Company comparison: Tesco and Panda

After doing some research, I decided to choose two companies as the organizations to be compared in the written submission, which are Tesco and Panda. In this log-book, the information I gather will be printed in italic, and my personal opinion will be written in 14 point font size with underline. I get most of the information from the internet, besides, I get some information from the email which the companies' official website, press and the magazines. Tesco operates 2,291 stores around the world and employs 296,000 people. We have grown from a domestic retailer, to an International Group, through our organic growth programme. This year, all four parts of the Tesco strategy, the core UK business, non-food, retailing services and international, have increased in profitability. Retailing services Tesco personal finance, established in 1997, now has over 3.4 million customer accounts and 15 products and services. It achieved profits of à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½96m in 2003 (Tesco share à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½48m). Tesco.com is the largest grocery e-tailer in the world and achieved a profit of à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½12m in 2003. We announced recently that we would launch a fixed line phone service in the summer of 2003. Non-food Half of our UK new space opened this year has been for non-food and the result has been to grow our market share to 5%. By analyzing the above information, we can have an overview of the company. It is clear that Tesco is a large-sized organization, which has grown from a domestic retailer, to an International Group. How did Tesco make it? This is the question I have got after reading above information. This part shows some operational details of the company, for example, the employee numbers, age structure, the ownership of the firm, etc. STATEMENT OF APPLICATION OF PRINCIPLES OF THE COMBINED CODE The Group is committed to high standards of corporate governance. This statement describes the manner in which the company has applied the principles set out in the Combined Code on Corporate Governance. DIRECTORS AND THE BOARD The Board of Tesco PLC comprises eight Executive Directors and six independent Non-executive Directors. The Chairman, Mr. J A Gardiner, is an independent Non-executive Director who has a primary responsibility of running the Board. The Chief Executive, Sir Terry Leahy, has executive responsibilities for the operations, results and strategic development of the Group. Clear divisions of accountability and responsibility exist and operate effectively for these positions. In addition, Mr. G F Pimlott is the senior Non-executive Director. The Board ensures that no one individual or group dominates the decision-making process. Since the year-end, the Board has announced its succession plans for the retirement of Mr. J A Gardiner in March 2004. The full Board meets at least ten times a year and annually devotes two days to a conference with senior executives on longer-term planning, giving consideration both to the opportunities and risks of future strategy. The Board manages overall control of the Group's affairs by the schedule of matters reserved for its decision. In so far as corporate governance is concerned, these include the approval of financial statements, major acquisitions and disposals, authority levels for expenditure, treasury policies, risk management, Group governance policies and succession plans for senior executives. To enable the Board to make considered decisions, a written protocol exists and has been communicated to senior managers ensuring that relevant information is made available to all Board members in advance of Board meetings. All Directors have access to the services of the Company Secretary and may take independent professional advice at the company's expense in the furtherance of their duties. The need for Director training is regularly assessed by the company. The above information shows a part of operational details of the organization. This part explained the board of Tesco and its operation, for example, the full board meet at least ten times a year and have some more conference as well, this is very logical, All Directors may take independent professional advice at the company's expense in the furtherance of their duties. GOVERNANCE STRUCTURES The following paragraphs describe the key governance structures operating in the Group under the overall direction of the Board. Executive Committee The Board delegates day-to-day and business management control to the Executive Committee, which comprises the Executive Directors. This meets formally every week and its decisions are communicated throughout the Group on a regular basis. The Executive Committee is responsible for implementing Group policy, the monitoring and performance of the business and reporting to the full Board thereon. Nominations Committee Appointments to the Board for both Executive and Non-executive Directors are the responsibility of the Nominations Committee which is chaired by Mr. J A Gardiner and whose members are set out in the table at the bottom of this page. As exemplified by the section on ‘Directors and their interests' within the Directors' report on pages 5 and 6 of the 2003 annual report, the company's Articles of Association ensure that on a rotational basis Directors resign every three years and, if they so desire and are eligible, offer themselves for re-election. Remuneration Committee The Remuneration Committee, composed entirely of Non-executive Directors, is chaired by Mr. C L Allen. The members are set out in the table at the bottom of this page. The responsibilities of the Remuneration Committee, together with an explanation of how it applies the Directors' remuneration principles of the Combined Code, are set out in the report of the Directors on remuneration on pages 12 to 21 of the 2003 annual report. Audit Committee The Board has an Audit Committee, chaired by Mr. G F Pimlott and consisting entirely of Nonexecutive Directors, which meets a minimum of three times a year. Membership of the Audit Committee is set out in the table at the bottom of this page. Its terms of reference are reviewed annually and represent current best practice. The Committee's primary responsibilities include monitoring the system of internal control throughout the Group, approving the Group's accounting policies and reviewing the interim and annual financial statements before submission to the Board. The Committee will be undertaking an assessment of the Group's position in relation to the Financial Reporting Council guidelines for strengthening the Combined Code, issued recently as the ‘Smith Report', although it is believed that the Group already comply substantially with the proposals. The review will also cover the role and effectiveness of the Non-executive Directors as set out in the ‘Hi ggs Report'. Compliance Committee The Compliance Committee ensures that the Board discharges its obligations to comply with all necessary laws and regulations. It has established a schedule for the regular review of the Group's operational activities to ensure compliance with accepted practices and policies. The Committee, comprising two Executive Directors and three members of senior management, normally meets four times a year. Some functional details are given in this part: the structure of management. There are five kind of committee; each one has its own duty, and they operate very well when they work together. The logical structure is another reason of Tesco's success. As different type of organizations, there must be differences between the management structure of Tesco and Panda, I will compare them in the written submission. INTERNAL CONTROL AND RISK MANAGEMENT The Board has overall responsibility for internal control, including risk management, and sets appropriate policies having regard to the objectives of the Group. Executive management has the responsibility for the identification, evaluation and management of financial and non-financial risks and for the implementation and maintenance of control systems in accordance with the Board's policies. The Board, through the Audit Committee, has reviewed the effectiveness of the systems of internal control for the accounting year and the period to the date of approval of the financial statements, although it should be understood that such systems are designed to provide reasonable but not absolute assurance against material misstatement or loss. Internal control environment The Group operates an objectives-driven approach aimed at satisfying its core purpose that translates into a rolling five-year business plan. The plan covers both revenue and capital expenditure and forms the basis of business plans for all our business entities. From this the Board, together with monitoring regimes based upon our Steering Wheel, agrees the annual revenue and capital budgets. The Steering Wheel is the term used to describe our balanced scorecard approach, which we believe is the best way to achieve results for our shareholders. It sets out a broad range of targets under quadrant headings of customers, operations, people and finance. This allows the business to be operated and monitored on a balanced basis with due regard for all stakeholders. The Board undertakes a formal review of progress on a quarterly basis and any resulting actions considered appropriate are communicated throughout the business. The capital investment programme is subject to formalised review procedures requiring key criteria to be met. All major initiatives require business cases to be prepared, normally covering a minimum period of five years. Post-investment appraisals are also carried out. Risk management process At the highest level, the Board considers strategic risk every time it meets. The two-day Board Conference, referred to earlier, considers where future opportunities and risks lie and helps shape our corporate strategy going forward. Accountabilities for managing operational risks are clearly assigned to line management. Internal controls have been developed over all risks in line with the risk appetite determined by the Board and are subject to review. Formal risk assessments are carried out routinely throughout the business. Procedures exist to ensure that significant risks and control failures are escalated to senior management and the Board, as necessary, on a daily, weekly and periodic basis. What is the aim of these strategies? Does Panda have the similar management process? If not, how does it deal with the same problem? Monitoring The monitoring of strategic and operational risks are responsibilities of the Board and line managers respectively. The Board maintains the Key Risk Register and considers at their formal risk assessments whether the actions being taken in mitigation are sufficient. The Internal Audit function also operates on a risk-based approach helping managers with their risk responsibilities and advising on appropriate controls. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, our external auditors, contribute a further independent perspective on certain aspects of the internal financial control system arising from their work. Independence is strengthened by an agreement to rotate audit partners every five years. The engagement of auditors is considered annually by the Audit Committee. Annual statements received from CEOs further support the monitoring of key subsidiary operations. These statements confirm that the Board's governance policies have been adopted in practice and spirit. Overall, the Audit Committee seeks to ensure that the whole management process provides adequate control over all major risks to the Group. This is achieved through consideration of regular reports from internal and external audit alongside discussions with senior managers. Other specialist functions within the Group, notably Trading Law and Technical and Company Secretariat, provide assurance and advice on health and safety, regulatory and legal compliance and social, ethical and environmental issues. These functions report their findings on a regular basis to the Compliance Committee. What are the advantages of these responsibilities? How could they be taken in Panda? I will try to find the answer when I am doing Panda's research. At present, I think the company can prevent from risk; at least it can reduce the bad effect. Communication A programme of communication exists and is constantly being developed, to ensure that all staff is aware of the parameters that constitute acceptable business performance and the expectations of the Board in managing risk. This provides clear definition of the Group's purpose and goals, accountabilities and the scope of permitted activities of companies, executive functions and individual staff. Communication is an important part of organizational culture, what are the communication channels of Tesco and Panda? How does it work? The programme of communication is constantly developed and it is proved necessary. CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY The Board regards Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as an integral part of the overall corporate governance framework and is fully integrated into existing management structures and systems. Therefore, the risk management policies, procedures and monitoring methods described above equally apply to our CSR activities, including the management of social, ethical and environmental (SEE) risks. Many investors take an interest in how companies are managing non-financial risks as these can, under certain circumstances, have an impact on shareholder value. For example, The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has published disclosure guidelines on social responsibility, including SEE matters, for investors and companies. Last year, we published our first CSR Review on our website, www.tesco.com/everylittlehelps. This reflects the importance that Tesco has placed on CSR over the past 10 years. More details of our CSR strategy can be found in the Tesco Corporate Social Responsibility Review 2002/03 and on our website. We have an established cross-functional CSR Committee that meets a minimum of four times a year. The CSR Committee is chaired by the Group Corporate Affairs Director, and its membership is made up of senior managers from all parts of the business. One of its objectives is to identify threats and opportunities for the coming year and to highlight emerging issues. The CSR Committee has established a set of CSR Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and these KPIs are used to track performance quarterly and annually. The KPIs feed directly into the Steering Wheel monitoring system explained earlier and thus contribute to the overall monitoring of Group performance and control evaluation by the Board. The Chairman of the CSR Committee makes regular reports to the Executive Board on CSR matters. The CSR KPIs and the related management system are available in the CSR Review 2002/03 and on-line. Actually there is a relationship between environment and the companies. Environmental factors influence the development of companies and create opportunities and threats for them; it influences and determines the way the company must operate and how it has to accomplish its marketing objectives. Parts of environmental details have been shown by the information. Tesco made a great effect on Corporate Social Responsibility and the company gets a strong support by its customers. I will explain the reason in the written submission. This year sales in our core UK market have grown by 7.9% and underlying operating profit by 6.9% reinforcing our position as the number one food retailer in the UK. Our strong UK performance allows us to expand into retailing services and international markets. Number of stores In the UK we opened 62 new stores this year adding a further 1.4 million sq ft. We also acquired 1,202 T&S Stores, a leading convenience retailer, giving us an additional 1.8 million sq ft. This brings the total number of stores in the UK to 1,982. Four store formats we tailor our stores to meet our local customers' needs. We have four different store formats: Extra, Superstore, Metro and Express. All formats provide a different shopping experience for our customers, but all offer the same outstanding value. Store development we listen to customer and staff feedback to continually improve our stores. This year our UK development plan has seen refresh and extension programmes, tailored to local customer requirements, improve over 200 stores. Staff our loyal and committed staff have helped make us Britain's biggest supermarket. This year we have taken on an additional 9,000 people, with a further 5,000 over Christmas, to help serve our customers better. 104,000 of our staff are shareholders. The above data prove Tesco to be the biggest retailer in UK; does it only locate in UK? If not, what about its international market? What have Panda done? As I know Panda is the biggest electronic company in China at present, and it is also facing to the international market. Between the two different types of companies, is there any similar idea when they are dealing with the global market? In our European business sales have grown by 22.5% and underlying operating profit by 56.7%. We have opened 18 hypermarkets in the year, making us the largest hypermarket operator in Central Europe. Five countries Tesco now operates in five countries in Europe as well as the UK; Republic of Ireland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland, accessing 68 million people. Number of stores we now have a total of 230 stores across Europe and this year we became the leading hypermarket retailer in Central Europe. Our ongoing plans for the region will see us expand next year to over 100 hypermarkets, growing our market share even further. Sales area our expansion programme has seen our total European sales area increase to 10.6 million sq ft in the past 12 months, a rise of 31% on last year. This includes the 13 hypermarkets acquired from the HIT chain in Poland. Staff This year we have taken on 6,500 extra staff and we now employ 47,500 people across our European operation. In Hungary we are the country's second biggest private employer, with 11,000 members of staff working across our operation. This year our Asian operation has delivered sales growth of 45.5% and underlying operating profit growth of 144.8%. We operate in four countries across South East Asia including our latest market, Malaysia. Four countries this year we opened our first stores in Malaysia. We continue to build a business of scale in our developing markets of Thailand, South Korea, Taiwan and Malaysia, accessing a population of 155 million. Store development a total of 28 new stores were opened across the four countries, including seven Home plus stores in South Korea. These new stores have boosted our total floor space across Asia to 7.5 million sq ft, a rise of 34% on last year. Store formats we have continued to develop our formats to suit our different customers' needs. In Taiwan, plans are in place to open our first city-format store in the capital Taipei later this year. In Thailand we now have eight Express stores, a supermarket, and our first Value store. Staff this year we recruited a further 4,000 local managers and staff to deliver for our customers. We now employ a total of 28,000 people across Asia. In Thailand we had over 600 internal promotions last year. As the biggest retailer in UK, in order to have further development, Tesco has to entry to the international market, and it has already had some progress now. Now its store are located in 9 countries, and number will be still increasing. It has a large number of stores, employees, and loyal customers as well. It has different strategies in different locations. In the written submission, I will compare the data of the two companies. To complete it, I need to search more information about the functional advantages or disadvantages to location, type of property, running costs, time at location etc. Every day, more than 11 million people visit our stores knowing they can pick what they want, when and where they want it Tesco's product/service details are clearly shown in its homepage. It has a big range of product/service so it can make customers feel satisfied. The nature is simple: let customers know they can pick what they want, when and where they want it. Now I will move on to Panda, a Chinese electronic company. This part will also contain organizational details which are shown in Tesco's. As the cradle of China's electronics industry, Panda Electronics Group Co., Ltd. (PEG) was founded in 1936, with a history of sixty-eight years. Brand ‘Panda' is the first Chinese electronics products brand entered into international market and also the first ‘Well-Known Brand' of electronics industry in China. PEG is one of the largest electronics comprehensive backbone enterprises, 120 pilot enterprise groups, 512 key enterprises, six largest groups of electronics industries in China. Since the 50's of 20th century, more than 30 Chinese leaders including Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping and Jiang Zemin had inspected PEG. With the great concerns of leaders of the government and the Party, PEG has developed rapidly. Recently, major products of PEG covers HF communication, satellite communication system, mobile communication system, macaronis production equipment, base station, program control exchangers, mobile phones, TV sets, washing machines, DVD players, computers, monitors, system integration, network, software and radio receivers. Technology force of PEG is in leading position in China's electronics industry. With its own power, PEG has created many â€Å"first in China† and won national honors. PEG has not only five national engineering research centers (engineering research centre for A/V digital products, national technology development centre, mass production technology centre, micro-electronics technology design centre, and engineering research centre for mobile satellite communication technology), but also post doctoral scientific research station. PEG cooperates with 12 large international companies entered into the top 500 largest companies in the world and more than 10 key universities and research institutes in domestic in technology fields to jointly develop new products. The speeds of renew of products has been increased greatly. Up to now, PEG has subscribers of 70,000,000 people, and is a famous brand electronics company possesses the most subscribers in china. Adhering to regard subscribers' standard as the top standards of enterprise, PEG is responsible for subscribers, services for subscribers and obtained the certificate for ISO 9001 international quality standards assurance. While self-developing, PEG made great efforts to exploit the international market and actively joint venture with the international large companies, such as Sweden's ERICSSON, Japan's SHARP and Korea's LG, made good economic efficiency. It became a new growth point of economic efficiency of the company. Nanjing Panda Electronics Co., Ltd. was founded in 1996. H shares and shares were issued to the public in Hong Kong and Shanghai respectively. The Company was listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited and the Shanghai Stock Exchange respectively. In 1999, the Company carried out the policy of reconstructing of the assets, realized the reform of multi-element property rights. As the cradle of China's electronics industry, Panda Electronics Group Co., Ltd. was founded in 1936. Brand ‘Panda' is the first Chinese electronics products brand entered into international market and also the first ‘famous Brand' of electronics industry in China. Panda Electronics Group Co., Ltd. is one of the top 520 national key enterprises, one of the top 120 enterprises under experiment and one of the key enterprise groups in Nanjing Municipality and Jiangsu Province. The Company established 5 national R & D centers and a postdoctorate research work station. The Company established marketing networks spreading over nationwide, more than 40 countries and regions in the world. Users and consumers are up to 70,000,000. The Company was honored ‘First Grade Stated-Owned Enterprise' in the first batch, ‘National Key New High-Tech Enterprise' and ranked among the top 500 largest industrial enterprises in China for 10 years running. Now I have an overview about Panda's company profile, from a simple point, what is the difference between Tesco and Panda? This would be an important part I which I should explain in my essay. It also shows some operational and locational details, which I can compare to Tesco's directly in the essay. The operational details I have got is not as many as Tesco's, although I sent the company an email, they replied me with few information. However, I find more locational details of Panda, so I can have a detailed discussion about its advantages/disadvantages in the essay. There are both common points and differentia between the two companies' operational details, but all the information proved the locational details of the two companies are quite distinct from each other. These discussions will take an important part in the following written submission. Then I found Panda's functional details on its website and the magazine, in the essay, I can compare this with Tesco's functional details to point out their feature. They also sent me some more details with email, shown in the next page. Board of Directors Position Name Chairman, President and CEO Ni Runfeng Vice-Chairman and COO Wang Fengchao Director and CFO Liu Tibin Director and Vice-President Li Kexing Zheng Guangqing Wu Jiang Board's Secretary and Vice-President Tan Mingxian Director He Mingfen Director and Minister of Planning & Development Dept Lang Fengwei Director and International Business Dept Wu Jiang Director and General Manager of Air-conditioner Com Li Jin Senior Management Executive Officers President and Chief Executive Officer(CEO) Ni Runfeng Executive President and Chief Operation Officer(COO) Wang Fengchao Chief Financial Officer(CFO) Liu Tibin Vice Executive Presidents Li Kexing Zheng Guangqing Wu Jiang Tan Mingxian As a comprehensive multinational corporation, what is the characteristic of its structure? What is the difference between the two companies' structure? Why do they have differences? This is the main part I am going to explain in my essay. Panda Management Conceptions In our understanding, management of an enterprise denotes the administrator's thoughts and ideological level. It is the process through which the administrator does his management work with a clear and dedicated aim to advance the prospects of the company. In doing something new, we will certainly meet some obstacles. If we are reluctant to have a try or even to make plans for innovations, we will surely not succeed in making progress. Furthermore in making innovations, we might struggle or even fail sometimes, but we feel we can make progress gradually by learning from our mistakes. An administrator's ideological level has a great effect on the management efficiency. We feel he needs to be open and aboveboard, and should manage the company with strong ideals of justice and fairness. An administrator should always set up a new aim for the company to operate with as a goal in mind. A new aim stimulates all of the staff to work harder. We need to always bear in his mind that only the fittest will be able to survive in the tough market competition. Market competition is like sailing against the current: either you keep forging ahead or you keep falling behind. Thus, an administrator should always work with a new goal in mind. Only in this way can he continue to take new action and to deal with new situations with foresight which will allow the company to make useful progress. So, the characteristics of Panda management depend on the philosophy that people are treated as the foundation of the company's success and that while the management rules are always strictly adhered to, the employees are nevertheless an integral part of and always regarded as essential to the company's continued progress and success. Panda Ideas The purpose of the company is to serve people with technology. In our business operations, we have a clear management concept that we will win the market so long as we produce on a large scale at a leading pace. We have taken a market-and-order-orientation attitude toward the market. All we are doing in our work is for the services of customers and market. We are constantly improving the quality of our products. We are trying to reach the highest level in quality control. In personnel management, we firmly believe that the company should on the one hand offer employees' opportunities to expand their abilities and that on the other hand the employees will earn profits for the company. Thus we consider the relationship between company and employees as a reciprocal one from which both can benefit. Now I understand Panda's management conceptions/ideas, as parts of its organizational culture, it contains many differences with Tesco's. I will explain what the differences are in the essay. Since the 50's of 20th century, more than 30 Chinese leaders including Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping and Jiang Zemin had inspected PEG. With the great concerns of leaders of the government and the Party, PEG has developed rapidly. Monopolization is forbidden in China, so Chinese government gives some help to other smaller competitors of PEG. As a huge market, China attracts many foreign companies, some large-sized companies, such as Sony, Samsung, and National, join in to the competition, to encourage the foreign enterprises, Chinese government constituted some policy for them as well, for example, low tax. Without the support from the government, PEG is not too strong to win the competition. International marketing has become a major issue for companies. In the twentieth century, world trade has been more and more important. All over the world; companies are aiming at penetrating new foreign markets. As a large company which can not get enough market shares in its own country, PEG planed to entry the international market as well. When entering international business it is necessary to take into account the political system of the target country. It is much more risky to operate in absolutism or anarchy than in democracy. Political stability is a basic requirement. The legal environment of the target country is also essential to consider. China has free trade agreements with several countries, making it less expensive and easier to export Chinese products and to import foreign products. These circumstances contribute to the increase of foreign trade by providing an environment, in which it is easy for Chinese companies to export their products to international markets. In case of an export company, the most important legal factors are the export-import regulations, requirements, restrictions and the rate of tariffs. When establishing a subsidiary in another country, other legal factors become important. The company law, competition policy and tax regulations determine the everyday operations of the company. Along with foreign investment regulations, environment-protection requirements etc., they set the legal environment for the firm. It is important to carefully examine and consider these factors. The threat posed by them can be reduced if the management is aware of them and understands these regulations well. PEG did get this great chance and it exported a large amount of its products to the developing countries and some western countries, unfortunately it did not deal with the regulations very well, for example, in Chinese advertisements it is usually allowed to compare competing productions, but it is not allowed in many European countries, PEG did not realize this when it first entry a foreign market, as a result, in some countries the company was indicted as export dumping. In order to review an organization or individual services, it is important to understand the external factors that influence the organization. An effective way to identify these external influences is to carry out a PESTEL analysis. Because of the different situation of China and UK, it is no doubt that the impacts of environmental factors for the two companies are different. By using the information I have, I can do a ‘PEST' analysis of both Tesco and Panda in my essay by taking some examples. It manufactures many kinds of products including the following series: Color TV series: CTV, PTV, Applied TV series (Hotel TV, Huge Projection TV Wall, CRT TV Wall, TV-PC, Playback TV, etc)†¦ Air-conditioner series: all kinds of Windows, Wall-mounted, Cabinet, Floor-mounted, and small Central Air-conditioners†¦ AV product series: all kinds of DVD, VCD, DVD+AMP, Amplifier, Voice speaker Box, CD, MP3†¦ Network series: DVB-C, DVB-S, ADSL, C-LAN, and Family Information-resolution System†¦ Battery series: High Quality Environmental Protection Battery, Rechargeable Battery, Nichrome Storage Battery and kinds of Chargers†¦ Electronic Component series: PCB, FBT, Tuner, kinds of Transformers and Coils, Inductance, Conduct-electricity Rubber, Spring†¦ Protection for Safety series: Finance Band System, Hotel System, Traffic Management, Public Place, Family Protection for Safety, Individual Protection System for Safety†¦ LCD series: LCD-TV, LCD-M and other LCD applied products†¦ White Household Appliance and small Household Appliance series: Washing Machine, Water-heater, and Fuel Gas Canteen†¦ Technology Equipment series: kinds of Assembly Line, Frock of Assembly Line, Meters of Assembly Line, and Tools of Production†¦ These are information which relates to Panda's product/service details. As same as Tesco, Panda have many different kinds of products, and it also develops in some other industries. Comparing to each other, the two companies' product/service are totally in different area, however, they may have the common management conceptions/ideas, it will be interesting to compare this part in the essay. Now I have collected the two companies' details about their operation, location, function, environment and product/service. All the information will be used to prove my opinion in the written submission.

Oedipus Fate Essay - 1478 Words

Are people responsible for their actions or is it fate? Is fate inescapable? A persons fate is the events that are destined to happen to them. Fate is decided the moment someone is born. People cannot change their fate and it is unavoidable. Throughout the Greek tragedy, Oedipus the King, the hero, Oedipus often tries to run away from what he is destined to do only because of his ignorance to his situation. Throughout the entire play, the conflict of Man versus Fate is often seen as everyone tries to avoid what is fated upon them. Oedipus’s parents, Jocasta and Laius, were told by the gods that their son, Oedipus, would grow up to kill his father and marry his mother, a terrible fate. In the play, Jocasta tells of a prophecy given to†¦show more content†¦While talking to Jocasta, Oedipus tells of Polybus and Merope who he had believed to be his parents, â€Å"At a fest, a drunken man/Cries out that I am not my father’s son/The next day I visited/My father and mother, and questioned them/calling it all the slanderous rant of a fool† (1.2.251-56). Oedipus heard of a man saying that Polybus and Merope were not really Oedipus parents when Oedipus tried to confront his adoptive parents the lied to him telling him it was untrue and let Oedipus believe that he was really their son. Oedipus believed his adoptive parents to be is true birth parents. He had no idea who his real birth parents were due to Polybus and Merope deceiving him. Oedipus was oblivious to who he was and where he was f rom he was unknowing to the fact he was supposed to be killed at birth by his true parents to prevent a prophecy. Oedipus learned of the prophecy then ran away from Corinth as he did not wish to harm his adoptive parents. Oedipus tells of the time he went to the a shrine to ask if Polybus and Merope were really his parents, he said, â€Å"I went to the shrine of Delphi/the god dismayed my question/he spoke of other things/full of wretchedness/that I should lie with my own mother, breed/and that I should be my fathers murder/I heard all this, and fled† (1.2.261-68). When Oedipus went to ask of his parents he insead learned that he was fated to kill his own father and breed with his mother,Show MoreRelatedOedipus Fate And Fate Essay777 Words   |  4 PagesFate as defined by the Merriam Webster dictionary is ‘an inevitable and often adverse outcome, condition, or end’. Sophocles discusses fate vs free will in his plays. In the play Oedipus Rex there was a prophecy that Oedipus was destined to kill his father and marry his mother, he attempts to escape his destiny by running a way to Thebes where he meets his fate. In the play Antigone, that main character Antigone decides to go against Creon’s (her uncle who has inherited the throne) decree and buryRead MoreOedipus Fate Essay843 Words   |  4 PagesOedipus the King is a story about a prominent king torn by fate and the effect his own actions have upon his destiny. Much can be learned from the catastrophic story of Oedipus, who was prophesied to kill his father, to marry and have children with his own mother. As soon as Oedipus learns of this prophecy, he tries desperately to escape it, by running from his hometown, and even avoiding his supposed parents. Despite the fact that fate may have played some role in Oedipus demise, it ultimatelyRead MoreOedipus Fate Essay956 Words   |  4 Pagestragedy, Oedipus the King, fate is a predetermined course of events and is also an important factor that caused Oedipus’s downfall. Oedipus is ultimately a victim of his own fate because, despite his a nd Jocasta’s efforts, he could not escape the prophecies. Though others say that Oedipus created his own fate because he had the free will to handle the prophecies in becoming his own outcome, in the end, there was no chance that Oedipus could escape the prophecies. It was the fate for Oedipus gettingRead MoreOedipus Fate Essay840 Words   |  4 PagesIn Oedipus the king the Prophets tells Oedipus how his life will pan out and that there is nothing that he can do about it. Oedipus, however thinks he can prove them wrong being the self righteous person that he is. He believes that fate is not real and that its all about free will and individual decisions that lead to and determine the future. Oedipus is wrong for thinking that he can change his fate because the world is controlled by fate not free will. â€Å"Do you know who your parents are? UnknowingRead MoreComparing the Fate of Oedipus and Phaedra Essay2321 Words   |  10 Pages   Ã‚  Ã‚   Oedipus destruction was foretold to his father and mother, Laius and Jocasta, when he was born. It was told to him again when he was a young Corinthian prince, to which he ran from home (I heard all that and ran 876). Tiresias tells it to him again during the passage of the Oedipus Rex. The destiny of Oedipus has been laid down, unalterable from the moment he was created. He was fated to marry his mother and kill his father. Phaedra is not controlled by fate. She is possessed by a frivolousRead MoreIs Oedipus a Victim of Fate? Essay962 Words   |  4 PagesFate the un-avoidable Throughout the vast history of literature, various concepts have come and gone. The idea of fate or fatalism has been a concept that has survived the test of time. Numerous characters have succumbed to the power of fate and the character of Oedipus from Sophocles’ Oedipus the King is a prime example of the vast power of fate within literature. Sophocles effectively depicts the wrath of fate as he portrays how Oedipus fell victim to fate and his efforts to disregard fate wereRead MoreOedipus Victim Of Fate Essay876 Words   |  4 PagesIs Oedipus a victim of fate or does he possess free will? Explain your reasoning. Do you think free will is a reality or an allusion? I find Oedipus to be a victim of fate rather than having free will. â€Å"()†. Free will could be seen to be more of an illusion than a reality. People and society like to make you think you have control over your own life while in you really do not. While it seems he could have tried harder maybe vowing to never sleep with a women or to never kill a man but is whatRead MoreFate in Oedipus the King Essay1065 Words   |  5 Pagesat least in â€Å"Oedipus the King† in which the protagonist, Oedipus calls forth his doom unwillingly. Fate is defined as something that unavoidably befalls a person. The author of â€Å"Oedipus the King,† Sophocles, writes a tragic fate that Oedipus was born to experience. Fate is what is meant to happen and cannot be avoided or unchanged. Furthermore, events that lead to other events could be the result for one to meet their fate. In â€Å"Oedipus the King,† Sophocles expresses the nature of fate to be determinedRead MoreOedip us: Destiny and Fate Essay1333 Words   |  6 Pagesis by fate. Those who believed it is by choice follow the directions and guidance of their elders. For example, they will try to hold on to the values that their parents instilled in them and use them to guide their entire lives. Others who believed that destiny is by fate, believe that the outcome of their lives is determined by luck, and that no matter what they do or how careful they are, whatever has to happen to them must happen. These proponents that emphasize that destiny is by fate may haveRead MoreParallels of Fate in Crash and Oedipus the King Essay1046 Words   |  5 Pages Fate to most people is something that will inevitably happen in their lives, something that they are destined to have or to be. According to Dictionary.com, fate is defined as something that unavoidably befalls a person, but to others, fate is merely coincidence. The debate whether fate is apart of our everyday lives have been going on since the ancient greeks to today. The movie Crash parallels to the play, Oedipus the King, in that both of the characters experience some form of fate in their lives

Photo Essay on Göbekli Tepe, Turkey

Security Sector Reform in Afghanistan - 841 Words

Security Sector Reform (SSR) first emerged in the 1990s around Eastern Europe. SSR can help fix dysfunctional security sectors in countries emerging from years of internal warfare. The armed forces and police embrace a new mission of meeting the human security needs of their population. SSR targets all state institutions and ensures the security of the state and its people. Security Sector Reform is optional as well as a â€Å"normative concept.† Afghanistan is working on SSR and it is an ongoing struggle for the countries. The goal of SSR in the countries is to organize a way to achieve peace so that the people may not fear the armed soldiers and establish democratic control. Security Sector Reform contributes to sustainable peace in Afghanistan in many ways. Afghanistan is struggling to sustain the peace; however, Security Sector Reform is the best way for them to head. SSR will not work out smoothly unless fairness and economic needs are met in the countries. Foreign aid a nd economic development agencies say that foreign aid will not sustain economic development unless the aid is distributed equitably and unless threshold conditions of domestic security have been met, even if effectively utilized in the recipient countries (Kurian). A large security sector is a drain on the limited resources of developing countries. It would be more beneficial to use the resources in certain programs that improve the lives of the people. The reform will therefore last longer and peace canShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Usaid s Enterprise Transition Plan Essay1144 Words   |  5 Pagesand reinforcing existing business and IT capabilities through a development information system (DIS). Included in USAID’s Internet Technology Strategic Plan 2016-2020, is an enterprise transition roadmap (ERT) that enhances â€Å"capabilities needed in security, enterprise information management, cloud and infrastructure, application modernization, mobility, and points to the proje cts necessary for building these capabilities† (p. 20). Additional activities focus on the interdependency of IT systems toRead MoreThe End Of Crisis Of Afghanistan751 Words   |  4 PagesTowards End of Crisis in Afghanistan After massive fraud during the 2014 presidential elections in Afghanistan, in September 2014 against the constitution a deal to form a national unity government (NUG) has been signed by President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdulah. Absence of a functioning security and economic strategy, reckless foreign policy and weakened diplomacy has resulted to increased foreign interference, massive corruption, poverty, unemployment, aid reductionRead MoreNational Peace and Security737 Words   |  3 PagesSecurity is everywhere. It is needed for virtually everything that is accessed today. From starting your car, to logging onto Facebook, to clocking in at work, security is always present. One of the most noticeable forms of security is the police and the Army. They are the security for the country, both for internal and external threats. Police are more internal security, dealing with crimes caused by the general population. Army deals with outside threats, by address ing situations that are overseasRead MoreRegional Strategic Point Paper1059 Words   |  5 PagesAzerbaijan has appears to value some cooperative relations with Russia to increase its options and leverage in diplomacy and trade. c. Azerbaijan’s most likely actions: (1) Diplomatic: Maintain membership in the United Nations, Organization for Security Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), NATO’s Partnership for Peace, GUAM Organization for Democracy Economic Development, World Health Organization, World Bank, IMF, the Council of Europe and the Organization of the Islamic Conference. Azerbaijan desiresRead MoreThe Cold War On The Soviet Union1230 Words   |  5 Pageswar with NATO, their economy prioritized military spending over all other sectors. â€Å"Military expenditures constitute a large part of Soviet National Income, about 48 percent† (Sokolov 657). The military industrial complex was so massive that nearly one in every five people worked on military equipment in some capacity. The Soviet economy was also based on long term planning. These five year plans would identify specific sectors of the economy that were to be focused on. There were 13 of these plansRead MoreThe Maternal Mortality Rate Of Afghanistan Essay1830 Words   |à ‚  8 Pageschildbirth from preventable causes such as hemorrhaging (United Nations, 2015, p. 38). In 2002 Afghanistan reported a baseline figure of 1,600 deaths per 100,000 with a 2015 targeted reduction to 315 (Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, 2013, p. 53). While Afghanistan was able to reach the original goal it had set for itself, new goals were created to combat the continuous high number of maternal deaths. Afghanistan has identified general lack of family planning, a limited supply of qualified midwives, andRead MoreThe Cultural Aspects Of Afghanistan2202 Words   |  9 PagesAbstract The paper examines the cultural aspects of Afghanistan which are likely to affect business. The study focused on areas like business opportunities, meeting and greeting, the impact of religion, customs and courtesies and bribery while giving relevant recommendations to various such areas. Introduction Global markets vary about their level of development. Also, the kind of products sold in each of these markets will differ depending on the degree of development. Language and cultural affinityRead MoreAfghanistan Fiscal Policy9790 Words   |  40 PagesRepublic of Afghanistan: Selected Issues This Selected Issues paper for Islamic Republic of Afghanistan was prepared by a staff team of the International Monetary Fund as background documentation for the periodic consultation with the member country. It is based on the information available at the time it was completed on January 30, 2008. The views expressed in this document are those of the staff team and do not necessarily reflect the views of the government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan or theRead MoreEssay about Securing Our Country: The Department of Homeland Security1532 Words   |  7 Pagesof the Department of Homeland Security are as follows; the Homeland Security Act of 2002, Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, and the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007. The Homeland Security Act of 2002 was introduced after the September 11, 2001 attacks and mailing of anthrax. It was signed into law by then President George W. Bush in November 2002. It created both the United States Department of Homeland Security and the cabinet-level positionRead MoreThe Country Of Afghanist Afghanistan2035 Words   |  9 PagesGeopolitics: Afghanistan Background information. [Accessed 13 May 2016]. The country of Afghanistan is in Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran. It is a small nation, and it is slightly smaller than Texas (area 652,230 sq km). It is bordered by Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Iran. The land is very mountainous and the terrain is very rugged. The country is divided by the Hindu Kush mountain range. The region of conflict. When the Pashtun

Dysfunctional Relationships Between Sonny’s Blues and Shiloh Free Essays

Jeremy Raymond Professor Gazzara ENG 102-109 April 6th, 2013 It Takes Two To Tango What makes a relationship dysfunctional? Is it the changes one sees in another whether they be physical, emotional, or financial? Is it a change in their own personality that is now changing their views on their family member or significant other? Tina B. Tessina defines a dysfunctional relationship as this: Dysfunctional Relationships are relationships that do not perform their appropriate function; that is, they do not emotionally support the participants, foster communication among them, appropriately challenge them, or prepare or fortify them for life in the larger world. (Tessina 1) In â€Å"Sonny’s Blues† and â€Å"Shiloh†, we see two different types of dysfunctional relationships. We will write a custom essay sample on Dysfunctional Relationships Between Sonny’s Blues and Shiloh or any similar topic only for you Order Now In â€Å"Shiloh† we see a marriage relationship between Norma Jean and Leroy Moffit. In â€Å"Sonny’s Blues†, we see a brotherhood relationship between Sonny and his brother. These relationships are considered dysfunctional based on the actions and lack of actions based on those involved. In Mason’s â€Å"Shiloh†, the relationship between Leroy and Norma Jean was off to a good start. They have been married sixteen years and had a kid named Randy. Randy passed away from sudden infant death syndrome at a very young age. We can infer through the text that both Norma Jean and Leroy were left traumatized by this. The death of a child can leave a person traumatized and shook-up for the rest of their lives. The couple’s relationship takes a turn south due to numerous reasons. One reason being Norma Jeans newfound lifestyle. Ever since Leroy suffered his accident, She has morphed into the manly figure of the household. She’s starting to lift weights to strengthen herself up. Leroy is now observing changes in Norma Jean he has never seen before. In addition to lifting weights at home, she is now attending a body building class which puzzles Leroy. Through Leroy’s eyes, she is already a changed woman. Besides for Norma Jeans’ newfound physical changes in herself, she is also attending night classes. Norma Jean is also developing sleep patterns that concern not only Leroy but also Mabel, her mother. Mabel in a conversation with Leroy states â€Å"She used to go to bed with the chickens. Now you say she’s up all hours. † (73). The quote shows how both Leroy, her husband who’s loved her for the past sixteen years and Mabel, her own mother are worried and confused by her new patterns in life. In addition to changes in Norma Jean, Leroy has undergone changes as well. Since he had his accident, he is unable to drive tractor trailers across the country anymore. He is now cooped up inside of the house because of his injury. He has developed a hobby for building crafts and has turned that into a plan with blueprints to build a full scale log cabin. The thought of the cabin disgusts Norma Jean, where in a conversation between Leroy, Norma Jean, and Mabel, Leroy states, â€Å"I’m aiming to build us a log house† (70). Norma Jean quickly responds to Leroy with â€Å"Like heck you are† (70). She clearly shows her disapproval with his plan. We as readers can interpret that Leroy is a man stuck in the past and Norma Jean has evolved into a new woman. We see an attempt at resolving the dysfunctional couples relationship when they take a trip to Shiloh. Leroy is trying to hold onto the love of his life while Norma Jean is trying to free herself and move on to bigger and better things in life. She has changed her life, physically and mentally and Leroy has done nothing with his life which is why she is leaving him. The attempt at reconciliation fails terribly and Norma Jean and Leroy split paths and go on with their separate lives. In â€Å"Sonny’s Blues† we see another dysfunctional relationship, this time between brothers. The narrator of the story, is the brother of Sonny. A schoolteacher in Harlem, he has grown up around men and women who have suffered from alcoholism, drug addictions and many more problems. Similar to Leroy from â€Å"Shiloh†, he is a family man also reeling from the loss of their youngest child, Grace. The death of their child spurred the brother into writing to his troubled brother Sonny. Sonny was the younger brother of the two who has been through many difficult life lessons throughout his short life so far. Sonny has suffered from a heroin addiction which landed him in a local jail which further weakened the bond between the two brothers. Sonny’s brother has lived in Harlem and has seen heroin addicts and victims of alcoholism and has showed no remorse for them. We see Sonny’s brothers intolerance for the men around Harlem who suffer from an addiction when he is talking to an old friend of Sonny’s after he leaves the school one day. â€Å"Look. Don’t tell me your sad story, if it was up to me, I’d give you one. † (294). This shows how Sonny’s brother is indifferent regarding people who have suffered from a addiction. While Sonny was in jail, the relationship continued to dwindle. After Sonny’s release from prison, their relationship began to heal. In addition to his drug addiction, Sonny’s inability to decide on a career in life irritates his brother. Sonny’s aspirations spread as far as India, a military job stationed throughout the world , and/or landing a job as a musician in his hometown of Harlem. This inconsistency of Sonny enrages his older brother, who has made a promise with their mother to look after him and make sure he grows up to be a proper man. In contrast to the relationship between Norma Jean and Leroy, Sonny and his brothers relationship is able to rebuild after a time of hardship between the two. Sonny is able to recover fully from his heroin addiction and begin to get his life back on track. In addition to cutting his heroin addiction, he makes a life decision regarding his future and chooses to become a musician in Harlem. The theme of dysfunctional relationships is present in both stories with very different endings. In â€Å"Shiloh†, we see a relationship between two married people end abruptly. Leroy, the man stuck in the past and holding on to what he knows and Norma Jean, the woman who has changed everything about herself. Opposites do not attract and the marriage ceased to continue after their visit to the Shiloh battlefield. In â€Å"Sonny’s Blues†, the brotherhood relationship between Sonny and his brother is able to recover and progress due to the changes Sonny has made with himself. Works Cited Tessina, Tina. â€Å"What Is A Dysfunctional Relationship? †Ã‚  What Is A Dysfunctional Relationship? N. p. , n. d. Web. 09 Apr. 2013 Mason, Bobbie Ann. Shiloh. N. p. : Flamingo, 1988. Print. Baldwin, James. Sonny’s Blues. Mankato, MN: Creative Education, 1993. Print. How to cite Dysfunctional Relationships Between Sonny’s Blues and Shiloh, Papers

Toys Essay Research Paper ToysWhen I was free essay sample

Toys Essay, Research Paper Playthings When I was a kid I could merely hold dream of holding playthings like they do today. With the engineering promotions and new innovations that they have today the plaything companies can do playthings that walk, talk, and larn all on their ain. Turning up as a kid I played with playthings such as small fictile plaything soldiers, metal Tonka trucks, a assortment of plaything animate beings which were either made of plastic or stuffed and you had to utilize your imaginativeness to feign that they could speak and listen to you. We besides had this picture game called Atari. Technology has had the biggest consequence on the alteration of the plaything from my childhood to the playthings today. When I was younger we played the Atari. It was a large box, which looked like the overseas telegram boxes of today that hook up to your Television. We will write a custom essay sample on Toys Essay Research Paper ToysWhen I was or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It had two control sticks, which had one button on it. The game cartridges were boxlike and they had unidimensional degrees. Today with layer engineering we have the Sony Playstation which is smaller in size, and the games are on CD? s. The degrees are 3-dimensional and you have a accountant with several different buttons and it shakes during the game to do it look realistic. Technology has besides effected the plaything autos and trucks of my childhood yearss. When I was a kid I used to have on out the articulatio genuss in every brace of bloomerss I owned forcing about small autos and Tonka trucks. Now they have remote control autos that use wireless signals to travel on their ain. With the push of a button you can do them turn, travel directly or change by reversal. It is battery operated, the battery operates the wireless signal from the accountant in your manus to the aerial on the auto. Today they have playthings that can walk, talk, and larn on their ain. With the assistance of computing machine french friess that can be programmed to make certain thing or shop memory. This enables them to speak ; they are programmed to state certain things. Now they have made the Furby which can really pickup things that you say process it and state it back to you. These are much more advanced than the toy animate beings of my childhood. Now they have come out with a plaything called Giga pet. This plaything is like a pet, you have to feed, bathe, nurse, and take attention of it. If you don? t the pet will decease and you will hold to get down the game over. If engineering has advanced toys this much in approximately ten old ages it will frighten you to believe what is to come the following 10 old ages. You neer know playthings may even take over the universe.

Kiss And Hype Essays - Kiss, Wicked Lester, Peter Criss, Ace Frehley

Kiss And Hype Hype is defined as promotional publicity of an extravagant or contrived kind. It is used to lure the consumer to a certain product or an event of some kind. The competition for the consumer's attention is intense and even desperate at times. Throughout the 1970's, there was a vast machinery of hype surrounding the music industry. Some of what came out of it was original and imaginative, but some was deceptive and outrageous. Whatever it was, it was all aimed at the consumer. The rock group Kiss has been performing for over twenty-six years. In that time, they have sold over ninety million albums, amassed legions of fans, and sold out stadiums around the world. There is a reason for the extraordinary success of Kiss. It has something to do with their music, but it has more to do with the way they are hyped and packaged. So lets unwrap that package. In 1972, Gene Simmons was a sixth grade school teacher in New York City. With guitarist Paul Stanley, he formed a band called Wicked Lester that played in small clubs and bars around New York. That band quickly failed. "Wicked Lester just wasn't the deadly rock n' roll assault squad they had always wanted" (Kitts 12). But Simmons and Stanley felt they could and would become stars. They invested in some large equipment and decided to start a major rock band. From the hordes of drummers, they chose Peter Criss, who had been advertising himself in New York newspapers. They auditioned over thirty guitarists and chose Ace Frehley, who had been delivering liquor for a living. The band was formed and now came the time to sell it. The key step was to persuade Bill Aucoin, director of the television show Flipside, to take over the management of the band. Kiss emphasized style over substance and went heavy on trappings. Makeup came first. It set them apart from everyone else and gave them an aura of mystery. Each member developed his own alter ego. It was the first of many Kiss gimmicks that worked. The costumes came next, complete with black leather, aluminum studs, and seven-inch platform heels. They never allowed themselves to be photographed out of character. "The hype was self-perpetuating. The more Kiss's identities were shielded, the more interest there was in trying to photograph them" (Lendt 40). By 1978, Kiss was the highest grossing live act in the world. Their concerts became main attractions for millions of people. Kiss's formula for success was simple: hit the audience so hard, with a barrage of gimmicks, stunts, and theatrics, that they will not be able to forget you. Everything was intended to project power. The double s's at the end of the Kiss logo were designed to look like lightening bolts. The stage was equipped with drum risers, platforms, and a towering electric sign with a gigantic lit up Kiss logo. A high point, or "hype" point, in the show came when Gene Simmons, the demon, would breathe fire. Another "hype" point would come when Simmons vomited blood. For Kiss, their concerts were the best commercials for their albums. Kiss had to make their way in the 1970's without the help of radio. There were virtually no stations in the country that would play their music. Instead, they promoted themselves in other ways. They permitted no promotional possibility to slip away. Kiss sold t-shirts, hats, belt buckles, puzzles, dolls, jackets, pictures, posters, comic books, and virtually any and everything they could put their logo on. "In some ways it epitomized just how big and different we were that a lot of other bands" (Stanley, Kiss Extreme Close-up). They used all of this promotion to sell records. In the music business, this sort of thing is called, not without reason, exploitation. Kiss is one of the best examples of hype in the music industry. Without their image, along with the package, they might not have ever made it out of the clubs and bars. Few imitators have attempted to copy or adapt the Kiss formula's obvious appeal, and certainly none have surpassed Kiss's success at capitalizing on that formula. In time, Kiss may one day be permanently enshrined as a theme park ride, a Las Vegas casino attraction, or some other modern era mass entertainment spectacle: which is what Kiss was all about in the first place. Bibliography Kitts, Jeff. Kisstory. Los Angeles: Kisstory Ltd., 1994. Lendt, C. K. Kiss and Sell: The Making of a Supergroup. New York: Billboard Books, 1997. Kiss Extreme Close-up.