Gatsby Assignment

The Great Gatsby Assignment Directions: * For each chapter (except Ch. 9), at least one of the three columns (Device – Passage – Connection to Meaning) is completed for you. Your job is to correctly and meaningfully complete any blank column. Passages should be directly cited and effectively chosen (Include page number[s]). * Each â€Å"Connection to Meaning† entry will require multiple, thoughtful sentences. * Each â€Å"Connection to Meaning† entry must include: (a) discussion of meaning in the immediate context of the device, and (b) discussion of meaning in the greater context of the novel.You are expected to complete the â€Å"a† portion of your discussion as soon as we read the chapter. You are expected to return to each completed â€Å"a† portion at the conclusion of the novel, as you attempt to find new insight and complete the â€Å"b† portion of your discussion (remember that Ch. 6 is your model for the third column, but your s should be 2-3 sentences longer and more developed). * Send me an email when you get home, and I will send you the assignment electronically. This way you can type the assignment and turn in a printed copy. My email is cecily. [email  protected] org * This is due Thursday, March 28 (TYPED! ) Chapter| Device/Strategy| Passage and page #| Connection to Meaning| 1| Juxtaposition| â€Å"There’s a bird on the lawn that I think must be a nightingale come over on the Cunard or White Star Line . He’s singing away,† her voice sang. â€Å"It’s romantic, isn’t it, Tom? † The telephone rang inside, startlingly, and as Daisy shook her head decisively at Tom the subject of the stables, in fact, all subjects vanished into air. (15)| | 2| | â€Å"But above the gray land and the spasms of bleak dust which drift endlessly over it, you perceive, after a moment, the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg. The eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg are blue and giganticâ₠¬â€their retinas are one yard high. † (23)| | 3| Allusion (41)| | | 4| | â€Å"Yeah, Gatsby’s very careful about women. He would never so much as look at a friend’s wife. † (72)| | 5| Tone shiftTone #1Tone #2Tone #3Tone #4| | | 6| | | Jay Gatsby invents parents because he does not like what his mother and father represented.Gatsby is new money and is in opposition to the old money; new money was not respected since it was earned fast and quick and not inherited or used to raise and culture those it was passed down to. So, Gatsby â€Å"creates† the image that is needed in order to fit into the society in which Daisy belongs. He creates a perfect, omniscient heritage that only can be achieved by one according to Christianity, and he became the faithful servant to that image.This allowed him to achieve the status that only his â€Å"heavenly† Daisy could complete. | 7| (a) Logos (b) Ethos (c) PathosHint: You need to provide a clear example of e ach appeal in the argument to â€Å"win† Daisy. | | | 8| | â€Å"She was the first nice girl he had ever known. In various unrevealed capacities he had come in contact with such people, but always with indiscernible barbed wire. He found her excitingly desirable. † (148)| | 9| | | |

First let’s define externality Essay

As an example of the above definition: Pollution from a factory can affect the health of nearby residents – negative The same factory can provide jobs to nearby residents – positive Negative externality is two part: production and consumption. I will be using both these externalities in my following discussion on pollution. Companies pollute on three different platforms: air, water and land. Air pollution is caused by: †¢Factories †¢Power plants †¢Vehicles †¢Solvents †¢Domestic/industrial chemicals †¢Military †¢Natural causes – volcano, wildfires (ref: aboutairpollution.co.za) Water pollution is caused by: †¢Urbanization oLand disturbed from construction oChemical pollution from mines, industries, etc oInadequate sewage and treatment †¢Deforestation †¢Damming of rivers †¢Destruction of wetlands (ref: www.randwater.co.za) Land pollution is caused by: †¢Domestic, nuclear wastes and industrial wastes, †¢deforestation †¢human sewage †¢mining and other factories †¢increased mechanization †¢ Sewage discharged into rivers instead of being treated properly †¢ Sanitary/hazardous landfill seepage †¢ Cemeteries †¢Scrap yards (waste oil and chemical drainage) (ref: www.wikianswers.com) You will note from the above that pollution is a hot topic and one of the most commonly used to define negative externality. The above causes of pollution serve as a grim reminder of the visible and mostly invisible effect on the consumers. And it certainly is not calculated into the economy. The costs and benefits of pollution can be calculated by economists but this will not reduce its impact, merely factor into the cost of production of goods. What will impact on the economy is the demand for pollution free living and the purchasing decision that will allow this. The following few examples come from my own ‘green’ list: †¢Diesel instead of petrol †¢Switching of unnecessary electricity sources †¢Organic foods within my budget †¢No smoking †¢Living in a ‘leafy’ suburb A lot of South Africans (and world) citizens are making conscious buying decisions to reduce the effects of global warming and the depletion of the ozone layer. The costs of living ‘green’ is higher than average and the economy will see the impact of this as consumers demand ‘cleaner’ living conditions. How can governments help reduce or eliminate negative externality? †¢Increase taxes on domestic pollutants such as cigarettes, solvents, etc †¢Pollution tax for industries †¢Pollution limits on emissions †¢Focus on residential and business zoning and the effect on the surrounding environment †¢New commercial/residential buildings must include ‘green’ technology and utilities †¢Providing separate bins for proper product recycling – domestic, commercial and industrial †¢The abolishment of ‘shanty towns’ for proper housing (source Ref: www.factsanddetails.com, www.statssa.gov.za, www.thinkquest.org, Economics: Global and South African Perspectives, Michael Parkin )

Benefits of Cycling

Bicycling has been a long-time hobby which produces both long and short-term benefits. Its an enjoyable activity which involves being outdoors and away from the less beneficial pursuits such as television, computer and the refrigerator. Its a vigorous interest that not just the young and healthy can participate but kids as young as toddlers and the elderly as well. In addition, provided they have the proper equipment, disabled person can too. Cycling fits into a persons lifestyle easier than many other physical activities because it can be used practically, to go from one place to another unlike, say, swimming which is fun but much more limited by the time of year and availability. Its easier on the bodys joints than jogging while getting from point A to point B much quicker and with less effort. Chief among its numerous benefits, cycling is good for health, both physical and mental as well as good for the environment. One of the main health benefits of cycling is that it strengthens the heart, develops endurance and improves circulation which reduces the risks from coronary heart illnesses, one of the major causes of death. Gaining endurance also lowers the chances of contracting some types of cancers and diabetes. Muscles are strengthened and toned from cycling particularly those located below the waistline such as the thighs, buttocks and legs. Many of those who have weakened or injured joints and cannot run to stay in shape turn to cycling to help keep them active because it is a lower impact exercise. Maintaining a proper body weight is not just good for the ego but benefits health in several, well documented ways. A cyclist burns a great deal of calories especially if they are riding a good distance or at a moderate to fast pace. Cycling also has the benefit of increasing a persons metabolism, their inner engine, even after the ride is finished. Reducing body weight lessens the strain of joints making cycling a duel benefit for those who suffer from weakened knees. Weight loss, like improved cardiovascular function, lowers the risk for strokes and heart ailments. Another duel benefit is that cycling strengthens the immune system which, like reducing the chances coronary heart illnesses, lowers the risk of contracting certain cancers. Eye-hand coordination is greatly enhanced by cycling. Stabilizing the bodys weight while moving both legs in a circular motion and using both hands to steer the bike enhance coordination skills. Improving coordination improves agility, athleticism and reaction time, useful in everyday tasks, especially helpful as a person ages. Speaking of, cycling increases a persons lifespan via the health benefits previously mentioned. Its a fun way to get healthy and stay healthy while adding years to your life. (Markham, 2011). Another health benefit of cycling is improved mental health. Any type of exercise nourishes and builds the brain. Peddling a bicycle not only enhances the amount of blood flowing through the heart and muscles but the brain as well. The more blood that is pumped through the brain the more effectively it functions. As a person peddles it forces additional nerve cells to discharge which increases the formation of proteins and other compounds. This action encourages new brain cells to form. Cycling can double or even triple the number of neutrons produced, actually building brain function. Additionally, exercise encourages the activity of neurotransmitters increasing the efficiency of communication between both old and newly formed brain cells. Think of it as building a 4G network to replace the old 3G by taking a relaxing ride through the country or by getting to school or work on your bicycle. Enhancing and developing brain cells while improving the communication lines between them is increasingly vital as we age because as we grow older the brain contracts and those lines of communication naturally grow weaker. Bicycling protects and restores the brain and to no ones surprise, a larger, better connected brain functions better. Adults who exercise display sharper memory skills, higher concentration levels, more fluid thinking, and greater problem-solving ability than those who are sedentary. (Yeager, 2014). Cycling acts to improve environmental health too particularly if one rides a bike to commute to and from school and/or work. It reduces a persons carbon footprint and has been characterized as a green method of transport especially when compared to driving a fossil fuel burning car for all means of getting around town. Bicycles dont spew air pollutants and reduce the nations dependence on fossil fuels. According to the U.S. Census nearly half live closer than five miles from their place of employment. Total emissions would be reduced by more than five percent, a substantial amount, if those people rode a bike to work instead of driving their car. Vehicles produce nearly one-third of all carbon dioxide and 80 percent of all carbon monoxide emitted into the air each year. Shorter trips are proportionately worse due to engine warm-up factored into the equation. Cycling to work when practical would make a big difference in the reduction of the gasses creating climate change. Cyclists, ge nerally speaking, are in better physical condition than motorists who tend to be more obese which means cyclists use fewer energy resources in a range of areas such as food production and transportation. (Bicycle Buying, 2015) The benefits of cycling are numerous not just for the person peddling but for the environment therefore society as a whole too. Its a heart health hobby that enhances brain activity and reduces carbon gas release. Its also a fun outdoor activity which stimulates the senses which are dulled by staying indoors too close to the television and refrigerator. Unlike both swimming and running, cyclists can enjoy a conversation with a fellow rider. Cycling is easier on the joints than running and can be enjoyed all seasons unlike swimming. All-in-all cycling is a beneficial physical activity and hobby.

Team Silos and there affects on Organizational Citizenship Behavior Essay

Team Silos and there affects on Organizational Citizenship Behavior - Essay Example Certainly, informational flow is an essential component necessary for organizational existence. In an environment of limited flow of information, there will be an inefficiency and corporate culture will be severely compromised. Managers often spend a lot of time in ensuring that information flows freely across all departments and ensure all department functions executes collective responsibility as expected. In organizational citizen behavior, concept is a desirable phenomenon that each organization wishes to cultivate at every level of the organizations existence. It relates to how the employees perceives the company and how their interpersonal relations affect the company operations. In other words, the concept calls for collective responsibility of employees towards the organization and their continued effort to build and sustain positive organizations image. Team silo continues to impact negatively on the organizational citizens behavior. Arguably, this is a detrimental mentality that can ruin organization traditions, values and interpersonal relations among the employees. The sheer spectrum of organizational citizenship is a far-reaching in multiple positive aspects. Firstly, it ensures that the employees remain cohesive and integrate employees effort towards the desired results. Where employees create a cohesive teamwork approach in undertaking their daily duties, the company best interest is safeguarded at all times, and a positive organizational citizenship is achieved (Organ & MacKenzie 2006). Secondly, employees practices working or future approach, this means they put the life of the company a number one priority. Sadly, where silos mentality is practiced, this important forecasting is lost, and the employees get embroiled in endless strife that limits scope of the organizational achievements and the success probability greatly diminishes. Team silo refers to an organizational mentality that restricts

Analysis and discussion of the main crross cultural (star) Essay

Analysis and discussion of the main crross cultural (star) - Essay Example Tang and Ward suggests that management practices would help such organizations as Star supermarket to enjoy individual freedom, equal contribution, and division of labor. In addition, the staffing policy, communication aspects, and other host country’s concerns are crucial in ensuring the survival of the supermarket in this country. Mossler, (2004), asserted that the staffing policy is a managerial function implemented on recruiting and hiring of employees. It also involves in developing the required personnel for given vacancies in a company. Cultural Profile and Management Practices The culture and management practices of Shanghai where Star supermarket will be operating play a significant role in its entry and growth in operations. A cultural change initiative is crucial in the analysis. This approach would help the management of the Star supermarkets implement changes in all its levels of hierarchy. In addition, the adopted culture perspective is optimist because the manag ement’s plans are long-term with expected successful entry and survival in the market. The management of Star supermarket aims at succeeding in the new market, adapting to the diverse culture in Shanghai and eventually become profitable. ... The Chinese culture consists of several key concepts and values upheld by individuals in the country. The population values elaborate relationships and connections that promote trust and co-operation in everyday operations (WANG & GOODFELLOW 2003). The establishment of mutual respect and connection in business is crucial to its success. Furthermore, the concept of reputation and social status is fundamental to the success of a business. The business culture considers the aspect of appropriate allocation of respect to individuals as a means to create a reputation for a business (CHENG 2003). The Star supermarket management should consider gaining respect from the markets in China in order to attract respect and create loyalty among their customers. New entrants in the Chinese market are expected to understand the culture of the individuals in the diverse markets that revolve around relationships, responsibility, and obligations (DAHLES & WELS 2002). Workers and their Reception The wor kers in China are highly motivated and goal oriented. Consensus-oriented workers who make good teams in work places will welcome the management of Star supermarket. The country’s cultural emphasis is group oriented with all the personal interests sublimated to the good of the organizations they work. The workers also believe that standing out alone as a worker earns an individual negative publicity in a work place. Therefore, the workers keep low profile and work together to achieve collective objectives. Furthermore, the majority of the country’s employees tend to ask for detailed instructions regarding assigned tasks (WANG & GOODFELLOW 2003). Local

FDI Inflow in India through Manufacturing Sector Essay

FDI Inflow in India through Manufacturing Sector - Essay Example Although India is an under developed country and the government has taken all possible measures to boost up the FDI in all the sectors specially the manufacturing sector. The best econometric model which suits the inflow of FDI's in manufacturing sector is "Time Series Econometric Model". The variables of time series econometric model are stated below: After developing the variables, firstly, we need to assess their properties. Its existence both in long and short term is outlined through the time series analysis. Secondly, one needs to find out those variables which are dependent to each other so as to categorize them either in short term or medium term basis. Moreover, corrective and appropriate measures need to be taken in selecting the variables because only some of these variables produce good results in the long run while the rest do not. The most important thing regarding the application of this model in the manufacturing sector is the data provided. Because in third world or under developed countries like India the manipulation in the data might occur which may create problems in analyzing the real model. The Indian market is very attractive for the foreign investors due to its massive growth in population, economy and various other demographic factors. The Indian government has taken every possible measure to attract the foreign investors and due to this fact stock market of India has attained a new height and its trading volume has grown up exponentially over the last few years, right before the world economy went into a recession (Mehul). In the last 10 years, 27 billion dollars have been injected in the Indian economy, most of which was invested in the manufacturing sector, as availability of cheap labor is one of the key factors that attracts foreign investors. On an average India's overall manufacturing base has attracted investments worth 3.4 billion dollars from 2000 to 2008 in the form of FDI (The Financial Express). There is a huge potential in the manufacturing industry of India and economists estimate more than 12 billion dollars to be injected or invested in India's manufacturing sector in the next 5 years (The Financial Express). Statistics reveal that India is the fourth largest country in terms of FDI but they are still way behind in comparison with China, to refer to the proportions of FDI in India's manufacturing industry is around 37 in comparison to 67 per cent of China (Bhanu 3). Although there is a huge potential and flexibility in both the markets but due to the government policies, tax free zones, availability of cheap labor and resources, China finds its way comfortably at the top (Swapna ). Similarly, another important statistic, is comparison between the manufacturing and the service sector. Service sector in India has only been able to attract $2.34 billion of FDI in the past years. To Examine Motives of FDI Inflow in India Indian economy has made huge impact on the global economy being a huge market

Demonstrate how your knowledge of contemporary families informs real Essay

Demonstrate how your knowledge of contemporary families informs real life experiences or issue - Essay Example John spent a good portion of his time managing the family business. Lastly, the house girl and the garden boy with the core activities of ensuring the entire house and the home compound business are at all times up to date. They are therefore regarded as the in-house and compound managers respectively. All my family members leave in peace and big harmony with one another. A family should ensure that children within the family are satisfactorily brought to meet the best social requirements, into the norms and values of the society. This is highly necessary due to the fact that children are born with believes that whatever is happening is because of them. To remove the egocentric mind in the children, the family has an obligation of teaching children how to socialize with other people and respect the societal rules (Williams, Stacey & Carl, 2005). My family is doing this through offering protection from the complicated society at all times. It also recognizes the importance of we being socially up right and thus ensuring that we attend peer meetings and plays in order for us to learn that other people exist and deserve fair treatment as we do. This act has been of great deal in developing and improving our social standards and understanding towards others. Grownups within my family also voluntarily take a teaching role by teaching us the right social behaviors and the importance of having the right norms in the society (Russon, 2003). The family should also provide economic support for other family members. This takes many forms ranging from provision of food, medical requirements and financial assistance and offering economic advices to each other during the hard economic times. It is through such economic support that family alleviates the suffering of its members resulting in a general reduction in human suffering during hard economic situations (Williams, Stacey & Carl, 2005). My family does

Illegal Immigration and High Rating Crimes in the United States Essay

Illegal Immigration and High Rating Crimes in the United States - Essay Example The intention of this study is hate crime generally as crime that is targeted at victims due to their affiliation to particular a social group. The social group may be defined in terms of disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, race, religion, class, age, ethnicity, nationality, social status, gender, or gender identity according to Lipman, J. and Francine. Better stated, hate crimes are crimes that are motivated by bias usually taking the form of assault, violence and at the worst, murder. Other forms of hate crime include harassment, bullying, insults, verbal abuse and the use of offensive words in writing or painting, just to mention a few. Hate crimes inflict a lot of psychological and sometimes physical pain to victims of the crime. It basically infringes on people’s fundamental and civil rights. Statistics show that the United States of America has high rates of hate crimes, the Black Americans commonly being the victims. In fact, out of 8000 reported hate crimes in the US recorded in 1995 by the FBI, about 3000 cases involved Black American victims. This minority group faced the highest level of victimization in the year. However, this is not to say that Minority groups such as the Hispanics, Muslims, Gays, Jews, Native Americans and Asians do not face a lot of hate crimes. Illegal immigration is the act of foreigners violating national immigration laws and/or policies by entering and residing in a place without official authorization. Illegal immigrants are naturally aliens.... ate crime include harassment, bullying, insults, verbal abuse and the use of offensive words in writing or painting, just to mention a few (Stotzer, 2007). Hate crimes inflict a lot of psychological and sometimes physical pain to victims of the crime. It basically infringes on people’s fundamental and civil rights. Statistics show that the United States of America has high rates of hate crimes, the Black Americans commonly being the victims. In fact, out of 8000 reported hate crimes in the US recorded in 1995 by the FBI, about 3000 cases involved Black American victims (Stotzer, 2007). This minority group faced the highest level of victimization in the year. However, this is not to say that Minority groups such as the Hispanics, Muslims, Gays, Jews, Native Americans and Asians do not face a lot of hate crimes. Illegal Immigration in the United States of America Illegal immigration is the act of foreigners violating national immigration laws and/or policies by entering and resi ding in a place without official authorization (Miller, 2007). Illegal immigrants are naturally aliens. The United States suffers illegal immigration as a result of the wide perception, by people across the world, that the country is a haven of opportunities. As of 2008, the Center of immigration studies estimated that close to 11 million people illegally lived in the US (Bahrampour, 2010)). Other bodies give slightly different statistics relating to illegal immigrants in the country. The Pew Hispanic Center reported in 2005 that about 55% of the illegal immigrants were Mexicans, 3% Africans, 6% Canadians and Europeans, 13% Asians, and 22% Latinos (Passel, 2006). There are many people who have had conducted studies related to illegal immigration and associated problems. According to Miller

HR 640 - Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

HR 640 - Case Study - Essay Example The business of ComputerHelp Inc. covers the software development, computer timesharing and sales. The business of ComputerHelp Inc. is now in better working position and the overall staff is well qualified. ComputerHelp Inc. has managed the business from all the sides of marketplace. Recently they have offered the company shares to its employees. When business of ComputerHelp Inc. went to the public its potential performance enhanced and overall staff confidence was also augmented. In this way ComputerHelp Inc. has established its branches in lot of other cities, such as New York, Los Angeles, Dallas and Atlanta. The working staff of the ComputerHelp Inc. is also augmenting and adding more value to the business of the ComputerHelp Inc. This expanding ratio of the ComputerHelp Inc. working staff is 10 percent each year (Case Study). The staff of the ComputerHelp Inc. is operational in different categories like managerial, professional, programmers, computer engineers, and technical. The overall workers of the ComputerHelp Inc. are highly educated and experienced. Though the ComputerHelp Inc. management has offered the main ownership to its working staff but still business has benefit program. The main partners and stakeholders of the business are getting profits in project and are also paid competitive wages. These employees are satisfied but the business growth of the non-consulting side of the business has resulted in the hiring of staff that will not be made partners or shareholders in the business. In the above situation new working staff that is not made the partners or shareholders in the business are considered as the employees. It seems that these employees are working for the wages and have no interest in business enhancement or company future. This situation creates the feel of disparity in those work ing employees (Case Study). This problem situation can result in the loss of

In our own Interest Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

In our own Interest - Essay Example During the case of Somalia, 19 Americans died while attempting to restore peace (Thompson et al 4). Following the Mogadishu case, President Clinton’s intervention was restricted by the administration, despite the fact that the recommendations offered went against their humanistic conscience. The recommendation entailed the evacuation of all the American people at Rwanda, but not rescuing any Rwandan’s despite the fact that they perfectly understood the crisis at Rwanda. This paper reviews the response of President Clinton and his staff during the Rwanda Genocide, towards demonstrating the evils that emanate from obedience and the influence of authority on human behavior. Discussion Following the orders from the American administration, during and after the start of the Rwandan crisis, the administration’s advisors and the planning teams of the US – through president Clinton and his staffs communicated a number of excuses – for failing to act in resp onse to the genocide (Thompson, et al. 2; Carroll). The reasons given by President Clinton and his staffs included that the true magnitude and the scale of the killings taking place at Rwanda was not known. They also claimed that the rate of killings did not warrant the response of the US government (Thompson, et al. 3). However, considering that the massacre continued for a period of three months, it was clear that the inaction of President Clinton and his administration was not caused by the lack of proper information. Further, it became clear that the US was aware that the plans of the attack were known, because it was reported to the US, but nothing was done about the situation. The inaction of the US was also, not because it did not have enough resources, using which to respond to the situation. The reasons behind the failure of the inaction were primarily policy issues (DIA). The President and his staffs’ inaction are evident from the fact that they were well aware of t he case, eve before it happened. This was evident from the fact that, on 11th of January 1994 General Dellaire informed the UN of planned assassinations of Tutsi officials (Carroll). His subsequent appeals for reinforcement were not served. Further, after the start of the killings, memoranda about killings were sent to the Secretary of Defense’s office, and leading news papers like the Washington post and the New York Times reported the killings taking place (DIA). The policy recommendations that went against the conscience of President Clinton and his staffs included those from the administration that military force was not to be employed, following the experience that the US government had gained from the 3rd of October 1993 raid at Mogadishu, which ended with the killing of 19 Americans (Samantha 378). Other policy recommendations advanced by the US administration included that the interests of the US had to be protected, the administration did not have any allocation to a ddress the situation and that it lacked allied and public support (Samantha 378). These administrative policy recommendations tied the president and his staff’s ability to decide in favor of the crisis at Rwanda. This case shows the effects of their obedience; because the case culminated in the killing of more than 500,000 people (O'Toole; Stanley). The president and h

Internet safety securityn privacy Essay Example for Free

Internet safety securityn privacy Essay Introduction Microsoft has established partnership with American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in order to ensure online safety of children. This program provides guidelines for family safety and to protect children from developing psychological disturbances on social issues. AAP has a vast number of pediatricians in U. S. and it has second place as largest physician organization in the world which is promoting health and welfare to all children. Microsoft company which is a giant in computer software predicts that future generation of children required to possess extensive knowledge about Internet whereas, it should be lead by limitations of dos and don’ts on Internet browsing, which if not guided results in adverse impact both for parents and children. In this effort, AAP records a total of 96 million of school-age children per year and apart from promoting health care, AAP would also provide Internet safety measures for children. â€Å"We are pleased to see that the AAP and its members are striving to make Internet safety education a part of routine clinical care for children, (Adrienne Hall, Senior Director of Trustworthy Computing at Microsoft) Microsoft has several guidelines for each age group. Viz. , using family contracts, 10 things to teach kids, computer security tips for students, steps to improve family’web security, minimizing risk from online predators, a bank of tips and tools to help parents and a video to teach kids how to be safe online. In fact there are many points that have to be noticed by children before entering online surfing. First and foremost, parents must be present while children are online and secondly, identify the purpose of surfing such as whether it is for the purpose of education, online games, chatting, shopping or for any other purpose. Thirdly, encourage children to enter through search engines, explaining the importance of finding good sources of information for education purposes, or directly by having an accurate web site address / URL . This enables children to click on a particular link that is required for further information. For instance, children above the age of 6yrs usually are quick to learn about online skills and enjoy playing online games. In such case, parents must take initiative to find a web site which contains free online games which are both educative and entertaining viz. , math games, puzzle games, doll games and many other sport games. Parents must explain that by typing â€Å"online games† in google search engine a plethora of games websites are displayed which are good and entertaining for children. Children are very smart than parents, with the fact that anything explained once is remembered and from the very next minute, children pick up so fast in learning concepts. Therefore, it is the responsibility of parents and teachers to teach online safety measures to children for the health and benefit of children. Step by step guidance is what is required for children instead of blackboard teaching. Teaching through videos, online training are some of the best methods to teach children how important it is to tread safely on Internet. There must be a friendly and warm atmosphere at the time of parents participation with children while teaching internet skills. Many a times, children do not agree or parents disagree with the online surfing. In such instance, rules must be framed as a formal contract that would be signed by both parents and children. In this manner, children would be compelled to listen to what parents teach about online skills. Apart from this open discussion, also brings good results with the fact that, when parents ask questions about Internet surfing, children get encouraged and begin to provide a great amount of information which enables parents to realize whether children are entering any unacceptable web areas or zones. There are quite a danger zones that harm children to the developing personality especially, information on weapons, forbidden web sites for children age and above all harmful images that trigger the emotions of innocent kids. Even chatting rooms have to be checked by parents, with the fact that at times, net friends provide false age and false information whereby children begin to build friendship with the above age group and ultimately fall prey as a victim to the net criminals/hackers. Children are even motivated to disappear from parents and especially in western world, parents suffered a great loss for not being aware of Internet in the primary stage of its launch. With some of these negative effects, Microsoft has even designed a code of conduct that must be signed between parents and children which is reproduced as below: â€Å"Online code-of-Conduct Contract. I will: Talk with my parents to learn the rules for using the Internet, including where I can go, what I can do, when I can go online, and how long I can be online ( ___ minutes or ___ hours). Never give out personal information such as my home address, telephone number, my parents work address or telephone number, credit card numbers, or the name and location of my school without my parents permission. Always tell my parents immediately if I see or receive anything on the Internet that makes me feel uncomfortable or threatened, including e-mail messages, Web sites, or even anything in the regular mail from Internet friends. Never agree to meet anyone in person that I have met online, without my parents permission. Never send pictures of myself or other family members to other people through the Internet or regular mail without first checking with my parents. Never give out my Internet passwords to anyone (even my best friends) other than my parents. Not do anything online that could hurt or anger other people or that is against the law. Never download, install, or copy anything from disks or the Internet without proper permission. Never do anything on the Internet that costs money without first asking permission from my parents. Let my parents know my Internet logon and chat names, listed below: _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ Name (child) _______________________ Date ____________ Parent or guardian _______________________ Date ____________ Several hours of browsing may also be harmful to the sensitive eyes of children which is why there should be a protective screen on computer monitor, otherwise there is every possibility of backache, development of eyesight, and even dark circles around eyes. It is important to take note here that children should be instructed to blink eyes every second and staring at web sites while playing games or visiting web sites without blinking eyes, causes lot of eye sight problems. Conclusion Internet is truly benefiting to children wherein children are educated at a fast pace as never before through blackboard teaching whereas measures of care would yield good results. Reference Protect your family : Beyond the basics, Prevention guidelines Accessed January 28, 2008 http://www. microsoft. com/protect/family/guidelines/default. mspx.

A Paper on Apprenticeship in Chemical Industries Essay Example for Free

A Paper on Apprenticeship in Chemical Industries Essay I would like to acknowledge and extend my heartfelt gratitude to the following persons who have made the completion of this summer project: Our college, METAS ADVENTIST COLLEGE, for giving this opportunity. My college mentor Mr. D. Mukherjee Sir for his vital encouragement and support. Reliance industries ltd. , India’s world renowned corporate house for giving me a wonderful platform to undergo this summer project. Mr. Himanshu Bhatt (HOD), for his good leadership and leading me to the right places. Mr. Suresh Lachhwani, HR Manager for his understanding and assistance. Mr. Geyal Bhatt,HR manager for his constant reminders and much needed motivation. Mr. Vijay Shethna, HR Manager for his guidance. Mr. Naman Buch Mr. Giriraj Mistry for their valuable support and help throughout my project. Most especially to my family and friends. And to God who made all things possible COMPANY PROFILE The Reliance Group, founded by Dhirubhai H. Ambani (1932-2002), is Indias largest private sector enterprise, with businesses in the energy and materials value chain. Groups annual revenues are in excess of USD 27 billion. The flagship company, Reliance Industries Limited, is a Fortune Global 500 company and is the largest private sector company in India Backward vertical integration has been the cornerstone of the evolution and growth of Reliance. Starting with textiles in the late seventies, Reliance pursued a strategy of backward vertical integration in polyester, fibre intermediates, plastics, petrochemicals, petroleum refining and oil and gas exploration and production to be fully integrated along the materials and energy value chain. The Groups activities span exploration and production of oil and gas, petroleum refining and marketing, petrochemicals (polyester, fibre intermediates, plastics and chemicals), textiles and retail. Reliance enjoys global leadership in its businesses, being the largest polyester yarn and fibre producer in the world and among the top five to ten producers in the world in major petrochemical products. The Group exports products in excess of USD 15 billion to more than 100 countries in the world. There are more than 25,000 employees on the rolls of Group Companies. Major Group Companies are Reliance Industries Limited (including main subsidiaries Reliance Petroleum Limited and Reliance Retail Limited) and Reliance Industrial infrastructure Limited. RELIANCE AT A GLANCE This is the story of a company with a vision of how it grew from being a small trading unit to be ranked among the top 50 emerging market companies in the world. It is the story of how a company helped place India firmly on the world industrial scenario. Taking with a family, a growing family that includes collaborators, suppliers, customers, employees and the largest based in the country. It is the story of how company’s vision has extended to include newer challenges, new goals and most of all it is a story of a company where the â€Å"Growth is Life†. He (Mr. Dhirubhai Ambani) made a beginning by setting up a company viz. Reliance Commercial Corporation. â€Å"Reliance† means reliability, which is the main principle of any business and we believe that this success in business lies in the principle. He created an empire of Reliance in the various fields such as PETROCHEMICALS, POLYMERS, TEXTILES AND PETROLEUM. The expert team of the technocrats of the World Bank has come to conclusions that reliance textile unit is the top most quality conscious textile unit among the developed countries. Reliance Commercial Corporation went public in the year 1971. In the next few years the company made a massive investment exceeding 40,000 cores of rupees in the industrial areas of petroleum, Gas, Chemicals, Textile, Special Economic Zones and life sciences and established supremacy in diverse industrial areas which took the Reliance group to the peak of Industrial areas. History of Reliance – Hazira Reliance Industries Ltd, Hazira started in 1988. RIL, Hazira is one of the flagship companies of reliance group. It is largest integrated Petrochemicals and polyester complex of India. It dealt with various commodities including Nylon and Rayon. Eight years later it started the manufacturing of synthetic fabrics in February 1996. Eight years later it is started with the manufacturing of synthetic fabrics under the brand name of â€Å"Vimal† in textile mills at Naroda. In three years Reliance establish itself as the largest textile group in the country. The Reliance Industries Ltd, Hazira Manufacturing Division at Hazira near Surat in Gujarat is situated in 750 acres land on the banks of river Tapti. The land when procured was very low and marshy and required extensive site development including 7 million cubic meter of soil filling to raise the ground level upto 6ft. In order to protect the environment and avoid ecological disaster, conventional methods were employed to pump out the river sand for hydraulic filling. The marshy soil with load bearing capacity called for extensive pilling work to be carried out. In an unprecedented construction activity around 18,000 piles were driven for the first phase in about 6 months time. Reliance adopted the unique concept of implementing the Phase 1 down stream plants at Hazira with imported raw material (Ethylene) and intermediates (Ethylene Dichloride, EDC) to ensure completion and commissioning of the plants in 24 months time. Reliance is the first complex in the world to starts operations based on imported Ethylene, British Petroleum followed then. Ethylene unloading terminal is built in collaboration with LT and LGA of Germany. Ethylene storage is one of the largest in the world. It has 2 tanks with uble wall protection and concrete wall outside as an advance safety feature Contribution to the economy Reliance Group revenue is equivalent to about 3. 5% of India’s GDP. The Group contributes nearly 10% of the country’s indirect tax revenue and over 6% of India’s export. Reliance is trusted by an investor family of over 3. 1% million-India largest. Abbreviations and acronyms AITT All-India Trade Test AOCP attendant operator (chemical plant) API active pharmaceutical ingredient ATI advanced training institutes. ATS Apprenticeship Training Scheme BTC basic training centre cGMP current good manufacturing practices CTS Craftsmen Training Scheme DCS distributed control system DGET Directorate General of Employment and Training GDP gross domestic product HOCL Hindustan Organic Chemicals Limited HRD human resources development HRM human resources management ITC industrial training centre ITI industrial training institute MITI model industrial training institute NAC National Apprenticeship Certificate NSCI National Safety Council of India NCVT National Council of Vocational Training. PLC programmable logic controller RD research and development RIC related instruction centre RIL Reliance Industries Limited SCVT State Council for Vocational Training SHE safety, health and environment SOP standard operating procedures SSI mall-scale industry VET vocational education and training INTRODUCTION OF CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES The chemical industry is a base of modern society. It is huge, one of the largest industries in the world. As societies and economies grow, so does the chemical industry. It is of strategic importance to the sustainable development of national economies. The world chemical industry employs an estimated 14 million workers and accounts for about 10 percent of national GDP in developed countries. World trade in chemicals reached a record US$700 billion, and the industry is still growing. The chemical industry in Western Europe shows steady growth, with annual averaged growth of over 4 per cent. The Asian chemical industry shows an increase reaching almost two-digit growth every year. The chemical industry keeps improving our standard of living and provides many of the essentials that our society needs. The chemical industry produces more than 70,000 products. It is a highly capitalized industry. Much of the manual work has been replaced by automation, but significant parts of the operation still rely on human input. Workers’ skills are therefore crucial to the stable production and growth of the industry. The aim of this study is to explore in depth some practices of vocational education and training (VET) in the chemical industry in India, which is one of the leading chemical producers in Asia. Overview of the Chemical Industry in India The chemical industry is one of the oldest industries in India. It not only plays a crucial role in meeting people’s daily needs but also significantly contributes to the industrial and economic growth of the country. In 2004, the total sales of the Indian chemical industry were about US$28 billion, or about 2 per cent of global chemical sales, which stand at about US$1. 7 trillion. It is the third largest in Asia and ranks at 12th in world chemical production. Some statistics on the contribution of the Indian chemical industry to the national economy are given below: The Indian chemical industry at a glance in 2005 Total sales: US$32 billion. The chemical industry constitutes: – 7. 5 per cent of India’s total GDP; – 10 per cent of India’s total exports; and – 12 per cent of industrial production in India. Unionized chemical workers account for 17 per cent of the total unionized workforce (or about 1 million unionized workers in the chemical industry). 20 per cent of excise and import duty collection The Indian chemical industry is highly fragmented. The primary cause of the fragmentation is due to the Government’s corporate licensing policies, allowing various sizes of chemical firms in order to address the supply and demand gap of chemical products. The sectoral classification of the Indian chemical industry in 2004 is given in figure 1. The dyestuff sector is one of the important segments in the chemical industry in India, which is closely related with other chemical sectors. The textile industry is the largest consumer of dyestuffs, nearly 80 per cent of total dyestuff production. While in the 1950s, India imported dyestuff, the country’s dyestuff sector has grown into a very strong industry and has become a major foreign currency earner. India has emerged as a global supplier of dyestuff and dye intermediates, in particular reactive, acid, vat and direct dyes. Fertilizers and pesticides played an important role in the â€Å"Green Revolution† of the 1960s and 1970s. But the consumption of pesticides in India has been decreasing, and is now lower than any other developing country. India now turns to be an exporter of agrochemicals, showing an impressive growth in the last five years. In 2004, fertilizers accounted for about 18 per cent of India’s total chemical production. Indian chemical industry: Sectoral classification, 2005 Fertilizers; 18% Man-made fibres; 16% Pharmaceuticals; 15% Organic chemicals; 15% Soap toiletries; 11% Polymers; 6% Inorganic chemicals; 8% Paints dyes; 5%. Pesticides; 3% Other chemicals; 3% National framework of vocational education and training (VET) Introduction In 1947 India was independent. In the early 1950s, India launched a five-year plan with massive industrializing drives to stimulate workers to acquire high skills. To meet this end, the Directorate General of Employment and Training (DGET) in the Union Ministry of Labour initiated the Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS) by establishing about 50 ITIs for imparting skills in various vocational trades to meet the increasing skilled workforce requirements for the advancement of technologies and the industrial growth of the country. VET is a concurrent subject of both central and state Governments in India. VET-related matters, such as the development of training schemes, training policies, training standards, training procedures, organization of trade tests and issuance of certifications, are the responsibility of the central Government, whereas the implementation of training schemes largely rests with state Governments. The central Government created the National Council of Vocational Training (NCVT), a tripartite body representing central Government, employers and trade unions. Similarly, the State Council for Vocational Training (SCVT) was established at the state level, with the same purposes as the NCVT. At the national level, at present there are two main vocational training initiatives, which are the CTS and the ATS. 1 The Government and chemical companies have dual responsibility for providing workers with training under the Apprentices Act, 1961. Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS) Objectives The objectives of the CTS are: 1. To ensure steady flow of skilled workers in all industrial/service sectors; 2. To raise the quality and quantity of industrial production by systematic training of workers; and 3. To reduce unemployment among the youth by equipping them with suitable skills for industrial workers. Salient features of the CTS Training is imparted in 50 engineering and 48 non-engineering trades through the industrial training institutes (ITIs) and the industrial training centres (ITCs) located throughout the country. The period of training varies from one to three years. The entry qualification varies from 8th to 12th class completed students, depending on the requirements of trade. The training institutes have necessary infrastructural facilities. These institutes are required to conduct training courses as per the training curriculum decided by the NCVT. All-India Trade Tests (AITTs) are conducted in January and July every year by the DGET. After the completion of the training at the ITIs and ITCs, trainees must appear in the All India Trade Tests. National Trade Certificates will be awarded to those who pass the tests. The Certificates are recognized by the central Government for the purpose of recruitment at the central Government and the state-owned corporations. About 70 per cent of the training period is allotted to practical training and the rest to theoretical training relating to trade theory, calculation and science, engineering, social studies including environmental science and family welfare. Broad-based modular training is offered in four central model industrial training institutes (MITIs). This training offers an advantage of re-orienting the training modules as per the changing skill requirements in the industry. Trades related to the chemical plant operators. The trades related to chemical plant operators, the period of training and their entry qualifications under the CTS are summarized in table 1. Table 1. Trade, period of training and entry qualifications for chemical plant operators under the CTS Trade Period of training Entry qualifications Maintenance mechanic(chemical plant) 2 years Passed 10th class examination with physics, chemistry and mathematics under 10+2 system of education or its equivalent. Instrument mechanic (chemical plant) (a) 2 years (b) 6 months. Passed 10th class examination under 10+2 system of education with physics, chemistry and mathematics as one of the subjects or its equivalent. Passed B. Sc. with physics and chemistry. Attendant operator (chemical plant) (a) 2 years (b) 6 months Apprenticeship Training Scheme (ATS) With the growing tempo of planned economy giving rise to increased industrial activity both in the public and the private sectors. Systematic trained manpower is vital for Industrial development and productivity. Apprenticeship training is the most important programme for training skilled workers for these industries. India is one among the very few countries having a comprehensive and systematic Apprenticeship Training Scheme. In order to regulate and control of training the Apprenticeship Act of 1850 was enacted. Later on Parliament considered it necessary to enact a more comprehensive Act as the old Act if 1850 was found quite inadequate and so instead of just amending it, the new Act containing more detailed provision was enacted on the unanimous acceptance of recommendations of Shiva Rao Committee in 1961. Subsequently Apprenticeship Rules were framed for smooth implementation of the Act in 1962 and it was enforced with effect from 1963. Its scope was extended in 1973 to cover Engineering Graduates and Diploma holders. At present 254 specified groups of Industries are brought under the purview of Act 137 trades are designed under the apprenticeship Act. The ATS is operated under the Apprentices Act, 1961. The law requires all companies to provide apprentice training to entry-level workers. Firstly, we will briefly discuss the aims and the background of the Act, followed by the discussion concerning the ATS. BRIEF OBJECTIVES OF THE APPRENTICESHIP ACT 1961 ARE : (i)To regulate the programme of training of apprentices in the industry so as to confirm to the prescribed syllabi, period of training etc prescribed by the Central Apprenticeship Council, and (ii)To utilize fully the facilities available in the industry for imparting practical training with a view of meeting the requirements of skilled workers in the Industries. TRAINING OF TRADE APPRENTICES CONSISTS OF : 1. Basic Training 2. On the job training or Shop floor Training. 3. Related Instructions. INTRODUCTION. The Apprenticeship Act, 1961, come into force with effect from Ist March, Craftsman Training was proposed to be imparted under the Industrial Conditions on the shop floor. PURPOSE OF THE APPRENTICESHIP ACT, 1961. The Apprenticeship Act, 1961provides for the regulation and control of training for Apprentices in the country. This Act has been enacted in order to regularise the programme of their practical training and to ensure fully utilisation of the available training facilities. The Apprenticeship Training Scheme has two fold objectives namely :- ( a )Maximum utilisation of training potential to relieve unemployment and ( b )To give more intensive training to the Apprentices so as to bring their level of skill to entertain specified standards. Evolution of the Apprentices Act, 1961 The National Apprenticeship Scheme started in 1959 on a voluntary basis. The Apprentices Act was enacted in 1961 and promulgated on 1 March 1962. Initially, the Act envisaged training of trade apprentices. The Act was amended in 1973 to include training of graduates and diploma engineers as â€Å"graduate† and â€Å"technician† apprentices, respectively. The Act was further amended in 1986 to bring it within its purview the training of the 10 + 2 vocational training system as â€Å"technician (vocational)† apprentices. Administration of the Apprentices Act, 1961 The responsibility of administering the Apprentices Act, 1961, lies in the DGET. The DGET is also responsible for implementation of the Act with respect to trade apprentices in the central Government through the undertakings and departments. This is done through six regional directorates of apprenticeship training located at Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kanpur and Faridabad. State apprenticeship advisers are responsible for the implementation of the Act at the state level. In addition, the Department of Education in the Union Ministry of Human Resources Development (HRD) is responsible for the implementation of the Act with respect to graduate, technician and technician (vocational) apprentices. This is done through four boards of apprenticeship training located at Kanpur, Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai. Under the Act, the chemical industry is included in the categories of manufacture of basic chemicals and chemical products and manufacture of rubber, plastic, petroleum and coal products. APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING SCHEME (ATS) The Central Apprenticeship Council is a responsible organ to the ATS. The Council advises the central Government on designing the policies and prescribing the standards and principles in respect of the ATS. It is a tripartite organ. The Union Minister of Labour is the Chairperson of the Council and the Minister of State for Education is the Vice-Chairperson. COVERAGE The apprenticeship training is obligatory on the part of employers in public and private establishments; they must have the requisite training infrastructures, as laid down in the Act. In 2005 nearly 18,000 establishments engaged in the apprentice training, of which 254 companies or groups of companies in the chemical industry were covered by The Apprentices Act. For the attendant operators in the chemical plant, chemical companies must hire one apprentice trainee for every ten workers, excluding non-skilled workers. QUALIFICATIONS AND RECRUITMENT OF TRADE APPRENTICES. A person male or female not less than 14 years of age is qualified for being engaged as Apprentices. The entry educational qualifications for the Apprentice vary from 8th class or equivalent matric with mathematics and Ph/Chem/Biology/ English as prescribed by CAC. The apprentice before engagement should also satisfy such standards of physical fitness as prescribed. The recruitment of apprentices is the responsibility of the employers . Employers can seek the assistance of Employment exchanges, Industrial Training Institutes, Directorate of Technical Education and Industrial Training, Apprenticeship section, Placement section or advertisement through press can be recruited in the month of Feb/Mar or Aug/Sept of every year against the assessed vacant seats. The apprentices recruited during March/September shall complete their apprenticeship training during either of these two months and this subsequently helps them to appear in the All India Trade Tests of Apprentices held in the months of April and October every year without any idol period between the completion date of training and the dates of All India Trade Tests. The establishment can recruit trade apprentices from either of the following categories 1. Passed out trainees of Industrial Training Institutes. 2. Freshers possessing minimum educational qualifications. BENEFITS TO WEAKER SECTIONS While recruiting apprentice employer has to ensure that scheduled castes/ scheduled tribes, minorities, physically handicapped and other weaker sections of the society get fair deal and are engaged as prescribed. CONTRACT OF APPRENTICESHIP Every person or if he/she is a minor his Guardian shall have to execute a contract of apprenticeship with employer in the prescribed form, which has to be registered with the concerned Apprenticeship Advisor. The Apprenticeship training will be imparted in pursuance of this contract. The employer and the apprentices shall carry out their obligations under this contract. If where the contract of apprentice is terminated through failure on the part of the employer to carry out the term of contract and condition ( as notified under apprenticeship rules 6), he shall pay to apprentice compensation as prescribed. In the event of premature termination of contract of apprentice for failure on the part of apprentice to carry out the term and condition of contract ( as notified under Apprenticeship Rule 1991 ). The surety at the request of apprentices hereby guarantor to the employer the payment of such amount as determined by the State Apprenticeship Advisor and towards the cost of training. The liability of surety is limited to amount equal to the three month stipend last drawn and with interest at 12% per annum. BASIC TRAINING AND RELATED INSTRUCTION The period of basic training is most of the cases is either one year or two years. Apprentices who have undergone institutional training of one or two years in I. T. Is are not required to under go basic training. The time to be spent on related instructions during this period is 7 hours/ week i.e. one day per week. Where an employer employs in his establishment to 250 or more workers the entire responsibility for imparting basic training to apprentices is the responsibility of the employer himself. In case an employer in his establishment less than 250 workers, he shall have to bear only 50 percent of the cost of the basic training, the other 50 percent is borne by the Government. As regards Related Instructions, it is imparted at the cost of Government. Employer is re-imbrued related instruction charges at the rate of Rs. 50 per apprentices per month, when he arranges to impart related instructions. SHOP FLOOR OR ON THE JOB TRAINING RELATED INSTRUCTIONS. The remaining period of Apprenticeship which in most of cases is one year or two years is on the job/shop floor training and it will be the entire responsibility of the responsibility of the employer whether he employs less than 250 workers in his establishment. Several employers may join together to form training-co-operatives for the purposes of providing on the job (practical) Training related instructions. Related Instructions will be imparted during this period also at the cost of the Government. The training will be according o the standards prescribed by the Government in consultation with the Central Apprenticeship Council or as laid down in the prescribed syllabi. OBILIGATION OF EMPLOYERS. The employer shall provide the apprentice with the training in the trade in accordance with the provisions of the Apprentices Act and the Rules made thereunder and in terms of the contract of Apprenticeship. If he is not himself qualified in the trade, he shall ensure that a duly qualified is placed in charge of the training of Apprentices. He shall look after the health, safety and welfare of Apprentices. If personal injury is caused to an apprentice by an accident arising out of in course of his training as an apprentices, his employer shall be liable to pay compensation in accordance with the provisions of the workmens compensation Act. An employer shall pay stipend to every apprentice during the entire period of apprenticeship training. The minimum rates of stipend are as follows :- First Year Rs. 820/- per month Second Year Rs 940/- per month Third Year Rs 1090/- per month Fourth Year Rs 1230/- per month Employer can pay any higher rates of stipend to attract better candidates . Apprentices shall not receive any Bonus or incentive money. Hostel accommodation if available may be provided to the Apprentices but this not obligatory under the Act. OBLIGATION OF APPRENTICE Every apprentice shall learn his trade conscientiously and diligently. He shall attend practical and related instruction classes regularly and shall carry out all lawful orders of his employers and superiors in the establishment. In the matter of conduct and discipline the apprentice shall be governed by the rules and regulations applicable to workers in the trade in the establishment. He will be a trainee and not a worker and shall not take part in any strike etc. He shall also carry out his obligations under the contract of Apprenticeship. HOURS OF WORK,LEAVE ETC. The weekly and daily hours of work of an apprenticeship shall not exceed the following:- Daily: Not more than 8 hours (includes the time spent on related instructions). Weekly : Total number of hours per week shall be 42 to 48 (including the time spent on related instructions. ) Trade apprentices during the third subsequent years of apprenticeship shall work for the same number of hours per week as the workers in the trade in the establishment in which the trade apprentice is undergoing apprenticeship training. No apprentice shall be engaged on training between the hours of 10 P. M and 6 A. M. or required to work overtime except with the prior approval of the Apprenticeship Advisor. An apprentice shall be entitled to have casual,/medical and extra-ordinary leave as per leave rules of the establishment. If no proper leave rules exist in the establishment the apprentice shall be entitled to total 37 days leave of different types i. e. casual 12 days, medical 15 days extra-ordinary 10 days. Grant of such leave shall be subject to the following conditions:- a)That every apprentice engaged in an establishment which works for 5 days in a week(with a total of 45 hours per week) shall put in minimum attendance of 200 days in a year out of which one sixth namely 33 days shall be devoted to related instructions and 167 days to practical training. b) That every apprentice engaged in an establishment which works for 5 1/2 days or 6 days in a week shall put in minimum attendance of 240 days in a year out of which one sixth namely 40 days shall be devoted to related instructions and 200 days to practical training. In case an apprentice could not put in minimum period of attendance or could not complete his essential part of training for circumstances beyond his control, his period of training could be extended for a period of up to six months under Apprenticeship Act rule 5(2). Employer has to continue to pay the stipend for the extended period of training. FINAL TRADE TEST At the end of their training the apprentices are trade tested by the National Council Of Vocational Training . These All India Trade Tests under the Apprentices Act 1961are held twice a year some time in April and October. Every apprentice who passes this test is awarded National Apprenticeship Certificate which has been recognized by the Central and State Governments for the purposes of appointments in subordinate posts and services. EMPLOYMENT ON COMPLETION OF APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING. It shall not be obligatory on the part of the employer to offer any employment to an apprentice nor shall it be obligatory on the part of the apprentice to accept an employment under the employer on successful completion of training unless it is specifically provided in the contract of Apprenticeship. SEAT ASSESD/ SEAT UTILISED AS ON 31. 12 . 2005 |S. NO. |SEAT ASSESD |SEAT UTILISED | | |PUBLIC SECTOR |PRIVATE SECTOR |TOTAL |PUBLIC SECTOR |PRIVATE SECTOR |TOTAL | |1. |2541 |2821 |5362 |1779 |1330 |3109 | The role of the chemical industry in the national VET framework Chemical companies take the following roles and initiatives as their commitments to the national vocational education system: a) To deliver basic and practical training for apprentices in the industry by the enterprise, with the whole cost borne by the enterprise; b). To appoint  the experts from these training centres as members of the curriculum committee at the national level to draft the curricula for the Craftsmen and Apprenticeship Training Programme; c) To appoint the experts from these training centres as examiners and paper setters for the Craftsmen, Apprenticeship and Instructor Training Programmes; and d) To appoint the experts from the training centres as members of advisory committees, such as the Central Apprenticeship Council, the NCVT, the State Apprenticeship e) Council and the SCVT, as well as advisory committees of ITIs and ATIs. The companies on their own fund their in-house and external training programmes for their employees. Liberalization of the Indian chemical market and VET When liberalization hit the Indian chemical industry in the early 1990s, most of the chemical companies – regardless of the number of employees – were affected by a massive drive of cost reduction due to increased competition stemming from globalization. Before liberalization arrived in the chemical industry, the Government of India devised protective schemes to protect its industry and domestic market. In fact, the chemical industry was one of the major forces urging the Government to take protective measures. The rationale was that if the industry were not protected, it would have been wiped out, causing a loss to India’s exchequer. Under the protected market, chemical companies produced only enough to make minimum profits. The Government restricted the production capacity through corporate licensing. Hence, there was no incentive for chemical companies to improve the quality of product, reduce production cost or replace outdated machines and equipment with state-of the- art high-tech production systems. Improving workers’ skills in order to increase productivity had been barely considered. Once workers were employed by chemical companies, they received initial training but nothing further. Liberalization and the substantial reduction of customs tariffs in 1991 due to globalization shocked the manufacturing sector, in particular the chemical industry. Globalization resulted in the closing down of many small and medium-sized chemical firms in India. To cope with emerging globalization, chemical companies needed to change their business manners and business practices. Cost-cutting was the only way for them to survive in a keenly competitive globalized market. Chemical companies also took drastic measures to reduce workers as an inst.

Salvation Army: Stakeholder Analysis

Salvation Army: Stakeholder Analysis EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This essay is basically about the stakeholders of the Salvation Army case study written by Alex Murdock. It involves a breakdown of the work of the Salvation Army and the different stakeholders involved in the organisation. The first section is an introduction on the works of the Salvation Army and then moves on to discuss the different stakeholders of the Salvation Army in terms of their interest and power in the organisation. The next section discusses the major stakeholders and what they expect from the Salvation Army in terms of how there handle things. The last section presents a critical review on the importance of stakeholder management to any organisation and how to maintain an effective stakeholder relationship. THE SALVATION ARMY, A GLOBAL NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANISATION INTRODUCTION The Salvation Army can be described as an international movement and as an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. It is also seen as a global non-profit organisation which was founded by William Booth and his wife Catherine in 1865 in London and has spread to other parts of the world. The primary aim of the organisation is to preach the good news about Jesus Christ and persuade people to become his followers. The Salvation Army shows care and concern for the needs of people despite their sex, age, race, status or colour. The mission statement of the Salvation Army (2004) The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by love for God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human needs in his name without discrimination. The movement works in 109 countries and provides services in 175 different languages. The army also has some distinctive characteristics which set it apart from other Christian organisations one of which is its adoption of a quasi-military structure which is derived from spiritual warfare and reflects in the use of ranks, uniforms and flags. The actual work of the Salvation Army is not just evangelistic but is deeply focused on the relief of poverty and the provision of practical, cost-effective and skilled services. The Salvation Army provides a variety of programme-based services worldwide and their social service has become very important to the extent that the UK annual report affirmed that it was the second largest provider of social service after the government. One of the major services they provide is the residential service which is widely provided in different forms and the largest form is the facility for homeless people. They also provide residential accommodation for eve ry possible individual ranging from mother and baby to elderly and disabled and in 2003, there were altogether over 600 separate facilities with a total capacity of nearly 32,000. Mostly for the elderly people, they provide remand homes and day care for the little ones. Due to the armys focus on addiction dependency, lots of residential and day care resources have been developed to help extensively in addiction problems. The Salvation Army has been very helpful in a lot of other aspects apart from providing structures there provided counselling services for clients whom other agencies are reluctant to assist such as alcoholics, drug addicts. In especially the UK, the Salvation Army has been fully involved in the missing person services. The Salvation Army is a holiness movement and says that Salvationists should: Earnestly strive to become wholly devoted and obedient to God, strong and upright, true, pure, kind, loving and humble in one word, holy, like Jesus. Salvation Army (2009) IDENTIFY ALL STAKEHOLDERS AND CONSTRUCT A POWER/ INTEREST MATRIX A stakeholder is any entity, internal or external, who could directly or indirectly affect your organization or be affected by your organisation (Romeo 2008). This means any person or organisation that can positively or negatively impact the actions of a company, government or organisations. They are people that have shares or interest in an organisation and are also involved in the control and decision making of the organisation. There different types of stakeholders are: Primary Stakeholders these are people that are ultimately affected either positively or negatively by an organisations actions. Secondary Stakeholders these are intermediaries i.e. those indirectly affected by the organisations actions. Key Stakeholders people that have significant influence within the organisation and there can belong to the two groups above. The stakeholders of the Salvation Army are listed below: Employees, Government, Volunteers, Donors, Board Members, Other Non Profit Organisations, Funders, Church and Members, Media, Armed Forces, UK National Lottery, The Public, Competitors, Clients/ Consumers, Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Religious Groups, Individual Government bodies, The Councils. When looking at the stakeholder analysis, we need to consider the level of interest and the level of power the stakeholders have. Power depends on how much the stakeholder can bring to promote the army and Interest depends on how important the stakeholder sees the army. A stakeholder analysis is a process of systematically gathering and analyzing qualitative information to determine whose interests should be taken into account when developing and implementing a policy or program (Best 2007: 2). It is useful in identifying key actors and assessing their knowledge, interests and power in relation to the organisation. These stakeholders or interested parties can usually be grouped into the following categories: international, public, national political, commercial/private, nongovernmental organization (NGO)/civil society, labour, and users/ consumers (Schmeer, 2000 cited in Best 2007: 2). STAKEHOLDER POWER/INTEREST MATRIX A matrix is used to organise or classify the stakeholder data. It provides a short analysis of which stakeholder will gain or lose from the organisation. Low Level of Interest High B Keep Informed A Minimal EffortLow D Key Players C Keep Satisfiedpower High This map is divided into four sections: low interest/low power, high interest/low power, high power/low interest and high power/high interest. Group A- low power and low interest in the Salvation Army so there require little or no effort and attention e.g. people, UK national lottery which has no interest or power in the organisation. Group B- low power and high interest in the organisation so there need to be kept informed by the Salvation Army because there have high interest but little power to control what goes on in the organisation e.g. volunteers, armed forces Group C- high power and low interest so the Salvation Army has to keep them informed on a regular basis and satisfied e.g. NGOs, media Group D- high power and high interest in the Salvation Army so there require loads of attention and effort because of their importance e.g. government, councils. The Salvation Army needs to be aware of a key player with a strong opposition. The analysis consists of the identified stakeholders bring arranged in a table according to the extent and level of power and interest there have in the organisation. According to Johnson and Scholes (2002:208), power/interest matrix imply the political priorities for managing stakeholders relationships by assessing the level of interest and power for each stakeholder. ASSESS THE EXPECTATIONS OF EACH GROUP OF STAKEHOLDERS Non profit organisations are often thought of as seeking effectiveness and efficiency in equal measure (Drucker 1990). The donors, public agencies funding this organisations, employees and managers who work for these organisations often have high expectations about their ability to make an impact on the areas in which there are involved. The extent to which there provide services and affect community issues is an important measure of the effectiveness of these organisations. There are difficulties when trying to identify stakeholder expectations in not- for- profit organisations (Fletcher et al 2003). The decisions about the purpose and strategy of an organisation are influenced by the expectations of stakeholders (Johnson, Scholes and Whittington 2008). This could be a challenge because of the possibility of many stakeholders having different expectations which could lead to conflict especially in a large organisation like the Salvation Army. MAJOR STAKEHOLDERS AND THEIR EXPECTATIONS In this Salvation Army case, the major stakeholders are mostly those with high interest and high power which are: the church, donors, the government, army officers (uniformed and non- uniformed), media, individual government bodies, the high council, the generals consultative council, the international management council. Church The church could be seen as the major stakeholder because as the founder of the Salvation Army, they are in charge of most of the activities and services that the Salvation Army does. Media The media highlighted the governments views and added to the banning of the Salvation Army e.g. the press made attempts by the government to ban Salvation Army in Russia. Donors the Salvation Army is a non-profit organisation so it depends largely on donations and grants. The resourcing needs of the salvation army will likely increase as the demands increase so the donors support the organisation by making donations and there expect it to be put to good use e.g. Joan Kroc made a donation of 1.5billion dollars which was the worlds largest single charity donation. This donation however raised some questions and caused a bit of conflict between the donor and the organisation on the limits of acceptability. Government The government has supported the organisation and has attempted to support its needs. They have major expectations there want to see manifested in the Salvation Army. The government have high power and high interest because they are in charge of certain standards, and if these standards are not met, they carry out their penalties. Individual Government Bodies The government assists the Salvation Army in their fund raising campaigns. Some of these individual government bodies include social services like the Red Cross and various health organisations and they provide assistance when the Salvation Army needs it. This group of people are key stakeholders that can influence and affect the work of the organisation so it is important that their expectations are met. In the case study, the government body in Russia had the power to ban the Salvation Army from their country because they did not like the way things were going on and this brought about some problems. In the UK and USA, the Salvation Army is recognised and strongly supported which allows them to operate much easier. The individual government bodies have a certain ways things are done in their countries and expect the Salvation Army to adhere to it or it could lead to lack of support from the body which could hinder the work of the organisation. Army Officers These are employees of the organisation (professionals and non-professionals) who are paid very little for the work there do. There are expected to be very dedicated to the organisation and achieve their objectives. The High Council: The High Council consists of all active territorial commissioners and their major responsibility was to elect a new general when the present one who is the head of the army is unfit to continue. The second in command who is the chief executive has the responsibility of executing the policy decisions of the general and produce a relationship between departments. They meet anywhere convenient for them in the UK. The Generals Consultative Council: This council is made up of qualified people responsible for making sure policies are consistent on a national scale and advice on the mission, strategy and policies of the Salvation Army. They meet regularly and work electronically through the use of lotus notes, emails. The International Management Council: this council focuses on how effective and efficient the international headquarters operates and usually meet monthly. The councils expectations are somewhat the same and even though the headquarters of the Salvation Army is in London, there is autonomy in each territory and no interference from each of them. Regardless of this, there always put the mission of the Salvation Army first before they make their decisions. WHY IS STAKEHOLDER MANAGEMENT SO CRUCIAL TO ANY ORGANISATION? A stakeholder is basically an individual or a group of people that has one or more different kinds of stakes in the organisation and this makes their management very important (Carroll and Buchholtz 2009). Managers have recognised that different stakeholder groups in an organisation have to be satisfied in other to meet their goals (Carroll and Buchholtz 2009). Stakeholder management has long been recognised as an essential part of the effectiveness of an organisation whether public/private sector or profit making/non- profit making. It involves building and maintaining the active support and commitment of the stakeholders to facilitate the timely implementation of change in an organisation (OGC 2005). The important functions of stakeholder management are to describe, to analyze, to understand and finally to manage (Carroll and Buchholtz 2009). Preston and Donaldson (1999) argue that stakeholder management can enhance organizational wealth and that economic benefits can be generated by positive relationships between an organization and its stakeholders. OGC (2005) is of the opinion that stakeholder management includes four things: stakeholder assessment and stakeholder mapping, identification of key concerns, risks and mitigating actions, monitoring stakeholder plan and using output of stakeholder mapping for communications and other interventions. It enables managers to ensure that the strategic and operational direction of an organization addresses stakeholder perceptions (Fletcher 2003). Stakeholder Management is very crucial to any organisation because it helps us to understand the important role of managing and informing stakeholders. It will ensure that key stakeholders and their interests are identified and strategies are developed to engage with them (NHS) Managers and organisations developed a set of principles of stakeholder management to provide managers with ways to treat stakeholders (Carroll and Buchholtz 2009: 111). These principles are known as the Clarkson Principles and in other to build an effective stakeholder relationship; managers need to adopt the following characteristics: acknowledge, monitor, listen, communicate, adopt, recognize, work, avoid and acknowledge conflicts (Carroll and Buchholtz 2009). It helps to integrate a variety of perspectives and provides a guide to organisations on how to manage their stakeholders (Donaldson 2002). Stakeholders are recognised as very important people in public and non-profit orgs which commonly have a more diverse group of stakeholders than private for profit organisations making it more difficult to identify strategic issues (Bryson 1995). Having a good relationship with stakeholders unites organisations, fosters partnership working, helps organisations to prioritise and meet their aims. The three important elements necessary for effective stakeholder relationships are leadership, communication and staff (MORI 2009). Stakeholder management involves identifying and classifying stakeholders and as a result of this facilitates an engagement with them in a coordinated manner. This engagement involves identifying different categories of stakeholders, gathering information about them, identifying their missions in a project, determining their strengths and weaknesses, identifying their strategies, predicting their behaviour and developing and implementing a strategy for managing the se stakeholders (Cleland 2002 cited in Chinyio and Olomolaiye 2010). In conclusion, the stakeholder management is seen as a two way interaction or exchange of influence because just as the strategies, policies, decisions and actions of the organisation can affect stakeholders, so can the stakeholders affect the organisation (Carroll and Buchholtz 2009). The key to managing stakeholders is a good understanding of their current circumstances and which factors influence them over others. This then allows the approach to managing stakeholders to be tailored to achieve maximum benefit. In particular feedback channels are crucial as this allows distinct management techniques to be utilized dependant on the feedback being received. One criticism of stakeholder management is that it is a very demanding and time consuming process to attend to each stakeholder needs and ensure their satisfaction. Also, it could be very complex when classifying each stakeholder and trying to determine whose claims takes priority in any situation (Carroll and Buchholtz 2009). In the case of the Salvation Army, it is important to maintain a good relationship with the stakeholders because they play a very essential role to the organisation. Organisations need to plan for the future which is what the Salvation Army has done and is still doing to ensure that the poor and needy are well catered to.

Stephen Hawking :: essays research papers

Stephen W. Hawking has a mind that is beyond today's way of thinking. His attempts to identify a grand unification theory that unites everything we know about the physics and even science itself.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Hawking was born on January 8, 1942 in Oxford, England. He spent most of his childhood in and around London, and always looked to learn. He loved the stars and space. Stephen Hawking wanted to study mathematics and physics in a university, but his father thought that there would not be any jobs in mathematics, so Hawking took physics and chemistry, and only a bit of math. No one really saw how intelligent Hawking was till the second year of college.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One ordinary day at college, Hawking fell down a flight of stairs. He had forgotten who he was for two hours. When he back to himself, he took a Mensa test and got a 250. He thought nothing of the fall and went on like he normally would. When Hawking graduated college he took a trip to Persia. He got very ill on this trip, and was later diagnosed Amtytropic lateral sclerosis or, Lou Gerhig's disease.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When the doctors diagnosed with 2 1/2 years to live he pretty much gave up. He stopped researching and experimenting, and even thought of not finishing his Ph.D. He was in a hard depression, until he met a women by the name of Jane Wilde. After finishing his thesis, Jane Wilde and Stephen Hawking were married.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  From then on, Hawking went on to bigger things. The doctors diagnosis was wrong, Hawking wouldn't die in the 2 1/2 year. Hawking is credited with many things having to do with Black Holes and the outer space. Even know Hawking's problems did not kill him, they did not get any better. Years after the diagnosis Hawking eventually has become restricted to a wheelchair and can hardly move. He talks through a voice synthesizer and is fed through intervenes.

Feminism and Slavery Essay -- Literature Feminist Papers

Feminism and Slavery Harriet Jacobs escaped from slavery and at great personal risk wrote of her trials as a house servant in the South and later fugitive in the North. Her slave narrative entitled Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl gave a true account of the evils slavery held for women, a perspective that has been kept relatively secret from the public. In writing her story, Jacobs, though focused on the subjugation due to race, gave voice subtly to a different kind of captivity, that which men impose on women regardless of color in the patriarchal society of the ninetenth century. This form of bondage is not only exacted from women by their husbands, fathers, brothers, and sons, but also is accepted and perpetuated by women themselves, who forge the cage that holds them captive. Jacobs directed her stirring account of the afflictions a woman is subjected to in the chain of slavery to women of the North to gain sympathy for their sisters that were enslaved in the South. In showing this, Jacobs revea ls the danger of such self condemnation women maintain by accepting the idealized role that men have set as a goal for which to strive. Harriet Jacobs' slave epic is a powerful statement unveiling the impossibility and undesirability of achieving the ideal put forth by men and maintained by women. Her narrative is a strong feminist text. The idealized Woman that men and women alike propagated consists of four qualities. "The attributes of True Womanhood, by which a woman judged herself and was judged by her husband, her neighbors and society, could be divided into four cardinal virtues- piety, purity, submissiveness and domesticity."[1] Of all of the women that Jacobs' autobiographical character Linda Brent meets, not one ... ... "Perilous Passages in Harriet Jacobs's Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl" in The Discourse of Slavery: Aphra Behn to Toni Morrison. Plasa, Carl and Ring, Betty J., eds. New York: Routledge, 1994. McKay, Nellie Y. "The Girls Who Became Women: Childhood Memories in the Autobiographies of Harriet Jacobs, Mary Church Terrell, and Anne Moody" in Tradition and the Talents of Women. Howe, Florence, ed. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1991. Smith, Valerie. Self-Discovery and Authority in Afro-American Narrative. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1987. Starling, Marion Wilson. The Slave Narrative: Its Place in American History. Washington, D.C.: Howard University Press, 1988. Welter, Barbara. "The Cult of True Womanhood: 1820-1860" chap. in Dimity Convictions: The American Woman in the Nineteenth Century. Athens: Ohio University Press, 1976.

It’s Time to Take the Christ Out of Christmas :: Argumentative Persuasive Argument Essays

It’s Time to Take the Christ Out of Christmas Christmas in America is an exuberant display of human ingenuity, capitalist productivity, and the enjoyment of life. Yet all of these are castigated as "materialistic"; the real meaning of the holiday, we are told, is assorted Nativity tales and altruist injunctions (e.g., love thy neighbor) that no one takes seriously. In fact, Christmas as we celebrate it today is a 19th-century American invention. The freedom and prosperity of post Civil War America created the happiest nation in history. The result was the desire to celebrate, to revel in the goods and pleasures of life on earth. Christmas (which was not a federal holiday until 1870) became the leading American outlet for this feeling. Historically, people have always celebrated the winter solstice as the time when the days begin to lengthen, indicating the earth's return to life. Ancient Romans feasted and reveled during the festival of Saturnalia. Early Christians condemned these Roman celebrations--they were waiting for the end of the world and had only scorn for earthly pleasures. By the fourth century the pagans were worshipping the god of the sun on December 25, and the Christians came to a decision: if you can't stop 'em, join 'em. They claimed (contrary to known fact) that the date was Jesus' birthday, and usurped the solstice holiday for their Church. Even after the Christians stole Christmas, they were ambivalent about it. The holiday was inherently a pro-life festival of earthly renewal, but the Christians preached renunciation, sacrifice, and concern for the next world, not this one. As Cotton Mather, an 18th-century clergyman, put it: "Can you in your consciences think that our Holy Savior is honored by mirth? . . . Shall it be said that at the birth of our Savior . . . we take time . . . to do actions that have much more of hell than of heaven in them?" Then came the major developments of 19th-century capitalism: industrialization, urbanization, the triumph of science--all of it leading to easy transportation, efficient mail delivery, the widespread publishing of books and magazines, new inventions making life comfortable and exciting, and the rise of entrepreneurs who understood that the way to make a profit was to produce something good and sell it to a mass market. For the first time, the giving of gifts became a major feature of Christmas. Early Christians denounced gift-giving as a Roman practice, and Puritans called it diabolical.

Cola Wars: Profitability of the soft-drink industry Essay

Historically, the soft drink industry has been extremely profitable. Long time industry leaders Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola largely drive the profits in the industry, relying on Porter’s five forces model to explain the attractiveness of the soft drink market. These forces allowed Coke and Pepsi to maintain large growth until 1999, and also explain the challenges that each company is currently facing. The relative duopoly that Coke and Pepsi share in the industry allows for higher profits, while also maintaining enough competition to promote firm improvement. The first of Porter’s forces is the threat of new entrants. Coke and Pepsi have been largely successful because of many barriers to entry that limits the risk of entry by potential competitors. Coke and Pepsi both have strong brand loyalty, made possible by their long history and adherence to tradition. When Coke strayed from its Coca-Cola Classic formula, its customers demanded a return to the original recipe. Pepsi and Coke also share an absolute cost advantage over others in the industry. They developed superior production operations by buying up bottling companies and performing the service in-house. These companies also have large economies of scale, as they both operate internationally and together control 84% of the market worldwide. Additionally, government regulations have prevented competitors from mimicking Coke’s secret formula, as evidenced by their relentless defense of their brand in court. All of these factors have made it difficult for competitors to enter the soft drink industry. The second of Porter’s forces is rivalry amongst established companies. The competitive structure of the industry has allowed Coke and Pepsi to sustain high profits. The industry is essentially an oligopoly, with Coke and Pepsi dominating the market. The firms are hurt by having similar products that are relatively undifferentiated. However, diversification of product lines into carbonated and non-carbonated beverages has created some product differences. High industry growth from 1975 to 1995 also provided a reprieve from the competitor pressure. Franchising and long-term contracts created higher switching costs, historically limiting the effects of rivalry on the two firms. Porter’s third force is the bargaining power of buyers. This has always been low in the industry, and continues to diminish over time. The low number of suppliers does not afford buyers much room to negotiate. Furthermore, the abundance of distributor options prevented the bottling plants from applying pressure on Coke and Pepsi. Exhibit 8 also shows that both Coke and Pepsi were among the top five consumer brands most important to retailers, suggesting that they were on the losing end of the transaction relationship. Porter’s fourth force is the bargaining power of suppliers. Coke and Pepsi have always set their price. Bottlers were forced to buy concentrate at set prices, usually negotiated in the favor of Coke and Pepsi. The small number of suppliers limited alternatives that could provide the necessary concentrate to bottling groups. Coke and Pepsi have continuously renegotiated contract terms to decrease their costs and enhance profitability. These contracts eventually eliminated marketing cost obligations for concentrate producers as well. Suppliers became so powerful that they eventually bought their own bottling plants. Porter’s fifth force is the threat of substitutes. Initially, other products that could fulfill the same objective of soft drinks (quench thirst) were very weak. According to exhibit 1, carbonated soft drinks were the most-consumed beverage in America through the 1970s and 1980s. Since then, bottled water has become increasingly powerful, cutting into U.S. consumption. A growing health awareness has led to higher demand for non-carbonated soft drinks. Coke and Pepsi have largely met this threat by diversifying into other product lines such as water, juice, tea, and sports drinks. A significant factor that has also allowed the soft drink industry to prosper is the success of the fast-food industry. By partnering with restaurants such as Taco Bell, McDonalds, Burger King, and Pizza Hut, soft drinks have become a complement to this other profitable sector. Pepsi has taken advantage of this trend in its merger with Frito-Lay. While these five factors all contributed to making the soft drink industry very profitable, the industry is more recently facing challenges that could lead to declining profitability. Industry demand is steadily decreasing, as the United States – the largest consumer of soft drinks in the world – becomes more health conscious. Furthermore, buyers are now threatening to produce soft drinks themselves, such as in-store brands at Walmart. This has increased the bargaining power of the buyer. Though the future profitability of the soft drink industry may be declining in America, Coke and Pepsi have taken substantial actions to spread their brands worldwide. Each has a long-term growth strategy to saturate new markets, whether domestically or abroad. Coke has already taken control of many international markets, while Pepsi claims that its progression to the snack industry provides synergy in its business. It is undeniable that the competition between Coke and Pepsi has resulted in a multitude of strategies employed by both sides.