Child Labor and England’s Industrial Revolution Essay

Child Labor and England’s Industrial Revolution The Industrial Revolution in nineteenth-century England brought about many changes in British society. It was the advent of faster means of production, growing wealth for the Nation and a surplus of new jobs for thousands of people living in poverty. Cities were growing too fast to adequately house the numerous people pouring in, thus leading to squalid living conditions, increased filth and disease, and the families reliance upon their children to survive. The exploitation of children hit an all time peak in Britain when generations of its youth were sacrificed to child labor and the â€Å"Coffers† of England. From the late 18th century to the mid 19th century, the economy in†¦show more content†¦One child, Miss Elizabeth Bentley testified to the British Parliament in 1832 (during investigations), â€Å"That at the age of four, she worked from five in the morning until nine at night, six days a week. She received one penny and hour and with that she helped support her widowed mother and herself (IRbentley.htm).† Often times the children were not given their breaks and were told to eat their lunch as they worked. In the cotton, silk, and lace factories this resulted in the food becoming littered with material, rendering it difficult (if not impossible) to eat. The factories that these children worked in were extremely dirty and infested with rats, leading to poor health and the spread of disease. According to Miss Elizabeth Bentley: â€Å" after years of working in the card room, her lungs became so damaged that she could barely breathe. Her health forced her to quit and left her incapable of working by the time she was twenty (IRbentley.htm). Along with respiratory problems, each year thousands of children lost fingers, hands, and other various body parts in factory accidents. These injuries, accompanied with the sickness and disease that ran ramped through the factories created gruesome working conditions. It is no wonder, that many proponents to child labor in England would compare these children to â€Å"West Indian Slaves† and blame â€Å"brutal factory masters and parents forShow MoreRelatedEffects Of The Industrial Revolution On England1507 Words   |  7 PagesEffects of the Industrial Revolution on England The Industrial Revolution in England brought significant changes to the country both positive and negative. The Industrial Revolution was generally positive because of the development of technology and a better standard of living. However, some of the negative aspects were the terrible labor conditions and the mistreatment of women and children. Industrial Revolution in England started in the 1760s and went on until around 1850. Life beforeRead MoreThe Invention Of The Industrial Revolution1463 Words   |  6 Pagesthe 18th century. Prior to the 18th century and pre-industrial times, the way one sustained and obtained means for survival transformed fairly insufficiently. However, once the Industrial Revolution ignited throughout Europe, the course one’s of livelihood forever changed. While the Agricultural Revolution was a sufficient step forward in metamorphosing human society, it did not reign like the technological advantages of the industrial revolution. The introduction of mass production, steam enginesRead MoreIndustrialization Of The Industrial Revolution886 Words   |  4 Pagesrequired human labor to use. Almost every aspect of life was changed during this time. The industrial revolution was first used to describe a new economy driven by factories and a rowing workforce. The industrialization of Europe not only changed people’s lives, but it changed the way the entire continent of Europe functioned (Backman, Clifford). Stephen Gardiner said, â€Å"The industrial revolution was another of those extraordinary jumps forward in the story of civilization† (Industrial Revolution Quotes†)Read MoreIndustrial Revolution: How Did the Industrial Revolution Transform Society?883 Words   |  4 Pages2. How did the Industrial Revolution transform society? During the 1700s, manufacturing companies in Britain began producing goods in a completely new way that would soon spread across Europe and then across the world. Inventors built remarkable machines. New forms of power, such as steam, replaced the strength of human and animals. The factory system of making goods also came into use. All of these advances affected patterns of living as well as working. Because society was so transformed, thisRead MoreEssay on The Industrial Revolution1366 Words   |  6 PagesThe Industrial Revolution Introduction to the Revolution The Industrial revolution was a time of drastic change marked by the general introduction of power-driven machinery. This change generally helped life, but it had its disadvantages as well. Pollution, such as Carbon Dioxide levels in the atmosphere rose, working conditions declined, and the number of women and children working increased. The government, the arts, literature, music, architecture and mans way of looking at life allRead MoreNegative Effects Of The Industrial Revolution923 Words   |  4 Pages Englands previous success from the Agricultural Revolution gave leeway to the Industrial Revolution of the seventeenth and eighteenth hundreds. Previous landowners and investors of the Agricultural Revolution were able to start or participate Corporations and Businesses to seek great profit. New machinery and technological innovations were frequent due to the demand for faster, more efficient technology. Working class families, who were arguably the sole reason for the grand success of the IndustrialRead MoreIndustrial Revolution Imagine a country side, the rolling hills, and small cottages that scatter1500 Words   |  6 PagesIndustrial Revolution Imagine a country side, the rolling hills, and small cottages that scatter throughout the land. A rural life in England, while something new was approaching the once serene world. This was a new world that was defined by steel and coal. Life in the western part of the world changed forever. In Great Britain the Industrial Revolution began. It brought power driven machinery and factory organization, which led to rapid development of communication, transportation, and urbanizationRead MoreThe Era Of The Victorian Era1565 Words   |  7 PagesThe Victorian Era is a period prominent in harboring peace, prosperity as well as introducing the later shifts in industrial and political reforms. Queen Victoria a notable person of the era, began her reign in 1837 and influenced England by the values she encouraged. The Victorian Era is divided into four categories: â€Å"The Early Period is known as â€Å"A time of Troubles†, The Mid-Victorian Period, The Late Period and The Nineties.â € (Stephen Greenblatt). The Nineties is thoroughly separated among theRead MoreIndustrial Revolution Essay1929 Words   |  8 PagesJennifer Yulfo Mr. Sotak Honors English 9 5 January 2018 The Best of Times and The Worst of Times â€Å"The Industrial Revolution has tended to produce everywhere great urban masses that seem to be increasingly careless of ethical standards† (Babbitt 139). The Industrial Revolution was a time of new production methods with extraordinary results in mass production. New travel options such as steamboats,railroads, and automotive vehicles with groundbreaking speeds and cheaper means of transportation wereRead MoreThe Industrial Revolution During The 19th Century2363 Words   |  10 PagesDuring the late 1800s and early 1900s, the Industrial Revolution began in Great Britain, and the working class worked tirelessly to produce products. Textiles were made faster and cheaper, food was more abundant, and the standard of living increased for many people. To industrialize Great Britain, laborers worked in factories and mills under horrible conditions. Despite attempts by Parliament to address problems with the factories’ working conditions through the passage of new legis lation, their

Stakeholders Of The Family Firm Essay - 1690 Words

Stakeholders in Family Firms The greatest threats to the progress, success and endurance of the family firm are familial relationships. Stakeholders which are mainly considered in the planning process are spouse, children, employees and their families, vendors, suppliers, consumers and the community. It is important to ensure that if there is going to be a transition in leadership, the people who are selected are well-qualified enough. Not only are the employees to be considered, but their families who are dependent on them should be considered as well. The success of customers, suppliers and vendors is entirely dependent on the degree of success of the family firm. They have an indirect investment in your company. The community is dependent on your financial as well as social deeds. Contribution of services and manpower, charity, and taxes make you an important part of the community, and the community comes to depend on the organization. Succession in Family Business In family businesses, the owners of the company are very concerned with building a legacy for their successor. Succession planning involves the decision of leading the company in the next generation. Less than one-third of family firms endure the transition from the first generation to the second, and 13% of family firms remain in the industry for more than 60 years. There is no time spent in preparing the company and its people for the change. There is very little thought imparted to the process ofShow MoreRelatedFactors Affecting Global Business Environment1589 Words   |  7 PagesAs one of the most dominant organisational forms in global business environment, family businesses have been drawing attention among management scholars with a strong focus especially on â€Å"succession, performance, and governance† of these companies (Astrachan Shanker, 2003; Zahra Sharma, 2004). Although the first attempt to conduct research on family businesses can be traced back to Trowâ⠂¬â„¢s (1961) empirical study entitled â€Å"Executive succession in small companies† in which he investigated the factorsRead MoreFamily Firms : The Most Common Types Of Businesses820 Words   |  4 PagesFamily Firms are the most common types of businesses in the world. They are dynamic and play an important part in the world economy. The earliest forms of family business were farms. In the U.S., 90 percent of American businesses are family firms. These firms provide employment for half of the population and account for around half of the GDP. The composition, management and ownership of a family firm is a complex and complicated process that involves specialized knowledge and skills in order toRead MoreA Public Relation Plan For Child Cancer Foundation1419 Words   |  6 PagesEstablishment and promotion of organisational communication .†¦. 4 8. 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CoordinationRead MoreCase Manchester United Fc Exploring Strategy1384 Words   |  6 Pagesmight lead to different expectations. Stakeholder expectation is the third influence on the purpose and strategy of an organization. Thats a challenge because there are likely to be many stakeholders, with different expectations. Therefore, managers need to take a view on: 1. which stakeholders will have the greatest influence; 2. which expectations they need to pay the most attention to 3. to what extent the expectations and influence of different stakeholders vary (Johnson et al., 2011: 139-146)Read MoreAdvanced Accounting Theory Project Essay1596 Words   |  7 Pagesprovide shareholders and stakeholders with useful information on corporate social and environmental performance or are they merely a public relations vehicle? Answer this question by reference to a variety of accounting theories. There are many definitions to Corporate Social responsibility(CSR). 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Tom’s father has also not been doing well financi ally, as his business has not been doing well as of lately, which would lead to less income for the family. Tom’s parents would be better off financially, as they will no longer need to support Tom if he were to be hired by the accounting firm. †¨Another party that would achieve happiness from Tom’s actions would be a child of a developing nation that Tom has committed to sponsor when he earns full time wage. Because TomRead MoreGovernment Contracts and Stakeholders1709 Words   |  7 PagesAs illustrated in the photo below, this train has a front car, a passenger car and a caboose. Stakeholders, in my opinion are the â€Å"passenger car† of this train and should not be forgotten in the middle. [Year] Tasha Corbin [Company name] [Date] As illustrated in the photo below, this train has a front car, a passenger car and a caboose. Stakeholders, in my opinion are the â€Å"passenger car† of this train and should not be forgotten in the middle. [Year] Tasha Corbin [Company name] [Date] BUSINESS-It’sRead MoreStrategic Human Resource Management689 Words   |  3 PagesStrategic HRM Google was selected because the firm has some of the best HR practices. This has resulted in employees showing greater amounts of loyalty and helping the company to enter new markets. Evidence of this can be seen with some of many benefits provided by the company including: free child care, legal aid services, an in house physician, a gym, lunch room and gourmet meals. According to the firm, their focus is, Designed to take care of the whole you and keep you healthy, whether physicallyRead MoreWalmart and Its Associates Efficient Operator or Neglectful Employer1479 Words   |  6 Pages(The Economist, 2004). Lastly, severely opposing formation of the union formation within the organization which include aggressive policies for union avoidance. Employee compensation issues (Wages) Wal-Mart failed to follow the stakeholder theory, in which the firm should possess moral and ethical responsibility over its employees. The lower salary to the workers for their prolong work was never justify under the management action. Kantianism states that pushing the labourers to work beyond their

Impacts On The American Revolution Essay Example For Students

Impacts On The American Revolution Essay Many things contributed to the American Revolution besides the American people themselves. Some influential ideas that contributed to the Revolution are Enlightenment ideas. The Enlightenment thinkers behind these ideas are John Locke, and Voltaire. Economics also had I major impact on the American Revolution. Geography also played a major part the uprising of the American Revolution. There were many Enlightenment ideas that provoked the American colonists to start the American Revolution. John Locke was very influential with his ideas of consent of governed, and limited Monarchy. Voltaire also had great ideas which contribute to the American Revolution such as that the government should be run by Natural Law instead of Gods Law. In war time it is a proven fact that the British economy boasts just like in the French and Indian War. In the act of trade and navigation Britain forced the American colonies to trade only with English or ships heavily taxed by England. In 1764 Parliament passed a law saying sugar and molasses were to be tax, and paid in cash. This act was called the Sugar Act. To pay in cash was especially hard for colonist because they relied on the barter system. In 1765 Parliament passed another law were colonist had to pay taxes on official seals on legal papers, playing cards, and newspapers. This was called the Stamp Act. This was also to be paid in cash. In result of anger toward England for passing all these laws and acts the colonists organized, boycotting all of the things taxed by the Stamp Act. In 1774 the British punished the Massachusetts colony for there acts at the Boston Tea Party. The British moved the Capital to Salem. They closed Boston Harbor. England also sent 4000 troops to enforce these laws. In result of all this Americans set up the First Continental Congress. They decided to stop all trade with England and organized colonial militias. This was all ignored by England. The colonies in return set up the Continental Congress. The declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776. After these events war was inevitable with England. Geography had a major effect on the start of the American Revolution. The Atlantic Ocean separated England and the American colonies, but still the British demanded control over the united states. The proclamation of 1763 was a Royal order to stop the colonists from moving west of the Appalachian Mountains. The distance between the two made it especially hard for Britain to enforce their laws on the American colonies. To enforce their laws Britain sent soldiers to live in American colonists homes in 1765. This was called the Quartering Act. In the end Britain the strongest empire in the world ended up losing the Revolutionary War, and all of its land in America. Enlightenment thinking, economics, and geography all helped in some way toward an American victory. Enlightenment thinking help the American colonists to now what they want in a government. Economics such as taxation and the Quartering Act angered the American colonists, pushing them towards war. Geography made in hard for Britain to launch an attach on the Americans, leaving there incoming British troops vulnerable.

Zappos Case Study Operations Management

Abstract Zappos.com is the largest online shoe retailer in America and it is owned by Amazon.com. The company is based in Henderson, Nevada. It was founded in 1999 by Nick Swinmurn. 1n 2009, the company was acquired by Amazon. Tony Hsier is the current CEO.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Zappos Case Study: Operations Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Zappos mission is â€Å"to provide the best customer service possible†. Its core values are captured by what it refers to as the â€Å"ten Commandments†, which employees are supposed to study, internalize, and practice. The company believes that the right corporate culture is the foundation of exceptional customer service. Zappos is a rapidly growing company that is also profitable. It has made a significant contribution to Amazon’s profitability. Since 2005, Amazon had been toying with the idea of starting an online retailer of s hoes and that is why it started endless.com. The company, however, decided to acquire Zappos. The decision to acquire Zappos was an inspired one because growth prospects are exceptionally bright under the leadership of Tony Hsier. Zappos is a reputable company to work for. It was listed among the top companies that treat employees well. The company does not only treat employees well, it also it also compensates them handsomely. Employees are trained under a program of continuous self improvement and handed countless other challenges that are motivating. Zappos is involved in number of activities aimed at protecting the environment. The company also provides direct job opportunities to almost 2000 employees and indirectly to hundreds. This is good for the American economy. When many companies in the US are outsourcing jobs to India, zappos has made the conscious decision to locate its call centre in United States. The company was not hugely affected by the 2007 financial crisis, but it had to offload 5% of its workers at some point. Looking at its revenue figures, Zappos growth has been impressive. This has been due to its commitment to exceptional customer service. Future prospects for the company are significant because it is now a trusted brand. Secondly, almost all of its first customer buyers make repeat purchases. As long Zappos maintain its excellent and innovative customer service, it will continue to gain more market share. Organization and continuity Operational process A company such as Zappos that ships shoes and other accessories to clients once they buy online requires considerable operational processes to be reliable (DiJulius, 2008). For activities to be performed in a standard way, there is a need for operational processes and procedures. Common activities in a firm can be accomplished in several ways, but there that single way that is both cheap and efficient. Documenting operational processes help a firm avoid failures and other costly mistak es.Advertising Looking for term paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Training new employees includes educating them on operational processes. Most firms do not provide formal training as such, but new employees are put under more experienced workers to mentor and transfer the required knowledge on operational processes and procedures (DiJulius, 2008). Operational processes are essentially documented best practices that have been adapted from elsewhere or developed in-house. Operations are harmonized by integrating processes and people to drive reliability and improve capacity. When Zappos was incorporated, it faced a number of operational challenges in their quest to ensure that they ship products to their customers successfully (Laseter Rabinovich, 2012). To deal with the problems, Zappos adopted a highly sophisticated computer system called Genghis. Gengis manages the operations of the company. It m anages the following key areas of operations: order entry, warehouse management, e-commerce system, and inventory (Zappos.com). If a customer wants a certain size of a particular shoe, he can be able to check its availability and the total number of shoes in the store of that size and their colors. The system also reminds employees to call back customers and also coordinates reboot system of the warehouse. The management gets reports on profit contribution of selling a certain product in their online store. This way, the management can be able to assess whether it’s profitable to sell a certain product or not before stocking. Management style Management style refers to ways decisions are made in an organization and relating to subordinates. Management styles can be autocratic, paternalistic, or democratic. According to management experts, management style should be adapted to fit the prevailing circumstances. In a modern organization, democratic management style has been foun d to give the best results. Democratic or participative management style is suitable for employee motivation because they feel appreciated and part of the organization. They also feel that they own the final decision reached, and this inspires them to cooperate towards the realization of what has been decided. This type of management style is best when working as a team. It is the best where quality of what will be produced is more essential than speed.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Zappos Case Study: Operations Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Tony Hsier has distinguished himself as a great manager. He realized that Zappos needed to offer a excellent service stay ahead of the competition. Towards that end, he developed a work environment where employees work as a team all committed to offering delightful service to customers. One of the decisions Tony, together with his employees, made at Zapp os was to adopt casual dressing style (DiJulius, 2008). Also, during the early days of the company, the whole team collectively developed organizational culture and key values. One of the reasons that have made Zappos a dominant company is the management style of its CEO, Tony Hsier. The vision of the CEO was to make a successful company that, despite size, could still offer customers exceptional service. That is why the company invests so much on training new employees. New hires on training is given full salary and a $2000 for those who wish to opt out. Employee involvement which contributed to their growth over the years According Tony, zappos is a company that is committed to delivering happiness to all the stakeholders (Hsieh, 2011). He is focused on making customers happy. This singular focus on the customer’s happiness is largely responsible for the company enormous success. It is also from this focus that informs its corporate culture. Tony Hsier believes that when a company is able to attract talented people who also enjoy their work, it is possible to offer exceptional service and develop a strong brand in the process (Hsieh, 2011). The people who are recruited by the company is committed to offering delightful service to customers. New Employees, who feel that they cannot cope, or lack sufficient motivation to work there, are encouraged to leave the company and are given a $2000 reward (Zappos.com). During interviews, employees are sometimes asked to rate their weirdness on a scale of 10. Interviewers sometimes push job applicants to extreme situations so that they can gauge their reactions when under pressure (Laseter Rabinovich, 2012). During the early days of the company, workers would stay late into the night to socialize. The goal was to create an organization where everyone is friendly. A test of innovation is given to prospective employees. Innovation is critical to the company, and it is indeed its hallmark, since it was founded. It is now even more urgent because of emerging vendors who have copied Zappos strategy and business models. Zappos, therefore, has been able to reach this far by relying on the employee’s innovativeness and commitment to excellent service.Advertising Looking for term paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Companies may be large, but it is real people that can give individual customers enjoyable and memorable service that they are able to identify with. Eighty per cent of all Zappos customers are repeat customers. They come back, again and again, due to the great service they get from employees. Therefore, by committing themselves to making customers happy, they have made Zappos the excellent company it is. Marketing practices Marketing is a crucial aspect of any business. Proper marketing involves not only physical goods but also puts into consideration services surrounding those goods. Proper marketing requires proper understanding of the key factors that would enable a business get customers and keep them. Keeping customers is as important as getting them. This is essential getting a new customer is more expensive than keeping an existing one. Zappos is aware of what customers are looking for when they go online to shop. According to Tony, they are not only looking for a pair of sh oes, but also after a pleasant buying experience. That experience can only be achieved by integrating personalized service and excellent operations management. Good marketing practices include the following: developing a marketing plan, budget, securing necessary resources and; lastly, establishing metrics to assess the impact of marketing on business (Laseter Rabinovich, 2012). Zappos relies on, among other things, word of mouth marketing. This strategy has worked because stories of their superior customer service abound, and this drives customers to their website to make purchases. This has propelled the store to number one online shoe retailer. Zappos strategy and motto is â€Å"customers are kings†. The company, therefore, goes out of its way to meet customer needs and ingratiate itself to buyers to retain their loyalty. Service helps Zappos standout from the crowd and differentiates itself. Although their shoes are not necessarily cheaper than what their competitors are offering, their efficiency, free shipping, and 365 day return policy is particularly attractive to prospective customers. Zappos also incorporates hiring in its marketing strategy. The only people given the job are those whose personality fits the work culture at Zappos. Together with the four Ps of marketing, customer service complements marketing efforts and it’s what brings all the difference. Area of focus they manage their operation under Zappos, like other companies, is a complex organization. It has been able to grow at such a rate by adopting the right strategies in areas such as marketing, supply chain management, proper operational planning, good management, employing innovative human resource management, and making customers the central focus of all operations. However, Zappos is totally committed to providing customers a excellent service. For instance, the company has adopted the following strategies to provide customers with a great service: Call centre employe es do not follow a preset script in dealing with customers queries. Zappos requires them use as much time as may be required to solve customers’ problem or make a positive impression. Employees are allowed to send customers gifts and later bill the company. According to Tony Hsier, the company does not have a policy of dealing with customers (Hsieh, 2011). Employees are expected to make a decision based on the circumstances of their interactions with the client. The only guide an employee has is that they should offer outstanding service to the client. All goods are shipped to customers free, and customers can return the products, if they are not happy, at the cost of the company. Customers are provided with a 365 days warranty. This allows customers to return faulty items. The corporate culture and commandments are developed around the need for make customers happy. Tony elaborated more on Zappos philosophy of making customers in his recent book. What he has emphasized is th e need to serve customers well and make them happy. That has been Tony’s vision for the company since incorporation of Zappos (Hsieh, 2011). Amazon attempt to acquire the company in 2005 was rejected because the CEO felt that the company would lose its unique culture. As noted elsewhere in this paper, Genghis system was adopted to make it easier for customers to shop at Zappos. How Zappos improved market share/Profits Zappos was a pioneer online shoe retailer. Nick got the idea of starting an online shoe retailer after unsuccessfully trying to purchase a pair of shoes in his hometown (Hsieh, 2011). In 2001, Zappos posted 1.6million dollars in revenue. Ten years later, the company’s revenue has jumped to around 2 billion dollars. By all accounts, the company’s growth has been extremely impressive. The shoe market is estimated to be around 40 billion dollars. Zappos, a shore retailer, therefore, controls around 5% share of the market (Laseter Rabinovich, 2012). T his is notable for a single company because the industry has all type of shoe vendors (small and large) operating offline and a few online. Summary The secret to Zappos success is customer service. Zappos commitment to customer service is becoming legendary. There is a story about a woman who had ordered a pair of shoes for her husband but, unfortunately, the man died shortly after the order for the pair of shoes was placed. The lady called the company to cancel the purchase. The following day, she received a bunch of flowers instead. Stories of exceptional service, such as this, have enhanced the reputation of the retailer. Although it costs Zappos a lot of money to provide exceptional service, the company considers the expenses as marketing costs. As already noted, 80% of the company sales are to repeat customers. Clearly, customers notice and appreciate the good service they are given by Zappos. The outstanding reputation Zappos has acquired is responsible for its growth. Right n ow, the company is expanding to include online sales of other products, such as shoes, in addition to shoes. Zappos is a case study on how excellent customer service driven by robust corporate culture can drive growth. Indeed all managers who care about customer service have visited the company’s headquarters to understand how the company executes its happiness vision for its customers. The success of the company also highlights the importance of leadership in laying the foundation for success. The incredible service that is behind the success of the company is the brainchild of one man, Tony Hsier. He has driven the company through changes in its operational process to achieve its current excellence. References DiJulius, J. R. (2008). What’s the secret?: to providing a world-class customer experience. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley. Hsieh, T. (2011). Delivering happiness: a path to profits, passion, and purpose.. New York: Grand Central Pub, 2011. Print. Laseter, T. M., Rabino vich, E. (2012). Internet retail operations: integrating theory and practice for managers. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. â€Å"Zappos Milestone: Timeline | about.zappos.com.† Home | about.zappos.com. N.p., n.d. retrieved https://www.zappos.com/about/?utm_campaign=zapposutm_medium=zappos-homeutm_source=footerutm_content=text. This term paper on Zappos Case Study: Operations Management was written and submitted by user Mariah Coffey to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Offshore Outsourcing

Introduction Corporations exist to make profits. One way of increasing profits is by reducing operating costs. Corporations in America have focused on reducing costs by way of offshore outsourcing. Offshore outsourcing involves hiring of companies and individuals outside America to complete tasks set by American corporations with the aim of cutting down on such costs like hourly wages, paid leave and holiday allowances.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Offshore Outsourcing specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Offshore outsourcing has proved to be an effective way of cutting down on operating costs. However, offshore outsourcing has attracted proponents and opponents in equal measure. This essay seeks to explain the concept of offshore sourcing, reasons advanced to oppose offshore outsourcing and reasons for offshore outsourcing. A personal opinion will complete this essay. Offshore Outsourcing Offshore outsourcing ref ers to the process of hiring companies or employees to execute a company’s roles overseas (Wise Geek). For instance, a manufacturing company based in the United States of America may use employees outside America to handle issues relating to customer relations and technical assistance. Data entry is the most popular job outsourced overseas. The internet plays a critical role in the whole process of offshore outsourcing because it allows companies to hire freelance individuals all over the world (Wise Geek). Such overseas companies and individuals charge lower rates than employees in the mother country of outsourcing company do. There are two broad categories of offshore outsourcing. The first category, Information Technology Outsourcing (ITO) refers to outsourcing of a corporation’s information technology related jobs like software development, ecommerce, networking, as well as web development and hosting (Rose India Technologies PVT. Ltd). The second category, Busines s Process Outsourcing (BPO), involves outsourcing of services related to customer services, financial accounting practices, logistics, assets management, security as well as procurement (Rose India Technologies PVT. Ltd). Other sectors like human resources, insurance, manufacturing are emerging as popular fields of offshore outsourcing. There are various reasons advanced for offshore outsourcing. Reasons for Offshore Outsourcing Corporations opt for offshore outsourcing because it is cheaper. Most developing countries have high unemployment rates among skilled labor force. Such individuals work for overseas company and charge lower rates than citizens in the parent company’ country (Outsourcing Offshore).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In addition, such outsourced employees do not require such benefits like holidays, paid leave, travel allowances among others. This s aves cost for an outsourcing corporation. In 2003, the average cost of Indian and Chinese software developers was over ten times cheaper than the average wage of American software developers (Outsourcing Offshore). Corporations incur huge costs related to employees who work in a country where a corporation operates. Such costs include tedious paper work relating to employees, reporting to government as well as paying for statutory and retirement benefits of such employees. It is cheaper when corporations hire overseas firms to handle issues relating to employee benefits (Outsourcing Offshore). On the same issue of cost, corporations that opt for offshore outsourcing find it easy to downsize the number of employees and streamline operations. Offshore outsourcing provides flexible labor force. Such employees usually work for long hours as well as off-hours. Employees working in the home country take weekends off and that is when offshore outsourcing fits in to compliment for lost hour s resulting from such offs. As such, labor force is available at any given time and as required (Outsourcing Offshore). Smaller companies benefit from offshore outsourcing especially when they need to hire an employee when a new task comes up. In the home country, existing labor practices like advertising for a vacancy, interviews and signing of contracts must guide the process of hiring in-house staff. Offshore outsourcing is quick and avails an employee on time (Anderson). Outsourcing enables corporations tap into qualified individuals within the shortest time possible. This arises from the fact that outsourcing companies are experts in the field of hiring and have ideas on how to recruit immediately. As much as corporations try to do in-house training, they usually lack required expertise (Anderson). Corporations that engage outsourcing companies hire employees on short-term contracts regardless of the level of expertise. Some levels of expertise in the home country require long- term hiring for such individuals. As such, hiring such employees on short-term costs a corporation extra money (Outsourcing Offshore). Corporations spread risk through offshore outsourcing. In events where employees go on strike, operations in a hiring company remain on course since employees working outside a country continue working normally. In addition, reputational issues affecting a corporation at home rarely get to overseas employees (Anderson).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Offshore Outsourcing specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Offshore outsourcing enables corporations focus on their core competencies and thus enhances competitive advantage for such corporations. For instance, a financial institution may decide to focus on deposits and credits and outsource issues relating to procurement and customer relations from an overseas firm (Anderson). Offshore outsourcing has its demerits too. Reasons against O ffshore Outsourcing Unforeseen political crisis in foreign countries can lead to unprecedented disruptions to a corporation’s operations. In such times, government of the day may ban the activities of all foreign corporations and that would include those outsourced in such a country. It has happened in Cuba and South Africa and can happen in any foreign country (Outsourcing Offshore). This leads to financial losses to a corporation. Foreign workers usually suffer verbal abuse through customers who exhibit racist tendencies. This happens especially where a corporation hires call center services from a foreign country and such employees communicate in accents that customers find offending (Outsourcing Offshore). An outsourced company may decide to direct all foreign employees to a new entrant to the market requiring the same type of employees. This leaves a corporation in a difficult situation since operations in foreign countries discontinue without notice (Anderson). In addit ion, services and products in foreign countries may suffer boycott especially if a hiring corporation laid down workers to hire outside firms. It is risky for a corporation to outsource since the process involves sharing of critical information of a corporation with a third party (Outsourcing Offshore). In addition, a hiring corporation finds it difficult to enforce contracts and issues such a breach of contracts in foreign countries (Outsourcing Offshore). Conclusion There are various advantages as well as disadvantages accruing from offshore outsourcing. The advantages to corporations are way above the number of disadvantages. Advantages range from drop in cost of doing business, flexibility of workforce, spreading of risks as well as easy hiring of employees. With this in mind, the United States government should regulate offshore outsourcing and seek to work with foreign countries to come up with enforceable regulations pertaining to offshore outsourcing. With regulations in pla ce, corporations will maximize profits and this will grant the government more revenues.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Works Cited Anderson, Arnold. Outsourcing. 2013. Web. Outsourcing Offshore. What is Offshore Outsourcing and what’s the idea behind it? 2013. Web. Rose India Technologies PVT. Ltd. Types of Outsourcing,Types of Outsourced Services,Offshore Outsourcing and Its Type. 2013. Web. Wise Geek. What is Offshore Outsourcing? 2013. Web. This essay on Offshore Outsourcing was written and submitted by user Braeden Espinoza to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Approaches To Psychology And Christianity Religion Essays

Approaches To Psychology And Christianity Religion Essays Approaches To Psychology And Christianity Religion Essay Approaches To Psychology And Christianity Religion Essay Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity, written by David N. Entwistle, is a thorough scrutiny sing the integrating of psychological science and divinity, in which both effort to understand human nature. Integration is described as a thing that we discover when we are bring outing the cardinal integrity that God created, every bit good as something we do as we create ways of believing about, uniting, and using psychological and theological truths ( Entwistle, 2004, p. 19 ) . An person s worldview is one s life position, which filters their world. Both the psychologist and the theologian bring their worldviews and presuppositions into their separate methodological analysiss and ends. The writer s theocentric theoretical account unites divinity and psychological science, as both have similar constructs that derive from God s created universe. In order to achieve a holistic position of human nature, both are necessary ( Entwistle, 2004 ) . Before psychological science was classified as a scientific discipline, it had deep roots in doctrine and faith, though it was non successful in covering with serious psychological upsets ( Entwistle, 2004, p. 44 ) . During this clip the church leaders were deemed the religious doctors, caring for the psyches of work forces. ( Entwistle, 2004, pp. 44-45 ) . The church leaders were involuntarily pushed into the back shadows with the rise of psychological science, when wonder began to ship upon the unconscious of adult male, traveling psychological science from analyzing the centripetal systems of adult male to analyzing the mental procedures of adult male ( Entwistle, 2004, p. 49 ) . Integration demands to acknowledge and spot the integrity of all truth , that is that all truth is God s truth, wherever it may be found. A comprehensive integrating will affect, harmonizing to the Alliess paradigm, a holistic position on how human existences unrecorded, learn, believe, experience, believe, and associate to each other and to god ( Etwistle, 2004, p. 239 ) . The book of God s word ( Bible ) and the book of God s plants ( creative activity ) neer struggle, but the readings of adult male may be inconsistent at times ( Entwistle, 2004, p. 262 ) . Human nature is complex and multifaceted. Psychology and divinity must be integrated because human existences are integrated in themselves. It is erroneous to construct truth upon merely a few strands of the whole tapestry, lest we lose sight of the full being. Integration must dwell of the faith reading of both books, analyzing with careful exegesis and hermeneutics, and re-evaluating psychological logical thinking, informations and theories. We must larn to be comfy with the fact that there will be some degree of uncertainness and ambiguity we will ever hold to populate with ( Entwistle, 2004, pp. 273-274 ) . Concrete Response My hubby and I were pastoral leaders in a church where anything outside of the church was non considered ministry. We were told that God wanted us to work in full clip ministry, which meant working full clip with no steady wage. I did nt hold any formal preparation in the bible nor in guidance, yet I preached and counseled. Everything was by religion, with the false belief that all cognition and mending entirely comes through the Spirit of the Lord. All of the instruction and advocate given stemmed from the leader s injuries and experiences. This was of no benefit to the parishioners, particularly to those who had echt mental wellness issues. My hubby and I finally moved off to another province. Whenever I tried to give advocate, I found that spiritual people either felt they did non necessitate it, or believed I was someway non religious plenty. I besides found that nonreligious people tended to be disinterested in hearing anything about God. Every clip I opened my oral cavity, I seemed to happen my pes in it. Five old ages after we left that church I enrolled in Liberty University to go on my instruction in psychological science, still deeply fighting with my anti-psychology beliefs. I eventually take to travel into professional guidance. I desired to be equipped and effectual in reding. Over the old ages I have come to cognize Christians who have had existent psychological issues, but they merely sought out Christian advocate. Most still have those issues today, still concealing behind faith. Contemplation With the integrating of divinity and psychological science, are we trying to make a separate Christian psychological science? If so, would this Christian psychological science be less effectual for those who are non Christians, or do we necessitate transition before they are able to partake of God s wisdom? If so, are we keep backing the really grace and graciousness of God, burying that fact that His Sun rises on the immorality every bit good as the good ( Mat. 5:45 ) . I besides wonder if integrating is realistically possible with all the assorted positions underneath the umbrella of Christian divinity. Christianity has legion opposing theories and decisions, similar to secular psychological science. I do nt believe full integrating will of all time be possible, but I am confident that Spirit filled Christians have the power and ability to spot and move in such a manner to work towards the healing and integrity of each client. Entwistle was really constructive in saying the importance and possibility of integrating ( in which I disagree ) . He outlined assorted historical every bit good as modern-day point of views refering integrating, giving his sentiment on which 1s promote a holistic position. He besides suggested several utile methods of integrating. Although Entwistle acknowledged the metaphysical work of the Holy Spirit in integrating, I was disappointed that he did nt do this a important subject. I find it is of import to incorporate, yet believe that full integrating may be impossible. I would hold besides liked to hold read more about the booby traps of being unequipped in ministry when covering with mental wellness issues. Action Given that each human being is complex, guidance can be debatable. A holistic attack is the lone manner one can tap into the interior elaboratenesss of adult male. I would plead with every Christian counsellor to continuously analyze their Black Marias. Due to the nature of our society and civilization today, I would propose they carefully consider every facet of their client ( organic structure, psyche and spirit ) . If non, they may make more injury than good. I am determined to work out my prejudices, every bit good as my opposition to alter from anti-psychological thought. I will go on to endeavor to garner all truth, which is God s truth, from every relevant subject. My chief end as a counsellor is to be equipped and ready to draw out the most effectual intervention from my grim inner-integration. I believe every effectual Christian counsellor must be filled with the cognition of God s will in all wisdom every bit good as religious apprehension ( Col 1:9-17 ) , so to convey forth direction with ardor and comprehensiveness from his or her interior depot. This will guarantee the conveyance of both fresh wisdom and ancient wisdom ( Mat 13:52 KJV ; Wordstrudy ) . For one without the other stands deficient.

Ethical Leadership Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Ethical Leadership - Assignment Example Using good leadership skills to show good business ethics can greatly contribute to building of a team culture of the business. It also provides a good measurable benchmarks for business employees to follow as the make independent decisions relating to the business duties. Every individual has an equal right to basic liberty and that there are some freedoms and rights that are very much important than others. This concept of justice is developed from the perspective that every individual is free and equal (Huhtala, Kangas, Là ¤msà ¤, & Feldt, 2013). Their freedom is characterized by their possession of moral powers that is a capacity for a sense of justice and for a conception of the good. The sense of justice is the ability to understand the applications of fairness from the public conception of justice which characterized the fair term of cooperation. This sense demonstrates the willingness to act in relation to others in a way that they can also publicly endorse. Huhtala, M., Kangas, M., Là ¤msà ¤, A.-M., & Feldt, T. (2013). Ethical managers in ethical organisations? the leadership-culture connection among finnish managers. Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 34(3),

DDT and malaria Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

DDT and malaria - Essay Example The disease is common in subtropical and tropical regions including a lot of Americas, Asia, and the Sub-Saharan Africa. Malaria is very common in these regions since they have reliable hot temperatures and large amounts of rainfall. Since mosquitos live in a warm environment with consistent temperatures, they breed continuously in the aforementioned areas. Significance of Malaria Malaria is one of the major contagious diseases in tropical environments and a huge public health disaster. It has been ranked the leading cause of death in the world where almost five million new cases are identified, with deaths of two point seven million annually according to Glaser and Knight (2007). Historically, malaria has infected humans since the creation of mankind. Malaria has not spared is victims despite of their status and position, the American President John Adams for example nearly succumbed to malaria while on a diplomatic mission in Amsterdam. It was until the nineteenth century that fact s about the real cause of malaria became known. So far despite this knowledge, malaria continues to grossly affect the populations of south East Asia, sub-Saharan, and Latin America its victims manly comprising pregnant women and young children (McConnell, 2006). Malaria causing mosquitoes are known to breed in swamy areas or areas that have stagnant waters where they lay their eggs. The Plasmodium parasite apart from infecting humans, also affects reptiles, birds, rodents, chimpanzees and monkeys. Plasmodium enters the bloodstream and damages the red blood cells as well as affecting the spleen, kidney, liver, and other vital body organs. Malaria has other names like falcipurum malaria, quartan malaria, black water fever, plasmodium, and tertian malaria. Thus malaria parasites are transmitted by female anopheles mosquitoes (Capinera, 2008). Information on the economic workload of malaria is needed to focus interventions equitably and efficiently, and to establish investment in contr ol and research of how to combat the disease. Treatment of malaria is costly its asociated expenses a burden to the victims. Many institutions use weak data to estimate indirect costs, which fail to account for seasonal variations, the difference between the marginal and average product of labour, and the means firms and households survive in response to the illness period. Impact of DDT There are several measures used in combating malaria including use of insecticides, mosquito nets and medication that fight the disease. One product that has been used for a long to in fighting malaria is DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane). DDT is a synthetic pesticide invented in 1874. DDT opens sodium ion paths in the neurons of insects enabling them to fire suddenly which results to eventual deaths spasms. However, in humans it affects the health through endocrine disruption or genotoxicity. Genotoxic substances are recognized to be potentially carcinogenic or mutagenic, particularly those cap able of causing genetic mutation and of contributing to the growth of swellings as noted by Miller and Spoolman (2008). DDT may be directly genotoxic, although it may also make enzymes generate other genotoxic intermediates. It is also an endocrine disruptor in that it act as an ant androgen. According to Roberts and Tren (2010), the remains of DDT on the walls of the houses can change the transmission mode of mosquitoes. The non contact repellant action of DDT remains can stop a malaria mosquito from entering the house. In

International Relations Theory Book Review on The Pentagons New Map by Essay

International Relations Theory Book Review on The Pentagons New Map by Thomas P.M. Barnett - Essay Example Most significantly, the events of September 11, 2001 have prompted a reappraisal of the global threat dynamic that had existed prior to that date. Moreover, the continued destabilization of certain regions in the world such as Africa has given rise to a culture of war, and retribution in the region, a culture that is bread early in the hearts, minds and behaviors of its youngest members. Two works that address these concerns, Thomas Barnett's The Pentagon's New Map, and Ishmael Beah's A Long Way Gone, expose the dangers and the deleterious effects of disconnection, the former on a global level and the latter on a personal level. In reviewing these two works, this paper will highlight some of the responses and reactions to the phenomena of disconnection and alienation both strategically and in terms of a personal narrative. Barnett's hawkish approach to foreign policy is borne out of a growing concern that the fundamentally dynamic nature of globalization is splitting, swiftly and irrevocably, the world into two paradigmatically opposed groups. The first represents what he refers to as the "Core," or functioning core of globalization. This group includes North America, most of South America, Japan, Australia and Europe, India, and China (Barnett 174). Constituting approximately 4 billion people, this Core is marked by relatively stable governments, rising standards of living and more deaths due to suicide rather than murder. This core represents the communicatively networked, financially robust and mostly secure regions of the world. These regions lie in fundamental contradistinction to the "Non-Integrating Gap" or Gap. These Gap populations include, parts of southwest and southeast Asia, the Middle East, almost all of Africa, and the Balkans. These Gap populations are marked with politically repressiv e regimes, mass and socially omnipresent conflict, and widespread poverty and disease. Ishmael Beah is a former child-warrior from Sierra Leone, and discusses his mind-blowing experiences as a young solider for the RUF in his memoir. The work recounts the horrible atrocities that he both was witness to and perpetrated in his unfortunate position. The rest of his family, brutally murdered in a village raid his isolation and disconnection from family and friends, and his introduction to a dark world of murder, death, and drugs permanently ripped away from Beah any innocence that childhood offers. Recounting both the making and unmaking of a child-solider: from the consumption of a dangerously explosive drug cocktail of cocaine and gun-powder called "brown brown," to the mass indiscriminate killings of civilians and enemy combatants alike and finally to the rescuing by UNICEF field workers-Beah's calm delivery belies a devastatingly isolating and alienating experience in the forests of Sierra Leone. The primary thrust of Barnett's argument is that a reimagining of the World Map must be undertaken by the Pentagon and other security agencies, if the United States and by extension the rest of the Core is to remain secure. Prior to September 11, 2001 threat analysis models assumed that only countries of similar military and economic stability could represent legitimate threats to American sovereignty. Thus throughout the Cold War, we prepared

Investigation of Argon Element

Investigation of Argon Element P1 Part 1 Atoms Poster The element selected from the periodic table for this investigation is Argon. Over this first section of the poster, we will be overlooking this particular element in detail.          Argon This element from the periodic table is known as a noble gas. It takes up one of the tiniest percentages (at 0.93%) of the earths atmosphere on a whole. It was discovered in 1894 by two chemists from the United Kingdom, who names are William Ramsay, and John William Strutt. This was accomplished as a result of fractionally distilling both oxygen and liquid nitrogen, therefore, having Argon released as one of its by-products. It was only completely isolated after the distillation process by examining the waste product from removing of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water from the clean air. All the elements on the periodic table are represented by their own unique and individual symbol. Argon is an element on the periodic table represented by the symbol Ar. Also, Argon is displayed having an atomic number of 18; which displays to us that it has an amount of 18 protons located in the nucleus as well as the 18 electrons found on the atoms shells; is also displayed as having the atomic mass of 40; which is the number of protons and neutrons combines. As we already know it has a number of 18 protons from the atomic number we can then find out the number of neutrons by subtracting the atomic mass from the atomic number that equals to 22 neutrons. Additionally, by it being in group 0 it, therefore, has a clear classification of being a noble gas due to obtaining a full outer shell of 8 electrons. Due to this, it has the logical standard state of a colourless gas. By being a noble gas it has acquires special properties, primarily being that this non-metal is a very unreactive gas due to its complete electronic structure, not needing to gain or lose its outer shell electrons to other elements, not needing to achieve its already obtained electronic structure of a noble gas. Additionally, it is found in the third period on the periodic table due to it occupying 3 shells. Its electronic configuration has 2 electrons on the first shell and 8 each on the following two. Sub-atomic particles All atoms consist of the same subatomic particles. The table below displays the relative mass and charge of an electron, a proton and a neutron: Relative Mass Relative Charge Proton 1 +1 Neutron 1 0 Electron 1/1850 -1 As shown, protons and neutrons have the relative mass of 1 indicating that they are of equal size. Electrons are shown to have a relative mass of 1/1850 due to it being minuscule compared to protons and neutrons. Additionally, the relative charges are different to one another. Protons with a positive (+1) charge. Neutrons with no charge (0), and electrons with a (-1) charge. Section 1: The Periodic Table Group 1 Alkali metals Group 7 Halogens Group 2 Alkaline earth metals Group 8 Noble gases How are the elements in the periodic table arranged? There are different elements in the periodic table. These elements are categorised into separate sections. First of all, the metals (alkali /alkaline earth metals) are arranged on the left-hand of the periodic table. Alkalis in group one and then alkaline earth metals in the second. Next, the middle of the periodic table is where transition metals are found from scandiums group to coppers. Lastly for the metals, the poor metals that are found from zincs group to group six. Then follow the non-metals on the right-hand side starting from group to seven. Ultimately, group 0, consists of noble gases. There are then factors that create the periodic table layout. Firstly, the number of shells that occupy an atom correlates to which period number row that its in. in addition, the number of electrons in the outer shell of an atom is the same as the group column number in the table. However, for noble gases, theyre different to all atoms du e to having a full outer shell of electrons. This, therefore, categorises them in group 0. Electronegativity: In covalent bonds, electronegativity shows how strongly an atom attracts electrons. It increases as you go across a period in a table, therefore, the greatening the attraction for bonding electrons. Far left elements: These are atoms in the periodic table have only one or two electrons in their outer shells, concluding them in needing to give these away to achieve a full outer shell configuration. These have a low electronegativity due to being found on the far-left of the periodic table as the name suggests. Far-right elements: These are atoms in the periodic table that only need a few electrons to achieve a full outer shell, therefore having a strong desire to grab another atoms electron(s). These have a high electronegativity due to being found on the far-right of the periodic table as the name suggests. Ionisation Energy: Ionisation energy is simply the amount of energy needed to separate an electron from an atom to form an ion. Like electronegativity, the process of ionisation energy generally increases as you go across a period. Atomic Radius: The atomic radius consists of the length of the outer shell of an atom to the nucleus centre. Therefore, across periods on the periodic table, the atomic radius of the atoms decrease. This means that as you go along a period the distance between the outer shell and the nucleus decreases. Sodium 2, 8,1 Nitrogen 2, 5 Potassium 2, 8,8,1 Carbon 2, 4 Magnesium 2, 8, 2 Oxygen 2, 6 Calcium 2, 8, 8, 2 Chlorine 2,8,7 Neon 2, 8 Section 2: Bonding Elements form bonds to complete their outer shell to make them stable. There are two main types of bonding, ionic and covalent. We will be overlooking these two bonding types in this second section. Ionic bonding: Ionic bonding occurs between the positive metal ion and a negative non-metal ion compounds which attract and form an ionic bond by electrostatic attraction. The process begins with transferring an electron from a metal atom (far left element) to a non-metal atom (far right element). During ionic bonding, metal atoms lose their electrons to the non-metals which gain their electrons. A positive ion is formed when metals from groups one or two loose electrons to the far-right elements and then negative ions are formed when an atom in group six or seven gains electrons the electrons from those of the far-left elements. Covalent: This bonding process occurs in compounds of two non-metals. In a covalent bond, electron pairs occupy an area between overlapping atoms. This is to allow the sharing of electrons between the atoms in the compound which also allows for the structure to be held together and maintained. Covalent Molecules Name and formula Dot-cross diagram Water: H(2)O Methane: CH4 Hydrogen Chloride: HCl Chlorine: Cl2 Carbon dioxide CO2 Tetrahedral Basis of Organic Molecules Using the molecular models Ive drawn the structures of the following organic compounds and indicate their bond angles around the mid carbon atom. Organic Compound Structure including bond angles Methane (CH4) Ethane (C2H6) Propane (C3H8) Ionic Molecules Name and formula Dot-cross diagram Lithium chloride: (LiCl) Sodium oxide: (Na2O) Calcium chloride: (CaCl2) Aluminium oxide: (Al2O3) Bibliography http://www.ptable.com/Images/periodic%20table.png     Ã‚  

Critical Appreciation of Poetry Essay

William Wordsworth had a variety of concerns which he expressed in â€Å"Composed Upon Westminster Bridge. † He was a metaphysical poet and the theme he writes about in this poem is nature and its relationship to man. He has used a variety of poetic methods which have all helped to shape and enhance the poem such as rhyming couplets, simile, and personification. The main concerns he highlights in this poem are the destructive nature of man, the relationship of man and nature, and the negative impact of industrialization on nature. Wordsworth made use of similes as one of his poetic methods. In line four of the poem he writes: â€Å"This city doth like a garment wear†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Here he compares the city to a garment as according to him figuratively the city wears the beauty of the morning. He uses this poetic method to highlight the extent to which the city exudes beauty in the early hours of the morning while all is silent and the industrial excesses of the day have not yet begun. Wordsworth in presenting the beauty and tranquility of the morning could be highlighting the negativity that pervades when morning leaves because of man’s intervention. This is all too likely as the area that Wordsworth probes in this poem is the relationship of man and nature and he clearly highlights the negative aspects of this relationship. Wordsworth also utilizes rhyming couplets, in particular end rhymes. This is demonstrated in the following lines of the poem : â€Å"This city now doth like a garment The Beauty of the morning;silent, bare† and also in : â€Å"Ships, towers,domes, theatres and temples lie open unto the fields, and to the sky;† This has quite an interesting effect as rhythm is described as a poem’s â€Å"sound system† and through the poet’s crafty manipulation of the rhymes he is able to give the poem a particular rhythm which enhances its style, value and meaning and draws attention to what it projects. It is portrayed almost like a song and helps to create visual images like a painting and Wordsworth can be likened to a painter in this way. This is Wordsworth’s literary skill at work and this contributes to the reader’s understanding of his status in literature as one of the better if not the best metaphysical poets known to man. Wordsworth also employs the use of personification. He says: â€Å"The river glideth at his own sweet will : Dear God! The very houses seem asleep;† The reader cannot help noticing the way in which this poet personifies the river and houses describing them as if they are alive and well and capable of exhibiting human capabilities , that of gliding gracefully and of sleeping as if tired. All of this combined with the poet’s extensive use of nature imagery help to bring the subject Wordsworth writes about to life as well increasing its significance. One of Wordsworth’s main concerns in Composed Upon Westminster Bridge† is the destructive nature of man. Wordsworth presents a vision of nature in the early hours of the morning when man has not yet begun to intervene. He presents its beauty and transcendent nature but he does not stop there. He opens with a line praising the beauty of nature: â€Å"Earth has not anything to show more fair:† but closes on a sad note: â€Å" And all that mighty is lying still! † His comment is that man’s nature is destructive and due to the effect of man on nature stillness and dullness has been the result. Smoke , dust and noise have become the grim characteristics of nature due to industrialization, and the only time a â€Å"smokeless air,† a beautiful atmosphere can be enjoyed is in the tranquility of the morning before industrialization continues. The negative impact of industrialization on nature is one of the poet’s concerns in the poem. In man’s lustful aggrandizing efforts to make progress through industrialization negative effects have been wrought on nature. There is the problem of noise and various types of pollution and this has been caused by industrialization. The picturesque beauty of nature Wordsworth describes can only be enjoyed in the morning. For the rest of the day smoke and noise predominates. This could be Wordsworth’s comment on the selfish and cruel nature of man in that through industrialization man chokes and suffocates nature in an attempt to suit his own ends. In Conclusion, the writer has a variety of concerns and poetic methods such as man’s destructive nature, simile and personification. All these concerns and poetic methods enhance the poem’s structure and meaning giving it its significance in the world of metaphysical poetry.

Discrimination Against Minority Groups Essay

I am writing to express my grave concern over discrimination against minority groups in our society. Hong Kong is a multicultural and religiously diverse territory. By the way, there is still some conflicts exist between different religion. The minority always have an unfair treatment. Domestic helper is an example of it, the salary of them is much lower than the legitimate minimum wage set up in few days ago. Besides, the minority children always become the target who were laughed at and bullied in school. These problems make me cannot ignore what they are facing. But now, the government’s policy is not enough to solve the problem. Recognizing the urgency of the discrimination problem against the minority group, the government should tackle on all fronts, including publicity, education and policy enforcement spending on racial harmony. First, we should intensify the public knowledge toward different belief and race, to avoid misunderstand between different culture. The effectiveness of education on discriminate prevention cannot be overemphasized. The best way to change is to reform from the heart. The government should endeavor to do more to educate the public about the grave consequences of at loggerheads between races. It may affect the whole community, the drawback may much serious than that you think. To foster the racial harmony, government can do it through the media, such as newspapers, advertisements, radio etc. these can spread the idea of â€Å"we are one†, in Hong Kong it should not divide into different group, we all live in Hong Kong, all of us want our home become better, so we should work together to improve of city, but not make some troubles to it. Finally, government should put our resources to help the small group in our society. Government should treat them as our locals in all aspect, our law should also provide support and protection to them. And for their children, we should also lead a hand to them on language learning. Many of them  because failed in the DSE Chinese, lose the chance get into school, I think government can set up some Chinese class for engagement. If such publications or behaviors persist, there will be no return way. It is time for the relevant parties to join heads and rectify this weird phenomenon. Yours faithfully, Chris Wong

history of Mr. Biggs Restaurant from 1986-2006

history of Mr. Biggs Restaurant from 1986-2006 Free Online Research Papers Mr Biggs a division of U.A.C Nigeria Plc which is regarded as one of Nigeria’s fastest growing Quick Service Restaurants. It was founded in 1986 and since then, has played pace setting role in Restaurants Services. This work tries to critically examines the Origin, Vision and Contributions of Mr Biggs to the economy of Nigeria and also Lagos state where most of its outlets are situated. Thus, this research would also shed more light on the growth and expansion rate of Mr Biggs and its influence in the fast food industry in Lagos. Statements of Research Problem The increase in population in Lagos and the need for Quick meals {fast food} has Mr Biggs been able to meet with the demands of its customers? Or being regarded as one of the pioneers of Quick Service Restaurants in Lagos. What has been the role of Mr Biggs? Hence with the need of expansion and recent experience of explosion. Has Mr Biggs been able to maintain its standards? In addition, with the emergence of other Quick Service Restaurants in Lagos, how has Mr Biggs an already established brand survived and coped. Thus, as a brand of U.A.C, what is the targets, aim and has it measured up to standard. Significance of Study This work will reveal and examine, the origin, mission and will also lay emphasis on the critical analysis of the contribution and acceptance of Mr Bigg’s in Lagos and its environs i.e. Nigeria at large. It would serve as a manuscript for a wide range of audience particularly students, caterers, food technologist, investors, industrialist and the general public. Scope of study Invariably, this research work will cover the history of Mr Bigg’s from 1986-2006 a period of twenty years. And this would include examining the impact, role and challenges and also most importantly their contribution to Lagos and also the developmental process of Mr Biggs. Methodology This work will make use of both primary and secondary sources that would enhance a comprehensive and explanatory history of Mr Biggs. It would involve personal interviews, books, journals and research works. Chapterization Introduction Proposal and literature review Chapter 1 Origin of the United African Company (UAC) and the evolution of Mr Bigg’s (1879-1986) Chapter 2 Growth and development of Mr Bigg’s in the past twenty years (1986-2006). Chapter 3 The Nigerian business environment and the Mr Bigg’s experience LITERATURE REVIEW Food business in Nigeria and every other country or nation is very important. Food is the survival (agriculture) of a nation. It is very important in the economic growth and development of a nation or a country. Agriculture which is the foundation of food business brings it i.e. food products closer to the people living in the urban or metropolitan area who cannot engage in farming, not only that food business makes it easier for people who leave their home early for work to get what to eat from a fast-food or an eatery. Though no work has been written on Mr. Biggs. And Mr. Biggs which is into food business has no existing books on it as said earlier but there are related books on food. Some of these books are reviewed: F.A Paine, H.Y. Paine(ed) in the book titled, A Handbook of packaging. The author attempts to discuss how food should be packaged to improve packaging. Food packaging brings about durability. The book is written for food technologist wishing to understand more about the aspects of packaging technology that is relevant to the preserving, distribution and marketing of a particular food or product. Food packaging has been described as a complex, dynamic, scientific and controversial segments of business. But is best described as a techno-economic function aimed at minimizing cost of delivery while maximizing sales (and hence profit). The need for packaging is necessary for every kind of food both fresh and processed. Containment, protection and preservation, communication, machinability and convenience and use are very important in food packaging. David Foskett, Victor Caserani and Ronald Kinton in the book titled, The Theory of Catering. The book is designed to meet the needs of those training for involved in the catering industry. Catering is divided into various aspects namely Commercial catering, Public Sector catering. This book provides an insight on the various ways or aspect of catering which involved food business. Catering in Mr. Biggs is different from that of motels or hotels. Betty .C.Hobbes, Diane Roberts in the book, Food Poisoning and Food Hygiene. The aim of the book is to bring facts about the causes of food poisoning and other food-borne disease to the attention of those concerned with food microbiology and food hygiene on order to improve preventive measures. It is aimed to interest those requiring. a more practical and general knowledge of the relevant organism in relation to food and its preparation. This book also gives example of food poisoning outbreak, and also include aspects of Epidemiology and microbiology specification a chapter on spoilage and preservation also in personal hygiene. Mr. Biggs has to take this in to consideration since they are dealing with the entire public as a whole and will not want anything that will tarnish their name and products and also affects the health of their customers. Dennis Lillicrap, John Cousins and Robert Smith in the book Food and Beverage Service. The book is aimed to cover the basic knowledge necessary for those involved at a variety of levels of food and beverage system. Food and Beverages is not an end in itself but part of the business of hotel and catering operations. Its engagement in the hospitality industry is concerned with the provisions of food and drink ready for immediate consumption. Food and Beverages is concerned with the market served by the various sectors of the industry and consumers needs. This book did not talk about food production and a business i.e. fast-food but all it is concerned with is what is been sent to the market. Barbara Burlingame in her article titled food processing and the fate of food components. In this article it shows the process that food undergoes in one way or the other affects the nutrients in either positive or negative way. Safety of food is affected by processing for better as is the case with reducing cyanogens in cassava and affects food for worse as in the case of iron and freeze-thaw cycles in fish. This work seeks greater insight into the fate of food components in our processed food supply and will not affect our health. Shailesh Kumar, Bill Aalbersberg in the article, Nutrient Retention in Food after Earth-Oven Cooking compared to other forms of domestic cooking. This article deals with how nutrients are lost or retained in foods. Nutrient retention food is determined in the methods of cooking favorable best but that greater vitamins are more retained in microwave cooked foods. Also that nutrients can be retained in slightly low heated foods and also length of cooking determine nutrients in food. Since difference in the retention of vitamins in food is cooked by different methods is very distinctive, it provides a fair view of a more favorable cooking method. Here it shows that microwave cooking is more desirable than earth- oven cooking as it retains more nutrients and vitamins. Alvardo Toledo, Barbara Burlingame in the article, Biodiversity and Nutrition: A common path towards global food security and sustainable development. Food composition provides an important link for biodiversity and nutrition. The aim is to promote sustainable use of biodiversity in programme contributing to food security and human nutrition .Biodiversity managements plays a significant role against malnutrition. Heli Reinovvo, Heikki Pakkala in an article Food Composition On The World Wide Web:A User-centered perspective. The World Wide Web is widely used for presenting food composition data the web appears to be a suitable forum for presenting food composition information to the nutrients . It is also important that the site contain search terms that users feel natural ,including commonly used food names. In final analysis ,these books and journals are of immense importance to these research work. The work includes or involve both secondary and primary sources. The authors though through their methodology and style have provided what is needed for this work. These work would show how food are been packaged so as to enhance marketing and sales and so also is catering for the kind of foods so as not to loose their nutrients and vitamins. Also is being aware and keeping from food poisoning and contamination which could endanger the health of the entire public(customer). With these books above, I will be able to write on food business which Mr. Biggs is involved. CHAPTER 1 ORIGIN OF UNITED AFRICAN COMPANY (UAC) AND THE EVOLUTION OF MR BIGGS (1879-1986) The various arguments concerning the morality of colonialism has often been a basis for argument among both Eurocentric and Afro centric scholars. For instance Walter Rodney in his book How Europe Underdeveloped Africa was simply concerned with â€Å"how Europe underdeveloped Africa†. â€Å"The only positive development in colonialism† Rodney writes â€Å"was when it ended.1 Such simple moral judgements clearly shows Rodney’s polemical purposes. African colonialism has been replaced by subtler though equally pervasive mechanism for exploitation, which are beyond the scope of Rodney’s study. The central question should henceforth not be on the justification of colonialism whether it was good or bad, but and understanding of the processes of change, that have occurred owing to European penetration. Consequently, it is the aim of this work to advance an understanding of the process of change that led to the formation of Mr Biggs a leading confectionary in Nigeria which with it origin properly dated, it predates the Nigerian state itself. It explores the factors for growth and expansion and also the impact and challenges of the company considering the epileptic and unfriendly state of the Nigerian business environment. The history of Mr Biggs would not be properly understood if the history of United African Company of Nigeria – the mother company of Mr Biggs, is not exhaustively examined. United African Company (UAC) of Nigeria Plc has a rich and varied history of successful enterprise that pre-dates the geographical entity called Nigeria. The rumps of the Companys early days can be traced to the activities of European traders and commercial activities. The Company has evolved through a series of mergers and acquisitions and restructurings as the various entrepreneurs sought to enthrone profitable and enduring enterprises. One of the most significant developments in the companys history was the setting up of the Royal Niger Company, which was chartered between 1672 and 1750 to administer the territory that would later become Nigeria.2 In 1879, the United African Company was found following the merger of four Companies trading up the River Niger: Alexander Miller Brother Company, Central African Trading Company Limited; West African Company Limited and James Pinnock.3 Following the intense rivalry among the European nations in the 1880s, The National African Company Limited was floated to take over the assets of The United African Company. In 1886, The National African Company Limited was Chartered Limited when the British Government issued it a Charter after the Berlin Conference. The logo of the Royal Niger Company was a device with three arms symbolizing the main waterways of the territory; on each arm was a single short word: ARS, JUS, PAX4 PAX stood for â€Å"peace and order† which the Company evolved to stem the â€Å"anarchy and barbarism of the Niger Territories † and safeguard the â€Å"numerous British and French trading interests in the Niger, which unity of action was an absolutely necessary antecedent to successful trade†¦.†5 ARS refers to the skill in trade and liberal arts, which practical benefit European civilization brought to the millions in Central Africa. The subjective aspect is ingenuity commercial and political without which Unity and Equity would have failed.6 JUS is the actual law and legal rights established by public authority (the Royal Charter), without which peace would be unstable and the progress of commerce and arts hopeless. It represented just conduct and equity a pre-requisite for legitimacy.7 In 1889, the merger of eight firms that were operating in the Oil Rivers area incorporated The African Association. In 1892, The Royal Niger Company brought in Captain Lugard (later to be known as Lord Lugard) to help protect its interest in Nigeria. Lord Lugard would later become the first Governor-General of Nigeria. Following the revocation of the charter, Royal Niger Company changed its Company name to The Niger Company Limited in 1900.8 In 1919, Lever Brothers Limited bought The Niger Company Limited. That same year, The Miller Brothers Limited and the African Association united to form the African Eastern Trade Corporation. On March 3, 1929, The United Africa Company was formed by the joint agreements of The African Eastern Trade Corporation and the Niger Company (Owned by Lever Brothers Limited).9 UAC was first incorporated in Lagos, Nigeria under the name Nigerian Motors Ltd on April 22, 1931 as a wholly owned subsidiary of the United Africa Company Ltd. (a subsidiary of Unilever), which later became UAC International. The Companys name was changed to United Africa Company (Nigeria) Ltd on 23rd July 1943. It became The United Africa Company of Nigeria Ltd on 1st February 1955 and started acquiring, over a period of five years, a large part of the business of UACI. In 1960 C.W.A. Holdings Ltd, England also a subsidiary of Unilever, acquired UACIs interest in the company.10 The name was changed to UAC of Nigeria Limited on 1st March 1973. In compliance with the Nigerian Enterprises Promotion Act 1972, 40 percent of the companys share capital was acquired in 1974 by Nigerian citizens and associations and in accordance with the provisions of the Nigerian Enterprises Promotion Act 1977, an additional 20 percent of the UACs share capital was publicly offered in 1977, increasing Nigerian equity participation to 60 percent.11 The name UAC of Nigeria Plc was adopted in 1991.In 1994, following the divestment of 40% interest in the Company by Unilever PLC; the Company became a wholly owned Nigerian Company. The transformation of UAC from a trading behemoth into a leading manufacturing concern, even though it took root in the 1980s, was given serious impetus in 1990s, following the exit of the company from its trading businesses.12 In early 2000, UAC further embarked on a series of business restructuring with a thorough portfolio review and switch of focus to value-adding operations. This has led to an era of focused growth on the foods, real estate, logistics and automobile sectors.13 UAC has an active foreign investor, Actis, which holds 20% of the Companys equity. Today, UAC has become a Food–focused Conglomerate with leading brands such as Mr Bigg’s, Gala, Grand Oils, Supreme, SWAN Natural Spring Water and Gossy Spring Water. The Companys brand portfolio also includes franchised international food brands such as Nandos, Creamy Inn, Chicken Inn, Pizza Inn and Dial-A-Delivery.14 Mr. Biggs is Nigerias first chain of fast food restaurants. Owned by conglomerate United African Company of Nigeria PLC, there are currently around 170 locations in Nigeria, including the countrys first drive-through restaurant, with another four locations in Ghana. The restaurant is styled after McDonalds, and is known for its red and yellow colour scheme and meat pies. Mr. Biggs history begins with the coffee shops inside Kingsway Department Stores in the 1960s. In 1973, these shops were rebranded as Kingsway Rendezvous, which became Mr. Biggs in 1986. The chain saw rapid expansion after becoming one of the first Nigerian companies to sell franchises to investors.15 Mr. Biggs specialty is the meat pie. A common lunch might also include scotch eggs, a sugared donut, chicken, and a soft drink. While western fare such as hamburgers are served, Nigerian delicacies such as jollof rice and moin moin are more popular. Birthday cakes are also a popular product, and Mr. Biggs bakery offers cakes and pastries. In an interview with Chris Adedipe, a pioneer team member who recalls the early days of Mr Bigg’s highlights, that the whole process started in 1984 and the man that led the team at the time was Mr. Peter Tilbey, a Briton, who was the marketing Manager of {an Electric, which later became Pera Beam.16 A professional caterer, Tilbey looked at fast foods operations around the world. He looked particularly at companies like McDonalds, some of the Unilever companies such as A W of Canada, Nordsee and Hamburger Farm in Germany. Having done market research to find out what Nigerians wanted and then blending it with what he had seen around the world, he was able to come up wit a unique concept which was revolutionary – certainly at that time. It was revolutionary, in terms of the design, equipment and even the calibre of the staff that were used at the time. Tilbey, as described by most that had the opportunity of working with him â€Å"as a man of very great vision†. As was said earlier, he was a professional caterer. He had worked as a pursar (food and beverage manager in a hotel) so he was a pursar on the P O shipping line and operator of luxury cruisers. And most importantly he was a strong marketing person. Like Chris Adedipe would describe him â€Å" as probably one of the best mangers he had had the privilege to work with†. Tilbey according to him was a â€Å"man of very great vision, very meticulous. He was so far-sighted, he was an inspirational leader and when you are working with him you have to be very fast on your feet.17 The pioneer team members of Mr Bigg’s included Peter Tilbey, Fast Foods Manager Kingsway stores Division; Mr J. B. Ifezue, Operations Manager; Janet Imoalame, Marketing Depot Manager; Mr Ayo Ajayi, Merchandise Manager; Mrs Grace Kpolu, Brand Manager; Mrs Sunbo Oyekan; Chris Adedipe, Retail Manager and Peter Anyanwu – Fast Food Accountant.18 In retrospect, the name Mr Bigg’s evolved as with most marketing efforts after a rigorous and gruelling name test. The key task was to get a name that would be unique, impactful and memorable, and in some way linked to UAC, which was the largest conglomerate in the country. After so many eliminations, Mr Bigg’s was picked from the pack. The pioneers who gave it such a name were rather not gender sensitive or rather the societal norm – that men are always at the apex of family structure must have beclouded their judgement. But then women were part of the pioneers who adopted the name, why then Mr Bigg’s. Mrs Sunbo Oyekan reiterated her experience that the marketing headache did not stop at the adoption of the name. The next consideration was how would women react to the name? Another round of test ensued. The result was that, there was no negative perception from the women folks.19 The predecessor of Mr Bigg’s, the Kingsway Rendezvous was considered a basic concept in fast foods operations. Besides its on-site cooking, Mr Biggs was a reaction to the growing demand for greater variety in fast food offerings for freshly baked, hot snacks and meals. Unknown to the consumers, the Kingsway Rendezvous’ experiment with burgers and the reaction of the consumers – which was as described by Chuks Anyangbo as â€Å"unbelievable†, convinced the managers that the market was ready for the birth of a new brand.20 At its opening of business to the general public, Mr Bigg’s shocked even it promoters with its possibilities. The customers count easily hit 4000, thus making Mr Biggs on of the top ten fast foods restaurants in the world in terms of customer counts. The pioneer restaurant had 12 cash points with seats for 108 customers at the same time.21 The origin of Mr Bigg’s and the success it has made in the Nigerian business environment is a testimony to the abundance of opportunities in the environment if an entrepreneur can only be determined after being fully aware of the unfriendly nature of the Nigerian business environment. The magnificent feat achieved by Mr Bigg’s must be evident in her growth and development and this is why this work would be examining factors that influenced her growth and development. ENDNOTES: 1. Walter Rodney, How Europe Underdeveloped Africa, (Abuja: Panaf Publishers, 1973) pp. 60-65. 2. F. K. Buah, West Africa Since AD 1000, (London: Macmillan Press, 1978). pp. 230-235. 3. T.B. Webster, A. A. Boahen and M. Tidy, Revolutionary Years: West Africa Since 1800, (London: Longman Group, 1980). pp.166-177. 4. UAC of Nigeria Plc, 2007 Annual Report and Accounts. pp.5. 5. Ibid. 6. Ibid. 7. Ibid, pp. 6. 8. W. E. F. Ward, A History of Africa, (London: George Allen Unwind Ltd, 1966). pp. 235-260. 9. A. E. Alagoa, The Merchant Prince of the Niger Delta, (Enugu: Celphonic Press, 2000). pp. 20-26. 10. S. P. Schatz, Nigerian Capitalism, (London: Princeton Press, 1980). pp. 95-100. 11. A. O. Alake, The Indigenization Policy in Nigeria, (Lagos: Longman Group, 1990). pp. 12-22. 12. UAC of Nigeria Plc, 2007 Annual Report and Accounts. pp.12. 13. UACN, â€Å"UAC Presents Facts Behind the Figure†, Link, Vol. 3. No. 1. (2002). pp. 8-11. 14. UACN, â€Å"Ajayi Speaks on Mr Bigg’s† Link, Vol. 27. No. 1. (2006). pp. 5-7. 15. Ibid. 16. Interview with Mr Chris Adedipe, Company Executive, 45 years, at Company Premises, 15 July 2009. 17. Ibid. 18. UACN, â€Å"Ajayi Speaks on Mr Bigg’s† Link, Vol. 27. No. 1. (2006). pp. 10-12. 19. Interview with Mr Ayo Ajayi, Ex-Company Chairman, 56 Years, after Share Holders Meeting, 17 July 2009. 20. Interview with Mr Chuks Anyangbo, Resident of Marina Lagos, 62 Years, July 17, 2009. 21. Interview with Mr Ayo Ajayi, Ex-Company Chairman, 56 Years, after Share Holders Meeting, 17 July 2009. CHAPTER 2 GROWTH AND EXPANSION OF MR BIGGS IN THE PAST TWENTY YEARS (1986-2006) Today, few people would remember that the brand (Mr Bigg’s) was once a concept, which took on form, toddled as it were in the nation’s business terrain before being transformed – within 20 years into a Nigerian business pearl. Mr Bigg’s is a household name when it comes to QSR (Quick Service Restaurants) and this must have been achieved through ceaseless strategy and share administrative prowess of its administrators. This chapter explores the pattern of development and expansion of Mr Bigg’s from just one restaurant in Marina Lagos, to over 177 in 2006. The Kingsway Rendezvous emerged out of the Kingsway Coffee Shops but because it was not properly managed the business had to pack up. Lessons were learnt from this and then when the concept of Quick Service Restaurant came up it was unique. Mr Bigg’s was different; it was the first time people would be able to see the food they were going to eat being prepared. This was embraced by everybody and that was the beginning. The acceptance of Mr Bigg’s by the public was magnificent as the first Christmas that was operated, in December 1986. On Christmas Eve, the restaurant was so packed that you could literarily throw a meat pie in the air and it won’t fall to the ground.1 Mr Bigg’s current profile leaves no doubt about what the brand is all about. It states: â€Å"Mr Bigg’s major focus is on creating unforgettable eating experience for families, children and young adults. Its core values are enmeshed in offering esteemed customers convenience through the provision of quality snacks, meals, ice cream and drinks served promptly, by friendly, courteous and enthusiastic personnel in a clean, hygienic and refreshing environment.2 The brand Mr Bigg’s has effectively communicated its core values and brand benefits. This has positioned the brand in the minds of customers as fun, family, convenience, value, hygiene and quality. A closer relationship with the children and families is being fostered through well-designed theme and scheme activities during yuletide seasons such as Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Easter, Children’s Day, Back-to-School, Christmas, Sallah etc. This way, the events remain unforgettable and memorable in the minds of our customers. ‘Big Melodies for Nigeria’ is a yearly event targeted at children and used as a pivot to rediscover and communicate the benefits of patriotism and a united Nigeria through songs.3 After having struggled with the Nigerian business environment and also after having professionalized their art, through a 14-year period, they were able to boost of 17 restaurants nationwide. But the revolution came at year 2000, owing largely to internal restructuring and visionary leadership. Mr Ayo Ajayi, who on taking over the leadership of UACN on 1st January 2000 seized the opportunity to realize the huge potentials in the fast foods business, facilitated the exponential growth of Mr Bigg’s. First Mr Ajayi carved out Mr Bigg’s from UAC FOODS and appointed Mr Larry Ettah as its pioneer Divisional Managing Director. By the time Mr Ettah was reassigned from Mr Biggs, the outlet count had raced to over 90 restaurants with a successful marketing campaign for the brand known as â€Å"Mr series†, â€Å"Mr Nigeria†, â€Å"Mr Value†, â€Å"Mr Family†, â€Å"Mr convenience† etc. the intensity of the expansion programme has continued to be sustained so much that in 2005, Mr Bigg’s built 42 outlet.4 As the helmsman of Mr Bigg’s, it became Mr Adedipe’s challenge to pilot Mr Bigg’s into continued greatness. This is a challenge he relished. But then in a bit of history spices the story of the early days of this grand corporate endeavour. Mr Biggs’s has proven that it is possible to run a profitable fast foods business in Nigeria. When Kingsway closed down many eminent people said that â€Å"how can one make money selling meat pie†? But today Mr Bigg’s as proved such assertions wrong, as the brand only by 2006, has 177 restaurants in Nigeria and Ghana, 29 Central Kitchens, 190 Generators (40 KVA), over 900 Toilets, 3,500 Employees, 45 Franchises, Largest single consumer of agricultural produce in Nigeria, operates in 48 cities in Nigeria and two cities in Ghana.5 Mr Chris Adedipe, one of the pioneer team members of Mr Bigg’s who until recently, was the Managing Director of the Division, recalls with unmarked nostalgia: â€Å" I don’t think any of us in our wildest dreams would have thought that 20 years later, we would have over 177 restaurants. We know we have got a winner but we never imagined that we would get to the level that we are now†. Mr Adedipe also reiterates on what makes Mr Bigg’s fascinating to customers; â€Å"a typical Mr Bigg’s restaurant must be in a good location. It must provide hot, tasty food, cold refreshing drinks, friendly and courteous staff, who provides fast and friendly service.6 As part of her effort to lead the market, a new restaurant on Bode Thomas Road in Surulere, Lagos, came up with an innovation – a multi-counter offering inside Mr Bigg’s. The new additions were Creamy Inn – and wait a while – Village Kitchen. Located on the upper floor of the restaurant, Village Kitchen made its debut in year 2000 with the slogan â€Å"you can’t ignore me – meals in your mother tongue†. Mr Ettah, the Special Guest of Honour at the occasion of the formal opening of the restaurants, left no one in doubt about what the Village Kitchen was all about: â€Å"We all know that Africans are highly cultural and uncompromising on matters of taste. In spite of Western influences and urbanisation, we, as Africans, sooner propelled to seek out our roots – often through our cuisines as our foods, beyond our language, is a critical component of our culture, which is an anchor in these times of continual societal flux, pressure and change.†7 The Village Kitchen which plans to offer African, Caribbean and Asian cuisines, took off with the presentation of popular local menus in Nigeria. In her presentation at the opening of the Village Kitchen, Miss Oluyomi Owoeye, noted that the restaurant has been positioned as a trendsetter in the Home Meal Replacement (HMR) industry in Nigeria. On offer at every Village Kitchen counter will be a range of home replacement meals, which are categorised as thus: Starters – pepper soup to be served with cow tail, fish or isi-ewu (goat head) Farinas – pounded yam, semovita, amala, eba, ofada, white rice and moin moin. Accompaniments – soups/stews such as okro, edikang-ikong, egusi, eforiro, ewedu, ogbono, to be served with assorted meats, bush meat, snail, fresh fish, goat meat and stockfish. Dessert – fruit salad and ice cream.8 Furthermore, to compliment are development efforts owing to growing competition in that area of the market where the likes of Tantalizers, Tetrazini, Tasty Fried Chicken, Sweet Sensation etc have posed a major threat to the income and market dominance of Mr Bigg’s. The company in 2006 acquired the Master Franchise of a number of leading international food brands including Nando’s, Luv-Dat-Chicken, Pizza Inn, and Creamy Inn. So far, these brands have been successful in delivering superior food, ice cream and meals. UACN’s initiatives in the food sector have also served to set new standards and define the Quick Service Restaurant industry in the country.9 The Nigerian business environment abounds with possibilities as the environment is crude it needs ideas to refine it. Such was the ideas of Tilbey in 1986, which has grown to become the leading confectionary in Nigeria. Also efforts are being made to internationalize the brand, which would make Mr Biggs, a Nigerian brand with global reach. On the whole the growth of Mr Bigg’s can be described as epochal. Finally, nothing good comes easy, on the road to stardom there are always thorns, so what where the challenges faced by the management of Mr Biggs before they could get to where they are today. ENDNOTES: 1. UACN, â€Å"Mr Bigg’s 20 Years After† Link, Vol. 27. No. 1. (2006). pp. 13-15. 2. UAC of Nigeria Plc, 2007 Annual Report and Accounts. pp.12. 3. Ibid. 4. UACN, â€Å"Mr Bigg’s 20 Years After† Link, Vol. 27. No. 1. (2006). pp. 13-15. 5. UAC of Nigeria Plc, 2007 Annual Report and Accounts. pp.13. 6. Interview with Mr Chris Adedipe, Company Executive, 45 years, at Company Premises, 15 July, 2009. 7. UACN, â€Å"Meals †¦ In Mother Tongue†, Link, Vol. 27. No. 1. (2006). pp. 16. 8. Ibid. 9. UAC of Nigeria Plc, 2007 Annual Report and Accounts. pp.13. CHAPTER 3 THE NIGERIAN BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT AND THE MR BIGG’S EXPERIENCE The business environment is a complex, interactive element or forces that are external, but potentially of significant consequence to the performance of business enterprises. Arguably, Nigeria is a potentially rich country where several opportunities abound for business enterprises. However with these potentials available in the country, it is expected that Nigeria should ordinarily be a safe haven for entrepreneurs, taking into cognisance the country’s over 100 million population, which makes it the biggest and largest in Africa. However, things have not worked as expected. The numerous local challenges that abound have been compounded by Nigeria’s membership of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) which exposes it to global competition.1 The option therefore is for the country to either improve the local conditions with a view to encourage the activities of business organisation or allow it to remain docile as it is. The business environment in Nigeria has been described as aggressive and unfriendly.2 Invariably, it is this hostile environment that has fashioned the essential characteristics of its businesses. Although, the number of businesses in Nigeria are numerous, but at the same time are mostly small scaled. However, Mr Biggs has withered the storm and nurtured a brand from just a restaurant at Kingsway building in Marina to over 177 in Nigeria and Ghana. It must have been a Herculean task for the members of staff, hence what was there challenges in the face of an unfriendly and harsh business environment.3 The first possible challenge is that of the poor state of infrastructure in the country. Social amenities like good roads, water supply, and power are readily not available. The company is forced to source her own electricity, spending so much on the purchase of diesel for generators. Also, the company has to dredge her own borehole and sometimes the company had to repair roads to make it motor able for staffs and customers. The issue of power has been considered as a major challenge facing the company as Mr Biggs operates in 48 cities and in most of these cities power supply is completely not just available.4 Peace and security are synonymous with development.5 The persisting insecurity in Nigeria has endangered business parastatals. The constant threats of armed robbers have forced the company to close some restaurants and in some cases security operatives are employed and paid huge sums of money so has to ensure security of lives and property. Some restaurants have to close shop before it gets too dark so as to avoid the activities of this night marauders. This however is having a bad effect on the turnover of the company.6 The lack of macro-economic variables in terms of inflationary control as well as variable interest and exchange rates has jeopardized the operations of Mr Bigg’s. As a matter of fact, Nigerian economy suffer from distortions, high interest and exchange rates and economic instability leading to cost escalation. It is on record that inflation and interest rate in the country at times rises above 15-22 % respectively.7 The Nigerian fiscal management regime has been described as anti business, this is due to the lack of a unified tax system in the country. The three arms of government in Nigeria constantly harass businesses with all kinds of tax claims ranging from personal income tax, value added tax, warehouse permit, radio/television licence, mobile advertisement tax water borehole tax, capital gain tax, withholding tax, environmental protection tax etc.8 in some cases, the percentage of these taxes collected is considered to be one of the highest in the world. Furthermore, these taxes added to the already high cost of doing business in Nigeria further becomes a disincentive.9 Furthermore, there was the issue of logistics, people and quality everywhere. It was a great challenge managing all these issues and made sure that standard was maintained, so as to ensure that the eminent position is maintained.10 Also, the salient issue of marketing the brand has posed strong challenge to the company. Over the years however, the brand has responded to the vagaries of the Nigerian economy. The challenge is doing more of scheme activities, particularly activities that revolve around restaurants; centred on collection or clusters of restaurants; that is what is called â€Å"In-Store Marketing or Local Area Marketing.†11 Fast foods watchers would readily attest to the fact that the sector, which is one of the fastest growing frontiers of the economy, has witnessed some of the stiffest competition in the country. A lot of people seeing the success of Mr Bigg’s were encouraged to come to the market. Hence, the competition in the market is stiff but at least it is healthy and Mr Bigg’s has managed this competition, so as to maintain the front row in the market. On the efforts to internationalise the brand, some factors have posed problems. Delving into Ghanaian market there are cultural factors, taste, and attitude of her people, which are entirely different from where they are coming from, hence there is a lot of learning to do.12 This work has been done not for its aesthetic value but to inform the reading public that in the mucky terrain of the Nigerian business environment, companies can thrive and that the Nigerian market can produce global market leaders when given the right conditions to operate. The history of Mr Bigg’s is that which should encourage potential entrepreneurs to invest in the Nigerian market and with visionary leaders who are loyal to the dream of such an ideas, the sky is just the beginning as the Nigerian economy has the quantitative ability to sustain such business. What should not be lacking in a business that is willing to thrive in Nigeria are ideas, as the Nigerian market is dynamic; visionary and efficient leadership as well as a marketable brand. Therefore, entrepreneurs should stop hiding under the guise of the harsh business environment and learn from the Mr Bigg’s experience. ENDNOTES: 1. M. Ogbeidi, Fundamentals of Business History, (Lagos: Reenok Publishers, 2006) pp. 15-25. 2. F. Amatori, Business History Around the World, (London: Macmillan Press, 1980). pp. 10-12. 3. Tom Forest, The Advance of African Capital, (New York, Princeton Press, 1985). pp. 23-30. 4. UACN, â€Å"Mr Bigg’s 20 Years After† Link, Vol. 27. No. 1. (2006). pp. 13-15. 5. Interview with Mr Peter Anyanwu, Company Employee, 42 Years, at the office, July 20, 2009. 6. N. S. B. Graff, Business and Capitalism: An Introduction To Business History, (London: Longman Group, 1963). pp. 13-15. 7. UACN, â€Å"Ajayi Speaks on Mr Bigg’s† Link, Vol. 27. No. 1. (2006). pp. 10-12. 8. M. Ogbeidi, Fundamentals of Business History, pp. 20. 9. UAC of Nigeria Plc, 2007 Annual Report and Accounts. pp.16. 10. Interview with Mr Peter Anyanwu, Company Employee, 42 Years, at the office, July 20, 2009. 11. Interview with Mr Chris Adedipe, Company Executive, 45 years, at Company Premises, 15 July, 2009. 12. Ibid. 13. UACN, â€Å"Mr Bigg’s 20 Years After† Link, Vol. 27. No. 1. (2006). pp. 13-15. BIBLIOGRAPHY SECONDARY SOURCES: Alagoa, A. E. The Merchant Prince of the Niger Delta. Enugu: Celphonic Press, 2000. Alake, A. O. The Indigenization Policy in Nigeria. Lagos: Longman Group, 1990. Amatori, F. Business History Around the World. London: Macmillan Press, 1980. Buah, F. K. West Africa Since AD 1000. London: Macmillan Press, 1978. Forest, T. The Advance of African Capital. New York, Princeton Press, 1985. Graff, N. S. B. Business and Capitalism: An Introduction To Business History. London: Longman Group, 1963. Ogbeidi, M. Fundamentals of Business History. Lagos: Reenok Publishers, 2006. Rodney, W. How Europe Underdeveloped Africa. Abuja: Panaf Publishers, 1973. Schatz, S. P. Nigerian Capitalism. London: Princeton Press, 1980. UACN. â€Å"Ajayi Speaks on Mr Bigg’s.† Link. Vol. 27. No. 1. 2006. UACN. â€Å"Meals †¦ In Mother Tongue.† Link. Vol. 27. No. 1. 2006. UACN. â€Å"Mr Bigg’s 20 Years After.† Link. Vol. 27. No. 1. 2006. UACN. â€Å"UAC Presents Facts Behind the Figure.† Link. Vol. 3. No. 1. 2002. Ward, W. E. F. A History of Africa. London: George Allen Unwind Ltd, 1966. Webster, T. B., Boahen A. A. and M. Tidy, Revolutionary Years: West Africa Since 1800. London: Longman Group, 1980. PRIMARY SOURCES: Interview with Mr Ayo Ajayi. Ex-Company Chairman, 56 Years, after Share Holders Meeting, 17 July, 2009. Interview with Mr Chris Adedipe. Company Executive, 45 years, at Company Premises, 15 July, 2009. Interview with Mr Chuks Anyangbo. Resident of Marina Lagos, 62 Years, July 17, 2009. Interview with Mr Peter Anyanwu. Company Employee, 42 Years, at the office, July 20, 2009. UAC of Nigeria Plc, 2007 Annual Report and Accounts. 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