Ihg’s Corporate Strategy: “The Winning Ways”

IHG’s corporate strategy: ‘The winning ways’ IHG’s mission statement is: ‘to become the greatest company in the world through creating great hotels guests love’. IHG’s road map for growth is dependent on engagement and high performance from the entire workforce. In order to achieve this, IHG designed a set of values, known as ‘the winning ways’. The winning ways serve as ‘a road map’, which enables IHG to reach their long-term vision. IHG’s winning ways will act as the foundation for how they go about their business. More specifically, the winning ways are fundamental to enhancing relationships with guests, colleagues and business owners. This new way of working will also support and drive the organization’s growth. But what are the winning ways and how exactly will one measure the strategy’s success? The winning ways are as follows: Do The Right Thing – â€Å"We aim to do what we believe is right and have the courage and conviction to put it into practice. We are honest and straightforward and see our decisions through. † Show We Care – â€Å"We want to be a company that understands people’s needs better than anyone else in our industry. This means being sensitive to others, noticing the things that matter and taking responsibility for getting things right. Aim Higher – â€Å"We aim to be acknowledged industry leaders, and have built a team of talented people who have a will to be the best. We strive for success and we value individuals who are always looking for better ways to do things. † Celebrate Difference – â€Å"We believe it is the knowledge of our people that brings our brands to life. We do not impose a rigid, uniform view of the world. Our global strength comes from celebrating local differences, while knowing that some things should be the same. † Work Better Together – â€Å"We are at our best when we collaborate to form a powerful team. We listen to each other and combine our expertise to create a strong, focused, supportive and trusted team of people. † The winning ways outline IHG’s culture as being a world leading hotel group. This unique strategy has been rolled out across the entire group and in order to measure the success of the winning ways, employee satisfaction surveys are used. Basically, IHG acknowledges that their people are the most important element for success, because they are responsible for bringing IHG’s brands (within IHG, there are seven hotel brands) to life for guests. IHG uses its’ winning ways strategy to put personnel ‘in the spotlight’ and therefore making employees satisfied, in which they will portray their gratification towards guests. In conclusion, IHG’s winning ways strategy is a smart, yet simple approach to reach their mission statement. The winning ways can also be referred to as their guideline or bible to guide the hotel group towards their long-term vision. IHG’s winning ways are how personnel should behave on a daily basis; a set of behaviors based on their values which is ultimately absorbed by the entire workforce and transferred to the guests. By creating a consistent and reliable workforce, IHG can be sure that their winning ways strategy is the perfect route to success, because after all, guest satisfaction is everything in the hotel industry. References Robert Dransfield (2001), Corporate Strategy – 1st edition, Guildford, England, Heinemann Laura Pratt (2011), Hotelier Magazine – People Pleasers: IHG Aims to Please as Pinnacles 2011 Company of the Year Allison Shirreffs (2011), Atlanta Business Chronicle – InterContinental Hotels Group: Best places to work InterContinental Hotels Group corporate website: http://www. ihgplc. com/index. asp [pic]

Economics commentary †China set to introduce new rules on smoking in public Essay

China’s economy is known as one of the strongest economies in the world, as they achieved a very high recorded rate of growth domestic product in 2010 with 10.3%, as well as china is one of the main exporters worldwide, all of these are reasons why China has a powerful role in the world economy. But unfortunately this power could be in dangerous if the economy faces market failure. Market failure occurs when there is a misallocation of resources according to the price mechanism towards the social optimal way caused by the failure of the market signal function to identify the efficient and exact outcomes (Mankiw, 2011). Which consequence externalities, In our market failure case, there is something called negative externality, which means that the third party, who are neither the consumer nor the producer, they are the society, known as the marginal social (MSb/c). This good produced is harmfully or damagingly affecting the society. Therefore there is misallocation of resources. Traditionally Government intervenes by adding to the basic price, taxes to lower the demand on the good which influences the social and private cost positively by lowering their quantities as shown in {figure A}. Concerning the article, the negative externality is present in china due to cigarettes supported by the fact that 1 out of 3 people is smoking, which is considered a negative pick rate, which surely affects the environment and the third party, as mentioned above. This fact, and the increase of cigarettes consumption, makes â€Å"The country’s authorities believe smoking kills more than one million people every year and that figure is predicted to triple by 2030†. This statement is a very dangerous signal for china, mentioning that Chinese future is unsafe concerning both socially and economically as well, because â€Å"Smoking is a very old Chinese tradition† , which actually affects negatively the economical issues. Cigarettes are considered as demerit good. The Government has different ways to intervene and to either stop selling this kind of product or to lower its impact on the society. They can either put legislations by law to limit the quantity produced by the supplier for example for this particular good, or by banning, ban the production or consumption of a certain good that causes a negative externality, or may be by advertising to influence producers and consumers and warn. or finally by taxation, the act to put a high tax on demerit goods, which is the very known and traditional way of lowering the consumption of a good having negative externalities (Mankiw, 2011), Also the tradable permits, which could be a solution in other situations, but it may have a relation to the Chinese one, as we know the production of cigarettes is surely harming the environment so that they can use the tradable permits to minimize the supply of cigarettes. All of these are ways for the government to attempt to correct market failure by influencing both supply and demand for goods. This is exactly the situation in China, cigarettes has a negative impact generally and increasing day after day its negative effects on the society, thus the government decided to make new strict rules to lower this impact as mentioned in the article, so this directly mean that the Chinese government has decided to weather apply legislation or ban more powerfully beside their stable taxation and their advertising influence. But in the situation of china they have many limitations and variable parameters that will surely affect their decisions as that The tobacco companies have huge influence in the whole Chinese industry, which means that banning couldn’t be the correct way to solve their problem as The government operates a monopoly on tobacco sales, which brings in huge amounts of source to the government as tax receipts, also at legislation may be at the same situation of banning because some Campaigners say it is difficult to promote anti-smoking policies for the reason that china is one of the biggest suppliers and producers of cigarettes as the foreign countries franchise in china for the low labor income, (Arnold, 2007) so that puts china in a bad situation as lack of transparency which may lead to internal political problems†¦for example, if they legalize and allow franchisor to come, they may lose the confidence of people. For the reason that foreign companies come to china to produce their cigarettes because â€Å"The cost of a packet of cigarettes is significantly lower in China than in many western countries†. The solution which may help the Chinese government to interfere and either to correct the market failure economically if happens or socially to help the society to maintain good health and social wellbeing (Arnold, 2007), is actually the taxation by increasing very high percentage of tax {figure B}, after putting in consideration all of the limitations, the use of taxation is the ideal solution. To conclude, we can say that the government has to keep the market under surveillance because the market is left totally free, surely will appear overproduction of goods having negative externalities as demerit goods, as cigarettes or goods that passes from steps in production that pollute the environment, causing circumstances as spreading different diseases and danger for all living organisms which leads socially to high death rate and economically on the long term to economical crisis. Therefore, government has to interfere, to limit the extent of demerit goods on the free market, to insure a safe future both economically and socially. Bibliography Arnold, R. A. (2007). Microeconomics. switzerland: thomas south-western. Mankiw, N. G. (2011). Principles of Economics Study Guide. New City : Cengage Learning.

Has the development of Human Resource Management practices replaced the need for trade unions Essay

According to Phelan (2007, pp. 45-47), trade unions were the most powerful organizations after the industrial revolution. During the 19th and 20th century, management was largely mechanistic and the position of workers was not felt unless the force of the numbers was employed. As a result, the membership to the trade unions increased steadily to 1979 after which a sharp decline is evident. During the 20th century, Donna, Stephen and Roderick (2007, p. 832) report that over one third of all employees belonged to trade unions by 1979 before declining sharply o 13. % by year 2000. In their view, Gurpreet (2007, p. 85) and Hearnshaw (2007, p. 76) argue that the trade unions decline is an indication of the critical period that change must be embraced to create greater value of the production systems. According to Tove, Hammer and Bayazit (2009, pp. 405-406), the unions lacked the needed sensitivity to their members and held their views towards salaries and job security only. Under this model, unions failed to recognize the fact that if employees were guaranteed what the unions provided, they would lack their value. From their view point, Coca-Stefaniak, Hallsworth and Bainbridge (2005, pp. 361-363) argue that trade unions’ mandates lacked clear definition and therefore kept overlapping between political delineations to employees protection. Consequently, many leaders used them to settle political scores and stepping stones to power. Indeed, Marlow (2006, p. 54) points an accusing finger to this vagueness in executing their mandates that employees sought to distance themselves. A major question that arises at this point is what is indeed the future of the unions? Though many analysts appear to avoid answering the question directly, Pencavel (2003, p. 21) and Blanden and Machin (2003, pp. 121-122) suggest that the unions will indeed not fully die, but resilience of their roles will be evident when major problems occur. Comparison of human resources managements and trade unions Comparison of trade human resources and trade unions brings out the picture of two negating forces but geared towards achieving the same objectives. To begin with, trade unions were run politically and therefore involved a very wide spectrum of employees they dealt with. As a result, Gill (2009, pp. 41-42) explains it was very hard to address the demands of the different members with ease. On the other hand, human resources management is a discipline defined by clear cut professional outline that have key objectives. Redman and Wilkinson (2009, p. 121) explain that apart from this clear objectivity, human resources managers have a narrower spectrum, for instance, one company or institution, which makes it easier to address concerns of their subjects. The approach and consideration of trade unions as Marchington and Wilkinson (2005, p. 114) pointed out in their study, was based on a competitive model that was viewed as a major achievement for specific leaders. As a result, other options were locked out; a consideration that created controversy with economists and political elites. Marchington and Wilkinson (2005, p. 117) further point out that human resources managers consider conflicts to be critical aspects that must be addressed carefully in defining a better relationship and ultimately greater productivity. Though Jose and Fernando (2002, pp. 181-182), use of the term ‘militant’ when referring to trade unions has received sharp criticism, it is perhaps the correct term. Trade unions main method of addressing conflicts was use of strikes and demonstrations. As a result, they resulted to great losses to particular institutions, companies and even nations. Human resources managers however, balance between critical human qualifications, existing infrastructure and overall returns as dictated by the demand and supply of resulting products. Gill (2009, pp. 41-42) therefore concurs with Marlow (2006, p. 78) that everybody has his own niche and stands a better chance of advancing with ease. Modern roles of human resources a) Staffing and selection The roles of human resources have over the years changed with the rising demand to view employees as a responsive system as opposed to a rigid consideration Farber and Western (2002, pp. 398-399) explains that this role therefore creates a harmonic platform that proactively addresses key problems that necessitated the need for trade unions. Staffing and selection is done on the basis of merits; a consideration that give employees great security both locally and internationally. By conducting effective selection, the employees do not feel threatened, but are given a chance to improve on their skills which the organization they work for strongly struggles to retain while others remain opportunistic to outsource (Blanden and Machin, 2003, pp. 126-127). Unions are therefore rendered less essential as job security is indeed very high and payments highly sustainable. ) Rewarding compensation and motivation management To concur with Gill (2009, p. 90) conclusion, poor rewarding systems formed the basis of unions in the mid-twentieth century. At this time most production were privately owned, but most importantly, they lacked effective competition to trigger better compensation and motivation of their workers. Human resources managements’ greatest roles are indeed to assess performance, initiate the needed improvement ef forts and most importantly reward the best performers. In his theory of human needs, Robert Maslow argued that when employees are guaranteed the needed capacity for progression towards self actualization, other systems are easily foregone (Gill, 2009, p. 48). Unlike the trade unions that provided only raising the salaries, human resources create a roadmap for sustainability; a factor that Brewster (2004, p. 371) indicate directly disrupts their consideration for unionization. c) Employee’s development and modelling When refereeing to the current replacement of trade unions roles with human resources management, one cannot fail to focus on the modelling and development roles. Though trade unions train their members on different aspects of their relationship with their seniors and the employers, greater credit as Jose and Fernando (2002, p. 189), suggests, is given to human resources managements. As indicated earlier, trade unions lack the necessary specificity on their members who are highly diverse. Due to their smaller nature of operation, human resources have proved to be more effective in that employees are continuously modelled with close supervision with an aim of improving their place in an organization. Jose and Fernando (2002, pp. 188-190) add that modelling sets a clear role model and a definite roadmap to follow in addressing their concerns and issues. d) Negotiating and change management Unlike during the period of the trade unions, negotiations have taken a central position for all the employees. Brewster (2004, p. 368) explains that human resources management eliminates key bureaucracies and therefore brings the employees closer to the top leadership. Furthermore, human resources management facilitates teamwork to encourage involvement of all the workers in negotiating their views in an organization. To infer greater need for negotiations, Coca-Stefaniak et al (2005, pp. 366-367) argue that internal and external change agents often propose changes towards improving the welfare of the employees and ultimate productivity of the company. As a result, the need for trade unions to create either a rise in payments or even improved working conditions does not arise. Counterarguments In his view, Phelan (2007, pp. 4-75) suggests that trade unions roles will remain critical despite the current decline. He further points out that though many workers have shifted from the trade unions; their need will always be rekindled during the periods of major crisis. During the 2007-2008 financial crises, many workers turned to trade unions for protection of their jobs. Pencavel (2003, p. 25) cites the political interference in reducing the relevance o f the unions. As a result, strength of trade unions will always recur when new political elites with favouring views rise to power. However, the two counterarguments fail to acknowledge the great advancements in technology that facilitate easier detection of workplace problems, faster communication and precise assessment that assists in making the correct decisions to avoid major issues (Hearnshaw, 2007, p. 69). Conclusion and recommendations From the above discussion, this paper supports the thesis statement, ‘the critical roles played by human resources managements that greatly satisfies the customers, improves their earnings, secures their employment, and maintains the correct organization cultures have increasingly replaced the need for trade unions. Trade unions came out as strong movements that were very vibrant during the 20th century when clear professionalism lacked in running businesses and organizations. Human resources management came in with great specialization that is highly proactive and employees driven; a consideration that surpassed the major roles of the unions. However, counterarguments presented in the discussion are true and their roles will often recur during periods of major crisis in organizations.

Illegal immigrant Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Illegal immigrant - Essay Example With the downfall of the United States economy, finding jobs has become a difficult and almost impossible task for many people. Many businesses are unable to afford to take on new workers, or potential employees are either under-qualified or overqualified. Illegal immigrants, on the other hand, are finding no problems whatsoever in obtaining employment, finding the few jobs that are willing to pay employees regardless of their citizenship. Since these immigrants are illegal, they are either using fake identification cards to get their job or are else being paid under the table, and therefore are not contributing to state or federal taxes. If a legal resident of this country were in that job, the money they would make would be going to taxes, which is part of being an American. These taxes also help the state of the economy. Furthermore, when these illegal immigrants take on these jobs, they are taking away job opportunities for people that legally have a right to be working in this c ountry. Numerous news broadcasts have revealed that many places are hiring illegally, despite the fact that there are many legal people in this country who need a job just as bad as the person who obtained the employment illegally. Children of illegal immigrants have also shown to put a great strain on legal Americans in the school systems because of their inability to speak the dominating language of the classroom, which is English, and this can slow down the progress of the classroom. When young illegal immigrants enter this country, they usually do not know how to speak, read, or write in English. This has caused school systems to put these children in a level of immediate priority, slowing down the progress of the rest of the class so that those children can catch up. They are unable to keep up with the rest of the class, and instead of seeking help outside of the classrooms; teachers must use class time to ensure that those non-English speaking students understand what it going on. This slows down the rest of the students, and it is all for the sake of just a couple of students. Instead of learning the language of the country that they are immigrating to, they instead make it difficult for the rest of the students to learn as they attempt to grasp what they are being taught. In a few of my classes, the lessons would have to be stopped so that the non-English speakers would be given the chance to either have the information translated for them or explained in a way, usually through a combination of English and sign language, so that they may understand what is being said. Similarly, colleges have begun to pay special attention to the citizenship status of students, though not in a way that benefits legal residents. Unable to afford schooling, which is something that many people can currently relate to, illegal immigrants are given the scholarships and grants that should rightfully be given to the students that legally reside in this country. Many American college-hopefuls have found it to be increasingly difficult to obtain the money they need to attend school because someone else is receiving it. More often than not, that someone else is illegal and should not be receiving government funds. Finally, illegal immigrants are depleting the resources and opportunities that are reserved for legal residents. Some of

Religion in the Workplace Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Religion in the Workplace - Essay Example As such, practitioners of Buddhism are calm, positive, and centered, especially during stressful incidents or moments that people would normally respond to with anger. In the workplace, Buddhism can bring about numerous positive experiences for both an individual and anyone who happens to communicate with that individual. As in any workplace, stress levels and tempers tend to be high; indeed, it can almost be considered proper workplace conduct to tread with caution around one’s boss or supervisor for fear of upsetting them or getting on their bad side. Someone who follows the practices and tenets of Buddhism will find it easier to respond to people that often let situations, and thus their emotions, get the better of them. Even during a crisis, a Buddhist is able to remain calm and rational. While in the workplace, they can use these practices to help keep a clear mind so that they may focus on their work and not on the negativity that surrounds them.

Battle of Tarawa Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Battle of Tarawa - Term Paper Example The battle was meant to stop the Japanese operations in the central regions of the pacific and the Americans initiated it. The United States marine force was the only ones that used amphibious warfare, but were opposed for the first time by the Japanese during this war. After this war, it was discovered that amphibious warfare played a big role in aiding military operations in inaccessible areas. The Political and Strategic Considerations Facing the Americans in the Central Pacific In 1943 Tarawa was the first attempt of the Americans to use amphibious warfare against a highly guarded beach. The United States were fighting to capture the island of Tarawa from the Japanese so that they could use it for their pacific military operations. During this time, the World War II was progressing into the pacific and the U.S navy needed a base in the east to launch their attacks. This was because they needed to be close to the places they were to launch attacks on and Tarawa provided the most v iable base (Tucker 515). The Marianas islands were also a strategic position for the United States navy to launch attacks and hound the Japanese away. These islands provided a close range to access the Philippines, Japan and other areas in the pacific. The islands of Tarawa provided a good base that the United States military would use to capture the Marianas islands hence they needed to base their operation there so that they could capture the Island easily by attacking the Japanese army. The Japanese also knew the importance of this island sand they had increased their defense over the land so that they could use it to conduct their defense operations. The battle started on November 20, 1943 and lasted for three days, but it is among the most callous assaults involving the marines. Since the islands were inaccessible, the United States marine used the sea to launch attacks on the Japanese soldiers who had not incorporated this technology into their defense mechanisms. The United S tates believed that the Japanese could only be defeated by amphibious attacks and they had strategized to defeat Germany, increase pressure on Japan to leave the islands and to keep China in the war (Langone 363). Why the Central Pacific Drive Begun In the Gilbert Islands The central pacific drive was stated in the Gilbert Islands because of their strategic position. They were a territory of the British but were taken up by the Japanese in 1941.they are north and west of other islands that were owned by the Japanese and were south and east of other important bases suitable for defense. These islands provided a suitable place for the Japanese forces to get access to the other parts of their territory since it was accessible unlike other areas. The United States navy aimed at this island so that they could secure a base for attacks on the Japanese. This island would offer good communication channels and other services that would aid in increasing pressure on the Japanese. Attacks from the gilberts islands would foster the United States efforts to attack the Japanese strong holds and this is why capturing the Gilbert Islands was of significant importance. The Key Operational Concerns during the Planning Of Operation Galvanic The Operation Galvanic was started by the United States navy and was intended to take over control of the Gilbert Island

Lyme Disease Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Lyme Disease - Research Paper Example The disease was characterized by outbreaks in the early fall and during the summer which showed that the vector was an arthropod (Todar, n.d). Initially children were diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis; however, the increasing prevalence of the illness resulted in a detailed scientific research concerning the etiology of the disease. Studies of the pathogenesis and signs of the disease led to the discovery of its connection with Borrelia burgdorferi (Todar, n.d).This led to the distinction of the disease from rheumatoid arthritis as rheumatoid fever has an auto immune etiology (Edwards, Cambridge and Abrahams, 1999). The similarity of the symptoms of both diseases led to the incorrect diagnosis. Lyme disease has the highest prevalence among tick borne diseases in the Northern Hemisphere (Fell, 2000). Etiology The etiological agent was discovered by Willy Brgdorfer in 1982 (Todar, n.d). It was isolated from the gut of the black legged tick and was identified to be a spiroche te from the genus Borrelia (Todar, n.d). The spirochetes were found to react with serum which had been extracted from patients suffering from Lyme disease. The etiologic agent was named after Willy Burgdorfer and is known as Borrelia burgdorferi. Other species which cause Lyme disease include B. garinii and B. afzelii. Recent studies have also suggested that Borrelia miyamotoi is a causative agent as it has been found to occur in areas where Lyme disease is an endemic (Krause, Wormser and Narasimhan et al., 2013). Lyme disease is transmitted by an agent known as Inxodes scapularies. The bacteria live within the gut of these ticks which feed on human and animal blood. These ticks feed on blood for a long period of time and the bites are usually undetected due to the size of the ticks (Lo Re, occi and Mc Gregor, 2004). Risk Factors Some of the risk factors associated with Lyme disease are the activities in which one participates (Mayo Staff clinic, 2005). Individuals who spend a major ity of their time outdoors are prone to Lyme disease. The area which an individual lives in is also a risk factor for Lyme disease. Such areas include the Midwest and Northeast region (Diuk-Wasser, 2012). Ticks are mostly active during the warm seasons between May and November; hence this time period poses a risk of contracting the disease (Lyme disease Update Review, n.d). Events such as camping, hiking and gardening are also risk factors. The risk of contracting Lyme disease is high in individuals exposed to ticks. The highest cases have been reported among individuals between 5-15 years and 45-54 years old (University of Maryland Medical Center, n.d). Lyme disease is only transmitted in approximately 3% of all tick bites and the length of the bite increases the risk of transmission. Mechanism of the disease. Borrelia burgdorferi undergoes an infectious cycle from nymph moulds to adults. The female lays eggs which feed on the first host and are then dropped to the ground and trans form to nymph. The nymphs then attach and feed on the second host (Wasiluk, 2011). The chronic form of the disease affects numerous organs of the body, in particular, the joints, skin, brain and heart. The disease is classified into three stages, the first stage being of limited infection, which is followed disseminated infection and the last stage is late borreliosis (Wasiluk, 2011).

Current Threats to Maritime Activity Research Paper

Current Threats to Maritime Activity - Research Paper Example However, a huge threat is also imposed by poor relationships among countries since it hinders the deterrence and capture of terrorist elements. This paper found that increased international cooperation is essential to minimizing threats to maritime activities. Maritime activities are essential to trade and socioeconomic development. It is on the sea that many countries rely on the production and transportation of goods. However, countries and private industries face a worsening threat in maritime activities because of the growing and re-emerging threats at sea. These threats include terrorism, piracy, drug trafficking, oil smuggling, and transportation of criminal elements and materials (Gilbride & Nash, 2004). As Gilbride and Nash note, â€Å"oceans are the largest ungoverned space on the planet,† which makes the sea a greater security challenge for the global community. In 2004, then President George W. Bush emphasized that the American government is intent on disrupting every enemy threats (as cited in â€Å"National Strategy,† 2005), including those at sea. The first step towards a safer maritime environment is the identification of threats posed by criminal entities. Most of these are related either directly or indirectly to terrorism and pose serious economic threats to every nation around the world. Deng (1997) enumerates five types of activities that fall under maritime activities: â€Å"(1) state politics, including military operations, expansion, administration, diplomacy, exile, rebellions, and popular movements against the state; (2) cultural exchange; (3) expeditions; (4) immigration; and (5) trade.† Although the five activities Deng enumerated above are all essential to national development and security, the first and the last ones create the greatest impact for any country. Hence, this paper will focus on

Managing Operation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words - 2

Managing Operation - Essay Example Toyota is a Japanese car manufacturing company and it is one of the leading companies in the global automobile industry, producing well known models such as Corolla, Camry and Lexus. Though a late entrant compared to General Motors and Ford, Toyota had become one strongest player in the automobile industry. In an industry generally considered to be mature in terms of technology, Toyota had continued to set benchmarks for providing value to customers more effectively than competitors. Toyota had also redefined the rules of operation management in various areas like product development, manufacturing process, vendor management, customer satisfaction and human resource management. The formal establishment of Toyota motor company ltd., took place in 1937 and since then it has moved onto become the leader in the global automobile industry. By March 31 2008, Toyota group approximately sold 8.9 million vehicles in 170 countries under the Toyota, Lexus, Daihatsu and Hino brands. Since the automobile industry is now facing a recession, Toyota aims to achieve sustainable growth by building a more flexible and stronger operational process and corporate structure to counter the challenges of the hyper competitive market world over (Annual Report, Toyota, 2008). The key objective of this paper will be to examine and evaluate how Toyota successfully manages key components of its operational management such as meeting customer requirements, improving product quality, effective implementation of projects as well as efficient monitoring and evaluation of completed projects. The essay will utilise the open system organisational theory and how it is manifested in the Toyota Production System (TPS) to guide the operations of the company. Thereafter, the TPS will be utilised to highlight how Toyota manages the procedures associated with new product introduction and old product improvement as well as

Project Promotional Campaign Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Project Promotional Campaign - Essay Example make a point that they are the largest hotel brand in the service industry they offer client’s a money back guarantee that is termed as â€Å"Good Night Guarantee†, which covers for the rooms, hospitality, service and the overall experience at the hotel (Premier Inn, 2009). The hotel offers a lot of packages to its clients’. The most noticeable ones’ are the 2 for 1 package where a customer pays for the rent for one individual but can accommodate two, additionally the kids are free. Then there is the park and fly package, which includes a nights stay, car parking facilities and Grab & Go Breakfasts. Another important offering to the clients is the premier offer that allows people to stay at the hotel for as low as  £ 29. This cheap accommodation is only provided to customers if they plan and book their stay online at least 21 days prior to their arrival. The objectives of the promotional campaign are focused around the increasing the brand value. There are several factors which can be used to increase the brand value. The first one is building awareness of the offer in the mind of the target market. In order to sell a service it is of utmost importance to reach out to the customers effectively and portray to them exactly what is on offer. Then, the company should focus on creating consumer interest and providing information through easy and well communicated channels. Another important objective of the campaign is to stimulate the demand; the right promotion can drive customers to make a purchase. Finally, the most important objective of the promotional effort is to reinforce the brand name (Know This, 2009). Promotion should not be viewed as an effort to incur a onetime sales but it should be an effort that promotes the brand. The brand value and brand loyalty will reap long term benefits and hence the effort and the cost associate d with the promotional campaign should aim to increase the brand value and loyalty. The target audience for this offer is

Retail Marketing (retail development) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Retail Marketing (retail development) - Essay Example This is the process of matching the personal requirements of consumers and the product from the producers. Retailers break the bulk for the consumers. On the other hand, one stop shopping is a concept that allows a collection of products to consumers at one location. The ideology behind this kind of retail development is to ensure convenience for customers since their needs are usually varied. It's also beneficial to the business as it will be able to sell more. A retailer is an agency, a person, or an institution that is influential or very active in ensuring that merchandise or products are available to the final consumer (Kaufman 2006). Retailers often carry out critical tasks that ensure the products are attractive to the clients and that they fulfil the need that they are intended for. By this, the retailers are able to anticipate the needs of the clients, develop a variety of products, collect market information and obtain financial support (Thorne & Mackey 2007). There is a common assumption that retailing involves the selling of products in stores. This is partly true as the phenomenon also includes the selling of services like in a beauty parlour, car rental and restaurants. One very important function of retailing is providing a variety of products at one place for the clients. ... One-stop shopping has developed rapidly due to the changing societal needs to save time, find convenience and minimize movement (Kaufman 2006). The contemporary society now finds this trend conducive with the current lifestyle since shoppers are able to fulfil most of their need at once in one place. This therefore means that an appropriate assortment of products is a must and that the desirable mix of stores has to be collected together at one convenient spot (Samli 2003). One-stop shopping is associated directly with the number of hours people spend in stores shopping The use of a product's best characteristics within the promotions in the market is still very appropriate but it's evident that due to competition and the needs of clients, something more than just market campaign has to be done (Thorne & Mackey 2007). The service industry has been spearheading the changes and has become the primary criteria that clients use to determine where to shop. Better service will keep the clients coming back. The tendency has naturally developed and influenced the product stores to adopt offering a variety of goods and services under one umbrella (Kaufman 2006). This benefits the customers and sellers. The location of a business unit is critical. Producers usually consider different factors before they can decide on where to locate their premises for stores. Some of them include market availability, factors of production and security. Retailers base their location of demand, supply and store image factors. The number of operation units is usually very high in a one stop shopping centre. This is so that the centre can be able to meet the demand and cover a wide geographical area (Thorne & Mackey 2007) In a shopping centre, retailer

John Paul Jones Essay Example for Free

John Paul Jones Essay John Paul Jones was an officer of the infant Continental Navy who took the War of Independence all the way to British soil and carried out surprise raids. Responding to Britains looting and burning of Colonial America, John Paul Jones damaged or destroyed strongholds and absconded with needed supplies. He is regarded as America’s greatest Revolutionary naval commander and the founder of America’s naval traditions. John Paul Jones was born in 1747 to an estate gardener in Scotland. His maritime career began at the early age of 13 when he started work as an apprentice to a ship owner. He was initially into the slaving trade that happened between England, America, West Indies and Africa. But soon, he started to hate the slaving trade. At the age of 21, he received his first chance to captain the brig when the captain and first mate succumbed to a fever. He soon became a successful merchant sailor (Blythe, 2006). In 1773 on the island of Tobago, he was forced to counter mutinous sailors fighting for more pay. In the act of defending himself, he killed one of sailors. Scared of legal punishment, he escaped to America and took the name John Paul Jones. This was the period when America was at odds with Britain over taxes and a revolution was brewing. Empathizing with the Americans, due to his familiarity with the highhandedness of the British at Scotland, Jones joined Americas quest for liberty. When the war broke out in 1775, Jones volunteered for service in the brand-new Continental Navy. America did not have any kind of naval power during the initial stages of the Revolutionary War. But soon, the Congress decided to convert merchant ships to ships of war and also began to build new naval ships. Jones was able to contribute his knowledge of ships and his naval experience towards the building of the American navy (Blythe, 2006). During the four years of his service in the navy during the American Revolution, he gave repeated and brilliant examples of naval warfare that was best suited to the forces of the colonies. He found that he was the only officer in the service who was capable of formulating effective plans for the improvement of the navy. He immediately began to shape his ideas into practical suggestions calculated to bring order out of the utterly chaotic conditions which existed in the government at Philadelphia. His knowledge of the rules and standards of the British navy helped him formulate the rules and standards for the American navy with due regard for the differing conditions in the colonies (Russell, 1927). The Congress, on November the 2d, voted one hundred thousand dollars for the purchase of four ships, and empowered the naval committee to engage officers and seamen. John Paul Jones first took over as second in command of the Alfred (Russell, 1927). In January, 1776, Commodore Ezek. Hopkins arrived in Philadelphia, and escorted by an eager throng of citizens, went down to the Delaware where lay eight ships of the new fleet. On his boarding the Alfred, Captain Saltonstall gave the signal and Lieutenant Jones pulled up to the masthead the first American naval flag. This was not the banner with thirteen stripes, but a rectangle of yellow silk bearing a picture of a rattlesnake and the legend â€Å"Don’t Tread on Me†. Thus Jones came to be known widely as the â€Å"Founder of the American Navy† (Koven, 1913). John Paul Jones was later put in charge of Providence, with 21 mounted guns. Jones soon captured 16 British vessels on a single cruise. While on Providence, Jones was ordered to do convoy duty for ships carrying supplies for the defense of New York. To do this, he had to pass through the widespread fleet of Lord Howe, which was blockading the Northern ports. He got himself chased several times, beat off the British frigate Cerberus which attacked him near Block Island, and saved the supply ship Hispaniola from threatened capture (Russell, 1927). Here it is important to note that John Paul Jones enjoyed being chased. He liked to linger until almost overhauled, and then tack and be off before the wind before the enemy had waked up. He was never overtaken and never boarded. For two reasons: he knew what to do, both by training and instinct; and he never took a ship which was not fast. He returned to Philadelphia from his successful convoy voyage three weeks after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Joseph Hewes who recruited him into the American Navy was satisfied that his find was a talented genius (Koven, 1913). According to Jones’ Journal, he suggested to Hewes that he be sent to the west coast of Africa, to intercept and harass British trading ships. He desired an offensive naval war. Hewes gave Jones an unlimited order to Jones for a free-lance cruise to last six weeks or two or three months. Jones loaded stores at once and on August 21, 1776, aboard the little Providence, carrying only twelve long-four guns and seventy men, sailed for the Bermudas on the first extensive open-sea cruise ever undertaken by a lone American warship. He met with many saucy adventures. He had to escape from the British frigate Solebay with twenty guns. The next saucy incident occurred off Sable Island, after the Providence had turned northward. The British frigate Milford surprised him while his crew was fishing. Jones permitted the frigate to chase him for eight hours, the latter meantime wasting valuable shot and shell and then made his escape. The adventure aboard the Providence lasted six weeks and five days, and during this period, he took six brigantines, one ship, and one sloop and destroyed six schooners, one ship and one brigantine. Jones also demolished the fishing at the islands of Canso and Madame. He returned to Newport, Rhode Island, on October 7, laden with spoils and glory (Koven, 1913). On November 2 Jones again sailed for Newfoundland in the Alfred, it was with the hardy crew transferred from the Providence. However, he had to give this treasured ship to Captain Hacker and take the latter along. He faced trouble because of Captain Hacker who slipped back stealthily to Rhode Island just in time to be taken by the British. During this voyage, John Paul Jones faced a lot of treachery and disobedience. Even John Adams, who reflected the New England viewpoint, viewed Jones with suspicion as he was a British man. In the Alfred, when he sailed up to Isle Royale, Jones found that his plan to free the imprisoned Americans had been balked by the winter ice. But he also had some luck. He captured a sixteen gun privateer from Liverpool. On November 12, 1776 in American waters, the Alfred captured the H. M. S. Mellish, a 350-ton armed ship that was carrying a cargo of winter uniforms and other British supplies, along with 60 British soldiers, to Quebec for His Majestys army. Jones was elated to later learn that some of the clothing reached General George Washingtons army before the Battle of Trenton. He also had to face the British frigate Milford during his voyage. The frigate came up about nightfall. Jones lured the Milford to the chase and he tacked. The enemy followed his light, thus permitting his prizes to escape. The next morning he had to decide whether to fight the Milford. He accordingly signaled Lieutenant Saunders, in charge of the captured Liverpool ship, to drop back until he could discover the enemys force. Saunders obeyed, but stupidly dropped so far back that the frigate overtook and captured him. Jones, after exchanging a few shots with the Milford, made sail for Boston, where he arrived with only two days water and provisions left. Jones felt most hurt when he was superseded in the command of the Alfred by a man who had been his junior officer by eight numbers. In May, 1777, the Marine Committee sent Captain Jones to New Hampshire to take command of the French ship Amphitrite. Jones was to sail direct to France and report to Commissioners Silas Deane, Benjamin Franklin, and Arthur Lee, who would purchase a fine frigate for him and give him orders. But the French Captain was not informed of the command and hence he was willing to take Jones as a passenger but not as the commander. Jones returned to Boston to await a new suggestion as to what he should do. After a few more days of deliberation the marine committee gave Jones command of the Ranger. On the 14th of June Congress passed two notable resolutions: the first, adopted the stars and stripes as the national banner of the United States; the second appointed Paul Jones to the command of the Ranger. Benjamin Franklin, had been taken to France by Captain Lambert Wickes so Franklin could serve as Americas first foreign diplomat to seek desperately needed help from France. John Paul Jones met with Franklin and began a fruitful relationship with the diplomat, who had been impressed with Jones exploits aboard the Providence. Jones became the first American to attack a British port, although a number of his restless crew members, preferred to attack merchant ships for the loot and avoid attacking settlements or strongholds on shore. The Ranger brought the war to Whitehaven, the very place Jones had been when he first went to sea. Jones ordered some of his men to go ashore and destroy dozens of ships in the harbor and take weapons from them. But his men were not all obedient. Some of these men became insubordinate by helping themselves to distilled spirits in a nearby pub. Despite the failure to totally destruct, this was the first surprise attack on a British seaport since 1667. Jones had sent a clear message to the British authorities: the Americans fighting for independence were not to be trifled with and were willing to bring the battle to Britain. This was truly a turning point in the American Revolution. Jones had with him Lieutenant Wallingford, Midshipmen Arthur Green and Charles Hill, and twenty-nine men. The alarm caused by this raid was absurdly out of proportion to its actual accomplishments; but beneath the hysteria was a very real fear born of the realization that Englands long untouched shores had been violated by a daring enemy who might soon strike again. Whig newspapers attacked the government for having brought this upon the people. The raid had another serious effect. It enormously increased the insurance rates on British shipping, thereby adding another burden to the growing expense of the war. After the Whitehaven raid, Jones headed toward his birthplace of Kirkcudbright to locate Selkirk Castle, the home of the Earl of Selkirk. Jones believed by capturing the earl he could use him as a bargaining chip to gain release of American prisoners. This plan did not work out as the earl was away and his crew was keen on looting the castle. Upon meeting the dignified Lady Selkirk, Jones disallowed any violence and permitted his men to take only the family silver. Some time later, Jones wrote Lady Selkirk a long letter of apology, promising to buy back the silver and return it. After the war Jones did indeed return the silver as promised at considerable personal expense, which the earl announced in Edinburgh newspapers. The next day Jones crossed the Channel and came abreast of the Irish port of Carrickfergus. There some fishermen, whom he took on board, told him that the British war sloop, the Drake, which had been at anchor in the roadstead as a guardship, was coming out to look for him. This was welcome news to Jones. He had been itching for a fight with the English in their own waters, and here was an opportunity laid in his hand. Though already informed of the Whitehaven raid, the Drakes captain had no suspicion of Joness presence, but on sighting the Ranger, he sent out a boat to reconnoitre. The midshipman in charge could not make her out because Jones kept his ships stern toward the boat, and he finally boarded her. He was astounded when informed he was the prisoner of the dreadful John Paul Jones. Instead of sinking the English ship, Jones decided to take her and carry her into a French port. Instantly he ordered his gunners to cease firing at the enemys hull and to aim instead at her sails and rigging. This was a favorite French tactic of the period, of which John Paul had doubtless been advised by the French officers back at Brest. The gunners took the hint and as their muzzles rose at the swell of the sea, they brought down the Drakes fore and main topsail yards in a heap. In a moment the ship was as helpless as a log. Jones boarded the enemy after a fight lasting an hour and four minutes. Jones lost only two killed and seven wounded. Raising the stars and stripes, he lured the Drake into deeper waters and bested her in a one-hour battle. The captured British ship, with its flag flying upside down beneath an American flag, was sailed into Brest, France, with 200 British prisoners aboard. While in France, Jones was given a ship for his personal use the Duc de Duras a merchant ship that Jones upgraded and renamed the Bonhomme Richard, which was Jones way of honoring Franklin and his famous Poor Richards Almanac. The battle between the Bonhomme Richard and the Serapis was to become among the most famous sea battles of all time. The seasoned skipper of the Serapis, Richard Pearson, knew his American enemy was close and was on the lookout. Just after 6:30 p. m. , the American commander, who had displayed a British Union Jack to cause confusion, suddenly took it down and sent up the Stars and Stripes before engaging the Serapis. Soon the two ships were locked in point-blank combat in what became known as the Battle of Flamborough Head. Hundreds of people gathered on the chalk cliffs of Flamborough Head to watch the battle, which lasted for nearly four hours with unremitting fury and was later regarded as one of the most desperate and sanguinary fights in naval history. Cannon fire boomed in both directions, ripping the ships apart piece by piece. As the citizens looked on, the two frigates became entangled together so tightly that the muzzles of the cannons from both ships at times were touching each other. Jones purposely positioned the Richard close to the swifter, copper-bottomed Serapis to deny the larger ship the advantage of its larger and more numerous cannons. Meanwhile, the Alliance, which was sailing with Jones and commanded by a Frenchman, engaged the Countess of Scarborough. Jones won that battle even though the other ships in his fleet were only marginally helpful. During the battle, Jones wisely ordered the release of all British prisoners in the Richards hold so they could man the pumps. This tactic freed his men to return to battle, where they emerged triumphant in a seemingly hopeless situation. This was the first time an American vessel had taken so powerful a British warship. Jones went back to France and was showered with honors. King Louis presented him with an inscribed sword that credited him for defending The Freedom of the Seas. Jones also was invested with the Order of Military Merit, allowing him to use the title Chevalier. King Louis even requested that a noted French sculptor cast a beautiful marble bust of Jones (Russell, 1927). The open French support garnered by John Paul Jones for the American Revolution was one of the main reasons that the American Revolution ended successfully on the side of the colonists. Jones returned to America in 1781, where he accounted for his actions at sea. His answers were so thorough that Congress approved a formal resolution thanking him for service to the cause. He was also cleared of any charges from his pre-war days in Tobago. Although Congress awarded him command of a new ship, the America, the war was ending and enthusiasm for an American navy was beginning to wane. But, even with the war over and the America out of his reach, Jones strongly urged Congress to establish a formal navy and create schools where junior officers could be taught. The principles he established provided the basis for todays U. S. Naval Academy. Bibliography: Blythe, Bob (2006). John Paul Jones (1747-1792). http://www. nps. gov/revwar/about_the_revolution/jp_jones. html Koven, De Reginald (1913). The Life and Letters of John Paul Jones Vol. 1. C. Scribners Sons, 1913 Russell, Phillips (1927). John Paul Jones: Man of Action. Brentanos, 1927.

Cultural Differences in Nonverbal Communication

Cultural Differences in Nonverbal Communication Physical appearance plays an important part in non-verbal communication. It encompasses all of the physical characteristics of an individual, including body size , skin color , hair color and style , facial hair, and facial features. Physical appearance is readily observed and reveals many aspects of psychosocial function  [2]. A persons physical appearance reveals a great deal about that person. For that reason one needs to take care of his/her look prior to participating in oral communication, especially in business setting. For instance, a clean, neat, appropriately dressed individual conveys a positive self-image, knowledge and competence. A dirty, careless or inappropriately dressed person conveys the message that he does not care about his or her look  [3]. The presence of body odor, poor hygiene, and badly dressed clothing may be associated with any of the following: depression, incompetence, impaired cognitive abilities, limited financial recourses, overwhelming care giving responsibilities, impaired vision or smell, or deficiency in access to or inability to use bathing facilities  [4]. Physical appearance includes physiological characteristics, such as eye color and height, as well as ways in which we manage, or even alter, our physical appearance. For instance, many people control their physical appearance by dieting, using steroids and other drugs, coloring their hair, having plastic surgery, wearing colored contact lenses, and using make-up  [5]. Physical appearance has an influence on communication since one evaluates others in interpersonal exchanges  [6]. Based on physical qualities one may make inferences about others personalities. Although these inferences may have no factual basis, they can affect ones personal and s ocial relationships as well as decisions about hiring, placement, and promotion  [7]. It is crucial since the first impression made during interaction lasts long. For instance, if a young intelligent man who graduated from the university with distinction and wants to get a job. However, every time he would come to a job interview, he would get rejected by potential employers who would reason he doesnt suit them. The real issue behind those rejections would be that he has a problem with the smell that comes out of his mouth. Besides problems with the smell of the body, the color of ones skin can also influence the outcome of communication and affect communication process. For instance, certain individuals will not communicate with persons who are of a particular race or ethnicity.  [8]  In such cases, communication will be difficult to realize, since it is a matter of choice that is already made by that person who prefers avoiding interracial communication and his opinion would be difficult to alter. There was a situation in Russia when an eleven year old school girl from Poland refused to play with a boy from Nigeria because he was black Another situation occurred in the daycare center in the USA where a small boy would not let Afro-American staff touch him as they looked dirty to him. Neither would he want to play with children of that race  [9]. Different cultures have different values of physical appearance. For instance, Western culture places an extremely high value on physical appearance and on specific aspects of appearance  [10]. Consequently, miscommunication may occur when a person with an inappropriate appearance from a different culture will attempt to conduct a conversation with a person from Western culture, who will perceive him or her incorrectly. The traditional African societies perceive full-figured bodies as signs of health, prosperity, and wealth, all of which are considered necessary. African Americans who support this value acknowledge or prefer women who weigh more than the ideal model for European American women or Caucasians  [11]. During intercultural communication, people will perceive each other differently and will demonstrate an attitude that they usually do in their culture. Improper usage of physical appearance in intercultural communication and setting such as a religious institution or a corporation may result in miscommunication or even violence. Hence, one needs to adjust his/her look to a setting in which s/he will interact in the hosting culture. However, paying attention only to how one looks would be insufficient if one has problems with bad smell. Olfactics Another aspect of the oral communication is odor of a communicator. As mentioned before, the interaction with a person who has bad smell can be the cause of failure to obtain a job. Olfactics is the study of communication via smell which is the least understood of all senses  [12]  and refers to the use and perception of smell as related to communication  [13]. Smell is a code that is almost exclusively nonverbal  [14]. It is a term for odors and scents as well as our perception of them  [15]. Smell is a very strong signal to most people, closely connected in many set of circumstances to strong emotions  [16]. The amount of human brain devoted to olfaction is a very large portion. Odor is first detected by the olfactory epithelium in the nose, which starts a chain of events that leads to an information flow to olfactory bulb and limbic system of the brain, which pays a key role in regulating body functions and the emotions. Smell is the only sense linked directly into the limbic system, which may be evidence of its being our most basic, primitive sense  [17]. A tiny organ in the nasal cavity that responds to chemicals such as pheromones and natural substances plays a role in basic human emotions such as fear, hunger, and those which are related to sex  [18]. Smells are almost constantly processed in a holistic manner  [19]. Most smells activate olfactory responses but there is a difference in perception of smell based on gender. Women can detect odors in lower concentrations, identify them more accurately, and remember them longer than men  [20]. Heterosexual men and women respond to the pheromones of the opposite sex with increased activity in the hypothalamus connected to sexual behavior. Lesbians respond with elevated hypothalamic activity to the estrogen -like pheromone of other women  [21]. It is possible to recall an event that occurred months or years ago when similar smells encountered again smell as such smells are a powerful memory aid  [22]. Hence the first impression lasts longer and that is why it needs to be good, which is why people use perfumes, soaps, and body deodorants to convey a particular image to others or to cover up natural odor which is related to hormones and DNA structures and is too a part of the olfatic code  [23]. There are many ways in which smell is applied. One of them is in aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is the application of oils of flowers, herbs, and plants to make people feel better, which was widely practiced in ancient Chinese, Egyptian, and Indian civilizations and is widely applied today in Belgium, England, France, Germany, and Switzerland. Besides, fragrance is used in the workplace in Japan in order to enhance efficiency and reduce stress among office workers  [24]. Another application of smell is in marketing because advertisers believe that smell is important. For instance, Mike Gatti, the executive director of marketing at the National Retail Federation stated: A lot of retail companies use it, and its purpose really is to keep customers in your store, to create this welcoming environment and it works; it does keep people in your store longer. It helps people feel better in their shopping, and in a lot of cases causes them to spend more money.  [25]  Fragrance strips in magazines enable consumers to sample a perfume.  [26]  In other words, smell is used as a method of persuasion in mass communication. Likewise, smell refers to body odor. Certain cultures are sensitive to any body odor; others conceal body odor with perfumes and colognes; and still others find the odor of perfumes and colognes unpleasant. Generally, body odor is affected by the food one eats; interesting enough, those who eat meat have a different body odor  [27]. Since Attitudes to body odor vary considerably across cultures, they can sometimes cause problems  [28]. People will react positively or negatively to other people based on the way they smell. A persons smell remains in another persons long after he or she has left the room. For instance, citizens from the United States consider body odors, bad breath, perspiration, or too much cologne to be offensive. In turn, as clean as US inhabitants think they are, many cultures consider their smell offensive. Because people of the United States eat much more meat than people in many other countries, their body odor is different from those who are from other coun tries in which more vegetables and fish are consumed. Japanese and Filipinos are raised to be very conscious of different odors and often complain about the way US Americans smell. Although U.S inhabitants tend to be uncomfortable with natural smells, Middle Easterners and Filipinos believe being able to smell a friends breath is pleasing. Without knowing how culture perceives odors and how one is expected to react to odors, one is not able to behave appropriately in business environment. Lack of knowledge in the olfactics area has affected many business transaction  [29]. Here is an example how smell can affect someones career in intercultural communication: A medical doctor from Saudi Arabia was completing an internship in a hospital in the southern United States. Problems arose when patients refused to have the Saudi doctor examine them. Interviews with patients revealed two problems: he smelled bad and he breathed on the patients. The doctors orientation had apparently failed to include the incongruence between Arabic and U.S American perceptions of smell.  [30]   In order to be accepted by people from other cultures, an individual needs to adopt the hygiene practices of the country he is visiting or in which he is conducting business  [31]  . Unfortunately, that medical doctor, being in the US, was proficient only in English and Medicine. He didnt have sufficient communicative competence to avoid the misunderstanding described above. Proxemics Besides smell, there is a need to take a look at another aspect of communication that leads people into misperception of each other proxemics. It is the study of personal space and how humans use distance in general. This term was first used in 1963 by an anthropologist and researcher Edward T. Hall  [32]. Proxemics relates to spatial distance between persons interacting with each other, and their orientation toward each other. Individuals generally divide their personal space into four distinct zones. Edward Hall identified four spatial zones: Intimate space 0- 1, 5 feet. For family members and beloved. Personal space 1, 5-4 feet. For friends. Social space 4-12 feet. For strangers. Public space 12 feet-and more  [33]. Proxemics is nonverbal communication that deals with physical distance between people. When someone moves into intimate space with another person who does not want to be intimate with him/her, that person, whose personal space is trespassed, is likely to become uncomfortable and put up barriers. This situation is also known as invading the persons space. People who feel that their space has been violated will step back or cross their arms. However, if an individual stays within the social space zone with a close friend who prefers to be in his personal or intimate space, this may result in negative feelings  [34]. Proxemics is the communicative aspect of personal space and or territory. Everyone is believed to be encircled by an invisible zone of psychological comfort that follows us everywhere we travel. That invisible zone provides persons with a lot of nonverbal information regarding the level of trust and intimacy that an individual has for other people. Cooperation is a key factor in the street negotiation and its participant must be able to read the level of comfort of the person s/he is dealing with and must take into consideration the amount of distance that an individual needs to be comfortable while being dealt with. Knowing the dynamics of personal space will also prevent one party of the interaction from unknowingly violating their counterparts personal space and causing unnecessary tension. Distance between people depends on power and authority that a person has. People who possess the most power and authority command a greater amount of personal space that they can entitle as their own. They will often distance themselves from other people of less power around them. Confident people, and people of higher status, are comfortable going straight to the center of the attention while lower status, or non-confident people, to tend to have near the exits or the back of the room  [35]. The comfort zones vary drastically between cultures. Arabs and Americans differed significantly in proxemics, the Arabs interacting with each other closer and more directly than Americans. The differences in distance between subjects from different Arab regions were smaller than those in different American regions. Arabs interact much closer to each other. Latin Americans exhibit less closeness than Arabs, but still interact much closer than Anglo Americans. Interactants stand farther apart and the frequency of tactile contact diminishes as one goes from Central to South America.

The Work Life Balance In Nestl International Management Essay

The Work Life Balance In Nestl International Management Essay Work/life balance is a very broader term and often referred to finding the right equilibrium between the different aspects and roles in a life of a person. Although there are different views and concepts about work/life balance but it is generally coupled with maintaining an overall balance in different aspects of life. During the last decade technological revolution has stormed all aspects of life and there were different debates about the future of work. Different scenarios predicted a rising trend in un-employment and economic insecurity. Industrial restructuring and emergence of latest technology no only affected the importance of workforce but it was also felt that employees will be treated as superfluous overheads. In this study of work/life balance the main objective will be to examin the ability of employees to handle concurrently the versatile demands of life at Nestle International. Work/life balance demands the right balance and equal amount of time devoted to official as well as personal life. The theory of this concept is not that simple and requires many developments and additional components to be incorporated. There are three different levels of equilibrium that affect the work/life balance. CHAPTER 1 Introduction History of Work/Life Balance: During the 1960s and 1970s, the concept of work/life balance was a new one and was basically used for those working mothers who usually struggle to cop up the requirements of their jobs as well as raising their children. However during the 1980s the importance of work life balance acknowledged all over the world and many multinational companies introduced the policies and measures to secure the rights of the workers and tried to maintain a right balance in their culture. By the end of the decade, work-life balance was seen as more than just a womens issue and male workers also raised their voices. By the mid of the 1990s work-life balance became a fundamental issue for individuals and it became a necessary part of the strategies of all the organizations all over the world. This growing awareness of the central importance of the issue resulted in major growth in attempted work-life solutions during this decade and many new studies and ideas emerged. As for today the situation has changed drastically and many changes have been made in labour law regarding the protection of rights of the workers and these changes in laws also have a significant affect on HRM policies and strategies of the organizations. Why Work/life Balance so Important? Over the past few decades, there has been substantial increase in work which is felt due to a very stiff competition in global markets and ever increasing pressure and demands from the organizations that expects more and more from their employees yet offers a very little security and compensations in return. For many employees today including both male and female their lives are becoming more complex and difficult with an increased burden of family and other personal responsibilities and interests. Therefore, in an effort to retain employees and maximize their performance, it is increasingly important for organizations to recognize this balance. This increased pressure has affected the life of worker at Nestle International in many ways. It is not only harming the social norms but also causing many physical and psychological diseases such as heart problem, weak immune system, stiff muscles, exhaustion and jumpiness etc. Increased working hours means there will be very less time to be spend with family and community. If an employee is not mentally satisfied or balanced, he will not be able to perform his duties with due diligence and care. Now, however, things have taken altogether a different turn. Employees quality of work-life is becoming a burning issue all over the world. For a growing number of employers, human resource challenges are their biggest concern. Leading employers are recognizing that positive work-life outcomes for employees from achieving work-life balance to the satisfactions of challenging work and career development are key ingredients of a successful business strategy. In practice, improving the quality of work life remains a tough challenge. Naturally, many managers see the important links between the quality of work life and organizational performance. Yet they face barriers to progress. So it is necessary to update the case for taking action to improve the quality of jobs and work environments. A happy and well balanced employee will not only perform his daily operation with utmost care but will also be able to avoid different complex social problems. Work/life programs will not only help to boost employees morale, reduce absenteeism, preventing the outflow of valuable information of the organization in difficult economic situations but will also reduce the cost and affect the overall performance of the company. It is very important for the human resource professional to understand the critical issues of work/life balance. Be it employees whose family members and/or friends are called to serve their country, single mothers who are trying to raise their children and make a living. Objectives of the Research To understand the concept of work/life balance. To understand the importance of a good and happy relationship between employer and employee. To evaluate the importance of work/life balance from the perspective of both the employer and employees. To explore the work/life balance at Nestle International. To evaluate the strategies of management at Nestle International and their role in maintaining work/life balance. To find out the solutions of different problems faced by the Nestle management in maintaining work/life balance within the organization. Importance of Work/life Balance from the Perspective of Employer: A balanced culture/environment in any organization will not only be helpful for employees in different ways but it will also provide many tangible benefits to the business. Implementing work/life balance provides an excellent opportunity to consult with staff to review the job design and develop innovative and supportive work practices. This sort of consultation will ensure the needs of individuals are met and a more agile workplace is achieved. It will also lead to a greater level of employee commitment to the success of the business. By minimizing the employees turnover in organization you will not only boost your repute as a good employer but it will also help to achieve the quality standard of products out prevent the outflow of valuable inside information to other organizations because if a skilled worker will leave the organization it will take a hell lot of time any money to replace him with some other suitable person. Importance of Work/life Balance from the Perspective of Employee: The For human being, home is a shadow of heaven on earth where he goes and takes rest but due to imbalance structure between work and life it has become an additional place of work with plenty of office tasks and assignment. Any human being will be able to perform his duties and tasks deliberately only when he/she has a right balance in between his/her official and personal life. A balanced and happy employee is more likely to perform better at work and can provide many tangible benefits for a business. There are new ways to make work work that benefit both employers and employees. In fact, research shows that flexibility is a critical component of workplace effectiveness and that employees who work in flexible and effective work places are more likely to: Be engaged in their jobs and committed to helping the company succeed. Plan on staying with their employers. Be satisfied with their job, which translates to good customer service. Exhibit better mental health and wellbeing. CHAPTER 2 Literature Review Introduction: Nestle is a Switzerland based company, founded by Henri Nestle in 1866. The success story of transforming a single mans idea into a giant corporation started from developing a milk food formula for infants by Mr. Henri in 1866. Soon the Nestle products became a success and more and more businesses wanted to merge or start a partnership with Nestle. In 1905 Henri Nestle joined hands with a Swiss milk company and the companys name became Nestlà © Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Co. Then in 1929, Peter-Cailler-Kohler Chocolats Suisses S.A. merged with the company. The name was then changed to Nestlà © Anglo-Swiss Holding Co. Ltd. In December 1947, company acquired all the shares capital of the Alimentana S.A. Company in exchange for fifteen Nestlà © shares and fifteen Unilac shares for each of Alimentana S.A. share, and the name was Nestlà © Alimentana S.A. And then finally, the last name change that the company would endure was in 1977, where it adopted the name Nestlà © SA (www.nest le.com). Today Nestle is one of the biggest giants in the food and beverage market of the world and it is marketing its products in almost 130 countries of the world. The company is manufacturing roundabout 10,000 different products and employing over 250,000 people all over the world. The company is selling almost a billion products everyday. The headquarters of Nestle are situated Vevey, Switzerland, but the operational facilities of the company are spread all over the world. The company not only increasing its size year by year but also increasing its product varieties. Nestlà ©s Greatest Asset are its Workers The slogan of Nestle that its people are their greatest asset is very much true as they care a lot about their people and encourage them to bring out the best in them. At Nestle it is made sure that people benefit maximum from their work at Nestle. What binds together the over 250,000 people across the world is a universal culture and a high degree of loyalty to the Company and to each other. The employees are encouraged to contribute in the company success by introducing new and innovative ideas. Above all, Nestlà © is genuinely international. One simple example is that around 80 different nationalities are represented among the 1,600 people in our Head Office. Each year a thousand people from all over the world come to our Training Centre in Switzerland. The corporate values of Nestle are: Trust Respect Involvement Pride The Concept of Work/life Balance at Nestle International Nestle is following the United Nations Global Compacts (UNGC) guiding principles that insures the human and labour rights and aim to provide an example of good human rights and labour practices throughout our business activities. At Nestlà © it is truly believed that there must be a good and healthy balance between the private and professional life of an employee. This thing not only increases the reputation of Nestle as a good employer but also helps to retain the most valuable people of the organization and reconciles economical essential with welfare. Employees who wish to take part in community welfare programs voluntarily are supported at Nestlà ©. In the same character, Nestlà © encourages flexible and friendly working conditions so that stress factor can be reduced up to the minimum level. Everyone has to find their own balance between work and other activities, but as a company we encourage all our employees to pursue interests outside the workplace. As football is the natural favourite Sports in European region so most Nestlà © units sponsor at least one football team. Nestle supports many cultural activities and home study programs in countries all over the world. One of the biggest evidence of good work/life balance at Nestle is that it enjoys one of the highest percentages of employees retention among the top multinationals of the world. Pre-retirement classes and facilities for retiree activities are available in many countries. Nestle also supports one of the largest retiree club with more than 1,000 members actively participating in events ranging from climbing, skiing and cycling to foreign travel, fitness and computer classes at its headquarters at verve, Switzerland. In addition, several of them take part in local volunteer projects such as delivering meals to other Nestlà © retirees in the region. Role and Strategies of Management in Maintaining Work/life Balance at Nestle One of the greatest debate is who bears the biggest responsibility in maintain equilibrium between official and personal life of a person? But according to the given circumstances the major burden definitely falls on the employer and those who are the part of senior management because these are the people who demand as much as work from their employees and tries to minimize the cost on the verge of a limited work force. Things have changed a lot now because different research works have showed the physical and mental health effects of heavy work load which ultimately affects the productivity and profitability of the company in the long run. At Nestle it is made sure by the management that an appropriate work-life balance exists in organizational culture which means employee will be at less risk for many serious health conditions that result from overwork and stress. Overworked employees not only exposed to many serious physical and mental diseases but also face many problems and issues in their social and family lives. This is a very alarming situation because those employees who spent the most of their time at work are usually error prone. On the other hand those employees who spend most of their time at off-work activities will usually be un-productive and not reliable. Such individuals are found in every office and they are major concern for the management. So it is the responsibility of the Nestle management to address the problems of these individuals. Management should encourage these individual to contribute more towards productivity. If an employee spend four hours working at home and solves more problems by working at home than at office , he should be encouraged by the Nestle management. At Nestle International top management offer different workshops and informative seminars to employees about work-life balance, and should make sure that the policies regarding these issues must be followed strictly. Different technologies have been introduced to employees, which help them in creating the right balance between their lives. Here are some of the strategies used by the Nestle management to enhance work/life balance in organizational culture. Employee Assistance Program (EAP) At Nestle International the introduction of Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) provide easy, free and confidential access to professionally trained counsellors to help the employees to overcome a large variety of professional and personal problems. Conveniences at Work Employees at Nestle International are offered different features in order to make their work convenient and easy such as: Fitness center Mothers lounge On site parking Bonuses at all levels Day care Cafeteria Parental Leave Parental Leaves are available for female and male workers to help them to see off their social responsibilities. Benefits Package Nestlà © offers medical and other visionary benefits packages to meet the health needs of not only their employees but also their families and domestic partners. Benefits of Maintaining Work/life Balance at Nestle International Talented and highly valued employees are the most important corporate resource of any company and it is not very difficult to get such talented employees so in order to retain them a flexible and balanced environment must exist within organization and organizational culture at Nestle fully demonstrate such features. If the employees will be satisfied they will be more focused and confident towards their work and by providing a right balance between the personal and professional lives Nestle ultimately enjoys a constant product quality and customer satisfaction. A balanced employee not only enjoy a happy personal life, avoids different risks relating to physical and mental heath but also add up to the reputation of Nestle as a good employer. By employee retention Nestle not only saves the outflow of very valuable information of the organization but also minimizes the additional cost required to train the new employee to bring him up to the level of expertises of the existing employee. CHAPTER 3 Methodology The main objective of this research is to create an understanding of the importance of work/life balance in the lives of employees as well as in the progress of the organization. General method to collect information for the purpose of conduct a Research Following are some of the method to collect information in order to carry on research. Questionnaire It is a method used to collect the information directly from people. It is consider as a realistic source of information which provide an opportunity for analysis. Moreover it provides more current information as compare to other source. it is considered to be the primary source of information. It also contain different options Interview Interview is another way of collecting data for conduction research. We can conduct different kinds of interview to find out the reasons of any problem. it is a direct face to face communication through which one can receive direct feedback on any issue under consideration. It is also one of the realistic sources of information. Studying the different documents and Survey Reports It is also an effective way to develop an understanding of different topic related documents and surveys which enable us to carry the research in an effective manner. These surveys enable us to develop an understanding on that specific issue in wide scope. Observation Observation is also an effective tool to collect information regarding customer expectations and factors which boost up customer expectation. Observation also helps to collect information regarding customer taste, marketing trends and rival competitive policies Discussion with expertise Carrying on discussions with those who have a vast expertise of understanding customer behaviours and mental situations. Through this we can extract very important information for the real purpose. Case Studies Studying different kind of case study is also enable us to enhance our understanding with the real topic and provide us very valuable information and clears the idea of main concept. The data collected through a questionnaire circulated and interview conducted at Nestle will form the base of this research work. The above mentioned questionnaire will consist of different questions relating to the work/life balance and it will target a group of 20 workers selected through random sampling representing the population as a whole. For the purpose of reference and other historical information different books, journals, articles and websites will be consulted. Time frame for completion of research is as under: No. Task Description Start Date Completion Date 1 Proposal Submission 2 Literature Review 3 Questionnaire Designing 4 Data Collection (Primary Secondary) 5 Data Analysis 6 Drafting Composing 7 Proof Reading 8 Submission

Neil Simon, The Most Successful Playwright In The History Of Theatre :: essays research papers fc

Neil Simon, the Most Successful Playwright in The History of Theatre "It can be argued that Neil Simon is not only America's most successful playwright, but also the most successful playwright in the history of theatre."1 Despite being criticized for lack of substance, his hugely successful comedies are consistently revived, whether on Broadway or in other community or dinner theatres. Last week the University of Notre Dame's Mainstage season opened with the departmental premiere of Barefoot in the Park. Though the play originally opened more then thirty years ago, the themes of compatibility and compromise that it presents are still relevant today. Simon masterfully manipulated the plot of Barefoot in the Park to include all of the elements of a fine play (intrigue, credibility, surprise, etc.) and to create a viable playscript that both emphasizes the play's major themes and, just as importantly, makes the audience laugh. Simon has skillfully constructed the plot of Barefoot in the Park to showcase and emphasize his themes of compatibility and need for compromise. The plot itself starts out fairly simple. In the first act, Paul and Corie Bratter, wed but six days, move into their new apartment on the top floor of a brownstone in New York City. From the very first, the audience can see that these are two very different characters that have very different values, and yet Paul and Corie are very much in love. The plot progresses as other characters are introduced. First to visit the newlyweds is Corie's mother, Mrs. Banks. The relationship between Corie and her mother also involves a clash of very distinct personalities. With the appearance of the Bratter's eccentric upstairs neighbor, Victor Velasco, Corie sees the opportunity to play matchmaker and inject a little romance into her staid mother's life. The first act concludes with Corie's plan to bring the two together at an upcoming dinner party, much to the chagrin of her husband Paul. This creates intrigue--"that quality of a play which makes us curious (sometimes fervently so) to see 'what happens next'"2-- because the audience is left wondering whether Corie's plan will work. Thus the first act provides exposition, creates a feeling of suspense, and begins to showcase the compatibility problems in the relationships of several of the characters. The second act takes place in two parts: the first before Corie's dinner party, and the second in the aftermath. Throughout the first part of the act, Simon emphasizes the enthusiasm, spontaneity, and lack of forethought with which Corie approaches her matchmaking task. Paul, on the other hand, acts like "a stuffed shirt"3 and tries to show Corie the foolishness of her plan.

Student Spirituality - Got Jesus? :: Philosophy Religion

Student Spirituality - Got Jesus? You may have an idea of what’s coming here. Yes, this is an essay about religion and spirituality. When you finish reading this essay, you might say, â€Å"It’s 2005; why in the world do you care about religious crap anymore?† Or maybe, â€Å"Get down off your crucifix, man.† Or, â€Å"You’re gay. Get a life.† That one’s my favorite. But before you bust out the Bible jokes, you could try to pinpoint the reason as to why you find religious people to be odd or ridiculous. Let’s see if this sounds familiar. Let’s start when you’re little. Your parents take you to a church, mosque, synagogue, or whatever their place of worship is, and you may not really want to go. You may not even know why they take you there. All you know is that it’s more fun to go home and play video games, watch television, or play with your friends. So already, this religion crap is a pain. Strike one. It also teaches you all this garbage; that you shouldn’t lie, steal, disobey your parents, or use those nasty four-letter words. And when you’re old enough, it tells you that you shouldn’t engage yourself in some activities. You know what they are. Well, where’s the fun in any of that? Strike two. Then, when you want acceptance from the â€Å"popular kids† in middle school, you learn that they all feel the same way. They hate going to church, and following those dumb little rules, and they don’t see the point either. So that makes it official. Religious crap is a waste of time. Strike three. Then you encounter people who follow that junk like it means something. They let those ideas influence or even completely control everything they do in their life. What better a target for ridicule? Those people are so funny, the way they actually follow that crap. It makes you want to laugh. Well, if you need something to seal the deal, that’s it because you can’t bear to be ridiculed by anybody. That would be sacrilegious to your self-esteem. No pun intended. Strike four. We’re not playing baseball. That may explain it, and it may not. If not, it probably comes pretty close. Take all of that, and put it on a college campus, where beer or sex is king in some circles, and career aspirations of financial success pop up. Hopefully. The idea of even making fun of those weirdos gets buried beneath all of that. Student Spirituality - Got Jesus? :: Philosophy Religion Student Spirituality - Got Jesus? You may have an idea of what’s coming here. Yes, this is an essay about religion and spirituality. When you finish reading this essay, you might say, â€Å"It’s 2005; why in the world do you care about religious crap anymore?† Or maybe, â€Å"Get down off your crucifix, man.† Or, â€Å"You’re gay. Get a life.† That one’s my favorite. But before you bust out the Bible jokes, you could try to pinpoint the reason as to why you find religious people to be odd or ridiculous. Let’s see if this sounds familiar. Let’s start when you’re little. Your parents take you to a church, mosque, synagogue, or whatever their place of worship is, and you may not really want to go. You may not even know why they take you there. All you know is that it’s more fun to go home and play video games, watch television, or play with your friends. So already, this religion crap is a pain. Strike one. It also teaches you all this garbage; that you shouldn’t lie, steal, disobey your parents, or use those nasty four-letter words. And when you’re old enough, it tells you that you shouldn’t engage yourself in some activities. You know what they are. Well, where’s the fun in any of that? Strike two. Then, when you want acceptance from the â€Å"popular kids† in middle school, you learn that they all feel the same way. They hate going to church, and following those dumb little rules, and they don’t see the point either. So that makes it official. Religious crap is a waste of time. Strike three. Then you encounter people who follow that junk like it means something. They let those ideas influence or even completely control everything they do in their life. What better a target for ridicule? Those people are so funny, the way they actually follow that crap. It makes you want to laugh. Well, if you need something to seal the deal, that’s it because you can’t bear to be ridiculed by anybody. That would be sacrilegious to your self-esteem. No pun intended. Strike four. We’re not playing baseball. That may explain it, and it may not. If not, it probably comes pretty close. Take all of that, and put it on a college campus, where beer or sex is king in some circles, and career aspirations of financial success pop up. Hopefully. The idea of even making fun of those weirdos gets buried beneath all of that.

Death of a Salesman – Dysfunctional Family

A Dysfunctional Family from Death of a Salesman â€Å"We never told the truth for ten minutes in this house. † This quote is said by Biff Loman himself. Willy Loman is the father of Biff and Happy Loman, and the husband of Linda. The Loman’s are an average working class American family. In the play, The Death of a Salesman, written by Arthur Miller, the Loman’s go through very difficult circumstances throughout the play. These circumstances are not exactly obvious but they are shown throughout the play. The Loman’s are a very dysfunctional family, they are not able to be honest with one another, and also it is very difficult for them to get along.Lastly, Biff and Happy’s father Willy Loman has his mind set on the American dream also known as â€Å"The perfect life†. He is completely delusional and is forcing his boys to fulfil the same dream. In the play The Death of a Salesman, we realise that the Loman family are not exactly a normal family , they have a difficult life. They are not able to keep an honest relationship with one another. Biff and Happy lied to their father about Biff's stealing Bill Oliver's pen; Biff also lies to his father about having a follow-up appointment with Oliver. Accompanying material: Realism in Death of a SalesmanWilly lies to his family about the hose he had hidden in the basement, years before; Biff had lied to his parents about why he had had no address for three months because he could not tell them he was in jail. Finally, the most traumatic experience in Biff's life was made worse by his father’s lies. When Biff found his father in the hotel room with one of his buyer's secretary, Willy told one lie after another to cover up the truth of his betrayal to Biff and Happy’s mother. Willy says  that the woman  was a buyer. She lives in the room down the hall.Her room was to be painted because she showed merchandise to customers in her room. Biff buys none of it, and this incident ruptures his and Willy's relationship permanently. It is the first time Biff realizes what a liar his father actually is. In Biff’s words he describes his father as a†phony little fake. † The characters are finally starting to realise that they are living a life filled with lies. Another downfall to this dysfunctional family is that it is very difficult for them to get along. Biff does not respect his father Willy; therefore they do not get along.Willy expects his sons to be successful but they turn out the complete opposite. He believes his boys are great and cannot understand why they are not successful. As Biff’s father gets older,  he has trouble distinguishing between the past and present – between illusion and reality – and is often lost in flashbacks. His flashbacks are usually of Biff’s senior year of highschool, which was when most of the family’s conflict begins. It first starts with his affair with a woman who was a buyer; Biff finds out and is disgusted by his father, which is mainly the reason why they do not get along.Willy’s mind is eventually filled with suicide thoughts due to the unsuccessfulness of his boys, causing him to think that if he die s it would benefit his family more because of the money they will receive from the insurance. Throughout they play, all Willy Loman talks about is the â€Å"American Dream’. Willy believes that personality, not hard work and innovation, is the key to success. Willy usually checks up on his boys to make sure they are well-liked and popular. An example would be that his son, Biff, admits to making fun of his math teacher’s lisp.Instead of punishing Biff, he was more concerned about his classmate’s reactions. â€Å"I crossed my eyes and talked with a lithp†. â€Å"(Laughing. ) You did? The kids like it? † â€Å"They nearly died laughing! † Willy’s version of the American Dream did not turn out the way he wanted it. Despite his son’s popularity in high school, Biff grows up to be a drifter and a ranch-hand. Willy’s own career falters as his sales ability flat-lines. When he tries to use â€Å"personality† to ask his boss for a raise, he gets fired instead. Willy’s â€Å"definition† of the American Dream is all wrong, due to the way his own sons turned out to be.In the play The Death of a Salesman, it is a play of how one dream can affect your whole look on life, that dream can either make your life or break it, it all depends on how you pursue it. It is a tragic play, the Loman family faces a lot of difficult circumstances due to all of the lying, betrayal and the one dream Willy is trying pursue for his family. Willy then confuses the difference between reality and illusion, he is so caught up in trying to reach the perfect life, which was the â€Å"American Dream†, that he lost track of himself and his own family.