Tata Nano Case Analysis Essay Example

Tata Nano Case Analysis Essay Introduction: The Tata group is one of the largest automobile companies in India and ranks sixth in the commercial vehicle manufacturing in the world. It is a leader in the commercial as well as the passenger vehicle segment. The top three passenger vehicles are sports utility vehicle, mid-size car and mini-truck. In May 2008, the Tata group acquired Ford Motor’s British based automotive icons Jaguar and Land Rover. Lack of safer, comfortable and spacious means of transportation and poor quality of mass transport is a common concern in India. Decision Problem: The Tata group come up with a unique concept â€Å"Tata Nano: the People’s car† to be built within USD2500 (Rs1 lakh), an affordable, safer, comfortable and spacious alternative to the middle class families and students. The chances of Tata Motors squeezing a drop of profit out of a $2,500 Nano is highly unlikely with the Nanos long promised price staying the same and rising cost for raw materials. Choosing a single culprit for this is impossible, since escalating material costs have raised the price of everything from corn flakes to crude oil. Focusing only on the Nanos steel exterior, its clear how difficult it will be for Tata to stick to that $2,500 price for long. Tata has faced controversies over developing the Nano as some environmentalists are concerned that the launch of such a low-priced car could lead to mass motorization in India with adverse effects on pollution and global warming. Protests over the land acquisition led Tata Motors to shift its manufacturing plant to Gujarat. We will write a custom essay sample on Tata Nano Case Analysis specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Tata Nano Case Analysis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Tata Nano Case Analysis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer While currently the political tensions have subsided, there is no guarantee that in future land acquisition row would not lead to another full fledged political war. Decisions Alternatives: Innovative Marketing: Tata will sell its ultra cheap new car through its own retail outlets as well as auto dealerships. The Nanos overall marketing strategy will use conventional media in an unconventional manner. Innovative Technology: With the shift to smaller cars for emerging markets, carmakers must develop new technologies and new business models to meet the demands of these markets. Small cars must be lighter and more fuel-efficient, so manufacturers are turning to such technologies as alternate power trains, fuels, propulsion systems, and braking systems, as well as materials not typically used in cars, including plastics for exterior body components such as doors, and strong, lightweight alloys and composite materials for structures. It brings to market a totally different value proposition than the one available and can change the paradigm of a product. Cost Reduction: Use of alternate materials and reduced consumption of material being used were primary considerations to minimize the cost of production. Alternate Suppliers to get same material at fewer prices as well as establishment of suppliers near the manufacturing facility were key strategies adopted by Tata Group. This helped in reducing the delays in the supply chain and setting up dedicated vendors to supply the raw materials to the Nano plant. Industry Analysis: India is well-known for its massive transportation system. As Indias transport network is developing at a fast pace, Indian Automobile Industry is growing too and therefore, providing employment to a large section of the population. Thus the role of Automobile Industry is very essential in Indian economy. Various types of vehicles are manufactured by the Automobile Industry. Indian Automobile Industry includes the manufacturing of trucks, buses, passenger cars, defense vehicles, two wheelers, etc. The industry can be broadly segmented into the car manufacturing, two wheeler manufacturing and heavy vehicle manufacturing units. The major Car manufacturer are Hindustan Motors, Maruti Udyog, Fiat India Private Ltd. , Ford India Ltd. , General Motors India Pvt. Ltd. Honda Siel Cars India Ltd. Hyundai Motors India Ltd. , Skoda India Private Ltd. , Toyota Kirloskar Motor Ltd. The two-wheeler manufacturing is dominated by companies like TVS, Honda Motorcycle Scooter India (Pvt. ) Ltd. , Hero Honda, Yamaha, Bajaj, etc. The heavy motors like buses, trucks, defense vehicles, auto rickshaws and other multi-utility vehicles are manufactured by Tata-Telco, Ashok Leyland, Eicher Motors, Bajaj, Mahindra and Mahindra, etc. Indi a`s giant automotive manufacturer company TATA MOTORS has largest share in commercial vehicle in India. It has also positioned itself in the international market after acquiring Jaguar and Land rover and exporting their key products in the international market. The future of Indian Automobile market is bright as it looks forward to manufacturing and implementing new innovations. Political factors: The liberalization of the automobile industry in 1990s encouraged foreign investors and Indian companies to enter into joint ventures. India became the largest and fastest growing car markets in the world in 2005-06 and it was reported that the passenger car market grew by 25% per year and the passenger vehicle exports grew by 12. % annually. India has a well established regulatory framework under the Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways in which SIAM (Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers) plays a very important role. All the stake holders are part of the regulation formulation setup. The Indian Auto Industry is implementing both Safety Emission regulations in compliance w ith International Standards for sustained growth of the auto industry for combating the environment concerns and become a global export hub. Economical factors: There is a massive transportation system in India for the public which helps the economy to the large scale. The new development of road system is contributing a lot towards the transportation system of the country. Better and wider roads built with the long lasting material are helping the economy of the country as less expense will occur. With the better transportation system the material is moved to different places with a greater ease and in short time, in turn, helps in increasing the GDP as more products can be made in same time. The per capita income of India is increasing due to which the buying power of the consumers has also increased making people buy cars and bikes. The banking system in India provides people with easier and cheaper finance schemes which help the consumers to buy vehicles easily. Social factors: The Automotive Research Association of India has been playing a crucial role in assuring safe, less polluting and more efficient vehicles. New measures are being taken to make the automobiles less polluting. Reducing pollution helps creating a better and healthy environment for the society. Technical factors: The Indian auto Industry is working with the authorities to facilitate for introduction of the alternative fuels. The latest technology is being adopted by the companies and is being launched in India as well. A lot of new safety measures are now taken into consideration before the car or any other motor vehicle is launched to ensure its safety and reliability. The impact of the severe downturn in the automobile industry during the year 2009 was observed in the fall of major players like GM, Chrysler and Ford. On other the side, the small car segment has seen substantial growth and a rise in demand. The majority of growth in the global automobile industry in the coming decade is expected to be from emerging economies such as India, China and Eastern Europe. Significant growth of auto market in these countries will be attributed to the fast growing small car segment. The small-car revolution is taking place within the context of the very different needs and desires of the new consumer in emerging markets. The low-cost cars are typically their first choice to be driven around the town, but not for long distance trips. Company Analysis: Strengths Brand name TATA: Tata Motors is the only company in India with a broad based presence across the industry, in all segments of the commercial vehicles market – heavy and medium commercial vehicles, light commercial vehicles, pick-ups, mini-trucks and key segments compact, midsize car and utility vehicle segments of the passenger vehicles market. Unique Understanding of customer needs: Going forward, Tata Motors had anticipated that non-car owning families, at the bottom of the pyramid, will look for an extremely affordable vehicle. Nano is an excellent option to meet the needs of low-income group. Environmental Concerns: High oil prices and concern for environment are critical factors in success of small car industry. High fuel and commodities prices are expected to be around for the foreseeable future, and the prices will only make cars more expensive to build and to run, thus reinforcing the desire to keep cars small. Concerns about the environment and global warming are also promoting the trend toward fuel efficient smaller cars not just in the developing world, but everywhere. Access to distribution channels: When a new product is ready to be launched, a well developed distribution is must for its success. The TATA motors had an advantage of well established distribution channel across the world Weakness Low power: The low-cost cars are typically their first choice to be driven around the town, but not for long distance trips. Not a status symbol: Small cars are still seen as an entry level option as it offers limited features. The small car segment doesn’t find many takers in the developed world where people still prefer luxury and safety over anything else. Delay in manufacturing: Due to political issues, the manufacturing plant was shifted to Gujarat. The political conflict and opposition from local community caused a major delay in the establishment of the production facility for the Tata Nano. Opportunities Large market for selling: It will be commercialized all over India. It is mostly targeted to the middle class and lower middle class people. First car in low range: NANO enjoys the monopoly are there are no competitors in this segment. Potential in global market: The success of Nano would lead to decreased demand of products from developed countries as there is a greater emphasis on fuel efficient vehicles and traffic congestion globally. Once the companies from developed countries experience restricted growth in developing countries, the demand for oil-guzzling cars from developed countries is sure to decline. Nano is expected to cut sales of bigger car companies in India and other developing markets. Nano possess a great potential to become the master of roads in the developing countries. Threats Company rival: NANO is the only player so it has the price freedom but as the Maruti and Honda are also planning to launch the car in the same segment the price competition will start. Concerns over traffic congestion: A larger number of cars will adversely impact the environment due to emissions. Analysis of Alternatives: Branding identify the maker of a product and allows consumer to assign the responsibility for its performance to a particular manufacturer. The new Tata Nano focuses on not only one segment of Indian population which has an access to the other automobiles, but also to a greater percentage of population who can overstretch a bit from buying a new two-wheeler or a used small car to getting a brand new vehicle in the form of the â€Å"People’s Car†. The branding strategy in Nano’s case is corporate name combined with individual product name. Ever since it was conceptualized, anyone and everyone in the automobile industry had commented that the Tata dream of a People’s Car was just a figment of imagination and making a car at this low a price without compromising on quality is not possible. This very fact makes the Nano special. It is a brand that defines the dream, coupled with the hard work, dedication and determination of a team who believed in and worked for converting this vision into reality. The introduction of Tata Nano received media attention due to its targeted price. Tata adapted a strong communication strategy to get the word out to the public through media, trade shows, auto shows, internet buzz and pre-launching of the Nano. The demand of any product is mainly driven by two main factors: the price of the product and income of the buyer. Target Markets: †¢ Two-wheelers people: those people who are working professionals or college students but cannot afford to buy a three lakh car. †¢ Second hand car user: those people who cannot afford to buy new car but would be able to buy new car cheaper than used car. Auto rickshaw/Three-wheeler: Most of the auto rickshaw costs almost the same price as Nano. †¢ Middle and lower income class: these are the people that are growing and are also becoming a little richer which is making them afford a car. The buyers in this segment are generally first time buyers and their main considerations are low cost and fuel ef ficiency The real price of the vehicle is the capital cost plus the running cost (fuel, insurance, service and maintenance). Lower purchase price and running cost of Tata’s Nano would appeal to mass markets. The introduction of Tata Nano would elevate the number of households that could afford a car by 65%. Tata will be creating a whole new segment and in turn, getting the first mover advantage. It is also assumed that lesser the fuel consumed by the car, the more number of Nano will be purchased by the people. For most of the products, as the income goes up, the demand goes up. As the income increases, the household moves the ladder up graduating from bicycle to two or three-wheeler and two-wheelers to motorcars. In addition, if the price were to decrease, the demands get a further fillip. It has been assumed that the low price of Nano will galvanize the demand. The strength of income elasticity outweighs the price elasticity for an expensive product. Vehicles also fall under this category. It is the growing income that strongly impacts the demand than the lower price. India’s two-wheeler market was listed second largest globally in 2007 and the demand is expected to be 18 million units by 2011. Among the two-wheeler segment, the motorcycles, scooters and mopeds have major share in the market. Three-wheelers also dominate the market for carrying passenger and cargo loads. The majority of the two-wheeler and three-wheeler owners does not own a car and belong to the lower or middle income groups. With fast growing middle class, it has been projected that there will be increase in demand for lowest end car. The Tata Nano group is targeting the two-and three-wheeler middle-income groups, college students and used car buyers. In the absence of strong competition, Maruti Udyog ltd. has dominated the Indian automobile market since 1980s. The competition in India’s automobile history had been heating up in the recent years. As the automobile sector rapidly evolved through deregulation and open markets, many foreign companies already set up their presence in India through tie-ups with local manufacturers and some have done entirely at their own. Since then, there has been an emergence of new competition of higher value segments of passenger car market. For the four wheeler segment, Maruti Udyog dominates the automobile industry holding 52. 2% share of the passenger car market, followed by Hyundai with 19. 2% and Tata Motors with 16. 6%. For two wheeler segments, it remains quite a local dominant game but some global players also have presence in the market. Major players in this segment include Bajaj Auto, Hero Honda, TVS Motors, Yamaha and Kinetic. The two-wheeler with its low price and lower running cost would continue to be an option for biker and lower income segment. Nano would position itself as the cheapest car against its major competitors, Maruti Udyog and Hyunda Motors India Ltd. without compromising quality, safety and emission standards. Since the car has to be built within a cost of USD2500 (Rs1 lakh), no conventional design would work. There is a lot innovation in that is required in the design and manufacturing process which will help in reducing the costs. There is stiff opposition from the environmental groups. This is because of the fear that a larger number of cars will adversely impact the environment due to emissions. The company designed the car from scratch to offer customers a low cost small car, meeting regulatory requirements and achieve performance targets such as fuel efficiency. Nano has been designed with a family in mind. It would serve as roomy compartment for a family of four. Nano’s safety and emission standards exceed current regulatory requirements. Tata is taking advantage of its well established dealerships and changing the manufacturing and distribution channels. A distributed manufacturing system would refer to central control system. The entire manufacturing system would be connected by networks for communication and monitoring. The manufacturing of small cars generally happens in labour intensive countries as this helps the manufacturers in reducing the costs and passing the benefits to the customers. Developing countries like India and China are thus the hubs of small car manufacturing. According to Ratan Tata (Chairman of the Tata Group), the car components could be built at different locations and then shipped as â€Å"car kits† to local manufacturers for assembly. The automaker would oversee the quality and reliability of the assembly operations, taking full responsibility of product liability. Using this strategy, Tata expects to meet the consumer demand as the market grows. Tata is implementing a hub and spoke model for Nano’s distribution. The unique distribution would increase dealership points as well as add sales and customer touch points. In terms of manufacturing strategy, the possibility of Nano final assembly being done at local dealers would be a breakthrough. The cost structure is basically the cost required for the manufacturing of the product includes the cost of raw materials and the inputs. Nano has the smallest exterior footprint with a length of 3. 1 meters and width of 1. 5 meters but is 21% more spacious than Maruti 800, the world’s smallest car. Nano offers incredibly spacious passenger compartment which can comfortably seat four people. To minimize the cost of production, the alternatives were explored such as reverse auctions, minimizing the cost of luxuries by designing car components to serve multiple functions and long term contracts with over 100 suppliers. Tata Nano was launched aiming the low-income people of India. So, the price has been decided according to the target groups only. The less number of accessories is another reason for the price to be set low as compared to other passenger cars in the market. Tata implemented market-penetration pricing, which is low to set a low price for a new car in order to attract a large number buyers and a large market share. This will be done by achieving the high sales volume, resulting in cost reduction and allowing the company to cut its price even further. Tata is working on the strategy of reducing costs and waste to improve profits by implementing a new style of pricing than the traditional way of pricing of automobiles. More cost reduction means more profit. This means Tata’s will continue to squeeze suppliers. The low price of Nano will help to keep out competition and maintain its low-price position. The economies of scale are the cost advantages that a business obtains due to expansion. There are factors that cause a producer’s average cost per unit to fall as scale is increased. Economies of scale may be utilized by any size firm expanding its scale of operation. The common ones are purchasing (bulk buying of materials through long-term contracts), financial (obtaining lower-interest charges when borrowing from banks and having access to a greater range of financial instruments), and marketing (spreading the cost of advertising over a greater range of output in media markets). Each of these factors reduces the long run average costs of production. Tata is counting on the economies of scale along with careful sourcing of materials to keep prices down. Nano may impact the sales of the other small passenger cars to some extent. As there is price difference between Nano and two wheelers, the two wheelers would continue to be an entry level option. There is a wide scope for Tata Nano because of the upward migration of the living standards and lower price as compared to the other options available in the market. A large segment of the population is emerging from poverty and entering the middle class. Consumption patterns are changing dramatically. The increases in income mean these newly well-off people find themselves able to afford economy cars. Rising income levels of middle class in the developing world and reduction in the ownership cost with less expensive cars such as the Tata Nano will increase the demand of the small car and open up new markets for car manufacturers. Low labour cost in emerging economies is also attracting hordes of manufacturers to their soil. As oil prices rise and concerns about the environment grow, the small car will become the king of the road. This is more evident than in the developing world where increasing prosperity is bringing millions of first-time buyers into the market for new cars. Tata Nano can meet the needs for a second car by families apart from the big sedans for commuting within short distances. Space constraints in most of the major cities in the world make it difficult for owners to manage with a large car. They would rather prefer an easily maneuverable small car. This presents a tremendous opportunity for India, which is growing quickly, building a vast middle class, and gaining experience in building and selling cars. India can take advantage of its experience in this market to become the world leader in the fast-growing small-car segment. Recommendations: Increasing global presence – Nano must show more presence in the developed markets apart from the developing ones since people are becoming more sensitive towards environmental issues and of course they want to spend less on fuel guzzling cars. †¢ Political issues and Land acquisition- More transparency should be there in land acquisitions for building plants. Local people must be taken into confidence before embarking on building plants in the area. †¢ The brand needs more of advertising and promotion which it is currently lacking. The low cost must not compromise on quality. Easy loans must be made available to those who wish to own this car. †¢ New product launches on time, within budget, and focused on the target segment will be critical to the future success of OEMs and suppliers across all segments. Volatile raw material and input costs, especially oil and steel, will continue to have a pervasive impact on the operating profitability of OEMs. Successfully managing supply chain complexity, implementing low-cost country sourcing strategies, and continuous technological innovation will be vital to achieving long-term cost mitigation goals.

Conjunctive Adverbs

Conjunctive Adverbs Conjunctive Adverbs Conjunctive Adverbs By Maeve Maddox Conjunctions are words that link words, phrases, and clauses and provide a smooth transition between ideas. Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. Some adverbs can also join or show connections between ideas. When they do this, they are called conjunctive adverbs. Conjunctive adverbs show comparison, contrast, sequence, cause-effect, or other relationships between ideas. The most common conjunctive adverbs are: accordingly also besides consequently conversely finally furthermore hence however indeed instead likewise meanwhile moreover nevertheless next nonetheless otherwise similarly still subsequently then therefore thus Conjunctive adverbs function in three ways. 1. They indicate a connection between two independent clauses in one sentence: The primary meaning of the term  Ã¡ ¸ ¥eá ¸ ¥Ã‚  was million or millions; subsequently, a personification of á ¸ ¤eá ¸ ¥ was adopted as the Egyptian god of infinity. In this explanation of why a particular word was personified the way it was, subsequently joins the ideas and conveys sequence at the same time. The word heh means millions; it follows that the personification derived from heh would be a god of infinity. 2. They link ideas in two or more sentences. Democracy has empowered thousands upon thousands of the â€Å"selfish, ignorant, timid, stubborn, or foolish,† who come from a mix of different nationalities. All hope is not lost, however, since there are â€Å"hundreds who are wise.†    In this quotation from a speech by Woodrow Wilson, the however connects and contrasts â€Å"thousands of foolish citizens† in the first sentence with â€Å"hundreds who are wise† in the second sentence. 3. They show relationships between ideas within an independent clause. We are determined to do whatever must be done in the interest of this country and, indeed, in the interest of all to protect the dollar as a convertible currency at its current fixed rate. In this quotation from a speech by John F. Kennedy, indeed connects ideas within the sentence: the idea of doing something on a national level and on an international level as well. Punctuation note: A conjunctive adverb within a sentence is set off by commas. A conjunctive adverb that begins or ends a sentence is set off by one comma: Therefore, let us reconsider this legislation that marginalizes a large proportion of employees. You were late for the fifth time today; you are dismissed, therefore. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar 101 category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:20 Great Opening Lines to Inspire the Start of Your StoryTry to vs. Try andGrammar Review #1: Particles and Phrasal Verbs

Analysing The Qualities Of An Effective Communicator Education Essay

Analysing The Qualities Of An Effective Communicator Education Essay The qualities of an effective communicator in the early learning centre are establishing and maintaining meaningful and respectful relationships with Educators, families and children. As an Educator, communicating effectively demonstrates interest, trust, commitment and professionalism. Educators communicate through a variety of different ways. Communicating effectively can be through forms of writing, speech, verbal, non-verbal and body language. Communication is the key to success and importantly what brings the world together. An effective communicator is an effective listener. The quality of an effective communicator in the early learning centre provides families and parents important and relevant information and the willingness to discuss positive aspects of the child. Communicating effectively demonstrates a high level of quality and reassurance for both parents and the educator. Important information that is discussed and carried out within the early learning centre is the ch ild’s progression (daily information). This information that is relevantly discussed is the child’s routine, meal times, sleep times, the child’s developmental areas which are social skills, communication skills, fine and gross motor skills, emotional and cognitive skills and the child’s well-being. Informative discussions that are held between educators and families are based on the child’s interests and motives. This information is beneficial for the parents and demonstrates how an educator shows initiative and companionship towards children and their education that the educator brings into the child’s environment. Families also are benefiting and gaining this information which allows them an understanding and good results of how their child is progressing in the centre. This includes what the child may need to focus on and the positive side of the child. As children are all individuals, educators are to include children with special needs to experience literature, language skills and all areas of development skills. Children with special needs have special aids that teach children communication skills and different ways of communication which involves mostly how to understand communication which is non-verbal. Within the daily program that is carried out in an early learning centre, educators are to also include diversity. Including language through diversity promotes children the ability to learn different languages, culture and most importantly how to speak different languages. As an Educator, communicating effectively to children develops their social, emotional, physical and intellectual skills. While communicating to children it broadens their understanding on reading and literacy. These main two qualities of development help children to improve on their pronunciation skills and their language skills. As children are developing such an important skill in their life, they are developing self-confidence within th emselves. As an educator, demonstrating effective communication skills enhances children’s awareness of how to talk, read and write. Children learn by hearing words, therefore when educators are communicating to children within the learning centre, children are capable of matching the words together and making meaning of what is being heard. As quoted, â€Å"Reading aloud with children is known to be the single most important activity for building the knowledge and skills they will eventually require for learning to read.† – Marilyn Jager Adams.

Proposal Letter and Article Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Proposal Letter and Article Summary - Essay Example Upon a critical review, of the request for Proposal, our skilled team of Information Technology experts developed a comprehensive structure that will aid in the equipment of the latest computer system. New desktop computers from IBM will be purchased and installed. Our supplier chain will be able to provide sealed pricing proposals of the latest branded and generic (IBM clone) desktop systems, as well as laptops. These computers will have to be networked in order to allow for information sharing and tighten security. Our team has developed a plan that integrates networking of the computers, configuration, installation of software and antivirus software, and training will provided to the staff in order to give them a hands-on experience on this new technology. We have already sent a catalogue of desktop computers and laptops from our supply chain to Kathy Hennig, the senior Purchaser at C.P.M., which has been approved. Smartechs Corporation specializes in software development and supplies computers and computer accessories to our esteemed customers. We also provide training solutions to our customers on Internet security, networking, and basic computer use, and software. As implied in our name, which means â€Å"smart technicians,† we are a dynamic company who believe in embracing technology for future change and success.

Lenore Walker - Marital and Sexual Abuse Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Lenore Walker - Marital and Sexual Abuse - Essay Example More importantly, her several theories and understandings of battery have altered the way that attorneys and criminal prosecutors look at battery and the abuse of women, which has led to new laws and regulations to assist women in need. This has been combined with a challenge to society to begin to change the way that women in the home and in contemporary culture are looked at. Walker has gained the title of being the mother of battered women because of her significant contributions and developments in the field of psychology, specifically which intertwine with the concepts of abuse. Walker began her research in psychology toward women in the 1970s, at which time she made some of the most significant contributions to the effects battery has on women. Walker began to study the field of psychology soon after graduating high school. She earned her Bachelor’s in 1962 from CUNY’s Hunter College, followed by a Master’s in 1967. In 1972, she earned a doctorate in psychology from Rutgers, New Jersey. She has held a practice for over 30 years and is licensed in Colorado, New Jersey and Florida. Her prestige in the field of battered women has earned her the title of Diplomat in Clinical and Family Psychology. To this date, Walker focuses on teaching psychology at Nova Southeastern University, specifically with a focus on forensic psychology. She also coordinates with several court jurisdictions and areas in Florida, specifically to help treat women in battered situations. Walker is a part of a consulting group that works to change regulations toward women in the courtroom. She is also the director of the Domestic Violence Institute, which is designed to change the understanding of abuse between women and children on an international level. The main theories that Walker developed began with her studies for her doctorate and continued with her first field studies after graduation

The Depiction of Pirates in Treasure Island Essay Example for Free

The Depiction of Pirates in Treasure Island Essay The first thing that must be made clear about Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island is that it is a romance. And therefore the image of the pirate that it paints remains largely fictional, and many of the details will not seem to comply with scholarly evidence of what the typical pirate was like in its heyday. But it is not correct either to interpret romance as being false history in all instances. When romance is derived from vibrant and native mythology then it is likely to contain a large measure of truth, and the sort of truth that scientific scholarship cannot unearth. According to Mircea Eliade, myth, when it is vitally connected to the culture, speaks only of realities, which are far more â€Å"real† than mere â€Å"hard facts† (7). Treasure Island draws on the myth of the pirate, and it is a living myth, closely connected to the Western spirit of individualism and adventure. Therefore it is a mistake to dismiss Stevenson’s tale as a mere children’s adventure story. It is well documented how the novel has redefined the image of the pirate in the modern age, and continues to excite young and old with its unique spirit of adventure. It is only able to do so because Stevenson tapped a living myth. In the search for the specific influences that shaped the composition of Treasure Island it is advisable to refer first of all to Stevenson’s own admissions. In this sense the author is extremely frank and forthcoming, and even admits to partial plagiarism in some instances. For example, he quotes Washington Irving’s tale â€Å"Wolfert Webber† as an influence, and says in this regard, It is my debt to Washington Irving that exercises my conscience, and justly so, for I believe plagiarism was rarely carried farther the whole inner spirit and a good deal of the material detail of my first chapters were the property of Washington Irving. (Stevenson, Letters, 308) There is indeed a striking resemblance, and Stevenson certainly steals the scene in which a tenured pirate arrives in a sleepy hamlet, lodging in an inn, and day after day regaling to the regulars of the inn his endless store of bloodcurdling adventures on the high seas. There is also the suggestion of hidden pirate treasure, but not on a remote and deserted island. The pirate map is central to the plot of Treasure Island, and may be described as the singular stroke of genius that spelled the success of the novel. The spark of the idea is from Edgar Allan Poe’s story â€Å"The Gold Bug†, whose plot hinges on ciphers and how to crack them (Zaczek 85). Instead of ciphers Stevenson gives us a map of a remote island, and a cross marked on the place where the treasure is supposed to be buried. It is when this map falls into the hands of Jim Hawkins that the adventure really begins. Poe’s story also has pirate treasure buried on an island, and where the pirates leave behind ciphers as the clue to the location. But Poe’s island is not remote and deserted. Stevenson most certainly got this idea from Defoe’s classic novel Robinson Crusoe. We elaborate on the influence of Defoe later on. Another influence that Stevenson mentions is Charles Kingsley’s travelogue At Last, which recounts a voyage to the Caribbean, with related reminiscences (Stevenson, Letters, 263). Though the direct references to pirates are limited, it is an important influence, because we may find in it the inner spirit that belongs to Treasure Island. Kingsley projects the spirit of independence and adventure, and this is certainly part of the imagination that that gives birth to Long John Silver. We feel this spirit palpably in the opening passage: At last we, too, were crossing the Atlantic. At last the dream of forty years, please God, would be fulfilled, and I should see (and happily, not alone) the West Indies and the Spanish Main.   From childhood I had studied their Natural History, their charts, their Romances, and alas! their Tragedies; and now, at last, I was about to compare books with facts, and judge for myself of the reported wonders of the Earthly Paradise. (Kingsley 9) It is a mistake to judge the myth of the pirate to be concerned with the macabre. It is really about leaving behind the constraints of society and making it on one’s own. In the end it is about individualism, which expresses the inner heart of Western man. This is not meant to condone piracy, nor to sanctify despicable real life villains, which no doubt the pirates were. But if the image of the pirate seizes the Western imagination so forcefully, it is because it speaks of an inner longing, and which we feign ignore. It is possibly because the pirate is an extreme example of the unfettered individual. To the pirate it is only himself and the world, and we can understand why this resonates with the Western dream. â€Å"[T]he Old World lay behind us like a dream,† Kingsley expresses once he is ensconced on the Westward bound ship (Ibid). A fundamental dream is being realized, and the Old World is itself now rendered a dream.   Such being the stated and implied influences of Stevenson, we must not expect more than a superficial resemblance between the pirates we find in Treasure Island and the real life counterparts. The novel established certain misconceptions about pirates which has become hard to eradicate now. For example, it is widely believed now that pirates always buried their treasure on remote islands, and deserted locations, and kept maps to locate it when needed later on. Even before the evidence of the scholars arrives, we know that this is a silly thing to do, and the plot of Treasure Island itself will serve as an example. Captain Flint is the legendary pirate who buries his treasure of Skeleton Island, makes a map of the exact spot, which only a small inner band of his crew are privy to. Predictably, this leaves a legacy of backstabbing rivalry among them, and they all want get their hands on the map and appropriate the treasure for themselves. Evidence tells us that real life pirates acted in exactly the opposite way. Having no propensity to save or stash, they spent their loot very quickly through drinking and revelry. Another belief engendered from the novel is that pirate ships always flew the â€Å"Jolly Roger†, the black flag with insignia of a skull and crossed bones. But this would also be foolhardy for pirates who were always desperate to deflect suspicion. According to Aubrey Burl, pirates used two flags, and raised them on the specific situations of a raid. The skull and bones flag was meant to intimidate the prey, goading them to surrender and abandon their ships. But if they did not do so, the black flag was replaced by a red one, which sent the message that violence was about to ensue. Both flags were used tactically in raids, and were not flown at other times. He relates an incidence from 1720 when the notorious pirate Bartholomew Roberts sailed daringly into the harbor of Trepassey, in Newfoundland, flying the black flag. It was only one pirate ship against twenty-two maritime vessels, and yet the intimidation was sufficient, and the harbor surrendered all its vessels to the pirate (Aubrey 133-4).   Most of the incidental details used to describe the pirates in Stevenson’s novel are, however, accurate, barring fictional exaggeration. Rum indeed was the favorite drink of pirates. The former crew members of Captain Flint describe him as habitually breaking into song when in the company of rum: Fifteen men on the dead man’s chest Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum! (Stevenson, Treasure, 9) Drunken revelry, as already noted, was the favorite pastime of pirates. Long John Silver is depicted with a crosspatch on one eye, and a wooden leg. It is not unlikely that pirates bore handicaps, living as they did with daily violence. He also has a parrot perched perpetually on his shoulder. We know that pirates were fond of keeping tropical birds, which they did as souvenirs of the trips to wildlife locations around the world. The pirates in Treasure Island are of English and Dutch extraction, which is also the typical make up of pirates in the New World, and the French also included in the mix. The ethnic map of piracy often followed the political map and the rivalry among the maritime powers, England, Holland and France being the principle political players, after the demise of the Spanish Empire. Indeed, the most notorious age of piracy was in the wake of the War of the Spanish Succession, when Spain finally relinquished its control of the high seas, and England, Holland and France entered the fray. Each employed privateers, who were legal pirates with commissions from their respective crowns to prey upon the ships of rival colonial powers. Initially their commissions had been to raid Spanish ships, because Spain ruled the seas, and their ships carried enticing booty. After the Spanish defeat on the mainland, the privateers remained, and soon began to prey on each other. The illegal and proper pirates usually respected such political dividing lines (Lane 3-5). The pirates in Treasure Island conform to this picture, the novel being set in that particular period of high piracy in the eighteenth century.   This is the extent to which Stevenson’s pirate is authentic, and we should not expect more. Though this pirate is a criminal thug, it is not this fact that strikes a chord in our imagination. It is rather the spirit of individualism and initiative that moves us, and makes someone who is essentially a robber of the high seas into a figure of romance for us. The tell tale sign for this is that these pirates are wont to bury their treasure on a remote and deserted island, instead of merely spending it. The idea is clearly derived from reading Robinson Crusoe, Daniel Defoe’s story of a castaway who survives 28 years on a remote and deserted island, being the only survivor of a shipwreck. We know that Stevenson was an avid reader and admirer of Defoe. Stevenson is a kindred spirit to Defoe, though of a lesser genius. We examine Defoe in the hope of unlocking some secrets regarding Stevenson. Robinson Crusoe is not just an adventure tale, but is more a parable illustrating the Protestant work ethic. Crusoe establishes a personal relationship to God through his stay on the island, and in this sense is a consummate individual. He is shown to build civilization anew on the basis of such a faith. Therefore, he embodies individuality and imitative, exactly as the mythological pirate does. The figure of Robinson Crusoe is therefore the flip side of the iconic pirate. Crusoe confronts the world through faith in God; the pirate is also alone pitched against the world, only that he employs violence and bloodshed. Crusoe also discovers buried treasure while on a remote and deserted island – it is a spiritual treasure, and is hidden in the recesses of the soul. The counterpart for the pirate is material riches buried in a secret location. Both are emphasizing mystery, one religious, the other material. To confirm that this analogy is not strained, we note that Defoe was a passionate enthusiast of pirates and piracy, and has authored a long list of books and novels related to the theme. Indeed, he is thought to have authored A General History of the Pyrates under the pseudonym Captain Charles Johnson, this being the definite text of pirate history that has come down to us (Novak 642).   In conclusion, the iconic image of the pirate that has come down to us, largely influenced by Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel Treasure Island, is best described as a figment of the Western imagination. The pirates described in the novel are on the whole accurate, but historical accuracy is not the aim here. Pirates were dangerous robbers of the high seas, but it is an aspect that the mythical pirate wants to evade. Instead it is the spirit of individualism and initiative that is meant to be emphasized, because it resonates with the Western spirit as a whole. It is because Stevenson captured this sprits in his tale, which is set in the golden age of piracy, that has endeared it to the Western audience, and continues to excite successive generations of readers, and not only the young. Works Cited Burl, Aubery. Black Barty: The Real Pirate of the Caribbean. Stroud, UK: Sutton Publishing, 2006. Eliade, Mircea. Myth and Reality. New York: Waveland Press, 1998. Kingsley, Charles. At Last. Charleston, SC: BiblioBazaar, 2007. Lane, Kris E. Pillaging the Empire: Piracy in the Americas, 1500-1750. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe, 1998. Novak, Maximillian E. Daniel Defoe: Master of Fictions: His Life and Ideas. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2001. Stevenson, Robert Louis. Selected Letters of Robert Louis Stevenson. Contributor Ernest Mehew. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1997. Stevenson, Robert Louis. Treasure Island. New York: Sterling Publishing Company, 2004. Zaczek, Iain. Pirates. London: AAPPL, 2007.

BRIGADIER GENERAL CHARLES W. SWEENEY :: essays research papers

BRIGADIER GENERAL CHARLES W. SWEENEY Retired Dec. 27, 1979 Brigadier General Charles W. Sweeney was born in Lowell, Mass., in 1919. He graduated from North Quincy High School (Mass.) in 1937. After graduating from high school, he attended evening classes at Boston University and also at Purdue University. Charles Sweeney joined the Army Air Corps as an aviation cadet on April 28, 1941. Receiving his commission as a pilot in the Army Air Corps as an aviation cadet on April 28, 1941. Receiving his commission as a pilot in the Army Air Corps in December 1941, Lieutenant Sweeney spent two years at Jefferson Proving Grounds Ind. From the proving grounds in 1943, Charles Sweeney, now a captain, moved to Eglin Field, Fla., where he served as an operations officer and also a test pilot. In 1944 he was promoted to the rank of major in the Army of the United States. At this time he was acting as a B-29 pilot instructor at Grand Island, Neb. Later in the same year, Major Sweeney was reassigned to Wendover Field, Utah and it was here that he began working in the "Silver Plate" project, the code name of the pilot and crew training program for the coming World War II atomic missions. On May 4, 1945 (at the age of 25 and with the rank of major) Charles Sweeney became commander of the 393d Bombardment Squadron, a B-29 unit, which seven weeks later (on June, 1945) flew to a base on Tinian in the Mariana Islands. It was during August 1945 that Major Sweeney flew the history-making missions and dropped the bomb which brought World War II to a close. In November 1945, Major Sweeney and the 393d Bombardment Squadron returned home to Roswell Air Force Base, N.M. His mission at Roswell was to train aircrews for a third atomic mission -- a peacetime experiment on Bikini. Just a few months later on June 28, 1946, he was discharged from active duty with the rank of lieutenant colonel. Colonel Sweeney, on Feb. 21, 1956, was appointed wing commander by Governor Christian A. Herter. Also in 1956, the unit was again re-designated as the 102d Air Defense Wing, and on April 6, 1956, Colonel Sweeney received his promotion to the rank of brigadier general. 1958 saw the wing receive its present designation as the 102d Tactical Fighter Wing. General Sweeney

Patron-Client Politics Essay

In most countries, political participation is an important aspect in government and citizen relationship. Citizen participation is very essential in any country to ensure that the government is properly delivering its responsibilities to the people. This is why there are many avenues that are created and some that are still being explored, which will make people to actively participate in political issues. However, there are some regimes wherein the channel for political participation is not open. Being the case, there is a different way by which people could participate in politics without the direct involvement that is most observable in a democratic form of governance. This is greatly exemplified by the concept of patron-client politics. Patron-client politics is defined as the relationships wherein patrons that belong to the high status in society provide protection and resources to lower status clients. In doing so, the patrons ask the clients for their votes and support in exchange for what they give. The power that the patrons have is very beneficial in negotiating their interests with the government. These informal hierarchies of patron-client networks provide ordinary people a contact with formal politics (Wai-man, 2007). Patrons are often composed of â€Å"government officials, landlords, employers, ethnic leaders, and party leaders† (Wai-man, 2007). There are instances that patrons also act as intermediary agents of control that paved the way for the socialization between the people and the state (Wai-man, 2007). On the other hand, clients are those people that belong in the lower status of the society. These people do not possess abundant resources unlike the patrons, which is why they are dependent upon the patrons in order to provide for their needs. In most developing countries, the majority of the citizens are regarded as clients while the small portion of their population is the higher class patrons. According to Grabowski, Self, and Shields (2007), patron-client politics is based on illegitimacy. This is because such network is grounded on the face-to-face interactions between patrons and clients rather than the formal adherence to rules and regulations. In order for this kind of political structure to work, the ruling elites that mostly compose the patrons should have control over government institutions. In this case, the patrons could influence the government to make policies that are for their own benefit. This is why the clients are put in a disadvantageous position because the allocation of resources is dependent upon the patrons. They could only get some of these resources if they follow and support their patrons. Most of the time, the clients usually acquire an unfair portion of these resources that the patrons give. Being the case, the clients are always under the control of the patrons. Nevertheless, there are also advantageous effects that the clients could achieve from such political set-up. The clients can get the necessary resources in order to sustain their needs. Moreover, this is also a way by which the client could be able to participate in political processes. The formal political structure of the state of Mexico is applicable in the development of patron-client relationship within the country. 10 percent of the Mexican population belongs to the upper class that is composed of the country’s business executives and government leaders. The lower sector of the country, which consists of the majority of the citizens are made up of industrial workers, informal-sector employees and peasants (The Library of Congress Country Studies, 1996). This kind of social structure supports the concept of patron-client politics because the elite class holds the resources as well as the power that enables them to put the lower class under their control. They could easily give resources to the lower class that needs it in order to get their support in return. Furthermore, unequal distribution of income within Mexico’s society proves that patron-client relationship already exists in the country. Patron-client relationship is not only dependent on the political situation of the country but it is also linked with the social structure of the country. This interaction exists when a small portion of the society controls the resources and the political power in order to dominate others. The presence of the lower class that requires the necessary aid for their everyday living also further supports this kind of relationship. As such, the political make-up and situation in Mexico clearly proves the existence of patron-client politics.

Plato, Descartes and the Matrix Essay

After obtaining knowledge from the Matrix, Plato’s Allegory of the Cave or The Republic and the first Mediation from Descartes, I see that there are a few likenesses and contrasts. I would need to say that The Matrix and Plato’s hole purposeful tale were more comparable because the individuals included in both stories, they existed in this present reality where they were being cheated about what the fact of the matter was. In the Matrix, once Neo saw this present reality and that all that he thought was true was really a hallucination, is very much alike to the shadows on the dividers of the surrender that the prisoners saw in Plato’s Allegory of the hole. In both stories, both characters could encounter reality as well as the phony world and was given opportunity to see reality and were confounded. Nonetheless, the detainee in Plato’s story in the wake of picking up this new information let others in servitude know of his recently discovered learning however felt that the first truth was less demanding to with the exception to. Then again Neo in The Matrix chose he needed to realize what the right truth was. Both characters were intrigued by figure out reality however they recognized reality in an unexpected way. Plato thought it was fundamental for the affixed man in the Allegory of the Cave required to escape from the hole to look for reality. Socrates portrays a gathering of individuals who have lived anchored to the divider of a buckle the greater part of their lives, confronting a transparent divider. The individuals watch shadows anticipated on the divider by things passing before a blaze behind them and start to attribute structures to these shadows. As indicated by Socrates, the shadows are as close as the detainees get to review the reality. He then clarifies how the savant is similar to a detainee who liberated from the hollow and comes to comprehend that the shadows on the divider are not constitutive of reality whatsoever, as he can see the genuine type of reality as opposed to the minor shadows seen by the detainees. Descartes considers and rejects the likelihood that my faculties could just lead me adrift. We research situations when we have been tricked by our faculties, through the activity of those extremely same faculties. However, wouldn’t I be able to be envisioning now, and not understand this? This theory is hard to negate, on the off chance that you permit that a  Ã¢â‚¬Å"fantasy† require not be disconnected and unreasonable. It is coherently conceivable to have an intelligible dream where, for instance, I am in Sheffield, at my machine, composition a consummately or at any rate sensibly mindful response to Ask a Philosopher, regardless of the fact that such dreams happen just seldom if whatso ever. Coherent probability is everything Descartes needs. This is what might as well be called the Matrix situation. As a general rule, while I form my answer, I am dozing in a â€Å"unit† having encounters sustained specifically to my mind by a super-machine. The Matrix speculation is hard to negate. However it still isn’t sufficient for Descartes’ reasons. Since, even on this speculation, certain key convictions stay unchallenged. Specifically, the conviction that there exists a universe of material questions in space. The presence of a physical world is one of the essential suppositions of the Matrix story. That is the reason Descartes makes the additional stride of imaging a capable, non-physical sagacity fit for creating the knowledge of ‘an universe of material protests in space’ in me, despite the fact that in all actuality no such world exists. A fiendishness evil spirit. Anyhow how â€Å"wicked† is this spirit, truly? Berkeley took Descartes’ contention for uncertainty and stood it on its head: nothing could possibly consider confirmation of the presence of ‘matter’, on the grounds that all we ever have is ‘experience’. All that exists, in extreme the truth, is God and ‘limited souls’ similar to us who have encounters that God delivers in us. – When you gaze out at the world you are taking a gander at within God’s thoughts. Ignorance is bliss of illusion when we have security in the unknown of danger. It’s when we establish the danger we want to return to the ignorance to regain the safety. The very nature of man is to need what he doesn’t have. All promoting was focused around that start. You have an auto; however, you don’t have another auto or that auto that was constantly publicized. The very nature of all creatures is â€Å"Fight or Flight.† When they exited the hole – they didn’t have the security of the cavern. So as I studied that story, they came back to the hollow. Security is a manifestation of solace however is not acknowledged until we have lost it – or expects that we will lose it-. The extent that obliviousness, the greater part of us does not feel we are uninformed. We are and need to be unmindful of something else we would go insane. For example, might you want to know the date and time of your  passing? In the event that you realized that, it would cloud any of your problems. You could presumably consider nothing else, irregularly. That information would overpower you. Study the passing line convicts. Obliviousness is most happy when we don’t know we are incorrect yet think we recognize what we are doing – or we think we are on the whole correct. We weren’t sheltered when we fail to offer particular knowledge of looming dangers, yet we feel safe when we don’t think about those risks. To be certain are beliefs are true to ourselves we must firs t pretend that they are not and then begin to question their truths. Descartes argued that our customary knowledge of the world can’t give the sort of ensured establishment on which all other information could be based. We are frequently disillusioned to discover that what we have been taught are simply biases, or that what our faculties let us know is erroneous. That ought to make us ponder about whether the various things that we think are clear may moreover be mixed up. With a specific end goal to test whether what we think we know is genuinely right, Descartes recommends that we embrace a strategy that will dodge slip by following what we know back to a firm establishment of indubitable convictions. Obviously, it is conceivable that there are no totally unshakeable truths. It is additionally conceivable that we may find that our partialities can’t be uprooted or that convictions we think are extreme establishments for all our different convictions are not so much extreme whatsoever. The purpose of our contemplations is to test those convictions, regardless of the possibility that we have held them for quite a while. Furthermore that assess toward oneself will take a true effort. In request to figure out if there is anything we can know with conviction, Descartes says that we first need to uncertainty all that we know. Such a radical uncertainty may not appear sensible, and Descartes positively does not imply that we truly ought to uncertainty everything. What he recommends, however, is that with a specific end goal to check whether there is some conviction that can’t be questioned, we ought to incidentally imagine that all that we know is faulty. This misrepresentation is what is known as a speculative uncertainty. To verify that we consider the affectation important, Descartes recommends that there may be great contentions to believe that such questioning is defended and along these lines more than just something we ought to put on a show to do. His  contentions fall into two classifications: those pointed against our sense encounters and our supposition that we can recognize being conscious and envisioning, and those pointed against our thinking capabilities themselves. http://philosophy.tamu.edu/~sdaniel/Notes/descar1.html

Avogadros Number To Calculate Mass of a Single Atom

Avogadro's Number To Calculate Mass of a Single Atom Avogadros number is one of the most important constants used in chemistry. It is the number of particles in a single mole of a material, based on the number of atoms in exactly 12 grams of the isotope carbon-12. Although this number is a constant, its experimentally determined, so we use an approximate value of 6.022 x 1023. So, you know how many atoms are in a mole. Heres how to use the information to determine the mass of a single atom. Avogadro's Number Example Problem: Mass of a Single Atom Question: Calculate the mass in grams of a single carbon (C) atom. Solution To calculate the mass of a single atom, first look up the atomic mass of carbon from the periodic table.This number, 12.01, is the mass in grams of one mole of carbon. One mole of carbon is 6.022 x 1023 atoms of carbon (Avogadros number). This relation is then used to convert a carbon atom to grams by the ratio: mass of 1 atom / 1 atom mass of a mole of atoms / 6.022 x 1023 atoms Plug in the atomic mass of carbon to solve for the mass of 1 atom: mass of 1 atom mass of a mole of atoms / 6.022 x 1023 mass of 1 C atom 12.01 g / 6.022 x 1023 C atomsmass of 1 C atom 1.994 x 10-23 g Answer The mass of a single carbon atom is 1.994 x 10-23 g. Applying the Formula to Solve for Other Atoms and Molecules Although the problem was worked using carbon (the element upon which Avogadros number is based), you can use the same method to solve for the mass of an atom or molecule. If youre finding the mass of an atom of a different element, just use that elements atomic mass. If you want to use the relation to solve for the mass of a single molecule, theres an extra step. You need to add up the masses of all of the atoms in that one molecule and use them instead. Lets say, for example, you want to know the mass of a single atom of water. From the formula (H2O), you know there are two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. You use the periodic table to look up the mass of each atom (H is 1.01 and O is 16.00). Forming a water molecule gives you a mass of: 1.01 1.01 16.00 18.02 grams per mole of water and you solve with: mass of 1 molecule mass of one mole of molecules / 6.022 x 1023 mass of 1 water molecule 18.02 grams per mole / 6.022 x 1023 molecules per mole mass of 1 water molecule 2.992 x 10-23 grams

Challenges Of Implementing Renewable Energy Essay

Challenges Of Implementing Renewable Energy - Essay Example The UK government wants to develop this energy source as a viable and active contributor to the economy. However, developing and using these free energy sources is not very easy and a number of challenges and barriers need to be overcome. These challenges include technical, social and financial challenges (Scottish Power, 2004). This paper will examine renewable energy sources in this context and suggest solutions to overcome the challenges. The UK government has undertaken a few projects to meet its obligations of reducing greenhouse gases. As per the Kyoto protocols, a signatory to the protocols and this includes the UK, have agreed to cut down their emissions to pre-1990 levels. The UK faces a huge problem of reducing the carbon levels and emissions since it mostly relies on coal-fired power plants and nuclear plants for power generation. For 2006, the total amount of Green House Gases - GHG emitted in the UK was the equivalent of 7,076 million metric tons of CO2. It is estimated that from these emissions about 2344 Teragrams were due to CO2 emissions from the activities of standard and old electricity power grids (SmartGrid GB, 2012). Other than nuclear power, all other systems and plants generate excessive carbon. Domestic and household consumption in the UK makes up for 60% of the power used while other users such as industries, utilities, offices, and infrastructure consume the rest. Automobiles account for more t han 75% of fossil fuel consumption (Williams, 2010). To promote the use of green and clean energy systems, the UK government has initiated a project that funds and supports solar energy by residential homes (Bullis, 2012). The proposal is called ‘Feed-In Tariff – FIT’. This project involves encouraging households to install small solar panels with solar PV that can generate electricity. The Department of Clean Energy of The UK government has undertaken a few projects to meet its obligations of reducing greenhouse gases. As per the Kyoto protocols, a signatory to the protocols and this includes the UK, have agreed to cut down their emissions to pre-1990 levels.

New Venture Creation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

New Venture Creation - Essay Example The creation was undertaken by employing a team effort for three years. Business and economic decisions were made throughout this period, with a successful financial position being achieved. By the end of the three years, the SimVenture Creation had accumulated a total profit of ?20191. The venture was making a sale of up to 60 units every month. The closing year therefore depicted a strong business portfolio for the venture. Financial Achievements The simulation started with a default start-up capital of ?10,000. Over the next three years, the running of the venture was to be done by all team members, and annual results filled at the end of every year. This process engaged numerous activities that when combined would determine the financial position of the SimVenture Creation. The underlying interest was to take advantage and exploit emerging business opportunities, while accounting for the welfare of the firm. The entrepreneurial position of the venture was highly dependent on the decisions made by the team members. All the members embraced the fact that a successful financial position is dependent on the firm’s culture. ... By the end of the second year, the venture had been fully operationalized. In the same period, financial stability had been realized as income levels surpassed business expenditures. In the final year of simulation, entrepreneurial opportunities had been fully exploited. Legal, social and economic factors in the operational environment had been accounted for in the two previous financial periods. Year one and two had fully integrated market research to determine the market loops that the venture sought to account for. Business-customer interaction had been enhanced in the process, aided by the strong relationship that the venture realized with its suppliers, advertisers, business contractors and creditors. Production and sales performance was matched with the outcome of market research undertaken by the entrepreneurial team. As a result, sales increased, subcontracting was alleviated, customers accessed sales on credit and operational costs were significantly cut. Cost cut was realiz ed through reduced hours of work and the fact that optimal experiments had been done. Cash flows remained dynamic, with debtors, creditors, sales, revenues and expenses being fully accounted for. Sales had hit highs of 60 units for a month and a profit of ?20191 was recorded by the close of business at the end of the third year. Key Decisions Made Management decisions The management is a critical functional organ of the SimVenture Creation. Since the running of the venture was undertaken by an entrepreneurial team, each team member was charged with a decision making responsibility that was subject to the approval of the team. The functional areas of the venture were the primary basis