Compare & Contrast Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm Cinderella, Ever After and Essay

Compare & Contrast Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm Cinderella, Ever After and Disney's Cinderella - Essay Example The Brothers Grimm, Jakob and Wilhelm, were the first to put the age-old story of a poor little princess turned pauper turned princess to paper as a means of preserving the rich oral history of their German homeland in the early 1800s. Because their original intention was not to write children’s stories, but to preserve folktales, there remain traces within Cinderella that hint of a darker past. Also, because the story was written during a time of strong Christian morality, the stories contain a blatant religious overtone – including the beginning when Cinderella is told by her dying mother that her responsibility in life is to â€Å"be good and pious.† The step-sisters in this version are beautiful to look upon, but the brothers describe them as â€Å"vile and black of heart.† In portraying Cinderella, the Grimm brothers go into great detail regarding Cinderella’s grief over the loss of her mother and include a magical hazel tree in which a white b ird perches and delivers to Cinderella any of the wishes she expresses. It was with the help of the little bird in the hazel tree that Cinderella was able to be outfitted properly for the first of a three day festival and dance. In this case, she was forced to leave the dance three times, once by jumping through a pigeon house, once by climbing a tree and the third time, she finally left behind a golden, rather than a glass, slipper. The prince twice picked up the wrong sister to be his bride after they each had mutilated their own foot in order to fit into the slipper, but the bird at the grave continued to warn him. On her wedding day, the two false sisters were punished by the birds by having their eyes plucked out one at a time, suffering blindness forever afterward. This is a gruesome tale compared to that presented by Walt Disney in 1950. Here the step-sisters have become as unfortunate-looking as they are in spirit, both mean and

A comparative analysis of shareholders rights in differnt Essay

A comparative analysis of shareholders rights in differnt jurisdictions - Essay Example nd China. The recent financial crisis and convergence of accounting standards through IFRS have attracted the attention of world leaders towards the importance of corporate governance practices in various countries. Whether the shareholders possess enough rights and exercise these rights to safeguard their interests has been much debated because despite the presence of the board, corporations have failed. The analysis of shareholder rights has been facilitated by comparison of three companies from each of the three countries. The chosen companies are Balfour Beatty Plc, KBR Inc and CNOOC Limited. The comparison is based on each of the three companies’ disclosures regarding the shareholder rights in their annual reports and websites. 1.1.1 Background of Research Managers are responsible for the administration of day-to-day operations of the corporation. The shareholders exercise their rights and control in large corporation through board of directors. The directors of the organ ization are entrusted with the responsibility of sound corporate governance practices through direction, oversight and representation of shareholders. Generally, shareholders of a corporation do not engage in the management of corporation but appoint managers to carry out the business operations. However, this may not be the case when the managers own shares of the corporations in the form of share options. Exercised worldwide, this is one way to align the managers’ interests with that of the shareholders. Corporations mainly issue two types of shares, preference shares and common shares. The preference shareholders get the priority for dividends and when the corporation is liquidated, they get preference to claim over the common shareholders. However, preference shareholders do not have voting rights. Common shareholders, on the other hand, reserve the rights to vote on appointment of board members, decisions concerning dissolving of the corporation, and other fundamental ch anges in corporation such as changes in capital structure from increase in number of outstanding shares. In general, voting involves issuing a proxy card to each registered shareholders. A proxy is a person who is authorised to carry out the instructions from the shareholder. In the annual shareholders’ meeting, he/she will cast the vote on behalf of the shareholders, in case the shareholder is not able to directly vote (Davis 2003, p.34). The rights of shareholders increase with the increasing ownership. For example, in many countries, a shareholder owning a specified percentage like 5% has the right to place an issue on the agenda in the shareholders’ meeting or a majority shareholder can force a formal audit of the financial statements. In practice, the rights and entitlements with the ownership of the shares are seldom fully utilized by the shareholders. 1.1.2 Aims & Objectives In order to reach any conclusion and provide recommendations related to the shareholder rights, it is necessary to formulate the objectives of the study, which are as follows: 1. To compare and contrast the provisions of shareholders rights in corporate governance frameworks in UK, USA and China. 2. To analyze the extent to which the shareholders in the three countries exercise their rights by comparing three companies, each from the three countrie

Political Equality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Political Equality - Essay Example Hence, it is a citizen right irrespective of his or her origin, gender, race, political persuasion or opinion to exercise what according to the constitution is a mandatory. This implies a person based on what he or she feels towards a certain issue should express oneself freely but within the guidelines set by his or her states’ constitution (Neyer, 2012). In addition, political equality implies every person bears â€Å"equality under the law† (Bond & Smith, 2010, p. 8). This means any regime ought to demand adherence to all set laws from its respective citizens without any impartiality based on either status or identity (Bond & Smith, 2010). This also applies in arbitrating justice where any wrongdoer should face fair judgment without any bigotry. Case study Contemporary evidence of political equality is evident in Guatemala where the regime not only ensures effective mechanisms meant to promote ethnic mobilization but also women to participate in politics (Vogt, 2011) . Ethnic mobilization in this case refers to the† ethnicization† of the former marginalized groups in Latin America, which did not have any say in influencing any political process or action there earlier but lived in passivity of what other mainstream groups already implemented. However, this norm by inferior ethnic groups continuously experiencing political marginalization has ceased to exist where many of them since 1970s up to date have explicitly emerged to the limelight of political arena to claim equal treatment (Vogt, 2011). Equal treatment or say in this case implies enjoying same land rights, bilingual education/culture and even self-determination in their respective territories without any form of coercion from the state or influential people (Vogt, 2011). Latin America and especially Guatemala to have this attainment has taken persistent civil disobedience by varied movements in the region, which up to date they are still active prompting the female gender to take part in politics (â€Å"UN Women†). This is due to the elimination of numerous barriers in form of segregation and low opinion of the female gender especially while showing interests of venturing in politics. The evidence of political equality in Guatemala in terms of political participation was evident in 2011 whereby 51% of all voters comprised the female gender besides recording high number of women candidates vying for varied posts contrary to other past years (â€Å"UN Women†). Consequently, prompting UN Women claim the time for the female gender to determine the shape of Guatemala’s politics has already come. However, this overwhelming emergency of women in politics during then up to date was through UN Women’s efforts by training candidates especially from small ethnic groups, which due to their earlier inferiority experienced marginalization (â€Å"UN Women†). Training initiatives mainly provided by UN Women focuses creating awareness concerning the essence of voting by indigenous women and increasing their political presence. This is because they will not only claim their fundamental rights but also develop others by imparting them with the right political

Summary of 3 Men in a Boat Essay Example for Free

Summary of 3 Men in a Boat Essay Three Men in a Boat is a deceptively simple story: three friends take a boating holiday on the River Thames. At first sight this does not seem a likely plot for a classic work of comedy, and the fact that it was written in the late Victorian period and was an instant bestseller seems even harder to believe. Nowadays a sense of humour does not immediately spring to mind as a defining characteristic of the Victorians, particular as Queen Victoria herself is famous for the remark, ‘We are not amused!’ Jerome K. Jerome later wrote, ‘I did not intend to write a funny book, at first. I did not know I was a humorist. I never have been sure about it. In the middle ages, I should probably have gone about preaching and got myself burnt or hanged.’ Although the book was a huge success with the reading public, Jerome was lucky that it was not killed off by the reviews. ‘Of course it was damned by the critics,’ Jerome observed. ‘One might have imagined – to read some of them – that the British Empire was in danger. One Church dignitary went about the country denouncing me. Punch was especially indignant, scenting an insidious attempt to introduce â€Å"new humour† into comic literature.’ The humour lies not in the plot, but in the detail. A relaxing holiday on the river, rowing and sailing upstream, seeing the sights, and camping in the boat during overnight stops – what could possibly go wrong? The answer, of course, is just about everything, and it is the antics of the three men with their differering attitudes and approaches to the various problems that make the book so funny. On the periphery, there is also the dog Montmorency, a thoroughly anarchic figure whose practical solution to their difficulties usually consists of getting out of the way until all the fuss dies down. Most of the humour comes from comic set pieces, such as the agony of putting up a tent in adverse weather conditions. In some cases, episodes that still raise a laugh (because they are based on peren nial problems like finding the correct train at a railway station) were actually topical jokes. Waterloo station was considered a confusing mess of platforms that it was almost impossible to find your way around, and the idea of bribing a train driver to take you wherever you want to go appeals as much to the modern railway user as it did to the Victorians. Indeed, the whole book was topical, because a river boating holiday had only become fashionable a decade before, and part of the book’s success was due to the fact that boating on the Thames was the latest craze at the time it was published. The book also broke new ground with its subject matter and with its protagonists. The most popular books of the day were generally adventures with dashing heroes, by authors such as H. Rider Haggard, Rudyard Kipling and Robert Louis Stevenson. A book about three ordinary men and their minor but hilarious adventures on the river was something totally new. Also new was the structure of the book, though whether by accident or design is unclear. The structure is completely unbalanced, since it takes the first quarter of the book to discuss and plan the trip and get them onto the river, while the return journey is wrapped up in just eleven pages. The trip on the river is really just a frame on which to hang the various anecdotes and digressions that contain much of the humour. At intervals, and often sitting uncomfortably within the string of anecdotes and incidents, Jerome provides straight descriptive passages in a guidebook style, noting the places they are passing and their history. Sometimes he overdoes things, with fantasies such as a long description of how King John signed the Magna Carta at Runnymede. He seems to be trying to convey the idle thoughts and flights of fancy inspired by locations of such historical importance, but this does not always work. In general, his shorter descriptions succeed far better in creating the illusion of a real trip on the river. Jerome was very well acquainted with the river, having made many trips on it with friends and even spending his honeymoon there with his new bride, immediately before writing the book. He certainly drew on previous experiences, and the three men he writes about had real counterparts – Jerome himself was the narrator ‘J.’, ‘George’ was based on a George Wingrave, and ‘Harris’ on Carl Hentschel. Only the dog, Montmorency, was entirely imaginary. Perhaps the key to the success of Three Men in a Boat lies in its combination of simplicity and set-piece humorous incidents, most of which have a timeless, universal appeal. The book has been translated into many languages and repeatedly adapted for television. It is probably as popular today as when first published, because much of the language seems so fresh and modern. The book is narrated in the first person by the author, who is refered to as J by his friends. It begins with J, and his friends harris and George, deciding to take a boat trip up the Thames from Kingston to oxford,and then back again (the book was written in 1888, when boating on the Thames was enormously popular). They are unanimous in agreeing that this is a good idea (except for Js dog, Montmorency, who doesnt care for boating). They have trouble getting packed, and in the morning Harris and J take a train to Kingston, where the boat is waiting for them. George is joining them later when he has finished his work at the bank. they row up passt Hampton Court, where Harris describes an incident when he got lost in Hampton Court maze with some friends (this is one of the funniest parts of the book). George joines the party, and they have trouble towing the boat, and later they have even more trouble trying to put the cover over the boat for the night. they all get fed up with each other, but cheer up when they have a good tea. There is a long passage about the signing of Magna Carta (there are several passages like this in the book, where the author gets serious for a bit). They have various other mishaps as they travel up the river, like the time when they are having tinned pineapple for tea, and cant find the tin-opener. They spend a lot of time trying to open it with no success. And there are stories of other trips they made up the river, like the time J was ou tin a aboat with his cousin, and they thought they were going crazy because they couldnt find Wallingford Lock (it turns out the lock had been demolished some years earlier). And ther ere is the time when they are in an inn which has a stuffed trout in a case on the wall, and several different people come in and claim to have been the one who caught it, but when George stands on a chair to look at it, he knocks it down and it breaks it turns out to be plaster of Paris! When they reach Oxford, and start to travel bac, it starts to rain, and they arent enjoying themselves somuch. So they abandon the boat and take the train back to London, where they go to a show and then have a good dinner in a restaurant. They make a toast Heres to three men well out of a boat!

A Robust Cost Leadership Strategy Marketing Essay

A Robust Cost Leadership Strategy Marketing Essay As the business environment become even more dynamic, a robust cost leadership strategy within the framework of corporate strategy is vital in order to ensure the success of the organization. It should provide the direction that the whole organization can pursue to secure the companys future survival and success. There are types of generic strategies that companies must possess to achieve competitive advantage. The first generic strategy is cost leadership strategy and the others are differentiation and focus strategies. Competitive advantage can be defined as anything which gives one organization an edge over its rival in the products it sell or the services it offers. In general, cost leadership is about being the lowest cost producer in the industry. For an organization to gain competitive advantage, it must achieve overall cost leadership in an industry it is competing in. For companies competing in a price-sensitive market, cost leadership is the strategic imperative of the entire organization. It is vitally important for these companies to have a thorough comprehension of their costs and cost drivers in order to pursue a cost leadership strategy. They also need to fully understand their targeted customer groups definition of quality, usually denoted in terms of design specifications, contractual requirements, delivery and services at the lowest possible cost. Of particular importance will be for the company to attain a cost level that is low relative to its competitors. Cost Leadership Strategy This strategy according to Porter, involves the firm winning market share by strategizing to cost-conscious or price-sensitive customers. This is achieved by having the lowest prices in the target market segment, or at least the lowest price to value ratio (price compared to what customers receive). To succeed at offering the lowest price while still achieving profitability and a high return on investment, the firm must be able to operate at a lower cost than its rivals. There are three main ways to achieve this. The first approach or way is achieving a high asset turnover. In manufacturing, it will involve production of high volumes of output. These approaches mean fixed costs are spread over a larger number of units of the product or service, resulting in a lower unit cost, for an example the firm hopes to take advantage of economies of scale and experience curve effects. For industrial firms, mass production becomes both a strategy and an end in itself. Higher levels of output both require and result in high market share, and create an entry barrier to potential competitors, who may be unable to achieve the scale necessary to match the firm low costs and prices. The second way is achieving low direct and indirect operating costs. This is achieved by offering high volumes of standardized products, offering basic no-frills products and limiting customization and personalization of service. Production costs are kept low by using fewer components, using standard components, and limiting the number of models produced to ensure larger production runs. Overheads are kept low by paying low wages, locating premises in low rent areas, establishing a cost-conscious culture, etc. Maintaining this strategy requires a continuous search for cost reductions in all aspects of the business. This will include outsourcing, controlling production costs, increasing asset capacity utilization, and minimizing other costs including distribution, RD and advertising. The associated distribution strategy is to obtain the most extensive distribution possible. Promotional strategy often involves trying to make a virtue out of low cost product features. The third dimension is control over the supply/procurement chain to ensure low costs. This could be achieved by bulk buying to enjoy quantity discounts, squeezing suppliers on price, instituting competitive bidding for contracts, working with vendors to keep inventories low using methods such as Just-in-Time purchasing or Vendor-Managed Inventory. Wal-Mart is famous for squeezing its suppliers to ensure low prices for its goods. Dell Computer initially achieved market share by keeping inventories low and only building computers to order. Other procurement advantages could come from preferential access to raw materials, or backward integration. Some writers claim that cost leadership strategies are only viable for large firms with the opportunity to enjoy economies of scale and large production volumes. However, this takes a limited industrial view of strategy. Small businesses can also be cost leaders if they enjoy any advantages conducive to low costs. For example, a local restaurant in a low rent location can attract price-sensitive customers if it offers a limited menu, rapid table turnover and employs staff on minimum wage. Innovation of products or processes may also enable a startup or small company to offer a cheaper product or service where incumbents costs and prices have become too high. The Starbucks Company Starbucks used mostly a differentiation strategy; however it had also used a cost leadership strategy. Its differentiation strategy was exemplified by their stores providing an experience, offering interesting coffee-related drinks in a theatrical kind of atmosphere, their unique Coffee blending and roasting process which enabled them to create an extensive product variety, their employees received great deal of training to become very knowledgeable about coffee in order to provide an exceptional service to increasingly coffee-educated consumers, and their ability to find the perfect location for their stores enabled them to maximize market share in a given area of a city and build their regional reputation which then increased their image to a national level of high prestige and status. For all these reasons, consumers were willing to pay a premium. Their cost leadership strategy was exemplified by their supply chain operations where they received the best transportation rates, and were able to achieve economies of scale by eliminating redundancy and maximize efficiency. Starbucks was also a cost leader due to its good relationship with coffee exporters who were very anxious to become Starbucks suppliers; a fact that enabled the company to get better prices and reduce bean-sourcing costs. The activities that created superior value for Starbucks retail coffee-house business were: Procurement purchased more high quality coffee than anyone else in the world. Technological Development a lot of research was put into the roasting and blending process to create unique tastes. Human Resource Management extensive training and educating of employees (baristas) and turning them into part of the organizational culture. Outbound Logistics finding good Real estate to maximize market share in certain area and provide the coffee in key places to consumers. The Nestle Company Nestlà © with headquarters in Vevey, Switzerland was founded in 1866 by Henri Nestlà © and is today the worlds biggest food and beverage company. They employ around 250,000 people and have factories or operations in almost every country in the world. The Companys strategies are guided by several fundamental principles. Nestlà ©s existing products grow through innovation and renovation while maintaining a balance in geographic activities and product lines. Long-term potential is never sacrificed for short-term performance. The Companys priority is to bring the best and most relevant products to people, wherever they are, whatever their needs, throughout their lives. Nestlà © Company has aimed to build a business based on sound human values and principles. Nestlà © believes in making a long-term commitment to the health and wellbeing of people in every country in the scope of their operations. At Nestlà © Significant differentiation from traditional retail and less price transpar ency is followed. They follow this differentiation strategy to reduce the risk of complexity of supply chain and lower attractiveness for discounters. Pepsi Co merged with the Quaker Oats Company, creating the worlds fifth-largest food and beverage company, with 15 brands each generating more than $1 billion in annual retail sales. Pepsi Co follows the differentiation strategy. Their ability to innovate is their competitive advantage. They look for opportunities to capitalize on the value of their brands by creating new products and varieties. By innovating to meet consumer needs and preferences, they fill consumption gaps and contribute to create both healthier and indulgent choices for consumers, and bringing more enjoyment to their lives. As you can see, Nestle also uses the differentiation strategy for cost leadership strategy just like the Coca cola Company. This shows that the customers are asking for a change. They want revolution in the products. That is what these two companies are doing to keep alive and top in what they do. Conclusion As conclusion, I would like to say that cost leadership strategy is used by organizations to lower the cost used for business and enhance the productivity and profit. This is a very good strategy to be used in a business.

The Cold War :: essays research papers

1. Name of President- Harry S. Truman 2. Dates in Office- 1945-1952 3. Political Party- Democrat 4. Presidential Cold War Philosophy President Truman’s philosophy was to come to the defense of those countries in danger of Soviet takeover, but the US would not start a war with the Soviet Union. He also made alliances with Europe through NATO, which was a contrast to the past because from the time of Washington’s Farewell Address, Americans have strongly favored avoiding all foreign entanglements. He also was taken over by the paranoia created by the Red Scare because he ordered investigations of 3 million federal employees for â€Å"security risks.† 5. Actions taken during presidency in regard to Cold War.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  a. The Beginning of the Cold War- The end of World War II raised the issue of the shape of the   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   new world and what new political alliances would be formed. This would become the major   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   source of contention between the world’s leading political-economic system, capitalism and   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   communism. The American economy was growing more dependent on exports, while American   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   industry needed to import metals. This required open trade and friendly relations with those   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   nations that provided metal. With many economies in shambles, competition for the few healthy   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   economies became fierce. Germany, Japan, and Great Britain, who had been the strongest before   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   war had either been defeated or their influence was greatly reduced. The United States and the   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Soviet Union became the world’s leading two powers, and they quickly became enemies.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  b. The Truman Doctrine- After the Soviet Union had spread communism to Hungary   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   and Czechoslovakia, it threatened to take over Greece and Turkey. Truman was intent on   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   preventing this. The Truman Doctrine states that the US would support the free peoples who   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   were resisting the attempted subjugation of the Soviet Union. This was the cornerstone of a   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   larger policy called containment, which provided that while the US would not go to war with   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   the Soviet Union, it would come to the defense of countries in danger of Soviet takeover.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  c. The Marshall Plan- This was a way to gain alliances. This plan sent more than $12 billion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   to Europe to help rebuild its cities and economy. In return for that money, those countries   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   were expected to become American allies. It was offered to Eastern Europe, but no country   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   participated.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  d. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)- This was a mutual defense alliance

Financial Instability Essay -- Financial Market Finances Accounting Es

Financial Instability The soaring volume of international finance and increased interdependence in recent decades has increased concerns about volatility and threats of a financial crisis. This has led many to investigate and analyze the origins, transmission, effects and policies aimed to impede financial instability. This paper argues that financial liberalization and speculation are the most reflective explanations for instability in financial markets and that financial instability is likely to be transmitted globally with far reaching implications on real sector performance. I conclude the paper with the argument that a global transaction tax would be the most effective policy to curb financial instability and that other proposed policies, such as target zones and the creation of a supranational institution, are either unfeasible or unattainable. INSTABILITY IN FINANCIAL MARKETS In this section I examine four interpretations of how financial instability arises. The first interpretation deals with speculation and the subsequent â€Å"bandwagoning† in financial markets. The second is a political interpretation dealing with the declining status of a hegemonic anchor of the financial system. The question of whether regulation causes or mitigates financial instability is raised by the third interpretation; while the fourth view deals with the â€Å"trigger point† phenomena. To fully comprehend these interpretations we must first understand and differentiate between a â€Å"currency† and â€Å"contagion† crisis. A currency crisis refers to a situation is which a loss of confidence in a country's currency provokes capital flight. Conversely, a contagion crisis refers to a loss of confidence in the assets denominated in a particular currency and the subsequent global transmission of this shock. One of the more paramount readings of financial instability pertains to speculation. Speculation is exhibited in a situation where a government monetary or fiscal policy (or action) leads investors to believe that the currency of that particular nation will either appreciate or depreciate in terms relative to those of other countries. Closely associated with these speculative attacks is what is coined the â€Å"bandwagon† effect. Say for example, that a country's central bank decides to undertake an expansionary monetary policy. A ne... ...onal Financial Markets,† in Gerald Epstein, Julie Graham, Jessica Nembard (eds.), Creating a New World Economy: Forces of Change and Plans of Action (Temple University Press, 1993). Charles Hakkio, â€Å"Should we Throw Sand in the Gears of Financial Markets?† Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City Economic Review, 1994. Richard Herring and Robert Litan, Financial Regulation in the Global Economy (Brookings Institution, 1995). Ethan Kapstein, â€Å"Shockproof: The End of Financial Crisis† Foreign Affairs, January/February 1996. Charles P. Kindleberger, The World in Depression (London: Penguin 1973). Paul Krugman, â€Å"International Aspects of Financial Crises† in Martin Feldstein, ed., The Risk of Economic Crisis (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1991). John McCallum, â€Å"Managers and Unstable Financial Markets† Business Quarterly January 1, 1995. James Tobin, â€Å"A proposal for international monetary reform† Eastern Economic Journal 1978, volume 4. John Williamson, The Failure of World Monetary Reform 1971-1974) (NY:NYU Press, 1977) L.B. Yeager, International Monetary Relations: Theory, History, and Policy 1976. .