PESTEL analysis of Toshiba, Japan

PESTEL analysis of Toshiba, Japan Toshiba Corporation is a company based in Japan that specializes in the production of industrial and consumer electronic and electric products including notebook computers (laptops), electro medical devices. LCDs, home appliances and semiconductors. It is among the oldest and largest companies in Japan. Toshiba laptops are selected as the product to be marketed in Cuba. Cuba is a potential market because of the dynamics involved. It has the ideal setting ground for any company that aims at getting future high volumes of their products. B) Cubas History Christopher Columbus is credited with the discovery of the island of Cuba, an event that led to the colonization of Cuba by Spain. Despite this Cuba had been inhabited by indigenous people for centuries before the discovery. After the Spanish-American war is that Cuba gained its independence and sovereignty in 1902 (Ritter, 2004, pp.47). In the early years of the Spanish occupation, many native Cubans were butchered or forced into slavery while others died from the smallpox and measles brought from Spain. The rest fled to the mountains to escape slavery. This led to the introduction of African slaves to work in the sugar cane plantations. Slavery and slave trade are highly credited with taking the Cuban sugar industry to where it is today. The economic prosperity of Cuba began after Britain took over the island from Spain after the seven year war which ended in Britains favor. Trade regulations were eliminated and the path to prosperity was created. C) Geographical Setting Location Cuba an island that is located in the Caribbean Sea. The entire country or island measures an estimated 48,800 square miles. The country has several highland regions the most notable of which are the Guaniguanco, the Escambery and the Sierra Maestra. The island is located south from the famous Florida Keys (Cuba, 2010). The country has a coastline that extends for an estimated 3,700 kilometers. In relation to other countries, the country lies to the eastern side of the Gulf of Mexico and to the western side of the North Atlantic Ocean. The Yucatan Channel lies to the south east of Cuba. Climate The Cuban highlands, which are about a third of the country, have an overbearing effect on the climate. The fact that the country is an island also has ramifications on the weather and climate patterns experienced. The climate can be defined as tropical climate with a dry period from the month of November lasting until April while the rainy season lasts from May to around October. The country also happens to lie within the path of major hurricanes and other destructive storms which are common in the months of September and October. The average temperatures in Cuba vary between 23?C and 27C throughout the entire year Topography Cuba has several archipelagos but Cuba is the main island. The island has a hilly or mountainous topography marked by several highlands such as the Sierra Maestra, the Escambery, and the Guaniguanco. The rest of the country is marked by plains the largest of which are in the provinces of Matanzas and Camaguey. The rest of the country is marked by coast lines. D) Social Institutions The Cuban culture is a blend between African, American and European cultures. The European cultures were imported to Cuba courtesy of Christopher Columbus (Spain) and Britain. The American culture influence Cuba beginning from the period after the Spanish American war that rid Cuba of the Spanish colonists while the African cultural influences as a result of the many slaves brought in to work in the plantations. 1) Family The family is an important social institution in any nation, society, or community. The stability of the family as an institution is reflected upon the wider society as the society tends to have better social institutions that borrow their moral fabric from the family. Cuba is no exception to these basic rules of nature. Most families in Cuba live as extended families. a) The nuclear family The nuclear family had not had a very distinct role in Cuba until the post Fidel Castro era. The nuclear family is composed of a man, his wife, and their children. This means that in a household where there are three generations of a family, it is possible to have several nuclear families. b) The extended family The extended family is very important part of Cuban society. The family structure in Cuba is that up to three generations of a family live together in the same structure or household, a factor that makes it difficult to create a clear dividing line between the nuclear family and the extended familys role in the family setup. The leader or head of the family or the household therefore is the eldest parent figure in the family. This may be the grandfather or the Godmother within the family. He or she wields power over all the other family members and determines the role of each family member within the family. c) Dynamics of the family and parenting roles 1) Parental Roles: The role of parents is diverse depending on whether the family lives as an extended family or as a nuclear family. In the nuclear family setup, the father is the bread winner in the family while the mother is resigned to the role of care giver and is responsible for maintaining discipline within the family. In addition, family customs and traditions are passed down under the watch of the mother. In the extended family, the elder is in charge of the family. If the elder is a man, he is also the main breadwinner in the family though he is assisted by other family members. If the elder is a woman, she mainly serves as an overseer in the family and offers her guidance while the men in the family serve as the breadwinners. 2) Marriage and Courtship: The Cuban society still takes courtship as primarily the role of the man. Dowry is paid based on the individual customs of the bride. The weddings are one day glamorous events that showcase a lot of Spanish influence. 2) Education a) Education serves as a way of socializing the individuals into the ways of the society in a way that the family as an institution cannot. The educated people are the ones in positions of power and they are held in high regard within society. 1) Primary, secondary and university education and literacy rate The Castro government made primary education compulsory. In addition, school uniforms are also a requirement for all students and are used to denote the grade level of a student. In the Cuban education system primary education takes six years. Secondary education is divided into two categories. The first category is the basic secondary education where students learn basic skills such as language, art, arithmetic, and the sciences. This follows primary education and is almost compulsory for all. The second category is the pre-university education which prepares one for entry into university. After the completion of pre-university education, the students are awarded what is referred to as the Bachillerato in Cuba (C.I.A 2010). It can be compared to a diploma in other education systems in other countries in the world. After the pre-university education, an individual has two options, to pursue either technical education where one will gain skills to enable them gain employment or to pur sue professional education at the university level. b) Literacy rate. The literacy levels in Cuba are reported at 100% although the figure is disputed. The country also reports an enrolment/attendance rate of 98% in primary schools. 3) Political system a) The political system in Cuba can be defined as socialist. The government has executive power which is vested in the Council of State and the Council of Ministers. The legislative role is assigned to the National assembly of peoples Power which is recognized by the constitution as having the highest authority in the country. No voting is done in respect of the positions of prime minister and president. b) The Communist Party of Cuba is the leading social force of the nation (C.I.A 2010). There is widespread censorship in Cuba with a system that is highly authoritarian. The communist party screens all candidates vying for seats in the legislative assembly. c) The current government has been in power since 1959 when Fidel Castro ovethrew the dictator government. It can be described as stable because his successor, Raul Castro, has managed to keep the country at peace and with improved management. d) Special taxes not common e) Local government heavily influenced by the ruling party 4) Legal System a) The main judicial organ is the Peoples Supreme Court. All judges according to the law are not subject to any other authority but the law. They can be elected or replaced and are accountable for their actions. Cuba has been sub divided into fourteen provinces which are further subdivided into 170 municipalities. Representatives to the municipalities and provinces are elected to serve terms that extend for two and a half years. b) The country is socialist. c) The authoritarian approach has affected patent and conventions. They are tightly regulated 5) Social organization a) The presence of groups which can lead to the creation of group behavior or culture is not a common occurrence in Cuba. b) The main aim of the government in relation to the existing social order is to create a classless society where income, race, sex or occupation are used as a definitive means of determining rewards or other favorable allocations. c) In addition, the government prohibits the formation of classes or clubs that may create lines along which the society may be stratified. 6) Business in Cuba Tour guides, barmen, and waitresses require to be tipped although there are no prescribed tipping rates. Tipping allows for one to receive exceptional service from the individuals receiving the tips. Business hours in Cuba are officially between half past eight and half past noon and half past one to half past four during weekdays. Some businesses however opt to open during weekends where the hours of business are between 8 am and 5 pm for alternate Saturdays. E) Religion and aesthetics 1) a) The low number of Protestants can be attributed to the late arrival of protestant doctrines and beliefs to Cuba. b) Cuba is also known to be home to other minor religions which have their roots in western Africa and the slaves who were taken from the region to work in the sugarcane plantations in Cuba. c) Cuba is largely considered as a catholic nation though the Catholic faith practiced within Cuba is modified to suit Cuba. There are also Jews and evangelical Christians amongst the population in the state. d) Nearly 60% of the population is made up of catholic adherents while an estimated 6% are Protestants. e) Santeria which may be referred to as a cult has its origin in Nigeria in western Africa and is widely practiced in and around Cuba. 2) Aesthetics a) Cuba has a strong heritage and history which reflects its visual arts potential. b) The country has numerous galleries, cultural centers, and art museums which have been used for the storage of artistic material from the citizens of Cuba. The government is supportive of art and is known to provide all kinds of assistance to artists in the country. c) Music dance and folklore in Cuba is very rich and displays the three main backgrounds that determine and continue to influence the Cuban society. d) There are influences of African, American, and Spanish elements that are derived from the interaction of Spaniards, Americans, and Africans in the history of Cuba. F) Living conditions 1) a) Many surveys conducted show that Cubans on average consume too much sugar and eat inadequate fruits and vegetables. There are rising cases of diet related anemia and obesity which can be regulated or checked by simply a change of diet. b) A typical meal includes bread, ham, cheese, and rice and plenty of soft drinks with and between meals. c) The government cannot guarantee adequate nutrition for its population and this is considered as one of the failures of the Castro administration. d) The foods made available to the public by the government are as follows; rice, beans, cooking oil, plantains, brown sugar, milk and soy yoghurt which are provided on a monthly basis to holders of ration cards. Other products such are chicken, beef, soy/meat blend and frankfurters are provided based on their availability. 2) a) In Cuba, housing is relatively cheap but in the same breath the housing structures are sparse. Most dwelling places are either in poor condition or are defective in one way or another that makes them unsuitable for dwelling in. b) Most dwellings occupied on a rental basis. The houses have some form of supply of electricity and water and are therefore a bit habitable. c) In most cases houses are occupied are more than one family. 3) The tropical wealthier requires light dressing to cope with the heat and humidity levels. a) A form of dress that can be identified with Cuba is the Havana shirt otherwise known as a Guayabera. The shirt has an array of designs but in general has two or four pockets and largely a casual dress that does not require the wearer to tuck into his trousers. There is a traditional dress made for women in place of the Guayabera and it is very popular all over Cuba although it has been rejected on grounds of being indecent in some cultures. b) The dress code at work is no different from that in many western countries. Employees/workers are expected to maintain a formal dress code. 4) a) In leisure and recreation activities and sports, Cuba is well endowed. To begin with, Cuba is an ideal destination for hiking, snorkeling, climbing, fishing, and caving. The sport is used to symbolize equality in society as well as freedom. The country also has rich soccer traditions among the Caribbean countries. Cubas national team has been to the FIFA world cup where they managed to finish in the seventh position. The beach provided by the long coastline of Cuba provides ample grounds for leisure activities such as skiing, diving, swimming, and sun bathing which are common in almost all of Cuba. c) Most sports and recreational activities in Cuba are carried out in open spaces and often require little or no equipment. Baseball for example is played even on streets by children and thus very low amounts of income are channeled towards sports unless when organized sporting teams are involved and where there are competitions to be won at stake. 5) Social security The social security system in Cuba represents the general values of the wider society whereby there is equality among all beneficiaries. There are no discriminations or preferential treatment for certain individuals based on sex, race, or gender. The Cuban social security system is very efficient. There are an estimated 360, 000 retirees within the population which represents nearly 10% of the population. Each of the retirees in Cuba is paid on a monthly basis. Under the social security system, the government through its social security system pays benefits to an estimated 1.5 million people on a monthly basis. The social security covers areas such as temporary illness, accidents, maternity, and social care for the elderly people within the population. G) LANGUAGE 1) The main language used for communication is Spanish. The language was brought to the island by the Spaniards during the early occupation after Christopher Columbus discovered the island. Spanish is however recognized as the official state language of the people of Cuba. 2) Other languages that are prevalent in Cuba are English and Creole which represent the different heritages and traditions of Cuba. 3) It is important to note the Spanish that is spoken in Cuba varies in some cases from that spoken in Spain and other countries. This is largely because of the French and west African influences that have affected the language. English is mainly spoken as a result of tourist influences. II) ECONOMIC ANALYSIS A) POPULATION 1) The population of Cuba stands at an estimated 11.5 million people as of this year and will reportedly continue to grow at an estimated rate of 0.2%. a) The birth rate in the population is 11.1/1000 which is relatively low even amongst countries of the western world. b) The fertility rate for every woman is estimated as 1.43 children. This represents a drop in fertility rates which may explain why the growth in population has been very low for the last few years. c) Abortions in Cuba are also responsible for the population decline with an estimated 50 abortions for every 1000 pregnancies in the population. 2) a) The population is evenly distributed as only 103 people live in every square kilometer in Cuba. b) The life expectancy is relatively high at an average age of 77 years. The ethnic composition of the population is very varied though there are not many ethnicities. c) The population composition is such that the majority is men and boys for all ages but after the age of 65 years, the number of women outstrips that of men. This fact can only be explained by the lower life expectancy rate for men as compared to women. d) Many Cubans have in one way attempted or plan to attempt illicit migration with the most favored destination being the United States. The rest of the population has a majority that is intent on moving to urban areas. The situation is such that the larger portion of the population is housed in urban centers all over Cuba. e) Mulattos account for nearly half the population while whites account for 35% of the population. The rest of the inhabitants is generally collected of blacks and Chinese with the Chinese forming the smallest ethnic group in Cuba. B) Economic Statistics and activity 1) Gross National Product/ Gross Domestic Product a) Cuba reported a gross domestic product per capita that stood at an estimated $111.1 billion. b) This translates to a per capita income of roughly $9,700 for the year 2009. The estimated real growth rate (nominal growth rate less inflation) was an estimated 1.4%. This is very ideal but there is plenty of room for improvement especially since the growth rate or the GDP or even the per capita figures do not show the situation on the ground 2) People live on less than the expected $9,700 per annum. Businesses publicly owned enterprises lies at 78% to a dismal 22% representing private investment or privately owned enterprises. 3) Average family income is dependent on the ratio of breadwinners to the relative size of the family.2008 estimates were $218. 4) Distribution of wealth a) Income classes. Three major classes exist, the highest is elite and military personnel. The second tier is business magnates and the last is the general workforce. b) Proportion of population to each class. The top tier is about 1/8ths of the total population, the second is and the rest is the general workforce. c) Priority is given to the elite classes and the military. The rest of the workforce is structured in respect to the demographics of income and position 5) The country has deposits of cobalt, iron ore, nickel, copper, salt, manganese, silica, timber, petroleum and farming land. 6) a) The transport system in Cuba comprises of nearly 4200 km of public railway network and a further 7700 km that is set aside for use by sugar cane producers. The highway network consists of nearly 61,000 km of tarmac spread all over the country. b) The country also boasts of waterways that extend for 240 kilometers. The country also has several ports that are used for commercial purposes.There are three main ports. There are also 170 airports as reported back in 2006 c) Because Cuba is an island, the usage of waterways is a major transport form. Nearly half the population uses the train network to go to work. Only about a third drive to work. 7) Communication Systems a) Main types include Print newspapers, radio stations and television stations b) Internet usage widespread c) Media heavily restricted by the government 8) Working conditions a) 78% of employees work for the government b) Good employee-employer relationship c) Employees entitled to benefits and good remuneration 9) Principal industries a) Petroleum, Construction, sugar, tobacco, nickel, pharmaceuticals, agricultural machinery and steel cement accounted for about 37% of the total GDP. b) Principle industries include petroleum, Construction, sugar, tobacco, nickel, pharmaceuticals, agricultural machinery and steel cement Most industries are government owned. Estimated ratio of 2:1 10) Foreign investment a) Direct foreign investment is restricted b) Potential for investment in Housing and food industries 11) International trade statistics a) 1) Major exports include sugar, tobacco, nickel, fish, coffee and citrus. At $ 2.4 billion. 2) The trend for exports is posititve as the government opens up the Cuban economy to private companies b) 1) Imports include food products, petroleum, equipment and machinery at $ 6.9 billion 2) Imports are increasing due to the growth in population and the demand for products and services. c) 1) Imports are more than exports leaving a high balance of payments deficit. About $4.5 billion. 2) Imports are more than exports leaving a high balance of payment deficit. Recent pronouncements by the Cuban government suggest a push towards closing this gap by increasing resource utilization. d) Exchange rates 1) US dollar used mainly in foreign exchange 2) Exchange rate at $ 1 US dollar equivalent to $ 0.9 Cuban convertible Pesos 3) Due to the global recession, the countrys exchange rates are fluctuating and dipping with the global trend. 12) Trade restrictions a) Embargoes placed by United States b) Free trade only with Venezuela c) Import duties high depending on type of product d) the government is subject to tariffs affecting countries of the South American organization. These tariffs are on sugar and petroleum. e) Licensing of business restricted f) Customs duties also high 13) Extent of the economic activities not included in the cash income activities a) Counter trade present in the country 1) Medical personnel used as main products of trade 2) Barter trade common b) Very little aid since US withdrawal 14) Labor force a) Available skilled labor force limited since majority of the population is elderly b) Unemployment rates low at 1.7% 15) Inflation rates low C) Developments in science and technology 1) Highly developed 2) Computers are wide spread. Low investment in research and development 4) Labor force technologically skilled D) Channels of distribution (macro analysis) 1) Trade in Cuba heavily controlled by the government a) Retail 1) Poorly developed retail sector 2) No large shopping centers 3) Good stored are of poor quality and expensive 4) Most tansations are done using cash. 5) Goods sold in dollars in small scale with a small percentage sold on large scale. 6) Chain stores, Department stores and speciality shops fill the supply gap the government cannot currently satisfy. b) Wholesale middlemen 1) Supply chain of estimated 500,000. 2) Mark-up of about 5% on products 3) Goods sold on cash basis c) Import/export agent: the government is the main exporter/importer. d) Most warehouses are fully owned by the government. e) The government has nearly 100% penetration of the markets through its expansive administrative networks. E) Media Media heavily controlled by the government 1) Number of Television Stations: 58 2) a) Television Sets per 1,000: 236.1 b) Number of Radio Stations: 225 c) Number of Radio Receivers: 3,900,000 d) Radio Receivers per 1,000: 348.7.Number of Individuals with Internet Access: 60,000 3) The main use of media houses is for the spread of national ideas that the Communist party in charge in Cuba believes are ideal for the entire population. 4) Any television or radio stations that go against the ideals supported by the party are closed down. 5) There are an estimated 26 national newspapers serving the population of Cuba. Cuba: Country Note Book Introduction Toshiba Corporation is a group of companies including Fujitsu, Mitsubishi electronic, Hitachi, and NEC Corporation. Toshiba relies more on domestic market constituting 60% of its net sales. The balance is taken care of by exports to North America, 16%, Asia 11%, and Europe, 10%. Since its formation in 1939, Toshiba has played a significant role in putting Japan in its current position in international trade. Business in Cuba Official business hours range from 8:30 am to 12: 30 pm for morning session and 1:30 pm to 4: 30 pm for evening session. Weekends are however optional but those who operate open between 8:00 am to 5:00 pm on Saturdays (B8a, B8c). Marketing Strategy for Toshiba laptops (Notebook computers) TARGET MARKET Toshiba Computers mostly manufactures high-end high-performance laptops. The main target of the products would have to be the government and institutions. This is because of the entanglement of all business in the country with government policy and regulation. If the company can manage to get a foothold in the government by offering technological set pieces that accord due privacy and safety of information, then the company shall have overcome a huge barrier. The low per capita income suggests that the market would have to upper-middle class and this is mostly government officials and politicians (IIB). Teenagers and youth below 30 would also be ideal as a segment for the laptops. This is because they are Tech-savvy and want more and better machines for work and play. The fast growth in computer and internet access can be further fuelled by Toshiba offering attractive high-performance laptops and computers. Institutions such as primary and secondary schools, as well as administrative institutions would make and ideal market for moving volumes in bulk (D2b). These places require many computers and laptops to fit in the current global trend. The current government led by Raul Castro is attempting to break the trade barriers ignited during Fidel Castros regime. The trade embargos by the United States do not affect Toshiba because it is a Japanese company(12A). This is good news for the company because the possibility of cut-throat competition is eliminated because American technology companies such as Apple cannot do business in Cuba (12A, 12D). Government policy would favor the company because it is inclusive and the business atmosphere does not vary so much from the Japanese model. The governments interests in arts and sports also require technology. In addition, the media is still backward in matters of technology (E1, E4). The secondary target markets would include such aspects of society as media and transport as the country moves towards a technological revolution of sorts. Marketing is aimed at awareness creation and forming good relationship with customers to the companys advantage. Marketing strategy is therefore very important as whatever the strategy used can either be profitable or destructive to the company. A marketing strategy that utilizes 4Ps that is Product, Promotion, Price and place respectively is ideal for products such as computers. Although, no trade partnership currently exists between Japan and Cuba, the country is a potential export destination for notebook computers. Cuba is highly literate thus can easily embrace the use of notebook computers. Students especially those at pre-university, University and other higher education institutions form the best target market for this product. Besides, the working population including teachers and doctors will find laptops essential hence another potential target market. Product Product refers to either good or service produced or manufactured by accompany especially under large scale with accurate amounts. This involves a description of all the special features of the product in question. Toshiba mini laptop has a full size keyboard and touchpad for easy typing. Its 10.1 diagonal screen is large enough for the eye; leave alone its durable textured four color finish. Its battery has a long life of up to eight hours. It also has attractive features like USB Sleep-and Charge, MP3 player and smart phone hence very convenient for youths. It is also video compatible and its CPU ensures more data storage and faster Internet connection (C1). Promotion In this case Toshiba can place advertisements in Cuban media. This of course will require first good relationship with Cuban government as it controls all media houses. The company can also take advantage of the widespread internet usage and advertise its product online. Toshiba can also promote its laptops through public relation measures like sponsoring sports where it is guaranteed to catch the attention of most youths (C3). Alternatively, Toshiba can take advantage of the widespread internet access in Cuba to engage in e-commerce by placing its product in virtual internet stores. Pricing Considerations should be given to prices of similar products in the market. Price administration on the other hand refers to involves all activities used to fit basic prices for every target market depending on sales situations. The exchange rates are also attractive for such a company (11b1, 11d2) Place The company can develop partnership with Cuban government to ensure that its product is placed in Cuban government stores like shopping malls. It is also possible for Toshiba through good relationship with Cuban government to find its own store for its product (D1). Rhiw location demographics will also affect the places where it can be marketed.

Why do Companies Continue with Mergers and Acquisitions when so many Fa

Why do Companies Continue with Mergers and Acquisitions when so many Fail? The phenomenon of mergers and acquisitions (M&A’s) triggers an array of opinions and viewpoints. Often it is a strategy that is seen as a perfect way of achieving growth. It is by no means an organic or natural route to success, but has tended to be a quick and easy way of increasing an organisations size and power. However although there have been ‘waves’ of popularity and success since its introduction in the 1960’s it has also suffered criticism due to the number of failures it has accounted for. Despite the strong suggestion that this strategy has been the architect for many an organisation's downfall there still remains a propensity in the current business environment for managers to adopt it. Throughout this essay I am going to examine some of the areas that explain M&A’s volatility and attempt to discover why managers are persevering with the strategy when it is seemingly flawed. Over the last few decades it has become increasing apparent that the effect of mergers and acquisitions is not as beneficial as once thought. When the growth strategy was pioneered in the middle part of the nineteen hundreds it was looked upon as a way of creating an empire across different sectors and countries. Many experienced managers were sucked into the strategy, only having eyes for the apparent synergistical and positive affects of M&A’s. Although over the following years there has been many success stories concerning M&A’s, when the big picture is examined it displays a more ugly side of the phenomenon. Hodge (1998) discovered that ‘in the go-go ‘80s, 37% of mergers outperformed the average shareholder return in that period; in the fi... ...nal, Autumn; Customer text-section 2, topic 11. - Kieran et al (1994) ‘Planning the deals that generate value and gain advantage’, Mergers and Acquisitions, March-April; Custom text, topic 12. Journals - Doitte S & Smith G (1998). ‘The morning after (avoiding mistakes in acquisitions and mergers)’. Winter v63 i2 p32(8). - Davenport, T (1998). ‘The Integration Challenge (managing corporate mergers’ Management Review. - Heitner M (1998). ‘The thorny business of merging rival firms’, Mergers and Acquisitions. - Hodge, K (1998), ‘The art of the post deal (outcomes of mergers)’. Management Review. - Price, A & Sloane, J (1998). ‘Global Designs: Tough Challenges for - Acquirers’. Mergers and Acquisitions.. - Whipple J & Frankel R (2000), ‘Strategic Alliance Success Factors’. The Journal of Supply Chain Management.

Washington Irvings Rip Van Winkle Shapes American Culture Essay

Washington Irving's Rip Van Winkle Shapes American Culture "Darkness...lowers upon my mind, and the times are so hard they sicken my soul," says Washington Irving in a letter to a friend (Letters 446). This statement reveals Irving's intense emotional condition, and in many ways indicates the intense social atmosphere as well as his personal conflicts, during the composition of The Sketch Book. Upon the bankruptcy of his family's fortune, of which he depended on solely for his monetary security, Irving found himself flung into the "galling mortifications of independence" (Letters 487). In response to this trauma, he sailed to England to regain his composure and hopefully secure his stake as a writer so he could provide for himself that which would keep him from "being cast homeless and pennyless on the world" (Letters 486). Within statements like these, Irving's countenance is quite apparent. Additionally, it helps to reveal the social atmosphere of the time, as well as increase one's knowledge of "Rip Van Winkle" as it is represent ed in The Sketch Book. And this representation holds great significance to Washington Irving's development as a person, and to American culture's struggle to define itself in a unique (non-British) way. Around 1817 Irving left the United States drained of inspiration, and slid into depression. He wrote of himself to a friend several years later, "I felt cast down,abased,I had lost my cast,I had always been proud of Spirit, and in my country had been, as it were a being of the air,I felt the force of the text 'a wounded spirit who can bear?' " (Letters 743). However, the idea of The Sketch Book which came before he left relieved him to some extent. In many ways, though, hi... ...sponsibilities are. And more particularly what is America's responsibility in trying to create a nation that is unique and separate from its parentage. This is the issue that defines the importance of "Rip Van Winkle," and more particularly The Sketch Book, in the social development of our country. It seems that the particular social and political climate found its summation in our country's search for literary independence. Holistically it was Washington Irving's life, his struggles, his talents, and his perfectly-timed existence in the flow of history that helped to shape and solidify our country's identity, and immortalize him as an author. Works Cited Rubin-Dorsky, Jeffrey. "Irving's Sketches of Anxiety." American Literature. Dec 1986: 507-509, 517-519. Williams, Stanley T. The Life of Washington Irving. 2 vols. London: Oxford, 1935.

Characterization in Oedipus the King Essay -- Oedipus the King Oedipus

Characterization in Oedipus Rex  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚        Ã‚   The dialogue, action and motivation revolve about the characters in the story (Abrams 32-33). It is the purpose of this essay to demonstrate the types of characters present in Sophocles’ tragic drama, Oedipus Rex, whether static or dynamic, whether flat or round, and whether protrayed through showing or telling.    Werner Jaeger in â€Å"Sophocles’ Mastery of Character Development† pays the dramatist the very highest compliment with regard to character development:    The ineffaceable impression which Sophocles makes on us today and his imperishable position in the literature of the world are both due to his character-drawing. If we ask which of the men and women ofGreek tragedy have an independent life in the imagination apart from the stage and from the actual plot in which they appear, we must answer, ‘those created by Sophocles, above all others’ (36).    Surely   it can be said of Sophocles’ main characters that they grow beyond the two dimensional aspect into really rounded physical presences. This is done through mostly the showing technique, though the chorus at times is involved in telling the audience various pieces of information. At the outset of Oedipus Rex the reader sees a king who comes to the door full of curiosity: â€Å"Explain your mood and purport. Is it dread /Of ill that moves you or a boon ye crave?† When the priest has responded that the people are despairing from the effects of the plague, the king shows another dimension to his character with his deep sympathy for his subjects: â€Å"Ye sicken all, well wot I, yet my pain, /How great soever yours, outtops it all.† Shortly thereafter a second round character makes his appearance on stage in the pers... ...and Creon become so later in the tragedy. Rarely does the dramatist use the chorus to convey information; most of this comes from exchanges of dialogue, which would be the showing technique.    WORKS CITED    Abrams, M. H. A Glossary of Literary Terms, 7th ed. New York: Harcourt Brace College Publishers, 1999.    Ehrenberg, Victor. â€Å"Sophoclean Rulers: Oedipus.† In Twentieth Century Interpretations of Oedipus Rex, edited by Michael J. O’Brien. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1968.    Jaeger, Werner. â€Å"Sophocles’ Mastery of Character Development.† In Readings on Sophocles, edited by Don Nardo. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press, 1997.    Sophocles. Oedipus Rex. Transl. by F. Storr. no pag. http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/etcbin/browse-mixed new?tag=public&images=images/modeng&data=/texts/english/modeng/parsed&part=0&id=SopOedi

The impenetrability of life

An Interpretation of the Morals of Heinrich von Kleist’s The Earthquake in Chile Akin to most writers of the Romantic Movement, Heinrich von Kleist eschewed the Enlightenment’s belief in reason, science and progress. He believed that life was too complex for it to be interpreted by reason and science. The impenetrability of life, particularly com/literary-analysis-skills-lesson-structure/">human nature, is the central theme of Von Kleist’s short story The Earthquake in Chile (1807). Set in the wake of a fictitious earthquake in Chile, the short story reveals how man-made norms prove to be useless in moments of disaster.Thus, it is only in times of crisis that the true nature of individuals and or institutions is bared (Allan, 108). The earthquake is traditionally used as a metaphor for massive social upheaval. The manner in which it inflicts damage – from the bottom, destroying the foundations of edifices – renders it a suitable allegory of public c ataclysm. Reactionary priests interpreted the Lisbon earthquake of 1755 as a â€Å"punishment† for the supposed sins of its populace.The French philosopher Voltaire wrote in his novella Candide (1759) that the Roman Catholic Church used the said catastrophe as an excuse to burn more alleged heretics at the stake (The Internationalist, n. pag. ). The Scottish historian, essayist and satirist Thomas Carlyle referred to the French Revolution as â€Å"(an) earthquake of Insurrection† (Carlyle, 409). In The Earthquake in Chile, an earthquake temporarily halted the implacable operation of social, civil, moral and ecclesiastical law over society (Fenves, 313).Subsequent events exposed the futility of searching for assurance in life through reliance on loosely-argued metaphysical biases such as morals (Allan, 108). In the context of the short story, morals are detrimental to human society and relationships. It merely results in prejudices that allow the powerful to subjugate t he weak. From the outset, it is already clear to the reader that patriarchal structures of authority control Santiago. Power lies primarily in the hands of the viceroy, the Archbishop and the paterfamilias.In addition, women are perceived as valued sexual possessions and individuals whose intellect and morality must be dictated by men. But, ironically, it is women who are expected to control the sexual ardor of men (Allan, 109). Under the guise of â€Å"morality,† women are supposed to exhibit behavior that will protect her from unwanted sexual advances from men. If a woman is subjected to inappropriate sexual conduct by a man, it is believed to be her fault – she is a â€Å"loose† woman who does not deserve respect from men.When, for instance, Don Asteron discovered that Jeronimo is having an illicit affair with his daughter, Josephe, he sternly warned her instead of Jeronimo to end the relationship. And when Don Asteron later found out through Josephe’s brother that she and Jeronimo continued their liaison, he had her banished to a convent. Josephe’s new â€Å"spiritual father,† the Archbishop, proved to be more unforgiving – he insisted that she be put to trial and condemned to death after she gave birth during the religious procession.Both Don Asteron and the Abbess strongly opposed the death sentence, to no avail (Allan, 110). The decision to commute Josephe’s sentence from burning at the stake to beheading resulted in â€Å"indignation (from) the matrons and maidens of Santiago† (Von Kleist, 175). Because they committed themselves to the patriarchal values of feminine innocence and impeccable chastity, they believed that no punishment could be too severe for a woman like her. Furthermore, a gory execution for Josephe would allow them to bask in the illusory sense of their own moral superiority.Her burning at the stake would affirm their belief that they were â€Å"good† women and she w as an â€Å"indecent† woman (Allan, 111). The earthquake, however, transformed Santiago into an entirely different society. The catastrophe destroyed the bastions of patriarchal authority – the cathedral, the Viceroy’s palace, the court, the house of Josephe’s father and the prison. As a result, the people finally learned to work side by side in order to survive. Differences in social class, gender and religion were disregarded to attain the common goal of survival:And, indeed, in the midst of these awful moments, in which all the earthly goods of man were destroyed and all of nature was threatened with burial, the human spirit seemed to open out like a beautiful flower. In the fields, as far as the eye could reach, people of all ranks could be seen mingled together, princes and beggars, matrons and peasant women, bureaucrats and laborers, monks and nuns. They sympathized with one another, assisted one another and cheerfully shared whatever they had been able to save to keep themselves alive, as if the universal calamity had made a single family of all who had escaped it.(180) For Jeronimo, Josephe and their son Philipp, help came in the form of Don Fernando and his wife Dona Elvira. After Josephe agreed to Don Fernando’s request that she be the wet nurse of his son Juan (Dona Elvira was badly injured in the earthquake), he welcomed her, Jeronimo and Philipp into his family. Don Fernando and Dona Elvira treated them well despite their background: Don Fernando was very grateful for this kindness (Josephe’s consent to become Juan’s wet nurse) and asked whether they did not wish to accompany him to that group of people who were just preparing a small breakfast by the fire.Josephe replied that she would accept that invitation with pleasure, and, since Jeronimo had no objection either, she followed Don Fernando to his family and was received most heartily and tenderly by his two sisters-in-law, whom she knew to be ve ry respectable young ladies. (179) Dona Elvira, to whose wounds Josephe was busily attending, had at one point – just when these stories were arriving most quickly, each interrupting the other – taken the opportunity to ask her how she had fared on that terrible day. And when, withanguished heart, Josephe recounted some of the main features of her story, she was delighted to see tears well up in that lady’s eyes; Dona Elvira seized her hand and squeezed it and gestured her to be silent. (180) Unfortunately, the rest of the town retained its bigotry. In the afternoon of the earthquake, a service was held at Santiago’s remaining cathedral. The sermon of the officiating priest likened the calamity to God’s annihilation of Sodom and Gomorrah. The earthquake, according to him, was God’s â€Å"punishment† to Santiago for Jeronimo and Josephe’s sin:He castigated it (the city) for abominations such as Sodom and Gomorrah had not known, and ascribed it only to God’s infinite forbearance that Santiago had not been totally obliterated from the face of the earth†¦he†¦digressed, with copious imprecations, to mention the two sinners themselves by name and to consign their souls to all the princes in hell. (183-184) The heady rhetoric of the sermon, along with emotional intensity generated by the devastating effects of the earthquake, resulted in violence. When a member of the congregation recognized Josephe in the service, an angry mob went after her and her companions.When the crowd dispersed, Jeronimo, Josephe, Juan and Dona Constancia (Don Fernando’s sister-in-law) lay dead. The Earthquake in Chile was Von Kleist’s explanation for his disbelief in the ability of science, reason and progress to influence life and humanity. He believed that science, reason and progress governed life and humanity through morals that were in favor of the powerful. The powerful, in turn, used these morals to exploit the weak and the helpless. Thus, when the powerful loses their ability to subjugate, they resort to diabolical means to regain this capability. In doing so, their real nature is exposed.Works Cited Allan, Sean. The Stories of Heinrich von Kleist: Fictions of Security. New York: Boydell & Brewer, 2001. Carlyle, Thomas. The French Revolution: A History. New York: Modern Library, 2002. Fenves, Peter David. Arresting Language: From Leibniz to Benjamin. Palo Alto: Stanford University Press, 2001. â€Å"Lisbon, 1755: The Earth Shook. † January 2005. The Internationalist. 17 September 2008. <http://www. internationalist. org/lisbon1755. html>. Von Kleist, Heinrich. â€Å"The Earthquake in Chile. † Great German Short Stories. Ed. Evan Bates. New York: Courier Dover Publications, 2003.

Why Athletes Use Steroids

genius of the most heated controversies in mutation centers on the make out session of anabolic steroid hormones. slowly the dispute is the evidence that steroids pose a wellness hazard. They are linked to the cardiovascular disease, hold waterr disorders, and crabby personous tumors. In addition, at that place is evidence that they cause personality aberrations. Still, an dire number of athletes are willing to assay their health for the enhanced performance steroids provide-and it is not hard to understand why.First of all(a), umpteen athletes are so blinded by the obvious benefits of steroid use that they conk to note their adverse effects. They are so focused on the increased strength, stamina, and coat that result from steroid use, that athletes may disregard the abuse their bodies are sustaining-often until it is too late. That is, athletes who are delighting in turning in the outmatch performance of their lives are not apt(predicate) to hazard about future foul effects. This is the same psychology that keeps the nicotine addict gage three packs a day, until the X-ray shows lung cannistercer is so advance that nothing can be done.Some athletes rationalize steroid use another focussing. They claim that anabolic steroids pose no greater health hazard than theatrical roleicipation in such contact sports such as football, boxing, and wrestling. However, these athletes croak to understand that in addition to harming the body, steroids to a fault heighten the peril of contact sports by making the users larger and stronger, thereby increase their momentum and impact.Some people theorise steroid use continues despite the disembodied spirit threatening effects because athletes are honorable dumb jocks who are not tonic enough to appreciate the risks. I dont necessitate that explanation. Instead, I suspect that steroid use continues partly because most athletes are two-year-old, and childlike people never feel threatened. separate of being teen is invulnerable. That is why young people drive too fast, suck up too much, and take risks like bungee jumping. They just do not imagine that everything can happen to them. The same psychology is at work with athletes. They are young people who feel they will live forever. In addition, athletes assume that because their bodies are so physically conditioned they can book more punishment than the average person, so they feel even less at risk by steroid use. by chance the biggest reason athletes use steroids can be explained by the spirit lies at the warmth of all athletics competition. One a handful of athletes enhances their performance artificially, and then others assume in order to stay competitive. Eventually, steroid users dominate a sport, and anyone who wants to compete at the highest level is forced to use steroids or lose out. This fact explains why unprincipled coaches and trainers who want to win at any cost have contributed to the problem by offeri ng steroids to their players and urging them to use them. Sadly, this practice has even filtered down to the high trail level in some cases. argument for the thrill of winning is save part of the explanation, however, Big-time athlete means big-time money. As the financial rewards rise in a effrontery sport, so does the pressure to win at any cost. Huge salaries, big bonuses, pleasing cars, girls and incredibly lucrative commercial endorsements all temp athletes to enhance their performances any way they can.Despite drug testing forward competitions and dissemination of information about the danger of anabolic steroids, athletes still use steroids because the pressures to do so are so compelling. The verity is that too many athletes think steroids only hurt the other person, or else they think using steroids is worth the risk.

Functional requirement Essay

Prerequisites are categorized in many of ways.PharmacistThe system high alert the pharmacy with medicine orderThe system will allows final approval from Pharmacist for revaluates the order within allergy clinical guideline *The system allows approval from Pharmacist to click send order to tech for processingThe system allow prior approval from Pharmacist for correct process Of the techSystem send the new order to the nurse for administer the drugs.4. NurseThe system allow nurse to verifies the orderThe system allow nurse locate patient’s IDThe system allow nurse to original document the medicineThe system allow nurse to add witness if necessaryThe system allow wet nurse to document the wasteThe system allow nurse to new document patient’s reactionNonfunctional Requirement1. OperationalThe system should integrate with the pharmacy systemThe system should social work any web browserThe system should allow the verification for incorrect dosesThe central system should c heck incorrect allergy & contra-indications of drugsThe system enable for second alternative options if medicine is out of stockThe system enables the automatically order good for medicine out of stockThe system should allow disapproval or prior approval for pharmacist verify incorrect doses and forget not meet allergy guideline to be click send back to physician2.Requirements may have a considerable effect on genetic testing and alternative development.Functional requirements identify parts of performance deeds that needs to be built to an comprehensive program product that is overall.

Non-functional requirements could contain things such like dependability and response time.Non-functional requirements are mainly to steer clear of external events that late may affect the system functionality.Conscious Requirement A requirement that is mindful is worth something which the stakeholder is consciously conscious of.A functional demand has number a own name summary and a rationale.

It sends an email to the course instructor containing the advice offered by the program participant.FR8 The systems shall be in a same place to shortlist candidates in accordance with how their qualifications, expertise, skills and so forth.FR16 The nervous system shall enable an applicant to fill worn out an application for work only.Of course, to be aware that it complies with all NFRs, it has to be analyzed.

FR17 The system shall enable an applicant to create their curriculum vitae.Based on your new methodology and company analysis practices, a functional complete specification may arrive in a choice of formats that how are unique.Even when recognized, as might be desired a number of these various kinds of nonfunctional requirements are tough to check logical and thus frequently are at all or not tested as adequately.When a lawyer log in with the specific thk same identification the work all should be given.