Discuss and Explain the plot and sub-plot Essay Example for Free

Discuss and Explain the plot and sub-plot Essay Metamorphosis is based around a central character called Gregor Samsa. He is a hard working young man who for a number of reasons, including pressure, he transforms into a beetle. There are other main characters in the play which include Greta Samsa, Mr. Samsa and Mrs Samsa, who are his sister, father and mother. The characters all enter one by one and each give a mime which depicts what their character is like at the current time. The characters then narrate as to what Gregor looks like during his transformation into a beetle, they say this in the third person. This is followed by a structured conversation between Gregor and his sister Greta. This conversation shows us that there are many close feeling between them, and that they have a close relationship. This relationship later on proves extremely necessary and important, as Greta is the only person who truly understands how Gregor feels when he turns into a beetle. Shortly after this conversation there comes a scene of repetition. This is where we see the demands that Gregor faces and the pressure he receives from his family; for he is the only person in family who sustains a job and therefore produces an income. An example of the repetition is, Gregor, Cash! Gregor, Shoes! Gregor, Cigars! Gregor, food! This repetitiveness emphasises the stress and anxiety that Gregor feels. The next scene is a complete antithesis to the previous scene. It is very naturalistic, and portrays a normal, every day conversation between the family. Here we learn about how hard Gregor has to work in order to keep his family in good health with the money he brings in. His mother tells him to go to sleep when he complains about being tired, but he tries to refuse as he is worried that he will get sacked and then the family will have no income. This shows his dedication to his job and how hard he works for his familys sake. Gregor in the morning begins to feel ill and this is where his transformation into a beetle begins. The family at this point cannot see Gregor, but they can hear him and realise that something is not right. Gregor refuses their entry into his room, and locks himself in, unsure what is happening to him, himself. By this time the family start to realise that he is late for work. The situation becomes worse though, as the introduction of a new character happens. The Chief Clerk, who is Gregors boss, arrives at the house. The chief clerk only cares about his money and he has come to the house to find out why Gregor is not at work. This makes the current situation more awkward. All of the family and the chief clerk himself try to enter the room, but Gregor who is ashamed and scared about his current physical state does not want them to enter. After much confusion and worry from the familys behalf, Gregor eventually opens the door. When the family see the sight of him and notice how grotesque he looks they greet him with fear and loathing. Shoo! Get back. The beginning of the next scene sees the family, including Gregor talking about Gregor in the third person, about how much anguish and pain he feels. The family, with the omission of Gregor then begin to talk in a worried and confused tone, about what to feed him, how to feed him and when to feed him. We then get a flash back to what it used to be like in the mornings, how Gregor would drink his milk and be off to work in a cheery mood. The play continues; and Gregors room is cleaned out. Leave it! he shouts, as he tries to protect his belongings his only companions. The next scene is an evening scene, where again, Gregor reminisces about the distant past. He complains about she milk, saying he doesnt like it anymore, its revolting. This again accentuates his transformation: the only human aspect of Gregor is that he appears to be able to speak. Mr. Samsa, previously unemployed because of Gregors income, gets a job. The family surround him and bombard him with compliments: entitles you to look like a general. This shows how the family are doing their best to move on. We, as actors, are told the next scene is almost entitled Optimism. This immediately portrays a feeling of hope and desire for their lives to be normal. This, however, is also the scene where Mr Samsa completely loses control and hurls an apple at this son, which sinks into him, shouting, Back! Back! Back! Back! The audience is then invited into Gregors dream, followed by Phase Three. This phase begins with another flashback of previous life. Time to get up for work, Gregor. The scene quickens until the usual repetitive rush is sounded: Lodgers, Cash! Lodgers, Shoes Lodgers, Beer! This is where we met three lodgers, who are pompous and exact. They are demanding until they meet Gregor, who is b now a grotesque and unpleasant sight. They argue and leave. This seems to be the final straw, and the family are now conscious that this cannot go on any more. Greta, who so far has been Gregors guardian angel, distances herself and leaves him. Mrs Samsa, always there for her son, a maternal figure, sees her son, and after he whispers, Free free, she says, Dead, and thanks God in advance for taking care of him. Metamorphosis ends optimistically. Greta re-appears, and the family tell the audience how beautiful their daughter is, and how their life seems to be happy. Theyre doing everything they can to forget Gregor, and push on with their lives. Metamorphosis is a complicated, unusual play with many hidden meanings. It focuses on family life, pressure and expectation; how throughout our lives, we are always being ridden with demands. Berkoff uses these themes extremely well to create a visual masterpiece of the uppermost class.

A Vogadro :: essays research papers fc

A vogadro was born on June 9, 1776 in Turin, Italy. He began his career in 1796 by obtaining a doctorate in law and practicing as a lawyer for three years after. In 1800, he began to take private lessons in mathematics and physics and decided to make the natural sciences his profession. He was appointed as a demonstrator at the Academy of Turin in1806 and the Professor of Natural Philosophy at the College of Vercelli in 1809, and in 1820, he was appointed the professor of mathematical physics. He was a physics professor but he also experimented in chemistry using mathematics to base most of his findings. Avogadro is well known for his hypothesis known as Avogadro's Law. His law states that at a given temperature, equal volumes of gas contain the same number of molecules equal to about 6.0221367 x 10 to the 23rd power.A Mole of a substance is the quantity of the substance that weights the same as its molecular mass. One mole of any substance is Equal to Avogadro's number. Therefore Avogadro's law can be stated in terms of moles, namely that equal volumes of gases at the same temperature and pressure contain the same number of moles. Thanks to Avogadro and his number, scientists can measure out equal number of molecules by weighing out an equal number of moles. For gases this can be done by using 22.4 liters at STP(1 atmosphere and 223 Kelvin, 0 deg. Celsius). Avogadro's number is most reliably determined by X-ray diffraction of crystals. For many years' people thought the number was equal to about 6.022045 x 10 to the 23rd power, However, in 1986 the number was redefined as about 6.0221367 x 10 to the 23rd power.Albert Einstein's third research paper was concerned with the nature of molecules. We all know that if we drop a lump of sugar into water it diffuses through the water, making it somewhat more sticky. Thinking of water as a structureless fluid and the sugar molecules as small hard spheres, Einstein was able to find not only the size of the sugar molecules but also a value for Avogadro's number. Avogadro proposed his hypothesis in 1811. At that time there was no data at all on the number of particles in a mole. Measurements were made by Robert Brown in 1827 that gave an approximate value for Avogadro's number by observations of brownian motion.

Native American Story Telling Essay

Story telling was the heart of Native American culture. The way natives executed everyday tasks and their way of thinking came from what they heard as children from stories that were passed through multiple generations. When White Settlers started tearing tribe by tribe apart and claiming Native American land as their own, a dwindling effect on the rich Native’s culture became noticeable. The sense of unity they once knew so well was becoming an unknown aspect which ultimately left each individual shattered because they were so used to being and acting like one whole. Storytelling became a sort of glue that united and healed the damage done by the White Settlers. Already being the basic guidelines that each Native survived on, stories became even more valued because they were the things that kept the culture from becoming extinct. Storytelling re-taught the natives the way their ancestors taught and spoke, how their surroundings came to be and how to live a good, pious life. It was how they so eagerly grasped for sanity when they were basically stripped from all rights they had from the Colonials. Native American storytelling incorporates many themes and structures, some more evident that others, such as poetic writing styles that include morals, and an explanation of how the world came to be. Morals were a crucial factor why ancestors passed stories down to their offspring, other than just for enjoyment. They incorporated what they thought were major principals of living or not living a good life into stories by writing them in between the lines. A little child that was listening to an elder recalling a story might be listening for the mere amusement but also leaving with a lesson learned. In â€Å"The Sky Tree† from the Huron- Eastern Woodland tradition, the extremes the wife of the old man goes through to save her husband is definitely admirable, regardless if the story is true or not. The moral of trying to do all you can to save a loved one can be taken from this tale. This concept of Native American stories having morals is also found in â€Å"Coyote Finishes His Work† from the Nez Perce tradition. After reading the overly confident coyote correcting the wrongs on earth and then getting punished for his mischief, one can take away the lesson of being humble and not abuse power no matter how capable you are. These texts that heavily included morals helped remind the Natives how to repair and establish a meaningful life, even after being influenced by the White Men. As the Native’s became unsure of how the world even worked anymore when seeing the odd lifestyle of the Whites, storytelling reminded the way their ancestors explained their surroundings. The simplest aspects of life, like how a turtle got its shell, was explained in Native American stories. As said in â€Å"The Sky Tree†, the turtle got its shell when telling all the animals to dive down into a deep pit in order to save the wife of the old man and bring up the soil and place it on his back. This simple explanation showed the thought process of the oldest Native’s and helped bring a sense of unity among the broken ones. Broader ideas, such as how the world came to be, were also included in these tales. According to â€Å"Coyote Finishes His Work†, the coyote gave people names, taught them languages and how to hunt. Some way or another, humans learned how to these perform basic tasks. Native Americans explained how their people achieved these tasks by claiming The Coyote taught them. This concept was easier to take in rather than the Theory of Evolution, especially in an era where science was less developed. Creating stories of how the world worked when confused was what the Native Americans did best. Imagining how utterly lost the Natives were when the colonials came, one can assume that more stories were created. Stories of how strange men with snow skin must have calmed the nerves of scared Indians and settled the uproar. It is human nature to become less agitated of an unknown idea if an explanation was given. In this case, Native Americans produced hundreds of stories so that their people could live in peace without having to consistently question everything in existence. Incorporating basic ideas of how the world functions and principals of being a generally good person in Native American storytelling influenced how Natives lived and perceived the world around them. Without these stories the Indians would have no sense of culture to latch on to as settlers tried to change their ways. Each significant society of people throughout the years had some sort of guidelines on which their people believed. Egyptians having their stories written in hieroglyphics which were carved into walls to Christians having their fundamentals in the Bible. Aside from being the rules people acted upon, maybe each civilization came up with their perspective on life to authenticate their establishments. Whatever the reasoning was behind storytelling, Native Americans definitely did not exclude that factor in their culture. Storytelling was their culture.

Super Bowl Flyovers - Cost to Taxpayers

Its a longstanding tradition for the U.S. Air Force  or U.S. Navy to perform a flyover before every Super Bowl, but how much does such a thing cost American taxpayers? In 2015, the Super Bowl flyover will cost about $1.25 for every one of the 63,000 football fans in attendance at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Phoenix, Arizona, on Sunday, Feb. 1. Put another way: The Super Bowl flyover costs taxpayers about $80,000 in gas and other operational costs. There is a minimal expense involved with the flyover,  Rear Admiral John Kirby,  the Pentagon press secretary and spokesman for the  secretary  of Defense,  said days before the 2015 NFL championship game between  the New England Patriots and the  Seattle Seahawks. I think the whole thing, soup to nuts for the flyover, will cost something in the neighborhood of $80,000. Why the Military Performs Flyovers The Department of Defense says the Air Force flyovers are a form of public relations and are conducted at  Ã¢â‚¬Å"events of national prominence.† Its not an exorbitant cost, and I would, you know, obviously remind you that we stand to gain the benefit, Kirby said. And theres an exposure benefit from having the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds fly over, a well-known, famous team, and that certainly helps us in terms of keeping our exposure out there for the American people. Added Kirby: I think theyre very popular, these flyovers. The Defense department receives more than 1,000 requests for flyovers at sporting events every year. The Thunderbirds and other teams accept many of them, including for NASCAR races and important baseball games. The U.S. Navys Blue Angels have done some of the Super Bowl flyovers, as well, including one in 2008 over a domed stadium. No one inside saw the flyover, though television viewers did for about 4 seconds.   For the publicity aspect of it, Id say its definitely well worth it when you consider the cost to advertise during the Super Bowl. The more people see our blue jets and recognize the Navy, the better it is for us,  Blue Angels press officer Capt. Tyson Dunkelberger told The Lost  Angeles Times in 2008. Debate Over Super Bowl Flyovers Some critics call the Super Bowl flyover a waste of taxpayer money. Washington Post columnist Sally Jenkins, writing about the 2011 Super Bowl flyover at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, said: For absurdity, how about those four Navy F-18s flying over the stadium - with its retractable roof closed? Everybody inside could only see the planes on the stadiums video screens. It was strictly a two-second beauty shot. Know what it cost taxpayers? Ill tell you: $450,000. (The Navy justifies the expense by saying its good for recruiting.) Others have questions why the government is spending  millions of dollars every year on  the flyovers at the same time sequestration has slashed its budgets. Related Story: What is Sequestration? If any portion of the defense department budget is going to be slashed, the act of flying planes over a crowded stadium would be the one to get rid of, wrote Mike Florio of NBC Sports. ... As a recruiting tool its value is questionable.

Reflection On The Field Of Organizational Psychology

Reflection Before the start of this class I had little experience with research and little knowledge regarding the components of each research approach. Additionally, I had preconceived notions that qualitative research would be my approach of choice because I assumed it was an easier choice so to speak because it did not include numeric data. This course has definitely changed my mind on being open to the other approaches. I have learned that quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approach all involve a lot of time and effort when it comes to planning, executing, and analyzing. Another thing I learned is that each approach is not interchangeable. Just because an individual is more comfortable with one approach over another, does not mean that approach is most suitable for the issue being researched. Even though I learned a lot from this Research Theory course, there are still opportunities for improvement in certain areas. The areas I would like to see improvement is: knowledge of theories in the field of organizational psychology, becoming more fluent in quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods approach, improvement in writing skills, planning and timing just to name a few. According to Banna, knowing theories by researchers who have paved the way in a specific field of study will be an important part of the research process(Laureate Education, Inc., 2009b). This is an area that will be beneficial to me moving forward in the research process because it givesShow MoreRelatedOrganisational Development And Organizational Development1604 Words   |  7 PagesOD practitioners. The OD article gives Discourse by different persp ectives based on two approaches diagnostic and dialogic organisational development. The Organisational Change article reflects the authors own research spanning 30 years in the field of organisational change. The change article is published in the Journal of Change Management. The author’s work demonstrates organisational change by discussing the six signposts of change. (A), Identification The five belief of change (B) ChangeRead MoreThe Recruitment Process from an Organizational and Applicant Perspective1588 Words   |  7 PagesApplying Organizational Psychology Joy Peoples PSYCH/570/Organizational Psychology June 11, 2012 Introduction The focus of this paper provides a brief examination of the recruiting process from both an organizational, and applicants perspective. This brief overview attempts to explain how organizations use various methods to recruit prospective employees. This paper also explains the methods prospective employees, or applicants use to determine the quality and appropriateness ofRead MoreInternship Reflection Paper : Psychological Associates1712 Words   |  7 PagesInternship Reflection Paper: Psychological Associates During the summer of 2015, I obtained an internship at Psychological Associates. I applied for the Organizational Development Intern position during winter break of 2014. After the assessment and interview process, I was given the opportunity to expand my knowledge in the field. Psychological Associates is located in the heart of Clayton, Missouri where I immediately fell in love with the culture and atmosphere of the company. No matter the organizationRead MoreEthics in Psychology: A Reflection975 Words   |  4 PagesEthics in psychology: Reflection Introduction The study of psychology frequently deals with intimate, personal issues of clients and research subjects, which is why strict guidelines exist regarding the ethical use of private data. Early on in a psychology students career, he or she is urged to abide by specific guidelines governing his or her behavior to ensure that he or she acts in an ethical manner. A student that has a lax attitude about cutting and pasting words from the web will later haveRead MoreLewin’s Three-Stage Model of Planned Change1134 Words   |  5 PagesOrganizations respond to these tensions by engaging in processes of strategic renewal through the implementation of â€Å"planned change† (Spector, 2010). Planned change, according to Cummings and Worley (2009), fundamentally concerns the process of changing organizational behaviors. More specifically, new behaviors must replace old ones or be adapted to or integrated with existing behaviors to enable successful change (Palmer, Dunford, Akin, 20 09; Schein, 1993, 2004). This paper outlines the three stages of Lewin’sRead MoreGraduation Speech On Academic Integrity859 Words   |  4 PagesCourse Reflections The graduate seminar course is a required course for all graduate students to take before they start their graduate program here at Baker College. There are many of different things this course helps students out with from getting them familiar with the online classroom too teaching the students the fundamentals of APA formatting. This course consists of three seminars all each lasting a week that goes over many important details that each graduate student are required to knowRead MoreWho Is A Leader?892 Words   |  4 Pagesfoster growth in self, others, and the field in which the leader is involved. The role of a leader can be extremely complex. Leaders must play many roles simultaneously to hold everyone accountable for their duties, responsibilities, and ensure the success of the program. Reflective inquiry like will cause a leader to grow in their craft. What am I doing that is effective? What am I doing that is ineffective? How can I improve my productivity? â€Å"Reflection can be integrated into the active processRead MoreImplementation Of Implementing Change And Developing Worldwide Rivalry1452 Words   |  6 Pagesfind major changes in short and long run success. Research suggests that failed organizational change initiatives range from one third to as high as 80% of attempted change efforts. (Fisher, 1994; Beer and Nohria, 2000; Higgs and Rowland, 2000). Many researchers effort failed the learning space and supervise the manager in the field of change management. Then came John kotter, who focused on the change management field, specifically his first article was p ublished in 1995 in Harvard Business ReviewRead Moreperformance apprisal research paper1283 Words   |  6 Pageschoosing alternative problem and by open discussion and fair treatment. Hence the researcher suggested that the police commission should applying fair and consistence of appraisal and motivational mechanisms could influence employees’ performance, organizational commitment and who are not satisfied with performance appraisal. 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Back ground of the study The Dire Dawa police commission recognizes its duties and responsibilities to all the administration public who are customersRead MoreWhat Makes Authentic Leadership?1203 Words   |  5 Pagesthe definitions is the notion that authentic individuals align their actions and behaviors with their core values and beliefs. Those who study the field have developed a continuum in which individuals can be thought of as either authentic or inauthentic. A Comparison Review Authentic leadership theory is rooted in the work of positive psychology and focuses on the leader’s strengths, as opposed to short comings (Livingston Lusin, 2009). The authentic leaders’ strong display of their â€Å"psychological

Inflation and Indonesia - 3630 Words

PESTEL analysis of Indonesia | October 3 2009 | SUBMITTED TO: MR. SUNDERASAN SUBMITTED BY: Hitesh GoyalNirupan ChakravarthiSainath.V MBA 12 and PGPRM-9 | | Introduction: Indonesia is one of the largest countries in South-east Asia, between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean which contain mainly mountainous and covered with rain forests, swamps and consists over 13000 islands. Jakarta is the capital of Indonesia. Indonesia declared its independence on 17th August 1945 from Japan but Netherlands agreed to transfer sovereignty in 1949. Susilo Bambang is the President and Muhammad Yusuf Kalla is the Vice-President of Indonesia. Bahasa is the official language in Indonesia which modified form of Malay but the most widely spoken†¦show more content†¦They have hub of natural resources such as in Oil production, it has 23rd rank, in natural gas production and in export it is on 8th position. GDP: Indonesia has made significant economic advances through last years. Indonesias debt-to-GDP ratio in recent years has declined because of increasingly robust GDP growth which was 6.1% ($915.9 billion) in 2008 compare to 5.5% ($811.1 billion) in 2006 and compression to the world they are on 54th position in GDP growth. 14.4% of GDP earning from agriculture, 37.5% from service sector and the major part 48.1% comes from industry. (The World Bank, 2009) Per capita income: If we talk about per capita income, it was $3,500 in 2006 which was increase up to $3900 in 2008 and comparison to the world it is on the 157th rank in per capita income. A. Average Family Income – 33 (Gina index) B. Distribution of Wealth 1. Income Class Bottom 10% of population represents 4% of wealth Top 10% of population represents 27% of wealth Exchange rate: Indonesian rupiah (IDR) per US dollar - 9,698.9 (2008) compare to 9,159.3 (2006) Indonesian rupiah (IDR) per Indian rupee- 205.97 FDI: FDI is one of the most important factors for every country. It plays a vital role in Indonesia growth rate. It is a developing country so they have good inflow of FDI. It was $67.3 billion in 2008 compare to $58.96 billion in 2007 and they are on 45th position in FDI stock. Inflation rates: Inflation rate is still highShow MoreRelatedInflation and Indonesia3624 Words   |  15 PagesPESTEL analysis of Indonesia | October 3 2009 | SUBMITTED TO: MR. SUNDERASAN SUBMITTED BY: Hitesh GoyalNirupan ChakravarthiSainath.V MBA 12 and PGPRM-9 | | Introduction: Indonesia is one of the largest countries in South-east Asia, between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean which contain mainly mountainous and covered with rain forests, swamps and consists over 13000 islands. Jakarta is the capital of Indonesia. Indonesia declared its independence on 17th August 1945 from Japan but NetherlandsRead MoreImpact of Budget Deficit Policy1328 Words   |  6 Pagesbudget deficit, a policy which the state revenues are less than the state expenditure. To overcome the lack of revenues, effected by way of debt owed, whether sourced from domestic and abroad, issued a bond, or by printing money (Seignior age). Indonesia there has been a change in the policy of state revenues and state expenditures (the state budget) on the â€Å"New Orde† era and the â€Å"Reformation† era. In the â€Å"New Orde† era applied a policy of budget and state expenditures balanced and dynamic. The stateRead MoreEconomics Assignment Indonesia1331 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿INTRODUCTION Indonesia plays major role in today’s economic as Indonesia is one of the countries with the biggest GDP with the 4th largest population in the world. Joining the member of G-20 major economies, Indonesia has successfully emerges as the largest economy in Southeast Asia, moreover, Indonesia also classified as a new industrialized country. Government plays substantial role through ownership of 141 state industries and enterprises, and administration of prices of basic goods such as riceRead MoreThe Determinant Factors Of Equity Return1513 Words   |  7 PagesThe determinant factors of equity return in Indonesia Background Studies about determinant factors of equity return in each country is useful for global portfolio managers and global economic policy makers. Investors, in making profit, need to consider some risky aspects, to make speculation easier to be known, before investing in financial instruments in any country (Chandran et al. 2011, p.1). On the other hand, the government needs to attract capital inflow to support some development investmentsRead MoreThe Macroeconomic Conditions of Indonesia975 Words   |  4 PagesThe macroeconomic conditions of Indonesia are moderately challenging. The World Bank (2012) categories Indonesia as a lower middle income country. The CIA World Factbook (2012) notes that the country still struggles with poverty and unemployment, inadequate infrastructure, corruption, a complex regulatory environment and unequal resource distribution among regions. Indonesias GDP is $1.125 trillion per year (PPP), which places it as the 15th-largest economy among nations, behind Canada andRead MoreMalaysia s Income Inequality Trend Essay863 Words   |  4 Pagesmost volatile GDP per capita and GDP per capita growth rate whereas Indonesia has most stable GDP per capita and GDP per capita growth rate which are unaffected by global economic recession and other global economic factors. Figure 5. GDP per capita from 2007 to 2015 Figure 6. GDP per capita growth rate from 2007 to 2015 4. Income Inequality Figure 7. Income inequality trend From the figure 7, we can infer that Indonesia has lowest Income inequality, but in the recent few years, the seemsRead MoreWhatà ­s an Emerging Market Economy? Essay876 Words   |  4 Pagesemerging economy’s production levels rise thus increasing their GDP. The four largest emerging economies are Brazil, Russia, India and China, often abbreviated to the BRICs and the next four largest are Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea and Turkey. More recently, focus has fallen on Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey, now known as the MINT economies as the four emerging economies with the most promise. Emerging market economies experienced a challenging end to 2013 as the interest rates of developed economiesRead MoreExport And Import Markets And Trade Balance Essay1534 Words   |  7 PagesMajor Export/Import Markets and Trade Balance Figure 10. Exports of Indonesia Figure 11. Exports trend of Indonesia Figure 12. Imports of Indonesia Figure 13. Imports trend of Indonesia Figure 14. Trade balance trend of Indonesia As per Economic Complexity Index (ECI) Indonesia is the 79th most complex economy in the world. The country ranks 25th in terms of export in the world. As per 2014 export data, Indonesia imported $178B and exported $178B. This resulted in positive trade balanceRead MoreThe Reform And Implementation Of A New Defined Benefit Public Pension System1657 Words   |  7 PagesINTRODUCTION With the reform and implementation of a new defined benefit public pension system, Indonesia seeks to achieve international standards when it comes to public pensions. A new 1st pillar earnings-related defined benefit scheme named Jaminan Pensiun (JPN) was officially put into place on July 1st. With the exception of the non-contributory zero-pillar program, the implementation of JPN completes the Five Pillar Conceptual Framework suggested by the World Bank (World Bank, 2008). In thisRead MoreCentral Bank Of Indonesi Indonesia1436 Words   |  6 Pages Part 2: Indonesia Transition Indonesia in the fall of 2014 is in a recessionary phase. The GDP dropped from 6.48 in 2011 to a 5.78 in 2013. In addition to that, unemployment has increased from a 5.31 percent in 2011 to a 6.41 percent in 2013. This recession could be caused in part by the high rate of poverty in Indonesia. Currently about 24% of Indonesia’s population lives under the poverty line. The severity of this issue is reflected in the widening gap between the rich and the poor in Indonesia

Disney Case Study free essay sample

In July 1923, Walt Disney and his brother Roy started their film business but they got their first real break in 1928. Walt produced Steamboat Willie, the first cartoon with sound and also introduced a new star Mickey Mouse. In the decades it followed, Walt became an extraordinary filmmaker, a motion picture innovator and pioneer. The name â€Å"Walt Disney† became universally known as the symbol of the finest family entertainment. The business activities of the company are in four segments: (1) theme parks, (2) films, (3) consumer products and (4) real estate development. The theme parks segment caused Disney not to grow. Disney’s attendance growth had been low or zero over the preceding decade, though as recently as 1978 the entertainment and recreation segment had shown a pretax return on assets of 15. 7 percent. With 25 major theme parks in competition for an aging population, demand thoroughly saturated and park attendance grew no more than 5% per year, which was one third the rate of 1970s. We will write a custom essay sample on Disney Case Study or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The Walt Disney Companys objective is to be one of the worlds leading producers and providers of entertainment and information, using its portfolio of brands to differentiate its content, services and consumer products. The companys primary financial goals are to maximize earnings and cash flow, and to allocate capital profitability toward growth initiatives that will drive long-term shareholder value. The Walt Disney Company is the world’s largest media and entertainment conglomerate with assets encompassing media networks, theme parks and resorts, consumer products and real estate development. The Walt Disney Company’s film library is consisted of 25 full length animated features in color, 123 full lengths live action features, 8 true life adventure films and over 500 short films. The film Snow White was proved to be an enduring source of cash. Annual revenue for Snow White is as under (in millions). Year| Revenue| 1937| $10. 00| 1944| 4. 0| 1952| 5. 0| 1958| 6. 5| 1965| 13. 0| 1967| 23. 0| 1983| 28. 5| Theme parks and resorts include the operations of the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, Disneyland Park, the Disneyland Hotel and the Disneyland Pacific Hotel in California. Consumer products segment includes its animated characters, literary properties, songs and music to manufacturers, publishers and retailers. In 1978, this segment gave a pretax return on assets of 179 percent. Real estate includes Arvida Corporation, acquired on June 6, 1984. Arvida controlled the development of 17,334 acres of land in Florida, Georgia and California. In 1983, Ron Miller became the CEO. After just a month, Miller gave up his post to Ray Watson (a close friend and his right hand man in the company). These constant changes in leadership led to a steep fall in the companys share price. The share price fell sharply from $84 in 1983 to $45 in 1984. The lowered share price and the lack of stability in the top management resulted in a number of corporate houses attempting to take over Disney in the early-1980s. Saul Steinberg started making serious bids to acquire Disney stock. By April 1984 he had acquired 6. 3% of the stock and announced his intention to acquire 25 percent of the company before long. Recognizing the threat, Disney management started making defensive moves. It announced its decision to buy back shares at a premium. Roy and Gold played a very important role at this stage and helped muster shareholder support to prevent Disney from being taken over. They enlisted the support of the Bass family, who were the largest shareholders in Disney, to regain a majority. Steinberg finally agreed to re-sell his stock to the company at a premium of $32 million and an additional $28 million for his expenses. All this added to the huge debt of the company. By the mid-1980s, what was needed was a change in leadership to bring about a turnaround. Corporate level strategy: Disney’s corporate level strategy is based on a horizontal, decentralized and informal management approach. Ideas are born from within the departments and are worked up throughout the relatively low hierarchy, where the final decision is made. Another interesting approach is the emphasis on expansion of the business. Again the corporate policy is to grow slowly and not to impress anyone. Recent trend towards rapid increase in costs in the movie industry have a direct effect on the profitability of the company. By cutting on costs involved in making and marketing Disney films, less expensive and more profitable movies can be produced. In addition, the corporate strategy is clearly focusing on diversifying its product and service mix has created an umbrella effect. Thus risk has been minimized. If one product line fails, other product line will cover up for its losses. The leverage ratio of total debt to total assets is 0. 80 in 1977-1980 and after that it decreased to 0. 59 in 1983. A total debt to total assets ratio higher than 50% is usually considered to be safe in stable industries. For Disney case, it is too high, so because of financial risk the ratio should be lowered to 50% or below. Business level strategy: Entertainment and recreation segment generates most the income for Disney. Entertainment and Motion Pictures would be the best product mix for Disney. (Refer the table below for 1983 data) Segment| Revenue| Entertainment and recreation| $1,031,202| Theme park| $32,692| Motion Pictures| $165,458| Consumer products and others| $110,697| Disney should sell more to existing customers, expand market place, should give promotions and always track the business. Greenmail is one of an array of strategies, ranging from changing corporate bylaws to acquiring debt that makes the corporation a less attractive target, used to deter raiders. It is an expensive alternative, as was illustrated when investor Saul Steinberg attempted to take over the Disney Corporation in 1984. Steinberg was known for his concerted efforts in the takeover field, having previously targeted Chemical Bank and Quaker State. In March 1984, his purchase of 6. 3 percent of Disneys stock triggered concern at the corporation that a takeover was in progress. Disney management quickly announced an approximately $390 million acquisition of its own that would make the company less attractive. After this maneuver failed, Disneys directors ultimately bought Steinbergs stock to stop the takeover. Steinberg earned a profit of about $60 million. Strengths: â€Å"I knew if this business was ever to get anywhere, if this business was ever to grow, it could never do it by having to answer to someone unsympathetic to its possibilities, by having to answer to someone with only one thought or interest, namely profits. For my idea of how to make profits has differed greatly from those who generally control businesses such as ours. I have blind faith in the policy that quality, tempered with good judgment and showmanship, will win against all odds. †Ã¢â‚¬â€Walt Disney When the Walt Disney Company initially began, it was under the control of Walt himself. Throughout his reign, he developed a culture to create experiences and â€Å"magical moments† for all his â€Å"guests† this philosophy from the beginning has created a long-lasting brand name known for producing a quality product or experience. This Disney culture has succeeded through tight control over how the brand and image is perceived. Disney has become one of the most recognized and renowned brand names throughout all industries. In addition to its well-known brand name, Disney has developed famous characters to add to its image (ex. Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, Pluto, etc. ). These characters have aided in Walt Disney’s ability to capitalize and have a definitive grasp upon their target consumers of children. However, Disney’s largest asset is their ability to stay diversified. Disney is a well-established conglomerate firm with a solid domination within the theme park and entertainment industry. Disney already operates through four different business segments which include media networks, parks and resorts, studio entertainment, and consumer products. Disney’s monumental deal with Apple creating a partnership between Disney and iTunes should provide an excellent resource to further push the brand and provide a reputable channel to push product distribution. Overall, Disney’s desire to strive for excellence, ability to adapt to change, and continuing to keep the consumers as the driving force behind the enterprise make Disney an empire within the media industry. Weaknesses: Being a conglomerate of this capacity, the Walt Disney Company holds exceptionally high sunk costs which could hinder Disney’s future financial abilities. In addition to sunk costs, there is the continual cost of updating all the parks, resorts, hotels, cruise ships, etc. Disney’s brand of â€Å"quality† must be maintained nonetheless it continues to escalate the costs. Although merchandise aimed at the children segment is a huge market, such a public image can have a â€Å"kiddie-stigma† attached to the Disney brand name which could deter the young adult segment. Opportunities: Disney has many opportunities to continue the firm’s growth within the industry. Currently the markets are much more versatile to outsourcing and globalization. The Walt Disney Company is working towards this global localization through expansion into Europe and Asia. Approximately twenty-five percent of Disney’s operating income comes from outside the United States and Canada, making continued growth internationally a major competitive advantage. Disney has invested tremendously in their Research and Development department, which projects progressive new attractions to pull in consumers. Disney’s ability to re-invent 5 and create limited edition products allows multiple opportunities for sales with new or improved merchandise. Threats: Disney has multiple threats that could negatively impact its profitability in the future. Disney’s major threat comes from its competitors on national, regional, and global platforms. The high competition and growth of other industry giants pose multiple problems to Disney’s ability to sustain as a leader within the industry. With the recent acquisition threat by Steinberg, Disney’s hasty acquisitions could post low or unprofitable sales, resulting in not only a loss, but a negative impact for the conglomerate’s brand name. Another threat is Disney’s high pressure and demand in terms of sales, creativity, and innovation while maintaining its quality status. Finally, due to the recent economic state, employee retention can pose a threat if employees are let go and work for competitors within the industry. SWOT (External Environment): Strength: * Strong financial background: First, Disney store has a very strong financial back up by Disney. It is very important for Disney Store to have market development and store improvement. * Exclusive for Disney’s products: Second, Disney Store is an exclusive agency for selling Disney’s products: Toys, clothing, stationary and gift items etc. It provides many choices for the customers and satisfies their needs. Customers might think of Disney Store immediately when they want to buy Disney’s items. *   Well-known brand: â€Å"Disney† is a well-known brand all over the world. The image of Disney is very healthy and positive. It is welcomed easily accepted by its target segments. Weaknesses: * Unchanged visual merchandising: One of the weaknesses is that the visual merchandising is not changed regularly; the window display is the same for many years. In this way, customers will feel boring because no stimulation and attraction for them. Stores are lack of theme decoration: Monotonous decoration in every Disney store fails to attract customers. Because there is no excitement, customers tend to stay in the store for short time. * Passive staff’s attitude: Staff are seldom greet and farewell customers. Although they answer enquires from customers, few of them introduce products and new information to customers proactively. Therefore, they fail to identify customers’ needs. Opportunities * Solo Tour: The practice of Solo Tour has brought a significant economic benefit to retail industry in Hong Kong. more provinces will be listed on Solo Tour. It is estimated to generate 43 million of traffic flows and every visitor would spend around HK 5,600 in Hong Kong. The benefit to Disney store is that more visitors will familiar with the Disney products and generate sales. Increasing awareness of Mainland people towards Disney stores in Hong Kong may be the opportunity for Disney to further develop the China Market. Threats * Competition with the Disney Store in the theme park: After the establishment of theme park, the competitive force of Disney store might not as large as the stores in the park. Customers might prefer to buy souvenirs in the park rather than the outlets. * Decreasing birth rate: The trends of late marriage and family planning result in shrinking the market size of Disney store, and gradually lower the demand for Disney products. Free Cash Flow (For 1983) = Operating cash flow – capital expenditure = $337,356 $291,202 = $46,154 Recommendations: Shareholder’s rights plan is one of the takeover defensive strategy which activates at the moment a potential acquirer announces its intentions. Under this plan, Disney could have purchased additional company stocks at an attractively discounted price, making it far more difficult for Steinberg to take control. A staggered board of directors, in which groups of directors are elected at different times for multiyear teams, could have challenged the raider. Increasing debt as a defensive strategy has been deployed in the past. By increasing debt significantly, companies hope to deter raiders concerned about repayment after the acquisition. However, adding a large debt obligation to a companys  balance sheet  can significantly erode  stock  prices. Perhaps a better strategy for target shareholders is for the company to make an acquisition, preferably through stock swaps or a combination of stock and debt. This has the effect of diluting the raiders ownership percentage and makes the takeover significantly more expensive. Ironically, a takeover defense that has been successful in the past, is to turn the tables on the acquirer and mount a bid to take over the raider. This requires resources and shareholder support, and it removes the possibility of activating the other defensive strategies. This strategy, called the  Pac-Man defense, after Bendix Corporations attempted to acquire Martin Marietta in 1982, very rarely benefits the shareholders. Martin Marietta defended itself by purchasing Bendix stock and sought a white knight in Allied Corporation. Extra Credit Question (Give Extra credit to lowest scored exam) What was the enabling factor of acquisition? Disney was an attractive target for Steinberg for a takeover because it was really worth more in pieces than as a whole operation and it appeared to be Steinberg’s intention to reap his profit by breaking up this operation and sell off the pieces. Actually it is more complex. Moreover, in 1983, Ron Miller became the CEO. After just a month, Miller gave up his post to Ray Watson (a close friend and his right hand man in the company). These constant changes in leadership led to a steep fall in the companys share price. The share price fell sharply from $84 in 1983 to $45 in 1984. The lowered share price and the lack of stability in the top management resulted in a number of corporate houses attempting to take over Disney in the early-1980s.