learning new things in a room. However, it is something that cannot be described only in the textbook. Service learning is â€Å"an union of community service and formal learning. It involves students going out into their communities and using that which they learn in class to help people, and then bringing that which they learn in their community service back into the classroom to enhance their learning.†(Minor, 2001) Diane Murakami who is an ELL (English Language Learners) teacher at Queen Ka’ahumanu Elementary School in Honolulu. She gave CP 4 (college preparatory) students at Hawaii Internal College a chance to service learning at Queen Ka’ahumanu Elementary School. Service learning is a good effect way to learn about new cultures and also to communicate with local people for ESL students. Studying abroad is a wonderful opportunity, but it is not easy to spend time in a new culture, and communicating with people is difficult. Natalie M. Russell is an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher at Omaha South High School, and she realized that when she was teaching ESL students, they often felt alienated from their school and communities. Therefore, they tended to make friends only in school, so they did not make friends outside of school. In â€Å"Teaching More Than English†, Natalie M. Russell said, â€Å"they avoided interacting with mainstream students and getting involved in school activities† (Natalie M. Russell, 2007, para 1). Natalie M. Russell tried to make her class communication with mainstream people, and she decided that service learning was a good way to communicate with mainstream people because she said, â€Å"students not only learn during service learning activities, but also they also reflect on their service and its value to the community. This reflection helps build a sense of civic responsibility and caring for others.†(Natalie M. Russell, 2007, para 3) In Natalie M. Russell’s case, she said, â€Å"the student population of the high school in which I taught was approximately 60% Hispanic, and my ESL classes that year were 100% Hispanic. In deciding what our service project would be, my students concluded that the community’s primary problem was the language barrier that divided the immigrants from the local population.† (Natalie M. Russell, 2007, para 4) In town, Spanish/English dictionaries were available to buy, but Spanish/English phrasebooks were not, so she and her students decided to make Spanish/English phrasebooks and distributed it free in the community.

Global Warming and Agriculture Essays -- Geology

Global Warming and Agriculture Global warming has been a major topic of environmental concern over the past several decades. The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has recently predicted a 1 to 3.5 degree Celsius increase in average atmospheric temperature above 1990 levels by the year 2100. Although this temperature increase may seem small, even an increase or decrease of a few degrees in atmospheric temperature is capable of causing drastic alterations in the agricultural process, among many other everyday issues. Though many studies have been done on the probable effects of an increase in global mean temperature, much is still unknown or only guessed at, due to a general lack of deeper understanding of Earth?s very complex climate system. The effects of factors such as climate variability, water availability, and quality of adaptive response by farmers to the changing climate cannot be determined conclusively. This results in a rather wide range of variability in predictions of global warming eff ects on Earth?s various regions. Even specific temperature and precipitation changes cannot be determined, as they will most likely vary greatly from region to region. The most important factor in the success or failure of a harvest is a sufficiently moist soil during the growing season. A global increase in atmospheric temperatures most probably will cause a general increase in the frequency and duration of droughts and heavy rains, both damaging to agricultural crops. Extended droughts, such as the massive drought of the 1930s known as the ?Dust Bowl,? have throughout history been the causes of massive crop failures. As the Earth?s temperature continues to rise, water supply problems will become more and more o... ...erature and carbon dioxide levels. America and its farmers face a difficult task in preparing for the effects of changing climate on agriculture. BIBLIOGRAPHY http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/impacts/index.html http://www.usgcrp.gov/usgcrp/9717DD.html http://climatechange.gc.ca/english/html/impacts.html http://www.gcrio.org/ipcc/qa/cover.html http://www.gcrio.org/gwcc/part2.html http://www.whitehouse.gov/Initiatives/Climate/vulnerabilities.html Global Warming and Agriculture Essays -- Geology Global Warming and Agriculture Global warming has been a major topic of environmental concern over the past several decades. The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has recently predicted a 1 to 3.5 degree Celsius increase in average atmospheric temperature above 1990 levels by the year 2100. Although this temperature increase may seem small, even an increase or decrease of a few degrees in atmospheric temperature is capable of causing drastic alterations in the agricultural process, among many other everyday issues. Though many studies have been done on the probable effects of an increase in global mean temperature, much is still unknown or only guessed at, due to a general lack of deeper understanding of Earth?s very complex climate system. The effects of factors such as climate variability, water availability, and quality of adaptive response by farmers to the changing climate cannot be determined conclusively. This results in a rather wide range of variability in predictions of global warming eff ects on Earth?s various regions. Even specific temperature and precipitation changes cannot be determined, as they will most likely vary greatly from region to region. The most important factor in the success or failure of a harvest is a sufficiently moist soil during the growing season. A global increase in atmospheric temperatures most probably will cause a general increase in the frequency and duration of droughts and heavy rains, both damaging to agricultural crops. Extended droughts, such as the massive drought of the 1930s known as the ?Dust Bowl,? have throughout history been the causes of massive crop failures. As the Earth?s temperature continues to rise, water supply problems will become more and more o... ...erature and carbon dioxide levels. America and its farmers face a difficult task in preparing for the effects of changing climate on agriculture. BIBLIOGRAPHY http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/impacts/index.html http://www.usgcrp.gov/usgcrp/9717DD.html http://climatechange.gc.ca/english/html/impacts.html http://www.gcrio.org/ipcc/qa/cover.html http://www.gcrio.org/gwcc/part2.html http://www.whitehouse.gov/Initiatives/Climate/vulnerabilities.html

Compare and contrast the characters Essay

Tess of the D’Urbervilles, Hardy’s iconic novel, centres around the eponymous tragic heroine, Tess. Yet the tragedies that befall her in the course of the novel would not have occurred without the two leading male characters whom Tess encounters. The first is Tess’s ‘cousin’, Alec D’Urberville, whom she first meets in Chapter Five when she comes â€Å"to claim kin†. Alec becomes infatuated with the sixteen-year-old Tess but after he is rebuffed several times, rapes her and leaves her pregnant with his child. The second of these characters is Angel Clare, a young man Tess is introduced to at Talbothays dairy farm where she works as a dairymaid at the age of twenty. Angel and Tess fall in love, but their romance is blighted by the shadow of Tess’s past. On first reading, Angel and Alec may seem to be very different, but further analysis may prove that these men are more similar than previously seen. Alexander D’Urberville is written to be the complete antithesis of Angel Clare. Alec is rich, powerful and lazy, everything that Angel despises about the â€Å"old families†. Even the names of the characters reflect their personalities. Alexander brings to mind great noblemen, such as Alexander the Great, but the fact that the diminutive, Alec, is almost always used, suggests that perhaps the man has not lived up to the name. His surname at least sounds impressive, and the fact that it contains some of the title of the book seems to bestow a degree of importance. However, as the reader finds out just before Alec is introduced, the D’Urberville family don’t actually have a claim to their name: it was an old ancestor who simply annexed the surname ‘D’Urberville’ in order to sound more genteel and more impressive. Thus, on meeting Alec D’Urberville for the first time, we see him straightaway as a fake, an imposter. Unlike with Alec, whose name precedes him and tells us about his nature before he even meets Tess, Angel Clare is introduced very early on in the book, in Chapter One, but as a nameless student. He joins in the country girls’ dance and partners everyone but Tess, who then stares reproachfully after him. During this encounter, we find out nothing about this young man except that he has not chosen a path like his brothers, yet when Angel is ‘officially’ introduced in Chapter Seventeen, the reader straightaway knows who he is before he even gives his name. ‘Angel’, an unusual choice of first name for a male, marks him out straightaway as a hero, a harbinger of good, the light to Alec’s dark. ‘Clare’, too, suggests light, brightness, clarity. However, does Hardy set up Angel as the perfect hero only to destroy this fai ade later on? Alec is preceded by his name as this brings an ominous shadow to his later dealings with Tess, but Angel is followed by his name. His nameless presence remains in both Tess’s and the reader’s mind until we see him again: he is marked out by his intelligence and his willingness to involve himself in country life, rather than his beautiful name. Hardy describes Alec’s appearance very vividly. His â€Å"red and smooth† lips bring the first hints of sexuality and eroticism to Tess’s life, while his â€Å"well-groomed black moustache with curled points† implies he pays a lot of attention to aesthetics and appearances, which is confirmed when he continually refers to Tess as â€Å"my Beauty† and gives her beauty as the reason for his passion for her, rather than her innate qualities. Hardy uses plosives when describing Alec for the first time (â€Å"lips†, â€Å"badly†, â€Å"points†) to emphasise â€Å"the singular force† and violent, aggressive nature of the character. The contrast Hardy makes between Alec’s full moustache and his relatively young age suggests that Alec is using his moustache as a smokescreen to disguise his lack of maturity and experience: his self-assured, superior manner helps him assert power over Tess, but he has had little experience in the area of love and affection and therefore is unsuccessful at winning Tess. He is worldly and superior in many aspects, but emotionally he is still immature. Hardy also makes reference to the â€Å"touches of barbarism† in Alec’s face. Throughout Phase the First, we see how Alec falls from his aristocratic status in his efforts to make Tess love him: he curses, swears, forces himself upon her, cries and begs, simply to try and make her feel for him. The barbaric aspects of his countenance also reflect the contrast between his higher social position and his base morals, showing an even greater difference between Angel’s idealised morality despite his lower class, and between Alec’s self-degradation and lack of self-control in spite of his higher status. An interesting point is that Hardy’s vivid description of Alec paints him very similarly to the Devil. At that time, as Hardy himself makes reference to in Chapter Fourteen, Christian children were taught â€Å"quaint and curious† ideas about religion, leading to common visual stereotypes such as that of Satan with his horns and moustache. Even the colours used, such as red and black, are reminiscent of the Devil, drawing a not-too-subtle contrast between this and Angel. Unlike Alec, who has been described so vividly that almost every reader pictures him in the same way, Angel is described in a vaguer manner. While some of Alec’s outward characteristics are linked to his behaviour, Hardy only really mentions them in passing, as the pace of the story is fairly quick here, as if Hardy is eager to get to Tess’s first interchange with Alec. At Chapter Eighteen, however, the pace has slowed considerably to make room for the new main character, and so most of this chapter is given over to describing Angel and his history. Angel’s description is linked more to his personality and behaviour, and this vagueness of description also emphasises how Angel is â€Å"nebulous, preoccupied, vague†¦ had no very definite aim or concern about his material future†. In contrast to the plosives used when describing Alec, a lot of sibilance is used in the paragraph describing Angel (â€Å"past†¦ distinct†¦ as†¦ appreciative voice†¦ fixed, abstracted eyes†¦ somewhat too small† and so on) which not only adds to the vague haziness surrounded his future prospects, or emphasises our and Tess’s knowledge of him as a memory only, but hints at a gentle, placid, soft nature in keeping with his namesake. However, there are signs that perhaps Angel’s nature is not as consistent as it seems: the juxtaposition of â€Å"fixed† and â€Å"abstracted† as well as the description of his mouth as both â€Å"delicate† and â€Å"firm† suggest contradiction, if not hypocrisy, in his nature. The masculinity of both characters comes under question: while Alec’s apparent masculinity is undermined by his constant attention to aesthetics and his aversion to any form of manual work, Angel’s is enhanced by his apparent firmness, a trait valued in Victorian husbands and fathers at the time. The attitude to country folk and manual work is something that divides the two men significantly. Alec, as a gentleman, has never done a day’s work in his life. He has excessive free time to spend watching Tess attempting to whistle and looking after the birds. In fact, our first image of Alec is of him standing lazily at the gate smoking his cigar, while our first real image of Angel is when he is milking a cow. Additionally, Alec looks down on Tess’s social class. Although he sends the Durbeyfield family gifts, his motives are purely romantic, and he sees himself as a noble beneficiary, helping those lower than himself. His attitudes towards the country folk are shown perfectly when, in Chapter Ten, he addresses the group of country workers as â€Å"work-folk†, showing he considers them useful only for manual labour and of lower intelligence than himself. He defines them by what they do, rather than what they are. Angel, on the other hand, steps down from his initial family pathway due to his beliefs, and does not consider himself above the workers at Talbothays who are of a lower social standing than him. Hardy deliberately describes how Angel’s mindset and attitude change over time: at first, it is natural that Clare sees the new society in which he lives as â€Å"strange†, â€Å"undignified†, â€Å"retrogressive and unmeaning†, yet as he becomes part of the household, a change takes place. Suddenly he realises that each member of the dairy is just as uniquely human as he is, with their own memories and dreams, and this is what Alec fails to realise. The latter never treats Tess as anything close to his own intelligence, treating her like a child, while Angel learns to treat every man or woman as an equal, not an inferior. This is reflected in his change in sentiment towards where he lives: not only does he begin to â€Å"like the outdoor life for its own sake†, but he forms an attachment to the dairy and the people living and working there. Alec, however, scorns Tess when she becomes emotional at seeing the village where she was born, remarking unsympathetically that â€Å"we must all be born somewhere†. In keeping with Hardy’s Romantic leanings, Angel is portrayed as more feeling and more appreciative of his surroundings, which is exacerbated when he falls in love with Tess and starts to see her as a â€Å"daughter of Nature† rather than separate from his surroundings. In a story where something as simple as a name changes Tess’s life forever, it is fitting that both men’s attitudes and feelings towards Tess are shown perfectly through the names they use for her. As aforementioned, Alec focuses only on Tess’s appearance, continually calling her â€Å"my Beauty† or â€Å"my pretty†. When he uses her name, it is in the diminutive (â€Å"Tessy†), belittling her even more than he normally does. However when his mood towards her changes, as it so often does, his names for her change to â€Å"mere chit†, â€Å"Miss Independence† and â€Å"young witch†, simultaneously scorning and patronising her ‘disobedience’. Angel, on the other hand, calls Tess â€Å"Artemis, Demeter, and other fanciful names half-teasingly†. These names, stemming from classical mythology, show Angel to be more educated, imaginative and creative than Alec, and represent Tess as a beautiful embodiment of pure womankind, not just a pretty maid to be wooed. These names show how high a pedestal Angel has placed Tess upon, and how he associates her completely and fully with the natural world, as both these goddesses represent aspects of nature or hunting. It is important to note, though, that Tess implores him to use her real name, signifying that at this point, Angel does not know Tess for who she really is (or her full history) and therefore uses these names because of the idealised way in which he sees her. An interesting point is that both characters are required to ‘save’ Tess at some point, and that both characters take advantage of Tess’s vulnerability to fulfil their own romantic motives. At first, Alec appears to be Tess’s knight in shining armour, come to rescue her from the angry Car Darch, but he rides off into The Chase, unbeknownst to Tess, and uses the opportunity to rape her. Angel, on the other hand, carries all three of Tess’s friends and then Tess herself across the river, ostensibly to help them to get to church. Hardy emphasises the beauty and romance of this scene in contrast to the sinister tone of the scene in The Chase, reinforced by the fact that the events in the woods take place at the dead of night while the scene at the river is in broad daylight. Alec purposefully rides off in the wrong direction while Tess believes he is taking her home, and Angel actually tells Tess that he has â€Å"undergone three quarters of this labour entirely †¦ for the fourth quarter†. Both men use Tess’s predicament to be alone with her, but the key difference is that Alec goes ahead and forces himself upon the fragile and terrified Tess, while Angel remembers that â€Å"he was somewhat unfairly taking advantage of an accidental position; and he went no further with it. † Angel treats Tess with reverence and respect, while Alec believes he has a right to Tess’s maidenhood. Throughout the first part of the book, it is clear to see that Hardy makes very obvious differentiations between Alec and Angel. Both represent strong influences on Tess, even after they leave her life, but Alec corrupts and ruins her while Angel later on even takes the place of a deity in her eyes. However, both men are only human, and throughout the rest of the novel, Hardy goes on to show that despite their differences, both characters have an equally destructive impact on Tess’s life. Both offer to protect and love her, but in the end, both abandon her, believing themselves superior in intellect and character. It could be argued, therefore, that Hardy’s overall aim is not to show how dissimilar Angel and Alec are, but to show how neither of them truly cares for Tess when she needs them to, leading to her downfall.

Job Negotiation

Job Negotiation Analysis Research on The Job The job that I am looking for is full-time accountant and many companies have openings for staff accountant. Though I have Bachelor's Degree in Accounting and will gain Graduate Diploma, my shortage is that it is my first time to find full-time job and I have little work experience. So I set my career level as entry level and find relative jobs that only need less than 2-year work experience or that have no requirement on years of work experience. Under this situation, I can highlight my unique education, skills and intern-experience.According to my research on Monster. com, there are now 162 jobs matched my requirement in the latest 15days. The industries that need accountants range from education to Energy and Utilities, from Insurance to Transport and Storage. Based on the result, we can see that accountants are greatly needed in the market. About the job, different companies have different specific requirements but generally speaking, responsibilities are almost the same, such as reconciliation of accounting subjects, preparing periodic reports and supporting accounting and financial analysis.All jobs require at least Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. The majority companies give a range on salary and the overall salary range for the job is between 30,000-77,000 annually, depending on education background and experience. Except basic salary, some companies also have profit share projects. Benefit packages also vary from companies and companies. Ideal one covers health insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, paid time off, housing allowance, transportation allowance and etc.For instance, Liberty Mutual Insurance, a Fortune 100 company, provides a comprehensive benefits plan. Based on historical statistics, first-year accountants earned a median salary of 43,660, according to Salary Wizard. The middle 50 percent of entry-level accountants earned between 39,737 and 48,257. The bottom 10 percent earned below 36,166, while the top 10 percent earned above 52,442. Accountants who have received a master’s degree in accounting are offered 49,786 as a first-year offer. Other issues such as location of the job, scale of the company also decide the salary.For example, the salary of Associate Accountants in Liberty Mutual Insurance is between 42,400 and 58,300. Other than competitive pay, the company also provides comprehensive benefits packages and outstanding advancement opportunities. Furthermore, the job location is Boston. This job is an ideal option for me. But at the same time, I also realize that I have to face reality. The economy in US is not prosperous and some companies just hire US citizens. Thus, during the negotiation, I will make some concession and try to build relationship with employers.PLANNING DOCUMENT FORM 1. Issues that are most important to me (1). Salary. Salary is of the most importance for me. I want salary above the average level and if recruiters can rai se my salary, I can make concession on other issues. (2). Annual bonus. For new employees who work less than one year, most companies will just provide half annual bonus, based on the performance. For me, the biggest difference is whether I can or cannot have annual bonus. I do not care the actual percentage of annual bonus, because after one-year work, I can renegotiate about this issue. 3). Benefits packages (insurance, housing allowance and etc. ) Different companies have different regulation on benefit packages, but most companies will cover at least several issues, such as health insurance, retirement plans. Thus, this issue may be not significant for recruiters because the majority companies have regulation on benefits packages and the plans must cover several issues I raise. (4). Vacation time For a new employee, I do not care much about vacation time. In other aspect, paid-off vacation time increases employee’s salary.During the negotiation, recruiters want to decreas e my vacation time and I can use this item to exchange other important issues. (5). Location As an international student, I am flexible about the location of job. It is perfect if I can go to big cities, but I cannot, it is also fine. But for recruiters, the cost about jobs in different location can vary a lot. 2. My BATNA, Reservation Price and Target Back in China, I have a good job offer. Also, I may get another job offer at a similar firm and I can choose from different offers.My reservation price is 40,000 and any job below that salary will not be accepted even though the job has good benefits package. And my target is to get an accountant job in a well-known company with about $52,000 salary per year, which covers annual bonus plan and basic benefits package. 3. My sources of power I will get my Graduate Diploma in summer. Since accountants are in great need in the market, I can have more choices and change decision during interview or pre-hire. I can go to Career Center to ta lk to professionals and get information and advice on this kind of job.Also, career center can provide historical statistics about a company, such as average salary. Moreover, alumni who work in this field also can give me valuable advice, such as the salary, bonus they get. Last, I have a good job offer in China. If there is no satisfied offer here, I can go back. 4. Issues that are most important to recruiter (1). Salary (2). Annual bonus (3). Vacation time (4). Location (5). Benefits coverage 5. My opponent’s BATNA, Reservation Price, Target The recruiters can hire another candidate.For recruiters, their reservation price is giving me the highest salary and bonus they set and providing me good work location, the most days of vacation and a comprehensive benefits package. For example, there is a salary range for Liberty Mutual Insurance and its reservation price is the highest , which is 58,300, at the current situation. But in fact, employers want someone who can meet all their demand at a low or reasonable cost. 6. My opponent’s sources of power First, the recruiters can get information about me from the school or on Internet (such as Facebook and Twitter).The greatest power for them is that they can choose from different candidates. They know conditions rose by different candidates and can make comparison. For me, I have no idea about other candidates, which is my disadvantage. 7. My opening move/first strategy My biggest weakness is that I do not have enough work experience in this field, so I want the other side to make first offer. Based on the information provided by recruiter, I can choose making concession or raising my own demand. Scoring System Issue| Weight| Options| Option Value| W*V|Salary| 35%| $60,000| 1000| 350| | | $55,000| 800| 280| | | $52,000| 600| 210| | | $48,000| 570| 200| | | $43,000| 500| 175| | | $40,000| 300| 105| Annual Bonus(For the first year)| 25%| 5%| 800| 200| | | 3%| 700| 175| | | 2%| 500| 125| | | 0%| 0| 0| B enefit Package| 20%| 401K| 800| 160| | | Health Insurance| 800| 160| | | Housing Insurance| 600| 120| | | Disability Insurance| 400| 80| | | Transportation Allowance| 300| 60| | | None| 0| 0| Vacation Time(For the first year)| 10%| 15 days| 800| 80| | | 12days| 700| 70| | 10days| 600| 60| | | 7days| 500| 50| | | 5days| 400| 40| Location| 5%| DC,NY,Boston area| 1000| 50| | | Chicago,San Francisco,Houston| 800| 40| | | Other| 400| 20| The score of my target package is 1075 and my BATNA package score is 815. I will let the other side make first offer. On one hand, I can get information about the employer and consider my response. On the other hand, I can avoid being aggressive. During the negotiation, I will try to highlight my education background and inter-experience and fade my work experience.Also, it is important for me to ask question and through the answers, I can verify whether their preference and priorities are the same as I estimate. Moreover, I can provide multiple equivale nt packages to determine the other side’s preference and priorities. For me, salary and annual bonus are more important than other issues and I will not make huge concession on the two issues. I can exchange vacation time and location for the first two issues. I am not worried about benefits package because every company has its own regulation and I certainly can have several items.Being a candidate, I also have to avoid behaving aggressive because building relationship with the other party is important. Reference 1. http://www1. salary. com/Accounting-Salaries. html 2. http://blogs. payscale. com/salary_report_kris_cowan/2012/05/most-us-workers-dont-use-vacation-days. html 3. http://www. glassdoor. com/Salary/KPMG-Salaries-E2867. htm 4. http://www. glassdoor. com/Salaries/accountant-salary-SRCH_KO0,10. htm 5. The Average Salary of First-Year Accountants | eHow. com 6. http://www. ehow. com/info_8271661_average-salary-firstyear-accountants. html#ixzz2LBOGC4OR